Podcasts about grand rapids

Justin sat down with Steve Goreham, author of Green Breakdown, to expose what he calls the “crap plan”—Grand Rapids' new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. While city leaders push lofty goals of cutting emissions 63% by 2030 and 100% by 2050, Goreham warns the plan won't move the needle on global climate but will jack up Michigan's already sky-high energy prices. They broke down how wind and solar mandates strain taxpayers, why Michigan's electricity costs have surged nearly 60% since 2008, and how AI data centers are set to fuel massive new demand—driven not by “green” energy, but natural gas and a renewed push for nuclear power. From restarting plants like Palisades to exploring modular nuclear reactors, Goreham argues the real future is reliable, affordable energy—not government-forced green schemes.Get the stories from today's show in THE STACK: https://justinbarclay.comNew gear is here! Check out the latest in the Justin Store: https://justinbarclay.com/storeKirk Elliott PHD - FREE consultation on wealth conservation - http://GoldWithJustin.comJoin Justin in the MAHA revolution - http://HealthWithJustin.comTry Cue Streaming for just $2 / day and help support the good guys https://justinbarclay.com/cueUp to 80% OFF! Use promo code JUSTIN http://MyPillow.com/JustinPatriots are making the Switch! What if we could start voting with our dollars too? http://SwitchWithJustin.com

Support the pod and get so much extra content for $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/stiffsockspod Bonus eps also available on Apple Podcasts! https://www.apple.co/socks

You gave us your church problems, and we fixed them (maybe)… On the net, it's a positive. ----- JOKES FOR HUMANS TOUR: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://johncristcomedy.com/tour/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 8/30 - Las Vegas, NV 9/19 - Grand Rapids, MI 9/20 - Fort Wayne, IN 9/21 - Paducah, KY 9/26 - North Charleston, SC 9/27 - Macon, GA 9/28 - Hiawassee, GA 10/2 - Evansville, IN 10/3 - Dayton, OH 10/4 - Peoria, IL 10/10 - Knoxville, TN 10/11 - Greenville, SC 10/16 - York, PA 10/17 - Detroit, MI 10/18 - Cleveland, OH 10/24 - Birmingham, AL 10/25 - Chattanooga, TN 11/7 - Boise, ID 11/8 - Spokane, WA 11/9 - Tacoma, WA 11/20 - Abilene, TX 11/21 - San Antonio, TX 11/22 - Tyler, TX 11/23 - Austin, TX 12/5 - Phoenix, AZ 12/6 - Santa Rosa, CA 12/7 - Redding, CA 12/11 - South Bend, IN 12/12 - Munhall, PA 12/14 - Buffalo, NY ----- Catch the full video podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on social media (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@netpositivepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week. ----- Email us at netpositive@johncristcomedy.com ----- FOLLOW JOHN ON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BLUELAND: Get 15% off your order by going to https://blueland.com/netpositive GOODR: Pick up a pair at https://goodr.com/NETPOSITIVE and use code NETPOSITIVE for FREE SHIPPING ROCKET MONEY: Stop wasting money on things you don't use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions – and manage your money the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/netpositive ----- PRODUCED BY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex Lagos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lagos Creative

Veronika Slowikowska, of Tires and the Nevermind Podcast, makes her first TYSO appearance and she and Rick meet for the first time. And let's just say they "podcast," during a sleepover, if you know what I mean. ;)

When it comes to leading a private practice, most people focus on strategy, logistics, and profitability. But what if the secret to becoming a better therapist, leader, and human being isn't outside of you, but inside? In this episode, Gordon Brewer sat down with Rachel Bentley of Next Level Private Practice to explore how Internal Family Systems (IFS)—or "parts work"—has completely transformed the way she leads, supervises, and shows up in the therapy room. Spoiler: it's not just about helping your clients—it starts with understanding yourself. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Read the show notes here Watch on YouTube  Use the promo code “GORDON” to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Meet Rachel Bentley Rachel Bentley is a Licensed Professional Counselor and IFS Level 2 trained therapist. She is the CEO and Founder of COR Counseling, a group practice of 40 clinicians. COR is LGBTQIA+ centered and affirming. As Rachel built a sustainable and profitable group practice, folks started coming to her for advice and mentorship. Because of this, she created Next Level Private Practice—a consulting company that helps clinicians in all stages of private practice. Are you ready to take your private practice to the next level? Whether you're launching your practice, expanding from solo to group, or sustaining a thriving group practice, Next Level Private Practice is here to support you at every stage. We offer: On-demand courses A comprehensive practice assessment Mentorship groups One-on-one consulting You'll also gain access to a vibrant community through our Facebook group, and be invited to Lunch with Rachel—a free monthly Zoom event packed with expert insights and practical resources. We're also thrilled to announce the Next Level Private Practice Summit, taking place in Grand Rapids, MI, in late September 2025. The summit will be a place to: 1. Connect and build community with like-minded folks who do the work you do (no more isolation!) 2. Get inspired and reenergized about your work as a therapist, business owner—or both 3. Learn from 30+ speakers who will provide tangible takeaways and action steps to help you begin or grow your practice Join us and build a practice that's not just successful—but sustainable. Next Level Private Practice Folks can join our FB group/community here Next Level Private Practice Summit Next Level Private Practice Instagram  

On this week's episode of Friends Talking Nerdy, Professor Aubrey and Tim the Nerd head outside—at least in spirit—to share some of their most memorable moments under the open sky.Professor Aubrey kicks things off by reminiscing about her adventures at some of her favorite outdoor gatherings, from the groundbreaking feminist energy of Lilith Fair in the '90s to the dazzling displays at the Portland Winter Lights Festival. She dives into the playful and creative atmosphere of Soak, Oregon's regional Burning Man event, and celebrates the whimsical, free-spirited culture of the Oregon Country Fair—along with her experiences at Burning Man itself.Tim the Nerd then takes a nostalgic tour through his own list of unforgettable outdoor events. He recalls the former Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the intimate It Festival at Lamar Park in 1995—back when Jewel and The Goo Goo Dolls were still up-and-coming acts who performed there. He also relives the chaotic fun of the 1988 Potter's House Royal Rumble held at his grade school, his serene time at Breitenbush Hot Springs, and the thrill of seeing the California Angels take on the Detroit Tigers at Tiger Stadium on June 17th, 1990.In the second half of the episode, Professor Aubrey shares her excitement about attending the Oregon Country Fair in 2025. Although the event has already happened by the time you hear this, the conversation was recorded beforehand, giving listeners a peek at her anticipation, hopes, and plans for the beloved countercultural celebration.As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms.Head to Friends Talking Nerdy's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for more information on where to find us online.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33Yesterday, Kris Chayer shared an encouraging message, "Seek and You Will Find" — a reminder to put God first in every area of life.We hope this message inspires, challenges, and strengthens you in your walk with Christ.

Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim Samra Passage: Joshua 7 This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on August 3, 2025

Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim Samra Passage: Joshua 7 This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on August 3, 2025

Jesse Safford (they/them) started climbing during college in Montana, but it wasn't until they moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, that they stumbled upon setting. Now Jesse is the Head Setter at Terra Firma. Jesse is also an avid comp setter, chiefing and setting their annual in-house Rabble Rouser competition at Terra Firma, and has set for Death Moth, Siege the Southeast and Flight of the Phoenix, among many others. Most recently, they're extremely excited about the upcoming Midwest Mayhem series. Outside of climbing, Jesse is a birdwatcher, Dungeons and Dragons player, and cat parent. What does D&D have to do with working on a routesetting team? How can we all play a role in improving our team dynamics? Jesse and Holly dive into those topics and much more on today's episode. General Topics Covered What does it mean to have “good vibes” on a routesetting team? How social pressure influences us in routesetting and tips for Head Setters/Event Chiefs to soften the atmosphere Emotional awareness and situational awareness of team dynamics What Dungeons and Dragons can teach us about team vibes Checking in on yourself and verbalizing your own needs to the team Role modeling vulnerability How Jesse and our host, Holly, met / Jesse's perfect D&D campaign Show Notes Find Jesse Safford on Instagram Terra Firma Competitions mentioned: Death Moth, Siege the Southeast, Midwest Mayhem, Flight of the Phoenix All you need to know about Dungeons and Dragons battle strategy Closing Notes If you'd like to nominate someone as a next guest, have a topic you want to see us tackle or have questions, we'd love for you to reach out. The Impact Driver podcast is a production of the Climbing Business Journal. Today's episode is sponsored by Approach and Trango. It was edited and produced by Holly Yu Tung Chen, Scott Rennak and the team at CBJ. Our theme music is by Devin Dabney.

How should we understand the words, “in him all things were created” in Col 1.16? Although commonly taken to mean Christ created the universe, this view has contextual, structural, and exegetical problems. In what follows I’ll name six problems with old-creation readings before laying out why a new creation approach makes sense. I presented this talk at the 2025 Unitarian Christian Alliance (UCA) conference in Uxbridge, England. Scroll down to see the full-length paper. For those listening to the audio, here’s a quick reference to Colossians 1.15-20 Strophe 1 (Col 1.15-18a) 15a      who is (the) image of the invisible God, 15b      firstborn of all creation 16a      for in him were created all things 16b                  in the heavens and upon the earth, 16c                  the visible and the invisible, 16d                  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 16e      all things have been created through him and for him 17a      and he is before all things 17b      and all things hold together in him 18a      and he is the head of the body of the Church,[12] Strophe 2 (Col 1.18b-20) 18b      who is (the) beginning, 18c      firstborn from the dead, 18d                  in order that he may be first in all things, 19        for in him was pleased all the fulness to dwell 20a      and through him to reconcile all things in him, 20b      making peace through the blood of his cross 20c                  whether the things upon the earth 20d                  or the things in the heavens Here’s Randy Leedy’s New Testament Diagram Here are the slides in the original PowerPoint format Download [13.82 MB] Here are the slides converted to PDF Loading... Taking too long? Reload document | Open in new tab Download [3.16 MB] To read the paper, simply scroll down or read it on Academia.edu.   Listen on Spotify   Listen on Apple Podcasts —— Links —— Check out these other papers by Sean Finnegan Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Finnegan on X @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air Who is Sean Finnegan?  Read his bio here Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price. Get the transcript of this episode Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library. Below is the paper presented on July 25, 2025 in Uxbridge, England at the 2nd annual UCA UK Conference. Access this paper on Academia.edu to get the pdf. Full text is below, including bibliography and end notes. Colossians 1.16: Old Creation or New Creation? by Sean P. Finnegan Abstract  How should we understand the words, “in him all things were created” in Col 1.16? Although commonly taken to mean Christ created the universe, this view has contextual, structural, and exegetical problems. In what follows, I will explain the difficulties with the various old creation readings of Col 1.16 along with five reasons for a new creation approach. Then I'll provide a new creation reading of Col 1.16 before summarizing my findings in the conclusion. Introduction  Colossians 1.15-20 is a fascinating text of great importance for Christology. Commonly understood to be a hymn, it is fascinating in its cosmic scope and elevated Christology. Although many commentators interpret Paul[1] to say that Christ created the universe in his pre-existent state in Col 1.16, not all scholars see it that way. For example, Edward Schillebeeckx writes, “There is no mention in this text of pre-existence in the Trinitarian sense.”[2] Rather he sees “an eschatological pre-existence, characteristic of wisdom and apocalyptic.”[3] G. B. Caird agreed that Paul's focus in Col. 1.15-20 was not pre-existence (contra Lightfoot), rather, “The main thread of Paul's thought, then, is the manhood of Christ.”[4] In other words, “All that has been said in vv. 15-18 can be said of the historical Jesus.”[5] James Dunn also denied that Paul saw Christ as God's agent in creation in Col 1.15-20, claiming that such an interpretation was “to read imaginative metaphor in a pedantically literal way.”[6] James McGrath argued that “Jesus is the one through whom God's new creation takes place.” [7] Andrew Perriman likewise noted, “There is no reference to the creation of heaven and earth, light and darkness, sea and dry land, lights in the heavens, vegetation, or living creatures,”[8] also preferring a new creation approach.[9] To understand why such a broad range of scholars diverge from the old creation interpretation of Col 1.16, we will examine several contextual, structural, and exegetical problems. While explaining these, I'll also put forward four reasons to interpret Col 1.16 as new creation. Then I'll provide a fifth before giving a new creation reading of Col 1.15-20. But before going any further, let's familiarize ourselves with the text and structure. The Form of Col 1.15-20  To get our bearings, let me begin by providing a translation,[10] carefully structured to show the two strophes.[11] Strophe 1 (Col 1.15-18a) 15a      who is (the) image of the invisible God, 15b      firstborn of all creation 16a      for in him were created all things 16b                  in the heavens and upon the earth, 16c                  the visible and the invisible, 16d                  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 16e      all things have been created through him and for him 17a      and he is before all things 17b      and all things hold together in him 18a      and he is the head of the body of the Church,[12] Strophe 2 (Col 1.18b-20) 18b      who is (the) beginning, 18c      firstborn from the dead, 18d                  in order that he may be first in all things, 19        for in him was pleased all the fulness to dwell 20a      and through him to reconcile all things in him, 20b      making peace through the blood of his cross 20c                  whether the things upon the earth 20d                  or the things in the heavens Here I've followed the two-strophe structure (1.15-18a and 18b-20) noted more than a century ago by the classical philologist Eduard Norden[13] and repeated by James Robinson,[14] Edward Lohse,[15] Edward Schweizer,[16] James Dunn,[17] Ben Witherington III,[18] and William Lane[19] among others. By lining up the parallel lines of the two strophes, we can clearly see the poetic form. Strophe 1 15a who is (the) image… 15b firstborn of all creation 16a for in him were created all things… 16e  all things have been created through him… Strophe 2 18b who is (the) beginning, 18c firstborn from the dead … 19 for in him was pleased all… 20a and through him to reconcile all things in him… Such striking repeated language between the two strophes means that we should be careful to maintain the parallels between them and not take a grammatical or exegetical position on a word or phrase that would disconnect it from the parallel line in the other strophe. Some scholars, including F. F. Bruce,[20] Michael Bird,[21] David Pao,[22] among others proposed vv. 17-18a as an independent transitional link between the two strophes. Lohse explained the motivation for this unlikely innovation as follows. Above all, it is curious that at the end of the first, cosmologically oriented strophe, Christ is suddenly referred to as the “head of the body, the church” (1:18a κεφαλή τοῦ σώματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας). Considering its content, this statement would have to be connected with the second strophe which is characterized by soteriological statements. The structure of the hymn, however, places it in the first strophe.[23] For interpreters who prefer to think of the first strophe as cosmogony and the second as soteriology, a line about Christ's headship over the church doesn't fit very well. They restructure the form based on their interpretation of the content. Such a policy reverses the order of operations. One should determine the form and then interpret the content in light of structure. Lohse was right to reject the addition of a new transitional bridge between the two strophes. He called it “out of the question” since vv. 17-18a underscore “all things” and “serve as a summary that brings the first strophe to a conclusion.”[24] Now that we've oriented ourselves to some degree, let's consider old creation readings of Col 1.16 and the problems that arise when reading it that way. Old Creation Readings  Within the old creation paradigm for Col 1.16 we can discern three groups: those who see (A) Christ as the agent by whom God created, (B) Wisdom as the agent, and (C) Christ as the purpose of creation. Although space won't allow me to interact with each of these in detail, I will offer a brief critique of these three approaches. As a reminder, here is our text in both Greek and English. Colossians 1.16 16a      ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα 16b                  ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, 16c                  τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα, 16d                  εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι· 16e      τὰ πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται· 16a      for in him were created all things 16b                  in the heavens and upon the earth, 16c                  the visible and the invisible, 16d                  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 16e      all things have been created through him and for him 1. Christ as the Agent of Creation Scot McKnight is representative in his claim that “The emphasis of the first stanza is Christ as the agent of creation … and the second is Christ as the agent of redemption.”[25] This view sees the phrase “in him were created all things” as Christ creating the universe in the beginning. However, this position has six problems with it. Firstly, the context of the poem—both before (vv. 13-14) and after (vv. 21-22)—is clearly soteriological not cosmogonical.[26] By inserting vv. 15-20 into the text after vv. 13-14, Paul connected the two together.[27] V. 15 begins with ὅς ἐστιν (who is), which makes it grammatically dependent on vv. 13-14. “It is widely accepted,” wrote Dunn, “that this passage is a pre-Pauline hymn interpolated and interpreted to greater or less extent by Paul.”[28] By placing the poem into a redemptive frame, Paul indicated how he interpreted it. The fact that God “rescued us from the authority of darkness and transferred (us) into the kingdom of his beloved son” is the controlling context (v. 13).[29] As I will show below, I believe vv. 15-20 are ecclesiology not protology, since ecclesiology naturally flows from soteriology. Rather than remaining in the old domain of darkness, vulnerable to malevolent spiritual powers of this age, Colossian Christians are transferred into the new domain of Christ. The context makes it more natural to interpret the creation language of vv. 15-16 in light of Christ's redemptive work—as references to new creation rather than old creation. Doing so retains the contextual frame rather than jumping back to the beginning of time. A second problem arises when we consider the phrase “image of the invisible God” in v. 15. Although some see a Stoic or Wisdom reference here, I agree with F. F. Bruce who said, “No reader conversant with the OT scriptures, on reading these words of Paul, could fail to be reminded of the statement in Gen. 1:26f., that man was created by God ‘in his own image.'”[30] Immediately after making humanity in his own image, God blessed us with dominion over the earth. Philo also connected humanity's image of God with “the rulership over the earthly realms.”[31] But if the Christ of v. 15 is the pre-existent son prior to his incarnation, as the old creation model posits, “How can he be the ‘image of God,'” asked Eduard Schweizer, since “the one who is thus described here is not the earthly Jesus?”[32] It is precisely by virtue of his humanity that Jesus is the image of God not his pre-existence.[33] Thus, image-of-God language points us to the creation of a new humanity. A third problem is that “firstborn of all creation” prima facia implies that Christ is a member of creation (a partitive genitive). This is how Paul thought about Christ as firstborn in Rom 8.29 when he called Christ “firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Clearly he saw Christ as a member of the “ἀδελφοῖς” (brothers and sisters). Furthermore, “πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως” (firstborn of all creation) in v. 15 parallels “πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν” (firstborn from the dead) v. 18. Although the former (v. 15) can be taken as a genitive of subordination (firstborn over creation) or as a partitive genitive (firstborn of creation), the latter (v. 18) is unambiguously partitive. Because v. 18 includes the word ἐκ (from/out of), instead of a multivalent genitive, it must mean that Jesus was himself a member of the dead prior to his resurrection. Likewise, he was the firstborn member of creation. To take v. 15 as a genitive of subordination and v. 18 in a partitive sense allows theology to drive exegesis over against the clear structural link between v. 15b and v. 18c. In fact, as the BDAG noted, Christ is “the firstborn of a new humanity.”[34] He is chronologically born first and, by virtue of that, also preeminent.[35] Fourthly, the phrase, “ἐν αὐτῷ” (in him), implies soteriology not protology as it does throughout the Pauline corpus. The prepositional phrases “in Christ,” “in the Lord,” “in him,” and others that are similar occur more than a hundred times in Paul's epistles. McKnight elucidated the sense nicely: “This expression, then, is the inaugurated eschatological reality into which the Christian has been placed, and it also evokes the new-creation realities that a person discovers.”[36] Creation in Christ is not likely to refer to Genesis creation. In fact, apart from Col 1.16, there is no text within Paul or the rest of the Bible that speaks of the origin of the universe as something created “in Christ.”[37] Sadly translators routinely obscure this fact by translating “ἐν αὐτῷ” as “by him.”[38] Amazingly, the NASB and ESV render “ἐν αὐτῷ” as “in him” in every other usage apart from Col 1.16![39] For the sake of consistency, it makes better sense to render “ἐν αὐτῷ” as “in him” and let the reader decide how to interpret it. Fifthly, the line, “and he is the head of the body, the Church” (v. 18a) clearly roots the first strophe in redemptive history not creation. Our English translations follow Robert Estienne's verse divisions, which confusingly combine the last line of the first strophe (v. 18a) and the first line of the second (v. 18b), obscuring the native poetic structure. As I made the case above, the structure of the text breaks into two strophes with v. 18a included in the first one. As I mentioned earlier, vv. 15-20 are a pre-existing poem that Paul has modified and incorporated into the text of Colossians. Ralph Martin pointed out that the poem contains “no less than five hapax legomena” and “about ten non-Pauline expressions.”[40] Additionally, there appear to be awkward additions that disrupt the symmetry. These additions are the most explicitly Christian material. It is likely that the original said, “and he is the head of the body” to which Paul appended “the church.” Edward Schillebeeckx commented on this. In Hellenistic terms this must primarily mean that he gives life and existence to the cosmos. Here, however, Colossians drastically corrects the ideas … The correction made by Colossians is to understand ‘body' as a reference to the church, and not the cosmos. This alters the whole perspective of the cultural and religious setting … The cosmic background is reinterpreted in terms of salvation history and ecclesiology. In fact Christ is already exercising his lordship over the world now … however, he is doing this only as the head of the church, his body, to which he gives life and strength. Thus Colossians claims that the church alone, rather than the cosmos, is the body of Christ.[41] If this is true, it shows Paul's careful concern to disallow a strictly old creation or protological reading of the first strophe. For by inserting “of the church,” he has limited the context of the first strophe to the Christ event. “The addition of ‘the church,'” wrote Dunn, “indicates that for Paul at any rate the two strophes were not dealing with two clearly distinct subjects (cosmology and soteriology).”[42] Karl-Joseph Kuschel wrote, “The answer would seem to be he wanted to ‘disturb' a possible cosmological-protological fancy in the confession of Christ … to prevent Christ from becoming a purely mythical heavenly being.”[43] Thus Paul's addition shows us he interpreted the creation of v16 as new creation. Lastly, theological concerns arise when taking Col 1.16 as old creation. The most obvious is that given the partitive genitive of v. 15, we are left affirming the so-called Arian position that God created Christ as the firstborn who, in turn, created everything else. Another thorn in the side of this view is God's insistence elsewhere to be the solo creator (Isa 44.24; cf. 45.18). On the strength of this fact, modalism comes forward to save the day while leaving new problems in its wake. However, recognizing Col 1.15-20 as new creation avoids such theological conundrums. 2. Wisdom as the Agent of Creation Dustin Smith noted, “The christological hymn contains no less than nine characteristics of the wisdom of God (e.g., “image,” “firstborn,” agent of creation, preceding all things, holding all things together) that are reapplied to the figure of Jesus.”[44] Some suggest that Col 1.15-20 is actually a hymn to Wisdom that Paul Christianized.[45] The idea is that God created the universe through his divine Wisdom, which is now embodied or incarnate in Christ. Dunn explained it as follows. If then Christ is what God's power/wisdom came to be recognized as, of Christ it can be said what was said first of wisdom—that ‘in him (the divine wisdom now embodied in Christ) were created all things.' In other words the language may be used here to indicate the continuity between God's creative power and Christ without the implication being intended that Christ himself was active in creation.[46] Before pointing out some problems, I must admit much of this perspective is quite noncontroversial. That Jewish literature identified Wisdom as God's creative agent, that there are linguistic parallels between Col 1.15-20 and Wisdom, and that the historical Jesus uniquely embodied Wisdom to an unprecedented degree are not up for debate. Did Paul expect his readers to pick up on the linguistic parallels? Afterall, he could have just said “in her were created all things” in v. 16, clearly making the connection with the grammatically feminine σοφία (Wisdom). Better yet, he could have said, “in Wisdom were created all things.” Even if the poem was originally to Wisdom, Paul has thoroughly Christianized it, applying to Christ what had been said of Wisdom. However, the most significant defeater for this view is that applying Wisdom vocabulary to Christ only works one way. Wisdom has found her home in Christ. This doesn't mean we can attribute to Christ what Wisdom did before she indwelt him any more than we can attribute to the living descendants of Nazis the horrific deeds of their ancestors. Perriman's critique is correct: “The point is not that the act of creation was Christlike, rather the reverse: recent events have been creation-like. The death and resurrection of Jesus are represented as the profoundly creative event in which the wisdom of God is again dynamically engaged, by which a new world order has come about.”[47] Once again a new creation approach makes better sense of the text. 3. Christ as the Purpose of Creation Another approach is to take ἐν αὐτῷ (in him) in a telic sense. Martha King, a linguist with SIL, said the phrase can mean “in association with Christ everything was created” or “in connection with Christ all things were created.”[48] Lexicographer, Joseph Thayer, sharpened the sense with the translation, “[I]n him resides the cause why all things were originally created.”[49] William MacDonald's translation brought this out even more with the phrase, “because for him everything … was created.”[50] The idea is that God's act of creation in the beginning was with Christ in view. As Eric Chang noted, “Christ is the reason God created all things.”[51] G. B. Caird said, “He is the embodiment of that purpose of God which underlies the whole creation.”[52] The idea is one of predestination not agency.[53] Christ was the goal for which God created all things. A weakness of this view is that purpose is better expressed using εἰς or δία with an accusative than ἐν. Secondly, the parallel line in the second strophe (v. 19) employs “ἐν αὐτῷ” in a clearly locative sense: “in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell.” So even though “ἐν αὐτῷ” could imply purpose, in this context it much more likely refers to location. Lastly, Paul mentioned the sense of purpose at the end of v. 16 with “εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται” (for him has been created), so it would be repetitive to take “ἐν αὐτῷ” that way as well. To sum up, the three positions that see Col 1.16 as a reference to old creation all have significant problems. With these in mind, let us turn our attention to consider a fourth possibility: that Paul has in mind new creation. Reasons for a New Creation Reading I've already provided four reasons why Col 1.15-20 refers to new creation: (1) calling Christ the image of God points to the new humanity begun in Christ as the last Adam;[54] (2) since the firstborn of the old creation was Adam (or, perhaps, Seth), Jesus must be the firstborn of the new creation; (3) saying Jesus is the head of the church, limits the focus for the first strophe to the time following the Christ event; (4) the context of the poem, both before (vv. 13-14) and after (vv. 21-22) is soteriological, making an old creation paradigm awkward, while a new creation view fits perfectly. The Catholic priest and professor, Franz Zeilinger, summarized the situation nicely: “Christ is (through his resurrection from the realm of death) Lord over the possession granted to him, of which he is the ἀρχή (beginning) and archetype, … and head and beginning of the eschatological new creation!”[55] Additionally, a new creation paradigm fits best with Paul's elaboration of what visible and invisible things in heaven and on earth he has in mind. Once again, here's our text. 16a      for in him were created all things 16b                  in the heavens and upon the earth, 16c                  the visible and the invisible, 16d                  whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 16e      all things have been created through him and for him By specifying thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities, we discern Paul's train of thought. Form critics are quick to point out that v. 16d is Paul's addition to the poem. Without it, the reader may have thought of sky, land, and animals—old creation. However, with v. 16d present, we direct our attention to political realities not God's creative power or engineering genius. Martha King noted the two possible meanings for εἴτε: (1) specifying the “invisible things” or (2) giving examples of “all things.” Taking the second view, we read “in him were created all things, including thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities.”[56] Randy Leedy also presented this position in his sentence diagrams, identifying v. 16d as equivalent to v. 16c and v. 16b, all of which modify τὰ πάντα (all things) at the end of v. 16a. (See Appendix for Leedy's diagram.) Perriman pressed home the point when he wrote: The fact is that any interpretation that takes verse 16 to be a reference to the original creation has to account for the narrow range of created things explicitly listed. … The Colossians verse mentions only the creation of political entities—thrones, lordships, rulers and authorities, visible and invisible—either in the already existing heaven or on the already existing and, presumably, populated earth. What this speaks of is a new governmental order consisting of both invisible-heavenly and visibly-earthly entities.”[57] Understanding v. 16d as equivalent to “all things” in v. 16a nicely coheres with a new-creation paradigm. However, taken the other way—as an elaboration of only the invisible created realities—v. 16d introduces an asymmetrical and clumsy appendix. A New Creation Reading of Col 1.16 Now that we've considered some problems with old creation views and some reasons to read Col 1.16 from a new creation perspective, let's consider how a new creation reading works. New creation is all about the new breaking into the old, the future into the present. G. F. Wessels said, “Paul made clear that there is a present realized aspect of salvation, as well as a future, still outstanding aspect, which will only be realized at the eschaton.”[58] New creation, likewise, has future and present realities. Exiting Old Creation Before becoming part of the new creation, one must exit the old creation. “Our old humanity was co-crucified“ (Rom 6.6). “With Christ you died to the elemental principles of the world” (Col 2.20). “As many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into his death” (Rom 6.3). We were “co-buried with him through baptism into the death … having been united with the likeness of his death” (Rom 6.4-5). Our death with him through baptism kills our allegiance and submission to the old powers and the old way of life “in which you formerly walked according to the zeitgeist of this world, according to the rule of the authority of the air, the spirit which now works in the children of disobedience” (Eph 2.2). Entering New Creation As death is the only way out of the old creation, so resurrection is the only way into the new creation. “You have been co-raised with Christ” (Col 3.1). God “co-made-alive us together with him” (Col 2.13).[59] By virtue of our union with Christ, we ourselves are already “co-raised and co-seated us in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2.6). The result of this is that “we also may walk in newness of life” (Rom 6.4). For those who are “in Christ, (there is) a new creation; the old has passed away, behold (the) new has come into existence” (2 Cor 5.17). “They have been ‘transported,'” wrote Schillebeeckx, “they already dwell above in Christ's heavenly sphere of influence (Col 1.13)—the soma Christou … that is the church!”[60] Community For the people of God, “neither circumcision is anything nor uncircumcision but a new creation” is what matters (Gal 6.15). Those who “are clothed with the new” are “being renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created, where there is no Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, (or) free, but Christ (is) all and in all” (Col 3.10-11). Through Christ God has nullified the law “in order that he might create the two into one new humanity in him” (Eph 2.14-15). Thus, within new creation, ethnic identity still exists, but it is relativized, our identity in Christ taking priority ahead of other affiliations and duties. Lifestyle When the lost become saved through faith, they become his creation (ποίημα), “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph 2.10). This means we are to “lay aside the former way of life, the old humanity corrupted according to deceitful desires” and instead be clothed with “the new humanity created according to God in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph 4.22-24). Rather than lying to one another, we must “strip off the old humanity with its way of acting” and “be clothed with the new (humanity), renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it” (Col 3.9-10). “The ones who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts” and instead “walk by the spirit” (Gal 5.24-25). Ultimately, All Creation Although new creation is currently limited to those who voluntarily recognize Jesus as Lord, all “creation is waiting with eager expectation for the unveiling of the children of God” (Rom 8.19). Because of the Christ event, the created order eagerly awaits the day when it will escape “the enslavement of corruption” and gain “the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (v. 21). Like a bone out of joint, creation does not function properly. Once Christ sets it right, it will return to its proper order and operation under humanity's wise and capable rulership in the eschaton. Eschatology God predetermined that those who believe will be “conformed to the image of his son, that he be firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Rom 8.29). Thus, the resurrected Christ is the prototype, “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15.20). Whereas “in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive” (v. 22). We await Christ's return to “transform the body of our humble station (that it be) shaped to his glorious body according to the energy which makes him able to also to subject all things to himself.” (Phil 3.21). This is the end goal of new creation: resurrected subjects of God's kingdom joyfully living in a renewed world without mourning, crying, and pain forevermore (Isa 65.17-25; Rev 21-22). The Powers Taking Col 1.16 as a new creation text adds key information about the present governing powers to this richly textured picture. In Christ God created thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. He made these through Christ and for Christ with the result that Christ himself is before all things, and in Christ all things hold together (Col 1.17). He is the head of the body, the Church (Col 1.18). We find very similar language repeated in Ephesians in the context of Christ's exaltation.[61] Ephesians 1.20-23 20 Which [power] he energized in Christ having raised him from the dead and seated (him) on his right (hand) in the heavenlies 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name named, not only in this age but also in the one to come; 22 and he subjected all things under his feet and gave him (as) head over all things in the Church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in all. The parallels are striking. Both speak of Christ's resurrection, Christ's exalted position of authority over all the powers, Christ's role as head of the church, and both mention the fullness. It's easy to miss the connection between these two passages since most think of Eph 1.20-22 as ascension theology and Col 1.15-20 as creation theology. But, if we adjust our thinking to regard Col 1.16 as new creation, we see how the two fit together. In Ephesians we see Christ's ascension to God's right hand as the reason for a cosmic reordering of authorities with the result that all rule, authority, power, and dominion are subjected to him. (Though we may be accustomed to reading these powers in Eph 1.21 as only malevolent owing to Eph 2.2 and 6.12, the list here must be mixed, since only benevolent powers will survive the final judgement and continue into the age to come.) Instead of exaltation, in Colossians Paul employed the language of creation to describe Christ's relation to the powers. Perhaps lesser terms like reassign, reorder, or establish were just too small to adequately express the magnitude of how the Christ event has changed the world—both in heaven and on earth. The only term big enough to convey the new situation was “creation”—the very same word he routinely used elsewhere with the meaning of new creation.[62] We can gain more insight by considering what the powers of Eph 1.21 and Col 1.16 mean. McKnight saw them “as earthly, systemic manifestations of (perhaps fallen) angelic powers—hence, the systemic worldly, sociopolitical manifestations of cosmic/angelic rebellion against God.”[63] I partially agree with McKnight here. He's right to see the powers as both heavenly and earthly, or better, as the heavenly component of the earthly sociopolitical realities, but he has not made room for the new authority structures created in Christ. John Schoenheit helpfully explained it this way: Not only did Jesus create his Church out of Jew and Gentile, he had to create the structure and positions that would allow it to function, both in the spiritual world (positions for the angels that would minister to the Church—see Rev. 1:1, “his angel”) and in the physical world (positions and ministries here on earth—see Rom. 12:4-8; Eph. 4:7-11).[64] We must never forget that Paul has an apocalyptic worldview—a perspective that seeks to unveil the heavenly reality behind the earthly. He believed in powers of darkness and powers of light. In Christ were created thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities (Col 1.16). He is “the head of all rule and authority” (Col 2.10). These new creation realities make progress against the old powers that still hold sway in the world outside the Church. Although the old powers are still at work, those who are in Christ enjoy his protection. With respect to the Church, he has already “disarmed the rulers and authorities” (Col 2.15). We can don “the armor of God that we be able to stand against the methods of the devil” (Eph 6.11) and “subduing everything, to stand” (v. 13). We find glimpses of this heavenly reality scattered in other places in the Bible. Peter mentioned how Christ “is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and power having been subjected to him” (1 Pet 3.22). In John's Revelation, he addressed each of the seven letters to the angels of their respective churches.[65] Although it's hard for us to get details on precisely what happened at Christ's ascension, something major occurred, not just on earth, but also in the spiritual realm. Jesus's last recorded words in Matthew are: “all authority in heaven and upon earth was given to me” (Mat 28.18-20). Presumably such a statement implies that prior to his resurrection Jesus did not have all authority in heaven and earth. It didn't exist until it was created. Similarly, because of his death, resurrection, and ascension, Christ has “become so much better than the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to them” (Heb 1.4). Once again, the text implies that Christ was not already superior to the angels, but “after making purification of the sins, he sat on the right hand of the majesty on high” at which time he became preeminent (Heb 1.3). Perhaps this also explains something about why Christ “proclaimed to the spirits in prison” (1 Pet 3.19). Another possibility is that Christ's ascension (Rev 12.5) triggered a war in heaven (v. 7) with the result that the dragon and his angels suffered defeat (v. 8) and were thrown out of heaven down to the earth (v. 9). Sadly, for most of the history of the church we have missed this Jewish apocalyptic approach that was obvious to Paul, limiting salvation to individual sins and improved morality.[66] Only in the twentieth century did interpreters begin to see the cosmic aspect of new creation. Margaret Thrall wrote the following. The Christ-event is the turning-point of the whole world … This Christ ‘in whom' the believer lives is the last Adam, the inaugurator of the new eschatological humanity. … Paul is saying that if anyone exists ‘in Christ', that person is a newly-created being. … In principle, through the Christ-event and in the person of Christ, the new world and the new age are already objective realities.[67] New creation is, in the words of J. Louis Martyn “categorically cosmic and emphatically apocalyptic.”[68] In fact, “The advent of the Son and of his Spirit is thus the cosmic apocalyptic event.”[69] In Christ is the beginning of a whole new creation, an intersecting community of angelic and human beings spanning heaven and earth. The interlocking of earthly (visible) and heavenly (invisible) authority structures points to Paul's apocalyptic holism. The Church was not on her own to face the ravages of Rome's mad love affair with violence and power. In Christ, people were no longer susceptible to the whims of the gods that have wreaked so much havoc from time immemorial.[70] No, the Church is Christ's body under his direct supervision and protection. As a result, the Church is the eschatological cosmic community. It is not merely a social club; it has prophetic and cosmic dimensions. Prophetically, the Church points to the eschaton when all of humanity will behave then how the Church already strives to live now—by the spirit instead of the flesh (Gal 5.16-25). Cosmically, the Church is not confined to the earth. There is a heavenly dimension with authority structures instantiated under Christ to partner with the earthly assemblies. God's “plan for the fulness of the times” is “to head up all thing in the Christ, the things upon the heavens and the things upon the earth in him” (Eph 1.10). Although this is his eschatological vision, Zeilinger pointed out that it is already happening. [T]he eschatological world given in Christ is realized within the still-existing earthly creation through the inclusion of the human being in Christ, the exalted one, by means of the proclamation of salvation and baptism. The eschaton spreads throughout the world in the kerygma and becomes reality, in that the human being, through baptism, becomes part of Christ—that is, in unity with him, dies to the claim of the στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου (2.20) and is raised with him to receive his eschatological life. The people thus incorporated into the exalted Christ thereby form, in him and with him, the new creation of the eschaton within the old! The body of Christ is thus recognizable as the expanding Church. In it, heavenly and earthly space form, in a certain sense, a unity.[71] The Church is a counter society, and embassy of the future kingdom shining the light of the age to come into the present in the power of the spirit with the protection of Christ and his heavenly powers over against the powers of darkness, who/which are still quite active—especially in the political realities of our present evil age (Gal 1.4). We bend the knee to the cosmic Christ now in anticipation of the day when “every knee may bend: heavenly and earthly and subterranean” (Phil 2.10) and “every tongue may confess that Jesus Christ (is) Lord” (v. 11). Christ's destiny is to fulfil the original Adamic mandate to multiply, fill, and have dominion over the earth (Gen 1.28). He has already received all authority in heaven and earth (Mat 28.18). God has given him “dominion over the works of your hands and put all things under his feet” as the quintessential man (Ps 8.6). Even so, “Now we do not yet see all things subjected to him” (Heb 2.8), but when he comes “he will reign into the ages of the ages” (Rev 11.15). Until then, he calls the Church to recognize his preeminence and give him total allegiance both in word and deed. Conclusion We began by establishing that the structure of the poetic unit in Col 1.15-20 breaks into two strophes (15-18a and 18b-20). We noted that Paul likely incorporated pre-existing material into Colossians, editing it as he saw fit. Then we considered the problems with the three old creation readings: (A) Christ as the agent of creation, (B) Wisdom as the agent of creation, and (C) Christ as the purpose of creation. In the course of critiquing (A), which is by far most popular, we observed several reasons to think Col 1.16 pertained to new creation, including (1) the image of God language in v. 15a, (2) the firstborn of all creation language in v. 15b, (3) the head of the Church language in v. 18a, and (4) the soteriological context (frame) of the poem (vv. 13-14, 21-22). To this I added a fifth syntactical reason that 16d as an elaboration of “τἀ πάντα” (all things) of 16a. Next, we explored the idea of new creation, especially within Paul's epistles, to find a deep and richly textured paradigm for interpreting God's redemptive and expanding sphere of influence (in Christ) breaking into the hostile world. We saw that new Christians die and rise with Christ, ending their association with the old and beginning again as a part of the new—a community where old racial, legal, and status divisions no longer matter, where members put off the old way of living and instead become clothed with the new humanity, where people look forward to and live in light of the ultimate transformation to be brought about at the coming of Christ. Rather than limiting new creation to the salvation of individuals, or even the sanctifying experience of the community, we saw that it also includes spiritual powers both “in the heavens and upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” (Col 1.16). Reading Col 1.15-20 along with Eph 1.20-23 we connected God's creation of the powers in Christ with his exaltation of Christ to his right hand “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1.21). The point from both texts is clear: as “the head of the body, the Church” (Col 1.18; Eph 1.22), Christ is “before all things” (Col 1.17), “first in all things” (Col 1.18), and “far above all” (Eph 1.21), since God has “subjected all things under his feet” (Eph 1.22). Christ is preeminent as the firstborn of all new creation, “the new Adam … the starting point where new creation took place.”[72] Although the old powers still hold sway in the world, those in the interlocked heaven-and-earth new creation domain where Christ is the head, enjoy his protection if they remain “in the faith established and steadfast and not shifting away from the hope of the gospel” (Col 1.23). This interpretation has several significant advantages. It fits into Paul's apocalyptic way of thinking about Christ's advent and exaltation. It also holds together the first strophe of the poem as a unit. Additionally, it makes better sense of the context. (The ecclesiology of Col 1.15-18a follows logically from the soteriological context of vv. 13-14.) Lastly, it is compatible with a wide range of Christological options. Appendix Here is Col 1.16 from Leedy's sentence diagrams.[73] Of note is how he equates the τὰ πάντα of 16a with 16c and 16d rather than seeing 16d as an elaboration of τά ὁρατά. Bibliography Bauer, Walter, Frederick William  Danker, William F. Arndt, F. Gingrich, Kurt Aland, Barbara Aland, and Viktor Reichmann. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000. Bird, Michael F. Colossians and Philemon. A New Covenant Commentary. Cambridge, England: The Lutterworth Press, 2009. 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Zondervan Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament, edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapid, MI: Zondervan, 2012. Perriman, Andrew. In the Form of a God. Studies in Early Christology, edited by David Capes Michael Bird, and Scott Harrower. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2022. Philo. The Works of Philo. The Norwegian Philo Concordance Project. Edited by Kåre Fuglseth Peder Borgen, Roald Skarsten. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2005. Robinson, James M. “A Formal Analysis of Colossians 1:15-20.” Journal of Biblical Literature 76, no. 4 (1957): 270–87. Schillebeeckx, Eduard. Christ: The Experience of Jesus as Lord. Translated by John Bowden. New York, NY: The Seabury Press, 1977. Schoberg, Gerry. Perspectives of Jesus in the Writings of Paul. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2013. Schweizer, Eduard. The Letter to the Colossians. Translated by Andrew Chester. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1982. Smith, Dustin R. Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2024. Snedeker, Donald R. Our Heavenly Father Has No Equals. Bethesda, MD: International Scholars Publications, 1998. Thayer, Joseph Henry. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996. Thrall, Margaret. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians. Vol. 1. The International Critical Commentary, edited by C. E. B. Cranfield J. A. Emerton, G. N. Stanton. Edinburgh, Scotland: T&T Clark, 1994. Wachtel, William M. “Colossians 1:15-20–Preexistence or Preeminence?” Paper presented at the 14th Theological Conference, McDonough, GA, 2005. Wessels, G. F. “The Eschatology of Colossians and Ephesians.” Neotestamentica 21, no. 2 (1987): 183–202. Witherington III, Ben The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary of the Captivity Epistles. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007. Yates, Roy. The Epistle to the Colossians. London: Epworth Press, 1993. Zeilinger, Franz. Der Erstgeborene Der Schöpfung. Wien, Österreich: Herder, 1974. Footnotes [1] Since the nineteenth century biblical scholars have been divided over whether Paul wrote Colossians. One of the major reasons for thinking Paul didn't write Colossians is his exalted Christology—the very conclusion this paper seeks to undermine. A second major factor to argue against Pauline authorship is the difference in vocabulary, but this is explainable if Paul used a different amanuensis. The theologically more cosmic emphasis (also evident in Ephesians) is likely due to Paul's time in prison to reflect and expand his understanding of the Christ event. Lastly, the proto-Gnostic hints in Colossians do not require dating the epistle outside of Paul's time. Although Gnosticism flourished at the beginning of the second century, it was likely already beginning to incubate in Paul's time. [2] Eduard Schillebeeckx, Christ: The Experience of Jesus as Lord, trans. John Bowden (New York, NY: The Seabury Press, 1977), 185. [3] Schillebeeckx, 185. [4] G. B. Caird, Paul’s Letters from Prison, New Clarendon Bible, ed. H. F. D. Sparks (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1976), 177. [5] Caird, 181. [6] James D. G. Dunn, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, New International Greek Testament Commentary, ed. Gasque Marshall, Hagner (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996), 91. “[W]hat at first reads as a straightforward assertion of Christ's pre-existenct activity in creation becomes on closer analysis an assertion which is rather more profound—not of Christ as such present with God in the beginning, nor of Christ as identified with a pre-existent hypostasis or divine being (Wisdom) beside God, but of Christ as embodying and expressing (and defining) that power of God which is the manifestation of God in and to his creation.” (Italics in original.) James D. G. Dunn, Christology in the Making, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996), 194. [7] James F. McGrath, The Only True God: Early Christian Monotheism in Its Jewish Context (Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2009), 46. [8] Andrew Perriman, In the Form of a God, Studies in Early Christology, ed. David Capes Michael Bird, and Scott Harrower (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2022), 200. [9] In addition, biblical unitarians routinely interpret Col 1.16 as new creation. See Anthony F. Buzzard, Jesus Was Not a Trinitarian (Morrow, GA: Restoration Fellowship, 2007), 189–90, Robert Carden, One God: The Unfinished Reformation, Revised ed. (Naperville, IL: Grace Christian Press, 2016), 197–200, Eric H. H. Chang, The Only Perfect Man, ed. Bentley C. F. Chang, 2nd ed. (Montreal, QC: Christian Disciples Church Publishers, 2017), 151–52, Jeff Deuble, Christ before Creeds (Latham, NY: Living Hope International Ministries, 2021), 163–66, John A. Lynn Mark H. Graeser, John W. Schoenheit, One God & One Lord, 4th ed. (Martinsville, IN: Spirit & Truth Fellowship International, 2010), 493–94, Donald R. Snedeker, Our Heavenly Father Has No Equals (Bethesda, MD: International Scholars Publications, 1998), 291–92, William M. Wachtel, “Colossians 1:15-20–Preexistence or Preeminence?” (paper presented at the 14th Theological Conference, McDonough, GA, 2005), 4. [10] All translations are my own. [11] Stophes are structural divisions drawn from Greek odes akin to stanzas in poetry or verses in music. [12] Throughout I will capitalize Church since that reflects the idea of all Christians collectively not just those in a particular local assembly. [13] Eduard Norden, Agnostos Theos: Untersuchungen Zur Formengeschichte Religiöser Rede, 4th ed. (Stuttgart, Germany: B. G. Teubner, 1956), 250–54. [14] James M. Robinson, “A Formal Analysis of Colossians 1:15-20,” Journal of Biblical Literature 76, no. 4 (1957): 272–73. [15] Edward Lohse, Colossians and Philemon, Hermeneia (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1971), 44. [16] Eduard Schweizer, The Letter to the Colossians, trans. Andrew Chester (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1982), 57. [17] Dunn, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, 84. [18] Ben  Witherington III, The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary of the Captivity Epistles (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2007), 129. [19] William L. Lane, The New Testament Page by Page, Open Your Bible Commentary, ed. Martin Manser (Bath, UK: Creative 4 International, 2013), 765. [20] E. K. Simpson and F. F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, ed. Ned B. Stonehouse (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1957), 65. [21] Michael F. Bird, Colossians and Philemon, A New Covenant Commentary (Cambridge, England: The Lutterworth Press, 2009), 50. [22] David Pao, Colossians and Philemon, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament, ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapid, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 87. [23] Lohse, 42. [24] Lohse, 43–44. [25] Scot McKnight, The Letter to the Colossians, New International Commentary on the New Testament, ed. Joel B. Green (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2018), 144. [26] Col 1.13-14: “who rescued us from the authority of darkness and transferred (us) into the kingdom of his beloved son in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of the sins.” Col 1.21-22: “And you being formerly alienated and hostile in thought in the evil deeds, but now he reconciled (you) in his body of the flesh through the death to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him.” [27] In fact, we can easily skip from vv. 13-14 to vv. 21-22. [28] Dunn, Christology in the Making, 187–88. [29] Sadly, most translations erroneously insert a paragraph between vv. 14 and 15. This produces the visual effect that v. 15 is a new thought unit. [30] Bruce, 193. [31] Moses 2.65: “τὴν ἡγεμονίαν τῶν περιγείων” in Philo, The Works of Philo, The Norwegian Philo Concordance Project (Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2005). See also Sirach 17.3. [32] Schweizer, 64. [33] For a helpful treatment of how the image of God relates to Christology, see Anna Shoffner Brown, “Nothing ‘Mere’ About a Man in the Image of God” (paper presented at the Unitarian Christian Alliance, Springfield, OH, Oct 14, 2022). [34] Walter Bauer et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000), s.v. “πρωτότοκος,” 2.a. [35] Franz Zeilnger wrote, “Christ is temporally the first of a series that essentially proceeds from him, and at the same time its lord and head.” Franz Zeilinger, Der Erstgeborene Der Schöpfung (Wien, Österreich: Herder, 1974), 182. Original: “als “Wurzel” ist Christus zeitlich der erste einer Reihe, die wesentlich aus ihm hervorgeht, und zugleich ihr Herr und Haupt.” [36] McKnight, 85–86. [37] The closest parallels are 1 Cor 8.6; Heb 1.2; and John 1.3, which employ the preposition δια (through). Upon close examination these three don't teach Christ created the universe either. [38] ESV, CSB, NASB, etc. Notably the NET diverges from the other evangelical translations. Roman Catholic, mainline, and unitarian translations all tend to straightforwardly render “ἐν αὐτῷ” as “in him” in Col 1.16; cf. NABRE, NRSVUE, OGFOMMT, etc. [39] Chang, 150. [40] Ralph Martin, “An Early Christian Hymn (Col. 1:15-20),” The Evangelical Quarterly 36, no. 4 (1964): 198. [41] Schillebeeckx, 186. [42] Dunn, Christology in the Making, 191. [43] Karl-Joseph Kuschel, Born before All Time?, trans. John Bowden (New York, NY: Crossroad, 1992), 336. [44] Dustin R. Smith, Wisdom Christology in the Gospel of John (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2024), 5–6. For more on wisdom Christology in Col 1.16 see Dunn, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, 89, Roy Yates, The Epistle to the Colossians (London: Epworth Press, 1993), 18–19, 23, G. B. Caird, New Testament Theology, ed. L. D. Hurst (Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 2002), 46, McGrath, 44, 46. [45] See Dunn, The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, 89. See also Yates, 18–19, 23. [46] Dunn, Christology in the Making, 190. [47] Perriman, 199. [48] Martha King, An Exegetical Summary of Colossians (Dallas, TX: SIL International, 1992), 53. [49] Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996), s.v. “ἐν,” 1722. He recognized the cause was both instrumental and final. [50] William Graham MacDonald, The Idiomatic Translation of the New Testament (Norfolk, VA: Bibleworks, 2012). [51] Chang, 147. Similarly James McGrath wrote, “[I]f all things were intended by God to find their fulfillment in Christ, then they must have been created “in him” in the very beginning in some undefined sense, since it was axiomatic that the eschatological climax of history would be a restoration of its perfect, original state.” McGrath, 46. [52] Caird, Paul’s Letters from Prison, 172. [53] “God so designed the universe that it was to achieve its proper meaning and unity only under the authority of man (Gen. 128; Ps. 86). But this purpose was not to be implemented at once; it was ‘to be put into effect when the time was ripe' (Eph. 110), when Christ had lived a human life as God intended it, and had become God's image in a measure which was never true of Adam. Only in unity with ‘the proper man' could the universe be brought to its destined coherence. For one who believes in predestination it is but a small step from this to saying that the universe was created in him.” Caird, Paul’s Letters from Prison, 178. [54] See also Paul's Adam Christology in Rom 5.12-21; 1 Cor 15.21-22, 45-49. [55] “Christus ist (durch seine Auferstehung aus dem Todesbereich) Herr über den ihm verliehenen Besitz, dessen ἀρχή und Urbild er ist, … und Haupt und Anfang der eschatologischen Neuschöpfung!” Zeilinger, 188. [56] King, 54. [57] Perriman, 200. [58] G. F. Wessels, “The Eschatology of Colossians and Ephesians,” Neotestamentica 21, no. 2 (1987): 187. [59] I realize my translation is awkward, but I prioritized closely mirroring the Greek over presenting smooth English. The original reads, “συνεζωοποίησεν ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ.” [60] Schillebeeckx, 187. [61] Scholars who make this connection include Caird, New Testament Theology, 216, Caird, Paul’s Letters from Prison, 177, McGrath, 44, Perriman, 201. [62] In fact, only two of the texts I cited above explicitly say “new creation” (2 Cor 5.17 and Gal 6.15). In all the others, Paul blithely employed creation language, expecting his readers to understand that he was not talking about the creation of the universe, but the creation of the new humanity in Christ—the Church. [63] McKnight, 152. [64] Mark H. Graeser, 493. [65] Rev 2.1, 8, 12, 18; 3.1, 7, 14. [66] See Gerry Schoberg, Perspectives of Jesus in the Writings of Paul (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2013), 280–81, 83. [67] Margaret Thrall, The Second Epistle to the Corinthians, vol. 1, The International Critical Commentary, ed. C. E. B. Cranfield J. A. Emerton, G. N. Stanton (Edinburgh, Scotland: T&T Clark, 1994), 423, 26–28. [68] J. Louis Martyn, Theological Issues in the Letters of Paul (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1997), 122. [69] Martyn, 121. [70] Whether the old gods actually existed or not is a topic beyond the scope of this paper. Interested readers should consult Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019). [71] “[D]ie in Christus gegebene echatologische Welt verwirkliche sich innerhalb der weiterhin existenten irdischen Schöpfung durch die Einbeziehung des Menschen in Christus, den Erhöhten, mittles Heilsverkündigung und Taufe. Das Eschaton setzt sic him Kerygma wetweit durch und wird Wirklichkeit, indem der Mensch durch die Taufe Christi Teil wird, d. h. in Einheit mit ihm dem Anspruch der στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου stirbt (2, 20) und mit ihm auferweckt sein eschatologisches Leben erhält. Die so dem erhöhten Christus eingegliederten Menschen bilden somit in ihm und mit ihm die neue Schöpfung der Eschata innerhalb der alten! Der Christusleib ist somit als sich weitende Kirche erkennbar. In ihr bildet himmlischer und irdischer Raum gewissermaßen eine Einheit.” Zeilinger, 179. [72] “Der neue Adam … Ausgangsort, in dem sich Neuschöpfung ereignete,” Zeilinger, 199. [73] Randy A. Leedy, The Greek New Testament Sentence Diagrams (Norfolk, VA: Bible Works, 2006). This is now available in Logos Bible Software.

On today's episode: Gen Z seems to think they have found a loop hole in the housing market.  Spoiler alert, they haven't. Grand Rapids is a hot location for Gen Z. A man in Tennessee was executed for murder, the court wouldn't allow his pace maker to be turned off and it was a botched execution. Rod Stewart is getting dragged for his Ozzy tribute. If you enjoy the show please consider subscribing to our youtube channel, our podcast and newsletter.

Thanks for joining us for our NEW MIDWEEK SERIES!! This is Part 3 of 4. Tune in on Youtube, Wednesdays at 7pm to watch the sermon LIVE!——Empowering a movement of passionate Jesus-followers... This is the vision of Downtown Christian Church (DCC) based in Grand Rapids, MICan We Pray With You? - We would be honored to partner with you - prayer@dccgr.org——Stay Connected!:Website: www.achurchinthecity.orgDCC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DowntownChristianChurchDCC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dccgr/DCC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/downtownchristianchurchApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3fzURfqSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3A7VmGQ

In this episode, we welcome Joel Westphal,  Deputy Director, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum Joel spoke with us about the upcoming multi-day event: The Greatest Generation Celebration: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II.The events will be spread across several days from September 1-7, 2025.This Historic Celebration in Grand Rapids offers a full week of remembrance and tribute to America's Greatest Generation.The events also offer an opportunity to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, honoring the millions of American and Allied forces, patriots, and citizens who made immense sacrifices to ensure a world free of tyranny.Greatest Generation Events:Honor Parade & Wings of Honor

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about Art in the Park, the Alexandria Historic House Tour, the splash pad delay and romance novels as an escape when life gets too serious.   Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute. Check out the top headlines from July 30  and August 1 below: July 30, 2025 An estimated 15,000 attend 2025 Art in the Park in Alexandria Brandon SummerFest will take place July 30 through Aug. 2 Buildings declared hazardous on 1211 6th Ave. East in Alexandria Briefs filed in fatal stabbing case in Alexandria Alexandria Historic House Tour has a big first year  Legion Baseball: Alexandria falls to Grand Rapids, beats Hutchinson to keep season alive August 1, 2025 Tip Top Dairy Bar in Osakis celebrates 70 years New splash pad in Alexandria delayed until next Memorial Day Council finds a bargain for playground equipment for splash pad park in Alexandria Community Night Out set for Tuesday, Aug. 5, in Alexandria Romance novels provide an escape from the serious things going on, says Alexandria book store Football: Evan Zabel becomes latest Alexandria area athlete to commit to North Dakota Opinion   

Chesapeake Bay Candle and Blueme founder Mei Xu joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Mei shares the importance of businesses meeting people everywhere they shop.First, Sasha, who started a gourmet pot pie company in Brooklyn, New York, asks how to find the right co-founder who can do the things she can't. Then, Tara from Dubai, Saudi Arabia wants to know whether to market her towel dress directly to consumers. And finally, Lindsay in Grand Rapids, Michigan needs advice on how to get her online curriculum in front of more school districts. Thank you to the founders of Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies, Dry Dolly, and Math Medic for being a part of our show.If you'd like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one-minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you'd like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298.And be sure to listen to the Chesapeake Bay Candle story as told by Mei on the show in 2017.This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Andrea Bruce. Our audio engineer was Kwesi Lee.You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com and on Substack.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jake Galati is the co-owner of Galati Photography based out of Grand Rapids, Ohio. Lorenzo and Jake talk about a hot van, skate boarding, Toledo skate scene, making skate videos, X-Games, college in Florida, learning skills, student film, Disney photography, working with great equipment, Halloween at Disney, traveling from Florida to Ohio, starting a studio, working and being a dad, and so much more! https://galatiphoto.com/

Jack from Grand Rapids, Michigan called in to ask about this challenging New Testament passage:“For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:14)Is a husband automatically saved because of his wife's faith? Or vice versa? This was Jack's question, and in this episode, I address this difficult passage to get at the heart of the Gospel message and the Apostle Paul's true meaning here.Enjoy!We hope you enjoyed this episode. Since we're a nonprofit organization, episodes like these are only made possible by friends like you.You can help us continue sharing God's message of grace with the world here: https://andrewfarley.org/donate/Connect with Dr. Andrew Farley here:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewFarleyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfarleyTwitter: https://twitter.com/DrAndrewFarleyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drandrewfarleyWebsite: https://www.andrewfarley.org/

Tyson and Meg McGuffin are back after a whirlwind few weeks, and this episode of The McGuffin Show is stacked with stories from Grand Rapids to Vegas. From Tyson's legendary win over Ben Johns at Beer City Open to chaotic airport runs, family travel drama, and the gritty grind of MLP play, nothing is off limits.They dive into Tyson's table tennis collab with JOOLA at a pro tourney in Vegas, hilarious parenting moments, and how their kids are now bougie travelers who demand direct flights. Plus, hear how a failed curbside check-in, sketchy Uber moments, and a pool flip ban turned into core family memories.They also share updates on court resurfacing with RiteWay, their upcoming clinic at SMASH in Connecticut, and exclusive plans at Hell's Kitchen Pickleball in NYC. As always, it's chaos, comedy, and candid moments from the McGuffins.Episode Highlights:Beer City Open throwback: Tyson vs. Ben JohnsHow NOT to check your bags at Palm Springs AirportParenting travel fails & Delta Diamond perksPro table tennis tournament in Vegas with JOOLAPool flips, trampoline stunts & kid chaosMLP Grand Rapids recap + Phoenix Flames updatesRiteWay resurfacing legacy courts in Coeur d'AleneClinics & exhibitions at SMASH Branford & Hell's Kitchen Pickleball

August 7, 2025 ~ Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, comedian and actress, joins Kevin before she brings her “The Family Reunion” tour to Royal Oak and Grand Rapids in October.

Screaming for the DJ, non-alcoholic bars, Uber for women, and too much dopamine… On the net, it's a positive. ----- JOKES FOR HUMANS TOUR: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://johncristcomedy.com/tour/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 8/30 - Las Vegas, NV 9/19 - Grand Rapids, MI 9/20 - Fort Wayne, IN 9/21 - Paducah, KY 9/26 - North Charleston, SC 9/27 - Macon, GA 9/28 - Hiawassee, GA 10/2 - Evansville, IN 10/3 - Dayton, OH 10/4 - Peoria, IL 10/10 - Knoxville, TN 10/11 - Greenville, SC 10/16 - York, PA 10/17 - Detroit, MI 10/18 - Cleveland, OH 10/24 - Birmingham, AL 10/25 - Chattanooga, TN 11/7 - Boise, ID 11/8 - Spokane, WA 11/9 - Tacoma, WA 11/20 - Abilene, TX 11/21 - San Antonio, TX 11/22 - Tyler, TX 11/23 - Austin, TX 12/5 - Phoenix, AZ 12/6 - Santa Rosa, CA 12/7 - Redding, CA 12/11 - South Bend, IN 12/12 - Munhall, PA 12/14 - Buffalo, NY ----- Catch the full video podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on social media (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@netpositivepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week. ----- Email us at netpositive@johncristcomedy.com ----- FOLLOW JOHN ON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ROCKET MONEY: Stop wasting money on things you don't use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions – and manage your money the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/netpositive AG1: Get a FREE gift with your first order at https://DrinkAG1.com/netpositive to get started with AG1's Next Gen and and notice the benefits for yourself. MIRACLE MADE: Save OVER 40% + 3 free towels with promo code NETPOSITIVE at https://trymiracle.com/NETPOSITIVE ----- PRODUCED BY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex Lagos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lagos Creative

Ashley Young vanished after a night out in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Days later, her dismembered remains were found in her friend Jared Chance's home. In this episode, we dive into the chilling details, the investigation, and the disturbing role his parents played in the cover-up.To support our show, please consider subscribing to our Patreon! You get early access & ad-free episodes.Show notes info (Pics, Sources, Tipline)Cause of Crime socials: TwitterInstagramYoutubeTheme MusicTrace's socials: TwitterInstagramTiktok

Paul Krauss MA LPC interviews Dr. Haley Perlus about her life and careers--as they discuss how Dr. Haley approaches helping people. Dr. Haley Perlus is an accomplished sport and performance psychologist, keynote speaker, author, and consultant who specializes in optimizing mental performance for athletes, business leaders, and high achievers. Her expertise draws from both her decorated athletic background and advanced academic training—she holds a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology, a Master's degree in Coaching Behavior, and is certified in both fitness and nutrition. Dr. Haley Perlus's website. Get involved with the National Violence Prevention Hotline: 501(c)(3) Donate Share with your network Write your congressperson Sign our Petition Preview an Online Video Course for the Parents of Young Adults (Parenting Issues) Unique and low cost learning opportunities through Shion Consulting Paul Krauss MA LPC is the Clinical Director of Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids, home of The Trauma-Informed Counseling Center of Grand Rapids. Paul is also a Private Practice Psychotherapist, an Approved EMDRIA Consultant , host of the Intentional Clinician podcast, Behavioral Health Consultant, Clinical Trainer, Counseling Supervisor, and Meditation Teacher. Paul is now offering consulting for a few individuals and organizations. Paul is the creator of the National Violence Prevention Hotline as well as the Intentional Clinician Training Program for Counselors. Paul has been quoted in the Washington Post, NBC News, Wired Magazine, and Counseling Today. Questions? Call the office at 616-200-4433.  If you are looking for EMDRIA consulting groups, Paul Krauss MA LPC is now hosting a weekly online group.  For details, click here. For general behavioral and mental health consulting for you or your organization. Follow Health for Life Counseling- Grand Rapids: Instagram   |   Facebook     |     Youtube Original Music: ”Alright” from the album Mystic by PAWL (Spotify) “Ferndell Shade” from A Host For All Kinds Of Life by Green-House (Spotify) “Desire Path” from A Host For All Kinds Of Life by Green-House (Spotify)

Jerrod Carmichael makes his first TYSO appearance and boy are our arms tired! Check out the follow up to Emmy Award Winning "Rothaniel," his newest stand up special, "Jerrod Carmichael: Don't Be Gay." On HBO here: https://www.hbomax.com/movies/jerrod-carmichael-dont-be-gay/797f6457-02b4-4309-8996-998dcf203d0d

The 7th stop of the Move Her Mind Event Series landed us in Grand Rapids! We sat down with Asia Rawls, ASICS Ambassador and member of WeRUN313. A Division 1 NCAA qualifier and record holder from Eastern Michigan University, Asia has always championed the profound impact of running on both body and mind. She furthered her education at the University of Detroit Mercy, earning an MBA and an M.S. in Computer Information Systems, while also serving as a coach.Currently, Asia is a community leader and the owner and founder of Machine Athletics, LLC, where she offers expertise in sprints, strength, speed, and long distance. We hear all about how Asia got her start in running and how it's evolved through all the stages of life. We've got several more stops, so join us at a city near you and bonus points if you bring a friend who needs your support & encouragement to start a movement habit. And if you're not able to attend in person, we'll be sharing all of these conversations on Fuel for the Sole.For more details: https://www.asics.com/us/en-us/move-her-mind/

Just as the Anointed One of the LORD reigns in Psalm 2, so the LORD Himself reigns in Psalm 93, pointing forward to the incarnation of the Word in the person of Jesus Christ. Though the kings in the line of David have not always been faithful, the LORD is the faithful King. He has established His throne forever for the sake of His people. Although the waters may roar against the LORD, He is their almighty Ruler whose decrees are trustworthy forevermore.  Rev. Jeremy Swem, pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 93.  To learn more about Our Savior Lutheran, visit www.oursavior-gr.org. Join Sharper Iron this summer to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

What happens when a five-year-old girl is lured into the forest by a rainbow-colored portal — and the creature waiting inside isn't what anyone expected? In this emotional and terrifying episode, we speak with Leah from Minnesota, who shares her lifelong journey of encounters with beings from beyond — including a telepathic Sasquatch who once tried to take her. Leah's story unfolds across decades of strange happenings: wood knocks in Grand Rapids, invisible stumps that move through the trees, terrifying “rake” creatures, and Sasquatch marbles left on her stairs. Along the way, she explores the dark split between surface-dwelling Sasquatch and what she calls “the bad Sesqua” from underground — and why not every voice in the woods should be trusted. You'll hear encounters from Minnesota, Colorado, and beyond, as well as warnings about what might really be behind the voices calling you into the dark. A gripping, raw episode that challenges what you think you know about Bigfoot — and the unseen world around us.

Please join us as Pastor Lombe Chibungo addresses the topic, "God, I Need Your Help". We hope you can be blessed by this word and seek God for help in your own lives!——Empowering a movement of passionate Jesus-followers... This is the vision of Downtown Christian Church (DCC) based in Grand Rapids, MICan We Pray With You? - We would be honored to partner with you - prayer@dccgr.org——Stay Connected!:Website: www.achurchinthecity.orgDCC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DowntownChristianChurchDCC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dccgr/DCC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/downtownchristianchurchApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3fzURfqSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3A7VmGQ

In this special episode of Deacons Pod, learn about the lives and ministries of our three brand new Paulist Deacon Affiliates. They are Deacon Mike Berstene of Tollan, CT; Deacon Mike Hayes of Cleveland, OH; and Deacon Dennis Rybicki of Grand Rapids, MI.

August 5, 2025 ~ Mark Sanchez, reporter for Crain's Grand Rapid Business, joins Kevin to discuss how Steelcase is set to sell to their rival for $2.2 billion in Grand Rapids.

In this guide, we're spotlighting some of our favorite businesses in Ada, both in the newly developed downtown area and the historic heart of the village. Let's dive into everything that makes this town so special.SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWLKp_rEg77NKMFthOTVeiw?sub_confirmation=1 Contact us now:Call or Text: (616) 330-2555Email: info@marketgr.comMoving to Grand Rapids? Pick up our FREE relocation guide!https://mailchi.mp/8b5aff1055a5/relocation-guideMore from Group Realtors:Website

Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim Samra Passage: Joshua 7 This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on August 3, 2025

Speaker: Minister & Senior Pastor, Jim Samra Passage: Joshua 7 This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on August 3, 2025

For 3 August 2025, The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, based on Ecclesiastes 1:2, Colossians 3:1–5, 9–11, Luke 12:13–21 (Image: credit: Diocese of Grand Rapids)

Thanks for joining us for our NEW MIDWEEK SERIES!! This is Part 2 of 4. Tune in on Youtube, Wednesdays at 7pm to watch the sermon LIVE!——Empowering a movement of passionate Jesus-followers... This is the vision of Downtown Christian Church (DCC) based in Grand Rapids, MICan We Pray With You? - We would be honored to partner with you - prayer@dccgr.org——Stay Connected!:Website: www.achurchinthecity.orgDCC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DowntownChristianChurchDCC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dccgr/DCC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/downtownchristianchurchApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3fzURfqSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3A7VmGQ

Support the pod and get so much extra content for $5/month at https://www.patreon.com/stiffsockspod Bonus eps also available on Apple Podcasts! https://www.apple.co/socks

The gold standard, revisiting Breaking Bad, talking frogs, and godly country songs… On the net, it's a positive. ----- JOKES FOR HUMANS TOUR: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://johncristcomedy.com/tour/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 8/30 - Las Vegas, NV 9/19 - Grand Rapids, MI 9/20 - Fort Wayne, IN 9/21 - Paducah, KY 9/26 - North Charleston, SC 9/27 - Macon, GA 9/28 - Hiawassee, GA 10/2 - Evansville, IN 10/3 - Dayton, OH 10/4 - Peoria, IL 10/10 - Knoxville, TN 10/11 - Greenville, SC 10/16 - York, PA 10/17 - Detroit, MI 10/18 - Cleveland, OH 10/24 - Birmingham, AL 10/25 - Chattanooga, TN 11/7 - Boise, ID 11/8 - Spokane, WA 11/9 - Tacoma, WA 11/20 - Abilene, TX 11/21 - San Antonio, TX 11/22 - Tyler, TX 11/23 - Austin, TX 12/5 - Phoenix, AZ 12/6 - Santa Rosa, CA 12/7 - Redding, CA 12/11 - South Bend, IN 12/12 - Munhall, PA 12/14 - Buffalo, NY ----- Catch the full video podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on social media (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@netpositivepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week. ----- Email us at netpositive@johncristcomedy.com ----- FOLLOW JOHN ON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS PONCHO: Go to https://ponchooutdoors.com/netpositive for $10 OFF and free shipping on your first order HELLO FRESH: Get 10 FREE MEALS AND A HIGH-PROTEIN ITEM FOR LIFE with promo code NETPOSITIVE10FM at https://hellofresh.com/NETPOSITIVE10FM  MOSH: Save 20% off plus FREE shipping on the Best-Sellers Trial Pack at https://moshlife.com/NETPOSITIVE GLORIFY: Get a 14 day free trial when you visit https://glorify-app.com/netpositive ----- PRODUCED BY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex Lagos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lagos Creative

On today's episode, Noah Gould, Acton's Alumni and Student Programs manager, speaks to three members of the Emerging Leaders Program. The Acton Emerging Leaders Program is an 8-week leadership-development internship in Grand Rapids, Mich. The program brings together a cohort of student leaders from across the nation and around the globe for a transformative experience. […]

“Don't be afraid of your heart—God's working there.” Fr. Colin Fricke joins Men of the Hearts podcast hosts Fr. Craig Giera and Fr. Drew Mabee to share how he discerned his call to the priesthood through the grace of the sacraments, unexpected encouragement from the Archbishop of Detroit, and appreciating the joys of everyday life. He reflects on how these blessings and more helped him grow in confidence and freedom, ultimately leading him to say “yes” to God's call.(0:25) Fr. Craig and Fr. Drew kick off the episode with a joyful welcome to Fr. Colin Fricke, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit who serves at St. Anastasia. The trio swaps stories about recent summer activities, including fireworks, parish life, and addressing the ongoing need for vocations in the Archdiocese of Detroit.(1:24) Fr. Colin shares how he celebrated the 4th of July with his family in Grand Rapids, where he enjoyed fireworks, sparklers, and wiffle ball with his nieces and nephews. He talks about the blessing of spending time with loved ones and witnessing their joy. He then talks about the joy he finds in playing volleyball, which leads to a discussion about how simple passions like sports can become powerful tools for evangelization.(8:34) Fr. Colin begins his vocation story by recalling the moment he watched a priest elevate the Eucharist at Mass and thought to himself, “I want the big Eucharist.” At the time, he didn't fully understand what that meant, but looking back, he recognizes it as one of the first seeds of his vocation to the priesthood. He then talks about growing up in Grosse Pointe, attending Mass regularly, and being inspired at his Confirmation to start reading the Bible. (16:00) Fr. Colin describes himself in high school as reserved and uncertain about his identity. In college, he began going to confession more regularly and discovered healing through that sacrament. While studying at Siena Heights University to become a teacher, Fr. Colin became involved in campus ministry, where others would occasionally suggest that he consider the priesthood. One day, while walking up the stairs to his dorm, he interiorly heard, “You should be a priest,” a moment that reignited the call he had sensed as a child.(22:00) After college, Fr. Colin began teaching in Catholic schools. He reflects on how the experience gave him a front-row seat to the joy of children, a gift that helped him understand how God sees us and invites us to be ourselves. As he continued teaching, Fr. Colin began reading St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body, where he learned about authentic love, the beauty of the human person, and the gift of masculinity in service to others.(34:00) Fr. Colin started spending more time in Eucharistic adoration, especially at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish, where he encountered a faithful group of praying mothers who encouraged him. He also received encouragement from an unexpected source: The Archbishop of Detroit, after visiting Fr. Colin's school, sent the young man a personal letter encouraging him to consider the priesthood.(38:30) Father Colin entered seminary in 2014, joining a class of men that included many of his friends today. Seminary was both a confirmation of his call and a time of deep personal growth. He learned to be more emotionally honest, to recognize and process his anger, and to live with greater freedom. He offers his advice to young men discerning and closes the episode with prayer.

Today in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable has published a new report called Driving to Action, Andreessen Horowitz is looking to pay $400k to build out a podcast network, how broadcasters are adapting to young sports fans' desire for instant clips and highlights, and a Fox affiliate in Grand Rapids is the latest Scripps TV station to assign designated neighborhood reporters. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's installment.

Ashley Young vanished after a night out in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Days later, her dismembered remains were found in her friend Jared Chance's home. In this episode, we dive into the chilling details, the investigation, and the disturbing role his parents played in the cover-up.To support our show, please consider subscribing to our Patreon! You get early access & ad-free episodes.Show notes info (Pics, Sources, Tipline)Cause of Crime socials: TwitterInstagramYoutubeTheme MusicTrace's socials: TwitterInstagramTiktok

Lisa takes her shoes off with Rick. Don't believe me? Hahahaha oooooookay...

Cindy DeBoer joins Stephanie to share her story of transformation—from living the American dream to pursuing a life of simplicity and deep faith. Cindy's family motto sums it up best: “We chose to live simpler so that others can simply live.” Whether that means downsizing, shifting how you spend time, or offering your unique talents, the ultimate goal is the same—living in tune with God's melody for your life, allowing Him to enrich and use you far beyond what the culture's definition of “success” could offer. Cindy's candid memoir offers practical lessons for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the relentless pursuit of “more” or sensing a disconnect between their faith and daily life. Cindy shares the story of her family choosing to live simpler so others can simply live. She asks, What does it look like to glorify God with our finances? In her new book, Far, far better things, she shares that, in the first 12 years of her marriage, she and her husband, although faithfully attending church and following Jesus as best they knew how, were still very focused on "getting ahead," building their bank account, striving to have the best of everything - including having the best house and the best kids. They pushed themselves nearly to the breaking point. She tells us what (who?) stopped that trajectory and got them to turn their lives around and specifically, start asking the question, "What if we lived what we say we believe?” From Success to Surrender: A Life Re-examined Cindy's early adult life was marked by what her community celebrated as success: marriage to her high school sweetheart, good jobs, a dream house with luxury amenities, and busy, achievement-packed schedules for their four children. Despite following what seemed like a “formulaic path,” she and her husband felt empty and exhausted. Their faith, although present, was largely intellectual and routine—church attendance and mealtime prayers—but lacked genuine heart engagement. The turning point came when brave friends challenged them to question, “Where is God in all of this?” This gentle but persistent questioning—along with new friendships, books, and volunteer work—sparked a series of soul-searching prayers: Were they truly living out what they professed to believe? What might God be asking of them that they'd never considered? Small Steps Lead to Big Changes Change didn't happen overnight. Cindy and her husband began with small, tangible acts of obedience, like reaching out to a homeless family from their child's classroom—a move that transformed their understanding of compassion and shifted their mindset from “helper” to “learner.” These steps emboldened them to pursue adoption, welcoming a daughter from Guatemala. The process opened their eyes further to global poverty and injustice, stirring a passion for others that wouldn't have developed in their comfortable status quo. A defining lesson came as they downsized their home—moving from their “dream house” to the “little brown mansion.” This reduction in material possessions brought unexpected peace and joy, as it freed up energy, time, and resources for giving and serving. Most importantly, Cindy observed the positive impact such choices had on their children, making them more resilient, empathetic, and adept at hearing God's voice. The Heart of the Lesson: Simplicity Isn't Poverty—It's Purpose Cindy insists her story isn't prescriptive—not everyone is called to move overseas or adopt a child. Instead, her encouragement is this: Hold your life loosely before God. Ask the courageous question: “Am I truly living what I say I believe?” Trust that God honors even the smallest steps of faith. Simplicity, as Cindy has learned, is not about deprivation, but about creating space for what truly matters—intimacy with God, sacrificial community, and authentic love for others. Cindy's family motto sums it up best: “We chose to live simpler so that others can simply live.” Whether that means downsizing, shifting how you spend time, or offering your unique talents, the ultimate goal is the same—living in tune with God's melody for your life, allowing Him to enrich and use you far beyond what the culture's definition of “success” could offer. Key Takeaways: ·         True transformation often starts with honest self-reflection, hard questions, and small acts of obedience. ·         Simplifying life creates freedom—to serve, give, and connect with God and others more deeply. ·         God's blessings are not just material or circumstantial—they are rooted in intimacy with Him and being part of His work in the world. ·         Every step towards living out your faith, no matter how small, can create ripples of hope, change, and fulfillment. Let Cindy's story be an invitation: dare to ask what God might want to do with your “ordinary” life, and trust that His far, far better things await, one simple step at a time. ABOUT “FAR FAR BETTER THINGS” What happens when you've reached all your earthly goals and you're only twenty-eight years old? What if you've realized the American Dream, and although you're pretty confident it's all a big blessing from Jesus, you still feel miserably lacking in purpose and fulfillment? What makes a reasonably well-off American Christian family walk away from their perfectly scripted life—prestigious careers, dream home, lake house, nice cars, kids' sports, frequent travel, perfect church, tons of family and friends—and follow God to the ends of the earth? How would any young family have the courage to leave all the things the world tells us to strive for and instead choose a life of intentional simplifying, serial downsizing, and two major moves overseas? Cindy's memoir chronicles their family's unorthodox Christian journey that began as a result of praying in earnest: “Lord, help us to live what we say we believe.” Follow along as the DeBoers, a typical average suburban family, finds the courage to subvert a safe and comfortable life for a risky and riotous ride that led them to far, far better things. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Far-Better-Things-Surrendering-American/dp/1625863128/  Get a signed copy directly from Cindy: https://cindydeboer.com/the-book/  ABOUT CINDY DEBOER Cindy DeBoer is a blogger, psychiatric nurse, and recovering “un-missionary.” She and her husband, Paul, are passionate about demystifying Islam for Christians, working with development organizations in Central America, and partnering with several local ministries that serve under-resourced people. Today, living in the heart of Grand Rapids, Michigan, they delight in their four grown children, three children-in-love, two grandchildren, and the ability to walk everywhere—especially to their small community church (back in the Reformed tradition!) just six blocks away. More at https://cindydeboer.com/  Is life getting in the way of your time with God? We offer encouragement and accountability as simple as 1-2-3. 1- Choose your new series: Pick a theme or topic that speaks to you right now. Scroll for description of level and need. 2 - Sign-up for email reminders: Provide your name and email, and we will send you a weekly link with the next lesson in the series you chose. 3 - Grow your faith: Enjoy your weekly lesson straight in your inbox, including the occasional bonus content! All our series are available in this format. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/choose now to choose! Is life getting in the way of your time with God? We offer encouragement and accountability as simple as 1-2-3. 1- Choose your new series: Pick a theme or topic that speaks to you right now. Scroll for description of level and need. 2 - Sign-up for email reminders: Provide your name and email, and we will send you a weekly link with the next lesson in the series you chose. 3 - Grow your faith: Enjoy your weekly lesson straight in your inbox, including the occasional bonus content! All our series are available in this format. Go to https://www.gospelspice.com/choose now to choose! Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

The world constantly tells us, “You just need a little more.” But what if real peace isn't found in having more, but in learning to need less?What comes to mind when you hear the word “wealth”? For some, it means freedom. For others, it brings anxiety and pressure. Today, Jeff Manion joins us to explore how we can cultivate contentment in a culture that always craves more.Jeff Manion is the Teaching Pastor at Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for over 40 years. He is also the author of several books, including Satisfied: Discovering Contentment in a World of Consumption.Why Wealth Confuses UsIn a world that constantly urges us to acquire more, climb higher, and chase the next upgrade, contentment often feels elusive. But what if true satisfaction isn't found in accumulation, but in learning—learning to trust, to remember, to let go, and to live fully in the present? Contentment is not something we're born with—it's something we must learn. And we're learning it together.Let's be honest—wealth can be confusing. One day, we're living simply out of necessity, and the next, after years of doing the right things—avoiding debt, saving diligently, and giving generously—we find ourselves in a season of financial stability. You'd think contentment would come naturally at that point. But surprisingly, it doesn't.Learning contentment in a season of sufficiency is often more challenging than in a season of scarcity. When we experience financial security, the temptation to trust in our own strength rather than God's provision becomes a real concern. This isn't new—it's the same struggle the Israelites faced in Deuteronomy 8. After years of daily dependence on manna in the wilderness, God warned them not to forget Him once they entered the Promised Land. He reminded them: “Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deut. 8:18). That warning is for us too.The Danger of the “There and Then” MentalityContentment is rooted in the present, not the future. And yet we often believe we'll only be at peace "there and then"—when the vacation arrives, the mortgage is paid off, or the kitchen is finally renovated. But if we can't be fully alive to God and the people around us now, there's no guarantee we will be later.We don't stumble into contentment—we learn it. The Apostle Paul, writing under house arrest, said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Phil. 4:11). His circumstances didn't determine his joy. His peace wasn't tied to his comfort. And ours doesn't have to be either.Sometimes the path to contentment starts by taking inventory—literally. For many of us, stuff multiplies without our awareness. A drawer of unworn t-shirts, a shelf of unused dishes, boxes of forgotten CDs…they add up. We can begin the journey toward contentment by shedding excess.A simple practice, like giving away five items a day for seven weeks, can bring clarity and peace. Not because we're pursuing minimalism for its own sake, but because we're reminding ourselves that joy isn't found in our possessions—it's found in a life uncluttered by distraction, filled with God's presence and purpose.Escaping the Comparison TrapComparison is a thief of joy. Whether or not Teddy Roosevelt actually coined the phrase, it's undeniably true. In our digital age, we don't just compare lives—we compare carefully curated highlight reels. This distorts our view, convincing us we're missing out when in fact, we're richly blessed.Comparison shifts our focus from gratitude to scarcity. And scarcity suffocates generosity. When we believe we never have enough, we become unable to see the abundance God has already given us—abundance meant to be shared.Generosity is one of the most effective ways to break money's grip on our hearts. Paul's charge to Timothy echoes through the centuries: “Command those who are rich… not to put their hope in wealth… but to put their hope in God… to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Tim. 6:17–18).When we give, we reflect the heart of our generous God—first in creation, then in Christ. And as we open our hands, we discover joy not in what we keep, but in what we release for the sake of others and the glory of God.Passing on the Legacy of ContentmentWe long for our children and grandchildren to experience true satisfaction. But contentment isn't just taught—it's caught. When our families see that our greatest joy is not in acquiring new and better things but in reflecting the generosity of Christ, they begin to understand that there's a story far bigger than material success.We want them to see us delight in giving, not just spending. To notice our peace when things don't go our way. To recognize that the content life isn't a small life—it's a deeply rich one, rooted in grace and lived with open hands.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I have around $1.5 million in total assets and $500,000 in available funds. Given the current tax environment, I'm considering whether now might be a strategic time to withdraw from my pre-tax retirement accounts and pay the taxes. I'm currently living on Social Security and pension income and haven't needed to tap into my savings yet.I'd like to open an account for my great-grandchildren, who are currently 3 years old and 18 months old. I've been looking into a universal life insurance policy, but would appreciate guidance on the best way to save for their future—possibly to help with education expenses.Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Satisfied: Discovering Contentment in a World of Consumption by Jeff ManionSavingForCollege.comWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Our lives are filled with the voices of others telling us who we are, what we should be like, what we need, and how to fill those needs. But w does Jesus say about you? The answer can be summarized in one word: beloved.---Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:30AM.Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decidedStay Connected!Website: http://localchurchgr.orgLocal Church Facebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgrLocal Church Instagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgrWeekly Email Newsletter: https://bit.ly/trendingatTLCVisit & What to Expect: http://localchurchgr.org/expectEvents: http://my.localchurchgr.org/eventsIf you would like to support The Local Church GR's ministry and help us continue reaching people in the Grand Rapids area, click here: https://localchurchgr.org/giveNeed prayer? Please let us know! - https://localchurchgr.org/care

In September 2023, 45-year-old Eleanore "Ellie" Halverson and her mother, Roxanne, drove to a mental health facility in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She was planning to check in for treatment. Outside the entrance, Ellie said goodbye to her mother and daughter, as neither of them were allowed to accompany her inside.Roxanne expected she would hear from her daughter within a few days, once Ellie had settled in and was granted phone privileges. But as time passed with no word, a sense of unease set in. Then she learned that Ellie had never officially checked into the facility, and no one had seen or heard from her. Fearing the worst, Roxanne reported Ellie missing in Grand Rapids.Then, on November 4, Ellie was spotted on surveillance footage in Northhome, MN. Ellie's family believed she was likely with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Geno. Police eventually tracked Geno down in rural Itasca County. He told investigators they had argued one night in early November, and Ellie had stormed off into the freezing Minnesota darkness. That was the last time he claimed to have seen or heard from her.This November will mark two years since Ellie vanished. Her family is still searching, haunted by unanswered questions and desperate for the truth about what really happened that night.If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Eleanor “Ellie” Halverson, please contact the Itasca County Sheriff's Office at 218-326-3477. If you wish to remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit CrimeStoppersMN.org. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office Gaagige-Mikwendaagoziwag Reward Fund tip program is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information.If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org for confidential support 24/7.If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.Follow The Vanished on social media at:FacebookInstagramTwitterPatreonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Whoever says that Michigan doesn't have the fire is about to be proven wrong. Today's guest is a keeper not only of insane Prop 215 lore, but also one of the real-deal pioneers of the medical and recreational scene in MI, actively setting the standard for A-1 smoke and the right way to get it into the hands of the people 7 days of the week.Blackleaf is joined back in the FSOTD studio by the legend himself, Andrew Thomas, of Exclusive Brands, to discuss the late 90s and early 2000s, bouncing around LA and visiting places like the iconic dab bar at Kind Meds, as well as Michigan's claims to fame in terms of Chem, OG, and Gas genetics, the prominence of customers driving in from border states like Ohio and Illinois to get MI prices and premium flower options, as well as the future of the industry in terms of interstate commerce, and safe, traditional banking, marketing access, and so much more.For those unaware, Exclusive Brands is a vertically-integrated retailer with (currently) seven shops running across the state including in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Monroe, Muskegon, Lowell, Coldwater, Lapeer, and Gaylord. Their portfolio includes their in-house labels like Concentrate Kings, Strain Kings, Terpene Tanks, Magic Edibles, and more, offering a full range of products from flower and vapes to edibles and concentrates. Exclusive emphasizes quality and transparency with lab-tested products and educates consumers through rewards, weekly deals, and (most importantly) knowledgeable and attentive staff, with an expansive line of merchandise and in-house product. You'll also get to hear about how they became the first in the state to get the licensing to manufacture and distribute major California stables like Kushy Punch. And even the story about how Andrew's partner eventually even acquisitioning the Kushy Punch brand after it had a very public legal fallout. We're not joking when we say that this episode is JUICY in terms of free game and crazy stories surrounding partnerships, trapping, building the dream team, expanding into 5+ shops, and how to keep a lid on it with an almost religious connection to customer service paired with aggressively competitive prices. From producing mixtapes with The Game and countless other hip-hop legends as a teenager to diving headfirst into California's early Prop 215 days to absorb the culture, set up shop, trap it out, and then bring all the knowledge back to Michigan the minute Medical hit, it's almost impossible not to learn something valuable from this conversation with Andrew if you're a hustler or even just a passionate fan of the plant. Hit the play button, kick back until the end, and you'll thank us later. Visit Exclusivemi.com to learn more about everything you're missing out on in the Michigan scene.Subscribe to our channel and the FSOTD.com site to keep up with other key players and enjoy conversations with trailblazers from the culture you can't find anywhere else. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us as we explore the captivating history of Beaver Island, a unique gem in Lake Michigan, especially its ties to the enigmatic figure of James Strang and his Mormon community. https://youtu.be/PC9lq1Z1sGY Don't miss our other conversations about Strangism: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/strangites/ Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission. 3 Mormon Print Shop   Arrival and Reign of King Strang James Strang, a self-proclaimed prophet, settled on Beaver Island around 1848, having arrived in 1847. He led a group of Mormon dissenters who broke away from Brigham Young's leadership and settled on the island in 1846. By 1850, Strang was declared King of his community, which constituted the majority of the island's population. The main hub of the island is even named St. James, after him. Strang's influence extended to societal norms, where he apparently mandated that women wear bloomers or pants to prevent pneumonia, with husbands being whipped if their wives didn't comply. He also reportedly told non-Mormons (like the Irish settlers and original Ottawa/Ojibwe inhabitants) that they needed to convert, leave, or pay a tax. The Mormon Print Shop A pivotal location in Strang's community was the Old Mormon Printing House, erected in 1850 by Strang and his followers2. This building was significant as it published the Northern Islander, which was the first daily newspaper north of Grand Rapids. During the 1850s, Strang's group published religious works and two newspapers: the Northern Islander and the Daily Northern Islander. After Strang's assassination, the print shop was ransacked and later became a boarding house. Today, it stands as a museum and serves as the headquarters for the Beaver Island Historical Society. Tragic End of King Strang The growing friction within Beaver Island's Mormon community reached a violent climax in 1856. James Jesse Strang was fatally shot and clubbed by two of his disgruntled followers while walking towards the dock to meet the captain of the USS Michigan. These assassins were reportedly hiding behind a woodpile near the Johnson McCulla store. It's notable that two of the assassins were husbands who had been whipped under Strang's controversial bloomers policy. Strang died from his wounds 23 days later. The assassins were taken to Mackinaw Island by the USS Michigan's captain, who refused to allow the Mormon police to arrest them. They were soon released by the Mackinaw sheriff, celebrated by Strang's enemies, and astonishingly, each was fined only 50 cents, though the exact charge is unknown. The Aftermath and Island Life In the wake of Strang's assassination, an angry mob from the mainland stormed Beaver Island, destroying buildings and forcing the Mormons to flee. Beaver Island is the only island in Lake Michigan inhabited year-round, with a population of 500 to 800 people that swells to 3,000 in the summer. The island has a strong Irish presence, with many historical inhabitants speaking Gaelic and even naming a local bay "Donegal Bay" after a place in Ireland. Historically, the island's primary industries were lumber and fishing. Overfishing, particularly using a now-outlawed net fishing method, led to severe depletion, prompting Michigan and other states to ban the practice. Today, tourism is the main industry. The island didn't even get electricity until around 1939. Beaver Island Townships Cemetery Visitors can also explore the Beaver Island Townships Cemetery, one of two cemeteries on the island (the other being a Catholic cemetery). The oldest grave dates back to 1853, within James Strang's era. An interesting feature of the cemetery is the presence of posts marking older graves where the original wooden crosses have long since deteriorated, indicating a body is buried there even if the identity is unknown. The second oldest grave, dated July 27, 1859,

Love on the Spectrum's Abbey Romeo & David Isaacman take their shoes off. With them are Abbey's mom, Christine and TYSO House Musician, George Krikes. Songs, laughs, and more on this episode of Take Your Shoes Off! Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/x7xFg5bgOhQ

Coldplay conspiracies, defining walking distance, and when we're allowed to raise our hand... On the net, it's a positive. ----- JOKES FOR HUMANS TOUR: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://johncristcomedy.com/tour/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 8/30 - Las Vegas, NV 9/19 - Grand Rapids, MI 9/20 - Fort Wayne, IN 9/21 - Paducah, KY 9/26 - North Charleston, SC 9/27 - Macon, GA 9/28 - Hiawassee, GA 10/2 - Evansville, IN 10/3 - Dayton, OH 10/4 - Peoria, IL 10/10 - Knoxville, TN 10/11 - Greenville, SC 10/16 - York, PA 10/17 - Detroit, MI 10/18 - Cleveland, OH 10/24 - Birmingham, AL 10/25 - Chattanooga, TN 11/7 - Boise, ID 11/8 - Spokane, WA 11/9 - Tacoma, WA 11/20 - Abilene, TX 11/21 - San Antonio, TX 11/22 - Tyler, TX 11/23 - Austin, TX 12/5 - Phoenix, AZ 12/6 - Santa Rosa, CA 12/7 - Redding, CA 12/11 - South Bend, IN 12/12 - Munhall, PA 12/14 - Buffalo, NY ----- Catch the full video podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow us on social media (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@netpositivepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) for clips, bonus content, and updates throughout the week. ----- Email us at netpositive@johncristcomedy.com ----- FOLLOW JOHN ON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ----- SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AG1: Get a FREE gift with your first order at https://DrinkAG1.com/netpositive to get started with AG1's Next Gen and and notice the benefits for yourself. FRESH PRESSED OLIVE OIL: Try a bottle for just $1 and taste the difference yourself. Go to https://GetFreshNetPositive.com. MIRACLE MADE: Save OVER 40% + 3 free towels with promo code NETPOSITIVE at https://trymiracle.com/NETPOSITIVE ----- PRODUCED BY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alex Lagos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lagos Creative