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In Christ, we experience peace that is so remarkable, it isn't naturally part of this world. As we think about the power forgiveness has for us and others, let's think about how forgiving someone lifts a huge burden off our minds. Matthew 5:23–24 says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.”Notice that God is aware how we think. This passage from Matthew describes a very interesting trait that is often overlooked. The person who has come to worship God cannot properly do that, because he remembers there's trouble in his relationship with his friend. We just can't let it go. God is telling us here to take care of this spirit of unforgiveness first, then come back for worship. Refusing to do things in this order only diminishes our time with God. Jonathan Draper has written about this problem of holding onto grudges, and he specifically says that having a forgiving spirit allows us to grow closer to God. This is the number one benefit of forgiveness.Tony Roberts is an Indiana pastor and relationship expert. In a conversation he had with a young woman impacted by a negative relationship, he asked for her top emotional health benefits that come from forgiving. She said, “It impacts emotional health, in that if you don't take care of you, nobody will.”Taking care of you is forgiving and forgetting that person for trespassing against you. Forgetting isn't the most important part, but it's definitely one of the most challenging. And if they don't happen, you will lose yourself. Now, think about that. God has promised to walk with us through our trials, and those include cycles of unforgiveness. It's critical to our emotional well-being that we forgive, so that we begin the process of looking after our own emotional health. Letting go of bitterness is an important first step.Let's pray. Father God, you intended for us to live in harmony, so that our physical bodies and our emotional selves would be in sync. And when that doesn't happen, we need your help to strike the right balance. Please walk with us in divine health. Let us come to a place where we embrace forgiveness. 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.
Branden Hudson hosts a solo “Champ Talk” episode focused on motivation and personal development, asking listeners to share, subscribe, and leave reviews while noting the show is free and unsponsored. He references Ed Mylett's four phases—motivation, inspirational, aspirational, and “awesome”—and explains that motivation is only the starting point; long-term change requires habits and discipline. He discusses how people further along in their journey often forget how hard “day one” is and criticizes simplistic advice like “just take action,” emphasizing that change is simple in concept but not easy. Drawing from his own experience—including incarceration for selling large amounts of marijuana, quitting weed to avoid relapse into old patterns, and distancing from certain circles to rewire habits—he describes how drastic events can create motivation but aren't required. He suggests finding purpose by eliminating distractions, practicing solitude and boredom, journaling to clarify motivations (including his desire for his kids and others to be proud of him), and getting into rooms with higher-level people or supportive groups to learn, gain perspective, and uncover blind spots. He highlights the value of in-person communities like gyms and jiu-jitsu for diverse connections and respectful disagreement. He also recommends daily reminders (sticky notes, screensavers, aspirational images) to stay on track during motivational “waves,” using a tax-season car sales analogy to stress doubling down during peaks. He closes by reiterating that consistency and identity-based habits drive progress, and again asks listeners to share, review, and consider what they're doing today to become a champion.00:00 Welcome and Support00:31 Motivation Starts Change02:14 Habits Beat Motivation04:06 Four Pillars Overview06:33 Forgetting the Beginner08:31 Why Taking Action Is Hard09:34 My Turning Point11:16 Cutting Dependencies and Circles14:13 Find Purpose in Silence16:10 Proving Them Wrong17:24 Fuel From Haters18:12 Solitude Over Stimulation19:11 Journal Your Why20:08 Pride As Purpose21:36 Get In Better Rooms27:21 Find Your Audience30:13 Jiu Jitsu And Respect32:44 Ride The Motivation Wave35:27 Discipline And Wrap Up
In this message, Pastor Les Cody explores the importance of connecting with God through remembrance, drawing from Luke 22:19. He emphasizes the need to remember what the Bible teaches and to rely on the faithfulness of the Lord, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Pastor Les warns that biblical forgetfulness is spiritually dangerous. While forgetting God's past actions isn't sin in itself, it opens the door to spiritual warfare. Forgetting leads to drifting away from God. This message encourages believers to hold fast to the Lord and His promises, whether revealed through Scripture or personally experienced in their lives. The vision of Mercy Culture is to take people from corporate encounters with God to daily personal encounters with God. At Mercy Culture, one of our unique characteristics is that we are a presence driven church. We are not built around any person or ministry. We are built around the presence of God. Each week, you will hear a teaching from our Lead Pastors, Les and Nikki Cody or another leader in our community. To learn more about Mercy Culture, visit https://mercyculturewaco.com
Just over two weeks til the Cheltenham Festival, and we've got a special guest in Patrick Mullins in to replace Ruby Walsh. And fortunately, we're discussing two races Patrick will be riding in - the Champion Bumper and Hunt Get your Fanzone tickets here: https://www.universe.com/events/paddy-powers-cheltenham-festival-fanzone-the-camden-dublin-tickets-QBNLG7 Subscribe so you don't miss The Ultimate Preview Night on Monday March 2nd, featuring Ruby Walsh, Tony Mullins, Lydia Hislop and Johnny Dineen: https://youtu.be/lked6xBQSlg It's Cheltenham Countdown, coming to your straight From The Horse's Mouth... 18+ GambleAware
Thursday February 19, 2026After Ash Wednesday Today's readings move us from trembling prayer to determined pursuit to lifted eyes in glory.In Habakkuk 3:1–8, the prophet prays in awe of God's mighty power. Even in uncertainty, he remembers the Lord's faithfulness in generations past. His prayer is not rooted in circumstances but in the character of a God who moves in power and keeps His promises.In Philippians 3:12–21, Paul makes it clear—he has not arrived. But he presses on. Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead, he pursues the upward call of God in Christ. His citizenship is in heaven, and that future reality shapes his present focus.And in John 17:1–8, Jesus lifts His eyes to heaven and prays. Having completed the work the Father gave Him, He speaks of glory—not self-exaltation, but the revealing of the Father through faithful obedience. Eternal life, He says, is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.This episode invites us to lift our eyes in worship, press forward in perseverance, and live with heaven shaping how we walk today.
"Comics and literature allow us to enter worlds through our imagination; it is a medium of not-saying. We read because we want to get into the interior worlds of say, a family living in a room in Algiers. Cinema does not give that because the director decides, though TV sometimes does give that. But through comics and literature we get into the extraordinariness of the interior world." - Sarnath Banerjee, author, Absolute Jafar, on writing a Gen X visual history, the changing nature of fatherhood, searching for jinns in Delhi, wandering the streets of Karachi, and sketching in the parks of Berlin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send a textIn this episode we are featuring Wartime Tales. And these books really enveloped us in a reality that showed the potential people held. Plus, we have a Book in Hand that is binge worthy and creepy. Let's listen! Featured Books:The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman (LH)The Library of Legends by Janie Chang (LH)Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson (LP)The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel (LP)Book in Hand:The Intruder by Frieda McFadden (LP)Books Mentioned in This Episode:The Book of Lost Names by Kristin HarmelThe Winemaker's Wife by Kristin HarmelThe Paris Daughter by Kristin HarmelThe Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin HarmelMeet Me in Paris by Kristin HarmelThe Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin HarmelThe Gown by Jennifer Robson Coronation Year by Jennifer RobsonThe Phoenix Crown by Janie Chang and Kate QuinnThe Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang Three Souls by Janie Chang The Fourth Princess by Janie ChangThe Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel NayeriAdditional Books That Go Along with Our Stack:33 Place Brugmann by Alice AustenAll Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria RemarqueSarah's Key by Tatiana de RosnayThe Things They Carried by Tim O'BrienWays to contact us:Join us on Patreon for extra content: https://www.patreon.com/c/BookBumblePodcastFollow us on Instagram - @thebookbumbleFacebook: Book BumbleOur website: https://thebookbumble.buzzsprout.comEmail: bookbumblepodcast@gmail.comSupport the showPlease rate and review us, subscribe, follow us on Insta, and join our Team Patreon! It won't be the same without you!
Jordana asks Dr. Naomi about the usefulness of therapy when things are going well in life, and Dr. Naomi shares some sage advice from a seasoned psychologist. A birthday betch is feeling salty after her bestie completely skips acknowledging her big day and wants to know: red flag or honest oversight? Flying solo on a group vacation is leaving a listener with a less than desirable sleep arrangement and she wonders if bailing for her own hotel room is acceptable. After a surprise pregnancy, a woman is spiraling through an endless loop of “what ifs” and looks to Jordana and Dr. Naomi for help getting out of her own head. A generous business owner offers her meal-prep services as a gift, only to be rewarded with unsolicited critiques. And an early riser is officially triggered by a local school's 8:30 a.m. drum practice and the daily percussion parade terrorizing her mornings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Forgetting something, being unable to recall it, does not mean the information is eradicated from our minds. But certain distractions can eradicate even profound wisdom from our minds.Source Sheet
We finally come to the face-to-face meeting of Beatrice and Dante. We've waited for this moment since INFERNO, Canto II, when Beatrice first stepped into COMEDY.Neither Dante nor Beatrice speak at their close meeting. Instead, the women around the chariot beg Beatrice to reveal her second, hidden beauty: her mouth.Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we explore the complex symbolism in this passage. We'll also take on its textual difficulties: a Biblical allusion that has been muddled in commentary, a lost word that's hard to translate, and a question of quotation marks in a medieval manuscript.To support this work, consider a one-time donation or a small monthly stipend by using this PayPal link right here.Here are the segments for this episode of WALKING WITH DANTE:[01:26] My English translation of PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI, lines 127 - 145. If you'd like to read along or continue the conversation with me, please find the entry for this episode on my website, markscarbrough.com.[03:11] Textual problems in the first six lines (XXXI: 127 - 132)--a muddled Biblical reference, a moral question of virtues, and a word that's hard to translate.[07:49] Beatrice's turning and the coming revelation of her mouth.[10:57] A difficult conclusion to Canto XXXI: Who says these complicated lines that use the informal "you"?[16:59] Forgetting and remembering your former works to create something new.[23:10] Rereading the passage: PURGATORIO, Canto XXXI, lines 127 - 145.
Aristotle said we become brave by doing brave things. The prairie understood this twenty-four centuries later when it built institutions that made brave things ordinary. Now, why does any of this belong on a podcast about consciousness and the human condition? Because what I am describing is not merely a sociological phenomenon. It is a crisis of awareness. We dismantled these technologies across two generations, between roughly 1960 and 2020, and we did it one reasonable decision at a time, and at no point did anyone stand up and say: we are removing the infrastructure that produces citizens. Nobody said it because nobody saw it. The forgetting was built into the process. Each individual replacement seemed logical. In aggregate, they amounted to an act of civilizational self-erasure. This is what makes the prairie such a powerful diagnostic instrument. In a city, civic life can sustain itself through sheer proximity. People bump into each other and institutions emerge from the friction. On the prairie, where the nearest neighbor might be a mile away and the nearest town twenty, every act of community is deliberate. The barn does not raise itself. The letter does not write itself. When deliberate acts cease, the absence is immediate and total. You do not fade from civic life on the prairie. You disappear from it. And because the land is flat and the light is honest, the disappearance is visible in a way that urban decline never is. You can count the closed schools. You can drive the abandoned roads. You can stand in the silence where a town used to be and understand, in your body rather than your mind, what it means when the infrastructure of mutual obligation collapses.
PJ talks to Padraig Rice TD of The Social Democrats who is taking part in a re-enactment of the famous sod toss at around noon today and says waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the Secret Witch Show today, Nicole is exploring the deeper truth of self-love - not the fluffy, bubble-bath version we see everywhere in February, but the raw, often uncomfortable, Rosa-coded kind that meets us right in the places we feel unlovable. Speaking to the Secret Witch who keeps pushing through her tight-chested tension, armouring herself in capability, and abandoning her own needs in fear of disappointing others, she invites us to notice where we've been living as a closed bud - braced, tense, performing 'I'm fine' - instead of softening open into the tenderness our magic actually requires. In this episode we explore why self-love isn't a luxury but the foundation of a Witch's power; how the 'Archetypal Rosa' wound compels us to override our bodies and earn love through self-abandonment; and the real, embodied moment Nicole chose differently - cancelling her day, offering herself softness, and risking being 'too much' or 'not enough' in order to come back home to herself. This is a gentle and powerful invitation into wholeness - into welcoming all parts of ourselves, tending our shadow with love, and remembering the power we keep forgetting we already have. What You'll Learn from this Episode: Self-love isn't superficial - it's the foundation of a Witch's magic, the inner relationship that makes everything else in our lives possible. The Rosa wound is the pattern that makes Secret Witches override their needs, perform capability, and earn love through self-abandonment - even as their bodies whisper for softness. Wholeness isn't perfection; it is the radical act of welcoming all of ourselves home - shadow, fear, doubt and tenderness included. The moment we soften instead of armour, choosing our needs even when it feels undeserved, is the moment our inner Rosa begins to bloom. Practical self-love is both the deep inner work of meeting ourselves in shame and the tender rituals of devotion - tiny acts of beauty, presence and self-honouring. When a Secret Witch chooses to love herself in the exact place she once abandoned herself, her power strengthens, her magic opens, and she becomes truly unstoppable. Resources and Things that We Spoke About: Join our Apothecary Membership to journey with Rosa healing: www.nicolebarton.co.uk/membership> Social: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nicoleamandabarton Facebook Group - Secret Witch Sisterhood: www.facebook.com/groups/secretwitch Instagram - @iamnicolebarton Instagram - @archetypalapothecary You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/@secretwitchsociety Tiktok - @archetypalapothecary Free Moonlit Apothecary Love Letters: www.nicolebarton.co.uk/moonlitapothecary Thank you for listening, we'd love to know what comes alive for you in this week's episode, so please let us know. If you loved it, there's a fresh episode every other week - subscribe so you don't miss it! Thank you, Nicole and Team Secret Witch xox
Astrologer and Filmmaker Liz Vazquez joins host Joshua Turek to discuss books documenting our pressing issues and outer space and how they're all related. originally recorded January 26, 2026Books talked about includeTrickster makes the world by Lewis HydeShiver by Junji ItoWho I am and What I want by David ShimleyThe Problem with WorkCarceral CapitalismNechro Politics Achille MbembeA People's History of the United States by Howard ZinnThe History of Forgetting by Norman KleinBecoming Human by Zakiyah Iman JacksonBlack shirts and reds by Michael ParentiInventing RealityAmerican Fascists by Chris HedgesLoaded by Roxanne Dunbar OrtizCosmos and Psyche by Richard TarnesAmerican Cosmic - Diana Walsh PasulkaThe Administration of Fear by Paul VerilioThe Information BombShambhala Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I open my heart and share where I truly am in my grief journey—eight years after losing Paul, and after walking through layers of loss I never imagined I'd have to carry. This episode was born out of a quiet but powerful realization during the holidays: that grief evolves, that endings can bring clarity, and that moving forward doesn't mean forgetting—it means choosing alignment, peace, and authenticity. I reflect on parental estrangement, complicated family dynamics, selling the home Paul and I built our life in, and the tender moment of recognizing when a chapter has truly completed. I talk honestly about what I've learned along the way: How sitting with your feelings—rather than avoiding them—can bring unexpected peace Why turning inward matters more than seeking answers from others Letting go of anger, old stories, and the need to react Trusting your inner guidance, even when life feels unfair Holding grief and hope in the same container Choosing not to participate in cycles of dysfunction Finding purpose after loss, even when it feels scary or unreasonable I also share how opening a community-centered barre studio became part of my healing—not because grief ended, but because I allowed myself to evolve. This episode is about trusting that what broke you may also be the thing that reshapes you into someone stronger, clearer, and more aligned than ever before. If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure whether you'll ever be "okay" again, I want you to hear this clearly: you are not broken, you are not grieving wrong, and you are capable of moving forward in your own time. This episode is an invitation—to get quiet, to turn inward, to trust yourself, and to believe that even now, something meaningful is still unfolding for you. Welcome to New Ways Barre. We are so glad you are here. Get ready to transform your body, mind and life. At New Ways Barre, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive community where individuals can achieve holistic well-being. https://newwaysbarre.com/ Please subscribe and leave a review. If you have questions, comments, or possible show topics, email susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Don't forget to visit Tendrils Of Grief website and join for upcoming Webinars, Podcasts Updates and Group Coaching. Get involve and share your thoughts and experiences in our online community Tendrils of Grief-Survivor of Loss To subscribe and review use one links of the links below Amazon Apple Spotify Audacy Deezer Podcast Addict Pandora Rephonic Tune In Connect with me Instagram: @Sue_ways Facebook:@ susan.ways Email @susan@tendrilsofgrief.com Let me hear your thoughts!
DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES DOWNLOAD MESSAGE SUMMARY Sermon Summary: “The God of Your Days” Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min. Psalm 37 is a psalm of wisdom, not lament. It instructs believers how to live faithfully when injustice and wickedness appear to prosper. God's command to “do not fret” calls for courageous engagement without anxiety, fear, or spiritual distortion. “The LORD knows the days of the upright” affirms God's intimate involvement in every season of life—past, present, and future. God is the God of all our days, including times of joy, hardship, abundance, and loss. God's faithfulness extends across generations. Long before we were born, God was already at work, planting seeds through the faith, obedience, and integrity of those who came before us. Our true inheritance is not merely material but includes faith, character, courage, and purpose—things that outlast wealth and recognition. Remembering and preserving inheritance is essential. Forgetting history weakens identity, while intentional storytelling strengthens future generations. Above all, God Himself is our greatest inheritance. Unlike material possessions, what God gives cannot be lost, diminished, or destroyed. Because our hope is in Him—not in systems or people—we will not be ashamed in evil times. God preserves His people through both trust and action. Faith works through obedience, wisdom, and responsibility. Even in seasons of famine—spiritual or natural—those who remain grounded in God's Word will be satisfied. Final Affirmation: God is the God of our days. He knows the days of the upright. Our inheritance in Him is forever. We will not be ashamed in evil times. In days of famine, we will be satisfied.
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In episode #238 of the World Awakenings podcast, we welcome John Morschauser, mystic, spiritual author, and channel of Yeshua (Jesus). After retiring from a 25-year career as a mortgage loan officer, John devoted his life to spiritual awakening, healing, remembrance, and divine union. Through channeled conversations with Yeshua, John shares profound insights on higher consciousness, inner light, self-realization, mysticism, and humanity's spiritual awakening. He is the bestselling author of “The Remembrance Dialogues: The Great Turning Inward” and his newest book, “Yeshua: The Human – Channeled Conversations with Yeshua in Sneakers.” In this episode, we explore:✨ Channeling and divine communion✨ Spiritual awakening and remembrance✨ Mysticism and contemplative living✨ Healing, union with the Divine, and humanity's future This conversation is for anyone seeking spiritual truth, awakening, and deeper connection with the Divine.To get your copy of John Morschauser's book, "The Remeberance Dialogues", just click this link.And his book, "Yeshua the Human", just click the link.If you would like to contact John Morschauser, his email is: jmorscha5@gmail.comAnd to purchase your very own LoveTuner, here is the link https://newrealitytv.com/world-awakenings-lovetunerTIMESTAMP:00:00 Introduction – John Morchhauser & World Awakenings01:45 From Mortgage Career to Spiritual Awakening05:10 The Call to Remembrance and Inner Light08:30 John's Path into Mysticism and Channeling12:05 First Experiences Channeling Yeshua (Jesus)16:40 What It Means to Be in Divine Communion21:15 Forgetting, Remembering, and Awakening Humanity26:30 Healing, Union with the Divine, and Higher Consciousness32:10 “The Remembrance Dialogues” – Channeled Conversations with Yeshua37:45 Yeshua as Human – Spirituality in Everyday Life43:20 Living a Contemplative Life in a Modern World48:50 Humanity's Great Turning Inward54:30 Final Message from Yeshua Through John58:10 Closing Reflections & How to Connect with John
When someone does something wrong ?' something that hurts us, it's easy to say, ???I forgive you???. But actually living out that forgiveness ?' what does that look like? Join Berni Dymet ?' as he takes a look at some forgiveness, from a different perspective. Support the show: https://christianityworks.com/channels/adp/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
PSALMS 111–113 — PRAISE, COVENANT REMEMBRANCE, RIGHTEOUS STABILITY, AND YAHUAH'S EXALTATIONEvening MessageTeacher: Kerry BattleAhava ~ Love AssemblyThis evening Torah message covers Psalms 111 through 113, a unified progression of covenant praise, remembrance, upright stability, and Yahuah's exaltation over all creation.These Psalms are not emotional poetry. They are covenant formation. The Writings witness Torah, call Israel to fear, and define what righteousness produces in the life of the set-apart remnant.Psalm 111 establishes that the fear of Yahuah begins with remembering His works and honoring His covenant.Psalm 112 shows the fruit of that fear, stability, obedience, generosity, and endurance against the wicked.Psalm 113 exalts Yahuah as the Most High who still attends to the lowly, raising the poor and restoring households by covenant mercy.This message is taught with judicial clarity, precept upon precept, and requires a lawful response.WHAT WE COVER IN THIS MESSAGEPraise in the Assembly, Not Private ReligionPsalm 111Praise belongs in the gathered order of the upright, not isolated spirituality. Covenant people worship publicly in truth and remembrance.The Works of Yahuah Are Studied, Not ForgottenPsalm 111The remnant does not admire Yahuah's acts, they study them. Forgetting produces rebellion. Memory is obedience.Covenant Provision and Command Are JoinedPsalm 111Yahuah provides for those who fear Him, and His provision is governed by covenant order, not entitlement.The Fear of Yahuah is the Beginning of WisdomPsalm 111Wisdom begins with trembling submission. No fear, no wisdom. No obedience, no understanding.The Righteous Man Produced by Covenant FearPsalm 112Blessing is attached to delight in commandments. Upright men are stable in darkness and unshaken under trial.Generosity as Covenant Order, Not Charity CulturePsalm 112Giving is covenant justice and stewardship. Ordered care among the set-apart, not forced redistribution.Separation Revealed by OppositionPsalm 112The wicked grind their teeth against righteousness. Distinction returns. Opposition proves separation.Yahuah Exalted, Yet Near the LowlyPsalm 113The Most High humbles Himself to behold the poor, raising them from the dust and seating them with princes.Household Restoration as Covenant FruitPsalm 113Fruitfulness and restoration are governed by Yahuah's mercy, not human control. He builds households by covenant order.WHY THIS MESSAGE MATTERSCovenant praise is public and orderedRemembrance is obedienceFear is the beginning of wisdomRighteousness produces stabilityGiving is governed by Torah justiceOpposition reveals separationYahuah lifts the lowly by covenant mercyHouseholds are restored by His handThese Psalms train the remnant to live upright, fear Yahuah without hypocrisy, and trust His exaltation and governance in every condition.SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FOR STUDYPsalms 111–113Deuteronomy 31Exodus 13Deuteronomy 4Deuteronomy 8Proverbs 1Ecclesiastes 12Isaiah 66Psalm 1Deuteronomy 28Psalm 37Deuteronomy 15Psalm 2Malachi 3Isaiah 571 Samuel 1–2Genesis 21Isaiah 54Revelation 7Every section is taught precept upon precept.ABOUT AHAVA ~ LOVE ASSEMBLYWe teach the Pure Word of Yahuah.No religion.No tradition.No compromise.Our teaching follows the Sovereign Blueprint:Law | Precept | Example | Wisdom | Understanding | Prudence | Conviction | Fruit of the Ruach | Final Heart CheckSUPPORT THE WORK — GIVE VIA ZELLEZelle QR at: ahavaloveministry.comZelle only. No CashApp. No PayPal.FINAL WORDThe remnant must praise without forgetting.Fear without hypocrisy.Walk upright without shaking.And trust Yahuah to lift the lowly in His appointed time.Final Heart Check:Do you praise without forgetting, fear without hypocrisy, walk upright without shaking, and trust Yahuah to lift the lowly in His appointed time?
Dr. Lee Hansen, Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Author of Forgetting and Forgotten: Dementia and the Right to Die, shares with Dick his experiences and all he learned about dementia while taking care of his wife during her ten year battle with this all too common disease.
Josh Hickman, author of Forgetting, shares the raw and heartfelt journey of caring for a difficult parent with dementia in this deeply personal episode of The Manchester Living Podcast. Host Brian Levy and Josh explore the complexities of caregiving when the loved one's personality challenges intersect with cognitive decline. From the early signs of cognitive decline to the isolation of being a caregiver to managing guilt and resentment of your loved ones, Josh dives deep into his experiences and the lessons he learned.
The following is an AI-generated rough transcript of the Equipping Hour. It may contain inaccuracies. Opening and Introduction Smedly Yates: Well, good morning. Happy Sunday. Welcome to Grace Bible Church this morning and to Equipping Hour. This morning, we’re going to be doing a follow-up from an equipping hour that Jake taught on January 11th on dementia. And that was, Jake, that was riveting and encouraging. And I thought you taught us everything we needed to know, but apparently you didn’t. Because the numbers of follow-up questions from that equipping hour broke all records. So we’ve sort of accumulated those questions. And let me just encourage you, if you didn’t get a chance to listen to that equipping hour from January 11th, pull it up on the website, go back and listen to that. And this morning, what we’re going to do is just put the questions that many of you asked in person and submitted. Or just get to ask those of Jake in front of all of us. And so Jake really is going to give most of the answers here. I don’t know if I have a whole lot to say. Other than these are the questions we got, Jake, help us. So with that, let me open us in a word of prayer and we’ll get started. Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your kindness to us. We don’t deserve to have physical ability endure in this life. We don’t deserve to have mental capacity sustained in this life. We truly only deserve condemnation under your wrath for our sins. And so anything that you give to us, we pray to use as a gift, as a stewardship, to use well and for your glory, and to be content and to trust you as things diminish. And we thank you for the preparation, for mental decline. You’ve already given us from principles from your word. We pray even now as we discuss caring for one another and seeking to glorify you in personal worship in our physical existence that you would be honored as we listen and apply and are strengthened and sharpened to help others. We ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen. I’m going to start with kind of a personal question that came in, Jake, and it goes like this. If I try not to get dementia, you gave us a lot of helps, dietary exercise, sleep, some of those things that were really helpful, practical things. So if I’m doing those things, if I’m trying not to get dementia, am I expressing distrust and dissatisfaction in God and his sovereignty? Stewardship, Planning, and God’s Sovereignty Jacob Hantla: Maybe. So, yeah, we spend a lot of time talking about the practical ways that you might want to steward this life and this body that God’s given you. The big hitters were exercise, right? We said if there’s one that you can do, it’s that. But there’s a lot more. There’s a, but if you’re doing those things, is that sinful? It might be. There’s a way to do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Planning, though, is not unbelief. Planning like God doesn’t exist is unbelief. or planning like God’s way isn’t best in your selfishly, arrogantly grabbing after your own desires. That’s unbelief. That’s sin. So the issue isn’t whether you should steward, but it’s whether an action that you’re saying is stewardship is actually a mask for control, pride, and fear. Proverbs 27:12 says the prudent sees danger and hides himself. There’s a way to see that. Where you see danger, you hide yourself from it. You take planned steps in order to avoid it that actually roots itself from fear of the Lord. And that would be right. And in contrast, it says the simple go on as if that danger isn’t there and they suffer for it. So there’s nothing inherently righteous or right and just saying, I’m going to trust the Lord and use that as a mask for just lazy thoughtlessness. Similarly, there’s nothing righteous at all in saying, I don’t want what I fear is coming and I’m going to grasp after what I want. But James 4, you guys might want to open there. This is, a really, really helpful section of scripture for planning. And it reveals why we actually have to, at the heart of all of this, guard our hearts, not merely do the right thing. James Chapter 4. And this is in the context of the warning, or the command to humble yourself from verse 10, humble yourselves before the Lord because God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. And now, he says, come now, verse 13, you who say today or tomorrow, we’re going to go into such and such a town, spend a year there trade, and make a profit. Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You’re a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we will do this or that. So the take home from that is not don’t plan, don’t run a business, but rather as you run it, run it as one who actually embraces and recognizes your temporalness, your weakness, your dependence, and God’s sovereignty. Smedly Yates: If we zoom out from the topic of dementia, and we just think about the principle underlying that, we’re dealing with the realities of God using human means in his sovereign plans. If we rephrase the question, we might say, is it sin and distrust of the Lord to study for your chemistry exam? No, of course not. Can you sin by studying for your chemistry exam without thought toward God and exalt your own pride and intellect and your hard work? Yeah, that’d be wrong. A godless, practical, atheistic approach to effort would be sin. But a laziness that says, well, I’m just trusting in the Lord, but I’m not going to go apply for a job, study from my exam, practice for the athletic endeavor, or whatever is sin the other way. And I love the example of evangelism. We know that God will save people, but we know that God uses means to do it. So is it a failure to trust God when I go out and share the gospel with people? No, it’s actually the obedience that God uses as a means to accomplish his ends. Now, I can’t control the results. So you can be faithful, worshiping the Lord, telling others how great Jesus is all day long and nobody gets saved and God is honored and we trust him. Jacob Hantla: Yeah. There’s two biblical, I love the illustration. It’s throughout the Bible of horses and chariots. You can write down Proverbs 21:31 and Psalm 20:7. In Proverbs 21:31, it says, the horse is made ready for the day of battle. Who does that? We do that. The people do that, and they go, battle, but it says, but victory belongs to Yahweh. And similarly, in Psalm 20:7, this, this was actually one of my favorite passages in fighting cancer. I stole it from Piper in his book, Don’t Waste Your Cancer. He says, some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of Yahweh our God, which doesn’t mean go to battle with slow horses and broken down chariots, it’s wise to get the best you can. If you know that you might be facing a future with dementia or anything else you might face, chemistry test or other health problem, be diligent to plan, but do it in a way that when you don’t get dementia, it wasn’t your effort that gets the glory. It was Yahweh’s. And if you get dementia anyway, you say, it was the Lord’s will. It’s best, I trust. Reverse Sanctification and Dementia Smedly Yates: A question came through, and really there were several facets that sort of get at the same kind of question. But people wondered, and this comes obviously from people who have worked hard to care for people with various forms of dementia. But it seems like Christians at times can experience what looks like reverse sanctification. Is that what’s going on there? Have people been abandoned by the Holy Spirit when behaviors change in mental decline. Jacob Hantla: Yeah, I think probably about five, six of you asked that question with very particular circumstances in mind. And the question doesn’t overstate the reality of what occurs. So reverse sanctification. Sanctification is the process of progressively being conformed to the image of Christ from the point of salvation, usually, and normally for a Christian, until the point when they finish well, die, and are taken home, and then glory. But that doesn’t always happen for Christians. The reality is sometimes in dementia, some Christians become more childlike in their faith. It’s not inevitable that your sanctification will reverse. And I don’t think that’s the right term. It’s the observed reality that we see. But sometimes their faith becomes more simple, but not less godly. They might tell the same stories over and over again. Or if you imagine sometimes what happens in dementia, your existence in the moment is separated from what’s gone before it. So you’re always disoriented. That’s terrifying. And so you see the Christian in those moments having a childlike trust questions that you feel bad for them, but they are trusting the Lord in a real way. But sometimes, and this is the words of Dr. John Dunlop, wrote a book on the Christian and dementia. He goes, dementia can indeed change personalities. It has transformed wonderful, loving, godly people into tyrants. And that happens. I’ve seen, you see somebody who was self-controlled loving. and as they progress into dementia, they curse. They use language that’s not befitting a Christian at all. There’s inappropriateness in all kinds of ways. And so what’s going on there? I think it’s helpful. I’m going to do another physiology lesson. Bear with me, I promise it’s worth it. It helps me. So there’s some types of dementia, especially that there’s one we talked about called frontotemporal. What does that mean? It’s the area of the brain in which it happens. And it changes the way that your brain physically works. So there’s an, I’m going to oversimplify a little bit. So, but this is, this is helpful. If you think of your prefrontal cortex, you might have heard that word because we joke. Teenagers, their prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed. And that’s true. It’s why you don’t trust your kids to make life-altering decisions. But the prefrontal cortex is, you could think of it as the executive control center of your brain. It houses the part of your brain for abstract thought, concentration, working memory, and most critically, inhibition of inappropriate thoughts and actions. You and I do it all the time you think it’s like the breaks. There’s a filter on, thank God there’s a filter, right? Something comes to your mind and it doesn’t come out your mouth. Because of the prefrontal cortex, it overrides automatic impulsive thoughts. It helps you consider the consequences in the future before acting. It connects your current behaviors to the past experiences and your goals. And when that area is damaged, somebody has a really hard time choosing the appropriate behavior for the situation. The damage, it sort of removes the filter. There’s another thing, orbital frontal cortex. It’s just another area of your brain. You don’t need to know the big word. But what that is is that’s particularly critical for regulating social behavior. When that area of the brain gets damaged, like if you get a cancer to that area or a surgery that affects, that area instantly, that person can explain what appropriate social behavior is, but they don’t recognize when their behavior violates that. So it’s manifested by like just a list from a textbook that I looked up on this. It’s greeting strangers in an overly familiar manner, standing too close to others, inappropriate touching, being aware of social norms, like I said, but unaware that your behavior violates that, and that can go to extremes, sexual inappropriateness, language inappropriateness, and they’re just unaware. You and I, if we were to be saying that, it would be sin. In this case, it actually may represent a physical inability. So what’s going on there? I want to think about the brain and the believer. When the Holy Spirit expresses self-control in a believer. So, right, the fruit of the spirit is self-control. And I just said, well, self-control comes from the prefrontal cortex. So are we just our brains? No. When the Holy Spirit makes a believer new. And when the Holy Spirit controls that believer, he does it in a way through the working of our physiologic brain that enables us to submit to him, which means that he’s actually using our prefrontal cortex in a renewed way. I think it’s helpful. Open your Bible’s to Ephesians 5:18. I think this is really helpful. And there is an inner working between the way our brains and our most inner us, your soul, your mind, you’re who you are. There’s a working there that we, don’t truly understand, but that we can get glimpses into here. And I think that that, if we think of the way our brains in the working of the Holy Spirit to accomplish things like self-control, I think this is a helpful verse. Ephesians 5:18, do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery. And what’s that contrasted with? But be filled with the Holy Spirit, with the Spirit. So what does alcohol physically do? Alcohol in a person, it actually, you’re going to now see why I did this physiology lesson, it actually dramatically reduces prefrontal cortex activity. It takes the break off. It takes the filter off. You may still have the Holy Spirit, but the physiologic means that he uses to exercise control of, you would use to minimize your expressions of sin while in this body that’s falling apart, you’ve now chemically altered that. And so you have a lack of self-control, an impaired moral reasoning, increased risk-taking. Similarly, your orbital frontal cortex goes dysfunctional. That’s why I mentioned those two things. That happens with alcohol and anything that stimulates GABA receptors. That would be like benzodiazepines, some sleeping pills, some anti-enactylase, some anti-enactylase. anxiety meds, it can lead to social inappropriateness for those same reasons. Opioids. Research shows that chronic amphetamine and opioid use alters decision-making by ways that are very similar to focal damage to that orbital frontal cortex. You can see now chemicals interacting with your brain in a way that we’re used to seeing those people don’t act right. THC from marijuana, same thing, decreased brain volumes in chronic use, especially in the orbital frontal cortex. Sleep deprivation. Tons of breakdown, temporary, and the connection between amygdala, which is like your fighter flight, your stress area, and your prefrontal cortex connectivity. So sleep deprivation triggers this. You basically don’t have a brain. on your emotional regulation. So why am I going through all that? If we have the ability, it’s right for us to keep ourselves from breaking our brain intentionally. Don’t be drunk. Avoid chemicals that would alter those areas and make the expression of self-control more difficult or less likely. and you can actually, you see it in your kids when they’re unslept, more prone to sin. You see it in yourself. So imagine yourself with 48 hours without sleep, then drink a little bit of alcohol. You will become disinhibited, irritable, and be much more prone to sin. Don’t do that to yourself. But now what happens if that’s actually happening physically because areas of your brain are dying, they’re tangled up with proteins, or they’re otherwise that they can’t access the energy stores to function? That’s effectively what they’re, but they can’t sleep it off or sober up. It helps you be probably a little more understanding and maybe see that it’s not actually a reversing of sanctification, but rather, I think it’s a, well, let’s just turn to 2 Corinthians 4, and I think we’ll see what it is. You see that dementia can change behavior by damaging the brain’s physiologic instruments of restraint and judgment, but it’s not the same thing as the Holy Spirit moving out. sanctification isn’t stored in a lobe of the brain. You are more than your brain. It’s actually our brain is that part of us that’s wasting away. It’s not our inner man. So 2nd Corinthians 4:16, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. day. This is helpful to remember in somebody whose outer self is falling apart, not just physically their body doesn’t work anymore, but their brain’s not working. This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. As we look not to the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen, the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. It’s really helpful. when we look at somebody with dementia and it looks like they’re becoming less and less Christian. I love the way John Piper says it. He has a helpful ask Pastor John on dementia. And he says, Paul’s telling us that weak, in glorious, demented shadow of a once strong Christian in front of us is on the brink of glory and power. You need to go into nursing homes and think that way. These people are on the brink of glory and power. We must keep this continuity in mind between diminished powers of human beings here and the spectacular powers that they’re going to have in the resurrection. It’s so important if we lose a sense of that continuity for the Christian, will assume that we are becoming less human rather than being on the brink of gloriously superhuman. So it’s helpful to see that your brain is the outer person that’s wasting away. And that isn’t necessarily connected to the what God has done in the most inner you. Confrontation, Rebuke, and Care for the Weak Smedly Yates: Given that reality, Jake, we think about somebody whose inhibitions are broken down. The manifest ability for self-control allows things in the heart to make their way out. Is there ever a place for confrontation, rebuke, encouragement, help for somebody who’s still living the Christian life, still susceptible to sin? At what level is it appropriate? How should we think about, you know, helping behavior and rotten speech and things like that? Jacob Hantla: Yeah, absolutely. There is. You have to recognize that the purpose of rebuke would be repentance, right? And just like with children and with all Christians, it’s really wise and necessary to discern when possible between sin and inability. The reality is that we can’t always do that. But before I go there, I want to get back to this question. Let’s think about ourselves and what we’re going to be prone to do with what I just said. I’m going to be prone, you might be prone, to say, well, I didn’t sin. It’s just my physiology that made me do it. You don’t get off the hook ever in the Bible because your physiology had a weakness. God uses our weakness and our physiology as the platform in which he demonstrates his power, and particularly his power over sin. Our brains, actually a significant part of why they’re weak and why they break like this, is because it’s a part of God’s judgment for us. Romans 1, right? We became futile in our thinking, and our minds were darkened as a result of our unwillingness to acknowledge God as God. We are not merely our brains, and yet the dysfunction of our brains is actually a significant part of the fall. God renews that. He changes that in the believer. And if you as a Christian say, I know where I am particularly vulnerable, maybe I’m heading down a path towards dementia, or maybe I have some particular weaknesses where I haven’t slept much this week. I just had back surgery. I know I’m going to be on an opioid for pain, and I know that I’m going to have a particular—even if you can’t say the area of your brain that’s going to not function right—you're going to say, all right, Jake taught me that I’m going to tend to act inappropriately towards people. I’m not going to view myself rightly. I’m going to have a lack of self-control. I better ask for help. I’m not going to justify sin, but I’m actually going to be more vigilant for it. Fight it more diligently and get people around me to help me fight it. So now let’s go to the question of, is it ever appropriate to rebuke a dementia patient? Let’s assume that person is a Christian. Go to 1 Thessalonians 5:14. If that person is a Christian and they are sinning, even if they’re not even aware of it, they’re going to say, will you please come to me and help me? I’m going to need help. We need to, as best we can, use the right tool for the situation. Discern weakness, faint-heartedness, and still don’t hesitate to admonish unruliness or idleness. So 1 Thessalonians 5:14: “We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle or the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak.” Do you see those three different instructions? Somebody might be expressing sin. All three of these might be evidences of—in all of these three cases—there might be somebody evidencing unbelief or something that needs turning, changing. And in one case, the tool is admonishment. In another, it’s actually help. And in the other, it’s encouragement. Now consider the person with dementia. Their brain is not functioning the way that yours is. They can’t connect their actions to what’s socially appropriate. They can’t connect their actions with the goals they’re aiming at. They might be unclear as to even the situation that they find themselves in, the context of their life. That’s a pitiable—in all the right ways—pitiable circumstance. That would tend to make that person fainthearted, very weak. What they probably need more than admonishment is help and encouragement. I love Poithress. This is from Piper and Grudem’s book, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. He says, “Our privilege as Christ’s children altogether should stimulate rather than destroy our concern to treat each person in the church with the sensitivity and respect due to that person by reason of his age, gift, sex, leadership status, personality,” and I would add mental status. So how should you do this? With mild impairment, let’s just go down a category. If you had somebody with mild impairment—not all dementias, it’s not this catch-all where everybody’s all the same—you can have a mild impairment. Probably normal accountability. They’re going to tend to need more admonishment and help and encouragement, but be slower, be gentle, be more concrete. You’re probably not going to be able to string together three or four if-then statements to logically get them there. Make it simple. Sort of like when you’re admonishing your three-year-old, maybe your five-year-old, your seven-year-old. You still do it, but not in the same way that you would a 25-year-old or a 35-year-old. But then with moderate impairment, your correction probably becomes more redirection. Just simple statements of, “That’s not okay. Let’s go over here.” Change the environment. And then severe impairment, probably treat it more as symptom management, prioritizing safety, comfort. Simple statements still: “That’s not okay.” Like you would use for your one-year-old: “Use your hands for gentleness. We don’t speak like that. That doesn’t honor the Lord.” Normal Aging, Forgetfulness, and Dementia Smedly Yates: Statements like that. This is so helpful, Jake. I think partly because we don’t want to be in a position where we’re shocked and our black-and-white categories of sanctification, justification, get in the way of compassionate care and love for someone who is in a weakened state that needs help. It’s not dismissing sin, but just really helpful, compassionate care. I have a more personal question for you. Last evening, we had a number of friends in our home, and I got confused and thought that a dear sweet friend was somebody else altogether. And it occurred to me later, I asked a really strange question that didn’t make any sense to her at all. Do I have dementia? Jacob Hantla: I don’t think so. But you are getting older. There’s a forgetfulness that’s just a part of being human. And there is a forgetfulness that’s increasingly normal with age. Smedly Yates: You’re right behind me. You’re catching up. No, you’re not catching up, but you’re behind me. Jacob Hantla: Percentage-wise, I’m catching up, and I will never in an absolute, absolute way. So there’s normal aging, and some normal cognitive decline with aging is very different than actual dementia. So if you do have questions about that, it’s helpful. Regardless, if you just say, hey, I’m getting old. I’m not sleeping as well. Just as a result of not sleeping as well, as a result of just being weaker, maybe having more history behind you, some more stuff to forget, or whatever, you realize, hey, I don’t have dementia, but I’m not who I once was. That’s not a bad place to be. There’s a weakness there that’s helpful to get people around you to augment your weaknesses. How much more, if you were heading toward dementia. I promise I’ll tell you if I see it. You do the same for me. But regardless, you might or you might not. I don’t think you do. But let’s say that you’re saying, I forget stuff, do I have dementia? The second that you start thinking that, you’re probably not the right person to be making that call. It’s wise to get family members, elders, even medical professionals, doctors to assess: is this dementia? Is it a reversible cause? What’s the probability it’s going to accelerate? And then as you start seeing more and more likelihood that, yeah, this is progressing, start getting people around you to start relinquishing intentionally controls that you might have on your life. Can you double-check me on any purchases greater than X amount of money? Let’s go update the will. Let’s get you on a power of attorney. Invite them to take away the keys at the appropriate time. Even if you say that’s a long way from now, that’s a really humble way to invite, in a godly way, people who love you to be enabled to help you. Forgetting the Gospel and Childlike Faith Smedly Yates: Jake, can a believer forget the gospel in a mentally diminished state or not have the ability to articulate the gospel? Jacob Hantla: Yeah. They can. Memories are stored in our brain. And you might not have access to those memories even while you are saved. Right? That unbreakable chain of salvation will end in glorification from Romans chapter 8: all those whom he foreknew, and it gets all the way to glorification. And in the midst of that may be a trial like your memories are disconnected from you in a way that you can’t explain concepts like substitutionary atonement, you might not even remember that Jesus is your Savior, though he is. And so if somebody has forgotten those things, don’t tire of reminding them of those things. Because even if that memory can only stay with them for that one moment, it’s real. And it might help them endure that moment. It’s a really complex, I can’t say that we understand it at all. But God does. There’s a complex relationship between our thoughts, our memories, how those connect to our actions, and what our ultimate status before God that’s normally expressed through faith. And you can’t have faith without trusting in Jesus. So how can somebody who doesn’t even know who Jesus is trust in him? I’m just going to say I’m not God. God knows. And when you are in your right mind, if you do, that’s evidence of God’s work in you. Because nobody can say Jesus is Lord apart from, in me, and being it, apart from God changing them, saving them, making them new. And so if their brain breaks, and they no longer are able to say that in the same way, I don’t think that’s going to be devastating because they weren’t saved on the merit of faith, but they were saved by grace through the exercise of faith. That faith may look different now. But it’s helpful to think of what kind of people go into the kingdom. Like the disciples, when the children were coming, and they said, no, don’t let them near. And Jesus says, no, it’s, it’s that kind of person who gets into the kingdom. Don’t think that those, faith doesn’t have to be complex. Faith doesn’t have to be well reasoned out. That doesn’t mean that you have an excuse not to think. Peter says, add to your faith knowledge, right? We are expected to grow in faith. I’d love to hear you expound on this, Smed. But there’s a childlikeness of faith that actually in your dementia, you might be able to express that. In your arrogance, maybe in your self-trusting when your faculties are working, it may actually be God’s means of separating you from your strength, because when we’re weak, we’re strong in him, that we don’t get to see all the interplay of that, but we may be a means moment by moment of reminding the Christian who forgot who Jesus was of who he is. Smedly Yates: I think that’s so helpful. The weakest place you will ever be in life are at your last moments on the earth. No matter how it is you go out of this life. Just last night I was working through the details of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. And listen to this, Paul is comparing the resurrection to a seed sown into the ground and then what comes out afterwards. And there are different levels of glory from sun, moon to stars, different kinds of bodies, fish, and other things. But not everybody’s the same. But every human being who faces physical mortality ends life here and then experiences resurrection, every one of us will experience the most profound weaknesses in the last moments. And here’s how Paul describes it. The body is sown, placed into the ground like a seed, corruptible. Subject to absolute humiliating corruption, raised incorruptible. No longer ever subject to corruption. And when we think about brain deterioration, that word corruption is weighty. Sown in dishonor. The last moments of anyone’s physicality are the most dishonorable. Stripped of power, stripped of strength, stripped of dignity, but raised in glory. And Jake, what you shared earlier about somebody being on the brink of the kind of glory that C.S. Lewis described—if we were to see a resurrected saint now we’d be tempted to fall down and worship them or run away in abject terror. We just have no idea what this glory is like on this side of it. But we go from the lowest, most undignified, most powerless spot in our earthly existence in those last moments. And he goes on and says, put in the ground in weakness, raised in power, put in the ground natural, raised supernatural. And so the earthy is first and then the spiritual. And so it’s just helpful to think about not being surprised when someone is at their most profoundly weak, not just physically but mentally, end-of-life scenarios. Jacob Hantla: Yeah, it’s profoundly humbling. And it makes us want to say, I don’t want to be there. Can I avoid that? Okay. I mean, do your best. And ultimately God may bring us there in a way that all of us, sometimes our last moments are momentary, sometimes our last moments of that corruptible humiliation last a really long time. In this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on, we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, this physical body that’s falling apart, we groan, being burdened. Not that we would be unclothed. It’s not merely saying, hey, let’s take this thing off, but that we would be further clothed so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. It’s not even worth comparing. And so if that’s the way that God has to be glorified in us—to go back to that first question—okay, I’ll do that. It’s light and momentary, even if it lasts a long time. And even if I’m not even able in the moment to contemplate what time is, it’s humiliating. And you know what? I’m going to ask the Lord to take that from me. I’m going to say, God, please don’t. That’s an okay prayer. That’s similar to what Paul prayed and said in 2 Corinthians 12. And Jesus says, no, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. And if Jesus says that to you, Christian, you can say, okay, I’m going to be content with weaknesses. And man, if you get to care for somebody in their weak moments there, it’s helpful to have these things in mind to know they’re on the brink of glory. Marriage, Roles, and Dementia Smedly Yates: I want to move to a practical and theological question related to roles, thinking particularly about husbands and wives honoring biblical roles in marriage, particularly when a husband is experiencing mental decline and dementia. How does a wife caring for a husband honor those roles with a diminished ability? Jacob Hantla: Yeah, that’s a really helpful question. I loved thinking through this. Smedly Yates: I came up with it myself. No. Several people asked. I just wrote it down. Jacob Hantla: You did. I think we want to avoid two opposite errors. One is a view of submission and leadership as a rigid subservience. If a husband can’t lead, the wife can’t act. Or on the other side, a role evaporation. That illness or inability cancels biblical patterns. Both of those would be absolutely wrong. Did you get that? One would be if the husband can’t lead, then the wife shouldn’t be able to act. And if the husband can’t lead because of inability, role distinction, that God set out that is grounded in creation order, not in ability, right? Men aren’t pastors because we’re better at it or smarter at all or better teachers. That’s not where God grounds it. But in his purposes. And so it’s helpful. If we think about what femininity is, so we’re helping a wife whose husband is just incapable of leading in the ways that she wishes he could, a heart that longs to follow. You think of 1 Peter 3:4. The adorning for the woman is in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. Normally, that’s going to be expressed through submitting to husbands, to their leadership, even in ways, as long as their leadership—for unbelievers, as long as their leadership doesn’t lead them to go against the Lord—even submitting to that with a gentle and quiet spirit. That’s going to play itself out differently for a husband who can’t lead through inability or poor decision-making due to brain decline. You go to Proverbs 31. This breaks the category of a submissive wife as one who’s subservient and just says, “Tell me exactly what to do, so I only do that thing.” No, an excellent wife who can find, she’s far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her. He will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm all the days of her life. You see right there a husband who can trust his wife, whose wife is working for his good and not harm, that’s a wife who’s embraced godly roles. It’s not a wife, it’s not neediness that she expresses, but productivity and care. Jump forward to verse 15 of Proverbs 31. She rises while it is yet night, provides food for her household, portions for her maidens, she considers a field and buys it, the fruit of her hand, she plants a vineyard, she dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable, her lamp does not go out at night. This is a woman who can work, who can work hard, but very different from that which feminists would say, hey, a woman who doesn’t need a man, a woman who functions for her own good, depart from him, but this is a woman who’s functioning strong for the good of her husband. And her husband trusts, she, verse 27, looks to the ways of her household. She doesn’t eat the bread of idleness. Children and her husband call her blessed and praise her. Charm is deceitful, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. This biblical femininity is rooted in fear of the Lord, love of her husband, not a desire to dominate over the husband, but to come alongside as a God-given helper to build him up, that can be demonstrated in very unique, very God-glorifying ways with a husband whose mind is increasingly not working. It’s fundamentally a disposition to honor and support the husband voluntarily and gladly. Leadership often involves delegation. So, husbands: if you’re heading that way, plan in advance for the kinds of ways so that your wife, even when you can no longer give your preferences, she knows, and it seems like in the moment, she’s actually working against it when you no longer understand what’s going on. She’s actually able to follow. So it’s good and right for the wife to be productive, capable, in a way that might look independent, but with a hard attitude that supports. So anticipate that. I want to give a personal example. This is actually hard and a little bit embarrassing. So dementia is different than delirium. Delirium is something that’s short-term, usually from a cause. You see it in elderly when they get like UTIs. You can see it from medications. Post-surgery, I see it all the time with anesthesia. As many of you guys know, I spent a long time in the hospital with Burkitt lymphoma. I was getting a lot of chemo. They stick a needle in my spine, give me chemo directly into my cerebral spinal fluid around my brain. I was on tons of pain medication and all kinds of other medications that did weird things to my brain. I don’t remember this time, but there was apparently a few days—I remember bits and pieces of it—where I was out of my mind. I at one point apparently tried to hit Kiki. I took all my clothes off and tried to go in the hall at the hospital. Kiki was a loving, submissive, supportive wife by helping me not do that. I am very grateful for her tearfully persevering, guarding me from myself as my brain was failing me. At that point, thankfully, in a reversible way. But she was not stepping out of her God-ordained role by saying, “No, Jake, you cannot go in the hall naked. No, Jake, you cannot hit me. Jake, get in bed,” and even physically and chemically restraining me for a time. That was a gracious expression of role differentiation that I think honored the Lord and honored me. I remember also, just husbands to wives, me at the—I was reading my vows this morning from almost 25 years ago. I wrote in those vows. And I’d encourage you guys to think through that now. And singles, as you’re thinking through marriage, think through what it might mean in all the different stages. I said, “I pray that as we grow old together, our love will grow stronger because we are together growing as one closer to Christ. I commit myself to loving you, even when your beautiful body is gone, even when your mind is not sharp, even when you do not recognize who I am. No matter what the cost to me, I will be married to you until God takes you.” And that’s what it means. That love isn’t in it for what the other one can give. It’s not self-seeking. It actually seeks the good of the other. So have this mind in you, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped after, but he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being found in human form. He did that all the way to the point of death, death on the cross. That’s what husbands are called to. That’s what all of us are called to. So thinking, I am above changing this diaper or correcting my spouse for the thousand and seventy-second time this week. Stooping that low is nothing compared to our Savior’s humble condescension to us. And so you actually are embracing God-given roles as a Christian when we help and endure and love our spouse to the very end. Honoring Parents and End-of-Life Care Smedly Yates: And that’s a great segue, Jake. When I think about what you just described, our parents did those very things for us when we were helpless. There may come a time where those roles are reversed and we’re helping our parents in their end-of-life situations. I’m going to ask you a series of questions that came in and you can answer whichever ones you want. I’ll try to go faster so we get through them. Maybe. Maybe we do a part 17 of this series, whatever. But I’m thinking about the command, the prohibition, do not sharply rebuke an older man. And the positive commands honor your father and mother. Those commands don’t expire. And when I think about don’t sharply rebuke an older man, there ought to be an elevated view of those who have walked this life longer than we have. We’ve lost that in an American culture, right? Tribal cultures have kept that in some ways. Other places, other cultures have kept that. We just sort of disregard the elderly as a new cultural phenomenon. And, you know, the word euthanasia, the beginning of the word is, is eu or good and thanasia, thanos, death. Good death. It’s not good. And we don’t discard people when they’re no longer of utilitarian purpose. But that is where our culture is going. And Christians must look very different. So when we think about how do we gently, compassionately, lovingly honor God, honor our parents, loving them through end-of-life scenarios. Here’s a series of questions. How do I honor those relationships when compassionate care, sometimes correction, help the 1,077th time. Dad, use your words. Don’t use your hand. You know, whatever it is. Give me the keys. How do we do that and honor them in our disposition? Number two, is it sin to employ the resources of home health care or a live-in situation, a retirement community, etc.? And then what do we need to think about with end-of-life scenarios? Yeah. That’s a lot of questions. Let’s go. Jacob Hantla: Let’s go. So I think honoring your parents means, first off, it’s a disposition of the heart, but it’s a disposition of the heart that is connected to meeting their physical needs. You went to 1 Timothy 5. Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but encourage him as you would a father. And then dot that dot, second, verse 2, older women as mothers. And then it rolls into, let’s think of widows who are truly widows. Open to 1 Timothy 5. This is maybe a section that you’re like, you might not read this honor widows who are truly widows section, thinking it applies to you. It does. And I think in it is the answer to this question, or at least a significant part of it. Verse four, the thought here is the church needs to take care of widows, but don’t do so in a way that robs a family of the responsibility and need to take care of their own parents. So look at verse four. If a widow has children or even grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household. And now look at this three part: make some return to their parents. So rooted in just a mom, dad, thank you for however many years of my life. You changed my diapers and fed me and looked after every need. It’s okay if my career is messed up because I have to have you in my home and I have to go take care of you. That is, do you see what it says? That is actual showing of godliness. I love what you just said. It’s so different than the culture. The culture might do this in a way that Christians have to be sharply different than. It is godliness to make return for the way that your parents cared for you. Number two, this is pleasing in the sight of God. You don’t do it out of social obligation—well, who else is going to do it? They don’t have enough insurance. Or even if they do have insurance and you do get the privilege of having live-in help. No, you are seeking to please the Lord as you make return to them. This is pleasing. Yeah, and then the third was, yeah, so godliness, make return to their parents. It’s please the Lord. Take care of your parents. Meet the needs. And if you don’t, verse 8, do you see what it says? If anyone does not provide for relatives, especially members of his household, do you see what you’re saying? You have denied the faith and you are worse than an unbeliever. This is what James is referring to in chapter 2. That’s a faith that’s dead being by itself. The religion, end of James 1, the true religion, takes care of orphans and widows in their distress. How much more are your parents? So, yes, take care of your parents. You have to. It’s a great privilege. It’s actually God’s ordained means of living out godliness. So can you send your parents to a care home? Does that mean you have to maximally sacrifice? Not necessarily. It doesn’t mean that you have to perform every task. Neglect is sin, but using help may be wisdom. The reality is dementia needs are often 24-7. They involve skilled needs at times. They may wander, fall, be incontinent, unsafe swallowing. Care at home at all costs—that may be rooted in love. It may also be rooted in pride or even foolishness. Honor can actually look like choosing a good facility, visiting often, advocating, overseeing care. Encourage the church to be involved, but don’t demand the church do the work at you avoiding it. I don’t remember what the other questions were. Smedly Yates: That’s all right. We got one minute left, Jake. Would you close our time in prayer? Closing Prayer Jacob Hantla: God, thank you for your word and just how replete it is with wisdom and principles and instruction and most of all revelation of who you are and what pleases you. God, I pray from this and just from this lesson and all the trials that you bring us through related to dementia and so many others that you would increasingly form us each individually and then corporately as your body. Form us into your image. Increase our godliness and then, God, bring us safely home. We love you. Be glorified in our lives and in our church. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. The post Equipping Hour: Dementia and the Christian Q&A appeared first on Grace Bible Church.
"Resistance and Forgetting" is a Dharma talk and brief guided meditation to help with people who will be participating in our February Meditation Challenge to build a daily sitting practice. Of course it is useful for anyone, because we all resist and forget, but hopefully this talk will be a good reminder as people work through the things that get in the way of building that daily habit of sitting. I hope you enjoy!https://bio.reverendgeorgebeecher.com
The pace of our world today makes it easy to forget that we have physical bodies. There are so many things in our face to distract us from being physically present in the Now. As spiritualists, we are more interested in what's happening deep within that we forget to ground ourselves. As activists, we want to single-handedly save the world, which gives us no time to pay attention to the fact that we have a physical body with needs, like food and water and rest. In this week's episode, I am bringing us back to basics: care for our bodies. Tune in to hear about some somatic practices that help make sure that our bodies are in good health and resilient while the world continues to burn. We need to serve from full cups, not broken, leaky ones. Listen in today! Oh, and if you want to reach out and get on my mailing list to hear about future breathwork and Kundalini yoga sessions, email me here: leslieann@hobayanhouse.com (note: I've got a new domain!)Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NmlshGX4ijHPXmFIgT1Nu Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-grit/id1497436520 ===============Today's poems/ Books mentioned:Tarot/Oracle Card: The Devil Poem: “The Art of Forgetting” by Neil Akin=============== Courses / Exclusive Content / Book Mentioned:Subscribe to mailing list + community: suryagian.com/subscribe and get the 7-day meditation challenge, “Spark Joy in Chaos”Subscribe to “Adventures in Midlife” newsletter: leslieann.substack.comInstagram: @leslieannhobayan Email: leslieann@suryagian.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxAeQWRRsSo5E7PBJdZUeoEAYXnAtuyRyKundalini Yoga Classes: https://www.suryagian.com/anchor-amplify-kundaliniSpeak Your Truth: https://www.suryagian.com/speak-your-truth
We like to believe we remember more than we actually do. In this episode of The FutureProof Advisor, I explore the uncomfortable reality of the forgetting curve—and why it quietly undermines even the best client relationships. Within hours, much of what we hear fades. Within days, most of it is gone. For advisors, that gap isn't just a productivity issue—it's a trust issue, especially when clients assume the details they shared still live clearly in our minds.The real challenge isn't collecting information; it's making sense of it. CRMs are great at storing data, but they weren't designed to help us connect ideas, patterns, and insights across time. I talk about the difference between managing data and managing knowledge, and how tools like AI note‑taking and structured systems can reduce cognitive load without distancing us from the relationship. When information is organized around action—not just compliance—it becomes easier to spot what matters and respond with intention.Future‑proofing a firm doesn't mean remembering everything. It means building systems that surface the right insights at the right moment. By accepting our human limits and pairing them with thoughtful processes and technology, we can stay present in conversations without constantly relearning our clients from scratch. The goal isn't more information—it's better continuity, deeper trust, and advice that feels personal because it actually is.
Whoever Conceals the Faults of a Muslim, Allah Will Conceal His Faults on the Day of Resurrection — Ustādh Abu 'Ināyah Seif • Explanation of the hadith: “Whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter.” • Our desperate need for the concealment of Allah in both the dunya and the akhirah • The reality of the Day of Resurrection when all hidden secrets will be exposed • Tafsīr of the verse: “The Day when all secrets will be examined” (86:9) • Statement of Imām as-Sa‘dī on hearts being exposed and deeds appearing on faces • Du‘ā of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام: “Do not disgrace me on the Day they are resurrected” • The private questioning of the believer by Allah and His forgiveness of concealed sins • Contrast between how believers and disbelievers will be exposed on the Day of Judgment • From the greatest means of gaining Allah's concealment: concealing the faults of others • Severe warning against searching for and exposing people's faults • Hadith: Whoever seeks out others' faults, Allah will expose his—even in his own home • The honour of a believer is more sacred to Allah than the Ka‘bah • The sanctity of Muslim blood, wealth, and honour • Warning against slander, backbiting, and accusing innocent believers • Lessons from the slander of ‘Ā'ishah رضي الله عنها (ḥadīth al-ifk) • Hadith: Lying about a believer leads to punishment in Hell until one retracts it • The worst form of ribā: attacking a Muslim's honour unjustly • Forgetting one's own faults while obsessing over others' mistakes • Ibn al-Qayyim's example of people who ignore good and only cling to faults • Virtue of defending a Muslim's honour • Hadith: Whoever defends his brother's honour, Allah will protect his face from the Fire • Examples of the Companions defending one another's honour • Condemnation of exposing one's own sins publicly • Difference between how believers and corrupt people view their sins • A sin that humbles a servant may lead him to Paradise • A good deed that leads to arrogance may lead a servant to Hell • Signs that Allah wants good for a servant: – Forgetting one's good deeds – Always remembering and fearing one's sins • Final reminder to conceal one another's faults and fear exposure before Allah
Have you ever been speaking English, and suddenly you freeze and forget your words?In this episode of our new series, Georgie and Hanan talk about why our brain can't always remember words we know in a new language.With Alissa Melinger, Professor of psycholinguistics at the University of Dundee.WATCH – Find Georgie's videos with tips to improve your speaking here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/beating_speaking_anxietyTRANSCRIPT – Read along with this podcast and learn useful vocabulary: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/beating_speaking_anxiety/forgetting_words-podcastNEWSLETTER – Sign up to our email newsletter to hear about our latest lessons and programmes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u178220599
2 Kings chapter 17 explains the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel and its exile by Assyria. The chapter makes clear that this was not sudden or random—it was the result of persistent disobedience, idolatry, and refusal to heed God's warnings through the prophets. Though God had delivered Israel repeatedly, they chose other gods and adopted the practices of surrounding nations. The chapter stands as a sobering reminder that spiritual compromise, when left unchecked, leads to loss—but also that God had patiently called His people to return before judgment came. Hashtags: #2Kings17 #FallOfIsrael #SpiritualCompromise #GodsWarnings #Exile #FaithfulnessMatters #LearnFromHistoryBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.“Thank you for listening to SendMe Radio — where we share the Gospel, inspire faith, and keep you connected with powerful stories and updates from around the world. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a message.And remember — you can listen to SendMe Radio streaming 24/7 at www.sendmeradio.net or simply say: ‘Hey Alexa, play SendMe Radio.'
On Tuesday's Daily Clone, Jake Brend previews No. 9 Iowa State's game against UCF, T.J. Otzelberger explains why he wants his team to forget about the non-conference and Bill Fennelly talks about searching for an identity.Presented by Whiskey River in the Northwest Bank Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, we answer a listener question from Jo-Anne. She struggles with forgetting words and feeling nervous speaking Spanish with adults. Tamara shares actionable tips for consistent practice, reducing anxiety, and building fluency.In this episode, she covers:Learn how to schedule consistent, structured conversations with adults in Spanish
Ever feel like your brain doesn't work the way it USED TO since becoming a mom? Forgetting things, struggling to focus, or being mentally foggy all day??In this episode, I'm joined by Hannah Keeley from the Mom Brain Makeover to break down what “mom brain” actually is, what's happening inside the brain during motherhood, and why these changes are not a flaw, but helps keep our babies alive!!Here's what we're covering this week:What “mom brain” really is and what's happening in the maternal brainmom brain explained, mom brain science, maternal brain changesWhat changes in gray matter mean during motherhoodgray matter changes pregnancy, postpartum brain changes, neuroscience of motherhoodHow mothers can work with their changing brains instead of fighting themworking with mom brain, cognitive shifts in motherhood, mental load of momsWhat mom brain fog actually is and how it shows up day to daymom brain fog, brain fog postpartum, mental fatigue motherhoodWhether mom brain fog is caused by nutrient deficiencies or something elsenutrient deficiencies postpartum, brain fog causes moms, postpartum nutrition and cognitionand more!!----------------------------------------------------------------------------IMPORTANT LINKS•✨ Join our Mom Club on Patreon HERE ✨
The great lie of the Epstein scandal isn't just what he did, but how the powerful around him suddenly claimed they couldn't remember him at all. Presidents, princes, billionaires, academics, bankers, and celebrities who once courted his money and shared his jets all reached for the same script when the walls closed in: I barely knew him. It was a coordinated act of survival, not an accident. Institutions like Harvard, MIT, Deutsche Bank, and JP Morgan played the same game, pretending they never saw the red flags. Legacy media, instead of hammering the contradictions, often published these denials straight, allowing amnesia to masquerade as truth. Forgetting became strategy, and strategy became cover.But memory leaves evidence. Flight logs, photographs, donations, and testimonies remain, and every denial only underscores the complicity of those who looked away. The survivors don't get to forget; they live with scars while the powerful rewrite history. What the amnesia act reveals is cowardice: a willingness to erase reality to protect reputation. Epstein built his empire on memory, yet his circle tried to survive through erasure. In the end, their denials brand them more deeply than their associations ever could—because the attempt to forget is itself proof they remembered perfectly well.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
Asaph's great didactic psalm shows what it's like to forget God.
Tonight's conversation presses on a quiet contradiction many people live inside but rarely name: the claim of forgetting someone without ever forgiving them. The show interrogates whether “forgetting” actually releases anything—or whether it simply relocates attachment into silence, physiology, repetition, and future relationships. We examine a destabilizing possibility: effortful forgetting often functions as proof of continuation, not closure. If something requires maintenance, vigilance, or suppression, it still occupies space. The ledger never closes; it just goes underground. This episode dismantles the cultural shortcuts that pass as emotional maturity—forgetting, forgiveness, acceptance—and exposes how often these gestures operate as exits rather than resolutions. Forgetting demands weekly labor. Forgiveness without accountability reorganizes power. Acceptance without cost accounting converts endurance into virtue. The nervous system does not respond to declarations; it tracks threat resolution. What cognition suppresses, the body remembers. What language redeems, behavior contradicts. The result shows up later: in repeated attraction patterns, exaggerated reactions to neutral triggers, shrinking life choices, and new partners paying old debts they never incurred.
Tonight's conversation presses on a quiet contradiction many people live inside but rarely name: the claim of forgetting someone without ever forgiving them. The show interrogates whether “forgetting” actually releases anything—or whether it simply relocates attachment into silence, physiology, repetition, and future relationships. We examine a destabilizing possibility: effortful forgetting often functions as proof of continuation, not closure. If something requires maintenance, vigilance, or suppression, it still occupies space. The ledger never closes; it just goes underground. This episode dismantles the cultural shortcuts that pass as emotional maturity—forgetting, forgiveness, acceptance—and exposes how often these gestures operate as exits rather than resolutions. Forgetting demands weekly labor. Forgiveness without accountability reorganizes power. Acceptance without cost accounting converts endurance into virtue. The nervous system does not respond to declarations; it tracks threat resolution. What cognition suppresses, the body remembers. What language redeems, behavior contradicts. The result shows up later: in repeated attraction patterns, exaggerated reactions to neutral triggers, shrinking life choices, and new partners paying old debts they never incurred.
The great lie of the Epstein scandal isn't just what he did, but how the powerful around him suddenly claimed they couldn't remember him at all. Presidents, princes, billionaires, academics, bankers, and celebrities who once courted his money and shared his jets all reached for the same script when the walls closed in: I barely knew him. It was a coordinated act of survival, not an accident. Institutions like Harvard, MIT, Deutsche Bank, and JP Morgan played the same game, pretending they never saw the red flags. Legacy media, instead of hammering the contradictions, often published these denials straight, allowing amnesia to masquerade as truth. Forgetting became strategy, and strategy became cover.But memory leaves evidence. Flight logs, photographs, donations, and testimonies remain, and every denial only underscores the complicity of those who looked away. The survivors don't get to forget; they live with scars while the powerful rewrite history. What the amnesia act reveals is cowardice: a willingness to erase reality to protect reputation. Epstein built his empire on memory, yet his circle tried to survive through erasure. In the end, their denials brand them more deeply than their associations ever could—because the attempt to forget is itself proof they remembered perfectly well.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.
85 [1.8] Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Yomi 44:5-13 [Mayim Achronim. Forgetting To Bentch. Bentching Different Location]
Send us a textThis episode is a masterclass in why bad arguments rot organizations from the inside. Aaron, Trent, and Peaches dig into the Special Warfare pipeline drama, the Zulu course outrage, and the lazy take that “students won't retain anything.” Here's the problem: that argument only works if students are stupid, instructors are stupid, or leadership is stupid—and none of those are true. They break down logistics, attrition, training progression, risk tolerance, and why waiting for data matters more than internet yelling. Add in OTS growth, influencer nonsense, fraud headlines, and team-room humor, and you get a classic Ones Ready reality check. If you care about the community, this one's for you.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Ones Ready intro and no plan, as usual 02:15 Good Airmen doing real-world rescues 05:00 Why “students won't retain anything” is a bad argument 09:30 Zulu course outrage explained 14:40 Who you're actually calling stupid 19:30 Logistics, basing, and why change is slow 24:50 Risk tolerance vs risk avoidance 30:35 Forgetting skills—and why that's normal 36:50 Why waiting for data matters 42:55 Influencers, hype videos, and misinformation 48:30 OTS growth, feedback, and next steps 55:10 Predictions, humor, and community reality
• Sponsor read for MyEternalVitality.com with Dr. Powers • Gut health testing to identify individual histamine triggers • Relief that shrimp is not a histamine trigger • "Healthy" foods like spinach and kale causing inflammation • Improving digestion, regularity, and reducing stomach discomfort • Food reactions differing by individual body chemistry • Hormone testing becoming more important with age • Declining testosterone levels in men • Men getting hormone testing through Dr. Powers • Benefits of hormone replacement therapy • Improved libido, energy, and mental clarity • Symptoms of imbalance: fatigue, brain fog, hot flashes, low libido • Hormones discussed: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol • Free Dr. Powers consultation for Tom & Dan listeners • Dr. Powers as a fan of the show and BDM member • New year framed as a time to address health • Show intro from the Just Call Moe Studio • Welcome to the Friday Free Show of A Mediocre Time • First show of 2026 and confusion adjusting to the year • Show running 17 years since 2009 • Jokes about reaching the 20th anniversary • Commitment to continuing the show regardless of profit • Guest Savannah appearing on the first show of 2026 • Being more cautious about what's said on air • Forgetting how large the audience actually is • Anxiety about saying something regrettable • Joke about an old onion-skin fart story • Comparing influencer audiences to radio audiences • Discussion of online backlash and hate comments • Wanting reactions but rarely receiving criticism • Shoutout to video editor Melissa • Opening Christmas gifts from Melissa on air • Melissa's self-deprecating note and affectionate appreciation • Big Johnson Key West shirt gift • Jokes about wearing tiny or "baby" shirts • "Where's Bumfardo?" shirt explained • Bumfardo described as a legendary Key West grifter • Reference to a podcast episode about Bumfardo • Clarifying Bumfardo as a criminal firefighter • Gratitude and appreciation for Melissa • Living in Key West after California • Living in an Airstream on sponsor property • Romantic idea vs reality of Airstream living • Millionaires hosting guests in RVs or guest houses • Restored and comfortable Airstream • Living with a pet monitor lizard • Joking about the start of a "lizard journey" • Lizard eating pulled pork and seafood • Joke comparing lizard diet to Jeff Foxworthy • Lizard free-roaming inside the Airstream • Lizard unusually clean and well-behaved • Lizard now living at Gatorland • Using a doggie door and daily routine • Monitor lizard about six feet long • Question about reptile cleanliness myths • Hygiene concerns when handling reptiles • Lizard attacked at night in Key West • Iguanas or raccoons suspected • Bringing the lizard indoors for safety • Emergency super glue used to close a wound • Super glue working on reptile scales • Owning many exotic pets over the years • Large python kept in a one-bedroom apartment • Python named Benji • Hybrid reticulated/Burmese python • Python reaching 13–14 feet long • Bathing a python in a bathtub • Snake suddenly becoming aggressive • Snake striking when door opened • Trapping the snake in the bathroom • Child reacting to apex predators in the apartment • Sending the kid outside for safety • Question of whether pythons can seriously injure people • Preventing snake escape through a window • Subduing the snake with a quilt • Wrestling and restraining the python • Snake aggression being a one-time incident • Snakes being unpredictable • Gateway exotic pets like Pac-Man frogs • Still owning a frog • Childhood fascination with reptiles • Catching and keeping reptiles in South Carolina • Childhood "zoo" with animals in drawers • Joke about kids now having digital pets instead of real ones • Feeding large pythons big rats • Debate over live vs pre-killed feeding • Some snakes needing movement to eat • Parenting rule against exotic pets for kids • Requiring responsibility before allowing pets • Travel complications of pet ownership • Personal hamster care experience • Dad raising guinea pigs • Guinea pigs named after dictators and NASCAR drivers • Greg Biffle and Waltrip jokes • Comedy bit about guinea pig personalities • Story about Jim Colbert's Daryl Waltrip impression • Late-night drunk texts from Jim Colbert • Joke about inappropriate texts and photos • Clarifying a misspoken offensive term • Transition to Savannah's Jamaica trip • Comparison to a past Australia trip • Savannah described as highly traveled • Gatorland Global raising nearly $10,000 for hurricane relief • Shipping aid supplies to Jamaica • Bottlenecks at Jamaican ports • Long-term recovery continuing after news cycle moves on • Using funds in practical ways • Helping communities near Hope Zoo in Kingston • Providing water storage and bathroom supplies • Kids previously walking long distances for water • Purchasing a water truck • "Practical conservation" approach • Helping people so animals can be cared for • Zoo animals surviving the hurricane • Oxygen mask analogy • Dark humor about survival priorities • One-week stay in Jamaica • Challenges traveling post-hurricane • Relying on local relationships • Praise for Jamaican kindness • Airbnb hosts offering help and discounts • Importance of global relationships • Transition to friendship with Jackie Siegel • Clarifying which Jackie is being discussed • Jokes about famous Jackies • How Savannah met Jackie Siegel • Savannah's ease connecting with people • Standing out due to appearance and style • Personal recognizability as a brand • Jokes about recognizability • Fascination with ultra-wealthy lifestyles • Meeting Jackie through Real Radio • Seeing Jackie at Runway to Hope • Runway to Hope supporting kids with cancer • Walking the runway with sponsored children • Jackie filming at Gatorland • Friendship forming through time together • Difficulty wealthy people have making friends • Trust and motive issues around rich people • Jackie portrayed as kind and trusting • Idea of rich people seen as "lottery tickets" • Influence of who you spend time with • Being around Jackie compared to a soap opera • Observing Jackie's priorities and behavior • Jackie's Broadway show ending • Show based on Jackie's life • Proving critics wrong theme • Love story with David Siegel • Interest in Broadway and musicals • Wanting to take Maisie to NYC shows • Connecting Maisie's dance to Broadway interest • Kristen Chenoweth playing Jackie • Primer on Kristen Chenoweth • Wicked, Glinda, and Ariana Grande comparison • Stephen Schwartz writing the show • Jackie focused on crew losing jobs • Wanting to help displaced cast and crew • Listing backstage jobs affected • Empathy for workers over producers • Learning about Jackie's past domestic violence • Public perception not matching her full story • Misconceptions about billionaires • Assumption wealthy people should give endlessly • Overlooking effort behind wealth • Jackie having many children • Incorrect belief she married into money • Comparison to Melinda Gates • Emphasis on partnerships building wealth • David Siegel's death last year • Attending his celebration of life • Repeated cycles of success and bankruptcy • Successful people often failing many times • How David built his fortune • Origin of Westgate • David's early acting dreams • Buying land near Disney World • Purchasing a rundown hotel • Discovering the timeshare concept • Starting his own timeshare business • Joke about stealing ideas • Shoutout to women who support the show • Transition to music segment • Punk band Paradox featured • Song "I'm the Outside" • Call-in number and email plug • Sponsor read for BudDocs • Medical marijuana card process explained • Same-day appointments and telemedicine follow-ups • Dispensary deals and education • Cannabis for pain after hip replacement • Using marijuana to reduce alcohol • Return from break with Savannah • Plug for visiting Gatorland • New attractions constantly added • Arrival of Siamese crocodiles • Crocodiles kept separately • Transport from Korea to Gatorland • Animal relocation to avoid euthanasia • Cultural differences in cleanliness and order • "Tokyo depression" concept • Driving and horn etiquette differences • Safari travel mention • South Africa affordability note • Wealth spectrum discussion • Story about driving a Maserati to Walmart • Navigating wealthy social spaces authentically • Jackie's daughter Victoria's overdose • Victoria's Voice organization • Addiction treatment and Narcan advocacy • Turning tragedy into public good • Playing the clown at rich dinners • Observing human behavior like animal behavior • Studying power, money, and authority • Press box story with Phil Rawlins • Meeting Cedric the Entertainer and George Lopez • Importance of introductions and social proof • Savannah blending into elite spaces • Declaring 2026 a takeover year • Goal to make Gatorland the top park globally • Growth plans for conservation, YouTube, and TV • Using affirmations despite mocking them • Reading motivational books • Social media burnout and algorithm frustration • Thumbnails mattering more than content • AI-generated animal videos misleading audiences • Desire for human-made content spaces • Posting more freely without chasing algorithms • Encouraging visits to Gatorland • Promoting BDM Appreciation Week • Wrapping the show with gratitude ### Social [https://tomanddan.com](https://tomanddan.com) [https://twitter.com/tomanddanlive](https://twitter.com/tomanddanlive) [https://facebook.com/amediocretime](https://facebook.com/amediocretime) [https://instagram.com/tomanddanlive](https://instagram.com/tomanddanlive) Listen AMT Apple: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-mediocre-time/id334142682](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-mediocre-time/id334142682) AMT Google: [https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FtZWRpb2NyZXRpbWUvcG9kY2FzdC54bWw](https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FtZWRpb2NyZXRpbWUvcG9kY2FzdC54bWw) AMT TuneIn: [https://tunein.com/podcasts/Comedy/A-Mediocre-Time-p364156/](https://tunein.com/podcasts/Comedy/A-Mediocre-Time-p364156/) ACT (Real Radio 104.1) Apple: [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-corporate-time/id975258990](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-corporate-time/id975258990) Google: [https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2Fjb3Jwb3JhdGV0aW1lL3BvZGNhc3QueG1s](https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2Fjb3Jwb3JhdGV0aW1lL3BvZGNhc3QueG1s) TuneIn: [https://tunein.com/podcasts/Comedy/A-Corporate-Time-p1038501/](https://tunein.com/podcasts/Comedy/A-Corporate-Time-p1038501/) Exclusive: [https://tomanddan.com/registration](https://tomanddan.com/registration) Merch: [https://tomanddan.myshopify.com/](https://tomanddan.myshopify.com/)
Jeff Saturday joins Stugotz and is stunned to learn that Stugotz's real name is Jon Weiner. Then, they discuss John Harbaugh being fired in Baltimore, how much say Lamar Jackson should have in the selection of the next head coach, and which Wild Card weekend matchup has Saturday's attention the most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jeff Saturday joins Stugotz and is stunned to learn that Stugotz's real name is Jon Weiner. Then, they discuss John Harbaugh being fired in Baltimore, how much say Lamar Jackson should have in the selection of the next head coach, and which Wild Card weekend matchup has Saturday's attention the most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Happy 2026
Episode Summary:In this episode of Explaining History, Nick explores the complex and often suppressed memory of China's recent past. Drawing on Tania Branigan's Red Memory, we delve into the heart of Beijing—Tiananmen Square—and unpack its layers of history, from the May Fourth Movement of 1919 to the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 and the tragedy of 1989.Why does the portrait of Mao Zedong still gaze over the square, despite the catastrophes of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution? How does the Chinese Communist Party use "Red Tourism" and curated museums to construct a narrative of national rejuvenation while burying the trauma of its own making? From the "Century of Humiliation" to Xi Jinping's "Chinese Dream," we examine how memory is not just history, but a tool of state legitimacy.Plus: A reminder for students! Tickets are selling fast for our live masterclass on the Russian Revolution and Stalinism on January 26th.and you can access advert free episodes here on PatreonKey Topics:Tiananmen Square: A site of revolution, celebration, and massacre.The Cult of Mao: Why the Chairman remains the "vigilant eye" over modern China.Red Tourism: How the party commodifies its revolutionary past.Historical Amnesia: The erasure of the Cultural Revolution and the Great Famine from public discourse.Books Mentioned:Red Memory: Living, Remembering and Forgetting China's Cultural Revolution by Tania BraniganThe Age of Extremes by Eric Hobsbawm (referenced contextually)Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever driven a car, you know the rearview mirror has a purpose—but it’s not meant to be your primary focus. It’s small for a reason. You glance back briefly, but your eyes belong on the road ahead. In the same way, God never intended for you to live your life staring at your past. When we fixate on what’s behind us—past mistakes, missed opportunities, or wounds caused by others—it can steal our peace in the present and keep us from stepping into what God has prepared for our future. The devotional reminds us that the past lives in the rearview—it can inform us, but it should not define us. We can’t change what happened, but we do get to choose what we do with it. We can lament, staying trapped in regret, guilt, shame, or anger—or we can learn, allowing God to redeem our experiences and help us move forward with wisdom and grace. The goal isn’t to pretend the past didn’t happen. The goal is to release its hold on your heart so you can press on, like Paul describes, toward the life God is calling you into. And you don’t have to do that alone. God gives help through the Holy Spirit, through wise counseling, and through trusted friends who can support you, pray with you, and remind you of truth when you feel stuck. Everything God has for you is ahead. Your destiny isn’t behind you—it’s in front of you. Main Takeaways Your past is meant to be glanced at, not lived in—your primary focus belongs on what’s ahead. You can’t change what happened, but you can choose whether you lament or learn from it. God’s grace allows you to view your past through redemption, not regret. Healing is often a process, and God provides support through the Holy Spirit, counseling, and friends. God’s purpose for you is in your future—don’t let yesterday keep you from stepping into it. Today’s Bible Verse Philippians 3:13-14“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Your Daily Prayer Heavenly Father, I bring my past before you. I acknowledge my struggles with past mistakes and the choices I have made. But I also wrestle with things that were done to me. Yet, you tell me to cast all my anxieties upon you because you care for me. That is what I do today. Help me give you every aspect of my past that I am holding onto. Whether it is guilt, shame, or anger, I release it to you. Help me leave it there, and in exchange, I pray you will give me freedom from my past so I can step into the future you have for me. Give me grace to live with my eyes forward, only looking back to learn and apply those lessons as I move forward in you. In Jesus’ name,Amen. Want More? Relevant Links & Resources Looking for more daily encouragement and biblical truth? Explore more devotionals, prayers, and faith-based resources below: LifeAudio — Daily devotionals, Christian podcasts, and encouragement: LifeAudio.com Crosswalk — Faith, prayer, and Christian living resources: Crosswalk.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
• Hormone imbalance discussion: energy, mood, weight, libido • Personal health experiences with pre-menopause, food sensitivities, histamine, allergy testing • Emphasis on testing before treatment and access to modern wellness • Friday Free Show structure with Ross McCoy and EJ • Nerd/Jock as a long-running love-or-hate segment • Admitting weak audience research and marketing instincts • Audience enjoyment of grumpy moods, mistakes, and chaos • Reading and reacting to a YouTube comment calling Tom "a grumpy dickhead" • Holiday burnout from nonstop recording • Comparing current workload to lighter past years • Best-of episodes versus all-new content debate • Guest hosts helping fill gaps during burnout • Burnt-out shows often becoming fan favorites • Behind-the-scenes workload: editing, censoring, scheduling, prep • Confusion between radio and podcast standards when exhausted • Mental fatigue affecting content awareness • Dan's voice airing on the Howard Stern show • Playing and reacting to the Stern clip • Embarrassment versus pride in being noticed • Longtime listeners instantly recognizing voices • Joking rivalry and clip-stealing between shows • Stern feud framing, contract drama, and aging radio habits • Criticism of repetitive bits and unchanged formats • Shift from traditional radio power to internet distribution • Listeners no longer caring who distributes content • Stern paranoia, hostile rant, and profanity response • Stern relying on obsessive super fans and mundane calls • Belief wealth led Stern to phone it in creatively • How Stern's team pulls clips without credit • Interns or junior staff scraping the internet for content • Wig and hair-system discussion tied to aging and density • Distinction between wigs, systems, and transplants • How modern hair systems are blended and thinned • Admission of using a beard extension • Debate over whether pointing out wigs is factual or insulting • Cultural shift toward open wig acceptance • Comparison to Trump hair discourse • Analysis of why Stern reacted emotionally • Admiration for Stern despite criticism • Pride in being insulted by a radio idol • Idea of turning the rant into art or a tattoo • Celebrity hair examples, rumors, and transplants • Discussion of modern transplant tech and medical tourism • Examples including Travolta, Carell, McHale, LeBron • Openness to getting a transplant • Alex Trebek wearing a wig during chemotherapy • Tease of British wrestling clip and real-vs-work moments • Classic TV altercations: Jim Rome/Jim Everett, Geraldo • Tommy's beginner band winter concert • Winter concert as midpoint progress showcase • Dress code drama: all black, dress shoes, tucked shirts • Kid resistance to dress shoes and looking dorky • Parents reliving their own childhood insecurities • Blending in socially versus strict rule enforcement • Contrast with dance culture's rigid discipline • Music education as focus, repetition, and cognitive training • Performance anxiety leading up to the concert • Post-performance relief and zoning out • Forgetting to flip sheet music pages mid-song • Learning discipline through repetition and mistakes • Respect for the difficulty of teaching beginner band • Frustration over inconsistent rule enforcement • Debate over standards, fairness, and commitment • Studio snack shelf decline and expired leftovers • Embarrassment over half-used snacks and clutter • Joke about being cheap and keeping old food • Clearing the snack area over the break • Building possibly being for sale and lease uncertainty • Jokes about making life hard for a new landlord • Transition into voicemails and wrestling clip • Heavy workload and Beerfest stress • British wrestler Giant Haystacks clip setup • Shock at how dangerous the slam looks • Nostalgia for real physical TV moments • Discussion of shock moments helping or hurting careers • Planned stunts versus real emotional meltdowns • Frustration with formulaic TV interviews • Jokes failing when clips lose context • Ad insertion breaking broadcast continuity • Appreciation for tight back-timing and experienced producers • Holiday stress causing on-air tension • Apology for seriousness creeping in • Gratitude toward co-hosts, contributors, staff, and BDM • Tease of best-of episodes, Wife Cast, BDM shows, AMA • Holiday well-wishes and return-after-break note ### • Social Media: https://tomanddan.com | https://twitter.com/tomanddanlive | https://facebook.com/amediocretime | https://instagram.com/tomanddanlive • Where to Find the Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-mediocre-time/id334142682 | https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FtZWRpb2NyZXRpbWUvcG9kY2FzdC54bWw | https://tunein.com/podcasts/Comedy/A-Mediocre-Time-p364156/ • Tom & Dan on Real Radio 104.1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-corporate-time/id975258990 | https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2Fjb3Jwb3JhdGV0aW1lL3BvZGNhc3QueG1s | 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Glenn starts the show by going through the history of Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying program, which has become a grotesque injustice. Glenn opens up the phones for callers to discuss various issues, including one caller who's fighting the state of New York from taking over her farmland to install solar panels. Glenn warns that Texas could soon face rolling blackouts as power grids are overwhelmed. Glenn gives an update on Jolene, a Canadian woman who needs life-saving surgery. Forgetting the autopen scandal, does the president have the power to issue immunity deals under the guise of pardons? Glenn lays out why Canada's health care is such a mess. Glenn gets a call from a listener who calls him out for referring to “George AI” as a “he” and not an “it.” “The Case for Christ” author Lee Strobel joins to discuss his newest book, “The Case for Christmas,” which dives into the evidence of the birth of Jesus Christ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices