Podcast appearances and mentions of jesus let

Discover how the Church shines as a radiant body through the Spirit-given gifts of its members.In this sermon, we explore 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul reveals God's vision for a unified yet diverse community. Learn how your unique gifts matter—not just for your personal growth, but for building up the body of Christ. Whether you feel overlooked or overburdened, this message reminds us that every part of the body is indispensable.

Who Is Jesus - Let the Little Children Come to Me by Anchor Church Palos

Mel Robbins' viral “Let Them” theory has taken over social media — but as Christians, should we just let people walk away, make poor choices, or live without accountability? In this episode, I react to her video and ask the real question: Is this actually biblical? We'll explore what the Bible says about boundaries, free will, confrontation, and loving others with truth. Did Jesus ever "let them"? Yes — but it's not that simple. LET'S DISCUSS! What do y'all think?! Thanks to my Sponsors! BetterHelp Visit BetterHelp.com/HAPPYHEALTHY today and get 10% off your first month. Function In the spirit of Long Live and taking control of your health, get a $100 credit towards your annual membership at: www.functionhealth.com/HEALTHY. This $100 credit is only for the first thousand listeners. Or use code HAPPY100 at check out. Our Place: Visit fromourplace.com/HEALTHY and use code HEALTHY for 10% off sitewide. Follow us on Instagram! Happy and Healthy: https://www.instagram.com/HappyandHealthyPodcast/ Jeanine: https://www.instagram.com/jeanineamapola/ Jeanine and Kaleb: https://www.instagram.com/jeanineandkaleb/ Follow us on TikTok! Happy and Healthy: https://www.tiktok.com/@happyandhealthypodcast Jeanine: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeanineamapola Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Scripture is full of sacred invitations to release what is not ours to hold, full of reminders that if we're looking for Jesus, we don't need to do anything else except surrender (in other words… let it go)."Leave a comment for Kayla: https://incourage.me/?p=252367--It's graduation season! Shower your grad with love and reminders of the plans God has for their future. Find inspiring books, student Bibles, cards, and gifts at DaySpring.com, and celebrate your graduate's special milestone! The (in)courage podcast is brought to you by DaySpring. For over 50 years, DaySpring has created quality cards, books, and gifts that help you live your faith. Find out more at DaySpring.com.Connect with (in)courage: Facebook & Instagram for daily encouragement, videos, and more! Website for the (in)courage library, to meet our contributors, and to access the archives. Email us at incourage@dayspring.com. Leave a podcast review on Apple!

JD ReyesLet's Learn About JesusfalseJohn 20:11-31 | The Resurrected Jesus

This Holy week, let's reflect on Jesus' life and His sacrifices. Let's discover on how can we be more like Jesus every day.Join our Saturday Night Service for our Holy Week Special, “IT IS FINISHED: Where Love and Justice Prevailed"Want to get connected? Chat us at these ff links:➡️ m.me/CCFMain➡️ m.me/BeOneWithGod➡️ m.me/ElevateMain#CCFSNS

This Holy week, let's reflect on Jesus' life and His sacrifices. Let's discover on how can we be more like Jesus every day.Join our Saturday Night Service for our Holy Week Special, “IT IS FINISHED: Where Love and Justice Prevailed"Want to get connected? Chat us at these ff links:➡️ m.me/CCFMain➡️ m.me/BeOneWithGod➡️ m.me/ElevateMain#CCFSNS

Can one life really change everything? When Jesus became human and stepped into our world, He didn't just inspire a crowd—He changed the course of every life that would receive Him. His life, death, and resurrection weren't just moments in time, they were a turning point for all eternity. Speaker: Ptr. Ricky SarthouSeries: Real People, Real ImpactScripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:13-20Watch The Full Message here: https://go.ccf.org.ph/04202025Eng

Pwede ba talagang mabago ng isang buhay ang lahat? Nung naging tao si Jesus at pumasok sa mundo natin, hindi lang Siya basta nagbigay-inspirasyon—binago Niya ang takbo ng buhay ng bawat isa na tumanggap sa Kanya. Ang Kanyang buhay, kamatayan, at muling pagkabuhay ay hindi lang basta mga pangyayari sa kasaysayan, kundi ito ang naging pag-asa na panghabambuhay.Speaker: Ptr. Bong SaquingSeries: Series: Real People, Real ImpactScripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:13-20Watch The Full Message here: https://go.ccf.org.ph/04202025Tag

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Connect with me here! Send me a text message! Today I share my thoughts on this topic. I dont have notes because it was literally me just chatting it up with you like we are on a coffee date! haha Hopefully what I say makes sense!! xoxo Have a wonderful day and be challenged and blessed!!Join the ROOTED Bible Study group here> https://stan.store/mrsangelapitnikoff/p/rootedGrab your downloadable scripture cards here>> https://stan.store/mrsangelapitnikoff/p/30-scripture-cards✨Come hang with me on IG- https://www.instagram.com/mrsangelapitnikoff/✨Join our FB sisterhood!- https://www.facebook.com/groups/kingdomdaughterssisterhood✨Want some fun free resources? Click here- www.thekingdomdaughters.com✨ Connect with me! thekingdomdaughterspodcast@gmail.com ✨Get some KD Cuties- https://www.etsy.com/shop/KingdomDaughters✨Let's see if we are a good fit! thekingdomdaughters.com/coachingSupport the show

NEW! CHOSEN BY JESUS: Let Go & Let God | Chosen By Jesus  Life has a way of throwing curveballs-unexpected challenges, disappointments, and moments where everything feels completely out of our control.  When worry creeps in, it can overwhelm us, drain our energy, and make us forget the most important truth: God is still in control. In this episode of Chosen of Jesus, the Kelley Tyan and Taylor Tyan show, we are diving into: *How to surrender control and truly trust God *Why worry is a thief of joy and how to stop it dead in it's tracks *The power of prayer and scripture when anxiety takes over *Biblical wisdom on releasing fear and stepping into faith We are reminding you today that YOU are never alone, and God is always working behind the scenes-even when you can't see it. It's time to stop carrying burdened that aren't meant for you to carry and start living in the peace and freedom God promises. Scripture to hold on to this week: Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 Please hit SUBSCRIBE now, so you never miss a Monday episode with us! Don't forget to share this powerful message and podcast with a friend who needs to step out of worry and fear, andante the promises and peace of God.  Connect with Us: • Website: www.kelleytyan.com • Email: chosenbyjesuskt@gmail.com • Instagram: @chosenbyjesuscbj • YouTube: @chosenbyjesus-cbj Whether you're a young adult seeking direction, a new believer navigating life's challenges, or simply looking for Christian encouragement, this conversation is for YOU! Check out Kelley's books: The ONE Prayer  Addicted To The Climb   #KelleyTyan #TaylorTyan #WhatIsMyIdentityInChrist #FaithPodcast #JesusSaves #Philippians413 #GodsPlan #WomenOfFaith #FaithOverFear #ChristianIdentity #BibleVerses #ChristianWomen #SpiritualGrowth #KingdomMindset #TrustGod #ChosenByJesus  #ChosenByJesus-CBJ #YourWorthInChrist #Oceans #MyGodCan #GirlsGoneBible #BetterTogether #SaddieRobertson #AboveInspiration #ChristineCain #PricillaShirer #StevenFutrick #RickWarren #JoyceMeyers #HopeNation #PaulaWhite #700Club #TBN #AndrewWommack #JosephPrince #CBN #Testimony #GodRestores #RedeemingLove #Hope #FaithMovesMountains #Bible #God #Faith #JesusChrist #Jesus #ChristianFaith #SpiritualGrowthForWomen #WomenEmpowerment #Love #KeynoteSpeaker #WomensSpeaker #WomensFaithSpeaker #Inspirational #Inspiration #Trust #ElevationWorship #TaylorMosby   • Top Christian podcast • Faith journey • Trusting God's plan • Finding purpose through Christ • God's timing and divine plan • Christian encouragement and motivation • Overcoming challenges with faith • Personal development through Christ • Young adult faith and spiritual growth • Walking with Jesus daily • Faith-based inspiration for believers • Christian life coaching and discipleship  

In this episode I talk about when we date Jesus, we have to learn to be in submission to Him! He needs to be in control in order for His Will and our blessings to come to life. The problem is most of us can't give up control … we are control freaks ! Find out what happens when you do finally let go! Connect with me on ig: @healnglowco

March 2, 2025 - Sunday PM Sermon   Jesus Let Us Come To Know You - 1 John 2:1-6 He is our teacher Jesus teaches us through the scripture Jesus teaches us with his example Jesus teaches us with his approach He is our lord He will be our judge He is our high priest He was selected from among men - (Heb 5:4-6) He represents humanity to God He made atonement for sins He is our intercessor He is our mediator Better Covenant: Ultimate Universal Unilateral Unique He is our friend You've never had a better friend than Jesus - (Mt. 11:19; Jn 15:13) You'll never had a better friend than Jesus - (Mt. 11:19; Jn 15:13) How do you know Jesus?   Duration 36:01

Disciples exist to know God and make Him known. And whether you've been following Jesus for 50 years or 50 days, we could all grow in our knowledge and pursuit of Him. In relationships, the more time we spend together, the more we learn about each other including our likes and dislikes.  Jesus is no different.  He has things He loves and, surprisingly enough, things He hates.  He Let's get to know God with Pastor Ryan!

Disciples exist to know God and make Him known. And whether you've been following Jesus for 50 years or 50 days, we could all grow in our knowledge and pursuit of Him. In relationships, the more time we spend together, the more we learn about each other including their likes and dislikes.  Jesus is no different.  He has things He loves and, surprisingly enough, things He hates.  He Let's get to know God with Pastor Joe Jr. at our BC Boardman Campus.

Who Is Jesus - Let Your Kingdom Come! by Anchor Church Palos

Send us a textJohn 12:4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray Him, said, 5 "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 "For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." 9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also.             In This message we will see Mary and Jesus rebuked by Judas and the disciples for her anointing the feet of Jesus for His burial.  Judas speaks for the first time in the Scriptures and shows his true nature.  He pretends to care for the poor, but God through the pen of John tells us this he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. Here we see Jesus tells them you need to get your priorities in order because I always come first in everything.  Mark 12:30 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. Have you given Jesus first place in your life today?  If not, why not?     Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?             John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32           Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.nethttps://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F            The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

Welcome to SC Church Podcast! We're so glad you could join us. Today Pastor Denny Rodney Duron shared with us his message:“The Generosity Journey: The Generosity of Jesus”Let's lean in & listen together

info@calvaryem.org (Calvary Community Church of East Mill

This season, we are looking at Invitations from God. The Bible is a book of invitations from God to mankind, urging us to become His partners in redeeming the world. The Invitations: The first invitation is an invitation to rest.—Come to me... “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 A second invitation is to discipleship.—Follow me... “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me and where I am, there My servant will be also...” John 12:26 “If anyone desires to come after me,” said Jesus, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23 The third invitation is to live in the realm of God.—Abide in me... Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you...” John 15:4 Hosts: Rachel Langston & Kristen Torres Guests: Marilyn Henry & Raines Langston References: Psalm 91:4 Psalm 3:3 Dawson Young Professionals Dawson Boy Scouts Table The Bible Recap Recording Date: July, 2024

We love to talk about how Jesus will leave the 99 to chase down the one lost sheep... Yet Mark tells us a story about a man who walks away from Jesus... And Jesus just lets him go! When is Jesus okay with someone walking away?

Many people live their lives full of stress, anxiety, and worry. Believers, however, have an opportunity to cast their cares upon their Savior, Jesus Christ. Mark Spence unpacks the implications of this truth.

Many people live their lives full of stress, anxiety, and worry. Believers, however, have an opportunity to cast their cares upon their Savior, Jesus Christ. Mark Spence unpacks the implications of this truth.

The parable of the barren fig tree provides some great wisdom for discovering the secret to personal and spiritual growth (Luke 13:6-9).podcast

This week on The Minor Detail Podcast, we welcome Elizabeth Woodson, a theologian, teacher, disciple-maker, and all-around extraordinaire. With over a decade of ministry experience, Elizabeth joins the show to discuss how to navigate your lived experience in connection to the gospel. In their conversation, Khaila and Elizabeth explore the importance of discipleship, learning to hear God's voice in daily life, and trusting His timing. In a world that constantly offers various versions of "peace" to fill our voids, we believe that the best place you can be is connected to God. The good news? There is room for you here.

We continue our teaching series based on Ephesians, truly one of the greatest “books” in the New Testament. Lot's can be said about this book—and we WILL say a lot in this study—but the key theme throughout the letter is “the power of God's grace.” In fact, the word “grace”—pound for pound—appears more in the letter to the Ephesians than any other book in the Bible. And the word “power” appears as much in Ephesians as it does anywhere else in the Bible. So we invite you to join us on this journey of learning more about God's grace and how to live in the power of His Spirit.  (Today's Scripture: Ephesians 4: 7-16)

Introduction A new creation! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to this series on ‘A new creation'. Today, another model that may help us understand how God changes us. This week we take a look at a model of spiritual growth put forward by James Bryan Smith. By the way, I heartily recommend his book, The Good and Beautiful God. You can also find helpful articles written by him on the Renovare site.  Smith's model is a variation on the model developed by Dallas Willard and Trevor Hudson in previous Quiet Time Coaching episodes.  We will focus on the key difference - 'Adopting the narratives of Jesus'. His key idea is that we have a narrative in our minds about how we are doing spiritually, who God is, how he views us, what he wants from us and how we grow. However, our narratives are not always accurate. Thus, it is critically important we allow the narratives of Jesus to shape our own.  "Our family, cultural and even religious narratives might have their roots in the kingdom of this world. As Christ-followers we are called to “set [our] minds on things that are above” (Colossians 3:2). Most of all, we are called to have the very mind of Jesus: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Adopting Jesus' narratives is a way we come to have the mind of Christ. Once we get the right narratives in place, change will begin." The Good and Beautiful God" p26  This practice is not just about knowing the stories of Jesus but letting them reshape our very being. What does this mean? Let's break it down.  1. Look at Father God through the eyes of Jesus  Read passages where Jesus speaks to God -- for example, John 11:41-42, Matthew 11:25-26, John 17:4-5 -- and meditate on what they reveal about the way he is seeing God at those moments. What narrative about God and himself is going on in the mind and heart of Jesus?  Imagine you've always seen God as distant and unapproachable. But through the eyes of Jesus, you encounter a God who is loving, forgiving, and present. This new narrative can fundamentally change how you relate to God and yourself.  2. Imitate Jesus  Next, let's explore imitation of Christ. Think of it as a spiritual apprenticeship. As you study Jesus' actions and attitudes, you start to reflect those in your daily life. This isn't about perfect mimicry but a heartfelt transformation where Jesus' way becomes your way.  John 13.15  “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  When faced with a difficult situation, ask yourself: "How would Jesus respond?" This kind of active engagement with Jesus' teachings leads to real-world spiritual growth.  3. Community  Engaging with Jesus' narratives is often best done in community. In a group setting, we can learn from each other, offer support, and grow together. This mirrors how Jesus taught His disciples, fostering an environment of shared learning and encouragement.  Mark 8.27  “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?””  We all see Jesus a little differently due to our varied life experiences and personalities.  Conclusion  When Jesus' attitudes, thinking and teachings become the lens through which we view our lives, every part of us is transformed.  For Reflection  When you meditate on the Scriptures showing us how Jesus viewed Father God, what changes in your view of God? How can you prevent imitating Jesus from becoming mechanical? What part does prayer have in this growth process? What do you see as the key ways community can aid your spiritual growth? Next time we will go on to look at celebrating disciplines.   Your brother, Malcolm Please add your comments on this week's topic. We learn best when we learn in community.   Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, or practical? Could you send me your questions or suggestions? Here's the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org. If you'd like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God Grows His People”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org. Please pass the link on, subscribe, and leave a review. "Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Jesus' life on earth directly reflected the character of God as He walked in love toward both men and women. Although sin cursed and changed things between the two genders, Jesus came to set things right again on the cross. Why did Jesus treat women differently than most? How did the role of women impact Jesus' ministry? In part three of "Yes, Women Can", Pastor Joe looks at how women were used by God in the New Testament, as well as why Jesus treated them with counter-cultural respect.

Welcome to Gospel For The Glory of Jesus Let's praise and worship the Lord with the nation's best Black Gospel Music. CeCe Winans, Erica Campbell, Donald Lawrence and a Word from the Lord by PE Bishop Henry Hearns. Kingdom Agent Bishop Henry Hearns Living Stone Cathedral of Worship Listen live to the Living Stone Cathedral of […]

Talk 28  Mark 9:30-50   Self-denial and total commitment Welcome to Talk 28 in our series on Mark's Gospel. Today we're looking at Mark 9:30-50 where Jesus teaches his disciples lessons that are essential for all those who would follow him. The passage begins with the statement that Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples (vv30-31). And, as we look at the passage, we discover that what Jesus is teaching is self-denial and total commitment. But first, let's read the rest of the passage, beginning in verse 31. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." 36 He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." 38 "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." 39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. 42 "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Jesus begins by reminding his disciples what he has already told them more than once. He is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise (31). The disciples don't understand this yet, but it will be essential that they do. The reason Jesus came to earth was to die on the cross to save us from our sins. It would involve self-denial and total commitment – saying No to self and Yes to God. And this would be the example he set for his followers (1 Peter 2:21). And now he is teaching his disciples in advance that following him will mean following his example of self-denial and total commitment. And in today's passage we see various ways how Jesus challenges us to do the same. The challenge of self-denial There is to be no self-seeking among the followers of Jesus (33-37) In our last talk we saw how the disciples were arguing with the teachers of the Law. Now we discover them arguing among themselves (v33). And they're arguing about who was the greatest. We're not told the details, but it may well have been over who they thought would get the best positions in the Messianic kingdom Jesus was about to bring in. Perhaps Peter, James and John felt they had a claim to greatness because of the privilege they had had to be present at the transfiguration. We know that James and John had aspirations like that because of what we're told in the next chapter where they ask Jesus: Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory (10:37). But to such ambition Jesus replies: If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all (9:35), and taking a little child in his arms he says: Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4) and adds: Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me (Mark 9:37). Selfish ambition may bring glory to oneself, but it doesn't bring glory to Jesus. It only causes division and dissention among the followers. So there is to be no self-seeking among the followers of Jesus, but, closely connected to this, our passage also shows that there is to be no competition among them either. There is to be no competition among the followers of Jesus (38-41) In verse 38 John tells Jesus that they have seen a man driving out demons in Jesus' name but that they stopped him because he was not one of us. But Jesus replies Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. It's certainly possible that the disciples' reason for stopping the man was well intentioned. They knew that as his disciples they had been specially chosen by Jesus and that he had designated them apostles (Mark 3:14). They had been in his close company since he first called them to be fishers of men. What right had other people to think they could speak in Jesus' name (i.e. with his authority)? Their motivation could well have been like that of Joshua in Numbers 11:28, when out of loyalty to Moses he asks him to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying because they had not been in the Tent of Meeting when the Spirit had come upon them as the rest of the elders had been. To which Moses replied, I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them. Moses was secure in his God-given position of leadership and had nothing to fear from what may have appeared to be a challenge to his authority, and how much more secure was Jesus in the knowledge that he was God's well-beloved Son. He had nothing to fear from a man who was not one of his immediate disciples driving out demons in his name. And a person using his name to do so could not possibly say anything bad about him (v38). But what does he mean when he says, Whoever is not against us is for us? Did he not say on another occasion, He who is not with me is against me (Matthew 12:30)? Of course there is no contradiction in these two statements. In God's sight there are only two kinds of people in the world – not Jew or Gentile, not male or female, not black or white, not rich or poor etc. – but those who are for Jesus and those who are against him. Neutrality is not an option. And on that hangs our eternal destiny. But Jesus' statement also implies that there are those who are actually for him whom we believe to be against him. The Lord knows those who are his. We're reminded of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:10 who protested to God that he was the only one left who was following him and to whom God replied that there were 7000 in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal (v18). I'm sure that when we get to Heaven we'll be surprised at some of the people we meet there! So we need to be careful that we don't assume that Christians who worship differently than we do, or who do things differently from us, are not really Christians at all. Of course we need to contend earnestly for the precious truths of God's word, but our motivation in doing so should never be for the reputation or position of our own group or denomination. For example, I don't believe that infant baptism is scriptural, but that does not mean that some of those who practise it are not being powerfully used in healing and evangelism. Jesus said that anyone who gives you a cup of water (i.e. seeks to help you in the simplest way) …because you belong to Christ, will certainly not lose his reward (v41). There must be cooperation, not competition, among the followers of Jesus. But that brings us to the second major challenge that Jesus presents to his disciples in this passage – the challenge of total commitment. The challenge of total commitment (vv42-50) In these verses Jesus warns his disciples about the seriousness of sin. Our sin can, not only keep us out of Heaven, but also keep others out too. He challenges us to a life of total commitment, a life that pleases God. Verse 42 contains a strong warning about causing anyone else to sin, especially those who are children, but it could also be taken to refer to those who are young in their faith. A spirit of competition among Christians or a personal ambition for greatness can easily do just that. Such attitudes are a poor example to set to new believers. There's the twofold danger that they either follow the example we are setting, or that they will be completely put off the faith because of it. Sin is so serious that in verses 43-47 Jesus uses what may seem like an extreme illustration to make his point. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off… if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off… if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. In other words, Get rid of anything that causes you to sin. If your sin is not dealt with, Jesus says, only hell awaits. If this seems harsh, we need to remember that Jesus has already provided a way for us to get rid of our sin. That's why he died, taking the punishment our sins deserved. We get rid our sin and its consequences when we receive Jesus as our Saviour. Heaven, not hell, is our destiny. But that does not mean that the moment we become Christians we start to live sinless lives. In fact, if we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves (1 John1:8), but,  thank God, If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). But God's promise of forgiveness does not mean that we should go on sinning. Our sins are forgiven, but sin is still serious. That's why Jesus tells us to cut off anything that causes it. And cutting something off can be painful. Giving up something we enjoy or someone we love may well be costly, but if we know that it or they may lead us, or others, into temptation, we also know that it will be worth it in order to maintain our right standing with God. As we've already pointed out, our sin can affect the eternal destiny of others if it leads them to follow our example or abandon the faith. That's why Jesus says in verse 50: Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other. As Christians we can make a real difference in the world we live in, rather like salt changes the flavour of food (Matthew 5:13), and just as salt preserves food from decay, we can counteract the moral decay we see in the world around us. If, like the disciples in today's passage, we're arguing and quarrelling among ourselves, how can we expect to influence the society in which we live? If we cannot live at peace with each other, we will lose our saltiness and we'll be of little use in the Lord's service. That's why, as we've already seen, there must be no self-seeking or competition among the followers of Jesus. He challenges us to self-denial and total commitment. And if that seems hard, just remember that that is exactly what Jesus did.

Welcome to SC Church Podcast! We're so glad you could join us. Today Pastor Denny Rodney Duron shared with us his message:“Practicing the Way — Be with Jesus”Let's lean in & listen together

Welcome to Gospel For The Glory of Jesus Let’s praise and worship the Lord with the nation’s best black gospel music and a Word from the Lord by Bishop Henry Hearns. Time Keeper Bishop Henry Hearns Living Stone Cathedral of Worship Listen live to the Living Stone Cathedral of Worship Sunday morning services at 10 […]

 Jesus' healing of a woman hunched over for 18 years and then teaching to the people offers great insight into Jesus wants to lift us up from what weighs us down (Luke 13:10-21).podcast

Welcome to SC Church Podcast! We're so glad you could join us. Today Pastor Denny Rodney Duron shared with us his message:“Practicing the Way — Be with Jesus”Let's lean in & listen together

Listen along as we continue looking at the hard sayings of Jesus. Notes//Quotes: Luke 9:57-62 Throughout history various religious traditions have used the imagery of pilgrimage or journey to describe spiritual development. These journeys were focused on an eternal destination, a spiritual transformation of the individual. Today, however, the “pilgrimage” is all about the individual's own life journey.  The contemporary self does not have to literally be on the move to be on the road. Being on the road is primarily a state of mind, one that constantly is dissatisfied, looking for the next best thing, living in incompleteness, always engaged in a quest for a sense of significance. This search for meaning becomes even more problematic in a culture which flees from objective truth, which fears authority and the holding of belief too strongly. Mark Sayers “we have a generation whose principal desire is to feel [God] rather than worship Him.” - Rabbi Shmuley Boteach ”By degrees, attachment to the law sank deeper and deeper into the national character…. Hence the law became a deep and intricate study. Certain men rose to acknowledged eminence for their ingenuity in explaining, their readiness in applying, their facility in quoting, and their clearness in offering solutions of, the difficult passages of the written statutes” Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature “Prosperity knits a man to the world. He feels that he is finding his place in it, while really it is finding its place in him.” - CS Lewis, Screwtape Letters How can the dead bury their own dead? This is normally taken metaphorically: "Let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead." This reading would make good on the change of life for which Jesus calls, particularly with regard to the reconstruction of one's dispositions and behaviors and of one's self-identity. Contemporary Jewish funerary customs make possible another reading. The practice of primary burial (in which the corpse is placed in a sealed tomb) followed by secondary burial (following a twelve-month period of decomposition the bones were collected and reburied in an ossuary or "bone box"') is well attested, with the additional twelve months between burial and reburial providing for the completion of the work of mourning. According to this reckoning, Jesus' proverbial saying would refer to the physically dead in both instances: "Let those already dead in the family tomb rebury their own dead." In either case, Jesus' disrespect for such a venerable practice rooted in OT law is matched only by the authority he manifests by asserting the priority of the claims of discipleship in the kingdom of God. In this way, Luke brings to a close his introduction to the journey narrative by asserting through the repetition of rigorous demands the nature of commitment required of those who would follow Jesus on the journey. Joel Green “The Lord had not committed himself to my plans. The Lord had committed himself to me. Learning the difference was what was to make up the long arc of the Christian life. We are not most changed by what we think or feel or by what happened. We are most changed by what we depend on. And nothing has disfigured me more cruelly than my dependence on myself.” John Andrew Bryant

Tony celebrates his birthday here in the Ministry Of Silly Talk and it is an edited mess. We dispute the value of spoken word poetry vs battle rap, explore the internet’s unsung creators and we solve one of the longest standing mysteries in the podcast’s history. Happy Birthday, General! One time donations of any amount … Continue reading #296 – Happy Birthday Jesus, Let’s Solve Some Mysteries

Hello and welcome to Christchurch Xscape's Sunday Service. This week we continue with our series entitled ‘Seriously? The Hard Sayings of Jesus'.   Please feel free to get in touch hello@xchurch.org.uk Reading: Luke 9:51-62. Our podcast https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/xchurch/ Our blog for thought-provoking articles https://xchurch.medium.com/ Sign up to our fortnightly email http://xchurch.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2ef1fcfe581f6926a1507b6e0&id=ff02df616e

Marian SaturdayToday we hear our next Listener Reflection. This one is from Mary. Here is the prayer she shared with us:Mary, Living Tabernacle of Jesus-Let me see Jesus with your eyes. Let me love Him with your heart.Let me embrace Him with your arms. Let me kiss Him with your lips.Let me be to Him another Mary;A living Tabernacle for Jesus.Would you like to contribute a Marian reflection? Write a 3-4 minute reflection based on one of these prompts below and email it to thegodminute.lauren@gmail.com for consideration.1. Litany of Loreto Title- Mother of Hope, Help of Christians, Queen of Angels… read through the Litany of Loreto and reflect on the title of Mary that most speaks to you. HERE is the Litany.2. “His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.'” - John 2:53. Marian Apparitions - Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal… do you have a special devotion to Mary under one of her apparition titles? Reflect on what this means to you and why.4. “Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to thy word.'” - Luke 1:385. Rosary Story - Do you have a special devotion to the rosary? Has it brought about some miracle in your life? Share this with us.6. “Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.'” - Luke 1:41-427. Marian Devotion - The Angelus, The Seven Sorrows Devotion, The Three Hail Mary's Devotion… is there a specific Marian Devotion that has impacted you in some way? What is it and what has its impact been?8. “And Mary said: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.'” - Luke 1:46-499. Marian “Concert” Saturday - Know of a good Marian song to lead us in prayer? Share it with us and reflect on how it has touched you! 10. “When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!' Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:26-2711. Marian Consecration Story - Have you consecrated yourself to Mary? How has this impacted your faith journey? What does this mean for you? How have you seen Mary's hand at work in your life? 12. “And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.'” - Luke 1:35Music:On This Day O Beautiful Mother - SATB ChoirRescue (Instrumental) - Lauren DaigleCanticle of Zechariah - Sr. Mary Gemma

Summary-We continue on a yearlong journey through the story of the Bible, from creation to Christ to consummation, with the book of Ruth. We pick up sometime during the period of the Judges. There's a famine- how will the family of Elimelech survive-- How will his widow Naomi survive-- How does Ruth fit in and point us to Jesus-- Let's listen to what the Holy Spirit has for us today...--Famine -1-1-22---Faithfulness -2-1-23---Redeemer -13-1-21-45---Purpose -22-1-24-33-

Summary-We continue on a yearlong journey through the story of the Bible, from creation to Christ to consummation, with the book of Ruth. We pick up sometime during the period of the Judges. There's a famine- how will the family of Elimelech survive-- How will his widow Naomi survive-- How does Ruth fit in and point us to Jesus-- Let's listen to what the Holy Spirit has for us today...--Famine -1-1-22---Faithfulness -2-1-23---Redeemer -13-1-21-45---Purpose -22-1-24-33-

If Christianity ever stops being weird, it will no longer change lives. So let's get weird.I knew that the childhood mantra of “Believe in yourself” had failed in the crucible of reality. That turned out to be a bad drug, like the brown acid that the 1960's burnouts spoke about. Work and career couldn't save me. Money couldn't either. The old trusty sidekick, liquor, was as worthless as ever now. These were all bad drugs. While I had flung beer bottles at religious people for using God as a crutch, I was leaning on various crutches, and when those crutches failed, anti-depressants became the crutch. At this point, I still had no idea that I was soul-sick far more than physically or mentally impaired. On particularly blue days, or “Black Dog” days as Winston Churchill called them, or the days when the “Noonday Demon” of acedia overtook me, I knew that something was missing. And after a few years working as an engineer, I realized that I needed to talk to a doctor. And the doctor had the cure. Then I heard the new pitch for the new drug. I needed a supplement to believe in myself. It was medicine, just like insulin. Surely a diabetic would not refuse the medicine that would save his life, so why would someone deficient in a neurotransmitter not trust that pharma solutions could save me? Here existed a scientific, peer-reviewed solution, and it came in the form of a pill that would simply re-balance the chemistry in my brain. Just eat this little dot once a day and like Dorothy I would be back in humanist Kansas. Never mind that humans had lived for tens of thousands of years without these pills - this was the only solution. The fix was merely a matter of dialing in the numbers, like getting the chemicals correct when balancing a pool PH level. It was easy! There were also techniques, from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and its cousins like RET, and there was pseudo-spiritual self-affirmation options in Buddhist meditation (heavy on the self), and then there was the budding “science” of taking LSD. There was a pill plus technical methodologies to deal. I just needed an action plan for mind and body (no soul needed). Pills are goodSo the days of anti-depressants began. In a pill came the solution, and I convinced myself after a month it “seemed to be working” since I felt “not quite as irritable.” However, today I am certain that if the doctor had given me a magical bag of potato chips in a medical looking package, and had told me to eat one a day, it would have had the same effect. Because I wasn't feeling any different. The Black Dog days still arrived and struck hard. That was when I was told that the dosage just needed to be increased. More was better…you see…I needed two magical potato chips per day, not one. This is becoming more well known as people are beginning to realize that the modern SSRI pill solution is just another version of snake oil. What I discovered after about five years is that I could not stop taking these pills, because if I stopped, I became so dizzy that I could hardly stand. Getting off the anti-depressants now felt as hard as quitting tobacco had been. In the early years of taking anti-depressants, I was still drinking, which in hindsight is insane to me. But after I did quit drinking (a topic I covered at great length in the initial series of this site), I continued with the pills. After a few years of sobriety, I tried to stop taking the pills, and the dizziness gave me such fear that I worried about slipping into some suicidal despair, so I stayed on the pills. This certainly works in favor of the pharmaceutical companies. I continued on the pills, sober, believing that I needed them. Life without liquor started by asking God for help. Getting back to the basics of belief in God set me free from drinking, to my utter and complete surprise. The only way that I ever got sober was by doing the exact opposite of everything that I had learned in school. “Believe in myself” turned out to be the very thing that was destroying my liver and overall health. How many hundreds of times did I try to will myself to stay sober and it failed? Then suddenly, by simply asking God for strength and direction, I was making it through a day, and another day, then a week, then a month. But then I stopped praying for a long spell, not able to connect the dots. I stayed sober for a year before falling into the usual trap. “I got this now. I believe in myself.” Yes, that was the road back to ruin. I started with non-alcoholic beer then switched to regular beer and a year or two later I was worse off than before. Then a night in jail and the threat of more rehab got me back to the basics, of the need for God. But this time I knew that I needed God more than he needed me. But I still didn't need him that much. I had my pills.The pills carried me through some more years, but I was back in motion. In addition, fitness became an interest and continued until I'd run some eight or ten marathons and did an Ironman. I thought I'd fended off the emptiness forever. But it was after the Ironman in 2019 that it struck back, and harder than ever before. The depression arrived and I knew that I had cured nothing. I could not save myself. I could not manufacture self-esteem. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was a parlor game. The pills were doing nothing. The fitness had maxed out. I was still on the treadmill of self-esteem. Not even a long period of sobriety was a cure. There had to be something more. Body and SoulThat is when I understood the soul. For the first time in my life, I realized that we are body and soul. I had inklings about it, in times when I'd felt I'd lost something. In the deadness of my heart, I had always known something was off, ever since middle school. The comment from Jesus: “Let the dead bury their dead” always shocked me. But I knew what he meant. I knew that he meant the people who never came to know Him. Because until I learned to kneel and pray and ask for God's forgiveness, I never knew what redemptive suffering meant, and I never knew why he had to go through the cross to be resurrected. Even this process took time because I was so blind to my spiritual state, that I couldn't even see my sins and the wreckage of my life that had piled up in the wake of my jetboat named “Believe in yourself”. The next four years began a long process of spiritual awakening, in a way that I could never have understood or predicted. Even as it happened, I tried to resist it. Sneaking into back rows of churches, I was there for reasons I could hardly fathom. But I knew there was something needed, something desired. A Sunday morning watching Netflix no longer satisfied me. It had never satisfied me, I was just finally becoming aware of it. I started saying “Yes” to prayer, to fellowship, to volunteering, and to meet people who believed, and I mean really, actually believed in a spiritual life. The supernatural became revealed again through the witness of others, and I too started to tear down the walls of my materialism and unbelief. The propaganda of the Humanist Manifesto that had been drilled into my head scattered. The false foundations of my public school and media indoctrination started to erode and crumble like sand. And because the believers were living differently from everyone I had chosen to spend time with since middle school, I had to “come and see” what they were doing. It was so different. Their lives were different. Their thoughts are different. Most of them had less money than me, but they had something that I could never get. They had a sense of rest, of peace. And as I got to know them, I learned something interesting. They all spent time in prayer, every day. None were on anti-depressants. Not one of them “believed in themselves.” No, that was crazy. No, instead they all believed in God, and the Resurrection of Christ. I knew many other people who seemed to be living without God, but they were taking pills, or smoking weed, or drinking, or chasing a dollar, or obsessing with sex. But here was something different. Here was a free option, called grace. No pills needed. Then I read G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy and the second chapter confirmed what I had known by experience but could never articulate. This is a book about the concept of “Believe in yourself.” The second chapter is called “The Maniac,” and the maniac is the man who “believes in himself.” Chesterton says, “Believing utterly in one's self is a hysterical and superstitious belief.” I straightened up in my reading chair, as so much of the era from the 1970s to 2020s that I had lived within began to make much more sense. When I was born, the humanists had overrun public schooling in precisely that era (and even ruled the progressive Churches), and the first rule of the humanists, in their manifesto, was that “Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created.” Thus it was no wonder that my teachers had ruled out God as existing, as a living entity. My few hours a year in faith formation were trampled over and cast out at the first difficult question I raised about God. My understanding of anything about Catholicism or faith was a house of cards. To make matters worse, I had only attended Masses from the post-Vatican II, where it was more guitar and modern “hymns” than reverent prayer and silence. I am not joking when I tell this: the first time I saw a High Latin Mass, I thought I was on another planet. I had no idea what was happening, but I knew that every Mass I had attended as a kid was lacking seriousness. I didn't even receive Communion that day because I didn't know what the altar rail was for, or why people were kneeling to receive the Eucharist. Probably best I didn't, since I still hadn't understood the need for Confession and being in a state of Grace before receiving the Eucharist yet. I realized after this process had completed, after I had flushed my anti-depressants, that I had to knock down about ten walls of worldly indoctrination and self-deception that had been erected over thirty years, all the way back to Sesame Street with its early onset self-esteem program of indoctrination…and maybe even Tom and Jerry as I loved watching them beat the hell out of each other and figured that both and Tom and Jerry believed in themselves.First, I had to accept that God may exist. This meant overcoming the dogmas of academia, that had coached me into the negative position, and until I found Aquinas and Augustine and Pascal and Robert Barron, I had never heard of the compelling arguments for the affirmative. But it wasn't an argument that made me believe that God may exist - it was the first time I tried prayer and was able to not drink. And this will forever be perhaps the strangest education of my life. For nothing had worked before - no amount of knowledge, no technique, no bargaining, no rewards. Later, I used prayer to discontinue looking at any smut on my computer or phone, and lo and behold, repeatedly kneeling and asking God for help, once again, chased away the demon. This had a profound effect on me, as I realized that prayer did something strange, and it was real. Then there was politics, which is always the top idol in America. You can't bring up a news story in most circles without hitting an electric wire related to politics. The issue of abortion or prayer in schools was a trigger for me, as I had been coached well enough in school that liberty and freedom only meant doing whatever one wished. Luckily, over the years I had lived in neighborhoods with people of both parties, so I had close friends of both the left and the right, and I still do, and this is because I have the gift of knowing when to shut the hell up. My 10th-grade biology teacher once paid me a great compliment, telling me that I was a nuisance in class, but I knew when to quit. Now, for some, that may not sound like a compliment, but to me, it meant I had the slightest sense of knowing when to stop acting like an idiot. Perhaps being from Minnesota had something to do with it because we hold back our feelings to avoid offending others - or we did at one time. I think that has passed as greater America has infected the state through social media. However, when I began to believe in God, I began to set aside certain political issues, such as that unborn babies are “just a clump of cells,” which never made a lot of sense to me anyway. The problem was that if I had a soul, then so did everyone else. If I had a soul, so did my conservative and liberal neighbors - they both did. And if I had a soul, so did babies, and if babies had a soul, so did humans who had not yet popped out of the womb. Plus I had my own children and they were the greatest gift, along with my wife, that I could have ever asked for, and I hadn't asked for, yet had been given them. And all of these things began to work like a degreasing rust remover on my static and crusty ideas. The bolted-on beliefs from college and my twenties started looking less solid. That wall of politics may have been as thick as the wall of “Does God exist?”Then there was the approval of the world - a very thick wall - because to believe in God was to reject the secularization thesis that reigned in the last fifty years. Belief in God was a vestige of less sophisticated times. It was like the appendix on the body, or goosebumps - they were leftovers from a more primitive age. Joseph Campbell and many others assured us that Christianity was just like every other religion, every other myth, with just a wrinkle of difference here, a nuance there. I felt like the world was nudging me along, saying, “Nothing to see here, folks: Star Wars is sufficient for your spiritual needs.” Except it wasn't (and Disney's takeover of it has certainly proven that out as it degrades with every new release).To be Catholic, or really any non-”progressive” Christian, was to be a modern freak. It was not approved of by the educated and cool people. I liked reading Reddit, which was like the atheist training ground of the internet. On Reddit people could be anonymous and bash the church openly, and all of the veiled arguments against Christianity in the media and college were unleashed in their full anger online. Oh, and Islam was the true religion of peace - all of Christian history was to blame for every injustice in the modern world. No, I believed that. In hindsight, it's amazing how far your false teaching can take you, and it's no wonder to me now that the books of the Church Fathers are swept under a rug. To read Augustine's Confessions, or Origen's First Principles, or the story of the martyrs of Lyon, or hear about the Battle of Tours and the Battle of Lepanto, or read of the martyrs like St. Lawrence and St. Agnes, or to see the early church in the letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch - all of this is more thrilling than any roller coaster at Six Flags. As I started to read the Gospels and read the writings of the Church Fathers and listen to Bishop Barron, as well as the Lord of Spirits podcast, Tim Keller, Father Mike Schmitz, and more - I knew that I had not been told anything about the history of Christianity. The education system, from kindergarten to college, had hidden a trove of books from us. Purposefully it had steered me away from millennia of wisdom. All spiritual things were kept away, all of the things that held Christendom together. Even the dichotomies were false ones: I had only ever heard of nature vs. nurture, as if all problems were merely questions of genetics or environment. As if only those two things could be the cause of human sin. They walled off “The Fall” as a non-possibility, and in walling it off proved in the 20th century experiments of communism, fascism, and liberalism that nature vs. nurture did not account for all problems. The longer you look into the abyss, the more you know The Fall happened. But the education system blamed other things. Never was it the world, the flesh, and the devil that prompted us to sin. Never was it the idea of concupiscence, a word that I didn't learn until my late thirties. Worse, there was a false war over faith vs. reason, and until digging deeply I learned that not only was this an invention of the Enlightenment, but the people beating the drum of that war were standing on the shoulders of the giants of faith who used their reason to discover the wonders of the natural world while still having full faith in God. There was no conflict between faith and reason. The fundamentalists and atheists may have had some odd war over those two things, but Catholics did not. The wisdom of the Saints was kept like dry goods in storage. But the great thing about it is that just when all the bad movies and boring bestsellers had lost their flair, I stumbled onto St. Augustine, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. John Damascene and realized that there is absolute dynamite in the word of God and the history of the church. I remember reading The Imitation of Christ on an airplane and thinking, “I should hide the cover or these people will think I'm a crazy Christian.” That was an odd thought. In fact, I now know who put that thought in my head. I had never once thought that I should “hide the cover” when I was reading Ovid or Virgil on a plane. I never thought that when reading Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens. And so it occurred to me that the real rebel today is the one who reads The Imitation of Christ. The only books I was embarrassed to be seen with were the ones that felt like they inverted the whole world that I had come to accept. And the fact that invasive thoughts were suggesting that I stop reading it or hide it hinted to me that the nature of thoughts may not be purely material things. After all, thoughts are only in the intellect, and angels are pure intellect - as are demons. Oddly enough, this open reading of books written by early Christians felt like an act of revolt against the world. As a child of the 1980s and 1990s, I tend to like a revolt now and then, but this was the first revolt against the world instead of God. Now I was repenting, turning back. I think when we 90s kids were drinking like fish and head-banging, we were only doing so because we had never seen beauty or truth, never heard it, never understood it, never encountered it. We were raised with ugly buildings, ugly art, and ugly ideology. Given the choice today between listening to Metallica's “Master of Puppets” or “Jesu, Salvator Mundi” from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles - ten out of ten times, I choose the nuns. (Sorry, Hetfield, you've been replaced. Those women need no distortion pedal or even guitars to outdo you. Thanks for all the metal, but I'm all good now.) Punk is done, rock is dulled: beauty, truth, and goodness is new again. Why? Because God makes all things new. Many of us who grew up in the late 20th century and early 21st century have never seen or heard such things. Irreverent Masses and the pop music hymns are all we were shown. We are so accustomed to ugliness that we don't even know it until we start digging in the past to see what “The Enlightenment” tried to bury. There is much more out there than the material world. There is new life in Christ. Life is not just biological or psychological, it is spiritual, it is Sacramental. “Something shook out of me”After I started seeking God, which came in incremental steps, there were two days when the world of ghosts and spirits became real to me in ways that I cannot account for. The first was an out-of-body experience I had in a doctor's office, when I was being told something and could no longer hear the doctor. For a brief period, I felt as if floating in the room, or absent from my body. This may have lasted only ten seconds, but in those ten seconds, I caught a glimpse of a reality outside of the body. Nothing dramatic happened, I just felt a separation from my body and recognized that the soul can live outside of the flesh. This made apparent the need for change, for the animating, the soul, seemed to be separating for the sole purpose of telling me, “Here I am. This is the self you thought was you. This is your soul, and your body is down there. You need to acknowledge me.” This startling experience rocked various assumptions I had about the material world. Already I had known that through prayer, somehow, someway, I could resist temptations like alcohol that otherwise drove me to madness, that I could never stop on my own. But the second experience showed me that the concept of possession is real. Again, I am at a loss for an explanation for this, but the day this happened is the day that I began to read the Bible and see it completely differently. I was at home. Because I had been learning about God and catching up on reading the books I had never been exposed to, I took a moment to watch a show about Catholicism, called Symbolon. Now, Edward Sri is not a speaker or teacher that I am drawn to, but it is he who changed my life by merely speaking words - not even to me, but in a recording - and what he said caused something to leave my body. Again, this is too strange for words, and whatever I make of it here, will fail to tell the ghostly nature of what occurred. I've written about this before but didn't mention the “shaking out” that happened with it. Something left my body, or my soul, or both. It was a word that changed me. Some say that books don't change people; paragraphs do. But for me, it was a single word that opened up the scripture. The word “literarily.” Edward Sri said there is a difference between reading the Bible “literally” and “literarily.” The literal was important, but the spiritual reading I had been ignoring. Reading the Word of God was more than a literal or literary exercise, but somehow the word literary awakened me to understanding that there was a literal and a spiritual way to read. Better still, within the spiritual sense were the moral, allegorical, and the Big Picture (of how it related to Jesus) senses. This was a moment of St. Anselm's “faith seeking understanding,” as the literal and spiritual senses of scripture suddenly flowered. I realized reading the Bible was not an academic exercise, it was a living encounter with the Word of God.It made all the difference in the world to me. When I heard that, something made my ears perk up. Edward Sri had only said this:The Catholic approach to Scripture is different from the fundamentalist view, which reads Scripture in a literalistic way. To discern the truth God put in Scripture, we must interpret the Bible literarily, remembering that God speaks to us in a human way, through the human writers of Scripture. That means that we examine the context and intent of the author for any given passage.-From Symbolon (session 3)This marked the death of fundamentalism, from both sides. The pure materialist science perspective was gone. Any creeping “faith alone” or fundamentalist Protestant reading was gone, too. The four senses of scripture roared from the book. I guess it like how LSD users describe their imaginary worlds coming to life when the hallucinations begin. But I wasn't using LSD. This was a stone sober revelation. This was an encounter. This was the Holy Spirit. I had rejected it for so long, the unforgivable sin, and somehow I now let it in. Or rather, I didn't do anything - God did something. How do I know that this moment in time changed something in me? Because I felt it. And because I've seen it happen to others. In AA meetings you will often hear someone say, “I felt something lifted off of me.” Whenever I hear this, I know that God is working miracles in this world just as he was when Jesus walked the earth, or when Moses heard God thunder on the mountain, or when a dazed Abraham made his covenant with God. There is another saying in AA, and it is, “Don't stop coming until the miracle happens.” Newbies don't know what that means and often find it confusing, if not irritating. But something happens and it cannot be explained in purely rational terms. Something happened. Something strange. Something wonderful.Years ago, when I knew the time to drink was nearing, I always felt a tingle in my forearms. It was like a creepy, crawly feeling - like a temptation or urge or compulsion. There was a sense of a force approaching that could not be satisfied. On that day when something happened, I had been sober for four years at this point, so the writhing feeling rarely ever happened. I was past that. But I was still white-knuckling life on many days. Some days I still live that way. But when I heard the words about how to read the Bible, my hands shook. It was not like an excess caffeine shake, nor was it like a nervous shaking, nor was it like a hunger shake, nor was it like the natural tremor that I have in my hands. Something shook out of my hands, something invisible. This was a violent shake. The shaking lasted perhaps one second. But when it happened, I said, “Yes, that's it.” And I knew. I knew then and there that the reason I had been unable to read the Bible was because I had blinders on from Protestant fundamentalists and atheist scientists who had presented a false dichotomy. There was no war between faith and reason. There was another invisible realm beyond nature vs. nurture. There was a way to read Genesis that made sense. There was a way to know Christ as the eternally begotten Son of God, fully human and fully divine. The world and scripture opened up, spiritual and physical. When it shook out of me I knew what the demoniacs had felt in the Gospels, what Mary Magdalene had felt. Further, I knew what Jesus meant when he said that we must ask, seek, and knock and God will answer, because even though I didn't know what was drawing me, I was no longer seeking myself, I was seeking God. This was a casting out. The shaking that occurred that day altered the course of my life. Many little walls had to come down before that, but that day did something that no book or life experience could ever do. Were it not for the shaking out of something from my forearms and hands, no senses would have caught the departure of this presence that had been over me. Suddenly I could say, “Something was lifted off of me,” but for me it was, “Something shook out of me.” And it was that day that I knew: I no longer needed anti-depressants. I needed prayer, fellowship, scripture, and the Sacraments. I needed God, in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I still needed “me” because I knew that I was made for God, and my heart had been restless until it rested in Him. But I also knew that I needed Reconciliation and the Eucharist far more than Lexapro or Wellbutrin. I knew that every misguided search and difficulty had been leading me to that moment. And after that, the moments kept coming where I saw more clearly, such as when I first attended a High Mass in Latin, where I saw how powerful liturgy could be, or when I continued to meet people of faith, or when I kneeled to pray, or read spiritual books, or volunteered for things that I didn't necessarily like to do. A few weeks after that day when “something shook out of me,” I dumped the last of the pills down the toilet. Whatever had shaken out of me seemed to stir the Holy Spirit in me. I felt as if the Baptismal and Confirmation graces were set free. Whatever had been “over me” had departed, and I knew it. And I knew how to keep it that way, through the name of Christ, through prayer and obedience, submission to God. Not through effort, but by surrender. The old “surrender to win” attitude worked. The cure had been to unlearn all that I had ever learned, because once I stopped believing in myself, I believed in God. I knew that the devil was real, and he certainly believed in himself. I knew that sin was real and it was some relative wishy-washy opinion. No longer was I on top. I was in the lowest place, because I knew that spiritually I had long been a sitting duck when I thought I knew more that spirits of pure intellect. No longer did my ideas come first, but I submitted to the teachings of the Church. These rules were not for oppressing but for freedom, the right kind of freedom. Most of all, I knew Who was greater than both the devil and myself. In a great mystery, our trials and tribulations are permitted, because they allow growth to happen. But there is no growth without struggle, and action and humility must be settled into a union. Scripture is alive. God is alive. He is risen. These are all mysteries to embrace. “Surrender to win” must be the way, as the Lord showed us. In the strangest story of all, God became man, was crucified, died, and rose again. At long last, I am alive and no longer looking for the answer in myself, because I no longer believe in myself. I believe in God. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whydidpetersink.substack.com

Pastor Stephen from Bethlehem gives us an important mindset on how to enter 2024!

If you love Me , you will keep my commandments - Jesus Let's talk about growing deeper in God --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ladiestalkpodcast/support

Today I am sharing one of my last messages for our Summer Sermon Series.  We will be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week. Thanks for switching gears a bit to allow us at The Parable Podcast a little space to enjoy these last few days with our kids before school starts. This message was a previous message I shared at our home church of West Ridge.  I hope you enjoy this message today and it encourages you wherever you are.Message Notes“Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.” Exodus 22:22Tamar harbored deep resentment toward her father-in-law because she knew by this time that Shelah had grown up, but she had not been given to him in marriage as Judah had promised. Genesis 38:1413… Tamar learned that her father-in-law would be coming to Timnah to shear his sheep, 14 she took off her widow's clothes, put on a veil to conceal her true identity, and sat down at the entrance to Enaim along the road to Timnah. … 15 When Judah passed by and saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had her face covered. 16 He decided to proposition her. Genesis 38:13-16It was the owner of these items who made me pregnant. Please, take a close look and tell me whose personal seal, cord, and walking stick these are. Genesis 38:25“Jesus: Let the first stone be thrown by the one among you who has not sinned." John 8:11 1.Deny, Deny, Deny 2.Shifting Blame3.Own up to it“Tamar is more righteous than him”A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows. - Psalm 68:5“Certainly the faithful love of the LORD hasn't ended; certainly God's compassion isn't through! Lamentations 3:22   God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8  Reflection Questions1. Journal about a time that seemed so obscure and out of whack in your life and looking back now you can see God's hand at work for a certain reason in your life?2. A prayer for yourself this week:God thank you that I can be saved by your unconditional Grace. I believe you love me more than I can comprehend. God thank you for sending your son Jesus so he could die for me. I lay everything at your feet and give my life to you. All I can say is thank you. Amen.Connect with Danielle | Instagram | Facebook  How to support The Parable Podcast#1 Subscribe or Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode of  The Parable Podcast through your favorite podcast app (i.e. iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher).    #2 Share this show with a friend, this is a perfect opportunity to start your own Parable Conversation together.  #3 Are you in need of a speaker for your Church, Women's Group, or event? Contact Danielle to learn more.How to support The Parable Podcast: #1 Subscribe or Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode of The Parable Podcast through your favorite podcast app (i.e. iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher). #2 Share this show with a friend, this is a perfect opportunity to start your own Parable Conversation together. #3 Are you in need of a speaker for your Church, Women's Group, or event? Contact Danielle to learn more.

Is Anyone Listening Tom Donnan pt 1 We are back today with our good friend, Tom Donnan. Every time Tom comes on, we talk about end time events as compared to current events. We see the correlations. We see them happening, live, right in front of our eyes. But, is anyone listening? That's the million dollar question today! Help me welcome back to the program, Tom Donnan!  Tom, thank you for coming back on and sharing with us your insights into what we see happening in the news and the world around us as we are being led to the End Times… Share with us the story you shared with me about a man named Harry T…and how one decision changed his entire family line for Jesus… Let me ask you, in the days of Noah, as he was building the Ark, he was sharing what was going to happen and why he was building the Ark. But nobody believed him. They were mocking him and all that. Until the rain started… then, suddenly, everybody was paying attention. But it was too late. It kind of reminds me of the wedding parables. They were supposed to stay awake, but the Bible says, “all were sleeping.” The only difference though, the wise maidens had their lamps filled with oil and were ready… the others were not…and they were not allowed to enter in to the feast. So, I guess the big question is, “Is anyone listening today?” Glen Beck shared a video where he was discussing warnings that America has received, but ignored. Can you talk about that video for us? Since we talked last, there have been some major things happen in America.  The most notable is the banking collapse.  Share with us some information on the banking crisis and how that will lead to another housing crisis… I just seen a news report in the last day or so that discussed banks are now losing money on mortgage loans. A lot of loans were locked in at 2-3% interest rates and the banks expenses are now exceeding that interest income from the loans. So is another housing crisis on the verge of killing what remains of our economy? Mark Moss – Data Shows Why the Banking Collapse is Just Starting I just seen a news report that China and Brazil have struck an agreement to stop trading with the US Dollar and to trade with the Chinese Yuan.  Brazil is just the latest country to strike that kind of deal. Saudi Arabia also has a deal for oil like that. Have you seen information on this? Mark Moss – The Dollar's Reserve Status, What You Need to Know Just last week, OPEC unexpectedly announced massive oil production cuts over 1 million barrels per day. They, basically thumbing their nose at Joe Biden's efforts to have them produce more oil.  Have you seen or heard anything about that? CONTACT INFORMATION: Tom Donnan Healingthenation1776@gmail.com Book - “This Room” – www.ZoeHealingCenter.com Six free books can be found at:

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