Podcasts about Lowell

December 3, 2025Today's Reading: Romans 13:(8-10) 11-14Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 9:8-10:11; 1 Peter 5:1-14“Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:11-12)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Perhaps you remember the story of Paul Revere, the Boston silversmith who warned the American revolutionaries that, “The British are coming! The British are coming!” If you don't remember Paul Revere, you might remember that student in your elementary classroom who stood in the doorway when the teacher left the room. As the rest of the class got up to their shenanigans, the lookout would loudly whisper, “Shhh! The teacher's coming back!”Holy Scripture doesn't need Paul Revere or the classroom lookout because the Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul to write that it's time to wake from sleep. There is no time for sleepiness, laziness, or shenanigans for God's people. The Lord's salvation is near at hand, and Christ is returning soon. Live like Jesus is coming in glory soon! Live as one of the Christians who is forgiven by Jesus and for whom Jesus died.It's hard to live in a constant state of readiness. Have you ever had a class at school where your teacher warned you that you could have a pop quiz at any time? It was really stressful, wasn't it? Or if you have a job, you know how nerve-wracking it can be when your boss watches your normal tasks and then asks to have a private chat.  You are covered by the grace of Christ. That doesn't mean that you can let your guard down or live in a spiritually lazy way. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of your faith. (Hebrews 12:2) Live out your faith because you are a beloved child of God. Jesus is coming back. Yet, your life of faith isn't something you need to do because you are afraid of God, but because that is who God has made you to be. While it can be hard to remain dedicated to the loving service that God has called you to do, don't grow weary. Don't give up. Don't stop serving and loving your neighbors. After all, God put those people in your life for you to love. He has also called you to love Him with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. As hard as it is, simply do that until the day that Jesus returns in glory.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.As we worship, grant us vision, Till Your love's revealing light In its height and depth and greatness, Dawns upon our quickened sight, Making known the needs and burdens Your compassion bids us bear, Stirring us to tireless striving, Your abundant life to share. (LSB 848:3)Author: Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

December 2, 2025Today's Reading: Jeremiah 23:5-8Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 8:9-9:7; 1 Peter 4:1-19“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.'” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.These days, there aren't very many kings in the world. Sure, there's a King of Great Britain and the British Commonwealth, but where else are there kings? Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Monaco, and Morocco are some current monarchies as well, for your trivia background information. Still, “kings” sound foreign to most people today. But the Lord's promise through Jeremiah is more than talking about a monarchial form of government, but the establishment of the “once-for-all-ruler-over-all-things.”  This is not a promise about another monarch or king in the world, but the ultimate ruler over all things.  The righteous Branch of David is not just another ruler. He is the be-all, end-all ruler. All authority in heaven and on earth is given to Him. (Matthew 28:18) He is before all things; in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17) In him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28) There is no one like Jesus Christ, the righteous Branch. The justice and righteousness that He brings are no mere human ideal, but the very justice and righteousness of God.Jesus has come. The Lord is our righteousness. Jesus, the righteous Branch, has made you righteous by His grace. In a human court, a judge will declare an accused person “not guilty” if there isn't enough evidence to convict them of a crime. Notice, though, that there is a big difference between “not guilty” and “innocent.” Someone who didn't commit a crime isn't guilty of that crime, but they aren't innocent. But when Jesus, the ruler and judge of all things, comes, He is our righteousness. Jesus doesn't declare you “not guilty” nor “innocent” but rather “righteous.” By the grace of God that covers you, Jesus says that, because of His grace, you are just the way you are supposed to be. He has claimed you as His own. That's the only authority that matters. Live as a subject in God's Kingdom, because “The Lord is Our Righteousness” (that is, Jesus Christ) is your King.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lo, how a rose e'er blooming From tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse's lineage coming As prophets long have sung, It came, a flow'ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half-spent was the night. (LSB 359:1)Author: Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

Jim and Abigail Zimmerman are a father-daughter investment team at Lowell Capital Management, combining Jim's two decades of disciplined value investing since founding the firm in 2003 with Abby's research-focused approach to identifying small-cap companies with fortress balance sheets and strong free cash flow generation.The episode is sponsored by TenzingMEMO — the AI-powered market intelligence platform I use daily for smarter company analysis. Code BILLIONS gets you an extended trial + 10% off https://www.tenzingmemo.com/3:00 - Abby shares her first stock purchase of American Eagle in middle school, using it as a gateway to understanding that investing isn't abstract but about owning real businesses and thinking like an owner.5:21 - The Zimmermans explain their core philosophy: “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” emphasizing that fewer things need to go right in an investment, citing Peter Lynch's principle that if you can't explain what a company does to an 11-year-old in a sentence or two, you probably shouldn't own it.8:34 - Jim discusses their strategy of buying growth companies at value prices, explaining their best investments are companies trading at 5-6x EBITDA with no debt that possess sustainable moats allowing intrinsic value to compound over time.12:00 - Discussion of the Sprouts Farmers Market case study, demonstrating how they identify turnaround situations where strong unit economics exist but the market hasn't recognized the potential yet.28:00 - Abby explains their disciplined selling process, particularly the importance of position sizing and their “20% trim rule” when stocks appreciate significantly to maintain portfolio balance.35:00 - The team reveals their contrarian approach during market dislocations, specifically discussing how they deployed capital during the COVID crash by focusing on companies with fortress balance sheets.42:00 - Jim shares wisdom from his father Lowell: live beneath your means, invest the excess, and build things over time - the Charlie Munger approach that shaped their entire investment philosophy.51:00 - Discussion of free cash flow as the ultimate metric, with both emphasizing that businesses generating cash can survive any environment and capitalize on opportunities when competitors stumble.57:05 - Abby defines success as alignment - living in a way that reflects what matters most, building something meaningful with family, and treating others well while maintaining disciplined investing even when unpopular.1:00:24 - Bogumil adds perspective on wealth preservation across generations, noting the US uniquely allows both creation and multi-generational preservation of wealth.Podcast Program – Disclosure StatementBlue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm's employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

December 1, 2025Today's Reading: Matthew 21:1-9Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 7:10-8:8; 1 Peter 3:1-22“And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'” (Matthew 21:9)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Wait, how did a Holy Week reading break into December? Palm Sunday happened the week of Good Friday and Easter, not four weeks before Christmas. Maybe the Bible-reading calendar (the lectionary) goofed up! Don't worry. This is not a mistake. At the beginning of this new Church year, we are supposed to hear about Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem as King, about Jesus' appearance as Savior, and recognize Jesus' presence not only in Jerusalem but with the whole Church. That day, Jesus entered on a humble donkey to the shouts of the crowds. During this season of Advent, we also look at how Jesus was born and laid in a manger at Christmas, and how Jesus will come again in glory on the Last Day.What those events all have in common is that Jesus is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. In Jerusalem, the crowds shouted the Hebrew word “Hosanna!” which means “Save us now!”  Psalm 118:25 teaches us to pray like this, and it continues to be the prayer of Christ's Church today.  In Advent, in Holy Week, and for every day throughout the year, you need Jesus. You need a Savior. The world threatens you, the Devil attacks you, and your own sinful flesh and mind try to get you to doubt God. You fall into sin; no matter how hard you try, you cannot live perfectly. By yourself, you are a lost cause. You can't do what God has called you to do in His Law. That's why He has come. He has come to save you. The Lord of all, present in the manger. The One who humbly rode a donkey into Jerusalem as an answer to prayer. The One who was subject to death, even death on a cross, for your forgiveness. The One who rose from death to give you the promise of everlasting life with Him. Jesus has come to save you.Keep praying! Keep singing with the crowds, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Save us now, Lord!”  Confess your faith in Jesus, your Savior. He has come to rescue you from sin and every evil. Rejoice, because He is the Savior you need, and He will never leave you nor forsake you.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing; For Christ is our Redeemer, The Lord of heav'n our King. Oh, may we ever praise Him With heart and life and voice And in His blissful presence Eternally rejoice!” (LSB 443:3)Author: Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

November 30, 2025Today's Reading: John 1:35-42aDaily Lectionary: Isaiah 6:1-7:9; 1 Peter 2:13-25“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah' (which means Christ)” (John 1:40-41)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Andrew told his brother that they had found Jesus, the Messiah. It seemed that way. They believed the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would come. Now, they had found Him! Except that Jesus hadn't been lost. Instead of Andrew and Simon finding Jesus, Jesus came and found them. Jesus, the all-knowing Lord, walked past John the Baptist while he was teaching, and John pointed out Jesus, the Lamb of God. When Andrew followed Him, Jesus invited Andrew to “come and see” where Jesus was staying and what Jesus was doing. In other words, Jesus invited Andrew to follow Him.  Sometimes, it's easy for people, including you, to think that they've “found Jesus” or “got Jesus.” From our perspective, that's what it seems like. Yet, it's not that we find Jesus, but that Jesus finds us. In the Small Catechism about the Creed's Third Article, we confess, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.”  We who cannot believe in Jesus as Lord or come to Him don't find. Instead, Jesus and the Holy Spirit find us!That's great news, because it takes the burden off you. It can be tempting to think that you need to find Jesus or that you need to make sure that you are following Jesus the right way. Don't be confused: you aren't in charge of God's grace. Jesus isn't lost, and Jesus doesn't need finding. You were lost, but Jesus has found you and called you His own new creation, baptized into His name and an heir of eternal life with Him! Jesus now invites you to “come and see” His gracious work for you because of His great love for you!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, by Your grace, the apostle Andrew obeyed the call of Your Son to be a disciple. Grant us also to follow the same Lord Jesus Christ in heart and life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Author: Rev. Peter Ill, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Millstadt, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Work through the first ten chapters of Matthew and learn more about who Jesus is. As you move through this study, you'll ponder the theological, practical, and historical considerations of the text. With ample room for personal notes, this study will have you feeling confident in your understanding of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew 1:1-11:1 of the new Concordia Commentary Bible Study Series is available now.

November 29, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 1 - Psalm 25:4-5, 21-22; antiphon: Psalm 25:1-3aDaily Lectionary: Isaiah 5:1-25; Amos 1:1-9:15; 1 Peter 2:1-12“Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 25:22)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Advent strikes a truer chord in the Psalms. We wait for the God who has made great promises. Let me not be put to shame. By the devil, who prowls about like a lion seeking to devour me. By the world, who finds little worth in everything I call precious. By myself, because if I'm being honest, the devil and the world will probably ignore me, except for the fact that I take shelter under a God whose law I make a mockery of. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Even when his troubles are himself. Advent is a season of penitential hope. And we treat those two things like oil and water. Real hope has no shame. The truly penitent are too downcast to dare to hope. To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul anyway. My escape from shame isn't myself. It's my God. It's yours. He advents to take away your sin, to bear your shame, and promises to return in glory at last to put right everything shameful that the devil, the world, and my own sinful flesh can do wrong. So we wait in penitent hope. That's the right kind. We won't be lost to dwelling in our shame. We'll take it to the Jesus who advents to bear it upon a cross, who advents to meet us at the altar with forgiveness for all of our sins, and who advents at last to free us from this vicious cycle of daily dying and rising to sin. On the Last Day, we'll only rise. Instead of a focus only on what's wrong, Advent says God will show up to be what's right. Our Redeemer. He invites everyone with shame. Bring the shame from all you've done. All the shame from what's been done to you. All the shame the world heaps on you, and all the devil can stir up, too. Gather it up and take it to where God advents to join you to Himself at His table, where He feeds you with His Body and Blood and joins you to angelic hosts and all the company of heaven who sing hymns just because they see you with them at the feast. The mark of freedom from shame isn't a perfect life. It's one of waiting for the God who takes shame away. Indeed, none who wait for Christ shall be put to shame.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Come, Thou precious Ransom, come, Only hope for sinful mortals! Come, O Savior of the world! Open are to Thee all portals. Come, Thy beauty let us see; Anxiously we wait for Thee. (LSB 350:1)Author: Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 28, 2025Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of Duties - To Workers of All KindsDaily Lectionary: Isaiah 2:1-22; Isaiah 3:1-4:6; 1 Peter 1:13-25“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” (Ephesians 6:5–8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The language here is…challenging. Slave. Obey. Earthly masters. Just as you would obey Christ. First of all, slaves. Second of all, I'm not even great at obeying Christ in the first place, let alone sinners like every earthly master. I'm not going to parse the word slave and come up with a definition that's more palatable. I'm not going to wax eloquent on the working class that can't escape poverty. Almost all of you have someone in charge of you. That's plenty to talk about already. When one sinner has power over another, that doesn't naturally produce a sense of peace. Those kinds of power dynamics are easy to abuse. But Luther sees only gift. Vocation isn't just “thou shalt not rage against the machine.” The gift of vocation sees God behind all things. Even sinners who are your boss. Ephesians says to serve them as if you were serving Christ. Because Christ works through your neighbor. Now there are two things to talk about. First, if your boss abuses you, that's always bad. That's never good. God is not pleased by this sin. You can tell, not because He gives you the boss, but because He gives your boss the same Ten Commandments. Second, you can expect God to work good through your boss anyway. Think about it, as sinful as all of us are, and as prone as those power dynamics are to abuse, we have not descended into anarchy. God brings more good from these relationships than we have any right to deserve, but we can expect them anyway because He is gracious. When it comes to your boss, recognize that God wants to care for you through them. Your role as a worker, in whatever phraseology you use, is challenging. Because all of us, in an uneven power dynamic, would rather be God than the Christian. Repent, and recognize just how much good we receive because God, who is powerful, is merciful to us. He even wants to use your boss to make sure you're provided for. It won't be perfect this side of glory, but we can dare to hope because God, who knows your boss too, dares to promise good here. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In what You give us, Lord, to do, Together or alone, In old routines or ventures new, May we not cease to look to You, The cross You hung upon— All You endeavored done. (LSB 853:4)Author: Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

Send us a textLowell Johnson Returns In this conversation, Gareth Duignam and Lowell Johnson discusses the Stunning Evidence and the  reality of contact with higher vibrational experiences and the importance of awareness in recognizing these phenomena. They emphasizes that Light Beings Caught on Camera at Mt Shasta and genuine experiences are available to those who are attuned to them and that many people are not yet aware of this potential. Watch on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcGNJe2Z6G0Watch Part 1  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4bvAH08mu8Spiritual Awakening and Energy Healing: The podcast explores the journey of spiritual awakening and energy healing, featuring discussions on personal experiences and insights.Mount Shasta and Mystical Experiences: The conversation includes stories about Mount Shasta, its mystical cloud formations, and the experiences of visitors who have witnessed unusual phenomena.Lemurian Civilization and Inner Earth Cities: The discussion touches on the Lemurian civilization believed to reside within Mount Shasta and the concept of inner earth cities.Crystal Skulls and Akashic Records: The podcast delves into the mystery of crystal skulls, their origins, and their connection to Akashic records and ancient knowledge.Light Beings and Energetic Phenomena: Experiences with light beings and other energetic phenomena are shared, highlighting personal encounters and the significance of these events.Audience Engagement and Podcast Growth: The podcast's growth and audience engagement are discussed, emphasizing the impact of previous episodes and the importance of viewer interaction.

November 27, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 17:11-19Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 1:1-28; 1 Peter 1:1-12“[the lepers] lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.'” (Luke 17:13)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Today, we celebrate the blessed and historic feast of American Thanksgiving and try to keep the sarcasm off our faces. Pilgrims and Indians ate together, got along perfectly, and avoided arguing about politics. If you sprinkle some Jesus on it, there's a sermon in there about who you're thankful to. The problem is, I'm bad at it. All I can do is hang onto the losses. The what could have beens. I can come up with something to say at the table, but my heart just isn't in it most years. I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me a long list of stuff I can't list here because of word counts. This is most certainly true. Still, it's easier to find two things missing than all the ones there. That's why trying to be more thankful doesn't work for long. We don't need Thanksgiving sermons here. We need Jesus healing the least of these. Us. This is more than just a reminder to look on the bright side. Leprosy sermons aren't about feeling better with your lot in life; they're about Jesus helping people who can't help themselves. He's not with the worthy, but the outcasts, the unclean, and even helps those who don't know what thankfulness really is. Even the nine who fail to return are still healed. Because Christ isn't in it for the thank yous. He did it because He loves them. He bears the cross for them. And He loves you. It isn't measured in how many things you can list at the table to give thanks for. It's measured in the cross. Only Samaritan was truly thankful because thankfulness isn't halfhearted praise, but going back to the source for more. True thankfulness is getting seconds because that means more to whoever cooked for you all day than anything else. Go to the Thanksgiving Meal. The Eucharist. Communion. Then, go back for more. Thanksgiving is just returning to it over and over, heaping everything else that wasn't enough on a pile, and rejoicing in forgiveness and mercy for it all. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Even so, Lord, quickly come To Thy final harvest home; Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin, There, forever purified, In Thy garner to abide: Come with all Thine angels, come, Raise the glorious harvest home. (LSB 892:4)Author: Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

Earlier this year, the seminal self-titled debut from Jars of Clay turned 30 years old. We honor that milestone anniversary by having two members of the band, Charlie Lowell and Matthew Odmark, on the show to reminisce on their memories of the album and to reflect on its legacy today. Joining the conversation are JFH's John DiBiase and Josh Balogh. Would you like to hear and even appear as a guest on the host's new podcast series? Click here for more information. The JFH Podcast is hosted and produced by Chase Tremaine and executive produced by John DiBiase and Christopher Smith. To meet the people behind the show, discuss the episodes, ask questions, and engage in conversations with other listeners, join the JFH Podcast group on Facebook.

Dan Guttenplan sits down with Marc Deschenes, the new owner of the Lowell Spinners, a Futures Collegiate Baseball League team. Mark shares his journey from nearly missing out on baseball in Lowell to reviving the Spinners with a focus on community engagement and player development. He discusses the strategic assembly of the new ownership group, which includes notable baseball figures like Johnny Damon and Jonathan Papelbon. Mark also delves into his professional baseball career, touching on his experiences with the Cleveland Indians and his transition into business with Pison Technologies, a company that develops wearable cognitive training tools. The episode wraps up with a fun segment of baseball trivia and memorable moments. Topics 00:40 Background of the Lowell Spinners 01:33 Formation of the New Ownership Group 03:03 Building the Team and Community Engagement 04:36 Roster Development and Recruitment 08:49 Promotions and Fan Experience 14:31 Professional Baseball Journey 21:19 Career Decisions and Transition from Baseball 22:22 Introduction to Pison Technologies 23:44 How Pison Technologies Enhances Baseball Performance 26:56 Three Up, Three Down: Baseball Memories and Trivia 37:04 Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-Up

November 26, 2025Today's Reading: Revelation 22:1-21Daily Lectionary: Daniel 6:1-28; Daniel 9:1-27; Revelation 22:1-21“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.” (Revelation 22:14)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Bible ends with hope. Christ will return soon. The faithful pray, “Amen. Come Lord Jesus,” and the grace of the Lord Jesus is with them all. If there's that much hope, it can endure even when the evildoer still does evil. The filthy will still be filthy. The righteous still do right, and the holy still are holy. Don't worry. Hope. And in hope, live. It's going to look messy. As we live closer each day to the last when Christ returns, the evil and the holy will live alongside one another. It will look so messy that at times, we'll lose sight of who is who. We find ourselves in plenty of filth, committing plenty of sin, and arguing about the right context of it all so we can appear righteous. Every war is fought so that the winner can proclaim their deeds righteous at the end and vilify the loser. Every sinner knows the pattern of self-justification. People blame others. People excuse themselves. So do you. Everyone will just keep doing what we're doing until the end. But the Lord sees through the mess as to who is who. Not by your excuses. Not by your self-justifications. By His water. By His grace. By His Baptism. You who have been baptized, who have washed your robes, have the right to the Tree of Life. Even your sin can't take that right from you. For Jesus has taken that sin away through your Baptism. You are holy. Jesus makes you that way through your Baptism. Let the one who is holy still be holy. It's just who you are. Even when you fall into sin. Daily, you are washed clean again. That's why, in faith, you worship Christ. Keep doing what you're doing. Take your sin to Jesus. Let the one who is thirsty take the water of life without price. Rejoice in your Baptism. Live in hope. The end will be soon. But even while it's messy, never worry about who you are. You are baptized. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Spirit, water, blood entreating, Working faith and its completing In the One whose death-defeating Life has come, with life for all. (LSB 597:5)Author: Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 25, 2025Today's Reading: Colossians 1:13-20Daily Lectionary: Daniel 5:1-30; Daniel 7:1-8:27; Revelation 21:9-27“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. This is what God looks like. Jesus. And you'll only see it here. On account of the “image of the invisible God” part. We rush to creation to find evidence of God, but can't see anything, even if we know that even there Christ was working. Psalm 19 is right. Creation shows there is a God. It doesn't reveal Him fully. You can argue about how complex a bird's wing is. There is plenty out there to support the notion of intelligent design. But even then, what intelligence? It's why everyone can look at the same bird, the same mountain range at sunset, and come up with different ideas about how we got here. Here's the thing, though. The chief work of God isn't creating. It's saving. This is the place you see God clearest. It looks like this. “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). The cross He bore to redeem creation. Which is grander, making what can be broken, or redeeming something in a way that it can't be lost? It isn't just intelligence that shaped creation, but love. Mercy grand enough to see the depths to which we've fallen in sin, the darkness we get lost in, the pain we feel, and assume it unto Himself. God was made man that He would take upon Himself the fullness of our sin and bring it to nothing upon the cross. He did this for you. And it's finished. Now. You live in the kingdom of the Son. On the Last Day, that kingdom will look like the resurrection. A new creation, free from darkness and sin and pain and death. But Colossians tells us that He has already transferred us. Already delivered us. And again, you'll only see it here. On the cross. Not in creation. Because that part still looks pretty dark. So we look to the light of the world, Jesus, who darkness cannot overcome, who has borne death and left it broken and defeated. Even if you still live in the land of darkness, you live in the kingdom of the Son, who cannot die again. That means the darkness can assault you, but never own you. The creation can fall apart, but you'll just rise again. And if that ever gets hard to see, look to the cross, and know it stands. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Praise be to Christ in whom we see The image of the Father shown, The firstborn Son revealed and known, The truth and grace of deity; Through whom creation came to birth, Whose fingers set the stars in place, The unseen pow'rs, and this small earth, The furthest bounds of time and space. (LSB 538:1)Author: Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 24, 2025Today's Reading: Malachi 3:13-18Daily Lectionary: Daniel 4:1-37; Revelation 21:1-8“You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts?” (Malachi 3:14)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. It doesn't seem to be going any better for the faithful than they were when Malachi wrote. We aren't marked as the richest or most successful. We aren't the healthiest. We don't avoid natural disasters. It hurts down here for believer and unbeliever alike. Even the people in Malachi's day noticed and dared to ask. What's the point of all this? So the prophet responds. “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” It's not just, “Hey, one day you'll go to heaven and they won't, so you're way better off.” That's shallow at best, and pretty ugly at worst. First of all, who do you think seems to shine the sun on the good and the evil alike? It's God who gives even the unbelievers everything they have. It's Him who seems to set up a system where even the wicked receive daily bread the same as the faithful. It's almost like He wants sinners to receive good gifts. It's almost like He loves us all enough to die for the entire world. Evil people have stuff because God atones for all. Bleeds for all our sin. That's why the faithful have anything, too. Why do you think God giving you lots of stuff is somehow a great witness for Him and not just…like…really nice for you? The cross where God is even willing to die for His enemies makes a far better claim to His love. If you want to see the difference between the wicked and the righteous, don't look to how much they have. Don't even look to what they're doing. Look to the Lord, who forgives, saves, and names righteous. Yours is the God who insists on giving good gifts to those who don't deserve them. He insists there be order we haven't built, daily bread we haven't earned, all so that there would be space for us to hear His word that promises even more to us. Forgiveness of sins. Life. Salvation. All of us are born evil. And by the word and sacraments, you believe. Others are brought to faith, too. And if heaven happens to get a little more crowded, you can do more than just lament the fact that someone had nice things and salvation. You can rejoice with all the angels in heaven when one sinner repents. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Even so, Lord, quickly come To Thy final harvest home; Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin, There, forever purified, In Thy garner to abide: Come with all Thine angels, come, Raise the glorious harvest home. (LSB 892:4)Author: Rev. Harrison Goodman, content executive for Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 23, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 23:27-43Daily Lectionary: Daniel 3:1-30; Revelation 20:1-15“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!'But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.'” (Luke 23:39–43)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The thief on the cross shows that in someone's last moments, they are the most honest with themselves. Crucifixion gave someone a lot of time to reflect on their life as they suffocated to death, their sins exposed before every person who witnessed the event and to themselves. The first thief thought that the kingdom of Christ was of this world. He had a prosperity Gospel that proclaimed that if he believed in Jesus, all of his problems would go away. He wanted a savior who brought down the heavenly armies and not only lowered him from the cross but also brought down the Roman Empire. This view of Jesus misses the purpose of his first coming. The second thief was aware of his sin and why he was hoisted up to die.This second sinner was exposed and had nothing to hide behind. He knew he needed a savior and, more importantly, who was his savior. He had faith that Jesus had something better than this life of sin, and he believed that Jesus was the only way to get there. We have the same faith as the second thief because we also know that we offer nothing to our savior, but we believe that he will have mercy on us as he did to that fellow believer.We have the assurance that we will see Jesus in Paradise when we receive his name in Baptism. We are no better than the thief who was crucified for his crimes. Like the thief, we are given faith, and that faith is sustained until God takes us home. We have continual assurance of what Jesus does for us when we receive him through his Word and the Sacraments. So on our deathbeds, as our weak bodies draw our last feeble breaths, we can look back to the promises of God and be confident that we will be with Jesus in Paradise.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord Jesus Christ, You reign among us by the preaching of Your cross. Forgive Your people their offenses that we, being governed by Your bountiful goodness, may enter at last into Your eternal Paradise; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Author: Jonah Clausen, seminary student at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 22, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 24 - Psalm 134; antiphon: Psalm 33:8Daily Lectionary: Daniel 2:24-49; Revelation 19:1-21“Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,  who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!... Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!” (Psalm 138:1-3, Psalm 33:8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Psalm 138:3 gives three locations: 1) Zion, 2) Heaven, 3) Earth. These are places, not just ideas or concepts—they're proper nouns. Proper nouns are capitalized; ideas and concepts are not. Thus, Zion, the city of David, Heaven, the location of standing at the face of God (it's the eternal Throne, Revelation 19:4). Heaven's not geographically located, as if hiding behind the Sun; it's where the angels and the living ones stand at the face of God (e.g., Revelation 19:4-6). Earth is, of course, a planet, like Mars or Jupiter; it's the planet where the Lord placed us, where we live out our lives in service to neighbor. Strangely, we seem afraid to give the proper nouns “Heaven” and Earth” their proper capitalizations. Maybe we're a little afraid, so we cower and spell “Heaven” as “heaven,” treating it not as a place, but an idea or concept, thus “heaven.” (Most modern translations of Scripture do this even with Earth, as if there's one planet named Jupiter, another named Earth.)Zion is the city of David; Heaven is at the face of the Lord; Earth is our planet. What do the three have to do with each other? We brought Earth, the place of our creation and life, into sin. So on Earth, the Lord appointed a location to place his Name: Zion. Wherever the Lord places His Name, He is coming to bestow forgiveness upon the sinner.For the Israelites, Zion is the holy place (Psalm 138:2), the location of the Temple. When Jesus comes, He says, “Tear down this Temple, and in three days I will build it up” (John 2:19). In this way, Jesus' Body now stands as the Temple of God—the body torn down at the cross, raised up in three days in the resurrection.Now Jesus brings you to Mount Zion, the city of the Living God. It's the Church, the assembled saints (Hebrews 12:22). It's where Jesus is distributing the riches of the New Testament in his Blood (Hebrews 12:24). Zion is wherever Jesus is having his Gospel proclaimed on Earth, his Sacraments administered, and his people assembled so that they would hear the Name of the Living God proclaimed from Heaven. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord Jesus, gather us to your Mt. Zion, the assembly of your saints. Let us hear your Word of Gospel. In the eating and drinking of your Body and Blood, forgive our sins, letting us receive the benefits of your cross, which is life and salvation. Amen.  Author: Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

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November 21, 2025Today's Reading: Daniel 2:1-23Daily Lectionary: Daniel 2:1-23; Revelation 18:1-24“Daniel answered and said: ‘Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;  he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.'” (Daniel 2:20-23)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Look around in the world and try to figure out what God is doing. A flood hits Florida, or in a foreign country, a dictator is overthrown—how are we to see God's hand in this? Even in our personal lives, a friend gets laid off at work, or another friend gets a great, high-paying job—can we see how God is working in this? The Prophet Daniel reveals that God's hand is not absent from our world's affairs. It's God who sets up kings (or presidents, or dictators), and it is God who tears them down (Daniel 2:21). Our problem is that, while God uses events and persons of this world to work all things for the good of his people (Romans 8:26-30), we cannot know how God is doing this. His hand is there, but what's it doing? Even though King Nebuchadnezzar could not know it, and even while he was the captor of the Lord's people, the Lord was using him to benefit the Lord's people! By Nebuchadnezzar, the Lord kept his people intact so that generations later from Israel's lineage, the Lord himself would come in the flesh as the Lamb of God who bears the sin of the world—including Nebuchadnezzar's sin and yours and mine.Because the Lord used people such as Nebuchadnezzar (and for that matter, later Judas) to keep a remnant of his people and to bring forth the salvation of the cross, we may give thanks that while we cannot know how, God's hand is, indeed, working all things together for good for those called by the Gospel, so that nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (cf. Romans 8:37-39).In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Blessed be your Name, O God. All wisdom and might is yours. You change the times and seasons, you remove kings and set them up, though we are not given to know how. To you, O God, I give thanks and praise, for you make known the wisdom of the cross to people of every nation, and by the preaching of your Word, you reveal the justification of the sinner by the blood of your Son, the Christ from the lineage of Israel. Amen.Author: Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 20, 2025Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of Duties - To ChildrenDaily Lectionary: Daniel 1:1-21; Matthew 28:1-20“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and your mother'—which is the first commandment with a promise—' that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life in the Earth.' Eph. 6:1-3” (Catechism, Table of Duties: To Children)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. How does the Lord take care of you in this world—not just in your life of faith where you are justified by your Lord's Word, but in your earthly life, where you need food and drink and home and safety? The Lord sets, for the benefit of children, parents. Mom and Dad. The son or daughter, then, is given to receive all good gifts of family and childhood from his or her parents. And where the parent needs help in caring for a child, perhaps a teacher to teach algebra or a doctor to diagnose a fever, the parent brings in a teacher or doctor or whatever other profession so that the teacher or doctor (or whomever) is acting by the authority and in the stead of the mom and dad. Mom and Dad are the Lord's instruments. They are standing in the Lord's stead to provide for the children. So obedience to parents is not just some ritualistic keeping of the law; it's much more. When we are young, respect and obedience are our recognition that we receive every good gift from our Lord, including all the gifts of “daily bread,” through our parents. They are the Lord's servants, his vessels. This, of course, often goes poorly in our sinful world. A parent may die; a family may be torn by divorce; or a parent does his or her parenting poorly (which is true to some extent for every parent, except, of course, God the Father). Yet, in all of this, even when we find them in their weakness, we give thanks for parents, for they stand as God's instruments to care for, protect, teach, encourage, comfort, and sustain the children. And we pray to our Father in Heaven that we may be forgiving of our parents where they do poorly, and happily obedient to them, hearing them with ears of respect and thankfulness.  In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.You are our holy Lord, The all-subduing Word, Healer of strife. Yourself You did abase That from sin's deep disgrace You so might save our race And give us life. O ever be our guide, Our shepherd and our pride, Our staff and song. Jesus, O Christ of God, By your enduring Word, Lead us where You have trod; Make our faith strong. So now, and till we die, Sound we Your praises high And joyful sing: Infants, and all the throng, Who to the Church belong, Unite to swell the song To Christ, our king! (LSB 864:2,4,5)Author: Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

Baseball is back in Lowell! It was just announced the Lowell Spinners will resume play in 2026 at LeLacheur Park in Lowell. To celebrate that occasion, I talk about that, in addition to my top 10 (or so) moments from my time calling the Spinners on the radio.

November 19, 2025Today's Reading: Jeremiah 38:1-28Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 38:1-28; Jeremiah 39:1-44:30; Matthew 27:57-66“So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.” (Jeremiah 38:6)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Put yourself in Jeremiah's shoes. Wait, maybe don't do that. Jeremiah is standing in mud. At the bottom of a cistern. Waiting to die. Jeremiah could've avoided the cistern treatment if only he had agreed to go along with the current wisdom, if only he had spoken what was popular. He didn't. Now he's waiting to die, sunk in the cistern's mud. It can be hard to turn our backs on the worldly temptations of prestige, popularity, or power. When our world pressures us to bow down to the predominant ideology or current movements, the reasonable response can seem to be “Go along to get along.” The world's recognition is a siren song. The prophet Jeremiah did not go along to get along. Rather than seek the king's favor and secure friendship with the public, Jeremiah did the opposite. He spoke the Word the Lord had given him, even when everyone wanted to hear a different word, and found himself standing in the cistern mud, waiting to die. Of course, we know Jeremiah was rescued. The Lord was not ready to have his Word shut down. The Lord was about the business of giving the gift of repentance, rescue, and salvation to his people, and Jeremiah was his appointed mouthpiece. But the worldly lesson was clear: the easiest path would've been for Jeremiah to speak words acceptable to the world, and to go to sleep at night in his own comfortable bed with the approval of the king, not sinking in mud.Many generations later, around 1230 A.D., St. Elizabeth of Hungary is quoted as saying, “How could I bear a crown of gold when the Lord bears a crown of thorns? And bears it for me!” That's the suffering of every person in our world, including Jeremiah, whose faith is in the promised Christ. The preaching of the cross turns us away from the siren song of worldly prestige, popularity, or power. It turns us to the Word of Jesus, the Gospel of our redemption.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.By all Your saints in warfare, For all Your saints at rest, Your holy name, O Jesus, Forevermore be blest! For You have won the battle That they might wear the crown; And now they shine in glory  Reflected from Your throne. We praise you for the prophet Who spoke your word at cost, He stood in the cistern mud— foreshadow of your cross. From the mouth of Jeremiah,  we heard your word impart Your Gospel of redemption To cleanse the sinful heart. ( LSB 517:1, verse for Jeremiah)Author: Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 18, 2025Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:(1-5) 6-13Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 37:1-21; Revelation 17:1-18; Matthew 27:33-56“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. … For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3: 6, 11)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Idle hands … devil's workshop”—we don't want to be caught being idle. So the Apostle instructs us to keep away from those walking in idleness. But Paul's actual word here in the Greek addresses something more than just laziness.In Greek, it's disordered, the same root word as properly ordering things. Scripture uses this word for the institutions the Lord put in place for us in creation—institutions such as marriage and home, neighbor and society, possessions and property, all given in the “orders of creation.” Paul knows as well as we do that the Church lives in a sinfully disordered world. “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from any brother who is walking outside of order and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. … For we hear that some among you walk in disorder, not busy at work, but busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 11)In these last Sundays of the Church year, we review how the Church is given to live in these latter days while waiting for our Lord's return to judge the living and the dead. In this disordered world, the Lord's institutions (life, marriage of man and woman, life and family and home, neighbor and society, possessions and property) will remain under attack. So the Apostle encourages the Church. But this disordering is not just our world. It's us, our own sinful flesh. Realizing this, we have one place to turn. 2 Thessalonians 3:5: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”Where we're unfaithful to Christ, he's steadfast and faithful to us. Until that day when he comes again to judge the living and the dead, as we live in this disordered world and our own disordered lives, we turn to him, for he is faithful to his promise: “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord, you remain faithful to your promise. In our disordered world, we pray for our neighbor, that your institutions of family and home, of marriage of man and woman, of possessions and wealth, may be upheld for our neighbor's benefit. And we give you thanks that you have instituted for us your gift of Baptism. Keep us in Baptism's forgiveness of all sins and promise of life everlasting. Amen.Author: Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 17, 2025Today's Reading: Malachi 4:1-6Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 33:1-22; Jeremiah 34:1-36:32; 45:1-51:64; Matthew 27:11-32“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4:5-6)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The prophet Malachi promises an Elijah. But what was Israel's problem that they needed an Elijah? Israel's great sin is that they were treating the Lord's altar as common. The Lord gathers Israel to his altar to receive the forgiveness of their sins, to be made holy by the Lord's institution of sacrifice. But Israel is treating his altar as common, even profane—they even call it not a holy Altar but a defiled table! (See Malachi 1:7, 1:12) Because they treat it not as the holy Altar where the Lord comes to them with blessing, but as a defiled table for empty religious rituals, Israel has been bringing not the proper, appointed sacrificial animals, but … trash. (See Malachi 1:7, 1:13-14)When she has despised the Lord's Altar, denigrating it as a common table, where has Israel left herself to go to receive the forgiveness of sins? What hope is there for the sinner separated from the Altar where God has placed his holy Name (Malachi 1:11)? Enter Malachi. He decrees the promise to save the sinner from the deserved decree of utter destruction (Malachi 4:16). It is the promise of an Elijah: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” Elijah? Elijah was, of course, in Israel some 450 years before Malachi's time. But Malachi is promising there will be another prophet who will stand in the office of Elijah. This prophet will do the “Elijah job” of bringing salvation for the sinner. As we know, that new Elijah is John the Baptist (Matthew 11:12-14), who, after baptizing Jesus in the Jordan, then declares: Jesus is the Lamb of God who is bearing the sin of the world! (see John 1:29) John, the new Elijah, has announced the greatest news of all. Jesus bears the sin of the world, every sinner of every generation! Your sin and mine. And where we, in our sin, have forgotten the Lord's Name and treated the gifts of holiness as common, we hear the voice of Jesus, and we know that his table is not common, not to be despised, but is nothing less than the holy gift of the Blood to forgive our sins. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord, where we have treated your gifts as common, where we have forgotten your Name bestowed upon us in Baptism, forgive. Gather us again to hear your Gospel; restore us as your holy people. For you alone, O Lamb of God, are the forgiver of sins, the Savior of the world. Amen. Author: Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 16, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 21:5-28 (29-36)Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 31:1-17, 23-34; Revelation 16:1-21; Matthew 27:1-10“[Jesus said,] ‘And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,  people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.'" (Luke 21:25-28)In the Name +  of Jesus. Amen. When you see these things: things of evil governments laying hands on Christians, Christians being persecuted for the holy Name; things of your own sin, your own failures; things of the frustration of living as a Christian, wishing you could do better each day, but seeing the hopelessness of it all as you find yourself once again, as yesterday and the day before, falling to doubt, to fear, to lust, to the desire to control others, or to any other temptation—when you see these things, Stand, lift up your heads, for you belong to Baptism. And Baptism is not the sinner showing allegiance to God. It's God saving the sinner. It's your Lord using his appointed means to work the forgiveness of sins, to rescue from death and the devil, and to give eternal life to all who have faith in the words and promises of God. So despair not. Lift up your heads, for you belong to the life-giving water, rich in grace, a washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)With each day, the world nears its final judgment. We see the signs all around. Despair not. We continue to rejoice in serving neighbor, in opportunities to work for peace and good order, in words spoken in kindness to acclaim our Lord's gift of life, extolling his institutions of family and home, of marriage of man and woman, of property and possessions, our Lord's institutions so often rejected by our fallen world. For we know that these things instituted by the Lord are his way of providing for us and our neighbor on Earth.We see our sin, our failures, and we fear. Despair not. Hear your Lord's Gospel and rejoice in the life of Baptism to which you belong. We stand and lift up our heads in faith. Luke 21:28: [Jesus said,] “Now when these things begin to take place, stand and raise up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O Lord, Almighty and always-living God, You gave great and precious promises to people who trust You.  Reign and lead our hearts and minds with Your Holy Spirit. Then we can continue to live forever in Your Son. Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Author: Rev. Warren Graff, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 15, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 23 - Psalm 121:1-2, 5, 7-8; antiphon: Luke 21:33Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 30:1-24; Revelation 15:1-8; Matthew 26:57-75“The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.” (Psalm 121:5)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“The Lord is your keeper.” Wow! Now that's a promise to grab onto. Not just any lord, but The Lord is your keeper, and his keeping covers your entire life, past, present, and future. If we're honest, we often go through the day totally unaware of how the Lord is keeping us under his protective care. We can manage most of the daily stuff put before us. Yet, all it takes is an illness, a near-miss car accident, the death of someone we know, or money problems to shake us up and cause us to realize how fragile life is and how quickly we can find ourselves in a helpless situation. The Lord is your keeper, whether you realize it or not. Psalm 121 is calling us to see that the Lord who made heaven and earth, who made you, is intimately involved in caring and providing for you. How can you be certain? He promised! The Lord put his name on you when he washed you with his Word in the waters of your Baptism. There you were adopted into the family of God. Your life was joined to Jesus, who promised to be with you all of the days of your life to the end of the age. He is keeping you! The Lord will keep you. That means you have a future. God promises it. He will keep you from all evil, so what have you to fear? “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). You have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit who is keeping you and your inheritance of eternal life safe and secure (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in today and all the days unto eternity! Knowing you are being kept by the one who made you and all things, that means you are free to live each day without fear or doubt. Even if it seems the world and the entire universe are going up in smoke, remember, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will not.” His word and his promises are yours. The Lord is your keeper.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)Author: Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 14, 2025Today's Reading: Matthew 26:36-56Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 29:1-19; Revelation 14:1-20; Matthew 26:36-56“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?'” (Matthew 26:53-54) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Jesus is praying, the disciples are sleeping, and Judas is coming, leading a great crowd carrying clubs and swords. It's happening; the hour is at hand. It feels like a climactic scene from a Hollywood movie, heading to a final confrontation between the good guys and the bad. Jesus is not caught by surprise. He is in Gethsemane, praying fervently to his Father. He knows what is about to happen, and it is troubling his soul. Jesus prays, “Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me.” Yet, Jesus knows this is his mission; this is why he was born; this is his destiny, so he continues to pray, “Not as I will, but as you will.” The great crowd finally arrives with swords in hand. Peter draws his sword and draws first blood, cutting off the ear of the High Priest's servant. Jesus charges Peter to put down his sword and says, “Do you not realize I can ask my Father and at once he will send more than twelve legions of angels?” 60,000 angels! Yes, that's what we want, don't we? A cosmic battle between good and evil. Jesus with his sleepy disciples against a huge sword-wielding crowd, but now with an army of angels coming down to wipe all those bad guys out. That would make for a great movie, but it is not part of the script. The Scriptures must be fulfilled. God has a different ending in mind. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. That's how the scene plays out, and all is going according to plan. Fast forward to a Roman cross outside of Jerusalem on a dark Friday. Jesus might have been betrayed, arrested, tried, and crucified by sinners, but it is for sinners that Jesus traveled the road to his cross. He carried their sins, your sins, and the sins of the entire world and nailed them to the tree. The one who knew no sin became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. This is the Father's will. This is what Jesus willingly endured, so that your life might have a beautiful climactic ending. Dressed in the robe of Christ's salvation, you are welcomed into the glories of heaven by the angelic hosts of heaven and into the open arms of God your Father. Now that's a movie worth seeing.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“From heaven's shining regions to greet me gladly come Your blessed angel legions to bid me welcome home.” (674:2)Author: Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

Send us a textIn this enlightening conversation, Lowell Johnson shares his transformative journey from a career in hospitality to profound spiritual experiences, particularly at Mount Shasta. He discusses his encounters with Mount Shasta's Hidden Civilization, light beings, the significance of Telos and the Lemurians, and the imminent shift towards a new earth. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of higher dimensions, the role of younger generations in spiritual awakening, and the existence of inner earth cities. Lowell's insights offer hope and validation for those on a similar path of discovery and connection with the universe.Lowell's journey reflects a deep connection to spirituality and nature.Mount Shasta serves as a powerful energetic vortex for transformation.Experiences with light beings can lead to profound personal insights.The Lemurians are real beings with a mission to assist humanity.The shift towards a new earth is imminent and involves collective awakening.Younger generations are naturally more attuned to spiritual truths.Inner earth cities exist and are home to advanced beings.The veil between dimensions is thinning, allowing for greater contact.Validation of spiritual experiences is crucial for personal growth.The future holds promise for humanity as we evolve together.

November 13, 2025Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of Duties - To ParentsDaily Lectionary: Jeremiah 26:1-19; Revelation 13:1-18; Matthew 26:20-35“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Thank God for our parents. Without them, we wouldn't be here. It pleased God to continue his work of creation by giving you life through a mom and a dad. God continues to care, provide, and protect us through the parents he gives us. This is at least God's design and intention for the family, to see one another as a gift and to share life together in love. This is the heart of the Fourth Commandment, where God instructs children to honor their father and mother. In his Small Catechism, Luther explains that rather than despising and angering our parents, children should honor, serve, obey, love, and cherish them. To see our parents as a gift from God causes hearts to cherish and love them. Love can't help but bear the fruit of willful service and obedience. Looking at one another through the lens of a God-given gift makes all the difference. There is no “Commandment” for parents, though, is there? Yes, there are several places in Scripture where parents are instructed in how to raise and treat their children. Although the particular guidelines may differ, the lens prescription is still the same; see your children as a gift from God. When parents see their child as a gift from the hand of God, they see their role in a whole new light. Dads and moms become a portrait to their children of their heavenly Father, mirroring God's gracious love, his sacrificial care, tireless provision, and tender guidance and protection. This is the hands-on way of raising children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. The thing about parents is that they are sinners, too. I've never met a parent who doesn't have regrets or who hasn't wished they could do some things over. Parents need forgiveness, too, just like children. This is perhaps the most profound way a parent can teach their children the faith when a parent is on the receiving end of God's forgiving grace. God loves to give gifts. He gave his most precious gift, his very own Son, to die for the sins of the world, and “the world” includes parents. God has given parents the gift of a family to love and to care for. Sharing life together in Christ makes all the difference.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother. Go, My children; I will keep you and give you peace.” (922:4)Author: Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 12, 2025Today's Reading: Matthew 26:1-19Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 25:1-18; Matthew 26:1-19“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” (Matthew 26:2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The hour has come; the time is at hand. The Son of Man is hours away from his cross. Jesus knew this, yet his disciples refused to believe it. The Scriptures pointed to this, and this is the reason Jesus was born: to die that he might save his people from their sins. News spread that Jesus was approaching Jerusalem, and the reception couldn't be more opposite, as opposite as faith and unbelief. When the chief priests and the elders of the people get wind that Jesus was coming near the city, guess what kind of welcome they are planning for him? They gather in the palace of Caiaphas, the High Priest, to plan how to secretly arrest Jesus and kill him. Isaiah's words about God's Messiah indeed are true: “He was despised and rejected by men.”  And yet God would use their scheming to accomplish his plan to save the world. Jesus stops in Bethany, two miles outside Jerusalem, at the house of Simon. While Jesus is reclining at the table, a woman pours expensive ointment on his head. The disciples become irate, thinking that is a waste of money, but Jesus has a different response: " What she has done is a beautiful thing to me.” He goes on to say, “She has done it to prepare me for burial.” The “Annointed One” has been anointed! The Passover Lamb is ready for the slaughter. “My time is at hand,” Jesus said. He would not be deterred. He knew what lay ahead of him over the upcoming hours, and yet Christ suffered for you. He endured the cross and bore your sins upon the tree that “you might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:21-24). Still to this day, Jesus, the Lamb of God, is rejected. Yet, the world's unbelief does not nullify what Christ accomplished on his cross. Jesus bore the iniquities of us all. So let us not be deterred to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. There is no sin Jesus' blood did not cover. There is no sinner left out whom Christ did not die for. This is the awesome wonder of Christ's cross.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“See, the Lamb, so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heav'n. Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, One and all, to be forgiv'n.” (345:3)Author: Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

From the publisher:“There Is Life on the Planet Mars” ―New York Times, December 9, 1906This New York Times headline was no joke. In the early 1900s, many Americans actually believed we had discovered intelligent life on Mars, as best-selling science writer David Baron chronicles in The Martians, his truly bizarre tale of a nation swept up in Mars mania.At the center of Baron's historical drama is Percival Lowell, the Boston Brahmin and Harvard scion, who observed “canals” etched into the surface of Mars. Lowell devised a grand theory that the red planet was home to a utopian society that had built gargantuan ditches to funnel precious meltwater from the polar icecaps to desert farms and oasis cities. The public fell in love with the ambitious amateur astronomer who shared his findings in speeches and wildly popular books.While at first people treated the Martians whimsically—Martians headlining Broadway shows, biologists speculating whether they were winged or gilled—the discussion quickly became serious. Inventor Nikola Tesla announced he had received radio signals from Mars; Alexander Graham Bell agreed there was “no escape from the conviction” that intelligent beings inhabited the planet. Martian excitement reached its zenith when Lowell financed an expedition to photograph Mars from Chile's Atacama Desert, resulting in what newspapers hailed as proof of the Martian canals' existence.Triumph quickly yielded to tragedy. Those wild claims and highly speculative photographs emboldened Lowell's critics, whose withering attacks gathered steam and eventually wrecked the man and his theory—but not the fervor he had started. Although Lowell would die discredited and delusional in 1916, the Mars frenzy spurred a nascent literary genre called science fiction, and the world's sense of its place in the universe would never be the same.Today, the red planet maintains its grip on the public's imagination. Many see Mars as civilization's destiny—the first step toward our becoming an interplanetary species—but, as David Baron demonstrates, this tendency to project our hopes onto the world next door is hardly new. The Martians is a scintillating and necessary reminder that while we look to Mars for answers, what we often find are mirrors of ourselves.David Baron's website is https://davidbaronauthor.com/ Information on his book can be found at https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324090663He is on social media at https://x.com/dhbaron?lang=enAxelbankHistory.com is designed by https://www.ellieclairedesigns.com/Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

November 11, 2025Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8, 13-17Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 23:21-40; Matthew 25:31-46“To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:14)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.God has made a decision for you. Do you realize that? God has made a choice for you and has called you to Himself. Do you slow down to stop and take time to think about that? You are a miracle of God's divine grace. God came to you through his Word and by his Spirit. He spoke to you, and you listened. He called you, and you came. He gave you a promise, and you believed. God chose to set his love on you; you are a miracle of God's saving grace. Not by the Law did God call you, but through His gospel. What does that mean? It means His decision for you is not based on your performance but upon His promise. God's decision for you is not conditional but unconditional. God didn't call you and say, “Come here, I've got a deal for you. I'll wipe the slate of your sin clean, I'll raise you from the dead, and I'll give you a permanent place in my incredible kingdom if you…” Nope! The law works that way, but not the gospel. You have been called by the gospel. You are a walking miracle of God's grace. God chose you in Christ. That means it has pleased him to give you everything Jesus won for you through his life, death, and resurrection as pure gift. No conditions. No checklist. No performance test. It's all yours in Jesus: complete forgiveness, God fully pleased with you, a life where he is working his good works through you, and everlasting life in his eternal kingdom. That's the decision God made for you. That's what Jesus accomplished for you. You have been called to simply receive it by faith – trusting in God's wonderful promises to you, and even your faith is His miraculous gift. God still calls you every day. When you wake up and open your eyes to a new day, God is calling you to rise and embrace the day, walking in His promises. He is at work in you and is keeping you in the very faith He has given you, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ! All gift; all for you. You are a miracle of God's amazing grace.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)Author: Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 10, 2025Today's Reading: Exodus 3:1-15Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 23:1-20; Matthew 25:14-30“God also said to Moses, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.'” (Exodus 3:15a)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We have a God who hears us; he never plugs his ears to our cries for help. We have a God who remembers; he never forgets but is faithful to keep his promises. We have a God who sees; he is intimately aware of the details of our lives. We have a God who knows; he is mindful of all we need, and he cares. This is the God who promised Abraham that he would be a father of a great nation, God would give his offspring a land to possess, and through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Those promises sounded pretty good to Abraham, almost too good to be true. All Abraham had to do to be on the receiving end of God's incredible promises was to believe him, and Abraham did. Abraham's descendants became an exceedingly large population after settling in Egypt; however, they became entrapped under a new pharaoh and forced to serve as his slaves. This went on for some 400 years; the people “groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help.” God heard, he remembered, he saw, and he knew (Exodus 2:23-25). So what does God do? He sends a rescuer to deliver his people from their bondage. God calls to Moses from out of a burning bush to go and deliver his people from an impossible situation. Moses is God's mouthpiece to deliver his message; God will do the work of rescuing through him. Moses went, and God delivered. We, like Israel, find ourselves in an impossible situation. We are slaves as well, helplessly shackled by sin and death with no good way out. So, what does God do? He sends a rescuer to deliver us out of our bondage. God himself comes to save us. Jesus comes to set us free and lead us into the Promised Land of his eternal kingdom. God hears our prayers and cries for help. He remembers his promises made to you, and he never forgets. God sees all, knows the things that weigh you down, and he continues to care for you. God sends a preacher to you to speak His Word for you that continues to set you free. “Your sins are forgiven.” “You are my beloved child.” “I will be with you to the end of the age.” “I have redeemed you; you are mine.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In the midst of utter woe When our sins oppress us, Where shall we for refuge go, Where for grace to bless us? To Thee, Lord Jesus, only! Thy precious blood was shed to win Full atonement for our sin. — Lord, preserve and keep us In the peace that faith can give. Have mercy, O Lord! (LSB 755:3)Author: Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 9, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 20:27-40Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 22:1-23; Matthew 25:1-13“Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” (Luke 20:38)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Dead men don't rise. That's what common sense will tell you. Dead is dead! That's what the Sadducees would have told you. Even though they were a Jewish sect, they did not believe in the afterlife and certainly not in the resurrection of the dead. As a matter of fact, they limited the authority of the Scriptures to the first five books of Moses; no resurrection there, so they thought. Ironically, they ask a riddle-like question about the resurrection to the one who is “the Resurrection.” Jesus takes the Sadducees right to the book of Exodus, where God declares to Moses, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Jesus masterfully demonstrated that God is the God of the living, not of the dead! It is passages like this one that Jesus had in mind when he taught his disciples on the evening of his resurrection, opening their minds to understand the Scriptures that “the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise again from the dead” (Luke 24:44-46). Jesus' resurrection made the impossible now possible; the dead do rise again to life. Jesus is “the Life” for the dead that they may live! Jesus' resurrection conquered the grave for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and for you!The tomb is still empty. Christ has been raised from the dead, and his resurrection means life for you. If Jesus is the “firstfruits of those who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20), that means there are more fruits to follow. If Jesus is the “firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18), that means there are more sons and daughters to follow. It is actually God's will that you who look to Jesus with eyes of faith shall have eternal life and be raised on the Last Day (John 16:40). Upon Jesus' answer to their question, the Jewish scholars said, “‘Teacher, you have spoken well,' and they no longer dared to ask him any questions.” Jesus has the last word, not death, not your sin, not your grave, nor your reason. Our Lord's cross declares to you that your sins are forgiven. His empty grave and resurrection proclaim to you that you, too, will one day rise and live with him forever.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Then by your resurrection you won for us reprieve – you opened heaven's kingdom to all who would believe (LSB 941:3)Author: Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

November 1, 2025Today's Reading: Matthew 5:1-12Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Matthew 21:1-22“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Imagine the disciples and the huge crowd gathered around Jesus for the Sermon on the Mount. They nod to each of the Beatitudes, maybe with a little less boldness as Jesus continues. Perhaps they even look around to see how the other 11 are reacting. “Maybe I'm not perfect, but I've been pretty good at this one or that.” “I think I'm good enough; I don't talk without thinking. Like Peter.” “I think I'm good enough; at least I haven't cheated people in the past, like Matthew.” But Jesus isn't talking about being good enough in other people's eyes, He is speaking of holiness before God – pure in heart – a holiness in the heart.The thing is, there is nothing pure in your heart. The Lord declares, “Out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,  coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22)  There is One who is pure in heart. Jesus Christ, our Holy God in the flesh – He alone is truly pure in heart. At your Baptism, in the Blessed Exchange, the Lord cleansed you entirely, taking all of the filth and wretchedness from your heart and trading it for all the righteousness, holiness, and purity of Jesus' heart!That Baptism was “not just plain water, but it is the water included in God's command and combined with God's word.” (Small Catechism, Baptism, 1). So with God's Word, that water delivered Jesus and His forgiveness, rescue, and salvation. You were made blessed and holy by the Holy Spirit. There is daily war against the new creature – the saint that God made at your Baptism. You face horrible hardships all of the time; some of them known only to you in the recesses of your emotional health. Non-Christians harass the Church and her baptized saints. We are weak when facing temptations. We all have our great afflictions. Before Christ returns, the afflictions will increase.You are not good enough. But Christ is perfect and pure. And He gifts you with being pure in heart, holy, and blessed. You belong to Him as His baptized saint. You sing with those saints now in the Church Militant, and one day, Christ will resurrect you and gather you with all His saints to stand before Him, arrayed in white, washed in the Blood of Jesus, and singing His praises forever.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Behold a host, arrayed in white, Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright! With palms they stand; Who is this band Before the throne of light? These are the saints of glorious fame, Who from the great affliction came And in the flood Of Jesus' blood Are cleansed from guilt and shame. They now serve God both day and night; They sing their songs in endless light. Their anthems ring As they all sing With angels shining bright. (LSB 676:1)Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Harrison Goodman is the Executive Director of Mission and Theology for Higher Things.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

October 31, 2025Today's Reading: Matthew 11:12-19Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 32:28-52; Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Matthew 20:17-34“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence” (Matthew 11:12)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “Lord, I thank you that I am not like other church bodies: Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, the Baptists…” Sound familiar? Just a few days ago, we heard Jesus tell us about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. The sinful pride of the Pharisee clouded his thoughts on all things spiritual, and he ended up thinking he was doing a good job being righteous.It's easy for Lutherans to fall into that same trap around this time each year. In some strange twist of irony, as we talk about not focusing on our works, we champion our “saved by grace through faith” as if it's something we think and do. We end up turning belief into a work! And as if that wasn't bad enough, we convince ourselves that this work of belief is superior to our Roman friends' works adding to their faith.  Guess what?! BOTH of those ideas miss the mark. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence when you consider faith something you have done. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence when one thinks that her works are needed to join with faith to make one right with God. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence any time when one Christian takes pride that he is better than another.Having been warned against pride, and knowing that sometimes we are the ones inflicting violence, we also take comfort from Jesus today. The Comforter of Priceless Worth has brought you to repentance and delivered the unlimited forgiveness of the Lord to you. You are made right with God by His divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in you.Our dear Savior does forewarn that the Church will indeed suffer. Christ Our Mighty Fortress does not promise to shield you from every persecution, hardship, or violence against His kingdom. He will not necessarily let you avoid the attacks. But He will be with you throughout them, always. Sometimes He will prevent or diffuse the violence. At other times, the comfort simply is that He endures it with us.Your dear Christ Himself is the kingdom of heaven in the flesh, and He suffered violence for you. Our Great Captain bared His arms, as He was stripped and nailed to the cross. Our prayer for deliverance from evil was answered as He endured the thorns, nails, and so much more, to pay the price for any violence that you have inflicted. And He supports and carries you through any violence that you endure until He returns for you, when we, with all His saints and martyrs, will raise a mighty chorus to His praise forevermore.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer; Great Captain, now Thine arm make bare, Fight for us once again! So shall Thy saints and martyrs raise, A mighty chorus to Thy praise Forevermore. Amen. (LSB 666:4)Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Harrison Goodman is the Executive Director of Mission and Theology for Higher Things.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

Bobby and Meghan talk with Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski about how families can keep faith central in the world of youth sports. They discuss what inspired Away Game, how parents can manage emotions and expectations, and practical ways to support kids without sideline coaching. Hear real stories of transformation as parents shift from performance-driven mindsets to gospel-centered parenting that brings spiritual health and joy, both on and off the field. Get the Book Here.Download a FREE Parenting Athletes Guide at Empoweredhomes.org.About the Authors As two dads who've seen both the challenges and beauty of youth sports, Brian and Ed offer relatable wisdom to help parents guide their children spiritually in every season. Brian Smith is the author of several books, including The Christian Athlete, and has been on staff with Athletes in Action since 2008. A graduate of Wake Forest University, Brian has a master's degree in Theology and Sports Studies through Baylor University. Brian lives in Lowell, Michigan, with his wife and three kids and writes regularly at the christianathlete.com. Ed Uszynski is an author, speaker, and sports minister with over three decades' experience discipling college and professional athletes. He's written articles, essays, and training manuals at the intersection of faith and sport and is the lead strategist for Content Mercenaries. He has two theological degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a PhD in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. He and his wife Amy have four children and live in Xenia, Ohio.About Empowered Homes Who we are? The primary purpose of Empowered Homes is to connect church and home by equipping families, leaders and ministries to grow in the areas of marriage, parenting, personal growth. discipleship strategy, family ministry, and leadership development. We value the family as the first institution designed by God for spiritual formation, relationships, and reflecting His image. We seek to ensure that every element of church life supports and equips that essential role. What we do? Empowered Homes Ministry provides practical, gospel-based resources to connect church and home. The majority of our resources are offered online through our website empoweredhomes.org. We also partner with churches and ministries to provide conferences, equipping events & ministry coaching.Empowered Homes Podcast Show us some Love! Do you appreciate The Empowered Homes Podcast? Like, subscribe, comment, share. Every bit of your engagement helps us be open-handed in sharing resources to grow strong families, leaders and ministries. Thanks for your help in Empowering Homes for the gospel! FB : https://www.facebook.com/EmpoweredHomesResources Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweredhomesresources/ Youtube: ...

October 30, 2025Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 21 - Psalm 50:1-2, 14-15; antiphon: Psalm 50:23Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 31:30-32:27; Matthew 20:1-16“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; the one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. You know our situation. As human beings, we are conceived and born sinful; there is no good in us to do anything right. None of us could ever offer thanksgiving that is perfect in God's eyes. No one could sacrifice anything that would glorify God. How could we ever be shown the salvation of God?! How can this verse from the upcoming introit make sense?Jesus continued giving perfect thanks to the Father, sacrificing himself once and for all on the cross. That was the greatest moment of God's glory, showing His ultimate mercy to all in the suffering and death of Christ crucified. Look to the crucifix. See Jesus in all His glory, pouring out God's mercy on you. In that sacrifice of His that glorifies God, you are made His. There you are shown (and given) the salvation of God!While Christ's giving thanks perfectly showed God's glory in giving mercy for all, He still delivers the benefits and blessings of that thanksgiving. “Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks…” “In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks…” In the Last Supper, Jesus gives thanks to His Father in heaven. The Church picked up on that detail and has often used a name for the Lord's Supper: the Holy Eucharist. Eucharist is simply a Greek word for “Thanksgiving.”But here is the awesome thing: the Last Supper was not about the disciples giving thanks; Jesus gave thanks! The Eucharist today is not about you and me giving thanks, or even your pastor. It is Jesus giving perfect thanks on your behalf!The salvation of God was purchased and won for you at the cross. Now, the salvation of God is delivered to you through Baptism, Absolution, the proclamation of the Gospel, and through the Holy Eucharist! At His altar, Christ once again offers thanksgiving as His sacrifice, and that glorifies God. The Lord feeds you His body and pours His blood into your mouth, showing (and nourishing you with!) the salvation of God!Dear Baptized friends, your Jesus eucharists for you! And your Jesus IS the Eucharist for you, feeding you the salvation of God with His Body and Blood.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Praise we Him, whose love divine Gives His sacred blood for wine, Gives His body for the feast – Christ the victim, Christ the priest. Alleluia! (LSB 633:2) Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Harrison Goodman is the Executive Director of Mission and Theology for Higher Things.Step back in time to the late Reformation and learn about a divisive yet inspirational figure: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. His contributions to Lutheranism still echo in our teachings today, from the Magdeburg Confession to parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Learning about Flacius's life will help you understand more intricacies of the Reformation than ever before.

To kick off the final hour of Indiana Sports Talk, Chris Norton of WITZ has Jasper’s 14-0 win over Booneville. Lapel’s head coach Josh Yoder has the lowdown on his team’s 20-point win. Next, Brian Dugger, head coach of Martinsville, eventually joins his teams nail-biting win over Greenwood. The Indiana Sports Talk legend himself, Paul Condry, joins Hobert’s 50-14 win over New Prairie. Next, Heritage Christian’s head coach Caleb Brink boasts about his player’s performance in their 42-22 win over Cardinal Ridder and looks ahead to Monrovia in round 2. Clarksville and Crawford County met for the second week in a row, and Clarksville came out on top 42-8. Brian Sullivan of WNAS comments on what he saw. Then, Generals head coach Jason Hawkins breaks down his team’s performance and looks ahead to next week’s matchup with Switzerland County. David Deaton of WKLO has a close game between North Harrison and Corydon Central. Gary Richardson’s Bowman Academy team squeaked out a 36-30 win over North Newton. Casey Mckim from Lowell has his team's blowout win over Hanover Central. To round out the show, head coach Russ Radke has his Knox team’s 50-21 win over Jimtown that had some history in it with his running back breaking the Indiana high school rushing record. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textDesde hace miles de años, una luz roja ha cruzado el cielo sin titilar. A diferencia de las estrellas, parecía moverse a su antojo, detenerse, retroceder, como si tuviera voluntad. Su color recordaba la sangre y el fuego, y su comportamiento, la furia. Los antiguos la llamaron Nergal, Ares, Marte: dios de la guerra, del verano abrasador, del desorden. Cada civilización la miró con el mismo temor: cuando esa estrella ardía en el cielo, algo iba a romperse en la Tierra. Hoy sabemos que su brillo es óxido y su danza, un efecto de perspectiva. Pero seguimos mirándola con la misma inquietud. Tal vez porque Marte, incluso ahora, sigue pareciendo algo más que un planeta: un espejo encendido donde proyectamos nuestras propias batallas.Support the show

Cut through fertility misinformation. Dr. Lowell Ku (REI; leads ASRM's technology professional group) separates myths from facts so you know what to trust online, from influencers, and in clinic—plus how to think about supplements and opinion vs evidence.   We cover TTC with IUI/IVF and decisions using donor conception or surrogacy—what matters most and where to find reliable guidance.   - What to trust online: source hierarchy (guidelines/studies - summaries - opinions)     - Red flags vs green flags (absolute claims, miracle fixes, cherry‑picked “proof”)     - Supplements: evidence vs hype; how to sanity‑check a claim     - Influencers vs doctors: personal stories vs clinical guidance (how to weigh both)     - Questions to ask your clinic about protocols, testing, and add‑ons     - Where to get reliable info for IVF/IUI, donor conception, and surrogacy Learn more about Dr. Lowell Ku: https://dallasivf.com/ Follow Dr. Lowell Ku on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drknockedup/  #Fertility #IVF #IUI #FertilityMyths #EvidenceBased #ASRM #WomensHealth #TryingToConceive #DonorConception #Surrogacy

If there is a common thread between the greatest rock climbing achievements of the last few decades, it's that cinematographer Brett Lowell was probably filming it. In high school, Brett found himself pulled into the world of climbing creativity and has never looked back.   Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Check out Summit Series at thenorthface.com  LMNT  Get your free LMNT Sample Pack with any purchase at www.drinklmnt.com/climbinggold. Try the new LMNT Sparkling — a bold, 16-ounce can of sparkling electrolyte water. AG1 Go to DrinkAG1.com/climbinggold to get a FREE frother with your first purchase of AGZ  Turtlebox Take your music anywhere turtleboxaudio.com Music by:  Brendan O'Connell   •   Tracks provided with permission from the artists or Track Club 

Please enjoy this encore presentation of a great FAF ~ 1. Wampum Prayer (29 April 2003 - New Orleans, LA) 2. A Sorta Fairytale (29 April 2003 - New Orleans, LA) 3. Father Lucifer (24 March 2003 - Omaha, NE) 4. In the Springtime of His Voodoo (22 August 2003 - Holmdel, NJ) 5. Juarez (21 April 2003 - Albuquerque, NM) 6. Caught a Lite Sneeze (7 November 2002 - Tampa, FL) 7. Tombigbee (19 April 2003 - Anaheim, CA) 8. Strange Little Girl (27 July 2003 - Eugene, OR) 9. Wednesday (17 January 2003 - London, ENG) 10. improv/Cloud on My Tongue (31 August 2003 - Charleston, SC) 11. Josephine (20 February 2003 - Boca Raton, FL) 12. Cooling (3 December 2002 - St Louis, MO) 13. Your Cloud (22 November 2002 - Toronto, CAN) 14. Sweet Sangria (9 August 2003 - Minneapolis, MN) 15. Hotel (4 August 2003 - Phoenix, AZ) 16. I Can't See New York (17 December 2002 - Los Angeles, CA) 17. Spring Haze (19 November 2002 - Lowell, MA) 18. Taxi Ride (15 March 2003 - Louisville, KY) 19. Cornflake Girl (7 December 2002 - Salt Lake City, UT) 20. China (26 April 2003 - Austin, TX) 21. Strange (1 December 2002 - Milwaukee, WI)

In this episode, Mikey Cash and Vito break down TNA Bound for Glory 2025 — live from Lowell, MA — and shares their firsthand experience being there in person!

This weekend captured the full scope of what wrestling looks like in 2025. WWE delivered layered storytelling and big moments in Perth, TNA tapped into its history and emotion in Lowell, and AEW kept its focus sharp heading into WrestleDream. Each promotion showed what makes it stand out in today's landscape. At Crown Jewel, Seth Rollins outlasted Cody Rhodes in a physical, methodical main event to win the Men's Crown Jewel Championship. The finish saw Rollins use the wristwatch Cody once gave him as a weapon before landing two Curb Stomps to close the show. Just 48 hours later on Raw, everything unraveled. The Vision turned on its leader — Bron Breakker dropped Rollins with a spear, Bronson Reed followed with a Tsunami, and Paul Heyman silently joined their side as Breakker raised the World Heavyweight Title. Rollins' declaration that he didn't need anyone came full circle in a single segment. Bronson Reed's weekend was career-defining. He pinned Roman Reigns in an Australian Street Fight after Jey Uso accidentally speared his cousin through a table. Afterward, Reigns told The Usos he loved them but didn't want to see them until Christmas — a rare glimpse of distance inside The Bloodline. Stephanie Vaquer's victory over Tiffany Stratton gave credibility to WWE's new women's title, Rhea Ripley's homecoming drew an emotional response, and John Cena's match with AJ Styles served as a fitting farewell to his international career. In Lowell, TNA's Bound for Glory focused on closure and renewal. Mike Santana defeated Trick Williams to capture the TNA World Championship in an emotional moment that felt earned. The Hardys and Team 3D shared the ring for what appeared to be their final meeting, giving the crowd one last look at a legendary rivalry. Leon Slater and Je'Von Evans delivered a standout X-Division match that showcased the next generation, even with interference affecting the outcome. AEW stayed consistent in its build to WrestleDream. The St. Louis card is locked in: Hangman Page vs. Samoa Joe for the world title, Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin in an I Quit Match, Toni Storm vs. Kris Statlander for the women's championship, and Okada teaming with Konosuke Takeshita for tag gold. During an interview with Ariel Helwani, Allin said the locker room feels “as strong as it's ever been,” crediting a more focused and cooperative atmosphere behind the scenes. Meanwhile in Japan, Konosuke Takeshita defeated Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at King of Pro-Wrestling. The 31-minute match saw Sabre attack Takeshita's neck before the new champion rallied with back-to-back Powerdrive Knees to close out Sabre's 106-day reign. Takeshita becomes the first AEW-contracted wrestler to hold New Japan's top title and will bring the championship into WrestleDream alongside Okada. The weekend showed just how global and interconnected wrestling has become. WWE continues refining its presentation, TNA is rebuilding through passion and legacy, AEW is focused on consistency and collaboration, and NJPW's partnership moments keep expanding what's possible in the modern era.

Lowell Greenblatt returns to the podcast to talk to Rick about his new book, Nightmare Autopsis: A Return To Elm Street. We start at his introduction to the franchise with Freddy's Dead, working his way through the films, Carlos & the Q-tip, parents renting horror for us & what caused him to write the book. We also discuss his over abundance of interviews with Elm Street Kids like Lisa Wilcox, Ken Sagoes, Ira Heiden & Jennifer Rubin, as well as numerous producers & effect crew, the movies being edited for television, the importance of physical media & more. Please subscribe, review & give us that 5 star boop!

It's one of the biggest and most unpredictable weeks of the year in professional wrestling, and Wrestling Tonight is here for all of it. Episode 145 takes you from the glow of Perth to the grit of Lowell, from The CW's cross-promotional chaos to AEW's calm confidence on Title Tuesday. Every company is making a statement and not all of them are speaking the same language. WWE Crown Jewel heads to Australia for the first time, trading the desert lights of Riyadh for the arena shine of Perth. On paper, it's a landmark: the first Crown Jewel outside Saudi Arabia, another PLE on ESPN in the US, and John Cena's final international PLE before retirement. But beneath the historic veneer, this show feels more corporate than creative. Cody Rhodes vs Seth Rollins is technically “brand warfare,” but the Crown Jewel title still feels like a branding exercise without meaning. Stephanie Vaquer vs Tiffany Stratton offers contrast and quality, but the match's stakes are as vague as the men's. Rhea Ripley's homecoming with Iyo Sky and Cena's farewell with AJ Styles will give the event its emotion, but the rest feels like presentation over purpose — a global commercial dressed up as a PLE. Across the ocean, TNA returns to Lowell for Bound for Glory, a show that should be the company's proudest moment but instead feels like a balancing act between rebirth and identity crisis. Trick Williams defends the TNA World Championship against Mike Santana in a match that will showcase charisma and intensity, but still carries the shadow of crossover influence. The Hardys and Team 3D will blow the roof off in a nostalgia-fueled tables match, yet it's a reminder that TNA's tag division still leans too heavily on its past. Leon Slater vs Je'Von Evans for the X Division Championship might be the purest wrestling of the night — a true flash of the TNA that once made fans believe. And Kelani Jordan vs Indi Hartwell for the Knockouts title should deliver, even if it highlights how much of the division's spotlight now comes from NXT. Bound for Glory 2025 will probably be a strong show bell-to-bell, but it's also an identity test — can TNA still feel like TNA while sharing its spotlight with WWE's developmental system? Meanwhile, AEW isn't flinching. Title Tuesday goes head-to-head with WWE and TNA's Showdown special on The CW, but Tony Khan isn't chasing the scoreboard anymore. AEW knows exactly what it is — and it's not playing defense. With Andrade El Idolo's shocking return and the debut of El Clon as the newest member of The Don Callis Family, AEW's creative direction feels confident, deliberate, and entirely its own. The “no-win” narrative misses the point: AEW doesn't need to win the week — it just needs to keep telling stories that matter. Elsewhere, Hikaru Shida confirmed she's re-signed with AEW, ending retirement rumors sparked by her stage work in Japan. And in Mexico, Bandido suffered a shoulder injury during his successful ROH World Title defense against Hechicero at CMLL Viernes Espectacular. Despite the setback, he's expected to continue teaming with Brody King as the AEW Tag Team Champions “Brodido.” The other side of that fight — the NXT/TNA Showdown — looks sharper than anyone expected after WWE scrapped the “Invasion” branding. The teams are locked, the captains are set, Mustafa Ali finally gets the North American Title shot he was promised before his 2023 release, and the tag titles from both companies go on the line between The Hardys and DarkState. Joe Hendry's vow to appear and Jordynne Grace's role as guest referee add the kind of wild-card energy that could make this one of the more memorable Tuesday nights in years. From Perth's global showcase to Lowell's nostalgia-fueled battleground, from AEW's quiet confidence to WWE's marketing machine, this week proves just how fragmented and fascinating the modern wrestling landscape has become. Every company is thriving — but not all of them know who they are.

From Caviar to Commissary: Donna Adelson's Brutal New Life in Prison She once ruled a Miami dental empire—now she's learning to trade ramen for favors and sleep through screams in 100-degree heat.  At 75 years old, Donna Adelson has been convicted of first-degree murder and is staring down the rest of her life in a Florida prison system known for its brutality, its heat, and its utter indifference to wealth, age, or legacy. In this Hidden Killers breakdown, we examine Donna's likely trajectory from county jail to Florida Women's Reception Center… and ultimately to Lowell Correctional Institution, one of the most notorious women's prisons in America. What awaits her? Endless noise, public showers, no privacy, and a new power structure where money means nothing—and respect has to be earned in ramen packets. We pull apart what life really looks like for women inside Lowell, especially aging inmates: the sweat-drenched dorms, the hidden hustle economy, the kosher-tray bartering system, and the constant emotional pressure of knowing you're never getting out. Featuring real accounts, DOJ reports, and behind-the-scenes insights, we ask: Can Donna survive this world—or will she become someone entirely different trying to adapt?

From Caviar to Commissary: Donna Adelson's Brutal New Life in Prison She once ruled a Miami dental empire—now she's learning to trade ramen for favors and sleep through screams in 100-degree heat.  At 75 years old, Donna Adelson has been convicted of first-degree murder and is staring down the rest of her life in a Florida prison system known for its brutality, its heat, and its utter indifference to wealth, age, or legacy. In this Hidden Killers breakdown, we examine Donna's likely trajectory from county jail to Florida Women's Reception Center… and ultimately to Lowell Correctional Institution, one of the most notorious women's prisons in America. What awaits her? Endless noise, public showers, no privacy, and a new power structure where money means nothing—and respect has to be earned in ramen packets. We pull apart what life really looks like for women inside Lowell, especially aging inmates: the sweat-drenched dorms, the hidden hustle economy, the kosher-tray bartering system, and the constant emotional pressure of knowing you're never getting out. Featuring real accounts, DOJ reports, and behind-the-scenes insights, we ask: Can Donna survive this world—or will she become someone entirely different trying to adapt?

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