Podcasts about great cloud

Hey friends, today we've got something special for you: a bonus episode straight from the Pardon the Mess podcast!Every Monday, host Courtney DeFeo shares a short prayer to help you lift up your kids. This year's series follows Christian Parenting's brand new prayer journal, A Great Cloud of Witnesses. Each week highlights a biblical hero of the faith, paired with Scripture-based prayers for your kids. Here is a sneak peek into week one:This first week is all about Noah—a man of incredible faith and obedience. While the world around him turned away from God, Noah walked in righteousness. Building the ark probably looked foolish to everyone else, but Noah trusted God's word even when it didn't make sense. That's the kind of faith we want for our kids: to listen to God's voice over any others and walk confidently with Him even when it means standing apart.If you love this episode and don't have your copy of A Great Cloud of Witnesses yet, it's not too late to get yours! Go ChristianParenting.org to get your copy and follow along. And don't forget to tune in to Pardon the Mess every Monday for more prayer episodes. Order A Great Cloud of Witnesses todayFollow Pardon the Mess on Apple or SpotifyThe Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Hey friends, today we've got something special for you: a bonus episode straight from the Pardon the Mess podcast!Every Monday, host Courtney DeFeo shares a short prayer to help you lift up your kids. This year's series follows Christian Parenting's brand new prayer journal, A Great Cloud of Witnesses. Each week highlights a biblical hero of the faith, paired with Scripture-based prayers for your kids. Here is a sneak peek into week one:This first week is all about Noah—a man of incredible faith and obedience. While the world around him turned away from God, Noah walked in righteousness. Building the ark probably looked foolish to everyone else, but Noah trusted God's word even when it didn't make sense. That's the kind of faith we want for our kids: to listen to God's voice over any others and walk confidently with Him even when it means standing apart.If you love this episode and don't have your copy of A Great Cloud of Witnesses yet, it's not too late to get yours! Go ChristianParenting.org to get your copy and follow along. And don't forget to tune in to Pardon the Mess every Monday for more prayer episodes. Order A Great Cloud of Witnesses todayFollow Pardon the Mess on Apple or SpotifyThe Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code CPPODCAST10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sermon for the Midweek of Pentecost X Wednesday, 20 August A+D 2025 Rev. Matthew D. Ruesch

Rev. Ken Buck

Many believers who have gone before us went through very difficult times, but kept the faith. Join us this Sunday, in-person or online at http://youtube.com/fabicchurch/live at 10:25 a.m., as we take inspiration from our spiritual ancestors to run our own race with courage and confidence.

This week in Couch Church Rev. Cathy reflects on that passage from Hebrews where we are encouraged to run the race with perseverance, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We discover some surprising things about the people the writer of Hebrews lists as being in that great cloud! Who is in your cloud of witnesses? 

About 52 Weeks in the Word: Student EditionA beautiful, accessible pathway through the New Testament for students.We know that the Bible is foundational and life-giving. But it can also be confusing and challenging—especially for kids. It can be hard to know how—or where—to start.Author of the bestselling 52 Weeks in the Word, Trillia Newbell brings an easy-to-follow student edition that takes kids from the book Matthew all the way through Revelation.Trillia describes herself as a “forever student,” and this edition is meant to help your student grow into a faithful, hopeful, Bible lover. Your kids will join her in the grand and thrilling adventure of growing in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ!Over 52 weeks, kids will have:Daily Scripture readingsDaily questions to help them think about what they're readingA space for writing their own prayerA weekly lesson, activity, or reading to help them go deeper in their Bible readingA day of restKids will learn how to study God's sacred Word. By the grace and power of the Spirit, they will grow in their love for Jesus. Kids will gain practical help for their daily lives, hope for hardships, and a deep abiding relationship with the God who intimately knows them . . . and wants them to intimately know Him!Purchase a copy of 52 Weeks in the Word: Student Edition here.Connect with Trilla Newbellwebsite | InstagramTRILLIA NEWBELL is the author of several books, including 52 Weeks in the Word, A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Sacred Endurance, If God Is For Us, Fear and Faith, and children's books, The Big Wide Welcome, Creative God, Colorful Us, and God's Very Good Idea. When she isn't writing, she's encouraging and supporting other writers as an Acquisitions Director at Moody Publishers. Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern; they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN.

Join Pastor Gary on this Memorial Day Sunday as he guides the Church in remembering the 'Spiritual Warriors' who paved the way for us. He honors the sacrifices of over 600,000 men, women, and youth who died for freedom, paralleling their sacrifice to Christ's ultimate act of love. Pastor Gary stresses the significance of commemorating fallen soldiers and early Christians who faced persecution for their faith. He highlights the courage of these believers under rulers like Emperor Domitian and challenges us to see their legacy as part of our spiritual heritage. Referencing Matthew 5:10-12, he reminds us that following Christ includes enduring trials. From Hebrews 12:1-2, he encourages us to persevere, surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. He honors those in his ministry, "fallen soldiers" of faith, who have shaped lives through their prayers and service.

Andrew discusses powerful revelations about the great Cloud of Witnesses, grabbing their baton, running our races well, and more! Connect with Andrew Whalen at https://www.vanquishpw.com. To join Strike Force 2025 click here, https://strikeforce.thevanquishpw.life Thank you for making the always-free Elijah List Ministries possible! Click here to learn how to partner with us: https://ElijahStreams.com/Donate Prefer to donate by mail? Make your check or money order (US Dollars) payable to: “ElijahStreams” and mail it to: ElijahStreams, 525 2nd Ave SW, Suite 629, Albany, OR 97321 USA

Hebrews 12:1-2Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

In this episode of "Rhythms That Restore," Cherisse welcomes her long time friend Clare Richardson owner of TRAZO Design in Memphis. Clare is a professional organizer, wife, mother of five, and former missionary. The conversation covers Clare's life experiences, including her time in Panama, family dynamics, and her journey as a small business owner. Clare shares her insights on parenting, hospitality, and faith, emphasizing the importance of creating a welcoming home and community. She reflects on her struggles with anxiety, the significance of journaling, and the power of trusting God amidst chaos. The episode highlights themes of growth, relationships, and the importance of being prepared for life's unexpected turns. Connect with Clare Richardson by Email: clare@trazo-design.com Insta: Trazodesign  Website: www.trazo-design.com  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Books "The Bible": "00:22:01" "Mind Alchemy" by Casey Harris: "00:44:35" "The Listening Prayer" by Mark McClure: "00:44:35" "Season of Holy" by Jim Branch: "00:45:26" "The Season of Beholding" by Jim Branch: "00:45:26" Bible Verses "Jeremiah 29:11-12": "00:46:22" "Revelation (reference to knocking at the door)": "00:49:43" "Proverbs 16:3": "00:58:28" Videos/Movies "Last of the Mohicans": "00:47:14" "Braveheart": "00:48:55" Concepts and Ideas "Trusting God in Chaos": "00:36:33" "Biblical Principles of Organization": "00:37:35" "Hiding God's Word in Your Heart": "00:00:00" (timestamp not provided) "Keep Oil in Your Lamp": "01:00:18" "Great Cloud of Witnesses": "01:02:47" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join us for our Rhythms That Restore ONE YEAR Anniversary Celebration!  We are celebrating in true fashion with a "ONE DAY REST RETREAT" at Cherisse's Home on Sarurday April 26th. We are pressing "pause" on all the hustle of life and joining together for one day to just REST. To allow ourselves a moment to reflect over this last year, to allow our bodies, minds, hearts and souls to settle, and to lean into Gods word and His presence and allow Him to restore & refresh our spirits. You are invited to join in beside Cherisse for this ONE Year ONE Day Retreat.  Click Below to REGISTER:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOiCjrWJK5IlOuBPohICS7PwhHf4rwu2D8nilBhI2Q_kO9DQ/viewform?usp=sharing  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join our "Rhythms that Restore" Community: Click below and pull up a chair with us and walk through life IN COMMUNITY and beside others who are learning and putting these new Rhythms in place. Click: https://www.facebook.com/groups/339272845793051/ -------------------------------------- Follow "Rhythms that Restore Podcast" on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhythmsthatrestorepodcast?igsh=Z3lmY2UzcXZzMTlq&utm_source=qr -------------------------------------------- Tune In- Subscribe, Rate, and Share: If you found value in this episode, be be sure to subscribe, rate, and share with "Rhythms that Restore" Podcast with a friend who can be encouraged through the message. Help us share this incredible transformative message of Gods word through the beautiful act of "ceasing to strive" and learning to "simply BE". ------------------------------------ Connect more with me on Instagram, Facebook and Email: Lets Chat: cherissehixson@hotmail.com  DM on Instagram: @RhythmsThatRestorePodcast   

A Conversation on Bible Study, Spiritual Highs, and Faithfulness with Trillia Newbell During this episode, we are learning how to invite God to challenge our preconceived notions of who He is and what He's doing.JOSHUA 5:13-15 ESVWhen Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.MEET TRILLIA NEWBELLTrillia Newbell is the author of several books including, A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Sacred Endurance, If God Is For Us, Fear and Faith, and the children's books, Creative God, Colorful Us and God's Very Good Idea. When she isn't writing, she's encouraging and supporting other writers as the Acquisitions Director at Moody Publishers.Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern, they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN where they enjoy hiking and eating lots of bbq. RESOURCES52 Weeks in the WORDConnect with Trillia on IGGrab Liv's Resource to Shift Your Shallow Bible Study to a Sincere OneConnect with Me on IGJoin the YouVersion Reading Plan for Selah HereFind the Complete Show Notes HereSELAH: A STUDY OF 1 AND 2 SAMUELPurchase your copy of Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel

Topics: Faith Plus Works, James, Faith Without Works Is Dead, James 2:14-26, James Chapters 1-5, Hebrews 11, Hebrews 4:10-11, Hebrews 10, Without Faith It's Impossible to Please God, Works of the Law, Works Plus Faith, Draw Near to God, Cleanse and Purify Yourself, James 4:8, Strive to Enter Rest, God Rested, Hebrews 4:10-11, After Working Jesus Sat Down, Disobedience of Faith, Old Testament Trade-Off System, Judaism Plus Jesus, Erroneous Grace-Based Narrative of James, Evidence of Faith Through Works, Faith Alone Is Evidence, Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:6, Substance of Things Hoped For, Made Perfect Through Blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:14, Saved By Grace Through Faith, Ephesians 2:8-10, Surrounded by Great Cloud of Witnesses Send Matt a text about this episode!Support the showSign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter

"We are connected by so much more than our senses." Homily by Dean Nathan LeRud, delivered at the Evensong of Remembrance for the Feast of All Souls, Sunday, November 3, 2024.

7:00 - Dane Fletcher Rants on Bozeman Urban Camping - the Great Cloud Seeding Debate full 2807 Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:01:03 +0000 nBn2B40DaV8X0e5sT5T28EPVKsUxTVfi Montana Talks with Aaron Flint 7:00 - Dane Fletcher Rants on Bozeman Urban Camping - the Great Cloud Seeding Debate Montana Talks with Aaron Flint ON DEMAND 2020 False https://

​FOR LINKS to all our podcasts, visit the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TEACHING PODCAST DIRECTORY:ON APPLE PODCASTS APP: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/orthodox-christian-teaching-podcast-directory/id1680765527ON SPOTIFY APP: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ALQ9YkJ0hhZ20GGZv7MH9?si=hVv_aqKtSrypyTLr1YZQIQ

Success God's Way & The Great Cloud of Witnesses! Go to www.TheSecondAdam.com and www.PastorWayneSutton.com today!

The Matt Slick Live -Live Broadcast of 08-13-2024- is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry -CARM-. Matt answers questions on topics such as- The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues- -You can also email questions to Matt using- info-carm.org, Put -Radio Show Question- in the Subject line- Answers will be discussed in a future show.-Topics Include- -What is The Great Cloud of Witnesses-What is The Divine Counsel Teaching-Who are The Sons of God and does God give Dominion to Others-Should Pastors receive Donations from Political Organizations-Is The Son of Man referred to in Daniel Chapter 10-Sabbath Judgements and how they relate to the New Testament-August 13, 2024

The Matt Slick Live -Live Broadcast of 08-13-2024- is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry -CARM-. Matt answers questions on topics such as- The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues- -You can also email questions to Matt using- info-carm.org, Put -Radio Show Question- in the Subject line- Answers will be discussed in a future show.-Topics Include- -What is The Great Cloud of Witnesses-What is The Divine Counsel Teaching-Who are The Sons of God and does God give Dominion to Others-Should Pastors receive Donations from Political Organizations-Is The Son of Man referred to in Daniel Chapter 10-Sabbath Judgements and how they relate to the New Testament-August 13, 2024

The Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 08-13-2024) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include: What is The Great Cloud of WitnessesWhat is The Divine Counsel TeachingWho are The Sons of God and does God give Dominion to OthersShould Pastors receive Donations from Political OrganizationsIs The Son of Man referred to in Daniel Chapter 10Sabbath Judgements and how they relate to the New TestamentAugust 13, 2024

The Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 08-13-2024) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show.Topics Include: What is The Great Cloud of WitnessesWhat is The Divine Counsel TeachingWho are The Sons of God and does God give Dominion to OthersShould Pastors receive Donations from Political OrganizationsIs The Son of Man referred to in Daniel Chapter 10Sabbath Judgements and how they relate to the New TestamentAugust 13, 2024

The Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 08-13-2024) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include: What is The Great Cloud of WitnessesWhat is The Divine Counsel TeachingWho are The Sons of God and does God give Dominion to OthersShould Pastors receive Donations from Political OrganizationsIs The Son of Man referred to in Daniel Chapter 10Sabbath Judgements and how they relate to the New TestamentAugust 13, 2024

PATREON Support: https://www.patreon.com/OrthodoxChristianTeaching

Closing out our exploration of the “three marks” of dukkha, in this episode we will take a look, close-up-and-personal, at death. In summary, our confrontation with and embrace of the three marks varies according to their universal natures, as well as to our personal nurturing in their recognition and acceptance. Aging is predictable, but typically sneaks up on us, moving far too gradually to register in our youth, even nowadays with our ubiquitous mirrors, selfies, and TikTok videos – none of which our ancestors had in abundance. Today's living generations may be the most self-conscious in the history of humankind. The famous “polishing a tile to make a mirror” koan anecdote reflected the fact that mirrors were originally of polished metal. Narcissus, remember, fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. By contrast, Tung-shan, a 9th century monk, was enlightened upon seeing his face for the first time, reflected in the water. A contemporary stand-up comic, who shall remain nameless, asked, “Did'ja ever look in the mirror in the morning and think, “That can't be accurate!”? Sickness, whether life-threatening or not, can land like a ton of bricks, flattening you for the moment – and often for the foreseeable future – with the rate of recovery dependent upon many factors, including aging. Sickness can often be the death-knell, as a diagnosis of cancer once was. As one ages, the body becomes less immune to the predations of bacteria and viruses, it seems. Today the threat of mental illness, leading to suicide, also looms large. Usually, the threat of death from natural causes may be safely ignored, postponed, or even denied, until it can't. But sudden death is even more unpredictable than sickness, and can come in such a variety of modes today, including natural and man-made disasters, which are popping up with greater and greater frequency, notably side-effects of climate change, such as the ever-increasing statistical rate of death from extreme heat. America seems to be the poster-boy for death by guns, accidental or intentional, now one of the major causes of death for children in the USA. Death from complications in childbirth is still far too common, particularly for non-white women. And then there is always stress, aggravated by habits such as smoking. If one thing doesn't get you, something else will, in the end. Death and taxes, as we say. I must note in passing that much of the hysteria we witness on ideological and political fronts of the public discourse seems motivated by an underlying fear, which appears to stem from the triple threat of aging, sickness and death. Witness the “worship of youth” culture, “self-improvement” programs, and anti-aging products aimed at prolonging vim and vigor and extending life itself as long as possible. This primal, largely subliminal fear is often projected onto the identified “other,” a form of transference that – like the old “I'm rubber, you're glue” trope – deflects self-criticism, in favor of defining each and every conflict in terms of self-preservation, and resorting to blaming others. As the Tao te Ching reminds us, “When the blaming begins, there is no end to the blame.” Buddha's original analysis of the constructed self's fundamentally dissatisfactory nature of reality, and our place, individually and collectively, writ large. The most dissatisfactory of all affronts and indignities to our ego are the three marks. If, on the other hand, we could all embrace, in all humility, the realities of aging, sickness and death as being perfectly natural and okay, the resulting equanimity of outlook might go a long way to ameliorating the insane intensity of conflict in the world. Aging gracefully includes embracing illness and death as built-in, intrinsic to the natural order of things. How much of our time, energy, attention and resources are dedicated to resistance to this fact – a fundamental denialism that leads naturally to the abdication of truth – in favor of our favorite fantasies as to the nature and central meaning of life? A young Rinzai Zen priest named Hasegawa published a book titled “The Cave of Poison Grass.” He mentioned the fact that most people seem to postpone confronting reality until, finally, they are on their death bed. He declared that this is too late – “like eating soup with a fork” – a memorable phrase. He insisted that we have to confront this “Great Matter” of life-and-death while we are young, and have sufficient strength and energy to overcome it. In the lore of Zen there is a Till-Eulenspiegel-like narrative that captures its sometimes irreverent attitude toward life and death, supposedly a true story. A monk realized that he was to die soon, and began asking other monks what they knew about, or had heard about, others dying. He was curious to know if anyone had ever died standing on their head, but nobody had. So sure enough, when the time came, he stood on his head in the corner and died. His sister happened to be a nun, and when she came to visit for the funeral, the corpse was still standing there in the corner. In disgust, she kicked it over, declaring that he had never had any respect for anything in life, and he still had no respect in death. The story goes that they buried him upside-down. An old saying in Zen says to “stamp life and death on your forehead and never let it out of your mind.” This is not a mark of morbid obsession with death, but simply recognizes that there is no life without death – birth is the leading cause of death.Instead of bemoaning the fact that life inevitably passes back into the great remix that is the universe – the wave returning to the ocean – we embrace the inevitability of “shuffling off this mortal coil” as a kind of relief. As Mark Twain was said to have asked, when in his old age reporters inquired as to whether he wasn't afraid to die, why would he be afraid of returning to where he came from? It is the stuff of science fiction to imagine a future in which medical science has treated the phenomenon of dying as an unnecessary aberration, a kind of illness, and come up with techniques such as cryogenic freezing of human remains, genetic mutation, and cultivating transplant organs and limbs to achieve what is, for all practical purposes, human immortality. The question becomes, would you really want to live forever? Life takes a great deal of its meaning from the inevitability of death, which is often considered in opposition to life. But Master Dogen treats both birth death as another nondual, complementary dyad, from Genjokoan–Actualizing the Fundamental Point: Just as firewood does not become firewood again after it is ash you do not return to birth after deathThis being so it is an established way in buddha-dharma to deny that birth turns into deathAccordingly birth is understood as non-birthIt is an unshakable teaching in Buddha's discourse that death does not turn into birthAccordingly death is understood as non-death Birth is an expression complete this momentDeath is an expression complete this momentThey are like winter and springYou do not call winter the beginning of spring nor summer the end of spring In this wonderful analogy, Master Dogen places birth and death on a continuum, each as an “expression complete this moment,” and yet undeniably entangled. We might ask: An expression of what? and the answer would seem to be “life itself.” So birth, which we celebrate, and death, which we mourn, are seen to be inflection points, rather equal in import, in the continuum of life. When my older brother was dying in hospice, I spent about a week attending on him as he drifted in and out of consciousness. I picked up a pamphlet at the clinic where he was cared for, called “The Eleventh Hour.” It was written by a Christian woman, a clergy member or teacher of some sort, but she never once mentioned Jesus or God. One line I recall said something like, “Birth is the death of whatever precedes birth. Death is the birth of whatever follows death.” Very Zen. I hope this brief foray into the most dispositive and determinative factors defining our life experience helps to allay any unreasoning fear you may have of these time-honored Three Marks. Along with Buddhism's Three Poisons of greed, anger or hatred, and delusion or folly, they form the nexus of all that is wrong with the human universe in the personal sphere. When we move into the next outer layer, the social sphere, we confront them on a more global scale as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Death, Famine, War, and Conquest. Today we might be coerced to add even more unintended consequences to the deluge, including increasing population pressure and worldwide immigration, as well as advances in technology that tend to frustrate, rather than facilitate, our presumably inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Speaking of which, in the first UnMind episode of the upcoming month, we will look over our shoulder once again to the dread prospect of Election Year Zen, which is gaining on us, assessing whether or not we can see any light of compassion or wisdom at the end of that maddeningly long tunnel. Please add a seatbelt to your zafu and strap in. The haiku poem on the “grim reaper” is from a 2020 series called “Dharma Dreams from Great Cloud.” The text, titled “Swords into Plowshares,” will form the basis of July's UnMind. If you have any remaining questions as to why I feel it important to examine the current political pageantry from the perspective of ancient Buddhist teachings, which may strike you as outdated and irrelevant, please email me about it. * * *Elliston Roshi is guiding teacher of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center and abbot of the Silent Thunder Order. He is also a gallery-represented fine artist expressing his Zen through visual poetry, or “music to the eyes.”UnMind is a production of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center in Atlanta, Georgia and the Silent Thunder Order. You can support these teachings by PayPal to donate@STorder.org. Gassho.Producer: Shinjin Larry Little

In looking forward and anticipating the future of Zen in America, once again it may behoove us to take a look in the rearview mirror. According to research reported by one of my future lineage successors – in a years-long series of talks he gave on the history of the transmission of Zen – things did not always go swimmingly when the big cheese finally kicked the proverbial bucket, to mix a metaphor or two. The resultant chaos was not quite as bad as that brought on by the “To the strongest!” gambit attributed to Alexander the Great, settling the question through violence rather than voting, an approach that has gained fresh meaning in recent political campaigns. In fact, one might reasonably question the validity of any aging, declining leader naming their own successor in the first place, in the face of diminishing mental acuity and physical vigor. What part of “declining” do we not understand? How many political leaders have we witnessed who hang onto power way beyond what the dictates of the natural process of aging-out would suggest? Matsuoka -roshi was born in November of 1912 and died in November of 1997. He was and is my “root” teacher, in the common parlance of Zen. It is his legacy and lineage that we celebrate during Founder's Month each November, and which I have done all in my power to preserve, protect, and to propagate. Kongo-roshi, or Richard Langlois as I knew him in the 1960s, was O-Sensei's immediate successor at the Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago (ZBTC). He was born in 1935, but died unexpectedly in 1999, only two years after O-Sensei's parinirvana. This unfortunate turn of events brings to mind the oft-misquoted but always pertinent couplet: The best-laid schemes ‘of mice and men' gang aft a-gley,and lea'e us naught but grief and pain, for promised joy Thank you, Robert Bobby Burns, from his poem “To a Mouse.” This is not to suggest that planning, as such, is totally useless, or generally ineffective, but any succession planning is clearly a special case. In Zen's historical record, the cohort left to pick up the pieces and carry on were comprised of more than one individual, in many cases. It appears there is a common pattern of two or more Zen successors stepping in and divvying up the role previously played by the retiring guiding teacher. They were often of very different personality types, bringing different sets of skills and attitudes to the table, not necessarily the same as their mentor's. This is also common in the business world, when the CEO is replaced by less-experienced executives. It took me a few decades to realize that I am not Matsuoka-roshi, and that my students are certainly not me. I could not simply continue doing my best imitation of Sensei, oblivious to the fact that my students were approaching Zen practice very differently from my own early days. I had to have flexibility of mind to innovate, not just to imitate. Nor can I compare myself to Okumura-roshi – who officiated my formal transmission –with his historical roots in traditional Zen training in Japan. His successor Hoko Karnegis was recently chosen – how and why, I have no idea, and do not need to know. But I do know that she, who generously wrote the foreword to my second book, “The Razorblade of Zen,” is definitely not a Shohaku clone. The character of the community changes with any change in leadership. But its mission and reason for being need not. I recognize that as founder and guiding teacher of ASZC and STO, I am a “transitional figure.” As are we all – in the ultimate, biological sense – given the inevitability of “aging, sickness and death.” Matsuoka-roshi was certainly a transitional figure, becoming a living example of the “man without a country.” He was no longer fully Japanese, nor was he completely American. It should be noted that all truly transitional figures necessarily appear as somewhat ridiculous, in the eyes of their contemporaries. It becomes necessary to embrace certain contradictions, many that are counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. If you don't quite get the point, just picture myself, or yourself, fully enrobed, walking into a Starbuck's. These transitional aspects of grafting a living tradition onto a new host culture can be considered a necessary and temporary period of adjustment. It is going to entail, and even require, independent thinking, as well as Interdependent action. Perhaps more than anything, it will require focus and perseverance, keeping the eye on the prize, or at least on the ball, in light of the many diversions and apparent obstructions in the path. The Ch'an poem Sandokai–Harmony of Sameness and Difference puts it succinctly: Not understanding the Way before your eyes how do you know the path you walk? Buddha himself is said to have recognized the many blind alleys and dead ends that can get in the way of the simple pursuit of the only truth that matters. In “The Teaching of Buddha,” chapter two, “The Way of Practical Attainment” we find the following: 1. in the search for truth there are certain questions that are unimportant. Of what material is the universe constructed? Is the universe eternal? Are there limits or not to the universe? In what way is this human society put together? What is the ideal form of organization for human society? If a man were to postpone his searching and practicing for Enlightenment until such questions were solved, he would die before he found the path. Like his successors in India, as well as those in China, Japan, and the Far East, the clarity of focus comes through loud and clear, in the context of the seductions of the universal, natural and social spheres. The ancestors of Zen are all speaking with one voice, as far as to where we are to direct our personal attention is concerned. Perhaps this singular emphasis – on avoiding the pitfalls and temptations of following cultural memes and tropes as to what is truly important in life – is even more critical in modern times. When we finally join a fully functioning Zen community, we naturally become possessive and protective of it. We worry about its stability, from both fiscal and psychological perspectives. If its leadership appears unstable, we hesitate to invest too much time and effort into participating in it, both from personal practice and social administrative perspectives. These are natural impulses, and rational as well. We have all witnessed too many betrayals of our trust and confidence by misguided leaders of supposed religious and educational institutions, in America and elsewhere. This is why harmony is the main watchword for the Zen community. And the main reason its members are encouraged to be circumspect in discussing the supposed faults of others. But I want to impress upon you a deeper confidence in Zen. Not to worry — Zen will survive. It was here before you were, and it will be here after we are all long gone. Zen has survived, and even thrived, for over two and a half millennia, and that is only the recorded history of it. It surely began long before Buddha's life, and will survive as far into the future as the human species, which, admittedly, is looking a little iffy just now. Zen will survive because it is not “Zen.” Zen is just a name, a label that we throw at something that has no name. This discovery of Buddha, even in our times, is primordial. It is nothing more than “waking up,” in the most universal, deepest and broadest sense of the word. It is awakening to reality. That simple fact may need our protection, from the vicissitudes of current cultural ignorance. But it comes with the territory of being a fully conscious human being. It will not go away with time, as long as humans survive. This is why the definitive dimension of sangha is “harmony.” Fostering disharmony in the Zen community is a cardinal sin. As Master Elvis reminds us, “We can't go on together, with suspicious minds.” The sangha itself is like a cloud – after my dharma name, “Great Cloud” – constantly evaporating and recondensing. If you do not think so, stick around for a while. We have had literally thousands of people come and go over the decades, and sometimes return after decades. That they come and go is no fault of our own, or of theirs. It is merely the manifestation of their life stories, the cloud endlessly evaporating and recondensing. In Matsuoka Roshi's collected talks, “The Kyoksaku” and “Mokurai,” he shares his perspective on the future of Zen, including the meaning of a Zen temple. We are carrying forward his mission of propagating Zen in America, on the premise that he expressed, that Zen is relatively “dead” in Japan; and would find its rebirth in America: A Zen temple is not a debating place — especially about Zen. Zen was never meant to be debated. It was meant to come into your lives to quiet them and for you to live as a Buddha. If you know Zen, your voice will be quiet and your words will be few. Great wisdom does not need many words to express itself. “Those who speak do not necessarily know.” Master Dogen also mentioned of the tendency of individuals to want to express their understanding of Zen to all who will listen, including the local guiding teacher. It is a known issue in history, and one of many such attitudes that have persisted down to today. But if we see it for what it is – the natural desire of a person to have their own understanding of Zen recognized, and their efforts in support of the temple appreciated – this, too, can be accommodated in our ongoing program of propagation, as a teaching or learning moment. Buddha himself was said to have been assailed by an earnest young seeker, who prevailed upon him to answer the “Ten Cosmic Questions” from what passed for the philosophy of the times: how it all began, how it will all end, et cetera. Which Buddha considered hopelessly speculative, somewhat specious, and not at all to the point of addressing the real problem at hand, that of dukkha. The young man insisted that unless Buddha answered, he, the young man, could not accept him as his teacher. Shakyamuni is said to have pointed out to this sincere but presumptive aspirant that he – Buddha, was under no obligation to be his – the young man's, teacher. And he – the young man, was under no obligation to be his – Buddha's, student. We have adopted a similar motto for our practice centers, which was initiated by an early Rinzai pioneer to America, Sokeian-roshi: “Those who come here are welcome; those who leave are not pursued.” We have a similar middle-way approach to donations, first expressed by our initial practice leader of Southwind Sangha, our Wichita affiliate: “No donation required; no donation refused.” All of the above represent variations on the theme of thinking independently and acting interdependently. Sitting in zazen with the Zen community, we are still sitting alone. Any time we sit alone in zazen, we are joining the larger community of Zen practitioners. Somewhere in the world – at any time, day or night – someone is sitting in Zen meditation. We need flexibility of mind to approach Zen practice in this nondual sense, outside of time and space. In the first UnMind segment in June, we will return briefly to our exploration of “election year Zen,” with whatever challenges appear in the campaign in the interim. Until then... just keep sitting.

Rev. Clover Reuter Beal

Brent Billings, Reed Dent, and Elle Grover Fricks conclude the series on the Psalms and offer a final bit of encouragement to carry with us into the future.Festival of Faith & Writing — Calvin UniversityMy Bright Abyss by Christian WimanInside Out (2015 film) — JustWatch“Despite My Efforts Even My Prayers Have Turned into Threats” from Pilgrim Bell by Kaveh Akbar“The Only Animal” from Walking to Martha's Vineyard by Franz Wright“Ulysses” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson — Poetry Foundation“Bless Me” by Maverick City Music (feat. Kirk Franklin) — YouTubeLiturgy Prints — Every Moment Holy“A Greek Papyrus Amulet from the Duke Collection with Biblical Excerpts” by Csaba A. La'da and Amphilochios Papathomas — JSTORCoble Eye Care

In today's episode:The Intellectual Kids Table problem with search enginesWhat should become of the Great Cloud in the sky?Kayfabe revelations or the strange but natural behavior of normal people?Bill Barr, Ron! DeeSantis, and RFK JrMore lawfare to come against Trump and his associates in the "swing" statesIllegitimate Arizona AG "indicts" the alternate 2020 electorsUniparty election interference is Donald Trump's biggest campaign asset.Connect with Be Reasonable: https://linktr.ee/imyourmoderatorHear the show when it's released. Become a paid subscriber at imyourmoderator.substack.comVisit the show's sponsors:Diversify your assets into Bitcoin: https://partner.river.com/reasonableDiversify your assets into precious metals: reasonablegold.comOther ways to support the work:ko-fi.com/imyourmoderatorDonate btc via coinbase: 3MEh9J5sRvMfkWd4EWczrFr1iP3DBMcKk5Make life more comfortable: mypillow.com/reasonableMerch site: https://cancelcouture.myspreadshop.com/Follow the podcast info stream: t.me/imyourmoderatorOther social platforms: Truth Social, Gab, Rumble, or Gettr - @imyourmoderator Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/be-reasonable-with-your-moderator-chris-paul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode:The Intellectual Kids Table problem with search enginesWhat should become of the Great Cloud in the sky?Kayfabe revelations or the strange but natural behavior of normal people?Bill Barr, Ron! DeeSantis, and RFK JrMore lawfare to come against Trump and his associates in the "swing" statesIllegitimate Arizona AG "indicts" the alternate 2020 electorsUniparty election interference is Donald Trump's biggest campaign asset.Connect with Be Reasonable: https://linktr.ee/imyourmoderatorHear the show when it's released. Become a paid subscriber at imyourmoderator.substack.comVisit the show's sponsors:Diversify your assets into Bitcoin: https://partner.river.com/reasonableDiversify your assets into precious metals: reasonablegold.comOther ways to support the work:ko-fi.com/imyourmoderatorDonate btc via coinbase: 3MEh9J5sRvMfkWd4EWczrFr1iP3DBMcKk5Make life more comfortable: mypillow.com/reasonableMerch site: https://cancelcouture.myspreadshop.com/Follow the podcast info stream: t.me/imyourmoderatorOther social platforms: Truth Social, Gab, Rumble, or Gettr - @imyourmoderator Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/be-reasonable-with-your-moderator-chris-paul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"God is a God who can take us from ruin to restoration." "Hurt people hurt people...and restored people restore people." Tune in to hear more bars as Pastor Jeremy Treat from Reality Church of LA walks us through Nehemiah's story.    April 18th, 2024 Recorded in SAL101

Does your current manner of walking with God require courage? Eric shares the story of Gideon in Judges, challenging us to look to God, instead of ourselves, to complete our God-given tasks.   April 11th, 2024 Recorded in SAL101

Adoniram Judson's life was marked by courage. It was through his courage that he was able to give his life to the people of Burma. Romano dives into how courage can impact our lives today.   April 4th, 2024 Recorded in SAL101

Despite his popularity amongst the people, John the Baptist was one of the most humble followers of Jesus. Eric uses John's life to illustrate the life-giving outcomes of humility.    March 7th, 2024 Recorded in SAL101    

Adam Griffin, Chelsea Griffin, and Cassie Bryant are joined by Trillia Newbell to have a conversation about how we can help our kids study the Bible.Questions Covered in This Episode:Tell us why you had a vision for some Bible Studies for kids? Why do you think that there aren't many people making resources for kids 8-12 years old? How do we make the transition from reading story Bibles to our kids having personal Bible study?Are these resources something that parents or church teachers leaders could use with a family or a class as well alongside their kids? What would you say to a mom or dad who feels like they don't know the Bible well enough themselves to be able to help their kids learn to study the bible?What has Bible study looked like in your family?How would you encourage parents who are facing resistance at home right now? For the new bible study you have coming out this spring, why did you pick Romans 8 (God is for Us) for kids to study?If parents are just getting started in discipling their families, is there a part of the bible you'd suggest they start with?What practical tips would you give a kids who is looking to start Bible study on their own?Guest Bio:Trillia Newbell is the author of several books including, A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Sacred Endurance, If God Is For Us, Fear and Faith, and the children's books, Creative God, Colorful Us and God's Very Good Idea. When she isn't writing, she's encouraging and supporting other writers as the Acquisitions Director at Moody Publishers.Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern, they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN where they enjoy hiking and eating lots of bbq. Resources Mentioned in this Episode:“When Wrong Seems Right” by Adam Griffin“If God Is For Us” by Trilla Newbell Sponsors:To learn more about our sponsors please visit our website.Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | TwitterOur Sister Shows:Knowing Faith | Confronting Christianity | Starting PlaceThe Family Discipleship Podcast is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

What would our lives look like if we earnestly prayed like George Mueller? Jeremy explores how Mueller's simple dependence on God was used to make a difference in the world around him.   February 29th, 2024 Recorded in SAL101

1. In today's sermon, Tim talked about the way in which, “In attending to life's measurable realities, we seem to have lost the ability to recognize life's immeasurable realities…” He also spoke of God as, “not a mystery that is unknowable, but rather endlessly knowable.”How do these ideas sit for you? What do they make you think of and feel?Remembering that there are no bad answers, reflect on how important measurable, concrete realities are in the way in which you understand and show up in the world. How much space is allocated for the mysterious and unknowable in your life and in yourself? When does it feel more natural or comfortable for you to interact with and engage with an immeasurable and endlessly knowable God? When does it feel more natural or comfortable to relate to God as more finite, certain, and calculable? What do you take away from these comparisons? 2. One slide from today's sermon read, “God can be most easily lost by being thought found.” Does this resonate for you? Do you have experiences in which you feel like you've learned this lesson, in whole or in part? In what ways or contexts do you find yourself most likely to eelate to God as “found” in this sense? What are some of the ways in which you've learned to help yourself to lean into the mysteries of a mysterious God when you might be more comfortable with a certain and fully clear God? Are there other practices that help keep you engaging with the “endless unknowability” of God in general? 3. Tim talked about the concept of the “great cloud of unknowing” as a place in which we can have an encounter with God. He said that one of the places we most often encounter this cloud is in other people. Do you have experiences in which someone else has unexpectedly brought you into an encounter with God? Share about places you've seen God through unanticipated or surprising experiences with other people. What conditions make it easiest for you to “love each other as if God is actually living through and in each other?” Which conditions make that harder for you?

Who is in your gallery of friends? Think about your friendship circles, and the amount of people who love you- even people that aren't close to you in this current season of life. God has given us such a great network of relationships to uplift us and support us in both the good and bad times of life. Today I share about my own gallery of friends, and their impact on my life.

Incense in a tabernacle, temple, now Church. Jesus is with us, not in thought or spirit, but in Flesh, dwelling among us. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dan-greg/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dan-greg/support

Experience the Truth, Beauty and Goodness of Catholicism. Non-Catholics and Catholics alike are invited to encounter Christ in this program. Join us every Wednesday night 7:00 – 8:30 pm in McMahon Hall (Church basement) beginning September 28th and continuing through Easter. Want to learn more? Check out the link below: https://shofjesus.com/becoming-catholic/

Sermon by Jamie Barnett from worship at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Readings: Psalm 148, Revelation 21:10, 22-27 and Matthew 6:28-34. Watch the sermon on YouTube. Please consider donating to support the mission and ministries of All Saints at https://allsaints-pas.org/donate/donate-now/. Any donation, big or small, is appreciated! Follow All Saints Church on Twitter @ASCpas. Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsPasadena/. Check out the rest of our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/allsaintspasadena1/videos. Subscribe, like, get notifications every time we post! Enjoy our extensive archive of stimulating and inspiring content!

Spending his formidable years as a missionary kid in Guatemala, Stephen Fulton developed a love and a call to the country where he has been on over 30 trips now through Love Beyond Borders which his family started. He joins Reid to discuss the realities of spiritual warfare on mission, leading worship with a band of homeless on skid row, and how nervousness helps us trust God more. Finally, he discusses how we take many things for granted in America and how we can all help support the mission at Guatemala. To get more information on Love Beyond Borders, click here! Follow us on social media:Instagram: @spiritlivingpodcastFacebook: spiritlivingpodcastTwitter: @spiritlivingpodEmail us at spiritlivingpodcast@gmail.com Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast, and please share it with others as it helps us grow and get the gospel out to more people! Into and outro music is entitled Jungle Video Game Level by Kirk Osamayo which is licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License and is available at the link here. The original has been edited for the sake of duration and sound quality. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:25. Join us on this weekly journey of Spirit Living!