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In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Creatures", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures. Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the next few weeks of the Dennis Jernigan podcast because I absolutely love the subject matter that we're covering. I really do. For the past few weeks I have been sharing the stories behind songs inspired by a fantasy book series I wrote for my children and grandchildren…but something I have forgotten to tell you (I will blame my forgetfulness on the Parkinson's) is that the underlying reason I wrote these stories was to paint an allegorical picture of what it means to come to Christ for salvation and how to view the word from Christ's point of view. I wrote the books in such a way that people would not be deterred from reading the books if they felt they had overtly religious undertones. You will be able to find pictures of Jesus and discovering none's identity in Christ painted throughout The Chronicles of Bren. And there's one more thing to tell you. I have actually written 2 series of books. The first series is called The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy and the second series (which is about to have its 4th book completed) called The Bairns of Bren. This second series features my grandchildren as the heroes of the stories and it has become quite a wild ride. I'll let you know when book 4 in that series is available. You are used to hearing me share the stories behind songs of worship and praise; songs of ministry; songs of comfort; songs from Father God's heart to ours…but the song I am sharing today was inspired by a 3-book series of fantasy novels I wrote for my children and grandchildren way back in 2015. The first book in this three-book series is called Captured (Book 1 in The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). You may be asking yourself, “Why would a worship leader and song receiver write series of books and songs about a fantasy world?” I won't share everything that has led me to the writing of fantasy novels. You can simply listen to the podcasts from the episode called “Riding the Wind” all the way up to today's episode in order to catch up. This week's song, “Creatures”, was received sometime in 2015 0r 2016 is a very scary song and was intended to paint a picture of the evil that is at work in the spiritual realm. Some of the creatures are good. Some are evil. My goal was to teach my children and grandchildren to walk in discernment and to trust their consciences and to remember that the enemy sometimes presents himself as an angel of light. My desire is that my grandchildren would learn to be vigilant because the enemy goes about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour with his lies. I'll just mention a few of the lyrics that are meant to instill that vigilance. Better watch out. Better watch out When you pass through Forest or valley Whatever you do Better watch out Better watch Whatever you do Better be watching But who's watching who? Following is a list of the creatures found in Bren. Ogres, Werewolves, Terrebithians (a race of men who live under the ground), Hawken (Hawk people who are faifthul to Bren), Wolfen (wolf people who are faithful to Bren), and Treesant (faithful, yet cautious of Bren). Swine rats, demons, unicorns (always good), dragons (fifty fifty chance of being good), fiends (never a good thing), Witches (never good), warlocks (never good). Captured is a tale as old as time. Day at war with night. I painted a saga of peril and balanced it with faith, because I want my grandchildren to know life is not always easy but it always best lived by walking in faith with Jesus Christ. In this story The Founders represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let me highlight a couple of the creatures to give you some insight as to why I created them. Sylvan – Treesants – These people of the forest – tree spirits, if you will – were inspired by my love for the woods. On our farm, we have acres and acres of forest. In fact, my sons and I have cut trails through the forest and have built a campground in those woods. The campground sits atop a small hill we have dubbed Stirling Mountain after the famous battle of Stirling depicted in the movie about William Wallace, Braveheart. As a teenager studying vocational agriculture, I actually spent time studying trees and was tested on identifying various species native to Oklahoma. Throughout the history of fantasy and mythological writings there have been depictions of tree spirits. I had to include my own version in this story. The Treesants – Sylvan in particular – represent the mystery of life and the joy of trying to unravel the mystery…which Leonolis never does. But I don't think he will ever stop trying. After all, isn't that where the fun is? Swine Rats – This particular creature was conjured up in my mind by the various wild animals I have experienced throughout my life – especially when growing up in the country. We often see coyotes and deer and bobcats and skunks and woodchucks and raccoons and squirrels and possums. When I was a boy in FFA, I had show animals. I bought my first pig to show at livestock shows when I was a freshman in high school. The pig was purchased from a friend who lived ten miles away. After getting the pig home and placed in the enclosure I had prepared for her, she promptly escaped! I searched for a couple of weeks to no avail. After a futile period of searching, I gave up. A week after my search ended I receive a call from the friend I had bought the pig from. He told me the pig had come back to his birthplace! As I secured the enclosure and went to once again bring my pig home, I could not help but imagine what she had endured and all she might have gone through just to make it those weeks alone in her incredible journey. All of that helped inspire the swine rats. I combined rats with a pig just because rats personify dirty, rotten, scoundrels, soaked in evil to me! My grandchildren love to scare me and I love to scare them when it is apprpriate. I do not want them to walk in fear but learn to discern when fear comes it can serve as a warning to be alert and to get themselves out of harm's way if necessary. This is meant to be a scary song and is meant to remind us to walk in the light but walk prepared to stand against the darkness with the light of Jesus Christ. SONG [1Pe 5:8 NIV] 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I believe the roar of the enemy, Satan, is simply lies…noise meant to cause fear and to lead to temptation. I also believe he is like a lion who, though he makes a lot of noise, has no teeth because his only power over us is deception. It would do us all good to remember that. I hope this series of songs on my podcast has not been too off-putting for you. These stories truly do give me an inside track to the hearts of my grand children. Many of them are getting old enough now to understand the allegory and the meaning behind it and for that I am grateful. I hope you find joy and encouragement as you read the books and listen to the songs. They really are refreshing ways to help you find Jesus even through the most difficult times of life. Thanks for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about me, my story, or my music, visit dennisjernigan.com. You can also catch me on Facebook and Instagram, and find my music on most major streaming services. And hey, if you really want to be a part of my team, you can even become a Patron over at Patreon.com/dennisjernigan. I'd love to have you on board! The book “Captured” is available at Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. I encourage you to read the book “Captured” and then listen to or download the songs inspired by each of the main characters for FREE. Just go to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ and download the entire collection for FREE. Thanks again for being part of today's podcast. Remember, God loves you, and so do I. Now, I challenge you to rise up and be the warrior for the kingdom God has called to to be today. And I urge you to put off the lies of the enemy and put on the truth of who the Lord says you are and then go and BE who your Heavenly Father says you are… Creatures WORDS & MUSIC Dennis Jernigan ©2016 DennisJernigan Verse Ogres and werewolves and Terrebithians Hawken and Wolfen and Treesant Myriad creatures inhabiting Bren Some of the dark - Some of Light Swine rats and demons, a unicorn or two Dragons and various fiends Myriad creatures inhabiting Bren Some of the Day - Some of night Chorus Better watch out! Better watch out when you pass through! Forest or a valley - whatever you do! Better watch out! Better watch whatever you do! Better be watching But who's watching who? Verse Witches and warlocks and men of every race With just a thin veil in between them Darkness has no place to go in the Light But always they're hiding its face! Chorus So you better watch out! Better watch out when you pass through! Forest or a valley - whatever you do! Better watch out! Better watch whatever you do! Better be watching But who's watching who? Better be watching But who's watching who? Bridge Tale as old as time Day at war with night Tale as old as time Day at war with Light Chorus So you better watch out! Better watch out when you pass through! Forest or a valley - whatever you do! Better watch out! Better watch whatever you do! Better be watching But who's watching who? Better be watching But who's watching who?
In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Jidgel! Jidgel!", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures. Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the next few weeks of the Dennis Jernigan podcast because I absolutely love the subject matter that we're covering. For the past few weeks I have been sharing the stories behind songs inspired by fantasy book series I wrote for my children and grandchildren. You are used to hearing me share the stories behind songs of worship and praise; songs of ministry; songs of comfort; songs from Father God's heart to ours…but the song I am sharing today was inspired by a 3-book series of fantasy novels I wrote for my children and grandchildren way back in 2015. The first book in this three-book series is called Captured (Book 1 in The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). You may be asking yourself, “Why would a worship leader and song receiver write series of books and songs about a fantasy world?” I won't share everything that has led me to the writing of fantasy novels. You can simply listen to the podcasts from “Riding the Wind' to today's episode in order to catch up. That being said, I will share a brief story that may give you insight into the reason I would create a fantasy world. For many years, from my early childhood and even well into my early adult years, I felt rejected by most people and had a deep desire to know my father's love for me. I had already believed the lie of the enemy, deeming myself unlovable. Each night as I went to bed, I would dream of being a little boy on the starship enterprise and my dad was Captain James Tiberius Kirk. My mother was Doris Day and she was always singing Que sera sera, whatever will be will be. Each night in those dreams, I found myself captured by aliens, placed in captivity, and being readied for execution. Just as I was about to be destroyed, my dad, Captain Kirk, would materialize with his weapon, his phaser, set not on stun but on destroy. Every night I was rescued in those dreams and I woke up right at the moment of rescue. As I have looked back now, I can see how creatively God engineered those dreams to paint a picture of what he had already done for me by the work of the cross. He used fantasy through my dreams to paint a picture of his great love for me. I truly believe that with all my heart. And that is the reason I am sharing these songs from my fantasy books. The song I am sharing on this week's episode is called “Jidgel! Jidgel!”, a song I wrote for the book “Captured (Book 1 in the The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). “Captured” is my life story written in allegory as a legacy to my children and grandchildren. As I wrote the books, I envisioned what it might sound like if Disney ever made a movie based on these books. I completed the songs for the first two books but never got around to writing songs for book three. That book is about my vision for my 9 children…and their real-life stories are still being written. They will need to write their own songs. This week's song, “Jidgel! Jidjel!”, was received sometime in 2015 0r 2016 and was intended to infuse a bit of humor in the story as well as to paint a picture of taking ownership of our own feelings and attitudes and points of view, that regardless of our circumstances, we can choose joy. In the land of Bren, there is a place known as The Forbidden Swamp. It is massive and almost impassable, yet due to circumstances, our protagonist, Leonolis, needs to find a way through The Forbidden Swamp. He is led to a feisty old man, named Jidgel to seek a way through. The name for this character was invented by one of my sons when he was just a boy. My son is one of the most creative people I know. One of his funniest ideas was the way he spoke about what he would call his one-day children. He told me that when he had a son he would call him Jidgel! I never forgot that and decided that this character's name had to be Jidgel. Jidgel represents self-reliance and personal responsibility…and also a beacon of wisdom. Jidgel lives alone and fends for himself in the swamp, daring to live where others fear to tread. As a result, he sees through the trappings of government and superficiality of mankind and evokes a sense of accepting people just because of who they are and not for what they can do for him. Leonolis trusts him quickly once he discerns the wisdom coming from this feisty little man. Jidgel was one of my favorite characters to write. He is very curmudgeonly and bluntly honest and has no fear of what others may think or say of him. Leonolis asks Jidjel to show him the way through the swamp and the keeper of the swamp, as Jidgel is known, challenges him to walk in wisdom. His purpose is to challenge young men and women, to not hold others responsible for their feelings or their attitudes or for their lots in life. He challenges them to hold themselves responsible and to walk as one who is responsible. He believes it is weakness to blame others for your misfortunes. He challenges Lronolis to learn to make something beautiful even out of his misfortunes just as Jidgel saw beauty in a place most others in the Kingdom avoided. I absolutely love this song. Sorry you're about to get a song stuck in your head for a few hours, but it's just fun to say and sing the name Jidgel… SONG Jidgel showed reverence to the boy, Leonolis, but was very honest with him. Though Jidgel was not a constant character throughout the three book series, he is one of my favorites simply because he loved Leonolis enough to be honest with him. His character could have written these words from Pro 3:11-26 NIV 11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. 21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. I hope you find joy and encouragement as you read the books and listen to the songs. They really are refreshing ways to help you find Jesus even through the most difficult times of life. And besides, laughter does good like a medicine. Just try saying the name Jidgel without at least smiling a bit! Thanks for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about me, my story, or my music, visit dennisjernigan.com. You can also catch me on Facebook and Instagram, and find my music on most major streaming services. And hey, if you really want to be a part of my team, you can even become a Patron over at Patreon.com/dennisjernigan. I'd love to have you on board! The book “Captured” is available at Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. I encourage you to read the book “Captured” and then listen to or download the songs inspired by each of the main characters for FREE. Just go to https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ and download the entire collection for FREE. Thanks again for being part of today's podcast. Remember, God loves you, and so do I. Now, I challenge you to rise up and be the warrior for the kingdom God has called to to be today. And I urge you to put off the lies of the enemy and put on the truth of who the Lord says you are and then go and BE who your Heavenly Father says you are… Jidgel! Jidjel! Verse Man of the swamp Man of the fen Man of the water and reed Man of his word Man among men Meeter of shelter and need Chorus Jidgel! Jidjel! Curmudgeon short and stout Jidgel! Jidjel! What is life about? Lack-it-y loo! Didgeridoo! Tell me what life is about to you Lolly-go-lie! Lolly-go-loo! Show me the way to get through Verse Eater of fish Drinker of wine Shorter than average men Taller in heart Taller in mind Defender of Truth, you're his friend Chorus Jidgel! Jidjel! Curmudgeon short and stout Jidgel! Jidjel! What is life about? Lack-it-y loo! Didgeridoo! Tell me what life is about to you Lolly-go-lie! Lolly-go-loo! Show me the way to get through Bridge I can go around But I'd rather go through I think that's what you would do Tell me what I know That I know to be true Show me the way to get through Chorus Jidgel! Jidjel! Curmudgeon short and stout Jidgel! Jidjel! What is life about? Lack-it-y loo! Didgeridoo! Tell me what life is about to you Lolly-go-lie! Lolly-go-loo! Show me the way to get through Show me the way to get through Show me the way to get through
No one has ever been able to replicate human life, not in a lab or even theoretically. Humans are capable of much, but creating life is not on the list. And that's one of many reasons that God is so amazing. Think about this the next time you have an insurmountable problem: Jesus' physical body died on the cross. He was buried in a stone tomb, and three days later, God raised Him from the dead. And this is the one thing that gave the apostles their boldness in sharing the Gospel, a dangerous thing for a Roman subject. They saw Jesus after His resurrection, and knew that no one could separate them from an all-powerful God. Revelation 19:16 says, “On His robe and on His thigh, He has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Remember that for God—no miracle is too big or too small. He raised Jesus from the dead to complete His mission for all of us. Because He lives, your future is bright. Let's pray. Father God, in seasons of stress, it's a great comfort to know that you control everything and that nothing is too big for you. We want to share this Good News with the world. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.
CALVARY 2025 After the Last supper Jesus led his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he asked them to sit close by while he prayed. He took Peter, James, and John with him and told them about how much his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow, even to the point of death. He asked them to stay close and to share his prayer watch with him. A little farther on he fell to the ground in his agony, sweating drops of blood, and he prayed ‘Father, if it is possible for you, take this cup of suffering from Me. Yet not my will, but Your will be done.' He returned to find the three disciples sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Couldn't you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so you won't fall into temptation - your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak. He went away and prayed to his Father again, and again He returned and found them sleeping, and they had no words for him. The third time this happened he said, ‘Are you still sleeping? Enough—the hour has come, so get up and let us go. My betrayer is here. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Judas then arrived with a large crowd sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people and armed with swords and clubs. Judas had arranged to identify Jesus to the guards by embracing Jesus as the man to arrest and Jesus was then betrayed by a kiss from Judas as Jesus had predicted. Then men stepped forward to arrest Jesus, and Peter drew out his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. But Jesus picked up the severed ear and placed it back on the guard's ear and he was miraculously healed. Nonetheless Jesus was arrested and dragged away, and this dramatic turn of events was all too frightening for the disciples and they all scattered and ran – just as Jesus had predicted. Jesus had also predicted that Peter would deny him three times. and it was not long before Peter's time of trial came to pass where was accused by a woman outside of the courtyard where Jesus was being tried by the priests for blasphemy. The woman said to Peter that he had been with Jesus and Peter denied the accusation three times with curses and swearing and then he heard the dreaded crowing of a rooster. And Peter then knew that what Jesus had predicted he would do in denying his beloved Lord had been fulfilled, and he wept bitterly. Jesus was then tried and found guilty of blasphemy by the Jewish leaders and then taken to Pontius Pilate to be executed. Pontius Pilate could find no wrong as far as Rome was concerned about Jesus being accused of blasphemy, but the Jewish leaders said that he was also stirring the people against Rome by saying he was the new King of the Jews. And they charged Pilate as being accountable for punishing that by crucifying Jesus as a criminal. Pilate caved in to the crowd because he feared a riot, but deep in his heart, he believed Jesus was innocent, and also that he was their King. Pilate told a Centurion to arrange for a squad of guards to escort Jesus to Calvary. The already large crowd continued to grow as Jesus staggered and buckled under the weight of the beam but he continued to drag it behind him. It was the custom to write a description of the crime committed on a clay plate and fix it to the top of the cross. Pontius Pilate had written an inscription that read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS” An angry voice called out above the crowd “Who wrote that inscription? – it's wrong”, and one of the temple priests had protested that It should have said that ‘He said he was king of the Jews'. However, Pilate had made it very clear to them earlier that he had written that inscription and it had to stay as it was. When the trek to Calvary was completed, it would take six full hours on Calvary for Jesus to die. Two criminals were already hanging on crosses either side of the hole where Jesus' pole was to be fixed, but these two men were tied to their crosses, not nailed. Jesus was finally hoisted up and then the pole was crudely dumped into the hole prepared for it, evoking stifled cries of shock and dismay from the crowd. But overriding these noises was the swelling chant of taunts and slogans coming from the crowd. Then the priests and the leaders of the Jews joined in telling Jesus to come on down from that cross and prove himself as the Son of God. As Jesus hung there the criminals beside him were weakening, groaning in their pain, when one of them turned to Jesus. He now wanted to have his last few words of bravado heard in this dark prison of life and death he had made for himself. “they're telling you to get yourself down, but how about us? That would be a real miracle, even I would believe you.” He was delighted with the impression this made on the crowd, as they clapped and cheered him. But the man on the other side shouted at him angrily.” “Are you mad? Don't you even fear God? Don't you know who this is? We deserve to be here, but he doesn't. He has never done a wrong thing.” He then turned to Jesus and said “Lord, will you remember me when you are in your mighty kingdom?” Jesus turned his head and looked at him with love, saying “Today you are coming home with me to Paradise.” Jesus looked down at his mother standing next to John and he spoke to her through parched lips.“Mother let him be your son.” His head then turned towards John. “Son let her be your mother.” John stood with her as she watched her son's life draining from him. High noon surrendered to a deep darkness which remained for three full hours. Darkness took over that day in those last hours, and put a stop to some things. Shouts of bravado that just moments ago would have roused bold echoes now hung hollow in the still air, and those mockers that had stood close to the action at the foot of the cross now slid back into the crowd. The gigantic spirit of Jesus absorbed the full impact of Satan as all hell's hateful fury hit him, and as every vile thing ever done by countless millions of crippled hearts down through the ages and for the ages to come assailed his being. Thunder cracked and the earth began to shake. The great spirit of Jesus swallowed every vile accusation that Satan hurled at him, and he took them all into himself and locked them safely within his vault of perfect love. He was completely innocent of any one wrong deed. He rallied his strength once more, but another missile of horror careened into him more powerfully and more deadly than anything before. He was living out the prophetic fulfilment of the first verse of Psalm 22 spoken by David. ‘My God My God why have you forsaken me? 'The source of this horrific thought was not Father God. Darkness had assailed the human heart of Jesus, the Son of Man, of the lineage of David, and in an instant, he knew the answer to his question. He had not been forsaken by his Father, but in his humanity, he had experienced forsakenness for a moment, so that no living soul from this time on would ever have to feel forsaken by God again because of their human weakness. God did not forsake Jesus, and he did not forsake Adam and Eve and he does not Forsake us. people forsake other people but God does not forsake us. Jesus was always aligned with God's will and throughout his entire life he could identify exactly with what we go through but he never deviated from God's will. The Bible says that Jesus was tempted in all points just as we are, so he was tempted to feel forsaken here just like we would be, as that is a human feeling. Instead of departing from his Father, Jesus, on the cross begins quoting Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He turns to the Word—to truth itself. Jesus, who inspired the psalm through David, knows the full story it tells. Though it begins with a cry of abandonment, the psalm moves from hopelessness to hope, and finally to praise and gratitude. There's a shift amidst the pain and chaos of mocking and the dividing of garments where Jesus proclaims the turning point and what began in sorrow ends in victory. Jesus declares in the psalm “I will praise you in the great congregation; I will sing your praises among my people.” This shows that Jesus never departed from his Father in spirit. That connection strengthened his soul. He faced every temptation and triumphed—not by escaping pain, but by holding fast to truth. His journey shows us how to move from feelings of abandonment to faith, from despair to healing. We are not alone. We walk the path of restoration with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—not separated, but deeply united. Jesus had something more to say but his throat felt parched so a soldier put a sponge up on a pole to Jesus, who could now say loudly and clearly what had to be said in his last moments “Father into your hands I now offer my Spirit.” Then in one last gasp he shouted loudly for all about him to hear. “It is finished!” Then he died. And he and we were placed securely in The Father's loving hands. At the moment of his death the cosmos convulsed. An earthquake tore a searing gash into the mountainside and people were toppled off their feet. Rocks split apart and the graves and tombs on a nearby hill cracked open. People ran in fear from the place, but they did not know where to go. At that moment there were priests in the temple about to sacrifice the Passover lamb, and when their knife pierced the sacrificial animal the true Lamb of God offered himself on Calvary as the final sacrifice for all sin. The priests were thrown off their feet by the earthquake. The temple shook as huge stones fell from the parapets and the great veil in the temple proper which separated the place of God's presence in the holy place from the rest of the temple, was lightning torn, top to bottom. When that veil was torn it signified that Christ as both man and God had not only done away with the separation of mankind from God in the temple, but he had done away with the separation of mankind from God in all the earth. He had gone ahead for all of us to live in his abiding presence. We can now have faith to come confidently into this holy place in our own hearts because of his mercy upon our imperfect humanity and we can receive the power of his life within us to do what is right and pleasing to God. The veil that was torn when Jesus died on the cross on that awesome day was a declaration of the certain hope of our salvation and loving forgiveness and has become the anchor for our souls. The moment Jesus died the cosmic law of sin and death was being overturned to make way for a new cosmic law to come into effect - the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and that new cosmic law did not exist in Eden with Adam and Eve. It would occur only after Jesus rose from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit to give us the risen life of Jesus within, and a new heart like his own. Our hearts can now be fulfilled with a new desire that freely chooses to fulfill the desires of God's heart. Thank you, Jesus, for overturning the law of sin and death, and for giving to us the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. May we enter through that torn veil and live that life with your heart towards the Father. Amen Paul O'Sullivan – pauloss@icloud.com
John 8:12-428:29 – Jesus said, “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do these things that are pleasing to Him.” എന്നെ അയച്ചവൻ എന്നോടുകൂടെ ഉണ്ടു; ഞാൻ എല്ലായ്പോഴുംഅവന്നു പ്രസാദമുള്ളതു ചെയ്യുന്നതുകൊണ്ടു അവൻ എന്നെ ഏകനായി വിട്ടിട്ടില്ല ” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു. Please note that the 1st part is in English, and the 2nd part is in Malayalam starting at 14:20 mark.All people other than atheists believe in God. The only person in the world who has revealed God with authority is Jesus Christ because He is the only Son of God. Lots of people believe in God without knowing who He is. If they have known that Jesus is speaking about the same God, they would have loved Jesus. People who love Jesus do so because they believe in God and know about Him through Jesus. Because of the ignorance of people, they love religions more than God, call different gods, worship idols and ignore Jesus who is the Savior of the world and who dedicated His life for the redemption of each and every one of us. It is the desire of Father God and Jesus to bring everyone in the world to heaven. The spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, is still in our midst to guide, help and heal us. My name... Cicilysunny@gmail.com
As humans, we compartmentalize, don't we? By that we mean, it is in our nature to rank priorities, then even lose sight of some of them. This can often lead us to confusion about which direction we're supposed to go.This confusion can even extend to faith itself. We wonder, “When am I supposed to pray, and when am I supposed to act on faith?”Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”When we get the Word deep in our hearts, we always have a ready answer for our personal questions. This sweet psalm tells us that we are to always remember the great gifts Father God bestows on us. His greatness is ever before us and in this way, we can worship Him all the time, no matter what we are doing.Learn to bless the Lord and praise Him as you do your job, as you fellowship with others, even as you engage with people who don't believe as you do. They need to see the love of Christ shining through you.Let's pray.Lord, we bless you and praise you with our words. Thank you, Father, for never ever forgetting us. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.
Many Christians wrestle with doubt, but who wants to admit that their foundational beliefs are not so firm? Not long ago, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, openly admitted that he's questioned if God is real. When the head of the Church of England says something like that, it makes news.But something interesting came from Welby's honesty. He revealed his humanity. It turns out that the Archbishop lost a baby girl in a car accident many years ago, and when he was a teenager, he had to take care of his alcoholic father. He's human with human difficulties. We are human, and we struggle sometimes. Can we be honest? While a lifetime of doubt is dangerous, periods of doubt simply mark one as being human, but faith can help us overcome doubt.In the Bible, we read in Hebrews 11:1, “Now, faith is the subject of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11 continues with many examples of faith in action, and at its core, the Christian faith means we believe God sent Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross, and that God raised Him from the dead. While mountaintop faith is exciting, and it makes us feel good, no one experiences that all the time. Sometimes it's difficult to believe certain things in the Bible. Sometimes we don't feel faith in our lives.It's important to remember that simply expressing doubt can lead to healing and a more faithful future. If you're a struggling believer or a questioning skeptic, this subject is one of the most important you'll ever wrestle with. Stay tuned.Let's pray. Father God, often we push down thoughts that are painful or uncomfortable. We don't have to do that with you, Lord. Even doubts about our faith are conversations that we can start with you, and we're grateful for that. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” — Mark 9:7 From the cloud on the mount of transfiguration, God said, “This is my Son.” Here God identifies Jesus so that his disciples will have no doubt about his identity. This is God's Son, whom God sent to earth for a purpose. And that purpose was about to become clearer in the coming weeks. Jesus' mission would soon lead to his death and resurrection for us all. “Whom I love.” God's feeling for his Son is also clear. God didn't send his Son to earth on some deadly mission because he didn't care about him. God loved his Son with every part of his being. This was a selfless act by a loving Father who hurt deeply because of what was about to happen. “Listen to him!” This command was directed at Jesus' disciples who were with him that day, and it is directed at you and me today. Jesus told his disciples why he had come and what he was about to do, but they didn't always listen or understand. It was very important, though, that they understand! Only when they understood what Jesus was doing could they share it with everyone else they came into contact with—as he would command them to do later (Matthew 28:18-20). Similarly, only when we listen can we fulfill God's commands as well. So as we read God's Word, let's listen to what Jesus is saying! Father God, thank you for loving Jesus and for sending him to us. Help us to listen to him faithfully each day. Amen.
259. God Speaks to His Kids . . . Here's How with Chris Allen **Transcription Below** “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 NIV Questions and Topics We Discuss: How can we actually disciple our children to listen to God and recognize when they are hearing from the Holy Spirit as well? You've stated, "If you want to hear him, cultivate wonder." Will you elaborate? What are some follow up questions we can ask our kids to actually put this into practice? Chris Allen is married to Rachael and they have three kids. Chris has a masters degree in spiritual formation from Richmont Graduate University and he is a trained spiritual director. Previously Chris was a pastor in full time ministry for many years, but he is also a technology entrepreneur and is currently working in the technology group at Chick-fil-A. Other Episode Mentioned from The Savvy Sauce: 231 Stories Series: Faith Building Miracles with Dave Pridemore Thank You to Our Sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast! Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“ Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“ Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” **Transcription** Music: (0:00 – 0:09) Laura Dugger: (0:10 - 1:36) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Duggar, and I'm so glad you're here. The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka. Owned and operated by the Birchie family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over Central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at samlemanchevy.com. Chris Allen is my guest today. He has a master's degree in spiritual formation from Richmond Graduate University, and he's also a trained spiritual director. Previously, Chris was in full-time ministry as a pastor for many years, but he's also a technology entrepreneur, and currently he's working in the technology group at Chick-fil-A. Chris and my husband, Mark, actually go way back, so I've also invited Mark to come along with me today to interview Chris as we ask him more about cultivating wonder in our children and helping them to understand how to hear from God so that they can enjoy a conversational relationship with the Lord. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Mark, and Chris. Mark Dugger: (1:38 - 1:39) Hey, thanks. Great to be here. Chris Allen: (1:39 – 1:41) Yeah, it's great to be here. Laura Dugger: (1:42 - 1:48) Well, I just want to start off and have both of you just take us back to how you two initially met. Chris Allen: (1:49 - 2:20) Oh, gosh, that's dangerous, Laura. Are you sure you want to do that? Well, Mark and I met in, I think it was fourth grade. But I've kind of known for not having the best memory, so I could have that off. Maybe Mark will correct me, but yeah, starting somewhere in maybe sixth grade, we started kind of being pretty close and spent a lot, a lot of years together through middle school and high school and into adulthood, so it's been a while. Yeah, Mark? Mark Dugger: (2:20 - 2:32) I'm pretty sure we were in the nursery together at church growing up, so clearly you meant more to me than I meant to you. I think is what it's coming down to, but that's okay. Chris Allen: (2:33 - 2:38) I know that's been a theme in our relationship, but you are very important to me, Mark. Mark Dugger: (2:39 - 2:58) No, I just remember a mutual friend of ours moved away, and I think that was the catalyst for us starting to hang out. You lived right behind him. I would go to his house all the time, and then when he moved away, that was kind of the catalyst for us to start hanging out, and then I feel like we were pretty much inseparable from then on. Chris Allen: (2:59 - 3:07) See, it's always good to have at least someone who remembers, but I do know that you're important to me today. Mark Dugger: (3:08 - 3:10) Well, thank you, Chris. Laura Dugger: (3:11 - 3:34) Well, and it's been awesome just to hear the stories of growing up together and being close through all the years, but you guys also had so many unique opportunities. As I hear how both of you had a faith at a reasonably young age, so I'd love to hear from both of you, what were some of your experiences through those formative years that grew your faith? Chris Allen: (3:39 - 5:27) Yeah. Looking back on those years is kind of interesting for me. I became captivated by Jesus around the age of 13, and it really kind of consumed my time, at least mostly, and not because I needed to or had to. It was I wanted to. In our church community, mostly our youth group, just kind of became honestly where I spent most of my time. Mark and I kind of experienced that together. So, I think we had a lot of time there. We had a really tight-knit community. And then the other big thing was pretty early, we both kind of got invited into participating in God's work in different ways. We would lead things at our youth group. We started leading things. Other youth groups started having us come in, and we had a worship band, and we would facilitate study and some teaching. But looking back at that, I'm like, oh my gosh, I can't believe they let me lead anything. And so, it really, for me, illuminates how God has chosen to work in our lives. He invites us to participate in His kingdom. There is no qualification for that. It's just as we are. And then He uses our participation not only to create fruit, like others are impacted by it, but He also shapes us in the process. And so, I think that's always true. It's true today of all of us, but I can see it a little bit more clearly when I look back at that season. Yeah. Mark Dugger: (5:29 - 6:20) Well, Chris, you glossed over the fact about talking about the praise band that we were part of and how I was really the core being the manager, aka sound manager. It was awful. I was literally there with no musical inclination whatsoever, and I was only there by association because you guys were awesome musicians, leading worship in incredible ways. And I was the tagalong who we would do sound checks, and you would be like, “hey, Mark, can you turn up the left monitor? No, no, no, no, not that one. The other monitor. No, wait, no. You know what? I'm just going to come back and just do it for you.” And so really, I was the glue that held everyone together. You didn't really talk about that part. Chris Allen: (6:21 - 6:51) Yeah. I'm so glad you brought it up, Mark. Yeah, there was a lot of trips running from the stage to the soundboard to do the thing I was trying to get Mark to do. But no, Mark, you were incredibly supportive in those years. All that was accurate, except for the amazing musician part. We maybe could say that about him, but for me, I think I knew just enough to maybe get through the song. Mark Dugger: (6:52 - 8:45) Well, I was going to say, in all seriousness, there was one particular retreat I remember specifically, and you let me do the closing message at the very end, and it was going to be on the Prodigal Son. And I remember being like, this is one of those cool experiences that's still surreal to me that came in. I felt like I was kind of the closing deal. And so, I remember there being a lot of pride involved in that. And I remember hearing about the Prodigal Son and knowing that story really well. And I came in just thinking, all right, I'm just going to just bring it and it's going to be amazing. And all of these kids are going to come and know the Lord. And I remember even in my arrogance and pride, God still shined through. And I remember getting off that stage when I was about to walk off. I remember just, I even like forgot my words at one point and walked off the stage. And it was absolutely, I felt embarrassed, and I felt like I had just failed God through my pride and arrogance. And then all of a sudden, you came in and kind of rescued this amazing moment and really closed out that message. And I'll just never forget how shaping that was for me, that seeing even in spite of arrogance and pride and fault and sin of my own, that God can still use those things for His good. And I just remember that being such a shaping moment for me. And really just, I think it further grew our friendship just to see, you just kind of pick me up in that way and answer God's call and have the courage just to kind of lead through it there. So, I just remember that being just a profound moment in my faith and growth. Chris Allen: (8:47 - 9:01) Yeah. Well, that's a great example of just the kinds of things we got to experience at that age. And I think it was really formative for both of us to get to do that in middle school and high school years. Laura Dugger: (9:03 - 9:28) And I've just gotten to know this over the years, hearing all of these stories of the two of you and Adam Johnson, who was part of the band. And it's incredible to be so close in friendship still, all three of you, and now they're awesome wives. And so, switching gears though, from the past now, Chris, can you catch us up on your current life stage with your family as well? Chris Allen: (9:29 - 10:34) Well, the biggest news is we just got a new pup. I don't know if you can hear him barking in the background, but Walt is our newest member. He's a little Shih poos. So, he is a fluffy monster, which is wonderful when you're petting him, not so great when you have to pay for the grooming. But it's actually, it's been really good. We've talked about getting a dog for a lot of years, and our kids are just at the perfect season to soak it up. So, we have three kids, 11, 9, and 6 (Ryan, Ramsey and Harvey) and my wife, Rachel. We are coming up on 16 years of marriage here this fall. So yeah, that's the season we're in. We're having a lot of fun. It's like, you know, people keep telling me like, you're in the golden years. And I feel like we're actually experiencing it and enjoying it for the most part. Of course, there's always, always the things. But yes, that's where we are. Mark Dugger: (10:35 - 11:23) So, I want to go back here recently. We were on a drive down to Atlanta, and our kids love their phone conversations with Uncle Chris on the way down. And I just remember one specific instance where we were talking to you and asking you about this experience you had to, you were asked to lead a retreat for Ryan's school. And we were just blown away by what you were learning, what you were experiencing, and then especially how you talked about growing in faith and really building a life of relationship with God and your kids. So, do you mind kind of just sharing us a little synopsis of that talk and what that looked like? Chris Allen: (11:25 - 19:12) Yes, I'd be happy to. But first, I feel like the audience should know that most of my calls with your girls in the van are Uncle Chris trying to sell them a pizza or order a pizza with random things on it or making up like random songs or being a random character. So, it's mostly joking conversation. And I'm not actually their uncle. We've just given me that title because we're close. But yeah, that's most of our conversations. But yeah, I got invited to be the speaker at the fifth-grade retreat for my son's class. So, it was like a three-day retreat for their grade at his school. And as I was wrestling with like, okay, well, what, you know, what am I going to share? I don't do that sort of thing that often. So, I'm usually excited when I get the opportunity to, but was just kind of sorting out, all right, what, like, God, what do you want to share with them? And this thought, actually, I should say, this was planned way in advance, and like, like, six to eight months in advance. And it was kind of like in the back of my mind for a lot of months. And I had nothing like I had no clarity about what I was gonna talk about. And of course, you know, as you get closer and closer, you know, it starts to like, be a little bit more on your mind. But I kept coming back to this thought of like, no, like, you know, God will bring clarity when he's ready. And trying to hold on to that thought. And then as we got like two weeks out, this thought just came, it was like, what if they began a conversational life with God at fifth grade? Like, I've been working on this project that's kind of about how to help adults develop a conversational life with God. And before this moment, like I had not put these two opportunities together. But once that thought came, like, it just lit me up. Because obviously, I have three kids that are kind of in that stage. And, you know, we're constantly pursuing them spiritually and trying to help them explore who God is. But that's not necessarily easy. And obviously, trying to help them develop their own life with God, which is not easy, you know, they're kids, and they see things differently. And so for me, it was like, wow, what if they started now? You know, for adults, I think it's really hard. Like prayer can mean a lot of things. I think most adults feel like prayer or conversation with God is somewhat hard. It's something they struggle with, typically something they want more of, but maybe don't feel super successful in. So, the thought was, you know if you start in fifth grade, what would that change? Um, so I kind of went on a journey of trying to think about how could I help them? How could I help them explore this? How could I help them start a conversational life with God? And that that kind of ended up being, you know, what the series of talks that I gave throughout the retreat were. So, my second thing was around like, if you want to hear him, you've got to cultivate wonder, which I'll come back to in just a second. And then my third thing is, was teaching them to pay attention to their thought life, which we can dive into more. But the wonder piece, it may not be obvious, like why wonder, you know, why is that important? Um, so let me just speak to that for a second. So, uh, the way I like to think about wonder is if you've ever been snorkeling in like the ocean, ideally in really clear water, uh, there's this moment, like, right. So, like you go out on a boat, you get to the spot where you're going to snorkel, you've got all your gear, you get in the water. And there's this moment where you're, you're about to go underwater, but before you do your head's still above the water, right. And in this moment, you're like so close to beginning to see this whole new world that's underneath the water. Uh, but for this moment, your eyeline is above the water and you're really like, that's all you see. Like you really, you really can't, like, if you look down, you just see kind of like this fuzzy picture, right. This distorted kind of water picture. Uh, but you can see for miles and miles across the top of the water, you see the sky, like there's so much above the water that you can see. Right. And then you put your goggles on, and you drop your head down like six inches. And all of a sudden there's this whole other world, uh, that you really didn't have access to before that moment, right. You couldn't really see what was going on down there until you put your head under the water. Uh, but then all of a sudden you start to see, you know, depths of the ocean. Uh, you know, reefs, all these, you know, different colors, all these different fish, wildlife, you know. Um, and then the same is kind of true when you're underwater. Like if you go underwater and look up, you can like see a vague color of the sky, but it's kind of all distorted. So, I like this analogy because it kind of, it's like you almost have like two totally separate kingdoms, right? Like the underwater world and the above water world, they are right next to each other. There is this point at which they touch, but they operate so differently. Like, you know, everything underwater is different, right? You can't breathe, like oxygen is different. Uh, you know, uh, the way you move is different. You got to swim, you can't walk. Like the way things work underwater is different than how they work out of water. And I think the kingdom of God in the kingdom of earth is kind of similar. Like there is a threshold at which they touch, but they, they operate so differently. Like the kingdom of God is just different. It's different than what we know in the kingdom of earth. So essentially, uh, I kind of see like all of life is us, you know, trying to, or working towards participating with God in the kingdom. His kingdom, uh, while we are operating here on earth and the kingdom of earth. Um, and so wonder for me is, is like the goggles, uh, that help us move back and forth between kingdom of earth and kingdom of God. Uh, like when you put the goggles on, you know, you can, you can open your eyes underwater depending on the water, uh, but you can see so much better with, with goggles. And so, um, wonder for me is like, is the vehicle that helps me move towards the kingdom of God. So, um, I'll, I'll, I'll share more about kind of like how I talked with the kids about that, but God speaks to his kids. If you want to hear them cultivate wonder. And then lastly, pay attention to your thoughts. Uh, so that's, that's kind of what we talked about. Laura Dugger: (19:14 - 21:09) And now a brief message from our sponsor. Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Birchie family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Steven's grandfather, Sam Leman opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago. If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did with honesty and integrity. Sam and Steven understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle. This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible. They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experienced something different. I've known Sam and Steven and their wives my entire life and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you to check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread. So come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet and Eureka. Sam and Steven would love to see you and they appreciate your business. Learn more at their website, samlemanchevy.com or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them at 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship. Well, and I love all of those. So let's just slow it down and kind of go through all three, beginning with that first statement that you make that God speaks to his kids. And from previous conversations, I know that Mark and I agree with you on that, but not everybody does. Even those who are in the faith community may not agree that God is still speaking to his children. And so, what would you say is the basis for your belief on that? Chris Allen: (21:11 - 23:18) Yeah, that's a big question. Well, you know, I think, I think it's pretty clear in scripture. Like, you know, we have in John 10 where he says, “I'm the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep will know, they'll know my voice. They listen to me.” Like, and if you read that section, it's not only that, like, he speaks, it's that like, it almost sounds like it's easy. Like the sheep don't have to work to know who their master is like, or the shepherd is like, they know his voice. you know, like when the shepherd calls, the sheep can instantly know if it's his voice or not. you know, quick, funny story. I wasn't planning on telling you, but my wife is an identical twin. And when we first started dating her and her twin shared a phone, a cell phone. So we're in college, we start dating. I would call my girlfriend, not knowing if she was going to answer the phone or if her sister was going to answer the phone. And I had to know, just based on the tone of their voice, which one it was could get in big trouble if I get this wrong. Right. So, you know, I learned, I learned her voice. Right. And the same is true, obviously, with like our kids, like they can tell the difference between your voice and some other parents voice. Right. Did you always get it right? Did I always get it right? There was a few times where it was a little hard. Usually a lot of times, like there was context clues, you know, like just by the way they would talk to me, but sometimes like Rebecca would answer and just say like, “Hey, and you know.” it's like, that's all I got to work with is a “Hey, you know”? And, you know, I wasn't quite sure for a moment. So, I would ask a question to get more talking going, and then I would figure out who this was. So, yeah. Mark Dugger: (23:19 - 23:21) That's good. Sorry, I derailed you there. Laura Dugger: (23:22 - 23:44) I'll bring us back because I think that's so profound, even how you said context clues. So, I'll bring it back. You were talking first, John 10:14. “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me”. And then also a few verses later in 27, where he says, “my sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me.” Chris Allen: (23:47 - 25:06) Yeah, I think. And then I think also like Jesus modeled this throughout his whole life. Like we would, you know, I and the Father are one, He would often retreat for time with the Father. He seemed very clear on what the Father was saying. I mean, I realized there's a divinity gap between looking at how Jesus operated and maybe how we are. But then He also says, “like, it's better for Me to leave because I'm going to send my Helper, the Holy Spirit.” And I think we see in that language, an even more intimate relationship. Like Jesus is in, like God is in us, you know? So, I don't think like when I study scripture, I don't think God intended for it to be hard for us to hear Him. Which is why, you know, I'm interested in this topic. And as a lot of people that I interact, do struggle with that, and I struggle with that in my own life. I don't want to just accept that, you know? So that's kind of what motivates me in this topic. It gets me excited to talk about it. Mark Dugger: (25:09 - 25:12) That's cool. You have something else you wanted to say? Chris Allen: (25:13 - 31:40) Well, I was kind of going back to the retreat. So, I think, you know, one of the biggest hurdles when I was in with the kids, as well as I think with us, even as adults, is first just acknowledging that we don't notice everything. Like there's things happening around us that we just simply don't notice. If you're like me, like I feel like I'm fairly observant. And I do notice a lot of things. And I typically kind of feel like I'm right about things, you know, or I feel like my take is kind of on point. It can be hard to admit this, but the reality is like there's so much happening around us that we actually don't notice. So, when I was talking to the kids, this was like the first thing that I tried to establish. So, I had this opening slide that said, if you're reading this, put your finger on your nose. And so, as I come up to talk, I mean, I'm just introducing myself for the first time. Hey, everyone, I'm so glad to be here. My name is Chris. Mr. Chris, you know, and I'm starting to talk to them, you know, leading into our time together. The whole time behind me is this slide. If you're reading this, put your finger on your nose. And so, as I'm talking, you know, certain kids started putting their finger on their nose, but as I went on for like five or 10 minutes, right. And in the end, you know, maybe a third of them had their finger on their nose. And so, I was like, you know, the first thing I want to establish with us together is an idea that there's things happening around you that you do not notice. And to convince you that that is true. I want you to look around and notice your friends who have their finger on their nose. And the reason is because of the slide behind me that you haven't noticed yet. Right. And so, it was a really fun way just to help them go like, oh, interesting. I guess I don't notice everything. And then we kind of moved to this idea of taking on a posture of curiosity. And so, I was like, I want you to imagine that we or I was like, does anybody know a name of a famous detective? You know, they're shouting out names and stuff. So, we landed on Sherlock Holmes. OK, well, Sherlock Holmes was here in the room with us, and he was trying to solve a mystery. What do you think he would do? And, you know, hands start going up. He'd look for clues. Like, yeah, that's right. He'd look around. You know, he's trying to figure out clues to solve the mystery. Right. And so, cultivating this posture of curiosity of like, OK, if things are happening around me that I don't notice. And I want to notice them, like, what would that look like? I've got to start getting curious about my life, about the things that are already in it. And why are they there? And so that's really kind of at the root of this idea of cultivating wonder is looking at your life and the things that are already in it and wondering about them. I'll give you an example. Our oldest, Ryan, is going into middle school, a transition which there's been a little bit of energy about in our house. But near the end of fifth grade, Ryan was a little bit unsure what school he wanted to go to. He wasn't sure if he wanted the school that they are in which goes K through 12. So, he had the option of staying there. But he also had the option of potentially moving to a different school. And he had some friends that are going to move. And that was kind of a catalyst for a lot of the conversation. So, for a lot of that time, you know, just to be transparent, there was a lot of worry and anxiety as we were trying to discern, like, which school should he go to? And, you know, you've got layers that you've got my take on, you've got Rachel's take on it, you've got Ryan's take on it, right? And all of course, his parents, like, you know, we don't want to just make a call and force him, you know. We really want him to be bought in. And at the same time, we have a sense of what we think. And so for a while, we were just kind of doing what I call wandering. Wwe were just wandering around within this topic, like, you know, Rachel would feel anxious about certain things, I would feel certain things, you know, Ryan's feeling certain things. And we're just kind of ping ponging around, wandering around. And then one day, it finally started to shift towards wonder for me. And it was just like, you know, I wonder what God is up to in Ryan's life. Like, I wonder what God has in mind for Ryan, as he's moving into middle school. I wonder which environment might be best for him, you know, to shape him in this next season. And instead of like latching on to the pieces that we're maybe concerned about and obsessing about those or thinking about those, just moving towards wonder, even though it doesn't solve anything, it doesn't change anything, like the situation is still the same. But it begins to change how I hold that thing. And before I know it, I am interacting with my Father God about this thing that I was just worried about. And so, it's like this transformation of taking the, because here's the thing, this thing is already happening in my life. I'm already spending energy on it. Like, why not let it be the catalyst for how I'm going to interact with God? And so cultivating wonder, curiosity, why is this happening? What is God up to? As I mentioned already, for me, it's kind of been the gateway for me to put on goggles and to begin to see more of why things might be happening. Or what God's up to and just hold them differently than I was previously. Mark Dugger: (31:40 - 31:55) So, I love this topic and thinking about it. How can we then disciple our children to listen to God and know for themselves, like, and recognize when they're actually hearing from the Holy Spirit? Chris Allen: (31:56 - 39:42) Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think, I don't think there's a perfect formula. I think it's something we just cultivate. Some of that's going to depend on the individual. I think each child's going to be a little bit different, but I think this idea of starting to notice things is a key one and just helping them think about or acknowledge that they're not going to see everything. Another little tool that I use with the students was those magic eye things. I don't know if you remember this from our childhood, but they had books and posters with these pictures of, like, when you look at it from a distance, it's just like a lot of little random things or like a confusing drawing at most. But if you look at it a certain way, right, you start to see this picture within the picture. Right. And so, we used that. It was awesome. We had like a contest to see who could see it first and they got prizes and stuff. But you know, it's basically like we have to fix our eyes. Right. We have to learn how to see the unseen, essentially, in the same way. I mean, those posters are actually a little tricky for a lot of people. Like if you don't see it, you don't see it. Like, you know, you have to learn a certain like once you get the hang of it and you position yourself in relationship to it just right. Right. You can start to see like the horse or whatever jump off the page. But, you know, learning to see what is unseen is not easy. But here's the really, really cool part that I think is really important for kids. It's like God made them for this. And, you know, not just kids like us to like God made us for this. Your mind is already doing the things that is needed for this. And so, at the retreat to help them like understand what I mean by this, I basically wanted to show them all the things that they already know that they never learned. And you may not know what I mean by that, but basically we played this game where I had all these logos from different famous brands. But I intentionally chose brands that were like adult brands, like insurance, Allstate, you know, State Farm. And so, we had their slogans or their logos in some cases, and they had to guess what it was. They knew them all. And it's like, you know, I would make jokes, of course, in between they get off. They got Allstate. And I'm like, I would go up to the kids who guessed it right. I'd be like, so tell me, do you have auto insurance with Allstate? Or is it home insurance? What is what's your coverage amount? You know, what is your policy like? Just to drive home the point, it's like, you know, they're not a customer. There's no reason they should know who Allstate is. But they are watching TV, they're driving around, they're doing different things in life. And of course, they have absorbed, their mind has learned what Allstate is without them even trying, right. And so, your mind is doing a lot of this work already. It's already noticing everything around you. It's already learning and processing all this information. Dallas Willard talks about kind of the role of the mind. A lot of times, we think of the mind as a generator of thoughts. And this is a pretty big position or adjustment that I think is important. But instead of viewing the mind as a generator of thoughts, viewing it more as a processor of thoughts. Because reality is like, you didn't make up Allstate, you didn't make up the brand, the kid didn't make up the brand. You just processed it, you know, and that's what your mind is doing with most information. And so when we start to view the mind as a processor, you now have a category for okay, there's all these other things that are basically submitting things to our minds. And you know, that's all the things we've been talking about, right? That's billboards, that's TV, that's us, like we're submitting thoughts to our kids' minds. But you know, everything they read, everything they look, everything around them is constantly submitting thoughts to their minds. And their mind is just processing away. But it does it all automatically, like that's what the mind was made for. So, for me, the kind of good news in all this, even though I think some of these thoughts can sound kind of foreign, or maybe hard to go figure out, it really is how we were designed. Like it's, you know, God designed our minds to interact with him. He designed our minds to be able to recognize thoughts that are coming from him. So, when we shift the mind to a processor, really, that point is just about learning to notice those thoughts, okay, as they come in, right? And as you start to notice them, you can notice, you know, kind of the nature of them or the characteristic of them. And God, the thoughts that God might be presenting to your mind versus the thoughts that other sources might be presenting to your mind, over time starts to become clearer and clearer and clearer. So maybe just like a practical example would be that, like, sometimes when we're processing things with our kids, if they're feeling a certain way, I might ask them, like, hey, what are you thinking about this? Or what's the most, like, what's the last thought you had about this? And it's like, oh, I'm worried, you know, I was thinking about, you know, my buddy, how he won't like this thing, you know. And it's like, oh, okay, that's why you don't want to go, you know, to that place, because your buddy doesn't like it. You know, it's like, but oftentimes, I will go to the, I'll go to thoughts, and ask them about their thoughts, what's the most recent thought to understand what emotions might be happening now. But I think even just talking about thoughts as a thing, right? Like, what thought did you have, is really helpful to start, because a lot of times, I think the default is we kind of like assume we are our thoughts, we are one with our thoughts. And this can get really dangerous. I think, especially for young men, but really for all of us, because we have a lot of thoughts that are not honoring to God or to each other, right? And so, if those are me, then that says a lot about who I am, right? So separating ourselves from our thoughts, positioning the mind as the processor of thoughts, not only gives room for the idea that God is presenting thoughts to our minds, but it also gives room for the idea that the enemy or the world or these other things are presenting thoughts to our minds. So just because we might have that thought doesn't mean it's us, which is a big thing as well. Laura Dugger: (39:43 - 40:52) I love that because, okay, so going back to that first point, so God speaks to His children, and I think it's helpful for me just to have that articulated. That has been my experience, that one of the ways God speaks to me is through my thoughts, and so sharing that with our children as well. And something, when I'm verbally processing then later, if I'm wondering and I'm questioning, where did this thought come from? Where did this originate? Mark's question to me will always be, whose voice is that? And I think it's another way of what you're saying, because it could be culture, it could be God, it could be the enemy's voice, and that it is through our thoughts. But then if we are now, you've recommended also thinking about what our thoughts are. So, thinking about our thinking and pursuing that listening stance. So that kind of leads into the next point where you share that you say, if you want to hear Him, cultivate wonder. So, can you just elaborate on that? Chris Allen: (40:55 - 45:09) Yes. So well, let me also mention, so I mentioned Dallas Willard, he has like a quote that I really love around this. And I'll just go ahead and say it for those that might be thinking it, like, did you really present all this to kids? Yes, I did. I wrestled so much going into this with like, this is too much, like it's too deep, it's too much content. I almost changed a lot of the talk, like literally like five minutes before it. But I kind of landed on this, you know what, and there was a lot of adults in the room, it wasn't aimed at them, but it was just like, my job is to just throw it out there. And like, if one kid just grabs onto something, you know, so yes, I did. I did give this to kids, but I realized it's a lot. So, but Willard says, he says, generally, it is much more important to cultivate the quiet inward space of a constant listening than to always be approaching God for specific direction. And he goes on to say, in the still small voice of God, we are given a message that bears the stamp of his personality quite clearly. And in a way, we will learn to recognize it. How the message comes, this is kind of the biggest part right here: how the message comes is diminished almost to the vanishing point, taking the form of thoughts that are our thoughts, though these thoughts are not from us. And so, when I first read this, it was like, oh my gosh, like, I think I've experienced that. But he is putting words to something I, you know, maybe hadn't fully acknowledged that like, this, this is God speaking to me, you know. So, I think a lot of times we, we write off our thoughts as just like, oh, it's just my lunch, you know, or whatever. But I, I really believe, and Willard, you know, believes that one of the primary ways that God speaks to his people, and when we say children, I don't mean children in this case, not like the age of someone, but anyone, um, any person, like, this is a, at least a huge part of how God speaks to them is, is through their thought life. And so, for me, like, as I, as I've started to walk in this, and, um, take, pay more attention to my thoughts, and then actually, like, hold them like, okay, well, what if this was God speaking? You know, it's, it's changed my personal interaction with God, um, for sure. So, I think for most people, if you're not already practicing this, it can feel inaccessible. It can feel hard. It's like, oh my gosh, like, are you telling me that I have, like, I have to change everything. Like, I have to start recognizing all my, like, if you're not already doing that, um, and I think that's where cultivate wonder comes in. Is moving towards just a posture of curiosity, moving towards a posture of wonder, of, um, when you start to notice a thought, like, just hold it out there. It's like, oh, that's interesting. I just had that thought. Hmm. And you just think about it. You just wonder about it, right? You don't really have to do anything. Like in the beginning of this, you don't have to do anything with it. Like, just look at it, hold it, name it, and just wonder about it. Like, I think that is the first step. And so, I think there's little ways we can help our kids with that, right? Just as we're helping them process things, as we're talking through things, um, we can call out what we think we hear them say, you know, and just say, Hey, it sounds like you had this thought. Is that right? You know? Um, and just the way we, you know, they can pick things up quickly. So, the way that we teach them to process what they're thinking about, um, is a huge gift to them. If we can help them name their thoughts and hold them out. Laura Dugger: (45:09 - 47:07) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you? Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials, anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help. Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you. Well, and just want to speak to some of this as well. So, when you were sharing about children, meaning more than actual age children, I was thinking back. Our oldest daughter, Selah was baptized a couple of years ago and a scripture that was really meaningful to her in that process as she was writing out her testimony and just pondering the work that God had done in her life. She really was impacted by a verse I'd love to read because that's another sure way that God does speak to us is through the word of God. So, the Bible, that's always a way that we can hear from Him. But this verse is John 8:47, and it says, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” Chris Allen: (47:07 - 50:09) Well, I think the emphasis that I would point out on that is that it's not that God is not speaking. It's the reason you don't hear. So, I believe God's pursuing people even that aren't following Him. And even in our case, I think God pursues us even in our disobedience. But what shifts is our ability to hear. And so, it's like we're tuning in, and that invitation exists for, I think, for all people. It's the opportunity to just tune in more to what God is up to, what He's saying, just by looking at what He's already doing in your life, what's already happening. Just look around, pay attention, start to notice, start to name it. And like I was saying, if this feels overwhelming, which I think it definitely can, the beautiful thing is we were made for this. Our mind was made to work this way. It's how God designed it. And one of the final ways that I pushed this across the finish line with the kids was the final logo that I had was Nike. And of course, not only did every kid in the room know the answer to what the brand was, half of them were wearing it. But if you look back in your life, and this is what I had them do. It's like there's some moment in your life where you were not aware of Nike. You probably were already wearing it, the toddler walking around in it or something. It's all around you. It's everywhere. Everybody else is wearing it too. You've seen tons of ads and advertisements. It's everywhere. Yet there was some moment where you didn't know what it was. If you saw the logo, you'd be like, I don't know what that is. And then at some point you cross this threshold where it's like all of a sudden you learn like, oh, that's Nike. And so, if you could pinpoint that moment in a kid's life, it's like in that moment, you go from like, I don't know, to like, Nike. Well, Nike didn't all of a sudden exist in that moment. It was no more present than it was before. It was always around you. It was always active. It was always everywhere. The only thing that changed in that moment is you became aware of it. And that's how I like to think about like what God is up to in our lives. He is active. He's all over it. He is in your every day and every situation that we're in. And He is inviting us to participate with Him, to notice Him, to talk with Him about it and to interact with Him through those things. But we just have to become aware of Him. And for me, I think wonder is the thing that helps me shift in that direction, just cultivating wonder. Mark Dugger: (50:11 - 50:31) That's awesome. So you talked about with your kids, asking them and follow up questions about their thoughts. But is there any other practical ways you think about bringing this to life with our kids to help them kind of shape some of this line of thinking? Chris Allen: (50:34 - 52:38) Yeah, that's a great question. I mean, the other kind of analogy that I've used with my kids as well is where's Waldo? So, my spiritual director, Jeannie Hoover, who's amazing, who lives in Illinois as well, she actually was the one who used this analogy in our conversations first. But you know, where's Waldo's fun? You get the book or the posters and you're looking for Waldo, right? But you have no chance of finding him. First, you can't find Waldo unless one, you believe he exists. Two, you know what he looks like. And three, you look for him. And so that's kind of the starting point. I think an easy starting point with kids, plus you can use the Waldo book and they love it. But they have to believe God exists. They have to know what He looks like, and they got to start looking for Him. Obviously, we can play a very tangible role in helping them kind of learn what He looks like and helping them look for Him. I think one easy way is like, you know, some kind of daily routine, as maybe you're putting them to bed or debriefing the day. Or you might ask a simple question like, you know, did you notice God anywhere today? Or was there anything that happened in your life today, you know, where you noticed God? Or you can also go, I think a lot of times we can find Him in the things that we're struggling with. So, is there anything that happened today that hurt you or didn't sit well with you? But as you help them process that, right, you're kind of looking for where is God in the story? What is he up to? And helping them connect those dots. Mark Dugger: (52:40 - 52:41) Oh, go ahead. Laura Dugger: (52:41 - 52:44) Oh, you go first. I wonder if we're on the same thought. Mark Dugger: (52:44 - 54:00) I was thinking, I was recently, this is helpful for me personally, but I was recently frustrated about a day or something that happened recently. And I was just, you know, going through the iterations of why this thing caused me frustration. And, you know, it caused me to take out frustration on others that were around me and impacted others. And then my friend was just casually kind of listening to me and just said, what do you think God's calling you to do in the midst of this? And it was just such a simple yet profound question that I hadn't even considered. Like I wasn't even thinking about God being active and involved in this frustration that was going on in my life because I was so consumed by it. But yet when I take that moment, I think him asking that question to me, helped me step back out kind of that 10,000 foot view and just say, huh, what, where is God right now in this process? And what is he potentially trying to show me in the midst of this frustration? And I think that's something that our kids can really understand too. They can really grasp onto that concept. So, I think that's been a helpful one for me. Laura Dugger: (54:00 - 54:58) You're both stirring all these ideas because I also think something that Mark's started recently on a Sunday on Sabbath, he loves to go around the table with our kids. And the youngest is five, as you know, Chris, and he'll ask all of us, where did you see God at work in your life this week? And they are able from a young age to think back on their life. And I think that God does manifest himself to them. But then whether this is a question then for children or adults or everyone, even a conversation that Mark and I have had with you and Rachel before, where when you're going back to something that's happened in the past, asking yourself of that situation, if I go back to that scene in my mind, where was Jesus within that? And that's a pretty profound experience, I would say as well. Chris Allen: (54:59 - 56:56) Yeah. Well, I think another something that I would encourage people to think about is this is not something that we have to figure out. That's really God's role is to teach us how to do this. I think throughout scripture, the posture of curiosity or wonder is encouraged. Just ask, just seek, just knock. And you will find it. The door will be open to you. And so, I don't think God asks us to figure out how to hear His voice or figure out how He speaks. I think if we come with just a posture of curiosity, which honestly, even that alone takes a little bit of work on our side, right? But if we just cultivate some curiosity about what he's up to, my experience has been that you will start to notice. If you just focus on noticing and being curious, you will start to notice Him. I think sometimes we focus on the outcome. We think the intimacy, like if I could hear God well, if I had a conversational life with God, I would experience intimacy with Him, right? But I think the truer thing is that a lot of the intimacy is in the learning. It's in the process. We just show up, we just cultivate curiosity. And as God teaches us, a lot of the intimacy comes out of the teaching. Like, oh my gosh, that was God. I just saw Him in a way I hadn't before. And so I think hopefully it takes some of the pressure off and allows us just to start to look for Him. Mark Dugger: (56:57 - 57:13) Yeah. This conversation, I think, has been so helpful just to begin the process of thinking about this. Is there anything else that you want to add or help this message stick or bring home deep within us? Chris Allen: (57:16 - 58:07) I think I would just say, if you're someone who maybe is not sure that God is speaking, I would just challenge you to pretend that He is. Just try it. Just start looking around, start noticing, and just see what happens. In my experience, God is fully capable of making Himself known to us. If we just take a step in his direction with curiosity or wonder, He will reveal himself to you. He'll start showing you things. And it's not constant, right? But over time, your faith will grow that He is speaking, that He does speak, and it will start to transform how you interact with Him. Laura Dugger: (58:10 - 58:31) I love it. And I'm going to kind of summarize. Okay, so God speaks to his kids. We get to participate and cultivate wonder. And a practical thing was to pay attention to our thoughts. With all of this too, Chris, you've alluded to a project. Do you want to share any more information about that? Chris Allen: (58:31 - 59:54) Oh, man. Yeah. So yeah, I've been working on a book for about a year and a half now with my spiritual director, Jamie, who I mentioned, really for adults about wonder. I think we activate and use wonder a lot as kids, especially when we were kids. I think kids are better, more naturally jumping into wonder. The pool of life for adults is away from wonder. It's towards the other side of the brain. It's towards be productive, be on time, be on task, get it done. And the more we fill our lives up with things, which as you all, like in this season that we're in, life is very busy, wonder just so easily gets squeezed out. And so the project I've been working on is really aimed at helping adults cultivate wonder in their life again, specifically around how they interact with God, which probably no surprise at this point in the conversation. But yeah, it's so exciting. I mean, we're down the road, things are starting to solidify, and we got a good bit of work left to do, but I'm really excited about what that will be. Laura Dugger: (59:55 - 1:00:15) Well, then we look forward to a part two of this conversation when that's further along. We'd love to have you back, but you are already familiar that we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so as my final question for you today, Chris, what is your Savvy Sauce? Chris Allen: (1:00:16 - 1:00:57) Oh man, well, I think I might be a broken record on this one. So it's probably a summary statement here, but if wonder is our goggles into the kingdom, the question is how can we put them on more? And so, my encouragement is to leverage the things that are already happening in your life to help you cultivate wonder. And obviously that's what the book is about. So hopefully maybe I can help some people do that more in specific ways once that's out, but that would be my Savvy Sauce. Laura Dugger: (1:00:58 - 1:01:38) Love it. Well, I think Mark can share as well, but from the two of us, we just love you and Rachel, and Ryan, Ramsey and Harvey. And Mark and I are so grateful you have profoundly impacted us. Just the friendship with you guys has been incredible. And also spiritually, we've learned so much from you and hopefully sharpened one another. And I appreciate the impact that the two of you have had on each other spiritually as well. And I get to enjoy sweet fruit from your amazing and godly friendship. So, thank you for all you shared today. Thank you for your friendship. And thank you for being our guest. Chris Allen: (1:01:40 - 1:01:42) You're very welcome. Thanks for having me on. Mark Dugger: (1:01:43 - 1:03:04) Yeah, I was just gonna say thanks. You know, friendship is pretty rare. And it's pretty remarkable just to think about all we've been through together. But yet, Laura summarized it so well, but you've had such a profound impact on me, even in those years, you know, picking me up in high school ministry when we were doing those, those kinds of things together. And then we shared a mentor with Dave Pridemore, who's actually been a previous guest here on The Savvy Sauce. And just learning more about who we are in Christ. And you've always been an encouragement to me. And that's just been such a blessing in my life. Just to know that there's always that constant friendship. And no matter what goes on, no matter how, you know, being states apart, you know, sometimes we're not always talking all the time, but it's always nice to know that you, it's always the same. It's like we picked up right where we left off. And I think that's, that's deeper than just the friendship, but it's the bond that we have in Christ. And that's, you know, you've challenged me in this way, just to think about wonder, this isn't something that comes to me naturally. And so I'm just very thankful for this conversation. And then just to be able to share some of the things that we've talked about privately, but be able to share with this audience today. So thanks for doing that. Chris Allen: (1:03:05 - 1:03:06) Absolutely. Laura Dugger: (1:03:07 - 1:06:50) One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved. We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him. That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now? Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone. Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process. And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today. And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.
In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Fairies", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. The purpose of this podcast is to help you find healing for your wounds; find hope in your despair; find intimacy in your loneliness; find refuge from the storms of life; Basically, to help you find a deeper walk with Jesus. There is one thing I know after having lived all these years: God wastes nothing. Not our sorrows. Not our wounds. Not even our failures. Hi. I am your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so excited about the next few weeks of the Dennis Jernigan podcast because I absolutely love the subject matter that we're covering. For the past few weeks I have been sharing the stories behind songs inspired by fantasy book series I wrote for my children and grandchildren. You are used to hearing me share the stories behind songs of worship and praise; songs of ministry; songs of comfort; songs from Father God's heart to ours…but the song I am sharing today was inspired by a 3-book series of fantasy novels I wrote for my children and grandchildren way back in 2015. You may be asking yourself, “Why would a worship leader and song receiver write series of books and songs about a fantasy world?” I will not take the time to share all I shared the first few weeks of this series. You'll just need to listen and catch up by beginning with the episode titled “Riding the Wind” through this week's podcast. That will catch you up as to why I am sharing these songs. The utter reality is that the Lord used fantasy and myth to lead me to utter and unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, He really did. The song I am sharing on this week's episode is called “Fairies”, a song I wrote for the book “Captured (Book 1 in the The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy). “Captured” is my life story written in allegory as a legacy to my children and grandchildren. As I wrote the books, I envisioned what it might sound like if Disney ever made a movie based on these books. I completed the songs for the first two books but never got around to writing songs for book three. That book is about my vision for my 9 children…and their real-life stories are still being written. They will need to write their own songs. This week's song, “Fairies”, was received sometime in 2015 0r 2016 and was intended to infuse a bit of humor in the story. In the land of Bren, fairies are servants of the kingdom and are known to help guide people to where they need to be. In book one, Captured, the main fairy is named Rania. Rania is a good yet mischievous fairy. Rania was was inspired by my daughter Raina. As a little girl, we actually called her Velociraina, after the velociraptors from the movie Jurassic Park because of her sneaky, mischievous way of dealing with her younger brothers! Raina is so beautiful and so loving and such a servant it was easy to see her as a fairy, flitting around guiding people to where they need to be. Her relationship with her older sister, Galen, inspired the relationship between the Hawken girl, Galenna, and the fairy, Rania. There is no deep spiritual truth I was trying to convey through this character. I just wanted to have a little fun so I created a character who liked to have little fun. The song was written to describe this character and was fun to sing. I wanted the music of the entire album to have a bit of Celtic or Medieval flavor to it because I think it fits the story well and gives a sense of wonder to the saga. Here's something I never imagined saying: Enjoy my song about fairies! SONG Proverbs 17:22 NIV says, 22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. I hope you do not mind me taking this detour along the way of the journey through my music through the years. These songs were truly a joy to write and the fact that knowing my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will one day listen to them brings my heart so much joy it's hard to explain. It just does. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to read the trilogy, The Chronicles of Bren and that you would listen to the music with a completely different attitude and point of you. I just want to give every opportunity for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren for generations to come to know there is a creator who is Savior and Redeemer and that these stories might, in some small way, lead them to that understanding. That being said, I have some great news about the music from my fantasy series. You can listen to and even download the entire album for book one absolutely for free. It is called “Captured - Songs For the Journey” and it can be found on the website www.thechroniclesofbren.com. I encourage you to read the book “Captured” and then listen to the songs inspired by each of the main characters. This album is meant to encourage young men to look past their shortcomings and failures and the lies of the enemy and see and be who Father God says they are. Thanks for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. For more about me, my story, or my music, visit dennisjernigan.com. You can also catch me on Facebook and Instagram, and find my music on most major streaming services. And hey, if you really want to be a part of my team, you can even become a Patron over at Patreon.com/dennisjernigan. I'd love to have you on board! The book “Captured” is available at Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. I encourage you to read the book “Captured” and then listen to the songs inspired by each of the main characters. Thanks again for being part of today's podcast. Remember, God loves you, and so do I. Now, I challenge you to rise up and be the warrior for the kingdom God has called to to be today. And I urge you to put off the lies of the enemy and put on the truth of who the Lord says you are and then go and BE who your Heavenly Father says you are… Fairies WWORDS & MUSIC Dennis Jernigan ©2015 Verse Fairies tend to vary And can have quite an attitude Some can be quite merry Some can practice less than gratitude Mischievous and magical And more than a mystery Bringing good from tragical And leaving quite a history Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Who can tame a fairy? Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! This will never be! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Who can claim a fairy! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! When catch what can't be seen! Chorus Oh! Oh! Lucky if I see one! Oh! Oh! Fairy! Fairy! Fay! Oh! Oh! Lucky if I meet one! What a simply wonderful day! Verse Flitting through the forest In the grand land of Make Believe Or are the things we hope exist A part of true reality? Something there to guide me I the grand land of In Between Between the realm of what I see And What I think that I can dream Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Who can tame a fairy? Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! This will never be! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Who can claim a fairy! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! When catch what can't be seen! Chorus Oh! Oh! Lucky if I see one! Oh! Oh! Fairy! Fairy! Fay! Oh! Oh! Lucky if I meet one! What a simply wonderful day!
What are the mechanics of holiness...how does it work...where does it come from...is it simply morality, or possibly something more? Take some time with Pastor Dave to explore and celebrate the other-worldly nature of divine holiness! May you pursue the holiness of your Father God in how you resemble and reflect Him to the world!
QUESTIONS:Q. What is one thing that caught your attention as you watched the Bible Project video?Q. What do you learn about Father God when reading John?Q. How is the light of Jesus shining into your heart and changing your perspective?
Today's meditation will help us stand taller as we are reminded of the true reality of where we belong and to whom we belong. The Message translates Paul's letter to the Colossians with this amazing picture of our purpose – that of being kept taut because we are tied tightly by hope of our future in heaven. Our destination is home with our Father God. We can be confident in this and in Him.Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this time of meditation, please consider supporting us.Contributors: Michelle DeChant, Adam Maddock, and Phil Reaser
You can read the whole text here: https://dougapple.blogspot.com/ +++++++ I'm Doug Apple...and my heart is on fire. (Luke 24:32) Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him…” Well…I'M calling upon Him! Are you? I am calling upon the Lord every day and this is great news! When I call upon Him, He is near to me. I want the Lord to ALWAYS be near to me because I need Him. I need His presence, His love, His light, His direction, His guidance. I want Him to lead me, to teach me, to mentor me. I want to hear Him say, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” I want Him near to me for more reasons than I can count, so with this in mind, I call upon Him, almost continuously. Looking back at Psalm 145:18, I didn't give you the whole verse. Here is what the whole things says, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” So that's an extra layer, “in truth.” What does it mean to call upon the Lord “in truth”? Well…just be honest. Come to Him as you are. Tell Him all the truth. Don't try to hide anything, and certainly don't try to control your image when talking to God. This is calling upon Him in truth. It also means having true ideas about God. Often, we want to fashion God in our image, but if we want to call upon Him in truth, we have to have true thoughts about Him. He is the King. He is the Creator. He is Father God. He is the Lord of all. He is just and holy and righteous. He is also merciful and loving and kind. So, to call upon the Lord in truth, we have to have clear, true ideas about who we are, and about who He is. And the good news is, in spite of the giant gulf between us and Him, He invites us to call upon Him, and He says that when we do, He will be near to us. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Hebrews 11:6 says that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Psalm 63:1 says, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land…” Psalm 42 says as the deer pants for the water so my soul longs after Thee. That's me. Yes, as one of God's redeemed, His Holy Spirit lives inside of me. I don't need to cry out to heaven to get Him to come down. He is already here. He is already as near as He can be. The problem is me. As the old song says, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it.” So, when I call upon the Lord, I'm wanting to connect more closely with Him. I want to fully live out what He has already promised, which is Him abiding in me, and me abiding in Him. I do that by daily calling upon the Lord, and I'm so glad for this promise in Psalm 145:18, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” May God bless you today. I'm Doug Apple.
What does it mean that the Lord is our righteousness? What do the names of God mean practically for us? Why are Christians so sure they're going to heaven? Rabbi Schneider shares in today's episode of Discovering the Jewish Jesus that Jesus stands in your place so that you are accepted by Father God. Our sins are transferred into Jesus because He died on the cross in our place. Our righteousness is not based on how good we've been, but on the fact that Jesus stands in our place. We will be rewarded for the good we have done, but we cannot be righteous on our own. Learn why Paul opens all his letters in the Bible with, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ". Watch and learn how to express and practice God's covenant names in your prayers, be aware and pay attention to God's provision in your life, believe God to bring healing to you here and now, God is transforming you. Be encouraged today and trust that God will do and be what He said. Visit our website at DiscoveringTheJewishJesus.com
Some of the greatest stories of believers down through time have involved those who really studied God's Word. These people have gone before us to show us the way. From Charles Spurgeon to a missionary mother in China, daily study of the Word, and prayer, prepared them to mentor entire generations.Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”We also read in Romans 10 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We have to do it, so that others know how. And remember, there is no substitute for spending time in God's Word.In order to properly train an apprentice, you need to obviously be prepared and adept. Anything less leads to weak faith, or no faith at all. This is what the Great Commission, sharing the Gospel, has always been about: Duplicating disciples. Grounding your own faith in the Bible, and then imparting that to others. That is the essence of true iron sharpening iron.Let's pray.Father God, keep us about your work by daily reminding us to spend time with You in Your Word. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.
Sweat was pouring off Peter as he moved to protect Jesus. As Roman soldiers held the one who had been labeled a heretic, Peter drew a sword and cut off a soldier's ear. And he was stunned when Jesus told him to put the sword away. You see, Jesus knew infinitely more than Peter or anyone else. He knew the end from the beginning, and He knew He had an agenda to see through to the end. Peter couldn't see that, and impulsively He moved to change the facts on the ground.And that's so typical of us as humans. The authentic Christian wants to do something to fix things or change the world. The theologian Francis Schaeffer wrote a whole book titled How Should We Then Live on the role of a Christian in the modern world. And there are arguments over whether America is still a Christian nation, or whether postmodernism has won the day.But what does the Bible say about being a witness in the world? Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Notice it doesn't say engage. We're in fact told not to become like the world in all its anti-God stuff. Yet we also know one of the last things Jesus said to His disciples before He ascended into heaven was that we should go into all the world and make disciples. The Apostle Paul made an interesting observation in 1 Corinthians 9. He said that he was free from conformity to the world. It had nothing he coveted. But that he chose to be a servant to all, so that his example might win some to Christ. In Hebrews 13, we're told to practice hospitality. And this echoes many Old Testament passages, too. The idea is a believer is to be an example of what life with God looks like in hopes it will draw unbelievers. And this must be done with sincerity, though. Especially in our jaded modern culture. First Corinthians 10 tells us whatever we do, do it for the glory of God alone.To sum up, the Bible tells us to absolutely live in this world and be appealing to people. But to do all this while holding onto our convictions. Balancing being a Gospel witness, while also being seen as personable, is the approach for our modern world. Let's pray.Father God, you've given us direction for all that we do. Help us to continually have a burden for the lost and to always remember we're to be salt and light for a hurting world. It's in Jesus' name we pray, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.
We take a break from our series on Colossians to celebrate Mother's Day with speaker Ure Nyong. You can follow the message along in the YouVersion bible app at https://bible.com/events/49410425 and add your own notes! Click http://bcc.life/whats-on to find out about all our events and activities.Click http://bcc.life/give to access our giving page, where you can return your tithes to God, bring an offering or make a donation!If you ever need to know how to make Jesus the Lord of your life and come home to Father God, here is a great prayer you can pray:"Lord Jesus, I am so sorry for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me for being separated from you and from other people. I receive into you my life as Lord. Please lead me from now on. I surrender to you. I believe that you died on the cross to take away my sins, that you rose again on the third day and that you are alive and with me now. I accept you into my life. Please help me to live for you. Thank you for your gift of eternal life for now and for ever. Amen."If you prayed this prayer, please let us know! It's the best decision you can ever make, and we would love to celebrate that with you! Let us know in the chat session of the livestream, email us at admin@bcc.life! or visit https://bit.ly/BCC-FollowJesus Comments are closed on all of our YouTube videos but we do invite you to email us at admin@bcc.life if you would like to communicate with us or via our Business WhatsApp which you can access from the home page of our website at: http://bcc.life/
Do you ever feel stuck in life, either in your career, your family, or even your emotions? Are there people who have wounded you that you cannot forgive? Believe it or not, there are people that we may have chosen to forgive at some point, but the anger, bitterness, and trauma still feel very real. There is hope because our Father God wants us to walk in wholeness and healing in all things, including forgiveness. Listen as Tiffany Jo Baker talks with Anne Wooten on the subject of forgiveness and moving forward in all that God has for you.Listen in for:How it's possible to unknowingly harbor unforgiveness in your heartWhy unforgiveness can block your ability to move on in lifeThe reasons forgiveness is a journey and not a one-time eventFavorite Quotes:"We can receive validation from people, it's only temporary, but God is eternal." - Anne Wooten"Anything unforgiven is going to eat you alive spiritually." - Anne Wooten"Forgiveness is not a one-and-done event; it's a journey." - Tiffany Jo BakerFavorite Scriptures:Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." - Matthew 18: 21-22"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Matthew 3:23For more information about all the things Anne Wooten is doing, please visit her website: annewooten.com*If you're looking for perfectly polished people or podcasts, this isn't for you. We're real people, with real good information, and a really great God.*Want timely words, resources and episodes delivered right to your inbox to help you fuel and fulfill your faith journey? Simply subscribe today at https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/subscribe (don't worry, you won't get spam or excessive emails)Don't miss the next My Full Life + Faith Leaps Podcast episode as we continue to help you GET FREE, LIVE FULL & THANK GOD! You can watch My Full Life + Faith Leaps Podcast on YouTube and https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/myfulllife-and-faithleaps or listen in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Subscribe to never miss an episode, leave a quick review and share with a friend! Ratings and reviews are like high-fives and “go-girl's” on podcast players. Helping you refresh and refocus so you can do all the things you are called and created to do, my 31 Day Devotional “Soul-Care for Go-Getters” is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my website shop here. (https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com/go-getters-devo)As a 3x Surrogate, Speaker, Soul-Care and Success Coach and Holy Spirit-led Strategist, I uplift the soul and success of women like you who are walking out your WHY, so you can birth your God-given dreams at home, online, and in the real world. Find me, @TiffanyJoBaker, on Instagram , Facebook and https://www.tiffanyjobaker.com. I would love to connect with you there!
Bishop Paul continues his series on the lavish love of our Father God. When we ruin our life, such love waits for us as we cannot conceive, else we would not try to scheme our way back into grace. Yet our Father in heaven is watching with reckless love, running to receive us, sufficient to restore the broken relationship. Just like the lost son, we can come home from the far country. Again and again, we can come home.
Who is God? Why should we learn the covenant names of the Lord? Rabbi Schneider shares how the names of God help us to understand God's nature, how we cooperation with the grace of God to bear fruit, and that the Lord waits for us to say yes to Him to release power in our lives. Biblically the word Shalom imbues wholeness, completeness, and restoration. Father God has entered into a covenant of complete peace through Jesus with His people; spirit, soul, mind, and body. If you want more peace, you must deny your flesh and feed your spirit with the love of God. When you sow from the spirit, you will reap from the Spirit love, joy, and peace. Visit our website at DiscoveringTheJewishJesus.com
Faith Food Fellowship | Self-care Strategies for Busy Christian Women
Feeling pulled in a million directions? You're not alone, friend. But what if true peace isn't found in doing more—but in receiving the rest that Father God has already given you? In this episode of Faith Food Fellowship, we're exploring the beautiful invitation to abide in His presence and embrace rest as a form of spiritual self-care. Writer and speaker Hannah Rowen Fry joins me for a heartfelt conversation. Together, we dive into what it means to abide, why rest isn't something you earn but a gift you receive, and how stepping away from the pressure of constantly doing more can transform your daily life. If you've ever felt overwhelmed or struggled to balance life's demands, this conversation is for you. Tune in and discover how to create a rhythm of rest!Hannah Rowen Fry is a writer and speaker passionate about helping people live out their God-purpose. Through her thoughtful reflections on Scripture, she encourages the overwhelmed to slow down, choose simplicity, and experience greater joy in the present moment. You can connect with Hannah and explore more of her work at www.hannahrowenfry.com.Get the Guide to Abide here!Recipes Mentioned in the EpisodeDense Bean SaladScriptures ReferencedJohn 15:4Romans 8:1Exodus 20:8-11Want to savor more goodness?I'm so excited you're here! Let's make the most of it with these special opportunities:Join the P31Virtues Community: If you're ready to find balance, peace, and a little extra inspiration each week, come together with women who understand the beauty of living a multifaceted life. Plus, get the weekly recipe delivered straight to your inbox! Find the support you need to thrive at community.p31virtues.com.Put Your Faith into Action Daily: Experience the harmony and satisfaction you deserve. Grab your copy of Cultivate Calm: The Weekly Devotional Study For Multifaceted Christian Women and start embracing a life of peace and balance.Elevate Your Well-Being: Access the Journey to Holistic Wellness Bundle for lifetime access to wisdom from 30 experts, including Shanna Pyzer's Break the Habit of Overeating. Start your holistic health transformation now!Let's Connect:Email: hello@p31virtues.comNote: The show notes may contain affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!
Georgian Banov was born in communist Bulgaria. As a teenager, he was a founding member of the first official rock 'n roll band in the country. Seeking freedom, he risked his life by escaping through the Iron Curtain and was mightily saved after coming to the United States. Georgian and his wife Winnie are the founding leaders of Global Celebration; they are a radical team bringing joy and freedom all over the world. They were part of the core team who wrote and produced the famous children's albums Music Machine and Bullfrogs & Butterflies, which sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide. Georgian also led the popular '80s Christian band Silverwind. Their teaching and their ministry are full of God's loving, joyful presence, bringing miracles and changing lives. Today they are dedicated to training ministry students and leaders, rescuing and caring for trafficked children, helping marginalized impoverished communities and hosting evangelistic missionary events and conferences. Georgian's Links: www.globalcelebration.com www.gcssm.org Join our Group Mentorship Program: ► Royal Hybrids Understand The Truth About Your Purpose: ► Watch My FREE Purpose= IAM Training Book A Free Discovery Call with Me ► iamjosephwilson.com ✅ Subscribe to FUSE LIFE on YouTube Follow us on social media ✅ Facebook + Instagram ►Purchase my Bestselling book "The NO B.S. GUIDE TO THE ABUNDANT LIFE" on Amazon NOW!
We are taking a break from our series on the letter Colossians as we welcome guest speaker Becky Murray CEO of One By One. Becky will be bringing a message entitled, 'Get Your Hands Dirty'.You can follow the message along in the YouVersion bible app at http://bible.com/events/49407121 and add your own notes! Click http://bcc.life/whats-on to find out about all our events and activities.Click http://bcc.life/give to access our giving page, where you can return your tithes to God, bring an offering or make a donation!If you ever need to know how to make Jesus the Lord of your life and come home to Father God, here is a great prayer you can pray:"Lord Jesus, I am so sorry for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me for being separated from you and from other people. I receive into you my life as Lord. Please lead me from now on. I surrender to you. I believe that you died on the cross to take away my sins, that you rose again on the third day and that you are alive and with me now. I accept you into my life. Please help me to live for you. Thank you for your gift of eternal life for now and for ever. Amen."If you prayed this prayer, please let us know! It's the best decision you can ever make, and we would love to celebrate that with you! Let us know in the chat session of the livestream, email us at admin@bcc.life! or visit https://bit.ly/BCC-FollowJesus
A near death experience, of a prisoner lock up for 29 years. Tears of gratitude. Walking and thanking God is the best power walk in earth where our acknowledgement creates new change Opens the heart of Father God and He pours His love on the movement. Keep at it Easy as prayer.
A very warm welcome to BCC! We invite you to join us on Sunday 16th March 2025 for our two morning services in-person at 9am and 11.15am, and also on streamed on our YouTube channel from 11.15am. We are continuing our series exploring the letter to the Colossians. Pastor Nick will be bringing the third message entitled ‘Paul Confronts Heresy'.You can follow the message along in the YouVersion bible app at http://bible.com/events/49403454 and add your own notes! Click http://bcc.life/whats-on to find out about all our events and activities.Click http://bcc.life/give to access our giving page, where you can return your tithes to God, bring an offering or make a donation!If you ever need to know how to make Jesus the Lord of your life and come home to Father God, here is a great prayer you can pray:"Lord Jesus, I am so sorry for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me for being separated from you and from other people. I receive into you my life as Lord. Please lead me from now on. I surrender to you. I believe that you died on the cross to take away my sins, that you rose again on the third day and that you are alive and with me now. I accept you into my life. Please help me to live for you. Thank you for your gift of eternal life for now and for ever. Amen."If you prayed this prayer, please let us know! It's the best decision you can ever make, and we would love to celebrate that with you! Let us know in the chat session of the livestream, email us at admin@bcc.life! or visit https://bit.ly/BCC-FollowJesus
In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song, "Ollieman's Song", from the album "The Chronicles of Bren: Captured – Songs for the Journey". That mp3 is available at https://www.thechroniclesofbren.com/store/captured-songs-for-the-journey-album/ The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! Welcome to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast, where we aim to offer you a fresh perspective on life. Life, as we all know, is a precious gift intertwined with moments of pain - be it physical, emotional, mental, or relational. Let's face it, life's journey can feel like a bumpy ride with its fair share of sorrow and suffering. Sometimes, it just doesn't seem fair, right? But here, we keep it real. Our mission is to guide you towards healing for your wounds, hope in despair, intimacy in loneliness, and shelter from life's storms - ultimately leading you to a deeper connection with Jesus. Through all my years, one truth stands firm: God doesn't waste a thing - not our sorrows, not our wounds, not even our failures. Hello, I'm your host, Dennis Jernigan, thrilled yet slightly nervous to unveil today's song and, what I think is, its fascinating backstory. As I mentioned last week, my apprehension stems from the fact that while you're accustomed to hearing me share worship, ministry, and comforting songs inspired by Father God, today's song has a different origin. It draws inspiration from a trilogy of fantasy novels I penned for my children and grandchildren back in 2015. You might be wondering, "Why would a worship leader delve into the realm of fantasy?" To get the full scoop, tune in to the podcast episode titled "Song of Arolis." Intriguingly, the Lord used fantasy and myth to deepen my unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. The featured song in this week's episode is "Ollieman's Song," originally crafted for the book "Captured" from The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy. "Captured" serves as my life story, narrated allegorically as a legacy for my descendants. While penning the books, I couldn't help but imagine how they would translate into a Disney movie. I managed to compose songs for the first two books but never quite got around to creating tunes for the final installment. That third book delves into my aspirations for my nine children, whose real-life tales are still unfolding - they will ultimately script their own melodies. Before we delve further, I have fantastic news to share. You can access and even download the entire album dedicated to book one, "Captured - Songs For the Journey," completely free of charge at www.thechroniclesofbren.com. I urge you to immerse yourself in the "Captured" book before delving into the songs inspired by its key characters. This album aims to empower young men to rise above their setbacks, failures, and the deceitful whispers of the enemy, enabling them to embrace their true identity in God. Today's spotlight is on "Ollieman's Song," a creation that found its way to me back in 2015 or 2016.In The Chronicles of Bren series, a prominent figure is a wise old owl named Ollieman. Wondering why? Well, during my childhood, our family owned an old barn, crafted by my grandfather in the 1930s and 1940s, boasting a magnificent hay loft. Every year, like clockwork, this barn played host to majestic barn owls. Each spring, a new generation of owlets would hatch, fiercely guarded by their mother who would not tolerate any intrusion, warning us with menacing hisses if we dared to peek into their nest! Those owls became a recurring dream of mine, a reminder of the wonder of having our very own owl neighbors! In the tale of "Captured," the owl symbolizes unwavering friendship and embodies true wisdom. Opting for an owl was a deliberate choice, considering the bird's reputation for wisdom in the western world, attributed to its distinct features like large, front-facing eyes, noiseless flight, and nocturnal activities. Owls seem to communicate only when essential, mirroring the sentiment of Proverbs 7:28 NKJV, which suggests that even a fool can appear wise by choosing silence and discernment. I aim to leave a legacy of wisdom for my family, recognizing the allure of petty self-centeredness. Genuine wisdom stems from adopting a positive outlook, akin to an owl soaring above, navigating darkness with clarity. It's crucial for us to commit to seeking true wisdom throughout our lives, fostering personal growth. If you notice a rhyme scheme in Ollie's dialogue, that's just my inner songwriter shining through. In "Captured," I delve into my early longing for meaningful companionship, rooted in the desire to be truly understood. This quest led me to discover that connection in Jesus. "Ollieman's Song" exudes a cheerful vibe that might linger in your mind throughout the day - consider yourself warned if it becomes an earworm. Embrace it, enjoy it, and let the melody uplift your spirits. SONG God's Word explains love and friendship to us in John 15:13 NKJV 13 which says "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” Ollieman the owl serves as a poignant representation of Jesus, encouraging us to gain a divine perspective on life's challenges. By aligning ourselves with God's vantage point, we unlock the pathway to genuine wisdom. May this insight guide you not only today but in the days that follow. Before I say goodbye, let me share a few ways to keep up with me. I appreciate your presence on The Dennis Jernigan Podcast more than you know and I want you to know that. For more on my journey, music, and updates, explore dennisjernigan.com. Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram, and discover my music on various streaming platforms. If you're eager to join my team, consider becoming a Patron at patreon.com/dennisjernigan - your support is truly valued! To obtain an mp3 of this week's track, "Ollieman's Song" from the book "Captured: The Chronicles of Bren Trilogy: Book 1," visit www.thechroniclesofbren.com for a complimentary listen or free download. I think the songs will prove to be very helpful as you read and take part in the journey found in the boo, “Captured”. "Captured" is also accessible on Amazon in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. I recommend delving into the book before immersing yourself in the character-inspired songs. Thank you once again for being part of today's podcast. Always remember, you are cherished by God and by me. Embrace the challenge to rise up as a wise warrior for the kingdom today and dare befriending someone who may need a friend today…and while you're at it, go and be who your Heavenly Father says you are. Ollieman's Song WORDS & MUSIC Dennis Jernigan 2015 Verse Who? Who? Who is a friend like you? Who? Who? Who would dare defend like you? Who can ride the wind Faithful to the end like you? Who? Who? Who is so wise like you? Who? Who? Who can see through lies like you? Who would give his life Flying through the night like you? Chorus Ollieman, fly High into the sky! Lead me through the night With your all-seeing eye! I will follow you wherever you lead! Ollieman, soar! There is always more! Lead me to the wisdom That's worth dying for! I will follow you wherever you lead! You're a friend indeed! Verse Who? Who? Who has a friend like mine? Who? Who? Who above the clouds can fly! Faithful through the trials! Faithful through the miles like you! Who? Who? Who wise and oh, so bold! Who? Who? Whose heart is pure as gold? Who could be a friend Faithful to the end like you? Chorus Ollieman, fly High into the sky! Lead me through the night With your all-seeing eye! I will follow you wherever you lead! Ollieman, soar! There is always more! Lead me to the wisdom That's worth dying for! I will follow you wherever you lead! You're a friend indeed! Bridge I have never met Anybody yet Who is really quite like you! Singing out in rhyme At the perfect time Like you do! I have never heard Any other bird Who is really quite like you! Always quite astute! I get quite a hoot Out of knowing you! Chorus So, Ollieman, fly High into the sky! Lead me through the night With your all-seeing eye! I will follow you wherever you lead! Ollieman, soar! There is always more! Lead me to the wisdom That's worth dying for! I will follow you wherever you lead! You're a friend indeed! Yes, you're a friend indeed! You're a friend indeed!
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Intentional Intimacy + Faith/Doing = God Himself: Our Reward - The Wrap-Up Discussion Follow along at our social outlets: https://joylandlife.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joylandlife/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5-vPe7h_wjctIQxnaUQSnQ?view_as=subscriber Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joyland-life/id1494637858 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6gCbEDE8pgrNhHlG0WM0fo?si=6fSKeO87SoGrx2BOUveHfQ&nd=1 Zoom: https://www.zoom.us/j/3377733377 Joyland App: https://tithely.app.link/joyland (You must follow this through your phone.) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joylandlife/ X: https://twitter.com/JoylandLife Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/joylandlife
Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, and mom. She knows something of how fear can derail a person's entire life. You see, Debbie wrestled with fear and anxiety for years. And her recovery didn't happen overnight, but she did come to think about it all in a different way. She turned to the Lord, and He showed her practical things she could do to alleviate her fear. Now, for one thing, she began to notice something. When she thought about her fear and she studied her own patterns related to being anxious, she realized that the majority of her fears didn't actually happen. And this is where a journal can come in really handy. By keeping a log of your fears, and then after a certain period of time, say a month later, check back and see how many of those fears actually manifest themselves. And you'll probably be shocked at how low the percentage really is.Next, Debbie said that she began to read words of life, as she says, “Soaking them in over and over, praying them out loud.” And she makes the great point that there's power in the Bible's words because it is God's Word. Isaiah 35:4 says, “Tell everyone who is discouraged, ‘Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies.'” Debbie also advocates what she calls guarding your heart. And this involves a daily concentrating power that reminds you of truth, even in the midst of confusion.Again, this is where reading words of life is so critical. In this way, you're making the peace in your own heart a top priority. And it's okay to say that to yourself—as many times a day as you need. With just these few things, overcoming fear is within your reach. Let's pray. Father God, how powerful your promises are to us. Your words of life bring harmony. Help us to be on the lookout for friends and family who are struggling so that we can remind them of the times you've delivered us from fear and anxiety. Help us to make guarding our own hearts a priority. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.
Truth is a Person and His name is Jesus (John 14:6); Father God is Truth (Numbers 23:19); the Holy Spirit is Truth (John 16:12-14); and as believers, we are people of the Truth (John 18:37; 1 John 5:20). Notice the progression? God is triune and we bare the image of Trinity. It's a pattern worth looking into!www.hesterministries.org www.hesterbook.comwww.PresentTruthAcademy.org
A very warm welcome to BCC! We invite you to join us on Sunday 9th March 2025 for our two morning services in-person at 9am and 11.15am, and also on streamed on our YouTube channel from 11.15am. We are continuing our new series exploring the letter to the Colossians. Pastor Nick will be bringing the second message entitled ‘Jesus Is Above Everything'.We are continuing our new series exploring the letter to the Colossians. Pastor Nick will be bringing the second message entitled ‘Jesus Is Above Everything'.You can follow the message along in the YouVersion bible app at http://bible.com/events/49400018 and add your own notes! Click http://bcc.life/whats-on to find out about all our events and activities.Click http://bcc.life/give to access our giving page, where you can return your tithes to God, bring an offering or make a donation!If you ever need to know how to make Jesus the Lord of your life and come home to Father God, here is a great prayer you can pray:"Lord Jesus, I am so sorry for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me for being separated from you and from other people. I receive into you my life as Lord. Please lead me from now on. I surrender to you. I believe that you died on the cross to take away my sins, that you rose again on the third day and that you are alive and with me now. I accept you into my life. Please help me to live for you. Thank you for your gift of eternal life for now and for ever. Amen."If you prayed this prayer, please let us know! It's the best decision you can ever make, and we would love to celebrate that with you! Let us know in the chat session of the livestream, email us at admin@bcc.life! or visit https://bit.ly/BCC-FollowJesus Comments are closed on all of our YouTube videos but we do invite you to email us at admin@bcc.life if you would like to communicate with us or via our Business WhatsApp which you can access from the home page of our website at: http://bcc.life/
Welcome! Church Online is a community of people all over the experiencing God and connecting with one another like never before in history. Introduce yourself in the chat and let us know where you're from! Get Connected Check us out on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram Find a Small Group www.southpoint4u.com/groups Find out more at www.southpoint4u.com Notes: How do I become the “me” I want to be? National Quitters Day: Lasting life-change needs more than motivation and willpower External motivation, also known as extrinsic motivation, has limited ability because it often only provides temporary results, can diminish intrinsic motivation (the desire to do something for its own sake), and may not lead to sustained long-term engagement or quality performance, especially when compared to internal motivation driven by personal interest or values. - GOOGLE External motivation cannot do what only internal inspiration can. News about Jesus kept spreading. Large crowds came to listen to him teach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. - Luke 5:15-16 Prayer (communication) is not a religious obligation; it's a relational necessity! “And when you pray…” - Not for public show - It's personal and private - Be real – not religious - Matthew 6:5-7 “Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who seeks will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.” - Matthew 7:7-11 “Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish?” - Matthew 7:7-11 “As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” - Matthew 7:7-11 Prayer is the relational connection where our busted heart meets the perfect heart of Father God, which alters how we see, think, and act. The study also found that social contagion was strongest among close friends. When our friends engage in certain behaviors or adopt particular attitudes, we are more likely to do the same. This is because we are more likely to trust and emulate the behavior of those closest to us. - Harvard / UC San Diego Study We often think that self-control comes from within, yet many of our actions depend just as much on our friends and family as ourselves. Those we surround ourselves with have the power to make us fatter, drink more alcohol, care less about the environment and be more risky with sun protection, among many things. - BBC article 5/24 Prayer Reconnects Us Prayer Reestablishes Us Prayer Releases Us Prayer Reimagines Us Regular prayer relationally connects us to our Heavenly Father. Being connected to God inspires meaningful and lasting life-change. ACTS: Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication
In the beginning. When we hear that phrase we immediately think of the creation of the world. Our perspective is from our point in time. In the beginning was a long, long time ago. Yet, God was before time started. And Jesus was and still is the Living Expression of Father God. Time and eternity. Jesus, God joining us in Time, and Jesus, existing as God, Creator, before Time. All that was made was done for us. Beauty for ashes, a light in darkness, a promise set deep in our hearts that there's more – that time may end, but we will not. Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this time of meditation, please consider supporting us.Contributors: Michelle DeChant, Adam Maddock, and Phil Reaser
If you want to know Father God, you're going to need to get to know Jesus because no one comes to the Father except through Him. The good news is that the Father is just as loving, as kind, and as welcoming as Jesus. Today Nathan Blouse invites us all into the Family of God.If you enjoyed this message, please review and share this message with someone who needs it.Connect with us at www.FamilyLife.ccIf you would like to support our mission financially, here are some ways you can donate to our church:Tap the text to the right to give via our Church Center App.Venmo/Zelle: Send to info@familylife.ccText any amount to 84321Visit www.FamilyLife.cc/Giving for more options.Thank you for listening and thank you for your generosity.
Over eight weeks, we will consider the substance of the Lord's Prayer - prayerfully seeking to infuse that substance into our own prayers. We will seek to mold our prayers by our Lord's model prayer, communing with our Father God as Jesus himself did. This week, we conclude our series looking at 'Kingdom, power, and glory...' from 1 Chronicles 29:10-13.The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. Psalm 93:1-2 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us… Ephesians 3:20I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Isaiah 42:8For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. Isaiah 48:11For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Psalm 25:11 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me… Psalm 31:3Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake! Psalm 79:9…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name;your kingdom come;your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.For yours is the kingdom, and the power,and the glory forever.Amen.For sermon media, and Life Group Discussion guide, visit: lifechurchnc.com/prayLife Church exists to glorify God by making disciples who treasure Christ, grow together, and live on mission. Salisbury, NCFollow us online:lifechurchnc.comFacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitter
We start a new series exploring the letter to the Colossians, with Pastor Nick bringing the opening message entitled ‘Paul's Powerful Prayer'.You can follow the message along in the YouVersion bible app at http://bible.com/events/49396760 and add your own notes! Click http://bcc.life/whats-on to find out about all our events and activities.Click http://bcc.life/give to access our giving page, where you can return your tithes to God, bring an offering or make a donation!If you ever need to know how to make Jesus the Lord of your life and come home to Father God, here is a great prayer you can pray:"Lord Jesus, I am so sorry for my wrongdoing. Please forgive me for being separated from you and from other people. I receive into you my life as Lord. Please lead me from now on. I surrender to you. I believe that you died on the cross to take away my sins, that you rose again on the third day and that you are alive and with me now. I accept you into my life. Please help me to live for you. Thank you for your gift of eternal life for now and for ever. Amen."If you prayed this prayer, please let us know! It's the best decision you can ever make, and we would love to celebrate that with you! Let us know in the chat session of the livestream, email us at admin@bcc.life! or visit https://bit.ly/BCC-FollowJesus
It's Friday, February 28th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Christian woman arrested in Iran after police raid Christian gathering Iranian authorities raided a gathering of roughly 80 Christian converts on February 6 in northern Iran, and arrested Somayeh Rajabi, reports International Christian Concern. Agents from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stormed the gathering, which occurred in Gatab, and confiscated Bibles, phones, and musical instruments. Agents reportedly ripped crosses from individuals' necks and forced the Christians to divulge the passwords to their electronic devices. According to Article 18, agents also stopped emergency medical assistance from reaching the Christians. The day after her arrest, Rajabi was allowed one phone call to inform her family that she had been imprisoned in the town of Sari. Authorities have not yet announced formal charges against her. The persecution of Christians in Iran is ongoing and severe. The Middle Eastern nation has a long and violent history of mistreating Christians. According to Open Doors, Iran is the 9th most dangerous country worldwide for Christians. Persecuted Christians take great comfort in Psalm 27:1 which says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” Prayer at Trump's first cabinet meeting At President Donald Trump's first cabinet meeting yesterday, he asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner to open with prayer. TURNER: “Let's pray. Father, We thank You for this awesome privilege, Father, to be in Your presence. God, thank You that You've allowed us to see this day. The Bible says that Your mercies are new every morning. And Father God, we give You the glory and the honor. Thank You God for President Trump. Father, for appointing us. Father, God, thank You for anointing us to do this job. Father, we pray You will give the President, the Vice President, wisdom as they lead. “Father, I pray for all of my colleagues that are here around the table and in this room. Lord God, we pray that we would lead with a righteous clarity. Father God, that as we serve the people of this country in every respective agency, every job that we have, Father, we would humble ourselves before You, and we would lead in a manner You called us to lead and to serve. “Father, the Bible says ‘Blessed is a nation whose God is the Lord.' Father, we today honor You and in Your rightful place. Father, thank You for giving us this opportunity to restore faith in this country and be a blessing to the people of America. Lord God, today in our meeting, we pray that You will be glorified in our conversation. In Jesus' name, Amen.” CABINET OFFICIALS: “Amen.” TRUMP: “Scott, that was a very good job that you did.” Indeed, Scott Turner quoted Psalm 33:12 accurately. It says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance.” Delta CEO refuses to blame Trump for airplane mishap On February 25th, in an interview with Gayle King on CBS, Delta CEO Ed Bastian was given an opportunity to blame President Donald Trump for the crash in Toronto, Canada. On February 17th, a Delta plane somehow flipped upside down upon landing which thankfully did not kill any of the 80 people aboard. In response to the setup, the Delta CEO immediately shot the question down. Listen. KING: “The Trump administration recently fired many employees of the FAA Administration. Do those cuts worry you and do you think that impacts the safety? I know you just said it's the safest way to travel, but after looking at all these mishaps, a lot of people are very nervous. Do these cuts affect you?” BASTIAN: “The cuts do not affect us Gail. I've been in close communication with the Secretary of Transportation. I understand that the cuts at this time are something that are raising questions. But the reality is there's over 50,000 people that work at the FAA and the cuts, I understand, were 300 people, and they were in non-critical safety functions. “The Trump administration has committed to investing deeply in terms of improving the overall technologies that are used in the air traffic control systems and modernizing the skies. They've committed to hiring additional controllers and investigators, safety investigators. So, no, I'm not concerned with that at all.” RFK Jr. pauses $240 million contract for new "oral COVID vaccine" Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a 90-day stop-work order to American biotech company Vaxart Inc., which had been contracted during the Biden administration to develop a new “oral COVID-19 vaccine,” reports LifeSiteNews.com. Kennedy's order came just as 10,000 individuals were scheduled to begin clinical trials on Monday. HHS will utilize the 90-day hiatus to review Vaxart's initial findings to determine the future of the human trials and continued drug development. Approximately $460 million had been allotted to Vaxart by HHS to develop its new COVID-19 “vaccine,” of which $240 million had been authorized for the preliminary study, according to Fox News Digital. Kennedy said, “While it is crucial that the Department [of] Health and Human Services support pandemic preparedness, four years of the Biden administration's failed oversight have made it necessary to review agreements for vaccine production, including Vaxart's.” Actor Gene Hackman, wife, and dog all found dead And finally, Gene Hackman, the prolific Oscar-winning actor whose studied portraits ranged from reluctant heroes to conniving villains and made him one of the industry's most respected and honored performers, has been found dead along with his wife and a dog at their New Mexico home, reports NewsMax.com. He was 95. Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa, age 63, and their German shepherd were all dead when deputies entered their home to check on their welfare around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesman Denise Avila. Hackman was found dead in the mudroom, his wife was found dead in the bathroom next to a space heater, and their German shepherd was found dead 10 feet away in the bathroom closet. There was an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on a countertop near his wife. The sheriff's office said there was no indication that any of them had been shot or had other types of wounds nor were there obvious signs of a gas leak. A worker reported that the home's front door was open when he arrived for routine maintenance and that he called police after finding the bodies. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, February 28th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
It's Monday, February 24th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus 18-year-old Christian received bail on false blasphemy charges An 18-year-old Christian in Pakistan, who has been imprisoned for more than 17 months on false blasphemy charges against Islam, is expected to be released on bail this week, reports MorningStarNews. After Akash Karamat won bail on December 19th for one of three blasphemy cases filed against him, judges granted bail on February18th for the other two cases. Psalm 5:12 says, “Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield." Pope Francis has kidney failure On Sunday, the Vatican revealed that Pope Francis has ‘mild kidney failure' and remains in critical condition, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Prior to that, Francis was taken to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14th for bronchitis, and since then was diagnosed with double pneumonia in what was described as a “complex” medical scenario. On Saturday the pope received a blood transfusion and “high flows” of oxygen. Remarkable prayer by HUD Secretary at White House On Saturday night, President Donald Trump asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, a former NFL football player, to open the National Governor's Association meeting at the White House with prayer. Listen. TRUMP: “I'd like to ask Scott Turner, who's our Secretary of HUD -- he's a great young man, and he's a tremendous, tremendous talent -- and I'd like to ask you to say grace. Thank you. Thank you, Scott, congratulations.” TURNER: “Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. President. Let's pray together. “Father, we're so grateful to have this opportunity to gather together, Father, for such a time as this, Lord. Father, we thank You for President Trump. Lord God, we thank You for the First Lady. We thank You for Vice President Vance and the Second Lady. Lord God, I pray that You will be an Iron Dome of protection around them and their families. Lord God, we thank you that You are a sovereign Father and You're a good, good Father. “And tonight, Father God, I thank You for the governors that have gathered here. Lord, thank You for their service. I pray You would give them wisdom and clarity and understanding. God, I pray You will be with them and their families. Lord God, I pray and thank You for my colleagues in the cabinet that are here tonight. “Lord God, we know that You have ordained this time before the foundations of the world. Father, we thank You tonight that, as we gather and as we fellowship, Lord Jesus, that You would be glorified. And Father, as President Trump as the leader of this nation, Lord God, as he every day, leads and serves, Father, I pray that You would give him great favor. God, I pray that You would open his eyes to see like he's never seen before, that You would open up his ears to hear Your voice. And Father God, you would give him divine insight and divine wisdom as he leads and serves this country. And Lord, tonight, we pray that the joy of the Lord would be our strength because we are happy tonight because You saw fit to bring us together. We love You. We honor You. … We give You the glory, in Jesus' name, Amen.” Trump rebukes Maine Governor in person over men in women's sports Later Saturday evening, President Trump talked to the fifty governors in the White House about his commitment to ban men from playing in women's sports. It was within this context, that he personally confronted Maine's Governor Janet Mills, reports The Christian Post. Listen. TRUMP: “Two weeks ago, I signed an executive order banning men from playing in women's sports. Many Democrats are fighting me on that. I hope you continue, because you'll never win another race. It's just crazy. If you look at what happened with the boxing. If you look at what happened with the weight lifting numbers where a record that hadn't been broken for 19 years got shattered. A guy walks up, he had transitioned, and he knocked out that record by about 100 pounds. That would be a record not going to be broken again. So, we put a ban on it to protect women. If you watch the Olympics, you had two transitioned people that were fighting in the women's boxing, that women's boxing category, and if you saw that it was brutal. “The NCAA has complied immediately, by the way. That's good, but I understand Maine. Is Maine here? The governor of Maine? GOV Mills: “Yeah, I'm here.” TRMP: “Are you not going to comply with it?” MILLS: “I'm complying with state and federal laws.” TRUMP: “We are the federal law. Well, you better do it. You better do it, because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't. And by the way, your population, even though it's somewhat liberal, although I did very well there, your population doesn't want men playing in women's sports, so you better comply. You better comply, because otherwise you're not getting any, any federal funding.” MILLS: “I'll see you in court.” TRUMP: “Every state. … Good. I'll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after Governor, because I don't think you'll be in elected politics. “Every state has a responsibility to comply with Title IX. They have an obligation, a legal obligation, and we'll be enforcing aggressively, and we're going to be protecting our citizens.” You can send Maine Governor Janet Mills an email through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com urging her to ban men from women's sports. Or you can send her a short, two-sentence letter. Governor Janet Mills, 1 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Genesis 1:27 says, “"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." Despite killing 392,715 babies, Planned Parenthood's tax funding up 43% A fact sheet produced by the Charlotte Lozier Institute based on Planned Parenthood's most recent annual report states that, since 2010, the Murder Giant's federal revenue has increased by some 43%. During that same period, its total services have decreased by 17%, with even larger percentage declines for particular services. Contraceptive services are down 39%, cancer screenings are down by 72% for breast exams and 74% for pap tests, and prenatal services are down by a whopping 80%. One so-called “service” at Planned Parenthood continues to increase, however: abortion. In the most recent service year, Planned Parenthood carried out 392,715 abortions, a record toll of death. Plus, its net income for the service year was $178.6 million, leaving it with net assets in excess of $2.5 billion. MSNBC fired Joy Reid And finally, MSNBC fired professional race baiter Joy Reid after she lost 28% of her viewership within the last year, reports Fox News. REID: “We've laid out the stakes in this crucial election, where one side stands for freedom while the other meets the textbook definition of fascism. Namely, a far-right dictatorial regime like [Adolf] Hitler's Germany or [Francisco] Franco's Spain or [Benito] Mussolini's Italy.” Libs of TikTok tweeted, “Turns out calling your political opponents racist Nazis every night for an hour doesn't get viewers.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, February 24th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
Are you a good person? Better than most? In this message, Pastor Eric Robertson shares a parable of Jesus that addresses the difference between those who are self-righteous and those who have through humility received the righteousness of God. Luke 18: 10-14 Pharisees were the good guys. They were the only people in Jerusalem doing something about the Roman occupation. Tax Collectors were traitors! They were Jews selected by Roman officials because they knew the culture and everyone's secrets. Breakdown Vs 10: It would have been normal to see a Pharisee stand in the temple and pray, but very odd to see a tax collector there. Vs 11-13 The Twist Vs 14 This is the reversal! This is the shocking end. If you were listening to this parable as Jesus told it, offense would be setting in, anger would be brewing. The bad guy finds redemption and the good guy finds condemnation. Vs 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: Jesus is telling this parable to people who think they are better than they are. People, who through pride, believe that their efforts are enough to restore union with God. Kingdom Truths from the Parable 1. Self-righteousness blinds us to our brokenness. Self-righteousness is a reliance on one's own perceived goodness, morality, or religious works to justify oneself before God. Self-righteousness is a sin that blinds us to our own brokenness. When you are looking down on everyone else, you can't look in the mirror. God is looking for more than compliance. He is looking for surrender. 2. We are saved by grace, not good behavior. How you receive grace, shows you what you believe to be true about God. Those of us who feel like we need to work for or earn God's love may see God more like a boss. His grace flows from His eternal desire to be your Father. "Jesus did not come to change God's mind about us; He came to reveal the eternal truth that we are beloved." -Baxter Kruger In other words, God's grace doesn't purchase His love, it reveals it. Ephesians 1:4-5 Ephesians 2:8-9 3. Pride Ruins, Humility Restores. Galatians 6: 3-4 The reason pride is so dangerous is that it removes our ability to be reliant. If you don't think you need help, you are at risk of rejecting the very thing required to save you...God's grace. James 4: 6-10 Conclusion: The story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector is a warning to us. Jesus leaves us with two choices at the end: either remain humble and allow God to elevate us or get knocked down. Some of us require the latter. But the scandal of the Gospel is that there is grace for the humble, and grace for the proud. Question: Who are you trusting in?
Bible Reading: Matthew 6:7-13Emery looked at the tall buildings surrounding her new home. A big lump formed in her throat as she thought about the stormy divorce that had taken her father away from her. She tried to tell her mother how lonely she was, but she felt like Mom didn't really listen. I know Mom's nervous about starting her new job today, thought Emery. But I wish she'd think a little more about me and how I'm feeling on my first day at a new school! Emery felt nervous as she walked into her new school, but the principal was kind and led Emery to her classroom to introduce her to the class. When the bell rang for lunch, Sara, the girl sitting in front of Emery, turned around. "Want to eat lunch with me?" she asked. Emery breathed a huge sigh of relief as she went with her new friend to the cafeteria."What do your parents do?" asked Sara as she and Emery ate."My mom is starting a new job at the hospital today, and my dad…" Emery had hoped no one would ask about her dad. "He's a salesman," she said vaguely. "How about your parents? What do they do?""My mom's an engineer, and I never knew my dad." Emery didn't answer right away. "My parents are divorced," she finally said in a small voice. She felt tears rising to her eyes and fought them back. "And Mom just thinks about her own problems and doesn't even listen when I talk about mine.""I know what you mean," said Sara. "I was really lonely until I met my heavenly Father.""Your what?" asked Emery.Sara smiled. "My heavenly Father--God. He always listens. I can talk to Him about anything, and He helps me not feel so lonely.""Must be nice," said Emery wistfully.Sara leaned forward in her chair. "Why don't you come to church with me and learn about Him? He can be your heavenly Father too!""You mean He'll listen to me too?" asked Emery. "And help me not feel lonely?""Definitely," said Sara. "He loves us and sent us His Son, Jesus, because He wants us to be His children." She got up. "Ready to go outside?""Yes," Emery said, "but tell me more about your heavenly Father!" –Matilda H. NordtvedtHow About You?Do you know God as your heavenly Father? Even if you have a dad in your life, you need a relationship with God. You can know Him because of what Jesus did for you when He died on the cross for your sins and rose again. (To learn more, click the "Good News!" button in the right column of this page or go to www.keysforkids.org/goodnews.) He loves you and is always ready to listen to what you have to say. Why not go to Him right now?Today's Key Verse:The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. (NKJV) (Psalm 34:15)Today's Key Thought:God always listens
Jeremiah Johnson from The Altar Global shares what heaven is saying for The Roads Church. God wants to raise up Gideon's army in Norris City, and over the cities connected to the ministry of The Roads Church. There are men and women who have counted themselves out do to their past, and God is saying to you today - 'Yes You, I choose You. You are mine. You are my beloved. I've not only forgiven your sins - I've forgot them.' God does not call the equipped. He equips those that He calls. God took Moses from "Who Am I" to "I AM" sent me. God is taking many from "Who Am I" to the "I AM" has sent me. Many are questioning who we are, familiar with the voices of accusation from the devil, instead of knowing who we are by the voice of affirmation from the voice of Father God. Father God loves You, and He has a plan for you. You're being called back to your heavenly identity that is connected to the Father. Exodus 3 : 1 - 22, Judges 6 : 1 - 40, Jeremiah 29 : 11 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church
We've all known kindness in our life. Think about someone who's been kind to you; it might've been a Sunday school teacher, or maybe it was mom listening to our bad day. But how often do you actually think about the importance of kindness? Is it an active part of your day? If not, I think you're missing the point. 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs.” Real love compels us to practice kindness, a daily routine, and for the right reason. And what is the right reason? God tells us to be kind. The choice doesn't depend on what the other guy is doing. Be that person who does a lot of kind things—and his only audience is God. Give it a shot. Try a random act of kindness and don't let others see you do it. Then reflect on how good it makes you feel. That's the best kind of kind. Let's pray. Father God, your Word shows us that we're blessed with kindness from you in countless ways. Help us to start giving back to those around us. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.
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