Podcasts about Damascus

Join us as we dig deeper into last Sunday's sermon from Pastor Randy Duncan "The Gospel for the Persecutor" and hear from Amy Duncan and Nya Martinez on "Christ Be Magnified". Digging Deeper Questions: Saul wasn't looking for Jesus. Jesus was looking for Saul. When have you experienced God pursuing you, even when you weren't seeking Him? How does Saul's story change the way you think about people who seem "too far gone" for God?   Ananias had every reason to fear Saul, yet his first words were, "Brother Saul." Is there someone in your life whom you've quietly labeled as beyond hope, forgiveness, or acceptance? What would it look like to see that person through the eyes of Jesus?   Saul's encounter with Jesus didn't simply improve his life. It completely re-centered it. What area of your life is Jesus currently turning "right side up"? Where is He calling you to surrender control?   Jesus told Ananias that Saul would suffer for His name, but He also promised His presence. How does knowing that Christ is with us in suffering change the way we face hardship or opposition for our faith?   The sermon reminds us that the Gospel is bigger than our sin, our failures, and our assumptions about others. This week, who is your "Saul"? What is one intentional step you can take to pray for, encourage, or reach out to someone who needs to experience the pursuing, embracing, and transforming grace of Jesus? Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-22 1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" 5 And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.   10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." 11 And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." 13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.   For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?" 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.   Intro/Outro Song: "Only One" Nate Zuellig ULC Artist In Residence    "Christ Be Magnified" Cody Carnes CCLI Song # 7139866   CCLI License # 11254293

UNRWA USA CEO Mara Kronenfeld is a Jewish American woman and the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor — and she leads the American nonprofit supporting the UN agency for Palestine refugees. In this episode of Immigrantly, Saadia Khan asks her what it costs to break the script. Mara traces her path from Riverside, California to a Fulbright year in Damascus, where friendships built in Yarmouk refugee camp reshaped everything she thought she knew about the Arab world. She explains what UNRWA actually is, why it was designed to become obsolete, and answers the "UNRWA institutionalizes refugeehood" critique head-on. She describes conditions in Gaza after the October 2025 ceasefire that hasn't stopped the killing — rodents biting children in tents, women unable to afford or find menstrual supplies, a father tearing up his last clothes for his daughter. She tells the story of her colleague Hani Almadhoun, who lost two brothers in Gaza — including Chef Mahmoud of the Gaza Soup Kitchen, killed by a drone as he walked to Kamal Adwan Hospital, the hospital whose director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya remains in Israeli detention without charge to this day. And she takes apart the Board of Peace, which declared this summer that UNRWA has "no place" in Gaza's future and framed its work as perpetual aid dependency. Mara also answers the hardest one in her line of work — when a Palestinian says, "This is our story to lead," where does your voice end and theirs begin? Mara Kronenfeld is the CEO of UNRWA USA. She speaks Arabic, holds a Master's in Middle East studies, and has worked across the Middle East for more than two decades. Learn more and donate at unrwausa.org. The NYC Gaza 5K returns to Prospect Park, Brooklyn on Sunday, October 11. Keywords: UNRWA, Gaza, Palestinian refugees, Mara Kronenfeld, Kamal Adwan Hospital, Hussam Abu Safiya, Board of Peace, humanitarian aid, Jewish American identity, ceasefire, Immigrantly podcast UNRWA USA's Gaza 5K page Voices of UNRWA blog post: Inheriting Exile: The Identity Struggle of a Palestine Refugee Voices of UNRWA blog post: Live from Gaza: Hani's Family UNRWA USA FAQ page UNRWA is still in Gaza, Washington Post, Dec. 2025 UNRWA USA donation page Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Work has been recast in our culture as something to escape, endure, or minimize. But if you read Scripture from beginning to end, you find exactly the opposite. God himself is described as working. Adam and Eve were placed in the garden to work it. Moses was shepherding his flocks when he saw the burning bush. Gideon was threshing wheat. David was watching sheep. Matthew was collecting taxes. James, John, and Peter were fishing. Even Saul, who would become Paul, was vigorously pursuing his mission on the road to Damascus when everything changed.The pattern is consistent across every person God called to do something significant in Scripture: they were all working when it happened. Not resting, not waiting for clarity, not praying for direction before taking any steps. They were already in the middle of something. God doesn't seem to be in the habit of calling people off couches. He calls people who are already engaged — and work is the environment in which he molds them.Paul reminds believers in Ephesus of something foundational: you are the handiwork of God, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which he prepared in advance for you. That's not a sentiment. It's an identity claim. You were not put here simply to take from the world, but to contribute something to it. Something specifically yours.Support the mission of the Salty Pastor ministry! Visit our donations page at https://pushpay.com/g/thesaltypastor to help us continue sharing truth with a world in need. Visit thesaltypastor.com to sign up for our weekly email, designed to coach, inspire, and encourage you to a mature faith.Discussion Questions1. Do you think of yourself as the "handiwork of God, created to do good works"? Does that description feel real to you — or does it feel like something you'd say but don't quite believe?2. The biblical pattern shows everyone God called was already working. How does that challenge the way you think about waiting for God's direction versus stepping out?3. What does "work as the environment where God molds you" mean in your specific situation right now? What might he be trying to develop in you through what you're currently doing?

Paul gets one more hearing, this time before a king who actually knows the Scriptures, and he makes the most of it. He lays out his old life as a persecutor, what happened on the road to Damascus, and why the prophets and Moses point to a Christ who suffers and rises. Festus interrupts and calls him insane. Agrippa is smoother about it. Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian? Then he stands, agrees that Paul has done nothing worth death, and walks out. Paul could have been set free, but the Holy Spirit was leading him to appeal before Caesar.  The Rev. Timothy Barkett, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Kingman, AZ, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Acts 26:1-32.  To learn more about Good Shepherd in Kingman, visit goodshepherdlckingman.org. The book of Acts picks up where the Gospels leave off. Jesus has risen. He has ascended. And now what? Acts answers that question. Luke tells the story of how the Holy Spirit built the Church from a handful of frightened disciples in Jerusalem into a movement that reached Rome itself. Along the way, you get Pentecost, the first sermons, the first martyrs, the conversion of Paul, the first church councils, shipwrecks, riots, and the persistent, stubborn work of God through Word and Sacrament even when His people didn't have a plan. If you've ever wondered how we got from Easter morning to the Church you sit in today, this is the book. Tune in for this new series on Thy Strong Word with Pastor Phil Booe and guest pastors as we open up the Book of Acts.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

The Time Traveler’s Quick Guide to Armageddon       Over the last several months, we have done some deep dives into the principalities and powers in high places, the beast kingdoms, and then more particularly, into the kings of the east, another category that intersects with the beast kingdoms, including the Persian bear.   In term of their proto-prophecies in the Torah, we’ve been all over the place because prophecy is cyclical, even though not identical, from generation to generation. When we read of events in the Psalms, Writings, Prophets, and New Testament, the writers expect us to already be familiar with those proto-prophecies.   It was important to establish the earmarks of the battles with the kings of the east in Torah because Adonai declares the end from the beginning. If we want to have the basic understanding of the sixth and seventh bowls of wrath in the end and how they lure in the nations to Armageddon (Har-Megiddo), then we familiarize ourselves with them at the beginning:   “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)   And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.   Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.” (Re 16:12-18)   Har is “mountain,” and Megiddo is “a place of crowds,” so important in its military situation that it has been destroyed and built over numerous times. It overlooks the Jezreel Valley's flat, agriculturally fertile abundance as well as the road to the Western Sea, or Mediterranean, an excellent place to monitor the coastal trade route that connected continents from ancient times. John prophesies of a final crowd that will be drawn to this ancient hill in the ol’ breadbasket of Israel.   Rather than review some of the many points from our Heaven Shaking the Bear series, I will use them to augment some additional points in this newsletter. You can always go back and access the transcripts (thank you, volunteers!) or videos for little details, such as why even Canaanite kings are considered kings of the east. I'd rather add some new information for your handy time travel guide to Armageddon. We'll be half Marty McFly and half Indiana Jones on our hunt for clues to Armageddon.   Let's take a seat in our time machine, the Word, and travel back to our familiar story in Judges 4-5, the story of Deborah, Barak, and Sisera with his 900 iron chariots. A little clue is in Sisera's 900 chariots. It links the ancient with the future. Nine hundred years (plus some) is the typical age of the pre-flood notables from Adam to Noah. In human history, they are the ancients. It was an era marked by the rebellion of the “sons of Elohim” who provoked human beings to such a violence.   Sisera's chariots were iron, denoting the Roman beast kingdom that is mingled with clay in the feet of his image. In other words, something of Deborah's story will establish a template for understanding the final defeat of the Red One, who appears in Revelation as the chosen steed for the Great Harlot Babylon. The nine-hundred-year era of the days of Noah and its violence will link to the end time of Armageddon.   Every time I see the word “Babylonian,” my mind says, “babaloney.” Don't know why. But ick.   Okay, now let's power up the time machine. We need to visit Abraham's time during the battle for Sodom among the kings of the east, the Covenant Between the Pieces, and then visit Moses in the wilderness.   Ready? Push the Abraham button. It might say, Avram, but you'll recognize it. Here we go.   Wait, wait. First, tape a copy of Judges 4-5 and a map of Israel on your steering wheel. We'll need to compare what we see with the first battle of Armageddon that Deborah fought against Sisera to our past future locations.   Okay, here we come, Abrahamic period. We are landing among the four kings of the east, led by Amraphel (perhaps Nimrod), who marched through and defeated territories east of the Jordan. The five kings of the Sodom coalition have quit paying their taxes, so the four kings are on their way to collect plus interest.   Even though those cities of Sodom are situated mostly to the east of the Salt Sea, after the four kings first march and defeat cities east of the Jordan and in the highlands of Bashan, they are continuing as far as the Negev near Kadesh, En-Mishpat, and Hazazon-Tamar. By bypassing the Sodom coalition cities, the four kings are giving the five kings time to muster before the four kings turn back east and meet them near the Salt Sea in battle. Do you see this? Inexplicably, Sodom's five kings are falling into tar pits! Shouldn't they know about those tar pits? After all, this is their territory! How strange!   And there goes Lot and his family as captives. And there…someone escapes and runs to tell Abraham. Okay, we don't have to follow them up to Damascus. We know how this ends. Check your Judges 4-5 Scriptures and map. They're taped to your steering wheel, remember?   Something similar happened to Sisera's iron chariot. Like Pharaoh drove his chariots into the Reed Sea and there his chariot wheels became “confused,” so Sisera drove his chariots into the mud of the Kishon, which he should have known about because he was a Canaanite.   Although Pharaoh was not a “king of the east,” he is the dragon, and his authority was passed to them. This suggests that our soggy bottom boys are experiencing a Divine intervention, not just a human battle. Something flies in their brains, stings them, and causes confusion…perhaps the tzirah, the supernatural hornet of Moses and Joshua?   The tzirah went before the armies of Israel, and it helped Moses conquer on the east side of the Jordan and Joshua on the west side of the Jordan. It first causes confusion, and then it cuts off root and fruit. It is the supernatural bug described as being released from the King of Abaddon in Revelation.   Not so coincidentally, Deborah's name means “bee” in Hebrew, and “hornet” in Aramaic. The root of her name is “word,” as in Devarim, the fifth book of the Torah and perhaps the most apocalyptic since it is the little scroll of Torah. There was a reason Barak would not take his soldiers into battle without her; she represented the Divine power of the Word going before them!   How does Deborah know to tell Barak that he needs exactly 10,000 soldiers mustered from a place named “Kedesh”?   Deborah judged Israel under the “palm tree of Deborah.” A palm tree is a tamar:   “She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment (mishpat ????????????).”   Can you see Deborah studying the scrolls of Torah? Those scrolls are rolling her right into the time of Avraham, and she sees the conquests of Moses and Joshua in the wilderness, such as Amalek. She recognizes the conquests of the four kings as having the same names that are in the hill country of Ephraim near Har-Megiddo: From Kadesh to Kedesh. From Hazazon-Tamar to the tamar providing her shade to read the scroll. From En-Mishpat to her job rendering mishpat for Israel.   We know Deborah has spent time scroll-rolling back to Abraham's time because she mentions something specific in her Judges Five song. The Song of Deborah mentions the courage of the tribe of Ephraim in the defeat of Sisera's chariots:   “From Ephraim, those whose root is in Amalek came down…”   If you need to, program in “Amalek in the Wilderness,” and travel there to see a bit of the battle. This “root in Amalek” is thought to refer to the wilderness battle under Moses in which the Ephraimite Joshua defeated Amalek. The tribe of Ephraim is rooted in its leadership in the victory in the wilderness in Israel's first encounter with Amalek.   Deborah knows Amalek is enticed to attack when its opponent looks weak, so that gives her a Divine strategy in enticing this king of the east Sisera to his Armageddon. Okay, now travel back to the battle between the four kings and the five kings. The four kings of the east also conquered Amalek before turning back to battle the five kings of Sodom.   While the battle continues, let's return to this question (you already know how that battle ends): How does Deborah know to tell Barak that he needs exactly 10,000 soldiers mustered from a place named “Kedesh”?   We've only partially answered it. And our answer is based on the battle between bad kings of the east vs worse kings of the east. We don't want to take this as the only source of Deborah's inspired strategy to lure Sisera to Har-Megiddo. Deborah is scrolling through the rolls of the Torah, and she must have some even better prophecies on which she bases her battle with Sisera. Let's leave these guys for Avraham to deal with and travel forward and back to Deborah's palm tree for more clues.   Yes, time travelers. Next week we'll go back to the future with Deborah and spend some more time with Avraham and Moses. There must be a connection between Deborah's forty years of peace in Israel and Moses' forty years in the wilderness. Deborah has the handy traveler's guide to help her map it all out. We'll see her secret of selecting 10,000, and we might even take a peek inside Yael's tent to find that she knew the Torah, and it guided her hand when she drove the tent peg into Sisera's head.   Oh, dear, oh dread. Sandals muddy like heavy lead. Some yogurt he was fed. Then he went to bed. Now Sisera is dead. A tent peg's in his head.   Okay, Deborah is better at composing songs than I am. I gave it a shot. Roll your time travel machines to Judges 4-5, and we'll see you next week.   Please SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to get new teachings.

After 200 years of idolatry, God finally allowed the northern kingdom of Israel to be destroyed and the people carried off by Assyria. Meanwhile, the southern kingdom of Judah was being ruled the young, foolish, idolatrous King Ahaz. After being defeated in battle by the Aramean Kingdom of Damascus, Ahaz decided to worship the gods of Syria rather than turning to God for help. He also sacrificed his son to Molech in the Valley of Hinnom southwest of Jerusalem. Then he turned to the Assyrians for help against Israel, Syria, and Edom, cutting up fixtures in the Temple to send to Assyria as tribute. Needless to say, God was not pleased. Apparently, neither were the people of Judah. Ahaz was buried in the City of David rather than in the tombs of the kings of his forefathers. Sharon's niece, Sarah Sachleben, has been battling stage 4 bowel cancer and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah. Derek's new book War of the Watchers Book One: From Baal to Balfour is now available at Amazon in paperback and as a Kindle e-book! If you are looking for a text of the Book of 1 Enoch to follow our monthly study, you can try these sources: Parallel translations by R. H. Charles (1917) and Richard Laurence (1821)Modern English translation by George W. E. Nickelsburg and James VanderKam (link to book at Amazon)Book of 1 Enoch - Standard English Version by Dr. Jay Winter (link opens free PDF)Book of 1 Enoch - R. H. Charles translation (link opens free PDF) The SkyWatchTV store has a special offer on Dr. Michael Heiser's two-volume set A Companion to the Book of Enoch. Get both books, the R. H. Charles translation of 1 Enoch, and a DVD interview with Mike and Steven Bancarz for a donation of $35 plus shipping and handling. Link: https://bit.ly/heiser-enoch JOIN US IN ISRAEL (NOTE NEW DATES)! We will tour the Holy Land Oct. 25–Nov. 6, 2027 with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For more information, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel. Follow us!• X: @gilberthouse_tv | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbert• Substack: GilbertHouse.substacdk.com | SharonKGilbert.substack.com• Telegram: t.me/gilberthouse | t.me/sharonsroom | t.me/viewfromthebunker• YouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelation | @thebiblesgreatestmysteries• Facebook.com/GilbertHouseFellowship Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at GilbertHouse.org/donate. Get our free app! It connects you to these studies plus our weekly video programs Unraveling Revelation and A View from the Bunker, and the podcast that started this journey in 2005, P.I.D. Radio. Best of all, it bypasses the gatekeepers of Big Tech! The app is available for iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV. Links to the app stores are at www.gilberthouse.org/app/. Gilbert House T-shirts and mugs! New to our store is a line of GHTV and Redwing Saga merch! Check it out at GilbertHouse.org/store! Think better, feel better! Our partners at Simply Clean Foods offer freeze-dried, 100% GMO-free food and delicious, vacuum-packed fair trade coffee from Honduras. Find out more at GilbertHouse.org/store. Our favorite Bible study tools! Check the links in the left-hand column at www.GilbertHouse.org.

After 200 years of idolatry, God finally allowed the northern kingdom of Israel to be destroyed and the people carried off by Assyria. Meanwhile, the southern kingdom of Judah was being ruled the young, foolish, idolatrous King Ahaz. After being defeated in battle by the Aramean Kingdom of Damascus, Ahaz decided to worship the gods of Syria rather than turning to God for help. He also sacrificed his son to Molech in the Valley of Hinnom southwest of Jerusalem. Then he turned to the Assyrians for help against Israel, Syria, and Edom, cutting up fixtures in the Temple to send to Assyria as tribute. Needless to say, God was not pleased. Apparently, neither were the people of Judah. Ahaz was buried in the City of David rather than in the tombs of the kings of his forefathers. Sharon's niece, Sarah Sachleben, has been battling stage 4 bowel cancer and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah. Derek's new book War of the Watchers Book One: From Baal to Balfour is now available at Amazonin paperback and as a Kindle e-book! 

We continued our study through the book of Acts by looking at Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus. We also saw how all of us can relate with Saul in one way or another.For more information visit ChristCommunity.Life

It's Friday, July 31st, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Syrians in America have to leave the country The expiration of Temporary Protected Status for Syrians in America this week has renewed attention on the fragile security environment facing civilians in Syria, particularly Christians who remain vulnerable 18 months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship in this 87% Muslim country, reports International Christian Concern. Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian immigration designation that allows nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict to remain and work legally in the United States for a limited period. The designation does not provide a pathway to permanent residency but shields recipients from deportation while conditions in their home country are deemed unsafe for return. In December 2024, rebel forces, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, forced al-Assad from power.  Al-Sharaa's group had previously been associated with Muslim jihadist movements, including al-Qaeda. Before the Syrian civil war, Christians represented a significant minority of Syria's population concentrated in Damascus — where the Apostle Paul was converted on the street. While Christians have not experienced the same level of targeted mass violence as other groups, there has been harassment and attacks on Christian communities. President Trump floats temporarily pulling Blache nomination to be AG President Donald Trump said on July 30 that he was willing to temporarily withdraw his nomination of Todd Blanche to be Attorney General until next year, if two Republican senators continued to withhold their support, reports The Epoch Times. Blanche's nomination has been held up in the Senate Judiciary Committee after Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina said they would not back bringing it to the floor for a full vote. Those two votes are necessary for the nomination to advance. Earlier this year, both Cornyn and Tillis lost their bid for re-election after President Trump endorsed their opponents during the primaries. The president now intends to wait them out. In the meantime, Blanche will remain the acting head of the Department of Justice. You can express your objection to the senators for dragging their feet by calling Senator John Cornyn at 202-224-2934 and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina at 202-224-6342. You can call 24 hours a day/7 days a week and leave a voicemail. Dr. Fauci invoked Fifth Amendment 90 times in GOP-led committee In a hearing of the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on July 29th, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, announced in his opening statement that he would invoke the Fifth Amendment and not answer any questions about his culpability in a cover-up about the source of the COVID-19 virus or what happened subsequently. Listen. FAUCI: “Members of the committee, I served at the NIH for over 54 years, 38 of those as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Over that period, I proved that I believe in and respect the value of legitimate congressional oversight. In fact, I testified before and/or briefed Senate and House committees well over 200 times over those 38 years. During and after the COVID pandemic, I have appeared multiple times for hearings in the Senate and the House, usually under oath, and sat for several days-long, transcribed, sworn interviews answering questions about the very issues that are now the subject of this hearing. “However, given Senator [Rand] Paul's obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution, his repeated slanderous comments about me, and recently his publicly releasing my unredacted personal diary aimed at embarrassing and intimidating me, the only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything, that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, ‘behind bars'. “Any reasonable person who has followed his unhinged obsession with me would readily come to the same conclusion. Therefore, although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress, under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right, under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, to refrain from answering your questions.” Over the course of his time in front of the Senate Committee, Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment a whopping 111 times, reports Fox News. Dr. Fauci stonewalled Senator Rand Paul numerous times Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly stonewalled Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, the Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The senator started with asking about former President Joe Biden's bizarre “full and unconditional” pardon of Dr. Fauci. PAUL:  “As a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, or the White House COVID-19 Response Team, or as Chief Medical Advisor to the President, have you refused this pardon? Or do you have any reason to believe this full and unconditional pardon, this grant of immunity, would somehow require you to plead the Fifth Amendment?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.” PAUL: “Based on the facts presented, I'm going to direct you to answer the questions. The committee has issued a valid subpoena. They have requested your presence here. The questions are very pertinent to your decision making as head of [the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases], as well as a chief advisor to the president, do you still refuse to answer the questions?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.” PAUL:  “Were you ever made aware of gain-of-function research on monkeypox being conducted at the National Bio Defense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, and back at Fort Detrick, [the center of the U.S. biological weapons program from 1943 to 1969]?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.” PAUL:  “Dr. Fauci, did the CIA ever transfer funds to [the National Institutes of Health] under interagency agreement?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.” And Senator Rand Paul took this parting shot. PAUL: “The chairman has denied your assertion of privilege and directed you to answer, but you nonetheless refuse and stand on privilege despite the existence of the pardon. The committee will have to consider after this hearing what appropriate action should be taken against you for the failure to testify after being directed to do so. “It's against the law to obstruct an investigation of Congress. There will be repercussions to your refusal to testify today.” Watchdog group: Medical groups should condemn transgender surgeries on minors The medical watchdog group, Do No Harm, is calling on 10 major medical associations to explicitly condemn transgender genital surgeries on minors, reports The Daily Signal. On July 29th, Do No Harm sent open letters to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association among others. In the letter, the group wrote, “Do No Harm, and its 54,000 members, are calling on your society to publicly reject genital surgery on minors for the purpose of producing [so-called] ‘gender transitions.' While this process is uncommon, we believe that it should never occur.” In Matthew 19:4, Jesus asked, “Have you not read that [God], who created them from the beginning, made them male and female?” Marijuana should not be reclassified as a less dangerous drug Marijuana could be reclassified as a less dangerous substance under federal law. Kevin Sabet, CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and the former drug policy advisor for the Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama presidential administrations as well as President Trump's former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, thinks that would be a terrible idea. He said that reclassifying marijuana as a drug with accepted medical use and a lower risk of abuse than drugs subject to greater controls would be reckless. Sabet added, “The evidence presented at the hearing confirmed what decades of data have shown: Raw marijuana has no scientifically established medical value and carries a high risk of abuse. Today's marijuana is more dangerous than ever before. [Reclassifying] marijuana would create the false impression that it is safe, would reduce penalties for peddling the drug illegally and would give those who purvey it legally a huge tax windfall. That would be a disaster.”  The Department of Justice held a hearing last month to consider it at President Donald Trump's request. Despite the fact that President Trump is a teetotaler who eschews alcohol and drugs, he told his administration last December to push forward on easing marijuana restrictions, after an aggressive lobbying push by advocates including a cannabis CEO, a Florida sheriff, and a Mar-a-Lago member, the Wall Street Journal previously reported. Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, previously wrote, “Use of cannabis increases a person's chance of developing a bipolar disorder or schizophrenia by an average of 47%. It's also shown to significantly increase hallucinations and paranoia. “In fact, it's been determined that regular use of medical marijuana leads to a higher chance of heart attack, stroke and coronary artery disease. … If the established goal is to make America healthy and great again, this objective will not be reached by increasing access to poisonous pot.” In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, the Apostle Paul asked, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” Montana listeners like our brevity and updates on the persecuted Here at The Worldview in 5 Minutes, Winston and Heather Royal in Helena, Montana, wrote, “Adam, we appreciate the newscast because it's short, to the point, and from a Christian perspective. We appreciate hearing about our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. And we often listen to it at breakfast time. Thank you for your work!” Texas listener values boldness and truthfulness of The Worldview And Byron Barlowe in Plano, Texas wrote, “Adam, your newscast is something I've evangelized about for four reasons. I find the integration of a Biblical worldview into reporting the news to be effective and refreshing. Brevity matters more than ever. I also relate to the brevity of your newscast since Probe Ministries, a group I write for, produces a 3-minute daily feature. The candor among you and the two other writers of The Worldview is bold, truthful, and necessary. For example, I appreciate your reference to homosexual faux marriage instead of so-called ‘gay marriage.' Spade-calling is truth-telling and, when done in a gracious spirit led by the Spirit of God, can have good effect. You have a golden radio voice that emanates masculinity without undue forcefulness. Both women and men need that in the era of so-called ‘toxic masculinity' and the feminized Church which follows a confused culture. I just like it, too.” Byron, thanks for your encouragement as we use the instruments of our laptops and voice to communicate. 23 Worldview listeners gave $13,150.04 And finally, by Thursday night at 9:00pm Central, 23 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the 6-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to Jerry in Angie, Louisiana and Thomas in Spartanburg, South Carolina – both of whom gave $25 as well as David in Wilmington, Ohio and Lori in Rockford, Illinois – both of whom gave $50. We appreciate Tony and Jennie in Palmdale, California who gave $80.04, Samuel in Greensboro, North Carolina who gave $90, and Jeanne in Thomasville, North Carolina and Ron in Orange Park, Florida – both of whom gave $100. We're grateful to God for Jody in Westerlo, New York and Kevin and Shelly in Columbus, Nebraska – both of whom gave $200, Glenn and Linda in Palmdale, California who gave $240, Marlowe in Freetown, Prince Edward Isalnd, Canada who gave $250, Kelly in Rio Rancho, New Mexico who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300, and Vanessa in Templeton, California and Nicki in Carthage, Missouri – both of whom pledged $35/month for 12 months for a gift of $420. We were touched by the generosity of Serge in Simpsonville, South Carolina who gave $500, Charles and Pamela in Sierra Madre, California  who gave $500, Sean in Burlington, Wisconsin who gave $500, and Francesca in Rockaway Township, New Jersey who also gave $500. All four of them were matched by our friend in Naples, Florida who gave another $2,000. And we were blown away by Frederick in Gainesville, Florida who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Jeff in Sevierville, Tennessee who gave $1,000, and Steve and Carla in Katy, Texas who gave $5,000. Wow! Those 23 gifts add up to $13,150.04. That's the largest total amount in a single day throughout this July 2026 fundraiser. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $94,270 (sound effect of people cheering) We need to raise $29,230 by midnight tonight, July 31st! That means in order to hit our final goal of $123,500 by midnight tonight, Friday, July 31st, God needs to prompt folks to give an astounding $29,230 in order for the 6-member Worldview newscast team to be fully funded for another year. So, as I've said over the last several days, if you have been waiting until the last minute, this … is … it!  We could really use your help.  The finish line is upon us. Perhaps in our national audience, there are three others, just like Steve and Carla in Katy, Texas, who feel led by God to give a one-time gift of $5,000. If that $15,000 comes in, we would need just 15 people to either give a one-time gift of $1,000 or make a monthly pledge of $83.33 for 12 months which adds up to $1,000. If all of that is way out of your budget, just give what you can. $10. $20. $30. Every dollar gets us closer. Now, if you can't give a dime, then pray. Pray that God would stir the hearts of those who can give! Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  And remember this, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started prior to July 1, 2026, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total. This newscast team champions the truth and uses the Bible as our plumbline.  We actually cite relevant Bible verses that really come alive as we look at the news of the day.  Plus, we report, and we're unique in this, on the persecuted church, the battles for life and a godly perspective on sexuality, often including action steps on how you can make a difference as a believer. Don't forget: The Worldview in 5 Minutes is also commercial free. We have no sponsors. Nor do we have a pay wall.  Anyone who wants to access this newscast can get it for free. So, all we have is you! What is God prompting you to do right now? Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, July 31st, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Welcome to book three of Mage the Victorian Age! In this episode, the Doves head into Damascus and make a potent new ally.Thank you to Bookwyrm Games for sponsoring Dork Tales this month! Use code DORKTALES to save 15% at https://www.bookwyrmgames.com! Orders over $100 also enjoy free shipping!#magetheascension #victorianage #magevictorianage #onyxpath #actualplay #worldofdarkness #mage***Kelly Clark as StorytellerStarringAmy Godfrey as Chastity Prudence GoodwinRobin Holford as Darcie HarknessJen Peters as Josephine CarringtonChristine Rattray as Evelyn Taylor ***Visit our website ► https://dorktales.caWatch us LIVE on Twitch ► https://twitch.tv/dorktalesJoin our Discord ► https://discord.gg/zVtE9AbFollow our Twitter ► https://twitter.com/dork_tales/Follow our Instagram ► https://instagram.com/dorktaleschannel/Find us on Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/dorktalescha...Listen to our Podcast ► https://dorktales.podbean.comSupport the show on Patreon ► https://www.patreon.com/dorktales/Buy official Dork Tales Merch ► https://teepublic.com/user/dorktales ► https://dorktalesstore.redbubble.com!***Music credits:Tracks from Joel Steudler Heartwarming Magic Adventure Antics AboundLicensed under a Humble Bundle Collection Music From Dark Fantasy Studio Hidden in the Dark ParadoxThese songs are Licensed under a Premium Licensehttp://www.darkfantasystudio.comMusic from Monument Studios: Vision of the Ancients Conspiracy Unravel Forthright Piano Plot ThickensThese songs are licensed as part of the All in One Bundlehttps://www.monumentstudios.netWe also use licensed music from Audio Hero, Ovani Studios, GameDev Market, and Phat Phrog Studios, including: Classical Villanous Memory House TempleLike what you heard? For background ambiance, we used sounds from Tabletop Audio for this session, just like we have for off-camera games for years! Tabletop Audio is a site with a full toolkit of songs, special effects, and soundboards to bring your adventures to life! https://www.tabletopaudio.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#top .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-98191d0f547ef706035ac722b608a1f6{ padding-bottom:10px; } body .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-98191d0f547ef706035ac722b608a1f6 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{ font-size:25px; } .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-98191d0f547ef706035ac722b608a1f6 .av-subheading{ font-size:15px; } Through My Bible Yr 03 – July 31Amos 5 LISTEN HERE Through My Bible – July 31 Amos 5 (EHV) https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0731db.mp3 See series: Through My Bible Mourning for Fallen Israel 1 Listen to this word that I am raising against you as a lament, [1] O house of Israel: 2 Virgin Israel has fallen, and she will not rise again.     She is abandoned on her own soil.     There is no one to lift her up. 3 For this is what the Lord God says:     A city that marches out with a thousand will have a hundred left.     A city that marches out with a hundred will have ten left for the house of Israel. Seek the Lord and Live! 4 Listen, this is what the Lord says to the house of Israel:     Seek me and live! 5 But do not seek Bethel.     Do not go to Gilgal.     Do not travel to Beersheba,     because Gilgal surely will go into exile,     and Bethel will become nothing. 6 Seek the Lord and live,     or he will rush upon the house of Joseph like fire.     The fire will consume, and no one will extinguish it for Bethel. 7 There are some who turn justice into wormwood, [2]     who throw righteousness to the ground. 8 There is one who made the Pleiades and Orion,     who turns the shadow of death into morning,     who darkens day into night,     who summons the waters of the seas,     who pours them out upon the face of the earth—     the Lord is his name. 9 He causes destruction to flash against a stronghold,     and destruction comes upon a fortress. 10 There are those who hate an arbitrator [3] in the city gate. [4]     They despise anyone who speaks honestly. 11 That is why you trample on the poor,     and you collect taxes on their grain.     You have built houses of cut stones,     but you will not live in them.     You have planted choice vineyards,     but you will not drink their wine. 12 For I know that your rebellious deeds are many,     and your sins are numerous,     you who are enemies of a righteous man,     you who take bribes.     They thrust away needy people in the city gate. 13 That is why a prudent man will be silent in that time,     because it is an evil time. 14 Seek good and not evil, so that you may live,     and then it will be like this for you:     The Lord, the God of Armies, will be with you, as you claim. 15 Hate evil and love good.     Establish justice in the city gate.     Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies,         will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. 16 Therefore, this is what the Lord says,     the God of Armies, who is the Lord:     In the city squares there will be grief,     and in the streets they will say, “Woe, woe!”     They will summon the farmer to mourn     and the professional mourners to sing laments. 17 In all the vineyards there will be grief,     because I will pass through your midst, says the Lord. The Day of the Lord Brings Darkness 18 Woe to those who long for the Day of the Lord!     What good will the Day of the Lord be for you?     It will be darkness and not light. 19 It will be as if a man flees from a lion,     but a bear meets him,     or he enters a house and rests his hand on a wall,     but a snake bites him. 20 Will not the Day of the Lord be darkness and not light,     gloom without a trace of brightness? The Lord Hates Faithless Worship 21 I hate, I reject, your festivals!     I do not delight in the aroma of the sacrifices at your sacred convocations. 22 Even if you offer up to me your whole burnt offerings and your grain offerings,     I will not accept them.     I will not pay any attention to your fellowship offerings of fattened calves. 23 Get the noise of your songs away from me!     I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 But let justice roll like the waters,     and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. 25 Did you bring me sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel? 26 You lifted up images of Sakkuth, your king,     and of Kiyyun, your star god, which you made for yourselves. [5] 27 So I will exile you beyond Damascus,     says the Lord, whose name is the God of Armies. Footnotes Amos 5:1 Or sad song Amos 5:7 Wormwood is a toxic, bitter-tasting substance (absinthe). Amos 5:10 Or a mediator Amos 5:10 The city gate served as the courthouse. Amos 5:26 The form and meaning of several of the terms and names referring to gods in verse 26 are uncertain. The terms seem to refer to astral deities, most likely including Saturn. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-aocsdx-89cb4ca21532423cf697fc393b6fcee0{ height:10px; } The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-4vzadh-3f04b370105df1fd314a2a9d83e55b26{ height:50px; } Share this entryShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare by MailLink to FlickrLink to InstagramLink to Vimeo

Beyond Damascus is the show where encounter meets mission. Your hosts Dan DeMatte and Aaron Richards will give you practical tips on how to live out your faith every day. We'll get into actionable steps of what it means to have an abundant Christian life and share things that we've learned through our personal journey's about overcoming obstacles, pursuing joy, and living a meaningful life.  They discuss the religious order The Servants of Christ Jesus.Beyond Damascus airs live weekdays at 8am Pacific TimeYou can download the Spirit Filled Radio App for your Android and Apple devices. Listen at https://www.spiritfilledevents.com/radio-podcast Support the show

It's Wednesday, July 29th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus India looking to restrict foreign funding of Christian groups India's Parliament is considering a bill to restrict foreign funding of Christian and other faith-based groups.  The measure would allow authorities to seize the assets of such organizations if their registration is canceled. Officials have already canceled the registrations of over 22,000 non-governmental organizations.  Republican Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey is calling on the Trump administration to address this issue with India. He wrote, “If adopted, the bill would sharply expand the ability of the Indian state to seize the property and assets of groups that receive foreign funding — the vast majority of these being Christian churches and charities, such as hospitals and schools.” According to Open Doors, India is the 12th worst country worldwide for the persecution of Christians. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Japanese island A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's southern island of Kyushu yesterday.  The quake caused a collapse at a shopping mall, killing several people. Dozens of people are missing or injured. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency advised over 260,000 people to evacuate the area.   Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no issues with nearby nuclear power plants.  Please pray that God would comfort the Japanese families of those who have died and restore those who have been injured. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence The U.S. Senate voted on July 28 to confirm Jay Clayton, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the next Director of National Intelligence, reports The Epoch Times. Clayton's confirmation by the Senate came after the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 9–8 along party lines on July 21 to advance his nomination. He was ultimately confirmed with 51 senators' support to 47 voting against. SENATOR: “On this vote, the yeas are 51, the nays are 47, and the nomination is confirmed. And the president will be immediately notified of the Senate's action.” Previously, Jay Clayton served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York as well as the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission under President Trump's first administration. Justice Department affirmed parents' right to disciple children The United States Justice Department issued religious liberty guidance to all executive departments and agencies last week. The memo reaffirmed many religious freedom protections in federal law. It also added a new piece of guidance.  The memo stated, “Parents have the right to direct the religious upbringing and education of their children. This right extends beyond a mere right to teach religion in the confines of one's home and encompasses the choices parents make for their children outside the home.” In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, God said, “These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Drinking water in three cities contained Abortion Kill Pill A new peer-reviewed study found that the drinking water in multiple cities contained the Abortion Kill Pill called Mifepristone. Those cities include Austin, Texas; Blacksburg, Virginia; and Carbondale, Illinois. For years, pro-life groups have been calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to track Mifepristone.  Kristan Hawkins with Students for Life of America stated, “A study inspired by [our] clean water advocacy shows that our concerns are valid. In three cities where water was tested, the active metabolites of Mifepristone, the Chemical Abortion Pill, were in the water. We need the EPA to nationalize this examination, especially in light of so many struggling with infertility.” About 700,000 chemical abortions each year send long-lasting abortion drugs and human remains into America's wastewater systems. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, thus starving the baby. This drug has long-lasting metabolites that remain in the water because the water treatment plants are generally not capable of filtering out these chemicals. GOP Congresswoman Mary Miller of Illinois has introduced the Clean Water for All Life Act. Appearing on EWTN, Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, said this. HAWKINS: “Mothers are taking these pills at home, in their dormitories, and when they are told when the cramping gets too severe to go on the toilet and to keep flushing and not to look -- meaning chemically tainted placenta and blood, as well as the human remains of our child, are being flushed in our waterways. And when you think about the fact that you're talking over 700,000 abortions a year are happening this way, this means, at a minimum, 50 tons of chemically-tainted blood and placenta are being flushed down our toilets with human remains every year, laced with anti-progesterone metabolites, which, shockingly, after they pass through the mother's body, starve the child and kill the child, do not go inactive. “They actually remain active as they pass through our water system. And is what we've tested across the country is that this water -- it's actually laced with these metabolites before they get to the wastewater treatment plant, after it passes through the wastewater treatment plant, and now we've proven it's actually in the tap water.” Through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com, you can send faxes to Congress and demand they take action to stop this public health threat. Or you can contact your two U.S. Senators and your U.S. Congressman by email, phone or letter to the district office nearest you.  (Because mail sent to the D.C. offices of U.S. Senators and U.S. Congressmen has to go through so many scans, it can take months to get there). Voters want political candidates to address the economy The U.S. midterm elections are coming up in November.  Pew Research surveyed voters on what issues they want candidates to address. The top issue was the economy. Voters are especially concerned about affordability and the cost of living. Americans are evenly divided over which party they agree with on economic policies.  If the election were held today, 43 percent of respondents said they would back a Democrat candidate for Congress. Meanwhile, 37 percent said they would back a Republican.  Younger churchgoers want more liturgy in worship service Lifeway Research released a survey on liturgy in worship services at Protestant churches. Liturgies can include elements like set prayers, readings, and formal patterns. Forty-two percent of churchgoers say their church has some of the liturgical style. Twenty-seven percent say they have no liturgical style. And 24 percent say they have a very liturgical style. Seventy-five percent of respondents said they are satisfied with the amount of liturgy at their church. Thirteen percent want more liturgy, while five percent want less. Surprisingly, younger generations are more likely to want their church to include more liturgy.  California lifeguard saved 10-year-old boy NBC Bay Area reports a lifeguard saved the life of a 10-year-old boy at a California beach this week. Waves were overwhelming the boy at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz. A 16-year-old lifeguard rushed into the water to save him. Other joined in as well.  The dramatic rescue drew the attention of President Donald Trump. He wrote on X, “We're going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!”  Worldview listeners weigh in from Oregon and North Carolina Here at The Worldview in 5 Minutes newscast, Carole Crowley in Damascus, Oregon wrote, “Adam, I love starting my day with The Worldview. I love praying for specific needs of people throughout the world, using God's Word! Thank you so much for your love and dedication to our Lord and bringing the needs of others to us.” Julie Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, who attached a picture of her addressed letter, said, “Adam, I wanted to show you that, as a result of your July 9th newscast, I wrote a note to Suzanne McCormick, President of the Young Men's Christian Association, objecting to the YMCA allowing men, pretending to be women, in women's bathrooms and locker rooms. In fact, I grabbed several note cards and put stamps and our return address sticker on them so I am poised for action! [You can join her and send a letter: Suzanne McCormick, President, Young Men's Christian Association, 101 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606.] “I also phoned the office of my U.S. Congressman and asked him to vote to continue to defund the abortion giant Planned Parenthood.   Thank you for including the link.” Minnesota college student gave $500 to help fund newscast And Maylivia in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, whom I spoke with on the phone last night for 20 minutes, wrote, “Adam, my family and I listen to The Worldview every morning. If I'm around when my dad, also named Adam, is preparing and eating breakfast, we listen to it on repeat about six times, literally. He says he doesn't want to miss any of the details. Now, if he's already gone to work, I listen to it on my computer with the transcript, but only once. My mom and sister also listen as part of starting their day. We love having a concise wrap-up of the news, especially for updates on persecuted Christians. “Considering that my family uses it so much, I've decided to give $500. I am a college student, living at home, working part time. This money is partly from my savings and partly from my tutoring business. I was hesitant to give at first. But God laid it on my heart and reminded me that He can provide for all my needs and my parents are providing many of them for me right now! Thank you for your newscast. May God guide the team in His wisdom and remind you of the hope of the cross.” 19 Worldview listeners gave $7,597 And finally, by Tuesday night at 8:00pm Central, 19 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to Kelly in Montgomery, Texas who gave $10, Cathy in Fate, Texas who gave $15, and Paul in Brush, Colorado who gave $25. We appreciate Sarina in Barnwell, Alberta, Canada and Dan in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada – both of whom gave $100, as well as Kevin in North Bend, Oregon, Eric in Castle Rock, Colorado, and George in Edinburgh, Indiana – each of whom gave $200. We're grateful to God for Steven in Plainview, Texas and Richard in Lometa, Texas – both of whom pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300 as well as Israel in Yuma, Arizona who gave $347. And we were touched by the generosity of Ed in Wellsburg, Iowa who pledged $30/month for 12 months for a gift of $360, Frances in Beacon, New York who gave $500, Maylivia in Eden Prairie, Minnesota who gave $500, Danny in Abingdon, Virginia who gave $500, Kimberly in Lebanon, Oregon who gave $500, Mary in Highland, New York who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Stephen in California, Maryland who pledged $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200, and our friend in Naples, Florida who generously matched the 4 donors who gave $500 with a gift of $2,000. Wow! Those 19 gifts add up to $7,597. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $79,344 (sound effect of people cheering) We need to raise $44,156 by midnight on Friday, July 31! That means in order to hit our final goal of $123,500 by this Friday, July 31st, God needs to prompt folks to give an astounding $44,156 in order for the six-member Worldview newscast team to be fully funded for another year. So, if you have been waiting until the last minute, this … is … it!  We could really use your help.  The finish line is in just 2 days! Count ‘em. Two! Would you consider being one of 20 people to pledge $100/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $1,200, one of 16 people to pledge $50/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $600, or one of 32 people to pledge $25/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $300? Remember, the next four people who give a one-time gift of $500 will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by our friend in Naples, Florida. Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  And remember this, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started in a previous year, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total. This newscast team champions the truth and uses the Bible as our plumbline. We actually cite relevant Bible verses that come alive as we look at the news of the day.  Plus, we report on the persecuted church, the battles for life and a godly perspective on sexuality, often including action steps on how you can make a difference as a believer. What does God want you to give to sustain this one-of-a-kind newscast? Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, July 29th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0729db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – July 29 Amos 1 – 2 Amos 1 1 The words of Amos, who was among the sheep breeders [1] from Tekoa. He saw a vision concerning Israel during the days of Uzziah king of Judah and during the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 He said:     The Lord roars from Zion.     From Jerusalem he sends out his voice.     The pastures of the shepherds dry up, [2]     and the top of Mount Carmel withers. Judgment Against Aram 3 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins [3] of Damascus,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they cut up Gilead with iron threshing boards. [4] 4 So I will send fire against the house of Hazael,     and it will consume the fortresses of Ben Hadad. 5 I will break the bars of the gates of Damascus,     and I will cut off the one seated in the Valley of Aven,     and the one who holds a scepter in Beth Eden. [5]     So the people of Aram will go into exile toward Kir. [6]     The Lord has spoken. Judgment Against Philistia 6 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Gaza,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they sold an entire population into exile,     handing them over to Edom. 7 So I will send fire against the city wall of Gaza,     and it will consume her citadels. 8 I will cut off the one seated in Ashdod,     and the one who holds a scepter in Ashkelon.     I will also turn my hand against Ekron,     and what is left of the Philistines will perish.     The Lord God has spoken. Judgment Against Canaan 9 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Tyre,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they delivered over an entire population and exiled them to Edom,     and they did not remember a treaty of brotherhood. 10 So I will send fire against the city wall of Tyre,     and it will consume her citadels. Judgment Against Edom 11 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Edom,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because he [7] pursued his brother with a sword,     and he had no compassion. [8]     His anger kept tearing Israel apart,     and his fury raged without stopping. 12 So I will send fire against Teman,     and it will consume the citadels of Bozrah. Judgment Against Ammon 13 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of the Ammonites,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their own territory. 14 So I will ignite a fire against the city wall of Rabbah,     and it will consume her citadels         with a battle cry on the day of war,         with a strong wind on the day of the storm. 15 Then their king will go into exile,     he and his officials together.     The Lord has spoken. Judgment Against Moab Amos 2 1 This is what the Lord says: Because of three sins of Moab,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they burned the bones of the king of Edom to make lime. 2 So I will send fire against Moab,     and it will consume the citadels of Kerioth.     Moab will die in an uproar,     with a battle cry, with a blast of a ram's horn. 3 I will cut off the judge [9] from her midst,     and I will kill all her officials with him.     The Lord has spoken. Judgment Against Judah 4 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Judah,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they rejected the law of the Lord,     and they did not keep his statutes.     Their lying idols led them astray,     the idols that their fathers followed. 5 So I will send fire against Judah,     and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem. Judgment Against Israel 6 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Israel,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they sell the righteous for silver     and the needy for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth,     and they turn aside the claims of the oppressed.     A man and his father go to the same young woman.     In this way they profane my holy name. 8 They stretch themselves out beside every altar         on pieces of clothing they seized as collateral.     In the temple of their gods they drink wine obtained through fines. 9 I was the one who destroyed the Amorites in front of them,     the Amorites, who were as tall as cedars,     who were as strong as oaks.     I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below. 10 I myself brought you up from the land of Egypt,     and I led you in the wilderness for forty years,         so that you would take possession of the land of the Amorites. 11 I raised up some of your sons to be prophets,     and some of your best young men to be Nazirites.     Is this not so, you people of Israel? declares the Lord. 12 But you made the Nazirites drink wine,     and you commanded the prophets, “You must not prophesy!” 13 Look, I am weighed down under you,     just as a cart is weighed down when it is loaded with sheaves of grain. [10] 14 There will be no escape for the swift runner.     The powerful man will not be able to exert his strength,     and the strong warrior will not be able to save his own life. 15 The archer will not stand his ground.     The swift runner will not save himself,     and the horseman will not save his own life. 16 The most courageous among the warriors will flee naked on that day,     declares the Lord. Footnotes Amos 1:1 Or ranchers Amos 1:2 Or mourn Amos 1:3 Or crimes Amos 1:3 A threshing board or threshing sledge is similar to a toboggan, but it has iron teeth protruding from the bottom. It is dragged over piles of grain to cut up the straw and release the kernels of grain. Amos 1:5 Valley of Aven and Beth Eden mean Valley of Wickedness and House of Pleasure. They may be figurative names for the region around Damascus. Amos 1:5 The location of Kir is unknown. It probably lies far to the north or east. Amos 1:11 Edom is referred to by the singular he because it is also a name of Jacob's brother Esau. Amos 1:11 Or he destroyed pregnant women Amos 2:3 Or ruler Amos 2:13 The meaning of the verse is uncertain. It may mean I will weigh you down as a cart is weighed down. The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

Why did an angry mob go silent the moment Paul started speaking Hebrew? In the final episode of our student interview series, film school student Hadley asks Pastor Dallas about Acts 22 — Paul's retelling of his Damascus road conversion, why his companions saw the light but never heard the voice, and why Paul argued with God about leaving Jerusalem. This episode wraps our special series where students from THP Students interviewed Pastor Dallas about the passages we studied together, recorded and edited by the students themselves as part of our church Film School program. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro & Welcome 1:07 - Why the Crowd Went Silent When Paul Spoke Hebrew 4:11 - Paul Retells His Damascus Road Conversion 6:19 - Why Couldn't the Others Hear God's Voice? 9:23 - Paul's Trance in the Temple & God's Warning 11:53 - Why Paul Argued With God About Leaving Jerusalem 14:17 - Closing & How to Visit The Healing Place

Chloe travels to Damascus to meet people close to Bashar and Asma. One source tells her that Asma took a drastic decision in the early years of the war - she tried to leave Syria. Only it's not for the reasons you might think. We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.To binge listen to more episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.You'll get access to:This series and all our podcasts before anyone elseAd-free listeningPremium newslettersPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordExclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescapeTickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineOr subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.Reporter - Chloe HadjimatheouProducer - Gary MarshallSound design - Karla Patella & Hannah Varrall Podcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza BournerExecutive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French war reporter and global jihadism expert Wassim Nasr was part of the presidential press party during Emmanuel Macron's recent visit to Damascus. He shares his first-hand account not only of what happened between Macron and Syrian president Ahmad al-Sharaa during the visit, but also what he discovered afterwards, during a trip to Aleppo and to the northern town of Kobane. Wassim and Thomas discuss: What it was like inside Macron's presidential delegation to Syria France–Syria relations after the fall of Bashar al-Assad Macron and Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Umayyad Mosque and Mount Qasioun Islamic State bombings during Macron's Damascus visit French investment in Syrian reconstruction, energy, ports and transport Aleppo's security, political representation and slow post-war recovery Kobani, SDF integration, PKK influence and Arab–Kurdish tensions Ahmed al-Sharaa's Islamist pragmatism and Syria's dependence on his leadership Join the Conflicted Community here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Wassim on X: https://x.com/SimNasr Find us on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Conflicted is a Message Heard production. Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren. Produced and edited by Thomas Small. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Acts 9:10-19: "Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus."

Acts 9:10-19: "Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus."

Acts 9:10-19: "Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus."

It's Monday, July 27th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Pakistani Supreme Court releases Muslim murderers of Christian couple The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the release of the final three men on death row in the 2014 murder case of a Christian couple, Shahzad Masih and his pregnant wife, Shama, reports International Christian Concern. With this decision, along with the dismissal of a state appeal against the acquittal of 102 other suspects, no one remains convicted or in prison for the attack.  Here's the back story.  On November 4, 2014, in a village in the Punjab Province, a violent mob attacked Shahzad and Shama after they were accused of desecrating pages of the Quran, Islam's misguided book. The mob severely beat the couple before throwing them into a hot brick kiln, where they both died.  While five men were sentenced to death and nine others received short prison sentences, they all were released back into society. Let's pray the prayer of Amos 5:24. Lord, “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Wildfires in France and Spain have displaced 250,000 people France sent a hulking military cargo plane to dump tons of flame retardants as it battled raging wildfires on Saturday and slashed the final stage of the bicycle race, Tour de France, to redeploy security personnel to the blazes that forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, reports the Associated Press. The giant A400M transporter swooped in low, its long plume of ochre-colored retardant trailing over drought-hit woodlands on the ground that fought flames that authorities feared could spread toward the wine region city of Bordeaux in southwest France, 310 miles away from Paris. Wildfires in southern Europe last week have now displaced more than 250,000 people. Former Maine lawmaker replaces Graham Platner on Democratic ticket On Saturday, former state lawmaker and logger Troy Jackson secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maine and will face longtime GOP Senator Susan Collins in November in a race that could decide which party controls the Senate, reports The Associated Press. Jackson replaces Graham Platner, who won the Democratic primary in June, but withdrew from the race earlier this month following an allegation of sexual assault that Platner has denied.  Maine Democrats met Saturday to choose a new Senate nominee to face Collins. Trump's CDC nominee commits to abortion data reporting Former Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Donald Trump's nominee to head the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, testified last week that it is “absolutely critical” for the CDC to gather reliable abortion data upon which policymakers and health analysts can make decisions, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Nominated in April, Schwartz is currently appearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearings. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri raised the matter of abortion data collection and analysis which the CDC had paused in November without explanation. HAWLEY: “The CDC collects data on abortions that are committed in the United States of America through a system called the ‘Abortion Reporting System.' This system is voluntary, and so a number of states, not coincidentally large blue states, do not turn over any data so that it's difficult to get a picture of just how many abortions, and under what circumstances, are committed in this country. We do know the numbers are going up, way up. Since the Dobbs decision -- well over a million abortions last year.  “Would you commit to collect the data on the number and circumstances of abortions, as is provided for in this system, and to work with those states that are currently holding out and not giving it to actually get the data so that we can know we can get a picture of what really is going on here? Will you do that? SCHWARTZ: “Senator, you have my commitment. Abortion surveillance is absolutely a critical component of what the CDC is currently doing. I will look into that.” HAWLEY: “Thank you.” SCHWARTZ: “But I also want to make sure that certain states are not conflating emergency services and hiding abortions in that emergency services case definition. We need to make sure we're pulling out true abortions and making sure that we're really having clear case definitions regarding abortions, so the data is actually accurate.” HAWLEY: “Fantastic!” Christian WNBA star attacked for opposing men in women's sports Sophie Cunningham, an eight-season WNBA veteran, got re-baptized earlier this year to reaffirm her Christian faith as an adult, reports The Christian Post. Appearing on “The Travis Hearn” podcast, she was asked about her faith. HEARN: “What's it like being a believer in Jesus Christ, a follower of Jesus, a woman of God, in the WNBA?” CUNNINGHAM: “For me, to be a believer in the W[NBA] … I think there's a lot more believers than you would actually, because a lot of people don't speak out about it. I am loud, I am confident, and I think being actually a woman of God, it's allowed me to walk into rooms with my shoulders back. I have a different type of swag and confidence about me because I know God has me.” Cunningham made headlines in 2022 when she approvingly retweeted an X post by CBS host Josh Prate opposing trans-identified male swimmer Will Thomas, who pretends to be a woman named “Lia,” being allowed on the women's team. As a result, the Left spewed hateful remarks about her on social media.  Indeed, 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “All those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” During an interview with ESPN last week, Cunningham asserted that she does not hate transgender-identifying people, but believes in standing up for young girls in their private spaces. CUNNINGHAM: “I think it's really important to protect children, and that's little girls who are also involved in that category. And so, I do have beliefs. I have morals, and I'll always stand on those and be true to who I am. And when it comes just to protecting young girls in sport and women in sport, I feel very strongly about that.” On July 23rd, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed the Trump administration's solidarity with Sophie Cunningham. LEAVITT: “This is something the President feels strongly about as well, and the American people do too. Men should not be playing in women's sports. It's completely ludicrous that anyone could support that.  “It's even more ludicrous that you do have Sophia Cunningham, a female athlete herself, very accomplished in her own right, coming forth and speaking that truth that men shouldn't play in women's sports. We want to protect women and girls. “The backlash she is receiving from Democrats is astonishing. They are clearly very out of touch with the American public on this issue, which is an 80/20 issue. It's common sense. It's rooted in basic biological fact that men should not be competing against women on playing fields across the country.” And ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith affirmed Cunningham's insistence that men, pretending to be women, should not compete against biological women. SMITH: “I can't applaud her enough. This notion that you're hating on the ‘trans community' because you are not a proponent of them participating in female sports is utterly ridiculous. Sophie Cunningham said every word right on the money. There's no hate involved. There's only love we're talking about.  “But what happened to loving girls who are born biologically as girls. What about their rights? What about fairness associated to them?  Smith cited the story of Will Thomas, the male swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, who is now pretending to be female as a good case in point revealing how demonstrably unfair it was to let him compete against biological women like Riley Gaines. SMITH: “'Lia Thomas.' I'm gonna keep bringing that name up: 400+ in the world competing as a male, transitions to female and he was number one. If we're gonna act like transitioning from male to female doesn't involve an advantage for that trans athlete, I have nothing to say to you. You're not exercising common sense.” Pastor Robert Jeffress' ministry surpasses 1 million YouTube subscribers Pastor Robert Jeffress' Pathway to Victory YouTube channel has surpassed 1 million subscribers, reports the Christian Post. Jeffress, who leads the 16,000-strong congregation at First Baptist Dallas, said the YouTube channel's launch was "an amazing opportunity to share the Gospel through our Bible-teaching ministry. We're grateful for the response.”  Amazingly, the church only launched the channel in 2024. Pathway to Victory was launched in 1996 and serves as the broadcast ministry for First Baptist Dallas and airs on 900 radio stations across the United States. Pastor Jeffress said, "Our mission has always been to pierce the darkness with the light of God's Word, and this [1 million subscriber milestone] is a testament to the power of the Gospel to transform lives." Worldview listener in North Carolina: Your news gives me hope! Karen Heyda in Hillsborough, North Carolina wrote me and said, “Mr. McManus, I was just listening to an episode of your tremendously uplifting, edifying and encouraging newscast. I am deeply grateful to you for giving us the world news from a Biblical perspective.  “That Biblical perspective gives me hope. Why? Because world news is typically BAD NEWS. It's often frightening and depressing. Yet when world news is presented from a Christian perspective, there is hope because Christ, our Redeemer, reigns and we are able to pray to Him and trust in Him Who makes all things new. “Reminding us of this truth encourages us to listen to your news program and to get on our knees and unite ourselves in prayer with and for those we've just heard about who need our prayers. Thank you for waking me up to a deeper and better way of responding to the world news today and every day.” 17 Worldview listeners gave $6,320.25 And finally, by Saturday night at 7:00pm Central, 17 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to the McVeda Family kiddos in Great Falls, Montana who raised another $42.25 on Friday selling chocolate chip cookies and glasses of tea.  This is their third donation. One lady bought 10 cookies for $20, a glass of tea for $5, and then donated an extra $10.  Their initial two gifts, which totaled $347, have inspired a growing number of Worldview listeners to donate $347 or make a monthly pledge of $28.92 for a year totaling $347. And that was exactly what 10-year-old Anna McVeda had prayed – that God would somehow use their fundraiser to excite others to contribute. I am so touched by the McVeda kiddos. By the way, Fred and Cathy in Cascade, Montana, the grandparents of the McVeda Family kids, were so inspired by what their grandkids are doing that they contributed $347 themselves last Thursday.  McManus is crying again! We appreciate the donations of Edward in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada who gave $50, Logan and Quinn in Manzini, Eswatini, Africa $120, and Eli who is also from Eswatini, Africa and pledged $10/month for 12 months for a gift of $120. We're grateful to God for Marty in Roseburg, Oregon and an anonymous donor in Phoenix, Arizona – both of whom gave $200, Jason in Seffner, Florida who plans to continue his $25/month pledge for a gift of $300, and Bradley in Damascus, Oregon who gave $300. We were touched by the generosity of the McVeda Family-inspired donations of Frederick in Kennesaw, Georgia who pledged $28.92/month for 12 months for a gift of $347 as well as Rick in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Charlene in Wallkill, New York, and Keith in Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada – each of whom gave $347. And we were touched by the sacrifice of Sam in Fellsmere, Florida, Brian in Dassel, Minnesota, and William in Lee's Summit, Missouri – each of whom gave $500. Plus, as I mentioned on Friday, an anonymous donor in Naples, Florida has just matched those first three gifts of $500 with another $1,500.   So, if you are one of the next 9 Worldview listeners to give a one-time gift of $500, the man in Naples, Florida will match your gifts as well. And we are appreciative of Andrew in Calgary, Alberta, Canada who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600. Those 17 gifts add up to $6,320.25. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $62,383 (sound effect of people cheering) We need to raise $61,117 by midnight on Friday, July 31! That means in order to hit our final goal of $123,500 by this Friday, July 31st, God needs to prompt folks to give an astounding $61,117 in order for the 6-member Worldview newscast team to be fully funded for another year. At this newscast, we champion the truth and use the Bible as our plumbline. So, if you have been waiting until the last minute, this … is … it!  We could really use your help.  The finish line is this Friday! Would you consider being one of 25 people to pledge $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200, one of 26 people to pledge $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, or one of 52 people to pledge $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300? Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.   And remember, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started in a previous year, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total. What does God want you to give? Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, July 27th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Saul's conversion on the Damascus road was radical and immediate. But his maturity wasn't. Right after that famous encounter, Scripture shows us something we often skip past: a long season of development. Paul gets radically converted, but then God takes him through a process He takes all of us through. This process is called maturing. A commitment to Jesus is a commitment to growth, and the only way we can experience the more of "There Is More" is if we mature.Notes for this sermon: https://www.lifechurchww.com/episode/the-marks-of-a-maturing-christianWebsite | https://lifechurchww.comFacebook | https://facebook.com/lifechurchwwInstagram | https://instagram.com/lifechurchwwVida Music | https://vidamsc.com

Today's class is about how God Himself moves things, moves people, moves history, moves events to accomplish everything He desires, to fulfill His plan of winning the world into the knowledge of Living God and today we will see an amazing part of that plan coming to fruition.   Today's story is truly a story of how God ACTS - how He acts in the heart of Saul, a persecutor of followers of Jesus, working to imprison believers.   As Saul was walking on the way to Damascus suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him and he fell to the ground as he heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" His response, "Who are you, Lord?"   This is an important question! The response he hears is, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." Note "I am", this is significant because these are the very words God calls Himself - the "I Am."  These words show that  Then and Now: Jesus is alive! And thus there is hope, a future and life transforming power! Theophany - a visible manifestation of a deity  burning bush at Sinai Israel at Mount Sinai - voice of God from heaven and the mount on fire transfiguration of Jesus And now Saul encounters God Jesus is who He said He is! Jesus gives sight to the blind. Saul is left blind following the encounter with The Light (Jesus). The others with him, led him to the city and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink anything. However, while he was physically blind his heart was opened and could "see" who Jesus is. When we don' know Jesus - we are blind, but He gives sight to the blind when we come to know Him.     As we continue reading: A disciple name Ananias. through a vision from the Lord, was told to go to see Saul because God tells him that He has given Saul a vision of a man named Ananias who will restore his sight. That Saul will be expecting him. However, Ananias knows who Saul is and is hesitant to go. But the Lord says, "Go! This man (Saul) is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."   Knowing Jesus changes everything!  Ananias goes to Saul and says, "Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit!" This is a personal Pentecost for Saul.  Then scales fell from Saul's eyes and he is able to see and was baptized.  Saul's heart was changed when he met Jesus. Our lives, too, are changed by Jesus. Knowing Jesus changes our hearts, our lives and our eternal destiny. Knowing Jesus brings new purpose to life! Now this man that was sent to Damascus to arrest Jesus followers, is now in the synagogues preaching that Jesus is the Son of God! People were astonished to see the change in Saul. Saul continued preaching growing more and more powerful, baffling the Jews by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. Saul went from being a persecutor of Jesus Followers to sharing the Good News of Jesus and gaining more Jesus Followers for God's Kingdom. Saul was sold out to Christ and nothing but sharing Jesus' story was important to him.   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 9-10 (read and reflect on these two chapters together).     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

July 5, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class In this episode we study Acts 8–9 through the lens of a congregation learning to juggle multiple challenges at once. Neal references Chris Young's prior expository teaching and collaborates with Hiram as they walk listeners through the scattering of the Jerusalem church, the ministries of Philip in Samaria and to the Ethiopian eunuch, and the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Biblical figures featured include Philip, Simon the sorcerer, the Ethiopian eunuch, Saul/Paul, Barnabas, and Dorcas (Tabitha). Topics covered include the church's response to persecution (Acts 8:1–4), the pattern of evangelism exemplified by Philip—"going up and opening his mouth," the role of signs and miracles to confirm the message, and how the Word plus the Holy Spirit accomplishes conversion in the absence of New Testament-era miraculous gifting. The episode examines how Philip's message produced belief and baptism among Samaritans and the eunuch, and it highlights the consistent New Testament emphasis on baptism accompanying repentance and faith. The conversion of Saul is treated as the central example of the challenge of change: changing religion, relationships, reputation, and life direction. The discussion follows Saul's pre-conversion persecution of Christians, the divine encounter on the road to Damascus, Ananias's role, and Barnabas's pastoral advocacy—how the early church received, connected, trusted, and helped a radically changed convert integrate into fellowship and ministry. Practical lessons and key points include: adversity should not lead to apostasy; put the emphasis on Scripture; humility in hearers makes teaching effective; joy accompanies obedience; follow-up and personal investment (the Barnabas model) are essential for new converts; old struggles can resurface and must be shepherded; and the church must care for loss (illustrated in the account of Dorcas) with compassion and expectation. Listeners should expect a mixture of exegesis, pastoral application, exhortation for personal evangelism (a simple challenge to invite others to study the Bible), and reflections on how Acts models mission, community care, and endurance under pressure for the contemporary church.   Duration 44:00

Follow us on:Facebook: agapechurchsloInstagram: @agapechurchsloWebsite: agape.churchCAMPFIRE: LIFE & LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE BIBLEWeek 10 | Campfire with Paul: Finishing Well with Strength and PurposeWho is Paul?Paul's life is one of the clearest pictures in Scripture of what it means to be completely transformed by the grace of God and fully committed to the purpose of God. Once a fierce persecutor of the Church, Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and was radically changed. From that moment on, his life was poured out in service to Christ—preaching the gospel, planting churches, raising leaders, enduring persecution, and writing much of the New Testament. Paul knew suffering, sacrifice, endurance, and opposition, but through it all, he stayed focused on one thing: finishing the race God had given him with faithfulness, strength, and purpose.Foundational Scripture for the SeriesHebrews 12:1 (ESV)“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”[IF PAUL…] sat down at the campfire across from us, I think he would say something like this: “Starting strong may get attention, but finishing faithful is what honors God.”Today Paul speaks to anyone who's asking, “How do I stay faithful all the way to the end?” Our big idea today is this: A strong finish requires endurance, focus, and an unshakable commitment to God's purpose. Some of you in this room are not in a starting season… you are in a staying season. You are not just asking, “What is God calling me to do?” You are asking, “How do I stay faithful? How do I keep going? How do I not get distracted, discouraged, or depleted before I get where God is leading me?”Paul helps us answer that, so let's take a walk through his story.Point 1: FINISHING WELL DOES NOT HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT2 Timothy 4:6–7“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”Paul is near the end of his earthly life, and he's not speaking with regret over wasted years. He's speaking with the sober confidence of a man who has lived intentionally.Paul says, “I have fought.”… “I have finished.”… “I have kept.”The language Paul uses tells us that Paul didn't see himself as drifting into a strong finish.Paul's words indicate that he feels He intentionally lived toward a strong finish in life. Paul lived with the end in view. Strong finishes come from daily faithfulness. A strong finish is not built in one dramatic moment… A strong finish is built in a thousand, faithful daily decisions.Daily obedience… Daily repentance… Daily prayer… Daily endurance.Daily saying yes to God when the race feels way too long.This matters because our culture celebrates the spotlight, but rarely values the hidden faithfulness that made the moment possible.We want: The finish without the formation… and lasting fruit without the long obedience.[IF WE ARE GOING TO FINISH WELL…] we have live fully convinced that Today matters… fully convinced that Today's choices matter… fully convinced that Today's compromises matter… fully convinced that Today's disciplines matter.fully convinced that Today's yes matters… and fully convinced that Today's hidden faithfulness matters.Finishing well is not about perfection… Paul knew, at a very deep level, that he was the benefactor of God's amazing Grace!Finishing well is about direction… it's about intention[FINISHING WELL…] is about living with a clear sense that your life is not random and your race is not casual.Paul's life is challenging some people in this room to make a shift from living reactively to living intentionally.Galatians 6:9 — “And let us not grow weary of doing good…”Proverbs 4:25–27 speaks of fixing your gaze straight ahead and staying on the path.BIG TRUTH: A STRONG FINISH IS OFTEN THE RESULT OF LONG, QUIET FAITHFULNESS. POINT 2: YOU MUST STAY FOCUSED ON THE RIGHT GOALPhilippians 3:12–14“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on… forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal…”The phrase “toward the goal” matters… Paul had focus… Paul had a goal.[BIG KEY] [THIS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE…] CLARITY OF YOUR PURPOSE PROTECTS YOUR ENDURANCE. One of the reasons many people do not finish well is they slowly lost focus.They got distracted… Distracted by success… by hurt… by people… by offense… by comparison… by comfort.Distracted by things that may not even be sinful in themselves, but are still heavy enough to slow your race.[THIS BRINGS US BACK…]  to Hebrews 12:1 where the writer says: “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely…”Not just sin… Weights tooSome things do not have to be evil to be unhelpful.Some things do not have to be sinful to still become spiritually costly.Some things simply weaken your focus.Paul refused that kind of drift… He knew where he was going… and He knew what kind of life he wanted to live before God.Paul understood that if you keep the right goal in front of you, it becomes easier to say no to things that weaken our focus and distract us from the race.We don't need more options… we need sharper focus.We don't need more activity… we need greater clarity.You do not need to chase everything… You need to stay aligned with what God actually called you to.Luke 9:62 — “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”1 Corinthians 9:26 — “So I do not run aimlessly…”BIG TRUTH: YOU CANNOT FINISH WELL IF YOU KEEP GIVING YOUR STRENGTH TO THINGS THAT WEAKEN YOUR FOCUS. POINT 3: STRENGTH FOR THE RACE COMES FROM JESUSOne of the great testimonies of Paul's life is that he endured a hard road with God-given strength.Paul faced Persecution… Imprisonment… Rejection… Beatings… Shipwreck… Misunderstanding… Pressure… Loss… And yet he kept going.Why and How? Because he was not drawing strength only from himself.Acts 20:24“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course…”Paul endured hardship because his life was anchored in God's calling. Calling gives strength when the road gets hard.Trouble was not called to Laurel, Nece and I were! (Trouble Don't Last Always)We find ourselves exhausted because we're are trying to sustain a God-given assignment with self-generated strength.We were never designed to life the life of a Christ follower carried by our willpower alone.We need grace… We need the power of the Holy Spirit… and we need the strength of Jesus.When you know your life belongs to God, when you know your race matters, when you know your course is from Him, then even painful seasons are carried differently.And Paul knew where his strength came from… and WE DO TOO!Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”The Lord's word to you today is not simply, “Try harder.”It's: “Draw closer.” And “Receive My strength.” And “Let Me sustain what I called.”Isaiah 40:31 — “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength…”2 Corinthians 4:16 — “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”BIG TRUTH: CALLING SUSTAINED BY CHRIST CAN CARRY YOU THROUGH SEASONS YOUR OWN STRENGTH CANNOT. WAYS TO LIVE PAUL'S LESSON1. LIVE TODAY WITH THE FINISH LINE IN MINDDo not live only for the moment.Do not make decisions as though today is all that matters.Live today with the finish line in mind. Ask yourself: Is this helping me finish well?... Is this strengthening my race or weakening it?2. REFUSE DISTRACTIONS THAT WEAKEN YOUR FOCUSNot everything that calls for your attention deserves your energy.Refuse distractions that weaken your focus. Lay aside the weights… Simplify what needs to be simplified.Keep the goal in front of you.3. DRAW STRENGTH FROM GOD, NOT JUST YOUR OWN EFFORTYou are not called to run this race alone or in your own strength.Draw strength from God, not just your own effort. Pray… Wait on Him… Receive grace… Stay close to Jesus.Let His strength renew you.4. MEASURE SUCCESS BY FAITHFULNESS TO YOUR CALLINGDo not let culture define success for you.Do you look more like Jesus right now than you did this same time last year.CLOSINGPaul's life reminds us that the goal is not just to begin well… but to finish well.The goal is to keep running until the course God gave you is complete.Do not be afraid to pour your life out for what matters most… Because a strong finish requires endurance, focus, and an unshakable commitment to God's purpose. [BECAUSE…] what is poured out for God will never be wasted.RESPONSE / PRAYER MOMENTMaybe today your prayer sounds like this:“Lord, help me live with the finish line in mind.”“Lord, remove the distractions that are weakening my focus.”“Lord, renew my strength for the race.”“Lord, help me measure success by faithfulness, not fame.”

The Lord Speaks to Elijah 9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 10 He said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." 11 And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a] 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He said, "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away." 15 And the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death,

These are the top headlines from Arab News, the Middle East's leading English-language daily, at 6pm GMT on Saturday 25th July.   - Yemeni air force hit Houthi missile, drone launch sites after Saudi-led Coalition forces launch strikes - Guterres meets Syria's Sharaa on first Damascus visit by UN chief in 17 years - Israel kills senior Hamas-led police official in Gaza, medics say - Israeli troops round up Palestinians in West Bank village after shootout involving settlers - US ‘boots on the ground' may be needed to help Lebanon confront Hezbollah, former Iraq commander says   Check out the latest updates on arabnews.com

CannCon and Ashe in America dive into Chapter 9 of The Creature from Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin, tracing the origin story of fractional reserve banking itself. This week the hosts follow the money from ancient Greece and Egypt through the banking hubs of Damascus, Barcelona, and Venice, where things get interesting fast. They walk through the rise and fall of early banks that tried to stay honest, the temptation of easy credit, and how the Bank of Amsterdam briefly proved sound banking was possible before it too gave in. All roads eventually lead to the formation of the Bank of England, the blueprint for every central bank that followed, including the one we are all stuck with today. Expect the usual mix of history, sharp commentary, and a healthy amount of disbelief at how old these tricks really are.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0724db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – July 24 Acts 26:19-32 Acts 26 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 Rather, I first told those in Damascus and Jerusalem about it, and then throughout the entire country of Judea and also the Gentiles. I told them that they should repent and turn to God, while also doing works that are consistent with repentance. 21 These are the reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 “But I have had help from God right up to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great. I am saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would happen, 23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.” 24 While Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you insane.” 25 But Paul replied, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but I am clearly speaking words that are true and sensible. 26 Certainly the king to whom I am freely speaking knows about these things. Indeed, I cannot believe that any of these things has escaped his notice, because this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In such a short time are you going to persuade me to become [1] a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “I pray God, that whether in a short time or a long time, not only you, but also all those who are listening to me today would become what I am, except for these chains.” 30 After he had said these things, [2] the king stood up, along with the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they had left, they said to one another in private, “This man is doing nothing worthy of death or chains.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Footnotes Acts 26:28 A few witnesses to the text read to make me. Acts 26:30 Some witnesses to the text omit After he had said these things. The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

Meet Sam Halligan Sam Halligan is the city director of Forge in Des Moines, Iowa. A Des Moines native (Saint Pius X and Dowling Catholic) who spent a decade serving with the young-adult mission Damascus, Sam and his wife, Whitney, recently moved back home with their kids. He shares the John 2:5 verse — "Do whatever he tells you" — that has anchored his marriage and their mission-driven family. What Is Forge? Forge is an on-the-ground movement of small groups dedicated to strengthening families by focusing on men. Sam breaks down Forge's guiding acronym, TAU (Thriving, Apostolic, Orthodox), and explains why reaching the heart of fathers changes the spiritual trajectory of an entire household. Since launching in late 2023, Forge has grown to 55 small groups across the Des Moines area — open to men of any faith background. Redefining Authentic Masculinity Julie and Chris dig into words like authority, dominance, and patriarch — terms the culture often paints as toxic. Sam makes the case for redeeming them, tracing masculinity back to Genesis, where Adam is called to till, keep, and protect the garden. He argues true masculine strength looks like Christ's: powerful, but exercised in humility and service. How Wives Can Support Their Husbands' Leadership Drawing on Edward Sri's book Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love, Sam and the hosts talk about the mutual responsibility spouses have to help each other flourish. Sam encourages women to offer affirmation rather than critique as husbands grow in their faith leadership, and Julie and Chris share personal stories of learning to trust their husbands' God-given roles. Upcoming Forge Events Forge Hog Roast — Friday, July 31, 2026, at Wills Family Orchard in Adel, Iowa. A couples' night with a spit-roasted hog, cigars, drinks, a bonfire, and live music. Heart of the Mission Retreat — October 15, 2026, a three-night retreat at Creighton University Retreat Center in Griswold, Iowa, limited to 65 men, featuring extended confession, adoration, and daily Mass. Forge Men's Conference — February 27, 2027, drawing roughly 1,500 men to Des Moines. Learn more and register at Forge Events Catholic Women Now airs on IowaCatholicRadio.com and wherever you listen to podcasts. #CatholicWomenNow #Forge #AuthenticMasculinity #CatholicMen #CatholicFatherhood #DesMoinesCatholic #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #TheologyOfTheBody #ChristianMasculinity #MensMinistry #CatholicFaith #CatholicMarriage     Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our StationsLINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0723db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – July 23 Acts 26:1-18 Acts 26 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense. 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am going to make my defense before you today concerning all the things about which I am being accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “All the Jews know the way I have lived from the earliest days of my youth, among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest party of our religion. 6 “And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 the promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God night and day. I am being accused by the Jews concerning this hope, O King. 8 Why does it seem unbelievable to any of you that God raises the dead? 9 “I too was convinced that it was necessary to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem. After receiving authority from the chief priests, I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them throughout all the synagogues. Because I was so insanely angry with them, I even pursued them to foreign cities. 12 “That is how I came to be traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At noon along the road, O King, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, [1] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' [2] 15 “Then I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?' “The Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 Now get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things you have seen [3] and to the things I will reveal to you. 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you. 18 You are to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' Footnotes Acts 26:14 Or Aramaic. The Greek word is Hebrew but likely refers to the Aramaic dialect spoken by the Jews at that time and place. Acts 26:14 Goads are pointed sticks used to urge or direct an animal. To kick against the goads means to resist stubbornly. Acts 26:16 A few witnesses to the text add of me. The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

When Paul encountered the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, everything changed. His immediate response was simple and profound: “What shall I do, Lord?” This episode challenges us to stop filling our prayers with instructions for God and instead submit ourselves to His direction, ready to obey whatever He asks.

The Strength That Isn't Ours #Nightlight #RTTBROSActs 9:20-22 (KJV)And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. When I look at this passage from Acts, I see a story that always makes me stop and think. It's the story of Saul. Now, Saul wasn't exactly a "good guy" in the eyes of the early church. He was a man of great zeal, but it was a zeal directed against the very thing God was trying to do. He was a persecutor. He was a man who thought he knew the way, and he was ready to bring the believers bound to the chief priests.But then, the road to Damascus. That's where the story pivots.We see in Acts 9:20-22 that after Saul met Christ, he didn't just get a little bit better; he was changed. He became "more in strength," and he went from being a persecutor to being a powerful preacher.Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. "Gene, I'm not Saul. I'm not a persecutor. I'm just trying to get through Tuesday." And that's alright. But the principle here isn't about being a saint overnight. It's about the source of the strength.We often try to build our own strength. We try to "hustle" our way to a better life, or we try to "will" ourselves into being more patient, or more loving, or more effective. We rely on our own grit. But the Bible tells us that the strength that truly lasts, the strength that changes a life from the inside out, comes from God.Look at John Newton. He went from a slave trader to a preacher. He didn't just try to be different; he was made different. He said, "By the grace of God I am what I am."That's the secret, isn't it? We are not saved for our own benefit, though we certainly benefit. We are saved to be part of God's work. And the same God who saves us, He equips and empowers us.So, what does "extra strength" look like in our daily lives? It looks like admitting you can't do it alone. It looks like saying, "Lord, I need Your power right now." It looks like trusting that the same power that transformed Saul on the road to Damascus is available to you today, whether you're facing a difficult conversation, a tough day at work, or just the temptation to give up on prayer.Don't try to be strong in your own might. Lean into His.Today's Growth Principle: God powerfully transforms the lives of everyone who trusts Him for salvation.May the Lord grant you the strength that is not yours, but His. Amen.

Pastor Jordan is preaching on Hidden Friends in Hard Times as we continue our Acts of the Apostles series.

When Asma arrives in Syria, there's a palpable sense of hope. People in the country and around the world dare to believe that she is a force for good. Chloe hears from people who worked with her in the early years who - despite everything that's happened - still believe her intentions were genuine but that she became trapped by the regime.We call her Emma is a 6 part original series from Tortoise Investigates and The Observer.To binge listen to all episodes today, ad-free, subscribe to The Observer and use the code AUDIO50 to get 50% off your annual subscription.You'll get access to:This series and all our podcasts before anyone elseAd-free listeningPremium newslettersPuzzles from the inventors of the cryptic crosswordExclusive offers from our partners including Mubi and iescapeTickets to join Observer events in our newsroom or onlineOr subscribe to Observer+ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to listen to all our podcasts, including this one, without any ads.Reporter - Chloe HadjimatheouProducer - Gary MarshallSound design - Karla PatellaPodcast artwork - Lola Williams & Eliza BournerExecutive producers - Jasper Corbett and Basia Cummings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahmad Sharawi — President Trump has agreed to review lifting Syria's state sponsor of terror designation to aid its economic recovery; however, the country remains unstable, with rampant ISIS activity and foreign leaders facing security risks in Damascus, while Turkey and Saudi Arabia position themselves to invest heavily in Syria. (13)

SCHEDULE JBS, 7-13-26.1914 PALESTINESamuel Ben-Ur — Israel controls 70% of Gaza, creating a buffer zone while Hamas remains on the coast; 98% of the population resides on the Hamas-controlled side, where the group exploits humanitarian aid for revenue, and the Board of Peace proposes a "pilot zone" in Tel Sultan for non-Hamas civilians. (1)Samuel Ben-Ur — The Board of Peace remains underfunded, with only $23 million confirmed of the $17 billion pledged; Hamas rejected an eight-month disarmament plan, its leadership has largely relocated from Qatar to Turkey, and Netanyahu's political standing depends on his hardline refusal to cede Gaza territory. (2)Bill Gertz and Gordon Chang — Rose Gottemoeller suggests Vladimir Putin nearly used tactical nuclear weapons in 2022 to stop a military rout, allegedly dissuaded by private pressure from the U.S., China, and India; reports indicate China is now providing covert military training to Russian forces. (3)Mark Simon and Gordon Chang — China released Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri following a request from Donald Trump, showing Xi Jinping can make concessions without losing face; however, billionaire publisher Jimmy Lai remains imprisoned for political crimes, viewed by the Chinese government as a significant threat and a "one-man wrecking crew." (4)Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter — Guests pay tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, highlighting his role in the Abraham Accords and US-Israel relations; Israeli elections are set for October 27th, and regional tensions rise as the U.S. reimposes a naval blockade on Iran following renewed attacks on Gulf neighbors. (5)Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter — Anti-Semitism is surging in the UK, leading to a £250 million government allocation for protection; Iran continues to act as an "octopus" of instability across the Middle East, and guests argue that dealing with Iran is the only way to achieve regional peace and allow the area to bloom. (6)David Daoud — Hezbollah fighters are integrated into southern Lebanese villages, making evacuation north of the Litani River unfeasible; while Lebanese law requires disarmament, the government lacks the will to confront Hezbollahdue to its significant social support, turning Lebanon into a hollowed-out, failed state. (7)David Daoud — Prime Minister Netanyahu uses theatrical tours of the border to project strength ahead of the October elections; he faces criticism for being unable to say "no" to President Trump, and ultimately the fate of Israeli military deployments in Lebanon and Gaza depends more on Washington than Jerusalem. (8)Bridget Toomey — Saudi Arabia struck Sanaa airport to prevent Iran from establishing direct flights to Houthi-controlled territory; the Houthis have vowed retaliation, potentially targeting Saudi oil infrastructure or airports with drones and missiles, though they have avoided attacking U.S. vessels to prevent renewed air campaigns. (9)John Hardie — President Trump signaled he will grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missile systems, though standing up production will take years; meanwhile, Germany is financing 50,000 AI-guided drones for Ukraine, which use terminal guidance to strike targets despite electronic warfare interference. (10)Edmund Fitton-Brown — The U.S. is reimposing a naval blockade on Iran after the collapse of the poorly drafted memorandum of understanding; Iran's economy is "choking to death" under these measures, and guests argue the U.S.must prioritize controlling the Strait of Hormuz through international cooperation and naval power. (11)Edmund Fitton-Brown — The truce between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis may be over following strikes on Sanaaairport, with retaliatory attacks potentially targeting major Saudi international airports and oil facilities; despite Iranianinfluence, the new Iraqi prime minister appears to be drifting toward the United States for security and stability. (12)Ahmad Sharawi — President Trump has agreed to review lifting Syria's state sponsor of terror designation to aid its economic recovery; however, the country remains unstable, with rampant ISIS activity and foreign leaders facing security risks in Damascus, while Turkey and Saudi Arabia position themselves to invest heavily in Syria. (13)Jonathan Schanzer — The naval blockade on Iran represents the "maximum pressure" campaign, effectively dropping Iranian oil exports to zero; this economic strangulation poses an existential threat to the regime, which struggles to pay its personnel, and recent direct missile exchanges suggest diplomatic understandings between the U.S. and Iran have collapsed. (14)Bob Zimmerman — China successfully recovered a reusable rocket stage, joining SpaceX and Blue Origin in the race for cheaper launches; on the ISS, a private company successfully manufactured human kidney and liver tissues, and SpaceX continues to break records, with boosters flying up to 36 times, significantly reducing satellite launch costs. (15)Bob Zimmerman — SETI has tightened protocols for announcing alien life to prevent "clickbait" claims lacking evidence, with scientists encouraged to be more transparent about mistakes and maintain anonymity during discoveries; future missions include deploying helicopters to Mars and launching the Habitable Worlds Observatory in the 2040s. (16)Corrections: Samuel Bener → Samuel Ben-Ur; Bill Girtz → Bill Gertz; Pastor Jyn / Ezra Jin Mingu → Ezra Jin Mingri; Jimmy Lie → Jimmy Lai; Thaddius McCotter → Thaddeus McCotter; Bridget Tumeh → Bridget Toomey; John Hardy → John Hardie.One question: the batch ended with "1-8" — I've numbered the full run (1)–(16), but if you wanted this split as tails (1)–(8) across paired segments, or only the first eight numbered, say the word and I'll renumber.

Fareed examines Europe's response to this week's NATO summit and the future of the transatlantic alliance with Jeppe Kofod and Frans Timmermans. Rahm Emanuel discusses rethinking US support for Israel, his proposed "23-state solution," and 2028 presidential speculation. The program concludes with an update on Syria following explosions during French President Macron's landmark visit to Damascus. GUESTS: Jeppe Kofod (@JeppeKofod), Frans Timmermans (@F__Timmermans), Rahm Emanuel (@RahmEmanuel), Loubna Mrie (@Loubnamrie) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NATO's most important global summit has begun in Turkiye. It's an event where the world's leaders meet, mingle, and above all, try to keep President Donald Trump from doing something inconceivably stupid… like threatening to pull troops from Europe if the US does not gain control of Greenland. But NATO has even bigger problems: Russia's war in Ukraine and the threat Russia poses to the entire coalition. So to talk more about NATO, Trump, and how the summit is trying to keep the president of the United States from throwing an epic temper tantrum, we spoke with Felicia Schwartz, diplomatic correspondent for Politico.And in headlines: Democrats are calling for Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the race in light of a sexual assault allegation against him, a new lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration has been illegally sharing confidential information about Iranian asylum seekers with the Iranian government, and French President Emmanuel Macron met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus restoring official diplomatic ties.Show Notes: Felicia Schwartz's work – https://www.politico.com/staff/felicia-schwartz Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com