Podcasts about Persistence

Luke 18Andrew and Edwin discuss receiving Jesus with the humility of a child and what Jesus meant when He asked if the Son would find faith on the earth.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=26958The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Today on Notable Leaders Radio, I sit down with Noemi Beres, Co-Founder of Podcast Connections and a master organizer who helps entrepreneurs land high-quality podcast interviews to build authority and grow their businesses. Growing up as an only child in a small town in Hungary, Noemi learned early on from her parents that hard work, persistence, and consistency are the real drivers of success. After starting her career in Denmark and Ireland, she made the bold leap into entrepreneurship in 2007 despite having no formal background in sales or marketing. When personal tragedy struck in 2019, followed by the loss of her business during the 2020 pandemic, Noemi chose to push forward, rebuilding her life and launching a thriving podcast booking agency from scratch. Throughout our conversation, Noemi shares why relationships must always come before results, how leaning into art helped her navigate profound grief, and why every leader needs a "just keep going" mindset. In This Episode, We Discuss Pivot Through Crisis with Unshakable Resilience When sudden loss or market disruptions threaten your livelihood, forward momentum becomes essential. Noemi opens up about losing her father, grandmother, and business in rapid succession during 2019 and 2020, and how choosing action over dwelling on the past allowed her to rise from the ashes. Prioritize Relationships Over Results True business growth happens when you lead with heart and generosity. As an active member of the Go-Giver community, Noemi explains how building genuine, trust-based connections creates far more meaningful impact than chasing quick transactions. Embrace Storytelling and Authentic Guesting Great podcasting relies on presence, vulnerability, and active listening. Noemi breaks down what makes an extraordinary podcast guest, highlighting how sharing real human stories creates a ripple effect that helps listeners feel seen, understood, and inspired. Build Your Life on Hard Work and Consistency Success is rarely an overnight phenomenon. Noemi reflects on how her parents instilled a strong work ethic in her from an early age, demonstrating that persistent effort and daily showing up ultimately unlock long-term achievements. A Final Reflection Our circumstances may shape our story, but they don't have to determine the ending. The moment we choose to keep moving forward despite fear, tragedy, or uncertainty is the moment we step back into our own power. With persistence, genuine kindness, and a commitment to serving others, we can rebuild from any setback, cultivate deep connections, and turn our greatest challenges into lasting impact. Carry This Forward Notice What story or past setback are you holding onto that might be keeping you from taking your next step forward? Reflect Where in your business or personal life can you shift your focus from seeking results to building genuine, heart-centered relationships? Act What is one small, consistent action you will take before tomorrow to keep moving toward your goals, regardless of current challenges? Resources Go Giver Series https://me-l.co/7vknxkxd   Connect with Noemi Website: Podcast Connections Email: noemi@podcastconnections.co LinkedIn: Noemi Beres Instagram: @noemi_beres_ Guest Bio Noemi Beres is the Co-Owner of the Podcast Connections podcast booking agency. She helps entrepreneurs and business owners to get booked on high-quality podcasts to build their authority and grow their business. She started working in online marketing in 2007. Noemi has a Master's Degree in Danish Literature and Language; she is a linguist, content creator, and "master organizer". In her free time, she loves making hand-sewn collages on canvas and playing on her hang and frame drum. She is also a walker.  

What if your ability to lead under pressure has less to do with having all the answers and more to do with how your nervous system responds?In this episode, Christina sits down with Alan McLaren to explore the connection between leadership, emotional intelligence, and nervous system regulation. They unpack what really happens when we're under pressure and how becoming more self-aware can change the way we communicate, build trust, and lead others.Alan shares practical insights on how leaders can reprogram their responses to high-pressure situations, create stronger human connections, and move beyond simply managing people to truly understanding them.If you're a leader, entrepreneur, or high achiever who wants to perform at a high level without losing connection, trust, or yourself in the process, this conversation is one you'll want to hear. About Alan McLaren Alan McLaren is Co-Founder of STRATA where he works with CEOs and senior executives on their Leadership Signal: how they are experienced in the rooms that carry consequences.His work focuses on what happens when pressure changes how a leader lands and why important decisions can stall even when the strategy is sound. By helping leaders surface and calibrate the patterns that show up under pressure, Alan helps them build trust faster, create stronger alignment and move consequential decisions forward with less friction.Alan is a five-time CEO and former International Chair of YPO. He has worked with more than 600 CEOs across 18 countries.Connect with Alan on LinkedIn If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a comment on iTunes CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA!InstagramLinkedInChristinalecuyer.comBook a Free Clarity CallBook Christina For Your Next Workshop

Get Reelisms Podcast Ep. 196: Zuzena Magsino on Breaking In, Community, AD Life, and AI in Film On episode 196 of the Get Reelisms podcast, hosts Adam Chase Rani and Christine Chen interview actor and assistant director Zuzena Magzino about her path into entertainment, from show choir and dance auditions to overcoming fear of being recorded and posting social content. After a five-year hiatus and serious health issues, she returned via a 2021 TikTok Dunkin' casting call, booked the spot, and later moved to LA, emphasizing the importance of supportive circles, networking, persistence, and the reality that even “set” celebrities may struggle without financial literacy and protection from exploitation. The conversation covers filmmaking community, conflict resolution and chaos management on set, sexism and ego problems among crew, and concerns about AI replacing actors while acknowledging AI as a tool. They close with promotion for Getreelisms.com merchandise and an online film school.   About Christine W Chen: Christine W. Chen is a Taiwanese American filmmaker, Academy member (Short Films Branch), and versatile producer, director, and writer known for bold, character-driven storytelling. Through her production company, Moth to Flame, she has created award-winning short films, features, and branded content—including Erzulie, a feminist swamp thriller that had a limited theatrical run and now streams on major platforms. In addition to her directorial work, Christine is a seasoned DGA 1st Assistant Director and co-author of Get Reelisms and ABCs of Filmmaking, as well as the co-host of the Get Reelisms Podcast. For more information about Christine Chen: christinewchen.com About Adam Rani: Adam Chase Rani is a production designer and set dresser working in the Austin film market, bringing a sharp eye for visual storytelling and practical creativity to every project. During the pandemic, he co-founded the Get Reelisms Podcast with Christine Chen to foster community within the film industry. Together, they've built a platform that blends education, candid conversations, and industry insights to help filmmakers connect, learn, and grow.   About Guest Zucena Magsino: Zucena is a queer mixed Filipino-American actor from San Diego based in Los Angeles since 2024. They've recently studied at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and can be seen in an array of music videos, short films, vertical series, and TV mini series. Their lead role in Charlene, a Kilam Production, written by Mai Briggs premiered at LA Shorts International Film Festival 2026. And their series-regular debut as Leah in Marriage Material is now streaming on Apple TV for the US & Canada and Amazon Prime worldwide. When they're not acting they're creating their own projects, helping their community, or on set as an AD!    WEBISODE version of the Podcast   00:00 Fame Money Myth 00:43 Podcast Intro 01:09 Meet Zuzena 02:49 From Dance to Camera Fear 04:25 Social Media and Corporate Detour 06:27 Health Crisis Reset 06:54 Dunkin TikTok Breakthrough 08:45 Supportive Sets and Circles 14:27 Networking and Hustle Mindset 15:50 Making It Takes Years 17:26 Actors Not Set for Life 19:36 Brand Ownership and IP 20:45 AI Actors and Ethics 22:00 AI as Tool Not Replacement 23:47 Conflict as Collaboration 24:23 Miscommunication on Set 25:21 Egos and Drama Queens 25:48 Veteran PA Meltdown 28:25 Second AD Maid Mode 29:33 Safety and Respect 31:08 Tranquility Through Chaos 33:55 Stern Voice and Strikes 35:12 Women Leading on Set 39:04 Collaboration and Continuity 41:17 Landing the Plane 41:30 Housekeeping and Film School Official Get Reelisms PageGet Reelisms Amazon StoreInstagram

Welcome to Spacing Out With BB and Jason! We're covering Blade Runner: Black Lotus, and this week we're discussing season 1, episodes 6 and 7, “The Persistence of Memory” and “Reality”. Thanks for joining us!Feel free to reach out to us with your thoughts; We may use your comments on an upcoming episode. Email: spacingoutpod@gmail.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpacingOutPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/spacing_out_podcast/X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/Spacing_Out_PodBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/spacingoutpodcast.bsky.social #SpacingOut

20260927 Evening - Power In Persistence (Waldo) by Melkbos Fellowship

The history of electricity in Lebanon serves as a vibrant arena for struggles over political economy, foreign corporate ownership, and the very definition of national sovereignty. Associate Professor Ziad Abu-Rish unpacks this evolution, tracking public utilities from early regional monopolies to the eventual creation of Électricité du Liban (EDL). Rather than viewing popular protests and boycotted utility bills as signs of state disintegration, this conversation explores how these collective actions actively built and legitimized Lebanese state institutions. This deep dive ultimately reframes daily encounters with state infrastructure as fundamental practices of modern politics and national identity.00:00 Introduction04:00 Monopolies and Regional Boundaries12:07 The Myth of Free Market Competition17:30 Decolonizing Public Infrastructure23:26 The Spark of the Boycott Movement27:31 Redefining State Legitimacy through Protests32:34 Concrete Boundaries and Popular Sovereignty38:01 Tracing State Growth and Formations46:44 The Persistence of Institutions51:57 Invisible Walls and Controlled Movement54:49 History on StageZiad Abu-Rish is Associate Professor of Human Rights and Middle East Studies at Bard College, where he also directs the MA Program in Human Rights and the Arts. A scholar of the modern Middle East and North Africa, his research centers around state formation, economic development, and popular mobilizations, particularly in Lebanon and Jordan. He earned his PhD in History from UCLA and his MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University. Abu-Rish is the author of The State of Lebanon: Popular Politics and Institution Building in the Wake of Independence (Stanford University Press, forthcoming), and co-editor of The Dawn of the Arab Uprisings: End of an Old Order? (2012). He is the co-creator (with Tania El Khoury) of The Search for Power, an interactive installation and lecture performance on the history of electricity in Lebanon. He serves as Co-Editor of Arab Studies Journal and Jadaliyya, as well as Co-Director of the Lebanon Dissertation Summer Institute.Connect with Ziad Abu-Rish

Episode BibliographyThe Book of Common Prayer (2019). Anglican Church in North America. Available at bcp2019.anglicanchurch.net.Armas, Kat. Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us about Wisdom, Persistence, and Strength. Brazos Press, 2021.McCaulley, Esau. Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope. InterVarsity Press, 2020.The New Zealand Prayer Book / He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa. Collins, 1989.Rutledge, Fleming. God Spoke to Abraham: Preaching from the Old and New Testaments. Smith, James K.A. Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation. Baker Academic, 2009.Williams, Jarvis. Redemptive Kingdom Diversity: A Biblical Theology of the People of God. Baker Academic, 2021.Williams, Rowan. Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer. Eerdmans, 2014.

This SF Renter Is Trying to Beat the AI-Fueled Housing Boom With an Analog Approach   Facing a rental market where even a shared apartment can cost thousands per month, San Francisco resident Harlow Srain has spent nine months cold-calling landlords and property managers, to see if they might be willing to charge less for rent. KQED Housing Reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi follows Srain's search as she fights to stay in the community she's built, rather than move to a cheaper apartment farther away. Inside the Unlikely Dance That Brought Two Cultures Together at San Quentin  Amu Wynn and Angel Rodriguez are both incarcerated at San Quentin, where Wynn dances with the prison's Native Hawaiian group and Rodriguez leads its Aztec Dance troupe. For the prison's annual Day of Peace, the two broke with prison norms to stage an unprecedented joint performance blending their traditions. This is an excerpt from KALW's podcast "Uncuffed."  Meet the Woman Attempting to Swim the Entire California Coast  In July, Catherine Breed got in the ocean near the Oregon border with a goal: to swim all 900 miles of California's coastline and end near the Mexico border by October. She swims up to 15 miles a day, calling the journey her love letter to the California coast — a tribute to the women in sports who came before her.  Inside the Nation's Biggest National Park Cleanup, Now in Its Third Decade at Yosemite  Yosemite has seen record visitor numbers this year after the park dropped its reservation system. And more visitors means more garbage. Right now, thousands of volunteers are descending for its annual "Facelift" cleanup, hauling everything from cigarette butts to smashed bicycles out of the park. Susan Valot reports on the event, which has removed more than a million pounds of trash from Yosemite since its founding.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SHOW NOTES What if the worries that keep you up at night could become the stories that make thousands of people laugh? In this episode of the Sisterhood of S.W.E.A.T., Linda sits down with Nashville stand up comedian Brian Bates to talk about his new comedy special, Worried, and the courageous decision that completely changed the direction of his life. After spending nearly 20 years in corporate America, Brian left his day job at age 43 to pursue stand up comedy full time. His story is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to reinvent yourself, take a risk or answer the calling that will not leave you alone. Named after Brian's infamous "resting worried face," Worried turns a lifetime of overthinking, awkward encounters and people pleasing into hilarious and relatable storytelling. From dating apps, older fatherhood and sleep apnea to potty training disasters, expensive tree removal and wondering whether the family dog needs therapy, Brian proves that there truly is no problem too small to spiral over. Brian also shares what he has learned from nearly two decades in comedy, how he transforms anxiety into material and what it was like working with his friend Nate Bargatze, who executive produced the special. Worried was filmed at The Lab at Zanies in Nashville and is now available on the Nateland Entertainment YouTube channel. As an original host and producer of The Nateland Podcast throughout its six year run, Brian helped create the chemistry and connection that made the show wildly popular. He now cohosts The Public Figures Podcast alongside fellow comedians Aaron Weber and Dusty Slay. Brian also discusses expanding into acting, including his appearance in Nate Bargatze's new film, The Breadwinner, and continuing to bring his signature anxious optimism to audiences across the country. In this episode, you will learn: • Why Brian left corporate America at 43 to pursue comedy • How to move forward even when fear and self doubt are present • Why everyday anxiety can become a powerful source of connection • How Brian turns uncomfortable family moments into relatable comedy • What becoming a father later in life has taught him • How his friendship and creative partnership with Nate Bargatze developed • What six years on The Nateland Podcast taught him about building an audience • Why it is never too late to reinvent yourself • How laughter can help us feel less alone in our worries Watch Brian Bates' stand up special Worried on the Nateland Entertainment YouTube channel. Listen to The Public Figures Podcast with Brian Bates, Aaron Weber and Dusty Slay. Look for Brian in Nate Bargatze's film The Breadwinner and catch him performing in cities across the country. Summary In this episode, comedian and former corporate professional Brian Bates shares his journey from corporate America to stand-up comedy, the importance of responsible writing, and how embracing work and persistence can lead to success at any age.   Key Topics Transition from corporate career to comedy The importance of responsible writing in comedy Using everyday frustrations as material Overcoming imposter syndrome and age-related doubts The role of discipline and structure in comedy The significance of persistence and timing in career change The impact of life experiences on comedic storytelling The process of honing material through repetition The value of responsible content creation in comedy Encouragement for late bloomers to pursue passions Takeaways Good writing is essential regardless of genre, and practice improves material. Responsibility and discipline are crucial in building a comedy career. Every frustrating or awkward moment can be transformed into a story. It's never too late to start a new career or pursue a passion. Persistence and timing are key to success in any field. Life experiences enrich comedic storytelling and authenticity. Repetition and honing are vital for effective comedy routines. Embracing work and responsibility can lead to unexpected success. Age is just a number; it's about timing and readiness. Courage involves moving forward even when worried or uncertain. Sound Bites "My face tells people I'm worried all the time." "I think God wanted me to wait till I was older." "It's never too late to take the next step." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Brian Bates and his comedy journey 02:03 The inspiration behind the special Worried and managing anxiety 03:57 Lessons from a corporate career that helped in comedy 06:08 The reality of writing and preparing comedy material 08:09 Making the leap from corporate job to full-time comedian 09:51 Overcoming imposter syndrome and starting later in life 12:02 Finding humor in everyday frustrations and stories

What if one unsolicited demo, sent to an artist you had never met, set the direction of your entire career? In this episode, John Petrocelli, founder and CEO of Bulldog DM, shares how encrypting a copy of Purple Rain and sending it to Prince's organization led to building the first direct-to-consumer music service for a major artist, and eventually to one of the most experienced livestream studios in the world. John has powered livestreams for Coachella, the Masters, the Royal Wedding, the Grammys, and the Oscars. He has been in the industry for 20 years, almost as long as it has existed. This conversation covers the mentors who shaped that path, including Prince and Mark Cuban, and why he believes there has never been a better time to enter the space. [00:04:13] What He Does and Who He Serves Founder of Bulldog DM, the world's most experienced livestream studio Provides turnkey services and strategy for clients mastering live video Clients range from AT&T and Coca-Cola to ad agencies, social platforms, and sports teams Just celebrated 14 years in business [00:05:39] Why Live Video Exploded The pandemic made live video a globally adopted behavior almost overnight Grandparents used Zoom, students took distance learning, trade shows went virtual The market corrected coming out of the pandemic Netflix has since gone heavily into live with NFL games, the Home Run Derby, and WWE [00:07:12] Where the Industry Is Now Netflix reports roughly 250 million people consuming ad-based video Amazon, YouTube, and Hulu are all cranking out live content Paramount announced a seven-year, seven billion dollar UFC deal days after the Skydance acquisition Every major platform now has live capability built in [00:08:43] The AEG and YouTube Years Sold his boutique livestreaming company into AEG AEG owns Coachella, a third of the Lakers, the Kings, and venues worldwide Pitched YouTube on entering live and ran a proof of concept with Alicia Keys in Times Square American Express sponsored it and the results opened the door [00:10:00] Starting Bulldog DM Too Early Powered Coachella, Bonnaroo, Rock in Rio, product launches, and movie premieres on YouTube Spun out believing this was clearly the future Without the AEG and YouTube anchors he had to start over Realizes now he started the business a little early [00:10:21] What Being Early Actually Gave Him Sat down with brands and agencies on Madison Avenue and just listened Kept hearing the same challenges: cord-cutting, brand safety, and ad blocking Brands also needed to reach a generation that values experiences over possessions He built the business specifically to address those problems [00:11:00] Why Watch Time Matters So Much Advertising is one of the most disintermediated industries there is Done properly, they can unlock 5 to 30 minutes of watch time for a brand Human attention span has fallen from about 12 seconds to below eight this century Live, collaborative, participatory experience is what counteracts that [00:12:22] How He Got Into Streaming Entered during the format wars between Windows Media, QuickTime, and RealPlayer Worked in content delivery, supporting every format as neutral ground His LA clients were broadcasters, studios, record labels, and sports entities That vantage point gave him an early look at where things were headed [00:13:00] The Call from Apple Apple approached him about their happiness with his QuickTime work in music An artist wanted to do direct distribution themselves That artist was Prince, and John was a massive fan He was already thinking about how content would need to be monetized and protected [00:13:45] The Purple Rain Demo Pulled a copy of Purple Rain off a file sharing network Had an engineer encrypt it so playback required authorization Non-members paid 99 cents; fan club members paid 77 cents Prince replied in the middle of the night: this is exactly what I want to do [00:14:27] Building for Prince Built the first direct-to-consumer music service for a major artist Prince filled it with audio, video, unreleased material, and live footage He then asked for a ticketing platform so fan club members got the best seats Fans signed up for both the content and premium access to the comeback tour [00:15:15] The Night the Light Bulb Went On Saw two back-to-back warm-up shows at the House of Blues in Las Vegas at 2am Both nights had completely different set lists Realized there would come a day when this became a shared experience An amplified audience tuning in together alongside the people in the room [00:16:04] Surviving the Industry's Early Failures The industry was remembered more for failures than successes early on The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show famously crashed the internet An Oprah livestream faced the same problem The industry only rose once bandwidth became ubiquitous [00:17:39] The First Mentors: Rob Hale and Tim Leiweke Worked for Rob Hale at a Boston telecommunications company in his twenties Hale is now a self-made billionaire and minority owner of the Boston Celtics He famously gives graduates two stacks of cash, one to keep and one to give away Tim Leiweke at AEG was the other major leadership influence [00:18:33] What Prince Taught Him Fearless in trying, always wanting something new and different Wrote two songs a day and left a vault of roughly 4,000 unreleased pieces Played 23 instruments and produced hits for many other artists Was a major philanthropist who deliberately kept it private [00:19:30] Why Mark Cuban Is the Godfather of Streaming Wanted to hear his college basketball games from out of market in Dallas Friends would hold phones up to radios on speakerphone so he could listen He worked out how to encode and distribute that audio feed AudioNet became Broadcast.com, which Yahoo bought for $5.7 billion [00:20:38] The Lessons He Took from Cuban Read everything Cuban wrote and followed every interview Sales cures all, whether you are starting a company or running one No customers means no company Watched a Delta in-flight masterclass twice and emailed him afterwards [00:22:38] Client Impact: Winning AT&T Called on AT&T repeatedly before finally getting a meeting Won the chance to livestream the Masters through AT&T's sponsorship Delivered multiple camera feeds including Amen Corner plus a layered leaderboard Persistence was the Mark Cuban voice in his head [00:24:00] Assertive, Not Aggressive Aggressive puts people off and passive gets you put off Assertive sits in the middle and leads with value and information AT&T came back asking how to tell their 5G story away from market noise [00:24:30] The 5G Fan Zone AT&T signed major partnerships with the NBA and NCAA Tentpole events have multiple brand nights leading up to the main event Built a 5G fan zone streaming performances over a pop-up network at the venue Viewers could switch camera perspectives, including cams that were Samsung Galaxy phones [00:26:20] Twenty-Two Executions and Counting Deployed across NBA All-Star concerts, the Final Four, and college football playoffs Streamed audio in stereo when most social platforms were mono The digital audience was far larger than the in-room audience Roughly 22 executions across the AT&T portfolio with strong results [00:28:30] Final Word: There Has Never Been a Better Time Livestream e-commerce is roughly a $500 billion business in China TikTok Shop launched in the US in September 2023 It is predicted to do about $26 billion this year, more than Target, Lowe's, and Best Buy combined Live shopping has lowered return rates by about 40% because buyers can ask questions   KEY QUOTES "The general human attention span at the beginning of the century was about 12 seconds, and now it's fallen to below eight." - John Petrocelli "If you're aggressive, you're gonna put people off. If you're passive, they're gonna put you off. But if you're assertive, and you're providing value, that can lead to success." - John Petrocelli CONNECT WITH JOHN PETROCELLI Website: https://www.bulldogdm.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpetrocelli Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjpetrocelli Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher

A lot can happen in a decade…   If you go back to 2016 and mention the terms “TikTok” or “AI Slop” in casual conversation, nobody will have any idea what you're talking about, mainly because TikTok had just launched and the AI Slop that we've all come to know and loathe was still a few years away from becoming a nightmarish reality.   Released September 18, 2026, CURSUM PERFICIO, the 12th studio album by New York thrash veterans ANTHRAX, represents the band's first new music since 2016's For All Kings and a return to the world of metal with easily the most unusual album title and bizarre album artwork of their entire catalog.   To be fair, one shan't judge an album by its name or its artwork alone. CURSUM PERFICIO has a nice variety of old school “ThrashThrax” moments mixed in with darker, heavier tracks that would sound right at home on Persistence of Time or Among The Living. And just to make your brain numb with wonder, there's one track with such complex time signature changes that it literally sounds as mind boggling as imagining “if math was a color”.    Overall, it's a grower, and while it does contain elements from their entire back catalog in terms of sound, there is a unique sonic quality present that properly defines ANTHRAX here and now, in the mid 2020's. The songs have a deceptively streamlined flow to them that are lean on riffs yet potent in their arrangement and delivery. Basically, if you're an Anthrax fan, you're going to enjoy this album. And if CURSUM PERFICIO is your very first Anthrax experience, then you have a long, enjoyable journey ahead of you to go back through their entire discography to see how everything fits into the content and context of this album.   Hear one of the most appreciated listener appreciation voicemails we've ever received, discover our pick for “album of the decade”, find out how “gray haired loads” can instantly transform any casual conversation into something altogether disgusting, discover our new “Patreon After Dark” that's exclusively available “in the middle of the night”, and just know that Mike Tyson's pronunciation of this album is the proper way to say it when you JOIN US in the Bunkerpoon Center For Metal Excellence as we give a listen to CURSUM PERFICIO. Visit www.metalnerdery.com/podcast for more on this episode Help Support Metal Nerdery https://www.patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast Leave us a Voicemail to be played on a future episode: 980-666-8182 Metal Nerdery Tees and Hoodies – metalnerdery.com/merch and kindly leave us a review and/or rating on your favorite Podcast app Follow us on the Socials: Facebook - Instagram - TikTok Email: metalnerdery@gmail.com Can't be LOUD Enough Playlist on Spotify Metal Nerdery Munchies on YouTube @metalnerderypodcast Show Notes & Time Stamps: (00:01): “I'll try one more Elvis…” /  “Why does my side always look…like I've pee'd in formation?” / “It's like fingerpainting…”/ ***WARNING: #listenerdiscretionisadvised *** This Episode's Clinky of the Episode, brought to us by Elvis Midnight Snack: peanut, banana, bacon flavored whiskey  ***PATREON US at www.patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast *** “That's extra…that's the Patreon After Dark…that's $20 a month AND a happy ending…” “For $20 a month I meet even show my butthole…in the middle of the night…”/ “We've gotten so much mileage out of that…”/ “There will be a button next time…”   (04:11): ***EMAIL US at metalnerdery@gmail.com *** ***SOCIAL MEDIA US at #metalnerderypodcast on #YouTube #Facebook #Instagram #TikTok *** ***CALL US & VOICEMAIL US at 980-666-8182!!!*** #AppreciationCall #ThankYou #BlessYou #CanadianJason / “To be fair…”/ “This is why the Bunkerpoon Center for Metal Excellence is the place to be…it lifts the spirits…” “He lives right in the middle of Letterkennyville…are the women THAT hot!? Is that real or is that fabricated?” / #StrangeBrew #SCTV #TakeOff NOTE: Hoser means “a foolish or uncultivated person”   (11:30): METAL NERDERY PODCAST PRESENTS: ANTHRAX – CURSUM PERFICIO Latin for “I complete the course” or “I finish the journey” “That's old timey morn right there…” / “(#MarilynMonroe) was a WOMAN, dude…”/  “Isn't “Persistence of Memory” a Salvador Dali painting?” (NOTE: It is, in fact, a Salvador Dali painting) “It's kinda reminiscent of Persistence of Time…”   (15:00): PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY / THE LONG GOODBYE “Very classic metal…I'm getting like an Iron Maiden vibe…” “That's a cool opener…somehow (The Long Goodbye) has more Track 2 energy…” “You think (Mike) spells (his last name) with a ‘TH'?”   (19:12): IT'S FOR THE KIDS “See, THAT should have been the opener, right? It's got more of an opening vibe to it…” “On the last (song) and this one, I was getting the Among The Living sound…”   (21:18): EVERYBODY'S GOT A PLAN “That's almost like Queen (the guitar solo), with the layered guitars back there…” “So, it's gonna be THAT the whole episode?” / “We'll thee…for fuckth thake…”   (24:03): THE EDGE OF PERFECTION “I like how they put some proggy elements into their later stuff…” “You hear the clean guitars back there?” / #victorymetal / #usethoseheadphones “I feel like listening to it now with you guys down here…is a much better experience than listening to it solo…” “You know when you're already in the mode for something? I knew this was coming out, but I haven't been listening to Anthrax lately…”   (29:04): INFECTIOUS “Dancing Days…A heavier Dancing Days…Moshing Days…” “Now it's a #KISS song…KISS? I didn't hear no mention of no street hustlers…” “Did you see Bill's face light up when you said that?” “That's #STP …that sound…maybe that's why it reminded me of Dancing Days…” “It doesn't sound thrashy at all…it's metal, for sure…” /  “To be fair, these guys are in their 60's…they're still making albums…” “You know what, dude…they were in their 20's then…they're all grandfathers…now they shoot grey haired loads and stuff…”   (35:10): NYC 93 “Never forget, btw…that was when they had the bomb in the (WTC) basement…” “Yeah, that could have been on State of Euphoria…the vibe of it.” “This almost sounds like it could have been on Among The Living even…” “It ain't worth doing unless you do it to death…” / “That's my motto when it comes to…poon…I'll do it…til I shoot gray haired loads…”   (38:07): CURSUM PERFICIO “That just sounds like a very slowed down Anthrax song…like from the 80's…” “That (chorus riff) sounds like the John Bush stuff right there…” “I know what it is…with the solo stuff…” #hottake “For some weird reason, the (guitar) solo stuff sounds like it would work better in King Diamond…” / “He's been with them since '14, so he was on the last album, wasn't he?” NOTE: Yes, Jonathan Donais was on For All Kings “It's definitely a heavier Anthrax…it's a heavier, more progressive, and more melodic Anthrax…the songs are pretty streamlined…” “In fairness, that was 10 years ago…that was a whole other era…decade…genre…”   (43:34): T.O.M.B. “The burp was silent…it's silent when it's pronunced…it was spelled silently…”/ “There you go…some meaty bass…it's the best kind of bass.” “Okay, I already like it better on 2nd listen…” “The melody does kill Bill, in fairness…that's Kill Bill 3 from Quentin Tarantino: The Melody Chronicles…” “Some stuff just connects and some doesn't…it's the connection factor.”/ (A brief discussion of singers and/or albums that just don't connect with some of us…) “When (Anthrax) came out, they were the only thrash band with a real singer…” “You know, the whole singer thing…that affects people across the board…” “The funny thing about melody…to me, melodic singers just sound like a melodic singer…you connect with some better than others…it's the (same) way it is with people.”/  “The next one…as soon as I saw that title…I immediately thought of the Pantera 3: Watch It Go home video…” (3 Vulgar Videos From Hell) (52:44): WATCH IT GO “Count this…that's in 9 I think… (the verse riff)” / “(the chorus riff is in…)7!” Two different Pantera references… (Primal Concrete Sledge & Goddamn Electric) /  “When I popped that on last night…all I was seeing was shapes and letters turning into colors and math…I don't know how math works, but I think if you add a shape plus a letter and divide it by some squiggly line, you get a color that nobody's ever seen before…” #markthetime / “It's literally ‘shape + letter = color'…”   (57:11): MY VICTORY “It definitely does have a Persistence of Time heaviness to it…” “I do like it better upon the 2nd listen…” / “I still dug the synth pop ZZ Top…” “I gotta tell you guys real quick…at one point I got on a ZZ Top thing…” / #Deguello /  “Dude, ZZ STOP!” / “Man, it's not getting any funnier the more you talk about it…” /  “Check out the new ThrashThrax…” / “What's your final verdict?” “Is it better than the new #Exodus or the newest #Coroner?” “I don't think anything is gonna be better than the newest Coroner…I'm sorry, I think Coroner gets Album of the Decade…” NOTE: New Coroner EP: Ex Nucleo - The Remastered Extraction THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!! #untilthenext #outroreel

Tune in to our weekly LIVE Mastermind Q+A Podcast for expert advice, peer collaboration, and actionable insights on success in the Probate, Divorce, Late Mortgage/Pre-Foreclosure, and Aged Expired niches! In this week's All The Leads Mastermind, the conversation starts with how AI is changing real estate and lead generation, and why the human element may become even more valuable as automation becomes more common. The group discusses using AI as a tool without allowing it to replace personal relationships, then explores what has contributed to long-term success: consistent follow-up, strong contact management, repeated calls, and staying memorable until a prospect is ready to move forward. The discussion then turns to building the resources that make you genuinely useful to prospects. The group covers creating relationships with vendors and investors, handling opportunities when a homeowner wants a buyer instead of a traditional listing, using handwritten notes and multiple outreach channels, and approaching probate from a consultative perspective. Roger also shares his detailed probate checklist designed to help families understand their next steps while naturally creating opportunities for continued conversations.  Key Takeaways Keep the human element as AI grows. AI can make you more efficient, but personal conversations, relationships, and thoughtful touches can help differentiate you.  Follow-up can take longer than you expect. Some of the success stories discussed involved years of nurturing or numerous calls before a transaction happened.  One attempt isn't a follow-up system. Prospects may ignore the first several calls or voicemails before recognizing who you are and eventually answering. Build a network instead of giving away a vendor list. Being the person who makes the introduction gives you another opportunity to provide value and stay involved.  Know people who can solve different real estate situations. Relationships with investors and other professionals give you more options when a traditional listing isn't the prospect's preferred solution.  Give people a reason to remember you. Resources like handwritten notes and probate checklists can establish you as a helpful guide rather than someone only interested in the transaction.   To learn more, visit https://www.AllTheLeads.com or call (844) 532-3369 to check how many leads are available in your market.  #RealEstateProspecting #ProbateRealEstate #LeadFollowUp #RealEstateMarketing Previous episodes: AllTheLeads.com/probate-mastermindInterested in Leads? AllTheLeads.comJoin Future Episodes Live in the All The Leads Facebook Mastermind Group:  https://facebook.com/groups/alltheleadsmastermindBe sure to check out our full Mastermind Q&A PlaylistSupport the show

Words can sting. We've all, at some point, experienced the pain that comes from harsh criticism. So what do you do when you've been deeply hurt by the words of a stranger, an authoritative figure, or—worst of all—a loved one you greatly trust?Job experienced this, as his greatest comforters suddenly became his greatest critics. But what we see in Job's story is how God can use criticism to teach us a valuable, life-changing lesson. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

What's actually worth spending your money on, and what's just a waste?In this solo episode, Christina breaks down the upgrades, experiences, and investments she believes are truly worth the splurge, from house cleaners and first-class flights to anything that saves time, reduces stress, or creates more joy. She also gets real about what isn't worth the money, including spending to impress others, overspending on appearances, and investing heavily in a business before you have paying clients. With plenty of personal stories, strong opinions, and a few controversial takes along the way, this episode is a fun reminder that how you spend your money should ultimately reflect what you value most: your time, your experiences, your peace, and your happiness.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a comment on iTunes CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA!InstagramLinkedInChristinalecuyer.comBook a Free Clarity CallBook Christina For Your Next Workshop

Paul Connor is an Australian painter whose practice centres on landscape, observation and environmental engagement. Originally trained in architecture, he later completed a Master of Fine Art at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, graduating with first-class honours. Connor has exhibited for more than three decades and is represented in collections throughout Australia and internationally. Known for his expressive interpretations of place, he continues to build upon the rich tradition of Australian landscape painting while addressing contemporary concerns about the environment and cultural connection to country. In this episode, we explore the work and career of Australian artist Paul Connor, a painter whose practice is deeply rooted in the tradition of landscape painting while engaging with contemporary ideas about memory, place and environmental change. Drawing inspiration from direct observation, Connor's work captures both the physical reality and emotional resonance of the Australian landscape. His paintings often evolve from plein air studies, transforming observed scenes into layered compositions that reflect the way places are remembered and reimagined.Connor's background is unusual in that he initially studied architecture before completing a Master of Fine Art at the University of New South Wales. This combination of architectural thinking and painterly observation has influenced his approach to space, structure and composition. Throughout his career he has exhibited widely, with works held in public and private collections across Australia, Hong Kong and England, and displayed at the Australian Embassy in Beijing. The discussion also looks at Connor's significant contribution to Australian art through his role as founding director of the NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize. The prize helped revive interest in outdoor painting and encouraged artists to engage directly with the landscape. Alongside his artistic practice, Connor has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental conservation, serving as a trustee of both The Australian Museum and the Lizard Island Reef Research Station. We examine the evolution of his work from industrial and urban subjects to dramatic coastal environments, remote landscapes and ecological themes. Connor's paintings invite viewers to slow down and reconsider familiar places, revealing the complexity, beauty and fragility of the natural world. His achievements include being a finalist in major Australian art prizes such as the Glover Prize, Mosman Art Prize and Calleen Art Award, and winning the Pro Hart Outback Art Prize in 2024. Paul is represented by Defiance Gallery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A flooded basement, Rebecca Black's new album, a detour into real 70s Japanese jazz, and a ten-volume manga binge open the show before Eden's report on Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma and the new Resident Evil. Peter brings the Iliad, new Sigh and Igorrr, two solo cellists, and Anthrax's first album in a decade. Then it's the second round of Arnold vs. the remake: Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall (1990) against Len Wiseman's Total Recall (2012) — Verhoeven wins on social satire, Sharon Stone, and Michael Ironside, while the remake loses on accents, the physics of the Fall, and a cop-out ending.Episode NotesEden lost a long day to a flooded basement — roughly 200 gallons, shop-vac'd out in five-gallon batches. Now pricing a second sump pump.Eden on Rebecca Black's Age of the Exhibitionist: the only thing on repeat for weeks, with "Hot Wet Delirious" as the standout.A YouTube "70s Japanese jazz" playlist turned out to be AI-generated slop, which sent Eden toward the real thing: Chiyo Okumura and Jun Mayuzumi.Reading: Citrus — ten volumes in a day and a half — plus the sequel series Citrus+.Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With a Mythical Sorceress!, a light novel inspired by the Tokyo Medical University admissions-scoring scandal.Eden on Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma: not a farming game with combat, a city-manager game that happens to have combat — and the spring goddess is the romance pick.Peter is still chipping away at the Fagles translation of the Iliad and is tempted by the Emily Wilson translation next.Peter put three and a half hours into Fields of Mistria and then set the Steam Deck down, exactly as feared.Eden saw the new Resident Evil and calls it the best video-game movie yet — mainly because the hero is a panicking first-time player, not a trained operative.Sigh released Goh-Ka, and the Hangman's Hymn remaster is the gateway drug.Igorrr's Amen blends breakcore, opera, and metal — Peter's pick over Spirituality and Distortion.Raphael Weinroth-Browne's Empyrean started life as a commission for James Wilton Dance's Bach Reimagined.Brianna Tam is the other solo cellist on rotation — electric cello, loop pedal, one-woman build.Anthrax's Cursum Perficio is their first studio album in ten years, and Peter rates it above For All Kings but below Persistence of Time.Main topic: Total Recall (1990) vs. Total Recall (2012), the second round of Arnold vs. the remake.The 1990 version was received as merely okay and became a classic; Verhoeven's cynicism and Reagan-era satire are why it still works.Our verdict: Sharon Stone's Lori is a better evil fake wife than Kate Beckinsale's, and Michael Ironside's Richter-era scenery-chewing has no modern equivalent.The 2012 version folds both villains into one character, moves the whole story off Mars onto Earth, and comes out with nothing to say.The Fall — 6,000 miles through the planet in seventeen minutes — would require far more than 1G, and people climb around outside it anyway.The 2012 ending undercuts itself: the 1990 film leaves the "is it real?" question open, the remake adds a final shot that cheapens the ambiguity.Jessica Biel earned a Razzie nomination for the 2012 film and, per both hosts, deserved it.Next up in the series: The Running Man (1987) vs. its remake.

Luke 11Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss what stood out to them in Luke 11Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=26839The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

What happens when you reach a point where leaving feels easier than staying?In this episode, we explore what it means to confront that uncertainty and turn it into a stronger sense of purpose. From questioning whether there is still a future worth building in the Philippines to realizing that success can also mean contributing to something bigger, this conversation looks at the mindset behind staying the course.Because sometimes, the biggest shift isn't finding a better opportunity. It's changing the way you see the opportunity already in front of you.The conversations happening on Founders Only are the ones every entrepreneur needs to hear. Don't be the last to know. Watch the full episode on YouTube. ⏭️ Founders Only is powered by PayMongo, the financial operating system for growing businesses.00:00:00 – Why discipline matters when motivation disappears00:03:00 – Natasha's journey from QBO to 917Ventures00:09:00 – Building 917Ventures and its evolution00:12:00 – From venture building to focusing on bigger bets00:15:00 – Becoming AI-native and building agentic teams00:18:00 – What Natasha learned from Grab, QBO, and 917Ventures00:24:00 – Persistence, impact, and the reward of building00:27:00 – How Velocity evolved into what it is today00:33:00 – What startups need to qualify for Velocity00:36:00 – How startups can stand out when applying00:39:00 – Why startups get rejected and the role of timing00:42:00 – Speed, relationships, and startup instinct in corporate environments00:45:00 – The Netopia and Predicta AI success story00:51:00 – How Velocity handholds startups through enterprise partnerships00:57:00 – Building a startup community through awareness and identity01:03:00 – Why corporate venture building is an alternative to fundraising01:06:00 – The Hustleshare time machine: advice to her younger self01:12:00 – Natasha's journey and building for the startup ecosystem01:14:00 – How startups can apply to VelocityLearn more about PayMongo's product suite: https://pay.mg/pna-learnmoreSign up for free in as fast as 5 minutes: https://pay.mg/pna-signupPayMongo is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.Follow now and never miss an episode.

Join us as we continue our series on the story of NOAH. We all know he built the ark, but there's so much more to his story. Faith, Persistence, Adversity, & Obedience are all things Noah had to confront. Come expectant to learn and grow as we look at Noah and how we can all relate to his story. 

My guest today is Tania de Jong, co-founder of Mind Medicine Australia. Tania and her husband, Peter, helped lead the push that, in 2023, made Australia the first country in the world to allow MDMA and psilocybin to be prescribed for psychiatric conditions. I wanted to understand how the hell they helped make that happen and what the rest of the world can learn from it.This episode is brought to you by:ProLon science-backed Fasting Mimicking Diet that helps activate cellular renewal through fasting, while still eating nourishing meals: https://prolonlife.com/TimMomentous high-quality creatine for cognitive and muscular support: https://LiveMomentous.com/TimAG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: DrinkAG1.com/TimTimestamps[00:00:00] Intro from Tim.[00:02:46] The article that changed Tania's life.[00:04:39] A first psychedelic experience—and the year it took to integrate it.[00:10:17] Rick Doblin's encouragement and the birth of Mind Medicine Australia.[00:13:15] Turning regulatory rejection into a stronger application.[00:20:48] Building a grassroots movement and training clinicians.[00:23:23] Cold emails, scientific allies, and singing your way into the room.[00:31:11] A week with Ram Dass: silence, singing, and an extraordinary LSD story.[00:37:54] Bringing David Nutt—and a family's devastating story—to the regulators.[00:42:42] Dancing in the kitchen: Australia's rescheduling breakthrough.[00:43:40] From changing the rules to treating patients.[00:48:18] Why Tim thinks MDMA is still underestimated.[00:50:23] Integration beyond the session: therapy, nutrition, and exercise.[00:52:29] Scaling access and collecting real-world evidence.[00:58:13] Getting insurers, government agencies, and philanthropists on board.[01:01:39] Syrian rue, psilocybin, and learning to let go of control.[01:10:01] Dosing, expectations, and the pressure to take more.[01:12:02] The promise of group therapy and shared integration.[01:14:22] Hiring mistakes, personal attacks, and the resilience advocacy requires.[01:23:38] Turning a window of change into lasting habits.[01:25:51] Getting through to regulators and pushing for end-of-life access.[01:28:27] The bureaucratic barriers that remain.[01:31:38] What treatment costs—and why therapist time drives the bill.[01:35:07] Could shorter-acting compounds make treatment more affordable?[01:38:46] Ketamine, kratom, and the limits of “all natural.”[01:43:14] The unexpected payoff from Tim's ketamine experiment.[01:47:46] What might come next for psychedelic access worldwide?[01:49:04] Persistence versus pushiness—and knowing when to try another door.[01:54:22] Supporting patients and training the next wave of clinicians.[01:57:51] “Be curious”: exploring your inner world and walking each other home.[02:01:35] The ripple effects of sharing your curiosity—and simply asking for help.Timeline:February 2, 2015: Michael Pollan publishes “The Trip Treatment” in The New Yorker, which is the article Tania credits with setting her journey in motion.March 21, 2015: Tim releases his James Fadiman interview, “The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide” (#66). Its show notes link to “The Trip Treatment.”January 15, 2016: In 5-Bullet Friday, Tim announces support for Johns Hopkins' psilocybin research and a personal commitment of at least $100,000 toward psychedelic research that year.2016: Tania and Peter travel to the Netherlands for their first guided psilocybin experience. (Source)2017–2019: UCSF conducts the psilocybin-assisted group-therapy study involving long-term AIDS survivors that Tim helped support. (Source)May 6, 2018: Michael Pollan joins Tim for “Exploring the New Science of Psychedelics” (#313), discussing his forthcoming book (How to Change Your Mind).May 15, 2018: Pollan's How to Change Your Mind is published.February 13, 2019: Tania and Peter publicly launch Mind Medicine Australia. (Source)2020–2022: MMA applies to reschedule MDMA and psilocybin, faces rejection, and submits new applications in March 2022. (Source)November 21, 2022: David Nutt presents to Australia's medicines regulator, the TGA, supporting the case for therapeutic access. (Source)February 3, 2023: The TGA announces restricted prescribing access to MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, effective July 1, 2023. (Source)January 2024: Patients begin receiving treatment under the new prescribing program. (Source)*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There's a version of success that looks amazing on paper and feels completely empty on the inside. I know because I've talked to a lot of entrepreneurs who chased the number first and the meaning second, and most of them will tell you they got it backwards. This episode is a gut check on that exact thing, recorded on one of our favorite hiking pods out here in Montana.In this episode of The Happy Hustle Podcast, I hike & pod with Brian McMasters, founder of M&M Quality Solutions, a third party logistics company headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri with operations in Salt Lake City and York, Pennsylvania. Brian has been running M&M Quality Solutions for 23 years and has been part of our Happy Hustle community for three of them. He's built his business on a simple, unfashionable idea, that real people beat bots every single time, and that the fastest way to grow a company is to actually care about the people inside it. He's also a husband, a man of deep faith, and someone who's about to release a book on the lessons that took him decades to learn the hard way.What makes this one matter is how honest Brian gets about the cost of chasing money for money's sake. He's not some guru talking theory. He's a guy who built a real logistics company from the ground up, hit the wall that almost every entrepreneur hits, and came out the other side with a totally different definition of what winning actually looks like. If you've ever felt like the hustle was starting to hollow you out instead of fill you up, this conversation is for you.A few things stood out to me that I don't want you to miss.Persistence beats talent every time. Brian says the number one reason he's still standing after 23 years is that he never quit, plain and simple. He calls himself a survivor, and when you remember that most businesses don't even make it past year one, that word means something.Your business should reflect what you actually care about. M&M Quality Solutions started as a pick, pack, and ship operation, and Brian is now steering it toward health and wellness products because that's where his own passion lives. He's not interested in being another faceless 3PL with hidden fees and confusing invoices. He wants his team to care about what's inside the box, not just get it out the door.You cannot build a real business alone. Brian talks about how lonely entrepreneurship gets without a community around you, people who've actually done the work and not just read about it. That's a huge reason he's stuck with Happy Hustle for three years running.Giving beats getting, in business and in love. His advice on relationships hit hard. Don't go in looking for what you can get, go in looking for what you can give, and it comes back to you tenfold. He said the same thing basically applies to how he leads his team.The biggest regret is almost always the same one. Brian was honest that his one regret is spending too many years chasing the money instead of investing that time in his people. Once he flipped that, everything else started to make sense.We also get into his rapid fire round, which is always one of my favorite parts of these hikes. Steak for the food, A Few Good Men for the movie, Think and Grow Rich for the book, and squats for the workout, which he says he used to hate and now genuinely loves. We talk about his morning routine of fifteen to twenty minutes in silence with God before the day even starts, why he trusts a real advisor over just checking boxes with an accountant, and the working title of his upcoming book, which traces back to lessons from his uncle in some very muddy backyards.This conversation reminded me why I love these hiking pods so much. You get the real version of someone when their legs are burning and their guard is down, and Brian gave us all of it. Faith, family, failure, and the kind of hard won wisdom you can only get by staying in the game for over two decades.If you're ready to rethink what you're actually chasing and why, go listen to the full episode. Brian's story is proof that the businesses built on people, not just profit, are the ones that last. When I asked him for his parting wisdom, he kept it simple. Pray, get a brotherhood, get out in nature, and keep hustlin'.Go listen to the full conversation now at https://happyhustle.com/podcast.Connect with Brianhttps://www.facebook.com/brian.mcmaster.50https://www.instagram.com/mmqualitysolutionshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/m-&-m-quality-solutions/https://twitter.com/mmqualsolutionsFind Brian on this website: https://mmqualitysolutions.com/about-us/Connect with Cary!https://www.instagram.com/caryjack/https://www.facebook.com/SirCaryJackhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cary-jack-kendzior/https://twitter.com/thehappyhustlehttps://www.tiktok.com/@caryjackhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDNsD59tLxv2JfEuSsNMOQ/featuredGet a copy of his new book, https://www.thehappyhustle.com/bookSign up for The Journey: 10 Days To Become a Happy Hustler Online Course @ https://thehappyhustle.com/thejourney/Apply to the Montana Mastermind Epic Camping Adventure @ https://thehappyhustle.com/mastermind/“It's time to Happy Hustle, a blissfully balanced life you love, full of passion, purpose, and positive impact!”Episode Sponsors:KilnYour environment shapes your energy and your results. That's why we're proud to partner with Kiln, a premium workspace experience designed to help you work smarter, connect with amazing people, and elevate your lifestyle. From co-working and private offices to meeting rooms and event spaces, Kiln (https://kiln.com/) has everything you need to thrive. Mention "Happy Hustle" for a special hookup!==================================================================If you're feeling stressed, not sleeping great, or your energy's been kinda meh lately—let me put you on to something that's been a total game-changer for me: Magnesium Breakthrough by BiOptimizers.This ain't your average magnesium—it's got all 7 essential forms that your body needs to chill out, sleep deeper, and feel more balanced. I take it every night and legit notice the difference the next day. No more waking up groggy or tossing and turning all nightIf you're ready to sleep like a baby, calm your nervous system, and optimize your recovery, go grab yours now at https://www.bioptimizers.com/happy and use code HAPPY10 for 10% OFF.My Green MattressIf you've been waking up with back pain, feeling stiff, or just not getting that deep, quality sleep. This might be what you're missing: My Green Mattress.It's made with clean, non-toxic, and eco-friendly materials, so you're not just sleeping better, you're sleeping healthier too. The comfort and support are on another level, and you can really feel the difference night after night.If you're ready to invest in better sleep and better recovery, check it out at https://thehappyhustle.com/mygreenmattressOzlo SleepIf you've been struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep, or just wake up feeling actually rested, let me put you on to something that's been a total game-changer: Ozlo Sleep.These aren't your typical sleep buds. They're designed to block out noise and help your brain fully relax, so you can drift off faster and stay in deep, uninterrupted sleep. Perfect if you're a light sleeper or just want that next-level rest.If you're ready to upgrade your sleep and wake up feeling recharged, check out https://ozlosleep.com and save $80 OFF using code HAPPY.

Persistence, scarce retail space and the fundamentals behind the right deal.This Retail Retold replay brings us back to a conversation with Kevin Nassimi, Vice President of Real Estate at Nassimi Realty, about a question that still matters: Does America actually have enough physical retail space?For years, the industry talked about the U.S. being over-stored. Chris Ressa and Kevin challenged that assumption, looking at the forces already reshaping retail supply, from intense demand for pad sites and limited big-box availability to former retail space being converted to multifamily, industrial, and self-storage.It's a conversation worth revisiting because the fundamentals behind it go beyond one market cycle.Kevin shares what he was seeing across Nassimi Realty's portfolio, including significant demand for freestanding pad sites and fewer available big-box spaces. Chris digs into why. Former 100,000-square-foot boxes have increasingly been divided among multiple tenants, expanding the pool of potential users while reducing the amount of true large-format space available.They also discuss how limited new construction and the repurposing of obsolete retail have further constrained supply. As former retail properties are converted to multifamily, industrial, self-storage, and other uses, that square footage leaves the retail market altogether.But the conversation isn't only about supply and demand. Kevin shares the story behind bringing Burlington to a former Kmart space in Clifton, New Jersey, after reaching out close to 100 times over four years. The deal is a reminder that persistence matters, but so does knowing your asset, understanding the trade area, and recognizing when the right tenant belongs at the right property.From changing store formats and limited supply to retailer demand and the fundamentals of dealmaking, this replay takes another look at a question retail real estate is still navigating: How much physical retail space do we actually need?What You'll HearWhy demand for retail pad sites has become so intenseHow big-box availability reached levels Kevin hasn't seen in his careerWhy splitting former Kmart-sized boxes is changing retail supplyHow conversions to multifamily, industrial, and self-storage are removing retail space from the marketWhy high construction costs are making new retail supply even harder to deliverWhat nearly 100 calls over four years taught Kevin about persistence in leasingWhy knowing the asset and trade area matters more than accepting a retailer's first “no”How a major wave of store closures could temporarily disrupt today's fast leasing environmentWhy retailer optimism remains high despite broader economic uncertaintyChapters0:00 — Meet Kevin NassimiKevin shares his role at Nassimi Realty and the family-owned company's approach to suburban shopping centers.4:53 — Clear the AirA difficult residential conversion, construction blind spots, and Kevin's surprisingly generous philosophy on broker commissions.9:12 — 100 calls later: the Burlington dealKevin explains why he kept pursuing Burlington for years—and what finally changed.12:27 — Persistence only works if you know the real estateChris breaks down the fundamentals behind the Clifton deal, from trade-area knowledge to tenant critical mass.15:27 — What's happening in retail right now?Kevin shares what he's seeing across markets after reconnecting with retailers and brokers at ICSC.15:59 — Why pad sites are kingDemand for freestanding buildings and drive-thru opportunities is creating fierce competition for limited space.18:50 — Where did all the big boxes go?Chris and Kevin examine why large-format availability has tightened and how former boxes are being divided among multiple tenants.22:09 — Retail supply is disappearingConversions to industrial, multifamily, and self-storage are taking former retail square footage permanently out of the market.22:35 — Is America under-stored?Chris challenges the old assumption that the U.S. has too much physical retail.23:00 — Smaller boxes, more tenants, less riskWhy breaking up former Kmart-sized spaces has expanded the tenant pool and diversified landlord exposure.25:39 — The impact of the next major store closureChris and Kevin discuss why a large bankruptcy or closure wave could slow leasing activity far beyond the affected properties.27:07 — Retailer optimism is still highDespite economic uncertainty, Chris says the confidence among physical retailers at ICSC was hard to miss.27:51 — RadioShack, Bloomingdale's and a serious salt toothKevin closes with the retailers he misses, how he shops, and the Target aisle

In this episode of Editors in Conversation mBio edition, Marvin Whiteley speaks with Macy Pell and Shannon Manning about how group B Streptococcus (GBS) responds to antibiotics given during childbirth to prevent newborn infections.   GBS can cause serious neonatal disease, and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis has greatly reduced early-onset infections. But some GBS strains persist after treatment.   The conversation explores a recent mBio study comparing GBS isolates collected from the same individuals before and after antibiotic treatment and childbirth. Rather than simply acquiring new resistance genes, persistent strains accumulated mutations associated with adaptation, including the emergence of strains with unusually high mutation rates.   Pell and Manning discuss what these findings reveal about bacterial persistence, evolution under antibiotic pressure, and why understanding GBS survival may require looking beyond antibiotic resistance alone.   Relevant links:   Genomic adaptation in group B Streptococcus following intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis and childbirth https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03966-25 (Macy E. Pell, Heather M. Blankenship, Jennifer A. Gaddy, H. Dele Davies, Shannon D. Manning.)   Guests: Macy E. Pell, PhD Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology Michigan State University   Shannon D. Manning, PhD Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology Michigan State University

In this episode of the Built How Podcast, host Lucas Sherraden converses with real estate expert Matt Templeton. Matt shares his journey from being a young assistant in real estate to building a successful team in Dallas. He discusses the challenges and insights from running a brokerage, transitioning back to sales, and developing leadership in his team. Matt emphasizes the importance of resilience, pushing limits, and adapting personal approaches for success. Tune in to discover valuable lessons on building and navigating a thriving real estate career. Connect with Matt at https://www.tregdfw.com/ ---------- Be sure to leave a rating and review and don't forget to go to www.builthow.com and register for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Stop, collaborate and listen. Jabs is back for more Definition. A highly collaborative effort from all involved. Playlist KNOCK KNOCK by Aable Pick A Part by Orion TheArtist Fighting For Love by Free Imprint, Deca OTA, Hunnid2Hebron & Rosen ft. Afu Different Theme by TruWerdz MIND GROWN by Kaboose VBZ by Trutha, JusRzd & GB Broken Vessels by MotionPlus & Braille The Master's Atonement | 04-16-18 by Alert312 IT ALL WORKS OUT IN THE END by KJ-52 Lord It's Yours by Brinson ft. Jarred Allstar Holy War In The Mental by Famine & Grungy Boguez ft. White Lion Patience and Persistence by Manic X 85 by Randy Mason CULT CLASSIC by MARTY EVERYTHING IS FINE (Im lying) by MARTY & tonyxtrotter You Are by K-Wak Vote on the playlist at www.definitionradio.com/show/1018 Leave your requests/shout-outs on our socials www.facebook.com/DefinitionRadio www.instagram.com/DefinitionHH www.twitter.com/DefinitionHH www.krosswerdz.com

Send us Fan MailWhat if the fastest route to success begins with hearing “no” more often?Andrea Waltz, co-creator of the bestselling Go for No! philosophy, joins Joey Pinz to explain why rejection is not a verdict—it is information. Andrea shares how a district manager's unexpected advice to her husband, Richard Fenton, inspired a book that took ten years to reach number one and eventually sold more than 500,000 copies.The conversation explores why people are biologically wired to fear rejection, how past experiences shape our response to it, and the opportunities we lose when we avoid asking. Andrea also distinguishes courageous persistence from aggressive behavior: “No” is a perfectly acceptable answer, but curiosity and respectful communication can reveal whether it means “not now,” “not this way,” or “never.”Andrea recounts how a last-minute rejection from a major publisher forced her and Richard to become better marketers, improve their book, and build a more successful publishing business. She also explains why failure should produce learning, how AI has changed the balance between outreach quantity and quality, and why action cannot depend on mood.

CEO Coaching International's coaching frameworks just won “Survivor 50.” Aubry Bracco, Strategic Marketing Consultant at CEO Coaching International, put those frameworks to the test. She shares how four “Survivor” seasons taught her to lead through uncertainty.KEY TAKEAWAYS00:00 Longevity in the game creates the conditions for a breakthrough01:27 A perfect résumé was not enough to win “Survivor”02:32 How you make people feel outweighs any strategic move05:07 Control shifts from doing everything to shaping the environment07:05 Decisions under uncertainty blend gut instinct, data, and reading people10:23 Reframing uncertainty as opportunity creates a real advantage14:18 Separating identity from performance takes deliberate practice, not willpower17:38 Losing fast delivers the information needed to pivot faster31:30 Persistence beats talent when nobody wants to do the reps36:50 The next attempt could be the one that changes everythingSubscribe now and be ready when the conversations begin.RESOURCES MENTIONEDCEO Coaching Internationalhttps://ceocoachinginternational.com/ "Built to Win BIG," Mark Moses's book co-developed with Aubry Bracco, drawing on the leadership interviews referenced in this episode:https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Built-to-Win-BIG/Mark-Moses/9798891884304 #MakeBIGHappen #CEOCoaching #Leadership

Do you ever look at those "30 Under 30" lists and feel that little pang of regret, that sinking feeling that whispers, "I should have made my mark by now. Maybe I missed my window?" But the truth is, some of the people who make the biggest impact in the world don't do it in their 20s, 30s, or even their 40s. They find their stride after 50 and 60. Why?In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Chad Betz, author of An Authentic Success, for a powerful conversation about redefining success, breaking free from the "sunk cost fallacy," and building a life aligned with your true purpose.With over thirty years of leadership and financial services experience, Chad shares his personal journey from a high-powered but unfulfilling career to one built on intention and meaning. He opens up about his "parking lot moment": a low point in a parking garage where he realized he was helping others achieve their goals at the expense of his own. That realization sparked a transformation that ultimately became the foundation for his book and his coaching practice.Gerald and Chad explore why smart, capable people often stay stuck in careers that no longer fit them, the psychological barriers that keep us clinging to the wrong paths, and how to make "slow pivots" rather than reckless leaps. Chad introduces practical frameworks like the 20 Goals Exercise and the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) to help listeners gain clarity, build momentum, and take intentional action.They also tackle the difference between being busy and being truly productive, the importance of coaches and mentors, and the power of journaling to capture the "whispers" that often hold life-changing ideas.If you've ever felt like you're running hard but heading in the wrong direction, this episode offers a guide for pausing, reflecting, and realigning with what truly matters.What We Discuss[02:01] Meet Chad Betz[03:51] The inspiration behind An Authentic Success[05:23] Parking garage wake up[06:37] Why smart people stay stuck[08:17] Reinventing after 50[10:10] Lifelong learning and turning experience into an advantage[12:55] Learning from people who have already walked the path[14:20] What happens when you're productive in the wrong direction[15:18] The 20 Goals Exercise and discovering your passion[16:05] Making slow pivots instead of starting over[18:10] Keeping your goals simmering when life gets in the way[20:10] Persistence, resistance, and staying focused[21:08] Why coaches and mentors can help you break through[24:45] Success versus activity[25:05] Why being busy doesn't necessarily mean you're succeeding[27:02] The OODA Loop: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act[28:39 Journaling for clarity and direction[32:09] Finding valuable ideas in the whispers[33:33] Where to find Chad and his workNotable Quotes[04:32] "I was really helping other people achieve their goals at the expense of my own." – Chad Betz[06:01] "I really did feel like a failure even though from the outside I had a good job and things were going well." – Chad Betz[07:32] "We invest so much time, so much effort, so much education, and then we say, 'We can't change.'" – Chad Betz[15:4]7 "The last piece of it, it's the most important piece, you have to take action." – Chad Betz[16:05] "You don't have to quit your job and run off into the sunset, chase your passions." – Chad Betz[19:25] "Just because life gets in the way doesn't mean you have to give up on your goals." – Chad Betz[24:54] "There's a difference between being successful and seeing results compared to just seeing activity and being busy." – Chad Betz [32:13] "Those life-changing ideas aren't screaming at you. They're in the whispers in the background." – Chad BetzResource and LinksChad Betz Website: https://www.anauthenticsuccess.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadcbetz/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chadcbetzBook: An Authentic SuccessProductivity Smarts PodcastWebsite - productivitysmartspodcast.comGerald J. LeonardWebsite - geraldjleonard.comTurnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.comScheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonardKiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopmindsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if healthcare focused less on treating problems after they happen and more on helping you understand and optimize your health before they do?In this episode, Keith Bozeman shares his unexpected journey from a successful career in IT to founding Medgevity, a concierge medical service built around personalized, proactive care. He opens up about how his faith, personal experiences, and passion for health shaped his vision for a different approach to wellness, one rooted in science, prevention, and treating the whole person.Tune in to discover what inspired Keith to rethink traditional healthcare and what personalized wellness can look like when you take a more proactive approach to your health.About Keith BozemanAfter decades of building and scaling an IT Company, Keith became a patient-looking for a more proactive, strategic approach to his health. He had a great doctor and experienced what healthcare could be: a physician who looked at the full picture, focused on prevention, and helped him think long term.But when he moved, that experience disappeared. Instead he found himself navigating the same fragmented system most people face-brief, insurance driven visits, disconnected providers and no clear strategy tying together fineness-nutrition and medicine. That frustration became the insight. Keith realized the problem wasn't a lack of information-it was a lack of integration and science backed guidance.So as a patient first, he built what he couldn't find: a physician-led, multidisciplinary model where experts collaborate around the patient, not in silos. That model became MEDgevity.Connect with Keith on LinkedInLearn more about Keith and MEDgevity on his Website If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a comment on iTunes CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA!InstagramLinkedInChristinalecuyer.comBook a Free Clarity CallBook Christina For Your Next Workshop

https://garykaltbaum.com/ The opinions you hear on BizTalkRadio, BizTV, or BizTalkPodcasts are those of the hosts, callers, and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of BizTalkRadio, BizTV, or BizTalkPodcasts, its management or advertisers. The information on BizTalkRadio does not constitute a recommendation, offer, or solicitation to buy or sell any product or securities. Please consult a professional before investing.

Jaeden and Conor explain what separates casual AI users from people who consistently get useful results. They explore persistence, practical problem-solving, and real examples where AI fixes everyday technical issues and accelerates creative projects.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oWynD-n8ANEGet the top 80+ AI Models for $8.99 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiConor's AI Course: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/coursesJaeden's AI Business Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustleChapters:00:00 What makes an AI power user03:30 Persistence beats curiosity07:00 Fixing real-world problems with AI10:30 Building faster with AI13:15 Final thoughts

In this episode, Keith Brown, a San Francisco Bay Area real estate agent with more than two decades of experience, shares how he used REDX for more than a decade to build his business through consistent prospecting. After spending 18 years as a professor at Cal State East Bay and selling real estate during the summers, Keith eventually transitioned into real estate as a more systematic business. Today, he focuses primarily on expired and canceled listings, while also working with FSBOs, notices of default, and notices of trustee sales. His disciplined prospecting approach has helped him generate more than $10 million in sales volume in a single year. Keith breaks down what it takes to consistently prospect expired and canceled listings and turn conversations into appointments. He explains his daily calling routine, his “seven days of pain” follow-up strategy, and why he believes the key to successful prospecting is focusing on the seller, not yourself. Keith also shares how he moved from relying heavily on scripts to using them as a foundation for genuine conversations, why asking open-ended questions is critical to uncovering motivation, and how persistence over time creates opportunities. He also walks through the prequalification process he uses after setting an appointment, his emphasis on communication and over-communication, and why he strives to be a “realtor for life.” This episode is especially valuable for agents looking to improve their expired prospecting, become more confident on the phone, and build a consistent system for generating appointments and long-term clients.Here's What You'll Discover in This Episode...• Why Keith considers expired and canceled listings a strong source of business.• How he uses a daily calling routine to work through expired and canceled leads consistently.• What Keith means by his “seven days of pain” follow-up system.• How he overcame his early struggles with scripts and became more comfortable having real conversations.• Why asking open-ended questions is essential to discovering a seller's true motivation.• How persistence over time can lead to appointments even when many calls result in hang-ups.• Why agents should focus on the person they are speaking with rather than worrying about themselves.• How Keith prepares for listing appointments using a prequalification form and structured communication.• Why over-communicating with clients can make the real estate process calmer and easier.• What Keith believes agents should understand about asking for the appointment and finding motivation.JUMP TO THESE TOPICS00:01 –

For more information, please visit https://mercyhouse365.org

How do you build a business that lasts a lifetime while making sure you do, too? Cymbiotika co-founders Shahab and Durana Elmi share the secrets behind their entrepreneurial success, from prioritizing quality over cheap production to redefining the standards for wellness products. They open up about taking risks, embracing the pain that comes with growth, and building a business rooted in passion, wellness, and the pursuit of a healthier future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chad Hyams and Bob Stewart welcome Shawn Nelson, founder of LoveSac, as they delve into the brand's innovative journey from giant foam bags to modular sofas. Shawn shares insights from his book, "Let Me Save You 25 Years," offering lessons on entrepreneurship, the power of intuition, and the importance of company values. Discover how LoveSac's commitment to quality and adaptability has fueled its growth, alongside strategies Nelson uses to communicate core values across his team. This episode offers a rich narrative on taking risks and believing in a long-term vision. Connect with Shawn Shawn Nelson's Instagram: @seanoflovesac Shawns Nelson's book:  Let Me Save You 25 Years  Podcast:  Let Me Save You 25 Years. ---------- Connect with the hosts: •    Ben Kinney: https://www.BenKinney.com/ •    Bob Stewart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/activebob •    Chad Hyams: https://ChadHyams.com/ •    Book one of our co-hosts for your next event: https://WinMakeGive.com/speakers/   More ways to connect: •    Join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/winmakegive •     Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://WinMakeGive.com/sign-up •     Explore the Win Make Give Podcast Network: https://WinMakeGive.com/ Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network 00:00 Interview With Sean Nelson on Popular Home Product 02:39 The Journey of LoveSac: From Giant Beanbags to Sectional Sofas 08:32 LoveSac's Forever Philosophy and Sustainable Furniture Revolution 10:57 Lessons from Love Sack's Journey: Mistakes, Miracles, and Growth 12:20 Persistence and Innovation in the Face of Expert Doubt 14:18 Lessons in Leadership and Building a Successful Business 19:52 The Power of Visualization and Self-Image in Achieving Success 25:45 Values-Based Leadership and Building a Lasting Company Culture 32:22 Shawn Nelson's Journey of Building Lovesac's Brand and Community

What does it actually mean to persist in prayer? In episode 505 of the Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb conclude their study of Luke 11's "Parable of the Night Friend" — and the answer is far richer than most Christians expect. Rather than teaching a technique for wearing down a reluctant God, Jesus presents a contrasting image: a grudging friend who finally relents out of pure annoyance, set against a Father who overflows with delight to give His people the very best gift imaginable. Through careful exegetical attention to the parable's logic, covenantal structure, and Trinitarian movement, Tony and Jesse show that the ultimate object of persevering prayer is nothing less than the Holy Spirit Himself — the supreme covenant gift of the new covenant age, promised by the Father to the Son, and freely given to all who ask. Key Takeaways The parable operates by contrast, not direct comparison. The annoyed friend is not a picture of God — he is a foil. Everything about God's character is the opposite of this reluctant neighbor, and reading the parable correctly depends on recognizing this reversal. Persistence in prayer is appropriate, not impudent. The word translated "persistence" in verse 8 carries a sense of shameless, boundary-crossing boldness. But unlike the midnight knocker whose asking had become socially inappropriate, our asking of God never crosses a line. There is no point at which we have asked too much. The shift from "friend" to "father" is a deliberate relational and moral intensification. Jesus moves the argument from voluntary friendship (revocable, lateral) to fatherhood (covenantally obligated, vertical), and then from sinful human fathers to the holy divine Father — two axes that together magnify the certainty and character of God's giving. Total depravity and common grace are both present in verse 13. Jesus calls even his disciples "evil," grounding the argument in the doctrine of total depravity, while simultaneously appealing to the nearly universal parental instinct to give good things to children as evidence of common grace operative even in fallen humanity. The ultimate gift is the Holy Spirit, not general blessings. Luke's version of this teaching specifies what Matthew's leaves general: the supreme "good thing" the Father gives is the Holy Spirit Himself. This is not a second-blessing theology, but a call to pray explicitly and persistently for the subjective experience and fresh working of the Spirit already indwelling believers. God's giving is grounded in the Covenant of Redemption. The Father's obligation to give the Spirit to believers is not merely an expression of His general goodness — it flows first from His pretemporal covenant commitment to the Son, to grant Him a people marked, redeemed, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is on full display in Christ's earthly ministry. The Father sending the Holy Spirit is unavoidably Trinitarian language — and Jesus' disciples received it without confusion. The Old Testament had already furnished them with this framework, and the New Testament simply brings it into full light. Key Concepts The Parable Operates by Contrast, Not Direct Comparison One of the most common misreadings of Luke 11 is to identify the sleeping friend with God — as though Jesus is saying, "If you pester God long enough, He will eventually give in." Tony points out that this reading produces a deeply distorted picture of God: an annoyed deity who only answers prayer when sufficiently harassed. The actual logic of the parable is a contrast. The friend is reluctant where God is eager. The friend gives grudgingly where God gives joyfully. The friend is moved by annoyance where God is moved by covenant love. Jesus is not saying, "God is like this friend." He is saying, "Even this friend eventually gave what was needed — how infinitely more will your Father, who is nothing like this friend, give you everything you need?" The parable's force depends entirely on the distance between its human character and the divine reality it points toward. The Ultimate Gift Is the Holy Spirit Himself A comparison of Matthew 7 and Luke 11 reveals something significant. Where Matthew records Jesus promising "good things" to those who ask, Luke specifies: the Holy Spirit. This is not a contradiction — it is Luke's Spirit-guided theological clarification, shaped by his characteristic pneumatological emphasis and his post-Pentecost vantage point. The teaching closes where it must: not with general providential blessings, but with God's own personal presence and power. Tony is careful to distinguish this from two-stage salvation theology. The call to ask for the Holy Spirit is a call for what might be described as the subjective experience of the Spirit — fresh assurance, sanctifying power, gifts for ministry — not a second indwelling. The Christian who already possesses the Spirit objectively is nonetheless invited, even commanded, to ask persistently for His living and active presence. That invitation is itself grounded in covenant promise. God's Giving Is Grounded in the Covenant of Redemption Perhaps the most theologically profound moment in the episode comes when Tony traces God's obligation to give the Spirit beyond the Covenant of Grace and back to the Covenant of Redemption — the pretemporal, intra-Trinitarian covenant in which the Father promised the Son a redeemed people whose redemption would be applied by the Holy Spirit. This means that when believers ask the Father for the Holy Spirit, they are not merely appealing to His general benevolence. They are appealing to a promise the Father made to the Son before the foundation of the world — a promise sealed in the Son's obedient life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection. God's faithfulness in answering prayer for the Spirit is, at its deepest level, an expression of His covenant faithfulness to Christ. That is the ground of Christian boldness in prayer, and it is the ground that never shifts. Memorable Quote God has covenantally bound himself to grant us the Holy Spirit when we ask him... That covenantal obligation first and foremost is not primarily his covenant with us. It is his prior commitment and covenantal obligation to his Son to grant him a people who would be marked by and redeemed and have redemption applied by the Holy Spirit. - Tony Arsenal We could not petition him enough to be annoying to him. There is no boundary for when it is inappropriate to stop asking or seeking or knocking. - Tony Arsenal It doesn't teach a doctrine of prayer as a technique, somehow like wearing down a reluctant God, but a doctrine of prayer as a filial confidence grounded in the Father's revealed character, exercised through this persevering, believing, asking. - Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript [00:01:03] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 505 of the Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse  [00:01:12] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony, and this is the podcast With Ears to Hear. Hey, brother.  [00:01:16] Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother. So I'm excited for this little conversation because I tried to tee all, all of this up for the culmination of this amazing parable, which I, I don't know if you coined it or if it comes from somewhere else or if it's what the Patristics called it- [00:01:32] the parable of the night friends, but I really loved that. Yeah. It sounds like an amazing movie as well, so maybe there's a drama that can unfold. I mean, this is, this is cinematic. And if you're wondering what we're even talking about, you know it. It's the parable in Luke 11, the one where Jesus tells a story about a guy pounding on his neighbor's door at midnight begging for bread because apparently first-century hospitality customs did not include 24/7 7-Eleven. [00:01:58] And so a lot of [00:02:00] us get this one wrong. We hear in this parable words like ask, seek, and knock, and we turn it into some kind of prayer vending machine where if we do the right things or we ask long or hard enough that God will give us exactly what we want. And it turns out the whole parable is about God giving us what we need, the best blessing, the best gift, the thing that is the best in all the world, which is His spirit, and that's what we're gonna talk about on this episode. [00:02:25] So it's all- Yeah ... been set up, loved ones. Now it's time for the good stuff. Tony's here. We're going after it hard. How about that?  [00:02:33] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, it should be good.  [00:02:34] Jesse Schwamb: It's gonna be, it's gonna be better than good, Tony. It's gonna be, like, amazing. I- I was hoping, like, the, the energy. I, I was just anticipating you were just gonna come in hard with me on that. [00:02:45] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. I, I, I wish I had the energy. I mean, we'll, we'll talk about this maybe a little bit in denials. It's just been a, it's been a long day.  [00:02:53] Jesse Schwamb: Well, speaking of-  [00:02:54] Tony Arsenal: But it's good. It's good ... speaking- I'm excited.  [00:02:57] Jesse Schwamb: I, I felt like you were just like that was, [00:03:00] like, your pretty excitement for me and you were like, "All right. [00:03:02] Move us along." Yeah. "Enough of this stuff." I get it. No, no. I, I'm totally down with that.  [00:03:06] Tony Arsenal: It's good.  [00:03:06] Jesse Schwamb: Honestly, that's as good a set of a segue as any. It is time before we get to the, the full excitement, we'll war- we'll both warm up a bit.  [00:03:14] Affirmations And Denials Segment [00:03:14] Jesse Schwamb: Let's take us to that segment where we take a page from the Reformed tradition of writing confessions, except these are ones that nobody asked for. [00:03:21] It's that time where we affirm with something that we really like or we deny against something that we don't like so much. So I can only wonder now, given that little preamble, that just short little nugget that you dropped there, I am really curious, more than ever, are you denying against something or are you actually affirming with something else? [00:03:40] Tony Arsenal: I'm gonna cheat a little bit and go back, go old school and do an affirmation and a denial.  [00:03:44] Tony Denies Sleep And Twitter Bait [00:03:44] Tony Arsenal: So- Oh, okay ... I guess my denial is just sleep deprivation. It's, it's just been, for whatever reason, it's been a couple nights in a row of, of sort of disruptive sleep with the kids and the dog. And this time of year in New Hampshire, the, the nights start to get a little bit chilly, which is, is great. [00:04:01] Um, but you start to get rodents and other animals moving around and- When you live in the, the kind of house that I do, there's a large crawl space underneath, so even if, even if the animals aren't making their way into the house itself, they move around under the, the house. And so when you have a terrier that has been bred over many generations to hunt those kinds of animals, uh, when they start hearing them moving around under the floors, they don't, they don't stay quiet about it. [00:04:27] So denying sleep deprivation. We've talked a lot about how important sleep is, and how it's a blessing from God, and it's a way to show that we're not in charge, and we're not necessary, that God's, you know, God's plan and God's world keeps spinning even when our brains are shut off for the night. So I'm denying sleep deprivation. [00:04:45] My affirmation, uh, actually it's a denial too. It's two denials. It's a double denial. Uh, my denial, I guess what I'm gonna call it is I'm, I'm denying taking the bait. So there's, there's been a, a rather high-profile, uh, [00:05:00]Christian figure that I honestly was not super familiar with. I don't need to get into the specifics, but I was not super familiar with, and when I was silly enough to ask the question online as to like why is everybody even paying attention to this person who has no theology training and is clearly not articulating things in a reasonable way? [00:05:17] The answer was like, "Well, he has 4.5 million followers." I was like, "Oh. O- okay." Uh, where I'm denying taking the bait is that this is a person who's been railing against Reformed theology, Calvinism, uh, for a, like a week now probably, week and a half. Uh, total straw man arguments, just totally misrepresenting things, not a good faith engagement effort, not really trying to understand the position they're critiquing. [00:05:41] Just sort of like painting really broad, inaccurate strokes and then s- sort of congratulating himself when he knocks down that straw man. And where I'm denying taking the bait is that in the same breath as me saying like, "Why are we bothering to engage this person?" Uh, I engaged the person. And, uh, you know, like it [00:06:00] just turns into what you, what it turns into. [00:06:02] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah.  [00:06:02] Tony Arsenal: It turns into both parties kind of screaming into the void and just feeling like the other person's not listening, and I don't have time for that. So, uh, I've, I've come up with a new policy for myself on Twitter. If someone is clearly not a good faith actor, uh, then I'm just gonna block them, and then I don't have to worry about it anymore. [00:06:18] Good  [00:06:18] Jesse Schwamb: for you.  [00:06:18] Tony Arsenal: Um, so there's plenty of people who wanna have good conversations, who are interested in dialogue, critical or otherwise, uh- [00:06:41] -fashion. Um, first of all, we should always be asking like, "Am I even the person that should be responding?" But i- if you, in God's providence and in wisdom and Christian prudence decide that you are, uh, then, you know, like is this a person worth responding to? Is Twitter the place to respond or, or is it a longer [00:07:00] format or something like that the best, um, best option? [00:07:03] So I'm denying taking the bait. It's like that, uh, like that GIF, like that's bait, and then I total- I totally took it. I totally took it, wasted a bunch of my time. Uh, and I used to think like, "Well, there's people watching, and they're reading what I'm..." But like nobody's reading what I'm saying. Nope, nobody  [00:07:17] Jesse Schwamb: cares. [00:07:17] Tony Arsenal: Nobody cares. Yeah. It's just a bunch of voices online. So there's ways to have influence and, and there are certainly people that have influence through Twitter, and I've had some really good conversations, and I think there is some value at times to engaging in that, uh, that media. But, uh, this was not one of them, so I'm denying taking the bait. [00:07:35] Jesse Schwamb: Would you look at us? I mean, would you look at us? How, how far God has brought us. Yes. I, I just wanna commend you for bringing that up and just kinda laying that all out in transparency. I, bully for you. I think that's right on. There's a... Everybody listen to that again, 'cause there was a lot of good stuff in that short little denial. [00:07:52] Very good.  [00:07:54] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. What about you, Jesse? What do you got for us tonight?  [00:07:57] Jesse Schwamb: I'm in that place now where, remember you and I [00:08:00] said we should create a list of our affirmations, Niles? I think you have been more faithful in that, uh, honestly, than I have. I, I have- ... coveted your, your faithfulness in doing that. So then I did it, and now I can't remember. [00:08:10] I'm not crossing them off, so now I can't remember if I've actually- ... given this. So everybody please have mercy on me if I've already said this before. I don't think I have, because, you know, I'm just burying a lead that doesn't need to be buried.  [00:08:23] Jesse Affirms Invictus EP [00:08:23] Jesse Schwamb: But I've got a affirmation, and it's more music, and it'll hur- hit a certain group I'm sure. [00:08:29] But I'm affirming with a band called Invictus. They have a new EP that's out this year. It's called Sealed and Sent, and I'll just give you... I, I don't, I'm not trying to make light of this, but, like, I'm not gonna tell you what the music... I mean, I have a pedigree I'm sure in history here. But let me just give you, there's six tracks. [00:08:46] I'm just gonna give you the names of the tracks. Maybe you might guess the style of music from these tracks. Um, it starts with Crush the Snake, then goes on to Heaven's Weapon, Hymn for the Fallen, which is acoustic, Retribution, Drive Them Out, and I Won't [00:09:00] Break. This is a great album. It is, I'm gonna go with their definition of their own sound. [00:09:04] They're a cinematic Christian metal project blending crushing riffs, melodic metalcore, and scripture-inspired themes of spiritual warfare, redemption, perseverance, and victory through Christ. Here's the thing. All of that's true, and you might say, as I did when I first came across them, "Uh, sounds a little cheesy. [00:09:22] Sounds a little kitsch." Turns out it's just awesome. And sometimes, like, you need this kind of music that's so spiritually rich in victory with Christ, that is so expressive of... 'Cause there is, as you heard, like a tint there toward the supernatural realm, toward the battles that are in that realm. But I, sometimes you need that. [00:09:43] This is fantastic. The only word of warning I have is that, so if you're not into that style, and there is, like, beautiful, it's very melodic. There's a lot of beautiful melodies in this. A lot of, like, the voices are really truly fantastic. So it's worth listening to for just for that But my warning is, um, [00:10:00] kind of strange. [00:10:01] This track three, it's acoustic, it's Hymn for the Fallen, is, uh, exactly what it is. It's almost like an anthem for those, uh, condemned to hell, and it is troublingly haunting. Uh, I think it's, like, exactly theologically precise, and it's beautiful in its own right. It's a strange song to listen to because it is beautiful in its expression. [00:10:22] The music is phenomenal, and again, the voice work from this, this single artist is incredible. His range is fantastic. I think it'll leave you at parts just almost breathless. And yet what they're singing about is not quite a celebration, but it is like a song of mourning. And every, uh, time I listen to it, and I wanna listen to it, and yet when you're done with it, you do feel this different sense and urgency for those around you. [00:10:46] So that's my only warning is it's a really complex little EP, but it's strong, and it's beautiful, and it's glorious, and it's a little bit haunting, and it's certainly convicting and challenging. So it turns out, I guess I do like... I [00:11:00]just love the word cinematic. Like, I'm not sure entirely all that it entails, but I think it's probably an, an accurate description. [00:11:07] So if you're looking for some new music or some different music, I highly recommend Invictus because I think you'll be blessed by them  [00:11:16] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. My, um, my musical, uh, I don't know, repertoire consists mostly of, like, kids worship bop music. Uh, so, uh, maybe I'll, maybe I'll put that on the next time I'm in the car by myself just to listen to some sort of, like- [00:11:34] I don't know, like grown-up music. 'Cause, 'cause I don't listen to a lot of grown-up music as it is now. I, if, if I'm lucky, I get a couple, uh, couple minutes on the bus or something like that to listen to some real, real adult music. But yeah, I'll, I'll have to check it out, and there's always a chance that this will be the screaming music or the heavy music that I like. [00:11:55] There's always a chance.  [00:11:57] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. It's more, it's more heavy than maybe screaming. There is a [00:12:00] little bit of that good rasp, but it brings me back to, you and I are of a certain age. I'm, I'm older than you, but I think back to, like, maybe that late '90s, early 2000s, kinda like Creed style. Mm. Like, almost like that, but a little bit deeper and richer and, and a little bit harder. [00:12:16] But it's, it's not, I think, so dissonant that the average ear wouldn't find great value in it. And again, that- Yeah ... third track, which is acoustic, is very beautiful in its own right. It's just a very strange song. Usually you don't hear a song like that, and it really caught me by surprise. And the more I listen to it, the more it does create some kind of mourning within you, and I've thought about it quite a bit, even as I interact with people around me, thinking about the essential emergency of what it means that souls are, are in play here, so to speak. [00:12:44] That, of course, they're all under the providence of God, but He used us as a means in which to preach that gospel message, and we ought to be about that gospel message. And I suppose- Yeah ... in point, that started the podcast as we talked about the gospel and became excited every time we spoke about the [00:13:00] gospel, and then it's, it flowed into this whole series we're doing on the parables. [00:13:04] Back To Luke 11 Reading [00:13:04] Jesse Schwamb: And now, of course, we find it again in Luke chapter 11 here And I was excited to speak with you because I tried to set up for everybody, ourselves included, just like all of the little prolegomena, all the, all the kinda like little fine, fun details of like the circumstance and the interaction that's happening in this parable. [00:13:23] But really the punchline comes in this, I would say, unexpected twist that one, we have this friend going to another, and the friend is reluctant when he really shouldn't be, and there's this incredible juxtaposition of, well, how much more so is God going to be less reluctant because He's our Father, and He delights to give us that which is good, the best of gifts. [00:13:43] And this sometimes gets turned around in that we ought to just really continually annoy God to the extent that He just gives us the very thing, and that somehow this is explained to us that we have to have enough perseverance, hope against hope, to continue to pray against all odds. And instead what we find [00:14:00] buried in this parable is something far better than that. [00:14:02] Actually, the gift that God gives us is something that we really could not conceive of apart from the gospel itself. So I'm gonna take us back- Yeah ... into Luke chapter 11. I'm gonna read the whole passage or the parable that we were just talking about, started it last week. But we're really gonna pick it up in this, so everybody can be listening, at this turning point where Jesus begins to speak about the role of the Father and what He desires to give us. [00:14:27] So this is Luke chapter 11, beginning verse one. "And it happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of the disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.' And He said to them, 'When you pray, say, "Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. [00:14:45] Give us each our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation."' Then He said to them, 'Which of you has a friend and will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me [00:15:00] three loaves for a friend has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.' [00:15:05] And from the inside he answers, 'Do not bother me. The door has already been shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot rise up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not rise up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as much as we needs. [00:15:23] So I say to you, ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who receives asks, and he who, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks will be opened. But what father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if his son asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? [00:15:45] If then you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give you the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?'"  [00:15:57] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah.  [00:15:59] Tony Unpacks The Parable Logic [00:15:59] Tony Arsenal: This is, um, one of those passages that I think... I think you're exactly right. We, we sort of fall into a very specific way of thinking because for some good reasons, right? [00:16:13] Like, this is a parable about prayer. It's couched, y- you know, it's, it's sort of sandwiched in different parts tea- teaching about prayer. And so I think we, we instinctively, kinda like we saw with the Parable of the Good Samaritan, we kind of instinctively assume who certain characters in the, in the analogy here are, right? [00:16:34] Sure. Just like in the, the Parable of the Good Samaritan, we kind of assume that, like, the neighbor that is being talked about is the guy who got beat up and left for dead, but in, in the s- the punchline, we find out it's actually the Samaritan. In this case, I think we assume the person who is being, um, who is being e- entreated upon must represent God, and the person who is doing the entreating, uh, is, you know, is us.[00:17:00] [00:17:00] And I'm not sure that the parable, a- and again, like, what even is a parable? Some people would say, "Well, this isn't a parable," but w- we're really just talking about kind of like the figures of speech ministry of Christ, the figures of the sayings of Jesus that sort of circulate around these analogies. Um, w- what even is a parable? [00:17:19] And in this case, like- We need to be careful not to just make those assumptions without-  [00:17:25] Jesse Schwamb: Right ...  [00:17:26] Tony Arsenal: justifying them in the text because it'll lead us to the wrong conclusion. Like, like you've said, like if we assume that the person in the text, in the, the, the parable here who is being entreated upon represents God the Father, well, what we've done now is we've made God sort of like this annoying or this annoyed figure who doesn't really wanna answer our prayers, but because we harass him so much, because we're so persistent. [00:17:51] Another translation of that word is impudence, right? It's a word that has to do with, like, almost like a shameless begging. Like, [00:18:00] it's, it's someone who is asking something that goes beyond the boundaries of appropriate.  [00:18:05] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:18:05] Tony Arsenal: Right? It's, it's impudence, it's persistence, but it's not just persistence in that, like, it's not just stick-to-it-iveness. [00:18:12] It's like persistence to the point of being, uh, inappropriate is really what this word is getting at. Well, now what we've done is we've made it so we have to inappropriately pursue God for prayer. Right. So I'm, I'm glad you set it up this way to sort of say, like, we need to think about this parable. Yes, there's something here about prayer, for sure. [00:18:29] There's more here about the fact that God desires to give us good gifts, but we really need to understand how it is that this teaching is functioning in almost like a, a, almost like a contrasting example kind of way compared to, like, a direct example. It, it's, it's not, it's not exactly an argument to the lesser, from the lesser to the greater. [00:18:51] I mean, it kind of is.  [00:18:52] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:18:52] Tony Arsenal: But it's, it's almost like a reverse argument from the lesser to the greater. Like, there's this lesser that's so much lesser that he's actually [00:19:00] sort of- Yes ... like an annoying, like not a super admirable, noble figure. Then how much more noble is God? It's kind of the, the sort of the force of this parable, the force of this teaching. [00:19:09] Jesse Schwamb: Yes. I like how you said that. It was... You crystallized something I've been thinking about, which was, it's almost like in this text, think of, like, these two different shores. On one shore is this function, the action, and the worship of, uh, through prayer. On the other shore is this g- great supreme gift of the Holy Spirit, and there's something about a bridge that's being built between these two things, and it starts with this really interesting analogy. [00:19:34] But then there's, like, this turning point from friend to father, and for me, what, like I mentioned last week, I'm seeing, I'm picking up, maybe too much so, all of this interesting covenantal shadows and language here. And so, like, in this shifting, specifically from this analogy to friend to fa- from friend to father, there's almost in my mind, like, an intensifying of the relational bond. [00:19:56] I mean, friendship being voluntary and revocable, fatherhood, [00:20:00] especially in ancient thought, bound by nature, and then that again, covenant obligation. It does strengthen this interesting logic that's unfolding for us. But it's as if the bridge that's being built here by Jesus is taking and uniting or bringing together this idea of good gifts of the Father, and the greatest gift being the Holy Spirit, and prayer and how that accomplishes or receives or invokes those gifts, and the bridge being the right way in which to think about prayer and the right mode in which to consider prayer so as to ask for the things in the name of Jesus according to God's will, that is the greatest of all gifts, which is the Holy Spirit. [00:20:36] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:20:36] Hospitality Context And Midnight Bread [00:20:36] Tony Arsenal: And I, I think it's interesting too because this teaching, this parable opens with y- you know, kind of a s- sort of standard format that Christ use, uses in some of these circumstances, where He's talking to an audience who may or may not be hostile. In some instances it's hostile. In this instance it was a friendly, a friendly audience. [00:20:57] It was His disciples. Um, He says, "Which of [00:21:00] you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves. For a friend of mine- Right ... has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.'" This is parallel similar language to, like, which of you having a sheep who falls into a- [00:21:22] not like everybody has experienced it, right? I think I, I've never had, like, livestock, but, like, I know my dog has gotten into stuff. Like, everybody who's had a pet is like, "Yeah, my animal has done something stupid at some point." Like, ate something stupid, got stuck in something, hurt itself. So, like, the, the, the way that this is set up is [00:21:53] Tony Arsenal: In a way where it's like the scenario is sort of insane and nobody would [00:22:00] be in that situation. Um, and then there are times where he says, "Which of you having a friend, which of you having a sheep who falls into a ditch?" [00:22:09] Um, and, and the assumption is on some level either the, it, it's such a common scenario that of course everyone would have understood it, right? Which of you... It's like, it's like a woman losing a coin who sweeps the house to look for the coin. Everybody who has a, a, a valuable piece of money that they lose is gonna spend time looking for it. [00:22:29] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:22:29] Tony Arsenal: This one I think is more like that second one, which feels weird to us. Again, like we're, like you kind of alluded to and kind of joking, but I think is, is a, is a per- serious point, we can just go to the store. Like I could go to a 24-hour supermarket and buy resources if a guest shows up unexpectedly. [00:22:46] It's not like that in the ancient world. So this statement of like, which of you Basically like which of you who has unexpected company show up would not go to your friend or neighbor and ask for something to serve them? And especially in the sort of [00:23:00] hospitality-driven culture that the 1st century was, it would've been deeply, deeply troubling for a guest, especially a, a guest who's coming on a l- from a long journey who's showing up at midnight. [00:23:10] That feels like in our culture we'd be like, "Yeah, it's understandable that I don't have anything on hand." It would be deeply troubling for someone in that scenario to not be able to provide hospitality. So I think that's the first hurdle we have to get over with this one is the scenario feels, at least to me, feels a little bit insane, but I actually think the assumption baked into the teaching is that this is an understandable, relatable situation with an obvious answer. [00:23:36] Of course, all of us would go beg a friend for a few loaves of bread to serve our guest who shows up unexpectedly.  [00:23:43] Jesse Schwamb: That's right. There is like a foil in all of this. Again, it's not like Jesus is not commending like wear God down with nagging as a technique, but there is a lot at stake here in this scenario that's been set forward because there's, there's honor, there's covenantal honor like I think I [00:24:00] mentioned p- last time. [00:24:00] Again, this is where I'm seeing that there is something to be said for like the petitioner is a little bit shameless here. That is, like he's bold. It's, it's socially inappropriate maybe, the persistence in the knocking, but that's what secures the loaves. And so on this view, verse 8 does teach like persevering bold prayer. [00:24:18] I think then what we're being lead to, try, led to try to understand is well, what kind of bold prayer here? Is it just like any kind of prayer, or is there something specific that Christ himself is directing these people to ask for in prayer? And to me, it, to like, you know, maybe preempt a little bit, it seems like, of course, like he's saying, "Ask for God, of God the only thing that God can give you. [00:24:39] Ask boldly for that thing. Ask shamelessly, unapologetically for that thing," because we're gonna be led again to this kind of reprisal of roles here and see that he's gonna speak about himself again as, as Father, as being this really good father over and against this really reluctant friend who only gets up really because he has been annoyed, and that's certainly the opposite of [00:25:00] God's stance towards us. [00:25:01] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:25:02] Persistence Without Impudence [00:25:02] Tony Arsenal: And you know, there is, um, you know, like we mentioned, there's this element of- The an- sort of annoyed friend, right? And, and we don't wanna be too quick to compare God directly to the annoyed friend, right? It is this foil. It's kind of like, it's almost like God is not, is like this in some ways, but not like this- Yes [00:25:23] in the most important ways. I actually think the asking itself falls into that category, right? In, in the context of the parable, the asking, m- maybe not the asking, but the persistence, the continuing to pound on the door when the answer no has already been delivered. That is, in the context of this teaching, is, is seen as inappropriate, right? [00:25:45] It's, it's impudent. It's disrespectful. It's, it's an- Right ... unrelenting persistence beyond the bounds of propriety. Not only is God not like the annoying friend, or the annoyed friend, or the annoying friend, I guess, not only is God [00:26:00] not annoyed, uh, so there's this sort of like argument to the, from the lesser to the greater opposite or the greater contrary But our asking itself and our persistence is not impudent. [00:26:13] And I think that's a really key thing here, and that's why it goes directly into the next verse. "Ask and you will g- give it given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock, it will be opened to you." He's not saying because you're so persistent, because you continue to wear God down, it's gonna be given to you. [00:26:29] It's almost like he's saying, like, look, in this context of this parable, not only is the friend, not only did the friend say no, and the, the seeker is seeking inappropriately, and the friend finally, not out of the goodness of his heart, not out of his loyalty to his friend, not out of his desire to serve a stranger, not out of any of those noble things, just because he's annoyed, he finally gives in. [00:26:51] Well, not only is that not what God is like, but your prayers are not like the persistent, annoying friend who won't give up when the answer is no. Right. [00:27:00] Your, your prayers are appropriate insofar as you persist. As you continue to persist, they are appropriate. And, you know, we could get into all of the Greek details about the, the participles and all of this stuff about it's, it's not just ask at one point. [00:27:15] It's, it's continue asking, it'll be given to you. Yes. Continue knocking, it'll be given to you. Like, we can, we can go into all that, and I'm sure we'll talk about a little bit. But the reality is the sort of like durable nature of prayer, the like ongoing, persistent nature of prayer here is not established by those participles. [00:27:32] It's established by the comparison to this inappropriate asking, this inappropriate persistence in the parable, but it's not inappropriate. And I think that's, again, like that's another sort of argument from the lesser to the greater contrary. I don't know if that's actually a term or if I invented that, but that seems like what's going on here. [00:27:49] There's this sort of like minimum situation, and then you flip it over a little bit and, and make it bigger, and that's what we're getting at here. It's, it's sort of a strange technique that, [00:28:00] um, again, like is it present in oth- a lot of other teaching? There's obviously like the parable of the widow and the unjust judge that's basically the same situation. [00:28:08] Right. And we're- I'm sure we'll get to that, but like it's the same basic situation. It's, it's this idea that like Christ is presenting this scenario that has this one touch point, and everything else is like flipped over. It's like everything else is sort of opposite day.  [00:28:24] Jesse Schwamb: And that is a little bit different than the stuff that we've covered so far, which is what makes this a little bit exceptional. [00:28:29] There are ones that mirror it, but this technique-  [00:28:31] Tony Arsenal: Right ...  [00:28:31] Jesse Schwamb: is something that we haven't really come across yet, of course, in our conversations.  [00:28:35] Covenantal Frame For Ask Seek Knock [00:28:35] Jesse Schwamb: And I would say, like, good Biblical hermeneutics, like you said, resolves all of that, what you just said, not by, like, weakening the promise, but by locating it within its covenantal frame again. [00:28:46] Yeah. This promise is spoken to disciples who have just been taught to pray, "Your kingdom come, give us, forgive us, lead us not." That is, all of this prayer needs to be conformed to God's revealed will and kingdom priorities. And so what's hard is I [00:29:00] hear this spoken about a lot, this parable, but it always gets cut, like, from the teaching that just preceded it. [00:29:06] Right.  [00:29:06] Why This Contrast [00:29:06] Jesse Schwamb: Like, a- as if, again, they're coming to Jesus saying, "John was really good at providing instruction to his disciples on how to pray, and you being the Son of God, like the ultimate teacher, teach us then. How do we see you pray? We know that you're a man of prayer. We know that you're Son of God. Teach us, instruct us in this way." [00:29:22] W- w- let's get it, as it were, the... These guys are like, "Boys, let's get it from the horse's mouth." And so it's interesting that Jesus gives the instruction, he gives the prayer, he gives some language and a framework, and then he's like, follows it immediately with this teaching. And this teaching, though, like you said, doesn't draw, like, often, like it's orthogonal. [00:29:39] There's no, like, parallel or linear lines here- Right ... so to speak. It's, it's all about creating this weird contrast. And you might ask, "Well, why do it this way?" And so it does beg the question of does that distinction, that almost like cognitive dissonance between these characters, and then again, like the comparison to God, does that draw out in different ways this character of God so that we might actually [00:30:00] see it more clearly in that juxtaposition? [00:30:02] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:30:03] Midnight Friend Parable [00:30:03] Tony Arsenal: And I think, y- you know, one of the other comparisons that I think's going on here, and, and again, I think this is basically the same teaching as the, the pa- the widow and the unjust judge. Like, she wears him down with her petitioning, and he finally gives her justice. Like, I think a big part of this, the idea here is when we look at this parable, everything in the parable is- uh, understandable and relatable, right? [00:30:28] To some extent. Um, again, we i- in our 21st century modern context, at least in the West here, we don't have a situation where we can't basically just drive to the store and get something, even, even in the middle of the night. I, I don't know m- many people personally who don't have access to some sort of 24-hour supermarket or convenience store, something where they could go and get something to present to a guest who shows up unexpected in the middle of the night. [00:30:57] Um, and even the idea of, like, someone showing up [00:31:00] unexpected in the middle of the night is kind of like, even then, like, what we think of as unexpected is, like, the person calls us and they're like, "Hey, I'm 35 minutes away. I'm gonna be there. Do you have a bed I can use?" What we're talking about here in the 1st century is literally like, I'm asleep, all of a sudden there's a pounding on my door, and my friend has come from a long journey. [00:31:18] There's no advance notice, there's no messenger that came. This is literally just someone who appears out of nowhere in the middle of the night, and so he has to go get something. That is actually a somewhat relatable situation, even to us What I think is interesting, what I, what I really love about these, this parable and the other one I referenced, is when you think about the way that the, the friend, the annoyed friend, the friend who's sleeping and gets woken up, the way he responds is still to provide the need. [00:31:49] But then look at how we are... Look at the language around how God gives us good gifts, right? Right.  [00:31:56] Ask Seek Knock [00:31:56] Tony Arsenal: He's not giving us... It, it's almost like the teaching is God gives us good gifts. We should ask, we should persevere in prayer. If you continue asking, it will be given to you. If you continue knocking, it, it will be opened to you. [00:32:07] If you continue seeking, you will find. Like, that's the, that's the positive teaching of this. But the contrast is not just, yeah, if you continue to be persistent enough, you're gonna get what you ask for. It's, look, God is going to give you what you need and what you ask for. He's going to give that to you joyfully and out of his own abundance and out of his own desire to bless you with good gifts. [00:32:30] Not like this worldly dude who just does it 'cause he's annoyed.  [00:32:34] Jesse Schwamb: Exactly.  [00:32:34] Tony Arsenal: So it's not just the argument of like, here's a picture of somebody who's persisting in prayer and gets what they want, and like, yeah, we have some language about the guy being annoyed and about inappropriate asking. God's not quite like that. [00:32:47] God Not Annoyed [00:32:47] Tony Arsenal: It's really designed to paint this picture of marveling at the goodness and, and graciousness of, of God in that not only does he grant us what we need, but he does so [00:33:00] joyfully. We could not petition him enough to be annoying to him. There is no boundary for when it is inappropriate to stop asking or seeking or knocking. [00:33:12] That's the real point of this, is not to just compare God to this annoyed friend who finally gives in, but to show us, like, this is what the world looks like. When you ask enough, you might get what you want, but you're going to annoy someone. That's what worldly pr- like, persistence in lateral prayer, if we wanna call it that, just to sort of keep the analogy going, right? [00:33:33] Lateral prayer, lateral petitioning, or lateral whatever. Like, lateral interceding, all of those things, however we wanna phrase it. That is real, and yes, if you do it long enough, you're probably gonna get what you want. You might burn a bridge in the process. You can never burn the bridge to God by being so annoying, because he's saying continue to ask, continue to seek- Right [00:33:55] continue to knock, and it will be given to you. And not only will it be given to you, but it will [00:34:00] be given to you out of the joy and goodness of my heart. That is really the big comparison that's going on here  [00:34:06] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, there's something that we just get to see about God's character here. It's grounds this perseverance not in doubt about God's willingness, but in confidence about it. [00:34:15] And that's what's so interesting here is it comes about by seeing this distinction. It is like a great mockery of saying like you're saying this friend who w- should've been a good friend and had all the reason to be reluctant, even though you pers- persevered with him, he relented and gave you that very thing. [00:34:32] Guess who will be the exact opposite of that? Yeah. Is God himself who lavishes love upon you. And so therefore because of that, you come before him and see he's nothing like this friend. And even a friend will do this in the worst of all circumstances. How much more so will God, where he's given you every spiritual blessing in Christ? [00:34:50] From Friend To Father [00:34:50] Jesse Schwamb: And that's, that's where he leads us, and that's why I think then it transitions to this different set of characters or comparisons by speaking about fathers. So in verse [00:35:00] 11, where we find written, "What father among you, if he has sons, asks for a fish will instead of a fish give him a serpent? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?" [00:35:09] And, and I've read that there's some commentators who will draw from these pairs being chosen for maybe, like, their potential visual tactile resemblance. Like, a, an eel-like fish might have resembled a snake, and generally there were, like, these whitish scorpions I, I guess that were common in Galilee that might have resembled an egg. [00:35:26] And perhaps even here there's a little bit of humor in the illustration just to show, like, just the extreme nonsensical nature of this thing. It's, it's- Yeah ... a really cruel bait and switch. It's deliberate. You know, Jesus is appealing certainly to this universally recognized parental instinct as evidence, again, like you're saying, Tony, for a still greater divine instinct which is present, and that's this love of God for us that we can't even imagine. [00:35:49] But we can comprehend by him saying, "Come, ask, seek, knock." And so, so to me, I think we've got these two axes kind of going on here which are really interesting and beautiful. We've got the reluctant friend [00:36:00] to the willing father. That's a kind of, like, I would say again, like, relational intensification. Like, we're firing it up. [00:36:05] Here, we're taking it to the next level. And then because we got... I gotta slip this in because we got a little, a little TD coming in here hot. From the second axis is from, like, the sinful human father to the holy divine Father, which I would say is, like, a moral intensification, and that's made explicit in verse 13. [00:36:24] Total Depravity Common Grace [00:36:24] Jesse Schwamb: And here's the TD. Like, lest anybody doubt this, to me, and I don't want to over-read, but that second axis is of course where Reformed theology's doctrine of total depravity becomes, like, exegetically significant here. Yeah. Because Jesus himself just calls it out in this verse, and that's part of the, the setup that he's gonna bring forward to explain just how loving God is. [00:36:44] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, and it's even, um... It's not only is it total depravity, it's also common grace, right? Yes. Even evil, even evil, wicked people. And again, like, evil is a, is in this instance is sort of a relative term, right? It's, it's, um- [00:37:00] The audience is the disciples, at least primarily the disciples. So it's not like he's talking to, he's talking to unregenerate people, right? [00:37:09] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:37:09] Tony Arsenal: Um, the, the disciples by all realistic assessment, I think, uh, were regenerate w- with the exception of Judas at this point. Um, you know, you could make some arguments that maybe some of them came to faith during the course of his ministry, but, uh, for the most part we should think of the disciples not as like coming to faith and becoming regenerate after Christ is raised. [00:37:31] Like, they're, they're believers, they're followers with the exception of Judas at this point in his ministry, and he's still calling them evil. But even Even an unregenerate father, for the most part. There are exceptions. There are, are, there are those who are so wicked that even their base parental instincts are messed up, right? [00:37:51] And that's reality. It's terribly sad, but that's, that's the vast exception. Even the worst parents in the world still love their [00:38:00] kids and wanna give them good, good gifts. Like, it's just baked into the genetics of wanting to do that. Even that still is, uh, is an act of common grace. But I, I think you're right, too, and actually, as I think about it, too, like, this isn't even just one parable. [00:38:14] Right. This is actually, if we're talking about the first one as a parable, this is actually, like, its own second parable, right? That's which of you, having a friend that shows up in the middle of the night, would not go- Yep ... and then there's, "Now what father among you?" And it's, again, it's that eminently understandable, relatable scenario where either it, it's so common that everyone has dealt with it, or it's so, like, obviously practical that even if you haven't dealt with it, you, you couldn't come to any other conclusion. [00:38:42] Right. What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, would give him a serpent, right? It's one of those, like, who does that? The answer is no- nobody. Right.  [00:38:53] Jesse Schwamb: Exactly. Right?  [00:38:53] Tony Arsenal: Who, who asks for an egg and gives a scorpion? Nobody. So we've got these two [00:39:00]scenarios where the assumption is there's a question that has an obvious outcome, and it drives us to this understanding of the, this image of God as the supremely good giver of gifts, father, faithful, gracious provider, who provides not just a good gift, but the ultimate perfect necessary gift. [00:39:22] Jesse Schwamb: Yes.  [00:39:22] Tony Arsenal: Right?  [00:39:22] How Much More Spirit [00:39:22] Tony Arsenal: And that's where we come to, uh, at the end of verse 13 is how much more, right, there's that argument from... This is truly an argument from the lesser to the greater, like in the purest sense. How much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? And I think there's all sorts of implications that we can come out of this, right? [00:39:42] Um, there are those, uh, in the Christian world who never ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. And, and I'm not, um, I wanna be careful here because I'm not a two-stage salvation person. I'm not a second blessing person, right? We get the Holy Spirit as part of our [00:40:00] regeneration. Like, the Holy Spirit indwells us in regeneration and in, in, not in necessarily in regeneration, but when we are united to Christ, we're united to Christ by the, by the Spirit. [00:40:10] Right. And so there's never a point where we can be considered truly saved Christians- Those who are united to Christ, we cannot be united to Christ and not have His Spirit dwelling within us. But there is this element of the subjective experience of the Holy Spirit where we don't ask for the Holy Spirit, right? [00:40:31] Think of, like, Psalm 51, right? "Take not your Holy Spirit from me." David was not saying, uh, "I've lost the Holy Spirit." He was talking about the enjoyment of the presence of the Holy Spirit, the awareness of the gracious, loving presence of the Holy Spirit. That's what he was asking not to have taken away from him, and, and probably also there was elements of, like, anointing and office that were in there. [00:40:52] But there are lots of Christians who have the Holy Spirit in an objective sense- Right ... who don't take time [00:41:00] to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit in the subjective sense. I think that's the final sort of payout of this teaching, is that we need to continue to ask, continue to knock, and continue to seek, not for general gifts. [00:41:16] Yes, there's a general teaching about persevering in prayer for temporal blessings or spiritual protection, all of those things, all of those petitions that we have. Those are good things. It's good to be persistent in those. But the real point of this whole series of teachings here is that we need to persist in prayer to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit. [00:41:36] Like- Right ... full stop. That's the point  [00:41:40] Jesse Schwamb: Right. Wow, you just did a full stop right there. I thought there was gonna be more, but I, I was getting pumped as you were going on No, no.  [00:41:46] Tony Arsenal: It's all you. Full stop.  [00:41:49] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, yeah.  [00:41:50] Luke Versus Matthew [00:41:50] Jesse Schwamb: I mean, the comparison, of course, is not one of degree alongside, like, a single continuum where it's as though God is a better version of a human father, but it's a kind. [00:41:59] I mean, [00:42:00] God's fatherhood is the archetype of which human fatherhood is just this faint, fallen kind of analog. And so by the time you get to this payload, I like that. It's kinda like a nuclear bomb in a way. I mean, it's so theologically loaded here. Because I was just looking up Matthew's parallel passage here, and it reads, th- this is his punchline, "How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?" [00:42:26] So it strikes me that Luke, as we've been saying, writing to a largely Gentile audience after Pentecost, and with his kinda characteristic pneumatological emphasis, he emphasizes or specifies that the good things here are the Holy Spirit himself. And so we're gonna read this not as a contradiction between the Gospels, but as Luke's inspired Spirit-guided clarification/specification of what the good gifts ultimately are. [00:42:54] And while they're always pointing toward that even this temporal good gift from the Father is subordinate to and [00:43:00] finds, I guess it's like its telos in the supreme covenantal gift of God's own indwelling presence. That is a bomb. Like, that's incredible. Yeah. And so I like what you're saying here. I think it is a challenge for Christians to think about not just that we shouldn't, of course, go to God with the big and the small things, the concerns of all our lives, the anxieties and the cares which we cast before him. [00:43:20] This is all part and parcel of what real prayer means, what real communion with God is, and speaking with him and listening to his Word, uh, i- in our ear. At the same time, we shouldn't forsake the greater things that we ought to ask God with strong perseverance, knowing that he will give all those things to us. [00:43:38] I think, and you correct me if I'm wrong, I, I'm reading this as- All of this kind of momentum in Christ teaching about the Spirit coming and about where this passage had been placed in the whole kind of grand arc, and I, I think there's, like, all kinds of Ordo Salutis implications in here. But I love a good Ordo Salutis implication, so it's possible [00:44:00] I'm just coming in a little bit too hot. [00:44:01] But I think first it, it anchors this teaching within this broader Lucan narrative, narrative arc toward Pentecost, where the ascended, glorified Christ pours out the Spirit as the chief blessing of the new covenant. And so again, I'm reading this, I'm like, "Covenant, covenant, covenant." Like, only if you're watching this on YouTube can you actually see me do the, the point, like the g- the finger guns- [00:44:24] where really strongly emphasize that point. And so I just see so much covenant in this. I mean, how mu- how much covenant, how much covenant do you see in this, Tony?  [00:44:36] Covenant Obligations [00:44:36] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, I, there, there is also this element, and this goes back to sort of the first parable or the first teaching in this little segment here, um- The friend is obligated in a certain sense. [00:44:48] Like- Yes ... there is, there is a, there's a sense, a real sense I think, and again, this is something I don't think we understand. If, if, um, if I show up at my neighbor's house, my n- I live in a [00:45:00] small community. My neighbor's house is like 25 feet away from me, and if I knocked on his door in the middle of the night and said, "Gus, I need a cup of sugar," he would give it to me with a smile. [00:45:11] But he's not obligated to do that. Right. He has every right, and no one would look sideways at him if he told me to pound sand and go back to bed, right? I think, um, in the 1st century, the answer from this other friend, "No, I'm already in bed," like that actually is sort of a scandalous answer in and of itself. [00:45:29] And so even within that little dynamic, there's covenant implications, right? The a- the continued asking is inappropriate, but it, the continued asking is almost only reasonably necessary because the annoyed friend already broke a social contract. Not quite a covenant- Right ... but we might call it a social contract, where there's an a- there's an assumed position in the 1st century that if someone comes to you asking for hospitality, you give it. [00:45:57] Like there's no exclu- And that's what's [00:46:00] driving this other friend to go talk to him in mid- at midnight in the first place, is I have to provide hospitality. I'm obligated to do so. So I think, yeah, there's all sorts of covenant implications here. And when we're talking about the, the earthly fathers, right? [00:46:14] There's a covenant, um, I'm, I'm careful to use the term covenant. So I'm gonna use it, but I'm not talking, maybe we'll say lowercase C covenant rather than like formal covenants. Right, right. There's a, there's a covenantal, lowercase C [00:46:28] covenantal obligation that fathers have to their children, right? I didn't make a covenant with August and Addie, but I have obligations to them in light of my station and my role related to them, right? And there's an obligation that if they ask me for something that is reasonable and is good for them, that I should give it to them, right? [00:46:46] I'm obligated to provide food, shelter, um, I would say things like education, love, um, you know, attention. Like the things that are necessary for the health and wellbeing of my children, as a father I'm obligated to give that to them. [00:47:00] [00:47:00] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:47:00] Tony Arsenal: Whether they ask me or not. When they ask me to, right, there are times it's funny. [00:47:05] I, I'll be the first to say, um, I maybe am a little bit on my phone more than I should be, just in general, right? There are times now Addie is old enough where she sees me on her ph- on my phone, and, and sometimes, like, it's fine. They're playing and I'm, I'm doing something on my phone. There are times where she'll come up to me and she'll say, "Daddy phone," and she'll tell me to put my phone down. [00:47:23] I'm obligated to do that. Like, there's a covenantal, lowercase C, covenantal obligation. When she asks me to play with her, if there's not a pressing reason I can't, I should play with her.  [00:47:33] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:47:33] Tony Arsenal: That is really what we have at play here, and this is, this is what I think is amazing. God has covenantally bound himself to grant us the Holy Spirit when we ask him, right? [00:47:42] Jesse Schwamb: That's  [00:47:43] Tony Arsenal: what I'm  [00:47:43] Jesse Schwamb: saying.  [00:47:43] Tony Arsenal: That, and that's, that's, um, that covenantal obligation first and foremost... Man, I didn't even think we were gonna get here. Who would've thought we would've gotten to pretemporal covenant of redemption here just- Would you  [00:47:53] Jesse Schwamb: look at us ...  [00:47:54] Tony Arsenal: uh, look at us.  [00:47:55] Covenant Of Redemption [00:47:55] Tony Arsenal: Um, that covenantal obligation that the Father has to give us the Holy Spirit when we ask is not primarily his covenant with us. [00:48:03] It is, right? It's the covenant of grace, but that only is, is necessary because of his prior commitment and covenantal obligation to his Son to grant him a people who would be marked by and redeemed and have redemption applied by the Holy Spirit. The Father has promised the Son to give the people of the Son the Holy Spirit when they ask. [00:48:26] That's, that's profound in a way that I think, um, really only Reformed theology can fully get at-  [00:48:33] Jesse Schwamb: Right  [00:48:34] Tony Arsenal: on ... is that there is a promise that God the Father made to God the Son to, to send the Holy Spirit to apply the redemption that the Son purchased to his people. That's really what we're getting at here. [00:48:46] I think that's really the, sort of the final outcome of this, is there's this covenantal obligation- That the Father is not just out of His own goodness, of course out of His own goodness- Right,  [00:48:57] Jesse Schwamb: right ...  [00:48:57] Tony Arsenal: but even maybe if it, maybe it's, [00:49:00] hopefully it's not blasphemous to say this, but like even more than just His own goodness is His covenant faithfulness to the promise He's made- Amen [00:49:07] first and foremost to His Son, and then to steal some language from the Westminster Larger Catechism, first and foremost to His Son, but then also to all the elect in Him who are His spiritual seed.  [00:49:17] Jesse Schwamb: That's right. That's right. That's, see that's the good stuff.  [00:49:20] Wrap Up Holy Spirit [00:49:20] Jesse Schwamb: And so what's crazy is then this beautiful wrap-up, which is brings us back to exactly where we started, but we find that we're on another level because the passage closes exactly as it began with this imperative of asking, but now the object of asking has been specified as God's own personal presence and power, not merely material provision. [00:49:41] And so it's everything you just said all wrapped up, and we can ground then like the practice of specifically and explicitly praying for the Spirit's fresh working, which is sanctification, assurance, gifts for ministry, as entirely a biblical form of prayer distinct from, though not opposed to, a prayer for providential [00:50:00] needs. [00:50:00] In other words, I think the disciples started in a place where they were saying, "Teach us to pray so that we might receive that what which we need." And it's almost as if God says, "I will do that and one better for you. Because not only will I just open your eyes to the thing that you need most, but I'm going to instruct you on how to ask for and then receive by way of these covenantal promises, by way of my own character, my faithful precis- provision, both in establishing the promise and then seeing it to fulfillment that you might have the Holy Spirit reside within you." [00:50:33] And that is mind-boggling. We've, we've talked before just what it is to even conceive that God's presence be with us, but then that God's presence it, uh, the Holy Spirit, one of the Trinity, would be residing within us is just inconceivable. Yeah. Even now with the words coming out of my mouth it just sounds wild. [00:50:51] And yet that is what we have to give credit to here is we have to take God at His word. This is the thing that He's, He said to us. His son, His Son Himself has given us this proper [00:51:00] instruction. And I think all, all the other things we talked about, what it means again to seek after gifts for ministry, to serve in our churches and congregations, to have grand assurance, which is the right and the purview and the blessing, the propriety of the Christian to, uh, want to go after sanctification, that all of this strikes me now is part of praying for, to receive the Holy Spirit, a fresh working of the Holy Spirit in that it's not just, it's both like a command and a gift and the greatest priv

This week on the KPL Podcast, we have middle-grade author, Emily Galvin Almanza.  Andromeda Diaz and the Reasonable Doubt is about the daughter of public defenders as she locates why a classmate was suspended from school.Author ReadsThe Mismeasurement of America: How Outdated Government Statistics Mask The Economic Struggle Of Everyday Americans by Gene LudwigEverything is Tuberculois: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John GreenThe Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee StewartThe Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea

Dave and Brad return from the 80th Annual National Cartoonists Society Conference and Reuben Awards with stories to tell! They look back on ComicLab LIVE and a private tour of the newly redesigned Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum! Then it's on to the Reuben Awards, where Mark Tatulli finally won the Reuben Award after years of nominations. But some of the best moments happened between the scheduled events. Brad gets the chance to sit down with 95-year-old cartooning legend Mort Gerberg and hear stories about the golden age of magazine cartooning — including an incredible story about a newly arrived Sergio Aragonés taking Manhattan by storm. Jim Davis shares the story behind Garfield's famous suction-cup dolls, along with his surprisingly strict 25-word rule for writing the strip. And the farewell brunch turns into an exchange of sketches, original art, and some wonderful reminders of why cartoonists come back to this event year after year. Finally, an old collection of America's “best college cartoonists” offers an unexpected lesson about making a career in comics: You don't have to start out at the front of the pack. You just have to keep going. ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW... • ComicLab LIVE at the NCS Conference • The newly redesigned Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum • Which original would you save from a museum fire? • The Reuben Awards • Katie Cook and Mark Tatulli take home awards • Lunch with Dave and Eileen Blazek • Brad's conversation with Mort Gerberg • Mort's stories about Sergio Aragonés • Jim Davis on writing Garfield • The accidental origin of the Garfield suction-cup doll • Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott • Original art at the farewell brunch • ComicLab listeners at the NCS • The NCS Cartoonist Showcase • Why persistence matters more than being the best You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon$2 — Early access to episodes$5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.

Tim Leatherman is the inventor of the iconic Leatherman multi-tool and the co-founder, owner, and chairman of Leatherman Tool Group. What started as a simple idea during a nine-month road trip through Europe took eight years to become a reality, including three years of building prototypes by hand, countless rejections, and a decision to manufacture the product himself. Today, more than 90 million Leatherman tools have been sold in over 70 countries. In this episode, Tim shares the lessons he learned from building a product from scratch, persevering through rejection, creating his own manufacturing operation, and using the wealth he created to build a life he loves. On this episode we talk about: How a nine-month trip through Europe inspired the idea for the original Leatherman tool Why entrepreneurs should build their own prototypes and learn the skills they need along the way The eight-year journey from initial idea to the first customer How rejection from knife and tool manufacturers forced Tim to start his own company The importance of finding the right business partner and combining complementary skills How listening to customers helped simplify the product and make it more marketable How Leatherman went from hoping to sell 4,000 tools in its first year to selling 30,000 Building and scaling manufacturing operations from a garage to a major facility Why perseverance and learning as you go are essential to entrepreneurship Using money as a tool to create an enjoyable and meaningful life Top 3 Takeaways Build the prototype yourself. Tim believes that if you have a creative idea, especially for a physical product, you should do the work yourself. Building his own prototypes helped him understand the product and develop the skills necessary to bring it to life. Persevere, but be willing to change. Tim spent years pursuing his original vision, but ultimately had to simplify the tool after listening to feedback from potential customers. Persistence doesn't mean refusing to adapt. Money is a means, not the end. Tim has maintained a modest lifestyle while using the success of Leatherman to create jobs, spend time with family, and pursue experiences and activities he enjoys. Notable Quotes “If you have an idea for anything creative, that you do the work yourself.” “Start with a goal and then persevere and especially learn what you need to know as you go along.” “My philosophy on money is that I don't deny myself any needs, but my needs are very modest.” Connect with Tim Leatherman: Book: The Leatherman Book, launching October 6 and available wherever books are sold Company: Leatherman Tool Group A Word from Our Sponsors: - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! - Go to Leesa.com for 30% OFF select mattresses (through September 13, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“My grandfather used to say, aim for the moon and you might catch a star on the way down. And at his funeral, I gave a sort of eulogy and told everyone this story and said, ‘I assume everyone's heard this one from him because he was a storyteller.' There were about a hundred people there, and they were like, ' No, we've not heard that story. But afterwards, fifteen, twenty people did come up to me and say, ‘He sent me a letter, and he told me this, a different thing. And he told me that…' And I guess one of my biggest inspirations, which is why I try and mentor, because I think he mentored me without saying, ‘Greg, I'm mentoring you.' But I've realized that I need to mentor people, and actually, I think all of us need to mentor and to be mentored.” – Greig WattsThis episode is the second half of my conversation with author, songwriter, and music publisher Greig Watts as we discuss bridging the gap between creativity and the practical side of business, his tips for dealing with the inevitable rejections that come in the music industry, and how a teacher who literally washed kids' mouths out with soap influenced his own approach to teaching students.And if you like what you hear and you want to support this podcast, there are a bunch of ways to do that at audiobrandingpodcast.com, including subscribing to the YouTube channel, the newsletter, writing a review, or buying me a coffee. Because this takes a lot of coffee. Thanks so much.(00:00) – Balancing Art and BusinessAs the second half of our conversation starts, Greig tells us about some of the early influences that turned him both towards and, to some extent, away from sound. “I remember having my school's careers interview,” he recalls, “and they said, ‘What do you want to be?' ‘A songwriter and a business person.' And they were like, ‘No, you need a job.' And I was like, ‘songwriter.' And eventually I sort of said, ‘Well, you know, I am running my own business, and I am writing songs.'" He talks about the wisdom his grandfather shared with him and how he now mentors other musicians, including teaching them that rejection isn't a personal failure. “It's not that you're not good enough,” he explains, “it's that someone else's song fitted [the project] better than yours. That means you could have had the best song, but their song fitted the criteria, so [your] song can still go somewhere else.”(12:51) – Keeping the Dream AliveGreig tells us about his first book, originally written during COVID-19 when he wanted to share what he's learned with his children. “It's called Keeping the Dream Alive, [because] I'm a dreamer. So that's the main thing. But then it has the subtitle of A Songwriter's Guide to Overcoming Rejection, Finding Success, and, most importantly, I think, Enjoying the Journey Along the Way.” We discuss the power of sound and one particularly poignant memory of his grandmother, who suffered from dementia in her later years. “They'd just done their Christmas nativity play,” he recalls. “So I said to them, ‘Why don't you sing ‘Silent Night?'' And so they sang ‘Silent Night,' and up she sat, and she sang it with them. And then at the end, when we'd finished, she sang a verse that we never even knew.”(24:06) – The Difference Teachers MakeAs our conversation wraps up, Greig shares his own thoughts about the power of sound, and how deeply it can connect us with the past. “As a 35-year-old man,” he recalls hearing the 1970s Incredible Hulk theme for the first time in years, “I started crying, and I was like, ‘Why am I crying? I don't know why I'm crying.' And then I remembered I used to watch this when I was seven, and I always used to feel sad at that point. So the memory thirty years later triggered the same emotion.” He talks about the impact teachers have made on his life, both good and bad, and how he strives to use the lessons he's learned from them while teaching the next generation of songwriters. “They will never hear me shout at them,” he says. “I might shout an instruction across to just make sure, but not an aggressive shout because that's not my job. My job is to give them instructions, then they go out and do it.”Episode SummaryGreig shares how his grandfather inspired his mentoring philosophy.Our conversation about how neurodiverse people can excel in creativity.The importance of understanding the business side of songwriting.Connect with the Audio Branding Podcast:Book your project with Voice Overs and Vocals by visiting https://voiceoversandvocals.comConnect with me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jodikrangle/Watch the Audio Branding Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JodiKrangleVOConnect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodikrangle/Leave the Audio Branding Podcast a review at https://lovethepodcast.com/audiobranding (Thank you!)Share your passion effectively with these Tips for Sounding Your Best as a Podcast Guest!https://voiceoversandvocals.com/tips-for-sounding-your-best-as-a-podcast-guest/Get my Top Five Tips for Implementing an Intentional Audio Strategyhttps://voiceoversandvocals.com/audio-branding-strategy/Editing/Production by Humberto Franco - https://humbertofranco.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

What if achieving more didn't have to mean sacrificing your peace, health, or happiness?In this episode, Jay Abbasi takes us behind the scenes of his journey from Tesla to helping high performers redefine what success can look like. He shares practical insights on breaking free from the beliefs and habits that keep ambitious people stuck in the cycle of constantly doing more, and how creating space can actually lead to greater performance, clarity, and fulfillment.If you're driven, ambitious, and constantly pushing toward the next goal, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you're pursuing success - and, more importantly, whether you're actually enjoying the journey along the way.Tune in for a powerful conversation about ambition, mindset, sustainable success, and learning how to thrive without burning out.About Jay AbbasiJay Abbasi is a global keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, coach, and former Tesla leader who helps professionals thrive under pressure without burning out. At Tesla, he led national training programs for over 1,000 employees, and has since coached leaders at Google, Amazon, TikTok, Wells Fargo, and many more. He's been featured in Forbes Founder, Authority Magazine, and Medium, and is the host of the top-rated podcast Unstuck with Jay Abbasi. Blending corporate experience with deep expertise in mindfulness, resilience, andwell-being, Jay offers a powerful message: success isn't about avoiding challenges, but mastering them with clarity, energy, and purpose.Connect with Jay on LinkedInLearn more about Jay on his Website If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a comment on iTunes CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA!InstagramLinkedInChristinalecuyer.comBook a Free Clarity CallBook Christina For Your Next Workshop

How do you know when to abandon the thing that's working to bet everything on something much bigger?In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, Ed Klinger shares the extraordinary, unfiltered story of how he built Flock from a university drone project to an £80 million acquisition by Admiral.After four years of grueling work, Flock had captured 51% of the UK drone insurance market—only to realize they had conquered a pond that was too small to build a massive business. Instead of clinging to comfort, they made the terrifying call: "Screw it, we're closing the drone business."Ed dives deep into the realities of scaling a venture-backed startup:• The 4am rebuttal email that reversed an initial VC rejection and secured their seed round• Why entrepreneurship is 90% terror and 10% euphoria• Navigating near-death cash crunches and getting backed by Chamath Palihapitiya• Negotiating an £80M acquisition while recovering from a serious car crash concussion and preparing for a newborn baby• How a simple thumbs-up emoji on Telegram secured an extra $1,000,000 in fundingKey Takeaways• Winning a small market isn't enough—have the courage to pivot when you hit the ceiling• "Rejecting rejection": how challenging an investor's 'no' can change your company's fortunes• Never ignore your gut feeling when hiring leadership talent• Persistence in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles is the ultimate founder superpower

Mel Dorman joins host Myrna to explore unconventional paths to wealth building with a focus on seller financing. Mel shares her journey from social work to real estate investor, revealing strategies to bypass traditional banking systems. The conversation highlights the psychological barriers women face in finance and underscores money as a tool for community empowerment rather than mere accumulation. Mel emphasizes resilience and relational approaches in real estate, advocating for ethical wealth building and financial freedom. Tune in for insights on transforming financial perspectives and reclaiming agency.The episode further explores how money can be envisioned as an infrastructure rather than a scoreboard, emphasizing the need for community-based financial strategies over reliance on institutional banking systems. Key topics include building agency in the face of systemic failures, female empowerment in financial negotiations, and fostering resilience through persistent action. Mel's narrative showcases how seller financing offers tangible benefits for both buyers and sellers, providing a pathway for individuals to gain financial freedom and create ethical, thriving communities.Key Takeaways:Explore seller financing as a viable alternative to traditional banking, promoting community-based financial strategies.Understand how wealth building is a psychological journey, especially significant for women navigating societal expectations.Recognize the importance of resilience and persistence in financial endeavors and negotiations.Learn how ethical real estate investments can foster long-term community relationships and mutual benefits.Discover strategies for reframing financial views to see money as an empowering tool rather than merely a scoreboard.Timestamp Summary0:00 Building Wealth Through Seller Financing and Community Trust2:20 Transforming Money Mindsets and Building Ethical Wealth4:52 From Humanitarian Work to Real Estate: A Journey of Survival9:33 Alternative Wealth Building Through Seller Financing and Community Trust16:38 Women Overcoming Social Conditioning in Wealth Building20:27 Resilience and Persistence in the Face of Rejection23:52 Empowering Women Through Financial Freedom and Community ConnectionLink to Transcripthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1761155/episodes/19743123-wealth-series-the-secret-to-seller-financing-building-wealth-without-banks#transcriptResourcesBook: Bank On Your Neighbor: A People-First Real Estate Strategy to Build Wealth TogetherMel Dorman's website: https://learn.sellerfinanceacademy.com/See this video on The Transform Your Mind YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MyhelpsUs/videosTo see a transcripts of this audio as well as links to all the advertisers on the show page https://myhelps.us/Follow Transform Your Mind on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/myrnamyoung/Follow Transform Your mind on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063738390977Please leave a rating and review on iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transform-your-mind/id1144973094Feedspot Top 100 Mental Health Podcast For sponsored Brand interviews and sponsorship inquires please visit Partner With The Transform Your Mind Podcast | Myrna Young Life Coach

In his second consecutive teaching, Hillel instructs us regarding the proper attitude to spiritual development and persistence, and the grave consequences of spiritual stagnation. This Ethics Podcast was originally released on the Ethics Podcast on Jan 22, 2018 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]