Podcasts about ethiopian

Today we delve into the works of Ethiopian scientist, molecular plant pathologist Segenet Kelemu.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeremiah 38:10–11Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes.In an earlier episode called "Bricks, Rags, and Mercy" (episode 217), I shared how Ebed-melech showed mercy by using old rags and worn-out clothes to make Jeremiah's rescue much less harsh than ropes alone.Mercy softens the rough edges of life in this world—whether through rags, old clothes, casseroles, songs, a cold cup of water, or a brick on a step.You'll have to listen to discover how two bricks on the top step of a community pool, a family of fuzzy little ducklings, and a year-long question became another reminder of God's mercy. Then, one year later, eight new ducklings arrived… and the story wasn't over.If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time gift, thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sherriyoungward.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

On this episode of Soundcheck, a great band bids farewell after a monumental career that lasted more than a quarter of a century. American avant-garde group The Bad Plus spent long years fusing instrumental jazz with rock music, with each member playing their seemingly traditional instruments to their fullest extent in unexpected ways. They perform some tunes from their final record, “Complex Emotions” and reflect on their creative journey. Also, Ethiopia-born, California-based singer Meklit joins us with live renditions of some songs from her album, “A Piece of Infinity,” singing in her native tongue of Amharic and taking inspiration from the Golden Age of Ethiopian pop music. Meklit's Setlist: 1. Ambassel 2. Tizita The Bad Plus' Setlist: 1. Casa Ben 2. Carrier   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some doors close and no one did anything wrong. You just weren't what they were looking for. The Ethiopian eunuch knew that feeling. He traveled 1,500 miles to worship at a temple that Scripture itself barred him from entering. Then, on a desert road heading home, everything changed. In this message from Acts 8, Rodney looks at the man Luke calls an outsider and the God who was already writing him into the story. If you've ever felt like you're on the wrong side of the door, listen in. What's preventing you?

This sermon explores the doctrine of baptism through the lens of the Great Commission in Matthew 28, emphasizing that all authority belongs solely to Jesus Christ. The preacher argues that baptism is a symbolic act of immersion representing identification with Christ's death, rather than a means of salvation or mere ritualistic obedience. By analyzing the Greek terms and biblical examples like the Ethiopian eunuch, the message clarifies that baptism follows conversion and serves as a public declaration of submission to Christ's authority. The speaker warns against focusing on administrative church power or secondary traditions, urging the listeners to center their faith on the supernatural work of God in making disciples. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a serious, truthful approach to serving God that prioritizes spiritual transformation over human tradition.

This weeks show starts off with classics from Don Carlos, Culture, Sugar Minott, Yabby You, Freddie McGregor, Danny Red & Gussie P, Pablo Moses, The Wailing Souls, Errol Dunkley, Leroy Smart, Donovan Adams, The Viceroys, The Maytones, Jacob Miller, Ranking Trevor, Freddie McKay, Lizard, Eric Morris, Johnny Clarke, Little Roy, Earl Sixteen, Israel Vibration, Ray Isaacs & Tabby Diamond, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Glen Judah, and Ras Teo. New Music this week comes from Lone Ark & The 18th Parallel, Errol Flabba Holt, Mosiah & Jah Defender, Yaadcore, Marcus Gad, Samory I, Ziggi Recado, Medisun & Tippy I, Ginjah & Bounty Killer, Rastahari, Vibronics with Professa Natti, Jah Version, Queen Omega & Future Irie, Kabaka Pyramid, Capleton with Essah and Dr, Ring Ding with Sabolious and the Anaves Record label. Also this week we run some oldies featuring The Uniques, The Heptones, Delroy Wilson, Wailing Souls, The Bassies, The Ethiopians, Dave and Ansel Collins, The Upsetters, Vin Gordon, and Cedric IM Brooks.  Enjoy! Don Carlos - Mr. Sun - Niney The Observer: Roots With Quality -17 North Parade Culture - Jah Rastafari - Children Of Zion: The High Note Singles Collection - Doctor Bird Sugar Minott - Right Track - King Jammy A Man & His Music: Volume 1 Roots & Harmony Style - Ras Records Vivian Jackson & The Prophets - Deliver Me from My Enemies - Yabby You: Jesus Dread 1972-1977 - Blood & Fire Freddie McGregor - Rasta Have Faith - Observer 7” Danny Red & The Sip A Cup All Roots Foundation - Give Jah The Praise/Dub Praises - Roots & Dub Vol. 1 - Gussie P The Young Lions - Take Five - The Dubmaster: The Essential Anthology - Trojan Records Pablo Moses - Revolutionary Dream -  Best Of - Baco Music The Wailing Souls - Shark Attack - Chaos - 7” Errol Dunkley feat. Julio Dreadful Finn - A Little Way Different/Differentah - The Dubmaster: The Essential Anthology - Trojan Records Leroy Smart - This World - On Top - Live & Learn Donovan Adams & The Techniques All Stars - Don't Mock Jah/Don't Mock Jah Version - Roots Techniques - Pressure Sounds The Viceroys & Thompson Sound - Love Is A Key/Love Is A Key Dub - Thompson Sound 7” The Maytones - Who Can't Hear Must Feel - Maytones Music/TRS Records Jacob Miller & Jah Butty - False Rasta/Commercial Rasta - Who Say Jah No Dread: The Classic Augustus Pablo Sessions 1974-1975 - VP Records Ranking Trevor - Whip Them Jah Jah - DKRNYC 7” Freddie McKay - The Rainbow - Creation - VP Records Lizard - Satta I - Roots Rhythm 7” Eric Morris - Hard Time In Babylon/Hard Time In Babylon Version - Sure Shot Johnny Clarke - African Roots - Dreader Dread 1976-1978 - Blood & Fire Little Roy w/ Ian Rock & Advocates Aggregation - Christopher Columbus/Columbus Park - Uprising/DKR 12” Earl Sixteen - Juicy Black/Juicy Dub - Natty Farming - A-Lone Productions Israel Vibration - Why Worry - The Same Song - Top Ranking Ray Isaacs feat. Tabby Diamond & Roberto Sanchez - Jah Bless The Rastaman/Jah Bless The Rastaman Dub - Anotha One Productions Bob Marley & The Wailers - Kaya - Kaya - Tuff Gong Glen Judah - Mr. Collie Man - Roots Vibration 7” Ras Teo - Country Living/Country Living Dub - Ten Thousand Lions - A-Lone Productions Lone Ark Meets The 18th Parallel - Morning Blessing - Fruits Records Errol Holt - Got To Be Wise - A Lone Productions/Jah Love 7” Mosiah feat. Jah Defender - Revolution Time - Unconquerable - House Of Riddim Yaadcore - Rasta Time - Mixto Records/12 Yaad Records Marcus Gad feat. Dezarie - The Code - For All - Easy Star Records Marlon Asher feat. Masicka - In The Hills - Vas Productions Samory I - Fire Burning - Revelation - TunUp Squad Entertainment Ziggi Recado - Nice Ting - Elevation - Oneness Records Medisun & Tippy I - Freedom/Freedom In Dub (Tippy I-Grade Dub Mix) - Stay Nice Music/DubShot Records Ginjah feat. Bounty Killer - Tun Up (remix) - Soul Connection - Tad's Records Dennis Brown - Sitting And Watching - Ultimate Collection - Hip O Records The Uniques - Queen Majesty - Bunny Lee: Dreads Enter The Gates With Praise - Soul Jazz Records The Heptones - Swept For You Baby - Burning Rockers:  The 12” Mixes - Burning Rockers Delroy Wilson - Conquer Me - Original Eighteen: The Best Of Delroy Wilson - Heartbeat Records Wailing Souls - Mr. Fire Coal Man - Studio One Groups - Soul Jazz Records The Bassies - Things A Come Up To Bump - When Rhythm Was King - Heartbeat Records The Ethiopians - Everything Crash - Trojan Jamaican Hits Box Set - Trojan Records Ansel Collins feat. Count Sticky - Bigger Boss - Duke Records Dave & Ansel Collins - Double Barrell - Reggae Anthology: Winston Riley Quintessential Techniques - VP Records The Upsetters - Zion's Blood - Super Ape & Return Of Super Ape - Sanctuary Records Vin Gordon - Sidewalk Doctor - Studio One Scorcher Vol. 2 - Soul Jazz Records Cedric Brooks - Ethiopia - Studio One Rockers - Soul Jazz Records King Tubby - Honey Dub - Yabby You: Jesus Dread 1972-1977 - Blood & Fire The Aggrovators - Drums Of Africa - Bunny Lee: Dreads Enter The Gates With Praise - Soul Jazz Records Black Uhuru - Eden Out Deh - VP Records Winston Francis w/Gussie P & Mafia & Fluxy - Let's Go To Zion/Dub Zion Way - Roots & Dub Vol. 1 - Gussie P Rastahari - Dub Earth - Dub Developer - H Bomb Productions Barry Brown - Fittest Of The Fittest (part one)/Fittest Of The Fittest (part two) - Praises - Pressure Sounds Macka B - The Rastaman/Logical Dub - Tuff Scout Records Vibronics feat. Professa Natti - Vision From Jah/Vision Dub - Scoops Records Jah Version - Credentials - Gather Round - Evidence Music Queen Omega & Future Irie w/ Greatest Friends - Rebel Chant - Evidence Music Dr. Ring Ding w/ Sabolious & Anaves Music - Follow Dis Yah Sound - Flashover Riddim - Anaves Music Kabaka Pyramid - Rotation - Ghetto Youths International Capleton feat. Eesah - Deh Pon Mi Mind - Heights Of Fire - Evidence Music Cocoa Tea - Bun Dem - Digital B 7” Conroy Smith - Dangerous - Redman International 12” Johnny Osbourne - No Ice Cream Sound - Jammy's 7”

Fluent Fiction - Dutch: A Friendship Brew: The Heartfelt Gift of Coffee Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/nl/episode/2026-07-30-07-38-19-nl Story Transcript:Nl: De zon scheen helder op de klinkers van de straat terwijl Bram voorzichtig de deur naar de koffiebranderij opende.En: The sun shone brightly on the cobblestones of the street as Bram carefully opened the door to the koffiebranderij (coffee roastery).Nl: Een golf van rijke, aardse aroma's begroette hem.En: A wave of rich, earthy aromas greeted him.Nl: De ruimte was klein maar gezellig, gevuld met de geur van vers geroosterde koffiebonen die als een warme omhelzing aanvoelde.En: The space was small but cozy, filled with the smell of freshly roasted coffee beans that felt like a warm embrace.Nl: Aan de ene kant stonden rijen elegante koffiemachines en accessoires, terwijl aan de andere kant grote juten zakken koffiebonen lagen.En: On one side were rows of elegant coffee machines and accessories, while on the other lay large burlap sacks of coffee beans.Nl: Bram stond voor de uitdaging om een uniek cadeau te vinden voor Sanne, zijn praktische en ondanks alles zeer dierbare vriendin.En: Bram faced the challenge of finding a unique gift for Sanne, his practical and nevertheless very dear friend.Nl: Vandaag was geen speciale feestdag, maar toch wilde Bram iets bijzonders doen om hun vriendschap te vieren.En: Today was not a special holiday, but still, Bram wanted to do something special to celebrate their friendship.Nl: Pieter, de barista, schonk Bram een warme glimlach terwijl hij de koffiebonen bestudeerde.En: Pieter, the barista, offered Bram a warm smile as he studied the coffee beans.Nl: "Kan ik je ergens mee helpen, Bram?"En: "Can I help you with something, Bram?"Nl: vroeg Pieter, die altijd genoot van een goed gesprek over koffie.En: asked Pieter, who always enjoyed a good conversation about coffee.Nl: "Ik zoek iets speciaals voor Sanne," antwoordde Bram aarzelend.En: "I'm looking for something special for Sanne," replied Bram hesitantly.Nl: "Maar ik ben bang dat ik niet de juiste keuze kan maken."En: "But I'm afraid I can't make the right choice."Nl: Pieter knikte begrijpend.En: Pieter nodded understandingly.Nl: "Je wilt iets dat haar echt laat zien hoe veel haar vriendschap voor je betekent.En: "You want something that really shows how much her friendship means to you.Nl: Heb je weleens gedacht aan een zeldzame koffieblend gecombineerd met iets handgemaakt?"En: Have you ever thought about a rare coffee blend combined with something handmade?"Nl: Bram dacht even na, zijn ogen afdwalen naar de handgemaakte mokken die prachtig op een plank boven een rek met koffiezakken stonden.En: Bram thought for a moment, his eyes wandering to the handmade mugs that were beautifully displayed on a shelf above a rack of coffee bags.Nl: "Misschien heb je gelijk," zei hij langzaam, nog steeds twijfelend.En: "Maybe you're right," he said slowly, still doubtful.Nl: Pieter kwam dichterbij en wees op een blend die speciaal uit Ethiopië kwam.En: Pieter came closer and pointed to a blend that was specially from Ethiopië (Ethiopia).Nl: "Deze is zeer uniek, met notige aroma's en een vleugje fruit.En: "This one is very unique, with nutty aromas and a hint of fruit.Nl: En deze mokken worden lokaal gemaakt en zijn allemaal verschillend."En: And these mugs are locally made and all different."Nl: Ondanks zijn twijfels besloot Bram Pieter te vertrouwen.En: Despite his doubts, Bram decided to trust Pieter.Nl: Hij koos de Ethiopische blend en een robuuste, aardewerken mok die opviel door zijn onregelmatige, maar charmante patroon.En: He chose the Ethiopian blend and a robust, earthenware mug that stood out with its irregular but charming pattern.Nl: De zon was inmiddels laag aan de hemel toen Bram het kadopapier om de mok en koffie wikkelde.En: The sun was now low in the sky as Bram wrapped the mug and coffee in gift paper.Nl: Met een knoop in zijn maag bood hij Sanne het cadeau aan.En: With a knot in his stomach, he offered Sanne the gift.Nl: "Ik hoop dat je het leuk vindt," zei hij, zijn onzekerheid camouflerend met een zwakke glimlach.En: "I hope you like it," he said, camouflaging his uncertainty with a weak smile.Nl: Sanne opende het pakket met nieuwsgierigheid.En: Sanne opened the package with curiosity.Nl: Haar ogen lichtten op bij het zien van de mok en ze inhaleerde diep de geur van de koffiebonen.En: Her eyes lit up at the sight of the mug, and she inhaled deeply the scent of the coffee beans.Nl: "Bram, dit is fantastisch!"En: "Bram, this is fantastic!"Nl: zei ze stralend.En: she said, beaming.Nl: "Je hebt echt iets voor moois gekozen."En: "You really chose something beautiful."Nl: Met een zucht van opluchting en een warm gevoel van voldoening, voelde Bram zijn twijfels wegsijpelen.En: With a sigh of relief and a warm feeling of satisfaction, Bram felt his doubts seep away.Nl: Hij realizeerde zich dat beslissingen maken soms niet zo overweldigend hoeft te zijn, zolang ze komen uit het hart en met oprechte bedoelingen.En: He realized that making decisions doesn't have to be so overwhelming, as long as they come from the heart and with sincere intentions.Nl: Samen zaten Bram en Sanne aan tafel, genietend van de verse koffie, hun band sterker dan ooit tevoren.En: Together, Bram and Sanne sat at the table, enjoying the fresh coffee, their bond stronger than ever before. Vocabulary Words:shone: scheencobblestones: klinkersearthy: aardseembrace: omhelzingburlap: jutenchallenge: uitdagingpractical: praktischesincerely: oprechtehesitantly: aarzelendnod: knikterare: zeldzameblend: blendmug: mokdisplayed: stondenirregular: onregelmatigecharming: charmantestomach: maagcamouflage: camouflerenduncertainty: onzekerheidcuriosity: nieuwsgierigheidinhale: inhaleerdefantastic: fantastischbeam: stralendrelief: opluchtingsatisfaction: voldoeningseep: wegsijpelenoverwhelming: overweldigendintentions: bedoelingenbond: bandfresh: verse

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Brews & Bonds: A Journey to the Perfect Cup Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2026-07-30-07-38-19-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A nap reggelén a kávépörkölő kellemes illatokkal töltötte meg a levegőt.En: On the morning of the day, the coffee roaster filled the air with pleasant aromas.Hu: Az ablakokon át beszűrődő napfény aranyló fénnyel öntötte el a pultot, és a fal mentén elhelyezett kávészsákokat.En: The sunlight filtering through the windows drenched the counter with golden light and illuminated the coffee sacks placed along the wall.Hu: Lajos sietve rendezgette az új szállítmányt.En: Lajos hurriedly organized the new shipment.Hu: Ő volt a kávépörkölő szíve és lelke.En: He was the heart and soul of the coffee roaster.Hu: Barista lévén minden babhoz személyes kötődést érzett.En: Being a barista, he felt a personal connection to every bean.Hu: Lajos pörkölője híres volt különleges keverékeiről, melyek távoli vidékek ízeit idézték.En: Lajos's roaster was famous for its special blends that evoked the flavors of distant lands.Hu: Ilona ezen a nyári délelőttön lépett be az üzletbe.En: Ilona entered the shop on this summer morning.Hu: Mindig mosollyal fogadták őt.En: She was always greeted with a smile.Hu: Múlt héten mondta, hogy nagy családi összejövetelt szervez, és kávéval szeretné lenyűgözni szeretteit.En: Last week, she mentioned that she was organizing a big family gathering and wanted to impress her loved ones with coffee.Hu: Lajos már tudta, hogy segíteni akar neki.En: Lajos already knew he wanted to help her.Hu: „Szia, Ilona!En: "Hi, Ilona!"Hu: ” köszönt Lajos lelkesen.En: Lajos greeted enthusiastically.Hu: „Ma milyen kávét keresel?En: "What kind of coffee are you looking for today?"Hu: ”Ilona körbenézett a polcok között, majd a pult elé lépett.En: Ilona looked around the shelves, then stepped up to the counter.Hu: „Valami igazán különlegeset szeretnék.En: "I'd like something truly special.Hu: De annyi a választék, hogy nem tudom, hol kezdjem.En: But there's so much to choose from, I don't know where to start."Hu: ” Arcán látszott, hogy a választék zavarba ejtette.En: Her face showed that the selection was overwhelming.Hu: „Ne aggódj!En: "Don't worry!"Hu: ” mondta Lajos mosolyogva.En: Lajos said with a smile.Hu: „Rendezzünk egy kóstoló délutánt, hogy megtaláljuk a megfelelőt neked.En: "Let's arrange a tasting afternoon to find the perfect one for you."Hu: ”Ilona bólintott.En: Ilona nodded.Hu: Kicsit izgult, de örült a lehetőségnek.En: She was a bit nervous but excited about the opportunity.Hu: Lajos előkészített három különböző fajtát.En: Lajos prepared three different varieties.Hu: Minden pohárban másmilyen ízvilág volt: egy citrusos etióp, egy csokoládés kolumbiai és egy fűszeres indiai.En: Each cup had a different taste profile: a citrusy Ethiopian, a chocolatey Colombian, and a spicy Indian.Hu: Lajos segítőkészen magyarázta el, mire figyeljen az ízlelés közben.En: Lajos helpfully explained what to pay attention to while tasting.Hu: Ilona megkóstolta az elsőt.En: Ilona tasted the first one.Hu: „Ez nagyon friss!En: "This is very fresh!"Hu: ” mondta meglepetten.En: she said, surprised.Hu: A másodiknál elmosolyodott.En: She smiled at the second one.Hu: „Ez emlékeztet a csokoládéra, amit szeretnek a gyerekek.En: "This reminds me of the chocolate that the kids love."Hu: ” A harmadiknál elmélyült az ízek harmóniájában.En: With the third, she delved into the harmony of flavors.Hu: „Ez az!En: "This is it!Hu: Pontosan ezt keresem!En: This is exactly what I'm looking for!"Hu: ”Lajos mosolygott.En: Lajos smiled.Hu: Látta Ilonán, hogy megtalálta a kedvencét.En: He saw that Ilona had found her favorite.Hu: „Ez az indiai Malabar.En: "That's the Indian Malabar.Hu: Gazdag és különleges.En: Rich and special.Hu: Pont neked való.En: Just right for you."Hu: ”Ilona megköszönte Lajosnak a segítséget.En: Ilona thanked Lajos for his help.Hu: „Nagyon élveztem ezt a kóstolót.En: "I really enjoyed this tasting.Hu: Sokkal többet tanultam, mint valaha.En: I learned so much more than ever before."Hu: " Kiválasztott egy zsák Malabar kávébabot, és a kasszához lépett.En: She chose a bag of Malabar coffee beans and stepped to the register.Hu: Ahogy Ilona távozott, Lajos elégedetten figyelte.En: As Ilona left, Lajos watched with satisfaction.Hu: Mindkettőjükben megváltozott valami.En: Something had changed in both of them.Hu: Ilona magabiztosabbnak érezte magát, Lajos pedig boldog volt, hogy sikerült valaki másnak is megmutatnia a kávé szeretetét egyszerű, érthető módon.En: Ilona felt more confident, and Lajos was happy to have shown someone else the love of coffee in a simple, understandable way.Hu: A kávépörkölő ismét megtelt élettel, és a nap ragyogott tovább a barista és az elégedett vendég kíséretében.En: The coffee roaster was filled with life once again, and the sun continued to shine on the barista and the satisfied customer. Vocabulary Words:roaster: pörkölőaromas: illatokdrenched: elöntötteshipment: szállítmányconnection: kötődésblends: keverékekevoked: idéztékimpress: lenyűgöznioverwhelming: zavarba ejtettetasting: kóstolóvarieties: fajtátcitrusy: citrusoschocolatey: csokoládésspicy: fűszeresprofile: ízvilágsurprised: meglepettenharmony: harmóniaexactly: pontosanconfident: magabiztossatisfaction: elégedettségopportunity: lehetőségstepped: lépettfamous: híressoul: léleknervous: izgultexplained: magyaráztadelved: elmélyültflavors: ízekfresh: frissgathering: összejövetelt

Fluent Fiction - Hungarian: Savoring New Adventures: A Coffee Journey of Discovery Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/hu/episode/2026-07-30-22-34-02-hu Story Transcript:Hu: A kávépörkölő üzem ajtaja megcsendül, ahogy Bence és Réka belépnek.En: The door of the coffee roastery jingles as Bence and Réka step inside.Hu: Az orrukat rögtön megcsapják a frissen pörkölt kávébabok illatai.En: Their noses are immediately hit by the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans.Hu: A napfény aranyszínű mintákat rajzol a fapadlóra, a polcokon pedig különféle kávé csomagok és kávékészítéshez szükséges eszközök sorakoznak.En: Sunlight draws golden patterns on the wooden floor, and the shelves are lined with various coffee packages and tools necessary for coffee making.Hu: A hely tele van élettel, és halk zene kíséri a beszélgetéseket.En: The place is buzzing with life, and soft music accompanies the conversations.Hu: "Réka, ez a hely be fogja mutatni neked a kávé valódi világát," kezdte Bence magabiztosan.En: "Réka, this place is going to show you the real world of coffee," Bence started confidently.Hu: De belül aggódik.En: But inside, he's worried.Hu: Mi van, ha nem tud mindent úgy, ahogy gondolja?En: What if he doesn't know everything as he thinks he does?Hu: Mi van, ha Réka jobban érzi a kávé ízeit?En: What if Réka has a better sense of coffee flavors?Hu: "Nagyon kíváncsi vagyok! Az otthoni kávém sosem volt különleges," válaszolt Réka izgatottan.En: "I'm very curious! My coffee at home was never special," Réka replied excitedly.Hu: Ahogy végigsétálnak a sorokon, minden kávé mellé van írva a származási ország és az ízjegyek.En: As they walk down the aisles, each coffee is accompanied by its country of origin and flavor notes.Hu: Bence hallgat, próbálva eldönteni, melyik lenne a legjobb választás.En: Bence remains silent, trying to decide which one would be the best choice.Hu: "Ez itt egy etiopiai kávé," mutatott Bence egy csomagra, mintha nagyon biztos lenne a dolgában.En: "This here is an Ethiopian coffee," Bence pointed to a package, as if he were very sure of himself.Hu: "Nagyon gazdag ízei vannak."En: "It has very rich flavors."Hu: "És te melyiket szereted a legjobban?" kérdezte Réka, próbálva eldönteni, hogy tényleg a Bence ajánlását fogadja el.En: "And which one do you like the most?" Réka asked, trying to decide if she should really accept Bence's recommendation.Hu: "Azt hiszem... talán szeretek újakat kipróbálni," válaszolt Bence kissé habozva.En: "I think... maybe I like trying new ones," Bence answered, somewhat hesitantly.Hu: Réka megfordult és egy másik zacskóra mutatott.En: Réka turned and pointed to another bag.Hu: "Mi lenne ezzel a dél-amerikaival? Az írják, hogy csokoládés utóíze van."En: "How about this South American one? It says it has a chocolaty aftertaste."Hu: Bence habozott.En: Bence hesitated.Hu: Nem hallott még róla annyit, mint az etiopiai kávékról.En: He hadn't heard as much about it as the Ethiopian coffees.Hu: Végül mély levegőt vett.En: Finally, he took a deep breath.Hu: "Réka, igazából nem tudok mindent a kávékról.En: "Réka, I don't actually know everything about coffee.Hu: De megtanulom.En: But I'll learn.Hu: Próbáljuk ki!"En: Let's try it!"Hu: Réka mosolygott.En: Réka smiled.Hu: "Nagyszerű, tanuljuk együtt."En: "Great, let's learn together."Hu: A pultnál kértek egy kis mintát mindkettőből.En: At the counter, they asked for a small sample of both.Hu: Ahogy kortyoltak, rájöttek, hogy a dél-amerikai kávé finom egyensúlyt teremtett a gazdag ízek és a selymes édesség között.En: As they sipped, they realized the South American coffee created a fine balance between rich flavors and silky sweetness.Hu: Bence elmosolyodott, végre felszabadultnak érezte magát.En: Bence smiled, finally feeling relieved.Hu: Réka szintén elégedett volt, hiszen felfedezte az új kedvencét.En: Réka was also satisfied, having discovered her new favorite.Hu: Ahogy kiléptek az üzletből, a napfény megcsillant az arcukon.En: As they stepped out of the store, the sunlight glinted on their faces.Hu: Mindketten boldogok voltak, hogy együtt fedezték fel a kávé világát, tanulva és élvezve a tapasztalatot.En: They were both happy to have explored the world of coffee together, learning and enjoying the experience.Hu: Bence úgy érezte, egy új kapu nyílt meg előtte, és már nem keserűen nézte a hibáit, hanem izgalommal várt az új kalandokra.En: Bence felt like a new door had opened in front of him, and he no longer viewed his mistakes bitterly but looked forward to new adventures with excitement.Hu: Réka megtanulta, hogy az ő ízlése éppolyan fontos, és most már bátran elindulhat új ízek felfedezésére.En: Réka learned that her taste mattered just as much, and now she could boldly set out to discover new flavors.Hu: Így folytatta útját a két barát, tele új tervekkel, nevetéssel és, persze, a frissen választott kávéval.En: Thus, the two friends continued on their way, full of new plans, laughter, and, of course, the freshly chosen coffee. Vocabulary Words:roastery: pörkölő üzemjingles: megcsendülaroma: illataishelves: polcokonbuzzing: tele van élettelaccompanies: kísériconfidently: magabiztosanhesitantly: kissé habozvacurious: kíváncsiaisles: sorokonorigin: származásiaftertaste: utóízehesitated: habozottbitterly: keserűenadventures: kalandokrapatterns: mintákatfaded: megkopottlearn: megtanulomboldly: bátranmistakes: hibáitdiscover: felfedezéséreconversation: beszélgetéseketflavors: ízjegyeksilky: selymesrelieved: felszabadultnaksatisfied: elégedettexperience: tapasztalatotexcitedly: izgatottanglinted: megcsillantset out: elindulhat

Join us as we dig deeper into last Sunday's sermon from Pastor Marcus Lane "The Gospel for the Ethiopian Eunuch" and hear from Amy Duncan and Nate Zuellig on "Give Me Jesus".   Digging Deeper Questions: Have you ever experienced a sense that God was telling you to go to a place or person to whom you didn't want to go? How did you handle it?   In what ways have you seen Jesus fulfill not only the words of Scripture but every ache of the human experience?   Is there someone in your life right now that you want to share the gift of Jesus with? Begin praying for that person now!   Scripture Reading: Acts 8:26-40 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:   "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter     and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,     so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.     Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth."   34 And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.    Intro/Outro Song: "Only One" Nate Zuellig ULC Artist In Residence    "Give Me Jesus" Jeremy Camp CCLI Song # 4874344   CCLI License # 11254293

Cory was out for a family wedding, so Brady and Philip hosted from his handle. Also new: a weekly recap song in a different genre each week, covering everything from the previous weeks of the show. Daniel Batten on Cambridge's new number. Its updated assessment puts Bitcoin mining at 59.4% clean energy, against a global grid mix near 40%. Hydro is the largest single source. Full report expected later this year. Sweden's grid used Bitcoin mining 11,000 times last year to absorb excess wind. Batten's point: operators call it flexible load, flexible compute, or data centers. Anything but Bitcoin mining. Six Brazilian energy companies are doing the same with stranded generation. The best idea in the episode, and it's Batten's. A grid operator is incentivized to admit a problem, because saying so unlocks resources and doesn't destabilize the grid. A central banker never can, because the admission is itself the instability. Batten expects the West to adopt Bitcoin as an energy solution before a monetary one. In the global South the monetary problems are existential already: banking access, storing wealth safely, remittances that otherwise cost up to 20%. The Ethiopian dam. You cannot build half a dam, so it's sized for demand 20 years out. No transmission lines, no industry, no customer for the surplus. Miners paid roughly three cents per kilowatt hour and delivered over $100M in unexpected revenue. Callum Wheeler of Renew Blocks on Britain's curtailment bill. £1.5B last year paying wind farms to switch off and firing gas nearer London instead, forecast to reach £7B by 2030. A new "demand for constraints" market is meant to fix it. A near-blackout on June 23 reached the shadow energy secretary via control-room whistleblowers. Cause: unexpected air conditioning demand in Britain's fourth heat wave. Wheeler's pilot is mining co-located inside a Scottish Highlands hydro powerhouse, built for £2M and never switched on. Susie Violet Ward spent 13 months chasing a BBC correction on a headline claiming every Bitcoin payment uses a swimming pool of water. No correction, and the undisclosed source was a central banker. Brandolini's law: refuting costs ten times what inventing does. Closing round on first resources. Inventing Bitcoin by Yan Pritzker, including his family's story of carrying value out of Russia. Also the Bullish Case, Broken Money, swan.com/welcome with Natalie Brunell, and Mary Kay Fain's approach: ask someone to recall a time they couldn't use their own money.

Saudi Arabia has executed five more Ethiopian migrants after convicting them of smuggling hashish, a concentrated form of cannabis. The Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Monday, July 27th. This latest execution brings the total number of Ethiopians put to death in the last three months to 17. The ministry emphasized that the executions were intended “to protect the security of the citizen and resident from the scourge of drugs, and to impose the most severe penalties prescribed by law on its smugglers and promoters.”And an exclusive interview with Zambia's Vice President Mutale Nalumango on her journey to high office and what her leadership means for women and young people, women in leadership and youth involvement in politics across AfricaPresenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Blessing Aderogba Senior Producers: Keikantse Shumba Technical Producer: David Nzau Editors: Rhoda Odhiambo and Maryam Abdalla

If you think you know Cape Town's food scene, this conversation might make you think again. In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I sit down with Dennis Molewa, founder of Unexplored Cape Town, whose work takes visitors beyond the city's celebrated restaurants into the cafés, markets and neighbourhood kitchens where many of the city's brown and immigrant communities eat every day.Dennis explains how growing up in multicultural Frankfurt, working in hospitality and later settling in South Africa led him to explore the city through its food. We discuss Malay and Xhosa restaurants, Somali cafés, Ethiopian eteries, West African kitchens, the remarkable food market around the Bellville Transport Interchange and why so much of Cape Town's culinary life remains invisible to both tourists and many locals.Our conversation also looks at food tourism, heritage and the role restaurants play in preserving culture. Dennis argues that tourism can be a force for inclusion by supporting small food businesses and creating opportunities for people whose stories are rarely told. It's a thoughtful discussion about identity, migration, public space and why some of the city's most rewarding meals are found well beyond the familiar dining guides. www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Have you ever read a passage of Scripture and felt completely lost? The idea that the Bible is written at a level an elementary-age child can comprehend may be true of its central message — that God loves us and has provided a way back to Himself through Jesus — but anyone who has worked through the book of Leviticus, wrestled with apocalyptic prophecy, or landed in an unfamiliar epistle knows that some passages require more than a quiet moment and good intentions. They require community. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is not often cited as a key discipleship text, but it captures something essential about how God designed His Word to be understood. An Ethiopian official, returning from worship in Jerusalem, was reading Isaiah 53 aloud — a Messianic passage he genuinely could not interpret without help. Philip, prompted by the Spirit, approached him and asked if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch's response is honest and beautiful: how can I, unless someone explains it to me? That willingness to ask opened the door to a conversation that led to his salvation and baptism. Spiritual knowledge is transferable. God's Word is meant to be studied in community. And whether we are new to the faith and need someone to explain what we are reading, or we are seasoned believers with something to give, every one of us has a role to play in helping others understand the timeless truths of Scripture. Today's Bible Verse "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him."— Acts 8:31, NIV Ponder Today There is no shame in asking for help understanding Scripture. The Ethiopian eunuch was a man of significant position and faith, and he openly admitted he needed someone to explain what he was reading. That honesty opened the door to life-changing truth. Spiritual knowledge is transferable — and sharing it is a privilege. God has gifted men and women throughout the body of Christ with the ability to rightly interpret and unpack Scripture. Believers with mature faith are called to invest that knowledge in others (Titus 2:3-4; Ephesians 4:12-13). God's Word is designed to be studied in community. Making disciples involves active, engaged Bible study together. Commentaries, sermons, conversations with other believers, and corporate worship are all legitimate and valuable tools for growing in understanding. Listen when the Holy Spirit prompts you to come alongside someone. Philip could have kept walking. Instead, he obeyed the Spirit's nudge, asked a simple question, and participated in one of the most significant evangelistic encounters recorded in Acts. God's Word never returns empty. Not every conversation will produce instant, visible results the way Philip's did. But Isaiah 55:11 assures us that what God's Word goes out to accomplish, it will accomplish — in His timing and according to His purpose. A Prayer for You Today Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for the gift of the body of believers. How wonderful to know that when I accepted Christ, I was adopted into a family of faith. Help me embrace the gifts of community Bible study, corporate worship, and personal Scripture reading. When I have questions or am wrestling with the text, I ask that the Holy Spirit guide and direct me to proper understanding and application. And when I see others who need support, may I come alongside them and impart biblical wisdom. Help us to humbly serve one another through teaching, discipleship, service, and love. In Jesus' name, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer stirred a desire to go deeper in God's Word alongside other believers, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to help you grow in your understanding and love of Scripture every day. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The devotional emphasizes the immense value God places on individual lost souls, using the biblical account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch as a primary example. It illustrates that believers must remain obedient to divine direction, even when it requires interrupting successful ministries or personal schedules to reach those in need. The preacher shares a personal testimony of encountering a struggling young man to demonstrate practical application of this principle. The message encourages Christians to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit's prompting and to share the simple truth of Jesus Christ with hurting individuals in their daily lives. Ultimately, it calls for a lifestyle of prayerful awareness and readiness to be used by God to bring others to salvation.

July 5, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class In this episode we study Acts 8–9 through the lens of a congregation learning to juggle multiple challenges at once. Neal references Chris Young's prior expository teaching and collaborates with Hiram as they walk listeners through the scattering of the Jerusalem church, the ministries of Philip in Samaria and to the Ethiopian eunuch, and the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Biblical figures featured include Philip, Simon the sorcerer, the Ethiopian eunuch, Saul/Paul, Barnabas, and Dorcas (Tabitha). Topics covered include the church's response to persecution (Acts 8:1–4), the pattern of evangelism exemplified by Philip—"going up and opening his mouth," the role of signs and miracles to confirm the message, and how the Word plus the Holy Spirit accomplishes conversion in the absence of New Testament-era miraculous gifting. The episode examines how Philip's message produced belief and baptism among Samaritans and the eunuch, and it highlights the consistent New Testament emphasis on baptism accompanying repentance and faith. The conversion of Saul is treated as the central example of the challenge of change: changing religion, relationships, reputation, and life direction. The discussion follows Saul's pre-conversion persecution of Christians, the divine encounter on the road to Damascus, Ananias's role, and Barnabas's pastoral advocacy—how the early church received, connected, trusted, and helped a radically changed convert integrate into fellowship and ministry. Practical lessons and key points include: adversity should not lead to apostasy; put the emphasis on Scripture; humility in hearers makes teaching effective; joy accompanies obedience; follow-up and personal investment (the Barnabas model) are essential for new converts; old struggles can resurface and must be shepherded; and the church must care for loss (illustrated in the account of Dorcas) with compassion and expectation. Listeners should expect a mixture of exegesis, pastoral application, exhortation for personal evangelism (a simple challenge to invite others to study the Bible), and reflections on how Acts models mission, community care, and endurance under pressure for the contemporary church.   Duration 44:00

As we jump back into our series through the book of Acts we spent time looking at the story of Philip being called by God to leave Samaria and go to a desert road. The story is a great reminder that God's ways and His economy is different than ours. For more information visit ChristCommunity.Life

Will You Accept An Ethiopian MaShiach?https://youtu.be/viLpyafrxTATisha B'Av is a time we hear a lot of talk about Sinat Chinam that brought the destruction. Everyone knows the solution would be the opposite, yet the baseless hatred continues to flourish if you don't look the way they do, and your customs are different. What if the MASHIACH is going to be Ethiopian? This is not a test question, but an actual reality that many did not know enough to consider.#EthiopianJews #Ethiopia #TribeOfDan #TribeOfJudah #Mashiach #SinatChinam #BaselessHatred #TishaBAv #Torah #Jewish #RabbiYaronReuven #Jews #God #inspiring #motivation #OrthodoxJudaism #Judaism

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for July 21, 2026. We open with a 29-year-old Democratic Socialist named Milat Kiros who just defeated a 15-term congresswoman in Colorado's Democratic primary — with the backing of the DSA and Bernie Sanders — and who has told voters exactly what she believes: that America is exploitative and extractive, that ICE is a terror apparatus, that Israel's military aid should end, and that the existing world order needs a reckoning. We note that she arrived in America because her father won the U.S. diversity visa lottery — a program that saved her family from an Ethiopian civil war and famine — and that she earned degrees at Washington College and Notre Dame Law School on American soil. We are not speculating about her worldview. She has put it in writing. And she is one general election away from Congress in a district Republicans haven't won in half a century. We say what needs to be said: believe people when they tell you who they are. In our Top 3 Things You Need to Know, the federal government suspended $867.5 million in Medicaid payments to California and $199 million to Minnesota after CMS reviews flagged high-risk fraud in home health and other services — with CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz saying the administration is done chasing stolen funds after they've already left the building. Then New Jersey's Democratic Governor Mikey Sherrill revealed that a software glitch allowed 6,000 non-citizens to register to vote in 2023 and 2024, with 400 of them actually casting ballots — a story the governor got ahead of before the DOJ could, and one that makes the case for the SAVE Act more powerfully than any speech. And 100 New York state lawmakers sent letters to the congressional delegation demanding ICE be abolished — the same ICE that exists because Congress decided in 2002 that someone should enforce federal immigration law. We also cover the Trump administration's discovery that the federal government has been sending nearly $100 million per year to dead people — and has now stopped. The fix required asking one basic question: is the person we're sending this check to still alive? That question, apparently revolutionary in Washington, was answered by comparing 885 million federal payments against death records. Government doesn't have a revenue problem. It has a stewardship problem. Our American Mamas Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson debate whether they'd go back to old TV over smart TVs — and the answer is a resounding yes, for reasons that go beyond nostalgia. Streaming costs more than cable ever did, smart TVs are listening and tracking everything, you can no longer skip commercials, the content is ideologically slanted, and nobody can find anything. Teri misses Blockbuster. Kimberly misses the DVR. Both agree that horizontal screens make sense because human eyes are horizontal — and that vertical video on phones is a waste of the aspect ratio God gave us. We dig deep into former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper's early release of 4,234 prisoners following an NAACP lawsuit arguing that incarceration is racist — a number that exceeded the 3,500 agreed to in the settlement and included 99 sex offenders and 24 people convicted of murder. Within five years, 2,412 of those released — a 57% recidivism rate — had committed new crimes and been rearrested, including charges of rape and murder. Among those released and later arrested for murder was the man accused of stabbing Ukrainian immigrant Iryana Zyrutska to death on a Charlotte train. Roy Cooper is now the frontrunner for the North Carolina Senate seat. We say plainly: we should stop rewarding failure. There are people dead in North Carolina today because their governor let violent criminals out of prison to kill again. We also cover the State Department's follow-up report confirming that Cuba is actively helping Iran, Hamas, and other jihadist organizations expand their influence throughout the Western Hemisphere — connecting the dots between communist Cuba's survival dependence on American adversaries and the broader axis of pressure being applied to the United States from multiple directions simultaneously. No single threat defeats us. Together, they create friction, consume resources, divide attention, and complicate national security. All of it from 50 miles off the coast of Florida. For our Bright Spot, Texas Representative Andy Hopper wrote a letter responding to a Mexican senator who demanded that Texas stop enforcing its border laws because migrants were dying trying to cross illegally. Hopper's response is worth reading in full — citing Texas independence, the Alamo, San Jacinto, and the sovereign right of every nation to determine who enters its territory. He also told Mexico directly: we will not accept border policy instruction from a government that has allowed cartels to dominate vast regions of its own territory. Abandoning enforcement would not save lives. It would guarantee the cartels more victims, more profits, and more power. We call it exactly what it is — a bright spot. We also cover New York City's welfare rolls hitting 865,000 cash assistance recipients under Mayor Mamdani — up from a low of 336,000 under Mayor Bloomberg — and note that a democratic socialist does not view this as a crisis. He views it as an achievement. We view it as what happens when you promise free things and then wonder why more people ask for them. We also discuss the case of a 29-year-old woman who died after a ChatGPT conversation that increasingly centered on themes of sacrifice, death, and resurrection — with the AI telling her she would need to die before becoming who she was meant to be. We make the distinction between a mentally healthy person who reads letting your old self die as a metaphor for personal growth, and someone already struggling with depression or delusion who reads it as instruction. AI is a language tool. It produces eloquent, resonant language. It does not know who is reading it. And we close with Scottish runner Josh Kerr breaking the world mile record in London — running the mile in 3 minutes and 42 seconds to break Hicham El Guerrouj's record that had stood since 1999, the longest anyone had held the official world mile record since records began. In front of 60,000 fans, a man ran a mile in the time it takes most of us to find the remote. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ready set go, the cost of education, the MN Poll, WX data, Air Quality update, Lady Ocalat, Twins Talk, MN open primary, the Ethiopian immigrant charged with three counts of murder, Red Sox talk and Brad's Vietnam friend... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God loves to make us work for it by Autumn Dickson Asa is one of the kings we read about this week. He was a king of Judah, the southern kingdom. He starts out his reign really strong, tearing down idol worship and deposing his own grandmother who worshipped idols. He encouraged people to seek the Lord. Unfortunately, he also took a turn for the worse and started trusting in human solutions over God, and he died. There is one verse in the midst of his story that I want to share. 2 Chronicles 14:6-7 6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest. 7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered. Asa had a time of peace during his reign, and in the midst of this peace, he built fortified cities in Judah. Asa goes on to face an Ethiopian army, and he is vastly outnumbered. As he faces his enemy, he cries out to God. 2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. The Lord proceeds to smite the Ethiopians, and they are driven back. So here is my question…why did they fortify their cities? Over and over and over again in the Old Testament we read about this same pattern. The Israelites (or in this case, Judah specifically), do all of the things only to have the Lord completely fight their battles. The Lord parted the Red Sea. He made the walls of Jericho come down. He struck down 185,000 Assyrians outside Jerusalem's walls during Hezekiah's reign. This is a consistent pattern throughout scripture. The Lord fights the battles. Entire armies are defeated or become confused or simply flee. So why bother even fortifying the cities? Even in this specific story where the Lord defeats an army of a million Ethiopians, it doesn't say that the fortified cities made a difference in the slightest. So why? Why fortify the city when the Lord defeats the enemy? The only way I can think to explain it is this: chores. Every Monday, our house gets totally cleaned. Bathrooms, mopping, dusting, vacuuming, all of it. Then, throughout the week, my three oldest kids are assigned one chore a day. It is usually the same list of chores that is done on Monday. I remember watching my four year old wipe down the mirrors in the bathroom on Tuesday. That mirror went from clean to streaked in no time flat. My soul kinda died a little bit watching her make the mirror dirtier, and then it died a little more when I had to sneak back in to clean it a third time in two days. But. I have to remind myself that it's not about a clean mirror. It's about a healthy, growing child. She doesn't clean the mirror so that I can have a clean mirror (obviously). She cleans the mirror so that she learns how to clean a mirror (eventually). The Lord paid for our sins. He paid for the sin you committed years ago, the sin you committed yesterday, the sin you're going to commit today, and the sin you're going to commit years into the future. The mirror is already clean. But He still asks us to learn how to clean a mirror. Even when we're actually just making the mirror dirtier again or when we're cleaning an already clean mirror. Being saved means you're clean again, and to some extent, all of us will be saved in some degree of glory. Being saved means you're clean, but being exalted means you grew up. And that's important because it determines our level of happiness. There is inherent worth in knowing how to clean a mirror. There is inherent worth in learning how to fortify your city and do labor. There is inherent worth in growth even if it's not actually contributing to anything yet. There is inherent worth in work even when it's not paying for our salvation. The Lord saves us. He cleaned the mirror. He protected His people throughout the scriptures. But He asks us to learn how to clean the mirror because we won't find happiness unless we know how. Some of the most miserable people I know are the ones who don't appreciate the value of working hard. It won't do you much good for the Lord to save you if you're still miserable, and He's not going to hook you up to constant happy drugs in heaven. Where do you think happiness comes from? It doesn't really come from the mirror simply being clean. It comes from growing, and the clean mirror enables you to live with God again. So we follow the Lord and His commandments so we learn how to be happy, and then He pays for the whole experience. He cleanses us so we can return to live with Him, and we return with the knowledge and experience required to find deep and lasting joy. I'm grateful for the scriptures that teach true doctrine. I'm grateful that I get to watch these patterns over and over and over throughout the Old Testament. The Lord does the work, but then He asks us to grow. I see it everywhere. I'm grateful He paid the price for me to get messy and come home with the knowledge and experience I need. I'm grateful that I get to learn, through my own experience, the good from the evil. I testify that the Lord saves, and I also testify that He gives commandments for our good. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – 2 Chronicles 14–20; 26; 30 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

In this study we will take a look at the women within the Bible. We will look at each one of them and see how their story influences our lives today.As we continue our study in this fantastic insight of the Women of the Bible, this morning we shall finish up with Zipporah and then take a look at Miriam the sister of Moses.Miriam (rebellion) – Moses Sister – A ProphetessMiriam was the older sister of Moses, and it was she who watched over him when he was placed in a basket on the River Nile. She went on to become a leader of the Hebrews when they escaped from Egypt and went in search of the Promised Land.Miriam is best known for helping to deliver Moses at the Nile River and leading the Hebrew women in singing, dancing, and playing drums after crossing the Red Sea. Later, she and her brother Aaron challenge the actions and authority of Moses. She understands leadership to embrace diverse voices, female and male. But the price of speaking out is severe; Yahweh punishes her, after which she never speaks, nor is she spoken to. Centuries later, prophecy remembers her as the equal of Moses and Aaron in representing Yahweh before the people, and as the inaugurator of a performance and composition tradition of song, drums, and dances in Israel."I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy."—Joel 2:28.         Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron (Exod. 15:20.), is the first of her order mentioned in the Word of Yahweh. While Yahweh never ordained a woman to be priest, nor do we read of women as bishops or pastors in the New Testament, the vocation of "prophetess" is common to both dispensations. Hannah (1Sam. 1:2) was practically a prophetess, and so was Huldah, to whom King Josiah went in his time of perplexity. Deborah (Judges 4:5) was a prophetess (2Kings 22:14), and there were also false prophetesses, such as Noadiah (Neh. 6:14), as well as false prophets.         In the New Testament, Peter expressly declares that the pouring out of the Spirit of Yahweh upon all flesh should be upon sons and daughters, servants, and handmaids, "and they shall prophesy," quoting from the Old Testament. (Joel 2:28-32); compare (Acts 2:17-18.)  A number of those who "spake" "AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE," (Acts. 2:4.) of the wonderful works of Yahweh on the Day of Pentecost, were women speaking in the spirit of prophecy. Philip, the deacon, we read, had four daughters "which did prophesy" (Acts 21:9); the Apostle Paul speaks of those women who labored with him in the Gospel. (Phl. 4:3.) It is he who especially recommends that, when women pray and prophesy, their heads should be covered; and explains what is this office of prophesying in the words: "He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." (1Chorin. 11:5; 14:3.) And while Paul commands that women should not speak in church, he ordains that all, i.e., both men and women, may prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, and may be comforted. (1Corin. 14:31-34.)          Yahweh's order in the family is not according to earthly birthright. Speaking of the leaders of His people Israel, He says: "I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam." (Micah 6:4.) All these children of Amram were of the prophet order. Miriam was the eldest, Moses the youngest; yet Moses is first mentioned, because he knew his Yahweh more fully than either his brother or his sister. Aaron, his elder brother, ranks next, and Miriam, the eldest of the three, ranks last.Miriam was a leader of the Hebrew people during the Exodus, the great founding event of Judaism. The episodes we have about her are disjointed and probably only represent a fraction of the stories originally told in the oral tradition of the Hebrew people.  The story of Miriam contains four different episodes:   1 Miriam saved her brother Moses, Exodus 2:1-10. This well-known story shows that the survival of the leader of the Exodus, Moses, depended on the courage and ingenuity of one young woman, his sister Miriam.   2 The song of Miriam, Exodus 15:20-21. This fragment of the Song of Miriam is one of the oldest poetic couplets in the Old Testament. It is an example of a literary genre devoted to celebrating military victories with triumphal poems.  3 Miriam's ordeal, Numbers 12. This story is about the authority of established law. Moses was the great lawgiver of the Hebrew people Moses' legislation formed the basis of Hebrew life. The story acknowledged that Miriam and Aaron were both popular leaders, but the Law, represented by Moses, bound them.  4 Miriam's death, Numbers 20:1-2. Miriam died in a waterless place in the wilderness, but Yahweh subsequently caused water to appear there.  In this study we take a look #2 The Song of Miriam and #3 Miriam's ordealExodus 15:20-2120.          Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron = This is the first mention of Miriam by name, and she is described as the sister of Aaron, so she is therefore also the sister of Moses (Exodus 4:14).We also see that Miriam had some kind of prophetic gift. Later she used her leadership position in an unwise and ungodly way – to challenge the authority of Moses (Numbers 12).Miriam was with Moses throughout the nine plagues. She came out of Egypt with Moses. Miriam was a woman of Yahweh. She was indeed a prophet herself (Exodus 15:20). The fact that Miriam was a prophet is a little known fact because everyone concentrates on Moses. Miriam was called to play a less prominent role than Moses but nevertheless a vital one. Miriam's role as a leader of the Hebrew women was obviously more extensive than is shown in the biblical text. Despite her personal charisma and power, her story has to a large extent been subsumed into the story of her brother Moses. Rulers in the ancient world led through force of arms and military might. Miriam and Moses proposed a different model of leadership. They led by example served their people rather than ruled them did what they believed Yahweh wanted rather than serving their own ends.      When the Hebrew's were escaping from Egypt, they crossed what was probably a large papyrus marsh, called the Red Sea in the biblical text. Moses, Miriam, and her second brother Aaron led them. Numbers 12This part of Miriam's story described an incident at Hazeroth (villages), as the Hebrew people wandered in search of their promised land.Going to Moses, Miriam and Aaron raised two points that were troubling them: 1.      They questioned his marriage to the Cushite (Ethiopian or Midianite) woman, not because of any personal rivalry, but because Hebrews condemned marriage with a foreigner. Some Bible translations call the woman a Cushite, others Ethiopian and some even say Sudanese. What is clear is that the woman was a foreigner. Bible scholars are divided over whether she was of African decent, as names and geography have changed in meaning over the centuries. In the ancient world the whole of the southern world from Africa to India was denoted by the word Ethiopia (English travelers as late as the 17th Century still used the name in that sense). All this leaves the possibility but not confirmation that Moses wife could have been of African decent. 2.      They questioned Moses' authority over them, since Moses was the youngest of the three siblings. Yahweh had communicated with all three of them. Why then should Moses dominate the other two?  Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com

The First Step of Faith God is still speaking, and His people are already hearing His voice more often than they realize. The challenge is rarely whether God is speaking, but whether His people are listening and responding. Holy Spirit leads through Scripture, wise counsel, providential circumstances, spiritual gifts, and the inner witness that gently directs believers toward obedience. “God is still speaking and you are hearing him,” yet His guidance usually comes as a quiet nudge rather than a dramatic interruption. Learning to recognize that gentle leading is part of growing in spiritual maturity and walking closely with Christ. Faith often begins with incomplete instructions rather than complete explanations. Philip was called away from a thriving revival in Samaria and told only to travel to a lonely desert road. He received no detailed plan, no promise of results, and no explanation. He simply obeyed. “Incomplete directions require complete obedience.” As Philip responded to each step, God revealed the next one. Divine guidance unfolded progressively, reminding believers that “we don’t hear the next direction until we follow the first.” God prepares opportunities long before His servants recognize them. Philip did not create a divine appointment with the Ethiopian official. He arrived because he had faithfully followed Holy Spirit’s leading. Instead of announcing his own credentials, Philip approached with humility, asked questions, opened the Scriptures, and proclaimed Jesus. Holy Spirit continues to lead people to Scripture because Scripture leads people to Christ. Obedience to God’s voice shapes far more than a single moment. Philip’s willingness to surrender comfort led him into a lifetime of fruitful ministry and eventually established him in Caesarea, where his family became known for faithfully serving God. The journey rarely follows the path people would choose for themselves, but Holy Spirit faithfully leads those who trust Him one step at a time. Simple daily practices of seeking God, obeying His promptings, and reflecting each evening on where His voice was followed cultivate hearts that become increasingly sensitive to His leading. The post The First Step of Faith appeared first on Revival Life Church Boca Raton, FL.

Acts 8 begins with the day of Stephen's death:    Then  +   Now - What we learn All things - work together for good (God used the persecution for His purpose in spreading the Gospel) We read in Acts 8:1 that starting that day (of Stephen's death) a massive persecution broke out against the believers in Jerusalem and especially against those like Stephen, Greek speakers, who were not native to Jerusalem. And the believers (except the apostles) fled throughout Judea and Samaria and still they talked about Jesus everywhere they went. Gospel Peace - that the message of Jesus changes people and brings divine peace between us and God. Philip and the Samaritans Acts 8:5-8. Philip proclaimed the Messiah in Samaria and when people heard him and saw the signs he performed, that paid close attention to what he said as he proclaimed the risen Savior to them. Spirit Guided - As followers of Jesus we cannot believe in Him without the Holy Spirit. And we are called to listen to the Holy Spirit, go where the Holy Spirit leads, and to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Philip and the Ethiopian Acts 8:26-27a. Philip is told by the Holy Spirit to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. He simply obeys God. So from Samaria he heads to that road. Prophetic Word has power.  When we share with others, Jesus story,  that story has power! To change people, to change lives! Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch along the road. Acts 27a - 34.  This man worked for the Queen of the Ethiopians. The man was reading the Book of Isaiah while riding in his carriage on the way back to Ethiopia. Then the Holy Spirit told Philip to go to the carriage and stay near it.  He could hear the Ethiopian reading Isaiah.  Philip asks if the man understood what he was reading and is invited into the carriage to explain the verses. The verses were, verses 32-35: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."  These are verses all about Jesus' trial, crucifixion and death. And the man pleads with Philip to tell him who is being talked about. And Philip tells him all about Jesus the Messiah. Christ's witnesses - we are to be God's witnesses to the world as we fallow Him using the gifts He has given us.   Philip baptizes the Ethiopian Acts 8:36 -  40 we read that they came to some water and the Ethiopian says that nothing is standing in the way of him being baptized, because after hearing of Jesus, his life was changed. They stop the carriage and he is baptized. As they came up out of the water the Spirit suddenly took Philip away while the Ethiopian continued rejoicing in Jesus. Verse 40 tells us that Philip continued to preach the gospel in all the town along the way to Caesarea.    FLASHBACK to Acts 1:8 Jesus says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." We see Jesus' words being fulfilled in Philip's story.   We to can be part of that story! Our testimonies can have a ripple effect in spreading the Good News of Jesus.    Set aside excuses and recommit to the Lord Jesus and the Father. Listen to the Holy Spirit and allow God to do amazing things with our lives for His kingdom. Using us is just what He desires to do in winning the world to Himself!   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT:   Acts chapter 8-9 (read and reflect on these two chapters together).     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb bring their extended series on the parables of Matthew to a powerful climax with the passage most listeners have been waiting for: the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46). Far from a checklist of works required for salvation, this text is unpacked as the master parable of Christ's entire parabolic ministry — a sovereign declaration of divine election, not a merit-based audit of individual performance. Tony and Jesse explore why this passage has been chronically misread as a call to works righteousness, why the language of inheritance and predestination is front and center, and how a Reformed reading liberates rather than burdens the conscience. Along the way, they weigh in on Herman Bavinck's prescient warning about media distraction, and Jesse recommends a Puritan gem on anxiety worth picking up immediately. Key Takeaways The Sheep and Goats is best understood as a parable, or at minimum parable-adjacent. The Greek construction in verse 31 mirrors the same comparative language Christ uses throughout his parabolic ministry, placing this text firmly within that tradition rather than outside it. The kingdom was prepared before any works were done — this is election language. The phrase "inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (v. 34) is not a reward for performance; it is the language of sovereign predestination preceding all human action. The works of the sheep are diagnostic, not causative. What the righteous did reveals who they already were — sheep — rather than being the mechanism by which they became sheep. The beak doesn't make the bird. Both groups are surprised, and that surprise is the parabolic punchline. Neither the sheep nor the goats anticipated the verdict they received, which undermines any reading that frames this text as an encouragement to accumulate saving merit. This passage is a recapitulation of the wheat and tares parable. Sheep and goats co-mingled until the moment of final separation, just as wheat and tares grow together until the harvest — the judgment reveals what was always true. Any theology that requires a human contribution to activate or complete salvation misreads this text.Whether Roman Catholic, Arminian, or Mormon in flavor, every view that makes God's preparation of the kingdom contingent on foreseen human merit fundamentally inverts the logic of the passage. The scope of judgment — "all nations" (ta ethnos) — would have been scandalous to first-century Jewish ears. This language deliberately expands the kingdom beyond ethnic Israel, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant promise and confounding the assumptions of the religious elite. Key Concepts The Kingdom Prepared Before Your Works: Sovereign Election, Not Merit When the King says to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34), the theological weight of that single sentence is staggering. The kingdom was not prepared in response to anything the sheep did. It was prepared before time, before works, before choice — which means the works that follow in the passage cannot be the grounds of that inheritance. Only a Calvinistic understanding of election can sustain this logic without remainder. Arminian views require God to foresee a qualifying human response; Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox views require some degree of meritorious participation; even certain Lutheran frameworks lean on non-resistance to grace. Reformed theology alone places the entire cause within God's sovereign, unconditional decree — and this passage, read plainly, says exactly that. Works as Evidence, Not Ground: The Diagnostic Function of This Parable The great pastoral error in preaching this passage is treating it as a performance rubric — a list of charitable acts that, if completed, qualify a person for eternal life. But Christ does not separate the sheep from the goats because of what they did or failed to do. He separates them, and then describes the activity that characterized each group. The works are revelatory. They surface what was already true of each person's nature, just as a bird's beak reveals its species rather than constituting it. This reframing is liberating precisely because it means assurance does not rest on tallying acts of charity. It rests on the sovereign act of a Father who prepared a kingdom and the regenerating work of the Spirit who produces, in those He has claimed, a life that looks like the one described here. "All Nations": The Scandal of an Ethnically Inclusive Kingdom The Greek phrase ta ethnē — translated "all nations" in most English Bibles — would have landed very differently on first-century Jewish ears, particularly those of the Pharisees and Sadducees who comprised a significant portion of Christ's audience throughout Matthew 24–25. To them, ta ethnē meant the Gentiles, the peoples out there, those outside the covenant. The implicit effect of Christ's language is to place every people group — including Israel — within a single undifferentiated mass standing before his throne, with no ethnic group receiving preferential standing at the bar of judgment. This is entirely consistent with the Abrahamic promise of blessing to all families of the earth (Genesis 12:3), the vision of Psalm 2, and the missionary thrust of the Great Commission. The scandal is not incidental — it is the point. The kingdom Christ is ushering in is not the ethnic-nationalist kingdom the religious establishment expected. Memorable Quotes The kingdom of heaven was prepared for those whom Christ has elected before the foundation of the world, and it was the preparation of that kingdom that brought you through this such that you did the good works that you did... That is caused by the fact that God prepared a kingdom for you in advance, not that you somehow caused this kingdom to be prepared for you. - Tony It's not the beak that makes it the sparrow, it's the sparrow that makes it the kind of beak it is. That's the kind of classification we're talking about in this parable. - Tony The best freedom is the one that turns over all things to God and takes him at his word when he says, 'In love you were predestined to inherit this as sons and daughters of the kingdom,' so that he does all the work, because we do not want to have any of that work our own. - Jesse Full Transcript [00:01:11] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 498 of the Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse  [00:01:19] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony, and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brother.  [00:01:24] Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother. They said it couldn't be done. They said we couldn't come back. We wouldn't come back and continue in Matthew 25. But here we are, and we're ending this chapter in this whole section about sheep and goats. Everybody was clamoring for it. Everybody wanted to know, what about the sheep and the goats? And I think the last time we all chatted together, we prefaced it by saying it's parable adjacent. Or let's just say- Yes ... we just stacked up these three other parables, lots of things going on, and then Jesus resolves this or brings all these parables to a culmination by speaking about the end times, the end of all things, and the sheep and the goats. Yeah. And so we gotta go there  [00:02:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, I'm stoked.  [00:02:07] What Counts Parable [00:02:07] Tony Arsenal: And y- you know, I, I was talking with a brother at, um, at church yesterday on the Lord's day, and he was asking how the podcast's going and what we're doing. And, you know, I was kind of thinking, like, I was talking about the parables and how we're kind of moving forward, and we were gonna do some of the I am sayings in John. And, and I was thinking, like, what is a parable anyways? And who decides what a parable is and what a parable isn't? Right. Um, some of the parables Christ calls a parable, others he doesn't. Uh, we'll probably talk a little bit about that when we get to, uh, some of the back half of Luke. But this, this episode I think is gonna be really, really the payoff and really the culmination of not just these, like, this trio of or trilogy of parables that we've talked about, but I think really, like, the payout of all of the parables in Matthew. It's really, like, the summary of all of Christ's parabolic teachings. So it's, it's a good place for us to round out Matthew, and then we'll, we'll dip into the parables in the other gospels, probably have a couple more months of, of, uh, parable talk before we move on to the next thing. But, uh, it's been great, and I'm super, super stoked for this. This is one of my favorite passages, actually, and there's so much to dig into. I, I, I'm just gonna say now, we probably won't make it through the whole thing- Right ... uh, because there's a lot there. But we'll see. We'll see how we do. Maybe Jesse and I will be super efficient tonight, uh, but we usually aren't, so. [00:03:27] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's never happened. We, we take it low and slow. Not only that- ... it was reminding me as you spoke about that kind of proverb generally of if you wanna go build a wall, you assess what you need, how many stones, and then you go gather those stones. Yeah. You should double it, or if you're gonna go out and fight an army, take stock of that army. That's basically what we do, but in reverse. Anytime, like, you just... I just heard you say- ... like, "It'll probably take us a couple more months," you should double that. That's probably how long- Yeah ... it's actually gonna take us.  [00:03:50] Faith Works Assurance [00:03:50] Jesse Schwamb: Even in this- Yeah ... conversation, I think we're gonna get stuck in the best way possible speaking about things like faith, works, and assurance because there's a lot of language here- Yeah that could seem on the surface to sit in this tension with justification by faith alone. And I think the key to resolving all that tension, as I hopefully think we'll see, lies in the readings of works as the evidence of living faith rather than its ground, and I think that's what- Yes ... Christ is leading us through all of these parables, actually, whether it goes back. And you should listen to all those episodes. In fact, I gotta ask. Th- I mean, this brother you were talking to, it just strikes me as that question had already be answered for him if you were listening to the podcast. So-  [00:04:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I don't think he does. No, I don't think he does- ... listen to the podcast. Uh, he knows that I do the podcast, and he's very gracious to ask me about it. Tom. And I think he's probably listened to the podcast before. Got it. Um, and he's, he's just a very kind, gracious brother who, who is concerned and wants to know what I'm doing. And, um, he has, he has his own sort of, like, production stuff that he does that he enjoys that I'm, I'm not super keyed into. But, uh, it was just nice. But, but it did get me thinking, like, I was trying to explain to him where we were in the progress of the parables, and I was like, "I can't really... I don't really know," because, like, it's hard to even understand and fully... There's no, like, full comprehensive universal list of what is a parable- Right ... and what's not. And I think what we've found as we've been going through this is sometimes, sometimes you come up against a portion of a text that is often taught sort of separate from the, the rest of it. Parables get taught discreet from other parables. But then you have these sort of, like, intervening texts, or this one's kind of a summary text, that's so integrated to what the parable means you really can't do a series on these parables without also treating this text. Which is gonna be interesting, 'cause I've never, I've never encountered somebody who really roots this teaching here of Christ in the context of the parables, despite its proximity. So it'll be fun. We're gonna figure it out in real time, and, and it'll be good.  [00:05:47] Jesse Schwamb: No, it's gonna be fun.  [00:05:48] Deny Doomscrolling Bavinck [00:05:48] Jesse Schwamb: And speaking of fun, we're so glad that you're listening, and we know that you're waiting with bated breath to hear about affirmations or denials. It's of course that part of the conversation where we either affirm with something that we think is fantastic, maybe by way of recommendation, or conversely, we deny against something that isn't that great. So Tony, as is our custom in the liturgy of the Reformed Brotherhood podcast, I ask you once again, are you affirming with or deny against? [00:06:15] Tony Arsenal: I am denying against something, and I'm gonna do that by affirming a Herman Bavinck quote. Uh, so I'm gonna read it for you. This, uh... Some of the guys in the Facebook group have put... or the Facebook group, the Telegram chat, have put together a, uh, like, a reading group to work through Bavinck's, uh, Wonderful Works of God, which is great, and I'm loving it. I haven't been able to participate in the conversation as much as I would like to, but just being part of a reading group, uh, sort of keeps you on schedule, which is great. So I've been reading through Wonderful Works of God, and on the Kindle edition, on page 34, uh, which I think is still the, I think is still the, uh, introduction, he says, quote, "The reading of daily and weekly newspapers, of magazines and brochures, devours our every blink. There's a lack of desire and opportunity for the investigation of scripture and the study of old theological works," end quote. And when I read that, it just really struck me as like- If that was true like 70 years ago, 80 years ago when Bavinck was writing this, right? And all there was was hard, hard copy media. There was no, uh, there was no digital media. There was radio, but there wasn't a lot of programming. Uh, I don't think that there was much in the way of television broadcasting. If there was, it was, it was very, very limited and very rudimentary. Um, even then he was saying the daily news cycle and all of this extra stuff that is out there is consuming our, quote, "Every blink," which I thought was a really interesting phrase. Um, it's basically like it's so ingrained in us, we're so invested and obsessed with the news cycle. Uh, or you might translate that to like to our Twitter feed or our Facebook feed or our Instagram reels or whatever it might be, and dare I say it, the podcasts we listen to.  [00:08:05] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:08:05] Tony Arsenal: Um, that we don't save time for scripture and other theological works. And I think it's funny too is that the, the eternal, uh, the eternal contemporary statement of the Reformed world is like we don't read enough old theological works. Even Bavinck, who I'm reading as one of the old... I mean, not like super old, but like one of the old theological works, is saying, "Hey, we don't read enough old theological works." So I'm denying this sort of like obsession we have with the daily news cycle and with constantly being up to date and like constantly consuming all of that. Um, we've talked about how like our modern global news cycle sort of, uh, is built around the deception that we can be sort of pseudo omnipotent and know all things about everything. And, um- There's a lot of work that's been done to show that, like, the world's not really that much, not that much more of a violent place than it was 100 years ago. We just know a lot more about what's going on- Right ... in other parts of the world. And there's pros and cons to that. But I think the main con is, like, we, we feel suddenly that we have to be, you know, deeply involved in the goings on of a church on the other side of the country that we never would've even known existed otherwise. It- there's just a, there's a sense of omnipotence and omnipresence that's just not becoming for the creature that I think we try to take on. So Bavinck knew it. Uh, we've talked about it. Lots and lots of people have talked about it. This isn't new. I'm not, I'm not e- engineering anything new on this. But that quote really struck me when I was reading. I was like, "Dang, man, he, he got it right 100 years ago or, or 80 years ago, and we're still struggling with it." And I think probably, like, if you go back and you look at the, I don't know, more occasional writings of people like Martin Luther and John Calvin, um, as they're interacting with, like, people in the Reformed community or the Protestant community, I bet you would find statements like this too about how, like, we really spend a lot of time reading, like, silly things and not spending- Right our time studying the scripture or studying, um, theological works. So that's my denial. I'm sticking to it, and if that means you feel like you need to turn this podcast off and go read some John Calvin or some Herman Bavinck, then by all means. Uh, I think you're probably going to be edified by what we have to talk about. But, uh, th- the Bible's better, so if you gotta go do it, if you only got- That's true ... an hour today to study scripture or listen to this podcast, please go study scripture. Yeah. Uh, hopefully we can do a little bit of both with this podcast. But Herman Bavinck said it best. Our every blink is consumed with pamphlets and newspapers and it just is- It's true it's pretty silly.  [00:10:41] Jesse Schwamb: It's true.  [00:10:42] Meme Detour Reading Groups [00:10:42] Jesse Schwamb: I gotta take us all the way back to where you started there, and I'm going to betray, to nobody's surprise, my really strong naivete when it comes- ... to social media, and memes in particular. But this is what occurred to me, and I'm gonna try it. This is, like, what classically makes really good podcasting. Let me try to describe a meme to you that I'm not even sure I actually understand or know. So this will be great. I think, you tell me, Tony, 'cause you may have seen this. It's an old meme too, so I'm not even, like, on the cutting edge here. I think it's a meme of two panels showing, like, two pictures of Drake. In know one he's kinda, like, pushing away as if to say, like, "Get that outta here," and the other one's like, "Oh yeah, that's the stuff." Do you know what I'm talking about? Yeah. Is that accurate?  [00:11:21] Tony Arsenal: I do. I think you're gonna use it wrong, but yeah.  [00:11:23] Jesse Schwamb: Is that Drake? Okay, all  [00:11:24] Tony Arsenal: right. Yeah, that's, that's the meme.  [00:11:25] Jesse Schwamb: Okay, okay. And usually, if I understand it correctly, it's kind of like a faux juxtaposition of two things, right? Like, okay. So like here, let me try it. Uh, uh, let me just try it on everybody. Here we go. I'm gonna describe to you how I just interpret this based on what you said, 'cause something cracked me up that you said, Tony. If I were gonna make this meme just based on how you opened that up, the first panel would be like Drake pushing away the idea or being like, "That's no good," book club. The second one would be reading group, as in like, like the reading group is like the new cool way of like just kind of... Did I use it properly? Am I close?  [00:11:59] Tony Arsenal: I think the problem with this is that there's like a, there's like an ironic way to use it, and then there's like a more direct way to use it. Mm. Yeah. The direct way would be like some- like Drake's pushing away something that's bad, and he's- Yeah ... like accepting something that's good. That'd be like the direct way. Yes. The more ironic one is where like Drake is pushing away something that's actually pretty, actually pretty good, and he's- Yeah ... accepting the one that's pretty silly. Oh, okay. Um, there's a lot of memes that have that basic format. Never mind. There's one with like Jordi LaForge. I think there's a Michael Scott one. I tried. I tried. But yeah, no, I, I think yours is valid, it's just, I think it's an older usage of the meme. That's like the, that's like the middle English version of that meme. The Shakespearean use of that meme.  [00:12:36] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I'll take that. It's the old English style. I love a good book club or a reading group. A, a reading group just, it does have that sound like maybe somebody in the group has a monocle, or you guys have tea. Either way- Yeah ... I absolutely love it. And yes, what are our beautiful quotes. You kind of hear that general conception recapitulated among like theologians almost in every era. But it does make you think, what would Bavinck say about, like doom scrolling on the smartphone? Like- Yeah ... he's beside himself, right? It would just be beside himself. So I'm with you. I, it, there's gonna be a condemnation in every generation. Maybe I say this with some degree of like chronological snobbery, especially in ours, when it comes to not, like you said, I think kind of like not carving out or not prioritizing time in the scriptures. Yeah. There's not gonna be any excuse of like, "Well, I just didn't have time." Right. Or, "There were too many things to read." It's just, it's not gonna cut it. So I'm with you. I think you and I have talked about this at length, even just like the news media like you and I consume, like just s- set aside social media for a second. Just like how i- how much value is there in a lot of like what we cons- used to consider to be like well-informed reporting? How valuable is that to us? Yeah. And I'm certainly not saying like that everybody should be like unconcerned and uninterested in the world, but I think it's to what degree and what fascination we have with that, and how it fits into our priority as we consume information each day. That's the thing that's tricky, and there's no really-  [00:14:02] Tony Arsenal: Yeah ...  [00:14:02] Jesse Schwamb: good answer except to weigh out with the spiritual discernment- Yeah ... how we ought to consume that stuff. But certainly I think, without question, we need to be prioritizing time in prayer, time in the scriptures. I imagine if we were all doing that with a great deal of attention, that all of the other things would kind of find their way into the right place. Or let's say they would just find their way out of our lives in a significant way- Yeah ... that would remove us from distraction and anxiety, instead bring us back into the providence of God.  [00:14:31] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And I'm not, I'm not gonna be the guy that tells you you can never s- you can never scroll Instagram or TikTok or whatever. Um, I, I think that's a decision that's between you and the Holy Spirit as far as how you spend your time. But I, I do think, um, I think you're right- We are accountable for the decisions we make and how- Right ... we choose to divide up our time. And I- God, I mean, God is the inventor of fun. He's the inventor of leisure, and he is, uh, I think he's pleased and honored when we, we make good use of our time f- for things that are restful and rejuvenating. Um, he doesn't expect us to just slavishly read scripture all day, every day, like every minute. That's not, that's not the biblical expectation. Um, and so I think it's fine if you wanna sit down and watch a fun show, or if you wanna watch some YouTube videos, or listen to a silly podcast, or listen to a serious podcast. Um, but I do, I agree. Like, we, we really need to be thoughtful. And I think where, where Bavinck's quote, uh, is strong is it's not so much about, "Don't read these things." Right. He, he's talking about these things consume our every blink. Like, m- he's treating blink... He's using the word blink as sort of a fill-in for like our, our finite resource of time and attention, and these things have consumed all of them. There's a very strong use of that word consume. Uh, and I, I think that's really the, the point that I'm trying to make is we often allow, either intentionally or unintentionally, we, we just let our time get all sucked up, uh, on things that maybe are good but are not pr- properly proportioned. Um- Like I said, it's, it's fine to spend some time on Twitter and to get into a debate once in a while, or to check in on your friends on Facebook, your old high school, college buddies or whatever, but we can definitely take it too far. So I think it's a good corrective for all of us to at least make a stop and think about how we're spending our time, and whether we are affording the appropriate amount of time to things like scripture, theological study, catechesis of our children, um, family worship, all of those good things. So we don't have to go much more into that. I think the point has been made. Uh, so Jesse, what are you affirming and/or denying tonight?  [00:16:43] Affirm Puritan Anxiety Cure [00:16:43] Jesse Schwamb: Perfect segue, because speaking of reading old things, you know me, I've always got some kind of Puritan work in the rotation, and the one I just finished is the one I'm affirming, which is called Special Providence for Anxious Souls by Obadiah Sedgwick, who I think is kinda... Like, people are sleeping on Sedgwick, you know? Mm-hmm. He's, he's kinda like, he's there in the wings, but we need to take him off the bench. And I came across this book and I thought, "Who doesn't want a title like that in their lives?" Like, we got some anxiety in all of our souls. And I'm affirming this because, uh, hi- his definitions, his writing is, are on point. But here's what I thought. I was embarrassed that I picked this up expecting one thing, and then in typical puritanical fashion, was delivered something else that was far better. And I was thinking about this title as you might see it, like, in your modern bookstore today, whether it's, like, in Barnes & Nobles or at any of the periodicals we were just kind of mentioning or implying that are out there. And I was expecting to get some kind of, I don't know, six or seven things, I mean, that's Puritan style, but six or seven things that would really help you diagnose the psychology, and then going back to the scripture in ways, all, all the ways we'd expect about how God loves us and cares for us, and all those things are true. And yet the only way I could describe how this book ministered to me is, like, how you might go to a physical therapist for some kind of ailment, which I have many as I get older, and have recently been to one. And the ailment I had was, um, basically like tarsal tunnel, which is like carpal tunnel for your foot. And so there was some nerves that were inflamed and causing some pain and some weirdness in my feet. And here's what I do know about physical therapy now that I think the Puritans also do for our souls, and that is the physical therapist gave me this full workup. They prodded me and poked me and rubbed things and made things hurt- And in the course of doing that, they clearly could figure out what was wrong with my foot. And so when he gave me the diagnosis, after, again, rubbing that part and, like, doing one of those things where he's like, you know, they tap on your hard and they're like, "Does that hurt?" I'm like, "Yes, it does hurt." And I presume that's because you know anatomy. And, you know, he's, he's ta- tapping on my ankle and it's causing my foot underneath to hurt. And after all that, you know, I run on a treadmill. He d- takes all this video, and this is what he says to me. He goes, "Yeah, so this is actually pretty straightforward." And I was like, "Great, so what are we talking about? Like exercises, uh, splints, like massage?" He's like, "You have a weak butt." And I was like- "I'm sorry, let's talk about that for a second." And this is what I've learned about physical therapy, is it's rarely about the thing that's actually bothering you or the thing that's hurt, right? It's something- Yeah ... far different. It's something almost seemingly, like, disjointed or removed or divorced from the very thing, maybe even non-contiguous, if only in our minds, maybe even logically. And so what I love about this is the first half of the book is just speaking about the province of God before it even gets into this idea of anxiety. And then the treatment on anxiety and worry is, he goes through, like, six or seven things in particular, are just absolutely glorious. So good that I want you to read it. I don't even want to talk about it. Uh, that, that's my admonishment to you, is that you should just go pick it up. So I'm affirming again that the Puritans in particular do this thing where there's, there's no cheap advice here. It's not even hide advice. It's really good advice, but it's the kind that says, "You have a weak butt" when you're concerned that your ankle- is messed up. Yeah. And that's sometimes what you need to hear. And in my case, after... Let's make this super weirdly spiritual. After doing a bunch of squats, I don't know what the spiritual equivalent is of that. After doing a bunch of squats, my ankle and my foot was so much better. And it, because I had somebody who cared enough for me to go through and actually diagnose the root of it, that was the reason that inevitably there was healing. So I've, this has given me so much to think about, this tiny little treatise. So much to put into practice. It's so rich, so good, so practical, and yet I think you'll find in many ways joyfully unexpected. So I highly affirm to everybody listening, and even those who aren't, Special Providence for Anxious Souls, Obadiah Sedgwick. You'll, you'll love it  [00:20:49] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:20:49] Physical Therapy Spiritual Practice [00:20:49] Tony Arsenal: So two thoughts. Uh, one, uh, I can confirm Jesse has a weak butt, um, flat as a board. So it's probably, probably better after, after doing some squats. Wow. Uh, two- Wow. ... uh, I can say I also am in some physical therapy right now, and I've been a little bit of a slacker. And what I will contribute to the conversation is just like in physical therapy, they can give you all of the exercises- Yeah uh, that you want. If you don't do the work, you're not going to get better. Yeah. And so whether it's Jesse doing squats or me not finding time to stretch and to do some, like, arm exercises with a, with a s- uh, like a TheraBand, uh, the same holds true. And, and maybe to unify our, uh, affir- our denials/affirmations into one mega, mega recommendation, um, the same holds true in that, one, we can take a book like this from, uh, Sedgwick, and we can turn it into the same thing we do with media where we're just... it's just devouring our blinks. Right. And we're just using it as a way to sort of, like, feed our eye hole Get better. You won't improve. Um, and that's actually the same with scripture. Like y-you can- Right ... turn scripture into, uh, into a snack food that you, you don't actually use to be nutritious. Um, I think there's probably more benefit to reading scripture sort of rote and, and almost mechanically than there is to reading anything else. But, um, but at the end of the day, you can also consume your blinks with scripture and not get a lot out of it if all you're doing is passing your eyes over text. So get in there. I think that's great. I haven't read that one. I mean, I think there's... I think there are probably many, I can't think of one off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are many, many Puritan treaties that- treatises that are similar in theme and tone and have the same kind of like spiritual antidote or spiritual medicine, um, prescribed by these guys that is good and wholesome. And again, like, like you're saying, like it's not that complicated. It's not that hard. Right. It just takes- Right ... you just actually have to do the work. Um, it's funny, my physical therapy thing is my, my shoulder has been really ba- really messed up, and I went in, I expected him to give me all these, all these shoulder exercises, and he's like, "Uh Really what you need to do is you fix your neck, uh, 'cause your shoulder is, is being in- injured because you're sleeping- Okay on that side because you're trying to stay off the other side. So, like, you really gotta fix your neck so you can sleep on the other side of your body. And I was like, "So I'm just, like, sleeping wrong?" Like, it's funny, there's a joke, it's like in your 20s you can do anything you want, in your 30s, like, you gotta be a little bit careful, and in your 40s, like, you hurt yourself just sleeping. Right. Just getting out of bed is dangerous.  [00:23:46] Jesse Schwamb: It's  [00:23:46] Tony Arsenal: true.  [00:23:47] Jesse Schwamb: It's true. So. It's a tough world. But  [00:23:48] Tony Arsenal: it's true. I feel like a really old man saying that.  [00:23:51] Read Matthew 25 Aloud [00:23:51] Jesse Schwamb: You know, it strikes me that you're right, of course, that there's so much here we always have to put into practice. There's so much here that we have to trust with God. There's a faith that works. And so I think actually that is the most lovely inroad into this final passage of Matthew, because there's a lot here for us to talk about with all of those things, and to understand it in this proper context. So as you've already set us up, Tony, the best part of our podcast is the scripture, for sure, 100%. So let's go there. So we're in Matthew 25 in case you're just joining us. And for some reason I went into, like, a full radio mode, as if this, like, this is being broadcast live, and you just came into the program. We're in Matthew 25, uh, starting in verse 31, and I'm gonna read until the end of the chapter. There's so much here that of course we're not gonna get to all of it, but in the spirit of literally having the full context of the scripture in front of us, and to hear it all, I think it's important. It w- b- better yet, you should go back and read the entire chapter and then tune in right now. But let me start at verse 31. "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me in, naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me.  [00:25:32] Judgment Scene Read [00:25:32] Jesse Schwamb: I was in prison, and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? And when did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?" And the King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me." Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angers-- angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me." Then they will themselves also answer saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?" Then he will answer them saying, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me." And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life  [00:26:47] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:26:49] Parable Not Fear [00:26:49] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, it's, it's, um, it's a sobering passage. And just as I think we've seen in a lot of the other parables, um These eschatological parables and these eschatological sayings of Christ, uh, as you kind of alluded to earlier, I, I think they are really, really, um... They are not prone to being misinterpreted. Right. The church has been prone to misinterpreting and misapplying these, um, in a, in a way that's used to make, make the Christian fearful and to, uh, undermine their assurance rather than to call them to action or to accountability.  [00:27:33] Why It's A Parable [00:27:33] Tony Arsenal: Um, and I think a- as I've been reading through this and I've been sort of glancing at the Greek as we're reading, I actually think I'm on... I, I stumbled on much more better ground to treat this as a parable than I even originally thought I did. You know, I, I had this whole lead-up that this isn't technically a parable, but when you read here, when it says, in verse 31, it says, "When the Son of Man comes in glory and the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates- Right ... the sheep from the goats." If you go back to verse 14, when it says, "For it will be like a man," uh, that, that first word of verse 14 in the Greek is the same word as is used when it says, um, uh, "He separates people one from another as a shepherd." That same word is used as there, it's just translated differently because of where it comes in the, um, in the text. So Christ is still making this comparison, so it would be as though he said, um, you know, like the common, most common, at least so far, most common kind of parabolic introduction is like, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like." Um, this is the same basic language he's using here to introduce what the eschaton will be like. Right? The ga- the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them. It says people in the ESV, but will separate them one from another. You could also say the, the nations or the peoples will be gathered before him. Right. He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep. So the parable here is the s- the shepherd separating the sheep from the goats, this whole process of the separation and this, this, um, frankly, like it's, it feels and smells like a parable, right? It does. This, this, um, figure, this shepherd in the parable or the shepherd in the saying is saying these sort of like parabolic statements. He's using this language that's kind of like shocking punchline statement. Like we've talked about how in parables there's often this sort of unexpected turn of events, or there's this unexpected kind of shocking language, and this whole like twist at the end in both, sort of both s- chunks here, where like the sheep don't really understand, like they didn't really recognize that they were doing sheepy things, and the goats didn't really understand that they were being goats. That's like the parabolic twist or the parabolic punchline here. So the, the kingdom of heaven is like, basically it's like the Son of Man will come in his glory and it will be like this. It will be like a shepherd separating the sheep from the goats. That's the parabolic connection here. Mm-hmm. So I actually think that, that linguistically we're on, we're on pretty solid ground not just to treat this as a summary of all the parables, um- I think of for sure these three parables, but it, it really is like the master parable, and I think probably the master parable that kinda governs and constrains and explains all of the parabolic ministry of Christ. So I'm, I'm stoked for us to really dig into the details a little bit, but I think linguistically we're on super good ground to, to treat this as a parable. I agree. At the very least, it's stronger than just parable adjacent.  [00:30:44] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:30:44] Tony Arsenal: It- but even if we aren't saying it's a parable proper, it's stronger than that. It still is using this kinda comparative ministry, comparative language that Christ has used throughout the parabolic, um, sayings of Christ.  [00:30:57] Jesse Schwamb: The construction seems a little bit less veiled because here we have Jesus implanting himself directly into the account.  [00:31:03] Tony Arsenal: Mm-hmm.  [00:31:04] Shepherd Imagery Stakes [00:31:04] Jesse Schwamb: At the same time, though, he's drawing on all the things you just said he does, especially with this allusion to shepherding, which would've been, of course, common throughout. So it seems to me a lovely bridge to all of the overt parables he's just told, but now he's bringing them all together and placing himself clearly as, like, the interpreter, as the identifier of all the things, as the one to seal up all of the edges, as it were. So it's clear that this is about the end times. All of these were all about the end times and about Jesus' role in them. And so of course here he identifies himself as the eschatological judge just to make it clear. He's the one who sits on his glorious throne, and that's significant, and that's why I think we sometimes feel like, well, this is not a parable because he's, he's being very, like, Christologically certain and direct here. You know, throughout scripture the final judgment is God's prerogative alone, but the Father has committed all that judgment to the Son, and here's Jesus affirming that. And so again, like Reformed theology, in all our conversations we've consistently emphasized that this text is in many ways, like, proof of Christ's full deity and his role as mediatorial king, and he's exercising his office as the judge at his return in glory. And though, like you said, at the same time, here's the cool parable kind of scent or flavor is you get all these nations, every person who has ever lived, not merely Israel or merely the church. And how does Jesus describe this? He goes back into parabolic language. And we got the shepherd imagery that- Yeah is, like, similar to Ezekiel 34 where God himself is judging between the sheep of his flock. And that separation, the shockingness of it, it's immediate, it's binary. There's no third category. There's only two eternal destinies. There's no purgatory, no middle ground, no post-mortem opportunity for repentance. So all that's at stake. And then again, the beauty of the language itself or the setup of the construction of the story as it unfolds is that both groups- Get the same speech with a change in do or do not, but they both ask the same question from, like, wildly different perspectives and standings. And that's the beautiful- Yeah thing to make reconciliation over is what does all this mean then? How is all this established and how is this final judgment come to be such that there are sheep and goats if, in fact, they're both doing the same things theoretically, or they're at least both asking the same questions of, well, when did this ever actually occur? That, that's what's for us to unpack either way.  [00:33:29] All Nations Gathered [00:33:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and b- before we jump into, um, into the parable itself and start to unpack that, the other element that I think is worth, uh, and this just came to me so hopefully I'm not on too far of a, of a limb here. But the other element that I think is worth at least commenting on, um, we've, we've remarked, especially in these last three eschatological, um, parables, how much these are directed at the religious leaders, right? Right. The, the, the people are, um, the, the- the parables are told, um, in the context and sort of following up on these, this real directed, um, assault against the religious leaders who thought they were the ones, right? They're the ones that have a claim to the Kingdom of Heaven, they're the ones that, um, are the, you know, they're the ones that think they're doing the right thing, they're the ones that are ushering in God's kingdom. This little phrase here, "gathered all the nations," would also have really stuck in the craw of the religious leaders, right? Because the word for nations that's translated here is the same word that would el- elsewhere get translated as Gentiles, right? And the word people, when it says, "He will separate the people," that, that word people doesn't actually exist in the Greek. So if you translate this very literally, it'd say, "Before him will, will be gathered all nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." Now, I don't wanna go the route of saying, like, this is a parable about, like, which pe- people group will be brought into the kingdom and which won't, and I've read some that go that direction. I don't wanna go there. But this idea that, like, even in the final judgment, the people who are in view here are the Gentiles, right? Right. I think most Jewish, particularly the, the Pharisees and the Sadducees hearing this, would've, would've read this and would've read ta ethnos, and would not have thought nations the way we do. Certainly would not have thought of, like, modern nation states. They might have been thinking maybe, like, people groups in general, but they would be thinking more along the lines of, like, Psalm, Psalm 2, like, "Why do the nations rage?" kind of nations. Why do the Gentiles rage? Why do the peoples plot in vain? They would've been thinking th- this, this, uh, judgment almost, at least on the face of it, almost excludes the Jews entirely when you think about it this way. It's really now sort of, like, zooming out where at the very least, at the minimal least, the Jews are just another people group within this broader judgment of the people group. Right. So again, like, we've seen this theme that Christ is continually expanding the scope of what is considered to be the Kingdom of Heaven to include not just the Jewish people, um, but all nations, all people groups, all Gentiles and Jews alike. And in a very real sense, um, and I wanna be careful how I've said this, I know I've commented this in the past, there's a very real sense of anti-Semitism that is prominent in- reform, quote-unquote reformed circles right now that is just vile and disgusting and sinful, and has no place in any sort of Biblical Christianity. But there is a reality that the Jewish people, broadly speaking, um, rejected the Messiah, at least while he was here on Earth. Um, relatively speaking, very few Jewish people, especially in the Jewish elite, like the leadership class, accepted Christ for who he was while he was here. Many Jews came to faith through the ministry of Peter, uh, and, and even through the ministry of Paul, even though he was an apostle to the Gentiles. So it's not as though it remained the case, but at this point in Christ's ministry, the Jewish people were by and large were rejecting him as Messiah. And so this idea and, and sort of this like final culmination now saying like he gathered all the, all the Gentiles, all of the peoples, all of the nations. In Jewish, in Jewish language and, and when you look in the Old Testament, and even in some of the New Testament literature, the nations were those people out there. So even if we don't translate this as Gentiles, we don't, we don't take that more like restrictive sense, even then it still implies that Christ is talking about people out there, the non-Jewish nations- Right are being gathered before his throne. And so that's not to say, absolutely not to say that the Jewish people, that, that the Jewish people of his day or the, the... This is where it gets tricky too, 'cause like we think about modern Israel and we, we import our understandings of like nation states. That's not what was in view here. The, the idea of a modern nation state was not a concept that existed in the first century. Um, you might have something like city states, but even that is kind of like a little bit ethereal. The idea here is that all people groups, and maybe, maybe we conceptualize Israel now as one of these people groups, the Israeli Jewish people as one of these people groups. All of those people groups, Jews, Gentiles, Scythians, Athenians, Spartans, like, uh, Ethiopians, you know, all of these different people- Right ... groups that are mentioned in the, the New Testament, all of those peoples, all of those nations are gathered before the throne, and then he will separate them one from another in the same way that a shepherd sep- separates the goats. [00:38:35] Group Judgment Assurance [00:38:35] Tony Arsenal: And yes, I think there is an individualistic, um, judgment element, and this is where I think, um... And, and then I'll, I'll pause for a second. This is where I think we can go wrong reading this as a parable about the individual judgment of individuals in the future That's not really what the language here is supporting. This is supporting sort of a broader group-based judgment, and the grouping is there are those who are sheep and there are those who are goats. But it doesn't appear as though Christ is saying like, "I'm evaluating each individual person, and this person is a sheep, this person is a goat." It's, it's a broader picture that, yes, has some implications for individual personal judgment, but when we read too much of that individual personal judgment into this parable that doesn't seem to be there, that's where we start to, like, rob individual Christians of their assurance. We start to say, like, "Did you do enough? Did you feed enough poor people or did you not?" That's not really, not really what's at stake here, I don't think.  [00:39:40] Jesse Schwamb: No, it's definitely not. It's, it's important to remember just the beauty of, like, the consistent theological thread that runs all the way through the Old Testament, and then that we might expect, of course, to be manifest in Christ's teachings, which happen exactly here. So he is going all the way back to that covenantal promise seed through Abraham, single seed, many people groups, many ethnicities. In this way, the gospel is ethnic inclusive. And so it is, why wouldn't he say that in this way to express that this is exactly from all time what God wanted to do is gather all people groups to himself? Which means then by the time we get to the end of this chapter in verse 46, and there is this righteousness that... or the righteous that lead or go into eternal life, then of course we're led to believe here either directly or implicitly that that means that there would be some for whom the Pharisees would find it's, like, anathema to receive that kind of righteousness and eternal life are the ones in fact who are getting it. And so even that is scandalous. So the, the whole thing is very much a setup, and I think it's the confusion again of this is Jesus saying again to the Sadducees, like, "You are confused. You do not know the power of God. You, you search for it everywhere else but do not find it in front of you. It, it's he who speak to you. I am he. You think you search the scriptures, but you do not know." Everywhere it feels like he's saying that, and here also he's saying that again, but it's in the setup. And I'm with you. I think that there would've been a lot here that would've, like, just come right off his lips that would've been like, "Say what?" Uh, that would've been, like, offensive right off- Yeah ... the top.  [00:41:16] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:41:17] Sovereign Separation [00:41:17] Tony Arsenal: And the other, the other theme that plays out really loud and clear here, um, as we start to dig into this is, um, there's a sovereignty to this separation that is baked into, um, the king's right to decide who to keep and who to cast away. Right. So I think we, we, um, understandably read into this an assessment of the productivity or the profitability or somehow the, like, merit or worth of the sheep as contrasted to the worth of the goats. Um, and we read into it like the sheep have utility and the goats don't, so the goats get cast into the- Right outer darkness. That's not really, that's not really what's going on here, right? In a, in an agrarian society, like sheep and goats both have utility. It's not as though, like, sheep are worthless and goats aren't. There's a reason people have goats. Um, th- the, the issue here is that the king has decided that there are those on his right and there are those on his left, and the ones on his right he's gonna keep, and the ones on his left he's gonna cast away. And, and so, um, there's this sovereign election and determination that precedes the rest of this, right? It's not as though he's ... And this is where the personal, sort of personal assessment part comes in. He doesn't look at a person and go, "All right, you did a g- enough good works to qualify as a sheep, so you go ahead and go over-" Right and be a sheep. And you didn't do quite enough, so you're actually a goat, so you go over and you be a goat." He looks at, he says, "Y- sheep, goat. Goat, sheep." You know, he, he's separating them out, and then he describes what sheep do versus what goats do. And I, I, like I'm even drawing some of this language out. The sheep goats part of this is actually only, like, a verse and a half. He then flips out of this parabolic language to now go back to the sort of strictly predictive eschatological ex- like explanatory language. So this is what it's like when the Son of Man is on, on his kingdom. He separates sheep and goats. We read into, and maybe with some good reason, but we read into Uh, we read into the fact that the sheeps go to one side, the goats go to another. Then we sort of like attribute the characteristics of those who go to his right to sheep, and we attribute the characteristics... And I think we do this the wrong way. How many sermons have you heard where the whole sermon is about how sheep are obedient, and they're, they're affable, and they listen, and they, they, they are sweet and kind, and goats are stubborn, and they, they just wreck everything, and they don't listen, right? And how many s- how many sermons have you heard where they talk about, like, well, sheep and goats really look the same in the Middle Eastern context, and the only way you can tell them apart is what, by what they do? I think there's probably some, uh, benefit to thinking through those elements, but Christ does not make that point in this parable- Mm ... at least not directly, right? He said, "This is the activity. Imagine a man who has sheep and he has goats. He takes the sheep, he puts them on one side. He takes the goats on another side." That's what the separation at the end of the time, at the end of time will be like. Then he goes straight back out of the parable language into saying, "This is how the king will actually make the distinction.  [00:44:29] Predestination Before Works [00:44:29] Tony Arsenal: The ones on his left, or on his right, he will say, 'Come, you're blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'" Right? This is predestination language, not eschatological judgment language. The sheep were guaranteed a kingdom from before the foundation of the world. Before they did anything bad or didn't do anything good, they were guaranteed a kingdom from before the foundation of the world. Then he says, he explains to them, like the context that, as you said before, that reveals that they were sheep all along. [00:45:02] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:45:02] Tony Arsenal: It shows them that they were already... Man, I just, just made this connection in my head. This is the parable of the wheat and of the tares- Yep ... coming to fruition- Exactly ... at the end of time. Right. Right? The sheep and the goats were allowed to mingle until the time came when they would be separated, just as the wheat and the tares were allowed to grow up until the time when they would be reaped and separated. This is what's going on. The sheep did things that sheep do. Those on the right did the things that the people on the right would do because they were part of God's blessed kingdom all along.  [00:45:34] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:45:35] Tony Arsenal: And then he goes on to explain what the people on the left did not do, not because now they've been put on the left because they didn't do it, but they were shown to have always been a part of that, part of that population. They were always goats because of these things. This shows that they were goats all along, and they did these things or failed to do these things because they were goats all along.  [00:45:58] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:45:59] Works Righteousness Trap [00:45:59] Jesse Schwamb: Let me read another verse. "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children and also our brethren to believe in Christ and to be reconciled to God. For we know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do." My guess is everybody was with me- ... sounded kind of okay until that last part. And if you had that, like, as we say, like, that theological muscle memory that just made you flex or bristle there, or you had the Spidey Sense, as you say, Tony, good, because that's from 2 Nephi 25:23 from the Book of Mormon. And here's what I wanna say that's shocking, is if we read this passage of scripture that we're talking about as if there's something there that we need to do that proves that we've done enough and that somehow God will be pleased with that, even at the end of time in some small way, some modicum, then we're actually acting way more like Mormons than we are like Christians. That's just the bottom line. Yeah. Because Mormons, if you ask about this verse, rather than try to qualify that last statement by saying, "Well, that's misunderstood," or, "It's really not after all you can do," because of course it begs the question how do you know that you've done enough? How you don't- you've done all the things and that you're, you're exhausted. Their explanation of this is to double down on it and say, "Well, the context of that verse is following verse 23 actually does emphasize salvation only coming through Christ, but it also encourages continued observance of the law of Moses in order to be reconciled to God." Because that's all they could do until Christ fulfilled the law through his atonement. Even that is nonsense. So all of this to say, we have to be careful with this because I, I think you're right. We're aligning, we're running right up on this, and that is I would submit to you that we just get distracted because we always, of course, want to bring something to the party here. The, the salvation cake. We wanna, I don't know, we wanna make it, we wanna do. But God is doing all the things on our behalf. And so as a result of that, I think this parable is actually, it's about the divine prerogative and the agency of Christ in judgment at the end which belongs to him and him alone, and not about these actions. But we get caught up in the actions and we're missing this thri- divine prerogative. I also think that Christ gives this to us to reverse it on us and to show us that he sets about all things. It is in fact his foreordination and his providence. By grace we have been saved through faith, and that in providence being predestined is an act of his great love. And so this shows the extent of that love because those whom he has chosen himself are asking in disbelief as if to say, "When did I do the good works that you required?" And he said, "Well, you didn't because you could never do them apart from me."  [00:48:38] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:48:38] Jesse Schwamb: And so really that's the whole point. It's just so easy for us to get it twisted and say, "Well, doesn't it make sense that there are two groups?" Well, certainly there are in this passage. And doesn't it make good sense that because he said they did things or they didn't do things, then I just need to be about doing those things. And I think that is unfortunately the adventure in missing the point in this passage.  [00:48:58] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, I, I agree 100%. And it's funny 'cause you were reading that and I was like What translation of J- of First John is it? It sound, I mean, it sounds like, it sounds like something you'd read in First John It sounds okay  [00:49:09] Jesse Schwamb: until  [00:49:10] Tony Arsenal: the end. Yeah. No, I mean, like, it literally sounds like First John until- Yeah ... you get to that last part.  [00:49:14] Jesse Schwamb: Yes.  [00:49:15] Tony Arsenal: And, and I think you're right that, um, we'll, we'll explore this more next week, but what has always struck me about this passage is that the, the p- the, the people on His right, I've gotta stop saying sheep, because that's... I just made the point that that's not really what's going on. The people on His right who are called into the kingdom because it was prepared for them before the foundation, because they were elected unto that kingdom. The people on His right, they're surprised at the fact that they did these things. And it, I, I think the works righteousness way of reading this is like, "You better earn your salvation. You better get at it because if you haven't fed Jesus in disguise, then you just aren't gonna make it. At the end of the day- Mm ... He's gonna say, 'I never knew you.'" And it, whether intentionally or unintentionally, sometimes I think intentionally, it implies that we, uh, that Jesus comes to know us because we've done good works, right? When we say, "If you don't do these things, then Jesus will say, 'I never knew you,'" then what you're saying is Jesus doesn't know you apart from your good works. Right. And what the Bible says, what this passage says, just right on the face of it, is that the Kingdom of Heaven was prepared for those whom Christ has elected before the foundation of the world, or who the Father has elected, who are blessed by the Father before the foundation of the world. Now, obviously the Father had to know those people in some sense-  [00:50:43] Jesse Schwamb: That's  [00:50:43] Tony Arsenal: right ... before the foundation of the world in order for them to be blessed by Him and for Him to prepare a kingdom. So then to come back to the end of it and say, "Well, there are some of those, uh, who the Father never knew because they didn't do enough work," well, the problem is that those who did the good work, the Father knew before they did the good works. They didn't merit the good works. I mean- Right ... it's funny you, you bring up the, the Mormons, and that's certainly true, but, like, you could substitute in, at least on this regard, right? There are meaningful, important differences between the groups I'm about to say and Mormons, that would be the dividing line between those who are possibly saved and those who are y- definitely not saved, right? You could substitute Arminians, who wanna say God looks down the corridor of time, and the reason He prepared a kingdom in advance for them from the foundation of the world is 'cause He saw that they would do these things that would merit salvation, or He saw that they would make the proper decision to receive His grace, right? Or Roman Catholics or Eastern Orthodoxes in a different sense, but similarly who would say like, "Well, yeah, God knows in advance that you're gonna merit salvation, so He prepared- Right ... this kingdom anticipating your merit that you would contribute or your participation or, or whatever." I think in a certain sense, um, you could even apply this to some Lutheran theology, right? Which would say, like, "Well, God prepared this kingdom for you from the foundation of the world because he looked down the corridor of time and he understood that you were not going to resist the grace he gave," right? You were not gonna reject his grace. Um, it really truly only is Reformed theology that can say, "No, God prepared this kingdom in advance for you, and it was the preparation of that kingdom that brought you through this such that you did the good works that you did, such that you made the wise decision to follow Christ that you did. That is caused by the fact that God prepared a kingdom for you in advance, not that you somehow caused this kingdom to be prepared for you." A- and aga- again, again, like, this is dicey. It gets into, like, logical ordering, but fundamentally, a- as far as I can understand it, every competing view besides sort of a Calvinistic understanding of predestination election has to say that in some sense God prepares the kingdom for you as a response to something you have done, or chose- Right to do or chose not to do. The reality is that this passage is saying, "No To those who are on the right. He didn't separate them based on the fact that they did these things. He just said, "You are on the right, and now to those who are on the right, I say to you, come into the kingdom that is blessed. You're blessed by my Father. Come into this kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world." So I think, you know, we're c

Stay Connected with Strange Inc: https://sendfox.com/StrangeincorporatedJoin our Muslim Creative Community: https://strangeincorporated.org/creativecommunity/Makeda Yasenlul is an Ethiopian-born mother, author, and entrepreneur who blends strategic storytelling with Islamic principles to help women—particularly Muslim women and single mothers—heal and rebuild their lives after divorce. After navigating her own deeply transformative divorce, she channeled her resilience into her debut book, Bigger Than Divorce: A Muslim Woman's Path to Healing and Purpose, which utilizes the wisdom of the Quran and Sunnah to guide women beyond heartbreak toward a life of self-worth and purpose. Today, she works as a book coach and consultant to help professional women turn their own lived experiences into impactful books, brands, and purpose-driven businesses. You can connect with her, explore her coaching, or buy her book directly on her Official Website: https://makedayasenlul.comReach out via her Contact Page: https://makedayasenlul.com/contactRead her articles on Medium: https://medium.com/@MakedaY/beyond-the-shame-navigating-divorce-through-the-lens-of-history-183cfd9d7af5or purchase her book through major retailers like Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4Q1RXSX?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Le Négus de Nevers: The Sweet Born From a Press Error in 1902 | Food Tour de FranceLe Négus de Nevers — the soft chocolate-scented caramel enclosed in a hard caramel shell that has been made in Nevers since 1902 — is one of the most charming and most improbable origin stories in the whole of French confectionery. Today's Food Tour de France episode finishes in Nevers — the capital of the Nièvre department, a handsome city on the Loire — and tells the full story of a sweet born from a press error. In July 1902 a celebrated Ethiopian military leader called Ras Mekonnen visited France. The French press covered the visit enthusiastically — and some of those journalists, in their excitement, got the title wrong. They called him the negus — the title of the sovereign of Ethiopia, held at the time by Menelik II, who was Mekonnen's cousin and who never came to France at all. A confectionery in Nevers called Maison Grelier read the papers, created a sweet in honour of the visit and named it after the mistaken title. The négus. And the sweet has been made in Nevers under that name for over a hundred and twenty years.The episode covers the full story of the négus — from the Maison Grelier tradition of creating a new sweet named after a significant event each year, through the commercial success that caused the confectionery to rename itself Au Négus, to the four generations of the Hiriart family who ran it from 1909 until 2013 when it was sold to the Ménard chocolate company. We cover what the négus actually is — a soft chocolate-scented caramel inside a shell of hard caramel, presented in a round iron tin with golden writing on a green background — and its coffee-scented alter ego the Abyssin, named for Abyssinia, the historical name for Ethiopia, which gives the whole naming structure of the Maison Au Négus range a gentle century-old nod to the East African connection that inspired the original creation. And we sit the négus alongside the great tradition of French regional confections — the bouchon bordelais, the Vichy pastille, the nougatine de Nevers — that are specific to a place and synonymous with it.The Food Tour de France is a daily series running alongside the 2026 Tour de France on Fabulously Delicious — one episode for every stage start and finish. The négus episode connects directly to tomorrow's nougatine de Nevers episode — Nevers gets two consecutive episodes in this series, making it the most confectionery-rich city in the entire Food Tour de France. Two sweets. Two extraordinary stories. One city on the Loire. Search Fabulously Delicious on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for the full series.As Fabulously Delicious steps into its sixth year, one thing is clearer than ever: five years of French food culture has taught Andrew that the subject is genuinely inexhaustible. My book Paris: A Fabulous Food Guide to the World's Most Delicious City is your ultimate companion. This is a new 2026 update for the book and you'll find hand-picked recommendations for the best boulangeries, patisseries, wine bars, cafés, and restaurants that truly capture the flavor of Paris. You can order it online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠andrewpriorfabulously.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can help keep the show thriving by becoming a paid subscriber on substack where you'll also get fabulous extra content. Every contribution makes a huge difference. Join here at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merci beaucoup!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#FrenchFoodPodcast #FabulouslyDelicious #foodpodcast #LaNégusNevers #FrenchConfectionery #FoodTourDeFrance #TourDeFrance2026 #NeversFood

Dora (Milaje) The Explorer Marvel Animation resurrects Black Panther for the 2025 Disney+ anthology series Eyes of Wakanda. Join Arnie, Stuart, and Justin as they follow an elite squadron of “War Dogs” over the centuries and see the sacrifices made to recover stolen artifacts from a pillaged Ethiopian city, a snowy Chinese temple, and even the Trojan War. Are there times when the isolationist African nation of Wakanda might benefit from burying the hatchet and sharing its advanced tech with the outside world?  Listen Now to learn a history the colonizers never taught you!

Pastor Erina kicks off Pride Month by queering the story of the Ethiopian eunuch, and affirming God's radical welcome for those who disrupt binaries and social conventions. How might we continue to hold onto the radical legacy of queer, trans, and nonbinary ancestors who sought God even when it seemed impossible?Sermon audio from Bethel Community, a PC(USA) church in San Leandro, CA.For more, visit www.bethel-community.org

Acts 8:26-40 - Philip and the Ethiopian 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,     and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,     so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.     Who can speak of his descendants?     For his life was taken from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

This week on JT's Mix Tape #88, the crew responds to the growing controversy surrounding the Book of Enoch after comments made by Wes Huff about a viral clip discussing Enoch, the Ethiopian canon, and the early Church Fathers.We dive into: • Why Jude quotes Enoch • What Tertullian actually wrote • The Ethiopian canon • Sola Scriptura • Fair use and content creation • Ancient giants • Dead Sea Scrolls • Modern art and the CIA • Hidden steamboats beneath Kansas • The strange Nuremberg sky battle • Conspiracy culture vs legitimate research • Why humility matters when studying history Whether you agree or disagree, our goal is to encourage thoughtful discussion while pointing people back toward Christ.

“When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.” John and Brandon study Acts 8:25–40, the Ethiopian eunuch, and what Philip's strange encounter reveals about Spirit-led mission, baptism, and letting go of control in discipleship.

n this week's message, Pastor Jeanette teaches from Acts 8:26–40, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. This powerful passage reminds us that God pursues every person, removes every barrier through Jesus Christ, and calls all people home. Through this story, we see God's heart for redemption. The Ethiopian eunuch was a person of influence, dignity, and deep spiritual hunger, yet he was also someone who had been kept at a distance. But on a desert road, God sent Philip to walk alongside him, open the Scriptures, point him to Jesus, and welcome him through baptism. The result was joy, belonging, and a witness sent home to the nations. As part of our Summer Reading series, this message invites us to see redemption not just as an idea, but as God's active pursuit of people. God is still at work beyond our familiar circles, still preparing hearts, and still sending ordinary believers to share the good news of Jesus with humility, courage, and love. Scripture: Acts 8:26–40 Speaker: Pastor Jeanette Message Title: God Calls All People Home Date: July 12, 2026 Grace Chapel is a non-denominational Christian church in the Greater Boston area. Learn more at grace.org. #GraceChapel #PastorJeanette #Acts8 #PhilipAndTheEthiopianEunuch #ChristianSermon #OnlineWorship #Jesus #Redemption #Faith #BibleTeaching

Episode 4180 │ July 12, 2026 You know it's a calling when the math doesn't math but the Kingdom math is always positive — and you can't imagine doing anything else. WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS  Scott Kesterson and Don Cox — founder of Bald Guy Brew in Boone, North Carolina, missionary, hand-roaster, and one of the most honest small business voices in the BardsFM orbit — sit down for the first time in weeks and find the same thread running through everything: the supply chain squeeze hitting specialty coffee from Ethiopia to Charleston to the Appalachian mountains is not random, the Freedom Gas stations in New Jersey are not generosity, and the corporate rot that produces someone buying moldy warehouse coffee and selling it as a finished product is the same moral collapse that turned the 250th anniversary into an ego showcase instead of a covenant renewal. The conversation moves from the Boston Tea Party as a $1.8 million act of ideological defiance against the East India Company's monopoly, to British FIFA travelers falling in love with southern small towns and reminding Americans what they are walking past every day, to the customer review Don read aloud — your employees look people in the eye and hold real conversations, something most people their age can't do, and you do it because you serve a King. The episode closes on the same John 6 thread running through the week's Vincit episodes — the boy's lunch, Andrew's math, Jesus's math, and what it means to give what you have to the One whose math runs differently than ours. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  What does the global supply chain doing to specialty coffee — Ethiopian beans stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, freight costs doubling, mold being sold as a finished product — reveal about the coordinated squeeze on small independent businesses that Don Cox says is unlike anything he has seen in 21 years? Why does Scott argue that the 250th anniversary was intentionally fragmented — and what does the Declaration of Independence's explicit language granting Americans not just the right but the duty to throw off any government that violates God-given rights have to do with why its full celebration was replaced with MMA fights and presidential speeches? What is the difference between a passion and a calling — and why does Don Cox say the litmus test is simple: can you imagine yourself not doing it, even when you hit the wall, because if you cannot, that is the thing God put you here to do? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Spatial Terra Intelligence Methodology (STIM v5) — the analytical framework built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. BardsFM's archive includes hundreds of episodes on prayer, scripture, and walking the Way of Christ — available free in the full episode catalog. AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Bethelhem Dejene to discuss her journey from observing waste at an Ethiopian fruit and vegetable market to founding Zafree Papers, an award-winning startup manufacturing tree-free virgin pulp from banana farm waste. Bethelhem shares how she iterated through multiple business models before discovering the potential of banana fiber, how Zafree partners with converters to supply sustainable packaging materials, and what it meant to become the first African company to win the Sustainable Packaging Summit Innovation Challenge.Key Topics Discussed:Bethelhem's origin story and how a visit to a fruit and vegetable market sparked a waste management businessThe evolution from paper recycling to manufacturing virgin pulp from banana farm wasteHow Zafree sources banana stems and leaves after harvest and extracts fiber to produce pulpThe types of packaging products the pulp can be converted into, including corrugated, folding carton, duplex, and molded packagingZafree's partnership model with converters and customers such as AB InBevWinning two awards at the Sustainable Packaging Summit Innovation Challenge as the first African company to compete at that levelPlans to have a booth at the upcoming Sustainable Packaging Summit in UtrechtThe potential to scale the banana fiber model across Africa and other banana-producing regionsScaling from a pilot factory to a commercial facility targeting 100 tons per day capacityZafree's active Series A fundraising roundAdvice for sustainable packaging founders: align cost, quality, and impact or the business will not scaleResources Mentioned:Zafree PapersBethelhem DejeneSustainable Packaging SummitAB InBev SustainabilitySway Contact:Listeners interested in working with Zafree Papers or learning more about their Series A fundraising round can reach out to Bethelhem Dejene via LinkedIn.Support our Sponsors Learn more here:- 3M- Specright- Forest Thank you for tuning in to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors!https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approvedConnect with CoryConnect with Cory on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap. This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.

Welcome back to Gnostic Insights and to the Gnostic Reformation on Substack. Dr. Cyd Ropp and Bishop Nathan Wilson Today's episode is the last installment of my interview with Bishop Nathan Wilson of The Gnostic Union. Brother Nathan continues with his illustration of how correct translation of the original Koine Greek of the New Testament changes the way we may interpret Biblical scripture more precisely. The translations he shares come from his freely available Gnostic Christian Truth Bible that you can find online in PDF form, with side by side comparisons of the original Koine with English. I'm including the link here in the transcript of the episode, so if you are listening to this in podcast form, you may wish to go to Gnostic Insights dot com to read the transcript. His Bible and other Gnostic scriptures could use another round of editorial polishing, in my opinion, to insert an indexed table of contents, so it may be a bit difficult to make your way through it. And in next week’s episode, I’ll take a long look at what we’ve been hearing for the last four weeks. If you have anything you would like me to discuss or any questions coming off of Bishop Wilson’s discussion, bring them up and we can talk about them on next week's episode. I know I’m going to want to talk about the role of Sophia and the Divine Feminine and the concept of gender on the ethereal plane. I would also like to talk to you about how the study of history and philology differs from theology and philosophy and how they are not necessarily gnosis. And here at Gnostic Insights, of course, and on the Gnostic Reformation, I avoid talking about gnosis and only share gnosis itself. So I’d like to explain that to you about that as well. So please drop me some comments here at the end of this episode and I can address them in next week’s episode. Bishop Nathan Wilson: So Mark 8:17. All right. So this would be Jesus here. “And having gnosis, he said to them, why reason because you have no bread or do you not understand that the heart of you has been hardened?” So this is among disciples arguing that they have no bread. Jesus having spiritual gnosis, understanding what’s going on, says, “What are you arguing about?” Which is kind of interesting that he mentioned, but I’ll mention something that’s a real kick in the can. So this is in Mark 15:42. And this is a text that no theology want to give you because it would make them feel uncomfortable. And it’s regarding Pontius Pilate having gnosis regarding Jesus crucifixion. So this is a note they definitely do not want. I was kind of thinking about what does this mean? And I figured out what it’s regarding to. Mark 15:45. Okay, so this is Pontius Pilate. I’ll read 15:44 first. “But Pilate wondered if he had already died, having called to him the centurion and questioned him if he had already died. And with gnosis from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.” AI generated image of Pilate questioning the Centurian. The three crucified men were inserted by the AI to symbolically represent the crucifixition of Jesus and the two thieves. Golgotha is actually not that close to the palace window. So that meaning inside knowledge from the centurion has been given to him about Jesus. So that could imply that he was still alive and that Pontius might have been involved in this plot. That’s what that text would imply; it doesn’t necessarily have to mean that. It can just mean that within a knowledge he’s been told by the centurion Jesus is dead, so it can apply that too. So however you want to read that text is up to you. But I found that quite fascinating and I had to really look at that. I’m like, well, I'm sorry, we can’t have that in there. That’s why that’s been censored. But that’s fascinating. So we even have Jesus having a gnosis and leaving an area and that’s in Matthew 12:15. I’ll jump into that too. So there’s a couple of scenes that Jesus has gnosis. There’s even times he has gnosis in regarding what other people were thinking. So having to understand them mentally. So that’s cool. So gnosis appears quite often. It’s just it doesn’t appear in the English text. But in the Old Testament it’s even more. Cyd:That's interesting. Bishop Nathan Wilson:Yes, it is. Very. Okay. So “withdrew from the area” Matthew 12:15 I want. Right. “And Jesus having gnosis, withdrew from there and many great multitudes followed him and he healed them.” Or it can translate to took care of them or cured them all. So that word here we have can be for a therapeia or a therapeo. And this word meaning to heal someone or to spend time with them, to heal them with God’s word or with medicine, to heal them with medical substance, so narcotics. It can be just simply curing them or just spending time with someone so say talking to someone, healing them and their emotions. So healing their emotions. So that’s beautiful. Not just simply Jesus hocus pocus and and leaving. It’s he’s spending time with people. And this word has been used in ancient Greek medical texts for implying medical substances or therapy. So the word therapeia is where our word therapy comes from. So this can be Jesus the therapist. So that’s beautiful. Absolutely fantastic. I like that. So it gives more power to the text. Shows that one person can make a difference. So any one of us can do this and heal multitudes through spiritual touch, through spiritual messaging, through the simple act of love. So that’s powerful. That’s useful. Cyd:And this is something that only people can do. Well, no, actually dogs are very good therapists as well. But I wouldn’t think that an AI therapist or an AI Jesus has any gnosis truly. Bishop Nathan Wilson:I’m not really one big for AI because I think AI is basically just all secondhand information. It’s just built from all our information that we’ve already got. So we have here something else. This is something pretty interesting too. Matthew 16:8. And it’s Jesus having gnosis: “Why do you argue amongst yourselves? You of little faith because you have no bread” [or meaning food.] But say, regarding to the word for artos being bread. So when you have the Jesus prayer, Give us this daily bread, this could translate to give us our daily necessaries of life. That’s much more. So daily maintenance, so being maintained spiritually, being maintained by God, for God giving us the means to live spiritually as well as physically. So it’s much more powerful than just simple, just bread and food. So Jesus speaking a lot of times symbolically. So the symbolic teachings are meant to be useful to all of us. So something that we can practically take on, not simply does something that’s outside of ourselves. So that’s within ourselves that we can actually use. So gnosis. And I’ll go into Matthew 22:18. And that’s with Jesus about having gnosis on the wickedness of the Pharisees. So this doesn’t mean that all Pharisees are bad though. Jesus had Pharisees that followed him. This just means a select few of them. So basically the rich corrupted ones of them. So he was also against the Sadducees too. Mostly Sadducees probably because they were the richer lots. But he was not really a friend to those who were corrupt and using the money that they were given to further subject the people to more condemnation, which Jesus was very much pro-life, was equality where the Pharisees and Sadducees in large numbers were not. Which is a shame. Okay, so 22, I think it was I’m looking for. Matthew 22:18. Okay. Cyd:You know that Old Testament God of the Sadducees and Pharisees doesn’t have love. So they are not getting any gnosis from that Jehovah level. Bishop Nathan Wilson:No. And it goes back to where it’s first worshipped. The first to worship this God, Yahweh, were very violent. They were the Shasu. They were known to force marry the Egyptian and Ethiopian young girls they raided. So when we look at the depictions of the Shasu, they are mixed in colour—they're black, they’re white, they’re copper skinned. They didn’t care what colour you were, they just took. They were looking for sex slaves, basically wives. So what’s interesting is the same river that they used, the Euphrates River, not all of them were river-based pirates. Some were just tent dwelling nomads. But some of them did have the funds or means to use ships. So we certainly had sea people. So some of those sea people were Canaanite raiders. So they’ll use the Euphrates River to go out raiding, to go out to the main street or elsewhere to raid outside of their own lands. Muslim pirates would use the same river to do the same thing. So that’s interesting.[Editor’s note: The speaker appears to be connecting several groups—nomadic Shasu, Sea Peoples, and later Muslim-era raiders. While the Euphrates served as an important transportation corridor, the specific claim that the Shasu or Sea Peoples used it as river-pirates is not clear from the sources consulted by the CoPilot AI and may reflect an interpretation rather than an established historical consensus. Of course, the AIs are relaying to us approved, conventional data, so their data bases would not contain the types of stories Bishop Wilson speaks of.]All in the name of this Jehovah, in the name of Yahweh, in the name of the demiurge, this evil gets done. And it’s always the poor that suffer, the poor and women. And who are the ones that Jesus is speaking to? The poor and to women. So it’s shocking. So most Christians don’t look at this either. A lot of Muslims don’t either, because they will be following Jesus [Isa]. So who they call Isa, they clearly don’t. So the message contradicts. So Muhammad called himself a man of war. Moses as well. But it depends on what version of Moses you’re looking at as well. So during the time of Jesus, as I mentioned, there were different versions of Judaism. There were different Torahs and different Jewish Bibles. So some believed in a peaceful Moses and even a peaceful Abraham. Others believed in Abraham the Pirat. So Abraham the Pirate. And some didn’t take this view. So others believed in Abraham ready to sacrifice his son. And others believed that he was hearing a fallen angel, mistook it for God, and God had to intervene. And we see this sort of in the Essene story somewhat. So that’s more of a Gnostic take. Some Essenes view, because they’re Dead Sea Scrolls, which is a Qumran Essene sect, they believe that it was Belial that was behind the scenes doing this. And God was basically aware that Belial was doing it and would interfere. So he would do this in order for Belial to expose himself and then be shamed. So a very different story. So the story of Job we read is the Pharisee story, which is Satan being in the angelic courts. So being asked by God, so not acting outside of God. So he was only there to test human beings. So Satan’s not the bad guy in that story. It’s Yahweh. But when we look at other stories, it’s different. Even the Ethiopian version is different. They have two stories. One with Belial and the other one with a figure called Mastema, who is the opponent against God trying to cause the sacrifice of Abraham’s son. So, trippy. So this is regarding to the Pharisees as well. “So Jesus, having gnosis of the wickedness of them, said, Why do you test me, you hypocrites?” So this is in reference to the coin, when he showed them the icon. So what’s interesting about that scene is Judas, who was a Zealot, basically, I think it was Judas of Galilee, who rebelled against Rome, he also said the same thing. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.”[Matthew 22:21] So when Jesus is speaking in the scene, he doesn’t touch the coin. The icon on there in question is the emperor who is stating, you know, son of Caesar, son of God. Jesus is saying, no, basically give this back to Caesar and give to Israel, God, what is God’s, which is the land. So Israel. But I don’t think it’s more from the land—I think that’s a zealot opinion. I think when he’s talking about this, when he says Israel, I’m thinking he’s looking at the word context and he’s meaning El preserved so those who belong to El. So when he says those who belong to Israel, he’s not saying just anything, he’s talking about the lost sheep of El Elyon. So those were in other lands, lead them back here. So ones who have gone astray, which is interesting. So ones who are worshipping pagan gods or worshipping Yahweh. So he’s saying, bring them back to El, bring them back to God, repentance. This is why the Pharisees and Sadducees disliked him. He had a different God. Some that liked him as well, but they had trouble understanding it. Cyd:Right. Well, and that is still the case. Hey, we’re going to have to wrap this up in just a few minutes. So is there any scripture you would like to make sure that you share before we wrap it up? Bishop Nathan Wilson:Okay. Well, if you like, I can share either the temple scene, which is a Matthew 21:12, or I can share the little, the short scene of the Pharisees being condemned by Jesus for basically dressing up like prostitutes. You might have a, you might have a lot of that. Cyd:Yeah. Okay. That, that looks to be the one you want to share the most. Papyrus Oxyconocus 840 Bishop Nathan Wilson:So I’ll share that one. It’s very short. So this is the text in general. Just this little bit. Okay. The Greek side is on here. [Nathan displays his fragment facsimile.] So I have the Greek side by side. So this is side one and side two. So side two is even shorter. “So before committing injustice, he carefully plans it all.” So this is Jesus speaking about the evil. “Be on guard, lest you suffer the same things as they.” So this is the Pharisees and Sadducees he’s talking about. “For the evil doers among people do not receive punishment only in this life, but also suffer judgment and great torment. And having received them, he brought them into the purification area. And as he was walking in the temple, a certain Pharisee, a high priest named Soreb [conventional translation is Levi; editorial note],” Which is kind of interesting. That word Zoar/Tzoar [uncertain], is Tsa'ar, [uncertain] which is a city condemned by God [but ultimately spared by God; editorial note]. So this is kind of like a pun on the Pharisee leader being punished by God. So like, possibly, maybe a Pharisee Messiah figure. So meaning they’re rejecting Jesus because they already have their Messiah they believe. So that’s something to be taken into a note. So this Soreb [Levi ?] approaches, met them and said, “Zoar, who gave you permission to walk in the purification area and to look upon these holy vessels, not having washed, nor your disciples having their feet baptized, but having being unclean, you have trampled upon this holy place, which is pure, which no one may enter unless you have bathed and changed into the garments of those baptized. Nor does anyone dare to touch these holy vessels.” So they’re in the temple right now in the inner sanctuary, touching the holy relics and not wearing the same baptism clothing as them. They’re not liking this. So this is what Jesus says. “The Savior answered and said to him, Woe to you blind ones who do not see. You wash in these poured out waters in which dogs and pigs have been thrown into day and night. And after washing your outer skin, you wipe it. And just like the prostitutes and flute players anoint themselves and wash and wipe and adorn themselves to cause the desires of men. But from within, they are full of scorpions and all evil. But I and my disciples who you say are not baptized have been baptized in the waters of eternal Zoe. That has come from God. But woe to those…” And the ending is missing. That’s why side two has not been given. [referring to side two of the fragment which is partially destroyed and not in the public domain] Cyd:Right. Now that’s a fragment. Where was that fragment found? Bishop Nathan Wilson:I forgot. The fragment is called Papyrus Oxyconocus 840. But you can just type in P. Oxy 840. I would say that was probably if I’d gone by memory, that might have been discovered maybe in Alexandria, if not maybe in Thrace, but I believe it was Alexandria, Egypt that might have been discovered. There was one, I believe, that was discovered in the Middle East, maybe Jerusalem. But I believe that one there was discovered in Alexandria. I might be wrong about that. I have to relook where that was discovered. But it is important. So a text that has not been given to public domain yet, which is quite a shame. Cyd:Yeah. Well, it’s been delightful talking to you. And you certainly have an encyclopedic knowledge of these ancient texts. It’s very beautiful. It’s very nice being around you. You have the good vibe. Bishop Nathan Wilson:It’s been a pleasure speaking to you as well, Dr. Cyd Ropp. It’s been an absolute pleasure. So I’m stoked. So sorry if I get excited and all that sort of stuff as well. I love meeting new people, especially fellow spiritual people. Always lovely to see, especially Gnostics. Cyd:Yeah. Well, I recommend The Gnostic Union. Go check out the Facebook site. That’s where all the action is, right? It’s the Facebook site. Bishop Nathan Wilson:And on the YouTube, yeah. We can all get together. Cyd:On the YouTube. Bishop Nathan Wilson:I’ve got a few old videos as well. So you can see the difference in my theology, how it’s changed. My whole belief system changed when I start translating, so I found out I was wrong about a couple of other things. So I still keep some old videos because some people might want to hang on to some of those beliefs as well. I have no problems with that. I’m very open-minded and whichever people want to believe, they can believe, as long as we’re loving to each other and kind. It’s all that matters. Being good humans. Cyd:Right. Well, since we’re going to be putting this on your site as well as mine, let me tell people that I have a Substack called The Gnostic Reformation. And my homepage is GnosticInsights.com. Well, it’s just been a blessing. Thank you very much. Bishop Nathan Wilson:You’re welcome. And feel free to share your stuff on The Gnostic Union Facebook page too. If you ever want to share stuff, feel free to. We accept other people’s work too. So feel free to share it. Cyd:How often? I mean, I post weekly. You don’t want me cross-posting weekly. Bishop Nathan Wilson:Oh, that’s fine. We don’t mind. You can post there weekly. We won’t mind. Anything that’s Gnostic, we’ll gladly accept. So we want to encourage all Gnostic schools of thought and everyone that wants to seek it, we want to encourage that. Cyd:Oh that’s excellent. Okay. Well, thank you so much for being with me today, Bishop Nathan Wilson. God bless us all. Bishop Nathan Wilson:God bless as well. Thank you for having me. Cyd:Okay. Bye-bye. Thank you. Well, that’s the conclusion of that long interview with Bishop Nathan Wilson of The Gnostic Union. These episodes have been running long, a half hour and more, so I think we’ll keep this one short, and give you a break. Until then, drop some comments and questions that I can address in next week's episode.This interview was recorded via Zoom, and so I have the video of the interview as well as these audios, and I’ve left it as one long video to post to YouTube. So I’m putting it up on YouTube now that we’re done with the audio podcast versions, and you can go to YouTube if you’d like to watch Brother Nathan talking about these things. He does have a few visual aids. His papyrus facsimiles and whatnot are pretty cool to look at. So I encourage you to go to my YouTube channel, Cyd Ropp, and it’s under the Gnostic Insights playlist, and leave a thumbs up. I’m going to try to grow the Gnostic Insights presence there on YouTube. It’s going to take a lot of effort and a lot of support on your part. So please give me a hand here, and let’s kick it off with this Bishop Wilson. The other YouTube video that’s already there is that animated version of my children’s book, Children of the Fullness: A Gnostic Myth. So if you haven’t watched that yet, you could catch it as well. Until then, God bless us all, and Onward and Upward. Until then, drop some comments and questions I can address in next week's episode. God bless us all and onward and upward. Children of the Fullness: A Gnostic Myth is the first gnostic book written for young children. Click here to go to amazon.com

Kristina and Elissa continue their journey throught the Acts of the Apostles with the Apostles encountering a sorcerer, and an Ethiopian.

The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Denis Brown has warned that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's besieged city of El-Obeid is worsening as fighting and a blockade by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continue. He says repeated drone strikes have hit power stations and water facilities, leaving civilians without essential services. The UN Human Rights Council has also ordered an urgent investigation into alleged crimes committed during the fighting in Sudan's El-Obeid amid growing fears that violence in the city could escalate into mass atrocities.Also, at least 400 dogs have been killed in the Ethiopian town of Hossana after rabies related complications killed three children and left dozens of others in hospital, sparking outrage among dog owners. We hear from those impacted.Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Keikantse Shumba, Ayuba Illya and Blessing Aderogba Senior Producer: Bella Twine Technical Producer: Jonathan Mwangi Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

In this episode of the Sharing Grace Podcast, Jay Austin is joined by Executive Pastor Brandon Rieb and Young Adults Coordinator Caden Sichler to explore Acts 8 and the striking contrast between Simon the Sorcerer and the Ethiopian eunuch. Together they unpack the difference between being impressed by God's power and truly surrendering to His heart, while discovering how God's pursuing grace transforms ordinary lives into extraordinary testimonies. Whether you're wrestling with faith, longing to grow closer to Jesus, or wondering how God can use your everyday life, this conversation offers practical encouragement and a reminder that God is still pursuing people today.

What does it really mean to belong?For Isaac Melber, the answer wasn't found the day he was adopted. It was built through countless small moments of love, consistency, and the freedom to embrace every part of his story.In this episode, Rebecca sits down with author, adoptee, and aspiring pastor Isaac Melber to explore life through the eyes of someone who remembers being adopted. From growing up in a remote village in Ethiopia to navigating identity, grief, anger, faith, and eventually returning to his birth country, Isaac shares a perspective that every hopeful and adoptive parent needs to hear.This conversation is filled with practical wisdom, powerful storytelling, and gentle reminders that adoption isn't about erasing a child's past—it's about helping them carry it with love, honesty, and hope.In this episode, we talk about:The small moments that create a true sense of belonging beyond simply being lovedWhy a child's anger is often directed at their story—not their adoptive parentsHow to talk honestly about loss without defining a child's future by itThe difference between helping a child feel chosen versus making them feel rescuedWhy embracing a child's birth culture should become part of the entire family's cultureWhat returning to Ethiopia taught Isaac about identity, healing, and finding peace without having every answerAbout Isaac:Isaac Melber is an Ethiopian adoptee, author, speaker, and aspiring pastor. Adopted at five years old by a family in Kentucky, Isaac now shares his story to encourage adoptees, adoptive families, and anyone wrestling with identity, loss, and belonging. His debut memoir, Twice Delivered: A Story of Two Families, Two Worlds, and One Redeeming Love, explores how faith, family, and truth shaped his journey across two worlds while offering hope to others walking their own.Connect with Isaac:Website: https://www.isaacmelber.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaacmelber/Twice Delivered: A Story of Two Families, Two Worlds, and One Redeeming Love: https://www.amazon.com/Twice-Delivered-Families-Worlds-Redeeming/dp/B0H2HH6785RG Adoption ConsultingRG Adoption ConsultingWebsite → ⁠https://rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠ Book a Complimentary Adoption Strategy Session → ⁠https://rgadoptionconsulting.com/contactAre You Ready to Adopt? Take the Quiz to Find Out → https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/quiz Before you choose an agency, spend money, or move forward—start with these 10 honest conversations that will help you: https://www.rgadoptionconsulting.com/10-conversations-before-you-adopt Tune in to The Adoption Roadmap Podcast every Wednesday. If you like what you hear, I'd appreciate a follow, a 5-star rating & review! THANK YOU!For questions about adoption, episode suggestions, or to appear as a guest on The Adoption Roadmap Podcast, email⁠⁠⁠⁠ support@rgadoptionconsulting.com⁠⁠⁠

Jose Lopez is the founder of Wild-Based, a wellness company on a mission to restore wild food as the foundation of human nourishment. Frustrated by how freely "wild" gets used as a marketing term with no real definition behind it, Jose built Wild-Based to source ingredients that are actually wild, traceable, minimally processed, and harvested from intact ecosystems. The brand currently offers three products: Canadian wild rice, American yaupon tea, and Ethiopian heirloom coffee, each chosen for its origin, integrity, and nutrient density. Jose believes human health can't be separated from the health of the living world, and his work is rooted in that conviction, connecting people back to the foods our biology was built on.In This Episode, They Explore:What "wild" actually means in food, and why most products using that word don't qualifyHow to spot greenwashing in the food space and what to look for insteadThe story behind Wild-Based's three products: wild rice, yaupon tea, and Ethiopian heirloom coffeeWhy eating closer to nature matters for nutrient density, biodiversity, and long-term healthHow food transparency, knowing who harvested it, where, and how, changes the way we relate to what we eatFollow Jose Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildquetzal/?hl=enFollow Wild-Based on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildbased.co/?hl=en Shop Wild-Based on their website: https://wild-based.comStay Connected:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whitneyaronoff/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/starseedkitchen/TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@whitneyaronoffTikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@starseedkitchenLearn more about Starseed Kitchenhttps://starseedkitchen.com/Shop organic spiceshttps://starseedkitchen.com/shop/code STARSEED for 10% offShop Chef Whitney's favorite source for organic regenerative meats at StarWalker Organic FarmsUse code CHEF for 10% off your online order of $150 or more. Get an additional 10% off for a total discount of 20% when you choose a subscription. https://www.starwalkerorganicfarms.com/discount/CHEFWork with a personal chefhttps://form.typeform.com/to/CGDu08tEBook a 1-on-1 callhttps://bit.ly/4smXWUfFind more of Chef Whitney's offerings herehttps://linktr.ee/whitney.aronoff

Greg, Emily, and Rachel discuss Phillip's discussion with and baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch and Saul's experience on the road to Damascus. Transcript: https://haltingtowardzion.substack.com/publish/post/203481544?r=1mbq24&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

From breakthrough startups to category-defining innovations, the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show gave the Taste Radio team plenty to talk about. The hosts recap their favorite discoveries from the annual event, highlighting standout brands, globally inspired flavors, premium non-alcoholic beverages, inventive snacks and convenient pantry staples. They also discuss the themes that emerged across the show floor and why this year's event reflected a growing emphasis on quality, creativity and accessible innovation. Show notes: 0:20: Good Show, SFA. Spicy, Convenient, Premium. Get A Kloo. AgRootCulture. – The hosts describe the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show as one of the most energetic and optimistic editions of the event in recent years and credit organizer Specialty Food Association for embracing emerging brands through startup-focused programming and showcasing several emerging brands that reflect broader industry trends. Ray and Melissa highlight brands that made global flavors more accessible to mainstream consumers, including Indian, Ethiopian, Thai and other international influences across hot sauces, snacks, frozen foods and pantry staples. The hosts also point to continued innovation in convenience, highlighting products such as instant pasta sauces, dried soup and stew mixes, guacamole seasoning packets and premium shelf-stable offerings that combine ease of preparation with high-quality ingredients. The conversation also explores growth in premium non-alcoholic beverages, coffee and tea, with several brands elevating the category through sophisticated flavors, concentrates and upscale packaging. Other notable trends include better-for-you snacks, functional candy, protein-rich dairy products, globally inspired popcorn and chips, and sustainable products rooted in agricultural heritage.  Brands in this episode: Garam Goddess, Nine Pin Cider, Better Bovine, Malai, Chen's, Red Fox Spices, Growie Foods, Yaza Foods, Keya's Snacks, Nomad Snacks, Pastacraft, Guac Shop, NOMMii, Finger Foods Farm, Kloo, Yum Brew, Fortune Coffee, Nomaro, Brica, The Still Bar, Bittermilk,  TofuGo, Cotto, Figa, Atelka, Wandersnacks, Chuh Matcha, Halfday, Awesome Tea

It's Friday, July 3rd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Ethiopian Christian convert from Islam attacked and forced to flee As a child in Gawo Kebe, Ethiopia, Taha Dinka faithfully attended the mosque and adhered to his community's Islamic beliefs. He never imagined his life would ever take a different direction, reports International Christian Concern. In 2019, Dinka heard the Gospel and decided to follow Jesus. He said, “When I accepted Christ, I felt peace in my life. I believed God had rescued me from darkness.”   However, the decision that brought him hope also opened the door for rejection, threats, and persecution. Soon after his conversion, Dinka began facing strong opposition from those closest to him because of his faith in Christ.    Dinka said, “People I loved turned against me, and some even told me I had betrayed my family and my religion. Others warned me that I would suffer or die if I continued following Christ.”   Christian converts from Islam in Muslim-majority areas often face violence and even death threats. In August 2025, Dinka said, “I was violently attacked and forcefully removed from my home because I had refused to renounce Christianity. The attacks left me injured and traumatized. I was beaten because I would not deny Jesus. At that moment, I realized my life was truly in danger.”  He was forced to flee in search of safety. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus said, "You will be hated by everyone because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” House Speaker Johnson puts SAVE Act in budget reconciliation bill Here in the United States, On Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is aiming to push the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE America Act, through a third budget reconciliation bill, reports NewsNation. Johnson's remarks came shortly after President Trump canceled a signing ceremony for a sweeping bipartisan housing package, saying he will not sign the legislation until the Senate passes the voter ID bill. The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and the presentation of an ID to cast a ballot. The bill passed the House, but has stalled in the Senate, where Democrats have vowed to oppose it, leaving it short of the votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has repeatedly dismissed Trump's calls to eliminate or reform the filibuster in order to pass the bill. Johnson talked to the president about adding the SAVE America Act to the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA so that the entire bill including the funding of the troops and the SAVE America Act would only need a simple majority vote.  Here's Speaker Johnson at the Wednesday press conference. JOHNSON: “The SAVE America Act, as passed in February unanimously by all Republicans -- and that's components of the proof of citizenship to register to vote and voter ID when you show up to vote, that will be merged onto the [National Defense Authorization Act] and transmitted to the Senate as one bill. That's the most efficient, effective way to do it.” Call your two Senators at 202-224-3121 and urge them, whether they are Democrat or Republican, to support the National Defense Authorization Act which has the SAVE America Act added to it. Clarence Thomas: Birthright citizenship devalues what it means to be American citizen In a lengthy dissent, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas took the majority to task for interpreting the Constitution to mean that citizenship is automatically conferred on anyone born in the United States, regardless of the legal status of the parents, Thomas argued that the ruling “devalues” what it means to be an American citizen. In the 6-3 decision on June 30th, the majority held that an executive order President Donald Trump issued on the first day of his second term violated the Constitution. The order directed that only children born on American soil to legal residents are automatically citizens of the United States. The Fourteenth Amendment states, in part, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” In his dissent, Thomas, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, noted as Trump previously argued, that the Fourteenth Amendment was passed in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. It was in direct response to the Dred Scott v. Sandford Supreme Court decision of 1857, which held that blacks were not citizens. Thomas wrote, “Both the Civil Rights Act [of 1866] and the Citizenship Clause [of the Fourteenth Amendment] guaranteed citizenship to persons born and domiciled in the United States regardless of their race. Neither guaranteed citizenship to persons who were not domiciled in the United States.” He added, “Blacks were entitled to citizenship because they were Americans. They had no other homeland, owed no allegiance to any foreign power, and were subject to no other authority,” Under Trump's proposal, birthright citizenship would be limited to those with at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Babies born to temporary visitors or people who entered the country illegally would not be citizens at birth, reports NBC News. Young Washington movie in theaters tonight On the cusp of America's 250th birthday tomorrow, Angel Studios* and Wonder Project release the movie “Young Washington” nationwide tonight. Watch the trailer. It follows the early life of George Washington as he transforms from an ambitious, awkward youth into a military commander. Facing class barriers, he secures a job surveying the Ohio Valley, only to stumble into the bloody triggers of the French and Indian War. Directed by Jon Erwin, who also produced the House of David TV series, the historical drama explores Washington's steep climb into Virginia's upper crust. William Franklyn-Miller, the 22-year-old British actor, portrays George Washington, Ben Kingsley portrays Robert Dinwiddie, and Kelsey Grammer portrays Thomas Fairfax. When setbacks shake George's faith in a kind, loving God, he gets angry. He tells his mother, “Providence placed me here. Why? For me to fail?” Focus on the Family says that Mary Washington, George's mother, serves up one of the movie's best lines. She says, “Failure is the tutor sent by God. If you don't learn from it, you fail twice. If you do learn from it, you've earned wisdom.” After George improbably survives a disastrous battle, a Native American chief—one who fought alongside the French—demands to meet George. His own warriors had George in their sights repeatedly. He claims they “never miss.” And yet, somehow, George stands before him, uninjured. The Indian chief tells him, “The Creator chose you. You have been shielded by the Spirit.” (Get the booklet entitled The Bulletproof George Washington by David Barton) Shortly thereafter, George shows up in Virginia Lt. Gov. Robert Dinwiddie's office with a bullet hole in his hat and a well-earned reputation for surviving impossible situations. Listen to the scene from the “Young Washington” movie. DINWIDDIE: “What happened, Washington? All those bullet holes in your jacket? How are you alive?” WASHINGTON: “I don't know.” Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps". The movie, Young Washington, dramatizes the events leading up to the French and Indian War, including the war's initial bloody triggers. PluggedIn.com warns that the film is not suitable for young children because there's plenty of fighting, shooting and chopping. And while none of it is particularly bloody or gory, it may come as a shock for those expecting a gentler “Christian” film. *Note: Angel Studios is owned by the Mormons also known as the “Church” of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Worldview cautions our listeners to remember that Mormons teach a false gospel and an unbiblical worldview. So, please be discerning in the viewing of any Angel Studios productions. 15-year-old listener from Eswatini, Africa sounds off Yesterday, 21 Worldview listeners took the time to send me an email about what they enjoy about this newscast. I'll be sharing their emails throughout this month. If you are one of the 21 people who wrote me, thank you! Eli McSeveney, a 15-year-old in Eswatini, Africa, bordered by South Africa and Mozambique, wrote me at Adam@TheWorldview.com. He said, “We listen to The Worldview in 5 Minutes every day, mid-morning, when we take a break from our homeschool over a cup of tea.  I love that I can trust the facts you give, unlike CNN. But my favorite part is right at the end, when you urge us to ‘Seize the day for Jesus Christ!' “Quinn, age 13, said, ‘I love how Mr. Adam McManus addresses the transgender issue.  He says a man, who is ‘pretending to be woman.'  And the regular updates on the persecution of Christians throughout the world is eye opening.' “And Bianca, my mom, said, ‘Thank you for your team's faithfulness in bringing us truth. We find that you help us make sense of the news, and we feel hopeful instead of distraught. And thank you for the Bible verses that shed light on how to interpret what is going on.'” 7 Worldview listeners gave $800 yesterday Yesterday, 7 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to ensure that The Worldview stays on the air for another 365 days. Our thanks to Jason in Fairbanks, Alaska and Steven in Jacksonville, Florida – both of whom gave $50. We're grateful to God for Janice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Susan in Hoyt, Kansas – both of whom gave $100. And we appreciate the generosity of Samuel in Fellsmere, Florida and Jeremy in Swansea, Wales -- both of whom gave $150 as well as Linda in Hanahan, South Carolina who gave $200. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $2,562. (sound effect of people cheering) In the first three days of our month-long fundraiser, we are seriously behind!  We need to raise $9,888 by 12 midnight tonight, Friday, July 3rd – when a lot of people are on vacation -- to get back on track toward our $123,500 finish line come July 31st. I've got 2 brainstorms. First, would you consider being one of 30 listeners to make a donation, no matter how small?  Whether it's $5 or $500, give what you feel the Lord has placed on your heart.  Second, if the Lord has blessed you financially, would you be open to being one of 5 people to give a one-time gift of $1,000? Go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  This Christian newscast does not bow to our politically correct culture. We champion the truth and a Biblical worldview. That is why you love it!  Invest in it today so that this newscast can continue. Again, go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, July 3rd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Try the BibleACTS app!: https://bibleacts.goodbarber.app/subscribe Shop “Cut to the Heart” apparel: https://cut2theheart.com In this episode, we continue our verse-by-verse study through Acts 8, where persecution causes the gospel to spread beyond Jerusalem and God uses Philip the Evangelist to reach Samaria and the Ethiopian eunuch. In this study, we discuss: How persecution advanced the gospel Philip's ministry in Samaria Simon Magus and the danger of seeking God's power without a changed heart The coming of the Holy Spirit to the Samaritan believers Philip sharing Christ with the Ethiopian eunuch The eunuch's faith and baptism God's desire for the gospel to reach every nation Acts 8 reminds us that God can use hardship to accomplish His purposes, and that genuine faith is marked by repentance, humility, and obedience to Jesus Christ. Watch, listen, and grow in your faith — and subscribe for more verse-by-verse Bible teaching and podcast episodes.

The Prefontaine Classic is this weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, and CITIUS MAG will have a live pre-show on both days streaming on our YouTube channel.This episode is the full breakdown of every event on the card:– Men's 800m (Friday): Cooper Lutkenhaus makes his Pre Classic debut as a professional alongside last year's World Championship team — Donavan Brazier and Bryce Hoppel.– Men's 2 Mile (Friday): Grant Fisher is coming off his 5000m victory at the Paris Diamond League to go up against Andreas Almgren and Parker Wolfe.– Women's 100m (Saturday heats + final): The best women's 100m field assembled all year featuring The Clayton twins, Adaejah Hodge, Shericka Jackson, Sha'Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.– Men's 400m (Saturday): USA vs. Collen Kebinatshipi.– Men's 200m (Saturday): Letsile Tebgogo should have this one.– Men's 110m Hurdles (Saturday): Ja'Kobe Tharp returns to the exact track where he ran 12.75 for his first Diamond League race as the world record holder.– Women's 2 Mile (Saturday): Likely a world record attempt and 8 of the 14 entrants are Ethiopian.– Men's 100m (Saturday): Oblique Seville, reigning world champion, is the clear favorite — one of only two men in the field who have broken 9.90 this season.– Women's 3000m Steeplechase (Saturday): The three fastest women in the world this season — Chemutai (8:51.06), Cherotich (8:51.48), Yavi (8:51.54) — are all here. Just 0.48 seconds separates the top three. Eight Americans in the field. Doris Lemngole is the wild card.– Women's 100m Hurdles (Saturday, straight final): All five of the world's top five this season on one start line.– Women's 800m (Saturday): Keely Hodgkinson pulled out of the British Championships 400m after one or two strides when something felt off — a smart call. She's in Eugene and we'll see where she's at.– Women's Mile (Saturday): Faith Kipyegon is back! Georgia Hunter Bell (3:55.63, second in the world) is her primary rival. The subplot will be if the American record falls to Nikki Hiltz or Emily Mackay.– Men's Bowerman Mile (Saturday): The grand finale! Cam Myers (3:28 world leader, Australian record), Yared Nuguse (two Diamond League wins, American record), Azeddine Habz (3:29), Timothy Cheruiyot (looking like himself again), Niels Laros (1:43 800 speed, devastating kick), Cole Hocker (Olympic champion, fitness question mark after a niggle and a lost 3K). Who ya got?– Where to watch: Saturday on NBC and Peacock, 12:30 PM Pacific / 3:30 PM Eastern.____________Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠⁠⁠@preet_athletics⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Kyle Merber | @kylemerberProduced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSBANDIT: For 2026, Bandit is providing support for any Unsponsored athletes competing at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Every contract includes a release clause so an athlete can sign with a bigger brand the moment an offer lands. 11 Unsponsored alumni have already gone on to deals with some of the largest footwear brands in the world. Competing at USATF Outdoors? Interested? Contact: ⁠timrossi@banditrunning.com⁠CORE: The CORE 2 Thermal Sensor takes the guessing out of heat training. It reads your core body temperature in real time - no thermometer, nothing invasive, and you can actually see what's happening inside your body while you train. ⁠⁠Take 10% off the CORE 2 with code CITIUS10 at checkout when you visit corebodytemp.com.⁠⁠VELOUS: VELOUS makes recovery footwear designed to help runners bounce back faster between sessions. Their sandals feature Tri-Motion™ Technology: a technical three-density foam system and contoured footbed engineered to cushion impact, support your arches, and help your toes stretch and relax on every step. Run. Recover. Repeat. with VELOUS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get 20% off your VELOUS order with code CITIUSMAG20 at checkout including FREE Shipping!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) TWR Special Film Project Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he covers today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Thursday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan tracks the accelerating rise of Communist Democrats ahead of the midterms, from Kamala Harris courting NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Ethiopian-born Congressional winner Melat Kiros unseating a 30-year Democrat incumbent in Colorado by running hard left and defending the 9/11 attacks on America. Bryan also covers Google co-founder Sergey Brin taking a 94% loss to exit New York real estate, the DOJ expelling a Cuban spy running a Leftist NGO, former CIA Director John Brennan filing a preemptive lawsuit ahead of his expected indictment, and egg producers settling price-fixing charges with 17 state attorneys general. On the global front, Iran's IRGC tightens its grip on negotiations as the Ayatollah's office signals resistance to any deal with the US, global shipping companies form convoys through the Strait of Hormuz, and South Africa is rocked by mass protests demanding African migrants go home. Plus, VP JD Vance takes on Pope Leo over immigration, Spain's Socialist government openly uses illegal alien amnesty as a political weapon against Catholics and conservatives, a Screwworm update warns pet owners to watch their animals, and Bryan releases a 14-minute Independence Day film tracing his family's journey west to Oregon in 1872. (Link Above) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32   Keywords: Bryan Dean Wright, The Wright Report, Kamala Harris 2028, Zohran Mamdani, Communist Democrats, Melat Kiros Colorado, Diana DeGette, Sergey Brin New York real estate, John Brennan DOJ indictment, Cuban spy NGO Carlos Dominguez, egg price fixing DOJ settlement, Screwworm pets dogs, JD Vance Pope Leo immigration, Spain amnesty Pedro Sanchez, South Africa migrant protests, Strait of Hormuz shipping convoys, Iran IRGC negotiations, Ayatollah nuclear deal, Operation Epic Fury, Project Freedom, Trump midterm convention Dallas, Abdul el-Sayed Michigan, Thursday Headline Brief, Independence Day film, 250 years America

San Francisco-based, Ethiopian-born singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero and her band join us live in the studio to play from her new album, “A Piece of Infinity.” The album reimagines folk songs from across Ethiopia, blending her signature Ethio-jazz style with R&B, synth and other genres. We'll talk about the stories the album tells and bask in her rich, expressive vocals. Guests: Meklit Hadero, Ethio-Jazz singer and composer Sam Bevan, upright bass Colin Douglas, drums Howard Wiley, tenor saxophone Kibrom Berhane, keyboard and krar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices