Podcast appearances and mentions of king solomon

Proverbs 2,King Solomon speaks to our personal bandwidth, mental, spiritual, and physical balance.My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (vv. 1-11 NLT)Was there a sentence or phrase or maybe even a certain word that jumped out at you as I read?That is often how God speaks to us through His Word. He will pull out a specific message for you for this moment, for this day. If so, focus on that throughout your day.With this in mind listen to the passage againFrom his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (vv. 1-11 NLT)God promises of Wisdom. Understanding. Insight. Knowledge. Common sense. Integrity. Justice. Protection. All promises from God when we seek Him. This ancient promise is yours. “Wisdom will enter your heart. Knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.”Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, I want Your wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and insight. I submit my schedule, my time and energy to You, to teach me the way to live, how to live, with You and for You. As above, so below.”

Even the wisest man who ever lived didn't fall overnight.In this message, we walk through the life of King Solomon and uncover how small compromises, unguarded emotions, bitterness, and misplaced priorities can slowly pull a heart away from God. You can know what's right, love God deeply, and still drift—if your heart isn't guarded.This sermon challenges us to examine what we're allowing into our hearts, what we're holding onto, and what we may be slowly worshiping without realizing it. Authentic Church 2416 N Center St Hickory, NC 28601 (Beside Planet Fitness) GIVING To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://authenticchurch.com/give GET CONNECTED Ready to check out Authentic Church in person? We can't wait to meet you in person. Simply fill out the form below and we'll make sure to give you the VIP treatment upon your first visit. https://authenticchurch.com/plan-a-visit ABOUT AUTHENTIC CHURCH Authentic Church exists so that people will have an authentic encounter with God, be set free, and grow in Christ. Our mission is to help each person at Authentic believe in Jesus, belong to family, inspire true worship, walk in God's Spirit, and build the kingdom of God.

In this second episode of the series titled "The Wisdom Prayer", Michael Blue unpacks the life of King Solomon, revealing how true wisdom flows from a relationship with God, not a performance for God. Drawing from 1 Kings 3 and 2 Samuel 12, this episode explores why Solomon's greatness was rooted not in strategy alone, but in love, identity, and offering. Before Solomon ever reigned, he was first Jedidiah, beloved of the Lord. And it was from that place of divine affection that wisdom, prosperity, and influence were released. This episode challenges the transactional mindset of modern professionalism and calls Kingdom leaders back to relational wisdom that produces sustainable success. New podcast episodes are available every Monday wherever you listen to podcasts.

Lanaia has evacuated her Lair but her powers are dwindling. Arakiel tracks down Elias and a new path is opened. The Mercenaries begin their search for the Ring of King Solomon as the Demons draw closer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our second week of First Fruits, Kathryn teaches on undivided worship. Together, we identify potential altars we may have built up in our hearts in addition to Jesus. Looking at the lives and worship of King David and King Solomon brings us to this question:Will we be like David and tear down altars, or will we be like Solomon and accommodate them?

Most of us want to live well. We want good relationships, peace in our decisions, and fewer regrets—but nobody really teaches us how to do that. That's where the book of Proverbs comes in. Proverbs isn't a story and it's not a list of religious rules. It's God's wisdom for real life. It talks about how we use our words, how we choose friends, how we handle money, anger, work, and temptation. Written mainly by King Solomon—one of the wisest people who ever lived—Proverbs was designed to train people, especially the young, in how life actually works. Proverbs shows us there are two paths we can walk: the way of wisdom or the way of foolishness. And the choices we make on those paths shape the lives we end up living. For the next 31 weeks we are going to study every chapter, every word and every truth that flows from the Book of Proverbs. There will be a few breaks through the next 31 weeks for stand alone messages, but by the end of 2026 our hope is that you walk in the ways of the wise and live well.

If there's a word that defines our age, it's more. More upgrades. More comforts. More square footage. Yet somehow—with so much more—many of us feel less content than ever. That's because contentment doesn't come from what's next. It's shaped in the heart, right where we are.Scripture teaches that contentment isn't accidental. It's learned.We all feel the pull toward “just a little more”—the next promotion, purchase, milestone, or change that will finally make life feel settled. But that longing is as old as humanity. Ecclesiastes tells us that King Solomon denied himself nothing his eyes desired, yet concluded it was all meaningless, “a chasing after the wind.” Even the wealthiest man in the ancient world discovered that satisfaction cannot be bought or accumulated. It slips through our fingers as soon as we reach for it.Paul understood this, too. In Philippians 4:11, he writes, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Notice the word learned. Contentment isn't natural. It doesn't come from ideal circumstances—it's cultivated through walking with Christ. And Paul goes further: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). That verse isn't about conquering goals or peak performance. It's about persevering with trust. Paul wrote those words from prison, not from success. He was saying: Christ gives me strength to rest, trust, and be content whether I have plenty or very little.Contentment is ultimately the fruit of a relationship with Jesus. It's not found in having everything, but in knowing the One who is everything.Psalm 23 opens with a radical declaration: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Contentment begins with identity—we are His sheep, under His care, sustained within His provision. Hebrews 13:5 adds, “Be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” The root of contentment is God's presence, not possessions. If He is with us, we are never without what we truly need.But Scripture also points to a practical engine that drives contentment: gratitude. Wherever gratitude grows, contentment thrives. Gratitude redirects the heart from craving what's next to recognizing what God has already given. When we leave everything in God's hands, we begin seeing God's hand in everything.Learning contentment can be as simple as cultivating gratitude—writing down three blessings each morning, pausing to thank God before buying something new, naming provisions out loud to our spouse or kids, or turning off the endless scroll that fuels comparison. Contentment isn't a destination. It's a daily path surrendered to Jesus.In a world whispering “more,” Jesus invites us to rest and say, I have enough because He is enough. That's true contentment—and it's available to every believer who trusts the Shepherd who never leaves and never forsakes.———————————————————————————————————————This subject is foundational to Our Ultimate Treasure, our new 21-day devotional designed to guide believers toward faithful stewardship and deeper contentment in Christ. It will be released next month, but in a few weeks, FaithFi Partners will receive digital access within the FaithFi app. Partners support the ministry at $35/month or $400/year and receive resources like our Faithful Steward magazine, premium app access, and future studies and devotionals. Learn more at FaithFi.com/Partner.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My wife and I are 62 and plan to retire at 65. Our home and cars are paid off, and we have about $100,000 in liquid cash and over $1 million in IRAs—roughly $300,000 in Roth IRAs and the rest in traditional accounts. Everything is invested in moderate-risk mutual funds, and we're about 92% in equities with no bond exposure. With markets at record highs and volatility at elevated levels, how concerned should we be about a correction? Should we diversify into bonds or just move to a more conservative allocation given our age?I bought my home six months ago, and the bank offered free fees if I refinanced within the first two years. Now that rates are starting to drop, how much does the rate need to fall before it actually makes sense for me to refinance?I have about $50,000 in debt and want to start saving, but I haven't managed my money well and have been living beyond my means. Now I really want to honor God with what I have. Should I put everything toward paying off the debt using the snowball method, or should I try to save for the future at the same time?I recently filed an insurance claim for a new roof, and my homeowners' insurance premium will increase by $163 per month. I wasn't notified until the bill arrived, and I don't have the extra funds right now. Do I have any recourse, or what should I do other than look for another insurance company?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Christian Credit CounselorsA Richer Retirement: Supercharging the 4% Rule to Spend More and Enjoy More by William P. BengenBulls and Bears, Cyclical and Secular (Article by Sound Mind Investing)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join us as we talk with RWB Mike Czech about his new book Vile & Impious Wretches: A novel of King Solomon's Temple & the ancient Middle East! We'll also talk about how Mike found Freemasonry and why he still stays!

A Brutally Honest Take on PleasureEcclesiastes has a way of cutting through our assumptions and exposing reality. Where Proverbs often presents life in clean cause-and-effect terms—do this and you'll get that—Ecclesiastes responds with a sobering reminder: life isn't that simple. This book gives us a clear-eyed look at life “under the sun,” meaning life as it exists in a fallen, broken world.Last week, we were introduced to two key ideas that shape the entire book. The first is Qoheleth, the “Teacher,” whose reflections form Ecclesiastes. The second is hevel, a word translated “meaningless,” but more accurately understood as vapor or smoke—something fleeting, elusive, and impossible to grasp. The Teacher's message is not that life has no value, but that life under the sun cannot bear the weight of our ultimate expectations. We were made for more than this world alone.This week, the Teacher turns his attention to pleasure.The Promise of PleasureIn the ancient world, pleasure was often elevated as the highest good. Today, we use words like hedonic to describe short-term, sensory enjoyment, and hedonism to describe the belief that pleasure should be the primary goal of life. The logic is simple: if it feels good, do it; if it hurts, avoid it.That mindset feels especially familiar in modern culture. We chase experiences, comfort, entertainment, success, and romance with the hope that the next thing will finally satisfy us. Yet experience tells us something isn't working. The more we pursue pleasure directly, the more restless we become.Thousands of years before neuroscientists studied dopamine or psychologists described the “hedonic treadmill,” King Solomon ran a real-world experiment to see if pleasure could satisfy the human soul.Solomon's Great ExperimentIn Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 (NLT), Solomon describes his pursuit of pleasure in sweeping, exhaustive terms. He explored laughter and entertainment, concluding that constant amusement ultimately rang hollow. He turned to alcohol, attempting to numb the weight of life while still clinging to wisdom. He invested in massive building projects, vineyards, gardens, and infrastructure—accomplishments that would rival any modern empire.He accumulated wealth, assets, and power beyond any king before him. He surrounded himself with music, beauty, and sexual pleasure, withholding nothing his heart desired. By every standard—ancient or modern—Solomon lived the dream. “Anything I wanted, I would take,” he writes. Ecclesiastes 2:10.And yet, after surveying it all, his conclusion is devastating: “But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.” Ecclesiastes 2:11.Once again, the word hevel appears. Vapor. Smoke. Nothing solid enough to build a life on.Why Pleasure Can't DeliverSolomon's conclusion mirrors what many experience today. Pleasure produces a genuine emotional spike, but it doesn't last. Over time, what once felt exciting becomes ordinary. To feel the same rush again, we need more—more success, more stimulation, more affirmation. This cycle leaves us constantly chasing, but never arriving.The problem isn't pleasure itself. The problem is asking pleasure to do what it was never designed to do. Pleasure can enhance life, but it cannot anchor it. When we treat pleasure as ultimate, disappointment is inevitable.The Other ExtremeWhen pleasure fails, some people swing in the opposite...

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Most of us want to live well. We want good relationships, peace in our decisions, and fewer regrets—but nobody really teaches us how to do that. That's where the book of Proverbs comes in. Proverbs isn't a story and it's not a list of religious rules. It's God's wisdom for real life. It talks about how we use our words, how we choose friends, how we handle money, anger, work, and temptation. Written mainly by King Solomon—one of the wisest people who ever lived—Proverbs was designed to train people, especially the young, in how life actually works. Proverbs shows us there are two paths we can walk: the way of wisdom or the way of foolishness. And the choices we make on those paths shape the lives we end up living. For the next 31 weeks we are going to study every chapter, every word and every truth that flows from the Book of Proverbs. There will be a few breaks through the next 31 weeks for stand alone messages, but by the end of 2026 our hope is that you walk in the ways of the wise and live well.

Winning in 2026 won't happen by accident—it happens by wisdom. In this powerful message, we unpack timeless principles from King Solomon that reveal how to break chains, build your house, and live a life of true prosperity. From Proverbs, we learn that wisdom is the key to winning—not just financially, but spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. This sermon challenges you to seek wisdom, guard your words, work smart, diversify, live generously, walk in consistent discipline, and fear the Lord. If you're tired of working hard but not seeing fruit, loving Jesus but lacking peace, or wanting more without the wisdom to steward it—this message is for you. If you want to win in 2026, get wisdom. For more information about Bishop Gallardo or Lifegate Church visit www.briangallardo.com or www.lifegatekc.org.

Pastor Jeff Edwards introduced our new sermon series, "Seek God". What are your resolutions?  Any resolutions with God? What are the things that really help you connect with God? King Solomon made some big resolutions three thousand years ago and shows us some basics. Let's start the year off right and “Seek God” the way He has always desired. Jeff used 2 Chronicles 7:11-16 as his scripture reference.

A new year doesn't automatically mean a new heart.In this message, we confront the subtle, often unnoticed compromises that slowly drift us away from God. Drawing from the life of King Solomon, we see how wisdom alone isn't enough when obedience is partial and the heart becomes divided.Small compromises don't feel dangerous at first—but what you tolerate today can dominate you tomorrow.This sermon will challenge you to:Stop confusing good intentions with obedienceRecognize the danger of divided devotionTear down the “high places” God never approvedChoose surrender over convenienceGod isn't asking for part of your heart—He's asking for the throne. Authentic Church 2416 N Center St Hickory, NC 28601 (Beside Planet Fitness) GIVING To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://authenticchurch.com/give GET CONNECTED Ready to check out Authentic Church in person? We can't wait to meet you in person. Simply fill out the form below and we'll make sure to give you the VIP treatment upon your first visit. https://authenticchurch.com/plan-a-visit ABOUT AUTHENTIC CHURCH Authentic Church exists so that people will have an authentic encounter with God, be set free, and grow in Christ. Our mission is to help each person at Authentic believe in Jesus, belong to family, inspire true worship, walk in God's Spirit, and build the kingdom of God.

In this profound Mussar Masterclass (Day 114) on the Gate of Silence in Orchos Tzaddikim, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores why silence is praised as the greatest trait—even for fools—citing Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel ("nothing better than silence") and King Solomon ("even a fool appears wise when silent"). Silence protects from sin (insults, slander, flattery, falsehood), fosters listening, and prevents regret, as "words can kill from afar while a sword harms only nearby."Examples include Aaron's silence after his sons' death (earning divine favor), responding to insults with quiet (forgiving all sins), and avoiding synagogue chatter to focus on prayer. Rabbi Wolbe contrasts harmful speech (mockery, gossip, online cruelty) with beneficial silence that reveals secrets and earns trust. He urges minimizing words—speaking half what we hear—while using speech wisely to uplift, teach Torah, and praise good deeds.The episode concludes the Gate with a call to cultivate silence as a "universal remedy" for spiritual growth, humility, and avoiding transgression.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 16, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on January 4, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Speech, #Silence, #LashonHara, #KingSolomon, #Words ★ Support this podcast ★

In this profound Mussar Masterclass (Day 114) on the Gate of Silence in Orchos Tzaddikim, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores why silence is praised as the greatest trait—even for fools—citing Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel ("nothing better than silence") and King Solomon ("even a fool appears wise when silent"). Silence protects from sin (insults, slander, flattery, falsehood), fosters listening, and prevents regret, as "words can kill from afar while a sword harms only nearby."Examples include Aaron's silence after his sons' death (earning divine favor), responding to insults with quiet (forgiving all sins), and avoiding synagogue chatter to focus on prayer. Rabbi Wolbe contrasts harmful speech (mockery, gossip, online cruelty) with beneficial silence that reveals secrets and earns trust. He urges minimizing words—speaking half what we hear—while using speech wisely to uplift, teach Torah, and praise good deeds.The episode concludes the Gate with a call to cultivate silence as a "universal remedy" for spiritual growth, humility, and avoiding transgression.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 16, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on January 4, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Speech, #Silence, #LashonHara, #KingSolomon, #Words ★ Support this podcast ★

Most of us want to live well. We want good relationships, peace in our decisions, and fewer regrets—but nobody really teaches us how to do that. That's where the book of Proverbs comes in. Proverbs isn't a story and it's not a list of religious rules. It's God's wisdom for real life. It talks about how we use our words, how we choose friends, how we handle money, anger, work, and temptation. Written mainly by King Solomon—one of the wisest people who ever lived—Proverbs was designed to train people, especially the young, in how life actually works. Proverbs shows us there are two paths we can walk: the way of wisdom or the way of foolishness. And the choices we make on those paths shape the lives we end up living. For the next 31 weeks we are going to study every chapter, every word and every truth that flows from the Book of Proverbs. There will be a few breaks through the next 31 weeks for stand alone messages, but by the end of 2026 our hope is that you walk in the ways of the wise and live well.

In this Mussar Masterclass (Day 113) on the Gate of Silence in Orchos Tzaddikim, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the profound power of speech through Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel's declaration: "All my life I grew up among sages and found nothing better for oneself than silence." King Solomon adds that even a fool appears wise when silent, and one regrets speech far more than silence.The episode contrasts four (or five) categories of speech: forbidden (mockery, flattery, falsehood, slander—each excluding one from the World to Come by opposing Hashem's essence of oneness, truth, purpose, and sustenance); unnecessary/idle chatter (most worldly talk); and beloved/permissible speech (Torah study, praising good deeds, condemning evil to guide others, and essential livelihood matters). A clever servant's tongue dish (soft vs. hard) illustrates how words can uplift or devastate.Rabbi Wolbe warns against modern pitfalls like social media's anonymous cruelty and sensationalism, urging mindful, positive speech that reflects inner holiness. Silence protects from sin, fosters listening, and allows deeper spiritual focus—ultimately elevating the soul.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 16, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on January 2, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Speech, #Silence, #LashonHara, #KingSolomon, #Words ★ Support this podcast ★

What does it mean to walk in true wisdom? In this soul-stirring episode of The CJ Moneyway Sh$w, CJ sits down with Tonya Ketchup,a devoted woman of faith whose story and testimony reveal how divine wisdom transforms every part of life—from our decisions to our destiny. They dive deep into the difference between godly wisdom and worldly wisdom, exploring why knowledge alone isn't enough and how discernment, prayer, and obedience lead to peace and prosperity. In this episode, you'll learn: Why “the fear of the Lord” is the beginning of wisdom — and how to walk in it daily The lesson of King Solomon and why wisdom comes before wealth How godly wisdom protects and guides us in uncertain times Why many people hesitate to ask God for wisdom, and how to start today Real, practical ways to invite divine guidance into your everyday life “Wisdom isn't about knowing more — it's about trusting more.” — Tonya Ketchup Listen now → https://pod.link/1707761906 Watch on YouTube → https://youtube.com/@themoneywayshow8493 Moneyway Merch → https://c.jmoneyway.com Brick-by-Brick Faith Series → https://substack.com/@cjmoneyway #TheCJMoneywaySh$w #TonyaKetchup #FaithAndWisdom #GodlyWisdom #CJMoneyway #BleavNetwork #ChristianPodcast #FaithTalks Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this Mussar Masterclass (Day 113) on the Gate of Silence in Orchos Tzaddikim, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the profound power of speech through Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel's declaration: "All my life I grew up among sages and found nothing better for oneself than silence." King Solomon adds that even a fool appears wise when silent, and one regrets speech far more than silence.The episode contrasts four (or five) categories of speech: forbidden (mockery, flattery, falsehood, slander—each excluding one from the World to Come by opposing Hashem's essence of oneness, truth, purpose, and sustenance); unnecessary/idle chatter (most worldly talk); and beloved/permissible speech (Torah study, praising good deeds, condemning evil to guide others, and essential livelihood matters). A clever servant's tongue dish (soft vs. hard) illustrates how words can uplift or devastate.Rabbi Wolbe warns against modern pitfalls like social media's anonymous cruelty and sensationalism, urging mindful, positive speech that reflects inner holiness. Silence protects from sin, fosters listening, and allows deeper spiritual focus—ultimately elevating the soul.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 16, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on January 2, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Speech, #Silence, #LashonHara, #KingSolomon, #Words ★ Support this podcast ★

In this Mussar Masterclass (Day 112), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe opens the Gate of Silence (Shtika) in Orchos Tzaddikim, praising silence as the greatest trait discovered among sages. Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel declares: “All my life I grew up among sages and found nothing better for the body than silence.” King Solomon adds that even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and one regrets speech far more often than silence.Silence protects from sin—especially lashon hara (slander), insults, and harmful words—while allowing deeper listening and reflection. Rabbi Wolbe critiques modern culture's loss of restraint, especially on social media, where anonymity enables vicious speech people would never say face-to-face (cyberbullying, sensationalism, "if it bleeds, it leads"). He warns that habitual negative speech erodes decency even toward the righteous.The episode calls for cultivating silence not as muteness, but as mindful speech: uplifting others, avoiding gossip, and recognizing words' power to heal or destroy. True wisdom lies in knowing when to speak—and when to refrain.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 16, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on January 1, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Speech, #Silence, #LashonHara, #Ethics, #SocialMedia, #Caution ★ Support this podcast ★

In this Mussar Masterclass (Day 112), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe opens the Gate of Silence (Shtika) in Orchos Tzaddikim, praising silence as the greatest trait discovered among sages. Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel declares: “All my life I grew up among sages and found nothing better for the body than silence.” King Solomon adds that even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and one regrets speech far more often than silence.Silence protects from sin—especially lashon hara (slander), insults, and harmful words—while allowing deeper listening and reflection. Rabbi Wolbe critiques modern culture's loss of restraint, especially on social media, where anonymity enables vicious speech people would never say face-to-face (cyberbullying, sensationalism, "if it bleeds, it leads"). He warns that habitual negative speech erodes decency even toward the righteous.The episode calls for cultivating silence not as muteness, but as mindful speech: uplifting others, avoiding gossip, and recognizing words' power to heal or destroy. True wisdom lies in knowing when to speak—and when to refrain.Recorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on June 16, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on January 1, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Speech, #Silence, #LashonHara, #Ethics, #SocialMedia, #Caution ★ Support this podcast ★

“I wonder if we'll get a cease and desist on this episode…”   Generally speaking, whenever someone says “Slayer” or “Metallica”, you think of two veteran thrash bands which both formed in 1981 and both released their debut albums in 1983. This is common knowledge among most fans of both of these bands.    Ironically, there's another band who follows this exact same timeline of forming in 1981 and releasing their debut album in 1983, yet at the time, they were NOT at all thrashy…not even close.    Most of us know of PANTERA as the brutally heavy, groove metal masters from Arlington, Texas who lit a proverbial fire under the ass of the thrash and heavy music scene in 1990 with their “major label” debut album (with the emphasis, in this case, on the words “major label”) as CFH was actually their FIFTH studio album.    Fifth? Wait a minute…what about THE FIRST FOUR studio albums!? And why are those albums not talked about and celebrated just like all things PANTERA!?    Well, there's a reason that THE FIRST FOUR aren't really talked about or acknowledged. Actually, there are probably a multitude of reasons, but the most glaring one is the stylistic difference between their early glam and power metal days and the heavier, grittier era when they truly became the “Cowboys From Hell”.    Remember those awkward Olan Mills pictures you used to take with the family, or better yet, the pictures of you in high school with that absurd, dorky hairstyle that people always like to bring up in conversation? That's kinda what THE FIRST FOUR ALBUMS by PANTERA were like.   Always remember that “Dokken is better than KISS” and you absolutely have to “pill up before PT”. Find out why “concubine” is a much cooler term than girlfriend, why the stress of having multiple families can be fatal, and realize that most doctors' definition of “prescription pain medication” is painfully incorrect and a complete waste of a prescription pad.    Get ready to find out which Pantera album came out on Rex's 20th birthday, which song features Dime on lead vocals, and understand that while we absolutely did not plan for this to be episode 333, it just so happened to turn out that way.    Brace yourselves and get your relaxers ready before you JOIN US as we go back to the 80's to get a better idea of why one of the greatest metal bands of all time tried to bury their earliest work (and original “not as metal” logo) with THE FIRST FOUR from the mighty PANTERA. Visit www.metalnerdery.com/podcast for more on this episode Help Support Metal Nerdery https://www.patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast Leave us a Voicemail to be played on a future episode: 980-666-8182 Metal Nerdery Tees and Hoodies – metalnerdery.com/merch and kindly leave us a review and/or rating on your favorite Podcast app Follow us on the Socials: Facebook - Instagram - TikTok Email: metalnerdery@gmail.com Can't be LOUD Enough Playlist on Spotify Metal Nerdery Munchies on YouTube @metalnerderypodcast Show Notes: (00:01): “Welcome back to the Megadeth, Dave Mustaine, Wisdom Teeth, Dry Socket Podcast…”/ “I am an adult children who refuses to move out…of my own house…”/ Double sided blade…or dildo? / ***WARNING: #listenerdiscretionisadvised *** / “Well I've got my Masters in Bation…” / ***WELCOME BACK TO THE METAL NERDERY PODCAST (for now…)*** / “I can't jerk right now…there's no tugging…” / “Pill up before you do PT…”/ #painkillers    (05:43): ***SOCIAL MEDIA US at #Facebook #YouTube #Instagram #TikTok - EMAIL US at metalnerdery@gmail.com and VOICEMAIL US at 980-666-8182!!!*** / “We're pondering changing the name…”/ #namechange / “Hookers and Metal…Metal Dildos…”/ NOTE:  Steely Dan is not a vibrator, it's actually a slang term for a metal dildo…/ #multiplefamilies / “Even having multiple significant others at once…King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines…”/ “That's what we should start calling girlfriends now: concubines…”/ “Snooch, gooch, or hot pocket?”   (12:43): ***PATREON US at patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast *** / “What happens if we change the name? Do they get a new shirt…everybody?”/ “Tragesty…that's a tragedy and a travesty…” / #freshstart / “I don't think it's Norveen…”/ “It's always been Waggis…”   (16:22): #TheDocket METAL NERDERY PODCAST PRESENTS:  PANTERA – THE FIRST FOUR ALBUMS / Pre #CFH #Pantera / #TheFirstFour / Metal Magic (1983) / “It's like a He-Man Thundercat…”/ “They're on the same timeline as Metallica and Slayer…they didn't really break until 9 years later when CFH came out…”/ “I wonder if Rex Rocker is related to John Rocker?”/ RIDE MY ROCKET / “It sounds like KISS…I've been listening to nothing but KISS…”/ WIDOWMAKER / “His name's gotta be Jerry…that's a dude who lives in the South…” / METAL MAGIC / “I wonder if we'll get a cease and desist on this episode…”/ “They didn't change their name, they changed their logo…”   (35:00): Projects In The Jungle (1984) / “They're like Texas's #DeathAngel …”/ “It came out on Rex's 20th birthday…”/ #albumcover / ALL OVER TONIGHT / “That's High ‘N' Dry, all day…” / “That sounds more like OUR Dime…”/ OUT FOR BLOOD / “He stepped into a whole other dimension of bad ass…”/ BLUE LIGHT TURNIN' RED / “This is his Eruption…”/ #getchapull / “It's like Eddie and Randy combined…Randy Van Halen…Eddie Van Rhoads…”/ PROJECTS IN THE JUNGLE / “The drums have been to the gym…the whole production has been to the gym…”/ “So far everything on here sounds less #KISS than the first album”/ HEAVY METAL RULES! / Bang Your Head (Like A Hurricane) / “What if they played this on 96 Rock back in the day and we just totally missed it?”/ “Dude, Dokken is better than KISS…” (48:34): I Am The Night (1985) / “At this point, Dime is 19…”/ HOT AND HEAVY / I AM THE NIGHT / D*G*T*T*M (Darrell Goes To The Movies) / “What kind of movies is he watching?”/ “Let's bring ALL the sound effects in…”/ “It's the most serious song title we've seen…” / VALHALLA / “You can definitely tell he's got an 80's honk, for sure…”/ #killercloser  FOREVER TONIGHT / “This sounds like right before the sex scene from #Footloose that they cut out…” / “This is so weird…I kinda feel dirty now…”/ “Dude, you missed the ballad…”   (1:00:16): Power Metal (1988) / “Three years after I Am The Night…no more Glaze…” / Enter Phil Anselmo / “Phil started when he was 13…what were we doing at 13? I didn't even know how to use Jergens yet…”/ #killeropener / Geoff Tate meets Rob Halford / ROCK THE WORLD / “I wonder how many bands tried to steal him?” / POWER METAL / “I think the first time I actually heard this…”/ DEATH TRAP / “It's definitely heavier…the riffs…”/ “This is definitely…the turning point….”/ OVER AND OUT / “Much more metal…”/ P*S*T* 88 (with Dime on vocals) / “Pussy tight…tonight!” / “That was fun…that was definitely different…”/  THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!! / #untilthenext #outroreel #HappyNewYear

King Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple strongly emphasized the need for the forgiveness of sins. Would God respond with mercy in their time of need? If God is good and faithful and is here, then we can trust that when we pray, he will hear us and save us—even from ourselves. Read more...

Ecc 3 We all have the same amount of time - rich or poor, great or small. It is a commodity that is finite and how we use it will have eternal consequences. How do you use your time? Do you believe that God cares how you use your time? As we approach a new year, we consider those questions as we take a brief look at King Solomon's words of wisdom in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Apostolic Witness on the Restoration, the Articles of Faith, and the History of the Priesthood | Apostle D. Todd HarrisonAs Jesus Christ's Apostle to All Nations and Generations, I testify that Jesus Christ is Alive Today and that He atoned for the sins of the world. I witness that The Church has been restored in these latter days. The priesthood has been granted to all worthy males. I declare that the doctrine in the Articles of Faith are God's Truth. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.D. Todd Harrison, Apostle of Jesus ChristJesus Christ's Apostle to All Nations and GenerationsYear Six of Global Apostolic MinistryCommissioned by Jesus Christ (like the Apostle Paul – Galatians 1:1)The Most-Followed LDS Religious Leader on Facebook (1 Corinthians 9:1–3)Foreordained from the foundation of the world, Apostle of Jesus Christ - D. Todd Harrison stands as Jesus Christ's Apostle to All Nations and Generations. Commissioned directly by the Savior, his divine calling ensures every nation hears the living reality of the Son of God in preparation for His return.For nearly six years, Apostle of Jesus Christ - D. Todd Harrison's global witness has boldly testified of the resurrection and living reality of Jesus Christ. Millions have felt the undeniable power of the Holy Spirit through his sacred testimony, delivered with the authority entrusted by the Savior Himself.Like the Apostle Paul—called outside institutional hierarchy—Apostle of Jesus Christ - D. Todd Harrison follows this rare and sacred pattern. While the First Presidency continues to call apostles to the Church, he and Paul are unique exceptions, personally chosen by the Lord to fulfill specific missions with boldness and power.His calling was prophetically recognized early. Elder Marion D. Hanks foretold that his name would one day be as well known around the Church as his great-grandfather, Apostle LeGrand Richards. Elder M. Russell Ballard, after hearing him speak before his mission, publicly declared, “Todd, for a moment there, I thought I was listening to LeGrand Richards,” and charged him to work hard, promising the Lord had “more important things ahead for him to do."What was not fully understood then—but is now unmistakably clear—is that Elder Ballard was prophesying Apostle of Jesus Christ - D. Todd Harrison's future global role. In that same meeting, Ballard urged him to always bear bold testimony, declaring, “That is what the world really needs to hear.” The Spirit confirmed a divine trajectory that has since reached over 100 million souls worldwide.For six generations, Apostle of Jesus Christ - D. Todd Harrison's family has served as apostles and general authorities. His lineage traces back to Abraham, King David, and King Solomon. One ancestral line, shared with his LDS apostle grandfathers, flows through Joseph of Arimathea. Another continues unbroken through every king of Judah—from King David to King Solomon-all the way down through the Babylonian captivity and the rebuilding under Zerubbabel—extending into the generations surrounding the restoration of temple authority and messianic expectation. Additional sacred lines of descent may be revealed at later times, each bearing witness to divine orchestration across dispensations.Through the sacred pattern established by the Lord, Apostle of Jesus Christ - D. Todd Harrison's mission amplifies the Church's work, standing in harmony with the First Presidency in bearing witness alongside the prophets. His inspired words cut through doubt, bringing souls to Jesus Christ in faith and certainty.His divine commission builds upon the legacy of his forebears, ensuring Jesus Christ's testimony reaches every nation and language. Just as past apostles laid the foundation, Apostle of Jesus Christ - D. Todd Harrison now fulfills an apostolic charge entrusted directly to him by the Savior Himself.

Welcome to Kudos Kirby, a comics journey into Jack Kirby's lesser known works. Angus will be your guide through this monthly expedition to uncover those hidden gems from “The King of Comics” over 20,000 comic book pages! We hope you enjoy this latest adventure in the journey!Angus reviews Issue #12 "The Kiber Clue!" and closes the year out with reflections on this series and where Jack Kirby turned his attention after leaving Marvel.Black Panther Epic Collection: Revenge Of The Black Panther⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Black-Panther-Epic-Collection-1977-1979-ebook/dp/B07M8YN6LH/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behold as the Black Panther sets out on adventures that only his co-creator, Jack Kirby, could conceive! T'Challa discovers the startling secret of King Solomon's frog, encounters alien races, battles eternal samurai warriors — and so much more! The history of the Wakandans, their majestic city and their amazing technology are also explored with a power and passion that only Kirby could offer!We reviewed, in issue order, one issue each month (#1 - #12) in 2025.Leave a message at kirbyskidspodcast@gmail.comPlease join us for our 2025 Graphic Novel Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kirbyskids.com/2024/11/kirbys-kids-giving-thanks-2025-graphic.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please join us for our 2026 Graphic Novel Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kirbyskids.com/2025/11/the-kids-talk-2026-kirbys-kids-graphic.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For detailed show notes and past episodes please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.kirbyskids.com

God has given everyone a general revelation of himself by displaying the beauty and power of creation. Though some reject this truth, it is obvious in the heart and mind of man that there is a God.Main Points:1. As we look around at our world, we see the clues God has left. When you stand at the Grand Canyon, you can't help but be overwhelmed at the mighty power of God to create such magnificence. When you see the vast Pacific Ocean, the power of Niagara Falls, the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, you know there must be a creator.2. I believe King Solomon was right when he said in Ecclesiastes, “God has put eternity on our hearts.” The longing we feel, the cravings we experience, and the unfulfilled desires all leads us to the one who can meet every need and satisfy our every desire. His name is Jesus. He is the Son of God, our Savior, and our Lord.3. Seasons come and seasons go, but nothing in this life is completely satisfying. Solomon said, “it's all vanity.” But through it all, we have a glimpse of something more. We recognize this world is not our home. Creation points to a God who is in control and one who has given us a Savior.Today's Scripture Verses:Romans 1:20 - “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”Ecclesiastes 3:11 states God has “set eternity in the human heart.”Psalm 19:1 - “The Heavens declare the glory of God.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Ecclesiastes is written by a “Preacher.” This Hebrew word, Qoheleth, pictures a speaker standing before an assembly to deliver an important message. The Qoheleth, King Solomon, was no ordinary preacher. He was the wisest man on earth. “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all other men.” After a life of successes and failures, Solomon leaves us the words he most wants us to remember: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”Take-Home Message: Obedience to God is everyone's entire duty.The Preacher's Process (9-10)The Preacher's Source (11)The Preacher's Warning (12)The Preacher's Conclusion (13-14)After all has been heard, the entire duty of mankind is to obey God, because God will bring all deeds into judgment, including everything hidden, whether good or evil.

In a world that feels increasingly creative in its wickedness, many believers wonder if it is truly possible to live a righteous life. Servant Marcia Carty addresses this head-on by looking back at the "Days of Noah." This teaching breaks down the biblical definition of wisdom as a spiritual gift that provides protection, success, and a pathway to righteousness. By examining the lives of Noah, Solomon, and Enoch, we learn that God's wisdom is more than just "common sense"—it is a divine release that empowers us to take dominion and establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth today. Main Points of the Message: -- Defining the "Days of Noah" as a season of perversion and innovation in evil that mirrors our current generation. -- Understanding that righteousness is impossible through human strength but becomes accessible through the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. -- The example of King Solomon: how asking for wisdom to serve others unlocks wealth, honor, and global influence. -- Practical steps for making the best use of time: shifting from "earthly wisdom" to "godly sincerity" and grace. -- The protective nature of wisdom: how abiding in the "secret place" (Psalm 91) preserves the believer from the destruction and pestilence of the world. -- How communities of faith, such as those within Share HealthCare, can apply these principles to care for the widow, the homeless, and the hurting. Scriptures for Further Study: -- Genesis 6:5-22 -- 1 Corinthians 1:30 -- James 1:5 -- James 3:13-17 -- 2 Chronicles 9:1-22 -- Proverbs 2:1-12 -- Proverbs 3:13-18 -- Psalm 91:1-10 +++++++ We have begun building a new website which you can see here: https://www.noahdays.org/

Support Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donation Page – LibriVox Free AudiobooksFurther adventures of Allan Quatermain.This is one of the 14 books that H. Rider Haggard wrote - starting with "King Solomon's Mines" - depicting the adventures of Allan Quatermain, great English hunter in the wilds of mysterious Africa. (Summary by laineyben)Genre(s): Action & Adventure FictionLanguage: EnglishKeyword(s): adventure (1025), Allan Quatermain (3)Support Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donation Page – LibriVox Free Audiobooks⁠

Hello Witches This episode has been one of my favourites to research and was something I discovered last month whilst working on the Angels theme for my Patreon, The Hedge & Hollow. In this episode I explore The Book of Raziel where language, timing, planets, angels and intention were understood as part of a single living system. We look at the idea of words as vibration, sacred names and why the Hebrew letters were treated as energetic forces rather than symbols. I talk about how this tradition connects to the 72 Names of God, spell timing, planetary days and the correspondences modern witches still work with, often without realising how old these systems truly are (I know I had no idea!). We also touch on the lineage that flows from Raziel through Adam, Enoch, Noah and Solomon and how this current eventually shaped medieval grimoires, Renaissance magic and later systems like the Golden Dawn. There are so many future episodes to come off the back of this topic following the thread of King Solomon, The Rosicrucians, The Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley and Boleskine Lodge. Keep an eye out for my new House witch boxes dropping on my Etsy store The White Witch Company this week - ideal for New Year house cleanses, first of the month rituals, full or new moon rituals or as new house gift! You can also find my bestselling Yule Zine and Witch Box - Horn & Sickle here with shipping across the globe - https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheWhiteWitchCompany?ref=dashboard-header Join us for Snake & Sickle month in The Hedge & Hollow - https://patreon.com/TheHedgeandHollow?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Find me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thewhitewitchpodcast/?hl=en Email - carly@thewhitewitchcompany.co.uk   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this story, we learn that God can give us wisdom to live for him. ✧ Check out more resources in The Biggest Story Curriculum ✧ Follow The Biggest Story on Instagram ✧ Watch The Biggest Story Animated Videos! ✧ Sign up to receive weekly emails about the new story each week!

SummaryThis conversation explores the life and tragic end of King Solomon, emphasizing the importance of wisdom, accountability, and guarding one's heart. It delves into how Solomon, despite his great wisdom, allowed pride and compromise to lead him away from God, ultimately resulting in a life that did not fulfill its potential. The discussion serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring wisdom and the need for daily reflection and repentance in our own lives.TakeawaysKing Solomon's life ended tragically despite his wisdom.He ignored the warnings and wisdom given to him.The heart must be guarded diligently.Compromise can lead to a slow drift away from God.Accountability is crucial for spiritual health.Pride can subtly lead to downfall.Daily reflection is necessary to guard our hearts.The fear of God is essential for a faithful life.Success can lead to complacency and danger.Repentance is key to returning to God.Chapters00:00 The Tragic End of King Solomon07:25 The Slow Drift Away from God14:13 Ignoring Wisdom: A Cautionary Tale20:19 Guarding the Heart: A Daily Responsibility28:32 The Consequences of Compromise35:28 The Danger of Success and Pride42:20 The Call to Repentance and ObedienceBooks, Blogs, Clothing https://benjaminlee.blogBe sure to tune in Monday-Friday!

One key theme of Ecclesiastes is that life's problems and pain should not stop us from enjoying life's blessings. As followers of Jesus, we can be "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." But Ecclesiastes teaches that the only way to have sustainable, true joy is by living within God's boundaries. God's Word is not a prison; it is a fence of protection against the devastating consequences of sin. King Solomon tells young people to enjoy the physical prime of life with all of the excitement and opportunities in front of them, but he warns them to remember that someday God will evaluate all of their deeds. He also tells us to remember God in the days of our youth rather than waiting until the pain and problems of old age seize us. One way the church can accomplish the task of remembering God is through ministries that include intergenerational fellowship. The old are reminded by the young to rejoice in life, and the young are reminded by the old to remember God.Take-Home Message: Enjoy life, but remember God.Rejoice! (11:7-10)Rejoice despite dark days (7-8)Rejoice in your youth (9-10)...But Remember (12:1-8)The Importance of the Intergenerational ChurchThe old are reminded by the young to rejoice in lifeThe young are reminded by the old to remember God

When King Solomon wrote Psalm 72, he wrote a prayer for the ideal king—one who administered justice wherever righteousness was lacking, and whose reign would bring peace (shalom). A good and godly king is a blessing to everyone. However, no earthly king (not even Solomon at his best) ever fulfilled this vision. No one, that is, until the Lord Jesus Christ. All hail the King! Read more...

Stay Saved Saturday #TheTraumaResponse #FinishStrong

1 Kings 8:1-9:9 // Tom NelsonWitness Solomon's dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Ark of the Covenant being placed in the Holy of Holies, and the resulting presence of the glory of the Lord. This teaching explores Solomon's prayer of dedication and God's powerful response, including the crucial covenant conditions for continued blessing and divine presence. Essential viewing for those studying Solomon, the Temple, and the importance of obedience.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49530081 PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new25.12.07

1 Kings 8:1-9:9 // Nathan MillerWitness Solomon's dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Ark of the Covenant being placed in the Holy of Holies, and the resulting presence of the glory of the Lord. This teaching explores Solomon's prayer of dedication and God's powerful response, including the crucial covenant conditions for continued blessing and divine presence. Essential viewing for those studying Solomon, the Temple, and the importance of obedience.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49530080 PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2542/responses/new25.12.07

1 Kings 8:1-9:9 // Gabe CoyleWitness Solomon's dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Ark of the Covenant being placed in the Holy of Holies, and the resulting presence of the glory of the Lord. This teaching explores Solomon's prayer of dedication and God's powerful response, including the crucial covenant conditions for continued blessing and divine presence. Essential viewing for those studying Solomon, the Temple, and the importance of obedience.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49530082 PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2553/responses/new25.12.07

1 Kings 8:1-9:9 // Bill GormanWitness Solomon's dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Ark of the Covenant being placed in the Holy of Holies, and the resulting presence of the glory of the Lord. This teaching explores Solomon's prayer of dedication and God's powerful response, including the crucial covenant conditions for continued blessing and divine presence. Essential viewing for those studying Solomon, the Temple, and the importance of obedience.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/49530083 PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2546/responses/new25.12.07

Stories have a way of helping us recognize ourselves, and that's exactly what happened in my conversation with Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond. Nana shares what it was like to grow up in Queens, then suddenly move to a boarding school in Ghana, and how that experience shaped her identity in ways she's still uncovering today. As Nana describes her path from writer to author, her years of persistence, and the curiosity that led to books like Powder Necklace and Blue, I felt a deep connection to her commitment to keep creating even when the process feels uncertain. We also explored trust, partnership, and the lessons my guide dogs have taught me—all ideas that tie into the heart of Nana's storytelling. This conversation is an invitation to see your own life with more clarity, courage, and compassion. Highlights: 00:00:10 – Step into a conversation that explores how stories shape courage and connection. 00:01:41 – See how early environments influence identity and spark deeper questions about belonging. 00:02:55 – Learn how a major cultural shift can expand perspective and redefine personal truth. 00:23:05 – Discover what creative persistence looks like when the path is long and uncertain. 00:27:45 – Understand what distinguishes writing from fully embracing authorship. 00:33:22 – Explore how powerful storytelling draws people into a moment rather than just describing it. 00:46:45 – Follow how curiosity about history can unlock unexpected creative direction. 00:59:31 – Gain insight into why treating a publisher as a partner strengthens both the work and the audience reach. About the Guest: Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond is the author of Powder Necklace: A Novel, the award-winning children's picture book Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky, the collection Relations: An Anthology of African and Diaspora Voices, and My Parents' Marriage: A Novel.  Tapped for her passion about Africa's rich fashion traditions and techniques, Brew-Hammond was commissioned by the curators of Brooklyn Museum's "Africa Fashion" exhibit to pen and perform an original poem for the museum's companion short film of the same name. In the clip, she wore a look from the made-in-Ghana lifestyle line she co-founded with her mother and sister, Exit 14. The brand was featured on Vogue.com. Every month, Brew-Hammond co-leads the Redeemed Writers Group whose mission is to write light into the darkness. Learn more about it here.Learn more at nanabrewhammond.com. Ways to connect with Nana**:** Instagram, Facebook and Threads: @nanaekuawriter Twitter: @nanaekua  www.NanaBrewHammond.com  ORDER my new novel   MY PARENTS' MARRIAGE Read 2023 NCTE Award Winner & NAACP Image Award Nominee   BLUE: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky   Read RELATIONS: An Anthology of African and Diaspora Voices , stories, essays & poems by new and established Black writers   Shop Exit 14 , all weather, uniquely designed, 100% cotton apparel sustainably made in Ghana About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson  01:20 And a pleasant, Good day to you all, wherever you happen to be, I would like to welcome you to another episode of unstoppable mindset. Today, we get to have a conversation with Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond And Nana has a lot of interesting things to talk about. She's written books, she's done a variety of different things, and rather than me giving it all away, it'll be more fun to let her tell the stories and get a chance for us to listen to her. She is in Oakland, California, so she's at the other end of the state for me, and we were just comparing the weather. It's a lot colder where she is than where I live down here in Victorville, where today it's 104 degrees outside. And Nana, you said it was like, what, somewhere around 70. Yeah, it's 68 There you go. See lovely weather. Well, Nana, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here, and I want to thank you for taking the time to be with us. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  02:23 I feel the same way. Thank you for having me on your amazing show. And it's so wonderful to be in conversation with you. Michael Hingson  02:30 Well, I'm glad we get a chance to spend some time together and we can, we can talk about whatever we want to talk about and make it relevant and interesting. So we'll do that. Why don't we start with what I love to do at the beginning of these is to talk about the early Nana growing up and all that. So take us back as close to the beginning as your memory allows. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  02:52 Oh gosh, as my memory allows. Um, I so I was born in Plattsburgh, New York, which is upstate near Montreal, Canada. Michael Hingson  03:06 Been there. Oh, cool in the winter. I even crossed the lake in an icebreaker. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  03:12 But yeah, oh my gosh, wow. Okay, yeah. Bring back memories. Well, I was only there for till I was, like two years old. So, but I do, I have gone up there in the winter and it is cold. Yes, it is cold, yeah. So I was born there, but I grew up in New York City and had that really was sort of my life. I lived in New York, grew up in Queens, New York, and then at 12 years old, my parents decided to send me to Ghana to go to school. And that was sort of like a big, the biggest change of my life, like I know that there was a before Ghana and an after Ghana, Nana and so, yeah, wow. Michael Hingson  04:02 So, so when was that? What year was that that you went to Ghana? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  04:06 That was 1990 August of 1990 actually. Michael Hingson  04:11 So what did you think about going to Ghana? I mean, clearly that was a major change. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  04:15 Yeah, you know, I, you know, my parents are from Ghana originally. So when, you know, they would always talk about it. We, you know, back then phones, long distance phone calls to Ghana. I, you know, that was, that was the extent of my sort of understanding of Ghana, the food that we ate at home, etc. So going to Ghana was just sort of mind blowing to me, to sort of be crossing, you know, getting on a plane and all of that, and then being in the country that my parents had left to come to the United States, was just sort of like, oh, wow, connecting with family members. It was just, it was a lot. To process, because life was very, very, very, very different. So yeah, it was just sort of a wild eye opening experience about just the world and myself and my family that ultimately inspired me to write a book about it, because it was just, I just, it was a lot to process. Michael Hingson  05:25 Why did they want you to go to to Ghana to study? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  05:30 Yeah, so in the 90s, in New York City or and in the late 80s, there was the crack epidemic was happening, and we, you know, I mean, I remember, we lived in a house in Queens, and when we would, you know, part of our chores was to sweep in front of the house, you know, rake the leaves, that kind of thing in the fall. And we would, all the time there would be crack files, you know, like as we're sweeping up, and I didn't get there where we were young. My sister was, you know, a teenager. I was 12, and my, you know, my younger brother had just been born. He was just like a, like, a little under a year old. And I think my parents just didn't feel that it was a safe place for us as kids to grow up. And so, yeah, they wanted to kind of give us an opportunity to get out of, you know, that environment for a while. Michael Hingson  06:33 What did you think of it? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  06:35 I mean, you know, as a kid, you never want to leave what to you. So it was, I would say it was, it was, it was interesting. Because initially I loved it. I was like, I actually campaigned, you know, I was like, I really, you know, would like to stay in Ghana, but I didn't want to stay for, you know, the three years, which is what I what happened? I wanted to stay for maybe, like a year, kind of try it, you know, go to school for a year. I found it this really cool adventure, go to boarding school and on all of that. But my parents made the decision that we should just sort of ride it out and finish like I had to finish high school. And, yeah, so, so great for me. Michael Hingson  07:25 So you were there for three years, yes. So by you were 12, so by 15, you had finished high Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  07:32 school, yeah, because the system there is different. It's it was at the time the British system. So it was like a form system where I saw I entered in form three, because it was, it wasn't quite the equivalent in the sense that I probably should have started in form two or form one, but I was also an advanced student, and and they, the way the system there works is you have to take a common entrance exam from primary school to get into secondary school. So it's very difficult to get into school midstream there. So we had to go through all of these hoops. And, you know, there was an opening in form three, and that was higher than my, you know, than where I should have been, but I was advanced, so I was able to get into that school that way. You did okay. I assume I did. I mean, I struggled, which was interesting, because I was a very, you know, good, strong student in the States, but I struggled mightily when I first got there, and throughout, it was never easy, but I was able to manage. Michael Hingson  08:49 Now, did your sister also go to Ghana? She Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  08:52 did, and she was hopping mad. Michael Hingson  08:55 How old was she when you were 12, she was Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  08:59 17, so she Okay, yeah, almost about to go to college. She was really excited about, like, that portion of life. And then it was like, okay, she's in Ghana. She was hopping mad. Michael Hingson  09:13 Well, how long did she stay? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  09:16 Well, so she stayed for two years. Because what Ghana has is sort of like, at the time it was something called sixth form, which is, again, the British system. So it's sort of like a college prep in between the equivalent of that. So she basically did that in Ghana. Michael Hingson  09:38 Okay, well, and your little brother didn't go to Ghana, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  09:44 not yet, not not yet. You Michael Hingson  09:47 mean they didn't send him over at one year? No, okay, well, that's probably a good idea. Well, so looking back on it, what do you think about having spent three years in. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  10:00 Ghana, looking back on it, I think it was actually really, really good for me. I mean, it was that doesn't take away from the fact that it was very difficult. It was very, very challenging, not only academically. It was I was bullied really hard at this boarding school that I went to. The girls just kind of made my life hell. But what was amazing about it for me was that I had, I had exposure to Ghanaian culture in a way that I would never have had in the States. As I mentioned to you, Ghana was sort of that country over there when I lived in America. And you know, it existed as you know, family members coming to visit, long distance phone calls, the food that we ate, that you know, the accents that we had, things that made us different, and at the time, that was not cool. You know, as a kid, you just want to fit in and you don't want to be different. And going to Ghana was my opportunity to learn that, wow, I didn't have to be embarrassed or ashamed of that difference. There was so much to be proud of. You know, my family was, you know, a sprawling family, you know, my my grandmother owned a business, my grandfather owned a business, you know, it was, it was really, it was eye opening, just to sort of be in another environment. People knew how to, you know, pronounce my name, and I didn't have to, you know, just explain things. And that was really affirming for a 12 year old and a 13 year old when you're going through that, you know. So it was really good for me. And in Ghana is where I came to know Christ. I became a Christian, and it was something that spiritually, I was not really, I don't know, I just didn't really think about spiritual. I did on some level. But going to Ghana, it everything just felt so palpable. It was really like we're praying for this. And it happened, you know what I mean, like, yeah. It felt very Yeah. It was just a time in my life when life really felt very the mysteries of life really felt like they were open to me, Michael Hingson  12:37 interesting and so you clearly gained a lot of insight and knowledge and experience over there that you were able to bring back with you when you came Yes, yes. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  12:55 When I returned to the States, I was just, I think of myself, I guess, as a weirdo. Like, when I came back, I just felt so weird because I couldn't really, fully, you know, connect with my friends, because I had missed out on three years of culture, you know. And you You don't realize how much culture means, like, until, like, you know, you don't have those references anymore. I didn't know the songs that were popular. I didn't, you know, know about, I forget, there was some sort of genes that were really popular while I was gone. I didn't know what they were. I didn't have a pair of them. So it was just sort of this, this interesting time. And I was also young, because I had finished high school, and I was 15, yeah, my friends were, you know, sophomores, yeah, you know, and I was beginning the process of looking into college. So it was just a really isolating time for me and I, but also, you know, interesting and I, again, I say it was, it was ultimately in the in the wash of it. I think it was good because it enabled me to sort of, I guess, mature in a way that enabled me to start college earlier. And, you know, sort of see the world in a much different way. Michael Hingson  14:26 So when you went to college, what did you want to do? Or had you had you decided to start laying plans for a major and what you wanted to do post college, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  14:36 I did not know what I wanted to do. I kind of, I mean, I kind of thought I wanted to be a doctor. I thought I wanted to be a doctor. Like, all my life, growing up, I was like, I'm going to be a doctor. And I was a science student in Ghana, but I struggled mightily. But still, I went. I entered college with us. You know, the plans? To become a bio psychology major. And you know, I took two, three classes, well more than that, I did, like, a year of classes. And I was just like, This is not for me, not for me at all. But yeah, yeah. So it was, it was that was a little rough. Michael Hingson  15:21 Things happen. So what did? What did you go off and do? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  15:25 Then I ended up majoring in political science and Africana Studies, and it was, I remember taking a political science class my freshman year, and I, my my professor was amazing, but it was, it was interesting to me. I think looking back now, being able to think about the world in a way that was sort of linking history and politics and culture together. And I think that was interesting to me, because I had just come from Ghana and had been exposed to, like, sort of this completely different culture, completely different political system, and, you know, kind of having that, I that thinking, or that wonderment of like, wow, you can Life can be so different somewhere else, but it's still life, and it's still happening, but also having that connection as an American to America and what's happening there. And so holding both of those things in my hands when I got to college, I think I was, I just what I was really sort of intrigued by the idea of studying politics and studying culture and society, Michael Hingson  16:48 and that's what you did. Yes, I did. So you got a degree in political science. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  16:54 Yes, a double degree political science and Africana Studies. Michael Hingson  16:57 Africana Studies, okay, and again, that that's probably pretty interesting, because the the Ghana influence had to help with the Africana Studies, and the desire to to do that, and you certainly came with a good amount of knowledge that had to help in getting that as a part of your major. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  17:16 Well, interestingly, my focus was on African American Studies, because I really growing up as an immigrant, like with immigrant parents, their understanding or their their thought process wasn't necessarily, I don't know they weren't. They didn't really raise us to think about race or being black, because their consciousness wasn't about that. It was they were immigrants. You know what? I mean, they weren't thinking about that. So I was actually quite curious, because I did grow up in America and I was black, but I didn't understand, you know, the history of America in that way. And I remember, actually, when I was in was it the third or maybe it was the second or third grade, or maybe it was fifth grade. I did a project on the Civil War, and I remember being so interested in it, because I had, I just didn't, you know, it wasn't. I was so fascinated by American history because I really wasn't. I didn't, I didn't understand it in the way that maybe somebody who wasn't the child of immigrants, you know, might, you know, connect with it. So I was just Yeah, so I was really fascinated by African American history, so I ended up double majoring in it and concentrating on African American politics, which was really fascinating to me. Michael Hingson  18:55 Yeah, and there certainly has been a fair amount of that over the years, hasn't there? Yes, there has, but you can, you can cope with it and and again. But did your time in Ghana, kind of influence any of what you did in terms of African American Studies? Did it help you at all? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  19:15 Um, I, I don't know, because I don't because, because I think what, what I what, what Ghana helped me with was, I remember, I'll say this. I remember one time in Ghana, in class, we were reading a book by an author who had we were reading a play, actually by a Ghanaian writer who was writing about a Ghanian man who married an African American woman and brought her to his home. And there was a lot of clash between them, because, you know, they were both black, but they had different sort of backgrounds. Yeah, and I remember the teacher asking, because the. The the wife that he brought home, the African American woman, mentioned certain things about America, and no one in the classroom could answer any questions about America, and I was the only one who could. And I was, you know, very, very sort of shy in that in that school and in that context. But I remember that day feeling so emboldened, like I was, like, I can actually contribute to this conversation. And so maybe, you know, in on some level, when I got back to the states, maybe there was some interest in linking those two things together. But it wasn't as as is in life. It wasn't obvious to me. Then it was sort of just kind of me following my interest and curiosity. And I ended up, I didn't set out to be an Africana Studies double major, but I ended up taking so many classes that I had the credits. And, you know, I was like, Okay, I guess I'm I have two degrees now, or two, two concentrations, Michael Hingson  21:02 yeah, did you go and do any advanced work beyond getting bachelor's degrees? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  21:08 No, I did not. When I graduated, I initially thought I might get interested, get in, go to law school. But this was me again, following my muse. I realized that my real interest was in writing papers when I was in college. You know, give me a 15 page paper, 20 page paper, I was ecstatic. I loved writing papers. And I think that's one of the reasons, too, why I loved political science and Africana Studies, because we were assigned tons of papers, and it enabled me to sort of, you know, writing these papers enabled me to kind of think through questions that I had, or process what I was reading or thinking about or feeling. And so when I graduated from college, you know, I got, you know, a job, and was working, trying to figure out, Okay, do I want to go to law school? But at the time that I graduated, that was also during the time of, like, the.com boom, and there were a lot of online magazines that were looking for writers, and so I started, kind of, you know, submitting, and I got some some things published. And as that was happening, I was like, I think this is what I want to focus on. Michael Hingson  22:30 So when did you really know that you were a writer? Then? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  22:34 I mean, I don't I think that when I got back, when I started working, so I, ultimately, I got a job in advertising, and I was working, you know, as an assistant in the on the account side of things, but there was this whole creative department that, you know, got to, you know, come up with all of the, you know, the the taglines and write commercials and write jingles and all that kind of stuff. And I was, like, so fascinated by that, and that's what I thought, okay, I could if you know, I need a job, I need money, and I want to write, so maybe this is what I need to be doing. And so I ultimately did get a job as a copywriter and and I still, you know, do that work today, but I think I always knew that I needed to write, and I wanted to actually write about my experience in Ghana. So I remember, you know, I started kind of very fledgling. Would began to write into that, and I ultimately started writing that the book that became my first book, powder necklace, on the subway to and from work. Every morning I would wake up very early, write what I could get ready for work, right on the bus, right on the subway, you know, get to work after work. You know, repeat. And it took me many years, but that's what I did. And I wrote my first book, Michael Hingson  24:14 and that was published in 2010 right? Yes, it was, did you self publish? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  24:18 Or I well, I did not self publish. I was published by Simon and Schuster. Simon and Schuster's Atria Books, Washington Square press. And part of my process was I started just kind of, you know, the Internet. The Internet was new. It was something that was available to me. So I started just kind of Googling, how do you get published? And they said you needed a literary agent. So I started looking online for literary agents. And because I lived in New York City at the time, I would literally write my my query letters and like, hand deliver them different agencies. 90s, and one woman, after four years of looking, said, Okay, this sounds interesting. I'd love to meet with you. And I didn't believe. I was like, wow, I've been rejected for four years, and somebody actually wants this, and she was able to sell the book. And I was shocked. I was like, Simon and sister, okay? And at the time they bought it, the, you know, the America, the US, was going through the whole financial, you know, crisis, the recession, in 2008 so they held my book for a year, and then we began the process in 2009 and then they, you know, we were on track to publish it in 2010 Michael Hingson  25:46 Wow. Well, tell me about that book. Yeah. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  25:51 Powder necklace is a novel. It's a fictionalized account of my experience going to high school in Ghana. I when I went to school in Ghana. I went to a girls boarding school in the mountains of Ghana central region, and that school was going through a major water crisis. We did not, I mean, we the short story is that, I guess, because of we were on the mountain, the water pressure was very low, and so it was really difficult to get the water up that mountain. And they didn't have like enough, you know, tanks around the school and what have you. So we had one artificial well, and then we had, like, an underground well, and that was it. And the underground well wasn't always, you know, full of water to service the whole school. It was really difficult. So, you know, we had to bring in our own water, some. And then it became, if you had money, you could bring water. But if you didn't have money, you didn't and it was a very desperate time for for young girls without being not being able to take a shower on demand. And it was, it was wild. Michael Hingson  27:15 Where does the title powder necklace come from? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  27:19 So the title, I named it powder necklace, because, as I mentioned, taking a shower became this like symbol of the haves and the have nots. And, you know, all of this having water, really. And if so, what, what the girls, what we would do is, you know, after you've taken a bath, people would put tons of powder on their necks. And it was sometimes it was okay we didn't take a bath, so we're going to put powder on our necks to scented powder to cover the odor. But it was also a way, like if you had bathed, to sort of, you know, show off that you'd bathed. So for me, it was as I was reflecting on the on this as I was writing this story and reflecting on that whole experience, I thought, wow, it was sort of our way of holding our heads up, you know, in the difficult situation, and kind of making the best of it. So that's why I called it powder necklace, Michael Hingson  28:17 okay? And that was for children. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  28:20 Well, it was for young adults, young adults, but Michael Hingson  28:25 it was more writing than pictures. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  28:27 Yeah, it was a young adult novel. I actually, I mean, this was my first book. I really didn't know what I was doing. I just, I wrote the book and I didn't know that it was a young adult novel, until people were like, Yeah, you wrote a young adult novel. I'm like, okay, Michael Hingson  28:47 works for me. Well, what does, what does being a writer mean to you? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  28:54 Um, I think being a writer means to me being able to articulate. A time, a place, a mood, a moment, being able to articulate it, one for myself, but also to create a record that helps people who don't necessarily have that gift to be able to sort of put words to the experience of living at a time place, having a certain feeling about something. Michael Hingson  29:34 Do you think there's a difference between being considered a writer and being an author, are they the same, or are they really different? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  29:45 I do think that there is a difference, and not in a sort of, you know, highfalutin way. I think the difference is the fact that when you I think, like, when you asked me initially, like, when do you think that you you became. Became a writer. My My instinct is to say that I think I was always a writer, because I think if you write, you're a writer. And whether you're published or not, you're a writer. If you have that inclination, that gift, and you sort of invest in that gift, and invest and develop it. I think you're a writer, but I think with an author, I think then that's to me. I think of it as the business of being a writer, or the business of being, yeah, you are now sort of in business with your publisher. Publisher has invested a certain amount in you, and it then becomes a more sort of public facing thing. The work is not just for you anymore. The work is now being disseminated to a group and hopefully to as many people as possible, and you as the writer now have to figure out, like, how do I get to my audience? How do I maximize or expand the reach of this thing that I wrote? How do I connect with people around the story and build build a readership. And how do I ultimately, you know, the my desire and goal would be to live off of this. How do I make turn this into something that I can, I can do, you know, full time and live off of Michael Hingson  31:38 so you turn from a writer to being an author. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  31:42 I'm, yes, I am an author, and I'm and I'm hoping to get to the to the, you know, the point where I can do it 100% full time, and it be, you know, 100% lucrative in that way. Michael Hingson  31:56 So what are you doing now? In addition to doing books, I Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  32:01 also freelance as a copywriter, so I'm still copywriting, Michael Hingson  32:05 okay, I was wondering what you what you did? So you're doing, still marketing and jingles and all those things, yeah, well, I Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  32:13 I'm my focus. I do do that, but my focus is mainly in the digital space. So I write lots of websites and web ads and social media copy, and, you know, things of that nature, campaign work. Michael Hingson  32:33 Well, that's, is there anything that you've written or copy written that we would all know, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  32:42 yeah, I mean, I did. I've done a lot. I guess the maybe the most recent thing that I've done that people might be aware of, or some people might be aware of, is the Brooklyn Museum in New York, did a an exhibition called Africa fashion. And I, they created a short film to promote it, and I, they commissioned me to write an original piece for it. And so I wrote that piece and and performed it in the film. So, you know, people who are into that kind of thing a museum, that that museum might be aware of it. But I've also written for, I did a lot of work for L'Oreal Paris, USA, and I've just done a lot of beauty work. So many of the beauty brands you might be aware, you know, you might know, I've done some work for them, cool. Michael Hingson  33:45 Well, that, you know, you do have to do things to earn an income to to be able to afford to write until you can do it full time. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  33:53 Yeah, yeah. And I actually really love copywriting. I think it's an it's been an incredible teacher in the sense of how to how to crystallize an idea in very short, you know, in just a few words, how to convey emotion in just a few words. And also that storytelling is not just the words, it's how you deliver the story that's all part of it. So I think it's been an incredible teacher in that way. Michael Hingson  34:28 I know for me as a speaker, it is how you tell the story. And I've learned over 23 and a half years of speaking how to take people inside the World Trade Center and actually have them travel with me and do all the things that, and experience all the things that that I went through, and then come out of the other side and I and I say that because so many people after I speak somewhere, well. Come up and say, we were with you in the building. We were with you with everything that you did. And I appreciate that there is a real significant art to storytelling, and part of it is also, and I'm sure that this is true for you as a writer and an author, that part of it has to be that you have to actually connect with the audience. You've got to understand the audience. You've got to connect with them, and you have to bring them along, because they're not expecting to go with you. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  35:33 Absolutely, absolutely. And I will say that I started one of your books just the beginning of it, and I was just running with Roselle, and I was so taken, so absorbed by the first few pages of it. You really do immerse us. And I think that that's the best kind of of writing. You know, when you're able to kind of present material that people may or may not be familiar with, and make it riveting and really bring us into it, and then have us invest being, feel invested well. Michael Hingson  36:16 And I think the last book that we did last year live like a guide dog. I worked really hard to make sure that we were drawing people into the experiences, because every chapter is actually taking lessons from one of my guide dogs and also from Fantasia, which who is my wife's service dog, but each chapter relates to one of those dogs, and I wanted them to be environments where people again were drawn in and appreciate the dogs for what they are and what they do, not just some dumb Animal that comes along. Yeah. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  37:00 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, yeah, so interesting. I think there's, there's so much, I guess. I don't want to use the word, I guess what I want to say, there's a lot of mystery in in the sort of human animal interaction, and people just aren't aware of how powerful it is, and I can, I'm saying that I speak for myself, because growing up, actually, I was really, really scared of dogs and animals, all animals, and I so there's, there's two, there's kind of two stories I'll share. But one is when we were, when we were growing up, my parents, you know, were from Ghana. They wanted to eat goat meat. And at the time, you couldn't just go to a supermarket goat meat. So we used to go to a farm out in New Jersey that had goats, and we would have to go and have the goat, you know, slaughtered and, you know, cut up and all that kind of stuff for the meat. And I remember that whenever the hand would go into, you know, the pen where the goats were, the goats would just were. They would be so stressed out, they would like, you know, part like the ocean walked in, and if he picked, when he picked one out. There would be other people, other goats in the pen that would start screaming in agony, along with the goat that had been picked out. And I was just like, Oh my gosh. That must be his family members, like, or his loved ones. And it was so I remember that was so eye opening to me, like, wow. So I ended up years, years later, I wrote a short story, and I actually did some research on goats and how brilliant they are, and I was just like, wow, oh my goodness, I remember that so well. But I have a cat right now, and my kitty cat is just such a such a joy, like just sort of to build that relationship with, with my with my pet, is just such a beautiful thing, and how she just kind of, because I grew up really scared of pets, and I sort of inherited her when I got when I got married, you know, she's been very patient with me, like, because at first I was so skittish around her, and I could see her, kind of like rolling her eyes, like, I mean, you no harm. You can pick me up. It's all good. And she's just been so wonderfully patient with me. We've built that bond over time. Michael Hingson  39:31 Well, yeah, I have, of course, my my eighth guy, dog, Alamo, and stitch the cat. Stitch is 15 and a half and a real cutie pie. We rescued her. Actually, there were people who were living next to us, and he was moving out. His wife had died, and he just told the people who were moving all of his stuff out, take the cat to the pound. I don't want anything to do with it. And we, we said, Absolutely not. We'll find it a home. And then I asked, What the. Cat's name was, and they told me the cat's name was stitch. And I knew that this cat wasn't going to go anywhere because my wife had been, well, my wife had been a quilter since 1994 and a quilter is never going to give away a cat named stitch. Yes. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  40:14 Oh, I'm so glad stitch found a home with you. Michael Hingson  40:18 Oh, yeah. Well, we found a stitch. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  40:20 Oh, that's right, that's right. Michael Hingson  40:23 And, and, and so she's, she's got lots of personality. And so it really works out pretty well. No, no complaints. And I've always said, Whenever I get a guide dog, because my wife has always had cats, when I get a new guide dog, I've always said, and will continue to say, it has to be a dog that's been raised around cats and has no problems with cats. I have seen a couple of Guide Dogs, actually, that hated cats, and one almost killed a cat, and that's I will never tolerate that. Yeah, they have to get along. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely now, when we brought Alamo home, stitch had a few concerns about this dog in her house. She got over it when she decided that Alamo wasn't going to do anything to bother her and they they talk all the time now and rub noses and all that sort of stuff. Oh, that's so cool, yeah, but, but it's, it is great, and they, they bring so much joy and so many lessons to us that I think it was really important to learn. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  41:34 Yeah, yeah. You're reminding me the first dog, because my grandmother actually loves animals, and when I went to Ghana, she got a dog, and, you know, as a kid, so we got a puppy. And I remember the puppy was initially supposed to be a guard dog, but we I, I would feed the I would hand feed the dog sausages and just spoil the dog so much. Could not be a guard dog, so I loved that dog. Joshua, yeah, Joshua, Michael Hingson  42:07 well, but you and Joshua got along really well. On we got along great. One of the things that people sometimes ask me is if my dog trained to protect and the answer is no, they're not trained, and then they've said, Well, what would happen if somebody were to decide to attack you with the dog around? And my response will always be and rightly so, I wouldn't want to be the person to try that and find out what will happen, because much more than guarding, there's love. And I've always believed that dogs love unconditionally. I think trusting is a different story. They are open to trust, but, but you have to earn their trust. They'll love you, but will they trust you? That depends on you. And so it's it's really pretty cool, but I would not want to be the person to ever decide to try to attack us, because I, I am sure that Alamo would not tolerate that at all. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  43:10 Oh, not at all. How do, how do you or how have you built trust with your your pets? Michael Hingson  43:17 Well, a lot of it has to do with they want us to be the pack leaders. They want us to be their team leader. And so I have to set the ground rules. So, for example, no jumping on the furniture and all that. But again, it's also how you convey that. So if my dog is going to jump up on something and I don't want that, I'll say, leave it. And as soon as the dog obeys, I'll give the dog a food reward, a kibble, to let the dog know, and I'll also use a clicker, but I'll let the dog know I approve of what you did, not punishing them for, you know, something else. Yeah, so it's not punishment, it's positive rewards. I think that's extremely important, but also it is in the stressful times being very focused and calm. So if we're walking somewhere and we get lost, that is not the dog's fault, because it's my job to know where to go and how to get where I'm going, and it's the dog's job to make sure that we walk safely to get there, so if we get lost, that's on me. And what I can't do, or shouldn't do, is panic and become very fearful and upset, because the dog will sense that I have to stop and figure it out and continue to praise the dog, saying what a good job you're doing, and so on. And those kinds of things are the things that will, over time, build that trust. I think it takes a good year to truly build a trusting relationship that is second. To none. And that's the kind of teaming relationship that you want, whether it's a guide dog or any dog. And even as far as that goes, although they're different cats, yeah, but it's, it's all about building that relationship and conveying the command and conveying that you want to trust and be trusted? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  45:24 Yeah, yeah. I think you're you. What you said that really resonated with me is that they want to know. They want you to be the pack leader and the and part of that is, you know, you lay down the ground rules, but also you're responsible for them and their well being. And, yeah, that really, that really resonated with me. Michael Hingson  45:48 Well, so you wrote your first book, and then when did you write your second book? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  45:55 My second book came out in 2022, so it was a 12 year spread in my first book and my second book, Why so long? Oh my gosh, my book, I was the book I was working on, like to sort of follow, was just rejected for, for all that whole time, and I was, you know, in more and more distraught, and, you know, in despair about it. I didn't know what to do about it. And I actually, you know, I was actually reading the Bible, and I came across the fact that there was a curtain, a blue curtain, in King Solomon's temple. And I was like, why does it matter that the curtain was blue? And so I just started googling casually, and I discovered that there was a snail in antiquity that was harvested for the blue drops that it it secreted, or it secreted drops that were ultimately oxidized to turn blue. And I was like, what I've never heard about this? I started doing some more research, and I realized, like, oh my gosh, the color blue has such a fascinating history. Kids need to know about this. And so I wrote it really as a poem initially, but then I thought, you know, I really want to see if I can get this published. And I was able to get it published, and that became my children's book blue, which was such a bomb to my soul, because after sort of a decade of getting, you know, rejected, and, you know, close to a decade of getting rejected, this, this sort of beautiful, like, sort of knowledge, you know, I came across, But I was able to create a book, and it's just been a wonderful experience with the children's Michael Hingson  47:45 book, wow, so the full title of blue is, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  47:51 it's blue a history of the color as deep as the sea and as wide as the sky. Wow. Michael Hingson  47:57 That should be enough to get the book sold. But as you point out, there's, there's a lot of history, yes, and that, that's pretty cool. So it was, it was released in 2022 and they finally, the publishers finally bought into that, huh? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  48:16 Well, yeah, I mean, that wasn't the novel that I've been working on. So I was still working. I ultimately, I did sell the novel, but that was its own journey, and I ended up writing another book that became the book is called my parents marriage, and it is not about my actual parents marriage. It's a novel about a young woman for adult readers. It's my first book for adult readers, and it is about a young woman whose parents are in a polygamous union, and how they're they have a really turbulent polygamous union, and how that relationship kind of kind of cast a shadow on this woman's, you know, choices in relationships and marriage for herself. Michael Hingson  49:10 So you you publish that my parents marriage. You also did a collection relations. Tell me about relationships. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  49:18 I did. Yeah, so relations is an anthology of its stories, essays and poems that are by writers from all across the continent of Africa. So I have Egyptian poets and Libyan you know essayists and you know, Nigerian storytellers, just it was, it was a really amazing project to work on. I started working on it during August of 2020, which was sort of like I've heard it described as peak pandemic, right? You know, we were several months. Into lockdown, and you know, it became this wonderful way for me to kind of connect while I was sort of holed up in my apartment in New York. Michael Hingson  50:15 Okay, now, were you married by then? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  50:18 No, I was not. I had just started dating my now husband, and I was like, Am I ever gonna see this man again? Because he lived in California, so at that time, the planes were grounded. I remember we were, like, on the first, very first flights that were able to start, you know, that started and be on planes, there'd be like, four people on the entire plane. Michael Hingson  50:42 Yeah, hopefully you both weren't on planes going against each other at the same time. No, you did communicate a little more than that. Oh, good. Well, so you published. So when was well? What was relations published? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  51:02 Relations came out in 2023 okay, February of 2023, and my parents marriage came out in July of 2024. Just came out in July of 2025, Michael Hingson  51:14 which one the paperback of the paperback? Oh, okay. Have any of them been converted to audio Yes, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  51:23 all, but my first book, are audio books. So blue is an audio book, beautifully read, and then their relations, the stories and essays and poems are read by two speaking artists, and then my parents, marriage is is also wonderfully performed. So, yeah, they're all an audience. Michael Hingson  51:50 That's cool, yeah. So when you're writing, what, what's kind of the difference, or, how do you differentiate between writing for young people and writing for adults. There must be differences. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  52:07 Yeah, I think, I think with for young people, and the practical thing that I try to do is make sure that the vocabulary is are is familiar to them, mostly familiar. I like to put in a stretch word now and then to kind of get them to, like, get to the dictionary and find out what. But if I'm right, when I when I wrote blue, for example, knowing that, you know, the the age group is, the age spread is four to 888, year olds are in third grade. Four year olds are in pre K, so that's that's pretty big spread. So my sweet spot is first and second grade vocabulary words. Okay, it has to be something that they've been exposed to. So thinking of it in that way, the other thing too is breaking down concepts that are, you know, as adults, you know, we just assume that you know, or you can go look it up, but just kind of thinking it through. So if I'm talking about, instead of saying that, you know, there was a snail in antiquity who, you know, heart, you know, dyers were harvesting blue dye from these snails through after a process of oxidation. I wouldn't use any of those words. I would say, snail produced some drops that when exposed to the air and the sun turned blue. And so just sort of really, kind of being mindful of that, and also thinking very visually, writing, very visually. How can I create pictures with words that would be familiar to a child, that can sort of ignite their imagination? Michael Hingson  53:53 Yeah, I think it's extremely important to to deal with the visual aspects of it, but using words and really drawing again, drawing people in because if you just say, well, you can see this in this picture. That doesn't mean a lot, and you're also, I would think, helping to teach or create the concept that some people might some children might want to go off and write because they like how you say and what you say Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  54:24 absolutely and when I when I talk to kids, I go or visit schools, I invite them like I wrote about the color blue. What's your favorite color? These are some some things that I did to kind of learn about it. You can do these things to learn about your favorite color and write your own book? Michael Hingson  54:42 Yeah, yeah, it's, I think, so important to really draw people in and get them to think. And I think it's so much fun for me, I do some of that, but I have probably more of a chance. Challenge, because kids want to play with the dog. Yeah, it's all about the dog. I did a lecture at a K through six elementary school in San Francisco several years ago. I'm trying to remember what school it was anyway, and the teacher said you can only talk for about 10 or 12 minutes, because they just won't pay attention any longer than that. 35 minutes later, I finally ended the discussion, because they were so fascinated to hear me talk about what my dog did. And then I carried that over to how blind people work and function and all that. And the fact is, they were fascinated. The teachers couldn't believe it, but for me, it was a great lesson to know that it's all about creating these pictures that people can follow, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  55:53 yeah, and also to extending those pictures or those words into an experience for kids. Yeah, they really, they really appreciate, sort of like seeing it, kind of, you know, see if the having the concept come to life, yeah, way. And so I'm sure when they see your dog, or are able to interact with your dog, that must be so wonderful for them, Michael Hingson  56:22 but it's important for them to understand what the dog is all about. So by the time they get to interact with the dog, we've talked about things like, you never pet a guide dog in harness. This is what a guide dog does, and this is what they don't do. There are a lot of things to to cover. So it's great when I have the opportunity to really teach them. And sometimes we'll walk around a classroom and I'll show them what he does. Yeah, it's important to be able to do that. Oh, I love that. I love that. And he loves it, of course, all the way. So no question about that. He's you haven't lived until you've seen two or 300 kids all wanting to pet this dog. And the dog knows what to do. He's down on the floor with every appendage stretched out as far as he can go to maximize petting places, petting. Oh, it is so funny. I love that. He loves it. He's, he's, he's so happy. He doesn't care whether he'll do it more with kids even than adults, but, yeah, he'll do it with everybody. It's all about petting me and just remembering I'm the dog. I love that. Well, you've gone through a fair amount of time between books, and I'm sort of curious, what do you think about all the various kinds of changes and ebbs and flows that have come along in the book business, in the book publishing business and so on. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  57:56 Yeah, there have been a lot of changes. Um, I think, um, when my first book came out, like things like, you know, Instagram Bookstagram did not exist. There weren't many sort of podcasts or things of that nature. So I think that there is, there's definitely, there are more venues and more platforms to, you know, get the message out about the book. But I think also there is, it's also just hard. It's in some ways, it also feels in some ways more challenging to get the word out, because in addition to, like, yes, there are more venues in that way, regard, there are fewer book reviewers and fewer places to get a book reviewed, and there's a whole kind of interesting business about around getting reviews. So it's just not the same in that way. But then at the same time. I think what remains the same is connecting with readers. I think the most effective thing is, you know, writing a book that's good and then getting people who have read it and liked it to evangelize, to tell people I liked it, please buy it, or you should have you heard of and because at the end of the day, you know, that's what's going to, you know, give it some wind Michael Hingson  59:30 when thunder dog came out, and we did mention about reviews, and it actually has had, like well over 1600 reviews since it came out in 2011 live like a guide dog hasn't had, of course, so many yet, but every time I get a chance to talk about that book, I ask people to go review it and tell them why it's so important, because potential readers want to know what people think of the book. Yeah, for sure. For sure, it's. It really is important for readers to review and just be honest and say what you think. It's fine, but people should do that. For me, I think one of the biggest things that I see that publishers are doing less of is in a lot of ways, true marketing. You don't, you know, you don't see them doing nearly as much. Of course, I know it's more expensive, but to help create book tours or anything like that, they focus only on social media, and that's not the way to market the book. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  1:00:33 Yeah, I think, I mean, I've never worked inside a publishing office, so I don't know what actually, how they make these decisions and what goes on, but I do. I think what I have come to sort of think, how I've come to think of it, is the publisher is my business partner, sort of invested in terms of, they've given me an advance. They're going to do the turn key things like, you know, make sure the book gets reviewed by Publishers Weekly, or, sorry, Publishers Marketplace, or no Publishers Weekly. I was correct, and Kirkus review, Kirkus right, and all those kinds of things. And maybe they'll do a mailing to you know who they believe are the people that they need to mail it to. But outside of that, unless you know you, you know it's stipulated in your contract, or you know you are that high, yeah, you know that that celebrity author, or that that best selling author that they you know, are willing to put that money behind. You're working with some your publicist, who's been assigned to your book has is probably working on 10 other books. Can devote so much to it. And so what I've learned is thankful. I'm thankful that, you know, I have this publisher, but I also know that I need to do a lot of work on my own to get Michael Hingson  1:02:04 you've got to be your best marketer, yes, but, but there's value in that too, because you can tell the story whatever it is, like no one else, exactly, exactly. And so that's that's really pretty important, yeah, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  1:02:18 for sure, for sure. And you can be, you know that I think, also giving yourself permission to be creative, yeah, you know, how can you get the word out in really creative ways, like, again, the publisher. These are things that like, if there was, you know, people, there were many people dedicated to your book for this amount of time, they could kind of sit there and brainstorm and do all those things. But, you know, the reality is, in most cases, it's a small it's a lean and mean team. They don't have that bandwidth, so yeah, just kind of coming up with creative ways. And at times, what I have learned to do is, how can I, if I have an idea that is maybe low cost and but I can't necessarily do it on my own? How can I ask them for support, because they do have, you know, a little bit more resources, Michael Hingson  1:03:16 yeah, and, and the how is really pretty simple. Actually, you just ask exactly, exactly, and you know either they will or they won't, or you'll share it, or whatever. And I have found that same thing to be true. Well, Nana, if people want to reach out to you, how do they do that? If they might want to talk about you doing copywriting for them or whatever, how can people find you? Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  1:03:41 So my website is Nana brew-hammond.com, can you spell please? It's n, a n, a, b, r, e, w, H, A, M, M, O, N, d.com, and I have a newsletter there. So a newsletter sign up. So they can sign up to be a part of my newsletter and connect with me that way. They can also find me on Instagram, I'm at n, a, n, a, e, K, U, a writer on Instagram, and I'm also on Facebook at that same name, and then on Twitter, I am that without the writer. So, n, a, n, a, e, K, U, a, Michael Hingson  1:04:28 okay, cool. Well, I hope people will reach out and and I hope that they will read your books and like them and review them. I hope the same thing. Well, I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank all of you for listening and watching us today. We really appreciate you being here with us. I'd love to hear what you think. Please feel free to email me. I'm reachable at Michael H, I m, I C, H, A, E, L, H i at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I. B, e.com, Michael H i@accessibe.com love to hear your thoughts and love to get your your opinions. I would really appreciate it if you would give us a five star rating when you have the opportunity to review this podcast. We really value your ratings and reviews very highly, and definitely want to know what you think, but please give us a great rating. We love that. If you know anyone who wants to be a guest on a podcast, or you think ought to be a guest, we're always looking for guests. And Nana you as well. If you know anyone, we're always looking for more people to come on the podcast and tell their stories. So we appreciate it. If you'd let us know. By the way, you can also go to my podcast page, www dot Michael hingson, M, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s o n.com/podcast, that's another way to reach out to me as well. But definitely anything you can do to bring more folks to us, we value it very highly. And so with that, once again, Nana, I want to thank you for being here. This has been great. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond  1:06:01 Thank you so much. I really appreciate you having me on, and you are such an inspiration. And thank you. Michael Hingson  1:06:13 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

St. Isaac speaks as one who knows the earthquake at the root of the soul where pride fractures us from God and humility alone builds a refuge strong enough to endure the storm. His words are not gentle suggestions for the religiously inclined. They are fire. They are rope flung into deep water. They are an indictment of every heart that waits for suffering to discover prayer for temptation to discover the need for mercy for collapse to remember God. “Before the war begins, seek after your ally.” This is the secret. The humbled man begins today when there is no battle when the sea is calm and the sky soft. He builds his ark plank by plank small obediences simple prayers hidden acts of self abasement not because the flood is visible but because he knows it is certain. This is the wisdom of the saints: that peace is the time for labor not repose. The iniquitous drown because they mock preparation. They call upon God after pride has stripped them of confidence. Their throat is tight when they pray because they never bent it before in the dust. Humility is the timber that keeps the soul afloat when the heavens split open. St. Isaac dares to tell us that a good heart weeps with joy in prayer. Not from sentimentality not from sorrow alone but from the unbearable nearness of God. Tears become proof that the heart has softened enough to feel Him. A proud heart however disciplined outwardly prays like a clenched fist. It asks but it does not need. It petitions but does not depend. A humble heart begs like a man drowning and this is why God hears him. “Voluntary and steadfast endurance of injustice purifies the heart.” Here the Saint wounds our sensibilities. He tells us that we cannot become like Christ unless we willingly stand beneath the blow and let it fall without retaliation without argument without self defense. Only those for whom the world has died can endure this with joy. For the world's children honor is oxygen. To be slandered or forgotten is death. But when the world is already a corpse to us when reputation comfort applause identity have all been buried then injustice becomes not humiliation but purification. Not defeat but ascent. This virtue is rare he says too rare to be found among one's own people one's familiar circles one's comfortable life. To learn it often requires exile the stripping away of all natural support so that only God remains. He alone becomes the witness of one's patience. He alone becomes consolation. He alone becomes vindication. And then comes the heart of St. Isaac's blow: “As grace accompanies humility so do painful incidents accompany pride.” Humility is the magnet of mercy. Pride is the invitation to destruction. God Himself turns His face toward the humble not in pity but in delight. Their nothingness is spacious enough for Him to enter. He fills emptiness not fullness. He pours glory into the vessel that has shattered self importance. But when pride rises like a tower God sends winds against it not to annihilate us but to collapse what we build against Him. The humble man does not seek honor for he knows what it costs the soul. He bows first greets first yields first. His greatness is hidden like an ember under ash but heaven sees it glowing. Divine honor chases him like a hound. It is the proud who chase praise and never catch it but the self emptying who flee honor and find it placed upon them by the hand of God. “Be contemptible in your own eyes and you will see the glory of God in yourself.” Not self hatred but truth. Not despair but sobriety. Not rejection of one's humanity but recognition that without God we have no light no love no breath. When we descend beneath ourselves God descends to meet us. When we stop defending our wounds He heals them. Humility is not psychological abasement but the unveiling of reality: only God is great and the one who knows this sees God everywhere even within his own nothingness. Blessed truly blessed is the man who seems worthless to others yet shines with virtue like an unseen star. Blessed the one whose knowledge is deep but whose speech is soft whose life is radiant yet whose posture is bowed. Such a soul is the image of Christ unadorned unnoticed unassuming yet bearing the weight of heaven within. The Saint concludes with a promise that burns like gold: The man who hungers and thirsts for God God will make drunk with His good things. Not the brilliant not the accomplished not the defended but the hungry. The emptied. The poor in spirit who have thrown themselves into the furnace of humility and come forth with nothing left to claim as their own. This is the narrow way. This is the ark built in silence. To bow lower is to rise. To lose all is to possess God. To become nothing is to become fire. May we learn to bend before the storm begins. May we kneel while grace is still soft. May we lay plank upon plank obedience upon prayer meekness upon hidden sacrifice until the ark is finished and the floods come and we are held aloft by humility into the very heart of God. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:02:30 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 164 paragraph 29 00:03:03 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: philokaliaministries.org 00:11:37 Ben: Re: Orthodox Saints...if you look you'll often find that many of them are already liturgically venerated by the Eastern Catholic churches - I've even heard that St. Seraphim is actually commemorated by Russian Catholics. 00:12:08 Bob Čihák, AZ: P 164, para 29, at bottom of page 00:12:09 Ryan Ngeve: Reacted to "Re: Orthodox Saints.…" with ❤️ 00:14:16 David Swiderski, WI: We get those random at my job. AI platforms are trying to take IP and data. 00:15:09 Sam: Greetings from Australia and wishing you a happy thanksgiving

In Proverbs 26, King Solomon presents four problematic people: The Fool, The Lazy Person, The Troublemaker, and lastly— The Evildoer. Some people really will use smooth words to hide their selfish agenda. Do you know how to spot the evildoer? What wise warnings does the Bible hold out to you? (Role Model Rejects, part 4. Series Conclusion) 

GET MEANINGFUL MINUTE PLUS RIGHT NOW FOR 50% OFF! mmplus.org In this eye-opening conversation, Nachi Gordon sits down with Zvi Gluck, founder of Amudim, for one of the most important and raw episodes we've ever released. From drug use and gambling in our schools, to secrets hidden behind closed doors, to real stories of crisis, denial, healing, and hope — Zvi pulls back the curtain on what's really happening in our community. We discuss: — How common drug and alcohol use truly is — The rise of gambling addiction among teens — Why prevention MUST start earlier — What yeshivas still don't understand — Abuse, denial, and the cost of silence — The lifesaving impact of proper education — Real stories of families on the brink — and those who found healing — What parents need to know right now This conversation is honest. It's uncomfortable. But it's necessary. If you're a parent, educator, community member — or simply someone who cares — you need to hear this. For more information about Amudim: https://amudim.org/ Join December 7–8 the Unite to Heal 36-hours livestream: https://unitetoheal.com/ This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ______________________________________   ►Banana Blast Rentals   Bringing exciting entertainment for all your occasions. https://bananablasts.com https://wa.link/i4qlgh ______________________________________ ► The Business Organizer The Business Organizer is a game-changing resource for entrepreneurs who have big vision but feel stuck hitting the same roadblocks. If you know what you want to achieve but feel overwhelmed, misaligned with your team, or like the business is running you—not the other way around—this is for you. If you're ready to regain control and scale with confidence, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation to see if Sruly is the right fit for your company's needs. Call or WhatsApp 347-939-9959 https://wa.link/5sxy1e Email info@srulyschonfeld.com For testimonials from real entrepreneurs, visit SrulySchonfeld.com   _______________________________________ ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka    https://pushka.cc/meaningful    _______________________________________ ►  Eishet Chayil Eishet Chayil — The Woman of Valor is a new book by Rabbi Yossi Marcus that brings King Solomon's classic poem to life through the stories of 24 remarkable Jewish women — from Sarah and Miriam to Esther and beyond. Drawing on millennia of Jewish scholarship, especially the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the book celebrates women of faith, courage, and wisdom. Each verse is paired with contemporary artwork by Israeli artist Lia Baratz, making the book both educational and inspirational for readers of all ages. Dedicated to the women of Nahal Oz who were killed on October 7, 2023, it stands as a tribute to Jewish women of valor throughout history. Already in its second printing, Eishet Chayil is an ideal gift for Bat Mitzvahs, brides, wives, and mothers. Available at https://www.eishetchayil.com and https://store.kehotonline.com/mobile/ Use code MM20 for 20% off when checking out on Kehot.com.   _______________________________________ ► Lalechet     We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.    https://www.lalechet.com   ______________________________________ ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!   Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH ______________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp     https://www.townappliance.com   https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp  ______________________________________   ► Nafshi    A musical evening with Shulem Lemmer, Benny Friedman, Joey Newcomb, Yehuda Green and Eli Marcus: This is Nafshi! 7th of December at Kings Theater! https://colelchabad.events/mm

Dr. Greg Gifford shares three powerful biblical principles on how your environment shapes your faith. Learn why King Solomon's downfall still applies today—and how to avoid the same fate. You'll walk away equipped to create godly spaces that cultivate Christlikeness.  Transformed Podcast Episode 151 | November 27, 2025 ___ Thanks for listening! Transformed would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Transformed we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

Ever wondered the secret to marriages that last 60 years? I heard about an elderly couple celebrating their diamond anniversary who shared their story: On their honeymoon at the Grand Canyon, the wife's mule stumbled, and she said calmly to the animal, “That's once.” When it stumbled again, she said, “That's twice.” The third time, she got off and shot the mule right between the eyes. When her husband asked why, she looked him in the eyes and said, “That's once”—and they never had another major disagreement! While there's humor in that story, the truth is that God desires for everyone who gets married to truly live happily ever after. When two people get married, it's God's will for that marriage to be a happy union instead of a civil war. He wants every marriage to end in celebration, not separation, enjoying marriage, not enduring it. That's why God's Word gives us a marriage example through an old love song: It's King Solomon's Song of Songs. In this book, you find the four essential keys to building a marriage that lasts.

In this gripping and deeply honest conversation, Shmelke Diamond opens up about his unlikely path—from a traditional Long Island Jewish upbringing to discovering Chabad as a teenager, navigating a lonely and self-taught journey into observance, and ultimately becoming a proud Satmar chasid. Shmelke shares powerful stories of identity, family tension, spiritual searching, and the moment he realized he had to choose between two worlds. He talks about the kindness that drew him into the Satmar community, his struggles with chronic illness, and how disability reshaped his understanding of purpose, humility, and faith. Whether you're religious, secular, curious, or anywhere in between, this episode is a raw and inspiring exploration of what it means to find yourself—and to stand by what you believe, even when the world pushes back. This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ______________________________________ ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka    https://pushka.cc/meaningful    _______________________________________   ► Banana Blast Rentals   Bringing exciting entertainment for all your occasions. https://bananablasts.com https://wa.link/i4qlgh   _______________________________________   ► Lalechet     We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.    https://www.lalechet.com _______________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp     https://www.townappliance.com     https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp    ______________________________________ ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!   Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   ____________________________________   ►  Ketubah At Ketubah.com, every Kesubah is designed with care, blending timeless beauty with texts that are fully halachic, including RCA and Sephardic versions. Our team collaborates with rabbanim and mesadrei kiddushin to ensure each document is accurate and accepted without question. Choosing Ketubah.com means you arrive at your chuppah with peace of mind, knowing your Kesubah is both beautifully crafted and halachically sound. https://ketubah.com/meaningful-minutes/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Clickthrough&utm_campaign=meaningful-people-podcast ____________________________________   ►  Eishet Chayil Eishet Chayil — The Woman of Valor is a new book by Rabbi Yossi Marcus that brings King Solomon's classic poem to life through the stories of 24 remarkable Jewish women — from Sarah and Miriam to Esther and beyond. Drawing on millennia of Jewish scholarship, especially the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the book celebrates women of faith, courage, and wisdom. Each verse is paired with contemporary artwork by Israeli artist Lia Baratz, making the book both educational and inspirational for readers of all ages. Dedicated to the women of Nahal Oz who were killed on October 7, 2023, it stands as a tribute to Jewish women of valor throughout history. Already in its second printing, Eishet Chayil is an ideal gift for Bat Mitzvahs, brides, wives, and mothers. Available at https://www.eishetchayil.com and https://store.kehotonline.com/mobile/ Use code MM20 for 20% off when checking out on Kehot.com.   _______________________________________  

On today's page, Zevachim 59, the rabbis question how King Solomon's altar could possibly be “too small” to handle his sacrifices when it was hundreds of times larger than Moses's. The math just doesn't add up—and that's the point. What do we miss when we let statistics tell the whole story? Listen and find out.

In Ecclesiastes 1–2, King Solomon goes on a search for meaning. He chases three main paths the world still runs after today: pleasure, wisdom, and work. Yet in the end, he calls them all “vanity”—a vapor, a breath, chasing after the wind. In this talk, Pastor Ben Stuart explores what Solomon discovered about success, satisfaction, and the purpose of life apart from God. If you've ever wondered why achievements, relationships, or self-improvement never seem to satisfy for long, this talk will help you see where true meaning is found.Key Verses // Ecclesiastes 1-2 —With Passion City Online you can join us live every Sunday at 9:30a and 11:30a! Join us at https://passioncitychurch.com/dc—Give towards what God is doing through Passion City Church: https://passioncitychurch.com/dc/give —Subscribe to our Youtube channel to see more messages https://www.youtube.com/passioncitychurchdc—Follow along with Passion City Church DC: https://www.instagram.com/passioncitydc—Follow along with Pastor Ben Stuart: https://www.instagram.com/ben_stuart_—Passion City Church is a Jesus church with locations in Atlanta and Washington D.C. For more info on Passion, visit https://passioncitychurch.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.