Podcasts about Likewise

On every Yom Tob, we take out two Sifreh Torah, and we read from the second Torah the Pesukim that describe that holiday's special Musaf sacrifice. Likewise, when Rosh Hodesh falls in Shabbat, we take out a second Sefer Torah and read the Pesukim that speak about the Musaf sacrifice offered on Rosh Hodesh.The question arises, why do we not read every Shabbat the Pesukim that describe the Musaf sacrifice of Shabbat? Just as on Rosh Hodesh and holidays we make a point of reading the Pesukim that describe the day's Musaf sacrifice, we should, seemingly, read every Shabbat the Pesukim that describe the Musaf sacrifice for Shabbat. We should take a second Sefer Torah, and after completing the reading of the weekly portion, read from the second scroll as the Maftir the verses that describe the special Shabbat sacrifice.Three main answers have been given for why we do not read the Pesukim of the Musaf sacrifice every Shabbat. First, we read the Pesukim of the Musaf sacrifice so that we can be considered as though we, ourselves, bring the sacrifice and thereby earn atonement. This rationale does not apply to the Musaf sacrifice of Shabbat, which, unlike the other Musaf sacrifices, does not include a Hatat (sin-offering). This sacrifice was not brought for atonement purposes, and thus there is no reason for us to read it every Shabbat.Secondly, there is a general rule that the Haftara reading from the Prophets must relate in some way to the content of the Maftir reading. In light of his rule, if we would read as the Maftir every Shabbat the Pesukim that describe the Musaf offering, then we would have to read the same Haftara each and every week, which would certainly not be desirable.The third – and perhaps simplest – answer is that the section in the Torah which describes the Musaf offering on Shabbat consists of only two Pesukim. We never read an Aliya that contains fewer than three Pesukim, and so we cannot read this section as the Maftir on Shabbat. It would be inappropriate to being the Maftir reading several verses earlier, in the section dealing with the daily Tamid sacrifice, because this section is not at all relevant to the occasion of Shabbat, and we do not add irrelevant verses to the Torah reading.These three reasons are all alluded to in the second of the two Pesukim that speak of the Shabbat Musaf sacrifice: "Olat Shabbat Be'Shabbato Al Olat Ha'tamid Ve'niskah" ("It is the burnt-offering brought every Shabbat, in addition to the daily burnt-offering and its libation"). The first word – "Olat" – indicates that the sacrifice brought on Shabbat was an Ola (burnt-offering), and did not include a Hatat, such that there is no atonement earned through this Torah reading. The next phrase – "Shabbat Be'Shabbato" – alludes to the fact that reading these Pesukim as Maftir would necessitate reading the exact same Haftara each week. Finally, "Al Olat Ha'tamid" – the previous section deals with the Olat Ha'tamid, which does not directly relate to Shabbat, and it would thus be inappropriate to add verses from that section so we can read the Pesukim of the Shabbat sacrifice.

Outbreaks of influenza throughout human history have been directly linked to maximums in solar activity, something that also contributes to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Electro-magnetic exposures from the former, and noxious gases and debris from the latter, all contribute to this strange and rapidly spreading illness even when there were no planes, trains, cars, etc. Likewise, various plagues, including the infamous Black Death, have been directly linked to comets or other objects from the heavens. This debris contains things like methane and ammonia, both of which contribute to plague and influenza symptom complexes, specifically including respiratory problems. Hence the word ‘influenza' stemming from the ‘influence' of the heavens, and why the Greeks and Romans saw comets as harbingers of what usually amounted to bad news. In 1889 the world changed dramatically though, with the increasing advancement of electrical proliferation. This caused an immediate spread of influenza that was classified at the time as a neurological disease.  Support this podcast

It's one of the great paradoxes.   “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:11 NKJV

Old Testament: 1 Kings 8 1 Kings 8 (Listen) The Ark Brought into the Temple 8 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. 8 And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. Solomon Blesses the Lord 12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD1 has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 13 I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.” 14 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. 15 And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, 16 ‘Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there. But I chose David to be over my people Israel.' 17 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 18 But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.' 20 Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 21 And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.” Solomon's Prayer of Dedication 22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, 23 and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; 24 you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 25 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.' 26 Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father. 27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, 29 that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 30 And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. 31 “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, 32 then hear in heaven and act and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness. 33 “When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, 34 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers. 35 “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance. 37 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates,2 whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, 39 then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), 40 that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers. 41 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake 42 (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. 44 “If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause. 46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, 47 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,' 48 if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 49 then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace). 52 Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you. 53 For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.” Solomon's Benediction 54 Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven. 55 And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56 “Blessed be the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. 57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, 58 that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. 59 Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, 60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other. 61 Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.” Solomon's Sacrifices 62 Then the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. 63 Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. 64 The same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to receive the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings. 65 So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days.3 66 On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people. Footnotes [1] 8:12 Septuagint The Lord has set the sun in the heavens, but [2] 8:37 Septuagint, Syriac in any of their cities [3] 8:65 Septuagint; Hebrew seven days and seven days, fourteen days (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 128 Psalm 128 (Listen) Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord A Song of Ascents. 128   Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,    who walks in his ways!2   You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 3   Your wife will be like a fruitful vine    within your house;  your children will be like olive shoots    around your table.4   Behold, thus shall the man be blessed    who fears the LORD. 5   The LORD bless you from Zion!    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem    all the days of your life!6   May you see your children's children!    Peace be upon Israel! (ESV) New Testament: Hebrews 4–6 Hebrews 4–6 (Listen) 4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.1 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,   “As I swore in my wrath,  ‘They shall not enter my rest,'” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,   “They shall not enter my rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,   “Today, if you hear his voice,  do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God2 would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Jesus the Great High Priest 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 5 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,   “You are my Son,    today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place,   “You are a priest forever,    after the order of Melchizedek.” 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus3 offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Warning Against Apostasy 11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings,4 the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. 9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. The Certainty of God's Promise 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,5 having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Footnotes [1] 4:2 Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers [2] 4:8 Greek he [3] 5:7 Greek he [4] 6:2 Or baptisms (that is, cleansing rites) [5] 6:15 Greek he (ESV)

Old Testament: 1 Kings 8 1 Kings 8 (Listen) The Ark Brought into the Temple 8 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. 4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. 5 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 6 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. 8 And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. 9 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. Solomon Blesses the Lord 12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD1 has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 13 I have indeed built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.” 14 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. 15 And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, 16 ‘Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there. But I chose David to be over my people Israel.' 17 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 18 But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.' 20 Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 21 And there I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.” Solomon's Prayer of Dedication 22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, 23 and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; 24 you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 25 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.' 26 Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father. 27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, 29 that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 30 And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. 31 “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, 32 then hear in heaven and act and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness. 33 “When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, 34 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers. 35 “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance. 37 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates,2 whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, 39 then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), 40 that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers. 41 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake 42 (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. 44 “If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause. 46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, 47 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,' 48 if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 49 then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace). 52 Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you. 53 For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.” Solomon's Benediction 54 Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven. 55 And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56 “Blessed be the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. 57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, 58 that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. 59 Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, 60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other. 61 Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.” Solomon's Sacrifices 62 Then the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD. 63 Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. 64 The same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD, for there he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to receive the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat pieces of the peace offerings. 65 So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days.3 66 On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their homes joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people. Footnotes [1] 8:12 Septuagint The Lord has set the sun in the heavens, but [2] 8:37 Septuagint, Syriac in any of their cities [3] 8:65 Septuagint; Hebrew seven days and seven days, fourteen days (ESV) New Testament: Romans 3:9–20 Romans 3:9–20 (Listen) No One Is Righteous 9 What then? Are we Jews1 any better off?2 No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:   “None is righteous, no, not one;11     no one understands;    no one seeks for God.12   All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;    no one does good,    not even one.”13   “Their throat is an open grave;    they use their tongues to deceive.”  “The venom of asps is under their lips.”14     “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”15   “Their feet are swift to shed blood;16     in their paths are ruin and misery,17   and the way of peace they have not known.”18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being3 will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Footnotes [1] 3:9 Greek Are we [2] 3:9 Or at any disadvantage? [3] 3:20 Greek flesh (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 128 Psalm 128 (Listen) Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord A Song of Ascents. 128   Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,    who walks in his ways!2   You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 3   Your wife will be like a fruitful vine    within your house;  your children will be like olive shoots    around your table.4   Behold, thus shall the man be blessed    who fears the LORD. 5   The LORD bless you from Zion!    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem    all the days of your life!6   May you see your children's children!    Peace be upon Israel! (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 17:7–8 Proverbs 17:7–8 (Listen) 7   Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;    still less is false speech to a prince.8   A bribe is like a magic1 stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;    wherever he turns he prospers. Footnotes [1] 17:8 Or precious (ESV)

Picking up where we last left off, it's time to learn about Marvel's second attempt at comics for Christian audiences. Highlights include comic adaptations of "classic" Christian stories and the creation of an evangelical superhero, but the results were decidedly less impressive than the "Saint Series" from the early 80s.  ----more---- Episode 8 Transcription [00:00:00] Jessika: Good, I can see, perfect. No sneaking up on me, Jesus.  Mike: Welcome to Ten Cent Takes, the podcast where we partake in comics' forbidden fruit, one issue at a time. My name is Mike Thompson and I'm joined by my cohost, the muffin of mayhem herself, Jessika Frazer. Jessika: Hello.  Mike: How's it going? Jessika: Oh, pretty good. Even better, now that you're calling me a muffin. I love it. Mike: I mean, it was either that or the scone of scorn and I liked muffin of mayhem better. Jessika: Oh, either way. I mean, it's very close. I do have a cupcake on my shoulder as you know. Mike: Yes.  [00:01:00] Well, as always, the purpose of this podcast is to perform deep dives on comic books in ways that are both fun and informative. We want to look at their coolest, weirdest and silliest moments, as well as examine how they're woven into the larger fabric of pop culture and history. Today, we're picking up where we left off with our last episode and concluding our look at Marvel's short-lived run of Christian comics. Are you ready? Jessika: Yeehaw.  Mike: Well, I'm going to give you a quick break before we actually get into that. What is one cool thing that you have read or watched since we last recorded? Jessika: I started reading the Princeless series by Jeremy Whitley.  Mike: Nice. Jessika: Yeah. The art for the first book was by M Goodwin, but there are other artists involved, including Emily Martin, who is local to our area, which is super neat. Mike: Yeah. I met her at Luma [00:02:00] Con a couple of years ago.  Jessika: Oh, that's rad as heck. Nice, nice.  So, the story follows a princess, Adrienne, who from a young age, is not at all on board with the conventional helpless role she's expected to take as a princess, and is not happy about being locked in a tower alone. So she decides that she doesn't need to continue this path that has been chosen for her and escapes to help others. She's also a person of color and her hair care routines and style reflect that, which is wonderful. And I'm only one issue into the first book, but I'm so excited to see what destiny Adrienne writes for herself.  Mike: I think I read the first volume a couple of years ago and I really enjoyed it. It was a really fresh feeling story. Jessika: That's how I felt about it, it was very refreshing.  Well, what about [00:03:00] you? Whatcha been reading?  Mike: So, one of the series that I have on my pull list at Brian's comics up in Petaluma is We Only Find Them When They're Dead from Boom. It's about six issues. And now it's this really cool sci-fi fantasy sort of series by Al Ewing who has really gotten big while he's been writing the Immortal Hulk, which I also highly recommend because that takes the incredible Hulk storyline and turns it into pretty much a horror story. Jessika: Oh, cool.  Mike: It's really neat. And it's really unnerving and, he's been writing it for over 30 issues now, I think, but it's really solid. And the whole idea is that the Hulk is effectively an immortal being and he can't die. But how that comes into play is genuinely terrifying at times. But Al Ewing did this new series called We Only Find Them When They're Dead. The series is just incredible. And it's set in this weird dystopian future where [00:04:00] the bodies of these giant space gods, for lack of a better term appear out of nowhere. And then humanity is so stretched thin for resources that, that what they've started doing is they have these spaceships that will harvest the bodies for parts. And nobody knows where these gods come from until the crew of one of these harvesting ships decides to solve the mystery. It's this really tight kind of small scale story so far, but it's set against this really insane, massive cosmic backdrop. And it's also very queer, so, I think you would probably enjoy it more so than usual. Jessika: Very nice. Very nice.  Mike: All right. Let's turn back to Marvel's Christian Comics. Would you be so kind as to give us a quick recap of where we left off after the last episode? Jessika: Sure. Last week we went [00:05:00] through the first years of the Marvel Catholic comics, how it got its start printing religious material, cue the power of asking that we keep discussing on this show, and who was involved in making these particular Comics. Our focal comics were the Saint series, comprised of the stories of St. Francis in Francis Brother of the Universe, Pope John Paul. I can't not do it that way.  Mike: It's so good. Jessika: Pope John Paul II, and Mother Teresa. Oh man. Do we want to take a quick second and talk about the recent news? It was so timely about Mother Teresa. You wanna? You want to talk a little bit about that, Mike?   I just had to talk about it. It was so freaking timely.  Mike: Oh, absolutely.  I think this happened a day or two after we recorded the article.  So over the past couple of days there's been a number of stories that have come out, basically highlighting that [00:06:00] Mother Teresa was running a cult and I think the headline that I sent you was, “Are there still people who didn't know Mother Teresa was running an alleged cult?” And.  Jessika: Cue.  Mike: I think.  Jessika: Cue me raising my hand.  Mike: Yeah, I think this was a day or two after, after you and I had recorded and it just felt ridiculously timely. It was really funny. Jessika: Oh, serendipitous.  Mike: No,  she was not a good person by the increasingly numerous accounts that I've been seeing.  She was quote unquote good by a very narrow definition that unfortunately it was kind of like what the media presented her as back then in the eighties. And since then, I mean, if she was operating today, there's no way that she would have received the Nobel Peace Prize. But. Jessika: Oh, no, absolutely not.  Mike: But you know, we're talking, she received that 40 years [00:07:00] ago, so. Jessika: Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Oh gosh. Well, back to what we were talking about last week. After the St. series, after all of that wrapped up, Marvel seemed to decide to walk away from religious content after these winning Comics, we did however, land on a bit of a cliffhanger because Mike, you teased that they took another swing at religious comics in 1992.  Mike: That is correct. So, to set the stage, the late eighties and early nineties were a massive boom for the comic book market.  There was this huge speculation bubble that was going on, and as a result, Marvel and DC and other imprints were just seeing an unprecedented amount of success.  On average, a lot of major books were seeing over a million issues in circulation, which, even today, they don't see.  I think in 1991, X-Men number one, the new series that was [00:08:00] drawn by Jim Lee and written by Chris Claremont had something like 12 million issues move for the.  Jessika: Oh. Mike: For - yeah. It's bonkers. And then shortly thereafter, the rug basically got pulled out from under Marvel's feet. So the early nineties really went from being awesome to really rough in almost no time flat. And that was because the company's top artists were freelancers and they weren't happy with Marvel's compensation plan. So they left and they founded Image Comics back in early '92. And that was essentially the top artists from really well-performing comics, like X-Men, Spiderman, Guardians of the Galaxy, and X-Force just to name a few, became Marvel's competition overnight.  And DC was having some major commercial successes at the same time with events like the death of Superman, and Batman Knightfall, which is when he got his back broken. [00:09:00] So Marvel was suddenly scrambling to keep their share of the market in that light Christian book, publisher, Thomas Nelson, reaching out to former commercial partnership must have seemed like a, uh, well, for lack of a better term, a godsend. And up until that point, Evangelical Christian audiences were a largely untapped demographic outside of their specialty markets.  Now that said, I haven't been able to find any old press releases from when this deal was announced. It honestly seems like both. Marvel and Thomas Nelson, would just like to have everyone forget about this whole venture since neither company mentions the partnerships on their sites. I can't even find them on archive or anything like that.  Jessika: Oh, wow. Mike: That said - Yeah. It's, it's like buried pretty deep, but that said, I did find an article from Christianity Today, of all places, that fills in some of the details. So, it's kind of a long-winded meandering puff [00:10:00] piece, but there are a couple of relevant details. Would you do me a favor and read the first bit explaining why this deal came to be? Jessika: Sure. Some Thomas Nelson staff, whose young children were drawn to comics noticed there was little available from a Christian viewpoint. Realizing they did not have the resources in house, the publisher struck a deal with Marvel comics to produce a series of comics under Nelson's editorial direction. Using Marvel artists and writers that resulting comics would be marketed in Christian markets by Thomas Nelson and in comic bookstores by Marvel.  Mike: Yeah, so, honestly, it sounds more like Thomas Nelson hired Marvel rather than the two were in a legit partnership.  Thomas Nelson was even setting the price point for the books, which wasn't cheap. For reference the average Marvel comic cost $1.25 in 1993.  The least expensive [00:11:00] Nelson comic, for its single issue Life Christ books, that we'll talk about a little bit, and each of those was going for $2.99, a pop. So that's almost $6 in today's money. Illuminator, which we're really going to talk about for a bit, was going for $4.99 a book, which means Thomas Nelson was expecting kids to shell out the equivalent of $10 bucks per issue for a comic with like zero name recognition. Jessika: Right.  Mike: Yeah, and that's actually called out in the same article. Like Christianity today couldn't even give them a complete puff piece, they actually called out how maybe Thomas Nelson was a little bit high on their own fumes. If you'd be so kind to read that section as well. Jessika: The primary difficulty in selling the Illuminator to the secular comic book market is not the subject matter, but the price. As a book publisher, Thomas Nelson wants the comics to look as high quality and [00:12:00] book-like as possible. They have more pages than standard comics, carrying no advertising, and are printed using higher quality paper and ink than standard comics. Thomas Nelson likes to call them illustrated novels, a variation of the comic industry term graphic novel. Because of this, the 48-page Illuminator sells for $4.99. As one comic store owner put it, “that's a pretty stiff price for a comic with no well-known characters, artists or writers”. Yikes.  Mike: When you can't even get to pull its punches for an article like this, that kinda says a lot. I feel, yeah, so I don't know what kind of marketing was done, but I haven't been able to find any ads for the Nelson comics in any of my Marvel issues from 1992 to 94, nor have I been able to track down [00:13:00] anything on the web. I mean, absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence, but it certainly seems like the partnership got rolling and then nobody really wanted to draw the attention to the end results. Which, based on what we've seen of  the end result of the product, uh, maybe, maybe that's kind of understandable. Jessika: Big sigh.  Mike: Yeah, that said, I do have the Illuminator comics in my collection and they are definitely higher quality in terms of production. Like, you know, the colors still pop they're definitely thicker. But, if I had seen this in the comic store, I would have blown right past it when I was kid.  Jessika: Yeah.  Mike: So speaking of Illuminator, do you want to give us an elevator pitch for that comic? Jessika: Oh my, well, if you insist. I mean, other than calling it a hot mess? Mike: Other than calling it a hot mess. Jessika: Okay. So this high school-aged [00:14:00] kid named Andy Prentiss goes to summer camp, is bullied a lot, and gets tricked into going into the forest in the middle of the night where he is abducted? Mike: It's pretty vague. Jessika: By a beam of light? Yeah.  Mike: It's super vague. Like, they don't ever actually, we'll get into that. Okay.  Jessika: It's very strange. And he, he somehow becomes the light? And has powers for no explicable reason? I know there are a lot of question marks behind my, my sentences, because that's how it feels. He gets semi-brainwashed by a local reverend and convinced that his powers are from God himself.  Mike: Was he actually a reverend was, I thought that dude was just like a… Jessika: I don't know.  Or maybe he was just a janitor. I don't know what he was. Mike: It's never really explained. Like. Jessika: I'm giving him a lot of credit.  Mike: Yeah.  Sorry. I derailed it. Jessika: That's okay. Well, he [00:15:00] convinced him that his power, whoever this dude was who worked at this church. He was always sweeping, he was probably a janitor you're right.  Convince him that his powers are from God himself and that he is acting because God directed him to. But like slippery slope my dude. Thus, the Illuminator was created after that all of the villains are supposed to represent really obvious, evil being demon-like creatures, trying, and being mostly successful at tempting the public into acting sinfully.  There isn't a great explanation as to why any of this happened, like we said, or is being aimed at Prentiss himself, who didn't seem to be very religious in the first place when this thing started? Mike: No, he was just kind of like an earnest, sort of naive teenager. Jessika: Yeah. But I'll tell you what there is, there is a healthy amount of [00:16:00] slut-shaming.  So that's certainly exciting for me because, you know, I hate that bullshit. So.  Mike: Yeah. It's definitely uncomfortable to read.  Also, I wanna note that his superhero design for the Illuminator persona feels like a rip off of Long Shot, who was this popular character in the eighties who palled around with the X-Men for awhile. Like, here's what he looked like. Take a look, tell me what you think. Jessika: Oh, he even has the little star. Okay. This does look really similar to the other comic we read. He's wearing like a black kind of jumpsuit, but it could, it really could be a motorcycle jacket and pants. He's got boots on. He has a little bullet necklace or a bullet sash? Mike: I believe the term is a bandolier. Jessika: A bandolier, thank you. He has a bandolier, I'm cutting all of that bullshit out. He has a bandolier [00:17:00] and he's throwing, like, I don't know, a little, are those knives? Mike: Knives.  Jessika: Oh, okay. Mike: He, like that's Long Shot's thing, is that his power is he's super lucky. He has slightly enhanced strength and hollow bones, which makes him a better acrobat.  Jessika: Got it. Mike: And then his weapon of choice is he throws knives that basically he just can hit anything with. Jessika: The problem is they kind of look like sharp popsicles.  Mike: Kind of yeah.  Jessika: So.  Mike: But yeah, I mean like Long Shot is one of my favorite characters.  Jessika: Nice. Mike: And I was reading this book again and I was just going, oh my God, they added a helmet and then kind of removed the bandolier and added some extra padding and called it a day. He's even got the mullet.  It's just a different color.  Andy's a dirty blonde and. Jessika: Yeah. Mike: And Long Shot is platinum.  Jessika: It's like three shades off, real close.  Mike: So you gave a pretty solid summary of the comic itself. I gotta say [00:18:00] the comic series felt very unfocused.  It doesn't feel like it really conveys much of a Christian message.   Andy's powers are so vaguely delivered, as you called out, and there's no real specific link to Jesus or Christianity at that point.  He only becomes the Christian super hero when he retreats into a church to escape, apparently a demonic opponent? Bu, the only reason that we know that he's demonic is because he doesn't want to go in the church.  And then he gets a pep talk from this one-armed wise man who lives there, apparently. I feel like he still approached things in a very standard superhero way: punch first ask questions later.  Did you notice that there was no trying to solve problems in a way that would result in anything other than a fist fight with powers? Jessika: Oh, no, it was just like, oh, there's a problem, I need to go beat someone up. That was absolutely the vibe.  Mike: Yeah, I was genuinely surprised by that. I would have expected a little [00:19:00] more Jesus-inspired approaches such as turning the other cheek, or lifting people up who are suffering, things like that. But no, it was just a superhero fights with people or things that were designated as evil from an evangelical point of view. And I mean, we should talk about that. Like, each of the comics comes across a super victim-blamey.  Like, there's that party where Nightfire, the first demonic entity, shows up and starts draining victims, and it shows they're all drinking or doing drugs or being slutty. Jessika: Yeah. They're at a party and there are girls on guys' laps and apparently, that's not good. Mike: Apparently, but then they all become Nightfire's sort of undead army. So it's that implication that sinful behavior leads to damnation later on. Um. Jessika: Okay.  Mike: And then [00:20:00] in the second issue, the story paints college campuses out as godless places, full of temptation and being devoid of morality. So, they're susceptible to this mad scientist, who's splicing together weird animal human hybrids, which, I mean, that felt like something that was written by someone who has never actually been on a college campus. Jessika: Yes.   Mike: And then the third issue was absolutely trying to link Satanism and Wiccan beliefs.  I'm not crazy, right? Like that actually, that's how it felt. Like, Satanism and crystals, that  they're just hand in hand. Jessika:  Yeah, it was super gross. Mike: Yeah, it was really bad.  I mean, the book only had three issues or illustrated novels or whatever they want to call it before it was canceled. So, I personally think that the probable lack of marketing that we discussed really hurt it, but it also seems like there were some production problems that caused it to be [00:21:00] delayed because the third volume has a cover date of August, 1993, but it turns out it didn't actually hit the shelves until February of 1994. I could not find sales figures for the months that the first two volumes came out, but the third issue doesn't even crack the top 100 issues being sold in the market when it actually hit the shelves. You brought up the slut-shamey aspect to it. And in the end of the third issue, it really felt uncomfortable where Andy was, these days it would be incel kind of logic, where he's really mad that the girl he saved didn't go to him. Jessika: That is so how it felt. I was just like pointing at you viciously right now, like, really aggressively. Mike: Yeah. When you were doing that, I was like, what did I do wrong? Jessika: Ya know that's exactly how it felt. It felt like he's like, well, I saved her and I'm the better guy. So she should just be with me.  Mike: Yeah. And then. Jessika: He just expected it. It was gross.  Mike: And then they kind of have a teaching moment where they're like, well, you know, that's not always how it works, [00:22:00] blah, blah, blah. And then she shows up to be another disciple of Christ or whatever, and blah. Jessika: Yeah. She's like, I broke up with that other guy.  Mike: Oh yeah. That. Jessika: She's wearing a knee length skirt and like. Mike: Yeah. And before that she'd been wearing kind of form-fitting jeans and tank tops and. Well, the other guy, I can't even remember his name, but he was at the party. That's the only time we saw him. And he was basically trying to make it okay that everyone was drinking. So, you know. Jessika: Yeah. And then he was in the mall scene and he was like, trying to convince her like something stupid, something else stupid.  Mike: Yeah. That was after they got returned to their bodies. That's right. I, I actually thought that she was the mom of one of the other characters originally because she had such a mom haircut and it was like, oh, it's kind of the sexy mom. And then oops. It was, the ages of those characters was very [00:23:00] ill-defined. Jessika: Agreed.  Mike: And then, like I said, like this was clearly written by someone who had not experienced really anything of the real world, it felt. Nightfire is a drug dealer who just hangs out outside of high schools and tries to randomly sell drugs to kids? Like, my dude. Do you not understand how drug dealing works? Jessika: That's not how that works. Yeah. Your kids don't have enough money for drug dealers to be interested in them.  And they're definitely not giving your kids free drugs. Like I know I say that a lot, but it's because I believe it a lot. They're not just going to get rid of their revenue. Mike:  It was the same thing with that college campus, with the mad scientist professor who was, he was in a wheelchair for no really defined reason, he just was. And then apparently he's just creating an army of [00:24:00] man-animal hybrids. Which, again, I was sitting there and I'm like, man, I took biology classes in college and they were never this cool, like, are you creating an army of mutant supermen at your college? Yeah, sign me up. I'll pay that tuition. I'll take out a loan. Jessika: Well, and it was happening in this way that wasn't really logical, to where they were kind of meshing into this larger, like alligator with massive arms and walks around like a human, but then I don't know. It was strange. He was making them come apart with his, God-light. Like they could become two separate things. Again, it wasn't like he was chopping things up and sticking them back together or making a new creature. I don't really understand how this was supposed to be happening, from a scientific aspect.  Mike: His powers were really, ill-defined like he, he could fly and he could shoot light. And then I guess, theoretically add super strength, but. Yeah, that whole, like God-light separating the things out, but then it turned out it killed them because they'd been bonded too long to get, I don't know, whatever [00:25:00] it was, it was fucking dumb. Yeah. So that was the thing was Trisha goes to a crystal store where it's apparently a front for a demon cult. And again, I'm like, I don't know, man,  if I went to a crystal store and they told me that I could traffic with demons, I'd be much more likely to buy one of their ridiculously expensive geodes. Because I've been taken on a date to a crystal shop, because I was sick and my date wanted to buy me a healing crystal and I was. Oh, God, Jessika: That's, that is very sweet.  Mike: I did not respond well to this.  Jessika: I'm sure you did not.  Mike: Which. I'm sure does not surprise you, but. Jessika: No. Mike: I'm just saying if he'd instead offered to induct me into a cult where they hung out with demons, I might've actually gone out for a second date with him. Hmm. [00:26:00]  Do you have any more thoughts on Illuminator before we move on to our next entry? Jessika: I mean, I didn't care for this comic. Other than the first one that was establishing his origin story, it felt like the same story in each of the three issues. It was some demon character sucking the life out of people that were making bad choices. It was literally the same story each time, not even well masked. Mike: Yeah, exactly. Jessika: And, it was hard to follow and it was hard to figure out the incredibly vague, read not there, ties to Christianity that this character and his actions and powers were supposed to have, like we were talking about. It felt like a stretch at best.  Mike: Yeah. They were just trying to shoehorn it in at the end where he would go talk to, the guy's name was George, I think, where he would go and talk to his mentor at the church.  It felt like a very kind of vague, well, if you look at it this way, this could be your lesson from Jesus. [00:27:00] Jessika: Yeah, exactly.  And you were bringing up another point that I also didn't like, they were just making fun of other religions, for example, naming someone Chakra, and mocking other spiritual practices with crystals, it was really disrespectful and in poor taste.  Mike: Which, I mean, I can't say I'm really surprised given how evangelical culture typically goes these days.  Jessika:  Christianity, isn't the only religion and I'm tired of mainstream society being okay with Jesus-washing everything, and then being offended when any other religion is given any space.  It's deplorable.  Mike: Yeah. And then also, these stories just felt very lazy and dumb. The big one that I keep on thinking about is, again, that second issue where he's at a college campus and there's the mad scientist and it's revealed the mad scientist kidnapped a football player, like the star football player from the university's team, and then [00:28:00] turned him into, I think, the alligator hybrid that we were talking about.  Jessika: Yeah.  Mike: I was sitting there going my dude. You're mad that they pulled your funding. What do you think they're going to do to you when you remove their giant cash cow of college football from the campus? Jessika: Yeah, exactly. And like, do you not know the cardinal rule of  picking people who don't have people looking for them? Mike: Right? Jessika: But, like, I'm not planning on doing anything bad and even I know that. Yeah. So, yeah. And other than just the audacity that Andy has making assumptions that he and Trisha are gonna get together based on the fact that he saves her from what he perceives as a bad situation.  Mike: He's a nice guy. He is that proverbial nice guy trope. Jessika: Hint to everyone out there: Don't you ever slide into my DMS and say you're a nice guy, because you will be [00:29:00] blocked so quickly.  Mike: On that note, what do you say? We move on to the next books in our discussion.  Jessika: Let's mosey.  Mike: So, I mentioned the Life of Christ comics that were single issues. These are the two issues that were put out to retail; the Christmas and Easter stories. They were both written by Louise Simonson and illustrated by Mary Wilshire, as well as Eisner award winner Coleen Doran, she apparently helped with the Easter issue. Simonson is a major name in comics alongside her husband, Walt. She co-created the character, Cable, from the X-Men; she helped launch the long running series, Superman, the Man of Steel; and she was one of the major stakeholders in the death of Superman storyline. And she also helped out, if I remember right, I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that she was a major [00:30:00] part of Walt Simonson's really acclaimed run on Thor, to the point where both of them appear in cameos in the original Thor movie. Like I think, I  think they're both featured at the end when they're celebrating at the hall of heroes, or whatever it is. But  it was a nice little nod because they created a lot of stuff like Thor: Frog of Thunder, and, Beta Ray bill, if I remember right.    Likewise, Mary Wilshire did a ton of stuff for Marvel in the eighties and nineties. She was best known for her work on Red Sonja and Firestar. And then Colleen Doran, goddamn, she's this incredible illustrator who's worked on a ton of properties. I always associate her with Neil Gaiman's Sandman. So.  Jessika: I just started reading that.  Mike: Yeah, like all three of these women are Legit Big Deals, like capital letters at the start of each of those words.  And that's why it's so weird to see their names in these issues. I can't believe how bland and [00:31:00] boring everything about them felt. Like, is that mean? Am I going out of line?  Jessika: No. No. I'm surprised to hear about the acclaim that these illustrators have, because it felt very elementary. Am I supposed to have received this as a coloring book?  Mike: Yeah, it's really flat, like, okay. So for comparison, here is a painting that Colleen Duran did for Sandman. Check it out.  Jessika:  Oh, wow. This is cool.  Mike: Right? Jessika: Wow. Okay. There's a lot going on. So I'll just describe this really quick.  There's a ton going on. So at the very top, there's a Swan couple swans, a swan and a, some sort of a harp, maybe a harpsichord thing. And you've got some planets and moons and a dude gargling some blood, it looks like. Mike: I [00:32:00] think that's supposed to be Orpheus. Cause he, if I remember right, he was Dream's son and then Orpheus is eventually ripped apart by the Bach the Bachinal. I dunno, whatever there. Jessika:  And then there is a legit goth lady who has this amazing, I'm not too far into it, obviously, as you can tell.  Mike: Right. So  that is death. That is Dreams sister. I mean,  Jessika: That's great.  Mike: Yeah. If, if you're not too familiar with it, I don't want to spoil all the elements for this, but this painting features a ton of major characters from throughout the Sandman series, which she provided a lot of illustration for. And it's a beautiful piece of work. Jessika: It's a feast for the eyes, honestly. I mean, there's so many different elements, I mean, part of it looks like it's supposed to look like stained glass and other parts of it, don't look that same way. It's very interesting.  Mike:  Yeah. So it's very [00:33:00] much not what we got. Likewise, I want you to look at some of Mary Wiltshire's art, here. Jessika: Oh, wow. See, that's fun.  Mike: Right? Jessika: Red Sonia. See, I want to read some Red Sonia.  Mike: Yeah. The 80's series is fun. I think Marvel might have the rights back, because it's part of the Conan properties. Oh no, wait, I think Dynamite has Red Sonia. I don't know. You can probably find some books on Hoopla if nothing else. Jessika: This is great. I mean, the color vibe is great. There's all this shading, which there really wasn't in that other one at all. Mike: Yeah, I noticed that, too. It was just flat color, other than they used some crosshatching within the illustration, but  that was kind of all they did, except for Jesus's hair. That was such a, like, it was a choice, I guess, they just, the only thing that had any sort of shading was, like, Jesus's hair looked like it was a tie dye masterpiece, so, [00:34:00] oh, wow.  Mike: Both of these books feel very, for lack of a better term, very paint by numbers. Jessika: Yes, very much. So.  Mike: I mean, we've all heard these stories before, too. There wasn't really anything new. The most exciting artwork for both of these books was on the cover. And, the one weird thing that really stood out to me, was that the Easter book felt kind of anti-Semitic, I don't know if I was just reading a little too much into that. Jessika: No, you you're. I've I read that too. Yes. Mike: I feel like  there was an abnormal focus on making Pontius Pilate into not being the bad guy. And instead of keeping the blame on the Jewish elders, it felt very weird and very gross.  Jessika: It did. Mike: And it's, I know that is an argument that is somewhat popular with certain extreme right-wing sectors of evangelical Christianity, too, is that the Jews killed Jesus, [00:35:00] which, I don't know how to respond to that. Like it, it just, just. Jessika: It felt very much like they were saying, yes, we know the Romans did it, but it's your fault, Jews. And it's like, what? No, no, no, no. Mike: Yeah. It was very uncomfortable to read. Jessika: Absolutely. Yeah. I agree. A hundred percent.  The other thing that bothered me from the birth issue was the angels. Like, I've read what angels are supposed to look like. If it's not some beautiful human woman with wings floating down gracefully from the clouds. It is a terrifying multi-eyed creature that shows up in some really jarring way. The whole situation seemed way too peaceful for what I've read from the actual Bible. Like, I have read the Bible in its entirety.  I was bored at [00:36:00] 13,  don't ask, but yeah. So, but that's not the vibe. Like, people are always really terrified when angels come down and there is a reason.  Mike: Yeah. And that's something that I remember is that when I was growing up, you know, I was presented with the very, kind of Renaissance style angels. And so I never understood when I was reading as a kid or having the stories read to me, why are people scared of the angels? Because you know, they're just glowing people with wings. And then later on it was, oh, oh, they're fucking monsters. They are, they are straight out of HP Lovecraft. Okay. I get it now. Jessika: Yeah. Because technically the humans are supposed to be the ones that are like, what? In God's image. There's nothing about angels being so. Mike: Nope. We're the, we're the mud people.   Jessika: Yes. Mike: Well, moving on from that, aside from those aforementioned single issues, Nelson Comics published, [00:37:00] what was dubbed the Christian Classic Series, which are comic adaptations of kind of big name Christian literature.  I was able to track down digital copies of the Pilgrim's Progress and In His Steps; What Would Jesus Do? Let's talk about that one first. I had actually heard of iIn His Steps before this, because it took that titular phrase and it kind of brought it into the popular culture. It was originally written in the late 19th century. It's basically about a reverend who is moved to challenge his congregation to use the question when making life decisions. It's a dry book and the comic was super dry as well. It just, it felt like a lot of expository dialogue set in late 19th century settings with a bunch of very prim and proper white people who, for the most part feel pretty monied and pretty privileged.   Jessika: Yeah. Mike: There's occasionally some sort of [00:38:00] over-the-top situations where our Christian heroes are facing persecution, but it's like, it's made up persecution. It's that idea where Christians are like, we're the victims, people don't like us. And I think maybe because you're assholes, I don't know how to respond to that otherwise. Jessika: Yeah. Maybe it's not about your religion. Maybe it's just you. Mike: Yeah. If everyone's telling you you're an asshole, maybe it's not anything else, maybe it's just you. I agree. But yeah, it's just, it's a boring slog and it took me way longer than it should've to get through this. Jessika: They were awful. I'm not gonna lie. I read them, but I skimmed them because I couldn't sit there and like, let that infest my brain.  Mike: No. There's also a sequel novel that they didn't adapt.  Jessika: No. Mike: But basically, I think if I remember right, the sequel novel has Jesus actually showing up, like, it's like the second coming of Jesus. If I remember right. I  Jessika: Man, they already got so close to that in this one, because they had that one [00:39:00] dude show up who is a scraggly stranger.  And then the reverend has a dream that Jesus is actually lying in the bed and he's like, oh my God, it was Jesus all along.  Mike: Yeah. Oh God, that was. Jessika: So heavy handed. Smacked me across the face with that message. Jeez.  Mike: Oh, and what is it? The tramp has a daughter who the reverend and his wife take in to raise as their own. Jessika: Oh yeah.  Mike: On what planet…? Jessika: Because apparently. Mike: Ugh. Jessika: No, it's awful. No, we all know that Christians don't care about the children once they're born. Mike: We, there are so many signs around my town, at least in our area because we live right near a Catholic church where it's the pregnancy crisis centers. And I keep on, resisting the urge to go spray, paint them or something, they're so gross. Jessika: Oh, we have the ones up that have a picture of a baby that say my eyes are formed after blah, [00:40:00] blah, blah days or whatever.  Mike: Gross. Jessika: Yeah, I know they're awful. And every once in a while they do get spray painted.  Mike: Good. Jessika: Obviously I have nothing to do with that, but I walk past and I go, okay. Yep. Yep. Yeah.  Mike: Side tangent, completely unrelated to comics, but there was a Reddit post within the last year, I think, from some guy who was really upset about how his girlfriend would go and deface, the local pro-life billboards that would go up near their house. She would add things like citation needed for some of the claims, or just cross them out, or whatever. And he was saying, would I be justified in breaking up with her? Because I feel like, she's putting herself at legal risk doing all this. And literally every response was yo dude, you should break up with her and then give her my number because she sounds fucking rad. Jessika: Seriously. Oh my gosh. That's great. Mike: Anyway. Jessika: Hero of heroes.  Mike: Yeah, the hero we need. [00:41:00] So, turning to the Pilgrim's Progress. This is a Christian allegory novel from the 1600's that's extremely surreal. I'd actually never heard of this book before now, and I had to do some basic research just to see how close they mirrored the plot. And I'm really bummed that actually, the comic is a pretty faithful adaptation of the source material. Which means there is a giant prose novel that is just this dumb and insane, but without at least the somewhat arresting visuals that we got. Jessika: It's basically Pinocchio.  Mike: Yeah, I mean, it's not far off, except there's a second act where the dude's sinful family follows him, which. Jessika: Oh my God. They just kind of get abducted into the nether though. They don't do anything.  [00:42:00] He's the one that does everything and then they're suddenly just there.  Mike:  Before we get into this discussion. It's about a protagonist named Christian, on his pilgrimage across this metaphorical landscape, where he confronts temptation and he learns, I don't know, moral lessons, I guess. I wasn't entirely certain about a lot of those, but whatever.  And then after he makes it to heaven, his wife and kids follow him, because he couldn't convince them to come with him originally. This was written in the late 1600's, originally it is updated and adapted to what's supposed to be modern day, New York. And there's a lot of like really thinly veiled criticism being leveled at environmentalists for some reason, which I did not understand.  Jessika: It was really strange. I don't know where that came from. I read that, too.  Mike: Yeah. And then in the novel, after he makes it to heaven, confronting all these challenges, [00:43:00] his wife and his kids follow him. And then they have a sort of angelic guardian, who helps protect them along the way, who she shows up in the comic book, it's whatever, the kids, and this was actually kind of a weird diversion from the novel in the novel. The kids become adults throughout the journey, cause it's a long journey and they get married and they have families of their own. And so at the very end, they don't go with the wife, but they stay behind. And, basically they're living Christian lifestyles. And in the comic book for some reason, and it's not really explained well, they're left behind with their aunt who was also on the journey with them.  And then the mom was just like, okay, bye. I'm going to go off to heaven now with your dad. Jessika: Yeah, he just like sticky handed her up there or something, like you earn the right to  snatch your wife from earth. Maybe that was the rapture. Mike: Yeah, maybe. Well, and then at the very end, his friend, who was like, oh no,  [00:44:00] you know, we're, we're doing our part. We're recycling and taking care of the planet. He's denied access to heaven by St. Peter for some reason, that's not really explained. Jessika: Which was so strange. Like, yeah, please, don't recycle friends. What, what a strange takeaway from this whole thing. Mike: It just, it feels kind of like this religious acid trip with occasional detours into misogyny and racism. Correct me if I'm wrong. Jessika: Not at all. Very, very same page as you.  Mike: The one piece of praise that I can offer these books is that they definitely have the best art of the Nelson comics line. Jessika: It was decent. Yeah.   So I found for both of these comics, both In His Steps and the Pilgrim's Progress, unsurprisingly, they keep replaying the same messages that have been consistent with these comics: be faithful against these huge temptations that are supposed to bombard you every day.  I would expect there to be women and men of loose morals [00:45:00] falling at my feet to tempt me constantly is all I'm saying, like, let's make it happen. Disappointment.  Mike: I'm, I always see these things talking about like women have loose morals or, or ill-repute,  I clearly was not hanging out in the right neighborhoods. Jessika: That's what I'm saying.  Mike: Yeah. Bums me out, man. Jessika: There's always some messages about staying on the path of God, which is always very vague and sometimes literally a path, which come on. And Beelzebub constantly shows up, because the only real villains are the devil and your inability to resist temptation, apparently. Once again, though, didn't see any queer people, which is fine because the Bible really doesn't say anything about them anyway. And I guess God didn't really start hating us in mainstream media until later on then. Huh?  Mike: Man, I don't know. I mean, [00:46:00] like, there's that whole thing about Sodom and Gomorrah, and how we're all sodomized or whatever, but I don't know when, when it became really okay for Christian people to hate on the gays. Jessika: Yeah. I don't know. They need to step back. Oh, did I say that out loud? Mike: Yeah.  Jessika: They're right behind me, aren't they?  Mike: Not yet, at least. Jessika: And also, why is it such a theme that these main characters, low key become cult leaders every single time  Mike: Right? Jessika: It's like, yikes, Catholicism, have some awareness about what a cult-vibe you give off, just like, generally. All in all, the religion is so forced in there that the plot lines of these stories rarely made any sense. It felt like the comics were a game of tug of war, trying unsuccessfully to write a cohesive storyline while still shoehorning in religion, which ultimately caused the comics to feel frenzied and disorganized.  Mike: Yeah. On top of that, these are just [00:47:00] so dry. They're so dry. I get the Thomas Nelson was trying to adapt, quote unquote, major works of Christian literature. But, I can't think of anyone who really reads these books, let alone kids. I'm not really familiar with the whole Christian allegory genre of fiction, but there's gotta be better stuff out there than these books. I know the Thomas Nelson for this line, they also had CS Lewis' Screwtape Letters turned into a comic, I couldn't find it to read, but I'm kind of wondering why they didn't try adapting some of his other work, like the Lion, the Witch, the Wardrobe, you know, Aslan is very much a Jesus' allegory and - Jessika: Yeah.  Mike: It just, it doesn't make a lot of sense not to do something with more name recognition. I mean, hell, Thomas Nelson has an entire collection of fictional books in their catalog. I just scoped out their website today, and I don't understand why they didn't do a comic adaptation of something from there. But, [00:48:00] don't know, I guess that probably would have required extra effort involving research and the author's permission. And it seems - Jessika: Oh no. Mike: Like no, I mean, that, honestly, that seems like more work than the publisher really was interested in committing to this whole endeavor. Jessika: Fair.  Mike: You know, and unsurprisingly, the Nelson comics imprint wasn't long for this world. And it was abandoned by 1994, reportedly due to low sales. Between the quality and the apparent lack of marketing and also the high price points, I can't say I'm surprised. I did find it really funny when I was looking at their website, they have  some limited edition of Dracula on their website and Shakespeare, and I'm like, those things are not Catholic friendly, or evangelical friendly.  Are these edited, are these just like, did he just decide to do like limited edition reprints? I don't know.  Jessika: That's interesting.  Mike:  Weirdly though, Thomas Nelson's recently gotten [00:49:00] back into comic books with Bible Force, which was a comic or a graphic novel that went on sale this year. Here, take a look at this cover, just check it out and tell me and me what you think. Jessika: Yeah, let's see. Oh, oh, wow.  Mike: Right? Jessika: Okay. So, who's supposed to be the dude in the middle? Mike: I don't know. I don't  Jessika: Okay. So there's like some dude, there's some dude in the middle, he's got a sword, and it's thrusting out towards the viewer. There's. What is it? Joseph and his Technicolor coat, I'm assuming that's what that was. Um,  Mike: That's what it looks like. Jessika: Uh, it's what it looks like. It's a color, her coat there's there's Noah's Ark. There's definitely Jesus with arms outstretched. Although, of course, white Jesus, because why be historically accurate? All of these people are Caucasian. I might add in this entire comic, all of these people were Caucasian, except for a very few in the Jesus [00:50:00] episodes. And those were just  people from far away, quote unquote, everyone else was very, very light-skinned. Mike: Also, if you're going to give us white Jesus, can you at least give a shirtless white Jesus? I want to see some washboard abs. Jessika: That's what I'm saying.  Mike: Right? Jessika: That's what I'm saying. So yes, this is just, it's very exciting. Says, Bible Force, the First Heroes Bible. I think that's Probably. Mary as well on the front. It's a woman also Caucasian, and she's got a head scarf of some sort on, it's pink, which they absolutely had magenta back in Bible days. I am sure, absolutely feasible. I'm there. Believe it.  Isaac Mizrahi's in there like designing, designing Mary's outfit. Oh honey, you're going to look great in this.  Mike: He is all about the [00:51:00] timeless looks, isn't he? Jessika: Yes.  Mike:  So, I mean, that's the Nelson comics. Short-lived imprint. Do you have any final thoughts? Jessika: Well, can't say I'm surprised that these didn't continue on. I can't imagine that they were really keeping kids' attention, or giving them any type of cohesive and thoughtful messages.  Mike: No. I mean, probably not. I don't think many comic retailers were carrying them either because this was right at the height of my teenage collecting years, and I don't remember seeing any of this stuff in any of the shops that I frequented. Jessika: Yeah, it was pretty much like here: look at the colors. Oh, and have some antisemitism, enjoy.  Mike: And some casual misogyny. It's fine. Jessika: Yes. Yes, exactly.  Mike:  If you could sum up the titles from this imprint [00:52:00] in one word, what would you use? Jessika: Confused.  Mike: I was going to go soulless, but that's also good. Jessika: Oh, yours is better.  Mike: Now is the time of the show where we discuss our Brain Wrinkles, which is the one thing comics or comics-adjacent that has been just stuck in our head for the last couple of days that we just want to talk about. I guess we should talk about the recent Highlander casting news. Would you like to take that away? Jessika: Oh, oh certainly. Certainly. Oh my goodness. So, during our Highlander episode, Mike, you mentioned that there has been a Highlander reboot in the works since 2008 Mike: Yep. Jessika: And we were speculating on who would be good to cast. Well, there is a reboot in the works, but we were both incorrect about casting, and sorry about that, Chris Pine and Channing Tatum, because either of you [00:53:00] would have been most fabulous in this role, but it landed and it turned out to be Henry Cavill who will be our new next Highlander. And I'm sure he'll have a new name because that's kind of how we trend with the Highlander series, which is good.  Mike: Yeah, they haven't announced the actual role that he's playing yet, but it's assumed that he's going to be the MacLeod who's the main character. Jessika: I would think so. Wouldn't it be interesting if he was like the Kurgan or something that would be really funny.  Mike: Yeah. I think I mentioned this, supposedly Bautista is going to be the Kurgan, but that he'd signed on, I think back in 2015. So it's been six years since then? Jessika: Well, I have to say though, I'm not all that upset about this turn of events. What about you, Mike?  Mike: No, not at all. I just tore through the Witcher series on Netflix last week, over the course of a couple of days while I was working, I had it on in the background. And it was really nice to see Cavill in a role that wasn't [00:54:00] Superman, which is, you know, I use the term, unfortunately, he is just so associated with that role right now. And, honestly, I like him as Superman, I just wish they gave him better scripts and movies to work with.  Jessika: Yeah. And it's hard to feel typecast as well. You don't, you know, you don't want to be Daniel Radcliffe, you know, playing Harry Potter for 20 years and then not being able to do anything else, although he's done very well. So I, can't say that. Mike: I was going to say I actually really -  Jessika: You know, not a good example, I suppose.  Mike: I love the choices that the Daniel Radcliffe has made since Harry Potter, Jessika: Yeah, me too. Mike: He has chosen so many insane roles. It's great.  Jessika: Yeah. Mike: Um, yeah, no, like, you know, honestly, Cavill. First of all, I just, I really like Henry Cavill, like, he's given the interviews where he's talked about how playing Superman makes him want to be a better person, because he is portraying this character who is a role model for so many, especially the little kids. And that just [00:55:00] makes me really fond of the dude.  Jessika: That's so sweet.  Mike: He seems like another Chris Evans, and I'm, fine with that. That said, he is fucking grumpy in the Witcher, and it's really fun. He basically just has this very surly charisma throughout the entire show. And he's still jacked, but he's not as yoked as he is for the Superman rules. Like he doesn't look like a bodybuilder, he just looks like an incredibly fit dude, and I'm fine with that.  Also, he does action scenes really well. The guy who's handling the reboot is Chad Stahelski, who did the John Wick movies. Dude knows his way around an action scene. And if you ever want to see an example of Henry Cavill in good action scenes, watch the Witcher or the Mission Impossible movie that he was in, where he literally does that thing where he reloads his arms and then puts up his Dukes. I can watch that scene on repeat for hours. It's great. Jessika: Nice. I'll have to watch that. I haven't seen the Witcher [00:56:00] yet.  Mike: Yeah. It's fun. We'll talk about that later on, but it's good. I really liked it even coming into it without having any real familiarity with the games or the books that it's based on. Also, I got to say that Highlander heart group that we were in, some of those people were grumpy at the casting. Jessika: Yes. Some people were very grumpy. It was, it was a mixed bag. Some people were very excited and some people were very, very, very grumpy.  Mike: And even - Jessika: Okay.  Mike: To their credit, even the people who were unhappy, weren't toxic, like in some other groups we've seen. Jessika: Oh, correct. Yes. That was very refreshing, cause, you know. Mike: Yeah. the backstory to your listeners is that we have been a part of other Facebook groups that are just heinously toxic nerd culture groups. And we swipe left pretty quick when we're in there. Jessika: Yeah, I don't want to feel like I can't like things or I don't want somebody telling me the amount of a fan. I am the type of fan I am.  Mike: Exactly.  Jessika: Gatekeeping is awful. Don't do it.  Mike: Yeah, don't be a jerk, [00:57:00] I have to say the news that has been coming out about the reboot for Highlander sounds pretty promising. So fingers crossed that it doesn't suck but, we'll see. Jessika: Yeah.  Mike: I believe that's it for this episode, so we'll be back in two weeks, and until then, we'll see y'all in the stacks. Thanks for listening to Ten Cent Takes. Accessibility is important to us; text transcriptions of each of our published episodes can be found on our website.  This episode was hosted by Jessika Frazer and Mike Thompson, written by Mike Thompson and edited by Jessika Frazer. Our intro theme was written and performed by Jared Emerson-Johnson of Bay Area Sound. Our credits and transition music is Pursuit of Life by Evan MacDonald and it was purchased with a standard license from PremiumBeat. Our banner graphics were designed by Sarah Frank, who goes by cut_thistles on Instagram. Jessika: If you'd [00:58:00] like to get in touch with us, ask us questions or tell us about how we got something wrong, please head over to tencenttakes.com or shoot an email to tencenttakes@gmail.com. You can also find us on Twitter, the official podcast account is @tencenttakes. Jessika is @jessikawitha, and Jessika is spelled with a K, and Mike is @vansau V A N S A U.   Mike: Stay safe out there. Jessika: And support your local comic shop. 

Meet Brian Roland. He's the co-founder and former CEO of Abenity, a Tennessee-based company that helps employers, alumni groups, and associations supplement their employee benefits with private perks and discount programs. Now living in Scottsdale, Ariz., he's also a husband, a self-proclaimed girl dad, coffee nerd, trumpeter and drone pilot.   But what stands out about Roland is his generosity. The company he built — and served as CEO for 13 years before resigning in 2019 — has made the Inc. 5000 list for six consecutive years while giving more than $1 million to causes like World Vision, which battles global poverty. Many companies plan to give, almost as an afterthought, but built into Abenity's DNA was a sustainable plan for generosity: The company committed 15 percent of its annual profits toward the United Nations' goal of ending global poverty by 2030.   Roland says we can make the same thing can work in a smaller scale in our daily lives, ensuring a way to put legs on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Likewise, it simply starts with a plan that helps us avoid being the priest or the Levite who walked by the mugging victim on the other side of the road.   “By having the plan to give and being present in the moments around you, that's the story of the Good Samaritan,” he says. “The priest that walked by — his head was just in the wrong space, and he didn't have a plan that he could follow that allowed him to serve that person right then. He let his schedule, to wherever he had to go, take precedence. … One thing we like to do is we keep $5 McDonald's gift cards in the middle console of our car, so when we see somebody in our community standing around, we've got a McDonald gift card and a Bible verse card in there, and it's like ‘Here's a meal.' … There are simple steps that you can do.“

Psalms and Wisdom: Proverbs 4 Proverbs 4 (Listen) A Father's Wise Instruction 4   Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,    and be attentive, that you may gain1 insight,2   for I give you good precepts;    do not forsake my teaching.3   When I was a son with my father,    tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,4   he taught me and said to me,  “Let your heart hold fast my words;    keep my commandments, and live.5   Get wisdom; get insight;    do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.6   Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;    love her, and she will guard you.7   The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,    and whatever you get, get insight.8   Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;    she will honor you if you embrace her.9   She will place on your head a graceful garland;    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” 10   Hear, my son, and accept my words,    that the years of your life may be many.11   I have taught you the way of wisdom;    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.12   When you walk, your step will not be hampered,    and if you run, you will not stumble.13   Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;    guard her, for she is your life.14   Do not enter the path of the wicked,    and do not walk in the way of the evil.15   Avoid it; do not go on it;    turn away from it and pass on.16   For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.17   For they eat the bread of wickedness    and drink the wine of violence.18   But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.19   The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;    they do not know over what they stumble. 20   My son, be attentive to my words;    incline your ear to my sayings.21   Let them not escape from your sight;    keep them within your heart.22   For they are life to those who find them,    and healing to all their2 flesh.23   Keep your heart with all vigilance,    for from it flow the springs of life.24   Put away from you crooked speech,    and put devious talk far from you.25   Let your eyes look directly forward,    and your gaze be straight before you.26   Ponder3 the path of your feet;    then all your ways will be sure.27   Do not swerve to the right or to the left;    turn your foot away from evil. Footnotes [1] 4:1 Hebrew know [2] 4:22 Hebrew his [3] 4:26 Or Make level (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Deuteronomy 9:6–10:11 Deuteronomy 9:6–10:11 (Listen) 6 “Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. 7 Remember and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD. 8 Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that he was ready to destroy you. 9 When I went up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. 10 And the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words that the LORD had spoken with you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. 11 And at the end of forty days and forty nights the LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant. 12 Then the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you have brought from Egypt have acted corruptly. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them; they have made themselves a metal image.' The Golden Calf 13 “Furthermore, the LORD said to me, ‘I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stubborn people. 14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.' 15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire. And the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the LORD your God. You had made yourselves a golden1 calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you. 17 So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes. 18 Then I lay prostrate before the LORD as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the LORD bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me that time also. 20 And the LORD was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him. And I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. 21 Then I took the sinful thing, the calf that you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. And I threw the dust of it into the brook that ran down from the mountain. 22 “At Taberah also, and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked the LORD to wrath. 23 And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and take possession of the land that I have given you,' then you rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God and did not believe him or obey his voice. 24 You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you. 25 “So I lay prostrate before the LORD for these forty days and forty nights, because the LORD had said he would destroy you. 26 And I prayed to the LORD, ‘O Lord GOD, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 27 Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin, 28 lest the land from which you brought us say, “Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness.” 29 For they are your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.' New Tablets of Stone 10 “At that time the LORD said to me, ‘Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to me on the mountain and make an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets that you broke, and you shall put them in the ark.' 3 So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two tablets of stone like the first, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hand. 4 And he wrote on the tablets, in the same writing as before, the Ten Commandments2 that the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly. And the LORD gave them to me. 5 Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark that I had made. And there they are, as the LORD commanded me.” 6 (The people of Israel journeyed from Beeroth Bene-jaakan3 to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried. And his son Eleazar ministered as priest in his place. 7 From there they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with brooks of water. 8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD to stand before the LORD to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day. 9 Therefore Levi has no portion or inheritance with his brothers. The LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God said to him.) 10 “I myself stayed on the mountain, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights, and the LORD listened to me that time also. The LORD was unwilling to destroy you. 11 And the LORD said to me, ‘Arise, go on your journey at the head of the people, so that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them.' Footnotes [1] 9:16 Hebrew cast metal [2] 10:4 Hebrew the ten words [3] 10:6 Or the wells of the Bene-jaakan (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Hosea 6–7 Hosea 6–7 (Listen) Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant 6   “Come, let us return to the LORD;    for he has torn us, that he may heal us;    he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.2   After two days he will revive us;    on the third day he will raise us up,    that we may live before him.3   Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;    his going out is sure as the dawn;  he will come to us as the showers,    as the spring rains that water the earth.” 4   What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?    What shall I do with you, O Judah?  Your love is like a morning cloud,    like the dew that goes early away.5   Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;    I have slain them by the words of my mouth,    and my judgment goes forth as the light.6   For I desire steadfast love1 and not sacrifice,    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 7   But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;    there they dealt faithlessly with me.8   Gilead is a city of evildoers,    tracked with blood.9   As robbers lie in wait for a man,    so the priests band together;  they murder on the way to Shechem;    they commit villainy.10   In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;    Ephraim's whoredom is there; Israel is defiled. 11   For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.   When I restore the fortunes of my people,7   when I would heal Israel,    the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed,    and the evil deeds of Samaria,  for they deal falsely;    the thief breaks in,    and the bandits raid outside.2   But they do not consider    that I remember all their evil.  Now their deeds surround them;    they are before my face.3   By their evil they make the king glad,    and the princes by their treachery.4   They are all adulterers;    they are like a heated oven  whose baker ceases to stir the fire,    from the kneading of the dough    until it is leavened.5   On the day of our king, the princes    became sick with the heat of wine;    he stretched out his hand with mockers.6   For with hearts like an oven they approach their intrigue;    all night their anger smolders;    in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.7   All of them are hot as an oven,    and they devour their rulers.  All their kings have fallen,    and none of them calls upon me. 8   Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples;    Ephraim is a cake not turned.9   Strangers devour his strength,    and he knows it not;  gray hairs are sprinkled upon him,    and he knows it not.10   The pride of Israel testifies to his face;2    yet they do not return to the LORD their God,    nor seek him, for all this. 11   Ephraim is like a dove,    silly and without sense,    calling to Egypt, going to Assyria.12   As they go, I will spread over them my net;    I will bring them down like birds of the heavens;    I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation.13   Woe to them, for they have strayed from me!    Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me!  I would redeem them,    but they speak lies against me. 14   They do not cry to me from the heart,    but they wail upon their beds;  for grain and wine they gash themselves;    they rebel against me.15   Although I trained and strengthened their arms,    yet they devise evil against me.16   They return, but not upward;3    they are like a treacherous bow;  their princes shall fall by the sword    because of the insolence of their tongue.  This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. Footnotes [1] 6:6 Septuagint mercy [2] 7:10 Or in his presence [3] 7:16 Or to the Most High (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Titus 2 Titus 2 (Listen) Teach Sound Doctrine 2 But as for you, teach what accords with sound1 doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants2 are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. Footnotes [1] 2:1 Or healthy; also verses 2, 8 [2] 2:9 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface (ESV)

Old Testament: 1 Kings 7 1 Kings 7 (Listen) Solomon Builds His Palace 7 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house. 2 He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits1 and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four2 rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. 4 There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. 5 All the doorways and windows3 had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers. 6 And he made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. There was a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of them. 7 And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters.4 8 His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had taken in marriage. 9 All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court. 10 The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar. 12 The great court had three courses of cut stone all around, and a course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the LORD and the vestibule of the house. The Temple Furnishings 13 And King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work. 15 He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference. It was hollow, and its thickness was four fingers. The second pillar was the same.5 16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 There were lattices of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars, a lattice6 for the one capital and a lattice for the other capital. 18 Likewise he made pomegranates7 in two rows around the one latticework to cover the capital that was on the top of the pillar, and he did the same with the other capital. 19 Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits. 20 The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection which was beside the latticework. There were two hundred pomegranates in two rows all around, and so with the other capital. 21 He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple. He set up the pillar on the south and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the north and called its name Boaz. 22 And on the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished. 23 Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. 24 Under its brim were gourds, for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. 25 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. 26 Its thickness was a handbreadth,8 and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held two thousand baths.9 27 He also made the ten stands of bronze. Each stand was four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high. 28 This was the construction of the stands: they had panels, and the panels were set in the frames, 29 and on the panels that were set in the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the frames, both above and below the lions and oxen, there were wreaths of beveled work. 30 Moreover, each stand had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze, and at the four corners were supports for a basin. The supports were cast with wreaths at the side of each. 31 Its opening was within a crown that projected upward one cubit. Its opening was round, as a pedestal is made, a cubit and a half deep. At its opening there were carvings, and its panels were square, not round. 32 And the four wheels were underneath the panels. The axles of the wheels were of one piece with the stands, and the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half. 33 The wheels were made like a chariot wheel; their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all cast. 34 There were four supports at the four corners of each stand. The supports were of one piece with the stands. 35 And on the top of the stand there was a round band half a cubit high; and on the top of the stand its stays and its panels were of one piece with it. 36 And on the surfaces of its stays and on its panels, he carved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths all around. 37 After this manner he made the ten stands. All of them were cast alike, of the same measure and the same form. 38 And he made ten basins of bronze. Each basin held forty baths, each basin measured four cubits, and there was a basin for each of the ten stands. 39 And he set the stands, five on the south side of the house, and five on the north side of the house. And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house. 40 Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the LORD: 41 the two pillars, the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars, and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars; 42 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; 43 the ten stands, and the ten basins on the stands; 44 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath the sea. 45 Now the pots, the shovels, and the basins, all these vessels in the house of the LORD, which Hiram made for King Solomon, were of burnished bronze. 46 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many of them; the weight of the bronze was not ascertained. 48 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the LORD: the golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence, 49 the lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north, before the inner sanctuary; the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; 50 the cups, snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold; and the sockets of gold, for the doors of the innermost part of the house, the Most Holy Place, and for the doors of the nave of the temple. 51 Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD. Footnotes [1] 7:2 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [2] 7:2 Septuagint three [3] 7:5 Septuagint; Hebrew posts [4] 7:7 Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew floor [5] 7:15 Targum, Syriac (compare Septuagint and Jeremiah 52:21); Hebrew and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of the second pillar [6] 7:17 Septuagint; Hebrew seven; twice in this verse [7] 7:18 Two manuscripts (compare Septuagint); Hebrew pillars [8] 7:26 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters [9] 7:26 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 127 Psalm 127 (Listen) Unless the Lord Builds the House A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. 127   Unless the LORD builds the house,    those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the LORD watches over the city,    the watchman stays awake in vain.2   It is in vain that you rise up early    and go late to rest,  eating the bread of anxious toil;    for he gives to his beloved sleep. 3   Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,    the fruit of the womb a reward.4   Like arrows in the hand of a warrior    are the children1 of one's youth.5   Blessed is the man    who fills his quiver with them!  He shall not be put to shame    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.2 Footnotes [1] 127:4 Or sons [2] 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate (ESV) New Testament: Hebrews 1–3 Hebrews 1–3 (Listen) The Supremacy of God's Son 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,   “You are my Son,    today I have begotten you”? Or again,   “I will be to him a father,    and he shall be to me a son”? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,   “Let all God's angels worship him.” 7 Of the angels he says,   “He makes his angels winds,    and his ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But of the Son he says,   “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,    the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.9   You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;  therefore God, your God, has anointed you    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” 10 And,   “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,    and the heavens are the work of your hands;11   they will perish, but you remain;    they will all wear out like a garment,12   like a robe you will roll them up,    like a garment they will be changed.1  But you are the same,    and your years will have no end.” 13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,   “Sit at my right hand    until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Warning Against Neglecting Salvation 2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. The Founder of Salvation 5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,   “What is man, that you are mindful of him,    or the son of man, that you care for him?7   You made him for a little while lower than the angels;    you have crowned him with glory and honor,28     putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.3 That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,4 12 saying,   “I will tell of your name to my brothers;    in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again,   “I will put my trust in him.” And again,   “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Jesus Greater Than Moses 3 Therefore, holy brothers,5 you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's6 house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.7 A Rest for the People of God 7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,   “Today, if you hear his voice,8   do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,    on the day of testing in the wilderness,9   where your fathers put me to the test    and saw my works for forty years.10   Therefore I was provoked with that generation,  and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;    they have not known my ways.'11   As I swore in my wrath,    ‘They shall not enter my rest.'” 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,   “Today, if you hear his voice,  do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Footnotes [1] 1:12 Some manuscripts omit like a garment [2] 2:7 Some manuscripts insert and set him over the works of your hands [3] 2:11 Greek all are of one [4] 2:11 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters [5] 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 [6] 3:2 Greek his; also verses 5, 6 [7] 3:6 Some manuscripts insert firm to the end (ESV)

Old Testament: 1 Kings 7 1 Kings 7 (Listen) Solomon Builds His Palace 7 Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house. 2 He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was a hundred cubits1 and its breadth fifty cubits and its height thirty cubits, and it was built on four2 rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 3 And it was covered with cedar above the chambers that were on the forty-five pillars, fifteen in each row. 4 There were window frames in three rows, and window opposite window in three tiers. 5 All the doorways and windows3 had square frames, and window was opposite window in three tiers. 6 And he made the Hall of Pillars; its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth thirty cubits. There was a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of them. 7 And he made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, even the Hall of Judgment. It was finished with cedar from floor to rafters.4 8 His own house where he was to dwell, in the other court back of the hall, was of like workmanship. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter whom he had taken in marriage. 9 All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, even from the foundation to the coping, and from the outside to the great court. 10 The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits. 11 And above were costly stones, cut according to measurement, and cedar. 12 The great court had three courses of cut stone all around, and a course of cedar beams; so had the inner court of the house of the LORD and the vestibule of the house. The Temple Furnishings 13 And King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre. 14 He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work. 15 He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of one pillar, and a line of twelve cubits measured its circumference. It was hollow, and its thickness was four fingers. The second pillar was the same.5 16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits. 17 There were lattices of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars, a lattice6 for the one capital and a lattice for the other capital. 18 Likewise he made pomegranates7 in two rows around the one latticework to cover the capital that was on the top of the pillar, and he did the same with the other capital. 19 Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits. 20 The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection which was beside the latticework. There were two hundred pomegranates in two rows all around, and so with the other capital. 21 He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple. He set up the pillar on the south and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the north and called its name Boaz. 22 And on the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished. 23 Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. 24 Under its brim were gourds, for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. 25 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. 26 Its thickness was a handbreadth,8 and its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held two thousand baths.9 27 He also made the ten stands of bronze. Each stand was four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high. 28 This was the construction of the stands: they had panels, and the panels were set in the frames, 29 and on the panels that were set in the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the frames, both above and below the lions and oxen, there were wreaths of beveled work. 30 Moreover, each stand had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze, and at the four corners were supports for a basin. The supports were cast with wreaths at the side of each. 31 Its opening was within a crown that projected upward one cubit. Its opening was round, as a pedestal is made, a cubit and a half deep. At its opening there were carvings, and its panels were square, not round. 32 And the four wheels were underneath the panels. The axles of the wheels were of one piece with the stands, and the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half. 33 The wheels were made like a chariot wheel; their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all cast. 34 There were four supports at the four corners of each stand. The supports were of one piece with the stands. 35 And on the top of the stand there was a round band half a cubit high; and on the top of the stand its stays and its panels were of one piece with it. 36 And on the surfaces of its stays and on its panels, he carved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths all around. 37 After this manner he made the ten stands. All of them were cast alike, of the same measure and the same form. 38 And he made ten basins of bronze. Each basin held forty baths, each basin measured four cubits, and there was a basin for each of the ten stands. 39 And he set the stands, five on the south side of the house, and five on the north side of the house. And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house. 40 Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the LORD: 41 the two pillars, the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars, and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars; 42 and the four hundred pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; 43 the ten stands, and the ten basins on the stands; 44 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath the sea. 45 Now the pots, the shovels, and the basins, all these vessels in the house of the LORD, which Hiram made for King Solomon, were of burnished bronze. 46 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many of them; the weight of the bronze was not ascertained. 48 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the LORD: the golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence, 49 the lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north, before the inner sanctuary; the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold; 50 the cups, snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold; and the sockets of gold, for the doors of the innermost part of the house, the Most Holy Place, and for the doors of the nave of the temple. 51 Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD. Footnotes [1] 7:2 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [2] 7:2 Septuagint three [3] 7:5 Septuagint; Hebrew posts [4] 7:7 Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew floor [5] 7:15 Targum, Syriac (compare Septuagint and Jeremiah 52:21); Hebrew and a line of twelve cubits measured the circumference of the second pillar [6] 7:17 Septuagint; Hebrew seven; twice in this verse [7] 7:18 Two manuscripts (compare Septuagint); Hebrew pillars [8] 7:26 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters [9] 7:26 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters (ESV) New Testament: Romans 2:17–3:8 Romans 2:17–3:8 (Listen) 17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded1 as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically2 uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code3 and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. God's Righteousness Upheld 3 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,   “That you may be justified in your words,    and prevail when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. Footnotes [1] 2:26 Or counted [2] 2:27 Or is by nature [3] 2:27 Or the letter (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 127 Psalm 127 (Listen) Unless the Lord Builds the House A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. 127   Unless the LORD builds the house,    those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the LORD watches over the city,    the watchman stays awake in vain.2   It is in vain that you rise up early    and go late to rest,  eating the bread of anxious toil;    for he gives to his beloved sleep. 3   Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,    the fruit of the womb a reward.4   Like arrows in the hand of a warrior    are the children1 of one's youth.5   Blessed is the man    who fills his quiver with them!  He shall not be put to shame    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.2 Footnotes [1] 127:4 Or sons [2] 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate (ESV) Proverb: Proverbs 17:6 Proverbs 17:6 (Listen) 6   Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,    and the glory of children is their fathers. (ESV)

There's no way to get where you want to go if you don't know where you are. It's the crucial role self-awareness plays in our success as leaders. Likewise, you can't take your team where you want to, if there are blind spots standing in your way. In this episode, Jenni Catron shares the 4 common culture blind spots she sees repeatedly in her work with leaders and organizations and gives practical insight into how you can keep these blind spots from being road blocks to your organization's success.In this episode, you'll learn...why you need organizational self-awarenesswhy you need to fight for clarityhow knowing your blind spots can change your team culturewhich systems have the most impact on your teamwhat the healthiest team dynamics are built onTake our FREE ASSESSMENT to determine the culture blind spot you can address that will catapult your team culture toward health and success.

Being Consistent is a Challenge One of the most common challenges I hear about from my clients and those in my Facebook Group, is not being able to be consistent. But what I've learned is that being consistent is a catch-all phrase. Maybe even an excuse for not digging into the underlying issues for not showing up in your business. Being consistent as a business owner means creating content that consistently aligns with your values, passions, goals, and the level of service you provide. Consistency also applies to showing up and being truly present in your business for your audience. Consistent is one of the 5 C's I often reference when talking about building a personal brand. It is truly important for building relationships and the know love and trust factor. What usually happens when people aren't consistent is that there are underlying issues like fear, doubt, etc. The Factors That Influence Being Consistent Let's take a look at some of the factors that influence your ability to be consistent that you may not be thinking about when you say that being consistent is a challenge. I think that once you realize the reasons you aren't being consistent, you'll be able to create a plan that works for you and helps you show up consistently for your audience. Fear Causes People to Be Inconsistent Let's look at fear as something that is holding you back from being consistent. I believe fear is one of the biggest reasons people aren't consistent. Fear holds you back from not only posting content but creating content. You may not even realize that you are afraid. Subconsciously your mind is referring back to something that intimidated you, something someone said to you in the past, or you are simply afraid of judgment. If you feel like you are struggling to be consistent, do a fear check. In what areas are you lacking consistency? Is it in your messaging? Or is it with content creation? Is it posting the content and being present for your audience? Are you afraid of being in front of the camera to post images of you as the face of your brand, or do you have complete stage fright when it comes to creating videos? Where is fear holding you back from being consistent? Once you recognize where the hang-up is, it's time to do mindset work. Ask yourself, is the fear legitimate? Chances are, no it isn't. If you've identified that creating content is where you lack consistency, ask yourself why you are struggling to create? Are you afraid of being judged? Perhaps you are afraid of someone questioning you? Does imposter syndrome or doubt in your level of expertise have you stuck in a pattern of procrastination? Maybe you haven't seen results from social media yet? Is your mind telling you that it's not worth your time? Are you simply worried about what others might say about you? Let's dive into these a little more deeply. Doubt As a Cause for Not Being Consistent Perhaps you have doubt that you are an expert in your niche? Maybe that doubt is stemming from seeing others in your space who have more followers and likes than you have. Here's the deal. You believed in yourself enough to start your business, so I believe that deep down you know you are an expert! It's OK to consume content created by other experts in your area of expertise, but it isn't OK to consume the content and let it influence your thoughts about yourself. Maybe the other people have been on social media longer. Or maybe they have been an entrepreneur longer. No matter, they have an ideal audience that is most likely different than your ideal audience. And now you're thinking, but their demographics are the same and the same people that follow them are following me? My response to that, so what! A big fat so what! Why? Because certain people will resonate with their content and them as a personal brand. But others will resonate with you. This is why we create a personal brand, to differentiate ourselves so that others can figure out if they like us and want to work with us. You can refer back to episode 111 for more on building a personal brand. I'm not for everyone, and you aren't for everyone. I hate to break that to you, but it's true. There are certain people our unique gifts and personality will resonate with and there are others that if they hired us, we would be so frustrated and we'd want to pull our hair out. So don't let what someone else is doing or what their numbers reflect influence the content you create and share, or how consistently you show up for your audience. Your ideal audience is waiting for you and if you don't show up, they might give up, on you, but most importantly on themselves because help didn't arrive. Clarity Helps with Being Consistent A lack of clarity can also hold you back. Are you feeling uncertain about your niche, zone of genius, or your ideal client? If you are uncertain about any of these you will be confused and that will cause a lack of confidence, fear, and doubt. As a result, you'll be in a state of procrastination. Something we know is true is that our thoughts create our results. So, if doubt, fear, or a lack of clarity are holding you back, you must do the mindset work to change the negative thoughts. In Episode 94 I shared strategies for overcoming procrastination. I will never say it is easy, but there are things that you can do to overcome it and move the needle forward on your business. One such thing is really focusing on your why, why you started this business, why you want to serve others, why you can serve others. Look at your values, visions, and passions and identify your niche or zone of genius. Map out the details of who your ideal audience is, what their major problem is that you can solve for them, and how you can help them. Doing these exercises will give you a deeper level of clarity. It may take time, but I assure you it will be worth every minute, and you'll end up with a plethora of content in the process. Does Being Consistent Really Matter? Yes, it absolutely does. But you must be aligned with your values in order to accomplish consistency and for it to matter. If your intentions aren't coming from a place of service, rethink the reason you are on social media or creating content, to begin with. Likewise, if you are copying the efforts of someone else in your area of expertise, don't bother. Why, because if you aren't being your authentic self, your content won't resonate with your ideal audience. Your ideal audience will see through inauthenticity really quickly. Similarly, if you aren't posting what comes naturally to you, you will attract non-ideal clients. Both you and the client will become frustrated, and you won't build trust. In other words, why bother being consistent if you aren't being present in a way that aligns with your values, your abilities, and the people you want to connect with. Remember that social media and your website are platforms to use for sharing value for free. Yes, they are marketing platforms, but they are meant to be used for the purpose of building relationships, warming up your audience, and building the trust factor. Creating content consistently, with consistent messages, and being present consistently, will help do all three. Imposter Syndrome Holds You Back From Being Consistent If you haven't listened to Episode 66, go back and listen to it. The entire episode is about imposter syndrome, how it can hold you back, and how you can overcome it. The problem with imposter syndrome is exactly that, that it can and will hold you back. It will hold you back from being consistent, and from showing up as the expert you are. Any time you are creating content, create it first, then go on your platforms to consume. This will help ensure that you aren't being influenced by what others are doing and posting. It will help you stay focused on creating genuine content that gives value to your audience. If you consume first, you may be tempted to use an idea already used by someone else in your space. Similarly, you might feel intimidated that someone else came up with an idea and you didn't and therefore you aren't good enough…imposter syndrome. When you create with your core values and your experiences in mind, you can and will show up consistently and be able to create content that resonates with your audience. Your story is unique to you. Your journey to gain the expertise you have is specific to you and your audience wants to hear about it. No one else can serve the people that God has called you to serve. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on the fact that you have unique gifts that are meant to serve the people who resonate with you and need your unique abilities and your unique personality traits. Your Audience is Watching You I assure you that the content you create is being consumed. People like to lay in the weeds so to speak. They don't want others to know they were scrolling through Instagram, so they don't take time to like or comment. Likes and follower counts don't matter. Don't let either stop you from creating content consistently. Something you can tell yourself around this mindset block is that there are at least 10 ideal clients watching me right now. They are consuming my content, and one day soon, the content will resonate with them fully and they will reach out to me. You can also remind yourself that your content holds value for your audience. Repeat after me, my content is helping others. My content is providing value that my audience needs. These are just a couple of affirmations that you can write and/or say every day. The more you believe in the content you are creating and the value it provides for your audience, the less procrastination you will have and therefore, the more consistent you will become. Life Happens and Prevents Consistency The reality is that life happens around us, for us, and to us every day. It's impossible to be consistent all of the time unless we have a strategy in place to do so. That strategy has to include content creation and mindset. Let's Talk About Mindset I suggested a few affirmations. These are going to be critical for staying positive and believing in the power of your content. But you also have to do the work around the fact that you are an expert in your niche or your zone of genius. If you have doubts about your expertise, journal around your experiences that brought you to believe you were an expert in the first place. You have past work experience, you have certain personality traits, you have the tools and resources needed, etc. Think about your ideal audience as who you were a few years back. They are exactly where you were and lack the wisdom that you have to offer them. Your thoughts around this will influence how others perceive you as an expert and your ability to show up consistently for them. So do the mindset work. It's critical for success. Strategy Is Important When Trying to Be Consistent Having a strategy in place for creating content will help limit excuses and improve consistency. It helps to create content buckets. For example, one of my coaching clients is an esthetician. We recently created her content buckets and a strategy to get her back on track for posting more consistently. The content buckets we created are corrective skincare, preventive skincare, skincare maintenance, services, and products. Because she is working full time and her esthetician business is a side-gig she is growing into full-time entrepreneurship, she only has so much time for content creation. The strategy we came up with is to create six posts at a time, for three posts per week, to have two weeks of content. She is then going to schedule her posts through Facebook Business Suite. It's free and easy to use and she can post to both Facebook and Instagram where her ideal audience hangs out. Once the posts are scheduled, she can focus on other aspects of her business for the remainder of the two weeks and simply engage as she has time. Posting three times a week may not seem like enough for some people, but if your goal is ultimately to be consistent, you have to do what works for you. If you overextend yourself, you will get frustrated and burnt out and will fall back into inconsistency. Taking Action is Key For Success Mindset and strategy are great, but if you don't take action, the mindset work and strategy won't be effective. Be consistent with the mindset work as daily reminders and affirmations are key for long-term success. Keep your content strategy simple so that you don't get overwhelmed and can take consistent action. The equation that has helped many entrepreneurs reach success is this: Mindset + Strategy + Action = Results Struggling to be consistent? Need some help with your mindset and creating a strategy that will help you take action and produce results? Let's connect for a free brand strategy assessment. You can schedule your session HERE. Learn More About Your Host, Robyn Graham, Click HERE. To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. Join the Female Entrepreneur Insider Facebook Group HERE. Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE. Ask Me Anything HERE. Connect with me, Robyn Graham: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest  

Embodied healing and self-liberation are not just token phrases for feel-good ideology - they are the pathways that can help us create a better world. In today's episode, I break down my interpretation of self-liberation and embodied healing. Next week I'll get more into how they work together. I didn't coin these terms. No one has. And plenty of people use them to mean different things. I want to be clear about what I mean when I speak of self-liberation and embodied healing because they currently define my work. In the most basic sense, Embodied healing is healing that goes beyond mental processing alone. It integrates the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our individual and collective consciousness. Self-liberation is about getting free from things that keep us from being our whole selves. But it doesn't stop there. The miraculous thing about individual embodied healing work is that it naturally leads to collective healing. Likewise, self-liberation work leads to collective liberation. After the year+ we've experienced as a global community, we are overdue for big shifts in collective healing and liberation. But healing isn't a one-and-done event. It's also not a straight uphill climb. In this episode, I explain How healing happens in layers over time Why healing and recovery go hand-in-hand How the common myth of “brokenness” may be holding you back What wholeness looks like in the context of self-liberation and embodiment. I also discuss my self-liberation framework. (If you've been around for a while, you're probably already familiar with it - or may know it as one of its former names, as I've been developing the framework for seven years now.) I believe healing frameworks should work more like healing maps. In my framework, the eight tenets you work with as they resonate with you are Surrender Release  Trust  Receptivity  Wild Dreaming  Desire  Love, and  Truth. Dive into today's episode for a brief overview of how the tenets of self-liberation anchor your work in embodied healing.  And to jumpstart (or continue!) your self-liberation work, join me on June 11th for the #IShineYouShine challenge! This is a free 11-day embodiment challenge. I'm going to help you “Get Your Shine Back” through  healing and liberating embodiment practices, dedicated community space, a one-of-a-kind Summer Solstice Ceremony, AND the biggest giveaway I've ever put together! Join me in today's episode to dive deeper into embodied healing and self-liberation.  Plus, I'll explain exactly what you can expect from the #IShineYouShine challenge and the awesome giveaway.  Listen to episode 350 now! For full show notes and resources, head to https://untameyourself.com/podcasts/350   About the EMBODIED Podcast with Elizabeth DiAlto  Since 2013 I've been developing a body of work that helps women embody self love, healing and wholeness. We do this by focusing on the four levels of consciousness - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. In practical terms this looks like exploring tools and practices to help you  tune into the deep wisdom of the body and the knowing of the heart, which I believe are gateways to our souls. Then we cultivate a new relationship with our minds that allows the mind to serve this wisdom and knowing and soul connection, rather than override it, which is what many of us were taught. If you've been doing self help or spiritual development work for a while, these are the types of foundational things that often people overlook in pursuit of fancier concepts that often aren't practical or sustainable. Here, we will focus on building these strong foundations so you can honestly and thoroughly embody self love. If you're feeling it, subscribe to the show, and leave us a review wherever you listen from. You can also keep up with show updates and community discussion on Instagram here.

The book of Haggai is presented by Pastor Marc Sharp as he continues the series on the minor prophets. In Haggai, God is portrayed as the Sovereign One who controls the fortunes of both his people and of the nations. He controls nature, motivates his people to action, and establishes and deposes kings and kingdoms. However, the things of God were not being attending to by his people. Instead, they pursued comfort, economic security, even prosperity, while God’s interests were totally neglected. Likewise, today people will attach themselves to churches, ministries, and theologies, but not to Jesus. They will do the bare minimum to claim an association with the people of God, all the while ignoring the things of God! If you would like to view the video of today's service, as well as previous videos, go to: https://www.facebook.com/northridgelife/videos/ (copy and paste into your web browser address bar). For additional information, you may also visit the church website, www.northridgelife.org, and Facebook page, www.facebook.com/northridgelife/.

Old Testament: 1 Kings 3–4 1 Kings 3–4 (Listen) Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom 3 Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD. 3 Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. 4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 15 And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. Solomon's Wisdom 16 Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. 18 Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house. 19 And this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. 20 And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. 21 When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I looked at him closely in the morning, behold, he was not the child that I had borne.” 22 But the other woman said, “No, the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead child is yours, and the living child is mine.” Thus they spoke before the king. 23 Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead'; and the other says, ‘No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.'” 24 And the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought before the king. 25 And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” 26 Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him.” 27 Then the king answered and said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother.” 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice. Solomon's Officials 4 King Solomon was king over all Israel, 2 and these were his high officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was the priest; 3 Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 5 Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and king's friend; 6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram the son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor. 7 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year. 8 These were their names: Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; 9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth-hanan; 10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher); 11 Ben-abinadab, in all Naphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam; 13 Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (he had the villages of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18 Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; 19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land. Solomon's Wealth and Wisdom 20 Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. 1 21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates2 to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22 Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors3 of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. 24 For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates4 from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. 25 And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. 26 Solomon also had 40,0005 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 27 And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon's table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. 28 Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty. 29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, 30 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom. Footnotes [1] 4:20 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew [2] 4:21 Hebrew the River [3] 4:22 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters [4] 4:24 Hebrew the River; twice in this verse [5] 4:26 Hebrew; one Hebrew manuscript (see 2 Chronicles 9:25 and Septuagint of 1 Kings 10:26) 4,000 (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 125 Psalm 125 (Listen) The Lord Surrounds His People A Song of Ascents. 125   Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,    which cannot be moved, but abides forever.2   As the mountains surround Jerusalem,    so the LORD surrounds his people,    from this time forth and forevermore.3   For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest    on the land allotted to the righteous,  lest the righteous stretch out    their hands to do wrong.4   Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,    and to those who are upright in their hearts!5   But those who turn aside to their crooked ways    the LORD will lead away with evildoers!    Peace be upon Israel! (ESV) New Testament: Titus 1–3 Titus 1–3 (Listen) Greeting 1 Paul, a servant1 of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began2 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word3 through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Qualifications for Elders 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,4 and his children are believers5 and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer,6 as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound7 doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.8 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans,9 a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”10 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Teach Sound Doctrine 2 But as for you, teach what accords with sound11 doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants12 are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. 15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. Be Ready for Every Good Work 3 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Final Instructions and Greetings 12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. 15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Footnotes [1] 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface [2] 1:2 Greek before times eternal [3] 1:3 Or manifested his word [4] 1:6 Or a man of one woman [5] 1:6 Or are faithful [6] 1:7 Or bishop; Greek episkopos [7] 1:9 Or healthy; also verse 13 [8] 1:10 Or especially those of the circumcision [9] 1:12 Greek One of them [10] 1:12 Probably from Epimenides of Crete [11] 2:1 Or healthy; also verses 2, 8 [12] 2:9 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface (ESV)

Every cause produces an effect. Drop a pebble in a pond (cause) and small ripples form and travel outward (effect). Likewise, ideas are causes that produce effects. Good ideas produce good effects and bad ideas bad effects. Big, unbiblical ideas are not like dropping a pebble into a pond but rather a nuclear bomb on a society—widespread destruction and even death are the effects. Critical Race Theory, the idea that White Supremacy is the dominating operating principle in America oppressing all manner of oppressed groups (“people of color”, women, etc.), is the new Big Idea in America that is being imbibed and perpetuated by government, corporations, and the Left. The Evangelical Church is dallying with it as well. The idea that America and the church are systemically racist leads to an effect—restitution and reparations must be made. “Equity” (equal outcomes, not equal opportunity) must be enforced. This is the thesis of a new book entitled, Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Renewal (Brazos Press) by Duke Kwon, a PCA pastor in Washington, DC, and Greg Thompson, a former PCA pastor. Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor at Christ Covenant Church in North Carolina, just wrote a lengthy review of the book and its call for reparations from Whites to Blacks. We'll discuss Critical Race Theory (the ideological cause) and reparations (the demanded effect) this weekend on The Christian Worldview. It's important for Christians to understand this worldview that is taking hold on our country and the church.

This week on See It To Be It podcast, Melinda speaks with engineer, wife, cancer conqueror, mother, and ambassador; Foram Brown. Foram is based in London, England, and has dedicated her life to learning and empowering women with the knowledge she has obtained.  She begins this episode by discussing her "big dream" when she was growing up and how she wanted to be a drama queen, movie star, and glamorous Bollywood actress. However, she felt that her only two options from a cultural standpoint were either to be a doctor or an engineer. She felt that to be able to be a self-sustaining, successful woman, she had to pick from those careers. She felt she did not have the memorization skills to be a doctor, so it became clear to her that STEM was the best option because of its key component of problem-solving. Starting off her post-college career, she landed her first job at a pharmaceutical company as a systems engineer. From there, she worked for Rolls-Royce on civil engines for 11 years. Bombardier Transportation soon followed, where she worked on UK trains, and she now works for Alstom as the head of mechanical engineering. She has noticed an increased awareness of women in the STEM industry. She works to continually increase the number of women that are recruited into engineering roles due to the fact that she has always had a strong desire to help other women. She explains how she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and this changed her perspective in life. Furthermore, she decided she was going to do what she had always wanted, to help women. She ultimately started her business, Foram Brown, with the purpose of filling companies' STEM openings with women employees. Foram Brown utilizes a simple model that requires companies to hire women and then fills those positions with a world-class candidate. Due to her experience in the industry, she is skilled in finding the right person for these jobs. She also nurtures the sustainment of women in these positions, helping create an inclusive company culture. She discusses the five key elements of inclusivity of women in the workplace; flexibility, support, trust, empowerment, and listen.  She talks about the toll that being a mom in a pandemic takes on a women's career, which results in a decrease in women in the workforce. Likewise, she discusses the unequal disbursement of responsibilities among women throughout the pandemic that can create stress and burnout. She encourages the embracement of the change and differences that the pandemic has contributed to so that women can work at home. She discusses how to deal with the gender pay gap, focusing on awareness. She approaches this pay gap with the mindset of knowing one's own worth and being goal-oriented. Ultimately, she wraps up with the advice to go get what you want and create the life you want to live.  Learn more about Foram Brown: https://forambrown.com/ Follow Foram Brown on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forambrown/?hl=en (@forambrown) Connect with Foram Brown on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/foram-brown Follow Foram Brown on Twitter: https://twitter.com/forambrown?lang=en (@ForamBrown) Like Foram Brown's page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forambrownfb/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/forambrowncommunity Foram Brown on inclusivity of women in the workplace: _13:08 “You make a change, and you will see a massive shift." Foram Brown on her go-to piece of advice: _22:35 “Life is exactly how you want it to be." See It To Be It Content Corner Looking for more tips, motivation and direction? Tune into the See It To Be It podcast the first Thursday of every month on your favorite streaming service. Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter and audio brief, Four Minutes with On The Dot. You'll receive examples of relatable female role models in over 10 industries, plus quick stats on empowering women in the world, and to top it off, an inspirational quote that's sure to jumpstart your day. Check us out on social! We are focused on your success, so let us know what you think by chatting with us at @seeittobeitpodcast (https://twitter.com/seeit_tobeit) on Twitter, Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/seeittobeitpodcast/), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/seeittobeitpodcast).

Warning Long Episode. Nothing to fear; take a break and meditate on these marks: Prayerlessness…20:26 Pride…………………33:36 Discouragement..to the end. Using the Ronna pandemic over the last few months, we outline three possible hindrances to our prayer lives. Prayerlessness due to our desire to know exactly how to pray. Pride in our Prayers. Discouragement in our Prayers. We may feel: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; If you need help in knowing what to pray, remember the outline every circumstance: Wisdom, James 1:5 God's work in your life, Romans 8:28-30 Workers for the harvest, Matthew 9:37-38 The Promises of God like Psalm 91:4-7 Once again, God to Ezekiel, “Can these bones live again?” Ezekiel to God, “Lord, Thou knows.” God to Zeke, Preach to the Bones. Zeke did not ask God to explain first what He was going to do; he just obeyed. Likewise, we pray because it is His command and our joy to obey. He will take care of the result. An added treat. Check out http://vantagestories.com by Andrew Branham for Biblical entertaining, approachable Bible Stories which will move your soul. All our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition. For access to the Voice Over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.com Our podcast art designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 Instagram

I didn’t think of how small my building’s elevators were when I bought a sofa after moving into my current apartment. It didn’t fit. The deliverymen tried to bring it up the stairs too. They made the first landing, but couldn’t make the turn to go up the next flight.They had to take it back. I ended up paying a $300 restocking fee plus big tips for the deliverymen’s extra efforts. Plus I lost weeks with no sofa. Now I know my home’s limits. Living within them is no problem when I know them, only when I didn’t. A few minutes of measurement and geometry could have saved me that trouble and improved my life.Can homo sapiens’ elevator, also known as Earth, fit us all in? As with my sofa, maybe a bit of calculation is worth saving the trouble of finding out if our sofa can fit. We’re past the point of eyeballing it. Our sofa is civilization and billions of lives.I doubt even those who study sustainability most can answer Important questions likeCan fusion save us? Will it?What works between solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, and other options? What doesn’t? Why not?What unintended side-effects are we missing?Do we risk losing civilization? If so, how great is the risk?If we take the gloves off, can geoengineering and other last-ditch efforts work?How hard will saving it be?What do we have to do to make it?These questions have answers, whether we find them out or not. There are a lot of books on the environment. I’ve read a lot of them. Most just describe our situation and what will happen if we don’t fix it. Some talk about what we can do, but they don’t help us understand. They don’t describe the patterns, just the results or instruction. We have to trust the writer.We’ve all heard to eat less meat. How much less? Will all the things they tell us to do solve the problems? How can I tell? What if I don’t eat less meat? Between eating meat or not, why can’t I see any difference in the world? Should I bother trying or just enjoy life to the max?We’re just told the problems and what to do. Maybe school should have taught us but it didn’t. After decades of poor science education, few teachers know how to teach science. They spout facts and instruction. Most analysis and activism is done without context or knowing nature’s patterns, based on feelings. Some envision a world of 10 billion thriving, others a collapse well before.Sustainability leadership is my life passion and frankly I don’t find most resources on the environment useful or readable. From the IPCC report Greta Thunberg gave to Congress to An Inconvenient Truth to articles suggesting “one little thing you can do for the environment,” they describe results and tell us what to do. They don’t help us understand beyond “coral reefs are bleaching” and oversimplifications like “CO2 acts like a blanket.” We have to take their word things like biodiversity is good and pollution is bad.Even knowing all the data doesn’t tell us the patterns. Will buying an electric vehicle matter? Does flying matter? How much? Enough to save lives? How can I tell, or do I have to take your word for it? Most of all, what about when they clash with other values? What if someone else says jobs or energy security is more important? Is there conflict? If so, how do we resolve it? What if we don’t want to emit greenhouse gases but our mother is sick, flying distance away? Or we feel our job depends on it? What about someone else saying the economy depends on my buying more stuff?Only knowing data but not patterns, we can’t think or decide for ourselves. We throw up our hands. For generations we’ve said we’d act and in fact we have, yet we keep lowering Earth’s capacity to sustain life and society. Could our ignorance be causing our attempts at solutions to augment the problems? Might our current attempts at solutions be exacerbating the problems. Are we on a road to hell paved with good intentions?A New HopeTom Murphy’s new book, Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet, changes all that. It empowers us to understand, think, and act for ourselves.Murphy earned his PhD at Caltech and teaches at UC San Diego. A decade ago he started the Do The Math blog, where he did more than answer the questions above. He showed how he found the answer so you can too, so you can think for yourself. I called it the best site on the internet (tied with Low Tech Magazine).Murphy’s sofa-doesn’t-fit-in-the-elevator moment came in 2006, shortly after moving to San Diego, considering the value of his home. He wrote:I pored over articles on the matter, and found two camps. One camp provided rafts of alarming quantitative analysis of the peril: sub-prime lending, soaring price-to-income ratios, unprecedented unaffordability by average families, vulnerability to any weakness in other sectors. The other camp said that the housing market was manifesting a new normal, that San Diego’s universal appeal would prevent a price drop, that scary lending practices were easily skirted by re-financing before interest payments ballooned. I chose to go with the quantitative analysis over the hand-wavy platitude-based set of beliefs, and am glad that I did.He sold at the height of the market. On seeing the success of applying quantitative analysis over hand-wavy platitude-based opinion to life, instead of moving to finance like many physicists, he applied it to the environment. He saw hand-wavy platitude-based beliefs and couldn’t stand it. He began applying physics to how we create energy, population, and so on in Do the Math.To the chagrin of his dedicated audience, since 2015, he posted only once. He told me on one of his appearances on my podcast that he had answered the most important questions so didn’t have more to write.But he wasn’t done. The blog was an unorganized string of posts. He taught a course to non-science undergraduates on the subject, called Energy and the Environment. He used the course to compile his posts, polish them, and make a self-contained comprehensive book. As far as I know, the only one like it, possibly because mathematics is the language of nature, so equations abound, but he explains them, so people who haven’t taken science or math classes since high school can follow.Showing the math means we don’t have to take his word for it. We can do the math too and think, judge, and act for ourselves. No matter our politics, age, industry, etc, we can access this book equally. The environment involves many branches of science, including physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, systems, and more, as well as fields including engineering, history, politics, philosophy, and more. Murphy brings them together like no other resource I’ve found. Many will shy away from devoting the time that the gravity of our environmental situation demands, but for enabling and empowering every reader to understand, think, judge, and act for themselves, I consider Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet the science book of the decade.I’ve read and watched a lot of books, videos, and articles. For reference, I consider Sustainability Without the Hot Air by Caltech-trained Cambridge physicist David MacKay the science book of the previous decade, and Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update, the science book of the decade before that, by Donella Meadows, Dennis Meadows, and Jørgen Randers. (A video of David MacKay after his book led me to avoid flying, not as a burden but to increase my enjoyment of nature and connection to humans.) Read these three books, and you understand our environment.But wait, there’s more. Murphy has acted on his findings in his personal life. He didn’t just use an electric car or unplug appliances before doing so was cool, he measured his results and shared how doing so affected his relationships with his wife, peers, and students. He shares his life and profession. This book doesn’t teach raw information, it shares a lifestyle.I’m not saying the book is easy, only that I find it the most valuable book or resource on the most important area humans have faced as a species, and I’ve read and watched many.Murphy’s book is glorious. He writes about the wonder of nature, our genius in harnessing it, its limitations, and our folly at not measuring the sofa before trying to jam it into the elevator, or believing the self-serving interests suggesting a “new normal” without justification.The math is accessible to a non-science undergraduate. To someone with a PhD in physics like me, it is a symphony—pure joy when you understand it, even more when your study it. Beethoven didn’t write his Ninth for one hearing. Yo-Yo Ma has to study pieces and even with my PhD, I have to take time to understand its equations and application. I learn each time I read Murphy. You will too. The payoff is worth it for aesthetic pleasure alone. There are practical benefits to understanding the patterns: unlike Beethoven, the fates of civilization and millions of species, including our own, depend on our understanding and behavior.Learning math and physics here is like learning biology and chemistry when you start gardening or sports. You don’t need to start with anything. You won’t reach your potential, but you won’t get injured either. You’ll learn by doing. Any gardener will soon learn about species and seasons. Lifting weights taught me anatomy and diet. Sailing will teach you tides and fluid dynamics.Math doesn’t give answers. It doesn’t have values. People Do.Humans have values. What we consider good, bad, right, and wrong stands outside math and science. Euclid derived all of Euclidean geometry from five axioms but he had to start with them. Likewise, math lets you get from your values to what to do but it doesn’t tell you your values.Engineers often think math tells you answers. They promote nuclear power for not emitting CO2 or electric vehicles because they are more efficient, but do our deepest values include avoiding CO2 emissions and efficiency?Murphy describes how nuclear fission and fusion work, their hurdles to implementation, and so on, but then treats the science and technology as only the starting point to decide their value. Most analyses and people confronted with waste and pollution see more efficient sources and less polluting sources as the solution. Obviously, they pollute less, right? Not so fast. You have to do the math. What patterns have we followed before? If we follow them again, what will happen? People familiar with systems may expect systems to behave differently than their elements alone. Murphy does the math and suggests clean fission and fusion would compound our problems. Don’t believe him? You can do the math yourself, but if you just feel confident based on hopes, dreams, and fantasies, you’ll benefit most from his book.Most science books tell you results of experiment or predict some outcome based on some model. The IPCC reports, for example, tell you our best understanding of our climate measurements and where, given our patterns, we’ll end up or could end up if we change our behavior. The results show lots of numbers. They do math but they don’t enable you to do math. Books like the Uninhabitable Earth describe such predictions in prose, again not enabling you to do math.Who Should Read ItAfter generations of this nation denigrating science, math, nature, and education of them, I’m under no preconceptions of how popular this book will become. People feel guilty thinking and talking about the environment when their responsibility comes into play. Still, everyone can understand it. You’ll love it when you work through it.Every policymaker, CEO, and media programmer will benefit their audiences from knowing this book. Even if leaders don’t read it enough to understand it, this book enables them to have on staff or retainer someone who understands the math from doing it. That leader can choose not to talk in equations. He or she may even wave his or her hands and speak in platitudes, but can start from understanding, not ignorance.Why You’ll Love the MathI wrote how mathematics is the language of nature and that Murphy’s book is a symphony. The video below of a master class will illustrate what I mean (and put a big smile on your face, there are more of his videos here). Ben Zander is a conductor, musical director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and bestselling author. He speaks sometimes in English but other times through the piano. Because music is the language of music. Zander can’t communicate in English the sound and meaning of music where a few notes on the piano communicate everything.https://youtu.be/b2S-OjTb4nUAs music communicates music, equations describe nature. I know people more fluent in music will hear more than I do from Zander, but I love what I hear and value hearing what I can. You will gain as much reading Energy and Human Ambitions on a Finite Planet.Enjoy the book!Here is a video Tom and some peers made of the book:https://youtu.be/2fbOWhJy7So See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Proper 4 First Psalm: Psalm 119:49–72 Psalm 119:49–72 (Listen) Zayin 49   Remember your word to your servant,    in which you have made me hope.50   This is my comfort in my affliction,    that your promise gives me life.51   The insolent utterly deride me,    but I do not turn away from your law.52   When I think of your rules from of old,    I take comfort, O LORD.53   Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,    who forsake your law.54   Your statutes have been my songs    in the house of my sojourning.55   I remember your name in the night, O LORD,    and keep your law.56   This blessing has fallen to me,    that I have kept your precepts. Heth 57   The LORD is my portion;    I promise to keep your words.58   I entreat your favor with all my heart;    be gracious to me according to your promise.59   When I think on my ways,    I turn my feet to your testimonies;60   I hasten and do not delay    to keep your commandments.61   Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,    I do not forget your law.62   At midnight I rise to praise you,    because of your righteous rules.63   I am a companion of all who fear you,    of those who keep your precepts.64   The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;    teach me your statutes! Teth 65   You have dealt well with your servant,    O LORD, according to your word.66   Teach me good judgment and knowledge,    for I believe in your commandments.67   Before I was afflicted I went astray,    but now I keep your word.68   You are good and do good;    teach me your statutes.69   The insolent smear me with lies,    but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;70   their heart is unfeeling like fat,    but I delight in your law.71   It is good for me that I was afflicted,    that I might learn your statutes.72   The law of your mouth is better to me    than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 49; Psalm 53 Psalm 49 (Listen) Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 49   Hear this, all peoples!    Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,2   both low and high,    rich and poor together!3   My mouth shall speak wisdom;    the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.4   I will incline my ear to a proverb;    I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. 5   Why should I fear in times of trouble,    when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,6   those who trust in their wealth    and boast of the abundance of their riches?7   Truly no man can ransom another,    or give to God the price of his life,8   for the ransom of their life is costly    and can never suffice,9   that he should live on forever    and never see the pit. 10   For he sees that even the wise die;    the fool and the stupid alike must perish    and leave their wealth to others.11   Their graves are their homes forever,1    their dwelling places to all generations,    though they called lands by their own names.12   Man in his pomp will not remain;    he is like the beasts that perish. 13   This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;    yet after them people approve of their boasts.2 Selah14   Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;    death shall be their shepherd,  and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.    Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.15   But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,    for he will receive me. Selah 16   Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,    when the glory of his house increases.17   For when he dies he will carry nothing away;    his glory will not go down after him.18   For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed    —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—19   his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,    who will never again see light.20   Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. Footnotes [1] 49:11 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew Their inward thought was that their homes were forever [2] 49:13 Or and of those after them who approve of their boasts (ESV) Psalm 53 (Listen) There Is None Who Does Good To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil1 of David. 53   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”    They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;    there is none who does good. 2   God looks down from heaven    on the children of man  to see if there are any who understand,2    who seek after God. 3   They have all fallen away;    together they have become corrupt;  there is none who does good,    not even one. 4   Have those who work evil no knowledge,    who eat up my people as they eat bread,    and do not call upon God? 5   There they are, in great terror,    where there is no terror!  For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;    you put them to shame, for God has rejected them. 6   Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!    When God restores the fortunes of his people,    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. Footnotes [1] 53:1 Probably musical or liturgical terms [2] 53:2 Or who act wisely (ESV) Old Testament: Deuteronomy 13:1–11 Deuteronomy 13:1–11 (Listen) 13 “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil1 from your midst. 6 “If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or the wife you embrace2 or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,' which neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 some of the gods of the peoples who are around you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other, 8 you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him. 9 But you shall kill him. Your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 10 You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 11 And all Israel shall hear and fear and never again do any such wickedness as this among you. Footnotes [1] 13:5 Or evil person [2] 13:6 Hebrew the wife of your bosom (ESV) New Testament: 2 Corinthians 7:2–16 2 Corinthians 7:2–16 (Listen) Paul's Joy 2 Make room in your hearts1 for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you. Footnotes [1] 7:2 Greek lacks in your hearts (ESV) Gospel: Luke 17:20–37 Luke 17:20–37 (Listen) The Coming of the Kingdom 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!' or ‘There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”1 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!' or ‘Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.2 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”3 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse4 is, there the vultures5 will gather.” Footnotes [1] 17:21 Or within you, or within your grasp [2] 17:24 Some manuscripts omit in his day [3] 17:35 Some manuscripts add verse 36: Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left [4] 17:37 Greek body [5] 17:37 Or eagles (ESV)

If we cannot digest food, eventually our physical body will die. Likewise, if we cannot digest — or understand — the Bible, our spiritual food, then our spirit will die. Learning to read the Bible for ourselves and rightly divide the truth is an absolute necessity for spiritual survival. In this episode, Michael Rood explains how to properly digest the Word. Watch more on the Michael Rood TV App! https://bit.ly/2X9oN9h Join us on ANY social media platform! https://aroodawakening.tv/community/s... Your Donation keeps these videos going! Thank you! https://aroodawakening.tv/donate/ Support us by visiting our store! https://roodstore.com/ Have Questions? Ask us Here! https://aroodawakening.tv/support/con...SHOW LESS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Morning: 2 Chronicles 4–6 2 Chronicles 4–6 (Listen) The Temple’s Furnishings 4 He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits1 long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. 2 Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. 3 Under it were figures of gourds,2 for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. 4 It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. 5 Its thickness was a handbreadth.3 And its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held 3,000 baths.4 6 He also made ten basins in which to wash, and set five on the south side, and five on the north side. In these they were to rinse off what was used for the burnt offering, and the sea was for the priests to wash in. 7 And he made ten golden lampstands as prescribed, and set them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. 8 He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. And he made a hundred basins of gold. 9 He made the court of the priests and the great court and doors for the court and overlaid their doors with bronze. 10 And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house. 11 Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God: 12 the two pillars, the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars; and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; 13 and the 400 pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars. 14 He made the stands also, and the basins on the stands, 15 and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath it. 16 The pots, the shovels, the forks, and all the equipment for these Huram-abi made of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the LORD. 17 In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.5 18 Solomon made all these things in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze was not sought. 19 So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God: the golden altar, the tables for the bread of the Presence, 20 the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn before the inner sanctuary, as prescribed; 21 the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of purest gold; 22 the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold, and the sockets6 of the temple, for the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and for the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold. 5 Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God. The Ark Brought to the Temple 2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3 And all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast that is in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up. 6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. 9 And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. And they are7 there to this day. 10 There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. 11 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, 12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; 13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD,   “For he is good,    for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. Solomon Blesses the People 6 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. 2 But I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.” 3 Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood. 4 And he said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to David my father, saying, 5 ‘Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, and I chose no man as prince over my people Israel; 6 but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’ 7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 8 But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. 9 Nevertheless, it is not you who shall build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’ 10 Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made. For I have risen in the place of David my father and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and I have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 11 And there I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the people of Israel.” Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication 12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits8 long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court, and he stood on it. Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven, 14 and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart, 15 who have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 16 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.’ 17 Now therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David. 18 “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! 19 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you, 20 that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 21 And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive. 22 “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, 23 then hear from heaven and act and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness. 24 “If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their fathers. 26 “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict9 them, 27 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way10 in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance. 28 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 29 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house, 30 then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind, 31 that they may fear you and walk in your ways all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers. 32 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, 33 hear from heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. 34 “If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 35 then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause. 36 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near, 37 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 38 if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 39 then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you. 40 Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place. 41   “And now arise, O LORD God, and go to your resting place,    you and the ark of your might.  Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation,    and let your saints rejoice in your goodness.42   O LORD God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one!    Remember your steadfast love for David your servant.” Footnotes [1] 4:1 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [2] 4:3 Compare 1 Kings 7:24; Hebrew oxen; twice in this verse [3] 4:5 A handbreadth was about 3 inches or 7.5 centimeters [4] 4:5 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters [5] 4:17 Spelled Zarethan in 1 Kings 7:46 [6] 4:22 Compare 1 Kings 7:50; Hebrew the entrance of the house [7] 5:9 Hebrew it is [8] 6:13 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [9] 6:26 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew answer [10] 6:27 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate (compare 1 Kings 8:36); Hebrew toward the good way (ESV) Evening: John 12:20–50 John 12:20–50 (Listen) Some Greeks Seek Jesus 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up 27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” The Unbelief of the People When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:   “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40   “He has blinded their eyes    and hardened their heart,  lest they see with their eyes,    and understand with their heart, and turn,    and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. Jesus Came to Save the World 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” (ESV)

We don't want to live in a world in which our kids grow up believing that Dr. Fauci and his interventions saved the world, but that's what can happen if a false narrative takes root. Likewise, if people think "deregulation" caused the last financial crisis, that's going to lead people to make dumb decisions in the future. So we're going into detail on this, to smash it once and for all.

The famous Halachic principle of "Tashlumin" allows a person to make up a missed Amida prayer if the prayer was missed inadvertently. For example, if a person forgot to recite the Shaharit prayer, he recites an extra Amida at Minha to make up for the missed prayer. Likewise, if a person forgot to recite Minha, he recites an extra Amida at Arbit, and an inadvertently missed Arbit prayer is made up the next morning, during Shaharit.Does this apply to Shema, as well? If, for example, a person fell asleep early one night before reciting Arbit, and he thus missed both Shema and the Amida, should he recite an extra Shema the next morning (in addition to an extra Amida) to make up the missed Shema recitation?Although this might initially sound like a peculiar question, this issue is actually subject to debate among the Rishonim (Medieval Halachic authorities). The Shulhan Aruch, in Orah Haim (58:7; listen to audio recording for precise citation), cites two different views. The first view maintains that one can, in fact, make up a missed Shema recitation. According to this view, somebody who forgot to recite Shema at night should recite an additional Shema the following morning, after the Amida during Shaharit, and a person who forgot to recite Shema in the morning should recite an additional Shema that night, after Arbit. This was the view of a number of prominent Rishonim (the Roke’ah, Orhot Haim and Re’avya). The second view cited by the Shulhan Aruch, which is the majority opinion, maintains that the concept of "Tashlumin" applies only to the Amida prayer, and not to Shema. The Amida prayer is an appeal for divine compassion, and Halacha allows a person who missed one prayer to bring his appeal to the Almighty on a different occasion to make up for the missed prayer. Beseeching God is not something which is inherently restricted to one time frame or another, and so a person who missed a prayer has the opportunity to make it up. The Shema obligation, however, is a specific requirement that applies "when you lie down and when you arise"; we bear an obligation to recite the Shema each morning and each evening. If a person misses the evening obligation, then, he cannot make it up the next morning, since the obligation is inherently limited to the evening hours.The Hid"a (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806) follows the second opinion, which does not allow for making up a missed recitation of Shema, and this is, indeed, the accepted Halacha. The Hid"a applies to this case the verse in Kohelet (1:15), "Me’uvat Lo Yuchal Litkon" – "Something distorted cannot be fixed." Once a person missed the evening or morning Shema recitation, there is no possibility of rectifying the mistake and making up the missed recitation.Summary: As opposed to the Amida prayer, which one can make up in a case where he inadvertently missed a prayer, there is no possibility of making up a missed Shema recitation.

Morning: 2 Chronicles 1–3 2 Chronicles 1–3 (Listen) Solomon Worships at Gibeon 1 Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. 2 Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses. 3 And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness, was there. 4 (But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) 5 Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the assembly sought it1 out. 6 And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it. Solomon Prays for Wisdom 7 In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” 8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 O LORD God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” 11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” 13 So Solomon came from2 the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel. Solomon Given Wealth 14 Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. 15 And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. 16 And Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s traders would buy them from Kue for a price. 17 They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels3 of silver, and a horse for 150. Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria. 4 Preparing to Build the Temple 2 Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal palace for himself. 5 2 And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them. 3 And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: “As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me. 4 Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel. 5 The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. 6 But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? 7 So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants, 9 to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful. 10 I will give for your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, 20,000 cors6 of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths7 of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.” 11 Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, “Because the LORD loves his people, he has made you king over them.” 12 Hiram also said, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself. 13 “Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi, 14 the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. 15 Now therefore the wheat and barley, oil and wine, of which my lord has spoken, let him send to his servants. 16 And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.” 17 Then Solomon counted all the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, after the census of them that David his father had taken, and there were found 153,600. 18 Seventy thousand of them he assigned to bear burdens, 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 as overseers to make the people work. Solomon Builds the Temple 3 Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD8 had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2 He began to build in the second month of the fourth year of his reign. 3 These are Solomon’s measurements9 for building the house of God: the length, in cubits10 of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. 4 The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house,11 and its height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold. 5 The nave he lined with cypress and covered it with fine gold and made palms and chains on it. 6 He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold of Parvaim. 7 So he lined the house with gold—its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors—and he carved cherubim on the walls. 8 And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length, corresponding to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and its breadth was twenty cubits. He overlaid it with 600 talents12 of fine gold. 9 The weight of gold for the nails was fifty shekels.13 And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold. 10 In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of wood14 and overlaid15 them with gold. 11 The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing of the one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub; 12 and of this cherub, one wing, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and the other wing, also of five cubits, was joined to the wing of the first cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. The cherubim16 stood on their feet, facing the nave. 14 And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it. 15 In front of the house he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, with a capital of five cubits on the top of each. 16 He made chains like a necklace17 and put them on the tops of the pillars, and he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains. 17 He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south, the other on the north; that on the south he called Jachin, and that on the north Boaz. Footnotes [1] 1:5 Or him [2] 1:13 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew to [3] 1:17 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [4] 1:17 Ch 1:18 in Hebrew [5] 2:1 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew [6] 2:10 A cor was about 6 bushels or 220 liters [7] 2:10 A bath was about 6 gallons or 22 liters [8] 3:1 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks the Lord [9] 3:3 Syriac; Hebrew foundations [10] 3:3 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [11] 3:4 Compare 1 Kings 6:3; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [12] 3:8 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [13] 3:9 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [14] 3:10 Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [15] 3:10 Hebrew they overlaid [16] 3:13 Hebrew they [17] 3:16 Hebrew chains in the inner sanctuary (ESV) Evening: John 12:1–19 John 12:1–19 (Listen) Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany 12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound1 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. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii2 and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it3 for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” The Plot to Kill Lazarus 9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus4 was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The Triumphal Entry 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15   “Fear not, daughter of Zion;  behold, your king is coming,    sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” Footnotes [1] 12:3 Greek litra; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams [2] 12:5 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer [3] 12:7 Or Leave her alone; she intended to keep it [4] 12:9 Greek he (ESV)

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all the families of the servicemen & women who paid the ultimate sacrifice (their lives) fighting for our freedom. Today is a tribute episode to the son of a dear friend (Jeaneane Henson), whose son took his own life after serving in the Army.    Folks, mental health is a “real” thing. Depression, PTSD, and suicide are unfortunately at all-time highs in our society and in our military. I wanted to pay tribute to Daniel Ferguson and his legacy today. He served our wonderful country for several years (both domestic and in Afghanistan) before taking his own life.    Here is what you will learn In today’s episode: - What changed in 2019, before Daniel’s death - How does a mother get through the loss of a child - Opportunities for veterans who need help after serving - Resources available - Jeaneane share some of her fondest memories of Daniel - What helps Jeaneane today living with the loss of her son Daniel   Today, the Daniel Ferguson Memorial Foundation lives on and is serving the military community admirably. Daniel’s mom Jeaneane is committed to making sure more military men & women don’t take their own life, and she’s on a mission to save more lives.    To bring about more awareness of mental health for our veterans, please share this episode. Likewise, if you know any struggling veterans, they can contact the Veterans Crisis hotline at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ or the National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255. Thank you in advance. Life is precious, and our many veterans need continued support.   Please tag the following in any social media posts: IG/Twitter: @ToddDurkin @california_bodies_fitnesss  @DFmemorialfoundation Facebook: @ToddDurkinFQ10 #ToddDurkin #IMPACTShow191 #MentalHealth   ---   2:30 - Meet Jeaneane Henson, who has over 40 years of experience in the fitness industry. 8:15 - What has being a part of the Mastermind program done for you and your business? 10:16 - 2019 Life changed....receiving the news of Daniel’s Death. 16:18 - Daniel’s health issues. 20:12 - How do you get through it? 26:20 - Do you feel that when men and women get out of the military, they often feel lost? 30:18 - Why should someone consider hiring a military veteran? 32:35 - Resources for Families...check out the Daniel Somers Network Support Act. 38:37 - Jeaneane shares some of her fondest memories of Daniel. 40:19 - You are only as happy as your saddest child...Jeaneane shares what that means to her and how she finds happiness now. 43:13 - Advice to anyone going through or knows of a Veteran going through a challenging time.   ---   More about Jeaneane Henson:   Jeaneane is a fitness professional with over four decades of experience in the health and fitness industry. After experiencing a life-changing accident as a competitive equestrian athlete, her rehabilitation inspired her to pursue a career helping others achieve a healthy, fit, functioning body.   Later, as a competitive bodybuilder, she became an ambassador for women in bodybuilding to empower them to build a more feminine physique versus the female version of the male stereotype.   She created California Bodies, a San Diego based fitness center to bring her experience to serve her community and a mission to mentor the next generation of fitness professionals.   She is the founder of the Daniel Ferguson Memorial Challenge, a non-profit dedicated to creating physical and mental strength to veterans by establishing a bond and camaraderie through workouts and friendly competition with four annual events.   Another project is the Three Element Program (TEP), based on recent academic research to bring the benefits of fitness, nutrition and social engagement to those experiencing the early stages of cognitive impairment.   Follow Jeaneane - FB:cabodies, IG:@california_bodies_fitness Daniel’s Foundation and Challenge - IG:dfmemorialfoundation, FB: Daniel’s Challenge (Private) and Daniel Ferguson Memorial Foundation (Public)   ---   Please keep your questions coming so I can highlight you on the podcast!!   If you have a burning question and want to be featured on the IMPACT show, go to www.todddurkin.com/podcast, fill out the form, and submit your questions!    ---   Are you a Trainer, Coach, or Fitness Business Owner seeking to make even more IMPACT in your business & life?   You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with. Level up today with my “Best in Class” MASTERMIND program for fitness professionals. I invite you to connect, share, and grow with the top coaches, trainers, and entrepreneurs in the fitness industry. My MASTERMIND is for passionate and purpose-driven fitness professionals who want to create success & significance in their personal and professional lives. If that sounds like you, visit: ToddDurkinMastermind.com to enroll or apply today. If you do so within the next 24 hours, you will receive a FREE video of one of my recent “ALL MASTERMIND” coaching calls. There are so many lost souls right now that need “our” LIGHT.  Let’s make a difference together, one life at a time!    ---   Follow Todd… → Instagram & Twitter: @ToddDurkin → Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ToddDurkinFQ10 → FB: @ToddDurkinFQ10   Don't forget that if you want more keys to unlock your potential and propel your success, you can order my book GET YOUR MIND RIGHT at www.todddurkin.com/getyourmindright or anywhere books are sold.   Get Your Mind Right now available on audio: https://christianaudio.com/get-your-mind-right-todd-durkin-audiobook-download   ---   ABOUT:   Todd Durkin is one of the leading coaches, trainers, and motivators in the world. It’s no secret why some of the world’s top athletes have trained with him for nearly two decades. He’s a best-selling author, a motivational speaker, and owns the legendary Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA, where he leads an amazing team of 42 teammates.   Todd is a coach on the Netflix show “STRONG” that is must-watch TV. He is a previous Jack LaLanne Award winner, a 2-time Trainer of the Year, and he runs his Todd Durkin Mastermind group of top trainers and fitness pros around the globe, coaching them with business, leadership, marketing, training, and personal growth mentorship.   Todd and his wife Melanie head up the Durkin IMPACT Foundation (501-c-3) that has raised over $250,000 since it started in 2013. 100% of all proceeds go back to kids and families in need. To learn more about Todd, visit www.ToddDurkin.com and www.FitnessQuest10.com.   Join his fire-breathing dragons’ community and receive regular motivational and inspirational emails. Visit www.ToddDurkin.com and opt-in to receive his value-rich content.   Connect with Todd online in the following places: You can listen to Todd’s podcast, The IMPACT Show, by going to www.todddurkin.com/podcast.

1 Peter 5:1-7 (ESV)Shepherd the Flock of God5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

We would sure love a silver bullet or a magic recipe to get fit or defying aging wouldn’t we? The truth is there is no silver bullet, it takes work. Likewise, with spiritual growth there is a cost involved. There is no secret recipe to make you a mature follower of Jesus. The Israelites would learn that lesson. I want us to see what it take as well. I’m excited to explore with you some key principles of spiritual growth.

In Episode 9, Bolton and Grace finish recapping the 1967 true crime classic, In Cold Blood, and discuss the facts of the true crime story that the movie is based on. The movie was written, directed, and produced by Richard Brooks and is based on the 1966 book of the same name written by Truman Capote. The musical score was composed by the great Quincy Jones. The film stars Robert Blake and Scott Wilson as convicted murderers Perry Smith and Richard "Dick" Hickock. The film focuses on the seemingly random murder of a family of four in Holcomb, Kansas. Truman Capote's In Cold Blood is hailed by many to be the birth of the true crime genre. Likewise, the movie is often noted as the first true crime movie ever made.  The film goes beyond birthing the true crime film genre and provides an entertaining, yet not overly dramatized or gory, and aesthetically interesting viewer experience.Also, be sure to check out Dietetics After Dark wherever you get your podcasts!Sources:In Cold Blood (1967)Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood. (1966)Documentary series - Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders (2017) (can be found on AMC+ and Prime Video)“In Cold Blood.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 May 2021. “In Cold Blood (Film).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2021.Fujiwara, Chris (November 18, 2015). "In Cold Blood: Structuring the Real". The Current. The Criterion Collection. Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018."Cinematic Classics, Legendary Stars, Comedic Legends and Novice Filmmakers Showcase the 2008 Film Registry". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved November 16, 2020."Complete National Film Registry Listing | Film Registry | National Film Preservation Board | Programs at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved November 16, 2020.Crowther, Bosley (December 15, 1967). "Screen: Graphic Quadruple Murder". The New York Times: 59.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-fiction_novelYagoda, Ben (2013-03-20). "I Found the Papers of the Fact Checker Who Worked on "In Cold Blood." What Did He Miss?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2020-08-04.Langbaum, Robert (1966). "Review: Capote's Nonfiction Novel". The American Scholar. 35:3: 570–80.Bass, Erin Z. “New Evidence on 'In Cold Blood' Sixty Years Later.” Deep South Magazine, 14 Nov. 2019. deepsouthmag.com/2019/11/14/new-evidence-on-in-cold-blood-sixty-years-later/.REMAINING SOURCES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE 

Charlotte Miller, chef and owner, affectionately named Mama Blanche after her paternal great-grandmother. Miller is a classically trained Fine Dining Chef. Charlotte has cooked for some of the biggest celebrities of our time: Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, and Tom Petty. Likewise, her resume includes some of the best hotels in the world: Little Palm Island, Hawks Cay, and Hermitage Hotel- a Five Star, Five Diamond, and James Beard nominated property. Instagram - @mamablanchenashvilleSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/talesfromthewalkin)

In this sermon, based on John 3:1-17, Pastor Scott explores the ambiguous nature of the Holy Trinity. It is difficult, perhaps even impossible to fully understand. Likewise, in today's gospel story, an individual comes to Jesus showing an equal amount of confusion in his identity and mission. This is the assigned gospel text for May 30th, 2021, Holy Trinity Sunday.

Have the Architects of the Covid-19 Pandemic Lost Touch with Reality?   Richard Gale & Gary Null PhD Progressive Radio Network, May 28, 2021   As the pandemic wages into its second year, two diametrically opposing movements have consolidated in defiance against each other. The dominant contingent, represented by Biden, Congress, Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates and the mainstream media, has decided that any citizen who refuses a Covid-19 vaccine is a de facto enemy of the state. “Ultimately,” Joe Biden declared during another gaff remark about the status of the government’s vaccination campaign, “those who are not vaccinated will pay – end up paying the price.” Despite the dubious claims that the mRNA vaccines are approximately 95 percent effective, the unvaccinated therefore mysteriously pose a health risk to the vaccinated. Consequently, any punitive actions the federal and state governments undertake, including encouraging the social media to publicly shame and censor voices of caution and reason, are justified.    In an effort to marginalize and socially victimize Israeli citizens who have postponed or refused vaccination, Netanyahu and his right-wing Knesset supporters passed a bill permitting personal information and data about unvaccinated citizens to be shared across government agencies and civil institutions.  Israel was named by Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla as the “world’s lab” for the company’s Covid-19 vaccine roll out. Contrary to the government’s response to criticisms, the unvaccinated are theoretically second-class citizens, branded with a “scarlet letter” depriving them of full engagement with Israeli society, including going to a restaurant, attending a movie, concert or athletic event. Many are unable to shop or go to work.  Even the staunch pro-Zionist New York Times indicated the government’s policies are “moving in the direction of a two-tier system for the vaccinated and unvaccinated.”    An analysis comparing Israeli Covid-19 infection and vaccine-related deaths conducted by Dr. Herve Seligmann, an Israeli-national at Aix-Marseille University of Medicine’s Faculty of Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases, concluded that the Pfizer vaccine has caused “mortality hundreds of times greater in young people compare[d] to the mortality from coronavirus without the vaccine, and dozens of times more in the elderly, when the documented mortality from coronavirus is in the vicinity of the vaccine, thus adding greater mortality from heart attack, stroke, etc.”  Seligmann and his co-author Haim Yativ have referred to Netanyahu’s draconian policies with unsafe experimental vaccines as a “new Holocaust.”  A civilian organization, the Israeli People Committee, which includes many health professionals, released a devastating report on the number of injuries and deaths resulting from Pfizer’s vaccine.  It was during the peak of the government’s vaccination campaign that Israel experienced its highest mortality rate, especially among those between 20 and 29 years of age. The Committee reported, “26 percent of all cardiac events occurred in young people up to the age of 40, with the most common diagnosis in these cases being myositis and pericarditis.” Other adverse vaccine reactions included infarction, stroke, miscarriage, impaired blood circulation and pulmonary embolisms.   Nevertheless, Israel has become the poster child for far more than serving as Pfizer’s experimental laboratory for human ferrets. It also models a caste society of haves and have nots, the rewarded and the repressed, the vaccine-anointed and the untouchables, as strategized by the World Economic Forum’s future technological proposals in its Great Reset. Netanyahu is has seemingly fully bought into Schwab’s Fourth Industrial Revolution and it’s re-visioning of the very definition of the human species. Last October, during the WEF’s “Great Reset” virtual session, Netanyahu appeared with Colombia’s far-right president Ivan Dugue – polled as the least popular president during that nation’s history -- and Rwanda’s war criminal Paul Kagame, along with executives in the biotech and financial industries, to advocate on behalf of the Forum’s mantra that the pandemic is an “opportunity” to further mobilize global digital infrastructure systems, including Covid-19 vaccination verification via microchip technology.   Now we are witnessing Canada, the UK and the US aggressively mimicking Israel’s heavy-handed policies to establish full-spectrum social control and make efforts to implement a post-modern, technologically driven caste system. Although Biden stated he does not support a federal mandate on vaccination passports, it has been left to the individual states to decide. Democrat-controlled states, notably New York, are issuing vaccine passports as a ticket to allow the vaccinated to return to a new normal. Republican governors on the other hand have been quick to denounce them, and in the case of Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Montana and Texas to executively ban them altogether. Hopefully some of the bans will challenge many of the over one hundred private colleges and universities that decided to require students to be vaccinated before returning in Fall.   The mainstream corporate-Democrat media, led by the New York Times, Washington Post, the Daily Beast, US News & World Report, CNN, NPR and MSNBC spew volleys of baseless propaganda that the vaccines are effective and wholly safe. However, thousands of medical school professors, physicians and researchers worldwide are challenging this non-consensual assumption. They regularly point out that there is no reliable science to justify any such claims. This raises the question: what are the vaccines effective against? Surely not contracting SARS-CoV-2; thousands of fully-vaccinated people are testing positive with the infection. The CDC has reported “seven percent of those [vaccinated] who have been infected have been hospitalized and 74 have died.”   Government efforts to reach a fictitious herd immunity threshold will inevitably come at a great cost to human life. More recent studies suggest that an exceedingly large percentage of Americans should technically be exempt from Covid-19 vaccines.  The University of Michigan published a recent analysis in JAMA Network Open suggesting that three percent of vaccinated Americans taking immune-weakening drugs have an increased risk of hospitalization. The study is grossly conservative and undermines the breadth of the problem. The researchers only analyzed patients with private insurance, under the age of 65, and who were only prescribed immunosuppressive steroids, such as corticosteroids and prednisone. Other immunosuppressive drugs such “selective immunosuppressants” and calcineurin and interleukin inhibitors were seemingly excluded from the Michigan analysis. Thirty-three percent of the American population was therefore excluded from the study because, according to the CDC, only 66.8 percent of the population has private health insurance. New York University researchers reported in the British Medical Journal that a third of patients receiving methotrexate and TNF-inhibitors for immune-mediated inflammatory illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis fail to achieve sufficient antibodies from the Pfizer vaccine. We are certain this will be found equally true for many other medications if or when studies are conducted.    The CDC’s belief that only 4 percent of Americans are immune-compromised is a misleading under-estimation. The agency’s defining criteria is narrow and limited to HIV/AIDS and cancer patients, inherited genetic diseases, and patients who have undergone organ transplants and are prescribed immunosuppressive drugs. On the other hand, there are over 100 different autoimmune conditions, including type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, blood cancers, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid and other types of arthritis, psoriasis, IgG4 disease, Hashimoto’s and Addison’s diseases, celiac disease, etc. These additional individuals, who account for over 50 million Americans, have malfunctioning immune systems that increase their susceptibility to both severe SARS-CoV-2 infections (if left untreated during its early stage) and a higher probability of vaccine adverse reactions.    Consequently, a very conservative 17 percent of Americans are at greater risk from either viral infection or vaccine injury or death. This also excludes tens of millions of adults (30 percent) and children (40 percent) with chronic allergies and many of the over 89,000 cancer patients diagnosed annually and prescribed chemotherapeutic drugs. Every year, nearly two-thirds of all Americans require emergency medical care from allergic reactions alone.  Furthermore, those with certain immune weaknesses are less likely to generate sufficient vaccine-induced antibodies thereby making Covid-19 vaccination ineffective.    Especially disturbing is that the clinical trials the FDA relied upon for Emergency Use Authorization for the past five months of the vaccination campaign were based upon enrollment of healthy participants. Only recently are clinical trials either underway or in recruitment to test the vaccines on participants with weakened immune systems, including small children and infants, and on pregnant women. In the meantime, millions of immunosuppressed people diagnosed with autoimmune conditions or pre-existing comorbidities, from young to old, are being indiscriminately injected. Given the CDC’s previous track record of reckless vaccination policies, upon these trials’ completion, we will surely see vaccination forced upon every infant carelessly. This has been a policy enacted so far on the elderly, the sickly, the immune-compromised, pregnant moms, and the rest of the nation. It is not irrational, therefore, to suspect that past and present Covid-19 trials have been conducted with malice of forethought and with the unconditional approval of our federal health officials.    During the pandemic, the rapid ascent of our vaccine-addicted culture’s mantra of “vaccination at any cost” truly borders on medical malfeasance and criminal negligence. The overriding emphasis on vaccination and near total disregard for implementing very simple preventative measures to inhibit infections from progressing in severity. If our health policymakers were wise men and women, alternative treatments such as ivermectin, hydroxycholoroquine, and more recent inexpensive off-patent drugs, which have been shown to be highly effective for early stage treatment and being widely prescribed elsewhere in the world, would be permitted and encouraged without reservation. There would be no reason to wait for a novel drug costing thousands of dollars per patient to arrive.  And we still await that magic bullet drug because the previous one, remdesivir, was faulty blank. This is just another example of the institutionalized pathology that infects our health agencies.    There is no convincing science to support our federal officials belief that a previously infected person requires a Covid-19 vaccine to acquire immunity. In fact, more recent research indicates the opposite and goes directly against the intellectually fetid arguments of the now disgraced financier Bill Gates that every person on the planet should be vaccinated without exception. Johns Hopkins University professor Dr. Marty Makary has put forth the evidence that “natural immunity works.” Makary notes that it is only the rare instance when a person is being re-infected. Washington University School of Medicine reported this month that even mild Covid-19 infections induce long lasting antibody protection. The study’s lead researcher Dr. Ali Ellebedy stated,   "Last fall, there were reports that antibodies wane quickly after infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, and mainstream media interpreted that to mean that immunity was not long-lived… But that's a misinterpretation of the data. It's normal for antibody levels to go down after acute infection, but they don't go down to zero; they plateau. Here, we found antibody-producing cells in people 11 months after first symptoms. These cells will live and produce antibodies for the rest of people's lives. That's strong evidence for long-lasting immunity."   The information we were fed to downplay natural immunity was wrong at best, and more likely a lie, in order to further persuade the public into the importance of the vaccines to return their lives to normal. Another study appearing in this month’s Journal of Infectious Diseases found that “SARS-CoV-2 specific immune memory response [following infection] persists in most patients nearly one year after infection.” The Covid-19 vaccines can’t make the same promise. In fact, more reports show that  fully vaccinated persons are becoming infected.    But it gets worse.     The pro-vaccine argument wrongly assumes that anyone who refuses the Covid-19 vaccines is therefore anti-vaxxer. We would argue it is rational caution in the face of a national healthcare system indebted to the pharmaceutical industry and that is rapidly losing public trust. Likewise, if a doctor is successfully treating hundreds of patients without a reported death with cheap, effective drugs, she or he is canceled and ridiculed as a quack. Instead of open dialogue and debate, those who challenge the Medical Church Scientific are censored by Google and from all social platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and Wikipedia. This is despite the impeccable credentials of many medical professionals abiding by the precautionary principle and who dare to challenge Anthony Fauci and the global vaccine czar Bill Gates, whose faux philanthropy is nothing less than another profitmaking enterprise like Microsoft.    Conflicts of interests, both financial and non-financial, are endemic in our medical system. Therefore it becomes increasingly more difficult to trust any clinical study or government policy that is based upon flawed evidence submitted by a drug maker that fails to undergo a thorough independent and impartial review by qualified medical experts. There is a clear psychological reason for this. Many psychologists have pointed out over the years that “cognitive bias,” “motivated reasoning” and the heuristics driving the evaluation of clinical trial data and the subsequent institutional regulatory review and decision-making are deeply contrary and undermine the entire evidence-based criteria that should oversee what drugs, vaccines, medical devices, therapeutic protocols should be recommended or approved for use upon the public.     The late Scott Lilienfeld, a professor of psychology at Emory University, writes, “Clinicians are subject to the same errors in thinking that affect virtually all people. In particular, practitioners must be wary of (a) the misuse of certain heuristics (e.g., availability, representativeness) and (b) cognitive biases (e.g., confirmation bias, hindsight bias) in their everyday work.” Although Lilienfeld is singling out clinical physicians, it applies more rigorously and accurately to the pharmaceutical presidents, CEOs and chief science officers overseeing vaccine development who have stock prices to reach and shareholders to please.  Cognitive bias equally plagues the entire executive hierarchy at the CDC, NIAID, FDA and HHS who are beholden to the gaping revolving door between these agencies and private industry and their revenues. Writing about the deep ethical concerns behind bias in our medical institutions, Dr. Thomas Murray, President of the Hastings Center, states, “For scientists on a panel of the Food and Drug Administration, for example, it isn’t immediately clear to whom they owe their primary loyalty.”  Such biases, Murray believes, have completely destroyed the credibility of the World Health Organization.     The fact that rates to reproduce medical clinical trials are so poor, according to behavioral economist Susann Fielder at the Max Planck Institute, is that “cognitive biases may be a reason for that.”  It also explains why Stanford University Medical School professor John Ioannidis argues, “most published research findings are false,” and “an estimated 85 percent of research resources are wasted.” Junk science based upon bias should also include every vaccine application submitted to the FDA for regulatory approval, since the vaccine companies are privileged to cherry-pick whichever trials they want to submit to create the most promising portfolio.    One could review all of the official decisions made during the past 17 months – by Anthony Fauci, Trump and Biden and the naïve stances in both political parties – and should easily observe the frailties of cognitive bias and repeated contradictions throughout. None whatsoever are reliably truthful. And of course, cognitive bias leads to cognitive dissonance, such as denying that one has a bias or resorting to flagrant rejection and disparagement in order to avoid any scientific data that conflicts with one’s unfounded beliefs.   We now live in a nation of medicine by bureaucratic decree rather than by immunological science. This is postmodern cultism at its worst because it hides behind the veneer of being scientific. And it has the full support of a political technocracy that can ordain authoritarian laws. There is a dire need for a collective epiphany. All of us are experiencing the pandemic as a failed experiment orchestrated by institutions that have lost touch with reality. And it has been a very deadly experiment due to the extraordinary incompetence of our medical-degreed bureaucrats. Sadly the decades of institutional ineptitude has had to reach national and perhaps global awareness at this time when the powers that possess every technological tool at their disposal to conduct wide surveillance, pass undemocratic and draconian laws with full impunity, and control the fenced sheep within the mainstream media. Attachments area

Grab a spray can of your grandaddy's special pesticide as we marvel at "The Infinite Vulcan"!Writer Ryan Britt returns to the show this week to discuss an episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series that was written by the multi-talented Walter Koenig. When the Enterprise discovers a long-lost civilization of plant-like aliens, Spock is kidnapped and cloned by a Eugenics War scientist. Now, Kirk and crew must save their friend, stop the Phylosians' plans for galactic domination, and face . . . Spock 2!The Animated Series is an oft-overlooked wing of the Trek universe that nevertheless gave us a continuation of the five-year mission and a variety of charming and creative adventures for the crew of the Enterprise. Likewise, Walter Koenig rarely takes center stage in the world of Star Trek, but but his warmth and humor both brought Pavel Chekov to life and kept fans in stitches with his screenwriting and his non-fiction accounts of his life in Trek. On this episode, we discuss TAS as the underappreciated chapter of the Trek universe, the way the Star Trek survives by reinventing itself, the persistence of elements introduced into canon by TAS, the continuing career of Walter Koenig, the work of Hal Sutherland, and the narrative lenses employed in Trek storytelling.We also discuss parenting tips from Captain Kirk, Duncans Idaho, "sci-fi with conveniences", bad Philip K Dick books, Shatner's big week, sending Spock to the bathroom, talking OG BSG with the TOS cast, Tuvok's Brain, overlapping continuities, a Trek news roundup, and even MORE Starlost talk!Give us Giant Ethan Peck, cowards!Follow Ryan on Twitter and check out his website!http://www.twitter.com/ryancbritthttp://www.ryanbrittwriter.comLearn the story behind your favorite Trek episodes with BackTrekking!http://www.twitter.com/backtrekkingRule with us on Facebook and Twitter and the Just Enough Trope Discord!http://www.facebook.com/eistpodhttp://www.twitter.com/eistpodhttps://discord.gg/9QehJyTEBuy us pesticide on Patreon and Ko-Fi!http://www.patreon.com/eistpodhttps://ko-fi.com/E1E01M2UASubscribe to the show on iTunes!https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/enterprising-individuals/id1113165661?mt=2

Rav Eliezer Papo (1786-1827) writes in his work Hesed La’alafim that one should endeavor to receive an Aliya to the Torah at least once a month, as this is a great source of merit.He also makes another point, which is elaborated upon also by the Aruch Ha’shulhan (Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein of Nevarduk, 1829-1908), namely, that all sections in the Torah are equally important, and thus there is no such thing as a "bad" Aliya. While it is true that some communities regard certain Aliyot as a greater honor than others – in our community, for example, "Shishi" is the most prestigious Aliya – as far as the Biblical text is concerned, every letter is equally sacred. The Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimonides, Spain-Egypt, 1135-1204) writes that the verse which speaks of Mehetabel Bat Matred (Bereshit 36:39), which may not appear, at first glance, very significant, is no less sacred than the verse, "Anochi Hashem Elokecha" (the first of the Ten Commandments). Likewise, the verse which tells of Timna, the concubine of Esav’s son, Elifaz (Bereshit 36:12), is no less sacred than the verse, "Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokenu Hashem Ehad." A Sefer Torah is considered invalid if it is missing a letter from the text of the Ten Commandments or a letter from the relatively unknown list of the names of Esav’s descendants, because each and every word of the Torah is sacred and the word of G-d. Therefore, a person should never protest or feel slighted if the text of the Aliya he receives does not seem to be especially significant, because every letter of the Torah is significant, and it is a great privilege to recite a Beracha over any section of the Torah.Halachically speaking, it is permissible to given an Aliya to somebody who commits sins and has not repented for them. As long as he does not sin in a flagrant, public fashion – such as if he drives to the synagogue on Shabbat and parks right in front of the building – and he believes in God and the Torah, he may receive an Aliya. Thus, for example, somebody who shaves with a razor – which is forbidden by the Torah – may be given an Aliya. Of course, different congregations follow different rules and guidelines in this regard, and every Rabbi should implement guidelines that are appropriate for his congregation and which preserve the sanctity of the synagogue, the sanctity of the Torah, and the respect and dignity of the congregation.Summary: It is proper, if possible, to try to get an Aliya to the Torah at least once a month. Every letter of the Torah is sacred, and thus one should not feel slighted if the text of the Aliya he receives seems obscure or unimportant; each and every word and letter is significant, and every Aliya is a great privilege. Strictly speaking, even non-observant Jews may receive Aliyot to the Torah, though every congregation and Rabbi should establish a policy that best suits their community.

Resources referenced in today's Pentecost homily, "Curmudgeons and New Wine," with Fr. Brian Larkin: "Late have I loved you, beauty ever ancient, ever new. Late have I loved you."—From The Confessions, by St. Augustine "Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine, There's always laughter and good red wine. At least I've always found it so."― Hilaire Belloc Acts 2:13—"Others who mock them say they are filled with new wine." 1 Corinthians 12: All of us were made to drink of one spirit. Ephesians 5:18: "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and making melody to the Lord with all your heart." Luke 5:37: "Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. 38 Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. 39[And] no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”* What are you holding onto in your faith and not allowing God to transform? "Get on your knees and confess that you are a curmudgeon. Lord, I've refused to let you move me. Surrender in a new, powerful, and free and surrendering way. I've grown old in my sin, I've grown hardened and rigid. Jesus, today, would you make me new?"—Fr. Brian Larkin Details about Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Denver, Colorado: For sacramental inquiries: email admin@lourdesdenver.org Location: Denver, Colorado, United States Links: Donate: https://lourdesdenver.org/donate/ ... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LourdesDenver/ ... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lourdes_den... Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user73713480 Website: https://lourdesdenver.org/ ... GREGORIAN RANT Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4EzZkNxXB5CeyyRw4jGrTQ ... And the VIDEO Gregorian Rant Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkC5_tjxxG5E17jqn4JaDUQ

Episode 21:21 - How To Have Your BEST Summer Ever We want you to have a wonderful summer… your best ever. How? By learning how to live WITH nature, not in opposition to it. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. You see, we have allowed society to dictate our behaviors… behaviors that go against nature and are NOT good for our health. For example… Why do we go to bed so late? Because we have been trained to. The truth is, if you live in the United States and have a daytime job, there is no reason to go to bed after 10 o’clock. Likewise, there is no reason to wake up after six in the morning. Yet few people get up before then… even though watching the sunrise each morning carries with it some amazing health benefits! Then there’s our diets… another area in which we don’t live WITH nature. We eat foods that are not part of God’s natural design. Processed foods that we know aren't good for us… filled with sugar and chemicals. We should know better. We should do better. These two areas alone - our relationship with the sun and with food - play a huge role in our health. In fact, almost EVERY chronic disease is connected, in some way, to our inability to live WITH nature in these two areas. Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Obesity… the list goes on and on. But that can change. We can make up our minds to live WITH nature this summer. To use these 99 days of summer to cultivate some incredible, healthy habits. Here’s a few suggestions to get you started: - Write one letter each week. - Read one book a week. - Eat some fruit every day. - Eat vegetables every day. - Cut out sugar, wheat, and gluten. - Commit to taking whole food nutritional supplements. - Wake up with the sunrise. - Go to bed by 10 P.M. - Keep your home dark after 8 P.M. - Don’t eat after 7 P.M. - Pray daily. - Journal daily. - Practice “Grounding” daily. - Get a suntan (prepare for next winter). - Watch the sunset. - Eat from the colors of the rainbow daily. - Go to the beach, the mountains, or hiking trails. - Have fun. Smile. Enjoy life. - Spend time with family and friends. Here's the bottom line: 1) The key to good health is to live WITH nature, not in opposition to it. 2) Getting healthy is about progress, not perfection. Make this your BEST summer ever!!! ———————- Want more? Go deeper into this episode, and all future episodes, by signing up for our daily emails. Simply visit: GetHealthyAlabama.com Once there, download the “Symptom Survey” and you will automatically added to our email list. ———————- Also, if you haven’t already, we'd appreciate it if you'd subscribe to the podcast, leave a comment and give us a rating. (Thanks!!!) 

On Facebook? Connect with us at Facebook.com/GetHealthyAlabama

 * This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease. Please consult with your health care provider before making any health-related changes.

Saying no is one of the toughest situations in everyday life because it is a mini confrontation every single time. But there are many ways to make this part of life smoother and less tense. Start saying “I don’t” versus “I can’t” because the former implies a policy, whereas the latter implies something to be negotiated. Likewise, get into the habit of saying no to specific and broad categories because that also implies a policy that you don’t make exceptions for. Questions or comments regarding the podcast? Email the show at KingPodcast@NewtonMG.com or let us know what you think at http://bit.ly/pkcomment Read the show notes and/or transcript at https://bit.ly/social-skills-shownotes Get the audiobook on Audible at https://bit.ly/assertivenessking For a free minibook on conversation tactics, visit Patrick King Consulting at https://bit.ly/pkconsulting For narration information visit Russell Newton at https://bit.ly/VoW-home For production information visit Newton Media Group LLC at https://bit.ly/newtonmg #ICan’tvsIDon’t #SayNo #RussellNewton #NewtonMG I Can’t vs I Don’t,Say No,Russell Newton,NewtonMG

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 5–6 2 Samuel 5–6 (Listen) David Anointed King of Israel 5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince1 over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.2 6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him. 11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 12 And David knew that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. David Defeats the Philistines 17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.3 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the LORD commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. The Ark Brought to Jerusalem 6 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio,4 the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, 4 with the ark of God,5 and Ahio went before the ark. Uzzah and the Ark 5 And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs6 and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah7 to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” 10 So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household. 12 And it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 13 And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn. David and Michal 16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts 19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat,8 and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house. 20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince9 over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your10 eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. Footnotes [1] 5:2 Or leader [2] 5:5 Dead Sea Scroll lacks verses 4–5 [3] 5:20 Baal-perazim means Lord of breaking through [4] 6:3 Or and his brother; also verse 4 [5] 6:4 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew the new cart, 4and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the ark of God [6] 6:5 Septuagint, 1 Chronicles 13:8; Hebrew fir trees [7] 6:8 Perez-uzzah means the breaking out against Uzzah [8] 6:19 Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew term is uncertain [9] 6:21 Or leader [10] 6:22 Septuagint; Hebrew my (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 119:121–128 Psalm 119:121–128 (Listen) Ayin 121   I have done what is just and right;    do not leave me to my oppressors.122   Give your servant a pledge of good;    let not the insolent oppress me.123   My eyes long for your salvation    and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.124   Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,    and teach me your statutes.125   I am your servant; give me understanding,    that I may know your testimonies!126   It is time for the LORD to act,    for your law has been broken.127   Therefore I love your commandments    above gold, above fine gold.128   Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;    I hate every false way. (ESV) New Testament: Philippians 1–2 Philippians 1–2 (Listen) Greeting 1 Paul and Timothy, servants1 of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers2 and deacons:3 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thanksgiving and Prayer 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,4 both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. The Advance of the Gospel 12 I want you to know, brothers,5 that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard6 and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word7 without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. To Live Is Christ Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy8 of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. Christ’s Example of Humility 2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,9 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,10 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,11 being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Lights in the World 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Timothy and Epaphroditus 19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s12 proven worth, how as a son13 with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died14 for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. Footnotes [1] 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface [2] 1:1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi [3] 1:1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi [4] 1:7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace [5] 1:12 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 14 [6] 1:13 Greek in the whole praetorium [7] 1:14 Some manuscripts add of God [8] 1:27 Greek Only behave as citizens worthy [9] 2:5 Or which was also in Christ Jesus [10] 2:6 Or a thing to be held on to for advantage [11] 2:7 Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface) [12] 2:22 Greek his [13] 2:22 Greek child [14] 2:30 Or he drew near to the point of death; compare verse 8 (ESV)

Morning: Isaiah 63:9–10; John 14:26; Romans 8:26; Romans 15:30; Galatians 5:16–17; Ephesians 1:13–14; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 4:13 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. The love of the Spirit.—“The Helper, the Holy Spirit.”—In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.—When you… believed in him, [you] were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.—But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. The Spirit helps us in our weakness. Isaiah 63:9–10 (Listen) 9   In all their affliction he was afflicted,1    and the angel of his presence saved them;  in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;    he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. 10   But they rebelled    and grieved his Holy Spirit;  therefore he turned to be their enemy,    and himself fought against them. Footnotes [1] 63:9 Or he did not afflict (ESV) John 14:26 (Listen) 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (ESV) Romans 8:26 (Listen) 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (ESV) Romans 15:30 (Listen) 30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, (ESV) Galatians 5:16–17 (Listen) Keep in Step with the Spirit 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (ESV) Ephesians 1:13–14 (Listen) 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee1 of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,2 to the praise of his glory. Footnotes [1] 1:14 Or down payment [2] 1:14 Or until God redeems his possession (ESV) Ephesians 4:30 (Listen) 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (ESV) 1 John 4:13 (Listen) 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. (ESV) Evening: Song of Solomon 5:6; Isaiah 57:17–18; Isaiah 59:2; Jeremiah 2:17; Hosea 5:15; Hosea 14:4; Luke 15:20; 1 John 1:9 I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me. Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you.—My beloved had turned and gone…. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.—“I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him.”—“Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the Lord your God, when he led you in the way?” “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”—I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Song of Solomon 5:6 (Listen) 6   I opened to my beloved,    but my beloved had turned and gone.  My soul failed me when he spoke.  I sought him, but found him not;    I called him, but he gave no answer. (ESV) Isaiah 57:17–18 (Listen) 17   Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,    I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,    but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.18   I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;    I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, (ESV) Isaiah 59:2 (Listen) 2   but your iniquities have made a separation    between you and your God,  and your sins have hidden his face from you    so that he does not hear. (ESV) Jeremiah 2:17 (Listen) 17   Have you not brought this upon yourself    by forsaking the LORD your God,    when he led you in the way? (ESV) Hosea 5:15 (Listen) 15   I will return again to my place,    until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face,    and in their distress earnestly seek me. (ESV) Hosea 14:4 (Listen) 4   I will heal their apostasy;    I will love them freely,    for my anger has turned from them. (ESV) Luke 15:20 (Listen) 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (ESV) 1 John 1:9 (Listen) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

H.B. Charles, Jr. was born on February 11, 1973, in Los Angeles, California to Dr. H.B. and Ellen L. Charles, Sr. He made a personal profession of faith in Christ as Savior and Lord, and was baptized, at the age of six. At the age of eleven, H.B. began his public ministry at the Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, under the watchful eyes of his father and the other pastoral leaders of the congregation.Many and diverse speaking opportunities, both within and beyond Mount Sinai, helped H.B. to rapidly and progressively develop in preaching and teaching. Likewise, these years of assisting his father and ministering to his fellow young people trained H.B. in fundamental aspects of spiritual leadership. 

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 66) writes that if one hears Kaddish while reciting the first two verses of Shema – "Shema Yisrael" and "Baruch Shem" – he may not respond to Kaddish. If he hears Kaddish after he has recited the first two verses, as he recites any part of the rest of Shema, then he joins the first five "Amen" responses, even though he is in the middle of reciting Shema. These include the response of "Amen Yeheh Shemeh Rabba." Hacham Ovadia Yosef rules that in such a case, one responds only until the words "U’le’olmeh Almaya," without continuing until "Da’amiran Be’alma." Our custom, however, follows the opinion of the Kaf Ha’haim (Rav Yaakov Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Jerusalem, 1870-1939) and Hacham Bension Abba Shaul (Jerusalem, 1924-1998), that even while reciting Shema, one responds "Amen Yeheh Shemeh Rabba" all the way through "Da’amiran Be’alma."Likewise, during the Shema recitation, after the first two verses, one who hears "Barechu" responds "Baruch Hashem Ha’meborach Le’olam Va’ed" together with the congregation. One who hears "Modim" while reciting Shema (after the first two verses) responds with only the first three words – "Modim Anahnu Lach." One does not answer "Amen" to a Beracha that he hears while reciting Shema, except to a Beracha which is recited only in the presence of a Minyan. Namely, he answers "Amen" to the Beracha recited by the Kohanim before Birkat Kohanim ("Asher Kideshanu Bi’kdushato Shel Aharon…"), to all three verses of Birkat Kohanim itself, and to the Berachot recited over the Torah reading, both the Beracha recited before the reading ("Asher Bahar Banu…") and the Beracha recited after ("Asher Natan Lanu Torato…"). All these Berachot are recited only when a Minyan is present, and so one answers "Amen" to these Berachot even if he is reciting Shema (except during the first two verses).Hacham David Yosef (contemporary), in his Halacha Berura, writes that these guidelines apply only when one recites Shema for the Misva, to fulfill the obligation to recite Shema each morning and evening. If, however, one is not fulfilling the Misva through his recitation, then he answers "Amen" to every Beracha, and joins in all "Amen" responses to Kaddish, without any restrictions. Hacham David gives numerous examples of situations where one recites Shema but is not fulfilling the Misva. One example is one who puts on Tefillin Rabbenu Tam each morning after the prayer service, and recites Shema while wearing the Tefillin. Other examples include one who prays Shaharit or Arbit but had already recited Shema earlier; one who recites Arbit early, before dark (as many communities do on Friday night during the summer months), and must repeat Shema after dark to fulfill the Misva; and one who recites the bedtime Shema. In all these situations, the individual recites Shema without fulfilling the Misva. As such, Hacham David writes, he interrupts for any response, and to answer "Amen" to any Beracha, even while reciting the verses of "Shema Yisrael" and "Baruch Shem."Although Hacham Bension Abba Shaul held a different view, Hacham David maintains – and this appears to have been the view of his father, Hacham Ovadia Yosef – that one may interrupt Shema for any response of "Amen" and the like, at any point, in a case where he is reading Shema without fulfilling the Misva.Summary: While reciting the first two verses of Shema – "Shema Yisrael" and "Baruch Shem" – one may not interrupt, even to respond to Kaddish and the like. After the first two verses, however, one who hears Kaddish joins in the first five "Amen" responses to Kaddish, including "Amen Yeheh Shemeh Rabba," and he recites through "Da’amiran Be’alma" as usual. He also responds to "Barechu," and if he hears "Modim," he responds with the words "Modim Anahnu Lach." He does not answer "Amen" to Berachot, except to the Berachot before Birkat Kohanim, the blessings of Birkat Kohanim itself, and the Berachot before and after the Torah reading. These guidelines apply only when one recites Shema for the Misva. If, however, one is not fulfilling the Misva through his recitation – such as if he had already recited Shema, or if he recites Arbit early, before dark, and will repeat it later – then he responds "Amen" to all Berachot, and joins all responses to Kaddish, without any restrictions, even if he is reciting the first two verses of Shema.

Recognizing contempt and disgust from micro-expressions can save a marriage. Likewise, identifying and understanding body language and micro-expressions in general can jumpstart a relationship--whether personal or professional. Kasia Wezowski joins us in this episode to talk about micro-expressions and why they are critical in building a successful relationship and business.    In this Episode: [00:01 - 04:37] Opening Segment Let's get to know Kasia Wezowski She walks us through her path as a communication expert  [04:38 - 13:06] The Science Behind Micro-Expressions  How Kasia first studied body language and micro-expressions What you should know about contempt and disgust  How to connect with another person on a deeper level  [13:07 - 23:57] Eliciting Micro-Expressions Why Kasia and her husband are doing movie production  What are limiting beliefs and how to overcome them?  It's not about the questions but how you talk  [23:58 - 32:10] Tips to Apply During Conversations  Manage a conversation the right way with these tips from Kasia Improve your ability to read body language  [32:11 - 37:57] The Right Boundaries with People  The conversation that left you with the most impact Conversations with her father What communication skill would you have wanted to learn sooner? Creating boundaries with people  The best communicator you know Marshall Goldsmith [37:58 - 39:30] Closing Segment Connect with Kasia! Links below  Final words from me Tweetable Quotes: “You just need to focus and to look at the face at the right moment.” - Kasia Wezowski  “Even though sometimes it's difficult to set the boundaries from the beginning, I do believe that this is very important, to just say upfront what is important for you and what are your boundaries.” - Kasia Wezowski  Resources Mentioned:  FREE e-course to master body language and micro-expressions to boost your EQ by 10% and sales by 20%. Check it out https://bit.ly/3bGGN2Z (here).  https://www.peaseinternational.com/ (Allan Pease ) https://www.gottman.com/ (John Gottman)  https://www.marshallgoldsmith.com/ (Marshall Goldsmith) Movie: https://impact.film/ (Impact) Email patryk@wezowski.com to connect with Kasia. You can also get in touch with her on https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasiawezowski/ (LinkedIn), https://fb.com/KasiaWezowski (Facebook), https://twitter.com/KasiaWezowski (Twitter), and https://bit.ly/3uapPj1 (YouTube). Check out her http://www.kasiawezowski.com/ (website) to know more about her story and the https://centerforbodylanguage.com/ (Center for Body Language) to learn more about body language and micro-expressions!   You can connect with me on https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregricecxeffortgeek/ (LinkedIn), https://twitter.com/gregjrice (Twitter), https://www.instagram.com/gregjrice/ (Instagram), and https://www.facebook.com/gregory.rice.372/ (Facebook). Join https://www.facebook.com/groups/jointhecommunicationnation/ (The Communication Nation) and learn from others in the community. Feel free to email me at gregrice79@yahoo.com, I'd love to hear from you! Want more help with your digital marketing? Go to my website https://gregjrice.com/inflection/ (https://gregjrice.com/inflection/) and let's have a conversation. LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to expand their communication capacity by sharing this episode and listen to our previous episodes.

Morning: 1 Chronicles 11–13 1 Chronicles 11–13 (Listen) David Anointed King 11 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel. David Takes Jerusalem 4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 6 David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 7 And David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 8 And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him. David’s Mighty Men 10 Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. 11 This is an account of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three.1 He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time. 12 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines. 14 But he took his2 stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the LORD saved them by a great victory. 15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 17 And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 18 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the LORD 19 and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men. 20 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty.3 And he wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won a name beside the three. 21 He was the most renowned4 of the thirty5 and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three. 22 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man6 of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 23 And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits7 tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and won a name beside the three mighty men. 25 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard. 26 The mighty men were Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth of Harod,8 Helez the Pelonite, 28 Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai of Netophah, Heled the son of Baanah of Netophah, 31 Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, 32 Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34 Hashem9 the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, 35 Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro of Carmel, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38 Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42 Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43 Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45 Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. The Mighty Men Join David 12 Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2 They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul’s kinsmen. 3 The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth, 4 Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah,10 Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 5 Eluzai,11 Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7 And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 8 From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were swift as gazelles upon the mountains: 9 Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14 These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. 15 These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west. 16 And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17 David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” 18 Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,   “We are yours, O David,    and with you, O son of Jesse!  Peace, peace to you,    and peace to your helpers!    For your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them officers of his troops. 19 Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, “At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) 20 As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. 22 For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God. 23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24 The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26 Of the Levites 4,600. 27 The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700. 28 Zadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers’ house. 29 Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30 Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 33 Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David12 with singleness of purpose. 34 Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. 36 Of Asher 40,000 seasoned troops ready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war. 38 All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. 39 And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. 40 And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel. The Ark Brought from Kiriath-Jearim 13 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and from the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. 3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it13 in the days of Saul.” 4 All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. Uzzah and the Ark 5 So David assembled all Israel from the Nile14 of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD who sits enthroned above the cherubim. 7 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio15 were driving the cart. 8 And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets. 9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. 11 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza16 to this day. 12 And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had. Footnotes [1] 11:11 Compare 2 Samuel 23:8; Hebrew thirty, or captains [2] 11:14 Compare 2 Samuel 23:12; Hebrew they . . . their [3] 11:20 Syriac; Hebrew three [4] 11:21 Compare 2 Samuel 23:19; Hebrew more renowned among the two [5] 11:21 Syriac; Hebrew three [6] 11:22 Syriac; Hebrew the son of a valiant man [7] 11:23 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [8] 11:27 Compare 2 Samuel 23:25; Hebrew the Harorite [9] 11:34 Compare Septuagint and 2 Samuel 23:32; Hebrew the sons of Hashem [10] 12:4 Hebrew verse 5 [11] 12:5 Hebrew verse 6 [12] 12:33 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks David [13] 13:3 Or him [14] 13:5 Hebrew Shihor [15] 13:7 Or and his brother [16] 13:11 Perez-uzza means the breaking out against Uzzah (ESV) Evening: John 9:1–23 John 9:1–23 (Listen) Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind 9 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18 The Jews1 did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus2 to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” Footnotes [1] 9:18 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 22 [2] 9:22 Greek him (ESV)

This is Entrepreneurs of Faith, a Sunday episode of Monetization Nation. I'm Nathan Gwilliam, your host. In today's episode, we're going to discuss portions of a sermon by a church leader named Gordon Hinckley about the world's need for greater kindness, and we'll discuss how kindness can help us make a difference as entrepreneurs.   The World We Live in and Why We Need Kindness   Hinckley described the kind of world we live in today, saying, “I have wondered why there is so much hatred in the world. We are involved in terrible wars with lives lost and many crippling wounds. Coming closer to home, there is so much jealousy, pride, arrogance, and carping criticism; fathers who rise in anger over small, inconsequential things and make wives weep and children fear.”   He continued, “Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children.”   With all the hate, jealousy, pride, arrogance, and criticism in the world, not to mention the wars and violence, we need to be kind. We need to do what we can to push back against all that negativity and show the world that it is still good in people.    “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.” (KJV Galatians 6:10)   Kindness in Business   “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” - Amelia Earhart    We can drive our businesses forward through acts of kindness. Daniel Lubetzky, the founder of the  New York-based company Kind Snacks, does this. He takes the subway to work every morning, and when he sees someone commit an act of kindness, he gives them a #kindawesome card, which is an invitation to enter an online code to receive free Kind bars. He also gives them a second #kindawesome card to give to a selfless stranger (Source: bthechange.com).    The gesture is part of a company-wide cause marketing movement to trigger a chain of random acts of kindness around the world. It has generated more than one million kind acts. This kind of tactic creates loyalty in existing customers and awareness for potential customers (Source: bthechange.com).   Strategies like these are great ways to spread kindness and help our business. They show customers that we care and we are willing to put in effort when it comes to being a good business. Instead of being ruthless and uncaring in our pursuit of profits, we should focus on being good to our customers and community. We can only do this “when there is kindness, respect, and love,” Hinckley said.    Kindness in COVID   When the pandemic hit the world, there were many people and businesses that were impacted negatively. Some businesses had to close, causing people to lose their jobs. Many have been directly impacted by the virus, and we all had to adjust to doing things differently. However, some businesses saw this as an opportunity to do some good.    For example, Wild North Flowers, a company in Toronto, was forced to transition to an online-only model when the pandemic hit. Though the business took a hit financially, Jennifer Fowlow, founder and owner, did what she could to make a difference in the community (Source: shopify.com).    Previously the company had a monthly tradition of a nomination-based flower giveaway. Fowlow turned this into a daily giveaway to workers on the front lines. “With the COVID-19 pandemic turning our worlds upside down,” Fowlow said, “this kind of gratitude is more important than ever.” The company also donated pre-paid flowers that were from canceled events (Source: shopify.com).   Another company, Summersalt, found a different way to make an impact. Summersalt is a brand dedicated to joyful moments like swimming, traveling, sleeping, and lounging. However, its apparel basics were also perfect for those who have had to isolate—something that usually isn't a joyful moment (Source: shopify.com).    In response to COVID-19, “the brand launched Joy cast, a free SMS-based emotional support hotline that connects those in isolation with members of their team who text back positive diversions—a meditation video, a self-care tip, or puppy GIFs.” (Source: shopify.com)   While the pandemic has been hard in different ways for everyone, we can be a force for good through sharing kindness.    Humanitarian Efforts   In Hinckley's sermon, he went on to describe numerous humanitarian efforts happening throughout the world. He described “volunteers reaching out to supply food, clothing, and other needed items to those in distress” and “lifting thousands out of the slough of poverty and into the sunlight of knowledge and prosperity.”   J.K. Rowling, who has lost her billionaire status from the millions she has donated, has said, “You have a moral responsibility when you've been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and give intelligently.” (Source: Lifehack.org)   “There is no end to the good we can do, to the influence we can have with others,” Hinckley said. “Let us not dwell on the critical or the negative. Let us pray for strength; let us pray for capacity and desire to assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us,” he continued. “In the words of the Lord to Joshua, brethren, “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God [will be] with thee whithersoever thou goest.”   Key Takeaways   Here are some of my key takeaways from this episode. To read or watch the full sermon click here.   The world is filled with all kinds of heartaches and heartbreaks. We need more kindness to fight against that. Kindness grows roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. Likewise, our actions of kindness can spread and multiply.  When we are blessed with more resources than we need, we should give back and help those who need them.   Join Entrepreneurs of Faith If this episode of Entrepreneurs of Faith resonated with you, please subscribe for FREE to Monetization Nation so you can receive future episodes of Entrepreneurs of Faith. Subscribe to the free Monetization Nation eMagazine. Subscribe to the Monetization Nation YouTube channel. Subscribe to the Monetization Nation podcast on Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.  Follow Monetization Nation on Instagram and Twitter. Share Your Story  What is the best example you've seen of a business sharing kindness? Please join our private Monetization Nation Facebook group and share your insights with other digital monetizers.   Read at: https://monetizationnation.com/blog/108-the-need-for-greater-kindness-in-business-and-the-world/ 

Tonight we will be looking at new connections uncovered in the global spider web of black market operations and PsyOps, how this ties into geopolitics and the way cults are used by higher level power players for multiple, deeper, and darker ends. This also ties into the infamous horror film, Rosemary's Baby. The modern cults of recent news fame tie directly into the pattern and model of older cults, especially in the 60s-70s era, when Manson and Co. were made famous. Likewise, even lesser known cults are tied into these networks, which relate to the account given in the Kerth Barker book we covered a year ago linked below. Superchat via Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/jaydyer/tipOrder signed copies of my books here: https://jaysanalysis.com/shop/Sponsor - use promo code " J A Y" - https://choq.com

THE WEEK OF EXAUDI - SATURDAYLESSON: 1 THESSALONIANS 1:2-10“And you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:27“When you have become sure and certain through the Holy Spirit who has witnessed to you, then first and foremost you will bear witness to Me.”This is Christ's conviction about His disciples. He had, of course, chosen them as His apostles; they had heard His words and doctrine; they had seen His works and His life. All this would be very important to their proclamation of Christ. But, in addition, they still needed the witness of the Holy Spirit, or else they would achieve nothing.Conscience is always too weak to offer effective resistance to sin. There is no sin so small that conscience can really stand up against it, even such a matter, for example, as laughing in church. Likewise, conscience can achieve very little when death assails us. We must look elsewhere for help to supply courage to a timid and despondent conscience, so that it never gives up, although it may be heavily laden with sins.This needed help, like the One who promises it, must be almighty help so that the timid conscience, which beforehand was previously terrified by the sound of a driven leaf (Leviticus 26:36), is no longer afraid before all the devils of hell. And the conscience, which was previously so sensitive that it could not even endure laughter, is now quite able to stand up against any number of sins.SL 11:997 (13)PRAYER: Make us strong, bold, and brave confessors of our faith, heavenly Father, through the witness of the Counsellor, whom You and Your Son have promised to send us, in Jesus' name and for His sake. Amen.Editor's note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today's sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:244-254. 

If a person mistakenly began reciting "Ata Honen" – the weekday text of the Amida – when reciting the Amida on Shabbat, he should finish the Beracha before switching over to the proper text. Meaning, instead of immediately stopping and reciting "Ata Kidashta," "Yishmah Moshe" or "Ata Ehad," he should continue reciting "Ata Honen" until "Honen Ha’da’at," and then proceed to the proper text for Shabbat.However, Hacham Ovadia Yosef rules in Hazon Ovadia (p. 349; listen to audio recording for precise citation) that this is not the case if the Hazan makes this mistake. If the Hazan began reciting "Ata Honen" in the repetition of the Amida on Shabbat, and then realizes his mistake, he should immediately discontinue the recitation of this Beracha and switch to the proper text for Shabbat. The reason, Hacham Ovadia explains, is because the Hazan should not overburden the congregation with the recitation of additional Beracha. Even though this additional recitation would take only several moments, nevertheless, even this extra burden must be avoided. Moreover, a Hazan’s reciting a weekday Beracha in the repetition of the Amida on Shabbat would cause some commotion in the synagogue, which we certainly wish to avoid. Therefore, as Hacham Ovadia cites from the Hikreh Leb and other Halachic authorities, the Hazan in this case should immediately discontinue the recitation of "Ata Honen" and proceed to the proper text.As discussed in a previous edition of "Daily Halacha," Maran (Orah Haim 268:4) rules that if a person mistakenly recited the complete weekday Amida on Shabbat, he has not fulfilled his obligation unless he mentioned Shabbat somewhere in the Amida. If he happened to make mention of Shabbat in the Amida, he has fulfilled his obligation and does not have to recite the correct Amida, even though he recited the weekday Amida. On the basis of this Halacha, Hacham Ben Sion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1923-1998) arrived at an intriguing conclusion. He ruled that if a person mistakenly recited the weekday Amida on Shabbat and realized his mistake when he reached the Beracha of "Reseh," he should recite "Ya’aleh Ve’yabo" after "Reseh," just as we do on Rosh Hodesh and Yom Tob. Although we do not normally recite "Ya’aleh Ve’yabo" for Shabbat, in this situation one may recite "Ya’aleh Ve’yabo" and say the insert of "Et Yom Ha’Shabbat Ha’zeh." Hacham Ben Sion explains that initially, the Sages were going to have us recite the standard weekday Amida on Shabbat, and it was only in order not to overburden us with a lengthy prayer service that they introduced a special, shorter prayer text for Shabbat. Presumably, Hacham Ben Sion reasons, when the Sages considered having us recite the standard weekday Amida on Shabbat, they intended for us to add "Ya’aleh Ve’yabo" in the Amida as we do on Rosh Hodesh and Yom Tob, so that we would mention Shabbat somewhere in the Amida. Therefore, in a case where one mistakenly recited the weekday Amida, he may follow this initial format, adding "Ya’aleh Ve’yabo" in "Reseh."A somewhat similar ruling was issuing by Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Jerusalem, 1910-1995) concerning the case of a person who has only a weekday Siddur and does not know the Shabbat Amida by heart. Rav Shlomo Zalman ruled that since the person in this case can only recite the weekday Amida, he should recite that Amida and add "Ya’aleh Ve’yabo," reciting "Yom Ha’Shabbat Ha’zeh."Summary: If a person mistakenly began reciting "Ata Honen" in the Amida on Shabbat, he should complete the Beracha before proceeding to the Shabbat text. However, if the Hazan made this mistake, he should switch to the Shabbat text immediately upon realizing his mistake, without completing the Beracha. If a person realizes on Shabbat as he reaches "Reseh" that he had recited the weekday Amida, he should recite "Ya’aleh Ve’yabo" and add "Yom Ha’Shabbat Ha’zeh," and can thereby fulfill his obligation. Likewise, if a person has only a weekday Siddur and does not know the Shabbat Amida by heart, he should recite the weekday Amida and add "Ya’aleh Ve’yabo," reciting "Yom Ha’Shabbat Ha’zeh."

  Perfection. We all strive for it. Some more maniacally than others, but we all look to be better versions of who we are. In medicine, we tend to be high achievers so, of course, we want to 'conquer' parenthood and be the best we can. But being perfect isn't any more possible in parenting any more than it is in medicine. Human relationships are messy and raising children up to be the best versions of themselves has no handbook. The push and pull of you trying to get your kids to be who you think they can and should be is often at odds with who they think they should be. What are the Keys to Being a Good Dad? Although he focuses on how to be a good dad, my guest today, Dr. Jeremy Toffle, says we can't expect that. Instead, we should focus on the six B's of parenthood Brain Body Beliefs Better Half Business Bucks To be a successful father, one needs to focus on all six of these aspects of our lives to be the best we can be. Each one is important and requires attention and work. Oh, and no matter what you can't be perfect in any of them! Let's Look at a Few of His B's - Beliefs Beliefs. We all have beliefs and thoughts about how we should raise our kids. We have values and we usually want to instill those same values into our children. But how do we do it? How do we teach our kids to work hard, get up after they've fallen, and deal with disappointment? Dr. Toffle says there are two ways this is done. One is by direct teaching. This is simply telling  the child what to think. An example would be telling your child, "we don't fight. We forgive seek forgiveness when we are wronged or wrong others." Indirect teaching of beliefs would be asking others for forgiveness in front of your children or maybe with them. They indirectly learn how 'our family' responds to things by the way you behave. What About Bucks & Business? Although these seem the same and may be related, they are not identical. Business is a reflection of how you work. How do you act when you have to go to work or what do you say about working. Are you positive or negative? The children will be affected by whether work makes you happy or frustrated as your emotions will spill into other parts of your life. (Some of these strategies we've discussed before on the show here, here, and here. Likewise, bucks is how you handle money. Are you miserly? Are you a spendthrift? Do you worry all the time about whether you have enough money? Do you gamble it all away? How you handle the bucks in your life obviously can affect everything else including your relationships with your children and spouse (or ex-spouse). Can I Be Perfect? Simply put, no you cannot. You can only react to the situation you are in which is unique to you and your family. Staying aware of how you react, what influences you have guiding your decisions, and recognizing when you have made mistakes so that you can be better in the future. Dr. Jeremy Toffle is a pediatrician in Omaha, NE and the host of the Imperfect Dad MD Podcast. show notes Episode 129: Today's show Imperfect Dad MD Podcast: Dr. Toffle's show. Dr. Noorchashm's Medium Page: This is the easiest way to find the writings of Dr. Noorchashm including his letter to the FDA and President Biden. @mdimperfect: Dr. Toffle's twitter handle. Imperfect Dad MD: Facebook link to Dr. Toffle's show. Episode 033: Dr. Leif Dahleen in the FIRE movement (Financial independence and retire early) Episode 038: Dr. Cory Fawcett in how financial decision affect physician burnout. Episode 097: Dr. Anzalone in investing in real estate.  panaceafinancial.com: Today's sponsor for the show Doctor Podcast Network: The home for the Paradocs and a number of other physician based podcasts. Top 20 Physicians Podcasts Made Simply Web Site Creations: This is the great, affordable website service that built my wife's podcast site. I cannot recommend this company more to someone looking for creating a website. Always Andy's Mom: Home of my wife, Marcy's, podcast for parents grieving or those looking to help them. YouTube for Paradocs: Here you can watch the video of my late son singing his solo on the Paradocs YouTube page. Patreon - Become a show supporter today and visit my Patreon page for extra bonus material. Every dollar raised goes towards the production and promotion of the show.    

#AEW #AEWDynamite #AEWonTNT Welcome to Everything Pro Wrestling. Everything Pro Wrestling is a show by the fans for the fans. By Kevin Sullivan With Double or Nothing less than two weeks away, we are starting to get an idea of what the upcoming card will look like.  But there are also a lot more matches that will be added to the card over the next two weeks and we will more than likely get some of those answers on Wednesday night. While the Casino Battle Royale, Adam Page vs Brian Cage, Cody Rhodes vs Anthony Ogogo, Britt Baker vs Hikaru Shida, and Kenny Omega vs Pac vs Orange Cassidy offer plenty to be excited about, I would expect to get four more big matches officially announced this week as well. More than likely we will get a response from Chris Jericho that he and the Inner Circle will accept MJF’s terms and we will get a second Stadium Stampede match. Likewise, something tells me that Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston will be more than happy to accept the challenge issued to them by the Young Bucks last week as Mox and Kingston look to take the titles off the brash champions. Also, Lance Archer should officially get a shot at Miro for the TNT Title and Darby Allin and Sting will look to exact some revenge on Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page in some sort of tag match. That will give us nine solid matches for the upcoming pay-per-view show with all four AEW Championships being defended.  It is stacking up to be a very intriguing card. The announced match card of this week’s Dynamite includes two championship matches as well as a one-on-one clash between two men that have looked really good in the ring over the past month. Source: https://dailyddt.com/2021/05/18/aew-dynamite-preview-predictions-may-19th-2021/ * WE HAVE SOME GREAT MERCH ON TEE PUBLIC  

Today, I am blessed to have here with me Dr. Bruce Lipton. He is an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit. Stem cell biologist, bestselling author of The Biology of Belief and recipient of the 2009 Goi Peace Award, he has been a guest speaker on hundreds of TV and radio shows, as well as keynote presenter for national and international conferences. Dr. Lipton has taken his award-winning medical school lectures to the public and is currently a sought-after keynote speaker and workshop presenter. He lectures to conventional and complementary medical professionals and lay audiences about leading-edge science and how it dovetails with mind-body medicine and spiritual principles. He has been heartened by anecdotal reports from hundreds of former audience members who have improved their spiritual, physical and mental wellbeing by applying the principles he discusses in his lectures. He is regarded as one of the leading voices of the new biology. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Lipton explains the basics of what stem cells are and why they are so important in gene expression research. Dr. Lipton also emphasizes the importance of understanding that our cell receptors can pick up energy vibrations and how our cells use that information to send signals to our brains! Last but not least, Dr. Lipton discusses how stress hormones are stealing energy from our bodies and how we can reprogram our minds to limit these stressors through the fundamentals of habit changing. Order Keto Flex: http://www.ketoflexbook.com -------------------------------------------------------- / / E P I S O D E   S P ON S O R S  PureForm Omega Plant Based Oils (Best Alternative to Fish Oil): http://www.purelifescience.com Use ben4 for $4.00 off. Upgraded Formulas Hair Mineral Deficiency Analysis & Supplements: http://www.upgradedformulas.com Use BEN10 at checkout for 10% off your order.  Wild Foods Superfoods. Receive 20% off your order by using the coupon code KETOKAMP at checkout over at https://www.wildfoods.co/ Paleo Valley beef sticks, apple cider vinegar complex, organ meat complex & more. Use the coupon code BEN15 over at https://paleovalley.com/ to receive 15% off your entire order. Text me +1 (786) 364-5002