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Another day, another dose of truth served with sarcasm and caffeine. We cut through the chaos, laugh at the nonsense, and still love this country enough to talk about it.
Another day, another dose of truth served with sarcasm and caffeine. We cut through the chaos, laugh at the nonsense, and still love this country enough to talk about it.
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
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Daily Dose of Hope November 12, 2025 Scripture – John 19 Prayer: Holy God, You are a God of order and a God of purpose. The world may seem chaotic, but you are not. You have ordered your world with perfection. Help us trust you. Lord, fill us with your perfect peace. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. As most of you know, we have been walking through the Gospels and will soon walk through Acts. Today, we begin John 19. Our passage begins with Jesus before Pilate. Even Pilate, the Roman official, recognizes that Jesus has done nothing wrong. Pontius Pilate is an interesting guy. He knows that Jesus hasn't done anything wrong, certainly nothing worthy of execution, and he truly wants to free Jesus. The text indicates that Pilate is somewhat scared of Jesus. He tries to placate the Jewish leaders. He has Jesus flogged. He offers to release Barrabas, a noted insurrectionist, thinking for sure they would rather have Jesus set free rather than a murderer. But that isn't what happened. And Pilate isn't willing to stand up for what he knows is right. His own role in Jesus' death lands him a mention in the Apostle's Creed, the most famous and oldest Christian Creed. Think about it, for two thousand years, Christians around the globe have been declaring that Jesus died under Pontius Pilate. Bottom line: The Jewish officials are desperate to get rid of Jesus. They are blinded by fear, jealousy, and contempt. In an attempt to get Pilate to cooperate with their plans, they threaten to report him to Caesar. After all, Jesus claimed to be king and anyone who made such a claim would be considered a threat to the emperor. The great irony here is that the Jews are essentially presenting themselves as better Roman citizens than Pilate, the Roman official. When it's convenient for them, they are happy to use the pagan Roman government to get their way. They will sacrifice their own ethics to ensure that Jesus is killed. The thing about sacrificing our ethics is that it's a slippery slope, is it not? These Jewish officials were probably very pious men. They thought they were doing the right thing. Afterall, Jesus was saying blasphemous things and he didn't follow their rules. They needed to step in and take care of it. But gradually their dislike of Jesus became hate. They so badly wanted him gone that they were willing to do anything, break their own laws, disobey Torah, simply to get rid of him. They were willing to do anything, no matter how shady it was or low they had to go. Has your hatred of another person ever made you compromise your own values? We think we are so much better than these Jewish officials but I think sometimes we are just like these Jewish officials. Dig deep today, friends. Examine your own heart. The remainder of the chapter is pretty powerful. Jesus carries his own cross to the place of his execution. The soldiers cast lots for his clothing. He breathes his last breath without any of his bones being broken by the soldiers. They pierced his side with a spear. Lots of prophecy being fulfilled here. Finally, two faithful Jewish men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, take Jesus' body and place it in a tomb. Not a lot can be done to prepare the body for burial because it's Friday afternoon and the Sabbath is upon them. Things will have to wait. But things may look a lot different on Sunday morning. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Kyle Olson, Technical Director
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
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Daily Dose of Hope November 11, 2025 Scripture - John 18:19-40 Prayer: Lord, Let us start by thanking you for a new day. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who was, and is, and is to come. You are all powerful and all knowing. We give thanks for your love and wisdom. We give thanks for your presence. Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts. Help us set aside distractions and listen to what you have for us today. In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers...Jesus, we love you. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We have been doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are finishing up John 18. Jesus has been before the Jewish high priest and the Jewish ruling council. They can't stand him. They not only feel threatened by him, but they are appalled about how he speaks of forgiving sins and being like the Father. They physically assault him. They want him to die but they don't have the power to execute him under Roman law. They have to take him to the Roman governor, who happens to be Pontius Pilate. As you will see, Pilate does not find Jesus to have done anything worthy of death at all but he is scared of the Jewish leaders. We could go in a lot of different directions with this. But I want to focus on a portion of verses 37-38, ...Jesus responded, "You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." "What is truth?" Pilate asked... Jesus came to testify to the truth. Pilate questions if there can be truth. The Greek word for "truth" is aletheia, and it means something like "divine revelation." It literally means "what can't be hidden." The Hebrew word for "truth" is emeth, which means firmness and immovability. This is such an important discussion because we live in a world in which people are still searching for truth and meaning. There is an idea that it's okay for you to have your truth and me to have mine. But yet, that only works up until a point, until our disagreements become really fundamental. Here is some truth for you: Truth is not relative, nor does it change from person to person. Truth can be offensive to some because they simply don't like how it makes them feel. The reality is that many things can have some truth but there is only one TRUTH. For believers, TRUTH is Jesus Christ. John 14:6 reads, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." When Jesus says, "I am the way," he doesn't say "I am a way." How the Greek sentence is constructed makes it absolutely clear and irrefutable that Jesus is making an exclusive claim here. He is basically saying, don't go looking to anyone else to point you in those directions, because I am the only one who can!" Jesus is the map that leads us to all truth. If we really believe this, this fundamentally changes how we think about the world. If Jesus is truth, then everything he said throughout the Gospels is true. It means he came back from the dead and will return to judge all people. It means he is God. Do you believe this? Do you? I'm pressing this point a bit, I know. And it's for a reason. Because if we really, really believe Jesus is truth, then this one fact will inform every other piece of our life. It will affect how we treat others. It will affect how we worship. It will certain affect our priorities. It will change how we spend our money. It affects what we think about during the day. It will change how we talk to people. We will think about sharing Jesus a lot more. We will think about Jesus a lot more in general. We will pray more. We will read the Bible more. We will become more deeply devoted to God because he is Truth and nothing else in the world is. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Rachel Klooster & Billy Heschl
SummaryIn this episode, Sean M Weiss discusses the critical role of compliance officers in healthcare organizations, emphasizing their responsibilities, best practices, and the importance of maintaining objectivity and independence. He outlines the do's and don'ts of compliance, highlights essential resources for compliance officers, and stresses the need for separation between compliance, legal, and operations to ensure effective oversight and ethical conduct.TakeawaysThe compliance officer is pivotal in safeguarding organizational integrity.Compliance officers must adhere to laws like the False Claims Act and HIPAA.Regular risk assessments are crucial for identifying high-risk areas.Establishing anonymous reporting mechanisms encourages whistleblowing.Ignoring red flags can expose organizations to significant risks.Objectivity and independence are essential for effective compliance.Resources from OIG and CMS are vital for compliance programs.Separation of compliance from legal and operations is necessary.Fostering a culture of ethical conduct mitigates potential liabilities.Compliance is a continuous process that requires vigilance and adaptation.
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
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Daily Dose of Hope November 10, 2025 Scripture - John 18:1-18 Prayer: Holy God, We come before you today in humility and awe. You are a good God. You, who put the stars and planets in motion, also created us. You care about the most minute details of our lives. You have numbered the hairs on our head. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for caring so much. Help us be put even a small reflection of your love toward those around us. More of you and less of me, Jesus. Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently in the book of John, as we walk through the whole of the Gospels and the book of Acts. Today, we start John 18. We start in the Garden. Unlike Mark's Gospel, Jesus does not plead that the cup be taken from him. Rather, he steps forward and boldly declares that he is Jesus of Nazareth, the one they are looking for. The Garden of Gethsemane is a common place. He is not hiding and he is not apprehensive. He offers himself in place of his disciples who are there with him. He affirms the anti-violent path given to him by God and rebukes Peter when he cuts the high priest's slave's ear off. Jesus will not allow anyone, including Peter, to deprive him of his role in God's victory. Jesus knows he is innocent, he knows this is unjust, but he also knows it is necessary so he will do what must be done, not for his sake but for ours. I always wonder what Judas is thinking in this moment. Does he have a sense of satisfaction? Or, is there part of him that has regret? Does he see Jesus' innocence and begin to see what he has done? I don't think we will ever know but I can't help but wonder. Judas was a complicated character and if we are honest, we've all been Judas at one time or another. We have all betrayed Jesus. Speaking of betrayal, we also get to read about Peter's first denial of Jesus to the servant girl in the high priest's courtyard. The first of three, of course. What was going on in Peter's head? We know he had to be scared to death. Was he praying? Had he forgotten everything Jesus taught him? Was he trying to figure out how to just get out of the situation alive? I mean, he was Jesus' very best friend. More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Jeff Klein, Pastor of Outreach
Previously we spoke about the רמב"ם that says that אהבה and יראה comes simultaneously by looking into creation. The רמב"ם actually mentions אהבה first. Interesting to note the חובות הלבבות in the tenth gate, the gate of אהבת השם, clearly states that אהבה is all at the end of the totem pole, it's his final gate. And he says that quite often the Torah mentions fear of Hashem before love. Like it says, ואתה ישראל, דברים 10:12, מה השם אלוקיך שואל מעמך? What does God want from you? כי אם ליראה to fear ולאהבה and to love. דברים 10:20, את השם אלוקיך תירא ובו תדבק. Fear Hashem and cleave to him. Cleaving refers to loving him. And he says, חייב להקדים היראה על האהבה באלוקים. You have to start with fear. Because if you don't have fear, he says, you can't come to love. Again he says, אי אפשר שיגיע אדם אליו, you can't reach it, אלא אחר שתקדם יראתו ופחדו. First you have to have fear and פחדו and and trembling from your God. Interestingly enough, as the source for why we need to look into creation, the חובות הלבבות quotes a פסוק in קהלת 3:14, והאלוקים עשה, God created the world, שייראו מלפניו that we fear him. So the חובות הלבבות is consistent with his reasoning that I have to start looking into creation to fear him, to realize how great he is, that I shouldn't sin in front of him, to stand in front of him with awe and trepidation. Love will come later. That's the tenth gate. Got some time for that.And now let's discuss this פסוק והאלוקים עשה שייראו מלפניו. God created the world to fear him. The גמרא מסכת ברכות in two places quotes this פסוק. One time, רבי יוחנן says this refers to a bad dream. The purpose of a bad dream is that you should be afraid. What does that mean that bad dreams were created for people to fear Hashem? The גמרא מסכת ברכות says that a bad dream is actually a good sign. Because you have the bad dream, in the dream you were whatever the in a car accident, and you're all shaken up. Well, hey, you got scared from the dream, you got all shaken up. You say, oh no, these things could happen. I gotta get closer to Hashem. And by having the bad dream, the bad event didn't happen. So the bad dream accomplished what it was supposed to do, to instill a little fear in your heart. Based on this, the Steipler says in one of his letters that one of the reasons why people חס ושלום have to go for a medical testing, and they have to wait for a week till they get the results, and then ברוך השם you say, ah, the results came out good. That's really, he says, the same message as a bad dream. You needed to have some fear in your life, you needed some trepidation, and that fear healed you. God does things in this world to cause fear of him. That's one example of the of the reason why of what an example of that is. Another place in ברכות אמר רבי יהושע בן לוי. You know why God created thunder? To smooth out the crookedness of one's heart. As it says, והאלוקים עשה שייראו מלפניו. God did things to make us fear him. When you hear, says the מהרש"א, thunder, which is very scary and seemingly there's no real purpose of it, the purpose was to instill fear into you, and that will cause you to repent because you're afraid. But there's a beautiful point over here. The חובות הלבבות is telling us you can get fear through a bad dream, you can get fear from thunder, but you know what? You could get fear from looking at the apple and the orange, by seeing Hashem in creation. He's always watching me, he's always with me. And therefore, the smoothest way, the easiest way, the most painless way of fear, is by us finding God in creation and that gives us a level of יראת שמיים. So that's what we're going to be doing over here. Either the רמב"ם we're doing love and fear, or the חובות הלבבות doing fear alone, but regardless, we're involved in a very important activity of finding Hashem in creation. שער הבחינה, finding Hashem, testing, probing, being able to discern God in creation. Interesting, the first ברכה in ברכות השחר, הנותן לשכוי בינה. God gave the שכוי, which could mean the rooster or the human. being, בינה understanding, להבחין to discern between day and night. That's the ability to be critical, to be a critical thinker, to be able to discern and see and find. That's the להבחין, בחינה, שער הבחינה. And we will
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
Daily Dose of Wisdom put together a compilation of apologists that supposedly demonstrate that atheism fails its own test.Cards:Christians Believe in Biological Determinism Now?!?:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNQ4YQwE2vQWould Objective Morality Actually Be Better?
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Daily Dose of Hope November 7, 2025 Scripture - John 17 Prayer: Dear Holy God, Your love is amazing. Thank you for the way you care for us. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us focus on you...Lord Jesus, help us set aside every distraction and take this time to lean on you. We want to hear your voice. Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily bible reading plan. We are currently in the book of John as we walk through the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are deep diving into John 17. In our passage, John 17, Jesus is praying, out loud, with the disciples around him. There is a lot of substance here. You probably noticed that there are three sections to Jesus' prayer, the prayer that God will glorify Jesus, a prayer for the disciples, and a prayer for all believers. Unlike the Lord's Prayer which offers a model for prayer, this prayer is more instructive to the disciples about who they are and who Jesus is to them. What might it have been like for the disciples to be seated around a table with Jesus as he prayed out loud for them? Think about what it's like when someone prays out loud for you. It changes your experience of the prayer. It makes it very, very personal. One interesting aspect of this prayer is that Jesus starts by giving a clear definition of eternal life and it isn't the typical one. He says, ...this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. That seems rather simple - eternal life is to know God and Jesus. How does Jesus' definition here change what we imagine in this life? Really, the whole prayer paints a picture about what it looks like to be in relationship with God. What does it look like for the disciples to be in relationship with God? What does it look like for us, as the believers who have come after them? We are to be in unity with God but also in unity with one another. In fact, the way the world will know that Jesus was sent by God is because of the love and unity of his followers. Considering the disunity of the body of Christ now and in the past, this just makes me cry! I was at a conference this past week in which the opening speaker mentioned this specific prayer by Jesus regarding Christian unity. He said it had been his study and prayer focus for several months now. He confessed that it used to really bother him because Christians have failed so miserably at being unified. But after this time of prayer and study, he came to the conclusion that Jesus would not pray something that wasn't possible. And that makes sense. It's not in Jesus' character to set us up for failure. Just because something is difficult does not mean it's impossible. But it is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us as God's people. It's going to take a lot of humility and repentance too!!! What are your thoughts? Is Christian unity possible? Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Erin Pacheco, Director of Worship
Daily Dose of Hope October 6, 2025 Scripture – John 16 Prayer: Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth! We magnify your precious and powerful name. How often we forget how mighty you are. You created all. You created us. Thank you, Lord, for who you are. Most of all, thank you for loving us with all our flaws and brokenness. In all we do, in who we are, help us to be more like you. We pray for humility, mercy, and compassion. Help us see others through your eyes. In Your Name, Amen.` Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are going through the book of John currently as part of our deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are taking a look at John 16. Jesus starts by telling the disciples that he is teaching them all of this because things are going to get hard. He wants them to know just how hard. Not only will Jesus be arrested and killed, but the disciples themselves will experience persecution. I'm not sure that this has crossed their minds. Remember, they are still thinking that Jesus will establish an earthly Kingdom that will overthrow the Romans. Jesus reiterates that he will be going away, there will be grief, but then there will be joy. He uses the analogy of a woman having a baby. There is lots of pain during childbirth but when the child comes, it's all worth it. There is so much joy in holding that new baby. So Jesus says that the disciples will have tremendous grief but then they will have tremendous joy. They question him, of course, because they really don't understand. This is still very confusing to them. This doesn't fit their idea of what it supposed to happen. But the final verse of this chapter is one of my favorites and definitely worth memorizing. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Jesus knows that they don't get it and that the next few days are going to be excruciating. Really, the next few years will be hard. But we live in a broken world. He didn't come to take away pain and suffering. In fact, he says that in this world, we will have trouble. Expect it. But because of Jesus, we can actually have peace in the midst of trouble. We can have the kind of peace the world does not offer, a peace that only makes sense connected to Jesus. Jesus is the one who conquered death, he overcame evil, he won victory over Satan. Because of his victory, we also can experience victory. Because of his resurrection, we also can experience resurrection. All the troubles of this world won't go away for us, but we can get through them. Jesus can make a way when their seems to be absolutely no way. He can bring peace to our chaos. He is the one who overcame the world. And that, my friends, is such great news. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
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Daily Dose of Hope November 5, 2025 Scripture – John 15 Prayer: Almighty Father, You always know what is best for us. Thank you for that. We are sorry for the ways that we resist. Help us to want what you want for us. Help us to want to be patient, to want to be kind, to want to be obedient. Conform our will, Lord, In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. As most of you know, we are right in the middle of a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are deep diving into John 15. The Scripture that we read from John 15 is incredibly powerful. Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." Jesus is talking to his followers about how to walk closely with him, essentially what it means to be a disciple. What is a disciple? A good working definition, for our purposes, is an apprentice, someone who wants to learn all they can from another person so they will do what they do and become like them. To be a disciple of Jesus, that means we have to actively learn about Jesus, know him, become like him. And this Scripture gives us a really important clue as to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. A disciple remains in Jesus. Older translations use the term abide. To remain or abide in Jesus means not simply to have said yes to Jesus, but to have a connection with Jesus, we are in union with him, we stay with him, we rest in him. Let's think about this. The presence of Jesus is always with us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is always there, but we tend to move away from him. Jesus is saying here, remain in me. Stay close to me, stay connected to me, stay in conversation with me. How do we do this? Well, through prayer, reading Scripture, worship, and other spiritual disciplines. If we don't pray, if we don't read the Bible, if we don't worship, we will not feel connected to Jesus. We are not remaining in him and the result will be evident. We will feel dry, parched, alone, we will start to gradually make choices that don't represent who we are in Jesus, the world will begin to seep in, gradually, so gradually sometimes that we don't even notice. I've used the teacup example before. If you drink tea (and use teabags), then you are either a dipper or a steeper. If you dip that teabag in the water, you go up and down and up and down and the tea never gets that strong. A lot of people are like that with faith. They are dippers. They dip into prayer and dip out of prayer. They dip into Bible study and dip out of Bible study. They dip into church and dip out of church. But Jesus wants us to be steepers. He wants us to steep in prayer, Bible study, and worship. He wants us to soak in his presence so we are like really strong tea. Now, part of abiding is to acknowledge that we need Jesus and are totally dependent on Jesus. Think about this---the branch is totally dependent on the vine. Without the vine, the branch is useless, lifeless, powerless. Sap flows from the vine to the branch, supplying it with water, minerals, and nutrients that make it grow. And believers receive the "sap" of Christ's grace through our life-giving connection to him. Intentionally remaining in Jesus is recognizing that we can't do this life alone. We need Jesus. I need daily, sometimes hourly, times of prayer to abide with Jesus. How are you doing abiding in Jesus? (Use a scale of 1 to 10 right now to assess how well you abide in Christ, 1 being not at all and 10 being totally soaking him in all the time). Let's take a look at the next part of the Scripture, John 15:5-8, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." So we can see the other characteristic of a true disciple is producing fruit. When we abide or remain in Jesus, then fruit should be the natural result. Resting in Jesus makes us changed people – our attitudes are different, our behavior is different, it's noticeable. We are more patient, more kind, more loving, more generous, more gentle; basically, we look more like Christ. We bear fruit not by squeezing it out of ourselves but because we are extensions of the vine, pruned by the gardener. Think about a grapevine. I've never been very successful growing grapes in Florida but most of us have seen a grapevine at some point. They are typically grown on a trellis. They have to be pruned and trimmed by the gardener in order to produce new healthy branches that bear fruit. If you don't prune, then you are going to have a lot of leafy green but it won't produce new branches that bear fruit. It will look good but it won't produce anything. And the point is of course, not simply to look pretty on the trellis, but to actually produce some fruit. Of course, our purpose is not simply to look good, to look Godly or righteous, but to ACTUALLY produce fruit. So, God may need to prune us to ensure that happens. I used to be afraid of God's pruning, but I've found in my own life that God prunes me because he loves me. He wants to remove those things in my life that are hindering my spiritual growth. This could mean bad habits, bad relationships, things that are toxic, generally anything that is getting in the way of me becoming the person God wants me to be. Sometimes God removes things directly (like he simply removes something from our life like a relationship or a job or you name it – think of something God removed and in retrospect, needed to remove from your life). Other times, God convicts us so that we will make the move to remove whatever it is that is creating a wedge in our relationship with him. Think about your relationship with God right now. What has hindered you from bearing more fruit or bearing fruit at all? Fears and insecurities from your past? Selfishness? An unhealthy attachment to stuff? Unhealthy friendships, unhealthy behavior patterns? Complacency, being too comfortable, laziness, fatigue, lack of passion? Whatever it is, acknowledge it now. God wants better for you. He wants to walk closely with you. In fact, God wants HIS best for you. He wants you to live a fruitful, abundant life. Do you want that? Really, do you? Let's spend some extended time in prayer, asking God to reveal himself to us right now. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Jason Turner, Director of Congregational Engagement
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
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Daily Dose of Hope November 4, 2025 Scripture - John 14:15-31 Prayer: Holy God, We come before you today rejoicing in your powerful name. Thank you for who you are and all you do. Thank you for loving us. Help us gather our scattered thoughts, help us set aside distractions, and truly focus on you right now. In these next few moments of silence, Lord, we want to hear your voice...In Your Name, Amen. Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently doing a deep dive of the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish John 14. We have just read about how Jesus has washed his disciples' feet, shared a Passover meal with them, and even predicted their denial. Now, he has moved into this long extended time of teaching. He wants them to understand what is coming. Jesus is saying, there are confusing, hard days ahead. In fact, over the next few chapters, he warns them of this several times–things are going to get really tough. Jesus knows that in a few short hours, he will be arrested in the garden, his trial will soon begin, and cross is looming large. He is preparing them for what's to come...He won't be with you them body anymore—but will send the Holy Spirit (he calls the Spirit the Advocate, which comes from the Greek word Paraclete meaning the helper, the one who comes alongside). Jesus basically says this is what I promise that Spirit will do in your life: The Spirit will constantly be with you and constantly be guiding you, leading you, teaching you, reminding you of all the truths I have taught you. In fact, you can think of the Holy Spirit as a gift. You can think of the Spirit as my presence with you always. And if my presence is with you always, then even in the midst of confusion and trouble, you can have peace. It's the Holy Spirit that will allow you to experience a special kind of peace that is only possible connected to Jesus; it's a peace the world absolutely does not offer. How incredible. Jesus then tells them he has to go away. Remember, they really don't understand any of this. It's going to take time, reflection, and perspective, and the Holy Spirit, for this all to really come together for them. But it's worth mentioning that 50 days later, in Jerusalem, in another room, the believers are gathered together, hiding and waiting, not really sure what's going to happen...when the Holy Spirit shows up and fills the believers. This changes absolutely everything. While we will talk more about Pentecost when we cover Acts 2, I do want to talk a bit about the Holy Spirit today. What does the Holy Spirit do in our lives? Assures believers that they belong to God. I can't tell you how many I've counseled that worry that they haven't really been accepted by God. They have asked for forgiveness and said yes to Jesus Christ, been born again, but there is something within themselves that still makes them think they aren't deserving or that God doesn't want them or love them. The Holy Spirit, working within us, has the power to assure each of us that yes, God has accepted us and adopted us as his own. Romans 8:14-16, For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. Galatians 4:6, "And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Helps us become more Christ-like, more holy. It is the Holy Spirit's job to produce Christ-like character in you. When we talk about the Holy Spirit changing us from the inside out, this is what we are talking about. This process of changing us to be more like Jesus is called sanctification. You can't reproduce the character of Jesus on your own or by your own strength. New Year's resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough. They will only get us so far. It is the Holy Spirit that has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives. Philippians 2:13, God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. When we hear the phrase, "the power of the Holy Spirit," many people think of miracles and intense emotions. But most of the time, the Holy Spirit's power is released in our lives in quiet, unassuming ways that you aren't even aware of or feel. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we have done something wrong, The Holy Spirit often nudges us, sometimes with "a gentle whisper" and other times with a not so gentle whack to the head. Strengthens Our Faith. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit within us that our faith grows stronger and stronger, even in the midst of hard circumstances. Ephesians 3:16-18, I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. I love this imagery of roots going down deep into God's love to keep us strong. How deep are your roots? Are they shallow? When we are weak, when we don't know the words to say, the Holy Spirit prays for us on our behalf, kind of holds us up if you will. Romans 8:26-28, And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Do you need deeper roots? Is your faith wavering? Spend some time asking the Holy Spirit to help. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Kelly Day, Director of Coffee Break Bible Study
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Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
Like what you hear in this week's episode? Subscribe to A Daily Dose of Stars! Right now, you're using Astrology to predict your future. The real power lies in using it to partner with the energy of the moment. A Daily Dose of Stars is a daily energy report that helps you work practically with the energy of every single day. Each day, you'll walk away knowing when it's best to take bold action, when to prioritize rest, when to get outside and socialize, and when you're better off taking the day off and simply letting it all go. Trust me when I say: this level of intel is priceless. HERE'S ALL THE WAYS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER: https://www.drunkastro.com/work-with-me THE DRUNK ASTROLOGY WEBSITE: www.drunkastro.com HOST: Graham Breitenstein
Daily Dose of Hope November 3, 2025 Scripture - John 14:1-14 Prayer: Almighty Father, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every single morning. How grateful we are that we can start afresh and anew each day. Forgive us for the many times we fell short, for when we weren't loving, for when we were easily angered, for when our patience wore thin. Today, help us represent you well. In all things, may we be reminded who and whose we are. We are yours. In Your Name, Amen. This is the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin John 14. This is a phenomenal passage. I know I say that a lot but it truly is. It's a text we often hear read at funerals because it provides a tremendous amount of comfort that God has truly prepared a place for us in heaven. In this text, there is a great interaction between Jesus and Thomas. The disciples are experiencing a lot of anxiety. Jesus has just told them he's going away but he is trying to reassure them. Jesus is like, I'm on my way to get your room ready. I'll be coming back to get you, trust me. But anyway, you already know the way. And Thomas is like, "Umm…actually, I don't know the way, is there a map or something?" And that's when Jesus says, "You do know the way because I am the way. The only way to get to my Father is through me." And he reiterated what he has been teaching them, "to know me is to know the Father. If you have seen me, then you have seen the Father." Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. As the passage progresses, Philip is included in the conversation. Again, there is this focus on, "If you know me, then you know the Father." When Jesus says, "I am the way," he doesn't say "I am a way." How the Greek sentence is constructed makes it absolutely clear and irrefutable that Jesus is making an exclusive claim here. He is basically saying, don't go looking to anyone else to point you in those directions, because I am the only one who can!" Well, that feels pretty exclusive, doesn't it? Yes, it is. And exclusivity makes a lot of us feel uncomfortable. So much so, that many people, including Christians, pastors, and scholars, try to find a loophole here. People want to discount the validity of the Gospel of John, they want to find a problem in the Greek, you name it. Yes, John was written later than the other Gospels but scholars believe that it is still accurate and authoritative. John was written for the purpose of demonstrating that Jesus is the son of God and that is what he does. Thus, he makes this very exclusive claim that Jesus is the only way to the Father. But the Scripture I just read isn't the only one. What other Scriptures point to the exclusivity of Jesus? 1. John 3:16-18 (Jesus speaking to Nicodemus), For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 2. John 3:36 (later in the conversation)- Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them. 3. Acts 4:12 (Peter, speaking before the Jewish ruling council) – Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." 4. Rom. 10:9 – If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 5. I John 5:12 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. And there are many others but I'm going to stop there for now. I do believe in looking at the full narrative of Scripture – if we look at all of the Bible – it points to Jesus as the way to heaven. I've searched to see if the Bible allows for other options, possible openings, that might allow for another way and I haven't found any. There are some things in the Bible in which there is tension – it says this but it also says this – and we have to really dig and pray and interpret. But there isn't tension here at all --- Scripture clearly points to Jesus as the Son of God, the fulfillment of God's promise from Genesis to Revelation, and the only way to the Father, the only way to receive salvation, the only way to heaven. And that makes logical sense to me. Why would Jesus have voluntarily died on a Roman cross for us if he was just one option among many to provide a way to be saved? If there were other ways to receive salvation and get to God, then why would Jesus even need to do all that? Why would Christians throughout the ages have needed to stand their ground and lose their lives? Why would Christians around the world today be risking their lives to follow Christ? Some may say they are disillusioned but I personally don't believe so. If we believe that Jesus rose from the dead, proving his divinity, proving he is Lord of all – then that means we have to also believe everything he said. We can't pick and choose. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Jeff Klein, Pastor of Outreach
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
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Daily Dose of Hope October 31, 2025 Scripture – John 13:18-38 Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today, grateful for your love and care in our lives. Thank you for your presence and your peace. Help us to gather our scattered thoughts and set aside distractions so we can focus on what you have for us today. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, help me be still and know that you are God...We give you all the glory, Lord Almighty. Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. As most of you know, we have been going through the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish up John 13. In John's Gospel, there is an extended text about Jesus predicting Judas' betrayal. When asked who will be the one to betray him, Jesus says the one he dips the bread and offers it to. Jesus then dips the bread and gives it to Judas. He tells Judas to do what he is going to do and do it quickly. I often wondered why the disciples didn't notice this interaction more. They seem someone oblivious and lost in their own thoughts. Maybe they each wondered if they could be the one to betray their Master? John writes of a point in which Judas allows Satan to enter him. He had previously been influenced by Satan but now he has allowed the devil to have his way with him. At first, he opened the door a little. Then, he just opened the door wide. The devil had been feeding him lies, and Judas started believing them, totally and completely. The devil tempted him with money, and Judas found 30 pieces of silver more valuable than the God. Jesus told Judas that joy was to be found in sacrificially serving others, but Judas believed that Satan's way of putting self first was better. We recently went to a clergy training on deliverance, led by Pete Bellini, a professor at United Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. It was absolutely incredible and I would highly recommend Dr. Bellini's books. But one of the things that Dr. Bellini said was that we as Christ-followers cannot be possessed by Satan. We belong to Jesus so we can never totally belong to Satan. But we can become oppressed. We can open the door to the demonic through various means, i.e. porn use, messing with occult-related activities, and when we do so, demons can attach themselves to us. Satan can oppress certain parts of us. We may not even be aware of it. That is when deliverance is necessary. So, was Judas possessed or oppressed? Did he know Jesus? Did he believe? I don't know if we will ever know this side of heaven. Most of the scholars I read said they thought he was totally possessed by Satan at the end. Who knows? I would love your thoughts. Let's move on in our passage. Verses 34 and 35 are really incredible, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." It's as if, in two sentences, Jesus has summarized all his teachings to his disciples. And they aren't easy because they center on how we love one another. If we were to take these verses and look at church history, we would wonder if we were looking at the same faith. Christian history has done horrific things in Jesus' name. I think he must weep and mourn at this. Everything Jesus did was about teaching others to love and serve each other. And somehow, this got terribly corrupted. As we keep reading, Peter makes a very bold, ambitious claim that even if everyone else fell away and disappeared, he would not. Jesus doesn't mince words. He tells Peter that he will betray Jesus three times by that night (or as the text says, by the time the rooster crows two times). But Peter, and all the others, insist that they will follow Jesus even until death. I've thought about this a lot. At this time, the disciples still don't understand Jesus' ministry or purpose. They think they will follow him no matter what but we know what happens. They all scatter once Jesus is arrested. Peter does deny him three times in just a few short hours, consumed with fear for his own safety. When push came to shove, they weren't quite as invested in Jesus' mission as they thought. But then things changed. After the resurrection, the disciples were changed in fundamental ways. Peter, who was initially impulsive and fearful, becomes strong and bold, a superb leader in the early church. After experiencing both the risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit, their whole outlook on life is transformed. And all of them, except for John, are martyred for the Gospel. They do end up following Jesus to their own earthly death, just not in the timing they expected. I've asked this question before but it's worth repeating - would you follow Jesus to the point of giving up your life? If you were being tortured and persecuted for your faith, would you stay faithful to Jesus or would you give in to the pressure and deny Christ? It is not outside the realm of possibility that such a situation could exist for us. Afterall, it does exist for Christians all over the world. Reflect on this and spend some time in prayer. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Justin Paul-Lawrence, Executive Director
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
Daily Dose of Hope October 30, 2025 Scripture - John 13:1-17 Prayer: Almighty God, we start by pausing before you. Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God. God, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak to us through it. It's truly a miracle. Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through the Gospels and Acts. Can you believe we have already done a deep dive through Mark, Matthew, Luke, and we are half way through John? I would love to hear about your big takeaways thus far from the Gospels? What is Jesus teaching you? Today, we begin John 13. This is familiar and beautiful Scripture. The time for the Passover meal has come, the disciples are sitting and reclining at the table, and Jesus himself gets up to wash their feet. This might not sound that odd to us but foot-washing was a lowly task in 1st century Palestine. Think about it: their feet were very dirty; the men wore sandals, they walked everywhere, and the roads were filthy with dirt, dust, and animal droppings. Thus, this was the job usually saved for the lowliest of servants. Peers did not wash each others' feet. In Luke's Gospel, the disciples actually start arguing about is the greatest among them; their attitudes certainly indicated that they weren't going to stoop so low as to wash each others' feet. In today's Scripture, when Jesus gets up to wash the disciples' feet, the disciples are shocked. How could he? Of course, Jesus always has something deeper in mind. Jesus is a perfect example of humility and selflessness, which will ultimately be demonstrated in its most extreme form on the cross. This Sunday at New Hope, we will be talking about Christian leadership. This passage is such a powerful picture of the way God intends Christian leadership to be: Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (v.3-5) Jesus knew who he was. He understood his relationship with God, so he was free to serve others without worrying about what people thought of him. And, you know, that goes for us too. As Christian leaders, we can do the most lowly task or the most amazing task. Nothing is too high and nothing is beneath us when we are serving other people. I know you have probably met Christian leaders and pastors who have been arrogant jerks and I'm apologizing for them right now. That wasn't the way God intended this job to be. We are chief servants. All of us as Christian leaders, in the church, at our job, at our hobbies, in our homes, we are all to be chief servants, doing our best to imitate the servant leadership style of Jesus. We serve others --- we serve our spouses, we serve our friends, we serve our employees, we serve our neighbors. That doesn't show weakness, it shows strength. Our identity is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ, not in our role or our job. And when we start to get that mixed up, that's when we will get in real trouble. More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor
Even researchers from the pro-taurine anti-aging study recommend against experimenting with taurine, but if you want to give it a try, what daily dose might be best?
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
Daily Dose of Hope October 29, 2025 Scripture – John 12:20-50 Prayer: Almighty Father, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every single morning. How grateful we are that we can start afresh and anew each day. Forgive us for the many times we fell short, for when we weren't loving, for when we were easily angered, for when our patience wore thin. Today, help us represent you well. In all things, may we be reminded who and whose we are. We are yours. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast which goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish John 12. In the beginning of today's reading, the Greeks ask to see Jesus. Something I discovered in researching today's devotional is that first-century synagogues welcomed Gentiles. I had no idea; I assumed they were the domain of Jews alone. We know that Gentiles were actually drawn to Jesus. They were outsiders and there was something about Jesus that outsiders flocked to. We are seeing that in this passage. Jesus speaks of his coming exaltation. The hour is coming in which the Son of Man might be glorified. In fact, the Son of Man is the seed who will fall, die, and produce much fruit. He is one who will willingly give up his life for the benefit of others in obedience of the Father's will. Jesus knows his mission. He understands his mission. He doesn't need reassurance here, but a voice from heaven comes to help the divided crowd gathered around him. So, let's go back to the beginning of this passage. The Greeks want to see Jesus. But will they be able to actually see him? How well do we see him? I do want to briefly touch on the rest of the passage. There is a lot of substance here. Jesus says that if someone believes in him, they also believe in the one who sent him. So, if you believe in Jesus, you believe in the Father. Jesus is saying that he is a light that points to the Father. He is, essentially, the image of the invisible God. We can't separate God and Jesus. God is Jesus and Jesus is God. Let's talk a little bit about verse 47, which is often misunderstood. "If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world." The purpose of Jesus' first coming was not to judge the world, but to save the world. Jesus' first coming was all about showing us a different way of doing life, dying on a cross for our sins, and offering us salvation. But let's be clear, that doesn't mean there won't be a judgment. Jesus' second coming will be about judgement. Every single one of us will be judged. God will look at the card catalogue of my life and yours and we will see all the appalling things we did. But we will also either be marked guilty or not guilty based on if we know Jesus or not. Where do you land? Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
Daily Dose of Hope October 28, 2025 Scripture – John 12:1-19 Prayer: Holy God, We rejoice in your name today. You are almighty and wise, the Alpha and the Omega. You are the one who was, and is, and is to come. We give you all the glory and praise. Help us now, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers... In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin John 12. There is a lot going on this chapter. It begins with Mary anointing Jesus with an expensive perfume, much to Judas' dismay. The other Gospels don't name the woman who anoints Jesus' feet, but John says that it's Mary, sister of Lazarus and Martha. By doing so, Mary is pointing to Jesus' identity as Messiah King, but also as Servant King. She wipes Jesus' feet with her hair, a lowly position, but one that foreshadows Jesus' own actions at the Last Supper when he washes his disciples' feet and demonstrates love through sacrificial, humble service. Judas was all about the money. Remember, he wasn't complaining about the "waste" because he truly wanted to help the poor but because he was skimming from the money bag. He wanted more money for himself. One more quick comment about this. I once had someone tell me that there was no real need to give to the poor because Jesus himself said the poor you will always have with you. I think most of you know that context is everything. Jesus took care of the poor all the time! He was not telling us not to care for the poor in any way, shape, or form. Rather, in this specific instance, he was responding to Judas' superficial complaint. He knew that Judas didn't care about the poor but about his own pockets. In that moment, Mary was caring for Jesus. There would be plenty of time for her to care for the poor in her community and I'm sure she did because she followed Jesus' example. But there is a time and a place for everything. There is a brief discussion, before the Palm Sunday passage, about the need to kill Lazarus. The Pharisees are getting desperate. It isn't enough to simply target Jesus, they also plan to target Lazarus because he is also getting attention for being raised from the dead. These are men of God whose hearts have grown hard. Fear has a tendency to do that. With that, let's move on to Palm Sunday. As a little girl going to Sunday School, I can remember making palm branches and waving them. Jesus' triumphal entry was described kind of like a parade. Think about parades with their marching bands, large balloons, and dancers. They are often about celebration and national pride. But Jesus' entry into Jerusalem this wasn't that kind of parade, especially as the book of John describes it. Basically, we see Jesus being given a royal welcoming. The other Gospels go into even more detail. The people are laying palm branches down for him. They are running ahead in the streets to give him this royal kind of treatment. This is the kind of welcome that the emperor or a high official of the Roman government would have received. Think of it kind of like the red carpet being rolled out---a sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived. While the disciples appear to be confused, some of the Jews in the crowd would have known that this a fulfillment of prophecy. John quotes Zechariah 9:9,Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. All the signs point to the fact that this Jesus is the king. By making this announcement, Jesus knows what this means. His death will be soon. Blessings, Pastor Vicki
Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose. About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023). Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
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