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Pastor JD provides four specific ways from the text that speak to the truth of how Jesus enables us and empowers us to do that which He's calling us to do.
Pastor JD explains how the Lord being the closest when we're the lowest isn't only a promise but a prophecy by way of three prophetic passages that point to the pre-tribulation rapture coming at a time when believers are battle-weary.
Today's Scripture: Hebrews 2:14–18 Sometimes fear doesn't feel like fear. It looks like staying ahead, planning for every possibility, holding people tightly, or never quite letting yourself rest. Hebrews 2 names a deeper fear beneath much of our striving: the fear of loss and death. Today, we'll explore how that fear quietly shapes our lives—and why Jesus frees us to loosen our grip and live more fully. *How fear of loss can disguise itself as responsibility or control *Why avoiding what we fear can actually give it more power *The “smaller deaths” we brace against in everyday life *What Jesus' death and resurrection mean for the things we fear losing *How to loosen your grip without pretending you're not afraid Go Deeper: For more on your Inner Controller check out The Secure Soul Episode 41: Boundaries with Fear and Anxiety Episode 167: Can I Pray My Anxiety Away? Connect with Dr. Alison on Instagram: @dralisoncook Join 80,000+ Soul Menders in Dr. Alison's free email community for ongoing reflection and support. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Prayer is central to every believers' life and critical to discipleship and worship. However, Christians often feel ashamed to talk about their personal prayer life. They read books and manuals on prayer, hoping to find the perfect solution to a fickle prayer life. In this sermon on Ephesians 1:17 titled “The Father of Glory,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones argues that questions found in books on prayer often miss the point. Christians must not focus on form or saying the most beautiful words. Nor should Christians simply telegraph their petitions in a sentence or two. Instead they must remember, recollect, and pause, as the apostle Paul does, to whom they are speaking. Paul, in just one verse, notes in his prayer that he is praying to the God with whom he has a covenant relationship. The God of the incarnate Son. Not an unknown god, but the God revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ. This God is the source of all glory. He is the glorious One, who gives glory, not only to the Son, but to His people. When one remembers who they are praying to before they begin, they will, indeed, find little trouble engaging in the greatest activity any human being can do: speak to God.
Today's Bible Verse: "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song." — Judges 5:3 When you're facing uncertainty, anxiety, or fear about the future, how can you find peace and learn to trust God? Judges 5:3 reminds us that one of the most powerful ways to strengthen our faith is to remember God's faithfulness and praise Him for what He has already done. Remembering God's faithfulness changes our perspective. When we focus only on what we cannot control, uncertainty can quickly become overwhelming. But when we look back at God's provision, protection, guidance, and promises, we are reminded that the same God who has been faithful in the past is still with us today. Resources: Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter. Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword Loved this episode? Hear more from Jennifer at Faith Over Fear Meet Today’s Host: Jennifer Slattery Discover more devotions with Jennifer at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio Jennifer Slattery is a national speaker and multi-published author, She’s passionate about helping believers live with bold faith, rooted in surrender to Christ’s purpose. Jennifer co-hosts both Your Daily Bible Verse and Faith Over Fear, encouraging listeners to step into their God-given identity. Her teachings blend Scripture with personal insight to help others embrace God’s power over fear and move forward with confidence.
Hope is found in and because of Jesus Christ
In the movie industry, they talk about the “suspension of disbelief.” It’s all make- believe, right? But they try to make the costumes, and the special effects, and the acting so convincing that it suspends our disbelief. They hope we forget it’s fake. Or fiction, if you prefer. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that some people sort of act their way through life. They try to suspend our disbelief about how they’re really living. We’ll see that’s a fruitless pursuit. — Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years. Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work.” — Psalm 92:4 Do you believe that your sins are forgiven, and that Christ has made a full atonement for them? Then what a joyful Christian you ought to be! How you should live above the common trials and troubles of the world! Since sin is […]
It's Friday, August 14th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus India's March for Life draws 5,000 India's fifth National March for Life was held on August 8 and 9 in the city of Chennai, drawing a crowd of 5,000 people eager to proclaim the dignity of human life, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Cardinal Anthony Poola, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, was present at the march and delivered a powerful pro-life address. He said, “Pro-life is the most important mission to be carried out in our dioceses, congregations and institutions. If we do not act now, we may soon be left with institutions – but without people. … Do not be afraid. The Catholic Church in India stands with you to fight for the right to life of every unborn child.” Emma Magdalene of LifeSiteNews.com added, “The number one cause of death today is not COVID, cancer, or even any war. It's abortion. The World Health Organization reports that over 73 million abortions take place globally every year. What a heartbreaking reality.” Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is Democratic presidential frontrunner Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is now the frontrunner to become the 2028 Democratic presidential nominee, according to Polymarket odds, marking the first time she has led the pack, reports The Independent. As of Wednesday evening, 21 percent of traders backed the New York leftist, who was trailed by Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom at 17 percent. On rival prediction site Kalshi, the results were the same, with Ocasio-Cortez narrowly topping Newsom. Meanwhile, conventional political polls still put former Vice President Kamala Harris at the top spot, with Newsom in second, and Cortez in a distant fourth. Luigi Mangione expected to plead guilty to assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty today, August 14th, in his federal case tied to his alleged execution of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson — in an apparent bid to dodge a life sentence, reports the New York Post. The 28-year-old accused killer — who is set to appear at a morning hearing in Manhattan federal court — is charged in the federal case with two counts of stalking resulting in death stemming from his alleged December 2024 cold-blooded murder of the powerful executive on a Manhattan sidewalk. Mangione would still likely face a potential life sentence if he were to plead guilty in federal court, but would hope that U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett doles out a lesser sentence. The heir of a wealthy Maryland family led authorities on a dramatic five-day manhunt before local cops in Altoona, Pennsylvania finally nabbed him while he munched on breakfast at a local McDonald's. (Look at raw bodycam footage: Scroll to the :52 mark) Prosecutors say he plotted the shocking killing to make a violent political statement, leaving behind bullet casings at the crime scene with the words “delay” and “deny” etched into them — echoing a phrase insurers allegedly use to describe dodging paying out claims. Christian weatherman's prayers on-air for safety in San Antonio And finally, San Antonio, Texas-based meteorologist Bill Taylor on KENS-5 TV, a media colleague of mine, went viral for praying live on air on July 15th for the people of the Texas Hill Country who were facing an imminent tornado on the ground. During continuous, commercial-free coverage, he said this. TAYLOR: “You look at the time of day and there are just a lot of people that would be traveling in this area, traveling to work — Saint Hedwig, China Grove, right over Highway 87, right at [Loop] 1604. A number of motorists here. “So, Lord, I pray for protection. God, your sovereignty is what we lean into in moments like this, that drivers stay aware, stay alert. That you give them wisdom. Bless these drivers with wisdom. Keep them safe. Put angels around them of protection as they travel. Thank you, Lord. We're just going to get you home safely.” Later, Taylor offered this prayer. TAYLOR: “Praying for these people in the path of this storm that Lord God, your sovereignty would be here. That You, Lord, would protect everyone in the path of this storm. That You would give wisdom and clarity for families to seek shelter. That these plans would enact now. That people would reach out to those people in this affected area to give them the warning they need. In Your holy name, protect us, Lord.” In a follow-up interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Bill Taylor explained what was going through his mind at the time. TAYLOR: “This could be a tornado on the ground at any second, and it was impacting a densely populated area. And knowing the sensitivity of the Hill Country flooding that took more than 100 lives a year ago, knowing how destructive a tornado can be, it just truly came out of the Holy Spirit within me to start praying in that moment for protection, for His sovereignty, for people to be clear and wise enough to seek shelter. “When we're in continuous coverage, there's no producer prompting me. There's no script in weather ever, even on a routine day. We're on our own. We're doing a PowerPoint presentation based on our slides that we put together. We're our own producers. The only time that somebody's in my ear is to tell me how much time I have left. “Well, when we have life-threatening weather, we're on till it's over. We stay on — commercial-free — until it's over. And it's on all platforms between broadcast, then our stream channel, Facebook, YouTube. “And when it happened, the Spirit of God came over me and said, ‘Pray!' Praise God that He delivered, as He always does. He's faithful, and we were protected from what could have been a lot worse.” CBN's Tré Phillips asked about what lesson Christian viewers could glean. PHILLIPS: “So, what would you say to those of us who want to be, like you were, more attuned to that still, small prompting of the Holy Spirit?” TAYLOR: “To do it. Take that step and be obedient to it, because it truly is the hands and feet, the body of Christ. You get that prompting, and when that obedience flows, this is God in action. “'Wherever two or more gather in My name, I shall be there.' (Matthew 18:20) That's why He uses us in this body of Christ, and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us to prompt us in those moments.” 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” Send Bill Taylor a 3-sentence email to btaylor@kens5.com, thanking him for boldly praying live on the air for the safety of people in the Texas Hill Country. Or send him a physical letter. This would be a great project for your kids! Bill Taylor, KENS 5 TV, 5400 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78229. (Check out his Facebook page) Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, August 14th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
What can the book of Job teach us about God, His grace, spiritual authority, and the way He sees us?Dr. James Tan joins us again for a wide-ranging conversation that starts in Job 1 and opens up into some bigger questions about Scripture and the Christian life. We talk about the order of heaven, Satan as the accuser, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as our advocate, the difference between condemnation and conviction, and the way God looks at the heart with mercy and grace.We also explore the story of Micaiah and King Ahab in 1 Kings, biblical righteousness under the New Covenant, order in the Church, and what it means to trust God's character when we don't understand everything He allows.Subscribe to The Final Hour Podcast for more conversations about Scripture, faith, culture, prophecy, and the world around us.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On this episode, David Wollen concludes this series by reflecting on David's life and showing how it points us to the only perfect King, Jesus Christ.
How to cope with boredom on your job—that’s Fran’s dilemma. But she’s learned some valuable lessons on practical things she can do when she’s feeling unmotivated and bored. Fran took some new approaches to her work and found it put a lot of enthusiasm back into her job. She simply made some changes in her usual routine and did a few things more creatively. That has helped a great deal. It’s Saturday now, and she’s meeting her friend, Nancy for lunch to ask her advice about being bored with her job. They have a long discussion about boredom, and Nancy agrees it’s a challenge everybody has to face on and off throughout their careers. “No job is without its boring aspects, that’s one thing I’ve come to accept, Fran,” Nancy says. “I’m beginning to understand that,” Fran says, “but I really think I’ve outgrown the job in a sense. I’m ready for a bigger challenge.” “Do you see another job in the company that interests you?” Nancy asks. “Yes, as a matter of fact,” Fran answers, “but I’m not qualified; they would never consider me….” “Now, Fran, don’t start with the negative prophecies. You need to identify your career goals and then put a plan in place to make yourself qualified,” Nancy tells her. “Well, I’d like to be… I really think I could do a good job… I’d like my boss’s job,” Fran finally gets it out. “Great…” Nancy starts to reply. “But they’d never consider me. I haven’t been there long enough…” Fran starts again. “Stop it, Fran,” Nancy says. “Let’s just make a list of the qualifications necessary to do your boss’s job; then we’ll talk about what you can do to acquire the skills and experience you need as quickly as possible.” For about an hour, the two of them make notes and discuss what Fran needs to do to be qualified for the job she wants. Then Nancy says, “If I were you, I’d go to your boss and let him know that you want to be in line for his job when he gets promoted. Ask him to give you assignments or suggestions that will help you.” “You mean, tell him I want his job?” Fran is surprised at Nancy’s suggestion. “Sure, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Nancy says. As Fran goes back home, she says to Jesus, “Nancy had some great advice. Thanks, Jesus, for your help.” She can feel his smile of approval and remembers another verse from Proverbs 19:20—when you listen to advice and accept instructions, in the end you will be wise.
Join Pastor Derek Neider in this inspiring episode of The Daily Devotional as he walks us through the book of Proverbs. Through thoughtful reflections, Derek encourages us to embrace our calling to serve Christ wholeheartedly and live out our faith with purpose and surrender.Tune in for insightful teachings, practical application, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live as servants of the gospel. This is just the beginning—there's so much more to come as we journey through Proverbs together!Thank you for listening! Here are some ways to learn more and stay connected!New to faith? Click here!Learn more about Pastor Derek NeiderFollow Derek on Instagramor FacebookSubscribe to email Subscribe to the daily devotionalExplore recent messages!This podcast was created by Pastor Derek Neider as a ministry of Awaken Las Vegas.Visit our website. We are located at 7175 W. Oquendo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89113. Our gathering times are 9am & 11am Sundays and 6:30pm Thursdays.
By removing every barrier between God and humanity and tearing down the walls that divide believers from one another, Jesus has made peace possible for all who trust in Him. The Bible teaches that reconciliation between God and man is only possible through Jesus Christ.
On this episode of the In the Room podcast, Josh, Pastor Marco, and Jean discuss Pastor Troy's miniseries The Lighthouse, focusing on biblical prosperity as more than finances and defined as being led on a good path. A sermon clip urges listeners not to make major decisions in a storm and to renew the mind with God's Word rather than acting out of hurt or anger. Jean and Pastor Marco describe what it means to be a lighthouse—rooted, steady, and shining hope to guide others—and share personal examples, including family and the church as sources of light in dark seasons. The conversation highlights meditating on Scripture, taking thoughts captive, and practicing intentional obedience until it becomes natural and joyful, ending with a challenge to read the Bible for 10 minutes each morning and reflect on one verse throughout the day, plus an invitation to surrender or return to Jesus in prayer.
What if your relationship with God was never meant to feel distant?In John 15:12-17, Jesus says something extraordinary: “I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends.”In this episode of Friends with God, Joe explores the passage that inspired the name of the entire podcast and what it might mean to actually live every day as a friend of Jesus.Friendship isn't built through striving or checking religious boxes. It's built through presence, conversation, trust, love, and simply spending time together. Joe explores how prayer can become an ongoing conversation, how abiding means staying connected, and why Jesus' command to love one another may be far simpler and more powerful than we sometimes make it.What if Jesus isn't waiting somewhere far away for you to find Him? What if He's already sitting across the kitchen table?Grab your coffee. Open up John 15. And let's talk about what it means to be Friends with God.
This is part 9 in the series. (Part 8 was the episode on 14 May 2026). We're beginning our discussion of the chapter called "War." Chapter 4. We discuss sub-chapters starting at p. 74 of chapter 4, hitting the following: "The Vietnam War generation and class" and "the counterculture." We stop at the top of p. 82. This is a continuation of a transformative reading and fair use of Chris Caldwell's "The Age of Entitlement: America Since the Sixties" published by Simon and Schuster in 2020. We'd like to thank Chris Caldwell for writing it, Simon and Schuster for making it available, and encourage you to purchase your own physical copy of the book so that you can follow along. Please support brick and mortar book dealers, you local book dealers. I'd like to thank my former political philosophy student Matt Stone (Phil M03: Social and Political Philosophy at Moorpark College, Spring 2008) for purchasing my copy of the book for me and supporting TRP podcast. Let's foster a culture that values good authors and good books, physical books, and honors and rewards publishers for making those books available for us to read and to think about. Please support this author and this publisher. Also, support your local brick and mortar book dealer, dealers in physical books. This episode was filmed Thursday 13 August 2026 years after Jesus in the backyard of my long-time (nearly a quarter of a century) Epistemology mentor Dr. Doug Geivett (PhD, USC under Dallas Willard), a student himself of the famous late-great Republican professor, the late-great Dallas Willard of USC's Philosophy Department. The Republican Professor is a pro-political-phenomeonology-done-right podcast. The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.
The Summer of 86 at 40 Music Video Companion series will post every Friday, featuring a discussion of an artist, song & music video from a song featured in the top 10 of the Casey Kasem American Top 40. Chris Johnson takes on another one hit wonder. Timex Social Club blasted onto the scene with “Rumors” and then was quickly disbanded a year after it hit big. This video is quite fascinating and there’s a lot to say about it. Thank you for listening to The Summer of 86 at 40 series! Brandon, Scott & Aaron return Monday with an all new installment! The Brandon Peters Show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher and anywhere podcasts are found. Follow the Facebook page or @brandon4kuhd on Twitter and Instagram. You can follow Chris Johnson on social media @newcents88 and @thenormies More information and content available at thebrandonpetersshow.com. “The Summer of 86 at 40” and “News” themes featured in the episode are written and performed by Pres Maxson (@presmaxson). The Summer of 86 at 40 returns Monday! TECHNICAL INFORMATIONVocalsBrandon – Shure SM58-LCChris – Unknown Mic (recorded with ZOOM) Post ProductionNCH Wavepad Masters Edition v8.38NCH MixPad Masters v5.22The Levelator 2 RUNTIME: 25 minutes
Oh lawd Jesus they don burnt down Tumbleton! Ain't nobody got time for that!!!
Here in Revelation 22, we understand more about Israel's eternal home and her place of glory on the new earth in the new Jerusalem, from where the Lord Jesus Christ will rule and reign. This lesson looks into the vision of the new Jerusalem as a living city where “a pure river of [the] water of life” flows from “the throne of God and of the Lamb” and “the tree of life” yields monthly fruit, symbolizing eternal provision and restoration. The curse from the Fall will be removed, God's throne will be established there, and the redeemed will experience the joyful, active service and reign of God's people in the renewed creation, centered on intimate fellowship with the Lord. https://bereanbiblesociety.org/tbg-episode/216-the-city-of-life/ Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LdihfNhDGJ0 Buy episode on DVD: https://store.bereanbiblesociety.org/shop/dvd-transformed-by-grace-single-episode-1-dvd-201-232/?attribute_pa_episode=216-part-10-the-city-of-life Buy series on DVD: https://store.bereanbiblesociety.org/shop/dvd-transformed-by-grace-series-scenes-from-the-final-act/
Show Transcript https://youtu.be/hUrTdobKXHE Seventeen years ago, Mauricio Calderon heard a sermon by the late John MacArthur that prompted him to repent and turn to Christ. And since then, MacArthur's Grace Community Church has served as his spiritual family. But now, Mauricio says the church that saved his life also risked it. He and two other […]
What happens when fear locks you out of the life God has called you to live? This week's Walk It Out Wednesday takes you deeper into Sarah Jakes Roberts' message, “The Same, But Different,” exploring what it means to trust God when fear, grief, and uncertainty shake your faith. Jesus meets you in locked rooms, speaks peace into your fear, and reminds you of what His hands have already brought you through. And sometimes, your scars are the very testimony someone else needs to believe God can bring them through, too. In this intimate time of conversation, reflection, and prayer, you'll be reminded: Fear may be part of your journey, but it doesn't have to have the final word. Message: “Walk It Out Wednesday: The Same, But Different” Speakers: Pastor Venshard Dobbins, Pastor Cora Jakes, Pastor Don Johnson, Dr. Val, and Dr. Oscar Williams Scripture: John 20:17-23 (NKJV) Date: Aug. 12, 2026 ✨ Welcome to Your Moment of Transformation You don't have to walk this journey alone. Let Jesus guide your steps and fill your life with purpose and peace.
What if your greatest need isn't more self-care, but more Christ? Dr. Greg Gifford examines key biblical passages that redefine how Christians should think about guarding the heart, resisting sin, and caring for the body God has entrusted to them. You'll leave with a clearer, more biblical framework for navigating today's booming self-care culture. Transformed Podcast Episode 188 | August 13, 2026 ___ Thanks for listening! Transformed would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Transformed we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!
Why did Jesus speak in parables? If God had the Devil in chains, why does He let him loose? What does it mean to reign with Christ? Isn't Jesus already reigning? What is the least we need to do to be saved?
It's Thursday, August 13th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus Haitian gangs target churches Violent gangs in Haiti are increasingly targeting churches. These gangs control up to 90 percent of the capital of Port-au-Prince. They have killed and kidnapped religious leaders and shut down dozens of churches. Catholic Bishop Joseph Gontrand Décoste told Aid to the Church in Need, “We are the last remaining retaining wall: moral, ethical, spiritual, and prophetic. … That is why they want to eliminate us.” Christians help victims of Columbia's earthquake Christians are bringing disaster relief to Colombia. A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the South American country on Monday. The quake killed 250 people and injured thousands more. Many Christian relief organizations are sending aid to the country, including Samaritan's Purse. Franklin Graham, the president, wrote on X, “We … are currently working to put together an airlift of relief supplies, including emergency shelter tarp and hygiene kits. I encourage you to pray for the people of this country.” Hebrews 13:16 says, “Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Send a much-needed donation to the Columbian victims of this earthquake through Samaritan's Purse. You'll find the donation link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. Mexican Bible Society translates Scriptures into 8 local languages The Bible Society of Mexico is celebrating six decades of ministry this year. The Bible has been translated into eight indigenous languages in the country. And the demand for Bibles is growing as Protestant churches expand their presence. Efraín Amaro is the head of distribution of the Bible society. He told Christian Daily International, “In 60 years, more than 374 million biblical materials have been distributed. We have reached 13 cities across the country with service and distribution centers.” Revelation 7:9-10 says, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'” White House Press Secretary Karolien Leavitt embraces motherhood White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, age 28, will be leaving her position to fully embrace motherhood. She and her 60-year-old husband, Nicholas Riccio, have two children together -- their son Niko, 2, and Viviana who is three months. In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump explained that she “will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!” In a statement on X, Leavitt added, “Serving as the White House Press Secretary over the past year and a half has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump for granting me so many extraordinary opportunities, such as working in the West Wing and spending countless hours in the Oval Office, flying around the world and meeting foreign leaders, and traveling across our beautiful country and meeting Americans from all walks of life. “The truth is, since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary. And that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House.” Titus 2:4-5 says, “Train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” Democrat socialist barely defeated in Wisconsin Socialist Democrats suffered a setback in Wisconsin on Tuesday. Moderate David Crowley barely defeated socialist Francesca Hong in the Democrat primary election for governor. According to NBC, the vote was 39.8% vs 39.3%. Just 3,796 votes separated the two in the statewide race. Leftist candidates had been winning many Democrat primaries this year. Despite being considered a moderate, Crowley believes that killing unborn babies is “healthcare” and must be “protected at all costs.” He made this comment in his victory speech. CROWLEY: “Every one of us has something much bigger to unite around. And that is keeping [Make America Great Again] extremism from bringing the chaos we see in Washington into our neighborhoods right here in the state of Wisconsin. From the very first day that I announced this campaign, I said the real threat wasn't any of my primary opponents. The real opponent has always been Tom Tiffany. That remains true today.” Tiffany, the Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor, is currently a member of Congress. The Washington Examiner reports that new Democratic-affiliated polling shows Crowley beating Tiffany by three points this fall, though the race is within the margin of error. Crowley leads Tiffany 47% to 44%, according to the poll by Protect Our Wisconsin, a group backed by the Democratic Governors Association. Federal gov't gave mega money to religious migrant resettlement groups The federal government funded major religious groups with hundreds of millions of dollars in migrant resettlement grants. The data comes from Brian Chau, the founder of Efforts News. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk brought attention to this research in a post on X this week. In one case, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops received over $180 million dollars in migrant resettlement grants in 2024. That was over 80 percent of the group's revenue at the time. The contracts ended last year after the Trump administration cut funding to such programs. Women hold more jobs than men in America Women now hold more jobs than men in the U.S economy. A report from Indeed's Hiring Lab found the number of jobs held by men declined by 142,000 between February 2025 and February 2026. Over the same period, the number of jobs held by women grew by 298,000. The report noted, “More jobs are held by women than men in the non-farm economy, not because of a recession, but because of years of eroding male labor force participation.” Americans become skeptical of capitalism Americans are becoming less positive toward capitalism. A new Gallup survey found 54 percent of U.S. adults said they have a positive image of capitalism. That's down from 61 percent in 2010. Thirty-nine percent said they have a positive image of socialism. That's up from 36 percent in 2010. The drop in positivity toward capitalism has accelerated since 2021. Americans trust small, local businesses and churches And finally, Americans tend to trust small, local institutions, according to research from the Barna Group. U.S. adults put some of their highest trust in local businesses, individual Christians, and small churches. They put moderate trust in Christian pastors, Christian non-profits, and Christian businesses. But they had little trust for megachurches and celebrity pastors. Compared to 2024, Christian non-profits, charities, and small churches saw the largest growth on the trust index. Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, August 13th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
This week on So Brook Hills, John Butterfield joins Matt and Daniel to talk about Groups at Brook Hills and the sermon from this past Sunday, "Behold" from Mark 9:1-13.
Last time we learned about software engineer Alex Ticer’s terrifying health crisis and the healing he received. This set him on a quest to dedicate his life to serving God, but how? He had no idea what he was supposed to do. So, he quit his job and intensified his study of the Bible and praying. After discovering Jesus’s identity as the human Messiah (not a Godman), he embarked on a journey to find others with like precious faith. His odyssey took him to three states, seeking fellowship. Finally, at the Converge Festival of 2025, he and his wife Becky came to perceive God’s direction for them to start a church right where they lived in Round Rock, Texas. This is the story of how One God Church came about. Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts —— Links —— Learn more about Alex Ticer at his One God Church website Check out the message Sean gave at Converge that inspired Alex: 614. God Is Moving in Our Time Watch the inaugural sermon of Alex at One God Church’s first meeting in the church building. Get the transcript of this episode Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Facebook group, follow on X @RestitutioSF or Instagram @Sean.P.Finnegan or Threads @sean.p.finnegan Leave a 90 second voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play it out on the air Who is Sean Finnegan? Read his bio here Check out Finnegan’s books on Amazon. Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library.
In this second installment, Dr. Ian Paul addresses questions about the 144,000, the church and Israel, the socio-political implications of Revelation, and how the church is depicted as the Bride of Christ. Ian's website: https://www.psephizo.comIan's commentary on Revelation: Revelation: An Introduction And Commentary+++Pre-order Matt's newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness Testimonies, and How Christians Can Make Sense of the Unknown (available wherever books are sold) - Amazon: https://a.co/d/0eD0cGtz Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheBibleUnmutedMatthew's blog: https://matthewhalsted.substack.com
Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Michelle Drake, a Christian health coach, Pilates instructor, and host of the Health Habits for Christian Moms podcast. After overcoming years of eating disorders, perfectionism, and an unhealthy relationship with food and exercise, Michelle now helps Christian moms pursue health from a place of stewardship rather than striving. In this conversation, she offers a compassionate and practical perspective on creating healthier rhythms for women in ministry. The invisible weight moms carry. // Michelle explains that one of the greatest challenges for working moms is the constant “mental load” they carry. Beyond their ministry responsibilities, they’re managing family schedules, meals, appointments, school decisions, friendships, finances, household responsibilities, and countless unseen details. Many simultaneously wrestle with guilt, feeling they’re never doing enough at home or at work. While they often appear highly capable, many are quietly carrying an exhausting emotional burden that supervisors rarely see. When health becomes another burden. // Modern culture often frames health through pressure, perfection, and appearance. Instead of becoming a source of strength, health can become one more impossible standard moms feel they must achieve. Michelle describes how many women believe they must exercise perfectly, prepare flawless meals, and meet unrealistic expectations, or they shouldn’t bother trying at all. This “all-or-nothing” mindset creates shame rather than freedom and often pushes healthy habits further out of reach. Create a culture of rest. // One of the greatest gifts church leaders can offer their teams is permission to embrace rhythms of rest. Michelle points to Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28–30, reminding leaders that rest isn’t a distraction from ministry. Rather, it is part of faithful ministry. Churches that consistently model healthy rhythms help staff understand that their worth isn’t tied to constant productivity. When leaders prioritize abiding in Christ over endless activity, they create healthier teams capable of sustaining long-term ministry. Recognize the warning signs. // Burnout rarely appears overnight. Michelle encourages leaders to watch for subtle changes in previously engaged team members: withdrawing from conversations, reduced enthusiasm, difficulty making decisions, unusual forgetfulness, or becoming overwhelmed by tasks they normally handled with ease. These outward behaviors often reflect burdens that have been accumulating beneath the surface for months. Rather than immediately trying to solve the problem, leaders should view these moments as invitations for compassionate conversation. Movement supports more than physical health. // As a Pilates instructor, Michelle sees firsthand how exercise isn’t simply about fitness—it helps people release accumulated stress, become present, and create space for clarity. Setting aside time for movement also communicates something important: “I matter too.” For busy moms who spend much of their lives caring for others, intentional physical activity becomes an act of stewardship rather than selfishness, allowing them to show up with greater energy for their families and ministries. Start with listening, not fixing. // Michelle believes the most practical step leaders can take is surprisingly simple: have intentional conversations. Rather than assuming they know what someone needs, supervisors should ask questions like, “What’s taking the most energy from you in this season?” Then simply listen. Many moms don’t need immediate solutions as much as they need to feel seen, understood, and supported. Relational leadership builds trust long before organizational changes become necessary. Small habits create lasting change. // Through her Health Habits for Christian Moms podcast, Michelle encourages women to reject perfectionism and instead build simple, sustainable habits that fit their current season of life. Whether it’s preparing healthy meals in practical ways, fitting in ten-minute workouts, or reframing health through a biblical lens, the focus is always on consistency over intensity. To learn more about Michelle Drake visit michelledrake.co and listen to her Health Habits for Christian Moms podcast. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Intulse If you’re committed to the growth of your church, make sure your communication systems are set up so nobody feels left behind. When your church is smaller, that comes easy. You know people by name. A guest doesn’t get lost in the shuffle—someone follows up, every guest, every time. But growth can change that—unless your systems grow with you. Perhaps this church using Intulse says it best: “Intulse has revolutionized the way we communicate with people, giving us the ability to make a big church feel small because of that personal connection.” The Intulse app gives your team members a working church number, so anyone can call or text without ever handing out a personal number. Every conversation syncs straight into your ChMS, like Planning Center, so your whole staff stays on the same page—no matter who a person talks to. That’s how you keep every person feeling known, no matter how big your church gets. Want to know if your communication systems are ready for growth? Download Intulse's free guide, “10 Communication Blind Spots That Hinder Church Growth,” at Intulse.com/unseminary. And if any of those blind spots hit home for you, schedule a call with one of their church communication specialists to learn how Intulse can help. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. So glad that you have decided to tune in. Listen, if you’re an executive pastor, senior leader, person that’s like over leading people in your church, you’re going to want to tune into today’s episode. You’re going to want to stay connected all the way to the end because I suspect that today’s thing that we’re talking about, you’ve either reflected on and thought, hmm, that’s something that I’ve got to work on. We’ve got to think through as an organization. Or we’re going to name an issue today that I think you should work on and be thinking about. So whether you think it or you should just want to listen to me you should tune in and be a part of this conversation.Rich Birch — I'm excited to have a new friend of mine, Michelle Drake, on the on the phone on the phone. We’re not on phones, on the internet, on the not even on the internet, on the podcast. Michelle and I attend the same church, Connexus Church, and have a mutual friend and made the connection. And we got talking, got to know each other. And I said, hey, Michelle, I got to get you on the podcast. I want I want people to hear from you and learn from you. Rich Birch — So Michelle, why don’t we start with kind of tell us a little of your background. What do you do? Who are you? Tell us a little bit about yourself.Michelle Drake — So hi, I’m Michelle. I am a mom. I am a Pilates instructor. But most importantly, I am a daughter of the king. I am a Jesus lover, follower. And really, I think that why I’m landing here today is because I spent a lot of my life feeling like I was never enough. I was a perfectionist really early on. I was always trying to prove my worth. And, you know throughout my teenage years, I really used food and exercise as a way to cope and gain control over my life. And that quickly spiraled into multiple eating disorders and that I battled. And I was in and out of the hospital throughout my whole teenage life, basically.Rich Birch — Wow. Michelle Drake — So yeah, so it was really chaos. So that’s kind of the foundation of like ah the where I have where I am at now. Rich Birch — Yep. Michelle Drake — You know, so even like I went to university when I went to university, I was like trying to go to the furthest university way to run away from my problems, but of course they followed me there. Rich Birch — Right. Michelle Drake — And instead of things getting better, unfortunately, they spiraled more, more extreme. I kind of swung to the opposite extreme. So where I once was like overly controlled with like food and exercise, I lost control completely. And so, you know, where I had once been like super underweight and ended up the hospital with severe eating disorders, I was like now gaining a ton of weight. Like I wasn’t moving, I wasn’t going to class. It was just super chaotic.Rich Birch — Wow.Michelle Drake — So eventually I started to you know do some inner work and found some spiritual practices. And I even back back in the day, like in my mid-20s, I started a coaching practice because I had found some freedom, a little bit of freedom in like my food and exercise journey. But I was still very much in my own process. And I also didn’t know Jesus at the time. Michelle Drake — But then im met Jesus And everything changed. And, um you know, within six months, six months, I was married. And then two years later, I had my first daughter, Daisy. And it was really becoming a mom that really brought everything into focus in a new way for my health in particular.Michelle Drake — So I chose to have an unmedicated home birth. And I had this very like ideal, ideal picture. Rich Birch — Right.Michelle Drake — Idealized, I guess, kind of vision of like what I wanted it to be. So I really wanted to be like peaceful with worship music and, the sense of like calm and control. And of course, like it was absolutely nothing like that. It was beautiful, but I realized like I actually wasn’t in control of anything. And it was really intense and it was super primal and it was just far beyond anything that I was prepared for. Michelle Drake — And but that was a really beautiful moment for me because somewhere like in within that process, I hit this point of like surrender. Like, okay, I can’t actually do anything here. I just have to like let go and let my body do this work. And so, yeah, I I realized that there was really nothing I could do to control what was happening. I just had to trust my body.Michelle Drake — And it really struck me that this was my body doing something that I could not will my way through, but that it was really designed for. And, you know, it carried me through something that I could not do on my own.Michelle Drake — And so that that experience, it shifted something in me. It made me realize, and this is a piece that I was missing, is that my body isn’t something to control or to punish, but really it’s something that God designed as a vessel. And it’s really how we become, you know, his hands and feet in the world.Michelle Drake — And so, you know, after that point, I became like after birth and realizing like, okay, my body is designed as a vessel. Like it’s it’s actually God’s. So at that point, I became I began to bring more like intentionality into the way that I cared for my body.Rich Birch — That’s cool.Michelle Drake — And not from a place of obsession, but a place of stewardship. Yeah.Rich Birch — That’s pretty cool.Michelle Drake — Yeah. And so, you know, the result of that is feeling like the best that I’ve ever felt, more confident in the way that I take care of myself. And and actually that allows me to become more outward focused because, you know, my habits are sustaining my health in a way that supports how I can show up for my family.Michelle Drake — And so, yeah, I just feel like, you know, I I feel the sense of God inviting me into something that I can like share my story to help other moms, you know, step into that same place of stewardship, like free from that shame or guilt. Rich Birch — So good. Michelle Drake — So yeah, that’s kind of, a sorry, that’s like a lot.Rich Birch — No, no, it’s wonderful. Don’t apologize. That’s fantastic. I think that’s that’s great. Like the thing, um friends that listening in, obviously we talk to church leaders every week and trying to provide help. And, you know, I’m honored that you would take some time to be with us today for a couple of reasons. Rich Birch — First of all, um you know when a allow we have a lot of executive pastors listening. And if I was to go and speak at a conference of executive pastors, maybe there’s 500 leaders in the room and 15 of them would be women. And they’re, unfortunately, in the minority.Rich Birch — And then when I think about there’s like a thing I’m going to name publicly that I don’t think I’ve ever said publicly in whatever, 800, over 800 episodes. Like there’s I know on the staff teams that I’ve led that when I think about the people that I led, it was the moms that are like amazing leaders. They’re just incredible, like doing so much. And it’s like a secret hack. Find them a mom and they’ll get stuff done because they they have to.Michelle Drake — Yes. Yes.Rich Birch — And so today, I’m honored that you would help us kind of think help us think more critically on behalf of the moms on our teams and to think through you know, what we, you know, some, maybe some ways we should be leading. That’s the kind of conversation that we’re going to have here, friends that are listening in.Michelle Drake — Yes. Totally.Rich Birch — So when you think of the, you know, Christian moms… Michelle Drake — Yeah. Rich Birch — …you know, assuming that they’re Christians who are working for us on our teams as staff at church, which that should be the case.Michelle Drake — Hopefully.Rich Birch — What are some pressures that these people are carrying around them that especially as they’re you know, as their leaders, employers, that we maybe don’t see, that isn’t isn’t clear, that maybe isn’t on the surface? Because I look at moms and I’m like, those people are superheroes. They’re getting tons done. But what are some of those pressures that they might not see?Michelle Drake — Yeah. I think that, you know, mental load is a huge thing for moms. You know, and depending on like what season of life that they’re actually in with their families and children, you know, they’re thinking about like scheduling appointments and like socializing their kids and, you know, how they even like want to educate their children. That’s a big conversation, like the Christian kind of sphere. Rich Birch — Yeah, 100%. Michelle Drake — And then, you know, also what’s for dinner and doing laundry and organizing their homes and making time for friends and, you know, getting the kids and all these different activities and like, everything else that doesn’t really to a huge degree include themselves.Michelle Drake — And, you know, oh ah then if we’re talking about women in ministry um and leaders on on ministry teams and they’re working outside the home. And then maybe that there’s this sense of guilt for like working outside the home and then, you know, not being home enough or not being at work enough or, you know, not contributing enough in the household or not contributing enough at work. Rich Birch — Right.Michelle Drake — And so like there’s there’s this tension of like, I feel like there’s this tension of moms um of like they’re doing so much and at the same time feeling like they’re still not doing enough. And so, you know, yeah, I just think like, and then and then also in the in this sphere of health, as it kind of falls to the back burner because they have all this going on in their heads of like… Rich Birch — Other things happening. Yeah. Michelle Drake — …all of these things is like, okay, well, and then there’s also this thing of like exercise and like eating healthy and how do I feed my kids healthy and how do I eat healthy and how do I feel good and exercise and look this certain way and, you know, it just a lot. Rich Birch — Yeah, 100%. Michelle Drake — So these are some of the mental things that moms are carrying. Rich Birch — Yeah, just a few of the things that are that are bubbling around. Michelle Drake — Just a few of the things. Yeah. Yeah. Rich Birch — You know, it feels it feels like as a guy watching messaging that is pointed at moms particularly, women generally, but moms particularly, there’s like so much on the health front that… Michelle Drake — Yes. Rich Birch — …that runs pressure, you know, guilt, perfection. Michelle Drake — Totally. Rich Birch — It’s like tapping and and a negative emotion. Help us understand what does that do to someone over time? How does that, how does that impact the people on our teams? Michelle Drake — Well, yes, I think that and definitely the culture, there’s like a lot of cultural messaging around health. For moms that’s rooted in like pressure and guilt and perfection. And over time, you know, instead of like health being a thing that is like supporting your life, it actually becomes something that like drains you. And I know because that’s like, you know, the exact kind of messaging that pulled me into the extremes and the extreme patterns in my own life. Michelle Drake — And so, so much of what the world offers is really centered on either like aesthetics, like how you look or and this like hyper vigilant pursuit of like doing it perfectly. And, um you know, I think a both of those things carry a lot of shame and that’s really the world’s framework for health is like, you’re not doing enough and you’re not where you need to be, you know? Michelle Drake — But again, like we just spoke about, like moms are already carrying so much and there’s, you know, not enough time or energy or mental space or even like finances, because that’s a huge thing now, like spending as much money as you can on your health and on the best foods to do health in the way that culture says that you’re supposed to do it. Michelle Drake — You know, whether that’s like the hour long workouts or perfect, perfect meals and, you know, um buying all organic even and, you know, doing all the right things. Michelle Drake — So the message underneath all that is like, if you’re not doing it all, you’re not doing enough. So, you know, I think a lot of moms believe that health is only really worth pursuing if it’s, you know, looking a certain way and doing a certain way. And if they can’t do it that way, then often, you know, they’re not doing it at all. It’s just far too overwhelming to even start. Michelle Drake — Yeah. So, you know, I think that then the shame cycle kind of kicks in where like, you know they’re feeling behind. They’re feeling guilty about their bodies and about their habits and about not being more disciplined and because they can’t like live up to this cultural standard. And that creates this like inward spiral that actually pulls them away the presence with their families, the presence in their workplace, you know, that’s that really is what health should support.Michelle Drake — So the thing that’s really supposed to become this like supportive mechanism for the rest of their life… Rich Birch — Right. Michelle Drake — …becomes another source of burden. Rich Birch — So as a supervisor, like I want to create a culture where my team can thrive, where people have, you know, it’s it’s a great experience. And, you know, we’re obviously talking about moms specifically today. Like often without realizing it, I can imagine a world where work can become a negative force in that cycle that we’re talking about there. That actually just being a part of the kind of the pressure of that environment.Rich Birch — And I don’t want that to happen. I want it to be a positive force. I want to create a kind of culture where like, where, you know, pro moms, moms can have a great experience. It’s a great, you know, it’s a great experience for them.Michelle Drake — Yeah.Rich Birch — What does that look like? How, what, what would be, how could you coach us, you know, to, to try to make this a kind of environment that particularly for moms could be, and even maybe particularly around these health issues, how do we make it a more positive environment for them?Michelle Drake — So I guess the question, yeah like how do you support these moms and how do you create environments that supports these moms?Rich Birch — Sure.Michelle Drake — And, um you know, I think that the best place for leaders is not like about like jumping in and saving the day or something like that. Rich Birch — Right.Michelle Drake — Or like start like changing whole environments. But I think just like relational. I think that’s the first thing is just like understanding the weight that moms are carrying.Michelle Drake — And because like, again, like moms in ministry are wearing those multiple hats are not only like the leaders and the employees, but they’re also wife and mom and homemaker, and they’re constantly shifting between them. So, you know, that’s a really heavy mental load, like we discussed. And yeah, so when you’re carrying that much, it’s really easy to kind of start believing that your value is tied to, you know, your productivity or how well you’re like, holding it all together.Michelle Drake — And so, you know, like I know that because I’ve also lived that. And and there’s a season where I felt weighed down by so many, all these different responsibilities and felt like it all came down on me. And then if I dropped the ball, like everything would fall apart. Michelle Drake — But I think the reframe here is like looking to what Jesus offers. And that is, you know, in Matthew 11, where he says, come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I’m gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. And so I think like, I think that really creating a culture of rest and a culture and a rhythm of rest within these workplaces, within these ministry pursuits is like that rest isn’t like rest is encouraged and is part of, is part of the kingdom work and it’s not taking away from the kingdom work, but it’s actually how, you know, we are able to be filled and overflow into, you know, everything else that we’re supposed to do.Michelle Drake — So I think like, I think that if leaders can really establish that rhythm for moms, because again, that’s not only going to benefit moms who already have so much, you know, to carry, but everybody else on the ministry team really is that, is that like rest is part of this. And that is, you know, abiding in Christ. Like when we can do that, like our priorities begin to shift. We begin to like lay down some of those heavy burdens and just making that, you know, really central to the mission is, yeah.Rich Birch — That’s good.Michelle Drake — Yeah. I think that’s, I think that’s really one of the greatest gifts that leaders can give to the moms and their team.Rich Birch — Yeah. Rest in the midst of it. Yeah.Michelle Drake — Yeah. Just a culture that consistently points them back to Jesus.Rich Birch — Yeah.Michelle Drake — Yeah.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. If if there was a mom on our my team who was running on empty, I feel like it’d be easy for me to miss the signals, that there would be like signals that are sent that and it could be… Listen, I like feel like I’m fairly in touch, but like maybe I’m just an idiot guy and I just don’t see it. Rich Birch — What are you know those early warning signs that like, hey, maybe there’s something here that’s not going correctly that that, and and it might not be that like, hey, I’m like you say, it’s not my job to necessarily jump in and, you know, fix it. But it’s but, you know, we want to provide a a culture that can support women in the midst of that. So what would be some of those early signs that kind of we should pay attention to before it becomes a crisis?Michelle Drake — Yeah, I think, so if there’s a woman who’s like, yeah, generally like quite engaged and then all of a sudden they’re starting to become a little bit more withdrawn or, you know, like a little bit less, whether it’s talkative or energetic or whatever within those settings, I think that’s a really good sign. um you know, and then also to like showing up physically, but and maybe not like emotionally invested into the mission. Maybe it’s taking longer to make decisions or, or, you know, decision-making becomes harder.Michelle Drake — I think also to forgetfulness, like forgetting things. So if you notice like a mom, Oh, like I asked her to things. She’s not do, she didn’t do it. Like, and usually she does or ah overwhelmed by, you know, seemingly menial tasks.Rich Birch — Right.Michelle Drake — I think that’s things that she would normally handle. Well, I think that’s a good sign that maybe she’s carrying a little bit too much. Yeah. And, and, you know burnout, it doesn’t happen overnight. And I think that a lot of ah a lot of these signs are actually just like finally the physical manifestation of something that she’s been carrying for a while.Rich Birch — Right. Been bubbling.Michelle Drake — Yeah, so…Rich Birch — Talk to us, at you know, from your perspective as a person who spends their days, like you said, you’re a Pilates instructor, you spend a large portion of your day helping people be active and stay active and do that in a healthy way, in a way that’s not, like you say, focused on the kind of negative reasons for that.Rich Birch — Talk to us about the connection between being active, and this would really be for anyone, moms included, being active and dealing with stress, the stuff that’s going on in life. How are those two connected to each other?Michelle Drake — Yeah, I think that they’re hugely, hugely connected. Because being active is like taking the time to be active and setting apart that time is, you know, is not only like you’re getting the physical benefits and and and the actual neurochemical benefits of that and of that activity. And but you’re also saying to yourself, like I deserve this time too.Michelle Drake — Like I’m pouring constantly out into everyone else, into my ministry, into my family. And so setting apart this time for me is doing something good for myself. But that, that has like these reverberation effects on everything else that I do.Michelle Drake — And so, um, yeah, I think that, sorry, I forget what the question was.Rich Birch — No, it’s just what’s the connection between you know being active and dealing with stress?Michelle Drake — Yeah.Rich Birch — How do those two work together from your perspective as someone who helps people stay active?Michelle Drake — Yeah. Yeah, I think also too, like just the the physical, like being physically active, there’s something like there’s like the psychosomatic thing where you can like be active and, and, and like get your heart rate pumping and sweat. And it’s like releasing something. Michelle Drake — I don’t know what it is. Rich Birch — Right. Michelle Drake — But like, often too, we’re carrying stress in our body and and we can feel it in our body and we’re tense and stuff. So then when you’re able to, and I teach like hot Pilates, so you’re sweating a lot… Rich Birch — Right. Michelle Drake — …and you’re just like releasing all this. And, you know, and you see people get like so intense, like in the burpees and, and they’re just getting really into it. And, and you know, a line I often use is just like in those burpee moments, in those moments where it’s like really, really intense. I’m just like, I’m just saying like, let everything go that you do not need to carry anymore. Like let it go. Michelle Drake — And I don’t know what it is about that, but yeah, something does release when we are moving physically and it just creates this like space of clarity. And I think also to like presence, like you’re so present when you are moving your body in like maybe an intense way, maybe a less intense way, but when you are like intentionally moving your body does require a sense of presence. And when you’re present, like, i don’t know, stress doesn’t really exist in the present.Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, yeah. Right. Michelle Drake — So I think it’s really beneficial in that way for sure.Rich Birch — So true. Yeah. During COVID, I was one of those people that bought a Peloton and, and I’m over a thousand rides in love it. Michelle Drake — Amazing.Rich Birch — It’s like, it’s incredible. And I would say, it has changed my, my view on all of this. Michelle Drake — Totally. Rich Birch — Like I used to, I used to go to the gym and all that. And it was, but it was like a, I did it because it was like, I got to check the box. I got to do this. I know this is an important thing. Michelle Drake — Yes. Yes. Rich Birch — But I look forward to those experiences and the days I don’t do that, I can feel it. I’m not as sharp. Michelle Drake — Yep. Rich Birch — And, you know, and I don’t deal with stress as well. Michelle Drake — Totally. Rich Birch — And I’ve even joked with other friends. It’s like, don’t get me started talking about Peloton. You know, I’ve talked with other friends. I’m like, there’s something about, obviously they’ve, obviously spent a lot of time listening to their and instructors and it’s always positive. It’s always, you know, there’s, they’re, they’re not like, um, even though you’re working hard, there’s no, it’s never a negative. It’s always, you know, they’re always using positive reinforcement. Rich Birch — And I’ve, I’ve joked with friends. I’ve said, listen, even just having 30 minutes in a day of someone telling me like, you can do this, like you, you got this, you know, is… Michelle Drake — Totally. Rich Birch — …cause there’s a lot of things in life where we don’t have that, you know, i don’t have that kind of… Michelle Drake — Totally. Rich Birch — …you know, reinforcement, which has been, it’s been transformative for me for sure. Michelle Drake — Yeah, and I think in those moments too when you’re like working really hard like and you’re sweating and it’s in it you’re like, oh, man, I don’t know if I could go anymore. And you have that story playing in your head of like, I can’t do it.Michelle Drake — But then somebody says, you can do it. Rich Birch — Yeah.Michelle Drake — You’re like, okay, you’re you’re instantly being reframed. Rich Birch — Yes. Michelle Drake — Like, okay, in my head I said I can’t, but then this person is saying I can. So there’s like, yeah, that that instantaneous like kind of moment of like, oh, no, yeah, I am doing it actually. Yeah. Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely. Well, and it was, I’m the slow learner. I was hundreds, maybe four or 500 rides in before I realized this is actually mostly a mental thing than it is a physical thing. Michelle Drake — Totally. Rich Birch — Like I’m, it’s mostly between my, my ears where I’m like… Michelle Drake — Yes.Rich Birch — …you know, my body can keep going, but it’s in my head. I’m like, oh, OK, I’m done. I’m done. I just don’t want to keep going. And I never quit a ride, but you can you know, you can bail on a ride before you know you actually stop turning. And so, yeah, that’s interesting. That’s been an interesting journey for me, for sure, in a in a great way. And it and it for sure has helped me be better at what I do to be more show, you know, show up more in the rest of my life, for sure.Michelle Drake — Yeah, that’s beautiful.Rich Birch — So you actually built a podcast around this, which I think is exciting. Michelle Drake — Yeah.Rich Birch — And I’d love to hear us a little bit more about this. It’s called it’s called Health Habits for Christian Moms.Michelle Drake — Yeah.Rich Birch — We’ll put a link to it in the show notes, but tell us about the podcast. How you know how is it helping? What’s your heart behind it? I know as a podcaster, it’s a lot of work to pull the podcast together. So talk to me about the podcast.Michelle Drake — Yeah. So, ah you know, Health Habits for Christian Moms is is really something that I felt drawn and into or invited into by the Lord, you know, after like what I told you with my story and everything like that. But it really exists because, you know, I see that this pattern from moms of like moms who like love God and love their families and want to take care of their health, but, you know, feel exhausted and overwhelmed and stuck in this all or nothing mentality. And so, you know, this podcast is for moms who like know that their health matters, but struggle to make it a priority in the middle of like all of those things that we talked about, all of the real life things.Rich Birch — Yes, yes.Michelle Drake — You know, she’s busy. She’s carrying a lot of responsibility. And then and then I think a big thing is that she feels guilty taking that time away from herself, like away from every all the other responsibilities to put into her health, into herself.Michelle Drake — So like instead of adding more pressure, like how the world would with with health, I am, my aim is to help this mom build simple, sustainable habits, you know, that fit into the season of life that she’s actually in, and honor all the responsibilities that she already has.Michelle Drake — And I also really try to frame it in a biblical lens. So it’s not about like chasing a gut and like not about chasing perfection or, you know, not trying to earn worth through the way that we look or whatever it is. But but it’s about stewardship and caring and like really talking about like how do we care for the body God gave us. So that actually we can have more energy, more stamina, more capacity to serve the people that God has put in our life.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. I love it.Michelle Drake — YeahRich Birch — I would, give me a sense of what, you know, maybe a couple episodes, the kind of thing that you cover on the podcast.Michelle Drake — So it’s it’s honestly mostly super practical tips. Rich Birch — Yep. Michelle Drake — So it would be super practical tips like meal planning, like how to do that in a way that’s ah not overwhelming, um how to get dinner on the table in 10 minutes in a way that’s like still healthy food, um you know, habit formation, 10-minute workouts, like things that are super applicable and immediately applicable to her life. Michelle Drake — And then, but then also we’re talking about like these underlying issues and underlying struggles as well, whether it be like that guilt piece or the comparison piece, the people pleasing piece or believing, you know, that everyone’s, everyone else’s needs comes, comes first, comes above like her own needs.Rich Birch — Yep.Michelle Drake — And so, yeah, I think that’s that’s kind of how I I start with the practical. I lead with the practical. And then I’m sprinkling in that that encouragement of like reframing health into that biblical perspective.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. Yeah, that’s fantastic. You know, what struck me about this, even in this conversation is like, this could be a great thing to hand off if I’m an executive pastor or senior leader type person in the church. Like, this could be a great thing to pass off to your team and say like, hey, here’s here’s a resource for you, you know. You’re doing a great job. You’ve got lots of health habits, healthy habits, you know, person on our team, people on our team, but like this might help. And here’s a, you know, here’s a link to it. That could be a great way to pass it along ah to, you know, just help ah the folks even to just acknowledge, hey, I understand that here’s some things that you’re, you know, you’re thinking about.Rich Birch — So just as we’re kind of closing up today’s episode or thinking about, you know, bringing it down, you know, for a leader that’s listening in today who wants to do something this week to kind of take a first step to better support, particularly the moms on their team, what would you tell them? What advice would you give them that they could they could take a step this week to help support ah those and just incredible people on their teams?Michelle Drake — I think intentional connection and conversation. And, you know, I think asking the mom on your team, you know, what is taking the most energy from her in this season? I think moms really thrive on, on like that, that kind of connection piece and sharing burdens.Rich Birch — That’s good.Michelle Drake — And so I think, and and just listening to her and not trying to fix it, because I think that good leadership really starts with like, understanding your team in a relational way. So I would say that and and and trying to help kind of take off some of her burden simply just by listening, you know. And then um and then those other pieces of like creating cultures of of rest and and rhythms of rest is is really important. But something immediately applicable is just establishing like a relational, like truly caring conversation with with the mom on your team.Rich Birch — So good. Super helpful. Well, we’ll link to Health Habits for Christian Moms in the show notes. We want people to go over there and check it out. Is there anywhere else we want to send people online to connect with you, to kind of follow with your journey? Where do we want to send people? Michelle Drake — So definitely the podcast is the first the first place that I would send people. I am in the process of publishing my web website. So that will be published probably within the next week or so. I’m sure I would imagine that it’s going to take a while for this podcast to come out, but I don’t know what the timeline is.Rich Birch — Yeah.Michelle Drake — But but yeah, people will be able to find me at my website as well.Rich Birch — Great. What’s the address there?Michelle Drake — So the address is michelledrake.co.Rich Birch — Dot co. Great. Well, thanks, Michelle. I really appreciate being on today. So fun to connect over the internets for the podcast and all the best at Health Habits for Christian Moms. It was fun getting to know you a little bit more better today. Thanks so much.Michelle Drake — Thanks, Rich.
Today, we examine how Christ abolished the legal barrier that once condemned us. By fulfilling the ceremonial ordinances of the Mosaic Law and removing its condemnation, Jesus established a new covenant that fuses Jewish and Gentile believers into one entirely new humanity.
Nik's Links: https://linktr.ee/realbignikNik Keswani joins JT for a conversation about one of the most unlikely journeys to Jesus Christ.Before becoming known for his Christian content, Nik grew up practicing Hinduism, endured an incredibly difficult childhood filled with serious medical issues, became a massive star on Vine, moved to Los Angeles, and found himself immersed in the world of fame, money, partying and Hollywood culture.But the deeper Nik went into the rabbit hole—researching the occult, secret societies and the spiritual darkness behind the world around him—the more he began questioning everything he thought he knew about God.Eventually, that search led him somewhere he never expected: Jesus Christ.JT and Nik discuss his testimony, his experiences in Hollywood, the occult, spiritual warfare, fallen angels, the Nephilim, Hindu and Greek mythology, the Book of Enoch and other ancient texts, problems within the modern American church, Protestantism, Catholicism and Orthodoxy, Zionism, and why so many people who begin searching for the truth eventually find themselves confronting the claims of Jesus.This conversation goes deep.If you enjoy the podcast, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE.For early and uncensored episodes, check out the JT Follows JC Patreon. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jt-s-mix-tape--6579902/support.Please support our sponsor Modern Roots Life: https://modernrootslife.com/?bg_ref=rVWsBoOfcFPatreon: https://patreon.com/JT_Follows_JC?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkJESUS SAID THERE WOULD BE HATERS: https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/mens-shirts/JT's Hats: https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/hats/Coaching Program: https://www.echoesoftruthnetwork.com/joinTelegram Group: https://t.me/jtsmixtapeNew Trucker Hat: https://www.shopmmca.com/shop/p/jt-follows-jc-hat
On this episode we sat down with Dustin Frisbee during the Mobile Hunters Expo to talk about his journey in Christ and being born again. Dustin shares his past and the lows of lows where he met God and how it has changed his life. His book is linked below.Thanks for listening!John 3.3Dustins Book https://our-book-spot.base44.appWiseEye Tech Trail Camerashttps://wiseeyetech.com/Code: bornagain for 10% off! Premier Outdoorshttps://premieroutdoors.us/Code at the register: Podcast 2025 for 10% off! (exclusions apply)Rogue Bowstringshttps://www.roguebowstrings.comCode: BornAgain20 for 20% off!Latitude Outdoorshttps://www.latitudeoutdoors.comCode: BORNAGAIN for 15% off!
In this episode, we explore Acts 22:3–15 and Saul's life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. God didn't just change Saul's direction—He redirected his passion and purpose. We'll discover what it means to be chosen, surrender our own plans, renew our minds, and obey God's call to live as a new creation.You were chosen for a purpose. The question is: Will you obey?
The goal of the Christian life and going to a Catholic School is to become transformed by Jesus into the men and women, the saints, He created us to be!Homily for the first day of schoolAugust 13, 2026
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” -2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)For years, a corner of prophecy media has run on the same recurring promise: the collapse is coming, and this time the date is real. The dollar is about to fail. The banks are about to lock. Buy gold before it's too late. And for years, the date has quietly moved every time it fails to arrive.In this episode, we look honestly at what's actually true — the national debt really is approaching a staggering figure — and what's been sensationalized for clicks and subscriptions. We walk through the practical case against “gold as your emergency plan,” including a firsthand look at what real currency collapse looked like in Argentina's corralito, and why that scenario would look nothing like a quiet inconvenience if it ever happened here.But the heart of this episode is Scripture's answer to financial fear. From Deuteronomy's test for a false prophet, to Jesus' own words that no one knows the day or the hour, to Paul's charge to be anxious for nothing — the Bible consistently calls believers toward diligent, faithful stewardship instead of manufactured panic. Not naive. Not reckless. Just faithful, one day at a time, regardless of whose prediction is trending this month.Grateful you're here.— Pablo------------------------------------------Subscribe to receive future broadcasts and articles at:https://www.serpentsndoves.com-------------------------------------------Share.Forward this post, repost it, or pass it along to someone who might need it.Support.This broadcast is listener-supported. If you're in a position to help sustain it, you can do so here:Buy Me a Coffee (one-time or monthly)PayPal (direct donation)
We must forgive, for we ourselves have been forgiven a debt beyond reckoning. The wrongs we bear against one another, though grievous, are but small coins beside the vast debt of sin that stood against us, a debt whose end was death and separation from God. Yet Christ, in His mercy, took that burden upon Himself and opened the way of life to us. Therefore let us not cling to the lesser debts owed by our brothers, but release them as we have been released, remembering always the mercy that first sought us when we had no strength to save ourselves. --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give
In this Guts Church Live Podcast, Pastor Bill Scheer and Jason Law talk about the difference between attending church and helping build the church Jesus is building. This conversation unpacks stewardship, serving, covenant, volunteer culture, and why every person has a part to play in the body of Christ.Pastor Bill explains that serving is not about filling a position, but discovering purpose. Your gift is not just for you; it is for somebody else. From parking lots and kids ministry to outreach, Hitman, follow-up, and altar calls, every yes matters because someone's eternity may be on the other side of it.
What motivates you to take action? A need you want to meet? A personal agenda or dream you want to accomplish? Responding to a call for help from someone you care about? Or maybe the financial or accolades benefit you anticipate? I left you yesterday with the apostle Paul, in the great city of Ephesus, in about 55ad. Paul had been there several months (Acts 19:10) and was seeing remarkable results in response to his proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in various settings. (Acts 19:20) You may recall we looked briefly, yesterday, at an event which shook the city of Ephesus at its social, moral and spiritual core. (Click here to see full text, images and links) Pastor Doug Anderson “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)Have a comment or question about today's chapter? I'm ready to hear from you, contact me here. Interested in helping "Walking with Jesus" financially? Click here
There's always a purpose when God does something. He didn't just give us the power of the Holy Spirit for the sake of power. Any demonstration of power through the Holy Spirit is supposed to be for the purpose of being a witness to the gospel of Jesus. When we see the gifts of the Spirit moving, we should be able to use them to point people toward the gospel and what Jesus did. In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares the importance of us being bold believers of Jesus. "Mighty Fortress" by Sovereign Grace Music, used with permission.
TODAY'S TREASUREYour attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus… Philippians 2:5 NIVSend us a comment!Support the show
Welcome to the New Testament! Michael joins Hunter to talk through the beginnings of Matthew and Luke. They discuss Mary's song and its Old Testament references, wrestling with inconsistencies in the Bible, following what Christ actually did, and what it means to store Jesus up in our heart.They ALSO talk about rare coins, Christmas songs, and song lyrics in books. Always a fun time.For next week, make sure you read Matthew 5-7 and Mark 1.As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo right here or email Hunter at hbabcock@coastline.family.
What will the world believe after the rapture? In today's conversation Mondo and Pete Garcia explore a chilling possibility: a global religion broad enough to embrace nearly every belief system while rejecting the one name the world cannot tolerate—Jesus Christ. The episode ultimately envisions an initial universalist system in the first half of the Tribulation before the Antichrist demands worship for himself. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-week-in-bible-prophecy--6909234/support.
In Acts 15 the early church faces a deadly internal threat as sincere men demand circumcision and the law be added to faith in Christ—yet Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James stand firm that God has already cleansed Gentile hearts by faith alone and that salvation is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as it is for the Jews. In this message, we are confronted by every quiet addition we still make—performance, culture, secondary convictions, or religious ladders—and shows that the free gospel is the narrow pass that must be held at all costs if the nations are ever to hear it. You will see how Scripture, not experience or preference, has the final word, how wisdom protects unity without loading new burdens, and how clarity on grace produces deep joy and renewed mission. Will you fight to keep the gospel unmixed and free, or will you keep rebuilding the yoke Christ has already shattered at the cross?
In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas move from bold preaching in Iconium to a stunning miracle in pagan Lystra, only to be stoned and left for dead—yet the living God raises Paul and sends him back to strengthen the very churches that cost him so much. This message confronts our modern hunger for an easy path and shows that the same sovereign Lord who opens doors of faith uses hardship, opposition, and scars to advance the gospel farther than comfort ever could. You will see how intentional discipleship, the appointment of elders, and the honest announcement of tribulation form the pattern for churches that endure. Watch and ask yourself: will you keep speaking the word of His grace, get back up after the stones fall, and follow Christ through the fire into the joy of His kingdom?
Ephesians 1:18-23(Jesus—the Good Shepherd—Can Lead You Out of Worry and Anxiety because He Reigns for You)18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
90 Day Transformation: https://apply.justinegliskis.comGet The 1.6:1 Ratio System: https://go.justinegliskis.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=book_funnelEmail: hey@justinegliskis.com to get in contact with meNew episodes out every Monday and Thursday at 10 AM Eastern TimeNature is the first scripture ever written. Every answer you're googling is already growing outside your window.The branches of a tree mirror the structure of your nervous system. Look at the knuckles of your hands, then look at a tree stump — nature has symbolism woven through all of it. Christ talked of reaping and sowing long before self-help did. When God has you where He wants you in a riptide, don't rush straight back to shore. Go horizontal until you're out of it. When God really wants you to hear something, He makes it loud like thunder. Build an ark like Noah — if you're listening, you'll be ready when the storm comes.20 minutes among trees recalibrates a nervous system that screens have scrambled. Walk the forest without staring at your phone. Hear the crunch of the leaves, the smallest croaks of insects, the silence underneath it all. The thunderstorm in your spirit needs the same elements to come together.Listen if you're ready for the reading practice: walking in nature as study, not just exercise. I love you. Have a wonderful day.Discover a podcast designed for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, offering insights on stress management, health and wellness, and overcoming imposter syndrome, while emphasizing work-life balance, energy alignment, and inner peace; explore topics like burnout recovery, business automation, scaling a business, business growth strategies, client management, mental resilience, overcoming anxiety, and achieving clearer thinking for sustainable success, using the blade of awareness, solving emotional dysfunction and unveiling the trickster within. Experience transformative solitude for entrepreneurs who seek to overcome loneliness while embracing spiritual isolation as a pathway to energy alignment and emotional clarity; learn to thrive alone and awaken in solitude through purposeful mental reset practices that cultivate an abundance mindset and build emotional resilience rooted in inner peace and deep self-inquiry, enabling mindful business growth through productivity that flows from peace rather than pressure, offering essential burnout recovery and healing alone strategies with specialized alignment coaching focused on deep listening skills that unlock success in silence and develop a resilient entrepreneur mindset capable of sustainable achievement.
What does Scripture actually mean when it commands us to “disciple the nations”? Is the Great Commission simply about converting individuals—or can nations themselves truly become Christian? In this episode of The Magistrate, James Baird is joined by George Sayour, filling in for Josh Howard, to examine what the Bible teaches about nations, national identity, and the reign of Christ.James and George explore the biblical meaning of ethnos, the relationship between individuals and nations, and whether Scripture gives us categories for speaking about a genuinely Christian nation. Along the way, they work through Genesis 10, Matthew 28, Revelation 21, and the broader biblical story of Christ’s authority over the nations.What would it actually mean to disciple a nation? And should Christians expect the gospel to transform not only individuals and families, but entire peoples, cultures, and societies?The Magistrate explores Christian political theology, civil government, history, and the proper relationship between Christ, His Church, and the nations.
Matthew 10:37 "Not Worthy of Christ"
Now,the Gospel certainly must come to us in words. Romans 10:17 tells us, “Sothen faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Someone musttell us the wonderful story that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into thisworld, lived a perfect and sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, wasburied, and rose again on the third day. The Gospel has a message, and thatmessage must be proclaimed. The word“power” reminds us that the Gospel is not merely information to be considered;it is the power of God that transforms those who believe. Paul said in Romans1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power ofGod unto salvation to every one that believes.” Thinkabout that. The Gospel can take a sinner and make him a saint. It can takesomeone who is spiritually dead and give him spiritual life. It can break thechains of sin, give hope to the hopeless, peace to the troubled heart, andcompletely change the direction of a person's life. I have seen that power overand over again through the years. Programs can help people. Education caninform people. Good advice can encourage people. But only the Gospel of JesusChrist can give a person a new heart and make him a new creation. SecondCorinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation:old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Butnotice where this power comes from. Paul says the Gospel came “in the HolyGhost.” Paul understood that he could preach the truth, but only the HolySpirit could take that truth and apply it to the human heart. Jesus said inJohn 16 that the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin, righteousness, andjudgment. That should be a great encouragement to those of us who want to shareChrist with others. Sometimes we become concerned that we do not know exactlywhat to say. We worry that we will not have the right words or be able toanswer every question. But remember, we are not the ones who save people. Goddoes. Our responsibility is to faithfully share the Gospel. The Holy Spirittakes the Word of God and works in the heart. That is why prayer is soimportant when we witness. We should pray, “Lord, give me the words to say, andHoly Spirit, take those words and use them to touch this person's heart.” ThenPaul adds another phrase. The Gospel came “in much assurance.” There is a tremendous differencebetween speaking about something we merely know intellectually and speakingabout something that has become a reality in our own lives. Paul could preachChrist with assurance because Paul knew Christ personally. And theThessalonians could see that conviction in him. Noticethe final part of the verse: “As you know what manner of men we were amongyou for your sake.” Paul is reminding them, “You not only heard ourmessage—you watched our lives.” That is so important. The Gospel should notonly be heard from our lips; it should be seen in our lives. People arewatching us. Our family watches us. Our neighbors watch us. The people we workwith watch us. The people we go to church with watch us. They want to knowwhether the Gospel we talk about on Sunday makes a difference in the way welive on Monday. Paul could say, “You know what manner of men we were amongyou.” What a testimony!Hewas not saying that he and Silas were perfect. But their conduct was consistentwith the message they proclaimed.AndI believe this verse gives us a wonderful pattern for effective Christianwitness. We need the Word of God— “not in word only.” We need the powerof God— “but also in power.” We need the Spirit of God— “and in theHoly Ghost.” We need the assurance of God— “and in much assurance.” Andwe need a life that demonstrates the reality of the Gospel— “what manner ofmen we were among you.” My friend, the world does not simply need morereligious talk. The world needs to see the Gospel demonstrated by lives thathave been transformed by Jesus Christ.