Podcasts about Lazarus

This is episode one in the Passion week series; Jesus' last week.  The story starts in the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.

(This podcast was previously published on April 25, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   Many churches today are teaching doctrines that are traditions of men instead of the commandments of God from the New Testament Bible.   This is antichrist in the end time church.  This is the apostasy that Paul said had to come before Jesus returns.   II Thessalonians 2:3-4  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;   4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.   "The falling away" are churches falling away from scripture.  When this happens the door is open for antichrist to come into the church and set up doctrines of men, departing from scripture which is the doctrine of Christ for the church.   For example:  The Catholic church teaches their followers to pray to Mary.  This is their "tradition" set up by men and not by God.   Jesus says:  John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.   In the New Testament Bible, we are taught to pray directly to God through Jesus Christ.   Philippians 4:6   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.   Mary is dead.  She is sleeping.  She cannot hear you or watch over you.  No dead person can do these things.  Dead people are asleep.   Jesus shows us that dead people are "asleep".   John 11:11-14  These things said HE (Jesus): and after that HE saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.   12 Then said His disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.   13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that HE had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.   14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.   Some church people in both Catholic and Protestant churches think dead people watch over them.   The Bible shows us that dead people are asleep.   I Thessalonians 4:13-17  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.   15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep (dead).   16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:   17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.   God watches over us.  Dead people are sleeping until Jesus returns.   In churches today, there are many traditions of men which are opposite to the doctrines of Christ in the Holy Bible.   *****   The protestant churches usually call crackers and grape juice, "The Lord's Supper."    But we commune with God through prayer and through the Bible which is the Word of God.   As we partake of scripture correctly and apply scripture to our lives, we "eat and drink" the flesh of Jesus and the blood of Jesus.  This is "The Lord's Supper."   Therefore those who wrongly apply scripture, "eat and drink" damnation to themselves.   I Corinthians 11   27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.   28 But let a man examine himself (as he reads Bible), and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.   29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.   30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.   31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.   ***   Matthew 15   1-2 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,  Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.   3 But HE answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?   4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.   5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;   6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.   Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.   7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,   8 This people draweth nigh unto ME with their mouth, and honoureth ME with their lips; but their heart is far from ME.   9 But in vain they do worship ME, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.   ***   In February, 2021, a pastor of a Baptist church in Georgia (USA), announced to the world news media that homosexuals and lesbians were welcome to come to their church.   This is shockingly against the Bible.   Romans 1:26-28  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:   27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.   28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;   When I read this on CNN International, I thought of how close we must be getting to the return of Jesus and the great tribulation and the end of this world!   For when the churches fall away from scripture this way, we draw much closer to the end.   The Southern Baptist Convention removed that Baptist church in Georgia from their association of approved churches.  They said they were removed because they went against the "tradition" of the Baptist church.  (They did not mention any scripture at all, just "tradition.")   Even the Southern Baptist Convention pulled away from citing scripture.  (antichrist and the end times)   In The Bible, we read the following concerning homosexuals and lesbians:   Romans 1:26-28   26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:   27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.   28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;   When we, who are of God, give a reason for doing something, it should be because of a scripture in the Bible and we should present that scripture for all to see.   ***   But to be approved by man, many omit Bible.   The Bible, the scriptures, are the only thing keeping antichrist back.   2 Thessalonians 2:7-8  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only HE who now letteth will let, until HE be taken out of the way.   When Jesus, THE WORD, the Holy Scriptures, are removed, then antichrist moves into the church.   8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of HIS mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of HIS coming:   The apostle Paul said antichrist was already there in the churches, among the elders even, just waiting until Paul was out of the way so he could move in and speak perverse things to the church.   Acts 20:29-30  Paul says to the elders of the church at Ephesus:  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.   The apostle John also told us there were "many" antichrists in his day coming into their church.  They came into their church, in John's time, and stayed there until they saw they could not take over and speak their perverse doctrines, and then they left.   I John 2:18-19  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.   Many denominations came as a result of those who did not want to follow sound doctrines in the church groups.   These denominations set up their own doctrines and left the doctrines of Christ.  They set up their own churches by their own fleshly preferences.   Some churches even use some scripture for a time, only to "fall away" from that instruction and set up other teachings by their own thinking to please men.   It seems unreasonable to say:   *  whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.  (The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery)   Words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 5:32   *  Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.  (I Corinthians 7:10-11 ... a commandment of the Lord says Paul)   *  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.  (Romans 7:2-3)   If the divorced woman remarries, she commits adultery.   *  Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.   And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.  (Words of Jesus in Mark 10:11-12)   *  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.  (I Corinthians 7:39)   *  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (Word of Jesus in Matthew 32:5)      - Man who divorces "a faithful wife" will be the cause of her adultery if she remarries.    - Faithful wife who has been divorced by her husband commits adultery if she remarries after divorce.    - Man who marries divorced woman commits adultery.   When churches change the doctrines of Christ away from the New Testament Bible, they fall away from the Word of God and this allows antichrist to come into that church group and reign over the church group.   ***   The Catholic church once taught their followers that if a woman was divorced and she remarried it was a sin. Also they taught that a man could not marry a divorced woman.  But they taught no scripture to back up their rules.   (Also the Catholics taught their followers that they could not read the Bible for they would not understand the Bible and they might get it wrong.)   And more than once, I have heard Catholic individuals say their church told them they did not need to read the Bible, for the Catholic priest would tell them what they needed to know.)   ***   The current Southern Baptist Convention is now stating that they do not welcome to their churches homosexuals or lesbians because it is against their "tradition", but they present no scripture.   As time goes by, they change their rules in their churches, falling away from the doctrines of the scripture of the New Testament Bible, and this is antichrist in the churches.   Their followers often do not know what God says in the Holy Bible about these subjects.   When we say what we believe, we must also tell the scripture upon which our belief is based, otherwise the doctrine is weakened and we get to the point we don't know if this is really what God says or not.   ***   Satan came to Eve to cause Eve to doubt that which God said:   Genesis 3:1  Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?   The devil is the father of lies.  Even in his statement to Eve, he presented perversion of the word from God, for devil said, "every" tree?  No, God didn't say "every" tree.  The devil twists scripture.   (When I recall a scripture, I like to go to that exact scripture in the Bible, for the devil has a way of adding things which are not in the scripture.  So I like to read that section of scripture from the Bible and check exactly what the Bible says to us.)   Genesis 2:9  And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.   15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.   16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:   17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.   (See how the devil twisted this scripture when he spoke with Eve.)   Jesus said this concerning the devil.   John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.   And when we fail to quote exact scripture, we are beginning the falling away from scripture.   Soon it becomes tradition and something other than the exact word from God.   Then we, too, fall away from scripture.   We must deal very carefully with the Word of God and quote that word correctly to others even when they will not understand.   The scripture is all that stands between us and antichrist.   Do not try to lure people to yourself.  Speak the pure Word of God and let them depart if they wish to do so.   I Corinthians 2:14   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.   I Timothy 4:2-3   Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;   ***   Other scriptures in this Podcast:   II Corinthians 6   14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?   15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?   16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be MY people.   17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you,   18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.   ***   When we speak the exact scriptures to them, they will often depart from us when they are unbelievers.   If the unbeliever depart, let him depart.   They will be as thorns in our sides and pricks in our eyes if they are unbelievers and we try to be with them.   Numbers 33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.   By speaking the scriptures, we drive the unbelievers away from us.   If they agree with scripture, when we speak, then they will be saved and given the Spirit of God.   I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.   But as long as an unbeliever chooses to come around you, speak the Word of God as the Spirit brings that word to your mind.

Lazarus_Walks

Jesus offers the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to illustrate how we have the opportunity to use the resources of our faith for our actions here on earth inn in order to prepare for the eternal consequences in the world to come. (Lectionary #233) March 5, 2026 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

Today’s Topics: 1) Gospel – Luke 16:19-31 – Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'” Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) In Part 2, Al Smith joins Terry to continue discussing Bishop Sheen’s Reflections on the Passion of Christ

Why is waiting so hard, especially when we believe we're doing everything right?In today's episode, Richelle Alessi opens up about the struggles and lessons found in trusting God's timing, drawing encouragement from the story of Jesus, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Together, we'll reflect on what it means to wait faithfully, deepen our faith in seasons of uncertainty, and embrace the journey of becoming more patient and trusting children of God.Join our community in prayer and devotion as we seek comfort, perspective, and renewed hope while waiting on the Lord's perfect timing.Tap HERE to send us a text! BECOME A FOUNDING "MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL" MEMBERIf you enjoy your 5 minute daily dose of heaven, we would appreciate your support, and we have a fun way for you to partner with the MMD community! We've launched our "Buy Me a Coffee" membership where you can buy us a latte, OR become a founding member and get monthly bonus video episodes! To donate, go to mymorningdevo.co/join! Support the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can watch our new video episodes on YouTube! Watch Our Video Devotionals NEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? We're so glad you're here! We're the Alessis, a ministry family working together in a church in Miami, FL, and we're so blessed to partner with the My Morning Devotional community and continue the great work done by the show's creator and our friend, Alison Delamota. We pray our personal reflections and devotions will empower you to grow your faith in God, and that you'll join us every morning in prayer! HELP US GROW THE MMD COMMUNITY Subscribe to the show on this app Share this with a friend Join our newsletter Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠Leave a review Support Our Friends and Family Connect with the original host of MMD Alison Delamota Follow our family's podcast The Family Business with The Alessis

Check out this great show from March 17, 2022 Jer 17:5-10 Father talks about the need for examination of conscience Lk 16:19-31 Father talks about why the story of Lazarus is actually funny Letters Father answers a question on sola fide What are Father's thoughts about singing Tantum Ergo during communion? Priest didn't want parishioner to talk about purgatory anymore Are leprechauns evil spirits? How can we show love to those in same-sex relationships without showing approval? Father reads a question about liturgy and Latin Word of the day: Metanoia

Gospel Luke 6:19-31 Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'" Reflection In the world of the Pharisees, they taught what is called the prosperity gospel. But back then it was just simply an understanding that the more that you follow the rules and regulations, the more perfectly you follow the law, the more you would be blessed by God. And the blessing of God was not to make you into a servant as Jesus explains it, but to make you prosperous, important. And all the things you longed for and needed physically, emotionally would be there for you. It was a misunderstanding completely of what it is that God is asking from us. He's not asking us to do what we're told and then be blessed. He's calling us to something so much more complex and beautiful. To be human beings who live in a world listening to our own needs and the needs of others, and longing for nothing more than to relieve the pain and suffering that they see there. The rich man had no interest in anyone who was suffering because they were considered unworthy. What a radical change. That Jesus had brought to the temple and what an important change that would actually save the world. Closing Prayer Father, one might say that you treated the Pharisees harshly and seem to condemn them, but we know basically inside of you there was a longing and a desire that every single one of them would be touched and transformed and move away from their shallow understanding of what God is really about to something richer and fuller. But as you condemn them, it's so clearly that what you were condemning were their ideas, their ways, not them individually. So bless us with understanding and patience with people who are not seeing the role that God has promised to inspire them and nurture them in. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!What if the greatest danger to your soul isn't failure but the pride that follows success? We open Jeremiah 17 and the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to trace a stark contrast: dryness for those who trust in themselves and living water for those who root their hope in God. From there, we step into a Carmelite meditation on humility that reframes discouragement, showing how self-reliance quietly breeds despair while confidence in mercy restores peace, joy, and strength.We read the Gospel with fresh eyes: the rich man's downfall isn't luxury itself but a heart that overlooks Lazarus at his gate. Abraham's reply cuts to the core—God has already spoken through Moses and the prophets; the invitation to conversion stands. That same invitation reaches into our daily patterns. It asks us to notice where we assign credit. Many of us can own our failures, yet we cling to our wins as self-made. True humility does both: it admits fault without despair and returns every success to the Giver. This shift not only guards our hearts from hidden pride but also frees us to serve with generosity.Along the way, we hold up two paths after a fall: Judas's despair and Peter's tears. Both men failed; only one trusted love enough to come back. That trust becomes our Lenten practice—confess quickly, ask boldly, and let grace carry what effort cannot. We close with practical steps for the week, from fasting on Friday to small acts of mercy that keep our roots in living water. If this reflection moves you, share it with a friend, subscribe for the journey through Lent, and leave a review with one way you're practicing humility today.Support the showNeed seafood for Lent? Check out https://shoplobster.com/ and use code AB10 to get 10% from Maine's ONLY Catholic lobster company.Check out our new sponsor, Nic Nac, at www.nicnac.com and use code "AB25%" for 25% off of your first order!********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://avoiding-babylon-shop.fourthwall.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comFull Premium/Locals Shows on Audio Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1987412/subscribeRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rss

Friends of the Rosary,We read in the Gospel today (Luke 16:19-31) the story of the poor and hopeless beggar Lazarus, who is carried to paradise — to the “bosom of Abraham— and the rich man taken to the underworld.The conversation between the rich man buried in the torment of hell and Abraham in heaven is extremely revealing. This parable, presented by Christ himself, depicts an utterly unique view of the afterlife.‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,for I am suffering torment in these flames.'Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is establishedto prevent anyone from crossingwho might wish to go from our side to yoursor from your side to ours.'He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send himto my father's house,for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,lest they too come to this place of torment.'But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.Let them listen to them.'He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'Then Abraham said,‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuadedif someone should rise from the dead.'Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• March 5, 2026, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Wealth doesn't ruin people—comfort does. The biggest danger of being blessed is that your comfort can become a wall that stops you from seeing the "Lazarus" at your gate.  Ask God for the grace to make your success a bridge instead of a barrier, because you are blessed specifically so you can be a blessing.#FULLTANKwithBroBo​ #FULLTANKwithBroBo2026​ #BoSanchez​ #ComfortZone​ #FaithInAction​ #Luke16​ #Generosity​ #TrulyRichMindset​ #SpiritualMaturity​ #BlessedToBeABlessing​ #Compassion​ #Anawim​--- PS. Do you want to grow your finances but don't know how? For the past 18 years, I've received a lot of “thank yous” from so many TrulyRichClub members because once upon a time, they were stuck in their finances but through the club, they learned how to invest and they're on their way to financial freedom. If you want to grow your finances and reach your financial dream, go to www.trulyrichclub.com now or go to trc.ph/events to join our upcoming seminars!Support this podcast. Help me reach others by supporting this podcast.To support my mission work, click this link now! http://BuyMeACoffee.com/brotherbosanchez

One of my favorite stories of the parables that Jesus told is the story of Lazarus and the rich man. In the story, Lazarus lies at the door of the rich man's house. Fr. Kubicki shares the most important lesson from this story on today's reflection.

Im Podcast "Blick in die Bibel“ spricht Mathias Peter mit Pfarrer Lothar Anhalt aus Linz am Rhein über den Alltag in der Kirche 2026. Seelsorge ist herausfordernder geworden. Viele Menschen kommen nur noch zu besonderen Momenten. Neue Gottesdienstformen wie die Sommerkirche im Pfarrgarten machen Mut, doch einfache Lösungen für leere Kirchen gibt es nicht. Im Evangelium nach Lukas-Evangelium erzählt Jesus vom reichen Mann und dem armen Lazarus. Pfarrer Anhalt betont: Problematisch ist nicht der Besitz, sondern fehlendes Mitgefühl. Am Ende zählt, was im Leben wirklich trägt. Eine ehrliche, nachdenkliche Folge, die Mut macht und zum Weiterhören einlädt.Aus dem Lukaevangelium:In jener Zeit sprach Jesus zu den Pharisäern: Es war einmal ein reicher Mann, der sich in Purpur und feines Leinen kleidete und Tag für Tag glanzvolle Feste feierte. Vor der Tür des Reichen aber lag ein armer Mann namens Lázarus, dessen Leib voller Geschwüre war. Er hätte gern seinen Hunger mit dem gestillt, was vom Tisch des Reichen herunterfiel. Stattdessen kamen die Hunde und leckten an seinen Geschwüren. Es geschah aber: Der Arme starb und wurde von den Engeln in Abrahams Schoß getragen. Auch der Reiche starb und wurde begraben. In der Unterwelt, wo er qualvolle Schmerzen litt, blickte er auf und sah von Weitem Abraham und Lázarus in seinem Schoß. Da rief er: Vater Abraham, hab Erbarmen mit mir und schick Lázarus; er soll die Spitze seines Fingers ins Wasser tauchen und mir die Zunge kühlen, denn ich leide große Qual in diesem Feuer. Abraham erwiderte: Mein Kind, erinnere dich daran, dass du schon zu Lebzeiten deine Wohltaten erhalten hast, Lázarus dagegen nur Schlechtes. Jetzt wird er hier getröstet, du aber leidest große Qual. Außerdem ist zwischen uns und euch ein tiefer, unüberwindlicher Abgrund, sodass niemand von hier zu euch oder von dort zu uns kommen kann, selbst wenn er wollte. Da sagte der Reiche: Dann bitte ich dich, Vater, schick ihn in das Haus meines Vaters! Denn ich habe noch fünf Brüder. Er soll sie warnen, damit nicht auch sie an diesen Ort der Qual kommen. Abraham aber sagte: Sie haben Mose und die Propheten, auf die sollen sie hören. Er erwiderte: Nein, Vater Abraham, aber wenn einer von den Toten zu ihnen kommt, werden sie umkehren. Darauf sagte Abraham zu ihm: Wenn sie auf Mose und die Propheten nicht hören, werden sie sich auch nicht überzeugen lassen, wenn einer von den Toten aufersteht. (Lk 16,19-31)(© Ständige Kommission für die Herausgabe der gemeinsamen liturgischen Bücher im deutschen Sprachgebiet)

Read OnlineWhen the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. Luke 16:22–23 Money is dangerous, as are power, notoriety, physical beauty, and exceptional talent. All of these are often desired, sought after, and envied. In and of themselves, each has the potential for great good. But because of that, they also have the potential for great sin. The Gospel passage above presents us with the eternal consequences of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury, dressed in fine clothes, ate sumptuously every day, and hoarded his wealth. Lazarus, in stark contrast, was dirt poor, covered with sores, and longed to eat the scraps of food often given to dogs. The story's crux is that their lifestyles were reversed when they died. From the netherworld, a place of great torment, the rich man begged Abraham for relief and to raise Lazarus from the dead to warn the rich man's five brothers. Abraham replies with perfect truth and justice: “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” With that, the story ends. Which person would you rather be? If we removed everything from the story that took place after their deaths, most people would likely choose the life of the rich man. Only when we add the eternal consequences to the story does the choice become clear. Is it possible to be rich and still attain Heaven? Or is it possible to have earthly power, beauty, and natural talents that lead to great success and notoriety in this life and still attain Heaven? Certainly it is, but only if the Gospel is embraced, regardless of your state. Whether a person is rich or poor, successful or not, beautiful, talented, or lacking in these, the question is the same for us all: Have I generously and wholeheartedly placed all that I am and all that I have at the service of God? Or have I made a god of passing things? Even those who lack the “good” things mentioned above run the risk of seeing their lack of them as the source of their earthly misery. This is just as dangerous. The bottom line is that God must be our God, no matter who we are, what we have, how we are perceived, how we look, or what natural gifts we possess. Furthermore, our God-given virtues become the means by which we exercise God's will in this world, in preparation for the next. Money, power, notoriety, beauty, and talent are “dangerous” in that they tempt us to make them gods. They become true blessings when they are fully dedicated to the exclusive service of God and His will. Poverty and every worldly misfortune have the same potential for danger and blessing. When poverty or misfortunes in life are embraced and offered to God as a sacrifice for His glory, they produce abundant blessings. When they are disdained and perceived as obstacles to happiness, then we have turned that which we desire into a false god. Reflect today on how fully you have dedicated your life to God and His holy will. Whether you are more like the rich man or poor Lazarus, hold nothing back from God's grace. Your entire life, the good and the bad, must be united to Christ for the glory of God the Father. That is the one and only path to true eternal riches. Lord of superabundance, every good thing comes from You. Please free me from my attachments and desires for the passing things of this world so that my life may become more selfless and sacrificial. I rededicate myself to You and the service of Your holy will so that my eternity will be one of unimaginable blessings. Jesus, I trust in You.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

When God comes first in our lives our decisions and actions don't always make sense of feel good to the flesh (ours and others) or to our culture. What can we learn from Jesus with Lazarus? Share. Make it a great day in the Love & Lordship of Christ (John 11)!

When He could've stopped it… When He could've healed it… When He could've answered it… 1. Love that delays John 11:1-2 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary whoanointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother […]

Mandy Fowler and Pastor Alex Fernandez discuss week 9 of “Eyes Wide Open,” the fascinating story of Jesus raising Lazarus, and what it reveals to us about our own experiences of grief and loss.

A message from one of our Elders, Joseph Dubois.

Mandy Fowler and Pastor Alex Fernandez discuss week 9 of “Eyes Wide Open,” the fascinating story of Jesus raising Lazarus, and what it reveals to us about our own experiences of grief and loss.

What if the biggest threat to your faith isn't atheism… but the system you quietly benefit from every day?In John 11 and 12, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and exposes something bigger than a miracle. He reveals the real battle. Corrupt religion. Corrupt government. Corrupt money. The same forces that killed Him are still alive today. And they don't just oppose Jesus. They oppose anyone who follows Him. This message asks a hard question: Are we serving Christ, or are we protecting our comfort? Because loving this world always costs more than we think.Jesus said if you love your life in this world, you lose it. But if you hate the broken system and follow Him, you gain real life. That means stepping out of passive belief and into action. It means refusing to fund what destroys souls. It means fighting for the vulnerable. It means choosing the glory that comes from God over the approval of people. Free people free people. And this is our watch.

Mike Erre - This week we look at the last of the 7 signs - the raising of Lazarus from the dead. 

Dealing with disappointment and unanswered prayers is one of the most challenging aspects of faith. This powerful message explores how to find hope when God doesn't show up the way we expect Him to. Through the biblical story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, discover why Jesus sometimes delays His intervention and what this means for your faith journey. Learn practical strategies for handling deep disappointment, broken expectations, and spiritual doubt. Topics covered include understanding God's timing, the difference between delay and denial, how to pray through disappointment, finding faith after loss, trusting God when life doesn't make sense, and growing stronger through trials. Whether you're struggling with unanswered prayers, facing unexpected loss, dealing with broken relationships, or questioning God's love during difficult times, this message offers biblical wisdom and practical hope. Explore themes of spiritual growth through suffering, the purpose of pain in the Christian life, how to maintain faith during dark seasons, and discovering God's character through disappointment. Perfect for anyone seeking encouragement during challenging circumstances, understanding divine timing, or learning to trust God's plan when it differs from their expectations. Find comfort in knowing that delay doesn't equal denial and that God's love remains constant even when His timing doesn't match our hopes.

Pastor Tom Messer's exploration of the afterlife confronts us with one of Jesus' most sobering teachings: the story of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16. At its core, this message challenges our assumptions about eternity and forces us to reckon with two fundamental truths: our souls are immortal, and there are only two eternal destinations. The rich man's torment wasn't punishment for wealth itself, but for building his entire identity on riches rather than on God. Meanwhile, Lazarus, whose very name means 'God is my help,' refused to let his desperate circumstances define him. Instead, he used his suffering to drive him toward God, recognizing his deep spiritual poverty and need for divine rescue. What emerges is a stark contrast between comfort and torment, between a life built on the solid foundation of Christ and one constructed on the shifting sands of worldly security. The urgency of this message cannot be overstated: we discover that hell is not primarily about fire and brimstone, but about becoming the worst version of ourselves eternally, trapped in an identity built on anything other than God. Yet within this sobering reality shines the brilliant light of God's love, demonstrated most powerfully when Jesus cried out on the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' In that moment, He experienced the very separation and torment we deserved, paying an eternal debt we could never pay ourselves.

John 11: 1-44 The first Sunday of Lent Susan Scott delivered a shorter sermon than normal to allow time for a major church life meeting after the service. Lent is a season when we tend to lean more intentionally into engaging with the life and character of Jesus. The scripture was story of Lazarus' resurrection. We all know the outcome, so it is easy to forget all the pain, suffering, and disappointment that occurred during his death when they expected Jesus to be there and do something to save his friend. He isn't even there to offer comfort. People sent word to Jesus and he stayed put for two days. Forcing this tragedy so that he can perform a great miracle seems callous of Jesus. What his followers do not understand is that Jesus is preparing them for the anguish, doubt, and fear that will happen to them after he is crucified. Join Susan Scott as she uses her sermonette to explore this seldom considered part of the Lazarus story and what lesson we can take from it for our own faith journeys.

This parable of the rich man and Lazarus, uniquely recorded in Luke 16, presents a stark contrast between worldly wealth and eternal faith, emphasizing that eternal destiny is determined not by material status but by the condition of the heart—whether one lives in faith and compassion or in selfishness and unbelief. Jesus uses the story to warn of the irreversible reality of hell, where the unrepentant face eternal torment, not because of poverty or riches alone, but because they rejected God's Word and failed to respond to divine mercy during their earthly lives. The rich man's fate underscores that earthly blessings, if hoarded and misused, become a curse, while Lazarus's suffering is met with divine comfort, illustrating that true wealth lies in faith and hope in God's promises. The parable also affirms the sufficiency of Scripture—Moses and the prophets—as the ultimate revelation of God's will, rejecting the notion that miracles alone can produce faith, since even resurrection fails to convert those who refuse to hear the Word. Ultimately, the message is a call to repentance and faith, urging listeners to prioritize eternal realities over temporal pleasures, knowing that every choice made in this life has eternal consequence.

You can be rescued… and still restricted.In Week Two of It Stops With Me, we look at one of the most powerful stories in Scripture — the raising of Lazarus in John 11 — and uncover a truth many believers miss:Salvation brings you out.mFreedom takes the grave clothes off.It's possible to be alive in Christ and still feel wrapped up in shame, fear, old patterns, or lingering lies. But Jesus didn't just call you out of the tomb — He called you into freedom.This message challenges us to stop settling for “free-ish” and start walking in what Jesus actually paid for.Because who the Son sets free is free indeed.

To Be Like Him | His Love Is More| John 11:1-46This year, we're studying the gospels as one harmonious story in order to see the glory of God as revealed through them with the clearest picture of God in the person of Jesus painted for us and “To Be Like Him.”In today's sermon, pastor Abie Kulynych discusses Jesus' relationship with Lazarus as a reflection of God's heart for His people and the call to trust Him even in difficulties.

It's important to remember that the Gospels are both the inerrant word of God and a carefully constructed narrative full of dramatic contrasts. Nowhere is this more evident than in Mark 14 and the contrast between Judas the disciple and Mary the sister of Jesus' friend Lazarus. They are both totally devoted to…different things! This sermon we'll explore the differences between them, the difference it makes to their relationship with Jesus, and the example each are to us as Jesus' disciples today.

This powerful message takes us deep into the heart of the greatest commandment, examining what it truly means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Through the moving account of Jesus at Lazarus's tomb in John 11, we discover that emotional maturity isn't about suppressing our feelings or reacting impulsively, but about responding appropriately with love at the center. Jesus wept at Lazarus's death even though He knew He was about to raise him from the dead. This wasn't weakness but profound emotional strength, entering into grief while remaining anchored in purpose. We're challenged to examine the difference between being a thermometer that merely reflects the emotional temperature of our surroundings versus being a thermostat that sets it through Christ-centered love. The message confronts us with diagnostic questions: What drives our emotional highs and lows? Do we love God first, or are we living for approval, comfort, or control? When pressed, do our emotions push us toward love or away from it? The cross becomes our ultimate picture of emotional strength, where Jesus chose love and forgiveness despite betrayal, abandonment, and agony. This isn't a call to perfection but to trajectory, inviting us to bring our reactive hearts to the Lord and allow Him to transform our emotional lives into instruments of grace rather than weapons of destruction.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for Him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with Him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:1-3)

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. … So the sisters sent to Jesus, saying, “Lord, he whom You love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it He said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God …. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [Therefore,] when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. (John 11:1, 3-4a, 5-6)

Do you ever feel your faith shrink after a setback—like hope is slipping through your fingers?In this episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef continues the journey of overcoming pessimism by revealing the next steps toward steady confidence in Christ. While yesterday's foundation was knowing who you are in Jesus, today tackles what happens when fear, opposition, or disappointment hits your “hot buttons” and you start expecting the worst.Through the life of Thomas, Dr. Youssef highlights how Jesus overpowers pessimism in real time:How to handle setbacks without losing confidence (John 11): Thomas assumed following Jesus to Bethany would end in death—but Jesus shattered that fear by raising Lazarus, proving His authority even over the grave.How Christ's resurrection defeats chronic doubt (John 20:25–28): Thomas demanded proof—until the risen Jesus stood before him. Encountering the living Christ transformed him from skeptic to worshiper: “My Lord and my God!”Why your hope is never tied to circumstances: Jesus is alive, reigning at the right hand of the Father, and still redeeming situations that look beyond repair.If you've been bracing for disappointment, stuck in “realistic” negativity, or quietly wondering if God will come through—this devotional will help you remember what Thomas learned firsthand: the resurrected Christ changes what's possible.Scripture Focus: Psalm 66:5 The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

Sunday, February 22, 2026 Richmond's First Baptist Church

Microsoft just dropped patches for SIX actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities — and that's just the beginning. In this week's Hacking News, we break down the February 2026 Patch Tuesday emergency, North Korea's Lazarus Group poisoning npm and PyPI through fake job recruiters, nation-state hackers weaponizing Google's Gemini AI (including malware that writes its own payloads), a massive Dutch telecom breach affecting 6.2 million people, and a U.S. government contractor breach that ballooned from 4 million to potentially tens of millions affected. This is Exploit Brokers by Forgebound Research — cybersecurity news, threat intelligence, and insights. Whether you're a security analyst, developer, or just someone who wants to stay informed, this episode has something for you.

John 12:38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" John placed Jesus in the long line of prophets who testified to Israel, yet were not believed. The raising of Lazarus, as well as the healing of the blind and lame men, were displays of the strength (arm) of the Lord, yet there was no revelation given to Israel. Isn't that amazing? Why not? So that they would do the greater will of the lord by crucifying Him for the fulfillment of prophecy and partner in the greatest display of love in the history of mankind. Check out Acts 4:26-28. “‘The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.' For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” May we be in awe of God's love for us and let's trust God's wisdom as He gives revelation to whom He wishes as we live to love with Him.

Michael Shearon is joined by Hannah Buttram, Paxton Redd, and first-time guest A.B. Rushing for a lively episode of Beyond Sunday, stepping in while Josh is out sick. The crew kicks things off with a relatable “this-or-that” game around everyday frustrations, setting up an honest and practical conversation about anger, irritation, and the small moments that reveal what's really happening in our hearts. Through humor and personal stories, the team explores how reactions in everyday life can expose deeper spiritual patterns. The discussion then turns toward Michael's message on Jesus, Lazarus, and the reality that anger isn't always sinful—but it must be guarded well. The group reflects on accusational anger, bitterness that drains hope, and how Christ's compassion reshapes our responses. They share real-world practices like slowing down, stepping away, praying honestly, and asking better questions of our emotions, while also looking ahead to next week's focus on forgiveness and highlighting upcoming church events and volunteer opportunities.

Im Lukas-Evangelium lesen wir einen Bericht aus dem Munde Jesu. Im 16. Kapitel heißt es dort: “Es war aber ein reicher Mann, der kleidete sich…

SolarWinds patches four critical remote code execution vulnerabilities. A ransomware attack on Conduant puts the data of over 25 million Americans at risk. RoguePilot enables Github repository takeovers. ZeroDayRat targets Android and iOS devices. North Korea's Lazarus group deploy Medusa ransomware against organizations in the U.S. and the Middle East. Attackers' breakout times drop to under half an hour.  CISA maintains its mission despite staffing challenges. Russian satellites draw fresh scrutiny. Two South Korean teenagers are charged with breaching Seoul's public bike service. Krishna Sai, CTO at SolarWinds, discusses why leaders should focus less on speculating about an AI bubble, and more on how to quantify AI's tangible contributions. The Pope pushes prayerful priests past predictable programs.  Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today we are joined by Krishna Sai, CTO at SolarWinds, discussing why leaders should focus less on speculating about an AI bubble, and more on how to quantify AI's tangible contributions. Selected Reading Critical SolarWinds Serv-U flaws offer root access to servers (Bleeping Computer) Massive Conduent Data Breach Exfiltrates 8 TB Affects Over 25 Million Americans (GB Hackers) GitHub Issues Abused in Copilot Attack Leading to Repository Takeover (SecurityWeek) New ZeroDayRAT Malware Claims Full Monitoring of Android and iOS Devices (Hackread) North Korean state hackers seen using Medusa ransomware in attacks on US, Middle East (The Record) CrowdStrike says attackers are moving through networks in under 30 minutes (CyberScoop) Shutdown at D.H.S. Extends to Cyber Agency, Adding to Setbacks (The New York Times) From Cold War interceptors to Ukraine: how Russia came to park spy satellites next to the West's most sensitive tech in orbit (Meduza) Korean cops charge two teens over Seoul bike hire breach (The Register) Pope tells priests to use their brains, not AI, to write homilies (EWTN News) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry's most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Bowie, aka David Jones, aka Ziggy Stardust, aka Aladdin Sane, aka The Thin White Duke, aka The Man Who Fell to Earth had a vision of a future where everybody would be androgynous. Maybe the trans movement of today found its initial voice with him back in the ‘70s, when he proclaimed “make way for the homo superior.” Like so many others at the time, I glimpsed this insight that proposed expanding beyond the narrow labels to which I had been assigned. Like an annunciating alien, David Bowie descended upon the earth to spread his message of an evolving species by employing his celestial musicianship and ethereal beauty. His music inspired others, as we will see from the following playlist, as did this ideal that combined rock and roll with science fiction and glamour. Remaining faithful to the promise of his beatific vision, before he died Bowie prepared a final statement to be delivered posthumously: “Lazarus” in which he greeted us from the cosmos: “Look, I'm in heaven…” Even in death he remained eternally loving, and ever hopeful for our advancement.All the Young Dudes (Mott the Hoople)The Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana) / The Man Who Sold The World, 1970Life on Mars (Seu Jorges) / Hunky Dory, 1971Space Oddity (Brandi Carlisle) / David Bowie, 1969Rebel Rebel (Rickie Lee Jones) / Diamond Dogs, 1974Andy Warhol (Stone Temple Pilots) / Hunky Dory, 19715 Years (Cowboy Junkies) / The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, 1972Heroes (Peter Gabriel) / Heroes, 1977Under Pressure (Karen O and Willie Nelson) / Hot Space (w/ Queen), 1981Ziggy Stardust (Bauhaus) / The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, 1972

We're so glad you're listening to our podcast! We are now in the season of Lent in the life of the church. Lent is a season of preparation, reflection, and repentance in the lead up to Holy Week and Easter. This sermon is based on John 11:1–44, the story of the raising of Lazarus. We hope this sermon will be meaningful to you this week. We're also so glad you're joining us on this journey into Lent together.To find out more about our church, you can head on over to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.williamsburgbaptist.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have a moment, we'd also love for you to click over to follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.We are a small but vibrant and growing congregation, and there are lots of ways to connect. Please don't hesitate to reach out if we can help support you in any way! Thanks so much for tuning in!

• Pastor Karyn's message for: Sun, Feb. 22 2026• John 11:1-44 (Jesus Raises Lazarus)• Narrative Lectionary: Year 4• From First Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI• Support this ministry at 1stlu.org/give• Join us! 1stlu.org/worship

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Jake Hamilton, founder of Groundwire and Nockbox, to explore zero-knowledge proofs, Bitcoin identity systems, and the intersection of privacy-preserving cryptography with AI and blockchain technology. They discuss how ZK proofs could offer an alternative to invasive identity verification systems being rolled out by governments worldwide, the potential for continual learning AI models to shift the balance between centralized and open-source development, and why building secure, auditable computing infrastructure on platforms like Urbit matters more than ever as we face an explosion of AI agents and automated systems. Jake also explains Nockchain's approach to creating a global repository of cryptographically verified facts that can power trustless programmable systems, and how these technologies might converge to solve problems around supply chain security, personal data sovereignty, and resistance to censorship.Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Groundwire and Knockbox02:48 Understanding Zero-Knowledge Proofs06:04 Government Adoption of ZK Proofs08:55 The Future of Identity Verification11:52 AI and ZK Proofs: A New Era14:54 The Role of Urbit in Technology18:03 The Impact of COVID on Trust20:51 The Evolution of AI and Data Privacy23:47 The Future of AI Models26:54 The Need for Local AI Solutions29:51 Interoperability of Knockchain and BitcoinKey Insights1. Zero-Knowledge Proofs Enable Privacy-Preserving Verification: Jake explains that ZK proofs allow you to prove computational outcomes without revealing the underlying data. For example, you could prove you're over 18 without exposing your full identity or driver's license information. The proof demonstrates that a specific program ran through certain steps and reached a particular conclusion, and validating this proof is fast and compact. This technology has profound implications for age verification, identity systems, and protecting privacy while maintaining necessary compliance, potentially offering a middle path between surveillance states and complete anonymity.2. Government Adoption of Privacy Technology Remains Uncertain: There are three competing motivations driving government identity verification systems: genuine surveillance desires, bureaucratic efficiency seeking, and legitimate child protection concerns. Jake believes these groups can be separated, with some officials potentially supporting ZK-based solutions if positioned correctly. He notes the EU is exploring ZK identity verification, and UK officials have shown interest. The key is framing privacy-preserving technology as protection against "the swamp" rather than just abstract privacy benefits, which could resonate with certain political constituencies.3. The COVID Era Destroyed Institutional Trust at Unprecedented Scale: The conversation identifies COVID as potentially the largest institutional trust-burning event in human history, with numerous institutions simultaneously losing credibility with large portions of the population. This represents a dramatic shift from the boomer generation's default trust in authority figures and mainstream media. This collapse is compounded by the incoming AI revolution, creating a perfect storm where established bureaucracies cannot adapt quickly enough to manage rapidly evolving technology, leaving society in fundamentally unmanageable territory.4. Centralized AI Models Create Dangerous Dependencies: Both speakers acknowledge growing dependence on centralized AI services like Claude, with some users spending thousands monthly on tokens. This dependency creates vulnerability to price increases and service disruptions. Jake advocates for local AI deployment using models like DeepSeek R1, running on personal hardware to maintain control and privacy. The shift toward continuous learning models will fundamentally change the AI landscape, making personal data harvesting even more valuable and raising urgent questions about compensation and consent for training data contribution.5. High-Quality Training Data Is Becoming the Primary AI Bottleneck: Stewart argues that AI development is now limited more by high-quality training data than by compute power. The industry has exhausted easily accessible internet data and body-shop-style data labeling. Companies are now using specialized boutique services with techniques like head-mounted cameras for live-streaming world model training. This scarcity is subtly driving price increases across AI services and will fundamentally reshape the economics of AI development, with implications for who controls these increasingly powerful systems.6. Urbit Offers a Foundation for Trustworthy Computing: Jake positions Urbit as essential infrastructure for the AI age because its 30,000-line codebase (versus Unix's three million lines) can be understood by individual humans. Its deterministic, purely functional, and strictly typed design aims for eventual ossification—software that doesn't require constant security patches. This "tiny and diamond perfect" approach addresses the fundamental insecurity of systems requiring monthly vulnerability patches. In an era of AI agents and potential prompt injection attacks, having verifiable, comprehensible computing infrastructure becomes existentially important rather than merely desirable.7. Nockchain Creates a Global Repository of Provable Truth: Jake's vision for Nockchain combines ZK proofs with blockchain technology to create a globally available "truth repository" where verified facts can be programmatically accessed together. This enables smart contracts or programs gated on combinations of proven facts—such as temperature readings from secure devices, supply chain events, and payment confirmations. By using Nock's abstract, simple design optimized for ZK proof generation, the system can validate complex real-world conditions without exposing underlying data, creating infrastructure for coordinating action based on verifiable private information at global scale.

There is often a gap between the moment the hurt arrives and the moment Jesus shows up. The grief, the loss, the unanswered prayer — all of it unfolds while we wait. And waiting can feel like absence. Like neglect. Like God is taking His time… just because.Martha knew that feeling well. She had seen Jesus heal the sick, restore the broken, and perform miracles that defied reason. So when her brother Lazarus became ill, she expected the same response. Instead, Jesus arrived after the funeral. After the tears. After hope had already been buried.John 11 reminds us that delay is not denial — but it doesn't soften the pain of the delay. Martha's heartbreak was real. Her question was honest. And Jesus did not rebuke her grief. He stepped into it.In this story, Lazarus rises. But the harder question lingers: what if your situation doesn't?What if the thing you prayed would live… dies?What if healing doesn't come the way you imagined?What if Jesus still shows up — but not in time to change the outcome you wanted?Before the Savior comes, faith is tested. Not in the miracle, but in the waiting. Not in the resurrection, but in the trust that His ways are higher, His thoughts are wiser, and His love remains — even when the ending doesn't look like resurrection.Can we trust His sovereignty when we don't understand His timing?Can we trust His love when the story doesn't resolve how we hoped?Can we trust that He is still good — even then?Because sometimes faith isn't believing God can raise the dead.It's believing He is still God when He doesn't.Reference Scripture:John 11:1-44Support the show

Today we are going to look into the book of John and see what is called the first sign. John's gospel account is laid out in a really cool structure. It is the first of Seven Signs that point to Jesus being the Son of God. Turning water into wine, Healing the official's son, healing the paralytic, feeding the 5,000, walking on water, healing the blind man, raising Lazarus. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31Here's what I want you to hold onto today:The water into wine is the sign.A sign. Not because it was less than miraculous. It absolutely was miraculous. But John wants you to know: don't stop at the sign. Follow the sign. Let it point you somewhere.But the sign is pointing you toward three things:Who Jesus is. Why Jesus came. What Jesus offers.On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:1-5A sign always points to the greater thing.WHO HE WAS v. 1-5, 11"The sign reveals Jesus' identity."John 2:1-5Wedding feast. Wine runs out. Cultural shame for the family. Mary brings it to Jesus.Notice Jesus' response in v.4: "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."This sounds cold to modern ears. But "Woman" is a term of respect in that culture—He uses it again at the cross when He entrusts Mary to John (John 19:26).John 2:11APPLICATION:Most of us want Jesus to be a problem-solver, not a Lord.Mary comes to Him with a practical problem: no wine.Jesus responds as Lord: My hour has not yet come.He solves the problem—but He does it on His terms, in His timing, for His purposes.The sign points to this: He's not a genie. He's a King.2. WHY JESUS CAME v. 6-10"The sign reveals Jesus' mission"John 2:6-10Before Passover, before Sabbath, before meals—you wash. It's the system. The ritual. The religion. And it was never enough.You washed your hands and went right back to being the same person.Jesus doesn't add more water to the jars. He transforms them.This is the picture of the gospel:He doesn't just improve the old system. He replaces it with something entirely new.He doesn't make you a better version of who you were. He makes you new.THIS IS A SIGN POINTING TO SOMETHING GREATER:In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah is describing the Messianic Banquet—the end-of-all-things feast when God finally restores everything.Isaiah 25:6-8Isaiah is describing the Messianic Banquet—the end-of-all-things feast when God finally restores everything.Aged wine. The finest. Death swallowed up. Tears wiped away.And Jesus shows up at a wedding in Cana and quietly produces 120-180 gallons of the best wine anyone has ever tasted.He's not just filling jars. He's announcing: I am the fulfillment of Isaiah 25. The banquet has begun. The Messiah is here.Why He came: Not to patch up the old. To inaugurate the new. To launch the feast that never ends.3. WHAT HE OFFERS v10"The sign reveals what's available to us""What he is saying is, 'I come as Lord of the feast. Yes, I come to do self-denial. I come to suffer, and I come to be humbled. If you follow me, you will too. There will be plenty of self-denial and suffering and humbling too, but these are just means to an end. Here's the end. As Master of the banquet, as Lord of the feast, I am come.'" — Timothy Keller

The Jesus Story: Wk. 15 (Lazarus Raised)

Tap here to send us a message!In the story of Lazarus, Jesus reveals that what appears to be sleep is not the end, reminding us how close eternity truly is and how deeply the soul longs for life. Each time we close our eyes in sleep, we are reminded of our frailty and our need for the One who is the resurrection and the life. Just as there is a purity and innocence that draws us to a baby, so we are called to return to childlike faith, allowing our souls to cry out to God with sincerity, dependence, and trust.02/19/2026 - Thursday NightScriptures: John 11:11-14; 21-25; 39-44

Faith tied to outcomes is weak and unsteady, but faith tethered only to Jesus Christ is fruitful, multiplicative, unshakeable and eternal. Isn't this the faith you long for? In this episode, Peter dives deep into the testimony of Lazarus and the joy of being fully awake to Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life.Join us weekly on Zoom for Gospel Hour on Wednesdays at 9a CST here:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9657760302Find a Gospel Night near you here.Click here to grow the Braveheart Garden.Send a textSupport the show