Podcast appearances and mentions of jonathan perry

The Angus breed's diversity is its strength and its challenge — how the breed supports producers across the United States is its measure of success.  Jonathan Perry, newly elected president and chairman of the American Angus Association Board of Directors says they will continue a focus on the strengths of the Angus cow and giving breeders tools to work in all diverse systems.  “That's one of the things that we've really put a lot of emphasis on from new EPD (expected progeny difference) developments, new phenotype collections, things that we can do to try to bring more emphasis to longevity, stayability, the function of the cow,” Perry says. “No matter where we go end-target wise, we've got to continue to come back to home base of what got us there.” To hear why Perry is so optimistic about the future of the breed, listen to the full interview.RELATED READING:American Angus Association Concludes Fiscal Year, Shows Continued Leadership in Beef IndustryNew Leadership elected to the American Angus Association Board of DirectorsVisit AngusJournal.net for more and to subscribe.

A conservative approach to the budget, while remaining aggressive in delivering tools and services — that's how newly elected vice president and vice chairman of the Board, Jonathan Perry, Fayetteville, Tenn., describes the American Angus Association's approach to financials. Every entity had a positive bottom line, and managed to balance revenue even as inflation grew costs as well.  The Association has a strong investment portfolio, which rebounded to an 11% gain after last year's 15% loss.  Nearly 70% of that investment income is restricted, or earmarked for specific needs that the previous Board identified such as building maintenance, technology upgrades or scholarships. “We had a great year. Just remember that one of the reasons we are where we are today is because we had foresight in individuals that sat on this board way before we did that watched that bottom line and left the funds available for us to be able to utilize them when things came along that we needed to add to or invest in for our membership.”Listen to the Tennessee cattle breeder give a full update in this piece from the recent Angus Convention.RELATED READING:American Angus Association Concludes Strong Fiscal YearNew Leadership Elected to American Angus Association Board of Directors 

The fellas celebrated National Gumbo Day on this latest episode. They also talked about a popular tiktoker's crockpot recipe using carrots and cheddar jalapeno sausage. Brent gives a shout out to Johnny Beaumont and Jonathan Perry. Enjoy and Happy National Gumbo Day!

In this episode of Championship Leadership,we interviewed Jonathan Perry,a Filmmaker and a creator of acclaimed arctic film Subnivean(2019).At a young age, Jonathan already shows fascination in the cinematic world that eventually translates into his works through screenwriting. In 2019, he directed the short film Subnivean that gained critical acclaim, putting him on a pedestal being the youngest filmmaker. His work was then picked up by Amazon Prime Video for international distribution. Age 21 and still in his college years, Jonathan Perry already had 2 movies and TV series under his belt. He is now currently in post-production of his new movie entitled Sentinelese and will be coming soon to select theaters. Know more about Jonathan Perry and tune in to this episode!!

I am reposting my first interview of this podcast when I started in November 2017, about five years ago with my esteemed guest Jonathan J. Perry.  Here is his website: https://www.jonathanjamesperry.com/ Traditional singer, dancer, speaker and carver, Jonathan Perry is grounded in the traditions of his ocean-going ancestors. He considers designs by examining the raw materials closely, and draws his images from the grain, hues, and patina of wood, stone and copper.  Jonathan enjoys using the materials and knowledge handed down from his ancestors to express his understanding of the natural world as well as the changes over time since Creation.  His mentors, like the late Nanepashemet (Tony Pollard) of the Wampanoag Nation, have taught him to observe and take special care when handling these materials, and breathing life into his pieces of art.  Jonathan's work embodies the refined quality of those of his ancestors, while still drawing upon his experience in a contemporary society.  His pieces reflect balance within the Natural World, incorporating stories, effigies, and symbology of Wampanoag traditions.   Jonathan is influenced by his time spent on the ocean, something very close to him, being from an island Native community. One defining moment has been when Jonathan witnessed a basking whale off the cliffs of Aquinnah, MA on his home island of Martha's Vineyard.  These whale images have since appeared in many of his pieces. Jonathan continues to use the materials and knowledge handed down from his ancestors to express his understanding of the Natural World and the change that it has experienced in the past four hundred years.  Jonathan's three dimensional artwork ranges in size from large, hand-carved dugout ocean vessels, to stone effigy pipes and high-end copper jewelry.   An articulate and thoughtful speaker, he has lectured on the topics of Eastern Woodland art and traditions for over 15 years at both regional and national venues and his performing arts career has spanned over 25 years.  These venues have included the Peabody Essex Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Harvard College and Brown University.   In his personal time, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his family and participating in cultural activities in the Native community.  He particularly likes to collaborate with his sister, Elizabeth James-Perry on artwork, research and exhibitions. Thank you for listening. Stay tuned for more new programs this year. Who is the founder & Owner of LightupwithShua Podcast and LUWS ACADEMY LLC ? visit: lightupwithshua.com I am a student of knowledge of multiple disciplines, a mentor, and an intercultural & Interfaith practitioner, who wants to help heal and solve problems by bringing awareness for conscious living and conscious parenting to people with flexible mindset. Currently hosting a weekly podcast on LightupwithShua podcast on conscious living and parenting. Additionally, actively conducting Self - Healing & Transformation Training Workshops in Pakistan and in the USA. For more information please inquire through email or phone. You can connect with me here: Shua@lightupwithshua.com *Remember to LIKE, SHARE, RATE and REVIEW. Thank you. Shua - شعا ع https://linktr.ee/Shuakhan Copyright © 2017-2022 LUWS ACADEMY LLC & LightupwithShua Podcast All Rights Reserved Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International LicenseLightupwithShua

Beef supply is going to get tighter and tighter, and that means there's more pressure than ever on Angus producers to up their game, says Jonathan Perry, the new treasurer for the American Angus Association.  Listen to the Tennessee cattle breeder give a full update in this piece from the recent Angus Convention or read the entire interview below. To hear more from the American Angus Association Board of Directors, visit www.angusjournal.net.Subscribe to the Angus Journal to keep up with all things Angus.

April Rodgers welcomes her husband, Adams, to help her interview their friends, Holley and Jonathan Perry. After the loss of their infant son, Holley and Jonathan Perry were able to donate their son's organs which led to a wonderful friendship with the family who received John Clarke's heart and it ignited within them a passion for organ donation. This interview will warm your heart as we explore how our grief/pain can be used to comfort others, which ultimately ushers in our healing. Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today's show: ⭐️ God can use our pain to comfort others which can oftentimes lead to unlikely friendships birthed in love. ⭐️ Looking at loss as a miracle from God versus a tragedy helps us to focus on God's sovereignty and see the impact our loss can have on the lives of others. ⭐️ We have to make a choice to keep getting up so that God can work in and through us. ⭐️ God puts the “super” on our “natural” to invoke supernatural works, yet it starts with us stepping out in obedience. ⭐️ Doing a check and balance of our lives helps confirm if we are in the will of God or not. He will provide the confirmation we need to step out in faith. About Our Guests: Holley and Jonathan Perry are the founders of The John Clarke Perry Foundation that focuses on organ donation. They have given away over $60,000 and most recently have sponsored a PICU wing at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Louisiana. The Perry's home is filled with much love and laughter with their three daughters, Emarie, Ella, and Evie Clarke. You can visit The John Clarke Perry Foundation at johnclarkeperryfoundation.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who needs some LIGHT & HOPE. You were Made to Shine.

He's a former police officer, a Judge, an acclaimed cajun comedian, but more importantly Jonathan Perry is a guest on the Gumbo Show. Jonathan Perry has an extreme love for cajun cooking and without a doubt makes one of the best gumbos you will ever have. We cover a lot of ground with Jonathan Perry. So much so we had to split his interview into two parts. Enjoy Part 2 of the Jonathan Perry Episode.

He's a former police officer, a Judge, an acclaimed cajun comedian, but more importantly Jonathan Perry is a guest on the Gumbo Show. Jonathan Perry has an extreme love for cajun cooking and without a doubt makes one of the best gumbos you will ever have. We cover a lot of ground with Jonathan Perry. So much so we had to split his interview into two parts. Enjoy Part 1 of the Jonathan Perry Episode.

Sleigh bells ring...are you listening? Yes, you are...to another batch of winter vgm! Join the hosts for another episode, this one exploring the less icy, snowy side of the season and exploring the jollier, more festive kind of music we all associate with this time of year. In fact, see if you can count how many times Bedroth says "festive" in this episode!This episode also features a lot of bonus music in between the main tracks. Check the show notes for information about those songs, and check out our accompanying YouTube playlist to hear the songs without our inane chatter on top of them.Thanks as always to our amazing patrons and the artists who made our show art and theme song. Links to their content can be found below the playlist on our YouTube video! You, too, can become a patron at patreon.com/vgmvgm, and you can reach out to us by e-mail at verygoodmusicvgm@gmail.com, on Twitter @Shootkpow, or by leaving us a voice message at anchor.com/vgmvgm. You can also leave us a comment on YouTube and while you're at it, please let us know if you like the video, and subscribe and ring the bell to be notified of future episodes! We look forward to hearing from you!Playlist:Jingle Bells - Santa Claus no Takarabako (FDS, 1987) - Composer Unknown3:25 - Snow (Super Mario World) - Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch, 2019) - Koji KondoLoading 'Arsys Christmas Song' - Knight Arms: The Hyblid Framer (Sharp X68000, 1989) - Toshiya Yamanaka8:00 - Magical Snow Day - Sonic Runners (Mobile, 2015) - Tomoya OhtaniSadistic Xmas/Arctic Dream (Finland) - Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Multiplatform, 2011) - Keiichi Okabe15:52 - Mt. Slide - Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii, 2010) - Tomoya TomitaCozy Cabin - Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii, 2010) - Tomoya Tomita21:52 - Monsters, Inc. Scream Team (aka Scare Island in Europe) - Arctic Pursuit (PS1, 2001) - T. Sohet and P. Roger26:39 - Mount Wario - Mario Kart 8 (Wii-U, 2015) - Ryo NagamatsuGod Rest Ye, Deadly Gentlemen - Rise of the Triad (DOS, 1994) - Robert Prince, Lee Jackson32:52 - Merry Mountain - Mario Kart Tour (Mobile, 2019) - Composer Unknown, possibly Kenta Nagata or Ryo Nagamatsu36:37 - A Little Light Snowfall - Yoshi's Wolly World (Wii-U/3DS, 2015) - Tomoya TomitaPenguin Iceberg: Snow Court Song - Mario Tennis Open (3DS, 2012) - Motoi Sakuraba43:49 - Yeti Caves - Spelunky (Multiplatform, Originally Windows, 2008, Remake 2013) - George Buzinkai, Jonathan Perry, and Eirik Suhrke (remake only)Sasquatch's Stage - Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors (Arcade/PS1/PS2, 1994) - Takayuki Iwai, Hideki Okugawa47:10 - Mammoth Glacier - Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (Wii, 2007) - Takashi Kouga50:57 - Alpine Peak - Donkey Kong Barrel Blast (Wii, 2007) - Takashi KougaJangle Bells - Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES, 1996) - Eveline Novakovic (née Fischer)55:50 – Penguin Slide - Wii Fit (Wii, 2007) - Toru MinigishiChristmas Party - LovePlus (DS, 2009) - Composer Unknown1:00:08 - Snowfield (Stage 1) - Gradius Gaiden (PS1, 1997) - Norikazu Miura1:04:59 - Don't Freeze - Mario Party 9 (Wii, 2012) - Toshiki Aida, Ryosuke AsamiBlizzard of Balls - The Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures (Windows, 2013) - Sam Beddoes1:16:35 - Winter Star Festival - Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (Multiplatform, 2008 | Expansion in 2019) - Akihiko NaritaBlooper Reel: Remix II Stage 7 (Mario Winter Theme Remix) - NES Remix 2 (Wii-U, 2014) - Koji Kondo/Toshiyuki Sudo--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/vgmvgm/message

The crew takes a moment to give thanks to the folks feeding the world. McCully, CEO of the American Angus Association stops by to give a state of the industry and shed light on just how 2020 was for the agriculture industry. Also, Jonathan Perry from Fayetteville, TN, checks in to talk about his operation, Deer Valley Angus, AND share his unique perspective as both a rancher and restauranteur with his popular South Tennessee restaurant, Hickory House.

3rd Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Jonathan Perry joined Discover Lafayette to share his journey of public service. From his days growing up in Kaplan in a single-parent household with little money to the achievement of a law degree, service in the Legislature as a State Representative and Senator, and now as a Judge on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, his inspirational message is of the importance of hard work and perseverance in achieving your dreams. A native and lifelong resident of Kaplan, Judge Perry received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northeast Louisiana University, which is now the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Perry always wanted to be a Louisiana State Trooper, but it hadn't worked out for him. So, at the age of 25, he joined the Kaplan Police Department where his uncle and politically savvy Police Chief Steve Perry had been trying to hire him. While a cadet in training at A.L.E.T.A. (Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy) in New Iberia, he was elected Cadet President and received The John “Dooley” Hardy award which is bestowed to the Hardest Working Cadet. While at the Academy, he was also inspired by a visiting Assistant U. S. District Attorney who "lit a fire in him" and who encouraged him to pursue a career in law. Judge Perry has the utmost respect for law enforcement and its professionals who serve with low pay and high risk, and he proudly rose to the rank of Sergeant during his service. "I loved being a police officer more than anything I've ever done up to this point in my life. I loved the interaction, being with people, and serving." Yet he was one of the few officers that had a college degree which defied the norm at that time; he decided to pursue higher education and took the LSAT (Law School Admission Test), studying while continuing to work with the department. When he didn't make a high enough score on the LSAT the first time, he became determined to pass and studied even harder, thereafter being accepted into Southern Law School. During his third year of law school, he began his political career when he was elected to the Kaplan City Council at the age of 28. He jumped into politics because he saw that many young people in Acadiana were leaving small towns, including Kaplan, and he explained, "There were no young people in elected positions, no young professionals. Who was going to represent the young families? Who's going to represent me? They were moving out and I wanted to stay home. We need someone with fire." Before the COVID shutdown, Judge Perry would teach a yearly Civics class on how the judicial system works, "Court in the Classroom," at N. Vermilion and Abbeville High Schools. In 2007, Perry, a conservative Republican, was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives to serve District 47, representing Cameron and Vermilion Parishes. At that time, he was shocked to see how he was received by other House members. As a former police officer, Assistant D. A, with a flat top hairstyle, people assumed they couldn't work with him. "It was such a disappointment, I can be friends with everyone and be empathetic to their views. I don't judge based upon color, party affiliation." Then in 2011, he won a special election for Senate District 26, which covers portions of Acadia, Lafayette, St. Landry, and Vermilion Parishes. He calls the Senate "the Country Club." It's quiet in the Senate chambers, with only 39 members and the desks spread out. There is a sense of decorum as members have to walk down to the well and face the other Senators as they share their thoughts. Perry believes that service in both chambers is beneficial and "your better legislators serve first in the House and then the Senate. They know the rules and procedures on both sides. And you have to build relationships." Perry shared how partisan and backstabbing politics can take its toll on elected officials and that he seriously considered resigning from office.

Hey everyone! Today's guest has a bit of an unconventional story that is becoming more and more popular; HOW and WHY Jonathan Perry Got Signed By Amazon Studios at 17! We take you through who he was before getting signed, how he found his calling within writing scripts, and what he wants to go next, with this newfound fame and support. You can watch his short film, Subnivean, on Amazon, for free with a Prime Membership, and follow his journey on Instagram @jonathanperryfilms! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Stay tuned and for full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WjZ9q51KKA Traditional singer, dancer, speaker and carver, Jonathan Perry is grounded in the traditions of his ocean-going ancestors. He considers designs by examining the raw materials closely, and draws his images from the grain, hues, and patina of wood, stone and copper. Jonathan enjoys using the materials and knowledge handed down from his ancestors to express his understanding of the natural world as well as the changes over time since Creation. His mentors, like the late Nanepashemet (Tony Pollard) of the Wampanoag Nation, have taught him to observe and take special care when handling these materials, and breathing life into his pieces of art. Jonathan's work embodies the refined quality of those of his ancestors, while still drawing upon his experience in a contemporary society. His pieces reflect balance within the Natural World, incorporating stories, effigies, and symbology of Wampanoag traditions. https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.perry.925 Visit National Day of Mourning: https://nationaltoday.com/national-da... *Remember to subscribe, share, rate and review. Let me know what are you doing, thinking, and feeling during these challenging times. Thank you. Shua - شعا ع www.lightupwithshua.com http://bit.ly/2nc9tZM - Youtube channel https://goo.gl/rf3HQ9 - The Groton Channel http://apple.co/2BteyA3 - iTunes https://goo.gl/dWpvLF - Instagram Available on iHeartradio, Tunein Radio, Spotify, Castbox, Facebook, Instagram, Lindedin, and Twitter. Copyright © 2017-2020 lightupwithshua - All Rights Reserved - Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

What is the center of our lives? Of our faith and spirituality? Though there are many ideas, Jesus says the center is simple and profound — love. Centering our life, our work, our families, our faith, our growth, and our goals around love — love of God and neighbor and ourselves — gives us a purpose and place and path in tune with the loving heart of God. Discover the life revolution when we let all we are and all we do revolve around love.

What is the center of our lives? Of our faith and spirituality? Though there are many ideas, Jesus says the center is simple and profound — love. Centering our life, our work, our families, our faith, our growth, and our goals around love — love of God and neighbor and ourselves — gives us a purpose and place and path in tune with the loving heart of God. Discover the life revolution when we let all we are and all we do revolve around love.

What is the center of our lives? Of our faith and spirituality? Though there are many ideas, Jesus says the center is simple and profound — love. Centering our life, our work, our families, our faith, our growth, and our goals around love — love of God and neighbor and ourselves — gives us a purpose and place and path in tune with the loving heart of God. Discover the life revolution when we let all we are and all we do revolve around love.

How do we center out public action around love? How do we advocate for love in the public square? To paraphrase Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we pursue love as a society by pursuing justice. Join us in this series as we discover the life revolution when we let all we are and all we do revolve around love.

What is the center of our lives? Of our faith and spirituality? Though there are many ideas, Jesus says the center is simple and profound — love. Centering our life, our work, our families, our faith, our growth, and our goals around love — love of God and neighbor and ourselves — gives us a purpose and place and path in tune with the loving heart of God. Discover the life revolution when we let all we are and all we do revolve around love.

As we enter a new decade in a world full of heartache, how can we cultivate a child-like spirit? Let's remember the important things in life and claim our belonging as a community.

In Jesus' time, shepherds were total outcasts, living on the outskirts of the communities among their flock. They didn't have basic rights and were not welcome into the rest of society. Yet, God sent a messenger to share the good news of Jesus' birth with them first. Let's take a look at the invitational heart of God shown in the story of Christmas.

The Magi were a royal, priestly class from Persia likely seeking God and science through astrology and astronomy. They followed the star and it led them to Jesus, guiding us to an epiphany—an unexpected finding. Have you found your star? Let's explore this incredible story together this week at Open.

What does it mean that God chose to intersect with humanity as a baby—the most vulnerable among us, into a vulnerable situation, in the middle of nowhere? Join us this week as we seek to learn from the story of baby Jesus.

There’s a reason Jesus didn’t say blessed are the peacekeepers. Making peace is an active, evolving call to create change, build others up, and seek justice in the world around us. So how can we be peacemakers this holiday season? Check out this sermon for some helpful tips.

Covenants define our relationships—they set expectations, help us find clarity and identity, and create a way of life. Before Jesus, the old covenant set an expectation that those who wanted to be in relationship with God would keep the commandments, and that they would obey and be blessed in return. But Jesus’ new covenant was somehow simple and even more difficult than keeping all 613 of the old commandments—to love God and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

In our world, it’s the norm to look out for ourselves first—to make sure that we’re taken care of. We’re taught to climb the ladder of success, to seek out the corner office, and to provide first for our own. Yet, Jesus laid out a different way, the way of servanthood. Jesus shocked his followers when he proclaimed that greatness is really about serving others and that even though the world around us says to look out for ourselves, we find our own greatness when we look out for our neighbors. Check out this week’s message to unpack the way of servanthood!

We all have a lot to do—and there's so much more that we wish we could do! Most of us are doing so much, that we tire, feel depleted, or crash. But when we pause to remember to just be—that all of our doing flows from just being beloved—then we can go with renewed strength and remembering that self-care and rest are important along the way.

We are the light of the world and each of us glows with the love of God in the depth of who we are. Today, Pastor Kake helps us discover this truth through stories from the Bible, from the world, and from our community, highlighting a special new Open group—Glow by Open. May your light shine bright!

Discover how generosity opens our spirit, connects our lives, and opens ourselves to take us even deeper into who we are created to be!

Jonathan shares the story of Open’s origin—how our tagline “Radical Love, Uniquely Denton” came to be, where our logo came from, and how Open became so much more than anyone ever dreamed it would be.

Jesus was a wallbreaker—he tore down dividing lines and made sure to emphasize that all are equal and welcome in the kingdom of God! Join us this week as we look into the Openness of God.

Last week, we found that God’s invitation to us is to be for our city—to seek the holistic flourishing of our neighbors and communities. What does this really look like? Jesus once shared a parable—that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed was sowed and grew to become a tree offering shelter and life to the world. What kind of seeds are we sowing in our cities? Let’s sow seeds that give shelter, support our neighbors, and offer radical love to our world.

When the people of Israel were in exile, they didn't know what to do. The Babylonian empire conquered them and expected them to assimilate into Babylonian culture. Jeremiah brought the radical word of God that was so different than what they expected—to seek the wholistic, universal flourishing of the city they were in. God called them to be for their neighbors, not against them. Check out this sermon and see how this is still God's radical message for us today.

As Jesus was gathered with the disciples at the table, a woman unexpectedly anointed him with expensive oil. She did this from a place of deep generosity and appreciation of the person of Jesus because he brought good news to her life and her story. When the disciples responded angrily, Jesus radically lifted her story to be part of the good news. He elevated her story to be equal to his own and made it clear that the good news is for us all.

Jesus shared a story of wedding banquet where none of the invited guests show up, and then the host sends out his messanger to invite all of the outcasts who were not invited before to fill his home and enjoy the celebration. Where do you see yourself in this story where Jesus illustrates that there is room for ALL at God's banquet table?

When Jesus and the disciples retreated for some self-care, the crowds followed them and showed up hungry. The disciples were concerned that they didn't have enough to feed everyone, but Jesus instructed them—give them something to eat. Jesus didn't swoop in to do the work for them, but he invited the disciples to use what they had to make a difference and to trust that it was enough.

Something there is that doesn't love a wall...and that something is the Holy Spirit. In extremely tumultuous times, God sent an angel to the "enemy" and a vision to Peter to help tear down walls and break down barriers between the Jewish people and the Gentiles—this story shows us all that God's love has always Opening the doors wider so that all would be welcomed in to the kindom of God.

No matter your doubts or questions, you are loved by God. Even John the Baptist, who seemed to the the most sure about Jesus, had his doubts and questions when things got tough. Let’s look into the story of John the Baptist to find that God welcomes your doubts, your questions, and all of us who are seekers.

In the beautiful story of the Ethiopian Eunuch, we meet the very first gentile who was baptized into the beloved family. This person was in every way an outsider—a non-binary, Ethiopian gentile—but they were drawn to Jerusalem in pursuit of a God who loved all. However, once human beings get involved, exclusion usually takes place. And of course, even though they read in Isaiah that they were welcome, they weren’t fully welcome at the temple. On their way back home, they encountered Phillip, and in this story, we see the heart of God at work in a broken world—a heart for inclusion, justice, and love of all people.

In Zaccheus’ story, we find that when the heart of God and the heart of humanity intersects, goodness multiplies in ways we could have never imagined!

Jesus was constantly breaking down barriers and going to places and speaking to people that he “shouldn’t” have sought out. In one story, Jesus makes the radical decision to speak to a person who was 1. A Samaritan, 2. A Woman, and 3. An Outsider—all big no-no’s in his day. Jesus sees her—sees her story, her worth, and her truth and he invites her to drink of the living water that satisfies the soul and assures her that there’s not a set of behaviors or places that connect to you to God, but instead it’s being open to God from the depth of your spirit and the truth of who you are.

Have you ever totally missed the point of a story? Well, here’s one that you may have heard, but with fresh eyes we can see new truths. Esther was a queen, but powerless. She was caught up in the same system of oppression as everyone else under the rule of relentless, all-powerful king. But when the ultimate evil threatened the lives of all of her people, she made the choice to risk her life, reveal her identity, and save her people—for such a time as this.

On this episode, we have 17-year-old scriptwriter and filmmaker Jonathan Perry who directed a large budget short film titled SUBNIVEAN which will debut on Amazon Prime June 12, 2019, making Perry the youngest director on any streaming service. I know, it’s crazy. After filming SUBNIVEAN in December of 2018, Perry and his team of producers wrote a nine-page appeal which was submitted to Amazon. Amazon accepted Perry’s appeal and formed a partnership with Perry. Perry’s partnership with Amazon includes the release of SUBNIVEAN on the Amazon Prime streaming platform, as well as coverage of select advertising costs. Additionally, Perry partnered with EDM band ODESZA for promotional sound mixing. Once offered a large sum of money for his script titled SUBNIVEAN, Perry decided SUBNIVEAN may be his golden ticket into directing his first large budget feature film. Perry, still hard at work on SUBNIVEAN, doesn’t plan on taking any breaks after the Amazon release. Recently, Perry has signed with a Hollywood director and union members for his upcoming 2020 film with a starting budget of 1.5 million. Director Jonathan Perry is from Sandusky, Ohio and began his early career in the film industry four years ago when he began writing scripts online for other filmmakers by selling the copyright to his work. Now, this is the part that blew me away, after writing nearly 40 scripts over the course of two years, Perry made a total of nearly $10,000. We go deep in how he did this and you will be surprised at his journey. The film SUBNIVEAN introduces the viewer to two young brothers and their troubled relationship. Perry states in a film synopsis, “After a vicious chase home from gathering firewood, an innocent boy unknowingly leads his brother to fall through an isolated pond. The boy has to accept and use his twisted hallucinations of hatred as his only hope to break the ice and save his brother in time or die trying.”

Jonah ran in the exact opposite direction of where God asked him to go. He didn’t see God’s vision of love for all people, but God’s love is cross-cultural—for everyone—and always loving and kind, even when people aren’t. God seeks out to restore, not destroy—to unite, not divide. God cares about all of us.

Three friends made the choice to stand up, literally, and not bow to a golden statue of the king in power. When the king learned that they would not worship him, he had them bound and thrown into a fiery furnace. But, they didn’t burn and even more shocking, there was a fourth being in the fire with them! They only thing that burned away was their bindings. We have a future and a hope, no matter the trial. When we stand up against injustice, God is with us.

We’re beginning a new journey at Open called “Small Story, Big Story” where we will unpack some of the most common Bible stories and find glimpses of the greater story of God’s love in each of them. Today, we begin with the story of Moses and the great Exodus of the Israelite people out of Egypt. As we look a little closer, we begin to see how God hears, draws near, and sends us out to do justice work in our world today!

We’re celebrating 2 years of the Open community and all of the incredible people who call it home. So far, we’ve heard the inspiring stories of some of our Open friends, but today, we’ll remember and tell the story of Open as a community—how we came to be, how we’ve grown, and get a glimpse at who we’ll become.

Did you know that the secret to contentment is right here in our scripture library? Contentment is something that many of us have spent so much of our lives searching for, and God has something to share with us. Today, we also have the opportunity to listen to and learn from the story of Paige Dixon of our Open community, and perhaps we will continue to discover the sacred beauty of each of our own stories along the way.

On Mother’s Day, we gather to contemplate the Mother God and to affirm that God is neither created in the image of man or woman, but transcends it all and lifts us all up as equals. If we all are created in the image of an infinite God, then we need to hear each other’s stories in order to see a more complete vision of God. Today, we also have the opportunity to listen to and learn from the story of Courtney Banatoski of our Open community and perhaps we will each discover the sacred beauty of each of our own stories along the way.