Podcasts about lhf

Reverse mentorship, leveraging team strengths and empowering early talent with the space to ask questions - this episode is packed with valuable takeaways for anyone managing or developing young professionals in today's hybrid working world.At March's edition of The Last Thursday Club, we brought together a fantastic panel of experts to explore how managers can help young professionals thrive in both remote and in-office environments. Joining the IAB's Amelia Lloyd around the table to discuss the challenges and opportunities of training new talent were Mobsta's Sophie Cunningham, the7stars' Jonathan Harrison and Zenith UK's Chloe Duval.Book next month's Last Thursday Club on the LHF ad ban here: https://www.iabuk.com/events-training/last-thursday-club-april-how-brands-are-preparing-lhf-ad-ban Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Roots and Hoots, host Gordon Spence is pleased to be joined by two outstanding staff members at the Legacy of Hope Foundation, Tara Devlin and Hannah Vicaire. Tara and Hannah are the Indigenous Community Engagement Officers at LHF and through their work and life experiences, provide impactful workshops to Indigenous communities across Canada. Tara and Hannah share many great stories and lessons learned from their travels, along with what they are looking forward to in 2025. Both are humble role models to their families and communities, carrying with them a notion which guides their work to ‘be who you needed'. If you are interested in learning more about their workshop offerings, please contact tdevlin@legacyofhope.ca . Show Notes: Chapleau Cree First Nation  Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation Intergenerational Trauma and Residential Schools Sixties Scoop LHF Shopify page Sugarcane Documentary Film LHF's Survivors Portal: Interweaving Our Communities Hobbs and Associates is a proud sponsor of the Roots and Hoots podcast and you can visit their website at hobbsltd.ca For more information about the Legacy of Hope Foundation, please visit legacyofhope.ca

Joe Jencks is a 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter, and a celebrated vocalist based in Chicago. Merging conservatory training with his Irish roots and working-class upbringing, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Pete Seeger said “The spirit of Folk music is people working together. Joe is a fantastic singer who carries on the traditions.” Today, Joe tells us the story behind his song “Christmas in Mansfield,” where Armco locked out 620 steel workers on September 1, 1999. A note from LHT host Chris Garlock: Labor History Today is brought to you by the Labor Heritage Foundation, which works to preserve labor culture and history. If you want to support our work, please consider contributing to LHF; it's tax deductible and right now all contributions are being matched. Click here to give; thank you! Questions, comments, or suggestions are welcome, and to find out how you can be a part of Labor History Today, email us at LaborHistoryToday@gmail.com Labor History Today is produced by the Labor Heritage Foundation and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. @JoeJencksMusic #LaborRadioPod #History #WorkingClass #ClassStruggle @GeorgetownKILWP #LaborHistory @UMDMLA @ILLaborHistory @AFLCIO @StrikeHistory #LaborHistory @wrkclasshistory  

This short but profound epistle centers on Onesimus, a runaway bondservant who has become a brother in Christ. Paul makes a bold, loving appeal for Philemon—his master and prominent Christian leader in Colossae, to receive Onesimus not as a slave, but as a beloved brother, embodying the reconciliation made possible through the Gospel. The Apostle appeals to forgiveness, Christian love, and the transformation of earthly relationships in light of our shared identity in Christ as he urges Onesimus to do the right thing.   The Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador, Mission Executive for the South Wisconsin District—LCMS, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Paul's letter to Philemon. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

How does the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) work to promote the gospel throughout our world today? Andy and Sarah are joined by the Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise (Executive Director, LHF) and the Rev. Dr. Ted NaThalang (Southeast Asia Translation Coordinator, LHF) to discuss the LHF's ongoing ministry in Asia. Learn more about the work of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation at https://lhfmissions.org/. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How does the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) provide Lutheran resources for Spanish speakers? The Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise (Executive Director for Lutheran Heritage Foundation) joins Andy and Sarah during our Hispanic Heritage Month series to talk about how the Lord is providing for and reaching people of Hispanic heritage with Christ-centered resources, the types of resources available in the Spanish language, how Spanish resources are used in the United States, and how LHF builds relationships with missionaries and partner churches to meet needs. Learn more about LHF and request resources at lhfmissions.org. Learn more about LCMS Hispanic Ministry at lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/hispanic-ministry.

Shrouded in mysterious visions of cosmic battles, plagues, and catastrophic events, the Apocalypse of St. John, or as it's more commonly known--the Book of Revelation, paints a haunting picture of the end times. Cryptic symbols of beasts, the rise of the Antichrist, and the final judgment unfold with unsettling intensity, revealing the ultimate clash between good and evil. Yet, beneath its terrifying imagery, Revelation is also a deeply personal letter, offering comfort to early Christians facing persecution. It reassures them—and believers today—of God's control over history, His promise of redemption, and the certainty of Christ's victory.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

In this episode, we're joined by Jessica Buckley, President and CEO of the Lung Health Foundation (LHF), and Dr. Dawn Bowdish, scientist and the Executive Director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health and member of the Board of Directors of the LHF. We talk about how asthma, despite being common, can be complicated to diagnose and that many are living with uncontrolled asthma. Jessica and Dawn also share recent survey results of asthma patients' experience, and how patients can set health goals with an asthma action plan and advocate for better air quality. Among the highlights in this episode: 01:32: Dawn shares her journey to becoming a leading researcher in respiratory health and her role at the Firestone Institute 01:58: Jessica talks about the mission and impact of the Lung Health Foundation in advocating for lung health across Canada 02:33: Jessica shares her personal motivation driven by family experiences with lung diseases, emphasizing the widespread need for lung health awareness 03:06: Dawn discusses how personal encounters at a gala event deeply influenced her dedication to lung health advocacy 05:34: Dawn explains the medical basics of asthma, its triggers, and the importance of proper diagnosis and management 08:09: Jessica addresses common issues faced by individuals living with asthma, particularly the lack of proper asthma action plans 10:36: Dawn discusses how external factors like air quality and climate change are increasingly important for asthma management 14:20: Jessica explains how the Lung Health Foundation educates the public and advocates for policies to improve lung health 17:21: Jessica discusses a new campaign aimed at enhancing public appreciation for lung health and proactive care 19:14: Dawn and Jessica offer insights into the advancements in asthma treatment and the importance of an effective asthma action plan 21:42: What our hosts learned from this episode Contact Our Hosts Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org Zoe Rothblatt, Director of Community Outreach at GHLF: zrothblatt@ghlf.org A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF. We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosea tells the powerful story of a prophet commanded to marry an unfaithful woman, Gomer, as a living symbol of God's boundless love for Israel despite its repeated betrayals. Through heartbreak and redemption, Hosea's marriage becomes a vivid portrayal of how deeply God desires His people to return to Him, even when they chase after idols. Packed with raw emotion, prophetic warnings, and a message of divine mercy, this book captures God's relentless pursuit and offers a stirring reminder that restoration is always possible—through Jesus—no matter how far one has wandered.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Amos, a simple shepherd and fig tree farmer from Tekoa, was called by God to deliver a powerful message to Israel—a nation steeped in corruption, injustice, and complacency. Unlike the professional prophets of his time, Amos was an outsider, chosen to proclaim a divine warning against the moral decay and social inequalities that plagued the northern kingdom. Through vivid imagery and uncompromising language, Amos called out the wealthy elite for their exploitation of the poor, condemned the nation's empty religious practices, and foretold the impending judgment that would come if they did not repent.   Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

In 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica to encourage and instruct them amidst persecution. In 1 Thessalonians, he commends their faith, love, and hope, offers guidance on living a holy life, and reassures them about the fate of believers who have died, emphasizing the hope of the resurrection and Christ's return. In 2 Thessalonians, Paul addresses misunderstandings about the Day of the Lord, urging believers not to be misled by false teachings and to stand firm in their faith. He also offers practical advice on handling idleness and continuing to live responsibly while awaiting Christ's return. Join us as we explore the themes of faith, hope, and perseverance in these compelling letters.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

If you see this in time, join our emergency LLM paper club on the Llama 3 paper!For everyone else, join our special AI in Action club on the Latent Space Discord for a special feature with the Cursor cofounders on Composer, their newest coding agent!Today, Meta is officially releasing the largest and most capable open model to date, Llama3-405B, a dense transformer trained on 15T tokens that beats GPT-4 on all major benchmarks:The 8B and 70B models from the April Llama 3 release have also received serious spec bumps, warranting the new label of Llama 3.1.If you are curious about the infra / hardware side, go check out our episode with Soumith Chintala, one of the AI infra leads at Meta. Today we have Thomas Scialom, who led Llama2 and now Llama3 post-training, so we spent most of our time on pre-training (synthetic data, data pipelines, scaling laws, etc) and post-training (RLHF vs instruction tuning, evals, tool calling).Synthetic data is all you needLlama3 was trained on 15T tokens, 7x more than Llama2 and with 4 times as much code and 30 different languages represented. But as Thomas beautifully put it:“My intuition is that the web is full of s**t in terms of text, and training on those tokens is a waste of compute.” “Llama 3 post-training doesn't have any human written answers there basically… It's just leveraging pure synthetic data from Llama 2.”While it is well speculated that the 8B and 70B were "offline distillations" of the 405B, there are a good deal more synthetic data elements to Llama 3.1 than the expected. The paper explicitly calls out:* SFT for Code: 3 approaches for synthetic data for the 405B bootstrapping itself with code execution feedback, programming language translation, and docs backtranslation.* SFT for Math: The Llama 3 paper credits the Let's Verify Step By Step authors, who we interviewed at ICLR:* SFT for Multilinguality: "To collect higher quality human annotations in non-English languages, we train a multilingual expert by branching off the pre-training run and continuing to pre-train on a data mix that consists of 90% multilingualtokens."* SFT for Long Context: "It is largely impractical to get humans to annotate such examples due to the tedious and time-consuming nature of reading lengthy contexts, so we predominantly rely on synthetic data to fill this gap. We use earlier versions of Llama 3 to generate synthetic data based on the key long-context use-cases: (possibly multi-turn) question-answering, summarization for long documents, and reasoning over code repositories, and describe them in greater detail below"* SFT for Tool Use: trained for Brave Search, Wolfram Alpha, and a Python Interpreter (a special new ipython role) for single, nested, parallel, and multiturn function calling.* RLHF: DPO preference data was used extensively on Llama 2 generations. This is something we partially covered in RLHF 201: humans are often better at judging between two options (i.e. which of two poems they prefer) than creating one (writing one from scratch). Similarly, models might not be great at creating text but they can be good at classifying their quality.Last but not least, Llama 3.1 received a license update explicitly allowing its use for synthetic data generation.Llama2 was also used as a classifier for all pre-training data that went into the model. It both labelled it by quality so that bad tokens were removed, but also used type (i.e. science, law, politics) to achieve a balanced data mix. Tokenizer size mattersThe tokens vocab of a model is the collection of all tokens that the model uses. Llama2 had a 34,000 tokens vocab, GPT-4 has 100,000, and 4o went up to 200,000. Llama3 went up 4x to 128,000 tokens. You can find the GPT-4 vocab list on Github.This is something that people gloss over, but there are many reason why a large vocab matters:* More tokens allow it to represent more concepts, and then be better at understanding the nuances.* The larger the tokenizer, the less tokens you need for the same amount of text, extending the perceived context size. In Llama3's case, that's ~30% more text due to the tokenizer upgrade. * With the same amount of compute you can train more knowledge into the model as you need fewer steps.The smaller the model, the larger the impact that the tokenizer size will have on it. You can listen at 55:24 for a deeper explanation.Dense models = 1 Expert MoEsMany people on X asked “why not MoE?”, and Thomas' answer was pretty clever: dense models are just MoEs with 1 expert :)[00:28:06]: I heard that question a lot, different aspects there. Why not MoE in the future? The other thing is, I think a dense model is just one specific variation of the model for an hyperparameter for an MOE with basically one expert. So it's just an hyperparameter we haven't optimized a lot yet, but we have some stuff ongoing and that's an hyperparameter we'll explore in the future.Basically… wait and see!Llama4Meta already started training Llama4 in June, and it sounds like one of the big focuses will be around agents. Thomas was one of the authors behind GAIA (listen to our interview with Thomas in our ICLR recap) and has been working on agent tooling for a while with things like Toolformer. Current models have “a gap of intelligence” when it comes to agentic workflows, as they are unable to plan without the user relying on prompting techniques and loops like ReAct, Chain of Thought, or frameworks like Autogen and Crew. That may be fixed soon?

The Gospel of Luke, filled with rich narratives and detailed accounts, offers an inspired and historical perspective on the life and teachings of Jesus. Emphasizing Jesus' concern for the poor, outcasts, and social justice, this Gospel narrates parables and miracles that underscore the theme of God's salvation for all people. Luke's account is unique in its inclusion of the birth of John the Baptist, the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the story of the Prodigal Son, culminating in a vivid portrayal of Jesus' death and resurrection, affirming the universal offer of redemption. This Gospel serves as an invitation to understand the depth of God's love and the breadth of His grace extended to humanity through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Demons, possession, exorcism, and the occult: these topics have intrigued and even terrified believers and skeptics alike. In this episode, through personal stories and theological insights, we examine the reality of demonic influences and the robust defenses our faith provides. From baptismal rites to practical experiences with occultic practices, we'll uncover how Scripture, hymns, prayer, and even physical symbols equip us in this spiritual battle. The Rev. Jacob Heine, pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to discuss spiritual warfare. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

How is Lutheran Heritage Foundation bringing the Good News of Jesus to people in many languages? Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise — Executive Director of Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), and Rev. Dr. Ted NaThalang — Translation Coordinator for Asia with Lutheran Heritage Foundation, join Andy and Sarah to talk about the upcoming Translation Summit tied to the LCMS National Offering from the 2023 Synodical Convention, where both Dr. Heise and Dr. NaThalang have been able to travel, the impact of the many books LHF is able to produce, and upcoming projects for LHF. Learn more about the National Offering in the Coffee Hour episode here: kfuo.org/2023/02/28/coffee-hour-022823-lcms-national-offering and find Lutheran Heritage Foundation at LHFmissions.org.

Many people have answered the unexpected knock on the door only to find a pair of friendly Jehovah's Witnesses wanting to share their faith on the other side. No one can fault them for wanting to share what they believe but how do we respond? Instead of sending them away, invite them in and share your faith with them! This episode explores some of the beliefs held by Jehovah's Witnesses, from the curious to the heretical, to get you started on your next conversation with Jehovah's Witnesses. The Rev. Timothy Appel, Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL and host of KFUO Radio's Sharper Iron, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to discuss Jehovah's Witnesses. Find Sharper Iron at kfuo.org/sharperiron. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Raidījums “(Bez)maksas sports” - informatīvi analītisku un izglītojošu stāstu un diskusiju raidījums 12 sērijās par mūsdienu lielajiem jautājumiem sportā. 10. epizodes tēma: Pēdējā piecgadē Latvijā aizvadīti un arī šogad norisināsies vairāki lieli starptautiski sporta pasākumi, kuri saņēmuši un vēl saņems ievērojamu valsts finansiālo atbalstu. Cik lietderīga ir valsts naudas tērēšana šādiem sporta forumiem? Kāda ir šo investīciju atdeve īstermiņā un ilgtermiņā? Ko iegūs sporta organizācijas un konkrētie sporta veidi, ko citas nozares? Vai šo naudu nebūtu pareizāk novirzīt jauniešu sportam un veselīga dzīvesveida veicināšanai un vai tas vispār iespējams? Studijā: LIAA Tūrisma departamenta direktore Inese Šīrava un "Eurobasket 2025" izpilddirektors Kristaps Janičenoks. Viedokļus izsaka LHF ģenerālsekretārs Roberts Pļāvējs un LPF prezidents Aivars Platonovs. Mediju atbalsta fonda ieguldījums no Latvijas valsts budžeta līdzekļiem. Par raidījuma saturu atbild TV4.

Come along as we dive into the timeless wisdom of Deuteronomy. This ancient book is more than history; it's a vibrant blueprint for living in harmony with God's will. Discover the profound teachings on law, justice, and morality, and hear how they resonate in our lives today. Deuteronomy calls us to obedience, love for our neighbor, and the crucial task of imparting faith to future generations. It's a narrative of love, responsibility, and the blessings of faithfulness, juxtaposed with warnings against forgetting our covenant with God. Join us as we explore the enduring messages of Deuteronomy and witness how they can transform our understanding of faith and daily living for Christ. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Embark on a journey through the Book of Lamentations, a deeply moving poetic reflection on the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. This book is a profound expression of grief, portraying the desolation of a city and a people who have experienced immense suffering. Each chapter brings its unique perspective, from the vivid portrayal of Jerusalem as a lonely, grieving widow to the poignant pleas for mercy and reflection on the unyielding justice of God. The imagery is stark and emotive, encapsulating the pain of exile and the consequences of turning away from God. Yet, amidst the mourning, Lamentations also offers glimmers of hope and the possibility of redemption. It's a powerful exploration of human sorrow, divine justice, and the enduring faithfulness of God, even in the darkest of times. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Paul's letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians contain a wealth of theology and practical guidance for living out the Christian faith. Ephesians unpacks God's overarching plan of salvation and our identity in Christ, calling us to unity and holiness in the Church. Philippians overflows with joy, encouraging us to imitate Christ's humility and develop spiritual maturity. Colossians stresses Christ's preeminence and sufficiency, warning against false teaching and exhorting us to set our minds on things above. Together these essential epistles provide incredible insights into doctrines like grace, reconciliation, and redemption while also equipping us to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel in our relationships, speech, work, and ministry. Get ready to deepen your faith as we explore the powerful messages in Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians! Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

The Rev. Paul Hemenway, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study the hymn “Joy to the Word.” What if I told you that one of your favorite Christmas hymns isn't really a Christmas hymn at all? This last hymn in our Countdown to Christmas series speaks more of Christ's return than his birth, but that doesn't keep us singing this song to celebrate Jesus's everlasting reign! So, open up your Lutheran Service Books to 387 and get ready as we dive into: Joy to the World. Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/387 Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 387 1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King: Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room And heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing. 2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 3 No more let sins and sorrows grow Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found. 4 He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love. Text Information First Line: Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Title: Joy to the World Author: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748 Meter: C M and refrain Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Psalm 98; Romans 5:16-19; Revelation 22:1-5 Topic: Psalm paraphrase Tune Information Name: ANTIOCH Composer: George Frideric Handel, 1685-1759 (adapt.) Arranger: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872 Meter: C M and refrain Key: D Major Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/387

The Rev. Dr. Jason Wagner, pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in High Ridge, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study the hymn “We Praise You Jesus at your Birth.” Written by Martin Luther in the early 16th century, “We Praise You Jesus at Your Birth,” is studied in this episode. Discover the story behind this timeless hymn, its translations, and its journey through history. Experience the joy and wonder of Christmas through the moving lyrics that capture the spirit of Christ's birth. Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 382 Text Information First Line: We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth Title: We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth Author (sts. 2-7): Martin Luther, 1483-1546 Translator (sts. 1, 6): Gregory J. Wismar, b. 1946 Translator (sts. 2, 4): F. Samuel Janzow, 1913-2001 Meter: 87 88 4 Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Luke 2:7-14; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 1:1-3 Source: Lutheran Service Book, 2006 (Tr. sts. 3, 5, 7); German, c. 1380 (st. 1) Copyright: Sts. 1, 3, 5-7 © 2006 Concordia Publishing House; Sts. 2-4 © 1978 Concordial Publishing House Tune Information Name: GELOBET SEIST DU Arranger: Jan O. Bender, 1909-94 Meter: 87 88 4 Incipit: 55565 12172 32165 Key: C Major Source: Eyn Enchiridion oder Handbüchlein, Erfurt, 1524 Copyright: Setting © 1969 Concordia Publishing House

The Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, MN and host of the program goes solo for this study the hymn “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” Turning now to LSB 379 we come upon a hymn originally titled "Adeste Fideles" in Latin. Its history is shrouded in mystery with a touch of political intrigue. It is believed to have been written by John Francis Wade, an English Catholic hymnist, in the 18th century but didn't become popular until the 20th century. In this episode, Pastor Booe takes listeners through the history and meaning of this enduring Christmas carol. Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/379 Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 379 1 O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant! O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold Him Born the king of angels; Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! 2 Highest, most holy, Light of Light eternal, Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes; Son of the Father Now in flesh appearing! 3 Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God In the highest: [Refrain] 4 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be glory giv'n! Word of the Father Now in flesh appearing! [Refrain] Text Information First Line: O come, all ye faithful Title: O Come, All Ye Faithful Author: John F. Wade, c. 1711-86 Translator: Frederick Oakeley, 1802-80 (alt.) Refrain First Line: O come, let us adore Him Meter: Irregular meter Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Luke 2:15 Tune Information Name: ADESTE FIDELES Composer: John F. Wade, c. 1711-86 Meter: Irregular meter Key: G Major Source: The Hymnal, 1940 (Setting)

The Rev. John Shank, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study the hymn “O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is.” With its deep theologically rich lyrics, “O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is” is a beautiful example of Lutheran hymnody. Written by Paul Gerhardt in the 1600s, the struggles of his life and his deep abiding faith in Christ come out clearly in this hymn. Join us as we discuss the beautiful imagery of this hymn and how it proclaims the good news that Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection were all out of his great love for you. Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 372 Text Information First Line: O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is Title: O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-76 Meter: 4 4 11 D Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Luke 2:4-16; John 1:14; Matthew 20:28; John 17:23 Source: The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941 (Tr.) Copyright: Tr. © 1941 Concordia Publishing House Tune Information Name: IN PARADISIUM Composer: Kenneth T. Kosche, b. 1947 Meter: 4 4 11 D Incipit: 33212 34323 56714 Key: D Major Copyright: © 1996, Kenneth T. Kosche

The Rev. William Orr, pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in St. Ann, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study the hymn “It Came upon the Midnight Clear.” A Unitarian hymn in a Lutheran hymnal? Yes, sort of. This hymn was penned by a Unitarian Pastor, but neither the pastor himself nor the lyrics he wrote were very Unitarian. Turn with us to LSB 366, “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” and explore the history and the meaning behind this hymn. Listen and find out why our hymnals are filled with hymns from many different traditions. Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/366 Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 366 1 It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, goodwill to all, From heav'n's all-gracious king." The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing. 2 Still through the cloven skies they come With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heav'nly music floats O'er all the weary world. Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hov'ring wing, And ever o'er its babel sounds The blessed angels sing. 3 All you, beneath your heavy load, By care and guilt bent low, Who toil along a dreary way With painful steps and slow: Look up, for golden is the hour, Come swiftly on the wing, The Prince was born to bring you peace; Of Him the angels sing. 4 For lo, the days have come to pass By prophets seen of old, When down into the circling years Came Christ as was foretold. His word of peace shall to the earth God's ancient promise bring, And all who take this gift will hear The song the angels sing. Text Information First Line: It came upon the midnight clear Title: It Came upon the Midnight Clear Author: Edmund H. Sears, 1810-76 (alt.) Meter: C M D Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Luke 2:13-14; Isaiah 9:4-5; Genesis 11:9 Topic: Society Tune Information Name: CAROL Composer: Richard S. Willis, 1819-1900 Meter: C M D Key: B♭ Major Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/366

The Rev. David Boisclair, senior Pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Overland, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study the hymn, “Away in a Manger.” Flip the page in your Lutheran Service Book to hymn 365: “Away in a Manger.” The history behind this hymn is muddled. Some believed it was written by Martin Luther, but most historians attribute its origin to German Lutherans in Pennsylvania around 1885. In this episode, we will explore what we know about this simple, poignant hymn and hold up what it teaches against the Scriptures. Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/365 Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 365 1 Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. 2 The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes. I love Thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. 3 Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with Thee there. Text Information First Line: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed Title: Away in a Manger Meter: 11 11 11 11 Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Luke 2:7; Mark 10:14-16; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 28:20 Source: Little Children's book, Philadelphia, 1855 (Sts. 1-2); Vineyard Songs Louisville, 1892 (St. 3, alt.) Tune Information Name: CRADLE SONG Composer: William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838-1921 Arranger: James E. Engel, 1925-89 Meter: 11 11 11 11 Key: F Major Copyright: Setting © 1993 Mrs. James E. Engel Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/365

The Rev. George Ruwisch, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Nashua, NH, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study the hymn “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Open your hymnals to page 363 and grab a candle, it's time to study “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Whether sung in English, German, or both, this hymn has been a perennial favorite among Christians. Jesus' birth in a stable surrounded by animals likely wasn't as silent as this carol suggests, but it certainly was holy! In this episode, learn more about how this cherished hymn came to be and how it can help us reflect on the significance of Christ's coming that first Christmas! Learn more: https://hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/363 Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 363 1 Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. 2 Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight; Glories stream from heaven afar, Heav'nly hosts sing, Alleluia! Christ, the Savior is born! Christ, the Savior is born! 3 Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Text Information First Line: Silent night, holy night! Title: Silent Night, Holy Night Author: Franz Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848 Translator: John F. Young, 1820-85 Meter: 66 88 66 Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Luke 2:7-16; Colossians 1:13 Tune Information Name: STILLE NACHT Composer: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1787-1863 Meter: 66 88 66 Key: B♭ Major Source: Traditional setting Learn more: https://hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/363

The Rev. Dr. Curtis Deterding, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study the hymn, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” It's time to head into Bethlehem with hymn LSB 361: “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Written by an Episcopal Priest inspired by his own visit to Bethlehem in 1865, this contemplative and peaceful carol has become one of the most popular Christmas hymns of our time. Come learn how this Christmas hymn urges us to reflect on the birth of Jesus. Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/361 Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 361 1 O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. 2 For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wond'ring love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the king And peace to all the earth! 3 How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is giv'n! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heav'n. No ear may hear His coming; But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive Him, still The dear Christ enters in. 4 O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel! Text Information First Line: O little town of Bethlehem Title: O Little Town of Bethlehem Author: Phillips Brooks, 1835-93 Meter: 86 86 76 86 Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Luke 2:1-15; Luke 1:68-75; Ephesians 3:16-19; Micah 5:2 Notes: Alternate tune: FOREST GREEN Tune Information Name: ST. LOUIS Composer: Lewis H. Redner, 1831-1908 Meter: 86 86 76 86 Key: F Major Source: Service Book and Hymnal, 1958, alt. (Setting) Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/361

The Rev. John Lukomski, co-host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/WrestlingWithTheBasics. Turning now to LSB 357, we come to the ancient and beautiful Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” With lyrics tracing back in one form or another for over 1200 years, this hymn is based on the great ‘O Antiphons' of the church which recall the Old Testament promises of the Messiah's coming. This episode explores the history behind the hymn and reflects on its deep and contemplative meaning. Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/357 Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 357 1 O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! 2 O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who ord'rest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. [Refrain] 3 O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height In ancient times didst give the Law In cloud and majesty and awe. [Refrain] 4 O come, Thou Branch of Jesse's tree, Free them from Satan's tyranny That trust Thy mighty pow'r to save, And give them vict'ry o'er the grave. [Refrain] 5 O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. [Refrain] 6 O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. [Refrain] 7 O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace. [Refrain] Text Information First Line: O come, O come, Emmanuel, Title: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Translator: John Mason Neale, 1818-66 (alt.) Refrain First Line: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Meter: L M and refrain Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14; Isaiah 11:1-11; Matthew 1:23 Source: Latin, c. 12th cent.; Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Köln, 1710 Tune Information Name: VENI EMMANUEL Arranger: C. Winfred Douglas, 1867-1944 Meter: L M and refrain Key: e minor Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/357

The Rev. Philip Hoppe, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, KS, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study the hymn “The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came.” Turn to page 356 in your hymnals because we are kicking off our countdown to Christmas with “The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came.” Let God prepare your hearts this Advent as we explore the history behind the hymn and then, stanza-by-stanza, examine the themes and message of the lyrics against Scripture. You'll come away with a deeper appreciation for this seasonal favorite. Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/356. Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. Lutheran Service Book 356 1 The angel Gabriel from heaven came, With wings as drifted snow, with eyes as flame: "All hail to thee, O lowly maiden Mary, Most highly favored lady." Gloria! 2 "For know a blessed mother thou shalt be, All generations laud and honor thee; Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, Most highly favored lady." Gloria! 3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head; "To me be as it pleaseth God," she said. "My soul shall laud and magnify God's holy name." Most highly favored lady, Gloria! 4 Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn, And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say: "Most highly favored lady." Gloria! Text Information First Line: The angel Gabriel from heaven came, Title: The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came Paraphraser: Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924 Meter: 10 10 11 7 3 Language: English Publication Date: 2006 Scripture: Luke 1:26-38; Isaiah 7:14 Topic: Feasts and Festivals Source: Basque, c. 18th cent. Tune Information Name: GABRIEL'S MESSAGE Arranger: C. Edgar Pettman, 1865-1943 Meter: 10 10 11 7 3 Key: g minor Source: Basque, c. 18th cent. Copyright: Setting © 1955, ren. 1983 E. H. Freeman, ltd; admin Hal Leonard Corporation Learn more: hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/356

Celebrate the birth of our Savior with Thy Strong Word's Countdown to Christmas, a special series where we explore 10 of the most beloved Christmas hymns found in the Lutheran Service Book. Learn the history and meaning of these beautiful carols and how they reflect the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each weekday we dive into every stanza of these classic hymns and discover the rich theology and joy it expresses. Don't miss this opportunity to prepare your hearts to receive Christ anew and rejoice with Thy Strong Word: Countdown to Christmas. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Micah, one of the few prophets of his time still faithful to God in Israel, rebukes the societal injustices of the Israelites and pronounces judgment on the wickedness of the religious and political leaders of the time. Notably, Micah is the prophet who foretells that the future messianic ruler will be born in Bethlehem. Jesus not only fulfilled that prophecy, but he embodies Micah's call for justice, mercy, and humility, bringing restoration and reconciliation through his life, death, and resurrection. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

The Book of Joshua is a compelling account of the Israelites' conquest of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. It narrates their journey from the crossing of the Jordan River to the triumphant capture of the Promised Land. Filled with military campaigns, divine guidance, and moments of faith and obedience, this book underscores the fulfillment of God's promises and the importance of unwavering commitment to their divine mission. It stands as a powerful testament to the faith, resilience, and unity of the Israelites as they claim the inheritance promised to them by God. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

The Books of 1 and 2 Peter, found within the New Testament of the Bible, collectively offer profound and inspirational letters written by the Apostle Peter. These letters provide timeless messages of enduring faith and unwavering hope for Christians facing trials and challenges. Throughout these epistles, Peter emphasizes the importance of living holy and God-honoring lives, even amid adversity. He reminds believers of their living hope in Jesus Christ and encourages them to stand firm in their faith.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Rev. Robert Rahn, Founder of Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), joins Andy and guest co-host Jordan Harms from the LCMS National Convention to talk about how LHF began in 1992, where LHF has had the privilege of partnering with local believers to build a strong foundation for starting Lutheran churches, how the process of translating and publishing materials has developed since 1992, and stories from his years with LHF. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org.

Dr. Dinku Bato, Africa Area Director for Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), joins Andy and guest co-host Jordan Harms from the LCMS National Convention to talk about how he came to serve with Lutheran Heritage Foundation, the nature of his work with LHF, and the various requests for Lutheran books and resources in Africa. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org.

Dr. Ted NaThalang, Asia Area Director for Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), joins Andy and guest co-host Jordan Harms from the LCMS National Convention to talk about how he came to serve with Lutheran Heritage Foundation, the nature of his work with LHF, and the various requests for Lutheran books and resources in Asia. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org.

The Book of Acts takes us back to the earliest days of Christianity, unveiling the incredible acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church. Acts offers a firsthand account how the Apostles and Jesus' disciples respond to his death and resurrection. It makes us witnesses to the beginning of fulfilling Jesus's command to spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We encounter miracles and wonders, we see the church struggling to organize itself in the absence of Jesus, and we learn of the trials and tribulations the early Christians faced in a world that rejected them. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

The Rev. Sean Smith, pastor of Bethlehem Ev. Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to discuss why pastors must sometimes refuse to officiate funerals. It has been said, “funerals are for the living, not the dead,” and that pastors should never refuse to officiate a funeral. In this special free-text episode, Pastor Sean Smith disagrees. He then takes us to the Scriptures and the confessions to explain why presiding over the funeral of some people bears false witness. Other questions will be addressed: Do all people go to heaven? Can a person fall away after their baptism? Do I need to go to church to be a Christian? Aren't pastors who refuse to officiate someone's funeral judging them? What harm can there be in officiating the sermon of someone whose faith is unknown? Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

The Rev. Steven Theiss, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Samuel 2:12-36. This passage exposes the corruption and wickedness of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas. The Bible describes them as “worthless men,” but they were also wretched priests. They used their position for personal gain and sullied their father's reputation. Eli fails to dissuade them from their wickedness. God's judgment against them will not only affect their own fate but also the destiny of their entire family line. The Book of 1 Samuel beings with the unique birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel. Soon, the people of Israel begin to press upon the aging prophet Samuel to anoint a king over them like the other nations. YHWH assures Samuel that the people are rejecting their God, not Samuel. He advises Samuel to give the people what they want. What follows is the rise and fall of King Saul, the eventual anointing and coronation of David as king, the forerunner of Jesus. It's a true story of political intrigue and warfare, but it's also more than that. 1 Samuel shows us God working to save his people from their enemies and even from themselves. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org. It's Sharathon 2023, and we need YOUR support! By God's grace and with your generous support, we've been sharing the Gospel for close to 99 years to millions of listeners worldwide. Our Bible studies help to explain and deepen your understanding of God's Word. Our worship services proclaim salvation in Christ and give you the words that the church has always used to proclaim the Gospel. And our hymns—the sacred music of the church—are the joyous exultation of God's people that explain, proclaim, and announce the joy of salvation in Christ alone. In short, your gift makes it possible for the listener-supported Broadcast Ministry of KFUO Radio to continue filling our world with God's Word. Start, sustain, or strengthen your partnership with KFUO Radio during Sharathon 2023. Give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, Executive Director of Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), joins Andy and Sarah during Sharathon 2023 to talk about where LHF serves our neighbors with resources to support them in the faith, why these resources are critical for the people they serve, the latest projects happening at LHF, and why it's important for LHF to partner with the work of KFUO Radio. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org. It's Sharathon 2023, and we need YOUR support! By God's grace and with your generous support, we've been sharing the Gospel for close to 99 years to millions of listeners worldwide. Our Bible studies help to explain and deepen your understanding of God's Word. Our worship services proclaim salvation in Christ and give you the words that the church has always used to proclaim the Gospel. And our hymns—the sacred music of the church—are the joyous exultation of God's people that explain, proclaim, and announce the joy of salvation in Christ alone. In short, your gift makes it possible for the listener-supported Broadcast Ministry of KFUO Radio to continue filling our world with God's Word. Start, sustain, or strengthen your partnership with KFUO Radio during Sharathon 2023. Give now at kfuo.org/sharathon.

The Book of 1 Samuel beings with the unique birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel. Soon, the people of Israel begin to press upon the aging prophet Samuel to anoint a king over them like the other nations. YHWH assures Samuel that the people are rejecting their God, not Samuel. He advises Samuel to give the people what they want. What follows is the rise and fall of King Saul, the eventual anointing and coronation of David as king, the forerunner of Jesus. It's a true story of political intrigue and warfare, but it's also more than that. 1 Samuel shows us God working to save his people from their enemies and even from themselves. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

The Book of Judges tells the story of Israel's descent into chaos and idolatry, and the subsequent rise of a series of judges, or redeemers, who deliver them from their enemies. The judges are flawed heroes, but they are also instruments of God's deliverance. The book ends with the Israelites in a state of moral and spiritual decay, but it also offers hope for a better future. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

The book of Hosea is a love story with a twist. It tells how God commanded Hosea, a prophet, to marry Gomer, a wife who would be unfaithful to him. God wanted Hosea to feel firsthand the pain of betrayal as he sent him out to prophesy to the people of Israel how they had been unfaithful to God. Hosea still loved Gomer and pursued her and restored her as his wife. This was a picture of how God pursued Israel despite their sin and rebellion and offered them grace and mercy if they would return to Him. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

The "Pastoral Epistles" of 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus, written by the Apostle Paul and divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, are a treasure trove of invaluable insights into the early Christian church and God's expectation for its leaders. These letters, brimming with wisdom, are not relics of the past but remain authoritative today. They offer a roadmap for navigating the challenges of leadership and teaching, making them not only essential for understanding the role of pastors but also for all Christians seeking to live a life that honors God's will. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

The books of Ruth and Esther from the Old Testament are the only two books in the Bible named for women, and on Thy Strong Word, we delve deep into both. The book of Ruth is a story of a young Moabite widow's faithfulness to mother-in-law and her God. In a time of famine and violence, God leads Ruth to meet and marry Boaz whose union brings about a child, Obed, who would become the grandfather of King David. The book of Esther recalls how a Jewish woman marries the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes) and becomes queen. At the urging of her cousin, Mordecai, Esther uses her influence to foil a plot to exterminate the Hebrew people. Although God is not mentioned in the book, his power is at work behind the scenes.   Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. The book of Esther recalls how a Jewish woman marries the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes) and becomes queen. At the urging of her cousin, Mordecai, Esther uses her influence to foil a plot to exterminate the Hebrew people. Although God is not mentioned in the book, his power is at work behind the scenes.  Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, Executive Director of Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), joins Andy and Sarah to talk about the current global needs that LHF is meeting, challenges like witchcraft and idol worship that they encounter in certain cultures, what it means for recipients to receive faithful resources in their own language, and the current pressing needs for LHF. Learn more about Lutheran Heritage Foundation at lhfmissions.org.

It's the true story of God reaching down into history and, through an unlikely prophet, redeeming his chosen people from slavery. It's the story of Exodus, but it's also the story of us all. How through Christ, God has liberated us from sin, death, and the Devil. Don't miss this chapter-by-chapter study of the Book of Exodus on Thy Strong Word Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Mysterious dreams carry a foreboding warning. A disembodied hand writes a cryptic message on the wall. Visions of beasts predict the falling of great kingdoms. And an apocalyptic prophecy foretells the end of time. Thy Strong Word now opens up the Book of Daniel and delves into the life of one of God's prophets exiled in a Babylon. He speaks truth to power in a way that proclaims the providence and power of God. Daniel's writings also leave for us visions of the Antichrist and God's ultimate redemption of his people. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

Umair Ahsan is the founder of Aquanimous, a company that markets sustainable cork-based yoga, recovery and self-massage tools. Aquanimous also organizes classes for recovery practices using self-massage tools. Aquanimous was founded to bridge personal wellness practice and environmental consciousness, and aims to shift the normalization of plastics and artificial materials in the fitness industry. Umair and I discuss his vision behind Aquanimous. We reflect on creating together as part of the Low-Hanging Fruit collective, which is based on the philosophy that the answers for our life questions and the medicine for our wounds are within hands reach. Umair shares about myo-fascial release and gives two tips that listeners can integrate right away. Shop at Aquanimous with our affiliate link here: https://www.aquanimous.com?aff=55 Follow Umair on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airumair/ Learn more about Jake Ifshin and the Four Gardens by visiting https://www.fourgardenspodcast.com/ Connect with Ari Rubens at https://www.arirubens.com/ Umair's Full Bio: Umair holds a Masters in Electrical Engineering and 12 years of experience in the wireless communication technology and intellectual property. While interested and continuing to work in the evolution of technology Umair's life passion lies with the technology in each of our bodies which Umair continues to research personally through somatic practices including yoga, meditation, conscious dance and improvisational movement. Umair is the founder of Aquanimous, a company that markets sustainable corkbased yoga, recovery and self-massage tools. Aquanimous also organizes classes for recovery practices using self-massage tools. Aquanimous was founded to bridge personal wellness practice and environmental consciousness, and aims to shift the normalization of plastics and artificial materials in the fitness industry. Umair co-founded the Low Hanging Fruit (LHF) community based on the philosophy of a world where the answers for our life questions and the medicine for our wounds are within hands reach. LHF is a ceremonial wellness space literally adorned with fresh fruit, shares accessible wellness practices, creates connection and builds community that is both silly and sacred. It is a place for community ritual, facilitated wellness practices, and an open mic to celebrate the diversity of our voices. LHF is currently on pause while the organizers are focused on developing other projects. Umair recently became Director Conscious Dance Program for Interfusion Festival. Umair has been dancing Contact Improvisation, Ecstatic Dance and 5Rythms since 2017 and has witnessed the power of conscious dance through his own transformation and growth. Umair is motivated to thread together a deep and enriching Conscious Dance Program for Interfusion Festival and incorporate his research from LHF. Umair is also a certified yoga teacher and has taught meditative, vinyasa, restorative and yoga classes incorporating self-massage. Umair has stepped back from actively teaching to focus on Aquanimous and other projects.