Podcasts about his father

Yesterday we looked at one of the most sobering statements in2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Paul said that people will be deceived because: “theydid not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” Today,verses 11 and 12 tell us what happens when people persistently reject God'struth. Paul writes that because of their rejection: “God will send themstrong delusion, that they should believe the lie.” Those are seriouswords. Atfirst, they may even trouble us. Why would God send a strong delusion? Theanswer is found in the context. These people have already been given the truth.They have rejected it. They have refused to believe it. They have chosenunrighteousness instead. Verse 12 says they: “did not believe the truthbut had pleasure in unrighteousness.” God isn't preventing sincerepeople from believing. These are people who have heard truth and deliberatelychosen the lie. Thereis a biblical principle here that appears throughout Scripture. When peoplecontinually reject God's light, eventually God allows them to experience theconsequences of the darkness they have chosen. Romans chapter 1 describespeople who knew God but refused to glorify Him as God. Three times in thatchapter we find the sobering expression: “God gave them up.” Theychose their way. And eventually God allowed them to have what they had chosen. Wesee something similar with Pharaoh in Exodus. Pharaoh repeatedly hardened hisheart against God. Eventually Scripture tells us that God hardened Pharaoh'sheart. That'swhy we should never treat God's truth casually. Every time God speaks to usthrough His Word, we have a choice. We can say: “Yes, Lord.” Or we canresist Him. And every “yes” makes it easier to say yes again. But everydeliberate “no” can make the next “no” easier too. Hebrews says: “Today,if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Notice thatword: Today. Not tomorrow. Not someday. Today. Thereis also an important lesson here for those of us who already know Christ. Welive in a world filled with information. We can turn on television or open ourphones and within seconds hear hundreds of voices telling us what to believe. Buttruth isn't determined by popularity. Truth isn't determined by opinion polls. Truthdoesn't change because culture changes. God's Word is truth. Jesusprayed to His Father in John 17:17: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Yourword is truth.” Sohow do we protect ourselves from deception? Know the Word. Read the Word. Studythe Word. Believe the Word. Obey the Word. The best protection against acounterfeit is becoming thoroughly familiar with the genuine article. Paul'swarning about future deception should cause us to love God's truth even moretoday. And there is one phrase in verse 12 that especially challenges me. They “hadpleasure in unrighteousness.” The problem wasn't simply intellectual. Itwas moral. Sometimes people reject God's truth not because there isn't enoughevidence, but because accepting God's truth would require them to change theway they live. Paulwrote in Romans 1:18-19: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heavenagainst all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth inunrighteousness ..."  Noticethat they suppressed the truth in unrighteousness. This means because of theirunrighteous or immoral and sinful living they refused to listen to the truth ofthe Gospel and Jesus and even attempted to destroy it.  Jesussaid in John 3 that men loved darkness rather than light because their deedswere evil. So today let's ask ourselves: Do I really love the truth? DoI want God to show me where I'm wrong? Am I willing to change when His Wordcorrects me? That's evidence of a heart that loves truth. My friend, truthmatters. And the greatest truth of all is Jesus Christ. Let's love Him. Let'slove His Word. Let's walk in His truth. And let's share that truth with a worlddesperately in need of it. 

Jesus heads to the Mount of Olives with singing. There, He forthrightly tells His disciples what is about to happen to Him and to them, all in fulfillment of the Scriptures. In Gethsemane, Jesus prays to His Father knowing exactly what He is about to face, yet He does so in obedience to the Father's will. Although Peter, James, and John cannot stay awake and pray with Jesus, the Lord continues resolutely toward His suffering and death.  Rev. Jeremy Swem, pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 26:30-46.  To learn more about Our Savior in Grand Rapids, visit oursavior-gr.org. “The Reign of Heaven Stands Near” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims that God has fulfilled His Old Testament promises by sending Jesus to bring the reign of the heavens among us. As the Son of David, Jesus is the gracious King we need, and as the Son of Abraham, Jesus is the blessing to all the families of the earth.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Pastor Appel serves at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL. Learn more at flcgodfrey.org. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

What is the Christ?Christ is God's Son as He created Him. He is the Self we share, uniting us with one another, and with God as well. He is the Thought Which still abides within the Mind that is His Source. He has not left His holy home, nor lost the innocence in which He was created. He abides unchanged forever in the Mind of God.Christ is the link that keeps you one with God, and guarantees that separation is no more than an illusion of despair, for hope forever will abide in Him. Your mind is part of His, and His of yours. He is the part in which God's Answer lies; where all decisions are already made, and dreams are over. He remains untouched by anything the body's eyes perceive. For though in Him His Father placed the means for your salvation, yet does He remain the Self Who, like His Father, knows no sin.Home of the Holy Spirit, and at home in God alone, does Christ remain at peace within the Heaven of your holy mind. This is the only part of you that has reality in truth. The rest is dreams. Yet will these dreams be given unto Christ, to fade before His glory and reveal your holy Self, the Christ, to you at last.The Holy Spirit reaches from the Christ in you to all your dreams, and bids them come to Him, to be translated into truth. He will exchange them for the final dream which God appointed as the end of dreams. For when forgiveness rests upon the world and peace has come to every Son of God, what could there be to keep things separate, for what remains to see except Christ's face?And how long will this holy face be seen, when it is but the symbol that the time for learning now is over, and the goal of the Atonement has been reached at last? So therefore let us seek to find Christ's face and look on nothing else. As we behold His glory, will we know we have no need of learning or perception or of time, or anything except the holy Self, the Christ Whom God created as His Son.LESSON 271Christ's Is The Vision I Will Use Today.Each day, each hour, every instant, I am choosing what I want to look upon, the sounds I want to hear, the witnesses to what I want to be the truth for me. Today I choose to look upon what Christ would have me see, to listen to God's Voice, and seek the witnesses to what is true in God's creation. In Christ's sight, the world and God's creation meet, and as they come together all perception disappears. His kindly sight redeems the world from death, for nothing that He looks on but must live, remembering the Father and the Son; Creator and creation unified.Father, Christ's vision is the way to You. What He beholds invites Your memory to be restored to me. And this I choose to be what I would look upon today.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

John 19:30 “Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!' And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” After fulfilling the last Scripture He knew to fulfill, Jesus had one last thing to do. Breathe His last breath knowing He would not be able to exhale. He suffocated and gave up His spirit to His Father—yet He did not die—His spirit did not die. In a moment, He was with His Father. The work was done. He could sit down on His Father's throne and take an eternal Sabbath rest. It was the Passover rest. The lamb had been sacrificed. The blood shed. The blood sprinkled on the altar, the mercy seat, the Priest (the Son), and the worshippers. It was time to celebrate and enjoy the salvation of God. Can you imagine the immediate relief of leaving His body and this world of pain, misery, and suffering? Please take a moment and do so. Your time is coming! You and I will come to that moment when we too can say, “It is finished.” Our journey in this world is over. We will breathe our last breath, leave our bodies sleeping here on earth, and immediately experience the same relief Jesus did and and enter into the presence of our God and Father, Jesus Christ. What a glorious day that will be! We will be raised up and united with Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. We will experience the reality of what we now know positionally. We are one with Jesus just as Jesus is one with the Father. To God be the glory. That hope is what births faith and love, for Paul wrote to the Colossians, Col. 1:3-6 “We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth.” We believe and love because of the hope of the gospel. We know we will breathe our last breath on earth and in the next moment breathe in our first breath of eternal life in heaven which will never end. Have you heard this gospel in your heart? Is it bearing the fruit of faith and love in your heart? Are faith and love increasing as you walk in the grace of God in truth? We live to love with Jesus because of the hope of the gospel. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Kevin "Fresh" Townsend grew up in Brooklyn with his father in prison and his mother raising him on her own. He took to the streets at a young age, dropped out of high school, became involved with gangs, and started dealing drugs. Then, at just 19 years old, he landed on America's Most Wanted for a murder he says he did not commit. After two trials, Kevin was convicted and sentenced to 20 years to life in New York state prison. Over the next two decades, he ran with the Bloods, navigated Rikers Island, and survived some of New York's toughest maximum-security prisons. After serving 20 years, Kevin finally walked free — just two weeks before sitting down to record this episode. _____________________________________________ Become an EXCLUSIVE Locked In: After Hours Member & recieve a FREE merch box: https://lockedin.supportingcast.fm/ _____________________________________________ Connect with Kevin "Fresh" Townsend: Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPSW499L?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/townsendrealm/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Kevin 00:50 Growing Up in Brooklyn 02:10 The Impact of Having a Father in Prison 03:03 Street Lessons and Gang Life 03:57 Gambling and the Addiction to Money 06:10 The Routine of Gang Life 08:12 Staying Away from Selling Drugs 10:14 Family Love and His Father's Advice 12:56 Reading Books and Dreaming of a Better Life 14:27 A History of Violence and Fear 17:35 Charged with Murder 25:53 Arrest and Interrogation 27:31 Lack of Evidence and False Testimony 30:19 First Day at Rikers and the Start of Prison Life 34:00 First Trial and Mistrial 37:12 Convicted at the Second Trial 40:01 Sentencing and a 20-Year Prison Sentence 44:37 Failed Appeals and Losing Hope 48:53 Sent Upstate to Prison 51:18 Five Points and Adjusting to a New Life 54:00 Prison Rules and Survival Tactics 57:19 Solitary Confinement and Mental Struggles 59:49 Transfers Between Prisons and Different Experiences 01:04:18 Relationships with Other Inmates and Unexpected Events 01:07:57 Back in Solitary and Working on Himself 01:12:54 Released from Prison and Reuniting with Family 01:15:19 Adjusting to Life on the Outside 01:18:50 New Goals and Hope for the Future 01:23:22 Marriage and Relationship Struggles 01:26:29 Lessons from Prison and Advice for Young People _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka

The Book of Nehemiah is far more than a leadership manual about rebuilding walls. It is the final historical snapshot of God's people before 400 years of silence, and it ends not in triumph but in collapse. Despite Nehemiah's remarkable faith, prayer, and sacrifice, the people's hearts could not hold. Every covenant promise was broken by chapter 13. This is the point. Nehemiah was never meant to be the ultimate hero. He was always pointing forward to Jesus Christ, the Greater Nehemiah, who left His Father's house in heaven, identified with our sin, and now lives forever to intercede for His people. Unlike Nehemiah, He never grows weary, never gives up, and His covenant is not conditional. The only prayer that truly holds is this: remember me, not for what I have done, but for what Your Son has done.

Which of the Two did the Will of His Father? Rev. Dr. Joe Evans, Senior Pastor -- Sunday, September 27, 2026 11:00am Sermon | Great Hall

After His baptism Jesus spends 40 days fasting in the desert.  This is when Satan tries to temp Jesus to doubt His Father.Frank Spalding and the preaching team at Lincoln Hills Christian Church welcomes all those seeking to know more about the Real Jesus and how to be an active disciple.

John 19:28-29 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, ‘I am thirsty.' A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth.” Again John shows us that Jesus is the Messiah, the One sent by God to be the savior of the world. This Scripture was fulfilled. John brings to our remembrance Ps. 69:21. ‘They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” He wants there to be no doubt about who was on that cross and what it means to us. Jesus left nothing undone. Drinking the sour wine was one of the last things to be accomplished now before returning to His Father. He did this to fulfill Scripture. That means He did it because He loves you! You needed to see this testimony of God's faithfulness. He couldn't leave it out or undone. God decided it was important for you to know Jesus did all things His Father willed so you could believe and be saved. Your salvation is perfect. It's complete. It is grounded upon the eternal Word of God. Jesus, thank You for accomplishing all of the Father's will and for fulfilling the Scripture because you love us. We believe because it is the Father's will, and we love because You have loved us. Glorify Your name in us today as we accomplish our Father's will and fulfill the Scriptures, “By this, all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Jesus talked rather a lot about slavery on the one hand, and freedom on the other. If you're a slave, freedom is a big deal. Now He was talking to you and me – still is.  Because this whole freedom thing isn't a theory lesson, He wants us to live it. Freedom!   Free At Last Now, I want to share something with you today. Yours truly, I have to tell you, I am not stupid. I might be short and slightly dumpy; I may have more grey hair than that of the original colour; it may be that I can't draw a picture for nuts; there are lots of things I can't do; lots of things I'm not great at and lots of things I'm just not. But God has blessed me with a pretty nimble mind, so I'm not stupid. Now the point of me telling you that is not to boast. The point is: even though I am a bit of a bright spark, I spent the first thirty six years of my life in slavery. And here's the thing: I never realised it! That's the point. We can be as smart as smart can be; we can be as clever as clever can be on the one hand, but completely miss the whole point of life, on the other. Do you get it? I mean, I kind of realised that something wasn't quite right. I kind of realised that I didn't have the joy and contentment in life that I was so looking for in everything I tried. But I simply had no idea that the reason for that was because I was a slave … a slave to self; a slave to sin. Now, this idea of slavery may seem a little harsh or extreme. It may seem that I am somewhat overstating the case when I say that I was a slave to sin. After all, slavery is a brutal thing. Let's just stop and think for a moment what it means to be a slave. A slave is someone who has no rights. His or her master can abuse them; they have to do what their masters tell them to do; they have no freedoms; they can't come and go as they please. And if we look at slavery down through the ages, slaves are the most oppressed of all people. Somehow, innately, we know that men and women and children have been born to be free. It doesn't mean we can do anything we like. Obviously, we need laws but good laws, not oppressive laws. So, human spirit is meant to be free, albeit in the right and proper constraints of the society. So, when someone becomes a slave, it's just wrong. Interesting that the Bible, which was written over a period of a couple of thousand years – the last Books being completed in the First Century AD. The Bible doesn't take issue with slavery – neither does it endorse slavery. It just kind of accepts it as a fact of life. Now, I have some ideas as to why that might be but that's for another time. But God's Word does link sin with the concept of slavery, over and over and over again, in the New Testament especially. Let's have a listen to what Jesus said on this. John chapter 8, beginning a verse 28: So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." As he was saying these things, many believed. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and we have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." Now this is a really interesting exchange and I can really, really put myself in the shoes of the people who took umbrage with Jesus about this whole slavery thing. Jesus is explaining that in order for people to be saved and have a relationship with God, they had to believe in Him. That's radical! All the other messiahs out there and there were lots of people claiming to be the promised Messiah around Jesus time. They all pointed at this or that or someone else. Jesus pointed at Himself. "Believe in me!" He was directly claiming to be God in the flesh – outrageously radical – which is one of the reasons the religious leaders had Him crucified. But it says here in verse 30 that: "… many believed". But then the bit that people took umbrage with: Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word you truly are my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free. Now, when someone talks to you and me about freedom these days, the first thing we think about, probably, is not slavery, because most of us aren't slaves. Although I have no doubt that of the millions of people listening to this message around the globe, right now, some in fact, are slaves. Most of us aren't and so if someone comes and talks to us about freedom, slavery is not front of mind. But it was back in the first century because there were lots of slaves. The words about being made free, intentionally pointed to freedom from slavery. People knew what He was talking about and that how it was taken. And this is where the Jews who believed in Him had a problem. They answered Him, "We are descendants of Abraham, we have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, "You will be made free"? And that's where Jesus hits them between the eyes. Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household. The son has a place there forever. So if the son makes you free, you will be free indeed." Friend, sin is slavery. Let me say that again: sin is slavery. It is a yoke of oppression. It robs us of freedom and of life. When we are wrapped up in our own selves and in our own selfish desires; when we are trying to get the world to bow down to us, rather than us loving and serving those around us, friend, we lose our lives. And Jesus came to set the captives free – that's why righteousness is so important. Righteousness is the opposite of sin. As we saw last week on the programme, righteousness is not just an attribute of God; it's something that God gives to us as a free gift, when we believe in Jesus. We become the righteousness of God. Now we are going to live life either in sin or in righteousness. We are! It's one or the other and once we have a right standing with God (that's what "righteousness" means); once we have become righteous because we believe in Jesus, we are meant to live that out. It's like the criminal who has served his time in prison and he is released and he steps out of that gate and he either continues in his criminal ways – which many do, and they end up back behind bars which, frankly, has always struck me as sheer lunacy but it shows you how powerful sin is in people's lives – OR following his release, he mends his ways; and he lives out his new life of freedom and gets the benefits of all that. He is not in prison anymore; he can live out his new life. The new man, set free. Well, you and I have been set free if we believe in Jesus, through faith. Question is: how are we going to live that out?   The Power of Change Now, blind Freddy can see that being forgiven and having a right standing with God is only part of the equation – it's only the beginning. It's like a prisoner being set free at the end of his sentence. He steps out of the prison gate. It's a huge step, but it's only the first one of the rest of his life of freedom. Freedom is something to be lived out and so it is for anyone who has taken the first step of believing in Jesus: believing what He did for us on that cross; believing that He rose from the dead to give us a new life; believing that He has placed His Holy Spirit inside us so that we can live that new life of freedom. Jesus said this, listen very carefully. John chapter 8, verses 34 to 36: Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." And the Apostle Paul, some decades on, restates it so that we won't miss it. Galatians chapter 5, verse 1: For freedom, Christ has set us free. Stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. In other words: the reason that we have been set free is in order to be free, to live out our new lives of freedom. For freedom Christ has set us free. God hasn't set us free through this great and mighty act of love – the sacrifice of His Son – in order for us to submit again to the yoke of slavery which sin places on us. He set us free so that we can be free from sin, free indeed! You and I both know – we chatted about this earlier – that a prisoner who has served his sentence, steps out of that prison gate a free man but he can return to his life of crime and many of them do and eventually he finds himself back behind bars. Or we can live out this new life as a free man, a free woman, without breaking the law; without turning against God for the rest of our days. I have never been incarcerated but I'd have thought it would be a horrible thing. I'd have thought that one night, let alone a year or two or twenty would be more than enough to convince anyone not to reoffend. But many, many do and the majority of people in prison today are in fact, re-offenders. Incredible. Mad, you might say. But think about it: it's exactly what many a believer in Christ does. We believe – we take the first step of freedom – we believe in Jesus, but then we go on living just like before, only to discover that this new found freedom in Christ, isn't what it was cracked up to be because we are submitting back to that cruel yoke of slavery which is sin. Now, in part, that is because sin is so deeply engrained in our flesh. And the Apostle Paul has this exact same problem. Romans chapter 7, beginning at verse 15: I do not understand my own actions. Because I do not do what I want, I do the very thing that I hate. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want, that is what I do. So I find this to be a law that whenever I want to do this good, evil lies close at hand. I delight in the law of God in my inmost being, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. That's the problem we all face. "Man, this 'sin' thing is so strong in me. I'm so weak, how am I ever going to live it out, this righteousness of God? How am I ever going to reap the harvest, the blessing; the fruit of righteousness? I just can't do it!" And therein lies the whole point: you and I can't do … we can't do it on our own; we simply can't. I can't and you can't, we need the blessing of God; we need the power of God. The question is: where do you get it? The question is: will He give me the power; will He give you the power? What would you say if I told you we already have the power? Have a listen to this promise from God's Word. Second Peter chapter 1, verses 2 to 4: May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in this world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. Need something to be godly? I do! You do too, actually. Well, God has already given us that – past tense. It is a done deal! Don't you like that? God has already given us everything needed for life. In other words, He has given us our lives back; real life, abundant life because we are now righteousness through faith in Jesus and we have a right standing with Him. But not just what's needed for life but also for godliness. He's given us everything we need to escape from the corruption of this world and become – wait for it – participants of the divine nature; to be one with God; to know God so deeply; for the image of God to be so bright and so vibrant and so powerful in us. Get it? We already have everything we need Just like Jesus prayed for us in John chapter 17, that we would become one with Him, the way Him and His Father are one. We have to work at that. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we change; the more we love Him and experience His love in return, the more our behaviour changes. And that's why we stand firm; that's why our lives are changed: For this reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness and goodness with knowledge and knowledge with self-control and self-control with endurance and endurance with godliness and godliness with mutual affection and mutual affection with love. If these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter chapter 1:5-8) Friend, God has already given you and me so much in Jesus. Wake up!! Stop grumbling. Stop living under this deception that we can't beat sin in our lives. It's already beaten on the cross! We already have a new life through the empty tomb. We already have the power of the Spirit – the very same one who raised Jesus from the dead. Read it. Ephesians chapter 1: We have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing through Christ in heavenly places. Believe that. It's God's promise. It's the power to change. Just believe!   A Transformed Life Well, we are almost at the end of another series and it's amazing how quickly time flies. Now, over these last few weeks we have been talking about reaping a harvest … reaping the harvest of righteousness. As I have said on a few occasions now, in this series, I used to think that righteousness was a bunch of rules I had to live by: do this and God will smile upon my life; do that, WHACK, He'll punish me. That was my view of this word 'righteousness' which, let's face it, is not used so much these days anymore. But that's not what God had in mind when He had the Apostle Paul write these words in his letter to the church at Philippi. Philippians chapter 1, beginning at verse 9: And this is my prayer: that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ, you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. It's not a matter of rules, it's about love, see? And that's what I had to get out of my system. And to tell you the truth, my hunch is, even after a decade and a half of walking with Jesus, even after almost a decade of teaching God's Word on air as I am doing right now, my hunch is I am still getting this misconception of a ruled based God out of my system. I know we all have to live by rules, the law for starters. Obviously, we all have to live by some rules. But by and large we don't mind that; we get it, ninety nine times out of a hundred that in order to live in a society, there have to be some boundaries set that organise the place and make sure everyone is kind of looked after and kept safe. But on the fringes of those rules – let's be honest – there are some rough edges. This is the place where arguments happen: on the fringes; on the borders; in the disputed territories. I mean, disputes between neighbours, what are they about? The fence line; the noise – they are about things either on the boundary or things that cross over the boundary that one party thinks, "Well, that's fine" and the other one thinks, "No, it's not". It's the same in the home or at work. Disputes happen when someone breaks some rules that we have in our heads, whether they are valid or not. The more we think about it, the more rules are a big deal in this world. The ones that are written down called laws, the ones that are unspoken but accepted and then the ones that you and I carry around as our own personal set of rules. So it's easy to imagine that God is this rule-bound God. After all that's what the Old Testament is about – the whole Old Testament story of God, loving and engaging His chosen people, Israel, and their universal inability to keep His law; His rules given through Moses. The whole of the Old Testament screams out at you that this whole rule thing just doesn't work. And there is a reason for that. Have a listen to what the Apostle Paul writes: My friends, you have died to the law through the body of Christ so that you may belong to another; to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are discharged from the law; dead to that which held us captive so that we are slaves, not on to the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit. See, there it is. All that rules really do is point out where we are going wrong. There is no power in the law to change our hearts. We work at it and we work at it and we are still not pure and holy and perfect, the way God is. So the law holds us captive but Jesus died and rose again and those of us, who believe in Him, in effect, die and rise again. We die to sin, we die to the law and we are raised up into a new life. Born again! No longer under the burden of law, but a new life; a transformed life, living in love and forgiveness; living as one with God because He put His Holy Spirit in us – a new law in the Spirit, the law of life rather than of death. How is this possible? Because all my sins, past, present and future, have been paid for by Jesus on the cross – yours too. So when you and I fail God, as we do almost every day, no longer are we condemned under the law. We go to God, we admit our mistakes, we turn away from them and we ask Him for His forgiveness through Jesus, and then we get on with life. We died to that whole ruled-based thing and now there is a whole new life ahead of us – that's the whole point. Not to mope around like nothing has changed; not to whinge and complain about things; not to live as though we are still condemned men and women, but to live a new, vibrant life. Second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 17: If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. Everything old has passed away and, see, everything has become new. Hello! Wake up! This is fantastic news and the thing that changes now is our hearts. Once we are not condemned anymore; once we are free; once we are enjoying Jesus and the presence of His Spirit, man, we want to do His will; we want to live out righteousness. God's ways become a whole bunch easier, because instead of pulling against them, we are so delighted with this new life, we just want to live it out with Him for His glory and that's why we want to do it His way. That's exactly what Paul writes in his New Testament letter to the church at Philippi. Philippians chapter 2, beginning at verse 12: Therefore my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. We obey God which we should, not because we are rule-bound to do so; not because we are dragged into that place, kicking and screaming, but because He is at work in us, enabling us, not just to do what is right, but to want to do what is right. That's huge! This is the Gospel of grace and of love and of mercy, all made possible by Jesus dying for you and me, so our sins could be forgiven and rising again from the dead that we may have a brand new life in the Spirit – the Holy Spirit – whom He sends to dwell in each one of us, each person who puts their faith in Jesus. You know, you stand back and you think about what God has done, and you think, "That is just awesome." I mean, if that isn't good news, tell me what is!

The Pharisees cared very much about appearance. When they invited Jesus to dine on the Sabbath, they wanted to watch his appearance, check His every move. Their goal was to see if there was some flaw in Him that they could perceive and pounce on. For all of us, that would be a terrifying prospect, your every move being watched. But Jesus, in perfect humility, does not care about his appearance before the Pharisees at all. He just does what His Father wills. He does what is right.

John 19:26-27 “When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!' Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!' From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.” Before going to His Father, Jesus had one last responsibility as Mary's oldest son. He knew He was leaving within minutes, but His mother was to remain a while longer on the earth. She needed to be cared for. At that moment, apparently none of His siblings were believers, so He wanted Mary to know she would be cared for. He gave her into the hands of His beloved disciple, John, who took her into his care from that hour. I have not often considered that John even had a household to take her into. Perhaps he was married like Peter was. Perhaps he had children. We know John's brother, James, was a believer also. Other than that, we don't have much info about John's household. But this we know. Jesus recognized the family of faith is more important than flesh and blood family. When we come to Jesus, we come to a new family of faith. We gain new fathers and mothers, new brothers and sisters, with Jesus as the head of the family. To receive and love them is to receive and love Him. As believers we are all in God's household. We are disciples whom Jesus loves. Just as Jesus loved John and gave him someone to love, so He loves us, and gives us others to love. May we take up the responsibility as quickly and willingly as John did. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. – Matthew 16:27

John 19:25b “But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” It's hard to imagine how difficult it must have been for these women to watch Jesus suffer so. We also cannot know what Jesus felt knowing they were there, but knowing God is love gives us insight. We know He wasn't self-conscious. He was perfectly love-conscious. He knew what they were watching was to result in their salvation, their ultimate union with Him, and change everything in their lives. He was almost finished fulfilling His Father's will. Within moments, He would be with His Father rejoicing in His love and glory. I hope you'll join me in pausing to put yourself at the foot of Jesus' cross and receive His love. The women didn't know at that time the significance of what they were watching, but they do now! And so do we! While we were still sinners, Christ died for us, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. There, He presents us spotless, blameless, and covered in His righteousness. Can we see His love and joy? Have you entered into it by loving like He loved? By that I mean, have you willingly, intentionally, and lovingly laid down your life so another might stand before you spotless, blameless, and covered in Jesus' righteousness? Have you loved others with Jesus' love? Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Every believer needs a secret place. Where is your quiet place? Where can you regularly get alone with God in prayer? I believe the impact of our public testimony and ministry is a direct result of the time spent with God in secret.Main Points:1. If all we see is the public ministry of Jesus, we miss something very important. It's not talked about much, but Jesus had a private, personal relationship with His Father. There was a vital connection between his private times of prayer and his public ministry.2. It's in the secret place that we can be alone with God. We remove ourselves from the distractions of daily life. There are no interruptions from family, work, school, smartphones, or social media. It's in the quiet we draw closer to God and a new intimacy is gained. It's here that we quiet the noise around us and within us. We open our spiritual ears to hear the voice of our Heavenly Father. 3. May you and I see the value of finding a secret place to spend time with God in prayer. In our busy, noisy world, we need this quiet place with God.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 6:1 - “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”Matthew 6:5-6 - “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”Psalm 46:10 - “Be still and know that I am God.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. – Matthew 16:27

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. – Matthew 16:27

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. – Matthew 16:27

Tuesday, 22 September 2026   ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”'? Matthew 22:44   “He said, Lord, to the ‘Lord, Mine', ‘You sit from ‘rights, Me', Until if I should put the ‘enemies, Yours' – footstool, the ‘feet, Yours'.'” (CG)   In the previous verse, Jesus questioned how David, under the influence of the Spirit, called the Christ “Lord.” In other words, if the Christ is his descendant, how could he subordinate himself in such a manner? Understanding this, Jesus cites the Scripture where this is proven so. He goes to Psalm 110:1, beginning with, “He said, Lord, to the ‘Lord, Mine'.”   In the Greek, the same word, kurios, is used in both instances. The meaning of the word must be determined from the context. However, regardless of the context, Jesus calls this person “Lord.” He thus subordinates himself to this coming Person.   As for the context, it is found in the Hebrew –   “‘Oracle, Yehovah' to my Lord. You must sit to my right Until I will make your hatings – footstool to your feet.” Psalm 110:1 (CG)    David identifies that Yehovah, the covenant God of Israel, spoke an oracle to his Lord. The word is adoni, my Lord. It thus indicates a person to whom he has subordinated himself. The question Jesus asks is how David could designate a person descending from him in this manner. And more, the psalm continues, saying, “‘You sit from ‘rights, Me'.'”   The right, meaning the position of the right hand, is the position of all power and authority. Yehovah has spoken through David that this Person, the Christ, would sit at the position of all power and authority of Yehovah. If this were a mere person, it would be unthinkable that he would be given all of God's power. And yet, that is what is being stated. The words citing the psalm continue, saying, “Until if I should put the ‘enemies, Yours' – footstool, the ‘feet, Yours'.”   The meaning is that the enemies of the Christ will be placed as a footstool for His feet. But if this Person is at the right hand of Yehovah, it means that He is the agent by which this is accomplished.   To understand this, one can go to the account of Joseph in Egypt, who was given the full authority of Pharaoh in order to effect the purposes of Pharaoh. This is true of Mordecai's authority in Esther as well.   The Lord God, Yehovah Elohim, has stated that all authority in heaven and on earth would be granted to a descendant of David, of whom David acknowledges him as his Lord. This is what Jesus has presented to the Pharisees as a question that must be bconsidered in the light of the logical process discussed in the previous verse's life application section.   Life application: Using the same logic as discussed in the previous verse, whether we believe in Jesus or not, and whether we accept the premise of Jesus' full authority, we would have to conclude that the Bible clearly presents Jesus as having the full power and authority of Yehovah Elohim, the Lord God.   Scripture is given by God through man. If the New Testament is Scripture, which it is claimed to be so even within itself, then this is the obvious conclusion. Scripture says the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary. Thus, Jesus would be the Son of the Most High, meaning the Son of God.   Despite being a Man, He is also God. Jesus fulfilled the law, as clearly portrayed in the gospels and as explained in the epistles. Jesus died in fulfillment of the law, not for His own sin, but for the sin of others. Jesus came out of the grave, prevailing over sin for us. But it says in Romans that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The meaning is “all men,” because all have sinned (Romans 5:12).   If this is true, and if the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), then Jesus cannot merely be a human. If He were, He would have been born with Adam's sin. The logical conclusion is that because His Father is God, and because God overshadowed Mary, the offspring – though being a human – is also God. Thus, He is exempted from the “all have sinned” as stated in Romans.   After Jesus' resurrection, He said that all authority had been given to Him, just as promised by the words of David to the Christ. In Mark 16, it says that Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, just as promised in the words of David to Christ. This is confirmed in Acts and Hebrews. Paul speaks of it in his epistles.   In other words, even if you don't believe that the Bible is the word of God, nor do you believe in Jesus or that He is God, if you fairly and properly evaluate the Bible, it is clear that this is what the Bible presents. This is where faith comes in. One must not only mentally acknowledge that this is what Scripture teaches, but he must have faith that it is so.   Lord God, we believe the Bible is Your word. We believe that Jesus is proclaimed to be the Messiah and God incarnate. We believe that faith in Him is sufficient to restore us to You. Thank You for the hope we possess. We will live in Your presence forever and ever because of what You have done in sending Jesus. Hallelujah and Amen.  

True service is not about signing up for programs or earning approval. It is an act of love, obedience, and worship that flows from a heart transformed by God. In John 13, Jesus, fully aware of His authority and identity, knelt down and washed His disciples' feet, taking on the role of the lowest servant in the room. He did not do it to impress anyone. He did it to glorify His Father and make God's love visible. Humility is not a reputation to build but a heart posture that shifts our focus from ourselves to the needs of others. When we serve together in unity, the world sees Jesus. Service is not a program. It is a posture that starts with a changed heart.

What do you do when the world around you seems to be spinning into chaos, noise, and spiritual deception? In Isaiah 13–35, the prophet looks past the rising superpowers of his day to deliver a sweeping message for our modern world: Babylon will fall, but Zion will stand! If you have ever felt overwhelmed by the weight of the last days, this masterclass reveals why you can hang every hope upon the Savior and know that He will hold. Summary: In this deep dive into Isaiah 13–35, we walk through the profound prophetic chapters that Nephi loved, lived, and quoted throughout the Book of Mormon. Moving from the tragic doom of ancient empires to the breathtaking promises of the Latter-day Restoration, these chapters demonstrate the stark contrast between worldly pride and covenant safety. The Fall of Babylon & Lucifer: In Isaiah 13–14, we analyze the prophetic "burdens" of ancient superpowers, tracing the pride cycle from premortality to the end of the world. We examine how Lucifer sought to exalt his throne above the stars, only to be cast down into the pit while the whole earth breaks forth into singing. The Nail in a Sure Place: In Isaiah 22, we compare the self-aggrandizing treasurer Shebna with the righteous servant Eliakim, discovering how Eliakim stands as an exquisite type of Jesus Christ—clothed with authority, carrying the key of the house of David, and fastened as a nail in a sure place upon which all our hopes can safely hang. The Feast of Fat Things: We explore the apocalyptic songs of Isaiah 24–26, looking at how worldly merriment turns hollow during apostasy, and how the Lord promises to swallow up death in victory, wipe away tears from every face, and keep those in perfect peace whose minds are stayed on Him. The Sure Foundation vs. The Short Bed: In Isaiah 28, we contrast the Lord's "tried stone" and sure foundation against the world's refuge of lies—a spiritual trap likened to sleeping on a bed too short to stretch out on and wrapping up in a blanket too narrow to cover you. A Marvelous Work and a Wonder: We unpack the restoration prophecy of Isaiah 29, exploring the voice whispering low out of the dust, the words of the sealed book delivered to the learned and unlearned, and the Lord's power to cause the deaf to hear and the blind to see out of obscurity. The Highway of Holiness: We conclude with the radiant hope of Isaiah 35, witnessing the solitary wilderness rejoice and blossom as the rose, where the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads. Call-to-Action: In Isaiah 22:23, the Lord promises to fasten His servant as "a nail in a sure place," holding up all the vessels of His Father's house. What weight, sorrow, or trial are you ready to hand over to the Savior today, knowing that He has the strength to bear it? Share your insights and favorite verses in the comments below! To keep your testimony firmly anchored and "Unshaken" in turbulent times, please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 2:13 Nephi's Use of Isaiah 14:13 The Fall of Babylon 31:15 Lucifer's Downfall 57:11 The Bird Cast Out of Its Nest 1:05:23 Reaping with the Arm 1:10:41 The Gift of Gathered Israel 1:28:03 A Highway Across the Middle East 1:44:03 Naked & Barefoot, Labor & Watching the Night 1:56:38 The Nail in a Sure Place 2:21:42 Worldliness & Materialism 2:30:57 Apostasy & Restoration 2:48:48 A Feast of Fat Things 2:58:38 Praise & Promise 3:12:58 Redeeming the Vineyard 3:20:41 Strong Drink, Short Beds, & Small Coverings 3:43:38 Planting & Harvesting Wisely 3:53:07 A Voice from the Dust 4:05:30 A Sealed Book & a Marvelous Work 4:23:50 Speaking Smooth Things 4:36:45 Lane Assist & Intensifying Light 4:50:32 Quietness & Assurance 4:56:28 Destruction & Deliverance 5:10:04 The Day of the Lord 5:16:37 The Latter-day Zion 5:23:38 Conclusion

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. – Matthew 16:27

Don't Stop PrayingJeremiah 29:12 “Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.” I heard this song on KLOVE this morning called Don't Stop Praying by Matthew West. I was wondering if I should use it for my podcast this morning, and then I saw on Facebook the verse above, and I figured it was the Holy Spirit telling me I should use it. A week ago today, I did an episode about how we don't have to fear, and we don't have to despair because God is always there for us. He will bring us back from faraway places, and He will bring our children back, too. I know this brought people some comfort, as they are really struggling right now, and that episode was definitely words of encouragement for them. This morning, when I heard this song, I thought that it goes well with the episode about not fearing, as Jesus hears our cries and answers our prayers. He tells us this often: I think we just struggle to either hear Him, or maybe we just struggle to believe Him. I am not sure which, but I think this song can help build us up, especially if we are feeling down this holiday season. If this is your first holiday season without a loved one, then you are probably trying to figure out how to navigate feeling so many emotions at one time. Feeling happy for the holiday season with the family you do have but sad you can't share it with the ones you have lost. Feeling angry that they are not still here with you and yet grateful they get to be with Jesus. There can be so many other emotions as well. I thought this song seemed to touch on a lot of the things we may be feeling right now, so I wanted to share it with you. The song starts off by saying:What's your impossible? Your "I need a miracle"What's got you barely hanging by a single thread?What looks so hopeless now? What weighs down your heart with doubt?What is your impossible? What is that thing you are praying for that you just can't see a way out? You can't see a way through. You can't see any solution, and yet you really need a solution. What is that thing that you are looking at and saying, “I need a miracle”? What has you barely hanging on by a single thread? What are you so upset about that you are ready to give up? You are trying not to; you are trying to hold on, but it is getting too heavy, and you are afraid you will have to let go. What looks so hopeless, and what is weighing your heart down? We all have things in our lives that we struggle with. I do believe some have it harder than others, but none of us have it easy. We all have something we struggle with. We all have heavy burdens; some are just heavier than others. The song goes on to say:You beg for a breakthrough, but no sign of breakthrough yetWhen you've cried, and you've cried 'til your tears run dryThe answer won't come, and you don't know whyAnd you wonder if you can bow your head even one more timeIf this is you, know you are not the only one. God's timing can take a really long time sometimes. We beg for a breakthrough, and yet we don't see any signs of any movement in the situation. God is working in your situation; you just haven't seen it yet. It reminds me of the story of Bamboo. A Chinese bamboo tree is planted, watered, and fertilized daily, but there are no visible signs of growth for the first four years. In the fifth year, the bamboo tree grows rapidly, reaching heights of up to 90 feet in just six weeks. Sometimes, our breakthroughs are like that: there is no progress, and then all of a sudden, we have a huge breakthrough. Have you been crying and crying so much that you feel you can't cry another drop? Have you looked for answers, and yet they don't seem to come? Do you feel like you can't pray anymore? Like you can't even bow your head just one more time? Do you try to pray, and yet no words come? You are not alone. If this is you, don't give up. As the song says:Don't stop prayingDon't stop calling on Jesus' nameKeep on pounding on Heaven's doorAnd let your knees wear out the floorEven when all seems pointless, even when you feel like your prayers aren't being heard, don't stop praying. Don't stop calling on Jesus's name. Jesus promised us that whatever we ask for in His name will be given to us so that His Father in Heaven will be glorified. So, don't stop asking. We are told over and over again in the Bible: ask, and you shall receive. We don't know when, where, or how we will receive, but God promises us that when we ask, we shall receive. I love how it says, “Keep pounding on Heaven's door and let your knees wear out the floor.” This paints the picture of someone who is desperate for their prayers to be answered. How badly do you want your prayers answered? Are you asking the Lord every now and then, or are you pounding on Heaven's door and letting your knees wear out the floor?Don't stop believing'Cause mountains move with just a little faithAnd your Father's heard every single word you're sayingSo, don't stop prayingDon't stop believing, and He will come through for you. Don't stop believing he can move the mountain in front of you. Don't stop believing He can fix your situation or heal your pain, sorrow, and grief. Don't stop believing He will find you that spouse you are looking for or give you that baby you are wanting so badly. You don't need a lot of faith, just a mustard seed size, so don't stop believing. I promise you God has heard every word you are saying. He hears you, and He is working all things for your good in His timing. I know that is the hardest part, waiting on his timing, and yet His timing is perfect. The song goes on to say:He's close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spiritThe Alpha and Omega knows how your story endsWhen you've cried, and you've cried 'til your tears run dryThe answer won't come, and you don't know whyAnd you wonder if you can bow your head even one more timeOh, do it one more timeAnd don't stop prayingGod is close to the brokenhearted. I have learned recently that sometimes, when you feel the farthest from the Lord, it is actually when the Lord is closest to you. You may not be able to feel Him there for one reason or another, but He is right there with you. The Alpha and the Omega knows you; He knows how your story ends, and not just in a general sense. The Creator of the universe knows you so personally that He knows how your specific story ends. Sit with that for a minute and realize how amazing that is. God is close to you, even when you are brokenhearted. He is with you; don't stop praying!Don't stop praying for the prodigalDon't stop praying for the miracleHallelujah, hallelujah, and amenDon't stop praying that addictions endDon't stop praying for deliveranceHallelujah, hallelujah, and amenOh, don't stop praying for the sickness healedDon't stop praying for His power revealedHallelujah, hallelujah, and amenNo, don't stop praying for the Kingdom comeDon't stop praying that His will be doneHallelujah, hallelujah, and amenDon't stop prayingWow, how does Matthew West know exactly what you are praying for? I don't know about you, but I am praying for almost every one of the things listed here. I love this encouragement to keep praying; don't stop. No matter how pointless it may seem at times, you are making a difference with your prayers. Keep asking the Lord to intervene. He hears all your prayers, and He loves persistence. He has at least two parables about persistence in the Bible. The verse for today's episode says, “Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.” God is promising us right here in this verse that when we call upon Him and pray to Him, He will hear us. God always keeps His promises. So, if we call upon Him and come to him and pray, then He will hear us. He will hear our prayers for our prodigal to come home. He will hear our prayers for the miracles we really need. He will hear our prayers for the addiction to end and our prayers for deliverance. He will hear our prayers for the sickness to be healed and for His power to be revealed. He will hear us praying for His kingdom to come, and His will be done. God hears your prayers; I promise you they are not falling on deaf ears, and He is not ignoring you. He is working in your situation in the perfect way and in His perfect timing. Don't stop praying!!Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today. Lord, we want to keep praying, and yet we get weary sometimes. Can you help lift us up and put us back on our feet when we fall down? Lord, can you give us the strength and perseverance we need to keep praying even when we feel like we can't even bow our heads one more time? We love you; we know you can do the impossible, and yet, at times, the voices of the world drown out those thoughts and make us think our problems are too big. Help us to see you are bigger than any problem we might have. We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name. Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in June 2024 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “I surround you with my comfort. All you go through, I will use to help others. I hold your hand. I will not abandon you. Move forward. I will empower you.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

To be like Jesus is more than a song we sing. It is a life we must be willing to live. His mind was a mind of humility, obedience, sacrifice, and complete submission to the will of His Father. If that is truly our plea, then the question is not merely whether we can sing, "To Be Like Jesus." The question is whether we are willing to let God change our minds, our priorities, and our lives until those words become true of us.

Marine Staff Sergeant Tony Storey served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including combat deployments to Somalia and Iraq. At just 21 years old, he led Marines into Somalia during Operation Restore Hope, survived a bullet striking the sandbag beside his head, and later endured a monsoon that flooded his fighting position with human remains.In this episode, of Urban Valor, Tony shares what it was like entering Mogadishu, serving as an 0311 Rifleman, training Iraqi security forces, and carrying the memories of combat long after coming home. 

https://square.link/u/UHRU92rp - Donate HereToday's reading brings us back to 1 John 5, where John closes his letter with certainty. The Son has come, He gives us understanding, and those who belong to Him are not merely believing facts about Jesus—they are united to Him. His life becomes our life, His Father becomes our Father, and His future becomes our future. Jesus is not simply the giver of eternal life; He is eternal life.Then John ends with one final warning: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” An idol is anything we ask to provide what only Jesus possesses—identity, security, meaning, peace, purpose, or fulfillment. So today, read 1 John 5 and hold tightly to the true God: eternal life has come in Jesus, so do not trade Him for something that can never give you what only He possesses.

John 19:15 “So they cried out, ‘Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!' Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?' The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar.'" With the preparation of the Lamb completed and with those words of condemnation, the Passover sacrifice was sentenced to death. Jesus was silent like Isaiah prophecied in 53:7. “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.” What can we learn about love from His silence? There are times when we know it is God's will that we bear the weight of another's sin or ignorance. For their highest good it is best to remain silent. Such was the case here. Any words of defense or excuse would reveal a resistance to God's will. True love loves God's will and His being our Passover lamb was God's will. Also to speak could easily communicate thoughts of injustice or complaint. But Jesus was suffering to satisfy divine justice once for all. What a good work! May God give us discernment to know when it is God's will to reveal His love through us as we trust that Jesus' death satisfied God's justice for that sin, and we can suffer and forgive without a word. So how can we know when it is God's will for us to suffer and remain silent? I think Jesus gave us insight when He spoke to His Father, “Forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” When someone doesn't know what their doing, and you know they wouldn't understand, then it is best to remain silent before them and pray for God to forgive them. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Lewis Rice spent 26 years inside the DEA, working undercover cases and helping take down some of the biggest drug traffickers in America in the 1970's, 80's & 90's. After earning his Criminal Justice degree from St. John's University, he joined the DEA and went on to coordinate major international investigations targeting violent cartels in Miami — cases that seized millions of dollars in cash and thousands of kilos of cocaine and heroin. He worked directly with infamous Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas after Lucas became a government cooperator, using his information to help convict major traffickers. Rice eventually rose through DEA leadership positions in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Detroit, and New York before becoming Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's flagship New York office — making him the youngest SAC in the entire agency at the time. After 26 years on the front lines of America's war on drugs, he retired in 2001. _____________________________________________  #miami #truecrimestories #cops #mafia #newyork _____________________________________________ Thank you to CASH APP for sponsoring this episode: Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/6pao71et #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. _____________________________________________ Buy Lewis's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0805978712?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Frank Lucas Cooperates 00:32 Lewis Rice's Career and the DEA's Early Days 01:01 The Birth of the DEA in the 1970s 03:30 Growing Up in New York City 04:42 Friends' Heroin Addiction Inspires Mission 06:09 Influence of His Father 07:08 Family Background and Internships 08:51 Rikers Island Intern Experience 11:12 Starting at the DEA at 21 12:56 DEA's Size and Focus 13:12 Academy and Early Training 14:50 Legendary Supervisor Frank White 15:33 Typical Recruits in the Early DEA 16:37 Acceptance as a Young Agent 18:10 The Importance of Undercover Work 19:21 First Undercover Cases 21:21 Negotiating Drug Deals 22:00 Showing Money and Dealer Psychology 23:11 The Informant's Role 25:03 How Informants Were Found 26:36 Arresting Dealers and Building Cases 27:47 Dealers' Knowledge of the DEA 28:41 An 8-Month Undercover Investigation 29:47 Going to Trial in the 70s 30:40 Defendants Released by Magistrate 31:14 The 'Champion' Fugitive 33:03 DEA's Most Wanted and Frank Matthews 36:21 Conviction Success Rates 37:41 Working a Case with the US Attorney 38:54 Handwritten Reports and Courtroom Drama 39:42 Prosecutors' Advice on Evidence 40:49 Sentences in the 70s 41:24 High-Level Enforcement in Philadelphia 42:44 Community Impact of Mass Arrests 44:06 Drug Dealers in Their Communities 45:02 Hardcore Dealers Like Herby Sperling 45:49 Modern Dealers Cut Deals 46:03 Talking to Kids About Drug Crimes 49:01 Mafia's Role in 70s Heroin Supply 51:02 The French Connection and Source Countries 53:26 Mafia Families and Drug Politics 54:26 Money Laundering in the 70s 55:50 Cash Seizures and Stash Houses 57:44 Counting Money in Miami Cases 01:00:10 Seeing Large Amounts of Cash 01:01:35 Case Without Drugs or Money 01:02:00 The American Gangster Case 01:02:57 The Manite and Quinine Investigation 01:04:36 Prosecuting with Circumstantial Evidence 01:06:24 Bringing Frank Lucas to Testify 01:08:00 Controversy Over Frank's Cooperation 01:09:05 The Importance of Truthful Testimony 01:09:57 Was Frank's Deal Worth It? 01:11:19 Frank Lucas's Charm and Success 01:13:30 Cooperating as a Business Decision 01:14:17 Frank's Witness Protection 01:15:16 Frank's Testimony Convicts Gang 01:16:39 Frank Lucas Calls Years Later 01:17:33 Sentencing Reduction for Frank 01:19:38 Frank's Murder Trial and Acquittal 01:21:07 Moving to Jamaica 01:21:47 Life in Jamaica as a Black American 01:24:15 Objective in Jamaica: Marijuana Smuggling 01:25:05 Cultural Experiences in Jamaica 01:27:16 US Embassy's Power and Opportunities 01:29:31 Extraditing Drug Traffickers 01:30:43 Liaison Work with Two Agents 01:32:39 Two Years in Jamaica, Then Miami 01:33:18 Supervising in Miami in the Cocaine Era 01:35:10 Undercover as a Supervisor 01:37:00 Violence and Dadeland Shootout 01:39:03 Two-Year Assignments and FBI Influence 01:41:11 Relationship with Local Cops 01:42:22 Personal Life and Career Demands 01:44:04 Returning to New York 01:45:30 Changes in the Drug Game 01:46:30 Evolution of Drugs: From Heroin to Fentanyl 01:49:01 Overdoses in the 90s 01:50:26 Running the New York Task Force 01:52:30 Improving Morale After Corruption Scandal 01:54:40 Impact of Truth-in-Sentencing 01:56:29 Moving Up in the DEA 01:58:53 Becoming Special Agent in Charge 01:59:58 Role as Special Agent in Charge 02:00:53 Politics and Law Enforcement 02:02:00 NYPD Ownership of the City 02:04:59 Toughest Challenge as SAC 02:09:40 Supervisor's Responsibility for Safety 02:12:52 Length of Tenure as SAC 02:13:45 Retiring from the DEA 02:14:54 Retirement Emotions 02:15:45 Missing the Brotherhood 02:16:39 Perspective 25 Years Post-Retirement 02:18:38 Reconnecting with the DEA and Chelsea Market 02:20:20 Technology vs. Human Relationships 02:21:10 Leadership and Morale 02:23:18 Fixing the Drug Problem 02:24:21 Advice to a 21-Year-Old 02:27:32 Closing Thoughts _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka

Thursday, 17 September 2026   And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:39   “Second, also, like it: You will love the ‘neighbor, yours' as yourself.” (CG)   In the previous verse, Jesus, referring to His citation of Deuteronomy 6:5, said that it is the first and great commandment. This answered the jurisprudent's question, but Jesus has more to say before finishing, saying, “Second, also, like it.”   The addition of these words is not superfluous, even if unasked for. Rather, when He finishes, He will sum up the reason for providing the second great commandment. For now, the word “like” is translated from the Greek word homoios. It signifies like in appearance or character. The nature of the second commandment is the same as that of the first.   In order to reveal the second great commandment, Jesus refers to the book of Leviticus. In Chapter 19, there is a long list of moral and ceremonial laws covering a whole host of topics. Jesus says, “You will love the ‘neighbor, yours' as yourself.”   The first and great commandment is to love God, as Jesus described it. The next deals with human relationships, but with the same theme: love. His words specifically come from Leviticus 19:18, where it says –   “Not you will avenge, and not you will maintain ‘sons, your people'. And you will cherish to your associate according to you. I – Yehovah.” (CG)   In Leviticus, the word translated as maintain is nuanced. It has to be understood as maintaining a grudge, as if it were a garden and someone continues to tend to it, allowing the grudge to fester. Despite being in a long list of ceremonial laws, and affixed to the end of one of them, Jesus pulls this short thought out as the second great commandment.   A key point, thus, is to know that Jesus was fully aware of its presence and the context in which it was placed. His use of it then is not arbitrary. He looked to the thought, determined the essential nature of the words, and held them up as an ideal that goes beyond the individual laws which surround it.   Loving one's associate is not elevated above loving oneself. Rather, the law, as well as Jesus' citation of it, holds them in the same position. One who does not properly tend to himself in a cherishing manner cannot properly tend to others in an appropriate way.   Life application: This is another law that condemns us. Although people have claimed they have never borne any ill will toward others, it is hard to accept such words. Human interactions inevitably lead to disagreements where ill feelings result. We may hide such thoughts away as if they don't exist, but they do.   As this is so, the very nature of the law continues to condemn us. But notice how the two commandments, which are held up by Jesus as the two greatest, reflect His nature. He is the incarnate Word, the God/Man. Thus, He is capable of both types of love. He can fully love God, and He can fully love His neighbor as He loves Himself (who is both God and Man).   His fulfillment of these commands is then credited to us when we believe the gospel. Our imperfect love is covered by Christ so that God only sees Christ's perfection in love – for His Father, for His associates, and for Himself (being both God and Man).   All things are reconciled for us through Christ. Forever and ever we can, and we will, thank God for what He has done through Jesus.   O God, we are filled with shortcomings, faults, and errors in our conduct toward You and toward others. And yet, You have covered over our failings and imperfections with the precious blood of Christ our Lord. Thank You for what You have done. We praise You with hearts full of joy and thanks. All praise, glory, and honor to You. Amen.

Can we know Jesus and still lose sight of Him? In this message from Luke 2:41–52, we follow Mary and Joseph as they search for twelve-year-old Jesus and discover Him in the temple, listening, asking questions, and attending to His Father's business.Their experience opens a window into our hearts. When life doesn't unfold as expected, guilt, fear, and anger can expose our desire to stay in control. We become frustrated when God doesn't follow our plans, forgetting that Jesus is committed to His Father's purposes.Yet the gospel offers something we could never achieve for ourselves: forgiveness and righteousness received by grace through faith. Jesus takes our sin upon Himself and gives us His righteousness. We come with empty hands, trusting what He has accomplished through His death and resurrection.This sermon invites us to examine the distractions, misplaced priorities, and attempts to earn God's favor that interrupt our communion with Christ. It also offers three ways to seek Him: recognize Jesus on His throne, pursue Him within the church, and join Him in His mission. Even listening and asking someone about their faith can open a conversation about Jesus.Whether you feel weighed down by guilt, unsettled by uncertainty, or disappointed by circumstances, this message calls you to turn toward Christ. You don't have to have everything figured out before you return. His grace invites you to lay down what you're holding and receive Him by faith.We may lose sight of Jesus, but He never loses us.

Those who crave the Lord find contentment in the Lord; is that you? We continue in John 1 and see the grace and truth of God manifested through Christ, God enfleshed. Have you received His fullness and come to know His Father? Text: John 1:14-18. Visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ccc-online.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more resources, including upcoming music and previous series on many topics and passages.

Today, we will take the next step in our fall study, Convergence, as we look at imitating Jesus through what we call spiritual practices. We will find that these are not religious acts done out of a sense of responsibility, but rather a natural desire to always be in relationship with His Father.

John 19:9 “And he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, ‘Where are You from?' But Jesus gave him no answer.” So it helps to see what's happening. It appears that Jesus was brought out of the Praetorium and presented to the Jews. Then upon hearing that He might be the Son of God, Pilate took Him back into the Praetorium to question Jesus along that line. He asks Jesus a great question, “Where are you from?” That is the right question when considering the claims of Christ. If He's from Nazareth, then no biggie. But maybe Pilate remembered that Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world and he thought he should double check. Fear of offending God should cause us to double check ourselves. In this verse we see that Jesus didn't immediately answer Pilate's inquiry, so we will wait for the rest of the story. But for now let us ask ourselves this same great question. If Jesus is from God, shouldn't it change everything in our lives? If Pilate could have this moment back to do over, I think we would see him fall on his face before Jesus and say, “Have mercy on me, the greatest sinner, dear Son of God. I'm so sorry for what I have done. Forgive me!” What about us? We have this moment. We are seeing that God is love, and that love is the sustained direction of the will toward our highest good no matter what the cost. Have we fallen prostrate before Him and confessed our sorrow for what we have done to Him? If not, do we really know where He is from? And if we do know that He is from God in heaven, shouldn't we trust Him who has sent and sacrificed His Son for us? Shouldn't we surrender all to Him who surrendered all for us? And shouldn't we understand that we are not of this world, but are sons and daughters of God, sent into this world by God to live to love with Jesus as He lived to love with His Father? Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Right after +2, in the early 2000s, he left Nepal for Texas to build a life and chase bigger dreams. Two decades later, his company is building the bridges that connect terminal gates at DFW Airport.    Anup Tamrakar didn't inherit an empire. He started by working at his father's engineering practice in Nepal, tracing blueprints and even scrubbing bathrooms, long before “CEO” was ever part of the picture. Today, he leads Urban Infraconstruction LLC, a 400-person heavy civil construction company behind major Texas infrastructure like airport bridges, transit lines, and municipal water systems.   Key Milestones: -Scaled to ~400 employees, earning spots on the Inc. 5000 list and recognition as an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Southwest Finalist. -Founded the Amaalya SK Foundation, committing to fund foundational education for 1 million children in Nepal by 2035.   This isn't another polished immigrant success story. It's a conversation about what it really takes to build something at scale with the difficult decisions, risks, setbacks, and responsibility.    Featuring Anup Tamrakar, Founder, CEO, Urban Infraconstruction LLC TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00  Highlights 00:02:17  What is Real Ambition? ("Cruising Means Going Down") 00:03:09  Arriving in the US in 2003: The 20-Year Vision 00:06:16  Time Allocation & The 24-Hour Reality Check 00:10:52  Early Roots: Working in His Father's Office in Nepal at Age 12 00:12:27 Cleaning Office Bathrooms & Learning Early Humility 00:15:03  Bypassing Traditional Engineering for Construction Management 00:16:28  Self-Studying for SATs on Dial-Up Internet in Nepal 00:18:45  Father's Tough Love: "I'll Get You There, You Do the Rest" 00:20:27  Parental Sacrifice: "I Learned to Let You Go" (Goosebumps Moment) 00:22:56  Defying the Advisor Who Said a Community College Visa Was Impossible 00:24:30 Facing Cultural Judgment & Staying Firm in Conviction 00:28:22  Be Careful Who You Take Career Advice From 00:32:08  Hacking the Curriculum: Creating Custom Classes to Graduate Faster 00:33:25  Leaving Your Comfort Zone is the True Meaning of Entrepreneurship 00:35:51  Overcoming Fear & Loud Phones: Making 300 Cold Calls a Day in Texas 00:37:35  Vulnerability as a Power Move: Learning from Veteran Tradesmen 00:38:55  The "Above & Beyond" Catalyst: Turning a Report into an Opportunity 00:45:35  The Age 30 Epiphany: Holding His Daughter & Feeling the Weight 00:46:27  The Operational Motto: Decide, Commit, Act 00:59:46  The 2-Millimeter Gap: Don't Give Up Right Before Your Breakthrough

Most people at one time or another wonder who they should address when starting a prayer. The Christian concept of the Trinity has caused people to hesitate to pray. It's like, “Who do I pray to?”Luke 6:12 says, “One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”Interestingly, when Jesus prayed, as recorded in the Bible, He prayed to His Father. This is a difficult concept for many to embrace. How can someone be God but pray to Himself? In some sense, this is a matter of faith. We can't know and understand everything about the mysteries of God. But we can accept by faith that God the Father was manifest in earthly ministry as Jesus. So, He models for us how to pray to the one true God.In Matthew 6:9–13, we read, “Pray like this, Our Father in Heaven, Your name is holy. May Your holy nation come. What You want done, may it be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us the bread we need today. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” That's from the New Life version, Matthew 6:9–13. And this is the famous Lord's Prayer. It's when Jesus tells His disciples how to communicate with God. Immediately before the prayer itself, He tells them to go find a quiet place, and God will see the sincerity of the heart offering a prayer.He also says something else amazing. God knows what we need even before we ask Him. Confusion over who we are praying to is one of the most commonly asked questions, yet God is not waiting to turn away or shut the door on us if we fail to use some formal greeting. There are plenty of examples in Scripture of prayers to God the Father, of course. God exists as God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And the point is, this is not a trick that is set up so that you can fail. The triune God wants to hear from us, and a sincere heart wishing to talk to God will get through just fine.Let's pray.Father God, there are some things that are hard for us to process. We can have assurance that talking with You anytime is available to us, and we don't have to be perfect. Thank you for that, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

John 19:2-3 “And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him and they began to come up to Him and say, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!' and to give Him slaps in the face.” From this verse we see the disposition of the Roman soldiers who carried out the crucifixion. They obviously had no respect for Jesus. They knew the charge. King of the Jews. It was written on the sign to be affixed to the cross. As we read about Jesus' suffering, we are to learn from His example for in 1 Peter 2:21 -23 we read, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” Undoubtedly, we will not suffer like Jesus suffered nor to the degree that He suffered, but it's amazing to realize the love of God for us revealed as Jesus kept entrusting Himself to His Father. If we live to love with Jesus, we have this attitude in us. We know, like Jesus did, that all things come from His Father, who loves Him. We also, like Jesus, find our satisfaction in life in the love of our Father. We also know, like Jesus, that every trial we face has the purpose of revealing the life and love of God in that situation for the glory of God. We can entrust ourselves to our Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ regardless of what anyone else says about us or does to us. We know God judges righteously and in the end will glorify Himself through us in our suffering. Today, you may suffer an injustice or perhaps you'll be slandered or abused. May the Holy Spirit give you the same love and grace that was given to Jesus so you may know how to respond for the glory of God. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Marine veteran Peter Caro joined the U.S. Marine Corps expecting to become a mechanic. Instead, he was sent to Iraq as a Motor Transport operator during a time when IEDs were killing drivers across the battlefield.In this Urban Valor interview, Peter shares what it was like serving in Fallujah, driving dangerous roads in Iraq, surviving IED attacks, taking enemy fire, and dealing with the PTSD and survivor's guilt that followed him home.Peter served in the Marines from 2004 to 2013 and completed multiple deployments to Iraq. During his service, he transported personnel and equipment, trained Iraqi police and military forces, and operated outside the wire in some of the most dangerous conditions of the Iraq War.He also opens up about the moments that stayed with him most — seeing Marines he knew listed as killed in action, watching a vehicle in front of him hit an IED, and struggling with the belief that other Marines deserved to come home more than he did.After leaving active duty, Peter began dealing with hypervigilance, panic attacks, isolation, drinking, and survivor's guilt. His path to understanding PTSD eventually led him back to school, where he studied psychology and social work.Today, Peter works as a therapist helping other veterans navigate trauma, PTSD, depression, and the difficult transition from military to civilian life.Chapters: 00:00 Marine Boot Camp & Surviving an IED Attack01:00 Peter Caro's Marine Corps Story01:50 Growing Up in a Mexican-American Family06:34 Why Pete Wanted to Become a Marine08:34 Watching 9/11 Change Everything11:31 Feeling Lost Before Joining the Marines13:44 Walking Into the Marine Recruiter's Office16:33 The Reality of Marine Corps Boot Camp18:32 Choosing to Push Through19:01 A Recruit Tries to Escape Boot Camp23:39 The Reality of the Boot Camp Bathroom25:13 Pete's Infamous Boot Camp Story27:00 Marine Corps Graduation & His Father's Reaction31:51 Returning Home After Boot Camp32:59 Getting in Trouble on Recruiting Duty36:00 The Marine Corps Job He Didn't Expect37:30 Joining 9th Communication Battalion40:02 When Pete's Roommate Went UA43:55 Preparing to Deploy to Iraq45:31 “Dude, You're Going to Die”47:00 Training for His First Iraq Deployment48:47 Accidentally Taking Night Vision Goggles Home51:58 Deploying to Fallujah, Iraq53:07 Training Marines & Iraqi Security Forces54:04 Carrying Iraqi Money Into a Combat Zone55:53 His First Experience Taking Enemy Fire56:41 Tracer Fire Over a Marine Convoy59:24 Becoming Desensitized to Combat1:00:50 Seeing Marines He Knew on the KIA Wall1:03:19 The Beginning of Survivor's Guilt1:04:28 Secretly Getting Married Before Deployment1:08:55 Training Iraqi Police & Army1:10:25 Ambushed During a Convoy Mission1:15:43 Coming Home From Iraq1:18:35 Pete's Second Iraq Deployment1:20:29 The “Code Brown” Convoy Story1:24:32 Incoming Fire Nearly Kills Pete1:28:12 The Mission That Changed Everything1:31:24 The Truck in Front of Him Hits an IED1:32:49 Thinking His Marines Were Dead1:35:00 Guilt After the IED Explosion1:36:45 Why Pete Decided to Leave Active Duty1:40:48 Life in the Marine Corps Reserve1:43:43 Being Reenlisted by R. Lee Ermey1:45:21 Returning to College After the Marines1:46:50 “I Hate the Fact That I Came Back Alive”1:48:46 How Combat Changed Him at Home1:50:54 Drinking, Isolation & Emotional Numbness1:51:32 Learning About PTSD in Psychology Class1:54:50 Refusing to Accept He Had PTSD1:56:11 The Panic Attack That Changed Everything1:57:44 His First Experience Seeking Help1:58:53 The Vietnam Veteran Who Changed His Life1:59:56 Finding a New Mission Through Social Work2:00:49 Becoming a Therapist for Veterans2:02:08 Why Transitioning Out Can Be So Difficult2:03:18 Why Pete Almost Didn't Tell His Story2:05:54 What He Would Tell His Younger Self2:06:43 “You Are Enough”

When life drains us and we don't know when the waiting will end, Psalm 27 offers a powerful anchor. The Hebrew word for 'wait,' kavah, doesn't mean passive stillness. It means to twist, bind, and coil yourself into God until the cord cannot break. Jesus modeled this perfectly during His 40 days in the wilderness, where He faced exhaustion, hunger, and relentless temptation. He responded to every attack by holding firmly to Scripture and refusing to let His circumstances define what He believed about His Father. In the same way, we are called to twist ourselves into God's provision, His promises, and His purpose. Day 41 is coming. No matter what your wilderness has looked like, renewal and restoration are on the other side. Follow and subscribe to stay updated with our latest content: Youtube  | Facebook | Instagram | Central Wired Website

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:39-52 This account, found only in Luke's gospel, recalls Jesus as a twelve-year-old boy.  It is the only story we have of Christ between His infancy and the beginning of His public ministry. What is revealed in this account is the union of humanity and divinity in one person.  The humanity of Jesus is on display, not only in the fact that Jesus was twelve years old, but also in Luke's description of Jesus.  "And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom" (Lk 2:40).  "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man" (Lk 2:52).  Jesus was truly human, in need of physical, mental, and spiritual growth.  We also see in this passage the divinity of Christ when He spoke of being in His Father's house.  What is uniquely revealed here is that, at a young age, Jesus was aware of His being the Son of God and that His work was of a divine necessity.  "Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Lk 2:49). In the union of divinity and humanity in Christ, we see the magnitude of His merciful condescension. The Creator becomes a creature.  The Sovereign becomes a servant.  He who is life subjects Himself to death.  The Judge becomes the judged.  Such love and sacrifice call us to a consuming love, a heartfelt contrition, and a humble, sacrificial service ... all the days of our lives.

As your parents get older, they love to tell those stories again, and again, and again. We've enjoyed hearing some of the family stories that my wife's dad had to tell. And, you know what? It filled in a lot of blanks, as we tried to put together the history of the last couple of generations. We asked him once about that little girl named Ada. My wife's grandfather, Granddad Glenn, had one child – her dad. And he wanted a sister! So, Granddad Glenn traveled from their small town to a major city to check out the adoption possibilities at an orphanage there. I don't know if he was prepared for the reception he got there. Everywhere he went, children asked him if they could go home with him. But there was this one dark-haired, dark-eyed little girl who just would not leave his side. Her name was Ada. She wouldn't let go of Granddad's hand, and she kept looking up at him with her big brown eyes and begging him, “Please let me go home with you. Please take me.” He did. And my wife's dad got his sister. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Orphan in Your Heart.” The heart of an orphan desperately reaching for someone to love and take care of her. Maybe that's a feeling you know even though you're not physically an orphan. But life can get pretty lonely; relationships that were supposed to bring you love and happiness ended up bringing disappointment and hurt. You live enough years, there's a good chance you end up feeling abandoned at some point, left out, rejected, alone – even with a lot of people around you. And the biggest mistakes we make in our life are often mistakes we make for love. We keep reaching for a hand that might offer love and saying, “Take me. If you do, I'll be OK.” But we've never really been totally OK. No love has ever been enough love, and sometimes we've paid too high a price to get someone to take us. It's this orphan feeling in the human heart that Jesus Christ speaks to in our word for today from the Word of God, recorded in John 14:18. He says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Jesus says, “I can give you the ‘never leave you' love that your heart's always been hungry for.'” Actually, He's the only one who can finally bring us spiritual orphans home. The loneliness we just keep feeling is ultimately cosmic loneliness. We're lonely for God. Why? Well, He made us for His love and we've left Him. It isn't that we don't have a Father. We feel like emotional and spiritual orphans because we've never begun a relationship with this Father who loves us so very much. In Isaiah 53:6, God describes how we have missed His love. It says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” Our sin – our "my way" living has cut us off from the love we were made for, and only Jesus could bring us back. The rest of that verse says, “The Lord laid on him (that's Jesus) the wrongdoing of us all.” In other words, Jesus died on the cross, carrying all the guilt and all the hell of all your sin and mine. That's why He cried out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46) Reason: He was cut off from His Father so you would never have to be cut off from Him again. And now He's reaching out His hand for you to offer you the relationship – the love you were made for. The question is, “Are you going to reach back?” Won't you grab the hand of Jesus and tell Him, “Lord, take me. You're this orphan's only hope. You died for me. I am yours. I want to be a child of the Heavenly Father, born into His family this day because of what You did on the cross for me.” Listen, if that's where your heart is, go to our website. It has all the information you need to confirm that you belong to God through Jesus. That website is ANewStory.com. Your Heavenly Father has come to where you are today to bring you into His family, to bring you home to His love. Like a little orphan many years ago, reach up and say, “Take me.” Oh He will. And you will be an orphan no more.

In this episode, Jesus prays that His Father will protect His disciples, and unify them as they face the difficult journey ahead!

In John 11, we find the story of Jesus coming to Lazarus's tomb after he had died. When He arrived, Jesus said:“Go ahead, take away the stone.” They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Father, I'm grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've spoken so that they might believe that you sent me.” Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.” (John 11:41-44 MSG) It's fascinating that the first thing Jesus did was to have the stone removed that was blocking the tomb. Then to raise a man from the dead, He began by expressing gratitude to God, His Father. After thanking God for listening and responding, He commanded the man's resurrection and ultimate freedom.Think about a situation in your life where you are struggling. Is there a situation that seems hopeless - that feels dead and you desire new life.Listen once again to Jesus's main commands: “Go ahead, take away the stone.”… Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Father, I'm grateful … Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, … Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.” Our stone can be rolled away to free us. Can you trust God to resurrect hope that seems dead?You can come out of your struggle with a renewed and transformed life from witnessing God's miraculous power.Let's pray together: “Father, thank You for resurrection and new life. Thank You that You have power over sin and death. Thank You that You forgive and offer real freedom. I believe You today for all these in my life. As above, so below.” - Amen

What if Jesus is more than you think He is? In Part 1 of The Father's Heart series with Demetrius Archontakis, we explore what it really means to follow Jesus - and what changes when we move beyond religious titles, accomplishments, and simply having knowledge about Him to truly understanding who He is, what He represents, and what He has done for us. Demetri shares why he believes modern Christianity has lost something essential: discipleship. We explore the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him personally, why our past does not have to define our identity, and what it means to live from the freedom Christ has already given us. Whether you're a business owner, leader, parent, pastor, or simply someone seeking to follow Jesus more fully, this conversation challenges us to look beyond what we think we know and ask a deeper question: Who is Jesus - and what does it really mean to follow Him? What We Discuss Why Jesus (not our titles, accomplishments, or gifting) is our true qualification The difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Him personally What it means to make Jesus the center of our identity Why discipleship is not just for pastors or people working in ministry How our everyday lives become our sphere of influence and discipleship What Jesus meant when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" Understanding Jesus not as someone who shows us the way, but who is the Way Why our past does not have to define who we are What it means to live from the freedom Christ has already given us How the renewal of our minds helps us walk in that freedom The difference between finding Christ and finding His life Why transformation begins in the heart What Jesus teaches us about selflessness, surrender, and dying to self Jesus as the ultimate model of leadership - never hurried, never striving, always about His Father's business What we can learn from those throughout history who valued following Christ above comfort or even life itself Understanding Chronos and Kairos moments and why we can't remain stuck in yesterday Why salvation isn't the end of the journey, but an invitation into a new way of living Episode Highlights  00:00 — Introduction  02:25 — Ministry Beyond the Church Walls 04:24 — What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple Maker? 06:46 — Your Accomplishments Don't Define You 09:11 — Identity Begins with Christ 11:37 — What Does It Mean to Be "In Christ"? 13:52 — Breaking Free from the Identity of Your Past 16:04 — Who Is Jesus? The Way, the Truth & the Life 18:09 — Knowing Christ vs. Living His Life 20:38 — Transformation Begins in the Heart 22:59 — Jesus: The Ultimate Model of Leadership 24:50 — What Are We Willing to Give Up to Follow Jesus? 26:51 — What It Means to Die to Self 29:15 — Chronos, Kairos & Moving Forward 31:41 — Salvation Is the Beginning, Not the Destination Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/spirituality/558-the-fathers-heart-part-1-simply-jesus-with-demetrius-archontakis  Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com ________

What does it truly mean to make an impact? A women's basketball coach at Texas A&M offered a simple but powerful distinction: success is what happens to you, while impact is what happens because of you. Numbers 8, set against the backdrop of the Israelites preparing to journey through the wilderness, gives us four clear attributes of a person who makes a lasting difference. God was literally at the center of the Israelite camp, and that arrangement was intentional. When He is at the center of our lives, everything else finds its proper place.The four attributes are ears that hear the Lord, hands that build a team, a heart that loves the presence of God, and a soul that shines while dented. Hearing God means opening His Word with genuine expectancy, not just asking Him to bless our existing plans but actually listening for His. Building a team means delegating real trust and responsibility to others, whether in ministry, marriage, or family life. Loving His presence means creating space to actually be with God, not just attending church or reading a verse occasionally, but slowing down enough to connect deeply. And shining while dented means allowing the painful, hammered seasons of life to shape us into purposeful instruments rather than broken ones.Jesus modeled all four of these attributes perfectly. He listened constantly to His Father, built a team of disciples, withdrew regularly to pray, and shined most brilliantly while suffering on the cross. Because of it, He became the most impactful person who ever walked the earth. Impact is not reserved for pastors or missionaries or people with large platforms. It belongs to anyone willing to live with ears open, hands extended, a heart pursuing His presence, and a soul that keeps shining even when life has left its marks.

Have you ever seen something that is really dirty? Maybe it's dusty or grimy. What do you need to do when something is dirty? Clean it!!!! This week we are learning about how Jesus went to the temple and cleaned it! He didn't get a bucket of water or a scrub brush, NO! He chased out all the animals and the people who had made His Father's house a marketplace! If you went to church and it wasn't a place to worship but a store where you could buy and sell things, how would you feel? Would you be able to worship God? No WAY! Let's see what Jesus did and how everyone responded! Year B Quarter 3 Week 35All Bible verses are from the NKJVHymn: More About JesusWrite to Ms. Katie: seedpod@startingwithjesus.comKatie's Korner: https://startingwithjesus.com/katies-korner/Find the Lessons Here: Kindergarten https://bit.ly/SeedPodKLessonsPrimary https://bit.ly/SeedPodPLessonsConnect with Us:Website: https://startingwithjesus.comStarting With Jesus - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/StartingWithJesusSeedPod - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCvU2FBPEL5-Zi2QW0STVLg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingwithjesusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingwithjesusAcknowledgments:Bible Readings this Week: ElishaPodcast Producer: Katie ChitwoodSound Engineer: Dillon AustinMy Bible First, https://bit.ly/SeedPodLesson  for use of their Bible Lesson curriculum.AudioVerse, https://www.audioverse.org/  for partnering with us and supporting our ministry.Lindsey Mills, for writing and performing our SeedPod Kids Theme Song & Background Music. To learn more about her music or to get her CD, email her: lindsey@startingwithjesus.com

From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay each person according to what He has done.” (Matthew 16:21-27)

Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt grew up in Moscow as the son of the city's chief rabbi, trained in Bnei Brak and Ponovezh, and spent a decade as assistant rabbi at Manhattan's Park East Synagogue — until he was abruptly and very publicly fired. In this raw conversation with Nachi Gordon, he opens up for the first time about that moment: the New York Post headline, the car crash he got into reading about himself, and the isolation of losing not just a job but an entire community. Out of that low point came Altneu, the congregation he and his wife built from nothing — starting with 40 people in their living room, then two and a half years of renting a different Manhattan venue every single week, never knowing until Thursday's email where Shabbos would be. Rabbi Goldschmidt walks through how that instability became the shul's strength, the breaking point that nearly ended the project, his father's advice that turned it around, and how it all led to buying a $35 million building on the Upper East Side. He also gets into what it's like leading a congregation through today's political climate in New York, and the loss of a beloved member that shook the whole community.   This episode is sponsored by:   ► PZ Deals   Download the app and never pay full price again!   https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp   _________________   ► Colel Chabad Pushka App   The easiest way to give Tzedaka   https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful   _________________   ► Shopify Guru   Store looks great but not selling the way it should? Shopify Guru's Daniel gets under the hood and makes it actually work, no developer needed every time you want to make a change. Call 732-534-1404 or go to shopifyguru.io.   https://go.jcn.io/sgmp   _________________   ► Ness Vacation Homes   EDEN GARDENS' LARGEST LUXURY HOME COLLECTION. Handpicked, high-end homes available exclusively through Ness.   https://nessvacationhomes.com/   _________________   ► El Al   From the Hebrew announcements to the Israeli atmosphere onboard, flying EL AL feels like Israel before you even land. With nonstop flights to Israel and Jewish comfort from takeoff to landing, there's nothing like hearing: ברוכים הבאים לישראל. Book your next flight with EL AL:   https://www.elal.com/eng/usa?utm_source=meaningful&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=gcny_incoming_usa&cid=s:el%7Cm:what%7Ccp:gcny%7Cct:incoming%7Cau:usa   _________________   ► Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years! Reach out today for a free case evaluation.   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   _________________   ► Town Appliance   Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp.   https://www.townappliance.com   https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp   _________________ Timestamps:   0:00 Intro: A Shul With No Address 2:57 Growing Up in Moscow as the Chief Rabbi's Son 8:47 Sent to Bnei Brak and Ponovezh at Twelve 11:40 Choosing the Rabbinate and the Lakewood "Freezer" Years 18:28 Becoming a Rabbi at Park East at Twenty-Four 23:52 A Decade as Assistant Rabbi at Park East 26:52 Getting Fired: The Sudden, Public Fallout 33:47 Losing a Job, Losing a Community 36:19 His Father's Parallel Story and the Birth of Altneu 44:20 Building a Shul on Wheels Across Manhattan 54:48 The Breaking Point and His Father's Advice 59:05 Buying a $35 Million Building on the Upper East Side 1:01:28 Building Altneu's Identity and Culture 1:10:01 From the Pulpit to Politics: Life in Manhattan Today 1:17:50 Confronting Antisemitism and What Makes a Movement Survive 1:22:00 Remembering Wesley 1:24:37 Closing