Podcasts about Macedonia

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 16 Paul embarks on his second journey, taking Silas along with him. In Lystra, they meet Timothy, who joins them after being circumcised to satisfy others. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they are directed to Macedonia following Paul's vision of a man pleading for help. In Philippi, they encounter Lydia, a seller of purple, who converts to Christianity. Later, Paul and Silas liberate a slave girl from an evil spirit, angering her owners, who have them beaten and imprisoned. Around midnight, while they are singing and praying, an earthquake occurs, and the prison doors swing open. The jailer fears for his life, but Paul shares the message of Jesus with him. The jailer and his household are baptized that very hour. The next day, Paul and Silas are officially released. Paul's missionary journey is led by the Holy Spirit. God actively guides him to those whose hearts are prepared for salvation. God continues to reach people today, and we are His vessels to carry the message of Christ, even though our effort may require personal sacrifice. This chapter highlights at least three conversions, each involving a commitment from the new believers as well. Timothy was circumcised, not for salvation, but to gain influence among the Jews. Lydia and her household were likely the first converts in all of Europe. The jailer risked his life by aligning himself and his household with imprisoned men. The gospel demands submission, sacrifice, and courage from all believers in the name of Jesus Christ.  Gracious God, thank You for the powerful stories of faith found in Acts 16. Like Timothy, we pray for a willingness to make personal sacrifices for the sake of others. Like Lydia, we seek to have a heart that is always open to obey You. Like Paul and Silas, we pray for the courage to praise Your name, even in life's most challenging trials. And like the jailer, we ask You to help us build the urgency to do what is right in the very hour that we learn the truth. Open our hearts to respond to Your glorious will. Thought Questions: -       Why was Timothy circumcised? Are you willing to do something painful or hard simply for the sake of someone else's conscience? -       The Lord opened Lydia's heart. What does this mean? How does the Lord open your heart, and what should be the results of such an event? -       Paul and Barnabas rejoiced in trial, and God used the occasion to convert a family to Christ. Is God working similar plans in your times of trial?

In this episode, we sit down with our friend Zoran from Macedonia to talk about grace, calling, and the beauty of living a life led by the Spirit. His stories, prophetic insight, and heart for people will leave you encouraged and challenged. Don't miss this powerful conversation!00:08 - Intro and Welcome01:20 - Special Guest Introduction: Zoran03:00 - First Encounter and Prophetic Encouragement04:10 - Zoran's Family and Global Ministry06:45 - Embracing Grace and Loving All People10:00 - Ministry Work in Macedonia13:00 - Activating Hidden Callings in Others16:00 - Prophetic Words and Long-Term Impact18:30 - Faith, Grace, and Practical Spirituality20:45 - The Power of Words and Unexpected Impact22:00 - Encouragement from James 1:1724:00 - Life Is a Gift and Perfect Moments25:00 - Zoran's Website and Social Media26:00 - Closing Thoughts and Book Promo27:00 - Final Blessing and Sign-Off

Paul travels in the region of Macedonia to Philippi, successfully preaching the Gospel for the first time in Europe.  (Lectionary #291) May 26, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

Acts 16:6-15They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.' When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district* of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.' And she prevailed upon us. This weekend kicks off not only the start of summer for so many, but it also serves as the unofficial beginning of graduation season. In the office this week, I asked the question: what gift should you get a graduate? I told them about a friend's mom who would give monogrammed towels as her graduate gift. +Mark and Amanda informed me that I should not pick up that tradition. Money was the consensus, just get a card with some cash. I don't disagree, but I am warning you graduates now, I can almost guarantee that someone will give out a copy of the Dr. Suess classic, “Oh The Places You'll Go”. And it is a fitting tribute for the occasion:“ Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the person who'll decide where to go.”It is a remarkable feeling, no? To be on the precipice of what comes next and then to set off on the journey. It is so exciting, perhaps a little frightening, if not for you, then for your parents or grandparents and other loved ones. Timothy likely felt this same way when he began his journey with Paul and Silas. In our text, the “they” we hear is in reference to those three Paul, Silas, and Timothy, maybe more. Timothy just joined the group. In the passage immediately before this, Paul and Silas stop in Lystra, where they hear about this young disciple named Timothy. Among believers in Lystra, Timothy is well spoken of. So Paul asks Timothy to join him on this mission. Timothy probably thought “oh the place I'll go”. And go they did, from town to town, the churches were growing, everything was great!That is until they came to Phrygia. Paul and crew want to go to Asia. They think, “that's where God is calling us to proclaim the Gospel. So that must be the right place for us.” So they went to turn left and head to Asia, but the Holy Spirit forbade them to go. That's strange… why would the Holy Spirit not let me go? And what does that even mean? Did a giant wind push against them every time they tried to turn left? Did their compass only point them east? However it happened, they couldn't go into Asia. So the crew thinks well what do you do when you can't turn left… you go right! And so they try to turn right and go to Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit doesn't allow that either. With no other options left, they go to Troas.If you are Timothy, you've got to wonder what went wrong? Everything was so good? We were going to all these places, the church was growing, we had a great plan! But just when everything seemed great, suddenly it wasn't anymore. Graduates, this will undoubtedly happen to you. Surely everyone gathered has had a time like that: when everything seemed to be going great, you thought you were doing what God wanted you to do, but suddenly your plans changed (or they were changed for you), and the roads you wanted to take became blocked. Maybe the major you'd hope for didn't work out. Or you didn't get that job you thought you always wanted or were let go of the job you loved. Maybe that relationship you never thought would end came to a close. Or an unexpected trip to the doctor makes you put everything on hold. Despite your best efforts you ended up in a place you never wanted to be. We've all been there. As Dr Suess says: “I'm sorry to say so but, sadly, it's true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you. You can get all hung up, in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You'll be left in a Lurch. You'll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you'll be in a Slump. And when you're in a Slump, you're not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.Yet, it is at those places you never wanted to be, in the times you least expect, that something will happen or someone will come and help and get you unslumped. For Timothy and crew their unslumping came from a vision that Paul had while in Troas: a man saying “Come to Macedonia and help us.” The three of them got up and immediately headed to Macedonia, “convinced that God had called them to proclaim the good news there”.They set sail from Troas, landed in Samothrace, and then came ashore at Neapolis. Neapolis is this wonderful little seaside town, the kind of place you want to land in, and maybe put down some roots; enjoy the sandy beaches and nice weather. I could imagine Timothy saying to Paul and Silas, “we don't really need to follow that vision, that dream, that call, right?” But Paul and his companions don't stop and stay there. It's nice, but they know it's not where they are supposed to be. You'll have your own Neapolis too, places and opportunities that seem really nice, the city or job or relationship you could see yourself in. And the temptation to stay will be strong, yet you'll know it's not right. Heed the voice, the vision, the calling God has placed on you. There will be a reason you move on, even if it is not clear in the moment.Finally Paul, Timothy, and Silas land in Philippi, even though that was not the original goal. Remember Paul wanted to spread the Gospel and grow the church in Asia. But listen to how this part of Paul's mission ends. On the sabbath they all go to the river, hoping to find people praying. They join a group of women and among them is Lydia, likely a wealthy business woman with great influence. She listened eagerly to Paul, had herself and her whole family baptized, and then opened her home to Paul and Timothy and Silas. Lydia is from Thyatria, which is in Asia, the very place Paul hoped to spread the gospel in the first place. Through all the travels, the wrong turns, and the change of plans, Paul does in fact fulfill his mission of growing the church in Asia, just not where and how he expected too.Despite our best efforts, God's calling and leading come through mistaken directions and failed attempts, which can certainly be frustrating and make discernment difficult.We'd like to think “we are the one's who decide where to go”. As Dr/ Seuss puts it. But that's where he's wrong. As Paul, Timothy and Silas attest, it is an illusion to think it's all up to us. God is in charge of the journey you're on. At times, it won't look the way you want or lead to the places you'd hoped. But thankfully Jesus promises us an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, that helps us in discernment and guides us to where we need to go, what we need to do, and who we should meet along the way. For Paul and Timothy, the journey nor the destination were likely what the team imagined. The wandering, the rejection, the vision in a dream, and the people they met. They did not expect a woman, that wasnt what the vision showed. Yet, in the end God's will was done, not their own, which is what we all pray for.Graduates/young people, it's okay if your journey in life looks like this. Parents/grandparents, it's okay if your young person's journey looks like this. God is still at work in the mess of it all. The reality for not just graduates but for all of us is our own journeys will be less like us deciding the places we go, and more like the wanderings of Paul and the rest: ending up in places we didn't expect, receiving direction in ways we didn't anticipate, and meeting people we never predicted, but trusting that God is still leading.“Plans are made. Plans come apart.” Says Kate Bowler, “New delights or tragedies pop up in their place. And nothing human or divine will map out this life, this life that has been more painful than I could have imagined. More beautiful than I could have imagined.”Amen.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Intro: “Money” is a commodity; “giving” is bigger and broader than $. Background: Paul is writing to the church in Corinth and uses the church in Macedonia as an example. Titus had started this collection earlier (vs 6) Introduction 00:00 Sermon 36:26 - Pastor Joseph Thomas - Sunday, May 25, 2025

Paul is directed by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel in Macedonia. (Lectionary #290) May 24, 2025 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

SÁBADO 24 DE MAYO DE 2025 TU DOSIS DIARIA DE ESPERANZA “Como te rogué que te quedases en Éfeso, cuando fui a Macedonia, para que mandases a algunos que no enseñen diferente doctrina, ni presten atención a fábulas y genealogías interminables, que acarrean disputas más bien que edificación de Dios que es por fe, así te encargo ahora.” (1Timoteo 1:3-4) El apóstol Pablo deseaba que su esfuerzo como siervo de Dios le sirviera a su discípulo Timoteo como ejemplo a imitar. Para cuando la iglesia de Éfeso comenzó a recibir gente con ideas contrarias a la fe cristiana, Timoteo fue enviado a poner en orden el caos. Es cuando vemos cuánto Timoteo había madurado en fe, conocimiento y carácter. Estar bajo la cobertura de un siervo como el apóstol, sumado a un testimonio de amor a Dios y su obra, hicieron de Timoteo un hombre de Dios y ejemplo de los creyentes. Cuando se trata de ver siervos maduros en acción, sin duda, Timoteo es uno. El legado de Pablo dio fruto en abundancia. Aprendamos del apóstol a pensar en el futuro de la Iglesia. (Gina Sánchez) -- Te damos la bienvenida a nuestras reflexiones diarias. Cada día leemos y meditamos en una porción bíblica, para encontrar revelación de Dios que encamine nuestros pasos y haga próspero nuestro camino. Esto es… DE DIOS, PARA TI, HOY. ....... http://www.findnewhope.com/nueva-esperanza ....... www.facebook.com/PastoresRobertoyYamiley ....... Pastores Roberto y Yamiley, De Dios Para Ti Hoy - New Hope en Español , Brandon, FL (813) 689-4161

Alejandro III de Macedonia, o Alejandro Magno, fue el conquistador y general más relevante de la Historia: construyó, en tan solo 13 años, uno de los mayores imperios jamás vistos.

Alejandro III de Macedonia, o Alejandro Magno, fue el conquistador y general más relevante de la Historia: construyó, en tan solo 13 años, uno de los mayores imperios jamás vistos.

News items read by Laura Kennedy include: New study of obsidian artifacts in Mexico points to large Mesoamerican trading network (details)(details) Research team uncovers diversity of pregnancy depictions among Viking age communities (details)(details) Excavation of new ancient relief depicts last great Assyrian king (details) Scientific analysis undermines hypothesis behind burial place of Macedonia's Phillip II (details)(details)

Scripture: Acts 20:1-7 Title: Take A Walk Paul's Third Missionary Journey Paul moves on… And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them , and departed for to go into Macedonia. Back in chapter 19 and verse 21, Paul “purposed in the spirit” that it his time in Ephesus…

Paul's first visit to the Thessalonians (in Macedonia) was perhaps around 51 AD. The letter commenced with “grace” (Greek'charis' – love) and “peace” (Hebrew'shalom' – wholeness, or peace), which come from God, our Father. As a group of Christian believers the Macedonians were severely persecuted, like their fellow Jewish believers in Judea – many of them being put to death for their beliefs. The Thessalonians were, however, extremely generous in financially contributing to Paul's preaching – especially the Philippians. The central message of both letters is the second coming of Jesus Christ to set up the kingdom of God on earth. Every chapter of both letters refers to this – some chapters containing several references (in the Bible we find over 500 references to the second coming of Jesus Christ). Their love and labours for the Truth were exemplary to all believers. Note verse 9 refers to their belief in “the Living God” and cites not only the verse in Jeremiah 10:10, but the whole context of Jeremiah 10 was relevant to the situation of the Thessalonian believers. Chapter 2 speaks of the love of Paul, Silas, Timothy and Titus among them. Interestingly the name Titus means “nurse”, or “rearer”. Paul worked to support his companions' needs and for the preaching of the gospel. The Apostle commends the believers for their patience in suffering persecution. Finally he expresses a desire to see them again and says that in the day of Christ's coming their acceptance of the gospel would be his victor's crown (Greek ‘stephanos').

Paul's first visit to the Thessalonians (in Macedonia) was perhaps around 51 AD. The letter commenced with “grace” (Greek'charis' – love) and “peace” (Hebrew'shalom' – wholeness, or peace), which come from God, our Father. As a group of Christian believers the Macedonians were severely persecuted, like their fellow Jewish believers in Judea – many of them being put to death for their beliefs. The Thessalonians were, however, extremely generous in financially contributing to Paul's preaching – especially the Philippians. The central message of both letters is the second coming of Jesus Christ to set up the kingdom of God on earth. Every chapter of both letters refers to this – some chapters containing several references (in the Bible we find over 500 references to the second coming of Jesus Christ). Their love and labours for the Truth were exemplary to all believers. Note verse 9 refers to their belief in “the Living God” and cites not only the verse in Jeremiah 10:10, but the whole context of Jeremiah 10 was relevant to the situation of the Thessalonian believers. Chapter 2 speaks of the love of Paul, Silas, Timothy and Titus among them. Interestingly the name Titus means “nurse”, or “rearer”. Paul worked to support his companions' needs and for the preaching of the gospel. The Apostle commends the believers for their patience in suffering persecution. Finally he expresses a desire to see them again and says that in the day of Christ's coming their acceptance of the gospel would be his victor's crown (Greek ‘stephanos').

In this powerful session, Rick and Doc examine Paul's reflections on mission delays, his longing for fellowship, and his commitment to supporting the saints in Jerusalem. They highlight Paul's perseverance despite hindrances—whether from Satan, divine timing, or life itself—and his desire for rest and support from the Roman believers on his journey to Spain. The discussion emphasizes the tension between calling and community, the responsibility to support gospel work financially, and the blessings of spiritual reciprocity. The hosts draw modern parallels, reminding viewers that the path of ministry may involve detours, but obedience and persistence glorify God.Rick Wiles, Doc Burkhart. Airdate 5/14/25You can partner with us by visiting FaithandValues.com, calling 1-800-576-2116, or by mail at PO Box 399 Vero Beach, FL 32961.Get high-quality emergency preparedness food today from American Reserves!AmericanReserves.comIt's the Final Day! The day Jesus Christ bursts into our dimension of time, space, and matter. Now available in eBook and audio formats! Order Final Day from Amazon today!Amazon.com/Final-DayApple users, you can download the audio version on Apple Books!books.apple.com/final-dayPurchase the 4-part DVD set or start streaming Sacrificing Liberty today.Sacrificingliberty.comThe Fauci Elf is a hilarious gift guaranteed to make your friends laugh! Order yours today!Trunews/faucielf

La alegerile parlamentare din Albania de duminică, 11 mai, Partidul Socialist al premierului Edi Rama a obținut 52% din voturi, în timp ce Partidul Democrat s-a clasat pe locul al doilea cu 34% din voturi. Edi Rama a promis că Albania va intra în Uniunea Europeană pînă în 2030. Vineri, 16 mai, are loc la Tirana summitul Comunității Politice Europene, ce reunește țările din UE dar și țări din afara ei. Care sînt perspectivele Albanei de aderare la Uniunea Europeană? Care e miza summitului Comunității Politice Europene de vineri, care va avea loc la Tirana? L-am întrebat pe Dragoș Ioniță, analist specialist în Balcanii de Vest, membru al Centrului de Studii Europene din cadrul SNSPA.A fost o surpriză rezultatul alegerilor, cu un scor atît de mare în favoarea Partidului Socialist?Dragoș Ioniță: „N-aş spune neapărat că a fost o surpriză, dat fiind faptul că partidul de guvernămînt încă deţinea o bună parte din resursele necesare participării în campanie. Resursele, în special cele media, din Albania se aflau în curtea patidului de guvernămînt condus de Edi Rama. Vorbim despre o mass-media încă finanţată de către stat şi care are nevoie de mai multă libertate de exprimare, însă acest fapt încă nu se observă în Albania.”Edi Rama a promis aderarea la Uniunea Europeană pînă în 2030. Cît de realistă este această proiecție?Dragoș Ioniță: „A recunoscut chiar dumnealui că este un termen foarte ambiţios. Albania s-a decuplat de Macedonia de Nord, cu care a fost cuplată pînă anul trecut în septembrie, cele două erau la pachet în toate procesele de negociere. Cînd Uniunea Europeană a constatat că Macedonia de Nord va fi întîrziată din cauza blocajelor impuse de Bulgaria şi de politica sa cu privire la minorităţi, s-a decis decuplarea, ceea ce a permis Albaniei să accelereze într-un mod remarcabil, am spune, în acest parcurs european. Din cele 33 de capitole pe care le-ar avea de negociat, Albania a deschis deja 16, e-adevărat, nu a închis nici unul. Este încă un proiect în plină derulare, însă este remarcabil că în 7 luni au reuşit să convingă atît elitele politice cît şi birocraţii europeni că acele capitole pot fi deschise, că s-au îndeplinit toate criteriile necesare deschiderii lor: şi criterii pur tehnice, şi criterii politice, pentru că este nevoie de girul ambelor categorii de actori.”Apasă PLAY pentru a asculta interviul integral! O emisiune de Adela Greceanu și Matei Martin Un produs Radio România Cultural 

Abrimos menú con una nueva entrega de La Historia en Juego. En esta ocasión, Albert Alegre, con Pello Larrinaga, nos trae una nueva propuesta que gira en torno al mundo que se creó tras el fin del bloque soviético. Además de un breve repaso al juego, hablaremos de diversos eventos que ocurrieron en las tres décadas que transcurren hasta el año 2019. Descubriréis que algunos de los que vamos a citar quizá se os hayan podido olvidar a pesar de pertenecer a la historia más reciente. La segunda sección nos lleva de nuevo a acompañar a Bikendi Goiko-uria en la Aventura los exploradores en Norteamérica, que teníamos abandonada desde antes de las vacaciones. Esta vez nos hablará de episodios apasionantes como la fundación de Nueva Amsterdam por los holandeses, la consolidación de Nueva Francia o los asentamientos en la Luisiana. En la sección que recuperamos de otros tiempos, vamos con una entrega de Por los Dioses, que nos lleva a la Macedonia que lograría un vasto imperio, que sin lugar a duda se debió al genio de Filipo y Alejandro. Sin embargo, estos dos personajes, además de apoyarse en unos generales competentes, tuvieron de su lado una nueva unidad y un nuevo estilo de hacer la guerra. Hablamos por supuesto de la falange macedónica y las novedades que trajo consigo en el arte de la guerra. Todo de la mano de Sergio Alejo, escoltado por Mikel Carramiñana. Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson discuss the readings for the sixth Sunday of Easter, focusing on the Farewell Discourse in John, the role of the Holy Spirit, the call to Macedonia in Acts, and the significance of Lydia as a key figure in the early church. They also explore the imagery in Revelation 21, emphasizing the communal aspect of eschatological existence and the promise of God's presence. Commentaries for the Sixth Sunday of Easter can be found on the Working Preacher website at https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/sixth-sunday-of-easter-3/commentary-on-john-1423-29-6. ⏰Timecodes⏰ 00:00 Introduction to the Sixth Sunday of Easter 01:58 Exploring the Farewell Discourse 05:54 The Role of the Holy Spirit 10:10 Acts 16: The Call to Macedonia 13:58 Lydia: A Key Figure in the Early Church 19:55 Revelation 21: The New Jerusalem 25:59 End *  *  * Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share to stay connected with more insightful lectionary discussions! Reminder: We have commentaries for the Revised Common Lectionary, the Narrative Lectionary, and Evangelio (Spanish-language Gospel). We're here for you, working preachers! Learn more by visiting https://www.workingpreacher.org/. Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/7jCeGf9WB_s.

Send us a textPaul and Silas wanted to go to Asia, but God said no. They tried to go to Bithynia, but God said no. Then God gave Paul a vision to go to Macedonia where God would do what only God could do—just not how they expected. Pick up your Bible or phone and turn to Acts 16 to hear the story.This episode is based on the God's Word for Life, Spring 2025 Adult Lesson Guide, entitled, "No Matter What" (May 11, 2025). Get Our Great Big God VBSGet Pathways K–12 Bible CurriculumFind an Apostolic church that preaches this glorious gospel and our response at UPCI.orgThis episode is produced by the Pentecostal Resources Group and is hosted by LJ Harry. To order resources of the God's Word for Life curriculum, visitPentecostalPublishing.com and PentecostalResourcesGroup.com. Share your God's Word for Life stories with me at pphcurriculum@upci.org.

“Bobby V” originally enlisted in the Army as an Airborne Ranger in January of 1988. After completing Infantry Basic Training and the Ranger Indoctrination Program he was assigned to the 1st Ranger BN Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia.  As a Ranger, he participated in combat operations in support of Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1994 he was reassigned as a Ranger Instructor at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion in Camp Rudder Florida.He was accepted into the Warrant Officer Program in 1997. He attended Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training, Warrant Officer Basic Course and UH-60 Black Hawk transition.   After completing the UH-60 aircraft qualification at Fort Rucker he participated in combat operations in support of Operation Task Force Hawk deploying to Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo.In 2001 after a successful assessment and selection he was assigned to A Co. (Shadows) 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. Upon arrival to the 160th he attended the Special Operations Training Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Level-C Course. He received his Fully Mission Qualification in 2002 and Tracked Maintenance Test Pilot in 2005.  In 2007 he was assigned to D Co. (Raiders) 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia as a Fully Mission Qualified Pilot and Maintenance Test Pilot. From 2008 through 2015 he was assigned to multiple companies in 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia as a Fully Mission Qualified Pilot and Maintenance Test Pilot – Maintenance Examiner, the Battalion Liaison Officer to Special Operations Command Southern Command, Maintenance Test Pilot – Maintenance Examiner.  In 2015 he was assigned to D Co. AVUM-AVIM (Dark wing) 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia as the Senior Fully Mission Qualified Pilot and Maintenance Test Pilot – Maintenance Examiner. He has made numerous deployments with D Co. (Raiders), C Co. (Shadows) and D Co. (Darkwing) in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN and INHERENT RESOLVE totaling over 860 days deployed to combat logging 1100 hrs of combat/ imminent danger.Chief Warrant Officer Five Villarreal military schools include the Individual Infantry Training course, Airborne Course, Ranger Indoctrination Program, Ranger Course, Jungle Warfare Training Course, Primary Leadership Development Course, French Foreign Legion Guyane Commando Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Warrant Officer Candidate School, Army Aviation Branch Qualification Course, OH-58A Recon Air Interdiction Course, UH-60 Aircraft Qualification Course, Special Operations Training Course, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Level-C Course, Aviation Maintenance Manger Course, Maintenance Test Pilot Course / Examiner, Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Warrant Officer Intermediate Level Education Course, SIX Sigma Green Belt Certification Course, Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Course, FAA Airline Transport Pilot (Helicopter) & Unmanned Aircraft System Remote Pilot . His awards and decorations include:  Bronze Star (2), Meritorious Service Medal (2), Air Medal Valor (1), Air Medal (4),  Army Commendation Medal (4), Joint Service Achievement Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (5), Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ oak leaf cluster (2), Army Meritorious Unit Commendation (1), Airforce Meritorious Unit Commendation (1), Army Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ bronze arrowhead (1), Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ bronze Star (2), Kosovo Campaign Medal (1), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1), Iraq Campaign Medal (7), Inherent, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (1), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (1), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (2), Army Service Ribbon (1), Overseas Service Ribbon (1), NATO Medal (1), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) (1), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) (1), Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, Parachute Badge w/ bronze service star, Jordanian Parachute Badge, Egyptian Parachute Badge, French Forces Legionnaire Guyane Commando Badge, Master Aviator Badge.He is now retired and enjoys spending time with and raising his two daughters, fishing and has plenty of option on politics, domestic and Global affairs and politics.

Blerim Skoro is a Kosovo-born former CIA operative whose life took a dramatic turn after deserting the Yugoslav army in the 1990s. Arriving in New York as an asylum seeker, Skoro's journey led him from a drug trafficking conviction to becoming a key informant for the FBI and CIA post-9/11. Posing as a radicalized Islamist, he infiltrated al-Qaeda networks in the Balkans, Middle East, and Pakistan, providing critical intelligence. His covert work ended after a 2010 shooting in Macedonia, when the CIA severed ties, leaving him with minimal compensation. Facing deportation in 2016, Skoro's story, detailed in the documentary The Accidental Spy, highlights the perils of espionage and abandonment by his handlers. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: ⁠https://www.tryarmra.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://www.identityguard.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://www.betterhelp.com/srs⁠ This episode is sponsored by Better Help. Give online therapy a try at ⁠betterhelp.com/srs⁠ and get on your way to being your best self. ⁠https://www.blackbuffalo.com⁠ ⁠https://www.boncharge.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://www.meetfabric.com/shawn⁠ ⁠https://www.shawnlikesgold.com⁠ ⁠https://www.helixsleep.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://www.hillsdale.edu/srs⁠ ⁠https://www.patriotmobile.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://www.rocketmoney.com/srs Blerim Skoro Links: Check out the documentary The Accidental Spy coming soon!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2xOkWvXkIQ (Film trailer) For sales or screening queries, please contact the film's producer, Johnny Howorth johnnyhoworth@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Acts 20 records that after the riot Paul calls for and encourages the ecclesia before departing into Macedonia. Six brethren accompany him as the representatives of their ecclesias. These delegates are carrying relief funds for the poor believers in Judea who are suffering the effects of a great famine. The chapter says Paul stops at Miletus and requests that the elders of Ephesus join him for final words of encouraging and warning. The Apostle gives a very long talk, and because of the poor ventilation in the room a young man named Eutychus falls asleep in the window and he falls three storeys to the ground and is pronounced dead. Paul miraculously raises Eutychus and continues preaching until sunrise. Paul's intentions of a quick visit in to Macedonia appear to have been thwarted and he is now hurrying to Jerusalem to arrive before the feast of Pentecost. The Apostle's speech to the Ephesian elders is recorded from verses 18-35. In summary he tells them of their solemn responsibilities, warning them of a decline due to those who would seek leadership for their own advantage. On the positive side, Paul, in verse 32, commends them to God and the Word of His grace – read aloud, pause and ponder. The Apostle also quotes some unrecorded words of our Lord Jesus Christ – “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (v35). The assembled group pray together on the beach and then an old prophet warns Paul of what would come upon him from the time of his arriving in Jerusalem. They greatly sorrow that they will see his face no more, but they respect Paul's resolute courage.

Presa din Albania acuză Partidul Popular European că sprijină fără să verifice afirmațiile partidului de la putere care vorbește de încercări de corupere a alegătorilor. PPE a adoptat o rezoluție în sprijinul Partidul Democrat din Albania. De arestat pentru acuzații privind coruperea alegătorilor, a fost arestat până acum un reprezentant al... opoziției. PPE și Albania: Când reprezentarea opoziției devine dezinformare internațională. Iată un titlu din gazetatema.net. Publicația scrie că Partidul Popular European (PPE), unul dintre cele mai mari blocuri politice ale continentului, a adoptat o rezoluție propusă de Partidul Democrat din Albania.„Sub pretextul îngrijorărilor legate de „integritatea electorală”, PPE se aliniază unilateral unui discurs care vizează politica națională, fără a analiza cu adevărat contextul instituțional și juridic al țării.”„Rezoluția subliniază faptul că alegerile din Albania sunt compromise de cumpărarea de voturi, deturnarea de fonduri publice și presiunea asupra alegătorilor. Deși aceste preocupări se află în centrul dezbaterii publice în timpul fiecărui proces electoral din țară, ceea ce este frapant la această rezoluție este limbajul său categoric și prezentarea unor afirmații considerate fapte irefutabile, când în majoritatea cazurilor acestea sunt simple acuzații fără o hotărâre judecătorească sau dovezi verificate. În mod ironic, persoana arestată în ultimele zile pentru cumpărare de voturi a fost un reprezentant al opoziției din Lushnje. Între timp, Procuratura Generală și SPAK, Structura Specială împotriva Corupției și Crimei Organizate, au semnat deja un protocol special pentru alegerile din 2025, menit să asigure pedepsirea oricăror încălcări electorale. Aceasta demonstrează că, contrar afirmațiilor din rezoluție, sistemul reacționează instituțional,” punctează jurnaliștii albanezi.Libertatea presei încă amenințată în MuntenegruLibertatea presei este încă amenințată de presiuni politice, atacuri neclarificate asupra jurnaliștilor și presiuni economice, conchide raportul Reporteri fără Frontiere, citat de rtcg.me. „Țara noastră a urcat trei locuri în ceea ce privește libertatea presei și ocupă acum locul 37 din 180 de țări din lume.”Printre țările din regiune, cele mai bine clasate sunt Slovenia (locul 33), Macedonia de Nord (pe 42), Croația (pe 60), apoi Albania (80), Bosnia și Herțegovina (86) și Serbia (96).„În ciuda unui număr mic de cetățeni (620.000), Muntenegru are zeci de instituții media înregistrate, inclusiv mai multe ziare, canale naționale și private, precum și o agenție jurnalistică. Trei dintre cele cinci rețele de televiziune cu acoperire națională sunt parțial sau complet deținute de străini, în principal de companii din Serbia vecină”, subliniază documentul.În Muntenegru, subliniază aceștia, libertatea de exprimare este garantată, iar defăimarea este dezincriminată. În ciuda unor modificări legislative, există încă lacune în cadrul legal în ceea ce privește accesul liber la informațiile de importanță publică și protejarea confidențialității surselor.Șefa parlamentului sârb îl atacă pe rectorul universității din BelgradPreședinta Parlamentului Sârbiei, Ana Brnabić, a declarat că rectorul Universității din Belgrad, Vladan Đokić, și decanii săi ar putea intra în istorie ca „responsabili pentru distrugerea universităților sârbe dacă nu se găsește o soluție la situația actuală din învățământul superior prin discuții cu prim-ministrul Đuro Macut.”Oficiala din Serbia se referă la protestele studențești izbucnite după ce în noiembrie anul trecut, acoperitul gării din Novi Sad s-a prăbușit, ucigând 16 persoane. Protestele s-au extins la întreaga societate și riscă să răstoarne guvernul.Ana Brnabić îl critică pe rectorul Đokić penrru că anulat odată o întâlnire cu președintele Aleksandar Vučić și a amânat, de asemenea, o întâlnire programată anterior cu prim-ministrul.„Cum este posibil ca un rector al unei universități publice să aibă mai mult respect pentru statele străine și entitățile externe decât pentru propria țară și președintele acesteia, ales cu 2,3 milioane de voturi, și să refuze să se întâlnească cu acesta, în timp ce acceptă să se întâlnească cu un ambasador?” a spus Brnabić. Au participat la Revista Presei Europa Plus:Milo POPOVIC, MuntenegruAndjela RADULOVIC, SerbiaSofija JOVANOVIĆ, SerbiaLavdije XHELILI, Albania

Your life will take on a whole new meaning.    “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”  - Acts 16:9 (KJV)

We're heading to Macedonia for the first time on the show to welcome Anastasia Ristovska, founder of Books At Ease and NextGeneration — two companies on a mission to simplify accounting for business owners and empower accountants to succeed in the U.S. market.With over 17 years in finance, an MBA, and leadership experience in international companies, Anastasia shares how she transitioned from the corporate world to becoming a two-time entrepreneur, helping both digital business owners and aspiring accountants thrive.

26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

This week we talk about AI chatbots, virtual avatars, and romance novels.We also discuss Inkitt, Galatea, and LLM grooming.Recommended Book: New Cold Wars by David E. SangerTranscriptThere's evidence that the US Trump administration used AI tools, possibly ChatGPT, possibly another, similar model or models, to generate the numbers they used to justify a recent wave of new tariffs on the country's allies and enemies.It was also recently reported that Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo used AI-generated text and citations in a plan he released called Addressing New York's Housing Crisis. And this case is a bit more of a slam dunk, as whomever put the plan together for him seems to have just copy-pasted snippets from the ChatGPT interface without changing or checking them—which is increasingly common for all of us, as such interfaces are beginning to replace even search engine results, like those provided by Google.But it's also a practice that's generally frowned upon, as—and this is noted even in the copy provided alongside many such tools and their results—these systems provide a whole lot of flawed, false, incomplete, or otherwise not-advisable-to-use data, in some cases flubbing numbers or introducing bizarre grammatical inaccuracies, but in other cases making up research or scientific papers that don't exist, but presenting them the same as they would a real-deal paper or study. And there's no way to know without actually going and checking what these things serve up, which can, for many people at least, take a long while; so a lot of people don't do this, including many politicians and their administrations, and that results in publishing made-up, baseless, numbers, and in some cases wholesale fabricated claims.This isn't great for many reasons, including that it can reinforce our existing biases. If you want to slap a bunch of tariffs on a bunch of trading partners, you can ask an AI to generated some numbers that justify those high tariffs, and it will do what it can to help; it's the ultimate yes-man, depending on how you word your queries. And it will do this even if your ask is not great or truthful or ideal.These tools can also help users spiral down conspiracy rabbit holes, can cherry-pick real studies to make it seem as if something that isn't true is true, and it can help folks who are writing books or producing podcasts come up with just-so stories that seem to support a particular, preferred narrative, but which actually don't—and which maybe aren't even real or accurate, as presented.What's more, there's also evidence that some nation states, including Russia, are engaging in what's called LLM grooming, which basically means seeding false information to sources they know these models are trained on so that said models will spit out inaccurate information that serves their intended ends.This is similar to flooding social networks with misinformation and bots that seem to be people from the US, or from another country whose elections they hope to influence, that bot apparently a person who supports a particular cause, but in reality that bot is run by someone in Macedonia or within Russia's own borders. Or maybe changing the Wikipedia entry and hoping no one changes it back.Instead of polluting social networks or Wikis with such misinfo, though, LLM grooming might mean churning out websites with high SEO, search engine optimization rankings, which then pushes them to the top of search results, which in turn makes it more likely they'll be scraped and rated highly by AI systems that gather some of their data and understanding of the world, if you want to call it that, from these sources.Over time, this can lead to more AI bots parroting Russia's preferred interpretation, their propaganda, about things like their invasion of Ukraine, and that, in turn, can slowly nudge the public's perception on such matters; maybe someone who asks ChatGPT about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, after hearing someone who supports Russia claiming that it was all Ukraine's fault, and they're told, by ChatGPT, which would seem to be an objective source of such information, being an AI bot, that Ukraine in fact brought it upon themselves, or is in some way actually the aggressor, which would serve Russia's geopolitical purposes. None of which is true, but it starts to seem more true to some people because of that poisoning of the informational well.So there are some issues of large, geopolitical consequence roiling in the AI space right now. But some of the most impactful issues related to this collection of technologies are somewhat smaller in scale, today, at least, but still have the potential to disrupt entire industries as they scale up.And that's what I'd like to talk about today, focusing especially on a few recent stories related to AI and its growing influence in creative spaces.—There's a popular meme that's been shuffling around social media for a year or two, and a version of it, shared by an author named Joanna Maciejewska (machie-YEF-ski) in a post on X, goes like this: “You know what the biggest problem with pushing all-things-AI is? Wrong direction. I want AI to do my laundry and dishes so that I can do art and writing, not for AI to do my art and writing so that I can do my laundry and dishes.”It could be argued, of course, that we already have technologies that do our laundry and dishes, and that AI has the capacity to make both of those machines more efficient and effective, especially in term of helping manage and moderate increasingly renewables-heavy electrical grids, but the general concept here resonates with a lot of people, I think: why are some of the biggest AI companies seemingly dead-set on replacing creatives, who are already often suffering from financial precarity, but who generally enjoy their work, or at least find it satisfying, instead of automating away the drudgery many of us suffer in the work that pays our bills, in our maintenance of our homes, and in how we get around, work on our health, and so on.Why not automate the tedious and painful stuff rather than the pleasurable stuff, basically?I think, looking at the industry more broadly, you can actually see AI creeping up on all these spaces, painful and pleasurable, but generative AI tools, like ChatGPT and its peers, seem to be especially good at generating text and images and such, in part because it's optimized for communication, being a chatbot interface over a collection of more complex tools, and most of our entertainments operate in similar spaces; using words, using images, these are all things that overlap with the attributes that make for a useful and convincing chatbot.The AI tools that produce music from scratch, writing the lyrics and producing the melodies and incorporating different instruments, working in different genres, the whole, soup to nuts, are based on similar principles to AI systems that work with large sets of linguistic training data to produce purely language based, written outputs.Feed an AI system gobs of music, and it can learn to produce music at the prompting of a user, then, and the same seems to be true of other types of content, as well, from images to movies to video games.This newfound capacity to spit out works that, for all their flaws, would have previously requires a whole lot of time and effort to produce, is leading to jubilation in some spaces, but concern and even outright terror in others.I did an episode not long ago on so-called ‘vibe coding,' about people who in some cases can't code at all, but who are producing entire websites and apps and other products just by learning how to interact with these AI tools appropriately. And these vibe coders are having a field day with these tools.The same is increasingly true of people without any music chops who want to make their own songs. Folks with musical backgrounds often get more out of these tools, same as coders tend to get more from vibe coding, in part because they know what to ask for, and in part because they can edit what they get on the other end, making it better and tweaking the output to make it their own.But people without movie-making skills can also type what they want into a box and have these tools spit out a serviceable movie on the other end, and that's leading to a change similar to what happened when less-fiddly guns were introduced to the battlefield: you no longer needed to have super well-trained soldiers to defeat your enemies, you could just hand them a gun and teach them to shoot and reload it, and you'd do pretty well; you could even defeat some of your contemporaries who had much better trained and more experienced soldiers, but who hadn't yet made the jump to gunpowder weapons.There are many aspects to this story, and many gray areas that are not as black and white as, for instance, a non-coder suddenly being able to out-code someone who's worked really hard to become a decent coder, or someone who knows nothing about making music creating bops, with the aide of these tools, that rival those of actual musicians and singers who have worked their whole life to be able to the same.There have been stories about actors selling their likenesses to studios and companies that work with studios, for instance, those likenesses then being used by clients of those companies, often without the actors' permission.For some, this might be a pretty good deal, as that actor is still free to pursue the work they want to do, and their likeness can be used in the background for a fee, some of that fee going to the actor, no additional work necessary. Their likeness becomes an asset that they wouldn't have otherwise had—not to be used and rented out in that capacity, at least—and thus, for some, this might be a welcome development.This has, in some cases though, resulted in situations in which said actor discovers that their likeness is being used to hawk products they would never be involved with, like online scams and bogus health cures. They still receive a payment for that use of their image, but they realize that they have little or no control over how and when and for what purposes it's used.And because of the aforementioned financial precarity that many creatives in particular experience as a result of how their industries work, a lot of people, actors and otherwise, would probably jump at the chance to make some money, even if the terms are abusive and, long-term, not in their best interest.Similar tools, and similar financial arrangements, are being used and made in the publishing world.An author named Manjari Sharma wrote her first book, an enemies-to-lovers style romance, in a series of installments she published on the free fanfic platform Wattpad during the height of the Covid pandemic. She added it to another, similar platform, Inkitt, once it was finished, and it garnered a lot of attention and praise on both.As a result of all that attention, the folks behind Inkitt suggested she move it from their free platform to their premium offering, Galatea, which would allow Sharma to earn a portion of the money gleaned from her work.The platform told her they wanted to turn the book into a series in early 2024, but that she would only have a few weeks to complete the next book, if she accepted their terms. She was busy with work, so she accepted their offer to hire a ghostwriter to produce the sequel, as they told her she'd still receive a cut of the profits, and the fan response to that sequel was…muted. They didn't like it. Said it had a different vibe, wasn't well-written, just wasn't very good. Lacked the magic of the original, basically.She was earning extra money from the sequel, then, but no one really enjoyed it, and she didn't feel great about that. Galatea then told Sharma that they would make a video series based on the books for their new video app, 49 episodes, each a few minutes long, and again, they'd handle everything, she'd just collect royalties.The royalty money she was earning was a lot less than what traditional publishers offer, but it was enough that she was earning more from those royalties than from her actual bank job, and the company, due to the original deal she made when she posted the book to their service, had the right to do basically anything they wanted with it, so she was kind of stuck, either way.So she knew she had to go along with whatever they wanted to do, and was mostly just trying to benefit from that imbalance where possible. What she didn't realize, though, was that the company was using AI tools to, according to the company's CEO, “iterate on the stories,” which basically means using AI to produce sequels and video content for successful, human-written books. As a result of this approach, they have just one head of editorial and five “story intelligence analysts” on staff, alongside some freelancers, handling books and supplementary content written by about 400 authors.As a business model, it's hard to compete with this approach.As a customer, at the moment, at least, with today's tools and our approach to using them, it's often less than ideal. Some AI chatbots are helpful, but many of them just gatekeep so a company can hire fewer customer service humans, saving the business money at the customer's expense. That seems to be the case with this book's sequel, too, and many of the people paying to read these things assumed they were written by humans, only to find, after the fact, that they were very mediocre AI-generated knock-offs.There's a lot of money flooding into this space predicated in part on the promise of being able to replace currently quite expensive people, like those who have to be hired and those who own intellectual property, like the rights to books and the ideas and characters they contain, with near-free versions of the same, the AI doing similar-enough work alongside a human skeleton crew, and that model promises crazy profits by earning the same level of revenue but with dramatically reduced expenses.The degree to which this will actually pan out is still an open question, as, even putting aside the moral and economic quandary of what all these replaced creatives will do, and the legal argument that these AI companies are making right now, that they can just vacuum up all existing content and spit it back out in different arrangements without that being a copyright violation, even setting all of that aside, the quality differential is pretty real, in some spaces right now, and while AI tools do seem to have a lot of promise for all sorts of things, there's also a chance that the eventual costs of operating them and building out the necessary infrastructure will fail to afford those promised financial benefits, at least in the short term.Show Noteshttps://www.theverge.com/news/648036/intouch-ai-phone-calls-parentshttps://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/04/regrets-actors-who-sold-ai-avatars-stuck-in-black-mirror-esque-dystopia/https://archive.ph/gzfVChttps://archive.ph/91bJbhttps://www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/tech/hollywood-celebrity-deepfakes-congress-law/index.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2024/12/21/nx-s1-5220301/deepfakes-memes-artificial-intelligence-electionshttps://techcrunch.com/2025/04/13/jack-dorsey-and-elon-musk-would-like-to-delete-all-ip-law/https://www.404media.co/this-college-protester-isnt-real-its-an-ai-powered-undercover-bot-for-cops/https://hellgatenyc.com/andrew-cuomo-chatgpt-housing-plan/https://www.theverge.com/news/642620/trump-tariffs-formula-ai-chatgpt-gemini-claude-grokhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/ai-cant-predict-the-impact-of-tariffsbut-it-will-try-e387e40chttps://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/04/17/llm-poisoning-grooming-chatbots-russia/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a textAt Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, the week preceding that we typically focus on the events leading up to the cross. That was the culmination of the perfect life of Jesus which was sacrificed for all of us. Now in this series we will focus on the other side of the story.  If you can imagine, just for a moment, it is AD 31, 32, maybe and we are believers, maybe we are one of the 11 disciples that remain, perhaps we are one of the several hundred believers, or maybe we are one of the several thousand people that actually saw Jesus when he was living and he performed a miracle in front of our face and we believed he was something special, maybe we didn't know quite what it was but we experienced it.  We are in Galilee and we hear that he's dead.  There is no instant communication, so maybe it's been a week or two. Maybe it's a rumor, we just aren't quite sure, we are devastated and we don't know what to think.The disciples were in disarray, we know they were at least until resurrection day.  The several hundred believers were probably despondent at the news. It seemed like to us, to the believers, that the vail that had fallen as Christ was dying was still there. The sun was up but the vale was still there. We didn't know what we were going to do.Suddenly the Church emerges.  In this series, we are going to study how this happened. Our reference will be the first chapter in Acts which many of us are familiar with. However, as Pastor Harris always does, he will give us the details and insights that will make it come alive.We know that Acts was written by Luke.  Luke, as Pastor Harris will point out, Luke wrote more of the New Testament than any other person.  We think of Paul as the primary author of the New Testament but Luke was very instrumental in the writing of our gospel. Luke was not one of our 12 disciples, sometimes you will ask people, “who are the 12 disciples?” and they will throw Luke in there, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and you know… but nope, he was not a disciple.  Luke was from the area above what is now known as Greece called Macedonia. He encountered Paul on one of his missionary journeys and became a believer through Paul and apparently Luke and Paul became very close.  From there Luke will take on the role of early church historian. By profession Luke was a physician, he was a learned man far more educated than most of the disciples.  Maybe not as educated as Paul, but close. So here you have these two deep thinkers together and they begin to share with us the history of the church.  We invite you to follow along as Pastor Harris tells us the details of the birth of our faith in this series titled, “The Birth of the Church”.  So let's kick it off  with the first teaching in this series titled, “The Acts of the Holy Spirit”.Support the show

In order to gain the throne John Kantakouzenos destroys what is left of the Roman Empire. He allows the Serbs to conquer Macedonia while his Turkish allies enslave his people.Period: 1343-47 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were far from home in Phoenix, Arizona, living in New Jersey, when my wife had a gallbladder crisis. In fact, she was going to have to have her gallbladder removed. Well, I wasn't too happy about that happening so far from home, but God was in it. Because our friend who we were there with at a conference said, "Well, I just had this surgery not long ago, and our doctor here is one of the few in the country (at that time anyway) who is an expert at doing gallbladder surgery with lasers. Really? Well, instead of the six weeks that I thought my wife was going to have to recuperate in Arizona, why she was up and around in a very few days, because of the amazing power of a laser. Think about that. I mean, lasers can penetrate steel. They can help you get better eyesight, or take care of a gallbladder that needs to come out. It's pretty amazing power. Now, diffused light can't do that; only the focused light can do it. If my wife had been under just diffused light all that time, it wouldn't do anything about her gall bladder. But it took the focused light - that powerful energy - to really change things. There's awesome power when you focus the energy on one thing. I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Laser Giving." Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Philippians 1 beginning in verse 4, where Paul says, "In all my prayers for you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now." Imagine being partners with the spread of the Gospel through a dynamo like the Apostle Paul. At the end of his letter in chapter 4 and beginning at verse 13, he writes about their support. He says, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength, yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only: for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account." Now these people found a piece of God's work, the Apostle Paul, and they invested heavily in it and they received great dividends. They lasered their giving on this one missionary. All of his fruit, all the people Paul reached; all that was credited to their eternal account. See, you and I live in a world that hits us with more causes than you could ever support. Think of that stack of mail you get from Christian organizations. Now, there's a pattern. You're like, "I don't know how I can possibly support all these things." Well, you can't. Isn't it a better idea to get a lot of stock in a few eternal investments? I remember when my wife's grandmother went home to be with the Lord. Her Grandma had all these records that we went through and we found her list of "Giving and Praying." It was all about the organizations she really believed in. It started out in real tiny script. That list probably went back to the 1940s and then the print got larger as her eyes began to fail, and at the age of 99 she was still praying for and giving to the same ministries. God laid that on her heart and here was 50 years of praying and 50 years of canceled checks to match. She was a partner in the Gospel. Now in our self-focused generation, we've lost that excitement of sharing stock in Eternity, Inc. My friend, Jeff said, "I have decided I am drawing a line in my checkbook and that's all we really need to live on and from thereon I'm putting it into the work of God." Would you ask the Lord for a piece of his broken heart for this broken world, for a particular need, for some group, for some area of the world? I encourage you to ask God for a few spiritual works or people who you could really believe in, and pray for them and stick with them and give to them. Laser your giving! The way to have a winning part of God's work on earth is to have a lot of stock in a few eternal investments. See, diffused energy doesn't make much of a difference, but lasered energy changes everything. You know what? You laser your giving, you'll be reaping dividends forever.

Because God builds his kingdom through partnership in the gospel, we must build relationships based on giving and receiving. Philippians 4:14–19 (ESV): 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

This week we continue to appreciate Philip of Macedonia, we make the best Bible joke either of us are ever going to come up with, and we begin the saga of Zia saying Amos is sus.Send us a message through the Duat at oftheeldestgodspod@gmail.com with your thoughts and theories going forward! We would love to hear from you. Make sure to subscribe so you know when our next episode drops and rate and review if you like what we are doing.IG: www.instagram.com/oftheeldestgodspod/Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/oftheeldestgodspodSUPPORT US ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/oftheeldestgodsBUY OUR MERCH, PLZ: https://www.redbubble.com/people/OfTheEldestGods/shopCharlie's IG:  www.instagram.com/greenpixie12/ and www.instagram.com/greenpixiedraws/ Charlie's Plug: Julie and the PhantomsRaye's Plug: Vampire Therapist

TAlexander the Great King of Macedonia and Conqueror of the Ancient WorldWe appreciate your support! Tune in for fresh episodes every week. Let's keep the conversation going,join our community, subscribe and grow with us!Support the showWelcome to 'Facts Or Nonsense Podcast,' where the past, present, and future converge in a symphony of discovery.

Caratteristiche della Grecia superata l'età classica: storia dell'egemonia spartana e tebana, guerre e protagonisti.

Send us a textWhat happens when God disrupts your vision and redirects your focus to places no one wants to go? Mark and Dalene Good share their remarkable 30-year journey as missionaries, from Bangladesh to France and now to the overlooked Benelux region of Europe.These veteran church planters take us through a spiritual eye exam, challenging us to develop the three dimensions of spiritual vision: eyesight (seeing what God sees), insight (feeling what God feels), and foresight (knowing what to do about it). Through powerful stories like Clara, a trafficked woman who experienced God's intervention when a client tried to strangle her, and Julie, a skeptical French student who eventually asked to study the Bible, we glimpse the spiritual hunger beneath Europe's secular exterior.The spiritual crisis in Europe is more severe than most realize. In France, where secularism was born, faith in God has been replaced with faith in self, leading to epidemic levels of mental health struggles. "We were never designed to be God," Mark explains. "We were never designed to wear the weight of having to be God in our lives, and it's literally crushing people to death." In Luxembourg, merely 0.25% of the population knows Jesus, while Belgium's Dutch-speaking region has only 40 small churches averaging 15 people each, mostly led by aging pastors with no successors.This message parallels Paul's vision in Acts 16, where a Macedonian man begged him to "come over and help us." Just as Macedonia was an overlooked military buffer zone in Paul's day, Benelux occupies a similar position today – overrun in wars, not a destination anyone chooses, yet desperately in need of the gospel. If we could hear Europeans' spiritual cry, Mark suggests, it would be "an SOS with two exclamation points."What barriers is God asking you to cross? Whether it's praying more intentionally for unreached peoples, giving sacrificially to missions, or stepping out in faith to share Christ with a neighbor, the Goods' testimony reminds us that when we obey God's redirections, He provides everything we need for the journey.Cornerstonehttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/Follow Jesushttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-jesusLife Groups https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-groupsGiving https://cornerstoneaz.churchcenter.com/givingChurch Center App - Download then add Cornerstone Christian Center in Avondale, AZiOShttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-church-center/id1357742931?mt=8&ls=1&ign-mpt=uo%3D4Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ministrycentered.churchcenter----Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cornerstoneazFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cornerstoneaz.orgTwitterhttps://twitter.com/cornerstoneaz.org

John 10:10 NIV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.Luke 12:21-23 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Trust that God is in CONTROL. “I have never known a man who died of hard work, but I do know many who died of worry.”—Charles MayoTrust that God CARES for you.Luke 12:24 Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!Luke 12:25-26 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?Luke 12:27-28 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?Trust in God's PROVISION for your life.Luke 12:29-32 “And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.God's Kingdom- our kingdom-concept/pictureLuke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Philippians 4:10-20 10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A Study of Philippians:  Generosity Birthed in Contentment", Children's Time, Modern Worship Praise Team (11:45 Service).          10.  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your[a] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.  11.  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  12.  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  13.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.          14.  Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.  15.  Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.  16.  For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.  17.  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.  18.  Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.  19.  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  20.  Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.          (Philippians 4:10-20 NIV)

Many people in the world today have never hear of the good news of Jesus. The task of reaching them will come with a cost. Our sacrificial and financial investment to reach others for Christ will only happen if we believe Jesus is worth it. That was true for the churches in Macedonia and it should also be true for those of us who’ve experienced salvation. From Romans 15.

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A Study of Philippians:  Generosity Birthed in Contentment", Orchestra, Children's Time, Choir, Blended Worship Praise Team (8:45 Service).          10.  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your[a] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.  11.  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  12.  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  13.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.          14.  Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.  15.  Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.  16.  For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.  17.  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.  18.  Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.  19.  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  20.  Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.          (Philippians 4:10-20 NIV)

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A Study of Philippians:  Generosity Birthed in Contentment".          10.  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your[a] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.  11.  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  12.  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  13.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.          14.  Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.  15.  Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.  16.  For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.  17.  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.  18.  Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.  19.  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  20.  Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.          (Philippians 4:10-20 NIV)

Key Verses: Romans 15:25-29Paul was taking a gift from the believers in Macedonia to the believers in Jerusalem.

Dr. Brian Hill (Senior Pastor), "A Study of Philippians:  Generosity Birthed in Contentment", Children's Time, Modern Worship Praise Team (11:45 Service).          10.  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your[a] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.  11.  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  12.  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  13.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.          14.  Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.  15.  Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.  16.  For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.  17.  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.  18.  Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.  19.  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  20.  Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.          (Philippians 4:10-20 NIV)

In this message from our "Where There is Vision" series, we explore Paul's vision of the man from Macedonia in Acts 16. This pivotal moment wasn't just about direction—it was about divine calling and obedience to God's mission. 

Started the week off with the crazy discovery of that cartel death camp in Mexico, and then got into Ukraine's ground robot war. Plus deportation hysteria, S. Korea prez protests, Congo looks for cease-fire, Macedonia arrests public officials for nightclub fire, and a UK guy gets five months in prison for fisting a horse. Music: Sons of the San Joaquin/“Sierra Nevada”

In this episode, David and Steve chat with Ilir Sela, the visionary Founder and CEO of Slice, a platform that empowers over 20,000 independent pizzerias and generates nearly $2 billion in sales.Ilir shares his incredible journey—from growing up in a small town in Macedonia to moving to New York City and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit that built his career. He talks about his early ventures, the lessons he learned bootstrapping a business, and how Slice is bridging the digital gap for small pizzerias, ensuring they thrive in an online world.We also dive into:The evolution from MyPizza to SliceThe power of bootstrapping and how it shaped his leadershipHow COVID-19 accelerated growth and helped small businesses surviveThe importance of trust, culture, and doing the right thingAnd of course, we had to ask—what's his go-to pizza spot in NYC?If you're passionate about entrepreneurship, small business success, and a great slice of pizza, this episode is for you.Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g5S5-cTsZJc Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More MediaLinks:Ilir on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilirsela/Slice: https://slice.com/Slice Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SlicePlatform/For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/144Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

Một vụ cháy lớn tại một hộp đêm đã khiến ít nhất 59 người chết và hơn 150 người bị thương, ở Bắc Macedonia. Vụ hỏa hoạn bắt đầu trong một buổi hòa nhạc vào Chủ Nhật 16 tháng 3, tổng số nạn nhân và nguyên nhân chính thức của vụ việc, vẫn đang được chính quyền địa phương thẩm định.

Once the riot on behalf of the goddess Artemis calms down, Paul leaves Ephesus and heads for Macedonia, then Greece, where he stays three months. Again, the Jews plot against him, so he changes plans and ends up in Troas. Paul gathers with a group of Christians and talks well into the night. A young man named Eutychus not only falls asleep but falls out of an adjacent third story window. Though dead, Paul is able to revive him, and continues teaching until dawn. Returning to Ephesus, he conducts a farewell speech amongst friends as he is certain that he will not see them again. Amongst other charges, Paul encourages them to be on guard against false teachers who are like wolves amongst sheep. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

AP correspondent Donna Warder reports on a deadly nightclub fire in Macedonia.

We stand on Jesus' promise that the gospel will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations. As we see this being fulfilled, we know the end is near and Jesus' return is soon.Main Points:1. There are still locations in our world where the gospel message is not being preached. There are places where there are no churches, no missionaries, no translations of the Bible in local languages, and no access to the salvation message.2. With the use of the ever-increasing tools of technology the message of Christ is spreading faster than ever before. My prayer is that a new generation of missionaries will hear the call of God and will take the gospel to people still waiting to hear.3. The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news. We cannot be silent. We cannot keep such good news to ourselves. We must tell others. We must let people know that Jesus saves. Let's determine that we will be a part of preaching the gospel locally and globally as a testimony to all.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 24:14 - “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”1 Thessalonians 1:8 - “The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.” Matthew 28:19 - “Go and make disciples of all nations…”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group