Podcasts about fertile soil

In this solo episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Jesse Schwamb explores the profound depths of Jesus' Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13. While this parable might seem unassuming compared to others, Jesse reveals how it serves as the "granddaddy" of all parables—offering a God's-eye view of salvation through the ordinary imagery of farming. The episode examines why different people respond differently to the same gospel message, and challenges listeners to consider what kind of soil their own hearts represent. Through historical context and theological reflection, Jesse unpacks how this parable prepares believers for the mixed responses they'll encounter when sharing the gospel and reminds us that the efficacy of salvation depends not on the sower's skill, but on God's sovereign work in preparing hearts to receive His Word. Key Takeaways The Parable of the Sower provides a framework for understanding the various responses to the gospel message, serving as preparation for disciples who would face both acceptance and rejection. Jesus' parables, particularly the Sower, demonstrate how God uses ordinary, mundane things to express profound spiritual truths about His kingdom. The efficacy of salvation doesn't depend on the skill of the sower but on God's sovereign work in preparing the soil of human hearts. God's Word never returns void but always comes back "full" of either acceptance or rejection—it accomplishes exactly what God intends. Historical context matters: Jesus' audience had high expectations for a Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom, but Jesus was revealing a different kind of kingdom. The Parable of the Sower shows that the kingdom of God isn't received equally by all—some receive it with joy while others reject it outright. Having "ears to hear" is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit, not merely intellectual understanding but spiritual receptivity. The Word That Never Returns Void The power of God's Word stands at the center of the Parable of the Sower. Jesse highlights Isaiah 55, where God declares that His word "shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose." Unlike human words that often fall flat, God's Word always achieves its intended effect. This doesn't mean universal salvation, but rather that God's purposes are never thwarted. When the gospel is proclaimed, it always returns to God "full" of something—either acceptance or rejection. The parable illustrates this reality by showing the various responses to the same seed. This should encourage believers in evangelism: we are simply called to faithfully sow the seed, while God determines the harvest according to His sovereign purposes. Our success is not measured by conversions but by faithfulness in proclamation. Kingdom Expectations vs. Kingdom Reality The historical context of Jesus' ministry reveals a profound disconnect between what people expected from the Messiah and what Jesus actually delivered. Jesse explains how the Jewish people anticipated a conquering king who would overthrow Roman oppression and establish a visible earthly kingdom. Instead, Jesus announced a kingdom that begins in the heart, dividing even families according to their response to Him. The Parable of the Sower anticipates this mixed response, preparing disciples for both acceptance and rejection. This teaches modern believers an important lesson: the gospel will not be universally embraced, even when perfectly presented. Some hearts are like paths, others rocky ground, others thorny soil. Yet we continue sowing because God has appointed some to be good soil—hearts prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the Word and bear fruit. This reality should both humble us and embolden our witness. Quotes "The power of this message is in the message itself, but the medium by which it is delivered... it does pierce the heart. It does pierce through bone and marrow. It does divide because it always returns full of either acceptance or full of rebellion and denial." - Jesse Schwamb "We find ourselves humbled. We find ourselves rushing in, coming into the kingdom, fighting to come into it because God has impassioned us with that same zeal that has accomplished this very thing. He implants it in our hearts, in our minds, in our guts, so that we would come before him and worship him." - Jesse Schwamb "Consider what it means that this good news... that God's word is his deed. This is why... it's such a blessing to live in this period of time where we have such easy access for most of us to the word of God, and that we ought to be zealous about getting that word out to all people because behind it and within it and around it is the full power of the Holy Spirit." - Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript Welcome to episode 463 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse, and this is the podcast for those with ears to hear. Hey, brothers and sisters, so I am just one half. Of the Reform Brotherhood squad. Tony, of course, wanted to join us on this episode, but it sometimes happens in life. Our schedules were a little bit crazy this week, and God gave us responsibilities that put us in opposite directions for part of the time. And so that means that today on this episode, I thought. You and I, we could just hang out and Tony will be back to join us in the next episode. [00:01:20] Solo Episode and Parable Series Overview But for now, this is one of those solo or formed brotherhood episodes. And if you have been tracking with us, we just started this great and amazing journey on going through all the parables that our Lord and Savior gives to us in teaching us about the kingdom of God and its power. And we just started by talking about the parable of the sower, in fact. In the last episode, we just covered basically the first two soils, the first half of that amazing little story, and I thought it would be really, really great to camp out in that for just a little bit more because even though Tony's not here, the podcast goes on and we, Tony and I never really. Thinking about these things and when we start a series in particular, we always find that we just gotta keep going back on it in our minds ruminating on what we said and what God was teaching us and the conversations like all good conversations that draw your mind back to the things that you talked about, which I should say maybe before I begin in earnest, that is also my denial, which is saying things like, let's camp out in this text now to be. Sure. There's no wrong reason why, or there's no bad reason to say words like that. It's just when I hear myself say them, I think about all the things that Christians say, like saying like, we should camp out in this text, or Let's sit in it for a while. And I think maybe it's because I'm just not into camping or maybe because I think most of the time when you use the phrase like, sit in, it's not. A happy or blessed or joyful thing that you're describing. So I always find that funny, and yet here I am saying it because I just couldn't think of anything better to say except, you know what? We should pause and maybe ruminate a little bit more. On all of this good stuff that's in Matthew chapter 13, where Jesus gives us the parable of the sower, so you can join me in sharing which little Christian phrases maybe you think you hear, we say too much or just become rote or part and parcel what it means to talk. The best way for you to do that is do me a. Go to your favorite internet device and in the browser, type T me slash reform brotherhood, that will just take you that little link to a part of the internet using an app called Telegram where a bunch of brothers and sisters who listen to the podcast are chatting about the podcast, their live sharing prayer requests, and there's even a place for you to share, Hey, what are the things that Christians say that you think. Why do we say that? Why are we always talking about hedges of protection? Why are we always talking about camping out in a text? So that's a place that you can come hang out. So go to t.me/reform brotherhood. [00:03:56] Deep Dive into the Parable of the Sower But enough of that, let's talk a little bit more about this incredible parable that our Lord and Savior gives us in Matthew chapter 13. It's so, so short in fact that I figured. The best parts of any conversation about the Bible is just hearing from God in his word. So let me read just those couple of verses. It's just eight verses beginning in Matthew chapter 13, the parable of the sower. That same day, Jesus went out from the house and sat beside the sea and great crowds gathered about him so that he got into a boat and sat down and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables saying a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no roots, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seed fell on good soil and produced grain. Some a hundred fold, some 60, some 30. He who has ears let him hear. [00:05:09] Personal Reflections on the Parable I have to say that of all the parables, and we mentioned in the previous episode that this one is kind of the granddaddy of them all. It's a god's eye view on salvation told in this lovely kind of encased way about horticulture and farming and growing plants. But to be totally transparent, I never really got into this parable. It was never really my favorite one. Like of all the things that Jesus says, of all the creative and wonderful terms of phrase, this one for me always just seemed to be lacking That stuff. You know, it doesn't have really strong characters. It's about a sower, seed and soil, and compared to some other things that seems kind of unassuming and. Not very exciting, quite honestly, to me, and it's not as exciting, I think, as stories about, I don't know, losing something of value and then suddenly finding it and rejoicing and having the characters, feeling yourself in those characters as they go about experiencing all the emotions. That Jesus expresses and keyed in these lovely little riddles called parables. And so for this one, it's always been a little bit kind of like a, okay. It's interesting and the point seems fairly straightforward and it just doesn't captivate me as the others. And I've been thinking about about that, how even in this, it just seems like a really normal, mundane, kind of pedestrian expression of a life in that time. And it's all wrapped up in gardening. And throwing seeds into the ground, not even having control of their outcome. And then in this way, though, expressing and explaining this grand narrative and arc of salvation from God's perspective. So it is, again, another lesson in God using ordinary, normal, almost seemingly mundane things to express his power, to express our lack of control and to show so that he does. Did I just say so to, so that he does all things and certainly we get so much of that in this parable, and so it made me think this week after Tony and I talked about it a little bit. Just how it raises a question in this really normative, kind of unassuming, almost boring, if I can say way, this really profound question, which is, will we be this fruitful, fertile soil? Will we be fruitful followers? Of Jesus Christ. And it doesn't just raise this question, I suppose it also gives us some hope, but it also does so with a warning. It is a maybe a little bit of law and gospel even embedded in these simple means of, again, talking about what it means to plant something and to entrust the planting, the acy of the growth there to the soil and the seed, and there's hope. There's warning and there's so much of that that's in this context of the parable, and that's what's led me to wanna talk to you all a little bit about that as we kinda process together more of what this means. [00:08:00] Historical Context and Expectations of the Messiah I was thinking that when Jesus began his ministry, when he's coming forward, he's really announcing the arrival of the kingdom of God. And it's helpful, I think, to meditate as a second on how profound that is, that he comes again, not just as the message, but the messenger and the medium of that message. I was just kinda ruminating on the fact that. Everybody had high expectations. There was no one, I think, with kind of a low opinion of what was about to happen or of what the Messiah was going to bring or what he was going to do. And here you have like explicitly Jesus' hearers, their ancestors would've been taken into exile and captivity because they had broken the covenant with God. And the prophets had made this case for God's punishment because of their idolatry and their injustice. But that message, and you get this especially in in books like Isaiah. Where there's this mixture that's bittersweet. There is not only an exclusive message of woe for the people, but there is at the same time up against sick, almost running parallel. This promise of a day when God, by his own effort in Zeal, would bring about a restoration where he'd set up visibly an earthly reign through his anointed Wanda Messiah. And so I can only imagine if I could. Even partially put myself in the place of these people who are hearing this particular parable, that there is all this sense that we have strayed from God, that we're covenant breakers, but that he has promised to make a way and that his own zeal will very much accomplish this, but it will be visible and earthly, not just spiritual in the sense that we believe these things and we internalize them in the sense for our being, and therefore we speak about them in these kind of grandiose and ephemeral terms. But more than that, that God was going to come and set up an earthly reign, purely manifested in the world in which we live and breathe and have our being. And so two things would happen. Israel's oppressors would be defeated. And God would institute a pure worship and a reestablished pure worship. And so I can't help but think maybe there was some of this expectation. They're, they're seeing this Messiah, this Jesus, the one who speaks with a different kind of authority, come into their midst. And there I think all these things are somewhere in their minds as their processing. Maybe they should be in ours as well. And so there's this portrait that's being painted here of the prophet saying there's gonna be. Restoration and this image of a seed being sown. And then of course you have these metaphors that Jesus is employing in his own time. Very reminiscent of passages like in Isaiah 55, where you find the prophet saying, for as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth. It shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and I shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. What an amazing, glorious promise of God that there is no suboptimal nature. In his expression of who he is and what he's accomplished, that the very thing that he intends to do, he always does, and this word comes back. I think what really strikes me about this passage in particular is the fact that it does not return to God empty. I mean, think about what that means. It's strange in a way. That. In other words, it's full of something. And here I think it's full of response. It's full of anticipation. It's full of this. Like what? What has gone out is now received by the individual and then returns with either acceptance or denial, very much in the same way that we're about to receive it in this parable before us. And in fact, even our ability to understand the parable. This if you have ears, he has ears. Let him hear that itself is an expression. So in other words. The power of this message is again, in the message itself, but the medium by which it is delivered, it does pierce the heart. It does pierce through bone and marrow. It does divide because it always returns full of either acceptance or full of rebellion and denial. And so when we think about the people of Israel. They exactly in that way. They return from exile under Ezra Nehemiah. But even those returns, even those improvements or some of that remediation seems to me like to come short of expectations. You know, Ezra rebuilt the temple, but it paled in comparison to Solomon's original, in fact. If we go to Ezra chapter three, there's like so much honesty as the people are seeing this rebuilt temple. Their response is, is like tragic in a way. So this is Ezra chapter three, beginning verse 12. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers houses, old men. Who had seen the first house as the temple of God wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy so that the people cannot distinguish the sound of the joyful from the sound of people's weeping for the people shouted with a great shout and the sound was heard far away, even in just the setting up the foundation, the base layer. There are those saying this is. This is not like it used to be. Even this is just far piles in comparison and falls very far short of the original. And of course you have Nehemiah's rebuilt wall around Jerusalem. Couldn't even ensure the holiness of God's people. And so everything up to that point. All of it was still just a shadow. It was like a big, giant disappointment, a blemish as it were, on God's people. Even as there was an attempt to restore, there was still this longing from the inside to have the real McCoy to everything made right to have the true Messiah come, not the one that was the type. Not the thing that was the shadow, not the the poor replacement or the analog, but the real thing. And so you have in response to this, you know, some of God's people move into the wilderness and pursue holy living. Some accommodated to Roman occupation like the Sadducees, some retreated into kind of individual individualistic piety or rule keeping like the Pharisees. And then there's all kinds of accounts of God's people in rebellion. Like Simon, the Zealots. There were some who even located themselves under the legitimate, yet Roman endorsed leadership of Herod, you know the Herodians. So you have all of these people you can imagine literally in the same audience. Jesus pushes back and he begins to teach them. And he starts by talking about horticulture. He starts by saying, A sower goes out and he throws all this kind of seed. And it's not difficult to imagine that all of the seed, all the soil, everything is represented in what he's saying right there. And then it's not a story as if like, well, you take this away and try to process it in such a way that you might come to terms with it later on. It's happening in the here and now. Even what he's saying. Even the message that he's communicating is being man made manifest right there in their midst, and it's not returning a void to him. The one who wrote it to begin with is the one who's speaking it, and it's having its desired effect, even as we read it now, and it reads us today. [00:15:13] Jesus' Ministry and the Kingdom of God And so it's amazing that it's on this stage that Jesus steps out and he stands, especially in the synagogue when he reads from the Isaiah scroll. And he announces that the true jubilee has now arrived and it's arrived in him. You know, by the way, what's interesting there is we have, we have no real reason to think that Israel ever really practiced Jubilee as it was outlined in the scriptures. So we have this beautiful instruction for a reset, a pure reset, and one that is liberty and freedom in so many ways, but especially demonstrated in this economic reality. And Jesus commences his public ministry proclaiming the good new. News that the kingdom of God has arrived. I feel like we have to go there, right? Because this is just so good. So in MOOC chapter four, Jesus stands up. He asks for the scroll, and this is what he reads. Loved ones. These are fantastic words. I mean, hear them from the mouth of our Savior. Again, Jesus reads this, the spirits of the Lord is upon me. Because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. It's such incredibly strong and powerful news. We're getting this sense that there are those who are poor that need. To hear that something will be different. That they are her, that they're seen that all of the straining in life and all of their labor is not in vain, but here is one who's come to rescue them and that those who have been set in prison, those who are chained and under duress and find themselves locked up. That here he has come to proclaim liberty to the captives, and then for those that cannot see, that have lost their way entirely, that are groping in the dark, here is one that's coming to recover the sight. Hear that word, not to give it brand new, but to restore that which was originally present to begin with. Imagine the horror of having your sights and then having it taken away that. Knowing that there was something there that was beautiful in your midst, something that was precious to you, and now to have that restored, in fact, like Blind by de MEUs the Greek, there is more when God says, or Jesus rather, says, what do you want me to do for you? The Greek is very clear, just says, sight again, sight again. And I think we like our ancestors and Israel here before us. We ought to be always clamoring and crying. Then I tell God like, son of David sight again. Would you help me to see truly not as the world appears to be, but we spiritual eyes, to know the truth, to understand how much you love me, and would you gimme the strength to love you? Me back love you back by way of giving, yes, this sight. And then for all those who are downtrodden. Where, wherever, and whatever that means, physically, emotionally, spiritually, that here's the one who has come to, again, set you at liberty and then to say, do you know what this time is? This is the time of the Lord's favor. Why? Because the son of man is here and where the son of man is. There is freedom and restoration. There is a new king over all things. There's one who super intends over all of the earth. Who has been given control over all things and has come to win literally the day for those who are rebellious before God, for those who have sinned, who are covenant breakers, who are gospel abusers, while we were at yet enmity with God at the right time, Jesus and his son for us. And so we find that it's like the pretext, it's the context for all of this, and especially this parable. And of course, rather than. Everybody listening to what Jesus has to say here and just being one over being filled with some kind of winsome logic of what's being said here, of being thoroughly convinced. We know that of course it's not just a matter of evidence, but unless the Holy Spirit comes the same spirit, which is upon Jesus, the sin of God, to change us, to open our ears, that we do not hear these things, we don't hear them as we ought to. We do not give them heed. We do not internalize them, and we cannot understand them. And so because of that, rather than of course meeting with universal acceptance, Jesus, of course, he encounters a host of reactions. Some opposed him. The crowds sometimes were way more motivated, like people in our day by novelty or curiosity or by presume rewards or blessings. You can imagine this is what makes, of course, something like the Blat and grab, its kind of gospel, the prosperity of some of our modern evangelical expression, so incredibly dangerous. Because of course people will say, well, if I can get that blessing, of course I want Jesus. Or if I'm gonna be made, well, yes, I'll, I'll find, I'll take Jesus. If I'm gonna get wealth and riches and a 401k, that's gonna suit my every need. Well sure I'll take Jesus. And of course, the blessing, the reward of getting Jesus is getting the son of God, getting the one who restores us first and predominantly. With God the father himself, that all of those blessings are already ours in the spiritual realm because of Jesus. In fact, we've, we've already been placed with him in the heavenly realms. That is the reward. And so sometimes the gods were a little bit more motivated by, this guy's given us bread before. Let's see if there's gonna be another buffet, rather than he says We ought to eat and drink his flesh. That in that is eternal life, and so we get distracted. And so sometimes novelty and curiosity just win the day. And then of course, on the other hand. Some of the most unlikely unseemly, most sinful were responding with incredible joy and embracing Jesus and his announcement. Tenaciously like voraciously, the ones who were humble, who knew that they needed a savior, they needed a reconciliation that was alien and outside of themselves. Something powerful that could defeat even the sin that was within them and bring about a pure and unbridled atonement, unreserved in its ability to clean. These were the ones who were saying, come, Lord Jesus, these were the ones crying out, saying, have mercy on me, son of David. And we like them. Ought to follow that example. And so throughout Matthew's Gospel and Luke's gospel. There's a mixed response throughout the entire ministry of Jesus. And again, what's unique about this parable, I think, is that Jesus comes setting the stage for that unique response. All of those different kind of options and how people will perceive him, how they respond to him, what they will say to him. And so whether as you go through the narratives in the gospels, you look to. The Samaritan Leopard or the blind beggar, or the Chief tax Collector, or the impoverished widow, all of these were those who were forcing their way into the kingdom in response during the good news. There's really something I think that's beautiful about that, that God allows for us to force our way as it were. When we are convicted of this kingdom, that he is the kingdom and that he brings it to us. That we come headlong, rushing in, falling over ourselves to get into that kingdom by the power of the Holy Spirit. And that's why I think, why, why Luke writes in chapter 16 of his gospel. The law in the prophets were until John. Since then, the good news of the kingdom of God is preached and everyone forces his way into it. What a amazing and lovely thing that God allows us. Which is the truth, to force our way into that. So these were the ones who proved to be the fertile soil for the word of the kingdom, not the ones who chose the places of honor or the privilege, or we saw Jesus one of many important priorities to be managed. What we have here is the ones who forced their way in. These were the ones who proved to be the fertile soil, and I'm not gonna steal. Any of our thunder, because Tony and I are gonna talk about that in the next episode. But I bring that up merely to say there's so much that's rich here. When we think about are we as Christians fruitful and fertile? In our following, after the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's Matthew's great theme of reversal, like beginning in the birth narratives of Jesus and continuing through the very end of his gospel count. Even like in his final parable, Jesus forced the confrontation with his opponents by declaring that God would give the kingdom to those who had produce a harvest for God in honor. His son. That's the truth. And so he was more than simply this messenger in these cleverly created stories announcing the arrival of God's reign. He was the one who brought the kingdom. And actually, in fact, Jesus embodies the kingdom because he was the king, not only of Israel, but the royal son of God who would rule the nations. And because of that. He did represent a threat to overthrow to some just as much as he was meant as a salvation and a blessing to others. He is divisive. In fact, what's interesting is if you track Jesus standing up in the temple. And he comes forward and reads from Isaiah. It's interesting where he stops reading. This is really before kind of the, all the language about the second coming back, him really coming not to bring just salvation, but to bring retribution, to bring justice and punishment for those who are God's enemies. And so really this first coming. Jesus is all about this. It's it's all about having the message of God go out in that return void. It's returning full of the response of God's people, full of the response of God's enemies and therefore. This parable, an ex explanation to his inner circle would be understood as an accounting for the surprising range of responses. And even more than I think like an ex explanation, like explicitly it would be this kind of preparation. This kind of, again, setting a table or opening up a pathway for this hard road that lay ahead for those who would remain true to Jesus. These would be the ones who would serve the ultimate purpose of God's great act of sowing in his son to produce a great harvest. And of course. That is partly what lies the hope for us. I mean, I think I said last time we spoke about this, what I appreciate about this teaching is not only that it doesn't pull any punches, but it's just so. Real, it's so resonant because Jesus already gives us some of the breadth and scope or the continuum of the responses so that when we go out and we should so unreservedly that that is by proclaiming Jesus as the king who has come as the kingdom already ushered in as here, but not yet. When we do this, we can expect already that there'll be various responses. So one for us, it takes away the surprise. The second is it does prepare us. That these things might in fact happen. And three, it gives us a sense that, again, the efficacy of salvation. And we're getting, by the way, this view of salvation from, from God isn't again dependent on the skillset of the sower. Instead, it is God's prerogative. It's always God's prerogative. And here as loved ones, you've heard me say again, I must invoke the phrase, we have God doing all the verbs, right? He's the one walking in the field. He's the one reaching in into the seed bag, as it were. He's the one casting it liberally across the ground. He's the one making it grow. All of this is what God is doing. The preparation of the soil, the casting of the seed, the being present in. Farmland. All of this is what God is doing now. We emulate that by design. So now the call is to do what Jesus has done here in Mala for us, and that is that we also go out into the world and we proclaim this good news because what is unequivocally true is that the good news of Jesus Christ. Is for all people. Now, this does not mean that all people will accept it. That is abundantly clear in the message that Jesus gives to us. It does not prevent though us or him from casting it out to all people. We see that really, really. Vividly. Some will be given ears to hear. We ought to pray that our neighbors, our children, those in our churches and our communities, our politicians, we ought to be praying that all would be given ears to hear, and the seed of God's word will accomplish exactly what God intends and Jesus' word, a proclamation announcing the good news of the kingdom of God. We see vividly the point that God's word is. Deed that this word that he spoke speaks is his action. It's not simply that God says what he will do, but that his very act of speaking is the means by which he does that very thing. When we hear God speak to us, it is proof that we are alive. Not only do like dead men tell no tales, I think I've just inadvertently like quoted from Disney's. Um. Pirates movie, but they hear no tells as well. You know, you have been born again, not a perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living and abiding word of God. Incredible. Isn't it? Loved ones like it's incredible this story that to me on the beginning seems like so kind of. Boring and not particularly catchy and maybe not as interesting as some of the others contained within. This is literally all the words of life in the seed that we've seen thrown and in. It is like the continuum we find, not that it emulates the Old Testament, or that it somehow compliments New Testament, but within all within this parable is all of the scriptures and all of the full plan of God and all of his great love for us. That again, while we were at his enemies, he came and on this path, as he walks among the field, he casts the seed. To all, and he, by his power, gives to some these ears to hear. We find ourselves humbled. We find ourselves rushing in coming into the kingdom, fighting to come into it because God has impassioned us with that same zeal that has accomplished this very thing. He implants it in our hearts, in our minds, in our guts, so that we would come before him and worship him, fall down and find. The one who is our savior, who ushers in the visible kingdom of God, the one that is not built merely on political theories, on good rules. The kind of gospel that didn't come to make bad people good, but came to make dead people alive again. And I think that that is the absolute. Untouchable, unfathomable, almost completely un understandable, if you will, truth of this particular parable. I think this is why the Westminster confession describes the word of God, and particularly the preaching of the word as a means of grace. The word is powerful in itself by the spirits of God. I had to quote the Westminster, of course, at least in honor of Tony, so. [00:30:02] Call to Action and Final Thoughts That's my little challenge to you on this short little episode. It's just you and me and I'm saying to you loved ones. Consider this parable again. Consider how palpable this parable is. Consider what God has for us in it. Consider this soils. And then think about what it means that this good news, we see this within it, this vivid point again, that God's word is his deed. And so this is why though we do not create any kind of legalistic, conscription, or prescription around something like daily Bible study. Why? It's such a blessing to live in this period of time where we have such easy access for most of us to the word of God, and that we ought to be zealous about getting that word out to all people because, because behind it and within it and around it is the full power of the Holy Spirit that is always going out into the world and returning full with response and that when God. Speaks his word. He's always accomplishing his act in that very deed. And so it should be a blessing. We should be compelled to find ourselves in it as much as often as we can because what we're finding there is the power of God for us, in us speaking, administering to us to produce in us a great harvest. That's the promise it's coming, and we're gonna get there in the next. Episode, but what I'll leave you with is just those first two soils thinking about if you have ears to hear, if you have been made alive together with Christ, then consider that there was a time when you are one of the other soils and God who's being rich in mercy has rescued you. Not because of work done in righteousness, not because you've come forward and. Elevate your place to the, to elevate your state to the place of deserving poor. Not because like you came forward with, with empty hands and somehow convinced God that you are worthy enough, or sorry enough or contrite enough. But because of his great mercy, and it's that mercy, I think that compels us to say things to Jesus like Son of David Sight again. Son of David, have mercy on me, son of David. You are the real arrival of the Kingdom of God and your word bears testimony and your Holy Spirit has in a great work in my life. And to that end, I want to follow you and I want to ensure that this word that you've given to me is given to all people. So there's work to do, loved ones. And there's a lot there to process. I hope that you will take some time. Think about this in your own way, and as you are processing this as God is speaking to you, as you are joining together with loved ones from literally all over the world who are hanging out and listening to Tony and I chat about this stuff, that again, you would share your own voice, the best way to do that. Why do you make me beg you? Come join the Telegram chat. You'll have a great time. It's super fun. T me slash Reform Brotherhood. I would also be remiss if I didn't on behalf of myself and Tony, thank everyone who does hang out there, everyone who sent us the email, everyone who shares prayer requests or has prayed for us, and as well everyone who makes sure that this podcast. Is free of charge. It comes with its own expenses. It's not free to produce. And so we're so thankful that those who've said, listen, I've been blessed by the podcast, or It's just been important or special to me. God has done something in it. Or God has renewed a different kind of desire and passion to talk about the things of God or to encourage me in my life. I'm so happy if other things have happened. By the way, it's not because of Tony or me. It's because God is good to us. I mean, can I get an amen? I see that hand. In the back, God is good to Tony and me and we're just so thankful that we get to do this. And so if you'd like to join in supporting financially. Every little gift helps. You can go to patreon.com/reform brotherhood patreon.com, reform Brotherhood, and there you can find a way to give one time or reoccurring all of those gifts together. Make sure that there's no payrolls on this bad boy that you're not gonna get any super weird ads in the middle of it. You're just gonna get us talking. We want to em, I would say be emblematic of what we've talked about here, which is. Freely we've received freely want to give. And for those who join and say, I wanna make that possible so that no one has to be compelled to pay for this kind of thing, I love that we are here for that every day of the week and twice on the Lord's day. So next episode, Tony and I are gonna continue in this parable. We're probably, you know, gonna get together. We'll set up our tents, we'll just camp out here for a little bit. So until we get the tents out, we get the s'mores. And we start camping. Honor everyone love the brotherhood.

In this deeply personal episode, Ben Taatjes explores the profound topic of miracles and how to cultivate 'fertile soil' for God's supernatural work in our lives. Inspired by a conversation with friend and global minister Ryan Skoog, Ben shares practical insights on connecting with God in powerful ways that open us to experiencing the unexplainable. Through the raw and moving story of a miracle involving his first daughter, Ben reveals how these divine encounters can transform our faith and demonstrates how retirees can position themselves to witness amazing things in their own lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sermon on the Mount series. Sermon by Gary Alloway. Matthew 7:1-5 - "Do not judge, or you too will be judged..."

Join us NOW and save $100 at https://ManifestingMasteryDeluxe.com Serious People Suck at Manifesting (Here's Why)And why silly beats struggle, every damn time.Let me just hit you with this right outta the gate:Serious people don't change their lives.They talk about it. They plan for it.They obsess, journal, affirm, and struggle.But they don't change.Why?Because serious is slow.Serious is structured.Serious is stuck.Let's be real. I've worked with thousands of people over the past 20+ years. The ones who move mountains?They aren't the ones with the perfect planner.They're the ones who get a little silly.They play. They pounce. They invest.They do what FEELS fun, not what sounds smart.You're Always Paying a Price — Are You Playing?Here's the dirty little secret no one wants to admit:You're already paying the price.Every day you don't do what you know works, you're paying.You're paying with your time.You're paying with your frustration.You're paying with your soul.But are you PLAYING?Because if you're not playing, you're not manifesting. You're just hoping.“I'm Serious, Mr. Twenty Twenty! I'm Ready to Change My Life!”No, you're not.If you were ready, you'd be laughing more.You'd be playing with possibilities instead of panicking over problems.See, serious people think struggle is noble.They think the solution is another strategy.They want a checklist, a guarantee, a contract.They treat manifesting like taxes—do it right or the universe will audit you.But here's the truth bomb:"Serious people do stupid things."They pull the wrong trigger at the wrong time.They delete the damn DreamDrivenDay.com site in a panic.(Yeah, that happened. My bad. Best mistake I ever made.)Buy the Pearl, Burn the RulebookMy real mission? It ain't to get you to buy my stuff.It's to get you to buy the Pearl.It's to help you stop being serious and start being sovereign.You stop blaming. You stop hoping.You start choosing. You start moving.When you buy the Pearl, you stop waiting for conditions to change—You become the change.And that, my friend, is when life gets fun again.Fun is the Fertile Soil of SuccessYou remember when you were first dating someone and it was all butterflies and bumpy bits?You were seeing each other. You were going steady.You were playful. You were present.Then things got “serious.”And serious killed the spark.Same with your dreams.You want to bring them to life?Don't get serious—get seen.Don't get ready—get real.Manifesting Mastery Deluxe  For the Ones Who Are Done Being SeriousWe just launched something killer:ManifestingMasteryDeluxe.comIt's the OG 90-day course, reborn.New daily videos.Private Facebook group.A TOP SECRET GROUP CALLA real community of movers, not moaners.But it ain't for serious people.It's for the ones ready to play.The ones who are done dabbling and ready to dive.It's for the ones who giggle their way into greatness.So if that's you?Click the link.Change your life.Start dancing with the divine instead of debating with your doubt.If it's not for you?Cool. At least loosen your grip.Laugh more. Love more. Let go.Because this world doesn't need more serious people.It needs more silly souls who actually do the damn thing.

Episode transcript [Music] From Washington State University Extension, this is Food Safety in a Minute. As part of National Black History Month, our podcast highlights Foot Print Farms in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Cindy Ayers-Elliott, a former investment banker, is owner and operator of the largest urban farm in the state. In 2023, she was USA Today's Women of the Year honoree for Mississippi. Her mission: “To provide the community access to healthy food choices, introduce youth to agriculture and provide training and technical assistance to small farmers and ranchers.” On sixty-eight acres, she grows specialty produce available at the local farmers market or by subscription through Community Supported Agriculture. She practices on-farm food safety sharing information about produce safety with consumers in-person and through her farm website. Visit Foot Print Farms online. Thanks for listening. I'm Susie Craig. [Music] Resources Food Print Farms: Where a Garden, a Community, and a Way of Life Grows in the Fertile Soil. Farm Fresh. City Sweet. Accessed online 1/13/25 https://footprintfarmsms.com Mississippi Clarion Ledger. A Farmer and a Superhero: Meet the Mississippi Honoree for USDA Today's Women of the Year (3/19/23). Accessed online 1/12/25. https://www.clarionledger.com/in-depth/news/2023/03/19/cindy-ayers-elliot-mississippi-usa-today-women-year/69899414007/

Like a seed planted in fertile soil, a person who finds themself in a supportive environment is set up to thrive!

Fr. Patrick preached this homily on January 29, 2025. The readings are from Hebrews 10:11-18, Psalm 110:1, 2, 3, 4 & Mark 4:1-20. — Connect with us! Website: https://slakingthirsts.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytcnEsuKXBI-xN8mv9mkfw

In this episode of Priscilla Talk, Keri Folmar, Jenny Manley, and Erin Wheeler talk about the beautiful mandate and fruit of one-on-one discipling in the local church.

Join Michelle as she talks with prize-winning author Katerina Gibson about her new novel The Temperature. Katerina Gibson (1994) is a writer and bookseller living in Naarm. Her debut collection Women I Know won the 2023 Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, the Steele Rudd Award, and was shortlisted for the Glenda Adams Prize for New Writing. Her stories have appeared in HEAT, Granta, Overland, The Griffith Review, the Lifted Brow, Meanjin, and New Australian Fiction, among other places. Her story ‘Fertile Soil' was the Pacific region winner of the 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, and was later translated into Italian. Katerina was named SMH 2023 Best Young Australian Novelist. Her debut novel The Temperature is forthcoming with Scribner in September 2024. Katerina is represented by Caitlan Cooper-Trent at Curtis Brown: caitlan@curtisbrown.com.au https://www.katerinagibson.com/

The Work Wisdom team invites you to join us for our second installment of our series on Curiosity as we explore what behaviors you can adopt that enhance your ability to learn and grow. We will also explore some behaviors and mindsets that may interfere with your curiosity and block you from engaging with information in ways that are ripe for learning To learn more about Work Wisdom, visit our website at www.workwisdomllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram (@workwisdom).    

Reverend Fred Marshall saw the fertile land across the street from his church, St. Paul's Anglican, and put out a call to the community for a new vegetable garden. The first crops went in the ground this spring. If all goes well, the vegetables will be harvested and donated to the Goulds Food Bank a few weeks from now. To find out more, We met several of the folks who have come together to make this initiative happen, including Reverend Fred and Patsy Hynes.

In the parable of the Fertile Soil, Jesus illustrates how different people respond to the Gospel. The seed represents God's Word, and the various soils depict different hearts. Some hearts are hard, indifferent, and quickly lose the message. Others receive it with joy but lack depth, falling away when difficulties arise. Some hearts are choked by life's worries and riches, preventing growth. But the good soil, a receptive and persevering heart, produces a fruitful life by the Word's power. In Luke's Gospel christ is challenging his audience to be see the admittance to the kingdom through the gospel message. It is an exhortation to be tender to the Lord's purpose seeking to do his will as one secured in Christ.

Fertile Soil (06-23-2024 AM) by Sundown Church

Please join us for a message from Pastor Matt Irving on the Parable of the Sower from Luke 8:1-15. We explore the meaning of being Fertile Soil for the Gospel.

CLEARANCE GRANTED... WELCOME, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL... SCRIPT BASED ON ORIGINAL ENTRY BY AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR: www.scp-wiki.net/scp-124 License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ ---- The voice of the Database was provided by Joshua Alan Lindsay. ---- The outro music was written by Joshua Alan Lindsay. ---- Enjoy the podcast? Consider supporting us on Patreon! Patrons get access to bonus Joke episodes, outtakes, exclusive merch, and can even request episodes on specific SCP objects. www.patreon.com/thescpfoundationdatabase Listen and read along in one place on our website: www.scpdatapodcast.com/episodes/scp-124 Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/SCPDataPodcast Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/scpdatapodcast Questions or comments? Email us at SCPDataPodcast@gmail.com

SCP Foundation EUCLID class object, SCP-124: Fertile Soil Huge thanks to Factor for sponsoring the podcast. Be sure to head to FactorMeals.com/scp50 to get 50% off your entire order of ready-to-eat meals! This story was derived from https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-124 and is released under Creative Commons Sharealike 3.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Author: Lucas Click Discover the Author's impressive series of SCP Tales here: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BVWJFGV3 Check out more of Mr. Click's work here: newpulptales.com DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #thescpexperience #scp #scpfoundation #scpencounters #securecontainprotect #scpstories #scpexplained #whatisscp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Assessment, commitment, and action apply to everyday life and everlasting life. Find out how as we study an important parable of Jesus.Download the Transcript of Today's PodcastIn this tactical guide to Christian warfare, Warren Wiersbe gives you practical instructions straight from the Bible to help you detect and defeat Satan on a daily basis. The Strategy of Satan is a must-read classic to help you win the day spiritually!Get this offer for a gift of any amount today.

Sarah concludes Iteration 1 of Tarot for the End of Times with a conversation that unpacks the problems of "light hegemony", the virtues of Darkness, the necessity of shadow work, and the indispensable role of community throughout one's spiritual development. Find Sarah and continue the conversation on Instagram @snakeskin.tarot Want to submit a question for the Q+A Special? Comment on this episode OR send Sarah a message on Instagram! CLICK HERE FOR TRANSCRIPT CLICK HERE TO BOOK A READING ONE-TIME DONATION (Venmo) ONE-TIME DONATION (PayPal) FURTHER READING: “Opening to Darkness: Eight Gateways for Being with the Absence of Light in Unsettling Times" by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel "The Next Buddha May Be a Sangha" by Thich Nhat Hahn. "The Fertile Soil of Sangha"by Thich Nhat Hahn --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tarot-for-end-times/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tarot-for-end-times/support

Shared at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greesnburg on July 16, 2023

We all want to receive the hundred fold return. A great harvest has a lot to do with the correct type of soil in which the seed is sown. The word of God is sown as a seed into our hearts. The soil of our hearts must be fertile. Find out more in today's message with Pastor Steven about how to develop the fertile soil of your heart. ❤️

Paul begins his second letter to Thessalonica with a powerful reminder that God is already answering his prayer from the end of the first letter. God is indeed sanctifying his church - but it doesn't come easy.

Michael talks about optimizing your environment to be the best you can be - surround yourself with positive people and thrive!About the Crushing Your Fear PodcastBioMichael Power is a #1 Best Selling Author, Speaker and the Host of the Crushing Your Fear Podcast and Founder of the Alpha Dad Project. He is also an Entrepreneur who has started multiple revenue generating companies both in the US and Europe. He has learned to conquer Fear through leaving the past behind, learning from it and adopting Gratitude and a Positive outlook for the future. On his Crushing Your Fear Podcast, Michael explains "We live in a Society of Fear. Everywhere we turn, fear is there. Most people we know are affected by fear in one form or another. We ourselves are consumed by fear - we can't move forward - we won't take chances – we 'fear' what others may ‘think' of us - and on and on and on. Enough! There is another way. We explore different areas in society, flush out the manipulation and empower you to overcome fear. Our guests are experts and give you the insight and tools needed to identify and conquer fear. So join us and Crush Your Fear!" Michael PowerHostCrushing Your Fear Podcastmichael@crushingyourfear.com Website: http://www.crushingyourfear.com/ Instagram: @crushingyourfear Facebook: @crushingyourfear Twitter: @crushingfear Tik Tok: @crushingyourfear Twitter: @michaelpower100 Subscribe to our Podcast! iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-your-fear/id1465751659 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/craft-beer-storm/crushing-your-fear Blog: https://medium.com/@the_real_michael_power

Preaching for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez offers a reflection on making ourselves fertile soil for the mission of the gospel: "Just like scaring the birds and throwing out the rocks. How are we making our heart and soul fertile soil where the Word can bear good and holy fruit? Where instead of making excuses about our time, energy and comfort level, we say 'yes' to Jesus' challenge" Joanna Arellano-Gonzalez is a first-generation Mexicana-American, born and raised in La Villita, Chicago. She is the Director of Spiritual and Theological Formation at the Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership (CSPL), a Catholic-rooted community organizing coalition based in the Chicagoland area. Joanna received her Master's in Christian Spirituality at Fordham University, with a concentration in Spiritual Direction. At Fordham, she received the first Women in Leadership Scholarship from the Graduate School of Religion & Religious Education. She works to center mujerista/womanist, indigenous, and liberation theologies and spiritualities. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/07162023 to learn more about Joanna, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

On this day in 1898, President William McKinley signed a joint resolution annexing the Hawaiian islands to the United States.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 3-294_Finding Fertile Soil, Pt. 4 Summary Episode: What do you aspire to be or do? Figuring out the answer will help you make the right choices for you. 1. Active harvest for the next level, avoid overcrowding lac of pruning that results in death/burnout Understanding what fertile soil looks like for you, just may be another key to living a fulfilled life. ***New Book Release: LiftOff to Landing – Revealing Stories of Strangers in Flight – Flight 2023 – available on Amazon, coming soon to Kindle and Audible https://www.amazon.com/author/petrinagooch #DoYouHaveACoupleOfMInutes #Inspire #Think #Learn #Grow #Fulfilled #LiveFulfilled #Liberate #Illuminte #Amplify #PositiveChange #Leadership #Mentor #Coach #Develop #Lead #Listen #Encourage #Feelings #Intent #Expectations #PetrinaGooch #Petrina #TakeTheGoodTakeTheBad #Perfection #Imperfections #ShowingUp #ShowUpOpen #Self #SelfImprovement #SelfCare #Change #Listen #Understand #Communication #Awareness #enlightenment #problemsolving #decisionmaking #ShowUpOpen #SelfControl #DeliberateAction #FindingFertileSoil

Episode 3-293: Finding Fertile Soil, Pt. 3 Summary Episode: What do you aspire to be or do? Figuring out the answer will help you make the right choices for you. 1. Nutrient rich environment for growth and learning 2. Ongoing supervisor resources – both proactive and reactive ***New Book Release: LiftOff to Landing – Revealing Stories of Strangers in Flight – Flight 2023 – available on Amazon, coming soon to Kindle and Audible https://www.amazon.com/author/petrinagooch #DoYouHaveACoupleOfMInutes #Inspire #Think #Learn #Grow #Fulfilled #LiveFulfilled #Liberate #Illuminte #Amplify #PositiveChange #Leadership #Mentor #Coach #Develop #Lead #Listen #Encourage #Feelings #Intent #Expectations #PetrinaGooch #Petrina #TakeTheGoodTakeTheBad #Perfection #Imperfections #ShowingUp #ShowUpOpen #Self #SelfImprovement #SelfCare #Change #Listen #Understand #Communication #Awareness #enlightenment #problemsolving #decisionmaking #ShowUpOpen #SelfControl #DeliberateAction #FindingFertileSoil

Evangelism is, from beginning to end, a God-sized task. It is God that is working, we are simply to be faithful to how He leads us to respond to those around us. Join us as we discuss how to recognize when people are ready to discuss the Gospel and when we should remain silent and pray for God to prepare their hearts.

Episode 3-292: Finding Fertile Soil What do you aspire to be or do? Figuring out the answer will help you make the right choices for you. Be Open to Opportunities That Don't Appear As Expected ***New Book Release: LiftOff to Landing – Revealing Stories of Strangers in Flight – Flight 2023 – available on Amazon, coming soon to Kindle and Audible https://www.amazon.com/author/petrinagooch #DoYouHaveACoupleOfMInutes #Inspire #Think #Learn #Grow #Fulfilled #LiveFulfilled #Liberate #Illuminte #Amplify #PositiveChange #Leadership #Mentor #Coach #Develop #Lead #Listen #Encourage #Feelings #Intent #Expectations #PetrinaGooch #Petrina #TakeTheGoodTakeTheBad #Perfection #Imperfections #ShowingUp #ShowUpOpen #Self #SelfImprovement #SelfCare #Change #Listen #Understand #Communication #Awareness #enlightenment #problemsolving #decisionmaking #ShowUpOpen #SelfControl #DeliberateAction #FindingFertileSoil

Episode 3-291_Finding Fertile Soil Summary Episode: What do you aspire to be or do? What do you aspire to be or do? Figuring out the answer will help you make the right choices for you. Is there a structure that supports development, and the things important to you , such as work/life balance or integration, hybrid work, etc. ***New Book Release: LiftOff to Landing – Revealing Stories of Strangers in Flight – Flight 2023 – available on Amazon, coming soon to Kindle and Audible https://www.amazon.com/author/petrinagooch #DoYouHaveACoupleOfMInutes #Inspire #Think #Learn #Grow #Fulfilled #LiveFulfilled #Liberate #Illuminte #Amplify #PositiveChange #Leadership #Mentor #Coach #Develop #Lead #Listen #Encourage #Feelings #Intent #Expectations #PetrinaGooch #Petrina #TakeTheGoodTakeTheBad #Perfection #Imperfections #ShowingUp #ShowUpOpen #Self #SelfImprovement #SelfCare #Change #Listen #Understand #Communication #Awareness #enlightenment #problemsolving #decisionmaking #ShowUpOpen #SelfControl #DeliberateAction #FindingFertileSoil

A Crushed Heart - Fertile Soil for the Fruit of Repentance by Fr. Barry Braum

In this episode, Dale Hudson shares his experience serving in children's ministry for more than 30 years, and the growing need for creating fertile soil to help kids' faith grow within our ministries. Dale also shares some vision around building volunteer teams with weekly leaders to establish relationships with kids and families. Dale Hudson Connect […]

230. Having A Heart Of Fertile Soil by David Grams

Episode #308 Part 6 of a 6 part seriesOriginal Air Date: 05.13.22

Episode #308 Part 5 of a 6 part seriesOriginal Air Date: 05.12.22

Episode #308 Part 4 of a 6 part seriesOriginal Air Date: 05.11.22

Episode #308 Part 3 of a 6 part seriesOriginal Air Date: 05.10.22

Episode #308 Part 2 of a 6 part seriesOriginal Air Date: 05.09.22

Episode #308 Part 1 of a 6 part seriesOriginal Air Date: 05.06.22

Our hope during this series is to highlight lessons from the life of Jesus that are counter to the common thinking of our culture and yet incredibly important! We pray this message from April 3, 2022 will bless you! Thanks for being part of the Grace family! Series: "Surprising Insights From the Life of Jesus ", Part 4 of 6

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students have been helping turn food waste into nutrient-rich soil. A new program called Panther Pails brings food scraps to the composting operations at the Sandburg Gardens Hoop House. UW-Milwaukee student Jessica Gatzow reports.

13-Mar-2022 Jeff Mazzariello

Today, we're talking to Justin Earley, author of “The Common Rule” and his new book “Habits of the Household”, about the beauty of habits and the power they have to form our lives, our homes, and our families. We talk through how failures might not mean what you think they mean, starting daily liturgies with your kids, and Justin's take on the number one most powerful habit you can (and should!) start today. Buy Justin's new book “Habits of the Household” here: www.habitsofthehousehold.com Buy his favorite XtraTuf boots here: https://bit.ly/3g4OZe9

As you’re listening to this episode, over 20% of the earth’s fertile land has already degraded. Deserts are spreading so fast that we may have 60 global harvests left. But about 15 years ago, an oil engineer from Norway figured out how to turn desert sand into fertile soil in less than seven hours — a process that until now had taken 7-12 years. Today, we hear from Atle Idland, General Manager of Desert Control, a start-up that came up with a solution that could revolutionise the global war against desertification. This podcast is by Expo Live, produced by Kerning Cultures Network.

Sasha Bugler joins the show and we have a lively conversation about permaculture and her work managing a flower farm. We each offer our definition of permaculture and relate our permaculture background and studies. Sasha shares an overview on how to practice no till farming. Later in the conversation she shares about her mental health journey with bipolar disorder and we reflect on what we can learn from our own natural cycles and how that relates to the Four Gardens. Sasha's Links: Sweet Piedmont on fb sweetpiedmont.com sweet_piedmont on IG 4 the Soil VA https://www.4thesoil.org/ Never sink farm https://www.neversinkfarm.com/ tools https://www.neversinktools.com/ mutineer hoe neversinktools.com/collections/mutineer Also Broadforks are available from many sources. I recommend an all metal one Heifer International - https://www.heifer.org/ Heifer Village and Urban Farm - https://www.heifer.org/visit-heifer/index.html Lost Valley Events and Educational Center - https://lostvalley.org/ Holistic Sustainability Semester - https://lostvalley.org/sustainability-semester/ National Alliance on Mental Illness - https://www.nami.org/Home New Culture - https://www.cfnc.us/new-culture/ Aquanimous: https://www.aquanimous.com/ Intro music by Bensound.com

The Bible is full of God's admonition to us to be humble.  Humility is how the Lord advances His kingdom.  Join us for this episode as we talk about what humility is, how to ask the Lord for humility and the consequences of not seeking to be humble.For more information visit:  www.madetoconquerpodcast.com Support the show (https://pod.fan/made-to-conquer)