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Delivered on Easter Sunday, 2025.
Babylon and the Bride Revelation 19:1-9 The Fifth Sunday of Easter Sunday, May 18, 2025 Rev. Andrew DeFusco, Rector Church of the Redeemer, Nashville, TN www.Redeemer-Nashville.net
On Easter Sunday 1975, William List murdered seven members of his family – an unholy act on the holiest of days that left behind not only a brutal crime scene, but a home still said to be haunted by restless spirits.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.IN THIS EPISODE: Author Troy Taylor tells us about the horrors and hauntings of a murderous nightmare, taking place on the holiest day of the year. (“Easter Sunday Massacre”) *** Two young boys find a bloody shirt on a stone on the side of the road – and it leads to details of one of the most brutal murders in the history of Massachusetts. (“Massachusetts Butchery”) *** Why would a mother tell her daughter to never wander in their own backyard? (“Displaced Entities”) *** The true story of an actor who lost his fortune, his life, and his head. (“The Headless Ghost of St. Paul's Chapel”) *** It probably comes as no surprise that nursing homes can be haunted. A Certified Nurse Assistant tells us his own personal experiences of it. (“Nursing Home Hauntings”) *** Plus, I'll share a creepypasta that was specifically requested for me to narrate by one of you, my Weirdo Family. (“No End House”) *** “Doppelganger Confusion” *** “The Black Eyed Phenomenon – Not Just Kids?” *** “Is Your House On The List?” *** “Another Black-Eyed-Kids Encounter – Is This An Epidemic?” *** “What Caused Our Creaking Catwalk?” *** “In Reverse… The Doppelganger Student” *** “My Haunted In-Laws Place” *** “We Deliver, We Cater, We Scare” *** “Death In The Triangle” *** “The Mother Who Burned Her Daughter Alive”CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…(Apologies to my friends who use time stamps – this episode is a re-upload and I've lost almost all of the information over the years.)SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“Massachusetts Butchery” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder by Gaslight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/44c96wvt“Displaced Entities” by Stacy K for Your Ghost Stories: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/xafzpt29“The Easter Sunday Massacre” by Troy Taylor for American Hauntings Ink: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/38dt633u“The Headless Ghost Of St. Paul's Chapel” by Jessica Ferri for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yt49e66j“Nursing Home Hauntings” by Morgan Jobe https://www.facebook.com/morgan.jobe(Creepypasta) “No End House” by Brian Russell for Creepypasta Wiki: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4yx2nu5c“Doppelganger Confusion” submitted anonymously: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3j8u6x4s“The Black Eyed Phenomenon – Not Just Kids?” submitted by Roger M.: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3fu4chfj“Is Your House On The List?” submitted by Keith W.: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/x3ve3rrp“Another Black Eyed Kids Encounter – Is This An Epidemic?” submitted by Rick R.: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/wz9xu2j4“What Caused Our Creaking Catwalk?” submitted by Amanda: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/da72mxmd“In Reverse… The Doppelganger Student” submitted by Paul: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4r5rak7w“My Haunted In-Laws Place” by Anna Olinick: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/22f8afed“We Deliver, We Cater, We Scare” by Ian White: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/fnyeesfs“Death In The Triangle: The History, Hauntings, and Horrors Of America's Worst Factory Fire” by Troy Taylor and Rene Cruse from the book And Hell Followed With It: https://amzn.to/2I9MB2G“The Mother Who Burned Her Daughter Alive” by Dennis McDougal from his book, Mother's Day:https://amzn.to/2pGHCA4=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: April 16, 2022EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/EasterMassacre
Non-Denominational, Convergent, Christian Community | Beacon, NY
https://www.salemtabernacle.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/EASTER-2025-4-2.png May 18, 2025 – Easter Sunday – 5 false no 36:48 Salem Tabernacle
Easter Sunday by Christ City Church Dublin
Our Service today is for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, from the Trelawny Benefice in Cornwall.Rev Richard Allen will be taking us on a journey across his benefice visiting farmers and the music group Forever Grateful, exploring what it means to put into practice the love of Jesus to the backdrop of the Cornish landscape.Be sure to tune in and be part of this community of faith, connecting worshippers across England and beyond.
EASTER SUNDAY 2025 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 Pastor Eric Mounts
Thank you for listening to the Classic City Church Podcast!This message from Senior Pastor Lee Mason is for Easter Sunday.This message covers John 19:4-5.Date Given: April 20, 2024Visit us at CLASSICCITY.ORG
God's favor is freely given, undeserved kindness that looks beyond our faults and sees our needs, unlike rewards based on good behavior. This message explores how to receive and walk in divine favor during challenging times.• Favor requires genuine connection to God, not just church attendance• God prunes both dead things and dying things in our lives to increase fruitfulness• Remaining connected to Christ produces an overflow of joy that becomes our strength• The redemptive power of favor is seen in Christ's atonement for our sins• God's favor reveals His purposes and plans for our lives as we obey• You are chosen and appointed by God for a specific purpose that comes with an anointingIf you need a fresh connection with God or want to experience His favor in your life, we invite you to respond today. God has not brought you this far to leave you - your answer only needs to be "yes." Welcome To Chosen City Church! We are excited to you have worship with us today and we pray that this sermon blesses you!Partner With Chosen City Church:https://www.chosencitychurch.com/part...Support Chosen City Church:https://www.chosencitychurch.com/givePodcasts and More:https://linktr.ee/chosencitychurchConnect With Chosen City ChurchWebsite: https://chosencitychurch.com.comInstagram: @ChosenCityChurchYouTube: Chosen City ChurchFacebook: Chosen City ChurchIntro and outro created by Joe Anderson Jr. of Truflava Productions
Big Idea: Christ's resurrection provides the only hope for me to be saved.This Easter Sunday, we looked at Romans 10:1–10, where Paul expresses his deep desire for Israel to be saved and explains how salvation is available to all who believe. We saw that righteousness comes not through the law, but through faith in Christ.Paul emphasizes that if we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved (v. 9). This is the heart of the gospel—salvation by grace through faith, not by works.This passage reminds us that the hope of Easter is not in our performance, but in the power of Christ's resurrection.
The Faithful Witness of the Church Revelation 7:9–17 The Fourth Sunday of Easter Sunday, May 11, 2025 Rev. Kenny Benge, Associate Rector Church of the Redeemer, Nashville, TN www.Redeemer-Nashville.net
Are you ready to experience the power of the resurrection in your own life? In this inspiring Resurrection Sunday message, we walk through Luke 24:1–49 to explore the transformational journey from doubt to belief that the early disciples experienced after Jesus rose from the grave. At first, even Jesus' closest followers were skeptics—but everything changed when He began revealing Himself through scripture, fellowship, and personal encounters.
This blogcast explores “St. Philip Neri: Patron Saint of JOY!" written by Annie Harton and read by Brian Rhude.In this blog post, Annie reminds us of our call to exude joy in our daily lives following the example of St. Philip Neri. In the last days leading up to His passion, Jesus said, “So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (Jn 16:22). In the wild times we live in, joy sometimes can be hard to find. Discouragement and confusion are often tools of the devil as he tries to distract us from this promise of Christ: joy can ALWAYS be ours. Jesus used the most unimaginable instrument of torture as the awesome instrument of salvation. On Good Friday, the Devil thought he won. On Easter Sunday, God turned the Cross into a gift. If you want to confuse the devil, be joyful. When St. Paul was imprisoned in Rome, one could think his ministry would cease. Instead of giving into discouragement, St. Paul wrote the Epistle of Joy to the people of Philippi thanking them for the blessing that they were to him and encouraging them in their faith. St. Paul stared death in the face a number of times before his beheading in Rome, but we don't have to have these dramatic experiences to embrace our mortality. St. Philip suggests that we “prepare for death and live each day as if it were our last. Fill up days with goodness and don't let them be squandered.” When asked what time it was on his deathbed, St. Philip said, “It's eight… in an hour it'll be nine, then ten, eleven, and midnight.” His companions responded by giggling before going to sleep. His legacy even in his last moments is joy! How can we be apostles of joy today? St. Philip suggests, “Have all the fun you want, but just don't offend God.” He also suggests, “Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if He wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength.” St. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:4-9). Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with an abundance of the spiritual fruit of joy! We pray for the intercession of St. Philip and St. Paul to show us how to radiate joy no matter the circumstances around us. Author:Annie Harton is a proud alumna of Saint Mary's College and the University of Notre Dame. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and speaker. Her self-published book, Single Truth: You Are More than Your Relationship Status, inspired her to start a business called You Are More. She specializes in helping singles and couples explore how they're more than their diagnoses, their pasts, their jobs, and their relationship statuses while also reminding them that God is more than any problem they bring Him. You can find out more about Annie and inquire about working with her at youaremore.org and annieharton.com Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.
A sermon for Easter Sunday from 1 Corinthians 15.
This Easter Sunday, Britton leads us in celebrating the Victory of Jesus.
Guest: Bobby GruenewaldMinistry Resource: YouVersion Bible AppPosition: Founder and CEOTopic: growth of the app and records set for usage of the app during 2025, including an all-time record on Easter SundayWebsite: bible.com
"Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am [self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]." - Philippians 4:11-13 AMPC Restore Church | Yorkville, ILEaster Sunday | 9 AM & 11 AMJordan & Melissa Gash, Pastorshttp://www.restorechurchyorkville.com
Sermon from Rev. Sarah Hedgis-Kligerman on May 11, 2025
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Our Service today is for Vocation Sunday, from St John's Park, Sheffield.The Service is led collaboratively by Rev Luke Graham, The Rt Rev Mark Tanner, Bishop of Chester, and individuals involved in the Ministry Experience Scheme.During the service we would like you to keep in mind the questions 'Where is God calling me?' and 'What is He calling me to do?' as the sermon reflects on the significance of hearing God call us by name.
Easter Sunday (04.20.25) // Ps. JP Troglio by Oasis Church Chicago
Easter Sunday - Romans 5 - Justin Fisher - April 20, 2025
What is Easter Sunday? What does Easter have to do with Jesus' resurrection? shouldn't Easter be called Resurrection Sunday?
It's episode 290, and ministry life is keeping us scattered but still talking. Tim and Andrew caught up at a flag football game and watched Tim's son dominate. Immediately after church, Andrew headed off to chaperone a week-long field trip in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Frank's off speaking at an event in West Virginia, and Tim had to return to the regular schedule at Lakeview. We're gearing up for Easter Sunday, and reminding ourselves that the work (and the coffee) never stops.
Sermon by Tim Rich during worship at 11:15 a.m. on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Readings: Isaiah 65:17–25, Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 and John 20:1–18. Watch the sermon on YouTube. Please consider pledging to All Saints Church at https://allsaints-pas.org/pledge/, or donate to support the mission and ministries of All Saints at https://allsaints-pas.org/giving/. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated! Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsPasadena/. Follow us on Instagram at #allsaintspas. Check out the rest of our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/allsaintspasadena1/videos. Subscribe, like, get notifications every time we post! Enjoy our extensive archive of stimulating and inspiring content!
In this episode of Father and Dad, Fr. Steven shares the experience of his first Holy Week as a priest. He and his dad dive into the highs, the surprises, and the sacred moments of those unforgettable days. Fr. Steven recalls the profound experience of speaking the part of Jesus during the Palm Sunday Passion Gospel and the fraternity of the Chrism Mass where he reaffirmed his priestly promises.In an unexpected turn of events on Holy Thursday Fr. Steven needed to step in for his pastor, Fr. Ted, who had suddenly fell ill.From the solemn reverence of Good Friday to the awe and glory of the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday, Fr. Steven reflects on what it meant to walk with Jesus through the holiest days of the Church's year through the unique lens of his priesthood.
In this heartfelt episode of Champ Talk, Branden Hudson, sponsored by Residential Electric, reflects on the importance of family, especially following a meaningful Easter Sunday that doubled as his birthday. Branden discusses the significance of spending time with loved ones and questions the societal emphasis on relentless work and success. Drawing from personal experiences, including the passing of his beloved grandmother, Branden highlights the value of family bonds and the lessons learned from close relationships. He urges listeners to find harmony between work and life, cherishing the time spent with family and building a lasting legacy of love and support.00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Shoutout00:57 Unplanned Episode and Personal Reflections02:03 The Importance of Family Time08:15 Work-Life Harmony vs. Balance10:06 Legacy and Family Dynamics16:50 Personal Anecdotes and Reflections21:30 A Heartfelt Memory22:32 Facing the End23:54 Taking Charge25:19 The Memorial Service31:26 Reflecting on Life's Priorities36:02 Balancing Work and Family40:07 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
Resurrection season means a whole lot more than Easter Sunday; in fact, it may be happening now - in you!
The Scroll and the Lamb Revelation 5 The Third Sunday of Easter Sunday, May 4, 2025 Rev. Andrew DeFusco, Rector Church of the Redeemer, Nashville, TN www.Redeemer-Nashville.net
Second Sunday of Easter: Sunday of Divine Mercy Reading I: Acts 5:12-16 Reading II: Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 Gospel: John 20:19-31 Support CTK at LSU: www.ctklsu.org/give
Easter Sunday Mark 16:11,13 (NIV)“When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it… These returned and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.” Hope restored in the face of deepest despair. Without the resurrection of Christ, our horizon is diminished. There is no hope. Romans 5:6-10 (NLT)“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came, at just the right time, and died for the ungodly. Now, most people would not be willing to die in someone else's place, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, we will certainly be saved from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.” Jesus once and for all declared…I am the resurrection and the life!I am the good shepherd!I am the light of the world! You cannot extinguish the creator of light and life. You cannot extinguish true hope. You cannot extinguish perfect love. 1 John 4:10 (NIV) “This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.” John 3:16-18 (MSG)“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.” Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.” Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Those who will come to me, I will never ever reject. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me.
"The Beginning of the End"
"The Resurrection of The Good Shepherd." A sermon preached on Easter Sunday by Rev. David Hanke on April 20th 2025. ESV SCRIPTURE REFERENCE. Head over to restorationarlington.org to learn more about Restoration Anglican Church. We're a church in Arlington that connects people to God, to others, and to the needs of the world. We'd love for you to join us online or in-person soon.
Grace Triumphed Over the Grave | Easter Sunday at Transformation Church
For Easter Sunday, Dave talked about the power of resurrection life that Jesus not only brought but wants to raise up within us and in the world around us!
Preacher: Isaac AdamsText: Exodus 6Pastor Isaac continues his series through Exodus on Easter Sunday titled "Freed for the Father." The main point of this passage is God won't quit on his plans or his people.
The house has been bought; the renovation project has begun! This is a good illustration of what happened after Jesus rose from the grave as king of the world. And we are partners in that work, renovators with God in His world. But where do we start? What can we do? The answer to that fills us with purpose and hope, and it's what we've talked about this Sunday. First time listening to our podcast? We'd like to get to know you! Head over to: http://bit.ly/connectcardccc. Connect with us! Do you have any prayer request? DM us. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capecodchurch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capecodchurch/ Website: http://capecodchurch.com Connect Card: https://bit.ly/connectcardccc
Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025
John 21:1-19After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. This is how he showed himself to them. Gathered there were Simon Peter, Thomas who was also called the Twin, Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the Sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” And they went and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.Just after daybreak, Jesus came and stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. He said to them, “My children, you haven't any fish, have you?” They said to him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” So they cast it and they were not able to haul in the net because it was full of so many fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Simon Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was Jesus, he put on some clothes for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. The others went in the boat, bringing with them the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land; only about a hundred yards off.When they had come ashore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring with you some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. But even though there were so many fish, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”Now, none of them dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they new that it was Jesus. He came and took the bread and gave it to them and he did the same thing with the fish. This was the third time he had appeared to them since he had been raised from the dead.After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time, Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” A third time, Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter, upset that he had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?,” said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. When you were a child, you used to fasten your own belt and go wherever you chose to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your arms and others will fasten a belt around you and lead you to places that you may not choose to go.” (He said this in order to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) And when he has said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” Pastor Cogan said something, almost in passing last Sunday, in his sermon reflecting on Pope Francis. It was a one-liner that caught my attention in the moment and that came back to me when I read today's Gospel. He said that Pope Francis – faithful, humble servant that he was – “was a shepherd who smelled like his sheep.” “… a shepherd who smelled like his sheep.”Did anyone else catch that? Or remember that? Or wonder any more about that? I did, because I think it has a lot to say about where we find Jesus and his disciples – and especially, this famous conversation and command to Peter – on the beach at breakfast, not long after the resurrection.“Do you love me?” … “Yes.” … “Feed my lambs.”“Do you love me?” … “Yes.” … “Tend my sheep.”“Do you love me?” … “Yes.” … “Feed my sheep.”And you can't blame Jesus for asking again, and again, and again. It's no coincidence that Jesus asked him three times, after what had happened just days before, of course, when Peter, questioned just before the crucifixion, denied Jesus three times to strangers, just as Jesus warned him that he would. So, this “Q and A” between Jesus and Peter – this whole experience on the beach after Easter, really – is chock full of symbolism and meaning. But, to the sheep and the lambs…Too much of the time for us, “sheep” and especially “lambs” – so close to Easter Sunday, in the spring of the year – elicit a warm and fuzzy, soft and sweet, cute, cuddly, cozy kind of vibe – don't you think? They are the stuff of Springtime and Easter baskets, right. But the truth is, sheep are actually dirty and lambs are pretty dumb. (Here's that video I'm sure many of us have seen of a sheep being both – dirty and dumb.) And remember that even the “sheep” Jesus refers to so often, even before this brunch on the beach, are pitiable and lost and in need of redemption, too. Remember that the “sheep” in Jesus' teachings need to be separated from the goats, they need to be found because they've gone astray, they need to be saved from the clutches of the wolves that surround them, and they need to listen for the sound of their shepherd's voice to lead them. And besides, all of that, remember that the warm and fuzzy Lamb, in Jesus himself, gets sacrificed, after all. And remember that the Lamb of God, in Jesus Christ, showed up to do the dirty work of taking away the sin of the world.There's not much “warm and fuzzy” or “cute and cuddly” or “soft and sweet” about any of that, in the end. The Lord's work is dirty work, to say the least. So it's notable, for me, that Jesus uses “sheep” and “lambs” as a metaphor for Peter, the fisherman – again – this time around.So when he talks about feeding sheep and tending to lambs, it seems to me, that Jesus is talking about the hard and holy stuff of life and discipleship for believers, this morning. And he's implying that you really need to LOVE Jesus, in order to fully enter into the business of following him faithfully.So we're invited to wonder, what in the world that means for you and me? Where are the sheep and the lambs, the lost and the lonely, the scared, the sick, the suffering – and the stinky – in this world and in your life?He makes it really hard for us to avoid the question. When Jesus asks us if we love him, who and how and what is he really asking us to consider? How many of us – like Pope Francis – smell like the sheep we're called to love and serve?For starters, it seems random, but it's no mistake that the Gospel writer says there were 153 fish in the net that morning. It's not likely anyone actually counted those fish. It's a number that smarter people than me suggest is meant to symbolize the entirety of creation; or they say it symbolizes all the people and every nation of the world. So, it's just another reminder that, as followers of Jesus, we're meant to tend to, feed, care about, and love all people; from every nation; in every land; even when it's hard. Even when it stinks. Do you love Jesus, even if it leads to people and to places where you may not want to go? Do you love Jesus, even if it leads people to your doorstep who you wish wouldn't come?Of course, we answer this question in other ways, too.I hope, when we consider our financial commitments to the General Fund in the days ahead, we'll hear that question, again: “Do you love me?” And I pray our commitments and the offerings that follow will be one meaningful way that we respond – even if it's uncomfortable, unfamiliar, unconventional by the world's standards and expectations.I hope, as we're filling out our Time and Talent Sheets for the year ahead, too, that Jesus' question will ring in our ears, “Do you love me?” And that how we choose to serve the world through our little part of the kingdom at Cross of Grace will reveal our answer in a faithful way – and that we'll do it even when it's inconvenient sometimes; even if it's new; even if it's something we've done before or something we never thought we'd do at all. Even if it stinks from time to time, like helping to clean the church or to mow the lawn.I hope, that as we live our lives in this broken and hurting world, that we see around us – on the evening news, in the hallways at school, in the house down the street, on the faces of strangers, and in the mirror – I hope we see the sheep and lambs of Jesus – the children of God – who are starving for, who need and who deserve to be fed and tended to and loved with the same grace we long for, need, and try to share around here.I hope that when we wonder about what it looks like to love Jesus, that we aren't afraid to get our hands dirty, to stop pretending that life in this world – our own lives or the lives of our neighbors – are always neat and tidy, soft and sweet, cute, cuddly, and convenient. I hope our lives of faith in this world leave us smelling like sheep.Because the truth is we are all sheep. Each of us is a lamb. We all stink of the sin that covers us. And we're all unable to be free of it on our own.So Jesus shows up to inspire us and to encourage us and to love us, first – all so that we might follow him – like he invites Peter to do – into a new way of life. So that we'll follow him into a kingdom that is built on service and sacrifice, generosity and grace, mercy and good news; a kingdom built with very clear directions from the resurrected and living love of Jesus Christ our Lord – who so faithfully feeds, tend to, and loves us – and the world – so that we can't help but return the favor, in his name.Amen
"And I asked, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord answered me, Get up and go into Damascus, and there it will be told you all that it is destined and appointed for you to do." - Acts 22:10 AMPC Restore Church | Yorkville, ILEaster Sunday | 9 AM & 11 AMJordan & Melissa Gash, Pastorshttp://www.restorechurchyorkville.com
"And I asked, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord answered me, Get up and go into Damascus, and there it will be told you all that it is destined and appointed for you to do." - Acts 22:10 AMPC Restore Church | Yorkville, ILEaster Sunday | 9 AM & 11 AMJordan & Melissa Gash, Pastorshttp://www.restorechurchyorkville.com
In this Sunday morning service Pastor Schuller reminds us how important it is to embrace the entire message of Easter, not just concentrating on one day, Easter Sunday. The resurrection is the most important aspect of walking a Christian life and following Jesus. Read Luke 24
You are listening to audio from First Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach. If you would like more resources or to watch our service online, please visit fbcfwb.org. Listen in as Pastor Wade helps us abide in Christ and advance the gospel through the teaching and the proclamation of God's Word. This Easter message by Dr. Wade Humphries was recorded on April 20, 2025.
This Easter message from John 21:18 explores the profound encounter between Mary Magdalene and the risen Jesus. Discover why Mary, a woman with a broken past, was the first to witness the resurrection and how her story reveals the transformative power of grace. As we delve into themes of sin, reconciliation, and spiritual blindness, learn how Jesus calls each of us by name, inviting us to see Him clearly and share His love with the world. Uncover the hope and redemption found in the resurrection of Christ.How can we pray for you? tinyurl.com/stmarcusprayersFill out our online connection card: tinyurl.com/stmarcusconnectcardIf you'd like to leave an offering or monetary donation to our ministry please click here: https://tinyurl.com/stmarcusgive
Send us a textHave you ever walked away from a Sunday service feeling like you didn't get much out of the sermon? You're not alone. In this revealing conversation, Justin and Tim tackle the often-overlooked art of sermon engagement—exploring why many Christians struggle to connect with teaching and how to transform this vital spiritual practice.The discussion begins with a provocative question: how do thoughtful, well-read Christians continue to benefit from basic sermons, particularly predictable ones like those delivered on Easter Sunday? Justin responds by challenging the consumer mindset many bring to church, where we expect pastors to "do the work for us" rather than taking responsibility for our own spiritual nourishment.Support the show
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As we celebrate Easter Sunday, Pastor Ryan Schlachter looks forward to how we as leaders can continue to grow and minister to God and others around us.
Fr. Larry Richards of The Reason For Our Hope Foundation Podcast
First, Ralph welcomes Washington Post tech journalist Faiz Siddiqui to discuss his new book "Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk." Then, our resident legal expert Bruce Fein stops by to explain how Elon Musk and DOGE are breaking the law. Finally, David picks up our interview with Ralph about Ralph's new book "Civic Self-Respect."Faiz Siddiqui is a technology journalist who writes for the Washington Post and has covered companies such as Tesla, Uber, and Twitter (now X) for the Business Desk. His reporting has focused on transportation, social media and government transformation, among other issues. He is the author of Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk (excerpted here).Over and over throughout this book, there's this recurring theme of victimhood, or at least Elon feeling like his back is against the wall. And why? For what? He and his fans felt they were doing the right things, and yet they were being scrutinized and punished for it.Faiz SiddiquiIn the wake of many Facebook scandals, many Uber scandals, Tesla was the company to work for. Elon was the person to work for. There was no figure as magnetic, who inspired people in the way that Elon did. So recruiting was a strong suit of that company. And the pitch was: come here and change the world.Faiz SiddiquiI think what this book brings is a healthy dose of reality and skepticism… that so far has been lacking from the overall conversation around Musk. And what I you'll find is (I hope you'll find) that you can identify with some of the folks in the book who were lured in by the promises (or just enamored by the guy and what he might be able to bring to society if his goals were ultimately realized) but then ended up feeling disappointed or feeling like—hey, this guy was not all he was cracked up to be. Even if the goals were noble, even if the ambitions were the right ones, the ends might not have justified the means. And so I want people to find, ideally, that their understanding of one of the most powerful people in society today is enriched.Faiz SiddiquiBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.[Elon Musk is] just a walking violation of the federal code.Bruce FeinThere's nowhere to go but up in terms of being a smart consumer. Unfortunately, our Elementary and high schools don't teach consumer skills (they prefer to teach computer skills) and consumer skills result in what is, in effect, a pay raise.Ralph NaderAdam Smith once said many centuries ago that the purpose of production is consumption. And if consumption is informed and feeds back, it can lead to a high-quality economy. It can lead to more integrity to your consumer dollar and to your health and safety. It can lead to less environmental damage. It could lead to stronger regulation of product defects and services that are harmful. It's sort of a bottom-up economic democracy.Ralph NaderComplexity is a tool of power. Complex tax regulations are often blamed on the federal bureaucracy. No, it's the corporate tax lawyers.Ralph NaderNews 4/25/251. On Monday, April 21st, Vatican News announced the death of Pope Francis. This came just one day after Easter Sunday, when Francis met with Vice-President JD Vance. The day prior, Francis had snubbed the VP, sending in his place Cardinal Pietro Parolintoto to “deliver a lecture on compassion,” per the Daily Beast. Pope Francis led the Catholic Church since 2013 and during his tenure sought to move the church in a vastly more progressive direction – preaching against capitalism's destruction of the environment, advocating for abolition of the death penalty and greater acceptance for LGBTQ Catholics within the church, and expanding the reach of the church into non-traditional areas such as Mongolia among many other initiatives. This won him the admiration of many around the world, but also drew the ire of the conservative clergy, particularly in the United States. Francis was the first Jesuit Pope and the first Pope to hail from the New World. Senior churchmen will now assemble to elect a new pope. This conclave is expected to be contentious, with progressives seeking to consolidate Francis' reforms, while the conservatives see an opening to take back the formal organs of the church.2. Instead of death, our next story concerns birth. Noor Abdalla – wife of Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian Columbia University student currently being held by ICE in Louisiana – gave birth to their son on Monday. According to a statement by Abdalla, reported by Arya Sundaram of WNYC, ICE denied a request for Khalil to be temporarily released to meet their son, a “purposeful decision by ICE to make [her], Mahmoud, and our son suffer.” Later in this statement, Abdalla writes, “I will continue to fight every day for Mahmoud to come home to us. I know when Mahmoud is freed, he will show our son how to be brave, thoughtful, and compassionate just like his dad.” Khalil's case continues to wind its way through the courts; the result of this case will have significant ramifications for the Trump administration's ability to remove individuals with legal status on the basis of political speech.3. In an encouraging sign, more and more congressional Democrats are getting personally involved in cases of Trump administration overreach on immigration. In addition to Senator Chris Van Hollen's highly-publicized visit to El Salvador, TruthOut reports that Senator Peter Welch met with Mohsen Mahdawi, the Columbia University student entrapped with a false citizenship test, in Vermont. Meanwhile Cape Cod Times reports that on April 22nd, Senator Ed Markey and Representatives Ayanna Pressley and Jim McGovern of Massachusetts – along with Democratic members of the House Troy Carter and Bennie Thompson – traveled to a Louisiana detention facility to demand the release of Rümeysa Öztürk, the Tufts University grad student who was abducted off the street last month by masked ICE agents. This delegation met with Öztürk herself, as well as Mahmoud Khalil. And CBS reports Representatives Robert Garcia, Maxwell Frost, Yassamin Ansari and Maxine Dexter traveled to El Salvador as well, keeping pressure up regarding the Kilmar Garcia case. Still, hundreds of immigrants of varying status have been deported to the ominous and shadowy CECOT prison camp in El Salvador without due process since Trump began this mass deportation campaign.4. In more troubling Congressional news, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa wrote a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel on April 16th calling for investigations into the progressive activist group CodePink as well as the New York City cultural center known as the People's Forum. This letter is almost textbook McCarthyite red-baiting, claiming CodePink and the People's Forum are nothing more than mouthpieces for the Chinese Communist Party, thereby violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Beyond the fact that these groups are engaging in nothing more than constitutionally protected political speech, it is clear from the citations within the letter that they are targeting these groups because of their pro-Palestine positions. This is just another escalation in the Orwellian suppression of free-speech critical of the Israel's illegal occupation. Unfortunately, just as with McCarthyism itself, we cannot count on congressional Democrats to go to bat for the free speech rights of the Left.5. In a win for consumers, Bloomberg reports Airbnb announced it will now display the total price of stays – including all fees – to comply with a Federal Trade Commission rule set to go into effect next month. Many worried that the FTC would rescind this rule with the changing of the administration, but for now at least, the Trump FTC seems poised to keep it. This new rule is expected to “nudge hosts to lower their cleaning fees to make rentals more affordable, as the sometimes-exorbitant fees have become a key reason why some customers preferred hotels over Airbnb.”6. Another positive move is that the Trump Department of Justice has proceeded with an anti-trust case against Google's advertising technology, or “adtech.” On April 17th, a judge found Google liable for “willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power,” in two markets for online advertising technology, per Reuters. This follows a similar judgment against Google regarding a monopoly on search, which is only amplified by its adoption of AI. Another trial will determine the remedy for this monopoly, which could include Google being forced to sell off aspects of its business. According to this report, “Google has previously explored selling its ad exchange to appease European antitrust regulators.” Senator Amy Klobuchar, former chair of the antitrust subcommittee, called the ruling “a big win for consumers, small businesses, and content creators that will open digital markets to more innovation and lower prices.”7. On the other hand, Public Citizen's Rick Claypool reports, “58 corporations facing federal investigations & enforcement lawsuits collectively gave $50 million to Trump's inaugural fund. Cases against 11 of these corporations have already been dismissed or withdrawn, and 6 have been halted.” More granular information about each of these enforcement actions is available through Public Citizen's Corporate Enforcement Tracker database, but the big picture is clear: If a corporation wants the government off its back, all they have to do is make a handsome contribution. The Trump administration is pay-to-play and open for business.8. In another instance of the administration tying the hands of key federal regulators, the Food and Drug Administration will “End its Routine Food Safety Inspections,” according to the National Public Health Information Coalition. The FDA plans to “shift most…food safety inspections to state and local agencies.” While some food inspections are conducted at the state and local level, public health advocates are raising concerns about “oversight and consistency.” According to CBS, these plans have not been finalized.9. Turning to the very worst part of this administration, NOTUS reports “The DOGE website, the only public accounting of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump's attempts to reduce federal government spending…[has posted]…revisions that suggest DOGE was previously overstating its savings by hundreds of millions of dollars.” These stunning, if not altogether surprising, overestimations are staggering in scale. “On Tuesday [April 15th] alone, DOGE removed around $962 million in previously claimed cuts and altered hundreds of others to boost individual items' purported ‘savings' values.” The incompetence of DOGE has led Musk to reduce the target goal of spending cuts, down from $1 trillion to just $150 billion – a drop in the bucket when it comes to federal spending and certainly not worth the evisceration of Social Security and other programs these cuts have entailed.10. Finally, in more bad news for Elon Musk, Reuters reports the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is tightening electric vehicle battery safety standards, specifically to “ensure…batteries won't catch fire or explode.” This is quite a humble regulatory goal. However, this new regulation could spell disaster for Tesla. According to Tesla-fire.com, there have been 232 confirmed cases of Tesla fires and “83 Fatalities Involving a Tesla Car Fire.” If I were a Chinese EV regulator, I would be wary of allowing Tesla vehicles on the roads. But that's just me.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe