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Title: “Who Commands the Waves and Wind?” Part 1 Text: Acts 27:1-12 FCF: We often struggle enduring in faith when we face circumstances, we know God could spare us from. Prop: Because God's providence often includes opposition from forces of nature, we must look beyond ourselves to endure in faith. Scripture Intro: Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 27. It is even more important for you to turn there today considering that there will be no text on the screen. In a moment, I will read the first 36 verses of Acts 27 from the Legacy Standard bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. As we hasten onward toward the end of this study in the book of Acts, one which has taken us over two years to get to this point, Luke ushers us toward the final episodes of this last Act of his narrative. Luke's purposes have never been to provide a strict history of the early church. Instead, he has written to confirm to a man named Theophilus, and by extension all believers in Jesus Christ, that what we have believed is true and dependable. In this final Act, Luke has not so subtly shown how God is in control of all things and works all things according to the counsel of His will to accomplish His purposes and complete His story of the world which He has already written. Paul has no more criminal trials to face save one. A hearing before Emperor Nero in Rome. A hearing granted to all Roman citizens who appeal to Caesar. And so, in what could have been a short 24 day trip, we will see that God has other things planned for this apostle. Please stand with me to focus on and give honor to the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Most Gracious, Holy, Loving, and Powerful God. You are Alpha and Omega. You are the first and You are the last. From You all of creation has life and by You all of creation consists. There is not one rogue molecule in creation for You control everything for Your glory and for Your purposes. In a day and an age when such doctrines are derided and hated by natural men and even despised by some who claim to be Your people, I pray that we would find comfort and peace in believing that nothing happens without Your plan and consent and without some purpose for which You have established before the foundation of the World. Help us today to see these truths in spite of what our eyes see… we pray this in Jesus' name… Amen. Transition: Let's get right to the text this morning. I.) God's providence often includes opposition from forces of nature, so we must trust the Lord. (1-8) a. 1 - Now when it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius. 2 - And getting aboard an Adramyttian ship, which was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, we set sail accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. 3 - The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. 4 - And from there we set sail and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were against us. i. So, after 2 years of waiting for the Lord Jesus' words to come to pass, that Paul would go to Rome to preach the gospel, it seems that Paul is finally on his way. ii. Paul, along with other prisoners, was transferred into the guard of a centurion who would have been stationed in Judea. A centurion of the Augustan cohort. iii. Luke no doubt provides this information to us to establish secular witness to the events that he is about to describe in the next chapter and a half. iv. Many of the events that follow are quite unbelievable. But Luke has provided enough information to track this Roman Centurion down and ask him directly if such things have occurred. v. Julius charts a merchant ship from Adramyttium, a city in a bay across from the island of Lesbos between Troas and Pergamum. vi. Why does he chart a merchant ship? vii. Quite simply, there was no other way to travel by sea in the Roman Empire. There were vessels of commerce and vessels of war. There was no such thing as passenger vessels. viii. This ship's destination was to travel the coast of Asia minor, no doubt heading back to the Adramyttium. ix. Luke also lists two more of Paul's companions who joined him on this trip and would serve as eye witnesses to all that happened. The first is very obvious. 1. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, is probably the same Aristarchus who was dragged into the theater to face the rioting crowds in Ephesus in Acts 19. a. Aristarchus is also said to have accompanied Paul to Jerusalem on his most recent visit that has turned into a 2-year plus endeavor. b. It is impossible to know if Aristarchus has been in Jerusalem or Caesarea since Paul was imprisoned. But he seems to have been in Caesarea in time to join Paul on his trip to Rome. 2. The second companion is harder to spot, but since you all are very perceptive people, I'm sure you have spotted Luke in this text. a. In verse 1 it says “we would sail” meaning of course that Paul's companion Luke would join him on this trip too. b. So, both Luke and Aristarchus would be eye witnesses to the events that would follow. x. They sail 70 nautical miles to the city of Sidon in Syria. xi. The church had spread to Sidon some time ago. xii. Julius allowed Paul to leave the ship, probably with a soldier to escort him as waited for the next departure of the Adramyttium ship. xiii. No doubt these believers gave supplies to Paul and his companions for their journey. xiv. But verse 4 delivers a key theme for us in this entire maritime adventure narrative. xv. The winds were against this journey. We see great opposition to this trip from the winds of the Mediterranean Sea. And that opposition will only intensify. xvi. This Adramyttian ship endeavored to sail along the coast of Syria, but instead headed out to sea to be sheltered from the northwestern and western winds by the island of Cyprus. b. 5 - And when we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 - There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7 - And when we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; 8 - and with difficulty, we sailed past it and came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. i. Sailing between Asia minor and Cyprus along the coast, the Adramyttium ship landed at its next port, Myra of Lycia. ii. No doubt the next stop for this ship would have either been Adramyttium itself or possibly Ephesus. And it probably would not leave for some time… perhaps not even until after winter. iii. Therefore, Julius is forced to chart another ship whose destination would be Italy. iv. We find that Julius charts an Alexandrian ship. These were from the city of Alexandria and would transport grain throughout the Roman Empire, but especially to Rome. v. Having landed in Myra, this ship either came up the coast, past Judea and Syria, and had landed in Myra seeking to head west, or perhaps headed north straight through the Mediterranean toward the easily visible mountainous coast of Asia Minor. vi. We can read between the lines of Luke's record here to understand that the sailing was anything but smooth or predictable. vii. From Cnidus, which was a common port city having two ports, one on the North and one on the South, either they aimed to sail across the Aegean, potentially to Corinth or Athens or perhaps they did intend to sail to the northern edge of Cete to go around the Balkan Peninsula. viii. But because of the dangerous gales, they were forced to once again seek the shelter of the large island of Crete sailing south past the cape of Salmone. ix. Once again, we see the difficulty of the trip and how the forces of nature seem to oppose the will of Jesus and the intention of His apostle. x. With much trouble and very slowly they finally arrive at a southern port on the island of Crete known as Fair Havens near the city of Lasea. c. Summary of the Point: In this maritime adventure which Luke records for us, we could very easily lose the forest for the trees if we are not careful. We could get wrapped up in the adventure of the storm tossed ship and miss the greater message that Luke is revealing to Theophilus and all believers needing assurance that what they have believed is firm and solid. Jesus told Paul 2 years ago that he would go to Rome to preach the gospel… and now the very wind and sea oppose him getting there. But as the sermon title asks… who commands the wind and the sea? John Chrysostom, an early church father said of this passage of scripture, “See how God does not alter or change the order of nature but allows him to sail into unfavorable winds. But even so the miracle happens.” John Chrysostom Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles. In another work he says, “Again trials, again contrary winds. See how the life of the saints is so composed of all these things: he escaped the court, and they fall into a shipwreck and a storm.” John Chrysostom Catena on the Acts of the Apostles. In these two quotes Chrysostom conveys what Luke's aim of this story is. Paul has been shipwrecked before. He has spent much time at sea. Why does Luke record this now? Because Luke, in his final chapter, wishes to convey the absolute sovereignty of God to take His Kingdom to the uttermost parts of the earth. But in that sovereignty, it is not merely raw Power that God is displaying… for the purposes of God are not merely to get His apostle to Rome but also to form and shape Paul's faith. As one commentator said, “God could demonstrate His power by stilling the storm (as in Luke 8:24-25) but also by preserving His servant through it...” “Luke's apologetic is not for a legendary divine man; Paul does not still the storm. But the account portrays Paul's character preserving through testing… as well as speaking wisely and rescuing his fellow passengers by God's power.” God commands the winds and the seas… but that doesn't mean He always works miraculously. Indeed, one of the more wonderous miracles God does is providentially sustaining His people through catastrophe. In this the miracle that occurs is our faith and hope, tested and built. Therefore, knowing that God does not always choose to intervene with miracles… but does keep His promises… we must trust the Lord. Transition: But in the midst of trouble and trial, when everything seems to be against us, and when forces that God says He controls seem to be out of His control… it can be very hard for us to trust God and to know what to do next. Although Jesus has gone to the Father to intercede for us, He has both promised to never leave us and to send the comforter. And the comforter is in our hearts and all the hearts of those who believe. Struggling to see where I'm going? Let's look at verse nine. II.) God's providence often includes opposition from forces of nature, so we must heed counsel from wise and godly people. (9-12) a. 9 - And when considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the Fast was already over, Paul began to advise them, 10 - and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” i. Luke does not track for us the departure date of this trip, nor does he give us any indication of exactly when Portius Festus took office. ii. So, we don't know exactly how long the trip has taken thus far – but he seems to indicate that what began as a doable trip to Rome has become less and less likely. iii. Luke tells us that the Fast was already over. Most likely Luke is referring the Day of Atonement which occurs in late September to early October depending on the year. iv. And the best guess for dating this trip is in AD 59 when the Day of Atonement occurred on October 5th. v. At this time, mid-September to mid-November becomes increasingly more and more difficult to travel the Mediterranean as the winter months approach. vi. After this period virtually all sea travel would cease until around February. vii. According to a Stanford Geospatial Network model of the Roman World, it is estimated that under ideal conditions, Paul would have been able to make the journey from Caesarea to Rome in just under 24 days. viii. Which means that they probably left with at least that amount of time before really difficult sailing conditions would arise. ix. But as Luke indicates here, violent winds began earlier than usual this year and kept them from making any significant progress. Now they face only more difficult sailing conditions as they head further into October and November. x. In light of this, Paul advises those in charge of the ship that this journey will end not only in the loss of the ship and all its cargo, but also in the loss of life. xi. Essentially Paul is advising wintering in Fair Havens and waiting until February to reembark to Italy. xii. In this we have a few questions. First, is Paul speaking the words of prophesy or merely of human wisdom? If it is prophesy, does it come true? If it is wisdom, what makes Paul such an expert that he would advise seasoned merchant sailors? 1. As to the first question, is Paul speaking the words of prophesy or merely human wisdom – we must conclude that this is NOT prophesy. Why must we conclude that? a. Paul predicts that the ship, its cargo, and the lives of the passengers on the ship would experience heavy damage and great loss. b. Peeking ahead a little, we see Paul predict a little later that every life on board the ship would be saved. When he predicts this, he attributes that prediction to the Word of God communicated by an Angel. 2. Therefore, we must conclude that in this instance, Paul speaks merely by his own wisdom. But if that is so, what makes Paul qualified to speak to such matters? a. Having written II Corinthians sometime before going to Jerusalem, Paul has already told us that he had been shipwrecked 3 times and left afloat in the open sea for a night and a day. b. Luke didn't record any of these for us – but it proves that Paul is no novice passenger on a sea faring vessel. c. It also communicates to us the very real danger of travel on the Mediterranean d. Paul's concerns here are not just for the ship and the cargo but for the lives of the people on board. e. Since these ships were ships of commerce, lives didn't always factor in to the decision making of the owners, captains, and crews of these vessels. xiii. And that seems to remain true even after Paul gives his advice. b. 11 - But the centurion was being more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 - And because the harbor was not suitable for wintering, the majority reached a decision to set sail from there, if somehow, they could arrive at Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, to spend the winter there. i. Julius, the pilot, and the captain of the ship disagreed. ii. Their reasons are logical but next to the advice of a man of God, they are ultimately quite foolish. iii. The scriptures declare that the wisdom of men is foolishness to God. iv. So, what is the wisdom of men? Unfortunately, it is always tainted by sin. In this particular case… greed. 1. Fair Havens is not a port that provides adequate shelter for wintering. 2. It was not the kind of living conditions the crew desired to spend the next several months. 3. There was a significant risk to the cargo being spoiled or damaged, the ship being beaten up or broken, or even the prisoners escaping. 4. Ultimately the wisdom and logic of men comes down to dollars and cents. v. Instead of heeding the advice of Paul, they determined to get to Phoenix, a port giving great vision to both the South and the Northwest of the Mediterranean. A port right for wintering and one which they could depart from with relative confidence as to their heading. vi. This is the wisdom of men. But it will all go terribly wrong. More on that next week. c. Summary of the Point: Luke's point will continue to be how God's will includes providentially allowing the forces of nature to oppose His people. He preserves us through this, which is a testament to His grace, mercy and power, and He tests and perfects our faith in it. He does not always perform miracles to spare us pain, but miraculously sustains us through pain and difficulty while allowing us to continue to faithfully believe and follow Him, even when it seems as if He is slack in His promises. But as we face these difficult times and days, Paul provides another application for us aside from trusting the Lord. Not only must we continue to trust God in difficult times – but we must also trust the counsel of biblically wise people. Paul provides wise insight. And even though it is not about a “spiritual” or “theological” matter – he should have been heeded. When we face trouble, trial, testing and storms in life, we must look to spiritually mature counselors… NOT JUST for spiritual problems… but for all problems. Why? Because God's Word is sufficient to help us in all things we face. In all life and godliness the Word is sufficient. So, we must go to those who love and live by the Word for advice and counsel. And we must heed their counsel. Conclusion: So CBC, what have we learned today that informs and corrects our beliefs and guides our lifestyles? Basics of Faith and Practice: One common objection raised by skeptics of God is whether or not God can create a boulder so large that He could not lift it. It is not typically a question asked in good faith. For regardless of the answer, they think they've proven that He is not all powerful. Whenever someone asks a question that begins with “Could God…” you know immediately that the question is flawed. Why? Because God can… ALWAYS. There is nothing that is impossible with God. Ability is NEVER the question. The real question is about the will of God. And that is demonstrated right here in this text? Could God have stopped the storms? Could God have calmed the sea? We know He could. Why? Because He already did it. The Spirit of God moved on the face of the chaotic waters when He formed the earth. God the Father parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to walk on dry land. The Son of God stretched His hand out and said, “Peace, be still” And calmed a storm. My friends the question is NEVER “Can God?” it is always “Will God?” For whatever reason… God allows catastrophe to happen to all men… even His own children. Even His own apostles. Even… His own Son. He allows natural forces and even men's sinful nature to do many things to oppose His children. And we can guess at the whys of that… but maybe for today, we don't need to answer the question why. Because why isn't the right question! Paul addresses a similar argument in Romans 9 when some might complain that they were not elected for salvation and wonder why God judges them for something He did not choose for them to have. Paul says, essentially, you are asking the wrong question. How dare you question God. The right question… is what. In the midst of natural forces opposing me in doing what I know the Lord wishes me to do… What do I do? And this text provides two answers for us. One hinted and the other overtly stated. We must continue to trust the Lord's promises and we must heed the counsel of wise and godly people. But let me expand a bit on this. A few applicational groceries for you to make some spiritual meals with as the week unfolds. 1.) Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that natural forces opposing God's people is a valid reason to question God's Word or character. a. This text alone proves that to question God's promises or God's loving character based on tragic circumstances is absolutely ridiculous. b. God's promises and God's character is not beholden to everything always going right for mankind or even for His chosen people. c. God does work miracles for the sake of His will but He does not ALWAYS do this, nor does He always do miracles in every identical situation that follows that miracle. d. God told Moses to strike the rock and then God told Moses to speak to the Rock. e. Moses struck the Rock twice and both times produced water… but God had OTHER pictures he wished to convey to Moses and to the Israelites by Moses speaking to it instead of striking it. f. Just because God acts differently or allows people to suffer or even die does not mean we are free to begin questioning whether or not God is all good, all powerful, all loving, or all just. g. The creature cannot say such things to the creator. h. His ways are above our ways, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. i. When we think God has done something unjust… it is because our definition of justice is NOT God's. j. When we think God has done something unloving… it is because our definition of love is NOT God's. k. When we think that God has done something that is not good… it is because our definition of good is NOT God's. l. When we wonder why God didn't do something to prevent catastrophe… it is because we have put God in a box and treated Him as if He is like us… We have made an idol, called it Yahweh, and gotten upset when that fake god doesn't do what we think he should. m. We must repent… not Him. n. God is unchangeable. He does not lie. He does not sin. He is the same as He always has been. o. If life stinks, and catastrophe happens… our conclusion CANNOT be… That God has failed, or that God is a liar. p. This is the height of arrogance and idolatry. q. So what must we believe instead? 2.) Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that God providentially allows natural forces to oppose His people. a. God is absolutely free in His will to act according to His counsel. He has full freedom to do as He wishes and as He permits to ALL of His creation – including men. b. In His grace, His mercy, and His love – God does not desire the death of the wicked. c. That is a completely BONKERS statement. Of all the people that we should think God would be hunting down and squashing out of existence it SHOULD BE… the wicked. d. God is just… and He will judge them for their sin… But God does not actively seek out and kill wicked men. Why? Because we'd all be dead already. e. And here is another Bonkers statement in the scriptures… f. God's Son guaranteed that any who would follow Him would experience trouble. Jesus does not qualify that statement by specifying what trouble we experience. i. Is the trouble from those who might hate us and persecute us? ii. Is the trouble in the daily walk in living holy lives and turning from sin? iii. Is the trouble the common aches and pains and problems that all men face? g. Based on the entire cannon of scripture I think we'd have to say… YES! All of those. h. The scriptures say that all of creation groans in anticipation of the return of Jesus, the King of glory. i. Do you think violent storms that destroy property and lives are part of the creation's groans? ii. Do you think that diseases and sicknesses, aches and pains are part of the creation's groans? iii. Do you think that violent and wicked acts of men to snuff out life are part of creation's groans? i. My friends… God allows forces of nature to oppose all men, including His people, as a sign to us that things ARE NOT AS THEY SHOULD BE! j. When we experience heartache and trouble and problems and pain it should confirm upon us the blessed hope of our King's inevitable return to make all this right! k. If God always saved His people from calamity in miraculous ways… how strong would our faith be? l. Let me ask another question… If you always lifted everything for your child, including the spoon to their mouths, how much muscle would be on their arms? m. Were they called to lift a baby off the railroad tracks to save its life… they would struggle and strain and all would be lost. n. God knows we grow through adversity. We grow through struggle and pain. Not because He made us that way… but because sin has corrupted us THAT MUCH. o. The depravity of man is not some soteriological belief that only impacts us prior to conversion. p. My friends… sanctification – our growth to be more like Christ is long, difficult, fraught with pain and setbacks BECAUSE OF DEPRAVITY! q. The reformers believed and the scriptures agree that we are simultaneously WICKED SINNERS who have been declared righteous in Christ. We are all recovering pagans whose hearts continue to be factories forming idols on a daily basis. r. Therefore, we must believe that God sovereignly and providentially uses even natural disaster… to accomplish His will. Because His will is not ours. s. So what do we do with that? 3.) Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must continue to trust the Lord. a. Our God has promised that He will never leave us. b. He has promised us that He will seal us until the day of redemption with His Spirit. c. He has promised that He will give grace in a time of need to those who seek it. d. He has promised that He will sustain us to the moment that we have been appointed to die. e. He has promised to raise us up in Christ to join Him in the clouds. f. He has promised that when we join Him there we will always be with Him. g. So we face shipwreck. So we face wicked men shooting at us. So we face disease. So we face loss. So we face death. But we do so, knowing, that God will never forsake the promises He has made to us. We have confidence that if we face these things… God has willed it to be so for some purpose that we may never know. h. We trust Him. i. Trusting Christ does not mean trusting in a list of facts about God. j. Trusting Christ means that when tragedy occurs… we praise the Lord and trust that He is faithful. k. What else should we do? 4.) Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must heed the counsel of wise and godly people. a. Friends, although we have the Spirit of God in us, although Jesus has promised to never leave or forsake us, and although God in three persons is always present everywhere and when… somehow He knew that that would not be enough for our frailty. b. He knows our weakness indeed. c. And He has given us gifts… i. Apostles to form the church 2000 years ago. ii. Prophets to guide the church in its formation iii. Evangelists to expand the kingdom to the uttermost parts of the earth iv. And pastors/shepherds/ Elders to spiritually care for and equip the church locally to do the work of the ministry which is the edification of the body of Christ. d. In addition to that he has given generational mandates to older believers to care for younger believers and counsel and admonish them in spiritual things. e. He has given fathers to spiritually grow their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. f. He has given all of God's people His Spirit and promises where two or more are gathered and seeking counsel on some of the most difficult things… He is there. g. My friends… when catastrophe surrounds us. When trouble comes. When hope is fading. When we don't know if we can go on. When we don't know what to do. h. God has given us… the church. i. Not perfect. Flawed. But spiritually maturing and matured people who love and live by God's Word. j. Don't buy into the lie that you must see a specialist in the field of your problems to get help. k. If your problems are medical, financial, relational, emotional… and yes… spiritual… You can rest assured that God's word has something to say about it. And wise and godly believers can help you find it and help you pursue it. 5.) Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” Repenting of sin and becoming God's child does not give you a life of peace. In fact, it guarantees you a life of hardship. a. There are gospels going out today that seem to assure you that when you pray a prayer your life will be so much better. b. I just saw that MMA fighter Conner McGreggor recently made some kind of profession of faith in Jesus. He stated Jesus is King and that he has never been so at peace since believing this. c. I don't know his heart. I hope he is God's child. Time will tell. d. But here is what I do know. There is a paradox in the Christian life that all outsiders must see before they seek to enter in. e. Although in one sense being a child of God is the most peaceful, wonderful, glorious, amazing, fulfilling, and satisfying things there is… f. In another sense it is a life full of pain, anguish, struggle, hardship, betrayal, failure, frustration, and rejection. And not just in the sense that it is the normal human experience… but beyond that… being a Christian is directly linked to MORE of these than if you were not a Christian. g. Every single Christian in this room affirms this paradox as true. They have lived it. God's word says it. h. Jesus tells everyone to count the cost. He says that the only way to be His disciple is to take yourself, your desires, your comfort, your plans, your lifestyles, your money, your peace, your hope… and nail it to a cross… kill it brutally. Then follow Him. Then… and only then… can you be His disciple. i. He has paid it all… but make no mistake… it will cost you everything. And to true Christians it is a price… we gladly pay. j. If you have counted the cost and desire to follow Jesus, the Elders in this church would love to talk to you about that. Come see us… and don't dilly dally about it. Let me close with a word of prayer from the Apostolic Constitutions Lord God Almighty and true God, nothing compares to you. You are everywhere, and present in all things, but you are not part of your creation. You are not bound by place, and you do not grow old in time. You are not terminated by the ages. You are not deceived by words, and not created by anything. You require no one to look after you, and you are above all corruption. You are free from change, and by nature you never vary. You inhabit inaccessible light. You are invisible by nature, but are known to all thinking people who seek you with a good mind-your people who truly see and who have believed on Christ. You are the God of Israel. Be gracious to me, and hear me, for the sake of your name. Bless those who bow before you, and grant them the requests of their hearts, for their good. Do not reject any of them from your kingdom. Instead, set them apart for you. Guard, cover, and help them. Deliver them from the adversary, and from every enemy. Keep their houses and families safe, and guard them as they come and go. For to you belongs the glory, praise, majesty, worship, and adoration, and to your Son Jesus, your Christ, our Lord and God and King, and to the Holy Spirit, now and always, forever and ever, amen. Benediction: May the One Who makes the vapors ascend in clouds from earth's remotest end, Whose lightings flash at His commands, Who holds the tempest in His hands. Keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Until we meet again, go in peace.

Have the past few years been tough on your relationship? Have you found yourself in long, relentless arguments with your partner whereby you can no longer think compassionately? Not to worry, you're not alone. In this episode, I unpack six of the most common phrases that poison relationships – and explore alternative responses that ultimately cause less hurt —without losing our truth.From “You always...” to “Whatever you want,” I will dive into what's really going on underneath those hurtful patterns.

In this episode, Dr. Stacy Heimburger dives into a topic that many of us struggle with: how to handle comments about our weight—whether they're compliments or critiques. From “You've lost weight, you look amazing!” to “Are you sure you're eating enough?” Dr. Heimburger offers practical strategies to respond with confidence and emotional balance. Learn how to self-regulate your reactions, set healthy boundaries, and protect your mental well-being. Whether the comment is positive or negative, you'll walk away with tools to maintain control over how you feel and respond. Tune in to discover how to assert your boundaries, keep your emotional peace, and stay true to your health journey.Free 2-Pound Plan Call!Want to jump start your weight loss? Schedule a free call where Dr. Stacy Heimburger will work with you to create a personalized plan to lose 2 pounds in one week, factoring in your unique circumstances, challenges, and aspirations. Schedule now! www.sugarfreemd.com/2poundThis episode was produced by The Podcast Teacher: www.ThePodcastTeacher.com.

Amelia Walden's journey is one of profound transformation and unexpected paths. What if a personal identity crisis could spark a creative revolution in your life? Amelia, the author of "From You to Gentile," shares how her shift from a religious upbringing to a vibrant relationship with God redefined her purpose and led her to write a compelling book. In our conversation, Amelia opens up about her passion for impacting lives through introducing people to Christ. She also shares the lasting influences of her father and a wise worship leader named Tabby, who taught her the art of "being a duck" amidst life's inevitable storms.Explore how Amelia navigated her spiritual journey through the complexities of a mixed-religion household. From the rituals of Catholicism to a time of detachment from religion, her spiritual path took a pivotal turn in 2020, finding a new home in Christianity. Her father's gentle encouragement and her exploration of scripture, particularly the book of Ephesians, played crucial roles in reconciling her family's diverse beliefs. Amelia's story highlights her transition from viewing religion as mere ritual to embracing a dynamic and personal relationship with God, demonstrating the transformative influence of community and scripture.A seemingly accidental meeting became a cornerstone of Amelia's faith and personal growth. She recounts her initial embarrassment at joining a worship team meeting by mistake, which serendipitously ignited her interest in music and led her to audition for the team. These experiences, which Amelia terms "Gig Breaks," reveal the divine interventions that connect the scattered pieces of our lives. Through these stories, Amelia encourages us to recognize and appreciate the subtle and profound presence of God in our daily experiences, inviting us to deepen our faith and embrace the transformative power of the gospel.Amelia's Book Link, on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Amelia-L.-Walden/author/B0D3YZ9QVJ?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1734485216&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueAmelia's Website. https://fromjtog.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHPBhhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcFv0ii8xG4NxSAUlLgX3MIgvyPS5SFcKO7nSJHHakTZau0Li4Rag0mYzw_aem_M6eAeUY-_t2LdO7FExhvZgLet me know what you think of this episode? Support the showhttps://buymeacoffee.com/dorseyrossSocial Media Links, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dorsey.ross/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DROCKROSS/

Blessed is a story, not a status! This weekend New City began a new journey of faith, and Pastor Steve kicked off a series called BIG DREAMS! Genesis 12:2“I will make you into a great nation,  and I will bless you;I will make your name great,  and you will be a blessing.”This season will be a defining moment for our church, and our prayer is that everyone who calls New City Church their home will participate, heart and soul! The BIG DREAMS INITIATIVE is an effort to prepare our church for the next season of growing ministry, expanded outreach, and a permanent home for our church.As we enter this season, what does Abram's call from God teach us about our journey? 1) It's easier to believe that God is powerful than to believe that he is good.But in Abram's call we see an incredible moment of GRACE from God. God's promise of BLESSING came to Abram BEFORE he ever did anything for God.2) Faith begins with trust in God's goodness.Faith says I believe in God's GOODNESS so thoroughly that I can ASK him for what I need, and I can TRUST him to do what's best.3) This journey is not about what God wants FROM YOU, but what God has planned FOR YOU.The BIG DREAMS that we have as a church are rooted in God's promise to Abraham, “I WILL BLESS YOU, and YOU WILL BE A BLESSING.” We believe that as we remember God's blessing in our lives, we will have a clearer sense of how he has called and equipped us to be a blessing to others!

IN THIS FAMILY: SAVED People SERVE People. Ephesians 2:10 NIV For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. John 13:1, 3-17 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. Jesus is separating the difference between KNOWING something and DOING something. Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” How is your heart to serve? John 13:4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Traits Of A Servants Heart 1. Has a WILLINGNESS to get INVOLVED. 2. He went LOW to LIFT UP. 3. Has a willingness to GET MESSY to make a DIFFERENCE. Philippians 2:6-9 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, God doesn't want something FROM YOU, but he wants something FOR YOU. John 13:17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. Saved people, serve people and SERVED people become SAVED people.

(Any pricing discussed in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. See full terms and conditions at Smart Moms Travel) The My Disney Experience App may be the single most important thing you need to know how to do for yourself to make your Disney vacation as easy as possible! This might be the most important episode you hear when planning your Disney vacation! Aly, Becki, and Stacy take you through a step-by-step process for knowing and using your My Disney Experience app. This app is key to using the Lightning Lane Multipass and Single Pass, Virtual Queues, Mobile Ordering and making Dining Reservations and so much more! We're also wanting to hear FROM YOU! ASK US ANYTHING and you might hear yourself on a future Mail Bag episode of the podcast! Send us a voice message through Instagram DM or if you'd rather type your message, use this form. We can't wait to hear from you! Ready to plan your magical Disney vacation with a podcast co-host? Fill out⁠ our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1-minute form here⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and we'll be in touch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR PATREON!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support the podcast with Patreon and we will thank you with more resources and access to the podcast hosts! Your support keeps us going and producing this great content! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Smart Moms Plan Disney Podcast Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Smart Moms Plan Disney Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠Smart Moms Plan Disney Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Smart Moms Plan Disney Amazon Hosts: Aly Thomas, Becki Smedley, Stacy Walker Editing: Stacy Walker ⁠⁠⁠ Ads from the show: ⁠⁠⁠Disney Planning Made Simple Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Stacy Walker ⁠⁠⁠Planning Disney with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers ⁠⁠⁠with Katie Boone

From YOU can do it... to YOU did it, we applaud you and all our winners! We're celebrating champions including familiar and fresh faces, a 13 year old track sensation and our new, five-time women's winner. A first place finish was their goal but running to remember was their inspiration. Joan Benoit Samuelson shares her 1984 Olympics win – a first for women and four-time Boston Marathon winner, Bill Rodgers, loves our Senior Marathon. We wrap up this season with reflections on why the Memorial Marathon is much more than a race. 

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.” John 15:1–3Pruning a vine is an important part of helping it to grow and produce not only more fruit but the best fruit. If left unpruned, a grape vine will eventually produce less fruit and poorer quality fruit. Good pruning helps to direct the nourishment of the vine to the new buds that are most fruitful.Jesus' teaching above uses the imagery of pruning a vine to help us understand that faith must lead to charity. First, Jesus says that He is the “true vine.” He is the only source of the nourishment we need for the new life of grace. He is the only way to Heaven and salvation. Knowing our Lord and being attached to Him firmly is faith. Second, our Lord says that He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit. This indicates that faith without the good fruit of charity is dead and is like a branch on a vine that produces nothing. Third, when Jesus finds a branch that bears good fruit, he doesn't leave it alone. Instead, He prunes it with loving attention so that “it bears more fruit.”To apply these teachings to your own life, begin by looking at your faith as if it were a branch firmly attached to a vine. Do you believe all that God has spoken through His holy Word? It is useful to regularly examine your conscience in regard to your faith. Since faith is the first step in the spiritual life, it must remain firmly grounded in the Truth God has revealed. This means we must regularly study the Word of God as it is revealed through the Scriptures and the catechetical teachings of the Church, and assent to those teachings with all our mind.Next, after affirming your faith in all that God has spoken through the Scriptures and the Church, try to examine your charity. Do you see concrete acts of love in your life that result from your faith? In other words, we can “love” many things in a purely emotional sort of way. But charity is based on faith, not on how we feel. Charity is the fruit of faith. What acts of charity can you point to in your life? What have you sensed God calling you to do in a selfless and sacrificial way? Have you done it?Finally, when you discover the ways that charity is alive within you, know that God will focus His pruning there. Pruning can be painful. It will require sacrifice, patience in the face of trial, overcoming selfishness, and doing things you don't feel like doing. In fact, sometimes God even makes charitable acts seem unpleasant as a way of pruning your motivations and making them more pure, based more on faith than on emotion. But this is good.Reflect, today, upon this holy imagery from Jesus. It's a lesson from nature that reveals the supernatural life of grace at work. Don't be deterred by the pruning God wants to do. Embrace suffering with love, respond to injustice with forgiveness, offer mercy when you don't feel like it, and seek to serve selflessly those who seem undeserving. Doing so will prune you so that God will be able to build up His Kingdom in glorious ways through you.Jesus, most glorious Vine, You and You alone are the source of all nourishment in life. From You all good things come. Help me to have a firm faith in You and all that You have revealed, so that this faith will bud forth and bring about an abundance of good fruit for the glorious building up of Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You. Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: The Last Supper (mosaic) By Howgill, via Adobe

When the Best Friend Party Phone rings, Lindy and Meagan ANSWER. This week, we hear FROM YOU, our beloved Text Me Backolytes, with stories about the historical figures who make up the very Mount Rushmore of Text Me Back: a squirrel skull, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and a horny ghost. We also introduce two very special new songs to the lore, including one from literal famous person -- and Lindy's former college classmate -- Robert.Most importantly, we both experience a pretty significant mental breakdown somewhere in the middle of segment one, so you won't want to miss that, AND Lindy and Meagan take a moment to walk down memory lane, which is located somewhere near the Edinburgh TGIFridays.⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°If you like this episode and want us to keep making the show forever, please subscribe to our Patreon. This podcast will always be free, but we need your help to produce it -- and if you support our Patreon, you'll get all kinds of goodies in addition to the show itself! Learn more about the different tiers and rewards here: https://www.patreon.com/TextMeBackPod Also! Please keep in touch with us! You can text OR CALL us at the Best Friend Party Phone: (703) 829-0003.We're on Instagram at @textmebackpod!You can email us at deartextmeback@gmail.com!WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU SO BAD!⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°✩⋆｡°TEXT ME BACK is a production of Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays, proud members of the BFF Network. Our senior producer is Meagan Hatcher-Mays. Our other senior producer is Lindy West. Our editor is -- you guessed it -- Lindy West. Our music and our mixing is by Chief Ahamefule J. Oluo. Diana Bowen is our video and creative wizard. You can also follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTok @textmebackpod. And for even more bestie connections, follow Lindy and Meagan on Instagram at @thelindywest and @importantmeagan!Special thanks as always to our perfect angels: Jeannie Yandel, Brandi Fullwood, and Isolde Raftery.

Our Season 12 finale is here and to help celebrate is @itsmarkcooper here to talk about his latest project, The Orange Mixtape: Nickelodeon 45 Anniversary Tribute Album!! From “You cant do that on television” “Legend of The Hidden Temple” to “Rocko's Modern Life and SpongeBob SquarePants” we're talking some of the greats on this one! Plus, what was your favorite moments from Season 12? Tap in with your comments tomorrow night. Only on YouTube, Twitch and IG!! #blerdseyeview #blerdlife #blerd #nickelodeon #slime #nerdcore #mixtape #gaming #comicbook #review #entertainment #entertainmentnewsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blerdseyeviewLinktree: https://linktr.ee/blerdseyeviewTwitch: https://twitch.tv/blerdseyeview1Youtube: https://youtube.com/@BlerdsEyeviewFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/blerdseyeview1X (Formally Twitter): http://twitter.com/BlerdsEyeview1

You need a good talking to about how awesome you are. From who? From YOU! Program the ultimate AI machine, "YOUR MIND," to crush it. If your mind doesn't believe it, neither will anyone else, including the universe. Wipe out the negativity and fill your mind with what you want your destiny to be, filled with passion and abundance.  For more information and Steve Judson's books & merchandise, visit WakeUpHumans.org.

Today Kenslie and Jayla share wisdom sent in FROM YOU! They read submissions all about people pleasing, body image, faith, finances, and more! Find us on Instagram! Sister Sip: https://www.instagram.com/sistersippodcast/ Kenslie: https://www.instagram.com/kensliewertz/ Jayla: https://www.instagram.com/jayla_brooke/ Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KenslieWertz

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Gin Blossoms lead singer Robin Wilson, who fronts The Smithereens at The State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia on Saturday, then at the Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on Sunday. They discuss his lifelong fandom of The Smithereens and break down his biggest Gin Blossoms hits, including “Hey Jealousy,” “Found Out About You,” “Till I Hear it From You,” “Allison Road” and “Follow You Down.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WTOP Entertainment Reporter Jason Fraley chats with Gin Blossoms lead singer Robin Wilson, who fronts The Smithereens at The State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia on Saturday, then at the Rams Head in Annapolis, Maryland on Sunday. They discuss his lifelong fandom of The Smithereens and break down his biggest Gin Blossoms hits, including “Hey Jealousy,” “Found Out About You,” “Till I Hear it From You,” “Allison Road” and “Follow You Down.” (Theme Music: Scott Buckley's "Clarion") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psalm 22:1-31 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and You delivered them. 5 To You they cried and were rescued; in You they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet You are He who took me from the womb; You made me trust You at my mother's breasts. 10 On You was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb You have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; You lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—17 I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But You, O Lord, do not be far off! O You my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You: 23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him, and stand in awe of Him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and He has not hidden His face from him, but has heard, when he cried to Him. 25 From You comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear Him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and He rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before Him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve Him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn, that He has done it.” Key Words: Forsaken, Cry, Trust, Deliver, Save, Affliction, Praise, Fear, God, Brothers, Nations Keystone Verse: My God, my God, why have You forsaken me. Why are You so far from saving me, from the words of my groanings. (Psalm 22:1)   Download Bulletin

FEATURED FILM: Empire Records (1995) OTHER FILMS DISCUSSED: The Land Before Time (1988); Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995); The Princess Bride (1987); Gleaming the Cube (1989) We are back with Phil from I'll Make a Stay Out of You pod! Phil graciously allowed us to record not one but TWO episodes with him: a non-movie special, and a regular movie episode. The non-movie special was last time, and this is the movie episode! We STAY making Stray Kids references, as well as discussing whether the featured film passed the Bechdel test; PLUS! what Phil's 10th grade English teacher borrowed from him and never gave back (escándalo!); what event made Phil think that he and his friends were about to be arrested at the dollar theater; Phil's similarities to a certain cartoon dinosaur; namedrop the company where Phil and his co-host best friend Tom first met; Phil's favorite book, which his toddler son did not listen to when Phil read it to him!! smh!! kids these days; what Phil and Tom's WOW Discord server was named after; and more! Listen to Make a Stay pod! Check out the Make a Stay website!  Listen to Mixtape's Top 10 Stray Kids (SKZ) songs! Follow BYOP: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook Become a treasured kernel in the BYOP bucket over on PATREON! For as little as $3 a month, you'll get access to the Bonus Episode series, replays of the Riffraff Reads streaming show, exclusive photos, videos, polls, merch, a sense of buttery community, and more! Wanna talk?  Email BringYourOwnPopcorn@gmail.com! MUSIC: "Adult Problems" by Richard and the Julians Copyright Richard and the Julians 2015;  "Levanter", "Miroh", by Stray Kids, Copyright Epic Japan, JYPE 2019 and 2020; "Till I Hear it From You" by Gin Blossoms Copyright A&M Records 1995; "Sugarhigh" by Coyote Shivers, Empire Records OST 1995; "Popcorn Frog" by MC Chris Copyright mc chris llc 2013.   BYOP Logo by @MilkMyth. 

Happy Friday That! Crew. New Comic Book Day has come and gone and we were not around to usher in such a glorious day of the week. We sincerely apologize, but we are here to make it right! Join Mendte, Mashko, Features, and good Ol' Baby Huey as they make up for lost time and jam-pack this thing with as much news, and as many topics as we can. From You know who's return to the Star Wars Universe in Ahsoka on Disney Plus to Baby Groot causing chaos on the same streaming app. We also discuss the Legend of the White Dragon, Fall of X, Features sneaks a little One Piece by us, and so much more in the News Flash. So let's not dilly dally any longer, hit play all ready. That's That!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/that-comic-podcast--5896499/support.

We've ALL been there, when you KNOW DAMN WELL you need to surrender your attachment to something, because it's causing all kinds of pain, but you're also afraid of letting go because you feel like you're going to miss out if you do. In this episode of the TBD Podcast, I'm talking about the concept of surrender & desire from a Tibetan Buddhist lens, so you can learn a special Buddhist "manifestation" hack on how to get what you want AND relieve yourself of the suffering (the kind that comes when you're clinging & grasping to outcomes) without “giving up” on your heart's desires. Hint: the joy or fulfillment you THINK exists in the thing you're afraid to let go of... is actually coming FROM YOU (this is a good thing, I promise ;) *Details for Artistic Alchemy 12-Week Immersion are here, early enrollment with special rate & bonus opens on Thursday, September 7th (for 48 hours only): https://www.alisonlessard.com/aa

For this week's Talkhouse Podcast we've got a special two-part episode featuring both members of one of my favorite bands, Wye Oak, in conversation with some other fantastic musicians, so be sure to stick around for both halves! First up it's Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner and singer-songwriter Johanna Samuels, both of whom have new music coming out, coincidentally, on June 23. Samuels has been making beautiful, deeply personal music for the last decade or so, and her new one is a doozy. The album is called Bystander, and it was recorded with Josh Kaufman of Bonny Light Horseman—he's the Josh you'll hear referenced in this chat. Check out “Ugly on the Inside” from Bystander right here. Samuels is joined here by Talkhouse pal Jenn Wasner, who's probably best known as half of Wye Oak, but has also recorded music recently under the name Flock of Dimes. It's no wonder that Wasner and Samuels get along, as both are incredibly thoughtful and sincere in their musical pursuits: They're looking for something much bigger than a hooky song to sing, they're out to connect on a deeper level. Wye Oak has sort of morphed into a different kind of band in recent years, choosing to stay away from the make-an-album-then-tour-forever cycle and instead release singles and one-off songs as Wasner and Andy Stack are able. A bunch of those songs have just been compiled on an album called Every Day Like the Last. They sound as good as anything the duo has done, which is to say they sound great. Check out “I Learned it From You” right here. In this conversation, Wasner and Samuels talk about the magic of the Newport Folk Festival, how great it is to work with Josh Kaufman, and how to express heavy thoughts within joyful music. You'll find out whether these are women of mystery, and you'll hear Wasner refer to herself as “a big golden retriever of a person.” Enjoy. In the second half of this epic Talkhouse two-parter, we've actually got three speakers: Andy Stack, who's best known as half of Wye Oak, but who's also made some solo records under the name Joyero. Along with him is Jay Hammond, with whom Stack recently made a great instrumental record, and Joe Westerlund. I'll start with Westerlund, and I'll try to do his bio justice: He started out in the Wisconsin band Deyarmond Edison, which has a massive retrospective box set coming out this year, and which is best known as the band that started Justin Vernon of Bon Iver down his musical path. Westerlund has also contributed to lots of other song-based music over the years, drumming for the likes of Califone and his project Megafaun. But it definitely feels like Westerlund has found his true calling in his solo instrumental work, including the recent Elegies for the Drift, whose compositions were largely inspired by important people in his life who'd passed away recently. It's a gorgeous, emotional ride. Check out “The Circle,” which is dedicated to Akron/Family's Miles Cooper Seaton, a friend of Westerlund's who tragically died in a car crash in 2021. It makes sense that Westerlund got together for a chat with Andy Stack and Jay Hammond, because they all have North Carolina in common: It's become something of a refuge for a bunch of bands over the past few years, with their friends in Sylvan Esso building a studio there, and lots of folks—including both members of Wye Oak—taking up residence there. Stack and Hammond got together recently and struck gold with a series of electro-acoustic improvisations that they winnowed down to album length and titled Inter Personal—a nod to the connection that they deepened by making this music together. Check out “Life on a Ship” right here.  Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Johanna Samuels, Jenn Wasner, Andy Stack, Jay Hammond, and Joe Westerlund for chatting. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

2023-04-09 Exalted, Not Forsakenby Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Psalm 221 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;And by night, but I have no rest.3 Yet You are holy,O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.4 In You our fathers trusted;They trusted and You delivered them.5 To You they cried out and were delivered;In You they trusted and were not disappointed.6 But I am a worm and not a man,A reproach of men and despised by the people.7 All who see me sneer at me;They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;You made me trust when upon my mother's breasts.10 Upon You I was cast from birth;You have been my God from my mother's womb.11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near;For there is none to help.12 Many bulls have surrounded me;Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.13 They open wide their mouth at me,As a ravening and a roaring lion.14 I am poured out like water,And all my bones are out of joint;My heart is like wax;It is melted within me.15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;And You lay me in the dust of death.16 For dogs have surrounded me;A band of evildoers has encompassed me;They pierced my hands and my feet.17 I can count all my bones.They look, they stare at me;18 They divide my garments among them,And for my clothing they cast lots.19 But You, O Lord, be not far off;O You my help, hasten to my assistance.20 Deliver my soul from the sword,My only life from the power of the dog.21 Save me from the lion's mouth;From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;Nor has He hidden His face from him;But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.26 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.Let your heart live forever!27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,And all the families of the nations will worship before You.28 For the kingdom is the Lord'sAnd He rules over the nations.29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.30 Posterity will serve Him;It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.31 They will come and will declare His righteousnessTo a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

My heart throbs with each bound I take, my breath growing heavy. "Run, run, run," a voice whispers, and I struggle to obey. When I'd found that I had once again veered from the path called straight and narrow, I knew I couldn't go back. Trying to leap over a rotting log, I feel my foot catch in the crevice. Pain shoots up to my ankle as I tumble to the ground. I whimper and bite my lip. The pain inside is worse than the pain in my leg, but I will not cry..“Why are you running?” Someone asks behind me. My throat closes up as I recognize the voice.."No..." I think as I sit up feebly. The feet before me are marred with nail marks. "No, no, no! Not here...".“Why, child?” He asks softly..“I have to get away,” I choke out..“From what?”.“From You,” I sputter. “It's too hard... I can't keep falling and facing You again.” I bury my face in my dirty hands and sob..“It is hard,” He agrees, and I marvel at his lack of anger..“How could you know?” I feel my face heat up..“Because I walked the same path. I passed over every mountain, struggled through each valley. Child,” His voice cracks, “I know.”.Tears fill my eyes, and I look at the ground. “I'm not strong enough.”.He holds out His hand, and I can see an ugly nail mark on His wrist. “I am. Lean on me in your weakness, and I will sustain you. I will keep you from stumbling, and help you when you fall. I am your strength, and I have faced the trials you now walk in.”.“I'll fall again.” I shake my head..“My grace will sustain you.” He lifts me up. “I will fight for You. All you need to do is rest in my arms.” My tears start to slow. The heaviness in my chest is replaced by something warm and light. My grace will sustain you, the words replay in my mind. I know they are true. • Lily Walsh.• How can knowing that God helps us in our weakness and trials change the way we view them?.• Read Hebrews 4:14-16. Jesus is fully God and fully human, so He knows and understands every weakness and hurt we face. And through His death and resurrection, He has sealed our forgiveness. How can these truths make us more confident to come to Him in our weakness? .“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Hey, gorgeous! Let's have a little chat.    We're raised our entire lives to seek the ‘how'. To find the answer.  To search for the solution.  To look outside of ourselves for the cause. The reason.  That this ‘how' is external.  That what's happening on the outside is what's creating how we feel on the inside.    Well, as it turns out, it's the exact opposite.    Here's the scientific truth:  What's happening on the inside is what creates the outside. Your inner environment is actually creating your third dimensional lived experience.    Here's another scientific truth:  You are a spiritual/energetic being having a human experience.    The infinite power of understanding, and then embodying that truth will blow you away.   It holds the only answer you will ever need. The only solution.    Whatever you are being called to, whatever results you want to experience, whatever exists in your next-level vision…it's all available to you.    You are the cause of the effect.  You are the generator. You are the consciousness.  You are the love. You are the magic.    Which then begs the question, ‘How?” How do I embody that truth? How do I generate the results I dream of? Where do I even begin?   You've heard that life isn't happening to you…that life is happening for you.  Here's the highest truth: Life is happening FROM YOU.    You are in everything you experience. You are the constant.  What's happening inside of you, is what's happening outside of you.   That's the ‘how' that matters.  That's the only ‘how' that is actually your business. That's the ‘How of Within'   Welcome Home.      There is always more love,  Tracy Did you know that The How of Within™ Podcast has an exclusive community?    I want to know you, and I want to be in connection with you.    Click here to join: The H.O.W. Community You can also find me here:    Website: The Litt Factor.com YouTube: Tracy Litt  Facebook: The Litt Factor Instagram: @thelittfactor   Let's keep the conversation going!  

It. Is. Time. THE FAMMIES, BABY! That's right! It's the time of the year where the crew get together for one last laugh of the year ALL of the games! Here, the guys talk about the games they've enjoyed the most, the biggest surprises, TGS Game of the year, best Indies, best music and biggest piece of trash of the year! Get hyped!Members: Danny, James, Ty(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:37) The Famicrew's Top 5 Games of 2022(00:50:38) Top 5 Games of 2022 From YOU(00:58:00) 1. Online Game of the Year(01:04:40) 2. Please Stop...of the Year (01:19:02) 3. Disappointment of the Year(01:29:21) 4. Pleasant Surprise of the Year(01:36:26) 5. TGS Game of the Year(01:44:57) 6. Game We Need to Play More Next Year...of the Year(01:53:44) 7. Complete Garbage of the Year(01:58:56) 8. This Game Should Really Be on Switch...of the Year(02:10:56) Previously Removed Award RIP(02:13:06) 9. Indie Game of the Year(02:19:21) 10. Best Game That Didn't Get a Mention Last Year(02:25:40) 11. Ongoing Game of the Year(02:35:45) 12. Super Hype GET of the Year(02:45:53) 13. Best Music Track of the Year(03:03:45) 14.a Danny's Shelf of Shame(03:10:21) 14.b Ty's Does What Ninten-Don't...of the Year(03:14:18) 14.c JC's Gaming Meme of the Year(03:17:40) 15. Most Anticipated Games of 2023(03:23:53) OutroThank you so much for subscribing, listening and your support over the past year! You guys rock! We hope to see you back in 2023 for some more gaming fun straight out of Japan. Happy holidays and we'll see ya in January!Email: thefamicast (at) gmail (dot) comPatreon: patreon.com/thefamicastTwitter: @thefamicastYouTube: youtube.com/thefamicast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Members: Danny, James, Ty(00:00:00) Intro(00:05:37) The Famicrew's Top 5 Games of 2022(00:50:38) Top 5 Games of 2022 From YOU(00:58:00) 1. Online Game of the Year(01:04:40) 2. Please Stop...of the Year (01:19:02) 3. Disappointment of the Year(01:29:21) 4. Pleasant Surprise of the Year(01:36:26) 5. TGS Game of the Year(01:44:57) 6. Game We Need to Play More Next Year...of the Year(01:53:44) 7. Complete Garbage of the Year(01:58:56) 8. This Game Should Really Be on Switch...of the Year(02:10:56) Previously Removed Award RIP(02:13:06) 9. Indie Game of the Year(02:19:21) 10. Best Game That Didn't Get a Mention Last Year(02:25:40) 11. Ongoing Game of the Year(02:35:45) 12. Super Hype GET of the Year(02:45:53) 13. Best Music Track of the Year(03:03:45) 14.a Danny's Shelf of Shame(03:10:21) 14.b Ty's Does What Ninten-Don't...of the Year(03:14:18) 14.c JC's Gaming Meme of the Year(03:17:40) 15. Most Anticipated Games of 2023(03:23:53) OutroThank you so much for subscribing, listening and your support over the past year! You guys rock! We hope to see you back in 2023 for some more gaming fun straight out of Japan. Happy holidays and we'll see ya in January!Email: thefamicast (at) gmail (dot) comPatreon: patreon.com/thefamicastTwitter: @thefamicastYouTube: youtube.com/thefamicast

From “You'll shoot your eye out” to “I can't put my arms down,” Katherine, Liz, Ed and John are huge fans of A Christmas Story.

About Maria Mastrodicasa: Maria Mastrodicasa learned early on how to turn impossible into possible. This young girl who grew up in Brooklyn, New York was told " You'll Never..." so many times. From You'll Never lose those thunder thighs, to You'll Never amount to anything because you can hardly read. Maria not only transformed her body she transformed her life which she shares in her two books, ("You'll Never..." The Journey To What Is Possible Through Self-Advocacy, and The Self-Advocacy Empowerment Journal) After transforming her body and building her confidence she headed to New York City where she worked with the wolves of Wall Street. As she ran with the wolves they told her It's a man's world and you are lucky you were invited. You'll Never be a broker here. Maria ran ahead of the pack becoming the #1 broker in her department of thirteen men. Making six figures at the age of 26. That would be a half a million dollars today. Nothing is impossible if you believe. What We Discuss In This Episode: Maria shares her journey as a young girl from Brooklyn who was told “YOU'LL NEVER amount to anything.” She left high school in the tenth grade, determined to make a better life for herself despite struggling with dyslexia. Maria's drive for achievement and instinct for self-advocacy led her to Wall Street where she ran with the wolves and came out ahead of the pack, earning six figures by the time she was 26 years old. She shares the powerful lessons she learned while battling the violence and apathy of the school system, the old boys' network of Wall Street, and the heartbreak of domestic violence and divorce. For every challenge, Maria developed a method to be her own advocate, and now shares her stories and lessons that can empower you to succeed against the odds. Maria also shares about her book - her journey on personal transformation and how she pushed through the pain of domestic violence, won a law suit in its entirety that was initiated against her falsely. She shares the lessons she's learned on how to go from victim to victor and turn impossible into possible so all can live their best life! Maria also shares how to push through our pain by shifting our mindset to achieve the best results, and how the importance of living in the present moment can bring beauty and joy into our lives. She shares how we can do this despite the busyness we experience in our lives. Free Resources from Maria Mastrodicasa: Grab Maria's great offer of 2 free 30- minute sessions to help and support you on how to use your voice to advocate for yourself and others more effectively. To schedule email Maria: goaskmaria@gmail.com   Resources from Maria Mastrodicasa: Her book, You'll Never..." The Journey To What Is Possible Through Self-Advocacy, and The Self-Advocacy Empowerment Journal, can be purchased through her Website and Amazon: Website: https://www.mariamastrodicasa.com     https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578652218   Connect with Maria Mastrodicasa:  Website:   https://mariamastrodicasa.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-mastrodicasa-213b713b Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/maria.mastrodicasa.7   Connect with Lynne: If you're looking for a community of like-minded women on a journey - just like you are - to improved health and wellness, overall balance, and increased confidence, check out Lynne's private community in The Energized & Healthy Women's Club. It's a supportive and collaborative community where the women in this group share tips and solutions for a healthy and holistic lifestyle. (Discussions include things like weight management, eliminating belly bloat, wrangling sugar gremlins, and overcoming fatigue, recipes, strategies, and much more so women can feel energized, healthy, confident, and joyful each day. Website:  https://holistic-healthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holistichealthandwellnessllc The Energized Healthy Women's Club:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/energized.healthy.women Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnewadsworth LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnewadsworth   Free Resources from Lynne Wadsworth: 5 Simple Steps to Gain Energy, Feel Great & Uplevel Your Health: Are you ready to create a Healthier Lifestyle?  Would you like to feel lighter, more energized, and even add joy to your life? If it's time to find more balance of mind~body~soul, then I've got the perfect FREE resource to help.  In this guide, you'll find my most impactful strategies and I've made applying them in your life as simple as 1-2-3 (plus a couple more) to help you create a healthier, holistic lifestyle. Uplevel your holistic health and wellness and download the 5 Simple Steps to Health  here:  https://holistic-healthandwellness.com/5-simple-steps-to-a-healthier-you/   How to Thrive in Menopause:  Hot flashes? Low Energy? Difficulty with weight management? If MID-LIFE & MENOPAUSE are taking their toll then I've got a solution for you! I've taken all my very best strategies and solutions to help you feel energized, vibrant, lighter & healthy, and compiled them into this FREE resource! Thrive in midlife and beyond - download my guide here: https://holistic-healthandwellness.com/thrive-through-menopause/   Did You Enjoy The Podcast? If you enjoyed this episode please let us know! 5-star reviews for the Living Life Naturally podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or Stitcher are greatly appreciated. This helps us reach more women struggling to live through midlife and beyond. Thank you. Together, we make a difference!  

Since Morgan Glennon wasn't a full-time Supergirl Radio co-host until the end of Supergirl Season 1, she wanted to revisit the episodes she missed out on discussing! In this episode, Rebecca Johnson joins her LIVE [and WIRED] to hear her thoughts about "For the Girl Who Has Everything". Watch the Live Stream Episode Links Legion of Super-Heroes Where I'm From You can find Supergirl Radio on: Social Media: Facebook – Twitter – Instagram  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts – Stitcher Radio – DC TV Podcasts - Google Play - Spotify Playlist - iHeartRadio Support: DC TV Podcasts TeePublic Store – Patreon Contact: supergirlradio@gmail.com 

Since Morgan Glennon wasn't a full-time Supergirl Radio co-host until the end of Supergirl Season 1, she wanted to revisit the episodes she missed out on discussing! In this episode, Rebecca Johnson joins her LIVE [and WIRED] to hear her thoughts about "Bizarro". Watch the Live Stream Episode Links Supergirl: Bizarrogirl Supergirl Season 0: Bizarrogirl Supergirl Season 1's "Bizarro" Review "Bizarro" Audio Commentary OG Kelly Bizarro (SMALLVILLE) Seinfeld: "The Bizarro Jerry" Kal-El Clone (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) Kevin Conroy Dies: Longtime Voice of Animated Batman Was 66 Exclusive I KNOW THAT VOICE Movie Clip: Kevin Conroy The Fakist Where I'm From You can find Supergirl Radio on: Social Media: Facebook – Twitter – Instagram  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts – Stitcher Radio – DC TV Podcasts - Google Play - Spotify Playlist - iHeartRadio Support: DC TV Podcasts TeePublic Store – Patreon Contact: supergirlradio@gmail.com 

PSALM 22A Cry of Anguish and a Song of Praise.For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?bFar from my deliverance are the words of my cgroaning.2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;And by night, but I have no rest.3 Yet You are holy,O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.4 In You our fathers trusted;They trusted and You delivered them.5 To You they cried out and were delivered;In You they trusted and were not disappointed.6 But I am a worm and not a man,A reproach of men and despised by the people.7 All who see me asneer at me;They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;You made me trust when upon my mother's breasts.10 Upon You I was cast from birth;You have been my God from my mother's womb.11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near;For there is none to help.12 Many bulls have surrounded me;Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.13 They open wide their mouth at me,As a ravening and a roaring lion.14 I am poured out like water,And all my bones are out of joint;My heart is like wax;It is melted within me.15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;And You lay me in the dust of death.16 For dogs have surrounded me;A band of evildoers has encompassed me;They pierced my hands and my feet.17 I can count all my bones.They look, they stare at me;18 They divide my garments among them,And for my clothing they cast lots.19 But You, O Lord, be not far off;O You my help, hasten to my assistance.20 Deliver my soul from the sword,My only life from the power of the dog.21 Save me from the lion's mouth;From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;Nor has He hidden His face from him;But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.26 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.Let your heart live forever!27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,And all the families of the nations will worship before You.28 For the kingdom is the Lord'sAnd He rules over the nations.29 All the aprosperous of the earth will eat and worship,All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,Even he who ccannot keep his soul alive.30 aPosterity will serve Him;It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.31 They will come and will declare His righteousnessTo a people who will be born, that He has performed it.New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 22.

God's love TRULY IN YOU always leads to giving FROM YOU! Your actions will always be evidence of your salvation. If you claim Jesus is your Lord and Savior, has he truly changed you from the inside out? You can't change from the outside in. Jesus changes everyone he meets. There is an incredible example of this in Luke 19, a story about a tax collector named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was called out by name by Jesus himself and his life was never the same. That same life-giving power is available to you today!

God's love TRULY IN YOU always leads to giving FROM YOU! Your actions will always be evidence of your salvation. If you claim Jesus is your Lord and Savior, has he truly changed you from the inside out? You can't change from the outside in. Jesus changes everyone he meets. There is an incredible example of this in Luke 19, a story about a tax collector named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was called out by name by Jesus himself and his life was never the same. That same life-giving power is available to you today!

Tune into the vibration of Love that is right (t)here. Just like the breathing is there.Just like that body is there.This Love was there first. Attune. Merge. This is Heaven, where the earth appears to be. I Love you,Niknikki@curlynikki.com Bonus content:▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmorningsGo(o)d Mornings merch:▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmorningsWeekly LIVE Meditation, Tuesdays at 7pm ET (FREE on Spotify)▶▶ https://spotify.link/meditationDaily LIVE Group Meditation at 6:30am ET (FREE on Spotify LIVE)▶▶ https://apps.apple.com/id/app/spotify-live/id1517524960_________________________________Today's Quotes:   The Lord's Prayer, translated from Aramaic directly into English. Rather than from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to English. - Simon Bartholomé via FB"O cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration,soften the ground of our being and carve out a space within us where your Presence can abide.Fill us with your creativity so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of your mission.Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with our desire.Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs to grow and flourish.Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us, as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes.Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose, but illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.For you are the ground and the fruitful vision, the birth, power, and fulfillment, as all is gathered and made whole once again.And So It Is!"Here's another translation I found from Aramaic to English- "Abwûn:Oh Thou, from whom the breath of life comes,d'bwaschmâja:Who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration.Nethkâdasch schmach:May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.Têtê malkuthach:Your Heavenly Domain approaches.Nehwê tzevjânach aikâna d'bwaschmâja af b'arha:Let Your will come true – in the universe just as on earthHawvlân lachma d'sûnkanân jaomâna: Give us wisdom for our daily need,Waschboklân chaubên wachtahên aikâna daf chnân schwoken l'chaijabên:Detach the fetters of faults that bind us, (karma) like we let go the guilt of others.Wela tachlân l'nesjuna:Let us not be lost in superficial things,Ela patzân min bischa:But let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.Metol dilachie malkutha wahaila wateschbuchta l'ahlâm almîn.From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act,the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age.Amên: Sealed in trust, faith and truth.""Give up money and all wealth is yours."-Maharajji "The power of peace is not that it allows you to avoid the truth, but that it causes you to breathe inside the truth."-Jaiya John via IG Support the show

In this episode of "The Wayne's Word", Nels and Spencer partake in the first edition of Battle of the Banter. This series of episodes starts off with special guest Eric Neuwirth, AKA the Big Shooter. Many different topics are covered including Eric and Spencer's NBA rivalry of the Bucks vs Wolves. Nels brings the heat once again with his questions and puts both Eric and Spencer on the spot with some high-stakes inquiries! You do NOT want to miss the first edition of the Battle of the Banter. We want to hear FROM YOU about what topics to cover in the next edition of Battle of the Banter! Fill out the Q+A on our Instagram story (@thewaynesword) or on our Spotify channel! For new listeners – The Wayne's Word is brought to you from the basement of Wayne's World. Hosted by two Division III Student-Athletes seeking insight on peers, athletes, coaches, and others' views and opinions on a range of varying topics. Nels and Spencer upload these purely for entertainment and pleasure. For business inquiries please email schultzs5151@my.uwstout.edu or trandahln7899@my.uwstout.edu!

Psa 22:25  From You comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him. 

This month's reading is really juicy & really deep! From “You're already doing it” to “Anna, Grandmother of Jesus” the cards are showing out in this episode to bring you soul-led guidance at this time. Please let me know how this episode resonated with you! I'd love to hear from you anytime. Check out The Spiritual Mentorship group program here: www.hannahjohnsoncoaching.com/thespiritualmentorship --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/hannah-easter-johnson/support

Megan and Sam finally learn about the Founder Ymir's impact on the Eldian people and her influence for 2,000 years. Eren and Zeke fight for her assistance and she will only choose one brother. In this episode, we cover: Episode 21 (or 80): From You, 2,000 Years Ago Episode 22 (or 81): Thaw If you like what you heard and want to share your thoughts, send us an email at littlebitweebish@gmail.com or send us a DM at @littlebitweebish on Instagram or TikTok. If you'd like to support the podcast, the best way to do that would be to share it with a friend and/or give us a rating wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. It helps us out so much!

Ryan Lee is an entrepreneur from Salt Lake City, Utah who has started and grown several multi-million dollar businesses. After selling his Landscape Lighting business in 2019, he founded the world's first coaching program dedicated to the landscape lighting industry. His mission is to help landscape lighting contractors gain freedom from their businesses by teaching them proven sales & marketing systems. He has personally sold over $15M worth of products and services over his career. Ryan's passion for success and ability to start and grow businesses has led him to this point in his life to be a mentor to other business owners looking to gain financial freedom through their business. Time Stamps :

CAN YOU BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS PODCAST FOR A WHOLE YEAR!!! We decided to celebrate our first birthday WITH YOU

⬇️  ⬇️  ⬇️ Hello and welcome to Beauty and the Biz where we talk about the business side of cosmetic surgery and how you want a smooth-running practice. If you're working too hard and want to streamline your practice so it runs like a well-oiled machine…so you can unplug, relax, and have a system in place that does the work FOR you so you can spend more time with your family WHILE you get excellent results from your patients….this podcast is for you. The most successful, profitable smooth-running practice doesn't  happen by accident. The surgeons running the best smooth-running practices have learned the core success principles that are MANDATORY for you to build a practice you are proud of and enjoy going to every day. Otherwise, what's the point of working so hard? This week's Beauty and the Biz podcast episode, “Want a Smooth-Running Practice?” lays out what it takes to build an enviable practice you can enjoy until you drop or you can sell for a profitable exit….it's your choice! P.S. I'm practically giving away the “The MBA for Plastic Surgeons Course” this week in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Since I'm super Irish, I want to give you the “Luck of the Irish” so you create a “pot of gold” when you have your own smooth-running practice. Click Here to Grab the Course for this never-before offered low price. https://apple.co/3tsQuta Want a Smooth-Running Practice?  The (4) Core Success Principles Needed After working with surgeons for more than 22 years, I understand how difficult it can be for you to juggle staff, patients, family, and overhead as well as grow your practice at the same time so I feel your pain and do what I can to simplify things for you. The objective is to set up your cosmetic surgical practice as a business so it's more profitable, more enjoyable to go to every day, and it frees up your valuable time so you have more of it to spend doing what you like to do with the people you most enjoy being with. So in this podcast, you'll get: Clarity as to how to run your practice like a business and that will give you peace of Mind and More Free time to enjoy your life, hobbies, family, special interests and That means you'll be more productive without working harder but you'll be achieving better results. So, we'll be covering topics including mindset, team-building, leadership, marketing and systems strategies you need for leverage to think bigger, do better and earn more… all while enjoying the process. Because as Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow”. You already mastered surgery so now let's master the business and marketing side of surgery. THAT is what catapults you to success and a more certain future. So Let's Start with Mindset As a surgeon, you were programmed to think in a certain fixed way. You had to think that way to become a great surgeon. However, that thinking is the opposite of how a businessperson has to think. For example, You most likely put more value on YOU as a surgeon vs. growing your staff and your systems and you work IN your practice rather than work ON your practice Michael Gerber explains it well in his excellent book the “EMyth, Why Most Small Businesses don't work and What to do About it”. Basically, he says to run a successful business, you need (3) key players: The Entrepreneur to come up with new ideas to keep up with the times; The Manager to set up the processes and people so things run smoothly; and The Technician to actually do the key work that makes a profit. So, in a cosmetic practice, you, the surgeon, are the technician but you're also juggling the jobs of the entrepreneur and the manager and that takes different skill sets.  That's not a good use of your time and it will not get you to your financial goals. So, we're going to change that up for you because when you set up systems, you and your staff get clarity. And when you remove the complexity, results happen because “Money is Made in the Processes”. Here's the first big mindset shift: “Operate your practice like it's for sale”. In other words, regularly ask yourself, “If I wanted to sell my practice tomorrow, what would I need to improve to get the most value for it?”          or, “If I wanted to buy an existing practice, what would ”I” be looking for and be willing to invest in? It's smart to figure this out now rather than wait until it's too late. Because the goal is to have an asset to sell, or at least to enjoy, for the rest of your career. Because the alternative is you don't do anything to improve but then you must know, you've only created a job for yourself. That's not a bad thing if that's what you want. But the goal is to be sure you're clear what you're working towards so you're satisfied with the outcome. Ok, enough said. Let's get on with it. Here are the (4) Core Success Principles Needed to Grow a Sellable Cosmetic Practice: Building a Team of Rock Stars Strategic Marketing and Planning Setting Standards so You Don't Compete on Price and that includes Differentiating Yourself from Your Competitors and Setting Yourself Up to Grow and/or Exit when you're Ready (and that includes Leadership Skills and Managing Metrics)   Success Principle #1: Build a Team of Rock Stars Hiring the right team for your practice will be your biggest challenge but also your greatest asset. Because it's all about the WHO. Jim Collins, Author of Good to Great) says: “The most important decisions that business people make are not “what” decisions, but “who” decisions.  What typically happens is surgeons want to fix the staffing problem quickly, so when a staff person leaves, you have a tendency to hire fast to fill the position but then you have to deal with bad hires who don't fit your values or your culture. And, you know all-too-well what bad hires cost you: You can't rely on them; They are adding stress to your day and maybe even your nights when you're trying to sleep; They have a negative impact on you, your other staff and your bottom line; and And did you know a bad hire costs at least 15X their salary in lost productivity? By the way, there are usually warning signs when staff goes “bad”: They become moody Treat other members badly Don't care anymore Bad attitude Excessive time off Come in late and/or leave early Don't participate or contribute That is a problem that is not going away so do everyone a favor and take care of it sooner rather than later. So your new motto is…..  Hire Slow – Fire Fast The point is to take more time at the beginning to choose the right team players so you save a lot of time and grief at the end trying to deal with a toxic staff person who is just not cutting it. And, be sure you have the right people doing the right jobs. There is a saying in business, “Get the right people on the bus and then get them in the right seats” For example, certain staff should be on the front lines because they have excellent people skills and other staff have analytical skills and are better suited behind the scenes. And here's another mind shift change…. View staff as an asset vs. a liability. The team supporting you IS your secret practice-building weapon when it comes to patient-relations since they spend more time with your patients than you do. Staff can make or break your cosmetic practice so be sure you have the right people representing you.  They are your leverage. You can't do it all alone, nor should you want to. When you hire the right people, give them the right tools and hold them accountable, they handle the majority of the practice so you don't have to. And that leads us to …… Where do you Find Rock Stars? Start with people your staff knows. Your staff knows you and the practice and they know who would fit well with the rest of the staff and they also know they have to vouch for and work with this person so they will be careful to choose someone who will make them look good. But here's the pearl – offer a bounty but spread it out. That will motivate them even more to be sure they bring you the best talent and that they succeed. Then if you've exhausted your staff's contacts, put the word out on social media to your followers. They can cast a wide net by sharing your “help wanted” post. Then ask your vendors since they are “feet on the street” and they know which practices are closing, moving, and so on. Then look to your own service providers like the receptionist who works at the high-end hair salon you get your hair cut or the friendly sales staff who help you pick out new clothes. And keep your eyes open when you are at 5-star restaurants or your country club. Those employees already have the customer-service mindset and could be a great fit for your practice. Lastly, cast a wider net by Advertising on linkedin.com, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter.com You're doing this to prove to yourself that there is no shortage of talent out there so you don't have to take just anyone. Be selective. When interviewing, use a list of questions to help you determine how articulate, confidant and assertive they are as well as where they see themselves going in life.   You'll also use their answers to see how consistent they are when you talk with them in person……..should they get that far. As a side note, you want to Google them to check out their social media to see how they represent themselves online. If they do well on the phone interview, do a 2nd interview via Facetime and ask more questions. You are checking out their demeanor, how articulate they are, if they show up on time, etc. If all goes well, have them come in for a live interview. You want to follow up with questions that start with “What” and “How” and “Tell Me More”. For example, if they have experience in our industry, ask: What did you do to help promote the practice? How did you grow patient retention? Tell me more about whatever else they bragged about doing at their last job. By the way, here are some red flags to watch for when you're interviewing someone: They blame, criticize and make excuses for their failures Cannot explain job moves Speaks badly of past bosses So, if you are feeling good about them, have them spend time with your staff so you can then compare notes since you will all have different perspectives. Then sleep on it. And if you believe this is your new a-player, then have them come back again and preferably at lunch hour with you and your team so you can see how they act in a more relaxed atmosphere. Either go out to lunch and see how they act towards the wait staff, or have lunch brought in and see how they act in general.   Success Principle #2: Strategic Marketing & Planning Now we'll move on to Strategic Marketing & Planning where you will discover… What the most successful practices focus on to gain market share; How to increase your revenues by up to 33%; How to set up a SYSTEM for creating a powerful 12-month marketing plan to Predictably and Reliably keep a steady stream of patients coming to you; Increase your average patient's lifetime value so that EVERY patient is worth more to you…today, tomorrow and far into the future; and Generate more referrals for your practice without hoping, guessing or waiting for your patients to “mention your name” because you'll have a system to make referrals happen like clockwork. You are painfully aware of how the relentless competition is making it more difficult for you to succeed so you need to approach patient attraction more strategically. You stop for a minute and think this through before you keep throwing money at the problem because here's a quote that says it all: “The key to success is not doing more it's doing more of what works” Please don't take that lightly. I watch so many practices go from one shiny object to the next, hoping that will solve their problems. They throw money at all sorts of Internet, advertising and marketing companies who promise them the world but then don't deliver and now they don't trust anybody and are skeptical. Let me give you another easier way to figure this out… Be strategic by focusing on increasing the 5 Key Metrics that grow a cosmetic practice and those are: # of Leads # of Appointments # of Consultations # of Conversions # of Retention Here's the point… You may be focused on the wrong thing, such as more new leads. Please remember – leads are only 1 part of it. That means a lead is just a lead until you get them through your processes to a YES. Otherwise it's a dead lead going nowhere. Which means you are just burning money on lead generation and NOT conversion and retention. Before you invest in any more new patient-attraction shiny objects, plug up the holes in your systems that are costing you a silent fortune. That's where you'll see new profits more quickly and easily. It's quality over quantity, which means you do less but get a better result because you slow down and go deeper into the numbers that are telling you the truth. So, Let's go over each metric and start with the one you like the most… the # of Leads. I know you want more patients so that means you need to increase the # of leads coming to your practice so the question becomes….. Where are the new patients? The answer is they are everywhere and nowhere. Prospective cosmetic patients are clicking around like crazy so you have a nano second to catch their attention long enough for them to stop – notice and click on your website. Here are some suggestions…. For the foreseeable future, Google rules the world so do what they like and you'll have a better chance of get ranked over your competitors. In a nutshell, Google likes fresh new content, before/after photos and lots and lots of reviews particularly on Google. Google also want you to “pay to play” you're found in the search rankings, but the downside is Google Adwords  can cost you a fortune so you need to work with someone who knows what they're doing. So here's my advice: I would have a new rule anytime you are considering any kind of advertising or marketing effort and that is: If you can't track it, don't invest in it. It's too expensive and it's too easy with today's technology to track so you no longer have to guess at your marketing's effectiveness. Here's another easier and faster approach to growing your practice: Follow your successes.   This is so obvious; it's easily missed. It's also a more positive way to look at your practice because this is where all of your hard work paid off and where patients chose you and gave you money so you want more of them. As Peter Drucker, the guru of business said quite succinctly: “The Purpose of Business is To Create AND Keep a customer” Here's an exercise to help you identify your successes: Go through your schedule and note at least the last 40 surgeries or big-ticket procedures you performed. You want to know how they heard about you. Did they find you on the Internet randomly? Were they referred to you by a friend? Or were they a current patient coming back for more? You also want to note the procedure they had as well as the demographics such as age and zip code because you will see trends that you'll want to capitalize on and budget proportionately to those successes. Once you decide who your preferred patients are, you map out a Marketing Mix plan to reach new Internet stranger patients as well as a plan to encourage your current patients to return for more and refer more of their friends. You do this with a marketing mix plan: You set up a system to get found on the internet by stranger patients using SEO & content, before/after photos and patient reviews AND you also set up a system for your current patients to return and refer their friends using text, email, social media and word-of-mouth referrals. #2 metrics is the # of Appointments You can get leads all day but can your receptionist convert them to a scheduled appointment with you? In a nutshell, here are the 5 phone fixes that make all the difference in your receptionist being able to book a caller to an appointment: Answer the phone within 2 rings with a friendly, warm voice & greeting Ask How They Heard About You Promote you, the Surgeon, as the best choice ASK for the Appointment Collect Contact Info Please be sure you have the right person representing you on the phones and check out my Phone Club if they need training. Then #3 metric is the # of Consultations How many of the prospective patients who book an appointment actually shows up? You and your patient coordinator block time for a consultation, and if your prospective patients are not showing up for their appointments, your valuable time is wasted not to mention the wasted time and money because now your staff is standing around. So, here's what you do. First, you establish a cancellation policy and then live by it. For example, you get their credit card upfront and either a charge a consultation fee or at least charge a reservation fee that is charged ONLY if they do not cancel or reschedule within 48 hours. You also have your patient coordinator conduct a pre-consult call to introduce herself and to prepare the patient to show up ready to say yes. This pre-consult call will help you get to a yes at the consult and eliminate no-shows.   #4 metric is # of Converted Consultations How well do you and your patient coordinator convert consultations into procedures? Everything that happened until this point is just “pre-marketing”. You don't get paid for consultations. You only get paid if you can successfully convert a consultation into a paid procedure. Therefore, THIS step has the biggest impact on your bottom line. The better you convert consultations into procedures, the more revenues you'll make for your practice. Here are strategies to help you convert: Use video to give yourself celebrity status. Psychologically, your image is enhanced when prospective patients see you on a screen no matter what size. Shoot a “welcome to my practice” video as well as procedural videos and testimonial videos so patients get a feel for your expertise and are more comfortable with you and see you as the expert and best choice. And then your patient coordinator must be trained to convert a consultation which is an entirely separate training but I will say the #1 skill I see coordinators are lacking in is in asking for the decision so please get them the scripts & structure they need and watch your conversions increase immediately. Check out my Converting Club at www.catherinemaley.com. #5 metric is Patient Retention It's 7X more expensive to attract a new patient than to keep a current patient so please take this metric as seriously as you do new leads. Because if your patients are NOT returning and referring their friends, something is wrong. They are still getting aesthetic rejuvenation. They are just not getting it FROM YOU anymore so it would behoove you to figure this out. You cater to a very hungry audience with endless needs. The patients who care about how they look and feel have all sorts of concerns you can address NOW AND for years to come thanks to the relentless aging process. Cosmetic Patients enter your practice through many doors. That means a patient who came in for Botox will often work their way up the ladder to surgery or other big-ticket procedures and those who came in for surgery are much more likely to now be open to your non-surgical procedures and skin care treatments to stay looking good and feeling great. You have so much leverage here because you already did the hard part, which was spending time, money, and effort attracting this patient to you. Now it takes only minimal effort to keep them coming back.   Now here's Success Principle #3: Set Standards so You Don't Compete on Price In this section, you'll discover: How to set standards so you are NOT competing on price What you can do to be different and stand out from your competitors How to get the patient to see you as the BEST choice Here's a popular question I get from surgeons: Q:  “I am losing consultations to lower-priced competitors even though I have more skill and expertise than they do. I've even “repaired” their work. How should I be pricing my services to compete?  I don't want to lower my prices because I know I'm good but I also don't want to miss out on new patients.”  One of the reasons this happens is because if the cosmetic patient truly believes there is no difference between other physicians and surgeons, all they have to go on is price as their determining factor. But we know there's way more to it. If aesthetic rejuvenation was based solely on price, this would always be about the lowest price and that would turn into a race to the bottom and then nobody wins. It's only about price until YOU add in other determining factors to help the prospective patient consider the VALUE they get. Patients Weigh Their Options When a cosmetic patient questions your price, they are really doing a cost-benefit analysis in their heads and asking: “What am I getting from you that I'm NOT getting from your competitor for that higher price?” Patients select their surgeon based on the perception they are getting “better”. Better really equals more benefits, less risks and/or less hassle and that equals peace of mind, certainty and reassurance. Actually, contrary to popular belief, the majority of cosmetic patients rarely decide based on price alone. Affordability – yes but price alone – rarely. Pricing Starts with Your Own Mindset Get very clear about your value and what you stand for. Have conviction and believe in yourself and your prices. If you believe you deserve top dollar because you do great work, then price your services for your “preferred” patients. Those are the patients who see you as a skilled, reputable plastic surgeon and they are glad to pay more for your expertise so they can be confident they'll get a great result and then brag about you to their friends and family. You determine what's most important to those preferred patients and give it to them. For example, is it price, procedures, technology, innovation, expertise, credibility, status, convenience, quality and/or 5-star customer service? And consistency is key. Your patients learn to trust your brand and expect the same experience and result – every time. Focus on Preferred Patients Once you have clarity about your preferred patients, you attract more of them and deter everyone else. Now you and your staff have more time and energy to focus on the serious prospective patients who are looking for quality and service more than saving a few dollars. How To Differentiate Yourself in a Competitive Marketplace It's your responsibility to educate prospective patients so they see you as the BEST CHOICE at a FAIR price. That takes creativity. Here is a list of specific differentiators to consider: Specialist in one procedure Advanced/uncommon technology Extensive experience You are Board Certified Attended top medical schools Affiliated with top hospitals Authored studies, white papers and clinical trials You have performed thousands of procedures You offer computer imaging when your competitors don't Exceptional facility with views Superior results Caring personality WOW experience You are the first to offer a new procedure You are a media favorite Your office setting is unique (Villa with views) Convenience or accessibility You personally call patients night of treatment/procedure You make house calls Waiting times are short You remember patient names and details like they were family Exceptionally friendly, professional and courteous staff You ensure a pain-free treatment or procedure You are well known around your community You are an author of aesthetic book You speak at medical conferences You train other physicians Vendors make you an elite top tiered practice You sit on vendor boards You are well known in social media with a huge following You are from the town you practice in You have special credentials You belong to many professional membership societies You offer easy pay plans You include post-op care in your fees You have longer hours More patient online reviews More before/after photos You offer virtual consulting Come up with your own list and be sure your unique points are integrated into every aspect of the patient experience including your in-house signage, patient welcome package, advertising, public relations, on-hold messaging and new patient calls scripting. This exercise will not only help YOU get clear about your value, but it will also give your prospective patients clarity about why you charge what you charge.  They now understand your value and are more than willing to pay for it.   Success Principle #4: Leadership You know you're doing a good job leading when your practice is running smoothly and your staff is working well together. You have peace of mind it's running like a well-oiled machine with or without you there. However, if you feel frustrated like you have to do everything yourself or you feel the need to micro-manage to ensure what you think is getting done is actually getting done, that's a red flag. Because if you feel like nobody cares about your practice like you do, that could mean you did NOT: Hire the right people Give them the right tools they need to succeed And/or you're not holding them accountable The reality is you simply cannot build a successful practice by yourself.  You've got to have a team supporting you. Leadership Concepts This is a big topic so here are the basics and then I urge you to become a student of leadership. A leader is not born. Like anything else in life, you become a great leader from learning and doing and practicing and getting good at it (just like you did to become a great surgeon). So, to begin, a good leader is clear about their vision. Decide now what your vision is. Know thyself.   Are you building an empire or a lifestyle? You need to know that because it will affect every decision you make. Then be sure the staff knows your vision so they perform at a high level because they have clarity and know the end result you're striving for. For example: “You are in the business to make money helping patients look and feel great about themselves.  This allows you to pay your staff well so they continue to enjoy their own lives.” You may even consider adding a bigger vision. For example, you give a % of your revenues to a philanthropic cause you feel strongly about. That way, you have a bigger “why” which helps when determining the How and the What to do to grow your practice.  Because staff works harder, longer and more seriously when they have a bigger Why. It's also nice to give back to the less fortunate and do good in the world. Now you need a mission statement that acts as your “Rules of Conduct”. A really good exercise for your team is to develop a new mission statement you all can get behind and live by. For example: “We strive to add joy to our patients' lives through genuine caring, generosity of spirit, and the quality of our work.” A good leader also takes good care of his team so they take great care of the patients. That means you are genuinely interested in them as people first, then as staff. Show interest in their lives and families and what's important to them. Catch them doing things right and thank them often. A good leader communicates the culture of the practice. For example: “We are in business to make money and we do that by taking care of our team so our team takes care of our patients. We do not say no to patients who give us money – we make time for them because that's how we get paid. We treat every patient the same with kindness and respect. Always with a smile – no matter how many patients or how crazy it is at times. We acknowledge every referral with a heart-felt thank you and so on…” And a good leader makes sure the entire group plans as a team, wins as a team and celebrates as a team. They also give credit for their success to their team knowing it would not have been possible without them. A good leader gives the staff solid goals they can work towards and have something to strive for that is concrete. A good leader meets with the team, listens and gets feedback from the team, and lets them brainstorm how they will meet the goals.  A good leader then holds them accountable without micromanaging. And, team meetings are a must when you run your practice like a business.  Hold your meetings on the same day and time so nobody can say they didn't know about it. It's always on the calendar and stick to it for consistency. This is true team-building and keeps everybody engaged and interacting with the success of the practice. The agenda of the meeting should be structured and fast-paced with everyone participating by reporting on the numbers they are in charge of. For example: # Calls # Email Requests # Appointments # No-Shows # Consultations # Procedures # Post-Op Appointments   # Referrals # Returns Because you want to know at a glance, if you're healthy or hurting and that's easy to do when you regularly review your numbers. Bonuses Based on Productivity We can't talk about goals without also talking about Perks. There are countless scenarios but here's one that makes sense and keeps everyone working together as a team: Break up staff into teams for each revenue stream such as: Revenues Stream #1:  Surgery Revenues Stream #2:  Lasers & Injectables Revenues Stream #3:  Skin Care + Retail Assign revenue goals or % of Increase over last year Perks get bigger for everyone when each revenue stream reaches their goal. The teams will help each other out to reach their goals since the prize gets better; i.e., 1 team hits their goal   = lunch brought in for everyone 2 teams hit their goals = spa day for everyone 3 teams hit their goals = lunch out + shopping $$$ for everyone And/or another Bonus Structure that works well is: Gross Sales COGS O/H U =    Profits of which % goes into a bonus pool and is distributed evenly among the team and/or based on part-time or full-time status. So, you see how knowing your numbers gives all of you clarity and direction? It makes it so much easier to identify what you are doing right and what else you could be doing when you have the numbers giving you an accurate story. It's also so much more motivating to staff when they know what they are striving for and why.  Please spend some time customizing your own metrics and perks plan that would work best in your particular practice. SET UP YOUR PRACTICE TO GROW OR SELL A good business leader is always planning their exit to build a legacy and get their equity out so let's talk about Profit Centers. To recap, you're doing it right when… You have specific metrics in place so you are generating predictable income rather than checking your bank balance to see if there's enough to pay the bills. That means you have a reliable marketing plan as well as processes and systems in place so your practice runs like a well-oiled machine and your staff knows exactly what to do whether you're in the office or in surgery or on vacation. The secret is to keep it simple so you and your staff will actually do it! PROFIT CENTERS The reality is you can't do it alone and you probably don't want to be a 1-man show where you are the only revenue-generator. That's stressful!   When you run your practice like a business, the goal is to get to no more than 30% of your income coming from your own hands. That's how you set yourself up to grow and it allows for “life's surprises”. For example, I used to run a surgeon's coaching club with an 8-figure surgeon and he got a phone call at 4:45 pm in the afternoon saying his house was on fire. By the time he got there, it was gone. Nobody got hurt but because he has his practice running so smoothly, it was a distraction rather than devastation. Here is a simple exercise to get you thinking: What is Your Per Hour Rate when you are in surgery? $800 - $1,000 What is an RN's Per Hour Rate? $350 -  $500 And what is an aesthetician? $50 -  $150 + Cost of Materials + Amount of time to do procedure/tie up room Here's a thought:  Would it make more sense to network with aestheticians in the community who could refer to you vs. having in-house aestheticians tying up an exam room for $100/hour when getting another nurse injector could be more profitable? And here are other questions to ask yourself: What are the opportunity costs of you doing everything? What COULD you be doing to make more hourly? (Perhaps spending more time with high-revenue patients, following up personally, networking, answering questions on RealSelf, etc.) Because sometimes, one of the smartest questions you can ask yourself is: What are you going to stop DOING that is costing you time, money, effort & hassle? However, there are 2 thoughts processes here when it comes to keeping or delegating injectables: You like doing the injectables to bond with your patients or You delegate them so you have more time to spend with the higher-revenue patients There is no right answer. There is just a right answer for you so please think about what makes most sense for you. Here is what I have seen work best in a solo practice: Since surgery is the most profitable revenue stream, You set up your other profit centers to feed the surgery. The most popular revenue generators are: Nurse injectors, laser technicians and aestheticians that can also perform high-ticket procedures and sell retail; however, they too need: Goals Tools Accountability For example, their goals are: to take great care of patients to give them the best result possible to refer them to you, the surgeon, whenever an opportunity comes up to do so Then give them tools to do just that.  For example, Their treatment rooms should show off your excellent surgical work using signage and digital photo frames so the visiting patients ask about surgery. Now your staff can hand them a VIP surgical comp card and set up a surgical consultation with you. This provides the paper trail for accountability you need. And you know for a fact, which staff members are promoting you or not. However, they must know “what's in if for them” to promote you because they don't want to lose their patients to you especially if you have given them a revenue goal to hit, nor do you want to get into fee-splitting issues so what do you do? You could increase their hourly fee when they prove to be a good referral source or give them a night out on the town or add more to their bonus. The objective is to acknowledge and thank your revenue-generators for their commitment to the betterment of the entire practice – not just their piece of the practice. What about Additional Profit Centers like Adding: - Veins - Hair Restoration - Anti-Aging - Dermatologist and so on? TIP:  Hire SLOWLY because you can lose a ton of time and money on this. Here are the criteria to help you determine if it's a go/no-go: Do they fit your culture and have the same values? Is their profitability at least 10-15%? Do they act as a feeder to your ultimate goal, which is surgery? Do you have to buy equipment and, if so, does it pay for itself within 2 years because technology will NOT drive your practice – people do? How much of YOUR time is going to be involved? Can you systemize it? What's the competition like? How much is it going to cost for you to promote this new service in your marketplace? Is this a distraction taking away from more profitable revenue generators? Do you like the “Business Side” of practicing; i.e., meeting with accountants, lawyers and consultants? Are you bringing them on as a partner or will you be the benevolent dictator until they buy in to succeed you? Do you enjoy solving problems? Do you enjoy managing people and maximizing human potential? If not, bigger is not always better. But if you decide to move forward, you need accurate cost accounting for each revenue stream so your books MUST BE in order. Otherwise, you will never truly know if it's profitable or if it should be dropped. THEFT AND EMBEZZLEMENT You can never be 100% sure that you are foolproof but here are tips to help: Sloppy systems open you up to trouble. Don't tempt anyone. Tighten up your processes so they know you are on your game and watching. To keep track of non-surgical monies, use a control document Day Sheet that is multi-carbon pages and numbered. Staff makes out the day sheet the night before so all of the patients' names are on there already; I sheet goes into a 1-way box that night so staff can't take a cash-patient's name off of it; 1 goes into the box with the cash and 2 people have to sign the envelope; and 1 is given to the patient. You also: Keep a laser logbook to know how many pulses were used Keep a Botox log for how many units were used and for whom Keep a skin care retail products inventory log And outsource all insurance billing The easiest thing you can do to avoid problems is for you, the surgeon, to personally open all bank and credit card statements to review all debits and checks issued to be sure they make sense. You then use a red pen and circle questions you have for your bookkeeper so they know you are watching closely. And, always match disbursements with checks and transfers. Then put the statement back into the envelope, write reviewed by with your initials and off it goes to your bookkeeper. This takes 10 minutes and can avoid massive grief down the road. EXIT STRATEGIES It has been said the only reason to have a business/practice is to grow and sell it. So, the question is… What is my practice worth?  This is tricky because you want to get paid for the risk and effort it took for you to build a name for yourself. For the blood, sweat, tears and goodwill that went into building your practice as well as your reputation. But that's intangible which makes it difficult to put a price on it. So, you turn to tangible and financial assets such as the office building if you bought it, the equipment, the furniture, inventory, A/R if any MINUS the liabilities such as payroll taxes, loans, and retirement plan contributions. There's a lot more that goes into this but I'll leave that for the lawyers and accountants. Here's a more practical way to look at it from a business point of view: “You, the seller has a ready-made income stream to sell. The buyer is looking for a ready-made income stream to buy. In business, that is what value is all about.” But here's the reality when it's all said and done… The bottom line is your practice is worth whatever someone else is willing to pay for it. So, think about it. What would YOU be willing to pay for if YOU were going to buy someone else's practice? That brings us back to the assets I mentioned early on: The Profit People Processes Tools Patient List P&L Statements Vendor Agreements are all of value BUT in order to present these assets to a potential buyer, You have to have your act together. The buyer is looking for an asset's ability to generate cash with a degree of certainty and limited risk so you need to show a prospective buyer how you have built a cash cow. You do that with a Cosmetic Patient Blueprint so they see how you keep a steady stream of patients and revenue coming in. And you show them your systems and processes that keep your office running smoothly and your staff on their game. And you show them your constant review of your metrics to show the health of your well-oiled machine. Then you show them your clean and organized books and that includes not overextending yourself with too much debt since there is a big difference between income and actual profits. And there you have it. The 4 Core Success Principles for running your practice like a business: Build a Team of Rock Stars Strategic Marketing and Planning Setting Standards so You Don't Compete on Price and that includes Differentiating Yourself from Your Competitors and Setting Yourself Up to Grow and/or Exit when you're Ready (and that includes Leadership Skills and Managing Metrics) I covered a lot here and there is much more to each principle but you have plenty to start with. Of course, please call or text me if you need clarity Catherine Maley, MBA • Author, Your Aesthetic Practice • Cosmetic Patient Attraction AND Conversion Specialist Catherine@CosmeticImageMarketing.com Cell/Text:  (415) 377-8700 http://www.CosmeticImageMarketing.com   #beautyandthebiz #podcastforsurgeons #plasticsurgeons #cosmeticsurgeons #podcast #marketing #plasticsurgery #stafftraining #businessconsulting #strategiesforsurgeons #davidmandell #ojmgroup #wealthplanningforsurgeons

If you would like to support Naturopathic Earth (www.naturopathicearth.com), the easiest is via our crowd-funding account via PayPal (www.paypal.me/agregoryluna) The Awakened Man… The post #554: Q&A From You! (Good Audio) appeared first on Naturopathic Earth.

In this episode we discuss episode 80 of Attack on Titan, From You, 2000 Years Ago! Things have officially been flipped upside down with another episode of crazy reveals! Support The Adventure!Patreon Join The Adventure!DiscordTwitter Instagram animexbrotherspodcast@gmail.com All The Links, On One Tree!https://linktr.ee/AnimeBrothersPodcast Intro Song:YungxHarm - No Cap Freestyle feat vacaation Follow YungxHarm   Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/yungxharm/Twitter: @YungxHarmFacebook:https://m.facebook.com/yungxharm/Soundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/yungxharm471 Follow vacaation   Instagram:https://instagram.com/vacaation?igshiTwitter: @vacaation_Facebook:https://m.facebook.com/vacaation/Soundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/vacaation86

Episode 80 review of Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 "FROM YOU, 2,000 YEARS AGO". With my favorite guest Morgella gram: @alternativemilkpod / tweeter: alternativemlk / elecmail: alternativemilkpod@gamil.com Check out the my other cast "That's A Tough One" on Reddit and news stories discussion --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/alternative-milk/support

On the 6th episode of “I Learned It From You”, Zach is just thrilled to be joined by Caitlin Peluffo, one of the funniest folks he's had the pleasure of crossing paths with on the road that is standup comedy. Caitlin has some wonderful tales to be shared including how the birth of her baby sister is something that she will never forget and how, despite her pleas of innocence as a young girl, her family believed she was a criminal at her core. As mentioned before, Caitlin is one of the funniest standup comics out there so be sure to check out her appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and check out her podcast, "Good Time Gal", wherever you listen to your pods. I Learned it From You is hosted by Zach Martina - Follow on Instagram & TikTok Produced/edited by Brett Mercer (@brett_mercer_) Music by Brad Goff (@Brad.Goff.Music) Graphics by Trevor Smith (@heytrevorsmith) PLEASE RATE/REVIEW/SUBSCRIBE and, for the love of God, tell some friends! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/zachmartina/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/zachmartina/support

On the 5th episode of “I Learned It From You”, Zach is joined by one of his best friends and favorite comics, Adam Degi. In addition to the fellas both being standup comics, they have a lot more in common including that their fathers were both in the stained glass business and are, currently, dead. Listen as the guys talk about the embarrassment of being caught masturbating, their temper tantrum tainted teen years and the beauty of a dad joke. Be sure to check out Adam's original album "His Name is My Name Too", keep an eye out for his brand new album called "Limp Nodes" and, as always, be sure to follow him on social media at @AdamDegi I Learned it From You is hosted by Zach Martina - Follow on Instagram & TikTok Produced/edited by Brett Mercer (@brett_mercer_) Music by Brad Goff (@Brad.Goff.Music) Graphics by Trevor Smith (@heytrevorsmith) PLEASE RATE/REVIEW/SUBSCRIBE and, for the love of God, tell some friends! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/zachmartina/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/zachmartina/support

Today is the second in our two-part series on Labeling.Last week, we looked at “why we label others, how it impacts us (and others)…and how to stop doing it.” In that, we explored the origins of labeling as it relates to our human brain. We learned that our instinct to label comes from the primitive part of our brain and that in ancient times, this ability to “INSTANTLY categorize” people and situations actually served a purpose. It helped our caveman ancestors recognize danger so they could make decisions to keep themselves safe. This tendency to ‘instantly label' for modern man is counterproductive except for maybe those situations things like our brain labeling it a “super bad idea” to walk down the dark alley alone.But other than those types of situational things, labeling doesn't serve us in the modern world we live in. And in fact, when we label others, it keeps us apart from others because we're standing in judgment instead of looking for opportunities to connect or learn more about someone.  And for the person BEING labeled, it's even worse. Labels hold people back and isolate them from opportunity and relationships.Bottom line, we don't want to be the person who assigns instant and unfair labels to others. And yet, the impulse to do that comes from the part of our brain that is ALL ABOUT instinct. The fight or flight part. The part of your brain that just instantly REACTS, without you even realizing it, because it wants to avoid danger or things that are unfamiliar. So, if it's instinctive, how do we stop it? We stop it by becoming aware of the fact that you're doing it.And by deciding to consciously NOT do that by taking steps to counteract that instinctive part of your brain. We talked about how to do that in our last episode. So, if you haven't listened to episode 33 yet, please go back and do that because I think you'll find the self-exploratory questions and tips on how to fight that urge to label super helpful.Now in TODAY'S episode, we're going to look at what happens when WE get labeled. And there's two ways that happen. First, we label ourselves.And second, we get labeled by others (just like WE label THEM). As you know, my business is all about helping people understand that having the career and life you want comes FROM YOU. We create our success FROM THE INSIDE OUT. This is not how we think it works. We think our success comes from finding that elusive combination of ideal circumstances. I know that's what I thought for a long time.But it's not true. If we want to achieve our goals or have the success working for others or for ourselves, it requires us to be STRONG from the inside out. The reason this is important is that it takes real awareness and practiced effort to overcome our brain's primal instinct to be overly critical of ourselves. Or, to stay strong when we're around people or in an environment that for whatever reason, doesn't welcome who we are.Because when we're talking career we have to acknowledge that it involves people and people aren't perfect. We're going to encounter bullies. People who say rude things. People who stab us in the back.Teachers or bosses who tell us we “can't” do something or who are unfairly critical. Internal politics and organizational power structures that – whether intentional are not – are meant to ‘label' others as a way of determining whether you'll be listened to or not.So, during those challenge – which we all encounter – it takes REAL DISCIPLINE to stay strong and self-empowered despite the challenges that we know are always going to be there when it comes to our careers.For more, give the episode a listen. 

Summer dreamin', 30th birthday reminisces, bad ass women, travel insights and a lot of love FROM YOU and FOR YOU in our Summer Send Off episode! Enjoy your Summer Break, we'll be back!    In this episode:  Paxton Smith Graduation Speech    Hot Gives:  Cruella, now in theaters.  Nuun  United Voice in Travel and Hospitality Top Black Luxury Travel Advisors Follow us @calimadeusdoit Email us calimadeusdoit@gmail.com Music by @robopop

We're taking questions! From YOU! In our first installment of  You Ask We Answer," we cover the following questions: Race shirts 101: Do you wear it before you finish the race? Do you wear a race shirt for a race you didn't do? To virtual race or not to virtual race - I'm not loving virtual races but feeling bad about that! How do I fit in fitness when I'm managing my family? Do you have tips for letting go of the day's stress? I'd love some ideas for healthy, easy to make food for busy women. Takeaway: There are no bad questions, only the regret of not asking! Please email us at info@skirtsports.com, hit us on social media with q's or post them on podcast episode pages! 

In Chapter 4 of Never Judge a “Brooke” By its cover: Valentine's Day edition! Listen as Broke writes love letters to herself. Yes, to herself! Brooke writes to her single self, her friends, and her future relationship self. She also charges listeners to write their love letters on Valentine's Day! Remember this is: From You, With Love!     Follow the instagram page : @neverjudgeabrookepod  Email us on : neverjudgebrookepod@gmail.com  WomanOwnedBuisness: Use Code : Brooke15 for $$ off www.ambergrayboutique.com