Podcasts about Good Friday

Morning:Third Day Morning: God Creator and Controller: https://banneroftruth.org/us/devotional/third-day-morning-god-creator-and-controller/Glorifying God, Thomas Watson, May 20Numbers 29: https://read.lsbible.org/?q=Numbers+29Psalm 73: https://read.lsbible.org/?q=Psalm+73Isaiah 21: https://read.lsbible.org/?q=Isaiah+212 Peter 2: https://read.lsbible.org/?q=2+Peter+2Heart CorruptionsEvening:Self-DeprecationSpurgeon's Morning and Evening, May 20, Evening: https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/morning-and-evening/2025/05/20Message: Good Friday Message, Jay MillerThird Day Evening: Before Sleep: https://banneroftruth.org/us/devotional/third-day-evening-before-sleep/Resources:Valley of Vision: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/devotional-books/the-valley-of-vision/Spurgeon's Morning and Evening: https://www.amazon.com/Morning-Evening-Classic-Daily-Devotional/dp/1683227247/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=1683227247&psc=1Legacy Standard Bible: https://316publishing.com/Glorifying God, Thomas Watson: https://www.amazon.com/Glorifying-God-Inspirational-Messages-Thomas/dp/140418712X/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RxmikVPx1TbCsaSCjkzxXvQu3AKtIrHMzUnVuUojQXDf94C0nKibszGVgpGBwttw2fMNOjz4KCLQtgLkdNcXCQ.m9etrS0_7bNsGcyvw3NtwysBMrVzvuUG8XBRpIRXH7E&qid=1708794474&sr=8-1M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan: https://www.mcheyne.info/mcheyne-reading-plan/Vail Valley Baptist Church GiveSendGo Campaign Link: https://www.givesendgo.com/vvbc-az-school

As the title to this PODCAST suggests, you are in for a treat… with a very happy ending! Thank you for listening, and for sharing this message!!! Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play. God bless you richly as you listen.

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: “Being in Christ, Part 4” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

The Battle for Your Mind: Winning the War WithinTake every thought captive—or be taken captive by your thoughts.Episode Title:Silencing Shame - How to shut down the inner critic and walk in your identity as a son.Why This Series Now?:After reorienting around prayer and rest, many men still struggle silently with anxiety, shame, distraction, and negative self-talk. This series would dive deep into mental and spiritual strongholds, renewing the mind, and learning how to replace lies with truth—equipping men for lasting transformation.Epsiodes In The Series:5/9 - Whose Voice Are You Listening To?Discern the difference between God's voice, your voice, and the enemy's lies.5/16 - Silencing ShameHow to shut down the inner critic and walk in your identity as a son.5/23 - Anxiety Isn't the BossTake practical and spiritual steps to fight fear and trust God deeply.5/30 - Renew Your Mind, Rewire Your LifeRomans 12:2 as a blueprint for transformation through mental renewal.6/3 - Replacing Lies with TruthHow to identify false beliefs and anchor your thoughts in Scripture.Challenge Statement:Build a rhythm of prayer that doesn't fade when the moment ends.Free 5-Day Bible Plan:It's called “Breaking Free from the Idol of Productivity”Each day is short, powerful, and Scripture-based—designed to help you walk in freedom and trust God again with your work.GET YOUR FREE DEVOTIONALTake time to think about this, pray about it, and take one small step in obedience. Remember, divine interruptions aren't just obstacles—they're opportunities for God to do something amazing in your life.Links to Connect with Ron:Website: www.newpathnewyou.comInstagram: @rcooljrFacebook: Ron CoolYouTube: New Path New YouDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more men seeking purpose! Share your stories of bold obedience with Ron on social media, and let's encourage each other on this journey.Find your Community: Men DiscipleshipBecome a NPNY Supporter! - Now Tax Deductible!One TimeMonthly For Married Couples! - The Abundantly Expectant Marriage Podcast - with Ron and Rachel Cool Website: AEMARRIAGE.com

- What are you feeling good about heading into the weekend??

- What are you feeling good about heading into the weekend??

prayer room. good friday moment by Home Church

Daily Dose of Hope May 14, 2025 Day 3 of Week 7   Scripture - Mark 15:33-47   Prayer: Holy God, How amazing it is that we can come before you today.  You are God of all things, Lord of everything, and yet you care about each of us.  We give you glory and praise.  We thank you most of all for Jesus, who made it possible for us to walk hand in hand with a holy God.  Help us see today's Scripture through fresh eyes.  Keep teaching us, Lord.  Continue to reveal yourself to us.  We are open and grateful.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional connected to the daily reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Today, we are finishing up Mark 15, which is the death of Jesus Christ.    The text detailing Jesus' death on the cross is what we call the Good Friday scripture.  It may seem odd that we would call the day that Jesus was crucified and died “good.” Apparently, the term came into common use in the 1200s because for us, it was a truly good day, as Jesus became the final sacrifice for all sin for all people for all time. As the full expression of God's love for us, Jesus voluntarily gave his life so that we could be reconciled to holy God.   The text starts with darkness.  How appropriate.  And it says that at the ninth hour, Jesus spoke his last words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  This statement was in reference to Psalm 22.  At the time, people would reference a psalm by stating the first line and the rest of the psalm would be assumed.  Psalm 22 was written by David, and it's a psalm that expresses abandonment and despair in the face of sorrow.    But this leads to some questions.  Did Jesus really feel abandoned by God at that moment on the cross?  And how would that work?  Here is a thought - by quoting Psalm 22, Jesus is actually expressing confidence in the face of suffering, trusting that God will ultimately deliver him. We gain confidence in this interpretation because it is faithful to our understanding of the Trinity as inseparable - one part of the Godhead can't abandon another part of the Godhead.  There is also a distinct union of Jesus' divine and human natures.  All of this comes together on the cross.  Let's read Psalm 22, verses 1-8...   My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?    Why are you so far from saving me,    so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,    by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;    you are the one Israel praises. 4 In you our ancestors put their trust;    they trusted and you delivered them.5 To you they cried out and were saved;    in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man,    scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me;    they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,    “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him,    since he delights in him.” And as the psalm continues (it is a bit long to real in full here), we see how the psalmist begins to express trust in the Lord and praise his name.  He knows that God will deliver him.  The bottom line seems to be that on the cross, Jesus bore the weight of our sin as the God-man, but the Father did not literally abandon him, as that would divide the Trinity and undermine Christ's saving work.  Jesus knew that God would deliver him but also provide a way to deliver the whole world.  Right before Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, the curtain in the Temple was torn down the middle. This is the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holiest of Holies) where the ark of the covenant was kept and the presence of God remained. When the curtain tore, it was a sign that the New Covenant was instituted. Because of Jesus' sacrifice (the final sacrifice for sin), those who believe in him can now go directly to the throne of God's grace. When holy God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but the blood of Christ. Thus, there are no more barriers that can separate us from God.  Hebrews 10 refers to this incredible phenomena...   Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22   The chapter closes with Joseph of Arimathea taking Jesus' body and placing it in a tomb.  Joseph was a wealthy man and also a member of the Jewish ruling council.  It is implied that he is a believer in Jesus and if he tried to hide it before, there is no hiding it now.  Joseph has gone to great risk and expense to make sure Jesus' body is wrapped and buried.  Of course, at this point, they are deep in grief.  All feels heavy.  But Sunday is coming.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Rev. Ginny Hege Tobiassen

This blogcast explores “St. Philip Neri: Patron Saint of JOY!" written by Annie Harton and read by Brian Rhude.In this blog post, Annie reminds us of our call to exude joy in our daily lives following the example of St. Philip Neri. In the last days leading up to His passion, Jesus said, “So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you” (Jn 16:22). In the wild times we live in, joy sometimes can be hard to find. Discouragement and confusion are often tools of the devil as he tries to distract us from this promise of Christ: joy can ALWAYS be ours. Jesus used the most unimaginable instrument of torture as the awesome instrument of salvation. On Good Friday, the Devil thought he won. On Easter Sunday, God turned the Cross into a gift. If you want to confuse the devil, be joyful. When St. Paul was imprisoned in Rome, one could think his ministry would cease. Instead of giving into discouragement, St. Paul wrote the Epistle of Joy to the people of Philippi thanking them for the blessing that they were to him and encouraging them in their faith. St. Paul stared death in the face a number of times before his beheading in Rome, but we don't have to have these dramatic experiences to embrace our mortality. St. Philip suggests that we “prepare for death and live each day as if it were our last. Fill up days with goodness and don't let them be squandered.” When asked what time it was on his deathbed, St. Philip said, “It's eight… in an hour it'll be nine, then ten, eleven, and midnight.” His companions responded by giggling before going to sleep. His legacy even in his last moments is joy! How can we be apostles of joy today? St. Philip suggests, “Have all the fun you want, but just don't offend God.” He also suggests, “Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if He wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength.” St. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:4-9). ​Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with an abundance of the spiritual fruit of joy! We pray for the intercession of St. Philip and St. Paul to show us how to radiate joy no matter the circumstances around us. Author:Annie Harton is a proud alumna of Saint Mary's College and the University of Notre Dame. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and speaker. Her self-published book, Single Truth: You Are More than Your Relationship Status, inspired her to start a business called You Are More. She specializes in helping singles and couples explore how they're more than their diagnoses, their pasts, their jobs, and their relationship statuses while also reminding them that God is more than any problem they bring Him. You can find out more about Annie and inquire about working with her at youaremore.org and annieharton.com Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

Last month, we were joined by Siobhán Hogan, who was making an important plea. The Corofin native had issued a public plea for her uilleann pipes, which were taken from her car in either Ennis, Limerick or Gort over Easter Weekend, to be returned to her. The incident had caused particular distress to Siobhán as it coincided with the death of her brother Michael who passed away at University Hospital Limerick on Good Friday after spending 16 days on a ventilator. We have good news to report on this story, as Siobhán's pipes have been returned! To find out more, Alan Morrissey was joined by Siobhán Hogan

Daily Dose of Hope May 12, 2025 Day 1 of Week 7   Scripture – Mark 15:1-20   Prayer: Dear Almighty God, Thank you for this new day.  Thank you for the way you care for us.  We are so very grateful for your presence in our lives.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us set aside our scattered thoughts and distractions, help us focus on you...Holy Spirit, come and sit with us as we work through this Scripture and devotion.  Speak to us about it afresh and anew.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin the Passion narrative.  I've read this so many times and each time, I am struck by the brutality of what happens to Jesus.   We start with Jesus before Pilate.  Pilate seems to understand that Jesus is innocent.  The chief priests were jealous of him, they felt threatened, so they simply want him gone.  And they have a way of stirring up the people.  Maybe they know which crowd of people to bring to the trial.    One thing that Mark emphasizes greatly is human agency.  We get to see the human capacity for coming toward Jesus and now for killing him.  We have seen throughout the first portion of Mark's Gospel the way the crowds are drawn to Jesus' ministry.  He heals the sick and he welcomes the outcast; he brings human wholeness with no real regard for accepted or approved methods and timing.  Now, Jesus' indifference to accepted or approved methods brings on the anger of those who believe they are the authority.  How dare Jesus defy them? As we can see, this eventually leads to crucifixion.   There are two aspects of today's reading that I want to touch upon.  First, I'm always fascinated by Jesus' silence before the chief priests and before Pilate.  He doesn't try to talk himself out of the situation or even stand up for himself at all.  He does not lie but he answers very few questions.  We know that his silence fulfilled prophecy in Isaiah 53:7, He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.   Why did he remain silent?  He could have used this as a powerful teaching moment.  He could have put his accusers in their place.  Afterall, he was totally innocent! But his silence was even more powerful.  These men wanted him to crack.  They wanted him to do something to incriminate himself.  But by remaining silent, Jesus remains the one in control.  His ability to maintain self-control in the face of deception and evil is miraculous.  He is steady and calm.  On some level, Jesus must have known this was part of what he had to do.  Getting angry or defending himself was not going to help the situation.  He allowed God to be the one to intervene in the hearts of those who abused and killed him.   Second, it's interesting how Mark really emphasizes the humiliation piece of the Passion narrative.  He has already been abused by the chief priest and Jewish ruling leaders.  Now, we see the Roman soldiers mocking him.  They put purple cloth on him and a crown of thorns.  They hit him on the head with a reed.  They pretend to bow down and worship him.  We can picture this scene of bullies making fun of Jesus' Kingship.  All the while, he is silent.  The whole process of Roman crucifixion had been perfected – humiliation and total dehumanization.  The Romans knew what they were doing; the horrors of their punishment was quite effective at preventing any hint of subversion.    Tomorrow, we will walk through the Good Friday scripture – Jesus' death on a cross.  It's become so familiar, I hope we are able to see it all through fresh eyes.  God is always teaching us new things from his Word.    What new thing did you take away today?  What did you learn from Jesus before Pilate that you never noticed before?     Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Since the partition of Ireland in 1921, economic and social interaction between the two jurisdictions was limited until more recent times.One effect of partition has been the low number of marriages between people of the two jurisdictions, and since the end of troubles and the signing of the Good Friday agreement, this trend seems to have continued.So, why then do we not tend to marry northerners?Joining Seán to discuss is John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin.

"You can't truly appreciate the cross until you see yourself in the crowd who ran." On Good Friday, we remember not only the sacrifice of Jesus, but the reality that all forsook Him and fled. Through the mysterious story of the unnamed young man in Mark 14, we're reminded that the cross was not just for the “Judas-type” sinners—it was for all of us. Before the cross, we were all naked and ashamed. But because of the cross, we can be clothed in Christ's righteousness.

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 FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 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: “Being in Christ, Part 3” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Pastor Taylor Shippy - 1 Samuel 1:1-28What do you do when the world around you is always Good Friday but never Easter? This is the world Hannah knew. Hannah found herself living in one of the darkest chapters of ancient Israel's history: the period of the Judges. Where in those days Israel had no king and everyone did whatever seemed right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). How do you operate in a world like that? How do you honor and worship your God in a time such as that—especially when on top of that your God seems to have forsaken you...

A Sermon for the Third Sunday after Easter St. John 16:16-22 by William Klock On Easter morning we heard St. John's account of the empty tomb.  How Mary Magdalene had come running to the house where he and Peter and the others were hiding.  How she sobbed out that someone had taken Jesus' body.  How he and Peter ran to the tomb as dawn was breaking and how they found it empty, with the linen graveclothes lying there neatly.  And we heard John say that “he believed”.  Somehow…inexplicably…Jesus had risen from the dead.  John believed in the resurrection of the dead.  They all did.  It was their hope.  But it wasn't supposed to happen like this.  Maybe it was fear, maybe it was confusion, maybe he just wanted to be more certain, but he didn't say anything.  They went back to the house where the other disciples were.  They went back into hiding.  Doors locked, windows shuttered, no lights, no fire.  When things blew over, they could sneak out of Jerusalem, slink back to Galilee.  Maybe they could go back to their old lives and everyone would forget that they'd been followers of Jesus. But then the next week we read from John's first epistle.  We read those words: Everything that is fathered by God conquers the world.  This is the victory that conquers the world: our faith!  That doesn't sound like the same John afraid to even tell his friends that he believed Jesus had been raised from death.  And last week we read from Peter's first epistle and he exhorted us to bear patiently with suffering.  Peter went from hiding behind locked doors on Easter to boldly preaching the risen Jesus in the temple court just fifty days later.  He would eventually find himself proclaiming that gospel in Rome itself, where he would be martyred for that holy boldness.  What happened? Brothers and Sisters, hope happened.  Jesus, the risen Messiah, appeared to them in that locked room.  They saw him, resurrected and renewed and yet still the same Jesus with the scars of the cross in his hands and feet.  They saw Jesus risen from the dead.  Not a ghost, not a spirt, but Jesus bodily raised.  It wasn't supposed to happen that way.  It was supposed to be everybody all at once, not just one person even if he was the Messiah.  But there he was, proving the old doctrine of the Pharisees and the Prophets and their fathers true—just not the way they expected.  But even that's not so much what motivated them to leave their hiding places and to proclaim the risen Jesus to the world.  It's what Jesus' resurrection meant.  Because Jesus' resurrection was more than just an astounding miracle.  Jesus' resurrection was the proof that God's new world had been born, that new creation had begun, that the promises he made through the prophets and the hopes of God's people were being fulfilled.  Jesus' resurrection meant that the hopes of God's people were finally becoming reality.  Jesus had kindled God's light in the midst of the darkness and they knew the darkness would never overcome it.  But as they worked this out, they also realised that while Jesus had inaugurated this new creation, it would be they—Peter, John, Mary, the others, you and I—who would carry and announce God's new creation to the world.  Again, this hope, made real, made manifest in the resurrection of Jesus, is what sent the disciples out, not just to announce that God had performed a miracle in raising Jesus, but to announce the God's new creation had been born and that Jesus is its king—and if that proclamation cost them everything, even if it got them killed—they knew that God would raise them and that he would vindicate them, just as he had Jesus. Nothing else changed.  They were hiding in that locked and darkened house because—usually—when the authorities crucified a rebel or a revolutionary, they would also round up and crucify his followers.  As it turned out, it doesn't seem that anyone was seriously interested in doing that to Jesus' disciples.  But they didn't know that.  The real danger came when they went out and began proclaiming the good news about Jesus—as they challenged the false gods and the pretend kings of the darkness with the light of the Lord Jesus, as they confronted this fallen world and its systems with God's new creation.  That's when they were mocked, beaten, arrested, and martyred. Think of Paul.  He was one of the one's breathing threats against Jesus' disciples.  He was there looking on while Stephen was stoned, holding coats so people could better throw stones at him.  And then as Paul was on his way to round up Christians to bring them before the Jewish authorities, he was met by the risen Jesus.  And, again, it wasn't just an amazing miracle that inspired Paul to take up his own cross and to follow Jesus—to follow Jesus and to be beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and eventually murdered for the sake of the gospel.  It was hope.  It was what the resurrection of Jesus meant.  Jesus, risen from the dead, was proof of God's faithfulness and proof that his promises of forgiveness and new life and new creation and of humanity and creation set to rights—everything the Jews (and Paul!) had hoped and longed for—it was proof that it was all true and that it was coming true in Jesus.  The light has come into the darkness and the darkness has not and never will overcome it.  It was proof that if we are in Jesus the Messiah, we have a share in God's new creation and that no amount of suffering and not even death can take that away.  People aren't going to risk their lives to report a miracle.  What drove Peter, John, Paul—and all our brothers and sisters since—what drove them to risk everything to proclaim the good news was the knowledge, the assurance, the hope that through that proclamation God's promised new creation would overcome the darkness, the sadness, the tears—that it would make all the sad things of this broken world come untrue—for them and eventually for everyone who believes.  The kingdom would spread and grow until heaven and earth, God and humanity are at one again. All of this is what Jesus is getting at in our Gospel today from John 16.  It's from the middle of the long teaching that Jesus gave to his disciples when they were in the Garden of Gethsemane, after they ate that last Passover meal with Jesus.  Over and over Jesus exhorts them saying things like, Don't let your hearts be troubled…trust God and trust me, too.  And: I chose you, and I appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last…If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you.  If you were from the world, the world would be fond of its own.  But the world hates you because you're not from the world.  No, I chose you out of the world.  And at the beginning of Chapter 16 he says to them: I've said these things to you to stop you from being tripped up.  They will put you out of the synagogues.  In fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will suppose that they are in that way offering worship to God…I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.   I expect the disciples were remembering that part of what Jesus said very well when they were hiding.  “Jesus said they'd come to kill us,” they whispered in the dark.  What they didn't remember—or at least what they didn't understand were the words we read today.  In verse 16 Jesus says: “Not long from now, you won't see me anymore.  Then again, not long after that, you will see me.”   They expected—like pretty much everyone else—that the Messiah would bring some kind of revolt or revolution.  He would overthrow the pagans and take the throne of Israel and, ruling over Israel, he would restore God's people to their rightful place and status in the world.  So it's no wonder that when they heard this, they started murmuring amongst themselves.  John goes on: “What's he talking about?” some of his disciples asked each other.  “What's this business about ‘not long from now, you won't see me, and again not long after that you will see me'?  And what's this about ‘going to the Father'?”   Maybe Jesus was going to finally do what the Messiah was supposed to do.  Maybe he was going to go gather his army and come back to battle the Romans.  John writes: They kept on saying it.  “What is this ‘not long'?”  “What's it all about?”  “We don't know what he means!”  Jesus was doing that thing again where he would say cryptic things or tell a confusing story.  It got their interest and then he could fill them in.  Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, John says. “You're discussing with each other what I meant, aren't you?” he said.  “You want to know what I meant by saying, ‘Not long from now, you won't see me; and then again, not long after that you will see me.'  That's it, isn't it?  Well, I'm going to tell you the solemn truth.”   I can see them all stopping the whispers and leaning forward.  “Yes, Teacher.  Tell us what you mean!”  So Jesus goes on in the silence:  “You will weep and wail, but the world will celebrate.  You will be overcome with sorrow, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”  I can picture the confused looks coming back to their faces.  The Messiah was supposed to make everything all better.  He was supposed to set everything to rights and to wipe away all the tears.  The Messiah was supposed to bring an end to weeping and wailing!  So Jesus gives them an illustration they could understand: “When a woman is giving birth she is in anguish, because her moment has come.  But when the child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering, because of the joy that a human being has been born into the world.”  And then he adds in verse 22: In the same way, you have sorrow now.  But I shall see you again, and your hearts will celebrate, and nobody will take your joy from you.”   Even with the childbirth illustration, it was still pretty cryptic.  Even with what follows—which we'll come to in our Gospel for Rogation Sunday in two more weeks—even with that, the disciples really didn't understand—yet.  It was all there in the Prophets and it was all there in the things Jesus had been teaching.  The son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the legal experts.  He must be killed and raised up on the third day,” Jesus had said at one point.  It doesn't get much clearer than that.  And yet the events of that first Good Friday and Easter Day came as a complete surprise to them.  But then when they met the risen Jesus it all started to come back to them and it started to fall into place.  The wheels started turning.  Mental light bulbs started turning on.  The one thing left that they needed was the Holy Spirit—but I don't want to get ahead of the story.  We're still in that fifty days between Easter and Pentecost. And I think those fifty days must have been some of the most exciting days in the history of the world.  The disciples sat with Jesus—risen and glorified, the first bit of God's new creation real and tangible and true right there with them—and he taught them.  He went back over the scriptures—no doubt saying things he'd said a hundred times before—but now, in light of the resurrection, it all started to make sense.  And I can imagine their excitement growing between being there with Jesus in all his resurrected glory and as they connected the scriptural dots and as they saw how the story they had grown up with, the story they lived every year at Passover, the story that defined who they were, the story they knew so, so, so well began to unfold in a new way.  They'd always known it was a great story about the mighty and saving deeds of the Lord, but over those forty days in the presence of Jesus and hearing him teach and explain the story turned into something more glorious than they ever could have imagined.  The God they'd known became so much bigger and more glorious than they ever thought he could be.  And then it was time for Jesus to ascend and he had to tell them, “Wait.”  They were ready and eager and excited to go out into Jerusalem and Judea to start telling everyone the story—the story everyone knew, but now seen in a new and glorious light through the lens of Jesus' resurrection—and about this new hope they knew.  God's new creation had finally come and they'd spent the last forty days living in his presence.  But Jesus said, “Wait.  Your excitement about what God has done is only part of what you need.  Wait.  Just a little bit—ten more days—so I can send God's Spirit.  Couple this good news with the power of the Spirit and not even the gates of hell will stop you!” And, Lord knows, the gates of hell have tried, but the gates of hell had already done their worst at the cross, and Jesus rose victorious.  And that's how and that's why those first disciples took up their crosses and followed Jesus.  Peter was crucified at Rome, Andrew was crucified in Greece, Thomas was speared by soldiers in India, Philip was martyred at Carthage, Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia, Bartholomew in Armenia, James was stoned to death in Jerusalem, Simon was martyred in Persia, and Matthias in Syria.  Only John survived, after being exiled to Patmos.  You see, in the risen Jesus they saw the proof that sin and death have been decisively defeated, that the false gods and kings of the old evil age have been exposed, and most of all they saw that God's promised and long-hoped for new creation has been born.  The resurrection gave them hope and that hope sent them out to proclaim the good news even though it meant following in the suffering of Jesus.  And their stories have been the stories of countless Christians through the ages—of the Christians who died in the Roman persecutions, who died at the hands of the Sassanids, the Goths, the Vikings, the Caliphs, the Turks, the Kahns, the French revolutionaries, the Communists, the Islamists.  It's been the stories of countless missionaries who marched into hostile territory for the sake of the gospel, knowing they very well might die for it, but also knowing that the way of the cross is the path into God's new creation. Brothers and Sisters, too often these days we've lost sight of this.  Maybe it's the prosperity gospel, maybe it's that we haven't known any meaningful persecution for so long, but we Christians in the modern west seem to have forgotten this.  There's no room for suffering and the way of the cross in our theology.  We gloss over what look like “failures” in church history.  I was listening to a sermon this past week.  The preacher was telling the story of a missionary named Peter Milne.  Milne was a Scottish minister and part of a group that called themselves “one-way” missionaries.  When they shipped out to far off lands to proclaim the gospel, they packed their worldly goods in a coffin.  It was symbolic.  They were going out as missionaries with no expectation of ever returning home.  They would die—one way or another—in the land they went to evangelise.  Peter Milne went to the New Hebrides in the South Pacific.  It was a land of head-hunting cannibals.  Milne wasn't the first to go.  Others had gone before and were killed by the natives.  Milne was the first to go and to survive and to have a thriving gospel ministry.  When he died fifty-some years later in 1924, he was buried in his coffin with the epitaph: “When he came, there was no light.  When he left, there was no darkness.”  When he'd arrived there wasn't a single Christian on the island.  When he died, there wasn't a single person who wasn't a Christian. But here's the thing—and the preacher I was listening to completely missed it: Following Jesus means first taking up a cross.  It's not about the glory of “successful” ministry.  It's about dying to self, and living for the hope of God's glory and the spread of his kingdom.  The preacher I listened to said nothing of the others who had gone before Milne to the New Hebrides and been martyred.  They don't fit in with our prosperity and business model theology.  We admire their willingness to give their lives for the sake of the gospel, but they sort of get chalked up as failures.  But to do that is to miss what it means to follow Jesus, to know the pangs of childbirth, but to also experience the joy that makes the pain and the sorrow pale in comparison. As Tertullian said, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, but so are all the other good-faith “failures”.  There was a week when we were church-planting in Portland that I found myself all alone.  Veronica's mom was sick and she and Alexandra had travelled up to Kelowna.  The other family that was helping us to get things off the ground had to be away that weekend.  It was just me.  But The Oregonian newspaper had just run a story on us.  I'd had several contacts that week.  The show had to go on.  We were meeting at a Lutheran Church on Sunday evenings, so I asked the pastor there if one of their organists could come and play that evening.  She came and she and I sat there waiting.  And 7pm came and went.  And 7:05, and 7:15 and we knew no one was coming.  I was discouraged and it was obvious.  She and I said Evening Prayer together and then she told me her story.  She and her husband, a pastor, had been Lutheran church planters in Jamaica for almost ten years.  They had a very small group that had asked them to come to help them plant a church and for ten years they tried and nothing ever happened.  When they finally decided to quit there were no more people than when they started.  She said that she and her husband found the whole thing utterly discouraging.  They had made significant sacrifices to be there and nothing had happened.  It was tempting to be angry with God.  They returned home thinking they were failures and wondering why.  They'd been faithful in proclaiming Jesus.  They'd spent hours every week in prayer with that little group of people.  And then several years later they received a letter.  It was from a pastor in Kingston.  Not long after they'd left, he'd arrived to plant a church.  His group moved into the building left behind by the Lutherans and quickly began to grow and thrive.  And he wrote to thank them.  “You soaked this place in prayer and you cast gospel seed all through the neighbourhood,” he wrote.  He didn't know why it never grew for them, but he knew they'd been faithful and he was now reaping a harvest he hadn't planted and he wanted to thank them for their faithfulness.  That elderly Lutheran organist told me that story with tears in her eyes and said, “Be faithful and don't be discouraged.  Whatever happens, if you are faithful, the Lord is at work.  Some of us plant, some of us water, some of us reap, but it's all the Lord's work.”  She reminded me of the hope that lies before me—and that lies before all of us—and that Jesus doesn't just call us to follow him; he first calls us to take up our crosses.  Just it was necessary for Jesus to give his life that he might be raised from death, so must we die to ourselves that we might live.  Brothers and Sisters, fix your eyes on Jesus.  He knew the joy that was set before him and so he endured the cross.  He scorned its shame.  And because of that the Father raised him from the dead and has seated him at his right hand.  His kingdom has been born.  Now the joy of the kingdom, of new creation, of God's life is before us.  May it be the reason that we take up our crosses and follow our Lord. Let's pray: Gracious Father, as we come to your Table this morning, give us a taste of your great kingdom feast; let us see Jesus, risen from the dead; and make us especially aware of your indwelling Spirit that we might be filled with the joy of your salvation and the joy of your new creation.  Strengthen us with joy, so that we will not fear to take up our crosses and follow Jesus.  Amen.

Good Friday Service - Luke 22:39-23:55 - Michael Fleer - April 18th, 2025

In our Religion Block we address a question from a patron about balancing an admiration of the Catholic Church with a healthy and Exilic suspicion of Empire. We then launch into another segment of “Pastor Jack's Off,” during which we laugh at Pastor Jack Hibbs's attempt at explaining Good Friday. 

The Battle for Your Mind: Winning the War WithinTake every thought captive—or be taken captive by your thoughts.Episode Title:Whose Voice Are You Listening To? - Discern the difference between God's voice, your voice, and the enemy's lies.Why This Series Now?:After reorienting around prayer and rest, many men still struggle silently with anxiety, shame, distraction, and negative self-talk. This series would dive deep into mental and spiritual strongholds, renewing the mind, and learning how to replace lies with truth—equipping men for lasting transformation.Epsiodes In The Series:5/9 - Whose Voice Are You Listening To?Discern the difference between God's voice, your voice, and the enemy's lies.5/16 - Silencing ShameHow to shut down the inner critic and walk in your identity as a son.5/23 - Anxiety Isn't the BossTake practical and spiritual steps to fight fear and trust God deeply.5/30 - Renew Your Mind, Rewire Your LifeRomans 12:2 as a blueprint for transformation through mental renewal.6/3 - Replacing Lies with TruthHow to identify false beliefs and anchor your thoughts in Scripture.Challenge Statement:Build a rhythm of prayer that doesn't fade when the moment ends.Free 5-Day Bible Plan:It's called “Breaking Free from the Idol of Productivity”Each day is short, powerful, and Scripture-based—designed to help you walk in freedom and trust God again with your work.GET YOUR FREE DEVOTIONALTake time to think about this, pray about it, and take one small step in obedience. Remember, divine interruptions aren't just obstacles—they're opportunities for God to do something amazing in your life.Links to Connect with Ron:Website: www.newpathnewyou.comInstagram: @rcooljrFacebook: Ron CoolYouTube: New Path New YouDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more men seeking purpose! Share your stories of bold obedience with Ron on social media, and let's encourage each other on this journey.Find your Community: Men DiscipleshipBecome a NPNY Supporter! - Now Tax Deductible!One TimeMonthly For Married Couples! - The Abundantly Expectant Marriage Podcast - with Ron and Rachel Cool Website: AEMARRIAGE.com

Sunday Service (4/18/25) // Numbers 21:4-9 // Visit our website: https://mbchicago.org Follow us to remain connected: Facebook:   / mbc.chicago   Instagram:   / mbc.chicago   TikTok:   / mbc.chicago   Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others To support this ministry, you can donate via: Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Web: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch DAF Donations: https://every.org/mbc.chicago PayPal/Credit: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but... Numbers 21:4-9 (ESV) The Bronze Serpent4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze[a] serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.Footnotesa. Numbers 21:9 Or copper#DanielBatarseh #easter #goodfriday #crucifixion #cross #sacrifice #grace #mercy #God #Resurrection #BibleStudy #mbchicago #mbcchicago #Bible #versebyverse #sermon #sermons #sermononline #newtestament #scripture #verses #lessons #church #chicago #livechurch #churchlive #chicagochurch #chicagochurches #prophecy #prophetic #jesus #jesuschrist

John 3. Rev. Ben Cunningham. Recorded live at Church of the Resurrection in New Orleans, LA on April 18, 2025.

What is Good Friday / Holy Friday? Why is Good Friday (GoodFriday) called good if it was the day Jesus was crucified?

 This week we share 4 homilies given by Fr. Scott over the course of the 2025 Triddum. This includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and the Easter Mass at Dawn.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-160RR-Triduum-2025.mp3

Good Friday service.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the best known events and figures in Irish history. In 1014 Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Hiberno-Norse forces of Sigtrygg Silkbeard and allies near their Dublin stronghold, with Brian losing his life on the day of battle. Soon chroniclers in Ireland and abroad were recording and retelling the events, raising the status of Brian Boru as one who sacrificed himself for Ireland, Christ-like, a connection reinforced by the battle taking place on Good Friday. While some of the facts are contested, the Battle of Clontarf became a powerful symbol of what a united Ireland could achieve by force against invaders.WithSeán Duffy Professor of Medieval Irish and Insular History at Trinity College DublinMáire Ní Mhaonaigh Professor of Celtic and Medieval Studies at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of St John's College, CambridgeAnd Alex Woolf Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of St AndrewsProducer: Simon TillotsonReading list:Howard B. Clarke, Sheila Dooley and Ruth Johnson, Dublin and the Viking World (O'Brien Press Ltd, 2018)Howard B. Clarke and Ruth Johnson (ed.), The Vikings in Ireland and Beyond: Before and After Clontarf (Four Courts Press, 2015)Clare Downham, ‘The Battle of Clontarf in Irish History and Legend' (History Ireland 13, No. 5, 2005)Seán Duffy, Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf (Gill & Macmillan, 2014)Seán Duffy (ed.), Medieval Dublin XVI: Proceedings of Clontarf 1014–2014: National Conference Marking the Millennium of the Battle of Clontarf (Four Courts Press, 2017)Colmán Etchingham, ‘North Wales, Ireland and the Isles: The Insular Viking Zone' (Peritia 15, 2001)Colmán Etchingham, Jón Viðar Sigurðsson, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh and Elizabeth Ashman Rowe, Norse-Gaelic Contacts in a Viking World (Brepols N.V., 2019)David Griffiths, Vikings of the Irish Sea (The History Press, 2nd ed., 2025)James Henthorn Todd (ed. and trans.), Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh: The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill, or, the Invasions of Ireland by the Danes and other Norsemen (first published 1867; Cambridge University Press, 2012)Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Brian Boru: Ireland's greatest king? (The History Press, 2006)Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, ‘Tales of Three Gormlaiths in Medieval Irish Literature' (Ériu 52, 2002)Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, ‘Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib: Some Dating Consierations' (Peritia 9, 1995)Brendan Smith, The Cambridge History of Ireland, vol. 1, 600–1550 (Cambridge University Press, 2018), especially ‘The Scandinavian Intervention' by Alex WoolfIn Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio Production

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the best known events and figures in Irish history. In 1014 Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Hiberno-Norse forces of Sigtrygg Silkbeard and allies near their Dublin stronghold, with Brian losing his life on the day of battle. Soon chroniclers in Ireland and abroad were recording and retelling the events, raising the status of Brian Boru as one who sacrificed himself for Ireland, Christ-like, a connection reinforced by the battle taking place on Good Friday. While some of the facts are contested, the Battle of Clontarf became a powerful symbol of what a united Ireland could achieve by force against invaders.WithSeán Duffy Professor of Medieval Irish and Insular History at Trinity College DublinMáire Ní Mhaonaigh Professor of Celtic and Medieval Studies at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of St John's College, CambridgeAnd Alex Woolf Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of St AndrewsProducer: Simon TillotsonReading list:Howard B. Clarke, Sheila Dooley and Ruth Johnson, Dublin and the Viking World (O'Brien Press Ltd, 2018)Howard B. Clarke and Ruth Johnson (ed.), The Vikings in Ireland and Beyond: Before and After Clontarf (Four Courts Press, 2015)Clare Downham, ‘The Battle of Clontarf in Irish History and Legend' (History Ireland 13, No. 5, 2005)Seán Duffy, Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf (Gill & Macmillan, 2014)Seán Duffy (ed.), Medieval Dublin XVI: Proceedings of Clontarf 1014–2014: National Conference Marking the Millennium of the Battle of Clontarf (Four Courts Press, 2017)Colmán Etchingham, ‘North Wales, Ireland and the Isles: The Insular Viking Zone' (Peritia 15, 2001)Colmán Etchingham, Jón Viðar Sigurðsson, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh and Elizabeth Ashman Rowe, Norse-Gaelic Contacts in a Viking World (Brepols N.V., 2019)David Griffiths, Vikings of the Irish Sea (The History Press, 2nd ed., 2025)James Henthorn Todd (ed. and trans.), Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh: The War of the Gaedhil with the Gaill, or, the Invasions of Ireland by the Danes and other Norsemen (first published 1867; Cambridge University Press, 2012)Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Brian Boru: Ireland's greatest king? (The History Press, 2006)Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, ‘Tales of Three Gormlaiths in Medieval Irish Literature' (Ériu 52, 2002)Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, ‘Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib: Some Dating Consierations' (Peritia 9, 1995)Brendan Smith, The Cambridge History of Ireland, vol. 1, 600–1550 (Cambridge University Press, 2018), especially ‘The Scandinavian Intervention' by Alex WoolfIn Our Time is a BBC Studios Audio Production

This Good Friday, reflect on the greatest act of love in human history: Jesus Christ taking our place on the cross. In this powerful sermon titled “The Divine Exchange,” we unpack Isaiah 53, Romans 6:23, and more to reveal how Jesus bore our pain, sin, and sorrow — and gave us righteousness, healing, and peace in return.

In this episode of Father and Dad, Fr. Steven shares the experience of his first Holy Week as a priest. He and his dad dive into the highs, the surprises, and the sacred moments of those unforgettable days.  Fr. Steven recalls the profound experience of speaking the part of Jesus during the Palm Sunday Passion Gospel and the fraternity of the Chrism Mass where he reaffirmed his priestly promises.In an unexpected turn of events on Holy Thursday Fr. Steven needed to step in for his pastor, Fr. Ted, who had suddenly fell ill.From the solemn reverence of Good Friday to the awe and glory of the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday, Fr. Steven reflects on what it meant to walk with Jesus through the holiest days of the Church's year through the unique lens of his priesthood.

On Good Friday, we're confronted with a question that echoes through time: Which kingdom do we serve—the kingdom of domination or the kingdom of self-giving love?In this powerful and moving sermon, The Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey draws us into the cosmic clash between Caesar and Christ, between force and truth, between the love of power and the power of love. As we stand at the foot of the cross, we are invited to wrestle with our own allegiances and see the world—and ourselves—through Jesus' eyes.

Sarah once again joins Kemper on the All About Agatha podcast to discuss Agatha Christie's very Christian (though also very weird) short story, "In the Cool of the Evening" ... and theology abounds!

Good Friday Jesus the Bread of LifeJohn 6:35-40 (NIV)“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven't believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.  For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.'” Jesus The Good ShepherdJohn 10:11-17 (NIV)“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” Jesus The Resurrection and the LifeJohn 11:25 (NIV)“ Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.'” Jesus the Light of the WorldJohn 11:9 (NIV)“Jesus replied, ‘There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world.'” 

Michael, Pax, and Rob finish this month's Lounge talking about an Irene Adler novel, Kraven the Hunter (2024), Anora (2024), Black Doves (2024), Young Guns autographs, and the scariest things to crawl on you and/or haunt your house.

Welcome to Resurrection Church. Whatever your age or life story, you are welcome here. Resurrection seeks to be a home for the prodigal, an authentic people — humble, generous, and unified. 

Judas and Mary (of Bethany): Two Hearts Before the Mystery of Christ The Readings and Homily reflect on the profound spiritual themes leading up to Holy Week, . . . . . . beginning with the “Suffering Servant” songs from the Book of Isaiah. It emphasizes the divine calling and mission of the servant, who acts with God's authority yet reveals God's power through humility and suffering . . . not through miracles or displays of strength. This foreshadowing prepares believers for the mystery of Good Friday, where Jesus . . . God in the flesh . . . embraces suffering to redeem the world. An Act of Love and Devotion The Homily then shifts to the Gospel scene in Bethany, where Mary (of Bethany) anoints Jesus with costly perfume. Her act is one of love, devotion, and prophetic insight into Jesus' coming Passion. Judas objects, claiming the perfume should've been sold to help the poor, but his motives are exposed as self-serving. The Homily warns that words can hide wicked intentions and calls out the tendency to misuse faith for personal gain—something Judas exemplifies. Contrasting Judas with Mary , the Homily encourages believers to adopt Mary's posture of heartfelt reverence and presence with Christ, especially during Holy Week and the Eucharist. The faithful are urged not to be distracted by lesser concerns when Christ is present but to attend to Him with gratitude, love, and worship. Listen to this Meditation Media. Listen to: Judas and Mary (of Bethany): Two Hearts Before the Mystery of Christ ----------------------------------- image The Anointing of Jesus' Feet: French Painter: James Tissot: 1900 This painting resides at The Brooklyn Museum. Other Tissot paintings appear on this site here and here. ----------------------------------- Gospel Reading: John 12: 1-11 First Reading: Isaiah 42: 1-7

What Now? Living Prayerfully After the FireSustaining the spiritual hunger sparked by the National Day of Prayer.The National Day of Prayer stirred something deep. You felt it. You prayed bold prayers. Maybe even heard God's voice in a fresh way. But now it's the next day… and life is loud again.In this bonus-gap episode, Ron Cool breaks down what it actually looks like to carry the fire of prayer into your daily life. You'll discover how to turn one powerful spiritual moment into a movement of intimacy with God. If you've ever struggled to maintain consistency after a spiritual high, this is for you.Key Verse:Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”Challenge Statement:Build a rhythm of prayer that doesn't fade when the moment ends.Free 5-Day Bible Plan:It's called “Breaking Free from the Idol of Productivity”Each day is short, powerful, and Scripture-based—designed to help you walk in freedom and trust God again with your work.GET YOUR FREE DEVOTIONALTake time to think about this, pray about it, and take one small step in obedience. Remember, divine interruptions aren't just obstacles—they're opportunities for God to do something amazing in your life.Links to Connect with Ron:Website: www.newpathnewyou.comInstagram: @rcooljrFacebook: Ron CoolYouTube: New Path New YouDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more men seeking purpose! Share your stories of bold obedience with Ron on social media, and let's encourage each other on this journey.Find your Community: Men DiscipleshipBecome a NPNY Supporter! - Now Tax Deductible!One TimeMonthly For Married Couples! - The Abundantly Expectant Marriage Podcast - with Ron and Rachel Cool Website: AEMARRIAGE.com

- What is everyone feeling good about heading into the weekend?

- And plus we get to announce a surprise!!

Join us for our Good Friday service message through Romans 3

National Day of Prayer – Special BONUS Episode: “Revive Us Again”A Wake-Up Call for Men to Pray Bold Prayers and Lead with Heaven's AuthorityIt's time to stop scrolling and start interceding. In this powerful National Day of Prayer bonus episode, Ron Cool issues a wake-up call to men everywhere: revival isn't waiting on the next big church event—it's waiting on you.From the living room to the boardroom, you're called to lead in prayer with boldness and authority. This episode will challenge you to drop the hustle, pick up your spiritual weapons, and cry out for God to move in your life, your family, and this nation.Whether you've been coasting spiritually or you're hungry for more of God, this episode will stir your spirit and give you a battle plan to pray with powerKey Verse:2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray… I will hear from heaven…”In This Episode:Why revival begins in your home, not on a stageHow to lead in prayer when you feel unqualifiedA powerful guided prayer moment to intercede for your family and countryWhat it means to truly humble yourself and seek His faceChallenge Statement:Will you be the man who leads your house—and this nation—back to God?Free 5-Day Bible Plan:It's called “Breaking Free from the Idol of Productivity”Each day is short, powerful, and Scripture-based—designed to help you walk in freedom and trust God again with your work.GET YOUR FREE DEVOTIONALTake time to think about this, pray about it, and take one small step in obedience. Remember, divine interruptions aren't just obstacles—they're opportunities for God to do something amazing in your life.Links to Connect with Ron:Website: www.newpathnewyou.comInstagram: @rcooljrFacebook: Ron CoolYouTube: New Path New YouDon't forget to subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more men seeking purpose! Share your stories of bold obedience with Ron on social media, and let's encourage each other on this journey.Find your Community: Men DiscipleshipBecome a NPNY Supporter! - Now Tax Deductible!One TimeMonthly For Married Couples! - The Abundantly Expectant Marriage Podcast - with Ron and Rachel Cool Website: AEMARRIAGE.com

In this honest and deeply thoughtful conversation, Susie Lipps and John Ortberg sit down to explore the real weight and meaning of Good Friday. They unpack the political pressure, religious tension, and personal cost surrounding Jesus' final hours — not just as a historical moment, but as a mirror to our own lives. With compassion and clarity, they challenge us to sit in the discomfort of the cross, to wrestle with why Jesus was really killed, and to see how this ancient story still confronts power, pride, and injustice today. If you've ever wondered what makes Good Friday truly “good,” this is a conversation you don't want to miss.Join the conversation in our FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.John's new book STEPS is out! Check it out here: https://becomenew.com/steps/Want to work the steps with a friend or small group? Visit: DoTheSteps.com

It's Good Friday! We are talking about the holidays, French Drains, Dingy Day and who you're going to hit in the crotch this Easter Monday.

On Good Friday, we remember the depth of God's love — a love so committed, it faced death itself to rescue us. In this sermon, we reflect on the cross where Jesus became both our Passover lamb and our substitute, cleansing us from sin and bearing the judgment we deserved.

It's Monday, April 28th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Indonesian Church closed the day before Easter The joyful atmosphere of the Easter weekend celebration at the Ecumenical Christian Communion congregation in Java, Indonesia, turned sorrowful when local government officials sealed the prayer house building on Saturday, April 19, one day before Easter, reports International Christian Concern. The sealing occurred only one day after the congregation held a Good Friday procession to mark one of the three holy days of Easter at their Prayer House.  250,000 attended Pope Francis' funeral Pope Francis' funeral took place in St. Peter's Square on Saturday morning, attended by 250,000 people, before his body was taken to his place of burial across the city, reports LifeSiteNews.com. (audio from male choir) Following the funeral, Francis' body was transferred back inside St. Peter's Basilica before then being placed into a popemobile. His coffin was transported across the city, making a ceremonial tour of Rome's historic center including the Colosseum and Roman Forum. In a rare break from tradition, Francis chose not to be buried inside St. Peter's Basilica, like many of his predecessors. Instead, he selected the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome as his final resting place, reports ABC News. President Trump's fashion faux pas at Pope's funeral Unlike the other heads of state who were dressed in black, U.S. President Donald Trump wore a blue suit and blue tie.  By contrast, First Lady Melania Trump wore a black dress and black veil. The official dress code for the funeral at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City required men to wear a dark suit with a black tie and a black button on the left lapel. Women were asked to wear long black dresses, gloves, and a veil. Former Democratic judge harbored El Salvadoran gang member Attorney General Pam Bondi said that one of the three illegal aliens involved in the arrest of a former Democratic New Mexico judge had images of a decapitated victim on his cell phone, reports The Blaze.com. Bondi offered the revelation as evidence that the illegal alien, allegedly harbored by former Judge Jose "Joel" Cano, was a member of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang from El Salvador. In February, Cano resigned from his office after his residence was searched. Last Friday, the former judge was arrested. Democrats have objected to the arrest and accused the Trump administration of abusing government powers.  When Bondi appeared on Fox News, she explained why the judge was arrested. BONDI: “Judge Cano is charged with allegedly giving him assault rifles, AK47s, AR15s, with a suppressor, a known [Tren de Aragua] member, letting him go to a shooting range to refine and perfect his shooting skills.” She added that Judge Cano has been charged with obstruction, saying, “He admitted post-Miranda [that] he took one of the TDA members' cell phones himself —beat it with a hammer, destroyed it, then walked the pieces to a city dumpster to dispose of it to protect him." Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre dies by suicide Virginia Giuffre, the most prominent victim of Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted pedophile, took her own life last Thursday, reports the New York Post. In a statement to NBC News, the 41-year-old's family said, “It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia. She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.” Giuffre took legal action against billionaire financier Epstein in 2015, alleging that she was sex trafficked at age 16 after his ex-lover and convicted madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, recruited her from her job as a locker room attendant at President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. She is survived by her three children -- Christian, Noah and Emily. The mom of three also alleged she was forced to have relations with disgraced Prince Andrew three times when she was 17 — including at Epstein's Little St. James island, in New Mexico and in Maxwell's London home, where the notorious photo of her posing with King Charles' brother was taken. While Prince Andrew denied the allegations, he settled out of court with his accuser for a hefty $12 million in 2022. Her family told NBC News, “In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight.” Jay Leno, whose wife has advanced dementia, honors marital vows And finally, in a new interview on In Depth with Graham Benzinger, comedian Jay Leno, who hosted NBC's The Tonight Show for 20 years, revealed that he's been caring for his wife, Mavis, who has advanced dementia for five years now. LENO: “We've been married 45 years. The first 40 unbelievable, last five have been challenging. When you have to feed someone and change them and, you know, carry them to the bathroom and do all that kind of stuff every day, it's a challenge. Leno referenced his wedding day vow. LENO: “I like taking care of her. When I got married, you sort of take a vow. Will I live up to this or will I be like a sleazy guy or something happens to my wife? That's really what love is. I'm glad I didn't cut and run. I'm glad I didn't run off with some woman half my age, or any of that silly nonsense, you know?” 1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. …” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, April 28th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Preached on Good Friday, 18th April, 2025 at ICGC Christ Temple. Pastor Mensa Otabil is the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church bringing hope to many around the globe and transforming lives into legacies. Connect with Pastor Mensa Otabil on social media @mensaotabil. Shalom

Preached on Good Friday, 18th April, 2025 at ICGC Christ Temple. Pastor Mensa Otabil is the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church bringing hope to many around the globe and transforming lives into legacies. Connect with Pastor Mensa Otabil on social media @mensaotabil. Shalom

04/18/25 Fr Daniel Shaba - Good Friday 2025 (English) by St. Peter's Chaldean Catholic Diocese