Podcasts about imitate

1 Corinthians 9 “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 CSB “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, because you are the… Read More »The Art of Imitation

1 Corinthians 11:1 IMITATE me, just as I also imitate CHRIST.

Hebrews 13 begins, “Let brotherly love (Greek “philadelphus” the love among brothers) continue”. And this is the message of the first nineteen verses. There are many ways to show brotherly love and in verse 2 the writer shows that hospitality is one of the ways. Everyone is a stranger until you get to know them; and who knows whether the unknown person to whom you show kindness might even be an angel. In Genesis 18:3 strangers came to Abraham's tent bringing great blessings. Verse 3 focuses on supporting the afflicted and counsels believers to encourage the afflicted through visiting and exhorting. This helping of strangers has often been done by Christadelphians resulting in people becoming believers. Even if that was not the outcome of your actions you will still be blessed in your care being shown to another. Verse 4 tells of the honourable and elevated state of marriage among believers; and states that sexual relationships outside marriage are totally unacceptable to God. Verse 5 tells of the dangers of coveting and explains that knowing God is the best way to counter this. It is important to be content (see 1 Timothy 6:5-10) with all that you have. The literal Greek of this verse Hebrews 13:5) is – “I will never, no not ever, leave you, nor forsake you”. How incredibly encouraging are these thoughts – so that whatever is before us can overcome in the confidence of knowing that God is with you. One person and God is always an overwhelming majority (see 2 Kings 6:16). Always (v7) show respect for those who guide you to understand the Word and counsel from God's Word. Imitate their faith, for it is sustained by an unchanging Lord Jesus Christ (v8). We must be led by grace (v9). We ought not be focused on the present – this includes foods, which are all too important a part of today's transient world. Verse 10 we are constrained to live lives sacrificing everything upon our altar, Christ, who gave all to bring us to God. The Law of Moses taught the same in its code of offerings. The Law was leading us to Christ; as the writer was through the spirit reminding and encouraging the believers (compare Galatians 3:23-26). As a consequence of his doing this our Lord was crucified and we must take up our stake and follow him. Believers are citizens of the coming Zion and not of the then present Jerusalem, which was awaiting destruction. Our sacrifice is of praise – an attitude of gratitude (v15). The readers are encouraged to show submission to their guides in the Word, because it is not for their own benefit that they give their counsel. Those leaders, too, will be called to give account for their words. Pray for the writer, indeed for all who labour in the Word, that all will magnify our Sovereign and His incomparable Son. Verses 20-21 give us the closing benediction. ESV “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Pause and ponder. Final greetings follow and finish with a request for God's grace to be with them.

The remarks in Joshua 16:10 and 17:8 tell us of Israel's failure to follow Yahweh's command to destroy the Canaanites. Judges begins with mighty conquests accomplished by faith. The total time in which the Judges ruled in the land was 450 years (Acts 13:20) – these Judges were not consecutive, but overlapped during their rule. They often ruled in different parts of the Promised Land. If we total the years for every judge we get 450 years – thus show Paul's comments to be inspired. It was rightly Judah, the lion of God, which led the campaign. The first battle was at Bezek, near Jerusalem where the king of Jerusalem (Adoni-Bezek) ruled. This city had deteriorated since the great King-Priest, Melchizedek ruled as God's representative into a parody by a miscreant who called himself “the Lord of righteousness”. He had subjugated 70 kings who represented in his mind all nations. Next we have the faithful exploits in destroying 2 of the giants of that land and the taking of the fortress city of Hebron. This is followed by Caleb's younger brother Othniel and his family overthrowing the strongholds of the Negev. But the reversals start to occur from v20 onwards with a waning faith and a ‘failure through compromise' one of the three great themes of this book. The other two being ‘God's strength is made perfect in (human) weakness' – 2 Corinthians 4:7-11; Hebrews 11:32-34 – and ‘in those days there was no king in Israel and everyone did that which was right in their own eyes' (Judges 17:6; 21:25). Isaiah 30-31 are woes about those who placed their confidence in Egypt to aid them against their foes. Judah should have placed her confidence in the Living God who alone could deliver them from the calamity that they were now facing. Verses 1-5 of chapter 30 state this. These verses also state that Egypt was a weak and confused kingdom. Verses 6-7 describe Egypt as a land which deified animals and to rely on Egypt for help would prove useless – for when it came to supporting Judah they would prove themselves to be best at sitting still. The rebellion of Judah would be written in a book as a witness against the nation. Verses 10-11 tell us that Judah only wanted to hear lies from the false prophets; rather than heed the word of the Almighty. Verses 12-14 tell us that the consequence of turning aside from their Sovereign would be that the nation was to be smashed to smithereens like a clay pot. Verse 15 is a plea for Judah to forsake their failing to believe their God. Verses 16-17 tells us that they will be left no path to escape, but the curse of Deuteronomy will be seen in their judgment. Verses 18-26 explains that because Yahweh is gracious He will pour many blessings upon His humble and repentant people. The nation will finally, in that Age, accept their Messiah and he will teach them the ways of righteousness. Verses 27-28 speaks in graphic images of the LORD's fiery judgements. Verses 29-33 speak of the Almighty's destructive fire on the Assyrian oppressor. Let us in humility faithfully serve our God that we may receive His grace and not His refusal to accept us as His children. Hebrews 13 begins, “Let brotherly love (Greek “philadelphus” the love among brothers) continue”. And this is the message of the first nineteen verses. There are many ways to show brotherly love and in verse 2 the writer shows that hospitality is one of the ways. Everyone is a stranger until you get to know them; and who knows whether the unknown person to whom you show kindness might even be an angel. In Genesis 18:3 strangers came to Abraham's tent bringing great blessings. Verse 3 focuses on supporting the afflicted and counsels believers to encourage the afflicted through visiting and exhorting. This helping of strangers has often been done by Christadelphians resulting in people becoming believers. Even if that was not the outcome of your actions you will still be blessed in your care being shown to another. Verse 4 tells of the honourable and elevated state of marriage among believers; and states that sexual relationships outside marriage are totally unacceptable to God. Verse 5 tells of the dangers of coveting and explains that knowing God is the best way to counter this. It is important to be content (see 1 Timothy 6:5-10) with all that you have. The literal Greek of this verse Hebrews 13:5) is – “I will never, no not ever, leave you, nor forsake you”. How incredibly encouraging are these thoughts – so that whatever is before us can overcome in the confidence of knowing that God is with you. One person and God is always an overwhelming majority (see 2 Kings 6:16). Always (v7) show respect for those who guide you to understand the Word and counsel from God's Word. Imitate their faith, for it is sustained by an unchanging Lord Jesus Christ (v8). We must be led by grace (v9). We ought not be focused on the present – this includes foods, which are all too important a part of today's transient world. Verse 10 we are constrained to live lives sacrificing everything upon our altar, Christ, who gave all to bring us to God. The Law of Moses taught the same in its code of offerings. The Law was leading us to Christ; as the writer was through the spirit reminding and encouraging the believers (compare Galatians 3:23-26). As a consequence of his doing this our Lord was crucified and we must take up our stake and follow him. Believers are citizens of the coming Zion and not of the then present Jerusalem, which was awaiting destruction. Our sacrifice is of praise – an attitude of gratitude (v15). The readers are encouraged to show submission to their guides in the Word, because it is not for their own benefit that they give their counsel. Those leaders, too, will be called to give account for their words. Pray for the writer, indeed for all who labour in the Word, that all will magnify our Sovereign and His incomparable Son. Verses 20-21 give us the closing benediction. ESV “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Pause and ponder. Final greetings follow and finish with a request for God's grace to be with them. Audio Player      

Read OnlineLifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.”  John 17:20–21Over the past couple of weeks, we have been continually reading from Chapter 14–17 of John's Gospel. These chapters contain Jesus' Last Supper Discourses and provide us with Jesus' last sermon, so to speak. Chapter 17, which we have been reading this past week, presents us with Jesus' final prayer for His disciples and for all of us “who will believe” in Him through the preaching of the disciples. Each time we read from Chapter 17, the Lectionary begins the reading with the phrase “Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying…” That line is an adaptation of Chapter 17:1 but is used to introduce the various parts of the prayer of Jesus each time it is read at Mass.It's interesting that Jesus would look up to Heaven when He prayed. Of course, Heaven is not physically in the sky, because Heaven is a spiritual reality. The Father is not located in some place in the sky but is omnipresent, meaning, present all places and all times. And yet, Jesus raises His eyes upward when He prays to the Father. There is a great lesson in this.Our physical disposition is important, at times. For example, when someone we owe respect to enters a room, we usually rise and greet them. It would be disrespectful to remain lounging on a bed or sofa in that case. And at Mass, we do not sit back with legs crossed during the Consecration; rather, we kneel in adoration. And when we greet someone for the first time, we do not look at the floor; rather, we look them in the eyes.Jesus' act of “Lifting his eyes to heaven” was not done because He thought He might see the Father in the sky; rather, it was done out of respect and love and as a way of acknowledging the dignity of the Father. This should teach us about our own bodily disposition and the message we communicate to others, especially to God in prayer.When you pray, what do you do? Though you can pray at any time and while in any disposition, it is an excellent practice to speak to God not only by your words but also by the disposition you take. Kneeling, raising hands in prayer, falling prostrate before your Lord, sitting upright with attentiveness, etc., are all ways in which you communicate to God your love.Reflect, today, upon this image of Jesus praying. Gaze at how attentive He would have been as He lifted His sacred eyes upward as a physical gesture honoring the glorious, all-powerful Father in Heaven. Try to imagine Jesus' devotion, intensity, respect and burning love. Imitate this holy gesture of prayer and attentiveness to the Father and remind yourself of the importance of expressing your love in bodily form.My most holy Father in Heaven, I do join Your Son, Jesus, in lifting my eyes, my heart and my whole life to You in honor, love and respect. May I always be attentive to You and always show You the devotion due Your greatness. My dear Jesus, thank You for Your love of the Father in Heaven. Give me the grace I need to imitate You and Your perfect love in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.  El Greco, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Jason talks about the increase in customs revenue under Trump's policies, highlighting a significant rise from $4 billion in 2015 to $22.3 billion, though he noted it would not solve government debt issues. He predicted a likely decrease in interest rates due to the disappearance of the inflation threat, which could lead to a surge in home buyers, potentially wiping out current inventory if rates drop by half a percent. Jason emphasized the importance of focusing on fundamentals and staying in the market long-term for success, even during a "boring" time in real estate with moderate appreciation and flat rents. He also mentioned opportunities in note investing for high returns and encouraged listeners to explore this option. Then Jason and Paul Moore of  WellingsCapital.com discuss the concept of "boring investors" who focus on long-term, passive investing strategies that prioritize consistent returns and personal fulfillment over speculative trading and quick profits. They explore how successful investors like Warren Buffett demonstrate the benefits of careful, methodical investing through steady growth and avoidance of emotional decision-making, while emphasizing the importance of diversification within proven asset classes like real estate. They conclude with reflections on legacy investing and social impact, highlighting the value of disciplined, boring investment approaches that prioritize long-term happiness and meaningful contributions to society. Join the fight against human trafficking AIMFree.org #BoringInvestor #Investing #WealthBuilding #FinancialFreedom #RealEstate #Diversification #PassiveIncome #WarrenBuffett #Consistency #LongTermInvesting #AvoidFOMO (FearOfMissingOut)  #EmbraceJOMO (JoyOfMissingOut) #CharlieMunger #WellingsCapital    Key Takeaways: Jason's editorial 1:36 Aaron Russo on democracy 3:48 America's monthly customs revenues 5:18 Buying power and sensitivity 7:32 Words to live by 9:31 Note investing Paul Moore's interview 10:25 The Boring Investor 17:30 Charlie Munger & Warren Buffet- learning from our mistakes 20:25 Invest in diverse, boring assets 22:15 Sponsor: https://www.monetary-metals.com/Hartman 24:13 Shiny objects, simpletons FOMO 28:20 Imitate patterns, Not outliers 32:38 Crystal balls, patience and saying NO 36:17 Relationships and the unseen realm     Follow Jason on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM & LINKEDIN Twitter.com/JasonHartmanROI Instagram.com/jasonhartman1/ Linkedin.com/in/jasonhartmaninvestor/ Call our Investment Counselors at: 1-800-HARTMAN (US) or visit: https://www.jasonhartman.com/ Free Class:  Easily get up to $250,000 in funding for real estate, business or anything else: http://JasonHartman.com/Fund CYA Protect Your Assets, Save Taxes & Estate Planning: http://JasonHartman.com/Protect Get wholesale real estate deals for investment or build a great business – Free Course: https://www.jasonhartman.com/deals Special Offer from Ron LeGrand: https://JasonHartman.com/Ron Free Mini-Book on Pandemic Investing: https://www.PandemicInvesting.com    

This "Coping" reflection is Kathy reading a poem titled "For One Who Is Exhausted." The poem speaks to someone who has moved too quickly through life and encourages them to reconnect with their senses, appreciate small miracles, observe nature, embrace silence, and be gentle with themselves. Highlights 00:00:00 Introduction to the Poem - Kathy introduces the poem, stating its title as "For One Who Is Exhausted". 00:00:08 Encouragement to Slow Down and Reconnect Kathy recites the poem, advising someone to slow down because they have moved too fast over false ground, suggesting their soul is calling them back. The poem encourages taking refuge in the senses and opening up to the small miracles one has rushed through. It suggests observing the way rain falls slowly and freely and imitating the habit of twilight. The poem advises drawing alongside the silence of stone until its calmness can claim the individual and to be excessively gentle with oneself. Kathy This is titled, "For One Who Is Exhausted". You have traveled too fast over false ground. Now your soul has come to take you back. Take refuge in your senses, open up to all the small miracles you rushed through. Become inclined to watch the way of rain when it falls slow and free. Imitate the habit of twilight, taking time to open the well of color that fostered the brightness of day. Draw alongside the silence of stone until its calmness can claim you. Be excessively gentle with yourself.

Today, more than ever before, we live in a herd environment, a human herd. Mass advertising in a great variety of media confronts us hour after hour, creating a herd mentality. We reflected on this as we read Paul's words this morning. He told the Thessalonians that we “give you in ourselves an example to imitate.” [2 Thess. 3 v.9]What do we imitate? What or who do we take as our examples in life? A parallel question – why do we see them as examples that we feel inclined to imitate?Bad examples abound today; there are also things which are not specifically bad but there is nothing really worthwhile in them. We need to ask ourselves, ‘ what is spiritually nutritious' in each thing we watch, read or do?. Paul writes, “you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it … that we might not be a burden to you.” [v.7,8]Are we pulling our weight, doing our share? We live in a drastically changed world to 3 months ago. The coronavirus has bought our lives to a stop. At this time we have opportunity to consider the course of our life. How is our worship to God? How are we caring for our vulnerable loved ones? Today more than ever we need to consider our attitude and what is the outworking of our faith. Soon we will be reading the letter to the Hebrews where it is stated, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” [13 v.7] Believers then did not have the blessing of a Bible to read every day, but, if they had, they would surely have read it in nearly every hour that could be spared from their essential tasks.But today with so many Bibles available, what part does God's word take in daily life? One of the smallest “books” in the Bible is the 3rd letter of John. “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” [v.11] We cannot physically “see” God but we can – with “the eyes of (our) hearts” [Eph.1 v.18] – see God – using his “living word” which cleanses hearts. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” [Matt. 5 v.8]. All such will be sure to experience the wonderful time described in today's Isaiah reading, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” [11 v.9] 

Download Parenting the Open Generation HERE. It's never been easier - or more tempting - to copy what's working somewhere else. But imitation can quietly rob a church of its God-given uniqueness. In this episode, Pastors John and Wayne discuss the pressure to follow trends, the danger of comparison, and how to discover and protect the identity God has called your church to live out. Follow us on Instagram for more great leadership content: Pastor John (@johnsiebeling), Pastor Wayne (@waynefrancis), Podcast (@leadershipinblackandwhite). Leave a rating and review to give us your feedback and help the show continue to grow! Download your free strategy guide from GuideStone here.

Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 18, 2025

Mastering English isn't just about vocabulary and grammar. It's about sounding natural. In this episode, you'll learn how to speak with better rhythm, emotion, and flow using these techniques:Imitate emotional tone to match native speakersUse conversation fillers naturally and fluentlySync your speech with music or beatsSpeak in full sentences with one breath to control the paceReplace filler words with intentional silence

Hebrews 13:7, 17-21 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider their way of life, and imitate their faith. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom by the glory forever and ever. Amen. NOTES ON THE LESSON ON FOLLOWERSHIP Three Questions of Followership: 1 Whose faith are you imitating? 2 Are you willing to submit to someone else? 3 Are you a joy to lead? A Call to Imitate: 1 Corinthians 11:1 - "Be imitators of me, just as I imitate Christ." It is beneficial to have people in our lives whose faith we can imitate. Jesus Learned Obedience: Hebrews 5:8 - “Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Obedience and submission are learned behaviors. The Whole of Christianity: The whole of Christianity is about learning to surrender and yield every aspect of your life – every part of it – all of it – to the lordship of Jesus Christ. That's what the Christian faith is all about. The Followership Continuum: The Hebrew writer makes a continuum for following leaders. On one side of the continuum is joy and on the other side of the continuum is burden. NOTES FROM THE LESSON ON SOUL CARE Book on Church Leadership: The Care of Souls:Cultivating a Pastor's Heart by Harold L. Senkbeil The task of the leader in the church is to maintain a constant watch over the souls who have been committed to his care. The Role of the Watchman in the Old Testament: Watchmen were individuals who were appointed to their role and given the responsibility to watch over a city. Typically, they would be posted on a high wall or a tower so that they could see either a messenger or the enemy coming from long distances. The Primary Task of the Church Leader is to "Tend to the Soul" Humans do not have souls, humans are uniquely souls. We are both physical and spiritual, mortal and immortal, ordinary and unique in all of creation. There is nothing else like us in all of God's creation. We are souls.  The Shepherd and His Sheepdog: The relationship of the shepherd and his sheepdog beautifully illustrates the work of the shepherd in the local church with his ears tuned attentively to the voice of the Great Shepherd and his eyes focused carefully on the Great Shepherd's sheep. The Because of Submission: We submit to the shepherds of the local church because they are in a position of responsibility and accountability to the one who is in a position of authority – our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep.  Discussion Questions 1. Who are some people who you have imitated in your life (in any aspect of life)? Who are two or three people whose faith you imitate? What is it about their faith that you imitate?  2. Are you willing to submit to someone else? Can you think of a time when it was hard to submit to someone else? What made it so difficult? Can you think of a time when it was a good thing to submit to someone else? What made it good? Does knowing the "because" of submission in verse 17 help you to be someone who is more willing to submit to them?  3. Where might you place yourself on the followership continuum? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a joy to lead? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a burden to lead?  4. What aspect of the lesson on soul care helped you to better understand the role of the leader in the church?  5. Spend some time praying for the shepherd nomination process at Southside. The shepherd selection team has provided us with a great prayer guide. There is a link to the prayer guide on church center. 

wE MP3 May 2025 - 01

So, is there a Homeric influence on the New Testament? Or, more specifically (per MacDonald), did Luke deliberately pattern and structure elements in Acts of the Apostles on episodes from Iliad 2? In this episode, the guys consider the case that MacDonald lays out, namely that Luke pairs the visions of Cornelius and Peter (in Acts 10 and 11) in a way that tags the Zeus-sent dream to Agamemnon and Odysseus' recollection of the portent of the serpent and the sparrow. Does it hold up? Would a first century audience have recognized it as such? Are the linguistic parallels convincing? And perhaps the biggest question of all: why tag Homer in the first place?

As his daddy cast his fishing line out into the lake, two-year-old Thomas mimicked his father’s actions with his own toy fishing pole. Later, as he stood on the shallow edge of the lake, Thomas also tried imitating his father’s example of throwing fish back into the water by dipping his pole in the water and “catching” weeds. After each “catch,” Thomas held the weeds up for his daddy to admire before releasing them back into the lake. We tend to learn—both what’s good and wholesome and what’s definitely not—through observing and imitating others. Perhaps that’s why in the New Testament, followers of Jesus are often encouraged to look to faithful servants of the gospel as role models (see 2 Thessalonians 3:9; Hebrews 13:7; 3 John 1:11). In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul gave examples of behavior not to imitate (idle, disruptive, and meddling lifestyles; vv. 6, 11) and told his readers to imitate instead the examples of him and other leaders with integrity (vv. 6–9). And he encouraged them to “never tire of doing what is good” (v. 13). But Paul knew that ultimately his example was only worth imitating insofar as it pointed to reliance on Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Only by rooting our lives in Christ’s faith and power can we grow in grace and wisdom.

Hebrews 13:7, 17 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider their way of life, and imitate their faith. 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.  Notes from the Lesson Three Questions of Followership: 1 Whose faith are you imitating? 2 Are you willing to submit to someone else? 3 Are you a joy to lead? A Call to Imitate: 1 Corinthians 11:1 - "Be imitators of me, just as I imitate Christ." It is beneficial to have people in our lives whose faith we can imitate. Jesus Learned Obedience: Hebrews 5:8 - “Although Jesus was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” Obedience and submission are learned behaviors. The Whole of Christianity: The whole of Christianity is about learning to surrender and yield every aspect of your life – every part of it – all of it – to the lordship of Jesus Christ. That's what the Christian faith is all about. The Followership Continuum:  The Hebrew writer makes a continuum for following leaders. On one side of the continuum is joy and on the other side of the continuum is burden.  Discussion Questions 1. Who are some people who you have imitated in your life (in any aspect of life)? Who are two or three people whose faith you imitate? What is it about their faith that you imitate?  2. Are you willing to submit to someone else? Can you think of a time when it was hard to submit to someone else? What made it so difficult? Can you think of a time when it was a good thing to submit to someone else? What made it good? 3. Where might you place yourself on the followership continuum? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a joy to lead? Can you think of an example when you or another person was a burden to lead?  4. Spend some time praying for the shepherd nomination process at Southside. Pray specifically for the Lord to bless our church family with a spirit of followership. 

Join us for today's Our Daily Bread devotional by Alyson Kieda, taken from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13. Today's devotional is read by Lorraine. Meet the team at odb.org/meet-the-team. God bless you.We hope that you have enjoyed today's reading from Our Daily Bread. You can find more exciting content from Our Daily Bread Ministries by following @ourdailybreadeurope on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. You can even sign up to receive Our Daily Bread Bible reading notes sent straight to your door for free: odb.org/subscribe

In 2003, Dennis R. MacDonald published an important monograph with Yale University Press entitled: Does the New Testament Imitate Homer? Four Cases from the Acts of the Apostles. In the provocative opening salvo, MacDonald explains: ‘"'Who would claim that the writing of prose is not reliant on the Homeric poems?' This rhetorical question by a teacher of rhetoric requires a negative answer: no ancient intellectual would have doubted that the Iliad and the Odyssey informed the composition of prose, including potentially the stories of the New Testament." Come along this week as Jeff and Dave tackle the big questions about the form-criticism take on the New Testament vs. imitation (μίμησις). MacDonald lays out his six criteria, and we get into the nit and grit of some first century compositional realities. Is MacDonald's thesis ultimately persuaive? Did Luke in Acts imitate Vergil, Homer, neither, or something else altogether? It's a complicated topic, for sure, with a long and thus far intractable history.

He dropped his album and made me feel as if everything I had done was absolutely nothing at all. It was nothing, actually— and that's when I realized I'd been in New York for two years with no actual progress. Sure, I had my own apartment and a makeshift studio that either was or wasn't suitable for making music on any given day or at any given time— But I was still broke, lugging around my groceries in a cheap backpack, and out of all the clothes in my closet, maybe 3 articles were wearable. I kept oversized t shirts in piles by the bed unwilling to sort through my laundry on most days; the closet was overstuffed with boxes— I was sure I would have to move. The traffic noise and motorcycles made me sick, a congested and irritating nausea and anxiety crawling in to my stomach in the waking daylight hours. There was only peace at night, and that was only lately. The last year had been a parade of politics and political stunts; I was caught in the gentrification process by far and not only I had suffered from it, but my music. I stopped singing— stopped talking, for long periods at a time, even, and stopped being human. Eventually, I started making music, but it was nothing. 20 listeners and an average of three streams a day would almost make me proud, until out of nowhere and thinking it was some kind of hoax, another Skrillex album appeared — just days or maybe even on the day I had turned the corner where I had first listened to the last Skrillex album— or, the last palpable one. The second one sounded like it was made for kids— and it wasn't hard at all to consider this was the kind of music he was making spending his time around rich brats and only fans girls— it sucked, but it didn't matter, because nothing sucked worse than being homeless in New York, which is how I spent the following year after the long awaited return of Skrillex just so happened to coincide with my arrival to a city I never wanted to live in, ever. A city I was stuck in, but almost with the false promise of becoming greater— finally proud of the fact I was making music and expecting whatever Skrillex was to dissappear into a lull of lollipop DJs and brainwashed fan culture— his music was good, if probably not the best and people loved him for whatever he did; as for the rest of us? It was a struggle to even be noticed. Tales of a Superstar DJ.

He dropped his album and made me feel as if everything I had done was absolutely nothing at all. It was nothing, actually— and that's when I realized I'd been in New York for two years with no actual progress. Sure, I had my own apartment and a makeshift studio that either was or wasn't suitable for making music on any given day or at any given time— But I was still broke, lugging around my groceries in a cheap backpack, and out of all the clothes in my closet, maybe 3 articles were wearable. I kept oversized t shirts in piles by the bed unwilling to sort through my laundry on most days; the closet was overstuffed with boxes— I was sure I would have to move. The traffic noise and motorcycles made me sick, a congested and irritating nausea and anxiety crawling in to my stomach in the waking daylight hours. There was only peace at night, and that was only lately. The last year had been a parade of politics and political stunts; I was caught in the gentrification process by far and not only I had suffered from it, but my music. I stopped singing— stopped talking, for long periods at a time, even, and stopped being human. Eventually, I started making music, but it was nothing. 20 listeners and an average of three streams a day would almost make me proud, until out of nowhere and thinking it was some kind of hoax, another Skrillex album appeared — just days or maybe even on the day I had turned the corner where I had first listened to the last Skrillex album— or, the last palpable one. The second one sounded like it was made for kids— and it wasn't hard at all to consider this was the kind of music he was making spending his time around rich brats and only fans girls— it sucked, but it didn't matter, because nothing sucked worse than being homeless in New York, which is how I spent the following year after the long awaited return of Skrillex just so happened to coincide with my arrival to a city I never wanted to live in, ever. A city I was stuck in, but almost with the false promise of becoming greater— finally proud of the fact I was making music and expecting whatever Skrillex was to dissappear into a lull of lollipop DJs and brainwashed fan culture— his music was good, if probably not the best and people loved him for whatever he did; as for the rest of us? It was a struggle to even be noticed. Tales of a Superstar DJ.

Pastor Brian Henderson

Samuel Henderson is autistic and has Tourette syndrome, and can perfectly imitate the sounds of over 50 types of birds. STORY: https://www.wdjx.com/kid-stuns-at-school-talent-show-imitating-50-birds/

Remember faithful leaders and imitate their faith in our unchanging Christ

wE MP3 April 2025 - 05

In light of the work of salvation that God has accomplished for us in Christ, Paul calls us to live out our original intent which is to imitate God.

The Scripture readings are Exodus 8:16-24; Ephesians 5:1-9; and Luke 11:14-28. Scripture gives you several ways to fight against the devil and the darkness. But this text gives you one simple, specific weapon to fight back against the forces of evil, and that is thanksgiving. As you give thanks, the darkness flees.

Remember. Consider. Imitate. | Hebrews 13:7 Sermon from March 16, 2025 – Grant Collins, Children Family Minister

As Paul continues to draw attention to the work accomplished while he, Silas, and Timothy were in Thessalonica, he uses the imagery of a mother and father to help the Thessalonians remember the example set for them. Affection and truth are two inseparable characteristics of their ministry.   

As we continue our look at the book A Sharp Compassion, we unpack what it really means to follow Jesus. We've talked about how insecurity and imitation of this world draw us into offense, but in our conversation today, we'll discover how by imitating Jesus, we are freed from offense. We hope this conversation helps you focus your own life on following Jesus and being healed from insecurity and offense. 

Pastor Casey explores the profile of an enemy of the cross in comparison to a citizen of heaven.

wE MP3 March 2025 - 02

wE MP3 March 2025 - 03

Does sharing your personal brand mean sharing everything? In this episode, Marina sits down with Sina Port @sinaportofficial to break down how to show up authentically online while still maintaining privacy, boundaries, and authority.

You probably think raw vegetables are healthier than cooked vegetables. Sometimes they are. But some common veggies get a nutrient boost from the right kind of heat. This episode begins with several of those vegetables and an explanation of how cooking makes them better for you. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/raw-veggies-are-healthier/ Humans are wired to imitate others like no other creature on earth. In fact, almost everything you do today is the result of imitating someone else at some point in your life. But wait! Aren't we independent thinkers with intelligence and ability to think for ourselves? Yes, but according to my guest the primary way you learn everything is by copying others – from driving a car, writing a letter, eating a meal, everything you've learned how to do came from imitating others. Here to explain why this is important to understand is R. Alexander Bentley, Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Tennessee and coauthor of the book, I'll Have What She's Having: Mapping Social Behavior (https://amzn.to/4kbT4NK). Your conversational skills are key to your success in every aspect of your life. People like people who speak well. Yet, I suspect no one ever really taught you how to converse. You just do it. Conversation is both an art and a science. And someone who studies it is my guest Alison Wood Brooks, Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School. She is author of the book TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves (https://amzn.to/4bgzWtF). Listen as she reveals the anatomy of good conversation and what can often go wrong. One of the cool things about a snowfall is how quiet it is afterwards. And it's not just quiet – it's a different kind of quiet. Why is that? Listen as I reveal the science of the quiet after a new fallen snow. Source: Kathy Wollard author of How Come (https://amzn.to/3XfrMvN). PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor! Get 50% off at https://FactorMeals.com/something50off DELL: Anniversary savings await you for a limited time only at https://Dell.com/deals SHOPIFY:  Nobody does selling better than Shopify! Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk and upgrade your selling today! HERS: Hers is changing women's healthcare by providing access to GLP-1 weekly injections with the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as oral medication kits. Start your free online visit today at https://forhers.com/sysk INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING right now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul states very clearly, that a mature Christian thinks a certain way in Philippians 3. Pastor Casey unfolds the ways, seeking to call all levels of maturity to a more passionate pursuit of Christ.

Pastor Cameron surveys 3 John. jonesvillebaptist.com cameron@jonesvillebaptist.com

As humans we imitate those we are around the most. What should we do if our lives don't imitate Jesus? According to Paul, we need to make corrections. They may not be easy, but are attainable.

Teacher: Adam BarnettThe elder, To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. – 3 John 1:1-15 “3 John is a treasure that provides a glimpse into early church dynamics, provides a much-needed exhortation to Christians today, and makes a significant theological claim about where the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be found.” – Karen Jobes1 - Walk in the truth.“If we were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict us?” - Josh McDowell 2 - Practice hospitality.When we extend hospitality, we make our faith visible. 3 - Imitate good.Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. – 3 John 1:11Who has influence in my life, and is their example one I should imitate?

Jody PadgettFebruary 12, 2025

Preached at St Paul Lutheran Church, Rockford, Illinois on February 9th, 2025.Support Rev Fisk at SubscribeStarOrder Rev Fisk's books at AmazonCatch Rev Fisk on A Brief History of Power podcastFor video, visit Rev Fisk's Rumble channel Get the Mad Mondays newsletter, a round up of news from a Christian perspective with encouragement from Rev FiskFind out more about the Sons of Solomon, a prayer discipline for men

wE MP3 February 2025 - 03

At some point over the past few decades in our national life as Americans, we somehow stopped really speaking with each other. Rather, we started talking over each other and at times even screaming at each other. We see more frequently that quiet conversation, courtesy, and politeness having been displaced by angry tones, rants, and bitter words. We have become impatient with one another, on edge, and ready to argue at the slightest impulse. Such exchanges rarely, if ever, reverse minds or affect outcomes Today, and maybe as a daily routine, may we intentionally practice a holy detachment from the harsh rhetoric and constant chatter of television, radio, and social media. In imitation of Jesus, may we be kind, respectful and embracing of all people—without exception.

You're about to hear the sounds of several different creatures — from the voice of one single musician. In a spellbinding talk and performance, singer Snow Raven mimics the hoot of an owl, the grumble of a bear, the howl of a wolf and more.