Podcasts about Macedonian

In this passage, Paul points to the Macedonian churches, who gave generously despite severe poverty, showing that the ability and desire to give are themselves gifts of God's grace. Above all, Jesus' sacrificial example—becoming poor so that believers might become spiritually rich—is presented as the ultimate motivation for generous giving.

In this passage, Paul points to the Macedonian churches, who gave generously despite severe poverty, showing that the ability and desire to give are themselves gifts of God's grace. Above all, Jesus' sacrificial example—becoming poor so that believers might become spiritually rich—is presented as the ultimate motivation for generous giving.

This message explores the transformative power of grace, emphasizing that true grace not only changes us internally but also compels us to act generously toward others. Drawing from Paul's letters to the Corinthians, the message highlights how the Macedonian church, despite hardship, exemplified sincere generosity rooted in God's undeserved gift. Will Dyer contrasts the world's tendency toward self-protection and scarcity with the gospel's call to open-handed living, illustrating through personal stories and biblical examples that generosity is not just about money, but about sharing time, abilities, and kindness. Ultimately, the message challenges listeners to examine how grace shapes their daily choices, urging them to practice joyful giving as a reflection of God's abundant love and to let grace flow through them to bless others

The 12 stones at Jordan were never meant to be silent monuments to a forgotten past; they were placed there to provoke a question from the children and demand an answer from the fathers. But when one generation stopped explaining what God had done, another generation arose “which knew not the LORD.” That same tragedy is unfolding before our eyes today. America is covered with churches, crosses and Bibles, yet millions of young people have no idea what any of them mean because fathers have stopped teaching, pulpits have stopped preaching, and churches have traded sound doctrine for entertainment, emotionalism and political religion. One generation possessed the truth, the next merely assumed it, and now another is preparing to abandon it altogether. The stones are still standing, but their testimony is being forgotten."That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?" Joshua 4:6 (KJB)The answer is to remember the works of God, teach the next generation, preach the word and answer the Macedonian call. The Church was never commissioned to preserve the gospel inside comfortable buildings while a lost and dying world cried out from the darkness. The same truth entrusted to us must be committed to faithful men who will teach others also, then carried into the regions beyond by missionaries preaching the gospel of the grace of God. We have a commission, the only question is, will we carry it out?

fWotD Episode 3423: Noemvriana Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Friday, 18 September 2026, is Noemvriana.The Noemvriana (Greek: Νοεμβριανά, "November Events") was an armed confrontation in Athens in December [O. S. November] 1916 between the Kingdom of Greece and the Allied Powers, arising from a dispute over Greece's neutrality in World War I, followed by reprisals and riots against Greek supporters of the Allies.The immediate crisis began in May 1916, when the Greek fortress of Roupel was surrendered to the Central Powers, mainly Bulgarian forces. This raised concerns among the Allies of a secret alliance between the Greek government and the Central Powers. The Allies feared that the Central Powers, with Greek support, might launch an attack against the Franco-British army that had been invited to Thessaloniki by former Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos to assist Serbia and bivouacked there since late 1915. Diplomatic negotiations between King Constantine I and the Allies took place in mid-1916, with the King advocating for Greek neutrality, which would favor the Central Powers. The Allies demanded the demobilization of the Greek army to ensure Greece's neutrality after the surrender of Fort Roupel. However, the failure of negotiations, combined with the Bulgarian Army's advance in Macedonia, led to a military coup by pro-Allied Greek officers supporting Venizelos in Thessaloniki. Supported by the Allies, in October 1916, Venizelos established a provisional government in northern Greece to form an army to reclaim territories lost to Bulgaria, thus splitting Greece into two factions.The involvement of the Hellenic Army alongside the Allies and the country's division sparked anti-Allied protests in Athens. In late October, King Constantine and the Allies reached a secret agreement on the war material compensation, but pressure from his military advisers forced the King to abandon it. On 1 December [O. S. 18 November] 1916, the Allies landed a small contingent in Athens to enforce their demands – surrender of war material equivalent to the ones lost at Roupel – but met with organized resistance. An armed confrontation ensued until a temporary compromise was reached. The next day, after the Allied forces evacuated, royalist mobs rioted in Athens, targeting Venizelos's supporters. The violence lasted two or three days after 1 December and became known as the Noemvriana, named after the November date in the Old Style calendar. This event drove deep social cleavage between the two sides and marked the height of the National Schism.After Noemvriana, the Allies intensified efforts to remove King Constantine I. A naval blockade was imposed, isolating royalist areas, leading the population of Athens to starve. Following Constantine's abdication in June 1917, his son, King Alexander, ascended the throne, and Greece was united under Venizelos's leadership. Greece then joined the Allies in World War I, providing numerical superiority on the Macedonian front. In 1918, the Greek army had helped secure an Allied victory in the Balkans, contributing to the liberation of Serbia and the defeat of the Central Powers.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:14 UTC on Friday, 18 September 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Noemvriana on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Arthur.

In our third show of the week, celebrating the start of the new EHF Champions League season, we're joined by Macedonian journalist Filip Mishov to discuss Vardar's return to the competition after four years away. How are the two-time champions shaping up under coach Ivan Cupic, is the club run better than it was at the height of their powers and what are their chances of progressing from an incredibly tight Group B. 

Welcome to The Weekly, produced by TAB Media Group, which publishes The Alabama Baptist and The Baptist Paper. Each episode features news headlines read by TAB Media Group staff and volunteers. New episodes are released weekly on Wednesday mornings. Articles featured in this episode: Remembering 9/11 keeps me humble, helps me empathize, pushes me forward First person: America's Macedonian call Sounding alarm: Social media trend pushes children to 'disown' parents First person: Is gambling the next pornography? Ukrainians remain resilient amid nonstop attacks Baptist photographer reflects on 9/11 assignment — and 'the cross' How should your church respond when the world changes? Scholars ask, 'How do Americans experience God in worship?' Housing allowance designations: How important are they this fall? Missionaries' ministry, martyrdom in Haiti focus of new book Visit TAB Media HERE Subscribe on iTunes HERE

Kevin Anderson speaks from 2 Corinthians 8 on the example of the Macedonian church and Jesus on the integrity and accountability on how the church handles what is given.

For many years, it was an inspiring book. Then it became a hit Broadway musical. Then it was made into a movie several times. The story is Victor Hugo's classic, Lés Misérables. One of the many dramas in the book portrays the efforts of this group of valiant young men and women to fight to free their fellow Frenchmen from a tyrannical government. They make their stand against a massive French army at a makeshift wall they have constructed. They call it the “barricade of freedom.” They fight bravely, but their cause is threatened by a major problem that develops. They begin to run out of ammunition. Well, this one little boy realizes that their fight for freedom can only continue if they can find more ammunition. So, he risks his own life to crawl across the battle zone, picking up bullets from wounded and dying French soldiers. Because you can't win the battle when you're running out of bullets. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Running Out of Ammo in the Battle for Lives.” Right now, there's an ammunition shortage in the most decisive battle of all—that would be the battle for human souls, the battle for human lives. It began at the cross where Jesus died to make eternal life possible. It moved out across the planet at Jesus' command and in the power of His resurrection, and it continues this very day in cities and towns across this country and in every country of the world. It is a fight to liberate people Jesus died for from the penalty and the power of their sin, from an unspeakable eternity, and from Satan's chains. But on so many fronts in the battle, Jesus' forces are running out of bullets. In many places God's soldiers are beating back the enemy, taking prisoners from the enemy and pushing back the darkness. But they're running short of bullets. The money just isn't there to keep pressing the battle. All those letters and appeals you get asking for money for ministry—they're about a lot more than money. For ministries that are really making a difference, it's all about ammunition to keep fighting the battle for lives. But something's gone wrong. It can't be that God isn't giving the money to people through whom He wants to meet these needs. It must be that some of us are sitting on the ammunition instead of sending it to the front lines. And when we lose one of these battles, it's lives we lose—maybe forever. Our word for today from the Word of God lays out how the supply line for God's army is supposed to work. And thinking of the economic battles and struggles and sometimes the downturns of our time, it seems particularly relevant to go back to those Macedonian believers that Paul cited as an example for all of us. Here's what Paul says, “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity…they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). It was sacrificial giving so the believers in Jerusalem would have the ammunition they needed to fight their battles. Why? It goes on to say, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that through His poverty we might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus impoverished Himself to make us rich, and He's the Son of God. So, how can we hang onto what He's given us so we can stay in our comfort zone? The battle for a lost and dying world is every believer's battle, not just the battle for a few spiritual daredevils who take all the risks, exercise all the faith, and make all the sacrifices. For those who are fighting on the front lines, it's our responsibility to make every bullet count, to stay on mission, to always take the high road of integrity, and put our faith in Jehovah Jireh, not in our contributors. And for every one of us, we need to hear the cries from the front lines, “We're winning, but we're running out of ammunition!” Listen, while there's time, let's throw everything we can into this battle for which Jesus gave everything He had!

Vern Streeter | Guest Speaker | August 30, 2026 Referenced Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:1-5 Generosity inspires generosity (1-2)Follow-through turns vision into reality (3-4)Preparing for generosity prevents arm-twisting (5) Reflection Questions:1. Rate yourself (1-10) on a Parsimony Scale (Parsimony: Extreme unwillingness to spend money). 1 = I hate spending money and do it as little as possible. 10 = I spend myself into oblivion. 2. Where did you learn that? Who taught you that? 3. Rate yourself (1-10) on an Avarice Scale (Avarice: Extreme greed for wealth). 1 = Money and material gain drives all my decisions. 10 = Money is a tool and I only need a couple tools. 4. Where did you learn that? Who taught you that? 5. Have you ever been fooled/manipulated into giving money for someone/something? What happened and how did that feel? How has that affected your generosity? 6. The churches in Macedonia inspired the church in Corinth to be generous. Who has positively influenced your generosity and how have they done that? 7. What things can you do to not give “grudgingly” (reluctantly because of avarice)? (2 Cor. 9:5). 8. How does grace (unearned kindness) affect your view and practice of generosity? What's your next step? * Connect: We'd love to connect with you! Fill out our Connect Card to receive more information, have us pray for you, or to ask us any questions: http://journeybozeman.com/connectcard * Connect: Get your children connected to our children's ministry, Base Camp: https://journeybozeman.com/children * Connect: Our Student Ministry is for High School and Middle School students: https://journeybozeman.com/students * Give: Want to worship through giving and support the ministry of Journey Church: https://journeybozeman.com/give * Gather: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneyChurchBozeman * Gather: Download our app: https://journeybozeman.com/app * Gather: Join our Facebook Group to stay connected throughout the week: https://facebook.com/groups/JourneyChurchBozeman  Chapters (00:00:00) - Undeserved Kindness(00:02:58) - Second Corinthians 8: Unreasonable Grace(00:08:58) - How to Stop Ranting After the Service(00:14:55) - Be Ready for The Corinthians(00:20:35) - Paul's Appeal to the Macedonians(00:23:47) - The Truth of Tithing(00:27:37) - A QR Code for Grace and Generosity(00:29:20) - Paul on Giving Less Than We Should(00:36:07) - A Moment of Praise

Some say Alexander was the greatest general of all time, whilst others say he was a genocidal tyrant. In his lifetime conquered more than most empires manage in hundreds of years. He is, though an enigma. Impossible to pin down, which is why he is so endlessly fascinating to historians since antiquity. Is he a god, a king, a man or a boy? Joining today is Edmund Richardson, author of a new book about the Macedonian ruler, as we discuss key points of his life, milestones that perhaps help us understand the kind of man he was. Coming up, a bonus on a new AI movie on YT which asks the question, what if Alexander's son survived and ruled in his place? It's a bit of fun so do look out for that. Plenty more history on the way including Henry VIII and the SAS in WW2, so please share with friends and family and if you can leave a good rating I'd be most grateful Edmund Richardson Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alexander: God, King, Man Moot Trial of Alexander ⁠⁠History Book Club Book List⁠⁠ Oliver Webb-Carter Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Who Cares Who Wins? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paean to Patrick Leigh Fermor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me: owcpods@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2 Corinthians 8:1–15 – The Macedonian churches gave joyfully and sacrificially because God's grace had transformed their hearts. Consider how faithful stewardship requires us to surrender what God has entrusted to us for the sake of others.

The sermon explores the connection between spiritual revival and generous giving by examining the example of the Macedonian churches in 2 Corinthians 8. It highlights how deep poverty and affliction did not hinder their willingness to give, but rather demonstrated the profound grace of God working within them. The central argument emphasizes that true generosity begins with surrendering oneself entirely to the Lord, which naturally flows into a sacrificial concern for other believers across denominational and cultural lines. By contrasting this with mere religious gifts, the text illustrates that authentic Christian giving is voluntary, joyful, and rooted in the recognition of Christ's own poverty for the sake of others' spiritual richness. Ultimately, the message calls for a universal church unity where the strong support the weak through cheerful and sacrificial contributions to God's cause.

HERE HERE, HERE HERE! Ring the wedding bells! Bring out your dead! We have returned! In this very episode, Rodnus makes a statement of the sort that states that "every episode we say that we're back!", and, well, this time...we are! In the time since we released an episode, Jurassic Park Rebirth has been our for a year, Stone Brewing Company left Richmond Virginia before we could score that sweet, sweet sponsorship, the planet has increased in temperature by nearly .5 degrees, and there have been like 4 new MCU movies.  But alas, we come roaring back--victorious like the Macedonian army led by Alexander The Great in 333 BCE. But instead of victory against a vast Persian army we are victorious against procrastination, censorship, and Good Taste.  This is the first release of many new-old episodes that we sporadically recorded over the past year or two. We do hope you enjoy what we have for you, and hope that you have fun being nostalgic for times past that...aren't even that long ago. We also have new-new things and released happening soon.  Stay tuned! Thanks for listening!  WHOA. SIT. DOWN. GENERATIONAL. PEGGY. 

Acts: The Church on MissionPastor Ray PeoplesSunday August 23, 2026Acts 16The Spirit can guide by closing doorsPaul had a good plan but God said noThere comes a point where discernment becomes disobedience Try this prayer for 7 days: Holy Spirit, make me sensitive to the people you put in front of me today"If I had ten more minutes, I would have spent more time in Acts 15, because what happens there helps us understand why Acts 16 matters so much.Before Paul ever receives the Macedonian call, before Lydia's heart is opened, before the Philippian jailer asks, “What must I do to be saved?” the early church has to settle a massive question:Who is the gospel really for?Acts 15 records what is called the Jerusalem Council.The church is growing. Gentiles are coming to faith.People who were not Jewish, who had not grown up with the law of Moses, who had not practiced the customs of Israel, were hearing the gospel and believing in Jesus. Good things were happening. And that created a major controversy.Acts 15:1 says:“Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.'”In other words, they were saying:“Jesus is good—but Jesus isn't enough.”Believe in Jesus, and become Jewish. Trust Christ, and keep these customs. Receive grace, and add the law.That is the issue sitting in front of the church.And Peter stands up and reminds them of what God has already done among the Gentiles.Acts 15:8–9 says:“And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.”Then Peter makes one of the clearest gospel statements in the entire discussion:“On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”— Acts 15:11That is the gospel.Saved by grace.Not grace plus circumcision.Not grace plus Jewish customs.Not grace plus religious performance.Not grace plus cleaning yourself up.Grace through Jesus Christ.Paul will later write in Ephesians 2:8–9:“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”That is what the Jerusalem Council protects.The gospel is not:Jesus plus something.The gospel is:Jesus.This Council Opens the Door WideHere is the challenge.Don't put barriers in front of the cross that Jesus never put there.The council affirms that Gentiles do not need to become Jews in order to become Christians.And that matters tremendously when you turn the page into Acts 16.Because immediately after this council settles that issue, Paul heads back out on mission.And where does the Spirit send him?Farther into Gentile territory.Macedonia.Philippi.Europe.Lydia.The slave girl.The jailer.Acts 15 establishes the theology.Acts 16 shows the theology moving down the road.The church says:“The gospel is for the Gentiles.”Then the Holy Spirit says:“Good. Now go get them.”That is the connection.The Jerusalem Council isn't just an administrative meeting.It becomes a launching pad for mission.And here is why that matters for us.Most of us reading Acts today are Gentiles.We were not born into Israel.We did not grow up under the Mosaic covenant.We are part of the “nations” that the Old Testament prophets said God would one day draw to Himself.So when you read Acts 15, you are not reading somebody else's story.You are reading about the gospel door being declared wide open for people like us.Paul says in Romans 1:16:“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.”Everyone who believes.That includes Lydia.That includes the jailer.That includes the nations.That includes us.Ephesians 2 says that Gentiles were once:“without Christ… excluded from the citizenship of Israel… without hope and without God in the world.”But then Paul gives us two of the greatest words in Scripture:“But now…”Ephesians 2:13:“But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”We were far away.Jesus brought us near.We were outsiders.Jesus brought us in.We were without hope.Jesus became our hope.Not because we deserved it.Not because we inherited it.Not because we followed enough religious rules.Because of the blood of Christ.And this is where the gospel gets even more beautiful.Jesus doesn't merely save Jews over here and Gentiles over there.He creates one new people.Ephesians 2:14 says:“For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.”The cross tears down the wall.The gospel creates a family made up of people from every background.Every nation. Every tribe. Every people. Every language.That is where Acts is heading.Be reminded, Acts 1:8 begins with:Jerusalem.Then Judea.Then Samaria.Then: the ends of the earth.Acts 15 says there are no second-class Christians among the nations.Acts 16 begins pushing the gospel even farther out.And eventually, generation after generation, somebody carried that gospel to us.The gospel reached us because the church refused to keep it to itself.Acts 15 did not end with:“Great! Gentiles can be saved.”It led directly to:“Then let's go tell them.”That's why Acts 16 happens.The Spirit sends Paul farther.And the same gospel that reached us is now entrusted to us.Matthew 28:19 says:“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…”We are not the finish line of the gospel.We are supposed to be part of the next leg of the race.We received it.Now we carry it.We were once far off.Christ brought us near.And now, filled with the same Holy Spirit who directed Paul, we ask:“Who still needs to hear?”That is why the Jerusalem Council matters.Because Acts 15 declares:The gospel is for the nations.And Acts 16 responds:Then let's go to the nations.And thank God they did.Because eventually—the gospel came to us.Therefore, let us continue the mission as well. Let us take his word to each and every person that we can."

Jesus is our standard in giving. He made Himself nothing in order to give us everything. In this message from 2 Corinthians 8, Pastor Lutzer identifies five characteristics of the generous people at Macedonia. Why were the Macedonian believers able to give out of their severe trial and poverty? To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/172/29?v=20251111

Jesus is our standard in giving. He made Himself nothing in order to give us everything. In this message from 2 Corinthians 8, Pastor Lutzer identifies five characteristics of the generous people at Macedonia. Why were the Macedonian believers able to give out of their severe trial and poverty? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives. Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.   SUPPORT: Tax Deductible Support: https://www.moodymedia.org/donate/ Become an Endurance Partner: https://endurancepartners.org/   SUBSCRIBE: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoodyChurchMedia Daily Devotional and Weekly Digest: https://www.moodymedia.org/newsletters/subscription/

Toby Wilkinson, Part Two: The Ptolemaic family's decline is driven by internal civil wars, incestuous marriages, and rising Roman influence. Highly ambitious queens like Cleopatra I and Cleopatra III emerge as central political forces. The narrative culminates with Cleopatra VII, who strategically allies with Julius Caesar, whose military forces accidentally burn down Alexandria's great library. Following Caesar's death, Cleopatra forms a powerful political and romantic union with Mark Antony. However, their coalition collapses after their defeat by Octavian at the Battle of Actium. Antony dies in her arms, and Cleopatra commits suicide to avoid Roman captivity, ending the three-century-long Macedonian dynasty. (2)

APOLOGIES: THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH PARTS OF THIS RECORDING. Some of the sound is indecipherable. Reader : Danita O'Loughlin Preacher : Jonathan Smith This passage is full of surprising turns. Paul circumcises Timothy - the same Paul who just fought at Jerusalem against circumcision as a requirement for salvation - because Timothy's mixed heritage would otherwise bar him from synagogue ministry. Principle and pragmatism aren't always opposites. Then the Spirit closes doors rather than opening them. Stuck in Troas, Paul receives the Macedonian vision, sending them west into Europe - a pivot whose consequences are almost impossible to overstate. The first convert is a businesswoman named Lydia, who goes from God-fearer to Jesus-follower (v.14-15). Red Door is an Anglican Church in Melbourne, Australia. We exist to be a community of people helping people make all of life all about Jesus.

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Vern Streeter | Guest Speaker | August 16, 2026 Big Idea: God's unreasonable grace under unreasonable circumstances inspires unreasonable generosity.* Unreasonable economics (1-5)* Unreasonable overflow (6-7)* Unreasonable grace (8-9) Referenced Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 Reflection Questions:1. Got a good laceration story?! 2. What is one thing you learned from the teaching on 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 and what difference will it make? 3. What is both unreasonable and reasonable about Grace (undeserved kindness)? 4. Talk about the “unreasonable equation” in verse 2: Severe suffering + Overflowing Joy + Extreme Poverty = Rich generosity. 5. Have you ever given “as much as you were able, and even beyond your ability?” (v.3) How'd that go? 6. Do you have any interest in “excelling in the grace of giving?” (v. 7) Any ideas how you might do that? 7. Macedonia inspired Corinth to be generous (v. 8). Who has inspired you and how did they do that? Who are you hoping to inspire? 8. Verse 9 is one of the most pithy and profound descriptions of the Gospel of Jesus – what does it mean and what does it mean to you? 9. If you're a Christian, turns out your rich! Reflect on your “wealth” and what you will do with all that. What's your next step? * Connect: We'd love to connect with you! Fill out our Connect Card to receive more information, have us pray for you, or to ask us any questions: http://journeybozeman.com/connectcard * Connect: Get your children connected to our children's ministry, Base Camp: https://journeybozeman.com/children * Connect: Our Student Ministry is for High School and Middle School students: https://journeybozeman.com/students * Give: Want to worship through giving and support the ministry of Journey Church: https://journeybozeman.com/give * Gather: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneyChurchBozeman * Gather: Download our app: https://journeybozeman.com/app * Gather: Join our Facebook Group to stay connected throughout the week: https://facebook.com/groups/JourneyChurchBozeman  Chapters (00:00:00) - Non-Reasonable Grace(00:04:37) - Paul in Corinth(00:05:59) - God's Grace for the Macedonian Churches(00:09:17) - undeserved kindness that God has given the Macedonian churches(00:15:52) - Give More(00:16:27) - Jeff Foxworthy on The Privilege of Sharing(00:21:10) - Titus the Comforter(00:25:54) - Paul's Comparison with the Churches(00:30:39) - 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 Moral Analysis

August 2, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class In this episode we walk through Acts 16–18 with a practical focus on the personal and corporate challenges the early church faced — especially the difficulty of discerning and submitting to God's will. Neal reflects on recent ministry experiences (including trips to Cambodia and Tanzania) and open with a short anecdote about learning not to “hesitate.” Guests and voices in the conversation include Hiram (co-teacher) and references to Chris Young's earlier study of Acts; the talk frequently cites Paul, Luke, Timothy and Silas as the missionary team and highlights Luke's joining the group in Troas. The teaching traces Paul's second missionary journey, the Holy Spirit's direct leading in Acts 16:6–13, and the vision that sent Paul into Macedonia. Key biblical themes covered: how to discern God's direction (Scripture, prayer, renewing the mind), the role of providence, Proverbs 16:3 and Romans 12:6–8 as practical guides, and the idea that sometimes God's leading is understood only in hindsight — the “rearview mirror” of divine guidance. The episode compares three city responses in Acts 17 — Thessalonica (hostility and persecution), Berea (eager reception and daily Scripture examination), and Athens (skepticism, ridicule, and a few conversions) — drawing out lessons for evangelism, teaching, and living in a largely non‑religious culture. Practical takeaways include honest tools for decision making when multiple “doors” seem open: anchor decisions in Scripture, commit plans to the Lord, stay in prayer, watch for opportunities to use spiritual gifts locally (and globally), and accept that planting seeds is part of the calling even when immediate results are unseen. Listeners can expect scriptural exposition, real-life ministry illustrations (including an extended personal example about discerning whether to serve overseas), and direct application for congregational life — how to spot a “Macedonian call” at home or abroad and how to respond in faith whether you meet mockery, delay, or belief.   Duration 40:39

Generosity is an overflow of joy and divine grace, rather than a forced obligation or a heavy burden. True giving, as illustrated by the early Macedonian believers, can thrive even in difficult times when it is fueled by a willing heart that views sharing as a privilege. This radical mindset is anchored in the ultimate model of Jesus Christ, who gave up everything out of love so that others could be enriched. Ultimately, giving flows from a ready and eager heart, focusing on mutual support and helping to meet the needs of others based on what a person realistically has to offer.Speaker: Tim HarmsMain Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

The sermon contrasts the empty promises of the wealthy Corinthian church with the joyful, sacrificial generosity of the impoverished Macedonian believers. It argues that a church's public reputation should be defined by its love and giving rather than theological precision or doctrinal debates. True motivation for Christian service and financial support does not stem from willpower or guilt, but from meditating on Christ's poverty and the spiritual riches He secured for believers. The preacher exhorts the congregation to examine their own spiritual gifts and use them actively to serve the body of Christ. Ultimately, obedience flows from gratitude for the gospel, transforming duty into a cheerful offering that glorifies God.

The sermon contrasts the empty promises of the wealthy Corinthian church with the joyful, sacrificial generosity of the impoverished Macedonian believers. It argues that a church's public reputation should be defined by its love and giving rather than theological precision or doctrinal debates. True motivation for Christian service and financial support does not stem from willpower or guilt, but from meditating on Christ's poverty and the spiritual riches He secured for believers. The preacher exhorts the congregation to examine their own spiritual gifts and use them actively to serve the body of Christ. Ultimately, obedience flows from gratitude for the gospel, transforming duty into a cheerful offering that glorifies God.

The sermon contrasts the empty promises of the wealthy Corinthian church with the joyful, sacrificial generosity of the impoverished Macedonian believers. It argues that a church's public reputation should be defined by its love and giving rather than theological precision or doctrinal debates. True motivation for Christian service and financial support does not stem from willpower or guilt, but from meditating on Christ's poverty and the spiritual riches He secured for believers. The preacher exhorts the congregation to examine their own spiritual gifts and use them actively to serve the body of Christ. Ultimately, obedience flows from gratitude for the gospel, transforming duty into a cheerful offering that glorifies God.

Having the good life has nothing to do with how much we own. The Macedonian church explodes the myths we believe about money. In this message from 2 Corinthians 8, Pastor Lutzer reveals how these believers gave out of trials and poverty—and even beyond their ability. What if giving what we can afford leaves no room for faith?  This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://offerrtw.com or call us at 1-800-215-5001. Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives. Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.   SUPPORT: Tax Deductible Support: https://www.moodymedia.org/donate/ Become an Endurance Partner: https://endurancepartners.org/   SUBSCRIBE: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoodyChurchMedia Daily Devotional and Weekly Digest: https://www.moodymedia.org/newsletters/subscription/

"Preparing the Way through the Next Generation"This week, Dr. Mike Dugal frames Christian generosity as grace-initiated worship rather than obligation. Following the Macedonians' example, it calls believers to let Christ, the ultimate giver, shape their stewardship of time, talent, and treasure, culminating in communion.#NewHopeKailua #DrMikeDugal #2026Sermon #OnlineChurch #ChurchOnline #ChurchInKailua #YouTube #YouTubeChannel #Subscribe #Sub #Follow #LikeIf this is your first time visiting us, we'd like to get to know you: https://bit.ly/nhk-connectSubscribe to receive our latest messages: https://bit.ly/nhk-sermonsTo support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world, click here: https://newhopekailua.org/givingSee what God can do through you. Be a part of our New Hope Kailua family, whether in-person or online!——Stay ConnectedDownload our church app: https://bit.ly/nhk-appWebsite: https://newhopekailua.org/New Hope Kailua Facebook: https://bit.ly/nhk-fbNew Hope Kailua Instagram: https://bit.ly/nhk-igAudio-only SermonsApple Podcast: https://apple.co/3LYiqNTGoogle Podcast: https://bit.ly/nhk-googlepodcastSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3LUtqvP

Dan Slevin previews the NZ International Film Festival: ARCO, Natalie Portman's animated time-travel film; The Ice Tower, with Marion Cotillard as a tyrannical 1960s film star; The Tale of Silyan, a Macedonian documentary about a farmer and a wounded stork; and Rose, with Sandra Hüller.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0725db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – July 25 Acts 27:1-20 Acts 27 Paul Sails for Rome 1 When it was decided that we [1] would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, of the Imperial Regiment. 2 After boarding a ship from Adramyttium, which was going to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. 3 The next day, we put in at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends to receive their care. 4 From there we put out to sea and sailed on the sheltered side of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. 5 We crossed the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia and landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us on board. 7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. Since the wind did not permit us to go further, we sailed on the sheltered side of Crete, off Salmone. 8 With difficulty we sailed along its coast and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. 9 Since so much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the Fast [2] was already over, Paul advised them, 10 “Men, it looks to me as if the voyage is going to end with disaster and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and the owner of the ship than to what Paul was saying. 12 Since that harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, hoping somehow to reach Phoenix and winter there. (Phoenix is a harbor on Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.) 13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they could carry out their plan. They raised the anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. The Storm 14 But before long, a hurricane-like wind, called the “northeaster,” rushed down from the island. 15 Since the ship was caught in it and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we sailed on the sheltered side of a small island called Cauda, we were barely able to secure the skiff. [3] 17 After hoisting it on board, the men tied ropes around the ship to reinforce it. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and in this way were driven along. 18 Because we were tossed around so violently by the storm, the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship's gear overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the violent storm kept pressing down on us, finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing. Footnotes Acts 27:1 Luke is included. Acts 27:9 The Fast refers to the Jewish Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) in the fall, just before the winter months, when sea travel was treacherous. Acts 27:16 A small service boat (also mentioned in verses 30 and 32) The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

Today we continue our study in Philippians chapter 4 as welook at verse 15. Paul writes: "Now you Philippians know also, that inthe beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no churchcommunicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only." Yesterdaywe saw that Paul thanked the Philippians for caring enough to share in hisaffliction. Today he takes us one step further and reminds them that theirgenerosity was not something new. It had become a pattern of their lives fromthe very beginning of their Christian experience. NoticePaul's words: "In the beginning of the gospel." He isreferring to the days when the gospel first came to Philippi. Acts chapter 16tells that wonderful story. Paul arrived in Philippi with Silas after receivingthe Macedonian vision. There beside the river, Lydia trusted Christ. Soonafterward, the demon-possessed servant girl was delivered. Then Paul and Silaswere beaten, thrown into prison, sang praises at midnight, and the jailer andhis family came to know Christ. Out of those dramatic events, a church wasborn. Thatlittle congregation had not been saved very long before they began thinkingabout someone besides themselves. Isn't that remarkable? They were not awealthy church. In fact, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 that thechurches of Macedonia—including Philippi—gave out of their deep poverty. Yettheir poverty did not stop their generosity because grace had changed theirhearts.  Paulsays, "No church communicated with me as concerning giving andreceiving, but you only." Yesterday we talked about this word, "communicate".Remember It comes from the same family of words as koinonia, meaningfellowship or partnership. Paul is not merely saying they sent him some money.He is saying they entered into a partnership with him in the work of theGospel. They understood something many Christians never fully grasp. When wegive to God's work, we become partners in that ministry. The missionary maypreach the sermon. The pastor may teach the Bible. The evangelist may leadsomeone to Christ. But the people who pray, encourage, and give become fellowlaborers in everything God accomplishes through that ministry. Years ago,someone wisely said, "Some go, some send, but all can share in thereward." That is exactly what Paul is teaching. Noticeanother interesting expression: "giving and receiving." Paul borrowslanguage from the world of business and accounting. It is as though he opens aheavenly ledger book. On one side is giving. On the other side is receiving. Mostpeople think giving means something leaves their account. God says giving meanssomething is being entered into another account. In just a few verses, Paulwill write in verse 17: "Not because I desire a gift: but I desirefruit that may abound to your account." Every gift given for the gloryof God is an eternal investment. Heaven keeps perfect records. God neverforgets even the smallest act of generosity done in His name. Jesus said inMatthew 10:42 that even a cup of cold water given in His name will not lose itsreward.  Sometimespeople wonder whether their gift matters. "It wasn't very much." "Iwish I could give more." "My offering seems so small." Friend,God is not measuring the amount nearly as much as He is measuring the heart. Godsees what no one else sees. The Philippians were not a famous church. They werenot a wealthy church. Yet Paul says they stood alone. "No church... butyou only." What a testimony! They had become known as a church thatinvested in the Gospel. I wonder what our churches are known for today. Beautifulbuildings? Excellent music? Wonderful programs? Or are we known as people whogladly invest our lives and our resources so others can hear about Jesus? Let'sask ourselves today: Am I merely attending church? Or am I actively investingin the work of Christ? There is an eternal difference. 

"The movie was beautiful... the characters were gorgeous... the ending isn't a cliché..." These were just some of the reactions from Australian audiences after a screening of the Macedonian film DJ Ahmet, directed by Georgi M. Unkovski, at Nova Cinema, Melbourne's leading independent cinema. - "Филмот е прекрасен, ликовите се величенствени, крајот на филмот не е клише... ", се дел од одговорите на анкетата направена меѓу австралиската публика, во врска со филмот “Диџеј Ахмет” на Георги М. Унковски, по една од проекциите во водечкото кино за независен филм "Нова" во Мелбурн.ПРОЧИТАЈТЕ ПОВЕЌЕ - ПРОЧИТАЈТЕ ПОВЕЌЕ

Pastor Andrew Heligenthal unpacked 2 Corinthians 8–10, revealing how a cross-shaped life is marked by generosity, gratitude, and self-giving love. Through Paul’s example of the Macedonian church, we were challenged to see giving not as an obligation, but as an invitation to reflect the heart of Jesus in every area of our lives. As we surrender our time, talents, and resources, we become active participants in God’s Kingdom and His work in the world.

Our idea of Revival could be different than what really described by the book of Acts. Revival happened at the streets of Samaria or in the house of Macedonian family, at the Phillipi's Jail or in the edge of a river during the prayer time. Reviavl could happen everywhere, anytime to anyone who open their hearts to the lead of the Holy Spirit.

In Week 10 of our Welcomed. series, we follow Paul, Timothy, and their companions as they begin a new chapter of gospel mission. Along the way, we discover that the Christian life is not ultimately about maintaining control—it is about surrender.In Acts 16:1–15, Paul willingly lays down personal rights, adjusts carefully made plans, and refuses to take credit for the work that only God can do. Through Timothy's example, the Macedonian vision, and Lydia's conversion, we see that the welcome of Jesus calls us to trust God's purposes above our preferences and His wisdom above our own understanding.Whether it's our rights, our plans, or our desire for recognition, Jesus invites us into the freedom that comes from placing every part of our lives in His hands. As we surrender, we discover that God is the one directing the mission, opening hearts, and advancing His kingdom.For more information about Integrity Church, visit our website, http://liveintegritychurch.orgConnect with us on social media throughout the week to stay up to date on events and things happening at Integrity!Instagram: @integrity_churchFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveintegrity/

Send us a message!Simon is an actor, evangelist, and children's book author from Melbourne, Australia, where he lives with his wife and two children. For the last 24 years, he has had a particular passion for excellent and engaging Bible reading. He loves presenting "epic readings" of whole books of the Bible, training Christians in public Bible reading and encouraging the Body of Christ to value this vital ministry. Find out more about his ministry at www.PublicBibleReading.com and www.patreon.com/simoncamilleri. We listen to Acts 16 read aloud with Simon Camilleri and watch God redirect Paul and Silas into Philippi, where the gospel takes root in surprising lives. • Paul and Silas continuing the missionary journey after the split with Barnabas • Timothy joining the team and the mission wise reason for circumcision • the Holy Spirit closing routes and the Macedonian vision opening a new one • Lydia's conversion, baptism, and hospitality as the church in Philippi begins • deliverance of the exploited slave girl and the backlash that follows • prayer and worship in prison leading to the Philippian jailer's salvation • “Believe in the Lord Jesus” as the simple answer to the salvation question • Paul asserting Roman citizenship and protecting the credibility of the church You can find out more about Simon and his ministry at publicbibelreading.com and check out his Patreon. If you enjoyed this story, join me tomorrow where Kelsey and I are going to have a conversation about what it looks like to follow God's changes of plans in your own life, just like we saw Paul did today.  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

American democracy is in a period of crisis, so it seems natural to look back to its origins. So here in Episode 10 of Season 5, I interview Professor Josiah Ober. Having previously taught at Princeton University, Ober is a professor of political science, classics, and philosophy at Stanford University, the Director of the Stanford Civics Initiative, as well as a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. The author of many books, including Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens (1989), The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece (2015), and Civic Bargain (2023), co-written with Brook Manville, he was previously a Madison's Notes guest in Season 3. Drawing on his 2015 book, we discuss the history of ancient Greece and the political legacy of its classical period. Our conversation ranges from the Bronze Age Collapse and the age of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey to the rise of the Greek city-state and decline of democratic Athens. We discuss contingencies of the Peloponnesian war, the cases for and against Alcibiades, whether the polity flourished under Macedonian and Roman empires, the relationship of philosophy to civics, was Socrates guilty and how much did Plato invent about him, in what way the god Hermes symbolized Greek trade in the Mediterranean, if James Madison truly understood ancient history, and lastly Ober's work with the growing civics programs in American higher education. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

American democracy is in a period of crisis, so it seems natural to look back to its origins. So here in Episode 10 of Season 5, I interview Professor Josiah Ober. Having previously taught at Princeton University, Ober is a professor of political science, classics, and philosophy at Stanford University, the Director of the Stanford Civics Initiative, as well as a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. The author of many books, including Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens (1989), The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece (2015), and Civic Bargain (2023), co-written with Brook Manville, he was previously a Madison's Notes guest in Season 3. Drawing on his 2015 book, we discuss the history of ancient Greece and the political legacy of its classical period. Our conversation ranges from the Bronze Age Collapse and the age of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey to the rise of the Greek city-state and decline of democratic Athens. We discuss contingencies of the Peloponnesian war, the cases for and against Alcibiades, whether the polity flourished under Macedonian and Roman empires, the relationship of philosophy to civics, was Socrates guilty and how much did Plato invent about him, in what way the god Hermes symbolized Greek trade in the Mediterranean, if James Madison truly understood ancient history, and lastly Ober's work with the growing civics programs in American higher education. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

American democracy is in a period of crisis, so it seems natural to look back to its origins. So here in Episode 10 of Season 5, I interview Professor Josiah Ober. Having previously taught at Princeton University, Ober is a professor of political science, classics, and philosophy at Stanford University, the Director of the Stanford Civics Initiative, as well as a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. The author of many books, including Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens (1989), The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece (2015), and Civic Bargain (2023), co-written with Brook Manville, he was previously a Madison's Notes guest in Season 3. Drawing on his 2015 book, we discuss the history of ancient Greece and the political legacy of its classical period. Our conversation ranges from the Bronze Age Collapse and the age of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey to the rise of the Greek city-state and decline of democratic Athens. We discuss contingencies of the Peloponnesian war, the cases for and against Alcibiades, whether the polity flourished under Macedonian and Roman empires, the relationship of philosophy to civics, was Socrates guilty and how much did Plato invent about him, in what way the god Hermes symbolized Greek trade in the Mediterranean, if James Madison truly understood ancient history, and lastly Ober's work with the growing civics programs in American higher education. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

American democracy is in a period of crisis, so it seems natural to look back to its origins. So here in Episode 10 of Season 5, I interview Professor Josiah Ober. Having previously taught at Princeton University, Ober is a professor of political science, classics, and philosophy at Stanford University, the Director of the Stanford Civics Initiative, as well as a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. The author of many books, including Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens (1989), The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece (2015), and Civic Bargain (2023), co-written with Brook Manville, he was previously a Madison's Notes guest in Season 3. Drawing on his 2015 book, we discuss the history of ancient Greece and the political legacy of its classical period. Our conversation ranges from the Bronze Age Collapse and the age of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey to the rise of the Greek city-state and decline of democratic Athens. We discuss contingencies of the Peloponnesian war, the cases for and against Alcibiades, whether the polity flourished under Macedonian and Roman empires, the relationship of philosophy to civics, was Socrates guilty and how much did Plato invent about him, in what way the god Hermes symbolized Greek trade in the Mediterranean, if James Madison truly understood ancient history, and lastly Ober's work with the growing civics programs in American higher education. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

American democracy is in a period of crisis, so it seems natural to look back to its origins. So here in Episode 10 of Season 5, I interview Professor Josiah Ober. Having previously taught at Princeton University, Ober is a professor of political science, classics, and philosophy at Stanford University, the Director of the Stanford Civics Initiative, as well as a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. The author of many books, including Mass and Elite in Democratic Athens (1989), The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece (2015), and Civic Bargain (2023), co-written with Brook Manville, he was previously a Madison's Notes guest in Season 3. Drawing on his 2015 book, we discuss the history of ancient Greece and the political legacy of its classical period. Our conversation ranges from the Bronze Age Collapse and the age of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey to the rise of the Greek city-state and decline of democratic Athens. We discuss contingencies of the Peloponnesian war, the cases for and against Alcibiades, whether the polity flourished under Macedonian and Roman empires, the relationship of philosophy to civics, was Socrates guilty and how much did Plato invent about him, in what way the god Hermes symbolized Greek trade in the Mediterranean, if James Madison truly understood ancient history, and lastly Ober's work with the growing civics programs in American higher education. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary of Bible Study by Patricia Hudson - June 17, 2026 Topic: Philippians 2 — Joy in Serving Patricia Hudson opened the Bible study with prayer, thanking God for the day, for the opportunity to study, discuss, share, and grow. She emphasized that the Holy Spirit is the true teacher and prayed that the Word would encourage each heart. She also prayed over the concerns of life, including family, health, finances, and daily living, affirming that God is working in every situation and that His love is great and unconditional. The study began with a review of the previous lesson from Philippians chapter 1. Patricia connected the study to the larger theme of being “rooted and grounded.” She referenced Philippians 4:9, where Paul instructs believers to keep putting into practice what they have learned, received, heard, and seen. The central idea was that spiritual growth requires action. Believers are not only to hear the Word of God but to live it out in daily life. When God's Word is practiced, the peace of God becomes active in the believer's life, helping them navigate conflict, hardship, confusion, and everyday responsibilities with stability and wisdom. Patricia reviewed the background of the book of Philippians. Paul wrote the letter around A.D. 61 while imprisoned in Rome. The church at Philippi was established during Paul's second missionary journey after he received the Macedonian call in Acts 16. Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia, and the church was mostly made up of Gentile believers. Patricia noted that Philippians is often called Paul's “joy letter” because joy and rejoicing appear throughout the book, even though Paul was writing from prison. This shows that true joy is rooted in Jesus Christ, not in circumstances. A major point from the review was Philippians 1:6, where Paul expresses confidence that God, who began a good work in the believers, would continue that work until it is completed in Christ. Patricia emphasized that God works in us to build character and through us to bless others. The class reflected on examples of teaching, prayer, encouragement, service, and influence in family and community life as evidence of God's continuing work. The class also discussed why the church at Philippi was so closely connected to Paul. Participants noted that Paul had suffered deeply in Philippi, including being beaten and illegally imprisoned because he was a Roman citizen. Acts 16 was highlighted as important background, including the conversion of Lydia, the deliverance of the slave girl, Paul and Silas being imprisoned, and the jailer's conversion. Patricia explained that Paul's suffering and ministry in Philippi created a deep bond between him and the believers there. The Philippian church also supported Paul financially and remained loyal to him throughout his ministry. Patricia pointed out that Philippi was the first Christian congregation established in Europe and became a launching point for the spread of the gospel into Europe. Because Philippi was a patriotic Roman colony, Christians there faced pressure and persecution for declaring Jesus as Lord rather than Caesar. Despite these pressures, Paul's letter to them focuses on joy, peace, humility, unity, and contentment. Unlike some of Paul's other letters, Philippians contains few rebukes. Instead, it is mostly a letter of encouragement, gratitude, and exhortation. The main focus of the lesson was Philippians 2, especially the theme “Joy in Serving.” Patricia introduced the focus verse, Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” She also read an easier translation, which says believers should not think only about what they want to do for themselves but should also think about how they can help other people. This set the tone for the chapter: Christian maturity is expressed through humility, unity, and concern for others. Patricia read Philippians 2:1–4 and explained Paul's call to unity through humility. Paul urges believers to be like-minded, to have the same love, to be of one accord, and to be of one mind. Patricia connected this to the issue Paul mentioned in Philippians 1, where some preached Christ from pure motives while others preached from jealousy, rivalry, and selfish ambition. She suggested that Paul may have been addressing attitudes of selfish ambition and division in the church. His answer was not merely correction but a call to humility, unity, and service. A key teaching point involved the “if-then” statements in Scripture. Patricia explained that Philippians 2 begins with conditional statements: if believers have encouragement in Christ, comfort from His love, fellowship in the Spirit, tenderness, and compassion, then they should respond by being like-minded, loving one another, and walking in unity. She compared this to John 8:31–32, where Jesus says that if people abide in His Word, then they are truly His disciples, they will know the truth, and the truth will make them free. The class discussed how abiding in God's Word leads to maturity, understanding, freedom, and transformation. Participants shared personal reflections about how the Word of God brings freedom. One person spoke about learning to hear God through His Word. Another shared that when they began seeking understanding for themselves, they realized that some behaviors were rooted in ignorance and began to change as they became rooted in the Word. Patricia emphasized that the truth of God's Word can make people free from their past, from things spoken over them, from wrong patterns, and even from themselves. The Word of God brings healing, clarity, growth, and forward movement. Patricia then connected Philippians 2 to Philippians 4:8–9, where Paul instructs believers to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. She explained that peace is connected to what believers meditate on and practice. People often seek peace while filling their minds with stress, negativity, or things they cannot change. Patricia encouraged the class to allow God to help them with the matters of their own lives and not become overwhelmed by burdens God has not assigned them to carry. When God does call believers to speak or act, they should do so boldly, then release the results to Him. The study then moved to Philippians 2:5–11, where Paul presents Jesus Christ as the supreme example of humility. Patricia read the passage: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” She emphasized that Jesus, though equal with God, humbled Himself, took the form of a servant, came in human likeness, and became obedient to death, even death on the cross. Because of this, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name. Patricia explained that Christ's example gives believers grace to desire and imitate humility. To further explain the deity and supremacy of Christ, Patricia read from Colossians 1 and Colossians 2. She highlighted that Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, that all things were created through Him and for Him, that He existed before all things, and that He holds all creation together. She also emphasized that the fullness of God dwells in Christ and that believers are complete through their union with Him. This helped connect Christ's humility with His greatness: Jesus served not because He was weak, but because of divine love and purpose. Patricia explained that serving others does not always begin with desire or joy. Sometimes believers serve while grieving, while sick, while tired, or while dealing with personal challenges. Yet Christ's example teaches that service is rooted in humility, obedience, and love rather than selfish ambition. Class participants reflected on how serving together creates a bond among believers. One participant noted that when people serve together through grief, sickness, and hardship, they develop a common purpose and a special bond, much like Paul had with the Philippian church. The lesson continued with Philippians 2:12–18. Patricia read Paul's instruction to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” while also emphasizing that “it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.” She used the Living Bible wording: “For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants.” Patricia raised an important discussion question: if God is working in believers and helping them obey, why do believers still need to submit to biblical conditions and make choices? The class answered that believers still have a choice. God gives grace, desire, and power, but believers must submit their will to Him. Another important emphasis was Philippians 2:14–16, where Paul tells believers to do all things without complaining and disputing so they may shine as lights in a dark world. Patricia explained that complaining, arguing, bickering, and strife do not reflect a transformed life. She noted that in families, workplaces, and other environments, people can easily fall into conversations focused on everything that is wrong. Believers must sometimes step back from that atmosphere and choose not to participate in negativity. Instead, they are called to speak life, be light bearers, and demonstrate the transforming power of God's Word. Patricia shared a personal testimony about coming to herself, similar to the prodigal son. She reflected on a time in her younger years when she realized she had drifted from what she knew was right. She remembered how her mother-in-law, Gay Nell Hudson, shared a gospel tract with her and planted a seed that helped lead her toward the Lord. Patricia used this testimony to show the power of prayer, the Word, and personal witness. One person's light can touch another life, and that life can go on to touch many others. Toward the end of the study, Patricia briefly introduced the final section of Philippians 2, which discusses Timothy and Epaphroditus. She encouraged the class to finish reading the chapter on their own. Timothy was with Paul during his ministry and imprisonment, and Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippian church to bring support to Paul in Rome. Patricia explained that Paul was under house arrest, likely chained to rotating guards, which gave him repeated opportunities to preach the gospel. Even in confinement, Paul continued spreading the Word. His imprisonment became another platform for ministry. Patricia concluded by assigning the next study passages. The class would continue with Philippians 3 on July 2 and Philippians 4 on July 15. She encouraged everyone to keep studying, reading, and preparing so they could continue sharing insights during the discussion. The study closed in prayer. Patricia thanked God for His fullness revealed in Christ, for His plan in each person's life, and for the people who prayed, planted seeds, and helped open hearts to the gospel. She thanked God that since the moment believers received Christ, He has continued working in their lives. She prayed that the Word they had learned, seen, heard, and experienced would continue to be practiced, and that God's peace would guide them. Overall, Patricia Hudson's Bible study taught that Philippians 2 calls believers to live out their faith through humility, unity, service, obedience, and spiritual maturity. The Christian life is not passive. God works in believers, but believers must also choose to obey, serve, avoid complaining, walk in love, and shine as lights in the world. True joy is found not in comfort or circumstances, but in Christ-centered service and in practicing the Word of God.

Journalist Gary O'Donoghue is the Chief North America Correspondent for BBC News. Last year his coverage of the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump won the Royal Television Society Breaking News Award. He made the news himself in 2025 when he secured a 20-minute exclusive phone interview with Trump who was by then the US President.Gary was born in London and brought up in Essex. When he was eight he lost his sight and attended specialist schools for blind and partially sighted children. He read philosophy and modern languages at the University of Oxford before embarking on his BBC career.He has reported on mass shootings, filed stories from the Macedonian border during the Kosovo conflict, covered the Iraq War and chronicled seven British general elections. He became the BBC's Washington correspondent in 2014 and, as well as Donald Trump's two terms, has covered the administrations of Presidents Obama and Biden. Gary is based in Washington DC and when in the UK lives in West Yorkshire with his partner Sarah. Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyDesert Island Discs has cast other journalists away to the island over the years including Lyse Doucet, Clive Myrie and Lindsey Hilsum, You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.This episode was recorded before the shooting at the White House Correspondent's Dinner on 25th April 2026.

Gavin landed back in Australia just the day before recording, and he and Ken settle in for a full debrief on WDC 2026 in Athens. From the venues and the social activities to all four of Gavin's games and the top board, this one covers it all. Intro Ken sets up the episode – this one is going to be almost entirely about WDC 2026 Athens, because Gavin was there and has only just landed back in Australia (as at the time of recording) (15 secs) He notes the DBN coverage gave a strong account of the boards and Ed's player interviews, but plenty of the magic from Spyros Dovas and his organising team didn't make it to the stream (45 secs) Drinks are introduced: Ken is on one of his home-brew lagers with a kick, and Gavin is working through a leftover Sicilian Nero d'Avola that has turned a little sour – a fitting metaphor, he suggests, for how his first round went (1 min 45 secs) The tournament in aggregate Ken asks Gavin to give a broad overview – location, numbers, facilities, atmosphere (2 mins 45 secs) Around 106 players registered, though some didn't show due to last-minute issues. Approximately 5 Australian players couldn't attend because their original flights were routed through the Middle East (3 mins 30 secs) The geopolitical context: as of recording, the Middle East airspace situation was in week nine of its shutdown, forcing Australian travellers to reroute via Singapore, Hong Kong, or Malaysia. Some also baulked at the US transit option due to the documentation requirements (4 mins 30 secs) Despite the drop-outs, the turnout was excellent and genuinely representative – a heavy European component split between the UK and the rest of Europe, a strong French contingent, players from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Norway, a good number of Americans and a couple of Canadians (including Chris Brand), around 10 Australians, and a couple of Kiwis (Dominick Stephens and Craig Purcell). The local Greek contingent, given the Athens club had only been running for about 18 months, was especially impressive (3 mins 30 secs) Tournament format: three regular rounds followed by a fourth round of tiered top boards. Rather than a single top board, the format featured seven simultaneous top boards – the top 7 players went to the premier board, players 8–14 played the second tier, 15–21 the third, and so on down through the field. Crucially, players who volunteered to sit out for round four to help with numbers kept their ranking position (7 mins) Ken and Gavin discuss how the tiered format means the fourth round is never a dead rubber – every board is still competing for something meaningful (8 mins 15 secs) Discussion of the central clock arrangement: effectively federation-based rather than a literal single clock, with the two main venues coordinating their start times by communication (9 mins 30 secs) The venues The main venue was the upstairs function space of a beachside restaurant operation – excellent location right on the waterfront, but somewhat cramped for negotiations once all the boards were in (9 mins 45 secs) As a result, boards were redistributed to the secondary venue: the Anchor bar, about 150–200 metres down the road. Gavin played two games in each location and considered the Anchor the better play space – more open, well ventilated, and with a large covered outdoor area next to a (drained) pool (11 mins) The colour-coded sash system made it easy to identify players by country but created the amusing challenge of locating your specific Italy in a room full of Italys from different boards (13 mins) The third venue – an outdoor shaded area – was reserved for the premier top board. Unlike Milan's car park, this one had good shade and plenty of room for spectators around the giant shadow board (13 mins 30 secs) Pre-tournament social activities Gavin outlines the structure: you could do as much or as little as you liked. He landed well due to a useful 5.5-hour Singapore layover that helped reset his body clock, and flew over on the same flight as tournament director Jamal Blakkarly (16 mins) They were met at Athens airport by Spyros, his wife, and daughter, who drove them to breakfast at a beautiful harbour-side restaurant in one of the small inlet bays east of Piraeus (18 mins 15 secs) Pre-tournament island stay: Gavin spent two days on Serifos, the island Spyros recommended and which has personal significance to his family (his grandfather was christened there). Spyros provided a detailed Google Map of the best spots. With the tourist season barely starting, Gavin got excellent last-minute accommodation at a family-run hotel and had the beaches almost entirely to himself (18 mins 45 secs) The island was so off-season that locals were literally still painting their furniture and kerbs in preparation. Gavin did the recommended hikes and swims, and the hotel gifted him a dry-bag left behind by a previous guest (20 mins 30 secs) Back in Athens overnight, Gavin caught up with a multinational squad of players including Shane, Brandon, Max, Zoe, Justin Law, Bradley Grace, and Karthik. They had dinner at an Italian restaurant with the Acropolis lit up above them (22 mins 30 secs) Hydra day trip (Wednesday): players caught the fast ferry from Piraeus out to Hydra (about 1.5 hrs). The island has a refined Venetian-Greek port feel, with rustic paths and rock beaches beyond. The group visited the Museum of the 1821 Greek Revolution, full of local history and artefacts. Gavin wore one of his Diplomacy shirts and ended up being an ambassador for the hobby to an American grandmother and her debate-champion granddaughter from North Carolina – and pointed them towards David Hood and the local hobby there (24 mins 15 secs) The water temperature at the beach was about 4–5 degrees colder than Australia, which meant the Europeans loved it and Gavin did not go in (26 mins 30 secs) Acropolis and Athens tour (Thursday): guided tour of the Acropolis by what Spyros described as the best guides operating there, followed by a walk through the Plaka and past the Panathenaic Stadium (venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896), then a seafood lunch at a beautiful harbourside restaurant (30 mins) Temple of Poseidon (Thursday evening): the most popular activity – the bus was packed. About halfway there, Spyros took everyone on an unannounced detour to a beach bar where they had the place to themselves, a wonderful surprise. The Temple itself sits on a peninsula with 270-degree sea views. Spyros told the story of how the Aegean got its name from that location, and a huge group photo was taken (31 mins 15 secs) Tournament production values Gavin describes the production as setting new high-water marks for tournament organisation – high enough that the Chicago 2027 organising team would be wondering how to match it. Every player had a colour-coded sash matching their country, a branded WDC Athens notepad in their country colour, and a matching pen for every round (33 mins) The awards were 3D-printed Greek god statues for the podium finishers, complemented by a full suite of themed awards for the top players in each country and for notable gameplay (34 min) Special awards included: the Ajax Award for 8th place overall (the brilliant fighter who just missed out); the Archimedes Award for the most innovative play; the Leonidas Award for the player who fought on against insurmountable odds; and professionally screen-printed awards for best performance as each of the seven Great Powers (35 mins 45 secs) Gavin's games Round 1 – France – Board: Agkystri (View game) Gavin introduces his first game and the board composition: he played France, with Danae Stamataki (Austria-Hungary, local Greek player who topped the board on 10 supply centres and won best Austria), Sabrina Ahuja "Sabi" as England, Brian Ecton as Germany, Jean-Louis Delattre as Italy, Teo Ananiadis as Russia, and Frank Oosterom from the Netherlands as Turkey (37 mins 15 secs) The plan was a Western Triple working with England and Germany, with the goal of neutralising a strong-looking Italy early. It didn't come together as intended (37 mins 45 secs) The infamous mis-order: Gavin had two builds and intended fleet Brest plus a second build. Instead he built fleet Brest and placed the build directly in MAO, effectively waiving his second build. The DBN commentators interpreted this as a genius strategic waive; Ken's interpretation was somewhat more grounded. Gavin confirms Ken was correct (39 mins) The other players on the board didn't share DBN's generous reading of the situation. Germany immediately moved into Burgundy and kept flipping between fronts as his position allowed. Italy kept pressing France throughout. Gavin found himself squeezed down to a single unit in the English Channel (40 mins 30 secs) Final turn plan: England agreed to convoy an army across to Picardy to support Gavin back into Brest. Instead, Sabi walked into an open Paris. Gavin ended the game with zero supply centres and was eliminated (42 mins 15 secs) Gavin notes he made his disappointment known professionally, and that he subsequently had a drink with Sabi – but not that night (44 mins 15 secs) Round 2 – England – Board: Lemnos Not covered by DBN. Gavin played England; the board included Dominick Stephens (New Zealand) as Germany, Chris Brand (Canada) as Russia, Ruben Sanchez as Italy, Roberto Perego (Italy) as France, Robert Schuppe as Turkey, and Anastasia "Nastja" Styles as Austria-Hungary (46 mins) The plan was a Northern Alliance of England, Germany, and Russia. It unravelled immediately when Chris opened Moscow to Livonia and Dominick interpreted it as aggressive – resulting in a Germany-Russia war from the outset (46 mins 15 secs) Gavin adapted: knowing Germany was occupied in the east, he gave Russia some space and opened into Belgium, with Dominick and Chris both honouring his request to take Norway unopposed via fleet (46 mins 45 secs) Dominick and Gavin worked to grind down Roberto Perego's France, who ground out a hard-fought game staying alive on 2 centres. Ruben Sanchez's Italy played a deft game, flipping between alliances with Turkey and Austria (49 mins 15 secs) Dominick topped the board on 10; Ruben came in at 9; Gavin finished at 7. The game was meant to run to 1909 but drew earlier when the position stabilised. Gavin reflects he may have drawn too early, with both Dominick and Ruben suggesting he had room to push for another two centres (50 mins) Round 3 – Germany – Board: Symi (View game) Gavin played Germany. The board included Shane Armstrong (Australia) as France, Mikalis Kamaritis as Italy, Alex Maslow (USA) as Russia, Steven Hogue (USA) as Austria, Alex Lebedev (Russia) as England, and Jack Johns as Turkey (51 mins 15 secs) The strategic context: only Mikalis Kamaritis and Alex Lebedev were realistically in contention for the top board from this game. Shane and Gavin identified this early and committed to supporting the player they believed deserved to be there (52 mins 45 secs) Shane and Gavin opened with a Sealion against England, while Gavin also walked a careful line with Alex Lebedev, who initially felt more threatened by France than Germany. Austria was eliminated in 1903, and England in 1904 (53 mins 45 secs) A notable moment: Gavin slipped an army from the North Sea into an unoccupied London – a move he acknowledged was unnecessary, created friction with Alex Lebedev, and which he would not make again. He apologised on the day (56 mins 15 secs) Mikalis told Gavin and Shane to wait until 1905 – and delivered. He launched from his eastern position, took two dots off Russia and one off Turkey in a single year, then steamrolled from there. Alex Maslow was a strong and enjoyable player who nearly flipped the alliance but ultimately couldn't (56 mins 15 secs) The game agreed to a draw of 10-10-14 (Shane-Gavin-Mikalis), which the three felt would get Mikalis comfortably onto the top board. In the final adjudication Mikalis took one extra dot away from Shane, making the final scores 15-10-9 (58 mins 15 secs) Round 4 – Austria – Board: Myconos (View game) Gavin made it onto the fourth round, placed into the 6th top board. The board featured Shane Armstrong again as Turkey, Emmett Wainwright as England, Patrick Jacobson as France, Nathan Lester as Germany, Cameron Taylor as Italy, and Richard Bolton as Russia (59 mins 30 secs) The standout introduction: Nathan Lester, son of Dan Lester (who Gavin played against at Bangkok WDC). Same voice, same playing style, same persuasive meta-game arguments – but with a mullet and dressed like he's in an 80s rock video, and without the beard-stroking (1 hr 0 mins 45 secs) Gavin and Shane, having just played together in Round 3, ended up as Austria and Turkey respectively – not a natural alliance. Gavin didn't trust it but it held. Italy and France both kept fighting hard throughout (59 mins 45 secs) The game drew in 1906, with Shane and Emmett both finishing on 8, Gavin on 6 as Austria. Everyone then rushed across the road to watch the top board (1 hr 3 mins 45 secs) The top board Ken asks about Mikalis's diplomatic style. Gavin: exceptional situational awareness, communicates clearly and directly, asked and answered the "what do you want from this game?" question in a way that built immediate trust, and was good to his word on timing (1 hr 4 mins) Gavin arrived at the top board mid-1906 (his own game had just drawn). The top board was played outdoors under a well-shaded tree with plenty of room for negotiations, guarded by two or three people ensuring other players and passing members of the public couldn't crowd the board (1 hr 5 mins) The giant shadow board: a massive life-size replica board was set up nearby so all spectators could follow the game without approaching the real board. Andrew Goff read out the orders and the shadow board was updated after each adjudication – the same setup used at Milan WDC (1 hr 7 mins 45 secs) When Gavin arrived, he felt Bradley Grace had the game. The shift came late – Mikalis made a decisive move in the endgame that separated him from a closely matched France/Germany contest (1 hr 9 mins) Congratulations to Mikalis Kamaritis – well deserved, Gavin says. And to Bradley Grace: so close, but it will happen (1 hr 9 mins) The awards ceremony included Mikalis receiving both the championship belt and a traditional olive laurel wreath – a detail that was not captured in the DBN stream. Ken flags this as something future broadcasts should consider covering (1 hr 11 mins 15 secs) A Best Shane Cubis Award was also created – won by a Greek player who loudly lobbied Spyros for an award on the basis of how much he'd helped out. An AI-generated image of Shane Cubis in 1901 attire featured on the award, to the complete bafflement of the European and American contingents (1 hr 12 mins 50 secs) Game hobby and future WDCs The Chicago Windy City Weasels delivered a presentation promoting WDC 2027, enthusiastically received by the assembled players (1 hr 13 mins 15 secs) The 2028 bid: Melbourne was the only bid, and it was unanimously approved. Andrew Goff (Goffy) presented it. WDC 2028 Melbourne will be held at the MCG – the Melbourne Cricket Ground – with the conference rooms used for regular play, and the premier top board played on the MCG wicket itself. The countdown timer will run on the MCG scoreboard. Notionally scheduled for the last weekend of February 2028 – the weekend after the Formula One Grand Prix and the weekend before the first AFL round (1 hr 14 mins 30 secs) For international context: roughly equivalent to playing at Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden, the Camp Nou, or Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena. English players will recognise the MCG as where English cricket hopes traditionally come to die (1 hr 15 mins 15 secs) Also at the game hobby: a unanimous vote to amend and modernise the WDC charter, which dates from around 2000–2001 and doesn't reflect current online play, email communication, or the organisational structures of the Asia-Pacific and European hobbies. Four representatives (from NADF, the Asia-Pacific Diplomacy Association, and the European and UK hobbies) will draft amendments to be presented at WDC 2027 Chicago, with ratification at WDC 2028 Melbourne (1 hr 18 mins) Wrap up Gavin acknowledges the full organising effort: approximately 10 people working behind the scenes alongside Spyros and Jamal to make everything run. The Greek hobby and Athens Diplomacy Club can be enormously proud (1 hr 20 mins 30 secs) The Armistice Party: held between rounds three and four in the venue near the pool area. A DJ with a custom app allowed all attending players to nominate up to 10 songs each, with the crowd then voting in real time from four options for what came next. Gavin describes it as stunningly well thought through (1 hr 22 mins) Ken summarises: meticulously planned, wonderful venue, brilliant location, great games, fantastic people. Gavin: you got it in one. Thank you to Spyros, Jamal, and everyone they played with (1 hr 23 mins) Addendum – recorded one week later Ken and Gavin explain the addendum: a few things were either forgotten or lost in the original recording, so they've caught up a week later to cover them (1 hr 25 mins 45 secs) The Cane Toad The Cane Toad tournament will not run in 2026 – Gavin has made the decision to rest it for the year and bring it back bigger and better in 2027 (1 hr 26 mins 30 secs) Reasons: Gavin no longer lives in Brisbane where the tournament has historically been based, and several attempts to get a local game going have been completely unsuccessful. He feels it would be unfair to interstate players to travel to Queensland only to play mostly other interstate players rather than a meaningful proportion of locals (1 hr 27 mins 30 secs) He also flags cost-of-living pressures and fuel costs as factors, noting that the fuel excise which had been removed is about to be reinstated (1 hr 28 mins 45 secs) Ken and Gavin have a brief riff on whether cane toads actually hibernate, and whether the tournament might one day move to a different Queensland location (1 hr 28 mins 45 secs) Gavin shares a long-held dream of running the Cane Toad on the beach under a sun-safe setup. Council regulations require public liability insurance – but the Asia Pacific Diplomacy Association is in the process of organising exactly that for tournament directors, which may open the door in future (1 hr 29 mins 15 secs) Tournament news The Sydney Cup is on the weekend of 4–5 July. Gavin would love to go but has used up his diplomacy credits between Greece and starting a new job – it'll have to stay in the bank for now (1 hr 30 mins 45 secs) A New Zealand tournament is being discussed for the week before WDC 2028 Melbourne (late February 2028). Three New Zealand players who attended WDC 2026 in Athens have flagged interest in hosting something, on the logic that if you're travelling all the way from Europe or the US, a short hop across the Tasman to New Zealand is well worth building into the itinerary (1 hr 32 mins) Ken enthusiastically endorses the idea and encourages anyone planning for WDC 2028 Melbourne to factor in a week in New Zealand beforehand (1 hr 33 mins 30 secs) Challenge for next episode Over his birthday lunch, Gavin's son surprised him with an accurate recall of his WDC result. This leads Gavin to issue a challenge for the next episode: both Ken and Gavin will do some homework and come back with three or four online diplomacy resources that people may not know about, to raise awareness of what the community has put together over the years (1 hr 34 mins 45 secs) Around the grounds VDiplomacy gets an introduction for any listeners who aren't familiar: a sibling platform to WebDiplomacy, it hosts classic games but is particularly known for its range of variants (1 hr 36 mins 30 secs) The Dionysus Reimagined game recap – the ancient Greece variant Ken and Gavin set up in the lead-up to WDC Athens. Ken soloed, eliminating Gavin in the final year. Gavin notes that technically his last dot was taken so late that his result registers as a survive rather than an elimination (1 hr 38 mins 45 secs) Gavin played Athens and found himself defending on all fronts from early on: Sparta (who built only armies and had nowhere to go but north), the Macedonians pressing from the north, Byzantium late in the game, and Rhodes. Ken played Byzantium and credits his early token luck as a key advantage, picking up all his bid supply centres including one he expected to bounce – giving him fleet dominance in the Aegean from the start (1 hr 40 mins) The bid mechanics are recapped for any listeners unfamiliar with the variant: each player has 4 tokens to bid on non-core supply centres; outbid or bounce and you don't get the build. Ken's fortunate opening bids gave him a decisive early position (1 hr 40 mins 30 secs) A practical tip for vDiplomacy players: always open the large map after adjudication. The small map can omit orders that didn't go through, making moves look different from what was actually played. Ken noted several instances in the Dionysus game where support orders that failed simply weren't visible on the small map (1 hr 45 mins 45 secs) Ken congratulates himself on the win and notes the ratings gap between the two has now closed to around 100 points (1 hr 47 mins 30 secs) New game announced: Gavin has set up a Pirates game titled Ahoy Mateys on vDiplomacy. Gunboat, 2-day 2-hour phase length. Ken explains the extra 2 hours: it gradually shifts the adjudication time back toward Australian time zones in games where everyone readies up early (1 hr 48 mins) Pirates variant overview: a 13-player variant set in the golden age of piracy in the Caribbean, created by Gavin in collaboration with Ollie (the vDiplomacy site administrator). The 13 players are broken into three factions (1 hr 51 mins 45 secs): Europeans – Spain, England, France, and Holland, who nominally control supply centres across the map but must capture them to make them count Pirates – five pirates, four historical (Montbas, Brasiliano, de la Cueva, and Johnson) and one fictitious: El Guapo, borrowed from the movie The Three Amigos Privateers – one per European power, operating as private navies with letters patent. They can attack anyone except their sponsoring power (and vice versa). The Dunkirkers serve Spain, Henry Morgan serves England, François Le Jones serves France, and the Rocherson serves Holland Unit rules: all units are fleets, but there are two types – Clippers (move up to two spaces, standard attack strength) and Frigates (move one space, attack at 1.5x strength). A single clipper cannot defend against an attacking frigate, but a clipper supported by another clipper can. Five marked spots on the board allow transformation between unit types (1 hr 57 mins 45 secs) Special rules: a voodoo witch's hut in Cuba allows a fleet on the north coast to teleport to the south coast and vice versa. And a 14th non-playing character – a Hurricane – spins up each storm season in a random sea territory, moves randomly in the fall turn, and destroys anything in its path with an effectively unstoppable attack strength, also resetting any supply centre it passes through to neutral (1 hr 59 mins) Ken commits to reading the full rules before play begins, notes Pirates has a genuine following on vDiplomacy with games regularly in progress, and suspects he may get slaughtered (2 hr 1 min 15 secs) Gavin and Ken wrap up the show (2 hr 2 mins 15 secs) Venue: At home Drinks for the interview: Ken: One of his home brews – a lager with a bit of a kick Gavin: A Baliamo Nero d'Avola from Sicily – opened two weeks prior, which he noted had become a little sour and bitter compared to its fresh opening, much like his first round at the tournament Just a reminder you can support the show by giving it 5 stars on iTunes or Stitcher. And don't forget if you want to help pay off the audio equipment… or get the guys more drunk, you can also donate at Patreon, plus you get extra podcast episodes! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe so you get the latest Diplomacy Games episodes straight to your phone. Thanks as always to Dr Dan aka "The General" for his rockin' intro tune.

Discover the true meaning of biblical generosity and how it transforms your relationship with God and money. This comprehensive guide explores what the Bible really teaches about giving, stewardship, and financial freedom through faith. Learn about the three essential categories of biblical giving: tithing, offerings, and almsgiving, and understand how each plays a vital role in spiritual growth and community building.Explore the Apostle Paul's powerful teachings from Second Corinthians about the Macedonian churches who gave sacrificially despite their poverty, and discover how their example reveals the heart of Christian generosity. Understand the agricultural principles of sowing and reaping that Jesus taught, and learn why God blesses us not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving.This biblical teaching covers the five essential characteristics of godly giving: sacrificial, regular, proportional, voluntary, and joyful giving. Learn how to avoid the prosperity gospel trap while still understanding God's promises to generous givers. Discover practical steps for building generosity into your daily rhythm and how giving trains your soul to trust God rather than your bank account.Whether you're new to faith or looking to deepen your understanding of biblical stewardship, this teaching provides clear, practical guidance on money management from a Christian perspective. Learn how generosity connects you to God's heart, builds kingdom community, and creates lasting spiritual transformation. Perfect for anyone seeking to understand what the Bible teaches about money, giving, tithing, and financial stewardship.This sermon was recorded at a Sunday morning gathering at Church of the Lookout in Longmont, Colorado.Visit our websiteFollow us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram

What if being unstoppable has less to do with confidence and more to do with self-awareness? I had the pleasure of sitting down with Zarko Dimitrioski, a media entrepreneur, actor, talk show host, and marketing agency founder from Macedonia. Zarko shares how growing up as a child television star shaped his confidence, the lessons he learned about ego and leadership, and why experience is often the greatest teacher. We explore marketing, branding, mentorship, business growth, and the value of listening before speaking. Zarko explains how companies build lasting brands, why accountability matters, and how entrepreneurs can thrive even in smaller markets. Along the way, we discuss family, responsibility, personal growth, and what it truly means to develop an unstoppable mindset. I believe you will find his insights on leadership, branding, communication, and lifelong learning both practical and inspiring. Highlights: 01:45 - How a childhood acting career sparked a lifelong passion for media and communication. 07:08 - Why confidence without self-awareness can become a liability. 16:32 - Lessons from the Kellogg School of Management that still shape business decisions today. 21:58 - Why listening beats talking in business, leadership, and life. 35:08 - How strong brands grow through awareness, not just loyalty programs. 01:05:02 - The three traits Zarko looks for when mentoring future leaders. About the Guest: Zarko Dimitrioski is a Macedonian entrepreneur, marketer, and talk-show host who helps brands turn attention into sales. As Managing Partner of BDG Grupa, a full-service creative, digital, and production agency in Skopje, he leads cross-functional teams that deliver end-to-end campaigns for regional and international clients. His operating principle is simple: pair strong product truth with clear, persuasive communication—and measure what matters. In media since the age of six, first as a prominent child-actor, Zarko has hosted One on One (Eден на Еден) for 17 years—the longest-running TV talk show in the country—with Season 17 launching in November 2025. On stage he has addressed audiences from intimate rooms to crowds of 50,000+, relying on a steady system of preparation, calm, and trust whether he's interviewing, keynoting, or directing a brand campaign. Zarko is a Kellogg School of Management alumnus (Northwestern University). He holds college degrees in both Economics and Journalism and a master's degree in Marketing. He serves on the Management Board of the Macedonian Economic Chamber. Honors include Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 (Macedonian Chambers of Commerce and Ministry of Finance) and Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2018—Media & Marketing. Under his leadership, BDG has become a premium partner to leading brands across finance, FMCG, tech, and retail. The agency delivers strategy, creative, social, video and animation, media, and performance marketing under one roof, and often acts as a fast, cost-efficient production hub for network agencies such as Luna/TBWA and for UK partners who value BDG's quality-to-cost advantage. A lifelong student of behavioral economics and effectiveness, Zarko designs work that reduces friction, frames value intelligently and moves real numbers. He's passionate about inclusive, accessible content—because it's both right and higher-performing. Building from a small market taught him focus, pragmatism, and speed. He enjoys collaborating with teams who want practical creativity and a low-risk trial that proves value fast. Ways to connect with Zarko: email: zare@bdg-agency.comlinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zarkodimitrioski/agency website: https://bdg-agency.com/ About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes:

In 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, Paul shows us that true generosity flows from experiencing the grace of God. The Macedonian churches gave joyfully and sacrificially, not because they had abundance, but because God's grace had transformed their hearts. Ultimately, Christian generosity is rooted in Jesus himself—though he was rich, he became poor for our sake so that we could become rich in him.

Rome vs Alexander. It's a counterfactual of suitably epic proportions, fit for movie theatres and sprawling strategy video games. What would've happen had the great Macedonian general not perished in Babylon and advanced on an emerging Roman Republic?Tristan Hughes is joined by Roman historian and friend of the show Steele Brand to ask - what would've happened had Alexander invaded Italy? They explore the work of Roman historian Livy, who wrote about this very scenario - would Rome have had enough to resist the mighty legions of an undefeated Macedonia, even before it had really started to forge it's empire? From the sparkling phalanxes of Alexander's Asian realm to the Rome's countless mass of citizen soldiers, find out which of these titans of history achieves ancient world domination.MOREAlexander the Great: Lord of AsiaListen on AppleListen on SpotifyThe Battle of Phillipi: Death of the Roman RepublicListen on AppleListen on SpotifyPresented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. Producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pastor Mike addresses the pervasive struggle with covetousness and the biblical call for sacrificial giving. He examines the "rich fool" in Luke 12, who prioritized earthly security through bigger barns, contrasting him with those who are "rich toward God". Abendroth introduces the "100% principle," arguing that instead of focusing on a 10% tithe, Christians should recognize that everything they own belongs entirely to the Lord as His stewards. By looking to the example of the Macedonian churches and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ—who became poor to make believers spiritually rich—the episode challenges listeners to embrace a lifestyle of cheerful and intentional generosity. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kdY3GT0ehL8  No Compromise Radio “Always biblical, always provocative, always in that order.” Video Episode 64: “Rich Toward God" Hosts: Pastor Mike Abendroth (Pastor & Author) Produced/Edited By: Marrio Escobar (Owner of D2L Productions)