Podcasts about Holy Land

We gain a lot by putting one thing aside.What we guard as a stronghold of our hearts turns out to be one of our greatest weaknesses.In this episode of Live the Bible, we get back into our series where we take a lesson from each book of the Bible. Up next is the shortest book of the Bible, the book of Obadiah. But it packs a whallop.Are you ready for this?Support the show

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest Lectionary: 404The Saint of the day is Saint Ignatius of LoyolaSaint Ignatius of Loyola's Story The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on hand during his convalescence, Ignatius whiled away the time reading a life of Christ and lives of the saints. His conscience was deeply touched, and a long, painful turning to Christ began. Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat near Barcelona. He remained for almost a year at nearby Manresa, sometimes with the Dominicans, sometimes in a pauper's hospice, often in a cave in the hills praying. After a period of great peace of mind, he went through a harrowing trial of scruples. There was no comfort in anything—prayer, fasting, sacraments, penance. At length, his peace of mind returned. It was during this year of conversion that Ignatius began to write down material that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises. He finally achieved his purpose of going to the Holy Land, but could not remain, as he planned, because of the hostility of the Turks. Ignatius spent the next 11 years in various European universities, studying with great difficulty, beginning almost as a child. Like many others, his orthodoxy was questioned; Ignatius was twice jailed for brief periods. In 1534, at the age of 43, he and six others—one of whom was Saint Francis Xavier—vowed to live in poverty and chastity and to go to the Holy Land. If this became impossible, they vowed to offer themselves to the apostolic service of the pope. The latter became the only choice. Four years later Ignatius made the association permanent. The new Society of Jesus was approved by Pope Paul III, and Ignatius was elected to serve as the first general. When companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens, and penitents. He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society. Ignatius was a true mystic. He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, Ad majorem Dei gloriam—“for the greater glory of God.” In his concept, obedience was to be the prominent virtue, to assure the effectiveness and mobility of his men. All activity was to be guided by a true love of the Church and unconditional obedience to the Holy Father, for which reason all professed members took a fourth vow to go wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls. Reflection Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg in 1517. Seventeen years later, Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society that was to play so prominent a part in the Catholic Reformation. He was an implacable foe of Protestantism. Yet the seeds of ecumenism may be found in his words: “Great care must be taken to show forth orthodox truth in such a way that if any heretics happen to be present they may have an example of charity and Christian moderation. No hard words should be used nor any sort of contempt for their errors be shown.” One of the greatest ecumenists was the 20th-century German Jesuit, Cardinal Augustin Bea. Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the Patron Saint of: Retreats Why do we celebrate saints? Friar Pat explains… Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Send us a textMitchell's fascinating exploration of "Bethany across the Jordan" takes listeners on a geographical detective journey through the Holy Land to uncover where Jesus' baptism truly occurred. What begins with four simple words from Scripture opens up a world of historical investigation that challenges conventional wisdom about this pivotal moment in Christian history.By carefully analyzing the timeline in John's Gospel, Mitchell presents compelling evidence for a northern baptism site near the Sea of Galilee. The rapid succession of events—Jesus returning from temptation, gathering disciples, and attending a wedding in Cana "on the third day"—makes a southern location geographically implausible. A person simply couldn't travel 80+ miles on foot while gathering followers in such a short timespan.The northern theory gains additional significance when connected to other key moments in Jesus' ministry. This region near Mount Hermon is where Jesus later proclaimed his identity at "the gates of Hades" in Caesarea Philippi and was transfigured before his disciples—both featuring divine declarations of Jesus as God's Son, mirroring what occurred at his baptism.Mitchell's approach exemplifies thoughtful biblical scholarship that considers practical realities while remaining faithful to the text. He reminds us that figures like John the Baptist weren't stationary but traveled extensively in their ministry, opening up new possibilities for understanding these sacred locations.Whether you're a dedicated Bible scholar or simply curious about historical Christianity, this episode will transform how you read familiar passages and inspire you to look beyond conventional interpretations to discover deeper meaning in Scripture.Support the showSupport our ministryCheck us out at purefaithliving.comContact us at purefaithliving.com/contactFollow us on twitter @purefaithlivingFollow us on Facebook at Pure Faith Podcast

Thanks the recipient for their concern for Jews in Eretz Yisrael and requests notes from their visit, especially about Kfar Chabad, students' spirit, party influences, life in immigrant camps, and the general state of observance in the Holy Land. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/004_igros_kodesh/sivan/1070

A Harvard astrophysicist says an object from deep space on an unusual path through the solar system could be an alien craft—although he admits it's probably just a comet.5) UK threatens to recognize “Palestine” if Israel doesn't immediately agree to a ceasefire; 4) Leaked email reveals that BBC directed reporters to blame Israel for starvation in Gaza, despite Israeli efforts to deliver aid; 3) It appears NATO ready to replace Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelensky with former army commander-in-chief; 2) Media reporting incoming comet might be alien craft—but it probably isn't; 1) 10% decline in traffic accidents in LA and New York City year over year possibly related to ICE deportations.SkyWatchTV's Joe Horn, Donna Howell, Nita Horn, Derek Gilbert, and Sharon K. Gilbert are featured at the Remnant Rising Conference Aug. 22–24, 2025 in Springfield, Missouri. Details and registration at HearTheWatchmen.com.Join Derek and Sharon Gilbert in the Holy Land! Their next Israel tour is October 19–30, 2025, and features special guest, researcher, author, and lecturer Carl Teichrib. Details and registration at GilbertHouse.org/travel.FOLLOW US!X: @WatchSkyWatchTV | @Five_In_TenYouTube: @SkyWatchTelevision | @SimplyHIS | @FiveInTenRumble: @SkyWatchTVFacebook: @SkyWatchTV | @SimplyHIS | @EdensEssentialsInstagram: @SkyWatchTV | @SimplyHisShow | @EdensEssentialsUSATikTok: @SkyWatchTV | @SimplyHisShow | @EdensEssentialsSkyWatchTV.com | SkyWatchTVStore.com | EdensEssentials.com | WhisperingPoniesRanch.com

Are you the person you want to be?In this episode of Live the Bible, we see how God helps us become who we want to be. And the way God helps us to be that person? You may be surprised.The Prophet Amos travels some distance to share the news with Israel, and his words have traveled the centuries to tell us the same message.Support the show

Sentinel Creatives returns with a new series for Tuesday Terror with Pilgrim! Set in 12th-century Jerusalem, Pilgrim follows the treacherous journey of a German knight and his companions as they return home after seven arduous years battling for God in the Holy Land. Within this sprawling tale lies a tapestry of medieval horror, intertwining history and folklore, encompassing both a metaphysical and literal odyssey. Inspired by a rich blend of Arabic, Christian, and pre-Islamic traditions, Pilgrim delivers a pulse-pounding story of action, adventure, and bone-chilling horror. This week: Chapter 2! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sentinel Creatives returns with a new series for Tuesday Terror with Pilgrim! Set in 12th-century Jerusalem, Pilgrim follows the treacherous journey of a German knight and his companions as they return home after seven arduous years battling for God in the Holy Land. Within this sprawling tale lies a tapestry of medieval horror, intertwining history and folklore, encompassing both a metaphysical and literal odyssey. Inspired by a rich blend of Arabic, Christian, and pre-Islamic traditions, Pilgrim delivers a pulse-pounding story of action, adventure, and bone-chilling horror. This week: Chapter 2! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

התוכן 1. נמצאים אנו ב"תשעת הימים" בתחלת חודש "מנחם-אב", שנק' כך כי הובטחנו מה' ש"והפכתי אבלם לששון". שע"י עשיית התשובה, שעי"ז מתבטלת סיבת הגלות ש"מפני חטאנו גלינו מארצנו", יקויים היעוד "יהפכו ימים אלו לששון ולשמחה ולמועדים טובים" בגאולה האמיתית והשלימה – ימים טובים ושמחים יותר מהרגיל כ"יתרון האור מן החושך וגו'". ולכן יש להוסיף בימים אלו בלימוד התורה ובקיום המצוות, ובמצוה התפלה ובקשה מה' לברכותיו וכו'. 2. עפמ"ש במדרש "בא וראה כמה חביבין תינוקות לפני הקב"ה, גלתה סנהדרין ולא גלתה שכינה עמהם, גלו משמרות ולא גלתה שכינה עמהם, וכיון שגלו תינוקות גלתה שכינה עמהם, הלא הוא דכתיב 'עוללי'ה הלכו שבי לפני צר' מיד 'ויצא מבת ציון כל הדרה'" – מובן שביטול סיבת הגלות וההשבה לארצנו הק' תלוי בראש ולראשונה בתורה, תפלה וצדקה של ילדי ישראל.ב' שיחות להתלמידים ולהתלמידות שיחיו, בבית הכנסת, אחרי תפלת מנחה, יום ה' פ' דברים, ד' מנחם-אב ה'תש"מ ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=29-07-2025 Synopsis (1) We are now in the Nine Days, at the beginning of the month of Menachem-Av, which is called by that name because Hashem has promised us that “I will transform their mourning into gladness.” By doing teshuvah, which nullifies the cause of the exile (“Because of our sins we were exiled from our land”), we will merit the fulfillment of the promise, “These days will be transformed into joy and gladness and happy festivals” with the true and complete Redemption – even greater and more joyous than ordinary festivals, because there will be the “advantage of light from the darkness” etc. Therefore during this time of year, one should increase in Torah and mitzvos, and in the mitzvah of davening and asking Hashem for His blessings etc. (2) The Midrash states: “Come and see how beloved children are before the Holy One, blessed be He. The Sanhedrin was exiled, but the Divine Presence did not go into exile with them. The priestly watches were exiled, but the Divine Presence did not go into exile with them. But when the children were exiled, the Divine Presence went into exile with them, as it is written: ‘Her young children went into captivity before the enemy…' and then immediately, ‘Gone from the daughter of Tzion is all her splendor.'” Based on this, it is understood that the nullification of the cause of the exile and the return to our Holy Land depends first and foremost on the Torah, tefillah, and tzedakah of Jewish children.2 sichos delivered to children, Thursday, parashas Devarim, 4 Menachem-Av 5740 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=29-07-2025

A cult called Spawnism that started as a joke inside a video game on the Roblox platform is encouraging teens and children to self-harm.5) China may have had access to Defense Department cloud servers for more than a decade; 4) Democratic Party's favorability ratings hit 35-year low; 3) Information shared with AI chatbots could be shared with law enforcement or in other legal cases; 2) Video game cult encouraging players to self-harm; 1) Farewell to Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, who died yesterday at age 65.SkyWatchTV's Joe Horn, Donna Howell, Nita Horn, Derek Gilbert, and Sharon K. Gilbert are featured at the Remnant Rising Conference Aug. 22–24, 2025 in Springfield, Missouri. Details and registration at HearTheWatchmen.com.Join Derek and Sharon Gilbert in the Holy Land! Their next Israel tour is October 19–30, 2025, and features special guest, researcher, author, and lecturer Carl Teichrib. Details and registration at GilbertHouse.org/travel.FOLLOW US!X: @WatchSkyWatchTV | @Five_In_TenYouTube: @SkyWatchTelevision | @SimplyHIS | @FiveInTenRumble: @SkyWatchTVFacebook: @SkyWatchTV | @SimplyHIS | @EdensEssentialsInstagram: @SkyWatchTV | @SimplyHisShow | @EdensEssentialsUSATikTok: @SkyWatchTV | @SimplyHisShow | @EdensEssentialsSkyWatchTV.com | SkyWatchTVStore.com | EdensEssentials.com | WhisperingPoniesRanch.com

A frail five-year-old Arab boy with a genetic disorder went viral last week when the legacy media used pictures of him to push the narrative that Israel is starving the people of Gaza.5) More declassified documents about Russia collusion hoax about to drop; 4) Media uses pictures of sick 5-year-old Arab boy to accuse Israel of starving Gaza; 3) Trump announces trade deal with European Union; 2) Grocery stores closing in high-crime areas of Milwaukee accused of racism; 1) Democratic Party's social media team accidentally confirms that record high grocery prices occurred on Joe Biden's watch.SkyWatchTV's Joe Horn, Donna Howell, Nita Horn, Derek Gilbert, and Sharon K. Gilbert are featured at the Remnant Rising Conference Aug. 22–24, 2025 in Springfield, Missouri. Details and registration at HearTheWatchmen.com.Join Derek and Sharon Gilbert in the Holy Land! Their next Israel tour is October 19–30, 2025, and features special guest, researcher, author, and lecturer Carl Teichrib. Details and registration at GilbertHouse.org/travel.FOLLOW US!X: @WatchSkyWatchTV | @Five_In_TenYouTube: @SkyWatchTelevision | @SimplyHIS | @FiveInTenRumble: @SkyWatchTVFacebook: @SkyWatchTV | @SimplyHIS | @EdensEssentialsInstagram: @SkyWatchTV | @SimplyHisShow | @EdensEssentialsUSATikTok: @SkyWatchTV | @SimplyHisShow | @EdensEssentialsSkyWatchTV.com | SkyWatchTVStore.com | EdensEssentials.com | WhisperingPoniesRanch.com

See what a local historian thinks about James Strang as we tour the town of St James on Beaver Island, Michigan. Check out the conversation! https://youtu.be/wBl1C55HoyY Don't miss our other conversations about Strangism: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/strangites/ Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission. Beaver Island: A Journey Through Time and Tyranny in Lake Michigan Welcome to Beaver Island, often called "America's Emerald Isle," a fascinating gem in Lake Michigan with a history as rich and diverse as its landscape. If you've ever wondered about year-round island life, a unique Mormon kingdom, or the rise of an Irish community, you're in the right place! Island Life: Year-Round Charm and Seasonal Bustle Beaver Island is unique as the only island in Lake Michigan with a year-round population. While around 600-800 people call it home in the winter, the population swells to 3,000-4,000 during the summer months. Access to the island is primarily by private boat or air service, as ferries only run until mid-December. The main community, St. James, named after James Jesse Strang himself, is where most businesses are concentrated, including the year-round community center, taverns like the Shamrock bar and restaurant, a motel, and a hardware store that also houses a gift shop and vet clinic. Many other businesses, like some restaurants and a bicycle/boat rental shop, are open only in the summer. Historically, the island's economy relied heavily on commercial fishing, with fish being salted or iced down and sent via ferry to Charlevoix for further rail transport to cities like Indianapolis or Chicago. Hotels also played a main role in the economy for many years. Unforgettable Reign of King Strang A significant chapter in Beaver Island's history revolves around James Jesse Strang, a controversial figure who established a Mormon colony here. Strang arrived on the island around 1847-1848, with his colony reaching approximately 1,500 people by the time of his death in 1856. Strang was an ambitious leader, and his people surveyed Beaver Island for the first time in 1848. He named the town of St. James after himself and began building a highway, the King's Highway, also named after himself. His colony was so established that they even had a daily newspaper, the only one north of Grand Rapids at the time. However, Strang's rule was often described as tyrannical by the tour guide. He quickly made enemies with his policies: He mandated that anyone wishing to stay on the island had to become a Mormon or pay him a tax or leave. This drove many people off the island, though some reluctantly converted because they had nowhere else to go. He authorized his followers to steal fish from other fishermen's nets and even take items from the homes of fishermen who were out at sea, according to the guide. Initially, Strang was against plural marriages, but a couple of years after arriving, he embraced polygamy, taking four more wives after his first wife, Mary, left him and returned to Wisconsin. He was also known for peculiar practices, such as having his people build a dock just a few inches under the water in Font Lake (named for baptismal font) so he could appear to be "walking on water" when baptizing his followers. Strang also left a lasting mark on the island's geography by naming several places with biblical references. Examples include: Font Lake, where baptisms took place. Mount Pisgah, a hill named after the biblical Mount Pisgah from which Jesus preached. It became a popular spot for people to climb. A lake on the south side of the island was called Lake Jaz or Lake Galilee, corresponding to the Sea of Galilee in the Holy Land. Interestingly, Strang was a well-educated man who passed the Michigan bar exam and could practice law. This legal expertise proved useful,

Fr. Marc Lenneman joins Patrick to discuss Pilgrimage (2:21) who was Saint James the greater? What is the importance of pilgrimages? (18:41) Roland - I host a state pilgrimage program for the NJ Knights of Columbus. Host pilgrimage visits in and around the state of NJ. I have gone on several pilgrimages and will go on the Camino soon. (22:17) Break 1 Email from Julie about the Camino de California. (29:29) Laura - My husband and I went on pilgrimages. It brought us together as a married couple. (37:30) Brent - Surprising turn of events in 2018. Went to our Lady of Good help. I had major reconstructive surgery on spine. Starting to make improvements. Sent prayer request to Fr. Rocky. He carried my request. Got on different meds and the right people and in July of that year, we were there. (43:25) Break 2 Mark - Vacation trip became micro pilgrimage. Gave me a new perspective. We were in Italy, and one of the trips we had was a 6000 ft. climb. We didn't realize that's how intense it was. We got to Florence and found St. Ambrose Basilica, went to Mass, received the Eucharist and I felt like was going to pass out. One of the most peaceful experiences of my life. (48:31) Carl - Went to Holy Land. Want to share the highlights I saw while there.

Pope Leo has declared a miracle in Rhode Island. Matthew Bunson has the details and Steve Ray looks at the Biblical roots of the Holy Land.

July 24, 1148. Crusaders lay siege to Damascus, attempting to regain control of the Holy Land, a fiasco that brings the second Crusade to an end.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pope Leo has declared a miracle in Rhode Island. Matthew Bunson has the details and Steve Ray looks at the Biblical roots of the Holy Land.

In this episode Diana welcomes back author Dana Diaz, who discusses her second book 'Choking on Shame.' Dana shares her experiences with narcissistic abuse in her marriage and childhood, emphasizing the importance of telling one's story, forgiveness, and healing. Dana also talks about her upcoming third book, 'Rising from the Ashes,' which focuses on her life post-abuse and her journey toward healing and self-love. Discussing the complexities of dealing with unhealed trauma and finding inner peace, Dana provides valuable insights and hope for those navigating similar struggles. Listeners are encouraged to seek professional help and understand that it's never too late to start the healing process. 00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message 00:48 Welcome to the Podcast 01:27 Dana Diaz's Story: Choking on Shame 02:41 Understanding Narcissistic Abuse 03:57 The Impact of Abuse on Life and Healing 06:25 Rising from the Ashes: The Sequel 09:50 Forgiveness and Healing 26:03 The Power of Writing and Sharing Your Story 35:37 Closing Remarks and Resources Link Tree Website: https://dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/   Dana Diaz Part 2 [00:00:00] I do have a sponsor 7 5 3 Academy. Our martial art program specialized in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. Colli. We take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Our fitness community is friendly and supportive without the over the top muscle gym atmosphere. Our coaching staff are professionally trained with over 30 years of experience. Get started by claiming your free class voucher. So go to the link in the show notes. This is in the Phoenix Metro area, so reach out to Coach David and coach Eric over at 7 5 3 Academy. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic [00:01:00] violence advocate, Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Welcome, welcome to the podcast once more. I appreciate you coming back to hear some more of Dana Diaz. She is on her second book that she's been talking about, Choking on Shame. And again, she was on the podcast in season three, episode 1 53. So if you haven't heard, part one of this conversation, go back to part one. But it [00:02:00] would be really great to also listen to episode 1 53 'cause then you would get the whole picture of her story and some really great advice and help for those of you who have been with a narcissist or maybe you're dealing with one now. I'm not gonna go through her bio again. Everything is in a show notes for you. So without delay, here we go with part two, my conversation with Dana Diaz. And, I guess I should clarify that, what makes it called narcissistic abuse? It's just when a narcissist abuses you. But the difference is that a narcissist will enact multiple and all abuses in some cases versus, and I'm not trying [00:03:00] to minimize, but like in my childhood, I was physically abused and verbally abused and neglected in many ways in my marriage to this narcissist. Yes, there was verbal abuse for sure, which we discussed with the cussing 'cause he called me things that became as common as my name. I actually heard them more than my name. Um mm-hmm. There was sexual abuse. And yes, I will debate anybody who tells me that if you're married, you cannot be sexually abused. I disagree. If you are taking advantage of a woman that does not consensually want to be with you, uh, that is sexual abuse. Yes. There was financial abuse. So many examples of that. Legal abuse, the threatening to, call the authorities, creating the narrative of, you're crazy, you're unstable. I'm gonna call child services, so I'll have custody of our son if you leave me. I will do this legally to you. It's this constant threat. And then you add in all the other things , the [00:04:00] intimidation, the stalking, you're basically scared for your life. And I always say it's like, people call it walking on eggshells. I'm like, no, it was a minefield. It was a minefield. Yeah. Because I was stepping very carefully, very cautiously. Every time I opened my mouth, even my facial expressions, I could not say anything or do anything. And World War III would erupt because of my facial expression. So I was very careful, but it doesn't matter where I stepped, stuff was blowing up here, but I couldn't deal with it or process it. 'cause then something was blowing up over here and then in the midst of that, I'm trying to protect my son and shelter him from as much of it as I could, even though my ex was always trying to drag him into it so that he could blame me for our sons, unhealthy, witness of things that no child should ever have to witness or hear between parents. So it was, uh, yeah, it was something. And it's interesting because so many people read [00:05:00] Gasping for Air, including the owner of my publishing company. She actually at one point messaged me and said, I thought this was nonfiction. I said, It is. It was my true story. And she says, I can't even believe it. I said, well, you can't make this stuff up. Trust me. I would not have that kind of imagination. But it is a page turner. So it has appealed to people for entertainment that just like an exciting, uh, dysfunctional relationship read. But for the bulk of people who have been through this type of relationship, I'm glad to report that I get messages every day. Every single day of people saying that it gave them strength or it helped them to feel less alone because they thought it was just them or, you know, whatever it is. I've had people message me that they're finally leaving. They're divorcing, they're trying to get things in order or whatever it is. And I am certainly not [00:06:00] here saying, go get divorced, leave whoever. 'cause sometimes it's safer for somebody to stay. Um, it, it's just the reality, unfortunately sometimes. But I just want to give people, if nothing else, the hope that. There is something more to life and that no, you were not put here to suffer. And, it hurts my heart when I hear people say that. 'cause I, I remember feeling very much that way. But that's where the third book comes in. 'cause the third book is actually the sequel. Mm-hmm To gasping for air. We kind of went out of order, kind of like the Star Wars movies did for a while there. But again, I only intended to ever write the one. So gasping for error. Then we have the prequel, which is my childhood, choking on shame. So coming in March is rising from the ashes where it picks up. Right where gasping for error left off where I am leaving the driveway of the farm that I shared with my ex-husband moving out, moving on with [00:07:00] life. But I thought everything would be fine. I think when you get out of those. Uh, situations you think, oh, everything's fine. Nothing can go wrong. And, there's a lot of healing to do and things are a little messy while you're doing the healing. You don't necessarily perceive healthy relationships and healthy connections the way a healthy person would because there's this distrust and this anxiety, and we, there's so much still there that has to be dealt with. It's coming to the realization of those things. And as I said, coming to terms with even my mother who, went no contact with me before I even divorced with my ex, she opted to go no contact. 'cause she said that she could not be her husband's wife and my mother at the same time, and she was choosing to be his wife instead of being my mother. Mm-hmm. So that was heartbreaking. But this is my last resort and rising from the ashes, like, okay, I'm out of this marriage. Like, there's [00:08:00] one scene, it was hard to write in rising from the ashes where I'm actually on Christmas Eve at her house. I hadn't been invited, just my son had been, but I didn't get to see him Christmas day because of the divorce. My ex was going to have him. So that was my time with him was Christmas Eve and she took it. Without even consulting with me. So I ended up going with my son. Mm-hmm. I ended up on my knees on Christmas Eve in my mother's basement on the cold ceramic tile floor. Literally begging with my hands clasped, begging her just to be my mother to see me, to come to my wedding. 'cause I'm newly engaged, to this man. I've known many, many, many years and I just wanted her to be a part of that. There was no emotion stone face. And she actually walked away from me and left me there on the floor in tears on Christmas. Mm-hmm. So there's a lot of [00:09:00] heartbreak, but it's a very happy ending. And, we talked about coming full circle before, but the ending of rising for ashes. I'll give this little snippet. 'cause I haven't really talked about the book to anybody. Not even my husband knows about it. I don't let him read books until they're published. But, the very end actually comes back to my mother that I said, after everything I'd been through my healing, the key to my healing was resolving that very first relationship I had in my life. I'm getting chills right now just thinking about it because mm-hmm. Everything in my life had to do with my mother rejecting me. But it took somebody saying to me. You can't reject your mother, you can't hate her. You can't have these ill feelings towards her for what she, how she treated you. Because if you do that, you're rejecting a part of yourself. And that just, that was as eye-opening as telling me I'm a child of God. Because then I had to look at her, uh, and the same person said that I had to put a [00:10:00] picture of my mother up in my house where it was prominence. It couldn't be hidden away somewhere. And um, the very last chapter of the book of Rising from the Ashes is me doing that. And it was not pretty. And I had some choice words that I cannot say on this podcast to say to that picture. But you know what? I still have the picture right here in my office and I look at it every day. I even say, hi mom. We have no relationship. She has nothing to do with me. We have no communication. But she's there 'cause she's my mother. And I'm gonna love her anyway because she was just a kid. And I forgive that I had to come to terms with knowing that she came from an abusive household. She had an abusive alcoholic father and endured terrible domestic violence. And she was just a baby when she had me. And she was a baby [00:11:00] who hadn't resolved her own unhealed trauma. So even though I was her baby and I expected her to handle me better and to know what to do and how to do it, she didn't. And I have to forgive that because I mean, what 16, 17-year-old girl that's in an abusive household would know what to do with a baby she doesn't even want. So, with that, I just encourage people to maybe look at, I'm not saying it excuses it, but I think mm-hmm. It's helped me get past the past. To look at it with a more loving heart than a resentful one. Because if you hold onto that resentment and that anger and that pain, you don't have room for the blessings and the love and the hope for the future and in the present, everything that's right in front of you. So that, that's essentially where we go with rising from the ashes. And I want people to hear that message loud [00:12:00] and clear. I'm really glad that you pointed out the forgiveness aspect. 'cause we talk about that a lot. How do you forgive somebody that's done some really horrible things to you? And they never repent of it. They never ask forgiveness or come around like we want them to. But I'm glad you mentioned, yeah, I can still forgive my mother in. An aspect of I'm not gonna live or live rent free in my head and ruin the rest of my life. I'm gonna move on with my life and help other people. But yeah, I respect that. Yes, she is my mother. And that's okay to say that. Yeah. Yeah. She's my mother, but I don't have to let her ruin my life. Exactly. And we move on. I mean, at the end of the day, we're all human. I said it before, but I say [00:13:00] it almost every day. We all make mistakes. And I can own up to mine and not feel badly about it. It's just sometimes you make a mistake, things happen unintentionally, intentionally, we screw up. But you know, we have to give that same grace to other people, because not everybody. Is at the same level of consciousness. Not everybody is faithful. Even my mother, when she got with her husband, when I was very young, actually, he didn't feel he was not Christian at all. So we stopped going to church. I actually started getting rides with my friends that were Catholic to, or I'd sleep over at their houses on Saturday nights so I could go to Sunday mass with them. But, even in college, I was able to drive, so I would go myself and I continued that. But, you know, it's about respect. We can't assume that everybody thinks like we do because they don't, not everybody comes from the same history that we come from. [00:14:00] Geographic differences, cultural differences. We're all so unique and that's a beautiful thing, but even within our own families, she has the right to make her own choices. Mm-hmm. She has turned herself away from God, but that is her choice. It is not my place for anyone else's to, force her somewhere where she doesn't feel that she wants to be. But again, that's between her and God. But, um, it's not my place, so I have to respect it, understand that she has the right, and I almost, got even to the point in my healing where I was like, you know, I actually have to appreciate even how she, stood her ground as far as her relationship with me. As terrible it is as it is to reject your own child. She had a very clear idea, of what she wanted in life and how she wanted to live her life. Whether I agree with that or not. She was being true to herself and [00:15:00] respecting herself. And self-love is not something that I had the privilege of, even knowing what that was for most of my life. And I still, every once in a while have to, give myself a pat on the back or remind myself I'm pretty okay. You know? 'cause I grew up with such terrible self-esteem and that first marriage didn't help at all. But my mother always had a sense of exactly who she was and what she wanted, and I did not fit into that. So, there's things I think we can learn from people like that and understand and just give them that grace that they're having their own human experience. And it may not be the path we walked, may not be the way we would've walked it, but that's what they're doing. And just have to love them through it. Pray for them, hope for them. But at the end of the day, we also have to do what gives ourselves some inner peace, which sometimes means, not having that relationship with them. So, I respect that about her. We have, like I said, we are completely estranged, but my [00:16:00] life goes on and I have her picture here in my office and I look at it every day and. It's all right. It's okay because God loves me again. I'm his child and he loves my mother too. Even though she's made mistakes, and hopefully one day she'll realize that, there is love in her life and that she is worth more than what she is allowed herself to have. And open herself up to that. But that is not my place to force her to do so. Hmm. I'm very fortunate that it's, my narcissist ex, we have no contact at all. Because we didn't have any children together, which looking back I am grateful for that. I didn't bring children into that marriage. Yeah. To suffer along with me, it would've been a different ending. But yeah, I'm able, to say that I've healed. Significantly, because I'm not in that relationship. Yes. With him, I don't [00:17:00] have to have any contact. 'cause when you get out of that, you have a better perspective as to what you went through rather than you're still in it and you're still dealing with this person and, they're trying to make your life, miserable. I was really fortunate that I just cut 'em off. And you have to, unfortunately, that's the only way, and I try to tell people that you can't, there is no healing when you're still in those circumstances. But it's impossible. I always tell people, I liken it to growing flowers in your garden. If you plant the seeds and then as soon as the flowers start blooming, you start giving them chemicals and poison and. They're not gonna keep growing. You cannot heal something. You cannot grow as a human being if you're still in that toxicity. And it's a shame sometimes that we have to cut off people that are biologically, family. But, I think that [00:18:00] the way to look at that and what has been my experience in life from a very young age is that, we're all part of God's family. And I cannot tell you how much of a difference it has made since, sadly not having contact with my abusive mother and stepfather. And I don't have contact with my ex either and many other people who have enabled them and sided with them in some way. But, uh, or they have cut contact with me, which is fine, but it's amazing now that they're kind of out of the way, like pulling weeds outta that same garden, now the weeds are gone. So I can see the other flowers that were always there and they're rooting for me and they're growing with me, and they're wanting me to grow it all and, and want me to be the beautiful flower that I can be. And it's just astounding to me the difference that having supportive, encouraging positive people around you, that what that makes versus being in those situations where every [00:19:00] single day I was diminished, insulted, ridiculed, demeaned. It just any negative adjective you can come up with is what that experience is like. But then you turn that around. You can't help but smile when somebody speaks positivity to you or encourages you, and then you wanna do that to others. And it has this beautiful domino effect because I know people, there's that thing called resting bee face. You know that? Mm-hmm. People used to say that I had that back then, and it wasn't that I was just. I was miserable, I was suffering. I wasn't, there was nothing to smile about. But, um, now it's, it, it's nice because I run into people sometimes that I haven't seen in years. And I know one person said, oh, it's good to see you smile again. It's good to see you laughing. Or, you know, one person, the best compliments I've had, they looked at me just physically, they're like, you look healthy. Because I had, I had gotten [00:20:00] so sickly physically during that. Mm-hmm. And especially towards the end of my marriage with my first husband that, yeah, even my physical health has improved with my mental health. So, and it's such an empowering thing to, to know like, okay, I actually had the choice. You know? Thankfully I was able to get out of it alive, so to speak. And everything's just really good now. Everything's really good. It's giving me that time and that space now to just tweak those little things. I call them like bruises that sometimes, somebody might say or do something and that bruise gets poked a little. I'm like, Ooh, that hurts. That didn't feel good. But I can kind of explore that a little more now and be like, okay. We still, I don't think the healing journey ever ends, but I think that, no, you know, we take those opportunities when our, when our bruises get poked a little bit to say like, okay, what do we still have here to work out? Where is that coming from? And then [00:21:00] deal with it. Because more times than not, it's just, it's the past. I always tell people it's never about the presence and usually when somebody comes at you as in confrontational, abusive, mistreats you in some way, it doesn't even have to do with you. It has to do with them. Yes, it's their unhealed trauma speaking to you. It's their issues with themselves that they just can't stand something that they see about you, that it's your light that's disturbing their peace. It's your potential, your achievement that's making them feel. All that yucky stuff they already feel about themselves. But, all you can do is love. I just try to remind myself, even when, believe me, there's, I always say there's the angel and the devil on my shoulders, and the devil just wants to tell 'em a few f-bombs and say a few things, but then the angels like, love them, love them. And I just take a deep breath and okay, this is coming from a source of pain. Remind myself of that. I know what that's like. It's not gonna be helpful. It's not gonna be productive or [00:22:00] get anywhere if we're gonna go back at 'em, with more evil words and nastiness. We're just gonna love, and some people aren't receptive. I had that experience last week and, a very, very nasty person, who told me the most vicious and awful thing that I won't even repeat. And I went back to them with love and said, I hear pain in what you said to me, and I understand this isn't about me, but I wish that one day you would. Find out how wonderful you are and love yourself enough to respect and value other people's lives as well. And she came at me with, an equally, just like her first message that I deserved what she said to me in the beginning. And that's that. Some people just don't wanna hear it. They don't wanna receive it. But that's not gonna change who I am or make me change my character. I'm still gonna come from a good place and remind myself there is evil in the world. There are people in this world that want to sit with their demons and stay there forever more. All I can [00:23:00] do is love them and pray for them. That's it. I can't, I just like my mother, I can't make that choice for them. It's kind of like drug and alcohol addiction. They have to be able, just like we had to when we were in our situations, you have to make the choice for yourself. Nobody could have told me, I had people say, you don't look happy, or, he's a real this or that, and you should get out. You think, I don't know that you don't think, I don't know. I was being mistreated. Of course I did. It's just not that easy to walk away, especially when you do have a child with a person, it makes it that much more complicated. But if nothing else, but legally and financially, it's a little more complicated. Yeah, there's just so much there. But, all in all, I just hope people know, know that there, there's choices, there's hope, and, and one of the biggest choices you can make, and kind of like how I said about me and my sister, is just to choose where you're coming from. Choose to come from a place of love because, putting yourself out there and behaving in negative ways, behaving in, ways [00:24:00] that basically, like they're acting, it's not gonna get you anywhere and it's not gonna solve that. This world is angry and full of hate more now than ever. And I don't think we need to participate in that hatred in that division. We need to actually turn that around a little bit and we all can make that difference by starting with the people in our house. Well start with ourselves and then your kids, your spouse, your whoever, your grandma, your coworkers, the person at church, the person that you run into at the library or the post office or wherever. Just be kind. Be kind. And maybe then they'll be a little kinder that day too, to somebody else. Hmm. I agree with that. I wanted to comment on what you said about the bruises, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. I'm 52 and I had some triggers this past year and just brought up some, stuff from my past that I couldn't deal with the, the physical response to those memories. And for the first time in my [00:25:00] life, I'm going to a professional therapist and a psychologist and, I've had some peer counseling and peer groups that were extremely helpful that I'm, really glad that I have a therapist, to help me through these bruises or triggers that have come up in my life right now. I mean, I was married to my ex and I left in 2008. That was a long time ago, but it's never too late to get some help and to reach out to get help with hundred percent some of these things. I know my dear friend that I do mending this all groups with, she's a senior citizen now and she just wrote her book of her life after, so. Uh, her abuse was from her childhood and she had some memory loss, but, she's finally getting to write her book [00:26:00] now. And she's a fantastic writer as well. But what would you say to folks that they hear you and they see you writing these books about your experience, but they're afraid to write their story. They're like, people are gonna judge me. They're not gonna like what I say, or they're gonna sue me. Or what would you say to somebody that might be thinking about writing their story. Well, those are all very valid concerns and as somebody who is now publishing book three, they are still valid concerns. I am actually surprised that I have not faced any legal consequences, although, mm-hmm. On the other hand, it's very unlikely. In my, at least from my experience, I don't know many people who would like raise their hands loudly and say, oh, that's me in that book. You don't wanna claim that you're that person who did these awful things. But I tried to [00:27:00] be, I wrote my stories. I actually, gasping for air came from a journal that I kept when, it was towards the end of my marriage to my first husband, because I honestly thought that I was going to end up dead. And that it would be made to look like an accident or there would be some excuse, and I wanted there to be a record of what was really going on in that house. Wow. So the stories came out of that journal. So if nothing else, I tell people just journal, because sometimes I was joking with a friend this week, like some days my mind is like a bingo. Like that barrel, they spin in bingo, before they pull the little thing out. Like it's all this stuff just jumbling around six that sometimes if you just do, I've heard it called a brain dump. I've heard it called free writing. But just write. Just write everything. Don't monitor yourself. Don't feel bad. You let it come out however it comes out, even if it's not how you would normally talk. Say what [00:28:00] you have to say. Be angry, be hurt, cry, whatever. Get it out. Because the interesting thing is that. One, you'll feel better because it's like outside of you now. It's literally like extracting that pain from you and putting it on something else. It does actually make you feel mentally better, but you'll notice after a while when you go back, you'll start noticing patterns because visually you learn differently than mentally, if that makes any sense. So like even when I was writing Gasping for actually even the third book, all of my writing I'd read and have to revise over and over, and I would have a wake up in the middle of the night with. Oh my gosh. Like my brain just realized after I've written these stories, that this, it's kind of like connecting the dots, like a, an a detective or investigator trying to figure out a murder with all the strings on the walls pointing to this and that. It's like your brain starts [00:29:00] doing these, connect the dots, and you start making these connections and realizing things you hadn't seen before. Because when it's all in your head, it's, it is just jumbling around like that bingo barrel. Um mm-hmm. So it's good to get it out of you, but if you actually do wanna get into publishing a story Yes. They're, unfortunately, those fears are valid. They are always going to be there because as long as something is in print, if somebody does feel, even if you change their names, even if you change other geographical details, different things. If somebody can provide enough evidence that those circumstances or that person or whatever it was, it is actually them and wants to take you to court. They unfortunately do have a case. And so, I would definitely advise speaking to an attorney speaking to, different insurance companies. 'cause there are insurances you could get to cover to have that protection, for libel really, and things like that. Yes. I didn't know [00:30:00] that. Yeah, it's an expense, but, it's one worth having if you're gonna be speaking your truth. But the, thing that's been the struggle for me has been the judgment because surprisingly, the judgment has not even come from the people who have done awful things to me. It has come from their family members, which mm-hmm are and were my family members. You'd be surprised how many people just don't wanna believe you and we'll call you all kinds of things under the sun. And on the lighter end. 'cause you weren't there. They weren't where you were. They weren't there. They didn't see all that. They didn't. But the thing is, for them to believe you, they have to believe they love a monster. Mm-hmm. You see what I'm saying? Yep. That's pretty much it. My ex-mother-in-law, who I loved like a mother, 'cause she was a mother to me all those years, my mother was not my sister-in-law, who is my best friend. Even people in [00:31:00] my life, mutual friends, even. People that taught my son at his school that got word and read the book, and now for you to say those things about him or that, or even about my mother, whatever, in that book, I have to be the villain so that they feel better about associating with somebody who's capable of doing the things that I claim they did. So the judgment is honestly the biggest thing, but I keep, I just, I say it almost every day. God is the only judge. God is the only judge. You know what? And I know my truth. I know my truth firmly, and I can't let other people get me down. And let me tell you, strangers will say the most vile things, the most horrendous things behind an email or a social media post, or however they communicate with you, because they have that anonymity behind a screen. Yeah. And it is cruel. The things I have been told, such horrific things [00:32:00] and here I am, like I'm just trying to help people heal. I think I'm doing a good thing. And, the pushback is very strong. But what I've noticed and what I have to tell myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other is that those are the people, the ones who go through that great effort to go to my website and click on contact Dana to email me, or, put the post out or however they communicate their nastiness to me. I hit something, I hit some nail on the head. I triggered, I poked one of their bruises. That's what that is. And so in a sense, I look at those like, okay, I hear the pain. I wanna love them and help them, but they're not receptive right now. And that's okay. Hopefully that will come. But I gotta say, okay, good job, Dana. 'cause something I said or did, got to them. They can't let it go. It's haunting them. So maybe that's the propellant for change. Maybe that's the thing that's gonna compel [00:33:00] them, to change their circumstances or to take hold, take control of their life, and get that healing that they need. Because I wanna touch upon real quick what you said. I'm 49, let me tell you, I get so many people that contact me. I am actually, I just started this month, co-leading a women's group for healing from childhood abuse. And the thing that we get, the comment we get the most is that people that are our age, forties, fifties, sixties, even, I've even had a few in the seventies, that they kind of blame themselves. They shame themselves because, well, why now? Why am I just, how come it took me so long? I'm gonna answer that right now for you and I and for all these people that have said that to themselves. We were trying to live. We were trying to survive. Yes. Number one, when we got out, we had to go to work every day like we probably still do now. We were raising children possibly, which is not an easy [00:34:00] task. We had family commitments, church commitments, school, whatever it was we were. Life gets very busy. Life is very distracting, but I feel like when you get to where we're about in age, like for example, my son, he's gonna be 22, very soon. He bought his own house. He's moved up. When you start to be left with, yeah, when you start to be left with your own thoughts and you have time to reflect back and you're not in this constant hustle and bustle and have to and got and dah. Then you're like, oh my God, what the hell happened to me? You start to think back on the past, like, okay, and then when those things hit you, when somebody does say that thing or poke that bruise, you have the time and you're like, oh, oh, is that about, that was so long ago. And that's when you start really thinking about it. And that's when you have the opportunity and the time, to usually take the reins of your healing. So, if that's [00:35:00] any incentive, I think it's always good, whether you have a therapist or a group or whatever. There's so many, there's goat yoga, there's musical, healing, modalities. There's so many different options available to people right now that no matter what your niche is, so to speak, you can find something that will help you resolve all those feelings of the past, no matter what age you are. Yeah. Reach out to one of us. Yes. You all out there? We have resources. We know people Yes. Wherever you are. Even in other parts of the world. Yes. So I want to make sure that the folks know where to get your books. Not a problem. You can go to my website, dana s diaz.com, the links for the two that are out are there. And then the third, book will be on there when it comes out. Or you can go straight to Amazon anywhere. Books are sold online. I can't get the books on [00:36:00] shelves of the major retailers because of the content and the language. They, have all rejected the, application to have them on the bookshelves, but you can go anywhere online. I have it in it, it's on Kindle, so you can get the ebook if you like, having it on your phone or your iPad or whatever. Sometimes that's easier. It's more affordable. And if you are in an abusive situation still, that would be the best option because you don't want a book that says abuse in the title sitting on your coffee table. So, but it is available wherever books are sold online. This has been great to have you back on the show again and your invitation, is open door for you. Oh, thank you. I appreciate that. I know you're gonna write some more books. You're gonna have a big, long series like Star Wars here and, yeah, I'll eat it right up here. Just come back on, let me know if you have any, anything else to share with us. It's good to see [00:37:00] you. I, so related to what you shared, thank you so eloquently today. I appreciate that. And again, I just want everybody to know that there is hope. And there are people that are behind you. Even if you think you're alone, we're all with you and God is with you most importantly. Amen. God bless you. You as well. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us at DSW Ministries dot org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.

Join Gary and Avi Lipkin to get caught up on the latest news concerning Israel.

Full Text of ReadingsWednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 397The Saint of the day is Saint Bridget of SwedenSaint Bridget of Sweden’s Story From age 7 on, Bridget had visions of Christ crucified. Her visions formed the basis for her activity—always with the emphasis on charity rather than spiritual favors. She lived her married life in the court of the Swedish king Magnus II. Mother of eight children—the second eldest was Saint Catherine of Sweden—Bridget lived the strict life of a penitent after her husband's death. Bridget constantly strove to exert her good influence over Magnus; while never fully reforming, he did give her land and buildings to found a monastery for men and women. This group eventually expanded into an Order known as the Bridgetines. In 1350, a year of jubilee, Bridget braved a plague-stricken Europe to make a pilgrimage to Rome. Although she never returned to Sweden, her years in Rome were far from happy, being hounded by debts and by opposition to her work against Church abuses. A final pilgrimage to the Holy Land, marred by shipwreck and the death of her son, Charles, eventually led to her death in 1373. In 1999, Bridget, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, were named co-patronesses of Europe. Reflection Bridget's visions, rather than isolating her from the affairs of the world, involved her in many contemporary issues, whether they be royal policy or the years that the legitimate Bishop of Rome lived in Avignon, France. She saw no contradiction between mystical experience and secular activity, and her life is a testimony to the possibility of a holy life in the marketplace. Saint Bridget of Sweden is a Patron Saint of: Europe Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden, 1303-1373; she had visions of Christ crucified from the age of 7; she lived her married life in the court of Swedish King Magnus II, and bore him eight children; after her husband's death, she lived the life of a strict penitent; in 1350, she made a pilgrimage to Rome, during which she was hounded by debts and opposition to her work to correct church abuses; a final pilgrimage to the Holy Land was marred by a shipwreck and the death of her son Charles, eventually leading to her death Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/23/25 Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9

The effects of personal compromise can leave us feeling hopeless.In this episode of Live the Bible, we see what God does when sin has made a mess of our lives. Maybe it wasn't even our sin—or maybe it was. But God can restore what sin has taken.How? The Prophet Joel gives us the good news.Support the show

Church Scandals, the Pope, and Israel: A Priest Speaks Out w/ Fr. John Brown In this episode, I sit down with a Catholic priest to ask some of the most pressing and controversial questions facing the Church today. We cover everything from Pope Francis’ call for a ceasefire in the Holy Land, to attacks on […]

Sentinel Creatives returns with a new series for Tuesday Terror with Pilgrim! Set in 12th-century Jerusalem, Pilgrim follows the treacherous journey of a German knight and his companions as they return home after seven arduous years battling for God in the Holy Land. Within this sprawling tale lies a tapestry of medieval horror, intertwining history and folklore, encompassing both a metaphysical and literal odyssey. Inspired by a rich blend of Arabic, Christian, and pre-Islamic traditions, Pilgrim delivers a pulse-pounding story of action, adventure, and bone-chilling horror. This week: Chapter 1! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's no more exciting place to be in independent film than the intersection of France and the United States, or as a filmmaker in either of these locations. In France, cinemas are packed and the Cannes Film Festival often sets the tone for what's considered the best films of the year. So if the goal is understanding France's role in global cinema, there is no better person than my guest, Amanda Sthers, who has released three feature films that star globally known actors and help explain, in each of their ways, what is attractive about filmmaking in both countries. Along with filmmaking, her production company aims to “build bridges between Europe and the United States.” That's the goal of this episode, too.Amanda and I talk about:What it's like to have somebody on the podcast without an immediate project to pitch!How she got her start as a novelist, not a filmmaker, at 15 (!);How she's never taken on a script she hasn't written and what it would take for her to do so; As a novelist, did she write her books with a film adaptation in mind?The role of screenplays in films and how to define what's good or not — “ the way you say things without saying them, that's a good screenplay.”;Should screenwriters direct films?How she would introduce her three feature films -- HOLY LANDS (2017), MADAME (2017), PROMISES (2021);Why the trust given to her from well known actors hasn't translated to reviews of the films;How she runs a “collaborative” set and how she works “exactly like Woody Allen” (!);Her production company and differences in American and French filmmaking;Why French people love going to the cinema and the difficulty of streaming French cinema in the United States;How she's able to work with globally known actors;What's next for her. Amanda's Indie Filmmaker Highlight: Bonnie TimmermanMemorable Quotes:“The first time I was on a set, it was mine.” “ And then it took 10 more years for me to direct my first movie and it wasn't really my decision. I was writing a movie for a studio that basically ordered me [to write a] French “Love Actually.” “ You need to know how to betray your own work because it's not the same way to write a novel and to write a screenplay.”“ A screenplay is not a piece of art, per se. It's a tool to make a good movie.”“ It's a collective work. And I just feel that everyone is important on a set. Everyone should be celebrated because it's always a miracle when a movie is good.”“A writer director, when you give something so honest and so personal, because when people don't like my movie, I feel that they don't like me, which is not true, but I need to work on that.”Links:Follow Amanda On InstagramSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/first-time-go/exclusive-content

Sentinel Creatives returns with a new series for Tuesday Terror with Pilgrim! Set in 12th-century Jerusalem, Pilgrim follows the treacherous journey of a German knight and his companions as they return home after seven arduous years battling for God in the Holy Land. Within this sprawling tale lies a tapestry of medieval horror, intertwining history and folklore, encompassing both a metaphysical and literal odyssey. Inspired by a rich blend of Arabic, Christian, and pre-Islamic traditions, Pilgrim delivers a pulse-pounding story of action, adventure, and bone-chilling horror. This week: Chapter 1! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learning from Rebbe Nachman ben Faiga / Simcha Likutei Moharan 38 5, we appreciate 3 special gifts Rashbi brings: Torah, Eretz Yisrael, and Olam Haba, all acquired with challenges, etc... The Zohar Hakodesh clarifies that the gift of having an Ima, Binah, and an extra Understanding aspect of Tefilin all are upon the son, revealing the Glory & Heavenly Protection. Just like this, Parsha Masai helps us understand divine providence and the Journey we are all on...Cover Pic The Holy Mother, my soulmate, hugs our beloved oldest son Boruch Yitzchak ben Masha after returning from the war in Gaza (also Lebanon and Iran). I am Dedicated to his success and all soldiers of Yisrael, the nation with Tefilin and the Glory of Hashem, who is called upon us. Unity Inspires Projects - United Souls 55 -The Iran War with the Holy Land & Worldwide, The Converting Souls & Nuclear Transformation! https://eligoldsmith.substack.com/p/unity-inspires-projects-united-souls-775 #unitedsouls #israeliranwar #nuclear #trump #miracles #transformation

In this episode, I cover the alarming statements made by top Church leaders in the Holy Land regarding escalating settler violence against the only entirely Christian Palestinian village left in the occupied West Bank—Taybeh. Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited the village in a rare show of solidarity, denouncing recent […]

Full TorahAnytime Lecture Video or Audio More classes from R' Yehoshua Nissan ⭐ 2,398

In this week's episode, we take a look at how the meaning of words can shift and evolve over time, and the challenges and opportunities that can create for writers. This coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Malison series at my Payhip store: MALISONJULY25 The coupon code is valid through August 12, 2025. So if you need a new ebook this summer, we've got you covered! TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Introduction and Writing Updates Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 260 of The Pulp Writer Show. My name is Jonathan Moeller. Today is July 19, 2025, and today we are reflecting on how the meaning of words changes over time. We will also have Coupon of the Week, an update on my current writing and audiobook projects, and Question of the Week. So let's start off with Coupon of the Week. This week's coupon code will get you 25% off the ebooks in the Malison series at my Payhip store, and that is MALISONJULY25. And as always, both the coupon code and the links to my Payhip store will be available in the show notes. This coupon code is valid through August the 12th, 2025. So if you need a new series of ebooks to read for this summer, we have got you covered. Now for an update on my current writing projects. I'm pleased to report that Stealth and Spells Online: The Final Quest, the final book in the Stealth and Spells trilogy, is now out and you get it at Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. People have read it, have liked it, so I'm pleased that people are enjoying the ending to the trilogy. Now that that is out, my next major project will be Ghost in the Siege, the sixth and final book of the Ghost Armor series. I am 32,000 words into the rough draft, and I think it's going to be about 100,000 words, give or take. I am also 2,000 words into Blade of Flames, which will be the first book in my new epic fantasy Blades of Ruin series, which will be set in the realm of Owyllain about a hundred years after the end of The Shield War. So listen for more updates on that coming later as I work on it. In audiobook news, both Ghost in the Corruption (as excellently narrated by Hollis McCarthy) and Shield of Battle (as excellently narrated by Brad Wills) actually came out on the same day, so as of right now, you can get them at Audible, Apple, Amazon, Google Play, Kobo, and my Payhip store. There's usually a few more stores in the mix, but I've been having trouble with Findaway Audio and I'm looking into different audiobook distributors. So hopefully we will have some progress on that soon. So that's where I'm at with my current writing and audiobook projects. 00:02:07 Question of the Week Now it's time for Question of the Week, which is intended to inspire interesting discussions of enjoyable topics. This week's question, do you get food delivery? Do you ever have pizzas delivered or perhaps a sandwich from a place that does delivery, or do you use some of the various delivery services that have sprung up in the last 10 years like DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats? No wrong answers obviously, since everyone's circumstances are different. The inspiration for this question was a massive online discussion I saw about the etiquette of tipping DoorDash drivers, and since I had never used DoorDash or a similar service, I realized it was yet another massive technological and cultural shift that I had that happened to miss me out. So I was curious about what people thought about it, and as you expect, we had a range of answers. Perry says: No, and we haven't for years. We live too far away to make it worthwhile, even if we wanted to. Sarah says: I do very rarely get cooked food delivery, and then almost always pizza for the kids when I feel really sick. However, as a Walmart Plus member, I routinely get grocery delivery. I'm pregnant and homeschool three of my four kids (the littlest is too young for formal schooling). It saves me so much time to only have to bring it in the house. The time savings is about 90 minutes on an average week. I sometimes do grocery pickup, which my husband grabs on the way home for an hour time savings, since it is on his way home, but since he works awful hours, it's simpler for me to get the groceries than for him to grab them after a twelve hour day. Of course, feeding six mouths (and usually my dad too for a seventh), we have multiple short runs to Walmart throughout the week for stuff we run out of or general merchandise needs for home maintenance, so we managed to hit lots of in-store time and sales that we would otherwise miss too. Mary says: No, even for Chinese takeout, we would call in the order and pick it up, and I haven't done that for years. Justin says: No food delivery for me, thanks. It's not available where I am, but even living in a college town, I always picked it up. Norma says: I do have Italian food delivered because they have delivery in-house. Have never used a delivery company, but I just heard from my grandson that he's working for one while at university. David says: Maybe once or twice a year I'll get delivery for pizza. Everything else is pickup or eaten at the restaurant. I'm not pressed for time, so having it delivered doesn't make sense. Tracy says: I get pizza delivered from Papa John's. John says: When I lived in Houston, I rarely got anything delivered since it was as fast to just go out and get it myself. Now I live way out in the woods. Nobody delivers that far out, so I usually have to go get it for myself. I usually prefer to cook for myself. Michael says: Alas, I am far too fond of such services (as reflected by my Winnie the Pooh body shape). I live in the middle of the most densely urbanized city in the country, with the result that there are at least 40 takeaways and restaurants within a mile or so radius of my home. While I usually go out if getting takeaway, sometimes an Uber Eats or a Deliveroo is too tempting! For myself, as you might've guessed when I said that I missed out on DoorDash and Uber Eats, the answer is no, I don't get food delivery. I think it might've been over 25 years since I last had a pizza delivery. I did occasionally when I was a teenager and in college. When I moved out into the adult world, I never did. The reasons were one, I was extremely broke, and two, at the time I lived near a university campus with all the attendant fast food places that surrounded it. So if I wanted fast food, I'd get a bunch of stuff within walking distance. If I wanted fast food on a workday, all I had to do is just go through the drive-through on my way home. Anyway, as I got older, the habit of never ordering delivery solidified, which is probably just as well because services like DoorDash and Uber Eats look massively expensive, even before the social etiquette question of tipping arises. These days, if I want fast food or a pizza, I would go get it myself (or more likely persuade myself that I'd really be better off to stay at home and eat vegetables and lean protein). Though it is interesting given the range of the responses, it's a good reminder that people's circumstances can vary wildly and something that would be a waste of time or money for one person might actually be very advantageous for another. 00:05:51 Word Meanings and Chivalry And now onto our main topic. It is interesting to reflect how the meaning of words shifts over time and how a word can sometimes long outlast its original purpose and meaning. “Mile” is a good example, since it's originally derived from the distance covered by a Roman soldier marching a thousand steps. Nowadays, the usage of miles has nothing to do with marching Romans, and most of the world uses kilometers anyway, but the name remains, having long outlived its original meaning. “Chivalry” is another good example. Nowadays, chivalry or chivalrous typically means a man acting in a deferential way to a woman- holding the door, pulling out a chair for her, taking her coat, standing when she approaches the table, et cetera that an individual woman will either find charming, annoying, patronizing, or perhaps some combination of the three depending on her particular disposition and her opinion of the man in question. But that definition of the word chivalry is only a ghostly relic of what it used to mean. Chivalry comes originally from the French word “chevalier”, which means “mounted warrior on horseback”, which was a French term for the medieval knight In the Middle Ages, the term chivalry both referred to the expected conduct of a knight and in a larger sense knighthood as an institution or perhaps the proper behavior expected of the knightly warrior class as a whole. Medieval knighthood originated from essentially three sources. First, the practice of barbarian kings and chieftains, gathering a “comtitatus” around them, a group of chosen warriors who lived with him and were expected to die with him if necessary. Two, the influence of the medieval Catholic church and three, how a combination of the stirrup, the lance, and heavy armor meant that cavalry dominated the battlefield for most of the Middle Ages. Number three meant that knighthood was usually available only to the wealthy. The knight fought on horseback and fighting on foot was for lesser men, peasants, serfs, and churls. Horse mounted combat was the knight's defining trait. Horses were (and still are) very expensive and suitable armor and weapons were likewise expensive. Additionally, learning to ride a horse in battle while effectively wielding melee weapons was a difficult endeavor, which meant that the boys and men who did needed to make a full-time profession of it, which again, limited knighthood to those able to afford it. A lot of what we think of as chivalric behavior evolved out of the medieval churches efforts to control and regulate knighthood. Early medieval knights were essentially armed thugs employed by local warlords. The early history of feudalism in post-Roman Western Europe tends to boil down to “local warlordism” based around holding land, with centralized states only slowly developing. In the late 800s-900s A.D., the church advocated movements like the Peace of God, which tried to instruct knights and nobles not to kill or rob women, children, the elderly monks, nuns, priests, and other non-combatants and the Truce of God, which tried to unsuccessfully ban fighting on holy days and any possible holidays. The fact that the church felt the need to be that specific shows just how widespread that kind of local warfare was. While many knights adopted the external forms of piety, movements like the Peace of God and the Truce of God did little to dissuade them from practical business of looting and seizing as much land as they could hold. Evidence of this is found in the First Crusade and the subsequent crusades. One of the motivations for the First Crusade was to drain off a lot of the belligerent young knights out of Western Europe and send them off to fight “infidels” in the Holy Land instead of making trouble at home. “Chivalry” as a code of conduct developed out of the combination of the fact that it was expensive to be a knight and the church's attempts to regulate it. That meant that knighthood saw itself as a distinct social class with standards of expected behavior. A knight was supposed to be pious. He should show no fear and charge to meet the enemy without hesitation. A knight fought on horseback (fighting on foot was for lesser men). A knight should be reverent towards the church and obey his lord unquestionably. He also should show courtesy to women of noble rank. This did not apply to peasants and townswomen. He also should develop romantic love for an unattainable married woman (since marriage between nobles was usually for reasons of power and not love) and should use that unrequited love to spur him on to feats of valor. A knight should also be generous and open-handed to the poor and to his fellows. Now, all of this sounds good, but in practice a lot of these virtues twisted around into vices. Fearlessness in battle turned into arrogance and delusions of invincibility. One of the reasons France did so badly for much of the Hundred Years' War was because the French knights insisted on charging into battle at once to demonstrate their knightly valor and prowess, which let them get slaughtered en masse by English longbowmen. Additionally, readiness to fight evolved into fighting for any excuse at all, which frequently led to wars both ruinous and utterly pointless. Knighthood's class awareness often cause nobles to treat warfare as a chivalric adventure, which was not conducive to sound strategy leading to victory. Generally, the most successful medieval monarchs were those like Henry II of England, Edward I of England, Charles V of France, and Philip II Augustus of France, who did not allow knightly virtues to get in the way of hardheaded practical policy. Generosity turned into extravagant displays of public magnificence, which in turn meant attempting to squeeze more tax money out of the peasants and merchants. A knight's respect towards the church often meant giving large donations to have Masses set in perpetuity for his soul after a lifetime of plunder. And of course, knight might have unrequited Lancelot-style love for an unattainable, married noblewoman. But in practice, many knights had many, many illegitimate children, sometimes with their “unattainable” married noblewomen. Moralistic writers in every century of the Middle Ages bemoan the laziness, greed, and luxurious living of their contemporary knights and frequently exhorted them to return to the heartier, more virtuous knights of the past years. Even the Middle Ages had the Nostalgia Filter. As is so often the case with institutions that have outlived their useful utility, knighthood was never really reformed, but eventually became obsolete. By the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French King maintained a professional standing army, which is far more useful than giving land to nobles and attempting to get knights out of them through feudal obligations. Other nations soon follow suit. Longbows and Crossbows heralded the weakness of armor, and then gave way to trained infantry soldiers equipped with firearms. Horsemen remained an important part of warfare for centuries, since they were vital for scouting and attacking unprepared infantry formations. The American Civil War was the first truly industrial war, and yet the Civil War still had numerous significant cavalry battles, but the armored knights' days as master of the battlefield were over, and while knights remained part of the upper class, knighthood gradually became a ceremonial honor that had nothing to do with its original purpose of mounted warfare. Recently, filmmaker Christopher Nolan became Sir Christopher Nolan, Knight Bachelor of the United Kingdom, for reasons entirely unrelated to wielding a lance on horseback while wearing heavy armor. So as we can see, the word “chivalry” has a long, long history. So it is amusing to see how the last remnant of its original meaning in the modern era is to hold the door open for women. It occurred to me as I wrote this out that the reason I'm a fantasy novelist and not a historian is that I thought “hmm, there's the ideas for like twelve different books in all of this.” Which, I suppose, is perhaps the point. Chivalric knighthood was something of a myth even in its own time, but the myth inspired some great stories over the centuries. So that is it for this week. Thank you for listening to The Pulp Writer Show. I hope you found the show useful. I a reminder that you can listen to all the back episodes at https://thepulpwritershow.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please leave your review on your podcasting platform of choice. Stay safe and stay healthy and see you all next week.

Learning Weekly Chizzuk from Chassidus, specifically

התוכן 1) כתיב "פקודי ה' ישרים משמחי לב", וקאי על לימוד הלכות שבתורה בכלל. ומ"מ ישנם ענינים שבהם מודגשת ענין השמחה. דאע"פ ש"שמחה של מצוה" היא מצד קיום רצונו ית', שזה שווה בכל המצוות, אבל השמחה צריכה לחדור גם את השכל, וזה בא בעיקר ע"י שזה ענין של שמחה גלוי' גם עפ"י הבנת השכל. מבין ענינים של שמחה גלוי' שבתורה, מתאים בימים אלו, בין המצרים, לימוד הלכות גאולה, ובמיוחד, מכיון שמדובר בימי חורבן ביהמ"ק – הלכות בנין המקדש, וגם ירושלים – העיר הנבחר לבנין המקדש, "ציון (ירושלים) במשפט תפדה". דהנה אע"פ שדובר על הצעה זו בשנה מסויימת, אבל היא עדיין קיימת כ"ז שטעם ההצעה קיים. 2) ה"צריך עיון גדול" איך מתאים מ"ש אדמו"ר האמצעי בקשר למאורעות של ימי הביניים ש"לא תקום פעמיים צרה" ר"ל עם מה שעבר דורנו – אסור שזה יפגע ח"ו בבטחון בה', ש"לא ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל" (גם) הנמצאים באה"ק, שנתן ה' לכאו"א מישראל, ובביאת המשיח – יקבל כ"א את חלקו. ומזרזים א"ז ע"י לימוד התורה וקיום המצוות מתוך בטחון עצום בהקב"ה, ואז יראו בנחמת ציון וירושלים מיד.ב' חלקים משיחת מוצש"פ פינחס מבה"ח מנחם-אב ה'תשל"ח ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=21-07-2025 Synopsis (1) The verse says in Tehillim, “The orders of Hashem are upright, causing the heart to rejoice,” referring generally to the study of halacha. Nevertheless, there are some areas where joy is particularly emphasized, because although the joy of a mitzvah derives from fulfilling Hashem's will, which is equal in all mitzvos, the joy must also permeate the intellect, and this occurs primarily when it comes to Torah topics that openly involve joy. One such topic is the halachos of the Redemption, which is particularly appropriate during the Three Weeks, especially the laws pertaining to the building of the Beis Hamikdash and those pertaining to Yerushalayim, the city chosen for building the Beis Hamikdash – “Tzion (Yerushalayim) will be redeemed through justice.” Although the suggestion to study these laws during the Three Weeks was made in a certain year, the suggestion remains in force as long as the reason behind it remains in place. (2) Much examination is required to explain how the Mitteler Rebbe's statement that after the persecution of the Middle Ages, “the trouble will not rise twice” accords with the events endured by this generation. Nevertheless, this must not chas v'shalom diminish one's trust in Hashem, Who is the “Guardian of the Jewish people Who neither slumbers nor sleeps, including for those in the Holy Land, which Hashem gave to every Jew, each of whom will receive their portion of the Land with the coming of Moshiach. This will be hastened by studying Torah and doing mitzvos with tremendous trust in Hashem, and then the Jewish people will witness the consolation of Tzion and Yerushalayim immediately.2 excerpts from sichah of Motzaei Shabbos parashas Pinchas, 5738 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=21-07-2025

Israel becoming a nation again, being re-gathered to the Holy Land from all over the world, are the fulfillment of many prophecies. Not vague, predictions, or hopes, but very exact prophecies. Pastor Gene Pensiero Find audio, video, and text of hundreds of other prophecy updates at: https://calvaryhanford.com/prophecy Read along with us at https://calvaryhanford.substack.com Follow us […]

Israel becoming a nation again, being re-gathered to the Holy Land from all over the world, are the fulfillment of many prophecies. Not vague, predictions, or hopes, but very exact prophecies. Pastor Gene Pensiero Find audio, video, and text of hundreds of other prophecy updates at: https://calvaryhanford.com/prophecy Read along with us at https://calvaryhanford.substack.com Follow us […]

Israel becoming a nation again, being re-gathered to the Holy Land from all over the world, are the fulfillment of many prophecies. Not vague, predictions, or hopes, but very exact prophecies. Pastor Gene Pensiero Find audio, video, and text of hundreds of other prophecy updates at: https://calvaryhanford.com/prophecy Read along with us at https://calvaryhanford.substack.com Follow us […]

Dana McNeely, a passionate writer of biblical fiction, invites readers into a world where ancient Bible stories come alive with adventure, danger, and romance. Despite never visiting the Holy Land personally, she relies on a vast collection of books and videos to authentically bring ancient tales to life. Whether you're a long-time fan of biblical fiction or new to the genre, Dana McNeely invites you to deepen your faith through the power of storytelling. Discovering Inspiration in for Authentic Settings KyLee and Dana discuss how Dana's Arizona home, with its varied landscapes and desert climate, parallels the vivid settings of her novels. This real-world inspiration bridges the gap between past and present, enriching her storytelling with grounded authenticity. Beyond the Writing Office Family traditions, particularly during Christmas, hold a special place in Dana's heart. She shares how her family gathers to celebrate in grand style, complete with elaborate decorations and nativity scenes collected over the years. These cherished moments with family are a theme reflected in her stories, as well. The Journey to Biblical Fiction Dana's journey into biblical fiction was paved with other genres that just didn't quite captivate her interest. Her spiritual practices—spending quiet time with the Bible—sparked the inspiration for her writing. The story of the prophet Elijah bringing the widow's son back to life captivated her imagination, laying the foundation for her debut novel. Her writing endeavors aim not only to entertain but also to inspire readers to explore the Bible themselves, overcoming misconceptions and diving into the source material with renewed curiosity. A Shift to the New Testament Dana's first three books, including Mantle which is featured today, have been drawn from Old Testament stories. For her next project, she steps into the New Testament to tell the story of Anna, the prophetess. Excited to bring to life an older woman's perspective, Dana delves into a narrative enriched by Anna's experiences, wisdom, and the unique relationships she forms in the temple. Connect with Dana McNeely at her website and on Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and BookBub. Sign up for her newsletter to receive a free novella, "The Eyes of the Lord," a prequel that offers more depth to her beloved series. In the aftermath of Elijah's fiery ascension, the mantle of prophecy rests heavily on Elisha's shoulders. Called to shepherd Israel through turbulent times, he faces challenges from rulers, prophets, and even the people closest to him. Jaedon, who has shadowed Elisha since boyhood, is torn between loyalty to the prophet and his deepening desire to right a grievous wrong. As the young vintner struggles to understand why Yahweh allowed his family's murders, he considers a step toward revenge that will jeopardize his relationship with the man he regards as an elder brother. Gehazi, whose faith sometimes flickers, is tempted by the promise of wealth and power. His actions threaten to tear him away from the very blessings he sought to protect. Meanwhile, Ziva, an innocent girl in the sleepy settlement of Gischala, is swept into a world filled with uncertainty and danger. With unimaginable loss behind her, she struggles to look beyond her grief to find God's will. It is then she realizes only one path remains. Faith. Redemption. The cost of leadership. Will the next generation rise to the challenge and uphold the legacy of Elijah, or will they falter under the weight of the mantle? Bookworm Review Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle, reviewed by Angela Bell Listen to the full episode A Bookchat about Of Love and Treason with Jamie Ogle

O Yes! Hello my dear — Today is GREAT!Subscribe & Enjoy Watching:https://youtu.be/1oXAyuruZbA

Day 6: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land — Walking in the Footsteps of Christ – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena Quote from the Revelations “If thou wouldst be My companion, walk where I have walked, and let My love be thy path.” —Revelations, Book V, Chapter 12 ReflectionIn the later years of her life, St. ... Read more The post Day 6 – Pilgrimage to the Holy Land – St. Bridget of Sweden Novena – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Do you know a prodigal or have a prodigal in your life?In this episode of Live the Bible, we'll see some good news for God's prodigals from the book of Hosea. A lot of times people look at God as a mean guy with a big stick ready to clobber us when we do something wrong. Thankfully, that's not the right picture.Our God is a loving Father with arms outstretched ready to welcome back the repentant prodigal.Support the show

July 15th, 2025 - We welcome back Edward Clancy to talk the attacks on Christians in the Holy Land and what the bishops there are doing about it. Then we're joined again by Katherine Bennett of Catholic Unscripted to discuss her article on Lily Allen and the culture that failed her. TheStationOfTheCross.com/ACT  

The first Assassin's Creed game puts players in the thick of the Siege of Acre during the Third Crusade. We can climb its battlements and fight in the shadow of its mighty walls. In this episode, Dr Nicolas Morton returns to help Matt Lewis explore how the confluence of cultures in the Holy Land produced unique features to Crusader Castles, and what methods could be used to overcome their defences, as demonstrated in the truly epic Siege of Acre.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Michael McDaidProduced by: Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:City of Jerusalem by Elitsa AlexandrovaMeditation Begins by Elitsa AlexandrovaIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 135 - Allan Chapman - The Victorians and the Holy LandIn this episode of Still Unbelievable! Matthew chats with Allan Chapman, who teaches history of science at Oxford University, and has written extensively on history and science, including the relationship between the two. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a founder member of the Society for the History of Astronomy. He is the author of several books, including the one we will be discussing this episode. If you have any interest in the history of Christianity, then we recommend this book as an enjoyable read. As always, see the show notes to for links to the book and topics that are referenced in the book. There are items in the links that we do not specifically cover in this conversation, so please to check them out for a taste of what the book covers.1) The Victorians and the Holy Land: Adventurers, Tourists, and Archaeologists in the Lands of the Biblehttps://amzn.eu/d/j7QAYC52) Ozymandias By Percy Bysshe Shelley - referenced in Chapter 2https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46565/ozymandias3) A description of the East, and some other countries ... / By Richard Pococke - referenced in Chapter 2https://wellcomecollection.org/works/me6h66jf/items4) Petra by John William Burgon - referenced in chapter 2http://www.poetryatlas.com/poetry/poem/3771/petra.html5) Johann Ludwig Burckhardt - explorer(includes links to his published works)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Ludwig_Burckhardt6) Lady Amytis, wife of Nebuchadnezzarhttps://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/amytis-of-babylon/amytis-of-babylon-the-queens-hanging-gardens-of-babylon/7) Remarkably preserved shrines recovered at Assyrian temple of Ninurta in Nimrud, Iraqhttps://archaeologymag.com/2024/12/remarkably-preserved-shrines-recovered-in-nimrud/8) Biblical Researches - by Edward Robinson & Eli Smith - referenced in chapter 7https://archive.org/details/biblicalresearc01smitgoog9) Sinai & Palestine - by AP Stanley - referenced in chapter 7https://archive.org/details/sinaipalestinei00stan/page/n9/mode/2up10) A thousand miles up the Nile by Amelia B. Edwards - referenced in chapter 13https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/70565To contact us, email: reasonpress@gmail.comour YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonpress2901Our Theme Music was written for us by Holly, to support her and to purchase her music use the links below:https://hollykirstensongs.com/https://hollykirsten.bandcamp.com/

This week Diana welcomes back Dana Diaz, a bestselling author, to discuss her new book 'Choking on Shame.' Dana shares her personal journey of enduring narcissistic abuse from childhood into her adulthood and offers insights on how she managed to move forward. She talks about her first book, 'Gasping for Air,' and introduces her upcoming works. Dana emphasizes the importance of faith and resilience, providing hope and understanding to fellow victims of abuse. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the complexities of overcoming trauma and finding one's true purpose. 00:00 Sponsor Message: 7 5 3 Academy 00:48 Introduction to the Podcast 01:21 Welcoming Back Dana Diaz 02:24 Dana Diaz's New Book: Choking on Shame 05:34 Dana's Journey Through Abuse 08:31 Finding Faith and Purpose 12:25 Overcoming Childhood Trauma 18:40 Reflections on Narcissistic Relationships 28:18 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser About Dana S. Diaz Dana S. Diaz is a wife, mother, and author of the best-selling book GASPING FOR AIR: THE STRANGLEHOLD OF NARCISSISTIC ABUSE. In addition to her life-long experience with narcissistic abuse, Dana's education in journalism and psychology at DePaul University in Chicago gave her the ability to accurately verbalize and express how narcissistic abuse creates confusion and conflict within victims, so that she can help other victims know they are not alone and better understand their own circumstances. Today, Dana is a proud voice for fellow victims who are unable, afraid, or ashamed to share their experiences. She has been a guest on nearly two hundred podcasts globally, striving to create awareness and understanding to ensure victims are given the support they need to first understand their situation and then begin the healing process. She has also been a featured speaker in two Summits for healing after trauma. Her first book, chronicling her own abusive marriage that lasted nearly three decades, started as a journal that she hid under the couch cushion in the basement. Dana's second book, CHOKING ON SHAME: THE SCAPEGOAT CHILD IN A NARCISSISTIC FAMILY, was a #1 New Release on Amazon after its mid-September release. The book delves into Dana's life as an unwanted pregnancy and child, and the physical and verbal abuse she endured as a result. The final book in the narcissist trilogy, SWALLOWING MY PRIDE, is expected to be released in early 2025. This sequel to GFA brings the first two books full circle with recovery, healing, new love, and another narcissist Dana hadn't seen coming. Learn more about Dana, her book, CHOKING ON SHAME, available at https://www.danasdiaz.com as of September 9th.    Website: https://dswministries.org Email: diana@dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/   Dana Diaz [00:00:00] I do have a sponsor 7 5 3 Academy. Our martial art program specialized in anti-bullying programs for kids to combat proven Filipino martial arts. Colli. We take a holistic, fun, and innovative approach that simply works. Our fitness community is friendly and supportive without the over the top muscle gym atmosphere. Our coaching staff are professionally trained with over 30 years of experience. Get started by claiming your free class voucher. So go to the link in the show notes. This is in the Phoenix Metro area, so reach out to Coach David and coach Eric over at 7 5 3 Academy. Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic [00:01:00] violence advocate, Diana. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Hello everyone. Welcome. Come on in. Glad to have you here for the regular listeners as well as some new folks coming in. We have a terrific show for you today, as always. We have a repeat guest today. Dana Diaz is on the show. She was here in season three, episode 1 53, talking about having a relationship with a narcissist, [00:02:00] which many of us have experienced. So if you haven't. Watch that episode. I really encourage you to go back and listen to it. It's excellent. The first time she was here. She was talking about her book, Gasping for Air, which is her story of, narcissistic abuse. And this time she's coming on because she just released a new book called Choking on Shame. Boy, what a title. Have you dealt with shame like the rest of us? Um, yeah, that's a great verb to use, a description to use choking. So I'm very intrigued about hearing about her second book since her first book was excellent. Okay, so here is her book. Very [00:03:00] engaging cover, a stranglehold of narcissistic abuse. Again, very descriptive, great title. This book is thick. it's very well written. Some parts are very tough to read, as you would imagine, just like. Maybe your story is hard. Your story has some hard sections in it. But before I bring her on the show, I'm gonna just briefly, read her bio again. For those that are new and haven't, met Dana. Dana Diaz is a wife, mother, and author of the bestselling book, Gasping for Air, the Stranglehold of Narcissistic Abuse. Dana has had lifelong experience with narcissistic abuse beginning in childhood. Her education in journalism and [00:04:00] psychology at DePaul University in Chicago gave her the ability to accurately verbalize and express how narcissistic abuse creates confusion and conflict within victims so that she can help other victims know that they are not alone and better understand their own circumstances. Today Dana is a proud voice for fellow victims who are unable, afraid, or ashamed to share their experiences. She strives to create awareness and understanding to ensure victims are given the support they need to first understand their situation and then begin the healing process. Her first book, chronicling her own abusive marriage that lasted nearly three decades, started as a journal. She hid [00:05:00] under the couch cushion in the basement. Dana is in the process of publishing the prequel and sequel to Gasping for Air. Learn more about Dana at www.danasdiaz.com. So I know that you're going to enjoy this interview, as much as the first one. So here we go with my second conversation with Dana Diaz. Enjoy. I am so excited to have back on the show, my friend Dan Diaz. Thank you for coming on the show again. Oh, I'm so happy I'm back. I just am delighted whenever somebody invites me back on a podcast because there's so many, as we were just talking about, there's so many things, layers to abuse and the things we endure. Um, so there's so much to talk about that's hard to cram into a [00:06:00] half hour or an hour show. So thank you for inviting me back. I appreciate it. Yeah. Well, I like having repeat guests because I already like you. I already know you and you have more to share with us with your new books. And so I'm real excited to hear what you have to say to the folks. I did give, a little bio before you came on, but if you could do like a synopsis, a summary of your abuse story, just as a reminder of what you've gone through so far. Yeah, absolutely. I'm 49 years old, so it's been a ride. But my first book actually covered my 25 year relationship and first marriage, to an abusive narcissist. And I know we use this word narcissist very freely in society, but what I'm talking about is somebody that is so, intent on fulfilling their [00:07:00] egotistical need for power and control, that they will go to the extent of, domestic violence and things like that, various abuses, to feel that, to fulfill that ego of theirs. And so, that covered that. But then after that book came out, the only book I ever meant, to put out. So many people had questions about, well, how does somebody end up in a relationship like that? And my immediate answer was, well, that was my childhood because I was born to a teenage mother who didn't want me. And she, in fact, she had her tubes tied immediately after my birth, and I was born on her 17th birthday. They apparently did that in the seventies. But, then she got married to a man who was not my father and who wanted me even less because I was not his biological child. And so I endured physical and verbal abuse and emotional neglect and, had a pretty hard time trying to figure out my place in the world, especially when I'd go to school thinking, okay, I'm okay [00:08:00] here. I'm safe here. And then I get bullied everywhere I turn, I'm facing adversity and opposition and being put in situations where I'm not good enough and I'm not this and I'm not that. And so what am I, what am I. But then we kind of answer that question in the third book, released March 31st. And that one is called Rising from the Ashes. Breaking the Cycle of Narcissistic Abuse. Yes, rising out of it. But, you know, it's sad that it took me till my late forties to really understand, and I think more so internalize and change my mindset about who I am and where my place really is in this world. Because when you're abused, I think anybody who is listening, who you know, has had that experience, it's part of your soul, feels like it's taken away. [00:09:00] Your independence, your autonomy, I love this. I have this scene in my third book, which. I'm crying, I'm upset because I'm like, I have no contact with my abusive mother and stepfather. I have ended my, relationship, divorced my ex-husband who is abusive. I should be happy. Things are going great. Marrying a man that I've known his family 20 years and he's the sweetest, gentlest, most patient person I've ever met in my life. And so what I really needed, but it was like I still wasn't happy. I was still suffering. I was in still so much pain, but there was no external outward reason for it. I had so many blessings all around me but I couldn't see it because I was still holding on to that victim mindset, that pain. And my priest looked me in my eye and he says, my dear. The problem is, is you are still thinking like you're [00:10:00] the daughter of a mother who rejected you, but you're not. He said, you're here because God intended for you to be here. She may not have wanted you, but he wanted you. Here you are God's child. You're not your mother's child. You're God's child. And that's when literally everything turned around for me. Everything turned around. Mm. And, just made me rethink my place in this world that I was like, that's right. He wouldn't have protected me and had his hand over me through that entire childhood, which I cover in the second book. He wouldn't have protected me from, an ex-husband who was planning to, not have me exist. He wouldn't have done all those things if I wasn't meant to be here to serve his purpose. I'll never forget the morning that I was just coming out of that first marriage and it literally just came into my head. You should write a book about your experiences. And I'd [00:11:00] never understood what it meant when God spoke to you or put something on your heart. But I literally remember like kind of glancing up like. Is that you? It's kind of like that old book. Are you there? God, it's me, Margaret. Like, I'm like, is that you book? Oh God. I know, right? We all have that as a staple in grade school, but that was like the same kind of thing. I'm like, looking up, are you there? God, it's me. Like, were you actually did, was that for me? Like did you, were you talking to me? But I heard it. I heard it loud and clear and that's what I did and it's amazing, as I said that I only ever meant to write the one book and then it led to the second one and now it's. Led to people wanting more. And even now people are like, what about a fourth book? I'm like, the third one isn't even out yet. But now I'm like, actually there is a fourth book in me , and half written already, ironically, because there are so many stories that are pulled out to keep these books. I mean, I know they're thick, but they're pretty quick reads. But, it's been a heck of a ride. But again, I go back to the faith and I think that [00:12:00] as much as people say stay away from religion, politics, when it comes to God, we are all here because we are his children. And once, like I said, I, I got that and somebody said that to me. I'm like, everything changed. Everything changed. It's like I woke up, like my eyes opened up and I said, oh my gosh, I am here. And let me tell you a quick story. And I might have told this on the first podcast, but. During my childhood, and I covered this in my second book, which is called Choking on Shame, the Scapegoat Child in a Narcissistic Family. When you're being raised by two narcissists, it's difficult because I was that kid that always wanted to achieve more, more, doing everything right. I was the best at everything. Honor roll. I taught myself to play piano. I was first chair viola in two orchestras, and like whatever it was, I wanted to do things that would make my parents proud. But it was never enough. It was never enough because I couldn't [00:13:00] be any more than what they wanted me to be, which was nothing, right? So that they could feel better about the way they were treating me. But the irony is, is that as I was going through high school, I really wanted to go to beauty school. I so desperately wanted to do like makeup and facials and stuff. I was really interested in that and, nope. Again, narcissists. They can't brag about a daughter going to beauty school when cousin Joey's going to study engineering and that one's going to study physical therapy or become a doctor. It wasn't brag worthy. Mm-hmm. So they said, you have to go to college. And I'm like, what am I gonna do in college? I mean, yeah, I got good grades, but I didn't wanna go to college. I wanted to go to beauty school. Well, guess what? I went to college. I ended up going to DePaul University in Chicago. Good Catholic girl. Stayed with my faith. I loved the experience, honestly, and I'm glad I did it. But, uh, there's no classes on beauty over there or fashion or [00:14:00] anything unless you wanna be a fashion designer. And I didn't wanna do that. Mm-hmm. But I definitely studied psychology because I knew that I wanted to be in a better mindset myself, even that young. But the funny thing was that all my professors pushed me more towards public speaking and writing. So I went into the journalism program, came out of there. That's about when I met my ex-husband, and again, another narcissist. He would not support me in any efforts to become a journalist or, or work in any kind of media, even, you know, small town, little cable media, because joy, success, achievement, that would outshine anything that he could possibly, or that he thought he could, achieve himself. So he had me cleaning houses, in this podunk town that he moved us to in the Midwest. And um, that was fine. I was one, I've always been one of those people, like, if I'm gonna do something, I'm just gonna do it. Give [00:15:00] 200%. I was reliable. I was trustworthy. I ended up building a six figure empire with this cleaning business and had a crew of eight people. But where I'm going with all this is that, so when I get this idea after that divorce, that I should write this book, it was interesting because I looked back and I thought, talk about coming full circle here. I was in this abusive childhood. I remember 12 years old was the first time I actually thought like I would never want anybody else to endure what I have. And I know I have not even had the most horrific childhood. Other people, most certainly have endured worse, but I knew I wanted to help children that were victims of child abuse so that they could live better lives as adults, and not be stuck in that situation or repeat those cycles with their children. So here I was [00:16:00] 45 years old, have endured this childhood, have endured this abuse, get this idea to write a book, and then I'm like, oh, so this is why you did this to me. God, this is why I couldn't go to beauty school. I had to endure all this stuff, and then you made me go to college. Or you at least put me with two parents who absolutely would not hear anything other than me going to college. I end up in the journalism program. Now I have a degree in journalism that I've never used, but now I've had all these experiences that I can actually verbalize. Help victims of abuse. Mm-hmm. It was like one of those epiphanies where like you're like, oh, that's why you did this all. Like, but we don't see it when we're going through things. We can't see the light at the end. We can't see that there is reason we get, we kind of drown ourselves in the sorrow and the self pity. And it's not to say the things that I endured weren't worthy of, that they were, [00:17:00] you know, awful. Other people have had more awful circumstances, but I think that's the thing that you have to come to at the end of it is to trust. You have to trust God. He's not putting you through anything because I mean, there were times where I'm like, what did I do? What did I do? Like I'm a good girl. Like I haven't, I've made mistakes. We all do. But like, what have I done that was so bad that I deserve this? And I think so many people fall into that and then they start shaming themselves, blaming themselves, blaming God sometimes turning away from him. And for me, it was just, it. He was ever present. There would be people that would come into my life at certain points, whether momentarily or for, some amount of time that would sort of kind of like, like a shepherd kind of herd me back, like into God's light. And so it was like, I couldn't see it until I was there, until the last few years where I'm like, oh, okay, God, I see this now. But maybe some of us aren't meant to understand or [00:18:00] even know. Why and what and all this. But we have to trust, we have to trust that even the bad stuff is meant for us. And it's meant for a specific reason and it's meant for our specific, unique purpose in this world and in this life. And so hopefully that gives other, somebody some hope that no matter what their circumstance, there's a reason for it. And it might not even be for you, it might be for somebody else's benefit or for them to learn a lesson. I mean, we, there we're all so interconnected, but we all are a source from God. Hmm. I totally agree with that. Agree. I know you kind of, glossed over your, ex-husband and the suffering you went through with him in gasping for air. I remember that story. Yeah. Of you were asleep in your house. With your son, and you heard somebody unlocking the door downstairs and [00:19:00] it was your ex-husband just barging in, in the middle, middle of the night, was barging in and took your son and you're wrestling with him downstairs trying to keep him, literally from taking him away from you. And we talked about this before the podcast about the language in your book. The words that he would call you in front of your son and trying to sneak into your house in the middle of the night. That's a monster. That is a monster, yeah. That you were married to. And that must have been really terrifying. How do you move forward from that? That's why I wrote the second book, because I came out of this childhood basically being conditioned to think that I had to earn love, that I wasn't inherently worthy of it. And it's hard to even love yourself when you think you have to earn love or that, you know, even as a kid, and certainly as an adult, I'd look around , I notice [00:20:00] other families and how they operate. Or when I was playing at a little friend's house or having dinner at somebody's house as an adult, like everybody's mother loves them. Every family has dysfunction. But it's family. You stick together and a mother loves all her children, or at least she's supposed to. But I think that's the part that I wrestled with the most was that my mother did not, I mean, she did not want me before I was born. She did not endear herself after, to me after I was born. In fact, after I was born, um, my grandma and I were just talking about this recently that, my grandma and great grandmama came to the hospital and my mother had no intention of bringing me home. She was gonna adopt me out or leave me there, whatever. And my grandma said, oh, no, this is our first grandchild, our first great-grandchild. No, no, we are taking her home. And my grandma said she paid the bill and my grandma took me home with her, and that's who I was with. But at the point where my mother got [00:21:00] married, or, moved in, I should say, before she got married to her husband, who she is still married to after almost 40 years. Um, well, no, it's been just over 40 years actually. But, somebody thought it was a good idea for me to go and live with them because, it's kind of interesting looking at my mother's situation. You know, her family came from Puerto Rico, both of her parents, and they lived in Chicago. They had everything they needed, but certainly weren't living the life that she thought she should have. And she was a very, oh, just a stunning, stunning young woman. Um, and I think she knew it and she knew that she could have a better life without having to necessarily, go the route that a lot of people would. And I'm trying to be very careful how I word that, as you can see, because I don't wanna judge her. That's a whole other thing that I deal with in the third book is my relationship and my feelings about her. But the childhood [00:22:00] being raised by somebody like that who's telling me, oh no, we're gonna wear gap clothes now. We're gonna talk like this. Now we're gonna straighten our hair now. Nobody needs to know where Hispanic, nobody needs to know. He's not your real father. Putting on this facade and basically being told as a small child as early as five years old, I remember being told to lie to people. So I just didn't say anything. 'cause I couldn't keep my mother's story straight. I'm not even sure she could keep her story straight because she told lies about who we were so often. I, I mean, it literally made my head spin and I started saying to my friends as a little girl and all through adulthood, my mother and her stories. They always had a story for everything. And I think that's what I know readers have expressed when they read that book, choking on Shame is the frustration of what happened versus what was put out. I mean, she is like the media, you know, she's like [00:23:00] a political correspondent that's definitely sided on, one side and it's hers. Um, it was never on mine, and that's hard as a child to understand that your mother does not love you, that you cannot depend on your mother to take care of you emotionally, physically. Nothing. So, yeah, it was basically like serving me straight up to a monster because the opening of gasping for Air, the first chapter is when he literally walked into my place of work the first time I met him. And I remember very clearly thinking of the robot had lost in space with the coily arms danger, danger. Like he, he came off arrogant and smug and like he, he had a sense of entitlement and it just, reminded me so much of my stepfather and I thought, oh, I know this personality type. There's no way. But [00:24:00] when you grow up like I did, you're a people pleaser. You, it doesn't matter. It could be the devil himself. You want that person to be pleased with you. You can't deal inside of yourself with the rejection of anybody or anybody's disapproval or disagreement. It's a hard position to be in and something that's very hard to heal from. But that's how I ended up with somebody like that. But we have to remember too, that I always joke with people, I have all these pop culture references, but they're helpful. I always say, it's not like Chucky came into my office with, you know, with a weapon and a striped shirt and disheveled hair and said, Hey, baby, that doesn't do it for me. I don't think anybody would go on a date with Chucky. We have to remember even. Ted Bundy, the serial killer. He was charming and handsome, wasn't he? Mm-hmm. And that's how they lure us in. So even though my initial impression of my ex was [00:25:00] not a good one, I kind of had this hypervigilant detection system. Like, oh no, I know you buddy. You don't even have to say two words. I know who you are. I didn't listen to it because he didn't approve of me. And that, that just trumped everything I had to win his approval. So once I got him to like me a little bit enough to let me in, well then he saw a vulnerable, codependent, people pleasing opportunity to take advantage and take control. And that's exactly what he did. But, but I'm gonna be very clear about this because I'm big on accountability. Sure. Looking back, I mean, it's not my fault that I was raised that way. It's not my fault necessarily that I was vulnerable to a romantic relationship like that. But I do see that, for example, my biological father, who I have a wonderful relationship with, he had two daughters and [00:26:00] like my one sister, the oldest, one of the two, they were raised in a home by two loving parents who wanted them, supported them, encouraged them, took them to church every Sunday. You know what we would think is, uh, I hate to use the word normal, but normal, nice family, right? Oie. Yeah. It would be healthy. She has self-esteem. She knows who she is. She has boundaries. I didn't, I was none of that. So if you would've put her in that same situation I was in with my ex back then, she would not have entertained it in the slightest, right? She would've set that boundary and said, no, thank you. Have a nice day, and that would've been it. Um, me, like I said, just a little bit different. And I think unfortunately, a lot of people that fall into these romantic relationships do have that sense of needing to have the approval and needing to, please other people for whatever reason. And sometimes it's ironically not even a bad childhood. Sometimes [00:27:00] it's this personality that we call the parentified daughter. It could be a daughter of a very nice family, but the oldest daughter who had to help mom with the siblings or it could be the daughter mm-hmm. Of an alcoholic or somebody with a drug dependency who had to be the parent to the parents and to the other children. The parentified daughter that has this intense, uh. She's compelled to nurture and care for and take care of everybody. She subdues her own needs and takes care of everybody. But it's like these narcissistic or abusive people. Um, they can just sense that It's like they can sniff it out because that's exactly what they want you to do. You jump through the hoops and I will give you a treat. I mean, I liken it and gasping for air, oftentimes to being like a dog. I, if I was a good girl, which he actually used that verbiage with me, good girl, good girl all the time. If I said the right thing, good girl. Even [00:28:00] in the bedroom, good girl. It's sad when I look back on what I tolerated, but, um, if I was a good girl, then he treated me okay for a few days. But boy, if he saw that, I said or did something he didn't approve of, well, then I suffered consequences. I think this is a great time to stop our conversation. For now. I definitely wanna hear the rest of what she has to say. She has given us so many gold nuggets today as she has the first time she was on the show, and I really, want to continue the conversation with her a little bit further though. I do encourage you to come back the next time on the wounds of the Faithful podcast. I wish you a great week. God bless you and bye for now. [00:29:00] Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us at DSW Ministries dot org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.  

“We care. We stand with you. We're on your side.”That's the message of love and support that Cheryl Chumley shared with the people of Israel when she sat down for a conversation with Yael Eckstein. From a mid-war visit to the Holy Land—as a journalist, as an American, and as a Christian—to the bold and blunt voice she uses to defend the Jewish state when so many others in the media are loudly anti-Israel, Cheryl is a longtime friend of Israel and of The Fellowship.In this conversation with Yael, the Washington Times editor and columnist and host of the Bold and Blunt podcast shares why she stands for Israel while so much of the world doesn't. Listen now!Learn more about the biblical history of the Holy Land on The Chosen People.

Welcome back to season eleven with Aramaic Word of the day: "Laahana" which means My Vacation or my Rest i pray you are enjoying these short in depth aramaic words that shaped first century mindset of the early followers of Yeshua and deepen our understanding for Today by learning the aramaic language  The Western word “vacation” comes from Latin vacare “to be empty, free.” In the Western world, vacation often means:"Stopping work so I can rest, escape, or entertain myself." In Aramaic, we don't say “vacation.” That's a modern word, born from the idea of escaping work, escaping responsibility, escaping noise. But in our tongue, the word is (Laahna). It means rest, yes but not the way the West imagines it. Laahna is soul-rest. It's not absence of work. It's the presence of stillness. Not a schedule-free week, but a heart returned to rhythm. You see, Westerners plan their “vacations” like military operations: flights, hotels, bucket lists. They miss what our ancestors knew: real rest begins inside. Laahna is what Yeshua did on the seventh day not because He was tired, but because He was satisfied. But in the Eastern (Semitic) mindset, the concept of “vacation” is not absence of duty, but presence of restoration, purpose, and inner stillness. As a guide from the Judean hills and the alleyways of Jerusalem, I've walked with many pilgrims well, they call themselves “tourists.” They come with cameras and checklists, ready to “see the Holy Land,” but often miss something far holier: rest. I've watched travelers rush through the Garden of Gethsemane, take a photo, and say, “Done!” But did they ever sit under the olive trees and breathe? Did they let the silence speak? That silence is Lahna. It's what Elijah found on Mount Horeb not in the wind or the earthquake, but in the still, small voice. Laahna is restoration, not recreation. It's when your insides are aligned again. That's why Yeshua said, “Come to me, all who are weary and I will give you rest. Not a sabbatical from your job. A homecoming to your purpose. This is not simply about physical exhaustion it's about being weary in your being, tired from the weight of life, expectations, and performance. Yeshua wasn't offering a Mediterranean cruise. Yeshua was offering Laahna a rest that reorders the soul and returns you to the rhythm of Eden. I live in Texas now, in a small space with no office but back home in Jerusalem, even our stones breathe history. Even our desert has rhythm. I take the train sometimes just to write, to slow my soul down, to remember that Laahna is not about location. It's about intention. So next time you think of coming to Israel not for a vacation, but for something deeper remember Laahna. Come not just to see the land, but to let the land see you. Come not just to hear the stories, but to let your story be rewritten by sacred stillness. Because the Holy Land doesn't just want your footsteps. It wants your quiet. It wants your confession. It wants your transformation. Think of it as a Laahna moment. A pause not of emptiness, but of presence  where the land  doesn't just receive you, but recognizes you. You don't come here merely to see ruins or landscapes. You come to be seen by olive trees that have outlived empires, by waters that have heard the whispers of prophets, by hills that still hold the echo of Yeshua's footsteps. In the West, we “go on vacation” to escape. But in the East, we withdraw to return. To withdraw, like Elijah to the cave. Like Yeshua to the wilderness. Like monks to the Judean cliffs where the silence isn't empty, it's full of God. So come not to walk where Jesus walked but to walk with Him again, in your own inner desert. Let the stories of Scripture stop being museum pieces and start becoming mirrors  where your soul sees what it forgot. Finally my prayers to you let Laahna not vacation be your guide. Not rest from work, but return and rest Laahna to what you were made. The Land is waiting for you in 2026, and i pray i will be your guide. you can check my Signature tour by going to my website twinsbiblicalacademy.com see you soon!   

Your Christian life isn't easy. Staying close to God in a world dead-set against Him requires a dogged devotion. Thankfully, the Lord shows us how. In this episode of Live the Bible, we discover why God is worthy of our personal devotion. The book of Daniel even tells us what we can do in practical, daily terms.Support the show

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad welcomes Rachel Cockerell, author of Melting Point, for a conversation about a little-known chapter in American and Jewish history: the Galveston Movement. More than a century ago, 10,000 Russian Jews immigrated to Texas through a coordinated effort led in part by Rachel's great-grandfather and inspired by Zionist thinker Israel Zangwill. Rachel shares the personal journey that led her to uncover this buried history and write Melting Point, which explores themes of migration, memory, and identity. Together, Brad and Rachel examine how this movement reframes common narratives about Jewish immigration, the American frontier, and what it means to seek a homeland. They discuss the spiritual dimensions of migration, the complexity of assimilation, and the ongoing relevance of these themes in the context of current immigration debates. This episode weaves together history, personal legacy, and timely questions about belonging, borders, and the meaning of “home” in America. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Matthew 8:28-34 - When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met Him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, "What have You to do with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the appointed time?" Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with Him, "If You drive us out, send us into the herd of swine." And He said to them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw Him they begged Him to leave their district. Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Father Dave Nix shares his story of saving a three year-old child's life, and evangelizing Muslim and Jews in the Holy Land

Dan Mandis (WTN-Nashville) fills in for Eric and Gary. In part two of Red Eye Radio, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani once rapped about his love for the Holy Land 5, a Hamas terror funding group / CNN says Mamdani's taxing white neighborhoods comment is being taken out of context / Vote-a-rama continues into the early morning hours/ The number one rated fast food restaurant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices