Podcasts about Ishmael

Presented by Lauren Stibgen Many things can happen when we are impatient! Impatience brews increasingly when there is a difference between the pre-conceived or set amount of time we have in mind for something to happen and when it actually occurs. The fact remains we are merely human, and God is God alone. I sometimes wonder if the creation of the measurement of time is something God has used to demonstrate this. If we had no concept of time, we could not grow in learning to be more patient! One of the ways that a lack of patience can often show up is jealousy. We see something we want or are aspiring to happen for someone else, and we become jealous. This can cause us to act impulsively in our own will, often to results we then regret. Sarah, then Sarai, was impatient. Her husband Abram was the promised Father of Israel, yet she failed to conceive and bare a son for him. In her impatience, Sarai enrolled their Egyptian slave, Hagar to know her husband. The result was Hagar's pregnancy and the birth of Ishmael. Sarai became jealous of Hagar and treated her poorly. God then renewed his covenant with Abram, and called him Abraham and Sarai, Sarah. Sarah gave birth to Isaac, but with continued jealousy from Sarah, Hagar and Ishmael were sent away. You can read more about this in Genesis chapters 15-18. Sometimes our haste to see something come to pass can make us jealous of someone else we see in the circumstance we want. Have you been searching for a new job? Maybe it is taking longer than you expected, so you take a job because you need to work. A friend suddenly lands their dream role, and they weren't even looking! In your impatience, how do you respond to this friend? Are you loving? Are you jealous? How can you lovingly show up and trust that God will send the perfect job for you, in his timing. Acting out of impatience can cause us to make hasty choices that can lead to jealous feelings.

Why do Palestinians claim Israel as their land, and does their connection go back to Ishmael? Is a two-state solution something the Bible supports? Join Jim Scudder on InGrace as he looks at Scripture to uncover God's covenant promises and the true title deed to the land of Israel.

Send us a textThis week we look at circumcision. Why God chose that as His sign, why He chose the timing to give Abraham the sign and also how it pertains to the inheritance between Isaac and Ishmael.

Text: Genesis 25:12-18  A sermon in our series through Genesis 

Tonight on our Weekly Comprehensive Bible Study with David Paxton.   We present The Life of Abraham – From Ur to the Covenant of Promise takes listeners on a powerful journey through the faith and legacy of the man Scripture calls the “father of many nations.Video Version Available immediately upon Release at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT athttps://rumble.com/v6yt76g-the-life-of-abraham-from-ur-to-the-covenant-promise-abraham-biblestudy-gene.html?mref=3j2hwn&mc=dxcv1From Abram's early rejection of idolatry in Ur, to his covenant encounter with God, to the dramatic test of offering Isaac on Mount Moriah, this show unpacks the remarkable story that shaped Israel, the Church, and the prophetic future of the world.Drawing from Genesis, Jubilees, and Jasher, this episode explores Abraham's battles, his covenant inheritance, and the prophetic foreshadowing of Christ in the binding of Isaac. Discover how God's promises to Abraham about land, seed, and blessing remain unshaken, how Israel's calling endures, and how all who believe are grafted into the same covenant by faith.This is more than history—it's prophecy alive today. The covenant God made with Abraham still points directly to the end-time horizon, where Israel, the nations, and the Messiah converge.Learn more at https://www.lastchristian.net

Tonight on our Weekly Comprehensive Bible Study with David Paxton.   We present The Life of Abraham – From Ur to the Covenant of Promise takes listeners on a powerful journey through the faith and legacy of the man Scripture calls the “father of many nations.Video Version Available immediately upon Release at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT athttps://rumble.com/v6yt76g-the-life-of-abraham-from-ur-to-the-covenant-promise-abraham-biblestudy-gene.html?mref=3j2hwn&mc=dxcv1From Abram's early rejection of idolatry in Ur, to his covenant encounter with God, to the dramatic test of offering Isaac on Mount Moriah, this show unpacks the remarkable story that shaped Israel, the Church, and the prophetic future of the world.Drawing from Genesis, Jubilees, and Jasher, this episode explores Abraham's battles, his covenant inheritance, and the prophetic foreshadowing of Christ in the binding of Isaac. Discover how God's promises to Abraham about land, seed, and blessing remain unshaken, how Israel's calling endures, and how all who believe are grafted into the same covenant by faith.This is more than history—it's prophecy alive today. The covenant God made with Abraham still points directly to the end-time horizon, where Israel, the nations, and the Messiah converge.Learn more at https://www.lastchristian.net

The current day nation of Israel was established in 1948, a place for many of the Jews who survived the holocaust to call home. Many Christians in Europe and North America consider this to be a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies to Abraham and his offspring that they would inherit the land on which Israel and Palestine now exist. One result of the establishment of political Israel has been the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, a geopolitical move which has been the primary cause of decades of violence from both sides toward each other. At the heart of this passionate fight for this particular bit of property is the belief–by many Jews on one hand–that the promises God made to Abraham are for his son Isaac's offspring, and the corresponding belief–by many Muslims on the other hand–that the promises God made to Abraham are for his son Ishmael's descendants. Many Christians, believing that Old Testament Israel and current-day national Israel are organically related, support without question any decisions national Israel make. But the New Testament teaches that the offspring of Abraham who inherits the promises made to Abraham, including the promise of the land, is Abraham's true Offspring, Jesus, who inherits the whole world as the Son of God who is the one true Jew. And Paul also insists that all those who have been baptized into Jesus are–by virtue of union with him–also the offspring of Abraham and thus heirs of the promises made to him. As a result, Christians do not need to unquestionably support either Israel or Palestine, because in Christ all those who believe in him are the true owners and inheritors of the land. Hosts: Aaron Mueller and Chuck Rathert Subscribe to the show at https://cacg.saintjamesglencarbon.org. To comment on this episode, visit https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/cacg-ep126.

A @Christadelphians Video: Compiled by John EvansThe conflict in the Middle East dominates global headlines, but do we understand its prophetic significance? This Watchman Report moves beyond the 24-hour news cycle to provide a clear, expositional breakdown of what the Bible says about this ongoing crisis. We explore the ancient roots of the conflict between Isaac and Ishmael, God's enduring covenant with Israel, and what Scripture reveals about the future of the region. Join us for a thoughtful and revealing study that connects ancient prophecy to modern events.*Video Chapters:*00:00 - Introduction: The Headlines vs. The Bible01:45 - The Ancient Roots: Isaac vs. Ishamel04:30 - God's Unbreakable Covenant with Israel06:15 - The Modern State & Prophetic Fulfillment08:40 - The Spirit of Amalek: A Persistent Enemy10:50 - The Hope of Messiah's Coming Kingdom11:45 - Conclusion & Call for Prayer*Featured Bible Verses:*

In our reading of Jeremiah today, Fr. Mike highlights Ishmael's insurrection against Gedaliah and Jeremiah's response. We also read about the defeat of Holofernes and the praise of Judith for her courage and virtue. Today's readings are Jeremiah 41-42, Judith 12-14, and Proverbs 17:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

The weakness of our current version of AI is that it extracts its knowledge only from what we have taught it.Things that are rarely done are difficult for AI to imitate.AI has confidence in things that are repeated online ad infinitum.*Predictable ads follow the orthodox guidelines taught in every college in America. AI can find countless examples of these ads online. This is why AI can write predictable ads that look, feel, sound and smell like all those other predictable ads.Predictability is a thief that robs you in broad daylight.If you want your ads to remarkably outperform the predictable ads written by AI; if you want your ads to be noticed and remembered; you must do what is rarely done.Enter your subject from a new angle, a surprising angle, a different angle.Write an opening line that makes no sense.Cause that opening line to make perfect sense in less than 30 seconds.This technique is known as Random Entry and almost no one ever uses it.“I'm John Hayes and I'm talking today with GoGo Gecko.”“I was a 10-year-old boy holding a flashlight for my father.”“Mr. Jenkins?”“Yes, Bobby.”“How much should a hamster weigh?”“There's Elmer Fudd, Elmer's Glue, and me, Elmer Zubiate.”Random Entry is not orthodox. Random Entry is not predictable.“What makes our company, our product, our service different from our competitors?”If you ask yourself that question, you will come up with the same 3 or 4 opening lines that each of your competitors will come up with when they ask those same questions. Your ads, and their ads, will look, feel, sound and smell like ads.When you begin in a predictable way, it is hard to be unpredictable.AI ads feel like ads because AI cannot (1.) identify, (2.) justify, or (3.) rectify Random Entry.Identify.AI cannot find examples of what does not exist. But you can create it.Justify.AI cannot bridge a random opening line into an unrelated subject. But you can build that bridge.Rectify.AI cannot reconcile a random opening line so that it makes perfect sense. But you can create a metaphor out of thin air.When a novel becomes a bestselling book that gets made into a movie, you can be certain that it was built upon a weird and unexpected – but highly engaging – opening line.“Call me Ishmael.”– Herman Melville, Moby-Dick“Where's Papa going with that axe?”– E.B. White, Charlotte's Web“Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice.”– Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”– George Orwell, 1984“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”– Leo Tolstoy, Anna KareninaChoose any one of those opening lines and tell your favorite AI to write an ad for your business using EXACTLY that line as the opening line. If your AI is successful, it will be due to the fact that you gave it a series of extremely insightful prompts. (Probably based on some of the things you learned in this Monday Morning Memo.)Srinivas Rao recently wrote, “Confessions of a Master Bullshit Artist, aka ChatGPT.”You think I'm a genius. I'm not. I'm an overconfident parrot in a lab coat.I don't know anything, check anything...

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome back to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, we journey through one of the most dramatic and heartbreaking moments in Israel's history. Host Hunter, your daily Bible reading coach, guides us through the fall of Jerusalem, the exile of God's people, and the unwavering faith of Jeremiah in the midst of devastation. We'll read from Second Kings, Second Chronicles, Jeremiah, and a thrilling vision from Revelation. This episode doesn't just recount ancient stories—it shines a light on how we're called to be faithful, loving witnesses even when life feels like it's in ruins. Hunter invites us to reflect on what it means to remain steadfast and hopeful, drawing strength from prayer and from the assurance that God's love is present with us, no matter where we find ourselves. Plus, you'll hear uplifting voicemails from listeners all around the globe, reminding us that we're all in this together. So, settle in as we read, reflect, and pray, remembering that even when the world seems broken, we are called and loved by God. Let's get started! TODAY'S DEVOTION: Their worst nightmare came true. Now they are living—if you want to call it that—among the ruins. It's a post-apocalyptic nightmare. Their worst fears have shown up on their front door. And yet here, in the midst of this horrendous tragedy, Jeremiah, whose name means “appointed,” “raised up by God,” remains. Somehow Jeremiah is still there. Taken out of the well where he had been left for dead, he resurfaces to find that all has been lost, just as he predicted: the temple, the palace, the walls—Jerusalem—all in ruins. And yet Jeremiah, the one who was appointed, the one who was raised up by God, is still there. Like Jeremiah, God's called us to such a time as this—to be faithful witnesses and to remain as Jeremiah did, to be faithful, to be loving lights, and to proclaim God's kingdom even among the ruins. We live in a world at war, and where the walls have fallen down, ours is not to charge into the fray and try to seize as much power as we can, like Ishmael son of Nethaniah did. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to pull down strongholds. The warfare of the world tears down others in order to be lifted up, but God's way is to lift up those who have been torn down. Let's join Jeremiah. Like Jeremiah, you have been appointed, raised up by God for a time like this—to faithfully, lovingly lift up those who are left among the ruins. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife, and my daughters, and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Send us a textThis week we look at the circumstances surrounding the birth of Ishmael and how his birth becomes the root cause of the issues we see today in the Middle East.

This is a narrated version of my 'hunkering down' essay on a a calm presence.This essay is inspired by interviews with and writings by David Suzuki, Seth Klein, Joanna Macy and Thich Nhat Hanh. The episode also features excerpts from conscient podcast episodes é55 – un petit instant with France Trépanier, e177 - unknownness as a playground for artists with Asma Khan, e231 – what can we contribute?  with Kelly Wilhelm, e239 roundtable – imagining in public e2 - artist perspectives on social impact with Jesse Hirsh and e235 – art from the soil with Lallan.My conclusion is that:‘I don't think humans will survive much longer as a species on earth and I worry about the suffering of current and future human and more-than-human communities.'And‘My own balance point between hope and despair lies in my belief that we are all living energy and that life in the cosmos will unfold as it should and the best course of action for someone like me is to be as calm a presence as I can while looking up at the stars in wonder and doing everything I can to reduce suffering and prepare for the future.'The narration was recorded on August 11, 2025 while drifting in a kayak on the Preston River in Duhamel, Québec. This is an uninterrupted recording except for 10 seconds of silence in between sections. Quoted texts have been slightly processed for clarity. See the Transcript tab for a complete transcription. As always, feel free to respond in the public comments section of any of my social media or privately to me : claude@conscient.ca.Thanks for listening. Below is there I list 15 resources that I narrate (also available in the written essay and in the episodie transcript): Climate Emergency Unit, led by Seth Klein, presses for the implementation of wartime-scale policies in Canada to confront the climate crisis. They produce the excellent Break In Case of Emergency podcast and campaigns such as the Youth Climate Corps. A good place to start is my conversation with their director of campaigns, Anjali Appadurai, e23 – what does a just transition look like? and my two conversations with Seith Klein : e26 – rallying through art and e77 seth klein – identifying a shared vision and a set of actionsCollapse 2050 by Sarah Connor (which is a pseudonym) explores the unspoken truth about humanity's frightening future. I've found her postings are grounded in fact and terrifying to read. I recommend it for those who want to deepen their understanding about how we got here and why we need to hunker down. In this vein, I also recommend Jessica Wildfire's The Sentinel-Intelligence which is more focused on survival tactics. I recommend her From Collapse Awareness to Collapse Acceptance posting. Both are from the US and have that point of view.Dark Optimism is a not-for-profit public interest research and activism structure featuring the writing of Shaun Chamberlin. I recommend subscribing to his newsletter and consider taking the Surviving the Future : The Deeper Dive course, which I took during the winter of 2025. For more on this see e218 roundtable - surviving the future where you can directly from participants including myself. This 3 month course is intended for those ‘seeking insights and allies to help themselves and their localities through profound change'. It's hard work but transformative and liberating. A similar deep dive course is Facing Human Wrongs, which I mention below.David Suzuki Foundation has a wealth of resources and regenerative projects. For example, I was deeply moved by the Rewilding exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Nature where thirteen Canadian artists bring the concept of rewilding to life, highlighting the vital role that nature plays in our communities through their compelling works of art. Two conscient podcast guests are part of the exhibit : sarah peebles in e230 – how can we reciprocate? and Kendra Fanconi in e36 – towards carbon positive work and e87 – on the artist brigade, ben okri, eco-restoration, eco-grief & reauthoring the world. I also recommend watching a conversation on Instagram between Suzuki and his daughter Sarika about hope and raising children.Ecologies in Practice: Environmentally Engaged Arts in Canada is a book co-edited by Amanda White and Elysia French that explores ‘the ways in which cultural production informs perceptions, communications, and knowledge of environmental distress in a Canadian context'. I was pleased to discover this group of research based ecological artists who were mostly new to me. Amanda and Elysia also produce the excellent Ecologies in Practice Podcast.Emergence Magazine is an ‘online publication with an annual print edition connecting the threads between ecology, culture, and spirituality' which are three of my favorite things. An email arrives every Sunday morning in my inbox that invites me to read, listen and do exercises. I recommend subscribing to their podcast and viewing their film series.How to Fall in Love with the Futureby Rob Hopkins, who I discovered this year, is a ‘deep dive into the people and movements throughout history who have used visions of the future to inspire positive change on a large and dramatic scale'. Rob is co-founder of Transition Network and of Transition Town Totnes. I recommend his From What If To What Next podcast series (2020-2024) and his Field Recordings from the Future.Green Dreamerwith Kamea Chayne encourages us to ‘be more imaginative in dreaming up our futures and reorienting ‘growth' towards what matters most to our well-being'. I've listened to hundreds of episodes of this podcast and am consistently engaged and inspired by these spirited conversations. Green Dreamer also produces the alchemize program which I have taken and recommend  (see e161 alchemize circle - a conversation with kamea chayne). The indefatigable Kamea also produces uprooted : ‘metabolizing the mess and immensity of our socio-ecological-cultural crises via expansive interviews, critical essays and heart-centered reflections.'Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures(GTDF) is an arts-research collective led by Vanessa Andreotti (author of Hospicing Modernity with a follow up book, Outgrowing Modernity: Navigating Complexity, Complicity, and Collapse with Accountability and Compassion which is out now). They operate as a workspace for collaborations around different kinds of artistic, pedagogical, cartographic, and relational experiments that aim to identify and de-activate colonial habits of being, and to gesture towards the possibility of decolonial futures. I took the first iteration of their Facing Human Wrongs course in 2022 which is an exploration of the ongoing systemic violence we perpetuate towards one another and the planet we are part. I produced a radio play about some of my learnings  in e111 - what are the traps in your life?Ishmael is a 1992 philosophical novel by Daniel Quinn. The novel examines the hidden cultural biases driving modern civilization and explores themes of ethics, sustainability, and global catastrophe'. I was transfixed by this conversation between a gorilla and human about human supremacy and cultural myths. Ishmael is part of a trilogy that includes a 1996 spiritual sequel, The Story of B, and a 1997 ‘sidequel', My Ishmael, which are both on my reading radar.Life After Doom by Brian D. McLean explores the ‘catastrophic failure of both our religious and political leaders to address the dominant realities of our time: ecological overshoot, economic injustice, and the increasing likelihood of civilizational collapse'. McLean is a pastor who tackles the complexities of religion and spirituality with finesse and equanimity. His book helped me work through some of my current anxiety and grief. I wrote about his book in a sense of communion. I recommend the audio book version read by the author. In this vein about grief I also recommend Jennifer Atkinson's Facing It, a podcast series about love, loss, and the natural world.otherWise is a ‘cosmolocal learning community of wisdom-seekers and re-villagers - small, place-rooted gatherings - deep, slow virtual inquiry - shared rituals - commons-sense'. This initiative comes out of EcoGather, which now exists as a freely accessible digital archive of courses and a community learning network. otherWise is a good place to explore what ‘hunker down' culture might look like through their otherWisdom Circles and otherGardens programs.Reseed is a podcast hosted by Alice Irene Whittaker about ‘repairing our relationship with nature featuring thoughtful conversations about our collective journey from takers to caretakers'. I love their regenerative and grounded stories. Alice Irene is also author of Homing: A Quest to Care for Myself and the Earthwhich you learn more about in e196  - homing, a book review) and e187 - caring for the planet I love.The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens is about ‘navigating uncertainty through understanding and building a resilient future together'. This is my ‘go to' podcast for unfiltered and credible scientific knowledge but also Nate's philosophical and spiritual insights. In particular, I enjoy Hagen's Frankly series of personal opinions that often mirror my own vulnerabilities and musings. Their web site is a great resource, notably The Great Simplification Movie. Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thich Nhat Hanh and collaborators is a ‘vital approach to combating climate change and creating a better world for us and our future generations'. I recommend this book for those interested in engaged buddhism and environmental spiritual practices. An online course is offered by Plum Village. In this vein, also see e29 loy – the bodhisattva path.Note: New content comes my way every day that inspires and motivates me, for example, Kamea Chayne's All eyes on Gaza, all ears everywhere else, too, and all hands in the dirt!! in Uprooted  and Robertson Work's Coming Home to the Present Moment in Compassionate Conversations. *END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODESHey conscient listeners, I've been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). It's my way to give back.In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish free ‘a calm presence' Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.Share what you like, etcI am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. Claude SchryerLatest update on July 8, 2025

1. Choosing the Right Son2. Counting the Options3. Embracing the PromiseOur sermon, "A Promise Kept," delved into Galatians 4:21-31, exploring the profound difference between living under the law and living by God's promise through faith. Pastor Steve highlighted how Abraham's story illustrates the contrast between human impatience (resulting in Ishmael) and trusting God's timing (resulting in Isaac). This message reminds us that our salvation and relationship with God are based on His promise and our faith, not on our works or attempts to earn His favor.Takeaways:-God's promises are trustworthy, even when circumstances seem impossible. Just as Abraham and Sarah received their promised son in old age, we too can trust God's timing in our lives.-We are called to live by faith, not by trying to earn our salvation through works. Our justification comes through believing in Jesus Christ, not by following the law.-As believers, we are "children of promise" like Isaac. This means we have been grafted into God's family through Christ, regardless of our background.As we go through this week, let's reflect on areas where we might be trying to "earn" God's favor instead of resting in His promises. Are there "Ishmaels" in our lives - things born out of impatience or lack of trust - that we need to surrender to God?May we all grow in our faith and trust in God's perfect timing and promises.

Walking with God isn't _________________.[Genesis 16:5-6] Then Sarai said to Abram, "This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she's pregnant she treats me with contempt. The LORD will show who's wrong--you or me!" [6] Abram replied, "Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit." Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.God _________________ finds us.[Psalm 34:17-19] The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. [18] The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. [19] The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.God sees you in your _________________.[Genesis 16:7-8] The angel of the LORD found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. [8] The angel said to her, "Hagar, Sarai's servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?" "I'm running away from my mistress, Sarai," she replied.God sees you for who you will _________________.[Genesis 16:11, 13] And the angel also said, "You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means 'God hears'), for the LORD has heard your cry of distress. [13] Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, "You are the God who sees me." She also said, "Have I truly seen the One who sees me?"We serve a God who _________________ us.[Genesis 21:14-16] So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar's shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba. [15] When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. [16] Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. "I don't want to watch the boy die," she said, as she burst into tears.[Genesis 21:17] But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, "Hagar, what's wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.The same God who ______________ her before ______________ them now.[Genesis 21:19] Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.Your provision may be _________________ than you think.[Psalm 139:7] I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

Message from Dave Hatcher on August 17, 2025

Romans 9 presents a dramatic shift from Paul's triumphant declaration of God's love in chapter 8 to his profound grief over his fellow Israelites who rejected Christ. Paul's sorrow is so deep that he states he would be willing to be cut off from Christ for their sake—a powerful example of Christlike love for the lost. He recounts Israel's incredible spiritual privileges: their adoption as God's people, the divine glory, covenants, law, temple worship, promises, patriarchs, and even the Messiah himself came through them. Yet despite these blessings, many missed recognizing Jesus as the promised one. Paul addresses a critical question: Has God's word failed? His answer is that God's promises were never based merely on physical descent from Abraham but on His sovereign choice. Using examples like Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau, Paul demonstrates that God's mercy is given according to His purposes, not human merit. When faced with objections about fairness, Paul reminds readers that mercy, by definition, is never owed—if it were, it wouldn't be mercy. The potter and clay metaphor reinforces that God has the right to shape His creation according to His will. The chapter concludes by explaining that while many Gentiles received righteousness through faith, many Israelites stumbled because they pursued righteousness through works rather than faith. This profound teaching calls believers to embrace humility, trust God's sovereign plan, find rest in His purposes, and share His mercy with others.

Message from Dave Hatcher on August 17, 2025

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This episode is one of Pastor Jack Abeelen's recent radio broadcasts. Pastor Jack's teachings are broadcast every weekday on over 400 radio stations across the country.The Growing Thru Grace radio broadcast is an outreach of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.

In this Bible Story, the remnant of Judah struggles to regain stability. Some leaders desired to serve Babylon and make peace. Others desire to rebel. As a result, brother turns against brother. The remnant of Judah is torn, and many of them flee to Egypt despite Jeremiah's warnings. This story is inspired by 2 Kings 25:22-30 & Jeremiah 40–44, 52:31-34. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Jeremiah 44:28 from the King James Version.Episode 160: Judah had been captured, Jerusalem ruined, and Gedaliah son of Ahikam had been appointed as governor over the land. Gedaliah wanted peace for the people and constantly negotiated for their welfare peacefully submitting to Babylon. However, as he was traveling among the towns of Judah, he was murdered by one of his friends, Ishmael. This led to more and more chaos as Johanan killed Ishmael in revenge and the remnant of Judah was faced with a choice, flee to Egypt or stay and submit to Babylon. Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is one of Pastor Jack Abeelen's recent radio broadcasts. Pastor Jack's teachings are broadcast every weekday on over 400 radio stations across the country.The Growing Thru Grace radio broadcast is an outreach of Morningstar Christian Chapel in Whittier, California.To see more of Pastor Jack's Bible studies, visit our Morningstar Christian Chapel channel at https://www.youtube.com/@morningstarcc.To subscribe to our Podcast newsletter go to http://eepurl.com/iGzsP6.If you would like to support our electronic ministry, you may do so by going to our donations page at https://morningstarcc.churchcenter.com/giving/to/podcast.Visit our church website at https://morningstarcc.org.

Come along as we continue our deep dive through Genesis! We dig up a few nuggets and as always try to use that biblical context to take the most from God's word!

“Well, I mean for starters it still is the greatest first sentence ever,” says Francine Prose in this week's episode of The World in Time. “I mean, three words. A three-word first sentence. I think if you were to ask a kind of range of readers, ‘Can you think of a first sentence?' You know, you probably get ‘It was the best of times, and the worst of times' or ‘the worst of times, and the best of times,' and people would get it backwards. But then you get ‘Call me Ishmael.' Because it establishes this kind of—you know, so much of the book is about authority. About authority, and the lack of authority, and what authority is, and who has it, and what you do with it. And that sentence is just pure authority. Pure narrative authority. ‘Call me Ishmael.' Bingo. It's like, ‘Okay, well, we're going to call you Ishmael.'” This week on the podcast, the Quarterly's editor-at-large Francine Prose returns for an in-depth conversation with Donovan Hohn about Moby Dick's first chapter, “Loomings.” They consider the meanings of the verb to loom, whether Ishmael is likeable or funny, whether the American sermon influenced Melville's oratorical prose, why the antebellum religious press condemned the novel, and what the best medicine might be for “the universal thump.” Earlier episodes in this series: Episode 7 with Daniel Mendelsohn and Episode 8 with Wyatt Mason.

Selected Scripture passages

Today's story is all about Ammon's mission to the Lamanites in the land of Ishmael! He defends King Lamoni's flocks, kills some robbers with his sling and sword, and earns King Lamoni's ear! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Styrktaraðilar þáttarins: Myntkaup, World Class, Silkisvefn & Gæði.www.patreon.com/skodanabraedurEiríkur Magnússon (@hodl_ishmael á X) mætir aftur í þáttinn. Bitcoin er aðal-umræðuefnið. Mælt er með að hlusta á fyrri þáttinn frá því í janúar ef þú ert nýr í Bitcoin málum. Annars er þetta sjálfstætt framhald. Við tölum um að selja húsið sitt til þess að kaupa Bitcoin, uppgötvunina sem Bitcoin er, skuldasöfnun, peninga og austurríska hagfræði. Njótið vel kæra bræðralag.Grein: https://www.onceinaspecies.com/p/once-in-a-species-73bBók sem var nefnd: The Bitcoin Standard eftir Saifedean Ammous.

The struggle against the Mnemophage grows ever deadlier as Faolan and Ishmael labor to awaken. And the first domino falls in a series of reckonings decades in the making. Music: Three Chain Links - Magic Hour White Bat Audio - Crash Site Kevin MacLeod - The House of Leaves White Bat Audio - Mark of the Doom Slayer ROZKOL - Faces to the Sky White Bat Audio - Torn Flesh Black Juggernaut - Stormwitch Darren Curtis - The Old Pumpkin Patch Free Dramatic Scores - The Beast Neuron Spectre - FULL MOON OVERDRIVE Free Dramatic Scores - Feel the Knife Myuu - Now or Never DEgITx - Minefield Kai Engel - The Price of Valour Scott Buckley - Soul Searcher Scott Buckley - The Things that Keep Us Here Scott Buckley - March of Midnight Director's Note: The ORPHEUS Protocol is supported by our generous backers on Patreon: Visit http://www.patreon.com/orpheusprotocol for details. If you enjoy The ORPHEUS Protocol, please consider dropping us a review on iTunes. This is the best way for us to reach a broader audience. The ORPHEUS Protocol releases Monday, provided no community medical emergencies have taken Rob too much away from their desk. 

Sometimes we chase a promise so hard, we end up building something God never asked for. In this episode, the guys dive into the tension between trusting God's timing and taking matters into our own hands. Using the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar as a reference point, they explore what it means to accidentally “birth an Ishmael”—a version of purpose that we have to sustain ourselves—when God is calling us to wait for His “Isaac.”It's a conversation about patience, obedience, and surrender—especially for anyone navigating calling, relationships, or big life decisions. If you've ever been tempted to rush the process, this episode will challenge you to pause, seek clarity, and trust that what's truly from God won't need to be forced.--Connect with:Pastor Sammy https://www.instagram.com/samuelmrod/Pastor Jeff Osborne https://www.instagram.com/jefftosborne/--Don't forget to stay connected with us:Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4OvpFp9OB9_DgVdVVbXhFgInstagram https://www.instagram.com/beyond.theletter/Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/discover/beyond-the-letter--Get Aaron Levy's book, JOHN: 21 Daily Drips of Dialogue: https://a.co/d/7lGB90i--Have a question? Submit it TODAY, by clicking the link below! ***SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION HERE: https://patria.church.ai/form/BeyondtheLetterQA--Get to know the team:@amesa https://www.instagram.com/amesa/@verlonbakerofficial https://www.instagram.com/verlonbakerofficial/@nancysnavas https://www.instagram.com/nancysnavas/@alizee.kayy https://www.instagram.com/alizee.kayy/@andytakesl https://www.instagram.com/andytakesl/

Come along as we continue our deep dive through Genesis! We dig up a few nuggets and as always try to use that Biblical context to take the most from Gods Word!

Pastor Mich Michener - Sunday 07/27/2025

Genesis 21 shows God's sovereign grace turning conflicts into peace and reconciliation through faith, compassion, and peacemaking, as seen in Isaac's birth, Hagar and Ishmael's rescue, and Abraham's covenant with Abimelech, pointing to the New Covenant where Jesus' sacrifice reconciles us to God.

Genesis 21 shows God's sovereign grace turning conflicts into peace and reconciliation through faith, compassion, and peacemaking, as seen in Isaac's birth, Hagar and Ishmael's rescue, and Abraham's covenant with Abimelech, pointing to the New Covenant where Jesus' sacrifice reconciles us to God.

This Sunday at Pillar, we're talking about something that hits all of us at some point: the moment when God says “No.” It's a word we rarely want to hear, but when it comes from Him, it's never random or cruel. Sometimes His “No” is actually His way of protecting us, like when Abraham asked for Ishmael to be the heir and God gently redirected him to Isaac. Other times, it's a redirection, just like when Paul was stopped from heading west and ended up in Macedonia instead, walking right into the purpose God had planned. There are moments when His “No” is simply making space for a better “Yes.” Jeremiah reminds us that God wants to reveal great and mighty things if we're willing to wait. And yes, sometimes a “No” brings pain. It's okay to grieve it. Even Peter speaks to those moments when our hope is tested. But in the middle of that disappointment, grace shows up. Paul learned that in his weakness, God's strength was more than enough.If you've ever wrestled with unanswered prayers or wondered what God is doing behind the silence, this message is for you.

Intro:Good morning! We're navigating a tough week, having just hosted a funeral for Drew Hall, deeply loved in our community, who passed away in a climbing accident. Our hearts are with his wife and daughters. Next week, our Exeter church family, who we just prayed off, joins us for baptisms – this is the life of the church: joy and sorrow, but Jesus is always with us. Today, we delve into listening, a profound theme from Proverbs.Scripture References: Proverbs 2:1-5, Proverbs 5:1-2, Proverbs 22:17, Proverbs 13:1, Proverbs 15:31-32, Proverbs 4:20, Proverbs 5:1, Genesis 1, Psalm 33:6, Deuteronomy 6, Genesis 21:17, Proverbs 15:29, Luke 24:25-32Key Points:God Is Always Speaking, Calling Us to Listen:Proverbs emphasizes God's constant communication, urging us to be attentive listeners.The Seattle School of Theology's daily "chime" ritual reminds students their work is done in the presence of a living, speaking God.Listening for Wisdom and Instruction:Proverbs consistently calls us to listen for knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:1-5, 5:1-2, 22:17).It also stresses receiving instruction and discipline (Proverbs 13:1, 15:31-32). Embracing God's loving discipline transforms us.Proverbs' urgent tone (e.g., Proverbs 4:20, 5:1) highlights the gravity of listening to God's words. It's the single most important thing we can learn.Listening in God's Grand Story:Creation: From Genesis 1 ("Let there be light"), God speaks first. Our design is to listen and respond. Keith Anderson notes God's voice in creation is the first evidence of His love. Intentional listening means emptying our agenda, being curious, and present. Grab a "Five Ways to Practice Listening" card at the connect table!Old Testament (Shema): Deuteronomy 6 commands, "Listen, O Israel... love the Lord your God." Listening precedes loving. God's listening (e.g., Hagar and Ishmael in Genesis 21:17) isn't for His knowing, but to express His love, care, and that we are known (Proverbs 15:29). What He hears is never a barrier to His love.Jesus' Incarnation: Jesus often said, "Let anyone who has ears hear." The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:25-32) shows disciples, disillusioned by Christ's crucifixion, unknowingly walking with Jesus. As He spoke, their hearts "burned." Encountering Jesus opens our ears and hearts to God's voice. Proximity to Jesus happens in simple, earthy ways (walking, sharing a meal, being with companions).The Problem is Connection, Not God's Speaking:Like the story of Pete Gregg unknowingly broadcasting his podcast, God is always speaking. The problem is often our connection.Busyness, disappointment, a cold heart, or distance from Jesus can hinder our listening. Our job is to approach God with intentionality, love, and closeness to Jesus.Conclusion:Our ability to listen to God is foundational. From creation to Jesus, God's story shows He actively speaks and listens out of love. This security allows us to confidently listen to Him.Call to Action:As we come to the table, remember Christ's presence bridges all distance. If your heart feels cold, or you need to know God hears you, pray with us. We'll worship and take communion, remembering Jesus, who perfectly embodied listening and drew close to us, offering new life. Be responsive to prayer; we want to connect you to Jesus. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

Almost every Christian denomination accepts that God is sovereign--which is interpreted to mean that He always does precisely what He pleases, and everything that happens on earth has either His explicit or implicit stamp of approval. So when we find ourselves in a crisis--we or someone we love gets a terminal diagnosis, or we don't have enough money to make the mortgage and may lose the house, or we're in the direct path of a natural disaster, etc--we pray for a miracle, because we all know that God can do anything He wants. And who knows? Maybe He'll say yes. But if He says no, the common theology goes, it's because He sees the bigger picture. He knows more than we do, and we have to just trust that He knows best. That sounds so spiritual, doesn't it? Some believers manage to weather these trials of faith, pointing to Job as their example, when he said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21) and "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). (One side note. When you hear of a great saint who loses everything and yet clings to their trust in God anyway, certain that He has a greater purpose for their loss, does that inspire you to praise God--or to praise that great saint? Who actually receives the glory for that?) This theology has its roots in Calvinism, which espouses an extreme form of predestination (meaning that God chooses whether each of us will ultimately be saved, or damned, before we're ever born. He has to do this, they argue, because it is God who gives us the faith even to be saved, Eph 2:8-9, and if He withholds that faith, salvation for that individual is impossible.) So God, in this theological persuasion, decides a priori who will be saved and who will not, and then punishes those to whom He has not given the faith to be saved for their sins. They do have scriptures to back up their argument--if you take them out of context. One of the big ones is Romans 9:18-21, which says: "Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?' But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?'" In this passage, Paul was comparing Israel's hardness of heart in rejecting the Messiah to Pharaoh from the time of the Exodus (Romans 9:15-17). The reason it took ten plagues and the decimation of Egypt for Pharaoh to finally release the Israelites was because Pharaoh's heart was hardened, far beyond reason. Paul's point in this passage was that God did this so that He could display His power to the Israelites, delivering them with great signs and wonders (Romans 9:17). If Pharaoh hadn't resisted, it would not have taken great miracles to do it. (In the same way, Paul argues, the fact that Israel had rejected Jesus gave the Lord the opportunity to bring the Gentiles in to the New Covenant, too.) But if God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, is Pharaoh still responsible for his own actions? If we go back to the original source text, we can see that this isn't quite the whole story. God did tell Moses in advance that He would harden Pharaoh's heart before the plagues ever began (Ex 4:21, 7:3). But for the first five plagues, Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Ex 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, 9:7). It was only by the sixth plague that the scripture says God hardened Pharaoh's heart (Ex 9:12). Pharaoh still made his own choice first; God just enforced it and used it for His own purposes. I love the analogy Charles Capps uses to explain this. If one sets clay and wax out in the hot sun, the sun will harden the clay, but melt the wax. The sun adds the same heat to both, but the substance (wax or clay) determines its effect. A potter chooses whether to make “noble or ignoble” vessels from clay not arbitrarily, but on the basis of the quality of the clay. If the clay is supple and pliable, it can be made into something beautiful; if it is brittle, it might not be fit to shape into something worthy of display. God works with what we give him. In the same way, in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), the sower sows the Word indiscriminately, but it is the condition of the soil that determines the harvest. Luke later writes that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), and Peter writes that He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9, more on this later). Likewise, any reasonable person would have been terrified into obedience by the plagues, long before they progressed to the death of the firstborn. And some of the Egyptians did believe and take refuge in Goshen, and the final exodus included “a mixed multitude” (Exodus 12:38), meaning some of the Egyptians were convinced, converted, and left with them. God gave the Egyptians the opportunity to escape the plagues that might otherwise have caused death, telling them to pull their livestock and their servants inside before the hail (Exodus 9:19), and to paint their doorposts with the blood of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:22-23), which was symbolic of and foreshadowing the blood of Christ. Again, the Lord is “not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He didn't want to harm the Egyptians, but neither did he want them to keep His people in bondage. So, did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Yes, but perhaps only in the sense that God performed the miracles, and Pharaoh’s heart was such that those miracles caused him to dig in his heels. We’ve all met stubborn people like this, with whom any direct attempt at persuasion will cause them to double down on their original position. God does not override our free will, so in this case, He worked with it, using it to His advantage. Our choices do matter. But He's so amazing that He takes those choices and still manages to work “all things together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). As a result of Pharaoh’s stubbornness, God’s people had a legacy of spectacular stories to remind their children and their children’s children of His might on their behalf. My point in saying all that is just that the argument that God sovereignly controls everything that happens is inconsistent with the overall teachings of scripture; even the individual verses that seem to suggest that don't stand up to scrutiny. But a larger problem is that, taken to its logical conclusion, the theological position that God's will is absolute, and will come to pass no matter what we do, leads to a sense of futility. Why pray--why even evangelize--if God is going to do what He's going to do, regardless? To their credit (though against logic), most Calvinist denominations recognize that the scriptures are very clear that we should still both evangelize and pray, and they therefore preach that we should do both, just because God said we should. (Sort of the equivalent of a parent saying, "Because I said so, that's why!") But historically, many Protestant denominations stemmed from or were heavily influenced by Calvinist doctrine. As a result, until about the late 18th and early 19th century, almost all missionary activity around the world came from the Catholic church, which I suspect was precisely because it held no doctrine of predestination, so they thought their efforts could make an eternal difference. Motivation matters. (Protestant missions largely date back to William Carey's work in India in 1793. The London Missionary Society was founded two years later, in 1795, and in 1810, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was founded.) Even if we're not ultimately each predestined for heaven or hell, God is still sovereign, though, right? He knows way more than we do. So doesn't that mean sometimes He'll say no to our prayer requests, and when we all get to heaven, we'll understand why? Yes, God is sovereign in the sense that He is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-knowing, but He is not all-controlling (and I covered this extensively in this podcast https://www.drlaurendeville.com/podcasts/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective on why bad things happen, from a biblical perspective). God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; they did anyway. Was that God's will? Certainly not! He did everything He could to keep them from doing it, short of making them automatons, when He told them, don't do it. Likewise, any sovereign can set laws that his citizens may not necessarily obey. The US is a sovereign nation and in 1974 the administration set the "National Maximum Speed Law" of 55mph. But many drivers exceeded that speed limit daily. The New English Translation has the word “sovereign” appear more than any other biblical translation (368 times). Not one of the original Hebrew or Greek words connotes the idea that He controls everything that happens. Most of the time, "sovereign" is just the way they render God’s names. The word sovereign is often translated from Shaddai (meaning Almighty) when it’s part of God’s name (48 times in the OT). Other times it’s translated from ‘elohiym: supreme God, as a superlative, or ‘elyown, meaning High or Most High. Sometimes it's thrown in as part of the transition of ‘Adonay: an emphatic form of the Lord. Sometimes it's translated from tsaba’, also translated the Lord of Hosts, meaning one who commands an army. In some cases the word sovereign is used to describe God's characteristics, but in context, it doesn't mean what we typically mean by the word (that His will always happens). The NET version of 1 Chronicles 29:11 says, "O LORD, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all." Only this translation uses the word sovereign; the others , translate it Head. This word connotes the idea of a supreme ruler, but not of one who always gets His way. Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield (magen: shield, buckler, protector).” The same verse is translated in NET: "For the LORD God is our sovereign protector." Clearly the word magen does not indicate that He always gets His way, either. Sovereign power is also translated as holiness from qadash: "to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate." This word is used in Ezekiel 28:25: "'This is what the sovereign LORD says: When I regather the house of Israel from the peoples where they are dispersed, I will reveal my sovereign power (or holiness) over them in the sight of the nations, and they will live in their land that I gave to my servant Jacob." It doesn't mean supreme dictator there either. Micah 5:4 says, "He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the LORD's strength, by the sovereign authority of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.” Sovereign authority here is the words ga'own (exaltation, majesty, pride) shem (name, reputation, fame, glory): thus, it's better translated “in the majesty of the name” of the Lord. Not a supreme dictator there either. Habakkuk 2:14 says, "For recognition of the LORD's sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea." Sovereign majesty here is yada (to know, to perceive, to make known) kabowd (glory, honour, glorious, abundance), also translated “for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Still not indicating ultimate control over everything that happens. Of course God's will does not always come to pass. As I mentioned earlier, the classic example of this is 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance,” and 1 Timothy 2:4: “[He] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Matthew 18:14 also says, “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world, not just those who are saved. 1 John 2:2 says, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world”, and 1 Tim 4:10 says, "That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” This doesn't sound like a God who created anyone for the expressed purpose of eternal damnation to me. On the contrary, He did everything He could possibly do to save us all, short of making us automatons. But not everybody will be saved, because He doesn't force us to choose Him--nor does He make any of our other decisions for us, either. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." God wills it; He paid an enormous price for it; but He won't get all of us, because we get a choice. There are other verses that imply the concept of sovereignty as we typically define it (in the sense that when God decides to do something, He does it, and no one can stop Him). Here are a few of those verses: Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Isaiah 46:10: “I declare the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” Romans 8:28: “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” (i.e. He can use bad and work it for good.) But these verses refers to God’s right and His power -- they say nothing about voluntary restrictions that God has placed upon His own power. Those limitations are defined by the covenants God had in place with mankind at various points in history. Once He gives His word that He will do this and not that, He cannot violate it--He exalts His word even above His name (Psalm 138:2). It's the integrity of His word that literally holds the universe together (Hebrews 1:3). Again, more on this in this podcast: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/podcasts/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective and extensively more in "Blood Covenant Origins" and "Blood Covenant Fulfilled" from this book series: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/books/biblical-retellings). A quick overview, though: since God gave the earth to man in the garden, and man decided to obey Satan, God had to find a legal entry to get back in. That was the purpose of the covenants—first the Adamic, then the Noahic, then the Abrahamic, then the Mosaic, and now finally, the New Covenant. In the middle three there were stipulations of what we had to do, and therefore what God would do for us, if we kept up our end. But there were provisions for blessings even in those. For instance, a common Old Testament example I've heard preached to back up the idea that we never know what God's going to do, but we should have faith in Him anyway, is Daniel 3:18. Here's how that verse is preached: "If you throw us into the fiery furnace, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not save us, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Except that's not what that verse actually says. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego, the Hebrew kids in Babylonian exile in that story, were under the Mosaic covenant, and they were on the right side of it--so they had a right to the blessings (Deut 28:7), and they knew it. They knew God’s promises. That’s why they were able to stand up to the king—just like David could call Goliath that “uncircumcised Philistine,” absolutely convinced of the outcome, because he had a covenant, and Goliath didn’t. In the story in Daniel, what the verse actually says is, “If you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” The Jewish captives respond saying, “If that is the case” (implying, if you will throw us in to the furnace, the subject of the previous verse). Then they say, “But if not”—and the Hebrew never qualifies if not what. People tend to assume they are saying “but if God doesn’t deliver us” (the end of the previous thought). But it could just as easily have meant, “If it is not the case that you will throw us into the fiery furnace,” just like it did in previous verse. This would change the entire meaning of the verse, and would be far more consistent with the rest of scripture. I can think of no instances anywhere in scripture where someone put faith in God’s covenant promises, and God did not come through. He can’t not come through—because again, He exalts His word above His very name (Ps 138:2)! In the New Covenant, Jesus paid to make sure we are always on the blessing side, having fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf, and become the curse for us (Gal 3:13). Because of that, every single promise is now Yes and Amen in Him (2 Cor 1:20). When Christ saved us, the word in Greek is sozo—that word appears 110 times in the New Testament. It includes spiritual salvation, but it also means physical healing, to rescue from physical danger, and to deliver from the penalties of judgment. All of these things are accessed by faith. Scripture doesn’t say that sometimes God says no to physical healing; on the contrary, every time someone came to Jesus for healing, they got it—and He was the exact image of the Father (Col 1:15), doing nothing but what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). He turned no one away, saying, “Nope, this one is God’s will for you, to bring glory to Himself.” What brings God glory is healing, not sickness (John 9:1-4), and the “fruit” of answered prayers (John 15:7-8). It’s the blessings of God on our lives that are supposed to get the attention of the world around us. So back to the issue of praying for miracles. The theological position of most Christian denominations is that God can do anything, but there’s no guarantees that He will. Because of course, we can look around and see so many good Christians (some of the best!) who pray, and don’t seem to receive. What are we to do with that? Shouldn’t we adjust our theology to account for all of these practical examples… no matter what the Bible actually says? My dad died of cancer when he was 48 years old. We had lots of people praying. I had several well-meaning believers after the fact try to console me with the idea that God “allowed” this to happen for some inscrutable reason of His own… maybe someone might come to the Lord as a result of our loss, someone suggested. (What actually happened was that I became a religious Pharisee for about 10 years, going through the motions, but I didn’t trust God at all. I figured, based on that theology, that God was like an army general who made sacrifices for the greater good, and sometimes—sorry!—it’s you. The effect on the rest of my family's faith and outlook on the world was similar to mine, or worse.) All of that is predictable in hindsight, because cancer and death are the fingerprints of the Enemy, not of God. The Enemy comes to “steal, kill, and destroy”—Jesus came that we might “have life, and have it more abundantly.” It’s very clear who does what. But the vast majority of the body of Christ today preaches this confused theology, attributing horrific things to God under the strange explanation that because God’s ways are higher than our ways, somehow from His perspective, bad is good, and wrong is right, and once we all get to heaven, we’ll understand. (No wonder I didn’t trust God anymore when I believed this. How could I trust a God like that?) I get why the Church at large preaches this—they’re trying to make the Bible fit our experience. God's supreme sovereignty is a nice, spiritual-sounding explanation which borrows from the long Calvinistic tradition, even if we don't take it quite to that extreme (though some denominations still do even that). But what finally set me free was when I realized that God’s definition of good and mine are actually the same. That my dad’s death at such a young age was never His will. That how God dealt with mankind at various times in history was dependent upon the covenants in place at the time--and today, we're under the best covenant of all, the one where all the curses for disobedience are paid for in full, and all that's left is the blessing, which we can receive by faith. Here's what that doesn't mean: it doesn't mean that faith is a new form of works, that God now watches to see if we reach the critical threshold of faith before He doles out our miracle... and if we don't quite get there, ah, too bad, try harder next time. No! He's not responding in real time to our faith at all, deciding which requests to grant and which to refuse. God already provided every blessing in spiritual form in Christ’s atonement, 2000 years ago (Gal 1:3, Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Peter 2:24). We receive all of those blessings now the same way we receive salvation: by faith. It's "in your account" already, as it were, just waiting for you to make a withdrawal--just like salvation is freely available, waiting for you to accept it. But God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He doesn’t sovereignly say yes to one person and no to another for things that we know are in His will—if we know that we’re asking for something already in His explicit will, He hears us, and if we know that He hears us, we know we already have the requests made of Him (1 John 5:14-15). (That is the key, though--we can only have faith that we'll receive things that were already paid for in the atonement of Jesus. We can ask God for other things outside of that, but in those cases, God might say yes, or He might say no, for our own good--James 4:3. So it's quite useful to know scripture, so you can know for sure what you can stand on!) Back to my dad, and so many others besides. At that time, my family didn’t know any of this. We thought, we should pray, we should ask, and maybe God will say yes and maybe He will say no. But that’s not faith—that’s hope. And God didn’t say no—He said yes, 2000 years ago! Jesus paid an incredibly high price for God to say yes. Jesus also gave us the formula of how to receive in Mark 11:23-24: believe, and don’t doubt. If you do that, it’s as good as done. Unopposed faith (without doubt, James 1:6-8) is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1). It’s cruel to tell people that they didn’t receive their miracle because they didn’t believe hard enough, or pray long enough, though. But the solution to that isn’t to blame God’s “sovereignty” instead! (That’s how people lose their faith—who wants to serve a God whom they believe “allowed” the Holocaust, or 9-11, or child trafficking, or etc to happen?) Rather, the solution is to understand that we’re in a war, and that Satan is seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). While he’s a defeated foe ever since the cross (Col 2:15), and we now have authority over him through Jesus (Matt 28:18, Eph 1:17-19), most of us don’t know it. We don’t know that, with the authority we now have, Satan’s only weapon against believers now is deception and fear (2 Cor 10:3-5)—and of course anything he can indirectly control against us that is part of the fallen world. But Jesus has already overcome the world on our behalf (John 16:33). And understanding God’s perfect love for us casts out fear (James 4:18). Because if He loves us enough to send Jesus, how will He not also freely give us all things (Romans 8:32)? But most of us are so focused on what we see, on the things this world says, that a cancer diagnosis, for example (or any other terminal doctor’s report, or insurmountable financial problem, etc), strikes fear into our hearts. Whatever we focus on, we magnify—and if we’re in a church that tells us maybe God will come through and maybe He won’t (for things that He’s explicitly promised in His word), then we’re standing on shifting sand. It’s hard enough to deal with our own doubt and unbelief, without being surrounded by the doubt and unbelief of others. But absolute trust God’s word—even if it means isolating ourselves from well-meaning believers who might cause us to doubt—is the only way. Jesus on numerous occasions got away from the crowds or put everyone out of the house except for his few top disciples before he performed a miracle. Abraham received because he did not consider anything except God’s promises (Romans 4:19). He didn’t have a contingency plan (or at least he didn’t anymore after the whole Ishmael thing was out of the way). Because he didn’t consider any of the natural circumstances, he didn’t waver in his faith. In the same way, today, our lack of fear of Satan’s schemes is proof to him that we’re going to win (Phil 1:28)—and if we stand firm (Eph 6:13-14) and resist the devil, sooner or later, he has to flee (James 4:7). We’ll win, if we don’t quit. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What can you tell me about Ishmael? Why are people so excited about the Latin Mass? and more on today's Open Line Wednesday with Fr. Mitch Pacwa.

She was useful until she was not. She was a victim of abuse and mistreatment. She was an abandoned outsider of God's covenant people. In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer and Matt Kaufmann linger on Hagar's story. At her most desperate moment, God loves her really well. So struck by the encounter, Hagar names God Elroi, the God who sees me.  Show notes:  In her desperation, God finds Hagar abandoned to the wilderness.  He calls her by name - “Hagar.”  Even though her name meant “stranger”, his use of it meant she was not a stranger to him. In fact, she was known, not by association, but on her own terms.  He asks her questions - “Where did you come from and where are you going?”  Even though he knew these answers already, he gets her talking. God is a God who listens.  He gives her a promise - “I will make a mighty nation out of your son.”  Even though Ishmael's lineage would rival Isaac's, he is a God of blessing. 

Get the free eBook – Family Discipleship Blueprint: A Year-by-Year Guide to Family Discipleship: https://discipleship.org/shop/family-discipleship-blueprint-a-year-by-year-guide-to-family-discipleship/   Today's episode will help us understand the importance of consistent, intentional time with our kids and how to model repentance and discipleship in everyday life. Join Discipleship.org at one of our fall events: https://discipleship.org/one-day-events/   The Deeper Walk Experience | Franklin, TN | Aug. 15-16, 2025: https://deeperwalk.com/sp/dw-experience-franklin/  Discipling Men | Dallas, TX | Sept. 11, 2025: https://discipleship.org/one-day-events/dallas-2025-regional/   The Discipleship Gospel | Oceanside, CA | Oct. 9, 2025: https://discipleship.org/one-day-events/2025-west-coast-conference/   Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/  Stay Informed - Get our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hPViAr  The Importance of Discipling Our Children | Disciple Makers Podcast In this episode of the Disciple Makers Podcast, hosts Josh Howard, Jason, and Ishmael dive into the crucial topic of discipling our children. They explore the significance of intentionality in parenting and how quality time equates to quantity time. The hosts share practical steps, such as setting up standing stones to remind children of God's works, as well as personal experiences and methods they use to disciple their own kids. They emphasize the importance of loving your spouse and confessing mistakes as key principles of discipleship. The episode concludes with an encouraging reminder that we are not alone in this journey—Jesus and the Holy Spirit are with us, helping us every step of the way. Get Discipleship.org's premium Podcast Feed: https://disciplemakerspodcast.supercast.com/   Key Takeaways  00:00 Introduction and Banter 00:53 Discipling Our Kids 02:56 The Importance of Intentionality 06:08 Loving Our Spouses Well 08:17 Confession and Repentance in Parenting 12:02 Making Up for Lost Time 13:18 Practical Tips for Intentional Parenting 18:44 Intentional Family Time 19:07 The Challenge of Consistency 19:59 Memorizing Scripture with Kids 20:56 The Importance of Saying Yes 25:08 Encouragement for Parents 26:10 Teaching Life Skills and Faith 28:49 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Parenting 30:58 Resources for Family Discipleship Check out our Blogs: https://discipleship.org/blog/   Join us for our 2026 National Disciple Making Forum: https://discipleship.org/2026-national-disciple-making-forum/   See Below for a longer description: So, spending consistent quality time with your kids matters a lot. I take my kids out, one-on-one, every week. It doesn't have to be anything fancy—sometimes, it's just ice cream or a car wash run with my daughter. Over time, these moments build strong relationships and make way for deeper conversations. Plus, we try to do family devotions and prayer time before bed. We're not perfect, but it's a constant effort. Absolutely. It's crucial to prioritize your kids and give them the best of you, not just what's left. Simple activities, like watching a favorite show together, can mean a lot. The key is to be present and make the most of these moments. Right. And it's never too late to start. Even if you've missed opportunities before, you can always begin now. Whether it's with your own kids, grandkids, or kids at church, just be intentional. God's grace covers it all, and He's more than willing to help us on this journey.

Hearts That Expand: Learning Compassion from Abraham and Jesus Today's readings focus on two powerful biblical stories . . . . . . the first from the life of Abraham, Sarah, and Ishmael, and the second from the Gospel account of Jesus healing two possessed men. In the first story, Sarah's jealousy over Hagar and Ishmael leads her to demand their banishment, despite Ishmael being Abraham's son. Abraham, torn but obedient, sends them away with provisions. God intervenes with care and promise, ensuring Ishmael's survival and future as a great nation—reminding us that Abraham is the spiritual ancestor of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The Gospel story presents a stark contrast: Jesus heals two tormented men, but the local people focus on the loss of their pigs rather than the miracle of healing. They reject Jesus, displaying closed hearts and misplaced priorities. The Homily ends by urging listeners to choose which example to follow: Abraham's compassionate, open heart or the villagers' closed-off indifference. We are invited to let our hearts expand through the grace of God, even when it's difficult, and to strive to love, help, and care for others like Abraham and Jesus did. Listen more to this Meditation Media. Listen to Hearts That Expand: Learning Compassion from Abraham and Jesus ----------------------------------------------------------------- Quote From The Homily And so, then there's us, and we have choices to make. We can become more and more like Abraham or more and more like those people in the town, more and more where our hearts are touched. By the suffering, by the needs, by the hopes and dreams of so many people that we do whatever we can to show tender care, to help to pray, or we close off, we build walls. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Abraham Dismissing Hagar and Ishmael: Dutch Artist: Nicolaes Maes, 1653 One of the artist's earliest works. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew 8: 28-34 First Reading: Genesis 21: 5, 8-20

Hour 3 Patrick answers a range of questions regarding adoration in a house, a worry that baptism may not be valid. Also a caller shared her story regarding abortion and another caller thanked Patrick after helping him pray after his mom died from suicide. Linda-We should talk about men as the responsible party for abortions. I think we need to talk about that. (1:16) Cindy-Sister was invited to adoration in someone's house in Mexico. Could adoration be in a house. I thought only in Church? (7:55) Mary-I did the annulment process and it was really good. (18:13) Scott-My mom died from Suicide and I wanted to thank you for your insights about being able to pray for people after things have happened. It was very helpful. (20:36) Bob-Loved your explanation of whether a lady was going to hell - this helped (23:50) Ben-I struggle with 'what if' questions around validly receiving the sacraments? What if my baptism isn't valid? What if I don’t have a valid confession. Can you help me with this? (27:14) Nico-If Pope Leo's actual name was Leo, could he have still chosen that name when he became Pope? (36:19) Manuel (Email)-I’m considering a Sexaholics Anonymous session, but nearest one is in a Methodist place. Is that okay to go there? (37:48) Teresa-Do men receive excommunication for abortion (42:01) Esmeralda-Why did Abraham kick out Ishmael and Hagar? Did God agree to that? (44:34) Dennis-What is your take on 'God is not angry' Billboard? (47:01) John-Does a diocese do a background check to make sure a priest is valid? (48:58)

07.02.2025 | The Coming Ezekiel War | Part 1: The Ancient Hatred | Pastor Jeff Wickwire Have you ever wondered where the roots of modern-day conflicts really lie? In his powerful sermon, Pastor Jeff Wickwire takes us on a journey back to the Biblical story of Abraham and the covenant that God established, revealing startling insights into the ancient origins of today’s Middle Eastern tensions. By exploring the story of Abraham, his two sons Isaac and Ishmael, and the relational dynamics that led to deep-seated animosities, Pastor Jeff underscores the significance of God's sovereign plan and perfect timing in our lives. He connects these Biblical truths to current events, reminding us that the strife between Jews and Arabs is not just a political issue, but a spiritual one born from rejection, resentment, and prophecy. Through vivid storytelling, Pastor Jeff encourages us to understand our place in God’s grand narrative amidst an increasingly chaotic world. This message is an urgent call for believers to recognize the times we live in and to ground ourselves in Scripture. As we face the complexities of today, please consider joining us to delve deeper into understanding God’s truth and His prophetic word. Don't miss out on this eye-opening sermon—watch or listen now!

In this powerful message, Pastor Marcus Mecum dives into Genesis 21:1-14 and reminds us that our mistakes don't have to define our future. Abraham made a mistake when he tried to force God's promise on his own terms, but God still kept His word.Your miracle and your mistake can't live under the same roof. At some point, you have to decide which one you're going to feed.

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comRomans 9 God is almighty in His plan to save. Salvation is not the result of human effort but God's mercy and purpose. Paul begins by expressing deep sorrow for Israel's rejection of Christ despite their unique privileges as God's chosen people. He explains that God's promises have not failed, as true Israel is defined not by ethnicity but by faith in God's promises. Examples like Jacob and Esau highlight that God's choices depend on His mercy, and He has the right to extend mercy wherever He chooses. God has every right to shape His plan like a potter molding clay. He chose to bring Christ through the Jewish people and to extend salvation to Gentiles. These decisions are uniquely His to make. Salvation is open to everyone through faith in Christ. Christians trust in God's authority and embrace His will, even when His ways are beyond our understanding. His choice is to bless “children of the promise,” meaning those who pursue faith in the likeness of Abraham. God's choices regarding mercy are not always easy to comprehend, like choosing Jacob over Esau or hardening Pharaoh's heart. We have no right to find fault with God's decisions concerning Jews, Gentiles, or anyone else. We simply need to trust Him. We know there are “vessels of mercy” who are blessed by God, and that we can be among those people if we honor His sovereign power and achieve righteousness through faith in Jesus. Those who do so faithfully will never be disappointed.  Sovereign God, we praise You for Your mercy, which cannot be earned by our works but is given freely through Your kindness in Your Son. Your ways, from the beginning, are higher than ours. Your merciful choices, actions in the lives of people, and divine will are beyond anything we can fully understand or control. Lord, we choose to trust You. Your ways are good, and Your help is abundant for those who place their faith in Jesus. May His authority never become a stumbling block for us but serve as the unbreakable foundation upon which we build our lives.  Thought Questions: -       Paul sincerely laments the faithlessness of the Jews. Do you feel likewise about people in your life, and how do you deal with that sorrow? -       What do the examples of God choosing Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau teach you about His sovereignty and will? -       The Jews pursued righteousness by works instead of faith and did not achieve it. What would that mistake look like in your life?

Joseph brings his sons to the dying Jacob for a blessing, carefully positioning Manasseh, the firstborn, at Jacob's right hand. But Jacob crosses his hands, placing his right hand on younger Ephraim's head. When Joseph tries to correct this apparent mistake, Jacob refuses: "I know, my son, I know." This deliberate reversal echoes throughout Genesis—Abel over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau—God consistently choosing the younger, the weaker, the unexpected. Jacob adopts Joseph's sons as his own, granting them full tribal status in Israel. The crossed hands of blessing point forward to another wooden cross where all God's promises find their "Yes" and "Amen."  The Rev. Dr. Matthew Tassey, pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Shawnee, OK, joins guest-host Rev. David Boisclair of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO to study Genesis 48.  To learn more about Redeemer Lutheran, visit redeemershawnee.org. Genesis isn't just the start of the Bible; it's the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal. In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you've read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

"The holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel, and Ishmael, Persians by race and brethren according to the flesh, were sent by the Persian King as ambassadors to Julian the Apostate to negotiate a peace treaty. While with him at a place near Chalcedon, they refused to join him in offering sacrifice to his idols. Scorning the immunity universally accorded ambassadors, he had them slain in the year 362. This was a cause of the war with Persia in which Julian perished miserably the following year." (Great Horologion)

Dear Jesus your cousins and them are trippin' Iran's leadership needs to negotiate about what? This is on Esau and Ishmael's generational supernatural git back stand back the commonality, we all worship a vengeful God. This past Saturday, I watched Pope Leo's message of hope. The calm #NoKings rally were not about social unrest, more of reset and awareness. I had fun creating a viral reels in celebration of #Obama Appreciation Day.  Matriarch is giving parents the goal of nurturing talent...Matthew Knowles trash husband great father and manager... Week 5 of the Diddy Trial is Triggering. RHOA Recap, Some are still performing Drew (with your phone screensaver as yourself, girl....) and seeing more reality on YouTube than on the show, now the dynamics and interactions make more sense. Contact Us on: https://linktr.ee/tnfroisreading Blue Sky: @tvfoodwinegirl.bsky.social Threads: www.threads.net/@tnfroisreading Instagram: @tnfroisreading Facebook: TNFroIsReading Bookclub   You know your girl is on her hustle, support the show by navigating to: Dale's Angel's Store...For Merch Promo Code: tnfro Writer's Block Coffee Ship A Bag of Dicks Promo Code: tnfrogotjokes Don't forget to drop me a line at tnfroisreading@gmail.com, leave a comment on the show, or suggest additions for Far From Beale St.