Podcasts about in my father

Morning Worship Sermon with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference John 14:2-3; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 22:7, 12, 20 John 14:2-3 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Revelation 1:7 7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 22:7, 12, 20 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”

John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Today’s Topics: Joshua Charles joins Terry for Friday with the Fathers 1) Gospel – John 14:1-6 – Jesus said to His disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in Me. In My Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to Him, “Master, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker Saint Joseph, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry and Joshua discuss Early Father of the Church: Saint Clement I, Pope and Martyr

Dr. Gene Pfeifer was preacher for this service. John 14:1-6: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 374 - If Thy Beloved Son, O God: vv. 1 - 3 - John 14:1-6: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 374 - If Thy Beloved Son, O God: vv. 374 Service Participants: Dr. Gene Pfeifer (Preacher), Jack DePrey (Organist)

[Jesus said] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. … The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” (John 14:1-9a, 10b-11)

Growing In God Podcast Program Number: GIG #299 Title: God's Many Dwelling Places   Web Description: There are many dwelling places in our Father's house, and Christ is our access to the Father. He has prepared a place for us so that we can be with Him where He is. Our prayers should be more than asking Him to give us things in this material realm where we are dwelling. We should be moving to our spiritual dwelling place where all God's completed provision is available.   Show Notes: God's creation is vast, as Yeshua (Jesus) said, "In My Father's house are many dwelling places." And we have access to those dwelling places because Christ went to the Father to prepare a place for us. In so doing, He enabled us to be with Him where He is. This means that our waiting on the Lord, our prayer life, and our seeking Him brings us into an awareness of Him and all He has given us access to in the universe of God's creation.   When we pray, we are not asking God to solve our problem as much as we are moving into the place where that problem does not exist. God said, "Behold, I will do something new. Will you be aware? Do not remember the former things or call them to mind." God has done many things for us in the fullness of His creation. But it is our choice to be aware of them. It is our choice to take our minds off the former things, off our circumstances and problems in this material world, and become aware of our new dwelling place in Him.   The way TV works illustrates this principle. There are many channels you can access with your TV. But you decide if you will turn that TV on or leave it off. And when you turn it on, you decide what frequency or wavelength you tune into to get the channel you want. It is all within your control. We likewise choose what our awareness is tuned into. We can leave our awareness of the spirit realm turned off, or we can tune our awareness to any of those dwelling places of Spirit in the Father in whom Christ is our access. We determine to dwell with Him in the place He has prepared for us.   Key Verses:   •       John 14:1–3. "In My Father's house are many dwelling places." •       John 3:3–8. "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." •       Isaiah 43:18–21. "Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?" •       2 Corinthians 5:17. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." •       Isaiah 65:17—66:2. "My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being."   Quotes:   •       "There are many dwelling places out there. And you can choose to dwell with Christ in any of those dwelling places which already exist and are already created." •       "A lot of times your problems aren't solved because you're praying that God or some angel comes along and changes your circumstances on a natural level. It's because your vibration level takes you into a place where those situations don't exist anymore." •       "You can now tune to specific programs. You don't see them all at once. You have to tune to something specific. You have to find what the Lord is taking you into. And when you do that, then you become one with it. You're immersed in it. You dwell in it where He is."   Takeaways:   1.    In the Father's house, in His creation, there are many dwelling places. And all of them are accessible because Christ went to prepare a place for us. 2.    If we are born into the spirit realm, then we can function in the spirit realm. Just like turning on a TV to access the many wavelengths available, we must exercise our spiritual capacity to access all that is available to us in Christ. 3.    God has created something new for us, but are we aware of it? We determine to turn off our awareness of our past, our circumstances, and the vibrations of this material realm, and tune into the new Kingdom prepared for us.

John 14:2 In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. Our Father has planned ahead! There are many places to abide, dwell, or live in our Father's household. In this verse, we learn where Jesus was going to which His disciples were not ready to go. Back in John 13:1 and 3, John's readers were told where Jesus was going, but it wasn't something that was told them at that point. Perhaps it was from this statement that John, with the Spirit's help, understood what was in Jesus' mind—it was time for Him to depart out of this world to the Father. He was going back to God to prepare a place for us. It is interesting that Jesus said there are many dwelling places, but He is preparing one place for all of us. Perhaps Jesus was thinking of preparing a place of right standing before God as Paul wrote of in Romans 5:2 “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Or maybe it's the place where God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenlyplaces in Christ Jesus” as Paul wrote to the Ephesians in chapter 2, verse 6. The point is that Jesus has gone to His Father and made a place with God for us to dwell or live forever. Out of that place, the love of God flows. Although it is true that God has prepared a place for us in heaven when we die, what we want to notice from the rest of the chapter is that the abiding place Jesus went to prepare in heaven becomes the fountain out of which our lives are sustained and supplied while we are on the earth. It makes it possible for Jesus to come again to us. His coming to us is the primary line of reason in this chapter, not our going to Him in heaven when we die. Today, be encouraged that Jesus has made a place for us in the presence of God that makes it possible for Jesus' presence to be with us while we live today on this earth. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

(This podcast was previously published on May 31, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   John 14:1-6  Jesus says ...  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in ME.  In MY Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.   4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.   5 Thomas saith unto HIM, Lord, we know not whither THOU goest; and how can we know the way?   6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME.   The way is "The Word" of God.  When we hear from God the Father, we have "The Word" which is the way to God.   Jesus is The Word.  From the beginning Jesus was "The Word".  Jesus was with God as "The Word" even before Jesus came to this world in the form of Jesus a man.   Today, Jesus is The Word that was with God from the beginning.   John 1:1-5   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by HIM; and without HIM was not any thing made that was made.  In HIM was life; and the life was the light of men.   5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.   10-14  HE  (Jesus)  was in the world, and the world was made by HIM, and the world knew HIM not.   11 HE came unto HIS own, and HIS own received HIM not.   12 But as many as received HIM, to them gave HE power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on HIS name (The Word):   13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.   14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld HIS glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.   *****   Galatians 5  (works of the flesh vs. works of the Spirit)   19-21   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.   22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.   24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.   25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  (following that which the Spirit shows us to do at that specific point in time.)  

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. Summary This conversation explores the progression of God's purpose for believers—from being predestined in Christ to ultimately being glorified and walking in the fullness of God. The speakers emphasize that the Kingdom of God requires a spiritual determination, a “violence of spirit,” that refuses to remain on a lower level of life and presses into the presence and purposes of God. Romans 8 is presented as a key passage revealing that God's work of salvation—from foreknowledge to glorification—is spoken of in past tense. Believers are called to be conformed to the image of Christ in spirit, soul, and body, not merely experiencing inward redemption but moving toward a full expression of Christ's life. The conversation highlights that this fulfillment is not meant to occur through isolated spiritual individuals but through a corporate Body of believers functioning together in love and unity. As the Body of Christ grows into maturity, faith becomes collective—where one member's strength supports another. Through this unity, the life of Christ can be manifested more fully. Ultimately, the speakers point to a time when the glory of God will be revealed through His people. As believers step into their identity as sons of God and walk in the fullness of Christ's life, creation itself will experience freedom through the revealing of God's children. Show Notes Pressing Into the Kingdom The Kingdom of God advances through spiritual determination and pursuit.Believers must shake themselves free from spiritual ruts and press into the presence of the Lord.The call is to rise to the level where Christ is and dwell in the Father's presence. Conformed to the Image of Christ Romans 8 reveals that believers are predestined to become like Christ.This transformation involves the whole person—spirit, soul, and body.The life of Christ is meant to be manifested through believers. A Corporate Fulfillment God's ultimate purpose is not fulfilled through one spiritual hero.The fulfillment of Scripture requires a family of believers walking together in love.The Body of Christ functions collectively, with shared faith and mutual support. The Atmosphere God Has Been Waiting For Love, humility, and service toward one another create the environment where God's purposes can unfold.Laying aside self allows the Body to move together into the fulfillment of God's promises. The Hope of His Coming The coming of Christ is not only future but is also being completed within His people.Persistent faith and prayer bring the manifestation of what God has spoken. Refusing a Lesser Level Believers are called to refuse living on a lower spiritual plane.The “violence of spirit” is a determination to walk in the level God intends. The Glory Revealed Through the Sons of God Romans 8 reveals that creation itself awaits the revealing of the sons of God.As believers step into their identity and glorification, creation experiences freedom. Key Quotes Mike: “Sometimes we just gotta shake ourselves loose in the spirit and go after things in the Lord.” Trisha: “We are predestined from Romans eight to be conformed to the image of Christ… spirit, soul, and body.” Roger: “It cannot be fulfilled except in a family of people who really have given their lives one to another, to love each other.” Ken: “We refuse to live on a lesser plane, a lesser level, but insist on being where God is bringing forth His people.” Roger: “Where we're lacking, one is lacking faith that's made up for by somebody else's faith that we can go on into the fullness of God.” Mike: “If we've been glorified, then creation is set free to come into the glory of the sons of God.” Scriptural References Matthew 11 (12)“The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”John 14 (2–3)“In My Father's house are many dwelling places… that where I am, there you may be also.”Romans 8 (28–30)Predestined, called, justified, and glorified.Romans 8 (19–21)Creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God.Malachi 4 (2)“You will go out leaping like calves released from the stall.”John 9 (1–3)The blind man healed so that the works of God might be displayed.Luke 18 (1–8)The persistent widow before the unjust judge.1 Thessalonians 5 (23)“May your spirit and soul and body be kept blameless.” Takeaway God's purpose for His people moves from predestination to glorification, forming a corporate Body that reflects the life of Christ. This fulfillment does not come through isolated individuals but through a unified people walking in love, faith, and determination. As believers press into the fullness of God and become conformed to Christ in spirit, soul, and body, the glory of God is revealed through them—and creation itself begins to experience freedom.

March 16, 2026 Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, March 16, 2026, and this is episode #7 in Series 2026. This episode is titled, “Jesus Christ Is Coming Back.” Before we get into our message, let me share a resource that will help you to draw closer to Jesus every day. It’s titled The Daystar Devotional and is a compilation of daily meditations I’ve written based on a Scripture verse for the day. If you’re looking for daily encouragement in your walk with Christ, The Daystar Devotional will provide just what you’re looking for. Daily readings will give you fresh insight into Scripture verses that will inspire you, encourage you, and strengthen you as you face the daily challenges of life. The Daystar Devotional is a powerful tool for growing in your relationship with our precious Lord. The Daystar Devotional is available in both print and ebook formats at the links below or in the show notes. The Daystar Devotional (Print)The Daystar Devotional (eBook) And now, let's dive right into this week's message: Jesus Christ Is Coming Back. A lot has been said recently about the return of Jesus Christ in the cataclysmic event called the Rapture. So much, in fact, that the fact that Jesus hasn’t returned yet has caused the mockers to increase in number and intensity. But just because Jesus hasn’t returned yet doesn’t mean He won’t. To think that His delay is permanent is deception, and it is where the great danger lies. For you see, my friend, Jesus Christ promised us that He would return. Before He went back to Heaven after His resurrection, Jesus said this to His followers: “In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14: 2-3). Since Jesus is God, He cannot lie. He will keep His Word. He will return. Let me be as clear and as simple as I can. The Bible prophesies the return of Christ in an earth-shattering event called the Rapture. Let’s read about this in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” After the Rapture, the Bible prophesies that a seven-year period of intense human suffering will come upon the earth. This seven-year period is called the Tribulation and will occur during the rule and under the rule of a man called the AntiChrist. Why is he called the AntiChrist? Because he will oppose everything the true Jesus Christ stands for and, in fact, the AntiChrist will attempt to replace Christ. The AntiChrist will proclaim Himself as God. Behind the AntiChrist will be Satan himself who will, in effect, use this man to perpetrate the worst horrors the world has ever known. Listen to what the Bible says about these horrors in the Message Translation where the AntiChrist is referred to as “the Anarchist:” 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-5 and verses 9-12 (The Message Translation):  “Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a partner in crime with Satan. He'll defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he'll then set himself up in God's Temple as God Almighty . . . The Anarchist's coming is all Satan's work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. And since they're so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it—gives them what they want. Since they refuse to trust truth, they're banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions.” The Bible further describes the day of the Rapture in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 1, verses 2 and 3. This is Paul writing: “You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We've sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It's going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.”Did you hear that, my friend? The day of Christ’s return will come as a huge surprise to those who are not looking for His return. Some translations describe his return as unexpected as the intrusion of a thief in the night. Moreover, in Revelation 4: 8, we read of the holy angels who are now worshipping the Lord and proclaiming the promise of His return: “Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.’”The question then is not if Jesus will return. He Himself said He would. Nor is the question when will He return. The question is a far more important and momentous one: Are YOU ready for His return? You might be thinking, Dr. MaryAnn, this sounds like hogwash to me. Why should I be paying attention to the return of Jesus Christ? Why should I care? I don’t even believe in Jesus Christ. Christians have been talking for years about the return of Jesus, but He hasn’t come back yet. So what’s the deal? The deal is that your position regarding the return of Jesus Christ will mean the difference between whether you escape the Tribulation or whether you won’t. Why should you want to escape the Tribulation? Because during the Tribulation, as the Bible states in Matthew chapter 24 verse 21, “…there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.” (Matthew 24: 21 NLT) Sobering words, no? So what will happen during the Tribulation? The Bible describes the scenario in several places. Let’s take a look at a few of them: 2 Thessalonians 1: 7-9 NLT: “He [Jesus] will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.“ Revelation 6: 12 (describing the vision of John the Apostle in approximately 95 A.D.): ” . . . there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood.” Revelation 9: 10-11 – “Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a huge furnace, and the sunlight and air turned dark from the smoke. “Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like scorpions. They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months with pain like the pain of a scorpion sting. In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them! “The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. They had what looked like gold crowns on their heads, and their faces looked like human faces. They had hair like women's hair and teeth like the teeth of a lion. They wore armor made of iron, and their wings roared like an army of chariots rushing into battle. They had tails that stung like scorpions, and for five months they had the power to torment people. Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon—the Destroyer.“ So, my friend, you can see from these few Scripture verses that the Tribulation will not be a picnic. It will be horrifying. Over half of the world’s population will die. In Revelation 6: 8 NLT, the Apostle John prophesies that one-quarter of the earth’s population will die: “I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.” Then later, in Revelation 9: 15 NLT, he tells us this: “Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth.” That’s over 80% of the world’s population that will die! These verses give just a few examples of the horrors that will befall those who are alive during the Tribulation. You don’t want to be one of them. But, if you do not accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you will be one of them. Only those who receive Christ into their lives will escape this time of unfathomable anguish, but those who do not follow Christ will not. So what is your choice, my friend? Do you want to live through the Tribulation and probably end up living forever in hell? Or do you want to believe that Jesus loves you, and that He died and rose from the dead to take the punishment for your sin so that you could live in Heaven with Him forever? The choice seems like a no-brainer. You might say, “I’ll just wait and see, Dr. MaryAnn. If I end up in the Tribulation, I could always accept Jesus then.” Yes, you could. But it will be extremely difficult. Why? Because the Bible says that those who accept Christ during the Tribulation will not be allowed to buy or sell anything unless they take the mark of the beast. And they won’t take the mark of the beast. The Beast is the AntiChrist, also known as Satan personified. The mark is a digital I.D. that will be placed on or subcutaneously implanted into one’s forehead or hand. This mark will identify that person as a follower of the AntiChrist. Those who refuse to take the mark in order to follow the true Christ will be identified as traitors and will be executed, most likely by being beheaded. In order for you to buy food for your family during the Tribulation, you will need to pledge allegiance to Satan and worship him as god. And once you do that, you relinquish every opportunity to be saved and to go to Heaven. Listen to what the Bible says:“Then a third angel followed them, shouting, ‘Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand must drink the wine of God's anger. It has been poured full strength into God's cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.’” Why will those who take the mark of the beast be doomed forever in hell? Because accepting the mark of the beast will alter your DNA. If your DNA is altered, you will no longer be human but transhuman. And transhumans cannot be saved because Jesus died only for humans, not for transhumans. My friend, please hear my heart. I don’t want you to go to Hell. It is a place of eternal torment from which you will never be able to escape. Can you even fathom what eternal means? It means never-ending. Forever without hope. Have you ever felt hopeless? Well, multiply that to the nth power and you will get only a glimpse of what eternal hopelessness feels like. But you can avoid all of this simply by believing in Jesus Christ and in His love for you. How hard is that to do? How hard is it to believe that God loves you so much that He was willing to take the punishment for sin that you should have taken? God does not want you to go to hell, my friend. He doesn’t send anyone to hell. People send themselves to hell by refusing to believe God. Listen to what God’s heart for you is: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Thessalonians 5: 9. The Tribulation is the time when God will pour out his wrath on a sinful world. The Bible tells us that the Christ-Follower is not appointed to wrath. Friend, you don’t have to be here for the Tribulation. You can escape the hell that is about to be unleashed on the earth. All you have to do is receive the love Jesus has for you, a love so profound and so perfect that He gave His very life for you. Won’t you do that now? Won’t you accept Him now? Pray this simple prayer with me: Lord Jesus, I need You. I don’t want to be here for the Tribulation. I want to spend forever with You in Heaven. I believe that You are the Son of God Who died for me and rose from the dead and paid the price for my sin. I receive You now as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for saving me. Thank you for taking the punishment for my sin. Make me like You, Jesus. In Your Name I pray. Amen. If you sincerely prayed this prayer from your heart, you are now a born-again child of God. Welcome to the Family of God! Write to me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com, and I will send you a free PDF e-booklet titled After You're Born Again. In closing, I want to remind you that my featured book for this week is titled The Daystar Devotional: Encouragement in Your Walk with Jesus. Get your copy now and learn how to experience God's will for your life every day by following His principles for a successful life. Get your copy at one of the links below. PRINT EBOOK Winning with the Word is available on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast venues as well as on YouTube. Check out my YouTube channel at youtube.com/drmaryanndiorio. Thank you very much for supporting the work of this ministry through your donations. If you would like to donate, please send your tax-deductible gift to PayPal.me/drmaryanndiorio. Thank you so very much. Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are. But He doesn't want you to stay there. As you walk with Him, He will help you to keep on winning with the Word.________________________________ Copyright 2026 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD. All Rights Reserved. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO WINNING WITH THE WORD. « Older Entries

What if following God's commands unlocked a deeper relationship than you've ever known? Through Pastor Dave's powerful message, we discover that truly seeing God requires more than belief—it demands love expressed through obedience. Drawing from John 14, he challenges us to move beyond merely liking God to genuinely loving Him through keeping His commands. This transformative teaching shows how aligning our lives with God's Word invites His manifest presence, bringing freedom, provision, and miracles. Ready to experience God in a fresh way? Watch now to discover how genuine love for God can trigger your divine purpose.John 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

"In My Father's House" preached by Pastor William Moore at the First Jesus Name Church of Benndale on the Sunday night of 11-23-2025. For more information about our church or this message please email us at fjncbenndale@icloud.com. Have a wonderful and blessed day.

“Let not your heart be troubled…” These are the words of Jesus to His disciples—and to us today. In a world filled with uncertainty, Jesus offers a promise that anchors our souls: “In My Father's house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.” What a Savior! Not only does He calm our fears, but He assures us of a future with Him. A home beyond this world. A place of peace, joy, and eternal communion with our Lord. As a church family, let us hold fast to this hope. Let us remind one another that Christ has not left us alone—He is preparing a place, and He will return to bring us home.

Send us a textIn this episode, Pastor Ed teaches us about 10 things that God has prepared for us. 1 Corinthians 2:99 But as it is written:“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”Proverbs 3:5-65 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.Isaiah 40:3131 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.2 Corinthians 1:3-43 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.Matthew 11:28-3028 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”Romans 8:1515 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”John 1:1212 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:Galatians 4:4-74 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God [d]through Christ.Romans 8:18 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.Ephesians 2:1010 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.Psalm 23:55 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.John 14:2-32 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.Romans 15:1313 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Hebrews 6:1919 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,Romans 8:38-3938 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jonah has a change of heart, when he reaches rock bottom.Jesus answers a question with a question.PASSAGE OF THE DAY 16 "In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."John 14:2 & 3MUSICAL INSPIRATION https://pandora.app.link/rp0RSEmiIXb

Question? Comment? Send us a Message!This title is courtesy of Dane.... not really, but I just wanted to feel a part of something special.  I actually wanted "In My Father's Eyes" to be the title. Sean just corrected my work.  End rant.Sean and Dane are back with more audio gold!  Weekend recaps, watch drinkin' and of course, Dramatic Readings! Drama was on a whole new level this week so buckle and enjoy the ride.  Then slow it down with our special guest Ryker Wells as he enlightens us on his cornhole/life journey.  Capped off with an epic draft of Most Inappropriate Moments/Places to Laugh.  Cheers!Support the show

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

.  “What is religion supposed to do for us?” If the work of religion is supposed to help us to know Continue reading514: Part 4- In My Father’s Name The post 514: Part 4- In My Father’s Name appeared first on Keven Winder.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: How can I know the way of Jesus?Subtitle: Scripture: John 14:1-14 NIVBottom Line: Because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we can trust His promises in the midst of our fears, follow His words, ways, and wisdom with confidence, see the Father clearly, and rely on Him to provide all we need for the mission.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTION“I'm sure that everyone reading this book has been touched by the death of a loved one. I have; by the mercy of God, both of my parents died at home in bed. My mother slipped away at night when I was asleep, but I was next to the bed, more than fifty years ago, when my father breathed his last. I watched death in front of my eyes, and in that moment I lost the person who meant more to me than any person on the face of the earth. When it happened, something stabbed my soul, causing me to say: “This is insane. This can't be real. He must merely be sleeping. O God, will he live again?” -R.C. SproulMoments like this leave us asking: Are we really prepared for what's ahead?His disciples faced a similar challenge 2,000 years ago, beginning with a turning point of cosmic proportions with the betrayal of Judas Iscariot.I submit that we should proceed as Jesus led his disciples to on the night of his arrest and the eve of his crucifixion.Bottom line: CONTEXTJesus's disciples are deeply troubled because they have just heard 3 things:One of them will betray Jesus,Jesus is about to leave them and go where they cannot go, and Peter will deny Jesus 3 times that night.On top of all of this, Jesus is still wanted for arrest and likely crucifixion for treason and blasphemy. If they are looking for him, they are likely looking for them as well. They're terrified.OUTLINE (w/ help from ChatGPT)Bottom Line: Because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we can trust His promises in the midst of our fears, follow His words, ways, and wisdom with confidence, see the Father clearly, and rely on Him to provide all we need for the mission.1. Jesus Calms Troubled Hearts (vv. 1–3)• Context: Jesus has announced His departure (13:33) and Peter's denial (13:38). The disciples are shaken.• Truth: “Let not your hearts be troubled.” The antidote to fear is faith.• Explanation:• Believe in God; believe also in Me → Jesus calls for the same trust we give to God.• In My Father's house are many rooms → heaven is real, personal, and prepared.• I will come again → the return of Christ guarantees our eternal presence with Him.• Application:• When anxiety rises, put your weight down on His promises.• We don't just long for a place (heaven) but a Person (Jesus).Illustration: A child afraid of the dark sleeps peacefully when she lies next to her parents bed because they are with her.2. Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (vv. 4–7)• Thomas: “We don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (v. 5)• Jesus' Answer: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (v. 6)• Explanation:• The Way → He doesn't show the way; He is the way. The cross and resurrection open the road.• The Truth → Not one truth among many; the full reality of God revealed in Him.• The Life → Eternal life is only in Him (cf. John 11:25; 1 John 5:11–12).• Application:• In a culture that says “all paths lead to God,” Jesus insists: only one does.• Jesus is not just useful; He is essential.Illustration: GPS apps give different routes to the destination. Some take longer while others are easier. We won't all follow exactly the same way. But we do follow him his way rooted in his truth to true and lasting life.3. Jesus Reveals the Father (vv. 8–11)• Philip: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” (v. 8)• Jesus' Reply: “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.” (v. 9)• Truth: Jesus is the full disclosure of God (cf. Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3).• Application:• You don't have to wonder what God is like—look at Jesus.• If we're confused about God's character, we must return to Jesus' words and works.Illustration: Like a high-resolution picture bringing clarity where once it was blurry, Jesus brings the Father into perfect focus.4. Jesus Empowers His Followers (vv. 12–14)• Promise: “Whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do.” (v. 12)• Explanation:• Not greater in quality but in extent—global reach through the Spirit.• Through prayer “in My name,” Jesus continues His work through us.• Application:• We are not powerless—we are prayerful participants in Jesus' mission.• Ask boldly in His name, aligning with His will.Illustration: A relay race—the baton of Jesus' mission is passed on, but with Spirit-powered expansion beyond what the disciples could imagine.Conclusion: Bringing It All Together• When your heart is troubled → Trust His promise (vv. 1–3).• When you wonder about the way → Follow Him as the only way (vv. 4–7).• When you want to know what God is like → Look to Jesus (vv. 8–11).• When you feel powerless → Pray in His name and live on His mission (vv. 12–14).Bottom Line: Because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we can trust His promises in the midst of our fears, follow His words, ways, and wisdom with confidence, see the Father clearly, and rely on Him to provide all we need for the mission.CONCLUSIONBottom Line: Because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we can trust His promises in the midst of our fears, follow His words, ways, and wisdom with confidence, see the Father clearly, and rely on Him to provide all we need for the mission.INVITATIONWhat about you? Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTES“I'm sure that everyone reading this book has been touched by the death of a loved one. I have; by the mercy of God, both of my parents died at home in bed. My mother slipped away at night when I was asleep, but I was next to the bed, more than fifty years ago, when my father breathed his last. I watched death in front of my eyes, and in that moment I lost the person who meant more to me than any person on the face of the earth. When it happened, something stabbed my soul, causing me to say: “This is insane. This can't be real. He must merely be sleeping. O God, will he live again?”R.C. SproulQUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonLet's Study John, Mark JohnstonThe Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT AIGrok AIPerplexity.aiGoogle Gemini AI

Jesus, knowing His Hour has come, loved His own, and knowing that He was about to be betrayed, knowing He had come from God and was going back to God, He stood up and, as a servant, prepared to wash the disciples' feet. And we come to Chapter 14, where Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God – believe in Me!” And then talking about Heaven, He goes on to say, “In My Father's House are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for YOU!” Jesus is forever talking about the Kingdom. When He was tempted by the devil, the devil took Him up a high mountain saying, “You see all the kingdoms of this world and all their glory? If You will bow down and worship me, I'll give it all to You!” Jesus did not rebuke the devil and say, “You don't have those to give” – because He recognised, the devil IS the prince of this world. But Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul?

Have you ever gotten so tired of life that you wished you could disappear and start over somewhere else? Ever wish that fantasy would just pull you out of your circumstances? They make movies about things like that, but it's not real.John 14:2,3 says, “In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” How incredible that Jesus is actually going to do this for us someday. If you live long enough, the cares of life sort of wear you down and you need a good, long rest.Good for us that our Lord cares enough for us that He has already gone ahead to prepare a place of peace, rest, and joy for each of us. It will be a real place, not just a scouting location for a film.One day, in His perfect time, He will call you out of this groaning world, and take you to a spot that has literally been prepared with just you in mind! Let's pray.Lord, you are good to us in countless ways. We thank you so much for the home you have prepared for us. In Jesus' name, amen.  Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Growing In God Podcast Title: Pray From Fulfillment   Web Description: If someone gives you a plate of delicious food, do you still pray, “God, give me food! Where is the food You promised me?” No, you just take it and say, “Thank you.” Yet even though God has already given us everything, we pray as if we have not received it. We need to change that way of praying. We need to shift our focus from this realm and dwell in the spirit realm where God's Word is already fulfilled and then pray from that place.   Show Notes: When you pray, are you asking as someone who is separated from the fulfillment of your prayer? Are you asking God to bring a fulfillment that you are convinced you do not have? Yeshua (Jesus) said, “All things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them.” If we have already received the answer to our prayers, then there is a way to pray from a place of fulfillment rather than from a place of looking for fulfillment. Our minds have trouble grasping this concept, but it is simply a matter of changing our perception.   We can decide where we want our awareness to be. The Scriptures tell us that God has transferred us out of the realm of darkness into the Kingdom of His beloved Son. Therefore, our minds do not need to be controlled by our awareness of the physical realm. We can focus our awareness on His Kingdom. We can walk in the Spirit. Our dwelling place can be the spirit world where all things are finished and all things are possible. Our minds can be controlled by a new awareness of what God has already accomplished by His Word.   How do we get this awareness when we are so conditioned by what our senses tell us about the physical realm? We can go the Word of God. He has already told us what is in His Kingdom, and we just need to start relating to it. Let us start thinking God's thoughts that are conformed to His Word rather than our thoughts that are conformed to this world. Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that when we pray, we are not asking God to do something in the future; rather, we are thanking Him for what He said is already done.   Key Verses:   •       Colossians 1:13–14. “He… transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” •       John 14:2. “In My Father's house are many dwelling places.” •       Revelation 12:7–9. “Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth.” •       Acts 8:37–40. “The Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and … Philip found himself at Azotus.” •       1 Corinthians 3:18–23. “Things present or things to come; all things belong to you.” •       John 14:23. “My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” •       Mark 11:24. “All things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them.” •       2 Corinthians 12:2–5. “Such a man was caught up to the third heaven.” •       Jeremiah 32:37–42. “I am going to bring on them all the good that I am promising them.” •       2 Peter 1:3. “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.” •       Psalm 23:5. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” •       Romans 12:2. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” •       2 Corinthians 10:5. “We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” •       Isaiah 55:8. “My thoughts are not your thoughts.”   Quotes:   •       “Prophets like Elijah and Elisha and others obviously knew how to move in the spirit so that things resulted from that. That has always been my understanding of what we in this day and age, as God's people, as moving as prophets, are to be able to do—manifest the reality of what the Scriptures are saying.” •       “If you would turn off every physical sense that you have, you would still be aware; you just wouldn't be aware of the material world. But your awareness wouldn't go away because our awareness exists as part of our life. And that awareness can be focused where we want it.” •       “It was finished in Genesis when He created it, and He finished all His work. He finished all His work, and He sat down and rested and told us to rest. Well, how do we rest? We rest when we can sit down in those finished works.”   Takeaways:   1.    When we pray, we need to position ourselves in the fulfillment of the Word of God instead of praying for it to happen in the future. Simply take what God has spoken and realize that if it is a Word from God, then it is not something that will be; it is something that already is. 2.    Our awareness is our own, and we choose what we want to be aware of. Spiritual awareness is something we have in the Holy Spirit, and the Scriptures tell us it is absolutely possible to be in a realm other than the physical realm that we normally focus on. We can dwell in a spiritual realm where the works of God are finished and His Word is already fulfilled. 3.    The prophecies of Scripture are ours now, and we do not have to put their fulfillment off in the future. So we need to put ourselves and everything we are praying for in that realm where everything God promised in His Word already exists.

Dear Friends, Thank you or your valuable support. South Florida Bible College is honorably mentioned at minute 28:00.This week's report covers:US SUPREME COURT 2024-2025 TERMJAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE SEES THE HAND OF GOD IN THE COSMOSTHE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILLIRAN's NUCLEAR MATERIALSTHE TRUE LUXURIES OF LIFEA quick flyover of end times events chronologically. Number one, I think the next event on the prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the Church. Then, the Antichrist emerges on the scene and the Tribulation period begins. The Tribulation ends with the Second Coming of Christ, and then the Lord establishes the Millennium (the 1,000-year reign of Christ).Therefore, Jesus said, “So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near” (Luke 21:28 NLT). He did not say,“When you see these things begin to happen, freak out because we're all dead.” He said, “look up.” Bible prophecy isn't meant to scare us—it's meant to prepare us.Are You Ready? I don't know what will happen next, but here are two things you can do today. First, ask yourself, “Am I ready for the Lord's return?”Christ is coming again. This is a wake-up call to get right with God, walk closely with Him, and stay spiritually awake.Here's something else Jesus said, “In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself. . .” (John 14:2–3 NKJV) But then He says, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 NKJV).AJA

John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.David Guzik wrote:"Love prepares a welcome. With love, expectant parents prepare a room for the baby. With love, the hostess prepares for her guests. Jesus prepares a place for His people because He loves them and is confident of their arrival."Mercy softens the rough edges of life and reminds us of Whom we have now— and of the place being prepared for us.In this episode, we'll look at how a pile of bricks in a pool, old rags and worn-out clothes, and a screen door that no longer falls off all pointed me back to the mercy of God.If you would like to support this podcast with a monthly or one-time donation, thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sherriyoungward.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To find out about upcoming gatherings and new projects, please join my email list at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.sherriyoungward.com

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

The Osman's and Hahooma are back in this year's hajj drama: In My Father's Footsteps. Ziyad and Raeesa have been accredited for hajj, and speculation abounds as to where the money for their hajj is coming from…even amongst the Saudi authorities!

Pippa speaks to Rod Douglas who set out to trace his father’s wartime travels, and after he came back from the trip he self-published a book about the experience called In My Father’s Footsteps. Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show. This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audience to take the time to explore, taste, read and reflect. The show - presented by former journalist, baker and water sports enthusiast Pippa Hudson - is unashamedly lifestyle driven. Popular features include a daily profile interview #OnTheCouch at 1:10pm. Consumer issues are in the spotlight every Wednesday while the team also unpacks all things related to health, wealth & the environment. Listen live – Lunch with Pippa Hudson is broadcast weekdays between 13:00 and 15:00 (SA Time) https://www.primediaplus.com/station/capetalk Find all the catch-up podcasts here https://www.primediaplus.com/capetalk/lunch-with-pippa-hudson/show-podcasts/lunch-with-pippa-hudson/ Subscribe to the CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://www.primediaplus.com/competitions/newsletter-subscription/ Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalk   CapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalk   CapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkza  CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalk  CapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." -John 14:1-3 What you thought was dead, look again.What you thought was impossible, He disagreed with you--feel the Promise of It. All you have to do is keep facing the Son, and letting these words water you, letting your practice work the soil, while you face the Son. While you feel the blooming, the flowering, the fruiting, the Law of Love. It must be. Whatever it is... it must be. I Love you,niknikki@curlynikki.comPlease support the show: ▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings▶▶ Cash App $NikWalton __________________________________________LINKSSurrender Novena Day 7-Father Ruotolo Dolindo I perform miracles in proportion to your full surrender to me and to your not thinking of yourselves. I sow treasure troves of graces when you are in the deepest poverty. No person of reason, no thinker, has ever perform miracles, not even among the saints. He does divine works whosoever surrenders to God. So don't think about it anymore, because your mind is acute and for you it is very hard to see evil and to trust in me and to not think of yourself. Do this for all your needs, do this all of you and you will see great continual silent miracles. I will take care of things, I promise this to you. O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)Mother, I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you I always want to belong completely to Jesus.Amen""I Come to Him Running The Prophet said, God Most High has said: When my worshipper's thoughts turn to Me, there am I with him. And when he makes mention of Me within himself, I make mention of him within Myself. and when he makes mention of Me in company, I make mention of him in a better company. Ifhe draw near to Me a hand's breadth, I draw near to him an arm's length; and if he draw near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him the length of both arms wide outstretched; and if he come to Me walking, I come to him running. And if he meet Me with sins equivalent to the whole world, I will greet him with forgiveness equal to it." - The Mishkat Al- Masabih

John 14New King James Version:The Way, the Truth, and the Life14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.The Father Revealed7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.The Answered Prayer12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you [c]ask anything in My name, I will do it.Jesus Promises Another Helper15 “If you love Me, [d]keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [e]Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.Indwelling of the Father and the Son19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and [f]manifest Myself to him.”22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.The Gift of His Peace25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the [g]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because [h]I said, ‘I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I.29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

John 14 “Do not let your heart be troubled;  believe in God, believe also in Me.In My Father's house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where… Read More »Comfort

Miranda Seymour, celebrated as a biographer, novelist, memoir writer and critic, has been a visiting professor at Nottingham Trent University. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts as well as a Royal Literary Fund Fellow, and the author of the award-winning memoir, In My Father's House. Her many acclaimed biographies include: A Ring of Conspirators, an innovative study of Henry James and his literary circle; Ottoline Morrell: Life on a Grand Scale; Robert Graves: Life on the Edge; Mary Shelley; In Byron's Wake, The Bugatti Queen and I Used to Live Here Once: The Haunted Life of Jean Rhys. Today is a very exciting show for me as I have the opportunity to speak with, Miranda Seymour, the author of my favorite book, the “Bugatti Queen,” who writes the story of one of my favorite racers, Helle Nice. I have asked Mark Greene, the founder of Cars Yeah to co-host with me today.

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, December 18, 2024Advent Worship Service: 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. During Advent, there will be no Wednesday Bible Study, it will resume Wednesday January 8, 2025All are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relativeVisit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”Archive of BULLETINSFirst Reading – Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time He brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Second Reading – Colossians 1:15–20 [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. Third Reading – John 14:1–11 [Jesus said:] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Rev. Dr. Doyle Holbird was preacher for this service. John 14:1-6: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 543 - Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers - John 14:1-6: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 542 - in Heav'n Above, in Heav'n Above: vv. 1, 3, 4 - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Rev. Dr. Doyle Holbird (Preacher), Hannah Caauwe (Organist)

Whew! A good break we had, but I missed you all. If you listen to this podcast in a place that is a little dangerous, I really appreciate you listening. We pray for you each day, and we are asking all our family who listen to add your safety, the spread of the Gospel, and your edification (through the podcast). Though I don't mention where you live, rest assured of our prayers, and our gratitude you are there. Speaking of gratitude, as is our wont, I like saying that, but I'm not sure why, we begin each year with episodes on our thankfulness to our Creator, Savior, and Sustainer. This year, for the attributes of God! We begin with faithfulness, our verses of contemplation: "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." Luke 10:20 "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And you know the way where I am going." 5 Thomas *said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. John 14" 1-6 Our So what? How do we know the promises of God are yes and amen? The Way, the Truth, and the Life said: "if it were not so, I would have told you;" Brethren, let's pray for one another. "What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more"" Robert MurrayM'Cheynee Donation link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64 Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab. Assistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossard. www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com freerangeprayer@gmail.com Facebook - Free Range Preacher Ministries Instagram: freerangeministries All our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition. For access to the Voice Over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.com Our podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 Instagram Season 007 Episode 001

John 13:33-14:14   33 Little children, I am still with you a little longer. You will look for Me; and just as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.' 34 I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” 36 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” 37 Peter *said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” 38 Jesus *replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.   14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” 8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own, but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works.11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. 12 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net    

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Prayer is designed to transform our perspective from fear to trust, knowing that God has already prepared the way for us. Learn how to pray with confidence, rooted in your inheritance in Christ, and discover the beauty of responding to life's challenges from a place of peace and joy. Key Scriptures: + Genesis 18:14. "Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." + Deuteronomy 31:8. "The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." + Hebrews 8:6. "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises." + John 14:2. "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." + Ephesians 2:22. "In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." To stay connected with Graham Cooke and Team Brilliant, CLICK HERE. As always, thanks for listening!

What if you could take a trip around the world? Not just any trip, but a trip where you followed your father's footsteps? In My Father's Footsteps is a time-traveling documentary that takes you on a journey across three continents as Bella retraces her fathers 1982 solo trip around the world. Through Bella's eyes, you will gain a unique perspective on the changes and enduring aspects of our world over the past 40 years. Bella sits down with us to chat about what she experienced... and it's amazing!Connect with us! Instagram - Facebook www.visiteastdallas.comPartner with us! connect@visiteastdallas.com

It was fun seeing Fox Butterfield, the first New York Times correspondent in China since 1949, in Portland, Oregon back in July. I last visited Portland in 2022, and you never quite get over the sight of Mount Hood dominating the horizon on a clear summer day in its awesome fashion.Fox welcomed me to his home, perched on a small hill in a modestly upscale suburb. A history enthusiast, he has lived through and witnessed some of the most pivotal moments in modern history: from meeting Harry Truman as a teenager with his grandfather, to studying under John Fairbank, the progenitor of Chinese studies in America, to reporting on the Vietnam War and helping expose the Pentagon Papers, which earned him a Pulitzer Prize. Though trained as a China specialist, he only began his reporting inside China in the late '70s, culminating in his book China: Alive in the Bitter Sea. This bestseller set a benchmark for generations of China correspondents. Later in his career, Fox shifted his focus to domestic issues of race and crime, writing acclaimed works like All God's Children and In My Father's House.Talking to Fox was a breeze. I was pleasantly surprised that his spoken Chinese remains impressively sharp — his tones and pronunciations are still spot-on. Of course, we did most of our chatting in English. This piece will explore his early experiences, particularly his family background, his time at Harvard, and his reporting during the Vietnam War. While the bulk of the piece may not focus directly on China, it offers a glimpse into the intellectual formation of one of America's most prominent China watchers and how both domestic and global forces shape U.S. perceptions of China.Enjoy!LeoIndexSeeing China with Joe Biden and John McCain in the 70sCyrus Eaton, Lenin Prize and family legacy in Cold War“Rice Paddies”, and studying under John Fairbank at HarvardFrom Pentagon Papers to VietnamReporting on the frontlines in Vietnam Seeing China with Joe Biden and John McCain in the 70sCould you talk about your first trip to China?I was the Hong Kong correspondent for The New York Times from 1975 to 1979 because that's where we covered China in those days. I couldn't go to China until 1978, when I attended the Canton Trade Fair. That was my first trip to China; I can barely remember it.My second trip to China was much more memorable. In 1979, when the U.S. and China were about to normalize relations, China invited the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to visit, and I was invited as a New York Times correspondent. In those days, China had a shortage of hotel rooms, at least for foreigners, so they made everybody room with somebody else. The Chinese government assigned me to room with the naval liaison to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who was a Navy captain named John McCain.For two weeks, John McCain and I were roommates. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner together and traveled everywhere. McCain's best friend on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was Joe Biden. So, the three of us did almost everything together for two weeks. That one is easy to remember. What was your impression of Joe Biden?Joe Biden was a nice man, very earnest, but he was a typical career politician that when he approached somebody, he always grabbed them by the hand. He was tall, had a strong handshake, and would give them a big smile and grab their hands. He kept doing this to the Chinese, who didn't really know what was going on because they're not used to being touched that way, especially not somebody almost breaking their hand.So I finally said to him, “Senator.” And he'd say, “No, call me Joe.” I said, “Okay, Joe, please don't grab Chinese by the hand. It's kind of rude and offensive to them, and they don't understand it.” He would say, “Well, why not?” And I said, “Because that's not their custom.” He'd say, “Okay, thank you very much.” And then, five minutes later, he'd do the same thing over and over again.John McCain and I became good friends, especially because I had seen McCain in prison in Hanoi when I first started working for The New York Times, and we bonded over that shared history during our trip to China. They allowed me to go into his prison in 1969, and I was the first reporter to find out that John McCain was still alive when his jet fighter was shot down over Hanoi.I saw him then and as roommates 10 years later in China. We had a great time, and I would take him out and say, “Let's sneak away from our handlers and see how Chinese really live and what they really say.” We just went out and talked to people, and he thought this was a lot of fun.“He said something straightforward and obvious, but I had never thought about it. He said China is the oldest country in the world with by far the largest population. It's a big, important place.”That's a wonderful tale. What made you initially interested in China?When I was a sophomore at Harvard as an undergraduate in 1958, there was a fear that the United States was going to have to go to war with China over those two little islands, which Americans call ‘Quemoy' and ‘Matsu' and Chinese people call ‘Jinmen' and ‘Mazu'.America's leading sinologist and Harvard professor of Chinese studies, John Fairbank, decided to give a public lecture about the danger of the United States going to war for those two little islands.I attended his lecture. He said something straightforward and obvious, but I had never thought about it. He said China is the oldest country in the world with by far the largest population. It's a big, important place. Why would the United States want to go to war with China over those two little islands? It made no sense logically. And we had just finished the war in Korea. As I listened to him, I realized, “Gee, I don't know anything about that place.”So I began to audit his introductory class on the history of East Asia. And in the spring, I decided to take a second class in Chinese history that Fairbank was teaching. As a Harvard undergraduate, I would find out my exam grades at the end of year from a postcard you put in the exam booklet. When I received my postcard back from the final exam, it said: “please come to see me in my office, tomorrow morning at 10.” “Oh no,” I thought I really screwed up my exam. So I went to see John Fairbank. I was nervous, especially because he was a great man, a big figure on campus, and the Dean of Chinese studies in the United States. So I went in, and he said, “Fox, you wrote a wonderful exam. Have you considered majoring in Chinese history?” I went, “oh, no, I had not considered it.” I was so relieved that I had written a good exam.He said, “Well, if you are, you must immediately begin studying Chinese.” At that time, Harvard did not teach spoken Chinese, only classical written Chinese, and there were just about 10 people, all graduate students.So Fairbank said, “here's what you do. Going down to Yale, they have a special program that teaches spoken Chinese in the summer because they have a contract with the Air Force to teach 18-year-old Air Force recruits how to speak Chinese so they can listen to and monitor Chinese air force traffic.”So I spent the summer at Yale studying Chinese with air force recruits. I took classical written Chinese classes when I returned to Harvard that fall. Luckily, I got a Fulbright Fellowship to go to Taiwan after I graduated, so I studied in the best spoken Chinese program at the time run by Cornell University.Cyrus Eaton, Lenin Prize and family legacy in Cold WarI wonder whether there's any family influence on your China journey. Your father was the historian and editor-in-chief of the Adams Papers, and your maternal grandfather, Cyrus Eaton, was one of the most prominent financiers and philanthropists in the Midwest. Could you speak on the impact of family legacy on your China journey?My father certainly instilled a love of history in me. That was always my favourite subject in school and the one I did best in. Eventually, my major at Harvard was Chinese history. My father didn't know anything about China and never went. My mother visited Taiwan and stayed with me for ten days in the 60s.My maternal grandfather, Cyrus Eaton, would fit the Chinese notion of a rags-to-riches success story. He grew up in a small fishing village in Nova Scotia, Canada, and went to college in Toronto with the help of an older cousin. This cousin went on to become a Baptist minister in Cleveland, Ohio, across the lake. Among the people in his parish was a man named John D. Rockefeller — yes, the original John D. Rockefeller.The cousin invited my grandfather and said he had a job for him. So my grandfather started off as a golf caddy for John D. Rockefeller and then a messenger. Ultimately, he founded his own electric power company in Cleveland — Ohio Electric Power — and became quite influential. He had multiple companies but then lost everything in the Great Depression.During World War II, my grandfather heard about a large iron ore under a lake in Ontario through his Canadian connections. By then, he had already formed connections with President Roosevelt and then Truman, so he said, “If you can give me some money and help underwrite this, I can get Canadian permission to drain the lake for the iron ore deposit,” which became the world's richest iron ore mine, Steep Rock Iron Ore. That's how he got back into business. Truman and my grandfather ended up having a close connection, and he used my grandfather's train to campaign for re-election in 1948. My grandfather was an unusual man. He had a real vision about things.He was trading metals with the Soviet Union as well.I don't know the details, but when Khrushchev came to power, my grandfather became interested in trying to work out some arrangement between the United States and Russia, which is where the Pugwash movement came from. He was inviting Russian and American scientists to meet. They couldn't meet in the U.S. because it was against American law, but he arranged for them to meet in his hometown of Pugwash, Nova Scotia. We had American and Russian nuclear physicists meeting to discuss nuclear weapons in this little village. Eventually, he invited some Chinese people to come.At one of these conferences, I met Harrison Salisbury, an editor of The New York Times and the first NYT Moscow Correspondent. I was just starting out as a stringer for The Washington Post, but Salisbury saw something in me and suggested I send him a story. That connection eventually led to my job at The New York Times.He must have known people pretty high up in China too.I don't know the China connections; he didn't know Mao or Zhou Enlai. He did have a close relationship with Khrushchev, to the extent you could. It started with the Pugwash movement.He just sent a telegram to Khrushchev and became friends?Yes. What do you call that, guanxi?I guess so. Do you remember when he won the Lenin Peace Prize?I do. I think I was in Taiwan at the time. I didn't go to the ceremony.How did you feel about his activities growing up?I was never too sure what was going on. My mother had the intelligence of her father—in fact, she looked remarkably like him—but she was skeptical because she always felt that he was making all these big deals but wasn't looking out for his own family.What was your mom like?My mother was a smart woman. She went to Bryn Mawr during the Depression, but my grandfather refused to let her take a scholarship because it would signal he had no money. She worked full-time while in school and graduated near the top of her class. She was angry at him for making her life difficult for his own pride.My mother worked all her life. By the time I reached college, she was working at Harvard University, which was unusual for the time. She started as a secretary but eventually became the registrar in charge of all the records. When she died in 1978, the Harvard Crimson published a tribute saying she had been the most helpful person to many undergraduates.What did you want to become as a teenager?I wanted to be a baseball player. Yes, for a long time my life revolved around baseball. I thought I was pretty serious. Some time in college, I realized I wasn't going to become a major league baseball player, and I became much more interested in the life of the mind.“Rice Paddies”, and studying under John Fairbank at HarvardDid you think of Asia growing up?There was really almost nothing until I mentioned, in my sophomore year, when I was 19, beginning in 1958 as an undergraduate at Harvard studying with John Fairbank. No courses offered at high school that I could have gone to. Even at Harvard, the Chinese history class was almost all graduate students. Harvard undergraduates could take an introduction class to the history of East Asia, which included China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Harvard students nicknamed this course “Rice Paddies.”That's the famous course by Fairbank and Reischauer. What was it like studying with those two legends?Well, they were both significant people in every way. Fairbank helped start the field of Chinese history in the United States. Reischauer certainly started studying Japanese history.In my first year, they had just finished a textbook for the Rice Patties course. It had not been published as a book yet, just a mimeograph form. They gave us these big books you had to carry around, like carrying one of those old store catalogues with hundreds of pages printed on one side. You would bring these things into class. One was called East Asia: The Great Tradition, and the other East Asia: The Modern Transformation.What was John Fairbank like as a person?Intimidating. He was a tall, bald man, always looking over his glasses at you. But he was charming and friendly, and if he sensed that you were interested in his field, he would do almost anything for you. He reached out to students in a way that few other faculty members did.“He was an academic entrepreneur and missionary for Chinese studies, and was creating the field of Chinese history in the United States. Before him, Chinese history didn't exist for most Americans to study.”And he had regular gatherings at his house.Yes. His house was a little yellow wooden house dating back to the 18th century, right in the middle of the campus. Harvard had given it to him, and every Thursday afternoon, anybody interested in China who was in Cambridge that day was invited. You never knew who you were going to meet. Fairbank was a kind of social secretary. When you walked in, he'd greet you with a handshake and then take you around to introduce you to some people. He did that all the time with people. He was an academic entrepreneur and missionary for Chinese studies and was creating the field of Chinese history in the United States. Before him, Chinese history didn't exist for most Americans to study. I always wanted to major in history. That subject appealed to me and was my strongest area of study. I took some American history and intellectual history classes, but the Chinese history class became the one that I really focused on. I couldn't tell you exactly why, but it was interesting to me. The more I read, the more I liked it. After that first Fairbank class, I signed up for the more intensive modern Chinese history class and whatever else Harvard had. I signed up for a Japanese history class, too. At the end of my senior year, John Kennedy named my professor Edwin Reischauer his ambassador to Tokyo. So, on my way to Taiwan as a Fulbright scholar, I stopped in Tokyo to meet Reischauer at the US Embassy, and two of Reischauer's grown children took me around Tokyo. I reported in Tokyo later in my career.Was Ezra Vogel working on Japan at the time?Yes, Ezra had. Ezra was in my Spanish class in the first year. He hadn't yet decided what he would focus on then. We sat next to each other. We were always personal friends even though he was a bit older. He was a nice man and became a professor later. I sat in the same classroom with several other older people who went on to teach about China, including Dorothy Borg. Even then, she had white hair. She worked for the Council on Foreign Relations in New York but was taking classes at Harvard. When I first went to China, she was still involved with China.So, from that group of Americans studying China at Harvard at that time, many went on to do things related to China, including Orville Schell, Andy Nathan and me. I did not know Perry Link while in Harvard.Many major figures in China studies today were at Harvard with you.Yale had Mary and Arthur Wright, but they were graduate students at Harvard with me and went on to become full professors at Yale. This must be because that was a place where Fairbank was an evangelical figure that people gravitated towards, and he was preaching this new faith of Chinese studies.From Pentagon Papers to VietnamWhat did you do after Harvard?I spent a year in Taiwan when I graduated. I wanted to stay, but Fairbank hurried me up to get back to graduate school.Did you listen to Fairbank?I was going to get my PhD at Harvard and teach Chinese history, but after five years, I became less interested in actually studying Chinese history.During the 1960s, the Vietnam War happened. Vietnam is kind of a cousin of China, so I started reading everything I could about Vietnam. I even started a course on Vietnam so that Harvard undergraduate and graduate students could learn about Vietnam.I got a fellowship to return to Taiwan to work on my dissertation about Hu Hanmin. At that time, many American GIs were coming to Taiwan on what we call R&R — “rest and recreation.” The U.S. government made a deal with the American military that anyone who served in Vietnam for a year had an automatic R&R, a paid week leave to go anywhere in Southeast Asia. Many chose Taiwan to chase pretty young Chinese girls. So, GIs would show up in Taiwan and didn't know what they were doing. I would see them on the street, go up and talk to them.I became more interested in Vietnam over time. A friend told me, “You're spending so much time reading newspapers about Vietnam, you should become a journalist.” It hadn't occurred to me. By chance, I met a correspondent from The Washington Post, Stanley Karnow, who was the Hong Kong correspondent for the Post and covered Vietnam for quite a while. He asked me to be his stringer, a part-time assistant. So I would send my story to him, but he'd never do anything with it.I was discouraged, and that's when I met Harrison Salisbury through my grandfather in Montreal. Salisbury asked me to send stories to The New York Times. I thought I was a traitor to my job with The Washington Post. But it wasn't really a job; it was in my imagination. When I sent Salisbury my first story, I received a cable from the foreign editor of The New York Times saying they had put my story on the front page and given me a byline. My parents at home in Cambridge, Massachusetts saw it that morning, and they wondered, what is Fox doing?” They thought I was working on my PhD dissertation.“Oh, that looked like our son there.”The story was about Chiang Kai-shek's son, Chiang Ching-kuo, who was becoming Chiang Kai-shek's successor. I wrote about how he was going about it. That was a good news story, so The New York Times sent me a message and said, “If you'd like to work for us, we'll be happy to take more stories.”So I started sending them stories once or twice a week, and after four or five months, they gave me a job offer in New York. That was just one of those lucky breaks. I guess The New York Times correspondent who made that initial contact with me, Harrison Salisbury, who had won several Pulitzer Prizes, must have seen something in me.What's your relationship with your editors over the years? Generally pretty good. They certainly intimidated me at the beginning. The person who actually hired me was the foreign editor at The New York Times, James Greenfield. When I returned to New York, it was New Year's Day, the end of 1971. James asked me about my training and asked me to spend the next couple of months sitting at the foreign desk to watch how they do things. I couldn't even write stories for a while; I just handed them the copy that came up. I later got promoted to news assistant and was asked to find something interesting and write one story a week. I wrote some stories about Asia for the newspaper. They wouldn't give me a byline at first as I wasn't a reporter. My first assignment was to Newark, New Jersey, which had gone through a series of terrible race riots in the late 1960s. I was going to be the correspondent in Newark.This was after they hired you and during those two years of training? Yes. One day, I was covering a story. The new mayor of Newark — the first black mayor of a major American city — called a meeting in city hall to see if he could stop the riots.He was trying to bring people together: white, black and Hispanic. Within ten seconds, everybody was having a fistfight. People were knocking each other out with the police and mayor in front of them. The mayor yelled at people to stop, and they still kept punching and hitting each other with big pieces of wood right in City Hall. And I was there. Two very large black men grabbed my arms behind my back. The nasty term for white people in those days was “honky”. They said, “What are you doing here, honky?” They began punching me in the stomach and hitting me in the head. I thought I was going to die right there before I finally broke free. I got to my office to send my story of the city hall by telephone across New York City. And they put that story on the front page.Your second front page at The New York Times. So the editor of The New York Times was a very intimidating man, Abe Rosenthal, a gifted correspondent who'd won several Pulitzer Prizes. He won a Pulitzer Prize in Poland and Germany. I got this message saying, “Mr. Rosenthal wants to see you in his office immediately.”I thought, “oh jeez I'm getting fired.” I just got beaten up in City Hall and they're going to fire me. So I walked in, and he said, “Fox, that was a really nice story.” He said, “you did a really good job on that story. We have another assignment for you. I want you to go over to the New York Hilton Hotel”, which was about ten blocks away.He told me that one of our correspondents, Neil Sheehan, had gotten a secret government document, the Pentagon Papers, which were boxes and boxes of government documents. Neil couldn't read all that by himself, so I had to go and read it with him. Besides, I knew about Asia. By that point, I had read as much as I could about Vietnam. I also knew Neil Sheen because I had helped him come to Harvard to give a talk about Vietnam while I was a graduate student. So we actually had a good relationship. I spent the next two months in Neil's hotel room reading documents, but two of us were not enough, so a third and eventually a fourth correspondent were brought in. Did you understand the risk you were taking working with the classifieds? You could be arrested. Right, yes. I had to tell my parents, “I can't tell you anything about what I'm doing.”When we finally started publishing, I wrote three of the seven installments, which was amazing because I was a junior person. Abe Rosenthal called me back into his office after we finished, and said, “Fox, you did a nice job on this, so we're sending you somewhere. We're sending you to Vietnam.” He said, “I want you to go immediately.” So I went from the Pentagon Papers to Saigon. That was a surprise. That was not where I wanted to go. In fact, what I really wanted was to go to cover China, but that would have meant Hong Kong. But Vietnam turned out to be fascinating. There was always something happening.Reporting on the frontlines in VietnamCan you talk about your Vietnam experience?It was an experience at many levels. Intellectually, it was seductive because there was so much going on, people getting shot every day. The only way to truly understand it was to be there.You could divide the correspondents into those who stayed in Saigon and those who went out to the field. I wanted to be in the field as much as possible. I spent time on Navy ships and even in a fighter plane, hitting what appeared to be factories.The GIs, or “grunts”, wanted to know what we wrote about them, and some would come to our office in Saigon. Sometimes they were angry. A few correspondents received threats, but we mostly had a good relationship. The more you were willing to go out into the field, the more respect you earned. I was out there from the beginning.Vietnam was more complicated than I initially thought. If you were strictly anti-war or pro-government, you missed the full picture.You had been against the war before. How did you feel once you were there?I was part of the anti-war movement and then found myself in the middle of the war. I got to know many ordinary Vietnamese who were actually happy to have Americans there because the communist soldiers would threaten to confiscate their property. Vietnam was more complicated than I initially thought. If you were strictly anti-war or pro-government, you missed the full picture.What was the relevance of the Pentagon Papers then?The Pentagon Papers showed that the U.S. government was deceiving the public, but we were also helping some people. It was more complex than the extreme positions made it seem.Were you at risk of being arrested for the Pentagon Papers?Possibly, yes. My name was on the case, but by that time, I was in Vietnam. I put it out of my mind.How long were you in Vietnam?I was in Vietnam from 1971 to 1975, with breaks in Japan. The New York Times didn't let anyone stay more than two years at a time because of the exhaustion of war. But I kept going back and stayed until the last day of the war in 1975 when I left on a helicopter to a Navy ship.I took the place of a brilliant female correspondent, Gloria Emerson. I inherited her apartment, and Vietnam was as exciting a place as it could be. There was always something to do, something to see, something that you shouldn't see but wanted to see. Vietnam was all that I talked about for four years. I stayed until the last day of the war, April 30th, 1975.Did you get hurt during the war?I was hit by mortar fragments and lost my hearing for almost a month. Once, I was left behind after the unit I accompanied ran into an ambush. I had to walk three hours to get back to safety.Vietnam absorbed all parts of your brain, your mind, your body, and your psyche. It just took over.How did the war experience change you?It depends on the individual. Some correspondents loved Vietnam and never wanted to leave. Others were terrified and left without a word. Even today, I still belong to an online Google group of ex-correspondents in Vietnam, and I still get dozens of messages every day. They always want to discuss Vietnam.Back in the day, some got afraid and just left. I had several friends who would literally just leave a message at their desk saying, “Please pack my belongings and send them back to New York.” It's hard to generalise and have an ironclad rule about. It was different from regular assignments in most other countries.Well, Vietnam was certainly special.Vietnam absorbed all parts of your brain, your mind, your body, and your psyche. It just took over. When the war ended, I came out on a helicopter that landed on a Navy ship. The captain said I could make one phone call. I called my editor in New York and said, “I'm out, I'm safe.” He replied, “Good, because we're sending you to Hong Kong.”Recommended ReadingsFox Butterfield, 1982, China: Alive in the Bitter SeaJohn Fairbank, Edwin Reischauer and Albert Craig, 1965, East Asia: The Modern Transformation, George Allen & UnwinEdwin Reischauer & John Fairbank, 1958, East Asia: The Great Tradition, Houghton MifflinAcknowledgementThis newsletter is edited by Caiwei Chen. The transcription and podcast editing is by Aorui Pi. I thank them for their support!About usPeking Hotel is a bilingual online publication that take you down memory lane of recent history in China and narrate China's reality through the personal tales of China experts. Through biweekly podcasts and newsletters, we present colourful first-person accounts of seasoned China experts. The project grew out of Leo's research at Hoover Institution where he collects oral history of prominent China watchers in the west. Peking Hotel is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Lastly…We also have a Chinese-language Substack. It has been a privilege to speak to these thoughtful individuals and share their stories with you. The stories they share often remind me of what China used to be and what it is capable of becoming. I hope to publish more conversations like this one, so stay tuned!Correction note: An earlier version of this piece incorrectly referred to sinologists Mary and Henry Wright as "Fords." We thank reader Robert Kapp for bringing this to our attention. Get full access to Peking Hotel at pekinghotel.substack.com/subscribe

Jesus and His cousin John the Baptist came on the public scene at about the same time. John showed up first with a spectacular ministry of preaching down by the Jordan River in a wilderness area not far from the north end of the Dead Sea. Thousands of people came to see him and upon hearing him they repented of their sins and were baptized by him. It was there that Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John.   John's voice rang out, and its echoes filled the Promised Land. The people of Israel were under the rule and oppression of the Romans and lived in expectation of the coming of the Messiah to deliver them. I can imagine that over the past thirty years the stories of the birth of Jesus by the shepherds, the appearance of the wise men, Herod killing all the boys under two years of age in Bethlehem, and the appearance of Jesus at the temple astounding the religious leaders, had spread across the land and when John showed up preaching, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2), must have caused that expectation of the Messiah's coming to rise even higher!   Luke tells in verses 15, that the people “were in expectation” and some people were confused by his crusade and wondered if maybe he was the Messiah. No doubt, the authorities were afraid of his influence with the multitudes, who believed him to be a prophet. Although he performed no miracles, his voice had an Elijah-like ring and his message had an unmistakable authority. As the days passed, more and more people even speculated that he might be the very Messiah Himself. In verses 16-18, John did his best to put a stop to their thinking this as he described the difference between his ministry and the ministry of Jesus.   John said, “He indeed baptized with water”, because it was the seal of repentance that he required of his converts. But there was more to it than mere baptism in water. That was all well and good for a ministry of repentance. But he was there to announce the coming of One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (3:16).   Between John and Jesus was a great gulf. John was a voice; Jesus was the Word. John had come in the spirit and power of Elijah; Jesus would come in the spirit and power of Jehovah. John's baptism related to repentance; Jesus' baptism related to regeneration (John 3:3-7).   Had the nation responded to the ministry of John and the Messiahship of Jesus, then the baptism of the Holy Spirit would have been for Israel. As it was, that side of things was postponed for some two thousand years, and the Gentiles came into the blessing that the Jews had spurned.   The baptism that John foretold took place on the Day of Pentecost when a small nucleus of believers were baptized by the Holy Spirit into the church, the mystical body of Christ (Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; especially v. 13). John, of course, like all of the Old Testament prophets, knew nothing of the mystical body of Christ which we know as the church. All he discerned was that if Israel missed the baptism of the Spirit, they would be faced with a baptism of fire, which would be a judgment of fire.   John made this clear in verse 17: “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire." Yes, my friend, Jesus and His angels will gather “the wheat”, the genuine believer, into His dwelling place in heaven one day as He promised in John 14:2-3: “In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” But if you reject Jesus and His salvation, like the “chaff” you will face the judgement of “unquenchable fire”!   To reject or receive Jesus is your choice! May the Lord help you to make the right one today!   God bless!

In My Father's Kitchen "Hometown Heroes" on Family Life You have been at an intersection, where a homeless person is standing at that street corner, holding a cardboard sign asking for help. Many people drive by, which makes sense, because a cash handout might be diverted toward furthering an addiction. Yet, one of those episodes became the spiritual calling for someone who knows a thing or two about feeding people. He bought a lunch, circled back, offered it to the man, and had a life-changing conversation.  For both men. John and Leigh-Ann Tumino launched In My Father's Kitchen in 2011 to address the physical and spiritual hungers which were widespread in parts of Syracuse. Chef John Tumino tells our Mark Webster about this ministry, the people it serves, and how the people who carry out this kind of loving work are transformed too.   You can find more about In My Father's Kitchen from their website, online video and history. IMFK also sponsors a program to help panhandlers and homeless individuals to build up work experience and skills. It is cleverly named "Hire Ground".    -   -   - Hometown Heroes is a Tuesday feature from Family Life News. Find these inspiring stories during the Noon Report, 5 O'Clock Report, and our podcast feed. These are available from the website, our livestream, the Family Life Now app, and many podcast players. Listen, subscribe or download them by searching for "Family Life News".  

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." -John 14:1-3  What you thought was dead,  look again. What you thought was impossible,  He disagreed with you-- feel the Promise of It.  All you have to do is keep facing the Son,  and letting these words water you,  letting your practice work the soil,  while you face the Son.  While you feel the blooming,  the flowering,  the fruiting,  the Law of Love.  It must be.  Whatever it is... it must be.  I Love you, nik nikki@curlynikki.com Please support the show: ▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings ▶▶ Cash App $NikWalton  __________________________________________ LINKS Surrender Novena #1 (All nine days in one place!) Surrender Novena #2 (All nine days in one place!)   Surrender Novena Day 7-Father Ruotolo Dolindo  I perform miracles in proportion to your full surrender to me and to your not thinking of yourselves. I sow treasure troves of graces when you are in the deepest poverty. No person of reason, no thinker, has ever perform miracles, not even among the saints. He does divine works whosoever surrenders to God. So don't think about it anymore, because your mind is acute and for you it is very hard to see evil and to trust in me and to not think of yourself. Do this for all your needs, do this all of you and you will see great continual silent miracles. I will take care of things, I promise this to you.  O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times) Mother, I am yours now and forever. Through you and with you I always want to belong completely to Jesus. Amen" "I Come to Him Running The Prophet said, God Most High has said: When my worshipper's thoughts turn to Me, there am I with him. And when he makes mention of Me within himself, I make mention of him within Myself. and when he makes mention of Me in company, I make mention of him in a better company. Ifhe draw near to Me a hand's breadth, I draw near to him an arm's length; and if he draw near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him the length of both arms wide outstretched; and if he come to Me walking, I come to him running. And if he meet Me with sins equivalent to the whole world, I will greet him with forgiveness equal to it." - The Mishkat Al- Masabih

Subscribe today for access to our full catalog of bonus episodes, including 2+ new episodes every month! www.patreon.com/boysbiblestudy The collaborations between Baptist preacher Estus Pirkle and the Ormond family of filmmakers are considered some of the most legendary Christian genre films ever for their shocking imagery and urgent sermonizing. With our review this week of THE BELIEVER'S HEAVEN, we here at Boys' Bible Study have now reviewed the entire trilogy, which also includes IF FOOTMEN TIRE YOU, WHAT WILL HORSES DO? and THE BURNING HELL. All three films feature fiery narration by Estus Pirkle intercut with colorful, dramatic vignettes by the Ormonds. THE BELIEVER'S HEAVEN is unique in the trilogy for focusing on the pleasure of heaven rather than the tragedy of earth or the horrors of hell (but don't worry — we still get enough of those in this piece to keep our interest piqued.) “In My Father's House there are many mansions,” says Estus Pirkle quoting John 14:2. He then proceeds to take us on a tour through a real mansion to hype us up for the delights of heaven. This gleeful literalness drives the rest of the film, which includes lots of time spent filming Christians with physical disabilities to prove to non-disabled viewers that they should be excited to take on “glorified bodies” in heaven. However, the close-up shots on the deformities of disabled people remind the viewer that the Ormond family first made their mark in vaudeville and carnival entertainment, where the disabled were frequently displayed as sideshow “freaks”. By titillating the viewer at the expense of the disabled and in the name of religious education, the Ormonds show their talent as “mondo” genre filmmakers, a style marked by a moralizing tone that barely disguises the actual purpose of selling the audience on morbid or lurid imagery. The contrast between the exploitative tone of the Pirkle/Ormond films and their seemingly sincere moral message makes THE BELIEVER'S HEAVEN, and the rest of the trilogy, one of the most fascinating watches in all of faith-based film. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Subscribe to our Twitch for livestreams: http://twitch.tv/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/boysbiblestudy  

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 31st of July, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Mathew 8:20:”And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then we go to John 14:2:”In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” What a beautiful promise from our Lord Jesus Christ. Today maybe I am speaking to some young couples who are really struggling to find a home to live in because there just doesn't seem to be any houses available. Jesus is telling you and I today, not to worry for He is building us a beautiful home in heaven. Rather be content with what you have at the moment and invest in heavenly things.I remember, long time ago, a gentleman who I regarded greatly, a very hard working man. He basically spent most of his working life building a house for his retirement, and when he had finished it and he had retired, I went to visit him one day, and I admired his house and he was sitting on the verandah and I said, ”What a wonderful job you've done here.” And tears started running down his face and he said, ”Yes, but what for Angus?” You see the man had cancer and three months after he had moved into his new house, he died.The Lord is warning you and me today not to put all our finances, all our effort, into things which will perish one day. Do not be like that foolish farmer - remember? - who had a bumper crop and made a lot of money and he said, “I'm going to build another barn to put all my bumper crop into, all my maize, my wheat, and then I'm going to sit down and I'm going to eat, drink and be merry.” The Lord said, ”Foolish man, this very night I will require your soul from you.”Let us concentrate on our eternal home where we'll live in peace with our beloved Jesus forever and not be so taken up by having to own a home on this earth.Jesus bless you and goodbye.

A fun chat with Kirsten Miller all about her new book Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books, representing the real South, how nosy some people have become, and her obsession with mushrooms. We also recommend: In My Father's Basement by T. J. Payne, The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong, and Mark of the Fool 7 … Continue reading Ep. 255 The Nosiness Of Strangers With Kirsten Miller

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Jn 14:1-6 - Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in Me. In My Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to Him, “Master, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3) We need to return to tradition I https://catholicstand.com/for-eucharistic-revival-we-need-to-return-to-tradition-part-1/ 3, 4) We need to return to tradition II https://catholicstand.com/for-eucharistic-revival-we-need-to-return-to-tradition-part-ii/

Have you ever gotten so tired of life that you wished you could disappear and start over somewhere else? Ever wish that fantasy would just pull you out of your circumstances? They make movies about things like that, but it's not real.   John 14:2–3 says, “In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”   How incredible that Jesus is actually going to do this for us someday. If you live long enough, the cares of life sort of wear you down and you need a good, long rest.   Good for us that our Lord cares enough for us that He has already gone ahead to prepare a place of peace, rest, and joy for each of us. And it will be a real place, not just a scouting location for a film. One day, in His perfect time, He will call you out of this groaning world, and take you to a spot that has literally been prepared with just you in mind!    Let's pray.   Lord, you are good to us in countless ways. We thank you so much for the home you have prepared for us. In Jesus' name, amen.