Podcasts about equipped

When you hear the word anxiety, what comes to mind—fear, guilt, or shame? What if anxiety could actually become a way to receive God's grace and deepen your faith? Actress and author Blair Linne joins Chris Brooks to talk about new book, Made to Tremble, and discover the grace that steadies anxious hearts—on this episode of Equipped. Resources mentioned:Made to Tremble by Blair Linne October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

The current immigration conversation is very divisive. How should the church respond to immigrants? Daniel Yang, a former immigrant himself, helps us examine how the gospel speaks to the immigrant and the church at this time. Join us for a thoughtful dialogue on immigrants, immigration, and the church’s call to a faithful response when you join us for Equipped. Resources mentioned:Article: The Immigrant Canary Stuck in the American Evangelical Coal MineWorld Relief Churches of Welcome October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Are you frustrated with your teen girl's daily moodiness?  Do you walk on eggshells hoping she won't blow up in an emotional outburst?   Yes, it may be all the teen hormonal changes happening, but what if it was as simple as needing sleep?  Jessica Bryant from the Better Sleep Council is on the show to show her expertise on how you can help your teenage daughter get some better sleep.   Jessica Bryant, representative of the Better Sleep Council (BSC), internationally recognized pediatric sleep strategist, keynote speaker, and the founder of Sleep Happy Consulting, is dedicated to answering the questions exhausted parents have about their child's sleepless days and nights. She achieves this through a range of initiatives, including corporate wellness events, community workshops, and personalized one-on-one support. Are you looking for ways to communicate with your girl so she can start opening up to you? Do you want to understand why is it so hard to approach your girl? Are you stuck on how to approach your teenage daughter in conversation without her freaking out?   SIGN UP FOR TALK TO YOUR TEEN GIRL FRAMEWORK!!  A 6-WEEK JOURNEY TO SHIFT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE SO SHE CAN COME TO YOU!   You'll walk away with a deeper understanding the changes happening to your girl, Equipped in your new role as COACH in this teen stage, and establish better communication pathways to connect and grow closer with your daughter   Imagine if you and your daughter can finally have conversations at a level where she doesn't need to hide anything from you! Plus, you'll get to meet other mamas who are all in the same boat.... SIGN UP HERE!      You can find me here: Work with me:  www.talktyourteengirl.com Connect: hello@jeanniebaldomero.com Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/raisingherconfidently Free mom support community: www.raisingherconfidently.com

Does the church still matter in our modern world? If you’re disillusioned with the people or frustrated by politics in the church, you might be questioning whether or not you should invest your time and effort into the church. On the next Equipped, Carmen Joy Imes helps us see the importance of gathering as the church. Don’t miss this encouraging conversation when you join us for Equipped. Resources mentioned:Becoming God's Family by Carmen Joy Imes October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

There’s a growing cultural epidemic of fatherlessness in America—one that’s impacting generations of families. On the next Equipped, Chris Brooks is joined by Pastor Alton Hardy, who believes the answer to this crisis is found in the Gospel. He’s witnessing real transformation in his Alabama community, and he’ll share how that same hope can impact your life, too. Don’t miss this powerful story of Gospel-driven change—coming up next on Equipped. Resources mentioned:Long is the Way by Alton HardyArticle: The Fatherless Epidemic: Raising Up Men in Urban America October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Do you find your daughter just going along with the crowd?  Does she go with the flow and allow friends to speak for her?  Does your teen girl keep quiet about her own opinions with her friends if she doesn't agree? Mama, I know your desire is to have your girl be confident in herself and have a voice where she's unafraid to speak up.  Maybe it's the one thing that keeps her from having authentic friendships and finding friends that respect her opinions. Today, I'm going to help you with 3 ways you can guide your daughter to have her own voice.   Are you looking for ways to communicate with your girl so she can start opening up to you? Do you want to understand why is it so hard to approach your girl? Are you stuck on how to approach your teenage daughter in conversation without her freaking out?   SIGN UP FOR TALK TO YOUR TEEN GIRL FRAMEWORK!!  A 6-WEEK JOURNEY TO SHIFT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE SO SHE CAN COME TO YOU!   You'll walk away with a deeper understanding the changes happening to your girl, Equipped in your new role as COACH in this teen stage, and establish better communication pathways to connect and grow closer with your daughter   Imagine if you and your daughter can finally have conversations at a level where she doesn't need to hide anything from you! Plus, you'll get to meet other mamas who are all in the same boat.... SIGN UP HERE!      You can find me here: Work with me:  www.talktyourteengirl.com Connect: hello@jeanniebaldomero.com Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/raisingherconfidently Free mom support community: www.raisingherconfidently.com

October 27 is International Religious Freedom Day. Chris will talk with listeners about how Chrisitians should respond when they're attacked by their faith. Then Todd Nettleton helps up prepare for the International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians on November 2. Join us as we prepare and pray for persecuted believers close to home and around the world when you join us for Equipped. Resources mentioned:Article: When I'm Attacked for Being a Christian, How Should I Respond?Article: International Religious Freedom DayNov 2: International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

EQUIPPED: Nourish Yourself w/ Michael Easley

Sundays // Equipped for Life pt5 // 26.10.2025 // Talk Only by

Jacquelyn Griffin teaches from John 16:16-22 on October 26, 2025Support the show

Christians are a part of God's army in this Spiritual War. We have each other. God has given us a brotherhood or sisterhood of soldiers that are experiencing the same types of suffering from the enemy. The same types of attacks.

Christians are a part of God's army in this Spiritual War. We have each other. God has given us a brotherhood or sisterhood of soldiers that are experiencing the same types of suffering from the enemy. The same types of attacks.

 Go to sermon webpage: THE SEARCH FOR SALVATION

Ephesians 6:17 Equipped and steadied by our God in Christ, we fight devilish devices with the sword of the Spirit. The post The Sword of the Spirit appeared first on Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA).

“Equipped In Authority” from Christian Church at Minden by Greg Lee. Released: 2025. The post Equipped In Authority appeared first on Christian Church at Minden.

The future of the church and the healing of a broken world depends on what we plant in the next generation now.

In this captivating episode of the Meditative Prayers podcast, hosted by the insightful Dr. Tim Clinton and accessible on Pray.com, we delve into the transformative theme of being equipped for our spiritual journey—an endeavor that profoundly resonates within our Christian community. Throughout our walk of faith, there are moments when being equipped and fortified for the challenges becomes a paramount desire. These moments not only deepen our faith but also strengthen our relationships, propelling us toward our individual dreams. The comforting truth remains steadfast: with the Lord as our unwavering guide, we possess the innate ability to be equipped for our spiritual journey, discovering renewed hope and purpose in the process. Drawing deep inspiration from sacred scriptures, we embark on an exploration of this transformative human experience. For those seeking guidance in being equipped for their spiritual journey along their path of faith, we extend a heartfelt invitation to explore the Pray.com app. By simply downloading it today, you can embark on a transformative journey of faith and resilience, deeply rooted in the unwavering presence of the Divine. Together, let us wholeheartedly embrace the incredible potential for being equipped within us, finding boundless inspiration and strength during our shared spiritual pilgrimage. We invite you to join us in this enlightening episode as we venture toward a profound understanding of being equipped for our spiritual journey and discovering the extraordinary sense of readiness that resides within each one of us.Embracing the practice of praying before slumber is more than just a routine; it's an avenue to recenter your heart, aligning it with God's purpose. Let Pray.com’s Meditative Prayer be a nightly companion, deepening your bond with the Almighty and settling your spirit for a serene night's rest.Dr. Tim Clinton is from the American Association of Christian Counselors, for more information please visit: https://aacc.net/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did Jesus really say He was God? Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikel Del Rosario will tackle your questions about the historical Jesus. Some say Jesus only claimed human authority. We'll dive in to see what He said about Himself. Whether you're searching for answers yourself or trying to share about Jesus with others, don't miss this important conversation on Equipped. Featured resource:Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? Making Sense of His Historical Claims by Mikel Del RosarioFounder's Week October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Equipped with a conviction that all of us are leaders in academic medicine, Judy Tung, MD, joins the Faculty Factory Podcast this week to discuss leadership development and so much more. Dr. Tung serves as an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. She is also the Associate Dean of Faculty Development at the School of Medicine. You can see the two articles referenced in this interview here: Putting Traits Associated with Effective Medical Leadership into Action: Support for a Faculty Development Strategy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39143441/ Enhancing a Faculty Development Program: Identifying and Addressing Leadership Skill Gaps Using an Established Leadership Framework: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40503092/ Learn more: https://facultyfactory.org/judy-tung 

How can we discern the truth in a culture where right is called wrong and evil is called good? Many sins have been rebranded as admirable virtues. Dr. John Koessler helps us identify these sins that have been subtly disguised in our culture. Learn how to follow Christ when evil masquerades as good when you join us for the next Equipped. Featured resource:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Sean love affair with Lemix is more fickle the fel-flame. Lex laments some aspects of Delves. The crew weighs in on the must-have features for the integrated UI in Midnight. News Legion Remix: Rise of the Nightfallen The 2nd wave of content for Lemix is now live in NA and EU, after a long extended maintenance. Return to KarazhanNightholdSuramar CampaignLegion Remix Helper Links Legion Remix: Rise of the Nightfallen Now Live!World of Warcraft on Instagram: "The story continues in Legion Remix Phase 2! Relive the Suramar Campaign, return to Karazhan, and defeat Gul'dan at Nighthold!"https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/legion-remix-helper Turbo Boost is Now Live! The 2nd part of Turbo Boost is Mythic+ drop rates from Mythic+ dungeons and Manaforge Omega are greatly increased for Warband until Equipped gear. Valorstones may now be transferred across Warbands.Two vendors this time.First quest for 3 Puzzling Cartel Chips.Players will be able to earn a maximum of 9 Puzzling Cartel Chips per character.Weapons, trinkets, and cantrip items. Links https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/news/24242856 Midnight Delves In the upcoming expansion Delves are being integrated into the leveling experience and continue to be an endgame pillar. We're taking some time to talk about Delves so far on the alpha. What did we think about Delves last tier?Experience in alpha with Delves so farWhat would make delves a joyous experience for us? Story Title Phase 4 of Midnight Alpha allows players to level up to Level 90, and includes the following content: Zone: Voidstorm Dungeons:  Voidscar ArenaNexus Point XenasMagister's Terrace Delves:  Shadowguard PointSunkiller Sanctum PvP:  Slayer's Rise PvP zoneSlayer's Rise 40v40 battleground Classes: Apex Talents Links In Development: Phase Four of the Midnight Alpha - General Discussion - World of Warcraft Forums iTunes // Bonus Roll Production Directory Thanks Special thanks to all our patrons. FAZ will always be free, but if you enjoy the content we produce, consider pledging to our Patreon at Patreon.com/FAZ Subscribe to For Azeroth!  UI Feature Shortcomings We are beyond the halfway point Raid Frames Sean: Raid frames ability to adjust tracking, position and size of debuffs CD Manager Sean #1: Tracking for Racials and TrinketsLex: Alert for resource thresholds (below or above a certain amount of a resource)Sean #2: CDM still needs some way to track debuffs with white/blacklisting   Nameplates Sean: Health bar color change based on aggroSean #2: Nameplates need a way to color mobs based on type (casters, lieutenants, etc).Sean #3: White/blacklist for buffs/debuffs tracked   Encounter Warnings Lex: Sound CustomizationSean: Ability to turn on/off warnings based on rolePlatynator: [addon] Introducing Platynator, a new customisable nameplate addon : r/WowUI Outro Be part of the conversation and join us on Discord bit.ly/fazdiscord Thank you so much for supporting the show!

You're not defenseless in the spiritual battle you face every day. Ephesians 6 reminds us that God has already given you everything you need to stand firm—the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, belt of truth, and shoes of peace. When you know who you are in Christ, you can fight back with confidence, courage, and calm no matter what comes your way.Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside's conviction that God's grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God's presence and activity in your life.

This conversation was originally recorded for Modi's podcast And Here's Modi (episode #106), where Uri appeared as a guest with Arthur Luxenberg. We're honored to share it here with Modi's permission. What unfolds is a funny, heartfelt, and deeply human dialogue about fearless communication, self-acceptance, and the power of belief. Follow @modi_live and tune-in @ahm_podcast See everything Modi: https://modilive.com/ - The voice you're trying to fix might just be the one the world most needs to hear. Every pause, every stumble, every moment of silence can hold a lesson in courage. And when someone — maybe a mother, a teacher, or a grandmother — believes in you before you believe in yourself, that belief can rewrite the entire story of who you become. In this powerful conversation, Uri Schneider joins world-famous comedian Modi Rosenfeld and renowned trial attorney Arthur Luxenberg to explore how two kids who grew up stuttering learned to speak fearlessly: one on stage, the other in the courtroom. Together, they open up about the emotional and practical realities of overcoming stuttering, the lifelong process of finding your voice, and the courage it takes to keep showing up, even when words don't come easily. Today's episode is a little different than usual. It was originally recorded for Modi Rosenfeld's podcast And Here's Modi (episode #106), where Uri appeared as a guest. What unfolds is a funny, heartfelt, and deeply human dialogue about fearless communication, self-acceptance, and the power of belief.  The conversation also features a remarkable story about Uri's father, Dr. Phil Schneider, and his sacred encounters with the Lubavitcher Rebbe — a profound reminder that communication isn't only about words; it's about presence, connection, and honoring the dignity behind every voice. This episode is a reminder that our voice is never the problem. Our belief in it is. Keep talking. Keep listening. And keep transcending.   In this episode on the power of belief, we discuss: Why overcoming stuttering isn't about perfect speech, but it's about being heard The four pillars of Uri's Transcending Stuttering framework: self-knowledge, self-adjustment, self-acceptance, and self-advocacy The incredible story of Dr. Phil Schneider's speech therapy work with the Lubavitcher Rebbe after his stroke How belief from one person can change the entire trajectory of a child's life What comedians and trial attorneys can teach us about fearless communication Practical do's and don'ts for supporting a child who stutters, without shame or pressure   TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction: The Fear We All Share and the Power of Belief 00:01:46 – Meet Modi Rosenfeld and Arthur Luxenberg: Two Kids Who Stuttered and Found Their Voice 00:03:45 – The Story Behind Schneider Speech and the Meaning of “Transcending Stuttering” 00:05:41 – Why Overcoming Stuttering Is About Talking More, Not Less 00:07:33 – From Silence to Self-Expression: Arthur's Journey and His Grandmother's Influence 00:12:31 – The Sacred Encounter: Dr. Phil Schneider and the Lubavitcher Rebbe 00:19:59 – What the Rebbe Taught About Dignity, Connection, and Communication Beyond Words 00:21:29 – The Four Pillars of the Transcending Stuttering Framework 00:26:40 – How Comedy, Courtrooms, and Courage Shape Fearless Communicators 00:38:28 – Practical Do's and Don'ts for Supporting People Who Stutter 00:44:56 – Why Belief Can Change a Life and How to Keep Talking Even When It's Hard 00:56:45 – Closing Reflections: The World Needs to Hear Your Voice   ABOUT THE GUEST: MODI ROSENFELD Voted one of the top 10 comedians in New York City by The Hollywood Reporter, Modi Rosenfeld is one of the comedy circuit's most sought after performers. Featured on HBO, CBS, NBC, ABC, Comedy Central, Howard Stern, and E! Entertainment, Modi has received rave reviews in The New York Times, Time Out NY and The New York Post.  Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Modi emigrated with his family to the United States at the age of seven and was raised on Long Island. After graduating from Boston University, he worked as an investment banker until his first open-mic night made him realize that stand-up was his true calling.  Equipped with a sharp wit and a knack for reading an audience, Modi has gone on to become a successful fixture in New York's vibrant comedy scene, often doing bits that incorporate his heritage, and he is a hit with diverse Jewish audiences as well as fans of all backgrounds and beliefs.  Now a regular performer at the New York and Los Angeles comedy clubs, Modi also headlines around the country and across the globe. Modi has played himself on HBO's Crashing and Netflix's When Jews Were Funny. He's also appeared in several feature films and played leading roles in two: Waiting for Woody Allen, which won the LA Film Festival, and Stand Up, a feature-length film. In 2018, Mayor Bill De Blasio declared June 26th 'Mordechi Modi Rosenfeld Day' in the city of New York for his accomplishments and contributions to the artistic community. Modi is also the host of ‘And Here's Modi', the podcast.   ABOUT THE GUEST: ARTHUR LUXENBERG Arthur M. Luxenberg is an attorney and co-founder of Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., one of New York City's leading mass-tort and personal injury law firms. He serves on judicial screening and disciplinary committees for the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, and has held leadership roles with the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the New York City Bar Association. A committed philanthropist, Arthur and his wife, Randi, actively support charitable and humanitarian initiatives worldwide. QUOTES “The most important thing for people who stutter is to keep talking. And for the world to learn to listen.” “The danger of stuttering is less about the words and sounds getting stuck. It's more about not saying what you really want to say.” “Looking in the mirror and seeing you're worth it. You're perfectly imperfect, just like every other human being. That's the way we're made.”   ABOUT THE HOST Uri Schneider, M.A. CCC -SLP is co-founder and leader at Schneider Speech; creator and host of Transcending Stuttering; and former faculty at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.   SEE ALL SHOW NOTES http://www.transcendingx.com/podcast LEARN MORE at http://www.transcendingx.com and http://www.schneiderspeech.com

You Are Being Equipped

Do you ever ask yourself, am I doing things right when parenting your teen? Do you fear messing up and causing irreparable harm to your relationship or maybe your past trauma is causing you to question your own parenting skills? I'm glad you are here today.  I'm going to help dispel this expectation that we need to be doing this right without failure.  The fear of failing may be causing you to second guess who you are and what you are capable of.  I am diving into some Biblical truths I go by and may help you!  Are you looking for ways to communicate with your girl so she can start opening up to you? Do you want to understand why is it so hard to approach your girl? Are you stuck on how to approach your teenage daughter in conversation without her freaking out?   SIGN UP FOR TALK TO YOUR TEEN GIRL FRAMEWORK!!  A 6-WEEK JOURNEY TO SHIFT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE SO SHE CAN COME TO YOU!   You'll walk away with a deeper understanding the changes happening to your girl, Equipped in your new role as COACH in this teen stage, and establish better communication pathways to connect and grow closer with your daughter   Imagine if you and your daughter can finally have conversations at a level where she doesn't need to hide anything from you! Plus, you'll get to meet other mamas who are all in the same boat.... SIGN UP HERE!      You can find me here: Work with me:  www.talktyourteengirl.com Connect: hello@jeanniebaldomero.com Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/raisingherconfidently Free mom support community: www.raisingherconfidently.com  

What do you really know about Jesus? Our culture—and even many Christians—put Jesus into boxes that don't hold up under scrutiny. Join Chris Brooks and Erica Wiggenhorn for a fresh look at the real Jesus who walked this earth as we journey through the Book of Luke. You will rediscover the Savior of our souls who longs for a relationship with us on Equipped. Featured resource:Unexplainable Jesus: Rediscovering the God You Thought You Knew by Erica Wiggenhorn October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Be alert and have the right headspace for when the devil attacks. If Jesus quoted Scripture when he was tempted, doesn't that tell you something?!

Pastoring a church is one of the most rewarding—and challenging—callings. Today on Equipped, we’re talking about the joys and struggles of being a pastor and asking an important question: How can the church better love and care for their pastors? Don’t miss this encouraging conversation on Equipped.  October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Sunday Service: 10/19 | Equipped to Serve | Let's embrace God's inclusive vision for humanity

Mom of Tweens! Today, we're speaking to those of you who are in a brand-new season. Your daughter is no longer a little girl, and she's not quite a teenager yet. She's somewhere in that in-between stage we call the “tween years.” And mama, this is where it gets real. Today, I want to affirm you in what you're noticing, and then equip you with 3 powerful ways to walk into this season with confidence instead of fear.   Are you looking for ways to communicate with your girl so she can start opening up to you? Do you want to understand why is it so hard to approach your girl? Are you stuck on how to approach your teenage daughter in conversation without her freaking out?   SIGN UP FOR TALK TO YOUR TEEN GIRL FRAMEWORK!!  A 6-WEEK JOURNEY TO SHIFT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE SO SHE CAN COME TO YOU!   You'll walk away with a deeper understanding the changes happening to your girl, Equipped in your new role as COACH in this teen stage, and establish better communication pathways to connect and grow closer with your daughter   Imagine if you and your daughter can finally have conversations at a level where she doesn't need to hide anything from you! Plus, you'll get to meet other mamas who are all in the same boat.... SIGN UP HERE!      You can find me here: Work with me:  www.talktyourteengirl.com Connect: hello@jeanniebaldomero.com Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/raisingherconfidently Free mom support community: www.raisingherconfidently.com

Are you losing your faith? Our Christian walk is not an easy one but often entails a serious spiritual battle. We strive each day on Equipped to help you be prepared to "fight the good fight of the faith," as 1 Timothy 6:12 says. As you endeavor to follow Christ, we want to give you warning signs to look for that could derail you. Be encouraged to keep walking and serving the Lord when you join us for Equipped. Featured resource:Article: 5 Signs of Losing Your Faith October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Welcome to the Sunday Morning Worship Service of New Covenant Christian Ministries with Pastor Bill and Dr. D'Ann Johnson. Our mission is “Transforming all people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ."  In today's sermon, Pastor Bill continues in his "Equipped to Stand" series, focusing on understanding the strategies of the enemy.

Who is in Kelby's treasure chest this week? Kelby, Arlo, and Tilly all learn about an amazing woman named Esther this week! Come along with us to Happy Harbor to pop some bubbles, ride the Bible train, and hear an amazing story all about God's love.EstherHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week's lesson about Esther with your child after they've watched the video service!Who was today's Bible story about?Esther. God made Esther and she loved God.What did Esther wear on her head?A crown! The crown showed everyone that Esther was a queen.One day, she heard someone was going to do something bad. Uh oh! Did Esther stop the bad thing from happening?Yes! She stopped the bad plan. Shake your head “no” because the plan was not good.Esther had to do something brave and tell the king to stop the bad plan. Can you be brave, too?Yes! God helps us be brave. Show me your strong arms because God made us to do good and brave things.Take some time to pray with your toddler. Encourage your toddler to sit with you and fold their hands, saying something like:God, thank you for loving us and wanting to be our friend. Thank you for making us. Help us do good things and be brave like Esther! We love you! Amen.Parent Encouragement - EstherHey parents! Here's something for you to be encouraged by and get ideas to bring this Bible story into your everyday conversation with your child at home!DownloadToddler Craft – Esther Character StickIn this craft, your toddler will create their own Esther Character Stick to remind them of the main character from the Bible story. God made Esther, and God made them!DownloadToddler Activity – Talk Like EstherIn this activity, your toddler will bring the craft they made to life. They will practice saying and doing things with their Esther Character Stick to remember this Bible story about Esther.DownloadToddler Coloring Page - EstherWe have a variety of coloring pages to help your child remember familiar faces from this month's lesson!DownloadNavigating Parenthood - EstherHey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out this blog post all about how to foster healthy obedience in our children that comes from a place of love and respect rather than rules they follow out of obligationDownloadAt Saddleback Kids we believe every kid should be known, connected, equipped and empowered. KNOWN by another kid and a leader. CONNECTED to a group where they can grow spiritually. EQUIPPED with the tools and the knowledge to develop a strong faith in Jesus. EMPOWERED to serve others and share Jesus in the world.To sum it up, Saddleback Kids exists to connect kids to God and others while helping them live a purpose driven life.

Spiritual opposition is real, and it's aimed at weakening your faith. But God hasn't left you defenseless. He's equipped you with every piece of armor you need to stand firm against the enemy and walk in the victory that's already yours in Jesus, so lean into his strength and power today.

Caleb Clardy teaches from 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 on October 19, 2025Support the show

 Go to sermon webpage: THE SEARCH FOR SALVATION

Ephesians 6:17 Equipped and steadied by our God in Christ, we fight devilish devices with the helmet of salvation. The post The Helmet of Salvation appeared first on Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA).

How do you talk to your pastor about church security? In today's world, churches face growing safety concerns. On the next Equipped, crime and risk expert Simon Osamoh joins Chris Brooks to share simple, practical steps to help make any church—big or small—both welcoming and secure. Don't miss this important conversation. Featured resources:Securing Church Operations by Simon OsamohHow to Talk with Your Leader about Church Security by Simon OsamohWorship Security Academy October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

How healthy is your soul? Scott Hubbard of Desiring God will challenge us to examine six areas of our lives. How can looking at our heart, our habits, our hope, our enemies, our friends, and our neighbors help us to assess our growth? Carve out some time to take your spiritual vitals when you join us for Equipped. Featured resource:Article: "How Healthy Is Your Soul?" by Scott Hubbard October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Today we will pick up from PART1 with how to reach the second three types of scenarios or people for Christ in our Postmodern age! If you have not yet watched PT1, make sure to do so.Please SUBSCRIBE!And get EQUIPPED with an Online Course at www.EQUIPPEDACADEMY.COMBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reason-for-truth--2774396/support.

Have those days when our teenage daughters are clearly feeling down, but they won't open up and let us in? As moms, it's so hard to see your teen girl hurting, looking sad or withdrawn, and not know what's going on inside their hearts. She seems to be shutting you out.  Today, I'm going to walk you through some ways you can give her that space and still be present — so she knows you're a safe place when she's ready to open up. Are you looking for ways to communicate with your girl so she can start opening up to you? Do you want to understand why is it so hard to approach your girl? Are you stuck on how to approach your teenage daughter in conversation without her freaking out?   SIGN UP FOR TALK TO YOUR TEEN GIRL FRAMEWORK!!  A 6-WEEK JOURNEY TO SHIFT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE SO SHE CAN COME TO YOU!   You'll walk away with a deeper understanding the changes happening to your girl, Equipped in your new role as COACH in this teen stage, and establish better communication pathways to connect and grow closer with your daughter   Imagine if you and your daughter can finally have conversations at a level where she doesn't need to hide anything from you! Plus, you'll get to meet other mamas who are all in the same boat.... SIGN UP HERE!      You can find me here: Work with me:  www.talktyourteengirl.com Connect: hello@jeanniebaldomero.com Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/raisingherconfidently Free mom support community: www.raisingherconfidently.com

We all want to live a life of significance, to make a difference in some way. The answer is not found in pursuing big things but in doing small things well. Learn more as Chris Brooks talks with Pastor Jeff Manion about the small things that produce great marriages, great companies, and great lives! Join us for the next Equipped. Featured resource:Dream Big, Think Small: Living an Extraordinary Life One Day at a Time by Jeff Manion October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Today's world is full of worry, pain, and uncertainty. Sociologists and world leaders try to address the crises and problems of society, but the answers elude them. Pastor Chris Castaldo will reveal how Jesus' counterintuitive teachings are the real means of bringing peace and blessing here and now. Don't miss this timely discussion about the Upside Down Kingdom of God on the next Equipped. Featured resource:The Upside Down Kingdom: Wisdom for Life from the Beatitudes by Chris Castaldo October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

Last time we spoke about the Battle of Taierzhuang. Following the fall of Nanjing in December 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War entered a brutal phase of attrition as Japan sought to consolidate control and press toward central China. Chinese defense prioritized key rail corridors and urban strongholds, with Xuzhou, the JinPu and Longhai lines, and the Huai River system forming crucial lifelines. By early 1938, Japanese offensives aimed to link with forces around Beijing and Nanjing and encircle Chinese positions in the Central Yangtze region, threatening Wuhan. In response, Chiang Kai-shek fortified Xuzhou and expanded defenses to deter a pincer move, eventually amassing roughly 300,000 troops along strategic lines. Taierzhuang became a focal point when Japanese divisions attempted to press south and link with northern elements. Chinese commanders Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, Tang Enbo, and Sun Lianzhong coordinated to complicate Japanese plans through offensive-defensive actions, counterattacks, and encirclement efforts. The victory, though numerically costly, thwarted immediate Japanese objectives and foreshadowed further attritional struggles ahead.   #171 The Flooding of the Yellow River Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. We last left off with a significant event during the Xuzhou campaign. Three Japanese divisions under General Itagaki Seishiro moved south to attack Taierzhuang and were met by forces commanded by Li Zongren, Sun Lianzhong, and Tang Enbo, whose units possessed a decent amount of artillery. In a two-week engagement from March 22 to April 7, the battle devolved into a costly urban warfare. Fighting was vicious, often conducted in close quarters and at night. The urban environment negated Japanese advantages in armor and artillery, allowing Chinese forces to contend on equal terms. The Chinese also disrupted Japanese logistics by resupplying their own troops and severing rear supply lines, draining Japanese ammunition, supplies, and reinforcements. By April 7, the Japanese were compelled to retreat, marking the first Chinese victory of the war. However both sides suffered heavy losses, with around 20,000 casualties on each side. In the aftermath of this rare victory, Chiang Kai-Shek pushed Tang Enbo and Li Zongren to capitalize on their success and increased deployments in the Taierzhuang theater to about 450,000 troops. Yet the Chinese Army remained hampered by fundamental problems. The parochialism that had crippled Chiang's forces over the preceding months resurfaced. Although the generals had agreed to coordinate in a war of resistance, each still prioritized the safety of his own troops, wary of Chiang's bid to consolidate power. Li Zongren, for example, did not deploy his top Guangxi provincial troops at Taierzhuang and sought to shift most of the fighting onto Tang Enbo's forces. Chiang's colleagues were mindful of the fates of Han Fuju of Shandong and Zhang Xueliang of Manchuria: Han was executed for refusing to fight, while Zhang, after allowing Chiang to reduce the size of his northeastern army, ended up under house arrest. They were right to distrust Chiang. He believed, after all, that provincial armies should come under a unified national command, which he would lead. From a national-unity perspective, his aspiration was not unreasonable. But it fed suspicion among other military leaders that participation in the anti-Japanese war would dilute their power. The divided nature of the command also hindered logistics, making ammunition and food supplies to the front unreliable and easy to cut off. By late April the Chinese had reinforced the Xuzhou area to between 450,000-600,000 to capitalize on their victory. However these armies were plagued with command and control issues. Likewise the Japanese licked their wounds and reinforced the area to roughly 400,000, with fresh troops and supplies flowing in from Tianjin and Nanjing. The Japanese continued with their objective of encircling Chinese forces. The North China Area Army comprised four divisions and two infantry brigades drawn from the Kwantung Army, while the Central China Expeditionary Army consisted of three divisions and the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions along with motorized support units. The 5th Tank Battalion supported the 3rd Infantry Division as it advanced north along the railway toward Xuzhou. Fighting to the west, east, and north of Xuzhou was intense, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. On 18 April, the Japanese advanced southward toward Pizhou. Tang Enbo's 20th Army Corps, together with the 2nd, 22nd, 46th, and 59th corps, resisted fiercely, culminating in a stalemate by the end of April. The 60th Corps of the Yunnan Army engaged the Japanese 10th Division at Yuwang Mountain for nearly a month, repelling multiple assaults. By the time it ceded its position to the Guizhou 140th Division and withdrew on 15 May, the corps had sustained losses exceeding half of its forces. Simultaneously, the Japanese conducted offensives along both banks of the Huai River, where Chinese defenders held out for several weeks. Nevertheless, Japanese artillery and aerial bombardment gradually tilted the balance, allowing the attackers to seize Mengcheng on 9 May and Hefei on 14 May. From there, the southern flank split into two parts: one force moved west and then north to cut off the Longhai Railway escape route from Xuzhou, while another division moved directly north along the railway toward Suxian, just outside Xuzhou. Simultaneously, to the north, Japanese units from north China massed at Jining and began moving south beyond Tengxian. Along the coast, an amphibious landing was made at Lianyungang to reinforce troops attacking from the east. The remaining portions of Taierzhuang were captured in May, a development symbolically significant to Tokyo. On 17 May, Japanese artillery further tightened the noose around Xuzhou, striking targets inside the city.  To preserve its strength, the Nationalist government ordered the abandonment of Xuzhou and directed its main forces to break out toward northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui, and eastern Henan. To deter the Japanese army's rapid westward advance and penetration into northern Henan and western Shandong, many leading military and political figures within the Nationalist government proposed breaching dams over the Yellow River to delay the offensive, a strategy that would have been highly advantageous to the Nationalist forces at the time. Chiang Kai-shek vetoed the proposal outright, insisting that the Nationalist army could still resist. He understood that with tens of millions of Chinese lives at stake and a sliver of hope remaining, the levee plan must not be undertaken. Then a significant battle broke out at Lanfeng. Chiang also recognized that defeat could allow the elite Japanese mechanized divisions, the 14th, 16th, and 10th, to advance directly toward Zhengzhou. If Zhengzhou fell, the Japanese mechanized forces on the plains could advance unimpeded toward Tongguan. Their southward push would threaten Xi'an, Xiangfan, and Nanyang, directly jeopardizing the southwest's rear defenses. Concurrently, the Japanese would advance along the Huai River north of the Dabie Mountains toward Wuhan, creating a pincer with operations along the Yangtze River.  Now what followed was arguably the most important and skillful Chinese maneuver of the Xuzhou campaign: a brilliantly executed strategic retreat to the south and west across the Jinpu railway line. On May 15, Li Zongren, in consultation with Chiang Kai-shek, decided to withdraw from Xuzhou and focus on an escape plan. The evacuation of civilians and military personnel began that day. Li ordered troops to melt into the countryside and move south and west at night, crossing the Jinpu Railway and splitting into four groups that would head west. The plan was to regroup in the rugged Dabie Mountains region to the south and prepare for the defense of Wuhan. Li's generals departed reluctantly, having held out for so long; Tang Enbo was said to have wept. Under cover of night, about forty divisions, over 200,000 men, marched out of Japanese reach in less than a week. A critical moment occurred on May 18, when fog and a sandstorm obscured the retreating troops as they crossed the Jinpu Railway. By May 21, Li wired Chiang Kai-shek to report that the withdrawal was complete. He mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite units, such as the 74th Army, withdrawn from Xuzhou and transferred directly to Lanfeng, with a resolute intent to “burn their boats.” The force engaged the Japanese in a decisive battle at Lanfeng, aiming to secure the last line of defense for the Yellow River, a position carrying the lives of millions of Chinese civilians. Yet Chiang Kai-shek's strategy was not universally understood by all participating generals, who regarded it as akin to striking a rock with an egg. For the battle of Lanfeng the Chinese mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite forces, comprising 14 divisions totaling over 150,000 men. Among these, the 46th Division of the 27th Army, formerly the Central Training Brigade and the 36th, 88th, and 87th Divisions of the 71st Army were German-equipped. Additionally, the 8th Army, the Tax Police Corps having been reorganized into the Ministry of Finance's Anti-Smuggling Corps, the 74th Army, and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps, the new 1st Army, equipped with the 8th Division were elite Nationalist troops that had demonstrated strong performance in the battle of Shanghai and the battle of Nanjing, and were outfitted with advanced matériel. However, these so-called “elite” forces were heavily degraded during the campaigns in Shanghai and Nanjing. The 46th Division and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps sustained casualties above 85% in Nanjing, while the 88th and 87th Divisions suffered losses of up to 90%. The 74th Army and the 36th Division also endured losses exceeding 75%. Their German-made equipment incurred substantial losses; although replenishment occurred, inventories resembled roughly a half-German and half-Chinese mix. With very limited heavy weapons and a severe shortage of anti-tank artillery, they could not effectively match the elite Japanese regiments. Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps maintained its national equipment via a close relationship with Chiang Kai-shek. In contrast, the 74th Army, after fighting in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Xuzhou, suffered heavy casualties, and the few German weapons it had were largely destroyed at Nanjing, leaving it to rely on a mix of domestically produced and Hanyang-made armaments. The new recruits added to each unit largely lacked combat experience, with nearly half of the intake having received basic training. The hardest hit was Li Hanhun's 64th Army, established less than a year prior and already unpopular within the Guangdong Army. Although classified as one of the three Type A divisions, the 155th, 156th, and 187th Divisions, it was equipped entirely with Hanyang-made firearms. Its direct artillery battalion possessed only about 20 older mortars and three Type 92 infantry guns, limiting its heavy firepower to roughly that of a Japanese battalion. The 195th Division and several miscellaneous units were even less prominent, reorganized from local militias and lacking Hanyang rifles. Additionally, three batches of artillery purchased from the Soviet Union arrived in Lanzhou via Xinjiang between March and June 1938. Except for the 52nd Artillery Regiment assigned to the 200th Division, the other artillery regiments had recently received their weapons and were still undergoing training. The 200th Division, had been fighting awhile for in the Xuzhou area and incurred heavy casualties, was still in training and could only deploy its remaining tank battalion and armored vehicle company. The tank battalion was equipped with T-26 light tanks and a small number of remaining British Vickers tanks, while the armored vehicle company consisted entirely of Italian Fiat CV33 armored cars. The disparity in numbers was substantial, and this tank unit did not participate in the battle.  As for the Japanese, the 14th Division was an elite Type A formation. Originally organized with four regiments totaling over 30,000 men, the division's strength was later augmented. Doihara's 14th Division received supplements, a full infantry regiment and three artillery regiments, to prevent it from being surrounded and annihilated, effectively transforming the unit into a mobile reinforced division. Consequently, the division's mounted strength expanded to more than 40,000 personnel, comprising five infantry regiments and four artillery regiments. The four artillery regiments, the 24th Artillery Regiment, the 3rd Independence Mountain Artillery Regiment, the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, and the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, possessed substantial heavy firepower, including 150mm heavy howitzers and 105mm long-range field cannons, placing them far in excess of the Nationalist forces at Lanfeng. In addition, both the 14th and later the 16th Divisions commanded tank regiments with nearly 200 light and medium tanks each, while Nationalist forces were markedly short of anti-tank artillery. At the same time, the Nationalist Air Force, though it had procured more than 200 aircraft of various types from the Soviet Union, remained heavily reliant on Soviet aid-to-China aircraft, amounting to over 100 machines, and could defend only a few cities such as Wuhan, Nanchang, and Chongqing. In this context, Japanese forces effectively dominated the Battle of Lanfeng. Moreover, reports indicate that the Japanese employed poison gas on the battlefield, while elite Nationalist troops possessed only a limited number of gas masks, creating a stark disparity in chemical warfare preparedness. Despite these disparities, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist government were initially unaware of the updated strength and composition of the Doihara Division. Faced with constrained options, Chiang chose to press ahead with combat operations. On May 12, 1939, after crossing the Yellow River, the IJA 14th Division continued its southward advance toward Lanfeng. The division's objective was to sever the Longhai Railway, disrupt the main Nationalist retreat toward Zhengzhou, and seize Zhengzhou itself. By May 15, the division split into two columns at Caoxian and moved toward key nodes on the Longhai Line. Major General Toyotomi Fusatarou led two infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, and one artillery regiment in the main assault toward Kaocheng with the aim of directly capturing Lanfeng. Doihara led three infantry regiments and three artillery regiments toward Neihuang and Minquan, threatening Guide. In response, the Nationalist forces concentrated along the railway from Lanfeng to Guide, uniting Song Xilian's 71st Army, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army, Yu Jishi's 74th Army, Li Hanhun's 64th Army, and Huang Jie's 8th Army. From May 15 to 17, the Fengjiu Brigade, advancing toward Lanfeng, met stubborn resistance near Kaocheng from roughly five divisions under Song Xilian and was forced to shift its effort toward Yejigang and Neihuang. The defense near Neihuang, including Shen Ke's 106th Division and Liang Kai's 195th Division, ultimately faltered, allowing Doihara's division to seize Neihuang, Yejigang, Mazhuangzhai, and Renheji. Nevertheless, the Nationalist forces managed to contain the Japanese advance east and west of the area, preventing a complete encirclement. Chiang Kai-shek ordered Cheng Qian, commander-in-chief of the 1st War Zone, to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 14th Division. The deployment plan mapped three routes: the Eastern Route Army, under Li Hanhun, would include the 74th Army, the 155th Division of the 64th Army, a brigade of the 88th Division, and a regiment of the 87th Division, advancing westward from Guide); the Western Route Army, commanded by Gui Yongqing, would comprise the 27th Army, the 71st Army, the 61st Division, and the 78th Division, advancing eastward from Lanfeng; and the Northern Route Army, formed by Sun Tongxuan's 3rd Army and Shang Zhen's 20th Army, was to cut off the enemy's retreat to the north bank of the Yellow River near Dingtao, Heze, Dongming, and Kaocheng, while attacking the Doihara Division from the east, west, and north to annihilate it in a single decisive operation.  On May 21, the Nationalist Army mounted a full-scale offensive. Yu Jishi's 74th Army, commanded by Wang Yaowu's 51st Division, joined a brigade of Song Xilian's 71st Army, led by the 88th Division, and drove the Japanese forces at Mazhuangzhai into retreat, capturing Neihuang and Renheji. The main Japanese force, more than 6,000 strong, withdrew southwest to Yangjiji and Shuangtaji. Song Xilian, commanding Shen Fazao's 87th Division, launched a sharp assault on Yejigang (Yifeng). The Japanese abandoned the stronghold, but their main body continued advancing toward Yangjiji, with some units retreating to Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. On May 23, Song Xilian's 71st Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army enveloped and annihilated enemy forces at Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. That evening they seized Ximaoguzhai, Yangzhuang, and Helou, eliminating more than a thousand Japanese troops. The Japanese troops at Donggangtou fled toward Lanfeng. Meanwhile, Gui Yongqing's forces were retreating through Lanfeng. His superior strength, Jiang Fusheng's 36th Division, Li Liangrong's 46th Division, Zhong Song's 61st Division, Li Wen's 78th Division, Long Muhan's 88th Division, and Shen Ke's 106th Division—had held defensive positions along the Lanfeng–Yangji line. Equipped with a tank battalion and armored vehicle company commanded by Qiu Qingquan, they blocked the enemy's westward advance and awaited Japanese exhaustion. However, under the Japanese offensive, Gui Yongqing's poor command led to the loss of Maji and Mengjiaoji, forcing the 27th Army to retreat across its entire front. Its main force fled toward Qixian and Kaifeng. The Japanese seized the opportunity to capture Quxingji, Luowangzhai, and Luowang Railway Station west of Lanfeng. Before retreating, Gui Yongqing ordered Long Muhan to dispatch a brigade to replace the 106th Division in defending Lanfeng, while he directed the 106th Division to fall back to Shiyuan. Frightened by the enemy, Long Muhan unilaterally withdrew his troops on the night of the 23rd, leaving Lanfeng undefended. On the 24th, Japanese troops advancing westward from Donggangtou entered Lanfeng unopposed and, relying on well-fortified fortifications, held their ground until reinforcements arrived. In the initial four days, the Nationalist offensive failed to overwhelm the Japanese, who escaped encirclement and annihilation. The four infantry and artillery regiments and one cavalry regiment on the Japanese side managed to hold the line along Lanfeng, Luowangzhai, Sanyizhai, Lanfengkou, Quxingji, Yang'erzhai, and Chenliukou on the south bank of the Yellow River, offering stubborn resistance. The Longhai Railway was completely cut off. Chiang Kai-shek, furious upon hearing the news while stationed in Zhengzhou, ordered the execution of Long Muhan, commander of the 88th Division, to restore military morale. He also decided to consolidate Hu Zongnan's, Li Hanhun's, Yu Jishi's, Song Xilian's, and Gui Yongqing's troops into the 1st Corps, with Xue Yue as commander-in-chief. On the morning of May 25, they launched a determined counterattack on Doihara's 14th Division. Song Xilian personally led the front lines on May 24 to rally the defeated 88th Division.  Starting on May 25, after three days of intense combat, Li Hanhun's 64th Army advanced to seize Luowang Station and Luowangzhai, while Song Xilian's 71st Army retook Lanfeng City, temporarily reopening the Longhai Line to traffic. At Sanyi Village, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army captured a series of outlying positions, including Yang'eyao, Chailou, Cailou, Hezhai, Xuelou, and Baowangsi. Despite these gains, more than 6,000 Japanese troops offered stubborn resistance. During the fighting, Ji Hongru, commander of the 302nd Regiment, was seriously wounded but continued to fight, shouting, “Don't worry about my death! Brothers, fight on!” He ultimately died a heroic death from his wounds. By May 27, Chiang Kai-shek, concerned that the forces had not yet delivered a decisive victory at Lanfeng, personally reprimanded the participating generals and ordered them to completely encircle and annihilate the enemy west of Lanfeng by the following day. He warned that if the opportunity was missed and Japanese reinforcements arrived, the position could be endangered. The next day, Chiang Kai-shek issued another telegram, urging Cheng Qian's First War Zone and all participating units to press the offensive. The telegram allegedly had this in it “It will forever be a laughingstock in the history of warfare.” Meanwhile on the other side, to prevent the annihilation of Doihara's 14th Division, the elite Japanese 16th Division and the 3rd Mixed Brigade, totaling over 40,000 men, launched a westward assault from Dangshan, capturing Yucheng on May 26. They then began probing the outskirts of Guide. Huang Jie's Eighth Army, responsible for the defense, withdrew to the outskirts of Guide that evening. On May 28, Huang Jie again led his troops on his own initiative, retreating to Liuhe and Kaifeng, leaving only the 187th Division to defend Zhuji Station and Guide City. At dawn on May 29, Peng Linsheng, commander of the 187th Division, also withdrew his troops, leaving Guide a deserted city. The Japanese occupied Guide without a fight. The loss of Guide dramatically shifted the tide of the war. Threatened on the flanks by the Japanese 16th Division, the Nationalist forces were forced onto the defensive. On May 28, the Japanese 14th Division concentrated its forces to counterattack Gui Yongqing's troops, but they were defeated again, allowing the Japanese to stabilize their position. At the same time, the fall of Shangqiu compelled Xue Yue's corps to withdraw five divisions to block the enemy in Shangqiu, and the Nationalist Army shifted to a defensive posture with the 14th Division holding Sanyizhai and Quxingji. To the north of the battlefield, the Japanese 4th Mixed Brigade, numbering over 10,000 men, was preparing to force a crossing of the Yellow River in order to join with the nearby 14th Division. More seriously, the 10th Division, together with its 13th Mixed Brigade and totaling more than 40,000 men, had captured Woyang and Bozhou on the Henan-Anhui border and was rapidly encircling eastern Henan. By the time of the Battle of Lanfeng, Japanese forces had deployed more than 100,000 troops, effectively surrounding the Nationalist army. On May 31, the First War Zone decided to withdraw completely, and the Battle of Lanfeng ended in defeat for the Nationalists, forcing Chiang Kai-shek to authorize diverting the Yellow River embankment to relieve pressure. The consequence was a deteriorating strategic situation, as encirclement tightened and reinforcement options dwindled, driving a retreat from the Lanfeng front. The National Army suffered more than 67,000 casualties, killed and wounded more than 10,000 Japanese soldiers, Lanfeng was lost, and Zhengzhou was in danger.  As in Nanjing, this Chinese army might have lived to fight another day, but the effect on Xuzhou itself was horrific. The city had endured Japanese bombardment since August 1937, and the population's mood swung between cautious hope and utter despair. In March, Du Zhongyuan visited Xuzhou. Before he left Wuhan, friends told him that “the city was desolate and the people were terrified, all the inhabitants of Xuzhou were quietly getting on with their business … sometimes it was even calmer than Wuhan.” The Australian journalist Rhodes Farmer recalled a similar image in a book published at war's end, noting the “ordinary townsfolk who became wardens, fire-fighters and first-aid workers during the raid and then went back to their civil jobs.” Yet the mid-May departure of Nationalist troops left the city and its outskirts at the mercy of an angry Imperial Army. Bombing continued through the final days of battle, and a single raid on May 14, 1938 killed 700 people. Around Xuzhou, buildings and bridges were destroyed—some by retreating Chinese forces, some by advancing Japanese troops. Taierzhuang, the scene of the earlier iconic defense, was utterly destroyed. Canadian Jesuits who remained in Xuzhou after its fall recorded that more than a third of the houses were razed, and most of the local population had fled in terror. In rural areas around the city, massacres were repeatedly reported, many witnessed by missionaries. Beyond the atrocities of the Japanese, locals faced banditry in the absence of law enforcement, and vital agricultural work such as planting seed ground to a halt. The loss of Xuzhou was both strategic and symbolic. It dealt a severe blow to Chiang's attempt to hold central China and to control regional troop movements. Morale, which Taierzhuang had briefly boosted, was battered again though not extinguished. The fall signaled that the war would be long, and that swift victory against Japan was no longer likely. Mao Zedong's Yan'an base, far to the northwest, grasped the meaning of defeat there. In May 1938 he delivered one of his most celebrated lectures, “On Protracted War,” chiding those who had over-optimistically claimed the Xuzhou campaign could be a quasi-decisive victory and arguing that, after Taierzhuang, some had become “giddy.” Mao insisted that China would ultimately prevail, yet he warned that it could not be won quickly, and that the War of Resistance would be protracted. In the meantime, the development of guerrilla warfare remained an essential piece of the long-term strategy that the Communist armies would pursue in north China. Yet the loss of Xuzhou did not necessarily portend a long war; it could, instead, presage a war that would be terrifyingly short. By spring 1938 the Chinese defenders were desperate. There was a real danger that the entire war effort could collapse, and the Nationalist governments' notable success as protectors of a shrinking “Free China” lay in avoiding total disaster. Government propaganda had successfully portrayed a plan beyond retreat to foreign observers, yet had Tokyo captured Wuhan in the spring, the Chinese Army would have had to withdraw at speed, reinforcing perceptions of disintegration. Western governments were unlikely to intervene unless convinced it was in their interests. Within the Nationalist leadership, competing instincts persisted. The government pursued welfare measures for the people in the midst of a massive refugee relief effort, the state and local organizations, aided by the International Red Cross, housed large numbers of refugees in 1937–1938. Yet there was a harsher strain within policy circles, with some officials willing to sacrifice individual lives for strategic or political ends as the Japanese threat intensified. Throughout central China, the Yellow River, China's “Sorrow”, loomed as the dominant geographic force shaping history. The loess-laden river, notorious for floods and shifting channels, was banked by massive dikes near Zhengzhou, exactly along the line the Japanese would traverse toward Wuhan. Using the river as a military instrument was discussed as a drastic option: Chiang and Cheng Qian's First War Zone contemplated diverting or breaching the dikes to halt or slow the Japanese advance, a measure that could buy time but would unleash enormous civilian suffering. The idea dated back to 1887 floods that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, and even in 1935 Alexander von Falkenhausen had warned that the Yellow River could become the final line of defense. In 1938 Chiang, recognizing the futility of defeating the Japanese by conventional means at Zhengzhou, considered unleashing the river's force if necessary to impede the invaders. The political and strategic calculus was stark: protect central China and Wuhan, even if it required drastic and morally fraught measures. A more humane leader might have hesitated to break the dikes and spare the dams, allowing the Japanese to take Wuhan. But Chiang Kai-shek believed that if the dikes were not breached and Wuhan fell within days, the Nationalist government might be unable to relocate to Chongqing in time and would likely surrender, leaving Japan in control of almost all of China. Some have compared the choice to France's surrender in June 1940, underscoring that Chiang's decision came during the country's most terrifying assault, with Chinese forces much weaker and less trained than their European counterparts. The dilemma over whether to break the Yellow River dikes grew out of desperation. Chiang ultimately ordered General Wei Rulin to blow the dike that held the Yellow River in central Henan. There was no doubt about the consequences: floods would inundate vast areas of central China, creating a waterlogged barrier that would halt the Japanese advance. Yet for the plan to succeed, it had to be carried out quickly, and the government could offer no public warning in case the Japanese detected it and accelerated their movement. Xiong Xianyu, chief of staff in the 8th Division at the time, recorded the urgency of those hours in his diary. The Japanese were already on the north bank of the Yellow River, briefly delayed when the Chinese army blew up the railway bridge across the river. The destruction of the dikes was the next step: if the area became a sea of mud, there would be no way the Japanese could even attempt to reconstruct the bridge. Blasting the dikes proved easier in theory than in practice. Holding back such a massive body of water required substantial engineering, dams thick and well fortified. The army made its first attempts to blow the dike at the small town of Zhaokou between June 4 and 6, 1938, but the structure proved too durable; another nearby attempt failed as well. Hour by hour, the Japanese moved closer. Division commander Jiang Zaizhen asked Xiong Xianyu for his opinion on where they might breach the dams. Xiong wrote “I discussed the topography, and said that two places, Madukou and Huayuankou, were both possible.” But Madukou was too close to Zhaokou, where the breach had already failed, presenting a danger that the Japanese might reach it very soon. The village of Huayuankou, however, lay farther away and on a bend in the river: “To give ourselves enough time, Huayuankou would be best.” At first, the soldiers treated the task as a military engineering assignment, an “exciting” one in Xiong's words. Xiong and Wei Rulin conducted their first site inspection after dark, late on June 6. The surroundings offered a deceptive calm: Xiong recounted “The wind blew softly, and the river water trickled pleasantly.” Yet gauging the water level proved difficult, hampered by murky moonlight and burned-out flashlights. They spent the night in their car to determine precisely where to break the dike as soon as day broke. But daylight seemed to bring home the consequences of what they planned to do, and the soldiers grew increasingly anxious. Wang Songmei, commander of the 2nd Regiment, addressed the workers about to breach the dike: “My brothers, this plan will be of benefit to our country and our nation, and will lessen the harm that is being done to the people.In the future, you'll find good wives and have plenty of children.” Wang's words were meant to reassure the men of the political necessity of their actions and that fate would not, in the traditional Chinese sense, deny them a family because of the enormity of their deeds. General Wei confirmed that Huayuankou was the right spot, and on June 8 the work began, with about 2,000 men taking part. The Nationalist government was eager to ensure rapid progress. Xiong recorded that the “highest authorities”,, kept making telephone calls from Wuhan to check on progress. In addition, the party sent performers to sing and play music to bolster the workers' spirits. Senior General Shang Zhen announced to the laborers that if they breached the dam by midnight on June 8, each would receive 2,000 yuan; if they achieved it by six the next morning, they would still be paid 1,000 yuan. They needed encouragement, for the diggers had no artificial assistance. After the initial failures at Zhaokou, Wei's troops relied entirely on manual labor, with no explosives used. Yet the workers earned their payments, and the dike was breached in just a few hours. On the morning of June 9, Xiong recorded a rapid shift in mood: the atmosphere became tense and solemn. Initially, the river flow was modest, but by about 1:00 p.m. the water surged “fiercely,” flowing “like 10,000 horses.” Looking toward the distance, Xiong felt as though a sea had appeared before him. “My heart ached,” he wrote. The force of the water widened the breach, and a deadly stream hundreds of feet wide comprising about three-quarters of the river's volume—rushed southeast across the central Chinese plains. “We did this to stop the enemy,” Xiong reflected, “so we didn't regret the huge sacrifice, as it was for a greater victory.” Yet he and the other soldiers also saw a grim reality: the troops who had taken on the task of destroying the railway bridge and the dikes could not bear the flood's consequences alone. It would be up to the government and the people of the nation to provide relief for the countless households uprooted by the flood. In fact, the previous evening Commander Jiang had telephoned to request assistance for those flooded out of their homes.   Wei, Xiong, and their troops managed to escape by wooden boats. Hundreds of thousands of farmers trapped in the floods were far less fortunate. Time magazine's correspondent Theodore White reported on the devastation a few days later “Last week “The Ungovernable” [i.e. the Yellow River] lashed out with a flood which promised to change not only its own course but also the course of the whole Sino-Japanese War. Severe breaks in the dikes near Kaifeng sent a five-foot wall of water fanning out over a 500-squaremile area, spreading death. Toll from Yellow River floods is not so much from quick drowning as from gradual disease and starvation. The river's filth settles ankle-deep on the fields, mothering germs, smothering crops. Last week, about 500,000 peasants were driven from 2,000 communities to await rescue or death on whatever dry ground they could find”. Chiang's government had committed one of the grossest acts of violence against its own people, and he knew that the publicity could be a damaging blow to its reputation. He decided to divert blame by announcing that the dike had been broken, but blaming the breach on Japanese aerial bombing. The Japanese, in turn, fiercely denied having bombed the dikes. White's reporting reflected the immediate response of most foreigners; having heard about the atrocities at Nanjing and Xuzhou, he was disinclined to give the Japanese the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore, at the very time that the Yellow River was flooding central China, the Japanese were heavily bombing Guangzhou, causing thousands of casualties. To White, the Japanese counterargument—that the Chinese themselves were responsible, seemed unthinkable: “These accusations, foreign observers thought, were absurd. For the Chinese to check the Japanese advance at possible sacrifice of half a million lives would be a monstrous pyrrhic victory. Besides, dike-cutting is the blackest of Chinese crimes, and the Chinese Army would hardly risk universal censure for slight tactical gains.” But, of course, that is exactly what they had done. During the war the Nationalists never admitted that they, not the Japanese, had breached the dikes. But the truth quickly became widely known. Just a month later, on July 19, US Ambassador Johnson noted, in private communication, that the “Chinese blocked the advance on Chengchow [Zhengzhou] by breaching the Yellow River dikes.” Eventually some 54,000 square kilometers of central China were inundated by the floods. If the Japanese had committed such an act, it would have been remembered as the prime atrocity of the war, dwarfing even the Nanjing Massacre or the Chongqing air raids in terms of the number of people who suffered. Accurate statistics were impossible to obtain in the midst of wartime chaos and disaster, but in 1948 figures issued by the Nationalists themselves suggested enormous casualties: for the three affected provinces of Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu, the number of dead was put at 844,489, with some 4.8 million becoming refugees. More recent studies place the numbers lower, but still estimate the dead at around 500,000, and 3–5 million refugees. In contrast, the devastating May 1939 air raids on Chongqing killed some thousands. Xiong reflected in his diary that the breaching of the Yellow River dikes was a sacrifice for a greater victory. Even to some Japanese it seemed that the tactic had been successful in the short term: the first secretary at the US Embassy in Wuhan reported that the flood had “completely checked the Japanese advance on Chengchow” and had prevented them taking Wuhan by rail. Instead, he predicted, the attack was likely to come by water and along the north shore of the Yangtze. Supporters of the dike breaches could argue that these acts saved central China and Chiang's headquarters in Wuhan for another five months. The Japanese were indeed prevented from advancing along the Long–Hai railway toward Wuhan. In the short term the floods did what the Nationalists wanted. But the flooding was a tactic, a breathing space, and did not solve the fundamental problem: China's armies needed strong leadership and rapid reform. Some historians suggest that Chiang's decision was pointless anyway, since it merely delayed the inevitable. Theodore White was right: no strategic advantage could make the deaths of 500,000 of China's own people a worthwhile price to pay. However, Chiang Kai-shek's decision can be partly explained, though not excused, by the context. We can now look back at the actions of the Nationalists and argue that they should not have held on to Wuhan, or that their actions in breaching the dam were unjustifiable in the extreme. But for Chiang, in the hot summer of 1938, it seemed his only hope was to deny Japan as much of China for as long as possible and create the best possible circumstances for a long war from China's interior, while keeping the world's attention on what Japan was doing. The short delay won by the flooding was itself part of the strategy. In the struggle raging within the soul of the Nationalist Party, the callous, calculating streak had won, for the time being. The breaking of the dikes marked a turning point as the Nationalists committed an act whose terrible consequences they would eventually have to expiate. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In late 1937, China's frontline trembled as Japanese forces closed in on Wuhan. Chiang Kai-shek faced a brutal choice: endure costly defenses or unleash a desperate gamble. Chiangs' radical plan emerged: breach the Yellow River dikes at Huayuankou to flood central China, buying time. The flood roared, washing villages and futures away, yet slowing the enemy. The battlefield paused, while a nation weighed courage against civilian suffering, victory against devastating costs.

Raising a teen girl isn't for the faint of heart. One minute you're laughing together over iced coffee, and the next… she's rolling her eyes, retreating to her room, or replying with a one-word sentence that somehow says everything and nothing at the same time. Today's episode is called “4 Tips on How to Communicate in the Same Language as Your Teen Girl.” But before we dive into those four tips, we need to talk about the why. Are you looking for ways to communicate with your girl so she can start opening up to you? Do you want to understand why is it so hard to approach your girl? Are you stuck on how to approach your teenage daughter in conversation without her freaking out?   SIGN UP FOR TALK TO YOUR TEEN GIRL FRAMEWORK!!  A 6-WEEK JOURNEY TO SHIFT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE SO SHE CAN COME TO YOU!   You'll walk away with a deeper understanding the changes happening to your girl, Equipped in your new role as COACH in this teen stage, and establish better communication pathways to connect and grow closer with your daughter   Imagine if you and your daughter can finally have conversations at a level where she doesn't need to hide anything from you! Plus, you'll get to meet other mamas who are all in the same boat.... SIGN UP HERE!      You can find me here: Work with me:  www.talktyourteengirl.com Connect: hello@jeanniebaldomero.com Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/raisingherconfidently Free mom support community: www.raisingherconfidently.com  

Caleb Clardy teaches from Matthew 10: 1-8 on October 12, 2025Support the show

Just like a championship football team relies on every player to fulfill their role, the church is called to work together in unity and purpose. This Sunday's message explores Ephesians 4:1–16, showing how each of us is equipped to serve, grow in maturity, and build up the body of Christ as we live out our shared mission. // Verses and message notes: www.theridge.church/notes // Join us online or in person Sundays at 9a + 11a: www.theridge.church/live

When it comes to sharing our faith with others many of us get stuck. We may fear offending others or just don’t know where to start. College professor and Cru staffer Dr. Heather Holleman says it all begins with a proper understanding of our identity in Christ. On the next Equipped, learn to live a Sent life, sharing your faith with a world that desperately needs our Jesus. Featured resource:Sent: Living a Life That Invites Others to Jesus by Heather Holleman and Ashley Holleman October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

How can we discern the truth in a culture where right is called wrong and evil is called good? Many sins have been rebranded as admirable virtues. Dr. John Koessler helps us identify these sins that have been subtly disguised in our culture. Learn how to follow Christ when evil masquerades as good when you join us for the next Equipped. Featured resource:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler October thank you gift:Dangerous Virtues by John Koessler Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

We don't want to yell at our daughters, but somehow, it feels like it's the only way we're heard. Maybe you grew up in a home where yelling was the main form of communication, so it feels normal. Or maybe your patience just feels worn thin, and before you know it, you're raising your voice again. But here's the truth—while yelling may get an immediate reaction, it doesn't get long-lasting results. In fact, it can create distance in your relationship with your teen. And I know that's not what you want. So, let's unpack what could happen if you communicated without yelling, why it's so important, and three practical ways to start shifting how you connect with your daughter today.   Are you looking for ways to communicate with your girl so she can start opening up to you? Do you want to understand why is it so hard to approach your girl? Are you stuck on how to approach your teenage daughter in conversation without her freaking out?   SIGN UP FOR TALK TO YOUR TEEN GIRL FRAMEWORK!!  A 6-WEEK JOURNEY TO SHIFT HOW YOU COMMUNICATE SO SHE CAN COME TO YOU!   You'll walk away with a deeper understanding the changes happening to your girl, Equipped in your new role as COACH in this teen stage, and establish better communication pathways to connect and grow closer with your daughter   Imagine if you and your daughter can finally have conversations at a level where she doesn't need to hide anything from you! Plus, you'll get to meet other mamas who are all in the same boat.... SIGN UP HERE!      You can find me here: Work with me:  www.talktyourteengirl.com Connect: hello@jeanniebaldomero.com Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/raisingherconfidently Free mom support community: www.raisingherconfidently.com