Podcasts about Deity

Quentin Johnson reviews Bird Deity by John Morrissey, published by Text Publishing.

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu was teaching about devotional service, he presented 64 items. One of them is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa; another is associating with devotees; and others are living in a holy Dhāma, reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and worshiping the Deity. He said that of all the 64, these five are so potent that even if you have a little connection with them, you'll make advancement in devotional service. And so, this "coming to the Dhāma" is noticeably prominent in his Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's teachings, of course, he said you should always live in the Dhāma—but if you can't be there physically, you should be there in your mind and heart. But how will you develop such a connection unless you come here? That's why we're here. So, in great humility, we enter this holy place. I offer my respectful obeisances to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who introduced this Dhāma to us, as well as all the other aspects of devotional service. Not only did he introduce it, but he keeps introducing it to us through his books and through all his lectures, teachings—and also by the example he set by inviting his whole international society to come every year. Of course, there were fewer devotees at that time, but I think the invitation still holds. He relished seeing all of his fledgling disciples from various parts of the world—some of them freezing cold, others from places where no one had ever heard "Hare Kṛṣṇa"—coming into the Dhāma together: Māyāpur, Vṛndāvana, and sometimes Purī. So, we offer our respectful obeisances to Śrīla Prabhupāda and beg his permission to be in this Dhāma for a week, and to hear and chant together. While we are here as travelers—because you've already noticed—"travel" comes from the word travail. If you follow the etymology, everyone knows travail means an extreme of discomfort, but it also traces back to an instrument of torture. But it's not torture when we know we are coming to the Dhāma. Just going through security is kind of like a preparation for leaving this world: "And what do you still have on you, buddy? We'll go through it and look." We can't hide anything in this world. It all goes through an X-ray machine and a pat-down somewhere. It is best if we dispense of the useless things that we're carrying around with us before we get to the final security checkpoint. This is a good place to do it. Not that we come here just to leave our troubles or sins, but naturally, when we come here in a mood of service, we'll find that whatever material aspirations we have can be transformed into aspirations for serving Kṛṣṇa. After all, that's what's permanent. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://vaisesikadasayatra.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritu

I was thinking also in terms of the Avanti brāhmaṇa, as he had also become disgusted with material life, just as Aṅga, Vena's father, had walked away. The Avanti brāhmaṇa had walked away because he had been a wealthy landowner, and then he got stingy. He didn't offer sufficient respect to the demigods or to his family members, and he gradually lost everything. But in the course of his daily activities, a brāhmaṇa had come to him and offered him an opportunity to print some books—I'm not making this up, it's in the commentary—especially the Bhagavad-gītā and some other books, and also to help build a temple for a beautiful Deity, which he did. Even though he lost everything and he had been impious in many ways, that seed, that kernel, stayed in his heart: that he had done something for Kṛṣṇa. That's what prompted him to just embrace whatever fate he had in the material world. etāṁ sa āsthāya parātma-niṣṭhām adhyāsitāṁ pūrvatamair maharṣibhiḥ ahaṁ tariṣyāmi duranta-pāraṁ tamo mukundāṅghri-niṣevayaiva (SB 11.23.57) He uttered: 'I shall cross over the material world by being firmly fixed in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.' This was approved by the previous ācāryas, who are fixed in firm devotional service to Lord, Paramātmā, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he had that staunch faith, and it came from just a little devotional service—printing books, by the way. So we see those also—the way people come to a conclusion of walking away from the material world and that's a catharsis for us, too. It's like, 'They did it; I can do it also.' Sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir (SB 10.14.3). The Bhāgavatam doesn't recommend such abrupt processes, necessarily, but it still gives us an understanding deep in our heart. It's an emotional transformation, as Radhika Raman Prabhu mentioned. Not all memory is intellectual; it's emotional. That was a very fine point, because many people say, 'What's the good of karma and the lesson of karma if I can't remember what I did?' But there's emotional memory. We take it in our hearts very deeply that I've been involved in many things in this material world. And when the Bhāgavatam brings it out and shows it to us, we feel in our heart, "Yes, I've been involved in such things. No más—that's it. I don't want this anymore. I want only the life of purity following Kṛṣṇa." ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #

Main Topic Sermon by evangelist David Fisher from Fan Into Flames Ministry, on going through storms in life, using Mark 4:35–41 (Jesus calming the storm) and Isaiah 43:1–3 to call believers to a deeper revelation of Jesus rather than just rescue from problems.​ 1. Introduction: Word of God and Worship Word of God as powerful and authoritative, likened to a hammer that breaks rock (Jeremiah, Jesus' words never passing away).​ Welcome to Pastor Dave Fisher; context of recent ministry, prayer week, and sensing an increased move of the Spirit in the church and region.​ Worship as an act of defiance against the devil: choosing to shout unto God with a voice of triumph regardless of circumstances.​ Isaiah 43 read as a promise to God's people: when you go through waters, rivers, and fire, God is with you and you will not be destroyed.​ 2. “Going Through It”: Life's Unrelenting Storms Honest acknowledgement that many feel they are “going through it” (days, months, even decades of trial).​ Personal testimony of Dave and Shelley facing the most difficult mental, emotional, and spiritual season of their marriage.​ Introduction of Mark 4: disciples in a literal storm used as metaphor for any life trial.​ 3. The Main Question: “Who Is This Man?” Common application: Jesus stills our storms; affirmation that He can, does, and will.​ Central thesis: believers are not the main characters; the primary point is revelation of Jesus' identity, not mere deliverance.​ If God rescues us but we do not gain a deeper revelation of Jesus, our faith will be shaken at the next storm.​ Key question from the text: “Who is this man?”—this is the heart of the narrative and the sermon.​ 4. Crossing to the Other Side: Assignment and Opposition Jesus' simple statement “Let's cross to the other side of the lake” implies divine direction and assignment, not a casual trip.​ On the other side (Mark 5) is the demonized man with a legion; the crossing is about confronting hell and freeing a captive.​ Any call to follow Jesus and advance His kingdom will be opposed by powers of darkness; storms often accompany assignment.​ Demons recognize Jesus' identity and authority even before the disciples do; they know His power over them.​ 5. Storms, the Enemy, and Our Focus Enemy's purpose: incite fear, paralyze faith, and block God's purpose by overwhelming us with storms and problems.​ Some storms may be directly demonic; others are used by the enemy to assault mind, emotions, and focus.​ When overwhelmed by what we are going through, we forget what we are going to (our assignment).​ Disciples' early lesson: following Jesus includes storms; in this world we will have tribulation, but Jesus has overcome.​ 6. Presence in the Storm vs. Our Perception Fierce storm (earthquake-like on the water); seasoned fishermen are terrified as the boat fills with water.​ Core promise: Jesus is in the boat—in the midst of the storm—fulfilling God's word, “I will be with you.”​ Call to defiantly declare God's word over symptoms and senses: choose His word over sight, feelings, and thoughts.​ Warning: if we fail to discern the source of the storm, we fight the storm instead of the enemy behind it.​ 7. Jesus' Peace and Identity vs. Disciples' Panic Contrast: disciples terrified; Jesus asleep on a cushion—same boat, same storm, radically different response.​ It can feel like Jesus is present but passive, silent, or indifferent; these feelings are real but not true.​ Jesus' inner rest flows from knowing His Father, His identity, His origin, His assignment, and His destiny.​ Believers likewise know their beginning (saved), their assignment, and their end (with Him), so anything in between is in the Father's hands.​ 8. Fear, Faith, and Revelation Disciples' cry “Teacher, don't you care we are going to drown?” contrasts Jesus' word “We're going to the other side.”​ Only one declaration can be true; revelation of who He is corrects our conclusions about our situation.​ Critique of purely informational faith: information about Jesus must become Spirit-given revelation in our hearts.​ Areas dominated by fear reveal where we lack revelation of who Jesus is (e.g., healing, provision, family).​ 9. Jesus Rebukes the Storm and the Source Jesus responds to their cry by rebuking wind and waves with authority (“Silence, be still” / “shut up and knock it off”).​ Same language used to address demons, suggesting confrontation with spiritual forces behind the storm.​ Believers are invited to speak with that same delegated authority to the spirit behind the storm.​ Emphasis: the real battle is not with circumstances but with Satan, who seeks to destroy faith and block assignment.​ 10. Christ's Deity and the Disciples' Holy Terror Immediate calm reveals Jesus is doing what only God does in the Old Testament—ruling the chaotic waters.​ This event unveils not just His power but His deity: Jesus is God, the eternal Word made flesh.​ After the calm, Jesus asks, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”—implying they need not have feared.​ The disciples become “absolutely terrified” in a holy way; divine presence is more awe-inspiring than any storm or demon.​ 11. From Survival to Thriving: The Goal of Storms God's purpose is not mere survival but thriving in the midst of storms through deeper revelation of Christ.​ What we magnify (storm or Jesus) will master us; magnifying Christ brings freedom from storm-mastery.​ Storms can serve as opportunities for maturity and revelation (James 1:2–4 referenced).​ Encouragement: do not wait for storms to seek revelation; build it now in the Word.​ 12. Practical Response: Defiant Declarations and Spiritual Warfare Call to become a defiant people against the enemy, not against God: spiritual warfare, shouting, and praise.​ Personal example: walking around the house proclaiming God's word, pleading the blood, attacking the devil by the Spirit and the Word.​ Use Scripture to declare truth over fear, sickness, and oppression; don't believe everything you think.​ Weapons of warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to pull down strongholds and cast down imaginations.​ 13. Extended Declarations: “Who Is This Man?” Corporate ministry time: congregation invited to the altar to declare who Jesus is, not just receive prayer.​ Long series of biblical declarations describing Jesus' identity and work (never leaving or forsaking; bread of life; light; shepherd; vine; way, truth, life; resurrection and life).​ Christ as reconciler, sin-bearer, seated in highest honor, head of the church, victor over sin, death, and Satan.​ Christ as Alpha and Omega, visible image of the invisible God, creator and sustainer, Lamb slain yet standing, coming King.​ 14. Shout of Triumph and Closing Exhortation Congregational Jericho-style shout as an act of spiritual warfare, linked to breaking chains and walls falling.​ Second, louder shout encouraged, likened to (but surpassing) cheering at a football game (Super Bowl Sunday reference).​ Affirmation that walls are coming down, demons are fleeing, and victories are being won because of Jesus' kingship.​ Dismissal: leave with praise, a shout, and an awareness of spiritual battle; take God's word and do warfare in Jesus' name

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: THE DEITY AND TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST - "Super Bowl Pressure, Holy Spirit Power” Christ's Bible Fellowship - Barrigada, Guam USA John 15:26 - 16:4 NKJV Speaker: Deacon Gabe Dabu Sunday, February 08, 2026

Witnesses to Christ's Deity John 5:30-47 Pastor Phil Horjus

In this episode, Maria and Robyn discuss their opinions and tips on writing and performing your own spells. We discuss the upcoming transits: February 6th: Mercury Ingresses into the sign of Pisces  February 10th: Venus Ingresses into the sign of Pisces  February 13th: Saturn Ingresses into the sign of Aries  February 18th: The Sun Ingresses into the sign of Pisces  The collective reading covers Justice Reversed. Creatives we are loving this week are: Robyn's choice: @mypapercrane tile set Maria's choice: @two.mushrooms  Listener Choice: @mypoorpurse Don't forget to join us on February 22nd for Maria's Class on Deity 101. As a reminder, all classes will be on the Patreon, library tier and up!Shoot us your submissions for Coffee Talks at submissions@coffeeandcauldrons.com or to our voicemail at (351) 207-0799Thank you to all our Patreon subscribers! Without you, none of this is possible.patreon.com/magickalbeginnings

In this talk, we ask the question "which deity should I worship?"  & "does it even matter?" going off last week's reflection on how Tantra works and our conjectures about Swami Brahmananda's Ishta (chosen deity). Naturally, we end up discussing some of the nuances and complexities around the central claim of our lineage: "all religions are true" which for Tāntrikas shopping for an Ishta, comes across as "all deities are different forms of the One Absolute Reality" pointing to the tension between the broadness invited by this view versus the focus (ishta-nishta) & depth that is typically insisted upon in our view particularly with regards to choosing one path/deity and sticking to it! Mainly though, we talk about faith & renunciation, "īśvara-anurāg-vishāya-virāg" the most essential things in spiritual life. This was quite an inspiring and meaningful talk for me. Thank you for all who came live! May it be an offering! Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

We continue in Mark 2:1-12 with savior's demonstrated authority.Both Matthew 9 and Luke 5 present this same incident of four men making a way to the savior through the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching.The problem the scribes and pharisees had was their ignorance of the savior and His divine authority. It is easy to say words that declare the forgiveness of sins, but only the Lord Jesus has the divine authority to not only declare it, but to make it happen. Our Lord demonstrated the divine authority of God in commanding the paralytic man to rise up, take his stretcher and go home. He did just that in the presence of all the people. The people were completely astounded by this miracle in which Jesus demonstrated His Deity and forgiveness of sins.Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, Mark 2:5.

In this episode we explore some of the significance in the artwork "Saturn Devouring His Son. We explore the man behind the painting, his mental state and the time that this painting was made. We dig deep in the myths and mythos that the artwork borrows from, and finally we discuss what we think about the artwork and the "beauty" it brings. Come forth and indulge us a little on are thoughts and perspectives on this magnificent piece of artwork that spans eras.

Evolutionary ecologist and novelist Steven Peck brings scientific reasoning, theological imagination, and Restoration scripture into conversation as he examines one of the most striking scenes in all scripture—God weeping in Moses 7. Peck challenges traditional readings that frame God as the direct cause of suffering and instead portrays a compassionate Deity who mourns with creation and calls His children to alleviate pain alongside Him. Thoughtful, probing, and deeply pastoral, this reflection enriches your Come, Follow Me study with a renewed vision of God's empathy and the sacred responsibility of human agency.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: THE DEITY AND TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST - "Hated By The World, Held By Christ”Christ's Bible Fellowship - Barrigada, Guam USAJohn 15:18-25 NKJVSpeaker: Gabe DabuSunday, February 01, 2026

What does Tantra really look like in practice? Whether its "right" hand path Tantra or the so-called "left" hand path, Tantra is essentially a form of Deity Yoga, that is, an ongoing practice of cultivating a deep, personal, devotional relationship to a Deity. Importantly, the "deity" is a particular reading on the one, Absolute Reality. We call the deity an Ishta, the "Chosen Ideal." Since we are all of us unique, the way we are each of us going to understand the Absolute Reality, the way we will come to It and the way we will express It is necessarily going to be different & unique to us and our qualities, competency & proclivity. As such, while Tantra is essentially deity yoga, it is also a tradition that maximally offers innumerable deities, paths, lineages, rituals & practices so that no one is excluded and that everyone, whatever they're individual spiritual tastes may be, can find a practice (i.e choose an ishta, a deity) that most resonates with them, most inspires them and is most able to spiritually nourish them! We discuss how the Vijñāna-Bhairava Tantra and the various sahasranāma stotrams make a case for the illimitable and infinitely, maximally variegated nature of Reality, which the Tāntrik tradition tries to reflect by offering diverse deities, paths, lineages, rituals & practices all along the spectrum from "right" (orthodox) to "left" (transgressive). Mainly, we contemplate how Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda & Swami Brahmananda reflect the above ideals in their lives and teachings as part of our Swami Brahmananda Jayanti celebration! Jai Guru Maharajji Ki Jai! Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

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Sam and Stephen get a little biblical this week, discussing a couple distinct deities from Starfinder 2nd Edition! Also, Sam brings a friend of nature and offers ways to use them in your Starfinder games! Don't forget, our Disciples of Antiquitius-1 Build Bounty are due Monday, March 2nd at 11:59PM. Submissions must be a Level 10 Solarian, must have some deep connection to Antiquitius-1. Can have an archetype if you'd like. Please include an outline of what makes your Solarian unique, as well as the event in their life that led them to become one of Antiquitius-1's students.Follow us on Bluesky: thedarktimespod.bsky.socialWant to ask something/submit a build? Email us at: thedarktimespod@gmail.comLogo designed by: @MothPunkStarfinder 2E at PaizoStarfinder 2E SubredditSupport the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January 28, 2026Today's Reading: Exodus 34:29-35 or Exodus 3:1-14Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 6:1-7:14; Romans 16:17-27“Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” (Exodus 34:29)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In the Transfiguration of our Lord, we see the communication, or the delivery, of the divine majesty to the human nature of Jesus. This means that things that are normally only true of God are also true of the human being Jesus Christ. Normally, human flesh and blood does not shine with uncreated light as bright as the sun. But the human flesh of Jesus shines with the light of divine glory. This is not because of any quality of the human nature, but because in the union of God and man in the person of Jesus, the divine nature lends its light to the human.But that's Jesus. The God-man. The one and only Son of God who assumed human nature in the unity of person. The one in whom the whole fullness of Deity dwells bodily (Colossians 2:9). No other human being who has ever walked this earth has been personally united with one of the persons of the Holy Trinity. But the fact that the Son of God has communicated His divine glory to the human flesh and blood He assumed in His person opens the possibility for other flesh-and-blood humans to receive the Gifts of divine majesty.And Moses shows that it does, in fact, happen. After conversing with God and writing the commands of God on a replacement set of stone tables, he comes back down the mountain. “Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” Normally, human flesh does not shine with light. But Moses' skin shone. While Scripture does not say that its brilliance was like the sun (as was the Transfiguration of Jesus), they still had to put a veil over his face (Exodus 34:33).If Jesus' face shone like the sun with its own divine light, then the face of Moses shone like the moon, reflecting the glory of God. And do not miss the cause: “because he had been talking with God.” Moses' face shines with borrowed light communicated to him by the Word of God.You, too, shine with a certain borrowed light when you hear the Word of God and keep it. St. Paul urges you to be “children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life” (Philippians 2:15b–16a). This light is God's by nature, but yours by grace. Follow Jesus and you will not walk in darkness, but you will have the light of life (John 8:12).In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Renew me, O eternal Light, And let my heart and soul be bright, Illumined with the light of grace That issues from Your holy face. (LSB 704:1)Author: Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

“And of his fulness have all we received.” — John 1:16 These words tell us that there is a fulness in Christ. There is a fulness of essential Deity, for “in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead.” There is a fulness of perfect manhood, for in Him, bodily, that Godhead was revealed. There […]

Normally, a person who hears Kaddish or Nakdishach may respond even if he hears from a distance, and is not present with the Minyan. There are, however, exceptions to this rule. The Shulhan Aruch writes that a person standing outside a synagogue may respond to Kaddish or Nakdishach, but then adds that according to some opinions, this is not allowed if there is "Tinuf" (filth, such as a trash can), or a non-Jew, in between him and the congregation. At first glance, it appears that the Shulhan Aruch here cites two different opinions, and according to the first opinion, one may respond even if there is "Tinuf" or a non-Jew in between him and the Minyan. If so, then we follow the general rule that the Shulhan Aruch accepts the first opinion when he brings two different views, and thus one may may respond regardless of what is between him and the congregation. Hacham Ovadia Yosef, however, understands the Shulhan Aruch as clarifying his initial statement, and not as citing a dissenting view. Therefore, one may not, in fact, respond to Kaddish or Nakdishach if there is either "Tinuf" or a gentile in between him and the Minyan. The word used by the Shulhan Aruch in this context is "Akum," an acrostic that refers either to an idol – "Avodat Kochabim U'mazalot" – or to an idolater – "Obed Kochabim U'mazalot." The Magen Abraham (Rav Avraham Gombiner, Poland, 1635-1682) understood that the acrostic "Akum" in this context refers to an idol, and not to a gentile. According to this reading, a non-Jew does not interrupt between a Minyan and a person listening from a distance, and he may respond. However, Hacham Ovadia notes that in earlier editions of the Shulhan Aruch, the word used in this passage was not "Akum," but rather "Goy." It is clear that the word was changed as a result of censorship, as Jewish communities needed to avoid giving the impression of looking disdainfully upon their non-Jewish neighbors, and so texts that might be misunderstood as such were occasionally emended. Hence, the Magen Abraham's reading is incorrect, and even the presence of a non-Jew in between a person and the Minyan creates an interruption, preventing him from responding. Since the Shulhan Aruch used the word "Goy" – "gentile" – and not "Obed Kochabim" – "idolater," this Halacha applies to all gentiles, even to those who do not worship idols. The Rambam famously ruled that Muslims are not considered idol-worshippers, since they believe in a single Deity who created the world. For the purposes of this Halacha, however, the non-Jew's religious beliefs are irrelevant, and his presence is considered an obstruction regarding the ability to respond to Kaddish and Nakdishach. The Magen Abraham and Mishna Berura asserted that the Rama (Rav Moshe Isserles, Cracow, 1530-1572) disputed this entire Halacha, and maintained that the presence of filth or of a gentile does not affect the ability to respond to Kaddish or Nakdishach. Nevertheless, Sephardic practice follows the Shulhan Aruch's ruling. It must be noted that this entire discussion refers to the case of a person who is not inside together with the Minyan, and there is a gentile in between him and the Minyan. In such a case, the presence of the Shechina needs to extend from the Minyan to the person standing at a distance, and this extension can be obstructed. A gentile's presence inside the Minyan, however, has no effect whatsoever. If, for example, a political figure is visiting the synagogue, or a congregant has a non-Jewish aide helping him in the synagogue, it is certainly permissible for everyone to respond to all the prayers, even if the non-Jew stands in between a person and the Hazzan. Although there is an opinion among the Poskim that is stringent in this regard, the consensus follows the lenient position. One example where this problem arises was noted by the Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), who describes how it was common in Baghdad for merchants to display their wares in the hallways of synagogues. If a person was in the hallway of such a synagogue, he needed to ensure that the non-Jewish merchant was not standing in between him and the sanctuary. Another situation where this could arise is an airport. If ten men find an area to pray, and someone joins their Minyan from a distance, he may not answer unless he ensures that no gentiles come in between him and the Minyan. This could arise also when a person hosts a catered event in his home, and a Minyan is formed in the living room. If someone wishes to participate in the Minyan from the kitchen, he must ensure that non-Jewish workers are not standing in between him and the Minyan. Some Poskim place a very significant limitation on this entire Halacha, maintaining that it applies only if the person can see the "Tinuf" or the non-Jew in between him and the Minyan. But if, for example, a person lives near a synagogue, and he hears the prayers through the window, then he may respond even if there is "Tinuf" or a gentile in between. This is the view taken by the Gaon of Vilna (1720-1797) and by Rav Shlomo Zurafa (Algeria, 1785-1859). Although others seem to disagree with this ruling, it is accepted as Halacha by Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in Yehaveh Da'at, and by his son, Hacham David Yosef, in Halacha Berura. This Halacha becomes relevant in the case of a person who hears a live broadcast of a prayer service. Some congregations arrange a livestream of the Tefila for the benefit of those who are unable to attend due to health reasons, or for those in remote areas without a Minyan. The accepted Halacha is that although one cannot fulfill his obligation to recite a text – such as the reading of Megilat Ester on Purim – by listening via telephone or some other communication system, one can respond to Berachot, Kaddish and Nakdishach if he hears the recitation through a live broadcast. Quite obviously, there is "Tinuf" and gentiles in between the individual listening to a broadcast and the synagogue miles away where the prayers are being recited. Nevertheless, Hacham Ovadia ruled that one may respond, in light of the aforementioned ruling that everything in between may be disregarded if it cannot be seen. A Minyan may be formed even though non-Jews live in the same building, above the Minyan. Hacham Ovadia writes that there is no source whatsoever for the notion that the presence of gentiles above a Minyan obstructs the prayers from ascending to the heavens. Therefore, it is entirely permissible to pray on a ground floor even though gentiles are present above the Minyan. Summary: If a person hears Kaddish or Nakdishach from outside the area where the Minyan takes place, he may respond, unless there is "Tinuf" (filth) or a non-Jew in between him and the Minyan. If, however, the "Tinuf" or the gentile cannot be seen – such as if a person hears a Minyan from a window in his home – then he may respond. Therefore, a person who hears a Minyan via livestream may respond. A gentile's presence in the synagogue, or in the area where the Minyan is held, has no effect, and everyone in the room may respond.

Get your copy of our 2026 Annual Read: Tozer on the Son of God by A.W. Tozer.First Time?Start Here: https://bit.ly/MarinersconnectcardCan we pray for you? https://bit.ly/MarinersPrayerOnlineYou can find information for all our Mariners congregations, watch more videos, and learn more about us and our ministries on our website https://bit.ly/MarinersChurchSite.FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marinerschurch• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marinerschurch• Twitter: https://twitter.com/marinerschurch• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinerschurchSupport the ministry and help us reach people worldwide: https://bit.ly/MarinersGive

John 8:31-32 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" 34 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Colossians 2:6-23 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.  11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.     16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.    18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.    19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"?   22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.   23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.   Colossians 3:1-10 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.   3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.    7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.   9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 

January 23, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for The Transfiguration of Our Lord - Psalm 84:1-2a, 4, 10-11; antiphon: Psalm 77:18bDaily Lectionary: Joel 2:18-32; Romans 11:25-12:13“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!” (Psalm 84:1)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.When Peter saw the Lord Jesus transfigured on the mountain with Moses and Elijah standing beside him, he offered to build three tents (Mark 9:5). Perhaps this was a purely practical response, to provide some shelter for an extended visit. Perhaps, though, perceiving the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus and the appearance of the Law and the Prophets, Peter was transported back to the earliest days of the people of Israel, when the glory of the Lord dwelt in a tent, or the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a lovely dwelling. God Himself had designed it and had chosen the artisans to build it. It was made with the finest materials and craftsmanship to reflect Him whom it housed. Further, its design was oriented around its purpose, not only as a dwelling place for God, but also as the place where God dwelt for the forgiveness of His people. The Tabernacle was the place of sacrifice.King David (who did not appear at the Transfiguration) was not happy that God dwelt in a tent when he dwelt in a lovely house of cedar (2 Samuel 7:2). David wanted to build a permanent house for God, but God objected—He preferred to dwell in His tent. But God relented, and David's son built the house David longed for. The Temple was a lovely dwelling place, perhaps even exceeding the luxury of the Tabernacle. But it, too, was lovely because it was a place of sacrifice and forgiveness.In the course of history, this lovely Temple was destroyed, rebuilt, expanded, and destroyed again. One problem with a Temple built with hands is that it does not go with the people, as the Tabernacle had. A further problem is that the Lord of heaven and earth does not live in temples made by man (Acts 17:24). Neither the Temple nor the Tabernacle before it could contain the glory of God, nor could the tents Peter offered to build.Instead, God has pitched His tent, so to speak, in human flesh. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” writes St. John (John 1:14). There, in the flesh of Jesus, all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily (Colossians 2:9). It is a lovely dwelling place, not for gold or cedar or beautiful garments, but because Jesus is the place where God is present for the forgiveness of sins. The flesh of Jesus is the new Temple, the new Tabernacle, the dwelling place of the Lord of hosts. And how lovely it is!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.To Your temple, Lord, I come, For it is my worship home. This earth has no better place, Here I see my Savior's face. (LSB 981:1)Author: Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

Beyond Maiden, Mother, and Crone, there is another face of the Goddess. One that is rarely named, often hidden, and deeply powerful.In this episode of Back on the Broomstick, we continue our Deity Series by exploring the Fourth Face of the Goddess, the Dark Moon. Sometimes called the Warrior, sometimes the Queen, sometimes the Sovereign, this is the aspect that emerges when we stop performing who we were told to be and start living from our truth.We'll revisit the roots of the Triple Goddess archetype and talk about why it no longer tells the full story. From there, we step into the hidden phase. The one associated with mastery, authority, boundaries, and intentional power. This is the phase where wisdom sharpens instead of softens, where confidence grows quieter and stronger, and where sovereignty becomes lived rather than imagined.We talk about how this archetype shows up around midlife and menopause, but also how it can emerge at any point in life when you claim yourself fully. We explore the light and shadow of the Queen, the responsibility that comes with power, and why patriarchal systems have always been threatened by this phase of feminine authority.You'll also hear practical ways to recognize and work with this energy in your everyday life, along with a meditation spell to call in and honor the Dark Moon within yourself.If you've ever felt like you've outgrown old roles, old expectations, or even old versions of your magic, this episode is for you. The hidden face is not gone. She's been waiting.Light a candle, pour your tea, and join us as we stand in the dark and remember who we are.Got a question? Send the witches a message here!Support the showWant to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?We have a mailing address!Back on the BroomstickPO Box 106Salem MA 01970Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.comYoutube FacebookInstagramBack on the Broomstick Website

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260120dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. Colossians 2:9-10 The Lamb of God Is God Himself When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But in what way was Jesus the “Lamb of God”? First, Jesus was a sacrifice for sin that only God himself could offer. All the lambs and other animal sacrifices brought to the temple by Jewish believers would never be enough to reconcile sinners to a holy God. Rather, they served to prepare the people for the one Lamb sent by God who alone could make full payment for our sins. This is possible because Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was not only sent by God, he is God. The Bible tells us that “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” So, when Mary gave birth to her firstborn son in Bethlehem, we can say that God in all his fullness was laid to rest in the manger. And when that child grew into a man, it was God in all his fullness who was hung on the cross to die. What does that mean for you and me? There can be no doubt that the payment made on our behalf was sufficient—more than sufficient—to cancel our debt with God. The blood that was shed for us was divine and holy blood. The very God that we have offended is the One who came to redeem us to himself, and, in Jesus, his work of redemption is complete. God and man have been fully reconciled through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was both fully God and fully man. Resurrected from the dead and ascended to heaven, he continues to intercede for us before the Father. Our salvation has been brought to fullness. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you are the eternal Son of God and yet you came to die in my place. Because of your holy life and innocent death, my sins have been forgiven and my debt with God has been paid in full. May this truth bring me comfort and peace, as I trust in you, my perfect Savior. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Get your copy of our 2026 Annual Read: Tozer on the Son of God by A.W. Tozer.First Time?Start Here: https://bit.ly/MarinersconnectcardCan we pray for you? https://bit.ly/MarinersPrayerOnlineYou can find information for all our Mariners congregations, watch more videos, and learn more about us and our ministries on our website https://bit.ly/MarinersChurchSite.FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marinerschurch• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marinerschurch• Twitter: https://twitter.com/marinerschurch• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinerschurchSupport the ministry and help us reach people worldwide: https://bit.ly/MarinersGiveHum

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260120dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. Colossians 2:9-10 The Lamb of God Is God Himself When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But in what way was Jesus the “Lamb of God”? First, Jesus was a sacrifice for sin that only God himself could offer. All the lambs and other animal sacrifices brought to the temple by Jewish believers would never be enough to reconcile sinners to a holy God. Rather, they served to prepare the people for the one Lamb sent by God who alone could make full payment for our sins. This is possible because Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was not only sent by God, he is God. The Bible tells us that “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” So, when Mary gave birth to her firstborn son in Bethlehem, we can say that God in all his fullness was laid to rest in the manger. And when that child grew into a man, it was God in all his fullness who was hung on the cross to die. What does that mean for you and me? There can be no doubt that the payment made on our behalf was sufficient—more than sufficient—to cancel our debt with God. The blood that was shed for us was divine and holy blood. The very God that we have offended is the One who came to redeem us to himself, and, in Jesus, his work of redemption is complete. God and man have been fully reconciled through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was both fully God and fully man. Resurrected from the dead and ascended to heaven, he continues to intercede for us before the Father. Our salvation has been brought to fullness. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you are the eternal Son of God and yet you came to die in my place. Because of your holy life and innocent death, my sins have been forgiven and my debt with God has been paid in full. May this truth bring me comfort and peace, as I trust in you, my perfect Savior. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Send us a textThis time in the Magick Kitchen Podcast, Leandra Witchwood and Elyse Welles are joined by bestselling author and beloved witchcraft teacher Deborah Blake for a grounded, practical conversation on respectful, responsible deity work for witches and pagans.Together, they explore what changes when deity isn't “a box you visit,” but part of everyday life, and why cultural context matters when working with ancient pantheons in the modern world. Deborah shares how her upcoming book, Everyday Witch's Book of Deities (out in April and currently available for preorder), approaches deity work with both historical background and real-world practice. You'll also hear thoughtful discussion on syncretism (when gods and goddesses overlap across cultures), what “perfect love and perfect trust” can mean in lived experience, and how to start small if you think a deity may be reaching out, including the physical signs both hosts and Deborah notice in their own work.Find Deborah at deborahblakeauthor.comLoose-leaf Tea and Sacred Apothecary The Healing Our Feminine Wounding Immersive is a sacred retreat devoted to untangling inherited shame, silence, and survival patterns carried in the feminine body. Through ritual, reflection, and land based temple arts, we work gently and honestly with what has been passed down so that a truer, steadier way of being can emerge. The Rebel Mystic Witchcraft Skill Trees are a modular, intentional way to learn witchcraft without overwhelm. Each tree is a focused path of study, designed to give you clarity, confidence, and embodied understanding of a single magickal topic — while gently guiding you toward more profound mastery when you're ready.Learn more at LeandraWitchwood.com  Sacred Wild Wednesdays is a live weekly gathering with Elyse Welles featuring tarot readings for participants, magickal musings, and grounded spiritual teaching. Held in real time, this space offers guidance, perspective, and connection for those walking the Path of the Sacred Wild.Support the Podcast!

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: THE DEITY AND TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST - "Why Everything in the Christian Life Begins With Abiding" Christ's Bible Fellowship - Barrigada, Guam USA John 15:5-11 AMP Speaker: Pastor Avery Ferreras Sunday, January 18, 2026

Through studying early church history, Luke Jones came to understand that Christians of the 1st three centuries after Jesus were not Trinitarians. That fact set him on a search to discover who the true God of the Bible is.Resources: “TheCost of Truth”:Podcast:https://youtu.be/rGJR3OJB9vYBook: https://www.amazon.com/Cost-Truth-Biblical-Unitarian-Christians/dp/1736918052 ForestMaready, “Why Some Christians Don't Believe in the Trinity”Podcast:https://youtu.be/myq7MPkzLKIBook: https://www.amazon.com/Some-Christians-Dont-Believe-Trinity/dp/B0CMKB1KY6 LukeJones debate on Deity of Christ: https://www.youtube.com/live/8vXdxZZtsEcLukeJones YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lukejones5272 BillSchlegel blog: https://landandbible.blogspot.com/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@billschlegel1

Join Lionel on The Other Side of Midnight for a dive into the ultimate questions of existence, stripping away the "hippie dippy" nonsense to get to the core of critical thinking. Lionel challenges the "long gradual ladder" of evolution with the sudden complexity of the Cambrian explosion and the "irreducible complexity" of biological machines. From debating "Christian by birth" labels to analyzing the "God gene" and the passing of Dilbert creator Scott Adams, no topic is off-limits. Whether discussing the physics of the universe or why George Burns made a great Deity, Lionel argues that actions speak louder than dogma—and he'd rather "lick a belt sander" than talk about boring news stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You will have different opportunities at different stages of your life, even as Prabhupāda showed by his example. At the time when Prabhupāda was working and he has family, he went to one of the yātrās of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, but he only had one day out of ten because he was so busy. But in that one day, he took advantage by staying and hearing from his Guru—so much so that his Guru noticed: "Here is this person that doesn't go away, that likes to hear." Because half the other pilgrims went away to visit a temple. They were given a choice; they were saying, "Some who want to go see Śeṣaśāyī Viṣṇu, you can come now, or you can listen to Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta speak." So many people left. They thought, "Oh, I'll go see the Deity." And Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta commented, "What will they be able to see?" But he also noted those who stayed. So, it's not necessarily the quantity, because you might find somebody who has access every day to the Deities—they live in the āśrama. Let's say somebody is in a brahmacārī āśrama, but they're thinking, "I wish I could go out and see a movie right now." Or you might be living in a gṛhastha āśrama, working behind something like a computer screen, and you might be thinking, "I wish I was in darśana right now." Which one's better? It's an internal process, and it grows more robust as we develop that desire, that greed—'tatra laulyam api mūlyam ekalam'—when we're held back sometimes we have more greed because we're thinking, "Why can't I get anything?" This is one of the moods of when we are feeling greedy: "See, everybody else got something. I can't even get one drop." And we're praying, 'Kṛṣṇa, please give me one drop.' It's an awakening of this taste, that we want more. So, that can happen from any āśrama... ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Question by HG Vaisesika Dasa: I was interested in how we might cultivate the mood You emphasized. It's not by our supposed expertise in anything or our positive thinking, but by the descending mercy that comes by rigidly adhering to the orders of the spiritual master. If you could elaborate that point and give any advice to us of how we might attain success through that principle—as we're interested in doing, individually and collectively, and spreading the saṅkīrtana movement—we would be deeply grateful." Answer by HH Jayādvaita Mahārāja: "Spreading the saṅkīrtana movement" There's the answer in the question. Yes!! Prabhupāda said that was the desire of his spiritual master: that the holy name of Kṛṣṇa be distributed all over the world. It was the desire of Caitanya Mahāprabhu; it was the desire of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura; it's the desire of Śrīla Prabhupāda; it's the desire of your spiritual master—that the glories of Kṛṣṇa be spread all over the world. The glories of the holy name, the name of Kṛṣṇa, the message—"name" means name, form, qualities, pastimes, everything. There's no difference. The saṅkīrtana movement should spread all over the world. Prabhupāda said he learned everything from his father; actually, he said he learned everything: how to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, how to perform the Ratha-yātrā, how to offer to Kṛṣṇa. He said, "But this I learned from my spiritual master: to distribute books; the importance of distributing books." He said, "Everything else was already there from my father, but this I learned from my Guru Mahārāja. He had a great desire to distribute books and said, 'If you ever get money, just print books.'" And we saw how Prabhupāda gave such importance to that. So that's a specific—and a very important—specific. But whatever the service given to me may be by my spiritual master—he told me to worship the Deity, or he told me to chant more rounds, or he told me to cook something, or he told me to teach something—so whatever order I may have received, or even if I haven't received a particular order, I can understand what his desire was, what desire he expressed. Let me do that wholeheartedly. Otherwise, what is the use of my life? Everything else will be finished. I'll get a certain quota of sense gratification in my life; I'll eat a certain number of pizzas, I'll get a certain number of whatevers. But at the end, that will all be of no importance—what clothes, what enjoyment, what house I got to live in, what car I got to drive, what computer I got to use, or what headlines appeared about me in Dandavats.com. That will all be finished. But if we are able to serve the spiritual master—that is, serve his desire, his instruction—that stays with us eternally, or that enables us to stay with him eternally. That should be our treasure: the words, the desires, the instructions, the mission of the spiritual master. And in that verse that's so important:'tomāra se śakti pele guru-sebāya bastu mile.' If we just pick up that one understanding—What do we want from Kṛṣṇa? " Please give me the strength, the inspiration, the determination to serve my spiritual master.' Then everything will be there." ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025

Truths To Build Your Life Upon Colossians 2:8-15 1. Deity of Christ (2:9) 2. Completeness in Christ (2:10) 3. Identity in Christ (2:10-13) 4. Forgiveness in Christ (2:14) 5. Triumph in Christ (2:15)

John 1:1-3 - Christ: The Logos of God Our sermon text this morning is John 1:1-3. If you read our weekly email, you may have seen that originally, I was planning to cover verses 1-5. I backed off a little because there is so much packed into the first 3 verses. That probably scares some of you because you're thinking, “is this going to happen every week? And if so, are we going to be in the Gospel of John for years?” Well, I can't say that this will be the last time that I narrow our focus to just a couple of verses. However, I will note that Jim Boice, the late pastor of Tenth Presbyterian church, preached 270 sermons in the book of John. Doing the math, that's over 5 years. I've planned about 70. Ok, turning our attention to these verses, you'll hear the word “word” three times. That is referring to Jesus Christ. We know that from verse 14 where John writes that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” So, as I read, be sure to make the mental connection between the Word and Christ. Reading of John 1:1-3 Prayer “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…” Those legendary words bring us back to the very founding of our nation. Or how about this on: “I have a dream” Those words take us back to Martin Luther King and the struggle of segregation in the 1950s and 60s. Or perhaps you recognize this: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Those are the opening words of Charles Dickens's book The Tale of Two Cities. It takes us back to the French Revolution and the stark contrast between London and Paris. Each of those opening phrases is packed with meaning and significance. They each capture our minds and our hearts. In some ways, they transport us through time and space and turn our attention to lofty ideas or significant events. Well, the opening words of John's Gospel do something very similar. For one, they are renowned. But also, their poetic language and expressive words raise the significance and consequence for the reader… and really for the whole world. Perhaps these words don't bring us back to a specific place, but they transport us to the very creation of the world. “In the beginning.” In the very beginning of all time and space “was the Word.” Does that not raise our senses and our curiosity and even our wonder at what is being communicated? As far as familiar opening words in the Bible, John 1 is only second to Genesis 1. And those are iconic words. Genesis 1 certainly ranks up there among the most famous in the world. Genesis 1:1 says “In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth.” Those 10 words reveal several things about God. ·      First, that he is one God. It doesn't say, “in the beginning, the gods (plural)...” No, rather it's a definitive statement. “In the beginning, God…” There is one God. ·      Second, Genesis 1:1 posits God as existing before the beginning of time itself – he is eternal. ·      And third those 10 opening words of Genesis speak about God's nature and work. He is the creator God of all things - things in heaven and things on earth. And I think you have probably already made the connection in your minds. The opening words of the Gospel of John are very similar to Genesis 1. They start with the same three words. Of course, one was penned in Hebrew – that would be Genesis – and the other was penned in Greek. But the connection is unmistakable. Really, the connection between the opening of Genesis and the opening of John's Gospel even further expand our understanding of God's nature and the ministry and work of Christ - God the Son. In Genesis 1, we're told of God's creative work and in John 1, God reveals who accomplished that work and how. So, let's jump into these opening three verses of John. As far as an outline, I want to highlight 3 things about Christ: 1. Christ's Identity as the Eternal Logos 2. Christ's Deity as One with the True God 3. Christ's Work as the Agent of Creation Let me say those again if you are taking notes. We didn't have room in the bulletin this week for an outline. 1. Christ's Identity as the Eternal Logos – I'll explain the word Logos in a minute. 2. Christ's Deity as One with the True God – Deity meaning his nature as God. And 3. His Work as the Agent of Creation. It is through the agency of Christ that God created all things. So, let's work through those. 1. Christ's Identity as the Eternal Logos And the first thing to understand is the word “word.” In the original Greek, it's the word Logos. Maybe you've heard that word before. Logos is one of two words that are often translated “word.” The other is the more common word, rhema in Greek, merely referring to words on a page or spoken words. But the word logos, on the other hand, is packed with meaning. Yes, it's basic meaning is a statement or speech – you know, a “word” spoken. But the word logos also includes the idea of a charge like I'm charging you with something… and the idea of cause like speech that causes something to happen. It's a word spoken that is effective. It accomplished something. Now, the Greek culture of the time used the word Logos as well. But their use was more of an abstract idea. Their logos was the rational order of the cosmos. It was used in an impersonal way. There was no being behind a Greek use of the word logos. Nonetheless it was still a powerful word. By the way, the Greek word logos is directly related to our English word “logic”… you know, a reasoned explanation. And sometimes you'll hear pastors try to apply that philosophical and rational meaning to the Logos of John 1. But remember from last week that John is writing to a Jewish context. He was Jewish himself. And the word logos in the Jewish community had been used for centuries. The Greek translation of the Old Testament uses the word logos hundreds of times. Our call to worship this morning was from Psalm 33. It says in verse 6 “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.” Logos to the Jewish community was understood to be personal and declarative and often associated with God himself. That is very different from the Greco-Roman understanding. What I am arguing is that John is not borrowing the word Logos from the Greek culture. Rather, he is contrasting that impersonal understanding with the divine and personal understanding of Logos. He's revealing that the Logos of God is far superior to the Greek's rational concept of logos. We see that right there in verse 1. It says, “In the beginning was the Word.” From eternity past, the Logos existed – Christ existed. The verb is very important here. It's the English word “was” …you know, a form of “to be..” In the beginning “was” the word. And it's verb tense is the imperfect active. It means not only did Christ already exist in the beginning, but also that his existence continues. English does not have a good equivalent. The word “was” in English is past tense. But the Greek has a much broader meaning. “already was and continues to be” What we learn in these verses is that the Logos of God is eternal. He existed before the beginning of time and space and he continues to exist. Furthermore, he is not some impersonal rational concept about the ordering of the universe, but rather his eternal existence is personal. He has being, as the verb reveals. He is none other the person of Christ, again as verse 14 tells us. The eternal Logos of God. Now, in a few minutes we are going to further see how the word logos relates to Christ's work. That will be point 3, But let's move on to point 2 - the rest of verse 1 and verse 2. 2. Christ's Deity as One with the True God So, #2. Christ's Deity as One with the True God. – I'm saying it that way for a reason. He is God and he is One with God. The Logos mentioned here is not some force that God is harnessing. No, this Logos, Christ, is God himself. Look at the end of verse 1. It says, “the word was God.” It's the same imperfect active tense. The Logos already was and continues to be God. Now, that seems super clear, doesn't it? “The Logos was God.” Some of you know this, but about twice a week, you will see two of Jehovah Witnesses just outside of our church office. They are just standing there on the corner of Main Street. And if you ask them about John 1:1, they will say that it should be translated differently. They translate it as “the word was a god.” They say that Christ was like a god but not God himself. They argue that because there is no definite article before the word “God” (Theos), therefore Jesus is not being described here as God himself. However, they are wrong for two reasons. ·      Number 1, Greek scholarship is fairly unified on the translation. For those of you who are grammarians (you like grammar), the phrase is a predicate nominative. Greek predicate nominatives establish a shared essence between the subject and the predicate – especially when the predicate is placed before the verb as is here. In fact, predicate nominatives in the Greek usually do not use a definite article for the predicate. So, Christ is not being described here as a god, he is being identified as the God - fully and completely God. ·      And number 2. This identification of Jesus Christ being God himself is all throughout the Gospel of John. We considered that last week. Several times Jesus identified himself as one with God the Father. He said as much: “I and the Father are One.” We also considered all the I AM statements where Jesus identified himself as Yahweh. Furthermore, look at the phrase in the middle of verse 1 and in verse 2. They are very similar. It says, “And the Logos was with God… He was in the beginning with God.” This is one of the beautiful truths about the God of the Bible. God is personal and relational. Within the Godhead, as we say, there is a relationship between the three persons of God. The Father, the Son (who is the Logos), and the Spirit. This is something that the Gospel of John makes clear throughout. I also mentioned that last week. By the way, one of the things I plan to do as we work through this book, is to connect each section and paragraph to the broader themes. And this is one of them. Jesus teaches not only about his equality with God the Father but also his role as God the Son and the role of God the Spirit whom he and the Father will send. As I put it last week, this book is full of theology – the doctrine of God – Theos. And it begins with these profound words. You see, these opening words, especially verse 2 are not teaching that there are multiple gods. No. These verses are quite clear about that. Rather when they say that the Logos was with God from the beginning, they are revealing that God himself has relationships within himself. It's an amazing thing to consider. As humans created in God's image, we have been given the capacity and desire for relationships. That relational characteristic that every human being shares… comes from the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Spirit. One with each other. All eternal and all God. So, the Logos, who is Christ, is one with and in relationship with the eternal God. He is God. 3. Christ's Work as the Agent of Creation That being us to point 3: Christ's work as the agent of creation. This third point is very much related to the word Logos. Christ is creator. He is the one through whom the universe has come into existence. God's act of speaking his Word (his Logos) comes through the work of Christ. Going back to Genesis 1, the phrase that is used over and over is “God said.” “God said ‘let there be light' and there was light.” Every act of creation happens through God's word. God spoke, and it was so. Back to John 1. In verse 3 it says, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” All things in the entire universe were made through Christ. Every galaxy, every star, every planet; every cell and molecule and atom and proton and neutron and quark. All things came into being through him. That may be something new to you. We don't often think of or speak of Christ's role as God's agent of creation. That's because we most often think and speak of his role as redeemer. And there is plenty of that in the Gospel of John. But just like in verse 3, several Scriptures passages speak of Christ's role as creator. Besides John 1, we read from both Colossians 1 and Hebrews 1 this morning. In Colossians, “…by [Christ] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” In Hebrews 1. “In these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Or consider 1 Corinthians 8:6, which says, “there is… one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” God spoke through his Word, through his Logos, who is Christ, to bring everything into existence. I remember when I learned this for the first time. I was amazed at the glory of God in his work of creation through Christ. Our Savior is not only our Lord, but he is our creator. One thing is very very clear in these verses. Christ was not created. No, he existed before creation and he is the one through whom God created all things. Conclusion He is (1) the eternal Word of God, (2) As God, he is one with the true God, and (3) the creator of all things… visible and invisible. That is what we learn in these verses. Now, I want you to imagine something. Imagine that you grew up in a Jewish community in the western part of Asia Minor (maybe Ephesus or Smyrna).  Imagine it's the later half of the first century. You studied the Torah in school and your knew the history of Israel. Your family was a devout Jewish family. Besides your Jewish education, you had always been intrigued by influences from the neighboring culture to the west - Greece. People from Athens often travelled through your city. They not only brought their wares, but they also brought their philosophy and gods. They loved to talk about the latest philosophical theories and ideas. They used the word logos often. When they did, they spoke of the ordering principle of the universe, you know, the force that structures all of nature, as they described it. So, you have that in the back of your mind, but you also know what you have been taught from the Hebrew Scriptures. God speaks into existence all of creation, like it says in Genesis and Isaiah and the Psalms. Now, imagine that you are reading John's Gospel account for the first time. One of your neighbors had a parchment and he let you borrow it to read. And so you read these opening words for the first time. “In the beginning was the Logos and the Logos was with God… and the Logos was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” And you are enraptured. These ideas are coming alive. You had been intrigued by the travelling philosophers of Athens, but this concept of a personal Logos who has eternally existed from all time and who is God is gripping your mind. And then you get down to verse 14… and you read “and the Logos became flesh and dwelt among us.” As you had been reading the first couple of paragraphs, you had been asking, “who is this Logos?” And then you find out from these words that the Logos has dwelt among us. He has lived among us. You had heard of a man named Jesus. But up until this point you had never understood why he was so significant or controversial. But now you knew. And your heart was leaping because not only are you reading here that he is and has always been the eternal Logos… but all of a sudden your mind is being flooded with all the things you had learned in your Jewish education. You begin recalling all of the promises and prophecies of Christ - the Messiah of God. Light bulbs are going off all over the place in your mind and heart. This personal, eternal Logos being written about is the Christ, the eternal promised one, and he has come to us in the person of Jesus. It's a life-transforming realization. You can't put the parchment down because every word and sentence and paragraph is speaking to your mind and heart. The Word of God, Christ, is becoming real to you in a way that you had never experienced before. He is changing your heart. I know that is just a thought experiment, but as we work our way through John, I want us to enter in to the lives of the first readers and hearers and those whom Jesus encountered. I want us to enter in to their situation. Through that lens, I believe these words will become living words for us. Maybe this is all new for you. And as you hear it, maybe your mind and heart are being drawn in with intrigue and wonder as you come to the understanding of who Christ is…. in his eternal nature as God and as the one through whom all things have been created. If that is you, as we go through this book, may you hear and grasp not only who Christ is, but what he has done for you. But maybe you've been a Christian for years… and these words are very familiar to you as they are to me. If that's you, may your heart and mind be re-ignited by the depth and clarity and wonder of God in the person and work of Christ, who became flesh and dwelt among us. As we go through this Gospel, may we all see him, our creator and Savior and Lord, the eternal Logos of God.

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: THE DEITY AND TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST - "Life That Bears Fruit" Christ's Bible Fellowship - Barrigada, Guam USA John 15:1-4 NKJV Speaker: Pastor Avery Ferreras Sunday, January 11, 2026

Join the Impact 360 podcast for an in-depth conversation with Robert Bowman, a leading evangelical scholar on apologetics, theology, and new religious movements. In this episode, we explore the biblical case for the deity of Christ through Bowman's book "The Incarnate Christ and His Critics: A Biblical Defense," co-authored with Ed Komoszewski.The HANDS Acronym FrameworkBowman introduces the memorable "HANDS" framework for understanding Christ's deity:Honors - Divine worship given to JesusAttributes - Divine characteristics (eternality, omnipotence)Names - Divine titles (Lord, God, I AM)Deeds - Divine actions (creation, miracles, judgment)Seat - Sharing God's throneKey Theological ConceptsThe Incarnation: Understanding Jesus as fully God and fully humanThe Paradox of Christ: How Jesus can be both eternal and born, divine and humanEarly Christian Worship: Evidence that first-century Jewish Christians worshiped Jesus as God from the beginningThe "Big Bang" of Christology: How divine Christology emerged immediately, not graduallyAddressing Common Objections"Why doesn't Jesus explicitly say 'I am God'?""If Jesus is God, who is he praying to?""Doesn't 'Son of God' mean Jesus is lesser than God?"John 1:1 translation debates ("the Word was God" vs. "the Word was a god")Resources MentionedBooks"The Incarnate Christ and His Critics: A Biblical Defense" by Robert Bowman and Ed Komoszewski"Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ" (2007) by the same authorsWebsitesInstitute for Religious Research: IRR.org - Hundreds of free articles on apologetics, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and biblical reliabilityRobert Bowman's Personal Site: RobertBowman.net - Blog, book information, and free excerptsImpact 360 Institute ProgramsPropel & Immersion - 1-2 week summer experiences for high school studentsFellows Program - 9-month gap year program for post-high school studentsWebsite: Impact360.org

2026-01-04 The Godhead - What Is It?by Steve HudsonScripture Reference(s):Acts 17:29 “Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.Acts 2:32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,Colossians 1:16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.Isaiah 6:3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”Isaiah 6:8 hen I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”John 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.John 14:23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.John 2:18-19 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”1 John 3:20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.Psalm 139:7-8 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.Psalm 27:8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.Psalm 34:15-16 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.Romans 1:4  and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.Mandeville Bible Church   "Where God's Word is Our Foundation"https://www.mandevillebiblechurch.org/Come and see that God's Word is alive and at work right here in Mandeville.. and throughout the world!All are welcome. 217 Carroll Street, Mandeville, LA 70448Office Phone: (985) 626-3114Sunday Service: 9:30AMAdult Sunday School: 10:45-11:30AMNursery and Children's church available.

Welcome back to the deity series as the witches turn their attention to the Crone Goddess. In this episode, Laylla and Chelle explore what the Crone represents in modern witchcraft and how this powerful aspect of divinity shows up in real lives, not just at the end of a cycle, but anywhere wisdom, boundaries, and deep knowing are required.They talk honestly about their own relationships to the Crone. Chelle feels ready to step fully into that phase, while Laylla is… not quite there yet. Along the way, they unpack the strengths of the Crone archetype, the cultural prejudices she faces, and why fear of aging and power has shaped how this goddess is often misunderstood or avoided.The episode also includes practical tools for connection and reflection, including a tarot spread and a journaling exercise designed to help you explore the different aspects of the goddess within yourself. As the year shifts from 2025 to 2026, Laylla shares a meditation spell to connect with the Crone's liminal wisdom, offering guidance for standing at the threshold of time with clarity, courage, and intention.Got a question? Send the witches a message here!Support the showWant to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?We have a mailing address!Back on the BroomstickPO Box 106Salem MA 01970Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.comYoutube FacebookInstagramBack on the Broomstick Website

Once, when I was on pilgrimage with my senior Godbrother, we were traveling to many temples. Every time we go into the temple, we would offer our obeisances and we were next to each other so we can hear the mantra we were chanting, which was: nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe One of those times he looked at me and said, "So here we're coming to all these temples. Every time we come in, we pay our obeisances and we say Prabhupāda's praṇāma mantra—why are we doing that in front of all these Deities?" I said, "You're my senior Godbrother, you tell me." He said, "It's because we're telling the Deity who invited us to come in here. We all know from traveling that..(partially inaudible) very difficult with the visa situation. When you're traveling, if you miss it by a day, you're in trouble. You might have to take a new flight or not come. So what's our visa to come to the holy place? We come only under the protection of the śrī-guru-paramparā." And we find prevalence in Prahlāda's prayers when he had been elected by Brahmā and the other demigods to pray to Lord Narasiṁhadeva, because all of them had prayed, and Lord Narasiṁhadeva was unsatisfied, so they asked Prahlāda, "You go." In his prayers, Prahlāda says before Lord Narasiṁhadeva evaṁ janaṁ nipatitaṁ prabhavāhi-kūpe kāmābhikāmam anu yaḥ prapatan prasaṅgāt kṛtvātmasāt surarṣiṇā bhagavan gṛhītaḥ so 'haṁ kathaṁ nu visṛje tava bhṛtya-sevām "I cannot forget my spiritual master." He's there in front of Kṛṣṇa, in front of Lord Narasiṁhadeva, and he says, "I was falling into a blind well, a pit full of snakes, following the general populace." That's what most people do. They just follow the general populace; whatever's on television or on social media, they just adopt that style, that idea, and they go into the pit with everybody else. He said, "But my spiritual master saved me. Therefore, how can I ever give up this service?" "So 'haṁ kathaṁ nu visṛje tava bhṛtya-sevām—I'm the servant of my spiritual master." And he says it several times in his prayers to Lord Narasiṁhadeva. So, the approach is important. How we approach Kṛṣṇa is of utmost importance: that I come here as the "servant of the servant of the servant" to offer myself to You. ------------------------------------------------------------ To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 https://thefourquestionsbook.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=launch2025 ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark

Was Jesus really worshiped as God—or just “honored” like any other man? In this late-night debrief, Joel breaks down a live debate with a Hebrew Israelite and shows from Scripture why Jesus is Yahweh, equal with the Father and worthy of true worship.

Welcome to Day 2761 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – The Coequality of the Trinity: An exploration through Biblical Verse and Early Church Writings. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2761 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2761 of our Trek.   The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found that his lessons are short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who desire to learn more of God's Word. John's lessons can be found on his website   theologyinfive.com.   Today's lesson is titled The Coequality of the Trinity: An exploration through Biblical Verse and Early Church Writings.   The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the central tenets of Christian theology, establishing the belief in God as three-in-one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This mystery, at its core, asserts that these three Persons are coequal. This belief has not been accepted without contention. However, by studying the Bible and the writings of the Early Church Fathers, a clear thread of supporting evidence emerges. To begin with, let's explore the Scriptural evidence for the co-equality of the Trinity. The first segment is: THE HOLY BIBLE. In the New Testament, the Gospel of John provides substantial support for the Trinitarian concept. In John one, verse one, it states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse speaks to the preexistence and divinity of the Word, or the Son (Jesus Christ). The Word is not a creation of God, but God himself. In the same vein, John ten, verse thirty quotes Jesus as saying, “I and the Father are one.” This not only illustrates the unity of the Father and the Son, but also their equality, as Jesus identifies himself on the same level as the Father. Matthew twenty-eight, verse nineteen is a critical verse: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Here, Jesus himself authorizes baptisms in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, emphasizing their co-equality and unified nature. In 2 Corinthians thirteen, verse fourteen, Paul gives a blessing in the name of all three Persons of the Trinity: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Paul's blessing highlights the distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but also their inseparable unity and co-equality. Colossians two, verse nines ays, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” The ‘fullness of Deity' indicates Christ's full and equal participation in Godhood. For the Holy Spirit, we see in 1 Corinthians two, verses ten and eleven, “these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” This verse highlights the Holy Spirit's intimate knowledge and participation in the Divine, further emphasizing His co-equality in the Trinity. Finally, in Acts five, verses three and four, when Peter accuses Ananias of lying to the Holy Spirit, he states, “You have not lied just to human...

Psalm 147:12–20, Nehemiah 3:1–4:23, Revelation 17:1–18. |||Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;|||hail the incarnate Deity,|||pleased as man with man to dwell,|||Jesus, our Emmanuel |||Hark! The herald angels sing,|||‘Glory to the new born King!'In each of today's passages we see the blessings of following this ‘new born King'

Psalm 147:12–14, Nehemiah 4:6, Revelation 17:3-14. |||Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;|||hail the incarnate Deity,|||pleased as man with man to dwell,|||Jesus, our Emmanuel |||Hark! The herald angels sing,|||‘Glory to the new born King!'In each of today's passages we see the blessings of following this ‘new born King'

The true Christmas story is far more powerful—and far more personal—than the version we often see wrapped in sentiment and tradition. Through Luke 2, Pastor Greg looks at how Christmas has been romanticized and even sidelined, yet the real story remains explosive: God stepped out of Heaven and into human history. Notes: Taking Christmas Back Luke 2 The real Christmas story is explosive. That’s because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Christmas has been hijacked. Christmas has been emptied of its meaning. Portland, Oregon just had its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Christmas has perhaps been far too romanticized even by well-meaning Christians. The beauty of the true Christmas story has explosive power. The night when God Himself came to this earth. The first Christmas is when God stepped out of Heaven and entered history. Mary was living in Nazareth, a town known for its wickedness. Mary was a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere. The angel Gabriel had announced to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. Luke 1:28–30 (NLT) Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!" Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God! Read Luke 2:1–7 Joseph is the unsung hero of the Christmas story. God’s selection of Joseph was just as significant as His selection of Mary. God, the Father in Heaven, chose Joseph to be a stepfather or father figure on earth for Jesus. Jesus grew up in many ways like any other child. We are in danger of becoming a fatherless society in America. That’s why Joseph matters. Hearing that Mary was pregnant, Joseph was willing to simply “put her away quietly,” to break the engagement. But the angel of the Lord came to Joseph, too. Matthew 1:20–21 (NKJV) But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Luke is very meticulous in his reporting. Luke was not an eyewitness to the life of Jesus. He carefully researched and had first-person interviews with the principal characters of the story. It was his desire to bring a historical and accurate record of the life of Jesus. These are not fairy tales or legends Luke invented. Luke 1:3 Caesar Augustus was the first real Roman emperor. His real name was Caius Octavius. The Roman Republic was now the Roman Empire. One inscription that was found called Augustus Caesar “the savior of the whole world.” Luke 2:11–12 (NKJV) "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." The angel was saying, “Augustus is not the savior of Rome, Jesus is.” In a time when man wanted to be God, God became a man. God incarnate born on the dirt floor of a filthy cave. God became a fetus. Deity in diapers. Babies are so amazing and so helpless. You have to cradle their heads. “It was clearly a leap down— as if the Son of God rose from his splendor, stood poised on the rim of the universe irradiating light, and dove headlong, speeding through the stars over the Milky Way to earth’s galaxy . . . where he plunged into a huddle of animals. Nothing could be lower.” — R. Kent Hughes This symbolized Jesus’s whole life on this earth, from the cradle to the cross. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. Luke 2:7 (NKJV) And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. That phrase became emblematic of Jesus’s life and ministry on earth. Christ said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” We didn’t have any room for Him, but He has many rooms for us. We effectively lose Jesus at Christmas. We say things like, “I would like to go to church, but I’m just too busy.” When Mary and Joseph got back home, they realized Jesus was gone. This can happen to us, too. Not that we lose our salvation, but we can lose sight of Jesus. It’s not about Christmas presents but His Christmas presence. The message of Christmas is, “let us worship.” We need a savior because we are sinners. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The true Christmas story is far more powerful—and far more personal—than the version we often see wrapped in sentiment and tradition. Through Luke 2, Pastor Greg looks at how Christmas has been romanticized and even sidelined, yet the real story remains explosive: God stepped out of Heaven and into human history. Notes: Taking Christmas Back Luke 2 The real Christmas story is explosive. That’s because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Christmas has been hijacked. Christmas has been emptied of its meaning. Portland, Oregon just had its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Christmas has perhaps been far too romanticized even by well-meaning Christians. The beauty of the true Christmas story has explosive power. The night when God Himself came to this earth. The first Christmas is when God stepped out of Heaven and entered history. Mary was living in Nazareth, a town known for its wickedness. Mary was a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere. The angel Gabriel had announced to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. Luke 1:28–30 (NLT) Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!" Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God! Read Luke 2:1–7 Joseph is the unsung hero of the Christmas story. God’s selection of Joseph was just as significant as His selection of Mary. God, the Father in Heaven, chose Joseph to be a stepfather or father figure on earth for Jesus. Jesus grew up in many ways like any other child. We are in danger of becoming a fatherless society in America. That’s why Joseph matters. Hearing that Mary was pregnant, Joseph was willing to simply “put her away quietly,” to break the engagement. But the angel of the Lord came to Joseph, too. Matthew 1:20–21 (NKJV) But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Luke is very meticulous in his reporting. Luke was not an eyewitness to the life of Jesus. He carefully researched and had first-person interviews with the principal characters of the story. It was his desire to bring a historical and accurate record of the life of Jesus. These are not fairy tales or legends Luke invented. Luke 1:3 Caesar Augustus was the first real Roman emperor. His real name was Caius Octavius. The Roman Republic was now the Roman Empire. One inscription that was found called Augustus Caesar “the savior of the whole world.” Luke 2:11–12 (NKJV) "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." The angel was saying, “Augustus is not the savior of Rome, Jesus is.” In a time when man wanted to be God, God became a man. God incarnate born on the dirt floor of a filthy cave. God became a fetus. Deity in diapers. Babies are so amazing and so helpless. You have to cradle their heads. “It was clearly a leap down— as if the Son of God rose from his splendor, stood poised on the rim of the universe irradiating light, and dove headlong, speeding through the stars over the Milky Way to earth’s galaxy . . . where he plunged into a huddle of animals. Nothing could be lower.” — R. Kent Hughes This symbolized Jesus’s whole life on this earth, from the cradle to the cross. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. Luke 2:7 (NKJV) And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. That phrase became emblematic of Jesus’s life and ministry on earth. Christ said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” We didn’t have any room for Him, but He has many rooms for us. We effectively lose Jesus at Christmas. We say things like, “I would like to go to church, but I’m just too busy.” When Mary and Joseph got back home, they realized Jesus was gone. This can happen to us, too. Not that we lose our salvation, but we can lose sight of Jesus. It’s not about Christmas presents but His Christmas presence. The message of Christmas is, “let us worship.” We need a savior because we are sinners. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we sit down with Darin A. Lahners to explore the beginnings of his well-known series, What to Expect When You're Expecting: Worshipful Master's Edition. Drawing from his original reflections on preparing for the East, Darin discusses the nerves, doubts, hopes, and early lessons that shaped his first journey as Master. We trace the foundation he laid in that first piece (learning to relax, communicate, believe in oneself, plan with purpose, and invoke the blessing of Deity) and look at how those themes continue to resonate across his later writings. This conversation offers a candid look at leadership, expectation, and what it means to take on the Oriental Chair for the first time. 

We're back recording for the first time since Chicago, and we're easing ourselves in with a cozy, slightly chaotic Q&A.We dig into some of the most common questions we receive about deity work, crystals, and the practical side of witchcraft. We explore what it really means to begin a relationship with a deity, why research is always the first step, and how reading mythology and history can help you understand the deeper context behind any spiritual connection. We talk about taking deity work off the pedestal, avoiding ego traps, and building practices that feel grounded instead of performative.We also get into modern approaches to offerings, from translating ancient traditions into everyday acts of care to understanding why correspondences like cinnamon and apples show up so often in spellwork. A listener question about moving countries turns into a surprisingly rich conversation about downsizing crystal collections, choosing the stones that matter most, and thinking about your tools in a more intentional way. And yes, somewhere in the mix, we settle the very serious question of which pasta shape we'd ride into battle.Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, magical downloads, and unhinged side quests: https://www.patreon.com/demystifymagicPre-order Molly's book Mundane Magic A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff DonePreorder Mundane Magic & Join the Virtual Book Tour⁠: Celebrate the release of Molly's new book with an exclusive online event on Feb 21, 12 PM EST. Get behind-the-scenes insights, live Q&A, and your SIGNED copy shipped on release day.

  In this fourth episode of the Narad Bhakti Sutra series, Swami Mukundananda narrates the astonishing story of Shree Bihari Ji in Vrindavan, where the Lord Himself appeared in court to testify for His devotee. This miracle reveals that deity worship is not about stone or ritual — it is a living connection with God when performed with sincerity.  Swamiji emphasizes that what truly counts in devotion is bhav — the heartfelt sentiment of love for Krishna. He explains how saints and devotees across ages have experienced divine reciprocation through idols and sacred forms, because the Lord is all‑pervading and responds to genuine love. Even Krishna's cowherd friends and the gopis, who addressed Him playfully as “Kana” or even “lungar” (loafer), attained the highest spiritual states through their pure affection.  For seekers, this episode highlights that devotion is not about external form but inner sincerity. By cultivating pure bhav in deity worship, one can experience Krishna's living presence, divine miracles, and ultimately liberation through His boundless grace.  About Swami Mukundananda: Swami Mukundananda is a renowned spiritual leader, Vedic scholar, Bhakti saint, best‑selling author, and an international authority on the subject of mind management. He is the founder of the unique yogic system called JKYog. Swamiji holds distinguished degrees in Engineering and Management from two of India's most prestigious institutions—IIT and IIM. Having taken the renounced order of life (sanyas), he is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, and has been sharing Vedic wisdom across the globe for decades. 

Sunday morning message from the pulpit of Falls Baptist Church

This week, we sit down with Darin A. Lahners to explore the beginnings of his well-known series, What to Expect When You're Expecting: Worshipful Master's Edition. Drawing from his original reflections on preparing for the East, Darin discusses the nerves, doubts, hopes, and early lessons that shaped his first journey as Master. We trace the foundation he laid in that first piece (learning to relax, communicate, believe in oneself, plan with purpose, and invoke the blessing of Deity) and look at how those themes continue to resonate across his later writings. This conversation offers a candid look at leadership, expectation, and what it means to take on the Oriental Chair for the first time.