Podcasts about Hagar

“And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was lightly esteemed in her eyes.”Genesis 16:4 DARBY

Wenn Abraham und Sara bereit gewesen wären, ein wenig länger zu warten, wäre Isaak geboren und die Verheißung Gottes erfüllt worden. Aber sie wurden ungeduldig, und als Ergebnis wurde Ismael geboren. Einer der Namen Gottes in der Schrift ist „Erlöser“, denn er kann unsere Fehler in Lernerfahrungen umwandeln; er kann unser Chaos verwandeln in das Wunder, das wir brauchen. Drei Generationen hat es gebraucht, aber Gott verwandelte Abrahams Chaos in das Wunder der Befreiung, das Joseph brauchte. Josefs Bestimmung war es, Herrscher in Ägypten zu sein und seine Familie und die Welt in Zeiten der Hungersnot zu retten. Aber weil seine Brüder ihm grollten, verkauften sie ihn als Sklaven an „eine Karawane von Ismaelitern.“ Dies waren die Nachfahren Ismaels, der Abraham von Hagar, der Magd Sarahs, geboren wurde. Und wohin gingen sie? Nach Ägypten! „Sie… hoben ihre Augen auf und sahen, siehe, eine Karawane von Ismaelitern aus Gilead kam. Ihre Kamele waren mit Tragakant, Mastix und Ladanum beladen. Sie waren unterwegs nach Ägypten… Da zogen sie Josef aus der Zisterne herauf und verkauften ihn für zwanzig Silberstücke an die Ismaeliter. Sie brachten Josef nach Ägypten“ (1.Mo 37,25.28 EÜ). Es ist nicht vorbei, bis Gott sagt, dass es vorbei ist. Er kann das Chaos deiner Vergangenheit in das Wunder verwandeln, das du in der Zukunft brauchst. Und dieses Wunder wird nicht nur dich segnen, sondern auch andere in deiner eigenen Familie, so wie im Fall von Joseph.

What is the bodily ailment of Paul and why was that the cause of Paul preaching the gospel to the Galatians first? I'm still confused about how we define 'elementary principles'. Are they the 'bits' that make up the things around us or 'rules'? or both? Or are rules an example of an 'elementary principle'? In regards to the elementary principles (4:3), other bible translations say "elemental spirits." Is the same idea of rules still valid, and what does it mean by "spirits"? Should new Christians post-Jesus, try to stick to the rules to receive that "training" of the law to know how to use freedom well? If God gave the OT law/rules to train his people to know how to do what is right, are we exempt from needing the same training? Is the value in setting rules for ourselves, not hard rules, but "defaults", such that we may have triggers when in we are beginning to act in sinfulness? How does Paul's allegorical interpretation of the story of Sarah and Hagar impact our understanding of Old Testament interpretation in general? Should we interpret more Old Testament passages allegorically, or is this a one-off from Paul?  Who does the quote in v27 refer to? Is it Sarah, or the 'Jerusalem above'? How does it support Paul's argument?

In this engaging conversation, R.L. Solberg discusses his journey in theology and apologetics, focusing on his new book 'The Law, the Christ, the Promise.' He explores the themes of law versus grace, the misconceptions surrounding them, and the importance of understanding the book of Galatians in the context of modern Christianity. Solberg emphasizes the significance of biblical theology and the relationship between the Old and New Covenants, using the allegory of Sarah and Hagar to illustrate the differences between the two. In this episode, Professor Solberg and Jenny explore the profound themes of the Gospel, focusing on the life and calling of Paul, the significance of the New Covenant, and the transformative freedom found in Christ. They discuss the relationship between faith and works, the process of sanctification, and the importance of understanding the heart behind actions in the Christian faith. Links for today's show: https://thebiblicalroots.org/The Law, The Christ, The Promise: Snag the book hereEp 85 'Does Torah Apply to Christians Today'

In this engaging conversation, R.L. Solberg discusses his journey in theology and apologetics, focusing on his new book 'The Law, the Christ, the Promise.' He explores the themes of law versus grace, the misconceptions surrounding them, and the importance of understanding the book of Galatians in the context of modern Christianity. Solberg emphasizes the significance of biblical theology and the relationship between the Old and New Covenants, using the allegory of Sarah and Hagar to illustrate the differences between the two. In this episode, Professor Solberg and Jenny explore the profound themes of the Gospel, focusing on the life and calling of Paul, the significance of the New Covenant, and the transformative freedom found in Christ. They discuss the relationship between faith and works, the process of sanctification, and the importance of understanding the heart behind actions in the Christian faith. Links for today's show: https://thebiblicalroots.org/The Law, The Christ, The Promise: Snag the book hereEp 85 'Does Torah Apply to Christians Today'

Rev. Dr. Timothy Schmeling was preacher for this service. Galatians 4:21-31: Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.” Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 76 - Father, We Praise Thee, Now the Night is Over - Galatians 4:21-31: Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.” Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 262 - Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Dr. Timothy Schmeling (Preacher), Jack DePrey (Organist)

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Abiding requires trust that God sees us and is in control, even when we can't see God. Genesis 21:8-21Reverend Janet DurrwachterMarch 30, 2025

A Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent Galatians 4:21-31 by the Rev'd Dr. Matthew Colvin Our epistle lesson this morning comes from Galatians 4. I know that Pastor Bill preached on it just recently, but I would like to look at it too, from a different angle. It is one of the most controversial chapters in the NT, both for its view of Judaism and for its hermeneutical maneuvers. Paul is concerned for Christians in Galatia. The Judaizers were taunting Gentile Christians with the manifest visible superiority of Judaism: its splendid temple; its priesthood; its Torah; all the society's esteem and honor. And against this, what did Christians have to show? They were hiding for fear of the Jews; they were subjected to persecution and arrest; they had been kicked out of the synagogue and subjected to the ban, excommunication. Above all, there was the disgrace of worshipping a criminal who had been killed by the most shameful sort of execution, crucifixion by the Romans. All this was exploited by Paul's enemies in Galatia, the Judaizers or the circumcision party. Their strategy was to exalt themselves by trying to get the Gentiles to envy them - “They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.” – The verb zeloō means both to be zealous and to be jealous. Paul's enemies are behaving like spiteful middle school girls — not like the righteous women of this church, but like the ones I knew when I was in school — trying to exclude a hated rival by social shunning, in order to magnify their own status. To stop them and shut them down, Paul needs to do more than just answer their case logically. He also needs to undermine their ethos; he needs to subvert the system of value that makes their case so plausible at first glance. They are counting on Paul's readers sharing their value system. Paul wants to make sure his readers do not share it. It is a task that he undertakes in many of his letters. In Romans he addresses the Jews as those who “rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.” He is setting forth the Jewish system of value, the grounds of their boasting. And it was a very good grounds for boasting. The longest book in the Bible, Psalm 119, is one continuing paean of praise to the Law, the Torah. It is full of statements like, “I love thy commandments above gold and precious stones” and “The law of thy mouth is dearer unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” But Paul rips this point of boasting away by asking, “Yes, the Law is wonderful — but do you actually obey it?” In Philippians 3, Paul gathers together all the things that he could have been proud of as a Jew: “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;” That stuff that the Jews think is so valuable? Their circumcision, their membership in one of the two faithful tribes (Benjamin and Judah)? Their zeal, their lawkeeping? It's all worthless. In fact, it's so worthless that I threw it all away. I have something of real value that none of that stuff can give you. In the book of Hebrews, Paul or someone from his circles who thought an awful lot like him has the difficult task of undermining Jewish boasting about the Temple, the priesthood, and the sacrifices — a task that might seem impossible, since these things were instituted by God and everybody knew it. The temple was imposing, gleaming with gold. Paul calls it a “tent”, the sort of makeshift, flimsy structure that you go camping in, and you lie down in it, and there's nothing but a thin layer of cloth between you and the outside, and if it's too windy, the thing is in danger of collapsing; and anyway, it's that way because you're going to take it down and pack it up anyway. That's what he thinks of your fancy temple. Besides, the real temple is in heaven. Your tent is made by human hands; the only Temple worthy of the name is made by God. The priests' ministry was observable; they were dressed in robes; everyone could see their work, and that they had been instituted by God. Paul says, “They keep on dying, which is proof that their work isn't much good. And they have to offer sacrifices for their own sins, not just the people's.” The sacrifices were there for all to see: they had been commanded by God himself. The blood of the sacrifices flowed continually at the temple, on a daily basis. Paul says, “See how they have to do it over and over again? That's because it doesn't really work. They need Jesus. That's the only sacrifice that works, and that's why Jesus only needed to be sacrificed once.” Yes, Paul is a genius at overthrowing his opponents' strongest arguments. He loves to take their most powerful evidence and use it against them. He is a master of rhetorical jujitsu, throwing his opponents to the mat by using the momentum and force of their own attacks. He is like Elijah in the contest with the prophets of Baal, one man against 450, “And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.” In Galatians 4, it is a terribly difficult rhetorical task that Paul faces: his opponents appear to have the Torah, the OT, on their side. It does, after all, command circumcision; it does prohibit the eating of unclean foods; it does tell the stories of Ishmael, Moab, and Ben-Ammi, the ancestors of the rival nations surrounding Israel, all of whom are deprecated as the offspring of incest, slave marriage, or concubinage. These stories account for the origins of the Gentiles around Israel. Israel itself, however, was descended from Isaac, the legitimate son and heir of Abraham. These stories underscore the chosenness of Israel, and the fact that these other nations were not chosen. “Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated” was not just a statement about two sons. It was a statement about two nations: the Edomites and Israel. It says that Israel is the covenant people that God loves, and Edom is not. So it is Paul's opponents, not Paul, who have the easier case to make here: Jewish people are (most of them) descended from Jacob (Israel) and Gentiles are not. And they might have made this case most plainly from the story of Isaac, Abraham's son miraculously conceived by the power of God in Abraham's old age. This is strong rhetorical ground for the circumcision advocates in Galatia. Circumcision is commanded in the Torah for God's people. It is breathtakingly audacious for Paul to argue that a proper understanding of the Torah will lead you to the conclusion that circumcision doesn't matter. Paul calls the Torah a yoke of bondage. I'm not sure we appreciate how bold a move this is. The exodus was Israel's independence day. It's when they came out of slavery in Egypt and became a free nation. Paul says that the circumcizers advocating Torah-obedience in Galatia are like those who wanted to go back to Egypt. It would be like an American saying that the Declaration of Independence is the document in American history that made everyone slaves. But that is what Paul says about the Torah, given on Mount Sinai: that covenant has led to the present state of affairs: Jerusalem that now is, and is in bondage with her children. Now, we know from elsewhere in Paul's letters, especially Romans, that he considered the Law a good gift of God and the reason why the Law was now leading to slavery was because Israel was using it wrongly, not because the Law was bad. The slavery results from Israel's sinfulness, not something wrong with the Law. But here, he doesn't go into that, because he is focused not on the Law as it was given by God, but on the Law as it was used rhetorically by his opponents. You have heard the expression, “He is wrapping himself in the flag”? That is what the Judaizers in Galatia are doing with the Torah: using it as a uniform to distinguish true, Jewish Christians from second-rate, Gentile Christians. And Paul says: You think that you look cool with your bling; but it's really chains to keep you enslaved. Above all, Paul takes the bull by the horns and uses an audacious maneuver to deal with the Judaizers' most powerful weapon: the taunt of illegitimacy. That is the point of the Ishmael story as used by Jews: the Ishmaelites, the Arabs, are illegitimate offspring of Abraham, just as the Moabites and Ammonites were stigmatized as the offspring of Lot's daughters after the destruction of Sodom. Only Jews were the children of Isaac; they had been called into existence by the power of YHWH himself. They were not the product of an ill-conceived attempt at surrogate pregnancy, and with a slave wife. Be aware that the Judaizers have centuries and centuries of social and legal precedent for their view. That line that Paul quotes from Sarah — “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman” — that was a line that Paul's opponents loved to quote. When Sarah said it to Abraham, she wasn't just being mean. The lawcodes of Ur-Nammu and Lipit-Ishtar, from around the same time as Abraham, contained rules about exactly this sort of situation, and they are formulated with exactly the same sort of phrasing: “If a man has a wife a free woman who has born children to him, and he takes a slave wife and she also bears children to him, the children of the slave wife shall not share in the inheritance with the children of the free wife.” Sarah is saying, “Husband, you know the law from when we lived in Ur. This is what we have to do.” And the heretics in Galatia were taking up this two-thousand year tradition of legal and social stigma against children of slavery, and applying it to Gentile Christians. It's a powerful tool of shaming and social marginalization, and it is based on a very foundational text of the covenant: the story of the birth of Isaac. Both the Judaizers and their Galatian Gentile victims believed this text was the word of God. Both believed that the Jews were descendants of Isaac. Paul knows all this. He has chosen to fight them on their strongest ground; he gives them home field advantage. He pours water so that it fills up the trench. And then he incinerates their whole argument like Elijah. The stigma of illegitimacy? He turns it back on the Judaizers. They are the bastards now, the “children of the flesh”; they are “in bondage” with their slave-mother. The Gentile Galatian Christians? They are “children of the promise.” And just as it was back then, the child of the slave woman is persecuting the child of the promise. The two sons are marked not by their circumcised or uncircumcised status but by the slave/free polarity that distinguishes their mothers. Paul has to reach a little bit here. The LXX Greek translation that Paul used here doesn't actually say, “persecuting”. What the LXX says is that Sarah “saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian who had been born to Abraham playing with her son Isaac (paizonta meta Isaac tou huiou autes).” That's the most straightforward way to take it. But the word “playing” can also mean “mocking”. And that's probably how Paul took it. And then he magnifies it into the sibling rivalry from hell by glossing “mocking” as “persecuting”. Where did he get this from? It is transferred from the situation between the Judaizers and the Gentile Christians in Galatia. By casting the rivalry as a conflict between the flesh and the promise, Paul undercuts the Judaizers' use of the Torah. That is why he says, “These are two covenants” — the boldest piece of clever interpretation in the Bible. It is all part of his rhetorical strategy concerning the Torah that he has laid in the previous chapter, Galatians 3. The two covenants are NOT the Old and the New. They are the Torah covenant and the covenant with Abraham (which turns out to find its fulfillment in Christ). And the covenant with Abraham is more original, more foundational, more important, more primary. The law was added 430 years later. The Torah was a stop-gap measure to keep things under control until the fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham. And for Paul, Gentile Christians are that fulfillment: “in you, all the nations — the ethnê — shall be blessed.” This aligns the Gentile Christians with the whole purpose of the Covenant with Abraham, and means that Paul can cast them as the true children of the promise. They are citizens of the only Jerusalem that counts, the “Jerusalem above”. And by citing the line of Sarah, “cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman”, Paul makes clear what the stakes are here: the Judaizers and those who trust in the Torah to be their badge of membership in the covenant are not merely mistaken. They are Ishmaels and they will not inherit. They will be cast out. The Gentile Christians — and faithful Jewish Christians who did not pressure them to get circumcized — will be counted as true members of the covenant with Abraham, and the Judaizing circumcision-pushers will not. Who are the bastards now? Paul revels in what God has done. It is perfectly in accordance with his way of working: "He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end.” (Job 5). The Judaizers have fallen into the pit that they have dug: their taunts of illegitimacy rebound on their own heads; the glory of the title of “true children of Abraham” is wrapped around the Gentile believers whom they had stigmatized. Paul's jujitsu victory is complete and total, because it is the victory of Christ, who led captivity captive and triumphed by being crucified. In the end, Paul's fierce warfare over the Galatians has to do with vindicating the honor of Christ, with proving that He has really accomplished all that Paul says he has; with showing that the covenant with Abraham is truly fulfilled in Jesus, because he is the yes and amen. To go back to the Torah is to turn the clock back and engage in historical reenactment; to live a life of live-action-role-playing instead of reality. It is a costly and foolish attempt to gain privilege and honor by denying the completeness and finality of Jesus' work, and attempting to supplement it with another identity in terms of the Torah. The true Exodus is via Christ, not via the Torah. That is part of the meaning of our gospel lesson this morning from John 6. Here the true bread from heaven, Jesus, works a miraculous feeding like the manna of old. But he does it not in order to cause the crowd to envy his disciples; he has no desire for his followers to act like the Judaizers, zealous courting others to provoke them envy. No, his disciples are to be the means by which the bread of life is given to the multitudes — and the two small fish, symbol of Gentiles and of fishing for men, of the fulfillment of Jeremiah 16:16: “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them.” In the end, the nations are to be blessed through the disobedience of Israel. Our time is short, so I will not try to prove this exhaustively, but I want you to see the pattern: Joseph's brothers disobey and sell him into slavery, so that he is carried off to a Gentile land, Egypt, and becomes assimilated to Egyptian ways. But God works it all out so that Joseph's imprisonment in an Egyptian prison works out for the salvation of Joseph's brothers and all Egypt, “to save many alive.” When Jesus touches dead bodies, a woman with a 12 year flow of bleeding that made her unclean, or a leper, what happens? The usual laws of uncleanness work backward: rather than becoming unclean, Jesus makes these people clean. That is the way God has designed the exile of Israel to work: rather than the exiled members of Israel becoming lost and destroyed, they have mingled with the nations and thereby brought it about that in order to keep His promises to Israel, God will save the Gentiles as well. As a result, “In Abraham's seed, all the nations shall be blessed.” Isn't it funny how Satan's schemes always backfire? He is truly the Wile E. Coyote of the Bible. He will have his church be Israel for the sake of the world; thus we are to be true heirs of Abraham, fulfilling the purpose for which He was called. Amen.

Send us a textIn the first of our three different preaches from the three services on Mothering Sunday, Melissa speaks to us from Genesis 16, and the story of Hagar. She reminds us that we have a God who sees us, regardless of our situation, and he loves to transform our lives. Look out for the other messages shared this Sunday wherever you get your podcasts.Join us next week as we continue our Crucified Messiah series at our 9:30 and 11:30am services at UWL, or at 6:30pm at The Hub. Find out more at redeemerlondon.org

David Macdonald - March 30th, 2025 - Studies in Genesis Part 14: Abram, Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael Abram's Background Descended from Shem (Noah's son) Lived in Ur in Mesopotamia Called by God to leave Ur & family to go to… Destination unknown Brings father & nephew (Lot) Stayed in Haran until his father died Famine in the land – heads to Egypt in search of prosperity Returns to Bethel God repeats His promise – multiplied seed, great nation Genesis 13:14-17 Genesis 13:14-17 Genesis 15:1-7 Genesis 16:1-4 Genesis 16:5-6 Proverbs 3:5-7 Genesis 16:7-16 Genesis 17 – Blessing repeated 1. 13 years later A. Sarai 90, Abram 99 B. Still no child of both C. God declares a new name (to man) – revealing another attribute D. El Shaddai - Almighty God, God the most sufficient - first mention E. Walk before me and be blameless - 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him… F. Abram's history: 1.He walked before his family and went to Haran for 15 years 2.He walked before his servants and went into Egypt 3.He walked before his wife and went into Hagar 4.Now he has a new walk with God (@ 99!) G. Abram humbled himself before the Lord – vs. 3 Vs. 4 - "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” Abram ➔ Abraham A. Exalted father to Father of Many Nations Gen 17:6 - 9 Genesis 17 – Covenant Established A. Land 1.The borders of the land given equaled 780,000 square KM 2.At their peak they inhabited 78,000 KM under Solomon – 10% of promise 3.God promised every place your foot walks, they didn't take all of it. 4.Israel will possess all of the land during the millennium. B. Posterity 1.Nations - plural 2.~16 million Jews in the world today 3.22 Arab nations (475 million people) 4.6% of the Earth's population today traces heritage back to Abraham. C. Circumcision 1.Sign of the covenant 2.Outward sign of covenant a. Noah and the rainbow b. Moses and the Sabbath c. Abraham and circumcision Genesis 17:18-22

Welcome to Church!And happy Mothering Sunday or Mother's Day!This morning, two spectacular Words are brought from two of our Church family Mums. Michelle brings a message about Sarai/Sarah and Lynne brings us a message about Hagar - we pray and hope that the God Who sees you, blesses you through these messages.Follow us on our other channels:Instagram: @revivenewbridgeX: @revivenewbridgeFacebook: @revivenewbridgePodcast: https://anchor.fm/revivenewbridge

In this powerful episode, Rabbi Pesach Wolicki brings profound insights from the book of Genesis and shares timeless lessons about prayer. Through deep study of Cain's story, Abraham's intercession, and Hagar's anguish, Rabbi Wolicki reveals that true prayer requires humility, repentance, and trust in God's plan—even when we don't see the answers we expect. He also highlights the importance of understanding the times we live in, reminding us that we are in a spiritual battle where Israel's fight is our fight. Discover how to cultivate a heart of prayer, discern the seasons, and stand firm in faith during challenging times.#PrayerAndFaith #StandWithIsrael #BiblicalTruth

Footsteps on the stony path, hundreds of sparrows, the sound changing when entering under the canopy that covers the temples, other birds, insects buzzing. UNESCO listing: Megalithic Temples of Malta Recorded by Suzy Mangion. ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world's most famous sights. Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage

"Hagar Qim, on the south western edge of Malta, is one of the oldest built structures in the world. Over 5000 years old, this megalithic temple overlooks the dazzling blue Mediterranean. In 2008, canopies were constructed to protect these monuments from further elemental damage. Small birds, mainly sparrows, have now made their home among the high eaves of these shelters, their calls echoing through the temple. This spot is unusually far from the traffic and urban noise that dominates much of the island, and I was able to record the bird sounds as I walked up the stony cliff path towards the temple.  "To me, sparrows are one of the characteristic sounds of the Maltese islands, along with the sound of the sea and the ringing of church bells, none of which you are ever far from. My piece merges my own field recordings of these three quintessential Maltese sounds with something very personal. My grandfather was a teacher and writer from Mqabba, a tiny village near Hagar Qim. When he retired, he undertook a labour of love in translating John Milton's epic poem “Paradise Lost” into Maltese. I recorded my own father, born and bred in Malta, but now sadly in ill health, reciting some of his father's translation of this famous poem telling the story of the Garden of Eden and humanity's loss of paradise, along with his own reminiscences, including his own birth in 1941 in a building called Milton House. I am aware that time is running on, and this may have been my last opportunity to work with my father on such a piece.  "The final link in this chain from Malta's past to my present is my own whispered voice reading the equivalent passages from Milton's original work, which I studied as an English undergraduate many years ago, and a simple synthesiser melody referencing Bach's C major prelude/Ave Maria, a piece close to my heart which I sometimes play as a duet with my own young son. The ancient past of Malta, in the bird filled paradise of Hagar Qim, entwines with the Christian and colonial roots of the island today, Maltese and English, pagan and prayer. I dedicate this piece to my father Pio, and to my grandfather Francis Xavier." Megalithic temple soundscape in Malta reimagined by Suzy Mangion. ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world's most famous sights. Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage

For the Cosmic Conductor, Every Note Is Indispensable: Reconnecting to Your Own Life-Force - Weekly Women's Class: This class was presented on Tuesday, 25 Adar, 5785, March 25, 2025, Parshas Pekudei, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. Why did Moshe feel compelled to account for every coin he received? Did people think Moses packed away some of the cash to buy real estate in Saudi Arabia or purchase his private jet? Even if it is important to know that Moses gave an accounting to teach us transparency, the Torah could have simply said that Moses gave an accounting of all the gold, silver, and copper contributed to the Sanctuary project. The theme of the entire second book of the Torah, Shemos, is dedicated to nation-building. In Genesis, we are referred to as “benei Yisroel,” the children of Israel; we are a family, and a fragmented one as such. It is only in Exodus, when we are first called an “Am,” a nation. This is the pervading thread of the entire book of Shemos. While the narratives of Genesis focus on individuals—Adam, Eve, the snake, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Lot, Hagar, Ishmael, Isaac, Rebecca, Esau, Jacob, Rachel, Leah, Judah, Joseph etc.—Exodus is a book about a people, a nation. Individuals are mentioned, of course, but all these names are discussed as representatives of a nation or assisting the formation of a nation. Shemos is about the collective, not the individual. Here comes a profound challenge. Does nation-building, by definition, come at the expense of the individual? Sure, you can't have a nation without individuals joining together, but perhaps the value of the individual is only insofar as he or she becomes a part of the whole. The value of my “I” is only because it contributes to the “We.” The class explored the profound need for each of us to be seen, and to be able to truly see others, especially our children and students, see them in their full power and presence.View Source Sheets: https://portal.theyeshiva.net/api/source-sheets/9635

March 23, 2025.

In this episode, Josh Luse takes us through Genesis 21 with Hagar and Ishmael.

These passages from Genesis 16-24 highlight the themes of faith, obedience, and God's unwavering promises. Despite human errors and impatience, such as Sarai's decision to have Abram conceive a child with Hagar, God's faithfulness remains evident. He reassures Hagar of Ishmael's future and reaffirms His covenant with Abram, renaming him Abraham and promising that Sarah will bear a son, Isaac. This covenant is marked by the introduction of circumcision as a sign of their commitment to God. The narrative also emphasises the importance of hospitality, as seen in Abraham's interaction with the three visitors, and the power of intercession, demonstrated by Abraham's plea for Sodom and Gomorrah. The story continues with the birth of Isaac, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham and Sarah. However, familial strife leads to the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, whom God provides for in the wilderness. Abraham's faith is further tested when God instructs him to sacrifice Isaac, but an angel intervenes, reaffirming God's blessings and covenant. The passages conclude with Sarah's death and Abraham's negotiation for a burial site, marking his first legal acquisition of land in Canaan. The journey of Abraham's servant to find a wife for Isaac, resulting in the union with Rebekah, showcases God's providence and the importance of faithful obedience and prayer.

This week, Ruth and guest Reverend Dr. Phaedra Blocker are exploring chapter 3, “Movement,” of Selina Stone's book Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith. The two delve into the rich tradition of waiting on the Holy Spirit as taught in Black spirituality and its relevance for people of faith. They explore the significance of being aware of our contribution to others' sense of belonging, the challenges of socioeconomic and physical mobility for Black communities, and the biblical narrative of Hagar as a lens for understanding agency and divine justice. The episode concludes with practical advice on active tarrying as self-examination and readiness to act on divine guidance.   We are journeying through Lent with a podcast season entitled “Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black Church.” We will use Dr. Selina Stone's book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the practice of tarrying as a Lenten practice. Together we will seek a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal space—where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are present.    Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker (TC8) is a preacher, educator, and consultant dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations (particularly clergy and congregations) to move toward wholeness and actualize their potential as agents of shalom in the world. She is the Founder and President of the Center for Clergy & Congregational Wellness, a nonprofit organization that empowers ministry leaders to facilitate health and wholeness in themselves, their ministry contexts, and their adjacent communities. In addition, she serves as Affiliate Professor in Leadership & Formation at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University. She is also a visiting professor at Northern Theological Seminary. Her most recent professional affiliations have included serving on the boards of the Transforming Center, Grace & Race Ministries, Inc., and Black Faith Rising. Music this season is provided by Julian Davis Reed. Julian Davis Reid (TC20) is an artist-theologian from Chicago who uses sound and word to offer hope to the searching, presence to the sorrowful, and rest to the weary. A pianist, composer, and producer, his projects featured on this podcast are the two solo piano records Rest Assured (2021) and Beside Still Waters (2024) and his single Moan (Matthew 2:18) featuring Tramaine Parker, released on Inauguration Day 2025 on the project When Souls Cry Out. Julian steadily releases music under his own name and with his group, The JuJu Exchange. You can learn more about his work at juliandavisreid.com. Mentioned in this episode: Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith by Dr. Selina Stone Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist Mercy We Need by Julian Davis Reid   Are you interested in learning more about Haven, our newest community offering from the Transforming Center? Haven is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Each gathering (online and in-person) offers spiritual practices that increasingly open us to God over time. This new 18-month community experience will provide more intentional opportunities to engage with a diverse community of believers who are united around Christ. Learn more about dates and how to apply!   Alumni: the Alumni Membership Community is here! For Transforming Community Alumni who are still cultivating rhythms that allow them to flourish in their life and leadership, you have the opportunity to stay on the journey with TC alums through a membership community! This exclusive membership is a safe place to be honest about the challenges of spiritual leadership, to remember the teachings and practices that open us up to God, and to be supported by an ongoing community that sustains us in the hope and the mystery of God's transforming work in the world — starting with us! Membership window is open March 12-28, 2025. Join today! Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes with each guest, exploring different practices associated with Lent, such as solitude, self-examination, confession, and more. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

Being a woman can be so hard. But being a woman can also be so empowering - and God's got a special place for women in His kingdom. You may have heard of Mary and Eve - maybe Ruth or Esther. But have you ever heard of Hagar? Jael? Jehosheba? There are so many incredible women in the Bible, and something they all have in common: their bravery. Laura Smith is a dear friend of the THRIVE podcast, and she's back to talk bravery and her new book, “Brave Woman, Mighty God.” If you've ever felt lacking in courage or confidence to do what God has called you to do - this one's for you.  CONNECT WITH LAURA SMITH BRAVE WOMAN, MIGHTY GOD READ THE FIRST CHAPTER INSTAGRAM WEBSITE MORE EPISODES YOU'LL LOVELOVELOVE THE URGENCY OF SLOWING DOWN - WITH LAURA SMITH REAL ORGANIZATION FOR REAL HOMES - WITH KALLIE BRANCIFORTE HOW TO PRAY WHEN YOU'RE TOO BUSY TO PRAY - WITH KAYLA CRAIG THANKYOU to AirDoctor for sponsoring THRIVE! Get up to $300 off your air purifier - AND a free 3-year warranty on ANY unit (an $84 value!) - at airdoctorpro.com with promo code THRIVE. THANKYOU to True Nutrition for sponsoring THRIVE. Get 15% off your entire order at TRUENUTRITION.com with promo code THRIVE THANKYOU to Jenni Kayne for sponsoringTHRIVE! Get 15% off your first order with code THRIVE15 at jennikayne.com. THANKYOU to Hello Fresh for sponsoring THRIVE! Get one free breakfast item per box while your subscription is active, at HelloFresh.com/freethrivepod. THANKYOU to Cozy Earth for sponsoring THRIVE! Get 30% off sitewide at cozyearth.com with code COZYTHRIVE (and get FREE socks added to your order if you tell them the THRIVE podcast sent you in your post-purchase survey!). THANKYOU to City Beauty for sponsoring THRIVE! Get 15% off sitewide at citybeauty.com with code THRIVE (and you'll get a 60-day money-back guarantee!). THANKYOU to Dreamland Baby for sponsoring THRIVE! Head to dreamlandbabyco.com and enter code THRIVE at checkout to receive 20% off sitewide + free shipping. THANKYOU to Honeylove for sponsoring THRIVE! Visit Honeylove.com/THRIVE for up to 50% off sitewide! FOLLOW ALONG Text CUROWD to 55444 to join the email list!  THRIVE Podcast Instagram Instagram Facebook Coming Up Roses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thank you for listening to this weeks sermon from Pastor Don Smith! We want to invite you to join us in-person next Sunday at our 9am or 11am service. We hope to see you there!Have a great week!

Welcome to another powerful episode of the Daily Living for Christ podcast! Today, we uncover a hidden struggle that many believers face but rarely address—repression. Repressed emotions often shape our reactions, decisions, and relationships in ways we don't fully realize, keeping us from experiencing true healing and wholeness in Christ.Have you ever buried emotions—hurt, anger, or rejection—just to keep moving forward? Have you found yourself reacting to situations in ways that don't align with your faith? In this episode, we explore:✅ What repression is and how it impacts our spiritual and emotional well-being✅ Biblical examples of repression, including Sarai and Hagar's story in Genesis 16✅ How unaddressed wounds can manifest in harmful patterns of control, insecurity, and self-justification✅ The importance of welcoming emotions before God rather than suppressing them✅ How recognizing and navigating internal saboteurs leads to freedom and deeper trust in GodThrough personal reflection and biblical insights, we'll see that God doesn't want us to run from our pain—He wants to meet us in it. Just as He saw Hagar in the wilderness and met her in her suffering, He sees you and invites you into healing.Are you ready to break free from repression and embrace the fullness of God's presence? Download this episode now, and be sure to subscribe for more life-changing conversations on wholeness, transformation, and living fully in Christ!"Have Questions, Send us a Message" This podcast is a production of The Center for Biblical Coaching and Leadership. If this episode has been useful or inspiring to you in any way, please share it with someone else. Lastly, please subscribe to the show and write a review.Visit our website, tcbcl.org, to learn more about our mission and vision.

Pastor John Ryan Cantu brings this week's message, “This is Your Story." Key Verse: Genesis 16.1-13 ESV: “Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction. He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”” Sermon Topics: Faith, If you enjoyed the podcast, please subscribe and share it with your friends on social media. For more information about PNEUMA Church, visit our website at mypneumachurch.org.  Connect with Us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/mypneumachurch YouTube: https://youtube.com/mypneumachurch Facebook: https://facebook.com/mypneumachurch Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Welcome 02:48 - Genesis 16.1-13 ESV 04:42 - This is Your Story

Sermon from March 16, 2025; 6:00pm.

STEVE LUKATHER DENIES RUMORS OF PLAYING GUITAR ON NEW VAN HALEN ALBUM TOTO's Steve Lukather has dismissed recent reports suggesting he will play guitar on a new VAN HALEN album. Earlier this week, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that Alex Van Halen was working on a collection of previously unreleased VAN HALEN recordings, with Lukather assisting in completing them. In a paywalled Guitar World article, Alex was quoted as saying: “Ed and Steve Lukather were very good friends and often worked together. There's no one better suited to help me through this process.” Lukather, seemingly surprised by the comment, responded in the same article: “Did Alex say that? Oh, in that case, the news is true. Ed, Alex, and I were very close for years. It's true that we worked on this together.” However, on Saturday (March 15), Lukather took to Instagram to clarify his involvement, writing: “For the record: Ever since Alex Van Halen mentioned we were going to work together, there's been a huge misunderstanding. I will NEVER play a single note on a VAN HALEN song—ever! Al asked me to help sort through a ton of unfinished recordings of him and Ed writing and recording together—music that never saw the light of day. That's all I know at this point. The idea that I would play guitar on this is ridiculous. I have too much love and respect for Ed and his music. Plus, I don't play anything like him. My role is more of a co-producer, if anything. I'm honored Al would ask me. Let's see…” Alex has previously stated there's enough material in the VAN HALEN vault for “three or four albums.” On Chris Jericho's Talk Is Jericho podcast, he shared: “I've talked about it loosely, and I'm a bit superstitious, but I can say this: We're going through the vault, digging into the ideas Ed left behind. There's some great stuff in there. When you're in the thick of it, sometimes you miss the real gems. It's only when you revisit them later that you realize, ‘Wow, I forgot about this. This kicks ass.' But it takes time. I want to do it right.” LUKATHER & VAN HALEN'S HISTORY Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather had a long history of collaboration. Lukather played the main riff on Michael Jackson's Beat It, while Eddie provided the iconic solo. Eddie also played bass on Lukather's debut solo album and made a guest appearance on Steve's 2003 Christmas album, Santamental. Following Eddie's passing in 2020, Lukather reflected on their friendship in an interview with Metal Master Kingdom: “It's still hard for me—the wound is deep. I was honored to be Ed's real friend, not just a guitar buddy. Our friendship lasted over 40 years. I love all the guys in VAN HALEN. I'm Switzerland when it comes to their relationships. I was just on Sammy's [Hagar] show, and he was great to me. Mike [Anthony] is always kind. But I've always stayed especially close with Al. Losing Ed left a hole in my heart that won't go away. We didn't just talk about guitars—we talked about our kids, our lives. Toward the end, we mostly just bragged about our sons. That's what mattered.” While Lukather's role in the VAN HALEN project remains undefined, one thing is clear—his deep respect for Eddie ensures the music's legacy will be handled with care. Don't miss out on all the latest Van Halen news and exclusive stories—this is the place to be! Hit that follow button and join the live chat on Johnny Beane TV!

If you are in need of prayer, let our Prayer Team know by contacting prayer@forestlakechurch.orgSermon video is available on YouTube and full service archives are available on Vimeo.Live services weekly from the sanctuary at 8:45 or 11:30 AM and 11:30 AM (Warehouse Community Contemporary Service) EST at www.ForestLake.Church

Welcome to the School of Ministry podcast, where we delve into important questions about prayer and explore John chapter 9 and Matthew chapter 7. In this episode, we examine whether God hears the prayers of all people, including children and those who haven't been saved. We analyze different Biblical passages to illustrate how God listens and responds to various prayers throughout history. Join us and gain insights from the stories of Jonah, Hagar, Cornelius, and others to demonstrate God's willingness to hear prayers from anyone that reaches out to Him.  Consider misconceptions surrounding prayer by emphasizing that God can and does work beyond human limitations and constraints. Through these passages, we highlight the importance of coming to God with a childlike faith and aligning our petitions with His will. This discussion encourages believers to boldly approach God with confidence and underscores the omnipresence and grace of God in responding to our needs.

Message from Dave Hatcher on March 9, 2025

Message from Dave Hatcher on March 9, 2025

Did Abraham really disobey God with Hagar? Or is it just unclear? Is prophecy (in Revelation) always about the Roman Empire? My siblings died an early death, and I'm wondering: Does the Bible say that Satan can directly kill others, including Christians?

00:00 Introduction to Mutuality Matters  00:02 Cultural Background and Personal Story  01:33 Guest Introduction: Mayra Ugalde  03:24 Mayra's Experience with the Bible  07:22 Impact of the Bible on Women's Lives  13:41 Challenges and Misinterpretations  16:40 Mayra's Work and Contributions  21:38 Jesus's View of Women  24:02 Translation vs. Interpretation  43:49 God's Maternal Love  52:11 Conclusion and Resources  Speaking as a Christian born, raised and in the Latin culture where she continues to work, Mayra explores the complex influence and tension between Bible translation and culture, including Bible culture. Mayra observes how often culture and church tradition have more influence than one's one reading of Scripture. Mayra briefly explores the history of Christianity in Latin America with the influence of the Catholic church. It wasn't until 1966 that the dominant religion opened opportunities for lay people to read Scripture, on their own. At this time, the British and Foreign Bible Society distributed these throughout Latin America. As people began to read the Bible, they began to change some of their perspectives.  Mayra's mother believed her daughters should serve their brothers. Mayra's father treated her brothers as kings. Her father said women should have and raise children. Life's work was defined by gender. Mayra met a man who did not believe girls and women should read the Bible without a man in the room. Reading scripture for herself, Mayra found Sheerah's story (1 Chron. 7:20–24) empowering Though Sheerah's father was disgraced by having a daughter, Scripture notes that her name means “At least one woman”; and this one daughter--Sheerah brought honor to her family and nation by building two large, strategic, and successful cities. While people believe that God's word says negative things about females, if read well, Scripture challenges gender bias by honoring women like Sheerah as strong rescuers.   Throughout her career, Mayra noticed how Bible translations and commentaries teams were produced by scholars holding to a single perspective. From this she learned the importance of including scholars that honor the authority of Scripture yet hold diverse perspectives on key issues. Mayra reminds us that the Holy Spirit guides us as we read Scripture. This is especially true and crucial for women who too often are told by pastors what the Scripture says about women. But by reading the text themselves, the Spirit can liberate women from cultural, church and denominational gender bias. Women in the Church have to read the Bible for themselves to hear the Lord speaking to them because the pastors are not God, as Paul said about the people from Berea, in Acts 17:11 “... Day after day they studied the Scriptures to see if these things were true.”   It is fascinating how Jesus interpreted Scripture, introducing woman as the “daughter of Abraham” at a time when women were not considered equal heirs with the “sons of Abraham.” Luke's Gospel is very clear about the welcome Jesus gave to women.  Mayra discusses the importance of understanding Bible translation as a science. Skilled translators understand Bible culture and realize that Scripture was written by about 40 authors over 1,200 years. In lapses of time like this, there were vast changes in the culture; in languages; and in the people's views. The Bible is a collection of books of many authors from many differing cultures, many of whom did not know each other. It's important to understand the unique culture of each text we read and to understand what is applicable for us today.   Consider the story of Vashti (Esther 1.15-20) as it honors how Vashti challenged the cultural expectation that a wife obeys their husband in everything even as he asks her to do something morally reprehensible. Vashti resisted evil. Her expectation was that her husband would behave as Paul notes in Ephesians 5:25-33.   When you read the Bible, you need to recognize the historical and cultural context of the text, as every culture upholds good and permits evil. Mayra considers the story of Hagar and Gen 1:26–27 (woman is created in God's image); Gal 3:26–30 that being clothed in Christ is our highest identity regardless of race, class or gender; that Jesus found women who suffered (in Samaria and Syrophoenicia) and he freed and gave women respect, dignity and empowerment.  Mayra explored the Motherly Love of God as it heals the church, especially women. God's Motherly Love is noted in:  Gen. 3:8–21 when God sewed clothes (like a mother) for Adam and Eve, after they sinned and were naked and afraid. God does not abandon his son and daughter after they sin but sends them his maternal love. God loves us from his depth, from the bottom of his heart. God has maternal love for his creation, and for the human being.  In Hosea 11:3–4 Like a mother, God took Israel by the arm and taught them to walk. But they would not admit that I was the one who had healed them. 4 I led them with kindness and with love, not with ropes. I held them close to me; I bent down to feed them.  Deut. 32:11 God, like a mother bird, swooping down to catch it's young   Isaiah 49:15 God, like a mother, cannot forget the child she bore, fed and nursed with her own body. Even if a mother forgets her child, God cannot not forget God's children.  Guest Bio  Mayra Ugalde currently serves as Honorary Director of the Bible Society of Costa Rica, where serve in different areas of the Publishing, Promoting and Distribution of the Bible in all over the country, for more of 43 years.  Also serves in the Publishing Committee for the all American Continent in the United Bible Society, where participate in the developing and publishing different study Bibles and specifically in the developing of  Bible with helps for the women for Latin America that's call “The Women in the Bible” and also a Bible with helps for the women in the adult time that was call “The Bible I Adore”. Mayra has an MBA in Administration, and Postgraduate in Bible, publish articles in national newspapers and nowadays writes devotionals and blogs leading readers to interact with the Bible.         Other CBE Resources  God as Motherly Father and Fatherly Mother  Three (Faulty) Objections to Feminine Language for God  Why Mothers Matter as much as Fathers in Shaping Our Perception of God 

Did Abraham really disobey God with Hagar? Or is it just unclear? Is prophecy (in Revelation) always about the Roman Empire? My siblings died an early death, and I'm wondering: Does the Bible say that Satan can directly kill others, including Christians? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1258/29

Episode Summary: In celebration of International Women’s Day, a time to honor the achievements and contributions of women across the globe, this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective shines a light on some of the most inspiring women in the Bible. From Leah’s resilience in the face of rejection to Deborah’s fearless leadership, these women modeled faith and hope that transcend time and culture. As we explore their lives, we are reminded that the greatest advocate for equality and empowerment is Jesus, whose grace offers freedom to live courageously and faithfully. Join me with Rev. Jessica Van Roekel as we reflect on these timeless examples of strength and hope, and learn how they inspire us to live with faith and purpose today. Quotables from the episode: The greatest proponent of equality is Jesus, and we can only know the kind of freedom he brings when we receive his saving grace and live for him. He broke barriers between humanity and God, people groups, and genders. It’s when we live apart from him that we experience disparity. We're all equivalent at the foot of the cross and we can really only know the kind of freedom he brings when we receive his saving grace and live for him. You know Jesus broke barriers between humanity and God between people groups and genders and it's when we live apart from him that we really experience disparity. We can trace that through the old and new Testament. In fact, some influential and powerful women throughout the Bible are, you mentioned her Leah, she stayed strong through heartache and rejection. We had Jacobad, the mother of Moses, Abra led Israelites as a judge and prophetess for 40 years. Esther had the courage to say yes to God and in doing so she saved her people. Mary the mother of Jesus shows us how to have the courage to surrender completely. Then we have Ruth and Mary Bethany. These women were in a very male dominated society but God elevated them to positions of leadership. Sarah became my example of faith in the face of fear. She messed up and I messed up. And I think that's what I love so much about her is because she messed up royally. I mean, she created a whole mess with Ishmael and Isaac. She couldn't wait for God to fulfill his promise to her. And yet he did eventually, but she made this big mess. And yet she's still touted as a woman of faith in the Hall of, you know, Hebrews 11, the Hall of Fame chapter. She is our example of not to give into fear. And I think it's because of her faith, even in the midst of making so many mistakes. I would have to say that one of the women in the Bible who has inspired me the most was the woman at the well. You know, she lived a rejected life. She lived her life apart from other people. She had plenty of sins where she had messed up and yet I love that scripture says that Jesus had to go that way. He had to encounter her. And when he talked about her sin, it wasn't in a demeaning way, but it was to let her know, "Oh, I know so much more, and yet I'm still here with you. I'm still going against societal norms to have a conversation with you." And he revealed himself to her as Messiah and gave her hope to the point that she left and went and told people that she had met the Messiah. And so that's such a good example for me because I don't know about you, but when I've messed up, sometimes I don't even wanna go to God and tell Him, but He already knows. He already knows and it's a safe place. Jesus validated her when he said, "Go in peace. Your faith has made you well." In that, he gave her back her identity. He esteemed her. He loved her. And we don't even know her name, Jessica, but her story encourages us today and it encourages me to keep pursuing after Jesus when I've tried everything else. Jesus is the one place I need to go. Oh, yes. She is a wonderful example of we can feel so set aside. Unseen. Unseen. Rejected. And yet God elevated her. He saw her. He called her to go go into the fact that she believed that Jesus was her only hope and she pushed against the crowd. Leadership doesn't always mean, it doesn't always mean leading your family. It doesn't always mean leading in business. I think leadership, if we expand on that concept, means using our gifts to influence. And our gifts might be the gift of hospitality. It might be the gift of mercy. It might be the gift of compassion or encouragement, but when we use our God -given gifts to influence others, that is assuming a leadership role. Since Old Testament times, the idea of setting boundaries between men and women has been challenged. God has always placed women in leadership positions. Influential and powerful women exist throughout the Bible. Some inspiring women of the Bible include: Leah—strong through heartache and rejection Jochebed—mother of Moses Deborah—prophetess and judge of Israel (40Years) who inspired complete obedience to God Esther—courage to be bold, say yes to God and save her people Mary—trust and courage to surrender completely Miriam—our words matter Rahab—knowing God protects us Ruth—selflessness and seeking God leads to our betterment Priscilla—help each other mature in our faith Mary Magdalene—the power of a submitted heart Rachel—the power of patience to wait on God Hannah—God prizes faithfulness Abigail—equipped for wisdom Martha—God equips us to use our practical gifts Hagar—God gives us strength to move forward Anna—keep watch for God’s works Lydia—grow in love for God for others Rebekah—know that God’s plans are always good Many of the inspiring women of the Bible encourage us to know our strengths, use our influence as an invitation to know God, lead by example and lead with love. Our hardships don’t preempt us from living a life of faith and hope. They propel us toward faith and hope when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. One of the key commonalities between all of these women is that they did face hardships. So my hope filled perspective is this, that hardships don't preempt us from living a life of faith and hope. They actually propel us toward faith and hope when we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. That's so important because I think in our culture, we look at hardships and Lord. We're doing everything that we can that's right. Jesus told us we would experience hardships. - He did. Read though for the accounts of the women in scripture and how they modeled getting through those hardships and the lessons that they teach us. And there have been so many as we listed off some of the other women that we didn't have time to really talk about in depth today. We would encourage you pick one or two of those women's accounts and go study them for yourself. Scripture References: Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” 1 Peter 3:6 “For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.” Recommended Resources: Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host and Guest: Connect with Jessica Van Roekel: Website / Instagram / Facebook For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple Co-Host: Jessica Van Roekel is a worship leader, speaker, and writer who believes that through Jesus, personal histories don’t need to define the present or determine the future. She inspires, encourages, and equips others to look at life through the lenses of hope, trust, and God’s transforming grace. Jessica lives in rural Iowa surrounded by wide open spaces which remind her of God’s expansive love. She loves fun earrings, good coffee, and connecting with others. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How do I start a home group or home church? Were Abraham and Sarah just confused about how God would fulfill His promise concerning Isaac? Why did they opt for "Plan B" with Hagar? Isn't Hebrews 6 teaching that a believer's name can be blotted out of the Book of Life? What is it saying about repentance and faith toward God?

How do I start a home group or home church? Were Abraham and Sarah just confused about how God would fulfill His promise concerning Isaac? Why did they opt for "Plan B" with Hagar? Isn't Hebrews 6 teaching that a believer's name can be blotted out of the Book of Life? What is it saying about repentance and faith toward God? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1258/29

Audio, eng_t_norav_2025-03-04_lesson_zohar-la-am-vayera-ben-hagar-hamitzrit_n4_p1. Lesson_part :: Daily_lesson 4 :: Lessons_series. Zohar for All

Video, eng_t_norav_2025-03-04_lesson_zohar-la-am-vayera-ben-hagar-hamitzrit_n4_p1. Lesson_part :: Daily_lesson 4 :: Lessons_series. Zohar for All

Zohar for All. VaYera. The Son of Hagar the Egyptian

Audio, eng_t_norav_2025-03-04_lesson_zohar-la-am-vayera-ben-hagar-hamitzrit_n4_p1. Lesson_part :: Daily_lesson 4 :: Lessons_series. Zohar for All

Check out the latest sermon in our 'Genesis' series!

One of the most overlooked and often misunderstood women of Genesis is the slave woman Hagar. She is used and abused, tossed out and forsaken. But not by God. In her lowest moments God saw her and knew her name. He called her and gave her a promise and a purpose. And for all of this, she named Yahweh, "El Roi," which means "the God who sees me." When you are down and defeated, God sees you too. He knows your name. He has a promise and a purpose for you.

In Genesis 21:8-21 we encounter problems in Abraham's family once again. Though Isaac is born, this causes tension with Hagar and Ishmael. Ishmael persecutes Isaac and the result is that both Hagar and Ishmael are cast out. God, however, shows mercy to both of them in the wilderness, foreshadowing the inclusion of the Gentiles through Christ.

“But...pass not to Beersheba.” (Amos 5:5) Beersheba (well of the “sevens”) became a location of some importance in Israel’s early history. Hagar, the Egyptian bondwoman who bore I... More...

The Exodus Way E3 — Before we get to the Exodus story, we must first ask a question: How and why did Israel end up enslaved in Egypt in the first place? Throughout the book of Genesis, the biblical authors seem to imply that Abraham's descendants land in Egypt because of their patriarch's failures to trust God and do right by others. In this episode, Jon and Tim highlight the Exodus beats in Abraham's story, showing how they not only anticipate Israel's exile in Egypt but also the larger Exodus story found throughout the whole Hebrew Bible. CHAPTERSRecap and Setting Up Abraham (0:00-8:28)Abraham Out of Ur and Into Egypt (8:28-28:06)Slavery in Egypt Predicted (28:06-36:36)Oppression of Hagar the Egyptian Slave (36:36-58:21)OFFICIAL EPISODE TRANSCRIPTView this episode's official transcript.REFERENCED RESOURCESAnd You Shall Tell Your Son: The Concept of the Exodus in the Bible by Yair Zakovitch You can view annotations for this episode—plus our entire library of videos, podcasts, articles, and classes—in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.Check out Tim's extensive collection of recommended books here.SHOW MUSIC“By Chance” by SwuM“Skates” by SwuM“Homecoming” by Kyle McEvoy & Stan ForebeeBibleProject theme song by TENTSSHOW CREDITSProduction of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Frank Garza and Aaron Olsen edited today's episode. Aaron Olsen and Tyler Bailey provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie. Powered and distributed by Simplecast.

Whether you've visited Iceland before or you're planning your dream trip, you've likely noticed that prices here are higher when compared to many other countries. From groceries and restaurants to accommodations and activities, Iceland's cost of living and travel expenses can be a shock to the wallet. But why is that the case?I'll break down the key reasons behind Iceland's high prices, including geographic isolation, the dominance of a few large companies, high taxes and import duties, a small population, and the impact of tourism.Plus, I'll be sharing details on my upcoming live webinar, “Iceland on a Budget: 30 Ways to Spend Less and Travel Smart,” where I'll give you actionable tips to help you maximize your experience in Iceland without breaking the bank. Let's get into it! 1. Geographic Isolation Iceland's remote location in the North Atlantic significantly impacts its economy. With no land connections to other countries, all goods must be transported by air or sea. This means higher shipping costs, which are passed on to consumers. Everyday essentials like food, clothing, and electronics come at a premium because of the logistics involved in getting them to the island.For example, grocery stores like Bónus and Krónan import a large percentage of their products, leading to higher-than-average food prices compared to mainland Europe or the U.S. A simple item like a gallon of milk can cost around 900 ISK ($6.99 USD).The cost of fuel is also steep and can be as high as 330 ISK ($2.33 USD) per liter or about $8.85 a gallon, partly due to import costs and high taxes. This geographic isolation extends to supply chains for restaurants and retail, where prices reflect these transportation challenges. 2. High Taxes and Import Duties Iceland has some of the highest taxes in the world, and these contribute significantly to the high cost of goods and services. The standard Value Added Tax (VAT) rate is 24%, with a reduced rate of 11% on certain goods like food and books.However, even with the reduced VAT, prices remain high. Import duties on certain items, such as clothing and electronics, add even more costs. For example, a pair of Levi's jeans that might cost $60 in the U.S. can easily be $120 in Iceland due to taxes and import fees.Cars are also heavily taxed, with import duties, VAT, and registration fees sometimes doubling the cost compared to other countries. This means that even everyday expenses like transportation, dining out, and shopping feel significantly more expensive. 3. Market Dominance by Few Companies Iceland's small economy means that a handful of companies dominate key industries, limiting competition and keeping prices high. The food retail sector, for instance, is primarily controlled by Hagar, which owns Bónus, Hagkaup, and other supermarkets.This lack of competition can result in inflated grocery prices. Similarly, the telecommunications industry is led by Síminn, Nova, and Vodafone, all of which maintain relatively high service costs. The same goes for banking—Arion Bank, Íslandsbanki, and Landsbankinn dominate the financial sector, and their fees for everyday banking services can be steep compared to other countries.The lack of competition in these critical industries means that consumers have limited options, and businesses have little incentive to lower prices. Even in tourism, major players like Icelandair control air travel, which can keep flight prices elevated, especially during peak seasons. 30 Budget Saving Tips for Iceland: Travel Smart and Spend Less If you are not sure how to get the most bang for your buck in Iceland, I have something that will help you out. I'm hosting a free live webinar and you won't want to miss it! This webinar is packed with practical, money-saving strategies to help you explore Iceland without spending a fortune. Click Here to Register 4.

(1 Timothy 3:16) Today we examine one of the great summary verses of the Bible. A verse that is about the great theme of God's Word - the Lord Jesus Christ. As we walk through all of Scripture we find Jesus on every page. (0944250218) ----more----  A One-Verse Summary About Jesus There are certain verses of Scripture that are great summary verses. I mean by that, they encapsulate so much doctrine in a concentrated way in just a few words. 1 Timothy 3:16 is one of those verses. Would you hear it with your heart today? 1 Timothy 3:16 says, "And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." The Person and Work of Jesus Christ What is 1 Timothy 3:16 about? It's all about the person and work of Jesus Christ. Literally, it summarizes in one verse the whole message of Christ in the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation. From creation to His glorification. It's God was manifest in the flesh. So the creator God of the universe God came to earth. Then He was justified in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit was evident through His life and ministry, His words and His works. He was seen of angels at different points all through His life and ministry. He was then preached unto the Gentiles. He's been believed on in the world, and now where is he? He's received up into glory, where he's sitting on the right hand of the Heavenly Father, praying for us, preparing heaven for us, and yes, coming again. I want to say to you today that you find Jesus on every page of the Bible. Someone has said that you can take your text from anywhere. And you can find some path that leads from that place to the person of Jesus Christ. I do believe that.  Jesus in the Old Testament Our study of Christ does not begin in the New Testament because He did not begin at Bethlehem. Earlier in this study, we began in Genesis 3, verse 15, with the first promise of Messiah. But I want to tell you, He was there in Genesis 1, 1, in the beginning God. Because He is the eternal Son of God. As you walk through the Old Testament, Jesus. I believe that He appeared many times. He appeared to Hagar, to Abraham, to Jacob, and Moses. Joshua saw him as the captain of the host. Manoah saw him, Isaiah saw him, lifted up, Zechariah did, and Gideon. He was manifested to many different people at many different times all through the Old Testament. As you read and study the Old Testament scriptures, there are over 300 prophecies concerning Christ. Think of that, over 300 of them. Many of the psalms are messianic psalms. There are lots of pictures of Christ in the Old Testament. Some people, like Joseph, is a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. But many objects point to Him. Noah's Ark is a picture of Christ, the brazen serpent, the tabernacle, the rock flowing with that living water, the Passover land, the cities of refuge, on and on throughout the Old Testament, Jesus. Jesus in the New Testament Then when you come to the New Testament, He's revealed as he is, as he's taking on human flesh, his incarnation. God became a man without ceasing to be God. That's powerful. He did not lay aside his deity, he just robed it, clothed it in humanity. Someone says, was he a man or was he God? Yes. And He wasn't 50-50. He was 100 percent man and 100 percent God and He was the perfection of both. He's the only sinless man who ever lived, and yet He is the perfect son of God. We see his humanity all through the gospel records. He hungered. He thirsted. He slept. He grew. He suffered. He had a body, a soul, and a spirit. He even referred to himself as the son of man. That was His favorite title for himself. Think of that. He had every right to call himself everyday Son of God, but He loved to refer to himself as Son of man. Why? Because He was connecting with us. Aren't you glad that we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin? Not only do we see His humanity, we see His deity. He is the Son of God, the Eternal Son of God. He claimed to be God all through his life He claimed to be the same things as Jehovah of the Old Testament claimed to be. He claimed to be the shepherd, the judge, the light, the first and the last, the I am. He claimed to have power to forgive sins. He raised dead people. He quoted Old Testament messianic passages and applied them to Himself. He placed His Word on the same level as God's Word. He received worship. He told men to pray in His name. Why would He do such things? Because He's not just the Son of Mary, He's the Son of God. All man - all God. We see Him in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, and then His death, His burial, and His resurrection from the dead. What makes the Christian faith distinct? We have a living Savior. For the record, I know He's alive because I've talked to Him today. And He's spoken to me today. He lives in my heart. When you read the Old Testament and Jehovah God, and then you read the New Testament and Jesus Christ, I want you to know they are one in the same. And the Old Testament is just a big pointer. It's all pointing to someone that's coming. The final fulfillment and revelation of God, it's pointing to the person of Jesus Christ. Think about this. You have all these prophecies in the Old Testament leading up to Christ. Did you know that for only 16 prophecies to come true in Jesus lifetime, the mathematical odds are 1 in 10 to the 45th power? Translation, impossible. The mathematical odds are staggering. And yet when you come to the New Testament, he fulfills everything that was foretold about his first coming. And while I'm on it, let me just tell you, if he fulfilled everything that related to his first coming, he's going to fulfill everything he promised for his second coming. He who has come and has gone away is coming again to get us away. I'm looking forward to that day. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He died for your sins, He was buried, He rose from the dead. Praise God for that. And now He's ascended to the right hand of the Heavenly Father. The Bible says that He ever liveth making intercession for us.  The Continuing Work of Christ The work of Christ did not end when he left this world. No, his work continues at this present moment. As a matter of fact, the book of Acts, chapter 1, verse number 1, tells us about his continuing work. Some people want to limit his work to while he was here on earth, but listen to Acts 1:1, "The former treaties have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach." He just began. He set it in motion, but He continues. At this present moment. He's working in heaven right now. He is our priest. He's praying for us. He's interceding for you. Let me encourage you today. Jesus is praying for you at this moment. And He's still at work here on earth. Through believers, through His church, He's at work to draw all people to Himself. Yes, He's at work. He is the perfect prophet, always speaking the truth. He is the perfect priest, always speaking of holiness. He is the perfect king, always speaking of His power.  Knowing Jesus Personally The Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and I'm glad to report to you today, he's my Savior. I hope He's your Savior too. And I hope today that no matter where you're reading and studying in Scripture, on every page of Scripture, you'll meet Jesus there. And as you journey through the Word of God and meet Jesus along the way, you'll come to know Him. In a more deeply, personal, and intimate way. The Apostle Paul, after he'd been saved for more than 30 years, wrote that I may know him. And the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death. This study of the doctrine of Christ is not just for us to know something, it's to know someone. I hope you'll make the application of it to your life today. I hope you'll make it deeply personal and intimate. I hope you'll determine a day by the grace of God to truly know the Lord Jesus Christ and to seek Him on every page of the Word of God. Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe.  Outro and Resources We hope you will visit us at etj.bible to access our library of Bible teaching resources, including book-by-book studies of Scripture. You'll also find studies to watch, listen to, or read. We are so grateful for those who pray for us, who share the Biblical content, and for those who invest to help us advance this ministry worldwide. Again, thank you for listening, and we hope you'll join us next time on Enjoying the Journey.

“Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.” — Genesis 25:11 Hagar had once found deliverance there and Ishmael had drank from the water so graciously revealed by the God who liveth and seeth the sons of men; but this was a merely casual visit, such as worldlings pay to the Lord in times of need, when […]