Podcasts about Persians

This icon was once kept in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople. In 1383, it suddenly appeared in the sky over Lake Ladoga, then travelled through the air to the city of Tikhvin, where it alit by the River Tikhvina. A monastery was built there to house it. In the twentieth century it was brought to America. Innumerable miracles have been worked through this wonderworking icon, especially healings of children.   On this day is also commemorated the Hodigritia Icon of the Mother of God. According to many accounts, this icon and the Tikhvin Icon are one and the same, so we list them together. Hodigritia is translated "Directress" or more literally "She who shows the way." It was painted by Luke the Evangelist himself, who knew the Mother of God in the flesh. Over the years the icon was taken from Antioch to Jerusalem, then to Constantinople where it was enshrined in the Church of Blachernae. When Constantinople was attacked at the same time by the Persians and the Scythians, Patriarch Sergius carried the holy icon around the ramparts, and the city was miraculously delivered from its pagan enemies. During the iconoclast period, the icon was hidden in a wall in the monastery of the Pantocrator.

This episode is the essential starting point for understanding the Neo-Assyrian Empire. In 745 BCE, a relatively obscure man named Tukulti-Apil-Esharra—better known by his biblical name Tiglath-Pileser III—seized the Assyrian throne in what would become one of the most transformative moments in ancient Near Eastern history. This episode explores how Tiglath-Pileser's revolutionary reforms reshaped the military, administration, and ideology of the Assyrian state, laying the foundation for the largest and most durable empire the world had yet seen.We delve into the political collapse that preceded his rise, the obscure origins and contested legitimacy of Tiglath-Pileser himself, and the sudden consolidation of power that enabled him to bring Assyria back from the brink of fragmentation. We then examine his first campaigns in Babylonia, where Assyrian intervention brought order to the chaos left by years of Chaldean misrule, and consider the complex relationship between Assyria and Babylon—one rooted in reverence, rivalry, and shared civilization.This episode also introduces the deep structural changes Tiglath-Pileser initiated: the expansion of a professional standing army, the shift from vassalage to direct imperial administration, and the rising use of Aramaic alongside Akkadian. We explore the rise of eunuch officials, the growing importance of taxation within the core territory of Mat Assur, and how these policies would strengthen the empire in the short term while sowing the seeds of long-term resentment.From palace coups to temple politics, from highland conquests in the Zagros Mountains to the quiet rise of Nabonassar in Babylon, this episode places 745 BCE at the center of a vast historical transformation. It is a turning point not only in Assyrian history, but in the history of the entire ancient Near East, with consequences that would echo into the rise of the Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks. For students of ancient history, biblical history, Assyriology, and the origins of empire, this episode provides a detailed and foundational account of the birth of the Neo-Assyrian world order.I am also doing daily history facts again, at least until I run out of time again. You can find Oldest Stories Daily on Tiktok and Youtube Shorts.If you like the show, consider sharing with your friends, leaving a like, subscribing, or even supporting financially:Buy the Oldest Stories books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate here: https://oldeststories.net/or on patreon: https://patreon.com/JamesBleckleyor on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCG2tPxnHNNvMd0VrInekaA/joinYoutube and Patreon members get access to bonus content about Egyptian culture and myths.

LONDINIUM 90AD: Gaius and Germanicus observe that the Americans do not appear informed that the Iranians are the uncowed, unconquered Parthians of Crassus and Caesar aka Persians of Sparta and Athens -- except for Alexander 4th century BCE. More. Michael Vlahos. Friends of History Debating Society. @michalis_vlahos

Boudicca, Cleopatra, Artemisia and Olympias are just a few if the many women of the ancient world that we know about, but it's significant that we know about them from male writers. That gives a certain perspective, not necessarily inaccurate, but it can be. Today I'm speaking with a classicist who writes about antiquity having gone direct to the sources and translating them herself, and has written a quite wonderful history of ancient Greece and Rome that is unusual in the discipline for saying something new. My guest is Daisy Dunn, author of The Missing Thread and we talk about some of the key female figures from Greece: Artemisia, a naval commander from the west coast of Asia Minor fighting for the Persians, and Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great. We delve into a number of other areas for a most stimulating chat. Looking for something to do at the end of June? You could do worse than head to the Chalke History Festival. Daisy Dunn Links The Missing Thread Chalke Chalke History Festival Aspects of History Links Latest Issue out - Annual Subscription to Aspects of History Magazine only $9.99/£9.99 Ollie on X Aspects of History on Instagram Get in touch: history@aspectsofhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Allison Kaplan Sommer and Noah Efron talk about (1) whether and how this week's war on Iran reshapes our understanding of the more than 20 months of war in Gaza that preceded it, and (2) what we can learn from a moving essay by American journalist Isaac Saul called, “I think I'm Leaving Zionism, or Zionism is Leaving Me.” All this and what we learn about Iran from the Persians living among us, and music by these self-same Persians. Hear the Extra-Special, Special Extra Segment on Patreon For our most unreasonably generous Patreon supporters, in our extra-special, special extra discussion: What it is like, living from siren-to-siren, shelter-to-shelter (Spoiler alert: Scary and weird, with surprising moments of grace.)

GUEST: Third Rail Omar on Israel, Iran, the U.S., and Trump. Fiery second hour: Callers call Hake "boomer" and "Ben Shapiro"!The Hake Report, Wednesday, June 18, 2025 ADThird Rail with Omar / American Me Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@third_rail - https://x.com/thecomforter_1 - https://www.tiktok.com/@thirdrailomarTIMESTAMPS* (0:00:00) Start* (0:01:23) Omar, fellow boomer — Iran-Israel… TikTok…* (0:08:44) Hey, guys!* (0:10:51) Trump first Jewish prez? War with Iran? Conspiracies…?* (0:19:40) Not a fan of Iran, but Israel's worse? In America* (0:27:55) Bibi … Israelis vs Persians…* (0:29:47) Little history lesson US and Iran* (0:34:16) Iran funding Houthis, Hamas, Hezbollah* (0:42:11) Tucker, the Persians, Iranians, Apartheid* (0:48:08) Supers: Crishaun, Israel-US history, war, Trump…?* (0:55:05) Supers: No s— before marriage!* (1:02:26) KT, DC: Boomer! Israel's doing evil!* (1:31:36) ELIJAH, CA: Acting like Israel's the only problem? No solutions?!* (1:46:22) Supers: ISIS, Hamas … Rumors of wars … 2v1 …* (1:48:29) JEFF, LA: Iran, Israel, America* (1:53:08) Omar point on Biden … Closing!BLOG https://www.thehakereport.com/blog/2025/6/18/third-rail-with-omar-israel-iran-war-wed-6-18-25PODCAST / Substack HAKE NEWS from JLP https://www.thehakereport.com/jlp-news/2025/6/18/jlp-wed-6-18-25–Hake is live M-F 9-11a PT (11-1CT/12-2ET) Call-in 1-888-775-3773 https://www.thehakereport.com/showVIDEO: YT - Rumble* - Pilled - FB - X - BitChute (Live) - Odysee*PODCAST: Substack - Apple - Spotify - Castbox - Podcast Addict*SUPER CHAT https://buymeacoffee.com/thehakereportSHOP - Printify (new!) - Cameo | All My LinksJLP Network: JLP - Church - TFS - Nick - PunchieThe views expressed on this show do not represent BOND, Jesse Lee Peterson, the Network, this Host, or this platform. No endorsement or opposition implied!The show is for general information and entertainment, and everything should be taken with a grain of salt! Get full access to HAKE at thehakereport.substack.com/subscribe

"The holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel, and Ishmael, Persians by race and brethren according to the flesh, were sent by the Persian King as ambassadors to Julian the Apostate to negotiate a peace treaty. While with him at a place near Chalcedon, they refused to join him in offering sacrifice to his idols. Scorning the immunity universally accorded ambassadors, he had them slain in the year 362. This was a cause of the war with Persia in which Julian perished miserably the following year." (Great Horologion)

What happens when a Muslim from Iran meets Jesus in America - then watches his homeland go to war with Israel?  Shah Afshar was born and raised in Iran, shaped by a shame-based culture, a devout Muslim family, and the pressure to uphold family honor. But everything changed when he encountered a group of joyful American college students and heard the name of Jesus - not as a prophet, but as Savior. In this episode, Shah shares his powerful journey from Islam to Christianity, the cultural weight of honor and shame, and what he sees unfolding in the Middle East today.  With a foot in both worlds, he gives insight few can offer: why 80% of Iranians quietly cheer when Israel strikes military targets…and why Persians and Jews have a deeper shared history than most realize. Key Takeaways Why Shah sees honor and shame as central to understanding Iranian culture What it's like to leave Islam and follow Jesus as a Persian The truth about Iran's Jewish population - and how Persians and Jews once lived side by side Why many Iranians support Israel in secret How Jesus - not politics - is the only path to true peace in the Middle East Chapter Markers 00:00 – Meet Shah Afshar: From Iran to the U.S. 03:00 – Growing up Muslim in a shame-based culture 05:45 – Depression, academic pressure, and thoughts of suicide 08:00 – The hippies who introduced him to Jesus 10:30 – Calling on Jesus without theology - and finding peace 13:15 – Starting the first Iranian Christian church in America 15:00 – What changed after the revolution in Iran 18:30 – Why many Iranians secretly support Israel 21:00 – The cost - and hope - of a Persian uprising 24:00 – Jesus as the only answer to generational hate 26:00 – Persians are not Arabs: cultural and ethnic clarity 29:00 – Are the Jews still God's chosen people? 32:00 – One new man: Jew and Gentile united in Messiah   To learn more about Shah's work and story, visit shahzamfactor.com. For more episodes, teaching, and insights into the Jewish roots of your faith, head to thejewishroad.com. Be a light. Be a voice. Be a blessing.

Jewish Diaspora Report - Episode 158  On this episode of the Jewish Diaspora Report, Host Mike Jordan discusses the recent attacks against Iran by Israel. We look into the history of the connection between Iran and the Jewish people and how this attack against Iran is game-changing for the middle east, Israel and the people of Iran.Explore these challenging issues and join the Jewish Diaspora Report for future episodes on issues of Politics, Culture, Current Events and more!   Check us out on Instagram @jdr.podcastSend us a textSupport the show

Who were the descendants of Japheth—and what role do they play in the formation of modern nations and biblical prophecy?Video Version Available at https://www.lastchristian.net/In this powerful and detailed exploration, The Last Christian Radio Show dives deep into the historical and prophetic legacy of Japheth, one of Noah's three sons. Based on Genesis 10 and supported by historical, biblical, and cultural sources, this study identifies the lineage of Japheth and traces the origins of many Indo-European civilizations—from the Greeks and Scythians to the Armenians, Slavs, Thracians, and beyond.

Who were the descendants of Japheth—and what role do they play in the formation of modern nations and biblical prophecy?Video Version Available at https://www.lastchristian.net/In this powerful and detailed exploration, The Last Christian Radio Show dives deep into the historical and prophetic legacy of Japheth, one of Noah's three sons. Based on Genesis 10 and supported by historical, biblical, and cultural sources, this study identifies the lineage of Japheth and traces the origins of many Indo-European civilizations—from the Greeks and Scythians to the Armenians, Slavs, Thracians, and beyond.

With reports of Israel preparing to attack Iran's nuclear research and development facilities, Carmen helps us look at the deep history of tensions among Jews and Persians that goes back to ancient times.  Greta Eskridge, author of "It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn," points out that thanks to the internet how easy it is for children to access all kinds of pornography, including very violent and degrading kinds.  Now is the time to address the topic with your kids to guide them to sexual integrity.  Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Lectionary: 572AThe Saint of the day is Saint EphremSaint Ephrem's Story Poet, teacher, orator, and defender of the faith, Ephrem is the only Syriac Christian recognized as a doctor of the Church. He took upon himself the special task of opposing the many false doctrines rampant at his time, always remaining a true and forceful defender of the Catholic Church. Born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia, he was baptized as a young man and became famous as a teacher in his native city. When the Christian emperor had to cede Nisibis to the Persians, Ephrem fled as a refugee to Edessa, along with many other Christians. He is credited with attracting great glory to the biblical school there. He was ordained a deacon but declined becoming a priest. Ephrem was said to have avoided presbyteral consecration by feigning madness! He had a prolific pen, and his writings best illumine his holiness. Although he was not a man of great scholarship, his works reflect deep insight and knowledge of the Scriptures. In writing about the mysteries of humanity's redemption, Ephrem reveals a realistic and humanly sympathetic spirit and a great devotion to the humanity of Jesus. It is said that his poetic account of the Last Judgment inspired Dante. It is surprising to read that he wrote hymns against the heretics of his day. He would take the popular songs of the heretical groups and using their melodies, compose beautiful hymns embodying orthodox doctrine. Ephrem became one of the first to introduce song into the Church's public worship as a means of instruction for the faithful. His many hymns have earned him the title “Harp of the Holy Spirit.” Ephrem preferred a simple, austere life, living in a small cave overlooking the city of Edessa. It was here that he died around 373. Reflection Many Catholics still find singing in church a problem, probably because of the rather individualistic piety that they inherited. Yet singing has been a tradition of both the Old and the New Testaments. It is an excellent way of expressing and creating a community spirit of unity as well as of joy. An ancient historian testifies that Ephrem's hymns “lent luster to the Christian assemblies.” We need some modern Ephrems—and cooperating singers—to do the same for our Christian assemblies today. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Wars and Providence Daniel 11 Chapters 10-12 of the book of Daniel form the last great vision of the aged prophet. Chapter 10 reveals the great spiritual war that goes on between the forces of Satan and the God of heaven. In chapter 11 we are given a detailed prophecy of the wars of Persians, Greeks, and Romans. This prophecy is so accurate in its fulfillment that skeptics try to discredit as being written hundreds of years later. This prophecy was given to Daniel in 534 B.C..

Daniel Chapter 5 recounts the fall of King Belshazzar and Babylon, highlighted by a mysterious hand writing "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" on the wall during a feast. Daniel interprets this as a divine judgment, signaling the end of Belshazzar's reign, which occurs that very night when the Medes and Persians take over. The chapter is rich with themes of pride, judgment, and God's sovereignty, making it a popular subject for sermons, studies, and discussions.Watch all of our videos and subscribe to our channel for the latest content >HereHere

Conflict in Israel has been a reality whenever Israel has existed as a nation. Whether it was the Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, or Romans, the nation of Israel has always been persecuted by its neighbors. Why is this? According to the Bible, it is because God has a special plan for the nation of Israel, and Satan wants to defeat that plan. Today, Pastor Ken will explain that satanically influenced hatred of Israel is the reason Israel's neighbors have always wanted to see Israel destroyed.

Cyrus II was the founder of the Persian Empire, arguably the greatest empire of the Ancient Near East. Cyrus wasn't only a hero to the Persians. In the Hebrew Bible, Cyrus is the only non-Jew that God calls His "anointed one" or "messiah." But does Cyrus really deserve his reputation as the "liberator" of the Jews from Babylon or is it all a piece of ancient propaganda? The incomparable Lloyd Llewelyn-Jones joins Helen and Dave to discuss the glory of the Persian Empire and how Cyrus was interpreted by biblical authors. For more great stuff from Lloyd, check out his latest books:Persians: The Age of the Great KingsThe Cleopatras: The Forgotten Queens of EgyptAncient Persia and The Book of Esther: Achaemenid Court Culture in the Hebrew BibleSUPPORT BIBLICAL TIME MACHINEIf you enjoy the podcast, please (pretty please!) consider supporting the show through the Time Travelers Club, our Patreon. We are an independent, listener-supported show (no ads!), so please help us continue to showcase high-quality biblical scholarship with a monthly subscription.DOWNLOAD OUR STUDY GUIDE: MARK AS ANCIENT BIOGRAPHYCheck out our 4-part audio study guide called "The Gospel of Mark as an Ancient Biography." While you're there, get yourself a Biblical Time Machine mug or a cool sticker for your water bottle.Support the showTheme music written and performed by Dave Roos

Text me your thoughts! Listen as Raphael and Lexi discuss my essay "Resisting America's Hate Problem." The Source they refer to is the essay which is reprinted below. Their lively conversation brings out the main point: each of us should resist the temptation to fear people who are different as well as refusing the follow leaders who use hate to gain followers. We can break the hate by connecting to people who are different.“They're eating dogs… eating cats… the people that came in are eating pets!” The bizarre declaration by Vance and Trump about legal Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio went viral from the presidential debate last year. Local officials denied the stories, immigrants shared their life stories of overcoming hardship, and no animal bodies were found—yet the rumors about what “they” were doing persisted across the airwaves to influence voters. “They” are always a threat. The hate multiplies faster than the truth could ever move.The strategy of finding scapegoats who are different and threatening has worked for millennia. Ancient tribes on every continent fought incessant wars. Mayan versus Aztec, Persians versus Egyptians, American settlers versus Native tribes, Jews versus Arabs, Nazis versus Jews—the list covers all of humanity. Leaders denounce the others as the source of all the problems and a threat to livelihood.Nationalist leaders in America have followed this same pattern of hate and fear. The Native Indian tribes were driven out in the 17th century. Irish were denounced in the 18th century and Chinese in the 19th. The mid-twentieth century heard claims Communists were infiltrating society to overthrow the government. Ten years ago candidate Trump highlighted Mexican immigrants as criminals, drug lords, and murderous gangs that were flooding our cities. The past four years the target has included transgender predators who are taking over kids sports and destroying families.The claims are outrageous, unscientific, and destructive. But they grab headlines and mislead voters by the millions. The promise is that a strong-arm leader will save us from what “they” are doing.Let's be honest. The accusations against the others aren't true. The only truth is that the leaders who fan the hate gain support from the fearful and misinformed.Psychologists tell us that our minds are wired for survival and safety. Recognizing a threatening situation could make the difference of life or death. Other people are different and that raises the possibility of danger. They don't talk English so who knows what they are saying, or our daughters will be assaulted by men with a different skin color. In addition, there may also be the battle for scarce resources. The common refrain is that they are taking our jobs at home and abroad. That opposing group could be larger than we are, so we are in danger of being overrun by people flooding across the borders or having a great army that can defeat us.Today we must resist the flood of misinformation promoted by those seeking power. Press conferences, influencer interviews, and social media posts seek to create fear and distrust. The voices shout about the danger some group poses. “They are eating dogs! Follow me and I will save us!”We must name the anti-immigrant fears that have led to deportations as hateful bigotry.We must name the anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim speeches as destructive of our shared society.We must name the racial and ethnic stereotNewsletter subscription Support the showSubscribe to this podcast for a monthly bonus episode plus the TRACKS EXPRESS weekly newsletter with more resources for well-being!Enjoy the Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@tracksforthejourney77

The famous Battle of Thermopylae forms the centerpiece of the Spartan Mirage. Legend has it that a tiny force of 300 Spartans took on over two million Persians and managed to hold them off for a remarkable four days. The Spartan sacrifice has been credited with saving Greece and paving the way to the ultimate Greek victory over the invaders. While it's true that the Spartans made a stand at Thermopylae, so too did thousands of other Greeks whose contributions have been edited out of the story. Almost everything about this famous showdown has been exaggerated and distorted. Who were the real heroes of Thermopylae? Tune-in and find out how playing possum, 700 Thespians, and something called the Battle of Champions all play a role in the story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The "Enemies of Yehuda and Binyamin" - the Samaritans, request to join the building of the Temple. When they are rebuffed by Yehoshua and Zeubavel, they turn against the Jews, appealing to central government - Persia - accusing the Jews of disloyalty. This leads to the Persians calling a halt to the Temple construction.The Temple is put on hold until further notice.

“If they are free men, they are the basest cravens in the world; but if they are slaves, none would love their masters more.” — Herodotus, on the IoniansA Persian army on the run. A desperate warning from the Scythians. And a group of Greek tyrants who choose despotism over defiance. In this episode, we follow the moment Darius I almost lost it all—plus Megabazus' ruthless conquest of Thrace and the Persians' first awkward dinner with Macedon and a guy named Alexander.Great episode... don't miss it!This is a podcast by Dan Hörning and Bernie Maopolski.If you like what we do you can support the Fan of History project on https://www.patreon.com/fanofhistoryCustom Printed Shirts in 3 days! Go to graveyardprinting.com and enter coupon code FANOFHISTORY2025 for 11% offContact information:E-mail: zimwaupodcast@gmail.comhttp://facebook.com/fanofhistoryhttps://twitter.com/danhorninghttps://www.instagram.com/dan_horning/Music: “Tudor Theme” by urmymuse.Used here under a commercial Creative Commons license. Find out more at http://ccmixter.org/files/urmymuse/40020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Babylon was conquered, but not destroyed by the Medes & Persians. Who are the Medes? The modern day Kurds. This battle will occur during the Day of the Lord.

The defeat of the Persian fleet at Salamis didn't end the Greek struggle for survival - it revealed deep fractures within their alliance that nearly surrendered their hard-won victory. Though only 31 Greek city-states had united against Persian invasion, their coalition teetered on collapse shortly after their naval triumph.When King Xerxes withdrew with most of his forces, leaving General Mardonius in Thessaly to continue the campaign the following spring, the immediate threat seemed to recede. This apparent reprieve accelerated the Peloponnesian desire to retreat behind their defensive wall at the Corinthian isthmus while Athens struggled to rebuild their utterly destroyed city.The strategic gulf between Athens and Sparta widened as Mardonius cleverly exploited these divisions. Sending Alexander I of Macedon as an envoy, the Persians offered Athens remarkably generous terms: autonomy, additional territory, and assistance rebuilding their temples - if they would abandon the Greek alliance. These diplomatic overtures revealed Persian sophistication in understanding and manipulating Greek interstate politics. The stakes became brutally clear when an Athenian councilman who supported accepting Persian terms was stoned to death alongside his family.As Mardonius advanced into Attica a second time, Athens evacuated to Salamis again, sending increasingly desperate envoys to Sparta. The Peloponnesians, however, completed their defensive fortifications at the isthmus while celebrating religious festivals - a thinly-veiled excuse for inaction. Athens found themselves abandoned precisely when they needed their allies most.This moment of crisis illuminates the trajectory of Greek interstate relations that would eventually culminate in the devastating Peloponnesian War decades later. The continental, defensive mindset of Sparta clashed fundamentally with Athens' commitment to a united Greek response. These divergent strategic priorities would develop into competing visions for Greece's future after the Persian threat receded.Support the show

Babylon was conquered, but not destroyed by the Medes & Persians. Who are the Medes? The modern day Kurds. This battle will occur during the Day of the Lord.

INTRO: Student absences are on the rise. Nationally, the number of students missing school, all the way from K to 12 has doubled since the pandemic began. That's according to the U.S. Department of Education. There can be a lot of contributing factors for absences, but as Fahima Degia (Day-gi-ya) reports, some New York City public school students are choosing other pathways to develop their careers. Degia 1 46th Street in Flatbush is a long block. In the middle is a brown house. walk into the backyard there and the first thing you see is a white shed. And… It's filled with birds. Malik 1 This is a yellow headed Amazon. This comes from the Amazon Rainforest. They cost about $2,500 and they live up to like 50 to 60 years. Degia 2 That's Kizir Malik, he's18 years old and a senior at Clinton High School, in the Bronx. But, He has other things on his mind besides school. He's the co-owner of a small business selling exotic animals - like these birds. Degia 3 Omg a bird just landed on my head. Degia 4 Do you prefer you small business over school? Malik 2 laughing, That's a hard question ? That uhh it depends Degia 3 Malik started his business out of boredom when he was stuck at home during COVID. Now he has a business partner, a grownup.That's who owns the property here. And they breed cats, like Persians, in the basement. Degia 6 When I asked Malik how much he makes, he won't tell me, but he says they sell a couple of birds every day. The types of birds he sells can go for up to twenty thousand dollars. And they have an instagram account with ten thousand followers. But he has an hour commute from his home in the Bronx to his partner's house here in Brooklyn And all of this means he misses a lot of days of school. Malik 3 You know, sometimes school is not everything. But yeah, there are some days that you have to sacrifice either school or work, because work work will give you money now, you know, school will give you money later. So a couple of days won't do any harm. Degia 7 In my reporting I've seen a lot of high school students like Malik who run their own businesses - selling fake eyelashes, doing nails - some even have their own clothing brands. In NYC, just over a third of students all the way from K to grade 12 were absent in 2022. Of course they don't all have their own small businesses, but they did miss 10% of the school year. And students' prioritizing work can lead them to miss a lot of school. So how do schools fix this? Nat Malkus researches education policy at the American Enterprise Institute - a conservative leaning think tank. Malkus 1 What can schools do, I mean, schools can do a number of things, Degia 8 Malkus 2 they can provide supports, they can share transportation has met, they can actually have consequences. If students don't come back, like they could not get credits, if they don't attend enough in high school, they could have some consequences for students who don't show up Degia 9 Malkus says Chronic absenteeism harms student's ability to stay engaged and learn. He says schools should work closely with parents to ensure their kids get to school. Malkus 3 you could argue about the moral obligation, but there's a legal obligation to get your kids to school and all 50 states up to a certain age. He says students are already behind from the pandemic. So Malkus says There is substantial learning loss from the pandemic, and to catch up they have to learn faster. Being absent Won't help. Malik who has school tomorrow will definitely be present. Degia 10 He says students having businesses is okay. But he says chronic absenteeism is the most pressing post-pandemic problem in public schools. Because students are already behind after COVID. Fahima Degia, Uptown Radio.

Part 1 Afghanistan by Stephen Tanner Summary"Afghanistan" by Stephen Tanner provides a comprehensive overview of the history and complexities of Afghanistan, focusing on its geopolitical significance and the impact of various foreign invasions and internal conflicts. Tanner delves into the nation's historical context, beginning with its role as a crossroads for trade and culture, influenced by various empires throughout history, including the Persians, Greeks, and Mongols.The book explores the 19th-century Anglo-Afghan Wars, highlighting the British attempts to exert control over the region and the resulting resistance from Afghan tribes. Tanner explains how these conflicts foreshadowed future struggles and set the stage for ongoing instability.Moving into the 20th century, Tanner examines the rise of nationalism, the impact of World War II, and the Soviet invasion in 1979, which plunged Afghanistan into a brutal conflict. He discusses the emergence of the Mujahideen and the eventual rise of the Taliban, as well as the catastrophic consequences of foreign interventions and civil war.In the post-9/11 era, Tanner addresses the U.S. invasion and the subsequent efforts to rebuild the nation amidst ongoing violence and corruption. He stresses the complexities involved in nation-building in a country with deep-rooted tribal affiliations and historical grievances.Throughout the book, Tanner provides insights into the cultural, social, and political dynamics of Afghanistan, emphasizing its resilience and the persistent challenges it faces. The narrative is both a historical account and a commentary on the interaction between Afghanistan and larger global powers, making it a valuable resource for understanding the nation's tumultuous past and uncertain future.Part 2 Afghanistan AuthorStephen Tanner is an American author and military historian known for his work on the history of military conflicts, particularly in Afghanistan. His book "Afghanistan" was published in 2002. In addition to "Afghanistan," Tanner has written several other notable works, including:"The Siege of Washington: The Untold Story of the Decision to Evacuate the Capital" (2005)"A Clash of Cultures: Afghanistan in the 21st Century" (2006)"The Riddle of the Sands" (2007)"The War Against the Taliban: A Historical Perspective" (2008)Evaluating the quality of various editions, the best edition of Tanner's "Afghanistan" often cited by readers is the 2002 initial edition, as it provides the foundational analysis of the complex history and sociopolitical dynamics within Afghanistan, set against the backdrop of the early 21st-century military engagement. Later editions and adaptations may include updated content reflecting newer events, but the original offers a critical look at the historical context that shaped the region at that time.Part 3 Afghanistan Chapters"Afghanistan" by Stephen Tanner provides a comprehensive history of Afghanistan, tracing its evolution from ancient times to the modern era, particularly focusing on the sociopolitical dynamics and military conflicts that have shaped the region.Overall Theme: The overarching theme of the book revolves around the complexities of Afghanistan's identity and its pivotal role in regional and global politics. Tanner effectively examines how the interplay of local dynamics, foreign interventions, and historical legacies has created a unique yet tumultuous environment within the country. Central to the theme is the idea that Afghanistan is more than merely a battleground for external powers; it is a nation with a rich cultural heritage that has been forged through centuries of conflict and resilience.Main Chapter Content: Historical Context: The book opens with an overview of Afghanistan's early history, including its geographical significance as a crossroads of...

This holy martyr was a married man, living in Cappadocia. During the reign of Julian the Apostate he, along with some other Christians, destroyed the pagan temple to the goddess Fortuna. (The Prologue says that it was his wedding day). For this he and his companions were cruelly tortured, then beheaded.   At that time St Basil the Great governed the Church in that part of Cappadocia. When the apostate Emperor, going to fight the Persians, came to the town in which Eupsychius was martyred, St Basil went to meet him, bringing three barley loaves as a sign of honor and welcome. The Emperor, ever hostile to Christians, ordered that the bishop be given a fistful of hay in return. Saint Basil said to the Emperor 'You ridicule us now, O King; we bring you bread, by which we are fed, and you give us miserable food that you, with all your power, are unable to turn into nourishment for men.' The Emperor perished in the Persian campaign.

Marti Gobel is a nationally recognized actor, director and teaching artist. Upon graduating from UW-Whitewater in 2008 with a degree in Performance Theatre and Philosophy (with an emphasis in Religious Studies), Ms. Gobel began a rich career in both theatre and television and film. Her need to add to the tapestry of the mid-west professional theatre scene led to the founding of the now defunct UPROOTED theatre. As Producing Artistic Director (from 2009-2015)  worked tirelessly to diversify the arts through her efforts. Ms. Gobel is a current member of both Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.Selected Stage Credits include: Milwaukee Shakespeare (Henry IV, part 2), Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (Well, Around The World In 80 Days, Broken and Entered, Fires In the Mirror) Renaissance Theaterworks' (NEAT: Milwaukee, Sheboygan and South Africa, The Persians, Crumbs From the Table of Joy, The Violet Hour, Still, Sex With Strangers, The Roommate, Witch and a reading of Tanya Saracho's El Nogular and Gwendolyn Rice's The Griots), First Stage Children's Theatre (The Neverendingstory and readings of Jackie and Me, The Promised Land), The Milwaukee Repertory Theater (Clybourne Park, A Christmas Carol:2012-2014, Yankee Tavern, Trouble In Mind), Forward Theater (In The Next Room, Mr. Burns, Skeleton Crew, Mom, How Did You Meet The Beatles) and UPROOTED theatre (Beauty's Daughter: Milwaukee, Chicago and Memphis, A Streetcar Named Desire, Yellowman, Crumbs From the Table of Joy, *Pink Champagne, Jack and Jill, Hoo Doo Love, Oleanna, I Have Before Me A Remarkable Document Given To Me By A Young Lady From Rwanda, The Philadelphia Story, *Man From Madisonville, The Sunset Limited, Suddenly Last Summer), Next Act Theatre (Perfect Mendacity, No Child, Twilight: Los Angles, The Taming, The Christians), and Theatre Lila (No Child). Marti plays an ongoing role as the Civil Rights suffragist, Ida B. Wells for the Kenosha Civil War Museum in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and is often featured in local and regional commercials and voice-overs. She appeared in the short film, Spare Change, as well as the web-series Gettin' Grown; both directed by the award-winning film director Aaron Greer and Faith Flix's Come Follow Me, Mary, Mother of Jesus and the feature film Game Day produced by Chicago Studio City. National television credits include NBC's Chicago PD in addition to several regional commercials.University Productions include: Airness (Hendrix College), Wine In the Wilderness, Crumbs From the Table of Joy, The Light (Marquette University), Trojan Women (UW-Milwaukee).Marti has served as a lead teacher at First Stage Theatre Academy in Milwaukee as well as a lead teacher and program designer for UPROOTED theatre's education department. Past adjunct professor assignments at Marquette University, UW-Milwaukee and Carthage College. She is a JF Kennedy Center trained Teaching Artist who worked closely with Master Educator, Randy Barron for 6 months developing her residency which is now offered through The Young Auditorium and The Overture Center. She currently serves as Artistc Consultant for Black Arts MKE. Ms. Gobel will serve for a third term as a KCACTF adjudicator for Region III.Ms. Gobel is a Jeff Nominated Director for her work on Is God Is with A Red Orchid Theatre and the recipient of 2024 Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Director.She currently serves as Producing Artistic Director and Education Coordinator for OnWord Theatre in San Diego, CA. *Indicates World Premiere'sWebsite: OnWord TheatreInstagram: Instagram (@OnWordTheatre)Facebook: OnWord Theatre | San Diego CABox Office Email: info@OnWordTheatre.comWant a video experience? Check out our YouTube channel! We're now uploading video episodes!This episode:https://youtu.be/XJnZnBJVkKwGeneral channel:http://www.youtube.com/@intheartscene

In the documentary Growing up Gypsy, Stacey Dooley gets to know three young English Romany Gypsy women. Invited into the traditionally private community, Stacey discovers the complex balancing act the young women face growing up in one of Britain's most maligned ethnic minorities. She meets 23 year old Chantelle who prides herself in keeping with the ‘old' Gypsy values her granny Rita taught her and shares her ‘Gypsy Cleaning' videos on social media where she has nearly 400,000 followers on TikTok and 15 million likes on her page. Chantelle joined Kylie Pentelow to talk about her life, alongside Stacey Dooley.In this week's Women's Prize discussion, Clare McDonnell heard from two authors about the debut books they've had long-listed for this year's prestigious literary prize. Sanam Mahloudji's novel, The Persians, tells the story of the Valiat family from the perspective of five women from 1940s Iran into a splintered 2000s. And Labour MP Yuan Yang's non-fiction book, Private Revolutions, explores the lives of four women born in China in the 1980s and 90s during a time of rapid change in society.Since its release, the Netflix TV series Adolescence has caused widespread discussion about what's shaping our teenagers' lives. The four-part series follows the fallout from 13-year-old Jamie's arrest on suspicion of murdering his female classmate, Katie. The show is a critique of social media-boosted toxic masculinity and its role in the teenage experience. Clare discussed the issues with clinical psychologist, Dr Amani Milligan and Consultant Forensic Psychologist, Dr Ruth Tully.Do you enjoy a bit of gossip? The thrill of being the first to hear something and sharing it, or the irresistible urge to be let into the lives of others? What's the difference between idle gossip and hurtful criticism behind someone's back, do women gossip as much as men and can gossip be used to keep women safe? American journalist Kelsey McKinney joined Clare to discuss her new book, You Didn't Hear This From Me: Notes on the Art of Gossip.Technology journalist and author Lara Lewington asks how artificial intelligence can improve women's health, and what we are ready for it to do for us? From prevention and diagnostics to testing and tracking, we speak to female experts, scientists and practitioners. Her experts include Madhumita Murgia, AI Editor of the Financial Times, Nell Thornton, Improvement Fellow, The Health Foundation and Dr Ellie Cannon, a GP and author.This week we heard how victims and survivors of domestic abuse want the police to better protect them from perpetrators, but there's also a very practical and positive way some women have been trying to process their trauma to build a future for themselves. British boxer Lesley Sackey - who previously won gold at the EU Championships - is a survivor of an abusive relationship and now helps other women to gain confidence and move forward by getting into the boxing ring. She joined Claire, along with Olivia Culverhouse, who took part in Lesley's 10-week Fight Forward course.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Annette Wells Editor: Sarah Crawley

Return of the Man-Child (4) (audio) David Eells – 3/26/25 Dear Father, we thank You so much for being our Savior. Thank You for guiding us with Your Word. Thank You for encouraging us and for showing us wonders and revelations concerning the times to come. We want to be in agreement with You and You said, “How shall two walk together, except they be agreed?” We thank You for revealing to us Your Word so that we can cooperate with You in the principles that You abide by and we thank You for drawing us, giving us wisdom and opening our understanding. We thank You for giving us eyes to see and ears to hear that this may be possible. Thank You so much, Lord. Amen.  We've been studying out of Matthew some things that show us the truth, That which hath been is that which shall be (Ecc.1:9). We have been looking at the principles of what we know to be not only literally true, but a parable of things to come; and we've been reading in Matthew 2, where we discovered that the Messiah appears as a type and shadow of the coming Man-child Ministry, in whom He will live as the first-fruits.  The Messiah showed up and Herod and all of the people in Jerusalem were troubled concerning this, which is amazing unless you understand that people who are walking in the flesh and enjoying this world really do not want to be disturbed by a Messiah, or by a coming Kingdom, and they don't want their sins to be revealed. God's people have no business being troubled about the coming of the Lord. It should be a joyous thing and it is for all disciples of Jesus Christ. We left off here in (Mat.2:7) Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. (8) And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Goand search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found [him,] bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. (9) And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.Notice that He wasn't a baby anymore; at this point Jesus was a “young child.” (Mat.2:10) And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.  (11) And they came into the house (He was not in the cave. He was in a house at this time.) and saw the young child with Maryhis mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (12) And being warned [of God] in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. (13) Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. Sounds very much like what we know from the Scriptures in Revelation 12, where the dragon was awaiting the birth of the Man-child to devour him, but the Man-child escaped and was caught up to the throne.  In the same circumstance here, we see that Jesus is about to escape the clutches of Herod. (Mat.2:14) And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; (15) and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt did I call my son. The Lord has called His Son, and all of His sons, to come out of Egypt, and if we don't come out of Egypt, we cannot be useful in bringing other people out of Egypt. Herod was seeking to destroy the Messiah. The Bible says that Joseph took the young child and His mother and departed into Egypt. Going into Egypt from where they were in Bethlehem would have entailed them going into the wilderness and God said that they were to stay there until the death of Herod. Then He called His Son out of Egypt to come through the wildernessand go to the Promised Land. This fits very well with all of the histories of the Man-child back through the Bible. Moses went into his personal wilderness when fleeing from Pharaoh, only to return after the death of Pharaoh and become a leader of God's people. Now we see the same thing of Jesus going into His own personal wilderness in fleeing from Herod until the death of Herod.  Then, when Jesus came out from His wilderness, He started His ministry very quickly. We're not speaking physically, but you'll see as we continue this study that there is a seeming jump in time and suddenly the child grew up. The Man-child ministry is the same. Many people have had visions and dreams of what occurred here, that the Man-child was born and immediately started walking, talking, and acting in the Kingdom. He grew up very quickly, as we will see. The narrative jumps from the time He was a young child until the time when His ministry started and that's about to be fulfilled. But notice that all the Man-child types went into their own personal wilderness until the death of the king who ruled over God's people and then they came out of the wilderness and started their ministries. Now Herod wanted to make sure he killed this Messiah; he did not want any competition from any other kings. (Mat.2:16) Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wisemen. As we have learned, the word “Bethlehem” means “house of bread” or “house of food.” Notice that Herod slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem. That's very interesting because Herod was seeking to destroy the Man-child by killing all the people who were in the “house of food.”  I know that some people think that this murder of all the children applies only to something like abortion, but I think it's the other way around. Abortion is just a physical sign of what is really happening in the Spirit. Herod represents the Beast and Pharaoh represents the Beast kingdom. The beasts attempt, like the Dragon, to destroy the promised seed. How is that fulfilled in the earth today? How does the Beast destroy people in the first place? Well, the Beast represents all mankind that walks in the flesh because it is at enmity with God. If a person walks after the flesh, the Bible says he must die (Romans 8:13). If you walk after the flesh, the Beast has destroyed you. The Beast is making a war on the people who are receiving the Word of Life, the “house of bread.” In these days, God is revealing His promise to raise up His first-fruits in His image. There are a lot of people who understand, who know, who want to be a part of this, and are seeking to be full of the food of God so they can grow into maturity. The fact that God uses a child does not mean that He is not seeking maturity. To be mature in the Kingdom is quite the opposite ofthe way it is in the world. (1Co.14:20) Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men. So, according to the ways of the world, we are children, but in mind and soul we are mature.  Jesus said, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven (Mat.18:3).We have to be a child in trusting our Father, in being submissive to Him, and that is what maturity is. The Man-child as a corporate body, is very small, so you could see him as a child in that way. We're seeing that Jesus was what the Bible says in Isaiah 7:14. He was “a sign,” an uwth, a sign of something to come; and the Lord has shown us that, as history repeats, it repeats on a larger and larger scale, with larger and larger groups of people. The Man-child Jesus represents an end-time Man-child of a large number of people, but it's still a relatively small corporate body.  Let me say, there are more people called to this first-fruits ministry than are attaining to it. One of the reasons is that some of them are being put to death by the flesh, the Beast. They're being taken out and I've seen myself that people who desired to be in the first-fruits were tricked by their flesh into succumbing to the lusts of the world and so were removed from taking part in this first-fruits ministry. They're slain by the Beast and carried away from the “food” to Babylon; they're carried into bondage. I've seen people who started out with Christ but were taken out by the world. They were taken into bondage in Babylon, bondage to the Beast, and that's what Herod wanted to do – he wanted to capture the Christ-child. This fits with what follows in (Mat.2:17) Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, (18) A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not. This text quoted from Jeremiah 31:15 fits with what I just described, which is going into bondage to the Beast is death. The Bible says, for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die (Rom.8:13). Being in bondage to the flesh, to Babylon, to Pharaoh, is death. That's when the old man is ruling over the spiritual man like it was in Egypt.  So who is Rachel? And what does she represent here? Rachel was the second bride of Jacob, the second, favored bride of Jacob, who was Israel, the father of the 12 patriarchs. Can you think of another father of 12 patriarchs? Yes, that would be Jesus. In this case, Jacob, or Israel, represents Jesus, the father of the 12 patriarchs. The second, favored bride represents the Church, and not only that, Rachel bore Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph represents the Man-child, as you know. He was the one who was taken to Egypt and was basically “crucified,” sent to prison (Genesis 39), where he preached to the butler and the baker about who was going up and who was going down (Genesis 40) and came out of prison to be the king over everything, second only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:40). Jesus did the same thing as a type. So Rachel was the one who brought forth the Man-child, but some of these people were being slain; people who lived in the same “house of bread” as Jesus did were being slain. Rachel was also the mother of Benjamin, who is the last fruit of the Church. You see, there is another fruit after Joseph, who is the first-fruits. The Bible says, But many shall be last [that are] first; and first [that are] last (Mat.19:30). We know that natural Israel is coming back into the Kingdom, but they are coming in last. When the brothers of Joseph came to meet him in Egypt, Benjamin was the last-fruits of Rachel, and I believe that this is referring to the fruits of natural Israel that are coming into the Kingdom at the end. Let's pay attention to Joseph here. What does Rachel and the death of her children represent, and how can we avoid it?  Let's look at the original text in Jeremiah that's quoted in Matthew: (Jer.31:15) Thus saith the Lord: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not. They have in some way died and the rest of the text will reveal to us in what way they've died. In the text, Jeremiah speaks of Ephraim and he refers to the children of Rachel, but how is Ephraim of the children of Rachel? Well, Ephraim was the second-born son of Joseph, and the first-born was Manasseh. When Israel came to bless Joseph's sons, who followed in Joseph's steps, Israel took his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, then he took his left hand and put it on Manasseh's head and he began to bless them (Genesis 48:14). The right hand is always placed on the son of the double blessing, so Joseph was displeased when he saw his father doing this and he tried to move his father's hands. But Israel refused, and said, I know [it,] my son, I know [it;] he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: howbeit his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations (Gen.48:19). It says “the fullness of nations” in the original text, so Ephraim represented the fullness of nations. Not only did Rachel represent the Church, in that she was the second and favored bride of Israel, who represents Jesus, the father of the 12 patriarchs, but also her son was the second-born son who received the first-born's blessings. You remember that Jesus came first to give that blessing to the first-born son, Israel, and they refused it, so He turned to the Church, which was made up of both Jews and Gentiles, to receive this blessing. But, by and large, the first son did not receive the double blessing. Instead, the right hand was upon the second son. Joseph's second son (or his born-again son) is God's first-born.  How is that? Because Israel was not born-again. They should have entered into that blessing and they did not. They were not born-again, but the Church was and is born-again. So Joseph's second son was God's first-born. How do I know that? (Jer.31:9) They shall come with weeping; and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Why wasn't Manasseh, who represented Israel, the first-born? Because he was the first-born son of Joseph, who represented Jesus. Everything that happened to Joseph happened to Jesus. So, once again, the doctrine that the Church has about the relationship of the Church to natural Israel is totally wrong. God has from the beginning planned to have a born-again people and the “letter people” were a type and shadow of the born-again people. If you don't understand that, you're going to go around worshipping Israel, which failed. If the Church doesn't have any better sense, they will walk in the steps of those people and fail as well. Now we can continue and find out what is meant for Rachel to lose her children. How did they die? What did it represent? (Jer.31:16) Thus saith the Lord: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. Wow! What is it for them to be dead? It's the same thing we were talking about; it means they were in bondage to the Beast, they were walking after the flesh and so they were dead in the eyes of God. I'll prove it just a little further down. “They shall come again from the land of the enemy.” In other words, they were taken into captivity, serving the old man, like Israel was doing in Egypt or in Assyria when they were taken captive. They were no longer living in their Promised Land.  (Jer.31:17) And there is hope for thy latter end, saith the Lord (Israel must come out of captivity in the latter end and so will the Church.); and [thy] children shall come again to their own border. The Lord calls it “living” when we come back to live in the Promised Land, or live on the promises of God, or live in right relationship to the Presence of God, which was in Zion. That's what He calls “living.” To be in bondage, walking after the flesh in the world, in bondage to your flesh, that's what being “dead” is, according to the Lord. (1Ti.5:6) She that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth. God calls that “death” – spiritual death. For us to come out of this bondage is God's plan. Why did God raise up the Man-child? To bring His people from death into resurrection life. (Jer.31:18) I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus,] (Notice, we're seeing Rachel's children here as Ephraim and he represents the “fullness of nations,” the Church, the second-born son.) Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed [to the yoke:] (You know how a calf is if it's unaccustomed to the yoke – they buck and snort, trying to get loose, wanting to do their own thing.) turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. This is grace. Ask the Lord to turn you, to grant you repentance. It's His gift to give. (Jer.31:19) Surely after that I was turned, I repented (That shows grace, doesn't it? If God turns you, you will be turned. Repentance means “turn and go the other way.”); and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.  (Jer.31:20) Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearneth for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. The Lord has a heart to deliver His people out of bondage. Ephraim went into bondage before their enemies. They were taken captive by the Beast. They were reckoned as the dead by Rachel. So, we see this in Jeremiah chapters 30 and 31 where it speaks of this. The whole story is there of God delivering His people out of bondage. Why did Jesus come? He came to deliver His people out of Babylonish, or beastly, bondage so that they could serve God. You cannot serve God while you are serving the Egyptian, while you're in bondage to the old man. God started the story in Jeremiah the same way He did in Matthew. Looking at the previous chapter in Jeremiah, we find where He talks about the woman in travail with the Man-child. (Jer.30:6) Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child: wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Why? Because this is where the whole sequence of events is going to begin. (Jer.30:7) Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. So we're told that it's during the time of “Jacob's trouble,” the Tribulation. Not only that, but He goes on to say of His people that during this time, strangers shall no more make him their bondman (Jer.30:8). In other words, they are going to come out of bondage for the last time. God says they will never again be in bondage. When? The end time.  Then He says, but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them (Jer.30:9).There is the end-time David that's being raised up because Jesus came to sit upon David's throne (Luke 1:32). (Jer.30:10) Therefore fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. That is being “saved,” not being in bondage to your flesh anymore, not being in bondage to the Beast anymore, not serving the world anymore. That is what the Lord has promised for us. So you're either saved or you're dead. The Bible calls it being “dead in your sins,” and “dead in your trespasses.” Rachel was weeping because her children had been taken away into bondage and were no longer free to serve God. (Jer.30:21) And their prince shall be of themselves (We read that in Matthew 2; then it was Jesus coming and it's also the Man-child coming in the end time.), and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is he that hath had boldness to approach unto me? saith the Lord. (22) And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. The Lord is going to draw these first-fruits unto Himself and that will be the beginning because their job is like Moses' job, which is to bring the people out of Egypt. Moses went through his own wilderness, as we have seen, and then his job was to go back and bring the people through the same wilderness to meet the Lord in the Mountain of God. (Jer.30:24) The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it. So this is a latter-day revelation. God's judgment is part of what brings God's people out of bondage and into their Promised Land, which is the place of safety.  Jeremiah 31 tells us this story of Ephraim coming out of bondage and we saw that was because God raised up the Man-child to lead them out of bondage. We see here the same sequence of events. The prince will be raised up from the midst of the people. (Jer.31:1) At that time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel … “All Israel,” as we know from Romans 11, includes everybody who's abiding in the olive tree. Natural Israel rejected Jesus, and were broken off of the olive tree and the Church was grafted into the olive tree through faith in Jesus Christ. Those true disciples who followed Jesus in the Gospels, who were natural Jews who came into the Kingdom, remained in their olive tree. But it says, “all the families of Israel,” referring to all Jews, Gentiles, and all those who through faith in Jesus Christ are members of the olive tree, which in Romans 11:26 is called “all Israel.”  (Jer.31:1) At that time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. This includes the remnant of natural Jews that is to come back in, which I am calling “Benjamin,” who was the last fruit of Rachel. (Jer.31:2) Thus saith the Lord, The people that were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness … There was a sword that came upon Egypt, representing the world, to motivate God's people to be willing to leave the fleshpots of Egypt, to come out from among them and be separate and to worship God in the wilderness. Egypt had to suffer the plagues, while God's people in Goshen were separated from Egypt and delivered from those judgments. Then He moved them out of Egypt and into the wilderness, where God could once again deal with them and teach them faith. (Jer.31:2) Thus saith the Lord, The people that were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. God planned to bring Israel into His rest.  (Jer.31:3) The Lord appeared of old unto me, [saying,] Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (4) Again will I build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel … You might think that He's referring to the Bride here when He says the “virgin of Israel,” like the virgin Mary, who brought forth the Man-child and also went into the wilderness to be instructed of the Man-child. In Revelation 12, the Man-child was birthed and then he was caught up to the throne of David, which is God's throne on Earth, where He rules over Israel, according to the Scripture. And from that place of authority, He led the woman, who brought forth the Man-child, through the wilderness. (Jer.31:4) Again will I build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: again shalt thou be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.When God's people are led out of bondage, it will be a time of rejoicing. (Jer.31:5) Again shalt thou plant vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy [the fruit thereof]. There is going to be freedom for people who have escaped the bondage of the Beast in the days to come. That's what Moses came to do, that's what Jesus came to do and that's what the Man-child is coming to do: escape the bondage of the Beast and help the Church do the same. Not everyone is going to escape that bondage. (Luk.21:36) But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the son of man.  (Jer.31.6) For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the hills of Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the Lord our God. In other words, the second son is coming out of bondage. (7) For thus saith the Lord, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout for the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. That's a good thing to cry today because here we are again. The Beast is about to bring God's people into bondage and the overwhelming majority of God's people have been in bondage all along. The bondage that we're talking about is more severe persecution, death, and destruction.  (Jer.31:8) Behold, I will bring them from the north country … The “north country” is the place of bondage. That's where Babylon brought them into captivity, that's where Assyria brought them into captivity and that's where the Medes and the Persians ruled over them. It represents the beast in the north. (Jer.31:8) Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth … This is because now God's people are in bondage to the beast all over the world. We are not talking about only little Israel, who is God's people, but worldwide spiritual Israel, who is circumcised in heart and not just in flesh. They're in bondage to the nations in which they live and God is calling them out of those nations to be a part of “all Israel,” one holy nation. (Jer.31:8) Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, [and] with them the blind and the lame (Yes, God's people who are in bondage are quite often blind and lame, and God is calling them to be able to see and to be able to walk straight before the Lord.), the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together (In other words, those who have already borne fruit and those who will bear the fruit of Christ.): a great company shall they return hither. They're going to come back to their “borders,” inside the borders of their Promised Land. The borders could represent the outline of the way you live and you want to stay within the boundaries of God's Word, so to speak.  (Jer.31:9) They shall come with weeping; and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters … Amen! Rivers of living water, which Jesus spoke about in (Joh.7:38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. (39) But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive … Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. Jesus Himself brought to His people rivers of living water. That's where their life came from – the Word that came out of His mouth. (Joh.6:63) It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life.  (Jer.31:9) They shall come with weeping; and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born. (10) Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off … (We are one of those “isles afar off” here in America.); and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as shepherd doth his flock. In other words, the Lord, Who sent His people into bondage in Egypt or in bondage to the nations, is going to draw them out now. This is a time of rejoicing. People are so fearful of the Tribulation, but they don't understand that the Tribulation is the judgment that's coming upon Egypt so that God's Israelites can come out and go into the wilderness to serve God. This is a good time. (Jer.31:11) For the Lord hath ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Which is which? It's the Beast entity “that was stronger than he.” We are not talking about a man when we say “the Beast.” We're referring to the whole body of the Beast. You're either a part of the Body of Christ or you're a part of the body of anti-Christ. The anti-Christ is the Beast kingdom. (Jer.31:12) And they shall come and sing in the height of Zion … God is drawing His people to come into His very Presence on His holy hill. God told Moses, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be the token unto thee, that I have sent thee: when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain (Exo.3:12).  (Jer.31:12) And they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow unto the goodness of the Lord, to the grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden(Praise the Lord! This is talking about the Tribulation and God is going to raise up His people to bear fruit and they're going to be blessed.); and they shall not sorrow any more at all. (13) Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. (14) And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord. Then it goes into the text we studied earlier, where Rachel was weeping for her children and God was comforting her by telling her not to worry, as they would return to their borders. They are coming back. Yes, they have been taken into bondage and are serving the flesh and are dead to the spiritual world, dead to the Kingdom of God, but He's going to change all of that. That's what God is saying in (Jer.31:21) Set thee up waymarks, make thee guide-posts; set thy heart toward the highway, (This refers to the highway of holiness that Isaiah 35:8 said leads to Zion.), even the way by which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. (22) How long wilt thou go hither and thither, O thou backsliding daughter? In other words, while they're out there wandering around in the world, this is where they are supposed to dwell. These promises are the ones they are supposed to live upon.  …for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth: A woman shall encompass a man. God is bringing the virgin into the wilderness to be led by the Davidic Manchild. The woman encompassing a man is the Bride encompassing the Man-child. Zion was the Bride, according to Revelation. God told John, Come hither, I will show thee the bride (Rev.21:9). And He showed him the New Jerusalem coming down, being born from above (Revelation 21:10). The Man-child David ruled in the midst of Zion, but he also ruled in the midst of the rest of the Church outside of Zion. So there is the larger Church, there is the Bride and there is the Man-child. This is the new thing that God is going to do: “A woman shall encompass a man.” It's not a new thing as far as history is concerned; it's a new thing as far as we are concerned, in our lifetime, because this is an end-time prophecy. (Jer.31:23) Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity …It's an old English way to say it because it sounds like just the opposite in our modern ears. If you would translate that today, you would say, “I will bring them again from the land of their captivity.” It's a good thing to come out of captivity and into the Kingdom of God. There are only two places you can dwell in this world: you are either in Babylon or you are in Zion. We are coming out of Babylon, which is this world. All of the nations of the world were at Babel. They all came from Babel and they're all part of Babylon, but Zion is separate.  Zion is that holy place that we're all going to. God enjoins them to find this highway to Zion. (Jer.31:23) Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity: The Lord bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, O mountain of holiness. Zion represents the place of holiness, the place of separation from the world. That's what “holiness” or “sanctification” means. It's the same word and it means giving up your sins in obedience to following the Lord. If you're obeying the Lord, you're walking in servitude to the Lord and you have matured in that obedience to the Lord. That is what Zion is. (Jer.31:24) And Judah and all the cities thereof shall dwell therein together, the husbandmen, and they that go about with flocks. (25) For I have satiated the weary soul, and every sorrowful soul have I replenished. (26) Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me. (27) Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. (28) And it shall come to pass that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so will I watch over them to build and to plant, saith the Lord. While in Babylon, they were living under the curse. Zion is where the curse is done away. So, spiritually speaking, you cannot physically go to Zion because obviously there is no physical Zion. We are not physical Israelites; we are spiritual Israelites and we can spiritually go to Zion. It is the place of holiness, the place of God's presence, and the place of His temple. When we come into the presence of God, that is that place of holiness. Those who were slain by the Beast, by Herod, by Pharaoh, by Nebuchadnezzar, by whatever Beast conquered them, they're going to return to their Promised Land. And living in the Promised Land represents resurrection life, the resurrection of God. This same story is found in Isaiah. (Isa.11:1) And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit. This is the Branch that in Jeremiah chapters 23 and 33 speak of an end-time David ministry that God is going to raise up. We've spoken about this already. This Branch represents the Man-child ministry in the end time, the one in whom Jesus lives, because Christ in you is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).  I knew a brother years ago who had a dream and he called me about it. His name was Tubby and he said, “David, I had this dream and I was talking to you, and in the dream, I said, ‘David, you remind me of someone I read about in the Bible.' You quoted those verses from Isaiah 11:1-5 and you said, ‘Yeah, I know that person.' Then you quoted these verses.” He was saying that these are going to be an end-time people who are going to come into this image, walking in the Spirit of God as the Branch. (Isa.11:2) And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. (3) And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; (In other words, this is a people who are walking in the Spirit and not walking in the flesh, nor ruled by the fleshly senses. They have their senses exercised to discern good from evil, as in Hebrews 5:14.) (Isa.11:4) but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (5) And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. (6) And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. A little child, the Man-child, is going to lead them. Why these beasts? Well, if you remember Noah's Ark and the people who were saved in the Ark, the beasts were also saved in the Ark and they represented the Gentiles. When Peter saw the sheet come down out of Heaven with all the unclean beasts on it, God told him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat (Act.11:7). And Peter said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth (8). But the Lord answered, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common (9). This was when Cornelius had sent his servants to Peter to get him to come and preach to them the Gospel (Acts 10:1-8) and Peter got the revelation of, “Oh, God has cleansed the Gentiles (Acts 10:46,47),” who became the Church. These were people who were members of the body of the Beast – different beasts around the world, as a matter of fact. They had come out of this beast and out of that beast. They were members of those bodies, but now they had come into the Kingdom and they were at peace with one another.  There is nothing that can bring the world together in peace except God's Kingdom. So here you see that God is going to raise up the Man-child. He's going to draw His people out of all nations, out of all beast kingdoms. By the way, they were all called beast kingdoms by Daniel, just as they are in Revelation 7. God was going to draw His people out of bondage and out of all these beast kingdoms to come and dwell in their land, which He called the land of rest, the land of milk and honey, the land of blessings, provision, and everything. Is a little child really going to lead all these beasts to be at peace and go back to the Promised Land? Yes, that's what He's talking about. (Isa.11:7) And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. At the end of 2007, I saw a vision of this happening. In the vision, the Lord was giving me a piece of property and there were all these beasts that were fleeing onto this property from the judgments that were happening outside the boundaries of this property. I saw it. They were all in total peace with one another, all these creatures that normally bite and devour one another, like the nations do. They were at peace and God's Kingdom was there; His peace was there. The Lord gave me a house and money to prepare and provide for these beasts that were coming to this refuge. (Isa.11:8) And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. (In complete safety!) (9) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain … So where are these beasts? They are at God's holy mountain and a little child, the Man-child, shall lead them. When all the beastly people of the world get saved, when they come out from under the bondage of the Beast and come into God's holy mountain, then what this refers to will be fulfilled. These are Rachel's children about whom she did not have to worry anymore. They are going to be restored. (Isa.11:9) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (10) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto him shall the nations seek (Of course, this is the Lord.); and his resting-place shall be glorious. Amen! That's where they're going – to this holy mountain, His resting place. (Isa.1:11) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people (Praise the Lord!), that shall remain, from Assyria … That's one of the “beasts” that conquered God's people and brought them into bondage. God is saying, “Come back out of bondage! Come back out of the north! Come back to your Promised Land!” God is telling us to come and dwell in Zion in the Presence of God on His holy mountain. You cannot dwell on His holy mountain without being holy because the highway that goes there is also called the “Highway of Holiness.” (Isa.11:11) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, that shall remain, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam(These were all the nations that were round about Israel.), and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (12) And he will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.  The Lord will gather them out of all the beast kingdoms to come back and dwell in their Promised Land. God is going to do this in the Spirit in the days to come. There is going to be a people who will dwell in safety and be blessed of the Lord. All their provision is going to be sure because they are a holy people. They are not under the curse. Those who walk in rebellion to God are under the curse because the curse was pronounced on the people who walked in their stubborn ways. (Isa.11:13) The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and they that vex Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. (14) And they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines on the west; together shall they despoil the children of the east: they shall put forth their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. Judgments are going to fall all over this earth where God's people are being persecuted. When they were in bondage in Egypt, the judgments that we see in the Book of Revelation fell upon Egypt, to deliver God's people out of Egypt and into their Promised Land. (Isa.11:15) And the Lord will utterly destroythe tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind will he wave his hand over the River, and will smite it into seven streams, and cause men to march over dryshod. (16) And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, that shall remain, from Assyria; like as there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.   Praise God!

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to make further cuts to welfare benefits and government departments when she speaks in Parliament later. The government already announced big welfare spending reductions last week - but the Chancellor's been told by the Office For Budget Responsibility her reforms to the system won't save as much as planned. Now dozens of women's organisations have written to Rachel Reeves urging her rethink plans for disability benefit cuts over fears it will remove a 'vital lifeline' for victims of abuse. Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson Director of the Women's Budget Group and Angie Airlie, Chief Executive of Stay Safe East speak to Clare McDonnell.In this week's Women's Prize discussion, Clare hears from two authors about the debut books they've had long-listed for this year's prestigious literary prize. Sanam Mahloudji's novel, The Persians, tells the story of the Valiat family from the perspective of five women from 1940s Iran into a splintered 2000s. And Labour MP Yuan Yang's non-fiction book, Private Revolutions, explores the lives of four women born in China in the 1980s and 90s during a time of rapid change in society. It's emerged that an NHS trust criticised over the avoidable death of a baby was paid £2m for providing good maternity care. It's the latest in a series of developments and failings which have led to calls for a national inquiry into maternity care. It's alleged that hospital trusts are failing to learn from past mistakes and failing to implement improvement recommendations. The BBC's Social Affairs Correspondent Michael Buchanan tells Clare what grieving parents want to happen.Do you enjoy a bit of gossip? The thrill of being the first to hear something and sharing it, or the irresistible urge to be let into the lives of others? What's the difference between idle gossip and hurtful criticism behind someone's back, do women gossip as much as men and can gossip be used to keep women safe? American journalist Kelsey McKinney joins Clare from the US to discuss her new book, You Didn't Hear This From Me: Notes on the Art of Gossip.Presenter: Clare McDonnell Producer: Claire Fox

Year two begins with a two-part summary episode! Herodotus of Halicarnassus (c. 484 - 425 BCE) wrote his epic history of the Greco-Persian wars and was an instant sensation. The Histories ("history" in those days meaning an inquiry or research) cover the rise of the Persians, the customs of all the peoples with whom they fought, architecture, geography, animals, religious practices, and smutty court gossip. This episode covers the first five books of The Histories, and (trigger warning) also mentions Dick Van Dyke.Want a transcript? Click here. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a rating or review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History sometimes has a habit of framing cultures as either heroes or villains, depending on the source. When it comes to Greek sources Herodotus "The Father of History", is kinda the go to when it comes to the period of antiquity. Every story needs a bad guy or a great evil to overcome, and when it comes to Herodotus his history was many times more fiction than fact. For the Greeks it was the vast and powerful Persian Empire coming to snuff out the light of the greek world. Weeeellllll...the Greeks were already doing a decent job of that themselves to be honest. While the first Persian Empire, established by the Acheamenid (Ack-a-men-id) Dynasty was central to the story of Greece "uniting", the Persians were across the Aegean doing some pretty incredible things. Founded by Cyrus the Great the Achaemenid Dynasty became the largest empire in the world during its time. Religious Tolerance, establishment of great road systems to carry trade and culture, the first mail system, a standardized monetary system based on the gold and silver, and a common language just to name a few. We owe a surprising amount of things in our modern world to this Empire. Tune in a find out just who were the Achaemenids and why maybe the Greeks kinda had it coming... Support the show

If you think hairballs are just part of life with cats, think again! Frequent hairballs can signal serious health issues like digestive problems, excessive grooming due to stress or allergies, or even conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and pancreatitis.In this episode of Muddy Paws & Hairballs, veterinarian Dr. Linda Atkins breaks down the truth about cat hairballs, why they happen, and how to prevent them.Key Takeaways: ✔️ Healthy cats should have hairballs "seasonally", approximately four hairballs per year—weekly or monthly hairballs are a red flag. ✔️ Excessive grooming is often triggered by stress, food allergies, skin irritation, or parasites. ✔️ Digestive motility issues, like IBD, pancreatitis, or even constipation, can cause hairballs to form instead of passing through. ✔️ Brushing your cat regularly removes loose fur before they swallow it—the #1 way to prevent hairballs! ✔️ Wet cat food and fresh water improve digestive health and help move swallowed fur through the system. ✔️ Long-haired cat breeds (Persians, Maine Coons, Ragdolls) require extra grooming to prevent hairballs and matting. ✔️ Hairball-related coughing? It might not be hairballs at all—feline asthma or heart disease could be the real culprit. ✔️ Training pets early to accept brushing makes future grooming stress-free. ✔️ Thinking of adopting a cat? Know what you're signing up for—long-haired cats need lifelong grooming commitment!Don't Ignore the Signs! Frequent hairballs, vomiting, or excessive grooming are NOT normal cat behavior. If your cat is hacking up hairballs more than a few times a year, consult your veterinarian to rule out underlying health concerns.

He was born in Damascus to an eminent family, and was well educated in his youth. Discontented with the wisdom of the world, he entered monastic life in the monastery of St Theodosius, where he became the lifelong friend and disciple of John Moschos. Together they visited the monasteries and hermitages of Egypt; they later wrote down their discoveries among the holy monks in the classic Spiritual Meadow. After the death of his teacher, St Sophronius traveled to Jerusalem, which had just been liberated from the Persians. He was there to see the Precious Cross returned from Persia by the Emperor Heraclius, who carried it into Jerusalem on his back. A few years later, in 634, St Sophronius was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem, where he served his flock wisely for three years and three months. He was zealous in the defense of Orthodoxy against the Monothelite heresy: He convoked a Council in Jerusalem which condemned it before it was condemned at the Sixth Ecumenical Council. The holy Patriarch even traveled to Constantinople to rebuke the Patriarch Sergius and Emperor Heraclius, who had embraced the Monothelite error.   The years of peace were few for the Holy Land; for just as the Persian Empire was decisively defeated by Heraclius, the followers of Islam erupted out of Arabia, conquering most of North Africa and the Middle East in a few years. The Saint was so grieved by the capture of Jerusalem in 637 by the Caliph Omar that begged God to take him, so that he might not live to see the desecration of the holy places. His prayer was granted, and he reposed in peace less than a year later.   St Sophronios is the author of the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt, appointed to be read in the churches during every Great Lent. He also wrote the service of the Great Blessing of the Waters. Some have attributed the Vesperal hymn "Gladsome Light" to him, but we know that it dates from before the time of St Basil the Great, who mentions it in his writings. It seems though, that St Sophronios supplemented the hymn, and that its present form is due to him.

Daniel 8 offers us a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty amidst challenging times. This apocalyptic vision, filled with symbolic animals and horns, reveals the rise and fall of empires - specifically the Medes, Persians, and Greeks. At its core, the passage assures us that despite appearances, God remains in control. The vision of the 'little horn,' identified as Antiochus IV, serves as both a warning and a comfort. It prepares God's people for future persecution while assuring them of ultimate deliverance. This speaks to us today, reminding us that in our own trials and tribulations, we can trust in God's overarching plan. The passage challenges us to empathize with persecuted believers worldwide and to find hope in Christ's ultimate victory over evil. As we navigate our own challenges, let's remember that just as in Daniel's vision, appearances can be deceiving - our God triumphs in the end.

6 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” 6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. 10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. 11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” 16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. 25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Da 6:1–28.

The Notable Horn of Daniel 8. Many are starting to wonder if President Trump is the Anti Messiah or little horn of Daniel 8? Short answer, we don't believe that is the case. HOWEVER, in this message today we will show you why (with lots of evidence) we believe Donald Trump is the Notable Horn on Daniel's hairy goat which was already fulfilled one time by Alexander the Great and his conquering of the then known world power kingdom of the Medes and the Persians which as Daniel tells us are the two horns of the ram. In order to understand what's happening right now and what will very likely soon come to pass from a biblical understanding we need to take a look at Alexander the Great's very short history leading up to his great victories over world powers and untimely death. The AM figure of that time was fulfilled in Antiochus Ep IV as the little horn of Daniel 8) who rose from one of the four divisions of Alex kingdom after his death.

Language Learning Collections - Book 1, Part 4 Title: LibriVox Language Learning Collections - Volume 1 Overview: This collection is part of an initiative to create a language learning resource at LibriVox. The LibriVox Language Learning Collections contain readings from various language learning books, grammars, primers, phrasebooks, dictionaries, readers, and even other works which contain information on various languages, recount experiences of language learning and encountering new languages, or provide guides for correct pronunciation, writing or discourse in a language. These works could describe English or any other language whatsoever, from Latin to Sumerian, Chinese to Wampanoag, Esperanto to Swahili (etc.). This Volume includes a treatise by Sir Arthur Cotton, author of an "Arabic Primer". His daughter, Lady Hope, on page 523 of her biography of her father, writes that he "had very strong theories on the subject of learning “Living Languages,” his opinion being that, as every child who comes into the world learns its mother tongue orally, and at first without grammar… so the learning of all modern languages would be very much facilitated by a similar process." Also included are the orientalist E.G. Browne's opinions on language learning (taken from the introduction to A Year Amongst the Persians), the first lesson from Dr. Emil Otto's "French Conversation-Grammar", a talk by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá on the need for a universal auxiliary language, Samuel Johnson's "A Grammar of the English Tongue", several sections from Henry Sweet's "First Steps in Anglo-Saxon", Lessons 1 - 5 from "Esperanto in Twenty Lessons", two sections on language by Varro, a story in Latin from "Fabulae Faciles", "Greek Lessons: 1-10", the Phonology Section from a "Primer of Persian" and Lessons 1 - 19 from "A Practical Arabic Course". Published: Various Series: LibriVox Language Learning Collections List: LibriVox Language Learning Collections, Language #4 Author: Various Genre: Language Learning, Education, Foreign Language, Culture, Vocabulary, Linguistics Episode: Language Learning Collections - Book 1, Part 4 Book: 1 Volume: 1 Part: 4 of 4 Episodes Part: 5 Length Part: 3:49:13 Episodes Volume: 20 Length Volume: 9:19:06 Episodes Book: 20 Length Book: 9:19:06 Narrator: Collaborative Language: Multilingual Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: Language, Linguistics, Education, Language Learning, Foreign Language, Culture, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Latin Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #Language #Linguistics #Education #LanguageLearning #ForeignLanguage #Culture #English #Spanish #French #Chinese #Arabic #Russian #Japanese #Portuguese #German #Latin Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream. Nicholas James Bridgewater.

Language Learning Collections - Book 1, Part 3 Title: LibriVox Language Learning Collections - Volume 1 Overview: This collection is part of an initiative to create a language learning resource at LibriVox. The LibriVox Language Learning Collections contain readings from various language learning books, grammars, primers, phrasebooks, dictionaries, readers, and even other works which contain information on various languages, recount experiences of language learning and encountering new languages, or provide guides for correct pronunciation, writing or discourse in a language. These works could describe English or any other language whatsoever, from Latin to Sumerian, Chinese to Wampanoag, Esperanto to Swahili (etc.). This Volume includes a treatise by Sir Arthur Cotton, author of an "Arabic Primer". His daughter, Lady Hope, on page 523 of her biography of her father, writes that he "had very strong theories on the subject of learning “Living Languages,” his opinion being that, as every child who comes into the world learns its mother tongue orally, and at first without grammar… so the learning of all modern languages would be very much facilitated by a similar process." Also included are the orientalist E.G. Browne's opinions on language learning (taken from the introduction to A Year Amongst the Persians), the first lesson from Dr. Emil Otto's "French Conversation-Grammar", a talk by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá on the need for a universal auxiliary language, Samuel Johnson's "A Grammar of the English Tongue", several sections from Henry Sweet's "First Steps in Anglo-Saxon", Lessons 1 - 5 from "Esperanto in Twenty Lessons", two sections on language by Varro, a story in Latin from "Fabulae Faciles", "Greek Lessons: 1-10", the Phonology Section from a "Primer of Persian" and Lessons 1 - 19 from "A Practical Arabic Course". Published: Various Series: LibriVox Language Learning Collections List: LibriVox Language Learning Collections, Language #3 Author: Various Genre: Language Learning, Education, Foreign Language, Culture, Vocabulary, Linguistics Episode: Language Learning Collections - Book 1, Part 3 Book: 1 Volume: 1 Part: 3 of 4 Episodes Part: 5 Length Part: 2:21:58 Episodes Volume: 20 Length Volume: 9:19:06 Episodes Book: 20 Length Book: 9:19:06 Narrator: Collaborative Language: Multilingual Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: Language, Linguistics, Education, Language Learning, Foreign Language, Culture, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Latin Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #Language #Linguistics #Education #LanguageLearning #ForeignLanguage #Culture #English #Spanish #French #Chinese #Arabic #Russian #Japanese #Portuguese #German #Latin Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream. Nicholas James Bridgewater.

Language Learning Collections - Book 1, Part 2 Title: LibriVox Language Learning Collections - Volume 1 Overview: This collection is part of an initiative to create a language learning resource at LibriVox. The LibriVox Language Learning Collections contain readings from various language learning books, grammars, primers, phrasebooks, dictionaries, readers, and even other works which contain information on various languages, recount experiences of language learning and encountering new languages, or provide guides for correct pronunciation, writing or discourse in a language. These works could describe English or any other language whatsoever, from Latin to Sumerian, Chinese to Wampanoag, Esperanto to Swahili (etc.). This Volume includes a treatise by Sir Arthur Cotton, author of an "Arabic Primer". His daughter, Lady Hope, on page 523 of her biography of her father, writes that he "had very strong theories on the subject of learning “Living Languages,” his opinion being that, as every child who comes into the world learns its mother tongue orally, and at first without grammar… so the learning of all modern languages would be very much facilitated by a similar process." Also included are the orientalist E.G. Browne's opinions on language learning (taken from the introduction to A Year Amongst the Persians), the first lesson from Dr. Emil Otto's "French Conversation-Grammar", a talk by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá on the need for a universal auxiliary language, Samuel Johnson's "A Grammar of the English Tongue", several sections from Henry Sweet's "First Steps in Anglo-Saxon", Lessons 1 - 5 from "Esperanto in Twenty Lessons", two sections on language by Varro, a story in Latin from "Fabulae Faciles", "Greek Lessons: 1-10", the Phonology Section from a "Primer of Persian" and Lessons 1 - 19 from "A Practical Arabic Course". Published: Various Series: LibriVox Language Learning Collections List: LibriVox Language Learning Collections, Language #2 Author: Various Genre: Language Learning, Education, Foreign Language, Culture, Vocabulary, Linguistics Episode: Language Learning Collections - Book 1, Part 2 Book: 1 Volume: 1 Part: 2 of 4 Episodes Part: 5 Length Part: 1:23:43 Episodes Volume: 20 Length Volume: 9:19:06 Episodes Book: 20 Length Book: 9:19:06 Narrator: Collaborative Language: Multilingual Rated: Guidance Suggested Edition: Unabridged Audiobook Keywords: Language, Linguistics, Education, Language Learning, Foreign Language, Culture, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Latin Hashtags: #freeaudiobooks #audiobook #mustread #readingbooks #audiblebooks #favoritebooks #free #booklist #audible #freeaudiobook #Language #Linguistics #Education #LanguageLearning #ForeignLanguage #Culture #English #Spanish #French #Chinese #Arabic #Russian #Japanese #Portuguese #German #Latin Credits: All LibriVox Recordings are in the Public Domain. Wikipedia (c) Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. WOMBO Dream. Nicholas James Bridgewater.

Our latest live edition of the Roqe podcast recorded on Feb 6, 2025, in front of a sold out audience at City Playhouse in Thornhill, Canada, featuring Shohreh Aghdashloo (recipient of the Roqe Media Icon Award), Fardad Farahzad, Dang Show, Siamak Mehr, Ghazal Akhounzadeh, Anahita Nayebi, Mahsa Mortazavi, Pegah Ganji and DJ Blanch Echo. Jian kicks off the show with an essay about Persians and tardiness (“The Science of Being Late”) before being joined by all the special guests for interviews and memorable performances. Full video of the show is available on our YouTube Channel and audio across all of our podcast platforms. Thanks to the full Roqe team, crew, and volunteers. Makeup by Milad Beauty and lighting by Light Night Design And our sponsors for Roqe Live 4: Montrok Group @montrokgroup Anabel Sharouyan @anabel_sharouyan Beigi Law Firm @beigilaw Gta partyplatter @gtapartyplatter Famluxy @famluxy Aydin Rahimy @aydin_rahimy_realestate Twoar.t @twoar.t TIP Services @tip_services Dental forest wood @dentalforestwood Ontario Camera @ontariocamera Alia pastry @aliapastry Lazar prop creation @lazar_prop_creation

Daily Dose of Hope February 11, 2025 Day 3 of Week 46   Scripture:  Daniel 4-6; John 18   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the daily Bible reading for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Let's get into our Scripture for today.    For our Old Testament reading, we are in the book of Daniel, chapters 4-6.  All three of these chapters, though different, emphasize God's sovereignty through kings and kingdoms.  In chapter 4, Daniel interprets a dream for the king about a tree that shelters the world.  The tree is cut down by an angel.  Daniel, with a fair amount of trepidation, tells the king that it means he, the king, will essentially lose his mind.  He will become like a wild animal and eat grass in the pasture.  Daniel implores the king to stop sinning and get right with God.    Everything that Daniel interpreted in the dream eventually came true.  The king lost his sanity and became like a cow in the field.  But in time, Nebuchadnezzar came to and began to worship the one true God.  He gained his sanity and gave praises to the Lord.   By chapter 5, there is a new king, Belshazzar.  He holds a big feast and decides to use the vessels from the Lord's Temple to drink from.  A hand appears and begins to write on the wall.  The king's magicians can't understand it, so the king calls for Daniel.  Daniel boldly tells the king that God isn't pleased with his arrogance and how he is drinking from cups taken from the Temple while giving praise to false gods.    The message included these words: numbered, weighed, and divided.  Daniel interpreted what they meant.  Numbered indicated that the king's days were numbered and would end soon.  Weighed means the king was weighed on the scale but did not measure up.  Finally, divided means that the kingdom will be divided between the Medes and the Persians.  King Belshazzar died that very night and Darius, the Mede, was made king.   Chapter 6 is a passage that most of us are familiar with – Daniel and the lions' den.  When the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar initially conquered Judah, Daniel and his friends would have been about 15.  Now, time has passed.  A lot has happened.  God has been faithful to these Jewish men living in exile.  They have remained faithful to the one true God, Yahweh, despite all the idolatry around them.  They have moved up the ranks and now fulfill very high positions in the Kingdom, despite the many political changes that have happened around them.    By now, Daniel is in his early 80's.  He was still exceptional, moving up, getting promoted, and the other administrators were jealous.  How in the world has this foreigner done so well and soon he is going to be placed over the whole Kingdom and be their boss. They look for a way to trap him.  But Daniel did not have any skeletons in the closet (don't you wish we had politicians like this in our world today) – no skeletons, there is nothing they can blackmail him with – he has such high integrity.  He is a Godly man.  But then they are like, “well, that's where we are going to have to set him up.  We know he will not betray his God, so that's it!  That's where we are going to cause his downfall.”   But they have to get the king onboard, and King Darius really liked Daniel.  But, if you want to sway someone in a high position, then what do you have to do – appeal to their ego, right?  They come up to him and say, “King, aren't you the highest and greatest in the land?  Aren't you the one who deserves worship?”  And the king, in all his arrogant glory, is like “yeah, yeah, I am…”  They get the king to issue a nonreversible decree that for thirty days, no one can pray to anyone but the king.  If they break the decree, they will be thrown into a den of hungry lions.  The king was obviously arrogant but he might not have been the sharpest tool in the shed either.    But Daniel was obedient to God.  He continued to get down on his knees and pray three times a day.  How easy would it have been for Daniel to just say, “Well, for 30 days, I'm just not going to pray so that I can stay safe.”  He could have said, “I'm going to just pray in my heart and no one will know.” He could have gone into an inner room where no one would have seen him.  But no, he goes up the stairs, opens his windows, and prays publicly.  He chose not to take the safe route.  I once read that we think of the miracle as Daniel being saved from the lions' den but the real miracle was that Daniel stayed true to his convictions and kept praying knowing that he would face death.  The real miracle was that he had made a decision to trust God no matter what.  He was not going to allow some human king to tell him when and to whom he could pray.  He had one Lord and it wasn't King Darius.   We all know how the story ends.  Daniel is saved from the lions.  But what do we learn here? I keep thinking how God's people should expect opposition.  When we live for Jesus Christ, then there are forces in this world that hate that.  Whenever we have a huge spiritual victory at New Hope, we typically see some kind of big issue afterward or in the midst of it.  If you have a personal spiritual victory, please know that the enemy is going to try to make a mess of it or discourage you or lead you astray.  Be aware and be vigilant. The other big thing to mention here is trust.  Maybe you've noticed, but trusting in God is the thread that has woven together the first half of the book of Daniel.   We can trust God because God can and will deliver believers from any danger we face.  We serve a God who is trustworthy.  We serve a powerful God.  We serve a God who cares for his people.  Now, I say that and I also know that how God chooses to deliver us from our lions' dens may not be the way we want him to deliver us from our lions' dens.  In this text, God chose to send an angel to close the mouths of the lions.  It could have had a different ending.  Here's our big question - do we trust God, even when we don't know what the ending will be?  With that, let's move to the New Testament.  Our text is John 18.  Jesus has been before the Jewish high priest and the Jewish ruling council.  They can't stand him.  They not only feel threatened by him, but they are appalled about how he speaks of forgiving sins and being like the Father.  They want him to die but they don't have the power to execute him under Roman law.  They have to take him to the Roman governor, who happens to be Pontius Pilate.  As you will see, Pilate does not find Jesus to have done anything worthy of death at all but he is scared of the Jewish leaders.  We could go in a lot of different directions with this.  But I want to focus on a portion of verses 37-38, ...Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked... Jesus came to testify to the truth.  Pilate questions if there can be truth.  The Greek word for “truth” is aletheia, and it means something like “divine revelation.”  It literally means “what can't be hidden.”  The Hebrew word for “truth” is emeth, which means firmness and immovability. Truth is not relative, nor does it change from person to person.  Truth can be offensive to some because they simply don't like how it makes them feel.  The reality is that many things can have some truth but there is only one TRUTH.  For believers, TRUTH is Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 reads, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Jesus is the map that leads us to all truth.  Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31–32 NLT) Believing in Jesus involves more than just accepting what He says as the truth. It involves being faithful to His teachings; changing not just your priorities, but the way you think and act; and restructuring your life so that it resembles His. That’s the message Jesus sends in John 8. You can’t be a casual disciple. The amazing thing about becoming a disciple is that it doesn’t feel like an obligation; it feels like freedom. When you know the truth about what Jesus offers, you’re set free from the pull of your sinful nature. You have what you need to resist temptation and discover a new way of living. The Jewish leaders who heard Jesus’ offer were unimpressed. “But we are descendants of Abraham . . . We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” (verse 33 NLT). That was an odd claim, coming from people whose ancestors had been under the control of the Egyptians, Philistines, Babylonians, Persians, Syrians, and Romans at various times in history. Jesus tried to help them understand that if you sin, you’re a slave to sin because you have no choice in the matter. You have no power to break free from sin’s mastery over you. Only the Son, who enjoys the rights and privileges of being part of God’s family, can free a slave of sin. The Jewish leaders tried to argue that they were part of God’s family, too, because they were descendants of Abraham. Jesus pointed out that He was the litmus test because He was the true Son of God. Since the Jewish leaders were trying to kill Him, they couldn’t claim that God was their father too. If God were truly their father, they would have welcomed Jesus. They would have recognized that He had been sent by God. They would have done everything in their power to assist and support Him. Instead, they showed who their real father was by spreading lies about Him, turning people against Him, questioning His authority, trying to embarrass Him, scheming against Him, and plotting to kill Him. “You are the children of your father the devil,” Jesus told them (verse 44 NLT). Jesus saw these people for who they were: opponents of God’s work and His will. But not everyone could see through their disguise. The same problem exists today. It’s possible for people to be spiritual leaders, to have respect and authority in the eyes of many people, and still be obstacles to God’s real work. Their teachings may seem reasonable, spiritual, and even scriptural to those who aren’t listening closely. That’s why God’s Word instructs us to be discerning and wise, to test everything we hear against the truth of Scripture. — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ISLAMIC REPUBLE OF IRAN FALSE FROM THE START:  1/4: Iran is More Than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran Hardcover –  by  Brenda Shaffer  https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/helicopter-iranian-presidents-convoy-accident-says-strate-tv-2024-05-19/ https://www.amazon.com/Iran-More-Than-Persia-Politics/dp/311079621X Iran is More than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran analyses Iranian politics from a unique perspective, one that focuses on the relations between the Persian-dominated Iranian state and the country's ethnic minorities. The book explores the stability of the ruling regime in light of the challenges that multiethnicity brings. Persians comprise less than half of the population of Iran and more than 40 percent of Iranians lack fluency in the Persian language. An overwhelming majority of non-Persian groups inhabit most of Iran's border regions; as such the book explores Iran's foreign policy toward neighboring states that share co-ethnic populations. Iran's ethnic minorities inhabit the state's poorest provinces and the country's growing environmental and water supply challenges hit the ethnic minority provinces harder than the Persian center, adding an ominous ethnic character to what are often presented as purely environmental or economic challenges. The book further examines the potential impact of ethnic based unrest in Khuzestan on Iran's oil production, Iran's main oil producing region. Drawing on a rich assortment of primary data and interviews, this book offers unparalled insights into ethnic politics in Iran. It will be of interest to upper-level undergraduates and postgraduates, researchers and professionals interested in the Middle East, international relations, and ethnic studies. UNDATED PERSIA

ISLAMIC REPUBLE OF IRAN FALSE FROM THE START:  2/4: Iran is More Than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran Hardcover –  by  Brenda Shaffer  https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/helicopter-iranian-presidents-convoy-accident-says-strate-tv-2024-05-19/ https://www.amazon.com/Iran-More-Than-Persia-Politics/dp/311079621X Iran is More than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran analyses Iranian politics from a unique perspective, one that focuses on the relations between the Persian-dominated Iranian state and the country's ethnic minorities. The book explores the stability of the ruling regime in light of the challenges that multiethnicity brings. Persians comprise less than half of the population of Iran and more than 40 percent of Iranians lack fluency in the Persian language. An overwhelming majority of non-Persian groups inhabit most of Iran's border regions; as such the book explores Iran's foreign policy toward neighboring states that share co-ethnic populations. Iran's ethnic minorities inhabit the state's poorest provinces and the country's growing environmental and water supply challenges hit the ethnic minority provinces harder than the Persian center, adding an ominous ethnic character to what are often presented as purely environmental or economic challenges. The book further examines the potential impact of ethnic based unrest in Khuzestan on Iran's oil production, Iran's main oil producing region. Drawing on a rich assortment of primary data and interviews, this book offers unparalled insights into ethnic politics in Iran. It will be of interest to upper-level undergraduates and postgraduates, researchers and professionals interested in the Middle East, international relations, and ethnic studies. 1832

ISLAMIC REPUBLE OF IRAN FALSE FROM THE START: 3/4: Iran is More Than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran Hardcover –  by  Brenda Shaffer  https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/helicopter-iranian-presidents-convoy-accident-says-strate-tv-2024-05-19/ https://www.amazon.com/Iran-More-Than-Persia-Politics/dp/311079621X Iran is More than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran analyses Iranian politics from a unique perspective, one that focuses on the relations between the Persian-dominated Iranian state and the country's ethnic minorities. The book explores the stability of the ruling regime in light of the challenges that multiethnicity brings. Persians comprise less than half of the population of Iran and more than 40 percent of Iranians lack fluency in the Persian language. An overwhelming majority of non-Persian groups inhabit most of Iran's border regions; as such the book explores Iran's foreign policy toward neighboring states that share co-ethnic populations. Iran's ethnic minorities inhabit the state's poorest provinces and the country's growing environmental and water supply challenges hit the ethnic minority provinces harder than the Persian center, adding an ominous ethnic character to what are often presented as purely environmental or economic challenges. The book further examines the potential impact of ethnic based unrest in Khuzestan on Iran's oil production, Iran's main oil producing region. Drawing on a rich assortment of primary data and interviews, this book offers unparalled insights into ethnic politics in Iran. It will be of interest to upper-level undergraduates and postgraduates, researchers and professionals interested in the Middle East, international relations, and ethnic studies. 1906 RUSSIANS IN TABRIZ

ISLAMIC REPUBLE OF IRAN FALSE FROM THE START:  4/4: Iran is More Than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran Hardcover –  by  Brenda Shaffer  https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/helicopter-iranian-presidents-convoy-accident-says-strate-tv-2024-05-19/ https://www.amazon.com/Iran-More-Than-Persia-Politics/dp/311079621X Iran is More than Persia: Ethnic Politics in Iran analyses Iranian politics from a unique perspective, one that focuses on the relations between the Persian-dominated Iranian state and the country's ethnic minorities. The book explores the stability of the ruling regime in light of the challenges that multiethnicity brings. Persians comprise less than half of the population of Iran and more than 40 percent of Iranians lack fluency in the Persian language. An overwhelming majority of non-Persian groups inhabit most of Iran's border regions; as such the book explores Iran's foreign policy toward neighboring states that share co-ethnic populations. Iran's ethnic minorities inhabit the state's poorest provinces and the country's growing environmental and water supply challenges hit the ethnic minority provinces harder than the Persian center, adding an ominous ethnic character to what are often presented as purely environmental or economic challenges. The book further examines the potential impact of ethnic based unrest in Khuzestan on Iran's oil production, Iran's main oil producing region. Drawing on a rich assortment of primary data and interviews, this book offers unparalled insights into ethnic politics in Iran. It will be of interest to upper-level undergraduates and postgraduates, researchers and professionals interested in the Middle East, international relations, and ethnic studies. 1900 NESTORIAN CHRISTIANS

The story of the Three Wise Men has been reinterpreted since it was first written down. The gift-bearing visitors to the newborn Jesus were initially described as “Magi”, meaning Persians of a priestly caste, but by the 4th century they were given the individual names of Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar. And in Medieval Europe they were described not as Three Wise Men, but as Three Kings. Yet there's more to the evolution of the Magi than Western ideas, in Syriac Christian traditions there are up to 24 Magi, and in the Ethiopian church they are named Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater. So how have these ideas developed over time? Listen as William and Anita are again joined by Professor Lloyd Lewellyn-Jones to discuss the evolution of the story of the Magi, and the influence of British imperialism on their symbolism… Twitter: @Empirepoduk Email: empirepoduk@gmail.com Goalhangerpodcasts.com Assistant Producers: Anouska Lewis  Producer: Callum Hill Exec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The truth behind the story of the Three Wise Men has more connections to empire than many of us realise… Featured in every Nativity scene in school plays, churches, and art around the world, the Three Wise Men are key characters in the Christmas story. They are only mentioned once in the Bible, appearing in Matthew's gospel described as the Magi - meaning Persians of a priestly caste from Persia. But who were they? Where were they from? And what was the meaning behind their gifts? Listen as Anita and William are joined by Professor Lloyd Lewellyn-Jones to discuss how the story of the Magi highlights the intermingling of Persian and Jewish culture at the time, as well as tensions between two great empires: the Parthians and Rome… Twitter: @Empirepoduk Email: empirepoduk@gmail.com Goalhangerpodcasts.com Assistant Producers: Anouska Lewis & Becki Hills Producer: Callum Hill Exec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices