Podcasts about logical

In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony and Jesse continue their deep dive into the Parable of the Prodigal Son by examining the often-overlooked character of the elder brother. While the younger son's rebellion is obvious, the elder brother's self-righteous moralism represents a more subtle—and perhaps more dangerous—form of lostness. Through careful exegesis of Luke 15:25-32, the hosts explore how religious performance, resentment of grace, and merit-based thinking can keep us far from the Father's heart even while we remain close to the Father's house. This conversation challenges listeners to examine their own hearts for traces of elder brother theology and calls us to celebrate the scandalous grace that restores sinners to sonship. Key Takeaways Two ways to be lost: The parable presents both flagrant rebellion (the younger son) and respectable self-righteousness (the elder son) as forms of spiritual lostness that require God's grace. The elder brother's geographic and spiritual position: Though physically near the house and faithful in service, the elder brother was spiritually distant from the father's heart, unable to celebrate grace extended to others. Moralism as a subtle distance: Self-righteous religion can be more deceptive than open rebellion because it appears virtuous while actually rejecting the father's character and values. The father pursues both sons: God's gracious pursuit extends not only to the openly rebellious but also to the self-righteous, demonstrating that election and grace are sovereign gifts, not earned rewards. The unresolved ending: The parable intentionally leaves the elder brother's response unstated, creating narrative tension that challenges the original audience (Pharisees and scribes) and modern readers to examine their own response to grace. Adoption as the frame of obedience: True Christian obedience flows from sonship and inheritance ("all that I have is yours"), not from a wage-earning, transactional relationship with God. Resentment reveals our theology: When we find ourselves unable to celebrate the restoration of repentant sinners, we expose our own need for repentance—not from scandal, but from envy and pride. Key Concepts The Elder Brother's Subtle Lostness The genius of Jesus' parable is that it exposes a form of lostness that religious people rarely recognize in themselves. The elder brother never left home, never squandered his inheritance, and never violated explicit commands. Yet his response to his brother's restoration reveals a heart fundamentally opposed to the father's character. His complaint—"I have served you all these years and never disobeyed your command"—demonstrates that he viewed his relationship with the father transactionally, as an employer-employee arrangement rather than a father-son bond. This is the essence of legalism: performing religious duties while remaining distant from God's heart. The tragedy is that the elder brother stood within reach of everything the father had to offer yet experienced none of the joy, fellowship, or security of sonship. This form of lostness is particularly dangerous because it wears the mask of righteousness and often goes undetected until grace is extended to someone we deem less deserving. The Father's Gracious Pursuit of the Self-Righteous Just as the father ran to meet the returning younger son, he also went out to plead with the elder brother to come into the feast. This detail is theologically significant: God pursues both the openly rebellious and the self-righteous with the same gracious initiative. The father's response to the elder brother's complaint is not harsh correction but tender invitation: "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." This reveals that the problem was never scarcity or the father's favoritism—the elder brother had always possessed full access to the father's resources and affection. The barrier was entirely on the son's side: his inability to receive sonship as a gift rather than a wage. This mirrors the historical situation of the Pharisees and scribes who grumbled at Jesus for receiving sinners. They stood adjacent to the kingdom, surrounded by the promises and covenant blessings of God, yet remained outside because they could not accept grace as the principle of God's dealing with humanity. The invitation still stood, but it required them to abandon their merit-based system and enter the feast as recipients of unearned favor. The Unresolved Ending and Its Challenge to Us Luke deliberately leaves the parable unfinished—we never learn whether the elder brother eventually joined the celebration. This narrative technique places the reader in the position of the elder brother, forcing us to answer for ourselves: will we enter the feast or remain outside in bitter resentment? For the original audience of Pharisees and scribes, this unresolved ending was a direct challenge to their response to Jesus' ministry. Would they continue to grumble at God's grace toward tax collectors and sinners, or would they recognize their own need and join the celebration? For contemporary readers, the question remains equally pressing. When we hear of a notorious sinner coming to faith, do we genuinely rejoice, or do we scrutinize their repentance with suspicion? When churches extend membership to those with broken pasts, do we celebrate restoration or quietly question whether they deserve a place at the table? The parable's open ending is not a literary flaw but a pastoral strategy: it refuses to let us remain passive observers and demands that we examine whether we harbor elder brother theology in our own hearts. Memorable Quotes The father's household is a place where grace produces joy, not just merely relief. The elder brother hears the joy before he sees it. That's often how resentment works, isn't it? We're alerted to the happiness of others and somehow there's this visceral response of wanting to be resentful toward that joy, toward that unmerited favor. — Jesse Schwamb There is a way to be near the house, church adjacent, religiously active, yet to be really far from the father's heart. The elder brother is not portrayed as an atheist, but as a moralist. And moralism can be a more subtle distance than open rebellion. — Jesse Schwamb God doesn't keep sinners from repenting. The reprobate are not prohibited or prevented by God from coming to faith. They're being kept out by their own stubborn refusal to come in. That's where this punchline hits so hard. — Tony Arsenal Full Transcript [00:00:44] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 477 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse.  [00:00:51] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother.  [00:00:55] Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother.  [00:00:56] Parables and God's Word [00:00:56] Jesse Schwamb: Speaking of ears to hear, it struck me that this whole thing we've been doing all this parable talk is really after the manner of God's words. And one of the things I've really grown to appreciate is how God speaks to the condition of those whom he addresses. He considers our ability, our capacity as his hearers to process what he's saying, and that leads into these amazing parables that we've been talking about. He doesn't speak as he is able to speak. So to speak, but I didn't mean that to happen. But as we were able to hear, and that means he spoke in these lovely parables so that we might better understand him. And today we're gonna get into some of the drama of the best, like the crown jewel as we've been saying, of maybe all the parables. The Parable of the Lost Son. We spoke a little bit about it in the last episode. Definitely want to hit that up because it's setting you up for this one, which is the definitive episode. But now we're gonna talk about this first, this younger lost son. Get into some of all of these like juicy details about what takes place, and really, again, see if we can find the heart of God. Spoiler. We can and we'll,  [00:02:04] Tony Arsenal: yeah,  [00:02:04] Affirmations and Denials [00:02:04] Jesse Schwamb: but before we do both of those things, it's of course always time at this moment to do a little affirming with or denying against. Of course, if you haven't heard us before, that's where we take a moment to say, is there something that we think is undervalued that we wanna bring forward that we'd recommend or think is awesome? Or conversely, is there something that's overvalued that's just, we're over it. The vibe is done. We're gonna deny against that. So I say to you, as I often do, Tony, are you affirming with or deny against?  [00:02:31] Tony's Nerdy Hobby: Dungeons and Dragons [00:02:31] Tony Arsenal: I'm affirming tonight. Um, I don't know how much the audience realizes of a giant ridiculous nerd I am, but we're about to go to entirely new giant nerd depths. [00:02:43] Jesse Schwamb: All right. I  [00:02:43] Tony Arsenal: think,  [00:02:44] Jesse Schwamb: let's hear it.  [00:02:44] Tony Arsenal: So, um, I was a huge fan of Stranger Things. Some, there's some issues with the show, and I understand why some people might not, um, might not feel great about watching it. You know, I think it falls within Christian liberty. But one of the main themes of the show, this is not a spoiler, you learn about this in episode one, is the whole game. The whole show frames itself around Dungeons and Dragons, right? It's kind of like a storytelling device within the show that the kids play, Dungeons and Dragons, and everything that happens in the Dungeons and Dragons game that they're playing, sort of like, um, foreshadows what's actually gonna happen in the show. Which funny if, you know Dungeons and Dragons lore, you kind of learn the entire plot of the story like ahead of time. Um, but so I, stranger Things just finished up and I've kind of been like itching to get into Dungeons and Dragons. I used to play a little bit of tabletop when I was in high school, in early college and um, I just really like the idea of sort of this collaborative storytelling game. Um, whether it's Dungeon Dragons or one of the other systems, um, Dungeons and Dragons is the most popular. It's the most well published. It's the most well established and it's probably the easiest to find a group to play with. Although it is very hard to find a group to play with, especially, uh, kind of out in the middle of nowhere where I live. So this is where the ultra super nerdy part comes in.  [00:04:02] Jesse Schwamb: Alright, here we  [00:04:03] Tony Arsenal: go. I have been painstakingly over the last week teaching Google Gemini. To be a dungeon master for me. So I've been playing Dungeons and Dragons more or less by myself with, uh, with Google Gemini, and I'm just having a lot of fun with it. Um, you can get a free copy of the rules online if you, I think it's DND, the letter NDND beyond.com. They have a full suite of like tools to create your character. Access to a basic set of the core rules. Um, you can spend a lot of money on Dungeons and Dragons, uh, and if you want to like really get into it, the books are basically textbooks. Like you're buying $300 or 300 page, $300, 300 page textbooks, um, that are not all that differently costs than like college textbooks. You'll buy a 300 page Dungeon master guide that's like $50 if you want a paper copy. So, but you can get into it for free. You can get the free rolls online, you can use their dungeon, the d and d Beyond app and do all your dice rolls for free. Um, you, you can get a free dice roller online if you don't want to do their, their app. Um, but it's just a lot of fun. I've just been having a lot of fun and I found that the, I mean. When you play a couple sessions with it, you see that the, the um, the A IDM that I've created, like it follows the same story beats 'cause it's only got so much to work with in its language model. Um, but I'm finding ways to sort of like break it out of that model by forcing it to refer to certain websites that are like Dungeons and Dragons lore websites and things like build your, build your campaign from this repository of Dungeons and Dragons stuff. So. I think you could do this with just about any sort of narrative storytelling game like this, whether you're playing a different system or d and d Pathfinders. I mean, there's all sorts of different versions of it, but it's just been a lot of fun to see, see it going. I'm trying to get a group together. 'cause I think I would, I would probably rather play Dungeons and Dragons with people, um, and rather do it in person. But it's hard to do up here. It's hard to get a, get a group going. So that's my super nerdy affirmation. I'm not just affirming Dungeons and Dragons, which would already be super nerdy. I'm affirming playing it by myself on my phone, on the bus with Google Gemini, AI acting like I'm not. Just this weird antisocial lunatic. So I'm having a lot of fun with it.  [00:06:20] Jesse Schwamb: So there are so many levels of inception there. Yeah. Like the inception and everything you just said. I love it.  [00:06:27] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Well, what I'm learning is, um, you can give an, and, and this is something I didn't realize, what ai, I guess I probably should have, you know, it's not like an infinite thing. Um, you can give an AI instructions and if your chat gets long enough, it actually isn't referring back to the very beginning of the chat most of the time. Right. There's a, there's like a win context window of about 30 responses. So like if you tell the AI, don't roll the dice for me, like, let me roll dices that are related to my actions, eventually it will forget that. So part of what I've been doing is basically building, I'm using Google Gemini when the AI does something I don't want it to do, I say, you just did something I don't want it to do. Gimme a diagnostic report of why you did that. It will explain to me why it did what it did. Right. Why it didn't observe the rules. And then I'm feeding that into another. Prompt that is helping me generate better prompts that it refers back to. So it's kind of this weird iterative, um, yeah, I, I don't, I'm like, I maybe I'm gonna create the singularity. I'm not sure. Maybe this is gonna be possible. We should sit over the edge. It's gonna, it's gonna learn how to cast magic spells and it's gonna fire bolt us in the face or something like that. Right. But, uh, again, high risk. I, I, for one, welcome our AO AI dungeon masters. So check it out. You should try it. If you could do this with chat GPT, you could do it with any ai. Um, it, it, it is going to get a little, I have the benefit because I have a Google Workspace account. I have access to Google Pro or the Gemini Pro, which is a better model for this kind of thing. But you could do this with, with chat GPT or something like that. And it's gonna be more or less the same experience, I think. But I'm having a, I'm having a ton of fun with it. Um. Again, I, I, there's something about just this, Dungeons and Dragons at its core is a, it's like a, an exercise in joint storytelling, which is really fascinating and interesting to me. Um, and that's what most tabletop RPGs are like. I suppose you get into something like War Hammer and it's a little bit more like a board. It's a mixture of that plus a board game. But Dungeons and Dragons, the DM is creating the, I mean, not the entire world, but is creating the narrative. And then you as a player are an actor within that narrative. And then there's a certain element of chance that dice rolls play. But for the most part, um, you're driving the story along. You're telling the story together. So it's, it's pretty interesting. I've also been watching live recordings of Dungeons and Dragon Sessions on YouTube. Oh,  [00:08:50] Jesse Schwamb: wow.  [00:08:51] Tony Arsenal: Like, there's a, there's a channel called Critical Role. Like these sessions are like three and a half hours long. So, wow. I just kinda have 'em on in the background when I'm, when I'm, uh, working or if I'm, you know, doing something else. Um, but it's really interesting stuff. It's, it's pretty cool. I think it's fun. I'm a super nerd. I'm, I'm no shame in that. Um, I'm just really enjoying it.  [00:09:09] Jesse Schwamb: Listen, nerdery is great. That's like part of the zeitgeist now. Listen to culture. It's cool to be a nerd. I don't know much about d and d. I've heard a lot about this idea of this community that forms around. Yeah. The story, correct me if I'm wrong, can't these things go on for like years, decades?  [00:09:25] Tony Arsenal: Oh yeah, yeah. Like, you can do there. There, some of this has made its way into the official rule books, but basically you could do what's called a one shot, which is like a self-contained story. Usually a single session, you know, like you get a Dungeon master, game master, whichever you wanna call the person. Three to four, maybe five characters, player characters. And one session is usually about two hours long. So it's not like you sit down for 20 minutes, 30 minutes at a time and play this right. And you could do a one shot, which is a story that's designed to, to live all within that two hour session. Um, some people will do it where there isn't really any planned like, outcome of the story. The, the DM just kind of makes up things to do as they go. And then you can have campaigns, which is like, sometimes it's like a series of one shots, but more, it is more like a long term serialized period, you know, serialized campaign where you're doing many, um, many, many kinds of, uh, things all in one driving to like a big epic goal or battle at the end, right? Um, some groups stay together for a really long time and they might do multiple campaigns, so there's a lot to it. Game's been going on for like 50, 60, 70 years, something like that. I don't remember exactly when it started, but  [00:10:41] Jesse Schwamb: yeah.  [00:10:41] Tony Arsenal: Um, it's an old game. It's kinda like the doctor who of of poor games and it's like the original tabletop role playing game, I think. [00:10:47] Jesse Schwamb: Right. Yeah, that makes sense. Again, there's something really appealing to me about not just that cooperative storytelling, but cooperative gameplay. Everybody's kind of in it together for the most part. Yeah. Those conquest, as I understand them, are joint in nature. You build solidarity, but if you're meeting with people and having fun together and telling stories and interacting with one another, there's a lot of good that comes out of that stuff there. A lot of lovely common grace in those kind of building, those long-term interactions, relationships, entertainment built on being together and having good, clean, fun together.  [00:11:17] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Well, and it's, you know, it's, um. It's an interesting exercise. It's it, in some ways it's very much like improv. Like you, you think of like an improv comedy like show I've been to somewhere. Like, you know, you go to the show and it's an improv troupe, but they're like calling people from the crowd up and asking them for like different scenarios they might do. It's kind of like that in that like the GM can plan a whole, can plan a whole thing. But if I as a player character, um. And I've done this to the virtual one just to see what it does, and it's done some interesting things. One of the campaigns I was playing, I had rescued a merchant from some giant spiders and I was helping, like, I was helping like navigate them through the woods to the next town. And we kept on getting attacked and just outta nowhere. I was like, what if I sort of act as though I'm suspicious of this merchant now because why are we getting attacked all the time? And so I, I typed in sort of like a little. A mini role play of me accusing this guy. And it was something like, Randall, we get, we're getting attacked a lot for a simple merchant, Randall merchant. What happens if I cast a tech magic? What am I gonna find? And he's like, I don't know what I'm gonna find. I know I don't know anything. And then I cast a tech magic and it shifted. I mean, I don't know where the campaign was gonna go before that, but it shifted the whole thing now where the person who gave him the package he was carrying had betrayed him. It was, so that happens in real life too in these games, real life in these games. That happens in real, in-person sessions too, where a player or a group of players may just decide instead of talking to the contact person that is supposed to give them the clue to find the dungeon they're supposed to go to, instead they ambush them and murder them in gold blood. And now the, the dungeon master has to figure out, how do I get them back to this dungeon when this is the only person that was supposed to know where it is? So it, it does end up really stretching your thinking skills and sort of your improvisational skills. There's an element of, um, you know, like chance with the dice, um, I guess like the dice falls in the lot, but the lot is in the handle. Or like, obviously that's all ordained as well too, but there is this element of chance where even the DM doesn't get to determine everything. Um, if, if I say I want to, I want to try to sneak into this room, but I'm a giant barbarian who has, you know, is wearing like chain mail, there's still a chance I could do it, but the dice roll determines that. It's not like the, the GM just says you can't do that. Um, so it's, it's a, I, I like it. I'm, I'm really looking forward to trying to, getting into it. It is hard to start a group and to get going and, um, there's a part of me that's a little bit. Gun shy of maybe like getting too invested with a group of non-Christians for something like this. 'cause it can get a little weird sometimes. But I think that, I think that'll work out. It'll be fun. I know there's actually some people in our telegram chat. Bing, bing, bing segue. There we go. There's some people in our telegram chat actually, that we're already planning to do a campaign. Um, so we might even do like a virtual reform brotherhood, Dungeons and Dragons group. So that might be a new sub channel in the telegram at some point.  [00:14:13] Jesse Schwamb: There you go. You could jump right in. Go to t.me back slash reform brotherhood.  [00:14:18] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Jesse, what are you affirming since I just spent the last 15 minutes gushing about my nerdy hobby?  [00:14:23] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, no, that was great. Can I, can I just say two things? One is, so you're basically saying it's a bit like, like a troll shows up and everybody's like, yes. And yeah. So I love that idea. Second thing, which is follow up question, very brief. What kind of merchant was Randall.  [00:14:39] Tony Arsenal: Uh, he was a spice trader actually.  [00:14:42] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I don't trust that.  [00:14:43] Tony Arsenal: And, and silk, silk and spices.  [00:14:45] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. That's double, that's too strict.  [00:14:47] Tony Arsenal: He was actually good guy in the, in the story that developed out of this campaign. He actually became part of my family and like, like, like got adopted into the family because he lost everything on his own. Randy we're  [00:15:00] Jesse Schwamb: talking about Randy.  [00:15:01] Tony Arsenal: Randy Randall with one L. Yeah. The AI was very specific about  that.  [00:15:05] Jesse Schwamb: There's, there's nothing about this guy I trust. I, is this still ongoing? Because I think he's just trying to make his way deeper in,  [00:15:11] Tony Arsenal: uh, no, no. It, I'll, I'll wait for next week to tell you how much, even more nerdy this thing gets. But there's a whole thing that ha there was a whole thing out of this That's a tease. Tease. There was a, there was a horse and the horse died and there was lots of tears and there was a wedding and a baby. It was, it's all sorts of stuff going on in this campaign. [00:15:27] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. And I'm sure. Randy was somewhere near that horse when it happened. Right?  [00:15:32] Tony Arsenal: It was his horse.  [00:15:33] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, exactly. That's  [00:15:35] Tony Arsenal: exactly, he didn't, he didn't kill the horse. He had no power to knock down the bridge The horse was standing on.  [00:15:40] Jesse Schwamb: Listen, next week, I'm pretty sure that's what we're gonna learn is that it was all him. [00:15:45] Tony Arsenal: Alright, Jesse, save us from this. Save us from this, please. Uh,  [00:15:49] Jesse Schwamb: no.  What  [00:15:50] Tony Arsenal: you affirming, this is  [00:15:50] Jesse Schwamb: great.  [00:15:50] Jesse's Affirmation: Church Community [00:15:50] Jesse Schwamb: It's possible that there is a crossover between yours and mine if we consider. That the church is like playing a d and d game in the dungeon Masters Christ, and the campaigns, the gospel. So I was thinking maybe is it possible, uh, maybe this is just the, the theology of the cross, but that sometimes, like you need the denial to get to the affirmation. Have we talked about that kind of truth? Yeah,  [00:16:14] Tony Arsenal: yeah,  [00:16:15] Jesse Schwamb: for sure. So here's a little bit of that. I'll be very, very brief and I'm using this not as like just one thing that happened today, but what I know is for sure happening all over the world. And I mean that very literally, not just figuratively when it comes to the body of Christ, the local church. So it snowed here overnight. This was, this is the Lord's Day. We're hanging out in the Lord's Day, which is always a beautiful day to talk about God. And overnight it snowed. The snow stopped relatively late in the morning around the time that everybody would be saying, Hey, it's time to go and worship the Lord. So for those in my area, I got up, we did the whole clearing off the Kai thing. I went to church and I was there a little bit early for a practice for music. And when I pulled in, there weren't many there yet, but the whole parking lot unplowed. So there's like three inches of snow, unplowed parking lot. So I guess the denial is like the plow people decided like, not this time I, I don't think so. They understood they were contracted with the church, but my understanding is that when one of the deacons called, they were like, Ooh, yeah, we're like 35 minutes away right now, so that's gonna be a problem. So when I pulled in, here's what I was. Like surprise to find, but in a totally unexpected way, even though I understand what a surprise is. And that is that, uh, that first the elders and the deacons, everybody was just decided we're going to shovel an entire parking lot. And at some point big, I was a little bit early there, but at some point then this massive text change just started with everybody, which was, Hey, when you come to church, bring your shovel. And I, I will tell you like when I got out of the car. I was so like somebody was immediately running to clear a path with me. One of those like snow pushers, you know what I mean? Yeah. Like one, those beastly kind of like blade things.  [00:17:57] Tony Arsenal: Those things are, those things are the best.  [00:17:59] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. You just run. And so you have never met a group of people that was more happy to shovel an entire large asphalt area, which normally shouldn't even be required. And. It just struck me, even in hindsight now thinking about it, it was this lovely confluence of people serving each other and serving God. It was as if they got up that morning and said, do you know what would be the best thing in the world for me to do is to shovel. And so everybody was coming out. Everybody was shoveling it. It was to protect everyone and to allow one into elaborate, one access. It was just incredible. And so I started this because the affirmation is, I know this happens in, in all of our churches, every God fearing God, loving God serving church, something like this is happening, I think on almost every Lord's day or maybe every day of the week in various capacities. And I just think this is God's people coming together because everybody, I think when we sat down for the message was exhausted, but. But there was so much joy in doing this. I think what you normally would find to be a mundane and annoying task, and the fact that it wasn't just, it was redeemed as if like we, we found a greater purpose in it. But that's, everyone saw this as a way to love each other and to love God, and it became unexpected worship in the parking lot. That's really what it was, and it was fantastic. I really almost hope that we just get rid of the plow company and just do it this way from now on. Yeah, so I'm affirming, recognize people, recognize brothers and sisters that your, your church is doing this stuff all the time and, and be a part of it. Jump in with the kinda stuff because I love how it brings forward the gospel.  [00:19:35] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. That's a great story. It's a great, uh, a great example of the body of Christ being, what the body of Christ is and just pulling together to get it done. Um, which, you know, we do on a spiritual level, I think, more often than a physical level these days. Right, right. But, um, that's great. I'm sitting here going three inches of snow. I would've just pulled into the lot and then pulled out of the lot. But New Hampshire, it hits different in New Hampshire. Like we all d have snow tires and four wheel drive.  [00:20:02] Jesse Schwamb: It's, it's enough snow where it was like pretty wet and heavy that it, if, you know, you pack that stuff down, it gets slick. You can't see the people, like you can't have your elderly people just flying in, coming in hot and then trying to get outta the vehicle, like making their way into church.  [00:20:14] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:20:15] Jesse Schwamb: So there was, there was a lot more of that. But I think again, you would, one of the options would've been like, Hey, why don't we shovel out some sp spaces for the, for those who need it, for, you know, those who need to have access in a way that's a little bit less encumbered. Oh, no, no. These people are like, I see your challenge and I am going to shovel the entire parking lots.  [00:20:35] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. It used to happen once in a while, uh, at the last church, uh, at, um, your dad's church. We would, where the plow would just not come on a Sunday morning or, or more often than not. Um, you know, what happens a lot of times is the plows don't want to come more than once. Right. If they don't have to. Or sometimes they won't come if they think it's gonna melt because they don't want to deal with, uh, with like customers who are mad that you plowed and that it all melts. But either way, once in a while. The plow wouldn't come or it wouldn't come in time. And what we would do is instead of trying to shovel an entire driveway thing, we would just went, the first couple people who would get there, the young guys in the church, there was only a couple of us, but the younger guys in the church would just, we would just be making trips, helping people into the, yeah. Helping people into the building. So, um, it was a pretty, you know, it was a small church, so it was like six trips and we'd have everybody in, but um, we just kind of, that was the way we pulled together. Um, yeah, that's a great, it's a great story. I love, I love stuff like that. Yeah, me too. Whether it's, whether it's, you know, plowing a, a parking lot with shovels instead of a plow, or it's just watching, um, watching the tables and the chairs from the fellowship, you know, all just like disappear because everybody's just, uh, picks up after themselves and cleans and stuff. That's, that's like the most concrete example of the body of Christ doing what the body of Christ does. Um, it's always nice, you know, we always hear jokes about like, who can carry the most, the most chairs,  [00:22:04] Jesse Schwamb: most  [00:22:04] Tony Arsenal: chairs. Uh, I think it's true. Like a lot of times I think like I could do like seven or eight sometimes. [00:22:10] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, you, that's, so, one more thing I wanna say. I, I wanted to tell you this privately, Tony, 'cause it just cracked me up 'cause I, you'll appreciate this. But now I'm realizing I think the brothers and sisters who listened to us talk for any length of time and in the context of this conversation, but the church will appreciate this too. On my way out, I, I happened because I was there early and the snow was crazy. I parked way further out, way on the edge of the lot to just allow for greater access because of all the shoveling that was happening. And by the way, I really hope there were a ton of visitors this morning because they were like, wow, this, this church is wild. They love to shovel their own lot and they're the happiest people doing it. Some sweaty person just ushered me in while they were casting snow. Like,  [00:22:47] Tony Arsenal: is this some new version of snake handling? You shovel your own lot and your impervious to back injuries.  [00:22:53] Jesse Schwamb: Uh. So I was walking out and as I walked past, uh, there was a, uh, two young gentlemen who were congregating by this very large lifted pickup truck, which I don't have much experience with, but it looked super cool and it was started, it was warming up, and they were just like casually, like in the way that only like people with large beards wearing flannel and Carhartt kind of do, like casually leaning against the truck, talking in a way that you're like, wow, these guys are rugged. And they sound, they're super cool, and they're probably like in their twenties. And all I hear as I pass by is one guy going, yeah, well, I mean that's, I was, I said to them too, but I said, listen, I'd rather go to a church with God-fearing women than anywhere else.  [00:23:36] Tony Arsenal: Nice.  [00:23:37] Jesse Schwamb: I was just like, yep. On the prowl and I love it. And they're not wrong. This is the place to be.  [00:23:42] Tony Arsenal: It is.  [00:23:43] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. This is the place to be. Yeah. So all kinds of, all kinds of good things I think going on in that in the house of the Lord and where wherever you're at, I would say be happy and be joyful and look for those things and participate in, like you said, whether it's physical or not, but as soon as you said like the, our young men, our youth somehow have this competition of when we need to like pack up the sanctuary. How many chairs can I take at one time? Yeah. It's like the classic and it just happens. Nobody says like, okay, everybody line up. We're about to embark on the competition now. Like the strong man usher competition. It's just like, it just happens and  [00:24:17] Tony Arsenal: it's  [00:24:17] Jesse Schwamb: incredible.  [00:24:18] Tony Arsenal: I mean, peacocks fan out their tail feathers. Young Christian guys fan out. All of the table chairs, chairs they can carry. It's uh, it's a real phenomena. So I feel like if you watch after a men's gathering, everybody is like carrying one chair at a time because they don't wanna hurt their backs and their arms. Oh, that's  [00:24:36] Jesse Schwamb: true. That's  [00:24:37] Tony Arsenal: what I do. Yeah. But it's when the women are around, that's when you see guys carrying like 19 chairs. Yeah. Putting themselves in the hospital.  [00:24:42] Jesse Schwamb: That's what I, listen, it comes for all of us. Like I, you know, I'm certainly not young anymore by almost any definition, but even when I'm in the mix, I'm like, oh, I see you guys. You wanna play this game? Mm-hmm. Let's do this. And then, you know, I'm stacking chairs until I hurt myself. So it's great. That's, that is what we do for each other. It's  [00:25:01] Tony Arsenal: just, I hurt my neck getting outta bed the other day. So it happens. It's real.  [00:25:05] Jesse Schwamb: The struggle. Yeah, the struggle is real.  [00:25:07] The Parable of the Lost Son [00:25:07] Jesse Schwamb: Speaking of struggle, speaking of family issues, speaking of all kinds of drama, let's get into Luke 15 and let me read just, I would say the first part of this parable, which as we've agreed to talk about, if we can even get this far, it's just the younger son. [00:25:24] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:25:25] Jesse Schwamb: And again, don't worry, we're gonna get to all of it, but let me read beginning in, uh, verse 11 here. This is Luke chapter 15. Come follow along as you will accept if you're operating heavy machinery. And Jesus said, A man had two sons and the younger of them said to his father, father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me. So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country. And there he squandered his estate living recklessly. Now, when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country and it began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. So he went and as he was desiring to be fed with the pods that the swine were eating because no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to himself, he said, how many of my father's men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger. I'll rise up and go to my father, and I'll say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired men. So he rose up, 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 the son said to him, father, I've sinned against heaven and before you, I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet and bring the fat in calf and slaughter it and let us celebrate. For the son of mine was dead and has come to life again. He was lost and he has been found and they began to celebrate.  [00:27:09] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. This is such a, um, such a, I don't know, like pivotal seminal parable in the Ministry of Christ. Um, it's one of those parables and we, we mentioned this briefly last week that even most. It, it hasn't passed out of the cultural zeitgeist yet. A lot of biblical teaching has, I mean, a lot, I think a lot of things that used to be common knowledge where, where you could make a reference to something in the Bible and people would just get it. Um, even if they weren't Christian or weren't believers, they would still know what you were talking about. There's a lot of things in the Bible that have passed out of that cultural memory. The, the parable of the prodigal son, lost son, however you wanna phrase it, um, that's not one of them. Right. So I think it's really important for us, um, and especially since it is such a beautiful picture of the gospel and it has so many different theological touch points, it's really incumbent on us to spend time thinking about this because I would be willing to bet that if you weave. Elements of this parable into your conversations with nonbelievers that you are praying for and, and, you know, witnessing to and sharing the gospel with, if you weave this in there, you're gonna help like plant some seeds that when it comes time to try to harvest, are gonna pay dividends. Right. So I think it's a really, it's a really great thing that we're gonna be able to spend, you know, a couple weeks really just digging into this. [00:28:40] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, and to define the beginning, maybe from the end, just slightly here, I like what you said about this cultural acknowledgement of this. I think one of the correctives we can provide, which is clear in the story, is in the general cultural sense. We speak of this prodigal as something that just returns comes back, was lost, but now is found. And often maybe there is this component of, in the familial relationship, it's as if they've been restored. Here we're gonna of course find that this coming to one senses is in fact the work of God. That there is, again, a little bit of denial that has to bring forward the affirmation here that is the return. And so again, from the beginning here, we're just talking about the younger son. We have more than youthful ambition.  [00:29:19] The Essence of Idolatry and Sin [00:29:19] Jesse Schwamb: This heart of, give me the stuff now, like so many have said before, is really to say. Give me the gifts and not you, which is, I think, a common fault of all Christians. We think, for instance of heaven, and we think of all the blessings that come with it, but not necessarily of the joy of just being with our savior, being with Christ. And I think there's something here right from the beginning, there's a little bit of this betrayal in showing idolatry, the ugliness of treating God's gifts as if there's something owed. And then this idea that of course. He receives these things and imme more or less immediately sometime after he goes and takes these things and squanderers them. And sin and idolatry, I think tends to accelerate in this way. The distance from the father becomes distance from wisdom. We are pulled away from that, which is good. The father here being in his presence and being under his care and his wisdom and in his fear of influence and concern, desiring then to say, I don't want you just give me the gifts that you allegedly owe me. And then you see how quickly like sin does everything you, we always say like, sin always costs more than you want to pay. And it always takes you further than you want to go. And that's exactly what we see here. Like encapsulated in an actual story of relationship and distance.  [00:30:33] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I, you know, I think, um. It's interesting to me.  [00:30:39] The Greek Words for Property [00:30:39] Tony Arsenal: You know, I, I, I'm a big fan of saying you don't need to study Greek to understand your Bible, but I'm also a big fan of saying understanding a little bit of Greek is really helpful. And one of the things that I think is really intriguing, and I haven't quite parsed out exactly what I think this means, but the word property in this parable, it actually is two different Greek words that is translated as property, at least in the ESV. And neither one of them really fit. What our normal understanding of property would be. And there are Greek words that refer to like all of your material possessions, but it says, father, give me the share of property. And he uses the word usia, which those of us who have heard anything about the trinity, which is all of us, um, know that that word means something about existence. It's the core essence of a person. So it says, father, give me the share of usia that is coming to me. And then it says, and he divided his bias, his, his life between them. Then it says, not many days later, the younger son gathered all that he had took a journey into the far country. There he squandered his usia again. So this, this parable, Christ is not using the ordinary words to refer to material, uh, material accumulation and property like. I think probably, you know, Christ isn't like randomly using these words. So there probably is an element that these were somehow figuratively used of one's life possessions. But the fact that he's using them in these particular ways, I think is significant. [00:32:10] The Prodigal Son's Misconception [00:32:10] Tony Arsenal: And so the, the, the younger son here, and I don't even like calling this the prodigal sun parable because the word prodigal doesn't like the equivalent word in Greek doesn't appear in this passage. And prodigal doesn't mean like the lost in returned, like prodigal is a word that means like the one who spends lavishly, right? So we call him the prodigal son because he went and he squandered all of his stuff and he spent all of his money. So it doesn't even really describe the main feature or the main point of why this, this parable is here. It's just sort of like a random adjective that gets attached to it. But all of that aside, um. This parable starts off not just about wasting our property, like wasting our things, but it's a parable that even within the very embedded language of the parable itself is talking about squandering our very life, our very essence, our very existence is squandered and wasted as we depart from the Father. Right? And this is so like, um, it's almost so on the head, on the on the nose that it's almost a little like, really Jesus. Like this is, this is so like, slap you in the face kind of stuff. This is right outta like Romans, uh, Romans one, like they did not give thanks to God. They did not show gratitude to God or acknowledge him as God. This is what's happening in this parable. The son doesn't go to his father and say, father, I love you. I'm so happy to stay with you. I'm so happy to be here. He, he basically says like. Give me your very life essence, and I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go spend it on prostitutes. I'm gonna go waste your life, father, I'm gonna waste your life, your existence, your bias. I'm gonna go take that and I'm gonna squander it on reckless living. And I guess we don't know for sure. He, it doesn't say he spends it on prostitutes. That's something his brother says later and assumes he did. So I, I don't know that we do that. But either way, I'm gonna take what's yours, your very life, your very essence. And also that my life, my essence, the gift you've given me as my father, you've given me my life. In addition now to your life or a portion of your life. And I'm gonna go squander that on reckless living, right? Like, how much of a picture of sin is that, that we, we take what we've been given by God, our very life, our very essence, we owe him everything, and we squander that on sinful, reckless living. That that's just a slap in the face in the best way right out of the gate here.  [00:34:28] Jesse Schwamb: Yes, that, that's a great point because it's, it would be one thing to rebel over disobedience, another thing to use the very life essence that you've been given for destructive, self-destructive purposes. And then to use that very energy, which is not yours to begin with, but has been imbued in yours, external, all of these things. And then to use that very thing as the force of your rebellion. So it's double insult all the way around. I'm with you in the use of Greek there. Thank you. Locus Bio software. Not a sponsor of the podcast, but could be. And I think that's why sometimes in translations you get the word like a state because it's like the closest thing we can have to understanding that it's property earned through someone's life more or less. Yeah. And then is passed down, but as representative, not just of like, here's like 20 bucks of cash, but something that I spent all of me trying to earn and. And to your point, also emphasizing in the same way that this son felt it was owed him. So it's like really bad all around and I think we would really be doing ourselves a disservice if we didn't think that there's like a little bit of Paul washer saying in this, like I'm talking about you though. So like just be like, look at how disrespectful the sun is. Yeah. Haven't we all done this? To God and bringing up the idea of prodigal being, so that, that is like the amazing juxtaposition, isn't it? Like Prodigal is, is spent recklessly, parsimonious would be like to, to save recklessly, so to speak. And then you have the love the father demonstrates coming against all of that in the same way with like a totally different kind of force. So.  [00:36:02] The Famine and Realization [00:36:02] Jesse Schwamb: What I find interesting, and I think this is like set up in exactly what you said, is that when you get to verse 14 and this famine comes, it's showing us, I think that like providence exposes what Sin conceals.  [00:36:16] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:36:16] Jesse Schwamb: And want arrives. Not just because like the money ran out, but because again, like these idols, what he's replaced the father with, they don't satisfy. And repentance then often begins when God shows the emptiness of light apart life apart from him. That's like the affirmation being born out of the denial. And so I think that this also is evolving for us, this idea that God is going to use hardship, not as mere punishment, but as mercy that wakes us up and that the son here is being woken up, but not, of course, it's not as if he goes into the land, like you said, starts to spend, is like, whoa, hold on a second. This seems like a bad idea. It's not until all of that sin ever, like the worship of false things collapses under its own weight before it, which is like the precursor of the antecedent, I think, to this grand repentance or this waking up.  [00:37:05] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, I also think it's, um.  [00:37:08] The Depths of Desperation [00:37:08] Tony Arsenal: A feature of this that I haven't reflected on too deeply, but is, is worth thinking about is the famine that's described here only occurs in this far country that he's in. [00:37:17] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah.  [00:37:17] Tony Arsenal: Right. So even that's right. And this is like a multitude of foolish decisions. This is compounding foolish decisions that don't, don't make any sense. Like they don't really actually make any sense. Um. There's not a logic to this, this lost son's decision making. He takes the property. Okay. I guess maybe like you could be anxious to get your inheritance, but then like he takes it to a far country. Like there's no reason for him to do that. If at any point through this sort of insane process he had stopped short, he would not have been in the situation he was in. Yes. And that, I love that phrase, that providence, you know, reveals, I don't know exactly how you said it, but like providence reveals what our sin can bring to us. Like he first see sins against his father by sort of like demanding, demanding his inheritance early. Then he takes it and he leaves his country for no reason. He goes to this far country, then he spends everything and then the famine arises. Right? And the famine arises in this other country.  [00:38:13] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:38:13] Tony Arsenal: And that's, I think that is still again, like a picture of sin. Like we. We don't just, we don't just take what the father has and, and like spend it like that would be bad enough if we weren't grateful for what we have and what we've been given, and we just waste it. But on top of that, now we also have taken ourselves to a far country. Like we've gone away from the good, the good land of the Lord, as those who are not regenerate. We've gone away from the, the Lord into this far country. And it's not until we start to have this famine that we recognize what we've done. And again, this is, this is where I think we get a picture. There's so many theological, like points in this parable particular that it almost feels a little bit like a, like a. Parable that's intended to teach some systematic theology about for sure, the oral salus, which I think there's probably a lot of like biblical theology people that are ready to just crawl through the screen and strangle me for saying that. But this is such a glorious picture of, of regeneration too. [00:39:16] The Journey Back to the Father [00:39:16] Tony Arsenal: Like he comes to himself, there's nothing, there's nothing in the story that's like, oh, and the servant that he was, the other servant he was talking to mentioned that the famine, like there's nothing here that should prompt him to want to go back to his home, to think that his father could or would do anything about it, except that he comes to himself. He just comes to the realization that his father is a good man and is wise and has resources, and has takes care of his, of his servants on top of how he takes care of his sons. That is a picture of regeneration. There's no, yeah. Logical, like I'm thinking my way into it, he just one day realizes how much, how many of my father's servants have more than enough bread. Right. But I'm perishing here in this, this foolish other country with nothing. Right. I can't even, and the, the pods that the pigs ate, we can even, we can get into the pods a little bit here, but like. He wants to eat the pods. The pods that he's giving the pigs are not something that's even edible to humans. He's that destitute, that he's willing to eat these pods that are like, this is the leftover stuff that you throw to the pigs because no, no, nobody and nothing else can actually eat it. And that's the state he's in at the very bottom, in the very end of himself where he realizes my father is good and he loves me, and even if I can never be his son again, surely he'll take care of me. I mentioned it last week, like he wasn't going back thinking that this was gonna be a failing proposition. He went back because he knew or he, he was confident that his father was going to be able to take care of him and would accept him back. Right. Otherwise, what would be the point of going back? It wasn't like a, it wasn't like a, um, a mission he expected to fail at. He expected there to be a positive outcome or he wouldn't have done it. Like, it wouldn't make any sense to try that if there wasn't the hope of some sort of realistic option.  [00:41:09] Jesse Schwamb: And I think his confidence in that option, as you were saying, is in this way where he's constructed a transaction. Yeah. That he's gonna go back and say, if you'll just take me out as a slave, I know you have slaves, I will work for you. Right. Therefore, I feel confident that you'll accept me under those terms because I'll humble myself. And why would you not want to remunerate? Me for the work that I put forward. So you're right, like it's, it's strange that he basically comes to this, I think, sense that slavery exists in his life and who would he rather be the slave of,  [00:41:38] Tony Arsenal: right? [00:41:39] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. And so he says, listen, I'm gonna come to the father and give him this offer. And I'm very confident that given that offer and his behavior, what I know about how he treats his other slaves, that he will hire me back because there's work to do. And therefore, as a result of the work I put forward, he will take care of me. How much of like contemporary theology is being preached in that very way right now?  [00:41:58] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:41:59] Jesse Schwamb: And that's really like why the minimum wages of sin is all of this stuff. It's death. It's the consequences that we're speaking about here. By the way, the idea about famine is really interesting. I hadn't thought about that. It is interesting, again, that sin casts him out into this foreign place where the famine occurs. And that famine is the beginning of his realization of the true destruction, really how far he's devolved and degraded in his person and in his relationships and in his current states. And then of course, the Bible is replete with references and God moving through famine. And whereas in Genesis, we have a local famine, essentially casting Joseph brothers into a foreign land to be freed and to be saved.  [00:42:39] Tony Arsenal: Right.  [00:42:40] Jesse Schwamb: We have the exact opposite, which is really kind of interesting. Yeah. So we probably should talk about, you know, verse 15 and the, and the pig stuff. I mean, I think the obvious statement here is that. It would be scandalous, like a Jewish hero would certainly feel the shame of the pigs. They represent UNC cleanliness and social humiliation. I'm interested again, in, in this idea, like you've started us on that the freedom that this younger brother sought for becomes slavery. It's kind of bondage of the wills style. Yeah. Stuff. There's like an, an attentiveness in the story to the degrading reversal in his condition. And it is interesting that we get there finally, like the bottom of the pit maybe, or the barrel is like you said, the pods, which it's a bit like looking at Tide pods and being like, these are delicious. I wish I could just eat these. So I, I think your point isn't lost. Like it's not just that like he looked at something gross and was so his stomach was grumbling so much that he might find something in there that he would find palatable. It, it's more than that. It's like this is just total nonsense. It, this is Romans one. [00:43:45] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And these pods, like, these aren't, um, you know, I guess I, I don't know exactly what these are. I'm sure somebody has done all of the historical linguistic studies, but the Greek word is related to the, the word for keratin. So like the, the same, the same root word. And we have to be careful not to define a Greek word based on how we use it. That's a reverse etymology fallacy. Like dunamis doesn't mean dynamite, it's the other direction. But the Greek word is used in other places, in Greek literature to describe like the horns of rhinoc, like,  [00:44:21] Jesse Schwamb: right,  [00:44:21] Tony Arsenal: this, these aren't like. These aren't pea pods. I've heard this described like these are like little vegetable pods. No, this is like they're throwing pieces of bone to the pigs.  [00:44:31] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah.  [00:44:31] Tony Arsenal: And the pigs, the pigs can manage it. And this is what this also like, reinforces how destitute and how deep the famine is. Like this isn't as though, like this is the normal food you give to pigs. Like usually you feed pigs, like you feed pigs, like the extra scraps from your table and like other kinds of like agricultural waste. These are, these are like chunks of bony keratin that are being fed to the pigs. So that's how terrible the famine is that not even the pigs are able to get food.  [00:45:00] Jesse Schwamb: Right?  [00:45:00] Tony Arsenal: They're given things that are basically inedible, but the pigs can manage it. And this, this kid is so hungry, he's so destitute that he says, man, I wish I could chew on those bony, those bony pods that I'm feeding them because that's how hungry and starved I am. You get the picture that this, um. This lost son is actually probably not just metaphorically on the brink of death, but he's in real risk of starvation, real risk of death that he, he can't even steal. He can't even steal from the pigs what they're eating, right? Like he can't even, he can't even glean off of what the pigs are eating just to stay alive. He, he's literally in a position where he has no hope of actually rescuing himself. The only thing that he can do, and this is the realization he has, the only thing he can do is throw himself back on the mercy of his father.  [00:45:50] Jesse Schwamb: That's  [00:45:50] Tony Arsenal: right. And, and hope, again, I think hope with confidence, but hope that his father will show mercy on him and his, his conception. I wanna be careful in this parable not to, I, I think there's something to what you're getting at or kinda what you're hinting at, that like his conception of mercy is. Not the full picture of the gospel. Yes. His conception of mercy is that he's going to be able to go and work and be rewarded for his laborers in a way that he can survive. And the gospel is so much broader and so much bigger than that. But at the same time, I think it's, it's actually also a confident hope, a faith-filled hope that his father's mercy is going to rescue him, is going to save him. So it is this picture of what we do. And, and I think, I think sometimes, um, I want to be careful how we say this 'cause I don't wanna, I don't want to get a bunch of angry emails and letters, but I think sometimes we, um, we make salvation too much of a theology test. And there's probably people that are like, Tony, did you really just say that? I think there are people who trust in the Lord Jesus thinking that that means something akin to what. This lost son thinks  [00:47:03] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:47:03] Tony Arsenal: Exactly. They trust. They trust that Jesus is merciful and, and I'm not necessarily thinking of Roman Catholics. I'm not thinking of Roman Catholic theology for sure. I do think there are a fair number of Roman Catholic individuals that fall into this category where they trust Jesus to save them. Right. They just don't fully understand exactly what Jesus means, what that means for them to be saved. They think that Christ is a savior who will provide a way for them to be saved by His grace that requires them to contribute something to it. Arminians fall into that category. Right. I actually think, and I, I think there's gonna be if, if there's, if the one Lutheran who listens to our show hears this is gonna be mad, but I actually think Lutheran theology kind of falls into this in a sort of negative fashion in that you have to not resist grace in order to be saved. So I think. That is something we should grapple with is that there are people who fit into that category, but this is still a faith-filled, hope-filled confidence in the mercy of the father in this parable that he's even willing to make the journey back. Right? This isn't like right, he walks from his house down the street or from the other side of town. He's wandering back from a far country. He, he went into a far country. He has to come back from a far country. And yes, the father greets him from afar and sees him from afar. But we're not talking about like from a far country. Like he sees him coming down the road, it, he has to travel to him, and this is a picture of. The hope and the faith that we have to have to return to God, to throw ourselves on the mercy of Christ, trusting that he has our best interest in mind, that he has died for us, and that it is for us. Right? There's the, the knowledge of what Christ has done, and then there's the ascent to the truth of it. And then the final part of faith is the confidence or the, the faith in trust in the fact that, that is for me as well, right? This, this is a picture of that right here. I, I don't know why we thought we were gonna get through the whole thing in one week, Jesse. We're gonna spend at least two weeks on this lost son, or at least part of the second week here. But he, this is, this is also like a picture of faith. This is why I say this as like a systematic theology lesson on soteriology all packed into here. Because not only do we have, like what is repentance and or what does regeneration look like? It's coming to himself. What does repentance look like? Yes. Turning from your sins and coming back. What is, what is the orde solis? Well, there's a whole, there's a whole thing in here. What is the definition of faith? Well, he knows that his father is good. That he has more than enough food for his servants. He, uh, is willing to acknowledge the truth of that, and he's willing to trust in that, in that he's willing to walk back from a far country in order to lay claim to that or to try to lay claim to it. That's a picture of faith right there, just in all three parts. Right. It's, it's really quite amazing how, how in depth this parable goes on this stuff,  [00:49:54] Jesse Schwamb: right? Yeah. It's wild to note that as he comes to himself, he's still working. Yeah, in that far off country. So this shows again that sin is this cruel master. He hits the bottom, he wants the animal food, but he's still unfed. And this is all the while again, he has some kind of arrangement where he is trying to work his way out of that and he sees the desperation. And so I'm with you, you know, before coming to Christ, A person really, I think must come to themselves and that really is like to say they need to have a sober self-knowledge under God, right? Yeah. Which is, as we said before, like all this talk about, well Jesus is the answer. We better be sure what the question is. And that question is who am I before God? And this is why, of course, you have to have the law and gospel, or you have to have the the bad news before you can have the good news. And really, there's all of this bad news that's delivered here and this repentance, like you've been saying, it's not just mere regret, we know this. It's a turning, it's a reorientation back to the father. He says, I will arise and go to my father. So yeah, also it demonstrates to me. When we do come to ourselves when there's a sober self-knowledge under God, there is a true working out of salvation that necessarily requires and results in some kind of action, right? And that is the mortification of sin that is moving toward God again, under his power and direction of the Holy Spirit. But still there is some kind of movement on our part. And so that I think is what leads then in verse 19, as you're saying, the son and I do love this 'cause I think this goes right back to like the true hope that he has, even though it might be slightly corrupted or slightly wa

DESPERSION guestmix: 01. Despersion - Ragnarok 02. Synergy - Ego 03. Despersion - Show me 04. PROLIX - GO 05. Despersion - Witch Hunt 06. ID - ID 07. Gydra - Solar Eclipse 08. Despersion - Warhead 09. Delta Heavy - Substance 10. Psynchro & Basotdel - Comeback 11. Submonitor - Let Go 12. Synergy - Mirage 13. Despersion - Take Off 14. Black Sun Empire - Don't You Stasis (V O E Remix) 15. Despersion - Despoir 16. Evol Intent - Flipside (Despersion Remix) 17. Despersion - New place 18. Despersion - Peace (The Martens B(.)(.)tleg) GVOZD vibez: 01. René LaVice ft. Felix Samuel - I Know That I Do (Extended Mix) 02. KBA - Change 03. Fox Stevenson - Exile Is A Habit 04. Bensley, MYLK - Samurai (Extended Mix) 05. Emily Makis - Too Fast (Extended Mix) 06. Clank & Maider, Ekstatic - Everything You Need (feat. Ekstatic) 07. Fox Stevenson - Movin' On 08. TENSION - Higher Place 09. Fox Stevenson - Give Me Some Space 10. T & Sugah, Nu-La - Overflow 11. Kanine - Power 12. two minutes late - Represent (Extended Mix) 13. Sequoia - Run With Me 14. A-Cray - No Return 15. Sindicate, Anizo - Control 16. Capture the Bass, Vecster - Say My Name 17. RiANTHE & Frosta - Pierrot 18. Agressor Bunx - Datakill 19. Bad District - Loki 20. Diode, GNTLMAN - Pirates 21. Place 2b - Serious 22. Logical & Proket (Paperclip & Masheen Remix) - El Nino 23. Tom Finster - Lies Over Lies 24. Mefjus - Step Back (Break Remix) 25. Document One - Frequencies 26. Document One - Brain Teaser 27. DRS, TURNO - Grubby 28. Arkaik, Harley D - Count Us Off 29. Ronin - Street Rules 30. J Bookey, RXNO - Baddies 31. Bogdvn, Azotix - Anserina 32. GGrossy - Rave 33. Milo (UK) - Purple Loud 34. Astron, Bass Ventura - Move 35. Serpnt - Vasuki 36. The Garfield - Turn Cold 37. DJ LLIW, DJ Nai - Tight 38. Dj Linky - Rave This Way 39. Filthy Philp, Inja - Vibes Cost Nothin 40. Molecular - Sisyphus 41. GGrossy - Alarming Surge 42. Charlie Power - Incarnate 43. Dunk - Rastafari 44. Yatuza - Collected 45. In:Most & Hillsdom - Chasm 46. Kalane - Nightquake 47. a sides/Trex - Need (Trex Remix) 48. DJ Die - The Specialist Funk 49. Albert Wesker - Stormy Dub 50. Kalum - Nuh Ordinary 51. Cutty Ranks - Original Ranks (Just Jungle Remix) 52. Beak - Immunity (Elizar Mel Remix) 53. Red Army - Leviathan (Homemade Weapons Remix) 54. Zeds Dead, Imanu, MKLA - Runaway 55. Enduser feat. Nowan - Northern Tribe (Nowan Remix) 56. Sl8r - Times Change 57. In:Most & Visionobi - Rabbit Hole 58. Enduser feat. Homemade Weapons - Where I Found You (Homemade Weapons Remix) 59. Hellacopta - Mindware 60. Suscito - Ode Fewer 61. Gabriella Bongo & dolphoe - Cross The Line 62. keeno - Take A Moment 63. antoanesko - Dreamscapes in Motion 64. T:Base, crsv, Monch MC, Phon & Sone - Tag Team 65. Ze Ibarra - Segredo (DJ Marky Remix) 66. Unknown Artist - Shape Shifting 67. Noppo, Mark Menzies, Genesis Elijah - Go Easy 68. Miss Medik & Drumma ft/ FJ - Transition 69. Electrosoul System - The Beautiful People Around

Is That Vote Really That Vote "Logical" bonus 1231 Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:36:18 +0000 HUAObvsq08Ip2bLfCtCrvOf57E7zYkE9 sports Sports Daily sports Is That Vote Really That Vote "Logical" Wichita's popular morning local sports talk radio show is Sports Daily with Jacob Albracht and Tommy Castor. Listen live M-F 7a-11a on KFH! 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Sports False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=http

If you're an ADHDish business owner who would like to get more done in less time, you'll want to join us in Optimize Your ADHD BrainLearn more and apply here: http://www.lifepixuniversity.com/oybTake the assessment to see how strong each of your thinking skills are: https://www.lifepixuniversity.com/cfSee how much your thinking skills are costing you: https://www.lifepixuniversity.com/cal…

Women are often taught that being emotional makes them authentic and being logical makes them cold. But what if emotional regulation, not emotional reaction, is actually your greatest advantage? In this episode of The WAG Diaries, we're talking about the power of staying cold not detached, not heartless, but clear, grounded, and intentional when emotions are high. This conversation breaks down why logic is a superpower in relationships, career decisions, conflict, and high-stakes moments, especially for women who want to move strategically without abandoning their feelings. We explore: why emotional reactions are often used against women how staying logical protects your energy, reputation, and outcomes why calm women are often the most powerful ones in the room how to pause, regulate, and respond instead of reacting what it really means to “stay cold” without becoming disconnected This episode is not about suppressing emotions or becoming closed off. It's about learning how to feel deeply without letting emotions drive your decisions. If you've ever said too much in the heat of the moment, made decisions you later regretted, or felt like emotions clouded your clarity, this episode will help you reframe restraint as strength.

Reality doesn't always break loudly...sometimes it just misplaces a nut, duplicates a shirt, or drops a thought into your mind at the wrong moment.In this first short-form episode, Will explores true, head-scratching “Matrix glitch” stories, starting with one he and Karen personally experienced, and invites you to decide: coincidence, subconscious mind, or something stranger at work?Listen in, then weigh in, because these moments don't ask for belief, they demand explanation.To chime on the stories on this episode, please head to https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/.You'll find the "Leave a Voicemail" tab on the right side of the site, so that we can play your comments on the air...or hit the "Contact" tab at the top of the site to send us an email instead.Can't wait to hear your thoughts!The Skeptic Metaphysicians is a pragmatic spirituality podcast for curious minds exploring the unknown without abandoning critical thinking. Each episode breaks down metaphysics explained through grounded conversation, examining hidden truths behind spiritual awakening, consciousness expansion, and expanded consciousness. We explore intuition, mediumship, spirit guides, and the mechanics of healing and personal transformation—bridging skeptical inquiry with meaningful spiritual experience. If you're navigating your own awakening or questioning reality while staying intellectually honest, this podcast is for seekers and skeptics alike.Subscribe, Rate & Review!If you found this episode enlightening, mind-expanding, or even just thought-provoking (see what we did there?), please take a moment to rate and review us. Your feedback helps us bring more transformative guests and topics your way!Connect with Us: 

The Eagles have been searching for an offensive coordinator for almost two weeks and Joe Giglio thinks there are five very logical reasons why Nick Sirianni has yet to make a hire. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From 'WIP Daily' (subscribe here): The Eagles have been searching for an offensive coordinator for almost two weeks and Joe Giglio thinks there are five very logical reasons why Nick Sirianni has yet to make a hire. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you a church communicator or ministry leader looking to boost engagement and effectiveness in your digital outreach? In this episode of MyCom, host Ryan Dunn shares practical strategies and fresh insights for connecting with listeners through podcasting, YouTube, and other broadcast channels. Drawing from years of experience and real-world examples, Ryan explores why podcasts often struggle to build an audience, how to define and serve your specific ministry niche, the power of consistency, and the advantages of expanding to YouTube for discoverability and interaction. In this episode: (00:00) How to get people listening to your content? (01:48) What is a podcast? (03:09) The value of longevity in podcasting (04:48) The “who” is integral to the “why” (07:52) Your “why” is the heart of the podcast (09:54) Being audience-specific in podcasting (10:30) The YouTube model of podcasting (13:34) Case study in podcasting: Brandon Robbins (16:01) A word from “Igniting Imagination” (17:08) Logical and scalable path for podcasts (18:33) The Compass podcast workflow (29:34) Descriptions are key! (33:07) Why consistency matters Whether you're starting your ministry podcast or looking to enhance your church communications, this episode is packed with practical insights. Listen in and discover new ways to serve and engage your community! Find more helpful resources, episode notes, and listening recommendations: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

Ravi Shankar, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Denodo, the leading logical data management platform and foundation for transforming data into trusted, AI-ready … Read more The post How to stop hallucination and sycophancy in Agentic AI with Logical Data appeared first on Top Entrepreneurs Podcast | Enterprise Podcast Network.

Geddit Geddit Friday Okay this is getting out of hand!... Or is it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below on these laws that can either come across DIABOLICAL or LOGICAL... Game shows, you would be lying if you said you haven't sold away time, sitting on your couch watching them, well today you can do that WITH US! Play along where ever you are as we put our twist on a well known British game show... Before the break we put out a survey where you could let us and the team at Sharesies know your thoughts, what you've loved, what has helped the steps you have taken, and we just wanted to say a big thank you for taking the time to do so : Make sure to use the code ‘SHIFT' during sign up and Sharesies will deposit $10 into your account when you deposit your first $10. Available to new customers only, T&Cs apply Hit that link below to stay caught up with anything and everything TMS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/groups/3394787437503676/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We dropped some merch! Use TMS for 10% off. Here is the link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youknowclothing.com/search?q=tms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thank you to the team at Chemist Warehouse for helping us keep the lights on, here at The Morning Shift... ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.chemistwarehouse.co.nz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 00:00 - Intro 2:22 - Check In 12:23 - Daily Bread 17:53 - Diabolical Laws 25:57 - Let's Have Some Fun 33:22 - Sharesies x Shifters 38:45 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com joins Afternoon Drive on The Fan. He talks about Lonzo Ball's role on the Cavs, De'Andre Hunter struggles this season, what will happen if the team's core four fails to achieve something significant again this year, and more.

You've built a toolkit over the last several episodes. Logical reasoning. Causal thinking. Mental models. Serious intellectual firepower. Now the uncomfortable question: When's the last time you actually used it to make a decision? Not a decision you think you made. One where you evaluated the options yourself. Weighed the evidence. Formed your own conclusion. […]

Bless God Summit Tickets Here

Parenting feels impossible when you keep trying to solve emotional problems with logic. Kids don't melt down because your argument wasn't strong enough. Teens don't shut down because you didn't explain yourself clearly. Families struggle because emotions don't follow rules, timelines, or reason. In this conversation, Sean breaks down why parenting is so frustrating for thoughtful, intelligent adults—and why the very skills that make someone successful at work often fail at home. He explains the difference between logical thinking and emotional leadership, how fear hijacks both parents and kids, and what actually helps de-escalate chaos instead of making it worse. This episode helps parents stop asking, “Why doesn't this make sense?” and start learning how to lead emotionally, regulate themselves, and respond in ways that actually work—especially in the heat of the moment. Go deeper with Sean at SaveMyFamily.us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Description: The Problem Solvers follow a musical clue back to 17th-century Istanbul, where math, music, and history collide at the workshop of legendary cymbal maker Avedis Zildjian. Using solfège, fractions, percentages, and number patterns hidden inside familiar melodies, the team unlocks a musical combination protecting a POG server. But teamwork — and patience — are tested as they race to shut it down before moving on to the next threat. Math Concepts: Percentages and fractions; Division and decimals; Number sequences and patterns; Repeated values and doubling (74 × 2 = 148); Logical problem solving using constraints. History/Geography Concepts:  Solfège and musical scale degrees; Relationship between music and math; History of musical instruments (cymbals); Istanbul / Constantinople historical context; Cultural significance of music across time

Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 01/14/2026) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CA RM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include: Questions About The Eastern Orthodox Church and Some Beliefs/ Risk vs. Reward on One's Deathbed?/ Christians Operating in Secular Areas/ A Roman Catholic Asks About Prayer to Mary/Matt Discusses the Logical and Theological Problems of Praying to Mary/ January 14, 2026

Questions about whether two logical people can come to conflicting conclusions on a topic without committing a fallacy, how Greg, as a public figure, deals with criticism, and whether or not criticism gets to him.   Can two people come to conflicting conclusions on a topic while holding true to logic and reason without committing a fallacy? As a public figure, how do you deal with criticism, and does it get to you?

Did you ever get a big, bold sign you didn't request and had no idea what it meant? Such a sign can help you make a good decision. I've Never Seen Anything Like This A hawk slammed into my sliding glass door, holding a woodpecker in its talons. They struggled and tore the screen. I was so disturbed that I banged on the door to make it stop. The hawk flew onto the deck, prey in its grip, sitting there as the life drained out of the woodpecker. I stood there stunned, asking myself, what could this possibly mean? The Background Before getting into the symbolism, it helps to know where I was emotionally that day. I had been deep in the process of reworking my branding for the past couple of months, which capped off a long 14 months of rethinking what I offer and who I'm best positioned to help. There's no single “right” answer when it comes to branding, but I desperately didn't want to get it wrong. That fear led to a kind of freeze with overthinking and no forward movement. Ironically, that same morning I finally made a decision. By the afternoon, I was relaxing for the first time in a while, reading, when the commotion outside my glass door happened. I wasn't looking for a sign, which made it all the more unsettling. The Backstory To understand what I witnessed and why, I first looked inward. The message that came through was clear. “The time for struggle and indecision was over. It was time to rise above, take action, and engage.” Later, I looked up the symbolism. The woodpecker is often associated with persistence and attention to detail. Birds of prey, like hawks, represent vision, decisiveness, and the ability to see the bigger picture. Hawks are also widely seen as messengers from spirit and intuition. When these two show up together, the message becomes hard to miss. For me, this was a dramatic signal that I was entering a new phase. One of transformation and divine timing. Stop getting lost in the details. See the bigger picture. Move on. That hit home. I had been lost in the details. From a logical standpoint, I was asking all the “right” questions. Would people resonate with my work? Was I making a smart business decision? Did this align with my skills and solve real problems for clients? When Logic Is a Dead End From an intuitive perspective, the questions were different. Does this feel aligned with my highest good? Does the energy feel expansive? Does it make me happy? Logic is useful, especially in business. Lists of pros and cons have their place. But at some point, logic had taken me as far as it could. What I needed next was inner knowing. Turns out branding is more of an art than a science and it left me feeling raw and vulnerable. The key realization was there's a big difference between strategic branding and energetic alignment. Logic had led me to a dead end. Now intuition needed to take the lead. That morning, I finally listened. I made a choice that felt right in my body. And then, just hours later, the hawk and woodpecker appeared. As a sign, I will absolutely pay attention. The message was clear. Get out of my head. Stop circling the details. Focus on the big picture. Trust how things feel in my body. Then act. This is how intuition speaks to me when I stop forcing answers. Sometimes gently and other times dramatically. Either way, it gets my attention. And this is a perfect example of how magic shows up too. My advice as an Intuitive Life Coach is simple… When you see a sign, pay attention. Reflect on what it means to you, and then follow through. How Intuition Shows Up There are actually many ways intuition shows up. Some people receive visual images (clairvoyance). Others hear inner guidance (clairaudience). Some just know without explanation (claircognizance). Still others, receive information through the feelings in the body (clairsentience). These are all valid. Over time, I've learned to use and trust all of them. But connecting with my body is relatively new and it’s been fascinating. That body-based intuition showed up again recently in a much more ordinary situation. I need a new couch after my last purchase wore out shockingly fast. I visited a couple of higher-end furniture stores and found beautiful options with big price tags. Then I found a similar couch at a mid-range store for half the price. Logical choice, right? I called a friend with high-end design experience. She agreed the construction and materials were solid so thought it was OK to buy the cheaper one. I was so relieved! My Body Reacted But when I went back to return the fabric samples at the high-end store, they placed the fabric on the couch one more time. My body reacted instantly as my shoulders relaxed. I took a deep breath and felt calm and comfortable. That was my answer! Logically, the cheaper couch made sense. Intuitively, my body told a different story. I trusted it. This kind of inner knowing doesn't just apply to big decisions or purchases. It can show up in very personal, physical ways too. Another Clairsentience Example Just before the holidays, I woke up one morning with a frozen shoulder which means severe pain and almost no movement. I tried chiropractic care and acupuncture, with slight improvement. On the fifth day, I heard a single word internally: magnesium. I took supplements and then soaked in an Epsom salt bath. Within an hour, I could move my arm. Two days later, I was fully healed. Again, my body had the information. I just had to listen. And that's really the heart of this conversation. Where do you get stuck when making decisions? Have you exhausted logic and analysis? Have you ignored signs or overridden what your body was telling you? Decision Making At the end of the day, decision making isn't about finding the perfect answer. It's about being honest with yourself, especially when logic has done all it can. There are times when further analysis will not produce a result. That's when it’s time to start listening. Sometimes intuition whispers. Other times it shows up loudly like a hawk slamming into your window. When something truly feels right, your system relaxes. Your breath deepens. The struggle eases. That's how you know. This is not because it makes sense on paper, but because something inside you calms down. When that happens, the decision is already made. Your only job is to honor it. Awaken Your Sixth Sense If you want to strengthen your intuitive awareness this year, I have a self-paced program called Awaken Your Sixth Sense, designed to help you recognize and trust how intuition speaks to you. It has seven lessons with lots of methods, tips and experiences, so you can build your intuition and start to trust it more. And maybe that's the real invitation. It’s time to practice listening to your inner knowing, and trusting it. That’s how to live aligned with your highest path and your soul. The post How To Make a Good Decision Using Intuition Vs. Logic appeared first on Intuitive Edge.

Let's look to 2026 and recap a pivotal 2025 with Paul Terry, CEO of Photonic. Explore why the industry has officially moved past the era of noisy qubits into the race for fault-tolerant, "gold-standard" logical qubits. Paul joins host Konstantinos Karagiannis to break down Photonic's selection for DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative Stage B and explains how their unique distributed architecture — which uses telecom-grade photons to entangle qubits across networks — allows them to bypass the scaling limitations of monolithic chips. He also details the game-changing shift to LDPC error correction codes, which is drastically reducing the physical resources needed to achieve utility-scale quantum computing.   Paul offers a series of provocative predictions for the coming year, ranging from G7 governments "leaning in" heavily on funding to the emergence of AI as the primary interface for programming quantum machines. He outlines an ambitious roadmap to have 40,000 logical qubits in service by 2030, unlocking massive potential in chemistry and finance, while also addressing the looming reality of the quantum threat to encryption. Tune in to hear why the network is becoming the computer and why the coming year will be defined by business cases rather than hardware metrics.   For more information on Photonic, visit https://photonic.com/.     Visit Protiviti at www.protiviti.com/US-en/technology-consulting/quantum-computing-services  to learn more about how Protiviti is helping organizations get post-quantum ready.  Follow host Konstantinos Karagiannis on all socials: @KonstantHacker and follow Protiviti Technology on LinkedIn and X: @ProtivitiTech.             Questions and comments are welcome!  Theme song by David Schwartz, copyright 2021.  The views expressed by the participants of this program are their own and do not represent the views of, nor are they endorsed by, Protiviti Inc., The Post-Quantum World, or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, shareholders, or subsidiaries.  None of the content should be considered investment advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. Thanks for listening to this podcast. Protiviti Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, including minorities, females, people with disabilities, and veterans.  

You don't need all the answers, you need alignment. In this episode, I sit down with mentor and speaker Suzanne Adams to break down what frequency means, why your LOGICAL mind often blocks your biggest breakthroughs, and how to create results by leading from your HEART instead of force. We talk about moving through burnout, depression, and disconnection, learning how to feel again instead of numbing out, and why awareness is the FIRST step to changing anything. Get ready to rethink how success is built and why momentum starts on the inside. In This Episode, You Will Learn How to TURN UP your FREQUENCY. Why your LOGICAL MIND often talks you OUT of the life you want. How AWARENESS becomes the gateway to lasting change. Why letting go of TIMELINES actually speeds things up. How to REWIRE your thoughts to expand what feels possible. Why alignment creates RESULTS faster than forcing outcomes. How to stop numbing your feelings and start USING them as guidance. Check Out Our Sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/monahan Quince - Step into the holiday season with layers made to feel good and last from Quince. Go to quince.com/confidence Timeline - Get 10% off your first Mitopure order at timeline.com/CONFIDENCE. Northwest Registered Agent - protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/confidencefree Resources + Links Learn more about Suzanne Adams HERE Call my digital clone at 201-897-2553!  Visit heathermonahan.com Sign up for my mailing list: heathermonahan.com/mailing-list/  Overcome Your Villains is Available NOW! Order here: https://overcomeyourvillains.com  If you haven't yet, get my first book Confidence Creator Follow Heather on Instagram & LinkedIn Suzanne on Instagram & LinkedIn

Is your sales strategy built around how buyers should behave—or how they actually behave? Imagine walking into a store and seeing a shirt for $50. Fine. Unremarkable. You might buy it, you might not. Now imagine seeing that same shirt with a tag that reads: $100 NOW $50. Suddenly, you're interested. You found a deal. You beat the system. You're a hero. Same price. Same shirt. Completely different emotional response. That psychological gap between logic and emotion cost JCPenney roughly $1 billion and offers one of the most important lessons in sales psychology you'll ever learn: people don't buy with logic—they buy with emotion and justify with logic later. The Fair and Square Disaster In 2012, JCPenney hired Ron Johnson as CEO. Johnson was a retail rock star, the architect behind Apple Store's legendary success. He walked into JCPenney and saw chaos: endless coupons, manufactured "original prices," and constant sales cycles. His solution? Kill it all. Johnson launched "Fair and Square"—a radically transparent pricing model. No games. No coupons. No inflated prices marked down. Just one everyday low price on everything. That $100 shirt marked down to $50? Now it was simply $50. Honest. Logical. Clean. The market's response was brutal. Within one year, sales dropped 25%. The company lost nearly $1 billion. Stock price went into freefall. Johnson was fired. What Johnson Got Wrong About Sales Psychology Johnson made a catastrophic assumption: he believed customers were rational economic actors who would reward transparency and honesty. He was dead wrong. For decades, JCPenney's customers had been playing a game. They clipped coupons, timed sales, scrutinized flyers, and planned shopping trips around promotions. The weekly coupon wasn't just a discount—it was a ritual. Their insider advantage, their badge of savvy shopping honor. Johnson stripped away their emotional satisfaction and replaced it with sterile efficiency. Without the "$100 now $50" comparison, the flat $50 price lost all psychological weight. No thrill. No victory. No story to share. Same price. Different feeling. The Sales Psychology Principle You're Ignoring Loss aversion is twice as powerful as gain motivation. Your prospects don't just want to gain something—they want to feel like they won, like they're in control, like they made a smart decision that will impress their boss. When you strip away their buying process, when you force them into your "more efficient" workflow without their input, they don't see the gain. They experience loss. You've taken away their control, their ritual, their power, their role as the hero. In sales, that feeling is deadly. Your Customers Have Rituals Too Think about your best accounts. What do they actually value? It's probably not your features or your ROI calculator. It's the rep they've worked with for years. It's the quarterly business review they rely on. It's the reporting cadence that makes them look good internally. It's the buying process that lets them feel competent and in control. That's their ritual. When you try to "streamline" their process, when you push them toward a different point of contact, when you change the reporting structure they trust—you're doing exactly what Ron Johnson did. You're selling logic when they're buying a feeling. Stop Leading With Features and Benefits Most salespeople lose deals before they even start because they lead with logical arguments: "Our platform reduces processing time by 40%." "We integrate with 200+ systems." "Our customer support response time is under 2 hours." All logical. All true. All useless if your buyer doesn't feel something first. Your prospect doesn't wake up excited about efficiency gains. They wake up stressed about looking good in front of their VP, avoiding mistakes, and maintaining control of their budget. Research is clear: emotional decisions get made first, then logic comes in to justify them. Your job isn't to build a logical case. Your job is to help your buyer feel like a hero, then give them the logical ammunition to defend that emotional decision internally. How to Apply This Starting Today Identify Their Rituals Watch how your customers actually operate. Do they need three stakeholders in every meeting? Do they always loop in procurement at a specific stage? Do they have a preferred communication cadence? Don't fight it. Work with it. Their process is their psychological anchor for stability. Frame the Win They Can Own Frame your solution so the customer feels in control and gets the credit. Instead of: "Our platform will solve your problem." Try: “This approach could help you demonstrate a 30% cost reduction in Q2—giving your team clear wins to share with leadership.” Make them the hero of their own story. Highlight Emotional Outcomes, Not Just Logical Ones Don't just talk about what your product does. Talk about how it makes them feel. "You'll have complete visibility so you're never caught off guard in executive meetings." "Your team will finally have the data they need to look proactive instead of reactive." "You'll be the person who solved the problem everyone else said was impossible." Guide, Don't Force Lead your prospects toward better outcomes without stripping away their sense of control. Instead of forcing a complete switch to your system, collaborate on how your solution enhances their existing trusted process. Make them feel like a collaborator, not a passenger. The Takeaway Ron Johnson wasn't wrong that consumers should prefer transparent, honest pricing. He wasn't wrong that the coupon game was exhausting and complicated. He was wrong about what people actually buy. They buy feelings. Control. Victory. Status. The story they tell themselves about being smart. Your prospects are no different. They're not buying your SaaS platform, your consulting services, or your enterprise solution. They're buying the feeling of being competent, in control, and successful. The difference between average salespeople and top performers isn't product knowledge or work ethic. It's understanding the sales psychology behind how buyers actually make decisions. When you appeal to emotion first and back it up with logic second, you stop losing deals to “no decision” and start winning consistently. Because at the end of the day, sales isn't about having the best product. It's about making your customer feel like they made the best decision. Ready to master buyer psychology and close more deals? Download the ACED Buyer Style Playbook and discover how to match your sales approach to the four core buyer personalities. Stop selling logic. Start selling the way your customers actually buy.

In this episode, we explore the growing tension between loyalty and logical consistency in today's celebrity-obsessed culture. With social media magnifying every action of public figures, people are quick to defend, condemn, and emotionally invest. But in the rush to take sides, how often do we actually question the logic behind our loyalties?"You can't be loyal to someone who is wrong just because of who they are."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-realist-the-visionary--3304218/support.Check out our website:https://www.therealistthevisionary.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-realist-the-visionary--3304218/support.Follow us on IGFollow Us on TikTok

When your child melts down, every parent feels that moment of panic—What do I say? How do I help them calm? In this episode, I break down the 4 Calming Phrases Parents Say Changed Everything and how these simple, rhythmic statements help a dysregulated brain return to safety and connection.Parenting a child whose emotions shift from zero to one hundred can feel overwhelming, but understanding what the brain needs in those tense moments changes everything. These phrases aren't fluffy scripts. They're co-regulation tools that speak directly to a child's nervous system, reduce overwhelm, and open the door to emotional learning.This episode offers practical guidance on why these phrases work, how to use them during real-life meltdowns, and how parents can stay grounded even when their child is losing control.Why do calming phrases work better than lectures during meltdowns?When a child is in fight, flight, or freeze, they literally can't hear you. Logical thinking and critical thinking skills shut down as survival mode takes over. That's why telling a child to “calm down,” “stop crying,” or “use your words” never works in the red zone—no matter your parenting style.Calming phrases act as safety cues. They help create a shift because they:Support emotional regulation in both parent and childPrevent you from barking orders when you're stressedSignal safety so a child can feel connected rather than overwhelmedMake space for real boundary setting and the ability to set limitsReduce the urge for people pleasing or power strugglesCreate the conditions where kids learn instead of shut downStrengthen the entire family dynamic through calm communicationThese cues slow the moment and tell your child's brain, “You're not in danger. You're not alone.”And that's when real connection—and real teaching—can finally happen.If you're tired of walking on eggshells or feeling like nothing works…Get the FREE Regulation Rescue Kit and finally learn what to say and do in the heat of the moment.Become a Dysregulation Insider VIP at www.drroseann.com/newsletter and take the first step to a calmer home.What are the 4 calming phrases parents say changed everything?1. “I'm with you.”This phrase instantly grounds a child who feels scared, overwhelmed, or ashamed.It tells their nervous system they aren't alone, which is essential for emotional regulation.A parent shared that after years of nightly homework battles, whispering “I'm with you” softened her child's panic—and changed the emotional tone of their entire household.2. “Let's slow down.”Kids borrow our rhythm. When you slow your voice, breath, and movements, their brain naturally syncs to your calm.Saying “Let's slow down” teaches emotional pacing and helps them step out of survival mode and back into connection.3. “We'll get through this.”Dysregulated kids often think the moment is catastrophic. This phrase restores perspective and safety.It teaches resilience—not avoidance—and shows your child that problems are temporary and manageable with support.4. “It's okay to feel upset.”Validation lowers cortisol and reduces overwhelm.Instead of shutting emotions down, this phrase teaches kids that...

Week 38 of Ted Gioia's Immersive Humanities Course pairs two seemingly unrelated works: Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species (chapters 1–4) and John Stuart Mill's On Liberty. What initially felt random turned out to be an enlightening combination! Darwin's early chapters focus not on sweeping conclusions but on careful observation—natural selection as a real, ongoing process, and the frustratingly blurry boundary between “species” and “variety.” His meticulous attention to detail is both humbling and persuasive, even if the book's once-shocking claims now feel familiar. Mill's On Liberty complements Darwin perfectly by arguing that truth itself depends on open discussion. A society, Mill insists, produces great individuals only when it protects freedom of thought and speech and resists dogma. Read together, these works reveal how revolutionary ideas require not just insight, but a culture willing to debate, question, and change. This week left a lasting impression—and a renewed appreciation for intellectual humility and openness.We have a special Christmas Episode next week--be sure to check in!LINKTed Gioia/The Honest Broker's 12-Month Immersive Humanities Course (paywalled!)My Amazon Book List (NOT an affiliate link)CONNECTThe complete list of Crack the Book Episodes: https://cheryldrury.substack.com/p/crack-the-book-start-here?r=u3t2rTo read more of my writing, visit my Substack - https://www.cheryldrury.substack.com.Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cldrury/ LISTENSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5GpySInw1e8IqNQvXow7Lv?si=9ebd5508daa245bdApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crack-the-book/id1749793321 Captivate - https://crackthebook.captivate.fm

Deputy Chief Ryan Power of the Spokane County Fire in Washington talks about the lost art in the fire service, "The Human Factors of Communication." Chief dives into the 4 C's of Communication: 1) Connection, 2) Choice, 3) Competency, 4) Consistency. Chief also dives into the different styles of communicators: 1) Social, 2) Direct, 3) Empathetic, 4) Logical. Effective communication is a cornerstone to effective leadership and the best leaders can transition between the different styles seamlessly. Chief Power emphasizes that communication and emotional intelligence are tactical skills and they should be practiced like anything else, and that you can't lead people effectively if you don't understand people.

By Robert Gardenhire - We examine four incidents during the time of Jesus' birth which had to occur in temperate weather and not during the winter months of rain and cold. These common-sense scenarios preclude Jesus' birth being in the winter season but rather in the fall season.

What does it really feel like to live authentically? Not as an abstract ideal, but as a daily energetic practice? Michaela unpacks how each aura color expresses authenticity in its own unique way, and why living in alignment can feel wildly different from the person society claims you to be. In this episode we will discuss: How it actually feels to show up authentically. The subtle sensations and emotions that signal when you've drifted away from your truth. How inauthenticity quietly disconnects us from our purpose and inner peace.Tips to shift your energy back into alignment with your higher soul self.This episode is an invitation to step into your most honest, liberated, and soul-aligned life, one aura at a time!Want to learn more? Enjoy one of our new interactive Aura quizzes: https://knowyouraura.com/aura-quizzes/Listen to this introductory episode to find your Aura color: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-every-aura-color-explained/id1477126939?i=1000479357880Send Mystic Michaela some positive energy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysticmichaela/Explore the Know Your Aura Website : https://knowyouraura.com/Visit Mystic Michaela's Website: https://www.mysticmichaela.com/Join Mystic Michaela's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2093029197406168/Our Episode Partners: Get 60% off the yearly pass with code AURA at https://beducate.me/auraFor 55% off your order + FREE shipping, head to https://www.nurturelife.com/KYA and use code KYA Visit https://auraframes.com and get $35 off Aura's best selling Carver Mat frames with code KYA at checkout! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reacting to the most controversial CFB Playoff Rankings in history, previewing America's Game, and seeing where stand in the NFL with four weeks to play...• BEST OF THE WEEK #14 - Recapping the best from the week in football• CFB PLAYOFF FINAL RANKINGS - Reacting to the committee's rankings & discussing the fallout• PUTTING THE FIGHT IN FIGHTING IRISH: Is Notre Dame right or wrong?• NCAAF WEEK 16 PICK 'EM - Previewing the Army-Navy Game• NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE - Looking into where the field is this week• NFL WEEK 15 PICKS - Predicting the four most important matchups this week• NFL POWER RANKINGS - Evaluating the Top 10 & Bottom 5 teams this week• LOCK IT UP - One thing that WILL happen in football this weekEnjoy & interact with us all season long! •Stay connected with all things Huddle Up Podcast at https://linktr.ee/huddleuppodcast•Subscribe to the show on ALL podcast platforms & YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@HuddleUpPodcast)•You can get your Huddle Up Podcast merch on TeePublic at https://www.teepublic.com/user/huddleuppodcast•Follow Huddle Up Podcast on our social channels:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuddleUpPodcast/IG: https://www.instagram.com/huddleuppodcastinc/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huddleuppodcastBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/huddleuppodcast.bsky.socialTwitter: https://twitter.com/HuddleUpPodcastTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/huddleupincCreative Commons Music used in this show created by Jason Shaw on https://audionautix.com/

Immerse yourself in captivating science fiction short stories, delivered daily! Explore futuristic worlds, time travel, alien encounters, and mind-bending adventures. Perfect for sci-fi lovers looking for a quick and engaging listen each day.

Welcome back, everyone, to the Imagen Golf Podcast! I am Daniel Guest, and I am so fired up for today's episode.If you are listening to this right now, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to take a deep breath. Exhale. And I need you to mentally delete the last five YouTube videos you watched about "supinating the wrist" or "hitting Position 6."Because today, we are going to stop the craziness.(Music fades to a subtle background rhythm)I see it every day on the lesson tee. A student walks up, and they look exhausted before they've even hit a ball. Their brain is spinning. They're thinking about ten different positions. "Daniel, is my elbow at 45 degrees?" "Daniel, am I shallowing the shaft enough?" "Daniel, what about P4?"Stop. Just stop.Golf is a hard game, yes. But it is not as complicated as the industry wants you to believe. We have turned a stick-and-ball game into advanced calculus, and it is killing your scores.Today, we are going back to basics. Not "boring" basics—essential basics. I want you to forget the 10-step diagrams and focus on the 4 Pillars of a Great Golf Swing.If you nail these four things, you can play this game forever, and you can play it well.Pillar 1: Proper SetupPillar Number One. This is non-negotiable. Proper Setup.You wouldn't build a house on a swamp, right? So why are you trying to hit a golf ball with your feet touching and your back hunched over like you're reading a text message?The setup is the only part of the swing you have 100% control over. The ball isn't moving. No one is tackling you.Grip: Get your hands on the club comfortably so the face is square.Alignment: Aim where you want to go.Posture: Get athletic. Bend from the hips, not the waist.If your setup is bad, your swing becomes a recovery mission the second you take the club back. But if your setup is solid, you've done 50% of the work before the club even moves. That's free money!Pillar 2: Logical BackswingNotice I didn't say "Perfect Backswing." I didn't say "Adam Scott's Backswing." I said a Logical Backswing.What is the logic? The logic is simply to get the club up and around your body so you have room to hit the ball with force. That's it!People get obsessed with "hitting positions." They freeze-frame their video and say, "Oh no, my clubface is 2 degrees shut." Who cares?! Does your backswing put you in a position to deliver the club to the ball?Did you turn your shoulders?Did you shift your weight?Is the club behind you?Great. That's logical. You are loaded. You are ready to fire. Stop trying to paint a Picasso in the air and just load the catapult.Pillar 3: Solid ContactThis is the Holy Grail. Solid Contact.The golf ball does not know what your swing looks like. It doesn't know if you're wearing the latest gear. It only knows one thing: Impact.You can have the ugliest swing in the world—look at Jim Furyk or Matthew Wolff—but if you hit the back of the ball first, flush on the face, the ball goes straight and far.We spend so much time worrying about how we look getting to the ball that we forget the job is to hit the ball.Are you hitting the center of the face?Are you brushing the grass after the ball?If the answer is yes, you are a golfer. I don't care if your left arm is bent. I don't care if you lift your heel. If the contact is solid, the swing works. Period.Pillar 4: A Natural Follow-ThroughAnd finally, the pillar that holds it all together: A Natural Follow-Through.I see so many amateurs who hit the ball and then... stop. They chop at it. They flinch. Or they try to force themselves into this perfect PGA Tour finish where their back is twisted like a pretzel and they're in pain.Your follow-through is a reaction to what happened before it. It's the braking system. If you swung with speed (which we want), your body has to rotate through to slow the club down safely.Let the momentum pull you around.Finish balanced on that lead leg.Let the club wrap around you.If you are "steering" the club, you have no follow-through. If you are "swinging" the club, the follow-through happens naturally. It's the signature on the check you just wrote.Setup. Backswing. Contact. Follow-through.That is the cycle. That is the rhythm.When you go to the range this week, I want you to strip away the rest.Check your Setup.Make a Logical turn.Focus on Solid Contact.Allow a Natural finish.If you do a bad shot, don't ask, "Was my wrist bowed?" Ask, "Did I have a bad setup? Or did I just miss the contact?"Keep it simple. Golf is meant to be played, not analyzed to death.Get out of your head, get into your body, and trust these four pillars.That's it for this week. If you want to simplify your game even more, head over to imagengolf.com. We are here to help you see the game clearly.Stop the craziness. Start playing golf.I'm Daniel Guest. See you on the fairway.

Is someone in your life difficult to get along with, but you really don't have another choice? It could be their aura! Michaela explores how dealing with the empath aura combinations in your life is doable, even when they're not your cup of tea! She talks about how these individuals view the world, what they need to feel understood, and how you can create synergy instead of misunderstanding. Michaela and Scott discuss how to have smoother conversations, easier decision-making moments, and give tips for tougher relationships with those who share an aura combo with a more emotional side! Want to learn more? Enjoy one of our new interactive Aura quizzes: https://knowyouraura.com/aura-quizzes/Listen to this introductory episode to find your Aura color: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-every-aura-color-explained/id1477126939?i=1000479357880Send Mystic Michaela some positive energy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysticmichaela/Explore the Know Your Aura Website : https://knowyouraura.com/Visit Mystic Michaela's Website: https://www.mysticmichaela.com/Join Mystic Michaela's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2093029197406168/Our Episode Partners: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code KYA at https://www.oneskin.co/KYA #oneskinpodFor 45% off your order, head to https://veracityselfcare.com and use code KYA For 15% off your next gift, go to https://www.uncommongoods.com/KYAFor a limited time get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to https://www.smalls.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discover how AI tools are reshaping the marketing landscape and how businesses can leverage these innovations to grow their brand presence online. Karly Scott, Manager of Client Services at Logical Position, joins us to discuss the evolving landscape of YouTube marketing, including organic and paid strategies for boosting visibility, engagement, and conversion rates. Karly shares insights into the significance of AI tools in enhancing video content and discusses strategies for optimizing YouTube ads. Have a question for upcoming episodes or a topic you want covered? Let us know: https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and welcome 01:04 – Guest introduction: Karly Scott 03:28 – AI tools and challenges 06:02 – Importance of human expertise in AI 08:04 – AI in creative strategy 12:04 – Tackling YouTube and AI 18:14 – Effective YouTube strategy and ROI 30:32 – Ad campaign tips 38:02 – Wrap up and thank you DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Here is a fact, whether you like this fact or not won't change that it is indeed a fact.  The American people have been systematically programmed to be unable to make rational and logical decisions over many generations. Here are the key tenets that contributed to this… The State/Education System – Children are taught to learn a thing, repeat a thing and defend a thing, but never to determine a thing.  Every concept in our education system is based on a single correct answer, the student never determines anything. ` Industry/Media – Marketing itself is telling a story and not … Continue reading →

He wasn't the type to believe in anything he couldn't touch, count, or Google. Movies were fake, TV was nonsense, even sports were “just a show.” He drove for Uber and Postmates because it was simple: the app pings, he picks up food, he drops it at a real address for a real person. Logical. Clean. No mystery. Then came the KFC orders. Late at night, through a Taco Bell/KFC combo down the street, he kept getting the same strange ticket: old-school items most people don't even remember—20-piece honey wings, popcorn chicken, Chicken Littles, full buckets with sides at prices that made no sense outside an '80s commercial. The orders were always paid. The address was always the same. But every time he pulled up, walked to the door, and waited… no one came. No lights. No movement. No “thanks.” Just a paid receipt and a growing sense that he was delivering dinner to nobody. If the dead can't let go of their favorite comfort food, maybe some cravings really do follow us into the afterlife. #realghoststoriesonline #hauntedhouse #postmates #kfc #glitchinthematrix #paranormalencounter #ghoststory #timeslip #creepyorders #supernatural Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

In this episode, Michaela explains the energetic weight of holiday family gatherings; the ultimate test of spiritual growth, personal evolution, and… your patience. In this episode, she discusses why stepping into these situations can feel like an energetic time machine, one that tries to shove you right back into a role you're pretty sure you graduated from years ago.Michaela digs into how your aura color influences the “part” your family casts you in, why they love keeping you in that role, and why the holidays crank up those dynamics. You'll learn how to stay aligned with your current, evolved self, even when the universe (and Aunt Linda) seem determined to trigger your shadow side.Want to learn more? Enjoy one of our new interactive Aura quizzes: https://knowyouraura.com/aura-quizzes/Listen to this introductory episode to find your Aura color: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-every-aura-color-explained/id1477126939?i=1000479357880Send Mystic Michaela some positive energy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysticmichaela/Explore the Know Your Aura Website : https://knowyouraura.com/Visit Mystic Michaela's Website: https://www.mysticmichaela.com/Join Mystic Michaela's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2093029197406168/Our Episode Partners: Visit https://auraframes.com and get $45 off Aura's best selling Carver Mat frames with code KYA at checkout! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Robin Nelson, a member of the Fargo School Board who is chairing a ballot measure committee aimed at universal school lunches, says her group tried to get their goal accomplished through the legislative process. It didn't work, so now they're taking their case to the voters. "We went through two legislative sessions, and we're thankful. There was some movement, but that is not what our goal was," she said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to expansions to the lunch program made by lawmakers. "We respectfully followed that process, and due to the overwhelming support through polls in the state of North Dakota that support this concept of universal school meals, the next logical step was to take it to the voters in an initiated measure." Nelson took questions on how the measure will work, including how it will cover school lunches served through the existing program in private and tribal schools, as well as what it will cost. When a bill similar to what Nelson and her group are looking to put on the ballot was considered by lawmakers earlier this year, the Department of Public Instruction estimated the cost at $140 million. "I think it's a fair estimate" of what this new measure would cost if implemented, Nelson said, though she also pointed out that a new fiscal note will be created through the ballot measure process. If the measure passes, it would shift the cost of paying for the school lunch program away from just parents, who foot the bill through user fees, and to the broader tax base. Nelson said it will also cut out some red tape at the schools which must currently levy and collect lunch fees. "We won't have to worry about collection efforts," she said. "It will save a lot of time on the back end. Also on this episode, my co-host Chad Oban and I discuss Sen. Kevin Cramer's tough trip to Halifax, and we respond to some reader messages. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Robin Nelson, a member of the Fargo School Board who is chairing a ballot measure committee aimed at universal school lunches, says her group tried to get their goal accomplished through the legislative process. It didn't work, so now they're taking their case to the voters. "We went through two legislative sessions, and we're thankful. There was some movement, but that is not what our goal was," she said on this episode of Plain Talk, referring to expansions to the lunch program made by lawmakers. "We respectfully followed that process, and due to the overwhelming support through polls in the state of North Dakota that support this concept of universal school meals, the next logical step was to take it to the voters in an initiated measure." Nelson took questions on how the measure will work, including how it will cover school lunches served through the existing program in private and tribal schools, as well as what it will cost. When a bill similar to what Nelson and her group are looking to put on the ballot was considered by lawmakers earlier this year, the Department of Public Instruction estimated the cost at $140 million. "I think it's a fair estimate" of what this new measure would cost if implemented, Nelson said, though she also pointed out that a new fiscal note will be created through the ballot measure process. If the measure passes, it would shift the cost of paying for the school lunch program away from just parents, who foot the bill through user fees, and to the broader tax base. Nelson said it will also cut out some red tape at the schools which must currently levy and collect lunch fees. "We won't have to worry about collection efforts," she said. "It will save a lot of time on the back end. Also on this episode, my co-host Chad Oban and I discuss Sen. Kevin Cramer's tough trip to Halifax, and we respond to some reader messages. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. It's super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you're from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts | Episode Archive

Hey there, puzzle lovers! Think you've got what it takes to be a true logic champion? In this video, we've got 17 tricky riddles that will put your brain to the test. Some are easy, some are tough, but all of them will make you think in new ways! Grab a pen, challenge your friends, and see how many you can solve. Ready to prove your skills? Hit play and let's get started! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex shares the story of how Jesus saved him and how God's timing is good. He and Hunter reflect on the goodness of the logic and rationality of faith in the God of the Bible.--Alex is a lifelong follower of Christ who embarked on a journey of faith at the tender age of 3. From serving the homeless with Church at the Park to joining YWAM, Alex's mission is to illuminate the beauty of God's love and provide a balanced understanding of the entire Bible, not just selective passages.--Connect with Us:contact@parableministries.comParable MinistriesInstagram--If you feel led to give to Parable Ministries, please visit: DonateMusic created by Chad HoffmanArtwork created by Anthony Kuenzi

Christian ; Follower of GOD Servant of CHRIST         Decorated Combat VeteranCorporate; U.S. Marine Corps Urban Warfare Instrictor;        S.R.T. Commander Active Shooter Response Team  Law Enforcement Los Angeles Police (L.A.P.D.) Police Officer / Fugitive Recovery F.B.I. Instructor N.R.A Instructor  Competition Shooter; Multi Time State Rifle Pistol Champion  Hunting; Life Long Hunter Proffessional Hunter and Guide  Private Security Contractor; Several Agencies,  Current. Patreon https://bit.ly/3jcLDuZhttps://venmo.com/code?user_id... GOD Provides JESUS SavesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gunfighter-life-survival-guns-tactical-hunting--4187306/support.Have a Blessed Day 

In today's episode of Talk Heathen, hosts Jimmy Jr. and Scott Dickie open by discussing the hazards of reading the Bible, delve into complex philosophical arguments concerning contingency and prescriptive laws, and debate strategies for maintaining productive dialogue with theists who rely on defense mechanisms.Donald, a regular caller, attempts to prove universal laws (like non-contradiction) are prescriptive, arguing their necessity means they must exist outside the universe. Hosts Scott and Jimmy Jr. press him on the modal scope issue, asserting that logically necessary laws (things that *will* happen) are distinct from prescriptive laws (things that *must* happen due to enforcement/intent). Donald fails to show a detectable difference between these two forms of necessity. Can philosophical arguments alone bridge the gap between description and prescription?Lisa, a religious studies major, struggles to have productive dialogue because theists dismiss atheism as "God-hating" rather than disbelief. The hosts assert this is a deliberate tactic to demonize non-believers, protect dogma, and avoid critical questioning. Scott advises setting conversational boundaries early and asking the interlocutor to commit to a productive discussion, calling out deflections as face-saving psychological defense mechanisms. Should atheists try to engage people who are unwilling to be honest interlocutors?Thank you for joining us this week! We will see you next time! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talk-heathen--3195702/support.

Staying focused; Inflammatory Media; "Antifa"; Tyranny; Current events; "Hands-off Leticia? Jacoba?"; Finding the facts; Love for truth; Cancel culture; Stirring up a spirit in the masses; Polio; Healthy body environment; Healing spirit of God; Toxicity; Inspiration; Evidence Jesus existed; Private interpretation?; Homelessness; 2 Thess 3:10 don't work, don't eat; Irrefutable proof?; Social safety net dependency; Adullamites - out of the "way"; Other people's money; Mark Q: Proving Jesus existed - irrefutably; Mark Q: Meaning of "Socialism"; Altars; Corporate capitalism - doesn't die, Golem; Choice remains with the individual; Dependence on community; Logical logos - stay a free people; Harlots, daughters and beasts; Networking; Parrhesia Q: Can we Debate?; Katwellair Q: "Put to Death"?; Stoning?; Binding by love of neighbor; Freewill offerings only; Vengeance belongs to God; Knowing yourself; Strong delusion; Nikki Q: Salvation and being saved?; Salvation or Deliverance; Separation from God; Levels of salvation?; Consequences of sin; Freed from what?; Striving and persevering; Redemption?; Choosing direction; Katwellair Q: Life after death?; Celestial body?; Other dimensions?; Kingdom of heaven is in the moment; The way of God and Christ and Moses; Accessing Holy Spirit; Tree of Knowledge vs Tree of Life; Creatures of Light; Comforting lies; Nikki Q: Blood of Christ? Rom 5:9; Staying with Christ; Repentance; Workers of iniquity; Hearing the cries of your neighbor; Lets God hear you; Obedience; Virtue; Nikki Q: Jesus cancelled our debt?; Paul's audience; Becoming merchandise by covetousness; John 3:17 MIGHT be saved; Accessing salvation; John 5:34; Rom 10:1; Rom 11:14; Christ did His part; We have a part too; Faith compels action unto righteousness; Katwellair Q: Romans 5 - last half; Rom 5:12; Rom 5:19 being made righteous; Gift of faith; Accepting Christ on a spiritual level; Beware of emotional counterfeits of spirit; Early Church activity; Let go of preconceived notions.

Is someone in your life difficult to get along with, but you really don't have another choice? It could be their aura! Michaela explores how dealing with the logical aura combinations in your life is doable, even when they're not your cup of tea! She talks about how these individuals view the world, what they need to feel understood, and how you can create synergy instead of misunderstanding. Michaela and Scott discuss how to have smoother conversations, easier decision-making moments, and give tips for tougher relationships with those who share an aura combo with a more analytical side! Want to learn more? Enjoy one of our new interactive Aura quizzes: https://knowyouraura.com/aura-quizzes/Listen to this introductory episode to find your Aura color: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-every-aura-color-explained/id1477126939?i=1000479357880Send Mystic Michaela some positive energy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysticmichaela/Explore the Know Your Aura Website : https://knowyouraura.com/Visit Mystic Michaela's Website: https://www.mysticmichaela.com/Join Mystic Michaela's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2093029197406168/Our Episode Partners: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code KYA at https://www.oneskin.co/KYA #oneskinpodFor 55% off your order + FREE shipping, head to https://www.nurturelife.com/KYA and use code KYA See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Attention, puzzle pros and logic lovers!

In this episode, Dana is joined by Kate Semeniuk, a Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapist, to explore the unseen forces in our minds that hold us back. Have you ever known logically what you need to do—like set a boundary or say no—but found yourself unable to act? Kate reveals how subconscious beliefs, often formed in childhood, create these internal conflicts. She explains that fear and suppressed anger are not weaknesses but misguided protection strategies from a younger self. This conversation is for anyone ready to stop fighting their own mind and finally align their actions with their intentions, reclaiming control over their life and happiness. Kate's LinkedIn Kate's Website

I finish my discussion of the logical POE, showing how evil is actually one of the best evidences for God's existence – not against God's existence, and showing how the atheist's answer to the problem of evil is far less satisfactory than the theist's.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve

How to Build a Sustainable, Scalable Business: Insights from Young Han, Fractional COO/CFOIn this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge interviews Young Han, multi-entrepreneur, founder of Always Han and Thesis, and host of The Girl Dad Show. Young shares his experience as a fractional COO/CFO, helping companies between $10M and $100M in revenue make data-driven, sustainable growth decisions. The discussion dives into how founders can scale methodically, balance emotion with logic, and build systems that create long-term stability instead of short-term excitement.Building a Sustainable Business ModelYoung explains that scaling a business requires more than ambition—it requires structure, clarity, and discipline. As a fractional COO/CFO, he brings high-level strategy and operational focus to businesses that are ready to grow but not yet large enough for a full executive team. He emphasizes separating emotion from decision-making and using quantifiable data to guide growth, helping founders see where they can take calculated risks versus emotional leaps.A key part of his process is understanding the founder's actual goals—whether it's income, freedom, or eventual sale—and aligning operational and financial strategies around those priorities. Young believes in the power of methodical, “boring” business-building: creating repeatable systems, managing risk intelligently, and using debt strategically rather than emotionally. His philosophy proves that success doesn't require chaos or constant reinvention—it comes from consistency, structure, and clear decision frameworks.Young also encourages founders to embrace what he calls “Built Boring,” a mindset focused on long-term results over flashy short-term wins. By grounding strategy in data and disciplined execution, leaders can create scalable businesses that endure—ones that don't rely solely on the founder's daily grind to survive.About Young HanYoung Han is a fractional COO/CFO, serial entrepreneur, and founder of Always Han, where he helps companies scale through structured financial and operational strategy. With a portfolio of over 20 growing businesses, Young specializes in guiding founders through the complexities of sustainable growth, decision frameworks, and strategic risk management. He is also the host of The Girl Dad Show, where he shares his insights on leadership, parenting, and entrepreneurship.About Always HanAlways Han is a business strategy and leadership development firm founded by Young Han, focused on helping entrepreneurs and business owners scale sustainably through data-driven decision-making, operational clarity, and financial discipline. By offering fractional COO/CFO services, personalized coaching, and educational resources, Always Han empowers founders to separate emotion from strategy and build businesses that endure. Through frameworks, tools, and real-world insights, Always Han helps leaders grow logically, lead confidently, and achieve sustainable success.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeAlways Han WebsiteYoung Han LinkedIn ProfileKey Episode HighlightsFractional executives bring strategic expertise without full-time cost.Founders must separate emotion from data when making big decisions.Sustainable scaling means building “boring,” repeatable systems.Understand your risk tolerance—debt can be a powerful growth tool if used wisely.Success is built through structure, consistency,...

Unlock Deeper Intimacy Starting Today. Get 7 Days Free Plus Lifetime Access to Our Attachment Styles & Intimacy Course and Finally Transform Your Relationships for Good! https://attachment.personaldevelopmentschool.com/dream-life-sex-course?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=dream-life-sex-course&utm_medium=organic&utm_content=pod-10-22-25&el=podcast If you've ever felt like you're speaking a different language when trying to connect with a Dismissive Avoidant partner, you're not wrong. They process emotions, safety, and closeness differently at both the neurological and subconscious levels, which can make even simple conversations feel confusing or one-sided. In this video, Thais Gibson reveals how to communicate so an Avoidant actually hears you, without triggering withdrawal or shutdown. You'll learn the five key principles that transform connection, backed by neuroscience and attachment theory, plus how to stay calm and secure while getting your needs met. You'll learn: ✅ The 5 keys to communicating with a Dismissive Avoidant, without chasing or pressuring ✅ How to speak to their subconscious mind so they actually feel safe opening up ✅ The neuroscience behind why Avoidants pull away when emotions run high ✅ The difference between emotional expression and logical communication — and how to balance both ✅ How to frame your needs without sounding like an ultimatum ✅ Why timing, tone, and body language matter more than words ✅ Practical scripts to get your Avoidant partner to listen and respond Episode Breakdown:  00:00 – Intro  01:53 – 1. Communicate Your Feelings in a Logical, Factual Way 04:29 – Attachment Styles and Intimacy Promo 05:07 – 2. Use Timing Properly 07:07 – The Neuroscience Behind Avoidants and Connection 09:06 – 3. State Your Needs  09:47 – 4. Leave It Open-Ended 11:04 – 5. Timebox When Asking the Dismissive Avoidant for Something 13:46 – Conclusion Meet the Host Thais Gibson is the founder of The Personal Development School and a world leader in attachment theory. With a Ph.D. and over a dozen certifications, she's helped more than 70,000 people reprogram their subconscious and build thriving relationships. Helpful Resources:

Revenge Lawfare, Roman Precedents, and the Threat of Civil Conflict The Friends of History Debating Society discusses "lawfare," described as a simple, high-stakes political conflict where failure to "kill the king" results in logical retaliation. The conversation centers on the American "emperor" (Mr. Trump), who, following attacks during his interregnum, launched "revenge lawfare" upon re-election. The effectiveness of this lawfare is evidenced by the pervasive anxiety resulting from indictments. Recent targets included the Attorney General of New York and the former director of the FBI. This practice is viewed by supporters of Mr. Trump as condign and appropriate punishment following a perceived miscarriage of justice. The speakers fear that escalating cycles of political warfare, particularly if institutionalized by successive administrations, could lead to civil war, a situation Rome experienced repeatedly with figures like Sulla, Pompey, and Caesar. A cautionary example is given of Emperor Titus, the son of Vespasian, who promoted stability by ending the practice of treating slander and libel as treason. Germanicus(Michael Vlahos) and Gaius (John Batchelor) conclude by noting the need to address lawbreaking, but caution against institutionalizing punishment for standard civic discourse. 1880 SULLA SACKS ROMW (82 BCE)