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Introduction How effective are resolutions?  Do they work? Statistics tell us that on average between 64-80% of New Year's resolutions are abandoned in the first 3-weeks of committing to the resolution. In this podcast we talk about comparison to others and comparison to ourselves versus compassion for self and compassion for others.  Often New Year’s resolutions can often turn into dissolutions, good intentions can turn into frustrations and aspirations can turn into deflations.   The word resolution if you break it down is re solution - It means I have to come up with another solution because the first solution didn’t work. Time Magazine tells of the Top 10 Failed Resolutions. The top five of these are ones I think we can all relate to…. Lose Weight and Get Fit  Quit Smoking  Learn Something New  Eat Healthier and Diet  Save Money   However, there are pivot times in lives. The New Year can give us a new start. Our birthdays give us a fresh approach. An anniversary can initiate change.   These can be helpful to pause and reflect and then project hope but if we are setting ourselves up for failure, we may want to rethink making resolutions.  If resolutions don’t work, what is the solution? Thesis: If we change our focus from comparison to compassion, we may set ourselves up to live by our commitments as a lifelong expression of our health not just a temporary resolution.      Resolutions find their origin in comparison; transformation finds its way in compassion. There are two ways in which we compare 1. We compare ourselves to others and 2. We compare ourselves to ourselves.  We compare ourselves to others Social media sets us up for this. We have a tendency to compare ourselves with others best posts.  One of the guys in AMG said the social media is “Air B & B” It is the place that people air either their bitching or their bragging. Posts either are complaining about others or congratulating oneself. They are either about being the victim or being the victor.  Illustration - Comparison of finances  People who are making $30,000 were asked how much more would make them happy and they said if they could make $50,000 People who are making $100,000 said $250,000 would make them happy. We compare ourselves to ourselves.   This can be a very cruel process and we can find ourselves really being hard on ourselves. There is a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt = we have done something bad, shame = we are bad. We compare our present self to ourselves of the glory days of the past or the ideal self of the future.   Resolutions usually are accompanied by the measurement of more. The words ‘more’ and “need to” come into play: How many more pounds do I need to lose if I am dieting? or How many more pounds do I need to add if I am weightlifting? How many more miles do I need to walk or bike to be in better shape? How many more podcasts do I need to listen to be more informed? How many more lessons do I need to take to be really good? How many more times do I need to attend church to be more spiritual? How many more dollars do I need to make to be content?  How many more promotions do I need to have to be successful? How many more pounds, miles, podcasts, lessons, times, dollars, promotions… the list of measurements goes on and on. The word measurement - me assuring myself it meant something We can become hard on ourselves for not being where we once were or for not arriving at the place we could be. Measurement keeps us from being in the present moment with ourselves. It is always about comparing the present to what was or what could be.  We are always comparing another time other than the present Resolutions are based on comparison, either comparison to the success of others or comparing to the vision of our “perfect” selves.  Such resolutions do not work.  So back to the original question, “What is the solution to resolutions?”   The solution is not found in comparison but found in compassion again two types of compassion but in reverse order 1. Compassion for self and 2. Compassion for others. Compassion for Self  We cannot help but compare that is why we need compassion. Compassion doesn’t sound very manly, valiant, macho or ballsy when we first say it but if we really stop and think about the word compassion does stir something deep inside of us. We actually need two types of compassion (present compassion and intentional compassion) If we give ourselves compassion, we will find that we would not be so hard on ourselves If we are kind to ourselves, we will have the kind of life we desire. If we love ourselves, we will find ways to express this love in what we do.  Instead of measuring the results look for ways that are pleasurable expressions. Transform Obligation To Inspiration  Compassion for Others Transform Getting into Giving Just stop for a few seconds here and focus inside on the word ‘compassion’...             (Hesitate for a count of 5)  It stirs something in us doesn’t it. Something inside of me starts to look outward for someone in need.  It is like we are summoning passion. Come passion Transform getting acknowledged into giving acknowledgment to others. We can’t give what we don’t have. If I have compassion for myself, I will have compassion for others. If I love myself and then love others. The key to loving others is to love myself. The key to having compassion for others is to be self-compassionate.  Some would say that this will lead to narcissism. Actually, just the opposite is true because true self compassion and self-love will always overflow into relationships for it cannot be contained. Narcissism is about keeping it all for self. Self-love cannot be contained.  Instead of comparison we realize that we are all fellow strugglers on our own journey.   Conclusion Compassion is not an arrival point. It is a resolution every day.  Commit to this solution by stating: I will make commitments that are not about comparisons to others or to my perfect self. Instead, I will live in compassion and self-love. I will give that compassion and love expression to myself and to others. This is the solution to resolutions. It is not about being more or achieving more. It is about giving expression to who I already am.

(Download this audio. Click Here.) INTRODUCTION (How to prevent mental crashes by learning to re-stack your mindset.) Have you ever had a complete melt-down, a real failure of your world-view, where the world has gone to hell and stayed there? Sad to tell you: it’s your own damned fault. What makes it worse is to […] The post Introduction – Make Yourself Great Again – Mindset Solutions appeared first on Living Sensical.

Interviews in this edition: 1. Andrea Baraldi Cunha, Research Associate, Department of Physical Therapy, Biomechanics & Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Title: “A Novel Means-End Problem-Solving Assessment Tool for Early Intervention: Evaluation of Validity, Reliability, and Sensitivity” Introduction: A new, simple tool could potentially help screen for motor delay quickly and easily. The “Means-End Problem-Solving Assessment Tool”—MEPSAT for short—has been assessed by comparing a group of children with developmental delay with a control group who were typically developing. 2: Halil Alkan PT, PhD, Physical Therapist, Muş Alparslan University, Muş and Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Title: “Early Spontaneous Movements of Infants With Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy” Introduction: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy investigated in 38 infants between three and five months old and compared with typically developing children and scored for a range of indicators of motor delay found Halil Alkan hypoxic brain injury was strongly associated with the overall adequacy of infants’ motor repertoires, and the frequency of their so-called “fidgety movements”. 3: Casey (Mary C) Hooke PhD, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, Minnesota Title “Testing the Child PROMIS Physical Activity Measurement in Youth Attending a Large Community Event” Introduction Patient-reported outcome measures were successfully used to assess health-care interventions, by collecting data from child-patients using the system known as: PROMIS — the Child Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. 4: Gunfrid Vinje Størvold, PT PhD, Department of Habilitation, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Levanger, Norway Title: “Current Physical Therapy Practice in Norway for Children With Cerebral Palsy” Introduction: A survey of real-world pediatric physical therapy practice for cerebral palsy in Norway found strong adherence to recommended evidence-based practice. 5: Marcelo R Rosales, Biokinesiology Program, Infant Neuromotor Control Laboratory, University of Southern California, Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, CA Title: Collecting Infant Environmental and Experiential Data Using Smartphone Surveys Introduction: Promising early research has found smartphones could help physical therapists monitor infant development in a range of clinical situations. 6: Brittany Anderson PT DPT, Associate Professor in Physical Therapy, University of Jamestown, Fargo, ND Title: Using a 3D-Printed Prosthetic to Improve Participation in a Young Gymnast Introduction: A prosthetic hand that can grip, inexpensively customised with the help of a 3-D printer, helps a nine-year old girl do gymnastics despite her lack of functioning fingers on one of her hands. 7: James Shanandore, Asst Prof of Anatomy & Physiology, Univ of Jamestown Physical Therapy Prog, Fargo ND Title: “3-D Printed Prosthetic Hand Helps Junior Gymnast: The Back Story” Introduction: How physical therapists can harness 3-D printing to individualise a functioning prosthetic hand. 8: Mary Gannotti PT PhD, Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Services, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, Research Scientist, Shriners Hospital, Springfield, MA Title: Designing Exercise to Improve Bone Health Among Individuals With Cerebral Palsy Introduction: Combining mechanical theory and practical experience can help young patients with cerebral palsy avoid painful morbidity late in life by directing good exercise patterns in pre-puberty and adolescence to specifically target the skeleton and rather than muscle alone.

Introduction How are you doing these days? Are you feeling afraid, overwhelmed, anxious, maybe increasingly aware of your mortality or frailty? Are you coming close to a breaking point? Don’t let life’s crushing uncertainty and challenges break you! Don’t lose heart! Become an Unbroken Vessel, finding trust, balance, and strength in your weakness! As we’re […]

* Episode 5 - part 1 Alert* :In this episode we are going to be discussing :What it's like to work remotely / from home.How to stay motivated when working from home.What are the tools that the experts use to manage all of their work and how do they stay focussed.Special Thanks to the Guest that made this wonderful episode happen :Nawazish Ali: is a self directed software engineer with around 3+ years of experience. Currently working as a Remote Lead Front End Engineer at Metru. He has also been an active part of the local dev community and loves to take part in open source software. Asra Shoaib: is a hard core programmer from past 8 years, having expertise in developing ecommerce stores around the globe. Addicted to the roller coaster ride of being a web developer, handling weird client request and coping up with new tech. Currently working on Ecommerce platform like Magento, Shopify and MEAN Stack. Abdul Moiz Sheikh:is a software engineer who has extensively worked on backend systems and on the cloud. He has worked at multiple startups in the past as a full stack engineer. Currently he is self employed and exploring web security and pen testing.What we discussed in this part :

Revelation 16:1-9 November 1, 2020 Lord’s Day Worship Sean Higgins The sermon starts around 17:10 in the audio file. Or, Par for the Curse Series: Just Conquer Part 43 Introduction How we do things communicates along with what we say

00:00:00 Introduction: How to host a game night with Alfred the "Rules Lawyer"Love and Monsters00:10 38 Game NightBoard Game ArenaConnect FourSantoriniSuper-Skill Pinball: 4-Cade00:23:00 Game NewsDarkest DungeonSpielbox 2021Lookout NewsJennifer's TwitchFantasy Flight: Play and ShareCivilization: Terra IncognitaGolden Elephant Award00:34:25 Games on the BrainGreat Western TrailTawantinsuyuToo Many BonesBonfireRoads and Boats00:43:33 Game Review: Marco Polo II: In the Service of the Khan01:27:00 Co-Host Segment: How to host a game night01:48:37 Game SommelierLetter 1ConcordiaThree KingdomsFortTaverns of TiefenthalBusIrish GaugeIt's A Wonderful WorldGlen More 2Marvel VillainousLetter 2COIN GamesNavajo WarsAgricola, Master of BritainNemo's War 2nd Ed.Letter 3TrickerionBarrageOn Mars18 ChesapeakeLetter 4Mansions of Madness 2.0Journeys of Middle EarthPan AmArchitects of the West KingdomGame Brain Music Playlist: Tracks for tracks. Songs for stocks.

Sick and tired of hearing all the negative reviews of this hotly anticipated sequel? Have a listen to this nearly 2 hour discussion of 2020's most controversial game, made by the naughtiest of dogs! :) SPOILERS THROUGHOUT Timestamps: 0:05 - Introduction/How we paced our play through 4:45 - Discussing the initial leaks 9:51 - Chri's initial early hours 15:42 - Jake's initial early hours 20:03 - Prologue 25:38 - Segment: Joel's Death 38:59 - Seattle Day 1, Birthday Flashback 55:08 - Seattle Day 2: Ellie & Abby (incl. short recap of Abby's Day 1) 1:13:54 - Seattle Day 3: Abby #sloppytransitions 1:23:11 - Farm & Endgame (incl. St Mary's Hospital flashback scene) 1:32:48 - Ending 1:33:59 - Final Thoughts & Ratings 1:41:44 - THE BULL**** (Twitter controversy) #dontbeshittytopeople 1:48:04 - Outro

Luke 24:13-35 Introduction How did you come to know Jesus? Was it one big moment of coming to understand Jesus or was it a long process? I was once stopped by some evangelists who wanted to check to see if I was really a Christian. They asked how I became a Christian. I responded that… Read more

Weekend Retreat with Ajahn Hasapanna at Jhana Grove Retreat Centre in Serpentine, Western Australia, from the 28th February to 1st March 2020. Track 1: Introduction How to be in the present moment Please support the BSWA in making teachings available for free online via Patreon. Find the full retreat on https://bswa.org/teaching/2020-february-we…-ajahn-hasapanna/ To find and download more Retreats on DeeperDhamma, visit the BSWA teachings page: https://bswa.org/teachings/, choose the retreat you want and then type the year and month into the DeeperDhamma search box e.g. 2019 November.

Below you will find Pastor Jason Cruise’s “Sermon Gauntlet”Find out more about Pastor Jason Cruise at jasoncruise.com Description For Web Title: Scripture: Series Engine Keywords: YouTube Description: Working Title: Passage: Supporting Passages: Tuesday: Heart Preparation through meditation Wednesday: Head Preparation through study Thursday: Hands Preparation through arrangement Friday:  Close it out. Exegetical: []Step 1:  Pray For Illumination “I’m not looking for someone who knows what they are doing. I’m looking for someone who knows what I am doing.” -  from Dave Sylvester in York  as the Lord spoke to him in sermon prep Ask for insight. Ask for clarity. Ask for Spirit power to hear His voice. God give me the ability to see this passage as You meant for it to be seen. To understand it as You meant for it to be understood. To apply it in a way that moves people into living practically in Your power. Refuse to chase the information first. Chase His heart about the passage first. Prepare my heart first with His heart Prepare my head next through study Prepare my hands for outline and delivery and digital imagery []Step 2:  Read it, re-read it []Step 3: Read it with an interlinear and break it down []Step 4: Read multiple translations []Step 5: Draw Out Dominant Thoughts ARRANGE: []Step 6: Pray over the arranging that it would make sense Pray for the introduction Pray for the arranging Pray for the closing - for the ability to bring it home. []Step 7: Choose The Communication Model []Step 8: Arrange it in a skeleton - get the bones laid out TYPEOUT: []Step 9: Type Out Sections []Step 10: Write the intro []Step 11: Write the conclusion Images: []Step 12: Craft The Images Background Work: If I was standing there when this passage was unfolding what would I see ? What would I feel ? About what does the passage talk? What is the driving Biblical principle - the timeless truth? What was The Spirit’s intent for inspiring this passage? What does it reveal? What core doctrine does this sermon address? Does This Passage Contain Any: Recurring words? Loud adjectives? Word Pictures? What did it mean to the people when the author wrote it? what the biblical writer was saying to the biblical audience it can never mean what it never meant Is this a story or parable ? If so, briefly describe the characters. Look at it from their position: Is there tension anywhere in this passage? Find the tension and you have a real story. Theological tension? Relational tension? Does the passage itself create tension in me or in the world around me? If this passage were a town, what’s the Main Street? How does this find its fulfillment in Jesus “In every village and hamlet in England there is a road that leads to London.” - Spurgeon Why does this issue matter to God? The Shouting Line: DO NOT REST until I can put this sermon - not the exegesis - into one simple thought. What’s the shouting line? If they drug me off the stage and I had to shout something to remember - what is it? Bridge Work: What does it say now to the people who read it today - in timelessness generally? What does this passage teach me about who God is? What does this teach me about who man is? What is this telling me to do? What Do They Need To Know? What’s the one thing? Why Do They Need To Know It? What Do They Need To Do? Why Do They Need To Do It? Imagine what would happen if we actually did this. Example:  If you actually made a list of debt for people that you owe gratitude and you told them what would happen? What will happen to the person who never discovers the truth or principle you are about to address? What Can I Do To Help Them Remember What’s Being Taught? Is there one core phrase I can use to describe this passage in a single sentence? Is there a compare/contrast to explain the dominant thought? “A life devoted to self ultimately leaves you alone.” Is there a metaphor that can describe the passage? Is there a rhyme to make the domain thought more sticky? "You can be tender without surrender" Is there are structure or a rhythm to the passage? Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of counsel of the wicked, or stand in the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers (Psalm 1) Why this story ?? Of all the ones that could be chosen, why this one? Application Work: []What’s the goal of this sermon? What do I want them to think, feel, or do … when it’s over? [] If I actually did what this passage is saying how would my life look differently daily ? If I had hidden shame how would this passage affect me? If I were chasing status how would this passage affect me? If I were divorced how would this passage affect me? If I was a teenager how would this passage affect me? If God is only a part of my life but not the authority of my life how would this affect me? []Where can I show God’s mercy in this situation? Exegetical Notes: ARRANGE THE SERMON FOR HEARING: what’s the most effective way to package the sermon so that it can be heard? What Model Am I Using? []Problem. Agitate. Solve. (PAS) Get them to agree with me on a problem or an issue. Agitate it. Stir it up. Solve it with Scripture. []Picture, Promise, Prove, Push Paint a picture of what it could be like or gets attention Capture the promise of the passage Prove it with other Scripture Push for a commitment or action []Hero, Story, Solution The hero/villain goes through a problem and here’s how they solved it or here’s how they failed []PASTOR Person. Start with a person, problem, or pain Amplify the consequences of NOT solving it Story. Insert story, solution, or a system Testimony Offer Response []Before, After, Bridge Before:  here’s your world now After: imagine having this thing gone or solved Bridge:  here’s how to get there []Introduction []How can I be as visual as possible to engage their mind immediately in the beginning? []The Contrast: Positive - Negative - Positive We all want to ___________ (positive) but the problem is _______________ (negative) the good news is that _________________ []If … then []If you don’t do anything, it gets worse []What most people do … []Imagine … []If the only thing you got is … “if the only thing you got from this sermon today was a better understanding of God’s heart for Ethopia, it would be worth it.” []Don’t let this happen to you: []What if … []You’re standing at the crossroads. KEY TRUTH TRANSITION: []Ask them to write down the key truth []Closing What’s the CTA? What do I want them to think, feel, or do? What’s the take-home in all of this? The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the GoodLion podcast network, for more thought provoking Christian podcasts visit  https://goodlion.io/

Introduction How was your week? Anything new? From BLOCKS to BADGES (Questions from Fans) Question from EJAY214 on Instagram: Have negative things/ situations being on the job ever affected your families lives when you come home from work and what advice can you give your fellow LEO’s in dealing with stuff like that. I know sometimes I myself get home and I’m not the same person after experiencing terrible at work. Silverback Chronicles News from Police One.com Back Story: 2 Maryland LEO’s assigned to US Marshalls task force were shot, suspect killed. Officials says the officers sustained gunshot wounds while attempting to make arrest as a part of the Capital Areal Regional Fugitive Task Force on Wednesday 2/12/2020. Questions: Explain what you all go through being on a special task force and how serious it is to stay in shape physically and mentally. How do officers prepare to go out every night? Have you ever been shot on the job and how does it affect you or your family? Back Story: Ohio Police Chief George Kral bans tactical vest for officers, says it sends wrong message to the community. Questions: Are there advantages to wearing a tactical vest vs. a regular vest? The officer said it relieved back their back pain, should the Department sided with their officers? I Got A Story to Tell: Silverback Chronicles NYPD: Man walked into Bronx PD and Open fire on police officers. · Outro Disclaimer --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/silverbackchronicles/message

Introduction: How to Live in the Joy of the Lord (Luke 1:39-56) Magnify the Lord. (Luke 1:46-47) Minimize myself. (Luke 1:48) Meditate on God's work. (Luke 1:49-55) Get Personal . (Luke 1:49) Get Hopeful . (Luke 1:50-53) Get Reflective . (Luke 1:54-55) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Luke 1:39-56What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?You want joy? Give thanks like Mary did in Luke 1:49-55! List 1-3 things from each category. Things I am thankful for: I am thankful right now God is _____________. I am thankful God promised to _____________. I am thankful that in the past, God has _____________. BreakoutPray for one another. Merry Christmas!

Introduction “How do you feel when you wake up in the morning and you look outside the window and it’s raining again? How do you feel?” That is the subject of today’s 10-minute episode.  Continuing Okay, Will, is this a change of pace? Or what is this topic about? No, joy is part of what makes life worthwhile, part of what makes good times more fun. It makes the bad times far more tolerable, and prompts the type of clear thinking needed to get past the hard times. Joy is far more than merely, well, joyful, it is required for a good life. Required to fulfill the Revolution 2.0 principles and philosophy. And like sunscreen, it is best applied liberally and reapplied often. Several years ago when I was preparing, training, for my first 525-mile, 8-day bicycle ride down the Coast of California as part of a group raising money for the Arthritis Foundation. I was riding in a group that included an experienced multiple-day bicycle event rider. We were talking while pedaling, and I expressed my nervousness about my upcoming 525-mile ride. He said to me, “Will, you are strong enough as a rider to make it all 8 days. The question is your butt and your mind.” “What?” I replied, “My butt and my mind?” “Yes, multiple days back-to-back on a bicycle seat can be hard to handle if you are not used to it.” Then he made a point by way of a joke saying, “The best way to train your bottom for something like that is to sit sideways on a split rail fence for about a week.” Then he got to his main point with a question. “Let’s say it is day 5 of 8, you are on a long uphill, the wind is in your face and it is beginning to rain. What are you going to say to yourself?” He let it hang in the air like a rhetorical question, and I got it. Was I going to stick my tongue out and enjoy the rain, or was I going to start feeling sorry for myself? Was I going to be thankful for the training I had done, my very competent bicycle, and the satisfying breakfast that was still partly with me, or was I going to let my mind go downhill while I pedaled uphill? Here was my riding companion’s point: Complaining is a decision. Joy is a decision. Which choice would I make?  We all face decisions like this; how will we react when it is raining again? Or when our party or candidate loses? Or our favorite sports team? Does it take some sort of triumph, or at least very good news for us to be joyful? Or do we need alcohol or other drugs to conjure up joy? Answer: The seeds of joy are everywhere. Like the wild flowers that do not appear in dry seasons, but appear in joyful (there’s that word) profusion when there is enough water that season, joy is latent, always there, waiting for us to water it with the decision to be joyful. Unlike wildflowers, we do not need a season of preparation to find joy; a momentary decision will do it. Here are some of the many advantages of being filled with joy: It’s free. It takes no preparation. Just a choice. Joy can be found anywhere, including in the simplest of things. A hug A happy dog or purring cat A light breeze A child who wants to spend time with you A spouse or partner you want to spend time with Music Seeing an old friend When you are bored, and want to get over it When you are angry or sad, and are ready to get over it. We saw my riding friend, long distance cycling mentor's advice; here’s mine. Everything; being bored, happy, angry, joyful--are all choices. Are we making the right ones? Will, I am not buying that all of these moods are choices. C’mon, when you lose a friend or your dog dies, you are going to be sad--period. And if you get treated unfairly by, for example, law enforcement or your insurance company, you have a right to be mad. Yes? Answer. Yes. Absolutely. But for how long, and what do you get out of it? Sadness is a legitimate emotion, and can be helpful. Righteous anger clearly has its place.

Recovery Happy Hour celebrates inspiring stories of recovery from alcohol addiction and gray area alcohol abuse.  Hosted by Tricia Lewis, we look at life beyond the bottle and what's current in sober culture.   Introduction: How to Party Sober on Halloween Interview: Terri, creator of The Sober Box

On today’s inaugural episode of Our Take on Home and Away our host Johnathon is joined by H&A fan Angel to discuss the latest happenings on Home and Away for the episodes airing in Australia October 14th-17th.Introduction :How long have we watched Home and Away, Who are our favorite characters or stories and why are we still watching?What do we think of the current airing format? Monday-Thursday with three episodes on Thursday.Story Discussion:Justin vs. Robbo over Grace. How do we feel about this story? Does Justin have a right to tell Robbo what to do with his daughter?Robbo’s self destruction has Jasmine worried. How do we feel about this?Colby regrets ending his relationship with Mackenzie. Should the two find their way back together?The investigation around Ben has been completed and he’s been found not guilty with all charges dropped! But this doesn’t mean everything is going smooth for our favorite Astoni’s as John Palmer let him know that the board shop space is up for grabs and they might look elsewhere…Is it time for Bella to take a chill pill? Mariyln’s depression storyline comes right off the heels of Ben’s. Isn’t it nice to see a show that addresses mental health? Where do we think this story is headed?Willow and Dr. Alex- Are we enjoying Home and Away’s first real same sex couple? Do we think that this will be a story that will actually get told or are we going to see this go the way of every other blink and you miss it same sex storyline on this show?Ratings:On a scale of 1-10 how do we rate this weeks H&A? 1 being unwatchable and 10 being the best we’ve ever seen it.

Introduction: How to Prepare to Know Jesus: Your heart must be Ready . (John 1:19-24) Isaiah 40:3 - A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." Your heart must Exalt . (John 1:25-28) Your heart must Receive what He gives. (John 1:29-34) Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead John 1:19-34What was your biggest “take-away” from this passage / message?Explain John the Baptist’s mission. What was He telling to do concerning the coming Christ (John 1:23, see Isaiah 40:3)? How was baptism a way people were preparing themselves?How is “exalting Christ” a motivator to “knowing Christ”?How would you reply if someone asked you, “How can I grow in exalting Christ in my own life?”Read John 1:29. What is the significance of “taking away” sin?*Bonus: John the Baptist got the greatest compliment in the history of everything - Matthew 11:11. What do you think it was about John that made Jesus say this?BREAKOUTPray for one another. Each of you list an “obstacle” that needs cleared from your heart to “make straight the way of the Lord”.

Introduction: How do you know that you may have left our first Love? Here are 10 evidences that you may have left your First Love. 1. You can go a day without having more than a passing thought of Him. 2. You don’t have a strong desire to spend with Him. (Devotional time) 3. You don’t have a hunger for the Word: Bible reading is a chore- something to mark off your to-do list. 4. Spending time prayer is a burden/duty rather than a delight. 5. Your worship is formal, dry, lifeless, merely going through the motions. 6. Private prayer life and worship are almost non-existent… cold and dry. 7. You have little appetite for spiritual food/the word of God. 8. Christianity is more about what you do rather than who you are (performance-based Christianity) “doing vs. being” Who are you when no one's looking? 9. You prefer hanging out with people who don’t know Christ rather than your family in the faith. 10. You almost never share your faith with others. You have no compassion for the lost headed to hell. The church of Ephesus may have left their first love in 4 ways 1. They left their Love for God 2. They left their Love for each other 3 They left their Love for lost souls 4. Or, all 3

Text:Titus 1:5 and 1 Corinthians 2:16 Introduction:How does a person build their conscience.  Our conscience is the internal faculty by which we acquired the will of God to govern our lives.  It is the faculty which recognizes and distinguishes between good and evil prompting and commending good and rejecting and condemn evil.  We must possess,… Read more

Introduction: How to Avoid Destruction by Seduction (Proverbs 6:20-35): Let God's Word direct you, not your Feelings. (Prov 6:20-24a) Watch out for Bait. (Prov 6:24b-25) Consider what it Will Cost you. (Prov 6:26-35). The consequences are Inevitable. (Prov 6:27-29) The consequences will get you no Pity. (Prov 6:30-31) The consequences are foolishly Self-Destructive. (Prov 6:32-35) Proverbs 4:26 - Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Moral Fences: I will not ride alone in a car with someone from the opposite sex other than my spouse or immediate family member.I will not counsel the opposite sex alone– in a closed room or more than once.I speak often and publicly about my affection for my spouse, when s/he is present and when s/he is not.I will compliment the opposite sex on character, not appearance.I will give my spouse total access to my cell phone / computer.Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Proverbs 6:20-35What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?List the consequences this passage lays out that people will face by getting involved in a wrong relationship.If the danger is so obvious, and so devastating, why is this temptation so alluring?What “moral fences” have you implemented to protect yourself?BREAKOUTIs there an inappropriate relationship that you have been flirting with? What do you need to do to repent?

Introduction- How do we face suffering- One thing is how we internalize our suffering, and another is how we manifest our pain in public.-- -Fustration-- -Anger at....-- -Fight or Flight-- -Finally, deprission sets in----How do some of us broadcast our suffering-----1. The Ravaging Circumstances-- -Women were raped, old and young people were killed-- -The Temple was burned.-- -Lam 2-20-21 summarizes the apocalyptic scene--2. The Overarching Reality- Jeremiah understood who was behind all of this.-- -It was not random acts, imperial power or the devil.-- -God was behind this apocalypse.--3. Jeremiah's Reaction-- -23 times in verses 1-20 Jeremiah attributed his pain to God.-- -the Holy Spirit inspired these words---4. Jeremiah's Shift- a Mental Resolve--- -Run to the rock that is higher than I.- Ps 61-2.-- -THINK RIGHT about God. verses 21-23-- a. The Steadfast Love of God-- b. The Mercies of God-- c. The Goodness of God--5. MEDITATING ON GOD's NATURE-- a. Hope in God- v24-- b. Submission to God v26-29-- c. Trust in God- v32--6. THE GOSPEL IN SUFFERING-- a. He bore our affliction and pain, -for by His wounds we were healed.-- b. He refused to take a mind-numbing analgesic, when bearing our sins on the cross.-- c. He was -the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.-- d. Jesus gave his cheek to the strikers-- e. -in our place condemned He stood.---CONCLUSION- How do we face suffering--- a. Honestly, it hurts. No need to pretend. God knows.-- b. Realistically, our sufferings are sent from God.-- c. Remember He who afflicts you. v22-25, 31-33

Introduction: How it all started

Introduction: How we are to preach the Word/Gospel (2 Timothy 4:1-5): Stay Focused . Endure Suffering . Evangelize . 1 Cor 1:17 - For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. Finish Strong . Practical Tips on How to Preach the Gospel: Get Prepared Ask Other Christians Pray for God's peace Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead 2 Timothy 4:1-5GROUPWe as Christian have been given one job to fulfill… Preach the Gospel... God chose “nobody’s” to complete this job. How does God prefer to use regular people?Why is Enduring Suffering such a powerful testimony for God?Why is Finishing Strong so important? Give a specific example of someone is your life that finished strong and an example of someone that didn’t finish strong.BREAKOUTHave you ever failed to walk through a door to God has opened for you to preach the Gospel? Pray for that person that was missed that day to come to Christ either through you or another Christian.

My guest today is Matt Bodnar. He is the host of the Science is Success podcast and a part of the Fresh Hospitality Firm. He’s here to share with us today how to get VC investments and whether they’re right for your business.   Investment with Fresh Hospitality   Fresh Hospitality invests across the food value spectrum. They invest in farming and agriculture through packaged foods.  They also invest in technology, marketing, and accounting that fits around their ecosystem. They're able to add immediate value to their clients. They provide the extra resources needed to help growth.   They are very hands on investors. Matt looks at investing as the discovery of value at one end and the creating of value on the other. Companies they invest in already have good value, but Matt wants to increase their value. There's several ways they provide value to their clients.   There’s a lot of different ways to work with VC’s. Fresh Hospitality works as a traditional private equity firm. They take more stake in the company and become more hands on. Majority of VC’s take on more of a minority position.       Matt’s Beginning   After graduation Matt worked on Wall Street for several years. He’s originally from Nashville. His connection there is what brought him into the food and hospitality industry. He found himself in a new dynamic with new challenges. He’s now starting to find opportunities in the food technology space. While still investing in more traditional farming practices.   Investment in Crowdfunding and the Entrepreneur   Crowdfunding is one of the top platforms for your start up. It improves customer demand and gives you the startup capital you need. Most people will lean more towards a company that started through crowdfunding. It gives them validation of the product.   It’s important to look at the traction and value of a company when investing. Have your proof of concept ready when approached with an investment. This is something you can get from a successful crowdfunding campaign. Connect yourself with your campaign.   When investing, Matt also looks at the entrepreneur themselves. He wants founders to stay involved with their business and continue to lead. It’s originally their vision so they should be taking lead on the creative side of the business.   Matt likes to focus more on the back end of a business and scaling the business. It’s important for Matt when investing to ensure the company connects with Fresh Hospitality’s current investments. He utilizes the success of his investments to leverage other investment opportunities. He’s found this increases the value of those investments.   Investment Decisions Vs. Investment Outcomes   It’s not about the outcome of a decision. It’s about the decision being the right one. Make yourself a decision journal. When you have big decisions coming up, focus on which ones are most important at that moment. Analyze what the decision is and weigh out the outcomes of making the decision. Once you’ve made the decision, analyze what went well and what went bad. By building a log of these decisions you can look back and see how your decision-making skills have grown.   Network Towards an Investment   Most of the clients Matt deals with have sought them out. In the beginning they focused more on being active in seeking clients. Now he gets 5-6 deals pitched to him per week. He’s been able to garner this traction from referrals and word of mouth.   The platform in which you send your pitch is important. When receiving pitches from an online form or their website, Matt immediately discards it. If he’s given a warm introduction by someone he knows, he’s more inclined to receive the pitch. It’s a kind of vetting process when it comes to the leads he receives.   Networking goes a long way when asking for an investment. Use your network to reach the people you need to. It’s much easier to pitch an idea when you have a warm intro. Matt likes to receive pitches in person when possible. If not, he’ll ask for a product sample and a 30-minute meeting. He wants to create that personal connection with them before he starts to invest.   Are VC Investments Right for You?   If you think VC investing is for you, make sure it’s the right thing for your business. It’s a very different life than bootstrapping. The pressure to grow quickly can lead to investing in areas that don’t create value. This can be what destroys your business. Most people who look for VC investments are aware of the holes in their business. They are looking for someone who can provide that capital or intellectual capital.   Be clear with yourself on what you want. What kind of lifestyle do you want? Are you capable of taking it there? Be honest with yourself.         Investments in the Food Industry   In the technology world, most VC’s invest in the seed stage. In the food industry, people lean towards investing in companies that have growth. They’ve already gained traction and have some sort of customer demand. It’s rare to receive investments in the seed stage in the food industry. The more traction you can get the better chance you have at getting an investment.   Word of mouth will help you get traction. There are some investors in the food industry still willing to invest early. Use your connections and network to figure out what the ecosystem is right now. Find the right person for the investment you’re looking for. Look for someone who’s willing to invest in your niche.   Show Intensity, Intelligence, and Integrity   Reputation is very important. Don’t sacrifice your integrity for short-term gains. Shortcuts to get ahead end up pulling you back. You can get money easily but building your reputation is difficult. The integrity of an entrepreneur is important for any investor.     Episode Outline   Introduction: How to Find Which Investment is Right for your Business.   Investing with Fresh Hospitality Matt’s Beginning Investment in Crowdfunding and the Entrepreneur Investment Decisions Vs. Investment Outcomes Network Towards an Investment Are VC Investments Right for You? Investments in the Food Industry Show Intensity, Intelligence, and Integrity   Contact Khierstyn at www.khierstyn.com    Resources and Sponsor Matt Bodnar The Science of Success Podcast Fresh Hospitality Toxic VC TechCrunch   Follow Matt Bodnar @MattBodnar Facebook Twitter   

Introduction: How do we know the Bible is the word of God? So far we have shown that it is because it says it is, and this is demonstrated in various ways. We have looked at the unique nature and impact of the Bible, and we have looked at the single united story that reveals a single author. Today we continue to demonstrate the divine authorship of Scripture by examining prophecy and in particular Messianic prophecy. The Bible is unique in its prophecies. Every religion has had so called prophets, very few have written down predictions to take place hundreds or thousands of years to come. The Bible stands alone in its accuracy in detail. In particular the Bible has about 300 prophecies that have to do with the central figure who would save sinful humanity, Jesus Christ. God’s saving work in Christ we have shown is the centre piece of the Scriptures, and various specific details about this Saviour are predicted from the first book of the Bible. This has been one of my most effective tools in evangelism and I would encourage all of us to be familiar with what the Bible prophesies about Christ. Here is why it is important. The fact that God speaks through prophets about the future demonstrates the reality of God’s existence. It not only proves that He is there, but also that He is a God who is eternal, and who is able to work out the course of history according to His plan. If the prophecies of the Bible are true then there is an eternal and sovereign God who is driving history towards a revealed conclusion. If what God revealed about the Saviour Jesus Christ came true then what God says about the future judgement, and heaven and hell are... Read More Source

Introduction: How many of you have ever kept a prayer journal? Many have testified to the encouragement of looking back on their early prayers and seeing either God answering the prayers, or changing the prayers into better ones. Every prayer is always answered with a yes or a no or a not yet or in a way better than you expected. Today as we come to Romans we are in a closing section where Paul ends his personal travel plans with a request for prayer, Romans 15:30-33, ‘I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.’ In this section we have 3 of Paul’s prayer requests, and since we also have the book of Acts we get to have a front row seat on how God answered Paul’s prayers. As we look at this section we will be looking at it under two headings, lessons about prayer and answers to prayer. Source

Introduction: How do you see the Great Commission being fulfilled? Some think that it is not our job but it was the job of the original apostles, this cannot be the case because the command to preach to all nations lasts as long as the promise of Christ’s presence does, till the end of the age.  Some have a picture of mass evangelism in their minds where Billy Graham style crusades are done all over the world until millions of Christians are saved.  Some see every Christian being a missionary and if each one reaches one then the world can be reached that way.  Today as we continue to look at the ministry of Paul, I want to argue that Paul’s view of fulfilling the Great Commission is this: to plant local churches all over the world in strategic locations.  You see in order to make disciples you need a whole church.  We are not merely called to make converts, but disciples who obey all the commands of Christ which include getting baptised, observing the Lord’s Supper, submitting to elders, practicing church discipline, meeting together, sitting under the word, praying with one another and loving one another, among other things. One on one evangelism, campus ministry, even mentoring does not do all of this only getting someone saved and into a church does.  Secondly, we will see by Paul’s method that instead of making sure every single person in an area hears the gospel, if there is a church in a strategic location which will act as leaven and finally affect the area around it, one can be content with planting a church and moving on. The text that points us to Paul’s method is Romans 15:19, ‘by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so... Read More Source

Introduction: How do we understand the visit of the queen of Sheba to King Solomon? Jesus Christ gives us the lens to see the relevance of this OT character, Luke 11:29-32, ‘When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.’ She is held up as an example of believing. Her visit is held up as one of the highlights of Solomon’s reign, it shows us how God sought to bring the nations to Israel to see His glory, fulfilling His mission through Israel. There are four aspects of this queen which we want to note in this section. She was a seeker, became a worshipper, then a giver and then became a receiver. Source

Introduction How many Dans is too many Dans? While we don’t necessarily wrestle with this challenge we do address it before introducing the very talented Dan Exter, a consultant who works to help businesses understand their market positions in order...

Welcome to Spring 2018!  Believe it or not considering it was snowing on the first day of Spring. It is only a matter of time before we can get into the yard and get into the garden.  Before you can do that, you need to plant seeds and grow some seedlings!  In this post and episode of the Small Scale Life Podcast, I am going to discuss setting up an indoor gardening area and starting seeds indoors for spring gardens. Have you planted seeds yet?  I did on St. Patrick’s Day, and I have some great news to share with you about that! Introduction – How to Start Seeds Indoors for Spring Gardens If you have been following along over the past few weeks, we have been going through the general process for preparing for the 2018 Gardening Season.  We have done the following steps so far: Developed a garden plan – Developed a list of plants we want to grow) Ordered your seeds – Selected a reputable seed vendor and purchased seeds for our garden. While there are many seed vendors out there, I focused on four big vendors that members of the Small Scale Life Facebook Group and MN-WI Regenerative Agriculture Group use most often. Finally!  It is the moment of truth!  It is time to stop thinking and start doing!  I grabbed my seeds and some soil and got ready to get down to business…. Not so fast! Before I could start planting seeds, I had to some additional planning and prep work. Setting up the Indoor Growing Area Part of my planning and preparation work was to select an area in the house to grow seedlings.  In our previous house in St. Louis Park, I grew seedlings on two shelves in a cold and dark basement.  I discussed how I started seeds and some lessons learned after have some failures over the past few years in the following articles (on smallscalelife.com): How to Garden Indoores 8 Steps to Starting Plants Indoors Lessons Learned from Growing Indoors Four Lessons Learned from Starting Seeds For the 2018 Gardening Season, I had to find a new space to plant seeds and grow seedlings.  While I knew I would be regulated to the basement, it was a much different situation in this house in Minneapolis.  The basement is not as warm as the upper level, but it isn’t as brutally cold and dark as the St. Louis Park house.  I attribute that to the fact that half of the basement is insulated and finished, and that does help retain the heat!  Having more heat retained in the basement should help with germination, and I am hoping that having a warmer basement reduces the potential for damping off disease! I had to select my indoor growing area, and it really came down to three choices: the built-in near the television, the bar area or the workbench near the furnace.  I would not be able to use a shelf in this house simply because we have gear and things on all of our shelves.  We just do not have the extra shelf space! The biggest concern I had as I was evaluating each location was the availability of power (for grow lights, heating pads and a timer) and the impact on other basement users (like my son and wife Julie).  Each spot had power, so really it came down to finding a spot that would be out of the way and not bother anyone. The best spot was the workbench near the furnace.  While losing the workbench for potential projects is not ideal, it is important to remember that I would only need part of the workbench until mid-May.  What could possibly go wrong?  Besides, if we needed to use the workbench, everything can be moved quickly. Of course, that might mean that the trays go on top of the freezer, but I would only use it temporarily (I promise, Jules). The workbench is 27 inches wide, and that easily beats the narrow 18-1/2 inches on the St. Louis Park shelves.  In case you are wondering: yes, in this case, size does matter!  The extra width easily accommodates both seed trays in a side-by-side configuration on the workbench. On the shelves, I had to use scrap pieces of plywood to get over the lip of the shelf to get the trays to sit side-by-side.  This is much, much better! Equipment Needed Part of getting your equipment might include buying soil and seeds - March 2018 With seeds in my hand and a growing area selected, it was time to get my “equipment” out of storage in order to start seeds indoors.  My equipment consistec of the following: Seed trays 9x9 plug flats (or cells, as I like to call them) 5 gallon bucket or kitty litter bin (to hold the soil) Pro-Mix soil Heating pads Grow lights Timer Surge Protector Jumbo popsicle sticks or other labels for your seeds Most of these materials had been in storage for the winter.  I had to rummage around the garage to find what I needed, and then I realized that I had thrown away my 9x9 plug flats last season!  I had used these plug flats for a three seasons, and they were showing some age, wear and literal tears.  I wanted to get new plug flats, so I got rid of them. I went to the big box store and found that they did not have the 9x9 plug flats anymore.  I decided to pick up two McKenzie Pro-Hex Plug Flats instead.  They were relatively inexpensive: $5 per kit included a plug flat (72 plugs, tray and acrylic dome).  I would later throw away both of the domes (I feel they encourage damping off disease). On the same trip, I also picked up the Pro-Mix soil.  While I did pick up a package of Coir for the 2018 Soil Challenge, I wanted to have a more controlled experiment using smaller plug flats.  I also wanted the 2018 Soil Challenge to focus on the best soil for growing greens.  More on my thoughts and how I am going to conduct the 2018 Soil Challenge in a separate post! Armed with all of this gear and the seeds, NOW it was time to plant! Start Seeds Indoors: Time to Plant! Plug trays are loaded! St. Patrick's Day 2018 As I discussed in my Garden Plan, I want to plant at four distinct times this year.  I called these times “Stages.”  The first stage is early spring, right when the soil is starting to warm up.  There are plants that do well in those conditions, and I want to have a crop ready to put in the beds to take advantage of the season.  Plants that do well in the Early Spring Stage (when there are some cold nights) are: lettuce, spinach, Swiss Chard and green onions.  I added one more to my Early Season Stage: broccoli.  Most of these plants are quick-growing, and I decided to hold off from planting them on St. Patrick’s Day because I wanted to get the Late Spring Stage plants started. The Late Spring Stage plants are the vegetables and herbs that will be in the ground in mid-May and grow until late August.  These are the tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans, zucchini, squash and herbs that are listed on my plan.  Because some of these plants take 80 days or more to for fruit to be ready, I wanted to get them started as soon as possible.  For other plants such as zucchini, squash, potatoes, green beans and cucumbers on the list, I will sow them directly into the beds or planters in May.  The real critical ones are the tomatoes, peppers and herbs, so that is where I wanted to begin. On a beautiful St. Patrick’s Day, I poured a drink, put on some music and started planting seeds in my new plug flats.  I had so much fun getting my hands in the dirt and planting over 144 vegetables and herbs on my potting table outside!  It was fantastic!  All in all, I planted the following: Cherry Tomatoes (2 rows) – planted with seed I saved San Marzano Tomatoes (3 rows) Opalka Roma Tomatoes (2 rows) Jalapenos (2 rows) – planted with seed I saved Red Bell Pepper (2 rows) – planted with seed I saved Pepperoncini (1 row) Banana Peppers (2 rows) Sweet Bell Peppers (1 row) Yellow Bell Peppers (2 rows) – planted with seed I saved Orange Bell Peppers (2 rows) – planted with seed I saved Dill (1 row) – seed I saved Basil (1 row) Oregano (1 row) Rosemary (1 row) Broccoli (1 row) I made sure to label the rows with jumbo popsicle sticks.  With three different varieties of tomatoes and seven different varieties of peppers planted, I did not want to make a mistake this year! Finally, I brought the trays inside, put them on the heating pads and added water to the trays.  I figured I had 7 days before I had to hook up the grow lights, so I started working on a system to support the lights when needed. Again, it does not need to be expensive, sophisticated or fancy; it just needs to work! I have something almost ready for prime time, but I figured I wouldn’t need the lights for a few more days, right? Putting It All Together It is time to get planting those seeds for your 2018 garden!  You don’t have to have the most sophisticated equipment or a greenhouse start seeds indoors.  If you are overwhelmed with this whole process, you can buy plants from the big box store, from a greenhouse, or from a friend, but it isn’t that hard if you break it down into the following steps: Developed a garden plan Purchase Seeds from a Reputable Vendor Purchase Some Equipment (i.e., soil, grow lights, timer, heating pads and trays) Put the soil in the tray and put the seeds in the soil Label everything Add water to the tray Put the trays under the grow lights and on the heating pads Wait! Now, you see Number 8 above?  Tom Petty was correct when he sang, “The waiting is the hardest part.”  However, if you do all of these steps right, you DO NOT have to wait long…. I went downstairs after dinner and looked at the seedlings. I was shocked: After 4 days, I have seedlings!  Tomatoes, basil and broccoli have punched through the soil. I guess there is something to this starting seeds indoor thing! This is great!  Of course, I need to finish the light system as soon as possible (which is now complete and operational), but I am very excited for this season.  It should be a great year!

My guest today is Matt Bodnar. He is the host of the Science is Success podcast and a part of the Fresh Hospitality Firm. He’s here to share with us today how to get VC investments and whether they’re right for your business.   [01:50] Investment with Fresh Hospitality   Fresh Hospitality invests across the food value spectrum. They invest in farming and agriculture through packaged foods.  They also invest in technology, marketing, and accounting that fits around their ecosystem. They're able to add immediate value to their clients. They provide the extra resources needed to help growth.   They are very hands on investors. Matt looks at investing as the discovery of value at one end and the creating of value on the other. Companies they invest in already have good value, but Matt wants to increase their value. There's several ways they provide value to their clients.   There’s a lot of different ways to work with VC’s. Fresh Hospitality works as a traditional private equity firm. They take more stake in the company and become more hands on. Majority of VC’s take on more of a minority position.       [06:12] Matt’s Beginning   After graduation Matt worked on Wall Street for several years. He’s originally from Nashville. His connection there is what brought him into the food and hospitality industry. He found himself in a new dynamic with new challenges. He’s now starting to find opportunities in the food technology space. While still investing in more traditional farming practices.   [07:34] Investment in Crowdfunding and the Entrepreneur   Crowdfunding is one of the top platforms for your start up. It improves customer demand and gives you the startup capital you need. Most people will lean more towards a company that started through crowdfunding. It gives them validation of the product.   It’s important to look at the traction and value of a company when investing. Have your proof of concept ready when approached with an investment. This is something you can get from a successful crowdfunding campaign. Connect yourself with your campaign.   When investing, Matt also looks at the entrepreneur themselves. He wants founders to stay involved with their business and continue to lead. It’s originally their vision so they should be taking lead on the creative side of the business.   Matt likes to focus more on the back end of a business and scaling the business. It’s important for Matt when investing to ensure the company connects with Fresh Hospitality’s current investments. He utilizes the success of his investments to leverage other investment opportunities. He’s found this increases the value of those investments.   [17:08] Investment Decisions Vs. Investment Outcomes   It’s not about the outcome of a decision. It’s about the decision being the right one. Make yourself a decision journal. When you have big decisions coming up, focus on which ones are most important at that moment. Analyze what the decision is and weigh out the outcomes of making the decision. Once you’ve made the decision, analyze what went well and what went bad. By building a log of these decisions you can look back and see how your decision-making skills have grown.   [22:42] Network Towards an Investment   Most of the clients Matt deals with have sought them out. In the beginning they focused more on being active in seeking clients. Now he gets 5-6 deals pitched to him per week. He’s been able to garner this traction from referrals and word of mouth.   The platform in which you send your pitch is important. When receiving pitches from an online form or their website, Matt immediately discards it. If he’s given a warm introduction by someone he knows, he’s more inclined to receive the pitch. It’s a kind of vetting process when it comes to the leads he receives.   Networking goes a long way when asking for an investment. Use your network to reach the people you need to. It’s much easier to pitch an idea when you have a warm intro. Matt likes to receive pitches in person when possible. If not, he’ll ask for a product sample and a 30-minute meeting. He wants to create that personal connection with them before he starts to invest.   [27:23] Are VC Investments Right for You?   If you think VC investing is for you, make sure it’s the right thing for your business. It’s a very different life than bootstrapping. The pressure to grow quickly can lead to investing in areas that don’t create value. This can be what destroys your business. Most people who look for VC investments are aware of the holes in their business. They are looking for someone who can provide that capital or intellectual capital.   Be clear with yourself on what you want. What kind of lifestyle do you want? Are you capable of taking it there? Be honest with yourself.         [30:36] Investments in the Food Industry   In the technology world, most VC’s invest in the seed stage. In the food industry, people lean towards investing in companies that have growth. They’ve already gained traction and have some sort of customer demand. It’s rare to receive investments in the seed stage in the food industry. The more traction you can get the better chance you have at getting an investment.   Word of mouth will help you get traction. There are some investors in the food industry still willing to invest early. Use your connections and network to figure out what the ecosystem is right now. Find the right person for the investment you’re looking for. Look for someone who’s willing to invest in your niche.   [36:56] Show Intensity, Intelligence, and Integrity   Reputation is very important. Don’t sacrifice your integrity for short-term gains. Shortcuts to get ahead end up pulling you back. You can get money easily but building your reputation is difficult. The integrity of an entrepreneur is important for any investor.     Episode Outline   Introduction: How to Find Which Investment is Right for your Business.   [01:50] Investing with Fresh Hospitality [06:12] Matt’s Beginning [07:34] Investment in Crowdfunding and the Entrepreneur [17:08] Investment Decisions Vs. Investment Outcomes [22:42] Network Towards an Investment [27:23] Are VC Investments Right for You? [30:36] Investments in the Food Industry [36:56] Show Intensity, Intelligence, and Integrity     Resources and Sponsor Matt Bodnar The Science of Success Podcast Fresh Hospitality Toxic VC TechCrunch   Follow Matt Bodnar @MattBodnar Facebook Twitter   

Introduction: How does the devil destroy churches? If we were hit with an earthquake and all of our buildings were destroyed that would not undermine our standing and integrity as a church. It often happens that persecution is the thing that God uses to strengthen and purify churches, so this is often a tactic that backfires on the devil. The most effective ways to undermine the church are by diluting the truth it believes and the Gospel it preaches, dropping all reference to sin, wrath and sacrifice. We are told that a little leaven affects the whole lump and so sin can undermine a church. Today I would like us to remember and consider another of satan’s tactics that he employs in seeking to destroy churches and that is disunity through anger. The words we will be considering are from Ephesians 4:26-27, ‘Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.’ We can see from v27 that our anger gives opportunity to the devil to get in amongst us and destroy and wound us. This week as part of our spiritual self-defence we will be learning about what the bible says about anger management. Our text comes to us from Ephesians, this is also known as Paul’s letter on the church. Paul has just stated that Christ has appointed officers and teachers in the church that by means of speaking the truth in love all Christians will mature and cause the body to mature and grow by each part making a contribution. Paul then enters into a detailed list of the many things that we should no longer do or be now that we have been made new and joined to the church. Our verses... Read More Source

Introduction: How is he going to rescue over a million slaves from the Delta region of Egypt?

Introduction: How is he going to rescue over a million slaves from the Delta region of Egypt?

In this episode, I’ll be helping slots enthusiasts get started with understanding why there is a need to assess casinos, deliberately choose slot machines, and carefully identify gambling goals. I’ll also discuss the online resource I’m currently building as well as the first entry in the resource, specifically Alabama slot machine casino gambling. Show notes are available below and on the Professor Slots website at https://professorslots.com/e2. Quick Episode Summary Intro (0:00) Start Here (2:00) Introduction How to Start Identifying Gambling Goals Making Choices is a Skill The Casino Environment Winning Strategies Exist Older-Style Casinos Newer-Style Casinos Next Steps Slot Machine Casino Gambling, State-By-State (27:54) Conception Weekly Blog Posts State Summaries Alabama Slot Machine Casino Gambling (33:10) Introduction Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling Slot Machine Private Ownership State Gaming Commission Gambling Establishments Summary Closing (40:25) My Free Report Reveals … The Top 7 Online Resources for Improving Your Gambling Performance (Including the One I’ve Used as a Top-Tier Slot Machine Casino Gambler) Content from this episode Download the transcript. Download the MP3 audio file. Other Episodes from Professor Slots Previous: PS 1: My Job is to Explain | Introducing Professor Slots- A lot has changed lately in slot machine casino gambling, not just with casino operating systems but also to slot machine games. Perhaps you've noticed these changes at casinos, and wondered what they’ve meant? If so, here are the explanations you’ve been looking for, provided by an already successful slot machine gambling enthusiast. Next: PS 3: Assessing Casinos | Alaska Slots 2017- Assessing casinos for success is the first of three easy steps to readily improve overall baseline slot machine gambling performance, plus Alaska slot machine casino gambling.

Outline The nature of sin The deceitfulness of sin Introduction How would you feel if your husband or your wife committed adultery against you? This is probably one of the most difficult betrayals to come to terms with. That thought as painful as it is, helps us prepare to understand the nature of our betrayal against God, except we are worse. In our sins against God we have not merely committed adultery, we have gone off and become prostitutes not merely adulterers. This is the message of Jeremiah’s first sermon to Israel in Jer. 2:1-3:5. 3:1, ‘…you have played the whore with many lovers….’ 3:2, ‘…you have polluted the land with your vile whoredom.’ 3:3, ‘…you have the forehead of a whore yet you refuse to be ashamed.’ The message I want to look at today was written to God’s OT people, a people who were believers and unbelievers, that means that the message is relevant for both groups today. We have grown cold to the reality of sin. We use it to entertain ourselves, it is psychologised away as nature or nurture, and it is defined as only criminal acts or things done against other people. The portion we have before us is one of the most powerful explanations of the nature of sin. The early chapters of Jeremiah are written during the reign of Josiah. We know that he had a rather prosperous reign, and some might even look on it as a golden era. The time of Josiah was good because the king was godly; however, his influence on the nation was from the top down. In other words, although it appeared for all intents and purposes like the nation was doing well spiritually; but it was from the top down it was not a bottom up... Read More Source

A question I'm often asked is how much time—or attempts—should  you put into a project route, before taking a break and working on other climbs. My short answer (with a few caveats) is that it’s best not to get bogged down by long-haul projects—you will improve as a climber faster by sending lots of routes just below your limit, rather than hanging all over (and repeatedly falling off) a single project route that's beyond your limit. In this podcast I'll detail my "10-4 Rule" of projecting, which gives guidelines and solid reasoning to keep your projecting efforts brief...to around 10 attempts over 4 days. (Personally, I halve these amounts and, thus, limit myself to a total of about five attempts over two days.) Podcast rundown: 00:55 - Introduction: How much time should you spend projecting limit routes? 3:12 - The "10-4 Rule" for effective projecting and steady improvement 12:55 - Caveats: When to break the 10-4 Rule 16:20 - Bonus: The "80-20" guideline for outdoor climbing time 20:48 - Ask Eric! 21:22 - Can someone who gets into climbing as a young adult progress to climb at a world-class level? 27:00 - "Last minute" training advice for a slightly out-of-shape route climber going on a climbing trip in one week? 29:50 - Final remarks.

  Cinema of Change is a magazine and community, and you can join the conversation at cinemaofchange.com. We are dedicated to exploring the power of cinema and its ability to create change in the world. Join us for Mobilizing People Around Film with our guest Chris Temple. From living in a Syrian refugee camp to surviving on a dollar a day as a radish farmer in Guatemala, Chris and his co-founder Zach are pioneering a new style of documentary filmmaking. The vision for their non-profit “Living on One” is to use immersive storytelling to raise awareness and inspire action around pressing global issues. Having worked for three different micro-finance organizations, Chris brings a unique perspective to the films he produces. His first film “Living on One Dollar,” was #1 on iTunes for documentaries and has been called "a must watch film" by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah. His current film “Salam Neighbor” shines light on displaced refugees. Introduction - How did you get to use film as a tool? --- 01:13 I'm just one person. I can't make a difference, right? --- 03:37 How will I know where to direct my energies to create change? --- 08:21 How about dead ends? Share what you learned to avoid. --- 10:55 How can you make your expert development insight accessible? --- 13:24 Balancing entertainment and understanding in a film. --- 17:31 Principles on making an audience care. --- 19:22 Should we consider the audience while making the film? --- 20:58 Why film, and not another medium? --- 24:28 How do you know that you actually made an impact? --- 26:28 What if you just engage an audience without a film? --- 28:44 Is there a danger in making impactful films? --- 31:51 Did people call the film propaganda? --- 34:46 What insights did you gain during post production? --- 37:57 We hope you find this conversation interesting and evocative. Subscribe to make sure you don’t miss an episode and visit the magazine at cinemaofchange.com.   Until next time, be the change that you want to see in the world. Then turn it into cinema.

Bishop Creek Community Church 9-2-12 “The B-I-B-L-E: Illumination" #4 in a series on The B-I-B-L-E 1 Corinthians 2; John 16:13-15 Introduction How the Word of God Makes it to Us Definition of Illumination 1 Corinthians 2 ...

Bishop Creek Community Church 8-26-12 “The B-I-B-L-E: Sufficiency" #3 in a series on The B-I-B-L-E Psalm 19:1-14 Introduction How much do we need to know? Deuteronomy 29:29 Synonyms Psalm 119 General Revelation Psalm 19:1-6...

Advent (03) Malcolm Duncan teaching from Nehemiah 8 v9-12, Luke 2 v9-11 &&name; John 15 v11-13 on "The God of Joy". Introduction: How we live shows the kind of God we believe in. 1. God is "joyous". 2. God's joy is seen in Christ. 3. There is great victory and strength in joy. 4. Christ's coming and promised return is the foundation of our joy. Conclusion: Just as we have hope and peace, we also have joy.