Podcasts about Hockett

In this episode of #STtalks, we visit with Jason Felling of Felling Dairy and Mitch Hockett from #STgenetics to discuss how #Farmfit is helping turn real-time temperature and activity data into smarter decisions on the farm.

God Is Love God is not waiting for you to become worthy of love. God already loves you. The Gospel Brings Hope Jesus did not come to condemn the world. Jesus came to heal, restore, and save it. Love Is Our Calling The church is not a museum preserving the past. The church is a movement bringing God's love to the world. Build Bridges, Not Walls Keep welcoming. Keep serving. Keep reaching outward. Three Things to Remember Be grateful.Love with your whole heart.Do no harm, do all the good you can, and stay in love with God. --- God is love. Christ is God's love in the flesh. And because of that, God is always with us and for us.

2005 veröffentlicht Dan Everett, ehemaliger Missionar und jetzt Linguist, einen zutiefst kontroversen Aufsatz über die Sprache und das Volk der Pirahã, das tief im Amazonasgebiet lebt. Von der wissenschaftliche Community wurden ihm bald Rassismus und Unwissenschaftlichkeit vorgeworfen, doch die Medien waren fasziniert. Dass Dan Everett seine Hypothesen immer wieder wiederholte hat und zusätzlich jemand ist, der gerne in der Öffentlichkeit steht, hat alles nur noch mehr befeuert. Wir klären in dieser Folge, was Everett eigentlich behauptet hat, was das für die Linguistik bedeutet hat und was davon heute geblieben ist.Ein Podcast von Anton und Jakob. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sprachpfade ___ Links:Tonaufnahme eines Pirahã: https://youtu.be/SHv3-U9VPAs?si=Nx6P6y4Gta9OoHZbÜber die Pirahã: https://pib.socioambiental.org/en/Povo:Pirah%c3%a3Pirahã im World Atlas of Language Structure (WALS): https://wals.info/languoid/lect/wals_code_prhDan Everett über die Pirahã: https://daneverettbooks.com/about-dan/about-the-pirahas/(nicht ganz unproblematischer) 3Sat-Beitrag über Dan Everetts Forschung bei den Pirahã: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjSG_PfmuK8 ___ Die in der Folge erwähnten Aufsätze (chronologisch):Daniel Everett (2005): „Cultural Constraints on Grammar and Cognition in Pirahã. Another Look at the Design Features of Human Language“, in: Current Anthropology 46.4, S. 621-646.Andrew Nevins, Devid Pesetsky, Cilene Rodrigues (2009): „Pirahã Exceptionality. A Reassessment“, in: Language 85.2, S. 355-404. Daniel Everett (2009): „Pirahã Culture and Grammar. A Respone to Some Criticisms“, in: Language 85.2, S. 405-442. Andrew Nevins, Devid Pesetsky, Cilene Rodrigues (2009): „Evidence and argumentation. A reply to Everett (2009)“, in: Language 85.3, S. 671-681. ___ Abdruck von Everetts Aufsatz von 2005 mit einer kurzen Einordnung und Bibliographie der Kontroverse:Kap. "H. Linguistische Diskussionen", aus: Ludger Hoffmann (Hg.) (2019): Sprachwissenschaft. Ein Reader, 4. aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage, Berlin/Boston, S. 1031-1087. ___ Das Buch von Dan Everett über seine Zeit bei den Pirahã:im englischen Original: Daniel Everett (2008): Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes. Life and Language in the Amazoian Jungle, New York.in deutscher Übersetzung: Daniel Everett (2010): Das glücklichste Volk. Sieben Jahre bei den Pirahã-Indianern am Amazonas, übers. v. Sebastian Vogel, München.Alle Literatur ausleihbar in deiner nächsten Bibliothek! ___ Gegenüber Themenvorschlägen für die kommenden Ausflüge in die Sprachwissenschaft und Anregungen jeder Art sind wir stets offen. Wir freuen uns auf euer Feedback! Schreibt uns dazu einfach an oder in die DMs: anton.sprachpfade@protonmail.com oder jakob.sprachpfade@protonmail.com ___ Titelgrafik und Musik von Elias Kündiger https://on.soundcloud.com/ySNQ6

God is not the God of “the way it was,” but the God of something new. Change is hard, but God can bring renewal through it. Jesus' ascension was not abandonment. It was a sending. We are called to carry hope into everyday life. Witnessing to faith is often simple and relational. Walk with people. The resurrection proves that endings are not final with God. The church is called to be a people of hope, renewal, and new beginnings.

John Hockett, CEO of Marion Ag Service, is the second-generation leader for this family-run ag retailer located in Oregon. As a previous recipient of ARA’s Retailer of the Year, Marion Ag Service exemplifies excellence in its business in many ways, which Hockett boils down to “little things matter.” This year marks 50 years of business, and Hockett shares a bit on their vision for the next 50.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. Don't let fear lead your life The world runs on anxiety, but the Gospel invites us into trust. 2. Jesus doesn't give a map. He gives himself Faith is not certainty. It's relationship. 3. “The Way” is a way of living Not a path to get somewhere, but a life shaped by love, grace, and presence. 4. Love is the antidote to fear Fear builds walls. Love breaks them down. 5. Following Jesus is a daily choice Choose: Love over control Welcome over exclusion Grace over judgment 6. Christianity is not just something to believe It's a life to live. 7. You are not walking alone Jesus walks with you through every unknown and every fear. Simple Practice for the Week: When you feel anxious or overwhelmed, pause and ask:“What would it look like to choose love right now?” Then take one small step in that direction.

1. The church is more than what we do It's not programs, buildings, or branding. That's not the essence. 2. Jesus meets us in our fear The disciples were hiding… and Jesus showed up anyway. 3. We don't have to have it all together Doubt, questions, and uncertainty don't disqualify us. Even Thomas was met with grace. 4. The church is Christ's presence among us We are the church because Jesus is with us. Not because we are perfect. 5. Peace comes before purpose Jesus first says, “Peace be with you”… then He sends them. 6. We are sent to live like Easter people Not just in church, but in everyday life… at work, at home, in our relationships.

Easter means: God breaks cycles we thought were permanent Death, fear, and brokenness don't get the final word The worst thing is never the last thing There is life even in the places that feel “dead” Love wins What this means for us: We don't have to live stuck in fear or defeat We can bring Jesus into the hardest parts of our lives We can choose forgiveness, hope, and courage We can live like resurrection is real Simple Practice This Week: Identify one “small tomb” in your life (a fear, habit, relationship, or burden) Then ask:“What would it look like to invite Jesus into this?”

1. Faith changes how we see. Faith is not closing our eyes. It is learning to see the world clearly through God's grace. 2. Suffering is not about blame. Jesus redirects us from asking “Who is at fault?” to noticing what God is doing. 3. A changed life is powerful evidence. Like the healed man said: “I was blind, but now I see.” 4. We can be blind without realizing it. Pride, assumptions, and comfort can keep us from seeing God at work. 5. Kingdom vision sees people differently. Through Christ we begin to see others as beloved children of God. 6. Jesus seeks us out. Even when we feel rejected or pushed aside, Christ comes looking for us. Lenten Invitation: Ask God to open your eyes so you can see the world, and others, through the light of Christ.

The Bible tells one big story. From Genesis to Revelation, the gospel is the good news that God loves the world. God loves the real you. Not the version you pretend to be, but you as you are. Jesus came to save, not condemn. John 3:17 reminds us that Christ came to rescue the world. The church should reflect Jesus. Instead of pointing fingers, we open our arms in grace. Our calling this week: Help others experience God's love.

Listen to Him – Matthew 17:1–91. We Live in a Noisy WorldMany voices compete for our attention.God's voice cuts through the noise:“This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.”2. The Mountain Reveals Who Jesus IsOn the mountain, the disciples see Christ's glory.The One who shines in light is the same One who stepped into the water with us.Fully divine. Fully human. Close to us.3. Mountaintop Moments MatterWe all experience moments of clarity and grace.In worship. In prayer. In love. In creation.These moments are not escapes.They are maps for when life feels foggy.4. The Mountain Is Not the DestinationJesus leads the disciples back down.Following Him means moving toward real life.Toward need. Toward suffering. Toward the cross.5. Lent Is a Season of ListeningQuiet the other voices.Refocus your heart.Hear again Christ's invitation:“Follow me. Do not be afraid.”Remember This:The God of the mountaintop is not distant.In Jesus, God is right here.As close as your breath.Listen to Him.

The lasting impact of calfhood respiratory disease is costly and something we discuss thoroughly in the latest episode of STtalks! Dr Sébastien Buczinski of the University of Montreal, along with Farmfit® Manager, Dr. Mitch Hockett, join us to share the importance of early detection of respiratory diseases in calves, highlighting economic impacts and efficient diagnosis, as well as the benefit of technologies like Farmfit® from STgenetics®. This episode highlights the importance of proactive care and correct treatments in calves, how this can help prevent costly long-term impacts and future opportunities for improving calf health protocols.00:00 Introduction to Calf Respiratory Disease00:43 Meet the Experts: Dr. Sébastien Buczinski & Dr. Mitch Hockett02:30 The Economic Impact of Calf Respiratory Disease06:28 Early Detection and Diagnosis Techniques11:07 Challenges in Calf Health Monitoring12:18 The Role of Technology in Calf Health13:58 Ultrasound as a Diagnostic Tool20:37 Investing in Calf Health Technology27:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Elk Talk Podcast, Randy asks Marcus Hockett to fill in while Corey is on the road. Topics covered include the Raghorn Express, where elk hunting passion comes from, benefits of kids in elk camp, Cow Party, offseason is elk season, overcoming health issues, a broken leg mountain goat hunt, and a lot of other perspectives from a guy who grew up living the life of an elk hunter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1. Blessing Is Not the ContainerWe spend much of life building security, success, and comfort.Jesus cares less about the container and more about what fills it.2. Empty Space Makes Room for God“Blessed are the poor in spirit” means there is room for God to work.When we stop relying on ourselves, grace has space to enter.3. Jesus Invites Relationship, Not CertaintyJesus does not offer quick answers or a step by step program.He simply says, follow me. Walk with me. Come and see.4. The Kingdom Is Upside DownThe world values power, success, and control.Jesus lifts up humility, mercy, peacemaking, and compassion.5. Blessing Is Found in ProximityFrom the margins we see people, not problems.Jesus is already there, and that is where blessing breaks through.6. The Beatitudes Describe RealityThey are not rules to follow.They reveal what life looks like when God reigns.7. With Less of Us, There Is More of GodLife itself is a gift.Every breath is grace.Blessing begins with gratitude.

What happens when intuition, AI, tariffs, and leadership collide in wholesale distribution?In this episode of Around the Horn Podcast, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by Mike Hockett of Modern Distribution Management to unpack the biggest forces shaping distribution leaders right now, from trade policy and infrastructure risk to AI governance and executive decision-making under uncertainty.What You'll Learn:Why intuition still matters in executive decision-making, even in a data-driven worldHow tariffs are changing distributor behavior, pricing strategy, and inventory planningThe hidden risks of AI agents, vibe coding, and unsecured automation inside the enterpriseWhat NAW leaders are really discussing behind closed doors about the future of wholesale distributionHow top distributors are redefining productivity, focus, and profitable growthEpisode Highlights:05:12 – Why the NAW Executive Summit is different from every other industry event14:40 – “Listen to the whispers”: using intuition when data breaks down26:18 – Leadership lessons from crisis decision-making and 9/1138:55 – Tariffs, front-loaded demand, and the reality distributors are planning for52:30 – AI agents, data leakage, and why governance matters more than speed01:08:10 – The real ROI of AI in wholesale distribution, not the hype01:22:45 – Productivity, focus, and why most leaders only execute half their prioritiesMeet the Guest:Mike Hockett is Executive Editor at Modern Distribution Management (MDM) and part of the National Association of Wholesalers. He brings a deep perspective on distributor economics, leadership trends, AI adoption, and the structural forces reshaping the wholesale distribution industry.Tools, Frameworks, and Strategies Mentioned:Executive intuition frameworks for decision-making in uncertaintyAI governance and agent-based system risk managementTariff response strategies in wholesale distributionProductivity alignment models for leadership teamsData-driven prioritization and alerting systems in enterprise platformsClosing Insight:“In a world of volatility, the winners aren't waiting for certainty—they're building systems that adapt.”If you're a distributor, manufacturer, or industry leader navigating AI, tariffs, and transformation, this episode will help you think more clearly about what actually matters next.Connect with Mike Hockett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hockett-mdm/Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/ Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

1. Jesus is the lightJesus brings light into darkness, hope into despair, and clarity into confusion. His light shows us a different way to live.2. Following Jesus begins with an invitationJesus did not argue or coerce. He simply said, “Follow me,” and invited people into a new and more compelling life.3. Everyone is shaped by a way of lifeThere is no neutral ground. We are all formed by something. Culture, fear, success, distraction, or the kingdom of God.4. Evangelism is not pressure or persuasionInviting others into faith is not about guilt, fear, or proving we are right. It is about sharing a gift we have freely received.5. Evangelism looks like sharing breadLike one hungry person telling another where to find food, faith is shared by saying, “I found life here, and there is room for you too.”6. The kingdom of God offers a better wayJesus invites us into a way of life marked by love, mercy, justice, forgiveness, and peace.7. Invitation flows from a changed lifeWhen we live differently, listen deeply, and love generously, invitation becomes natural.8. There is room at the tableGod's table is abundant. The call is simple. Do not keep the good news to yourself. Who is one person you can invite to come and be fed?

1. God Is Our RefugeWhen life feels unsettled or noisy, God remains steady and present.“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46Remember: We do not face uncertainty alone.2. Noise Drowns Out What MattersOur world is full of voices, opinions, and constant chatter.More words do not always bring more wisdom.Remember: Not all noise deserves our attention.3. Listening Is a Spiritual PracticeListening is not passive. It is an act of faith.We cannot truly listen to one another if we are not first listening to God.Remember: Listening is a habit of the heart.4. Silence Makes Space for GodSilence helps us slow down and notice God's presence.In stillness, we learn to hear the still, small voice of God.Remember: Silence is not empty. It is full of God.5. Begin with a Simple PrayerWe do not need fancy words to listen well.“Lord, speak, for your servant is listening.”Remember: God is already speaking. We are invited to listen.6. When We Truly Hear, Our Words Give LifeListening changes how we speak and how we live.Our words can move from spiritual chatter to words that bring hope and life.Remember: Listening leads to love.A Simple Practice for the WeekTake two or three minutes each day to be still.No agenda. No rushing. Just listening.Be still. Listen. Trust that God is near.

Allan Hockett bageled his first two weeks in pest control. His manager pulled him aside and said, "Allan, you suck at this job. Sell five next week or you're fired." He barely scraped by with five. That was 11 years ago. Now he's a 4-time Golden Door winner.In this episode, Hunter sits down with Allan to unpack what changed—from running between doors and studying the top producer to building momentum systems that compound all summer. Allan shares the olfactory trigger he uses to lock in before every shift, why he believes "if you're not drowning daily, you're doing it wrong," and the mid-summer slump that had him in bed for two weeks. He also talks about the text from his wife that changed everything: "If you want to be the best, you have to be different than everyone else."Books mentioned:Can't Hurt Me by David GogginsThe Miracle Morning by Hal ElrodThank you for listening! Don't miss out on future episodes! Subscribe to The D2D Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. You may also watch this podcast on YouTube!You may also follow Sam Taggart on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more nuggets on D2D and Sales Tips.

1. Baptism reveals who Jesus isJesus is named as God's Beloved Son. From the very beginning, His ministry is grounded in love, presence, and grace.2. Baptism reveals who we areWe are claimed by God, forgiven, and given a new identity. We are not defined by our past, our labels, or our worst days.3. Baptism is a beginning, not magicThe water does not make life perfect, but it marks us. Each day is an invitation to live into who God says we are.4. Jesus gets in the water with usGod is not distant. Christ enters our mess, our pain, and our uncertainty and stands with us.5. Our primary identity is in ChristBaptism reshapes our allegiance. We belong first to the kingdom of God, where love of neighbor comes before everything else.6. Remember your baptism dailyWhen fear, division, or shame tries to tell you another story, remember who you are and to whom you belong. You are God's beloved.

Epiphany is about revelationJesus shows us what God is like through love, mercy, and humility.God's light often comes in unexpected placesThe Magi found God not in power, but in vulnerability.Not all light leads to lifeConsumerism, fear, and division promise brightness but leave us empty.The light of Christ reveals and frees usIt uncovers who we truly are and invites us to live honestly and whole.Every person bears sacred worthBecause God became human, every neighbor shines with dignity and value.Following Jesus changes our directionLike the Magi, encountering Christ means we do not go home the same way.Our calling is to be the lightThe world will know God's love by how we love one another.

Christmas is more than historyChristmas is not just about something that happened 2,000 years ago. It is about what God is still doing today.God does not wait for perfectionWe often think we need to fix ourselves before God can enter our lives. Christmas tells us God comes right into the mess.God moved inAt Christmas, God put on flesh and became our neighbor. God chose closeness over distance.“For you is born a Savior”This message is personal. Not just for the world, but for you right where you are.A Savior comes to healThe word Savior points to healing and wholeness. God desires peace within us and between us.God wants relationship, not debateGod is not just an idea to think about. God is seeking connection and love.Christmas is an invitationAs John Wesley said, the best of all is God is with us. And as Martin Luther and Meister Eckhart reminded the church, Christ longs to be born in us.Make room for ChristThe heart of Christmas is allowing Christ to dwell within us so that love, healing, and hope can shape our lives.

-) Fear can cloud our vision and lead us away from God's heart-) God often works most powerfully in moments that feel broken-) The more excellent way is not legalism, but love-) Compassion and mercy reflect the heart of God-) Saying yes to God does not remove fear, but it leads us through it-) Love is not a feeling but a faithful, lived commitment-) God is with us even when life is not going according to plan-) What feels like an ending may be the beginning of something more beautiful

What happens to wholesale distribution when tariffs rise, interest rates stay high, and customers expect more with less friction? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution from LeadSmart Channel Cloud, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton sit down with Modern Distribution Management editor and market analyst Mike Hockett to unpack the data behind the headlines and what it means for revenue leaders in distribution. You will hear a practical, numbers-driven outlook for 2025 that connects GDP forecasts, Fed policy, and tariff risk with real impacts on margins, inventory, and channel relationships. The conversation stays grounded in what wholesalers, manufacturers, and reps can control, and how to use planning, consultative commerce, and better pipeline visibility to future-proof distribution businesses through uncertainty.  What You Will Learn: Why November's softer numbers do not necessarily signal a collapse, and how MDM thinks about “soft landing” versus “stall.”How tariffs, elections, and Fed policy are likely to affect pricing power, imports, and inventory strategy for wholesale distribution teams.Where distributors are still leaving money on the table because of weak forecasting, poor CRM adoption, and limited collaboration with suppliers and reps.How to connect market forecasts to practical decisions about hiring, territory coverage, and hybrid selling models.Episode Highlights:00:00 – Why this conversation matters now08:15 – Inside MDM's latest distribution data18:40 – Are we heading toward a soft landing or a stall?30:10 – Tariffs, trade policy, and pricing pressure42:35 – Forecasting failures inside distribution organizations55:20 – Hybrid selling and channel conflict1:07:45 – Technology, CRM adoption, and operational readiness1:21:30 – M&A, succession planning, and consolidation signals1:33:10 – Practical priorities for the next 12 months Meet the Guest: Mike Hockett is an editor and market analyst with Modern Distribution Management (MDM) and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors. He spends his time inside the data and conversations that shape the future of wholesale distribution, from sector forecasts and benchmarking to technology, talent, and channel strategy. Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:MDM's annual distribution forecast and benchmark reporting.Practical approaches to collaborative planning and forecasting between manufacturers, reps, and distributors.CRM and pipeline practices that give revenue leaders in distribution a clearer “ground truth” for planning.Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/ Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

1. Advent is a season of active waiting.We pause, pay attention, and prepare our hearts for Christ to meet us again.2. Matthew 24 isn't about predicting the end.It's a reminder to stay faithful in the present, not to look for an escape.3. God's future is unfolding now.With Jesus' coming, the world has already begun to be reshaped. Our call is to join that work.4. Don't cling to what's passing away.Institutions and old systems fade. God's kingdom endures.5. The faithful remain to rebuild.In Noah's story, those “left behind” were the ones partnering with God to renew the world.6. Our task is to live with intention.Show mercy, work for justice, love your neighbor, care for creation. This is how we wait well.7. Hope grows through action.God shows up in surprising ways, and we're invited to be part of the renewing work one person at a time.8. The question isn't when Christ will come, but how we live until he does.Be alert. Be faithful. Plant seeds of God's new creation today.

Takeaways:• God is doing a new thing even when we can't yet see it.• The worst things are never the last things.• Our calling is to be a sign of hope, not a gatekeeper of it.• God's future is one of joy, healing, and renewal for all creation.• Live so others can glimpse God's new day breaking in.

Returning for episode #204 is Trey McGranahan! He is the driver of the Tyler Sturgeon Racing | Engine Ice #77s non-winged sprint car. Racing out of Avon, Indiana. He rejoins us for round 2, previously he was on in April of 2024 for episode #136. We have some catching up to do!

Take Home Notes:Scripture: Matthew 14:13–21Theme: God's abundance meets our faithfulness.Main Points:Grace in Action:Grace isn't a thing God gives—it's God giving us Himself in Jesus Christ.The Myth of Scarcity:The world says there's not enough time, love, or resources. God says, “There is more than enough.”You Feed Them:Jesus calls us to meet the needs of others with what we have—trusting God to make it sufficient.Abundance in Christ:In Jesus' hands, our “not enough” becomes more than enough.Faithful Stewardship:Generosity is an act of trust—believing that God will provide for every need.Reflection Question:Where is God inviting you to trust that He is enough?Key Quote:“Jesus says, give me your nothing, and taken, blessed, broken, and given, it becomes all that is needed.”

Faith is a legacy, passed down through generations of believers.We each are a gift to the body of Christ, uniquely called to serve.United Women in Faith model what it means to live a sincere faith through service, justice, and compassion.“If we lack peace, it's because we've forgotten that we belong to each other.” – Mother TeresaAsk yourself: Where is worship sending me this week?

Key PointsWe don't settle. God offers more than being “a little better.” We are invited to be transformed into Christ's likeness.Growth is discipleship. Worship and belonging lead us into intentional spiritual formation—through study, prayer, fellowship, and service.John Wesley's vision: To be “altogether Christian” means loving God fully, loving neighbor deeply, and trusting God completely.Holiness is the goal. God's aim is not just smarter or nicer people, but holy people who live and love like Jesus.The early church grew through teaching, prayer, breaking bread, serving, and generosity. The same practices form us today.Pathway for GrowthWorship weeklyPray dailyRead Scripture consistentlyJoin a group for learning and accountabilityServe to make a differenceGive joyfully and generouslyScripture“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” – Romans 12:2ReflectionWhere am I settling for “good enough” instead of pursuing holiness?How am I intentionally creating space to grow in faith?What next step can I take this week on the pathway of discipleship?

-) We all need a place to belong.-) Belonging is deeper than fitting in—you can be fully you.-) In Christ, we belong to God and to each other.-) The church must be a community of radical welcome.-) Our belonging shows the world God's love is real.

Sermon Title: WorshipSeries: A Future with HopeScripture: Isaiah 6:1-8Worship is the center of our life together, the foundation for belonging, growing, and making an impact.Worship draws us out of ourselves and focuses our attention on God.Engaging and inspiring worship changes us, connects us with God and one another, and opens us to God's grace.Like Isaiah, we encounter God in worship and are sent to live out God's mission in the world.Worship is not just one hour on Sunday, it shapes every hour of our lives.Reflection QuestionsWhat comes to mind when you hear the word “worship”?Why do you attend worship? What is your favorite part of worship and why?Recall a moment in worship when you experienced the presence of God. What difference did that experience make in how you see and engage the world?Where and to whom is worship sending you? Sending Davidson UMC?Is there someone you could invite to join you in worship at Davidson UMC?

** Tuesday evening, Bob will join our weekly online gathering where we'll listen to the podcast together and discuss. Bring your questions for him. September 9 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. Use this link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1HA3nd_5QFSFzBe_cGiHpw This is Bob Hockett's 12th visit to Macro N Cheese. Back in 2022, in an episode discussing the collapse of the major crypto exchange platform FTX, Bob gave us a useful rule of thumb: “The irony is that in every one of these cases there is a clue in the name of the product in question that ought to warn you. If it's called a junk bond, there's a reason for that word “junk” being used. And if it's called a subprime mortgage loan... there's a reason for that “subprime” term. Similarly with cryptocurrency or crypto assets, one of the most ironical names ever conceived for this kind of product. If the word “crypto” comes into it, then that's a pretty good tip-off that there's something non-transparent about it, that there's something opaque and occluded and difficult to understand.” Hmmm... today's topic is the GENIUS Act. What meaning should we take from that name? In this episode, Bob and Steve talk about the newly-passed GENIUS Act whose stated purpose is regulation of the stablecoin industry, bringing the shadow banking industry into the light and out of the, um, shadows. The discussion looks at the flawed premise of private stablecoins and the real motives behind the push. Far from preventing instability and fraud, promotion of stablecoin aligns with a libertarian ideology (a la Hayek) that seeks to denationalize currency and privatize money. From a Modern Monetary Theory perspective, the implications are alarming. It merits a discussion of the role of the state. The GENIUS Act is a dangerous distraction. A Trojan Horse. Robert C. Hockett is the Edward Cornell Professor of Law at Cornell Law School. His principal teaching, research, and writing interests lie in the fields of organizational, financial, and monetary law and economics His forthcoming and recent books are: World Money (Yale 2026); A Republic of Producers (Yale 2025); Making Capital Democratic (Polity 2025); Spread the Fed (Palgrave 2025); The Citizens' Ledger (Palgrave 2022); Democratizing Finance (Verso 2022); Money from Nothing (Melville House 2020); Financing the Green New Deal (Palgrave 2020). @rch371 on X

Acts is an open story. Luke leaves the ending unresolved because the mission continues with us.Faithfulness is possible because of Christ. We don't rely on our own strength but on the faithfulness of Jesus.God's love wins. Even in hardship, rejection, or loss, the resurrection declares that God's love is stronger than sin and death.Small things matter. Every act of kindness, generosity, justice, and witness is part of God's kingdom work.You are needed. Each person has a unique role in God's mission—the story of Acts is still being written through us.

Scripture: Acts 26:9–18, 28–29Main Points:We are called to be witnesses.Every Christian life tells a story; our words and actions communicate something about God to the world.Meeting Jesus changes everything.Paul knew about Jesus, but his life changed only when he came to know Jesus personally. Our relationship with Christ makes our witness possible.Key Quotes:“Your life may be the only sermon someone ever hears. Live it well.”“Knowing about Jesus made no difference to Paul. Knowing Jesus changed his life forever.”Reflection Questions:What story is your life telling right now?Where might God be opening a door for you to share hope with someone?How are you nurturing your relationship with Jesus so your witness flows from love?Takeaway:Grace always takes the first step toward us. Like Paul, we are met by Jesus, changed by Jesus, and sent to tell the story of God's love.

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. On tonight's edition of Obbligato on APEX Express, which focuses on AAPI artists, musicians, and composers in the classical music world, host Isabel Li is joined by LA based performer and composer Richard An, who plays and creates new avant-garde music, usually with the ensemble House on Fire, and his music has been performed by the LA Phil and the Calder Quartet to name a few. Join us in our conversation, exploring the possibilities of avant-garde music, raising questions regarding Asian identities in the classical music world, and Richard's insights on art making during a time when Trump's cuts to the NEA are affecting artists and institutions nationwide. Featured Music: Sonatrinas: https://richardan.bandcamp.com/album/sonatrinas i got the electroshock blues: https://rasprecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-got-the-electroshock-blues   RICHARD AN (b.1995) is a performer and composer, born and raised in Los Angeles. Richard plays new music – usually with House on Fire – co-founded the tiny backpack new music series, and has performed with Monday Evening Concerts' Echoi Ensemble, Piano Spheres, The Industry and on Bang on a Can's LOUD Weekend. Richard plays piano and percussion, and has been known to sing, conduct, and teach. Richard's music has been performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Calder Quartet, HOCKET, C3LA, and more. His music has been released on CMNTX Records. Richard has a BM in Composition from USC and an MFA from CalArts. He is on faculty at the Pasadena Waldorf School, Glendale Community College and Harvard-Westlake. He plays taiko and tabla, and makes YouTube videos. Learn more about Richard's work on his website: https://richardanmusic.com/ Richard's social media: https://www.instagram.com/richardanmusic/ If you are in LA and want hear Richard's work, he's playing with House on Fire at the Sierra Madre Playhouse on August 17! https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/event/richardan2025   Transcript Opening: [00:00:00] APEX Express. Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the APEX Express. 00:00:46 Isabel Li Good evening and welcome back to a new episode of Apex Express on KPFA, 94.1 FM. We are bringing you an Asian and Asian American view from the Bay and around the world. I'm your host, Isabel Li, and tonight is a new edition of Obbligato, which explores AAPI identities and classical music. Tonight I'm joined by LA based performer and composer Richard An, who plays and creates new avant-garde music, usually with the ensemble House on Fire, and his music has been performed by the LA Phil and the Calder Quartet to name a few. Join us in our conversation, exploring the possibilities of avant-garde music, raising questions regarding Asian identities in the classical music world, and Richard's insights on art making during a time when Trump's cuts to the NEA are affecting artists and institutions nationwide. 00:01:41 Isabel Li Welcome to the show. Welcome to APEX Express, Richard. My first question for you is how do you identify and what communities would you say that you're a part of? 00:01:50 Richard An My name is Richard An I use he/him pronouns and I'm a second generation Korean American. My parents are both Korean. My dad came from Busan, which is a large city in South Korea, and my mom was born in Seoul and then moved to South America and then made her way up to Los Angeles where they met. And as for identity, like, I think Korean American would be the most accurate one. This is and I think an ever evolving part of first of all my identity and the way that it intersects with my practice and also I think that's the case with many Asian American artists, I mean artists from immigrant families, you know, the the matter of your identity, especially if you feel more distanced from it for one reason or another, is like an unsolved question for everyone like there is no one answer. That works for people and that's a thing that me people like myself I think will be exploring for our entire lives. When I introduce myself to people, I say that I'm a classical musician. And at the very core of it, that is true. That's not a lie. And I am, you know, a part of the classical music community in Los Angeles. But as time goes on, I have noticed and realized. That I tend to align myself more with like the avant-garde and experimental contemporary music communities of Los Angeles, which has certainly an overlap with the classical community, both in practice and historically, but yeah, I I would say those are the sort of two biggest ones, classical musicians and experimental avant-garde, contemporary musicians, whatever label you want to use for that. 00:03:47 Isabel Li Yeah. Some of our listeners might not know what avant-garde music entails. Can you — how would you describe avant-garde music to someone who might not be as familiar with this particular movement? 00:03:57 Richard An Yeah. So avant-garde music, a sort of flippant and joking way to to talk about it is ugly music or music. You know, my dad, for example, wouldn't like, but I think. It's music that either interfaces with elements or confronts facets or issues in music that aren't typical of other kinds of music. The music that you might hear that is labeled of on guard might be noisy or dissonant or uncomfortable, or any kind of, you know, adjectives that are synonyms for noisy or ugly, but I have come to love that kind of music, you know 1. Because of the the kind of questions that they might ask about our perceptions of music and two, because I guess one way to put it is that to be a classical musician, you need to be in a practice room for many hours a day for many years and go to what is unfortunately a college, which is usually very expensive and I guess for lack of a better term, paywalled for like you need to have the kind of resources that allow you to attend a four year undergrad and then a two year masters and then a three-year doctorate. But avant-garde music, contemporary music, experimental music doesn't necessitate that kind of thing. Often those musicians do have a background that gives them some amount of, you know, virtuosity or facility in an instrument. But like some of the best experimental musicians. Alive and some of the best ones that I know have no, like extensive training in a particular instrument and some may not have a degree in music at all. And that's one thing that I in like that separates it from classical music is that. 00:05:44 Richard An Classical music can be, unfortunately a little bit exclusionary. I don't think by any one specific design, but the fact that you need so many hours and very specific instructions from a mentor that necessitate that kind of relationship. But experimental music, I think does a little bit better job of diversifying or making it feel more equitable. 00:06:12 Isabel Li That's a great point, actually. One of my questions following up with that was what do you think is possible with this genre, which you kind of mentioned earlier with perhaps how this genre makes classical music a little bit more equitable for those who are interested in this field. In your experience, composing, what do you think makes the genre special, and how do you go about it? 00:06:35 Richard An One thing that I've noticed about being involved in the sort of contemporary experimental avant-garde music sphere is that it makes me a better listener, and I think other people who attend these concerts will agree. Like for example a large part of this kind of music is drone or repetition or, you know, like long spans of unchanging sound. And if the the sound that is being produced at face value is not changing, well then what do you notice about it? What do you grab on to and one of the most, I think, gratifying experiences is listening deeper and realizing that, ohh, even though you know for example this piano playing two notes for 30 minutes might not like the instructions will say to do the same thing for 30 minutes, but your experience as a human being will certainly change over those 30 minutes, even if the the notes are not like you will notice the slight fluctuations in the way that someone is playing, you will notice the beating patterns in the pitches on an instrument that may not be perfectly in tune, you will note other ambient sounds, you will note like you will notice so much more about the world when you are confronted with the kind of music that you know. You can say it forces you to listen to these sounds but also invites you to listen to these things. And I think that's really, really special. That's not to say that that can't happen with other kinds of music. Or even with classical music. Surely you know there are many, many ways to listen to everything. But I've noticed this within myself. When I listen to long, repetitive drone based music that it really opens my ears and makes me a more active participant as a listener. 00:08:30 Isabel Li It's a great point actually. Part of my work– because I studied music, history and theory in college– was how music can engage various listeners to participate. Have you composed anything that perhaps engages the listener in this more of a participatory setting? 00:08:47 Richard An Yeah. So I guess in order the some of the stuff that I've done to engage the audience, I guess both literally, and maybe more figuratively is, I wrote a piece last year for the Dog Star festival, which is a a contemporary and experimental music festival that is actually happening right now, at the time of this recording. It's a multi week long festival that focuses on music of this type that was founded by people in the sort of CalArts music world. But I wrote a piece for that last year for three melodicas, which are these basically toy instruments that look like keyboards, but you blow into them and you blowing air through these makes the sound happen. It's basically like if you cross a harmonica and a piano together. But I I wrote a piece for three of these, playing essentially the same notes. And because these instruments are pretty cheap, and they're often considered toys or, you know, instruments for children, they're not tuned to the exact way that, like a piano or a vibraphone or an expensive instrument might be. But I wanted to use that for my advantage. For example, if I play an F# on one melodica the same F# on another melodica will not be exactly the same and playing those two pitches together will produce what's known as a a beat or beat frequency. Which is, you know, a complicated, you know, mathematic physics thing, but basically 2 notes that are really, really close, but not quite together will create a kind of third rhythm because the the pitches are so close. Like, for example, if if I play an A at 4:40 and another A at 441, you will notice that difference of 1 Hertz inside of your ears. And that's a really cool phenomenon that happens explicitly because you were there listening to the piece. They don't happen necessarily, you know, like in, in recorded formats like, it's a very difficult thing to capture unless you are in the room with these instruments. And the fact that we had this audience of, let's say, 40 people meant that all forty of these people were experiencing these beat frequencies and another really cool factor of this is depending on where you are located in the room. With the way that the beats will sound in your ears are different and purely by the fact of acoustics like a wave bouncing off of the wall over on your left, will feel really different if you are closer or further from that wall. So not only do the audiences ears themselves, you know, invite these this this participation, but the pure physicality of each listener means that they will have a very slightly different experience of what the piece is, and again like this will happen in any concert. If you're at a classical show, if you're at a rock show if, if you're further from the stage, if you're further to the left or right, you will get a slightly different position in the stereo field that the musicians are playing in, but pieces like what I wrote and many others that exist emphasize this kind of like acoustic phenomena. That is really, really fascinating to listen to. 00:12:23 Isabel Li That's fascinating. And to get a sense of Richard's work, we'll be hearing coming up next. The short excerpt from his album Sonatrinas. This is the duo excerpt performed by Wells Leng, Katie Aikam, Kevin Good and composer Richard An himself. [COMP MUSIC: Sonatrinas (Excerpt: Duo)] 00:17:38 Richard An And so the back story for this piece is this was written for one of my recitals at CalArts. I was planning on playing this piece by Michael Gordon called Sonatra, which is a really, really beautiful and difficult piece for solo piano that I gave myself as an assignment, which I was not able to do with the amount of time. And, you know, like I just didn't give myself enough time to do this thing, so I still had this program of several pieces written with the idea of having this Michael Gordon Sonatra in the middle, but now that that sort of middle part was gone, there was a bunch of pieces about a piece that didn't exist. So in order to fill that hole, I wrote this piece called Sonatrinas which is a cheeky nod to the Michael Gordon Sonatra, but also to the fact that each part of this is kind of a diminutive Sonata form. Everything has a sort of ABA– here's some idea. Here's a different idea, and now we go back to that first idea. Every single part of this has a little bit of that in it. 00:18:51 Isabel Li Yeah, that's fascinating. Even the name itself reminds me of Sonata form in classical music, where it's kind of like an ABA section. As you sort of talked about earlier. And it's really cool that you're adapting this in a more avant-garde context. This is a reminder you're listening to Apex Express. Today we are interviewing composer and musician Richard An. 00:19:12 Isabel Li I think the general question that I have next is can you tell me a bit about what drew you to music and how you got your start in music, how you got introduced to it and what things have inspired you over the years? 00:19:24 Richard An Yeah. So a real quick sort of, I guess, history of my involvement with music is that I started piano lessons when I was pretty young, either three or four years old. I continued that until I was 12 or 13. I decided I really wanted to become a musician. I started taking composition lessons with this composer, AJ McCaffrey, who is really responsible for a lot of what I know and my successes, if you can call it that. He got me into a lot of the music that I am into now and set the foundation for what I would study and what I would write he was one of the instructors for this program called the LA Phil Composer Fellowship program, which back when I was a participant from 2011 to 2013, was a program hosted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic that took 4 high school age students every two years. And you know, they they taught us, you know, everything. How a young composer needs to know how instruments work, how to write a score, how to talk to musicians, how to do everything that a that a composer needs to learn how to do and at the end of this program, after the two years the young composers write a piece for the at the LA Philharmonic. So I was extremely lucky that by the age of 17 I was able to write a piece for orchestra and get that played and not just any orchestra, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, you know, undisputedly one of the best orchestras in the world. Right. And then after that I I went to USC for my undergrad and then went to CalArts for my masters. And then here we are now. And that those are sort of the like, you know if someone writes a biography about me, that's what we'll be, you know, involved in the thing. But I really started to develop my love for music in my freshman and sophomore year. In high school I I started to get into more and more modern composers. I started to get into more and more noisy things and a lot of this coincided actually with the passing of my mother. She died when I was 14 and you know that in any human the death of a parent will cause you to reevaluate and rethink aspects of your life. Things that you thought were certainties will not be there anymore. So for me, I stopped taking piano lessons and I sort of went headfirst into composition and which is why my degrees are specifically in composition and not piano. Had my mother's passing not happened, you know, who knows what I would be doing now? Maybe I'm not a composer at all. Maybe I'm not into avant-garde music at all, but because things happen the way that they did, I suddenly took a quick turn into avant-garde music and my involvement there only grew more and more and more. Until you know where I am today, I'm almost 30 years old, so I've been listening to and a participant of this music for maybe 15 years or so and I'm quite happy. 00:22:43 Isabel Li That's awesome to hear. 00:22:45 Isabel Li And perhaps a testament to Richard one's very versatile compositional style and avant-garde music coming up next are three pieces from his album i got the electroshock blues. There are five pieces in the album in total, but we will be hearing three of them. The first one called “feeling, scared today,” the second one, “pink pill,” and the fifth one, “la la.” [COMP MUSIC: i got the electroshock blues: 1. “feeling, scared today”, 2. “pink pill”, 3. “la la”.] 00:36:41 Richard An Earlier last year, I released a collection of live recordings under the title of I got the Electroshock Blues. Electroshock Blues is a song by the band Eels I encountered at a pivotal moment in my life. This was right around the time that my mother passed and this record and this song is heavily centered in grief. The main musician in the Eels, Mark Oliver Everett, was dealing with the passing of multiple family members and people who were close to him so it hit me in just the right way at just the right time. And because of that, this song specifically has stayed with me for many, many years. I found myself coming back to the contents of this song as I was composing and all the pieces on this album, of which there are 5 heavily take material from this song, whether that's words, chords, the melody. I really, you know, take it apart, dissect it and use those as ingredients in the pieces that I have written here and all of these are live recordings except for the first piece which was recorded in my studio. I just sort of overdubbed the parts myself, and there are credits in the liner notes for this album, but I just want to say that. The first piece which is called “feeling, scared today,” was originally written for the Hockett piano duo, which is a duo comprised of Thomas Kotcheff and Sarah Gibson. Sarah Gibson was a really close friend of mine who passed away last year and now this piece which in some way came out of a feeling of grief now has renewed meaning and another facet or aspect of this piece is centered in grief now. Because this was dedicated to Thomas and Sarah. Yeah. So these pieces are all derived from this one song. 00:38:57 Isabel Li That's a beautiful response. Thank you so much. Kind of following along your background and how you got to where you are. How do you think your identity has informed your work as a composer and musician? And this could be– you can interpret this in any way that you wish. 00:39:11 Richard An Yeah, this is a really interesting question. The question of how my identity interfaces with my music. In my art, particularly because no person's answer is quite the same, and I don't necessarily have this figured out either. So for a little bit of I guess for a little bit of context on me, I'm second generation Korean American, but I've never been to Korea and I never went to Korean school. My parents never really emphasize that part of my education. You could call it assimilation. You can call it whatever, but I think they valued other aspects of my growth than my explicit tie to Koreanness or, you know my specific identity as a Korean or Korean American, and because of that, I've always felt a little bit awkwardly distanced from that part of my identity, which is something that I will never be completely rid of. So in in a world and the field where whiteness is sort of the default part you know, particularly because you know, classical music does come from Europe, you know, for hundreds of years, like all of the development in this particular kind of music did happen in a place where everyone was white. So because of that background of where I come from and where my musical activity comes from, whiteness has been the default and still feels like it is. So me looking the way that I do as, an obvious not white person, as a person of color will always have a little bit of an outsider status to the thing. And with that comes the question of what are you bringing to classical music? What do you bring to the kind of music that you're creating? Like for example, the most I think the most well known East Asian composers are people like Toru Takemitsu or Tan Dun, people who will interface with their Asianness, in many different ways, but that often involves bringing, for example, a Japanese scale into your classical composition, or bringing a Japanese instrument into your classical composition. Those are, you know, examples of of of pieces by Toru Takemitsu, and other, you know, very successful. Asian American composers now may do similarly. Texu Kim is maybe someone who can also give insight into this, but nothing about me feels explicitly Korean, maybe besides the way that I look. And besides, the way that I grew up a little bit like I've never been to Korea. What right does that give me as a Korean, to for example, use a Korean instrument or use a Korean scale? I've never studied that music. I've never studied that culture. I in in some arguments I would be guilty of cultural appropriation, because I, you know, have not done the work to study and to properly represent. And for example, like Pansori, if I were to use that in any of my music. 00:42:46 Richard An But then the the the difficult question is well, then who does have the right? Does being Korean give me all the license that I need to incorporate aspects of my identity? And if I am not Korean, does that, does that bar my access to that kind of music forever? Another way of looking at this is, I've studied North Indian Classical Hindustani music for a while. I've played tabla and and studied that music at CalArts and I really, really love playing tabla. It's it doesn't make its way into my composition so much, but it is certainly a big part of my musicianship and who I am and, like, but am I barred from using ideas or aspects of that music and culture and my music because simply for the fact that I am not Indian? Many musicians would say no. Of course you've done your homework, you've done your research. You're doing due diligence. You're you're representing it properly. And many people who study this music will say music cannot go forward if it's not like the innervated and continued and studied by people like me who are not explicitly South Asian or Indian. That's an example of the flip side of this of me using or representing the music from a culture that I am not a part of, but again, am I really Korean? I've never been there. I wasn't born there. I speak the language conversationally. But this is an extremely long winded way of saying that I feel a tenuous connection to my Korean this my Korean American identity that hasn't been solved, that isn't solved and probably will never be completely solved. But I think that's exciting. I think that's an evolving aspect of my music and will continue to be that way as long as I continue to be involved in music and as as long as I continue to write. 00:45:05 Isabel Li Yeah, absolutely. That's a wonderful response. Actually. I was, as I was studying different types of world music and learning how people kind of borrow from different cultures. There is this always, this kind of question like ohh, like which types of musical elements from which cultures can I incorporate and obviously the aspects of personal identity definitely play into that a little bit. And part of my senior thesis in college was studying AAPI artists in classical music, and specifically that there are a lot of Asian-identifying musicians in the classical music world. But as you kind of mentioned earlier, I think classical music is very much still like grounded in whiteness and has this kind of air of elitism to it just because of its roots. How do you think this kind of identity intersects with the classical music world? And forgive me if you've already kind of talked about it before, but it's an interesting juxtaposition between like, for example, musicians who identify as AAPI or Asian in this kind of genre that is very– it's very associated with whiteness. Could you kind of talk about the dynamics of how these two aspects of like culture kind of interplay with one another? 00:46:26 Richard An Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, there are ways that I personally feel like I intersect with classical music with reference to my identity, and that also plays with the sort of cultural expectations, like there are stereotypes of Asian musicians, of Asian classical musicians. But there are not necessarily the same the same kind of stereotypes with white classical musicians. A very dominant like stereotype that you'll run into is the young Asian prodigy who practices 10 hours a day and may therefore be labeled as mechanical or unfeeling or, you know, are involved in in this a lot. So much so to the fact to the to the point where to excel an Asian American classical musician or as an Asian classical musician, in general, seems to always carry that stereotype. Like you know, Seong-Jin Cho's success as a pianist may not necessarily be attributed to his musicianship or his skill as a pianist. Because he is an Asian person, an Asian guy. Like how much of his success is because of the perceived tiger mom-ness that he might have existed under? How much of it is attributed to the same type of stereotypes that are labeled like that that label the five year old pianist on YouTube that that is clearly better than I am? Like some of these stereotypes help and some of these don't, but the I think it's undeniable that they exist in a way that doesn't in a way that doesn't carry for white people in the classical music sphere. And I think part of that is that classical music is still rooted in its Eurological identity. I think I'm using that correctly. That's an idea from George Lewis. Eurological versus Afrological. The context that I'm using Eurological right now is specifically in reference to George Lewis, who is a composer, trombonist, and musicologist who, I think coined the two terms to differentiate the roots of different styles of music, and you know, I haven't read enough to confidently say, but classical music is Eurological by example and like jazz would be Afrological by an example and the contexts in which they develop and exist and grew up are fundamentally different, which is what makes them different from each other. And again like this needs a little bit more research on my part. 00:49:23 Richard An Yeah, and because the classical music is so rooted in this thing, I don't believe that the stereotypes that exist for Asian classical musicians exist for white people. And I think that is something that will naturally dissipate with time, like after another 100 years of Asians, and, you know, people of color in, you know, every country in the world, with their continued involvement and innova otypes will disappear like this. You know, it may require certain concerted efforts from certain people, but I do believe that after a while these things will not exist. They'll sort of equalize right in the same way. That the divisions that we make between a Russian pianist and a French pianist and a German pianist, though you know people still do study those things like those aren't really dividing lines quite as strong as an Asian composer or an Indian composer might be. 00:50:27 Isabel Li Thank you for that perspective. I think it's, I think these are conversations that people don't kind of bring up as much in the classical music world and it's great that, you know, we're kind of thinking about these and probably possibly like opening some conversations up to our listeners hopefully. And so my next kind of pivot here is as you know with our current administration, Trump has canceled millions of dollars in National Endowment of the Arts grants, and it's been affecting arts organizations all over the nation. And I was kind of wondering, have you been affected by these cuts to arts programs and what kinds of advice would give upcoming musicians or composers in this era? 00:51:07 Richard An Yeah, that's a yeah, that's a big thing. And like, you know, changing day by day, right. So the Trump administration's effects on my life as a musician is simultaneously huge and also not really that much. So in one way these grant cuts have not affected my personal musical life because I haven't ever received a government grant for any of my arts making. So in one way like my life is the same, but in many, many, many other ways it has changed. Like I am involved with and I work with concert series and organizations and nonprofits that do rely on NEA funding and other government arts based funding. And if they have less money to fund their next season, that means certain projects have to be cut. That means certain musicians have to be paid less. That means certain programs have to change, especially if these funding cuts are aimed towards DEI or quote and quote, woke programming like that is, you know this that will by design disproportionately affect people of color in this field, which already you know, like is in a Eurocentric urological tradition like this is already something that people of color don't have a head start in if the funding cuts are aimed at certain types of programming that will disadvantage already disadvantaged groups of people, well then I don't know, that's even–we're starting even later than other people might be, and you know, like, if a musicians, if a person's reaction to this is despair, I think that's reasonable. I think that is an absolutely, like that's an appropriate reaction to what is fundamentally an attack on your voice as an artist. But I I have for as long as I can, you know, I have always worked under the impression that I will have to do the thing myself, and that's in the piece of advice that I give for a lot of people. You shouldn't necessarily wait for this ensemble to come pick you to play or or to to, you know, commission you to write a piece if you want to write the piece, you should do it and figure out how to put it on yourself. If you want to perform you know music by a certain composer, you should do it and then figure out how to do it yourself. That certainly comes from a place of privilege, like I can do this because I have enough work as a musician to be able to pay for the the passion projects it comes from a place of privilege, because I live in Los Angeles and the resources and musicians and other people who I would like to collaborate with live here, so you know, completely acknowledging and understanding that I I do believe that it's better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. I think if you're a young musician and are feeling some despair about these funding cuts and you know the many, many, many other transgressions against humanity by this current administration. 00:54:38 Richard An I recommend you just go out and do it yourself. You find your people, you find your community, you pull favors, you work long nights and you do it and the reward will firstly be the good you're putting out into the world and then the the art you're making. But also this will be paid in kind by the community you're building, the musicians you're working with. And the the connections you make like you know I I have, I am currently conducting this interview from a studio space that I am renting out in Pasadena that I have built over the last two years that I do all of my rehearsals and my performances in, and that I, you know, host rehearsals and performances for other people, and this cannot happen and could not have happened without the goodwill and help and contribution from other people. When I say go out and do it yourself, I'm not saying that you as a human being are alone. I'm saying you don't need to wait for institutional approval or permission to go out and do these things. Get your friends and do them themselves. And my optimistic belief is that the support and the work will follow. 00:55:53 Isabel Li Richard, thank you so much for sharing your perspectives and your voice on this show today. And thank you to our many listeners of KPFA on tonight's episode of Obbligato on Apex Express. Which focuses on the AAPI community of the classical music world. There were some inspirational words on arts and arts making by Richard An musician and composer based in Los Angeles. 00:56:18 Isabel Li Please check our website kpfa.org to find out more about Richard An and his work as well as the state of the arts during this period of funding cuts. 00:56:29 Isabel Li We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating and sharing your visions with the world, your voices and your art are important. 00:56:41 Isabel Li APEX Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by Isabel Li. Have a great evening. The post APEX Express – 8.7.25 – Obbligato with Richard An appeared first on KPFA.

Scripture FocusActs 17:1-9Big IdeaFollowing Jesus means giving him ultimate allegiance and allowing his upside down kingdom to reshape every part of life.Key InsightsThe early church was known for challenging the status quo because they proclaimed another King—Jesus.Civil authorities hold only the authority God permits, so every government stands under God's judgment.We often seek a gospel that blesses our plans instead of living lives that bless God.True renewal comes not through programs but through people who take Jesus seriously and follow his way of sacrificial love.Kingdom VisionForgiveness over revenge (Luke 15).Extravagant generosity that levels the field (Matthew 20).Humility that serves from the bottom up, not commands from the top down (John 13; Philippians 2).Reflection QuestionsWhere do I give Caesar-like powers more loyalty than Jesus?How might I respond to today's headlines if I viewed them through the gospel first?What practical step can I take this week to embody Christ's generous, servant-hearted kingdom?Next StepsPray daily, “Lord, turn my world right-side up for Your kingdom.”Look for one tangible way to serve someone on the margins.Share a story this week of where you saw God's upside down kingdom break in—then invite a friend to do the same.

Sermon Title: Gathered and SentScripture: Acts 13:1–31. Everything flows from the heart.Howard Thurman said, “Everything we do flows from our center.” If our heart is centered in God, our actions will reflect God's love.2. Worship, prayer, and fasting come before mission.The early church didn't start with strategy or structure—they started with spiritual practices, then sent Paul and Barnabas into the world.3. We are not just gathered—we are sent.The church is called to gather for spiritual renewal and then go into the world to serve, love, and witness to Christ.4. Mission begins here.You don't have to go overseas to be a missionary. Your mission field is your workplace, your school, your neighborhood.5. You are a minister of the gospel.Your baptism is your commissioning. Whether or not you're a pastor, you are called to be a witness of God's love.6. Keep the rhythm.A healthy church (and believer) balances both gathering and sending. Leaning too far into one or the other weakens the body.7. The mission of God has a church.God's desire to love and save the world has us—the church—as its instrument. It's our shared calling to live this out daily.Reflection Question:Are you leaning too much into gathering or too much into going? How is God calling you to embrace both?Closing Encouragement:You are part of something bigger. You are gathered to be empowered—and sent to make a difference. Let's be the church our world needs.

Scripture Focus: Acts 7 – The Martyrdom of StephenKey Themes:Stephen's Legacy: Stephen was a young man “full of grace,” chosen to serve the early Christian community. He was killed not for his works, but for speaking the truth of Jesus.Martyria = Witness: The Greek word for martyr also means witness. Stephen's death bore witness to the radical love of Christ—even forgiving his killers, just as Jesus did.Faith Isn't Always Safe: Jesus warned his followers that discipleship would be hard and would not guarantee safety. True faith is not a self-help strategy but a risky, countercultural way of living.Fear vs. Love: Fear often drives people to violence, division, and control. Love, by contrast, expands and frees us—even when it leads us into difficult places.Comfort Can Be a Temptation: The church today may be tempted to keep the “safe” parts of ministry—traditions, programs, professionalism—while leaving out Jesus, whose radical grace and call to servanthood makes people uncomfortable.A Call to Examine Ourselves: Like the religious leaders, we can be threatened by new movements of God's Spirit. Ask: What am I afraid of? Where am I resisting love's call because it feels unsafe?Faithfulness Over Safety: We are not promised safety. We are promised God's presence. Like Stephen, we can risk boldly for love, trusting we are always in God's hands.Reflection Questions:Where in my life am I playing it safe instead of following where love leads?How might fear be limiting my faith or my ability to witness to Christ?What does love require of me today—even if it feels risky or hard?Quote to Remember:“Of course he's not safe. But he is good.” – C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeClosing Challenge:Don't tiptoe through life. Run, hop, skip, risk, and love boldly. Because even in the hard places, God is already there.

Roger and Darin welcome MWB Derik L. Hockett. Derik is the current Grandmaster, presiding over the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Kansas, AF&AM. We discuss topics regarding the Masonic Experience in Kansas, The upcoming Kansas Masonic-Con and much more!

“Devoted: Living a Long Obedience Together”Part of our series on the Book of ActsScripture Focus: Acts 2:42–47

Sermon Take-Home Notes“Re-Rigging the Boat: Love in Action After Easter”John 21:1–19 | Rev. David Hockett | May 11, 20241. Faith is more than belief—it's a call to action.Jesus doesn't just ask Peter if he loves Him—He tells him to feed His sheep. Our faith is meant to be lived out in how we care, serve, and love others.2. Love requires embodiment.Saying we love Christ is just the start. The world will know we follow Jesus not by our words alone, but by how we live, how we love, and how we serve.3. Sometimes following Jesus means “re-rigging the boat.”Casting nets on the other side wasn't easy for the disciples—it meant reworking everything. Likewise, we're often called to adapt, risk, and step outside our comfort zones for the sake of the Gospel.4. The Church isn't a destination—it's a mission.We aren't called to simply fill seats, but to fill hearts. Church isn't about buildings; it's about being Christ's body in the world—feeding His sheep wherever they are.5. Everyone matters to God.Jesus sought out Peter even after denial and failure. That same grace is offered to us—and we're invited to extend it to others. Everyone, everywhere, matters to God.Reflection Questions:Where is Jesus calling me to “re-rig the boat” in my life or ministry?Who in my life needs to hear or experience Christ's love this week?How can I embody the love of Christ beyond the walls of the church?

Take-Home Notes for the Congregation:1. God's Love Is Relentless and UnconditionalJust like the mother bunny in The Runaway Bunny, God's love follows us wherever we go. Nothing can separate us from it—not fear, failure, distance, or doubt.2. The Good Shepherd Leads—He Doesn't DriveSheep follow the voice they know. Jesus doesn't push us forward; He goes ahead of us, calling us to follow Him in trust and love.3. God Comes to Find Us, Not Just Wait for UsThe gospel isn't just about a light on a distant hill—it's about the God who leaves the fire, steps into the cold night, and brings us home.4. The Image of the Shepherd Is a Comfort—And a CallJesus seeks the lost and brings them home, but He also calls us to do the same. We are invited to follow Him by becoming shepherds—agents of love, compassion, justice, and healing.5. Our Response Is to Follow and Reflect the ShepherdTo live as Easter people is to go where Jesus goes—into the valleys, into the suffering, into the lost places—bringing the light of God's love with us.Reflection Question for the Week:Who in your life might be longing for the warmth of God's love? How can you reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd to them this week?

Easter Is Now:Easter isn't just a past event—it's the beginning of a new and abundant life today. Christ's resurrection means life, hope, and freedom are already breaking into the world.Faith Is Encounter:The earliest Christians didn't believe simply because of an empty tomb; they believed because they encountered the living Christ. Our faith is built on meeting Jesus personally.Hope for a Hurting World:Even when life feels like Good Friday, Easter reminds us that the worst is never the end. If everything is not yet all right, it's not the end.Easter Is for Everyone:In the Eastern Church, resurrection is seen not just as personal victory but communal transformation. Christ's resurrection lifts up all of humanity.Living the Resurrection:Because Christ lives, we are called to live differently—with courage, compassion, hope, and community. Our lives are meant to reflect the reality of Easter every day.Everything Will Be All Right:Easter assures us that, through Christ, life and love have the final word. No matter the darkness we face, God's love is making all things new.

Disordered Love: Sin isn't just bad behavior—it's often loving the wrong things too much, and the right things too little. Pride begins here.Pride vs. Humility: Pride makes everything transactional and self-centered. Humility asks, "Who are you?"—not "What can you do for me?"Jesus' Example: On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem in humility, not power. He modeled a life of service, not domination.The Way of the Cross: Jesus invites us to follow him by dying to pride and embracing the humility that sees every person as sacred.Freedom in Identity: We are “dust”—but sacred dust, made in God's image. Knowing this frees us from chasing status and lets us love well.Holy Week Question: Do we really believe that humble, sacrificial love is the path to life? Are we willing to follow it?

Scripture Focus: Micah 6:8"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?"

Sermon Notes – “Who Am I Becoming?”Fourth Sunday in Lent | Rev. David Hockett | Luke 15:11-32✝️ Key ScriptureLuke 15:11-32 — The Parable of the Prodigal Son

✨ Take Home Notes – March 3rd Sunday of LentSermon Title: "God Loves Us Because God Is Good"Scripture: Luke 13:1–9Rev. David Hockett

Jeff is the Owner of Hockett Tax and has been doing taxes since 1993. As an EA, Jeff has helped clients save money on taxes, negotiate offers in compromise, provided audit services, and helped many companies get started. Jeff has been a member of several organizations over the years and has always donated his time too many volunteer positions. Jeff is Past President of the West Valley Nation Association of Property Managers (NARPM), Past Treasure for West and SouthEast REALTORS of the Valley (WESERV), served 8 years as Arizona Association of REALTORS Professional Standards Committee (AAR), as a Mediator for the Arizona Association of REALTORS (AAR), Current member of National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), Current member of American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS), and a consultant for many small businesses and Brokerages. Connect with Jeff Hockett:Website: http://www.hocketttax.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hocketttaxandpayroll/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hocketttax/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hocketttax Podcast, More Money in Your Pocket:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-money-in-your-pocket/id1656050908 TurnKey Podcast Productions Important Links:Guest to Gold Video Series: www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/gold The Ultimate Podcast Launch Formula- www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/UPLFplusFREE workshop on how to "Be A Great Guest."Free E-Book 5 Ways to Make Money Podcasting at www.Turnkeypodcast.com/gift Ready to earn 6-figures with your podcast? See if you've got what it takes at TurnkeyPodcast.com/quizSales Training for Podcasters: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sales-training-for-podcasters/id1540644376Nice Guys on Business: http://www.niceguysonbusiness.com/subscribe/The Turnkey Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/turnkey-podcast/id1485077152