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Here we present the audio from our thirteenth book club meeting discussing the book Landmarks by Robert Macfarlane

In the first interview of 2026, I talk to Sara Moslener about her latest book, After Purity: Race, Sex, and Religion in White Christian America. (Buy the book from bookshop.org here & support the show) Learn more about Sara's work at https://saramoslener.com/ Support this channel at https://www.blakechastain.com; 25% of net proceeds from direct support are donated. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:00 Sarah's Religious Upbringing 04:53 The Influence of Pro-Life Movement 07:16 College and Theater: A Path to Self-Discovery 16:25 Pursuing Academia and Feminist Theology 21:10 The Concept of Purity and Its Implications 26:24 Racial Dynamics in Purity Culture 35:50 Connecting Sexual Purity to Racial Identity 37:28 The Importance of Historical Context 38:17 Teaching Religion, Race, and Discrimination 39:53 How to Support the Show 41:18 The Process of Academic Research 45:09 Challenges and Ethics in Purity Culture Research 49:39 The Intersection of Academia and Therapy 54:44 Lightning Round: Author's Preferences and Insights 01:04:54 The Value of Education and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about

Pastor Mike again shares some of his thoughts on this weeks chronological bible reading plan!

Questions about good books on Christian apologetics, philosophy, and theology with more in-depth information and ideas, and resources to help an intellectually-inclined person with spiritual formation and developing the non-cerebral side of living a Christian life.   As a high school student, I have read many baseline books on Christian apologetics, theology, and philosophy, so could you recommend good books with more in-depth information and ideas? As someone with a passion for intellectual pursuits such as apologetics, theology, and philosophy, what resources might be helpful for spiritual formation and developing the non-cerebral side of living a Christian life?

For today's episode, we get to have some fun. Pastor Mike and Connor sit down and talk about good book they are reading or have read!

This week on Blamo! I'm joined by one returning guest and one first-timer — Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris.Mac is the current — and ninth ever — National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, a New York Times bestselling author of more than 60 children's books, and a two-time Caldecott Honor recipient. He's also a past Blamo! guest, which made this feel less like an interview and more like picking up a conversation we never really finished.Shawn is an award-winning illustrator and author whose book Have You Ever Seen a Flower? received a Caldecott Honor and is a personal favorite of mine — one of those books that quietly rewires the way you see the world.Mac and Shawn are close friends, serious book people, and — somewhat under-the-radar — real fit gods. We talked about good books, good stories, and good clothes!The First Cat in Space Series*Sponsored by Bezel - the trusted marketplace for buying and selling your next luxury watch Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If ever any one ever had an unfair life – it was Joseph back there in the old testament. One step forward, two steps back seems to be the story of so much of what he went through … sound familiar? Yet in the end, he came out in front. At the end of the day, what others meant for harm in his life, God meant for good in the lives of so many others. Hmm.   It's Not Fair One of my favourite sayings when I was a young lad growing up, was "It's not fair!" I just hated things that weren't fair. When my parents made a decision between my sister and me – whether I had to clean up or she had to clean up and the lot fell to me, I'd say, "It's not fair!" I remember a soccer game in the park – with one of my teachers, Mr Moore, who I really liked and he made a bad decision against my team – "It's not fair!" Sometimes I was right, it wasn't fair and other times it was just the way I saw things – my perception, maybe from my selfish position but one of the things I really, really hate in life is when it's not fair. Although, well, I'd have to qualify that – I'm a human being after all – I hate "not fair" when I am on the losing end of an unfair transaction. You know, funny, but I don't mind so much when I am on the winning side. That's pretty natural. "Not fair" only really upsets us when we lose. We are continuing our series today called "Defining Moments" Things that we do or things that happen to us in life that seem to change the course of our lives and last week we looked at Abraham – the defining moment for him was when he responded to God's love and just believed the unbelievable promises of God. He just stepped out into the impossible promises of God and because of his simple child-like faith, imperfect as it was. I mean God overlooked, indeed, God compensated for all of Abraham's blunders. Today we are going to take a look at the life of a man called Joseph because if anyone ever lived a life where he was unfairly treated, it was definitely Joseph. So many things that happened to him were just so incredibly unfair. Really – we will look at that in a moment – and yet there was some real defining moments along the way for Joseph. It's really important to look at this story! We are going to discover something about ourselves and about God. It is so easy to look at defining moments from a human perspective but we need to look at them "top down"; from God's perspective as well. I know we are going to be blessed as we go in search of some of the defining moments in Joseph's life. Now who was Joseph? Last week we talked about Abraham who was the father of the whole nation of Israel and he had this son he called Isaac. Isaac had a son called Jacob and Jacob was actually renamed by God and called Israel. And Jacob or Israel had twelve sons, one of whom was Joseph. Now he was the youngest at the time this story begins and he was pretty much dad's favourite. If you have got a Bible, grab it – open it up with me at Genesis chapter 37, verse 2: Joseph being seventeen years old was shepherding the flock with his brothers. He was a helper to the son's of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives and Joseph brought a bad report about them to their father. Now Israel who was Jacob, loved Joseph more than any of his other children because he was the son of his old age and he made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than all of the other brothers, they hated him and they couldn't speak peaceably to him. Once, Joseph had this dream and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said, "Listen to this dream that I just dreamed: there we were binding sheaves in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose up and stood upright and your sheaves, they gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf." His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed going to reign over us? Are you indeed going to have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words. And he had another dream and he told this to his brothers as well saying, "Look, I have had another dream: the sun, the moon and the eleven stars were bowing down to me." Well, you can question Joseph's maturity at sharing those dreams with his brothers. As we can imagine, they were none too impressed – I wouldn't be, you wouldn't be. "Little brat – dad's favourite – this kid needs to be taught a lesson." So the brothers plotted against him – first they wanted to kill him – "Well", they thought, "that's a bit over the top", so instead they threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery. Have a look – Genesis chapter 37, beginning at verse 23: So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe; the long robe with the sleeves that he wore, and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it, then they sat down to eat and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels, carrying gum, balm and resin and they were on their way, carrying it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for his is our brother; our own flesh. So the other brothers agreed. When some of the Medianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him up out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver and they took Joseph to Egypt." And these other brothers went back and told their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. How do you think Joseph felt? It's not fair! I mean, his own brothers! Okay, maybe he did rub them the wrong way. Okay maybe he was dad's favourite but his own brothers? I mean that is so unfair. Isn't that so often the way – our own brothers and sisters; those who are closest to us; those who should love us the most; those whom we trusted – they are the ones who treat us unfairly? It's one thing to be treated unfairly by an associate or even an enemy; you almost expect that but by his own brothers – sold into slavery; into a completely uncertain future; completely lost his freedom – come on, let's walk a mile in Joseph's shoes right now. He is a slave in that caravan, being taken down into a foreign land; into Egypt to be sold into goodness knows what; no future….. I don't know about you, but I would have been tempted to react pretty badly to that. I would have been tempted to be bitter and to swear an oath that I would never, ever forgive my brothers. It would have been so easy for young Joseph to have bitterness and un-forgiveness in his heart – don't you think? Let's bring this right close to home. People who have treated us badly and us unfairly, how have you and I responded? We seem to take their failure, their bad behaviour as our license to behave badly, don't we? How many of us have got un-forgiveness in our hearts? How many of us are carrying a knot of anger in our hearts that's robbing us of life? We will look at Joseph's life in a moment and we are going to look at the defining moment in his life, when life was just so unfair.   From Bad to Worse Sometimes it seems that life is one step forward and two steps back. I mean, young Joseph was dad's favourite; he had great dreams of success for the future, then he is sold into slavery and he is down in a slave market in Egypt, purchased by a man called Potiphar. Have a look at it: Genesis chapter 39, beginning at verse 1: Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt and Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man. He was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hands. So Joseph found favour in his sight and attended him. Potiphar made Joseph the overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he had made him overseer in his house and all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. The blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge and with him there, he had no concern for anything but the food that he ate. Now Joseph was handsome and good looking. WOW, things are on the up and up again. What could have been terrible instead ... God puts Joseph in a place where He can use his gifts and his abilities and God blesses Joseph. The word "Joseph" means to be "a multiplier" and that is literally what Joseph's gift was. We see that throughout the story of his life – it is one of the things that Joseph was really good at – being a multiplier. Now you might be thinking, "Well, Berni, now things are going well for young Joe. All that temptation to behave badly, that's all gone away", but you would be wrong! Because one of the things that we love to do is to get some recompense out of life. When we have gone through bad times we can still have bitterness in our hearts. It would have been easy for Joseph to have bitterness in his heart and then the good times start to flow and we decide "Well, it's time to make hay while the sun shines. I am going to get something out of life; I'm going to get some recompense. I'll show those rotten brothers – I'll take whatever I can and have whatever I can have. I'll show them!" Ever experienced that in your heart? Sure you have, so have I and that can be the time of such a great fall. Sure enough, Joseph had exactly that opportunity now that he was on easy street. We are going to have a look at this because I think this is the defining moment of Joseph's walk. Genesis chapter 39, beginning at verse 7: And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "Sleep with me", but he refused and he said to his master's wife, "Look, with me here my master has no concern about anything in his house. He has put everything that he has in my hand. He is not greater in his house that I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not consent to sleep with her or to be with her. One day however, when he went into the house to do his work and while no one else was in the house, she caught hold of his garment saying, "Sleep with me," but he left his garment in her hand and fled and ran outside. And when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside, she called out to the members of her household and said to them, "See, my husband has brought among us a Hebrew to insult us. He came in to sleep with me and I cried out with a loud voice and when he heard me raise my voice and cry out, he left his garment beside me and fled outside." Then she kept his garment by her until his master came home and she told him the same story, saying, "That Hebrew servant whom you have brought among us, came in to insult me but as soon as I raised my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled outside." When his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, saying, "This was the way your servant treated me," he was enraged. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the King's prisoners were confined and there he remained in prison. Do you see what happened here? See, I think that this is one of the defining moments in Joseph's life. Bad things happen and he had a chance to make amends; he had a chance to take whatever he wanted, in particular, to taste this forbidden fruit. Potiphar's wife kept tempting him and he could easily have said, "Yea, go on, Joseph. Come on, you deserve this! After all, look at what you have been through. Come on!" You know what I am saying! And in the defining moment Joseph said "No!' He refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, with me here my master has no concern about anything in the house. He has put everything in my hand. How then could I do this great wickedness?" Joseph said, "No" over and over again. It's a powerful thing to say, "No" to temptation when life has been unfair - to say, "No" to temptation when we can come up with every reason and every excuse to say, "Yes, come on!" And to make matters worse, Joseph's right doing is rewarded by jail – that is sooo unfair! Do you get it? Right, must be time to behave badly again! But no matter how badly people treated him or life treated him, Joseph remained true to himself. And here is the "top down" view; here is God's view of this defining moment – God saw that and honoured it. Let's pick it right up in Genesis 39, beginning at verse 21: But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love. He gave him favour in the sight of the chief jailer. And the chief jailer committed to Joseph's care all the prisoners who were in his prison and whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The chief jailer paid no heed to anything that was is Joseph's care because the Lord was with him and whatever he did, the Lord made it to prosper." Do you get it? Why do you think that these defining moments are hidden? We think that these temptation decisions are hidden from the world and when we have had a tough day or when people have been horrible to us, we are just so tempted to make amends by doing something wrong. The defining moment in Joseph's walk is that Joseph said, "No" to that temptation. Now I want you to hold that thought because we are going to have a look at what all this means to you and me, next.   Do Not Grow Weary There is quite a bit more to Joseph's story. He spent another two years in jail…..two years! I can't begin to imagine that – it was so unfair. And finally, because he had a gift of interpreting dreams, he found favour with Pharaoh. And one thing led to another and Pharaoh made Joseph Prime Minister over all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself; over the whole nation. And then famine hits the land and because of Joseph's wisdom and insight from God, he, as the leader, caused Egypt to store up enough grain for the coming famine and so people from all around Egypt came for food – in fact, all round the known world. And all of a sudden Joseph's brothers came down from the land of Canaan, down to find some food in Egypt as well and Joseph recognised them, although they didn't recognise him. Aw, he struggled with that! What a temptation! Finally, there was Joseph, just like in those dreams he had when he was a young man. There was his brothers bowing down to him; now he had them; now he could take revenge. You can read the whole story in Genesis chapters 40 to 44. It is really worth a read. What would Joseph do? Well, let's take a look – Genesis chapter 45, beginning at verse 1: Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him and he cried out, "Send everyone away from me!" So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers and he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" But his brothers couldn't answer him and they were so dismayed that they were in his presence. (Wouldn't you be?) Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come closer to me," and they came closer and he said, "I am your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt and now don't be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in this land for two years and there are five more years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors, so it was not you who sent me here, but God; He has made me a father to Pharaoh and the lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt." What an amazing response? Grace, forgiveness and the knowledge that all along, through all the unfair things that happened to him; through all the bad things that happened to him, that what had happened to Joseph was part of God's plan. Talk about defining moment! That defining moment happened for Joseph when he was sold as a slave, wrongly accused, thrown into jail, left there to rot and the temptation in all of that was for Joseph to shout, "It's not fair!" That's the temptation; to turn to sin; to wallow in filth that we have been thrown in and I have no doubt that Joseph struggled with that. He was human after all but what defined him was not the unfairness that the world threw at him, but the decision just to get up every morning, to be Joseph, to honour God. The Apostle Paul, centuries on, said it this way: Do not be deceived. God is not mocked for you will reap whatever you sow - if you sow to your flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the spirit you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up. Unfair things happen to us every day and sometimes what we want is, "God, just give me an easy ride." In fact there is a great poem here that I want to share with you. It's a poem by Adrian Plass – have a listen – it goes like this: When I became a Christian I said, "Lord now fill me in. Tell me what I will suffer in this world of shame and sin." Then God said, "Your body may be killed and left to rot and stink, do you still want to follow Me?"I said, "Amen, I think! I think, amen! Amen, I think, I think I say "amen"! Look, I am not completely sure. Can we run through that again? You said my body could be killed and left to rot and stink, that sounds terrific, Lord. I'll say "amen" I think!" "But Lord, look there must be other ways to follow You," I said, "I really would prefer to end up dying in my bed." "Well, yes", He said, "You could put up with sneers and scorn and spit, do you still want to follow Me?" I said, "Amen, a bit." "A bit "amen" – "amen", a bit. A bit, I say 'amen'. Look, I'm not entirely sure. Can we just run through that again?" You said I could put up with sneers and scorn and spit – oh, yea, I've made up my mind – I say "amen" a bit." Well, I sat back and thought a while. I tried a different ploy – I said, "Now Lord, the Good Book says that Christians live in joy." "That's true," He said, "You are going to need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow, so do you still want to follow Me?" I said, "Amen – tomorrow!" "Tomorrow, Lord, I say it – that's when I'll say "amen". You see, I've got to get it clear. Let's just run through that again." You said, I'll need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow – well, yea, I think I've got it straight. I'll say "amen" tomorrow. He said, "Look, I'm not asking you to spend an hour with Me, a quick salvation sandwich or a cup of sanctity. The cost is "you" not half of you but every single bit. Now tell Me, will you follow Me? I said, "Amen! No, I quit! "I'm sorry Lord, I'd like to follow You but I don't think religion is a very manly thing to do." So He said, "Forget about religion then and you think about My Son and you tell me if you are man enough to do what He has done. Are you man enough to see the need? Are you man enough to go? Are you man enough to care for those who no one wants to know? Are you man enough to say the things that people hate to hear and battle through Gethsemane and loneliness and fear? And listen, are you man enough to stand it at the end, the moment of betrayal by the kisses of your friend? Are you man enough to hold your tongue? Are you man enough to cry? And when the nails break your body, are you man enough to die? Are you man enough to take the pain and wear it like a crown? Are you man enough to love this world and turn it upside down? Are you man enough to follow Me – I'll ask you once again?" I said, "Oh Lord, I am so frightened but I also said, "amen". Amen, amen, amen! I said, "Lord, I am so frightened but I also said, 'amen'." You know, as I look back on the story of the life of Joseph, my heart breaks for that man. He went through so much – the betrayal of his brothers; sold into slavery; thrown into jail for doing the right thing – left there to rot; he went through so much. And it would have been so easy and tempting just to act badly; just to respond; just to have anger; just to lash out. Come on, that's what we want to do! But do not be deceived. Because God is not mocked for whatever we reap, we sow! If we sow in the flesh, we will reap corruption in the flesh, but if we sow in the Spirit we will reap eternal life from the Spirit." Here's the punch line. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up. So whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for the family of faith.

Here we present the audio from our twelfth book club meeting discussing the book The Dark Is Rising (Book Two) by Susan Cooper

Here we present the audio from our eleventh book club meeting discussing the book Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit

Here we present the audio from our tenth book club meeting discussing the book Lord of the Flies by William Golding ~ Pandora's Aquarium (19 August 2014 - Atlanta, GA)

This week's encore interview is from September 21, 1997. Twenty-eight years ago. Our guest was Peter J. Gomes, former minister of the Memorial Church at Harvard. His father was from Cape Verde, and his mother was African-American. In 1991, he identified himself as gay but says he remained celibate. Professor Gomes passed away in 2011 at age 69. During his lifetime, he received over 40 honorary degrees. Professor Gomes was a registered Republican for most of his life and offered prayer at the inaugurations of Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush. However, in August of 2006, he changed his registration to the Democratic Party. His book is titled "The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's encore interview is from September 21, 1997. Twenty-eight years ago. Our guest was Peter J. Gomes, former minister of the Memorial Church at Harvard. His father was from Cape Verde, and his mother was African-American. In 1991, he identified himself as gay but says he remained celibate. Professor Gomes passed away in 2011 at age 69. During his lifetime, he received over 40 honorary degrees. Professor Gomes was a registered Republican for most of his life and offered prayer at the inaugurations of Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush. However, in August of 2006, he changed his registration to the Democratic Party. His book is titled "The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Christmas is done and dusted – what do you do with it? Put it back in the cupboard with the decorations for next year – or let the message of Christian burn on in your heart?   CHRISTMAS IN REVIEW So how have you gone, in those busy weeks leading up to Christmas? Did you enjoy yourself or was the stress just too much? Was it a kind of rich experience or did the cares of this world; all that stuff, you know, that we do leading up to Christmas, did it rob you of the Christmas you think that you should have had? Over these last few weeks on the programme we have been working our way through a series of messages that I've called 'Message in a Bottle'. The whole Christmas story was born out of the shepherd heart of God; the heart of God to draw us into His arms. Have a listen to the Scripture that we used in the first programme, three weeks ago, Ezekiel, chapter 34, verse 11. And by the way, if you have a Bible, grab it; open it up because we are going to spend some time in God's Word today. This is what Ezekiel wrote; this is what God said: I, Myself will search for My sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so I will look after My sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on the day of clouds and darkness. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. God has this heart like a shepherd does for his flock of sheep, to look after us and to care for us and to love us. And out of that is born this incredible story of Christmas. You know how it all came about: Joseph and Mary, these two young people, ordinary people; nobodies like you and me, called to bring Jesus into the world. Not a king and queen; a teenaged girl and a young carpenter. Now all the stories of Christmas, I guess, are as familiar to all of us as breathing in and out everyday. I mean, we go through Christmas each year, but when you scratch underneath them, which is what we have been doing the last few weeks on the programme, I don't know, there's a gritty reality of life in the story of Christmas. It's a kind of a surprise, I mean, Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit; it's a virgin birth. And there was a prophesy centuries before, that Jesus would be born to a virgin. The prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter 7, verse 14 of Isaiah: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign – the virgin will be with a child and she will give birth to a son. Great! You look at it from two thousand years on as we do and you think, "well, there's a virgin birth and that's what happened and that it was God's story." But back then, imagine the shame she went through when she had this pregnancy out of wedlock, at a time when that wasn't an acceptable lifestyle choice as it might be in society today? Even though God prophesied about that centuries before, who would of thought Mary, and who would have believed Mary going, "well, you know it was the Holy Spirit that did it?" Give me a break! So Mary went around with this shame and Joseph was going to dismiss her quietly until God spoke to him in a dream. And then Jesus was born in a stable and not a palace, in this place, Bethlehem. Even that was prophesied about centuries before. In Micah, chapter 5, verse 2, it says: But you Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me, one who will be ruler of Israel, whose origins are of old, from ancient times. See, that's a prophesy pointing forward to the birth of Jesus Christ, in Bethlehem. And of course, Herod tried to kill Jesus – they had to flee to Egypt. Again that was prophesied about centuries before in Jeremiah, chapter 31, verse 15: This is what the Lord says, "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning with great weeping; Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because her children are no more." There's a prophesy about the way that Herod slew all the young children under two years of age. And so I guess we have been looking at all things the last few weeks on the programme and I remember the first time I began to take a cold, hard look at the Christmas story – you know, the realities, the history. I was a bit disappointed. I mean, somehow I wanted to keep that idealised pantomime view of Christmas; the cutesy Mary, Joseph, donkey, baby in a manger thing. I mean, we like to idealise things. You know when Hollywood makes a movie out of a true story, they embellish things. You know, we like to do that. But Christmas isn't a pantomime. The true story of Christmas – of Jesus' birth – is about hardship, about pressure, about discomfort, about danger. I mean, Mary was on a donkey for a week or two, heading for Bethlehem for the census, in the last weeks of her pregnancy. That would have been fun! And then she gave birth to Jesus in a smelly, grotty stable, surrounded by animals. What a place to give birth to a child? And then Herod massacred all these infants and Joseph and Mary and Jesus were fleeing for their lives down to Egypt. This is the Christmas that Jesus chose for Himself; the Son of God, who always exists. I mean, John tells us in the first verse of the first chapter of John's Gospel: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God," and then down in verse 14, "And then the Word became flesh." So here is Jesus, the Eternal Son, who could choose the time, the place and the circumstances for His birth on this earth and as much as I mourned the passing of the cute Christmas pantomime in my heart, when you start to get down and dirty with the reality of Christmas, for me, it was like opening up the message in a bottle. It's like God sent this message from heaven that washed up on a beach, I find the bottle, I stoop down, I open it, and I discover what's really inside. See, for me, sticking with just the pantomime is like taking that bottle up off the beach and putting it on a shelf and looking at it with a warm glow saying, "yea, you know, I know what that message is. It's a cute pantomime; I don't have to open it." But opening the bottle, reading the message of Christmas; discovering the gritty reality for me, you know what it says in big letters? God became one of us! Your life, my life; they're not pantomimes; they're not some cutesy story – there's a tough reality to life. Sure there are joys and delights but there's also this gritty reality. Most of us, we don't live in a palace. Most of us, we are just ordinary, everyday people with ordinary, everyday lives with the challenges and the pressures and the losses and the hurts. So many people live scarred lives – so many people live lives where they're lost – so many people live their lives wandering aimlessly around; "why am I here, where am I headed, what's this life all about?" And it's one thing for God, from a distance, to say, "well, here are the answers". That's one thing but just at the right time, God becomes a man – the Message, the Word, becomes flesh; one of us. Theologians talk about the incarnation, me? For me, it's just God became one of us, like you and me. Christmas is a great time, but what of the Christmas story can we carry around in our hearts, every day of the year; 24/7? What of Christmas makes a real difference in our lives when Christmas is done and dust; when the season is over? Well for me, it's the fact that God became one of us. We will unpack that a bit more next.   HE UNDERSTANDS Let's pick up for a moment on the reality and the normality of Jesus entry into this world. He was the Son of God, we saw that before. I mean, John in John's Gospel makes it clear. Jesus just wasn't created on the day He was born. Jesus is the Eternal Son of God and yet on that night in Bethlehem, He became the Son of Man, one of us. In fact, that's how Jesus most frequently referred to Himself; He almost never said, "Son of God"; He mostly said, "Son of Man". He was both. But most people you ask, "was He more like God or more like us?" Most people would say, "well, I know that in Jesus, God became human, but at the end of the day, He's still God, so really He's not like us." I guess that's a natural reaction. Jesus is the Son of God; no, He didn't sin; He was and remains perfect. And so if we look at Jesus like that, in a sense, it doesn't help us on our journey. Jesus was perfect and He said some things about judging other people and loving our enemies and murder begins in the heart and you commit adultery if you just look at a woman the wrong way, all that stuff. And you can come to the conclusion, you know something, I can't live up to all that stuff. So I feel condemned and therefore, Jesus isn't good news at all. The fact that God became a man doesn't help me at all. A few weeks ago, at the beginning of this series, we looked a the shepherd heart of God and in particular the beautiful verses in Leviticus, chapter 26, verses 11 and 12, where God says to Israel: I will put My dwelling place in your midst and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and I will be your God and you will be My people. Please, understand how radical that is! It is totally contrary to all the other gods that all the other nations worshipped. Their concept was by and large, of appeasing the gods so that they wouldn't be punished. You went and worshipped gods and idols in temples up on hills, but here the God of Israel is a God of relationship with His people, on their journey, in their midst. And as we saw before, in John, chapter 1, verse 14: And then the Word became flesh and dwelt in our midst. Literally, tabernacled among us, like God tabernacled, or had a tent, with Israel on the exodus, so John says: "God came and dwelt with us through Jesus." Christmas is Jesus getting on our journey with us and one of the most beautiful explanations of that for me is to be found in Hebrews, chapter 4. If you've got a Bible, flick it open, go to Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 14. The picture here the writer of Hebrews is using is of Jesus as our High Priest. You know, the High Priest used to go into the temple on one day of the year, right into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur, and take a sacrifice for peoples' sin. And so that's why the writer used this term the "High Priest". And he says: Since we have a great High Priest, who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith that we profess. For we don't have a High Priest who can't sympathise with our weaknesses but we have one who has been tempted and tested in every way, just as we are, yet He was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. See, it says here Jesus was not just in heaven, that's natural, He's the Son of God, but He is able to sympathise and empathise with all the stuff we go through. Why? Not just because He's God but because He has been through every trial and every temptation, every hurt, every disappointment that we ever have been or we will ever travel through. He's walked on those long dusty roads. I challenge you to read one of the Gospel accounts – Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, end to end in one session, like a story. Not all chopped up like we sometimes do, but end to end – and just look at what He experienced, how people treated Him, what they said about Him. How often they misunderstood Him. It will only take you a couple of hours and it's really worth doing. Curl up with a good cup of coffee and read a good book; the Good Book. And as you read about all the stuff He went through put yourself in His shoes and we begin to understand what He felt. At Christmas God steps out of heaven and into history. That's exactly what He does for us – He steps into our shoes, our reality, our experiences first hand, every trial, every temptation that we go through, He knows because He's God; He knows because He's man. And therefore, because of His humanity, because He's been through it all, let us approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Therefore, because He became a man, became He has experienced what we go through; we can go to Him with boldness and confidence, and approach the throne of grace. A boldness that arises, not of who we are or what we do, a boldness that arises out of the central fact of Christmas – the Son of God became the Son of Man. Because of that we can be confident that He understands and that we will find and receive mercy and grace, just at the right time in our need. And the whole point of mercy and grace is that they can't be mercy and grace unless we don't deserve them. If we deserved them they wouldn't be mercy and grace. But we can be bold about them anyway. Can I tell you something? That's a Christmas message worth carrying around in my heart for everyday of the year, not just for the 25th of December. Jesus gets it not just because He's God; He knows everything of course, but because He became one of us and walked a mile or two in our shoes. That is something to warm our hearts every day of the year. But there's one other thing – a really important thing about our future, about our inheritance that comes out of Christmas and I'm going to share that next.   OUR INHERITANCE There's this one other thing; a really important thing that I want to share with you about Christmas today. Again it's a side of Christmas that you and I can carry around in our hearts every day of the year for the rest of our lives here on this earth. Earlier we looked a Christmas where Jesus becomes one of us; the thing that the theologians call the "incarnation". He gets it; He understands our circumstances because He's walked in our shoes and God's Word says that we should place our confidence in that. That when we are struggling; when we made a blunder; when we are just finding it hard, to come boldly before the throne of grace because Jesus has walked in our shoes and He understands That's fantastic and it's for here and now. But there's also a really important thing for the future that we get out of Christmas and that is "hope". Hope is such an important thing, something to hope for in the future; a certain hope; not a kind of uncertain hope like "I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow", or "I hope I win the lotto", or, you know what I mean? A certain hope, because without hope life if hopeless. We have all experienced that sense of lost-ness and hopelessness from time to time and for some people it's a place where they seem to live almost permanently. Well, it's not meant to be that way. Have a listen to what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans, chapter 8, beginning at verse 15. He's writing about God's love for us through Jesus Christ and if you have a Bible, go there, Romans, chapter 8, verse 15. He writes this: For you didn't receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you've received the spirit of adoption and by Him we cry, "Abba", 'Dad'. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirits that we are God's children. Now if we are His children, then we are His heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. See, Jesus became one of us. Yes, He's the Son of God; God the Son but just as He is the Son of God, we are children of God, joint heirs with Jesus. That's a hard idea to get our minds around because if we think, 'well, Jesus is so different to us because He is the Son of God', we miss the point. Jesus was a little baby that came into this world just as you and I did. He slipped into this world, He cried and He was just like you and me. He was born, He lived, He struggled, He ministered, He died, He rose again and now He is with the Father in heaven and He has gone ahead of us and we inherit what He inherits. The Apostle Peter puts it like this in First Peter, chapter 1, verse 3: Praise be to God and our Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, because in His great mercy He's given us a new birth into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you, who through faith, are protected by God's power. It's an inheritance that's being kept for us and it comes from the fact that we are joint heirs with Jesus. Jesus was the one that went to the cross for us; He was the one that rose again and He purchased that inheritance for us on the cross. That inheritance is there waiting for us, safer than anything we can imagine. The reason I have called this programme "Christianityworks" is because I believe that it does. I believe that faith in Jesus Christ changes our lives – it works – it makes our lives better. It means God gets in and deals with problems that we can't deal with. But you know what the risk of that is? The risk is we focus just on the here and now but God calls us to live with eternity in mind. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ because in His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, being kept in heaven for you. God is saying, "Lift up your eyes. Look at eternity. Look at what I have prepared for you." You are a joint heir with Jesus. Jesus is the first born among many and He has risen from the dead and we get to spend eternity with Him in delight and worship and rest and peace and no sickness or tears or poverty. We are co-heirs of that, in Christ. That's all part of God's plan for Christmas. Jesus became one of us to make us joint heirs with Him. Christmas is an awesome message. It is like a message in a bottle when the Word became flesh; when Jesus was washed up on the sands of time as one of us. Jesus is God's message; that's why the Bible calls Him 'the Word of God'. Jesus is God speaking to us in a language we can understand and what a wondrous message – help for today and hope for tomorrow – compassion and understanding and mercy and grace for today because Jesus has walked in our shoes. And so we can be confident in that because of the fact that He knows, first hand, but also joint heirs with Christ for all eternity. Christmas – what an amazing message – a message in a bottle. And I want to encourage you, don't take Christmas and put it back in the cupboard with the Christmas decorations, just to kind of trot it out in twelve months time – don't do that. The message of Christmas is that God the Son became one of us and He walked the dusty roads of the Holy Land and experienced every thing that you and I experience. He knows what we are going through and He has purchased an eternal hope.

Worried about an IRS audit? Dr. Friday explains why solid accounting records are your best defense—and how software can make it easier. Transcript G’day, I’m Dr. Friday, president of Dr. Friday’s Tax and Financial Firm. To get more info, go to www.drfriday.com. This is a one-minute moment. Using a tax software is great, but using an accounting software may be better for most self-employed individuals. First thing you need to do is have good numbers—tracking your expenses. If you’re ever worried about the IRS coming knocking—which, let’s be honest, all of us are always worried about it—having good tax records is the secret to defending yourself against an audit. I had a gentleman we went through an audit with just a few weeks ago, and to be quite honest with you, we went through with no problems. His documents were in good order. The questions they had, we had exact numbers. They didn’t dig very far because the answers that we gave them stopped them pretty much. Where if you’re not organized, they’re gonna keep digging to get more information. You have questions, just call me. You can catch the Dr. Friday Call-in Show live every Saturday afternoon from 2 to 3 p.m. right here on 99.7 WTN.

It's starting to get chilly outside so on this month's podcast we talk about all things cozy. Well, mostly books, but I think you're pickin' up what we're puttin' down. Sure you've probably heard of cozy mysteries, and maybe even cozy romance, but did you know there is such a thing as cozy science fiction? Cozy horror? If you're not familiar with cozy literature, you're about to be. 

Sarah and Jenny discuss the recent release of Wicked: For Good and how it compares to the book. The book is dark and complex, a strong contrast to the book. They discuss what they loved and hated about the film, and what was gained or lost in the translation from Gregory Maguire's Wicked. Have you read the book and/or seen the film? What did you think? Get in touchInstagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi | Email | YouTubeSupport The Bookcast ClubYou can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days. If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi. A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.NewsletterSign up to our newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We can all be avid readers. No matter how technology advances, we need to be a people of books! If you feel like you are not a good reader, as though good books are over your head - don't worry, you can learn to be a good reader! Sarah shares her story, which should give us all encouragement and confidence that we, too, can become readers of great books. What should we do if we start reading a book that's garbage? Are audiobooks OK? Which books should we read with our kids? Sarah and E.J. also talk about the amount of reading. Especially as busy moms and dads, we might feel like we don't have time to read. But we do! 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there. Look at your screen time, you've got the time in there. Books shape our character and our worldview. We also need to be reading great books with our kids to help share theirs. While doing so, we create strong and special bonds with our children, we grow and we laugh with them, and - with the right books and, most notably, the Good Book - we understand God and His ways more fully along with our spouses and children. Book-lovers will certainly enjoy this episode and we hope it will motivate and encourage everyone who listens to be readers of great books! LINKS:Colson Center website: https://colsoncenter.org/Strong Women - Sarah Stonestreet update: https://colsoncenter.org/strong-women/looking-back-and-looking-forward-with-sarah-stonestreetTruth Rising Documentary: https://www.truthrising.com/Kristin Lavransdatter: https://a.co/d/8cdwDbLWingfeather Saga: https://a.co/d/iNanQsU (Currently at high discount - 12/8)Narnia - A Horse & His Boy included: https://a.co/d/1ObDWf9 (currently on sale)Trailblazers Series: https://a.co/d/b0Y39ZP (currently on sale)Email interview & speaking Inquiries for E.J. to ej.freedomfamilies@gmail.com

It was an interesting weekend that gave way to many thoughts. Not the least of which are focused on my new bookLET YOUR HEART BE LIGHT out TOMORROW!!!!! Preppers Christmas Catalog https://prepper-catalog.paperturn-view.com/black-friday-pbn-3rd-draft-3?pid=ODk8917526&v=3.11&p=9Get Prepared with Our Incredible Sponsors! Survival Bags, kits, gear www.limatangosurvival.comEMP Proof Shipping Containers www.fardaycontainers.comThe Prepper's Medical Handbook Build Your Medical Cache – Welcome PBN FamilyPack Fresh USA www.packfreshusa.comSupport PBN with a Donation https://bit.ly/3SICxEq

Does faith equal trust? After 51 years, I finally understand—and it changes everything about how I handle life's storms.If you're in a waiting period right now, this episode will help you stop going crazy while God is working in your life.

As our listeners know, Andrew Pudewa and Julie Walker are tireless advocates for reading aloud, but it can be hard for busy parents to fit in all that reading. In this podcast, Andrew and Julie interview the Winsteads, who are trying to solve this problem and provide quality recordings for 1000 good books. Learn more in this episode about the 1000 Good Books Project and how your family can enjoy classic books for all ages. Referenced Materials Nurturing Competent Communicators audio talk by Andrew Pudewa Read-Aloud Revival “Letter to a Bookshelf” by Andrew Pudewa 1000 Good Books Project John Senior John Senior’s The Thousand Good Books list Mark Van Doren The Restoration of Christian Culture by John Senior The Death of Christian Culture by John Senior How to Listen (1000 Good Books Project) Gift membership (1000 Good Books Project) Twelve Days of Christmas Giving Transcript of Podcast Episode 506 If you have questions for Andrew, send them to podcast@IEW.comPerhaps your question will be answered at the next Ask Andrew Anything (AAA). If you have questions about IEW products or classes, contact customer service at 800.856.5815 or info@IEW.com

Should the Bible be taught as literal history and geography... or is its REAL power hidden in esoteric, allegorical, and symbolic codes that most people completely miss? In this mind-expanding episode of the Bought The T-Shirt Podcast, host Chris Thrall sits down with researcher Charles Mortlock for a no-holds-barred conversation that will challenge everything you thought you knew about the "Good Book." Socials instagram.com/chris.thrall youtube.com/christhrall facebook.com/christhrall christhrall.com Support the podcast at: patreon.com/christhrall (£2 per month plus perks) gofundme.com/christhrall paypal.me/teamthrall Our uncensored content: christhrall.locals.com Mailing list: christhrall.com/mailing-list/ Life Coaching: christhrall.com/coach/

It's a throwback episode!Contracts are no one's favorite part of publishing, no matter which side of the table you're sitting on. This week on the pod, we revisit a classic People's Guide to Publishing episode where Joe and Elly walk you through why contracts are important, how to navigate them as an author, and what makes a good publishing contract.************Thank you for catching the People's Guide to Publishing vlogcast!  We post new episodes every Thursday about publishing, authors, and the book industry. You can also listen via your preferred podcast app, or by visiting linktree.com/microcosmGet the book: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/3663Get the workbook: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/zines/10031More from Microcosm: http://microcosmpublishing.comMore by Joe Biel: http://joebiel.netMore by Elly Blue: http://takingthelane.comSubscribe to our monthly email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gIXT6vFind us on social media:Facebook: http://facebook.com/microcosmpublishingBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/microcosm.bsky.socialInstagram: http://instagram.com/microcosm_pub************

Send us a textThis week on Fiction Fanatics, we're joined by the incredible A.A. Barton — author, storyteller, and all-around force of creativity.

Are there parts of yourself, maybe long lost from your past or your childhood, that are waiting to be heard, to be honoured, to expand the person you think you are? This was certainly the case for Luke Bateman. In this episode, the ex-NRL player and Bachelor turned BookTok sensation, author and host of new podcast In the Good Books opens to Osher about: Why shame was so much a part of his life as a child Coming back from the dark depths of his gambling addiction and depression How he dealt with the controversy and social media blowback following news of his book deal Why inner work is essential to achieving any goal CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussions of suicidal thoughts. For support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. For tickets to Story Club and for Osher's new book So What, Now What? head hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we're taking a look at some hidden gems on the Fairest Love Podcast... guests and topics YOU recommended. These guests shared incredible stories and insights, and if you missed the episode when it first aired, we highly encourage you to take a listen to the full episode below!Beauty Through the Lens of the World with Grace GalliganSelf-Surrendering Service with Blake BrouilletteOvercoming Stress and Anxiety with Dr. Mario Sacasa (After Cana episode)The Importance of Good Books and Reading as a Habit with Marcie StockmanDo you have a guest or topic you'd love to hear on the Fairest Love Podcast? We'd love to hear from you! Send your suggestions or interview recommendations to info@fairestlovefamilyproject.org.

2 Timothy 3:15-17

Title: The Good Work of the Good Book! - Part 2 Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-4 Speaker: Dr. Victor Borden Date: October 12, 2025 PM

In today's episode, Jeff and Susan share a lot of updates after their long summer break from the podcast: updates on Jeff's health, Susan's family, current events, and even book recommendations. Enjoy the episode!

Here we present the audio from our ninth book club meeting discussing the book The Night of the Hunter by Davis Grubb

Join us for our final part of our current series, "The Good Book".

Joseph Pearce joins Steve and Becky to challenge all of us to disconnect from technology and pick up good books. His new book is Great Books for Good Men: Reflections on Literature and Manhood.

Readers, meet Hector.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7491418-love-in-the-afternoonSubscribe to our Youtube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@notanotherheroine

We're bringing back one of our favorite games, reading hilariously bad reviews of some truly great books! This time, Amanda has picked out books that Ellyn read and loved this year. She'll be reading one-star reviews to Ellyn, who has to guess which book they're roasting. Listen along and see if you can figure it out before she does! Books coming out this week | American Werewolves by Emily Jane, Replaceable You by Mary Roach, & Good Things by Samin Nosrat ______________________________________________________________________ Make sure to subscribe and rate the Bubbles & Books Podcast. And don't forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Instagram: @bubblesandbookspodcast Follow Dog-Eared Books on Instagram: @dogearedbooksames Shop Dog-Eared Books and pick up your books in store or have shipped HERE. Interested in audiobooks? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Interested in e-books? Listen while supporting Dog-Eared Books HERE. Learn more about a Dog-Eared Books book subscription HERE. Visit us! www.dogearedbooksames.com

Diane Merrill Wiggington was a Story-Power guest way back in December of 2023. We connected again recently and I finally read a couple of her books that I think you will enjoy as the weather becomes cooler. One is a political/romance, A Compromising Position, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and her venture into the mystery genre,Continue reading "Autumn Reading:Cozy Up to the Fire with a Good Book"

Here we present the audio from our eight book club meeting discussing the book Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard ~ Speaking With Trees (Instrumental) by YANTA

This week, Pastor Madison looks at a couple verses in 2 Timothy 3. Listen as she uses these verses to talk about why reading God's Word is important.

What is sin, and why must we take it seriously? Today, Stephen Nichols highlights Not the Way It's Supposed to Be by Cornelius Plantinga Jr., a book that explores the biblical view of sin and our deep need for God's redeeming grace. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/a-good-book-on-a-bad-subject/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

We celebrate continuing Red Out Week, Matt reads from The Good Book, potential Halloween costumes, Gary makes a terrible mistake, the fellas plan our trip to KC later this week, and we learn about a 'Hot Boy Walk'.

It is back-to-school time and the co-hosts, Korey Maas (Lutheran), Miles Smith (Anglican), and D. G. Hart (Presbyterian) are getting ready for classes. This makes it a good time to reflect on the kind of education that nurtures confessional Protestant piety and practice -- for both ministers and church members.   The recording starts with each member of the "broadcasting team" talking about upcoming classes at Hillsdale College and how we situate ourselves within the framework of classical education, the "Great Books," and liberal education.  From there the conversation explores the relationship between confessional Protestantism and the kind of learning that at least pastors need, which points back to ties between the Reformation and the Renaissance, which then leads to the Renaissance's recovery of ancient Greek and Latin authors and the way Humanism cultivated Protestant understandings of education. At the very end comes some commentary on whether the Bible qualifies as a "Great Book" or is merely a "Good Book."  The co-hosts "did the reading" for this discussion which included a critique of "The Great Books," a review of a book about the Bible and classical education, and college students on the appeal of liberal education.  No sponors this episode. The Pudcast transcends money.

Ever stared longingly at that stack of unread books on your nightstand, wishing for just a few uninterrupted days to dive in? You're not alone. A fascinating new travel trend is emerging in 2025 that might be the perfect solution for book lovers everywhere: reading retreats.Imagine yourself sipping wine on a veranda overlooking mountains or ocean, completely absorbed in a novel without a single interruption. No chores calling your name, no meetings to attend, just you and your books in a beautiful setting. These literary escapes are selling out within hours of being announced, particularly from companies like "Ladies who Lit" that have tapped into our collective desire for meaningful, quiet getaways.The appeal goes beyond just finding time to read. These retreats create a unique social atmosphere where you're surrounded by fellow book lovers who respect your space while sharing your passion. Breakfast conversations might lead to unexpected book recommendations or discussions about favorite authors—socialization entirely on your terms. It's particularly ideal for solo travelers seeking both independence and connection. Since 2020, Americans have increased their spending on recreational books by nearly 23%, and reading retreats represent the logical evolution of this renewed literary interest. They offer not just an escape but a form of self-care that allows us to return home refreshed and inspired, often motivating participants to create their own reading nooks at home to continue the experience. Ready to book your literary getaway? Take our survey linked in the show notes to share what kind of retreat experience would speak to you!SURVEY on RETREATS: click link below to respondhttps://forms.gle/YuoYiQwfevccTkV78Support the showhttps://www.cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50Facebook community: Solo Travel for Women Over 50 https://www.facebook.com/groups/860865768609200

We're switching it up a little bit this episode, as the Booker Prize Long List has just been released and it's fun to talk about what they've chosen — plus, the judges this year are really interesting! These are "chosen from 153 submissions, celebrates the best works of long-form fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025." Some of the books we've read, some we've just heard about, some we have no idea about. Play along!  Here's the list as we tackle it: - "Seascraper," by Benjamin Wood, which is not available in the U.S.  - "The Rest of our Lives," by Ben Markovitz, which is not available in the U.S. (though Ben is from the U.S. and used to be a professional basketball player) - "Audition," by Katie Kitamura, which is so out there that Hannah legit doesn't know how to talk about it. No one seems to know what's happening with this book.  - "Endling," by Maria Reva, which we talked about quite a bit in EP92 (not 94, as Sam says on the pod, for no good reason), and is a substantive, interesting, weird novel, but maybe not Sam's favorite.  - "Flashlight," by Susan Choi, a National Book Award winner, which Hannah started out super excited about, but then her fervor sort of faded... There's some great stuff in here about Japan-Korea history and the immigrant story, in general.  - "The Land in Winter," by Andrew Miller, which Hannah hasn't read, but she does remember that "The Optimists" was big and she meant to read it.  - "Love Forms," by Claire Adam, who was published by Sarah Jessica Parker, who also happens to be a judge! But we're sure it's a coincidence. "Like a Claire Keegan novel written by Elizabeth Strout," apparently. - "Universality," by Natasha Brown, which we know is short and is all about words and meaning.  - "Misinterpretation," by Ledia Xhoga, which is similarly about words and meaning. We don't know much, really. But there seems to be a theme here.  - "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," by Kiran Desai, who has a Booker Prize under her belt. This book is going to be big.  - "One Boat," by Jonathan Buckley, which is about a murder and a love affair on a Greek island.  - "The South," by Tash Aw, which is this year's young gay love story, Hannah thinks, though she's not sure, but it is the first of a quartet of novels, "a reimagined epic for our times." - "Flesh," by David Szalay, which is a stylish Hungarian novel, a coming-of-age sort of thing. 

Today's guest isn't only a reader with a specific readerly conundrum, she is also a beloved author. Anne has recommended Julie Berry's work to several past guests, and Julie also joined us over in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club back in 2020. Today, she's here to talk with Anne about writing and discovering smart books with big heart. They also dive into conversation about Julie's independent bookstore and her unexpected path to becoming a bookstore owner. Plus, they discuss Julie's upcoming new release and how she finds books that shine through the clamor of blurbs and endorsements. Anne shares a handful of recommendations with Julie while also inviting her to tell us more about some of her favorites. You'll find the full list of titles mentioned over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/489. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fr. Patrick preached this homily on August 2, 2025. The readings are from Leviticus 25:1, 8-17, Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8 & Matthew 14:1-12. — Connect with us! Website: https://slakingthirsts.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCytcnEsuKXBI-xN8mv9mkfw

Here we present the audio from our seventh book club meeting discussing the book Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

SummaryIn this conversation, Shannon Valenzuela interviews Charity Hill, an 11th grade integrated humanities instructor for Valor North Austin and host of the Bright Wings podcast on children's literature. They discuss the importance of discernment in selecting children's literature, the interconnectedness of truth, goodness, and beauty, and the transformative power of reading. Charity shares her experiences as a teacher and podcaster, emphasizing that children's literature is not just for children but holds profound significance for readers of all ages. The conversation highlights the role of literature in shaping values and understanding the human experience.Resources & Links:Charity's Website and Podcast: https://www.brightwingschildrensbooks.com/Charity's Literature Discernment WorksheetTopics Covered:Discernment in children's literatureChildren's literature as formationTruth, goodness, and beauty in literature The benefits of reading aloud togetherChildren's books that aren't just for childrenGuest:Charity Andrzejewski Hill is a 2002 University of Dallas graduate, where she majored in English. After graduating, Charity did youth and family ministry in Canada and Ireland and then earned a masters of theology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage an Family. She is married to Conor Hill for almost 18 years and together they have four children. Charity started a podcast in 2020 on children's literature, and she authors the Family Supplement for Well-Read Mom, pairing children's literature with the material the women read each month. She also contributes yearly to the publication Magnificat. What currently dominates her time and her thoughts are her 11th grade students, to whom she teaches integrated humanities at the public charter school Valor North Austin.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction04:41 Evaluating Children's Literature06:43 Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in Literature08:36 Moral Clarity in Children's Books10:57 The Significance of Children's Literature12:25 Beauty in Literature and Its Impact14:19 The Role of Beauty in Action16:15 The Long Gaze: Discernment in Literature22:06 Children's Literature Beyond Childhood27:10 Literature and Formation30:14 Transformative Books from Childhood34:08 The Importance of Slowing Down in Reading36:11 Teaching 11th Grade Literature41:56 ConclusionUD LinksClassical Education Master's Program at the University of Dallas: udallas.edu/classical-edSt. Ambrose Center Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators: https://k12classical.udallas.edu/Support the showIf you enjoyed the show, please leave a rating and review — it helps others find us!

Do you have a stack of books in your house making you feel guilty? Maybe you don't remember the last time you read a good book, or maybe you're itching to find your next good read. Well, today's episode with Maggie is all about reading. We chat about what we're reading, how to develop our “reading muscles,” why reading is good for our souls, and more. Also, tune in to hear what's planned for Strong Women this summer! Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton  The Chance by Karen Kingsbury  Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe  Emma by Jane Austen  Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott  Theo of Golden by Allen Levi   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center, which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what's happening in the world and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly journal: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women    Join Strong Women on Social Media:   https://www.facebook.com/StrongWomenCC  https://www.facebook.com/groups/strongwomencommunitycc/  https://www.instagram.com/strongwomencc/  https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc 

This episode was originally released on The Good Books. In this episode, I chat with author Angela Denker about her latest book, ⁠Disciples of White Jesus⁠. Subscribe to Angela's ⁠newsletter⁠. Support the show via my newsletter: ⁠postevangelicalpost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about

A Charlotte Mason education in language arts begins with good books. Here's why choosing living books is so important. Charlotte Mason Language Arts: Good Books originally appeared on Simply Charlotte Mason.