Podcasts about Good Friday

Today is day 61 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the seventh line: “He suffered under Pontius Pilate” and studying question 61. 61. How do Jesus' sufferings help you? Jesus has experienced our sufferings, understands our sorrows, and is able to sympathize with our weakness. Therefore, I should bear my sufferings with perseverance and hope, for my Savior is with me in them, and through them I will come to know him more fully. (Job 9:32–35; Psalm 22:22–26; Isaiah 53:4–7; Luke 4:1–13; Hebrews 4:14–5:10) We will conclude today with The Collect for Good Friday found on page 608 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This was a Fourth of July where there would be no fireworks. Just a lot of tears. It was raining when the campers went to sleep that night. But no one knew that the Guadalupe River would turn into a raging flood while they slept. The girls at Mystic Camp were awakened by that flood smashing into their cabins. Some were able to escape. Twenty-four could not. A few days ago, the President recalled that awful night. In the middle of his State of the Union address. He told the story of one of the Mystic Camp girls. Her name, Milly Cate. Eleven years old. In the midst of the surging flood, she prayed for God to save her. And a man who seemed to come out of nowhere, did. I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Hope When The Water Is Rising." He was Scott Ruskan. Coast Guard rescue swimmer. You know those guys who come down from a chopper to rescue people from oceans and housetops. Now Scott had gone to college to major in accounting. But Somewhere along the way, he decided his calling was to rescue. But this was his first mission. And he was the answer to Milly Cate's prayer. We know that because the President of the United States told us told the story. He said, "As the waters threatened to sweep her away, 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond closed her eyes and prayed to God she thought she was going to die. Those prayers were answered when Coast Guard rescuer Scott Ruskan descended from a helicopter above." You know Milly Cate was one of 164 people that he rescued that awful night. He was the only first responder around. The President introduced him and then honored him on the spot with the prestigious Legion of Merit medal for "exceptionally meritorious conduct." But his real "award," well that was the young girl next to him. Milly Cate. Who, facing almost certain death, had one hope that night. A rescuer from above. Thank God, he came. You know in a way, that's my story, too. And, no doubt, the story of many who are hearing this. I want you to hear our word for the day from the Word of God. It tells the greatest rescue story of all. Galatians 1:4: "Jesus gave His life for us... to rescue us." Now with Good Friday approaching, that's what that middle cross at a place called Skull Hill was all about. The greatest act of love in the history of mankind. As the Bible explains, "He carried our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). And that's because instead of living for the One who gave us our life, we have raised our fist and said, "You run the universe, God - I'll run me." And spiritual hijacking carries an unspeakable, eternal death penalty. So there I was, I stood facing the onrushing flood of the judgment of Almighty God. Nothing I could do could pay that death penalty. And here is the stunning rescue story that captured my heart forever. I did the sinning. God's Son did the dying! That's how much He loves me, and you. The Rescuer from above didn't just risk His life to save us. He gave His life. And like a camper facing death that tragic night, my only hope was a Rescuer from above. And I'm compelled to say this today. And get to you with this message, because I don't want you or anybody to miss Him. God says, "I have set before you life and death. Now choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19). I pray you will do that this day. If you have never reached out to the Rescuer to be your rescuer from your sin take care of that now. Say, "Jesus I am yours from this day forward." Check out our website would you, because there you will find what you need know to be sure you belong to Him. It's ANewStory.com. Because when Jesus comes to rescue you, you ought to grab His hand. Because Hope has come.

One of the perennial discussions in the Reformed tradition is over the frequency with which we ought to observe and partake in the Lord's Supper together. In the history of the CRC, it was common to partake quarterly and on Good Friday. But the growing trend today in the Reformed and Presbyterian churches seems to be going the other direction, toward weekly celebration. In this week's episode we aim to mine the Scriptures and the Reformed tradition's great luminaries to show that while there is no express command, there does seem to be a general push for more frequency rather than less.   The article we mention in the episode from Resurrection OPC in Matthews, NC can be found here: https://www.rpcmatthews.org/articles/reformed-theologians-on-the-frequency-of-communion-past-amp-present ----more---- Visit www.almondvalley.org for information about Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, CA. Music by Jonathan Ogden used with permission.

Greg Wheatley, host of the online music platform Sound of Majesty, joins Wayne Shepherd and gives a brief biographical sketch of two great composers. (click for more...)    Website:  www.soundofmajesty.orgIn this edition of First Person, Wayne Shepherd interviews Greg Wheatley, host of SoundofMajesty.org, about the life, faith, and musical legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach, with additional insights into Felix Mendelssohn. Wheatley explains that Bach, a devout Lutheran, viewed all his work as done for the glory of God, often signing his compositions “Soli Deo Gloria.” They discuss Bach's monumental St. Matthew Passion, highlighting its theological depth and intricate craftsmanship, originally written for Good Friday worship. The conversation also explores how Mendelssohn revived Bach's music nearly a century after his death, sparking renewed appreciation for his genius. Throughout the discussion, Wheatley emphasizes that classical sacred music, though sometimes perceived as complex, remains spiritually accessible and deeply moving for listeners today.                                              NEXT WEEK:  Phil CallawaySend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Lawmakers are trying to bring more holidays to the state of Utah, including Good Friday. Greg and Holly discuss the details.  

Today we're bringing you an episode with Esau McCaulley, from the Lenten season of 2023. Esau sees Lent as a practice of collective generational wisdom, passed down through centuries of sacramental rhythms—but as a contemporary reality, Lent is a spiritual rebellion against mainstream American culture. He construes Lent as a season of repentance and grace; he points out the justice practices of Lent; he walks through a Christian understanding of death, and the beautiful practice of stripping the altars on Maundy Thursday; and he's emphatic about how it's a guided season of pursuing the grace to find (or perhaps return) to yourself as God has called you to be. In his classic text, Great Lent, Orthodox priest and theologian Alexander Schmemann calls this season one of “bright sadness”—an important paradox that represents both Christian realism and hope. Lent is not about gloom, self-loathing, performative penitence, or despair. Instead it brings us face to face with our human condition, reminding us that we did not bring ourselves into being and someday we will die, sober about the reality and banality of evil, and sorrowful in a way that leads back to joy. Esau McCaulley is The Jonathan Blanchard Associate Professor of New Testament and Public Theology at Wheaton College, a contributing writer for the New York Times, and is author of many books, including children's books. Notables are Reading While Black, a theology of Lent, and his latest: How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family's Story of Hope and Survival in the American South. This episode was made possible in part by the generous support of the Tyndale House Foundation. For more information, visit tyndale.foundation. About Esau McCaulley Esau McCaulley is The Jonathan Blanchard Associate Professor of New Testament and Public Theology at Wheaton College, a contributing writer for the New York Times, and is author of many books, including children's books. Notables are Reading While Black, a theology of Lent, and his latest: How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family's Story of Hope and Survival in the American South. Learn more at https://esaumccaulley.com/. Show Notes Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal — https://esaumccaulley.com/books/lent-book/ Commodifying our rebellion—the agency on offer is a thin, weakened agency. Repentance, grace, and finding (or returning to) yourself Examination of conscience The Great Litany: “For our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty. Except our repentance, Lord.” The beauty of Christianity “Liturgical spirituality is not safe. God can jump out and get you at any moment in the service.” “The great thing about the, the, the season of Blend in the liturgical calendar more broadly is it gives you a thousand different entry points into transformation.” Lent is bookended by death. Black death, Coronavirus death, War death. Jesus defeated death as our great enemy. “Everybody that I know and I care about are gonna die. Everybody.” “I, as a Christian, believe that because we're going to die. our lives are of infinite value and the decisions that we make and the kinds of people we become are the only testimony that we have and that I have chosen to, to, in light of my impending death, put my faith in the one who overcame death.” Two realities: We're going to die and Jesus defeated death. Stripping of the Altars on Maundy Thursday. Silent processional in black; Good Friday celebrates no eucharist. “I'm, like, the one Pauline scholar who doesn't like to argue about justification all of the time.” Good Friday's closing prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, we pray you to set your passion cross and death between your judgment and our souls.” “You end Lent with: Something has to come between God's judgement and our souls. And that thing is Jesus.” “Lent is God loving you enough to tell you the truth about yourself, but not condemning you for it, but actually saying that you can be better than that.” Production Notes This podcast featured Esau McCaulley Edited and Produced by Evan Rosa Hosted by Evan Rosa Production Assistance by Macie Bridge, Luke Stringer, and Kaylen Yun. A Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/about Support For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give Acknowledgements This episode was made possible in part by the generous support of Blueprint 1543. For more information, visit http://blueprint1543.org/.

2602 talks about the Guthrie investigation.  Experience tells law enforcement that she is not alive, but she still needs to be found.  I talk about cases that relate to how I would handle the situation.  Episodes 17 Fairmont Quad.  32 Good Friday and 2408 speak of how to get it done.

Today, we are beginning our Lenten series Holy God, Holy Lives as the 40-day Lenten period in the church year begins this Wednesday, a time of reflection as we journey to the cross on Good Friday and Jesus' resurrection on Easter. We will begin by reflecting on Leviticus 1:1-9, When God Moves In. Leviticus is all about our holy God calling for his people to be holy as he is. It's a book of sacrifices pointing to Jesus, and a book that reveals through laws and images, how serious our sin is and how great God's grace is. We will begin by looking at a sacrifice of atonement.

Friends of the Rosary,Lent is a period of preparation for the central events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Christ, the Son of God in human nature, died on the cross on Good Friday because of the sins of the human race.By being obedient to his heavenly Father, Christ made atonement for all our disobediences and set us free from the slavery of Satan and of sin.In his resurrection, his human nature was glorified by God the Father, and if we follow Christ faithfully in this life, we will all be offered a share in an eternal life of glory.During the forty days of Lenten, we make a commitment to fasting or giving up certain things in our lives as an act of penitence.The number 40 is significant throughout Scripture; Noah was on the Ark for 40 days, Moses fasted 40 days before receiving the Ten Commandments, and Jesus spent 40 days fasting in preparation for His work on earth.The celebration of Lent is not a commandment but an opportunity to renew our faith and edify our spirit.Today is the Optional Memorial of St. Polycarp of Smyrna (69-155), who was converted to Christianity by St. John the Evangelist. He was a disciple of the apostles and a friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch. He suffered martyrdom in 155 by burning at the stake in the amphitheater of Smyrna.Today's Gospel tells us that we must practice charity and perform works of mercy to all, without distinction, in the name of Christ. When our Blessed Lord comes to us in the Eucharist today, he will give us the joy of hearing his invitation to possess the kingdom prepared for us by his Father from the foundation of the world.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠February 23, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

John 14:1-14 - Facing Turbulence  |  Series: Not Alone - Easter 2026  | Upper Room Discourse |  Sam Holm, Lead Pastor |  Preached 2-22-26 10:45am  Tag: Easter, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Fasting, Prayer, Last Supper, Jesus, Disciples, Teaching, Upper Room, Plane, Fly, Trouble, Airplane, Help, Pilot, Trust, Grace, Ask, Pray

John 14:1-14 - Facing Turbulence  |  Series: Not Alone - Easter 2026  | Upper Room Discourse |  Sam Holm, Lead Pastor |  Preached 2-22-26 10:45am  Tag: Easter, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Fasting, Prayer, Last Supper, Jesus, Disciples, Teaching, Upper Room, Plane, Fly, Trouble, Airplane, Help, Pilot, Trust, Grace, Ask, Pray

You can't get to Easter without going through Good Friday.

At Jesus' Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God MESSAGE SUMMARY:  Think about the magnitude of your direct and personal access to God that your prayers give you, through Jesus, if you will only pray. Before Jesus, ordinary people did not have direct access to God, through the Throne Room of God, with a direct personal relationship with God. In Old Testament times, people would come to the priests; and the priest would offer up a sacrifice on behalf of the people. The priests, and not the people, were communing directly with God. On Good Friday and at Jesus death on the cross, the “Temple Veil” was torn from top to bottom (i.e. “Temple Vail” was a large, very thick, and very heavy barrier that divided that portion of the Temple accessible by those wishing to sacrifice for prayer and the “Holy of Holies” where the only the High Priest could meet with God and pray on behalf of the people of God.). At Jesus Resurrection, no longer was an intermediary (e.g., a Priest) required for direct prayer with God by the people in Christ (i.e. Jesus Followers).  Because Jesus created a New Covenant relationship with His followers, now your prayers are in direct communion with God, the Creator of the Universe. Everyone, who is in Christ, may have access to the Throne Room of God in the name of Jesus. What a privilege this direct access to God is for those who are in Christ. The author of Hebrews, in Hebrews 4:16, tells Jesus Followers that, because of the Gospel, you have direct access to God's “throne of Grace” for your needs: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Philippians 4:1-13; John 15:9-10; Revelation 4:1-2; Psalms 69c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Essentials Part 5 – The Holy Spirit” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Matthew 4:1-11Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,' and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' ”Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' ” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. Some of you might have seen my Facebook post last week about how I was listening to Brandi Carlile in preparation for the show Christa and I saw on Friday, up in Chicago. (Brandi Carlile sings “The Story” that we sang in worship last year every Wednesday, during Lent. She's the woman who sang “America the Beautiful” before the Super Bowl a couple of weeks, too. She's one of my favorites.) Anyway, with today's Gospel on my brain, my concert-prep turned into sermon-prep when her duet with Brandy Clark showed up in my playlist by way of a song called, “Same Devil.”Among other things, in this song about the way evil sneaks into our lives the Brandies sing:Everybody's got some kind of hellJust different levelsDifferent demonsSame devilHe don't knockHe walks right inAnd if you're not watchin'You'll run right into himSame wrong, different rightDifferent tunnel, same bright lightEverybody lookin' for God on every levelDifferent demonsSame damn devilIt felt like the universe and my Spotify playlist were on the same page as the lectionary and this perennial story of Jesus' temptation showed up at the beginning of another Lent.And as we live into and begin this season of Lent together, as we consider a journey to the Cross of Good Friday and as we look forward to the hope of Easter, what does this little game of “Truth or Dare” between Jesus and the Devil have to do with us? What does this duel of wit and willpower, good and evil, Truth and temptation have to do with you or with me?For my money, the power of this story comes in its persistent relevance – the nearness of this devil and the evil he represents; these temptations that belong to us just as much as they showed up for Jesus; the way we're all “looking for God on every level,” as the song goes; how we each struggle with different demons, but it's the same damn devil – the same evil of Sin and temptation – that dogs us all, that walks right in on every one of us, without knocking, at some time or another in our lives.And the evidence of how prolific it is – this sin, this evil, this temptation – and the impact of our capacity to choose and fall victim to it, is everywhere.Remember that unfaithful couple who got caught red-handed on the Kiss Cam at the Coldplay concert this summer? Their temptation – and its ramifications – were as public as it gets.And did you see the controversy over that Canadian Olympic curler who, video evidence seems to show, just couldn't resist poking that stone ever-so slightly and every-so slyly, over the line and outside of the rules? And it can be deeper and darker than any of that, of course, too.We've all heard about the man who shot and killed that police officer in Beech Grove, Brian Elliott, last week. What Devil … what Evil … what choices rolled around in his heart of hearts before he made the worst, wrong decision to pull the trigger last Monday evening?And how about those social media oligarchs who are on trial for manipulating algorithms to influence the hearts and minds and lives of us all – and especially our young people – for the sake of more of our time, more of our allegiance, more of their money. What Devil of greed and power must be whispering in their ear and winning their allegiance in all of that?And what about those Epstein Files? What ugly, depraved, sinful temptation crept into the mind and body of every grown man who's name – redacted or not – released or still hidden – is listed in that infamous and evil treasure trove of sin?Obviously, temptation and its results in the world surround us. All over the place, people are trying in all the wrong ways to prove their worth, to put their God to the test, to gain and abuse power, to test the limits of Sin. In other words, too many take the dare every time. And sometimes, if we're honest, the sort of cosmic “Truth or Dare” – this duel between truth and temptation – is even closer than the evening news.I'm grateful and pray that most of us won't ever have the chance to play this game on a world-sized stage or with such devastating results, but we're familiar with the wilderness Jesus finds himself in this morning, are we not?We can always measure and minimize our sinfulness against something as ugly and depraved as the Epstein Files, but we can also opt to misuse privilege and abuse power in ways that shame children or that take advantage of others unfairly.We may not have the capacity to commit corporate-level fraud … but there's always the option of being honest with our taxes; and we decide daily what “enough” is for us and with whom we will share our treasures – our God or our greed.We may not have influence over something as grand as the Olympic games, but we are faced often with the opportunity to choose, to support, and to vote for fairness, equity, and justice.We may never get caught cheating on the big screen at Madison Square Garden, but we make choices daily about whether to treat our spouses or significant others with integrity – or not. Truth or Dare. The nature of the game has changed for those of us who find ourselves playing it NOT at birthday parties or in our pajamas at a sleep-over, but in our offices and in our schools and in our relationships and in our churches, too.So maybe the greatest lesson we learn here is the simple fact that Jesus had to play this game, too. We've learned of Jesus' coming to be with us – to be like us – as a baby in a manger. And we're preparing to witness again that he died like we will, too. But it's easy to forget that, in the meantime, even while he was preaching and teaching and healing and doing all kinds of miraculous things, Jesus was tempted and tested just like us as well.The same damn devil that hounds us all … the same evil with which we contend … knocked on Jesus' door, too.But, thankfully, Jesus – as one of us – shows us how to play the game more faithfully. Jesus could have answered the temptations of evil by changing stones into bread and he could have jumped head-first off the top of the temple and lived, but where would that leave you and me? Who of us here can respond to temptation with that kind of power?That's why the hope for me in this morning's Gospel is that Jesus dealt with the evil that confronted him without miracles, without relying on his own wisdom and without even his friends, his family and his disciples to help bail him out, that day in the wilderness. Jesus relied on nothing more and nothing less than his faith in the God who loved him, no matter what. The God who – at his baptism, not long before – had declared him beloved; and with whom God was already and always “well pleased.” And there's hope in that good news for each of us.Because of that, we get to see that faith is not only about miracles, grand gestures, and demonstrations of power – like the Devil likes to pretend. Jesus' proved – even in the darkest moments of his temptations – in his solitude, when no one was looking – that faith is about nothing more and nothing less than relying on the Word, the promises, the Truth, and the love of God.So I don't know what your greatest temptations may be – the juicy stuff – vices of drink or drug or pornography or gambling, maybe. The small sacrifices some of us give up for Lent – chocolate, coffee, cursing, or social media, perhaps. (Frankly, I don't believe God cares as much about those thing as the world likes to pretend – unless or until they do damage to our lives, our relationships, or to the world around us, of course.)Maybe what tempts you is harder to see – the temptation to keep holding that grudge, or to refuse that forgiveness; the temptation to selfishness or pride or perfection; the temptation to let your fears and your grief trump your faith and your hope, too much of the time.Whatever the case, Jesus shows us today that, because of his victory – not just that day in the wilderness but in his victory over the cross, too – that because he has already won the game between truth and temptation, between good and evil, between life and death, you and I get to play it all differently.Because of his victory, new dares, new challenges and new lives are ours for the taking. Let us be tempted, then, to trust in our own forgiveness – so that we might share that kind of mercy with others. Let us be tempted to more gratitude and generosity. Let us be tempted to live knowing joy and hope and expectation of better things to come.And let us be tempted to share, more often and more generously, an abundance of grace with ourselves, each other, and the world – not because we're plagued by the same damn devil – but because we're claimed by the same loving God, in Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen

February 21, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Lent 1 - Psalm 91:1-2, 9-10, 13; antiphon: Psalm 91:15a, c, 16Daily Lectionary: Genesis 3:1-24; Mark 2:1-17“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.I'm not from Missouri, but I know that Missouri is known as the “Show Me” state. You might know the phrase “actions speak louder than words.” We can say lots of things, but if our actions don't support our words, you can certainly doubt whether or not the person speaking those words really means it. So too, with love. We can say that we love someone, but if our actions seem contrary to our words, one might question the love we have for them. In other words, if you love me, show me!On Good Friday, the people who were gathered at the cross asked Jesus to show them that He really was who He said He was, the Son of God, by coming down from the cross. One of the criminals on the cross next to Jesus even told Him to save Himself and the two of them on either side of Him. Except the ONLY way that Jesus could show everyone that He really was who He said He was was by NOT coming down from the cross. The only way for Jesus to bring forgiveness and salvation was to remain there until He breathed His last breath and gave up His spirit. Love kept Jesus on the cross. Love for you, love for me, love for the whole world. And it is in His death and His subsequent resurrection from the dead where He is able to show them the salvation that He won for them. As Jesus appears to the women, the disciples, and over 500 people at one time, showing the nail marks in His hands and feet, and His side where the sword pierced Him, they are able to see just how Jesus saved them. It is in His death and resurrection that He shows the world that He has defeated sin, death, and the power of the devil, once and for all. And if Christ is not risen from the dead, our faith is futile, we are still in our sins, and there is no salvation for us. Thanks be to God that Christ has indeed risen from the dead, and will one day come back and take us to be with Him! Thanks be to God that He has given us His Word, where we can hear of His salvation. And thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit creates faith in us through the hearing of that Word, so that by faith we know we also have salvation. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Christ the redeeming Son, who shares our human birth, and by His death salvation won for ev'ry child of earth; Inspire our hearts, we pray, to tell Your love abroad, that all may honor Christ today and follow Him as Lord. (LSB 829:3)Rev. Glenn Worcester, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, Winnipeg, ManitobaAudio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

(February 20, 2026) IT’S FOODIE FRIDAY! Food enthusiast and host of ‘The Fork Report’ on KFI Neil Saavedra joins Bill to talk about the best produce to buy to shrink grocery spending, how to celebrate the Lunar New Year with food, and the Lenton season bringing out fish sandwiches out in full force. The show closes with ‘Ask Handel Anything.’See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IT’S FOODIE FRIDAY! Food enthusiast and host of ‘The Fork Report’ on KFI Neil Saavedra joins Bill to talk about the best produce to buy to shrink grocery spending, how to celebrate the Lunar New Year with food, and the Lenton season bringing out fish sandwiches out in full force.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A teacher "Feel Good" that has us in TEARS! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick answers questions about scrupulosity, church authority on fasting, and the controversy within the Book of Mormon. He addresses callers' concerns about justice regarding the Epstein files and explores struggles with illness and faith by sharing stories and recommending saints. The discussion jumps between practical advice, personal stories, and moments of spiritual insight as Patrick looks at Abraham’s trust and the uniqueness of Christ’s sacrifice. Darwin (email) - Can you expand on what scrupulosity is? (00:35) Mary Anne - What do you tell people who are Mormon or interesting in becoming Mormon? (05:59) Luis - Why do we not eat meat on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday? It doesn't say this in the Bible, according to my coworkers. (11:29) Carmen - Why hasn't Patrick talked about the Epstein files? Aren't we as Catholics supposed to talk about this? (18:41) Christopher - I am in OCIA right now. I have heard that Jesus is spotless. What makes Jesus's sacrifice more important than others? (26:11) Phyllis - My friend has OCD. She seems scrupulous about taking God's name in vain. How can I help her? (30:25) Alex – Today’s Gospel reading; what does Jesus mean by carrying your cross but then says to have faith in another passage? (36:12) Lili - God doesn't ask anything from us that he wouldn't give to us as well. It reminds me of the Crucifixion. (46:25)

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!Ashes signal a beginning, not an ending. We open Lent by choosing a clear path: daily readings from Divine Intimacy and a simple, sturdy way to pray that draws us into God's love without performance. The Teresian method becomes our map—presence, reading, meditation, colloquy—so prayer shifts from theory to encounter. Instead of grand gestures, we aim for honest conversation with the One who already loves us, letting doctrine nourish devotion and guide the heart.From the very start, the message is sharp: remember you are dust. That truth doesn't crush; it clarifies. We talk about mortality as a gift that resets priorities, nudging us to detach from what fades and choose what lasts—charity, fidelity, and a steady pursuit of holiness. Then we turn to penance with the nuance it deserves. Fasting and abstinence matter, but only as signs of a deeper conversion. Rend hearts, not garments. Keep sacrifices hidden, mortify self-love first, and let humility give your practices weight. We break down the basics—Ash Wednesday and Good Friday fasting, Friday abstinence in Lent—and gently challenge you to go beyond the bare minimum if health allows. Detachment reveals desire; desire finds God.Along the way, we stay practical and pastoral. Keep Sundays free from fasting. If a fuller abstinence helps, keep it. Pair fasting with daily, focused prayer; use the colloquy to turn belief into love. Revisit the Cross through the Stations. If you need inspiration, the saints are close at hand—Teresa, Thérèse, John of the Cross—teaching us to build intimacy on solid ground. Our goal isn't a tougher checklist but a truer heart, one that moves from ashes to Easter with purpose.Want to journey with us? Subscribe for daily releases on YouTube and audio, share this with a friend who needs a Lenten reset, and leave a review with your own practice this season. Let's seek what endures together.Support the showGoFundMe for Catholic couple in need: https://gofund.me/314382e0dCheck out our new sponsor, Nic Nac, at www.nicnac.com and use code "AB25%" for 25% off!Want the best potato chips in the world? Head over to fatthins.com and use code AB10 for 10% off!********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://avoiding-babylon-shop.fourthwall.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comFull Premium/Locals Shows on Audio Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1987412/subscribeRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssRumble: https://rumble.com/c/AvoidingBabylon

Friends of the Rosary,Today, February 18, is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the solemn observance of the central act of human history: the redemption of the human race by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Lent is the ancient penitential time that precedes the Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum—Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil, before the Easter season, the joy of the Resurrection with the celebration of Christ's passing over from death to life.These forty days of penance in Lent start with the sacramental of the imposition of ashes during Mass, a sign of conversion, penance, fasting, humility, human mortality, and the need to be redeemed by the mercy of God.The ashes are made from the palms used at the previous Passion Sunday ceremonies.Today, and all Fridays during Lent, all the baptized abstain from eating meat. We also do some little fasting, eating only one full meal or two smaller meals.Lent is a time for conversion to Jesus Christ and the deepening of our friendship with him. The human challenge of continual conversion requires the disciplines of Lent: fasting, almsgiving, and intensified prayer.Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• February 18, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021826.cfmThe world has its “small-g gods”: sex, money, and power. In this powerful Lenten homily, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC explains how the consecrated religious counter them through poverty, chastity, and obedience—but what about the laity?The answer is the Church's timeless Lenten call: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.Fasting disciplines the flesh and breaks the grip of pleasure. Almsgiving loosens our attachment to money by giving not from surplus, but from sacrifice. Prayer humbles our desire for control and power, reminding us that God is in charge—not us. These are not random practices; they are spiritual weapons.Father Chris reminds us that Lent occurs 46 days before Easter, with 40 days of fasting (Sundays excluded). Ash Wednesday—first named in 1091 under Pope Urban II—flows from ancient Jewish penitential practice and early Christian public penance. The ashes, made from burned palms, are sacramentals, not the Eucharist itself. They symbolize our mortality: “Remember you are dust.”Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting (ages 18–59) and abstinence (14+). All Fridays of Lent require abstinence from meat. Fridays throughout the year remain penitential days.Lent is 10% of the calendar year—a perfect tithe of time. As Father shares, the currency of friendship is time. If we love God, we give Him time.This Lent is not about giving up bad things. It's about surrendering lesser goods to seek the Greatest Good. Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow Christ. ★ Support this podcast ★

Join Father Peter Flynn as he guides you through the Church's teachings on fasting and abstinence, explaining the difference between the two, who is bound by these rules, and how to approach Lent with understanding and devotion. Perfect for anyone seeking clarity on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and the practice of penance in daily life. L'articolo Catechesis – What are ‘Fasting and Abstinence'? – Fr Peter George Flynn OFMConv proviene da Radio Maria.

Please Join us for Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, February 18th at 10:00am at St. Adalbert Church 160 S. 15th St. Pittsburgh, PA 15203 and at 7:00pm at St. Mary of the Mount Church at 407 Grandview Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15211 Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence in the United States. . The obligation of abstinence (refraining from eating meat) begins at the age of 14. The law of fasting (limiting oneself to one full meal and two lighter meals) obliges all between the ages of 18-59. No one should consider this obligation lightly. . Those individuals who have a medical condition in which fasting may be considered harmful are not obligated to fast but should perform some other act of penance or Charity. . Pastors and parents are to see to it that minors, though not bound by the law of fast and abstinence, are educated in the authentic sense of penance and encouraged to do acts of penance suitable to their age. . All members of the Christian Faithful are encouraged to do acts of penance and charity during the Lenten season beyond what is prescribed by the law. . As a general rule, a request for dispensation from the obligation of abstinence on Fridays of Lent will not be considered unless some serious reason is present. The attendance at social events, banquets, wedding rehearsals or receptions, or funeral wakes are not considered Sufficient reason to request a dispensation. Opening: #949 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus Readings: #1107 Psalm: Ps: 119 Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord (Mayernik) Presentation: #853 All People That on Earth do dwell Closing: #685 How Can I keep from Singing All music reproduced and streamed with permission from ONE LICENSE, license #A-723939. Organist: Sarah SinkMars Celebrant: Father Jerome Atinúkẹ́ and Deacon Frank Szemanski Today's readings (via USCCB): bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading For more information, visit our parish website at MaryQueenofPeacePGH.org.

John 13:31-38 - Cross Shaped Love  |  Series: Not Alone - Easter 2026  | Upper Room Discourse |  Sam Holm, Lead Pastor |  Preached 2-15-26 10:45am  Tag: Easter, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Fasting, Prayer, Last Supper, Jesus, Disciples, Teaching, Upper Room, Serve, Glorify God, Satan, Cross, Life, Friend, Bus

John 13:31-38 - Cross Shaped Love  |  Series: Not Alone - Easter 2026  | Upper Room Discourse |  Sam Holm, Lead Pastor |  Preached 2-15-26 10:45am  Tag: Easter, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Fasting, Prayer, Last Supper, Jesus, Disciples, Teaching, Upper Room, Serve, Glorify God, Satan, Cross, Life, Friend, Bus

"Beyond Sunday" are episodes from Adam and Narrate staff that dive deeper into our life with Christ. Lent is coming! Adam, Hannah, and Leslie talk all things Lent, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and the Wednesday prayer services. Reach out if you'd like to talk more about building your own lent practice this year.

In this episode, Ken returns to the work of Walter Brueggemann, this week exploring the tension between order and justice in the New Testament through the life and ministry of Jesus. Brueggemann contends that God is always on the side of justice, even when it disrupts the order of theday. Jesus focused much of his ministry on those excluded from societal benefits enjoyed by those with power, showing compassion not only through individual acts of justice and mercy but by boldly challenging systems that oppressed anddehumanized the powerless. He exposed how law, order, and religious systems and structures were often used to manipulate and preserve power for some at the expense of so many others.According to Brueggemann, opposition to Jesus was mobilized primarily because his actions threatened the political and economic order of his time. When we stand with the harmed and marginalized, the powers that be – those who benefit from the status quo – will often move against us. Jesus calls the Church to share in his mission – to be his hands and feet in ministries of justice and prophetic protest.Jesus represented God's intervention into the social powers, institutions, and ideologies that crushed the powerless and diminished human dignity. The prophetic witness of both the Old and New Testaments affirms that God's desire for justice cannot be contained. God's will WILL be done, and the Kingdom WILL come. So take courage and do not lose hope in the pursuit of justice and the ministry of shalom. Good Friday has passed, and Easter is coming! This episode was recorded on February 6th, 2026.

For part 8 of 12 on “What is the Nicene Creed?” we unpack these lines:he ascended into heaven            and is seated at the right hand of the Father He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,        and his kingdom will have no end.Ok so Jesus was born (Christmas), lived and did ministry and healed and taught and stuff, then was killed (Good Friday), and rose again (Easter) before he ... ascended into heaven. It's a big deal, but probably the most confusing part of his story on earth? So we called our most-listened to guest, our brilliant friend, the Rev. (future-Dr.!) Kelli Joyce, to unpack this for us. (Her previous episode with us, "What is Confession?" remains our #1 episode ever!) The Rev. Kelli Joyce is an Episcopal priest and a PhD student at Vanderbilt University.More of her work is here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAcZY-jo5lEhttps://www.christiancentury.org/contributor/kelli-joyce +++Like what you hear? We are an entirely crowd-sourced, you-funded project. SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/AndAlsoWithYouPodcastThere's all kinds of perks including un-aired live episodes, Zoom retreats, and mailbag episodes for our Patreons!+++Our Website: https://andalsowithyoupod.comOur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andalsowithyoupodcast/++++MERCH: https://www.bonfire.com/store/and-also-with-you-the-podcast/++++More about Father Lizzie:BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/RevLizzie.comhttps://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzieJubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org ++++More about Mother Laura:https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peachesSt. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA++++Theme music:"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).New episodes drop Mondays at 7am EST/6am CST! 

On a trip to the Philippines in 2015, Pope Francis met a twelve-year-old girl who captured the hearts of people around the world. She tearfully asked the Pope why God allowed children to suffer? The young girl, Glyzelle Palomar, used to live her life on the streets. She was abandoned by her parents and left to make her own way as best she could. Glyzelle broke down in tears as she asked: “Why is God allowing something like this to happen, even to innocent children? And why are there so few helping us?” Pope Francis, visibly moved, responded, “Only when we are able to cry are we able to come close to respond to your question. There are some realities that you can only see through eyes that are cleansed by tears.” Today's Gospel reading about people rushing to their homes to gather the sick and bring them to Jesus tells us that the question of suffering is one of the most challenging ones of any time to address. We see physical suffering, people with medical conditions and serious diseases carrying great pain. We know there are people suffering from depression, schizophrenia, and other mental disorders. And then there are people spiritually suffering - lost, without hope, in despair - no faith, no meaning to their lives. People suffer all around us. No doubt, we ourselves at times need to embrace the mystery of suffering. Perhaps the most difficult suffering of all is to lose someone, to have someone we love; a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a close friend, or God forbid, a daughter or a son die.  There are no easy answers to suffering. One can read every theology book in the world and still be left with the question of suffering. There is a famous Austrian poet, he is dead now, Rainer Marie Rilke, who said this: “Sometimes we can only live with the questions, stay with them, mull them over in our mind. Perhaps slowly, over time, we gradually live into the answers.”  The people living on the shores of the Sea of Galilee knew where to look in trying to understand the mystery of suffering. They looked to this simple, loving man from Nazareth. They learned from Jesus that God is in every place of pain and suffering. God is there. God is present. God has not abandoned the poor and pain-filled people of the world.  But it is important to remember that our faith is not only a Good Friday faith. Good Friday leads to Easter Sunday. It leads to resurrection, to Christ, overcoming the bonds of death and being raised up by his Father in the Spirit, to life eternal with God the Father in heaven. We live that hope. The funeral Mass prayer sums it up: “There's comes a time when every tear shall be wiped away and we shall see you, our God, as you are and become like you, and be with you, face to face.Peace and Blessings, Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.

-Rob Carson celebrates a “Friday tsunami of winning”, mixing Benghazi justice, market highs, and Trump RX drug prices that shock even people who don't take prescriptions. -Tony Kinnett from The Daily Signal joins via the Newsmax hotline, roasting media freakouts, voter-ID panic, and the left's habit of declaring entire groups of Americans “too dumb” to function— while everyone else notices the economy improving. Today's podcast is sponsored by : RELIEF FACTOR - You don't need to live with aches & pains! Reduce muscle & joint inflammation and live a pain-free life by visiting http://ReliefFactor.com  BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In anticipation of the upcoming season of Lent, we consider how the practices of fasting and lament can remind us of our humanity and orient our hearts toward the lost. Lent and Missions: A 40-Day Devotional The Upstream Collective "This physical need reminds me how much I need the Lord. So, it's not just the removal of something; it's a taking in of something." "Forty years in the wilderness for God's people and 40 days in the wilderness for Jesus were preparation for the fulfilling of God's promise, so when we're fasting, we're experiencing that wilderness so that when Easter comes, when Good Friday comes, it's a celebration." "The big theme is to pull back [...] and see the Bible as a book of redemption for all people." "[Lent] is an invitation to slow down, to rest, to lament sorrow, sadness, and brokenness, and then to turn our eyes toward the coming Sunday." "Experiencing Jesus and moving our lives toward Him and seeking to love Him in every way, a natural outworking is His heart and passion for others, which lead us to mission." "Our hearts can lament and long to see people come to faith. And then even as we live on mission, to embrace the reality, living a missional lifestyle, sacrificing for the sake of others, is hard. It's difficult, but it's good." "There is an invitation to slow down and experience Jesus, to practice something that could be life-giving." What's changing our lives: Keane: Unsubscribing from unwanted emails Heather: Lots of snow Nathan: Establishing a morning routine of time with the Lord Weekly Spotlight: Puebla Christian Academy We'd love to hear from you! podcast@teachbeyond.org Podcast Website: https://teachbeyond.org/podcast Learn about TeachBeyond: https://teachbeyond.org/

Fr. Elias Mary Mills, F.I., served as Rector of the Shrine Church at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, from 2016 to 2021. He was ordained in May of 2000. In Today's Show: Are throat blessings on the Feast of St. Blaise more special or effective than a throat blessing requested on another day? If a priest changes the words of absolution during confession, would it still be valid?  Should a Catholic continue a friendship with someone who is not practicing and has vices? How do we know if a confession was truly valid? Should confession be done face-to-face or through a screen? What is the proper way of fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday? What should we use blessed candles for? Who are Fr. Elias's favorite saints? And more. Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 We pray with confidence since Jesus is the source of eternal salvation. The Foundation Preacher Podcast is provided to you by WELS Congregational Services. The Foundation resources were created to help churches allow the gospel message heard in worship, to echo throughout the week. Listen to multiple pastors discuss sermon topics for […]

Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 We pray with confidence since Jesus is the source of eternal salvation. The Foundation Preacher Podcast is provided to you by WELS Congregational Services. The Foundation resources were created to help churches allow the gospel message heard in worship, to echo throughout the week. Listen to multiple pastors discuss sermon topics for […]

Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 611: Ministry Transitions: Grief and Loss Recorded live at Worship 4:24 at Cedarville University, Rick Lee James explores how ministry transitions carry real grief and loss, even when the change is good. He invites leaders to stop trying to “fix” people or rush past endings, and instead to name what has been lost, because unnamed grief often shows up in congregations as conflict, resistance, disengagement, or quiet sadness. Using Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's grief framework as a set of helpful lenses rather than a checklist, Rick walks through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, offering practical ways to recognize what might be happening beneath the surface when worship styles shift, beloved leaders leave, routines change, or familiar symbols disappear. Along the way he shares his own story of moving from decades as a worship pastor into full-time hospital chaplaincy, a faithful transition that still required honest grieving, and he grounds the conversation in biblical lament, reminding listeners that resurrection hope does not bypass Good Friday.     Connect with Rick Lee James Website: RickLeeJames.com Music & merch: search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform Subscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts.     Hosted by: Rick Lee James — Voices in My Head Podcast                 Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter's Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20 ----more---- Don't forget about our music sale on Bandcamp. Use the code “10off” on RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com to get 10% off your purchase. Blessings, Rick Lee James Email: Rick@RickLeeJames.com Don't forget about our music sale on Bandcamp. Use the code “10off” on RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com to get 10% off your purchase. Blessings, Rick Lee James Email: Rick@RickLeeJames.com Blessings, Rick Lee James Get the new song - Whatever You Do VINYL SALE THUNDER by Rick Lee James ONLY $9.99. (Plus you get a free digital download of the album) VINYL SALE - “KEEP WATCH, DEAR LORD” BY RICK LEE JAMES

Voices in My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) Episode 611: Ministry Transitions: Grief and LossRecorded live at Worship 4:24 at Cedarville University, Rick Lee James explores how ministry transitions carry real grief and loss, even when the change is good. He invites leaders to stop trying to “fix” people or rush past endings, and instead to name what has been lost, because unnamed grief often shows up in congregations as conflict, resistance, disengagement, or quiet sadness. Using Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's grief framework as a set of helpful lenses rather than a checklist, Rick walks through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, offering practical ways to recognize what might be happening beneath the surface when worship styles shift, beloved leaders leave, routines change, or familiar symbols disappear. Along the way he shares his own story of moving from decades as a worship pastor into full-time hospital chaplaincy, a faithful transition that still required honest grieving, and he grounds the conversation in biblical lament, reminding listeners that resurrection hope does not bypass Good Friday.Connect with Rick Lee James:* Website: RickLeeJames.com* Music & merch: search “Rick Lee James” on your favorite music platform* Subscribe, rate, and review Voices in My Head wherever you listen to podcasts.Get the Audiobook, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter's Journey Through the Psalms by your host, Rick Lee James, on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0F45G6KWH?qid=1744142727&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=KEDVV78ASDMS52WQFD7W&plink=3YmaWg4y0HJ0Cjfc&pageLoadId=IaamycyuJR519uYD&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1%20----more----Don't forget about our music sale on Bandcamp.Use the code “10off” on RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com to get 10% off your purchase.Blessings,Rick Lee JamesEmail: Rick@RickLeeJames.comDon't forget about our music sale on Bandcamp.Use the code “10off” on RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com to get 10% off your purchase.Blessings,Rick Lee JamesEmail: Rick@RickLeeJames.comBlessings,Rick Lee JamesGet the new song - Whatever You DoVINYL SALETHUNDER by Rick Lee JamesONLY $9.99. (Plus you get a free digital download of the album)VINYL SALE -“KEEP WATCH, DEAR LORD” BY RICK LEE JAMES

We are going to take a few weeks to look at Colossians 1:15-20 as it is one of the highest Christological statements anywhere in the Bible. Yes, we celebrate Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, but sometimes forget how great Jesus is even in the midst of those holidays. Paul starts like this Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. WATCH FULL SERVICE ON YOUTUBE DOWNLOAD PDF SERMON NOTES HERE

Guest: Andy Love Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 2nd of February 2026 Released: 2nd of February 2026 Duration:  44 minutes 58 seconds In this episode Andy Love, air display coordinator of the upcoming Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026 International Airshow gives a rundown of what the public can expect to see, and he warns that tickets are selling out fast. The three-day show over Easter Weekend – 3rd to 5th of April 2026 – is looking to be a very good one with some spectacular flying acts lined up. Easter Saturday is now fully sold out but there are still General Admission and Silver Pass tickets available for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Get your tickets here!https://www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/httpswww-warbirdsoverwanaka-comairshow/tickets Also selling fast are the bookings for the various aircraft rides available, so go to the links on this page to make your bookings:https://www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/flight-experience Check out the line up here:https://www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/httpswww-warbirdsoverwanaka-comairshow/aircraft-confirmed The music at the end of this episode is Wild Flower by Joachim Karud.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:  Exodus 6-8 ; Luke 23 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible podcast! In today's episode, Hunter invites us to settle into God's Word as we journey through Exodus 6-8 and Luke 23. This reading takes us from the miraculous signs and growing tension between Moses and Pharaoh, all the way to the profound day of rest that follows Jesus' crucifixion. As Hunter reflects, even in moments of chaos and suffering—like the horrors that unfolded on Good Friday—God draws us into a deeper rest, completed through Christ's work on the cross. We're reminded that, no matter how busy or distracted life might get, God offers us peace, forgiveness, and the invitation to simply receive His rest. Join Hunter as he prays over you, shares encouragement, and reminds us all that the work has been finished and that, in Christ, we are truly loved. Whether you're tuning in for the first time or coming back for daily nourishment, this episode is an invitation to draw near and be transformed by the presence of God. TODAY'S DEVOTION: All hell was breaking loose. And Luke tells us that the people rested. The horrors of this day, the day of Christ's suffering, are culminating in a moment of rest. The women from Galilee who had witnessed Jesus' body being taken down from the cross went home on that horrific day thinking they still had work to do. We're told in verse 56 that they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished, the Sabbath had begun. So they rested from their work. Even after all of these horrors, they thought that there was still work to be done. What they did not know was that Jesus, on this Good Friday, had completed all the work necessary. So now theirs was to rest. Now the Sabbath had really come. Jesus finished the work so that the girls could rest. He finished the work so that you and I could find rest. On that Friday, Jesus went to work for bystanders and mocking soldiers. He went to work for reluctant Pilate and indulged Herod. He went to work for guilty Barabbas and Simon the Cyrene. Jesus went to work for sign makers, cross builders, common criminals, gamblers, good and righteous men like Joseph of Arimathea, and heartbroken women who are forced to watch at a distance. Jesus was finishing his work on that Friday so that we all could find rest. Jesus was giving his everything. He was working hard. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He has done the work—the work of redeeming, rescuing, forgiving the sins of the world. He forgave us because we did not know what we were doing. That's why he came to us. Because we don't know. We're trapped and blinded, unable to save ourselves. We don't know what we're doing. Jesus said so himself on the cross, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing." Athanasius says, what then was God to do when he saw humanity spiraling into non-being? What was God to do because they didn't know? He would send his Son. Our Lord Jesus would come to rescue us so that at last our eyes would be opened and we would be awakened to life and rest in him. That rest belongs to you. It belongs to all of humanity. He made it free out of the abundance of his heart of love. He did that work. There's nothing left for me to do other than to step in, to say yes, to receive freely the rest that there is in him. And that's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

 Upcoming EventsSinn Féin's Commission on the Future of Ireland is hosting a People's Assembly in Cork.  The event will take place on Thursday  19th of February 7pm at the Rochestown Park Hotel. Join the discussion on a new Ireland, how it could be achieved and what it might look like. The conversation will be led by an independent chair and panel which will be announced soon. You can register to attend on Eventbrite or at the venue on the night.  South & East Belfast Sinn Féin is hosting an evening discussion on what a world class, all-Ireland health system could look like and how we make it a reality. Chaired by Deirdre Hargey MLA, with Guest speaker David Cullinane TD and joined by panellists from across the health sector. The event will take place on the 12th of February 7pm at the Malone Lodge.  Kitson Praises Paras in BallymurphyI recently came across the autobiography of British General Sir Frank Kitson which was published last year shortly after his death. It is titled ‘Intelligent Warfare' an oxymoron in any language. In truth it is an account of British military failures through several colonial wars in which Kitson fought, including in Ireland. It is also a reflection of Kitson's enormous personal ego.Kitson came to prominence within the British military hierarchy in the 1950s during its efforts to crush the independence rebellion in Kenya. He established counter-gangs that tortured and killed Kenyan civilians. The groups were made up of British soldiers, including Kitson on occasion, and former members of those fighting against British rule. Tens of thousands of Kenyans ended up in over 150 detention camps where they were brutalized. An estimated 30,000 Kenyans were killed; one and a half million were interned; torture was commonplace and 1090 were hanged.While Kitson boasts of his role in the counter-gangs he ignores the human rights violations that underpinned British strategy in that African country.In 1970 he took command of the 39th Brigade – which covered Belfast and surrounding region. In the same year he published ‘Low Intensity Operations' which quickly became the standard text book for the British Army's counter-insurgency strategy in the following decades. A Raffle for Jim Fitzpatrick limited edition printThe Moore Street Preservation Trust is raffling our hugely popular Elizabeth O'Farrell print - a unique, framed print designed and signed by the renowned Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick. Míle buiochas Jim.  The draw will take place on Good Friday, 3 April 2026.Tickets are €5 / £5 and they can be bought at: msptshop.myshopify.com Public Media IrelandLast week a report entitled, ‘Public Media Ireland: a New PSM (Public Service Media) Organisation for a New Country' was published in Belfast. The report – a joint project by Dublin City University and Ulster University – recommends the setting up of a new public service media organisation, Public Media Ireland, if citizens  ote yes in the referendum for constitutional change.Susan McKay, the Press Ombudsman, chaired the event. The four authors of the report, Dawn Wheatley, Roddy Flynn, Stephen Baker and Phil Ramsey, shared their vision of a Public Se

Read OnlineThe disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?” Mark 2:18–19Fasting was common in Old Testament times. Its purpose was to express repentance, mourning, or preparation for divine intervention. This was especially true among John the Baptist's disciples who fasted in response to John's call to repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah.Though the Pharisees fasted, their fasting was often for show, to illustrate a false piety. Recall the Pharisee's prayer in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector: “The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income'” (Luke 18:11–12). In today's Gospel, Jesus explains that His disciples do not fast now, but that a day is coming when they will need to fast. Jesus explains this within the context of revealing His divine identity as the Bridegroom of God's people.Through the prophets, God often described His relationship with His people in terms of a marriage covenant. Isaiah said, “For your husband is your Maker; the LORD of hosts is his name, Your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth” (Isaiah 54:5). Hosea prophesied, “I will betroth you to me forever: I will betroth you to me with justice and with judgment, with loyalty and with compassion…” (Hosea 2:22–23).While Jesus, the Bridegroom, was with them physically, His disciples were at their wedding banquet, celebrating the new marriage covenant God was establishing with them. It was inappropriate to fast at such a banquet. However, “the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day” (Mark 2:20). This is a reference to Jesus' Passion, Death, and Ascension. He prophesied that once the New Marital Covenant was sealed in His Blood and His earthly mission completed, “they will fast on that day.” That day is today!In the early Church, fasting was also common: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2–3). In this instance, fasting helped the teachers and prophets in Antioch discern Saul and Barnabas' mission in preparation for sending them forth.Today, Jesus not only calls us to regular forms of fasting and mortification, doing so is an essential part of our spiritual journey. This teaching is clear in the New Testament. For example, at the beginning of Jesus' ministry He entered the desert and “fasted for forty days and forty nights” (Matthew 4:2). This models for us the value of fasting as we attempt to fulfill our missions and overcome the temptations of the evil one.If we want to imitate our Lord, deepen our covenantal bond with Him, and further His mission, then we must regularly fast. Though fasting is only required twice a year—on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday—we are encouraged to do so weekly, especially on Fridays, uniting this practice to our prayer life. Reflect today on your practice of fasting and other forms of regular mortification. Fasting is an interior discipline that unites us to the suffering Christ and prepares our hearts to receive His abundant grace. By helping us overcome the enticements of the flesh and distractions of this world, fasting refocuses our souls on the eternal wedding feast that awaits us in Heaven. Embrace fasting not as a burden, but as a joyful opportunity to grow in holiness, deepen your covenantal relationship with the Bridegroom, and prepare more fully for the mission on which He sends you.My Lord and Bridegroom, through the shedding of Your Blood, You have established a New Covenant of love and salvation with me. I long to deepen this covenant and remain faithful to the mission You have entrusted to me. When I am tempted by the disorder of my appetites or distracted by the allurements of the world, remind me of the necessity and grace of fasting. Help me to embrace this holy practice with joyful anticipation of its spiritual rewards and with greater trust in Your providence. Jesus, I trust in You.Image via Adobe Stock Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

John 13:31-35,“31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.' 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”“Can I ask you something? Is, is this heaven?” And Ray said, “No, it's Iowa.”That was one of my favorite parts of a book I wrote when I was a little kid. This is a true story. When I was a kid, I had this small blank notebook and I wanted to write a book in it, so I wrote a story about man in Iowa who had a big cornfield in his backyard, but he mowed part of it down to build a baseball field, and a bunch of old-timey baseball ghosts came out there and played ball together. I titled the book “Field of Dreams” — that's what kids did in the early 90s before all the screens! They plagiarized.Y'all ever heard of the movie Field of Dreams? It came out in 1989, starred Kevin Costner. Great movie. And really one of my favorite parts in the movie is the scene at the end, when Ray, the main character, reunites with his dad. His dad had died years before, but his ghost had come back to play ball. They're standing on the baseball field, and his dad asks him: “Is this heaven?” And of course the answer is No — everybody watching the movie knows the answer is No. But what's great about Ray's answer is that he doesn't just say it's not heaven, he says it's Iowa. He tells him where they are.And that's the same thing Jesus is doing for his disciples at the end of John 13.Jesus is telling his disciples where they are, and it's a turning point in the Gospel of John — and really, it's a turning point in the history of the world.And what I'd like to do this morning is unpack one sentence for you that captures the essence of what Jesus is doing. It's a simple sentence. Goes like this: Jesus is giving his disciples a new commandment for a new location. A new commandment for a new location. That's what I want to show you in this passage, which means I'm going try to answer two questions. First, What is the new location? And second, what is the new commandment? That's the outline.1. What is the new location?Let's start here with the setting. Longest Thursday EverIn verse 31, we are still on that same Thursday night that started in verse 1. In fact, for most of this year in the Gospel of John — through chapter 18 — we're gonna be in this same Thursday night. It was the longest Thursday night ever.We saw at the start of this chapter that Jesus washed his disciples' feet; then he explained the meaning of why he did that; then last week we saw the betrayal and exit of Judas. And that's a big deal for this setting.John wants us to know that who is in the room matters for what Jesus is about to say.Think about this: from verse 1 through verse 30, it has been Jesus and his twelve disciples, but then after verse 30 the twelve become eleven because Judas leaves. And John puts an emphasis on this. He tells us:Verse 27: after Satan entered Judas, Jesus says to him: “What you are going to do, do quickly.”Then verse 30, “After receiving the morsel of bread, [Judas] immediately went out.”Then verse 31 starts, “When he had gone out.”John wants to be clear that Judas is gone, which means now it's only Jesus and his true disciples. His Best FriendsAnd we're gonna get to the big picture, but before we do, I think it's good to slow down for a minute and try to be in this room, on this Thursday night. I agree with one author who has said:“While [Jesus's] universal motives in his passion and death are stressed by theologians, his immediate human motives are not well explored. (Podles, 79)Those “immediate human motives” have to do with the fact that, after verse 30, the men Jesus is with are his real friends. Now that Judas is gone, Jesus is with the men he loved to the uttermost — and they're men who love him. Some have said that the closest analogy to the relational dynamic here is a military comradeship.This is a band of brothers, and Jesus is their captain. And I think that's a good perspective to have as we look at what Jesus says.Maternal-Like CareJesus's tone changes in verse 31, and what drives him is care. Jesus cares for his disciples, for his real friends, and he shows that care by giving them advance knowledge of what's about to happen — because Jesus knows it's not going to be easy. This actually reminds me of my mom (she just celebrated her birthday this past week, and I thank God for her). But one thing I appreciate about my mom (now) is that, when I was a kid and had a doctor's appointment, she never told me I would not get a shot. I remember that's what I'd always ask her — we'd be on the way to the doctor's office, and I'd be sweating bullets — Mom, am I getting a shot? And of course, I wanted her to say No. She never said No. I always thought if I was around a doctor I might get a shot.It was a brilliant parenting move: because my mom would have rather me be surprised by relief than shocked by false hope — and it taught me to trust her. And Jesus is doing something similar here. His best friends are about to step into a new location and Jesus wants to prepare them. So he says: You are about to be in a world where I am not, and I won't be here for the sake of glory.That's the new location — it's not a new literal place; it's not a different geography. It's a new location in the history of redemption: the followers of Jesus are about to live in a world where Jesus is physically absent — but he's physically absent for the sake of glory.Over the next four chapters — what's called the Farewell Discourse — this is main idea that Jesus explains: he's physically absent, yet presently glorified.Physically AbsentHe starts this in verse 31, but I want you to see the absent part first in verse 33.And this is one I want everybody to see. So help me out, everybody find Chapter 13, verse 33. Verse 33:“Little children” In the original this is just the single word “children,” but it's a term of endearment and affection. I think a better translation is to say “Dear children.” Jesus is leaning into their closeness. Verse 33:Dear children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.'Jesus has said this twice already to the unbelieving crowds: John 7:34,“You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.”John 8:21“I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”So Jesus has said this to the crowds, now he's saying it to his closest friends. And what's he talking about? Where is he going?Track with me here: Jesus is talking about the whole gospel event — his being lifted up! This is his cross, his resurrection, his return to the Father. Jesus started talking about this as early as Chapter 2! He has said he will die and be raised and ascend to the Father's right hand — it's just that now this is not something in the future, but it's finally unfolding. It is in motion!And only Jesus can do this. Only Jesus can go there.Which means he won't be with his disciples any longer. He's leaving them. And that means his disciples are about to live in a world where Jesus is physically absent.And that could be devastating, right? It could be the end of the whole thing.Are they on the verge of a tragedy here? Is this a total loss? Is this a defeat? Because it sounds like it is! It will certainly look like it is tomorrow, on Friday.But Jesus is telling them in advance because he wants to make sure they know what his leaving is truly about: It's just the opposite of defeat. It's about triumph. Jesus GlorifiedThat's what Jesus is saying in verses 31–32. I'm gonna read these verses again, and just count how many times Jesus mentions “glory.”Verse 31:When [Judas] had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.Five times! (Repetition means emphasis — the emphasis is glory.) This is how we should think about Jesus leaving, according to Jesus! That is what he says it means.That's really why we call it Good Friday — because that's how Jesus taught us to think about his death. …A friend and I were talking recently about why we call the day that Jesus was crucified “Good Friday” — because that's kinda ‘inside baseball.' It doesn't really make sense to people who are less familiar with the gospel. Shouldn't we call it Horrible Friday? Well, yes, if we look at it through a microscope, but see, Jesus teaches us to see the whole thing altogether.And when we do, we see that Jesus's lowest moment was when his highest glory began to unfold … there is no death without resurrection; there is no resurrection apart from death, and his enthronement is the final word. All of that is the Son of Man being glorified and God being glorified in him!And that is the ultimate reason the followers of Jesus live in a world where Jesus is physically absent.And this matters for us now! What Jesus is saying in John 13 is as relevant for us this morning as it was when these eleven disciples first heard it, because we live in that same world. This new location for the eleven is the only location we've ever known: a world where Jesus is physically absent, yet presently glorified.So then how do we live in this world? Jesus tells us where we are. It's not heaven. But how does he want us to live in this new location?Well, he gives us a new commandment — a new commandment for the new location.This is the second part of the sermon.2. What is the new commandment?And the answer here is about as straightforward as it gets. Everybody look at verse 34, and help me fill in the blank. Verse 34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another …”Isn't that amazing? Here we are, in this new location within redemptive history, and the first thing Jesus tells us about how he wants us to live in this world is that we're to love one another.And this is amazing, but I'm concerned that we could be either not very impressed by this or confused by it. We either hear the word “love” and it doesn't really move us, or we hear the word “love” and think it means something different from what Jesus means. This is a modern problem we face because we live in a society that has so diluted the meaning of love. My dad says that “love” is the most over-used, under-used word in the English language, and he's right. And that's a complexity! Jesus has left us in a world where he is physically absent, he told us to love one another, but how do we know what love is? So did Jesus prepare us for that?Yeah, he did. Look at the whole of verse 34. Verse 34 again:“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”Jesus reports himself here, tells us twice to love one another, because he knows we need help understanding what love really is!And so he tells us, once and for all! If you want to know what love is, he says, look at me! Love one another just as I have loved you!This is important. Listen: We learn from Jesus how to love one another.So how does that look?How does Jesus-like love actually look in real life?In closing, I want to tell you three things our love must be if it's Jesus-like love.If we will love one another like Jesus loves us, it means 1. Our love will be particular.I want to remind you that the love Jesus is talking about here is love that his disciples have for one another. This is not the common benevolence that we should have for all peoples everywhere. We call that neighbor-love, and it's commanded. We seek everybody's ultimate good in God.That's what we mean when we say we seek the good of the Twin Cities. We love these cities — we're not giving up on the cities. We want everybody in these cities to know God. But there is a particular kind of love that we have for our fellow blood-bought brothers and sisters in the family of God. And by “particular,” I don't mean stingy, I mean focused. This is family-love. There's neighbor-love, but this is family-love. That's what covenant membership intends to clarify: of all the people (and even all the Christians), in these cities, of whom do we have most assurance that they are truly in Christ? Well, it's those whose profession of faith we have corporately affirmed — it's our covenant members. So when Jesus commands us to love one another, we should hear that command as starting here, first. This is love for a particular people — the household of faith, our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we will love one another like Jesus loves us, it means 2. Our love will be sacrificial. Jesus's love for us meant, of course, the ultimate sacrifice — he went to the cross to bear the weight of our sin; he suffered the wrath of God in our place. That was the ultimate sacrifice, but it's not where his sacrifice started. Jesus's entire life was a sacrifice — the very fact that he became a man tells us that. Jesus was continually spending and being spent for us. It was constant cost.But think with me here … just because something has a cost, it doesn't mean it's sacrifice. What makes a cost a sacrifice? It's when the pain of the cost is considered worth the good of the goal. The pain of the cost is worth the good of the goal.This definition of sacrifice applies to a lot of things, big and small.This is why you get up early in the morning to read your Bible. You consider the pain of losing 30 minutes of sleep is worth being shaped by the word of God. The good of the goal is worth the pain of the cost.So what good for Jesus made his pain worth it?Well, it was not that the people he loves feel better about themselves. That's how a lot of people in our society confuse the meaning of love. They think love is mainly therapeutic — it's about making people feel better. But that's not what Jesus was aiming for. Now of course Jesus cares about our suffering — he binds up the brokenhearted! (Psalm 147:3) — but listen: his ultimate aim is not our transient ease … it's our everlasting joy in God!The cost was worth it for Jesus because he wants to bring people to God — that's the purpose of his love. That's the good of his goal. He wants his disciples to be happy in all that God is for them — because that is what magnifies the glory of God and satisfies the human soul. Real love ultimately wants the beloved to know God, and sacrificial love seeks that at a cost. Because the cost is worth it.Last point: If we will love one another like Jesus loves us, it means 3. Our love will be identifiable.This is verse 35. Jesus says:“By this” — by what? By loving one another the way Jesus loves us — “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”Jesus is saying that everybody — all people — will be able to recognize us as the people of Jesus because of how we love one another. People will see our love here and say, They must be Jesus-people. Does it surprise us that Jesus says this? Because there are many marks of a Christian! The apostle Paul talks about eight other fruits of the Spirit. He tells us that faith and hope also abide! They're important too! There's a lot of important stuff.And yet, the primary, public identity marker that we belong to Jesus is love.Our love for one another is what speaks the loudest in this new location … in this world — in what seems to be an ever-darkening world — Hey, nobody is looking around here asking, “Is this heaven?”Everybody knows this is not heaven. But our love for one another is meant to be a glimpse of heaven. We live in a world where Jesus is physically absent, but he is spiritually present through his church. And his glory shines through our love for one another. And that's what brings us to the table.The TableI want to be clear that the love Jesus commands is not a love that we ourselves can manufacture, it's actually the overflow of his love for us. John writes later in 1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.” Paul says, “God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit he's given to us” and this is love that God has shown us in the cross (Romans 5:5, 8). And here at the Table we rest in his love.If you trust in Jesus Christ, if you have known the love of God, I invite you to eat and drink with us this morning with thankful hearts.

Today is day 2 and we are continuing the section on Salvation. 2. What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the good news that God loves the world and offers salvation from sin through his Son, Jesus Christ. (Psalm 103:1–13; Isaiah 53:4–5; John 3:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:1–5) Our daily prayer comes from the introduction to the Solemn Collects in the Good Friday liturgy on page 566 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Do yourself a favor before reading any more of this: Listen to the Road To Joy now!What if the spark that powers great rituals, great sermons, and great shows is the same playful force? Captain Frodo sits down with Clay Hillman to follow that thread—from the shaman's circle to the market square—and ask how joy, surprise, and sacrifice can teach us to love without the cage of judgment. The claim is bold: ritual likely grew out of play, and when we honor that, truth arrives with fewer words and more presence.We explore grief as the felt weight of love, the paradox at the heart of Good Friday, and why beauty includes the costly and the raw. Clay reframes the Good Samaritan so we stop imagining ourselves as the rescuer and recognize our place in the ditch; neighbor becomes the person we'd want to lift us, even an enemy. That shift replaces right-versus-wrong scorekeeping with a practice of attention, the same practice that makes a show land when a moment of surprise cracks the shell and breathes. Along the way, we talk mythic truth over literalism, how children signal play and still know what matters, and why wigs, robes, and ritual dances appear when stakes are highest.We also swap creative maps. Clay's Casey Bonkers universe offers constellations of play; Frodo sketches thinking, feeling, and willing as a triad for building fuller acts. Symbols do the heavy lifting: two sticks can hold a cosmos, a market square becomes a universe once the showman starts. Stories that aren't “real” still become true every day, and the best work often feels discovered rather than made. If you've ever sensed that ministry and showmanship share a calling—curating time and attention so people glimpse the center—this conversation will feel like finding language for what you already knew.Listen to K. C. Bonkers Road To Joy! Find Clay Hillman here!If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves story and craft, and leave a review so others can find the show. Then tell us: where did you last glimpse that center of joy?Support the show...If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.If you want to contact me about anything, including wanting me to collaborate on one of your projects you can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.comor find out more on the Way of the Showman website.you can follow the Way of Instagram where it is, not surprisingly thewayoftheshowman.If you find it in you and you have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo

Visiting people who are in the hospital - I'm guessing that's not your favorite thing to do. A lot of times it's hard to know what to say to the person; especially if their condition is serious. But there are some visits where it's easy to think of things to say - like when you're visiting a new mom or a new baby. All you have to say is, "Aww, she's beautiful!" "Oh, he looks so smart; so alert" or "That's the cutest baby I've ever seen!" See, you're supposed to say these things even if the baby still looks all red and bald and wrinkled. But that first Christmas...well, one of the first people to see Mary's baby did not follow the usual script. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Strange Words For a Christmas Mom." Following the Jewish custom, Mary and Joseph brought their baby boy to the temple to be circumcised, just eight days after that first Christmas. God had someone waiting for them there - an old man named Simeon who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the One he called "the Lord's Christ." He actually held the baby in his arms and praised God for sending Him. But then came those strange words for a new mom. In Simeon's words we find the shadow of great pain for Mary but great hope for you and me. In Luke 2:34-35, our word for today from the Word of God, "Simeon...said to Mary, His mother: 'This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel...the thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul, too.'" That's not exactly what a new mom wants to hear. But eight days into Jesus' life on earth, Simeon is foreshadowing the end of Jesus' life. The Bible tells us that 33 years later "near the cross stood His mother" (John 19:25). And surely, as Mary saw her boy nailed to a cross and pierced by a soldier's spear, that sword Simeon spoke of must have pierced her soul. So as we sing our "sleep in heavenly peace" and "joy to the world" carols, let's not miss the shadow looming over the manger. It's the shadow of a cross. But that cross was not some tragic twist of fate. It was the plan of a God who loves you so very much. It was His plan to give you and me a chance to go to heaven instead of hell; to enjoy the relationship with God we were made for but we've missed because we're running our own lives. And if there had been any other way to erase your sin from God's book and pay for your sin, believe me, God would have done it. But all your goodness, and your religion, and your Christianity can't pay sin's death penalty. Someone had to die to pay for it, and Someone did - the Son of God. The writer of the classic carol, "What Child Is This" expressed it powerfully: "Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, the cross be borne for me, for you; hail, hail, the Word made flesh, the Babe, the son of Mary." So you've had your Christmases, you've celebrated Jesus' coming. Have you ever had your Good Friday where you stand at the foot of that cross and say the two words that are the difference between heaven and hell, "For me, Jesus. And I'm giving me to You." That's the only way you can receive the gift of eternal life that He died to give you. Have you known about Jesus all your life but maybe missed that step? If you've never done that, let this be your Jesus-day. You'll have a lot more to celebrate than just Jesus' coming to earth. This season you'll celebrate His coming into your life. If that's what you want, tell Him right now, "Jesus, I want to belong to You. I am taking for myself what You died for on the cross." What a new beginning this will be for you. A lot of people have found help in beginning that relationship at our website. And I want to invite you to check it out this very day. It's ANewStory.com. It wasn't just Mary's heart that was pierced on that awful day on Skull Hill. We can only imagine the anguish in God the Father's heart, watching His Son be broken for you. So you can be sure that God will never forget what you do with His Son.

Scripture: Philippians 2:3-11  Who, for us and for our salvation came down from heaven,  and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried;  and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father…  John 17:5  John 17:24  "...the supreme mystery with which the gospel confronts us...lies not in the Good Friday message of atonement, nor in the Easter Sunday message of resurrection, but in the Christmas message of Incarnation. The really staggering Christian claim is that Jesus of Nazareth was God made man - that the second person of the Godhead...took humanity without loss of deity, so that Jesus of Nazareth was as truly and fully divine as he was human. Here are two mysteries for the price of one - the plurality of persons within the unity of God, and the union of Godhead and manhood in the person of Jesus." – JI Packer, Knowing God.   + The Triumph of the Son's Obedience Luke 2:51  "What Christ saw in Gethsemane was God with the sword raised. The sight was unbearable. In a few short hours, he would stand before that God answering for the sin of the world: indeed, identified with the sin of the world... Consequently, to quote Luther again, 'No one ever feared death so much as this man.' He feared it because for him it was no sleep, but the wages of sin: death with the sting; death unmodified and unmitigated; death as involving all that sin deserved. He, alone, would face it without a 'covering', providing by his very dying the only covering for the world, but doing so as a holocaust, totally exposed to God's abhorrence of sin. And he would face death without God, deprived of the one solace and the one resource which had always been there. The wonder of the love of Christ for his people is not that for their sake he faced death without fear, but that for their sake he faced it, terrified. Terrified by what he knew, and terrified by what he did not know, he took damnation lovingly." – Donald Macleod, The Person of Christ.  + The Triumph of the Son's Cross Colossians 2:13–15 Hebrews 2:14–15 "When Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, was nailed to the cross, Satan thought that he had won the day. The old serpent had stung him to death, vainly imagining that all was over with him. I think I see the arch-fiend gloating over the awful agonies of the dying Savior, and maliciously taunting him as he hung there apparently forsaken by God and man. "Ah!" says he, "Seed of the woman, I have indeed bruised thy heel. I have made men reject thee and put thee to death; I have vexed and tormented thee, I have scorned and scouted thee, and thou hast not a word to say for thyself, and now thy soul must soon depart out of thy body." Yet as the devil was still pouring out his vainglorious boasts and taunts, with a mighty voice the expiring Savior cried, "It is finished;" and in that moment his soul sprang upon the enemy and utterly routed him forever." – Charles Spurgeon, Christ Triumphant.   + The Triumph of the Son's Exaltation Ephesians 1:20–23 Isaiah 45:22–25 + You must decide about Jesus; You cannot be neutral about him + You must imitate Jesus. You cannot confess him but refuse to conform to him 2 Corinthians 8:9

The third film in the Knives Out series is called "Wake Up Dead Man," in which Daniel Craig returns to the role of detective Benoit Blanc, trying to solve a Good Friday murder at a Catholic parish in upstate New York. The series' writer and director Rian Johnson talks about the latest installment of his series, which is available to stream on Netflix now.  

First Take resumes with the Cowboys. Can they stay green bean casse-ROLLING against the Chiefs, and maybe even run the table? The Eagles hope it will be a Good Friday after facing the powerful Bears. Are the Eagles closer to a Super Bowl or an early playoff exit? Last but not feast, Justin Jefferson and the Vikings face the Seahawks. With J.J. McCarthy struggling mightily, are the Vikings wasting Jefferson's prime? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Van Pelt and Stanford Steve recap all of the action from Week 13 of the college football season. Starting with what happened on the Farm, the Big Man was THRILLED to see Frank Reich, Andrew Luck and the boys get a win. But the best game of the day was where GameDay was, as Oregon got past USC. Georgia Tech also got upset in the night slate, further complicating things for the ACC. Plus, thoughts on Notre Dame's domination over Syracuse and who should be ahead: ND or Miami? Ohio State also dominated again, as the Buckeyes have simply steamrolled through B1G competition. Also, thoughts on Wisconsin, Washington State, Penn State, the G5, Vanderbilt, Utah, Oklahoma and more. Finally, when Christmas season truly starts and Steve's goodbye message to Cal. | SVPod Approximate Timecodes: (0:00) Intro (0:38) Steve's RAW emotion after Stanford beat Cal (4:53) Oregon gets past USC (21:21) Pitt upsets Georgia Tech (31:26) Notre Dame or Miami? (35:43) Why the little guy deserves a chance (39:03) Shoutout Wazzu (43:14) Oklahoma beats Mizzou (47:35) Vandy rolls Kentucky (48:58) Utah outlasts Kansas State (50:12) BYU-Cincinnati reaction (53:18) Ohio State has DOMINATED (56:18) Ole Miss and Alabama have TOUGH ONES next week… (59:18) The Lane Kiffin situation… (1:00:36) A&M is FAVORED at Texas for the 1st time since… (1:01:43) Wk 14 look ahead (1:03:16) Good for Wisconsin (1:04:08) Good for Penn State (1:06:35) Good Friday games are gonna be good (1:08:33) Coming up (1:10:03) Update on the loan calls (1:13:56) SVP's Strosniders story (1:17:13) Steve is anti-Christmas for 5 more days (1:18:08) Steve dealt with more mechanical (1:19:06) Steve got AI glasses! (1:22:43) No premature texts, please (1:22:38) Poise was lost (1:23:43) Steve's WILD outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices