Podcasts about marked

Caroline Saunders joins us to explore what the Bible says about balance. Instead of offering a formula, Caroline reframes balance as a Spirit-led practice rooted in worship, where we honor our God-given limits while trusting a limitless God. Drawing from Psalms, Mary and Martha, Proverbs 31, and the life of Jesus, the conversation addresses overwhelm, changing seasons, work and rest, giving healthy no's, and recognizing the warning signs of imbalance like bitterness and exhaustion.LINKSCome Home Bible StudyCaroline Saunders ResourcesStory & SoulRECOMMENDED: Trace the theme of home through Scripture in the first episode of our five-episode miniseries with Caroline Saunders on Marked. Hosted by Angie Elkins and Andrea Lennon with guest Caroline Saunders. CONNECT WITH US!Marked is a podcast from Lifeway Women.  Learn more at lifeway.com/joshua. Learn more at lifeway.com/angels. 

Guest Author: Paul GregoryHeadline: The Warren Commission: Testimony and ConspiracySummary: Paul Gregory visited Dealey Plaza to verify the feasibility of the shot before testifying to the Warren Commission. The hearings were marked by Margarite Oswald's disruptive demands for subpoena rights and her insistence on conspiracies, while Paul maintained that Lee acted alone despite Soviet suspicions.Article: Before testifying, Paul Gregory inspected Dealey Plaza and concluded that the shot from the depository was relatively easy, reinforcing his belief that Lee acted alone without a complex conspiracy, despite the Soviet Union's own fears of being implicated. The Warren Commission hearings were notably disrupted by Margarite Oswald, who demanded subpoena rights and insisted on her son's innocence, providing the Commission with a clear view of the chaotic psychological environment that shaped Lee.

AP's Lisa Dwyer reports on the exoneration of Tommy Lee Walker, decades after his execution.

Feeling unworthy, disqualified, or “too much”? In this episode, Dr. Catherine Toon reveals how God’s love has already named you worthy—and why your deepest dreams still matter to Him. In part two of the God’s Dreams, Your Dreams: Is God That Good? series, Catherine goes after the religious lie that you have a “sinful nature” and shows from Scripture that your true identity in Christ is rooted in original innocence, not original sin. Before the foundation of the world, God chose you, joined Himself to you, and marked you with love (Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:9–10). You’re not an accident, and you’re not an afterthought—you are the “poema” of God (Ephesians 2:10), His handcrafted poetry and the very fabric of His delight. Walking through Romans 8:28–30, Catherine unpacks what it really means to be foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified—not as a harsh sorting of who’s in and who’s out, but as the revelation of a God who refuses to abandon His kids. This is spiritual healing at the root level: God dismantles shame, exposes the voice of accusation, and invites you into spiritual transformation by awakening you to who you’ve always been in Him. You’ll discover how a playful, dancing God (Proverbs 8) has always delighted in you; how He planted desires, destiny, and good works in you to walk out; and how discovering your identity in God frees you from the torment of unworthiness and overcoming spiritual shame. As you agree with God’s verdict over you—beloved, holy, worthy—you begin to live like it, and sin loses its grip. Register for Pursued By Love: A Love Encounter with the God Who Adores You - https://catherinetoon.com/pursuedbylove If this blessed you: • Subscribe for more conversations on God’s love, identity in Christ, and inner healing • Share this with a friend who needs hope today • Explore Catherine’s resources & community for next-step support To support the ministry with tax-deductible donations: https://catherinetoon.com/support/ Please Like, Share, & Subscribe -- a little thing that makes a big difference! Thank You! Marked by Love, Revised & Expanded Edition is here:
#1 Best Seller & #1 New Release in our category! Get your copy: https://amzn.to/3K2J9ZV God, Male & Female?: https://amzn.to/49hzCIM CONNECT WITH CATHERINE: ► Website: https://catherinetoon.com/ ► Facebook: @catherinetoonmd
 ► Instagram: @catherinetoon
 ► Twitter: @catherinetoonmd
 ► Pinterest: https://pin.it/4lHhOll FREE RESOURCES: ► Podcast: https://catherinetoon.com/perspectives-podcast/ 
 ► Free eBooks: https://catherinetoon.com/free-downloads/ 
 ► Blog: https://catherinetoon.com/blog/ 
 ► Free chapter of Marked by Love: https://catherinetoon.com/mblfreechapter/ ABOUT CATHERINE: Encouraging you to experience God and discover who you truly are!
 Catherine has been in the business of changing lives for decades as an author, speaker, and prophetic coach. She is incredibly gifted at calling forth personal destiny and has helped thousands of individuals who are on that journey.

Nicole Zasowski joins us for a thoughtful conversation about cynicism, hope, and the vulnerability of joy. Drawing from Scripture, neuroscience, and her own story of infertility and loss, Nicole helps us name how cynicism becomes a form of self-protection, and how God invites us to something better. This conversation encourages us to wrestle honestly with God, renew our minds, and practice gratitude and savoring as pathways to lasting hope and joy in Christ.LINKSDaring Joy Bible StudyWhat if It's Wonderful BookRECOMMENDED: Read this article from Nicole on our blog on lessons we can learn from Mary Magdalene on Contagious Joy. Hosted by Angie Elkins and Andrea Lennon with guest Nicole Zasowski. CONNECT WITH US!Marked is a podcast from Lifeway Women.  Learn more at lifeway.com/joshua. Learn more at lifeway.com/angels. 

What is the church really? Pastor Heath Lambert explains that the church isn't a building or a place - it's the blood-bought people of Jesus, both local and global, identified with Christ and accomplishing His purposes in the world. This foundational teaching clarifies what most Christians misunderstand.Timestamps0:00 - Introduction and the question0:40 - Most Christians would stumble on this answer1:46 - The short answer begins with Jesus1:56 - Titus 2:14: Jesus purified a people for Himself2:42 - The church is the people of Jesus3:27 - The church as an organic group, not a building3:49 - 1 Corinthians 1:2: Two ways to talk about the church4:35 - The local church in a specific place4:59 - The global church in every place5:56 - The church is identified with Jesus6:12 - Acts 9:4: Persecuting the church is persecuting Jesus7:24 - The church as the body of Christ7:46 - Other metaphors: Bride, vine and branches8:24 - The church accomplishes Jesus's purposes8:42 - Ephesians 3:10: Making God's wisdom known9:16 - 1 Timothy 3:15: Pillar and buttress of truthKey Topics Covered- Common Misunderstandings - Why most Christians can't properly define the church- Jesus as Starting Point - Titus 2:14 and the foundation of the church- Blood-Bought People - Those redeemed from lawlessness who trust in Christ- Not a Building - Why the church is people, not places or structures- Two Dimensions - Local assemblies and the global body of believers- Local Church - Believers gathering in a specific geographic location- Global Church - All believers across the world in every place- Identified with Christ - Acts 9:4 showing Jesus's unity with His people- Body of Christ - The church as Christ's organism in the world- Bride of Christ - The marriage metaphor showing intimate unity- Vine and Branches - Jesus as source, church dependent on Him- Accomplishing His Purposes - How Jesus works through the church today- Pillar of Truth - The church as God's means of proclaiming truth to the worldScripture ReferencesTitus 2:14 - Jesus purified a people for His own possession1 Corinthians 1:2 - The church locally and globallyActs 9:4 - Saul persecuting Jesus by persecuting the churchEphesians 3:10 - God's wisdom made known through the church1 Timothy 3:15 - The church as pillar and buttress of truthAbout The Ten Commandments BookHeath Lambert's new book "The Ten Commandments: A Short Book for Normal People" is now available. This accessible guide explains how God's commands apply to modern life without requiring theological education. Perfect for personal study, evangelism, or gifts to friends, neighbors, and family.Order now and download a free chapter at fbcjax.com/tencommandmentsLike this episode? Subscribe for more biblical teaching from Marked by Grace. Share your thoughts in the comments below about how understanding the church as people rather than a place changes your perspective.Have a question you'd like answered? Send it to markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

How is it possible to have joy when it appears the wheels are falling off in your life and hope seems lost? When horrible circumstances along with negative thoughts and emotions overwhelm us, how can joy be an option? Discover the raw power of being MARKED BY JOY! Also, we will be selecting our "word for the year" in this service. Get ready to believe God for a powerful 2026 and be MARKED BY JOY!

This week Pastor Michael answers a series of questions from members of our church that have come out of past few month's teachings.  Romans 12:1-2, Isaiah 43:18-19

In this true scary story, we hear from Tracey. From the time she could walk, she knew something was watching her. What began as a childhood fear followed her through foster homes, adulthood, and motherhood... growing stronger with every major change in her life. As others finally began to witness what she had always felt, the truth became harder to deny: this was definitely not imagination, sensitivity, or coincidence. It was something attached to her family line… and it wasn't done yet.Have a true, personal, scary story? Reach out through TrueScaryStory.com! We'd love to have you on, it doesn't cost anything, and you'll schedule a call directly with me.Editing and sound design by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound.You can find Edwin on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook as @edwincovWant even more scares? We have more shows by Edwin and Scary FM, including Paranormal Club (video podcast).TrueScaryStory.com

God’s love is better than you’ve been told—and His goodness is the key to your God-given dreams. In this powerful episode of Perspectives with Catherine Toon, Catherine dismantles religious lies about God and reveals a Father who only gives good and perfect gifts, never evil or punishment in disguise. So many of us have been taught to fear our desires, to distrust our hearts, and to wonder if God is secretly against us. Catherine walks us through James 1 and other key scriptures to show that God is never the source of temptation, shame, or destruction—He is the Father of lights, with no shadow of turning. From there, she explores how our true identity in Christ is good, holy, and beloved, even while we’re still a “work in process.” You’ll hear how sin is really a distorted image problem that leads to behaviors that bring death—but your original design in Christ is untouched, rooted in eternal love. Out of that identity, God has planted dreams in you that reflect His heart. He actually wants you to enjoy life, to experience heaven on earth, and to walk in spiritual transformation as you partner with Him. Catherine also shares how a playful, dancing God (Proverbs 8) delights in you, gives you “richly all things to enjoy,” and invites you into a lifestyle of experiencing God in everyday desires, choices, and dreams. This isn’t performance-based religion—it’s awakened sonship and daughterhood. Practical takeaway: Ask Holy Spirit to highlight one deep desire you’ve secretly doubted. Write it down, renounce the lie that God is against it, and pray: “Father, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in this area of my life.” Then listen for how He wants to walk it out with you. If this blessed you: • Subscribe for more conversations on God’s love, identity in Christ, and inner healing • Share this with a friend who needs hope today • Explore Catherine’s resources & community for next-step support Exhausted and worn out? Register for Pursued By Love: A Love Encounter with the God Who Adores You https://catherinetoon.com/pursuedbylove To support the ministry with tax-deductible donations: https://catherinetoon.com/support/ Please Like, Share, & Subscribe -- a little thing that makes a big difference! Thank You! Marked by Love, Revised & Expanded Edition is here:
#1 Best Seller & #1 New Release in our category! Get your copy: https://amzn.to/3K2J9ZV God, Male & Female?: https://amzn.to/49hzCIM CONNECT WITH CATHERINE: ► Website: https://catherinetoon.com/ ► Facebook: @catherinetoonmd
 ► Instagram: @catherinetoon
 ► Twitter: @catherinetoonmd
 ► Pinterest: https://pin.it/4lHhOll FREE RESOURCES: ► Podcast: https://catherinetoon.com/perspectives-podcast/ 
 ► Free eBooks: https://catherinetoon.com/free-downloads/ 
 ► Blog: https://catherinetoon.com/blog/ 
 ► Free chapter of Marked by Love: https://catherinetoon.com/mblfreechapter/ ABOUT CATHERINE: Encouraging you to experience God and discover who you truly are!
 Catherine has been in the business of changing lives for decades as an author, speaker, and prophetic coach. She is incredibly gifted at calling forth personal destiny and has helped thousands of individuals who are on that journey.

Traitors US S4 Rob Cesternino Deep Dive Welcome to RHAP’s coverage of ALL the Traitors iterations from around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. The Traitors US is a high-stakes reality competition set in a secluded castle, where contestants must work together to complete challenges and earn a prize pot—while rooting out the secret traitors hidden among them. Today, Pooya is joined by Rob Cesternino to do a deep dive into his time on Traitors Season 4. From near-misses to surprise alliances, this in-depth conversation details the rollercoaster of Rob's brief but memorable stint in the Scottish castle, highlighting pivotal decisions, cast dynamics, and strategies that shaped the opening episodes. Pooya leads Rob in a candid step-by-step look at his experience preparing for the Traitors US, diving into his binge of international seasons and the lessons he carried into the game. Rob discusses choosing to play as a faithful rather than a traitor, giving a firsthand look at why he anticipated early banishments and how he worked to build social connections across the housewives, CBS reality “gamers,” and other celebrities in the castle. The conversation probes through major group dynamics — from alliance-building efforts to murder shortlist anxieties — and the unique ways contestants tried to read each other's intentions. Pooya and Rob discuss: Rob's methodical study of various international Traitors seasons to understand personalities and gameplay formats. The housewives-versus-gamers meta, as Rob details his effort to broker a cross-group alliance and avoid mutual destruction. Behind-the-scenes impressions of notable castmates, including Monét X Change, Lisa Rinna, Candiace Dillard Bassett, and Porsha Williams, with Rob decoding social strengths and the role of “queen bees.” Rob's breakdown of challenge strategies, murder shortlist logic, and efforts to manipulate targets — including his plan to weaponize Michael Rapaport's unpredictability. The strategy of dodging a murder in plain sight, including Rob's warning to Tiffany and his theorizing about conga lines, drinks, and body language. Rob's journey throws light on the delicate balance of reasoning, intuition, and luck required to survive the opening rounds of Traitors US. With cross-show alliances, silent suspicions, and defenses played on both sides, who will escape the next murder and who's risking their game with hidden agendas? Intros: 0:00 Intros 6:16 Survivor vs. The Traitors Dilemma 10:04 Choosing Faithful Over Traitor 18:47 First Impressions in the Starting Car 25:01 Castle Arrival: Reality Sets In 31:39 The Secret Traitor Selection Stress 37:55 Faithful Strategy Prioritized 45:45 Identifying Turret Traitor Archetypes 51:06 Building Key Castle Alliances 58:42 Dorinda’s Calm Murder Shortlist 1:15:13 Boat Mission: Shield Tactics 1:18:25 Marked for Murder: Immediate Threat 1:28:16 Fateful Advice: Leave Nothing Unsaid 1:39:33 Breakfast After Surviving Murder 1:43:33 Yam Yam: Threat Level Revealed 2:15:01 First Banishment: Porsha Blindsided 2:32:17 Sensing Murder in Plain Sight 2:35:32 Escaping the Conga Line Danger 2:49:33 Rob’s Exit: Edit vs. Reality 3:09:45 Reflecting on the Traitors Journey Never miss all our Traitors US recaps plus recaps from other versions around the world! LISTEN: Subscribe to The Traitors Around the World podcast feed WATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTube SUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks!

Traitors US S4 Rob Cesternino Deep Dive Welcome to RHAP's coverage of ALL the Traitors iterations from around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. The Traitors US is a high-stakes reality competition set in a secluded castle, where contestants must work together to complete challenges and earn a prize pot—while rooting out the secret traitors hidden among them. Today, Pooya is joined by Rob Cesternino to do a deep dive into his time on Traitors Season 4. From near-misses to surprise alliances, this in-depth conversation details the rollercoaster of Rob's brief but memorable stint in the Scottish castle, highlighting pivotal decisions, cast dynamics, and strategies that shaped the opening episodes. Pooya leads Rob in a candid step-by-step look at his experience preparing for the Traitors US, diving into his binge of international seasons and the lessons he carried into the game. Rob discusses choosing to play as a faithful rather than a traitor, giving a firsthand look at why he anticipated early banishments and how he worked to build social connections across the housewives, CBS reality “gamers,” and other celebrities in the castle. The conversation probes through major group dynamics — from alliance-building efforts to murder shortlist anxieties — and the unique ways contestants tried to read each other's intentions. Pooya and Rob discuss: Rob's methodical study of various international Traitors seasons to understand personalities and gameplay formats. The housewives-versus-gamers meta, as Rob details his effort to broker a cross-group alliance and avoid mutual destruction. Behind-the-scenes impressions of notable castmates, including Monét X Change, Lisa Rinna, Candiace Dillard Bassett, and Porsha Williams, with Rob decoding social strengths and the role of “queen bees.” Rob's breakdown of challenge strategies, murder shortlist logic, and efforts to manipulate targets — including his plan to weaponize Michael Rapaport's unpredictability. The strategy of dodging a murder in plain sight, including Rob's warning to Tiffany and his theorizing about conga lines, drinks, and body language. Rob's journey throws light on the delicate balance of reasoning, intuition, and luck required to survive the opening rounds of Traitors US. With cross-show alliances, silent suspicions, and defenses played on both sides, who will escape the next murder and who's risking their game with hidden agendas?Intros:0:00 Intros6:16 Survivor vs. The Traitors Dilemma10:04 Choosing Faithful Over Traitor18:47 First Impressions in the Starting Car25:01 Castle Arrival: Reality Sets In31:39 The Secret Traitor Selection Stress37:55 Faithful Strategy Prioritized45:45 Identifying Turret Traitor Archetypes51:06 Building Key Castle Alliances58:42 Dorinda's Calm Murder Shortlist1:15:13 Boat Mission: Shield Tactics1:18:25 Marked for Murder: Immediate Threat1:28:16 Fateful Advice: Leave Nothing Unsaid1:39:33 Breakfast After Surviving Murder1:43:33 Yam Yam: Threat Level Revealed2:15:01 First Banishment: Porsha Blindsided2:32:17 Sensing Murder in Plain Sight2:35:32 Escaping the Conga Line Danger2:49:33 Rob's Exit: Edit vs. Reality3:09:45 Reflecting on the Traitors Journey Never miss all our Traitors US recaps plus recaps from other versions around the world!LISTEN: Subscribe to The Traitors Around the World podcast feedWATCH:  Subscribe to the podcast on YouTubeSUPPORT:  Become a RHAP Patron for bonus content, access to Facebook and Discord groups plus more great perks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Isabelle Armand directs GLENDORA, a documentary about a rural Mississippi town's efforts to redefine and strengthen its cultural history amidst economic struggle.Glendora, Mississippi is the poorest city in Tallahatchie County, with a population of less than 200. Marked by a history of cotton gins and sharecropping, the economic viability of the town remains inseparably linked to segregation. Once the White community left, so did the money.The documentary showcases multiple organizations and individuals' efforts to find success and shine a spotlight on the community. Whether it be a rapper growing a fanbase in his house, local government commissioning the construction of a museum dedicated to Emmett Till or a nonprofit providing educational, housing and medical services for the community, Glendora comes across as a town full of go-getters and entreprenurial spirits.Armand's camera sits right in the middle of everyday life, of prom parades, weddings and funerals. Her compositions let landscapes and skies sit open wide, allowing the buildings to stand out. These places are usually ignored (They won't make any architectural magazine covers) but through Armand's lens, they're lovingly positioned front and center. I think that sums up the documentary quite well.GLENDORA will premiere at the Dances With Films: NY festival on January 16.More information can be found ⁠here.⁠---Follow The Movies on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Throw a couple dollars in the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tip jar!

Ellie Holcomb joins us for a hope-filled conversation about grief, brokenness, and where God meets us in hard seasons. She shares from her own story, reflects on how Scripture makes space for sorrow, and reminds us that lament, tears, and even wrestling with God are part of a real, honest faith. This conversation is a gentle reminder that God is present in every part of the story and hope can still find you. LINKS:Red Sea Road Canyon Far Country Fighting Words Who Sang the First Song Don't Forget to RememberPrayer in the Night RECOMMENDED: Listen to this episode with Ellie about fighting lies with the truth of God's Word. Hosted by Angie Elkins and Andrea Lennon with guest Ellie Holcomb. CONNECT WITH US!Marked is a podcast from Lifeway Women.  Learn more at lifeway.com/joshua. Learn more at lifeway.com/angels. 

Who is Jesus Christ? Pastor Heath Lambert tackles the most important question in human history by explaining Jesus's person (fully God and fully man) and His work (living, dying, and rising for sinners). This foundational teaching reveals why your response to Jesus matters more than anything else.Timestamps0:00 - Introduction and the question0:43 - Why this is both important and challenging to answer1:55 - Two parts: Person and work of Jesus2:26 - Part 1: Who is Jesus in His person?2:35 - Jesus is God (Romans 9:5)3:50 - Jesus is man (1 Timothy 2:5)4:53 - Jesus is fully God and fully man together5:20 - Two natures in one person5:44 - The broccoli illustration about understanding mysteries6:45 - Part 2: What did Jesus do?7:03 - Jesus lived, died, and rose for sinners7:40 - Romans 4:25: Delivered for our sins, raised for our justification8:16 - Why only Jesus could save us8:44 - Why this question matters more than any other9:13 - Hebrews 8:1: Jesus exalted in heaven now9:50 - Your required response: Worship and trustKey Topics Covered- The Challenge of the Question - Why there's so much to say about Jesus- Jesus as God - Romans 9:5 and His divine nature as second person of the Trinity- Jesus as Man - 1 Timothy 2:5 and His true humanity, not just appearance- Fully God and Fully Man - The hypostatic union of two natures in one person- Not 50/50 But 100/100 - Understanding Jesus isn't partly divine and partly human- The Mystery We Accept - Why difficulty understanding doesn't mean it's untrue- Jesus's Perfect Life - Never sinning in thought, word, or deed- Substitutionary Death - Punished for our sins so we receive His blessings- Resurrection Victory - Rising from the grave to justify believers- Why Only Jesus Could Save - Needing both divinity and humanity to pay for sin- The Most Important Question - Why your response to Jesus determines everything- Jesus Exalted Now - Currently seated at God's right hand in heaven- The Required Response - Turning from sin, trusting Christ, worshiping foreverScripture ReferencesRomans 9:5 - Jesus is God over all, blessed forever1 Timothy 2:5 - The man Christ Jesus as mediatorRomans 4:25 - Delivered for our sins, raised for our justificationHebrews 8:1 - Jesus seated at the right hand of God's throneJonah 2:9 - Salvation is from the LordAbout The Ten Commandments BookHeath Lambert's new book "The Ten Commandments: A Short Book for Normal People" is now available. This accessible guide explains how God's commands apply to modern life without requiring theological education. Perfect for personal study, evangelism, or gifts to friends, neighbors, and family.Order now and download a free chapter at fbcjax.com/tencommandmentsLike this episode? Subscribe for more biblical teaching from Marked by Grace. Share your thoughts in the comments below about how understanding who Jesus is has changed your life.Have a question you'd like answered? Send it to markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

Dr. Thomas White, President of Cedarville University, brings a message from Mark 8:1 - 9:13. Dr. White explains that seeing clearly means serving the Jesus we need, not the Jesus we want.

Dr. Thomas White, President of Cedarville University, brings a message from Mark 8:1 - 9:13. Dr. White explains that seeing clearly means serving the Jesus we need, not the Jesus we want.

This week Pastor Michael continues our "Marked" series teaching on being Marked by God's Favor.  Romans 12:1-2, Isaiah 43:18-19

Send us a textCheck out the JIBM Web site at:  https://www.joeinblackministries.com/Please use the following link if you would like to financially support  Church of the Holy Family: https://pushpay.com/g/hfgrandblanc?sr…Support the show

Baptism is not the end of the journey or a moment of instant transformation. It is a turning point—a beginning. It marks a before and an after, grounding us in God's unchanging love while calling us into a lifelong process of following Christ. As we witness baptisms today and renew our own baptismal covenant, we are reminded that faith is lived out in community, supported by the church, and shaped by daily choices to turn toward Christ and away from evil.

Read OnlineJesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. Matthew 3:13–15John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets, entrusted with the mission to immediately prepare the way for the Messiah. Today's feast marks a pivotal transition from the Old Law to the New. Prior to Jesus' baptism, John's mission was in full motion. With Jesus' baptism, the mission of the Old Testament prophets is fulfilled, and the New Law of grace begins.Why did Jesus enter the waters of baptism? He was sinless and had no need of repentance. Yet, in His divine wisdom, Jesus chose to be baptized to sanctify the waters, opening the gateway of grace for all who would follow. By entering the waters of baptism, Jesus set a precedent. Every Christian who enters the waters of baptism meets our Lord there, sharing in His life of grace.As we reflect on Christ's baptism today, we are invited to consider our own. Most of us were baptized as infants and have no memory of the event. Others came to baptism later in life, fully aware of the grace they were receiving. Regardless of when it occurred, baptism's effects are profound and enduring. That singular moment of sanctification forever changed us, and its transformative power remains active within us.Through baptism, Jesus meets us under the waters. When baptism is performed by full immersion, it powerfully symbolizes the reality of this encounter. We enter the waters of repentance, as John offered, but we emerge united with Christ. Just as the Father's voice declared at Jesus' baptism, “You are my beloved Son…,” so too does the Father continually speak to us after our baptism, affirming our identity as His beloved children. The Holy Spirit descends upon us, and we are offered every gift of the Spirit, provided our hearts remain open.Baptism occurs only once in our lives and imprints on our souls an “indelible spiritual mark (character)” (see Catechism of the Catholic Church #1272 and 1274). This mark configures us to Christ and signifies our permanent belonging to Him and His Church. It cannot be lost or removed, even by mortal sin. However, while this character endures forever, the state of sanctifying grace within our souls can be lost through mortal sin. In such cases, the grace of baptism is restored through the Sacrament of Reconciliation in which our souls are once again cleansed and brought back into full communion with God. Marked as members of Christ's Body, we are continually disposed to receive sanctifying grace through the other sacraments, as long as we remain in a state of grace. Baptism accomplishes this disposition, enabling us to participate fully in the life of grace that flows from Christ.As we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, reflect today on your own baptism. You are forever marked as a child of God. You encountered our Lord under the waters of baptism, were cleansed of all sin, and were filled with sanctifying grace. Though sin diminishes or even extinguishes that grace when it is mortal, the Sacrament of Reconciliation restores it, and the Eucharist and other sacraments increase it. Always return to your baptismal grace, seeking to live out your identity as God's son or daughter, as this sacred mark intends. My sanctifying Lord, through the waters of baptism, I encountered You and received the abundant grace You bestowed upon me. Please help me to keep my soul free from sin and to live with the true dignity of a child of God. Thank You for meeting me under those waters. May I remain with You, growing ever closer to You by the ongoing gift of all the Sacraments. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

If you’ve ever felt far from God, afraid you’ll “miss His will,” or exhausted by a transactional, try-harder Christianity, this conversation will minister deep healing. In this episode of Perspectives with Catherine Toon, Catherine and returning guest Jason Clark (Rethinking God with Tacos) dive into the tender, transformative truth that love is the long game—and that the lie of separation is losing its grip. Together, we talk about: - Why the message of God’s love is surging globally—and why it’s setting people free - Healing religious trauma rooted in “distance,” fear, and performance - Union with Christ (not striving) as the foundation for identity in Christ and spiritual healing - Obedience as a gift that matures us into love (not a fear-based scoreboard) - The difference between boundaries that heal vs. control that crushes - How Papa/Jesus/Holy Spirit leads you in peace, intimacy, and real freedom Connect with Jason Clark Website: AFamilyStory.org Community: Rethinking God with Tacos (Facebook) Podcast: “Rethinking God with Tacos”, most major platforms YouTube: @Rethinking God with Tacos “Rethinking God with Tacos BOOK” available on Amazon If this blessed you: • Subscribe for more conversations on God’s love, identity in Christ, and inner healing • Share this with a friend who needs hope today • Explore Catherine’s resources & community for next-step support Exhausted and worn out? Register for Pursued By Love: A Love Encounter with the God Who Adores You https://catherinetoon.com/pursuedbylove To support the ministry with tax-deductible donations: https://catherinetoon.com/support/ Please Like, Share, & Subscribe -- a little thing that makes a big difference! Thank You! Marked by Love, Revised & Expanded Edition is here:
#1 Best Seller & #1 New Release in our category! Get your copy: https://amzn.to/3K2J9ZV God, Male & Female?: https://amzn.to/49hzCIM CONNECT WITH CATHERINE: ► Website: https://catherinetoon.com/ ► Facebook: @catherinetoonmd
 ► Instagram: @catherinetoon
 ► Twitter: @catherinetoonmd
 ► Pinterest: https://pin.it/4lHhOll FREE RESOURCES: ► Podcast: https://catherinetoon.com/perspectives-podcast/ 
 ► Free eBooks: https://catherinetoon.com/free-downloads/ 
 ► Blog: https://catherinetoon.com/blog/ 
 ► Free chapter of Marked by Love: https://catherinetoon.com/mblfreechapter/ ABOUT CATHERINE: Encouraging you to experience God and discover who you truly are!
 Catherine has been in the business of changing lives for decades as an author, speaker, and prophetic coach. She is incredibly gifted at calling forth personal destiny and has helped thousands of individuals who are on that journey.

To kick off Season 12, Priscilla Shirer is here to discuss what the Bible says about obedience. You'll hear how obedience is a reflection of love for Christ, emphasizing that true worship is intrinsically linked to obedience. She shares personal stories of her journey with obedience, highlighting the challenges of self-denial, and the importance of community support. Priscilla also addresses the role of fear in disobedience and the necessity of trusting God through life's uncertainties. LINKS: Going Beyond LiveGoing Beyond SimulcastGoing Beyond MinistriesBooks and Bible Studies by Priscilla ShirerWar Room movieThe Forge movieFriends & Sisters Bible studyLifeway Women BlogRECOMMENDED: Listen to the Season 12 trailer to get a sneak peek of what's coming up.Marked is a podcast from Lifeway Women. Hosted by Angie Elkins and Andrea Lennon. CONNECT WITH US!Follow Lifeway Women and Priscilla Shirer.Learn more at lifeway.com/joshua. Learn more at lifeway.com/angels. 

Everyone uses the word "sin," but what does it actually mean? Pastor Heath Lambert kicks off 2026 by answering this fundamental question using Romans 3:23-24, revealing why sin is more than just breaking rules - it's falling short of God's glory, and why that matters for the gospel.Timestamps0:00 - Introduction: First episode of 20260:49 - The question: What is sin?1:15 - We use words we don't really understand1:52 - Disagreement about what sins are2:45 - Romans 3:23: Falling short of God's glory3:51 - The standard: God's perfect holiness4:46 - Sin as falling short of the standard5:11 - Practical reality 1: God defines sin, not us5:50 - Don't add to God's list of sins6:06 - Example: Is eating pizza a sin?6:30 - Don't cross off sins from God's list6:53 - God's glory as the standard in His Word7:07 - The result: Guilt and punishment7:25 - Romans 3:24: Justified by grace through redemption7:56 - Redemption as economic transaction8:46 - Final answer: Sin, guilt, and gospel hopeKey Topics CoveredThe Universal Word - How everyone uses "sin" but with different meaningsCommon Misconceptions - The property example and sexual behavior debatesRomans 3:23 Definition - Falling short of the glory of GodThe Divine Standard - God's infinite righteousness, glory, and holinessTwo Dangerous Errors - Adding sins God didn't name and removing sins He didThe Pizza Illustration - Why we can't make up our own list of sinsCultural Pushback - When society rejects biblical definitions of sinGod's Word as Authority - Why Scripture alone defines what sin isSin as Debt - The financial metaphor for our spiritual conditionThe Gospel Solution - Romans 3:24 and redemption through ChristJustified by Grace - How Christ's righteousness covers our sin debtScripture ReferencesRomans 3:23 - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of GodRomans 3:24 - Justified by grace through redemption in Christ JesusAbout The Ten Commandments BookHeath Lambert's new book "The Ten Commandments: A Short Book for Normal People" is now available. This accessible guide explains how God's commands apply to modern life without requiring theological education. Perfect for personal study, evangelism, or gifts to friends, neighbors, and family.Order now and download a free chapter at fbcjax.com/tencommandmentsLike this episode? Subscribe for more biblical teaching from Marked by Grace. Share your thoughts in the comments below about how understanding sin as falling short of God's glory changes your perspective. Happy New Year!Have a question you'd like answered? Send it to markedbygrace@fbcjax.com

In this episode with Pastor Bob Pittman and Prophet Charlie Shamp, Charlie recounts his transformative journey through prophetic ministry—marked by miracles, revival, and powerful supernatural encounters. Guided by mentorship from key spiritual leaders, he highlights the essentials of servanthood, biblical prosperity, and evangelism while offering practical wisdom for sustaining authentic ministry and navigating revival dynamics.Charlie also cautions against spiritual pride and manipulation, urging believers toward humility and accountability. With passion and insight, he challenges listeners to activate their spiritual gifts and fulfill their calling, empowering churches and communities with lasting supernatural impact.Website: https://worldharvestusa.comConnect with World Harvest ChurchWebsite: https://worldharvestusa.com/contact Facebook: / WorldHarvestUSA.RL Instagram: / worldharvestus Upcoming Events: https://worldharvestusa.com/events

We live in a world that has mastered distractions but lost its capacity for wonder. A world that trains us to scroll past glory, to treat the sacred as familiar and to speak God's name without trembling in His presence. We are busy, informed and stimulated but too often untouched and unchanged. Marked by Glory is a journey into holiness, not as our moral achievement, but as the result of encounter. It's an invitation to behold the Holy One — to recover reverence, awaken awe and allow God's presence to leave its mark on our lives.

Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass January 4, 2026 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings Is 60:1-6 Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 Mt 2:1-12 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give

Action Church exists to REACH people where they are and CONNECT them to everything God has for their life. If you gave your life to Christ today, we would love to partner alongside you to walk you through next steps. Please let us know about your decision here: theactionchurch.com/card If you want be a part of the mission of Action Church to REACH people where they are and CONNECT them to everything God has for their life, you can be a part by worshiping God with your giving through Action Church by visiting: theactionchurch.com/give Stay Connected - Find a Location and Service Time Website: theactionchurch.com Instagram: instagram.com/theactionchurch Facebook: facebook.com/theactionchurch

This week Pastor Michael kicks off the New Year continuing our "Marked" series teaching on being Marked by Depth.  Romans 12:1-2, Isaiah 43:18-19

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Aaron takes a deep dive into David Bowie's 2016 swan song.  Marked as explicit for sexual content, bd language and other mature content. Also, the theme of this episode & album is death.  

What if God isn’t who religion told you He is? What if He’s far better—more loving, more merciful, more trustworthy—than you’ve ever dared to believe? In this heartfelt episode of Perspectives with Catherine Toon, Pieter Zwart, founder of Foundation for Life in the Netherlands, shares his powerful journey into the revelation of the Father’s heart of God. After a near-death experience and years of ministry, Pieter began asking hard questions: If God is good, why do we see so much judgment, fear, and punishment in the Bible? As the Holy Spirit led him beyond old paradigms, Pieter discovered a transforming truth—God is exactly like Jesus, and His love is better than we thought. Through stories of personal breakthrough, family restoration, and a renewed vision for the Church in Europe, Pieter and Catherine explore:
 * How seeing God as a loving Father changes everything
 * Why we can’t be better parents than God is
 * How love—not fear—leads people to transformation
 * The shift from striving faith to resting in Christ’s faithfulness
 * Why the gospel is not a threat but a declaration of belonging This conversation will leave you free from fear, anchored in grace, and awakened to the reality that you were never separated from Love. “If the accusation is that the God I preach is too good to be true—I can live with that.” – Pieter Zwart * Key Scriptures: Luke 10:13, John 17:6, Acts 17:28, 1 John 4:18, Ephesians 2:8–9 Contact Pieter: Website: https://foundation4life.nl/ YouTube: @foundation4lifenl Facebook: @PieterZwart If this blessed you: • Subscribe for more conversations on God’s love, identity in Christ, and inner healing • Share this with a friend who needs hope today • Explore Catherine’s resources & community for next-step support Exhausted and worn out? Register for Pursued By Love: A Love Encounter with the God Who Adores You https://catherinetoon.com/pursuedbylove To support the ministry with tax-deductible donations: https://catherinetoon.com/support/ Please Like, Share, & Subscribe -- a little thing that makes a big difference! Thank You! Marked by Love, Revised & Expanded Edition is here:
#1 Best Seller & #1 New Release in our category! Get your copy: https://amzn.to/3K2J9ZV God, Male & Female?: https://amzn.to/49hzCIM CONNECT WITH CATHERINE: ► Website: https://catherinetoon.com/ ► Facebook: @catherinetoonmd
 ► Instagram: @catherinetoon
 ► Twitter: @catherinetoonmd
 ► Pinterest: https://pin.it/4lHhOll FREE RESOURCES: ► Podcast: https://catherinetoon.com/perspectives-podcast/ 
 ► Free eBooks: https://catherinetoon.com/free-downloads/ 
 ► Blog: https://catherinetoon.com/blog/ 
 ► Free chapter of Marked by Love: https://catherinetoon.com/mblfreechapter/ ABOUT CATHERINE: Encouraging you to experience God and discover who you truly are!
 Catherine has been in the business of changing lives for decades as an author, speaker, and prophetic coach. She is incredibly gifted at calling forth personal destiny and has helped thousands of individuals who are on that journey.

We are going to take a moment and listen back to the news and highlights that made 2025 the year that it was. That includes the good, the bad, the inspiring and the tragic, local, national, and international stories as covered on The 21st Show.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

 Join Dr. Julie as she releases Heaven's prophetic Word for 2026 — JTS Ep. 377 Marked for Power & Outpouring: 2026 the Year of the Book of Acts. From an unprecedented outpouring of the Holy Spirit and global revival, to supernatural kingdom increase and finances, this message will ignite your faith and awaken your purpose. Be stirred, be empowered, and step into this mighty move of God as nations are shaken, generations turn their hearts to Jesus, and the Church rises in Acts-level power for such a time as this.www.garyandjulie.orgGet Julie's free download, The Prophetic Word for 2026 and her Newest E-Book! "FAITH-FUELED SUCCESS" here:  https://stan.store/garyandjulietusseyministriesJoin Julie in Kingdom Income DIGITAL MARKETING, get Info www.anotherlevelfinances.comRegister and/or join the Community for the Grace Girls & Company Events: www.gracegirls.lifeGET THE Free APP! SEARCH GJTM for iphones (Gary & Julie Tussey Ministries for Androids) on your APP STOREText SOWNOW to 888-364-4483BECOME A VIP! VOICE IMPACT PARTNER WITH Gary & Julie Tussey and TheVoice Inc. a 501c3 Non-profit ministry. All gifts are tax deductible-Give Here:-www.garyandjulie.org-Venmo: thevoiceinc- stan.store/garyandjulietusseyministriesBOOKING:email: thejulietusseyshow@gmail.comThank you for watching/listening  today and please share, follow, subscribe and/or leave a great review for us today. We appreciate you!!c&p 2025 Gary & Julie Tussey  FOLLOW ME ON FB: WWW.facebook.com/julietussey23www.youtube.com/TUSSEYTELEVISIONBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-julie-tussey-show--3245015/support.

In this episode, Pastor Azizah Morrison closes out the final Tuesday of the year by honoring the faithfulness and spiritual growth of the community. She reflects on the lessons learned, the maturity gained, and the formation that has taken place through prayer, consecration, and obedience.With pastoral warmth and prophetic clarity, Pastor Azizah speaks into the coming year, declaring 2026 as The Year of More. Not more striving or pressure, but more depth, more alignment, more clarity, more authority, and more fruit that remains.The prayer that follows covers every listener for transition, sealing the work of this past year and positioning them for peace, stability, and Kingdom increase in the year ahead. This episode is an encouragement for those who stayed faithful, grew quietly, and are entering the next season prepared and expectant.

Pastor Judd Nelson starts us off on a new series in our journey through the book of Mark called, “MARKed by Wisdom from Above.” This is part of our MARKed: A Year in the Gospel of Mark. This week's passage centers on MARK 11:1-11. The sermon begins at 14:45.

You might have heard the word "uncertainty" muttered more than a few times over the last 12 months. Today, we're chatting with an economist brave enough to look uncertainty in the eye and make some predictions for 2026 about the stock market, job market, inflation, and the fate of President Donald Trump's tariffs. And later: Applications for adjustable-rate mortgages have more than doubled over the past year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

You might have heard the word "uncertainty" muttered more than a few times over the last 12 months. Today, we're chatting with an economist brave enough to look uncertainty in the eye and make some predictions for 2026 about the stock market, job market, inflation, and the fate of President Donald Trump's tariffs. And later: Applications for adjustable-rate mortgages have more than doubled over the past year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Get ready! Season 12 of Marked launches next Monday, January 5, 2026, and it's all about being Transformed by Truth.This season Angie Elkins and Andrea Lennon are opening God's Word to explore the everyday questions women are asking and inviting you into conversations that lead to deeper faith and clarity.

This week Pete Soden, one of our Movement Elders, continues our "Marked" series teaching on how God makes All Things New. Romans 12:1-2, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Some people believe darkness follows them. Others believe they were born into it. Her childhood was shaped by violence, blackouts, and moments that never made sense at the time. People around her said her eyes didn't look right. She predicted things she shouldn't have known. And at sixteen, after a suicide attempt that should have ended her life, she describes walking through a world that wasn't quite the same as the one she left behind. What followed wasn't peace — it was a growing awareness that something unseen had been circling her for years. Was it trauma? A fractured mind trying to survive? Or something darker that noticed her long before she understood what was happening? This is a story about light, darkness, and the thin line between believing you're protected… and wondering if something has simply been watching. #RealGhostStories #ParanormalPodcast #TrueParanormal #NearDeathExperience #OutOfBodyExperience #ShadowEntities #DarkPresence #Unexplained #HauntedLife #SpiritualEncounters #ParanormalStories #TrueGhostStory  Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

We're here with Jen Wilkin, Courtney Doctor, Elizabeth Woodson, and Andrea Lennon to dive into all things women's ministry in this special Q&A. They chat about Bible study tips, using AI wisely, how to be discerning, and leaning on community for support. Packed with laughs, encouragement, and practical advice, this conversation is full of inspiration for anyone leading, teaching, or wanting to grow in her faith.LINKSLifeway Women Academy: Prepare, Teach, and Lead course Bestcommentaries.com A Guide to Biblical Commentaries and Reference WorksLogosThe Way of Wisdom Bible studyFrom Beginning to Forever Bible studyAlive Bible study Discipleship Pathways RECOMMENDED: Catch up on Season 11 by listening to this episode exploring the pillars of practical ministry. Marked is a podcast from Lifeway Women: https://women.lifeway.com/blog/podcasts/.Hosted by Angie Elkins and Alicia Wong. CONNECT WITH US!Follow Lifeway Women on Instagram.Learn more at lifeway.com/joshua. Learn more at lifeway.com/angels. 

Brett and Christina host an OG episode. Christina talks about her upcoming spinal surgery and navigating insurance hassles. Brett talks about his sleep issues, project progress, and coding routines. They dive into the complexities of USB-C cables, from volts to data rates. And TV’s just ‘okay’ now, except for some softcore gay porn. Kagi search saves the day. Happy holidays — and get some sleep. Sponsor Copilot Money can help you take control of your finances. Get a fresh start with your money for 2026 with 26% off when you visit try.copilot.money/overtired and use code OVERTIRED. Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all eCommerce in the US, from household names like Mattel and Gymshark, to brands just getting started. Get started today at shopify.com/overtired. Show Links CaberQu BLE cable tester Umami Analytics Plausible Analytics Kagi The Comfortable Problem of Mid TV – The New York Times Fallout Heated Rivalry (TV Series 2025– ) – IMDb Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Greetings 00:40 Christina’s Health Update 05:05 Brett’s Sleep and Work Routine 12:19 USB-C Cable Confusion 22:03 Sponsor Break: Shopify 24:26 Sponsor Break: Copilot Money 26:57 Exploring Rocket Money and Web Interfaces 27:21 Discovering Umami Analytics 28:06 Nostalgia for Mint and Fever 28:44 The Decline of RSS and Google Reader 31:45 Switching to Kagi Search Engine 32:33 The Rise of AI-Generated Content 40:46 TV Shows: Is TV Just Okay Now? 47:24 The Cultural Phenomenon of Heated Rivalry 52:50 Wrapping Up and Holiday Wishes Join the Conversation Merch Come chat on Discord! Twitter/ovrtrd Instagram/ovrtrd Youtube Get the Newsletter Thanks! You’re downloading today’s show from CacheFly’s network BackBeat Media Podcast Network Check out more episodes at overtiredpod.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Find Brett as @ttscoff, Christina as @film_girl, Jeff as @jsguntzel, and follow Overtired at @ovrtrd on Twitter. Transcript Universal Serial Bitching Introduction and Greetings [00:00:00] Brett: Hey, you’re listening to Overtired. I am Brett Terpstra, and it’s just me and Christina Warren this morning. How you doing, Christina? Christina: Doing pretty good. Doing pretty good. Yeah. This is the, this is the OG Overtired configuration. Brett: right back to basics. Um, Christina: We do miss you Jeff, though. Ho, ho, ho. Hope that Jeff is having a great holiday with his family. Brett: we’ll have to have some, uh, gratuitous Wiki K hole that you go down just to, to commemorate the olden days. Um, so yeah, let’s, uh, let’s, let’s do a quick check-in. Christina’s Health Update Brett: Um, I’m curious about your health and all of the wildness that’s going on with your spine and whatnot. Christina: Yeah. Yeah. Um, same. I wanna hear about you too. Um, so, uh, Christina’s cervical spine update, as it were. Um, I am [00:01:00] still waiting to, as we’re recording this, which is like. Uh, three days before Christmas, uh, I’m still waiting to hear from the, uh, hospital to see if I can, when I can get scheduled. Um, insurance has sort of been a pain in the ass, so when I talked to them last week, they were like, we sent them some paperwork. We’re still waiting for some things back then. I called the insurance company and the, the, uh, like my insurance is like, has like an intermediary service that is supposed to contact the insurance company on your behalf and that person, but like, I can’t contact them directly. And then that person was like, oh, you don’t need pre-authorization. Go ahead and schedule the surgery. And I’m like, this doesn’t feel right. Um, so, but, but we, we went ahead and we called back the, you know, the, the surgeon, um, his office and they were very nice and we were like. They say that we can get on the books. So I don’t know when that will be. I’m hoping that it will be, you know, like the first week of January, um, or, or, or thereabouts. Um, but I don’t know. Um, [00:02:00] so I am still kind of in this like limbo stage where I don’t know exactly when I’m gonna have the surgery, except hopefully soon. And, um, and, and for anyone who hasn’t caught up, I, uh, I have a bulging disc on C seven on my cervical spine, and I’m going to get a, um, artificial disc replacement. Um, so they’re gonna take out the, you know, bulging bone and all that and put in, uh, some synthetic piece and then hopefully that will immediately relieve the, the pain that has been primarily through the left side of, uh, my arm and my shoulder, um, uh, down through my fingers. But it’s been on my right side a little bit too. So hopefully when that is done, it’ll be a relatively short recovery. Um, I’ll have an early scar and um, I will be, you know, not. Uh, the pain right now, like the levels aren’t terrible, but I’m pretty numb, uh, on my, my, my left arm, my, my right arm, um, uh, or right fingers I guess too, but, but really it’s, it’s, uh, the, the, the left side [00:03:00] that’s the worst. And traveling. Um, I’m, I’m in Atlanta with my family right now and, you know, kind of doing other things is just not, it’s not great. So, um, hopefully I’ll be getting surgery sooner rather than later. But obviously all that stuff does impact your mental health too, when you’re in pain and, and you, you know, are freaked out too about, you know, like, even though like they do, you know, it, it’s not an uncommon surgery and, and it, and it should be fine, but you know, there’s always these things in the back of your mind. You’re like, okay, well what if something goes wrong or whatever. So I’m just, I’m looking forward to, um, you know, light at the end of the tunnel, but um, still kind of in a holding pattern with that. So Brett: Wow. So that scar’s, that scar’s gonna be on your throat. Christina: Yeah, Brett: Wow. Christina: yeah. Like probably like. No, not really. I’m, I mean, I’m hoping that it’ll be, uh, like no, it really won’t be at all. Brett: I, I, I would like to have it. I can understand why you wouldn’t. Christina: yeah, I mean, you know, I will obviously, you know, uh, hopefully it’ll be like low enough to be [00:04:00] primarily covered by shirts or other things, although, who knows? ’cause I do like to wear like, lower cut things sometimes. I don’t know. It, it’ll hopefully, you Brett: I heard chokers are coming back. Christina: Yeah, I don’t, unfortunately. I think it’s gonna be too, uh, low for that. Brett: Okay. Christina: uh, like, it, it’s gonna be, I think like it might hit against my laryn is, is what they say. That’s the other thing too. I might have, you know, some hoarseness after, won’t we permanent? Um, you know, knock on wood. Um, Brett: go on Etsy, you can get, um, they’re for BDSM, they’re like neck, uh, they hold your chin up. They’re like posture enhancers. Uh, but they sell them within leather with like corset straps. ’cause they’re like A-B-D-S-M accessory. That would work. Christina: No, no. Not even once. Uh, not even once. I mean, look, a good group of people who wanna do that, uh, I I will not be wearing a collar of any sort of that sort of thing. Uh, I, I, I don’t, I don’t really wanna, wanna be part [00:05:00] of, uh, one of that, those types of, you know, uh, Harlequin romance novels. , Brett’s Sleep and Work Routine Brett: All right, well, I will go ahead and check in. Um, I, I’m sleeping really well for like two days at a time, and then I’ll have. A string of like five or six hours of sleep, which isn’t nothing. Um, but it’s not quite enough for me to not feel tired all the time. And two nights of sleep is not enough for me to catch up on sleep. And, um, so I’m kind of, this has been going on for like a year though, so it’s, I’m just kind of, I’m used to it and I’ve learned to operate pretty well on six or seven hours of sleep, even though historically like I need eight and a half. Um, but I’m doing okay and I get up about four every morning and I start coding and I usually code from like four to noon, so an eight [00:06:00] hour workday, uh, with a breakfast somewhere in there. And, um, I’ve made really good progress. Marked is, as far as I can tell, ready to go wide with the beta. Um. I think I’ve solved every bug that’s been reported so far. I only have about a hundred testers right now, um, but I’m gonna open it up, uh, try to get maybe a thousand testers for a couple weeks and then go for a live release. The biggest thing that I’m running into is problems with getting the, like free trial and the purchase mechanisms working, which is the exact same thing that’s holding up NV Ultra right now. Um, so if I can figure it out for Mark, I can port it to NV Ultra. I can have two apps out there making money, hopefully never have to get a job again. Um, I’m teamed up right now with Dan Peterson, formerly of One Password. Um, and we’re [00:07:00] working on some iOS apps and. And, uh, apex. My, my, all my Universal markdown processor is, it’s coming along really well. I’ve, I’ve put it out there. Um, I’ve talked to John Gruber a little bit about it. He’s gonna give it more of a workout and get back to me. Um, but I think, I think it’s getting to a point where I would be comfortable integrating it into Mark and even talking to some other, uh, apps about using it as their default processor, um, and kind of alleviating some of the issues people run into with, uh, differences in syntax. Um, I. I, I, I talked to Devon, think, uh, Eric from Devon think about using it. ’cause they use multi markdown right now, uh, which has a lot of cool features, but is not [00:08:00] really in sync with what most of the web is using these days. Um, so I talked to them about it and they’re like, oh, we had the exact same idea and we’re almost done with our own universal processor. Um, and theirs is gonna output like RTF and things that I don’t need apex to do. ’cause you can just pipe apex into panoc and do everything you need. So anyway, I’m, I’m tired. I’m, I’m in good spirits. I. I’m dealing fine with winter. My, I’m alone on Christmas, which is gonna be weird. Um, my family’s outta town. Elle is house sitting I’ll, I’ll go visit Elle, but most of the day I’m gonna be like by myself on Christmas and I don’t drink anymore. And I, I don’t, I don’t know how that’s gonna go yet. Um, initially I thought, oh, that’s fine. I like being alone. But then, [00:09:00] then the idea of like, not having anyone to talk to you on Christmas day started to feel a little depressing. Christina: Yeah. Yeah. Um, but, um, hopefully, um, when, when will, uh, when will I’ll be back from, from house sitting. How long is, uh, are, are they going to be Brett: I think. I think the people, the, the house owners come back Thursday or Friday. Christina: Okay. Brett: Then we’re gonna take off and go up to Minneapolis to hang out with her family for a weekend. So, I don’t know. It’ll, it’s gonna be fine. It’s gonna be fine. We’re gonna like cook on Christmas Eve and, and have leftovers on Christmas day. It’ll be fine. Christina: Yeah, yeah. Well, but, but it, but, but that is weird. Like, I’m sure like to be, you know, not, not, not, not with like your usual crew, but, um, [00:10:00] especially without the alcohol there. But that’s probably a good thing too. Brett: Yeah, I guess. Um, I will have all the cats. I’ll be fine. I have to take care of the dog too. Christina: Have, have you heard any updates, like, um, I guess, um, about when you were, you know, you were in the hospital a few times over the last year with, with various things. Did you ever get any definitive update on what that was? Brett: On which one? I have so many symptoms. Which one are we talking about? Christina: Well, I guess I, I guess when you, you know, you’ve had to be like hospitalized or Brett: The pancreatitis. Christina: had the pancreatitis. Brett: the, the fact that it hasn’t happened again since I stopped drinking, um, really does indicate that it was entirely alcohol that was causing the problem. Um, so yeah, I’m just, I’m never gonna drink again. That’s fine. It’s, it’s all fine. Um, I did, I did get approved to get back on Medicaid. Um, so [00:11:00] yeah, I haven’t gotten the paperwork in the mail yet. Uh, but my old card should just start working and I’ll be able to, my, my new doctor wants a whole bunch more tests, including an MRI of my pituitary gland. Um. Like testosterone tests and stuff that I guess is more specific to what she thinks might be going on with me. Um, but now I can, I can actually get those tests That would’ve been just a huge out-of-pocket expense over the last couple months. So I’m excited. I’m excited to be back on Medicaid. I wish everyone could have Medicaid. Christina: Yeah, that would be really nice. That would be really nice if, if, if we had systems like that available, um, for everyone. Um, but. Instead, you know, if they’re, like, if you have really great health, I mean, you, you pointed those out. Like you have really great health insurance if you [00:12:00] can prove that you, you know, make absolutely no money. Um, but, but that opens up so many other, you know, issues that most people aren’t lucky enough to be able Brett: right. Yeah, totally. Christina: right. Brett: All right, well do you, okay, first topic. USB-C Cable Confusion Brett: How much do you know about USBC cables and the various specs? Christina: Uh, Brett: you know a shit ton. Christina: I do, unfortunately, I know a lot. Brett: So I, I had been operating under the assumption that there were basically, you had like data USBC cables, you had, uh, thunderbolt USBC cables and you had like, power only USPC cables. It turns out there’s like 18 different varieties of different, uh, like vol, uh, voltage, uh, amperage, uh, levels, like total wattage basically. And, um, and transfer speeds. And, [00:13:00] um, and there’s like maximum links for different types of cable. And it, it, I started to understand why like. One device would charge with one cable and another device would not charge with the same cable, even though they all have the same connector. Christina: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think this is, this is why, um, some of us have been really like eye rolly at the EU for their pronouncements about certain things, because simply mandating a connector type doesn’t actually solve the problem. Brett: No, it actually confuses it a little bit Christina: I think Yeah, I was going to say exactly. I think in some cases it makes it worse. Right? And, and then you have different, like, and, and then getting SB four into it, uh, uh, versus like, like, like, like various Thunderbolt versions. Like that adds complications too, because technically SB four and Thunderbolt four should basically be the same, but they’re not really, there are a couple of things that Thunderbolt might have that [00:14:00] USB four doesn’t necessarily have to have, although for all intents and purposes they might be the same. And then of course, thunderbolts five is its own thing too. So like I bought off of Kickstarter, I got like this, you know, like a cable charger, basically like, like a connector thing. It was like $120. For this, this, this thing that basically you can plug a cable into and you can see its voltage and um, or not voltage, I guess it’s uh, you know, amperage or whatever. And you can see like, it, it, it’s transfer speed and you can basically like check that on like a little display, which is useful, but the fact that like, you have to buy that sometimes. So like figure out, well, okay, well which cable is this? Right? And then, uh, to your point about lengths, right? So like, okay, so you want something that’s going to be fast charging but also high speed data transfer. Alright, well that means that you, the cable’s gonna have to be stiff. It’s not gonna be able to be something that’s really bendable. Um, which of course is what most people are going to want. So like you can get a fast charge, like a 240 wat or a hundred and, you know, 20 wat or, or [00:15:00] whatever, um, like a USB 2.0 transfer speed cable. But if you want one that’s, uh, going to be, you know, fast charging and. Fast data transfer, then like that’s a different type. And they have like limited lengths, which again, can also be associated with like Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt. You know, cables are much more expensive. Um, and, uh, uh, you know, the, the, the, but their, their lengths are limited. Um, yeah. Uh, it’s very confusing. Brett: Did you know that in rare circumstances there are even devices that will only charge with an A to C cable. Christina: Yes, Brett: That’s so insane. Christina: yeah, no, I’ve run into that myself and then that’s a weird thing and I don’t even know how that should work. ’cause it’s, it’s, it’s a bizarre thing. You’re like, okay, well I thought this was just like a, you know, maybe like a dumb end, but it’s like, no, there’s like, you know, basically a microchip Brett: Like a two pin to two pin. Christina: at this point. Brett: Like two pen to two pen, no pd like you would think that would work with C to C, [00:16:00] but somehow it has to be A to c. I am getting one of those cable testers. I asked for one for Christmas so I could figure out this pile of cables I have and like my Sonos Ace headphones are very particular about which cables and what, um, charging hub I hooked them up to Christina: Right. Oh, yeah, hubs. I was gonna say, hubs introduce a whole other complication into this too, because depending on what hub you’re using, if you’re using a USB hub, it may or may not have certain things versus a Thunderbolt hub versus something else, versus just like, um, you know, a power brick. Like, yeah. Brett: Yeah. It’s fun stuff you. Christina: Yeah. No, it’s annoying. And, um, like, and what, what’s frustrating about this is like some of the cables that they’re better, like you can look at the, you know, the bottoms of them and you can see like they will have like the USB like four, or they might have 3.2, or they might have, you know, like the thunderbolt, you know, um, uh, icon [00:17:00] with, with, with its version. So you can figure out is this 20 gigabits, is this 40, is this 80? Um, but um. That’s not a guaranteed thing, and that also doesn’t guarantee authenticity of stuff, right? So a lot of the cables, you know, you buy off the internet can be, you know, and they might be, or even at stores, right? Like you’re, you’re not buying something from, even if you get things from Belkin or whoever, like, those things can have issues too. Um, although they at least tend to have better warranties. I bought a Balkan, um. Uh, like a, a, a PD cable, like a two 40 cable that I think it was like, you know, uh, 10 feet longer something. It was supposed to have some sort of long warranty and, and because the, the, you know, um, faster transfer ones, um, are, even though it was braided, you know, it stiff and it, it broke, like there was, uh, the, like the, you know, the connect with the part of the, the, the cable near the, the end, um, did that thing that typically apple cables do, where like, it, it sort of [00:18:00] fraying and you started like seeing the exposed wires and then like, you start to like, feel like, you know, like an electric charge, like Brett: A little tingle. Christina: you’re Yeah. And you’re like, okay, this isn’t good. Um, and so I at least had my Amazon receipt, so I was able to like. Get them to mail me a new one relatively easily. And like Anchor has an okay warranty too. But it’s one of those things you’re like, okay, when did I buy this? I was like, I didn’t even buy this a year ago, and this thing already crapped out. Um, versus, you know, you can get some really nice braided cables that are flexible, but they’re just gonna be 2.0 speeds. Um, and, and then if you buy, you know, you just buy like some random cable, you know, like at the airport or whatever. You’re like, all right, well, I don’t even know Brett: Great. Christina: anything about this. Uh, yeah, Brett: I have heard good things. I’ve heard good things about the company. Cable Matters. Christina: Yeah. Yeah. They make good stuff. They make good stuff. But again, at least the cables matters, cables that I have have been primarily stiffer cables because they tend to be like the, the higher transfer [00:19:00] speeds. So, um, like I have a cable, cable matters Thunderbolt cable, and I have like a USB four cable, I think. Um, but like, these are cables that like. I don’t, I mean, I, I have one that I, I kind of travel with, but I don’t, um, either keeping it as little cable matters, uh, uh, plastic, um. Like, so they come in like these, these case, uh, not these cases. Uh, they come in like these, uh, almost like Ziploc bag type of things. Um, which is a great way to ship cables honestly, you know, rather than using a box and, and like I, and I might toss one of those in a suitcase or a backpack, um, rather than having like the cable just out there loose. But I do that primarily because again, like they’re stiff and they’re not the sorts of things that I necessarily want, like in the bottom of my bag, you know, potentially getting broken and, and, and, and twisted and all of that. Um, they are overpriced for what they are and they are definitely not like, they’re not a high transfer cable, but if you can find ’em on sale, the beats, cables, the, the, the, the, the, the branded Beats cables, I actually like them better [00:20:00] than the apple cables that are the same thing, because they are, they’re longer, uh, by, you know, um, a, a few inches than, um, the, the Apple ones. But they’re still braided and they’re nice. And I was able to get, I dunno, this was a, this was not even Black Friday, but this was. Um, you know, sometime in like early November, I think, um, or maybe it was like late October. It might’ve been a Prime Day thing, I don’t know, but they were like eight or $9 a piece, and so I bought like five or six of them. Um, and they are, you know, uh, uh, PD and like, like, like fast charging peoples, they might not be 240, but I think they’re, they’re, they were like a hundred and you know, like 20 watts or whatever. But, um, you know, not high transfer speeds, but if you’re wanting to just quickly charge something and have it, you know, be a, a decent length and be like flexible. Those I don’t, those I don’t hate. Um, anchor makes pretty good cables. You green seems to be the company that’s sponsoring everyone now for various things. [00:21:00] But, um, I don’t know. I’ve started using MagSafe more and more, uh, like wireless charging when I can for some things, at least for phones, Brett: yeah. I actually have some U green wireless charging solutions that are really good. Christina: Yeah. Yeah. I just got one of their, uh, their 10,000 million pair battery fast charging battery things because now the MagSafe, uh, can be like up to, you know, 30 watts or whatever, or 25 watts or, or, or, or whatever it is. Like it’s, um, a lot more, um, usable than, you know, when it was like 10 or, or, or even 15. You’re like, okay, this, this is actually not going to be like the, the slowest, you know, charging thing known to man. But of course, obviously it’s like you can use it with your phone and with your AirPods, but the rest of the things out there don’t, don’t all support shi too, so, Brett: Right. Christina: yeah. Brett: All right. So, um, I want to talk about TV a little bit. Christina: Yeah. I think before we do that though, we should probably Brett: oh, we should, we [00:22:00] have two sponsors to fit in Jesus. I should get on that. Sponsor Break: Shopify Brett: Um, let’s start with, uh, let’s start with Shopify. This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Have you been dreaming of owning your own business? In addition to having something to sell, you’ll need a website, a payment system, a logo, a way to advertise to new customers, et cetera, et cetera. It can all be overwhelming and confusing, but that’s where today’s sponsor, Shopify comes in. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world, and 10% of all e-commerce in the us From household names like Mattel and Gym Shark to brands. Just getting started, get started with your own design studio with hundreds of ready to use templates. Shopify helps you build beautiful online store to match your brand style, accelerate your content creation. Shopify is packed with helpful AI tools that write product descriptions, page headlines, and even enhance your product photography.[00:23:00] Get the word out like you have a marketing team behind you. Easily create email and social media campaigns wherever your customers are scrolling or strolling. And best yet, Shopify is your commerce expert with world-class expertise and everything from managing inventory to international shipping, to processing returns and beyond. If you’re ready to sell, you’re ready for Shopify. Turn your big business idea into with Shopify on your side. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today@shopify.com slash Overtired. Go to shopify.com/ Overtired. That is shopify.com/ Overtired. Thanks Shopify. Christina: Thank you Shopify. Brett: It’ll be, it’ll be just tight as hell by the time people hear it. But that was rough. I, that, that, that, that read, you just heard I [00:24:00] edited like six places. ’cause I kept, I, I don’t know. I’m tired. I’ve been up since, I’ve been up since two today. Christina: Yeah. Shit, man. That’s, yeah, you again, like you’ve been having like sleep issues. It’s, it’s, Brett: Maybe, maybe I shouldn’t be doing sponsor reads. Christina: No, no, no, no, no. Uh, no. We definitely wanna talk about tv. Do you wanna do, do we wanna do our second, um, uh, uh, ad break Brett: let’s do a block. Let’s make it a Christina: Let’s do it. Block. Alright, fantastic. Sponsor Break: Copilot Money Christina: Alright, well, since we are about to go into 2026, this is a great time to, uh, think about your finances. So are you ready to take control of your finances? Well meet copilot money. This is the personal finance app that makes your money feel clear and calm with a beautiful design. Smart automation copilot money brings all of your spending, saving and investment accounts into one place. It’s available on iOS, Mac, iPad, and now on the web, which is really great, uh, because I know, uh, for me anyway, that’s one of my one kind of things [00:25:00] about some of these like tools like this is that there’s not a web app. I’m really bothered by it. This is, you know, it’s a frustration that like the Apple card, for a long time, you know, you couldn’t really access things on, on the web. Even now it’s still kind of messy, like being able to handle things on the web. But as we enter 2026, it is time for a fresh start. And so with the, uh, mint shutdown and rising financial uncertainty, consumers are seeking clarity and control. And this is where copilot money comes in. So copilot money can help you track your budgets, your savings goals, and your net worth seamlessly. Plus, with the the new, um, web launch, you can enjoy a sudden experience on any device, which is really good. And guess what? For a limited time, you can get 26% off your first year when you sign up through the web app. New Year’s only don’t miss out on the chance to start the new year with confidence. There are features like automatic subscription tracking, so you’ll never miss upcoming charges again. Copilot money’s privacy first approach ensures that your data is secure and their team is dedicated to helping you stress less [00:26:00] about money. So whether you’re a finance pro or just starting out, copilot money is there to help you make better decisions. Visit, try dot copilot money slash Overtired and use the code Overtired to sign up for your one month free trial and embrace financial clarity. That’s try.copilot.money/ Overtired. Use the coupon Overtired. And again, that is 26% off for your first year. So thank you copilot money for, uh, sponsoring this week’s, uh, uh, episode. Oh, one other note about copilot money. They were, um, an apple, uh, design award finalist. So it’s a really well designed app and, um, we love to see, um, apps like this available on, on the web as well as iOS and, and MAC os. Brett: I have started using it very much because of the web version, and it is, it is really good. Christina: yeah, yeah. No, yeah. For, yeah, for me, that is like a, an actual like. Concrete requirement. Exploring Rocket Money and Web Interfaces Christina: Any money Brett: Like I’ve, I’ve [00:27:00] paid, I have about eight months left. I paid for a year of, of Rocket Money or whatever it’s called now. Um, and I’ve always loved that app, but yeah, it does not have a web interface. And once I started trying copilot out, I realized how much I really did want a web interface for that stuff, you know? What else have you seen? Discovering Umami Analytics Brett: Umami the analytics platform. Christina: Yes. Brett: It is so good. And it’s, it’s open source and you can self-host. And it is like, I, I’ve been using Fathom Analytics for a long time and I like Fathom, but Umami is, it has like all of the, uh, advanced stuff you would get with Google Analytics, but with like way more privacy focus and you’re not giving information to Google for one. Um, and the interface is beautiful. I love that. It’s so good. Christina: Yeah. Um, umami is really good. I think, uh, there’s another one, I’m [00:28:00] trying to think of what it was called. There are a number of these various, um, analytics, uh, hosted things, but no, umami is definitely a really good one. Nostalgia for Mint and Fever Christina: And I like, um, it reminds me, um, it was, what was it? It was Mint. It was Mint, Sean Edmond’s Mint. Which Brett: I was just gonna ask you if you remembered that. Christina: yeah, which was, which was one of the, uh, plausible analytics. It’s another one too. Um, which is also like, um, they, they have a hosted version, but you can also self-host. Um, and then that’s also a, a, a, another, uh, good one. But yeah. Um, was like my, my all time favorites, uh, you know, app. I, I, I loved that. Brett: Um, what was his RSS one? Uh, fever? Fever. Christina: was, was the best fever, was the best. The Decline of RSS and Google Reader Christina: And it was funny, like I, I think I’ve talked about this before, I was more insulated and like less upset than some people by the, the Google reader death because I had a, a, I’d been using Fever for so long, and then obviously, you know, stuff being updated and doesn’t really work [00:29:00] super well with like, the latest versions of PHP and things like that. But, you know, a lot of people were really, understandably and, and still more than a decade on, you know, very upset by the death of, um, Google reader. But I think because I, I had paid for and used, you know, my own, um, self-hosted fever installation, and then there were apps that people used for, you know, APIs and whatnot to build, you know, Macs or iOS apps or, or whatever. Like, I, I was obviously upset about Google Reader being shut down, but I was like, okay, you know, I, I can just, you know, move on to something else. And, um, and I’ve used, uh, feeder, um, not, not, not feeder, um, Brett: Reader Christina: is. No, no. Maybe, uh, it’s, uh, not Feed Demon. Um, that was like the OG one. Um, it’ll come to me, um, because I, I, yes. Thank you. Feed Ben. Thank you, thank you. One of the ones that’s still around, uh, from like the, of the, you know, various Google reader alternatives, like many of them. You know, closed up shop.[00:30:00] Brett: Yeah. Christina: if they kind of realized, you know, by Google reader, like this is the, unfortunately a niche market. Um, now that didn’t help the fact that like, you know, when people, when web browsers Safari, I think started at first and then Firefox did, and then, you know, uh, Chrome was, was fairly early too. Like when all the web browsers took away like RSS buttons to make it easy to subscribe to feeds or to auto discover feeds, and you had to like install like a, an extension or whatever to do that. Like, that all helped with the, the demise of RSS in a lot of ways. And of course, people moving everything into closed platforms and, and social networks and stuff that, you Brett: In, in the tech world though. So I have, my blog gets about 20,000 visits a week, but it gets 30,000 RSS downloads, like, uh, like daily, 30,000 readers are, are, are pulling my site. Um, so RSS is far from dead in the tech world. Christina: Right. Well, [00:31:00] well, I think, I think in a certain demographic, right? I think if you were to ask like a new, like college grads, I don’t think that any of them are using RSS at least not actively, right? Like, I mean, you might have a few, but like it’s, it’s just not gonna be like a thing where they’re gonna be, act like they might be using some apps that do similar types of things and might even pull in feed sources maybe. But it, it’s, it’s just not like a, like when, when I was graduating from college or in college, like everybody had, you know, RSS clients and that was just kind of a, a known thing. Brett: Yeah. So speaking of traffic, um, I don’t, did I mention that I got delisted on Bing and Christina: You did, Brett: I am, I’m back Christina: figure that out? You’re back now. Okay. Brett: I’m back now. Switching to Kagi Search Engine Brett: And, um, I have switched to using Kaji, um, as my primary search engine and they replicate all of duck duck go’s bang searches. Christina: Yes. Brett: So I Christina: one of the things I love about them. [00:32:00] Yes. Brett: I was pleased to see there’s a Bang Turp search on Kaji. Um, I actually use Christina: or is it kgi? Because I think I’ve always called it kgi. Yeah, it’s KA, it’s K, it’s KAGI. For anybody who’s who’s, uh, I don’t know how to, how, how, if it’s kgi, kgi, um, uh, you know, Kaji, whatever, Brett: It’ll be in the show notes. What the fuck ever, we’ll just call it KGI. Um, and yeah, so like I was super happy ’cause I used the Bang Turp to search my own site. I just got used to doing that. The Rise of AI-Generated Content Brett: Um, and, but it is like you can, the reason I switched to said web, uh, search engine is um, because you can report sites that are just AI slop and they will verify those reports and remove or flag slop sites in your search results. ’cause I was getting sick, even with DuckDuckGo, like five out [00:33:00] of 10 results were always, I’d get in, I’d get there, I’d get one, maybe two paragraphs into, uh, an article and realize, oh, someone just typed in my search term into chat GPT and then Christina: Oh yeah. Brett: automated it. Christina: Oh, I was gonna say there, there it is. Automated at this point. And, and like, to be clear, like a lot of search results, even before like the rise of like genre of AI were a variant of this, where you would see like people like buying older domain names that expired. Well, yeah, but even before that happened mean that, that obviously when, when, when the Christina Warren and Brett Terpstra and then they, they changed your name. Um, I Brett: know, like Jason Turra or Christina: Or something like that. Yeah, it was, it was, it was, it was weird. Um, I mean, you know, um, does that site, did, did have they given up the ghost on that? I’m curious. Um, yeah. Wow. Okay. They are still, well, no, they haven’t published anything since November 30th. So something has happened where they, uh, are [00:34:00] they, they’re definitely cutting down on, on various things. Um, oh no. Paul Terpstra. Oh my God. Paul Terpstra. You are still, Brett: Yeah. Christina: you were like the one author there that I see on this website. Um, now what was, what was messed up about, about this? Um, although no. Okay. Their homepage, the last one they say is like, OCT is like, uh, November, um, uh, 30th. But if you click on the, the Paul trips to handle, then like you see, um, December 22nd, uh, which is, which is today as we’re recording this, Brett: Wow, I didn’t even realize. Christina: Yeah. So, alright. So that is still, somehow that grift is still going on. But yeah, I mean, even before the rise of those things, you would see, you know, sites that would either buy up dead domains and then like, have like very similar looking content, but slightly different maybe, you know, like, uh, you know, injected with a bunch of, you know. Links or whatever, or you would see people who would, you know, do very clearly SEO written and, and probably, you know, [00:35:00] like, again, pre generative ai, but, you know, assisted slop content. But yeah, now it’s, it’s just, it’s crazy. Like, and it doesn’t help that, like the AI summaries, which can be useful, but, um, and they’re getting better, which is good only because they’re so prominent. Like, I’m not a fan of them. But if you’re not using an alternative search engine, like, you know, you see these AI summaries and like if they’re bad and sometimes they are then. Brett: Often Christina: You know, well, they’re, they’ve gotten better, uh, is the only thing I would say. I, I still wouldn’t rely on them, but I’ve, I’ve noticed a, like, I’ve noticed a, a genuine, like uptick in like, improvements and in like, how awful they are probably in like the last six weeks, which is damning with faint praise. I’m not at all saying it’s good. I am simply saying, it’s like, I’m primarily thinking for like, people who are like, like less tech savvy relatives who are going to just go to, you know, bing.com or, or google.com and then see those sorts of things. Right. Um, and, uh, you know, we’re not gonna be able to convince them to go to a, a, a third [00:36:00] party search engine. Um, although, you know, some people, like, I think my mom was using Duck to Go for a while as like her default on her iPhone, um, which I was, I was like proud of her about, but I was also kind of like, uh, that’s got its own issues. But no, I, I like ka a lot. Um, I, I’ve Brett: Well, and it’s so keyboard driven, like DuckDuckGo has good keyboard shortcuts. KAGY slash Kaji has even better keyboard shortcuts. Like you can navigate and control everything with, uh, like Gmail style, single key keyboard shortcuts, which I really like. Christina: Yeah. Yeah, I like that too. And then they, they, of course, they make like a, a web kit, um, like a browser, um, that, that has, they’ve back ported, um, you know, a lot of chrome extensions too. I personally don’t see the point in that. Um, I, I think that if you’re going to be like that committed to, like, using like the, you know, the web extension format and like using like more popular extensions, you might as well [00:37:00] just use a Chrome fork if you don’t wanna use Chrome, which is fine, but like, you could use a browser like Helium, which, which we talked about last show, which has, um, the, the, the hash bangs kind of integrated in, or you could use, you know, if you wanted to use, um, um, you know, the, the, the, the Brett: o is Orion, is Orion the one you’re talking about that? Yeah. Christina: that, that, yeah, that, that, that, that, that, that’s Katy’s thing. And that was actually originally how I heard about them was because it was like, oh, this is interesting. Um, you know, this is a kind of an interesting, you know, kind of alternative browser. And then it turned out that that was just kind of a, in some ways, kind of a front to promote the, the search engine, which is the real, you know, thing. Um, which is fine, right? I mean, that, that was Google’s model. Um, Brett: Well, and we should mention for anyone who hasn’t tried it, it is a paid service. Um, and you are getting search results with no ads and, and spam, uh, ai, slot protection and all of the benefits you would expect from a paid service. So [00:38:00] I think, like for me, five bucks a month gets me, I think 300 searches, which is. Plenty for me, like, I guess I, I’m still waiting to see, I’ve never counted how many searches I do a month, Christina: Yeah, Brett: you know, like three searches a day, uh, would come out to like 90 searches a month and I have 300 available, so I think I’ll be fine. Christina: yeah, yeah. I mean, yeah, basically being able to get to do 10 a day, which in most cases is fine. What I’ve done is I’m on, like, they have a, a, a family plan, um, and they don’t care. They even, I think in their documentation, or at least they did, they do not care if you are like actually in a family with the people that you are on or not. So if you, you know, find some folks that you wanna kind of sync up with, you can like, you know, be on a family plan together and you can save money, um, on, uh, whatever their, uh, um, their pricing [00:39:00] stuff is. So, um, so me, me and Justin Williams are, uh, in a, uh, Brett: Justin Williams, I haven’t heard that name in forever. Christina: Yeah. Yeah. We went to C Oasis together. We went both nights in Los Angeles, um, in August. Yeah. Um, or September rather. Um, yeah, so, okay, so this is how this works. They have, their starter plan is, is $5 a month, which includes, and they do have an AI assistant too. So it was funny, they had the AI slot protection, but they also have like an AI assistant that you can use and like an AI summarizer and whatnot. Um, that’s $5 a month. And then there’s the professional plan, which is, so that’s for 300 searches a month for the standard AI for starter $5 a month. The professional plan is unlimited searches and standard ai, that’s $10 a month. And then the ultimate is, um. Uh, everything in professional plus you get like premium model access, which, okay, but the family plan, um, is, is the, so you can do one of two things. You have a duo [00:40:00] plan, which is two professional accounts for a couple, which is $14 a month plus sales tax. So it’s, uh, you know, average of $7 per person, which I think is what Justin and I are on. And then there’s a family plan with up to six family members. And again, they don’t care if you are actually in a family or not, and that’s $20 a month. So the real thing to do if you’re wanting to like, you know, save on this is like find five friends, Brett: Yeah. Christina: get on the $20 a month, you know, family plan thing. Spread the, spread the cost, and that way you can get the, you know, professional plan for, for, for less. But to your Brett: All right. Christina: most people, it’s probably $300, 300 searches a month is probably plenty. And if you search a lot like we do, I, I think it is worth paying for. Brett: yeah, yeah. All right. TV Shows: Is TV Just Okay Now? Christina: anyway, but we wanted to talk about tv, so let’s Brett: Well do, we’re, we’re at 50 minutes already, so I think we need to choose whether we do TV or gratitude. What Christina: do you have a [00:41:00] gude, like a good one? Brett: I, I, no, I have a, I have a throwaway one. Christina: Okay. Brett: I, it was one of those, like, I looked at my doc and I was like, oh, I don’t think I’ve talked about that even though I probably have, um, yeah, let’s just talk about tv. So I, I have been noting, and my question in the show notes was, is TV just okay now? Because I’ve been watching, I watched Stranger Things, pluribus Down, cemetery Road, platonic, and all of it was, it was entertaining, but it wasn’t like, must watch tv. None of it was like, none of it was as good as like Modern Family. Modern Family was fucking good. Tv, like family friendly and just like I’ve, I’ve been through that series so many times and it’s always fun and it’s always better than like pluribus. I like the, I like the concept kind of, it’s not. not all that, um, engaging, I guess.[00:42:00] Christina: I like it. But, Brett: Yeah. I don’t hate it like I do, I do like it, but it’s not like, I don’t, I don’t count the days until the next episode comes out and I miss, I miss things being really good. So you had a couple responses to that though. Christina: Well, I mean, I tend to agree with you. So first of all, there, I put in the, in the show notes, um, there’s a link to a thing that, uh, that James and Pozak wrote for the, the New York Times, uh, God a year and a half ago now called, um, the Comfortable Problem of Mid tv. And he said it, it, it’s got a great cast, it looks cinematic, it’s, um, fine and is everywhere. And kind of talking about like, you know, we went from like the era of like peak TV to now being, um. You know what, what he’s dubbed like mid tv and I think that there’s, there’s some truth to that. Um, and, and, and he even says at the beginning, let me say up front, this is not an essay about how bad TV is today, just the opposite. There’s, um, little truly bad high profile television made anymore, um, is it’s more talking about, um, like [00:43:00] what we have instead Today is something less awful, but in a way more sad, the willingness to retreat, to settle to trade, the ambitious for the defendable. And I think that there’s some truth to that. Um, I think that we see this movies now too, and with movies it’s actually much more of a problem. Like there’s some really high highs. Um, but because the movie industry is in such a bad place, um, it, it’s that much more notable when like, you don’t have like a big strong slate of, of things. And so, you know, it, it, it’s more of a problem. TV for, for better or worse, has become the dominant entertainment form. And yeah, I think that it, it, it’s fine. Uh, but there are very few things that I’m like, oh, wow, yeah, that, that’s like, you know, the wire. Um, not that anything is, but you know what I mean? But is, but even like, you know, pluribus, which I really like. I actually think that’s, um, my, my favorite show of, of, um, 2025, um, at least new show. Um, well, maybe the studio. The studio. I might have, I, I, I might put, Brett: That was pretty Christina: above that. But, but, but, but [00:44:00] like, it’s one of those things where I’m like, okay, you know, um, it’s not breaking bad, right? Like, if we’re gonna be comparing Vince Gilligan shows, and maybe that’s unfair, but, you know, it just, but, but still, like, you know, you’re gonna be compared to your last hit. And, and, and, and that is what it is. Um, I will say though, like, I haven’t watched Stranger Things in years, and I don’t, I don’t, I don’t think I can force myself to like, care about that again, but I’ve heard kind of mixed Brett: That’s where L is too, L doesn’t care. And, and then there’s the whole like two cast members being Zionists kind of turned a whole bunch of people off and Christina: Well, and well, David Harbor, David Harbor’s whole Lily Allen thing. Are you, are you, are you familiar with this floor at all? Brett: No. Christina: Okay. You know who Lily Allen is? Brett: Yes. Christina: Okay. So she and David Harbor were married and, um, she wrote an album called, uh, uh, west End Girl that, that came out, uh, like in November, which is actually a really good album, [00:45:00] which is like White Girl Lemonade, where she just basically reads him to filth for being an absolute piece of shit. Like, apparently like, you know, they were together, they were married or whatever. She goes off to London to perform in a play and he’s like. Oh, we’re gonna be away for months. I, I wanna sleep with other people. And so they kind of like, she kind of accepts getting into an open relationship with him, even though she didn’t really want to be, which look that her, that’s her bad, whatever. But then he proceeds to like, do things that was not what they’d agreed upon on, upon the parameters of their, of their relationship. And then she’s just like brutally honest about the entire thing. And so as you’re listening to this album, you’re just learning more and more about like, David Harbor’s like sex life and, um, and stuff. And, and like, it’s just on blast. It’s incredible. Um, but, uh, yeah, so there’s, there’s some of that stuff. There’s, I, I don’t know, like I don’t, I don’t really follow the rest of the cast stuff except that, uh, the girl who plays, um, 11 like. Frequently want to smack because just the most annoying [00:46:00] celebrity in on the planet. But like, putting that aside, um, I just, I stopped caring. It took them too long between seasons and the, and, and, and the budget for that show was also so insane. I’m like, you, you cost more than strain than thinking of Thrones. Game of Thrones is, was even at its worst, was a better show than Stranger Things. So like it, yeah. But but that goes to your point. Like, it’s like, it’s okay. Brett: Yeah. Yeah, Christina: Um, I will say the new season of Fallout just, um, premiered and so far I I’m still really enjoying that. Um, Brett: yet to see it. Christina: you should, you should definitely watch the Brett: What is it on? Christina: uh, Amazon Brett: Okay. Christina: and, uh, and it’s, and it’s really, really good. Um. And this year they are doing the episodic, um, not episodic, the weekly drop, right. Rather than the binge thing. So the first season, uh, they dropped it all at once and um, and I was a little bit worried. I was like, fuck, does that mean they don’t [00:47:00] believe in this? What are they going to do? Wound up being like Amazon’s biggest hit after their Lord of the Rings, um, you know, thing. And so it was immediately kind of picked up for a second season and it was picked up for a third season before the second season even, uh, premiered. Um, and uh, and that might be the final one. Um, they’re saying, but, but, but, but who knows? But, but so far anyway, like they’ve only, there’s only been one episode, but it’s, it’s been good so far. The Cultural Phenomenon of Heated Rivalry Christina: Um, but, but what I was gonna talk to you about is the gay hockey show. Brett: Which is. Christina: It’s called Heated rivalry. It’s on HBO Max. It was originally just supposed to be on, uh, a Canadian streamer called Crave. And um, then at the, like, the, the like 11th hour, HBO Max picked it up and was like, okay, we’ll play this in, um, some of our territories and other things. And I wanna be very clear, this is not high art at all. This is like, no way. Like this actually in some ways it, it personifies [00:48:00] the TV is just okay now thing, but in other ways it’s actually a little bit more interesting just because the cultural phenomenon that has happened around it in like the last, like, like it hasn’t even been out a month and it’s only six episodes, although they are also going to be getting a second season. Um, it’s sort of wild how, like I went from, I’d seen a trailer for it and I was like, okay, whatever. And like it came out, I think like right after Thanksgiving. Then like within like two or three weeks, like literally I wasn’t following anything around it, but my Instagram, my TikTok, Twitter, everything that I was seeing was just all about the discourse around the show. And it’s like a bunch of us all seem to have to have discovered it. Like one weekend where we were like, okay, we’re gonna actually sit down and watch the gay hockey show. Um, and this is exactly what it is. It is a gay hockey show. So it is based on, there was a series of books that this, uh, female, uh, writer Rachel Reed wrote, um, uh, about like, uh, I think like they were like eBooks, types of thing. Um, uh, I think although there, there is now I [00:49:00] think like a, a hard cover release because they’ve been so popular and they’re just, it’s just ero, it’s just smut, right? It’s basically fanfic dressed up in something else. And the idea was like, okay, you have like these, you know, male like hockey players who are closeted and kind of have like this, this romance that, that starts from like 2008, um, through like, I dunno, like, like 2017 or 2018. And there are a number of different. Books or stories in the universe. But the one that people liked the most was the, the second book, which is called Heed Rivalry. You don’t really need to know any about that. The big thing about the show is that it is essentially like soft core gay porn. Um, but yet it’s like weirdly compelling in a way. Like, it, it is very, like, there’s, there’s some sweet aspects to it. Like you were before the, the show, you were saying, oh, it’s kinda like Heart Stopper could not be further from Heart Stopper. ’cause Heart Stopper is very sweet and twee and kind of like loving and like whatnot. This is like. You know, like guys in their twenties with amazing asses, [00:50:00] you know, like doing things to one another kind of an in secret. And, and the, the thing is, there’s not a whole lot of plot. Like the plot is the porn. Because, because the whole thing is, is that like they don’t spend, they don’t have a time to spend a lot of time together because they’re, they’re closeted and their rivals. Oh, that’s the whole conceit. It’s like they’re these two great hockey players and they, they, they, um, you know, um, play for opposing teams and they’re like, each other’s biggest rivals, but like, they’re, they’re fucking, um, and uh, it, it’s, uh, again, it’s not high art at all, but Brett: the target audience for this? Christina: And here’s the interesting thing. So the books are almost entirely read by women, um, and which, which makes sense. There’s, there’s a lot of like, you know, like, male, male, like, um, like the history of slash fiction goes back to like, like Fanfic in general, like goes back to like women writing, like Spock and, and, uh, um, what’s the space together? Kirk Together. Yeah. Um, and so the books are almost entirely, uh, consumed by, by women and probably straight women, although probably some queer women too. Um, but the [00:51:00] show seems to be a mix of gay men, straight women, all, although I’ve seen a lot of lesbians. As well. Um, yeah, yeah, because again, like the discourse is just kind of ridiculous and, and the memes are fun. Um, the guy who created it, he’s gay or created the, the, the television adaptation. He’s gay and, uh, I think he’s done a, a, a pretty good job with it. The, the leads are the thing that’s like incredible, like the, especially the guy who plays the, the Russian character, Ilya, uh, that actor is really, really good and he’s Texan, and yet he does like a great Russian accent and, um. And, and he’s very attractive. And like I, I, I can see like why a lot of people are into it, but it’s funny ’cause like New York Magazine, like they weren’t even covering the show, which, why would you, it was like some Canadian kind of, you know, you know, thing that barely gets picked by HBO. Then it takes off and now like they’re covering it. The, the last time I remember New York Magazine covering a show like this, like Vociferously was Gossip Girl, like 18 years ago. Um, [00:52:00] and it kind of reminds me of that, where like everybody woke up one day when they’re like, oh, this is like a cultural moment now. So again, not good television, probably not gonna necessarily be for everyone, but, but it’s a moment. And like, I kept seeing edits, I kept seeing Mo, I kept seeing edits on TikTok and stuff and I was like, okay, do I have to watch the gay hockey show? All right, I have to watch the gay hockey show so that it’s, we might be at the point where like TV is just okay, but at least there are some good like moments about, whereas the culture, we can all like agree. Okay, we’re all gonna be talking about this one thing. Brett: That sounds like what I’ll be doing on Christmas Day. Christina: Oh my God. Actually that would be a great thing to watch on Christmas. And I think that the final episode is gonna come out like the day after Christmas, so there you go. Brett: Done Deal. Cool. Wrapping Up and Holiday Wishes Brett: All right, well thanks for, we’re recording this the same morning. The show’s supposed to come out, so I gotta do some editing, but uh, but [00:53:00] thanks for showing up while you’re in Atlanta and yeah, this has been a classic, a fun classic Overtired. Christina: absolutely. Well, um, get some sleep, uh, take care of yourself. Um, happy holidays. Um, uh, hope that a, a Christmas isn’t too weird for you. And, um, and happy New Year. Brett: you too. Get some sleep.

How did a parasitic plant become one of Christmas's most romantic traditions? Pastor Heath Lambert explores the fascinating origins of mistletoe - from its festive aesthetics to ancient pagan symbolism to surprising biblical connections. Merry Christmas from Marked by Grace!Timestamps0:00 - Annual Christmas traditions series1:48 - This year's topic: Kissing under the mistletoe1:54 - Why a parasite became a Christmas tradition2:34 - Personal Lambert family mistletoe story3:10 - Three explanations: Aesthetics, pagan symbolism, biblical connection3:33 - Explanation 1: The aesthetics - green, red, white in winter4:26 - Explanation 2: Ancient druid beliefs about mistletoe4:36 - Magical powers and fertility symbolism5:20 - From fertility symbol to pledge of marriage5:33 - Incorporation into 1700s Christmas celebrations5:46 - The berry-picking tradition and kiss limits6:34 - Explanation 3: Biblical connection to the holy kiss7:04 - 1 Corinthians 16:20: Greet one another with a holy kiss7:31 - Cultural vs. normative aspects of the command8:11 - Mistletoe as opportunity for Christian affectionKey Topics CoveredAnnual Christmas Tradition - Marked by Grace's yearly exploration of Christmas customsMistletoe as Parasite - Understanding what mistletoe actually is botanicallyAesthetic Appeal - Red berries, green leaves, white flowers in dark winter monthsWhy Red and Green - The natural colors that define Christmas decorationsAncient Druid Beliefs - How pagans saw mistletoe as magical and fertileFertility Symbolism - Growth in dead winter leading to magical associationsEvolution to Romance - From fertility symbol to marriage pledge to Christmas kissThe Berry Tradition - Historical limits on kissing that were quickly abandonedBiblical Holy Kiss - New Testament commands to greet with affectionCultural Adaptation - How the principle of affectionate greeting transcends the specific formScripture References1 Corinthians 16:20 - Greet one another with a holy kissAbout The Ten Commandments BookHeath Lambert's new book "The Ten Commandments: A Short Book for Normal People" is now available. This accessible guide explains how God's commands apply to modern life without requiring theological education. Perfect for personal study, evangelism, or gifts to friends, neighbors, and family.Order now and download a free chapter at fbcjax.com/tencommandmentsHave a question you'd like answered? Send it to markedbygrace@fbcjax.com