Podcasts about equipped

How do you forgive someone who has wronged you, and how do you forgive yourself? Or maybe a better question is, how does your faith help you forgive others? A recent study seems to indicate that Christians who don’t attend church regularly have a harder time forgiving themselves and others. If you wonder how we can apply the truth of forgiveness in our lives or you’re struggling to forgive someone – or yourself – don’t miss Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured Resource:Article: Casual Christians have a harder time forgiving themselves, others: survey September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

"Thanks for listening! For more information, visit churchoftheharvest.com. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and YouTube @cothcleveland.

What does Christlike leadership look like? We live in a day and age that desperately needs us to express our biblical convictions in an authentic and compassionate way that demonstrates character. We’ll talk about that with Dr. Justin Irving on Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:Leadership in Christian Perspective by Justin A. Irving & Mark L. Strauss September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Caring for a child with special needs is a full-time job you can’t imagine until you’re living it. If you’re one of those special needs parents who feels isolated, don’t miss this edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks. Joe and Cindi Ferrini will encourage you and give you biblical wisdom for the road ahead. Hope you can join us. Featured resource:The Special Needs Parent by Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

From the devastating floods in Nepal to everyday emergencies here in Singapore, recent events have been a powerful reminder that the first person able to help is often an ordinary bystander. Benjamin William, Secretary General and CEO of the Singapore Red Cross, joins Let’s Talk, Singapore to discuss why first-aid skills still matter, how prepared Singaporeans really are, and what World First Aid Day should mean beyond a single awareness campaign.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the battles we face every day -- in our relationships, our minds, our culture, and our world -- are not just personal struggles but part of something far larger and more significant than we realize? Drawing on the opening chapters of Ephesians, we explore the stunning truth that spiritual warfare is a cosmic conflict waged in an invisible realm but felt in every corner of our visible lives. Paul's declaration that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places is not abstract theology -- it is a battle map. It tells us where the fight is happening, who holds ultimate authority, and what resources we have been given. The resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ, seated far above every ruler, authority, power, and dominion, establishes that the war has already been won. The enemy is defeated, not dormant. Understanding this changes everything about how we face each day.

How do we process 9/11 this year, especially since it is the 25th anniversary? For Chris Brooks, this date is deeply personal and intertwined with his work in the financial world. We want to hear your 9/11 story, then we'll talk with financial expert and radio host Rob West to tackle your money questions. Hope you can join us for the next Equipped with Chris Brooks. September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Follow this Biblical Guidance - A Prophetic Word for 5787We are about to step into the Hebrew year of 5787. All Christ-followers need to be aware of what this means. This Digital Discipleship stream carries important keys for how to stay in alignment with God's timing and movements for your next 12 months.Hebrew Year 5787 is signficant becasue it has 385 days in it. The next year that we are going to have a year with 385 days in it will be in our year 2053. Specifically Monday, September 22, 2053. DO NOT DELAY YOURSELF!All donors will automatically be invited to the private group - as long as you donate before October 19, 2026.www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/donateThis is the Year of Building Structure so you are Equipped to Carry Something Holy from God. STAY WITH ME – I'm going to walk you through this and give you application steps. You can't skip ahead and you have to stay accountable. You won't receive another chance to re-do this year.Shana Tovah!Pastor Carina is a Christian life coach, Keynote Speaker, and Mentor who God has uniquely gifted to activate others in the body of Christ. She carries an anointing to stir dormant callings, awaken spiritual gifts, and ignite Kingdom assignments,  empowering believers to step boldly into their God-given identity, walk in divine purpose, and bear lasting fruit for His glory. She's the Founder of Trumpets of Tirzah, an international apostolic center for women that facilitates purpose discovery, Kingdom lifestyle practices, and biblical leadership disciplines so that women can live, and lead, a "new creation" life that reflects Jesus. Her personal coaching, group mentoring, and Tirzah University courses provide keys of radical transformation that launch women into spheres of influence around the world.Hungry for more…Tirzah University, the religious education department of Trumpets of Tirzah, is the only educational institution in the world that focuses on the Apostolic role of women in the body of Christ while educating, equipping and empowering women to walk confidently in their God-given role. Come study with us: www.TirzahUniversity.com Do you live the ANOINTED LIFE?We have many testimonies on the miracles that God does as people use our blessed products.Luxury anointing oils and anointing lotions: https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/category/anointingCreative ways of sharing the gospel…And take a look at how we are sharing the gospel through film: https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.com/mastersmedia******************************************************** Awaken. Arise. Advance.https://www.trumpetsoftirzah.comDo you want your Christian product advertised on our podcast? Book your ad on Fiver.https://www.fiverr.com/s/NNLl8pN Get your Amplified Bible: https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1223731&item_no=0446538We host in-person and virtual events. Check out our website events page to join in the fun. We are a community of women leaders with creative hearts desiring to follow the examples of Jesus above all else. We are located in the heart of Temecula, CA.Engage daily with us! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/trumpetsoftirzah/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@trumpetsoftirzahLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/trumpetsoftirzah iHeart Radio  ⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-trumpets-of-tirzah-120477377/⁠ Amazon Music. ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c0203ed1-9b85-426a-85f5-5350e82ab730/trumpets-of-tirzah⁠ Apple Podcasts. ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trumpets-of-tirzah/id1551900025⁠ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4DCT4KBVsmzfnqyobR4ZwF Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trumpets-of-tirzah/id1551900025YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TrumpetsofTirzahRumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-5936184#propheticword #propheticword5787 #5787 #propheticcommunity #kingdommessage #growyourfaith #kingdomleaders #kingdomimpact #kingdombuilders #faith #holyspirit

Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation is hurting many people, both inside and outside of the church. How can we reach the hearts of those feeling isolated? If we’re the lonely ones, how do we overcome this? Hope you can join the conversation on Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:Article: The Christian Response to Loneliness: A Biblical Response to a Modern Epidemic September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

When a friend is hurting or a church member's child is ill, how do you help? Author and counselor Michael Emlet says we can love others as God loves us. He sees and loves his people primarily as saints, while bringing comfort to the sufferer, and faithfully speaking truth to the sinner. Learn more when you join us for Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners: Loving Others as God Loves Us by Michael R. Emlet September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Andrea and Cynthia Sue Larson discuss the Mandela Effect, synchronicities, telepathy, quantum jumping, and the surprising connection between empathy and extraordinary experiences. Cynthia explains why sensitive people may be more attuned to shifts in consciousness—and how opening your mind, questioning limiting beliefs, and working with your natural abilities may help you move through change with greater awareness.This conversation invites you to see empathy not as a weakness, but as an ability humanity may need now more than ever.✨ Learn more about Cynthia Sue Larson https://realityshifters.com/ Episode Time Stamps: 00:00 Mandela Effect Wakeup00:56 Cynthia Sue Larson Returns02:51 Classic Mandela Examples03:43 Haas vs Hass Mystery05:34 Mandela Statue Rabbit07:51 Playful Consciousness Wink10:39 Reality Shifts Change Text12:21 Books That Rewrite Themselves17:08 Empathy and Disclosure Day25:07 Empaths and Quantum Coherence28:52 Empathy and Telepathy Skills31:22 Reawakening Your Gifts32:17 Hard Times Build Skills33:01 Reality Shifting Basics35:34 Flip Negative Self Talk37:45 Books and Money Manifesting40:07 Reality as a Hallucination46:25 Quantum Logic and Goodness50:18 Yes and Through Conflict52:17 Near Death and Portals54:55 Mandela Effect Death Story58:59 Where to Connect and Wrap UpRegistration for Channel Your Divine Self is open now thru Sept 17. This twelve-week live course is unlike any other you may have taken. Join Andrea and the Emissaries of Light and begin this transformational and healing journey. All the details and registration here: https://www.mainstreamreiki.com/channel-your-divine-selfAndrea's Links: https://beacons.ai/andrea_kennedyAndrea's Reiki Business Success Course:https://www.mainstreamreiki.com/reiki-business-success-courseVisit our websiteVisit our Amazon Shop  Sponsored by The Mainstream Reiki Community https://members.mainstreamreiki.com/HealthyLine offers revolutionary PEMF  and far-infrared mats. Get 10% off and free shipping in the continental US with code "Mainstream10FS". What Resonates? is produced by Twisted Spur MediaAndrea may earn money through Amazon for qualifying purchases.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program do not  reflect those of the podcast or anyone affiliated with its production. This program is presented for entertainment purposes only. The utilization of the information provided is at the listener's own discretion.

Why are questions so important? Author J.R. Briggs says that the quality of your life is determined by the quality of the questions you ask God, yourself, and others. He'll help us see how the questions we ask can deepen our relationships and faith. Learn the art of asking better questions one the next Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:The Art of Asking Better Questions by J.R. Briggs September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Fully Charged: Formed - Equipped - Sent

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” – but do we really live like we believe that all work matters to the church? Matt Rusten will help us see what a faithful life at work looks like. Be encouraged to represent Christ while doing your daily work when you join us for Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:Pastoring for Monday by Matt Rusten September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Pastor Thurmond N. Tillman spoke from the a topic, “ Equipped To Do His Will ” scripture Hebrews 13:20-21

Equipped for Every Good WorkMr. Tim Rice

This three-part series follows Jesus and his disciples after the resurrection. The good news of Jesus's resurrection isn't something that we celebrate just one Sunday a year. It is good news that needs to be shared all year. Once we've encountered the risen Savior, we are sent to share this message of hope to the world. We hope that this ministry has blessed you in some way and that you would consider liking, subscribing, and sharing this channel with your friends, family, or a person God has placed on your heart. As always if you would like prayer please Text “Prayer” to 561.867.3400 and if you've made a decision to follow Christ today  or have more questions would you please consider  texting the word “Decided” to 561.867.3957  so that we can pray with you and provide you with  some resources to begin your journey with the Savior. Have a blessed day your family @ FBC Lantana Connect Card: Text "Connect" to 561.867.3353 Prayer Request: Text “Prayer” to 561.867.3400 I have decided to follow Jesus: Text “Decided” to 561.867.3957

Christianity is exploding around the world – except in Europe and America. Why is that true and what will it take for it to change?  Historian, theologian and world-watcher, Dr. Glenn Sunshine will explore these movements of God across the globe and explain what is hindering His working in our nation.  Join us for Equipped with Chris Brooks and be prepared to have your heart stirred, your mind changed and your life re-directed! Featured resource:The Kingdom Unleashed by Glenn Sunshine and Jerry Trousdale, with Gregory C. Benoit September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

For many decades, teachers have known the value of reading to children. Do you read to your children or grandchildren? It’s never too early or too late to start this wonderful, warm family tradition. On this edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks, Alison Mitchell and Marty Machowski will help us discover some of the best new works in Christian children’s literature, and we'll hear about your favorites, too! September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Pastors carry the burden for the souls of their church members, especially those who pastor smaller churches. It’s one of the most neglected and challenging ministries! Dr. Eric Moore from the Moody Seminary joins Chris to address the issues faced by small church pastors and offer real-world, Biblical solutions! Learn to build up your pastor on this edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:Pastoring the Small Church: Remaining Faithful in a Big Church World by Eric W. Moore September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Feeling exhausted, anxious, and overwhelmed? You're not alone! If you've ever said, “I just can’t do it all,” you’re right… you were never meant to! That’s the powerful message of the book by our guest, Kelly Capic. He joins us on Equipped with Chris Brooks with encouragement to accept God’s design for our humanity so we can live well within our limits! Featured resource:You Were Never Meant to Do It All by Kelly Kapic September thank you gift:The Special Needs Parent by Joe and Cindi Ferrini Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

You don't have to have everything figured out. God has already equipped you for what He's called you to.

On this edition of Equipped, Chris Brooks welcomes cold-case homicide detective J. Warner Wallace. Investigating death has, surprisingly, taught our guest much about life, the nature of people, and the Truth of the Bible. He explores the connection between modern behavioral research and the Biblical record. Don't miss this intriguing look at death, life, purpose, and the Savior on Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:The Truth in True Crime by J. Warner Wallace August thank you gift:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

The rise of Artificial Intelligence has been a gift when it comes to efficiency, helping us accomplish more in less time. But at what point does increased efficiency begin to diminish the unique way God designed us to work, serve, and make a difference in this world? Join us this Sunday as Pastor Brandon explores another picture of the church and discovers how God has uniquely gifted each of us to make a real impact.

Welcome to the Jesus Church in Watertown, South Dakota!Join us for service at: 500 14th Ave NW, Watertown, SD 57201 https://goo.gl/maps/WgUmDc1iH7jB8za98Our Service Times: Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 am CDT Sunday Main Service at 11:00 am CDT Wednesday Service at 7:00 pm CDTYou can find us online at: Website: https://jesuschurchsd.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JesusChurchSD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesuschurchsd/

Go to sermon webpage: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Does living for Jesus make you feel like you're being watched? In our world of shifting values, a compelling faith stands out and draws people in. On the next Equipped with Chris Brooks, Pastor Mike Tatlock says the most radical thing a Christian can do is stay anchored to Him. Learn how your life can become a living invitation when you join us for Equipped. Featured resource:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock August thank you gift:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

2 Timothy 3:10-19 (ESV)Andrew and Edwin talk about the great benefits of Scripture and what it means that Scripture equips us for every good work.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=26642The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

How do we navigate grief and loss? The Bible talks about grief and we see how Jesus handled the loss of His friend Lazarus. Dr. Asabi Dean helps us prepare for grief and process losses we have faced. Whether you're in a season of grief yourself or helping someone else process their sorrow, don't miss this helpful conversation on Equipped with Chris Brooks. August thank you gift:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Carl and Mike do a quick leaderboard update from the Tour Championship and then are joined by Mike Griffith as they discuss the latest on the Georgia Bulldogs.

In this installment of the Equipped for Life Podcast, Emily Geiger and Dr. Rebecca Carlson dive deeper into what it means to express compassion in conversation, particularly when discussing difficult topics like abortion, rape, and poverty. Note: Although this episode does not describe rape or sexual abuse in detail, it does make reference to survivors and resources related to addressing sexual abuse.   Editor's Note: There was a bit of an audio glitch in Rebecca's audio during recording that we unfortunately didn't catch until post-production. Please bear with us over these next few episodes until our correction of the error catches up with our publishing schedule. Chapters: 00:11 Intro 02:50 How do you "get compassion"? 06:20 How do I prepare myself for hard conversations? 15:02 How do I learn about and work through hard circumstances? 27:07 Practical tips for expressing compassion well  Related Links: The Equipped for Life Course Rachael Denhollander talk on sexual abuse (YouTube)  The Allender Center  Equal Rights Institute Website  Equal Rights Institute Blog  Equipped for Life Academy Equipped for Life Course  Sidewalk Counseling Masterclass   Hosts: Emily Geiger, Rebecca Carlson, PhD  Audio/Video Editor: Joshua Head   Publisher: Melissa McGinness  

Christians are commanded to love one another. But our present-day divisions and disunity show us that it’s not an easy task to do. Dr. Winfred Neely helps us see how a mutual agape love within the church can spread to our families and communities. Explore the biblical basis for love when you join us for Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:A Love to Live By: Rediscovering Agape Love in Scripture by Dr. Winfred O. Neely August thank you gift:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Send us Fan MailYour mindset bestie, subconscious fairy, and dream life coach.  Working with her is like if the sun itself was on your side, shining a light on your innate truth.Lorilynn is a person who seems to just get it. With humour and grace she will put you on track to where you want to be and how to want to feel along the way. Equipped with tools for a true mind, body, spirit approach you will leave your time with her feeling like you hugged the universe and it hugged you back.Whether you're looking for a long-term support or a one-off look in the mirror  of your truth there is something just right for you.Her method is rooted in science and facts. Looking at what you want and how to get there, assessing what beliefs block you and what you can believe that will more profoundly support you.Book your hypnosis here.Follow her on Instagram.Explore The Being Portal AppThe Being Portal is our somatic breathwork app designed to help you regulate your nervous system, release stored tension, and reconnect with your body.Inside the app you'll find guided breathwork sessions, somatic practices, and full courses designed to support emotional healing and nervous system regulation.Start your journey here:https://www.beingmethod.ca/being-portalBecome a Certified Breathwork PractitionerIf you feel called to guide others through breathwork and somatic healing, you can apply to become certified through The Being Method.Book a discovery call to learn more about the certification program and see if it's the right fit for you.Book a call hereExplore The Being Method certification: www.beingmethod.caLet's Connect: 

If the Book of Ezra begins with the return of the remnant to restore the Temple and the Law, the Book of Nehemiah records the physical and civil secured existence of that same fragile community. Where Ezra brings the spiritual architecture of Torah, Nehemiah arrives with the practical blueprint for survival. The ruin of Jerusalem was not merely a physical catastrophe; in the ancient Near East, an unfortified city was an open target for enemies, a mockery to surrounding nations, and a visible reproach to the God whose name it bore. Nehemiah enters history to turn a desolate heap of stones into a holy, defended dwelling place. Covering the third major return from Babylon, the narrative centers on Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, who trades the luxury of the imperial palace for the dust of Jerusalem. Upon receiving news of the city's broken walls and burned gates, his instant response fuses deep intercessory prayer with decisive administrative leadership. Anchored in God's covenant promises, Nehemiah pleads God's own words: though His outcasts are scattered to the uttermost parts of heaven, He will gather them if they return and keep His commandments. Equipped with royal letters and timber from the king's forest, Nehemiah leads the remnant in rebuilding the walls in a staggering fifty-two days, despite relentless psychological warfare and political conspiracies from regional adversaries like Sanballat and Tobiah. This post-exilic landscape is shared by the prophet Malachi, whose contemporaneous ministry voices the very heart of this covenant dynamic. Malachi's prophetic cry, "Return to Me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7), operates as the thematic twin to Nehemiah's prayer and labor. While Nehemiah builds external security and executes civic reforms, Malachi confronts the internal lethargy, corrupt priesthood, and cold formalist worship that threaten the remnant from within. Together, governor and prophet press the same urgent reality: physical restoration is hollow without a true return of the heart to the place where God has chosen to make His name dwell. Nehemiah demonstrates the essential union between persistent prayer and active duty, showing that spiritual reliance and practical organization belong together in God's service. Yet, the book ends with a clear sense of anticipation. Though the physical perimeter is secured and the temple sacrifices are maintained, the stubborn tendency of human hearts to wander persists. The combined testimony of Nehemiah and Malachi leaves the reader looking past the restored walls of Jerusalem toward the ultimate Shepherd-King who would come to gather the true outcasts, cleanse His people from within, and establish an unshakable kingdom forever. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. (Malachi 4:2)

Is it possible to keep your faith intact in the college years? What happens when that professor raises questions you don’t know how to answer? Dr. Michael Kruger has been training young people to answer for their beliefs for over 20 years. If you are a student dealing with doubt or wrestling with objections to Christianity from fellow students and professors, find answers on this edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College by Michael J. Kruger August thank you gift:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

If the Book of Ezra begins with the return of the remnant to restore the Temple and the Law, the Book of Nehemiah records the physical and civil secured existence of that same fragile community. Where Ezra brings the spiritual architecture of Torah, Nehemiah arrives with the practical blueprint for survival. The ruin of Jerusalem was not merely a physical catastrophe; in the ancient Near East, an unfortified city was an open target for enemies, a mockery to surrounding nations, and a visible reproach to the God whose name it bore. Nehemiah enters history to turn a desolate heap of stones into a holy, defended dwelling place. Covering the third major return from Babylon, the narrative centers on Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, who trades the luxury of the imperial palace for the dust of Jerusalem. Upon receiving news of the city's broken walls and burned gates, his instant response fuses deep intercessory prayer with decisive administrative leadership. Anchored in God's covenant promises, Nehemiah pleads God's own words: though His outcasts are scattered to the uttermost parts of heaven, He will gather them if they return and keep His commandments. Equipped with royal letters and timber from the king's forest, Nehemiah leads the remnant in rebuilding the walls in a staggering fifty-two days, despite relentless psychological warfare and political conspiracies from regional adversaries like Sanballat and Tobiah. This post-exilic landscape is shared by the prophet Malachi, whose contemporaneous ministry voices the very heart of this covenant dynamic. Malachi's prophetic cry, "Return to Me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7), operates as the thematic twin to Nehemiah's prayer and labor. While Nehemiah builds external security and executes civic reforms, Malachi confronts the internal lethargy, corrupt priesthood, and cold formalist worship that threaten the remnant from within. Together, governor and prophet press the same urgent reality: physical restoration is hollow without a true return of the heart to the place where God has chosen to make His name dwell. Nehemiah demonstrates the essential union between persistent prayer and active duty, showing that spiritual reliance and practical organization belong together in God's service. Yet, the book ends with a clear sense of anticipation. Though the physical perimeter is secured and the temple sacrifices are maintained, the stubborn tendency of human hearts to wander persists. The combined testimony of Nehemiah and Malachi leaves the reader looking past the restored walls of Jerusalem toward the ultimate Shepherd-King who would come to gather the true outcasts, cleanse His people from within, and establish an unshakable kingdom forever. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. (Malachi 4:2)

If the Book of Ezra begins with the return of the remnant to restore the Temple and the Law, the Book of Nehemiah records the physical and civil secured existence of that same fragile community. Where Ezra brings the spiritual architecture of Torah, Nehemiah arrives with the practical blueprint for survival. The ruin of Jerusalem was not merely a physical catastrophe; in the ancient Near East, an unfortified city was an open target for enemies, a mockery to surrounding nations, and a visible reproach to the God whose name it bore. Nehemiah enters history to turn a desolate heap of stones into a holy, defended dwelling place. Covering the third major return from Babylon, the narrative centers on Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, who trades the luxury of the imperial palace for the dust of Jerusalem. Upon receiving news of the city's broken walls and burned gates, his instant response fuses deep intercessory prayer with decisive administrative leadership. Anchored in God's covenant promises, Nehemiah pleads God's own words: though His outcasts are scattered to the uttermost parts of heaven, He will gather them if they return and keep His commandments. Equipped with royal letters and timber from the king's forest, Nehemiah leads the remnant in rebuilding the walls in a staggering fifty-two days, despite relentless psychological warfare and political conspiracies from regional adversaries like Sanballat and Tobiah. This post-exilic landscape is shared by the prophet Malachi, whose contemporaneous ministry voices the very heart of this covenant dynamic. Malachi's prophetic cry, "Return to Me, and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7), operates as the thematic twin to Nehemiah's prayer and labor. While Nehemiah builds external security and executes civic reforms, Malachi confronts the internal lethargy, corrupt priesthood, and cold formalist worship that threaten the remnant from within. Together, governor and prophet press the same urgent reality: physical restoration is hollow without a true return of the heart to the place where God has chosen to make His name dwell. Nehemiah demonstrates the essential union between persistent prayer and active duty, showing that spiritual reliance and practical organization belong together in God's service. Yet, the book ends with a clear sense of anticipation. Though the physical perimeter is secured and the temple sacrifices are maintained, the stubborn tendency of human hearts to wander persists. The combined testimony of Nehemiah and Malachi leaves the reader looking past the restored walls of Jerusalem toward the ultimate Shepherd-King who would come to gather the true outcasts, cleanse His people from within, and establish an unshakable kingdom forever. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. (Malachi 4:2)

Part III — We Know What We're About · Calling as Public Witness Date: August 16, 2026.   Text: Ephesians 4:11–1, Isaiah 6:5–8 Yongchi Rhie   Let me begin with a confession from someone I knew, and I suspect it's one that some of you share. “For most of my life, I was a pew warmer. You know the type; maybe you are the type. I had my seat. Not just any seat; my seat, and heaven help the visitor who took it. I knew when to stand and when to sit. I could sing the first and last verse of any hymn and mumble convincingly through the middle. I knew exactly how long a sermon should go, and I would let the preacher know, with my eyebrows, when he had gone over. I gave the building the warmth of my body for one hour a week, and I called that church. I thought my job was to show up, to be moved when the sermon was good, to put something in the plate, and to go home. I thought the church was something that happened to me. Something performed for me. A service I attended, the way you attend a concert.” And Paul writes to the Ephesians to tell us what the church actually is. Listen: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” Did you catch what that does to the pew-warmer's dream? It calls it what it is: a beautiful, comfortable, church-shaped lie. Now listen closely, because there is a famous comma hiding in this passage, and that comma has done more damage to the church than almost any heresy I know. If you grew up on the King James Bible, you heard it read like this: Christ "gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Do you hear those commas? Three tidy tasks, all handed to the professionals. The clergy perfect the saints, and the clergy do the work of the ministry, and the clergy build up the body — and you, the saint, you sit in your pew and receive it. But that comma is not in the Greek. Hear the difference. The King James, with its commas, gives the clergy three jobs: they perfect the saints, and they do the ministry, and they build up the body — three tasks, all landing on the professionals, while you sit and receive. But in the Greek there are no three jobs. There is one sentence that moves, and it moves in a single direction, and it turns on two little words. The first is pros — it means toward. Christ gave the apostles and prophets and evangelists and pastors and teachers toward one thing, and one thing only: the equipping of the saints. That is the whole job of the leaders. To equip. And then the sentence hands off to a second word, eis — it means for the purpose of. Equipped for the purpose of the work of ministry. Do you feel the current change? In the King James, the ministry stops at the clergy. In the Greek, the clergy are just the on-ramp — and the ministry flows on, past them, to you. The gifted leaders are not the ministers. They are the equippers. You are the ministers. The staff is not the church. You are. The building on this corner is not the church. You — the living, breathing, gifted, called people of God — you are the church. One little comma turned the whole church into an audience. And Paul, in the Greek, quietly takes it out. And so this morning I have come to preach against a heresy. Not the heresy you're bracing for. Not a heresy about the Trinity: we'll defend the Trinity another day. Not the prosperity gospel, though God knows it deserves a sermon. Not complementarianism, not any of the usual suspects we love to argue about online. No. The most persistent heresy in the American church is quieter and far more comfortable than any of those. It is the heresy of passivity. The heresy of the spectator. The quiet, respectable belief that faith is something you consume rather than something you carry. Dietrich Bonhoeffer had a name for it. He called it cheap grace. "Cheap grace," he wrote, "is the grace we bestow on ourselves … grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ." It is grace as a service you attend, grace with no summons attached, grace you can sit inside of and never be changed by. Against that heresy, against that comfortable, safe, spectator faith, the whole witness of Scripture rises up and says: no. Look at the word Paul uses for you. "The saints." Hoi hagioi — the holy ones. And here is the good news buried in that word: you are not holy because of the work you do. You will never do enough work to become holy. You are holy because you have been made holy — set apart, washed, claimed — in the redemption of Christ's cross. Your holiness is not your achievement; it is Christ's gift. Peter says it plainly: you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people." A priesthood — all of you. Not because you earned the collar, but because Christ tore the curtain. So when I call you a saint this morning, I am not flattering you and I am not burdening you. I am telling you your name. The one God already gave you.   Now hear me, because this can start to sound like a guilt trip and it is not. I am not asking you to become something you are not. I am asking you to own what you already are, and to let it be redefined. And I know that word can sting. So many of you have been “redefined” by a system that never asked — restructured, downsized, quietly shown the door. And when that happens, you feel it: lost, cast aside, no longer valuable, waiting for some new role, a new job, a new title to tell you who you are again. I am not going to stand up here and pretend that struggle isn't real; it is real, and for some of you it is raw right now. But hear me: God's redefining runs deeper than any of that. It does not wait on a title the world hands out. It names something about you that has already been claimed and honored by God — that you are a minister, that you are a saint, that your one ordinary life is already woven into the holy work of God. That is the kind of redefining that heals. And it invites you to stop living beneath your own name. Because all of this equipping, Paul says, is "for building up the body of Christ." The body of Christ. Stop there with me. Now, I know exactly where your mind just went. The moment a preacher says "the body of Christ," every good churchgoer's brain jumps to the same passage — Paul's other letter, the one about the one body with many parts. You know the scene. Christ is the head, and the rest of us are the assorted body parts, and everyone's having a little argument. The hand turns to the mouth and sniffs, "I don't need you." The foot is sulking in the corner, jealous of the eyes — because eyes sit up there in a place of honor and the foot spends its whole life down in the dirt, in the sock, in the shoe nobody wants to smell. The nose is having an existential crisis about whether it even counts because it's not an eye. It's a wonderful passage, and it's a little bit of a family squabble, and every one of us has been every one of those body parts. Some of us are the eyes on our good days and the foot on our worst. But hold that picture loosely for a second, because I don't want us to stop at the anatomy lesson. What kind of body do you picture when you hear "the body of Christ"? It is not the glorious, weightless body of some ancestral heavenly being, floating serene above our troubles. And it is not merely our own ordinary body, fragile and failing and afraid. When I hear "the body of Christ," I think of the resurrected body. The body that went down into the cruelest, deadliest battle in human history, and came back. The body that conquered death itself. And here is the thing I cannot get past: that resurrected body still carried its wounds. Christ rose, and he rose scarred. He kept the holes in his hands, the wound in his side. But listen, after the resurrection those scars mean something entirely new. They are no longer the receipt of an unjust system that tortured him. They are now the proof that the body survived; and Jesus holds them out to Thomas, the doubter, and says, "Put your finger here. Reach out your hand. Do not doubt, but believe." That is the body we are being built into. A body that carries its wounds without shame, and offers them to the doubting world as the very evidence that love outlasts death. Which brings me to Isaiah, and to the most important thing I will say all morning about how any of us ends up doing the work of God. Isaiah is in the temple, and the whole place shakes with glory, and his first honest response is not "send me." It is despair. "Woe is me! I am lost. For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips." He knows he is not qualified. He knows the people around him are not qualified. And notice what God does not do. God does not say, "You're right, clean yourself up and come back when you're ready." No. One of the seraphs takes a live coal from the altar and touches it to Isaiah's mouth and says, "Your guilt has departed; your sin is blotted out." And only then, only after the cleansing, only after the grace, only after he is justified by a fire he did not light, then comes the question: "Whom shall I send?" And now Isaiah can answer: "Here am I. Send me." Do you see the order? The commissioning did not come before the cleansing. Grace came first. You are not sent because you are qualified. You are sent because you have been called. And that means ministry is not a plan to you have to figure out; Ministry is presence. It is a cleansed and willing person saying, "Here I am." That's all. Here I am. So let me talk about our body. About Foundry. We began this whole sermon series by saying: we know who we are. And to know who we are, we have to tell the truth about our whole body — the parts that make us proud and the parts we are still learning to confess. This is a body with a painful history of segregation. A body that shut down the ministers because of their skin color, a body that showed contempt when others demanded a seat on our table. And it is also a body embracing radical hospitality; it's also a people who have planted gardens whose harvest they would never live to see, who practiced a sacred resistance rooted not in rage but in grace and in hope. Some of our story makes us proud. Some of our story we are still trying to admit out loud, still seeking reconciliation for. There is the courage of public witness in this body, and there is the fatigue of fighting battles that never seem to end. And here is the gospel: all of it — the pride and the shame, the courage and the exhaustion, the scars and the survival — all of it is the body of Foundry. A scarred body. A resurrected body. Being built, Paul says, "until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ." Now indulge me one moment, because my name has something to say here. In Chinese character, Yong means to melt and Chi means wisdom. So my name, "Yongchi" carries the sense of melting everything down and turning it into wisdom. And I stand in a church called Foundry. A foundry, you know, is the place where metal is thrown into the fire, melted past all its old shapes, and poured into a mold to be made into something useful. Friends, I don't think that's an accident. This is what God is doing to us. We are melted down by the fire of the Holy Spirit. We are cleansed by the same burning coal that touched Isaiah's lips. And then we are molded — poured, shaped, set — and equipped. Equipped to be the ministers for the holy work of the kindom of God. That is what a foundry is for. Not to admire the fire, but to throw ourselves into the fire, and to be made into something that gets used. And what does the maker say when the tool is finally ready? He says: go. The last word of Jesus was not "stay," or “remember me”.  It was "go into all the world." But hear me: I am not sending you off to some far mission field across an ocean. You are not being voluntold to fill a gap because the pastors are simply too busy. No. Go where you are supposed to go. Go to your home. Go to your family, Go to your friends. Go to your workplace on Monday morning. Go to your support group, because they need to see you and you need to see them — both of you still refusing to give up. Go but with your role redefined by the mission of God. Go and preach — with your words, with your life. Go visit someone who is frightened and alone. Go to your city – and serve not the anxious little kingdoms of status and fear — but serve your Lord. The One who first cleansed your unclean lips, and anointed them, and then turned to you and asked, "Whom shall I send?" So here is my invitation and what I am asking. Not a volunteer slip. Not a program. Not a signature. Something braver: I am going to ask you to name, out loud or with your body, where God has sent you. However you can — stand up if you're able, or raise your hand, or simply call it out from where you sit. Just a word. Just the name of the place your feet already carry the gospel. But before I give it, I need to say two things gently, because I know both are in this room. The first is for anyone who is visiting today, or still just getting to know Foundry. You may not have a ministry to name yet — you haven't plugged in anywhere, and that is completely fine. You do not have to stand, you do not have to prove you're ready, and no one is counting. Just be encouraged: God already calls you part of the body of Christ, exactly as you are this morning, before you've signed up for a single thing. And the second is for anyone for whom this next moment may feel like an altar call — because for some of you, an altar call is not a warm memory. Maybe you were called forward once by a church that used the moment to shame you, to pressure you, to tell you that you were not enough or did not belong. Maybe the church is the very place you were wounded. If that is you, I will not pretend the wound isn't real. But remember the body we are being built into — the resurrected Christ, who did not hide his scars but held them out: “put your finger here.” We are a body that carries its wounds without shame. Your wound from the church is not a disqualification; in the risen body it can become the very proof that you survived and still came back to God. You do not have to be unscarred to be sent. You only have to be here. So don't be shy. When the Spirit nudges you, name it — get on your feet, or lift your hand, or call it out from your seat. Prayer team. Stephen Ministry. ID Ministry. Welcome and greeting. Children's ministry. Family ministry. Discipleship Ministry. Small-group teaching. The LGBTQ+ community. Social and Racial Justice ministry. Music. The altar and worship. The board and the business of this church. Books to Prison. Hospitality. Whatever it is, whoever you are — don't keep it to yourself. Name it, because the body needs to see itself, and the body needs to hear its own members say, out loud: here am I. Because you are not a consumer of grace. You are a carrier of it. So make your song louder. Make your community visible. Make your story heard. Let your prayer be lifted. Be loud. Be joyful. Be courageous. Be bold. Be loved — and love God and love your neighbor — all of it for the glory of the God who has already called you a holy one, and who is asking you, right now, in this room: whom shall I send? And your answer? Here I am. Send me. We are the church. Now Here we are. Let's go. Amen.

Those in their 50s and 60s have unique opportunities and challenges. They’ve lived a lot of life and have wisdom – but aren’t close to being done in following Jesus. How do we keep serving God when we’re not old and not young? Christopher Ash joins us on Equipped with Chris Brooks to talk about faithful living and serving in midlife. Don’t miss an encouraging conversation! Featured resource:Not Old, Not Young, Not Done: Following Jesus in your 50s and 60s by Christopher Ash August thank you gift:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Equipped | Ephesians 4:1-16 | Bruce Garner by CrossPoint Church

Every parent knows from experience that little people have big emotions! Our children struggle with their feelings, and surprisingly, worry is among their greatest concerns.  How can we help our children learn to process their fears and take charge of their emotions?  On this edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks, we talk with author and counselor Dr. Josh Straub about fostering emotional awareness in our children.  Featured resource:What Do I Do with Worry? by Dr. Josh and Christi StraubWhat Am I Feeling? by Dr. Josh and Christi Straub August thank you gift:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

It’s back-to-school time! How can we best love our local schools? Whether you have kids in your local school or not, you can be a light in your community. On this edition of Equipped with Chris Brooks, we will talk with Courtney Vinyard about some big and small ways you can love your local school. Hope you can join the conversation on the next Equipped. Featured Resource:Article: How to Love Your Local Public School August thank you gift:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

A first-of-its-kind study reveals that one out of eight apps marketed to U.S. military service members (and their families) contain foreign code—some from China and Russia—that could be remotely updated to leak sensitive data to adversaries. This alarming finding arrives just as reports confirm foreign adversaries are already using cell phone location data to target American troops in the Middle East. Let's go through it all together.

Whether you are married or single, your sexuality is inseparable from your spirituality. And many churches are silent on the subject. Dr. Juli Slattery will help us think biblically about all areas of our sexuality. Find freedom to explore God's good gifts of love, sex, and intimacy when you join us for Equipped with Chris Brooks. Featured resource:25 Questions You're Afraid to Ask about Love, Sex, and Intimacy by Dr. Juli Slattery August thank you gift:A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

YouTube changed how it tracks views to catch up with TikTok and Instagram hoping to make its metrics less confusing, and opening statements have begun in a major child safety case that looks at how Meta designed Facebook and Instagram.Starring Jason Howell and Tom Merritt.Links to stories discussed in this episode can be found here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tesla unveils its first vehicle with Starlink built-in. Plus: more next-gen Roadster teases from multiple Tesla executives, there's a new Tesla on the road…kinda …but not really (but it's still quite interesting), and more! If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support my efforts, please check out my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/teslapodcast and consider a monthly or (10% discounted!) annual pledge. Every little bit helps, and you can support for just $5 per month. And there are stacking bonuses in it for you at each pledge level, like early access to each episode at the $5 tier and the weekly Lightning Round bonus mini-episode (AND the early access!) at the $10 tier! And NO ADS at any Patreon tier! Also, don't forget to leave a message on the Ride the Lightning hotline anytime with a question, comment, or discussion topic for next week's show! The toll-free number to call is 1-888-989-8752. INTERESTED IN A FLEXIBLE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR YOUR TESLA? Be a part of the future of transportation with XCare, the first extended warranty designed & built exclusively for EV owners, by EV owners. Use the code RTL250 to get $250 off your XCare Premium or Battery & Drive Unit Protection Plan using the one-time payment option! Go to https://xcare.com to find the extended warranty policy that's right for you and your Tesla. P.S. Get 15% off your first order of awesome aftermarket Tesla accessories at AbstractOcean.com by using the code RTLpodcast at checkout. Grab the SnapPlate front license plate bracket for any Tesla at https://everyamp.com/RTL/ (don't forget the coupon code RTL too!). Enhance your car with cool carbon-fiber upgrades from RPMTesla.com. And make your garage door foolproof with the Infinity Shield – get yours at https://www.infinity-shield.com and use the promo code RTL at checkout for a $25 discount.

John Hardie reports North Korea is deploying a specialized unit equipped with KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles to assist Russia's war efforts. This shipment, potentially totaling 120 missiles, significantly bolsters Russia's magazine depth as it continues pounding Ukrainian cities. The relationship is mutually beneficial: Russia receives much-needed munitions and troops, while North Korea gains combat experience and technical assistance for its satellite and missile programs. Ukraine, facing a critical shortage of air defense interceptors, is seeking to use Starlink within Russian territory to hunt and strike these missile launchers before they can fire. (1)

TABLE OF CONTENTS JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-10-2026.John Hardie reports North Korea is deploying a specialized unit equipped with KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles to assist Russia's war efforts. This shipment, potentially totaling 120 missiles, significantly bolsters Russia's magazine depth as it continues pounding Ukrainian cities. The relationship is mutually beneficial: Russia receives much-needed munitions and troops, while North Korea gains combat experience and technical assistance for its satellite and missile programs. Ukraine, facing a critical shortage of air defense interceptors, is seeking to use Starlink within Russian territory to hunt and strike these missile launchers before they can fire. (1)Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa report Venezuelan negotiators have established a timeline for a political transition, aiming to restore rights and select new electoral authorities by December. However, there are significant concerns regarding the lack of a firm election date and the ongoing militarization of the Bolivarian revolution. Simultaneously, diplomatic relations between Brazil and the U.S. have deteriorated, resulting in the U.S. revoking the credentials of Brazil's ambassador. In Colombia, new president Abelardo de la Espriella has launched a decisive military response against narco-terrorism, a move that regional leaders hope will dismantle the cross-border havens used by Venezuelan-linked criminal groups. (2)Malcolm Hoenlein discusses a new mutual defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan that has emerged to counter Iranian influence and the Muslim Brotherhood. Meanwhile, in Gaza, empirical data from UNICEF and the WHO challenges international narratives of famine, showing malnutrition rates are actually lower than in many neighboring countries. Theft of aid by Hamas remains a primary obstacle to relief efforts. In Iran, the regime faces severe domestic instability due to energy and water shortages, yet it continues to make extreme "non-negotiable" demands of the U.S., including $300 billion in reparations, while escalating public executions to silence internal dissent. (3)David Daoud explains Iran is currently leveraging negotiations with the U.S. to secure a ceasefire that protects Hezbollah from further Israeli military pressure while allowing the group to rebuild. Critics argue that U.S. security assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is a poor investment, as the LAF lacks the political will to disarm Hezbollah within its own borders. While a fragile ceasefire has shifted active war toward localized "policing operations" and skirmishes, Hezbollah explicitly rejects any linkage between an Israeli withdrawal and its own disarmament. The Trump administration is reportedly prioritizing "quiet" in Lebanon, which has forced Israeli forces into a more reactive posture. (4)Mariam Wahba reports the Sudanese civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), now entering its fourth year, has left over 400,000 dead. The conflict has evolved into a complex proxy war; the UAE supports the RSF to gain access to gold mines, while Egypt and Turkey lean toward the SAF. Iran has further complicated the battlefield by selling drones and hardware to both factions. Although neither side is seen as morally superior, civilians frequently celebrate when the SAF liberates territory from the RSF. Sudanese activists continue to call for a transition to civilian government despite the ongoing violence. (5)Bridget Toomey reports the Houthis have escalated their regional campaign by striking Saudi Arabia's Jazan refinery, demonstrating their ability to disrupt global energy markets despite recent defense pacts. Within Yemen, the Houthis are intensifying attacks on government-held ports like Mocha and oil-rich regions like Marib to expand their territorial control. These strikes often target civilian displacement camps, using ballistic missiles and drones to sow terror and gain leverage in future negotiations. While Saudi Arabia pursues diplomatic off-ramps through Omani mediation, the Houthis continue to use military pressure to force an agreement favorable to their long-term dominance. (6)Edmund Fitton-Brown describes the Houthis' methodical campaign, likely coordinated with Iran, to intimidate Saudi Arabia and prevent its entry into the Abraham Accords. Recent strikes on Mocha and Jazan highlight a resurgence of the 12-year-old Yemeni civil war, which remains a primary source of regional instability. While a new Sunni alliance between Pakistan and Turkey offers symbolic support to the Saudis, it lacks the practical military "teeth" to intervene on the ground. Meanwhile, the UAE is asserting itself as an agile regional powerhouse, investing in high-tech infrastructure and maintaining an uncompromising stance against the Muslim Brotherhood. (7)Janatyn Sayeh analyzes the appointment of Mohsen Rezaei, an original IRGC veteran, to the Supreme National Security Council, signaling a return to hardline, ideologically driven decision-making in Tehran. Rezaei, linked to past international terrorism, reinforces the regime's aggressive stance against the U.S. and Israel. Iran currently refuses to engage in talks until the U.S. meets extreme demands, including unfreezing all assets and paying billions in reparations. The regime utilizes a "good cop, bad cop" strategy between factions to maximize leverage, but remains unified in its goals of expanding its nuclear program and securing regional dominance through its "resistance axis." (8)Conrad Black reports Prime Minister Mark Carney is under pressure to revitalize Canada's economy 16 months after his election. Despite being a "treasure house" of resources, Canada suffers from lengthy project delays caused by redundant provincial regulations and indigenous land claims. Black notes that Canada's public sector workforce is disproportionately large, representing 12% of the population, and calls for corporate tax cuts to foster competitiveness. While Carney is exploring diversified trade, the U.S. remains Canada's indispensable partner, accounting for roughly 64% of its trade. Carney's political survival depends on achieving the kind of robust growth seen south of the border. (9)Scott Harold explains the U.S. and Japan are adopting a "walking quietly and carrying a big stick" approach to deter a Chinese attack on Taiwan. This strategy involves creating a "hellscape" of thousands of drones and missiles to make an amphibious assault impossibly risky for Beijing. While Japan's official documents avoid explicitly naming Taiwan to prevent escalation, its leadership views a conflict as a survival-endangering situation. China's attempts to annex portions of the Western Pacific as domestic waters pose a direct threat to the global economy. Persistent deterrence remains essential, as the Chinese military currently lacks high-end operational experience and faces leadership purges. (10)Bill Gertz reports a Pentagon official's attendance at a People's Liberation Army (PLA) celebration has sparked fears of a "defeatist" accommodation policy toward Beijing. Critics argue that seeking "respectful relations" with a Leninist regime is interpreted as subservience and weakness. This shift is reportedly influenced by concerns over Chinese control of rare earth minerals. China continues its global expansion and military bullying against neighbors like the Philippinesand Japan. Gertz warns that the U.S. education system is failing to inform the public about the threats of China's high-tech totalitarian system, which seeks to dominate through economic and military coercion. (11)