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Reformed Brotherhood | Sound Doctrine, Systematic Theology, and Brotherly Love
In episode 501, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb dig into the parable of the watchful doorkeeper in Mark 13:32–37 — four tightly packed verses that Jesus uses to call his servants to alertness before his return. But this isn't a passage about spiritual caffeine and white-knuckling your way through the Christian life. Tony and Jesse unpack what "stay awake" actually means through the lens of Reformed theology: active, differentiated stewardship in the ordinary means of grace, faithful vocation in every sphere of life, and a corporate ecclesial readiness that belongs to the whole church, not just the individual. This episode reorients the familiar language of watchfulness away from anxiety and date-setting toward the sturdy, quiet confidence of a believer who knows who they are, whose house they serve in, and why that identity drives everything. Key Takeaways "Stay awake" is a command about identity, not performance. The doorkeeper doesn't do what he does to become the doorkeeper — he's already the doorkeeper. Christians are watchful because of who they already are in Christ, not to earn or secure that status. Vocation is not optional waiting — it's active, differentiated stewardship. Christ's ascension corresponds to the master's departure, and the interim period is characterized by each servant being given his own work, reflecting Calvin's doctrine of vocation and the Reformed insistence that the Christian life between the ascension and the Parousia is not passive. Watchfulness is corporate, not merely individual. The church, as the pillar and buttress of truth, is called to a collective readiness. In Presbyterian polity, every act of a valid church jurisdiction is an act of the whole church — meaning each member has a genuine stake in the faithfulness of the whole body. The ordinary means of grace are the means of watchfulness. Prayer, the Word, the sacraments, fellowship, and sitting under preaching are not supplementary to vigilance — they are the very instruments by which God preserves and prepares his people. Two errors must be avoided: speculative date-setting and practical indifference. Uncertainty about the hour of Christ's return is neither an invitation to calculate nor an excuse for carelessness. It is the very grounds for sustained, ordinary faithfulness. The warnings of Scripture are themselves a means of grace. Following Westminster Confession of Faith 17, the sobering warning of verse 36 is not a threat to the elect's final security but a pastoral instrument by which God preserves his people in living, active faith. The rooster-crowing language of Mark 13 anticipates the Passion narrative. The clustering of watchfulness, the night watches, and the crowing rooster in this chapter echoes the Garden of Gethsemane and Peter's denial — a connection particularly resonant given Mark's traditional association with Peter's testimony. Explanatory Paragraphs Vocation and the Active Interim One of the most theologically rich observations in this episode is the way Jesse frames the master's departure as corresponding directly to the ascension of Christ. The key phrase in verse 34 — "each one his task" — is not incidental detail. It reflects the Reformed doctrine of vocation at full strength: every believer, in every sphere of influence, has been given particular work to do on behalf of the Lord during Christ's bodily absence. This is not a passive waiting room existence. It is an active, differentiated stewardship that is deeply personal and yet accountable to the master who owns the whole house. The ascension does not mean abandonment, and the parable makes that clear by the fact that the servants are left in charge — trusted, commissioned, and expected to be about their work when the master returns. The Church's Corporate Readiness A standout contribution of this episode is Tony's move from the individual to the ecclesial. Drawing directly from OPC Book of Church Order, Chapter 3, he argues that church power is not vested in officers alone but in the whole body of believers. This means that when any legitimate church jurisdiction acts — whether in discipline, instruction, or governance — it is the whole church acting. The parable's doorkeeper is therefore not just a figure for personal piety; he is a figure for the corporate watchfulness that belongs to every member of the household. Tony's point is that a Christian who is disconnected from his local church, indifferent to what is being taught and decided elsewhere in the visible church, is not simply failing at individual holiness — he is failing to be awake in the fullest sense the parable intends. The Ordinary Means of Grace as Watchfulness Itself Perhaps the most pastorally stabilizing insight of the episode is Jesse's observation that watchfulness is not some extraordinary spiritual heroism layered on top of normal Christian life — it is normal Christian life. The ordinary means of grace are ordinary precisely because they are the regular, appointed instruments through which God delivers his grace to his people. Prayer, the Word, the sacraments, and fellowship are not preparatory disciplines that get you ready for the real work of being watchful. They are the work. Tony reinforces this by noting that a person who persistently refuses the ordinary means of grace is not simply being unwise — they are declining the offer of God's grace, which is a far more serious matter than mere spiritual lethargy. Memorable Quotes The doorkeeper doesn't do what he does to become the doorkeeper in this parable. He's already the doorkeeper, and the fact that he's the doorkeeper explains why he's given certain responsibilities and certain commands. That's the way it is for us as Christians. - Tony Arsenal The warnings of Scripture are themselves among the ordinary means by which God preserves His people... the sobering possibility of being found asleep functions pastorally not to threaten the loss of the elect, but to press home the seriousness of watchfulness as the fruit and evidence of genuine faith." - Jesse Schwamb When I go into a patient encounter at the hospital, or when I pull up to a red light, or when I order a sandwich at McDonald's and they get it wrong — I bring with me the fact that I am a Christian, the fact that I am a servant of Christ, that I am a doorkeeper in the house of the living God. - Tony Arsenal Full Transcript Jesse Schwamb: [00:01:00] Welcome to episode 501 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony, and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brother. Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother. Well, we've got some more kingdom teaching on tap right from the mouth of Jesus. We're going through all the parables, if you haven't been tracking with us so far, and we're finding ourselves in Mark chapter 13. And as J- only Jesus can do, packs four verses with all kinds of rich, robust theology, and it's all in this kind of strange setting, actually. A guy heads out of town. He hands his servants the keys. He tells the doorman, "Hey, watch the place," with the same kind of e- enigmatic and vague energy that I imagine, like, your cable internet provider gives you when they give you an arrival time between now and Friday. And then Jesus lists literally, like, every possible hour He might show up, evening, midnight, rooster clock, dawn. And all of this is for His glory and for our benefits. [00:02:00] And we're gonna somehow try to see if we can take all of these four verses, which are so jam-packed, and fit them into our conversation. That's our challenge, and it's gonna be yours to listen to. So welcome to this episode. Affirm or Deny Segment Jesse Schwamb: But before we do all of that, it is everybody's favorite time. Well, except for Wicked Scriptures. That is really everybody's favorite time. Second favorite time is where we find something in our lives, Tony, that we either affirm with because it's awesome, it's exciting, want everybody to know about it, or conversely, we deny against something because it's just not that great. We don't like it. Don't waste your time with it. So everybody longs to know, in this conversation, are you affirming with or denying against? Tony Affirms Psalm Music Tony Arsenal: I'm affirming something tonight. Uh, the listener might remember, I don't know, maybe a month and a half back, I affirmed a particular setting of Psalm 63 in the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. And as I was kind of, you know, looking around for, I wanted to find a track to sort of maybe add to the end of the episode just to sort of, [00:03:00] like, put a point on that. I stumbled on, um, a song, singer, I don't know if you'd call him a songwriter, 'cause he's mostly just writing song- psalms. But he's, he's arranging them. He's, you know, writing the guitar line for it or whatever. Uh, his name is Matthew David Montgomery. Uh, I don't know that you would know him from anywhere, but he's on, um- Apple Music, YouTube, Spotify, wherever. Uh, he does an arrangement of O God Show Mercy to Us, which is Psalm 63, uh, setting A, I believe, in the Trinity Psalter hymnal. But, um, it's, it's in other hymnals, other psalters, uh, under the same name with the same tune. Uh, he has a beautiful singing voice. He does a lot of, uh, what's typically called, like, finger style, uh, guitar picking, uh, which is just very melodious and very gentle and soft. Um, it would be a great addition to, like, your morning devotional time to just, like, pick a psalm that he sings, that he's, he's recorded. Um, you can get most of his stuff for free on, uh, YouTube, or again, if you have Apple [00:04:00] Music or Spotify, it's available there. Uh, again, his name is Matthew David Montgomery, and he's got several, uh, several albums. He has ones that specifically is psalms called Psalms for Singing. Um, and then he has a couple finger style hymn songs, uh, hymn albums that are like, you know, like I don't know, more modern hymns, He Will Hold Me Fast, Only Holy God- Right kinda like Getty, um, Getty-style and City Alight songs, those kinds of sort of that complex of modern hymnody. Um, but he's excellent, and it's excellent theologically rich sound music. Um, I haven't listened to everything, but he seems like he's in kind of that, uh, sort of vein of worship music production producer peoples, um, that are just putting out good, accessible music. I know, like, a lot of small churches, uh, have in the past have had to resort to using tracks like this actually to sort of lead their vocal music. Um, that would be something to think [00:05:00] about. It's simple. It's arranged in a straightforward fashion. Many times it's arranged according to the psalters, which are by, almost by definition are designed for congregational singing. So it's good. It's great. Use it for family worship, listen to in your car. I don't know, workout music. I don't know if you would work out to this, but I guess you could try. Um- I love it ... but yeah, I usually, I usually listen to, um, Oh God, Show Mercy To Us probably, like, once a day. I listen to it usually in the morning to kinda center my day and get my head in the right space. Um, but yeah, it's just good stuff. David, um, Mi- Matthew David Montgomery, uh, the specific one was Psalms for Singing, but, um, all of his stuff is really great. Jesse Schwamb: All right. Jesse Affirms Hymn Devotional Jesse Schwamb: People are gonna think we're totally conspiring now, but I promise we're not. This is just how our minds work in collective fashion, that we never speak about stuff together. So my affirmation is right in the same vein. So I'm actually excited about this one because it might just be the golden age of daily books about, like, theological meditation. It might be. And [00:06:00] so this one is really good, and I'm super stoked because I'm kind of on the cusp of this one because I got an advance copy of this book, and it's just out now. It's called Awake My Soul, and it's daily readings, 365 hymn texts taken throughout church history from the Middle Ages to 1900. And each hymn for the day includes s- a suggested tune and then, like, a short historical slash, like, theological meditation. The beauty of this- Wow One, I'm learning all kinds of new hymns that are not my favorite. Two, you can either read them or... There's no music included in this, except that in the back there's an index that will give you... There's, like, a little code every day. This is like a s- it's your own treasure hunt. There's a little code on each day, and if you take that code and go back to the end of the book, what you'll find there is names of popular hymns or songs that you do know the, the tune to, and then you can take that same tune and use the same poetic meter that the hymn is in that you don't know, and guess what? You can actually sing it. So you're prepared every day to sing [00:07:00] music and to sing brand-new music with great confidence and high conviction. So this is, like, the bridge here. Go listen to some good music. And I would say if you wanna buy this, because it is brand new, go to hymnworks.com. It's by P&R Publishing. That's where you'll find the best price. It's, like, 25 bucks. It's a beautiful clothbound, like, handsome two-color printing with a ribbon. And also Passion Week and Advent are clearly marked and can be adapted for use in any calendar year. So there you go. Like, it's the double-barreled affirmation for good singing, good hymns. By the way, for all the brothers and sisters of exclusive psalmody, we see you raising your hands in the back. Actually, if you're doing exclusive psalmody, you're in the front. So we see you in the front, and this- And you're Tony Arsenal: probably not raising your hands. Jesse Schwamb: You're definitely not raising your hand. We see your hands Tony Arsenal: in your pockets. Jesse Schwamb: We see you standing there Tony Arsenal: stoically. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. We see your hands in your pockets, never coming out. That's fine. Yeah. Uh, this book also is for you because so much of it is actually just, uh, the psalms adapted for kind of [00:08:00] more, when I say contemporary, between the Middle Ages and 1900 worship. So, uh, there you go. I think this is lovely. Uh, we didn't plan it, but you've got two great resources for daily living and daily singing. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Building Daily Liturgy Tony Arsenal: And, you know, I think, um, there is sort of an element, and I'll be quick about this, where we are set up... We have such a, like, a dearth of riches in terms of accessibility to musical worship. And y- you know, used to think of it as, like, daily devotions, but I think the more, I think the more accurate and I think a, a more theologically rich term is a daily liturgy. Right. Um, you know, with books like Be Thou My Vision, um, by I think it's David Gibson, or, you know, he has, like, the Christmas version and the, um, I think there's an Easter version of it where it really walks you through a, a full daily liturg- liturgy with, like, a call to worship and a, a confession of sin. And, [00:09:00] um, and you could take these resources, whether it's an album like David, uh, or, like, um, David Michael Montgomery. That's a country singer, I think. Whatever the guy is that I recommend. I don't have his name in front of me. Uh, whether it's an album like that or whether it's- Right ... this resource Jesse's talking about, or like I've said before, like, just the trendy Psalter Hymnal app on your phone which will play the music for you and display the words. You can take this and there... I, I hate to say it this way because I know there's a lot of people that, that make good profitable use of sort of like evangelical, I would call it, like, fluffy devo kinda stuff. Uh, which ironically on my list of affirmations of things that are in the queue, there's, there's a devotional resource that even kinda falls into this category. Yeah, there is. But, um, there really is no good excuse for not having some sort of robust daily worship pattern. Right. Um, because you can, you can really make use of these resources to create a pretty cohesive, well put-together, pleasurable kind of [00:10:00] daily worship set or liturgy or experience, I don't know, whatever word you wanna slot in there. Um, a- and really get... Like, really just have an excellent experience out of it, really have good resources. So yeah, I'm, I'm on board. I think it's great. I would love to, I would love to be able to, uh, to take a look at that. So maybe next time we're in the same geographical location you'll have to show me. Jesse Schwamb: Oh, I'll bring it. We'll, we'll do it. It actually doubles as a hymnal because it's all indexed, so you can actually- Yeah ... just use it as a hymnal. I love books that give you two purposes. Oh, that's a double threat book right there. And that means, like, for the spaces taken up in your life and on your shelf it can do more than one thing. That's like having a kitchen appliance that, like, I don't know, is like an air fryer and it brews beer. Like, that's worth- Yeah ... the space all the time Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I, I just recently found out that they make washers that are also dryers, and they're in the same machine, and- Wow. Jesse Schwamb: That's transformative ... I Tony Arsenal: would feel like a millionaire if I had one of those- Reading Mark 13 Parable Jesse Schwamb: 'cause- Well, speaking of [00:11:00] feeling like a millionaire, and I think what you challenge us with is settling in some patterns of daily worship and living for God, it just so happens that Jesus has some instruction for us in that same way- Nice ... in Mark chapter 13. So let me start beginning in verse 32. And if you're tracking along or keeping score at home and you've gone to this chapter, what you're probably gonna find is we're actually in the, the parable of the fig tree, or just at the end. But w- we're not gonna touch that one, not yet, so don't get too excited. We're actually coming right at the end of that. So picking up in verse 32: "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." Now, this is Jesus speaking: "See to it, keep on the alert, for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It's like a man away on a journey who, leaving his house and giving authority to his slaves, each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake – for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the [00:12:00] evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning – lest he come suddenly and find you sleeping. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake." Tony Arsenal: Yeah. What Stay Awake Means Tony Arsenal: Yeah, it's a good, uh, it's a good parable. And, you know, this is covering a lot of the same ground as other parables that we've, uh, approached. I think what's a little bit, uh, unique or different about this one is that some of the, some of the cautions that we, um, brought out with the other parables, because they were actually longer and had more details, um, some of those cautions don't necessarily apply the same way here. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Tony Arsenal: Right? We, we talked about the parable of the 10, of the 10 virgins, or the wise and foolish virgins, whatever you wanna call it, and we talked a lot about how this language of, like, stay awake seemed to be misapplied, uh, as, like, falling asleep is foolish. Because in that para- that particular parable, [00:13:00] um, both the wise and the foolish virgins fall asleep. It's not the falling asleep that was the problem, it was the being prepared, um, for the master's return. Uh, in that case, having the proper equipment, having your, you know, your lamps trimmed, your oil ready, all that stuff. In this parable, um, it really is about being awake. Like, being awake is the task. Yes. It's the specific command. That's right. And so our task tonight is to unpack a little bit about what it even means to be awake, what does this parable say to us about that. Um, but I, I think this one falls a little bit more in line with kind of what we maybe... I know this is weird to say. It falls a little bit more in line with what we've been talking about as a, sort of like a little bit of a legalistic approach to some of the parables. This one really does have, I th- I think, has more to do with, uh, the, the sort of production that Christians are expected to have. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Tony Arsenal: The, the, the holiness, the good works we're expected to have, and how [00:14:00] that plays into kind of our alertness, our, our fittedness for service, uh, and, and maybe ultimately even the way that we're rewarded in the last, the last times or in, in heaven. All of that kinda plays in here, and this is kind of like Mark's equivalent to sort of like the eschatological parables that we talked about at, at the end of Matthew in, you know, Matthew 25 and, and sort of that area Jesse Schwamb: I totally agree. Vocation and Stewardship Jesse Schwamb: I think this bad boy, even just the first verse, it's like a compact statement of the doctrine of vocation and providence all wrapped into one. And it's easy to read it and just kind of fly by that stuff and say, "Of course, I need to be aware of what's going on. I need to be aware of God's presence or seek Him in worship." All that's true, but there's a lot in this because, of course, the master's departure here corresponds clearly to Christ's ascension. There's like a real bodily absence that nonetheless does not amount to like abandonment. And then to your point, what I think starts to differentiate us from some of like the [00:15:00] other parables where we've been very careful about parsing this, has been this assignment, each his own work. It's reflecting like a really traditional like Reformed, I think, emphasis, even from like Calvin's doctrine of vocation, that the Christian life between the ascension and the Parousia is not one of like passive waiting, but there is like an active differentiated stewardship, and it's every believer. And even though it's just a sentence, there's like a lot of particularity in this to remind us that each one has a task, and that task is something that you should undertake on behalf and for the Lord Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, and this, um, the other element of this, um, that I think is interesting is, you know, we don't wanna, um We wanna be careful not to try to build entire theological, like edifices, edifices. I'm not sure which word is right. Edifice. We don't wanna build huge theological structures on top of like slight variations in words. And, and I know that, um, that can [00:16:00] sometimes be very popular in our circles and, and I'm, I s- absolutely support the grammatical historical interpretive method. I don't think it's the only el- only, you know, hermeneutic we should think about. But I definitely agree with the words matter and the meanings of the words matter. Right. But we can also go too far in, like, making an entire theological point hang on the particular choice of a verb pars- like a verb tense or mood or whatever. But I think it's interesting, um, w- the sort of what we might call the parable proper starts in verse 34, but in verse 33 it says, "Be on guard, keep awake, for you do not know when the time will come." That's not the parable. That's Christ giving a command to his immediate audience, and then I think vicariously therefore for us. When we get into the parable and it, and it says, uh, that the command for the doorkeeper, right? So the, he, he takes his servants, he puts his servants in charge, and I s- I take that to mean, [00:17:00] like, he leaves the house to them. Like, he leaves them to their task. They're, they're not, they're not having to report to anybody. They just manage the household- Right ... autonomously or independently. Um, each with his work, so there's this idea that, like, each of the servant has their own proper sort of realm of the house that they manage, right? The gardener's managing the garden, the, the house, you know, the, the, um, the, the person who's in charge of the money is managing that. And the doorkeeper, which is a particular role, his task, his charge, his, he is commanded to stay awake. Now, the phrase, the word for stay awake in verse 30, uh, 34 is not the same word that's used in verse 33. Now, I, I have not done the word study on this or, or the c- commentary work to know how significant that is, but we do affirm that the Holy Spirit inspires each individual word. Jesse Schwamb: That's right. Tony Arsenal: And I think we could make an argument that sometimes a word is just used, um, at least on a, on a [00:18:00] human level. It, it's just you don't wanna use the same word multiple times. Like, just like anyone writing any sort of pi- piece of work, you don't use the same word repetitively. You vary the words. You use, use synonyms to, to spice it up and to give it some variety. But also, I think there may be some significance in the fact that within the story, within the parable, the command to stay awake is a particular word, and then a different word to stay awake and to be watchful, and there's this repetition, "Be on guard. Keep awake." Like, those are parallel statements. Um, those, that's a significant thing that that word is different Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. It's a huge, I think, reminder that there's all... The- even, again, I can't believe how much is packed. Now that I think about this, we start talking about it into, like, a single sentence. But every believer, like every servant in this house, has been given some kind of task suited to his place. I believe that's what Jesus is trying to impress us with. And that idleness is not an option countenanced by the text because the doorkeeper's [00:19:00] particular charge to watch, like you were saying, functions to me, I think, almost like a synecdoche. Like, it's f- for the whole- Yeah ... household's duty. His vigilance stands for what is in fact required of every servant, since verse 37 will then extend this command to, like, everybody. So just- Yeah ... within, like, this little space of writing or this little space of teaching, I think what we have here is, like, it's realistic for us to say we've got the twin realities that ground really biblical ecclesiology in the interim period. We have Christ's real absence, but that's, like, against, I would say, any collapsing of the already into a fully realized eschatology. And then you have Christ's ongoing ownership and authority over his house, which is the church, against any notion that the church is left to autonomous self-governance. So the house, in other words, re- remains Christ's, and the servants remain accountable to him, not to themselves, like you've just said, and each one is accountable to God in a unique way according to the task that he's given them. So again, this beautiful marriage of [00:20:00] both the responsibility, the providence, and the responsibility that we have before God in being responsible to him, but also that he is governing all things for his good and for his glory. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Doorkeeper Role Explained Tony Arsenal: And you know, I think, um, the word doorkeeper here too, uh, you know, as I peek at the Greek a little bit, the word doorkeeper is also a much broader term than, uh, it might seem. You know, like I think, you know, one of my kid's favorite shows is like Curious George, and there's a character in the, the story that's literally named Doorman, and he's just the guy that like opens the door in the apartment that- Right ... Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat. But the word doorkeeper in, uh, in the Greek here, when applied to a, a female, is understood to be like the janitor. So the doorkeeper might even be considered something more like the master of the house. Like think of like, um- Jesse Schwamb: Lady's ... Tony Arsenal: uh, like the, the head butler, right? In like if you think of like Downton Abbey, right? Right. The, the guy who actually like takes care of and like [00:21:00] runs, the house manager or something like that might be a better way to look at it. And I think you're right that his charge to stay awake, to keep alert, it does extend to the entire household, but it also is a particular command for that figure. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Tony Arsenal: Right? So yes, everybody is given their task. This, this person, this doorkeeper, he is, um, called out specifically, individually, right? It's not as though he's the only servant in the house. There's all these other servants, they each have their task, and they're all commanded to keep about their business. The doorkeeper, the master of the house, the, I don't know, head butler, the head ch- the chief janitor, I don't know what you would want, the head custodian of the house, um, and don't think of custodian or janitor in terms of like- Like the school janitor who like cleans the toilets and mops up after the kids throwing up and stuff. The, the janitor or the custodian of the house is really the person who kind of like runs the household, the sort of like head servant of the house. [00:22:00] His command to keep watchful, to be on guard or to be alert is because, um, the, the master's return is sudden and unexpected. Right. And so if the doorkeeper doesn't keep up with things, if he's not awake, if he's not running things, if he's not managing things, if he's not alert and awake, then not only does his task get, get, um, undone... And I think like we think of it like, "Oh yeah, be on guard." You sometimes hear this parable or, or variations of this parable taught as like you gotta keep the wolves out, like he's the guard at the door. Right. I don't think that's what this is getting at. It's really more like if this, if the doorkeeper s- falls asleep on the job, then the entire house falls into disarray, and you can't recover that when the master all of a sudden is at the gate. If you're just the guard, I guess you might be able to snap to attention and like, you know, pull your pole arm or whatever it is up. Like you might be able to snap to attention and kind of fake it. But if you're the guy who manages the entire household and the [00:23:00] whole household is in disarray because you've fallen asleep on the job, there's no recovering from that when the master taps you on the shoulder and says, "Please wake up, I'm home." You just can't recover from that. And so I think that's, that's the element of the story, the element of the parable that we probably need to think about a little bit more is, all right, w- no one of us is the doorkeeper of the church. Jesse Schwamb: That's right. Tony Arsenal: But also none of us are not the doorkeeper of the church. So like we all have a role and a responsibility in, in the church to sort of like be a part of, an active part of the church, an active part of God's kingdom, which is not, I'm not trying to say we're all gatekeepers, right? We're not all called to be r- to rule over the church. Like there's a particular office of ruling elder that I would say exists, uh, you know, that's codified in the OPC. But even within other kinds of s- setups, there's usually some sort of elder, you know, setup where there's elders that are not teaching elders. They're not there to like teach and minister and, and preach. They're there to [00:24:00] like govern the church and support the needs of the body spiritually. That's really, uh, you know, like a particular office, but that's also a task and a role that we all share as Christians is to, to sh- sort of, I almost said shepherd, but that doesn't feel right, but it also doesn't feel wrong. To sort of like manage the business of the congregation and the church- That's right ... and the, the invisible church as a whole. That's the task of every Christian, and that's really what this parable's getting at, I think. Jesse Schwamb: I think so too. And I, I don't wanna, like, build too far a bridge away from that point. I think it's worth sitting there for a second because what occurs to me as you were saying that is I just happened to be reading Calvin's commentary this morning in 1 Corinthians 5, and he builds this whole theological argument around this idea that he, he basically is saying, "Why should the Corinthians mourn over one man's sin?" And he gives two reasons. First, as a consequence of the communion that exists among the members of the church, it's becoming that all should feel hurt at or so it's deadly if one of their members should fall. And the second is when such an erroneous sin is [00:25:00] perpetrated in a particular church, the perpetrator is an offender in such a manner that he pollutes the whole society. That is to say, I think it's kind of in line with what you're saying, that corruption in one place will affect the entire body. That is like falling asleep, pulling away from the mission Being found outside of the mission of God's, uh, for God's glory is something that hurts the church body. And we might ask, like if there is in our own lives a persistent sin, some kind of corruption, then we ought to ask, is there any form of corruption that we're contributing to the body of God? And I think those, these like real consequences of what it means to live in a way where we find ourselves, again, outside of what it means to worship whole heartedly, to worship with heart, soul, and mind, all of which we do imperfectly. Yet at the same time- Yeah ... are we being awake? Are we being made aware? Watchfulness and Rest Jesse Schwamb: I, I wonder if part of what's envisioned here and in view with Jesus' teaching is not just this idea... Almost like I think sometimes we, we say stay awake or we say be [00:26:00] watchful, and of course like I love that Jesus mentions like the four watches. Like that's, I think, like a distinctly kind of Roman division of the night into four three-hour segments. And of course it's gonna suggest to Mark's gentile audience that, and, and underscore this point, that it's not which watch, but that no watch may be presumed safe from the master's arrival. And so I think when we hear that stuff we think, "Well, this means like don't fall asleep." In other words, like there's going to be a test somewhere in your life or all of your life where you're going to be legitimately tempted to take a rest, and you can't take a rest. You gotta keep like just going thrust or no th- you, there's no other choice- Right ... but to give it your all. I think what's better here and what's in view is in all areas of life, are you awake to the reality that God has given you work to do in the spheres of influence that you have, in the particular place in which you live, among the church people whom He has given you to worship with? Are you aware that at all times you ought to be moving and working and for His glory, [00:27:00] even while you are literally sleeping in rest so that you might do those things for the next day? So I- Yeah ... I don't wanna get too hyped up on it's kind of like, again, what's the spiritual equivalent of always drinking Celsius and Red Bull and just like toughing it out- Yeah like with your eyes wide open. It's, it's way more than that. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, uh, this is gonna seem like a weird transition, but it's, it is but also isn't. Um, I, I saw an interesting video the other... I'm getting super nerdy here right now. But, um, I saw an interesting video on YouTube the other day that was talking about how strange it was that there is like a night shift on the Starship Enterprise on Star Trek Next Generation. But, but actually like- It, it demonstrated something to me that, like, even on a, you know, this is obviously a fictional television show, but, like, even on a spaceship where there is no sun, there is no actual reference- Right ... for what a day is, right? We think of a day, and, and rightfully so, it's locked into a 24-hour cycle because of the [00:28:00] way God has created the Earth to spin, and the sun, and the sunrise, sunset, et cetera. But in this fictionalized universe, in this fictionalized world, there's no sunset. There's no, uh, chronology, yet they still divide on, on this, they still divide the day into these three watches. And it's funny, 'cause they talk about how, like, well, there's, there's the day shift, there's the sort of like second shift, and there's the night shift. And they actually even, like, turn the lights down on the ship to simulate a day-night cycle. And, and what it got me thinking about, and I think in the parable, obviously, like, it's the four watches of the night. Um, I play a lot of Dungeons & Dragons, and, like, when you're gonna do what's called a long rest, you have to determine who's gonna set a watch. If you don't set a proper watch, then the dungeon master may make it so monsters show up and you don't get your long rest. This idea that- Even resting is an appropriate and necessary execution of- Right ... the task to be watchful. That's right. Like, I think that's important. If you are, um, i- if you think of like, uh, Lord of the [00:29:00] Rings, right? And they set a watch. Uh, the responsibility of the people who aren't on watch is to make every, every use of that time to sleep so that if something happens, they're alert. And then when also when it's time for them to take watch, they're able to be watchful. And, uh, the other thing I wanna, wanna just comment really quickly on, because I, I, I didn't do a lot of prep for this episode. Big shocker. We don't prep a lot for these episodes. And this is another Markan parable that I'm not super familiar with. Church Alertness and Power Tony Arsenal: But one of the things that as we're talking through it I'm, I'm becoming more convinced of, is this really is about not just any one individual being alert, although there is implications for us. It's really about the whole church being alert. Jesse Schwamb: That's Tony Arsenal: right. Like, the church is the, uh... I, I think it's in, I wanna say it's in Timothy, I don't know where, but the Church is the buttress and pillar of truth, right? So that's not to say we're the, we're the arbiter of truth, but I wanna read this. The... I don't know any other podcasts, although in our circles there [00:30:00] probably are other podcasts that you might hear someone reading out of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church book of Church Order, Form of Government, chapter three, verse, uh, passage one here. Uh, but this is, this is, as I said, uh, BCO chapter three, Form of Government. Uh, and this is, the chapter is titled The Nature and Exercise of Church Power. And when I was coming into the OPC, I don't think I was surprised, uh, in terms of like I thought the theology was different. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was articulated and how clearly it was articulated. So I'm just gonna read the whole section here. It says, "The power which Christ has committed to His Church is not vested in special officers alone, but in the whole body. All believers are endued with the Spirit & called of Christ to join in the worship, edification, and the witness of the Church which grows as the body of Christ, fitly framed and knit together through, uh, that which every joint supplies according to the working and due measure of each part." Sidebar commentary. The BCO doesn't [00:31:00] have proof text, but if they did, they would just be citing to Ephesians 5 here. Um, back to what the text says. "The power of believers in their general office includes the right to acknowledge and desire the exercise of the gifts and calling of the special officers. The regular exercise of oversight in a particular congregation is discharged by those who have been called to such work by the vote of the people." So just to summarize that, officers, at least in the OPC Um, ruling elders are nominated and voted into, into office and essentially, uh, given their powers, their official powers, their official responsibilities, not by the presbytery, uh, and not by some hierarchy, but by the congregation. They call from within. Church Authority From Congregation Tony Arsenal: But that, that means that the power of the ruling elders, the, the authority of the ruling elders, is not derived from some hierarchy. It's derived from the [00:32:00] authority and the exercise of power of the whole church. And the other thing, I won't read this, but the other thing that I found, um, really interesting that I really like is in Presbyterianism, and, and I, I believe Presbyterianism is what the Bible teaches positively as a command. I know there are other church polities, and I know everybody is trying to figure it out, and we don't all agree. I think Presbyterianism is the right way. Jurisdictions And Whole Church Acts Tony Arsenal: But either way, um Presbyterianism works on a s- sort of an idea of, uh, jurisdictions, right? And they're kinda concentric circles. They're not necessarily hierarchical, but it's, it's narrow jurisdictions and then broader jurisdictions. And the most narrow jurisdiction is the session of a local church over that congregation. But what's really interesting is that the, the Book of Church Order calls out that when any valid jurisdiction of the church is exercising its authority, it's not just that jurisdiction that's [00:33:00] acting. That's an act of the whole church, the entire Orthodox Presbyterian Church. So in a congregation where someone is in unrepentant sin and that, uh, session makes a decision, votes a decision to excommunicate that person, to remove them from the rolls, consider them to be an unbeliever, that's not just an act of that jurisdiction. I- i- as a member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, when some church in Sacramento, California, I don't know if there's an OPC in Sacramento, I assume there probably is, but some church in Sacramento, California, the presbytery or the session excommunicates someone, I am e- I'm engaged in that act. That's an act of the whole church. Watchfulness Beyond Personal Piety Tony Arsenal: And this, the, the only reason I go there and I bring, I kind of dive into that level of granularity is I actually think that this is kind of what this parable is teaching, is that as individuals, we need to be alert because the whole church acting is the whole church acting. So whether this takes the [00:34:00] form of me just being really un- un- like, locked into my local church and making sure that I'm active in my local church, or whether... And I think there are some of us who are called to this, um, and I think our, our podcast in some levels sort of takes this shape a little bit, are watching what other people in the church are doing and sometimes are offering corrections, right? It is not the case that an average blogger has ecclesiastical authority in the strictest sense, but when I see, or, or anyone who is sort of involved in online commentary, podcast, blogging or otherwise, I see someone in the church teaching something elsewhere and I call that out, that's me sort of fulfilling this command of Mark 13. I'm being watchful Because what that Christian says or does, if they're truly a Christian, actually does have something to do with what I believe. It actually does have something to do with me as a believer. That doesn't mean that you should get up in everybody else's business. That's not what I'm saying. Like, sometimes- Right ... the thing [00:35:00] that's going on in the church over there is just that thing that's going on over at the church there. But for example, there was a pretty high-profile, um, uh, ecclesiastical, I don't know if it was a trial, but like an ecclesiastical deposition, I guess, um, for a presbytery down in the Southwest, um, about some pretty gnarly things that were being said by an elder in the OPC church, and I wrote to that presbytery. They haven't sent it to me yet, but I wrote to that presbytery and said, "Hey, what you did at that meeting is an act of the whole church that I'm a part of. Can you send me the minutes?" And I have a right to do that, because I wanna see what's going on. I wanna understand what statements they're making on behalf of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of America. Or, I just combined like 1,000 different denominations- Yes, you did. ... into one sentence. But I, I think the point is clear, like the, the parable of the watchful doorkeeper or the porter is not about exclusively, I do think there's an element of it, but it's not about our individual piety. It's about the sort of readiness state of the entire church for [00:36:00] Christ's return, if you really boil it all down Avoid Date Setting And Indifference Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, so we, I think before we leave verse 35, we, we are at least contractually obligated to say, though we've said it before, that there are two errors here that we should definitely seek to avoid. And because we're talking about, again, this idea that we do not know when the master of the house will come, that is the reason why we wait, and we are watchful, like you just said. But it means that the first is any kind of, like, speculative date setting, which is a fool's errand. We've talked about that at length. Yeah. The second one, again, I think we're contractually obligated to say, is a practical indifference, maybe sometimes dressed as, like, pious agnosticism, like treating the uncertainty of that hour as grounds for some kind of spiritual carelessness rather than heightened attentiveness. So I think where all this wraps up with what you said about one representing all, that, that is the church's responsibility. Yes, you're right. In Timothy we get the command that this is the center and the pillar. So I... That obviously all this coheres with just straight-up biblical [00:37:00] doctrine of assurance and perseverance, because the elect are kept by God's power through faith. So what that means is watchfulness is not some kind of, like, anxious uncertainty about final salvation, but instead it is, like, this disciplined fidelity in the means God has appointed. Ordinary Means Of Grace Jesse Schwamb: And what are those means? Like, I feel like this is where everybody just shouts back, "Ordinary means." You know what I mean? When I say means- ... you say ordinary. Means- Or I should, I should say it the other way around. Ordinary. But this idea that, like, what are those things God has put into our lives, has appointed for us to use, has commanded us to up- obtain for ourselves by his power? It's prayer, it's the word, it's the sacraments. It's a mutual watchfulness within that visible church like you were just describing, and it's precisely because the timing of Christ's return has been sovereignly withheld from creaturely knowledge. So there's actually a lot in this that I think assuages that, that really sensitive Christian conscience, which is like, "Well, are you telling me I have to do more?" That's not what we're saying at all. We're, we're saying, "Do the things which God has empowered you to do." And guess what? Those things [00:38:00] are just very chill, very ordinary things that take on extraordinary influence and power in our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit. So again, it's like this whole thing of saying, like, when we work, we work. When we pray, God works. It's the same kind of thing here. There is work to be done. There is a watchfulness to undertake in all the activities of our lives. But it is not like whatever the, again, the equivalent, like, is of, like, spiritual, I don't know, like shots of espresso and, and Celsius to just try to, like, by all accounts, by your own power, somehow just not sleep. Uh- Yeah ... not sleeping is not what this text is about. It's actually about being aware, worshiping in awareness around all the things, and then devoting ourselves to all the stuff that we keep talking about, to praying, to studies in the scripture, to having family devotions and time of worship, to baptism, and to the Lord's Supper. That's what watchfulness is all about. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:39:00] Yeah, and I, I think, um, you know, this is again I do think this parable has more to do with the idea of kinda getting after it. I, I think that's how we usually talk about it, like getting after holiness. Yeah, it is. Um, I, I think this parable has more to do with that than some of the other parables with similar language that we've talked about. But I, I also think, um, as Reformed Christians, uh, we get the, we get the cart before the horse if we think that even though that's what it's about, that that somehow places the onus on us to do the good works, right? Right. The good works are prepared for us in advance that we might walk in them. And, uh, i- it's not even right to say, like, our responsibility is to walk in them. That's not even quite right theologically. Like, we are going to walk in them. Like, that's, that's the thing, is the doorkeeper is given this charge. He's commanded to stay awake, and in good Augustinian fashion, it's really more along the [00:40:00] lines es- of the doorkeeper is made to stay awake because he's been commanded to. Jesse Schwamb: Yes, that's right. Tony Arsenal: And I think that's, that's really key. Fruit Checking And Assurance Tony Arsenal: And yes, there is some- something to say for, uh, fruit checking. And I, I know that there are probably some in our audience that just, like, threw up in their mouth a little bit when I said that. Um, but the, the reality is, a lack of fruit, uh, i- in our life, and by fruit I'm talking about good works. Primarily I'm talking about the ordinary means of grace, like you said. A, a person who is refusing to avail themselves of the ordinary means of grace, right? Right on. Regular church attendance, prayer- Right ... the sacraments, Bible reading, um, sitting under the preaching of the Word, fellowship with other believers. Um, I would even say to some extent regular s- regular financial support of the Church. Mm-hmm. Um, and, and I... There, there are times where that may not be, uh, the most feasible thing, and so that's a decision between you and the Holy Spirit and for you to discuss with your pastor. [00:41:00] But, but the reality is God has given us these ordinary means of grace as a gift and as a way to nourish and support us. When we refuse to take part in those, and I use the word refuse intentionally, when a person refuses to attend church, for the most part most of us who have had a season where we don't, don't attend church, and I, I had a long season when I was in college where I just didn't attend church. There was no good reason for it. I just didn't do it. And if I'm being really honest, it was 'cause at that time in my life I had some sinful patterns that I didn't wanna face up to, right? That's usually what it boils down to. Jesse Schwamb: Right. Tony Arsenal: Um, but for those of us who d- who refuse to, uh, take part and to avail ourselves of the ordinary means of grace, that should really cause us to question our salvation. Not because the ordinary means of grace cause our salvation, but because the ordinary means of grace are exactly as they're called. Exactly. They're the ordinary means by which God delivers His grace to us. So if we're refusing to receive God's grace, it means we're refusing to receive God's grace. And the only people ultimately who are not forgiven are [00:42:00] those who receive to ref- you know, refuse to receive God's grace. So I think this, this passage has more to do with us in an indi- sort of on the individual level, us being actively engaged and partaking in the, uh, the administration of the covenant of grace, to use a more technical term, right? The administration of the covenant of the grace are the visible means of grace. If we refuse to be baptized, if we refuse to partake of the Lord's supper, if we refuse to attend church and to sit under the preaching of the word and to pray, then we are, we are turning down God's offer of grace. That's right. We're taking the gift that He desires to give us, and we're saying, "No thank you." Well, when we phrase it that way, it's a flat rejection of God's grace that we're engaged in. Church Mission And Readiness Tony Arsenal: But on a, on a sort of like big picture scale I think it has to do also along with these lines that I'm talking about of the Church itself being ready. Well, how does the Church prepare itself for Christ's [00:43:00] return? Again, the ordinary means of grace, right? We prepare ourselves by teaching and ministering, right? C- I think it's Colossians 1:28. If I was on Reformed Forum, I'd have this memorized 'cause it's their, like, theme verse. But, like, equipping every person for the ministry of Christ, equipping every person, making sure every person is, uh, mature and ready. Like, all of those things come together as the primary mission of the Church. And I know this is gonna trigger some people, but, like, evangelism is not the primary mission of the Church. The primary mission of the Church is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, which takes place mostly on the Lord's day. I think all of that, the personal dimension, the corporate dimension, all of that coalesces in this command to be watchful, to stay awake, to be on guard, to s- be about the task, to be in charge of the commands you've been given. All of those different concepts come together in what Christ is talking about here in verse 37 when He says, "I say to you, I say to all, [00:44:00] stay awake." Like- Right ... that's what we're talking about. So it's not as simple as personal piety. It's probably not as complicated as some sort of, like, I don't know, least of these, feed-the-poor schema that happens sometimes. All of that happens. It really is just about the Church being the Church and doing the things the Church does, both on the individual level, but also on the corporate level. Perseverance And Scriptural Warnings Jesse Schwamb: And that's why, as loved ones of God, then we can come to verse 36, which is the full warning, and we actually read it as a great comfort. So it says, "Lest he come suddenly and find you asleep." And after all we're talking about here, the way I read this warning against complacency is entirely consistent with, instead of being contradictory to, the doctrine of perseverance of the saints. Because perseverance is not fatalism, and I'm just... I'm still learning this, loved ones. Like, and even here, what I marvel at is the warnings of scripture are themselves among the ordinary means by which God preserves His people. So I go back to the Westminster [00:45:00] Confession of Faith chapter 17, which notes that, "Believers may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, fall into grievous sins, and so incur God's displeasure, even while never finally falling from grace." So that sobering possibility of, of quote-unquote being found asleep I think functions pastorally not to threaten the loss of the election, of the elect, but to press home I think, like, the seriousness of watchfulness as the fruit and evidence of genuine faith, which is what you're talking about. That, that's kind of like the Reformed theological jam in a sense, and that's why, where I think we'd anchor like James 2, Hebrews 3 and 4. There is, like, a call of the necessity of perseverance in the means as the mark of the true as opposed to be merely, of course, like some kind of profession of discipleship. The visible church, and we talked about this too, mixed as it is, is here warned that the formal membership in the household is no substitute for actual wakefulness. And so I hope we see that warning as not something [00:46:00] that's like, "Well, you gotta, you gotta check yourself every day 'cause if you just step out of line once, if you fall asleep at any little thing, then it just goes to show you that you weren't serious enough." Instead, it's like you said, Tony, like even the warning itself is proof positive that God will save, that He arrests, that He holds everything firm and secure, and that even the setting of the table or the preparing of the good works and then the way in which you walk in them, we might ask, how is it that you are even walking? Yeah. And so even this is all an act of God, whether we speak about that, uh, that justification, that initial positional sanctification, and even the progressive frame as well is all f- happens here because God is in fact doing that good work. So it's a good warning because it reminds us that what's, I think, the particular and special dispensation of the Christian is that in this falling asleep, as the Westminster Confession says, it may mean that we fall even into grievous sins. We're incurring God's displeasure. We're not disrupting our [00:47:00] identity in Christ, but we are disrupting our harmony with Christ. Yes. And so we always want to seek and to live in that kind of beautiful harmony where there is, I think, obedience for a word. There is a special fellowship that comes from being close to God in this way. We should always strive after that and want that very thing, but at no point does the Christian who even falls into grievous sins, as the Confession reminds us, fall outside of God's mercy and grace. Merely we fall outside of God's pleasure, and we r- we're finally returned to grace by His power in our lives, whi- which He Himself affects so that even in our fall, even in our death every day, there is a little bit of resurrection that restores us. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Rapture Ready Misreadings Tony Arsenal: Yeah, another way, um, another way to put this, um, and I, I don't mean to trugger, trig- to trigger, uh, our dispensationalist friends and family who are listening to the show, um, there are I will speak from my own experience coming out of a dispensationalist framework when I was in [00:48:00] high school and early college. Um, there was a lot of focus on being, quote, "Rapture ready." And I, I think sometimes we can read parables like this to think that stay awake means be Rapture ready. And what that means is, like, in some forms of dispensationalism, and I think probably many forms of dispensationalism, there's this idea that, like, if you're not right with God in, in this sense you're talking about, if, like, you're in disharmony with God when the Rapture comes, you may ultimately be saved, but you're not gonna be saved by the Rapture, which means you're gonna have to deal with the tribulation, and that's no good. So, like, if your piety's not on point when the Rapture happens, all your friends are gonna be taken away, and you're gonna be left behind, right? I don't think it's too much of a characteristic- a caricature to talk about Left Behind when there's an entire dispensational book series about this, right? Right. The whole concept behind the Left Behind novel is that it's populated by people who thought they were Christians who weren't. Uh, and some of [00:49:00] those are because they had a false profession of faith. Some of them were just back- what, what a lot of people would just call backslidden Baptists or backslidden Christians who, who had a genuine profession of faith but just weren't living in a holy fashion. I think we can sometimes read this, whether we're dispensationalists or not, we can read these kinds of parables in light of Rapture readiness. I think it's, it's both more assuring and also infinitely more severe than that. Right. It's not about Rapture ready. It's about whether you're saved or not. Right. Whether you are in the kingdom of God, whether you are among the household of believers. All of the people in view in this parable are members of the master's household, right? Uh, they're all his servants. So it's not as though there are some who are, um, outside of his family that are be given, being given a command to be watchful. There's also no consequence implied for the doorkeeper if somehow he's not watchful. It's more along the lines of if you're in the faith, if you are the doorkeeper or a [00:50:00] doorkeeper in the g- in the king's house, then you ought to be watchful because that's what you do. And so there's no, like, implied consequence. There's no assumption that the doorkeeper somehow won't be watchful. So I think if there's any sort of, like, gut check, status check that needs to happen, it's really more along the lines of are we in the Lord's household or are we not? That's right. That's right. And I think that's, that's what you're getting at. If we're in the Lord's household, if we're members of his house, if we're servants in his kingdom, then we will be awake when the time comes. We will be awake when he returns. Rooster Crow And Passion Echoes Tony Arsenal: And the other thing, and I'll just throw this out there maybe as a tease. I don't, I don't think there's enough here for us to come back to it next week, uh, although I've been wrong before, and sometimes Jesse and I have conversations right after that turn into the next episode. I think it's really interesting- I don't know if you ran into this when you were reading it, but- Yeah ... verse 35: "Therefore stay awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at [00:51:00] midnight or when the rooster crows," that's a very interesting phrase to me- It is, yeah ... "or in the morning." It's just another chapter or two when- Yeah ... we see the disciples fall asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, right? Gethsemane. Um, the disciples fall asleep. We see language of the watches, right? The, the hours that Christ is alive and dies on the cross are associated with the watches. Right. And then of course the rooster crowing. And it's a very well-known, um, uh, I, I don't wanna call it a fact 'cause that might be too strong, but it's a pretty accepted, uh, theory in, in the sort of, uh, academic understanding of the, the authors of the Gospels that Mark, uh, Mark actually represents Peter's testimony. That the sort of a- apostolic imprimatur of the Gospel of Mark is actually that M- John Mark, probably while he was ministering with Peter, was being told these, this account, and he's collecting Peter's, Peter's [00:52:00] statements on the events of the Gospel It is very interesting to me that this phrase about the rooster crowing associated with being watchful and ready in the service of the master- Yep would appear particularly in the gospel that's asso- associated with Peter. Right. And I'll throw that out there just as maybe food for a discussion- ... in our Telegram chat, but I do think e- even that is sort of for our benefit, right? Right. We're not talking about, uh, this isn't a parable about what happens when you betray Jesus and hang yourself with a rope, right? This isn't, this isn't Judas who never was a believer. If we're drawing this peril- parallel, this is a parable about Peter, or related to Peter's experience, uh, who was restored, who ultimately had a moment of sleepiness, I guess, both physically and, you know, spiritually here. Had a moment of, of sleepiness, but ultimately was awake when the master came. That's right. And I think, like, there's something there for us to tease out, and, and again, [00:53:00] maybe we'll leave that for the Telegram chat. Maybe that's just for your own personal study. I've done zero commentary work, so maybe this is a connection that I feel- ... is super novel, but actually everyone else makes. Um, but I just thought it was really interesting how closely that language, that sequence of the watchfulness, the watch, sleepiness, awakefulness, and the rooster crows, how closely that lines up to the events that w- would be if we were going through Mark sequentially- Yep ... we would be encountering in just a couple chapters, right? In just chapter 15. They're coming up. Um, we're talking about this exact thing. So it's very interesting to me, is it... The Holy Spirit is amazing in how He has put together this. Yes. Even if, even if that is a super tenuous connection, it's still a connection. And- Agreed ... I have a tough time thinking anyone who's familiar with the, the passion accounts would read this and not go, "Woo." That's a lot of language from the passion account. It's a lot of- Yes ... language related to what happened in just a few chapters. Jesse Schwamb: Yes. I'm with you. Like we said, there's so much that's within these couple of verses, and you'd have to think if you were reading this with brand-new eyes, [00:54:00] with eyes that never seen this text before, and you were just going straight through, you'd come in just a few short chapters to that whole narrative in Gethsemane and be like, "What? Did he, didn't he just, didn't this guy Jesus just say to them- Like be watchful, stay awake. And here they're... Isn't that ironic? Here they are in the garden, and he said- Yeah ... to them again, "Stay awake." They fall asleep. He comes back, he's like, "Could you not watch for one
Stupid News 8-13-2026 6am … Man dressed as Woman Busted for Video Taping in Bathroom …The Shrine in Tokyo has a Problem …That's Not How You Doorman
You know what chum is. It's the bait. The stuff you throw in the water to attract sharks. And right now, there are a lot of detailers and service business owners unknowingly making themselves the chum — cutting the wrong things, following the wrong advice, and wondering why the business that looked fine on paper is quietly bleeding out.This episode is Shawn and Marshall at their most no-nonsense, and it starts with a concept that should be required reading for every small business owner: the Doorman Fallacy. Picture a prestigious hotel. The doorman stands at the entrance — opens doors, greets guests by name, remembers regulars, sets the tone for everything that follows. Then a consultant walks in and says "we can replace him with an automatic door and biometric sensors, save you $80K a year." The metrics say the doorman just opens doors. The sensors can open doors. So they make the switch. And slowly, quietly, the magic disappears. Guests don't feel special anymore. The experience feels cold. Sales erode and nobody can pinpoint exactly why — because on paper, the door still opens.That's what happens when marketing agencies, gurus, and self-appointed mentors come into your business and start optimizing for the metrics they can see while destroying the value they can't measure. The relationship. The warmth. The trust. The feeling a customer gets when they pull up and someone actually knows their name and their car. None of that shows up in a spreadsheet — until it's gone.Shawn and Marshall pull from superhero storytelling to make a point that lands harder than it should: the best brands in the world — the ones with genuine loyalty — are the ones that made their customer the underdog hero of something. Hope. Struggle. Triumph. That's not just Marvel's formula. That's the formula for every detailing shop that has a waitlist while their competitors are running Facebook ads to an empty calendar.The restaurant and entertainment venue parallels hit close to home — real experiences Shawn and Marshall have had where the surface looked great and the substance was hollow. Fake reviews. AI-generated responses that sound human but aren't. Marketing that promises an experience the business can't actually deliver. And customers who feel it instantly, even if they can't articulate what's off.The back half of the episode gets into what actually builds the trust that protects you from all of it. Systems like Luna and OrbisX aren't just automation tools — they're relationship infrastructure. The consistency of following up, checking in, and showing up the same way every time is what turns a one-time customer into someone who defends your shop in comment sections and sends their friends without being asked.The Disney Institute reference is one of the best moments of the episode — what Disney understood that most businesses never will: the magic isn't in the ride. It's in every single interaction between the ride and the parking lot. Every touchpoint. Every greeting. Every moment where a customer could feel ignored and instead feels seen. That's the standard. And it's available to every detailing shop that decides to pursue it intentionally.Don't be the chum. Don't fire your doorman. Don't let a guru with a course and a ring light tell you what your business actually needs.
Wes grew up moving constantly — different states, different countries, new friends every few years. The one constant was story: books, movies, television. He wrote plays as a kid. He built a career in tech. And the whole time he watched the craft of storytelling get worse while he waited for someone to do something about it. Eventually he realized nobody was coming. So he built it himself: Brotherhood of the Wolf, an independent graphic novel series he describes as Berserk meets Black Hawk Down — published in print only, drawn by professors from one of Italy's serious comic schools, with fifteen issues mapped out and a video game in pre-production. In this conversation: •Why story reaches people emotionally when facts and figures never move the needle •The doorman story — how a consulting firm saved a hotel chain money and cost it customers, because nobody counted what the doorman actually did •What corporate structure does to creativity, and why skin in the game changes how you think •The case for print: first editions, resale value, and why digital ownership is really just renting •Media as diet — what you consume shapes you whether you're paying attention or not •Wes on Hollywood's long record with Muslim and Arab characters, and building the stories he wanted his kids to have •Quickfire round: dark fantasy, Berserk, and the most misunderstood villain in film The takeaway: the people and things a spreadsheet can't measure are usually the ones holding everything together. That's true of a doorman, and it's true of the stories you let into your house. Find Wes talesofkhayr.com — join the email list for an exclusive trailer, plus updates on future books, merch, and the game Start with The Lesser Evil, the chapter-zero novella The CJ Moneyway Show If this one hit, leave a review, subscribe, and pass it to a builder who's tired of waiting for permission. Faith • Vision • Legacy | Stories That Spark Transformation | Legacy Over Likes | Brick by Brick Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: holmbergpodcast.com, 98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Middle East policy expert Michael Rubin joins the Brian Kilmeade Show to drop a brutal reality check on the administration's Middle East strategy. Following a chaotic series of events where Iran targeted multiple merchant ships and US bases, President Trump declared the controversial MOU over. But was a real deal ever truly possible? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Whoa whoa whoa….Don't just stop in for a quickie!!!Oh, I get it….you really think you're better than us? Don't you????Well maybe you're right, but this is a great episode! If you think you can help, call 5-SEINFELD-6 Be sure to follow us on social media and please, leave a five star review anywhere you can!You can also Join our discord and yada yada yada your brains out.All it takes is a monthly donation to our Patreon “The Human Fund”The link is in our bio https://patreon.com/Ruiningseinfeld?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan&utm_content=join_linkFind us on Instagram:John (@surrealfeld)Adam (@seinfeldepisodes) The show (@ruiningseinfeld)Another great way to help us out is by checking out, or even better, grabbing a fun Ruining Seinfeld tchotchke over at www.teepublic.com/surrealfeldwww.ruiningseinfeld.com Coming soon!Here's to feeling good all the time.••if for some reason you feel that we are on the wrong episode, that's understandable.While Netflix or many other platforms may list the episodes in airdate order,We follow the DVD (production) order.This ensures that the story lines make sense and there aren't too many more plot holes…We have provided a handy link below to a list of episodes in the proper order :https://thetvdb.com/series/seinfeld/allseasons/dvd
Ep 55 - Sylvia Shults shares ghostly experiences at Billy Creek Village, Whispers Estate, the Villisca Axe Murder House, and discusses other paranormal topics.Welcome to The Paranormal Rundown!For our final episode of season 3, Sylvia Shults joins us for more entertaining stories and discussions on the paranormal. Sylvia's latest book, Gone on Vacation: Endless Summer, details haunted museums, zoos, amusement parks, and other perfect paranormal vacation spots across the country. She tells us about some of the shenanigans experienced at the Civil War House at Billy Creek Village, where an unseen doorman taunts investigators by opening and closing doors. She also shares a video from Whispers Estate showing a door opening on its own, which we include in this episode. Other topics include mushrooms that make you see little men, Wendigo and cannibalism, psychic vampires, the impact of AI on our perception of the paranormal, memento mori, the Villisca Axe Murder House, Randonautica, and more. We always have a good time when Sylvia is able to join us!Jake also joins us on this one, lending his analytical skills and healthy skepticism as always!You can find Sylvia at www.sylviashults.comPlease be sure to check out her latest book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/gone-on-vacation-sylvia-shults/e769a912f47285ee?ean=9781958589021&next=t&The Gang of Nerds will be taking a break for the rest of the summer. We will begin recording again in August, and hope to have new episodes out in September. In the meantime, please send us your thoughts about the show, the List, our guests, or anything else that may be on your mind, at feedback@paranormalrundown.comThe Paranormal Rundown is a partnership between the hosts David Griffith, Father Michael Birdsong, Randy Cantrell, and Vic Hermanson.Be sure to check out our partner podcasts:You can find Vic at Trailer Trash Terrors, https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vic-hermansonYou can find Father Birdsong at https://www.becomingahouseofprayer.com, as well as hear his podcast Ending the Curse at:https://open.spotify.com/show/5yL7ZAN4wcRKnMPAlalVXW
Ep 55 - Sylvia Shults shares ghostly experiences at Billy Creek Village, Whispers Estate, the Villisca Axe Murder House, and discusses other paranormal topics.Welcome to The Paranormal Rundown!For our final episode of season 3, Sylvia Shults joins us for more entertaining stories and discussions on the paranormal. Sylvia's latest book, Gone on Vacation: Endless Summer, details haunted museums, zoos, amusement parks, and other perfect paranormal vacation spots across the country. She tells us about some of the shenanigans experienced at the Civil War House at Billy Creek Village, where an unseen doorman taunts investigators by opening and closing doors. She also shares a video from Whispers Estate showing a door opening on its own, which we include in this episode. Other topics include mushrooms that make you see little men, Wendigo and cannibalism, psychic vampires, the impact of AI on our perception of the paranormal, memento mori, the Villisca Axe Murder House, Randonautica, and more. We always have a good time when Sylvia is able to join us!Jake also joins us on this one, lending his analytical skills and healthy skepticism as always!You can find Sylvia at www.sylviashults.comPlease be sure to check out her latest book: https://bookshop.org/p/books/gone-on-vacation-sylvia-shults/e769a912f47285ee?ean=9781958589021&next=t&The Gang of Nerds will be taking a break for the rest of the summer. We will begin recording again in August, and hope to have new episodes out in September. In the meantime, please send us your thoughts about the show, the List, our guests, or anything else that may be on your mind, at feedback@paranormalrundown.comThe Paranormal Rundown is a partnership between the hosts David Griffith, Father Michael Birdsong, Randy Cantrell, and Vic Hermanson.Be sure to check out our partner podcasts:You can find Vic at Trailer Trash Terrors, https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vic-hermansonYou can find Father Birdsong at https://www.becomingahouseofprayer.com, as well as hear his podcast Ending the Curse at:https://open.spotify.com/show/5yL7ZAN4wcRKnMPAlalVXW
Step behind the velvet ropes and into the fascinating world of Las Vegas nightlife as Rob McConnell welcomes author Jay Rankin to discuss his captivating memoir, Under the Neon Sky. Drawing from his years working as a doorman in one of the world's most famous entertainment capitals, Jay shares unforgettable stories of celebrity encounters, larger-than-life personalities, high-stakes drama, and the unique characters who pass through the doors of Las Vegas nightclubs and casinos. His firsthand experiences provide a rare glimpse into a world that most visitors never see. In this entertaining and revealing conversation, Jay discusses the realities of working on the front lines of the Las Vegas entertainment scene, the challenges of dealing with celebrities and VIPs, and the lessons he learned from observing human nature in a city built on dreams, risk, and excitement. From humorous moments to unforgettable encounters, Under the Neon Sky offers listeners a compelling insider's perspective on life in the city that never stops entertaining. Join us for a fascinating journey behind the scenes of Las Vegas and discover the stories that unfold beneath its famous neon lights.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-x-zone-radio-tv-show--1078348/support.Please note that all XZBN radio and/or television shows are Copyright © REL-MAR McConnell Meda Company, Niagara, Ontario, Canada – www.rel-mar.com. For more Episodes of this show and all shows produced, broadcasted and syndicated from REL-MAR McConell Media Company and The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network and the 'X' Zone TV Channell, visit www.xzbn.net. For programming, distribution, and syndication inquiries, email programming@xzbn.net.We are proud to announce the we have launched TWATNews.com, launched in August 2025.TWATNews.com is an independent online news platform dedicated to uncovering the truth about Donald Trump and his ongoing influence in politics, business, and society. Unlike mainstream outlets that often sanitize, soften, or ignore stories that challenge Trump and his allies, TWATNews digs deeper to deliver hard-hitting articles, investigative features, and sharp commentary that mainstream media won't touch.These are stories and articles that you will not read anywhere else.Our mission is simple: to expose corruption, lies, and authoritarian tendencies while giving voice to the perspectives and evidence that are often marginalized or buried by corporate-controlled media
Thanks to all of our loyal listeners who messaged and asked for this one. It’s an overdue chat with a bike racing legend who was just as skillful in Touring Cars. The unexpected medical benefits of heading west as a youngster and how early experiences with dirt bikes made a powerful impact. His vivid recollections of the late Gregg Hansford at Waneroo and how he was spellbound by his riding. The advice from a rival who convinced Dowson’s incredibly supportive parents that he had the right stuff but a move to the east coast might open more doors.Plus a connection to Supercars commentator Chad Neylon and being brave enough to hold it wide open at Bathurst. This is the first half of a ripper conversation with the rider they call ‘the Doorman’ and ‘the Colonel’ the hugely talented and widely respected Michael Dowson. Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's GarageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edgar Award–winning novelist Chris Pavone on creating tension that never lets up, editing a book to make it bigger rather than just better, and turning a single apartment building into a portrait of a whole city. We discuss Why every book has to be one clear thing before it can be anything else. How two decades of editing other people's books prepares you to write your own. The offhand note from a legendary editor that quietly transformed a debut, and why the vaguest feedback can be the most useful. What it means to edit a book to make it bigger, not just to make it less bad. Why tension, not speed, is what truly keeps a reader turning pages. A counterintuitive case for telling readers what's coming on page one, then making them wait for it. How to keep generating questions and withholding answers without ever feeling coy. The one-page document worth months of tinkering before a single chapter gets written. What turns a story set in a city into a genuine portrait of that city. When to separate your hopes from your expectations, and what success can actually look like for a working novelist. Resources & Links Chris Pavone's Website Chris' Newsletter The Doorman Ernest Hemingway Doubleday Publishing John Grisham The Expats Pat Conroy Jamaica Kincaid Knopf Publishing Adele Parks To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee James Bond Films The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe Jack Reacher by Lee Child About Chris Pavone Chris Pavone is the New York Times bestselling author of The Doorman, Two Nights in Lisbon, The Paris Diversion, The Travelers, The Accident, and The Expats, winner of the Edgar and Anthony Awards for best first novel. He was a book editor for nearly two decades and lives in New York City with his family. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers' Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALONTwitter: twitter.com/WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you're enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!
Host Alex Usher speaks with Javier Botero about the state of higher education in Colombia as the country heads into a pivotal presidential election. They explore the legacy of President Gustavo Petro, whose government has significantly increased public funding for higher education while continuing to face criticism over institutional finances, funding mechanisms, and its often-tense relationship with private universities. The conversation examines ongoing debates around university funding, student admissions, and the role of the private sector, as well as the unusual political and legal dispute surrounding the leadership of the National University of Colombia. Botero also reflects on the strengths and shortcomings of Petro's higher education agenda and considers what may lie ahead under Colombia's next government, including how different election outcomes could reshape the balance between public and private provision in the country's higher education system.
Wednesday Evening Service 2026-05-06 The Chief Doorman - Kristofer Echak I See You - Clint Playle I Have No Man...-Pastor Hull
Chris Pavone shares THE DOORMAN, a pulse-pounding novel of class, privilege, sex, and murder– and the 2026 Long Island Reads selection! See him discuss this book in-person or online on April 26– find out more here. Out in paperback TODAY!
The Seinbros are back to discuss the Kiss Hello and Doorman episodes of Seinfeld. The debate whether they would enjoy living in a building with where everyone knows each others names is a good idea. How do the Seinbros feel about the kiss hello greeting. Do they believe George would excel at the Flamenco?Was the Doorman as diabolical as Jerry describes him or is he just a poor Doorman working 2 jobs to take care of wife and baby.Categories and trivia at the end.
Dr. Killeen shares a powerful idea from Rory Sutherland that highlights a common mistake in business. When we focus only on what is easy to measure, we can miss the deeper value happening right in front of us. What looks like a simple role or task often carries layers of impact that are not immediately visible. This shows up when we prioritize efficiency and numbers without recognizing the human elements that truly shape the patient experience. The small interactions, the personal touches, and the awareness of a great team member often create far more value than what shows up on a report. Look beyond the obvious metrics and appreciate the hidden contributions within your practice. Sometimes the most important parts of your business are the ones that are hardest to measure.
New York Knicks win at Madison Square Garden to open up the NBA playoffs. US tax day, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Doorman union reached deal. And New York City first city owns store to open in Harlem. IHOP have five Bronx locations serve oxtail. And so much more! If you have any comments, topics questions? Make sure to submit.@MRCAKEAVE hashtag #NYCERTIFIED SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE. You know the vibe!Are you Certified? NY CERTIFIED PODCAST the best News podcast in NY!
Chris Pavone is the bestselling author of some of the smartest and most stylish thrillers of the past decade. His latest book, The Doorman is set in a glamorous Manhattan apartment building where the lives of the ultra-wealthy residents intersect with the man who quietly watches it all—the doorman. Over the course of one explosive day, secrets, class tensions, and personal betrayals collide in a fast-moving plot that doubles as sharp social satire about modern New York and the divides of race, wealth, politics, and status. This invites an inevitable and much-deserved comparison to Tom Wolfe's Bonfire of the Vanities, though the Masters of the Universe are now fleece-vest-wearing tech and hedge-fund bros (not that there's anything wrong with that). Full-disclosure: I loved this book. It's a page-turner! It's eminently-readable! But even more, it's an insightful look at modern society through the lens of New York City. Before becoming a novelist, Chris spent nearly two decades in book publishing, working on—or with—the editorial team for authors like John Grisham and Pat Conroy. Chris' debut novel, The Expats, became an international bestseller, won the Edgar Award and the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and was translated into more than 30 languages. Since then he's written a string of critically acclaimed thrillers—including The Accident, The Travelers, and The Paris Diversion—known for their globe-trotting settings, psychological depth, and characters navigating secrets, ambition, money, and power. ✍️ Please rate and review Reasonably Happy HERE (DO IT!) ✍️
Woman found naked and dead! Retired General and UFO expert vanishes! Night Knight and crew chit chat with The Doorman while Bogey Man and Bug-A-Boo try to get away. Doomsday fish wash ashore in Mexico! [Ep 613]
DJ Nik and Charles Skaggs discuss "Doorman", the fourth episode of the Marvel TV miniseries Wonder Man, featuring Byron Bowers as Doorman/DeMarr Davis, Charlotte Ross as Bridget Bailey, Josh Gad as Josh Gad, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams! Find us here:Facebook: Facebook.com/FandomZonePodcast Instagram: @FandomZonePodcast Bluesky: @CharlesSkaggs.bsky.social, @goldstandardoscars.bsky.social Email: FandomZoneCast@gmail.com Listen and subscribe to us in Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!
Trials by Seven, Auditions by Fire This week on the podcast, Brian and Darryl review the latest two episodes of HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Season 1, Episodes 3 and 4), plus the full first season of Marvel Television's Wonder Man on Disney+. RIP James Van Der Beek. Episode Index Intro: 0:07 RIP James Van Der Beek: 03:35 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (E3): 10:36 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (E4): 20:44 Wonder Man (Season 1): 42:00 In Memoriam: James Van Der Beek (1977–2026) James Van Der Beek, the actor who became a defining face of late-1990s television as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, has died at age 48 after a short battle with an aggressive colorectal cancer. He passed peacefully on February 11, 2026, with his wife, Kimberly, and their six children by his side. Van Der Beek's breakout role on Dawson's Creek helped shape a generation of teen storytelling on television, and the show's honest exploration of adolescence made him a familiar presence to millions of viewers. After the series ran from 1998 to 2003, he continued working across television and film in a wide range of roles, from the high school football drama Varsity Blues to camera-savvy self-parody on Don't Trust the B–– in Apartment 23 and crime procedurals like CSI: Cyber. His candid sharing of his cancer journey in recent years also raised awareness of early-onset colorectal cancer. Friends, fans, and colleagues paid tribute to his warmth, humor, and impact both on and off screen. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children, whose privacy the family has asked the public to respect during this time of mourning. We celebrate James's work, his openness, and the joy his performances brought to so many. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO) S1E3: “The Squire” (Released Feb 1, 2026) Summary: Egg pushes to become Dunk's real squire while the Ashford tourney turns uglier. Aerion's cruelty escalates both on and off the lists, and Dunk's sense of “knightly justice” finally boils over, forcing Egg to reveal exactly who he is. Main cast (key players in the series): Peter Claffey (Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall), Dexter Sol Ansell (Aegon “Egg” Targaryen), Finn Bennett (Prince Aerion “Brightflame” Targaryen), Daniel Ings (Ser Lyonel Baratheon), Bertie Carvel (Prince Baelor “Breakspear” Targaryen), Sam Spruell (Prince Maekar Targaryen), Tanzyn Crawford (Tanselle). Production notes: Directed by Sarah Adina Smith. Written by Hiram Martinez, Annie Julia Wyman, and Ira Parker. Series created by Ira Parker and George R. R. Martin, and adapts the “Dunk and Egg” novellas beginning with The Hedge Knight. Rating Out of 5 The Kingdom’s Most Dangerous Puppet Show Brian: 4.12/5 Darryl: 4.2/5 S1E4: “Seven” (Released Feb 6, 2026) Summary: With Dunk imprisoned and Egg's identity detonating into the open, the consequence is pure Westeros: a trial by combat, except Aerion demands the rarer “trial by seven.” Dunk must assemble champions fast, loyalty gets stress-tested, and the episode ends with a big, crowd-facing choice that turns the whole situation into a franchise-sized moment. Main cast (key players in the series): Peter Claffey, Dexter Sol Ansell, Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Sam Spruell, Daniel Ings, Henry Ashton (Prince Daeron Targaryen), Edward Ashley (Ser Steffon Fossoway), Youssef Kerkour (Steely Pate). Production notes: Directed by Sarah Adina Smith. Written by Aziza Barnes, Annie Julia Wyman, and Ira Parker. The season premiered Jan 18, 2026, on HBO and is planned as a six-episode season adapting The Hedge Knight. Rating Out of 5 Seven Knights for Seven Gods Brian: 4.57/5 Darryl: 4.571/5 Wonder Man (Disney+) Premise (season-level): In the MCU's version of Hollywood, the “Doorman Clause” bans superpowered people from working in entertainment. Struggling actor Simon Williams, who secretly has powers, teams up with Trevor Slattery as they chase roles in a remake of an in-universe Wonder Man movie. Episode titles and summaries: 1. “Matinee” – Simon's career day goes sideways fast, but meeting Trevor leads him straight toward the Wonder Man remake orbit, plus attention from Damage Control. 2. “Self-Tape” – Trevor's deal with the DODC tightens while Simon's attempt at a simple audition spirals, and his powers flare under pressure. 3. “Pacoima” – Trevor goes undercover at Simon's family gathering, and Simon's anger cracks the mask he has been wearing. 4. “Doorman” – The origin story of DeMarr Davis and the incident that turns a weird power into a headline, with consequences for superpowered performers. 5. “Found Footage” – (Add your recap notes here) 6. “Callback” – (Add your recap notes here) 7. “Kathy Friedman” – A spotlight moment turns into a pressure test for Simon and Trevor when the story around them starts to become the story. 8. “Yucca Valley” – Trevor makes a choice that reframes everything, the DODC plays its hand, and Simon makes his own counter-move in the finale. Main cast: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Simon Williams), Ben Kingsley (Trevor Slattery), X Mayo (Janelle Jackson), Zlatko Burić (Von Kovak), Arian Moayed (P. Cleary), Joe Pantoliano (as himself), Byron Bowers (DeMarr Davis / Doorman), Josh Gad (as himself). Production notes: Created by Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest, with Guest as showrunner. Filming began in Los Angeles in April 2023, paused during the 2023 WGA strike, then resumed and wrapped in 2024. Cretton directed the first two episodes, James Ponsoldt directed episodes 3 and 4, Tiffany Johnson directed episodes 5 and 6, and Stella Meghie directed episodes 7 and 8. Rating Out of 10 Is it really that bad that Josh Gad disappeared into Doorman? Brian (Season 1): 7.95/10 Darryl (Season 1): 7.65/10 Contact Us The Infamous Podcast can be found wherever podcasts are found on the Interwebs, feel free to subscribe and follow along on social media. And don't be shy about helping out the show with a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help us move up in the ratings. @infamouspodcast facebook/infamouspodcast instagram/infamouspodcast stitcher Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play iHeart Radio contact@infamouspodcast.com Our theme music is ‘Skate Beat’ provided by Michael Henry, with additional music provided by Michael Henry. Find more at MeetMichaelHenry.com. The Infamous Podcast is hosted by Brian Tudor and Darryl Jasper, is recorded in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show is produced and edited by Brian Tudor. Subscribe today!
I need to start this episode by saying something that doesn't come easily for me: I was wrong. I underestimated Wonder Man. I almost skipped it entirely — not because of the cast, not because of the concept, but because of the way Marvel released it. And that nearly cost me one of the most emotionally grounded, character-driven stories the MCU has ever put on Disney+. This is not a recap episode. This is a reflection and appreciation piece. In this episode of Marvel Maniac, I break down why Wonder Man works so powerfully — from Simon Williams' struggle with control, identity, and ambition, to Trevor Slattery's quietly devastating redemption arc, to the show's sharp commentary on art, ego, and being seen. We talk about why the Doorman episode reframes the entire series, why the callback episode is one of Marvel TV's best hours, and how the finale proves Marvel can still deliver something restrained, human, and special when it wants to. Wonder Man isn't loud. It isn't flashy. It doesn't beg you to care. It earns it. And by the end, it reminded me exactly why I fell in love with Marvel storytelling in the first place.
Follow Brett Scott on Twitter and Instagram: @realbrettscottRate and Review Marvel Plus: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marvel-plus/id1524308260MARVEL PLUS MERCH: https://www.teepublic.com/user/marvel-plus-podcastMarvel Plus Intro Music: https://youtu.be/mclAqQ5GVaISupport Marvel Plus on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/MarvelPlus?fan_landing=trueFacebook Group: Marvel Plus Podcast If you're interested in being a guest or want to tell me personally what you think of the podcast or the latest episode of the podcast you can email the show directly: marvelpluspodcast@gmail.comCheck out my podcasts everywhere podcasts are heard:Marvel Plus (Disney Plus / Marvel Companion Podcast)https://podfollow.com/marvel-plusAmbassadors of Quan (90's Movie Reviews)https://podfollow.com/1496965266Long Lost Brothers (Fitness, Self Improvement, Pop Culture)https://podfollow.com/1523182128Daily BS (entertainment and pop culture)https://podfollow.com/149697543
Put on your best shades, it's time to review Wonder Man EP 5-8! On the menu: Simon accepting the role Wonder Man, Trevor's sacrifice, head punches, the mystery of Josh Gad, where Wonder Man lands next, and more!If you love the MCU, hit subscribe so you catch all our episodes covering all things MCU!
Send us a textMarvel Television returns on Disney+ with a brand new series released in full - Wonder Man. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, bring a new dynamic not seen in the MCU yet as a struggling actor finds hope in a potential mentor.The pairing is an unlikely one, but it surprisingly fits extremely well. What did we think of episode 4? What were some standout moments? Tune in to our review and let us know what you are thinking of the show thus far! Please no spoilers in the comments as we have not watched the full series yet!We appreciate you tuning in!The ABINGERSSupport the show
Jordan welcomes back Jack onto the show to discuss Marvel Television's latest hit Disney+ series, Wonder Man. They discuss what a pleasant surprise the show was, the thrilling Doorman episode, what they would want to see in a Season Two and if Simon Williams will appear anywhere else in the MCU.WE HAVE A DISCORD! Join it here: https://discord.com/invite/QfDYKZSUKGFollow the show:Twitter: @SupesandSabers Linktr.ee/SupesandSabers
Episode 1011-Assorted Crisis Events, DC All In Act 2, Doorman + Sneak Peek at Next Week w/Kyle & DrewMarc Spector: Moon Knight (2026) #1 (Variant) Writer Jed Mackay Penciller Devmalya PramanikBLEEDING HEARTS #1 (W) Deniz Camp (A) Stipan Morian (CA) Jae LeeSongs by Drew - All In Act 2 & Mysterious EnergyLike & Subscribe on Youtube www.youtube.com/@comicsforfunandprofit5331Patreon https://www.patreon.com/comicsfunprofit Merch https://comicsfunprofit.threadless.comYour Support Keeps Our Show Going On Our Way to Two Thousand EpisodesDonate Here https://bit.ly/36s7YeLAll the C4FaP links you could ever need https://beacons.ai/comicsfunprofit Listen To the Episode Here: https://comcsforfunandprofit.podomatic.com/
This episode of All Pop, No Culture is a deep dive into Wonder Man, the Marvel series that sidesteps traditional superhero tropes in favor of a character-first story about passion, vulnerability, and artistic identity. Kevin and Andrew discuss why the show works as a meta character study, praising Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's performance as Simon and Ben Kingsley's return as Trevor Slattery. They break down Simon's transformation, the authenticity of the Los Angeles acting world, and the standout “Doorman” episode as a sharp metaphor for the actor/agent grind. The conversation expands into MCU future talk—how the universe evolves after its biggest legacy stars, which characters could carry the next era, and where Wonder Man might appear next. They wrap with thoughts on upcoming live-action adaptations and a candid discussion about AI's growing impact on creativity and entertainment.
Mikey a.k.a. Bubs Meany joins Mike & Ian to discuss the latest MCU series Wonder Man, episodes 1 through 4.This includes the buzzworthy Doorman episode!Stay tuned for our collective thoughts on the rest of the series...
DC teams up with Guide Dogs of America to sponsor a superhero litter of puppies. IDW's sales numbers have dropped, again. Marvel's Doorman gets his first solo comic.SUBSCRIBE ON RSS, APPLE, SPOTIFY, OR THE APP OF YOUR CHOICE. FOLLOW US ON BLUESKY, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND FACEBOOK. SUPPORT OUR SHOWS ON PATREON.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
En esta review XL, debatimos lo que nos dejaron los ocho episodios de Wonder Man, una miniserie que explora el costado Hollywoodense del MCU desde la experiencia de Simon Williams y Trevor Slattery, dos actores atravesados por distintos elementos superheroicos de este universo. Además: analizamos el primer trailer de la segunda temporada de Daredevil: Born Again, que se estrena en marzo. // ATAJOS // (01:01) Trailer de Daredevil: Born Again, temporada 2 // (16:58) Wonder Man: impresiones generales sin spoilers // (39:46) Episodio 1: "Matinee" // (60:18) Episodio 2: "Self-Tape" // (72:27) Episodio 3: "Pacoima" // (85:47) Episodio 4: "Doorman" // (99:32) Episodio 5: "Found Footage" // (106:20) Episodio 6: "Call Back" // (118:22) Episodio 7: "Kathy Friedman" // (127:30) Episodio 8: "Yucca Valley" // (138:03) El futuro de Wonder Man y conclusiones
Jason and Rosie recap and discuss episodes “Matinee”, “Self-Tape”, “Pacoima”, and “Doorman”, the first four episodes of “Wonder Man” on Disney+. Check back in on Thursday as we wrap our coverage and discuss what we hope to see in season 2. Follow Jason: IG & Bluesky Follow Rosie: IG & Letterboxd Follow X-Ray Vision on Instagram Join the X-Ray Vision DiscordSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Frank is joined by Joe, aka "Muscles of the Multiverse," to talk Marvel storytelling from the comics page to the MCU screen, then go all-in on Disney+'s Wonder Man after its eight-episode drop. Joe breaks down what he does on YouTube, why he started the Reading the Multiverse podcast, and how he approaches Marvel adaptation trends without expecting (or wanting) a 1-to-1 translation. From there, the episode shifts into a full Wonder Man discussion: why the show works as a character-first story, how it balances comedy with real stakes, and why the Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery dynamic ended up being the surprise engine of the season. The conversation also gets into Simon's anxiety and identity pressure, the Department of Damage Control angle, the "Doorman" detour episode, and what all of this might be setting up for mutants and the next big MCU era. Timestamps and Topics (major beats) 00:00 Intro and guest welcome: Joe "Muscles of the Multiverse" 00:30 Joe's content approach: MCU-to-comics explainers + Reading the Multiverse podcast 02:15 Quick MCU news: Ian McKellen "destroyed New Jersey" comment and what it could imply 05:10 Wonder Man first reactions: why it's landing better than expected 06:40 Character-driven Marvel: Simon's relatability, anxiety, and hiding "who you are" in Hollywood 09:00 Acting as the hook: standout performances, "meta" acting scenes, and why Trevor works now 18:10 Wonder Man powers explained: ionic energy basics and how the MCU might simplify the lore 20:10 Bigger MCU threads: Vision/Wanda possibilities, mutant framing, and Damage Control as a warning sign 30:45 Episode balance talk: comedy vs drama, and why the Doorman episode hits so hard 41:00 What's next for Simon: hero-by-proxy theory, team potential, and final scores 44:40 Disney+ marketing debate: why some shows feel under-pushed and what Marvel can fix 50:35 Recommendations: The Ultimates (Deniz Camp) and revisiting Schitt's Creek 53:10 Joe's upcoming work: Doctor Doom deep cuts, Fantastic Four read-through, and the editing grind Key Takeaways Wonder Man works because it treats Simon Williams like a person first, superhero second. The show's comedy lands because the stakes stay real in the background, especially with Damage Control looming. Trevor Slattery is fully recontextualized here: still funny, but also weirdly wise and essential to Simon's growth. The Doorman episode is a standout swing that doubles as a Hollywood critique and a superhero fatigue commentary. Joe's breakdown of Simon's ionic-energy comic history highlights why Marvel rarely does strict comic-to-screen adaptation. Damage Control and the "quota" vibe point toward a wider MCU theme: institutional fear of powered people. Mutant groundwork is starting to feel less like a sudden switch and more like a slow social shift in-world. Both hosts land at a 9/10, with the only "missing point" being more about feel than a specific flaw. Memorable Quotes "There's usually never a 1 to 1 adaptation." "I didn't know that I needed more Trevor Slattery in my life. But now I do." "Mephisto is not going to be in everything." "It felt like it was made to be for an episodic TV show." "You can't help but root for Simon." Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss the next review and interview. Ratings and reviews help more than people realize, so if you've got a minute, drop one. And share this episode on social with #GeekFreaksPodcast. Links and Resources Joe's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@musclesandthemultiverse Joe's Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8PARQ22AcU&list=PLnF-GbqwIyclHZ6Pg5DGOWvT1wvKOXGWh GeekFreaksPodcast.com GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source of all news discussed during our podcast. Follow Us Twitter: @geekfreakspod Instagram: @geekfreakspodcast Threads: @geekfreakspodcast Facebook: Geek Freaks Podcast Patreon: Geek Freaks Podcast Listener Questions Got a topic you want us to cover, a Marvel question, or a show you want reviewed next? Send it in by DM on socials, or email us at Info@GFPods.com and we'll pull from listener submissions in an upcoming episode. Apple Podcast Tags Marvel, MCU, Wonder Man, Simon Williams, Trevor Slattery, Ben Kingsley, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Disney Plus, Marvel TV, Department of Damage Control, Doorman, Darkforce Dimension, X-Men, Mutants, Avengers Doomsday, Magneto, Ian McKellen, Vision Quest, Scarlet Witch, Comic Book Movies, Comic Book TV, Marvel Comics, Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom, Superhero Reviews, Geek Culture Podcast
I'm currently watching a merger turn into a complete clusterfuck, and it's a story I've seen way too often in private equity. It's a classic case of an acquirer coming in, kicking the original leadership to the curb, and gutting the company because they don't understand that value isn't always visible on a spreadsheet. In this episode, I dig into the "Doorman's Fallacy"—the mistake of eliminating something because you can't quantify its utility, only to realize later that it was the very thing holding the brand, the culture, and the customer experience together.I compare the hollowed-out wreckage of this recent acquisition to my experience at the Four Seasons, where small, "unmeasurable" details like a lens cloth or a cord tie create the entire premium experience. We're exploring why 40% of M&A deals end up as dumpster fires and how the best operators identify and protect the invisible value creators that actually drive ROI. If you've ever wondered why great companies fall apart after a sale, this is why.//Welcome to The Ray J. Green Show, your destination for tips on sales, strategy, and self-mastery from an operator, not a guru.About Ray:→ Former Managing Director of National Small & Midsize Business at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he doubled revenue per sale in fundraising, led the first increase in SMB membership, co-built a national Mid-Market sales channel, and more.→ Former CEO operator for several investor groups where he led turnarounds of recently acquired small businesses.→ Current founder of MSP Sales Partners, where we currently help IT companies scale sales: www.MSPSalesPartners.com→ Current Sales & Sales Management Expert in Residence at the world's largest IT business mastermind.→ Current Managing Partner of Repeatable Revenue Ventures, where we scale B2B companies we have equity in: www.RayJGreen.com//Follow Ray on:YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The show takes a left turn and tells us the history of the doorman rules preventing enhanced people from starring in movies. It's a strong comedic turn for the show. Let's talk about it! Patreon https://www.patreon.com/mcucast Join The Stranded Panda Community! https://www.strandedpanda.com/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spchat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Get your self-tape rolling it's time to review Wonder Man episodes 1-4! On the menu: Marvel Spotlight's mission, Yahya Abdul-Mateen's perfect portrayal of Simon Williams, sexy denim jackets, Trevor Slattery's moral compass, Hollywood cautionary tales, who may be a mutant, and more!If you love the MCU, hit subscribe so you catch all our episodes covering all things MCU!
Zach is joined by Ryan Cortero of Collider and Agents of Fandom to discuss Wonder Man. They discuss the binge release, how the series exceeded expectations, Marvel Spotlight banner, Simon Williams, Trevor Slattery, Peter Cleary, DODC, the writing, Doorman, Josh Gad, Roxxon, Von Kovak, The Ten Rings, Season 2, Secret Wars, Shang-Chi 2, Avengers Campus & Avengers: Infinity Defense, Destin Daniel Cretton, and more. –Follow the hosts:Zach Perilstein: @TripleZ_87Ryan Cortero: @ryan_reflectsCheck out Boardwalk Times, the Destination for True Disney Parks Fans Plus Everything Else. Website: boardwalktimes.net Visit BoardwalkTimes.store for the greatest merch in the multiverseTwitter: twitter.com/boardwalktimes Instagram: instagram.com/boardwalktimesMusic: purple-planet.com
Skywalking Through Neverland: A Star Wars / Disney Fan Podcast
Are you wondering whether Wonder Man is worth your time? In this episode, we break down Marvel's latest Disney+ series, give you the essential background on the character, and explain what you actually need to know before diving in. From Simon Williams' comic book origins to his surprising connections with Vision, Scarlet Witch, and the Avengers, we cover the fun facts, controversies, and powers that shaped Wonder Man long before his MCU debut. We also dig into how Wonder Man fits into the MCU under the Marvel Spotlight banner—designed to be more grounded, character-driven, and accessible without deep MCU homework. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a struggling actor hiding dangerous superpowers, and Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery, the series leans hard into Hollywood satire, mentorship, and the bizarre "Doorman Clause" that bans super-powered people from acting. Our reactions are… mixed. While the show shines as a personal story about ambition, insecurity, and creative survival—anchored by a standout performance from Ben Kingsley—it struggles with tone, realism, and the weight of its MCU identity. We talk about what works, what doesn't, and whether Wonder Man feels like a forgotten experiment or a meaningful setup for something bigger down the road. Watch the YouTube version here for the best experience. Listen to the podcast episode here: Written WONDER MAN Review Wonder Man is the 19th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (including both live-action and animated projects) and arrives as part of Phase 6. The series was created by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Andrew Guest (Hawkeye, Community, Brooklyn Nine-Nine). Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, crossing superhero franchises after playing Black Manta in DC's Aquaman films, stars as Simon Williams, a struggling actor auditioning for the lead in a remake of Wonder Man, a low-budget 1980s action film that Simon once bonded over with his father. Simon carries a dangerous secret: he has explosive superpowers that he can't fully control. Worse, he must keep those powers hidden if he wants any chance at an acting career thanks to the Doorman Clause, a rule that bars super-powered individuals from working as actors. One episode dives into the origins of this clause, and it's easily among the series' most entertaining and imaginative chapters. Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, the infamous actor hired to portray the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. Since then, the character has appeared in the Marvel short All Hail the King and film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Here, Trevor is once again chasing relevance—and is also auditioning for a role in the Wonder Man remake. Interestingly, the series never clearly states where it fits into the MCU timeline. There are only light references—photos on walls, casual mentions of "shield throwing." Frankly, that restraint is welcome. It's firmly set in the present day on the main MCU Earth, and that's more than enough. Had this been set on another timeline or Earth, this review probably wouldn't exist. Character Over Capes At its core, this is a strong, personal story about two people supporting each other in a brutal industry. Simon approaches acting with intense seriousness—reminiscent of Dustin Hoffman's character in Tootsie—while Trevor, as a mentor figure, pushes him to loosen up and trust the words on the page. Wonder Man is far more interested in the relationship between Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery than in building a new costumed icon. Through their conversations, the series thoughtfully explores what it actually means to be an actor. Abdul-Mateen II and Kingsley make for an engaging, surprisingly balanced duo. The show wisely avoids leaning into easy odd-couple clichés, which elevates their dynamic. If you enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at show business in The Studio or Hacks, there's a lot here to like. Wonder Man ups the stakes by adding uncontrollable superpowers into an already stressful industry where almost nothing goes your way. Tone & Reality Gaps Tonally, Wonder Man struggles. It can't always decide whether it wants to be serious and emotional or silly and farcical. It oscillates between the two. The dialogue is often grounded and well-written, but the situations frequently feel forced—bent to serve the script rather than emerging naturally from reality. Living in Los Angeles, where the series is set, makes some of these moments especially hard to ignore. Being under a tight deadline to submit an audition tape and deciding to drive from Hollywood to Malibu and back—congratulations, you've just wasted three hours. These issues extend to the on-set scenes. Having worked in the film industry, many of these moments rang false. A day player wouldn't halt production because they have extensive notes. There are numerous story hiccups where disbelief must be suspended simply to keep the plot moving. A test audience likely would have flagged many of these. Performances & Standout Moments Any time Ben Kingsley is on screen, he's impossible not to root for. Simon, by contrast, is difficult to like until the final two episodes. That's clearly intentional—he's closed off and emotionally blocked—but watching someone repeatedly sabotage themselves is frustrating, even if it's thematically justified. One unquestionable highlight is the episode centered on the Doorman Clause, "Doorman". Josh Gad's appearance, along with his reworked version of "In Summer," is delightful and injects much-needed energy and creativity into the series. Release Strategy & Final Verdict Marvel continues to undermine its TV output with its release strategy. Ironheart dropped its six episodes across two days. Echo released all five at once. Wonder Man follows suit with all eight episodes dropping in a single day. The result? These shows are consumed quickly and forgotten just as fast. By the time Daredevil Season 2 arrives in March, this will likely be one of those "Oh yeah… what happened on Wonder Man again?" series.I went in with an open mind and high expectations—this is Marvel, after all. In the end, I liked Wonder Man, but too much got in the way of loving it. SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.
Are you wondering whether Wonder Man is worth your time? In this episode, we break down Marvel's latest Disney+ series, give you the essential background on the character, and explain what you actually need to know before diving in. From Simon Williams' comic book origins to his surprising connections with Vision, Scarlet Witch, and the Avengers, we cover the fun facts, controversies, and powers that shaped Wonder Man long before his MCU debut. We also dig into how Wonder Man fits into the MCU under the Marvel Spotlight banner—designed to be more grounded, character-driven, and accessible without deep MCU homework. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a struggling actor hiding dangerous superpowers, and Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery, the series leans hard into Hollywood satire, mentorship, and the bizarre "Doorman Clause" that bans super-powered people from acting. Our reactions are… mixed. While the show shines as a personal story about ambition, insecurity, and creative survival—anchored by a standout performance from Ben Kingsley—it struggles with tone, realism, and the weight of its MCU identity. We talk about what works, what doesn't, and whether Wonder Man feels like a forgotten experiment or a meaningful setup for something bigger down the road. Watch the YouTube version here for the best experience. Listen to the podcast episode here: Written WONDER MAN Review Wonder Man is the 19th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (including both live-action and animated projects) and arrives as part of Phase 6. The series was created by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Andrew Guest (Hawkeye, Community, Brooklyn Nine-Nine). Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, crossing superhero franchises after playing Black Manta in DC's Aquaman films, stars as Simon Williams, a struggling actor auditioning for the lead in a remake of Wonder Man, a low-budget 1980s action film that Simon once bonded over with his father. Simon carries a dangerous secret: he has explosive superpowers that he can't fully control. Worse, he must keep those powers hidden if he wants any chance at an acting career thanks to the Doorman Clause, a rule that bars super-powered individuals from working as actors. One episode dives into the origins of this clause, and it's easily among the series' most entertaining and imaginative chapters. Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, the infamous actor hired to portray the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. Since then, the character has appeared in the Marvel short All Hail the King and film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Here, Trevor is once again chasing relevance—and is also auditioning for a role in the Wonder Man remake. Interestingly, the series never clearly states where it fits into the MCU timeline. There are only light references—photos on walls, casual mentions of "shield throwing." Frankly, that restraint is welcome. It's firmly set in the present day on the main MCU Earth, and that's more than enough. Had this been set on another timeline or Earth, this review probably wouldn't exist. Character Over Capes At its core, this is a strong, personal story about two people supporting each other in a brutal industry. Simon approaches acting with intense seriousness—reminiscent of Dustin Hoffman's character in Tootsie—while Trevor, as a mentor figure, pushes him to loosen up and trust the words on the page. Wonder Man is far more interested in the relationship between Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery than in building a new costumed icon. Through their conversations, the series thoughtfully explores what it actually means to be an actor. Abdul-Mateen II and Kingsley make for an engaging, surprisingly balanced duo. The show wisely avoids leaning into easy odd-couple clichés, which elevates their dynamic. If you enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at show business in The Studio or Hacks, there's a lot here to like. Wonder Man ups the stakes by adding uncontrollable superpowers into an already stressful industry where almost nothing goes your way. Tone & Reality Gaps Tonally, Wonder Man struggles. It can't always decide whether it wants to be serious and emotional or silly and farcical. It oscillates between the two. The dialogue is often grounded and well-written, but the situations frequently feel forced—bent to serve the script rather than emerging naturally from reality. Living in Los Angeles, where the series is set, makes some of these moments especially hard to ignore. Being under a tight deadline to submit an audition tape and deciding to drive from Hollywood to Malibu and back—congratulations, you've just wasted three hours. These issues extend to the on-set scenes. Having worked in the film industry, many of these moments rang false. A day player wouldn't halt production because they have extensive notes. There are numerous story hiccups where disbelief must be suspended simply to keep the plot moving. A test audience likely would have flagged many of these. Performances & Standout Moments Any time Ben Kingsley is on screen, he's impossible not to root for. Simon, by contrast, is difficult to like until the final two episodes. That's clearly intentional—he's closed off and emotionally blocked—but watching someone repeatedly sabotage themselves is frustrating, even if it's thematically justified. One unquestionable highlight is the episode centered on the Doorman Clause, "Doorman". Josh Gad's appearance, along with his reworked version of "In Summer," is delightful and injects much-needed energy and creativity into the series. Release Strategy & Final Verdict Marvel continues to undermine its TV output with its release strategy. Ironheart dropped its six episodes across two days. Echo released all five at once. Wonder Man follows suit with all eight episodes dropping in a single day. The result? These shows are consumed quickly and forgotten just as fast. By the time Daredevil Season 2 arrives in March, this will likely be one of those "Oh yeah… what happened on Wonder Man again?" series.I went in with an open mind and high expectations—this is Marvel, after all. In the end, I liked Wonder Man, but too much got in the way of loving it. SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you.
Our website - www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. Instagram - @perksofbeingabookloverpod Facebook - Perks of Being a Book Lover. To send us a message go to our website and click the Contact button. You can find Jessica Walker on IG @hellojessicawalker In this week's episode, we're talking to debut novelist and assistant professor of fine arts at Parsons School of Design Jessica Walker, whose novel Amy discovered late last year. The Secret Astronomers is an illustrated novel, which is not the same as a graphic novel. This is a novel that is written on sticky notes between two people inside a book. It's in full color and really eye-catching. Although it is technically geared towards young adults, it is a feast for the eyes for any age reader. The story is about two girls who keep their identities secret from each other and converse through an old astronomy textbook in the school library. This new take on the epistolary novel takes the reader on an adventure to solve a mystery in this small West Virginia town. And in our book rec section, inspired by the West Virginia setting of The Secret Astronomers, we're giving you other books set in The Mountain State. We have a mystery, a Pulitzer Prize winner, several historical fiction, and an investigative nonfiction. Books Mentioned in this Episode: 1- The Secret Astronomers by Jessica Walker 2- I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak 3- Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton 4- Floreana by Midge Raymond 5- What You are Getting Wrong About Appalachia by Elizabeth Catte 6- Yellow Singing Sail: A Memoir of an Only Child in China by Yinfan Huang 7- Otto: A Palindrama by Jon Agee 8- Griffin & Sabine: An Extraordinary Address Book by Nick Bantok 9- My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for a Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq by Ariel Sabar 10- The Doorman by Chris Pavone 11- A Five Star Read by Fellow Book Lover Karla @karla_bookishlife - Blood Like Ours and Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville 12- The Road to Blair Mountain by Charles Keeney 13- The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer 14- The Unquiet Grave by Sharyn McCrumb 15- Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips 16- The Quiet Zone: Unraveling the Mystery of a Town Suspended in Silence by Stephen Kurczy 17- The Third Rainbow Girl by Emma Copley Eisenberg 18- Foote: A Mystery Novel by Tom Bredehoft 19- The Coffin Quilt: The Feud Between the Hatfields and McCoys by Ann Rinaldi 20- The Grand Design by Joy Calloway Media Mentioned: 1- Footnotes and Tangents Substack - War and Peace 2- Eden (Netflix, 2024) 3- Our episode with Meg Shaffer - https://ThePerksofBeingaBookLover.podbean.com/e/s12ep249-the-lost-story-with-guest-meg-shaffer-11525/ 4- Article about Reading Resetting the Nervous System - https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/873671/why-reading-cures-overactive-nervous-system-experts-explain/
We all want the fresh start to feel like a movie montage—explosive, dramatic, and instant. But usually, that desire for a "Grand Gesture" is exactly what keeps us stuck. In this episode, we're sitting on the porch with The Doorman. He's watching us hesitate at the entrance of our own lives, paralyzed by the idea of perfection. We talk about the trap of the "Grand Gesture," why new habits feel like breaking in a stiff pair of leather shoes, and why you don't need to kick the door down to get inside. It's time to stop waiting for the penthouse view and just step into the lobby. To unlock full access to all our episodes, become a premium subscriber on Apple Podcasts or Patreon. And don't forget to visit englishpluspodcast.com for more content and learning.
10:00am Sanctuary Worship Service
Today’s Phone Tap victim recently moved into a new fancy building with a DOORMAN. Before she can meet him, we’re gonna introduce ourselves first in a Phone Tap!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today’s Phone Tap victim recently moved into a new fancy building with a DOORMAN. Before she can meet him, we’re gonna introduce ourselves first in a Phone Tap!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The guys dive into Bob's new grilling obsession, Fantasy football, Buy/Sell, Ask Bob and finish it off with Snake Draft Top 5 Comedy movies https://bit.ly/3jyUxPg Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrilliantlydumbshow/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebrilliantlydumbshow?lang=en Follow Bob: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brilliantlydumb/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brilliantlydumb?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobbyBerger Follow Cold Cuts: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joey.coldcuts/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joey.coldcuts Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cutsysays Follow Beardown: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beardowncuz/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeardownCuz
This week, Ray and Lucie dive into philosophy, paranoia, cartel chaos, and the strange logic of the “doorman fallacy.” From blown-up boats in the Caribbean to escalations with John Higland, from weird weddings to military dark humor, the conversation spirals into madness.
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