Podcasts about Mountaintop

At Bethany, We are God's People who are: Gathered! Connected! Sent!We want to connect with you through this Podcast! Leave us a comment! Tell us where you are at! Leave a Review to help our audience grow!--February 15, 2026 -- Pr. John Alwood -- "Mountain-Top Experience!" -- Matt. 17:1-9(17) After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John (the brother of James) and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. 2 Jesus' appearance changed in front of them. His face became as bright as the sun and his clothes as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them and were talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it's good that we're here. If you want, I'll put up three tents here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 He was still speaking when a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love and with whom I am pleased. Listen to him!” 6 The disciples were terrified when they heard this and fell facedown on the ground. 7 But Jesus touched them and said, “Get up, and don't be afraid!” 8 As they raised their heads, they saw no one but Jesus. 9 On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don't tell anyone what you have seen. Wait until the Son of Man has been brought back to life.” --GWhttp://www.bethanylutheran.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.facebook.com/Bethany.Long.Beach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/BethanyLutheranLongBeach

On this episode, Donna and Sam spoke with Stephanie Wright Griggs and Brian Taylor Sullivan about preserving Black history, the legacy of Dr. Charles H. Wright, and The Mountaintop, written by Katori Hall and currently directed by Brian Marable at the Detroit Public Theatre.Healthcare Administration and African American history are the paths by which Stephanie has given a lifetime of public service. Her passion for both runs deep. She organically entered the path of preserving African American history in childhood as her father founded Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Brian Sullivan Taylor is a SAG-AFTRA actor, director, and acting coach from Southfield, Michigan. He has experience across film, television, theatre, commercial, print, and voiceover. brian is the founder of the award-winning Detroit Drama Studio, where he trains actors using the Ivana Chubbuck Technique. Brian is honored to portray Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on The Mountaintop. To learn more about Detroit Public Theatre and purchase tickets to The Mountaintop, click here. FOR HOT TAKES:HOLLIER DROPS SECRETARY OF STATE BID TO LAUNCH EASTSIDE STATE SENATE CAMPAIGNSupport the showFollow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

“Mountaintop moments are not meant to be an escape from the world—they are meant to prepare us for the work that is in the valley.” – Pastor Melinda What are your mountaintop moments—those times when you felt uniquely close to God? Pastor Melinda reminds us how these moments show us whose we are—beloved children of God—and how they prepare us to share a different kind of love that moves toward the world, even when the world pushes back.

As we continue in our series "Mark: God on the Move," Pastor Bob explores Mark 9, where Jesus demonstrates His power both on the mountaintop and in the valley, urging us to step out in faith and recognize that anything is possible for those who believe, while emphasizing the importance of deepening our connection with God through prayer.

2/15/2026 – Transfiguration Sunday Matthew 17:1-9 Brant Copen Slides for Sunday's worship gathering Music for Sunday's worship gathering Centering Prayer by Porter’s Gate Worship This Little Light/This Joy by Traditional/CaesarCome Thou Fount of Every Blessing by RobinsonNothing to Fear by Porter’s Gate WorshipThe Kingdom is Yours by Common Hymnal Open Up by Rain for Roots The Transfiguration by Sufjan Stevens […]

Pastor Katy preaches on this Sunday morning. Join us for worship every week at 9:00 and 10:30 am, or live-streaming on our website at 9:00 am.

Fr Chris Borah Exodus 24:12-18Psalm 99Philippians 3:7-14Matthew 17:1-9

We long to experience the kind of transformation we see in Jesus, but we find change rare and difficult. The Transfiguration is a promise of the transformation God works in us. Fill-In Sermon Notes Watch the Sermon Watch the Full Worship Service Follow Acts 2: Website Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter

Readings: Exodus 24:12-18 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | Matthew 17:1-9 | Psalm 2. Preached for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany (2026-02-15).

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Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   John Fisher: Artistic Director of Theatre Rhino John Fisher, Artistic Director of Theatre Rhino, and writer/dictor/actor in “Left Field,” which runs at Theatre Rhino from February 19th to March 15th , in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Recorded February 4, 2026. Theatre Rhino is the longest running LGBTQ+ theatre company in America, and John Fisher has been its Artistic Director since 2002. His latest show, “Left Field” is about a gay man from San Francisco who, through a bizarre series of events, winds up as President of the United States. Written as a response to the Trump regime and its fascist agenda, “Left Field” is a comedy with serious overtones about a man who finds himself in the presidency with a completely opposite series of priorities. In this interview, John Fisher discusses the process of working on “Left Field,” and goes into detail about what an actor perceives on stage, and the changing Bay Area theatre audience.   Todd Haynes: Award-winning Independent Filmmaker Todd Haynes, independent filmmaker, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. Recorded February 27, 2025. The director of ten feature length films, Todd Haynes is an independent film-maker with his roots in New Queer Cinema. After coming to the attention of the film community with his short film, Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, in which the “actors” were Barbie Dolls, he achieved fame with his first feature, Poison, which told three stories in different ways, all of which commented on the AIDS epidemic. He followed that with the much-lauded Safe, and then moved on to mainstream success with the lush melodrama, Far from Heaven. His later films include Velvet Goldmine, focusing on the glam rock era, I'm Not There, in which several actors portrayed Bob Dylan, Carol, Dark Waters, Wonderstruck, and his latest film, May December(Netflix). His documentary, Velvet Underground, is available on Apple Plus. Along the way there was a miniseries, Mildred Pierce, starring Kate Winslet, on HBO (streaming on MAX). All his films are available streaming. Todd Haynes will soon be filming a gay romance, “El Noche,” with Pedro Pascal, in the coming months.   Review of “The Mountaintop” by Katori Hall, directed by Michael Socrates Moran at Oakland Theatre Project through Feb. 15, 2026. Review of “The Cherry Orchard” by Anton Chekhov, directed by Carey Perloff, at Marin Theatre through Feb. 22, 2026.   The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – February 12, 2026: John Fisher – Todd Haynes appeared first on KPFA.

In the book of Exodus Chapter 17 we read about a battle that took place, and the outcome was not determined by who had the mightiest army, but something entirely different. On today's Healing Word Pastor Jack Morris is going to expound on this unique conflict and how applying the same faith that brought about victory than can help us win our battles today. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1528/29?v=20251111

KPFA Theatre Critic Richard Wolinsky reviews “The Mountaintop” at Oakland Theatre Project through Feb. 15, 2026.       TEXT OF REVIEW: In late 2008, it felt as if we'd entered a new world. The Republicans were out of office, people of color were being appointed to key positions in business and government, and a black man had just been elected president. Martin Luther King's dream seemingly had come true. Stories of his infidelities had come to light two decades earlier, and he'd been shown to have, as they say, feet of clay. He was no longer a god, but he was a hero. And Obama's election had proven it. And in June 2009, The Mountaintop, a play by Katori Hall, about the last evening in the life of Martin Luther King, premiered in a small theatre in London, later moving to the West End, and coming to Broadway two years later. Now, under a very different national circumstance, The Mountaintop can be seen in an Oakland Theatre Project production, which runs through February 15th, this coming weekend. We are in Dr. King's room at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, just after his sermon, I've Been to the Mountaintop. Rain pounds the windows, lightning flashes, lights go on and off. He's sent his assistant out looking for cigarettes and he's waiting impatiently. He calls room service for coffee. A maid quickly appears. They chat, flirt, and then things take a surprising turn. In this staging, King's motel room is also his tomb. We are not quite in the real world. But Dr. King, as performed brilliantly by William Thomas Hodgson, feels definitely real, as does Sam Jackson as Camae, the maid. Also real is the intimacy of the theatre, especially during the play's various moments of crisis, when the audience feels like part of the production. The times are very different now than back in 2009. As the co-director of the production Michael Socrates Moran writes in the program, today It may very well be that the fate of our democracy hinges on the capacity of citizens to engage in non-violent resistance against armed federal paramilitary troops. He goes on to say that, Dr. King's worldview stands as a bastion for radical humanization not only in the face of fascism, but also in the face of a status quo that privileges peace over justice, equality and freedom. In 2026, Dr. King's mountaintop feels even further away than it did nearly sixty years ago, and what felt triumphant then takes on an irony nobody could have expected. But the play's focus on King's humanity and the humanity of his message still remains, as does the power of theater in this formidable production The Mountaintop plays at Oakland Theatre Project through February 15th. For more information, you can go to oaklandtheatreproject.org. I'm Richard Wolinsky on Bay Area Theatre for KPFA. The post Review: “The Mountaintop” at Oakland Theatre Project appeared first on KPFA.

Long for the Mountaintop

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First Community Church, 01.25.26 Dr. Rev. Glen Miles- Sermon, ' I've Been To The Mountaintop' by First Community Church

April's Shadow : “The Balcony in Memphis” In Episode One of this two-part Ides of April event series, we step into Memphis, 1968—not as a footnote in civil rights history, but as a pressure cooker where the fight for equality evolves into something even more threatening to power: economic justice. Martin Luther King Jr. comes to Memphis to support the sanitation workers' strike, sparked by the horrific deaths of Echol Cole and Robert Walker, and fueled by a single, uncompromising demand—human dignity—carried through the streets on signs that read: I AM A MAN. As King's mission expands from civil rights leader into a broader advocate for labor and class justice, the atmosphere darkens and the stakes intensify. Memphis becomes a mirror reflecting America's deepest fear: that justice may require redistribution—not just of rights, but of power. The episode moves into the prophetic gravity of King's final night. At Mason Temple, he delivers the iconic “Mountaintop” speech—part sermon, part warning—before returning to the Lorraine Motel. The next day, a moment of ordinary life becomes a national rupture: 6:01 PM on the balcony outside Room 306. And in the hour after his death, America ignites—grief spilling into unrest and reckoning—while the machinery of investigation begins turning, hunting for a suspect as the country struggles to make meaning out of the impossible. In this episode     •    Why Memphis became the inevitable battleground in 1968     •    The sanitation strike, labor, and the radical power of I AM A MAN     •    King's evolution into a leader focused on class justice     •    The “Mountaintop” speech and the calm before catastrophe     •    The assassination, the aftermath, and the beginning of the manhunt

What does it mean to truly serve a community in crisis? In this powerful message, Rev. Mary Kate Myers takes us through the Book of Nehemiah to discover a masterclass in faithful, humble, and patient leadership. When Nehemiah learned that Jerusalem lay in ruins—its walls broken and its people vulnerable—he didn't rush in with quick fixes or grand heroics. Instead, he spent three months in prayer and fasting, seeking God's guidance. Upon arriving, he quietly surveyed the devastation, listened to those who had been living in the wreckage, and only then rallied the community to rebuild together. Drawing from her own experience with Mountaintop ministry in Grundy County, Pastor Mary Kate challenges us to examine how we approach service. Are we working for people, assuming we know their needs? Or are we working with them, taking time to listen, learn, and partner in God's work of redemption? This sermon is a timely reminder that kingdom work isn't about being heroes or creating quick fixes—it's about faithful presence, patient discernment, and trusting that God is already at work in our communities. Key Takeaway: "God is already at work in our community. We must step out of our need to be heroes and into the humble work of walking alongside those God calls us to serve." Perfect for church leaders, ministry volunteers, and anyone seeking to make a meaningful difference in their community.

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FAIR News Weekly | 1/19/2026

Life After The Mountaintop Matthew 17:14-23 by Mike Deguzman Matthew 10:1 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 Philippians 2:14-15 Acts 2:40 Acts 20:29-30 1. A Father's Request Luke 9:38-39 Mark 9:14 Mark 9:17 Mark 9:21-24 2. A Savior's Rebuke 3. A Firm Reminder Matthew 10:7-8 Luke 10:17 Mark 9:29 Luke 9:41-45 Mark 9:32 Application: 1. Remember the Christ You Met on the Mountain 2. Grow in Christ in the Valley

Fluent Fiction - French: Rediscovering Balance: A Journey from Boardroom to Mountain Top Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/fr/episode/2026-01-15-23-34-02-fr Story Transcript:Fr: Dans une ville animée, au cœur de l'hiver, le soleil brille faiblement à travers les larges fenêtres d'un bureau moderne et élégant.En: In a lively city, in the heart of winter, the sun shines faintly through the large windows of a modern and elegant office.Fr: C'est la pause café habituelle, et le bourdonnement continu du bureau reflète l'agitation des projets en cours.En: It's the usual coffee break, and the continuous hum of the office reflects the hustle and bustle of ongoing projects.Fr: C'est un environnement où l'efficacité règne.En: It is an environment where efficiency reigns.Fr: Thibault est assis à la table de la salle de réunion, entouré de ses collègues.En: Thibault is sitting at the table in the meeting room, surrounded by his colleagues.Fr: Project manager compétent, il écrit des notes attentivement pendant que Sophie, la nouvelle recrue, se présente à l'équipe.En: A competent project manager, he writes notes carefully while Sophie, the new recruit, introduces herself to the team.Fr: Il lève les yeux de ses papiers lorsqu'il entend Sophie mentionner sa passion pour la randonnée.En: He looks up from his papers when he hears Sophie mention her passion for hiking.Fr: Après la réunion, Thibault s'approche de Sophie.En: After the meeting, Thibault approaches Sophie.Fr: "Tu aimes la randonnée?"En: "You like hiking?"Fr: demande-t-il, un regard curieux sur le visage.En: he asks, a curious look on his face.Fr: Sophie sourit, ses yeux brillants d'enthousiasme.En: Sophie smiles, her eyes bright with enthusiasm.Fr: "Oui, j'adore!En: "Yes, I love it!Fr: C'est ma façon de me détendre.En: It's my way to relax.Fr: Je pense à faire une rando ce week-end," répond-elle.En: I'm thinking about going for a hike this weekend," she replies.Fr: Thibault hésite un instant.En: Thibault hesitates for a moment.Fr: La charge de travail est lourde.En: The workload is heavy.Fr: Un projet important doit être rendu la semaine prochaine.En: An important project is due next week.Fr: Mais l'idée d'une randonnée lui rappelle des souvenirs heureux.En: But the idea of a hike reminds him of happy memories.Fr: Il prend une profonde respiration et décide de s'écouter.En: He takes a deep breath and decides to listen to himself.Fr: "Peut-être que je pourrais venir avec toi," dit-il enfin, un sourire timide se formant sur ses lèvres.En: "Maybe I could come with you," he finally says, a shy smile forming on his lips.Fr: Le samedi matin, Thibault et Sophie se retrouvent au pied d'une colline enneigée, prêts pour leur randonnée.En: On Saturday morning, Thibault and Sophie meet at the foot of a snowy hill, ready for their hike.Fr: Le paysage est magique, chaque arbre est recouvert d'un manteau blanc, et le silence hivernal apaise leurs esprits.En: The landscape is magical; each tree is covered with a white coat, and the winter silence soothes their minds.Fr: En chemin, ils échangent des histoires – Sophie parle de ses voyages, Thibault partage ses pensées sur la vie et le travail.En: Along the way, they exchange stories – Sophie talks about her travels, and Thibault shares his thoughts on life and work.Fr: Quand ils atteignent le sommet, la vue est à couper le souffle.En: When they reach the summit, the view is breathtaking.Fr: Le soleil d'hiver brille sur le vaste panorama enneigé.En: The winter sun shines on the vast snowy panorama.Fr: C'est un moment de calme parfait.En: It's a moment of perfect calm.Fr: Thibault se sent libéré, le poids de son stress quotidien éloigné par le vent froid.En: Thibault feels liberated, the weight of his daily stress carried away by the cold wind.Fr: Sur le chemin du retour, Sophie's rire réchauffe le cœur de Thibault.En: On the way back, Sophie's laughter warms Thibault's heart.Fr: Il réalise à quel point cette journée a été importante.En: He realizes how important this day has been.Fr: De retour au bureau, Thibault ressent quelque chose de nouveau.En: Back at the office, Thibault feels something new.Fr: Il a une nouvelle perspective sur la vie.En: He has a new perspective on life.Fr: Sophie et lui continuent à se voir, planifiant d'autres randonnées et peut-être quelque chose de plus.En: Sophie and he continue to see each other, planning more hikes and maybe something more.Fr: Thibault découvre que le vrai équilibre réside dans la connexion avec les autres et avec ses propres passions.En: Thibault discovers that true balance lies in connecting with others and with his own passions.Fr: Ainsi, le bureau animée ne paraît plus aussi pressant qu'avant.En: Thus, the lively office no longer seems as pressing as before.Fr: Il a retrouvé sa passion pour la randonnée et une connexion précieuse avec Sophie, les deux enrichissant sa vie d'une manière inespérée.En: He has rediscovered his passion for hiking and a valuable connection with Sophie, both enriching his life in an unexpected way. Vocabulary Words:lively city: la ville animéethe heart: le cœurlarge windows: les larges fenêtreshustle and bustle: l'agitationefficiency reigns: l'efficacité règnemeeting room: la salle de réunioncompetent project manager: le project manager compétentnew recruit: la nouvelle recruedeep breath: une profonde respirationsnowy hill: une colline enneigéemagical landscape: le paysage magiquewhite coat: un manteau blancwinter silence: le silence hivernalbreathtaking view: la vue à couper le soufflevast panorama: le vaste panoramacalm: le calmedaily stress: le stress quotidiencold wind: le vent froidlaughter: le rirenew perspective: une nouvelle perspectivevaluable connection: une connexion précieuseunexpected way: une manière inespéréeongoing projects: les projets en courscurious look: un regard curieuxenthusiastic eyes: les yeux brillants d'enthousiasmeheavy workload: la charge de travail lourdehappy memories: des souvenirs heureuxsummit: le sommetto relax: se détendreliberated: libéré

When Competence Fails and Faith Feels Powerless If you're used to being capable, prepared, and spiritually "put together," this episode exposes why faith can quietly stop working—and why Jesus often meets us after we fail.    Sermon Description When you believe the right things about God, yet still struggle with fear, doubt, or spiritual exhaustion? In this two-part sermon from Mark 9:14–29, Pastor Josh Weidmann explores one of the most honest prayers in all of Scripture: "I believe—help my unbelief." Together, these messages address the tension many Christians live in every day—the gap between strong theology and fragile trust, between spiritual competence and real dependence on God. You'll discover why Jesus isn't threatened by doubt, how failure can become a doorway to deeper faith, and why true spiritual power flows not from confidence, experience, or technique—but from honest, prayerful dependence. This series is for anyone wrestling with weak faith, unanswered prayers, or the quiet fear that belief should feel easier by now—and for anyone longing to trust God more deeply, even when certainty feels out of reach. Scripture: Mark 9:14–29     Show Notes – Part 1 Why strong theology doesn't always translate into real trust The danger of spiritual self-reliance Mountaintop faith vs. valley dependence How failure exposes where power truly comes from Why Jesus meets us in our weakness—not after we fix it   Resources + Links: Episode Link:  https://gospeldaily.org/gospel-daily-podcast-1446-1447/  Visit the site - www.gospeldaily.org to subscribe to our email ➡️ Read an additional resource from Josh Weidmann entitled: Why are Trials Necessary to Grow Our Faith?  https://joshweidmann.com/why-are-trials-necessary-to-grow-our-faith/  Pastor Josh's Blog Site: www.joshweidmann.com  Series: Encountering Jesus  

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   John Varley (1947-2025): Hugo & Nebula Award Winning Science Fiction Author John Varley (1947-2025), Hugo and Nebula Award winning science fiction novelist, who died on December 10, 2025 at the age of 78, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios July 17, 1992 while on tour for the novel “Steel Beach.” John Varley hit the ground running with his first short story, “Picnic on Nearside,” published in 1974 in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. He was already considered the logical heir to Robert Heinlein by the time his novel, The Ophiuchi Hotline was published in 1977 and his short story collection, The Persistence of Vision a year later. He followed those books with a trilogy that included Titan, Wizard and Demon, then went to Hollywood for seven years. This Probabilities interview was recorded on July 17, 1992 when he returned to the field with his novel, Steel Dreams, first of two novels set in the Eight Worlds universe of his earlier work; the sequel, The Golden Globe, was published in 1998.. By the time of this interview, John Varley's history with Hollywood would be over. You can find a PBS version of Overdrawn at the Memory Bank on Pluto TV, and two episodes from the TV show Paradox on You Tube. The film Millennium is not streaming. After The Golden Globe, John Varley wrote seven novels, most in a new series titled Thunder and Lightning. He returned to the Eight Worlds for his final novel, Irontown Blues, published in 2018. There would also be The John Varley Reader in 2004 and another collection in 2013. This interview has not aired in over thirty years.   Alan Furst: Best-selling Spy Novelist, 2002 Alan Furst, historical spy novelist, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios during the book tour for “Blood of Victory, September 26, 2002. This interview has not aired in over two decades. In this interview, he discusses his early career, resistance during World War II, and creating the unique atmosphere and characters in his books.His latest novel, Under Occupation, was published in 2019. Alan Furst's career took off with his novel Kingdom of Shadows in 2000, the sixth book in his series of stand-alone novels about heros and villains in Europe in the years leading up to, and including World War II.  Suffused with atmosphere, his books feel as if you're living with the characters in those haunted times. Of course, there is added resonance as we live through what might be similar times today. This is the second of five Bookwaves interviews with Alan Furst.   James Lapine discusses his collaborations with Stephen Sondheim.     Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.  Monthly Event Calendar. BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actors Ensemble of Berkeley.  See website for readings and events. Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  See website for upcoming productions. African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar. American Conservatory Theatre  Paranormal Activity, Feb. 19 – March 15, Toni Rembe. Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information. Berkeley Playhouse. Once, February 20 – March 22.  Berkeley Rep. How Shakespeare Saved My Life written and performed by Jacob Ming-Trent .January 23 – March 1, Peets Theatre. All My Sons by Arthur Miller, Feb. 20 – March 29, Roda Theatre. Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming productions. Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings. BroadwaySF: The Notebook, February 10 – March 1, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters. note: BroadwaySF is now ATG Tickets. Broadway San Jose:  The Book of Mormon, March 6-8. Beetlejuice, March 31 – April 5. Les Miserables, April 29 – May 3. Back to the Future, June 2 – 7. The Sound of Music, July 21-26, Center REP: Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon, March 29 – April 19. Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond Central Works After Happy by Patricia Milton, Feb. 28 – March 29. Cinnabar Theatre. My Fair Lady, January 23 – February 8, 2026. The Christians by Lucas Hnath, April 10-26, The Secret Garden, June 12 – 28. Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco, ongoing. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Contra Costa Civic Theatre A Chorus Line, June 6 – 21, 2026. See website for other events and concerts. Golden Thread  See website for upcoming events and productions. Hillbarn Theatre: What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck, January 22 – February 8. Songs for a New World, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, March 5 -22. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Sistah Friend by by Phaedra Tillery-Boughton, directed by Margo Hall. February 7, 2 pm, Museum of the African Diaspora. Los Altos Stage Company. Yoga Play by Dipika Guha. January 22 – February 15.. Lower Bottom Playaz  See website for upcoming productions. Magic Theatre. Macbeth, a new version by Migdalia Cruz. March 18 – April 5. Marin Shakespeare Company: Let The Wind Sweep Through: A Conference of Birds, Feb. 6-15. See website for schedule. Marin Theatre: The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov Jan . 29 – Feb. 22, 2026. Masquers Playhouse, Point Richmond. Improbable Fiction by Alan Aykbourn, Feb. 6 – March 1. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Closed. SF Chronicle gift article. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  Pride Cabaret, Feb. 5-7. Gods and Monsters based on the novel by Christopher Bram, written and adapted by Tom Mullen, March 6 – April 5. New Performance Traditions.  See website for upcoming schedule Oakland Theater Project. The Mountaintop by Katori Hall, Thurs-Sun, Feb. 5 – 15. Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming. Palace of Fine Arts Theater.  See website for event listings. Pear Theater. My Fair Lady, Feb 20 – March 8. See website for staged readings and other events. Playful People Productions. The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong, March 6 – 22. Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. The Children's Theatre Association of San Francisco (CTA) presents Once Upon a Mattress, January 24 – February 28. Ray of Light: Mean Girls. May 2026. Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events. San Francisco Playhouse. M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang. February 6 – March 14.. SFBATCO.  See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season Shotgun Players.  Sunday in the Park with George, extended to February 15, 2026. South Bay Musical Theatre:  Little Women, The Broadway Musical, January 24 – February 14, 2026. SPARC: See website for upcoming events. Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Lunatico  See website for upcoming productions.. Theatre Rhino  Left Field, written and directed by John Fisher, February 19 – March 15. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me, January 17 – February 8, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Primary Trust by Eboni Booth, March 4 – 29, Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto. Word for Word.  See website for upcoming productions. Misc. Listings: BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Fort Mason Center. Events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org   . The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – January 8, 2026: John Varley – Alan Furst appeared first on KPFA.

Some of us are in a great place WITH God. You feel good about your relationship, you've been coming to church, you've even had some experiences with God, privately and corporately. And Christmas is a spiritual exclamation point to a good year. For others, you may feel like you're a season without God. You may be a Christian, but you're wondering where God has been lately. It's easy to look at the world and see it as a world WITHOUT God. It's filled with tragedy, evil, heartache, disease, poverty... Most of us have asked this question: Where is God?Learn more about Mountaintop Church at https://mountaintopchurch.com

Good News is something we always want to shout from the rooftop. But, when it comes to the Good News of our salvation, we're talking mountaintops! We invite you to check out the selection of free Christmas eCards on our website. There, you will also find invitations to Christmas worship this week which you can share with friends and family members. You can place them on social media for everyone to see or you can send it to that specific person you have in mind by text or email. You can find them here: https://www.lifethissideofheaven.org/christmas-cards

WhoRyan Brown, Director of Golf & Ski at The Mountaintop at Grand Geneva, WisconsinRecorded onJune 17, 2025About the Mountaintop at Grand GenevaClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Marcus HotelsLocated in: Lake Geneva, WisconsinYear founded: 1968Pass affiliations: NoneClosest neighboring U.S. ski areas: Alpine Valley (:23), Wilmot Mountain (:29), Crystal Ridge (:48), Alpine Hills Adventure Park (1:04)Base elevation: 847 feetSummit elevation: 962 feetVertical drop: 115 feetSkiable acres: 30Average annual snowfall: 34 inchesTrail count: 21 (41% beginner, 41% intermediate, 18% advanced)Lift count: 6 (3 doubles, 1 ropetow, 2 carpets)Why I interviewed himOf America's various mega-regions, the Midwest is the quietest about its history. It lacks the quaint-town Colonialism and Revolutionary pride of the self-satisfied East, the cowboy wildness and adobe earthiness of the West, the defiant resentment of the Lost Glory South. Our seventh-grade Michigan History class stapled together the state's timeline mostly as a series of French explorers passing through on their way to somewhere more interesting. They were followed by a wave of industrial loggers who mowed the primeval forests into pancakes. Then the factories showed up. And so the state's legacy was framed not as one of political or cultural or military primacy, but of brand, the place that stamped out Chevys and Fords by the tens of millions.To understand the Midwest, then, we must look for what's permanent. The land itself won't do. It's mostly soil, mostly flat. Great for farming, bad for vistas. Dirt doesn't speak to the soul like rock, like mountains. What humans built doesn't tell us a much better story. Everything in the Midwest feels too new to conceal ghosts. The largest cities rose late, were destroyed in turn by fires and freeways, eventually recharged with arenas and glass-walled buildings that fail to echo or honor the past. Nothing lasts: the Detroit Pistons built the Palace of Auburn Hills in 1988 and developers demolished it 32 years later; the Detroit Lions (and, for a time, the Pistons) played at the Pontiac Silverdome, a titanic, 82,600-spectator stadium that opened in 1976 and came down in 2013 (37 years old). History seemed to bypass the region, corralling the major wars to the east and shooing the natural disasters to the west and south. Even shipwrecks lose their doubloons-and-antique-cannons romance in the Midwest: the Great Lakes most famous downed vessel, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, sank into Lake Superior in 1975. Her cargo was 26,535 tons of taconite ore pellets. A sad story, but not exactly the sinking of the Titanic.Our Midwest ancestors did leave us one legacy that no one has yet demolished: names. Place names are perhaps the best cultural relics of the various peoples who occupied this land since the glaciers retreated 12,000-ish years ago. Thousands of Midwest cities, towns, and counties carry Native American names. “Michigan” is derived from the Algonquin “Mishigamaw,” meaning “big lake”; “Minnesota” from the Sioux word meaning “cloudy water.” The legacies of French explorers and missionaries live on in “Detroit” (French for “strait”), “Marquette” (17th century French missionary Jacques Marquette), and “Eau Claire” (“clear water”).But one global immigration funnel dominated what became the modern Midwest: 50 percent of Wisconsin's population descends from German, Nordic, or Scandinavian countries, who arrived in waves from the Colonial era through the early 1900s. The surnames are everywhere: Schmitz and Meyer and Webber and Schultz and Olson and Hanson. But these Old-Worlders came a bit late to name the cities and towns. So they named what they built instead. And they built a lot of ski areas. Ten of Wisconsin's 34 ski areas carry names evocative of Europe's cold regions, Scandinavia and the Alps:I wonder what it must have been like, in 18-something-or-other, to leave a place where the Alps stood high on the horizon, where your family had lived in the same stone house for centuries, and sail for God knows how many weeks or months across an ocean, and slow roll overland by oxen cart or whatever they moved about in back then, and at the end of this great journey find yourself in… Wisconsin? They would have likely been unprepared for the landscape aesthetic. Tourism is a modern invention. “The elite of ancient Egypt spent their fortunes building pyramids and having their corpses mummified, but none of them thought of going shopping in Babylon or taking a skiing holiday in Phoenicia [partly in present-day Lebanon, which is home to as many as seven ski areas],” Yuval Noah Harari writes in Sapiens his 2015 “brief history of humankind.” Imagine old Friedrich, who had never left Bavaria, reconstituting his world in the hillocks and flats of the Midwest.Nothing against Wisconsin, but fast-forward 200 years, when the robots can give us a side-by-side of the upper Midwest and the European Alps, and it's pretty clear why one is a global tourist destination and the other is known mostly as a place that makes a lot of cheese. And well you can imagine why Friedrich might want to summon a little bit of the old country to the texture of his life in the form of a ski area name. That these two worlds - the glorious Alps and humble Wisconsin skiing - overlap, even in a handful of place names, suggests a yearning for a life abandoned, a natural act of pining by a species that was not built to move their life across timezones.This is not a perfect analysis. Most – perhaps none – of these ski areas was founded by actual immigrants, but by their descendants. The Germanic languages spoken by these immigrant waves did not survive assimilation. But these little cultural tokens did. The aura of ancestral place endured when even language fell away. These little ski areas honor that.And by injecting grandiosity into the everyday, they do something else. In coloring some of the world's most compact ski centers with the aura of some of its most iconic, their founders left us a message: these ski areas, humble as they are, matter. They fuse us to the past and they fuse us to the majesty of the up-high, prove to us that skiing is worth doing anywhere that it can be done, ensure that the ability to move like that and to feel the things that movement makes you feel are not exclusive realms fenced into the clouds, somewhere beyond means and imagination.Which brings us to Grand Geneva, a ski area name that evokes the great Swiss gateway city to the Alps. Too bad reality rarely matches up with the easiest narrative. The resort draws its name from the nearby town of Lake Geneva, which a 19th-century surveyor named not after the Swiss city, but after Geneva, New York, a city (that is apparently named after Geneva, Switzerland), on the shores of Seneca Lake, the largest of the state's 11 finger lakes. Regardless, the lofty name was the fifth choice for a ski area originally called “Indian Knob.” That lasted three years, until the ski area shuttered and re-opened as the venerable Playboy Ski Area in 1968. More regrettable names followed – Americana Resort from 1982 to '93, Hotdog Mountain from 1992 to '94 – before going with the most obvious and least-questionable name, though its official moniker, “The Mountaintop at Grand Geneva” is one of the more awkward names in American skiing.None of which explains the principal question of this sector: why I interviewed Mr. Brown. Well, I skied a bunch of Milwaukee bumps on my drive up to Bohemia from Chicago last year, this was one of them, and I thought it was a cute little place. I also wondered how, with its small-even-for-Wisconsin vertical drop and antique lift collection, the place had endured in a state littered with abandoned ski areas. Consider it another entry into my ongoing investigation into why the ski areas that you would not always expect to make it are often the ones that do.What we talked aboutFighting the backyard effect – “our customer base – they don't really know” that the ski areas are making snow; a Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison bullseye; competing against the Vail-owned mountain to the south and the high-speed-laced ski area to the north; a golf resort with a ski area tacked on; “you don't need a big hill to have a great park”; brutal Midwest winters and the escape of skiing; I attempt to talk about golf again and we're probably done with that for a while; Boyne Resorts as a “top golf destination”; why Grand Geneva moved its terrain park; whether the backside park could re-open; “we've got some major snowmaking in the works”; potential lift upgrades; no bars on the lifts; the ever-tradeoff between terrain parks and beginner terrain; the ski area's history as a Playboy Club and how the ski hill survived into the modern era; how the resort moves skiers to the hill with hundreds of rooms and none of them on the trails; thoughts on Indy Pass; and Lake Geneva lake life.What I got wrongWe recorded this conversation prior to Sunburst's joining Indy Pass, so I didn't mention the resort when discussing Wisconsin ski areas on the product.Podcast NotesOn the worst season in the history of the MidwestI just covered this in the article that accompanied the podcast on Treetops, Michigan, but I'll summarize it this way: the 2023-24 ski season almost broke the Midwest. Fortunately, last winter was better, and this year is off to a banging start.On steep terrain beneath lift AI just thought this was a really unexpected and cool angle for such a little hill. On the Playboy ClubFrom SKI magazine, December 1969:It is always interesting when giants merge. Last winter Playboy magazine (5.5 million readers) and the Playboy Club (19 swinging nightclubs from Hawaii to New York to Jamaica, with 100,000 card-carrying members) in effect joined the sport of skiing, which is also a large, but less formal, structure of 3.5 million lift-ticket-carrying members. The resulting conglomerate was the Lake Geneva Playboy Club-Hotel, Playboy's ski resort on the rolling plains of Wisconsin.The Playboy Club people must have borrowed the idea of their costumed Bunny Waitress from the snow bunny of skiing fame, and since Playboy and skiing both manifestly devote themselves to the pleasures of the body, some sort of merger was inevitable. Out of this union, obviously, issued the Ultimate Ski Bunny – one able to ski as well as sport the scanty Bunny costume to lustrous perfection.That's a bit different from how the resort positions its ski facilities today:Enjoy southern Wisconsin's gem - our skiing and snow resort in the countryside of Lake Geneva, with the best ski hills in Wisconsin. The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa boasts 20 downhill ski runs and terrain designed for all ages, groups and abilities, making us one of the best ski resorts in Wisconsin. Just an hour from Milwaukee and Chicago, our ski resort in Lake Geneva is close enough to home for convenience, but far enough for you and your family to have an adventure. Our ultimate skier's getaway offers snowmaking abilities that allow our ski resort to stay open even when there is no snow falling.The Mountain Top offers ski and snow accommodations, such as trolley transportation available from guest rooms at Grand Geneva and Timber Ridge Lodge, three chairlifts, two carpet lifts, a six-acre terrain park, excellent group rates, food and drinks at Leinenkugel's Mountain Top Lodge and even night skiing. We have more than just skiing! Enjoy Lake Geneva sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing too. Truly something for everyone at The Mountain Top ski resort in Lake Geneva. No ski equipment? No problem with the Learn to Ride rentals. Come experience The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva and enjoy the best skiing around Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.On lost Wisconsin and Midwest ski areasThe Midwest Lost Ski Areas Project counts 129 lost ski areas in Wisconsin. I've yet to order these Big Dumb Chart-style, but there are lots of cool links in here that can easily devour your day.The Storm explores the world of North American lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

One of the most traumatic events for Black America in the last century was the murder of Martin Luther King. But who did it? We spotlight a little-known 1999 court case that blew away the bogus cover story, and exposed a grim reality: the plot to kill MLK was led by our own government. Facing this ugly truth is a key step towards reparations.SHOW NOTESMaterials on the 1999 trial and investigation:The 13th Juror: The official transcript of the trial including all witnesses and testimonyRiveting article by James Douglass who attended the trialLoyd Jowers's Televised Confession (1993) Books by William Pepper:Orders to Kill (1998)An Act of State (2003) The Plot To Kill King (2018)Dr. King's iconic speeches:"I Have A Dream" (August 28, 1963)"How Long? Not Long!" (March 25, 1965)"Beyond Vietnam - A Time To Break Silence" (April 4, 1967)“The Three Evils of Society”(August 31, 1967) "We're Coming To Get Our Check" (March 1968) "I've Been To The Mountaintop" (April 3, 1968)Selected works by Dr. King:Letter From Birmingham Jail (April 16, 1963)Books by Dr. KingHIGHLIGHTS OF EPISODE[5:56] Arc of Dr. King's life and career[11:21] “Three Evils” speech excerpt[13:26] “We're coming to get our check” speech excerpt [15:41] Socio-political climate of the late 1960s[18:22] “Mountaintop” speech excerpt[23:11] Pepper's investigation [28:24] King Family's lawsuit[55:55] Historical impact of the assassinationContact Tony & AdamSubscribe

Lizzy Long - Fiddle, Banjo, Guitar, resonator banjo, vocalsHaving roots in the heart of the south, Elizabeth Long, or Lizzy as her friends and fans know her was born on a farm in Lincolnton, Georgia. She began her music accomplishment at an early age. While starting out on the piano, Lizzy soon took up the fiddle, guitar, autoharp, bass, banjo, and mandolin, and has become an accomplished musician, alternating between these instruments as part of her entertainment repertoire. She has played with great acts such as Mac Wiseman, Jim and Jesse, The Lewis Family, and Earl Scruggs. Continuing her quest for success, Lizzy has paired up with Little Roy Lewis from the legendary Lewis Family. Her extraordinary voice shimmers with strains of America's musical roots. Lizzy has won “Bluegrass Song of the Year” for a several songs called “Mountain Top”, a duet with Ty Herndon called “When We Fly”, and "He Washed My Soul". Most recently at the 2015 GMA Dove awards she was awarded Best Bluegrass Song of the Year for a Duet with Rhonda Vincent called "God is There". She is one of the youngest fiddlers to be inducted into “America's Old Time Fiddler's Country Hall of Fame” in LeMars, IA. Her latest solo Album "Blueberry Pie" has ranked as high as #2 on Billboard's Bluegrass Charts. Little Roy summed it up the best, "pull a plank off the wall and she'll play it!"Little Roy is awfully hard to overlook. He makes sure that no one in the audience gets bored at any time. Little Roy has won awards as Entertainer as well as for his banjo playing. Little Roy learned to play banjo when he was only six years old and won a local talent contest for his playing when he was eight. Little Roy's favorite banjo players are Don Reno and Earl Scruggs. USA Today called Little Roy 'a banjo master, truly a picker's picker'. Little Roy can also be found playing the guitar and autoharp. In fact, the song 'Good Time Get-Together' was written to highlight his instrumental skills. Little Roy is multi-talented - he sings, plays many instruments, tells stories, and acts. When you see this Duo, you are sure to notice Little Roy, and he'll make you smile. He has been inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, SPGBMA Hall of Greats, IBMA Hall of Honor, and the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

The Rev. Dr. Meredith Hawkins teaches on Isaiah 35:1-10 on the Third Sunday of Advent.

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Best-selling author, speaker, and storyteller Jon Seidl joins us again—this time post-launch of his new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic. Jon shares the encouragement he's received from the book, how he stays grounded in what truly matters, and why recovery must aim at Jesus rather than simply staying sober.  He walks us through the four key steps that shaped his journey: abiding in Christ, finding true identity, practicing radical vulnerability, and obeying God's leading. If you or someone you love is battling addiction or stuck in shame, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and real hope. Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.   So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.   Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.   Listen in to learn more  (04:10) - Hope in Christ, Not Book Success (12:45) - Jesus, Not Just Sobriety (21:30) - Mountaintops vs. Valleys in Spiritual Growth (36:05) - Four Steps: Abide, Identity, Vulnerability, Obedience (49:20) - Freedom Beyond Programs and Performance   Jon Seidl Resources  Learn more about Jon Seidl: https://www.jonseidl.com/   Get Jon's book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic – https://www.jonseidl.com/confessions-of-a-christian-alcoholic-book    Check out Jon's blog, The Veritas Daily: https://jonseidl.substack.com/   Get Jon's book, Finding Rest: A Survivor's Guide to Navigating the Valleys of Anxiety, Faith, and Life -- https://www.jonseidl.com/finding-rest-book   Connect with Jon on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathonseidl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/   Hope for the Heart resources Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance  100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart    Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night   God's plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/   Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON 

What happens when you combine hospitality, design, and a vision for something extraordinary? You get Bolt Farm Treehouse—a viral luxury escape brand that scaled from a backyard treehouse into an eight-figure business. In this episode of The Rich Somers Report, Rich sits down with Seth and Tori Bolt, founders of Bolt Farm, to unpack how they built a brand that's redefining luxury travel—one elevated stay at a time.They dive into:How a single Airbnb in their backyard sparked a nationwide hospitality empireThe mindset and risk tolerance it took to go all-in on a vision no one believed inWhy storytelling, branding, and experience design matter more than just real estate metricsHow they turned their viral moment into sustainable growth—and kept goingWhat's next for Bolt Farm as they expand locations, deepen impact, and inspire others to dream biggerSeth and Tori open up about the sacrifices, the behind-the-scenes grind, and how faith, love, and long-term vision helped them build a hospitality brand with soul. Whether you're an investor, host, or entrepreneur, this episode is your reminder to build something worth escaping to.Connect with Seth & Tori on Instagram: @boltfarmtreehouse Join our investor waitlist and stay in the know about our next investor opportunity with Somers Capital: www.somerscapital.com/invest. Want to join our Boutique Hotel Mastermind Community? Book a free strategy call with our team: www.hotelinvesting.com. If you're committed to scaling your personal brand and achieving 7-figure success, it's time to level up with the 7 Figure Creator Mastermind Community. Book your exclusive intro call today at www.the7figurecreator.com and gain access to the strategies that will accelerate your growth.

The One Huge Mountain Top by Fr. Kelly Edwards

James Wood Volleyball has once again reached the Pinnacle, The Mountain Top known as The State Championship and its the fourth year straight.Josh is joined by members of The Colonels Volleyball Team in Reese Justice, Kylee Plumb and Brenna Corbin to recap the State Title and the season as a whole.Stay tuned for more High School Sports coverage to come on The Kirby on Sports Podcast.A huge thanks to our sponsors!Frederick County Parks and Recreation is the Title Sponsor of Kirby on Sports & The Kirby on Sports Podcast. To find out additional information on their latest events and programs you can visit fcprd.netPM+ ReservesShenandoah PrimitivesMark Francis with ICON Real EstateBarrett Pest and Termite ServicesMark Lynch with Guild MortgageShenandoah MusicICON MediaOn The Road Driving SchoolNulook LandscapingBarry Pearson with EquipmentSharewww.kirbyonsports.com

Even the mountaintop can be a dangerous place—especially when we forget how much we still need God. In this episode of Talk'N Truth, Dan Whitney (aka Larry the Cable Guy), Pastor Bryan Clark, and Arnie Cole unpack the dramatic turning point in 2 Samuel 16, where King David faces betrayal, cursing, humiliation, and the painful consequences of past sin. From Mephibosheth's betrayal to Shimei's accusations to Absalom's public rebellion, David is forced down the backside of the mountain—a vivid warning for every believer who thinks they're “doing fine.” The crew dives into why success can dull our dependence on God, why spiritual leaders often fall when everything is going well, and how pride, comfort, and apathy can quietly open the door to disaster. With honesty, humor, and real-life stories, Dan, Bryan, and Arnie talk candidly about staying grounded when life is good, the dangers of spiritual carelessness, and the kind of integrity that keeps believers steady at the top of the mountain. They also shine light on the surprising biblical parallels between David's descent and Jesus' path to Gethsemane—reminding us that Scripture is woven together with a redemptive thread from beginning to end. Whether you're in a season of blessing, cruising on autopilot, or feeling spiritually untouchable, this conversation is a wake-up call: success can be just as spiritually dangerous as struggle. Stay dependent. Stay watchful. Stay close to God. Perfect for viewers interested in:  Christian encouragement, Bible study podcasts, 2 Samuel 16, King David's story, spiritual vigilance, avoiding complacency, integrity in leadership, Christian living, grace and consequences, and staying grounded in seasons of success. #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #KingDavid #2Samuel16 #SpiritualGrowth #Integrity #FaithAndLeadership #TalkNTruth #LarryTheCableGuy #BryanClark #ArnieCole #BackToTheBible #ChristianEncouragement #StayGrounded #DependOnGod

You're listening to the Two Rivers PCA church podcast. We are a family of faith gathering around God's redeeming love, growing in the grace of Jesus Christ, and going to serve our neighbors.For more information, visit us at tworiverspca.org.

Yes!  You are in!  You like power stories of redemption?  Of course you do, that's why most of you are here.  For we are in the Hope and encouragement business.  Next up, Ruben.  Bold, courageous Ruben!  He is also part 1 of an amazing father/son story.  Here you go...Wow!  Thanks again Brother Ruben!  Thank you for taking a leap of faith with Loco Tomas.  Sorry, third person speaking there.  More of a tongue in cheek nickname that I've earned on the streets of California.  Why?  I'm crazy enough to pray Lord, who do you want me to meet?  Whose story do you want told?  Then I carry my phone and a mic and and not normally ask, can I record you?  Ruben, I don't blame you at all with any hesitation with me.  Yet, you went for it.  Now your Light is now shining to help people beyond the Visalia and California area.  You boldly share what worked and didn't. You help remind us that even when we accept Christ that doesn't guarantee we will stay on the path.  I can testify to that too.  Following is harder than simply believing.  Narrow Door, check Matt 7: 13-14Does this broken planet need more Hope or hopelessness?Function or dysfunction?Government will say give us your money and we'll solve this.  Government has a role, don't get me wrong.  Yet I do see the most powerful and effective results coming from heart transformation via Jesus Christ (churches and non-profits that cost you $0).  That is a fact Jack and the truth Ruth.  Ruben refers to 1 Cor 13:11...1 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.Okay versed one, are you ready with your 1 Peter 3:15?  Bonus, share others' stories with your favorite skeptics.  Share Ruben.  Easy to debate God, hard to argue results.Jer 29:11 Pops never gave up!  And he's coming up.  Next episode.Ending on a prayer note, staying the course, Lord, you are real.  Walking with us, ups and downs.  

In this week's episode, I sit down with someone whose life and legacy have deeply shaped my own faith journey — April Osteen Simons. Like her brother Joel, April brings an incredible blend of wisdom, humor, storytelling, and Holy-Spirit fire as she walks us through the confidence factor that truly changes everything.April opens up about the life-altering season when her mother, Dodie, received a terminal diagnosis. As a teenager, April stood in the doorway as her parents prayed heaven down, physically watched her mom stand on the Word of God, and witnessed firsthand what it means to “flip the script” with God's promises. That moment marked her forever — and it's part of why she cannot be talked out of miracles today.We dive into the battle of the mind, the discipline of speaking the Word over your circumstances, and why confidence isn't arrogance — it's alignment with who God created you to be. April shares practical, powerful ways to rebuild confidence, from opening the curtains each morning to rehearsing your victories to speaking life over your own reflection. Her reminders are simple but profound: You were made for pressure. You are built to withstand. You carry something great.We also explore the relationship between loving yourself and loving others, the danger of speaking death over your identity, and how your confidence unlocks your calling. April's words will remind you that your uniqueness is not a liability — it's your divine assignment.If you've been walking through a dark season, battling discouragement, or feeling unsure of your purpose, this conversation will breathe hope back into your soul. As April says, “Get God's Word in you until God's Word gets in you.” This episode is your invitation to do just that.Connect With Us:Website: https://www.youaremore.comFree Download: 5 Steps to Win Through AdversitySocial Media: Follow us on Facebook and InstagramEmail: amy@amywienands.comEpisode Minute By Minute:00:00 – When your breakthrough begins with a sound01:00 – Amy's story of singleness, loneliness & faith04:00 – Refusing to stare at barrenness06:00 – “Sing, O barren” — using your voice as a weapon07:00 – Mountaintop faith vs. valley faith08:00 – What God taught Amy in her delayed seasons10:00 – The confidence factor: loving yourself deeply11:00 – How uniqueness becomes your gift12:00 – Self-talk, identity, and words that shape your future13:00 – “Say Not”: why you must stop speaking against yourself14:30 – How to rebuild confidence after loss or setback16:00 – The link between confidence & purpose18:00 – Confidence as a weapon for influence and impact19:00 – The power of affirmations and speaking lifeBe intentional, stay focused, and remember you are more!

Yes!  You are in!  It's that time of year again.  I went back to the Spirit Filled Mountain Top Men's Camp and God blessed me with some new Hope stories to share.  Wow!  So first up, meet Franky.  He has a power story to share, here you go...Thanks again Brother Franky!  The first to boldly step up that weekend!  Life Church in Visalia, CA.  You are a good tree producing good fruit.  Sent up 33 brothers this last round.  Special shout out also to Spirit Filled Church out of Indio, CA.  Pastor Jose, Matthew, Georgie, brothers Mike C, Andy and the rest of a crew.  What a blessing and also another good tree producing good fruit.Back to Franky.  Could you do that?  Are you ready to share the reason why you have Hope?  1 Peter 3:15?  Absolutely epic.Some of you are thinking, well, my story isn't as dramatic as Franky's.  Don't think that way.  Also be careful if you say your story is boring, I used to say that.  Then God made my story a lot more interesting...aka in other words challenging.  Back to Franky.  Think about where he was.  And where he is today.  Back to my favorite rhetorical questions:  Does this Broken Planet need more Hope or Hopelessness?  More Function of dysfuntion?We have the answers to society's ills. Problem is many of you don't want to accept them.  For the answers are in the Word.  Of course, skeptics can debate God.  Yet they can't argue Franky's story.  Nor Rogelio's or Paul's or Daniel's or Richard's stories from last year.  Results are results.  Good fruit.Share what works.  Special thanks for sharing this podcast of Hope when worthy.  Ending on a prayer note...

Episode 196 - This episode explores various themes related to spirituality, communication in faith, and the significance of the Transfiguration. Hosts, Father Sean Danda and Nathanael Rea, discuss the challenges of navigating spiritual experiences, the importance of understanding the role of tongues and interpretation, and the need for effective communication within faith communities. The discussion also delves into the transformative nature of spiritual encounters, the fulfillment of the law and prophets through Christ, and the necessity of the Holy Spirit in proclaiming faith.TakeawaysNavigating spiritual experiences can be awkward and challenging.The role of tongues and interpretation is significant in spiritual communication.Effective communication is essential in faith communities.The Transfiguration represents a journey towards transformation in Christ.Mountaintop experiences symbolize profound spiritual encounters.Christ fulfills the law and prophets, emphasizing the importance of listening to Him.The presence of God is often shrouded in mystery, represented by clouds.Listening to Christ is crucial for spiritual growth and understanding.Human imperfection, as seen in Peter, is part of the faith journey.The Holy Spirit empowers believers to boldly proclaim their faith.

Hey friend, it's Jody Agard. I'm so glad you're here, especially as we continue our series, the Art of Receiving. Today, it's all about receiving love—not just from others, but inviting it into your own heart. You'll find yourself on a serene mountaintop, sipping tea with Gandhi. In this gentle space, he quietly reminds you that transformation happens when we lead with love. So pause, breathe in, and let's step into this moment together… with open hands and tender hearts. With love, ♥️ Jody Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawrence Pintak has spent his life grounded in facts while fascinated by the ethereal. An award-winning former CBS News Middle East correspondent with a PhD in Islamic Studies, Pintak has been a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism for three decades and is an avid student of the perennial truths at the core of the world's religions. The author of seven books at the intersection of religion, media, and policy, his reporting and analysis on religion and international affairs has been published by The New York Times, Foreign Policy, the Washington Post, and many of the world's leading media organizations. He also wrote about Buddhism and Eastern traditions for Shambhala Sun/Lion's Roar, Buddhadharma, Beliefnet.com and others before 9/11 drew his focus back to the Middle East. Pintak's most recent nonfiction book, America & Islam, was a finalist for the 2020 Religion News Association award for Religion Reporting Excellence. Books: Lessons from the Mountaintop: Ten Modern Mystics and Their Extraordinary Lives America & Islam: Soundbites, Suicide Bombs and the Road to Donald Trump Website: pintak.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded October 4, 2025