The study of the past as it is described in written documents
POPULARITY
Categories
242 episodes with historically
57 episodes with historically
24 episodes with historically
24 episodes with historically
65 episodes with historically
32 episodes with historically
15 episodes with historically
20 episodes with historically
77 episodes with historically
40 episodes with historically
36 episodes with historically
11 episodes with historically
18 episodes with historically
16 episodes with historically
9 episodes with historically
17 episodes with historically
26 episodes with historically
13 episodes with historically
38 episodes with historically
13 episodes with historically
17 episodes with historically
8 episodes with historically
17 episodes with historically
8 episodes with historically
28 episodes with historically
10 episodes with historically
10 episodes with historically
7 episodes with historically
13 episodes with historically
10 episodes with historically
10 episodes with historically
8 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
15 episodes with historically
11 episodes with historically
12 episodes with historically
8 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
11 episodes with historically
12 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
14 episodes with historically
8 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
12 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
13 episodes with historically
13 episodes with historically
10 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
8 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
10 episodes with historically
18 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
7 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
9 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
12 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
7 episodes with historically
7 episodes with historically
8 episodes with historically
7 episodes with historically
8 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
7 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
10 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
19 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
22 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
11 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
11 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
2 episodes with historically
2 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
2 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
10 episodes with historically
7 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
7 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
9 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
25 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
6 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
7 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
4 episodes with historically
2 episodes with historically
10 episodes with historically
3 episodes with historically
5 episodes with historically
Many investors are wondering whether the market is getting ahead of itself, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence and technology stocks. But perhaps the better question is not, “Are we in a bubble?” The better question may be, “How should we respond if we are?” That was the focus of today's conversation with Mark Biller, Executive Editor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Sound Mind Investing. With AI continuing to drive market enthusiasm, many investors are feeling both excitement and concern. The challenge is learning how to respond with wisdom rather than fear. Why Investors Are Concerned About AI and Tech The AI story has been driving markets for several years. One clear example is the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which has risen sharply since the end of the 2022 bear market. More recently, many companies have reported rapid profit growth and have credited AI as a key factor. That has encouraged investors because it shows AI is not merely hype. Companies across many industries are beginning to see real benefits from AI tools, including improved efficiency and increased profitability. At the same time, the demand for AI computing power has caused certain sectors—especially semiconductor stocks—to soar. When any part of the market begins rising almost straight up, investors naturally become nervous. It brings to mind previous market manias that ended in painful declines. Is This Really a Bubble? Calling a bubble in real time is extremely difficult. Even when someone identifies one correctly, acting on that information too early can be costly. Mark pointed to the late 1990s internet bubble as an example. Many investors suspected that Internet stocks were overheated long before the bubble actually burst. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan famously warned about “irrational exuberance,” but that warning came more than three years before the market peak. Investors who sold immediately missed significant gains before the downturn finally arrived. That illustrates an important point: even if a bubble is forming, that does not tell investors exactly what to do or when to do it. Markets are forward-looking. Investors are pricing companies not only on current earnings but also on what they believe those companies may earn in the future. If expectations rise dramatically, stock prices often rise with them. So it is possible that some parts of the market, such as semiconductor stocks, may be showing bubble-like characteristics while the broader market does not look as overheated. But the practical question remains: how should investors respond? Avoid Fear-Based Market Timing Most investors would love to avoid downturns without missing the upside. But in practice, that kind of market timing is extremely difficult. Investors often make one of two mistakes. Some sell too early and miss major gains. Others wait too long and sell only after stocks have already fallen, and fear has taken over. That is why a disciplined plan matters. Instead of trying to predict the exact top of the market, wise investors focus on staying invested while managing risk thoughtfully. Historically, some of the market's strongest gains occur late in bull markets. That does not mean investors should ignore risk, but it does mean that fear-based decisions can be costly. Diversification Still Matters One of the most practical ways to manage risk is through diversification. A well-balanced portfolio helps reduce the risk of becoming overly exposed to a single hot sector. Mark offered a helpful way to think about it: if everything you own is rising at the same time, or if nothing you own is rising, you may not be truly diversified. But if some holdings are doing very well while others seem to be lagging, that may actually be a sign that your portfolio is properly balanced. Diversification can feel frustrating when one part of the market is racing ahead. But its purpose is not to maximize every short-term gain. Its purpose is to help investors remain steady through a variety of market environments. Rebalancing Is a Disciplined Way to Manage Risk Another practical tool is rebalancing. When one part of a portfolio has grown significantly, rebalancing allows investors to shift some gains out of fast-rising assets and back into areas that have not run up as much. This helps manage risk without requiring investors to predict the future. Rebalancing also has an emotional benefit. It gives investors a clear process to follow. Instead of asking, “Should I sell everything?” they can simply make measured adjustments in line with their plan. That kind of discipline can help investors avoid impulsive decisions driven by fear or excitement. Keep Reasonable Expectations Investors also need realistic expectations. Markets do not move up in a straight line forever. If you stay invested in strong-performing sectors, there is a good chance you will eventually give back some gains when leadership changes or when a bear market arrives. That is part of investing. The goal is not to avoid every decline. The goal is to participate in the market's long-term growth while managing risk wisely along the way. Even defensive investing comes with trade-offs. Playing defense too aggressively—or too early—can lead to false alarms and missed returns. Staying invested longer may bring more growth, but it also means enduring discomfort when markets pull back. There is no perfect way to avoid every downside while capturing every gain. Know Your Temperament Successful investing is not only about knowledge. It is also about behavior. Investors who tend to do well over time are often those who can remain patient, diversified, disciplined, and emotionally steady in both strong and difficult markets. That is especially important when headlines are filled with bubble talk. Fear can push investors to sell too soon. Excitement can push them to chase what has already risen. Neither is a wise foundation for financial decision-making. A Wise Response to Market Uncertainty When markets look overheated, investors do not have to ignore the risks. But they also do not have to be ruled by them. A wise response begins with a disciplined, diversified, long-term plan. Rebalance periodically. Keep expectations realistic. Understand your own temperament. And avoid making major decisions based on fear, excitement, or the latest market chatter. Markets can stay hot longer than many people expect, and guessing the exact turning point usually creates more problems than it solves. But a thoughtful strategy can help investors respond with wisdom rather than react emotionally. For more on this topic, you can read Mark Biller's article, “How to Handle a Bubble,” at SoundMindInvesting.org. Sound Mind Investing has been helping Christians make biblically informed investing decisions for more than 30 years, offering practical guidance for investors who want to approach the markets with wisdom, discipline, and a long-term perspective. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I have some very old debts that have been removed from my credit report. I want to handle them ethically and with integrity. Should I try to negotiate reduced settlements with creditors, or should I aim to repay the full amount I originally owed? I have a whole life insurance policy I no longer need because I already have adequate coverage. With a child heading to college in about a year and a half, is there a tax-wise way to use the policy's cash value for college savings? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Sound Mind Investing (SMI) | SMI Private Client How to Handle a Bubble by Mark Biller (Article on SoundMindInvesting.org) Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
For the last 50 years, we've operated under a single dominant idea: the purpose of business is to maximize shareholder value. But what if this whole era of extraction and short-termism isn't the natural order at all? What if it's just a blip? Sarah Gillard, CEO of Blueprint for Better Business, has spent 25 years inside major corporations watching what happens when companies forget what they're actually for, and she makes the case that business has both the power and the obligation to change it.Episode Highlights: [00:02:42] Two very different business models: profit maximization vs. employee ownership, from inside the same industry [00:06:37] The ESG rollback in context: what the data actually shows about corporate commitments [00:09:03] The forces of gravity that act on companies as they scale, and why purpose needs structural defense [00:12:17] The 70% problem: why intangible assets dominate organizational value but get ignored [00:15:27] Rethinking the social contract: why government, business, and civil society can't afford separate swim lanes [00:27:07] AI as a force for good or fragility: the questions businesses aren't asking but should be [00:37:58] Blueprint for Better Business's two foundational ideas, and why neither is as radical as it soundsNotable Quotes: Eric Ressler [00:25:20]: "We need more in culture imagining what that future could and should be, instead of constantly only warning about what it's looking like it's going to be." Sarah Gillard [00:38:40]: "Historically we will see these last 50-odd years as an odd blip. How do we take the most powerful shaper of our societies and just go: just focus on the money? Just weird." Sarah Gillard [00:40:20]: "Good intentions are necessary, but not sufficient. You need legal and governance mechanisms that keep you on track even when there is significant pressure to move."Resources & Links:Blueprint for Better Business — Sarah's organization; the one-page AI framework for boardrooms is available on their websiteJohn Lewis Partnership — The UK's largest employee-owned business, where Sarah led purpose strategyThe Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson Dear Alice: Utopian anime yogurt commercial — mentioned by Eric as a rare example of positive future imageryHosted by Eric Ressler, Founder & Creative Director of Cosmic, with co-host Jonathan Hicken, Executive Director of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. New episodes every Tuesday.→ Subscribe: designingtomorrow.show → Work with Cosmic: designbycosmic.comListeners, now you can text us your comments or questions by clicking this link.*** If you liked this episode, please help spread the word. Share with your friends or co-workers, post it to social media, “follow” or “subscribe” in your podcast app, or write a review on Apple Podcasts. We could not do this without you!We love hearing feedback from our community, so please email us with your questions or comments — including topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes — at podcast@designbycosmic.comThank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.
Join our champion program: mark@themomentumcompany.comAttend a Thriving Leader event: https://thriving-leader-2026.lovable.app/Instagram: @the.momentum.companyLinkedIn: /momentum-companyIn this episode of The Intentional Agribusiness Leader, Mark sits down with Todd Churchill—social entrepreneur, consulting CFO, and founder of multiple agriculture and food businesses—for a deep conversation about land, nutrition, human history, and the systems shaping modern agriculture.Todd defines intentional leadership through one foundational idea:Understand why we do what we do.Not just operationally.Historically.Todd believes intentionality requires curiosity—digging beneath assumptions to understand how systems, incentives, and human behavior evolved over time. Whether it's farming, food production, land ownership, or nutrition, the deeper question is always:Why did humanity build it this way?That mindset has shaped Todd's entire career.Raised on a family farm in Illinois, Todd grew up around cattle, land management, entrepreneurship, and long-term thinking. One of the most powerful lessons passed down through generations was this:Land is not primarily how you make wealth.It's how you preserve it.Throughout history, land—alongside gold and silver—has remained one of the few assets capable of retaining value across inflationary cycles, economic shifts, and changing currencies.But Todd also explains the emotional side of land ownership.People don't connect to land rationally.They connect to it emotionally.And that emotional connection has shaped agriculture for generations.The conversation also explores the evolution of Todd's work in the cattle industry.After years in finance and fractional CFO consulting, Todd became involved in specialty meat processing and eventually launched one of the first national grass-fed beef brands in the United States: Thousand Hills Cattle Company.What began as a business opportunity quickly became an obsession with one central question:What creates the best possible eating experience?Not just selling “grass-fed.”Not just selling beef.Creating food that people genuinely wanted to eat—and that their bodies recognized as deeply nourishing.A major theme throughout the episode is this:The real problem is often different than the one people think they're solving.Todd explains how businesses frequently optimize for the wrong thing:Selling more product instead of creating a better experienceMaximizing industrial efficiency at the expense of long-term healthPursuing scale without balance or sustainabilityThe conversation also dives into one of agriculture's biggest structural challenges:The separation of livestock and crop production.Todd explains how integrating cattle and grain production historically created natural nutrient cycles—where manure restored soil fertility and livestock added value to crops. As modern agriculture became more specialized, those systems became disconnected, increasing dependency on purchased inputs and reducing long-term resilience.That challenge is part of the work Todd is now involved in through Progena Systems, where the focus is creating more efficient, sustainable, closed-loop systems that improve both productivity and ecological outcomes.The episode also touches on nutrition, food systems, and the future of beef production.Todd makes a clear distinction:The conversation shouldn't be about making beef more exclusive or expensive.It should be about making high-quality, nutrient-dense beef:More efficient to produceMore affordableMore sustainableAnd more accessible to more peopleBecause feeding people well matters.The episode closes with one of the most important questions leaders can ask themselves:Am I actually solving the right problem?Because intentional leadership doesn't start with better tactics.It starts with better questions.Listen if you are:Interested in the future of food and agricultureThinking about land ownership and long-term wealthExploring regenerative or integrated ag systemsLeading a business and trying to solve deeper root problemsCurious about nutrition, beef production, and sustainability
Ben Shelton continued his breakout 2026 season by winning the Stuttgart grass-court title, defeating fellow American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the final. It was Shelton's first ATP title on grass and his third trophy of the season after earlier successes on hard courts and clay. The title run was anything but straightforward. Shelton survived multiple three-set battles during the week, including a dramatic semifinal victory over Jiří Lehečka in which he saved two match points before prevailing in a final-set tiebreak. With Wimbledon approaching, Shelton's ability to win on all three major surfaces has elevated him into the group of genuine contenders for a deep run in London. Kamil Majchrzak completed a dream week in 's-Hertogenbosch by claiming the first ATP Tour title of his career. The Pole's run included victories over top players, highlighted by wins against Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev. Majchrzak reached the final after upsetting Medvedev in straight sets and then completed his remarkable tournament by lifting the trophy, a breakthrough achievement for the 30-year-old. His grass-court form makes him one of the more dangerous unseeded players heading into Wimbledon qualifying and draw discussions. The first week of ATP grass-court action produced two major storylines: Shelton has shown he can transfer his explosive serve and aggressive baseline game to grass, making him a legitimate threat at Wimbledon. Majchrzak's confidence is at a career high after securing his first ATP title and multiple top-level victories. This week's ATP 500 event in Halle serves as one of the strongest Wimbledon tune-ups. Historically, the tournament has favored elite servers and aggressive all-court players. The field is expected to feature many of the tour's leading grass-court performers as they continue preparations for the Championships. Players to watch include: Jannik Sinner, who has been one of the dominant forces of 2026. Ben Shelton, arriving with momentum from Stuttgart. Other Wimbledon contenders looking to fine-tune their grass-court games. The ATP 500 event at Queen's Club traditionally offers one of the clearest indicators of Wimbledon form. The fast conditions reward big serving, aggressive returning, and efficient net play. Key questions entering the week: Can the top contenders quickly adapt from clay to grass? Will a player such as Shelton continue his surge? Which established grass-court specialists will emerge as serious Wimbledon threats? Bottom line: Shelton leaves Stuttgart looking like one of the hottest players on tour, while Majchrzak's maiden ATP title is one of the feel-good stories of the grass season. The spotlight now shifts to Halle and Queen's, where the final pecking order for Wimbledon will begin to take shape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Southern Baptist Convention recently voted to move forward with a constitutional amendment formally prohibiting women from serving as pastors. In this episode, I examine the SBC's decision, the reaction it sparked, and why I believe they arrived at the correct conclusion—but for the wrong reasons.Using the SBC article and Pope St. John Paul II's Ordinatio Sacerdotalis as a point of comparison, I explore a much deeper question: What is the nature of the ministerial office in the Church, and who has the authority to define it?The problem with the SBC's position is not necessarily its conclusion regarding women's ordination. The problem is that within a Baptist framework, the debate ultimately becomes an issue of biblical interpretation. If Scripture alone is the final authority, and individual churches or denominations possess the authority to interpret it differently, then the argument over women's ordination becomes difficult to settle in any lasting way.Historically, the Church's rejection of women's ordination was not based solely on isolated proof texts. It was rooted in a sacramental understanding of the priesthood, apostolic succession, ecclesiastical authority, and a consistent tradition maintained throughout Christian history in both East and West. The early Church Fathers, the historic episcopate, and the universal practice of Christianity all provide a much broader framework than a simple appeal to competing interpretations of Scripture.In this episode, we'll examine the SBC vote, the theological assumptions behind it, what Ordinatio Sacerdotalis actually argues, and why the larger issue is not women's ordination itself—but the authority of the Church to define and preserve the offices Christ established.If you'd like to donate to our ministry or be a monthly partner that receives newsletters and one on one discussions with Dr. Stephen Boyce, here's a link: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=6381a2ee-b82f-42a7-809e-6b733cec05a7#SouthernBaptistConvention #WomensOrdination #WomenPastors #OrdinatioSacerdotalis #CatholicChurch #ChurchHistory #ChurchFathers #ApostolicSuccession #Ecclesiology #FACTSPodcast
Hour 1 - The Knicks with the greatest comeback in NBA history. How did the Spur blow that lead? The Red Sox got swept and things keep getting worse for the Red Sox. Is there anyone you want to keep on this team?
(00:00) Zolak & Bertrand start the show by recapping the largest comeback in NBA Finals history as the Knicks come back from down 29 to take a commanding 3-1 lead. Zo and Beetle acknowledge Fox's struggles and the Spurs panicky collapse.(16:02) Zolak, Bertrand & McKone look into the antics of New York fans after wins. Can the Celtics learn anything from the Knicks? The guys go to the phone lines for their thoughts on everything NBA Finals.(25:14) This day in Red Sox history, Red Sox injuries pile up as conflicting reports on Crochet come out of the organization. Beetle discusses if it is worth it for Crochet to rush back.(37:50) Bertrand shares a fun fact on just how bad the Red Sox batting order really is. Zo and Beetle discuss rival evaluators taking on the Red Sox terrible lineup construction.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
It has happened before in Philadelphia where an athlete wants a better contract and will hold out of practices. It's not clear why Jalen Carter is holding out, but the 94 WIP Morning Show wonders if it's about a contract negotiation.
The Office of Personnel Management on Wednesday awarded its anticipated contract to modernize and consolidate federal human resources functions to Oracle, capping a process that's been over a year in the making. The nearly $400 million award puts Oracle in charge of a process to bring over 100 HR systems under one single platform that the agency is calling its Core Human Capital Management system. OPM says it believes the project will make significant reductions in the overall cost of HR platforms to taxpayers. “Historically, federal agencies have relied on fragmented, aging HR systems that are costly to maintain and difficult to scale,” OPM Director Scott Kupor said in a written statement included in a press release. He called the award “a foundational investment in the future of federal workforce management.” A final award comes over a year after an early effort to award such a contract failed to move forward. In May 2025, the Office of Personnel Management awarded a sole-source contract to Workday to facilitate the Trump administration's HR modernization efforts, arguing it was the only vendor that could do the job. But OPM abruptly canceled that award, and later launched open competition for such a contract. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on Wednesday ordered federal agencies to prioritize vulnerabilities based on four criteria, as part of a push to “patch smarter, not harder.” Federal agencies should emphasize patches for vulnerabilities that affect a publicly exposed asset, allow an attacker to fully automate exploitation, give attackers the ability to take over control of a system or relate to evidence of active, real-world exploitation, CISA declared. CISA acting director Nick Andersen previewed the binding operational directive (BOD) Tuesday, framing it as a rethinking of vulnerability management more broadly. Andersen said in a statement: “This Directive provides clear definitions, timelines and criteria that enhances transparency, predictability and agencies' resource planning to execute more effective vulnerability remediation." BOD 26-04 sets forth timelines for how quickly agencies must fix a vulnerability based on how many of the four criteria it meets. If it meets all four, for example, agencies need to fix it within three days and carry out a “forensic triage” to assess whether their systems were compromised. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.
Understanding Interest Rates: How Global Events Shape Your Mortgage FutureEver feel like the world's events are playing a direct role in your household budget? You're not imagining it. Right now, a significant global event - the ongoing conflict in Iran - is creating ripples that reach all the way to your potential mortgage payment. As tensions escalate, oil prices tend to climb, and this isn't just about what you pay at the pump. Higher oil prices can fuel inflation, putting pressure on central banks to raise interest rates. It's a complex dance, but here's a critical takeaway for anyone interested in their mortgage future: keep a close eye on the 10-year Treasury yield. Historically, when the 10-year Treasury goes up, so do mortgage rates. It's a key indicator, and understanding these connections is crucial for navigating the housing market. At DDA Mortgage, we believe an informed borrower is an empowered borrower, and we're here to help you make sense of it all.Peace Prospects and Your Mortgage: The Path to Lower Interest RatesImagine a scenario where the geopolitical tensions in Iran begin to de-escalate, and a path to peace emerges. It might sound like a distant dream, but the potential economic impact of such a resolution would be profound, especially for interest rates and the housing market. The primary link here is oil. A peaceful resolution would likely stabilize and even reduce global oil prices. Why does this matter so much for your mortgage?The Oil-Inflation-Interest Rate ConnectionOil is a fundamental commodity that affects nearly every aspect of the global economy. When oil prices are high, the cost of manufacturing, transportation, and producing goods and services increases across the board. This widespread increase in costs is a major driver of inflation. Central banks, like the Federal Reserve in the U.S., have a primary mandate to control inflation. Their most powerful tool for doing so is adjusting the federal funds rate, which in turn influences a wide range of other interest rates, including those for mortgages.If peace were to break out in Iran, leading to a significant drop in oil prices, we would likely see a corresponding easing of inflationary pressures. With inflation under better control, the pressure on central banks to keep interest rates high, or even raise them further, would diminish. In fact, they might even consider cutting rates to stimulate economic growth.tune in and learn https://www.ddamortgage.com/blogDidier Malagies NMLS #212566dda mortgage nmls#324329 Support the show
David McKnight kicks this episode off by explaining how, for decades, conventional financial wisdom has been saying that, as you approach retirement, you should begin dialing down your stock exposure and increasing your bond allocation. A 60-year-old, for example, would have 40% of their portfolio in stocks and 60% in bonds. Historically, bonds served three primary functions: They provided income, they reduced portfolio volatility, and they protected retirees from so-called sequence of returns risk. David touches upon how the sequence of returns risk works. Retirees who get hit early often run out of money earlier – in some cases, even 15 years prior to life expectancy. The old approach to retirement planning assumes that bonds could provide meaningful returns while still acting as a stabilizer. However, recent years have shown that bonds are not risk-free. Back in 2022, for instance, the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index lost 13%. Long-term treasuries did even worse, as many lost between 25 to 30% due to rapidly rising interest rates. David stresses that an annuity can do something bonds cannot do: It can guarantee income that you cannot outlive. It's important to realize that whenever your basic living expenses are covered, something profound happens psychologically: You stop depending on your investment portfolio to solve every problem. Furthermore, you feel as if you now have permission to spend. Studies show that those who have guaranteed lifetime income spend 22% more than those who rely strictly on a stock bond portfolio. A properly funded IUL can create a pool of tax-free money that's insulated from stock market loss and available during downturns. David unpacks a strategy that can increase the sustainable withdrawal rate on your stock portfolio from 4% to as high as 8% with a 95% success rate. When you combine guaranteed lifetime income from annuities with a volatility shield in the form of IUL, you are no longer reliant on bonds, says David. He also touches upon why retirees who adopt the no-bond power of zero approach begin to take a lot more risk in their stock market allocations. David wraps things up by sharing insights on what retirees should think about and do to increase the likelihood that, in retirement, their money will last as long as they do. Mentioned in this episode: David's new book: The Secret Order of Millionaires David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track Tax-Free Income for Life: A Step-by-Step Plan for a Secure Retirement by David McKnight DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
Episode 97 This is a story about Philadelphia's gay history, beginning with the first protest at Dewey’s Restaurant in the 1960s, our Reminder events and history makers who've made an incredible difference in our city's LGBTQIA community. Historically, Philly pride was held in an area of the city called the Gayborhood. Named as such in October 1995 during the city's first Outfest in honor of national coming out day. David Warner of the Philadelphia City Paper changed the lyrics to Mr. Roger's famous song and said It's a beautiful day in the gayborhood. In 2007, the city installed 36 rainbow street signs between 11th and Broad Street, and Walnut and Pine Streets to recognize the gay history in our city. This year, the event was moved to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, yet many chose to celebrate as they always have – in the Gayborhood. What they didn’t expect was an overwhelming police presence as they celebrated Philly Pride 2026. Research sources for this episode include: Philadelphia Gay News https://epgn.com/ Billy Penn at WHYY: https://billypenn.com/2016/02/16/justice-for-kathryn-knott-but-no-progress-on-pas-hate-crime-laws/ Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia: https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/deweys-lunch-counter-sit-in/ Equality Forum: https://equalityforum.com/deweys-sit-historic-marker Global Non-Violent Action Database City Cast Philly: https://philly.citycast.fm/history-archive/deweys-restaurant-sit-in-lgbt-rights-pride City of Philadelphia Action Guide: https://www.phila.gov/2017-12-04-philadelphias-lgbtq-protections/ The Pennsylvania Youth Congress: https://payouthcongress.org/lgbtq-equality-in-pa/ Philadelphia City Council: phlcouncil.com NBC10 News 6ABC Action News The Philadelphia Inquirer The post PRIDE in the City of Brotherly Love appeared first on TwistedPhilly.
In this week's episode, Dave is joined by Bartosz Skwarczek, Founder and Chairman of G2A, for a fascinating conversation about trust, artificial intelligence, and how digital marketplaces are preparing for the next era of online commerce. Bartosz shares the story behind G2A's growth from a small gaming business in Poland to one of the world's largest digital entertainment marketplaces, serving more than 35 million users across 180 countries. What began as a traditional online store evolved into a global marketplace, creating an ecosystem where buyers and sellers can connect at scale while maintaining security and trust. A key theme throughout the episode is the changing nature of trust in the age of AI. Historically, trust in e-commerce centred on the relationship between buyers, sellers, and marketplaces. However, as AI agents become increasingly capable of making decisions on behalf of users, businesses are now facing a new challenge: how do consumers learn to trust autonomous systems? The discussion explores research conducted by G2A and Juniper Research, which found that around 30% of consumers would already be willing to allow an AI agent to complete an entire purchasing journey on their behalf, including selecting products and making payments. While adoption is still in its early stages, the findings suggest that consumer attitudes towards AI are evolving rapidly. Another important theme is the rise of agentic commerce. As AI agents become more sophisticated, future transactions may increasingly take place between autonomous systems acting on behalf of both buyers and sellers. This creates new challenges around governance, accountability, and verification, raising important questions about how trust can be established in an AI-driven marketplace. The conversation also highlights G2A's long-standing investment in artificial intelligence. Long before the recent AI boom, the company was using machine learning to power anti-fraud systems and improve security. Today, AI supports a wide range of functions across the organisation, from fraud prevention and operational efficiency to customer experience and decision-making. Fraud prevention is another major focus of the discussion. As AI tools become more accessible, both businesses and bad actors are becoming more sophisticated. Bartosz explains how G2A combines seller verification, payment security, real-time anomaly detection, and continuous data analysis to create a secure environment while maintaining a seamless customer experience. Finally, the conversation turns to the future of AI adoption. Rather than viewing AI as simply another productivity tool, Bartosz argues that organisations must embed it into their culture, processes, and ways of working. As AI agents become increasingly capable, the companies that succeed will be those that can balance innovation with trust, transparency, and security. For anyone interested in artificial intelligence, digital commerce, fintech, and the future of trust online, this episode offers valuable insights into how marketplaces are adapting to a world where humans and AI increasingly work side by side.
Employees are ready to leave if their boss fails in this crucial area of leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Market Strength Remains Concentrated One of the most important developments in the market this year has been the concentration of returns within a relatively small portion of the S&P 500. An analysis of sector performance reveals that technology stocks have once again emerged as the primary driver of market gains over the past several weeks, reestablishing themselves as the market’s leadership group. Technology now represents approximately 39% of the S&P 500, making its performance increasingly important to the overall direction of the index. As a result, investors should pay close attention to valuations and earnings growth within the sector, as weakness in technology could have an outsized impact on broader market returns. Last fall provided an encouraging example of market resilience, as other sectors stepped in to offset periods of weakness among technology companies. Whether that dynamic can repeat itself remains an important question for the remainder of the year. The growing influence of technology is largely tied to a handful of exceptionally profitable companies. The so-called “Magnificent Seven” now account for more than one-third of the S&P 500’s total market capitalization and continue to generate earnings growth far above the rest of the market. In the first quarter, these companies delivered earnings growth of 63.2%, roughly four times the growth rate achieved by the other 493 companies within the index. Corporate profitability more broadly has also remained remarkably strong. During the first quarter, S&P 500 companies retained nearly 15 cents of profit for every dollar of revenue generated. According to available data, that represents the highest profit margin recorded since tracking began in 2009 and is more than double the long-term average dating back to 1946. These trends suggest that while market leadership remains narrow, the underlying earnings environment continues to provide meaningful support for equities. Going forward, monitoring sector performance and return dispersion across the market will be critical in identifying opportunities and determining whether portfolio adjustments become necessary. A New Federal Reserve Chair Takes the Stage While market fundamentals remain strong, investors are also preparing for a major leadership transition at the Federal Reserve. Kevin Warsh is set to assume the role of Federal Reserve Chair, and his first meeting leading the Federal Open Market Committee will take place next week. Historically, markets have paid close attention to the early actions of a new Fed Chair, often reacting with heightened volatility as investors assess potential changes in policy direction. Historical data shows that market performance following a new Chair’s first meeting has frequently been challenged. On average, the market has experienced modest declines during the first several weeks after the transition, reflecting investor uncertainty and the market’s tendency to test new leadership. While historical averages provide useful context, individual outcomes have varied significantly depending on economic conditions and market circumstances at the time. The Federal Reserve’s decisions are ultimately driven by incoming economic data, making recent employment figures particularly important. The May employment report came in substantially stronger than expected, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 172,000 jobs compared to expectations of roughly 88,000. In addition, prior months’ payroll figures were revised higher, reversing a trend of downward revisions seen earlier in the year. Job growth remained broad-based across several sectors, including leisure and hospitality, healthcare, construction, and government employment. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, reinforcing the view that the labor market remains healthy. This strength in employment is significant because it directly relates to one half of the Federal Reserve’s dual mandate: maximum employment and price stability. As Warsh begins his tenure, he will inherit an economy that continues to exhibit labor market resilience. The inflation outlook, however, remains less certain. Rising oil prices driven by ongoing tensions in the Middle East have increased concerns about potential inflationary pressures. Future inflation data will likely play a major role in shaping the Federal Reserve’s policy decisions and influencing investor expectations for interest rates. Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth Consultant Email Greg Powell here Bobby Norman, CFP®, AIF®, CEPA® Managing Director Wealth Consultant Email Bobby Norman here Trey Booth, CFA®, AIF® Chief Investment Officer Wealth Consultant Email Trey Booth here Ty Miller, AIF® Vice President Wealth Consultant Email Ty Miller here Fi Plan Partners is an independent investment firm in Birmingham, AL, with a team of professionals serving clients across the nation through financial planning, wealth management and business consulting. The team at Fi Plan Partners creates strategies in the best interest of their clients using fee based investing. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Economic forecasts set forth in this presentation may not develop as predicted. No strategy can ensure success or protect against a loss. Stock investing involves risk including potential loss of principal. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC and a registered investment advisor.The post The Fed's Influence on the Markets first appeared on Fi Plan Partners.
Richard Epstein examines the 14th Amendment's opening clause, distinguishing the robust rights of citizens from the conditional privileges of aliens. He argues that naturalization was historically a federal prerogative, noting that early statutes, influenced by Thomas Jefferson, included explicit racial exclusions for persons of African or Asian descent.18751
Historically we were taught as surgeons that 1-centimeter bites that between suture throws on a Pfannenstiel (low transverse) fascial closure was enough to prevent hernia formation and optimize facial healing. But is this still evidence based? We can extrapolate data from a May 2026 systematicreview/meta-anlysis as well as a separate study from the Dutch published in 2021. Both of these studies were in the journal Hernia. The evidence does favor one technique over the other! Listen in for details.1. Golling M, Baumann P, Kuger F, Fortelny RH.Impact of the SUture BIte TEchnique on clinical outcomes after midlinelaparotomy closure: SUBITE-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hernia. 2026May 19;30(1):221. doi: 10.1007/s10029-026-03700-z. PMID: 42154339; PMCID:PMC13186860.2. Paulsen CB, Zetner D, Rosenberg J. Variation inabdominal wall closure techniques in lower transverse incisions: a nationwidesurvey across specialties. Hernia. 2021 Apr;25(2):345-352. doi:10.1007/s10029-020-02280-w. Epub 2020 Aug 8. PMID: 32770366.
Shohei Ohtani has done pretty much everything you could want from an offensive standpoint. However, it's what he's doing on the mound that is garnering attention this season. After pitching yet another gem for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Japanese two-way superstar is performing at a historic level this season. On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about what Ohtani is doing on the bump that's led to his recent domination and why this is the best we've seen him pitch in the big leagues. They then discuss where this current stretch puts Shohei in an already incredibly tight NL Cy Young race and whether he could finish ahead of Cristopher Sánchez, Jacob Misiorowski, and Paul Skenes for his first Cy Young Award. Later, Jake and Jordan discuss Aaron Judge's injury, which will keep him out for an extended period of time, and how the New York Yankees will be able to weather the storm until he potentially returns. They also look at Corbin Burnes receiving bad news during his rehab from Tommy John surgery, the San Diego Padres falling into a deeper slump after getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, and make their picks for this week's edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla. 1:41 - The Opener: Ohtani is dominating 16:19 - A look at the NL Cy Young race 30:15 - Around The League: Aaron Judge is out 44:52 - Padres in a deep funk 47:39 - The Good, The Bad & The Uggla Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
Rams Go All-In With Miles Garrett The Los Angeles Rams just reset the NFL conversation. They added Miles Garrett, called the best football player on the planet regardless of position. He is 30. He even set an NFL record last season. It is a thunderclap move that signals urgency right now. Detroit Lions fans feel that jolt. They want the same message. Push for the trophy today. The Lions have not thrown caution aside. They have also not stood still. The context matters. Splash does not always equal rings. How It Frames the Detroit Lions The comparison that landed hardest came from basketball. The Lakers once stacked Karl Malone and Gary Payton onto a roster with Shaq and Kobe. Detroit Pistons beat them four games to one. Age and cohesion mattered more than headlines. There is a fair echo with Matthew Stafford's stage and a superstar at 30 who might be past peak. Still great. Still terrifying. But time is undefeated. Another parallel came from hockey. The New York Rangers added Wayne Gretzky to a lineup with Mark Messier, Luke Robitaille, Brian Leech, and Mike Richter. The stars were brilliant. Depth cracked. They ran into Eric Lindros and the Flyers and got bounced after two rounds. The Flyers later lost to the Red Wings in the Final. The lesson is simple. Depth, health, and timing beat posters on the wall. Detroit's Front Office Note One more thread touched the Lions directly. Detroit hired Chris Grey. He is not the Lions' GM. The hire stirred reactions, especially from Miami. The show kept it in perspective. Roles matter. Structure matters. The decision does not change who runs football operations in Detroit. Early Odds Put Detroit In a Crowded Tier Markets moved fast. As of last night, DraftKings listed the Rams at +550 to win the Super Bowl. That is the best number on the board. The next team sat at +750. The Detroit Lions fell into a second cluster with the Broncos, Packers, and Texans between +1700 and +1900. That is respect without coronation. It reflects belief in Detroit's build and skepticism about any team in June. The Detroit Lions Podcast cut through the noise. Garrett to the Rams is massive. It does not end the season. Detroit's path is still clear. Keep stacking depth. Stay healthy. Peak late. The slogans will not decide it. Snap counts and solutions will. The NFL rewards teams that can win ugly in January. That is still the target in Detroit. #detroitlions #lions #detroitlionspodcast #losangelesrams #mylesgarrett #nflpreseasonfavorites #nflodds #historyofnflfavorites Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt opened the show with a simple message: if you're a long-term holder, this is probably the time to close CoinMarketCap, shut down the computer, and go enjoy your life. Bitcoin briefly touched roughly $61,500 after trading near $85,000 just two weeks earlier, while Ethereum fell below $1,800. The market was hit with approximately $1.76 billion in liquidations over a 24-hour period, and ETF outflows have now stretched to thirteen consecutive sessions, totaling roughly $4.4 billion since mid-May. Matt described the recent price action as a classic "dead cat bounce," where a market crashes so hard that it temporarily rebounds before settling lower. While some analysts, including Standard Chartered, have suggested the bottom may be close, Matt remains skeptical. His view is that a 50% drawdown from all-time highs does not automatically mean the pain is over. Historically, Bitcoin has experienced even deeper corrections, and he cautioned that another significant leg lower remains possible. A major point of discussion was Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and the growing speculation surrounding its massive Bitcoin holdings. Prediction markets are increasingly focused on questions surrounding Strategy's future purchases, index inclusion, and financial stability. While Matt does not believe the company is facing an imminent crisis, he noted that any meaningful Bitcoin sales by Strategy would inject significant liquidity into an already fragile market and could intensify downward pressure on price. Matt also reflected on the emotional reality of crypto bear markets. No matter how committed someone is to Bitcoin, prolonged drawdowns eventually test everyone's conviction. Even the most bullish investors experience moments of doubt. His advice remains the same as it has been throughout previous cycles: if you're a believer in the long-term thesis, continue dollar-cost averaging if it fits your plan, avoid emotional decisions, and remember that bear markets are designed to make people question everything. By the end of the episode, Bitcoin was trading around $63,460, Ethereum near $1,772, XRP at $1.17, and Solana below $70. The overall crypto market capitalization had fallen to roughly $2.2 trillion, while the Fear & Greed Index registered an "Extreme Fear" reading of 19. Matt argued that true capitulation may not have arrived yet. In his view, the real bottom typically comes when investors become completely despondent and the broader market once again declares that Bitcoin is dead. Until then, his message was simple: enjoy the weekend, spend time with family, and don't let the charts control your life. Summary: Bitcoin's sharp decline, record ETF outflows, and extreme fear readings have pushed the market deeper into bear-market territory. While some analysts believe a bottom may be forming, Matt remains cautious, warning that further downside is still possible and encouraging investors to focus on long-term discipline rather than short-term panic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Shownotes The nature of peace talks and conflict resolution has radically changed. Historically, most wars end with political settlements, usually the result of formal negotiations. The prototypical modern peace talks were hosted a major or mid-size power that wasn't a party to the conflict, negotiated by professional diplomats and technical experts, and implemented with some international oversight by the United Nations or a group of governments. Recent wars have departed from this script. Negotiations these days occur in all manner of venues. There are secret or semisecret talks by unofficial emissaries, sometimes known as “track two diplomacy.” There are official talks managed by tiny powers like Qatar and Oman, all the way to powerful but new players in the peacemaking space, like China. And official superpower diplomacy in the current era looks nothing like the old: today, the US president's personal lawyer and son in law, with no staff, try to negotiate peace agreements and simultaneously private deals for the Trump Organization. Michael Wahid Hanna has followed many of the peace talks, successful and failed, of recent decades. On this episode of Order from Ashes, he takes stock of how the peace negotiations have changed, and whether we should downgrade our expectations for what diplomacy can Participants Michael Wahid Hanna is US program director at International Crisis Group. Thanassis Cambanis is director of Century International. Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026 Episode: Order from Ashes 115
Historically, Wuhan's soundscape must have been incredibly diverse — a nexus of nine provinces and a land of rivers and lakes. Yet, precisely because of this, its development and changes have been lightning fast. Changti Street was one of the few spots that fit the project's theme at the time. In the afternoon, the street buzzes with activity but feels relaxed and unhurried. Shop owners along the way take their time, some even napping or strolling idly. Customers come in small groups, mostly local regulars who greet passersby—a scene uncommon elsewhere. One owner mentioned the street might relocate or renovate due to its “dirty, disorderly, and poor” state; who knows how it stands now.Wuhan street soundscape recorded by Digimonk.
(3) Thaddeus McCotter discusses a Gallup poll revealing historically low economic confidence among independent voters. The Trump administration's foreign policy challenges, particularly regarding Iran, further complicate the domestic political landscape for Republicans before the midterms.
Brian Szytel of The Bahnsen Group recaps a broad market sell-off (Dow -620, S&P -0.7%, Nasdaq -0.9%) after nine straight weeks of gains, noting there was no major new catalyst beyond slightly higher rates, higher oil, and ongoing Middle East tensions involving the U.S. and Iran. Year-to-date performance remains positive (Dow ~+6%, S&P ~+10%, Nasdaq ~+15%), and economic data was generally strong, including better-than-expected ADP private payrolls (122 vs. 110) and solid services readings. He highlights continued resilience in labor demand and some increased entry-level and AI-related hiring. Historically, nine-week winning streaks have often been followed by positive returns over 3, 6, and 12 months, though higher 10-year yields around 4.50% could cap risk assets. He adds the Fed may need to raise rates later this year if inflation stays high despite strong employment, while oil futures imply prices returning to the 70s over time. 00:00 Market Snapshot 00:37 Why Stocks Sold Off 01:25 Economic Data Check In 01:54 Jobs and AI Hiring Buzz 03:07 Nine Week Rally Context 04:15 Rates and Fed Outlook 05:10 Oil Inflation and Wrap Up 05:41 Disclosures Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com
In Episode 190 of Facts vs Feelings, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, and Sonu Varghese, Chief Macro Strategist at Carson Group, take on the SpaceX IPO and what it could mean for indexes, mega-cap weights, and the next phase of the AI trade. They're joined by Blake Anderson, Director of Portfolio Management at Carson Group, for a wide-ranging conversation on market breadth, small caps, tech leadership, Google's AI spending, software, and the growing influence of data centers and high-quality cash flows in today's market.The episode also digs into the latest rally in stocks, the role of FOMO, the state of the bond market, and why this bull market may still have more room to run even as leadership narrows.From IPO mechanics and index inclusion rules to the economics of AI infrastructure, the conversation connects the market's biggest headlines to the harder data underneath.Key Takeaways:The S&P 500 is up nine consecutive weeks. When it has gained more than 15% in April and May combined, June has never been lower and the rest of the year averages nearly 19% gains.Small caps are up 18% year-to-date and it seems like nobody is talking about it. A third of those returns trace back to three companies, all tied to data centers and AI infrastructure.SpaceX chose the Nasdaq, and Nasdaq changed its rules. Mega-cap companies can now be assessed for index inclusion just 15 days post-IPO instead of waiting six months.At a $2 trillion valuation against $19 billion in 2025 revenue, SpaceX carries a price-to-sales ratio above 90. Historically, IPOs with price-to-sales above 40 average a 94% first-day pop, but a negative 45% three-year return.A deal disclosed in the SpaceX S1 could see Anthropic pay up to $15 billion annually for data center capacity, nearly matching SpaceX's entire 2025 revenue in a single contract.Google is raising $80 billion in equity and has cut buybacks to zero. AI infrastructure spending has moved from optional to existential, with payoff timing still uncertain.Jump to:0:00 — Welcome and the SpaceX question1:19 — Markets rip higher after the spring rally10:33 — Breadth, small caps, and hidden leaders14:10 — FOMO signals and the bubble check15:59 — Blake joins on tech and rates20:48 — Google funds AI data centers26:22 — Software's AI reset and data moats29:13 — SpaceX IPO filing and index rule changes43:01 — IPO stats, valuation risk, and consumer wrapConnect with Ryan:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandetrick/• X: https://x.com/RyanDetrickConnect with Sonu:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonu-varghese-phd/• X: https://x.com/sonusvarghese?lang=enQuestions about the show? We'd love to hear from you! factsvsfeelings@carsongroup.com#SpaceXIPO #FactsVsFeelings #investing #stockmarket #AI #techinvesting #IPO #smallcaps #SP500 #bullmarket #NVIDIA #Starlink #Anthropic #OpenAI #marketanalysis #portfoliomanagement #indexfunds #WallStreet #fintech #CarsonGroup
In this Cloud Wars conversation, Bob Evans sits down with Bonnie Tinder, Founder and CEO of Raven Intelligence, to discuss how AI is reshaping the systems-integrator (SI) market. Their discussion explores how AI-powered migration agents, deployment assistants, and new implementation models are dramatically reducing project timelines, staffing requirements, and costs. Bonnie explains why traditional implementation approaches are giving way to leaner, expertise-driven engagements centered on outcomes rather than labor hours. Episode 60 | Outcomes Beat Implementations The Big Themes: AI Compresses Implementation Costs: Tinder notes that organizations often spend 10 to 11 times the cost of software licenses on implementation services. AI is beginning to challenge that model by automating some of the most labor-intensive aspects of projects, particularly data migration and system conversion work. Migration agents and deployment assistants can significantly reduce the need for large teams of junior consultants performing repetitive tasks. As implementation timelines shrink and staffing requirements decline, customers will increasingly expect lower costs and faster results. Vendors are also pushing for these efficiencies because lengthy implementations delay customer value realization. The result is mounting pressure across the SI industry to adopt AI-enabled delivery models that are leaner, faster, and more outcome-focused. Outcome-Based Thinking Is Accelerating: Throughout the discussion, Bob and Bonnie discuss the growing demand for measurable business outcomes. Customers are increasingly unwilling to tolerate expensive implementations that fail to deliver value. This pressure is encouraging software vendors and SI firms to move toward outcome-oriented engagements and pricing models. Instead of charging primarily for labor and project duration, firms must demonstrate tangible improvements in efficiency, productivity, or business performance. Boutique Firms May Gain an Advantage: Bonnie sees a major opportunity for boutique consulting firms in the AI Era. Historically, large global systems integrators benefited from scale, brand recognition, and access to specialized tools. AI is leveling parts of that playing field by making sophisticated capabilities more broadly available. Smaller firms can now compete using many of the same technologies while offering highly experienced teams and direct client engagement. Visit Cloud Wars for more.
Christopher Romero, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City, and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai discusses arginine vasopressin deficiency. The name of the rare disease central diabetes insipidus was changed in 2024 to better reflect its etiology.Central diabetes insipidus, a rare disease, is unrelated to the common medical problem diabetes mellitus, other than they are both problems related to endocrinologic dysfunction. Whereas diabetes mellitus involves pancreatic function and the production of the hormone insulin, central diabetes insipidus involves the pituitary gland and regulation of the hormone vasopressin. Dr. Romero stated that a new name for central diabetes insipidus was introduced in 2024—arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D) to reflect the difference and relieve misconceptions caused by the traditional naming. The central issue with AVP-D is the function of antidiuretic hormone, which regulates water concentrations in the body. Pediatric and adult patients with this vasopressin deficiency (which mediates antidiuretic hormone levels) excrete more urine than patients without the deficiency. “It causes these patients to drink more, to make up for the water loss,” said Dr. Romero, “resulting in kids being thirstier and having to use the bathroom more often.” As a result, AVP-D can lead to weight loss and loss of appetite, dehydration, and electrolyte abnormalities. He also pointed out that the abnormal cycle of drinking and urination in children interferes with school work and performance. “Unless you're aware of [AVP-D], you may miss the diagnosis,” said Dr. Romero. The pituitary gland is involved with so many functions, and symptoms only slowly evolve. Issues with the onset of puberty and growth may hint at the pituitary source of the problem. Historically, treatment was managed with an oral formulation of vasopressin, which was first available in the 1970s. An intravenous form was available in inpatient settings. A nasal spray formulation was subsequently developed, and is useful particularly with older children. Dr. Romero pointed out, figuring out the correct dosage for an individual pediatric patient is key; every child with AVP-D is different in terms of how much water they lose during the drinking–urination cycle. “Even though the oral form was effective, only two dosages were available. You have to titrate the dose to balance the water loss,” he emphasized.The introduction of Desmoda in February 2026, an oral solution of desmopressin acetate 0.05 mg/mL, allows for easier titration. The solution may be easier to take than the pills for young children, and caregivers may have a better idea of precisely how much medication the patient is getting. For those reasons, Dr. Romero believes this formulation may be the best option for young pediatric patients with AVP-D.
Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.
Simon breaks down the controversial topic of rent controls and explains why enforcing rent caps ultimately backfires on the private rental sector, drawing from real-world examples in Scotland and analysing the upcoming impacts of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 KEY TAKEAWAYS When Scotland implemented a rent cap to protect existing tenants, landlords responded by aggressively hiking initial rents on empty properties and selling off stock, which ultimately constricted supply and drove average rents up. Anti-profit mindsets fail to recognise that property investments carry high financial risk, and the taxes generated from these profits are what directly fund public systems like the NHS and social housing. Historically, landlords avoided annual rent increases to retain good tenants, but strict caps linked to inflation or market rates will likely incentivise them to maximise rent hikes every single year. Artificially lowering rental prices reduces available housing and shifts the financial burden onto local councils for expensive emergency housing, ultimately leaving tenants with fewer places to live. BEST MOMENTS "Rent caps don't work. It would be a crazy policy for any government to introduce." "The vast majority of landlords don't raise their rents on an annual basis... because if you have a good tenant in the property, you want to keep them there." "Why would anyone do a business, take on the risk of having a business, if they can't make a profit?" "The problem where any government tries to intervene in a free market and try and control it too much, is it puts everything out of skew." VALUABLE RESOURCES To find your local pin meeting visit: www.PinMeeting.co.uk and use voucher code PODCAST to attend you first meeting as Simon's guest (instead of paying the normal £20). Contact and follow Simon here: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OfficialSimonZutshi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonzutshi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/SimonZutshiOfficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonzutshi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonzutshi/ Simon Zutshi, experienced investor, successful entrepreneur and best-selling author, is widely recognised as one of the top wealth creation strategists in the UK. Having started to invest in property in 1995 and went on to become financially independent by the age of 32. Passionate about sharing his experience, Simon founded the property investor's network (pin) in 2003 www.pinmeeting.co.uk pin has since grown to become the largest property networking organisation in the UK, with monthly meetings in 50 cities, designed specifically to provide a supportive, educational and inspirational environment for people like you to network with and learn from other successful investors. Since 2003, Simon has taught thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners how to successfully invest in a tax-efficient way. How to create additional streams of income, give them more time to do the things they want to do and build their long-term wealth. Simon's book “Property Magic” which is now in its sixth edition, became an instant hit when first released in 2008 and remains an Amazon No 1 best-selling property book. Simon launched his latest business, www.CrowdProperty.com, in 2014, which is an FCA Regulated peer to peer lending platform to facilitate loans between private individuals and property professionals. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
Reformed Brotherhood | Sound Doctrine, Systematic Theology, and Brotherly Love
In this profound exploration of Matthew 25:1-13, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb unpack the parable of the ten virgins, revealing it as far more than a simple warning about preparedness. Moving beyond dispensational "rapture ready" interpretations, they demonstrate how this parable addresses the spiritual condition required for entrance into God's consummated kingdom. The discussion centers on the critical distinction between outward religious profession and genuine possession of the Holy Spirit's grace. With pastoral sensitivity and theological depth, the hosts examine the meaning of the oil, the significance of the midnight cry, and the urgency of both evangelism and personal examination. This episode challenges listeners to consider whether they possess not just the lamp of profession, but the oil of saving grace that alone sustains faith through the waiting period before Christ's return. Key Takeaways The oil represents saving grace, not perfect obedience - The critical distinction in the parable is not between those who stayed awake versus those who slept (all ten virgins fell asleep), but between those who possessed oil and those who didn't. The oil symbolizes the indwelling, regenerating, sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit—the grace that comes through effectual calling and genuine conversion. This parable warns against mere outward profession - All ten virgins carried lamps and waited for the bridegroom, representing outward religious activity and profession. The difference lay in the interior spiritual reality—whether that profession was accompanied by the transforming grace of the Holy Spirit or remained empty formalism. The "midnight cry" represents both personal death and Christ's return - Historically, Reformed expositors understood the midnight cry as either the actual cry of Christ's angels at His return or the voice of God in individual death. Each person's death functions as their personal midnight that irrevocably fixes their eternal state. Readiness is not about sinless perfection but possession of grace - The parable is not teaching a fearful "rapture ready" theology where Christians must be perfectly sinless when Christ returns. Rather, it teaches that readiness consists in possessing saving grace through faith in Christ, which sustains believers even when they "sleep" (fall into sin or spiritual drowsiness). There is urgency in the gospel call - The parable emphasizes that the opportunity for salvation has a deadline—"you know neither the day nor the hour." This creates urgency both for unbelievers to trust Christ and for believers to share the gospel, since no one knows when their personal "midnight" will arrive. Calvin's insight: you "buy" oil by receiving it freely through faith - Though the parable speaks of "buying" oil, Calvin notes this doesn't imply paying a price. Just as Isaiah invites people to buy wine and milk without money, we obtain the oil of grace not through merit or payment, but by receiving through faith what Christ freely offers. Key Concepts The Oil as Symbol of the Holy Spirit's Grace The oil in this parable has been consistently interpreted throughout church history as representing the grace of the Holy Spirit—specifically the indwelling, regenerating, and sanctifying presence that comes through genuine conversion. This interpretation aligns with Old Testament symbolism where anointing oil signified the Spirit's presence (as in "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit"). The crucial distinction Jesus makes is not about external religious activity (both groups had lamps and waited), but about internal spiritual reality. Just as a lamp cannot burn without oil, religious profession without the Spirit's grace has no sustaining power. This oil cannot be shared or borrowed; it must be personally possessed. The parable thus exposes the deadly danger of assuming that outward Christian activities—church attendance, biblical knowledge, moral behavior—constitute genuine Christianity when the transforming work of the Spirit is absent. All the Virgins Slept: Grace Overcomes Human Weakness One of the most important details often overlooked is that both the wise and foolish virgins fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom. This demolishes any interpretation suggesting the parable is about maintaining perfect spiritual vigilance or sinless living. The wise virgins' readiness was not based on their superior wakefulness or moral stamina—they fell asleep just like the foolish ones. Their preparedness came from having secured the oil beforehand. This has profound theological implications: our salvation and readiness for Christ's return does not depend on our ability to maintain perfect spiritual alertness or sinless perfection. Even when believers "sleep"—when they fall into sin, experience spiritual dullness, or fail in vigilance—they remain prepared because they possess the oil of the Spirit's grace. The parable thus provides comfort alongside its warning: those who have truly received Christ need not live in constant fear that a moment of weakness will disqualify them when He returns. The Midnight Cry and Personal Eschatology The midnight cry in verse 6 functions on multiple levels theologically. Universally, it points to Christ's unexpected second coming at the end of history. But Reformed interpreters have also recognized its application to individual eschatology—each person's death serves as their personal "midnight cry" that ends all opportunity for preparation. This dual meaning creates urgency both for evangelism and self-examination. The parable warns that whether Christ returns globally or death comes individually, that moment will arrive unexpectedly ("at midnight," the hour of deepest sleep) and irrevocably fix one's eternal state. Once the door is shut, no amount of pleading ("Lord, Lord, open to us") can change one's condition. This underscores a biblical truth often denied in contemporary theology: there is no post-mortem opportunity for salvation, no remedial path after death. The time for obtaining oil is now, in this life, before the cry sounds. Memorable Quotes Every man's death to him is the coming of Christ. That's when our state is irrevocably fixed. And so there's an urgency here—an urgency of evangelism and self-examination because the midnight cry may come at any moment. The difference between the wise and the foolish virgins is not that one of them stays awake and one of them falls asleep. The difference between the wise and the foolish is that the ones that are wise are prepared for when the bridegroom comes, even though they fell asleep. The only way to be prepared for the end is to turn to Jesus. It's not about whether or not you've turned to Jesus and have become perfectly sinless. None of us are like that. It's about trusting Jesus. Full Episode Transcript Welcome to episode 494 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. [00:01:10] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother. [00:01:15] Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. Looks like you and I need to get a midnight oil check. That's if you know, you know, that's what's coming up on this episode, and we're headed to Matthew 25 to do that oil check. We're still firmly in all of these beautiful parables that Jesus tells us, and this one goes by various names. You might know it as the parable of the 10 virgins, or if you're Petra. That classic Christian rock group who produced a song called Midnight Oil, which is absolutely a banger that that should be like the the theme song of this episode. If you haven't heard that song, go check out Midnight Oil by Petra and then come back and listen to us. Like, I wish we had the rights to that. We could just drop it in right here. But we're not that cool and we're not gonna edit that. So I'm gonna leave it up to you to craft your own version of this podcast with that great backing track. Have you heard that song? [00:02:09] Tony Arsenal: I actually haven't. I, I came, uh, came into Christianity sort of at the tail end of Petra's Big Influence. So I know, I knew who Petra is. I've listened to a few of their songs, but they weren't mainstream by any sort, sort of, uh, stretch of the imagination when I was listening to Christian music. So [00:02:28] Jesse Schwamb: this one's so good. It's so good. And it's right on point for our conversation today. So we're gonna get into all that stuff. The oil check, the midnight nature of it, the 10 virgins. What does it all mean? Of course, Tony and me, we have for you what I believe to be the definitive exegetical and hermeneutical reflection on the parable. So that's what you've come to expect from us and we're happy to deliver, but before we deliver on that, we got all the things we have to deliver to you, and that is affirming with or denying against something that's that point of course in the podcast or our conversation where we choose something they firm with that we think is. Undervalued, something we might recommend or conversely to deny against something that maybe is a little bit too overvalued or just not that great. So Tony, as is our customer, I say to you, sir, what are you doing? Are you affirming with something or are you denying against something? [00:03:16] Denial Memory Blank [00:03:16] Tony Arsenal: I'm denying something. This is like denial. Ception is what's going on here. So, uh, first of all, thank you, Jesse for, uh, pitch hitting a solo episode at like, literally the last minute, last week. Um, I think we normally record at seven 30 on the Lord's Day, and I think I texted Jesse like 6 45 and was like, I just don't have it in the tank today. Can you do something? And he just hopped behind the mic. So that's a bonus affirmation there. But, uh, Jesse and I were, we're having a little bit of a pregame, uh, today, very much, you know, like five minutes of how you doing and are you ready to go? And, uh, I realized I, I had a really great affirmation last week, all ready to rock. I remember being super excited about it. I remember, uh, when I decided, or when we decided you were gonna do a solo episode thinking, I gotta make sure I remember this for next week. Right? And it has totally left my brain. It's gone. And, uh, it's, it's the worst feeling in the world when that happens. And I remember reading at some point, like, there's a biochemical reason why this happens and why it feels so weird. Like, it, it feels like you should be able to just dive into your mind and like search around enough and find it. And that's just not actually how your, how like your memory works. It's not, um. I think we think of memory as though it's like a big filing cabinet and you can just, like, you can just flip through the CAD catalog like long enough and find it. That's not how it works. Um, it's kind of like more organic network kind of stuff. But yeah, the, the, it's gone. It's just gone and I hate that feeling and it's gone. And that's what I'm denying is that feeling and losing your mind and feeling like you don't remember anything. [00:04:56] Jesse Schwamb: I'm totally with you because incidentally, as we talked, we discovered we both had that experience because I had something too. And it's not just that, well, you know, we try to set aside or do a little prep on the affirmations and denials because you know, we come across something great in life, or again, the opposite. And you think, I gotta remember this because I wanna talk about this with Tony. And the worst part of that is like twofold. One, it never is great to forget something that you had or you knew you knew at one time, but it's all the less satisfying when it was something that you're super excited about and you're like, this is gonna be great. And it's that thing that you've completely forgotten that's like double the worst. So I'm, I'm totally with you in this denial. [00:05:35] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, it's, it's a really frustrating, terrible feeling. And there's not much you can do about it. And the, the secondary denial to that is it always comes back to you in the worst possible part of whatever conversation you're having. It's like you hem and hover it and you think about it and you, and I'm doing it right now. You, you sit here and you, you continue to try to talk thingy. It's gonna come, it's gonna come. Yes. It's gonna get here. [00:05:59] Jesse Schwamb: Yep. [00:06:00] Tony Arsenal: And then just when you finally have resigned yourself and, and the conversation moves on, that's when it comes back around. So I don't know if that's gonna happen or not, Jesse. If it does, I will try my best to ignore it, but I probably won't be able to. So No, I think you probably should get moving. So whatever it was the amazing affirmation, I don't remember. It can come back to us. [00:06:16] Jesse Schwamb: It can come back. Yeah. I'm hoping that it does. And when it does, you guys just tell us you got, just let it, let it rip. Like even if we're like right in the middle of some deep, heavy, robust, thick theology, I just wanna be like. I, I can't even imagine what your affirmation was. It must have been like something pretty, pretty good. [00:06:33] Tony Arsenal: I don't know. I don't know. I, I'm sure it was something interesting. I don't even, I'm [00:06:37] Jesse Schwamb: trying to draw it out of you now. [00:06:38] Tony Arsenal: Course. I can't even like, think of the ballpark of what part of like, what, what the category even was. It's just totally, it's totally gone. Like it never happened. Yep. It's, it's totally, totally gone. So I keep on saying, and you would think with all of my talk of like note taking apps and how important it's to keep a journal and all the stuff we've talked about that I would finally get around to like just jotting down in Apple Notes what my affirmations are and I just never do it. So. Yeah, [00:07:05] Jesse Schwamb: I have every intention, but then I think, well, this is the record of them and I'll have it available to me when it comes time. The talk that's, and sometimes it just goes away. Has it happened yet? I'm still trying to draw it out of you by talking. [00:07:15] Tony Arsenal: No, I'm just gonna give up. It's just gone. It's gone. That's just gone. [00:07:19] Jesse Schwamb: That's, that's fair enough. Maybe. What do you [00:07:21] Tony Arsenal: got for us, Jesse? [00:07:22] Prayer and Anointing [00:07:22] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I was gonna say, maybe I can just help push it along, as it were by my own. So I'm also affirming with something, lemme just read a couple verses from James chapter five. Is anyone Among You Sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and there to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will save the one who's sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, they'll be forgiven him. I had really just the profound opportunity and privilege today to participate in this because. My wife at the end of this week, uh, which will be a week past when this is, this airs, is about to go undergo that serious surgery, which she spoke about in an episode, I don't know, maybe several weeks ago. And, uh, my pastor asked if it would, if he'd like us and the elders, um, to come and to pray over my wife. And they did so after our service today. And it was just a really incredible thing. Even I'm still processing it. I don't really know. Like the words to say with what I can bring forward is just like words of gratitude and gratefulness for this kind of living out of the scriptures. What I can say is that the way in which he brought this forward and the elders prayed was just so incredibly loving and genteel and spirit-filled. And I think which is a manifestation of, of God's love for us in this moment as we prepare for this great thing to give us peace, peace, and to increase our faith and to do so by just following what the scriptures say here. So my affirmation is maybe twofold. One, it's for this particular experience, it's certainly for pastors, for elders who make it their objective to care for their flock and to do so under the rubric and the instruction of the scriptures. So I'm grateful, and if you have those kind of pastors and elders in your life, I hope that you'll be grateful to them for them as well, and that you might express that gratefulness. So this was a really incredible and, and lovely thing, and, uh, fills us with a kind of hope and encouragement. And if anything else was a reminder of the feel, there's something different going to experience like this armed fully with the promises of God and asking that he would be glorified, that our testimonies would be strong, and that of course, that he would bring healing through it. So I'm ever so grateful and affirming what this passage and this passage put into practice. [00:09:51] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And if you are listening to this, when, uh, when it comes out or shortly after, probably not even shortly after, probably for a couple weeks after or months after, um, uh, Jesse's wife Jen did talk about the surgery and the condition she's been suffering under. So, uh, she's part of the Reformed Brotherhood family. She is, uh, just as important to the show, uh, as Jesse and I are in terms of the support that our wives give us and, and the space that we need to do this. So please do pray for Jen. Um, she'll be recovering when you hear this, if it's anywhere near the time that this comes out. Uh, it's a fairly large surgery with a, a, a moderately long recovery time. So please, uh, please do pray for her, uh, and, and make sure that you're lifting her up. Um, we are trusting the Lord for good things, uh, for her. Yes. And uh, we're confident that he, his will will be done 'cause it always is. But yeah, definitely pray for her. [00:10:42] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. Thank you for saying that, Tony. I appreciate that as her husband and. We are encouraged that we've said this before, but this is where our theology matters, isn't it? It's in the times where we come before the Lord in faith and in full trust, because one, there's nowhere else to go. He has the words of life for us. He is our life, but also because. In his son, this beautiful gift of salvation whereby his son is the suffering servant. So he's well acquainted with all of this kind of thing. And so stands with us in every conceivable way to be both so incredibly transcendent and above the nonsense and the noise of our world with full power and sovereignty over all things. And at the same time, to be fully eminent. To be literally with us in all the ways. In all the things. And again, well acquainted with our condition, including the grief and the suffering, the anxiety, the all of this, which we experience as part and parcel of what it means to be human, who is like our God in this way. And so we do sense his great and uncommon care for us, and it would be dishonest of me even in the midst of these difficult and challenging things to say that he doesn't care for us. He has good and he loves us, and he's making a way, even though that way be hired. So we're sensing even from, I think, following that time of prayer, that whether we receive the bread of affliction. Uh, or the, the water of of agony that we hear God's voice behind us saying, this is the way, walk in it, and he's with us. So I hope that's encouragement maybe to others who are also going through their own things and who isn't going through something, right? [00:12:18] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:12:18] Jesse Schwamb: So we all have this great promise in the gospel that God is for us, and I love that James here gives us some practical instruction to that end. [00:12:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, for sure. [00:12:31] Support the Show [00:12:31] Tony Arsenal: Well, before we move into our topic for the evening, uh, the internet tells me that I'm supposed to do this at this point in the show rather than at the very end like we usually do. Well, let's do it. Um, we are a listener supported episode, not like PBS, uh, not like other things. Uh, maybe kind of a little bit like PBS Yeah, a little bit. Anyway, uh, we have a, a pretty dedicated group of Patreon supporters who, uh, donate a little bit and sometimes some people, a lot, a bit of their discretionary income, uh, to help make the show go. And we've said before, like, we are not interested in providing special content or special gear or swag every once in a while. I think we did it once and we've, we've got plans to do it again sometime in the future. We'll send out a thank you gift to those who are subscribing through Patreon. Um, but we are committed to producing the show and making everything that we put online and everything that we make available, available to everybody. And really the only reason that we can do that, especially in today's economy, is uh, because there are people who support the show. And so we always want to make sure that we're saying we're thank you to those people. Yes. Um, they are a part of this show. I don't know if we are not gonna do like executive producer credits, but they're as close to that as you can get. Since we don't do that, um, we really wouldn't be able to do the show, at least not the way that it is without that supporting group of people. So if that's something that you hear and you no, I kind of think that maybe I wanna be a part of that. We would love for you to go to patreon.com/reform tears. There's no special swag, there's no early releases or anything like that. Um, but we would love if you would partner with us. Um, this is a lowercase m ministry, and if you've listened to the show for a long time, you know what I mean by that. Uh, we, we do consider this to be a calling, something that God has given us and we, we understand there's a responsibility with it, but we also know that we can't do it alone. So if you're interested after you've fulfilled all your personal finance obligations, your obligation to your local church and your immediate area, if there's a little bit left over that you're looking to spend somewhere on something that is valuable, uh, please do consider going to patreon.com/form Brotherhood. [00:14:39] Jesse Schwamb: And if you've been listening for a while and you've thought, you know what, I wonder who else is out there that's like me, that's listening to these guys on the internet. Guess what? You can actually meet some of those people. They have a little spot where they hang out. It's called Telegram. It's just a chat app, and we have our own little section of that app. If you just go to your favorite browser, whatever it is, you can choose and go to wherever you like, just go to t me slash Reform Brotherhood. And that link will take you into kind of a preview land where you can see the space where everybody's talking, and you can peruse some of the different channels, everything from uh, channels just for prayer, for a crusting, prayer to general conversation, talk about the episodes, talk about baptism, all kinds of things. It is, as we always say, one of the kindest, most charitable, most loving corners of the internet. Guaranteed. You can test us on that. So in fact, you should by going to t.me back slash reform Brotherhood, Tony, back to you. [00:15:36] Eschatology Shift [00:15:36] Tony Arsenal: Well, let's just slam it right into gear. We, we, we haven't figured out how to do transitions into or out of, uh, Patreon announcements, uh, or telegram announcements, [00:15:46] Jesse Schwamb: right? [00:15:46] Tony Arsenal: So this, I, maybe this is the awkward charm of the show, or maybe it's just the awkwardness of the show. It's just charm, Jesse, [00:15:53] Jesse Schwamb: all charm. [00:15:53] Tony Arsenal: We need to talk about some things tonight. We need to talk about some oil. Yes. We need to talk about some lamps. Yes. We need talk about some bridegrooms. [00:16:00] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. [00:16:00] Tony Arsenal: It's the parable of the 10 virgins or the 10 lamps, or the parable of the oil flasks. Yes. There's lots of different things that it's called. Uh, it's what it isn't, it's not the parable of, uh, the 24 hour Jiffy Lube, which is what it made, what you made it sound like when you talked about the midnight oil check. Um, [00:16:18] Jesse Schwamb: I [00:16:18] Tony Arsenal: didn't even think about that. But yeah. This is, this is a good one. And I think we've, we've sort of. I've sort of observed that the parables do tend to clump around systematic theology themes, and they clump within the narrative of the gospel within Matthew itself around themes. So the last three parables that we talked about were all sort of like parables of judgment against the Pharisees and a, a lot of things like unconditional election and reparation were all baked into that pie. You know, we talked about with the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coins and the lost, um, the lost, uh, brother. We talked about how that has a lot to do with like election. It has to do with salvation and what the gospel looks like in terms of justification in the father's initiative. And we're moving into a section of Matthew, um, where Jesus is starting to teach on the last days. And so the parables in this section start to move toward ha to have more of an eschatological bent. Yes. We talked a little bit about some of the eschatology and the parables when we, we went through the, um, through the, the. Um, my brain just left me. It happened again, Jesse. The, the denial thing, uh, when we talked about the parable of the tears and the wind field and the, the, the different kinds of soils back on track, there was an eschatological element to that. But we are in like straight up eschatology Yeah. In these, these sections now. That's right. So we're coming to the end of Matthew, uh, our plan right now and who knows what the Lord has for us. But the plan right now is once we finish Matthew, to go back and visit some of the parables that are present in the other gospels. And there's not too many of 'em, but that are present in the other gospels that aren't necessarily, uh, present in Matthew. So, like you said, there's not a ton of 'em. Uh, we do want to hit all of 'em. And if there's, if there's time, and I say if there's time as though we have some sort of time constraints, um, if there's time we probably will talk a little bit about some of the I am statements and some of the things in John. 'cause John doesn't do parables quite the same way in quite the same fashion, but he does have sort of some of this. Allegorical figurative language baked into some of his, um, some of his writings or some of the accounts of Jesus that he, he, um, captures that are probably worth talking about in the seam light. So right now we're, we're coming up quick on the end of the parables of Matthew. Um, there's not very many left and then we'll, we'll keep moving on. Uh, that said. We are, it's almost unbelievable to say this. We're going to be coming up to the end of the parable series sometime in the next, I dunno, six to 10 months. Uh, if you've got ideas for what you think the next series should be, start thinking about those now. Bring 'em to the telegram chat. Let's start percolating those ideas up, right? And, uh, like a good coffee maker. And we'll, uh, we'll brew some goodness. How many more parables? How many more, uh, metaphors can I throw in there? Puns, can I throw in there? But yeah, Jesse, let's get started. This is a good one. [00:19:08] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that was a really, I think, fine introduction. I always enjoyed this parable because it has some really fun, dramatic elements, but I think I, I really haven't really appreciated all the eschatological underpinnings that you were just mentioning. And when you think about it as we're, I think we're gonna soon find here. That this is one of the most searching and solemn parables, actually, that Jesus uttered, and you start to get a sense for that as we've just kind of been hitting them, one after the other. As you said, this one belongs to the great olive discourse. It's delivered by Jesus to his disciples on the Mount of Olives just days before his crucifixion. It's in direct response to their questions about the destruction of Jerusalem and the sign of his condiment coming and the end of the age. So you're right. I think this carries like unmistakable eschatological weight because it's not merely this fable about preparedness in general, which sometimes is where we go. Yeah. But it's really more of like a precise theological warning about the spiritual condition required for entrance into the consummated kingdom of God at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:20:11] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, [00:20:11] Jesse Schwamb: I think that's the full setup. [00:20:12] Read Matthew 25 [00:20:12] Jesse Schwamb: We, we've gotta go to the scriptures, right? [00:20:15] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:20:16] Jesse Schwamb: Alright. It's time. You want me to read it? [00:20:17] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, yeah, go ahead. [00:20:18] Jesse Schwamb: Okay. Here we go. Matthew 25, beginning in verse one, then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bride groom. Now, five of them were foolish and five were prudent for when the foolish took their lamps. They took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout. Behold the bridegroom come out to meet him. Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the prudent, give us some of your oil for our lamps are going out. But the prudent answered saying, no, there will not be enough for us and for you too. Go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves. And while they're going away to make the purchase, that bridegroom came and those who already went in with him to the wedding feast and the door was shut. And later the other versions came also saying, Lord, Lord, open for us. But he answered and said, truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Therefore, stay awake for you do not know the day nor the hour. [00:21:27] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:21:29] Assurance Not Fear [00:21:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, this one's heavy. And I just wanna say, kind of coming into this, right, I think a lot of our audience, and I would, I would include myself in this, um, we, we came to sort of like an awareness of faith. And I, I don't say that in a sort of tongue in cheek fashion. What I mean, um. I'll, I'll just speak from my perspective, but I think it's probably one that resonates. I came to faith when I was a, you know, a relatively young teenager, 15 years old, and, um, when you first become a Christian, you're not aware of all the different theological debates or even all of the major implications of the Christian faith. And I think a lot of us and myself, uh, as, as sort of the example when we be started to become aware of the different conversations happening in different dynamics and some of the more, uh, maybe third or fourth tier doctrines that you learn when you're, um, sort of being catechized as a new Christian, uh, catechized in sort of an informal sense, eschatology is probably one of those ones that comes along fairly, fairly late in the game. And I recall, um, when I first became aware of the left behind books, right? And so I, I came to faith in a large Lutheran megachurch, uh, that wasn't really as Lutheran as you would think, cup being a large Lutheran megachurch. It was very dispensational. And I think there is a sense of dread and fear associated with rapture ready theology. And I don't, I don't think all dispensationalist that, um, believe in a, a literal rapture of the church either prior to or following or in the middle of the tribulation. I don't think all dispensationalist fall into this category. But there are definitely dispensationalist out there that would emphasize being rapture ready. And you know, you think of like the song, I wish We'd All Been Ready, you know, and, and this, this sort of existential fear that the Rapture's gonna come and I'm not gonna be ready and I'm gonna be left behind. Right. There's an, the entire book series is about people who thought that they were Christians who thought that they were justified and saved and then weren't. And, and I don't think the book gives all that much explanation other than sort of like a general sense of like, these are sort of nominal fake Christians that maybe some of them think they're saved and some of them don't. I know there were definitely characters in the book who really thought that they were followers of Jesus and then they didn't realize they weren't until they were not raptured with everyone else. The only reason I sort of launch into that progam is I think that the tendency in most circles because of the pervasive. Sort of all expansive influence of dispensationalism in the United States, and particularly sort of this like rapture ready, left behind theology that is a, a major thread within, um, American dispensationalism. There's a tendency to look at this almost exclusively in light of that sort of rapture ready fear that right the end is gonna come and I'm not gonna be ready and. I don't, I'm not a dispensationalist, I don't hold to a rapture in that sense. I don't think you do either. Jesse and I, I think there's an element of this that has that same flavor that we have to acknowledge, but I don't think we should read this in light of like, you think you're gonna be fine, but actually you're not. So you better get it together. I don't think that that's the point of the parable. Um, and I wanna say that upfront because it is easy to read a parable like this and to, to become extremely fearful to the point that it actually shakes whatever assurance you may have had. And I've said it before and, and I, I will say it again, it is not, I am not in the business of robbing the assurance away from Christians. The assurance of faith and the assurance of salvation is the rightful possession and inheritance of all those who are Christ. And so I have no, no desire to shake or rob you of your assurance. That's just not my jam. Um, so I wanted to get that out there. Like I don't think that this parable is here. To scare the daylights out of us and make us question whether or not we actually belong to the bridegroom. I actually think it's here for a different reason. [00:25:39] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, I agree. [00:25:40] Watch and Be Ready [00:25:40] Jesse Schwamb: I, I think this may have more in common with like the tears in the wheat parable that we've spoken about before versus trying to promulgate a particular understanding of eschatology. There's no doubt that this is calibrated to the period preceding the perusia. At the same time, the parable is a reminder that describes like the visible professing church on earth as it moves toward that consummation. So this is why I think it is important for us to talk about, well, what do we mean by these 10 virgins? What do we mean about the lamps themselves? What is this saying generally about God's church? And again, him addressing the question of what does it mean for that church to be consummated in his kingdom? [00:26:18] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, I, I'm, I'm trying to find the specific passage, but um. We also should not miss the verbal affinity here. Uh, at the end of the parable, when it says truly, I say to you, I do not know you. We should really read this in light of, um, the, um, the statements. You know, I was hungry and you didn't feed me. I was, you know, and you say, Lord, we did these things. He said, away from me. I never knew you. We really should read this parable. I think in light of that passage and that phrasing, I think that's, that's actually the punchline of this [00:26:54] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. [00:26:55] Tony Arsenal: Punchline. That's, that's the point. Parable is that last phrase, and then the, the extra parable, the outside of the parable, um, payoff or sort of like explanation that Christ gives is watch. Therefore, for you neither know the day nor the hour. The point is not, um, you may think you're a Christian. You may think you're, you're on top of things, but you actually, you might be totally wrong. And so you better get your stuff together. The point is what, what happens? Or the point is the same thing as I think it's the author of Hebrew is like, today is the day of salvation, right? Like, do not wait to turn to Christ. Do not wait. That's right to trust in Jesus. Do not wait to enter the kingdom of heaven until the last minute. Do not wait because you don't actually know when the end is coming. And I, I read this when I, when it's watch, therefore for, you know, neither the day nor the hour. I read this less in light of, um. Like universal eschatology, uh, every single person that, that Jesus was speaking to in this original audience that he actually delivered this parable to, did not see that, like, did not see the last days. Right. Whatever the last days looks like. And I mean, like, yes, the last days is from the resurrection to the end of the age. So some of them saw those last days. But what I mean is none of these people saw the return of Christ, like the second return of Christ and that the last judgment. So he would, it would be sort of meaningless to be delivering this parable to those people. With only whatever the last things are with only the rapture in mind with only Right, exactly. The great judgment. None of that would make any sense. So I read this more in light of you never know when your day and hour is coming. Not, not necessarily like the day, like the day of the Lord, although that's true. Yes. There will be a generation on earth who the last day, the final judgment is also their last day in terms of their ordinary human life. But I think this is more of a general call to all of us, and especially to those, um, out there who are in the orbits of the church who are exposed to the gospel, um, and have not yet trusted Christ. [00:29:09] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. [00:29:09] Tony Arsenal: Um, there is a call to turn to Jesus and to, uh, to, to come into the kingdom of heaven, to be prepared by coming into the kingdom of heaven here. That's, that's the main point of the peril that we have to land on. [00:29:21] Bridegroom And Virgins [00:29:21] Jesse Schwamb: I agree with you, and I think all of the imagery here points in that direction. So even starting with this image of these 10 virgins, which of course you've been listening to us talk for long enough, or you've read through the Old Testament, you're gonna quickly, and I think cogently see that this is the Old Testament imagery of Israel as the bride or the covenant community. It's also of course, like the Greco Roman custom in which the bridesmaids attended the bride and accompanied the wedding procession when the bride groom arrived to claim his bride. So to your point, what I think is really interesting about this is that we're basically saying that this parable is not speaking of like strangers or enemies, but those who have made a profession of faith. And so even this like idea of the bridegroom who, who's without a question? Christ here, that's a self-identification that's rooted in like John chapter three, where even John the Baptist calls himself merely the friend of the bridegroom and a revelation where you are going already, where the marriage supper of the lamb consummate, consummate redemptive history. [00:30:19] Lamps And Oil Meaning [00:30:19] Jesse Schwamb: So once we get through the idea of we have those whom Jesus is speaking about, and even those who he's speaking to as those who have made some kind of profession, religious or otherwise, to me, where this hinges is in this idea of the lamps or these torches or or burning lamps, which I take to be like this outward profession. And so the question is you have all of them coming with these lamps. Lambs represent this external common to true or false professors alike. But I think to what you are driving at, it's whether within that profession there is a true and actual reliance on Christ himself for righteousness. [00:30:57] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, oil, I think the oil is really key here too, right? Oil in the, uh, in the scriptures, particularly in the Old Testament. Um, but also in some places in the New Testament, oil is associated with the Holy Spirit. [00:31:11] Jesse Schwamb: Yes, [00:31:11] Tony Arsenal: exactly right. So if, if we wanna sort of take the symbolism here, take, take the, the situation sort of as a mixture of, of different kinds of symbols. We have these folks that have all of the outward things necessary to be able to light the lamps. They have the lamps, the wicks are there. Um, they're, they're sort of ready to go. They're, they're ready and waiting for a time. Uh, but what they don't have is they don't have oil, they don't have the Holy Spirit. So yes, we, we need in some senses about false professors, but I do think it's broader than that. [00:31:43] Salvation Has A Deadline [00:31:43] Tony Arsenal: I think this is, um, again, is a generalized parable about. The, the fact that the hour of salvation, the day of salvation, the opportunity to turn to God, the opportunity to come into God's kingdom is not an indefinite opportunity. It's not going to be out there as a possibility forever. There is a day and an hour and a minute for every single person where that opportunity is no longer available. And of course we're the reformed brotherhood, not the Armenian Brotherhood, right? We're the reformed brotherhood. So yes, God has ordained who will come and who will not. He's ordained the hour and the minute of those who will, and he's ordained that some will never come. But that all operates on God's God's level in God's knowledge. And that's not something we have access to know down here, right? Deuteronomy 29, 29, the sacred things belong to the Lord, but the things that are revealed belong to us and our children forever. And one of the things that's revealed is that God calls us to salvation. He calls us to repent and trust in Jesus. And here in this passage, he is cutting us to do that, to not delay doing that. [00:32:53] Personal Evangelism Story [00:32:53] Tony Arsenal: I think there are a lot of people, um. I can actually think of a couple really specific examples in when I was in high school. Um, I was, I, I don't do as much personal evangelism as I I did when I was, uh, when I was in high school and younger. I, I don't know for sure what the reason is. Some of it's probably my own cowardice, but I think probably just that's normal, that as you grow and you kind of settle into different kinds of relationships, you have a different context. But I remember a, a friend of mine named Dave, I'm not gonna say his last name, I remember his last name, but I'm not gonna say it, but a friend of mine named David, um, who. All of us were coming to faith, like all, all of our friend group were coming to Faith. There was one of my friends, James was sort of like the first guy who, he was raised in a Christian home and he sort of came to faith in a very real faith, real way. And he sort of brought all of us along with him and sort of one by one we, we sort of like, it was like Domino's falling. And we all came to a genuine, true saving faith kind of all right in a row. And then there was Dave and Dave just didn't like he, he with us. He did all the things we were doing. And I remember having a conversation with him where I was like, what are you waiting for? Like, what's, what's the hold up here? And I didn't have any, again, I didn't have any framework for like what apologetics were, I wasn't trying to make an argument or any sort of like, um, any sort of like persuasion. It was just a real raw like we are all loving this. We're all, we're all so joyful and happy. The lives are changing and we. This is real, Dave, what, what are you waiting for? He never had a real answer. He, he didn't ever make an argument against the faith. He was very clear that he believed that God was real. He believed that God existed, that the sort of the facts of the gospel were true. Like he, he, um, to sort of put like theological language on it, um, he had, he had a ticia and a census, right? Right. He, he acknowledged he knew the true facts of the gospel and he acknowledged the reality that, that those facts were true. He just never actually took the step to trust in Jesus. And I don't know what happened to Dave. Uh, there's another friend of mine named Theo that very similar kind of situation. I don't know what happened to Dave and Theo. I have no idea whether they eventually came to faith or not, but, but it was like, you guys never know when the day in the hours. That's the kind of person that I think this is pointing to. [00:35:15] Against Rapture Ready Fear [00:35:15] Tony Arsenal: Not necessarily the person within the church, um, who has made some sort of credible profession of faith, but thinks, but like, because like they haven't stopped swearing yet, or because they still have lustful thoughts once in a while. Like I think that's the rapture ready theology is like. You better not hope that like that's the day that a pretty girl walks by and you have a lutful thought. 'cause if Jesus comes back right after that, you're really in trouble. Like those are, those are actually, um, again, this is, this is a caricature of dispensationalism, but it's a caricature that I experienced. It's, it was people who were being characters of themselves. Right? This idea that, look, you better, you better not sin ever. You better not be asleep. And being asleep means sinning. You better not ever sin. Because if you happen to sin right before the rapture, then Jesus is gonna leave you behind. Right? You're not gonna fly up in the clouds if you're not perfectly rapture ready. And like, again, not all dispensationalist are like that. I actually think most dispensationalist these days would probably not fit into that category. Right? But when I was coming to faith in the late nineties and early two thousands, that was the real theology being presented. I don't think that's what this is. This is about a life orientation of preparedness. This is about an entire life. Yes. That is prepared for Christ's second coming or for the hour of our death. And that the only way to be prepared for that is to be happy in Christ, is to be blessed, blessed assurance, like to have your blessed assurance because Jesus is mine. Oh, what a, you know, oh, what a happy delight like that is. The only way to be ready for death, to be prepared for the end is to turn to Jesus. It's not about whether or not you've turned to Jesus and have become perfectly sinless. None of us are like that, right? It's not about, I just got done writing this series of articles on John Piper's affectional theology, affectional Justification, like it's not about perfectly treasuring Christ. There are gonna be times where your emotions do not sync up with what you actually believe. It's not about being perfectly obedient or wanting to be perfectly obedient. It's about trusting Jesus. And there's only one day an hour that that opportunity closes, and you never know when that is, when that day an hour is gonna be. [00:37:26] Wise Versus Foolish [00:37:26] Jesse Schwamb: We know that to be true in this particular parable because of what's written for us in verse two, how Jesus himself bifurcates and labels these two groups. He says five of them were foolish and five were wise. So Christ himself introduces the critical distinction, not of course, with reference to whatever the external practice is, because both of these groups are carrying lamps, both weight, both know the bridegroom is coming, but with an interior character judgment one is literally foolish, which is the same contrast that Christ employs actually in the parable of the two builders at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, where the wise man hears and does, while the foolish man hears, but does not translate hearing into obedient transformation. So I'm with you on this. The terms carry, I think, significant Old Testament fruit because in the all the wisdom literature, wisdom is synonymous with the fear of the Lord, that true knowledge of God, right? And that practical orientation, I think as you were saying, of one's entire life toward God. The fool is not like an intellectual simpleton, but it's a world spiritual category. It's one who lives as though God does not exist or God does not matter, or refuses in the light of incontrovertible evidence to come before God and to submit to him In this way. They are foolish or they are wise. And so again, I like what you're saying. It's not as if like they've just exhibited some kind of quick departure or they've fallen into temptation or sinfulness, but instead, rather, there's something way larger at stake here with respect to a spiritual category. And I think that's really what Jesus is after, as he's bringing these two groups apart from each other, explaining that essentially that they access the same things. They heard the same stuff, they had the same on the outward, at least the same priorities, but the true internal character, the interior character of who they were, was not compatible. These are not the the same kind of person. [00:39:20] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. [00:39:21] All Virgins Fall Asleep [00:39:21] Tony Arsenal: And this is actually something, um, that I hadn't picked up on before. Right. I think we can get into these ruts when we're reading and understanding, uh, the scripture, especially really familiar passages like this. Um, probably like at some point in the past, someone has taught it to me in this way. I heard a sermon or I heard it at a youth group in a particular way, and I just never really went back. The, the wise virgins also fall asleep. [00:39:46] Jesse Schwamb: Exactly. [00:39:46] Tony Arsenal: Like, like that, that's amazing to me, like Right. I've always heard this passage as though like, falling asleep is the equivalent of spiritual death. [00:39:54] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. [00:39:55] Tony Arsenal: But the reality is, in this passage, the difference between the wise and the foolish virgins is not that they, one of them stays awake and one of them falls asleep. One, the, the, the difference between the wise and the foolish is that the ones that are wise are prepared for when the bride root clump comes, even though they fell asleep and, and actually, uh, they're, they're shown to be even more wise because they all fell asleep. Yes. Right. If they hadn't fallen asleep, then the foolish ones probably would've had time to go get more. But the, the wise virgins in this, uh. And not only were they wise in terms of like they had the stuff they needed, they were ready to go, but so wise that in fact their wisdom overcame sort of this happenstance that they were in a state of, of preparedness being asleep when the comes is a state of Unpreparedness, but they have able to compensate for the ready in every other area. And I think this also kind of like mitigates away away from the idea of like the, um. The, the emphasis of the parable here, the readiness of the par of the virgins is not based on the wakefulness of the virgins, right? Yes. The virgins are ready because they have the supplies they need. Right. They're not Exactly, they're not exactly, they're not un 'cause they fell asleep. They're ready because they've, they've prepared by purchasing the supplies they need, by having the supplies they need when the breadroom comes. That's true. Whether they fall asleep or not. So I think like this whole parable needs to sort of like be reoriented in reference to the way a lot of us have, A lot of us have been taught and understood this parable. I was always taught that the, the foolish virgins were foolish because they fell asleep. Yeah, that's probably partially true in that it's foolish to fall asleep when you're waiting for something, but that can't be the only thing that makes them foolish. 'cause it doesn't make the other virgins foolish. [00:41:51] Jesse Schwamb: Yes, exactly. [00:41:52] Oil As Saving Grace [00:41:52] Jesse Schwamb: And that's why it's so interesting that Jesus basically doubles down or elaborates in verses three and four by saying for when the foolish took their lamps. They took no oil with them. Yeah, but the wises took flasks of oil with their lambs. I think it's actually, as you're, I think leading us into like the theological height of this whole thing, the foolish virgins took their lambs, but no oil. The wise took lambs and extra oil in vessels. And of course the lambs cannot burn without oil in the same way. I think what we're led to believe here is profession without grace has no sustaining power. So I know like throughout church history, this idea of the oil has been interpreted in various ways, in various forms. I think there's a lot of unification though on the point that the oil is more or less like a representation of the grace of the Holy Spirit. That like specific indwelling regenerating, sanctifying presence of the spirit imparted in effectual calling and genuine conversion. And that's why I think this has a lot in common with both like the tears and the wheat parable. But also what you've been saying about the time that is appointed onto a man to die, either for Christ to return or just for you and I to die. And so this understanding, I think is consistent with the Old Testament symbolic use of, like you said before, anointing oil is a sign of the spirit's presence. Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit. And so I'm seeing here like this oil is, I mean, is it going too far to say almost like a saving grace? It's, it's not common grace, it's not the gifts of the spirit, which the reprobate may possess, but I think we're, we're seeing here like that special sanctifying preserving grace, which is inseparable from true election and calling. [00:43:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, I think that's spot on. While you were talking, I was actually just looking up, uh, what Calvin has to say on this. I, I think it's funny because I constantly am saying things that I feel like I'm discovering for myself in real time. But if I actually just took the, a little bit of time to read some of our great sources a little more carefully, I would run into them. This is what he says. He says on, uh, verse five, he says, some interpret this slumbering in a bad sense as if believers along with others abandon themselves sloth. And they were, they were asleep amidst the vanities of the world. This is all together inconsistent with the intention of Christ as structure of the parable. [00:44:05] Slow Down And Read [00:44:05] Tony Arsenal: Like I think it's clear now here as we're working through this and this, and this is the main benefit, um, of taking time to just walk through the parables, any, any text of scripture, but the parables is what we're looking at. Taking time to just actually slow down and read them. I didn't intend to get to like a whole discussion about Bible reading plans, but the typical, I'm gonna read the Bible through, uh, the entire Bible in a year that typically has you reading three to five chapters a day is the average. That's probably too much if you want to be reading for understanding. And there is, there's definitely value. I've, I've commented in the past, there's huge value in reading large tracks of scripture all at the same time. Like if you wanna sit down over 10 chapters of Scripture day and you've got the time and the energy and the discipline to do it, then more power to you. But I think it's not realistic to think you're gonna sit down and read 10 chapters of scripture and have good comprehension and retention of the 10 chapters that you read. This is a really good example of that. If you sit down and you read three chapters, you're gonna be reading this, you're gonna be reading, uh, another parable. The parable of the talents you are gonna be reading. You know, the all of it discourse all at the same time, all in one sitting. Um, it's not until just now when I slowed down to really look at these passages, verse by verse individually and take an hour to discuss 13 verses with my brother-in-law in front of a microphone, right? Then I realized all of the virgins fall asleep. Like that's the kind of stuff that you really only, um, you only overcome. The assumed teaching that you heard when you were in high school, 15, you know, 15, 20 years ago at a summer camp. You really only overcome that when you slow down enough to read things and actually comprehend them. So that's not much of a commentary on the passage, but it is something that I'm learning as we do these parable studies. Just slow down, slow down and read them, read them multiple times, read it over and over again. Um, it is totally fine. The, this is the last, uh, Bible reading soapbox thing I'll say tonight. Um, I think like, because. Of the influence of like expository preaching and like wanting to read things in, in context, and all of those things are good. I think there is this tendency to think that if you sit down and just read a very short portion of scripture, that you're kind of automatically taking that out of context. I don't think that's the case. Like it's totally fine to sit down in the morning and go, you know what? I've got, I've got 10 minutes, I've got five minutes. I've got two minutes before the kids are up. I've got two minutes before the bus stop, you know, before the bus gets here. I'm standing at the bus stop. I've got 30 seconds before the coffee's done. It's totally fine to open your Bible app. And read two or three verses of scripture, that's a totally fine thing to do. It's totally fine because you've got 10 minutes before the kids got up. Oh, and by the way, you've gotta unload the dishwasher before they do. Totally fine to sit down and go, I've got time to read 13 verses of scripture today. So that's what I'm gonna get done. Um, and, and then just think about those things like meditate on those scriptures all day. I just think there's a lot of values to that and that's maybe that's my takeaway from this episode. I know like that's not a takeaway directly related to this passage. That's good. But I think we can oftentimes. Have and understand that isn't right because we've been taught it and we don't ever have the time or space in our life to like realize that what we were taught is maybe exactly right. This is like something so obvious on the surface of the text. It didn't even take any real thought. It just took slowing down and actually reading the words [00:47:45] Jesse Schwamb: right. It's also a good reminder, like we said from the beginning, that our goal here shouldn't be to torture every detail, to like press it for some kind of allegorical significance. [00:47:55] Tony Arsenal: Yes. [00:47:55] Jesse Schwamb: But to take it on the face and to understand in context what's being said. And by context I just mean the context of the story. Of the accounts of the drama that's unfolding. And it is pretty remarkable that all 10 virgins sleep, that maybe even as you start with the details might not be your impression that that was gonna be, was gonna be the difference here, but both the wises and the foolish alike fall asleep. So to me, the parable is not condemning sleep per se, but I think it's the absence of oil which the sleep merely reveals, right? That's the critical detail here. And so Jesus delivers that to us and that's why it's, I think, important to think about these, these variables about what the oil represents and the context in which they're tested with their preparedness. But it's not because like they had it almost times you get the impression, it's like what we're saying here is the wise had more stamina, that they were the ones that were just willing to tough it out, and they knew the bridegroom was coming. And so as a result of that, they decided that they were going to ensure that they stayed awake, even if they had the drink, a couple of extra cups of coffee, just to make sure that was the case. But really their sleepiness, which they both have to endure, is the very context in which proves that they do are not prepared by having sufficient oil, not that they're unprepared by having sufficient energy or stamina. [00:49:18] Prepared Despite Fatigue [00:49:18] Jesse Schwamb: Well, with all. [00:49:21] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, that's a good takeaway too, is, is we all, um, we all will succumb to temptation in this life, [00:49:32] Jesse Schwamb: right? [00:49:33] Tony Arsenal: Right. Every single one of us. And even if we think of sleeping in this negative sense, which I think we probably need to move away from it, even if we do, I think the point that you're making is really good, for instance, between the foolish and the wises is not their ability to stay awake. So I do think that, I do think there's a slightly negative connotation to drowsy and slept here. Like I think that, I think it's intended to show some level of fatigue. Fatigue, maybe not like a moral right, maybe not a moral, uh, negativity, but there's a fatigue. There's something that overcomes both wise and foolish virgins in this parable. Fatigue and drowsiness overcomes them and they sleep. And it's because the bridegroom was delayed, right? We wanna talk about eschatology, right? This is probably also more a commentary on the church as a whole. The church becomes drowsy and sleeps right, and then there's the foolish and the wise. The foolish are the ones who are not prepared even though they are drowsy and sleep. And then there's the wise who are foolish, or the wises who are prepared and are drowsy and sleep. But E, either way, if we think of drowsy and sleep, even in moral negative terms, right? All of us will succumb to temptation. All of us will succumb to sin in this life. I would even go so far as to say all of us sin in every moment of our life in that we never love God. Truly. Yes. With our full hearts and souls. You got that right soul the way that we're, we're commanded to. Right. Right. So all of us become drowsy and sleep. The difference is not in those who pull themselves up by their bootstraps and tape their eyelids open so that they don't fall asleep. Right. I don't, I don't know if you ever like had trouble staying awake in school, but I used to, like I used to sit at my desk with my pencil under my chin. Oh my Lord. So if I started to fall asleep, it would like jab me and I would wake up so I could stay awake in school. Oh. It's not about like gimmicks to stay awake. [00:51:20] Jesse Schwamb: Right, right. [00:51:21] Tony Arsenal: It's about the fact that those of us who have trusted Christ. Have received the oil. Yes. So even when we sleep, yes. Even when we are drowsy, even when we are overcome by the fatigue that prevents us from, uh, from resisting sin. Right. Even when that happens, we still have the oil. We still have the grace of the Holy Spirit. We still have the empowering presence and the, the, the justifying reality of Christ's death For us, in my mind as I read this parable, that really is what it is, right? Get the oil, go get the stinking oil now, because you never know when the day or hour is coming. Mm-hmm. Whether that's the day or the hour that you fall asleep and you're not prepared, or whether that's the day or the hour that the bridegroom was, even if you're awake. That's the other element of this. Even if the virgins had stayed awake, they didn't have the oil. [00:52:11] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. [00:52:12] Tony Arsenal: So it it's not as though, it's not as though had they stayed awake, they would've had time to go get the oil and come back. They, they wake up right away. Like there's nothing in the parable that's like, oh, it took 'em a little while to get up. So that's why they didn't have time to get the oil. They, they didn't have time to get the oil. 'cause there wasn't time to get the oil [00:52:31] Jesse Schwamb: right. [00:52:32] Tony Arsenal: So the only way you're going to be properly prepared when the bridegroom comes is if you already have the oil and you're already ready to go. Regardless of whether you fall asleep or not. [00:52:42] Gospel Call Get Oil [00:52:42] Tony Arsenal: So I, I think, I think we have to kind of close this with like a gospel, a gospel call here. Like we don't do this very often on the show, and I think the vast majority of our show are professed, regenerate Christians. I don't, I don't know anyone who listens to the show that is outwardly not a Christian, but I think this is a time for us to say, listen, if you are hearing the sound of my voice, be diligent to make your calling an election. Sure. And that both takes the form of what Peter talks about, where he talks about growing in graces and walking in, walking in the qualities of holine
Over the years the Cleveland sports scene has had to endure some painful and heartbreaking losses, more then its fair share. From "The Fumble", to "The Drive", to coming oh so close with their baseball team in several instances in the fall classic. Yet the Cleveland Cavaliers finally answered the prayers of all northeast Ohio in 2016, erasing a 3-1 deficit in the NBA finals to give the city along Lake Erie its much needed and delayed championship, the city's first in several generations. Yet during the down years of Cleveland sports in the mid 1970s, it was their basketball team that filled the void, climbing from an obscure NBA expansion team to not only capturing the hearts of Cleveland fans but captured the attention of the entire basketball world. In this episode co hosts Dana Auguster and Charles Combs are heading back to the 1976 NBA playoffs to revisit one of basketball's most remarkable Cinderella stories—the "Miracle at Richfield." Just five years after joining the league as an expansion franchise, the Cleveland Cavaliers shocked the basketball world by defeating the heavily favored Washington Bullets and capturing the imagination of an entire city.We'll examine how a team of overlooked players, a passionate fan base, and a little bit of playoff magic combined to create one of the greatest upsets in NBA history.To contact the show please drop us a line at HIstorically.Speaking.Sports@Gmail.com.
“Historically, as a region, we've been extracted at two levels. If you look at the AI value chain, a lot of our youth, some who have studied computer science, are left at data labelling roles at the bottom of the value chain, where the least value is created. In a different way, a lot of our data is being extracted for free to train those systems. We want to make sure we don't go into similar models that we had during colonisation.” Leanna Byrne speaks to Kate Kallot, founder of the Kenyan artificial intelligence company Amini, which is building AI infrastructure across Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.She warns that billions of people risk being left out of the artificial intelligence systems shaping modern life, with languages, cultures and knowledge from large parts of the world underrepresented in the technology being built today.Kate argues that AI risks repeating old patterns of global inequality, with poorer countries supplying valuable data while richer nations reap the rewards.She explains why the Global South should help shape the future of AI, rather than simply supply the data behind it.The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Sundar Pichai and Julia Gillard. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.Presenter: Leanne Byrne Producer: Osman Iqbal Editor: Farhana Haider and Damon RoseGet in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: Kate Kallot. Credit: Getty)
(12) Gene Marks questions surveys claiming 93% small business growth and dismisses claims that AI will eliminate white-collar jobs soon, asserting that human workers will naturally adapt to new technology as they have historically.1940 ALLENTOWN PA
Logic should tell you there may not be much growth left in Nvidia Investing has become increasingly emotional for many people, and too often investors stop thinking logically. Could the popular company Nvidia continue climbing higher? Of course it could. But there are logical reasons to believe its future growth may be limited compared to what investors expect today. First, consider the company's market capitalization. As the stock price rises, so does the market cap, which currently sits around $5.2 trillion, depending on the day. To put that number into perspective, $5 trillion is roughly equal to the entire GDP of Japan. With that amount of money, you could buy all the real estate in New York City, London, and Tokyo combined. You could also purchase every major sports franchise in the world several times over. So investors should ask themselves: if you are buying or holding Nvidia today, are you expecting the company to double in value anytime soon to more than $10 trillion? Does that really seem realistic? Over the last year, Nvidia generated approximately $216 billion in revenue, which is nearly half the size of the entire U.S. consumer technology industry, estimated at $537 billion in 2025. The company's revenue grew by about 65% year over year. If Nvidia were to repeat that same 65% growth rate in 2026, revenue would increase by roughly $140 billion, bringing total annual sales to around $356 billion. To understand how massive that growth would be, only about 25 companies in the entire S&P 500 generate more than $140 billion in annual revenue. In other words, Nvidia would need to add more revenue in a single year than 95% of S&P 500 companies produce in total annual sales. None of this means Nvidia is a bad company. In fact, it is an exceptional company doing extraordinary things. However, wherever enormous profits exist, competition inevitably follows. We are already hearing about major technology companies developing their own AI chips, while startups and rival semiconductor firms continue introducing competing products that could eventually take market share from Nvidia. Does that mean Nvidia is going to crash? Probably not. Could it happen? Anything is possible in the market. But for long-term investors, the bigger concern may be that future revenue growth simply cannot continue at the pace investors have become accustomed to. If growth slows meaningfully, the stock could experience years of stagnation or disappointing returns. That is the logical case investors should at least consider. The Consumer Isn't Breaking, it's Quietly Running Out of Cushion The recent economic data showed that inflation came in line with expectations and much of the shift can likely be attributed to higher energy prices. A bigger concern to keep an eye on is what's happening to household finances underneath the surface. April core PCE, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, came in at 3.3% year-over-year, exactly in line with expectations. This was the highest annual level since November 2023. At this point, inflation still doesn't appear to be a crisis story. If energy prices can decline, I believe much of the recent increase in inflation would dissipate and we'd head closer to the Fed's 2% target. While I'd say inflation isn't a major concern currently, the data suggests consumers are increasingly stretched financially. The clearest warning sign is the savings rate. The U.S. personal savings rate fell to just 2.6%, one of the lowest levels seen outside of the immediate Covid reopening period in 2022. The April reading was down from 3.2% in March and 5.8% a year prior. It also marked the lowest savings rate since June 2022 when it hit 2.2%. For perspective, Americans saved about 5-7% from 2010 to the beginning of 2020. That gap matters. It suggests consumers are continuing to spend, but they're doing it with far less financial cushion than they historically had. Spending resilience is increasingly being supported by depleted savings, rising debt usage, and retirement account borrowing rather than excess cash reserves. Fidelity reported that 19.2% of workers now have an outstanding 401(k) loan, up from 18.8% a year ago. Meanwhile, hardship withdrawals across retirement plans continue to rise industrywide. Vanguard recently reported that 6% of account holders took hardship withdrawals in 2025, up from 4.8% the prior year and above pre-pandemic norms. Retirement accounts are increasingly functioning as emergency liquidity for everyday expenses. Historically, 401(k)s were largely treated as long-term investment vehicles. Now they're becoming a financial backstop for consumers trying to maintain spending in a higher-rate environment. This data continues to point towards the concerns around the K-shape economy. While debt levels remain in check, increased debt balances or more 401k withdrawals could create more longer-term consequences that we should be aware of. The most important part of the SpaceX IPO may not be the valuation. It may be the mechanics behind the stock itself. SpaceX has yet to declare the size of its IPO offering, but it will likely be a single-digit percentage of the company's total shares outstanding. That matters because float, not just valuation, can determines how violently a stock moves in the early months after an IPO. When demand is huge and supply is constrained, prices can disconnect from fundamentals quickly. If institutions, retail investors, and passive index funds are all competing for a tiny number of available shares, scarcity alone can drive a major rally independent of fundamentals. Nasdaq created a rule in May that shortened the waiting period for megacap stocks to be included in the Nasdaq 100 index to 15 trading days, which is down from as long as a year. There's also a proposal to shorten the waiting period for S&P 500 inclusion to six months from 12 months and there's speculation that could be implemented before the SpaceX IPO. If SpaceX is added rapidly to major indexes, passive funds and ETFs may become forced buyers while insiders gradually gain the ability to sell into strength. That creates a setup where institutional demand collides directly with controlled insider supply releases. The result could be extraordinary volatility in both directions. The lock-up structure may be even more important than the float itself. SpaceX plans to allow certain shareholders to sell portions of their stock before the traditional 180-day lock-up expires. Restrictions usually apply to existing investors, employees, large institutional investors or people with access to privileged information. Under the proposed structure, some insiders could begin selling as early as after the company's first earnings report if performance targets are met. Up to 20% of the restricted shares may be sold shortly after the company releases its second-quarter earnings. Another 10% would be unlocked if the stock trades at least 30% above its IPO price. Additional tranches of 7% each are set to unlock at five intervals between 70 and 135 days after the listing, with a further 28% becoming available after a subsequent earnings report. Any remaining restricted shares would be eligible for sale after 180 days. Elon Musk, who holds 85.1% of the voting power and 12.3% of the economic interest in Class A shares, agreed to a 366-day restriction. Historically, unlock events have often been brutal. The Facebook IPO is probably the clearest example. Facebook had an IPO of $38 in May 2012 during one of the most hyped tech IPOs ever. Within three months, the stock had already fallen sharply, but the real pressure came from the lock-up expirations. In August 2012, Facebook's first major lock-up expiration released 270 million additional shares into the market increasing the publicly tradable share count by roughly 60%. The stock fell more than 6% that day and closed below $20, almost 48% below its IPO price. Interestingly, your returns in Meta/Facebook have been great and investors who bought the stock after its first day of trading are up close to 1,500%, but investors that bought six months later are up close to 2,500%. Facebook isn't the only example. In fact, generally IPOs fizzle out shortly after the hype fades. Jay Ritter, a University of Florida professor, point out the 1,724 U.S. IPOs from 2011 through 2024 had an average first-day pop of 23%, but over the next three years, these stocks lagged behind the market by 25 percentage points. The trend is even more troubling for stocks that trade with a high premium. Since 1980, issuers with trailing annual sales of at least $100 million and a price-to-sales ratio above 40 have seen an average three-year drop of 45% from their first day's close. The psychology behind lock-ups is simple. During the first few months after an IPO, the market is dealing with artificial scarcity. The available supply of stock is intentionally constrained while excitement and media attention are elevated. Once insiders are allowed to sell, the supply-demand balance changes immediately. What makes SpaceX interesting is that management appears to be trying to avoid a single catastrophic unlock day by spreading the selling pressure over time. In theory, that could reduce the probability of a massive one-day collapse like Facebook experienced. But it may also create a different environment where insider selling becomes a continuous overhang rather than one clean reset event. The lesson from previous IPO cycles is that the first trade and the long-term investment outcome are rarely the same thing. Stocks with tiny floats and massive narratives can become detached from fundamentals very quickly. Eventually supply catches up. Financial Planning: Match or Max Your 401(k) Many people have heard the advice to contribute enough to their 401(k) to receive the company match, but stopping there can mean leaving one of the most powerful wealth-building tools underutilized. A 401(k) allows investments to grow tax-deferred or tax-free with traditional and Roth contributions, which can significantly improve long-term after-tax returns compared to other investment options. Critics often argue that 401(k) plans have failed to replace traditional pensions, but in many cases the problem is not the structure of the 401(k) itself, it is that people simply have not contributed enough or invested appropriately over time. Not everyone is going to become a real estate mogul, successful entrepreneur, or business owner, and that is perfectly okay. The 401(k) was designed to allow ordinary workers to build extraordinary retirement security through disciplined saving and investing over decades. With consistent contributions, proper investment allocation, and time, a well-funded 401(k) can generate retirement income that exceeds many traditional pension plans while also providing greater flexibility and ownership of the assets. Companies Discussed: The Home Depot, Inc. (HD), Intuit Inc. (INTU), Ferrari N.V. (RACE) & MGM Resorts International (MGM)
CardioNerds Dr. Joseph Kassab, Dr. Mariana Garcia-Arango, and Dr. Christopher Mason explore the technological revolution of Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) with expert faculty Dr. Michael Gallagher. The discussion details how CCTA has evolved into a frontline diagnostic and preventive tool, moving beyond simple anatomy to incorporate physiology via CT-FFR and biology through AI-driven plaque quantification. The episode reviews landmark evidence like the SCOT-HEART and PROMISE trials, the nuances of CAD-RADS 2.0 reporting, and the emerging role of AI in monitoring treatment response and personalizing cardiovascular care. Critically, they also discuss some of the assumptions and limitations of these techniques. Stay tuned for a matching review article to be submitted to US Cardiology Review, the official Journal of CardioNerds. This episode was supported by an independent medical education grant from HeartFlow. All CardioNerds education is planned, produced, and reviewed solely by CardioNerds. Enjoy this Circulation Paths to Discovery article to learn more about the CardioNerds mission and journey. US Cardiology Review is now the official journal of CardioNerds! Submit your manuscripts here. CardioNerds Multimodality Cardiovascular Imaging PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll Pearls Shift in Paradigm: CCTA is no longer just an anatomic test; with some key limitations, it can provide anatomy, physiology (CT-FFR), and plaque biology (AI-CPA) in a single non-invasive scan. The “Power of Zero” vs. Plaque: While a normal CCTA has a >95% negative predictive value, future MIs often arise from non-obstructive plaque that traditional stress tests might miss. CAD-RADS 2.0 Utility: The addition of plaque burden modifiers (P1–P4) is a “game changer,” allowing clinicians to identify high-risk patients who need aggressive lipid-lowering despite having only mild stenosis. CT-FFR as a Virtual Stress Test: CT-FFR uses computational fluid dynamics to simulate blood flow, potentially reducing unnecessary invasive catheterizations by approximately 61% without sacrificing safety. Seeing the Invisible: AI-based quantitative plaque analysis (QCPA) can identify “subvisual” plaque and low-attenuation (lipid-rich) components that are the primary drivers of acute coronary syndromes. Show Notes How has the role of CCTA changed compared to traditional functional testing? Historically, stress testing answered “is there ischemia today?”, which often reflects late-stage disease. CCTA identifies disease across the entire spectrum, asking “is there atherosclerosis and how much plaque is present?”. Landmark evidence: SCOT-HEART showed a 41% relative risk reduction in MI at 5 years attributed to intensified preventive therapies, and PROMISE showed CCTA was better at selecting patients who truly needed invasive angiography. Diagnostic CCTA imaging depends on the protocol, contrast timing, heart rate, heart rhythm, breathholding, scanner quality, and several patient factors (obesity, prior stents, heavy calcification, complex bypass anatomy, and motion artifact all may limit imaging). “CCTA is exceptional for the right patient, with the right scanner, and the right team.” What are the key modifiers introduced in CAD-RADS 2.0, and why do they matter? CAD-RADS 2.0 moved beyond stenosis severity to include plaque burden (P0 to P4), high-risk plaque (HRP) features, and the presence of ischemia based on CT-FFR. It serves as a clinical decision support tool: a patient with mild (25-49%) stenosis but “extensive” (P4) plaque burden is considered high risk and warrants aggressive risk factor modification. How is CT-FFR calculated, and when is it most useful in clinical practice? CT-FFR uses resting CCTA data and computational fluid dynamics to create a 3D model of coronary flow during simulated maximal hyperemia. It is often used for intermediate lesions (40–90% stenosis) to predict if they are ischemia-producing, guiding the decision whether to proceed with invasive angiography. The assumptions necessary for this computational modeling may not apply well to patients with microvascular dysfunction, significant myocardial scar or prior infarction, or ventricular hypertrophy. Still, data indicate that CT-FFR performs similarly to PET in predicting hemodynamically significant lesions. CT-FFR performs well at the extremes (either clearly normal or clearly abnormal). Accuracy dips, however, in the intermediate range (~0.75-0.80), where decision-making is most critical. In this grey zone, additional factors can help guide the approach, including the amount of myocardium supplied, translesional gradient, and plaque features. CT-FFR has not been validated in distal segments, stented segments, heavily calcified coronary arteries, or in patients with severe aortic stenosis. Caution with CT-FFR should be utilized in very calcified coronary segments. What is AI-based quantitative plaque analysis (QCPA), and what metrics are ready for clinical use? This is potentially a paradigm shift, moving away from stenosis-centric thinking to a more disease burden and plaque biology focus. QCPA uses deep learning algorithms to automatically segment the vessel wall and quantify plaque volume in mm³. Ready for “prime time” metrics include: Total Plaque Volume (TPV), non-calcified plaque volume, and Low-Attenuation Plaque (LAP) burden. Can serial CCTA be used to monitor the effectiveness of medical therapies like statins? While not yet a routine guideline-driven practice, trials like PARADIGM and EVAPORATE show that therapies can stabilize plaque; notably, CCTA is better for monitoring than CAC scores, which can be misleading as statins often increase plaque calcification as part of the stabilization process. There are no randomized trials that serial CCTAs improve outcomes. Cost and radiation exposure will be notable limitations. Serial scan timing, scan acquisition and interpretation standardization would be key. Dr. Gallagher notes that we are moving toward a world in which plaque burden may become a “treatment biomarker,” similar to tumor burden in oncology. References 1. Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography From Clinical Uses to Emerging Technologies: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. Abdelrahman KM, Chen MY, Dey AK, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020;76(10):1226-1243. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.06.076. 2. Non-Invasive Imaging in Coronary Syndromes: Recommendations of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and the American Society of Echocardiography, in Collaboration With the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. Edvardsen T, Asch FM, Davidson B, et al. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : Official Publication of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2022;35(4):329-354. doi:10.1016/j.echo.2021.12.012. 3. 2021 AHA/ACC/ASE/CHEST/SAEM/SCCT/SCMR Guideline for the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Chest Pain: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Gulati M, Levy PD, Mukherjee D, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2021;78(22):e187-e285. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.07.053. 4. Contemporary, Non-Invasive Imaging Diagnosis of Chronic Coronary Artery Disease. van der Bijl P, Gulati M, Saraste A, et al. Lancet (London, England). 2025;406(10519):2577-2587. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01586-7. 5. State of the Art: Evaluation and Medical Management of Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease in Patients With Chest Pain: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Slipczuk L, Blankstein R, Bucciarelli-Ducci C, et al. Circulation. 2025;152(23):e443-e466. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001394. 6. Diagnostic Performance of Fractional Flow Reserve Derived From Coronary CT Angiography: The ACCURATE-CT Study. Li C, Hu Y, Jiang J, et al. JACC. Cardiovascular Interventions. 2024;17(17):1980-1992. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2024.06.027. 7. Clinical Outcomes Based on Coronary Computed Tomography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve and Plaque Characterization. Sato Y, Motoyama S, Miyajima K, et al. JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging. 2024;17(3):284-297. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2023.07.013. 8. Clinical Use of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography-Derived Fractional Flow Reserve: Expert Consensus by an International Working Group. Tang CX, Leipsic JA, Nørgaard BL, et al. European Radiology. 2026;:10.1007/s00330-025-12313-6. doi:10.1007/s00330-025-12313-6. 9. Diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography–derived fractional flow reserve: a systematic review. Cook CM, Petraco R, Shun-Shin MJ, et al. JAMA Cardiol. 2017;2(7):803-810. Doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2017.1314 10. Diagnostic performance of noninvasive fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomography angiography in suspected coronary artery disease: the NXT trial (Analysis of Coronary Blood Flow Using CT Angiography: Next Steps). Nørgaard BL, Leipsic J, Gaur S, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;63(12):1145-1155. Doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2013.11.043 11. Comparison of coronary computed tomography angiography, fractional flow reserve, and perfusion imaging for ischemia diagnosis. Driessen RS, Danad I, Stuijfzand WJ, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(2):161-173. Doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.10.056. 12. 1-year outcomes of FFRCT-guided care in patients with suspected coronary disease: the PLATFORM study. Douglas PS, De Bruyne B, Pontone G, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;68(5):435-445. Doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2016.05.057. 13. Comparison of an initial risk-based testing strategy vs usual testing in stable symptomatic patients with suspected coronary artery disease: the PRECISE randomized clinical trial. Douglas PS, Nanna MG, Kelsey MD, et al; PRECISE Investigators. JAMA Cardiol. 2023;8(10):904-914. Doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2023.2595. 14. Diagnostic and clinical value of FFRCT in stable chest pain patients with extensive coronary calcification: the FACC study. Mickley H, Veien KT, Gerke O, et al. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2022;15(6):1046-1058. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2021.12.010. 15. Low-Attenuation Noncalcified Plaque on Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Predicts Myocardial Infarction: Results From the Multicenter SCOT-HEART Trial (Scottish Computed Tomography of the HEART). Williams MC, Kwiecinski J, Doris M, et al. Circulation. 2020;141(18):1452-1462. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.044720. 16. AI-Guided Quantitative Plaque Staging Predicts Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients at Risk for Atherosclerotic CVD. Nurmohamed NS, Bom MJ, Jukema RA, et al. JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging. 2024;17(3):269-280. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2023.05.020. 17. Interaction of AI-Enabled Quantitative Coronary Plaque Volumes on Coronary CT Angiography, FFRCT, and Clinical Outcomes: A Retrospective Analysis of the ADVANCE Registry. Dundas J, Leipsic J, Fairbairn T, et al. Circulation. Cardiovascular Imaging. 2024;17(3):e016143. doi:10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.123.016143. 18. Prognostic Value of AI-Based Quantitative Coronary CTA vs Human Reader-Based Visual Assessment: Results From the CONFIRM2 Registry. van Rosendael A, Nakanishi R, Bax JJ, et al. JACC. Cardiovascular Imaging. 2026;19(3):345-359. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2025.09.021.13. Pericoronary Adipose Tissue as a Marker of Cardiovascular Risk: JACC Review Topic of the Week. Tan N, Dey D, Marwick TH, Nerlekar N. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2023;81(9):913-923. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2022.12.021. 19. Effect of Icosapent Ethyl on Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients With Elevated Triglycerides on Statin Therapy: Final Results of the EVAPORATE Trial. Budoff MJ, Bhatt DL, Kinninger A, et al. European Heart Journal. 2020;41(40):3925-3932. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa652. 20. Coronary CT Angiography Evaluation With Artificial Intelligence for Individualized Medical Treatment of Atherosclerosis: A Consensus Statement From the QCI Study Group. Schulze K, Stantien AM, Williams MC, et al. Nature Reviews. Cardiology. 2026;23(2):100-115. doi:10.1038/s41569-025-01191-6.
Carton and Big Mac celebrate the New York Knicks sweeping the Eastern Conference Finals and heading to the NBA Finals for the first time in over 25 years. They discuss the classy decision by James Dolan and Leon Rose to stay off the podium and issue a challenge for listeners to apologize for their previous criticisms of the team. The conversation on The Carton Show with Big Mac also compares this roster's dominant playoff run to legendary NBA teams of the past. 01:50 - Knicks Historic Playoff Run 05:30 - Dolan and Rose's Class 12:50 - Dismissing Easy Path Claims 17:02 - Knicks Critic Receipt Day 26:14 - Big Snow American Dream 38:11 - Knicks Fan Rallying Points 51:25 - Karl-Anthony Towns Apology 58:20 - Candy and French Phrases
Bruce Bechtol discusses his book Rogue Allies, highlighting the strategic partnership between North Korea and Iran. He emphasizes that U.S. administrations have historically underestimated this threat. Since 1983, North Korea has operated on a "cash and carry" basis with Iran, providing weapons for hard currency or oil. The proliferation extends to surrogates like Hamas. Bechtol confirms North Korea possesses the Hwasong-15 missile, capable of delivering nuclear warheads to the United States. This relationship underscores North Korea's role as a primary supplier to revisionist states seeking to challenge the liberal world order. (1/4)DECEMBER 1958
Welcome to Day 2868 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2868 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 130:1-8 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2868 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2868 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Song of Ascent – Out of the Depths of the Cosmic Abyss In our previous episode on this grand pilgrimage, we traveled along the rugged trails of the tenth Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Nine. We confronted the gritty, painful reality of the survivor. We looked at the deep, bloody furrows plowed across the back of the covenant community by the wicked—the earthly agents of the rebel spiritual principalities. Yet, we celebrated the triumphant, sharp justice of Yahweh, who stepped onto the field and sliced the harnesses of oppression in half. We saw that while the haters of Zion look elevated, they are ultimately nothing more than shallow roof-grass, destined to wither into worthlessness under the heat of divine judgment. Today, we take our next deliberate, introspective steps up the mountain pass toward Jerusalem. We are exploring the eleventh song in this ancient collection: Psalm One Hundred Thirty, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. Historically, this deeply moving psalm has been known in the Christian tradition by its opening Latin words, De Profundis, which translate to, "Out of the Depths." The psalmist shifts our focus from the external persecution of worldly enemies, to the internal, suffocating weight of personal and corporate guilt. We are moving from the battlefield of physical survival, into the profound spiritual depths of the human soul, learning how to cry out for mercy when we are drowning in our own brokenness. Let us step onto the trail, and listen to the desperate cry for redemption. The first segment is: Crying from the Chaotic Waters of Despair Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses one and two. Out of the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer. The song opens not with a shout of triumph, but with a muffled, echoing cry from the dark. "Out of the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer." To truly comprehend the terrifying weight of this opening, we must view the imagery through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview. The Hebrew word for "depths" is ma'amaqim. In the ancient Near East, the deep, dark, and churning waters of the ocean were not viewed merely as a geographic feature; they represented primeval chaos, the cosmic abyss, and the terrifying domain of death. The sea was the playground of Leviathan, and the watery throat of Sheol—the underworld. To be in "the depths" meant you were drowning, completely overwhelmed by cosmic forces, suffocating in total darkness, and entirely cut off from the land of the living. But what has dragged the psalmist down into this spiritual abyss? It is not the armies of Babylon this time; it is the realization of his own sin. The depths of despair represent the suffocating environment of guilt. When you recognize how far you have fallen from the cosmic blueprint of the Creator, the psychological weight can feel like a multi-ton tidal wave, pinning you to the ocean floor. Yet, look at the direction of his cry. Even from the bottom of the chaotic abyss, wrapped in the dark currents of his own failure, the pilgrim directs his voice straight upward. He calls out to the Name of Yahweh. He begs, "Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer." This is an act of fierce, desperate faith. The rebel spiritual forces—the corrupt elohim of the Divine Council—want the guilty soul to believe that it is permanently abandoned, that the abyss has claimed them forever. But the psalmist refuses to listen to the blackmail of the enemy. He knows that the voice of the Creator can penetrate the deepest, darkest waters of the cosmic void. When you are drowning in your own brokenness, you must use your final breath to send an SOS straight to the heavenly throne room. The second segment is: The Celestial Ledger and the Scandal of Grace Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses three and four. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. Standing before the cosmic courtroom of heaven, the psalmist poses a chilling, rhetorical question that seals the fate of all humanity. "Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?" In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, it was believed that the gods kept rigorous, celestial ledgers. The rebel principalities kept meticulous books, recording every infraction, every mistake, and every failure of mankind, utilizing those records to extort, torture, and condemn human beings. They demanded absolute, flawless perfection, but provided absolutely no grace. If Yahweh operated on the same system, the cosmic trial would be over before it even started. The Hebrew word for "survive" here means to stand. If God brought out the unedited ledger of our hidden thoughts, our compromised motives, and our outright rebellions, every single human being, every angel, and every member of the council would instantly collapse under the weight of perfect justice. No one could stand. But then, the psalmist introduces a staggering, paradigm-shifting truth that completely shatters the cosmic legal system of the enemy. Verse four declares, "But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you." This is a beautiful, supernatural paradox. In our human way of thinking, we assume that if a judge lets a criminal off the hook, the criminal will lose all respect for the law. We think that punishment produces fear, and forgiveness produces carelessness. But in the economy of the Most High God, the exact opposite is true. The rebel gods of the pagan nations used fear and guilt to manipulate their followers into slavery. They never offered true, total forgiveness; they only offered temporary, expensive truces. But Yahweh performs a miracle of grace. He skims off the record of our sins, completely erasing the ledger through His covenant love. When a human being, drowning at the bottom of the abyss, experiences the overwhelming, unmerited release of divine forgiveness, it triggers a profound, holy shockwave in their soul. They don't become careless; they become utterly captivated. They develop a deep, trembling, and reverential awe—the true "fear of the Lord." They realize they are dealing with a King who is too good, too powerful, and too merciful to ever be trifled with. Forgiveness doesn't produce license; it produces absolute, unswerving loyalty to the true Sovereign of the cosmos. The third segment is: The Hyper-Vigilant Vigil for the Sun of Righteousness Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses five and six. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. Having received the assurance of forgiveness, the psalmist transitions into a posture of patient, yet hyper-vigilant, waiting. "I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word." The Hebrew word for "counting on," or "waiting," is qavah, which carries the visceral idea of twisting cords together to make a strong rope. It implies an active, muscular tension. The pilgrim is not waiting passively, like a person sitting bored in a doctor's office. He is binding his soul tightly to the promises of God, bracing himself for the long watch. He has anchored his hope exclusively to the "word"—the cosmic decrees and covenant oaths of Yahweh. He illustrates the intensity of this waiting with a beautiful, hauntingly repetitive military metaphor in verse six. "I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn." To understand this, we must remember our previous treks through the Songs of Ascents, specifically Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven, where we learned about the vital role of the watchman guarding the city walls. Imagine a sentry stationed on the high stone battlements of Jerusalem during the ancient night watch. The darkness around him is heavy, absolute, and infested with hidden dangers. The enemy principalities and their human proxies do their most destructive work...
Donald Trump just got hit with an absolutely crushing poll from Fox News. Disapproval of his handling of the economy is at an all time high. His ratings on inflation are staggeringly awful. Historically friendly voter groups—whites, rural Americans, the working class—are all turning away from him in surprising numbers. It's no accident that on Thursday, Trump let out a long, rambling diatribe, demanding Republicans pass his onerous voter suppression legislation. Critically, Trump said straight out that if they do, Democrats will “never be elected again.” Trump admitted that the whole point of his bill is to ensure one-party rule in perpetuity, in the GOP's favor—exactly why he wants it passed before the midterms. We talked to MS NOW opinion editor James Downie, author of a piece on Trump's deepening unpopularity. We discuss why Trump is losing both his base and the new voters he won in 2024, what opportunities that offers Democrats, whether the bottom is really falling out for good, and why Trump can't cheat his way out this time. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Historically, many sovereign states have granted separatist cultural and ideological groups political autonomy as a means of avoiding full secession. The US legal system prevents this.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/us-constitution-now-suicide-pact
Historically, many sovereign states have granted separatist cultural and ideological groups political autonomy as a means of avoiding full secession. The US legal system prevents this.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/us-constitution-now-suicide-pact
Donald Trump just got hit with an absolutely crushing poll from Fox News. Disapproval of his handling of the economy is at an all time high. His ratings on inflation are staggeringly awful. Historically friendly voter groups—whites, rural Americans, the working class—are all turning away from him in surprising numbers. It's no accident that on Thursday, Trump let out a long, rambling diatribe, demanding Republicans pass his onerous voter suppression legislation. Critically, Trump said straight out that if they do, Democrats will “never be elected again.” Trump admitted that the whole point of his bill is to ensure one-party rule in perpetuity, in the GOP's favor—exactly why he wants it passed before the midterms. We talked to MS NOW opinion editor James Downie, author of a piece on Trump's deepening unpopularity. We discuss why Trump is losing both his base and the new voters he won in 2024, what opportunities that offers Democrats, whether the bottom is really falling out for good, and why Trump can't cheat his way out this time. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Donald Trump just got hit with an absolutely crushing poll from Fox News. Disapproval of his handling of the economy is at an all time high. His ratings on inflation are staggeringly awful. Historically friendly voter groups—whites, rural Americans, the working class—are all turning away from him in surprising numbers. It's no accident that on Thursday, Trump let out a long, rambling diatribe, demanding Republicans pass his onerous voter suppression legislation. Critically, Trump said straight out that if they do, Democrats will “never be elected again.” Trump admitted that the whole point of his bill is to ensure one-party rule in perpetuity, in the GOP's favor—exactly why he wants it passed before the midterms. We talked to MS NOW opinion editor James Downie, author of a piece on Trump's deepening unpopularity. We discuss why Trump is losing both his base and the new voters he won in 2024, what opportunities that offers Democrats, whether the bottom is really falling out for good, and why Trump can't cheat his way out this time. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Eurovision's director, Martin Green, has opened the doors for Canada to enter the Olympics of pop music. Historically, contestants of the music contest must be full members of the European Broadcast Union - Canada currently sits as an associate member. But so does Australia, yet they've been in on the action for more than 10 years. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Karen Fricker, professor of dramatic arts at Brock University to discuss the geopolitical implications of Canada joining, what Canadian artistic identity would look like on the global stage, and whether or not Canadians would embrace the contest. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Historically, many didn't consider Alabama to be at the forefront of education, but Alabama's pandemic recovery may be among the best in the nation. Perhaps most impressively, Alabama was the only state whose 4th-grade math NAEP scores were higher in 2024 than in 2019, and Alabama reports a chronic absenteeism rate that is the lowest […]
Over the past decade, U.S. stocks have been the center of the investing universe. And for good reason—the U.S. market remains one of the strongest and most influential in the world. But wise investing is not simply about looking at where the market has been. It also means asking where opportunities may be emerging next. That raises an important question: Should investors consider looking beyond U.S. markets? On today's show, Mark Biller, Executive Editor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Sound Mind Investing, says the answer is worth careful consideration. While U.S. stocks remain important, global markets, currencies, and economic leadership are always changing. For investors seeking wise diversification, international investing may deserve a closer look. Why Consider International Investing? Historically, one of the main reasons to own international stocks has been diversification. Decades ago, foreign markets often moved more independently from U.S. markets. When U.S. stocks struggle, international stocks might perform better, helping smooth out a portfolio's ups and downs. That benefit has diminished somewhat as globalization has grown. Today, U.S. and foreign markets often move in the same general direction. But diversification is still not the only reason to consider investing abroad. Another reason is opportunity. Many strong companies are based outside the United States. Investors who focus only on domestic markets may miss out on growth taking place in other parts of the world. There is also a broader market-cycle consideration. U.S. and international stocks tend to trade leadership over long periods. One may outperform for a decade or more, and then the pattern can shift. After roughly 15 years of strong U.S. market leadership, foreign stocks may be positioned to become more competitive again. The U.S. Market Is Strong—But Not Permanent The U.S. economy remains the largest and strongest in the world. America benefits from deep capital markets, natural resources, innovation, and relative political stability. Still, Mark points out that U.S. financial assets have been “punching above their weight” for some time. U.S. stocks currently represent a much larger share of global stock markets than the U.S. represents of global economic output. That does not mean U.S. stocks are destined to decline. But it does suggest that today's level of dominance should not be assumed to last forever. The global economy is shifting toward a more multipolar world, where economic leadership may be spread more broadly across regions. If foreign investors begin directing more capital toward their home markets, international stocks could benefit. Why the Global Economy Matters One of the most important distinctions investors should understand is the difference between global stock market share and global economic output. According to Mark, U.S. stocks represent about 64% of the global equity market, while the U.S. share of global economic production is closer to 15%. That is a significant gap. There is no rule that a nation's stock market share must match its share of global economic activity. But those numbers have shifted over time, and there is no guarantee that the current U.S. share of global markets will remain this high indefinitely. For investors, this means it may be wise to pay attention to where economic growth is happening outside the United States—especially in emerging markets. The Opportunity—and Risk—of Emerging Markets Emerging markets can offer significant long-term growth potential. These countries often have growing populations, rising standards of living, and expanding economies. But that potential comes with higher volatility. Capital can move quickly in and out of emerging markets, creating larger swings in performance. Investors should understand that while the long-term growth story may be compelling, the risks are also greater. For that reason, emerging markets should generally be approached thoughtfully, as one part of a diversified strategy—not as a speculative bet. The Role of Currency Currency also plays an important role in international investing. Most Americans earn and spend in dollars, so they may not think much about exchange rates unless they travel internationally or buy foreign goods. But for investors, currency movements can have a meaningful impact. When a U.S. investor buys foreign stocks, returns are influenced by two factors: the performance of the foreign market and the movement of that country's currency against the U.S. dollar. If the foreign currency strengthens against the dollar, it can enhance returns for a U.S. investor. If it weakens, it can reduce returns. That means international investing is not just about foreign companies—it also involves exposure to global currencies. How Investors Can Add International Exposure For most investors, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds are the simplest ways to add international exposure. These vehicles provide diversification across many companies and markets. There are several categories to understand. World funds can invest anywhere around the globe, including the United States. Investors should examine them carefully because some may still hold a large percentage of U.S. stocks. Foreign funds focus primarily on companies outside the United States. These offer more direct international exposure. Regional and country-specific funds focus on specific regions of the world. These may offer targeted exposure but usually come with greater risk. Emerging market funds focus on developing economies with higher growth potential and higher volatility. Each type of fund carries different levels of diversification and risk, so investors should consider how each fits within their broader financial plan. What About China? China presents a complicated picture for investors. The country has experienced tremendous economic growth, but its stock market has not always reflected that growth as investors might expect. Government involvement, market controls, and geopolitical concerns also create additional risks. Because of those factors, some investors choose to limit or avoid exposure to China while still investing in other emerging markets. Mark notes that Sound Mind Investing takes this approach by using emerging-market strategies that exclude China. How Much International Exposure Makes Sense? There is no single percentage that fits every investor. The right amount depends on goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and the rest of the portfolio. Still, Mark suggests that many U.S. investors may be underexposed to international markets. As a general starting point, many diversified strategies might allocate roughly 15% to 25% of the stock portion of a portfolio to international assets, with flexibility to adjust based on market conditions. The key is not to chase trends or overreact to recent performance. It is to build a thoughtful, diversified portfolio that recognizes both the strength of U.S. markets and the opportunities developing around the world. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: How can I trust God without saving too much, while still preparing wisely for retirement? Is it okay to save for retirement, and what should that look like? I've also been struggling with tithing. I often hear that I should give 10%, but that can be difficult. How should I think about tithing so my heart is in the right place? I'm helping my son and daughter-in-law buy their first home. Is PMI required for any first-time homebuyer who puts less than 20% down? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Sound Mind Investing (SMI) Diversifying Abroad: A Primer on International Investing by Mark Biller (Article on SoundMindInvesting.com) Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
On today’s edition of The Scott Jennings Show, Scott Jennings broadcast live from Louisville with a heavy focus on the Democratic Party’s worsening political standing, highlighting new polling showing historically low approval ratings — especially among male voters — while also discussing immigration, crime, Cuba, and cultural issues shaping the 2026 political landscape. The program featured House Republican Chair Rep. Lisa McClain on major legislative battles involving election integrity, housing, and college sports reform; bestselling author @GadSaad discussing his #1 book Suicidal Empathy and the societal impact of prioritizing emotion over reason; filmmaker Yoav Potash examining rising antisemitism and Holocaust denialism through his documentary Among Neighbors; Jordan Boyd debating abortion policy and media coverage post-Dobbs; and Noah Rothman analyzing political violence, media narratives, and the Democrats’ newly released 2024 election autopsy report. Throughout the broadcast, Jennings blended political commentary, cultural criticism, and breaking national issues centered on public safety, immigration enforcement, education, and the broader ideological direction of the country. Join Scott Jennings weekdays from 1- 3 pm ET on the Salem News Channel https://scottjenningsshow.com/ SOCIAL MEDIA
(00:00) Zolak & Bertrand start the hour by comparing the 2026 Red Sox to some of the early 90's Red Sox teams. (10:50) Is Kayshon Boutte the odd man out in New England? The guys follow-up on some reporting from Mike Reiss.(19:07) Zo, Beetle & McKone react to Jeremy Fowler's comments on The Fanatic in regards to the compensation for AJ Brown.(27:57) Is the narrative shifting in the Vrabel-Russini situation? Beetle's streaming musings, plus calls.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Google sheets for data: RBs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1idJmPno8MCI-WUdCG0f5wXAwngaztZj7V0xTiNI1HJY/edit?usp=sharing QBs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bJyn6KrrOktHVAFI90buniA3G8iGmogqD9Fv6WFSwwI/edit?usp=sharing WRs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qwxHm7lMHQ7kZecVZUuWQd1AhaXoKzEUQaqYpQf2tfw/edit?usp=sharing TEs: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FSwzXR62EG_CyBg77BaS8BV0iBLd7ZUoA7Ll8eqEtXE/edit?usp=sharing The Dynasty Nerds crew is back with their annual “repeat rate” deep dive, breaking down how often elite fantasy finishes actually repeat year to year and what that means for building dynasty rosters. Rich Dotson, Matt O'Hara, and Garret Price walk through the biggest shifts in the data, with the running back position showing the most meaningful change. Listen to This Episode: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube The headline is the pivot at RB. Historically, most top 12 RB seasons were one and done, but now only 43.75% of RB1 seasons are single year hits, meaning 56% plus repeat. Even wilder, about 40.6% of RB1 seasons come from backs who eventually log three or more RB1 years. That shift strengthens the case for locking in young cornerstone backs like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, who already have three RB1 seasons in three years, while Kyren Williams keeps beating the “other shoe” narrative by repeating without elite peak finishes. At QB, Josh Allen is in historic territory with seven top six seasons in eight years, and a massive top three hit rate. The show also notes how rare four top six seasons are, which keeps Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott in elite company even when real life value and fantasy value diverge. Start Using the Film Room Today! FFPC: New Users: Use promo code NERDS for $25 off your first FFPC Orphan Team! 00:00 Start 03:33 A Pivot in the RB Data 25:37 Top QB Hit Rates 38:25 FFPC 39:40 Top WR Hit Rates 48:40 Top TE Hit Rates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 5-5-2026.1920 HONG KONG1/16: Liz Peek discusses the strong American economy, noting low unemployment and an AI-driven boom despite oil price spikes from the Iran war. While concerns about plummeted savings exist, record stock market highs and a robust labor market sustain growth. Peek also addresses political resistance to AI development.2/16: Liz Peek reflects on the successful American visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, noting the public's rehabilitated view of the royal couple. Despite past controversies, their visit reaffirmed the special relationship, and American affection for the British monarchy remains strong, reflected in high television ratings.3/16: Grant Newsham explores Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's diplomatic mission to Vietnam and Australia to counter Chinese aggression. Takaichi is shifting Japan from purely economic influence toward a professional military posture. This approach is welcomed by Southeast Asian nations facing maritime bullying from China.4/16: Rich Goldberg outlines a "blockade plus" strategy to bankrupt the Iranian regime by cutting off oil and petrochemical revenues. This economic pressure aims to spark internal fractures and popular uprisings. Goldberg also advocates for expanding Middle Eastern pipeline infrastructure to bypass the Strait of Hormuz permanently.5/16: Ivana Stradner reports that Vladimir Putin is living in a bunker, fearing a coup as he loses on the battlefield. To maintain control, the Kremlin has implemented severe internet blackouts and banned Western social media. Stradnersuggests the West should provide Russians with more VPN systems.6/16: Ivana Stradner discusses how American jazz symbolizes freedom and individualism, making it a threat to repressive regimes. Historically used as a "non-nuclear weapon" during the Cold War, jazz's improvisational nature counters state propaganda. She argues the U.S. should revitalize this tool to reach those lacking freedom.7/16: Hussein Abdul-Hussein introduces Ali al-Zaydi, a political newcomer nominated for Iraqi Prime Minister by the Shia coordination framework. Al-Zaydi, a wealthy contractor, follows a pattern where "no-ones" are chosen when powerful factions cannot agree. Iraqi voters are increasingly favoring patriots over pro-Iran candidates.8/16: Hussein Abdul-Hussein explains that the United States remains the biggest player in Iraq, wielding significant influence over leadership choices and economic policy. Washington is currently pushing to move Iraq from a cash-based to a digital economy to prevent Iran from siphoning funds and to ensure financial transparency.9/16: Gregory Copley highlights a major defense contract between Japan and Australia, involving the sale of Mogami-class frigates. The two nations are cooperating to bypass China's monopoly on rare earth processing and energy supply chains. This partnership builds on a long history of strategic trade.10/16: Gregory Copley examines the instability of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso after their withdrawal from ECOWAS. The region faces increasing jihadist threats and government paranoia regarding French interference. Meanwhile, Chinese influence in Africa is weakening as Russia's African Corps remains active but limited.11/16: Gregory Copley reports that Iran is effectively under a military government led by General Vahidi, as Ayatollah Khamenei remains incapacitated. Simultaneously, China's Xi Jinping faces internal strife and energy shortages, while India maintains a strategic, non-aligned posture between the United States, Russia, and the People's Republic of China.12/16: King Charles III visited the United States and Bermuda, receiving bipartisan acclaim in Congress for his defense of constitutional checks and balances. Despite health concerns, the King successfully revitalized the special relationship and was lauded by a Bermuda rabbi for his family's historical protection of Jews. Gregory Copley reports.13/16: Thaddeus McCotter analyzes how high gasoline prices and economic disruptions from the Iran conflict influence midterm elections. He notes that while minority parties usually have messaging advantages, the lack of clear strategic military objectives and persistent inflation create significant uncertainty for American voters and global markets.14/16: Thaddeus McCotter argues that while Wall Street performs well, the average worker remains anxious about healthcare, interest rates, and student loans. He describes the current economy as fragile and warns that failing to address these underlying domestic anxieties could lead to political repercussions during the midterm elections.15/16: Jack Burnham details the rare extradition and indictment of a Chinese national, Mr. U, for state-sponsored hacking. Operating under "Silk Typhoon," the group targeted American COVID-19 research. This operation demonstrates China's strategy of using private actors to steal scientific excellence and prepare the digital battlefield.16/16: Jack Burnham discusses how Chinese commercial satellite firms provide the IRGC with high-resolution imagery to direct attacks against American assets. He differentiates this from the state-led surveillance of the Chinese balloon incident over U.S. missile silos, emphasizing China's broad campaign to disrupt American societal morale.
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
