Podcasts about judges

Daily Word Because your pastor is not in business, you may feel like that they don't have the experience or knowledge to counsel you in your own business endeavors. However, this line of thinking will stop you from receiving game-changing business success or could cause you to crash and burn in business.     __________ Luke 5:4-6 KJV, Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT,  Hebrews 13:17 NLT, 2 Chronicles 25:5-12 NLT, Judges 18:3-6, 19-20 NLT, Proverbs 24:6 KJV, Proverbs 15:22 KJV     __________ Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com Leave a Comment: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/comments __________           

A massive political fracture is unfolding—and it's not between parties, but inside the Republican Party itself.

Why do some contestants keep placing but never win, even when they are prepared, polished, and hardworking? In this episode, Coach Megan explains why pageantry is not a merit-based system and why judges are responding less to effort and more to presence, confidence, and perception. She breaks down how over-preparing can actually hurt your performance, what judges feel instantly but rarely say out loud, and why internal alignment matters more than a perfect résumé in modern pageants. This episode is for contestants who want to understand what pageant judges are really looking for in 2026 and how to stop blending in when it matters most.   Apply to Work with Us: sessions.powerhousepageantry.com/strategy Get Your Mastermind Ticket Here ➡️  https://howtowinyourpageant.com/event    Click here to access 25 Courses for $47

“And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?” (Judges 13:18) This intriguing encounter occurred during one of Israel’s periods of apos... More...

After years of doing nothing, Big Tech social platforms started releasing new “teen safety” and “parental controls” to show how much they care about and prioritize children’s safety. The problem with these new safety features is that they are not enough. It’s the design of social media and games that creates spaces of chaos where everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Articles referenced: Time Limits for YouTube Shorts Scrolling Deeper Insights with Snapchat’s New Family Center Features Roblox’s AI-Powered Age Verification TikTok to Tighten Age Checks in Europe Meta Pauses Teen Access to AI Characters Instagram is Testing a New Definition of ‘Friends’ Scripture referenced: Judges 21:25 Book a Speaking Event!! Buy the NEWLY UPDATED book: Managing Media Creating Character (2024 Revised & Updated) Get Kelly’s new Study Guide & Workbook, with video teachings for small groups. Check out our brand new Brave Parenting Merch Sign up for the Brave Bullet Points newsletter! This helps us communicate what’s happening without social media – a win for everyone!

This morning we are concluding our annual sermon series, New Year Essentials. These sermons address subjects to which we must repeatedly return for the glory of God and the transformation of our lives, individually and corporately. These are different sermons, taking different angles, on issues we need to come back to again and-again. Today, we ask: What is most powerful argument against abortion? Answer: That an unborn child is a unique person, not a mere clump of cells. Audio | Notes | Psalm 139:13-16; Luke 1:35; Luke 1:39-44; Genesis 25:21-23; Judges 13:7-8; Job 3:3; Job 31:15; Psalm 22:10; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Galatians 1:15-16

I'm so grateful for God's grace! What does it mean to be a "doer of the word"? Why did a man sacrifice his own daughter in Judges 11? Is Jesus the Father?

Ghislaine Maxwell complained of guard misconduct by portraying herself as a victim of mistreatment inside federal custody, repeatedly alleging that guards were improperly watching her, disrupting her sleep, and violating her privacy. She claimed that routine checks amounted to harassment, arguing that guards were deliberately making noise, shining lights, and observing her in ways she said were unnecessary and punitive. Her legal team framed these complaints as evidence of a hostile detention environment, suggesting that the Bureau of Prisons was failing to respect her dignity and rights. The thrust of her argument was that standard suicide-watch style monitoring, implemented in the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein's death, crossed the line into abuse. What Maxwell cast as misconduct, however, closely mirrored the very safeguards the BOP put in place precisely because of her proximity to one of the most notorious custodial failures in modern history.The complaints landed poorly in the court of public opinion, given the gravity of the crimes she was accused of facilitating. Critics noted the stark contrast between Maxwell's grievances about personal discomfort and the years of exploitation suffered by Epstein's victims, whose privacy and bodily autonomy were systematically stripped away. Her allegations against guards read less like a serious civil rights claim and more like an attempt to reframe herself as persecuted rather than protected from self-harm. Judges and prosecutors largely treated her complaints as secondary to the overwhelming security concerns surrounding her detention. In the end, Maxwell's focus on guard behavior underscored a recurring pattern in her defense strategy: deflecting attention from her role in Epstein's operation by recasting herself as the one being wronged by the system.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

If certain windsurfing former Judges are to be believed, there's nothing quite like a bout of vigorous exercise for easing the symptoms of Parkinson's. But does the medical evidence support this? Cramped into their booth in the Notting Hill pub, the Movers & Shakers pick over the verifiable scientific facts behind the assumption that exercise can alleviate PD symptoms. Is it possible to fairly analyse the impact of exercise? Could the effect be more psychological than physical? And might exercise, one day, be prescribed by your neurologist? We're discussing all this (and more) with top experts and the gang.Movers & Shakers is brought to you by Cure Parkinson's.Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman.Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot.Sound mixing by Ewan Cameron.Music by Alex Stobbs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kyle Cheney, senior legal affairs reporter for Politico, speaks to Lawfare Senior Editor Roger Parloff about the thousands of habeas corpus cases he has pored through challenging a Trump administration policy requiring mandatory detention for most detained aliens.They discuss how judges have ruled on these cases, the degree to which those rulings do or don't correlate with political expectations, the appellate prospects for such cases, and why they haven't been resolved by class action.More reading on this topic:"Hundreds of judges reject Trump's mandatory detention policy, with no end in sight," by Kyle Cheney, Politico (January 5, 2026)"Judges, inundated with immigration cases, don't mince words on ICE tactics," by Kyle Cheney, Politico (January 26, 2026)Kyle's thread on Minnesota cases on XTo receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Docket Alerts:Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard led a raid on the Fulton County Election Hub and Operating Center in Atlanta. ProPublica got the warrant. Mo Ivory, a Democratic commissioner for Fulton County, breaks it down on Instagram.In Chicago, Marimar Martinez has moved to unseal evidence from DOJ's failed effort to prosecute her for getting shot by ICE.Reuters reports that Marcos Charles, the top official in ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations division, issued new guidance instructing ICE to target only immigrants who have been arrested or convicted of crimes. This would be a huge improvement, but DHS won't comment.Main Show:Once again, this is all the Supreme Court's fault. Specifically, its rulings in J.G.G. v. Trump and Trump v. CASA led directly to the mayhem in Minnesota. First the Court forced immigrants challenging their detention to file thousands of individual habeas cases. And then they drastically limited the power of federal judges to issue relief when it “discovered” that nationwide injunctions are illegal. The Trump administration took this as an invitation to break the law, irrespective of how many courts tell them not to, on the theory that CASA means precedent doesn't count any more. DHS dummied up a memo saying that actually everyone without a green card must be held indefinitely. This is a gross misstatement of the law, as literally hundreds of courts have already ruled. But the Trump administration says because of CASA, they can continue to lock up people who've lived here for decades, checking in with DHS, working, paying taxes, and taking care of their families.Judges are deluged with habeas petitions, which differ from each other only in the particulars of the cruelty being visited upon the individual immigrant. After ICE failed to obey a court order to release a habeas petitioner, Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz in the District Court of Minnesota ordered Todd Lyons, the Acting Director of ICE, to either release the guy or show up and explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt of court. ICE released the petitioner, but Judge Schiltz was still furious. He published a list of 96 violations of court orders in January alone — and that's only in Minnesota! Thanks, Chief Justice Roberts!On the plus side, Judge Schiltz's colleague Judge John Tunheim issued a TRO ordering ICE to release every refugee detained under the erroneous memo and quit kidnapping them and spiriting them away to Texas.And for subscribers, we'll discuss the Ninth Circuit's ruling that bars Kristi Noem from unilaterally canceling temporary protected status for a million Venezuelans and Haitians.Hundreds of judges reject Trump's mandatory detention policy, with no end in sighthttps://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/05/trump-administration-immigrants-mandatory-detention-00709494Fulton County Election Hub Warranthttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26513986-1-28-26-fulton-warrant/Marimar Martinez Motion to Unsealhttps://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ilnd.487595/gov.uscourts.ilnd.487595.100.0.pdfExclusive: ICE officers in Minnesota directed not to interact with 'agitators' in new ordershttps://www.reuters.com/world/ice-officers-minnesota-directed-not-interact-with-agitators-new-orders-2026-01-29/J.G.G. v. Trumphttps://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a931_2c83.pdfTrump v. CASAhttps://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a884_8n59.pdfTobay Robles v. Noemhttps://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72120823/tobay-robles-v-noemJudge Tunheim TROhttps://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.230526/gov.uscourts.mnd.230526.41.0.pdfShow Links:https://www.lawandchaospod.com/BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPodThreads: @LawAndChaosPodTwitter: @LawAndChaosPodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Judges and lawmakers are clashing in Missouri, and it all has to do with a unanimous ruling delivered last week by the state Supreme Court. On this episode of the Legal Roundtable, our panel of legal experts unpacks the drama over the court's decision to strike down a law that allowed the secretary of state to rewrite ballot summaries. In response, the law's sponsor called the justices “little kings and queens in their black robes.” In addition to that case, our panel also analyzes major developments in the state's ban on trangender healthcare, a trial over abortion restrictions, a developer suing over lost profits, and more.

Gideon built an altar, calling it Jehovah-shalom, to memorialize what God had spoken to him in preparation for the upcoming battle. The same is true for the believer who is tethered to this memorial: The Lord is our peace as we go into battle. VF-1861 Judges 6  Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2026 Pastor Melissa Scott Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”As a player who is used to casual commander pods and the occasional Wednesday night draft, you might be curious about other events, and look to try something different. Maybe your store's RCQ, maybe traveling to a nearby SCG CON. Either way, you'll be surprised to see that things work a little differently when serious prizes are on the line. Join Bryan and Marcos, as we give you our top 12 things we (as Judges) believe you (as Players) should know when going to your first Competitive REL events. Many players have the same questions, and similar problems when they are used to the ultra-laid back vibe of casual play, and run up against structures with more rigidity. Number 6 will shock you. Or maybe it won't. I didn't look up what number 6 was before writing that sentence.

The book of Ruth is refreshing and wonderful after you come out of the dark book of Judges and you can see that there were still men who followed God rather than doing what was right in their eyes, like Boaz! We see such a clear picture of Christ throughout this Old Testament book! 

“Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 The book of Judges stands at another hinge in Israel's history, but it is a hinge that swings the other way. Joshua ends with rest, conquest, and covenant clarity. Judges begins with unfinished obedience and a slow unraveling. The generation that knew the Lord fades, and the land that was given becomes the stage for a hard lesson: when God's people forget God, they do not become neutral. They drift. They bend. They break. Judges shows what life looks like when the covenant is treated as optional and the Lord is reduced to a name invoked in emergencies. Yet Judges is not merely a record of failure. It is also a revelation of mercy. Again and again Israel falls into idolatry, and again and again the Lord raises up deliverers. The pattern is relentless: sin, oppression, cry, rescue, rest. Each cycle exposes the same truth. Israel's deepest problem is not military weakness or political instability. It is spiritual adultery. The idols of the nations are rival lords. To serve them is to invite bondage, because false gods always demand what they cannot give, and they always enslave what they promise to satisfy. The judges are not kings, and they are not saviors in the ultimate sense. They are instruments, imperfect and sometimes fractured. Judges does not flatter humanity, even when God uses human hands. It presses a hard doctrine into the conscience: the Lord can rescue through weakness, but weakness does not become strength by pretending it is light. Deliverance is often real, but it is never final, because the enemy within returns. This is why the book feels like a downward spiral. What begins as incomplete conquest becomes compromised worship. Compromised worship becomes moral collapse. The end is almost unbearable. And hovering over each episode is the same silent question: Where is the king? Not merely a political ruler, but a true King who can deal not only with enemies and borders, but with the heart. When everyone becomes his own law, freedom becomes fragmentation, and autonomy becomes ruin. Autonomy is self-law. What is missing is God's law, God's Word in the life of the nation. Yet the greatest wonder of Judges is that the Lord does not abandon His people. He disciplines, but He hears. He allows them to taste the fruit of rebellion, yet He responds to their cry. Even in repeated failure, the Lord is preparing the reader for a deeper deliverance than any judge could provide. The Lord devises means to return the exiled to Himself: His Word. Judges ends: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This was Israel's danger, but it is every generation's temptation. May this reading drive us away from self-rule and toward the Lord who alone is righteous, who alone saves, and who alone can give His people true rest through His Word, written and incarnate.

On this week's episode of Inklings we go over the talk by David A. Bednar: They Are Their Own Judges

Send us a textStart with a simple question: how does a nation forget its King? We walk through Judges like a crime scene, tagging the small compromises that compound into cultural collapse—then we watch God work anyway, often through people we wouldn't pick. It's raw, uncomfortable, and surprisingly hopeful.We begin with Ehud, the left-handed assassin whose messy tactics free an oppressed people, and ask what it means for God to use flawed agents when honor has gone missing. From there we track Abimelech's bloody climb—funded by others' fear and convenience—and explore how a community that wants “one ruler to fix it” often invites a thornbush that burns it down. Gideon's mixed legacy shows how pious words can hide abdication, and why leadership without obedience breeds leaders who love power more than truth.Jephthah's vow brings the hardest questions. We unpack the three primary readings—literal sacrifice, exile, and lifelong temple devotion—and focus on the core warning: rash bargains with God can destroy the very future we hoped to secure. Micah's household idols and a Levite-for-hire reveal syncretism that looks spiritual but is built on self. When the Danites scale up that compromise, the rot goes national. Along the way, we highlight biblical typology—from donkeys as symbols of noble peace to echoes of earlier stories—that points beyond failed judges to a different kind of King.The book's darkest scene—the Levite's concubine—mirrors Sodom to show how far things have fallen. Outrage arrives late and explodes into civil war. Our takeaway isn't nostalgia; it's repentance. Teach the next generation what God has done. Refuse syncretism even when it pays. Choose character over charisma. Start with your home, your church, and your block, and trust God to work through imperfect people while we keep our allegiance clear. If this conversation nudged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and tell us: which story in Judges hits closest to home and why?Support the show

Judges across the country are losing patience with the Trump administration and their prosecutors, and they aren't hesitating to let them know it. So far this week, two different federal judges have had to threaten prosecutors and officials with sanctions and contempt for lying in court filings about ICE detainees. Trump's people genuinely believe that they are above the law and can lie all they want, and while that may fly in the media, it isn't working in court. According to a new analysis, the Department of Homeland Security has illegally or otherwise wrongfully detained no fewer than 2,300 people in the last 6 months. This comes out to an average of a little more than 12 people being wrongfully detained each day of the second half of 2025. They have no idea what they're doing or who they are supposed to be apprehending - and the only thing worse than that is that they simply don't care. Donald Trump offered an absolutely insane, but kind of hilarious, excuse as to why he keeps falling asleep during cabinet meetings. Rather than admitting that he's up all night and just can't physically stay awake, the President decided to blame his bouts of narcolepsy on his cabinet officials. Trump said that these people are "boring as hell," and that's why he struggles to keep his eyes open during meetings - though he insisted that he's still paying attention and that closing his eyes is a "listening mechanism."Multiple agents with ICE have been caught on video since the killing of Alex Pretti where they have threatened the lives of other protesters (which also happened after the death of Renee Good.) These men feel like they can do whatever they want to whomever they want, and they are letting everyone know that. Agents have also been caught following protesters to their homes and threatening them where they live. These people are pure evil, and there is no excuse for these Nazis to be on our streets or employed by the government.The Winter Olympics are set to begin next week in Milan, Italy, and Donald Trump has already created massive problems by sending ICE agents to act as security during the event. Italian lawmakers, including the mayor of Milan, are furious that Trump has sent his "death squad" to their country, and they are speaking out. ICE has already created furor in Italy after threatening an Italian journalist who was covering the story of them even being in the country. The rest of the world sees the danger of these lunatics, so why can't more Americans see it? Text and and let us know your thoughts on today's stories!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date on all of Farron's content: https://www.youtube.com/FarronBalancedFollow Farron on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FarronBalanced Twitter: https://twitter.com/farronbalanced Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farronbalanced TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farronbalanced?lang=en

“Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 The book of Judges stands at another hinge in Israel's history, but it is a hinge that swings the other way. Joshua ends with rest, conquest, and covenant clarity. Judges begins with unfinished obedience and a slow unraveling. The generation that knew the Lord fades, and the land that was given becomes the stage for a hard lesson: when God's people forget God, they do not become neutral. They drift. They bend. They break. Judges shows what life looks like when the covenant is treated as optional and the Lord is reduced to a name invoked in emergencies. Yet Judges is not merely a record of failure. It is also a revelation of mercy. Again and again Israel falls into idolatry, and again and again the Lord raises up deliverers. The pattern is relentless: sin, oppression, cry, rescue, rest. Each cycle exposes the same truth. Israel's deepest problem is not military weakness or political instability. It is spiritual adultery. The idols of the nations are rival lords. To serve them is to invite bondage, because false gods always demand what they cannot give, and they always enslave what they promise to satisfy. The judges are not kings, and they are not saviors in the ultimate sense. They are instruments, imperfect and sometimes fractured. Judges does not flatter humanity, even when God uses human hands. It presses a hard doctrine into the conscience: the Lord can rescue through weakness, but weakness does not become strength by pretending it is light. Deliverance is often real, but it is never final, because the enemy within returns. This is why the book feels like a downward spiral. What begins as incomplete conquest becomes compromised worship. Compromised worship becomes moral collapse. The end is almost unbearable. And hovering over each episode is the same silent question: Where is the king? Not merely a political ruler, but a true King who can deal not only with enemies and borders, but with the heart. When everyone becomes his own law, freedom becomes fragmentation, and autonomy becomes ruin. Autonomy is self-law. What is missing is God's law, God's Word in the life of the nation. Yet the greatest wonder of Judges is that the Lord does not abandon His people. He disciplines, but He hears. He allows them to taste the fruit of rebellion, yet He responds to their cry. Even in repeated failure, the Lord is preparing the reader for a deeper deliverance than any judge could provide. The Lord devises means to return the exiled to Himself: His Word. Judges ends: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This was Israel's danger, but it is every generation's temptation. May this reading drive us away from self-rule and toward the Lord who alone is righteous, who alone saves, and who alone can give His people true rest through His Word, written and incarnate.

This sermon, centered on Psalm 58, confronts the moral and judicial decay of society by highlighting the inherent sinfulness of humanity and the consequences when justice fails. It emphasizes that the breakdown of righteous judgment stems from the corruption of those in authority, who, like serpents, are deceitful and unresponsive to divine correction. The preacher calls believers to respond not with despair or personal vengeance, but with faithful prayer—imprecatory yet submissive to God's sovereign will—trusting that divine justice will ultimately prevail. The psalm's vision of God's judgment is not a call to hatred, but a source of hope and joy for the righteous, whose faith is vindicated when God's righteousness is revealed. The sermon concludes by directing attention to Christ, the ultimate righteous Judge, whose suffering under unjust systems established a kingdom of perfect justice, and calls the church to live in anticipation of His return, marked by integrity, prayer, and longing for a world where righteousness dwells.

He WorshipedJudges 7: 15-18 “When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped; and he returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Get up; for the Lord has given the army of Midian into your hand.” After he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put trumpets into the hands of all of them, and empty jars, with torches inside the jars, he said to them, “Look at me, and do the same; when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets around the whole camp, and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!'”We have been talking about times when praise and worship have won battles, broken chains, and set captives free. This is no exception. In Judges 6, Gideon is introduced as a reluctant and fearful man, threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. When the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and called him a mighty warrior, Gideon doubted the message, pointing out that his clan was the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh and that he was the least in his family. Despite Gideon's doubts, God assured him of His presence and called him to deliver Israel from its enemies.Chapter 7 begins by discussing a battle where Gideon went into battle with thousands of troops and yet was still outnumbered. Then God told Gideon that he had too many troops and he should send home any who were scared. A good majority of them went home. I think there were 3,000 left. Then God told him there were still too many and how to decide who else should leave. Now Gideon was down to 300 soldiers, and God was pleased. However, Gideon was not sure how this was going to work out. They were vastly outnumbered. It says in Judges 7:12 “The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the east lay along the valley as thick as locusts; and their camels were without number, countless as the sand on the seashore. And Gideon had 300 and God on his side.One thing I love about this story is that it shows us that God knows us. He knows our weaknesses, and He loves us anyway. God knew that Gideon would be scared and would need some reassurance before going into battle. Judges 7:9-12 says, “That same night the Lord said to him, 'Get up, attack the camp; for I have given it into your hand. But if you fear to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah; and you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to attack the camp.” Then he went down with his servant Purah to the outposts of the armed men that were in the camp. While he was there, he overheard one of the enemy soldiers explaining a dream he had and talking about how great Gideon was. This gave Gideon all the confidence he needed to go into war trusting the Lord.Do you see how God knew Gideon would be scared? Do you see how God didn't discount Gideon because he was afraid to trust God and enter this seemingly unfair battle with just 300 men? God didn't walk away and find someone else who was more qualified, or someone who would trust him without fail or without question. God saw Gideon's fear and gave him what he needed to push past it. God is so good. He will do the same for you. God isn't asking you to never be afraid of what He is calling you to do. He is asking you to trust Him and to do it anyway. If you feel you need confirmation or some sort of sign to know God is asking you to do it, then ask Him for that. He is faithful to answer when we ask.I thought this story was great for our praise series because of the verses I picked for today. “When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped;” When Gideon heard the enemy talking about how powerful he was, He got the courage to push past his fear. However, before waking the army to tell them to go into battle, it says two very powerful words. He worshiped. You might even just gloss over those two words in the grand scheme of the whole story. However, the Lord highlighted them for me. He wanted me to not only see them, but to point them out to you. He doesn't want us to miss it. Gideon knew where his strength came from. He knew who was going to win this battle for him, and it wasn't those 300 soldiers. It was the Lord our God.Gideon worshiped the Lord. Did this change the outcome of the war? I have no idea. Did it change how God won the war for them? Again, I have no idea. What I do know is that nothing is put in the Bible accidentally. Every word in the Bible has a meaning. There is a reason God wants us to know that before going into a war where he was incredibly outnumbered, Gideon worshiped. How about you? Are you in a war that seems unfair? Are you in a war where you seem outnumbered? Have you worshiped yet? Have you come to the Lord and asked for his help and then worshiped Him even though you might not have seen that help yet? If you are in a battle, whether it is medical, physical, financial, or some other kind of battle, and you don't know what else to do, might I suggest worship? It seemed to work for Gideon; it could work for you, too!I am not sure if you know this story, so let me go on to explain what happened.  The verse says, “After he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put trumpets into the hands of all of them, and empty jars, with torches inside the jars, he said to them, “Look at me, and do the same; when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets around the whole camp, and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!'”These 300 soldiers were going into battle against an enemy with so many soldiers they couldn't be counted, and instead of putting swords and shields in their hands, Gideon put trumpets and jars with torches in them. This is the amazing thing about letting God fight your battles: He rarely does what you think He will do. When they blew the trumpets and shouted, God threw the Midianite army into confusion, and the enemy turned on itself. Israel won the battle without fighting by strength.God is not asking you to fight your battle alone. He is not asking you to figure out how to win the battle on your own. God is calling you to trust Him. He is calling you to invite Him into your struggle and then to listen to Him when He asks you to do something. God will solve your problem in ways you can't even imagine. I know you can't see a way out, and that is ok, you don't have to. God can make a way out. Do you think those soldiers had any idea that all they had to do to win the war was to blow on a trumpet, smash a jar, and shout “For the Lord and for Gideon!” I am sure they probably thought the plan was crazy, and yet this plan saved them from having to fight at all.God can do the same in your life. He can cure your disease without you doing anything. He can solve your problem in ways you can't even conceive. God is calling us to praise and worship, and he will do the rest. If you are like me, you have been trying to solve your own problems and those of everyone around you for far too long. How has that been going? Why not give God a shot? I guarantee he can do better than we can.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode today.  Lord, we want to trust you. We want to push past our fear and do the thing you are calling us to do. Please help us. Lord, help us trust you and help us turn our battles over to you. Your plan is better than our plan. Please help us release all the control and hand it over to you. We love you, and we ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. AmenThank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus! I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I. God is on your side, and we are both rooting for you—always. Have a blessed day.Today's Word from the Lord was received in September 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “I have chosen you. I have anointed each one of you. Never, never forget that. You did not just wander here. You were led here. You are my children, my anointed children, my chosen children. Always, we will be together. We will walk together. We will decide together. Remain in my love.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Who is the mysterious “Angel of the LORD” who keeps showing up all over the Old Testament—and why does he talk, act, and receive worship as if he is God Himself? In this episode, Joshua Lewis walks through key Old Testament passages to argue that the Angel of the LORD is not a created angel at all, but the pre-incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ, appearing long before Bethlehem.From Hagar in the wilderness, to Abraham on Mount Moriah, to Moses at the burning bush, to Gideon in the wine press, these Old Testament stories form a consistent pattern: this Angel carries the divine name, makes covenant promises, swears by Himself, declares “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” accepts worship and sacrifice, and is recognized as Yahweh—with no correction from Scripture. Josh carefully exegetes key passages like Genesis 16, Genesis 22, Exodus 3, and Judges 6, showing how the biblical authors themselves move seamlessly between “the Angel of the LORD” and “Yahweh,” presenting one divine being in more than one person.Along the way, we explore how this fits within Christian theology, biblical prophecy, and the developing revelation of the Trinity. How can God the Father be “invisible” and yet God is repeatedly seen in the Old Testament? How does the New Testament's teaching that the Son is “the image of the invisible God” resolve this tension? And what does it mean for spiritual warfare, for covenant, and for our reading of the entire Bible if Jesus has been present and active in redemptive history from the very beginning?If you're hungry for a deeper dive into Christian theology, Old Testament theophanies, and the identity of the Angel of the LORD as the pre-incarnate Christ, this episode will help you see Jesus woven all through the story of Israel - speaking, saving, commissioning, judging, forgiving, and revealing the Father long before the incarnation.00:00 – The Mystery of the Angel of the LORD Introduced01:55 – The Angel of the LORD as the Pre-Incarnate Son of God (Thesis)02:14 – Genesis 16: The Angel of the LORD Appears to Hagar06:13 – Genesis 22: The Angel swears by Himself to Abraham09:08 – Exodus 3: The Angel in the Burning Bush12:11 – Judges 6: The Angel Commissions Gideon17:56 – Summary: What the Angel Does Only God Can Do18:47 – The Son as the Image of the Invisible God20:06 – Jesus Has Always Been Present in God's Story Subscribe to The Remnant Radio newsletter and receive our FREE introduction to spiritual gifts eBook. Plus, get access to: discounts, news about upcoming shows, courses and conferences - and more. Subscribe now at TheRemnantRadio.com.Support the showABOUT THE REMNANT RADIO:

Informative and educational.  This episode to kick off our 2026 season is a fantastic discussion with 3 Senior Judges - Debbie Farra, Joel Johanningmeier, and Sandi Oleson.  We talk about the mechanics of judging, the Difficulty Charts, Flow, Box Scores, and other deep topics about the sport of show skiing. The perspective of these three judges is invaluable and you are certain to learn a lot from this conversation.  This one is for show ski nerds around the world!Follow us on Social Media: Instagram - @theskishowpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theskishowpodcast Contact The Ski Show: Email us at theskishowpodcast@gmail.com Leave us a rating and a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ski-show-the-ultimate-show-ski-podcast/id1510243170

20 Proverbs 24-25; 07 Judges 20-21; 08 Ruth 1-3; 19 Psalms 57-62; 44 Acts 4-7

“Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 The book of Judges stands at another hinge in Israel's history, but it is a hinge that swings the other way. Joshua ends with rest, conquest, and covenant clarity. Judges begins with unfinished obedience and a slow unraveling. The generation that knew the Lord fades, and the land that was given becomes the stage for a hard lesson: when God's people forget God, they do not become neutral. They drift. They bend. They break. Judges shows what life looks like when the covenant is treated as optional and the Lord is reduced to a name invoked in emergencies. Yet Judges is not merely a record of failure. It is also a revelation of mercy. Again and again Israel falls into idolatry, and again and again the Lord raises up deliverers. The pattern is relentless: sin, oppression, cry, rescue, rest. Each cycle exposes the same truth. Israel's deepest problem is not military weakness or political instability. It is spiritual adultery. The idols of the nations are rival lords. To serve them is to invite bondage, because false gods always demand what they cannot give, and they always enslave what they promise to satisfy. The judges are not kings, and they are not saviors in the ultimate sense. They are instruments, imperfect and sometimes fractured. Judges does not flatter humanity, even when God uses human hands. It presses a hard doctrine into the conscience: the Lord can rescue through weakness, but weakness does not become strength by pretending it is light. Deliverance is often real, but it is never final, because the enemy within returns. This is why the book feels like a downward spiral. What begins as incomplete conquest becomes compromised worship. Compromised worship becomes moral collapse. The end is almost unbearable. And hovering over each episode is the same silent question: Where is the king? Not merely a political ruler, but a true King who can deal not only with enemies and borders, but with the heart. When everyone becomes his own law, freedom becomes fragmentation, and autonomy becomes ruin. Autonomy is self-law. What is missing is God's law, God's Word in the life of the nation. Yet the greatest wonder of Judges is that the Lord does not abandon His people. He disciplines, but He hears. He allows them to taste the fruit of rebellion, yet He responds to their cry. Even in repeated failure, the Lord is preparing the reader for a deeper deliverance than any judge could provide. The Lord devises means to return the exiled to Himself: His Word. Judges ends: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This was Israel's danger, but it is every generation's temptation. May this reading drive us away from self-rule and toward the Lord who alone is righteous, who alone saves, and who alone can give His people true rest through His Word, written and incarnate.

Part two of the study on the Book of Judges.

Introduction to the Book of Judges.

When God calls upon us, our response matters. Delay always costs us something. This week, Pastor Connor continues our series in Judges with a look at Barak. Barak was called to fight the enemies of Israel. When he hesitated, God worked through someone else, and Barak missed out on part of his calling. Delayed faith can have eternal consequences if we don't trust Jesus. It can also have serious personal consequences if we don't follow the good plan God has for us.This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Judges, some of the talking points were,  Judges chapter 5 that was left out due to time, Siseras mom, Jael offering false safety to Sisera, and how do we tell whether our delay/timing is due to our own selfish desires or if it is what God is telling us. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about the snow storm that just went through Topeka.If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbcInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurchWebsite: https://www.discovertbc.com/

We learn about Tola ben Pua from the tribe of Issacher, and Yair HaGiladi from Menashe

Work with me 1-on-1 If you're a top performing executive or entrepreneur who wants a fully customized comprehensive health protocol and support from a team of world-class specialists, click here to speak with a member of my team to review all of your goals and options: https://www.muscleintelligence.com/apply?utm_campaign=YT   What happens after you reach the goal you thought would fulfill you? In this episode, Ben Pakulski sits down with Mike O'Hearn for a raw, honest conversation about masculinity, discipline, bodybuilding, and purpose. They explore why chasing titles, fame, or approval often leaves men empty and how the real transformation happens in the process, not the podium. From training for longevity and being an athlete at 80, to raising resilient kids and rebuilding the brotherhood in fitness, this episode challenges everything modern culture gets wrong about success. If you care about strength, legacy, and becoming a complete man, this conversation will hit hard.   5 Bullet Points: Why chasing outcomes destroys fulfillment The second mountain every man faces Training for life, not trophies Discipline creates identity, not fame Raising resilient, capable humans   About Ben Ben Pakulski is the Chief Performance Officer to elite executives, successful entrepreneurs, and top athletes.With over 25 years of experience, he coaches high achievers to build the physical, psychological, and metabolic resilience required to lead at the highest level. As the creator of the Muscle Intelligence framework, Ben specializes in aligning biology and behavior to drive sustained peak performance. His mission is to redefine what's possible for people in their prime and push the boundaries of human potential.   Guest Bio Mike O'Hearn is a legendary American athlete, bodybuilder, actor, and lifelong advocate for physical culture done right. With a career spanning powerlifting, bodybuilding, television, film, and elite athletic performance, Mike is best known for blending strength, longevity, and character. A former Mr. Universe, American Gladiator icon, and competitive lifter across multiple disciplines, he has remained competitive and athletic for decades by prioritizing movement, discipline, and purpose over shortcuts. Beyond the physique, Mike is deeply respected for his integrity, mentorship, and commitment to family values. He represents an old-school standard of excellence: earn your place, respect the process, and build a body that serves your life, not the other way around.   Time Stamps: 00:00 - Intro & Dosing Stories 00:46 - Dark Side of Bodybuilding 02:25 - Life Lessons & Mentorship 06:20 - Bodybuilding Journey 11:10 - Process Over Outcome 31:42 - Parenting & Childhood Influences 32:44 - Trauma & Success 36:31 - Brotherhood in Bodybuilding & Jiu-Jitsu 39:52 - Teaching Habits to Kids 44:08 - Balance in All Areas of Life 01:01:25 - Behavior vs. Nutrition 01:02:08 - Training Challenges on the Road 01:03:31 - Athleticism vs. Bodybuilding 01:14:00 - Raising Authentic Children 01:23:46 - Frameworks for Success

We continue our look into the book of Judges.

We continue our series in the book of Judges.

20 Proverbs 23; 07 Judges 14-19; 19 Psalms 52-56; 43 John 21; 44 Acts 1-3

Should Utah judges run for election instead of being appointed? Jay Evensen, Opinion Editor for the Deseret News, joins the show to talk about his new opinion piece and why that could be a bad idea.

Everyone is trying to "manifest" their dream life, but few realize they are playing with a dangerous, satanic inversion of the truth. While the spiritual mechanisms behind manifestation are real, using them to shape reality to your own will is a Faustian bargain. In this message, we uncover why the New Age "Law of Attraction" fails and how to move into the authentic power of Biblical Meditation. The Truth: The Enemy wants you to believe you are the source of your own reality. But true "manifestation" isn't about getting what you want—it's about conceiving what God has already said into your physical experience. It is the difference between having the medicine in the cabinet and actually getting it into your bloodstream. In this message, we dive into: The Satanic Inversion: Why the New Age hijacks universal spiritual laws and the price you pay for using them outside of God's authority. The Mechanics of the Spirit: How "Hagah" (Biblical Meditation) moves the Word from your head to your heart. Holy Imagination vs. Fantasy: Using "Hope" as a spiritual blueprint to see your promise before it arrives. Identity Shift: Why God called Gideon a "Mighty Man of Valor" while he was still hiding in a winepress (Judges 6). The Abraham Method: Learning to "call those things which be not as though they were" (Romans 4:17). Scripture References: Joshua 1:8 – The key to true prosperity and success. Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world (or its customs), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Isaiah 26:3 – Keeping your mind stayed on Him for perfect peace. Romans 4:17 – Calling into existence the promises God has already spoken. Proverbs 4:20-22 – God's Word as life and health (medicine) to all our flesh. When the "day of adversity" comes and your boat feels like it's sinking, a "vibration" won't save you. Only the Word of God hidden in your heart will give you the victory.

“Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 The book of Judges stands at another hinge in Israel's history, but it is a hinge that swings the other way. Joshua ends with rest, conquest, and covenant clarity. Judges begins with unfinished obedience and a slow unraveling. The generation that knew the Lord fades, and the land that was given becomes the stage for a hard lesson: when God's people forget God, they do not become neutral. They drift. They bend. They break. Judges shows what life looks like when the covenant is treated as optional and the Lord is reduced to a name invoked in emergencies. Yet Judges is not merely a record of failure. It is also a revelation of mercy. Again and again Israel falls into idolatry, and again and again the Lord raises up deliverers. The pattern is relentless: sin, oppression, cry, rescue, rest. Each cycle exposes the same truth. Israel's deepest problem is not military weakness or political instability. It is spiritual adultery. The idols of the nations are rival lords. To serve them is to invite bondage, because false gods always demand what they cannot give, and they always enslave what they promise to satisfy. The judges are not kings, and they are not saviors in the ultimate sense. They are instruments, imperfect and sometimes fractured. Judges does not flatter humanity, even when God uses human hands. It presses a hard doctrine into the conscience: the Lord can rescue through weakness, but weakness does not become strength by pretending it is light. Deliverance is often real, but it is never final, because the enemy within returns. This is why the book feels like a downward spiral. What begins as incomplete conquest becomes compromised worship. Compromised worship becomes moral collapse. The end is almost unbearable. And hovering over each episode is the same silent question: Where is the king? Not merely a political ruler, but a true King who can deal not only with enemies and borders, but with the heart. When everyone becomes his own law, freedom becomes fragmentation, and autonomy becomes ruin. Autonomy is self-law. What is missing is God's law, God's Word in the life of the nation. Yet the greatest wonder of Judges is that the Lord does not abandon His people. He disciplines, but He hears. He allows them to taste the fruit of rebellion, yet He responds to their cry. Even in repeated failure, the Lord is preparing the reader for a deeper deliverance than any judge could provide. The Lord devises means to return the exiled to Himself: His Word. Judges ends: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This was Israel's danger, but it is every generation's temptation. May this reading drive us away from self-rule and toward the Lord who alone is righteous, who alone saves, and who alone can give His people true rest through His Word, written and incarnate.

Women's Bible Study 2025-26 Judges & Romans Lesson 13 | Christ Presbyterian Church in Houston, TX The post Judges & Romans Lesson 13 appeared first on Christ Presbyterian Church of Houston.

He Played His Lyre, and The Evil Spirit Would Leave!1 Samuel 16:23 “Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”When I heard about this verse, I loved it because it shows us another example of the power of music. When David played his lyre, the evil spirit would leave Saul. Did you know that music could set you free from evil spirits? Are you starting to see the power of praise and worship? Are you starting to see the power of music and singing? Praise and playing musical instruments have been setting captives free for a very long time.God instructed Joshua to have the Israelites march around the city of Jericho once a day for six days, with priests blowing trumpets and the people remaining silent. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times. When the priests sounded the trumpets, Joshua commanded the people to shout, and the walls of Jericho collapsed. God allowed the Israelites to take this city. (Joshua 6:1–20)God reduced Gideon's army from thousands to just three hundred men so that Israel would know the victory came from Him alone. At God's instruction, the men carried trumpets and torches instead of swords. When they blew the trumpets and shouted, God threw the Midianite army into confusion, and the enemy turned on itself. Israel won the battle without fighting by strength, showing that obedience, proclamation, and trust in God released His power. (Judges 7:1–22)When King Jehoshaphat faced a vast enemy army, he sought the Lord, and God declared that the battle belonged to Him. Jehoshaphat sent singers ahead of the army, praising God as they marched into battle. As they worshiped, the Lord caused the enemy armies to turn on one another, and Judah did not have to fight at all. The victory came through praise, revealing that worship invites God to act powerfully on behalf of His people. (2 Chronicles 20:1–30)While imprisoned in Philippi after being beaten and chained, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God in the middle of the night. As they worshiped, a sudden earthquake shook the prison, opening the doors and loosening everyone's chains. Rather than escaping, Paul and Silas remained, leading the jailer and his household to salvation. Their praise not only brought physical freedom but also opened the way for lives to be saved. (Acts 16:22–34)Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before King Nebuchadnezzar and refused to bow to the golden image, declaring their unwavering faith in God. They proclaimed that God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but even if He did not, they would not worship any false god. Their words were an act of praise rooted in trust—honoring God above fear, outcome, or survival. Their worship was not expressed through song, but through bold confession of God's power and faithfulness in the face of death. (Daniel 3:16–17)I like this example because it shows us that there are many ways to praise. If you don't like music, if you don't like singing, that doesn't mean that you can't be set free by praise and worship. There are so many ways to praise the Lord. Music happens to be my favorite, and for me, one of the easiest, because if I don't know what to say, there are plenty of others who have written beautiful songs who do know what to say. However, if you don't like music or singing, don't count yourself out. You can praise the Lord with your writing, with your words said outloud. You can praise the Lord with gratitude or in the things you say to others. There isn't just one way to praise the Lord. I pray that by the end of this series, you understand that there are so many different ways to praise. There is a way for everyone.When King Hezekiah received a threatening message from the Assyrian king, he took the letter to the temple and spread it before the Lord. In prayer, Hezekiah praised God as the one true Lord over all kingdoms and asked Him to act so that all would know His power. God responded by promising deliverance, and that very night the Assyrian army was defeated without Judah having to fight a single battle. Hezekiah's prayerful praise and trust in God's sovereignty led to a decisive victory and public recognition of the Lord's supremacy. (2 Kings 19:14–37)Again, this is a different kind of praise. King Hezekiah went in front of the Lord and presented the letter from his enemies. He then praised God as the one true King and asked God for help. Do you see how easy it can be to praise the Lord at times? All it says that he did was to praise the Lord as the one true King over all kingdoms. This is why I have placed a link in the previous episode for the praise sheets that I received at my prayer group. However, you don't even need those sheets. You can simply tell the Lord how great you think He is. I tend to say, “You are the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. You are the Almighty One. We worship you. We adore you, and we glorify you.” You can say whatever it is you think about the Lord.My homework for you today is to stop and think about 5 things you can say to the Lord to praise Him. What is it you think of Him? What do you know to be true about Him? Once you have these 5 things, you can have fewer or more; I just randomly decided on 5. Once you have these, then I want you to say them every single day to the Lord. It doesn't matter when you say them, but try to say them every day and watch how your life changes. Watch how your trust in the Lord begins to grow because you are reminding yourself every day how amazing He is. If you have to ask the Lord for something, start with these few praise statements and then ask Him. Watch to see if there is any difference in the number of answered prayers, or in the way they are answered.This is just one tiny way to add more praise into your life without going overboard or taking up a lot of extra time. Just give it a try. What have you got to lose? What could you gain? Trust me, more praise and worship in your life is exactly what you need right now. I know I may not know you, but I know this is what we all need right now. We need to replace the worry and anxiety of this world with praise and worship, and we then watch our lives feel a bit easier.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening today. Lord, I ask you to show them the power of praise and worship. I ask that you bless them with graces when they are praising you. I ask that you open their eyes to the ways that praise and worship are changing their lives. Help us to see with your eyes, Lord. Help us to notice more of you in our lives. We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus! If you know there's more to your faith than routine and rules, I'd love to stay connected with you. You can join my email list to receive scripture-rooted encouragement and reflections to help you walk boldly with Jesus in your everyday life. You can sign up through the link in the show notes (CLICK HERE)—I'd love to have you with us. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I. God is on your side, and we are rooting for you—always. Have a blessed dayToday's Word from the Lord was received in September 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My children, you are precious to me. I took each of you with me to the cross. You were there with me that day, each of you.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

In this sermon, Pastor Nate looks into Judges 6 where Gideon is hiding out.  He is doing work in hiding, because he is scared of the enemy, the Midianites, who have enslaved the Israelites.  Then God meets with him, and reminds him who he is.  God wakes Gideon up to accomplish a great feat that he did not see.  Listen through to learn WHO you are, and who you are not!!

In this powerful episode, John and Jackie from OpenLove101.com open up about the challenges of living authentically in a world that often stigmatizes non-traditional relationships. Reflecting on their experiences in the swinger and open relationship community, they address the pressures to hide one's identity due to societal norms, family expectations, and professional consequences. They draw thoughtful parallels to other visibility movements, like LGBTQ+ rights, and advocate for education, empathy, and the freedom to live without shame. Whether you're exploring a different path or simply seeking to understand others better, this conversation is a call to embrace diversity in love, sexuality, and relationships.

20 Proverbs 21-22; 07 Judges 9-13; 19 Psalms 47-51; 43 John 16-20

January 25, 2026

“Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 The book of Judges stands at another hinge in Israel's history, but it is a hinge that swings the other way. Joshua ends with rest, conquest, and covenant clarity. Judges begins with unfinished obedience and a slow unraveling. The generation that knew the Lord fades, and the land that was given becomes the stage for a hard lesson: when God's people forget God, they do not become neutral. They drift. They bend. They break. Judges shows what life looks like when the covenant is treated as optional and the Lord is reduced to a name invoked in emergencies. Yet Judges is not merely a record of failure. It is also a revelation of mercy. Again and again Israel falls into idolatry, and again and again the Lord raises up deliverers. The pattern is relentless: sin, oppression, cry, rescue, rest. Each cycle exposes the same truth. Israel's deepest problem is not military weakness or political instability. It is spiritual adultery. The idols of the nations are rival lords. To serve them is to invite bondage, because false gods always demand what they cannot give, and they always enslave what they promise to satisfy. The judges are not kings, and they are not saviors in the ultimate sense. They are instruments, imperfect and sometimes fractured. Judges does not flatter humanity, even when God uses human hands. It presses a hard doctrine into the conscience: the Lord can rescue through weakness, but weakness does not become strength by pretending it is light. Deliverance is often real, but it is never final, because the enemy within returns. This is why the book feels like a downward spiral. What begins as incomplete conquest becomes compromised worship. Compromised worship becomes moral collapse. The end is almost unbearable. And hovering over each episode is the same silent question: Where is the king? Not merely a political ruler, but a true King who can deal not only with enemies and borders, but with the heart. When everyone becomes his own law, freedom becomes fragmentation, and autonomy becomes ruin. Autonomy is self-law. What is missing is God's law, God's Word in the life of the nation. Yet the greatest wonder of Judges is that the Lord does not abandon His people. He disciplines, but He hears. He allows them to taste the fruit of rebellion, yet He responds to their cry. Even in repeated failure, the Lord is preparing the reader for a deeper deliverance than any judge could provide. The Lord devises means to return the exiled to Himself: His Word. Judges ends: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This was Israel's danger, but it is every generation's temptation. May this reading drive us away from self-rule and toward the Lord who alone is righteous, who alone saves, and who alone can give His people true rest through His Word, written and incarnate.

When you don't know what to do next, the pressure to “have the answer” can leave you feeling exposed, anxious, and stuck. This Sunday we'll look at Gideon's story in Judges 6 and discover how God meets us not in our certainty, but in our doubts and small steps of trust. What if, instead of needing all the answers, faith looks like giving God something to work with? Join us as we explore what it means to be human-sized and trust a God who already knows the way.

20 Proverbs 19-20; 07 Judges 4-8; 19 Psalms 42-46; 43 John 12-15

There's a tale as old as time itself: an athlete, a star, a musician—someone of sheer brilliance and raw talent—bursts onto the scene, destined for greatness. In this message, Pastor Eric Robertson shares through Sampson's story how grace doesn't always stop the fall. Sometimes it lets you feel the ground.They show all the signs. They excel. They taste success early. And then everything comes crashing down. Addiction. Entitlement. Laziness. Self-destruction. It's rarely one bad decision—it's years of unchecked compromise finally collecting its debt.This isn't new. It's been happening since ancient times. Samson is a biblical picture of wasted potential.After Joshua and the elders die, Israel breaks covenant with God and worships the idols of the surrounding nations. A pattern emerges: idolatry, oppression, crying out, and deliverance through a Judge.But something changes in Judges 13. Israel is no longer crying out. They've grown comfortable in oppression and compromise. A compromise is a tradeoff between the Kingdom of God and the corruption of the world—having every good thing from God, yet wanting the one thing you cannot have.Enter Samson.Samson is a Judge of Israel, a Nazirite by birth, set apart for a higher level of consecration. The more corrupted a culture becomes, the more set apart God's people must be.Samson's life begins with extraordinary grace. God chooses him before he does anything right or wrong. Yet almost immediately, Samson lives against his calling. He desires what he was told to resist, touches what he was commanded to avoid, and goes where he was called not to go.Instead of delivering Israel, Samson reacts. A riddle becomes a feud. A marriage becomes a battlefield. A conflict becomes a massacre. He wins battles, but Israel is never delivered. Each time he crosses a line, the Spirit of the Lord still rushes upon him.God empowers him again and again—but God being with you is not proof of approval, only mercy.At the climax, Samson doesn't realize the Lord has left him. The bill for compromise always comes due. A compromised life hardens the heart until we forget what God's presence even feels like.Samson isn't the hero—God is. His grace is meant to lead us to repentance. The grace meant to break Samson ultimately crushed him.God is the real hero. He never gives up on us. His grace blocks our paths of destruction. Samson played with fire, and it burned him—but God's promise remains: if we turn and cry out, He will restore us.

Episode 5089: Dunn Says The Quiet Part Out Loud; Impeaching Corrupt Judges; Live From March For Life