Podcasts about Hagar

Over the next 4 weeks Lina will be sharing a bible teaching called “Breathe: Finding Rest in the God Who Sees.”  Life can feel overwhelming—sometimes exciting, sometimes exhausting—and it's easy to get swept up in emotions that leave us feeling unanchored. But Scripture is full of stories about people just like us, wrestling with the gap between what they see and what they feel. The story of Hagar in Genesis depicts a woman who was frantic with fear and uncertainty. She was a pawn in someone else's game of self-control. Hagar experienced the God who sees in the midst of her wandering and His words transformed her. He offers the same for each of us – the promise that He sees us and we are not alone.

What do you do when God asks you to hand back the very thing he promised you? In this episode, Dot and Cara sit with the story of Abraham and Isaac, the moment when a father who waited decades for a son is asked to lay that son on an altar. They talk about the danger of writing our own narrative onto what God is doing, why Abraham's silence on that mountain says everything about his faith, and how trusting the process matters more than understanding the plan. Pull up a chair, grab your Bible, and lean in with us.Got a question about today's episode or something else you'd like to hear us talk about on the show? Let us know! Episode RecapIntro (00:00)Write this down, Genesis 17:15-19, God renames Sarai to Sarah and promises Abraham a son through her (00:00)Cara welcomes everyone and frames today's question, what do you do when God gives you a promise and then asks you to sacrifice it (01:10)A quick refresher on Ishmael, how Sarah's plan led to Hagar, and why Isaac, not Ishmael, was always God's idea (02:12)Writing the narrative, Dot and Cara's shorthand for assuming we know how God's story ends before he's finished telling it (07:15)Jumping to Genesis 22, Abraham walks up the mountain with Isaac and never once brings up the promise God once took from him (11:39)Why Abraham telling his servants we will be back might be one of the boldest statements of faith in all of Scripture (17:18)Abraham had never seen a resurrection in his life and still trusted God could bring Isaac back, an easy detail to miss (17:49)Knowing God versus believing him, and why that gap is exactly where our faith gets tested (20:20)A story about a train ticket that never comes early but always comes on time, and what it teaches us about trusting God's timing (32:26)Are you interested in having Dot come and speak to your community? Email us at hello@dotbowen.com.Watch Write this Down! on YouTubeFind Dot Bowen on Instagram and Facebook This Episode's Scripture VerseGenesis 17:15-19 (NASB 1977) — "Then God said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai, your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations. Kings of people shall come from her.' Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and he said in his heart, 'Will a child be born to a man 100 years old, and will Sarah, who is 90 years old, bear a child?' And Abram said to God, 'Oh, that Ishmael might live before Thee.' But God said, 'No. But Sarah, your wife, shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. And I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.'"

In this video, we're going to explore Genesis 16 and the origin story of Ishmael and Hagar.Our WebsiteOur Youtube ChannelOur Second Youtube Channel Bible Trading Cards For Kids

In this video, we're going to explore Genesis 21:1-21 and the birth of Isaac alongside the casting out of Ishmael and Hagar.Our WebsiteOur Youtube ChannelOur Second Youtube Channel Bible Trading Cards For Kids

In this message, we continue our series on faith through the life of Abram, focusing on Genesis 15:1–6 and the “crisis of comprehension”—those moments when we believe God's promise but cannot understand how He will fulfill it.Abram is 85, still childless, and wrestling with the gap between God's word and his present reality. Yet Genesis 15:6 tells us, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” This sermon reminds us that faith is not the absence of questions; faith is choosing to trust God's character and word even when the “how” is unclear.Key Scriptures:Genesis 15:1–6 — Abram believes God's promise2 Corinthians 5:7 — “We walk by faith, not by sight”Hebrews 11:6 — Faith that pleases GodPsalm 103:13–14 — God remembers we are dustLuke 1:18–20, 34–38 — Mary's faith vs. Zechariah's doubtGenesis 16:1–4 — Sarai, Hagar, and taking matters into human handsHebrews 12:6 — The Lord disciplines those He lovesPsalm 37:4 — Delight in the Lord and the desires of the heartMatthew 19:16–22 — The rich young ruler and surrendered devotionThis message explores how to ask honest questions without demanding proof, how to avoid “Plan B” compromises, how to receive God's “no” as love, and how to stand on the assurance of His word when circumstances do not yet make sense.Faith rests not on what we see, not on our desires, and not on our ability to force outcomes—but on what God has said.

Have you ever wondered if anyone actually notices you? Not the version everyone sees, but the one carrying everything underneath? There's a name for God in the Bible given by someone who felt completely invisible: El Roi, the God who sees me.In Genesis 16, Hagar has no voice, no say, and no one on her side. She runs into the desert, and nobody goes looking for her. Nobody except God. He finds her by a spring along the road, calls her by name, asks her a question, and listens. She walks away with her dignity restored and gives God a name no one else in Scripture ever does. This message traces that same pattern through the life of Jesus. He kept moving toward people who felt overlooked and forgotten, and on the cross he proved once and for all that your story matters to God.Support the show

Genesis 16v6-14 and 21v14-21 with Heather ThomasFaith is a journey. It is a lifelong process of being formed and transformed as we learn to follow Jesus. And throughout Scripture, we discover that God has a habit of meeting people on the way—in the wilderness, on unfamiliar roads, while running away, searching for answers, or simply trying to find their way home. In this series, we'll explore these “on the road” encounters and what they teach us about spiritual formation. Wherever we find ourselves on the journey, God meets us there—walking with us, interrupting us, restoring us, and inviting us to take the next step.

If there's a problem with calling the resurrection life a ‘purchase' then why do we say Jesus ‘paid' our debts? Should we rephrase it?Did Abraham really obey the law before it was given to Moses? Why is it still counted to Abraham as righteousness when he submitted to Sarai and slept with Hagar? What does this mean for us?I've always heard that grace is an unmerited gift. If it was more in the first century, why don't we emphasise the other parts?

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly reveals His heart for people who find themselves on the outside—the overlooked, the rejected, the broken, and those who simply don't feel like they fit. Through the stories of Hagar, Rahab, and the Samaritan woman, we see God refusing to be confined by the fences people build around Him: He sees an Egyptian slave girl in the wilderness and allows her to name Him; He rescues a Canaanite prostitute and writes her into the lineage of Jesus; and He reveals His identity as Messiah to a Samaritan woman whose life had been marked by shame and broken relationships. These stories remind outsiders that there is a place for them at Christ's table and that their otherness may even give them a unique perspective on the tenderness of God. But they also challenge insiders to examine the boundaries they have created around who God can love, speak through, and use. When God moves beyond the borders we have drawn, perhaps the problem isn't with God—perhaps the problem is with our fence. The God of heaven and earth is God on both sides of the fence.

Looking at the life of Hagar and Ishmael from Genesis 16, we can agree that their lives were not glamorous. God may not have always spared them of their hardships, but He saw them and never abandoned them.

Predikan av Christian Mölk Tema: "Hagar" 1 Mos. 16 harnosand.pingst.se

Send us Fan MailSometimes you wonder why God allows His people to suffer. I wonder about Hagar in the Bible, but reading her story gives me hope in spite of it all. No rights owned to “Encourage Yourself” by Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers. Subscribe to enjoy all episodes of God's Toolbox. 

More than six in ten people say they feel lonely. Today on BOLD STEPS, Mark Jobe launches a new series, Not Alone, with Hagar’s story in the desert from Genesis chapter 16. He’ll share the panic of being lost as a seven-year-old in a crowded market, and how that same isolation still grips us as adults. Knowing your own story might be the key to your purpose … listen to Bold Steps with Pastor Mark Jobe. Bold Steps Gift: Bold Steps Gift: Goliath Must Fall: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants - Louie Giglio Visit or watch Mark Jobe at New Life Community ChurchBecome a Bold Partner: https://www.moodyradio.org/donateto/boldstepsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode of the Finding God Podcast, Keana W. Mitchell explores what it truly means to worship without fear for those healing from religious trauma, spiritual manipulation, or environments where worship felt pressured or unsafe. This gentle, trauma‑informed conversation guides listeners back to the heart of worship: connection, honesty, and safety in God's presence.Keana begins with a grounding moment, then revisits last week's episode on reconnecting with God after religious trauma. Drawing from leading trauma researchers like Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Dr. Stephen Porges, and Dr. Diane Langberg, she explains how trauma affects the nervous system and why worship can feel overwhelming even when the desire to connect with God is strong.Through powerful biblical examples — David, Elijah, Hagar, Mary Magdalene, and the disciples  Keana shows how God consistently meets people in fear with gentleness, not pressure. The episode then explores what worship without fear looks like in real life and offers practical steps for creating spiritually safe, grounding worship practices.This episode is a compassionate reminder that God's presence is not a place of fear, but a place of refuge.What You'll Hear in This EpisodeWhy worship can feel unsafe after religious traumaHow trauma affects the body's ability to feel spiritually safeInsights from leading trauma psychologists (van der Kolk, Porges, Langberg)Biblical stories of people who found safety in God's presenceWhat worship without fear actually looks likeGentle, practical steps to begin worshiping safely againEncouragement for reconnecting with God at your own paceKey TakeawaysGod's presence is a place of safety, not pressureTrauma can make worship feel overwhelming — and that's normalHealing requires gentleness, not spiritual performanceWorship can be quiet, slow, and deeply personalGod meets you where you are, not where others expect you to beSmall moments of connection matter and build over timeScripture ReferencesPsalm 23; Psalm 34 — David finding refuge in God1 Kings 19 — Elijah encountering God's gentle whisperGenesis 16 & 21 — Hagar meeting “El Roi,” the God who sees herJohn 20 — Mary Magdalene and the disciples finding peace in Jesus' presenceScholarly References (General Citations)van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score.Porges, S. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory.Langberg, D. (2015). Suffering and the Heart of God.Support the MinistryIf this episode encouraged you, consider supporting the Finding God Podcast through the donation button on RedCircle. Your support helps keep these spiritually grounded conversations going.

Un diagnóstico puede explicar una parte de la historia, pero no define la identidad. Agar descubrió a Dios en su desierto ydijo: “Tú eres el Dios que me ve”. Este episodio habla de mirar el pasado con compasión, no con culpa, y de reconocer que Dios estuvo presente mucho antes de que llegaran las respuestas. A diagnosis can explain part of the story, but it doesn't define identity. Hagar met God in her desert and said, “You are the God who sees me.” This episode speaks about viewing the past with compassion, not guilt, and recognizing that God was present long before the answers arrived.

Little Holloway | SWO26 Girls SessionIn this session, little will explore relationships, temptation, and the longing to be seen and valued through the story of Hagar and the God who sees us. Learn practical ways to guard your heart, renew your mind, build spiritual disciplines, and find lasting identity and fulfillment in God.SWO26Please leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help others grow in their faith. Click here to get our Colossians Bible study.

Jessica Coody sat down with assistant coach Brennan Hagar for this week's episode of "The Dig" to recap Husker VB's last non-conference weekend of the season, the atmosphere against Creighton inside PBA, Manaia Ogbechie and her B1G Player of the Week performance, what makes her so special as a blocker, how Kenna Cogill stepped up when Manaia was out against Creighton, Keoni Williams getting opportunities against FGCU, Andi Jackson's "Launch Laser," Laney Choboy's serving role, and much more!

Send us Fan MailA single sentence can sound wise and still steer your life off a cliff: “God helps those who help themselves.” We open Genesis 16 and watch Sarai and Abram do what so many of us feel tempted to do under pressure, take control, speed up the timeline, and manufacture an outcome that God never asked for.As we read the story verse by verse, we sit with the real anguish of infertility, the longing behind Sarai's decision, and the painful power imbalance Hagar endures. We also talk honestly about surrogacy, both the first recorded arrangement in Scripture and the modern ethical questions that surface when pregnancy becomes a contract: Who protects the vulnerable, what happens when plans change, and how do adults explain life-altering decisions to a child later? This is Bible teaching that meets today's headlines without flinching.Then the scene shifts to the wilderness, where everything gets quiet and personal. God finds Hagar by a spring, calls her by name, and reveals Himself as El Roi, the God who sees. That name becomes the hinge of the message: God sees the overlooked, God hears the desperate, and God stays faithful even when our shortcuts create chaos. We close with a challenge from Hebrews 6:12, to inherit God's promises through faith and patience, not panic.Subscribe so you do not miss next week, share this with a friend who feels stuck in the waiting, and leave a review to help more listeners find Devotions with Dr. Papa.Support the showhttps://www.jacksonfamilyministry.comhttps://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/

September 23, 2026 In this week's podcast Pastor Mike shares why certain aspects of IVF are not compatible with God's design for child bearing, and answers a listener question regarding Paul's mention of Sarah and Hagar in Galatians 4. 

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https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0922db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – September 22 Galatians 4:8 – 5:1 Galatians 4 Paul's Concern for the Gentiles 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, why are you turning back again to the basic principles that are weak and miserable? Do you want to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You carefully observe days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am fearful about you, that somehow my labor for you was wasted. 12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I also became like you. You did me no harm. 13 You know that, because of a weakness of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you the first time. 14 And you did not despise or disdain the test my flesh gave you. Instead, you welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 So where is this blessed attitude of yours now? Yes, I can say for a fact that, if it were possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are eager to win you over, but not in a good way. Rather, they want to alienate you, so that you will be eager for them. 18 But it is always a good thing to have someone eager in a good way—not just when I am present with you. 19 My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until Christ is formed in you. 20 I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, because I am perplexed about you. An Illustration: Hagar and Sarah 21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you really listening to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the free woman. 23 However, the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through a promise. 24 These things can be used as an illustration; namely, the women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children into slavery. This is Hagar. 25 You see, [1] this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and she corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, because Jerusalem is in slavery along with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free. She is our mother. 27 For it is written: Rejoice, barren woman who does not give birth. Break forth and shout for joy, woman who does not suffer birth pains, because the barren woman has more children than does the woman who has a husband. [2] 28 Now you, [3] brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise. 29 But just as back then the one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, so this is also the case now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, because the son of the slave woman will certainly not receive the inheritance with the son of the free woman.” [4] 31 For this same reason, brothers, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman. Christ Set Us Free Galatians 5 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again. Footnotes Galatians 4:25 Some witnesses to the text omit You see. Galatians 4:27 Isaiah 54:1 Galatians 4:28 Some witnesses to the text read we. Galatians 4:30 Genesis 21:10 The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we're talking about Sammy Hagar's future with Van Halen music — and whether the Best of All Worlds era is coming to an end. After two years of celebrating his Van Halen legacy alongside Michael Anthony and Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar says he's ready to move on. During a recent conversation with Eddie Trunk, Hagar revealed: “I'm kinda done with being the Van Halen guy.” The Best of All Worlds tour began in 2024 and became such a success that it led to the current Las Vegas residency. But Hagar says the residency may be his final major run focused heavily on Van Halen material.

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we're talking about Sammy Hagar's latest comments regarding Alex Van Halen — and the growing tension over the legacy of Van Halen. Hagar responds after Alex reportedly called him a “complete idiot,” and says he still doesn't understand why Alex has a problem with him.

Ain't talkin' bout love, we're talkin' bout Van Halen! Join Billy, Brad, Brett, George, and Ted as they jump to choose the best of both worlds. It's Van Halen: Roth VS Hagar. Right now!

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Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Minggu, 13 September 2026Bacaan: Lalu Firaun memanggil Abram serta berkata: "Apakah yang kauperbuat ini terhadap aku? Mengapa tidak kauberitahukan, bahwa ia isterimu?" (Kejadian 12:18) Renungan: Lianti adalah wanita yang memiliki pesona karena hidup takut akan Tuhan, tetapi beberapa tahun setelah menikah pesonanya itu sempat memudar. Hal itu terjadi karena ia terlalu sibuk bekerja, mengurus rumah tangga, dan ditambah lagi semakin banyak persoalan yang dihadapinya. Ia sering mengeluh, bahkan mulai depresi karena berhadapan dengan rutinitas yang sama setiap hari. Lianti memohon agar suaminya turut memikirkan jalan keluar dari masalah dan depresi yang dihadapinya. Ia juga minta suaminya untuk lebih memperhatikan kedua anak mereka, tetapi hal itu pun tak banyak membantu. Lianti akhirnya menyadari bahwa ia tidak bisa mengatasi masalah itu tanpa pertolongan Tuhan. Menyadari akan keterbatasannya, akhirnya ia berdoa dan membangun kembali hubungan intimnya dengan Tuhan. Dekat dengan Tuhan membuat Lianti lebih tegar dalam menghadapi keadaan pasang-surut dalam hidupnya. Dalam hidup yang begitu taat, Abraham pun mengalami masa-masa pasang-surut itu. Setelah beberapa waktu sejak Tuhan mengikat perjanjian dengannya, Abraham mengalami banyak persoalan yang membuatnya mengalami pasang-surut. Kadang-kadang Abraham begitu percaya kepada perlindungan dan janji-janji Tuhan, tetapi di lain waktu ia seakan meragukan perlindungan dan janji-janji Tuhan. Tetapi semua itu justru membuat Abraham belajar mengandalkan Tuhan. Ada tiga rentetan peristiwa yang menggambarkan bahwa Abraham pernah meragukan perlindungan dan janji-janji Tuhan dalam hidupnya, yaitu:Pertama, ketika kelaparan menimpa tanah Negeb, Abraham dan Sara pergi ke Mesir. Firaun terpikat oleh kecantikan Sara dan ingin menyunting Sara sebagai isteri. Hal itu terjadi karena Abraham mengakuinya sebagai saudara, bukan isterinya. Abraham takut dibunuh.Kedua, ketika Sara tidak juga hamil, ia menyarankan agar Abraham menghampiri Hagar untuk memperoleh keturunan. Tanpa menghiraukan janji Tuhan, ia mengikuti saran Sara itu.Ketiga, sekitar 24 tahun setelah peristiwa kelaparan di Negeb, Abraham kembali mengakui Sara sebagai saudaranya kepada Abimelekh. Hal itu juga diperbuatnya karena ia takut kalau-kalau Abimelekh akan membunuhnya karena mengetahui bahwa ia adalah suami Sara. Menjadi pengikut Kristus tidak berarti bahwa kita tidak akan mengalami masa-masa pasang-surut dalam kehidupan ini. Keadaan pasang-surut mengajar kita untuk hidup bergantung kepada Tuhan. Ketika kita mengalami pasang-surut, kita harus tetap maju, tetap taat kepada Tuhan dan tetap yakin bahwa Tuhan turut bekerja untuk mendatangkan kebaikan bagi kita lewat keadaan itu. Satu hal yang harus kita ingat adalah: Dalam keadaan pasang maupun surut, Tuhan Yesus tetap beserta kita dan selalu memberkati kita. Doa:Tuhan Yesus, aku percaya bahwa Engkau selalu menjagaku di setiap waktu dan keadaan. Terima kasih untuk kesetiaan-Mu di sepanjang hidupku. Amin. (Dod).

Daily Dose of Hope Sept. 10, 2026   Scripture: Genesis 25   Prayer:  Almighty God, we start by pausing before you.  Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God.  God, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak to us through it. It's truly a miracle.  Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the books of Genesis and Exodus.  Today, our reading is Genesis 25.   The chapter begins with Abraham taking a new wife.  Remember, Sarah has passed.  This new wife, Keturah, has quite a few kids.  But the chapter makes it clear that despite these additional children, Abraham gives everything he has to Isaac.  He is the son who God promised to him and the one through whom God's promise will pass.   But then the Scripture says something kind of interesting.  It says that Abrahm gave gifts to the sons of the concubines.  I don't know about you, but I was initially like, what???  Did Abraham have concubines?  Upon some deeper study, the only untoward relationship we know of in Abraham's life is with Hagar.  So, it could be that this is a reference to both Hagar and Keturah, letting us know that God's covenant promise was through Sarah.  The other women did not have the same status.   And then, Abraham dies.  His sons bury him in the same cave as his first wife, Sarah.   We then read about the birth of Isaac's twin boys, Jacob and Esau.  They were fraternal twins that seemed to be in competition with each other from birth.  Some Jewish commentators actually say that they tried to kill one another in the womb, but that certainly does not seem to be evident in the Scripture.  What we do know is that God revealed to Rebekah that the older (stronger) brother will be subordinate to the younger (weaker) brother. But in some ways, the boys divided the parents.  Isaac favored Esau while Rebekah favored Jacob.   Let's fast-forward.  The Scripture moves quickly to when the boys are young men.  It's a story most of us have heard before.  Esau sells his firstborn right for a bowl of Jacob's delicious stew.  We get a picture of Esau as impulsive.  His hunger needs to be dealt with immediately!  He doesn't think about the long-term consequences.   I've always thought this story is so strange.  Esau seems to be impulsive, but he also seems to be treated unfairly.  Thus, we have to look at the deeper themes here.  By favoring Jacob, God is siding with the powerless, the weak, and the younger brother.  By favoring Jacob, God is actually identifying with Israel, the tiny, powerless nation who lived in the middle of much stronger nations.    And while God identifies with Jacob, Jacob is still not always characterized in the best light.  God's favor comes in spite of Jacob's negative behavior.  We can actually get a picture of God's grace here.  Despite his brokenness, God has decided to work through Jacob.  Despite our brokenness, God will work through us.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki            

On Rosh Hashanah, we go to a body of flowing water and recite the words of the prophet Michah, asking God to cast our sins into the depths of the sea. What exactly are we asking God to do? Surely we cannot simply throw away what we have done. The Torah reading for the first day of Rosh Hashanah offers an answer. In the story of Hagar and Yishmael, Rashi highlights the principle of Ba'asher Hu Sham - God judges a person as he is now, in this moment. Our past matters. We remain accountable for our sins and mistakes, and Teshuvah requires us to confront and correct them. But what we have done need not become who we are. That is the extraordinary possibility embodied by Tashlich. Teshuvah is not pretending I didn't do it. Teshuvah is refusing to believe that because I did it, I must always be that person. Our sins can be cast away. They need not define us forever. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman (michael@adath.ca) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.

When Jesus turned to two of John's disciples and asked, "What do you want?" (John 1:35-38), it became the question His ministry returns to again and again. In this message, we look at how God's questions throughout Scripture — to Adam, Cain, Moses, Hagar, Jacob, Elijah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, and eventually blind Bartimaeus and the ambitious disciples James and John — were never about giving God information. They were about exposing what we actually want, because genuine spiritual transformation doesn't begin with what we believe, but with what we want, and pain has a way of creating clarity about what matters most. You'll learn: • Why God's questions in Scripture are never about His need for information, but about awakening ours • Why chemistry and comfort aren't reliable guides for the decisions that shape your future • What blind Bartimaeus's instant answer — "I want to see" — teaches about pain, clarity, and naming what you want from God • Why "you become what you behold" and how to guard what informs you • How to move from a general word (logos) to the specific word God speaks into your exact moment (rhema)

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Gospel Unfiltered, host Cornell Bunting takes a deeper look into the life of Abraham and the complicated events that unfolded within his household.Abraham was called by God, given an extraordinary promise, and told that through him nations would be blessed. Yet behind that promise was a family story filled with waiting, impatience, jealousy, rejection, faith, and difficult decisions.Cornell explores the relationships between Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac, examining what happened when human beings tried to fulfill God's promise on their own timeline. The episode looks at the birth of Ishmael, the arrival of Isaac, the tension over inheritance and identity, Hagar's experience in the wilderness, and the powerful truth that God continued to see, hear, and care for those who were hurting.The conversation also addresses an important question often raised today: Can the story of Isaac and Ishmael help us understand conflict in the Middle East?Rather than reducing modern events to a simple biblical family dispute, Cornell separates biblical history from modern political history while examining why Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, covenant, ancestry, and the land remain deeply significant within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.Most importantly, this episode challenges listeners to consider the consequences of unresolved conflict, rejection, favoritism, generational pain, and inherited resentment.One of the most powerful moments in Abraham's story comes at the end of his life, when Isaac and Ishmael come together to bury their father.Could that moment teach us something about reconciliation?Could people inherit a painful history without inheriting permanent hatred?And could God be calling this generation to become peacemakers in conflicts they did not personally create?This is more than a lesson about Abraham.It is a conversation about faith, family, identity, conflict, healing, and the responsibility we have to break destructive generational cycles.Join Cornell Bunting for Season 1, Episode 7 of Gospel Unfiltered: “Abraham's House: Promise, Conflict, and the Generations That Followed.”Scriptures discussed include: Genesis 12, Genesis 15–17, Genesis 21, Genesis 25, Romans 4, Galatians 3, and Matthew 5:9.Gospel Unfiltered — where difficult conversations meet faith, truth, Scripture, and real life.Welcome to the show If you believe in this mission and would like to support the podcast, become a sponsor, explore a partnership, or make a contribution, please visit: www.ehasinc.org Your support can help us continue telling stories that matter and turning conversations into real impact. Again, visit ehasinc.org to support Gospel Unfiltered or the broader mission of EHAS Inc. Thank you for believing in the work. Thank you for joining us for another powerful episode of Gospel Unfiltered.A special thank-you to our guest for sharing their time, wisdom, testimony, and perspective as we explored another powerful journey from the Bible and connected it to the challenges we face in everyday life. This is Gospel Unfiltered— Beyond the Pulpit. Honest Conversations. Real Stories. Kingdom Truth. God bless you.Support the showThank you for tuning in with EHAS CLUB - Stories to Create Podcast

What do you do when your life doesn't look anything like you thought it would?When the relationship falls apart, the opportunity disappears, the finances become uncertain, the prayer seems unanswered, or you find yourself walking through a season you never expected?In this episode of the Dream Creation Podcast, we're talking about one of the most important truths you can hold onto in a difficult season:God may not always remove you from the hardship—but He will never abandon you in it.Throughout Scripture, we see faithful people who experienced incredible pain, uncertainty, rejection, loss, and fear—and yet God was still with them.We'll walk through the stories of:✨ Joseph — betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, and imprisoned, yet Scripture repeatedly tells us that the Lord was with Joseph.✨ Job — who experienced devastating loss and suffering without understanding why, reminding us that we can bring our questions and pain honestly before God.✨ Hagar — alone in the wilderness with her son, discovering that God is El Roi—the God who sees.✨ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to compromise their faith, showing us that God can meet us in the fire.✨ Paul and Silas — beaten and imprisoned, yet praying and worshipping God at midnight, reminding us that we can trust and praise God even before we see the prison doors open.If you're currently going through a hard season, waiting season, wilderness season, spiritual battle, loss, disappointment, or uncertainty, this episode is for you.You'll be encouraged to:• Stop interpreting God's silence as His absence• Bring your honest emotions and questions to God• Focus on today's obedience instead of trying to control tomorrow• Seek godly community instead of isolating yourself• Remember that your circumstances do not define your identity• Trust God one day—and one faithful step—at a timeYou don't need to understand everything God is doing to trust Him.You don't need to see the entire path to take the next step.And you don't have to walk through the fire alone.God is still with you.

In this episode, Costi Hinn explores the name El Roi—the God who sees me. Through the story of Hagar, we're reminded that God sees us in our pain, our struggles, and the moments when everyone else overlooks us. But His seeing also means He sees our sin, our motives, and our private lives. El Roi brings both comfort and conviction, calling us to live with integrity before the God who sees everything.

The Law of CONTROL: whatever we try to FIX with control, we end up BREAKING even more.3 Areas Where Control Costs Us:1. Control breaks us PERSONALLY — Leads to EXHAUSTION and ANXIETY. Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything…Philippians 4:6-7Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.1. The space INSIDE ME.Some Control 2. BETWEEN ME and PEOPLE. 3. The space BETWEEN ME and GOD.No Control 4. INSIDE OTHERS.1 Peter 5:2-3Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." Peace isn't found in BEING IN CONTROL — it's found in TRUSTING THE ONE who is.CONTROL was never in your hands, but SURRENDER always is.Control costs us RELATIONALLY — Leads to BROKEN relationships. Genesis 16:1-2Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her." The Law of CONTROL: whatever we try to FIX with control, we end up BREAKING even more. When you hold on with FORCE, you ultimately FORCE AWAY.Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. John 15:5I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.Control costs us SPIRITUALLY.—It leads to a POWERLESS faith.Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God.Matthew 17:19-20 "Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, 'Why couldn't we drive it out?' He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'"What you try to control the MOST reveals where you trust God the LEAST! Personally: exhaustion, and anxiety Relationally: broken relationships Spiritually: powerless faithYou don't have the power to CONTROL, but you always have the power to SURRENDER.THE SERENITY PRAYERGod, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Listen to our Lessons from the Wilderness series as Ps Scott Thornton [Lead Pastor] explores the story of Hagar and the powerful lessons we can learn about God's faithfulness, provision, and compassion. Be encouraged by the truth that God sees you, knows your needs, and remains with you in every season.New to LIFE? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need Prayer? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a request⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Made a Decision for Jesus? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Social Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

Listen to our Lessons from the Wilderness series as Ps Logan Stewart [LIFE South Campus Pastor] explores the story of Hagar and how God sees us even in moments of rejection and isolation. Be encouraged by the reminder that God is near, faithful, and at work even when you feel cast out.New to LIFE? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need Prayer? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a request⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Made a Decision for Jesus? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Social Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

In this episode of The Christian Car Guy Show, Robby Dillmore explores the powerful stories of Hagar and the woman at the well, reminding us that God sees us, hears us, and meets us when we feel lost or at a crossroads. Robby connects these biblical stories to the mission of the Jesus Labor of Love, which helps single mothers, widows, and families in crisis with critical automotive needs. To support the Jesus Labor of Love and help make a difference, visit: christiancarguy.com

What if the moment you felt most invisible, rejected, and abandoned was the exact moment God revealed Himself to you?   Most people walk through life feeling completely invisible, carrying deep rejection and shame. We break down why Jesus consistently reached out to the forgotten, from Hagar in the desert to Zacchaeus in the tree and the Samaritan woman at the well. Discover how realizing that God knows your whole story changes your heart and equips you to dig "wells of hope" wherever you go.   Thanks to Maranatha Family Church Downtown in Davao City, Philippines for having me!    "Cry for Revival" Written by Butch Coleto This material is partially generated   Click here to go to the official Revival Cry YouTube channel. To see the Revival Cry podcast on another streaming service, click here.   To support Revival Cry or find out more information, go to revivalcry.org Email us at info@revivalcry.org  Follow @RevivalCryInternational on Facebook and Instagram.   Revival Cry Resources:  ⏵ Be an Evangelist or Do Evangelism ⏵ How to Become a Burning Bush ⏵ Hearing God through His Creation

Maxim W. Furek ( https://www.maximfurek.com/ ) is an avid student of the paranormal. His eclectic background includes aspects of psychology, addictions, and rock journalism. He has a master's degree in Communications from Bloomsburg University and a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Aquinas College.He has been interviewed on numerous podcasts, including EXPLORING THE BIZARRE with the legendary, late, Timothy Green Beckley and on PARANORMAL 60 with Dave Schrader. His book, SHEPPTON: THE MYTH, MIRACLE, AND MUSIC was featured on Australia's MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE.He contributes to FATE MAGAZINE, NORMAL PARANORMAL, and PARANORMAL UNDERGROUND.He is the author of SHEPPTON: THE MYTH, MIRACLE, AND MUSIC, as well as COAL REGION HOODOO: PARANORMAL TALES FROM INSIDE THE PIT, FLYING SAUCER ESOTERIC: THE ALTERED STATES OF UFOLOGY, and THE LOST TRIBES OF BIGFOOT.Max returns to Talking Weird to chat about his latest, and tenth, book - released by Hagar 1 Publishing - THE SCREAM OF THE HAUNTED HOUSE.Available here: https://hangar1publishing.com/collections/nonfiction-books/products/scream-of-the-haunted-houseThis ground-breaking book exposes the haunted house as a prison of despair, where earthbound spirits cry for tranquility and tears are shed, not from the eyes, but from the soul.Despite belief that demonic infestation is rare, the author probes the most terrifying of possibilities-Are ghost hunters disturbing things that should be left alone? Are they conceivable targets of demonic wrath? And has Dark Tourism knowingly opened the profane cash registers of Hell?Exploring the most infamous haunted locations-the Conjuring House, Amityville, the Sallie House, the Lizzie Borden House, the Stanley Hotel, Pennhurst Asylum, the Smurl House, the Mansfield Reformatory, and countless others-this is the comprehensive text ghost hunters have been hungering for.Tonight's show covers a wide-ranging overview of hauntings, as well as paranormal investigations, methodologies , and personalities. It's a thought-provoking episode that you do want to miss.

Grudges don't just weigh on your heart. They weigh on your body. I was reading an article recently by Dr. Lantie Jorandby, a board-certified psychiatrist, in Psychology Today. She writes about how holding onto resentment raises stress and cortisol. Higher cortisol means higher blood pressure, weakened immunity, and greater risk of heart disease. It's also tied to depression and rumination, that repetitive negative loop your mind gets stuck in. That loop steals your sleep, which drives cortisol even higher. It's a cycle that feeds itself. Cortisol even affects the hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for memory. That's part of why people with chronic PTSD often show a smaller hippocampus on scans. Add in muscle tension, elevated heart rate, higher blood pressure, and this isn't a small thing your body is shrugging off. It's carrying it. The Bible talks about forgiveness constantly, and I think this research shows us why. But forgiveness gets misunderstood a lot, so let's be clear about what it actually is. It doesn't mean pretending you weren't mistreated. It doesn't mean there are no consequences for someone's behavior. It doesn't mean going back into a relationship that isn't safe. What it does mean is choosing to release the resentment, and letting go of wanting revenge, even when revenge would feel justified. I'll be honest with you about why this topic landed on my heart this week. I'd written my notes for this episode about a week before I recorded it, and I had no idea how much I'd need my own reminder by the time I sat down to talk. I won't get into the specifics, but something happened recently that stirred up some old, not-positive feelings toward a former employer, feelings I thought I'd already worked through. It was like salt got rubbed right back into a wound I thought had closed. If I'm honest, it hurt my pride more than anything else. That experience got me thinking about something a lot of women carry quietly: church hurt. Sitting with my own small version of it gave me real compassion for women who've been hurt far worse, by people in the church, and who've walked away from it entirely because of what happened to them there. If that's you, if part of you doesn't want to go back, I don't blame you. But I'd gently remind you: the church is made up of flawed people. Not everyone in it wants to harm you. And God saw what happened. He cares. There's a story in Genesis that's stayed with me on this. Sarai didn't trust God to give her and Abraham a child, so she told Abraham to sleep with her servant, Hagar. Once Hagar became pregnant, Sarai dealt harshly with her, and Hagar fled into the wilderness alone. But God met her there. Genesis 16:13 says she called Him "a God of seeing," saying, "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me." God does not want us harmed. When you were hurt, He saw it. He was with you then, and He's with you now. He wants your pain brought to Him, not carried alone in silence. So bring it to Him. Talk to Him about it like you would a trusted friend, or write it out in a letter if that's easier. Ask Him plainly: help me forgive. Some days that's a one-time prayer. Other days you'll have to pray it again the moment the memory resurfaces, and then again after that. Forgiveness is rarely a single decision. It's a practice you return to, and there's real freedom in knowing God asks us to keep forgiving because He kept forgiving us. If church hurt is part of your story, here's what I want you to know: there are people in the church who genuinely love the way Christ loved. You don't have to go back to the one that hurt you, but I'd encourage you not to stay away from church altogether. Healing tends to happen in community, not in isolation. God never intended for you to carry bitterness or resentment quietly until it made you sick. He wants you free from it, in your spirit and in your body. Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Health Journey? If you've been dealing with low energy, autoimmune symptoms, or exhaustion that never seems to lift, this is your next step. Book a Free Introductory Call and let's talk through what's really going on in your body and whether working together makes sense for you. Visit herholistichealing.com/call to book your call today.

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we talk about former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony joining Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening onstage Saturday, August 22, at Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, California! Anthony and Bonham teamed up for two legendary songs — Van Halen's “Runnin' With the Devil” and Led Zeppelin's “Rock and Roll.”

Through the story of Abraham, we see what it means to trust God before seeing the outcome. God promised Abraham descendants, a land, and a legacy that would bless generations. Yet many of those promises took years—and even generations—to unfold. Abraham did not always understand how God would fulfill His promises, and he did not live to see every part of them completed. Still, God remained faithful. When progress feels slow or the results of our work remain unseen, it can be tempting to quit. But a lack of visible results does not mean God is absent or inactive. Faith often means continuing to obey, trust, and move forward while we wait for God's purposes to unfold. Highlights What Abraham's story teaches us about trusting God's timing Why God's promises are not always fulfilled according to our preferred timeline How Abraham waited years to see the birth of Isaac Why faith means obeying God even when we do not know the outcome How discouragement can grow when we focus only on visible results Why a lack of immediate progress does not mean God is not working How remembering God's faithfulness can strengthen us while we wait Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter. Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Faith While We WaitBy: Laura Bailey Bible Reading: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3 (NIV) “I am done! I have spent hours investing in this ministry, and after a year, still nothing has changed,” I yelled into the air. I’d felt confident in God’s leading me to start this new program for the community, yet everywhere I turned, I was faced with opposition, roadblocks, and general disappointment. Admittedly, I am great at starting things but horrible at finishing them– especially when I can’t see the fruits of my labor. I shared with my husband that I was contemplating throwing in the towel; I’d obviously misheard God speaking to my heart. My husband, who, thank goodness, is always there to calm me and offer a word of encouragement or a different perspective, gently nudged me to recall what we’d been studying in Sunday School recently. A few months prior, my husband and I began teaching through the book of Genesis, line by line. Just the previous week, we covered God’s promise to Abraham to make him into a great nation. God promises to give Abraham a purpose, a place, and people, but God doesn’t tell him how or when He will fulfill them. ⁠ Let’s look at the first part of God’s promise to make Abraham into a great nation. This promise would have been difficult for Abraham to digest because at the time, he and his wife, Sarah, were childless. Abraham did have a son with his female slave, Hagar, but God is clear that he is not the one to whom God will fulfill his promise (Genesis 21:5). Eventually, God does give Sarah and Abraham a child, Isaac, but it is 25 years later! Talk about a test of patience and faith. The Lord also promises, “To your offspring I will give this land (Genesis 12:7). Abraham moves his family from the place they’ve always called home into a foreign land where they are strangers, temporary residents, all on a promise of future ownership. Abraham spends his life traveling through the Promised Land as a visitor; he never takes ownership in his lifetime. And, it will be many years before the Israelites inhabit it, after centuries of trials and tribulations. God does make Abraham’s name great so that he can bless the many generations before him. Yet, this doesn’t happen overnight; Abraham dies before he sees the fulfillment of God’s promises. But as we know, God was faithful to keep His promise. It’s easy to get discouraged when we don’t see earthly results, but that doesn’t mean God isn't at work. God works on His timeline, not ours. Abraham is listed in Hebrews 11 as a man who walked by faith. If you read through Abraham’s story, you will see that he didn’t always walk by faith flawlessly, yet he trusted in God to keep His promises. Abraham obeyed God’s commands without knowing the outcome. As I think about Abraham and the numerous others in Scripture who walked by faith, even when they didn’t see results, they continued to press on to what God called them to do. Selfishly, I pray I will be able to see positive movement in ministry visually, but if not, I’ll remind myself that even when I can’t see it, God is faithful. Intersecting Faith & Life: Has God called you to something, but you are struggling to remain faithful? Write down 3 promises that God fulfilled in Scripture and put them somewhere to encourage you when you're wavering. Further Reading: Unwavering Faith Amid Uncertainty Hebrews 11 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God called Abraham to leave his country and go to a land He would show him. There was only one problem: Abraham didn't know where he was going.Then God promised to make a great nation through Abraham and Sarah. There was another problem: they had no children, and years continued to pass.In Week 2 of The Story, John Gunter follows Abraham's journey from uncertainty and impatience to a growing trust in the faithfulness of God. Abraham asks questions. Abraham and Sarah try to help God's plan along through Hagar. Yet God remains faithful to what He promised.By Genesis 22, Abraham has learned something through those years of waiting. When asked to offer Isaac, the son through whom God promised to build a nation, Abraham still doesn't understand what God is doing. But now he trusts that God can accomplish what seems impossible.His answer is simple: “God will provide.”Faith does not require us to know the how, when, or why. It calls us to trust the God who has proven Himself faithful and take the next step He places before us.Scripture: Genesis 12–35; Hebrews 11:8, 17-19 Series: The Story Week 2: Trusting God When You Can't See the WayEagle Community Church of Christ Mont Belvieu, TexasLoving God. Loving People. Following Jesus. 

Elul is the 12th and final month of the Jewish calendar year. Elul Unbound is a Judaism Unbound initiative all about making Elul meaningful, through creative digital modalities. In this conversation, Lex Rofeberg and Wendie Bernstein Lash explore what it means to enter a "Thurs-Year" (a "Thursday" of years in the Shmita cycle, as a 5th year out of seven overall). This Elul bonus episode is the second in a series of four that will be released as part of Elul Unbound 2026. -------------------------------------- Energized about Jewish learning and unlearning? Dive into our upcoming 3-week mini-courses in the UnYeshiva! Classes include Jewish Time Travel: Discovering the Shapes of Our Past and Future (Xava De Cordova), Avinu Malkeinu? Is God "Our King" (Laynie Soloman), and Hannah, Hagar, Sarah: The Women of Rosh Hashanah (Alicia Jo Rabins). Head to JudaismUnbound.com/classes to learn more! Financial aid is available for all who need it. To check out all our Elul bonus episodes from previous years, which can still be relevant to your experience of Elul this time around, click here. Join our bi-weekly journey through Elul Unbound 2026 by signing up at this link, and sign up for our Elul Unbound Shabbat gatherings here, where we will be forging our kavanot (intentions) for the new year in real time with fellow Unbounders.

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com Garth Heckman Spud Webb 5'7 In Junior high he went to try out and his coach told him to sit in the stands…. You are too short.  Cut from his Junior year of BB and had to talk his coach into keeping him. He scored 20 points his first game.  No Div. 1 college would even look at him. So he had to play at Midland College- lead them to a national JR league Championship, then got a scholarship to NC state.  Every NBA scout scoffed. They said maybe he could play overseas or if he was lucky he could play with the Harlem Globetrotters. Every NBA team passed on him multiple times… He fell to the fifth round and was drafted by the Detroit pistons… and cut before the season ever started.  He was “lucky” enough to be signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Hawks… At that time his star teammate Dominique Williams was the Slam dunk Champion… spud entered the contest and Dominique said he thought it was a joke and he would do layups… Spud won with numerous 360 slams, dunks off the backboard and Reverse slam dunks…. People laughed at him! He credits his belief in knowing God gave him that talent for a reason, and that dream for a purpose.    My question today is: How will you respond when people laugh at your dream?       Gen 18:1  And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2  He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3  and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.4  Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,5  while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”6  And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.7  And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.8  Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9  They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.”10  The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.12  So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”13  The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'14  Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”15  But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”         Rather than just "inappropriate" or "disrespectful," biblical scholars and linguists often look at Sarah's reaction in Genesis 18:12 through a few distinct lenses:   1. Incredulous Incredulity captures a mix of disbelief, shock, and impossibility. Sarah was roughly 90 years old, well past childbearing age, and had dealt with a lifetime of infertility. Hearing a stranger tell Abraham she would have a baby by the following year sounded biologically absurd.   Abraham lives in a Spiritual and Theological worldview… Sarah lives in a physical biological world view…     2. Sarcastic (or Cynical) In Hebrew, Sarah's inner monologue reads as a self-deprecating scoff: "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Describing her reaction as sarcastic or cynical highlights the defense mechanism of a woman who had likely given up hope decades prior and saw the statement as a cruel taunt or bad joke.   3. Human Her reaction was deeply human. It wasn't necessarily a malicious rebellion against God; it was an involuntary emotional slip—a defense mechanism triggered by years of grief, trauma, and disappointment over her barrenness.   The Nuance: Her laugh isn't scoffing insolence; it's a reflex against emotional re-traumatization. When a deep, long-buried desire is suddenly brought up by a stranger, cynicism acts as armor to protect the heart from being broken one more time. The Insight: Faith doesn't require instantaneous emotional compliance. God engages directly with her reaction rather than striking her down, recognizing the pain behind her defense.   4. Prophetic In the broader arc of Genesis, her laughter is viewed as prophetic or foreshadowing. The Hebrew root for laugh (tzachaq) is the exact root used for the name of the child God promises: Isaac (Yitzchak), which literally means "he laughs" or "laughter". What began as the laugh of doubt in Genesis 18 transforms into the laugh of joy and wonder when Isaac is born in Genesis 21: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me".   Key takeaway: While her response is often labeled as "disbelief," calling it incredulous or sarcastic better captures her emotional reality, while calling it prophetic reveals the literary wordplay embedded in the text.     MAYBE OUR REACTION SHOULD MATCH *TO SOME DEGREE …SARAHS… WHY? WHY WOULD GOD USE ABRAHAM A MAN OF MANY FAULTS?      Failure 1: Deception in Egypt Age ~75 (Gen 12:10–20) The Misstep: When a severe famine strikes Canaan, Abram migrates to Egypt without seeking divine direction. Fearing the Egyptians will kill him for his beautiful wife, he asks Sarai to lie and say she is his sister.   The Fallout: Pharaoh takes Sarai into his royal palace as a concubine while enriching Abram. God strikes Pharaoh's household with severe plagues. Upon discovering the truth, Pharaoh rebukes Abram for his deceit and expels his family from Egypt.       Separation from Lot & Rescue Age ~75–80 (Gen 13–14) As their livestock herds grow too large for the land to support both of them, quarreling breaks out between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen. Abram generously gives Lot first pick WITHOUT SEEKING GOD - Lot gets captured.      The Unconditional Covenant Age ~85 (Gen 15) Abram voices concern that he remains childless and his servant Eliezer will inherit his house. God reassures Abram that a biological son will be his heir and cuts a formal covenant with him, promising descendants as numerous as the stars.       Failure 2: Scheming with Hagar Age 85–86 (Gen 16) The Misstep: After living in Canaan for ten years without a child, Sarai proposes that Abram take her Egyptian servant, Hagar, as a surrogate mother. Abram agrees without seeking God's guidance, taking matters into his own hands to force the fulfillment of the promise.   The Fallout: Once Hagar becomes pregnant, domestic conflict erupts. Hagar despises Sarai, Sarai mistreats Hagar, and Abram washes his hands of the dispute. Hagar flees into the wilderness before an angel instructs her to return. She gives birth to Ishmael when Abram is 86.       The Covenant of Circumcision & Abraham's Internal Doubt Age 99 (Gen 17) The Moment of Disbelief: After 13 years of silence, God appears, renames Abram to Abraham ("Father of a Multitude") and Sarai to Sarah ("Princess"), and institutes circumcision as the covenant sign. When God explicitly states that Sarah herself will bear a son within a year, Abraham falls face down and laughs to himself, asking mentally: "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at ninety?" (Gen 17:17).     The Three Visitors at Mamre & Sarah's Laugh Age 99 (Gen 18:1–15) Three divine visitors visit Abraham under the oaks of Mamre. The Lord repeats the divine pledge: "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."   Overhearing this from inside the tent entrance, Sarah laughs to herself, thinking about her advanced age and physical state. When the Lord asks why she laughed and whether anything is too hard for God, Sarah denies it out of fear, but the Lord responds: "No, you did laugh."     MAYBE SARAH IS LAUGHING KNOWING WHO HER HUSBAND REALLY IS?       BECAUSE EVEN AFTER THIS VISITATION FROM GOD….   King Abimelech (Genesis 20:1–18) The Outcome: Abimelech takes Sarah into his harem. However, God appears to Abimelech in a dream, warning him that Sarah is married and that he will die if he touches her. Abimelech protests that he acted in good faith, returns Sarah untouched, gives Abraham restitution, and asks why Abraham did this.     Pattern in Abraham's Failures Across these 24 years, Abraham's missteps shared a common theme: self-preservation and impatience.     BUT LETS ASK OURSELVES A QUESTION: Regardless of how Sarah saw her husband Abraham - regardless of how we see him… How did God see him?      Names and Titles Given to Abraham   Abraham ("Father of a Multitude"): Originally named Abram ("Exalted Father"), God personally renamed him in Genesis 17:5 to reflect his ultimate destiny: "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations." "My Friend": God personally refers to Abraham as His friend in Isaiah 41:8 ("Abraham My friend"), a title affirmed throughout Scripture (2 Chronicles 20:7, James 2:23). Prophet: In Genesis 20:7, God speaks to King Abimelech regarding Abraham, stating, "Restore the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live." "My Servant": God repeatedly refers to Abraham with honor as His servant (Genesis 26:24, Psalm 105:6), marking him as a trusted agent of the Divine will. The Promises and Blessings Spoken Over Him Divine Shield and Great Reward: Infinite Descendants: Royal Lineage and Multiplied Nations: Universal Blessing for All Humanity: Divine Protection: An Everlasting Land Covenant:     SARAH MAY HAVE LAUGHED AT FIRST IN DISBELIEF - BUT   3. Sarah's later reversal is the untold "second half" of the story. But Genesis 21:6 gives Sarah's own commentary once Isaac is born: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." She takes the very word she used in doubt and reclaims it in worship. Isaac's name literally means "he laughs." This is a remarkable narrative arc — cynical laughter transformed into worshipful laughter —          FINAL THOUGHT: WHY DID GOD CHOOSE ABRAHAM?  IN SPITE OF ALL HIS FLAWS HE PRACTICED GODS HEART AND DESIGN FOR PRAYER.   What do I mean? Gen. 18 later in the chapter God tells Abraham I am going to destroy Sodom and Gomorra and Abraham does something very familiar according to Luke 11.       Luke 11 tells us how to pray - AFTER SHARING THE LORDS PRAYER JESUS SAYS SOMETHING AWKWARD ABOUT PRAYER - A parable.  A man goes to his friends house - he needs 3 loaves of bread… he will not give up asking.    If you ask seek knock - out of sheer perseverance I will answer!   Abraham here in Gen. 18 does just that for Sodom and Gomorra - showing Gods heart for the lost. 50 45 40 30 20 10!   I believe one of the greatest clues is given in these two stories in scripture about who God uses!   The one that will not give up asking God to fulfill his purpose!     WHAT IF WE UNDERSTOOD THE STORY OF ABRAHAM LIKE THIS: Yes he was a heap of missteps, failures, a massive example of weak humanity….    But in all his mistakes and failures he never quit asking God for that son!  FOR THAT ANSWERED PRAYER.      WILL YOU BE THE ONE WHO P.U.S.H.es into God. P - pray U - until S - something H - happens?

Brent Billings and Elle Grover Fricks are joined by special guest Dieula Previlon, the founder and executive director of ElevateHer International Ministries with a vision to empower women to heal from trauma and thrive. She is a counselor in private practice and an ordained minister. Her professional career in counseling, coaching, pastoring, and international ministry spans more than twenty years.Does God See Me? by Dieula M. Previlon“Sounding An Alarm!” by Rev. Traci Blackmon — My View from Hagar's PorchElevateHer International MinistriesDieula Previlon's websiteSpecial Guest: Dieula Previlon.

Jessica Coody sat down with Husker Volleyball assistant coach Brennan Hagar for the first episode of "The Dig" of the 2026 season, Brennan breaks down the red-white scrimmage and the areas the staff were really pleased with including the defense, he dives into the group of Husker middles and what each brings to the team, including Andi Jackson and the areas the reigning Middle Blocker of the Year can improve going into her senior season, where Manaia Ogbechie and Kenna Cogill are better going into year two, and the early impact of freshman Keoni Williams, he looks ahead to the start of the season and much. more!

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com Garth Heckman   Gen 18:1  And the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2  He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3  and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.4  Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,5  while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.”6  And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.7  And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.8  Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9  They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.”10  The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.12  So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”13  The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'14  Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”15  But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”         Rather than just "inappropriate" or "disrespectful," biblical scholars and linguists often look at Sarah's reaction in Genesis 18:12 through a few distinct lenses:   1. Incredulous Incredulity captures a mix of disbelief, shock, and impossibility. Sarah was roughly 90 years old, well past childbearing age, and had dealt with a lifetime of infertility. Hearing a stranger tell Abraham she would have a baby by the following year sounded biologically absurd.   Abraham lives in a Spiritual and Theological worldview… Sarah lives in a physical biological world view…     2. Sarcastic (or Cynical) In Hebrew, Sarah's inner monologue reads as a self-deprecating scoff: "After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Describing her reaction as sarcastic or cynical highlights the defense mechanism of a woman who had likely given up hope decades prior and saw the statement as a cruel taunt or bad joke.   3. Human Her reaction was deeply human. It wasn't necessarily a malicious rebellion against God; it was an involuntary emotional slip—a defense mechanism triggered by years of grief, trauma, and disappointment over her barrenness.   The Nuance: Her laugh isn't scoffing insolence; it's a reflex against emotional re-traumatization. When a deep, long-buried desire is suddenly brought up by a stranger, cynicism acts as armor to protect the heart from being broken one more time. The Insight: Faith doesn't require instantaneous emotional compliance. God engages directly with her reaction rather than striking her down, recognizing the pain behind her defense.   4. Prophetic In the broader arc of Genesis, her laughter is viewed as prophetic or foreshadowing. The Hebrew root for laugh (tzachaq) is the exact root used for the name of the child God promises: Isaac (Yitzchak), which literally means "he laughs" or "laughter". What began as the laugh of doubt in Genesis 18 transforms into the laugh of joy and wonder when Isaac is born in Genesis 21: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me".   Key takeaway: While her response is often labeled as "disbelief," calling it incredulous or sarcastic better captures her emotional reality, while calling it prophetic reveals the literary wordplay embedded in the text.     MAYBE OUR REACTION SHOULD MATCH *TO SOME DEGREE …SARAHS… WHY? WHY WOULD GOD USE ABRAHAM A MAN OF MANY FAULTS?      Failure 1: Deception in Egypt Age ~75 (Gen 12:10–20) The Misstep: When a severe famine strikes Canaan, Abram migrates to Egypt without seeking divine direction. Fearing the Egyptians will kill him for his beautiful wife, he asks Sarai to lie and say she is his sister.   The Fallout: Pharaoh takes Sarai into his royal palace as a concubine while enriching Abram. God strikes Pharaoh's household with severe plagues. Upon discovering the truth, Pharaoh rebukes Abram for his deceit and expels his family from Egypt.       Separation from Lot & Rescue Age ~75–80 (Gen 13–14) As their livestock herds grow too large for the land to support both of them, quarreling breaks out between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen. Abram generously gives Lot first pick WITHOUT SEEKING GOD - Lot gets captured.      The Unconditional Covenant Age ~85 (Gen 15) Abram voices concern that he remains childless and his servant Eliezer will inherit his house. God reassures Abram that a biological son will be his heir and cuts a formal covenant with him, promising descendants as numerous as the stars.       Failure 2: Scheming with Hagar Age 85–86 (Gen 16) The Misstep: After living in Canaan for ten years without a child, Sarai proposes that Abram take her Egyptian servant, Hagar, as a surrogate mother. Abram agrees without seeking God's guidance, taking matters into his own hands to force the fulfillment of the promise.   The Fallout: Once Hagar becomes pregnant, domestic conflict erupts. Hagar despises Sarai, Sarai mistreats Hagar, and Abram washes his hands of the dispute. Hagar flees into the wilderness before an angel instructs her to return. She gives birth to Ishmael when Abram is 86.       The Covenant of Circumcision & Abraham's Internal Doubt Age 99 (Gen 17) The Moment of Disbelief: After 13 years of silence, God appears, renames Abram to Abraham ("Father of a Multitude") and Sarai to Sarah ("Princess"), and institutes circumcision as the covenant sign. When God explicitly states that Sarah herself will bear a son within a year, Abraham falls face down and laughs to himself, asking mentally: "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at ninety?" (Gen 17:17).     The Three Visitors at Mamre & Sarah's Laugh Age 99 (Gen 18:1–15) Three divine visitors visit Abraham under the oaks of Mamre. The Lord repeats the divine pledge: "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son."   Overhearing this from inside the tent entrance, Sarah laughs to herself, thinking about her advanced age and physical state. When the Lord asks why she laughed and whether anything is too hard for God, Sarah denies it out of fear, but the Lord responds: "No, you did laugh."     MAYBE SARAH IS LAUGHING KNOWING WHO HER HUSBAND REALLY IS?       BECAUSE EVEN AFTER THIS VISITATION FROM GOD….   King Abimelech (Genesis 20:1–18) The Outcome: Abimelech takes Sarah into his harem. However, God appears to Abimelech in a dream, warning him that Sarah is married and that he will die if he touches her. Abimelech protests that he acted in good faith, returns Sarah untouched, gives Abraham restitution, and asks why Abraham did this.     Pattern in Abraham's Failures Across these 24 years, Abraham's missteps shared a common theme: self-preservation and impatience.     BUT LETS ASK OURSELVES A QUESTION: Regardless of how Sarah saw her husband Abraham - regardless of how we see him… How did God see him? 

What does it mean to be born again? In one of the more difficult passages in Galatians, Paul challenges the false teachers with who their mother is, comparing Sarah and Hagar, the law and the Gospel, and slavery and freedom. To be born again means to be a child of the promise, an heir with Christ, and a member of God's family.

Elul is the 12th and final month of the Jewish calendar year. Elul Unbound is a Judaism Unbound initiative all about making Elul meaningful, through creative digital modalities. In this conversation, Lex Rofeberg and Wendie Bernstein Lash kick off this year's Elul Unbound experience. This Elul bonus episode is the first in a series of four that will be released as part of Elul Unbound 2026. -------------------------------------- Energized about Jewish learning and unlearning? Dive into our upcoming 3-week mini-courses in the UnYeshiva! Classes include Jewish Time Travel: Discovering the Shapes of Our Past and Future (Xava De Cordova), Avinu Malkeinu? Is God "Our King" (Laynie Soloman), and Hannah, Hagar, Sarah: The Women of Rosh Hashanah (Alicia Jo Rabins). Head to JudaismUnbound.com/classes to learn more! Financial aid is available for all who need it. To check out all our Elul bonus episodes from previous years, which can still be relevant to your experience of Elul this time around, click here. Join our bi-weekly journey through Elul Unbound 2026 by signing up at this link, and sign up for our Elul Unbound Shabbat gatherings here, where we will be forging our kavanot (intentions) for the new year in real time with fellow Unbounders.