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Friends, this year, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross falls on a Sunday, so we have the great privilege of reflecting a bit more deeply on this marvelous and, frankly, disconcerting and odd feast. The Roman cross was a horrific, terrifying symbol of tyrannical power. And yet the first Christians emerge exalting the cross of Jesus. They don't hide it or pretend he died some other way; on the contrary, Saint Paul says, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” How do we begin to explain this?
A Bible study on John 3:13-17, the Gospel reading for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Cycle C.
This week on Alive, we pause to celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept 14). Fr. Meyer shares the powerful story of St. Helen discovering the true cross in 326 AD and reminds us why Christians glorify a symbol of suffering: because the cross only has meaning in light of the empty tomb. Your cross, your suffering, your trials — they are real, they hurt, but they are never the end of the story. Because of the Resurrection, every cross carries hope and redemption.
Here are some of the themes that we find in the Mass Readings for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. (Lectionary #638) September 8, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Jim and Joy read comments and take calls about the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated on September 14th, mentioning its impact on our daily Catholic lives.
Exaltation of the cross -Year C - Sunday, 14 September 2025 (EPISODE: 547) Readings for Exaltation of the cross- Year C FIRST READING: Num 21:4b-9 Ps 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38. “Do not forget the works of the Lord.” SECOND READING: Phil 2:6-11 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ((no bibl. ref.)). Alleluia, Alleluia! We adore you, O Christ and we praise you, because by your cross you have redeemed the world! GOSPEL: John 3:13-17 Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/prV7OXUEYjhGLpQIBP6Q/a-family-kneeling-in-prayer-before-the-crucifix?ru=Paul-Evangelion Jesus believed so completely in the needs and protection of everyone… even those most on the margins…. and put his whole life on the line to ensure it….. this power is stronger than all others…. and we celebrate the love and care of God revealed in this most contradictory sign … of victory and love…. Through the Cross..! +++++ REFERENCES: - FR. PAUL W. KELLY - [1] MONASTERY OF CHRIST IN THE DESERT. ABBOT'S HOMILY. [Abbots Homily, Christ in the Desert - The Monastery of Christ in the Desert Homily posted on September 10 2014. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross 2014. Cycle ABC. 2014] – ++++++ Exaltation of the cross Year C -(Sunday, 14 September 2025) (EPISODE: 547 ) 2. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PREFACE: Eucharistic Prayer 2 (theme variation: theme 2 ) (post version: v2-long) ++++ {8. Bless you all and May God's grace guide you each and every day of this week.} 2. Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord. ++++++++ Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by visting here: https://surfersparadiseparish.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85b9ddd594b242276d423bfe9&id=002282d9e0 Details relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog: "Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL) Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA) "The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers. Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia). Sung "Mass in Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org. "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - In memory of William John Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. “Quiet Time.” Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020. “Today I Arise” - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly. Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer. Editing equipment: -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software). NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software) Sound Processing: iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.) Text transcription as per recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai {excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text} [Production - KER - 2025] May God bless and keep you. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“The Exaltation of the Son of God” • Hebrews 1:1-3 – Elder Bryce Lowrance. Returning to the opening of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Elder Bryce preaches about how Jesus is exalted above all things because of Who He is and what He has done. Jesus is the heir of all things; He is the Creator of the universe; He is the brightness of the glory of God; He is the visible of the invisible God; He is the Sustainer of the universe and our salvation; He is the sole and successful Savior of the elect of God; and He is at peace sitting at the right hand of the majesty on high. This message was preached on Sunday, April, 14, 2024.
Friends of the Rosary,The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, whose memorial is celebrated on September 15.Another important feast on September 14 is the Triumph of the Holy Cross, the instrument of our salvation.September is a month that falls during the liturgical season of ordinary time (formerly Time After Pentecost), which is represented by the liturgical color green, the symbol of hope.The main liturgical feasts are:St. Gregory the Great (September 3)Nativity of Mary (September 8),St. Peter Claver (September 9),Holy Name of Mary (September 12),St. John Chrysostom (September 13),Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14),Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15),Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian (September 16),St. Robert Bellarmine and Hildegard of Bingen(September 17)St. Januarius (September 19),St. Andrew Kim and Companions (September 20),St. Pio (September 23),Sts. Cosmas and Damian (September 26),St. Vincent de Paul (September 27),Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (September 29) andSt. Jerome (September 30).The commemorations of St. Matthew (September 21) and Sts. Wenceslaus and Lawrence Ruiz and Companions (September 28) fall on a Sunday and are superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of September 2025 are for relationships with all of creation. Inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.In September, we follow the life of Christ and Mary through the Gospels, and focus on the teachings and parables of Jesus and what it means for us to be a follower of Christ.During Ordinary Time, we can focus more on the saints and imitate their holiness as followers of Christ.Finally, the months of August, September, October, and November are part of the harvest season, and as Christians, we recall God's constant protection over his people and give thanks for the year's harvest.Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• September 2, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET
For information, books or if you would like to make a love donation, please visit us at https://www.walkinginpower.orgCondensed Summary of the Critique of MormonismThis text presents a strong critique of Mormonism (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), arguing that it is not a Christian denomination but a cult that distorts the gospel. The critique highlights several key issues: the origins of the movement, its scriptures and prophets, its teaching on Jesus Christ, its doctrine of salvation, and its ultimate goal of exaltation.Origins and AuthorityMormonism began in the 1800s with Joseph Smith, who claimed revelations restoring the “true church.” The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, along with later prophetic teachings, are treated as scripture. The critique argues that this undermines sola scriptura by elevating human words above the Bible. Because LDS leaders hold ongoing prophetic authority, doctrine can shift with new revelations, creating instability and contradicting God's unchanging Word.The LDS Jesus vs. the Biblical JesusMormonism teaches that Jesus is the firstborn spirit child of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, making Him a created being and the spirit brother of Lucifer. This stands in sharp contrast to biblical teaching that Jesus is the eternal, uncreated Son of God, fully divine and equal with the Father. The critique warns that the LDS view diminishes Christ's uniqueness and undermines the sufficiency of His atonement.Salvation and WorksA central concern is Mormonism's doctrine of salvation. While claiming belief in grace, LDS theology redefines it as divine power enabling obedience. In practice, salvation requires faith plus works—keeping commandments, temple ordinances, and moral performance. This, the critique argues, denies biblical justification by faith alone (Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8–9). Instead of resting in Christ's finished work, Mormons are left uncertain, striving to prove themselves worthy.Exaltation and the AfterlifeDistinctive to Mormonism is the doctrine of exaltation: faithful Mormons may become gods, ruling over their own creations. The critique condemns this as a revival of the serpent's lie in Genesis 3:5 (“you will be like God”). Scripture affirms that God alone is eternal and sovereign (Isaiah 43:10), and humanity is called to worship Him, not to pursue godhood.Prophets and Continuing RevelationThe LDS Church claims to be led by a living prophet whose revelations guide the church. This places ultimate authority in human leaders rather than Scripture, leading to doctrinal contradictions over time (such as reversals on polygamy or race-based priesthood restrictions). Such changes reveal the instability of a faith grounded in human authority rather than God's Word.ConclusionThe critique acknowledges the sincerity of many Mormons but insists that zeal without truth cannot save. Mormonism presents a counterfeit gospel—adding to Scripture, diminishing Christ, and making salvation dependent on human works. Biblical Christianity proclaims salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. For this reason, the text concludes that Mormonism is not Christianity but a cult, and calls Christians to bring the true gospel of grace to those within it.
He was born around 190 to pagan parents in North Africa. Before baptism he was distinguished in Carthage as a teacher of philosophy and rhetoric. He came to faith in Christ and was baptized at a young age; as soon as he became a Christian he abandoned his prestigious teacher's position, sold his many possessions and gave all his wealth to the poor. He was ordained presbyter in 247, Bishop of Carthage in 248. He was known for his gentleness and paternal care for his flock, combined with firm opposition to heretics. His extensive writings still guide the Church today. For his confession of Christ, he was beheaded under the Emperor Valerian on September 14; since that is the date of the Exaltation of the Cross, his feast is kept today. At the time of his execution he left twenty-five gold pieces (a huge sum) for the executioner who beheaded him.
"God Exaltation," Ordinary Time, Luke 14:1, 7-14, The Rt. Rev. Alan Hawkins.
Pastor Ken Biggs | AM Aug 31st, 2025 | Praise and Exaltation (Isaiah cont'd)
For information, books or if you would like to make a love donation, please visit us at https://www.walkinginpower.orgThis text critiques Mormonism (LDS), classifying it as a cult that distorts biblical Christianity. It argues that Mormonism's Jesus is not the eternal Son of God but a created being and spirit brother of Lucifer, undermining His deity and the sufficiency of His atonement. Joseph Smith is identified as a false prophet whose revelations and additional scriptures—the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price—contradict the biblical principle of sola scriptura.Core LDS doctrines, such as works-based salvation, temple ordinances, celestial marriage, and the promise of exaltation to godhood, place salvation on human performance rather than Christ's finished work. Grace is redefined as power to achieve worthiness, not the unearned gift of God. The highest afterlife, celestial exaltation, is reserved only for those who obey LDS law fully, diminishing Christ's role as sole Savior.The critique concludes that while many Mormons are sincere and zealous, their doctrine represents a counterfeit gospel. True salvation, it argues, is found only in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, according to Scripture alone.
I provide an update to why I have been MIA since May & what you can expect going forward.#dailypodcast #Alignment #Fasting #Illumination #2025
What is the relationship between light, truth, and grace? Richard Draper teaches how they're related in a scriptural context. Click here to view the speech page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Exaltation & Equality James 1:9-11 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. James 2:1-13 2 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. I. Boasting In Christ II. Treating All With Equality III. Loving Your Neighbor
Read Online“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11–12If you were to plan out the ideal future for yourself, what would it look like? Imagine if you were not constrained by budget or resources. Imagine if you could pick to do anything you wanted, to go anywhere you wanted, and enjoy any activity that you wanted. Imagine the greatest experience you could possibly have. What would that be? Most people would immediately think about indulging in the greatest pleasures imaginable. A life of the most luxurious accommodations, the best food, the most beautiful scenery and the most relaxing and enjoyable time possible. But would that truly be the “ideal future for yourself?”The Gospel passage above is very clear. Greatness is found in servanthood. Exaltation is enjoyed only through humility. Is the ideal lifestyle one that is filled with indulgence, entertainment, luxury, and the like? Certainly not. The ideal life, the greatest life, the most exalted life is the life of the most humble service of others as possible. That's essentially what Jesus tells us in this passage. Do you believe that?Note that Jesus uses the words “greatest” and “must” in the same sentence. These two words are both quite definitive. There is no one greater than the “greatest,” and the path to that greatness requires, without exception, that the greatest be a servant of everyone else. In many ways, this truth defies most human conceptions of greatness. Most often, if someone is considered “great,” then they are served and treated with an honor and respect not given to most. For example, if you had someone of great importance over to your home for dinner, you would most likely wait on them. Of course, service in this context is much more than waiting on tables or providing a meal. Though that is a blessed way to serve others and to express love, Jesus' concept of service goes far beyond this. How do we serve as one who is truly great? We do so especially by humbling ourselves. Humility is the greatest form of service we can render another.Jesus was, without question, the humblest person to ever live. Only His mother shared perfectly in this holy virtue. Humility enables a person to break out of every selfish tendency and turn their love to the good of the other. Jesus did this first by becoming Incarnate in the womb of His dear mother. The Eternal Son of God did not become man because it somehow benefited Him in a self-centered way. He did it because He loved us and His Incarnation benefited us. The Son of God did not allow others to mock Him, ridicule Him and ultimately murder Him because it somehow benefitted Him. He did it so that He could enter death and destroy it so that we could rise with Him. He did it for us. And we could go through every passage of the Gospels and see that everything Jesus did was done for others and never done out of a selfish desire. This self-giving service our Lord offered every day was a fruit of the incredible humility that He lived. Jesus did everything He did out of His love for others and with humility so as to bring salvation and transformation to their eternal souls.In our lives, we need to make a fundamental choice. Am I going to live for myself? Or am I going to live for others? It seems as though very few people live fully for others. It is difficult to take our eyes off ourselves and turn them only to the good of others. But if we realize that living for others is also the path to our own greatness and ultimate exaltation, then it becomes much easier. Serving others, especially in a spiritual way by which you do all you can to help them grow closer to God, is what will make you great. Nothing else can do so. Believe that and live it. Reflect, today, upon a life of true greatness.Reflect, especially, upon how you can live such a life. How can you more completely serve others? How can you make their holiness your primary goal? How can you help others grow in their love of God? Humble yourself and turn your eyes from yourself to others. Doing so will make an eternal difference for others and also for yourself.My exalted Lord, You are exalted far above all others. You are Greatness Itself. The life You lived, dear Lord, was one of the greatest humility. But it was in this humility that You accomplished the salvation of the world. Help me to imitate Your greatness by making the service of others my most central mission in life. I love you, my Lord. May I love and serve others with You. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Ford Madox Brown, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
It's Tuesday, August 19th, A.D. 2025. 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 Kevin Swanson 1,500 Christians hiding in Somalia, Africa International Christian Concern reports that there are still at least 1,500 Christian believers hiding in Somalia, Africa. This country is the second most dangerous place on earth for Christians, according to the World Watch List. Somali Christians are often killed, on the spot, when their faith is discovered – murdered either by Islamic militants or even their own family. Somalia is also the sixth poorest nation in Africa, and the highest percentage of Muslims of any nation in the world with 99.8% of the population identifying as Muslim. The only possible exception is the population on the island of Maldives, located 470 miles off the coast of India in the Indian Ocean. Citizens there are required to nominally follow Sunni Islam. So, technically it is 100% Muslim. However, a 2020 census revealed that 0.29% identify as Christian. Socialists lost in Bolivian election The socialists lost ground big time in Bolivia's election over the weekend. The socialist candidate, Eduardo del Castillo, only took 3% of the vote. The more conservative candidate, Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, took 30.4%. And the more centrist candidate, Paz Pereira, captured 30.7% of the vote, at last count. A run-off will be in the works. Psalm 75:6-7 is clear that God is sovereign over the nations. “Exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” Brazilian Supreme Court put Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest The Brazilian Supreme Court has resumed its campaign to silence Jair Bolsonaro, the previous president and conservative leader of the South American country. The court ordered his house arrest, after Bolsonaro addressed a crowd by cell phone. His alleged crime was that he said, “Good afternoon, Copacabana. Good afternoon, my Brazil, a hug to everyone. This is for our freedom.” U.S. State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau lambasted Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Landau called the court's actions “unbridled Orwellian impulses … dragging his Court and his country into the uncharted territory of a judicial dictatorship.” Putin wants 20% of Ukrainian territory under Russian control President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday at the White House, in hopes of working a peace deal in the Russian-Ukrainian war, reports The Epoch Times. Zelenskyy was quite reverential, unlike his last visit to the White House, where he angered Vice President Vance and President Trump alike. ZELENSKYY: “Thank you very much for your efforts, personal efforts to stop killings and stop this war. Thank you.” President Trump seemed hopeful, referencing a trilateral agreement between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. TRUMP: “If everything works out well today, we'll have a trilat. And I think there will be a reasonable chance of ending the war when we do that.” At issue is Russian President Vladimir Putin's insistence that Russia retain 20% of Ukrainian territory now under Russian dominance. Trump has signaled on Truth Social that “Ukraine must be willing to lose some territory to Russia.” Also, Trump is pressing Ukraine to abandon any commitment to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO. Last week, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not be giving up land to the “occupier.” Isaiah 2:3-4 reminds us “[The God of Jacob] will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Newsmax ordered to pay $67 million to Dominion voting machines The conservative news organization, Newsmax, has agreed to pay Dominion voting machines $67 million for suggesting the company had rigged the 2020 election in which President Donald Trump lost to then Democrat candidate Joe Biden. Newsmax issued a statement complaining that the Delaware judge presiding over the case had not offered a fair trial. And Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy noted that “The actions taken against Newsmax, and earlier against Fox News, represent a direct attack on free speech and a free press.” He also encouraged all businesses to leave Delaware, a liberal bastion in the U.S. Back in 2023, Fox News was saddled with a $790 million payout in a similar lawsuit. The almost $1 billion was quite a take for Dominion, a company earning less than $100 million a year, per an estimate from CBS News. Stock valuation through the roof Stock valuation is way, way high on the S&P stock index. Price-to-earnings ratios are scraping 30 at 29.88, the highest since 2020 and the 2009 recession. The price-to-earnings ratio is the ratio of a company's share or stock price to the company's earnings per share. Price-to-earnings ratios averaged about 15 for a hundred years, prior to the stock market craziness of the 2010s and 2020s. The NASDAQ 100 price-to-earnings ratio is 42, the highest in recorded history. Another index, known as the Buffett Indicator, comparing the valuation of the 5,000 largest companies to the Gross Domestic Product is 210.11%, the highest in history. Before the 2009 recession, the Buffett Indicator hit a high of 109%, and before the dot-com crash, the indicator hit an unprecedented 135%. 270 million babies killed by in vitro fertilization And finally, Life Site News reports that 270 million babies have been aborted by the in vitro fertilization procedure since the idea was conceived in 1978. The calculation is based on the estimation of 16 embryonic children killed for every live child born. About 17 million children have been produced by the IVF procedure. Those 270 million IVF abortions add to about 65 million legalized abortions since 1973, and millions more by the abortifacient intrauterine device or IUD, and other abortifacients. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, August 19th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Do you really wish to see Jesus? 1) The world has gone after Him. - Jesus will take over the world. 2) The hour has finally come. - Jesus will be glorified as the Son of Man. 3) Exaltation will come by death. - Jesus will die, and so must we. Preached by Charles Humphrey on August 17, 2025
Today, we get to see the connection in a God-ordained process by which God is lifted high and we are changed. This process included three great "E" words: EDUCATION EXULTATION EXALTATION I look forward to considering these connections and how skipping any on of these steps could really derail our praise and prayer. It should be fun! * SPOTIFY MUSIC PLAYLIST -- https://tinyurl.com/fkzpkjwh * SERMON PODCAST -- https://tinyurl.com/2sn3msmn * CONNECT WITH US -- https://siderischurch.com/connectcard * MORE GOSPEL RESOURCES -- https://siderischurch.com/resources
Revelation Date: May 6, 1833 Revelation Place: Kirtland, Ohio Section 93 - Historical Background: Many of the saints had migrated from Kirtland to Jackson County, Missouri, but there were still about 150 families remaining in Kirtland, Ohio. Still, the Lord wanted to establish a Stake there and organize the building of a temple. In anticipation of this, the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith one of the most profound revelations found in the Doctrine and Covenants, providing deep, spiritual truths the saints would need to know to appreciate the significance of the temple endowment. Recap: Every human being who keeps God's commandments shall see His face and shall receive the Father's fullness, grace for grace. Christ is the Firstborn, and was chosen in the beginning to be the Only Begotten of the Father, the Creator of all things and the Redeemer of mankind. Truth is defined as knowing the realities of the present, the past and as they always will be. In the beginning, all mankind were independent intelligences, or elements of light and truth, which are eternal and cannot be made. Each intelligence has agency to act for oneself. God selected those intelligences to become His children and they were given a Spirit body. He then prepared a plan for them to receive the fullness of His joy, which requires a temporal body. The glory of God is the host of intelligences who obey Him, obtaining exaltation, immortality and eternal life. We are thus commanded to set in order our house and teach our children light and truth. The First Presidency is rebuked and called to repentance. Satan is determined to destroy them, along with all of God's children. The First Presidency must repent, set their homes in order and hasten to complete the revising of the scriptures, the learning history, countries, kingdoms and the laws of God and man.
For Sep 14, 2025The Exaltation of the Cross(Ps 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38)
For Sep 14, 2025The Exaltation of the Cross(Ps 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38)
Jes'us': Week 1 Caleb Schafer, the Lead Pastor of Redeemer's Church, speaks about who we are so people see Jesus. Sunday, August 10th, 2025 | 8.10.25 Category: Jesus, Exaltation, Honor
Pastor Bruce leads us through a sermon on how to point to Jesus in our lives.
Read the account of Christ's holy Transfiguration (Metamorphosis in Greek) in Matthew ch. 17, Mark ch. 9, and Luke ch. 9. Appearing clothed in Light on Mt Tabor, the Savior fulfilled his promise to His disciples that "there are some standing here who shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom" (Mt 16:28). Christ's Transfiguration is the image of the future state of the righteous, of which He spoke when He said "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Mt 13:43). According to the Church's tradition, the Transfiguration occurred forty days before His Crucifixion; for this reason the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.
This sermon was preached on June 29th, 2025 as part of Sojourn's "Devoted" series, exploring our Spirit-fueled vision and values at Sojourn as found in the book of Acts. Sojourn is a church committed to the gospel in the context of family living on mission to the city of Portland and our world. For more info, visit our website, sojournpdx.org, or follow us on social media:@SojournPDX on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Hear more sermons at http://www.lvbaptist.org/service-podcast/ Watch Our TV Broadcast here: http://www.lvbaptist.org/tv-programs/ Visit us here: Lehigh Valley Baptist Church 4702 Colebrook Ave. Emmaus, PA 18049
Hebrews 2:10-18 - The Humiliation and Exaltation of Jesus by First Pres Kingwood
2 Corinthians 11:16-33 - Boasting as a Fool Please remain standing. Our sermon text this morning is 2 Corinthians 11:16-33. Please turn there. It is on page 1152. In this passage, the apostle Paul comes back to the theme of boasting. He introduced it in chapter 10. Remember, our boasting should be in the Lord and his work, not ourselves and our work. That was in contrast to the super apostles, who boasted in themselves. That is why, at the beginning of chapter 11, Paul had the most pointed critique of them yet. They taught a different Gospel and were actually messengers of Satan. That brings us to our text this morning. As you will hear, Paul hates their boasting. But to counter the super apostles, he first sarcastically boasts in his credentials and then surprisingly he boasts in something very different. Listen for those things as I read. Reading of 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 Prayer On the world stage, there is no shortage of bragging and arrogance. I'm talking mainly about world leaders. I think there's been an increase over the last couple of decades. We certainly saw it back in the late1990s with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. Vladimir Putin in Russia has certainly displayed a confident arrogance in his 25 years of power. And no matter your political opinions, I think everyone here would agree: our current president is quite the self-promoter, and I'm being kind. Now, don't be distracted by that comment. Stay with me. Let me say that none of this is new. If we go back to the first century in the Roman Empire, boasting was at a similar high. In fact, I read in a commentary this week that Ceasar Augustus, one of the great Roman Emperors, raised the bar of self-promotion. Near the end of his life, Augustus wrote a short treatise about himself. Listen to the title - “The Deeds of the Divine Augustus.” It was released in the year of his death, AD 14. In it, Augustus highlighted all of his successes – his military accomplishments, his public works, his diplomacy, and his reforms in the empire. You can find it online. In it, you will read over and over. “I did this, I did that.” I triumphed over such and such nations. I built the senate house and the capital building. Four times, I helped the senatorial treasury with my own money. I restored peace to the sea from pirates. I gave shows of gladiators under my name. I extended the borders of the empire… etc. etc. This kind of self-absorbed boasting permeated the culture of the Roman Empire. And to give a little historical context, it was published about 60 years after Corinth was re-settled as a Roman city; 20 years before Jesus' crucifixion, and about 40 years before Paul wrote 2 Corinthians. So, it is no surprise that the false apostles in Corinth praised themselves. That is what you did if you were to be known and honored. We've seen it over and over, these “super apostles” did not live by the Spirit with a humble and contrite heart. No, rather they lived by the world's standards and beliefs and lifestyle. And part of that was to elevate themselves and their own self-defined credentials. As we just read, the apostle Paul hated it. In verses 16 to 21 he calls it all foolishness. In fact, look at verse 19. He writes to the church, “for you gladly bear with fools.” So, not only was their boasting foolish, but the false apostles themselves were fools. That word fool or foolish, if you remember from our Proverbs study, can be understood either as passively ignorant, you know, not really knowing any better… or being foolish can be understood in a more active way, someone being unwise with a senseless arrogance. That second understanding best fits the context. Paul even sarcastically calls the Corinthians “wise.” You see that in the second half of 19. “For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves!” It wasn't wisdom at all, but rather foolishness. So, that was part of the problem in Corinth. The arrogant boasting of the culture had come to the church through the super-apostles. So, what does Paul do? Well, for a brief moment, he enters into their boasting. It is like he is saying, since you are foolishly boasting, let me show you what this foolish boasting is like. He doesn't want to toot his own horn, but he feels like he has to in order answer the super apostles. That why he says in verse 16, “…let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.” He goes on in 17, “What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool. Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.” Can you sense it? Paul can't stand boasting. Nonetheless, he is compelled to do it. The false apostles were enslaving the Corinthians with their lies and deceit. To use some of the other words in verse 20. They were “devouring” them and “taking advantage” of them. The false apostles had “air” of superiority. In all of it, they were in essence “striking [the church] in the face.” But really, they had nothing on Paul. Paul's fleshly credentials were greater than theirs. He says in verse 22, “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I.” He could have gone on with his worldly credentials. In other places in Scripture he mentions that he is from the tribe of Benjamin. He was among the few. Furthermore, he had been an esteemed Pharisee. But he says in his letter to the Philippians chapter 3 that he “counts it all loss for the sake of Christ.” There is something far greater, and that is his identity in Christ. “Corinthian church, you have bought into this ungodly boasting. It is all foolishness. And even if you go by the super apostles foolish criteria, they still do not measure up.” Any and all boasting in human strength and ability is self-centered and not Christ-centered. It is foolishness because (1) it does not recognize God and his Glory and his gifts, (2) it does not recognize our sin and our unworthiness apart from Christ, and (3) boasting in human strength does not acknowledge that all good gifts come from him alone. Now, we covered some of that a couple of weeks ago. But we learn something very interesting here in the middle of chapter 11. We learn, there is something that we can boast about in our lives. We can boast in our weakness. Jump down to verse 30. “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” Verses 23 to really the middle of chapter 12 are specifically about that. Boasting in weakness. Now, boasting in our weakness does not mean glorifying failure or seeking pity. It is not drawing attention to ourselves as a victim. Nor is it seeking our identity in suffering. The apostle Paul is not doing any of that, here. So then, what is boasting in weakness? It is giving glory to God who sustains us in our weakness. And it is recognizing that the Lord has gone before us in our suffering. Just as he endured the weakness of the flesh and affliction from the world, so too, in him, God will sustain and use us in our weakness. I just want to make that clear. As we look at this, there are two things that the apostle focuses on. First, here in chapter 11 he focuses on the affliction that he received as a result of his ministry. You know, all the things that he suffered as an apostle. Second, when we get to the beginning of chapter 12, he focuses on the weakness of the flesh. Paul will write about his thorn in the flesh. We'll get to that next week. But today, let's consider this unbelievable list of Paul's suffering and God's protection. Go back up to verse 23. Paul begins, “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one” Now, put yourself in the shoes of the Corinthians. What do you think they expected Paul to say, next? Perhaps they expected him to give a Caesar Augustus type list: I, Paul, planted 13 churches; I saw the risen Lord, himself, on the road to Damascus; I raised Eutychus from the dead; I cast out demons in Jesus name; I healed the sick; I confounded the Greek philosophers in Athens. Etc. etc. But he doesn't do that. No, instead, he rattles off a most surprising list. All the things that he suffered (so far!) as an apostle. And it is overwhelming. God sustained him over and over and over to bring the Gospel all throughout the northern Mediterranean. Only a portion of this list is included in the book of Acts. Acts is the history of the early church. · Paul was imprisoned multiple times. In Phillipi, which we read about earlier, he was beaten and then imprisoned with his feet in stocks. · He mentions, here, multiple beating with rods. In Lystra he was stoned outside the city and left for dead. · The most severe thing on this list is the forty lashes minus 1. It was a Jewish punishment for breaking the law. The guilty party would be severely whipped. Each lash would score the skin of the recipient. It would create what was called a stripe. A bloodied line across the back that would eventually scar. 39 lashes was one short of 40. More than 40 would have broken the Jewish law, so 39 was just in case someone didn't miscount. Paul bore on his body the marks of his sacrifice for the Gospel. · He mentions being shipwrecked three times. However, the most famous shipwreck had not even happened yet. That one is recorded in Acts 27. That would be a couple of years later. · He furthermore endured multiple dangers. He endured danger from the elements… from cold and heat. Sometimes he went without food. But also, he experienced danger from others. Danger not just from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles and from robbers. Notice at the end of verse 26 he includes danger from false brothers. He uses the word “brothers” because there were men in the church who threatened him. They were wolves in sheep's clothing, just like the false apostles in Corinth. This kind of persecution happens all over the world today. We have so many freedoms in our country, that it's hard to imagine the suffering that our brothers and sister in Christ experience throughout the world. Some of you know or have met Pastor Zaki. He pastors the Orthodox Presbyterian Church over on Chamblee Tucker. It's just down the road from here. He is a dear brother and a friend. Zaki is from Eretria. He's been in the US for about 15 years. A couple of years ago, at a conference here in the area, he spoke about persecution. As part of that, Pastor Zaki shared a little about the persecution that he endured. In 2002, the government of Eritrea shut down many of the churches. Some believers were imprisoned, especially pastors, and the church had to go underground. Well, Zaki was arrested. He was not even allowed to tell his family, when it happened. He was brought to the prison. They put him in a metal shipping container. There was just one small vent in it so he could breathe. Literally, nothing else was in it. Zaki described how he, at first, struggled to rejoice. He remembered the words of Jesus, blessed are those who are persecuted for my name sake. And he remembered the words of the apostle Peter that we're to rejoice in suffering. He thought, “had I led my people astray telling them that they should rejoice even if they suffered persecution for their faith.” Those first few hours weighed heavily on him, and he prayed. Then it happened. The Holy Spirit opened his heart, and he began rejoicing in the Lord. Something even more amazing happened that first night. About midnight, he said, he began hearing other believers all throughout the prison singing. They were suffering, but they were rejoicing. And he joined in their joyful praise. Brother Zaki was release but arrested 4 more time over the next 9 years. As I understand it, he was beaten. At one point he almost died, but the Lord preserved him. In 2011, he was able to flee to the United States. He moved to Greenville to study. And then the Lord then brought him here to the Tucker area to pastor. The kind of suffering and affliction that Paul endured is experienced by many today who love and serve Christ. And I want you to notice, it's not just external suffering that Paul endured. Look at verse 28. “Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” Paul loved the Corinthians. Really, he loved every single church that he participated in planting. He prayed for them. He communicated with them. He longed to see them be faithful and true. And it all weighed on his soul. And look what he says in verse 29. He asks, “who is weak, and I am not weak?” In other words, when someone in one of his churches suffered, Paul suffered alongside of them. His heart suffered. The next question in verse 29 is even stronger, “Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?” In other words, when a fellow believer in Christ was led into sin by one of these false brothers, Paul was indignant. He had a righteous anger at these false apostles for all the ways in which the church was being led astray. That internal turmoil was part of the suffering that he endured. Ok, now, jump down to verses 32 and 33. Paul mentions one final experience. Many, many years earlier, when he was in Damascus, in order to escape persecution, he had to be lowered in a basket out of a window. By the way, if someone tried to lower me in a basket, I think it wold probably go very poorly. I wouldn't even fit in a basket. But Paul escaped. Now, when you hear this last trial, doesn't it feel like an addendum to his list? But let me ask, do you remember the significance of Damascus? Paul was on the road to Damascus when the Lord blinded him and called him to faith. Damascus was the very city that he first stayed in as a believer in Jesus. Do you see what Paul is saying? His suffering as an apostle began at the very beginning of his ministry. All the suffering that he has endured is not new. It goes back to the very beginning of labors for Christ. Despite what the false apostles were saying, his suffering did not disqualify him as an apostle. No, rather, it testified to his true apostleship. Do you see now why Paul could boast in this affliction and weakness? It showed and demonstrated that God had called him to suffer and God sustained him through it all. This was not the theology of the super apostles. Part of their false prosperity Gospel, which we've considered multiple times in weeks past, was to reject sickness and suffering as part of the Christian life. Like many counterfeit pastors today, they taught that suffering was not part of God's purpose and will for your life. They rejected Paul because he suffered. But God is saying through Paul that suffering is part and parcel of the Christian life. He's been saying that all throughout 2 Corinthians. Remember, in our affliction, we share in the affliction of Christ, so that we may share in his comfort. And also, these light momentary afflictions are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. And so, we can boast in our weakness. It's a humble boasting. Yes, that's a little paradoxical, but I think you know what I mean. It's a humble boasting that gives glory to God. Isn't that the upside-down world of the Gospel? Strength comes through weakness. Exaltation comes through humility. Life comes through death. Go back up to verse 23. We've already considered it. Paul asks, “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one.” Did you notice that it is the only question where Paul raises the bar. He doesn't say, “so am I” like how he answers the other questions. Rather he says, “I am better.” Literally translated, it would say I am a degree beyond. His service to Christ is far better because of his suffering, not despite it. That question and Paul's answer prefaces the entire list of his suffering. To put it another way, Paul suffered in this life, we suffer in this life, just as our Savior suffered in this life. Jesus endured many trials in this life. False accusations; rejection from his people; temptations from Satan; Jesus disciples abandoned him at his hour of need; he was spit on and mocked and whipped… not with regular whips, like 40 lashes minus one, but wips with metal or bone fragments in it, which tore into his skin. Isaiah wrote in his prophecy that our Savior was oppressed and afflicted, yet did not open his mouth. “he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Other translations say, “with his stripes we are healed.” Paul boasted in his suffering because his Savior suffered and died for him. Jesus suffered and died so that in eternity his people would be freed from suffering and affliction. In other words, Jesus did not suffer and die so that we would not suffer in this life. No. Rather, Jesus suffered and died to forgive and redeem us, and in heaven we will be freed from our suffering forever. And that gives us great hope in our suffering in this life. And we can therefore boast in it. If we must, as Paul says. So, to recap – Paul's boasting in his earthly credentials, was simply to put the super apostles in their place. All boasting in human strength and wisdom is foolishness and it dishonors God. If we must boast about ourselves, we should boast in our weakness. For Paul, his suffering was a testimony of his true ministry as an apostle. And when we boast in our suffering we ought testify to Christ's suffering for our salvation. Truly, in all of history, there was only one man who could rightfully boast in his accomplishments. It was not Caesar Augustus. It was not any world leader today or in the past. No. The only one who could rightfully boast was and is our Lord. As God the son, Jesus is the king of kings; the agent through which God created the heavens and the earth; He is the very word of God; and redeemer of God's people. Yet, on earth, he boasted not of those things. Instead, he humbled himself. He did not respond when mocked, he suffered and died, but was raised. As we sang earlier, “I will not boast in anything; No gifts, no power, no wisdom; But I will boast in Jesus Christ; His death and resurrection” So, let us boast in him… and when we suffer, let us boast because we suffer in him. Amen
Send us a textIf we are going to discuss our Mother in Heaven seriously, we have to address the issue of polygamy. In this episode, I address several myths that have been perpetuated in our LDS culture, almost from the inception of the practice of polygamy—all of which are speculations and have been debunked.Listen as I discuss whether or not polygamy is:*The law or an exception to the law*Was taught as a requisite for the celestial kingdom*Fair for either husband or wife*Lived by Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother*Commanded because there is a surplus of women❤️ ❤️ ❤️My current work in Progress: Emerging from the Wilderness: Rediscovering our Mother in Heaven✨ ✨ ✨ ✨❤️ Join our Facebook community - Exploring the Divine Femininehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/937748690065723❤️ Follow this channel on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/exploringthedivinefeminine/❤️Follow my author channel https://www.instagram.com/ramonasiddoway/❤️ Follow me on Facebook author-- https://www.facebook.com/ramonasiddowayauthor/regular nutty day-to-day me--https://www.facebook.com/ramona.siddoway✨ ✨ ✨ ✨Exploring the Divine Feminine YouTube ChannelSUBSCRIBE NOW -- ExploringTheDivineFeminineChannel✨ ✨ ✨ ✨About Me: ⬇️I am a nonfiction and fiction writer who absolutely loves research! I have 3 published books that you can get on Amazon, the latest is "We Are Adam: the Partnership of Adam and Eve in the Garden and what it means for you."I live on a homestead in the country with a large garden, several chickens, 3 dogs, a cat, a large garden, and a few acres of forest just to myself. I love yoga, gardening, reading, and spending time with my best friends (which are my husband, 4 children, and their families.) Sounds cliche, but they are the ones who know all about me but still like me.Buy my book here: Amazon WeAreAdam CedarFort https://www.cedarfort.com/products/we-are-adam
This video includes additional teaching ideas and activities for the Doctrine and Covenants 76 lesson in the Come Follow Me manual. It is intended to supplement the insight video and to be an additional resource specifically for teachers, parents, missionaries, or anyone preparing to teach the content of this week's Come Follow Me lesson to others. Link to purchase rubber snake: https://amzn.to/44CsHdK Link to "Who Is Jesus Christ" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2015-01-1000-who-is-jesus-christ-a-60-second-overview?lang=eng&alang=eng&collectionId=9f599226451f80ca7021350d08097d9bd48d5bf4 Link to "Degrees of Glory" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2019-08-0100-degrees-of-glory?lang=eng Link to purchase headlamp: https://amzn.to/3TIMlyC Link to "Salvation and Exaltation" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2019-08-0060-salvation-and-exaltation?lang=eng To purchase the Doctrine and Covenants Bundle Subscription, click here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeachingWithPower You can reach me by email at teachingwithpower@gmail.com Music Provided by Youtube Audio Library. Track Name: Dancing Star. https://teachingwithpower.wixsite.com/teachingwithpower IMAGES USED:DALL-E AI images have been used in the production of some of the illustrations used in this video. Story Illustration pictures from Bible illustrations provided by Sweet Publishing, http://sweetpublishing.com, and issued under Creative Commons 3.0 Share Alike Unported License. All other pictures are listed in the Public Domain Disclaimer: I alone am responsible for the content of these videos. The opinions in them are mine. They represent my ideas and insights and do not reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Teaching and Study helps for the Doctrine and Covenants 76 lesson in the Come Follow Me manual. This video will give you ideas and insights on how to teach Christ and Scripture Centered gospel lessons with more relevancy and power. These insights coincide with the lesson for July 7-July 13 in the Come Follow Me manual. Principles include: The Savior and the Serpent, Destinations and Directions, Don't Settle for the Stars, and more.Link to purchase rubber snake: https://amzn.to/44CsHdK Link to "Who Is Jesus Christ" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2015-01-1000-who-is-jesus-christ-a-60-second-overview?lang=eng&alang=eng&collectionId=9f599226451f80ca7021350d08097d9bd48d5bf4 Link to "Degrees of Glory" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2019-08-0100-degrees-of-glory?lang=eng Link to purchase headlamp: https://amzn.to/3TIMlyC Link to "Salvation and Exaltation" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2019-08-0060-salvation-and-exaltation?lang=eng To purchase the Doctrine and Covenants Bundle Subscription, click here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeachingWithPower You can reach me by email at teachingwithpower@gmail.com Music Provided by Youtube Audio Library. Track Name: Dancing Star. https://teachingwithpower.wixsite.com/teachingwithpower IMAGES USED:DALL-E AI images have been used in the production of some of the illustrations used in this video. Story Illustration pictures from Bible illustrations provided by Sweet Publishing, http://sweetpublishing.com, and issued under Creative Commons 3.0 Share Alike Unported License. All other pictures are listed in the Public Domain Disclaimer: I alone am responsible for the content of these videos. The opinions in them are mine. They represent my ideas and insights and do not reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This week Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson speak about a talk given on March 10, 1964 at BYU by Eldred Smith, the patriarch of the church at that time. What he teaches is not much different from what the church teaches today.
This week Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson speak about a talk given on March 10, 1964 at BYU by Eldred Smith, the patriarch of the church at that time. What he teaches is not much different from what the church teaches today.
This week Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson speak about a talk given on March 10, 1964 at BYU by Eldred Smith, the patriarch of the church at that time. What he teaches is not much different from what the church teaches today.
This week Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson speak about a talk given on March 10, 1964 at BYU by Eldred Smith, the patriarch of the church at that time. What he teaches is not much different from what the church teaches today.
This week Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson speak about a talk given on March 10, 1964 at BYU by Eldred Smith, the patriarch of the church at that time. What he teaches is not much different from what the church teaches today.
The sermon explores the story of Joseph, drawing parallels between his life and the gospel of Jesus Christ, emphasizing God's sovereign work through suffering and providence. It highlights Joseph's journey from adversity to exaltation, portraying him as a savior figure who provides sustenance and ultimately leads to reconciliation and redemption, mirroring the promise to Abraham and foreshadowing the salvation of all nations. The message underscores the importance of trusting God's plan, even amidst trials, and recognizing that obedience and humility are essential for receiving His grace and ultimately experiencing His blessings, both individually and within the broader context of faith and community.
This trialogue continues a series of discussion exploring the latest interdisciplinary research into tantric completion stage practices such as yogas of dream, sleep, and death. Dr Tawni Tidwell is a biocultural anthropologist and doctor of traditional Tibetan medicine. Dr Michael Sheehy is the Director of Research at the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia. Dr Julian Schott is an Indologist, Tibetologist, and assistant professor at the University of Vienna. Dr Tidwell leads a deep-dive into the mysterious death practices of tantric yoga, the post-mortem state of suspended animation called tukdam, and the history of scientific investigation into these phenomena. Dr Sheehy explores the implications of tantric death practices on current scientific models of the body, Dr Schott reflects on Buddhist vs Cartesian notions of consciousness, and Dr Tidwell explains the cultural sensitivities of working with Himalayan gurus. The panel also discuss the importance of osel - clear light awareness - in completion stage practices, the relationship between nonduality and transformation, and consider new research directions on the cutting edge of contemplative neuroscience. … Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … 01:37 - Recap previously discussed themes 02:30 - Research in tukdam and yogic dying 05:17 - Researching dying spiritual masters 09:27 - Recruiting Tibetan monastics 10:33 - Cultural dynamics around studying tukdam 12:32 - Early phases & baseline measures 13:23 - Collaboration with the Russian Academy of Science 14:39 - What could tukdam contribute to science? 15:52 - American mortician shocked 18:40 - Biological aspects of tukdam 20:53 - Funding and reliance on Russian equipment 22:14 - What happens to the body after death 23:25 - Tukdam documentary 25:39 - Future direction for the project 27:15 - Skepticism about the project and growing body of evidence 30:45 - Siloed scientific disciples 31:22 - Catholic saints and attained mystics from other traditions 32:16 - Fundraising 33:05 - New learnings about the body and reflections on the Self 34:17 - The death process as a series of dissolutions 37:22 - Tracking heat, oxygenation, fluid movement, and visual imagery 44:27 - Buddhist vs Cartesian notions of consciousness 46:56 - Different tukdam methods across lineages 49:18 - Evan Thompson's theories of consciousness 51:24 - We can die in different ways 54:56 - Methodologically rich ways to attain wisdom 57:41 - The soteriological essence of Buddhism 01:01:35 - Human transformation and experiences of the edge 01:04:02 - Exaltation 01:05:03 - How do tantric techniques lead to tukdam? 01:09:04 - Tummo & vajra recitation to control subtle energies 01:10:41 - Dream, orgasm, and death 01:13:26 - Tukdam is counter-rational and challenges scientific reductionism 01:17:28 - The personal impact of witnessing tukdam 01:19:38 - Tantra is radical 01:20:38 - Julian quotes the Hevajra Tantra 01:22:40 - Can tukdam candidates be studied before death? 01:25:40 - Aggregate or sudden? 01:27:25 - Understanding osel, nondual awareness, and NDE 01:30:08 - Clear light sleep 01:33:04 - Challenging reductionistic paradigms 01:35:11 - The importance of nondual awareness 01:37:53 - Sentience and yeshe 01:41:44 - Exalted form in co-creation with consciousness 01:43:31 - Steve comments on scientific reductionist materialism 01:44:19 - What measurements has the project recorded? 01:47:04 - Julian's closing remarks 01:47:31 - Tawni's closing remarks 01:48:57 - Michael's closing remarks Previous panel discussion: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep305-neuroscience-of-dream-yoga-dr-michael-sheehy-dr-tawni-tidwell-dr-julian-schott For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James