Podcasts about despised

Send us Fan MailKevan Lannister presides over the Small Council, has dinner with Cersei, and then gets murdered by Varys and his little birds. Busy day. Mackelly and Simon try to keep it together.Chapter Review:Kevan Lannister and the Small Council quiz Ronnet Connington over the reappearance of cousin Jon Connington and this pretender Aegon. He protests his loyalty, but is held pending further consideration. Harys Swyft is trying to make new loans to pay off the existing loans. Next the trial of the Queens. Cersei is to be championed by Ser Robert Strong. Kevan is not the only member of the council to have misgivings about the silent giant. Ser Kevan reminds the Tyrell faction that if Cersei is found guilty then Tommen isn't the king and Margaery isn't the queen, so they'd better all get on board.As the council adjourns Kevan worries about the loyalties of the members. He begins to see Cersei's worries that the Tyrells have too much power. He dines with Cersei and Tommen. The king is sweet about his kittens. Cersei is penitent and seemingly broken. He's glad but also sad.He's called to Pycelle's chambers, where he is ambushed by Varys who mortally wounds Kevan with a crossbow bolt. As Kevan dies, Varys explains that Kevan is too good. He's securing Tommen's throne and threatening to bring peace and stability to the realm. But Varys needs Cersei's brand of chaos to create the conditions for Aegon's ascension.Characters/Places/Names/EventsCersei Lannister - Dowager Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Mother to King Tommen.Tommen Lannister - Younger son of Cersei and King of the Seven Kingdoms.Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Cersei, lord regent.Lancel Lanniser - Son of Kevan, former lover of Cersei. Now a convert to the militant branch of the Faith of the Seven.Qyburn - Disgraced maester of the citadel. Ally to Cersei.Margaery Tyrell - Wife to King Tommen. Despised by Cersei.Varys - Former master of whisperers. In hiding since he abetted Tyrion escaping the dungeons.Ser Robert Strong - New member of the Kingsguard. The size and shape of the now (believed) dead Mountain (Gregor Clegane). Support the showSupport us:Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere.Find us on social media:DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

Journalists and politicians are honouring Robert Fife, who retired after 48 years. Known for his big scoops, Fife leveraged anonymous sources to hold the powerful accountable. But Fife's brand of “access journalism” also runs the risk of being used as a political tool. Jan Wong joins Jesse Brown to explain why journalists shouldn't get too cozy with the politicians they cover. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer and Fact Checking), imogen sayers (Mixing and Mastering), Tristan Capacchione (Senior Production Supervisor), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Jan WongPhoto: Mark BlevisAdditional music by Audio NetworkFurther reading: Ottawa mayor declares June 11 ‘Robert Fife Day' to honour veteran journalist - The Globe and Mail Robert Fife gives a candid account of some of the biggest stories and issues of his career - The Globe and MailRobert Fife — 2026 Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism Hear No Evil, Write No Lies | The Walrus Change is coming to Winkler, ralliers say as southern Manitoba city hosts 1st Pride march | CBC News Weston family-backed digital publication Be Giant launches - The Globe and Mail Sponsors:Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN40 to get 40$ off and 10GB of free data.Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer.Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.ca If you value this podcast, Support us! You'll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You'll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you'll be a part of the solution to Canada's journalism crisis, you'll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So far, the US-Iran agreement has given both sides the cover to declare victory while somehow satisfying nobody. The inclusion of Israel and Hezbollah in the agreement - surely at Iran's insistence - means it will also be in constant danger of collapse. But with the US and Iran now committed to ending the war, Uncensored looks at the big picture. What has been achieved, if anything? And how will it reshape the region? Piers Morgan asks president of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer, international affairs scholar, Jeffrey Sachs and professor of political science Robert Pape. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 Ian Bremmer interview begins 01:42 Is the Iran peace deal a ‘failure' for Donald Trump? 02:25 ‘This is not a deal to be proud of and is likely worse than Obama's' 08:39 Will Israel go it alone in the war with Iran and how would America react? 10:27 The position of the gulf states in the wake of the agreement 12:52 What is the outcome of the war for the US? 15:51 Ian Bremmer reacts to Elon Musk becoming a trillionaire 18:58 Will the Republicans lose the house and the senate? 22:32 Jeffrey Sachs interview begins 26:44 Sachs' view on the outcome for Israel, the Middle East and China 31:29 The impact of war on the long-term trends in energy 34:44 Robert Pape interview begins 34:54 Robert Pape on the lack of clarity in Trump's deal 37:55 “This piles more and more pressure on Donald Trump” 42:12 Robert Pape outlines the signs of an endgame in the Iran War Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sources:https://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

Brothers and Sisters! Let us tell you the story of Love and Hate. H-A-T-E! It was with this left hand that old brother Cain struck the blow that laid his brother low. L-O-V-E! You see these fingers, dear hearts? The right hand, friends, the hand of love. Now watch, and we'll show you the story of being a movie fan. Old brother left hand Hate's a-fighting; there are many, many films that most folks hated and which have not, like other ignored-upon-release films, gone on to be cult classics. But wait a minute! Hot dog, Love's a winning! Yessirreee! It's Love that's won, and old left hand Hate is down for the count! For in this episode, brothers and sisters, Team Vintage Sand makes the case for why we love these films that just about everyone else hates. The nine films we've chosen to highlight could not be more different from one another. We reach all the way back to the 1940's and come all the way up to a film released just four years ago. We range from well-known directors like Paul Schrader, Ang Lee, and Arthur Penn to solid directors like George Roy Hill, Mark Robson, and Lasse Hallström, to a couple of directors whose obscurity is well-earned or whose reputation is yet to be determined by time. So beat the drums, ‘cause here comes our last episode before a summer interlude! Lastly, join us in a moment of silence for the late Ted Turner, who in spite of colorization and his ownership of the Atlanta Braves is one of our heroes, for TCM is a treasure that never stops giving to film fanatics like us. As for the coming summer, here's hoping that "Disclosure Day" is closer to "E.T." than to "A.I." , and that Nolan is somehow able to pull off "The Odyssey" (and that for once in a Nolan film, we can hear the dialogue over the music in the sound mix). Have a safe and peaceful break, and remember a great way to stay cool in the time of El Niño (both the weather phenomenon and the current political leadership ) is to go see movies in a real theater. Just saying…

Die Israeliten waren in ihrer Hingabe an Gott nachlässig geworden. Sie taten nur noch das Nötigste und taten nur das, was ihnen gerade passte und gefiel. Maleachi erinnert sie daran, dass dies eine tiefe Verachtung Gottesdarstellt.The Israelites had become half-hearted in their devotion to God. They were going through the motions, doing only what was convenient and pleasing for them. Malachi reminds them that this is deeply dishonouring to GodSprecher/Speaker: Rob ForbesBibeltext/Bible text: Maleachi 1:6 - 2,9

We focus on the person of Christ and what He Alone has achieved for us. Through the Scriptures, we go back to Bethlehem and the time of His birth. We will marvel at how the Father first chose to reveal His Son to lowly, despised shepherds and how he continues to bring great favor to those who receive the least in this World.

Every year, millions of people's medical care runs into the roadblock known as prior authorization, which requires an insurer to sign off before chemotherapy, surgery or countless other services can proceed. Who does this often onerous process help, who does it hurt and how could it work better for everyone?Guests:Tom Roberts, Oncologist, Mass General Cancer CenterAaron Schwartz, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy and Department of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaKathleen, CaregiverLearn more on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring the latest health policy research and news.Support this type of journalism today, with a gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we arrive at the account of Jacob marrying Leah and Rachel. Through Leah's story, we see the contrast between the "City of Man," which values outward beauty and worldly desirability, and the "City of God," which looks upon a heart that loves and trusts the Lord. In this passage, we are also reminded that our God not only loves His people, but He identifies with the despised and rejected.

Thanks to our Partners, Pico Technology and AutelWatch Full Video EpisodeIn this episode, Matt Fanslow uses Game of Thrones, specifically the arc of Daenerys Targaryen, as a metaphor for what can happen when a mechanical or technical specialist moves from employee to shop owner. The comparison is not that former technicians suddenly “burn everything to the ground,” but that people can start with strong ideals, endure pressure, accumulate responsibility, and slowly rationalize decisions they once hated from the other side of the counter.Matt draws a parallel between Daenerys' journey, from abused and powerless exile to powerful ruler, and the path of a technician who opens a shop after years of saying, “If I were in charge, I'd do things differently.” At first, that new owner may try to build the kind of workplace they always wanted: better pay, better equipment, better treatment, and fewer manipulative incentive structures. But then reality intrudes. Bills come due. Tooling, software, subscriptions, payroll, benefits, facility costs, and client pressure pile up. What once looked like greed from the employee side may start to look like survival from the owner side.A major thread in the episode is the difference between explaining behavior and excusing it. Matt is careful not to justify poor management, bad pay plans, or unfair treatment. Instead, he looks at how stress, fear, frustration, and financial pressure can slowly change a person's beliefs. The former employee who despised production-based pay may eventually install a production-based pay plan. The shop owner who wanted to buy the best equipment may eventually stop doing that when employees fail to care for it. The person who promised to never become “that owner” may wake up, or perhaps never wake up, having become very close to the thing they once opposed.The episode also touches on incentive design. Matt discusses how incentive-based pay plans can increase production, but only if the surrounding system is fair. When a mechanical or technical specialist is paid based on production, but too many external forces affect their ability to produce, the pay plan can feel like punishment. Dispatch, workflow, parts delays, bad information, poor estimating, broken processes, and uneven support can all take money out of the worker's hands. In that environment, the game feels unfair, even if the pay plan itself is not inherently unethical.Matt argues that pay plans should not be used as a substitute for management. A compensation structure cannot do the work of leadership, communication, process improvement, fairness, and accountability. Straight hourly can work. Flat rate can work. Hybrid incentive plans can work. But none of them work automatically, and none of them remove the need for honest management and honest self-assessment.The larger point is that people rarely change all at once. They shift slowly. The language changes first. Then the justifications. Then the policies. Then the culture. Like Daenerys, the fall is not simply about one bad decision at the end. It is the accumulated effect of pressure, loss, betrayal, fear, and power.Matt closes by reflecting on Game of Thrones itself, noting that the show was among the best when it was at its peak, even if the ending remains debated. He suggests that Daenerys' storyline may be worth revisiting not just as fantasy, but as a study in how ideals can erode when pressure, power, and isolation build over time.Key TopicsThe former technician turned shop owner: The episode examines what happens when someone who once criticized shop ownership suddenly has to carry the risk, payroll, bills, tooling costs, subscriptions, client demands, and employee issues themselves.Daenerys Targaryen as a shop-owner metaphor: Daenerys begins with a desire to break abusive systems, but eventually becomes capable of the very behavior she once opposed. Matt uses that arc to frame how former employees can become the kind of owners they used to resent.Explaining versus excusing: A central distinction in the episode is that understanding why owners behave a certain way does not automatically make those behaviors right.Incentive pay and production pressure: Production-based pay plans can produce measurable gains, but they also create resentment when employees are held accountable for factors outside their control.The danger of using pay plans as management: Matt argues that compensation systems cannot replace leadership, process design, accountability, and honest communication.Stress, fear, and rationalization: The episode explores how frustration, anxiety, financial pressure, and disappointment can slowly alter a person's beliefs and management style.The slow drift into becoming what you opposed: The episode's core warning is that becoming “that owner” usually does not happen in one dramatic moment. It happens one rationalization at a time.Quotes“When enough people make false promises, words stop meaning anything. Then there are no more answers, only better and better lies.”“We have to be able to explain things without excusing them.”“The pay plan cannot be the manager.”“You can have a straight hourly shop where production is good. You can have a flat-rate shop where people are happy. But neither one happens by accident.”“A production incentive becomes punishment when too many things outside the employee's control take money out of their hands.”“A lot of people do not become bad owners all at once. It is slow, and then all at once.”“The danger is not just power. It is pressure, fear, frustration, and then the story we tell ourselves afterward.”Thanks to our Partner, Pico TechnologyAre you chasing elusive automotive problems? Pico Technology empowers you to see what's really happening. Their PicoScope oscilloscopes transform your diagnostic capabilities. Visit PicoAuto.comThanks to our Partner, AutelFrom drivability diagnostics and TPMS service to ADAS and advanced safety systems, Autel helps technicians follow OEM procedures and repair with confidence. Learn more at Autel.comContact InformationEmail Matt: mattfanslowpodcast@gmail.comDiagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube ChannelThe Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/

Send us Fan MailCersei does the walk of shame through King's Landing. Mackelly and Simon wistfully recall their college days.Chapter Review:Queen Cersei Lannister is shaved (all over) and must walk through the streets of King's Landing, from the Great Sept of Baelor to the Red Keep to atone for the cherry-picked sins that she has confessed to. She's a lion and won't be cowed. She keeps her eyes on the Red Keep and the promise of seeing her son King Tommen again as the crowd pelt her with insults and rotten flora and fauna. She stumbles, slips in excrement, and sees faces from her past in the crowd. Eventually the abuse takes its toll and she realizes that she has made a fatal mistake. This crowd of baying peasants will never again see and fear her as the queen. WIth this she breaks and runs, then crawls the rest of the way.But she is met by Qyburn and the newly appointed Kingsguard brother Ser Robert Strong - all 8ft of him. Suddenly she feels a great wash of relief. Her chances to prove her innocence in the trial by combat have just increased meteorically. Characters/Places/Names/Events:Cersei Lannister - Dowager Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Mother to King Tommen.Tommen Lannister - Younger son of Cersei and King of the Seven Kingdoms.Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Cersei, King regent.Lancel Lanniser - Son of Kevan, former lover of Cersei. Now a convert to the militant branch of the Faith of the Seven.Qyburn - Disgraced maester of the citadel. Ally to Cersei.Margaery Tyrell - Wife to King Tommen. Despised by Cersei.Ser Robert Strong - new member of the Kingsguard. The size and shape of the now (believed) dead Mountain (Gregor Clegane). Support the showSupport us:Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere.Find us on social media:DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

Color: Black Old Testament: Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Psalm: Psalm 22; antiphon: v. 1 Psalm: Psalm 31; antiphon: v. 1 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5:14–21 Gospel: John 18:1—19:42 Introit: Psalm 102:1–2, 12; antiphon: Isaiah 53:4a, 5a, 6a, c Gradual: Isaiah 53:1, 11b Tract: Psalm 140:1–7, 12–13 Behold the Lamb of God, Who Takes Away the Sin of the World   Jesus, the Lamb of God, is led to the slaughter of His cross as the sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the world. “Despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Is. 53:3), He is the righteous Servant who justifies many by His innocent suffering and death. He bears our griefs and carries our sorrows; He is wounded for our transgressions; He is crushed for our iniquities; He suffers our chastisement, so that “with His stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:4–5). As the Son of God, He fulfills the Law for us in human flesh, and so fulfills the Scriptures (John 19:7, 24). For in Christ, “God was reconciling the whole world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Cor. 5:19). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Black Old Testament: Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Psalm: Psalm 22; antiphon: v. 1 Psalm: Psalm 31; antiphon: v. 1 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 5:14–21 Gospel: John 18:1—19:42 Introit: Psalm 102:1–2, 12; antiphon: Isaiah 53:4a, 5a, 6a, c Gradual: Isaiah 53:1, 11b Tract: Psalm 140:1–7, 12–13 Behold the Lamb of God, Who Takes Away the Sin of the World   Jesus, the Lamb of God, is led to the slaughter of His cross as the sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the world. “Despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Is. 53:3), He is the righteous Servant who justifies many by His innocent suffering and death. He bears our griefs and carries our sorrows; He is wounded for our transgressions; He is crushed for our iniquities; He suffers our chastisement, so that “with His stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:4–5). As the Son of God, He fulfills the Law for us in human flesh, and so fulfills the Scriptures (John 19:7, 24). For in Christ, “God was reconciling the whole world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Cor. 5:19). Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Author Harrison Hill joins the girls to discuss his new book The Oracle’s Daughter, which follows the rise and fall of a small cult called the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps. He explains what the religious landscape in America looked like at the time, with the spiritual awakening and unrest of the 60s transitioning into a new Christianity movement, and how this group’s leader Lila Carter (who later became Deborah Greene) began her spiritual journey on a commune called the Bear Tribe.They discuss the beginnings of Lila’s own visions, moaning and grunting and giving birth to what she called “spiritual soldiers,” how her following grew, and the parallels between her and Shaker leader Ann Lee. Naturally, the group became more controlling and cruel over time, changing people’s names to words like “Despised,” using physical punishment on its members, and even kidnapping a baby. And finally, they touch on how Lila’s daughter Sarah, the subject of the book, found her own way through all of this, eventually leaving and sharing her story of survival. SOURCES The Oracle’s Daugher: The Rise and Fall of an American Cult The Cut - How Sarah Greene Escaped Her Mother's CultSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 takeaways from this study Bring your whole self to God. Treat prayer, worship and daily life as korban — “offering,” or that which comes near — by being fully present, not half‑hearted. Let love cost you something. Choose costly, inconvenient acts of love (time, energy, money) as your “fragrant offering” to God. Do every task as unto the LORD. Whether cleaning, working, or serving, act as if God Himself is your boss. Practice servant leadership. If you lead (home, work, ministry), lead by lowering yourself — serving listening, and bearing others' burdens. Love your nearest neighbors first. Apply “love your neighbor as yourself” to spouse, children, roommates, and close friends before “the world.” Die to self daily. Regularly ask, “What part of my pride, comfort, or control needs to ‘get on the altar' today?” Live as God's dwelling place. Remember you are now a living tabernacle; carry God's presence into your workplace, neighborhood, and relationships. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Messiah also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:1–2 NASB 1995 This is not an abstract idea. It is rooted in the concrete pattern God gave Israel in the Torah, especially in the מִשְׁכָּן Mishkan (“dwelling place,” the Tabernacle) and the קָרְבָּנוֹת korbanot (“offerings,” the things that approach). What does it really look like to “imitate God” in love today? The pattern behind ‘be imitators of God’ Paul's phrase “be imitators of God” in Ephesians 5:1 uses the Greek word μιμηταί mimētai (“imitate,” “copy a pattern”). Imitation always raises a question: imitate what? God has not left us guessing. He gave Israel a visible, enacted pattern in the Torah: The pattern of the Mishkan in Exodus (Exodus 25–40) The pattern of the offerings in Leviticus (especially Leviticus 1–2) The larger pattern of His dealings with Israel in the prophets (Isaiah 48–49 and beyond) Moshe (Moses) himself asked, “Show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18). God answered by both revealing His character and giving a pattern — “the pattern shown to you on the mountain” for the Mishkan (Exodus 25:40). Paul draws on that same pattern when he speaks about Messiah's sacrifice as a “fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:2), echoing the repeated phrase in Leviticus, “a soothing aroma to the Lord” (Leviticus 1:9). So, to imitate God, we do not just reach for vague spirituality. We look at the concrete story God told through Israel's worship, and then at how Messiah fulfills and deepens that story. Called to draw near The book of Leviticus is called וַיִּקְרָא Vayikra (“And He called”) in Hebrew, from its opening word: “Then the LORD called to Moses…” (Leviticus 1:1). This calling comes from the Mishkan, from within the Tent of Meeting. It is a summons to draw near. קָרְבָּן korban comes from the Hebrew root קרב karav (“to draw near, approach”). A korban is not just “something you give.” It is “the thing by which you draw near,” in other words, it’s the offering-bringer. In Leviticus 1:1–9, we see the burnt offering described: The animal comes from the herd or flock, “a male without defect” (Leviticus 1:3) The worshiper brings it “to the doorway of the tent of meeting” (Leviticus 1:3) He lays his hand on its head, and it is accepted “to make atonement on his behalf” (Leviticus 1:4) The entire animal is burned on the altar as “an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD” (Leviticus 1:9, NASB 1995) The person does not simply send the animal off. He identifies with it by laying his hand on its head. In that act, he is, in a sense, saying, “This is me going in. Let this be accepted for me.” This becomes a powerful picture of how we approach God in Messiah. When we trust in Him, we “lean” our whole weight (worth, glory, faith, trust) on Him, just as the Israelite physically leaned on the korban. He goes in before the Father as our substitute. A restful aroma Leviticus repeatedly uses the phrase רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ re'ach nichoach (“soothing aroma,” “pleasing aroma”). The word נִיחוֹחַ nichoach comes from the same Hebrew root as Noah’s name נֹחַ Noach (“rest”). You could almost say “a restful aroma.” That raises a paradox. How can the smell of burning flesh be “restful” or “soothing”? To the modern mind, sacrificial slaughter feels barbaric and repulsive. Yet that reaction is part of the point. It is meant to shock us into seeing how serious our alienation from God really is. An innocent animal — who never chose to sin, transgress, rebel — dies so that the worshiper can draw near spiritually by its blood. That injustice should bother us. It hints at something far worse and far more costly: the innocent suffering of Messiah Himself. This “restful aroma” signals that something has been put right. Judgment has fallen. A costly substitute has given its life. Reconciliation has begun. Rest, in a sense, now has a basis. From common to other: The Mishkan as training in holiness Outside the camp is ordinary, “common” life. Inside the Mishkan's courts and especially beyond the inner veil is the concentrated presence of the Creator, the One who is other, “holy” than His creation. Exodus 40:34–38 describes how the cloud filled the Mishkan so strongly that even Moshe and the priests could not enter at first. As the cloud and fire moved, Israel moved. When the cloud rested, Israel rested. It was like following a Leader through the wilderness: The cloud and fire guided their travel and their rest (Exodus 40:36–38). The visible presence in the center of the camp taught them to stay oriented to God. The very layout of the Mishkan trained them to respect the boundary between common and holy. Holiness (קֹדֶשׁ kodesh, “set apart”) here does not mean otherworldly and irrelevant. Rather, it means dedicated for God's special purpose. The Mishkan was not man's religious invention. It was a Heaven-designed pattern for reconciliation between a holy God and a compromised people. This pattern is as relevant as ever. We live in a world that treats everything as common. The Mishkan and the korbanot remind us that God is not just “there” in a vague sense. He is holy. To draw near, something must change — both in our status and in our hearts. The innocent substitute and the cost of sin Stop and soak in the emotional impact of the sacrifice at the Mishkan. An innocent sheep, goat, or bull dies because the human worshiper has broken fellowship with the Creator. To us, that seems oppressive or even unjust. Yet that discomfort exposes how numb we often are to the horror of sin. We are like frogs in a slowly heated pot. The water grows hotter, but we adjust. We stop noticing how dangerous our situation is. From the outside, it looks insane to stay in the boiling water, or, spiritually speaking, in the “muck” of rebellion and brokenness. Sacrifice is God's wake-up call. It says, “This separation is deadly. This is what it costs to fix it. The innocent must suffer.” All this points forward to the ultimate innocent substitute, the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). In Isaiah, He appears as the עֶבֶד יְהוָה Eved Adonai (“Servant of the LORD”), especially in Isaiah 53. Israel, the Servant, and the Son Here are the main “Servant Songs” in Isaiah: Isaiah 42:1–9 Begins: “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights…” Themes: Justice to the nations, gentle yet firm, a light to the nations. Isaiah 49:1–13 Begins: “Listen to Me, O islands, and pay attention, you peoples from afar…” Themes: Called from the womb, Servant named “Israel,” restoring Jacob and being a light to the nations. Isaiah 50:4–11 Begins: “The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples…” Themes: Obedient Servant, suffering, not turning back, offering His back to those who strike. Isaiah 52:13–53:12 Begins: “Behold, My Servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.” Themes: Deep suffering, rejection, bearing sins, substitutionary atonement, ultimate vindication. PassageKey themesMessianic connection to YeshuaIsaiah 42:1–9• “My Servant… My chosen one in whom My soul delights” (Isa 42:1)• Spirit-empowered Servant brings justice to the nations – Gentle: “A bruised reed He will not break” (Isa 42:3) • Light to the nations, opening blind eyes, freeing captives (Isa 42:6–7)• Echoed at Yeshua's immersion: “My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17)• His Spirit-anointed ministry to the poor, blind, and oppressed (Luke 4:16–21)• Yeshua as light of the world (John 8:12) and to the nations (Luke 2:32)Isaiah 49:1–13• Servant called “from the womb” and named by God (Isa 49:1)• Called Israel, yet sent to restore Israel (Isa 49:3–6)• Made “a light of the nations” and “My salvation to the end of the earth” (Isa 49:6)• Mirrored in Yeshua's conception and naming (Matthew 1:20–21; Luke 1:31)•Servant both represents Israel and rescues Israel, fitting Yeshua as the faithful Israelite who restores His people (Romans 11:25–27)• Explicitly fulfilled as salvation reaching the nations through the gospel (Acts 13:47)Isaiah 50:4–11• “Tongue of disciples” to sustain the weary (Isa 50:4) – Obedient Servant: “I was not disobedient nor did I turn back” (Isa 50:5)• Offers His back to those who strike Him, face to those who pluck out the beard (Isa 50:6)• Trusts God as vindicator despite shame and opposition• Yeshua as the obedient Son who always does the Father's will (John 8:29)• His suffering, mockery, and abuse before crucifixion echo this imagery (Matthew 26–27)• He entrusts Himself to the Father's vindication in resurrection (1Peter 2:23–24)Isaiah 52:13–53:12• “My Servant will prosper… be high and lifted up” (Isa 52:13)• Startling suffering and disfigurement (Isa 52:14)• Despised, rejected, “a man of sorrows” (Isa 53:3)• Bears our griefs and sorrows; pierced for our transgressions (Isa 53:4–5)• The LORD lays on Him the iniquity of us all (Isa 53:6)• Like a lamb led to slaughter (Isa 53:7)• Makes Himself a guilt offering (אָשָׁם asham) and justifies many (53:10–11)• Central Messianic prophecy in the Besorah (gospel) preaching (Acts 8:30–35)• Yeshua's atoning death as substitutionary sacrifice, bearing sins of Israel and the nations (1Peter 2:24–25)• Lamb imagery connects directly to Passover (Exodus 12; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7) and sacrificial system (Leviticus 1–7)• Resurrection hinted: “He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days” (53:10) However, many scholars and teachers see additional Servant sections that connect with these: Isaiah 41:8–9: Israel as “My servant” Isaiah 44:1–2, 21: “Jacob My servant… Jeshurun whom I have chosen” Isaiah 45:4: “My servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen one” Isaiah 48:20; 49:7: Further Servant language and mission themes Isaiah 48–49 speaks both of Israel as God's servant and of a Servant whose calling seems to go beyond the nation itself: “Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.” (Isaiah 48:12) “He said to Me, ‘You are My Servant, Israel, in whom I will show My glory.'” (Isaiah 49:3) Yet this Servant also has a mission to Israel and to the nations. From a Messianic Jewish reading, this points to a layered meaning: Israel as a people is called to be God's servant, His representative. But Israel fails to live out that mission consistently. Therefore a singular Servant arises, embodying Israel's calling and extending it to the nations — Messiah Himself. The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the TaNaKh) uses the word παῖς pais for “servant” here. Pais can mean “servant,” but also “child” or “son.” That linguistic overlap helps us see how the idea of “Servant of the LORD” connects closely with “Son of God” in the New Covenant writings. Messiah, the faithful Son, takes up Israel's mission where Israel failed. He lives as the perfect eved Adonai, the true Israelite who fully embodies God's purposes. From ‘I am the first and the last’ to Lamb of God Isaiah's declaration, “I am the first, I am also the last” (Isaiah 48:12) echoes later in the book of Revelation. Apostle Yokhanan (John) sees “one like a son of man” standing among seven golden lampstands: “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore…” Revelation 1:12–13 NASB 1995 At the end of the book, we hear: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22:13 NASB 1995 The same One whose identity language echoes Isaiah's “first and last” is also the slain and risen Lamb. He is the One whose blood washes robes white (Revelation 7:14). Again, we encounter a paradox: We wash garments in blood, and they become clean. Just as the korban system seems shocking, so does this cleansing image. But both point to the same truth: Reconciliation costs life. And that life, once given, brings true purity. This picture escalates through Scripture: God calls Avraham (Abraham) out of confusion and into a land of promise. God forms a people, Israel, as His covenant partner. God dwells among them in the Mishkan. God “tabernacles” among us in Messiah: “the Word became flesh, and dwelt (σκηνόω skēnoō, “tabernacled”) among us” (John 1:14). God finally dwells with redeemed humanity in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:3). Each stage intensifies God's desire to dwell in the midst of His people and to transform them. ‘Living sacrifice’ We can ask how the Mishkan model applies today. Apostle Paul answers this: Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1 NASB 1995 This is the bridge from Leviticus to our daily lives. We do not bring bulls and goats to a physical altar today, because the Temple is not currently in service. Yet the original and enduring principle of korban — of drawing near through the all-in offering of ourselves — has always held. The “altar” is our whole life in Messiah. We present ourselves — heart (mind and emotions), soul (life), resources (time, energy) — as a continual offering. We “lean” on Yeshua, our once-for-all korban, and then live as those who belong entirely to God. This does not erase the Torah instructions. Rather, it fills them full of significance and internalizes them. The journey through the courtyard, past the altar, through the Holy Place, and into the Holy of Holies becomes a spiritual pattern every time we seek God in prayer, obedience, and service. Love of God and neighbor: One movement, not two The Bible’s greatest commandments are tightly intertwined to the sacrificial pattern. Yeshua sums up the Torah and the Prophets with two commands: Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). Love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39). Loving God “with all your heart, soul, and strength” means you hold nothing back. You love Him with your emotions, your life itself, and your resources. That is sacrificial. It fits the pattern of korban. But you cannot stop there. Real, charitable love for God spills into love for neighbor, starting with those closest to you: your spouse, family, friends, community. In Ephesians 5, Paul applies Messiah's sacrificial love to marriage: Husbands are to love (ἀγάπη agapē, “self-giving, charitable love”) their wives. Messiah loved the ἐκκλησία ekklēsia (“assembly, congregation”) and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25–27). Agapē is not sentimentality. It is costly, loyal love, much like the Hebrew חסד ḥesed (“lovingkindness,” “covenant loyalty”). It washes, sanctifies, and beautifies the beloved. To imitate God, then, is to let our relationships be reshaped by this sacrificial love. This includes servant leadership in the home, mutual honor, and a refusal to “lord it over” others. Servant leadership and submitting under the status quo Paul's language on submission in Ephesians 5 means “be subject.” The term points to moving “under” an existing order, not to become passive, but to change it from beneath. This connects to Yeshua's own teaching. The greatest must become the servant; the master behaves as the slave of all (Matthew 20:26–28). At Passover, Yeshua models this by washing His disciples' feet (John 13). The Master takes the role of the lowest servant. This is profoundly consistent with the Mishkan pattern. The God of Israel, exalted above all, chooses to “go low”: He dwells in a tent among a redeemed slave people. He accepts the death of innocent korbanot for their sake. Ultimately, He sends His Son to suffer and die to bring them near. If God leads this way, then leaders in His kingdom must also lead by going low. They bear the burdens of others. They open themselves to accountability. They genuinely care what others need, not just what they plan to give. They serve first, then lead. Dying to self and living in Messiah Messiah calls us to be willing to lose your life in order to save it (e.g., Matthew 16:25). This is not just about physical martyrdom, though many have literally died for their witness. It is about daily death to self, laying down pride, fear, and self-protection. Fear of death can drive people to horrific choices. But those who know Messiah has already passed through death and risen gain new courage. They can hold even their own life more loosely. They can choose faithfulness over survival at any cost. This brings the circle back to Leviticus and Ephesians 5. To “walk in love” as Messiah did is to live as a continual offering: We “climb on the altar” daily as living sacrifices. We trust that when something in us dies — selfishness, ego, comfort — something truer comes alive. We lean on Messiah as our korban, entering “through the veil” into God's presence (echoing Hebrews 10:19–20). In this way, the ancient smoke of the מִזְבֵּחַ עֹלָה, mizbeach ʿolah (“altar of burnt offering”) becomes a living metaphor. Our lives rise before God as a re'ach nichoach — a restful aroma — not because we are perfect, but because we are in Messiah, the ultimate fragrant offering. Hands on the korban, hearts in the Presence Heaven invites us to see our discipleship through the lens of Israel's story: The Mishkan shows God's desire to dwell in the midst of His people. The korbanot show the cost of drawing near. The Servant of the LORD in Isaiah shows the mission of Israel and of Messiah. Ephesians and Revelation show how Messiah fulfills and magnifies that mission. To “be imitators of God” is to do what the Israelite did at the gate of the Mishkan: place our hands, and our hope, on the innocent Substitute (Yeshua), and then follow where He leads. It is to let His agapē love and His ḥesed loyalty reshape our worship, our work, and our relationships, so that our whole life becomes a “fragrant offering” to the God Who loves to dwell with His people. The post The innocent must suffer? Why biblical sacrifice still matters in the age of Messiah (Ephesians 5; Leviticus 1–2; Isaiah 48–49) appeared first on Hallel Fellowship.

Betrayal, denial, and suffering. He went through it all for us.

Steve Surbaugh

Trust me when I say that a home on Indian Creek Island is not for you.First of all, you're not a billionaire. But even a billion bucks wouldn't buy your way onto this island in Florida's Biscayne Bay. It's the exclusive domain of such multi-multi-billionaires as Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, Ivanka Trump… and now Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook and Instagram.Mark, nicknamed “Zuck,” has just paid $170 million for a piece of this very special speck of turf, including a “cottage” with 9 bedrooms, 11 baths, a gym, a massage room, and a 1,500-gallon aquarium. Also, he built-in his own personal hair salon, plus a library with – get this – a secret passageway. No clue as to whether he reads any books, or just uses the passage to escape.Secondly, you wouldn't really be happy on Indian Creek Island, because it's a pretentious fake. This high-value enclave was constructed for low-value hucksters who've amassed outrageous fortunes by screwing over masses of workers, competitors, taxpayers, and others. Even the “island” is fake – it's a man-made landfill built in the Bay so ten very, very rich swells can isolate themselves from us commoners. Also, it's more of a doomsday compound than a community, with each of the über-rich hunkered down in what's been dubbed “Billionaire Bunker.”These demigods of gross inequality can buy any piece of paradise, but then they're so spooked they lock themselves behind $170-million walls, afraid of their own shadows. So, here's my free advice to Zuck to soothe his plutocratic trepidations: Steal a little less, practice being slightly likable, maybe downsize to only a $70 million mansion… and live more. You're welcome.Do something!Want to help force billionaires to pay their fair share? Check out Americans for Tax Fairness at americansfortaxfairness.org.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

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He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... – Isaiah 53:2

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him. . . . — Genesis 37:4 Jacob should have known better. He knew what it was like to have a brother whom his father loved more than him (Genesis 25:27-28), but he favored his son Joseph over his other sons anyway. Sadly, that led to jealousy and resentment among Joseph's brothers.When Joseph's older brothers looked at him, their blood pressure went up and hatred filled their hearts. Still, they might have kept their emotions in check if Joseph hadn't stirred the pot with notions about the dreams he had had.God had provided the dreams, but Joseph took pride in them. He interpreted those dreams as showing that he was better than his brothers, and even his father rebuked him for the self-centered nature of those interpretations. The meaning of those dreams became clear later (Genesis 41-47), but all that the brothers knew now was that they didn't want anything to do with Joseph!In this story we eventually see that God can take the human failings of all of these broken family members to bring about something good, despite the sinful attitudes in each individual's heart. We also learn in life that God works through the troubles in our world and in our hearts to make something new and better. He is faithful to the purpose and plan that he holds and creates for us. Lord, thank you for being willing to meet us in the messes and troubles of life. Open our eyes to see the sin in our own hearts before we see the failings of others. Help us to live in unity as your family and to spread your love and blessings to others. Amen.

"He was despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. " SHOWNOTES:here's our INSTA follow amelia!!!!follow ella!!!!listen to us on SPOTIFYlisten to us on APPLEcheck out our new website :)))cover art by Sarah Hawke!!xoxo,ella + amelia

Debate recorded at the Battle of Ideas festival 2025 on Saturday 18 October at Church House, Westminster. This week, Reform's Suella Braverman declared that if the party were elected to government it would 'repeal the Equality Act, because we are going to work to build a country defined by meritocracy not tokenism, personal responsibility not victimhood, excellence not mediocrity, and unity not division'. In response, Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC that the Act represented 'basic values, one of which is should women be treated equally with men... I think it actually rips up something that goes to who we are as a country because I believe passionately that to be tolerant, compassionate and diverse is what it is to be British'. What has been the impact of the Equality Act on British workplaces? ORIGINAL FESTIVAL INTRODUCTION The British workplace is now too often a toxic environment, a hotbed of grievance culture, lawfare and an ever-expanding number of disciplinary codes unrelated to the nature of specific jobs. Over the past year, there's been a 23 per cent rise in cases at employment tribunals and a two-year waiting list, due to a growing backlog, with workplace conflicts estimated to now cost businesses £28.5 billion annually. How did this come about? The UK is a world leader in human relations (HR). With over half a million HR workers – almost double the number of 15 years ago – Britain stands second in the global league table for size of HR sector as a share of all occupations. Over seven in 10 FTSE 100 companies now boast a ‘chief HR officer' on their executive committee, reflecting the elevated status of this newfound ‘profession'. We might expect this might lead to happier more productive workers, fewer grievances and higher job retention. Yet the growth of the HR industrial complex doesn't appear to have led to better workplace outcomes or harmony. Arguably, HR is as much the problem as the solution. HR departments – until recently humdrum administrative hubs managing payrolls, processing sick notes and checking firms complied with employment law – have now morphed into real centres of power. They are the enforcers of workplace orthodoxies, controlling what workers can say or do, who keeps their job, and even shaping corporate missions. For example, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is charged with versing workers in new values, from DEI literacy to managing emotional security. What's more, the traditional defenders of workers' rights – trade unions – are increasingly acting in lockstep with HR managers' priorities. A recent paper by the Free Speech Union, Shopped Stewards, revealed the divisive nature of union bureaucrats' adherence to identity politics, which means they often side with the DEI initiatives of their employers, as opposed to defending their members' rights. For example, teacher Simon Pearson was fired by Preston College after a complaint from a Muslim representative of the National Education Union (NEU). Pearson was accused of being ‘Islamophobic' and ‘racially discriminatory' for social-media posts, such as saying Lucy Connolly ‘should not have been jailed'. Another report suggests that specific legislation has led to a deterioration in workplace relations. The Don't Divide Us report, The Equality Act Isn't Working, reveals the ‘expansionary logic' of the Equality Act 2010 has provided the legal scaffolding that supports a surge in (largely unsuccessful) workplace race–discrimination claims. This, DDU argues, contributes to a grievance culture where people resort to ‘lawfare' to resolve ‘petty disputes and imagined slights', while empowering thin-skinned employees to wilfully misinterpret perfectly innocent comments or interactions. Can the workplace be detoxified? How can we tame the HR monster? Can trade unions return to a ‘one for all, all for one' role of protecting workers' rights? Can laws that are divisive in workplaces be reined in? SPEAKERS Pamela Dow chief operating officer, Civic Future Paul Embery firefighter; trade unionist; author, Despised: why the modern Left loathes the working class; broadcaster Maya Forstater chief executive, Sex Matters Dr Anna Loutfi employment and human rights barrister; advisory council member, Don't Divide Us CHAIR Para Mullan former operations director, EY-Seren; fellow, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Send a textCersei makes the only play she can. She wisely confesses to most of her crimes, that have already been verified by other witnesses anyway, but denies the big ones. For those questions, trial by combat will determine her guilt. Uncle Kevan reports wholesale changes in the Small Council. Mackelly and Simon weigh her chances.Chapter Review:Queen Cersei Lannister hates her jailors, three dour septas. But they break her down and she is ready to confess. She's brought before the High Septon. She admits to her infidelities, but denies the big ones: incest, treason, reicide, and deicide, all of which Osney Kettleblack implicated her in, under torture. The incest one is awkward for the High Septon. It is Stannis Baratheon's accusation and he has fallen in with a false god. He puts his faith in trial by combat to determine her guilt or innocence.She is finally allowed a visitor; her uncle Kevan Lannister. He's angry with her corruption of his son Lancel. And brings only bad news: Jaime has not returned, he was last seen cavorting the Riverlands with a woman believed to be Brienne of Tarth. The Tyrells and Tarlys have come to town to defend Queen Margaery, against whom the High Septon admits the case is weak. Kevan has assembled a whole new Small Council filled with nobody who cares for Cersei.Worst of all is the news that Myrcella has been wounded in Dorne. Cersei blames Tyrion. She asks Kevan to work with Qyburn to get the right man into the Kingsguard to defend her honor.Characters/Places/Names/Events:Cersei Lannister - Dowager Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Mother to King Tommen.The High Septon - Leader of the faith. Known as the High Sparrow for his piety and commitment to poverty.Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Cersei, new Hand of the King.Lancel Lanniser - Son of Kevan, former lover of Cersei. Now a convert to the militant branch of the Faith of the Seven.Qyburn - Disgraced maester of the citadel. Ally to Cersei.Margaery Tyrell - Wife to King Tommen. Despised by Cersei.Osney Kettleblack - Ally of Cersei, tortured into betraying her. Support the showSupport us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perks Donate to our cause Use our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of Audible Buy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate link Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere.Find us on social media: Discord Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal Facebook Instagram YouTube All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M

Send us a textDaenerys hosts her conquerors, the Yunkai'i. Peace has cost her more than she can stomach. Mackelly and Simon sympathize with her.Chapter Review:Daenerys Targaryen attends a banquet thrown for the Yunkai'i to celebrate the peace. The accords hold, no re-enslavement, no more freeing of the existing slaves, but Daenerys is far from pleased that a slave market has been opened outside her walls - technically not in violation, but an obvious goad to her.To ensure a peaceful evening, hostages have been sent to the Yunkai'i, including Daario Naharis. Probably for the best because one of the envoys from Yunkai is Brown Ben Plum. He tries to smooth things over with Daenerys, but she's still bridling at his betrayal. She asks Barristan Selmy to make overtures to the sellsword companies, not believing that this peace can truly last. She takes Quentyn Martell to see the dragons, and urges him to go home. He wants to stay and fight for her.That night Hizdahr Zo Loraq drunkenly consummates his marriage and hopes for a son as he falls asleep. Daenerys has reason to doubt that his wish will be answered. The queen cannot sleep, tomorrow sees the unwelcome reopening of the fighting pits. She passes the small hours chatting with Missandei about sweet things. Characters/Places/Names/Events:Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, husband to Daenerys.Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingssuard in King's Landing. Current Lord Commander of Daenerys' Queensguard.Daario Naharis - Lover to Daenerys and leader of the sellsword company the Stormcrows. Quentyn Martell - Son of Prince Doran Martell. In Essos to offer his hand in marriage to Daenerys.Skahaz mo Kandaq (Shavepate) - Ghiscari noble of Meereen. Convert to Dany's cause. Despised by the Sons of the Harpy. Brown Ben Plum - Commander of the Second Sons. Betrayer of Daenerys.Meereen - Largest city on Slaver's Bay. Support the showSupport us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perks Donate to our cause Use our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of Audible Buy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate link Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere.Find us on social media: Discord Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal Facebook Instagram YouTube All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M

The things or the people that seem forgotten are vessels that God pick to use

In this devotion, we consider how children and young people are often despised, *and* how that should not discourage them from learning and retaining God's word. Scripture references for examples cited in this devotion: 1 Samuel 16; Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17; 1 Timothy 4:12.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Why did Jesus come into the world? Who did he come for? Luke 2 answers with an unexpected announcement to the despised of society – to lowly shepherds just trying to make it through the night. And with an anticipated gift to the forgotten of society - to a dying man and elderly widow holding onto old promises and refusing to let go. What does a story involving the despised and forgotten have to do with Jesus' birth? Everything. It's what Christmas is all about.

Pastor Gerrit teaches through 2 Samuel 10–11, beginning with David's kindness to the new Ammonite king and how suspicion and bad counsel escalate a simple gesture into a larger conflict. As the narrative moves into chapter 11, the focus shifts to David at home, where he neglects his responsibilities as king, commits adultery with Bathsheba, and arranges the death of Uriah. Pastor Gerrit emphasizes how unchecked desires and the abuse of power lead to serious consequences, showing the need for repentance and reliance on God's guidance.

Send us a textDaenerys openly flaunts her relationship with Daario, tells Quentyn Martell that he has come to late, and despite all kinds of misgivings, goes ahead and marries Hizdahr zo Loraq. Simon and Mackelly throw some confetti, half-heartedly.Chapter Review:Daenerys Targaryen spends her last nights as a single woman in the arms of Daario Naharis. Her looming nuptials strain their relationship. The Yunkaii continue to mass beyond her gates. She knows deep down that this will never be her city.She holds court and gets a coded lecture from the Green Grace about her infidelities. Then Daario presents the Westerosi he captured and convinced to come over to her cause. The last 3 are the contingent from Dorne and present her with the contract drawn up by Oberyn Martell and William Darry for Viserys to marry Princess Arianne. She correctly infers that Quentyn hopes that he and she can fulfill the spirit of the contract. She welcomes him, but reaffirms that it is too late.The next day she marries Hizadhr Zo Loraq in a long ceremony. She kind of hoped that Daario would rescue her from it.Characters/Places/Names/Events:Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros.Daario Naharis - Leader of the sellsword company the Stormcrows.Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, betrothed to Daenerys. Betrothed to Daenerys.Quentyn Martell - Son of Prince Doran Martell. In Essos to offer his hand in marriage to Daenerys.Barristan Selmy - Lord Commander of Daenerys' Queensguard. Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King's Landing.Reznak mo Reznak - Ghiscari seneschal of MeereenSkahaz mo Kandaq - AKA The Shavepate. Ghiscari noble of Meereen. Convert to Dany's cause. Despised by the Sons of the Harpy. Galazza Galare - The Green Grace, the high priestess of the Temple of the Graces in Meereen.Meereen - Largest city on Slaver's Bay. Support the showSupport us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perks Donate to our cause Use our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of Audible Buy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate link Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere.Find us on social media: Discord Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal Facebook Instagram YouTube All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M

Send us a textIn this episode, we explore the dramatic public unveiling of Saul as Israel's first king — and what happens when obedience meets opposition.Samuel calls the nation together, rebukes their rejection of God, and presents Saul — a man humble, capable, and chosen by God for a season. Yet not everyone celebrates. Some despise him. Others mock. And in that tension, we find a timeless truth about rejection, faithfulness, and peace.Join us as we uncover three powerful lessons from Saul's story:Consider the Source – Rejection often says more about others than about you. Hold Your Peace – Don't let anyone steal what God has given you.Let the Lord Be Your Judge – His verdict is the only one that matters.“I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts.” – Psalm 119:141Support the showTo listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|PatreonSupport me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

This week on the podcast, we're talking about Despised Birthrights. As we open the scriptures and unpack this portion, we'll look at Isaac and Jacob and what their story shows us about the kind of people God chooses, and what He values that we often overlook.Be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a video from TFI! The footsteps of Paul Tour - email: Summer@togehterforisrael.org Donate to TFI: https://www.togetherforisrael.org/givingpageWeekly Email Sign up: http://eepurl.com/ga8y7HVisit our Website: https://www.togetherforisrael.orgDownload our App: https://subsplash.com/togetherforisrael/download-appJoin us for a tour: https://www.tfi.tours

Send Us Your Prayer Requests --------This Christmas, you can shine the light of Christ into places of darkness and pain with a purchase from the Joni and Friends Christmas catalog. You are sending hope and practical care to people with disabilities, all in the name of Jesus! Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery because He had a heart for those who had been despised and rejected.

Text: Genesis 25:28-34  A sermon in our series through Genesis 

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Before Stassi Cramm became the first woman to lead the Community of Christ, Pauline Hancock led the Church of Christ. Sandra Tanner was baptized in about 1960 into Pauline Hancock's Church of Christ. We'll discuss Pauline's church, Sandra's conversion and de-conversion, and more in this amazing conversation. Check it out! https://youtu.be/3V-7stAyZ9w Don't miss our other conversations with Sandra: https://gospeltangents.com/people/sandra-tanner Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved 0:00 Updating Sandra Tanner 5:15 (In)Famous Sandra 9:39 Is Sandra Tanner Anti-Mormon? 12:05 Pauline Hancock's Origins 24:48 How Jerald Joined Pauline 32:43 Book of Mormon Has Trinitarian Roots 34:22 Jerald Visits Pauline Pioneers of Criticism: Sandra Tanner, Pauline Hancock, & Quest for the Original Church of Christ Sandra Tanner is well-known today as a staunch critic and historian of Mormonism, chronicled recently in the biography Lighthouse: Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Mormon Critics of Mormonism. While Sandra is now enjoying life in a condominium in Sandy, Utah, having retired from the stresses of her old neighborhood in Salt Lake City, her journey as a critic began in the late 1950s alongside her husband, Jerald Tanner56. This period of questioning led the newlywed Tanners to explore various splinter groups, resulting in Sandra becoming a temporary convert to a unique movement led by one of the earliest known female leaders in the Restoration: Pauline Hancock's Church of Christ. Critic, Not Anti-Mormon Before diving into her early faith experience, Sandra is careful to distinguish her identity. She notes that she is comfortable being labeled a "Mormon critic," but strongly rejects the term "anti-Mormon.” This is because the "anti-Mormon" label often implies an animosity toward the people, which she does not feel. She condemns any violence against Mormon people. She sees herself as a critic of Mormonism—its doctrines and history—not its followers. Jerald Tanner's Search for the "Start" The Tanners' joint investigation into Mormonism began around 1959. Jerald's personal crisis was spurred around age 18 when his bishop suggested he go on a mission. Jerald began reading critical works, notably Fawn Brodie's book (written in 1945), which was the standard critical source at the time. His investigation led him to seek out local splinter groups, first visiting the Reorganized Church in Salt Lake City. There, he met a barber named James Wardle, who operated a shop that housed one of the largest collections of historic books on early Mormonism. Wardle provided Jerald with a key text that shaped his direction: David Whitmer's pamphlet, An Address to All Believers in Christ (1887). Whitmer's position was that the Book of Mormon was the main thing and that Joseph Smith "got a big head, invented all this other stuff.” This idea became Jerald's litmus test: if there was any truth to Mormonism, it had to be at the start, centered on the Book of Mormon. Jerald even took a trip to Independence, Missouri, to verify Whitmer's claims that the revelations had been changed, specifically noting discrepancies between the current version of the Doctrine and Covenants and the early Book of Commandments. Pauline Hancock and the "Luke-ite" Church of Christ James Wardle also informed Jerald about Pauline Hancock's small Church of Christ group, noting that they aligned more closely with David Whitmer's views than other splinter groups. Pauline Hancock was raised in the Reorganized (RLDS) Church, where her father had served as a pastor in Salt Lake City. She became disillusioned with both the RLDS and the Temple Lot Church. She, her husband, and others who went through similar struggles were deeply impacted by Whitmer's pamphlet. This group, sometimes referred to as "the Luke-ites" because they first met in the home of a Mr. Luke, established their own theological foundation:

Every year, millions of people's medical care runs into the roadblock known as prior authorization, which requires an insurer to sign off before chemotherapy, surgery or countless other services can proceed. Who does this often onerous process help, who does it hurt and how could it work better for everyone?Guests:Tom Roberts, Oncologist, Mass General Cancer CenterAaron Schwartz, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy and Department of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaKathleen, CaregiverLearn more on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter featuring the latest health policy research and news.Support this type of journalism today, with a gift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textDaenerys comes to the realization that she cannot face her internal and external threats alone, and must marry Hizdahr zo Loraq. Simon and Mackelly fuss over the bride-to-be.Chapter Review:Daenerys Targaryen clashes with Admiral Groleo. He wants her to unleash the dragons on the blockading ships, she wants him to build ships and fight her enemies. Thus far Hizdahr zo Loraq has been true to his word: 26 days with no murders.Skahaz mo Kandaq, the Shavepate, has been spying on Hizdahr and reports that he has visited 11 of the great families' pyramids. The Shavepate is convinced that Hizdahr has this kind of control because he is in control - and thinks a bit of firm questioning would draw out a confession. Daenerys doesn't doubt Skahaz' ability to extract information, she just doubts its usefulness.The Green Grace reports that a rider has come from Astapor bringing the Bloody Flux with him. More refugees follow and Daenerys determines that they will be kept outside the city walls with an attempt made to keep the sick away from the healthy. Brown Ben Plum returns and also encourages Dany to use her dragons. She is unmoved. But on reflection she realizes that she cannot face the external threat until she's suppressed the internal one. To cut that knot she decides she must marry Hizdahr.Characters/Places/Names/Events:Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Queen of Meereen.Unsullied - Eunuch slave soldiers. Renowned for their fighting prowess. Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King's Landing. Now Lord Commander of Daenerys' Queensguard.Reznak mo Reznak - Ghiscari seneschal of Meereen.Skahaz mo Kandaq - aka Shavepate. Ghiscari noble of Meereen. Convert to Dany's cause. Despised by the Sons of the Harpy.Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, wants the fighting pits reopened.Daario Naharis - Leader of the sellsword company the Stormcrows.Second Sons - A sellsword company in Essos, led by Brown Ben Plumm.Meereen - Largest city on Slaver's Bay. Support the showSupport us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perks Donate to our cause Use our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of Audible Buy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate link Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere.Find us on social media: Discord Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal Facebook Instagram YouTube All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M