Podcasts about Elohim

Enrollment for Ari's Take Academy CLOSING SOON: https://aristakeacademy.com (use code NMB for 10% off!)Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business here: https://book.aristake.comThis week on the New Music Business, Ari is joined by the founder of Purple Bite PR, Mikel Corrente. In the last few years Corrente adapted a “Zero-Risk” guaranteed or money back system that is very uncommon in the PR industry but it's more transparent and fairer than the traditional PR system. Some examples of artists and companies that Corrente has worked with are: Sony Music, Kat Graham, Red Light Management, Mix Master Mike, Elohim, Jesse Jo Stark, Lauren Ruth Ward, BIIANCO, and many more.05:52 Welcome / background10:20 PR model ten years ago, shifting from publications to playlists15:55 What PR is and what a publicist does25:21 Evolution of press rates and artist feedback31:24 Relationship with fashion and music publication Lady Gun41:58 Pay-to-play PR model47:03 What is the point of music press right now?53:21 Purple Bite's business model01:05:03 How Purple Bite guarantees placements01:09:50 What it means to make it in the New Music BusinessSubscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/nmbWatch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpaConnect with Ari's Take:Website: https://aristake.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/aristake_TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@aris.takeTwitter: https://twitter.com/ArisTakeYouTube: https://youtube.com/user/aristake1Connect with Ari Herstand:Website: https://ariherstand.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstandTwitter: https://twitter.com/ariherstandYouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstandConnect with Mikel Corrente:Website: http://purplebite.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/mikelcorrenteTikTok: https://.tiktok.com/@mikelcorrenteTwitter: https://twitter.com/MikelCorrenteEdited and mixed by Maxton HunterMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari's Take#MusicPR #MusicPress #MusicMarketing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step into the mysteries of Atlantis, the Anunnaki, and hidden truths about ancient civilizations with Billy Carson in this powerful lecture. From the Emerald Tablets of Thoth to the incredible anomalies on Mars and the Moon, this presentation uncovers evidence that humanity's origins may be far more advanced than we've been told.Billy Carson dives deep into the Atlantean civilization, exploring connections to Kemet (ancient Egypt), the Great Pyramid of Giza, and interplanetary structures that link Earth to Mars. He reveals how ancient texts like the Enuma Elish and Sumerian tablets describe creation, gods (Elohim), and possible advanced technology hidden in plain sight.

Step into the mysteries of Atlantis, the Anunnaki, and hidden truths about ancient civilizations with Billy Carson in this powerful lecture. From the Emerald Tablets of Thoth to the incredible anomalies on Mars and the Moon, this presentation uncovers evidence that humanity's origins may be far more advanced than we've been told.Billy Carson dives deep into the Atlantean civilization, exploring connections to Kemet (ancient Egypt), the Great Pyramid of Giza, and interplanetary structures that link Earth to Mars. He reveals how ancient texts like the Enuma Elish and Sumerian tablets describe creation, gods (Elohim), and possible advanced technology hidden in plain sight.

Today, we talk about being prepared to enter the Kingdom of Elohim, and how we must be washed in the blood of purification and dressed in the faith that comes from belief in Elohim.

Hoy, hablamos acerca de estar preparados para entrar al Reino de Elohim, y cómo debemos ser lavados en la sangre de la purificación y revestidos con la fe que viene de creer en Elohim.

Love and Torah – what's love got to do with it? This study series is based on the “Two Great Commands” – love Yahweh and love your neighbor. Moving forward in Psalm 119, Rabbi Steve Berkson has a few questions for us; When you see people not guarding the Torah, what is your reaction? (Psalm 119:136) What if you never got to see what happens to those who don't listen to Elohim? (Psalm 119:138) How has Christianity confused us regarding “salvation”? Why did Elohim allow all that horrible stuff to happen to Job? Why do you want eternal life? Are you trustworthy with it? Do you really understand what that life will be like? What is Yahweh's “Love Language”? Rabbi Berkson once again dissects the words in these passages so that you will have a deeper understanding of what Yah expects of you, so that you can do it and receive the blessings. Visit our website, https://mtoi.org, to learn more about MTOI. https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwide You can reach MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m., and every Friday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time for Torah Study Live Stream.

Sukkot, Welcoming the Eternal in the Temporal The Festival of Sukkot stands as Yahweh's invitation for us to enter His eternal dwelling place. Known as the Time of Our Rejoicing, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival for the Nations, Sukkot transcends mere historical remembrance. This sacred season points us toward the great wedding feast at the end of the age. When we construct our temporary booths and wave the four species together, we participate in something far greater than tradition. The Hebrew word "sukkah" connects to divine protection, like being knit together in our mother's womb. Yeshua Himself tabernacled among us, fulfilling this ancient picture of Elohim dwelling with His people. The eight days of celebration speak to eternity beyond our seven-day temporal world. As Zechariah prophesies, all nations will eventually come to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot, acknowledging Mashiach's reign. Through Sukkot, Yahweh teaches us unity as one body, gathering His harvest from every nation. Our temporary dwellings remind us that we await permanent residence in the New Jerusalem, where Elohim's presence fills everything. This festival calls us to welcome His Spirit into our hearts, homes, and communities today.   Watch on Youtube:   https://www.youtube.com/live/dIdgCvAwa80 - be sure to subscribe to our youtube channel for updates and new teachings: www.Youtube.com/theruachlife    and on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ruachministries  If these have been a blessing to you please consider donating to help us continue to put these teachings out. You can donate at https://www.ruachonline.com/donate    If you like this video and would like to know more about Ruach Ministries International you can check us out on many venues: website: www.RuachOnline.com  Facebook: www.facebook.com/RuachMinistries  Twitter: @RuachTweets Vimeo: www.vimeo.com/Ruach  YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/theruachlife  Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruachminintl  Podcast Hub, Main site: https://stone2flesh.podbean.com/  iHeart  https://ihr.fm/3VmLpyt  Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3PXP8Bp   Amazon Music https://amzn.to/3jnsqX2  Spotify https://spoti.fi/3C71u4i  Google Podcasts https://bit.ly/3jrcTp7  & Patreon https://www.patreon.com/Ruach

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 25:1-2 - Kavod Elohim vs. Kavod Melachim (Part 2)גַּם אֵלֶּה מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר הֶעְתִּיקוּ אַנְשֵׁי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה:כְּבֹד אֱלֹהִים הַסְתֵּר דָּבָר וּכְבֹד מְלָכִים חֲקֹר דָּבָר:Length: 45 minutesSynopsis: This morning (9/26/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we continued learning the first two pesukim of Mishlei Chapter 25 after a few days off. After reviewing and refining what we came up with last time, we focused on Malbim and Rashi (!), who take this pasuk to be about metaphysics and other areas of Torah that ought to be concealed. We spent the rest of shiur developing these ideas, recruiting other non-Mishlei commentators like the Rambam and Ramban. It'll be interesting to see how "Mishleic" in their subject matter the pesukim in Chapter 25+ feel going forward. Either way, I'm sure the ideas will be good!---מקורות:משלי כה:א-בשד"למאיריר"י אבן כספי פירוש שנימצודת דוד - ישעיה יא:א-גמצודת דודאבן עזרא - קהלת ה:ארבינו בחיי אבן פקודה - חובות הלבבות א:ימלבי"םרמב"ם - פירוש המשניות ב:ארש"ירש"י - ויקרא יט:יטרמב"ן - ויקרא יט:יט-----The Torah Content for the month of September is sponsored by Meir Areman in loving memory of his grandmother, Esther Chasha bas Meir Gedalya, who recently passed away on the 25th of Av. Tehei nishmasah tzerurah b'tzror ha'chayim.-----If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you.If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.-----Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-SchneeweissPatreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweissYouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweissInstagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/"The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com"Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com"The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com"Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com"The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.comOld Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0HAmazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_share

The sermon emphasizes the importance of dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, drawing heavily from Psalm 91 to offer assurance and courage in spiritual warfare. It explores the significance of understanding God's names – Elyon, Shaddai, Jehovah, and Elohim – as pathways to deeper knowledge and trust, highlighting the necessity of love, prayer, and reliance on God for deliverance, honor, and ultimate salvation. The message encourages listeners to actively cultivate a relationship with God through memorization and application of Scripture, promising protection, peace, and a profound sense of God's presence amidst life's challenges, ultimately leading to a confident expectation of God's grace and eternal life.

Canalização dos Elohim revelando 6 passos simples para se manter alinhado espiritualmente. Descubra como elevar sua energia, fortalecer sua conexão com a Fonte e viver em equilíbrio com o fluxo divino. Uma mensagem de luz para quem busca despertar espiritual, paz interior e expansão da consciência.✨ Se este conteúdo ressoar com você, curta, compartilhe e inscreva-se no canal para mais canalizações e mensagens inspiradoras.✅21 dias de Transformação - Relacionamentos & Arquétipos + Cocriação da Realidade: https://bit.ly/3WONvcy✅Loja Virtual: https://bit.ly/40J3GJK✅E-books gratuitos: https://bit.ly/3ZKYTJk✅ Contato e redes sociais:✔️WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/3El8s72✔️Instagram: http://bit.ly/2GOkzMs✔️Telegram: https://t.me/viniciusfrancis

Rabbi Steve Berkson takes us on a deep dive through the scripture into the spiritual underworld led by an entity known in scripture as HaSatan. Understanding the enemy of our belief is crucial to successfully living a Torah-observant life.• Opener• Intro• Genesis 3:1-6 – The serpent• An adversary vs. The Adversary • Genesis 3:7-10 – Adam and Eve eat the fruit• Genesis 3:11-13 – Who made you know that you were naked?• Genesis 3:14-15 – Elohim curses the serpent• Elohim curses Adam and Eve | Original sin?• Revelation 12:1-17 – That Serpent of Old?• Revelation 20:1-3 – HaSatan leads the nations astray• Revelation 20:7-10 – HaSatan is released?!• Is there a connection between Genesis and Revelation?• Numbers 22:21-32 – A satan (adversary) was sent from Elohim• Marriage is the hardest thing you'll do• You are the solution • You choose what influences you • Ah, that's too much work• HaSatan, the cheerleader • Eternity equals you being trustworthy under temptation  Listen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Ali Siadatan returns with his most controversial theory yet: that Genesis contains not one, but two distinct creation narratives involving different types of humans. Drawing from Hebrew linguistics and ancient Near Eastern context, Ali argues that the language of Genesis reveals that the word "Elohim" (traditionally translated as "God") is Divine Council language. In this thought-provoking episode, Ali presents his theory that the creation story involves two distinct events: first, the Elohim (divine council) creating humans in their collective image who roam the earth, followed by Yahweh Elohim creating Adam specifically for Eden's garden. This interpretation attempts to solve puzzles like where Cain's wife came from, why he feared other people, and how agriculture suddenly appeared in the archaeological record.From his research into ancient gods and civilizations to his groundbreaking documentary linking UFOs to biblical narratives, Ali's journey challenges both literalist and progressive interpretations of Scripture. Whether you agree with his conclusions or not, his linguistic analysis and pattern recognition raise fascinating questions about what the text actually says versus what tradition teaches. This Episode is Sponsored By: https://homechef.com/blurry — Get 50% off, plus free shipping on your first box and free dessert for life! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosh HaShanah begins at sundown on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 and ends on Wednesday Sept. 24 2025. This begin the Jewish year 5786According to traditional Jewish thinking, this holiday honors the creation of mankind by Elohim. The Mishnah (earlier part of the Talmud) refers to Rosh Hashanah as the “Day of Judgment” (Yom ha-Din) since all of creation owes allegiance to the Creator and is accountable to Him. The name Elohim revealed in Genesis 1:1 speaks of Elohim as the Creator and Judge of the universe. In Jewish tradition on Rosh Hashanah we stand before Yahweh as our personal Creator and Judge. Many Messianic Jews believe that the sound of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a symbol of the 2nd coming of the followers of Yahshua MessiahIn Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "Head of the Year," and as its name indicates, it is the beginning of the Jewish year. The days beginning with Rosh HaShana and ending with Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) are known as “The Days of Awe.” This is a very special time of year on the Jewish calendar, a time of introspection and commitment to self-improvement for the coming year. Most of all, this is the season for repentance, prayer, and charity, as illustrated by the quotation above - since we are taught that these three things have the power to influence the outcome of our judgment in a favorable way. We are taught that on Rosh Hashana, Yahweh sits in judgment on all His creations and decides their fate. Everything is decided on this day, for every aspect of the entire creation, each individual and each nation.The Prophets of Israel repeatedly spoke of a future day when Yahweh would directly intervene in the affairs of men. They called that day “The Day of the Lord” [Isa. 13:6-13; Ezek. 13:3-8; Joel 1:15, 2:1; Amos 5:18-20; Zeph. 1:7-2:3; Zech 14:1-21; Mal. 4:5-6]. Two major themes are associated with the Day of the Lord.The first is the deliverance of the righteous.The second is the judgment of the wicked, in connection with His coming.The Son of Yahweh will call His own to Himself and then go to war against His enemies. It is the blowing of a Trumpet, which will signal those 2 events. In Paul's writing of 1 Thess. 4:16, the Lord will descend with the sound of the trumpet to call His own to His presence and in Chapter 5 Paul continues the thought, on the day of the Lord as it commences, during which time His wrath will be poured out against the wicked.In most basic terms, the Feast of Trumpets, the first of the Fall Feasts, which Yahweh gave to Israel, depicts the coming of Yahshua Messiah to take His virgin bride with Him into that eternal life, in that new Heaven and Earth! Perhaps one further thought is appropriate at this point. The Feast Trumpets occurs on the 1st day of the Hebrew 7th month Tisri. It would occur at the new moon. However clouds could obscure the moon and witnesses were required. Watchfulness was critical ingredient of this Feast. The Rabbis later added a second day to this Feast to make sure they did not miss it. This need for watchfulness and preparedness in connection with the Feast of Trumpets is echoed throughout the N.T. in connection with the Lord's coming. Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. [Matt. 24:42]Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober minded [1 Thess. 5:6]We know in the Parable of the Tares [Matt. 13] the harvest takes place in the fall. The reapers [angels] are sent forth to separate the wheat from the tares [zowan]. We read in Rev. 9:10 [read verses 3-10] about the locust army. [May-Sept.]The primary focus of the Feast of Trumpets is the return of Yahshua Messiah to this earth. The emphasis of this Trumpet Feast is mostly prophetic. Have any questions? Feel free to email me, keitner2024@outlook.com

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 25:1-2 - Kavod Elohim vs. Kavod Melachim (Part 1)גַּם אֵלֶּה מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר הֶעְתִּיקוּ אַנְשֵׁי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה:כְּבֹד אֱלֹהִים הַסְתֵּר דָּבָר וּכְבֹד מְלָכִים חֲקֹר דָּבָר:Length: 47 minutesSynopsis: This morning (9/22/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we began a new chapter AND a whole new section of Mishlei! After briefly getting the peshat of the introductory 25:1, we analyzed 25:2, which is stylistically different from most of the Mishlei we've learned over the past 4+ years (as will be the case for the remainder of the sefer). We came up with a few half-baked approaches, one of which was solid. I shared my own intuition which ended up being supported by Metzudas David, and the other solid approach was similar to what the Ralbag said. I'm curious to see what we find in the other meforshim, but we'll have to wait until after Rosh ha'Shanah for that.---מקורות:משלי כה:א-בתרגום רס"גמצודת ציון/דודרלב"ג-----The Torah Content for the month of September is sponsored by Meir Areman in loving memory of his grandmother, Esther Chasha bas Meir Gedalya, who recently passed away on the 25th of Av. Tehei nishmasah tzerurah b'tzror ha'chayim.-----If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you.If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.-----Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-SchneeweissPatreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweissYouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweissInstagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/"The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com"Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com"The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com"Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com"The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.comOld Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0HAmazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

In this solo episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal tackles the concerning theological trend of "Divine Council Theology" and its recent resurgence within Reformed circles. He offers a critical analysis of Michael Heiser's influential work and its problematic popularization by Reformed figures like Doug Van Dorn and John Moffitt. Tony demonstrates how redefining the biblical term "Elohim" to include both God and created spiritual beings in the same ontological category fundamentally undermines the creator-creature distinction essential to Christian orthodoxy. Through careful examination of systematic theological categories, communicable and incommunicable attributes, and implications for Christology, he reveals why this seemingly academic redefinition poses serious threats to biblical monotheism and classical Reformed theology. Key Takeaways Divine Council Theology, popularized by Michael Heiser and now being promoted within Reformed circles, attempts to redefine "Elohim" as a functional category that includes both God and created spiritual beings. This theological trend commits an etymological fallacy by redefining the predominant usage of "Elohim" (which refers to the God of Israel in ~2,300 of 2,600 occurrences) based on minority usages. The approach dangerously blurs the fundamental creator-creature distinction that is essential to Christian monotheism and orthodox theology. Proponents incorrectly classify divine power as a communicable attribute rather than recognizing omnipotence as an incommunicable attribute that cannot be shared with creatures. The theological system makes problematic analogies to the incarnation, showing a confused understanding of the hypostatic union and potentially opening the door to Arian implications. This theology represents a concerning return to concepts the early church fathers fought against when confronting pagan Greek thought, rather than a retrieval of biblical teaching. Departing from the "pattern of sound words" handed down through church history in favor of novel interpretations should raise significant warning flags. Key Concepts The Creator-Creature Distinction The most fundamental division in Christian theology is not between spiritual and material beings, but between the uncreated Creator and everything else that exists. Divine Council Theology dangerously undermines this distinction by placing God and created spiritual beings in the same category of "Elohim." While proponents acknowledge God as the uncreated Creator, they nevertheless insist on categorizing Him alongside angels, demons, and other spiritual entities based on shared attributes of power or function. This categorization system parallels pagan worldviews more than biblical theology, where God exists in a class of one. By defining "Elohim" as a functional category related to spiritual power rather than an ontological one, this approach inadvertently returns to a hierarchical view of spiritual beings with God merely at the "top of the totem pole" rather than in an entirely separate and unique category of existence. This framework subtly but significantly undermines biblical monotheism by suggesting God shares a fundamental nature with His creatures. Communicable vs. Incommunicable Attributes Divine Council Theology mishandles the traditional theological distinction between God's communicable and incommunicable attributes. In classical Reformed theology, communicable attributes (like love or wisdom) can be shared with creatures in a limited, analogical way, while incommunicable attributes (like omnipotence, eternality, or divine simplicity) belong exclusively to God and cannot be shared without making the creature into God. Proponents of Divine Council Theology erroneously suggest that the power denoted by "Elohim" is a communicable attribute that God shares with spiritual beings, rather than recognizing omnipotence as properly incommunicable. This misclassification creates theological incoherence: if God could truly share His omnipotence with creatures, those creatures would effectively become equal to God in power, creating the logical impossibility of multiple omnipotent beings. This confusion of categories demonstrates how this theological system fails to maintain proper distinctions that are essential for preserving the uniqueness and transcendence of God in Christian theology. Memorable Quotes "Christianity and biblical Judaism—the primary distinction is not between spiritual and matter... The primary distinction when we're talking about the most absolute line is the distinction between the uncreated creator and his creation." "Rather than rely on the safe time-tested words and concepts that have been proven and validated, and attacked and defended and have been victorious for hundreds and thousands of years... Moffitt and Van Dorn think it is smarter and safer to depart from the pattern of sound words rather than to keep the pattern of sound words because they think that they are able to look at the Bible the way basically no one ever has in the 2000 years of the church and find something they haven't." "These teachings are pagan. This is talking about returning to a world populated by spiritual beings, and God is kind of just on the highest part of the totem pole... We're just returning to something that the early church fought hard to get rid of when they came out of their pagan culture." Resources Mentioned Reformed Arsenal article series on Divine Council Theology Full Transcript [00:00:24] Introduction and Episode Setup Tony Arsenal: Welcome to episode 461 of the Reformed Brotherhood. I am Tony, and today it's just me. Hey, brothers and sisters. We had a little bit of a scheduling conflict this week, so Jesse is taking the week off and uh, it gives me an opportunity to talk about something that I've been doing a little bit of research on. [00:00:47] Affirmations and Denials Tony Arsenal: Hopefully the listener has noticed that Jesse and I have been trying to keep our affirmations and denials a little bit tighter so we can get into the meat of the episode a little bit quicker. But occasionally we do run into a denial, usually a denial, but we run into a denial that, uh, we often say this could be an episode of its own. And so today is one of those episodes. So I'm not gonna give you my normal affirmation or denial. I'm just gonna jump into it. Now this is gonna be a little bit off the cuff. I've been doing some research, so I may not have as much of the receipts as the kids say, um, as I normally would. But I am writing a series of articles on this issue over@reformedarsenal.com. I'll make sure to put the link to the first article in the show notes. All of the receipts are there, all of the timestamps for the podcast episodes that I'll be. Discussing your critiquing. Are there citations for research work that I'm doing? All that stuff is there. So if you're interested in digging into the meet and you're the kind of guy who, or girl who likes to nerd out in the footnotes, then head over to uh reformed arsenal.com. You'll find the series pretty quick. [00:01:56] Introduction to Divine Counsel Theology Tony Arsenal: What I wanted to talk about today, and I'm glad we have kind of a whole episode, uh, to talk about it, is a movement, uh, that has some foothold in reformed theology. Uh, it's not new, uh, it didn't start in reformed theology, but for some reason, uh, those who are within our orbits tend to be a little bit enamored by this kind of theology. I'm not exactly sure why. [00:02:19] Michael Heiser's Influence Tony Arsenal: This theology is often called Divine Counsel Theology, and it was really, um, you know, it's not entirely new even with, with this figure, but it was really made popular and sort of, um, spread about and made accessible by the late Michael Heiser. Um, part of this is because he was just a very winsome, uh, guy. He took. Sort of highfalutin academic concepts and was able to bring them down to, uh, to an understandable level, including things like ancient near Eastern context, biblical, you know, ex of Jesus Hebrew language, other ancient near Eastern languages, which of course, that's that kind of stuff is what this podcast is all about, taking difficult, sometimes technical concepts. Talking about them, translating them into kind of the language that everybody else speaks. So that project was fine. The issue is the direction that he goes with a lot of the theology. So Michael Heiser writes a book called Unseen Realms, which is seen as kind of a retrieval of the supernatural mindset and worldview of the Bible. Uh, there's a lot to be commended about that, uh, enterprise, about that intention. I do agree with part of what he has to say when he says that we've lost a lot of the supernatural context of the Bible. Um, but I think where he goes with it is a direction that we really ought not go and we'll dig into it. [00:03:43] Critique of Reformed Fringe Podcast Tony Arsenal: The reason this is coming up now is because recently there's been a series of articles and podcasts put out by a show called The Reformed Fringe. Uh, some if you're in the Telegram chat, which you can join at, uh, t Me slash Reformed Brotherhood. You've already seen some of this stuff. We've already talked about it a little bit. But the Reformed Fringe is a podcast that sort of tries to fill a space that's something like Haunted Cosmos, which we've talked about before. Um, fills sort of looking at the weird fringe kind of things in the world. Ghosts, paranormal activity, trying to explain it through a biblical, uh, lens or worldview. Again, that's a commendable. Effort. There are strange things that happen in our world that are not easily explainable or at all explainable by natural, uh, naturalistic means. And so coming to those things with the Bible as our, uh, rubric to instruct us on how the world works is a commendable thing. But again, this project, which is by and large, um, and we'll get into maybe, but by and large is just an extension of, um, Heiser's project really goes in directions that cause all sorts of problems down the road. So the podcast is, uh, run by a guy named Doug Van Dorn, who most of the audience probably hasn't heard of. I have had run-ins with Doug over the years. Um, the last time I ran into him actually was revolving around similar kinds of issues that I'm gonna be calling out today. Um, and it, it ended up with him kind of having to depart from the reform pub, uh, maybe to put it a little bit politely and, um. You know, he has, he has taken, he's theology, which was not explicitly reformed. Heiser was not a reformed guy. He had no claims to be a Calvinist in many ways. Uh, he was sort of anticon confessional in, in that he opposed not the idea of a faith statement, but he sort of purported to come to the Bible with no biases, with no tradition. He wanted to approach what he called the Naked Bible. That was actually the name of his podcast before he died a few years ago. And so what Doug Van Dorn is, has done who, uh, Doug is a claims to be a 1689 Reformed Baptist. He's a pastor in Colorado, I believe. Um, he has tried to take this divine counsel theology and bring it into the reformed world. So he comes at it with a, a slightly different angle, but for the most part, his conclusions are the same. And in many cases he just straight up steals ER's work and doesn't cite it, doesn't do much to, uh, articulate that this is not his original research. Um, so he's taken that and he's trying to bring it into the reformed world. And Heiser himself was actually quite influential when I was a, an admin in the reform pub. We would run into lots of, lots of young reformed guys. Who were really enamored with this and they really saw, he's project as sort of a return to a pure form of exo Jesus that really got at what the Hebrew was saying. And it tickled, I think, kind of an intellectual, uh, an intellectual itch that a lot of those guys had combined with sort of this desire for the new and novel, um, which is in itself can be pretty dangerous. To sort of make things a little bit more pressing, Heiser has teamed up with John Moffitt, who many of our listeners may know. Uh, he's one of the co-hosts and founders of the podcast, Theo Cast, uh, which otherwise is a perfectly fine podcast. Um, he's also a 1680 or claims to be a 1689 Reform Baptist. He's a pastor. Um, their podcast is sort of what you would get if you had, uh, and I don't mean this to be pejorative, although maybe it is a little pejorative. Theo cast is what you would get if you took r Scott Clark. Uh, you made it much less intellectual and careful, and then made it Baptist. And what I mean by that is Scott's whole project. In large part is to recover and to emphasize the law gospel distinction. Theo cast has taken that and sort of cranked it up to 11. Uh, and they have um, they have sort of moved away from a lot of the classical reform distinctions of the law itself, so they don't full on deny the third use of the law. But in practice they would say that, um, good works is no kind of evidence whatsoever for your, um, for your faith. It's no kind of evidence of your, your salvation, which of course are confessions themselves. Um, say that there is a kind of evidential value to assessing our good works within certain reason and con. So the show is otherwise orthodox. You know, I I, I recall hearing episodes where they were refuting things like EFS, um, but because of that, Moffitt brings with him sort of an air of credibility and an error in orthodoxy that, um, the show itself probably hasn't merited. If Doug just recorded, pushed, play and put it on the. I don't think there would've been too much, uh, too much of a following. He would've probably, you know, grabbed a couple people who heard it and thought it was interesting. But because Moffitt has such a following on Theo cast, he brings with him a large audience, and that makes it particularly dangerous because his name attached to it makes it more widespread. It makes it feel like it's safer. And so I think a lot of people, uh, assume that what he's saying is orthodox and good. And I think what we'll find out is, is that it's not. So I think that's enough ProGo. [00:09:10] Elohim and Its Implications Tony Arsenal: I'm gonna go ahead and, and jump into explaining kind of what the theology that we're talking about is and, and what the problems are. So this all started kicked off, uh, with a series of podcast episodes and the first episode, and again, I don't have the specific titles here. I'll put a bibliography in the show notes on this one just so you have links to all the relevant episodes. Um, this all kind of kicked off with a podcast episode called something like The History of the Word God, or something like that. And, um, basically what Moffitt and Van Dorn want to do is they wanna look at the word Elohim in the Bible, which of course is a plural noun. Uh, in Hebrew, the, the suffix, just like in English, we might add an S or an ES, um, to a word to make it plural. Or in Greek, it's usually, if it's a masculine, uh, noun, it's, it's an oi or an omicron iota that sort of always sound at the end. Um, or when we, we talk about Latin, you have, you have like, um, you add the I at the end, so we say octopi instead of octopuses or something like that. Cacti instead of cactus. Although both of those are kind of pig Latins, um, in, in Hebrew for, uh, for masculine nouns. The suffix that you add to make it plural, is that eam sound. It's a, it's an Im if you transliterate in English. So the word Elohim is a plural of the original noun El which is a proper name for a eury deity. But it came to just be the singular word for, for God. Um, and, and in non-biblical language, we would say in a God. Um, and we do see in English, there are in, in Hebrew, in the Bible, there are places where we see the singular of this. It's kind of an older form, so it doesn't show up as much. Um, but by and large when we see the word Elohim in the Bible. Something like, uh, outta 2,600 references or more than 2,600 references in the Bible. Um, the word Elohim is associated with a single, a singular noun, and it only refers to the God of Israel. What Moffitt and Van Dorn want to do is they want to take this word and they wanna define it based on the abnormal. Uh, use of it. So the vast minority, minority of cases in the Old Testament, the word Elohim refers to the gods or to a non, like what we might say is lower G God, either like the God, Baal, or some sort of collective reference to the gods, the gods of the nation, or something like that. They wanna take the fact that there is this variation in the way the word is used and sort of radically redefine how the Bible uses it. And this, this is what I call and what a lot of people would call an etymological fallacy. So what they're doing is, instead of, uh, looking at the word and defining it based on how it's used in an, in an overwhelming fashion, they're looking at sort of the etymology of the word. And then they're using the fact that there are, uh, some pretty Dr. Dramatically minority cases where the word is used in a different way and they wanna redefine it and say, in, in all or most cases in the Bible actually. This is what the word means. So they look at the word L, which from its root has something to do probably with the, with the word for power or something like that. Um, they wanna look at it. And, you know, if you read someone like Vos in Reformed dogmatics in his volume one, he talks about how when we see the name Elohim for God, it denotes or, or refers to his sort of power, his omnipotence, which is all good and fine, just like we would say Yahweh. Uh, as a proper name refers to God sort of in his covenant role. It's his covenant name, his, his intimate, familial name that he shares, uh, with his people or he reveals to his people. Elohim is a more abstract name and it refers to God's power. Usually we see it in relation to his cre creation. So in Genesis one, um, when it's God created, it's Elohim created, which is also important and relevant for, for later. So what they wanna do is they want to say that Elohim actually. What Act Elohim actually means is it's a reference to a class of beings, spiritual beings, and that that it means sort of any spiritual being that has some type of supernatural power or enhanced power, some sort of spiritual power. They do this by saying that the noun is not an ontological noun, it's actually like a noun of function. Um, so like we would say a, a good example in English would be a painter that's a noun of function. It's a title of function. It any person could be called a painter if they engage in the verbal action of painting. And so what they're saying is that any being that engages in the action of having power. Is, uh, is an Elohim. And so that would include, in narrating at least, it would include angels, demons. Uh, I, you know, I don't know that they've said this explicitly, but I, I think Heiser would've included things like ghosts, disembodied spirits, um, humans in sort of the intermediary state might be considered Elohim humans in the, in the, um, this. Life are called Elohim, uh, in some instances. So, so this is where the Divine Council theology comes from, and that comes from Psalm 82, I think, where there's this council of Elohim that, that Yahweh seems to be speaking to and deliberating with. Or you look at Joe, where the sons of God come and they sort of pulled court in God's heavenly presence. So he would say those are examples where the, the collected Elohim. God being one of the Elohim are somehow gathered in this heavenly divine counsel. Now what this does is just devastating to Christian theology is it takes God who exists in a class of one. The, the, the God of the universe is, is the only uncreated entity in all of of the world. And so when we start to talk, and this is ironic, when we start to talk about the ways to divide up the world, the ancient world, the, the pagan world tended to divide the world between, um. Between spiritual and material. So think of g Gnostics where matter was bad and spirit was good. Or even think of something like, um, the Greek pantheons, the Greek, um, Greek religion, like ancient Greek mythology. You have sort of the spirits and the spiritual world and the gods inhabit a spiritual, have a spiritual existence for the most part. And then you have the physical world where kind of people live, uh, at least while they're alive. Christianity and, and Judaism, at least Biblical Judaism. On the other hand, the, the primary distinction is not between spiritual and matter. There is of course that distinction. There are humans, which are spiritual and material. There are animals which are entirely material, and then there are angels which are entirely spiritual. And so we would say that God is spiritual. So that is a distinction in the world. But the primary distinction when we're talking about the most absolute line is the distinction between the, the uncreated creator and his creation. So what Moffitt, Moffitt and Van Dorn do is instead of observing that biblical distinction, which really all of Christian theology and Christian monotheism rests on, they wanna say that instead, the distinction is between the. Um, is between the Elohim as the sort of spiritual beings and then sort of everything else of the created world, and so they wouldn't deny that God, that Yahweh is. The uncreated creator of all things, but they would say he's an uncreated Elohim and that there is a class of created Elohim. So I don't, I don't think you have to go too far down this road to see what this does. It puts God on the same level as his creatures in at least one way. Um, and I think we'll find out later, uh, as we talk through this, actually it does it in a couple ways that are really, uh, really can be problematic as we go. And so, uh, just let me be clear if all that, if all that Moffitt and Van Dorn were saying, if, if all they said was, um, we can use the word Elohim to describe any creature. Or God that doesn't have a body. Elohim is a synonym for the word spirit. Um, that wouldn't be the wisest way to speak, I don't think. It wouldn't be the, the most, um, felicitous or safe way to talk about the distinction. But it wouldn't be controversial. There'd be nothing wrong with that. It'd just be using a different word. It'd be like if I said, well, instead of the word spirit, I'm gonna use the word bibly bop, you know? So we have. We have God who is bibly bop, and we have the angels who is bibly bop, and humans are biblio bop. And also material, again, not the safest way to talk. There's no reason to use that alternative language when the Bible gives us perfectly legitimate language. Um, but it wouldn't be a problem. But Moffit and Van Dorn go. Way past this and maybe they don't realize it. I've asked them on Twitter, I asked them to clarify. I didn't get a response. So if they are hearing this, which maybe they will, maybe they won't. If they're hearing this, I would really love to get some clarification on some of these questions because I would love nothing more than to be able to say that this was all a big misunderstanding and that actually all they're saying is that there is this spiritual existence. That, um, we can put all things that are spirit without a body or spirit with a body. We can put all those in the same category and call that category Elohim. Again, I don't think that's safe, but if that's all they were doing, that would be fine. But we see in their episodes, and I'm gonna try to grab some quotes, um, from, from some of the articles I've written. But again, go read the articles because this goes way more in depth. It's got timestamps of it. It's got links to their episodes. Don't take my word for it. Go listen to their. Words and, and check, you know, check my math on this. But what they do is they actually start to, in, in an attempt to justify why it's okay to put God in the same category as his creatures. Um, and in at least one way, they start to make some weird statements that have a lot of systematic theology, um, implications that are, are just really, really risky. So, for example, one of the ways that they try to kind of explain this, I'm gonna pull, pull the article that I wrote up here. So, great podcasting. [00:19:34] Communicable vs. Incommunicable Attributes Tony Arsenal: Um, one of the ways they start to try to do this is again, they, they wanna say they use this distinction between incommunicable and communicable attributes, right? So in, in Christian theology, classically speaking, a communicable attribute of God is an attribute that he shares or could share with. A creature and primarily we're talking, you know, we're talking about attributes that he shares with his image bearers. So something like, um, love. Love is a communicable attribute. Our love is different than God's love, but when we say love, we're talking about the same basic category of things God loves differently than we do. But love and in a human sense, and love in a, in a divine sense, are still talking about the same thing. There's a point of contact there. Um, an incommunicable attribute would be something like, um, something like eternity. Right. Eternity is not just an extended infinite sequence of time. If it was, he could share that with us. Um, but eternity or infinity is an entirely different way of existing than a creature could ever, could ever exist in divine Simplicity is another example. Um, God could not make humans simple because simplicity entails all sorts of things like infinity. Um, eternality. Um, you know, omnipresence, omni, potent, all of these things are entailed by simplicity. So God could not make a creature infinite because in order for it to be infinite, it would have to be God. Uh, God could not make a creature simple, uh, in the, in the sense of no composition of parts. Uh, because that would mean that that creature is actually God and has no composer. So, so those would be the classic, uh, incommunicable attributes and omnipotence. Is considered, although it's a little bit weird, it sort of crosses the line in some ways. But omnipotence is considered. An incommunicable attribute. God cannot share his omnipotence with a creature because you can't have two omnipotence. Um, if you have two omnipotence, then those two omnipotence cancel each other out in some sense. If God, and, and, and he has a will, God wills one thing, and then I as a creature, if he shared his omnipotence with me, somehow willed a different thing, then we would no longer be, neither of us would be omnipotent. Where this goes sideways with Moffitt and Vandorn is rather than respect omnipotence as a an incommunicable attribute, they say that the attribute or the word Elohim denotes power or might, and that is a communicable attribute. So God does give us a certain level of power. He allows us a certain level of agency. He grants that to us. Again, I'm not even sure that we would call that an an. A communicable attribute. Um, but in a sense, I guess it is. And so they say here, um, Elohim does not mean omnipotent. It means power. It's not an incommunicable attribute. It's a communicable attribute that all kinds of entities could possess. So they're saying that the word, um, the word Elohim, uh, in the Bible denotes that a. A, an entity possesses a certain kind of power or acts in a certain role of executing a certain kind of power. And that doesn't mean omnipotence. It means it means potence. It means some sort of power. And so that that wielding power attribute that. Uh, being a, being that wields power, that attribute, whatever we want to call it, however we want to phrase it, that is a communicable attribute that God shares. He communicates that attribute to all other beings in the class of Elohim. Now, let's just back that up for a second. Um, this still would mean that God has to be the creator and they don't deny that, but it would still mean that God, prior to creation. Was an Elohim in a category of one, and then somehow he created a class and because he's extended. This attribute of wielding power, say power wielder, to try to make it actually more of an attribute. He's extended this attribute of power wielder to uncreate or to created angels, demons, human spirits, whatever other spiritual entities there might be. They would bring in things like principalities, powers, they have a whole, in other, other contexts, they'll talk about this whole different bifurcation of types of spiritual beings that I think is a little speculative, but not a big deal. He extends this power wielder attribute to these created categories. And instead of this now creating a separate category of power wields who are not God, it now is uh, he expands this category of one to now include all sorts of other things, which again, as you can, you can imagine, just runs into problems. And so the, again, this, this word Elohim appears over 2,600 times, and of these instances, 230 of them refer to the God of Israel. So the idea that that. This word is not used specifically as a reference to the God of Israel, or should not be thought of as uniquely titling or almost exclusively titling God. The God of Israel just doesn't really match the data, but it's also just really poor Exogenic method. So rather than take the predominant usage and look at the context. Understanding that the predominant usage is the predominant usage. Instead, we're gonna go back and say, well, these, these minority, these 300 or so cases outside, and not even all 300 of them are used the same way, but these 300 or so cases of them not referring to the God of Israel, we're gonna use that to redefine the word. Its entirety. It's just poor. It's just poor scholarship. It's overly speculative. Um, I haven't read much of. He's work on this in the primary sources. Um, I, I would venture a guess that Heiser makes a much more robust argument than this. And this is part of the problem. When you take an already speculative, already dangerous theology and you try to pop popularize it when you just don't have the same chops that he did, uh, you end up really making some crass, simplistic arguments that just make you look a little silly. To think we can take 200 or 2,600 instances and redefine 2 20, 300 of them. By the way, it's used 300 of the times Just doesn't make any sense. So it again, if, if all we are saying is that God is spiritual and angels are spiritual and so there is some point of affinity between the two, then that would be okay. That wouldn't be a problem. Again, there's some risk in using the word Elohim in that. Sort of placeholder, but, um, that would be a semantic discussion. What they're doing is far, far deeper and far more problematic than that. [00:26:30] Systematic Theology Concerns Tony Arsenal: And so the, the other thing they do, um, that I think is really dangerous, and I don't have all of the, I haven't finished this article yet, so I don't have all of the timestamps in front of me to, to, to get there, is in attempting to justify this Moffitt, uh, in, in one of the other episodes, he turns to the incarnation as a sort of model. And so he'll say that, you know, the son of God is divine, but he's also human. And the fact that he's human, uh, doesn't therefore mean he's not also uniquely the uncreated creator. I would assume everyone hearing this who listens to this show, uh, which has done many, many episodes on Christology, it's one of our pet projects, is just throwing their listening device across the room because what Moffitt seems to miss entirely is that Christ is not, the sun is not in the category of human. Uh, sort of in a simple sense, Christ is in the category of human because he assumes to himself a second created nature. So what, what the, the analogy he's trying to draw is if the sun can be human without ceasing to be the unique one, uncreated God, then so also can, the whole trinity, I guess, can also be Elohim without ceasing to be the one uncreated God. He even goes so far as to say that there is Uncreated Elohim, and then there is created Elohim, and they're all in the category of Elohim, but because there's this commonality, we should still consider that class. And he draws that distinction or he draws the implication that. Um, there's somehow uncreated humanity in Christ, which is a whole different ball of worms that we won't get into. But in, in drawing this analogy, he sort of shows that he really doesn't understand the hypostatic union. He doesn't understand the incarnation, or if he does, he's really making a poor comparison because in the hypostatic union it's not as though the son, uh, as divinity, the son, as the one uncreated. God simply adds to himself in a raw sense and merges. Uh, he doesn't become part of the category of human without taking on a second nature. And then now we are even getting into some inconsistencies. Is human an ontological category or is that a category of function? Are there other categories of function, uh, other creatures in existence that the category of function human might fit? So I think you can see that this just is not a self consistent. Um, a self-consistent system and it leads to all these weird implications. Um, you know, and then they'll even go on to talk about how the Son is the angel of the Lord. I'm not gonna get into a lot of it here, and I agree with that thesis that the, when we see the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament, in the vast majority of cases, we're probably seeing a pre-incarnate appearance of, um, of the second person of the Trinity. They go so far as to say that this is actually a sort of. Incarnation or a sort of hypostatic union of the Elohim nature. So they, they, they draw this distinction, or they draw this parallel between created Elohim and Uncreated Elohim, and they, they argue again, I think implicitly, but in some instances it's almost, it's almost explicit that the son in, in being the angel of the Lord, takes on the uncreated or takes on the created Elohim nature. It's, it's really, um, it's really problematic. So now we have the son who is, uh, sort of hypostatic united to the unc, to the created Elohim nature, and then also is hypostatic united to the human nature. Um, it, it really just gets messy and it confuses categories in a way that is not helpful. And if I'm just being frank, a lot of the younger reformed guys. And when I say younger, I'm talking, maybe I'm projecting back to when I was a younger reform guy, um, I'm talking about people in their mid twenties to maybe early thirties, right? The, the people who were maybe the second or third generation of the young restless reform guys, they didn't necessarily learn, uh, ref young restless reform theology directly from RC Sproul. You know, they weren't the first generation. Um, and, and maybe their pastors weren't the first generation, but, but maybe their pastors were the second generation and now they're learning it from their pastors. So you might think of 'em as like the third generation, to be frank, they don't usually have a great grasp on some of these systematic theology categories as part of why. Jesse and I do this podcast, and part of why we cover the same topic over and over again, part of why we're gonna go through this parable series. But when we're done, we're probably gonna go back and start over with systematic theology. We're gonna go back, we're gonna go through another confession. That's why we spent, we spent like six years going through systematic theology. And almost immediately went back to the Scott's confession and did most of it all over again because these truths need to be taught again and again and again. This is part of what Jude is talking about when he says, we have to contend for the faith. It's not just fighting with people online. It's not just polemics or apologetics. It is reteaching and handing down the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Again, and this is perhaps, and this is the last point I'll make. This is perhaps the most. Telling a reason we should be weary and suspicious of this theology. Paul, in, uh, one of the letters to Timothy, second Timothy, maybe he says, follow the pattern of the sound words that you heard from me. He's not talking about the scriptures. He doesn't say follow the sound words that I'm writing to you. He's referring to a body of doctrine sometimes. The Bible calls it the faith, right? Jude says to contend for the faith. There's this body of doctrine that is the teaching of the apostles, and it is encapsulated in this sort of set pattern of words. Erin A is called it the rule of faith or the regular fide, right? This is where we get things like the Nicean Creed or the Hanian Creed. Why we have creeds and confessions is because we don't need to reinvent the wheel and rather than rely on the safe time-tested words and concepts that have been proven and validated, and attacked and defended and, and um, have been victorious for hundreds and thousands of years, rather than rely on those. Moffitt and Van Doran think it is smarter and safer to depart from the pattern of sound words rather than to keep the pattern of sound words because they think that they are able to look at the Bible the way basically no one ever has in the 2000 years of the church and find something they haven't. I don't wanna be too bombastic. Um, I don't, I don't know either of them. Well, um, from what I can tell, what I've heard of their professions of faith, uh, they're, they're Christian believers. They love the Lord and are very confused. But these teachings are pagan. This is, we're talking about returning to a world of, of populated by spiritual beings. And God is kind of just on the highest part of the totem pole, and maybe there's a firm line between his place on the totem pole and the, the next level down. Maybe there is, um, gets a little bit less firm of a line when we're talking about Jesus, right? So there's some potential Arian implications there that the son, uh, is not the highest deity he is. He's like the father in some ways, but he, you know, in his sort of original form is like creatures in other ways. Um, we're just returning to something that the early church fought hard to get rid of when they came out of their pagan culture. When we started to see Greeks convert to Christianity, they had to figure out how do we come out of our polytheistic culture, and this is where we get the best defenses of monotheism. Jewish Christians didn't have to argue for monotheism because all the Jewish Christians already were monotheists in a biblical sense. The Greek Christians had to fight this stuff. Justin Martyr had to fight this stuff. Athanasius and the Cappadocian fathers had to fight this stuff constantly pushing back against the background Greek culture. And Moffitt and Van Dorn wanna point to that and say, see, really, they're just Greeks in disguise and in the reality is Athanasius and the cap oceans, were fighting against the theology that is making a resurgence in this divine council theory. [00:34:55] Conclusion and Call to Action Tony Arsenal: So I think that's enough for now. Please. Again, I'm writing a long series on this. I don't know how long it's gonna take. I think it's gonna be probably 10 or 13, 10 to 13 articles. It's, it's gonna be a pretty extensive project. But go read them. Go look at them, listen to their episodes, read their articles, and then you compare that to the word of God, has what I said made more sense or does what they make more sense. So I'll leave you with that. The dog is losing her mind. And uh, with that honor, everyone love the brotherhood.

Family of Taygeta Podcast: Elder Ikai - The Elohim Counsel UNCODE.initRow(document.getElementById("row-unique-3"));

Listen to part 1, In The Zone | August 2025 | Part 1Rabbi Steve Berkson invites local congregants and online listeners to ask questions or share comments about any aspect of our beliefs.• Opener• Titus 3:10 - Reject a divisive man?• What is the Prayer of Jabez?• The sons of Korach serving in the Temple?• You don't have to understand • Understanding others by the language they use• Elohim does not hear sinners?• John 9:41 - If you were blind, you would have no sin?• To evangelize or not to evangelize?• To bear fruit, stay in the vine?• Against whom did Pharaoh sin?• Does the exodus from Egypt foretell the ministry of Messiah Yeshua?• Yahweh only reveals what you can handle at the momentSubscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

In segment #17 with Channeled Conversation with Metatron, our beloved Archangel Metatron speaks about the Consciousness of AI and where it is heading in the future, he also answers questions about The Law of attraction and how our thoughts are creative, how to clear ancestral patterns and heal, who is the Elohim, how does sage clear energy, and much more! Awaken and heal with Archangel Metatron and his channeled wisdom. Join us as full body trance channel Wendy Gayle channels the energy of the most revered archangel. For more information about connecting with Metatron and his energy through a private session, please contact Wendy Gayle.www.metatronsmysticalmuse.comFollow @MetatronsMysticalMuse Mayra Rath is a Spiritual Hypnotherapist specializing in Past Life Regression Therapy and QHHT Hypnosis. With over 25 years of experience, she has guided countless individuals through transformative journeys into their past lives, helping them uncover deep-rooted patterns and heal emotional wounds and traumas connected to previous incarnations.Based in Los Angeles, Mayra conducts sessions through her private practice, Soul Signs Hypnosis, both in-person and remotely.Connect with me Website: https://www.soulsigns.netSocial Media:TIKTOK:@SoulSignsHypnosisInstagram:@SoulSignsHypnosisFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1009959799420939 Youtube: @SoulSignsHypnosisPODCAST: Past Lives with Mayra Rath (Apple & Spotify)#pastlivespodcast #starseedmeaning #starseedactivations #qhhtpractitioner #qhhtsessions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have we mistaken ancient beings for gods? In this explosive discussion, Paul Wallis and Billy Carson unpack the controversial origins of religion, exploring the role of Yahweh, El Shaddai, and the Elohim. From genetic engineering of humanity to the mysterious “worship gene,” this conversation dives deep into the texts of the Bible, the Sumerian tablets, and Mesopotamian myths.

Have we mistaken ancient beings for gods? In this explosive discussion, Paul Wallis and Billy Carson unpack the controversial origins of religion, exploring the role of Yahweh, El Shaddai, and the Elohim. From genetic engineering of humanity to the mysterious “worship gene,” this conversation dives deep into the texts of the Bible, the Sumerian tablets, and Mesopotamian myths.

Join us as Pastor Tim Powell brings us today's message. To learn more about NLC Greenbrier- TEXT "Greenbrier" TO: 88000 to connect with us!

The assassination of Charlie Kirk was an act of pure evil. But few truly understand what that word means.

After a month-long hiatus recovering from illness, Jacob Shapiro returns to the podcast joined by recurring guest Elohim Monard. Together, they examine the transactional nature of U.S.–Latin America relations, debating whether the region is part of a declining American empire and how leaders like Claudia Sheinbaum and Lula navigate Washington's shifting policies. Their discussion ranges from Brazil's geopolitical role to Venezuela's fragility, highlighting the Latin Americanization of U.S. politics and the uncertain trajectory of American power--Timestamps:(00:00) - Intro & Personal Update(00:59) - Elohim and Conversando de Política (02:46) - Discussion on US-Latin America Relations(03:51) - The Decline of the American Empire(19:58) - Brazil's Role in Latin America(38:01) - US Foreign Policy Contradictions(38:58) - Historical Context of US Alliances(39:36) - China's Strategic Interests(39:52) - US Transactional Relationships(41:04) - Latin America's Shift Towards China(41:58) - Colombia's Balancing Act(43:27) - Peru's Growing Chinese Influence(45:45) - US-Latin America Relations: A Historical Perspective(47:45) - The Latin Americanization of US Politics(51:17) - Soft Dictatorships and Media Relations(01:00:07) - US Military Actions in Latin America(01:06:10) - The Future of US-Latin America Relations--Referenced in the Show:Elohim's Podcast - https://www.conversandodepolitica.com/ --Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today's volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.--This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --Colossians 2:6-76 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.Daniel 1:1-2King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of JudahThe Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar victory???Messes with my theology. Ever feel like God is giving all the victory to your enemies?When we are rooted in him, we can trust God to strategically use bad situations to bring about profound good.He did it here, He'll do it for you.Daniel 1:3-54 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” 5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.Daniel 1:6-76 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:Daniel (God is my judge) → Belteshazzar (Bel favors him)Hananiah (gracious is Yahweh) → Shadrach (Ishtar)Mishael (who is like Elohim) → Meshach (Marduk)Azariah (he hears Yahweh) → Abednego (Nego)-iah, yah for Yahweh. -el for Elohim. Mesopotamian Gods Marduk, Ishtar, NegoFirst thing they did: they changed their names.Some names given to us, the Church:Dove (So and Psa)God's building (1Co 3:9)God's heritage (1Pe 5:3)Pillar of truth - 1Ti 3:15Free (Gal 4:26)Righteous (Heb 12)Faithful (Heb 13)Peace and mercy-givers (Gal)Being rooted into our name/title… We have these names from God. We need to lean into them by the way we live day-to-day.To be rooted in God means to know, believe, and live out our God-given identity.Daniel 1:8-109 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel.“Both respect and affection” - this is what we call favor.Pray for us, for favorWhen we are rooted in Christ, his life flowing in us bears the fruits of respect and favor.Daniel 1:12-1612 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king's food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel's suggestion and tested them for ten days.15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 16 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.“So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine” that was given to everyone else.If we're going to stand for Jesus through the winds and storms of life, we must be deeply rooted in Him.We won't stand for long if we don't have deep roots.The deeper our roots, the more solid we will stand.Colossians 2:6-76 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.Coming back to this - “Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught”We might have to wait on a miracle but we don't have to wait to be free.When we are deeply rooted, our loyalty to God is not determined by our circumstances.Colossians 2:88 Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.Closing, altar invitation for those who want to be set free from “empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense”Babylon: Your paycheck is enough.Jesus: I am enough.Babylon: This is too hard. You should give up.Jesus: You can do all things when your roots draw strength from me.Babylon: Your identity is in…Jesus: Your identity is in me. God loved you so much that He sent me to die for you.-------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

In the first week of the new sermon series, "God Is," Pastor Marlon spoke on the topic that shows God as Elohim.

Josh Monday Christian and Conspiracy Podcast Ep. 294How to Support the ministry: $5.99 a monthpatreon.com/JoshMondayChristianandConspiracyPodcastJoin the Patreon here: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Joshmonday_podcastIf you want to donate to the Ministry CashAPP:https://cash.app/$JoshmondaymusicNew affiliate: https://wsteif.com/ Earth Books by Sakal Publishing Affiliate Link: https://booksonline.club/booksonlinecYoutube: ⁠ @joshmondaymusicandpodcast ⁠ Tips for the show to Support our Ministry: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/joshmondayCoffee Mug Is Available email me your mailing address Joshmonday⁠@rocketmail.com ⁠ Please subscribe to our Spotify and You Tube Channel Joshmondaymusic and Podcast and help us grow so we can keep on spreading the good news.To all of our current and future subscribers thank you for your time, we appreciate you. Please do us a favor subscribe to our You Tube Channel, hit that bell, share, like and comment below on our You tube. Please leave us a 5-Star review on Apple and Spotify.Check out my new show Sunday Service and Wednesday Brought to you by Cult of Conspiracy Podcast. On Cult of Conspiracy Spotify, Patreon and Apple Podcast Channel.Join the study as I go deep into the Bible. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/josh-monday-christian-and-conspiracy-podcast--6611118/support.

We recommend listening to the full teaching, You Are Your Only Obstacle - Giants Fall | Elder William Jackson, before listening to this episode.Afterburn: also known in the fitness world as the “afterburn effect,” simply put, the more intense the exercise, the more oxygen your body consumes afterward. This effect could occur spiritually after the intense teachings Rabbi Berkson delivers each week. This Afterburn Q&A session allows your mind and soul to consume more understanding (oxygen).Some of the topics covered are:• Intro• They didn't mention the giants?• Why did David have five stones?• Is there a giant I need to overcome for someone else? • How do I kill a monster without killing myself?• You'll be ready when He's ready • Because of this, we have no excuse? • “This teaching was my wakeup call” • Balancing dayenu with expectations? • Should I ignore people talking about the end times on social media? • Is it a sin to be wealthy?• How does Elohim make all our paths straight? • Battling our “shadow side”?• This applies to this life and the next Subscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Understanding that your greatest obstacle is yourself, remembering that giants fall, and keeping in mind whom you serve—Yahweh, Elohim of hosts. • Intro / The Matchless Adonai• Overcoming You?• Deuteronomy 8:1 – This is your mission • The Power of Perception • Numbers 13:33 – “We were like grasshoppers” • Numbers 14:6-9 – Faith over fear •1 Samuel 17:45-47 – If you know what David knew • The giants within us must fall Listen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

One of Judaism's most famous teachings is that every person is created B'tzelem Elohim—in the image of God. But what does that really mean for how we see and treat each other, especially those who have done wrong? In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer digs into a surprising Torah passage and rabbinic midrash to explore dignity, justice, and the limits (or lack thereof) of seeing the divine in every human being. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK: The Liberal Beit Midrash. For info on our weekly Zoom study groups and other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/. To support the production of this podcast, visit either laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution) OR www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution. Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at micah@laasok.org.   

In today's episode, Bryan and Layne explore how the Jesus of the Book of Mormon compares with the Jesus of modern Mormonism and the unchanging Jesus of the Bible.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Finding Jesus: Book of Mormon Jesus vs. Modern LDS Jesus vs. the BibleWhen it comes to Jesus, definitions matter. In this episode, we explore three portraits: the Jesus often taught in modern-day Mormonism (LDS), the Jesus presented in the Book of Mormon (published in 1830), and the Jesus revealed in the Bible. Understanding the differences isn't just academic—it's the difference between a gospel of human progress and the good news of divine rescue.The Modern LDS View (as many were taught)Many lifelong Latter-day Saints were taught a framework where Jesus (Jehovah) is a created spirit-son of Elohim and a Heavenly Mother, the elder brother of all humans—and even of Lucifer. In that system, God the Father Himself once progressed to Godhood, and Jesus is likewise on a path of progression. This view filters into temple endowment language about “organizing” existing matter, reinforcing the idea that God is more architect than Creator. The result? A Jesus who feels closer to us by nature, but further from us in power—a Savior on the way up, rather than the eternal Lord who stoops down to save.The Book of Mormon's Higher ChristologyInterestingly, the earliest Book of Mormon language often sounds more like historic Christian claims about Christ's full deity. For example, passages highlight worship directed to Jesus and language that closely parallels biblical titles for God. Whatever one concludes about its origins, the Book of Mormon's Christological tone (especially early editions) frequently reads closer to biblical Trinitarian language than to later LDS teachings. That's a crucial observation for anyone comparing sources within the broader Latter-day Saint tradition.The Bible's Timeless Witness about JesusScripture presents an unchanging Christ—from eternity past to eternity future. “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1-3 NLT. Jesus isn't created; he is the eternal Son through whom all things were made. “So the Word became human and made his home among us” John 1:14 NLT. The New Testament repeatedly ascribes to Jesus names, works, and worship belonging to God alone. He is “the exact likeness of God,” the preeminent One through whom and for whom all things were created Colossians 1:15-17 NLT. He bears the personal divine name “I AM” John 8:58 NLT and claims the titles “Alpha and Omega…the Almighty” Revelation 1:8 NLT.This has massive implications. If Jesus is uncreated, then salvation rests not on our ascent to Godhood, but on God's descent to rescue sinners. The torn temple veil at Jesus' death dramatizes this shift from ritual ladders to a Person—direct access to the Father through the finished work of the Son (Matthew 27:51) NLT.Why This Matters for YouIf your background...

In today's episode, Bryan and Layne explore how the Jesus of the Book of Mormon compares with the Jesus of modern Mormonism and the unchanging Jesus of the Bible.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Finding Jesus: Book of Mormon Jesus vs. Modern LDS Jesus vs. the BibleWhen it comes to Jesus, definitions matter. In this episode, we explore three portraits: the Jesus often taught in modern-day Mormonism (LDS), the Jesus presented in the Book of Mormon (published in 1830), and the Jesus revealed in the Bible. Understanding the differences isn't just academic—it's the difference between a gospel of human progress and the good news of divine rescue.The Modern LDS View (as many were taught)Many lifelong Latter-day Saints were taught a framework where Jesus (Jehovah) is a created spirit-son of Elohim and a Heavenly Mother, the elder brother of all humans—and even of Lucifer. In that system, God the Father Himself once progressed to Godhood, and Jesus is likewise on a path of progression. This view filters into temple endowment language about “organizing” existing matter, reinforcing the idea that God is more architect than Creator. The result? A Jesus who feels closer to us by nature, but further from us in power—a Savior on the way up, rather than the eternal Lord who stoops down to save.The Book of Mormon's Higher ChristologyInterestingly, the earliest Book of Mormon language often sounds more like historic Christian claims about Christ's full deity. For example, passages highlight worship directed to Jesus and language that closely parallels biblical titles for God. Whatever one concludes about its origins, the Book of Mormon's Christological tone (especially early editions) frequently reads closer to biblical Trinitarian language than to later LDS teachings. That's a crucial observation for anyone comparing sources within the broader Latter-day Saint tradition.The Bible's Timeless Witness about JesusScripture presents an unchanging Christ—from eternity past to eternity future. “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1-3 NLT. Jesus isn't created; he is the eternal Son through whom all things were made. “So the Word became human and made his home among us” John 1:14 NLT. The New Testament repeatedly ascribes to Jesus names, works, and worship belonging to God alone. He is “the exact likeness of God,” the preeminent One through whom and for whom all things were created Colossians 1:15-17 NLT. He bears the personal divine name “I AM” John 8:58 NLT and claims the titles “Alpha and Omega…the Almighty” Revelation 1:8 NLT.This has massive implications. If Jesus is uncreated, then salvation rests not on our ascent to Godhood, but on God's descent to rescue sinners. The torn temple veil at Jesus' death dramatizes this shift from ritual ladders to a Person—direct access to the Father through the finished work of the Son (Matthew 27:51) NLT.Why This Matters for YouIf your background...

Sermon Summary:Worship transcends a moment in time to become our heart posture of continual surrender to God's majesty. Through Psalm 150, we discover that worship serves as our "main event" because it aligns us with kingdom reality where God reigns eternally.David shows us that worship functions as both beholding and becoming. When we behold God's character through praise, we transform into His likeness as disciples. Recent research on emotional memory reveals how repetition shapes our brains, and worship interrupts negative patterns by redirecting our focus to God's truth. This pattern interruption heals and renews us as we encounter the God who inhabits our praises.Psalm 150 commands unrestrained praise using every instrument and voice. The ram's horn calls for attention, harps and lyres accompany our voices in freedom, tambourines celebrate victory in community, and clashing cymbals express our wholehearted joy. Each instrument represents delight and triumph rather than solemn duty.The psalm moves from describing God as Elohim (raw power and might) to Yahweh (personal, covenantal relationship). We worship not just a distant creator but our near, present God who desires intimate connection with His people.Worship should never remain static. When we surrender fully, allowing ourselves to be like seeds dying in the ground, we come alive in ways that reflect heaven's eternal praise. This becomes our practice now and our eternal future when Christ returns.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship

I go over some specifics in regards to the actual, literal speaking of common words that may stem from pagan origin, and then move into tracking the various Hebrew words behind the word lord in the English Bible. Some points about the name YHWH are covered as well. 

On this episode of Right On Radio host Jeff (Five Years Strong) reacts to a provocative 15-minute clip featuring researcher Jordan Maxwell and uses it as a springboard to dissect Saturn worship, ancient symbolism, and modern New Age/ufology narratives. Jeff plays and critiques the clip — especially the turn it takes after the first six minutes — and walks listeners through why he believes parts of the presentation are deceptive and seed an end-time, Luciferian lie. Topics covered include the history and symbolism of Saturn (rings, hexagrams, the black cube/Kaaba), the connections claimed between Phoenician/Canaanite religion and Judaism/Islam/Christianity, the Tetragrammaton and the Hebrew term "Elohim," and how those linguistic and symbolic claims are being used in modern occult and New Age messaging. The episode also addresses Genesis passages cited in the clip ("Let us make man," the tree of life, and post-flood language about "replenish" vs. "fill"), with Jeff correcting and explaining orthodox biblical interpretations and theological implications. Jeff calls out perceived contradictions in Maxwell's account — including Atlantic/Atlantis claims, carbon-dating skepticism, and the "prison planet"/"we are like gods" narrative — and explains why he labels some of this material as Luciferian deception meant to mislead Christians and the broader public. He contrasts these New Age claims with scriptural authority, warns about the infiltration of deceptive doctrines into churches, and highlights keywords and narratives to watch for (prison planet, ascended masters, dominionism, and end-time deception). The episode features sponsor mentions and community support notes — including an EMP Shield ad (protect your home and vehicle; use coupon code R-O-R at EMPshield.com) and thanks to listeners who support the show through donations and purchases. Jeff also previews future broadcasts, invites listener feedback, and closes with pastoral reminders to love God, family, and neighbor while staying vigilant against spiritual deception. Thank you for Listening to Right on Radio. Prayerfully consider supporting Right on Radio. Click Here for all links, Right on Community ROC, Podcast web links, Freebies, Products (healing mushrooms, EMP Protection) Social media, courses and more... https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Live Right in the Real World! We talk God and Politics, Faith Based Broadcast News, views, Opinions and Attitudes We are Your News Now. Keep the Faith

You know something – that old saying that blood is thicker than water, it's true. There's a special bond between members of a family. Our family really does matter.  And that – that's why it's time to start looking at what it means to build a godly family.   Family Matters It's great! Here we are again, another week continuing our series called, "Building a Godly Family". And the reason we are doing that is because families really matter. We all imagine that out there somewhere there is a typical family – a mum, a dad, two point four well-adjusted children and that perfect family is living out a perfect life. In fact, not just one of them, lots of them, thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of them – all these perfect families. I mean, look at them! They all look so perfect but not me, not my family: blended or dysfunctional, arguments or strife; people who haven't talked to each other for years; parents who drive their children nuts: children who just don't get it, they go off and do their own thing and leave their parents shaking their heads. You get what I'm saying, right? It feels like sometimes it's just our family that's in a mess and everyone else's has got it together. You know why? It's those happy ads on TV: selling the four wheel drives with happy, smiling kids in the back seat; selling the breakfast cereal, the ad where the sun is shining in the kitchen window and mum's pouring orange juice while the kids are sitting there smiling and eating healthy cereal. I mean, come on! Life's not like that! It's just not you, it's just not me. We all have issues in our family – ninety nine point nine percent of the people do and those who don't are kidding themselves. It varies of course. I mean, not everyone's kids are doing drugs; not every husband is beating his wife but there is no such thing as the perfect family out there ... there just isn't. So let's stop carrying around this burden that we've plonked on our heads that somehow my family doesn't measure up to what everyone else's family is doing. It's not about measuring up. In my book it's about what can I do from this day forward to build a godly family? What seeds can I sow? What plants can I water so that the fruit of a godly family will grow for all to enjoy? That's what it's about because our families matter. Let me ask you this: how much does your family matter to you? Just stop and sit back and think about that for a moment – chew it over. How much does my family mean to me? I don't know what your family looks like but it doesn't matter who we are, where we're at, how we were brought up, somehow we are all part of a family. My hunch is that it's God's plan for it to be that way – it's more than a hunch. I mean, God is three persons in one – Father, Son and Holy Spirit living in perfect community. I'm not sure that I have ever even thought of it this way, but there we have it, the first family, God Himself. The first verse in the Bible says, “In the beginning, God ...” “In the beginning, Elohim ...” literally "God's" plural. And the very first person He creates, Adam, well, have a listen to what God says about Adam. It is not good that a man should be alone. I will make a helper as his partner. (Genesis chapter 2, verse 18) And right throughout the Old Testament, what you see is that God's blessing for His people, the Israelites, is all about having two things – their own land and lots of children. We know that family is meant to be a blessing. It's a God thing, I mean, right from the beginning, God isn't just one person; He's three. Family really matters! And I know that for some people, just hearing that is going to hurt ... hurt an awful lot. Almost half of all marriages in the wealthy West end in divorce. I have friends who have lost loved ones in the ravages of war. Every day twenty five/thirty thousand children die of poverty and starvation and disease and Aids and ... so thinking about family, depending on your particular circumstances, well, you know it can hurt but the reason it hurts so much; the reason divorce is such a scourge and losing someone we love tears our insides out, the reason is this: because family truly matters. We want our family to stay intact; we want our kids to grow up strong and healthy and have a listen to what the Psalmist writes in Psalm 37, beginning at verse 35. If you have a Bible, grab it, open it up here, Psalm 37, verse 25: I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor their children begging bread. They are ever giving liberally and lending and their children become a blessing. See, that's God's perfect plan for our families – for us to live a good life; a righteous life and for us to be a blessing to our children and for them, then to go on and become a blessing to others. It's a story ... well it's a story that's written in our DNA. It's a story that plays itself out in our hopes and our dreams but it's a plot that we so easily loose in the busyness of a consumer oriented, entertainment oriented, credit card oriented world in which we live. Let me ask you again – out of everything in your life, everything you have, every hope, every dream, every possession, every desire – out of everything, how much does your family matter? My hunch is for most of us, the answer is a lot. Family matters an awful lot, doesn't it? And if it does, if it really does, then surely ... surely we need to invest in this thing. We need to not just talk about having a godly family but get on a build a godly family. These relationships; these people who matter more to us than any other thing on this earth – that's what we are going to be talking about this week on the programme – making that investment - getting beyond talking, getting beyond thinking, getting beyond dreaming and actually getting on and building a godly family because there is so much blessing in that – so much.   Setting the Course Now so many families are in a mess – tension, strife – but all it takes is one member of that family to turn back to God; to honour God and God can and will make some awesome and mighty changes. It might take time; it might take longer than you or I would prefer, but God is a God of grace; His heart is to bless our families to a thousand generations. All He is looking for is some godly men, women and children to take a stand and say, "Enough of this. It is time for me to build a godly family." First Corinthians chapter 4, verse 20 in the Message translation says this: God's way is not a matter of mere talk, it's an empowered life. You know what I've noticed? We can talk a lot about stuff but most times nothing changes unless we actually do something and yet because we come home tired and we need a rest and we just ignore things; we just let things run – the badly behaved children, for example. There is a great proverb, it's in Proverbs chapter 29, verse 17. It says: Discipline your children and they will give you rest; they will give delight to your heart. Now you've seen it down the local supermarket, so have I – the mother with the child. The child is just grinding her down; bad behaviour; throwing tantrums and mum, she's just tired ... she's too tired to do anything. She lets this kid run riot, it causes her grief, causing everyone else around the place grief too, I might add. Why does that happen? I'll tell you why: probably because dad is too tired to discipline the child when he comes home at night so this kid walks all over his mother; she's exhausted and the kid's only seven! Wait until this little terror becomes a teenager, I mean, just wait! There is fruit in building a godly family; tremendous fruit! And what Proverbs said is: “When you discipline your children they will give you rest; they will give delight to your heart.” Peace and a delighted heart – see, what you sow, you actually reap. The problem is that sowing ... well, it's such hard work sometimes and reaping seems to be such a long way off, doesn't it? Well, let me tell you something, we have been talking about building a godly family but it ain't going to happen unless we step out in faith and start making it happen. Yes, it's about God blessing our efforts but if He's got nothing to bless, then He's got nothing to bless. We behave ourselves in to a bad place. Bad habits in families happen because we just fail to do things and we do things that are wrong that we shouldn't be doing. It's what we say, what we do, what we fail to do. We behave ourselves into that bad place and yes, we should pray, but God expects us to start behaving ourselves out of that place. He's going to bless that but we have to do our part, so Christians, do you want a godly family? A family where each family member is living out a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ; where each one is living that out in their lives? Husband and wife have this warm and intimate relationship, children are by and large honouring their parents, each family member respects, honours, understands the other. There's real blessing; God's blessing that flows into our families and out through our families when we build a godly family, but we're going to have to decide that's what we want, plan it and start living it. We are going to have to decide that some changes have to be made. This easy, comfortable, lazy existence has to change. Discipline is painful; kids don't like it much; it takes hard work and strength and perseverance but it pays dividends. So let me ask you, how much do you want to have a godly family? And if the answer is: "Absolutely, yes! I do!" then some decisions have to be made. If your family is one with a husband and a wife then it is up to the both of you. Talk and dream and decide what's important. Set priorities. Figure out "how are we going to do this together? What steps do we need to take first?" Mum and dad, you are the leaders, don't expect the kids to figure this out. And I happen to believe, actually, that ultimately, the father is responsible for the spiritual growth and nourishment and development of his family; the buck stops with you, dad. This isn't a sexist thing! So many women would give their eye teeth for their husbands to step up to the plate and take on that leadership role. So many kids would love to have parents who were not only interested in them, who spend time with them and effort, setting boundaries, enforcing the boundaries, nurturing them within the boundaries. I have to tell you, as a person, humph, I'm a natural isolationist. You know something? I so much prefer my own company, often times, to the company of other people – it's just who I am. Now, I really enjoy retreating to my own space after a hard day at the office so for me, given whom I am, getting involved with the family and the kids and listening to what happened to them at school or at work, it's just not a natural gift. But we have to start somewhere. You can't build a godly family if there's no relationship, if there is no interaction – something my wife has taught me. We are going to talk about some of the "how" a little bit later in today's programme and again next week. In fact, one of the godliest families I know; friends who live in the U.S. with mum, dad and nine kids! They have given me some of their pointers – both the parents and the kids. So we are going to have a look at those next week on the programme but right now we have to decide, each one of us, do we actually want to have a godly family? Well, do we? And if we do, what are we going to do about it? Maybe that's something you can pray about and think about and talk about at home over this coming week and we can talk some more next week on the programme, this whole thing of building a godly family.   Children and Honour You know, we were talking earlier about the fact that if we want to build a godly family we have to do more than talk about it, we have to act. And I just want to talk about our children right now because one of the biggest things that rob the peace out of our homes is children who haven't learned to honour their parents and one another. Now honour is something that today's generations don't talk too much about. "Aw, we want other people to honour us", but honour, as it turns out, is a two way street and without it we simply can't have a godly family. In fact, God thinks that it is so important that in the Ten Commandments, the first four are about God and us and the very next one, the fifth Commandment is about honour in the family. Pretty amazing this whole "Ten Commandments" thing, when you think about it! Let's have a quick look – the First Commandment is in Exodus chapter 20, verse 2 and 3: I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. The Second Commandment – Exodus chapter 20, verse 4: You shall not make for yourself an idol; you shall not bow down to worship them for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. Commandment number three begins in Exodus chapter 20, verse 7: You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God for your Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. The fourth Commandment, Exodus chapter 20:8, 9 and 10: Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work but the seventh day is a Sabbath day unto the Lord your God and you shall not do any work. So the first four Commandments are: don't make any idols, don't worship anything else other than God, don't use His name badly and have a day of rest which you give to Him. So those first four Commandments are all about – in a nutshell, executive summary – honouring God. Now I'm wondering if you or I were God what would we have put down as the very next Commandment? Well, if it were me, I think murder would have been number five – I mean, you shouldn't murder people – that's really important. What could be more important than that? Don't steal; don't commit adultery, what should have been number five? What does God choose as number five? Exodus chapter 20, verse 12: Honour your father and your mother so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Ahead of murder, ahead of adultery, stealing, lying and jealousy, "honour your mum and dad"! I don't think I would have put that in the top ten – maybe in the top twenty, but certainly not in the top ten – certainly not as the very next Commandment after those that are about honouring God. Yet, where does God put it? Number five! Not only that, it is the very first Commandment to which there is a blessing attached: So that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God has given you. You know, when you become a parent you start thinking what that means is that if the kids honour the parents, the parents won't kill ‘em. Yea, well, you know, those teenage years? But that's not what it means – what it means is that God will bless someone who honours their father and their mother! Figure that out? This is really important to God. See, Israel was going in to possess the Promised Land. They would have to take it by force one day and all the Nations they took it off would try and take it back again. All the other Nations around them would try to defeat them but the blessing attached to honouring your father and mother is this: that you will own your land and you will have peace. Isn't there a message in that for a few families? Now many families are in a mess because the children have never been taught to honour their parents. I know young adult children in their twenties who live with their parents, they don't pay any board. This particular woman I know, this child is a drain on the parents' finances in their old age. They leave a mess behind, they cause pain. Why? Because these children were not taught to honour their father and their mother. You know, as a teenager, the most natural thing in the world is to treat your parents like slaves – you expect your father to be a taxi driver, you expect your mother to wash your clothes and clean up after you but there comes a point in those teenage years when the children are old enough to be taught to do some of these things, not just for themselves, but actually to do some things back for their parents. To clean up messes that they don't create, to clean toilets that not just they use so that they learn to honour the other people.

In the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, the meaning of the word ‘repentance' is fundamentally the same: to turn around, or to turn back. Being a vital element of a relationship with the Creator, Elohim grants the gift of repentance to those He chooses. Within that gift of repentance is a sense of remorse and regret. When repentance is from a sincere heart, the relationship is restored.Rabbi Steve Berkson teaches the deep and sometimes hidden meaning of repentance and all it involves.• Opener• Review• Isaiah 55:6-7 – Seek Yahweh while he is to be found• Do you know who you're looking for?• Call upon him when he is near• Let the wrong forsake his way• Return to Yahweh• Isaiah 55:8-9 – My thoughts are not your thoughts…• Isaiah 55:10-11 – His word does not return empty• Isaiah 55:12-13 – There's reward in obedience • Lamentations 3:40 – Examine yourself • Ezekiel 18:30-32 – Judged according to each man's ways • Ezekiel 18:1-20 – Each person is responsible for what he/she does • What to do with Messiah Yesha? • Ezekiel 18:21-23 – If one turns, he shall live and not die • Ezekiel 18:24 – There's only now • Ezekiel 18:25-29 – The way of Yahweh is not right?• Ezekiel 18:30-31 – How do you make a new heart and spirit? • Transforming into the Above • Prayer Listen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Show NotesAndrew leads us through the development in the Hebrew scriptures regarding how other Gods/gods alongside Yahweh were understood.  Initially Yahweh was seen as Israel's God within a Henotheist context, where Henotheism is the belief in or worship of one god while acknowledging the existence of other gods. A key idea was a Heavenly Council as seen in the opening of Job. Over time Yahweh became seen as more and more powerful than the other gods and eventually monotheism became dominant by the time of the New Testament. There is of course debate on this in the scholarship, which we discuss. Bible Study:Psalm 82:1Exodus 12:122 Chron 18:18-22Job 1:6 & 2:1Deuteronomy 32:8, 39 and 43Isaiah 47:8-9   Bible Scholars to look up: Mark Smith, Michael Heiser (the evangelical one), Dan McClellan, Thom Stark and Francesca Stavrakopoulou Doubts Aloud Links:Please give feedback and ask questions using:  doubtsaloud@gmail.com 

Welcome to Day 2698 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2698 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 81:1-7 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2698 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2698 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today's Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Sound of Freedom – A Festival of Joy and Remembrance - A Trek Through Psalm 81:1-7 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I'm your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we open a new chapter in our journey through the Psalms, a chapter filled with vibrant celebration and a powerful word from God Himself. We're embarking on a trek through Psalm 81 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its opening verses, 1 through 7. Psalm 81, like many of the psalms in this collection, is attributed to Asaph. But after the months of dwelling in the heavy emotions of lament, communal suffering, and national tragedy from Psalms 74, 77, and 80, this psalm is like a breath of fresh air. It is a powerful, joyous, and liturgical psalm, likely intended for a major national festival like the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) or the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). It is a vibrant call to a nation to gather, to make music, to shout with joy, and to remember the God who delivered them from slavery. This psalm reminds us that while lament is a sacred and necessary expression of faith, so too is exuberant, celebratory praise. It's a powerful transition from a people crying out for restoration to a people actively celebrating the God who is worthy of all worship. The psalm then takes an extraordinary turn, as God himself speaks directly, recalling His mighty acts and warning His people of the consequences of disobedience. So, let's immerse ourselves in this joyful call to worship and listen for the voice of God in the midst of our celebration. The Call to a Joyful Festival (Reads Psalm 81:1-4 NLT) Sing out loud to God our strength! Shout for joy to the God of Jacob. Sing your psalms, beat the tambourine, and play the sweet lyre and harp. Sound the ram's horn at the new moon, and again at the full moon to announce our festive holidays. For this is a decree in Israel, an ordinance from the God of Jacob. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with an immediate, energetic command to the entire nation: "Sing out loud to God our strength! Shout for joy to the God of Jacob." This isn't a quiet suggestion for private meditation. The Hebrew word for "sing out loud" (ranan) implies a ringing cry, a joyful shout of triumph. The call is to "shout for joy" (rua), a word often used for a war cry or a triumphant blast of a horn, signifying a full-throated, exuberant, and unrestrained expression of praise. The praise is directed at "God our strength" (Elohim ‘uzzenu), the one who gives us power, and to "the God of Jacob," the covenant-keeping God who has a long and faithful history with His people. The psalmist then...

I begin exegeting the second part of Exodus 23:13, looking at the meaning of the Hebrew word zakar, and then asking the question of how far we go in obedience to this command.

In the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, the meaning of the word ‘repentance' is fundamentally the same: to turn around, or to turn back. Being a vital element of a relationship with the Creator, Elohim grants the gift of repentance to those He chooses. Within that gift of repentance is a sense of remorse and regret. When repentance is from a sincere heart, the relationship is restored.Rabbi Steve Berkson teaches the deep and sometimes hidden meaning of repentance and all it involves.• Opener• Review• Deuteronomy 30:1-2 – His Word settled in your heart• Deuteronomy 30:2-3 – There's a process• Deuteronomy 30:4-6 – So that you can do it• Deuteronomy 30:7-10 – And when you turn back…• Deuteronomy 30:11-13 – It's not too hard for you?• Deuteronomy 30:14 – What about the Gentiles?• Deuteronomy 30:15-18 – Why walk in His ways?• Deuteronomy 30:19 – As long as these exist…• Deuteronomy 30:20 – This is why you live• 2 Kings 17:13 – He does this through people• 2 Kings 17:5-15 – This came to be because…• Pursuing worthless things makes you worthless to Him• 2 Kings 17:16-23 – We are still scattered • Does your walk match your talk?• The study of you?• Closing prayer Listen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

When we truly encounter God, we can't leave the same!  ABOUT THE MESSAGEIn Part 2 of the Encounter series, Pastor Mark Stermer helps us see that throughout Scripture and history, (Moses in the wilderness, Saul on the road, Martin Luther in prayer) life-changing moments happen when people meet with Him. These encounters can be subtle or supernatural, expected or completely surprising, but they always leave a mark. Whether in a church service or in the quiet moments of daily life, God promises to be found when we seek Him with all our hearts (Jer. 29:13). This message calls us to draw near, ask, seek, knock, and experience the life-transforming presence of Elohim—because when He meets us, everything changes.ABOUT JESUSIf you want to learn more about who Jesus is and what it means to have a relationship with Him, we would love to help you on that journey: https://www.thechurch.fm/jesus For a deeper dive into The Word of God on a daily basis check out our Free Ancient Paths Daily Devotional: https://www.thechurch.fm/ancient-pathsWHO WE AREWe believe that the goal of every Christian is To Be Conformed Into the Image of Jesus Christ, and a relationship with Jesus as well as being involved in a healthy church community are both important to achieving that goal. Find out more about who we are and all that we do at httos://www.thechurch.fm/aboutWe would love to meet you in person! Find our locations and service times here https://www.thechurch.fm/campuses and download our smartphone app here https://pushpay.com/get?handle=saintamantcampus&source=external to access video content, daily devotionals. updates on what is doing on at he church. and so much moreTo get connected here at The Church International simply visit us here https://www.thechurch.fm/connect-track and we will walk you through all of the life giving opportunities that we have to connect with you and your family.We want to give a special thanks to everyone who donates to what God is doing through this ministry. If you would like to partner with us through generosity and giving you can do so at https://www. thechurch.fm/give-online.SOCIAL MEDIAThe Church International:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechurchinter/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechurchinternational/Website: https://www.TheChurch.FMPastor Mark:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkAStermerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_stermerPastor Cindy:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindy.stermer.9Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindy_ste

Elohim can take the same creature/element and make it curse for the wicked yet benefit for the righteous.

We recommend listening to the teaching, Repentance (It's more than just saying sorry) | Part 10, before listening to this episode.Afterburn: also known in the fitness world as the “afterburn effect.” Simply put, the more intense the exercise, the more oxygen your body consumes afterward. This effect could occur spiritually after Rabbi Berkson's intense teachings each week. This Afterburn Q&A session allows your mind and soul to consume more understanding (oxygen).Some of the topics covered are:• Intro• What is the definition of ‘untaught' from 2 Peter 3:16?• How does one correct being unstable?• What are they sorry about?• Why don't people get to repentance?• How does Messiah Yeshua fit into my faith?• Stop being so nosey! • Learning not to judge people has made my life easier • If your brother/sister is struggling, don't they need you more?• Elohim sends a delusion?• Why do we need Messiah Yeshua?• In 2 Peter 3:16 - What are the “other scriptures”? • Does Hebrews 12:12-13 describe a ‘spanking'?• Two aspects of what is expected of us• 2 Peter 3:10 - What are the “elements” that will melt?Subscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

In the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, the meaning of the word ‘repentance' is fundamentally the same: to turn around, or to turn back. Being a vital element of a relationship with the Creator, Elohim grants the gift of repentance to those He chooses. Within that gift of repentance is a sense of remorse and regret. When repentance is from a sincere heart, the relationship is restored.Rabbi Steve Berkson teaches the deep and sometimes hidden meaning of repentance and all it involves.• Opener• Review• Hebrews 12:17 – Key verse• Hebrews 12:1 – A great cloud of witnesses • Hebrews 12:2-4 – Yeshua showed us how• Hebrews 12:5-7 – Don't despise the discipline • Hebrews 12:7-10 – Illegitimate and not sons• Hebrews 12:11 – Trained by it • Hebrews 12:12-14 – Every day we make choices • Hebrews 12:15 – A root of bitterness • Hebrews 12:16-17 – Esau did not repent• If you can't repent… • Hebrews 12:18-25 – We know exactly what we're getting into• Hebrews 12:26-29 – How does this make sense?• A whole lotta shakin' going on• The work we have to do? • 2 Peter 3:9 – All should come to repentance • 2 Peter 3:1-2 – Stirring up by reminding • 2 Peter 3:3-8 – Mocking the promise of his coming • 2 Peter 3:9-14 – Are you ready for his return?• 2 Peter 3:15-16 – Untaught and unstable? • 2 Peter 3:17 – The delusion of the lawless?• 2 Peter 3:18 – Growing in favor?  Listen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Elohim Ro'a - The G_d who seesWebsite: http://www.battle4freedom.com/Network: https://www.mojo50.comStreaming: https://www.rumble.com/Battle4Freedomhttps://www.youtube.com/@_battle4freedomhttps://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139%3A7&version=CJBPsalm 139:7Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?Exodus 22 A man from the family of Levi took a woman also descended from Levi as his wife. 2 When she conceived and had a son, upon seeing what a fine child he was, she hid him for three months. 3 When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket, coated it with clay and tar, put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the riverbank. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe in the river while her maids-in-attendance walked along the riverside. Spotting the basket among the reeds, she sent her slave-girl to get it. 6 She opened it and looked inside, and there in front of her was a crying baby boy! Moved with pity, she said, "This must be one of the Hebrews' children." 7 At this point, his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Would you like me to go and find you one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" 8 Pharaoh's daughter answered, "Yes, go." So the girl went and called the baby's own mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter told her, "Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will pay you for doing it." So the woman took the child and nursed it. 10 Then, when the child had grown some, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter; and she began to raise him as her son. She called him Moshe [pull out], explaining, "Because I pulled him out of the water."11 One day, when Moshe was a grown man, he went out to visit his kinsmen; and he watched them struggling at forced labor. He saw an Egyptian strike a Hebrew, one of his kinsmen. 12 He looked this way and that; and when he saw that no one was around, he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. 13 The next day, he went out and saw two Hebrew men fighting with each other. To the one in the wrong he said, "Why are you hitting your companion?" 14 He retorted, "Who appointed you ruler and judge over us? Do you intend to kill me the way you killed the Egyptian?" Moshe became frightened. "Clearly," he thought, "the matter has become known." 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he tried to have Moshe put to death. But Moshe fled from Pharaoh to live in the land of Midyan.One day, as he was sitting by a well, 16 the seven daughters of the priest of Midyan came to draw water. They had filled the troughs to water their father's sheep, 17 when the shepherds came and tried to drive them away. But Moshe got up and defended them; then he watered their sheep. 18 When they came to Re‘u'el their father, he said, "How come you're back so soon today?" 19 They answered, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds; more than that, he drew water for us and watered the sheep." 20 He asked his daughters, "Where is he? Why did you leave the man there? Invite him to have something to eat."21 Moshe was glad to stay on with the man, and he gave Moshe his daughter Tzipporah in marriage. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom [foreigner there], for he said, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land."23 Sometime during those many years the king of Egypt died, but the people of Isra'el still groaned under the yoke of slavery, and they cried out, and their cry for rescue from slavery came up to G_d. 24 G_d heard their groaning, and G_d remembered his covenant with Avraham, Yitz'chak and Ya`akov. 25 G_d saw the people of Isra'el, and G_d acknowledged them.Credit to:https://unsplash.com/photos/person-holding-magnifying-glass-near-desk-globe-b5S4FrJb7yQ

In the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, the meaning of the word ‘repentance' is fundamentally the same: to turn around, or to turn back. Being a vital element of a relationship with the Creator, Elohim grants the gift of repentance to those He chooses. Within that gift of repentance is a sense of remorse and regret. When repentance is from a sincere heart, the relationship is restored.Rabbi Steve Berkson teaches the deep and sometimes hidden meaning of repentance and all it involves.• Opener• Review• Hebrews 12:17 – Key verse• Hebrews 12:1 – A great cloud of witnesses • Hebrews 12:2-4 – Yeshua showed us how• Hebrews 12:5-7 – Don't despise the discipline • Hebrews 12:7-10 – Illegitimate and not sons• Hebrews 12:11 – Trained by it • Hebrews 12:12-14 – Every day we make choices • Hebrews 12:15 – A root of bitterness • Hebrews 12:16-17 – Esau did not repent• If you can't repent… • Hebrews 12:18-25 – We know exactly what we're getting into• Hebrews 12:26-29 – How does this make sense?• A whole lotta shakin' going on• The work we have to do? • 2 Peter 3:9 – All should come to repentance • 2 Peter 3:1-2 – Stirring up by reminding • 2 Peter 3:3-8 – Mocking the promise of his coming • 2 Peter 3:9-14 – Are you ready for his return?• 2 Peter 3:15-16 – Untaught and unstable? • 2 Peter 3:17 – The delusion of the lawless?• 2 Peter 3:18 – Growing in favor?  Listen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Hello everyone, and welcome to this time of worship and praise to our King. As I have talked about before, these gatherings of God's people are a mixture of many different groups of His Body coming together to worship their Lord in Spirit and in truth. As you open your spirit to enter into these times of communion with the Lord, our prayer is that you too will experience His presence in a deeper way. Worship in the Spirit Father I Turn To You Father, I turn to You. Your Word has come like the morning sun, and I turn to You. Father I turn to You. As the stars draw nigh in the evening sly, I turn to You. You have called my name, forever. When You draw me near, I will not turn my heart away. Father, I turn to You. Every hour I pray, I am Yours today, I turn to You. Wine-skins Stretching With New Wine Wine-skins stretching with new wine, flowing truth and grace. Hearts expand and lives unfold, as we see Your face. Unchangeable God, we are rooted in You. Our eyes fixed on Your glory. Yahweh, Elohim! At Your Words we do not stagger, all You say is true. Drinking deep Your Living Water, plants grown in their youth. Unchangeable God, we are rooted in You. Our eyes fixed on Your glory. Yahweh, Elohim! Unveiled faces clear and new, ready chosen bride. Word that's hid in earthen vessels, Lord most glorified. Unchangeable God, we are rooted in You. Our eyes fixed on Your glory. Yahweh, Elohim! Unchangeable God, we are rooted in You. Our eyes fixed on Your glory. Yahweh, Elohim! Worship in the Spirit My Eyes Are Set Our eyes are set upon You O' Lord. Our hope is fixed and will not be moved. My heart determines to be...

“The Jewish voice must be heard, not because it's more right or less right, but it's there. The suffering is there, the grief is there, and human grief is human grief.” As Jews around the world mark Tisha B'Av, we're joined by Columbia University professor and award-winning poet Owen Lewis, whose new collection, “A Prayer of Six Wings,” offers a powerful reflection on grief in the aftermath of October 7th. In this conversation, Lewis explores the healing power of poetry in the face of trauma, what it means to be a Jewish professor in today's campus climate, and how poetry can foster empathy, encourage dialogue, and resist the pull of division. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.   Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  An Orange Tie and A Grieving Crowd: Comedian Yohay Sponder on Jewish Resilience From Broadway to Jewish Advocacy: Jonah Platt on Identity, Antisemitism, and Israel Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War: The Dinah Project's Quest to Hold Hamas Accountable Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview:   Owen Lewis:   Overheard in a New York Restaurant.   I can't talk about Israel tonight.    I know.    I can't not talk about Israel tonight.    I know.    Can we talk about . . .   Here? Sure. Let's try to talk about here.   Manya Brachear Pashman:   On Saturday night, Jews around the world will commemorate Tisha B'av. Known as the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, the culmination of a three week period of mourning to commemorate several tragedies throughout early Jewish history.  As a list of tragedies throughout modern Jewish history has continued to grow, many people spend this day fasting, listening to the book of Lamentations in synagogue, or visiting the graves of loved ones. Some might spend the day reading poetry.  Owen Lewis is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics at Columbia University. But he's also the award-winning author of four poetry collections which have won accolades, including the EE Cummings Prize and the Rumi Prize for Poetry.  His most recent collection, A Prayer of Six Wings documents in verse his grief since the October 7 terror attacks. Owen is with us now to talk about the role of poetry in times of violence and war, what it's been like to be a Jewish professor on the Columbia campus, and a Jewish father with children and grandchildren in Israel. And also, how to keep writing amid a climate of rising antisemitism. Owen, welcome to People of the Pod. Owen Lewis:   Thank you so much, Manya. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So you opened with that short poem titled overheard in a New York restaurant. I asked you to read that because I wanted to ask whether it reflected how you felt about poetry after October 7.  Did you find yourself in a place where you couldn't write about Israel, but yet you couldn't not write about Israel? Owen Lewis:   Among the many difficult things of that First Year, not only the war, not only the flagrant attacks on the posters of the hostages one block from where I live, 79th and Broadway, every day, taken down every day, put back up again, defaced. It was as if the war were being fought right here on 79th and Broadway.  Another aspect that made this all so painful was watching the artistic and literary world turn against Israel. This past spring, 2000 writers and artists signed a petition, it was published, there was an oped about it in The Times, boycotting Israeli cultural institutions.  And I thought: artists don't have a right to shut their ears. We all need to listen to each other's grief, and if we poets and artists can't listen to one another, what do we expect of statesmen? Statesmen, yeah, they can create a ceasefire. That's not the same as creating peace. And peace can only come when we really listen to each other. To feel ostracized by the poetry community and the intellectual community was very painful. Fortunately, last summer, as well as this past summer, I was a fellow at the Yetzirah conference. Yetzirah is an organization of Jewish American poets, although we're starting to branch out. And this kind of in-gathering of like-minded people gave me so much strength.  So this dilemma, I can't talk about it, because we just can't take the trauma. We can't take hearing one more thing about it, but not talk about it…it's a compulsion to talk about it, and that's a way to process trauma. And that was the same with this poetry, this particular book.  I feel in many ways, it just kind of blew through me, and it was at the same time it blew through me, created this container in which I could express myself, and it actually held me together for that year. I mean, still, in many ways, the writing does that, but not as immediately and acutely as I felt that year.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   This book has been praised as not being for the ideological but for the intellectually and emotionally engaged. So it's not it's not something that ideologically minded readers will necessarily be able to connect to, or is it actually quite the opposite?  Owen Lewis:  Well, it's very much written from the gut, from the experience, from in a sense, being on the ground, both in Israel and here in New York and on campus, and trying to keep a presence in the world of poetry and writers. So what comes from emotion should speak to emotion. There are a few wisps of political statements, but it's not essentially a politically motivated piece of writing.  I feel that I have no problem keeping my sympathies with Israel and with Jews. I can still be critical of aspects of the government, and my sympathies can also be with the thousands of Palestinians, killed, hurt, displaced. I don't see a contradiction. I don't have to take sides.  But the first poem is called My Partisan Grief, and it begins on October 7. I was originally going to call the bookMy Partisan Grief, because I felt that American, Jewish, and Israeli grief was being silenced, was being marginalized. And I wanted to say, this is our grief. Listen to it. You must listen to this. It doesn't privilege this grief over another grief. Grief is grief. But I wanted ultimately to move past that title into something broader, more encompassing, more humanitarian. Manya Brachear Pashman:  And did that decision come as the death toll in Gaza rose and this war kept going and going and the hostages remained in captivity, did that kind of sway your thinking in terms of how to approach the book and frame it?  Owen Lewis:  Yes, but even more than those kind of headlines, which can be impersonal, the poetry of some remarkable Palestinian poets move me into a broader look. Abu Toha was first one who comes to mind Fady Joudah, who's also a physician, by the way. I mean his poetry, I mean many others, but it's gorgeous, moving poetry.  Some of it is a diatribe, and you know, some of it is ideological, and people can do that with poetry, but when poetry really drills down into human experience, that's what I find so compelling and moving. And that's what I think can move the peace process. I know it sounds quite idealistic, but I really think poetry has a role in the peace process here. Manya Brachear Pashman:  I want to I want to unpack that a little bit later. But first, I want to go back to the protests that were roiling Columbia's campus over the past year and a half, two years. What was it like to be, one, writing this book, but also, teaching on campus as a Jewish professor?  Owen Lewis:  Most of my teaching takes place up at the Medical Center at 168th Street. And there I have to say, I didn't feel battered in any way by what was happening. I had a very shocking experience. I had a meeting that I needed to attend on, or that had been scheduled, I hadn't been quite paying attention. I mean, I knew about the encampments, but I hadn't seen them, and I come face to face with a blocked campus. I couldn't get on the campus. And what I'm staring at are signs to the effect, send the Jews back to Poland. I'm thinking, Where am I? What is this? I mean, protest, sure. I mean we expect undergraduates, we expect humans, to protest when things really aren't fair. But what did this have to do…why invoke the Holocaust and re-invoke it, as if to imply the Jews should be punished? All Jews.  And what it fails to account for are the diversity of Jewish opinion. And you know, for some Jews, it's a black or white matter, but for most thinking Jews that I know, we all struggle very much with a loyalty to Israel, to the Jewish people, to the homeland and larger humanitarian values. So that was quite a shock. And I wrote a piece called “The Scars of Encampment,” in which I say, I can't unsee that. " And I go to campus, and, okay, it's a little bit more security to get onto campus. It's a beautiful campus. It's like an oasis there, but at the same time, I'm seeing what was as if it still is. And in a way, that's the nature of trauma that things from the past just roil and are present with almost as much emotion as when first encountered. Manya Brachear Pashman:  So did you need to tune out those voices, or did that fuel your work? Owen Lewis:  No, that fueled my work. I mean, if anything, it made me feel much more, a sense of mission with this book. And a commitment, despite criticism that I may receive, and no position I take is that outlandish, except to sympathize with the murdered on October 7th, to sympathize with their families, to resonate with what it must be like to have family members as hostages in brutal, brutal conditions. Not knowing whether they're dead or alive. So I really felt that the Jewish voice must be heard, not because it's more right or less right, but it's there. The suffering is there, the grief is there, and human grief is human grief. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Owen, if you wouldn't mind reading another poem from the collection. Of course, many of us remember the news out of Israel on Thanksgiving Day 2023, right after October 7th. And this poem is titled, “Waiting for the Next Release, Reported by the New York Times, November 23 2023”. Owen Lewis:  Waiting For the Next Release, Reported N.Y. Times, Nov. 23, 2023    Maybe tomorrow, if distrust  doesn't flare like a missile,  some families will be reunited.    How awful this lottery of choice; Solomon would not deliberate. Poster faces always before my eyes,   Among them, Emma & Yuli Cunio.  Twins age 3, Raz Katz-Asher, age 4, Ariel Bibas, another four year old.    What do their four year old minds make  of captivity? What will they say? What would my Noa say?    What will the other Noas say?  Remembering Noa Argamani, age 26,  thrown across the motorcycle    to laughter and Hamas joy.   I have almost forgotten this American day,  Thanks- giving,   With its cornucopian harvests,  I am thinking of the cornucopian  jails of human bounty.    (What matter now who is to blame?) Manya Brachear Pashman:  Really beautiful, and it really captures all of our emotions that day. You have children and grandchildren in Israel, as I mentioned and as you mentioned in that poem, your granddaughter, Noa. So your grief and your fear, it's not only a collective grief and fear that we all share, but also very personal, which you weave throughout the collection.  In another poem, “In a Van to JFK”, you talk about just wanting to spend one more hour with your family before they fly off to Israel. And it's very moving.  But in addition to many of the poems, like the one you just read, they are based on and somewhat named for newspaper headlines, you said that kind of establishes a timeline. But are there other reasons why you transformed those headlines into verse? Owen Lewis:  Yes, William Carlos Williams in his poem Asphodel, says, and I'm going to paraphrase it badly. You won't get news from poems yet, men die every day for wanting what is found there. And I think it's a very interesting juxtaposition of journalism and poetry. And I mean, I'm not writing news, I'm writing where my reflections, where my heart, goes in response to the news, and trying to bring another element to the news that, you know, we were confronted.  I mean, in any time of high stress, you swear off – I'm not watching any more TV. I'm not even gonna look at the newspaper. And then, of course, you do. I can't talk about Israel today. I can't not talk about it. I can't read the paper. I can't not read the paper. It's kind of that back and forth. But what is driving that? And so I'm trying to get at that next dimension of what's resonating behind each one of these headlines, or resonating for me. I mean, I'm not claiming this is an interpretation of news. It's my reaction, but people do react, and there's that other dimension to headlines. Manya Brachear Pashman:  That seems like it might be therapeutic, no? Owen Lewis:  Oh, totally, totally. You know, I'm very fortunate that having started a career in medicine, in psychiatry, and particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry. I always had one foot in the door academically. I spent, you know, my life as, I still teach, but I'm very fortunate to have, maybe 10+ years ago, been introduced to a basically a woman who created the field of Narrative Medicine, Rita Sharon. And now at Columbia in the medical school, we have a free-standing Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics, of which she's chairman.  So I've had the fortune of bringing psychiatry and medicine and writing together in a very integrated way. And yes, writing is therapeutic, especially, I could say in medicine, which has given itself over to electronic medical record keeping, but our whole society is moving towards the electronic. And what happens when you sit and write, and what happens when you then sit and read, you reflect. Your mind engages in a different way that is a bit slower than the fast pace of electronic communications and instant communications and instant thinking. And now with AI, instant analysis of any situation you want to feed data from.  So that's sorely lacking in the human experience. And the act of writing, the act of reading has huge therapeutic values, huge salutary benefits for humans in general, but particularly in times of stress. In a lot of work on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, finding an outlet, an artistic outlet, it doesn't have to be writing, but that's often a way of transcending the trauma.  And medicine is filled with trauma. People trying to come to terms with acute illnesses, chronic illnesses. Doctors and caregivers trying to come to terms with what they can and can't do. And you know, we're coming up against limitations. But how do you make peace with those limitations? And it's not that it's a magical panacea, but it's a process of engagement, not only with the subject, but with yourself in relation to the subject. Manya Brachear Pashman:  I mean, I imagine dialogue is really the healthiest way of conversation and speaking through and interacting with a topic. And so I would imagine poetry, or, as you said, any art form, responding to news reports, it makes that a two way conversation when you're able to process and it's not just the headlines shouting at you, you're actually interacting and processing it by writing and reaction, or painting and reaction, whatever you choose to do. Owen Lewis:  Exactly. Manya Brachear Pashman:  You have said that poetry can serve a purpose during times of war. Is this one of the purposes to to be therapeutic or are you talking more in terms of what statesmen could learn from it?  Owen Lewis:  Well, yes, of course, what statesmen could learn from it, but it's human nature to want to take sides. I mean, that's kind of just what we do. But I think we can always do better than that. So I'm really talking about the people. I mean, there are also many Jews who are so angry at Israel that they can't listen to the story of Jewish grief. They should be reading mine and others poetries from this era. I wish the Palestinian poets were. I wish the Palestinian people. I mean, of course, in their current situation, they don't have time when you're starving, when you're looking for your next glass of fresh water. You don't have time for anything beyond survival.  But once we get beyond that, how long are these positions going to be hardened. I mean, I think when the people of all sides of the dilemma really listen to the others, I mean, they're, I mean, if, unless as Hamas has expressed, you know, wants to push Israel into the sea, if Israel is going to coexist with the Palestinian people, whether they're in a nation or not in a nation, each has to listen to the other.  And it's, you know, it's not one side is right, one side is wrong. It's far too complex a history to reduce it to that kind of simplicity. And I think poetry, everyone's poetry, gets at the complexity of experience, which includes wanting to take sides and questioning your wanting to take sides and moving towards something more humanitarian.  Manya Brachear Pashman:  You said earlier, you recommend Abu Toha, Fady Joudah, two Palestinian poets who have written some beautiful verse about– tragically beautiful verse–about what's happening. But there have been some really deep rifts in the literary world over this war. I mean, as you mentioned before, there was a letter written by authors and entertainers who pledged to boycott Israeli cultural institutions. Some authors have refused to sell rights to their books to publishers in Israel. So why not reciprocate? And I know the answer. I think you've already addressed it pretty well. What's wrong with that approach? Owen Lewis:  In any conflict, there are at least three sides to the conflict. I mean, claims to nationhood, claims to who shoved first, who. I mean, you don't entangle things by aggressively reacting. I mean, if we learned anything from Mahatma Gandhi, it's what happens when we don't retaliate, right? And what happens when we go the extra mile to create bridges and connections.  There are a host of people in Israel who continue to help Palestinians get to medical facilities, driving them back and forth, working for peace. I mean, there's a Palestinian on the Supreme Court of Israel, and well, he should be there. You know, that's the part of Israel that I am deeply proud of. So why not retaliate? I think it entrenches positions and never moves anything forward. Manya Brachear Pashman:  So have you gotten any negative feedback from your writing colleagues? Owen Lewis:  Some cold shoulders, yes. I mean not nothing overtly. I haven't been slammed in a review yet. Maybe that's coming. But when I publish pieces, I tend not to look at them. I had an oped in the LA Times. I've had some other pieces, you know, that precipitates blogs, and I started to read them.  And the first blog that came off of the the LA Times oped was, God, is he an opportunist, just taking advantage of having a daughter in Israel? And trying to make a name for himself or something. And I said, You know what, you can't put yourself out and take a position without getting some kind of flack. So occasionally, those things filter back, it's par for the course. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Right, not really worth reading some of those. You included Midrash in this book. You also spelled God in the traditional sense in the poems. Why did you choose to do that? Owen Lewis:  Well, I felt it honors a tradition of Jewish writing. It mean we have yud, hey, vav, hey, you know, which in English comes down as Yahweh, but it's unpronounceable. The name of God is unpronounceable. And, you know, yud, hey, vav, hey is just a representation. It isn't God's name. And there's a tradition that the name of God, when it's written down, can't be destroyed. And it's a way of honoring that tradition. Millennium of Jewish writers, you know, it's similar to say Elokim, instead of Elohim when the text is written. To sort of substitute. We know what we're talking about, but really to honor tradition, to pay respect and sort of to stay in the mind frame that, if there is a God, he, she, they, are unknowable. And somehow it creates, for me, a little bit of that mystery by leaving a letter out. It's like, G, O, D, seems more knowable than G-d. It's leaving that white space right for something bigger, grander, and mysterious, for the presence of that  right in the word itself. Manya Brachear Pashman:  And what about including Midrash? Owen Lewis: That's a very interesting question. You know Midrash for me, when you steep yourself in traditional Midrash, there's stories that exemplify principles and they fill in gaps. I mean, some of the most important. I mean, we have this notion of Abraham breaking the idols of his father before he left. No. That's Midrash, thats not in the Torah. And yet, nine out of ten Jews will say that's in the Torah, right? So, it kind of expands our understanding of the traditional text. But it also very much allows a writer to creatively engage with the text and expand it. It's like a commentary, but it's a commentary in story, and it's a commentary in terms that evoke human responses, not necessarily intellectual responses. So frankly, I think it's every Jews' responsibility to write Midrash. That reinvigorates the stories, the texts, and the meanings, and then we write midrashes upon midrashes. And you know, we get a whole community buzzing about a single story. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Which is very much what you've done with this collection, you know, writing poetry in response to news stories and engaging it in that way. It's very Jewish response, I would argue.  Do you observe Tisha B'av? Owen Lewis:  You know what I do. You're gonna laugh. My grandmother always warned us, don't go in the water on Tisha B'av, the sea will swallow you up. So I'm a big swimmer. I love swimming. I don't swim on Tisha B'av, because I hear my grandmother's voice, I'm going to be swallowed up. Manya Brachear Pashman:  If you could please wrap up this conversation by sharing a poem of your choice from your latest collection. Owen Lewis:  A poem I love to read again starts with a headline.   2000 Pound Bombs Drop, Reported N.Y. Times, Dec,, 22 2023.   In Khan Younis, the call to prayer  is the call of a dazed Palestinian child crying baba, standing at the brim of a cavernous pit of rubble   biting his knuckles–baba, baba . . .  It's so close to the abba of the dazed  Israeli children of Be'eri, Kfar Azza. There is no comfort. From his uncles   he's heard the calls for revenge– for his home and school, for his bed  of nighttime stories, for his nana's  whisper-song of G-d's many names.   His Allah, his neighbor's Adonai,  cry the same tears for death  and shun more blood. No miracle these waters turning red. Who called forth    the fleets of avenging angels? By viral post: Jewish Plagues on Gaza! A firstborn lost,  then a second, a third. What other plagues  pass over? Hail from the tepid sky?   From on high it falls and keeps falling.  Though we've “seen terrible things,” will you tell us, Adonai, Allah, tell us– do You remember the forgotten promise?   From the pile once home of rubble stone, a father's hand reaching out, baba, abba crushed by the load. We know the silence  of the lost child . . . G-d “has injured us   but will bind up our wounds . . .” Mothers  Look for us, called by the name yamma, calling  the name imma. Our father of mercy, not the god of sacrifice. Our many crying heads explode. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Owen Lewis, thank you so much for talking to us about how this book came about and for sharing some of these verses. Owen Lewis:   Thank you so much. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episode, be sure to listen to my conversation with Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder on the sidelines of AJC Global Forum 2025. Hear how his Jewish identity shapes his work, how his comedy has evolved since the Hamas terror attacks, and what he says to those who try to silence him.

In the original languages of Hebrew and Greek, the meaning of the word ‘repentance' is fundamentally the same: to turn around, or to turn back. Being a vital element of a relationship with the Creator, Elohim grants the gift of repentance to those He chooses. Within that gift of repentance is a sense of remorse and regret. When repentance is from a sincere heart, the relationship is restored.Rabbi Steve Berkson teaches the deep and sometimes hidden meaning of repentance and all it involves.• Opener• Review• 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 – Sadness from Elohim works repentance • Just saying you're sorry is not enough • You don't think you're wrong • 2 Corinthians 7:12-13 – Leadership doing their job• 2 Timothy 2:23 – Foolish and stupid questions? • 2 Timothy 2:24-26 – Why wouldn't Elohim want you to repent?• When conflicts happen… • The power of the devil • Hebrews 6:1-2 – The foundation of repentance • Hebrews 6:3-6 – Impossible to repent? Listen to the Afterburn tomorrowSubscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Thanks to Mitch for the prayer last week.   This year I realized some important lessons that have always been present but I was unable to understand.  You may not hear what I am trying to say either but I know you will in time.  If you have an ear, please hear.   the stuff that happens to us from the cradle to the grave not only shows us the presence of God but that we are connected like a piece of fabric to each other.  Our lives are intertwined. Imagine a loom potholder you made in summer camp with those big loops. It was of many colors and the patterns change the older it gets. The stains that we have don't come out always but make a pattern we don't see.  Sometimes others can see it clearer. The stains are the things that happen to us.  All of us go through some of the same things even if we don't share the extent or the facts.   Why it happens is that we belong to the same maker who knows what each of us represent better than we do.  He knows that what happens to you, will give you the opportunity to either curse or bless.  You have a choice. If you bless, it won't erase what you are going through but will take you through more loops. You are an influencer if you are connected to His will. Even our tragedies, give us the opportunities unknowingly usually.   I recently found out that a friend of mines brother attempted to kill himself. He blew a massive hole in his head. For as much as I know, he suffered his whole life from addictions, schizophrenia, and a every mental malady you can name.  He is still alive. Horrific right?  What in the world could God be thinking?  I don't know. I don't know but I am watching. I am observing what is happening from afar.  My friend is publicly questioning God. He has written so. He is now asking for prayer for his parents, that I don't think were together. His mother has flown from somewhere to be by her son.  Her son is able to respond to her touch. The doctors have closed up "Rauls" skull and he is doing better than I would have expected seeing the before photos. But guess what? I am not in control of anything. My friend is the founder of a large international motorcycle club. Believers are calling, praying and donating money he asked for in his GoFundMe appeal to help with his elderly parents travel expenses. I never heard of his brother before. He is sorrowful for how he treated him in the past. If you can look pasted the horrific event, look at the people that this has touched. and continues to touch. In detective work, that is called a clue. god is working, we just don't always see it.   personally, I had a member of this podcast ministry welcome me into their home for some R&R. Another, flew all the way here to take me to see me, and another let me drag him to church.  God inspired these folks to think it not robbery to help me. I didn't and don't even know what I need.   look at your life. Look at who you touch. Who you bless. Who is blessed by your help, your encouragement, your prayers to God. Look at me, at times I felt like I am all over the place. Guess that put me in the perfect position to have you talk to your heavenly Father on my behalf.  You unselfishly won't even pray for yourself but you prayed for me, a stranger, a rogue pistol packing preacher, a dude with more issues than Field and Stream.  Oddly enough, just as many talents and gifts it seems. WHO would that come from, Jehovah, Yahweh, Adonai, Elohim, the Most High, the Holy One of Israel, the A and O,   we are all in this together, all of our life isn't tragedy and tears, there are good times, and fun in there too. but its life. the good and the bad. the sunny days and the cloudy ones.    And we are not supposed to try to do it alone.  You are part of this Loom.  This ugly ass potholder only a Father could love. You don't understand why stuff happens like it does. I don't know why. I just know that HE is. He doesn't need you to believe in Him but He wants you too.   We do a lot of unnecessary crap and call it church. Church isn't the problem it is us. You and I are the church. that is why it is raggedy. We are looking for escapes, entertainment and ethos. (good feelings) Ain't none of that a biblical requirement. We make up stuff and get comfortable with it. And then we wonder why the golden plates, holy water, scented candles, chants, pendants, rocks, numbers, astrological signs,  alcohol, dope, sex, work, and retail therapy doesn't work.   In the midst of my mess there is a message.  in the midst of my conundrum I am becoming something more than I was. I am changing. I am growing. Not only my feet and hat size has increased. I am not the same guy I was 4 years ago.   I have a sneaking suspicion, I ain't by myself.  the Loom is bigger. you are connected to more people, or if not more, someone important to God. you matter. What you are going through brings others to loop in with you. What you have makes the pattern complete.  Your stains color the design.  It's an intelligent design by the way.   just like there are bacteria in your mouth that help break down the French fries you left in there, there is reason known only to God for the stuff in yours, ours, my life.   and what is the purpose of a potholder anyway? it helps protect your hands from getting burned.   Throughout the Bible, fire is often used as a metaphor for testing and refinement, purifying individuals or situations. It can also represent the intense passion and zeal that believers should have for God and His Word.   Fire holds significant symbolic meaning in the Bible. It represents purification, judgment, and the presence of God. In Hebrews 12:29, it is written, “For our God is a consuming fire.” This verse highlights the power and holiness associated with fire.   And you know you can't handle that Fire on your own. We need Jesus.