Podcasts about Power

Do you ever feel like you're stuck in the same cycle — repeating the same patterns in your health, your relationships, or your work — no matter how hard you try to change? You're not alone.In this episode of The Rachel Hollis Podcast, we're talking about the secret to finally breaking old patterns: raising your standards. Not the big shiny goals (your ceiling), but the everyday choices and habits (your floor) that quietly shape your entire life.You'll learn:Why your current “normal” may be the very thing holding you backHow small, repeatable standards rewire your brain and reinforce new beliefsThe energetic truth: your standards don't just change you, they change the vibration you send out into the worldFour key areas to audit (health, relationships, self-respect, and vocation) to raise your floor and transform your lifeThis conversation is inspired by a chapter in my latest book that asks the question: What's your floor? Because once you raise the level of what you're willing to accept as “normal,” you'll be amazed at how fast your life begins to shift.If you're ready to stop spinning in the same patterns and finally step into the life you've been dreaming about — this episode is for you.Get your copy of Rachel's New Book Here: Audible, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Millon, Bookshop.org, or wherever books are sold!01:07 Welcome and Podcast Subscription02:28 The Power of Standards04:06 Personal Transformation Journey05:44 Aligning Actions with Goals07:30 Raising Your Standards08:38 The Concept of Floors and Ceilings19:27 Neurological and Energetic Impact of Standards24:56 Practical Steps to Raise Your Standards38:03 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsSign up for Rachel's weekly email: https://msrachelhollis.com/insider/Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (737) 400-4626Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RachelHollisMotivation/videosFollow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MsRachelHollisTo learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices.

Early in his career, Grant Cardone thought too small, chased the wrong opportunities, and stayed stuck in a business that couldn't scale. Realizing he needed bigger goals and stronger negotiation skills, he adopted the 10X mindset and mastered the art of selling. Today, he is the founder and CEO of multiple businesses, including Cardone Capital, managing over $5 billion in assets. In this episode, Grant shares his billion-dollar sales strategies that entrepreneurs can use to 10X their action, close more deals, and scale their business with confidence. In this episode, Hala and Grant will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:25) The 10X Mindset for Goal Setting and Scaling (07:13) The Concept of “Feeding the Beast” (09:15) His Early Business Mistakes and Lessons (13:20) Building Confidence Through Massive Action (18:43) The Power of Quick Decision-Making in Sales (22:14) Value Selling Strategies for Sales Success (31:58) How to Sell with Confidence and Close More Deals (35:29) Creator Entrepreneurship and Building Trust Online (44:35) Leaving a Legacy Through Hustle and Investing Grant Cardone is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, equity fund manager, real estate investor, and the CEO of Cardone Capital. He is the founder of the 10X Movement and leads seven privately held companies that generate $750 million annually. Known for his dynamic sales training and the 10X Growth Conference, Grant has inspired entrepreneurs worldwide to think bigger and achieve massive business growth. He has been recognized by Forbes as a top social media business influencer. Sponsored By: Airbnb - Find yourself a cohost at airbnb.com/host  Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING  Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.  Mercury - Streamline your banking and finances in one place. Learn more at mercury.com/profiting  Open Phone - Get 20% off your first 6 months at OpenPhone.com/profiting.  DeleteMe - Remove your personal data online. Get 20% off DeleteMe consumer plans at to joindeleteme.com/profiting  SKIMS - Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com  Policy Genius - Secure your family's future with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com/profiting  Masterclass - Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at https://masterclass.com/profiting  BitDefender - Save 30% on your subscription at bitdefender.com/profiting  Resources Mentioned: YAP E205 with Grant Cardone: youngandprofiting.co/WealthTransfer  Grant's Book, The 10X Rule: bit.ly/The_10XRule  Grant's Website: grantcardone.com Grant's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/grantcardone  Grant's Instagram: instagram.com/grantcardone  Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals  Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new  Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Health, Growth Mindset, Online Selling, Persuasion, Economics, E-commerce, Ecommerce, Prospecting, Inbound, Account Management, Sales Podcast

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Sponsored By: → Puori | For an exclusive offer go to puori.com/drg and use code DRG for 20% OFF the already discounted subscription prices. → Cornbread Hemp | For an exclusive offer go to cornbreadhemp.com/drg and use promo code DRG for 30% OFF your first order! → JASPR | For an exclusive offer go to jaspr.co/DRG and get $200 OFF for a limited time. Sign up for our newsletter! https://drchristiangonzalez.com/newsletter/ Episode Description: Why are you still tired, stressed, and inflamed — even when you eat clean and take all the right supplements? The answer: there's an invisible energy powering every heartbeat, every breath, and every thought. Modern life scrambles this energy. And until you fix it, no diet, no pill, and no protocol will fully work. On today's episode of Heal Thy Self, Dr. Catherine Clinton, ND, reveals how the new science of quantum biology explains what's really running your health — and how you can tap into it. Here's what you'll discover inside this episode: • Quantum biology basics: Why your cells work together like a perfectly tuned orchestra — moving energy with amazing efficiency. • Your mind as medicine: How thoughts create measurable fields that can shift your body's health in real time. • The EMF crisis: Why man-made signals disrupt your cells — and simple steps like grounding and light exposure that restore balance. • Water as your body's battery: The science of structured water inside your cells and how it powers healing. • Fascia as your wiring system: How freeing blocked fascia unlocks energy and even stored trauma. • Daily rhythm resets: The morning light and evening darkness rituals that restore hormones, mood, and sleep. • Sound healing made simple: How humming boosts nitric oxide, serotonin, and oxytocin while reducing inflammation. • Grounding in minutes: Why standing barefoot on the earth instantly calms your nervous system. • Heart–brain coherence: How your emotions create fields that affect not only you, but everyone around you. This isn't theory. This is peer-reviewed science meeting practical wisdom. And it gives you simple, powerful tools to recharge your energy, calm your nervous system, and unlock your body's natural healing. Don't miss this conversation — it could change the way you see your health forever. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:36 - What is Quantum Biology? Beyond New Age Hype 10:29 - Why Current Medical Models Fall Short 16:20 - How Quantum Fields Affect Physical Health 29:13 - Morning Light Routine: Setting Your Quantum Biology 34:01 - The Power of Conscious Intention on DNA 43:00 - How Your Emotions Create Ripple Effects 50:28 - Where Emotions Get Stuck in Your Body 57:07 - Practical EMF Protection and Grounding Techniques 1:01:22 - 5-Minute Morning Routine for Quantum Health 1:05:11 - Water: The Bridge for All Frequency Information

Most real estate partnerships don't work out—and Todd Toback breaks down why. In this episode, you'll learn why partnering with friends is usually a bad idea, why it's almost impossible to “fire” a partner, and smarter alternatives that will help you grow your business without the headaches.Todd explains how partnerships often destroy friendships, why hiring beats partnering, when a power partner or capital partner actually makes sense, and the right way to collaborate with real estate agents. If you've ever thought about teaming up in real estate, this episode could save you from costly mistakes.---------Show notes:(0:58) Beginning of today's episode(1:11) Why partnering is not idea(2:57) If you want to stay friends don't partner!(5:21) You can't just fire a partner(5:48) If you hire somebody they outperform your partner(6:24) Hire your friend as an employee not a partner(7:07) Power partners(8:48) Get a capital partner(8:59) Partnering with real estate agents----------Resources:To speak with Brent or one of our other expert coaches call (281) 835-4201 or schedule your free discovery call here to learn about our mentorship programs and become part of the TribeGo to Wholesalingincgroup.com to become part of one of the fastest growing Facebook communities in the Wholesaling space. Get all of your burning Wholesaling questions answered, gain access to JV partnerships, and connect with other "success minded" Rhinos in the community.It's 100% free to join. The opportunities in this community are endless, what are you waiting for?

In this episode of Linch with a Leader, Mike Linch sits down with Johnny Shelton, the team chaplain and life coach for the Baltimore Ravens. Johnny shares his powerful journey from growing up without a father, to playing college football, to surrendering his life to Jesus, and ultimately being called to serve some of the biggest names in professional sports.You'll hear how Johnny walked away from corporate America to pursue God's calling, what spiritual leadership looks like in high-pressure environments, and how the Ravens' culture of character and faith fuels their success.Whether you're a coach, leader, pastor, athlete, or believer navigating purpose; this conversation will challenge and inspire you.Mike's Leadership Lessons from Johnny:- Leading with the ministry of presence is crucial.- Adversity shapes character and prepares us for our purpose.- Faith can transform lives and perspectives.- Transitioning from sports to business requires adaptability.- Presence in leadership fosters trust and connection.- Leadership is about serving others, not just directing them.- The importance of character in team selection.- Genuine relationships are built on trust and service.- Leadership lessons can be learned from observing others.- Purpose in life is about loving and helping others.Welcome to the Linch with a Leader Podcast, where you're invited to join the spiritual principles behind big success, with host Mike Linch.Subscribe to the channel so you never miss an episode: Watch: @linchwithaleader Prefer just listening? SUBSCRIBE to the podcast here:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dJfeLbikJlKlBqAx6mDYW?si=6ffed84956cb4848Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/linch-with-a-leader/id1279929826Find show notes and more information at: www.mikelinch.comFollow for EVERYDAY leadership content and interaction:Follow on X: https://x.com/mikelinch?s=20Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelinch?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==https://www.instagram.com/mikelinch/?...JOIN Mike for a Sunday at NorthStar Church:www.northstarchurch.org Watch: @nsckennesawTIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction and Connection05:44 The Roots of Passion and Adversity08:32 Finding Faith Through Struggles12:48 The Turning Point: A Life-Changing Experience16:21 Transitioning from Sports to Business19:58 Embracing a New Calling in Ministry21:48 Lessons Learned in College Football Chaplaincy25:24 Living Offendable: The Path to Understanding26:57 A New Chapter: Joining the Baltimore Ravens29:39 Evolving Perspectives: NFL Players Today31:14 The Power of Prayer on the Field33:19 Behind the Scenes: The Real Lives of NFL Players34:54 Spiritual Foundations: The Ravens' Success37:05 Leadership Lessons from Coach Harbaugh39:58 The Role of a Chaplain: Serving with Purpose44:16 Finding Purpose: Love, Help, and Discipleship#ravens #baltimoreravens #nfl #christianleadership

Join us as we discuss  an intense, yet victorious birth story from our midwifery practice in San Diego, navigating gestational diabetes management, labor challenges, our longest pushing phase we have supported as midwives, and the journey of a firmly committed and focused first-time mom.01:09 Diving into Birth Stories02:04 Reflecting on Midwifery Practices08:59 Client's Journey to Midwifery Care10:10 Managing Blood Glucose Issues17:44 The Birth Story Begins23:05 Navigating Early Labor Challenges23:22 Rest and Reassurance23:54 The Importance of Patience24:13 Encouraging Progress24:41 The Power of Support24:56 Midwives' Tools and Techniques25:35 A Critical Nap26:00 Reassessing and Adapting26:41 Pushing Through Obstacles27:26 Facing Position Challenges29:01 The Final Push30:44 A Hard-Earned Victory32:10 Reflecting on the Birth Experience40:41 Postpartum Reflections42:58 Empowering Future Births46:40 Community and SupportLinks We Chat About:Our Monthly MembershipOur Weekly NewsletterOur Childbirth Education Course, use code RADIANT10 for 10% offBe sure to subscribe to the podcast to catch every episode. Follow us on Instagram for extra education and antics between episodes at: @beautifulonemidwifery

When most of us addicts wash up on the shores of recovery to say we've lost our way seems a gross understatement. The bottom has usually fallen out from under our lives. We feel utterly lost and painfully alone. The world we knew is gone and no new world has arrived to take its place. We need a map to orient us and a guide to help us find our way home.This is the world Jungian analyst Dr. James Hollis describes in his book “Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times.” It's likely an all too familiar world to most of us addicts. Hollis says not only are we lost, but the religious structures and cultural belief systems thatsupported yesterday's lost souls seem out of reach for many of today's men and women. The series describes this lost-world and how to access the “Inner Resilience” needed to find our way home. This episode is in two parts – each focused on insights into the gifts depth psychology can bring to us in recovery. Part #1 covers:A. The real issues of life are never solved – but they can be outgrown.B. The cure for loneliness is solitude.C. Our best, most demanding, and most useful job is addressing our own shadows.Show notes: Living Between Worlds: Finding Personal Resilience in Changing Times by James Hollis, PhD. The Power of Two Way Prayer

In this episode of 'Resilience Unraveled,' host Russell Thackeray chats with Tim Lupinacci, CEO and Chair of Baker Donelson, about leadership and resilience in the legal industry. Tim shares his journey from a young lawyer to a leader, emphasising the importance of authenticity, collaboration, and a growth mindset in driving organisational success. They delve into the challenges law firms face in a rapidly evolving environment, the significance of strategic vision, and the role of storytelling and personal connection in effective leadership. Tim also introduces his book, 'Everybody Leads,' and discusses the impact of empowering individuals at all levels to lead and thrive.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:43 Tim Lupinacci's Background and Career02:25 Challenges in the Legal Industry04:10 Leadership and Change Management06:10 Balancing Tradition and Innovation09:39 Leadership Roles and Responsibilities13:12 The Dual Role of Chairman and CEO16:14 Defining Leadership and Its Purpose18:12 Profitability and Engagement in Leadership19:42 Embracing Authenticity in Leadership20:08 Transparency in Organisational Culture20:52 Challenges and Benefits of Open Salary Policies21:58 Leadership Transitions and Organisational Change23:39 Strategic Vision and Building Resilience25:28 The Role of Leadership in Different Sized Organisations28:28 Dinner Table Diplomacy: Building Relationships30:09 Clearing the Way: Addressing Organisational Obstacles30:40 The Journey to Writing 'Everybody Leads'33:10 Leadership Aroma: Influencing Through Presence35:51 The Power of Storytelling in Leadership36:24 Conclusion and Contact InformationYou can contact us at info@qedod.comResources can be found online or link to our website https://resilienceunravelled.com#resilience, #burnout, #intuition

What really happens when brands collide with games? Mishka Katkoff sits down with Bastian Bergmann, COO of Solsten, to break down why gaming is the most transformative medium of our time, how consumer psychology shapes player engagement, and why authenticity in games runs circles around social media. 00:20 The Power of Reading and Writing01:12 Video Games as a Medium for Transformation02:57 Parenting and Gaming: Finding Balance08:25 Understanding Consumer Psychology13:39 The Importance of Human Connection in Marketing19:50 Gaming and Emotional Engagement23:09 Games Driving Social Change28:37 The Business Impact of Gaming on Brands30:42 Navigating Risks in Gaming Investments32:56 Starting Small: Testing the Waters in Gaming36:08 Key Performance Indicators for Gaming Initiatives39:26 Authenticity in Gaming vs. Social Media43:49 Integrating Brands into Games: Challenges and Opportunities45:47 Myth Busting: Data, Creativity, and Gaming Audiences

Welcome back to Go Gaddis Real Estate Radio! I'm Cleve Gaddis, your trusted voice for navigating the Atlanta real estate market. For most people, buying or selling a home is the single largest investment they'll ever make—and it's also one filled with the most worry. My mission is simple: to help you replace fear with confidence, uncertainty with clarity, and stress with peace of mind. This isn't just real estate—it's about your life, your family, and your future. And remember, we're in it together. You can always connect with me at GoGaddisRadio.com . Share your questions, push back on something you hear, suggest your neighborhood for our Spotlight series, or subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode. In today's show, we'll start with the Metro Atlanta Real Estate Update for the last 7 days—your quick and accurate snapshot of what's really happening in the market right now. Then, in our Something You Should Know About Atlanta segment, we're taking a trip to the North Georgia mountains to highlight Fainting Goat Vineyards & Winery. This destination combines award-winning wines with breathtaking mountain views, making it one of the most unique experiences in our region. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or just looking for a relaxing day trip, you won't want to miss this. And finally, let's talk about preparedness. When the lights go out, are you ready? Power outages can happen anytime—storms, accidents, or even unexpected grid issues—and being unprepared can turn inconvenience into chaos. One of our listeners, Steve from Norcross, wrote in saying his family lost power recently and the kids panicked. He asked what families can do to better prepare for next time. We'll go over smart, practical steps to keep your home safe and your family calm during an outage. And don't forget—you always have options with our Upside Program, designed to help homeowners sell for more with less stress. I'm Cleve Gaddis, and this is Go Gaddis Real Estate Radio—helping you move from novice to expert so you can buy and sell with total confidence, without the surprises that often come with life's biggest investments.

Today Gina dives into the ABCs Of Acceptance As A Path To Clearing Anxiety. Join in and learn why acceptance, although it seems counter intuitive and passive, is actually the courageous way out!Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors!https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/ Thank you for supporting The Anxiety Coaches Podcast. FREE MUST-HAVE RESOURCE FOR Calming Your Anxious Mind10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety Anxiety Coaches Podcast Group Coaching linkACPGroupCoaching.comTo learn more, go to:Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.comJoin our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership ProgramLearn more about our One-on-One Coaching What is anxiety? Find even more peace and calm with our Supercast premium access membership:For $5 a month, all episodes are ad-free! https://anxietycoaches.supercast.com/Here's what's included for $5/month:❤ New Ad-Free episodes every Sunday and Wednesday❤ Access to the entire Ad-free back-catalog with over 600 episodes❤ Premium meditations recorded with you in mind❤ And more fun surprises along the way!All this in your favorite podcast app!Quote:The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are. -Marcus AureliusChapters0:26 Introduction to Acceptance6:02 The Power of Being10:22 Cultivating Curiosity13:01 Breaking the Anxiety Loop16:04 Dental Chair Insights18:00 Closing Thoughts and ReflectionSummaryIn this episode, I delve into the transformative concept of acceptance as a crucial approach to alleviating anxiety. We parse through the ABCs of acceptance, beginning with the letter A, which stands for Allow. Allowing or accepting our feelings and circumstances is a fundamental step in managing anxiety as articulated by Claire Weeks. I emphasize that acceptance does not equate to liking our situation; rather, it is about acknowledging the reality of our experiences without unnecessary struggle. I illustrate the detrimental effects of resisting reality, likening it to a tug-of-war that drains our energy and keeps us from moving forward. By choosing to accept what is, we enable ourselves to release the struggle and channel our energy toward the aspects of our lives that we can control.Next, we journey into letter B—Be, or Being with our feelings and sensations. Here, I shed light on the importance of cultivating a non-judgmental awareness of our experiences. This practice allows us to notice our pain, whether physical or emotional, without feeding into our fears. For instance, when faced with bodily sensations that induce anxiety, such as chest tightness, I encourage listeners to approach these feelings with curiosity rather than panic. By observing our bodies like scientists, without preconceived notions or urgent desires to escape discomfort, we diminish the sense of peril associated with our internal experiences. In doing so, we foster a calmer environment for ourselves, paving the way for healing and clarity.We progress to letter C, which signifies Curiosity. I highlight how adopting a curious mindset towards our intrusive thoughts and fears can significantly reduce their power over us. By reframing our relationship with anxiety-provoking thoughts as mere phenomena to explore, rather than truths to contend with, we strip them of their authority. We're reminded that everyone experiences run-of-the-mill anxious thoughts, but the key lies in how we respond to them. Practicing curiosity diminishes fear, opening avenues for proactive responses based on our learned understanding of our mind's workings.#anxietyrelief #acceptance #mindfulness #mentalhealth #anxietycoaching #stressmanagement #calmness #selfhelp #personaldevelopment #overcominganxiety #GinaRyan #anxietycoachespodcast #emotionalhealth #curiosity #copingstrategies #panicattack #selfcarefirst #mentalwellness #lettinggo #beherenow #mindfulmoments #anxietyfree #anxietysupport #nervoussystem #mindsetshift #ACPSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this conversation, Dr. Rob shares his transformative journey from addiction and homelessness to becoming a leading authority in neuroscience and addiction recovery. He discusses the importance of understanding the brain's structures, the role of community in recovery, and the significance of spiritual awakening. Dr. Rob emphasizes the need to break patterns, take action, and find one's true calling while navigating the complexities of the subconscious mind. His insights provide a fresh perspective on addiction and recovery, highlighting the power of personal transformation and the impact of positive influences.   TLR Always – Get A Free Copy of The Last Relapse, Your Blueprint For Recovery   Get In Touch With Dr. Robb Kelly:  If you are in need, don't hesitate to contact Dr. Robb:  2146000210 Dr. Robb's Website Click Here For The 9D Multi-Dimensional Sound Experience Contact Dr Robb for His Free book (First 10 Only)    Know more about Sathiya's work: DCIC Always – Join The Brotherhood (and get coached by Sathiya) For Less Than $2/day Submit Your Questions (Anonymously) To Be Answered On The Podcast Watch Sathiya on Youtube For More Content Like This   Chapters:  (00:00) Dr. Rob's Journey: From Addiction to Neuroscience (09:45) The Spiritual Awakening: A Turning Point (19:53) Understanding Brain Structures and Addiction (29:57) The Power of Community and Environment (39:38) Conscious vs. Subconscious Mind: Breaking Patterns (36:54) Breaking Patterns and Building New Pathways (39:38) Understanding Relapse and Behavioral Science (40:36) The Importance of Consistency in Change (43:30) Taking Action and Overcoming Perfectionism (45:23) The Role of Gut Feelings in Decision Making (49:14) Finding Your Forte and Embracing Change (52:39) Slowing Down to Hear God's Voice (55:53) Staying Focused and Avoiding Distractions (01:01:02) The Impact of Stories on Recovery (01:04:51) Final Thoughts and Resources for Change

It's an unaired fill in episode of My Weekly Mix Tape. I had recorded this so that if Brian needed an episode as he was taking some time off, he would have it. Turns out he didn't need it so instead of it sitting on the shelf, I decided to include it in my 10th anniversary celebration. Jesse Jackson is joined by his good friend Jeff. and together, they delve deep into the works of Jason Isbell, discussing their favorite tracks and their personal connections to his music. From tracks like 'Decoration Day' to 'Cover Me Up,' Jesse and Jeff build a heartfelt and powerful mixtape, sharing stories and insights along the way. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on music, memory, and the art of the mix tape. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Host Introduction 00:33 Discussing Bruce and Country Music 01:58 Mixtape Memories and Significance 03:52 Discovering Jason Isbell 07:38 Creating the Ultimate Jason Isbell Mixtape 08:46 First Song Choices and Their Stories 14:06 Exploring Themes of Addiction and Recovery 18:34 Closing Side A of the Mixtape 19:56 Starting Side B with Dream Sickle 21:32 Reflecting on Childhood Memories 22:21 Moving and the Pain of Leaving Friends 23:01 Choosing Songs That Resonate with Family 24:11 The Power of Nostalgic Songs 25:01 Discussing Heavy Hitters in Songwriting 25:21 The Emotional Impact of 'Elephant' 27:42 The Story Behind 'Vampire' 30:18 Songs About Relationships and Divorce 31:51 Sentimental Songs and Personal Stories 37:55 Final Song Choices and Reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Topics: "Go and Sin No More" Explained, John 5:14, John 8:10-11, The Seven Deadly Sins, Man-Made Tradition, Every Sin Is Deadly, The Wages of Sin Is Death, Romans 6:23, Jesus Died for All Sins, Venial and Mortal Sins, All Sins Are Mortal, The True Wages of Every Sin, A Perfect Blood Death, The Blood of Jesus Has Done It All, Propitiation Is a Satisfying Sacrifice, Forgiveness of Past, Present, and Future Sins, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Sin Was Taken Away at The Cross, John 1:29, 1 John 3:5, Hebrews 9:26, 1 Peter 2:24, Colossians 2:13–14, The Woman Caught in Adultery Sinned Again, Christians Still Commit Sins, 1 John 2, Death to the Power of Sin, Romans 5, Romans 6, A Christian Is No Longer a Slave to Sin, Jesus Is the Life, Colossians 3, Sinful Lifestyle of Unbelievers, John 3:17, No Condemnation in Christ, Romans 8, The Law and Condemnation, The Life of Christ, Your Identity Is Righteousness Support the showSign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Are you wondering how AI will really change the way agencies work? Will it replace your team, or make them better than ever? Artificial intelligence continues to be at the forefront of most tech conversations, and that's exactly why agency owners can't afford to ignore it. Today's guest believes the real future of AI in agencies isn't about replacement—it's about augmentation. Humans bring the high-leverage ideas, AI scales the execution, and the magic happens in the collaboration between the two. That's why he challenges his team to master a skill first—understanding every step—before delegating pieces of it to AI. By doing so, they not only achieve stronger results but also gain the ability to explain, teach, and refine the process. For agencies, this thoughtful integration turns AI from a threat into a powerful accelerator. Josh Payne is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Coframe, which helps businesses continuously optimize their digital experiences. Before that, he co-founded Autograph, scaling it to unicorn status within just over a year, and previously sold his first company, AccessBell, to India's Tata Group. A Stanford AI researcher and occasional lecturer, Josh has blended tech, entrepreneurship, and big-name partnerships into a career full of lessons that agency owners can apply to their own journey. In this episode, we'll discuss: The power of just asking. Should we be worried about AI? Why the human element still wins. When AI shows empathy. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. Building Big, Fast (and What Comes After) Josh's first exit was AccessBell, acquired by Tatai Group. Then came Autograph, the NFT platform co-founded with connections in the entertainment industry that quickly attracted celebrities and athletes like Tom Brady. The company went unicorn in about a year, proof that timing, partnerships, and execution can fuel explosive growth. But Josh is quick to admit that pace sets a dangerous bar. When he launched Coframe, progress felt slower. The natural question arises: why am I not going as fast as I did last time? For any agency owner who's had one “big win,” the fear of never matching that level again is real. For Josh, it comes down to stop chasing vanity metrics and focusing on the real value you're creating. The long burn, when tied to a larger vision, often builds a stronger foundation. The Power of Just Asking One of the best stories from Josh's Autograph journey was how Tom Brady got involved. It was a simple conversation, made possible because a co-founder's family knew Brady. They took a shot, asked for a call, and suddenly, an NFL legend wasn't just an investor—he was a co-founder. They were, of course, very lucky, but the lesson for Josh was that you'll never land your dream client (or partner) if you don't step up to bat. Too many agencies convince themselves certain clients are “out of reach,” when in reality, decision-makers are more approachable than you think. Even the busiest people have time for the right conversation if you show up as a person, not a pitch machine. Separating Yourself from Your Business Identity With all these exits, Josh is still struggling with the identity crisis that comes with selling or stepping away from a company. Like Jason back when he sold his agency, Josh felt like he'd sold his soul and is still wrestling with how to separate being a tech founder from just being Josh. Your business is not your identity, as performance coach Todd Herman (the guy behind Kobe Bryant's “Black Mamba” alter ego) helped Jason understand. You're not an “agency owner” by identity. You're a creator, innovator, and strategist. Those traits travel with you into whatever you do next. Lose the label, keep the essence. Fighting the Metrics Spiral Every agency owner knows the feeling: dashboards screaming that you're 30% down from last month, the creeping panic that you're “slipping.” Josh admits he's guilty of chasing these vanity metrics too, and it's exhausting. The problem is that short-term sprints cloud the long-term vision. But focusing only on the long-term isn't right either. You can't sit back dreaming and stop executing. Josh calls it a balance game. Some days require in-the-weeds execution. Other days call for pulling up to 30,000 feet and resetting the vision. And finding ways to get into that higher-level thinking state is crucial. Finding Flow and Big Picture Clarity One of Josh's surprising hacks for perspective is the float tank, a sensory deprivation chamber where you float weightless in silence. He describes it as being suspended between sleep and wakefulness, giving him the clarity to see the forest instead of the trees. For him, a float every couple of months resets his ability to think deeply. This lucid dreaming state allows him to consciously control his thought process, which is hard to do on a day-to-day basis. There are different ways to achieve this “flow state” like flying planes or running, where focus on the task at hand frees the brain to process ideas in the background. The lesson for agency owners is that you need intentional “out of the weeds” time. Whether it's floating, running, or flying, find your version of the float tank. Should We Be Worried About AI? Where is AI really going, and should agencies be worried? Josh approaches the subject with cautious optimism. He admits there are possible negative outcomes—whole essays have been written about the risks—but he believes society still has control of its destiny. Governance, adaptation, and human ingenuity will help us navigate the “intelligence explosion” ahead. For agency owners, that perspective matters. The fear-driven narrative (“AI will replace us all”) misses the more useful question: how do we adapt to stay ahead? Josh's view is that AI will become a force multiplier, but only for those who deeply understand their craft first. At Coframe, he leads his team with the mantra: “first we are artisans, then we are automators.” Josh encourages his team to master processes as humans before trying to automate them. An artisan, he says, is someone who not only performs a task with taste and skill but can also teach it to an apprentice. If you can teach it, you can usually train AI to do it too. This is a powerful framework for agencies. Too many people treat AI as a magic shortcut, asking it to “do the thing” without knowing what “the thing” really requires. But if you've built the human expertise first, AI becomes like a hyper-capable apprentice, great at code generation, design variations, or crunching vast amounts of data, but still lacking the higher-level strategy and creative ideation that only humans can bring. Why the Human Element Still Wins Lots of people are already trying to launch “AI-only agencies.” This is a mistake. Clients don't just want data or deliverables; they want connection, guidance, and trust. Even as AI accelerates execution, the human side, like the ability to understand a client, guide their decisions, and translate insights into strategy, remains irreplaceable. This is especially true when clients don't know what to ask. Tools may say, “Ask me anything,” but most business owners don't even know where to start. That's where the agency earns its keep: by framing the right questions and then leveraging AI to deliver smarter, faster answers. AI Limitations on Emotion and Empathy Empathy remains the most valuable and, so far, irreplaceable element that AI cannot afford clients, and where human intervention continues to be necessary. However, as these models get more and more aligned, clients are starting to see cases where the AI is able to show empathy for your situation. For instance, Jason recently tested AI with his own medical challenges. After foot surgery complications, he uploaded photos of his wound to an AI tool and was surprised at how sympathetic the responses felt. It wasn't just giving data—it was offering encouragement, warnings, and even emergency advice when he tested it with old images. Josh had his own example: experimenting with fasting while using AI to predict weight loss. The model gave estimates but also warned him about the risks and refused to encourage unsafe behavior. Modern models are being trained not just for accuracy but to reflect human values, to ensure they're aligned with human interests. Balancing AI Alignment With Performance This fine-tuning process with newer AI models makes them more positive and empathetic. But there's a trade-off: aligned models can lose some raw performance on benchmarks. For agencies, this means two things: AI tools will continue evolving in personality and usefulness. The best results will still come from humans who know how to wield them—pairing empathy, strategy, and creativity with AI's speed and scale. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.  

In this conversation, I dive into the transformative capabilities of GPT-5, highlighting its advanced reasoning and prompt engineering techniques. I share how I've been leveraging these features to unlock new possibilities in business, from using connectors to tap into data to analyzing decisions from multiple perspectives. Along the way, I provide practical examples and encourage listeners to put these techniques into action so they can boost their productivity and effectiveness with AI.The Ultimate GPT-5 Go-To-Market Prompting Toolkit: https://www.aiforrevenue.com/ultimate-gpt-5-go-to-market-prompting-toolkitChapters00:00 Unlocking the Power of GPT-502:43 Advanced Prompt Engineering Techniques03:52 Leveraging Connectors for Enhanced Insights06:02 Agentic Workflow Prompting: Unleashing AI Potential08:26 Practical Applications of AI in Marketing Strategies

Teaching and Study helps for the Doctrine and Covenants 106-108 lesson in the Come Follow Me manual. This video will give you ideas and insights on how to teach Christ and Scripture Centered gospel lessons with more relevancy and power. These insights coincide with the lesson for September 22-September 28 in the Come Follow Me manual. Principles include: Learn Your Duty, Power with Purpose, Strengthen Thy Brethren, and more.Link to purchase spark plug: https://amzn.to/3KestSo Link to "Church Callings" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2012-06-2280-church-callings?lang=eng&utm Link to purchase crown: https://amzn.to/489Pq32 Link to "How the Church is Organized" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2013-02-1040-how-the-church-is-organized?lang=eng&alang=eng&collectionId=f724057dfb2c4bef440aa1e03bc663bcae5deed7 Link to "Succor, Lift, and Strengthen" Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2012-09-9000-succor-lift-and-strengthen?lang=eng  To purchase the Doctrine and Covenants Bundle Subscription, click here:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeachingWithPower You can reach me by email at teachingwithpower@gmail.com Music Provided by Youtube Audio Library. Track Name: Dancing Star. https://teachingwithpower.wixsite.com/teachingwithpower  IMAGES USED:DALL-E AI images have been used in the production of some of the illustrations used in this video.  Story Illustration pictures from Bible illustrations provided by Sweet Publishing, http://sweetpublishing.com, and issued under Creative Commons 3.0 Share Alike Unported License. All other pictures are listed in the Public Domain Disclaimer: I alone am responsible for the content of these videos. The opinions in them are mine. They represent my ideas and insights and do not reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mike Kelly, a veteran of senior leadership roles at Michelin and Macy's, now coaches business owners and managers through his advisory, Right Path Enterprises. His mission: to help leaders guide their organizations more effectively by first learning to lead themselves. Unlike many experts, Mike believes that genuine influence begins with leading yourself. Investing in personal growth pays dividends at work, at home, and in the community, he says. Mike is the author of Leaderfluence: Secrets of Leadership Essential to Effectively Leading Yourself and Positively Influencing Others. Among the topics Mike discusses on this week's episode are when to trust the data over your own instinct, how to keep top talent without paying more than you can afford, and why you should encourage your employees to take risks at work. Mike also outlines seven priorities that will enable leaders to look back with confidence, knowing they stayed aligned with what matters most to them. His approach delivers a double benefit: leaders grow as individuals while becoming more effective and inspiring managers. Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart. Photo: Mike Kelly,  Right Path EnterprisesPosted: September 15, 2025 Monday Morning Run Time: 48:378 Episode: 14.15 POPULAR EPISODES: Authors Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley Offer 52 Ways to Bolster Employee Satisfaction and Productivity The Enduring Ability of “The Power of Habit” and “Smarter Faster Better” to Improve Your Life Bestselling Author Joanne Lipman Shares Her Formula for Professional and Personal Reinvention

Welcome to Integrative Medicine for Energy and Health podcast, where I help women to Increase Energy, Lose Weight and Balance Hormones. Ranked in the Best 20 Christian Health Podcasts! Transitioning into a new season, is the perfect time for a seasonal detox to reset your body, mind, and spirit. In this episode, I share my her personal experience with detoxing, how it supports liver function, and the science behind its benefits — including studies showing short-term detox programs and plant-based supplements improve symptoms and detox markers. Learn practical tips with herbs, teas, and foods to cleanse your body, plus spiritual strategies like fasting and prayer inspired by Isaiah 58. Discover how releasing toxins physically, emotionally, and spiritually can restore your energy, clarity, and alignment with God. Be sure to subscribe, like, and share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it. And if this podcast has blessed you, please leave a 5-star review so more women can find hope and healing. Love, Health and Blessings, Rekishia This site may contain product affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Order my book Rock Your World Naturally: 7 Divine Keys to Unlock Extraordinary Health today Previous Related Episodes 265 | Hormonal Imbalance Caused by Parasites, A Women's Guide to Detoxing Naturally with Pumpkin Seeds 202 | How Women Are Harnessing the Power of Grounding to Increase Energy Levels, 3 Holistic Approaches for Optimal Health 151 | EMF's and Low Energy Levels in Women & 6 Holistic Tips On How to Mitigate Risks and Increase Energy Disclaimer: Information shared on this podcast and any referenced websites are not to be taken as medical advice or to be used as a diagnosis or treatment plan for any medical condition. I am sharing my educated opinions & experience, but nothing shared here can be taken on a one size fits all basis and we always recommend you do your own research, talk to your own doctors and practitioners, and take full responsibility for any health & medical choices you make.

Jason W. Moore discusses the problematic history of the nature-society divide, his alternative world-ecology approach and the challenges of building socialism.   Shownotes Jason's personal website: https://jasonwmoore.com/ Jason at Binghamtom University: https://www.binghamton.edu/sociology/faculty/profile.html?id=jwmoore The World-Ecology Research Collective: https://worldecologynetwork.wordpress.com/ https://www.researchgate.net/lab/World-Ecology-Research-Collective-Jason-W-Moore Moore, J. W., & Patel, R. (2020).  A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things. A Guide to Capitalism, Nature, and the Future of the Planet. Verso. https://www.versobooks.com/products/817-a-history-of-the-world-in-seven-cheap-things Moore, J. W. (2015). Capitalism in the Web of Life. Ecology and the Accumulation of Capital. Verso. https://www.versobooks.com/products/74-capitalism-in-the-web-of-life for an overview of different approaches to conceptualizing society/capitalism and nature: https://www.historicalmaterialism.org/ecology-marxism-andreas-malm/ on Andreas Malm: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Malm Malm, A. (2018). The Progress of this Storm. Nature and Society in a Warming World. Verso. https://www.versobooks.com/products/574-the-progress-of-this-storm Malm, A. (2016). Fossil Capital. The Rise of Steam Power and the Roots of Global Warming. Verso. https://www.versobooks.com/products/135-fossil-capital Federici, S. (2004). Caliban and the Witch. Autonomedia. https://files.libcom.org/files/Caliban%20and%20the%20Witch.pdf on Ernst Haeckel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Haeckel see also the chapter on Haeckel and the German Monist League in: Gasman, D. (2017). The scientific Origins of National Socialism. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315134789/scientific-origins-national-socialism-daniel-gasman on Actor-Network Theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actor%E2%80%93network_theory on Bruno Latour: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Latour on John Bellamy Foster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bellamy_Foster Bellamy, J. F. (2000) Marx's Ecology. Materialism and Nature. Monthly Review Press. https://ia904504.us.archive.org/9/items/526394/John%20Bellamy%20Foster.%20Marx%27s%20Ecology..pdf on Kohei Saito: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohei_Saito on Pietro Verri: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Verri Marx, K. (1976). Capital. A Critique of Political Economy. Volume One. Penguin. https://www.surplusvalue.org.au/Marxism/Capital%20-%20Vol.%201%20Penguin.pdf Marx's Theses on Feuerbach: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/theses/theses.htm Marx's Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/preface.htm Marx's and Engel's German Ideology: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/german-ideology/ Marx's Capital Vol. 3.: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1894-c3/ Marx's On The Jewish Question: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/jewish-question/ on Alfred Sohn-Rethel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Sohn-Rethel Machado, C. & Miguel, N. (2013). The Money of the Mind and the God of Commodities. The real abstraction according to Sohn-Rethel. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/48961/1/MPRA_paper_48961.pdf on Donna Haraway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Haraway on the “Special Period” in Cuba: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Period on James Lovelock: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lovelock Lovelock, J. (1979). Gaia. A New Look at Life on Earth. Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/gaia-9780198784883?cc=de&lang=en&# on “Social metabolism”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_metabolism on Raymond Williams: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Williams Smele, J. D. (2016). The ‘Russian' Civil Wars, 1916-1926. Ten Years that Shook the World. Hurst. https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-russian-civil-wars-1916-1926/ Engel-Di Mauro, S. (2021). Socialist States and the Environment. Lessons for Eco-Socialist Futures. Pluto Press. https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745340418/socialist-states-and-the-environment/ Amin, S. (1990). Delinking. Towards a Polycentric World. Zed Books. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/delinking-9780862328030/ on material and energy flow accounting: see the chapter on that topic in: Bartelmus, P. (2008). Quantitative Eco-nomics. How sustainable are our economies. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4020-6966-6 Zeug, W. (2025). INDEP talk with Walther Zeug: Democratic Economic Planning through Cybernetics & Holistic Accounting. https://youtu.be/I4_8_lDfwEw?si=J-kdRzjIehZqPgs0 Kula, W. (2016). Measures and Men. Princeton University Press. https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691639079/measures-and-men Echterhölter, A. M. (2019). Quantification as Conflict. Witold Kula's Political Metrology and Its Reception in the West . Historyka : studia metodologiczne, 49, 117-141 . Article 9. https://journals.pan.pl/Content/114031/PDF/7%20ECHTERH%C3%96LTER.pdf on Max Weber: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Weber on Double-entry bookkeeping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-entry_bookkeeping on “proletarian science”: Moore, J.W. (2025). Nature and other dangerous words: Marx, method and the proletarian standpoint in the web of life. Dialectical Anthropology. 49, 149–167. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10624-025-09775-x on Ecosystem services: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_service on the “Ecological footprint” concept: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_footprint on Thomas Müntzer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_M%C3%BCntzer on the Royal Botanic Gardens/Kew Gardens: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Botanic_Gardens_(Kew) on the Stakhanovite movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stakhanovite_movement on Cybernetics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics on Earth systems science: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_system_science Selcer, P. (2018). The Postwar Origins of the Global Environment. How the United Nations Built Spaceship Earth. Columbia University Press. https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-postwar-origins-of-the-global-environment/9780231166485/ Medina, E. (2014). Cybernetic Revolutionaries. Technology and Politics in Allende's Chile. MIT Press. https://uberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Eden_Medina_Cybernetic_Revolutionaries.pdf on Cybernetics in the Soviet Union: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybernetics_in_the_Soviet_Union on the Transitional demand: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transitional_demand see also: Trotsky's The Transitional Program: https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1938/tp/ on the Green New Deal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_New_Deal on the European Green Deal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Green_Deal on Geoengineering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoengineering on Johan Rockström: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Rockstr%C3%B6m on Planetary boundaries: https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html Klein, N. (2015). This Changes Everything. Capitalism vs. the Climate. Penguin. https://thischangeseverything.org/book/ Kushi, S., & Toft, M. D. (2022). Introducing the Military Intervention Project: A New Dataset on US Military Interventions, 1776–2019. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 67(4), 752-779. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00220027221117546 on Allen Dulles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Dulles on Reinhard Gehlen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhard_Gehlen Talbot, D. (2016). The Devil's Chessboard. Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America's Secret Government. Harper Collins. https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-devils-chessboard-david-talbot?variant=32207669559330 on the concept of the Deep State: Scott, P. D. (1996). Deep Politics and the Death of JFK. University of California Press. https://www.ucpress.edu/books/deep-politics-and-the-death-of-jfk/paper Scott, P. D. (2017). The American Deep State. Big Money, Big Oil, and the Struggle for U.S. Democracy. Rowman & Littlefield. https://archive.org/details/americandeepstat0000scot/page/n5/mode/2up Good, A. (2022). American Exception. Empire and the Deep State. Skyhorse Publishing. https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781510769144/american-exception/ on the origin of the concept: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_state_in_Turkey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susurluk_car_crash recently released files relating to the assassination of JFK on the website of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/release-2025 on the current state of knowledge on the Nord Stream Pipeline Explosion: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-is-known-about-nord-stream-gas-pipeline-explosions-2025-08-21/ on the Nord Stream Pipeline Explosion releasing massive Amounts of Methane: https://youtu.be/7KBsf7bX9Nc?si=tDIxlFFF2ThO6Aeb on Systems Dynamics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_dynamics the ‘Limits to Growth' Report, commissioned by the Club of Rome: https://www.clubofrome.org/publication/the-limits-to-growth/ the Club of Rome: https://www.clubofrome.org/ on Jay Wright Forrester: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Wright_Forrester on the concept of the Anthropocene: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropocene on James C. Scott: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_C._Scott Mies, M. & Bennholdt-Thomsen, V. (1999). The Subsistence Perspective. Beyond the Globalised Economy. Zed Books. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/subsistence-perspective-9781856497763/ on the New Economic Policy (NEP): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Economic_Policy on the Belt and Road Initiative: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belt_and_Road_Initiative Nachmani, A. (1990). Civil War and Foreign Intervention in Greece: 1946-49. Journal of Contemporary History, 25(4), 489–522. https://www.jstor.org/stable/260759 on the “Soft Coup against the Wilson Labour Government”: https://www.declassifieduk.org/a-possible-coup-against-the-labour-government/ https://www.mi5.gov.uk/history/the-cold-war/the-wilson-plot https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/mar/15/comment.labour1 on the actions of the US against North Korea in the Korean War: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crimes_in_the_Korean_War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_North_Korea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_biological_warfare_in_the_Korean_War on the Cultural Revolution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution on Mao's concept of the Mass Line: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/works/red-book/ch11.htm on Jung's concept of the Collective unconscious: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_unconscious on (Neo-)Malthusianism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malthusianism Ehrlich, P. R. (1971). The Population Bomb. Ballantine Books. http://pinguet.free.fr/ehrlich68.pdf Tainter, J. A. (1988). The Collapse of Complex Societies. Cambridge University Press. https://www.sustainable.soltechdesigns.com/Joseph-A-Tainter-The-collapse-of-complex-societies.pdf on Millenarianism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millenarianism Enzensberger, H. M. (1978). Two Notes on the End of the World. New Left Review. I/110. https://newleftreview.org/issues/i110/articles/hans-magnus-enzensberger-two-notes-on-the-end-of-the-world Hansen, J. (2010). Storms of my Grandchildren. The Truth about the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity. Bloomsbury. https://www.bloomsbury.com/in/storms-of-my-grandchildren-9781408807460/ Sweezy, P.M. (1990). Monopoly Capitalism. In: Eatwell, J., Milgate, M., Newman, P. (eds) Marxian Economics. Palgrave Macmillan. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-20572-1_44 on Technofeudalism: Varoufakis, Y. (2024). Technofeudalism. What Killed Capitalism. Penguin. https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/451795/technofeudalism-by-varoufakis-yanis/9781529926095 Durand, C. (2024). How Silicon Valley Unleashed Techno-feudalism. The Making of the Digital Economy. Verso. https://www.versobooks.com/products/2790-how-silicon-valley-unleashed-techno-feudalism Culture, Power and Politics Podcast episode on the debate around the concept “Technofeudalism”: https://culturepowerpolitics.org/2025/07/04/is-capitalism-over-the-technofeudalism-debate/ Conservation International: https://www.conservation.org/ Earth League International: https://earthleagueinternational.org/ Rockström, J. et al. (2024). The Planetary Commons. A new Paradigm for Safeguarding Earth-regulating Systems in the Anthropocene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2301531121 the Trilateral Commission: https://www.trilateral.org/ the Earth Commission: https://earthcommission.org/ Johan Rockström's interview in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/29/johan-rockstrom-interview-breaking-boundaries-attenborough-biden   Future Histories Episodes on Related Topics S3E44 | Anna Kornbluh on Climate Counteraesthetics https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e44-anna-kornbluh-on-climate-counteraesthetics/ S03E33 | Tadzio Müller zu solidarischem Preppen im Kollaps https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e33-tadzio-mueller-zu-solidarischem-preppen-im-kollaps/ S03E30 | Matt Huber & Kohei Saito on Growth, Progress and Left Imaginaries https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e30-matt-huber-kohei-saito-on-growth-progress-and-left-imaginaries/ S03E23 | Andreas Malm on Overshooting into Climate Breakdown https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e23-andreas-malm-on-overshooting-into-climate-breakdown/ S03E19 | Wendy Brown on Socialist Governmentality https://www.futurehistories.today/episoden-blog/s03/e19-wendy-brown-on-socialist-governmentality/   --- If you are interested in democratic economic planning, these resources might be of help: Democratic planning – an information website https://www.democratic-planning.com/ Sorg, C. & Groos, J. (eds.)(2025). Rethinking Economic Planning. Competition & Change Special Issue Volume 29 Issue 1. https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/ccha/29/1 Groos, J. & Sorg, C. (2025). Creative Construction - Democratic Planning in the 21st Century and Beyond. Bristol University Press. [for a review copy, please contact: amber.lanfranchi[at]bristol.ac.uk] https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/creative-construction International Network for Democratic Economic Planning https://www.indep.network/ Democratic Planning Research Platform: https://www.planningresearch.net/ --- Future Histories Contact & Support If you like Future Histories, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/FutureHistories Contact: office@futurehistories.today Twitter: https://twitter.com/FutureHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehpodcast/ Mastodon: https://mstdn.social/@FutureHistories English webpage: https://futurehistories-international.com   Episode Keywords #JasonWMoore, #JanGroos, #Interview, #FutureHistories, #FutureHistoriesInternational, #futurehistoriesinternational, #DemocraticPlanning, #DemocraticEconomicPlanning, #PoliticalEconomy, #History, #Revolution, #Revolutions, #Ecology, #Environmental, #Colonialism, #Imperialism, #Capitalism, #Economics, #DeepState, #WorldEcology, #NatureSocietyDivide, #KarlMarx, #Socialism, #Cybernetics

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

Embrace the Moment: 10-Minute Guided Meditation for Mindfulness & PeaceBe fully present with this 10-minute guided meditation from Calming Anxiety. Host Martin Hewlett guides you to embrace the beauty of the moment, fostering mindfulness, inner peace, and emotional balance through soothing breathwork and gentle affirmations. Perfect for stress relief, mental clarity, or daily self-care, this episode invites you to find calm in the now. Whether you're new to meditation or seeking a grounding reset, this session supports your journey to tranquility. Subscribe now for more guided meditations and anxiety relief content!Key Takeaways:Cultivate mindfulness by embracing the present moment.Find inner peace with breathwork and guided affirmations.Ideal for morning focus, mid-day calm, or evening reflection.Support the Show:Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy Calming Anxiety without ads at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/supportBuy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxietyRate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners!Resources & Courses:Book Hypnotherapy: Schedule a one-on-one session with Martin at https://calendar.app.google/rXHMt8sRYft5iWma8Pain & Anxiety Course: Manage negative thoughts and pain with The Physio Crew's course at https://offers.thephysiocrew.co.uk/home-painBreathing Challenge: Try our relaxing breathing challenge at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/breathing-challenge/Gift a Subscription: Share Calming Anxiety with loved ones at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/shop/calming-anxiety-gift-subscription/Get the App:iOS: Download Calming Anxiety at https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/calming-anxiety/id1576159331Android: Get it on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=digital.waterfront.calming.anxiety&hl=en-GBConnect With Us:Email: Share feedback or requests at calminganxiety@martinhewlett.co.ukYouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/calminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/Backing Music: Chris Collins============Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life.Rode Podmic - https://amzn.to/3LN1JEdZoom Livetrak L8 - https://amzn.to/36UCIbySony ZV 1 - https://amzn.to/3JvDUPTGoPro Hero 8 Black - https://amzn.to/372rzFlDJI Mini 2 - https://amzn.to/3NQfMdY=============================Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :)Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3

Dr. Michael A. Youssef reveals the key to spiritual power in today's devotional.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon series Know Your Best Friend: LISTEN NOWFOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNTFor those who feel battle-worn—disheartened by society's moral decline, burdened for their children and grandchildren, weary from fighting the same battles—Dr. Michael A. Youssef's NEW book Winning the Invisible War offers timely hope. Speaking directly to those wondering if evil is winning, Dr. Youssef assures us although the war isn't over, victory is already secured in Christ. With Biblical clarity and pastoral compassion, he reminds readers that we can stand strong—not in our own strength, but in the strength of the Lord. Pre-order your copy today for your gift of any amount!*Offer valid in US, UK, and Canada through November 10, 2025.

You're about to listen to a guided session, #422 Enhance Creativity Hypnosis Session, designed to unlock your imagination and help your creative ideas flow with ease. This isn't just about sparking inspiration—it's about training your subconscious to clear away blocks and open the channel for creative flow. Through this session, you'll discover how to connect with your natural creativity and allow fresh ideas to come through effortlessly. As a hypnotherapist, I know how frustrating it can feel when your imagination feels stuck or your creative energy feels drained. This session is created to help you release those limitations, tune into your inner vision, and flow freely into your creative potential. Here's what you can expect in this session: – A gentle induction to calm the mind and open creative pathways – Subconscious reprogramming to dissolve self-doubt and inner resistance – Guided visualization to awaken imagination and new perspectives – Empowering affirmations to anchor creative confidence – A closing sequence that leaves you inspired, uplifted, and ready to create This session will help you with using the Law of Attraction to support you and all the creative dreams in your heart. Tips for best results: • Use headphones for the most immersive experience • Listen daily for at least 21–30 days • Use this session when you can fully relax and won't be disturbed • Avoid multitasking during hypnosis This session is one of the many premium recordings found inside my BELIEVE app — where you'll find over 1000 high-quality hypnosis, meditation, and affirmation sessions covering every area of manifesting success. — Helpful Links: → Get the BELIEVE App with 1000+ sessions: https://www.believehypnosis.app  → Download individual MP3s from my library: https://www.hyptalk.com  → Take full transformational courses: https://www.personalgrowthclub.com  → Work with me or learn more: https://www.victoriamgallagher.com  → Grab your copy of Practical Law of Attraction: https://a.co/d/5VUdyAu Thanks for listening to the Power of Your Mind podcast. If this episode resonated with you, please take a moment to rate and review — it helps more people discover these powerful tools. Stay consistent. Stay focused. And most importantly, believe in what's possible for you. – Victoria  

Please remember to rate and review our podcast!Check out your YouTube channel @comadresycomics  CHISME DE LA SEMANA:  Barrio Logan location of Border X Brewery permanently closed.  ON MY RADAR:  Ignition Press releases Murder Podcast. W: Jeremy Hahn A: Mike Tisserand. First issue out Sept. 10th! ignitionpress.com @ignitionpressBOOK REVIEW:  Lucha Forever (available for free on Hoopla) W: John Aviña A: Mozart Eros C: Julio Santos L: Spacely X www.avinacomics.com @avinacomicsGuillermo Diaz is a struggling actor and father. Having moved his family from Mexico to Chicago, Guillermo is unable to provide the life he promised. Suddenly the role of a life time becomes available but with it an alien invasion and powers beyond his imagination.www.comickerpress.com  www.avinacomics.com www.hoopla.com EN LA LIBRERIA:  HOW TO TOUCH GRASS is a comics anthology about connection, isolation, and accessibility, all through the lens of the goofy command to "touch grass," balancing humor with sincerity. http://kck.st/47bkVJN How to Touch Grass published by Power & Magic Press, an indie comics publisher in Portland, OR. Their mission is the creative and economic empowerment of queer creators, BIPOC creators, and creators at the intersections. The driving force behind P&M Press is Joamette Gil, a queer Afro-Cuban cartoonist, and editor of all the award-winning(-and-nominated) titles at P&MP. To learn more, visit us at powerandmagicpress.com.- JUNTOS Y FUERTES:  Comics Plus Home - Comics Plus® — Powered by LibraryPass™SALUDOS:  In The Lab Podcast by Mark C. Dudley on YouTube In The Lab Ep1: With Christie Shinn on BullyingFollow us on socials @comadresycomicsVisit our website comadresycomics.comProduced by Comadres y Comics Podcast

Episode Note: This week's SITREP was recorded a few hours before the tragic death of Charlie Kirk. At the end of the episode, we've included the initial thoughts Rep. Crenshaw shared in a video posted on social media after news broke of the assassination.   The Situation Report for September 11, 2025. Rep. Crenshaw covers Poland's historic attack on Russian drones, President Trump's latest bold policy moves in the wars against cartels and violent crime, and more major developing headlines across America and the world.   Russian drones downed over Poland   Operation Midway Blitz – President Trump's latest crackdown on violent crime and illegal immigration   Cartels, meet the F-35   Israel strikes Hamas leaders in Qatar   Chaos in Nepal   Bias Alert: The media's pathological compassion toward violent criminals   Power struggle at News Corp.   House of Cards – French Edition   The Supreme Court takes on President Trump's tariff policy   Troubling trends in education   Cracker Barrel admits their rebrand was a bad idea   Never forget the heroes of 9-11-2001   Prayers for Charlie Kirk and his family

Activist and organizer Cristina Jiménez, co-founder of United We Dream, joins Maria Hinojosa on Latino USA. Listen in on the conversation, as Cristina reflects on growing up undocumented in Queens, the experience of finding her voice among other undocumented people, and how she transformed her fear into power. For Cristina, migration is not just a story about borders and legislation, it's also a story about love. Her story is a true testament of resilience, community, and hope, as she shares insights from her new memoir, Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear into Pride, Power, and Real Change. Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find Inner Calm: 10-Minute Guided Meditation for Positive Energy & PeaceTap into a lake of calm with this 10-minute guided meditation from Calming Anxiety. Host Martin Hewlett guides you to cultivate positive energy, inner peace, and mindfulness through soothing breathwork and uplifting affirmations. Perfect for stress relief, mental wellness, or daily self-care, this episode helps you embrace a serene flow of possibility. Whether you're new to meditation or seeking a peaceful reset, this session supports your journey to tranquility. Subscribe now for more guided meditations and anxiety relief content!Key Takeaways:Cultivate positive energy with mindfulness and breathwork techniques.Find inner peace through guided affirmations for calm.Ideal for morning inspiration, mid-day calm, or evening relaxation.Support the Show:Ad-Free Listening: Enjoy Calming Anxiety without ads at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/calming-anxiety--4110266/supportBuy Me a Coffee: Support hosting costs at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/calminganxietyRate & Review: Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help us reach more listeners!Resources & Courses:Book Hypnotherapy: Schedule a one-on-one session with Martin at https://calendar.app.google/rXHMt8sRYft5iWma8Pain & Anxiety Course: Manage negative thoughts and pain with The Physio Crew's course at https://offers.thephysiocrew.co.uk/home-painBreathing Challenge: Try our relaxing breathing challenge at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/breathing-challenge/Gift a Subscription: Share Calming Anxiety with loved ones at https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/shop/calming-anxiety-gift-subscription/Get the App:iOS: Download Calming Anxiety at https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/calming-anxiety/id1576159331Android: Get it on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=digital.waterfront.calming.anxiety&hl=en-GBConnect With Us:Email: Share feedback or requests at calminganxiety@martinhewlett.co.ukYouTube: Watch all episodes at https://www.youtube.com/c/martinhewlettcalminganxiety?sub_confirmation=1Social Media Support: For younger listeners struggling with social media stress, visit https://www.icanhelp.net/Backing Music: Chris Collins============Affiliate links to the gear I use the items that give me a more tranquil life.Rode Podmic - https://amzn.to/3LN1JEdZoom Livetrak L8 - https://amzn.to/36UCIbySony ZV 1 - https://amzn.to/3JvDUPTGoPro Hero 8 Black - https://amzn.to/372rzFlDJI Mini 2 - https://amzn.to/3NQfMdY=============================Items I use for a more relaxed way of life :)Organic Pure Hemp CBD Capsules - https://amzn.to/3

Transforming OCD and Anxiety Recovery: Insights from Matt Codde and Coach Kai's JourneyIn this episode, Matt Codde and Coach Kai share their powerful journeys through OCD and anxiety recovery. Discover key lessons on validation, mindset shifts, nervous system healing, and why recovery is possible for anyone willing to learn, practice, and embrace the process.

- Stars from this NL East team due to heat up- Blue Jays have something special going on- Brewers' old school approach is refreshing- A postseason without the Mets in it?- Power outage in Chicago- This AL team keeps winning (but how?)- Dodgers: earned the benefit of the doubt?Listen/watch: https://bio.link/threeohtakeFollow us!FB: https://www.facebook.com/threeohtakeIG: https://www.instagram.com/threeohtakeTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@threeohtakeX: https://twitter.com/kylecorwintakes“THREEOHTAKE” for 10% off your Chinook Seedery order: https://www.chinookseedery.com/discount/THREEOHTAKE"THREEOHTAKE" for $20 off your first SeatGeek order: https://seatgeek.com/

Welcome back! In today's Friday Rant, I talk about what it really means to surrender control—like rafting down a raging river without a paddle. Too often, we cling to outcomes, try to control every detail, and curate a “perfect” life… only to block the very surprises and breakthroughs we've been waiting for. Whether it's a divorce, a move, a business deal, or a big life change, sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is let go, trust the current, and allow life to unfold.Key Highlights:- Life Without a Paddle: Why surrendering control opens the door to growth, clarity, and opportunities you can't plan for.- The Trap of Control: Curating a perfect, “safe” life often robs us of joy, curiosity, and the unexpected gifts of the journey.- Identity Shifts: Big transitions—leaving a job, ending a relationship, starting fresh—require us to release old narratives.- The Power of Surrender: Letting go doesn't mean giving up; it means creating space for life to show up for you.Final Thoughts:You don't have to paddle through every moment of life. Sometimes the most courageous choice is to trust the river, let it carry you, and see where it takes you.If this landed with you, share it with someone who's trying to control every detail—and remind them that letting go might be the answer. See you next time!

In this introductory episode to their new series on the Parables of Jesus, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb explore the profound theological significance of Christ's parables. Far from being mere teaching tools to simplify complex ideas, parables serve a dual purpose in God's redemptive plan: revealing spiritual truth to those with "ears to hear" while concealing these same truths from those without spiritual illumination. This episode lays the groundwork for understanding how parables function as divine teaching devices that embody core Reformed doctrines like election and illumination. As the hosts prepare to journey through all the parables in the Gospels, they invite listeners to consider the blessing of being granted spiritual understanding and the privilege of receiving the "secrets of the kingdom" through Christ's distinctive teaching method. Key Takeaways Parables are more than illustrations—they are comparisons that reveal kingdom truths to those with spiritual ears to hear while concealing truth from those without spiritual illumination. Jesus intentionally taught in parables not to simplify his teaching but partly to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy about those who hear but do not understand, confirming the spiritual condition of his hearers. The ability to understand parables is itself evidence of God's sovereign grace and election, as Jesus states in Matthew 13:16: "Blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear." Parables vary in form and function—some are clearly allegorical while others make a single point, requiring each to be approached on its own terms. Proper interpretation requires context—understanding both the original audience and the question or situation that prompted Jesus to use a particular parable. Parables function like Nathan's confrontation of David—they draw hearers in through narrative before revealing uncomfortable truths about themselves. Studying parables requires spiritual humility—recognizing that our understanding comes not from intellectual capacity but from the Spirit's illumination. Understanding Parables as Revelation, Not Just Illustration The hosts emphasize that parables are fundamentally different from mere illustrations or fables. While modern readers often assume Jesus used parables to simplify complex spiritual truths, the opposite is frequently true. As Tony explains, "A parable fundamentally is a comparison between two things... The word parable comes from the Greek of casting alongside." This distinction is crucial because it changes how we approach interpretation. Rather than breaking down each element as an allegorical component, we should first understand what reality Jesus is comparing the parable to. The parables function as a form of divine revelation—showing us kingdom realities through narrative comparison, but only those with spiritual insight can truly grasp their meaning. This is why Jesus quotes Isaiah and explains that he speaks in parables partly because "seeing they do not see and hearing they do not hear nor do they understand" (Matthew 13:13). The Doctrine of Election Embedded in Parabolic Teaching Perhaps the most profound insight from this episode is how the very form of Jesus' teaching—not just its content—embodies the doctrine of election. Jesse notes that "every parable then implicitly teaches a doctrine of election," because they reveal spiritual truth to some while concealing it from others. This isn't arbitrary but reflects spiritual realities. The hosts connect this to Jesus' words in Matthew 13:16: "Blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear." This blessing comes not from intellectual capacity or moral superiority but from God's sovereign grace. Tony describes this as "the blessing in our salvation and in our election that we are enabled to hear and perceive and receive the very voice and word of God into our spirit unto our salvation." The parables thus become a "microcosm" of Reformed doctrines like election, regeneration, and illumination. When believers understand Jesus' parables, they're experiencing the practical outworking of these doctrines in real time. Memorable Quotes "The parables are not just to illustrate a point, they're to reveal a spiritual point or spiritual points to those who have ears to hear, to those who've been illuminated by the spirit." - Tony Arsenal "Jesus is giving this message essentially to all who will listen to him... And so this is like, I love the way that he uses that quote in a slightly different way, but still to express the same root cause, which is some of you here because of your depravity will not be able to hear what I'm saying. But for those to whom it has been granted to come in who are ushered into the kingdom, this kingdom language will make sense." - Jesse Schwamb "But blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. There's a blessing in our salvation and in our election that we are enabled to hear and perceive and receive the very voice and word of God into our spirit unto our salvation." - Tony Arsenal About the Hosts Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb are the regular hosts of The Reformed Brotherhood podcast, where they explore Reformed theology and its application to Christian living. With a conversational style that balances depth and accessibility, they seek to make complex theological concepts understandable without sacrificing nuance or biblical fidelity. Transcript [00:00:45] Introduction and New Series Announcement [00:00:45] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 460 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse. [00:00:54] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey brother. [00:00:59] Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. New series Time, new series. Time for the next seven years that, that's probably correct. It's gonna be a long one. New beginnings are so great, aren't they? And it is. [00:01:10] Jesse Schwamb: We've been hopefully this, well, it's definitely gonna live up to all the hype that we've been presenting about this. It's gonna be good. Everybody's gonna love it. And like I said, it's a topic we haven't done before. It's certainly not in this format. [00:01:23] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know what, just, um, as a side note, if you are a listener, which you must be, if you're hearing this, uh, this is a great time to introduce someone to the podcast. [00:01:33] Tony Arsenal: True. Uh, one, because this series is gonna be lit as the kids say, and, uh, it's a new series, so you don't have to have any background. You don't have to have any previous knowledge of the show or of who these two weird guys are to jump in and we're gonna. [00:01:53] Tony Arsenal: Talk about the Bible, which is amazing and awesome. And who doesn't love to talk about the Bible. [00:01:58] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's correct. That's what makes these so good. That's how I know, and I could say confidently that this is gonna be all the hype and more. All right, so before we get to affirmations and denials, all the good ProGo, that's part and parcel of our normal episode content. [00:02:12] Jesse Schwamb: Do you want to tell everybody what we're gonna be talking about? [00:02:16] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I'm excited. [00:02:17] Introducing the Parables Series [00:02:17] Tony Arsenal: So we are gonna work our way through, and this is why I say it's gonna take seven years. We are gonna work our way through all of the parables. Parables, [00:02:25] Jesse Schwamb: the [00:02:25] Tony Arsenal: gospels and just so, um, the Gospel of John doesn't feel left out. [00:02:30] Tony Arsenal: We're gonna talk through some of the I am statements and some of that stuff when we get to John. 'cause John doesn't have a lot of parables. Uh, so we're gonna spend time in the synoptic gospels. We're gonna just walk through the parables one by one. We're taking an episode, sometimes maybe two, sometimes 10, depending on how long the parable is and how deep we get into it. [00:02:47] Tony Arsenal: We're just gonna work our way through. We're gonna take our time. We're gonna enjoy it. So again, this is a great time to start. It's kinda the ground floor on this and you thing. This could really be its own podcast all by itself, right? Uh, so invite a friend, invite some whole bunch of friends. Start a Sunday school class listening to this. [00:03:04] Tony Arsenal: No, don't do that. But people have done that before. But, uh, grab your bibles, get a decent commentary to help prep for the next episode, and, uh, let's, let's do it. I'm super excited. [00:03:14] Jesse Schwamb: When I say para, you say Abel Para, is that how it works? Para? Yeah. I don't know. You can't really divide it. Pairable. If you jam it together, yes. [00:03:24] Jesse Schwamb: You get some of that. You can say, when I say pair, you say Abel p [00:03:27] Tony Arsenal: Abel. [00:03:31] Jesse Schwamb: And you can expect a lot more of that in this series. But before we get into all this good juicy stuff about parables, and by the way, this is like an introductory episode, that doesn't mean that you can just skip it, doesn't mean it's not gonna be good. We gotta set some things up. We wanna talk about parables general generally, but before we have that good general conversation, let's get into our own tradition, which is either affirming with something or denying against something. [00:03:54] Affirmations and Denials [00:03:54] Jesse Schwamb: And so, Tony, what do you got for all of us? [00:03:58] Tony Arsenal: Mine is kind of a, an ecclesial, ecclesiastical denial. Mm-hmm. Um, this is sort of niche, but I feel like our audience may have heard about it. And there's this dust up that I, I noticed online, uh, really just this last week. Um, it's kind of a specific thing. There is a church, uh, I'm not sure where the church is. [00:04:18] Tony Arsenal: It's a PCA church, I believe it's called Mosaic. The pastor of the church, the teaching elder, one of the teaching elders just announced that he was, uh, leaving his ministry to, uh, join the Roman Catholic Church, which, yes, there's its own denial built into that. We are good old Protestant reformed folks, and I personally would, would stick with the original Westminster on the, the Pope being antichrist. [00:04:45] Tony Arsenal: But, um, that's not the denial. The denial is that in this particular church. For some unknown reason. Uh, the pastor who has now since a announced that he was leaving to, uh, to convert to Roman Catholicism, continued to preach the sermon and then administered the Lord's supper, even though he in the eyes, I think of most. [00:05:08] Tony Arsenal: Reformed folk and certainly historically in the eyes of the reformed position was basically apostate, uh, right in front of the congregation's eyes. Now, I don't know that I would necessarily put it that strongly. I think there are plenty of genuine born again Christians who find themselves in, in the Roman Catholic, uh, church. [00:05:27] Tony Arsenal: Uh, but to allow someone who is one resigning the ministry right in front of your eyes. Um, and then resigning to basically leave for another tradition that, that the PCA would not recognize, would not share ecclesiastical, uh, credentials with or accept their ordination or any of those things. Um, to then just allow him to admit, you know, to administer the Lord's Supper, I think is just a drastic miscarriage of, uh, ecclesiastical justice. [00:05:54] Tony Arsenal: I dunno if that's the right word. So I'm just denying this like. It shows that on a couple things like this, this. Church this session, who obviously knew this was coming. Um, this session does either, does not take seriously the differences between Roman Catholic theology and Protestant theology, particularly reformed theology, or they don't take seriously the, the gravity of the Lord's supper and who should and shouldn't be administering it. [00:06:22] Tony Arsenal: They can't take both of those things seriously and have a fully or biblical position on it. So there's a good opportunity for us to think through our ecclesiology, to think through our sacrament and how this applies. It just really doesn't sit well and it's not sitting well with a lot of people online, obviously. [00:06:37] Tony Arsenal: Um, and I'm sure there'll be all sorts of, like letters of concern sent to presbytery and, and all that stuff, and, and it'll all shake out in the wash eventually, but just, it just wasn't good. Just doesn't sit right. [00:06:48] Jesse Schwamb: You know, it strikes me of all the denominations. I'm not saying this pejoratively. I just think it is kind of interesting and funny to me that the Presbyterians love a letter writing campaign. [00:06:56] Jesse Schwamb: Like that's kind of the jam, the love, a good letter writing campaign. [00:07:00] Tony Arsenal: It's true, although it's, it's actually functional in Presbyterianism because That's right. That's how you voice your concern. It's not a, not a, a rage letter into the void. It actually goes somewhere and gets recorded and has to be addressed at presbytery if you have standing. [00:07:17] Tony Arsenal: So there's, there's a good reason to do that, and I'm sure that that will be done. I'm sure there are many. Probably ministers in the PCA who are aware of this, who are either actually considering filing charges or um, or writing such letters of complaints. And there's all sorts of mechanisms in the PCA to, to adjudicate and resolve and to investigate these kinds of things. [00:07:37] Jesse Schwamb: And I'd like to, if you're, if you're a true Presbyterian and, and in this instance, I'm not making light of this instance, but this instance are others, you. Feel compelled by a strong conviction to write such a letter that really you should do it with a quill, an ink. Like that's the ultimate way. I think handwritten with like a nice fountain pen. [00:07:54] Jesse Schwamb: There's not, yeah. I mean, you know what I'm saying? Like that's, that is a weighty letter right there. Like it's cut to Paul being like, I write this postscript in my own hand with these big letters. Yeah, it's like, you know, some original Presbyterian letter writing right there. [00:08:07] Tony Arsenal: And then you gotta seal it with wax with your signe ring. [00:08:10] Tony Arsenal: So, and send it by a carrier, by a messenger series of me messengers. [00:08:14] Jesse Schwamb: Think if you receive any letter in the mail, handwritten to you. Like for real, somebody painstakingly going through in script like spencerian script, you know, if you're using English characters writing up and then sealing that bad boy with wax, you're gonna be like, this is important. [00:08:30] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, this, even if it's just like, Hey, what's up? Yeah, you're gonna be like, look at this incredible, weighty document I've received. [00:08:36] Tony Arsenal: It's true. It's very true. I love it. Well, that's all I have to say about that to channel a little Forrest Gump there. Uh, Jesse, what are you affirming or denying tonight? [00:08:44] Jesse Schwamb: I'm also going to deny against, so this denial is like classic. [00:08:49] Jesse Schwamb: It's routine, but I got a different spin on it this time, so I'm denying against. The full corruption of sin, how it appears everywhere, how even unbelievers speak of it, almost unwittingly, but very commonly with great acceptance. And the particularity of this denial comes in the form of allergies, which you and I are talking about a lot of times. [00:09:09] Jesse Schwamb: But I was just thinking about this week because I had to do some allergy testing, which is a, a super fun experience. But it just got me think again, like very plainly about what allergies are. And how an allergy occurs when your immune system, like the part of your body responsible for protecting your body that God has made when your immune system mistakes like a non-harmful substance like pollen or a food or some kind of animal dander for a threat, and then reacts by producing these antibodies like primarily the immunoglobulin E. [00:09:36] Jesse Schwamb: So here's what strikes me as so funny about this in a, in a way that we must laugh. Because of our, our parents, our first parents who made a horrible decision and we like them, would make the same decision every day and twice in the Lord's day. And that is that this seems like, of course, such a clear sign of the corruption of sin impounded in our created order because it seems a really distasteful and suboptimal for human beings to have this kind of response to pollen. [00:10:03] Jesse Schwamb: When they were intended to work and care in a garden. So obviously I think we can say, Hey, like the fact that allergies exist and that it's your body making a mistake. [00:10:13] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. [00:10:13] Jesse Schwamb: It's like the ultimate, like cellular level of the ubiquity of sin. And so as I was speaking with my doctor and going through the, the testing, it's just so funny how like we all talk about this. [00:10:25] Jesse Schwamb: It's like, yeah, it's, it's a really over-indexed reaction. It doesn't make any sense. It's not the way the world is supposed to be, but nobody's saying how is the world supposed to be? Do you know what I mean? Like, but we just take it for granted that that kind of inflammation that comes from like your dog or like these particles in the air of plants, just trying to do a plant stew and reproduce and pollinate that, that could cause like really dramatic and debilitating. [00:10:49] Jesse Schwamb: Responses is just exceptional to me, and I think it's exceptional and exceptional to all of us because at some deep level we recognize that, as Paul says, like the earth, the entire world is groaning. It's groaning for that eschatological release and redemption that can only come from Christ. And our runny noses in our hay fever all prove that to some degree. [00:11:09] Jesse Schwamb: So denying against allergies, but denying against as well that ubiquity of corruption and sin in our world. [00:11:15] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I just have this image in my head of Adam and Eve, you know, they're expelled outta the garden and they, they're working the ground. And then Adam sneezes. Yes. And Eve is like, did your head just explode? [00:11:28] Tony Arsenal: And he's like, I don't know. That would've been a, probably a pretty terrifying experience actually. [00:11:33] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's that's true. So imagine like you and I have talked about this before, because you have young children, adorable. Young children, and we've talked about like the first of everything, like when you're a child, you get sick for the first time, or you get the flu or you vomit for the first time. [00:11:45] Jesse Schwamb: Like you have no idea what's going on in your body, but imagine that. But being an adult. [00:11:49] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, where you can process what's going on, but don't have a framework for it. [00:11:52] Jesse Schwamb: Yes, exactly. So like [00:11:54] Tony Arsenal: that's like, that's like my worst nightmare I think. [00:11:55] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. It's like, to your point, 'cause there, there are a lot of experiences you have as an adults, even health wise that are still super strange and weird. [00:12:01] Jesse Schwamb: But [00:12:02] Tony Arsenal: yeah, [00:12:02] Jesse Schwamb: you have some rubric for them, but that's kind of exactly what I was thinking. What if this toiling over your labor is partly because it's horrible now because you have itchy, watery eyes or you get hives. Yeah. And before you were like, I could just lay in the grass and be totally fine. And now I can't even walk by ragweed without getting a headache or having some kind of weird fatigue. [00:12:23] Jesse Schwamb: Like I have to believe that that was, that part of this transition was all of these things. Like, now your body's gonna overreact to stuff where I, I, God put us in a place where that wouldn't be the case at all. [00:12:35] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Sometimes I think about like the first. Time that Adam was like sore or like hurt himself. [00:12:42] Tony Arsenal: True. Like the, just the, just the terror and fear that must have come with it. And sin is serious stuff. Like it's serious effects and sad, sad, sad stuff. But yeah, allergies are the worst. I, uh, I suffered really badly with, uh, seasonal allergies. When I was a a kid I had to do allergy shots and everything and it's makes no sense. [00:13:03] Tony Arsenal: There's no rhyme or reason to it, and your allergies change. So like you could be going your whole life, being able to eat strawberries and then all of a sudden you can't. Right? And it's, and you don't know until it happens. So [00:13:14] Jesse Schwamb: what's up with that? [00:13:15] Tony Arsenal: No good. [00:13:16] Jesse Schwamb: What's up with that? So again, imagine that little experience is a microcosmic example of what happens to Adam and Eve. [00:13:24] Jesse Schwamb: You know, like all these things change. Like you're, you're right. Suddenly your body isn't the same. It's not just because you're growing older, but because guess what? Sins everywhere. And guess what, where sin is, even in the midst of who you are as physically constructed and the environment in which you live, all, all totally change. [00:13:40] Jesse Schwamb: So that, that's enough of my rants on allergies. I know the, I know the loved ones out there hear me. It's also remarkable to me that almost everybody has an allergy of some kind. It's very, it's very rare if you don't have any allergies whatsoever. And probably those times when you think you're sick and you don't have allergies could be that you actually have them. [00:13:57] Jesse Schwamb: So it's just wild. Wild. [00:14:02] Tony Arsenal: Agreed. Agreed. [00:14:03] Theological Discussion on Parables [00:14:03] Tony Arsenal: Well, Jesse, without further ado, I'm not, I, maybe we should have further ado, but let's get into it. Let's talk about some parable stuff. [00:14:13] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, let's do it again. When I say pair, you say able pair. [00:14:17] Tony Arsenal: Able. [00:14:20] Jesse Schwamb: When I say [00:14:21] Tony Arsenal: para you say bowl. [00:14:24] Jesse Schwamb: That's what I was trying to go with before. [00:14:26] Jesse Schwamb: It's a little bit more, yeah, but you gotta like cross over like we both gotta say like that middle syllable kind of. Otherwise it's, it sounds like I'm just saying bowl. And [00:14:34] Tony Arsenal: yeah, there's no good way to chant that. Yeah, we're work. This is why Jesse and I are not cheerleaders. [00:14:39] Jesse Schwamb: We're, we're work shopping everybody. [00:14:40] Jesse Schwamb: But I agree with you. Enough of us talking about affirmations, the denials in this case, the double double denial. Let's talk about parables. So the beauty of this whole series is there's gonna be so much great stuff to talk about, and I think this is a decent topic for us to cover because. Really, if you think about it, the parables of Jesus have captivated people for the entirety of the scriptures. [00:15:06] Jesse Schwamb: As long, as long as they were recorded and have been read and processed and studied together. And, uh, you know, there's stuff I'm sure that we will just gloss over. We don't need to get into in terms of like, is it pure allegory? Is it always allegory? Is it, there's lots of interpretation here. I think this is gonna be our way of processing together and moving through some of these and speaking them out and trying to learn principally. [00:15:28] Jesse Schwamb: Predominantly what they're teaching us. But I say all that because characters like the prodigal son, like Good Samaritan, Pharisees, and tax collector, those actually have become well known even outside the church. [00:15:40] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And [00:15:40] Jesse Schwamb: then sometimes inside the church there's over familiarity with all of these, and that leads to its own kind of misunderstanding. [00:15:46] Jesse Schwamb: So, and I think as well. I'm hoping that myself, you and our listeners will be able to hear them in a new way, and maybe if we can try to do this without again, being parabolic, is that we can kind of recreate some of the trauma. In these stories. 'cause Jesus is, is pressing upon very certain things and there's certainly a lot of trauma that his original audiences would've taken away from what he was saying here. [00:16:13] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Even just starting with what is a parable and why is Jesus telling them? So I presume that's actually the best place for us to begin is what's the deal with the parables and why is this? Is this Jesus preferred way of teaching about the kingdom of God. [00:16:30] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and I think, you know, it bears saying too that like not all the parables are alike. [00:16:35] Tony Arsenal: Like true. We can't, this is why I'm excited about this series. You know, it's always good to talk through the bible and, and or to talk through systematic theology, but what really excites me is when we do a series like this, kind of like the Scott's Confession series, like it gives us a reason. To think through a lot of different disciplines and flex like exercise and stretch and flex a lot of different kinds of intellectual muscles. [00:17:00] Tony Arsenal: So there's gonna be some exegetical work we have to do. There's gonna be some hermeneutical work we're gonna have to do, probably have to do some historical work about how the parables have been interpreted in different ways. Yes, and and I think, so, I think it's important to say like, not every parable is exactly the same. [00:17:14] Tony Arsenal: And this is where I think like when you read, sometimes you read books about the, the parables of Christ. Like you, you'll hear one guy say. Well, a parable is not an allegory. Then you'll hear another guy say like, well, parables might have allegorical elements to it. Right. Now if one guy say like, well, a parable has one main point, and you'll have another guy say like, well, no, actually, like parables can have multiple points and multiple shades of meaning. [00:17:37] Tony Arsenal: And I think the answer to why you have this variance in the commentaries is 'cause sometimes the parables are alleg. [00:17:44] Jesse Schwamb: Right. And [00:17:44] Tony Arsenal: sometimes they're not allegorical. Sometimes they have one main point. Sometimes there's multiple points. So I think it's important for us to just acknowledge like we're gonna have to come to each parable, um, on its own and on its own terms. [00:17:57] Tony Arsenal: But there are some general principles that I think we can talk about what parables are. So parables in general are. Figurative stories or figurative accounts that are used to illustrate, I think primarily used to illustrate a single main point. And there may be some subpoints, but they, they're generally intended to, uh, to illustrate something by way of a, of a narrative, a fictional narrative that, uh, helps the reader. [00:18:27] Tony Arsenal: Uh, or the hearer is just, it's also important that these were primarily heard, these are heard parables, so there are even times where the phrasing of the language is important in the parable. Um, they're helping the, the hearer to understand spiritual truth. And this is where I think it's it's key, is that this is not just. [00:18:48] Tony Arsenal: When we're talking about the parables of Christ, right? There's people tell parables, there's all sorts of different teachers that have used parables. Um, I, I do parables on the show from time to time where I'll tell like a little made up story about a, you know, a situation. I'll say like, pretend, you know, let's imagine you have this guy and he's doing this thing that's a form of a parable when I'm using. [00:19:08] Tony Arsenal: I'm not, it's not like a makeup made up story. It's not asaps fables. We're not talking about like talking foxes and hens and stuff, but it's illustrating a point. But the parables of Christ are not just to illustrate a point, they're to reveal a spiritual point or spiritual points to those who have ears to hear, to those who've been illuminated by the spirit. [00:19:29] Tony Arsenal: And I just wanna read this. Uh, this is just God's providence, um, in action. I, um, I've fallen behind on my reading in The Daily Dad, which is a Ryan Holiday book. This was the reading that came up today, even though it's not the correct reading for the day. Uh, it's, it's for September 2nd. We're recording this on September, uh, sixth. [00:19:48] Tony Arsenal: Uh, and the title is, this is How You Teach Them. And the first line says, if the Bible has any indication, Jesus rarely seemed to come out and say what he meant. He preferred instead to employ parables and stories and little anecdotes that make you think. He tells stories of the servants and the talents. [00:20:03] Tony Arsenal: He tells stories of the prodigal son and the Good Samaritan. Turns out it's pretty effective to get a point across and make it stick. What what we're gonna learn. Actually that Jesus tells these stories in parables, in part to teach those who have spiritual ears to hear, but in part to mask the truth That's right. [00:20:24] Tony Arsenal: From those who don't have spiritual ears to hear, oh, online [00:20:26] Jesse Schwamb: holiday. [00:20:27] Tony Arsenal: So it's not as simple as like Jesus, using illustration to help make something complicated, clearer, right? Yes. But also, no. So I'm super excited to kind of get into this stuff and talk through it and to, to really dig into the parables themselves. [00:20:42] Tony Arsenal: It's just gonna be a really good exercise at sort of sitting at the feet of our master in his really, his preferred mode of teaching. Um, you know, other than the sermon on the Mount. There's not a lot of like long form, straightforward, didactic teaching like that most of Christ's teaching as recorded in the gospels, comes in the form of these parables in one way or another. [00:21:03] Tony Arsenal: Right. And that's pretty exciting to me. [00:21:05] Jesse Schwamb: Right. And there's so many more parables I think, than we often understand there to be, or at least then that we see in like the headings are Bible, which of course have been put there by our own construction. So anytime you get that. Nice short, metaphorical narrative is really Jesus speaking in a kind of parable form, and I think you're right on. [00:21:25] Jesse Schwamb: For me, it's always highlighting some kind of aspect of the kingdom of God. And I'd say there is generally a hierarchy. There doesn't have to be like a single point, like you said. There could be other points around that. But if you get into this place where like everything has some kind of allegory representation, then the parable seems to die of the death of like a million paper cuts, right? [00:21:40] Jesse Schwamb: Because you're trying to figure out all the things and if you have to represent something, everything he says with some kind of. Heavy spiritual principle gets kind of weird very quickly. But in each of these, as you said, what's common in my understanding is it's presenting like a series of events involving like a small number of characters. [00:21:57] Jesse Schwamb: It is bite-sized and sometimes those are people or plants or even like inanimate objects. So like the, yeah, like you said, the breadth and scope of how Jesus uses the metaphor is brilliant teaching, and it's even more brilliant when you get to that level, like you're saying, where it's meant both to illuminate. [00:22:13] Jesse Schwamb: To obfuscate. That is like, to me, the parable is a manifestation of election because it's clear that Jesus is using this. Those who have the ears to hear are the ones whom the Holy Spirit has unstopped, has opened the eyes, has illuminated the hearts and the mind to such a degree that can receive these, and that now these words are resonant. [00:22:32] Jesse Schwamb: So like what a blessing that we can understand them, that God has essentially. Use this parabolic teaching in such a way to bring forward his concept of election in the minds and the hearts of those who are his children. And it's kind of a way, this is kind of like the secret Christian handshake. It's the speakeasy of salvation. [00:22:52] Jesse Schwamb: It's, it's coming into the fold because God has invited you in and given you. The knowledge and ability of which to really understand these things. And so most of these little characters seemed realistic and resonant in Jesus' world, and that's why sometimes we do need a little bit of studying and understanding the proper context for all those things. [00:23:12] Jesse Schwamb: I would say as well, like at least one element in those parables is a push. It's in, it's kind of taking it and hyping it up. It's pushing the boundaries of what's plausible, and so you'll find that all of this is made again to illuminate some principle of the kingdom of God. And we should probably go to the thing that you intimated, because when you read that quote from, from Ryan Holiday, I was like, yes, my man. [00:23:34] Jesse Schwamb: Like he's on the right track. Right? There's something about what he's saying that is partially correct, but like you said, a lot of times people mistake the fact that, well, Jesus. Is using this language and these metaphors, these similes, he speaks in parables because they were the best way to get like these uneducated people to understand him. [00:23:57] Jesse Schwamb: Right? But it's actually the exact opposite. And we know this because of perhaps the most famous dialogue and expression and explanation of parables, which comes to us in Matthew 13, 10 through 17, where Jesus explains to his disciples exactly why he uses this mode of teaching. And what he says is. This is why I speak to them of parables because seeing they do not see and hearing, they do not hear they nor do they understand. [00:24:24] Jesse Schwamb: So, so that's perplexing. We should probably camp there for just a second and talk about that. Right, and, and like really unpack like, what is Jesus after here? Then if, like, before we get into like, what do all these things mean, it's almost like saying. We need to understand why they're even set before us and why these in some ways are like a kind of a small stumbling block to others, but then this great stone of appreciation and one to stand on for for others. [00:24:47] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and I think you know, before we, before we cover that, which I think is a good next spot. A parable is not just an illustration. Like I think that's where a lot of people go a little bit sideways, is they think that this is effectively, like it's a fable. It's like a made up story primarily to like illustrate a point right. [00:25:09] Tony Arsenal: Or an allegory where you know, you're taking individual components and they represent something else. A parable fundamentally is a, is a, a comparison between two things, right? The word parable comes from the Greek of casting alongside, and so the idea is like you're, you're taking. The reality that you're trying to articulate and you're setting up this parable next to it and you're comparing them to it. [00:25:33] Tony Arsenal: And so I like to use the word simile, like that's why Christ says like the kingdom of God is like this. Yes. It's not like I'm gonna explain the kingdom of God to you by using this made up story. Right on. It's I'm gonna compare the kingdom of God to this thing or this story that I'm having, and so we should be. [00:25:49] Tony Arsenal: Rather than trying to like find the principles of the parable, we should be looking at it and going, how does this parable reflect? Or how is this a, um, how is this an explanation? Not in the, like, I, I'm struggling to even explain this here. It's not that the cer, the parable is just illustrating a principle. [00:26:10] Tony Arsenal: It's that the kingdom of God is one thing and the parable reveals that same one thing by way of comparison. Yes. So like. Uh, we'll get into the specifics, obviously, but when the, when the, um, lawyer says, who is my neighbor? Well, it's not just like, well, let's look at the Good Samaritan. And the Good Samaritan represents this, and the Levite represents this, and the priest represents this. [00:26:32] Tony Arsenal: It's a good neighbor, is this thing. It's this story. Compared to whatever you have in your mind of what a good neighbor is. And we're gonna bounce those things up against each other, and that's gonna somehow show us what the, what the reality is. And that's why I think to get back to where we were, that's why I think sometimes the parables actually obscure the truth. [00:26:53] Tony Arsenal: Because if we're not comparing the parable to the reality of something, then we're gonna get the parable wrong. So if we think that, um, the Good Samaritan. Is a parable about social justice and we're, we're looking at it to try to understand how do we treat, you know, the, the poor people in Africa who don't have food or the war torn refugees, you know, coming out of Ukraine. [00:27:19] Tony Arsenal: If we're looking at it primarily as like, I need to learn to be a good neighbor to those who are destitute. Uh, we're not comparing it against what Jesus was comparing it against, right? So, so we have to understand, we have to start in a lot of cases with the question that the parable is a response to, which oftentimes the parable is a response to a question or it's a, it's a principle that's being, um, compare it against if we get that first step wrong, uh, or if we start with our own presuppositions, which is why. [00:27:50] Tony Arsenal: Partially why I think Christ is saying like, the only those who have ears to hear. Like if you don't have a spiritual presupposition, I, I mean that, that might not be the right word, but like if you're not starting from the place of spiritual illumination, not in the weird gnostic sense, but in the, the. [00:28:07] Tony Arsenal: Genuinely Christian illumination of the Holy Spirit and inward testimony of the Holy Spirit. If you're not starting from that perspective, you almost can't get the parables right. So that's why we see like the opponents of Christ in the Bible, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, constantly. They're constantly confused and they're getting it wrong. [00:28:26] Tony Arsenal: And, and even sometimes the disciples, they have to go and ask sometimes too, what is this parable? Wow, that's right. What is, what does this mean? So it's never as simple as, as what's directly on the surface, but it's also not usually as complicated as we would make it be if we were trying to over-interpret the parable, which I think is another risk. [00:28:44] Jesse Schwamb: That's the genius, isn't it? Is that I I like what you're saying. It's that spiritual predisposition that allows us to receive the word and, and when we receive that word, it is a simple word. It's not as if like, we have to elevate ourselves in place of this high learning or education or philosophizing, and that's the beauty of it. [00:29:03] Jesse Schwamb: So it is, again, God's setting apart for himself A, a people a teaching. So. But I think this is, it is a little bit perplexing at first, like that statement from Jesus because it's a bit like somebody coming to you, like your place of work or anywhere else in your family life and asking you explicitly for instruction and, and then you saying something like, listen, I, I'm gonna show you, but you're not gonna be able to see it. [00:29:22] Jesse Schwamb: And you're gonna, I'm gonna tell you, but you're not gonna be able to hear it, and I'm gonna explain it to you, but you're not gonna be able to understand. And you're like, okay. So yeah, what's the point of you talking to me then? So it's clear, like you said that Jesus. Is teaching that the secrets, and that's really, really what these are. [00:29:37] The Secrets of the Kingdom of God [00:29:37] Jesse Schwamb: It's brilliant and beautiful that Jesus would, that the, the son of God and God himself would tell us the secrets of his kingdom. But that again, first of all by saying it's a secret, means it's, it's for somebody to guard and to hold knowledge closely and that it is protected. So he says, teaching like the secrets of the kingdom of God are unknowable through mere human reasoning and intuition. [00:29:56] Jesse Schwamb: Interestingly here though, Jesus is also saying that. He's, it's not like he's saying no one can ever understand the parables, right, or that he intends to hide their truth from all people. [00:30:07] Understanding Parables and God's Sovereign Grace [00:30:07] Jesse Schwamb: Instead, he just explains that in order to highlight God's sovereign grace, God in his mercy has enlightened some to whom it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. [00:30:17] Jesse Schwamb: That's verse 11. So. All of us as his children who have been illuminated can understand the truth of God's kingdom. That is wild and and that is amazing. So that this knowledge goes out and just like we talk about the scripture going out and never returning void, here's a prime example of that very thing that there is a condemnation and not being able to understand. [00:30:37] Jesse Schwamb: That condemnation comes not because you're not intelligent enough, but because as you said, you do not have that predisposition. You do not have that changed heart into the ability to understand these things. [00:30:47] Doctrine of Election and Spiritual Insight [00:30:47] Jesse Schwamb: This is what leads me here to say like every parable then implicitly teaches a doctrine of election. [00:30:53] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, because all people are outside the kingdom until they enter the Lord's teaching. How do we enter the Lord's teaching by being given ears to hear. How are we understanding that? We have been given ears to hear when these parables speak to us in the spiritual reality as well as in just like you said, like this general kind of like in the way that I presume Ryan Holiday means it. [00:31:12] Jesse Schwamb: The, this is like, he might be exemplifying the fact that these stories. Are a really great form of the ability to communicate complex information or to make you think. [00:31:21] The Power and Purpose of Parables [00:31:21] Jesse Schwamb: So when Jesus says something like The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, wow, we, you and I will probably spend like two episodes just unpacking that, or we could spend a lot more, that's beautiful that that's how his teaching takes place. [00:31:34] Jesse Schwamb: But of course it's, it's so much. More than that, that those in whom the teaching is effective on a salvation somehow understand it, and their understanding of it becomes first because Christ is implanted within them. Salvation. [00:31:46] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. [00:31:48] Parables as More Than Simple Teaching Tools [00:31:48] Tony Arsenal: I think people, and this is what I think like Ryan Holiday's statement reflects, is people think of the parables as a simple teaching tool to break down a complicated subject. [00:32:00] Tony Arsenal: Yes. And so, like if I was trying to explain podcasting to a, like a five-year-old, I would say something like, well, you know. You know how your teacher teaches you during class while a podcast is like if your teacher lived on the internet and you could access your teacher anytime. Like, that might be a weird explanation, but like that's taking a very complicated thing about recording and and RSS feeds and you know, all of these different elements that go into what podcasting is and breaking it down to a simple sub that is not what a parable is. [00:32:30] Tony Arsenal: Right? Right. A parable is not. Just breaking a simple subject down and illustrating it by way of like a, a clever comparison. Um, you know, it's not like someone trying to explain the doctrine of, of the Trinity by using clever analogies or something like that. Even if that were reasonable and impossible. [00:32:50] Tony Arsenal: It's, it's not like that a parable. I like what you're saying about it being kind of like a mini doctrine of election. It's also a mini doctrine of the Bible. Yes. Right. It, it's right on. [00:33:00] The Doctrine of Illumination [00:33:00] Tony Arsenal: It's, it's the doctrine of revelation. In. Preached form in the Ministry of Christ, right? As Christians, we have this text and we affirm that at the same time, uh, what can be known of it and what is necessary for salvation can be known. [00:33:19] Tony Arsenal: By ordinary means like Bart Iman, an avowed atheist who I, I think like all atheists, whether they recognize it or not, hates God. He can read the Bible and understand that what it means is that if you trust Jesus, you'll be saved. You don't need special spiritual insight to understand that that is what the Bible teaches, where the special spiritual. [00:33:42] Tony Arsenal: Insight might not be the right word, but the special spiritual appropriation is that the spirit enables you to receive that unto your salvation. Right? To put your trust in. The reality of that, and we call that doctrine, the doctrine of illumination. And so in, in the sense of parables in Christ's ministry, and this is, this is if you, you know, like what do I always say is just read a little bit more, um, the portion Jesse read it leads way into this prophecy or in this comment, Christ. [00:34:10] Tony Arsenal: Saying he teaches in parable in order to fulfill this prophecy of Isaiah. Basically that like those who are, uh, ate and are apart from God and are resistant to God, these parables there are there in order to confirm that they are. And then it says in verse 16, and this is, this is. [00:34:27] The Blessing of Spiritual Understanding [00:34:27] Tony Arsenal: It always seems like the series that we do ends up with like a theme verse, and this is probably the one verse 16 here, Matthew 1316 says, but blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear. [00:34:40] Tony Arsenal: And so like there's a blessing. In our salvation and in our election that we are enabled to hear and perceive and re receive the very voice and word of God into our spirit unto our salvation. That is the doctrine of of election. It's also the doctrine of regeneration, the doctrine of sanctification, the doctrine. [00:35:03] Tony Arsenal: I mean, there's all of these different classic reformed doctrines that the parables really are these mic this microcosm of that. Almost like applied in the Ministry of Christ. Right. Which I, I, you know, I've, I've never really thought of it in depth in that way before, but it's absolutely true and it's super exciting to be able to sort of embark on this, uh, on this series journey with, with this group. [00:35:28] Tony Arsenal: I think it's gonna be so good to just dig into these and really, really hear the gospel preached to ourselves through these parables. That's what I'm looking forward to. [00:35:38] Jesse Schwamb: And we're used to being very. Close with the idea that like the message contains the doctrine, the message contains the power. Here we're saying, I think it's both. [00:35:47] Jesse Schwamb: And the mode of that message also contains, the doctrine also contains the power. And I like where you're going with this because I think what we should be reminding ourselves. Is what a blessing it is to have this kind of information conferred to us. [00:36:01] The Role of Parables in Revealing and Concealing Truth [00:36:01] Jesse Schwamb: That again, God has taken, what is the secrets that is his to disclose and his to keep and his to hold, and he's made it available to his children. [00:36:08] Jesse Schwamb: And part of that is for, as you said, like the strengthening of our own faith. It's also for condemnation. So notice that. The hiding of the kingdom through parables is not a consequence of the teaching itself. Again, this goes back to like the mode being as equally important here as the message itself that Christ's teaching is not too difficult to comprehend as an intellectual matter. [00:36:27] Jesse Schwamb: The thing is, like even today, many unbelievers read the gospels and they technically understand what Jesus means in his teaching, especially these parables. The problem is. I would say like moral hardness. It's that lack of spiritual predilection or predisposition. They know what Jesus teaches, but they do not believe. [00:36:47] Jesse Schwamb: And so the challenge before us is as all scripture reading, that we would go before the Holy Spirit and say, holy Spirit, help me to believe. Help me to understand what to believe. And it so doing, do the work of God, which is to believe in him and to believe in His son Jesus Christ and what he's accomplished. [00:37:02] Jesse Schwamb: So the parables are not like creating. Fresh unbelief and sinners instead, like they're confirming the opposition that's already present and apart from Grace, unregenerate perversely use our Lord's teaching to increase their resistance. That's how it's set up. That's how it works. That's why to be on the inside, as it were, not again, because like we've done the right handshake or met all the right standards, but because of the blood of Christ means that the disciples, the first disciples and all the disciples who will follow after them on the other hand. [00:37:33] The Complexity and Nuances of Parables [00:37:33] Jesse Schwamb: We've been granted these eyes to see, and ears to hear Jesus. And then we've been given the secrets of the kingdom. I mean, that's literally what we've been given. And God's mercy has been extended to the disciples who like many in the crowds, once ignorantly and stubbornly rejected God and us just like them as well in both accounts. [00:37:49] Jesse Schwamb: So this is, I think we need to settle on that. You're right, throughout this series, what a blessing. It's not meant to be a great labor or an effort for the child of God. Instead, it's meant to be a way of exploring these fe. Fantastic truths of who God is and what he's done in such a way that draw us in. [00:38:07] Jesse Schwamb: So that whether we're analyzing again, like the the lost coin or the lost sheep, or. Any number of these amazing parables, you'll notice that they draw us in because they don't give us answers in the explicit sense that we're used to. Like didactically instead. Yeah. They cause us to consider, as you've already said, Tony, like what does it mean to be lost? [00:38:26] Jesse Schwamb: What does it mean that the father comes running for this prodigal son? What does it mean that the older brother has a beef with the whole situation? What does it mean when Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed? How much do we know about mustard seeds? And why would he say that? Again, this is a kind of interesting teaching, but that illumination in the midst of it being, I don't wanna say ambiguous, but open-ended to a degree means that the Holy Spirit must come in and give us that kind of grand knowledge. [00:38:55] Jesse Schwamb: But more than that, believe upon what Jesus is saying. I think that's the critical thing, is somebody will say, well, aren't the teaching simple and therefore easy to understand. In a sense, yes. Like factually yes, but in a much greater sense. Absolutely not. And that's why I think it's so beautiful that he quotes Isaiah there because in that original context, you the, you know, you have God delivering a message through Isaiah. [00:39:17] Jesse Schwamb: Uh. The people are very clear. Like, we just don't believe you're a prophet of God. And like what you're saying is ridiculous, right? And we just don't wanna hear you. This is very different than that. This is, Jesus is giving this message essentially to all who will listen to him, not necessarily hear, but all, all who are hear Him, I guess rather, but not necessarily all who are listening with those spiritual ears. [00:39:33] Jesse Schwamb: And so this is like, I love the way that he, he uses that quote in a slightly different way, but still to express the same root cause, which is some of you here. Because of your depravity will not be able to hear what I'm saying. But for those to whom it has been granted to come in who are ushered into the kingdom, this kingdom language will make sense. [00:39:54] Jesse Schwamb: It's like, I'm going to be speaking to you in code and half of you have the key for all the code because the Holy Spirit is your cipher and half of you don't. And you're gonna, you're gonna listen to the same thing, but you will hear very different things. [00:40:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, the other thing I think is, is interesting to ponder on this, um. [00:40:12] The Importance of Context in Interpreting Parables [00:40:12] Tony Arsenal: God always accommodates his revelation to his people. And the parables are, are, are like the. Accommodated accommodation. Yeah. Like God accommodates himself to those he chooses to reveal himself to. And in some ways this is, this is, um, the human ministry of Christ is him accommodating himself to those. [00:40:38] Tony Arsenal: What I mean is in the human ministry of the Son, the parables are a way of the son accommodating himself to those he chooses to reveal himself to. So there, there are instances. Where the parable is said, and it is, uh, it's seems to be more or less understood by everybody. Nobody asks the question about like, what does this mean? [00:40:57] Tony Arsenal: Right? And then there are instances where the parable is said, and even the apostles are, or the disciples are like, what does this parable mean? And then there's some interesting ones where like. Christ's enemies understand the parable and, and can understand that the parable is told against them. About them. [00:41:13] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. So there, there's all these different nuances to why Christ used these parables, how simple they were, how complicated they were. Yes. And again, I think that underscores what I said at the top of the show here. It's like you can't treat every parable exactly the same. And that's where you run into trouble. [00:41:28] Tony Arsenal: Like if you're, if you're coming at them, like they're all just simple allegory. Again, like some of them have allegorical elements. I think it's fair to look at the, the prodigal son or the, the prodigal father, however you want to title that. And remember, the titles are not, generally, the titles are not, um, baked into the text itself. [00:41:46] Tony Arsenal: I think it's fair to come to that and look at and go, okay, well, who's the father in this? Who's the son? You know, what does it mean that the older son is this? Is, is there relevance to the fact that there's a party and that the, you know, the older, older, uh, son is not a part of it? There's, there's some legitimacy to that. [00:42:02] Tony Arsenal: And when we look at Christ's own explanation of some of his parables, he uses those kinds, right? The, the good seed is this, the, the seed that fell on the, the side of the road is this, right? The seed that got choked out by the, the, um, thorns is this, but then there are others where it doesn't make sense to pull it apart, element by element. [00:42:21] Tony Arsenal: Mm-hmm. Um, and, and the other thing is there are some things that we're gonna look at that are, um. We're gonna treat as parables that the text doesn't call a parable. And then there are some that you might even look at that sometimes the text calls a parable that we might not even think of as a normal parable, right? [00:42:38] Tony Arsenal: So there's lots of elements. This is gonna be really fun to just dig stuff in and, and sort of pick it, like pull it apart and look at its component parts and constituent parts. Um, so I really do mean it if you, if you're the kind of person who has never picked up a Bible commentary. This would be a good time to, to start because these can get difficult. [00:42:59] Tony Arsenal: They can get complicated. You want to have a trusted guide, and Jesse and I are gonna do our, our work and our research on this. Um, but you want someone who's more of a trusted guide than us. This is gonna be the one time that I might actually say Calvin's commentaries are not the most helpful. And the reason for that is not because Calvin's not clear on this stuff. [00:43:17] Tony Arsenal: Calvin Calvin's commentaries on the gospel is, is a harmony of the gospels, right? So sometimes it's tricky when you're reading it to try to find like a specific, uh, passage in Matthew because you're, you, everything's interwoven. So something like Matthew Henry, um, or something like, um, Matthew Poole. Uh, might be helpful if you're willing to spend a little bit of money. [00:43:38] Tony Arsenal: The ESV expository commentary that I've referenced before is a good option. Um, but try to find something that's approachable and usable that is reasonable for you to work through the commentary alongside of us, because you are gonna want to spend time reading these on your own, and you're gonna want to, like I said, you're gonna want to have a trust guide with you. [00:43:55] Tony Arsenal: Even just a good study bible, something like. The Reformation Study Bible or something along those lines would help you work your way through these parables, and I think it's valuable to do that. [00:44:06] Jesse Schwamb: Something you just said sparked this idea in me that the power, or one of the powers maybe of good fiction is that it grabs your attention. [00:44:15] The Impact of Parables on Listeners [00:44:15] Jesse Schwamb: It like brings you into the plot maybe even more than just what I said before about it being resonant, that it actually pulls you into the storyline and it makes you think that it's about other people until it's too late. Yeah. And Jesus has a way of doing this that really only maybe the parable can allow. [00:44:30] Jesse Schwamb: So like in other words, by the time you realize. A parable is like metaphorical, or even in a limited case, it's allegorical form you've already identified with one or more of the characters and you're caught in the trap. So what comes to my mind there is like the one Old Testament narrative, virtually identical, informed to those Jesus told is Nathan's parable of the You lamb. [00:44:52] Jesse Schwamb: So that's in like second Samuel 12, and I was just looking this up as you were, as you were speaking. So in this potentially life and death move for the prophet Nathan confronts King David. Over his adultery with, or depending on how you see it, rape of Bathsheba, and then his subsequent murder of her husband Uriah, by sending him to the front lines of battle. [00:45:10] Jesse Schwamb: So he's killed. And so in this parable that Nathan tells Uriah is like the poor man. Bathsheba is like the Yu a and the rich man obviously represents David. If you, you know what I'm talking about, go back and look at second Samuel 12. And so what's interesting is once David is hooked into that story, he cannot deny that his behavior was unjust as that of the rich man in the story who takes this UAM for himself and he, which he openly. [00:45:38] Jesse Schwamb: Then David openly condemns of course, like the amazing climax of this. And as the reader who has. Of course, like omniscient knowledge in the story, you know, the plot of things, right? You're, you're already crying out, like you're throwing something, you know, across the room saying like, how can you not see this about you? [00:45:53] Jesse Schwamb: And of course the climax comes in when Nathan points the finger at David and declares, you are the man. And that's kind of what. The parables due to us. Yes. They're not always like the same in accusatory toward us, but they do call us out. This is where, again, when we talk about like the scripture reading us, the parable is particularly good at that because sometimes we tend to identify, you know, again, with like one of the particular characters whom we probably shouldn't identify with, or like you said, the parable, the sower. [00:46:22] Jesse Schwamb: Isn't the Christian always quick to be like, I am the virtual grounds? Yeah. You still have to ask like, you know, there is not like a Paul washer way of doing this, but there is like a way of saying like, checking yourself before you wreck yourself there. And so when Jesus's parables have lost some of that shock value in today's world, we maybe need to contemporize them a little bit. [00:46:43] Jesse Schwamb: I, and I think we'll talk about that as we go through it. We're not rewriting them for any reason that that would be completely inappropriate. Think about this though. Like the Jew robbed and left for dead. And you know the story of the Grace Samaritan may need to become like the white evangelical man who is helped by like the black Muslim woman after the senior pastor and the worship leader from the local reformed church passed by like that. [00:47:05] Jesse Schwamb: That might be the frame, which we should put it to try to understand it whenever we face a hostile audience that this indirect rhetoric of compelling stories may help at least some people hear God's world more favorably, and I think that's why you get both like a soft. And a sharp edge with these stories. [00:47:20] Jesse Schwamb: But it's the ability to, to kind of come in on the sneak attack. It's to make you feel welcomed in and to identify with somebody. And then sometimes to find that you're identifying entirely with a character whom Jesus is gonna say, listen, don't be this way, or This is what the kingdom of God is, is not like this. [00:47:35] Jesse Schwamb: Or again, to give you shock value, not for the sake of telling like a good tale that somehow has a twist where it's like everybody was actually. All Dead at the end. Another movie, by the way, I have not seen, but I just know that that's like, I'll never see that movie because, can we say it that the spoiler is, is out on that, right? [00:47:54] Tony Arsenal: Are we, what are we talking about? What movie are we talking about? [00:47:56] Jesse Schwamb: Well, I don't, I don't wanna say it. I didn't [00:47:57] Tony Arsenal: even get it from your description. Oh. [00:47:59] Jesse Schwamb: Like that, that movie where like, he was dead the whole time. [00:48:02] Tony Arsenal: Oh, this, that, that, that movie came out like 30 years ago, Jesse. Oh, seriously? [00:48:06] Jesse Schwamb: Okay. All right. [00:48:06] Tony Arsenal: So Six Sense. [00:48:07] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. That movie came out a long time ago. [00:48:10] Jesse Schwamb: So it's not like the parables are the sixth sense, and it's like, let me get you like a really cool twist. Right. Or like hook at the end. I, and I think in part it is to disarm you and to draw you in in such a way that we might honestly consider what's happening there. [00:48:22] Jesse Schwamb: And that's how it reads us. [00:48:24] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And I, I think that's a good point. And, and. It bears saying there are all sorts of parables all throughout the Bible. It's not just Jesus that teaches these, and they do have this similar effect that they, they draw you in. Um, oftentimes you identify it preliminarily, you identify with the wrong person, and it's not until you. [00:48:45] Tony Arsenal: Or you don't identify with anyone when you should. Right. Right. And it's not until the sort of punchline or I think that account with Nathan is so spot on because it's the same kind of thing. David did not have ears to hear. [00:48:58] Jesse Schwamb: Right. Until he had That's good point. Ears [00:49:00] Tony Arsenal: to hear. [00:49:00] Jesse Schwamb: Good point. [00:49:01] Tony Arsenal: And he heard the point of the parable. [00:49:03] Tony Arsenal: He understood the point of the parable and he didn't understand that the parable was about him, right? It's like the ultimate, I don't know why you're clapping David, I'm talking about you moment. Um, I'm just have this picture of Paul washer in like a biblical era robe. Um, so I think that's a enough progam to the series. [00:49:20] Preparing for the Series on Parables [00:49:20] Tony Arsenal: We're super excited we're, we'll cover some of these principles again, because again, different parables have to be interpreted different ways, and some of these principles apply to one and don't to others, and so we'll, we'll tease that out when we get there next week. We're gonna just jump right in. [00:49:34] Tony Arsenal: We're gonna get started with, I think, um, I actually think, you know, in the, the providence of, of the Holy Spirit and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and then obviously the providence of God in Christ's ministry, the, the parable that kind of like frames all of the other parables,

Being [at Work] offers a daily dose of leadership focused on helping you, the leader. During challenging times we need all of the encouragement we can get. Sometimes there's simply no playbook and we just need to do the best we can. Sometimes the best we can is being reminded of the gifts and insight you already have within. Be sure to subscribe and get your daily dose.   About Andrea Butcher Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).   Connect with Andrea https://www.abundantempowerment.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/      

Mark 1:40-45 (LSB)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss Jesus's healing the leper and how it speaks to the problem of evil in the world.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=22453The 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/ 

In this episode of Remodelers on the Rise, Kyle is joined by leadership coach and speaker Pete Burak for a refreshingly practical and thoughtful conversation on what it means to lead well—at work and at home. From crafting a clear “here to there” vision, to mentoring your team, to creating a 12-out-of-10 client experience, Pete shares simple but powerful principles to help remodelers grow as leaders. You'll also hear why generosity always wins, how to avoid skipping over mentorship, and why the best leaders are first great followers. It's packed with wisdom, stories, and takeaways you can start using with your team right away. ----- Ready to streamline your business and increase profits? Visit JobTreadto see how their all-in-one construction management software helps remodelers and builders simplify estimating, scheduling, job costing, and invoicing. Want to hear JobTread in action? Check out our upcoming January episode featuring stories from the JobTread Connect User Conference in Dallas. You'll hear directly from contractors who are using JobTread to boost profits, improve communication, and deliver a better client experience. ----- Explore the vast array of tools, training courses, a podcast, and a supportive community of over 2,000 remodelers. Visit Remodelersontherise.com today and take your remodeling business to new heights! ----- Takeaways Knowing your numbers is essential for business success. Leadership is about helping people transition from their current state to a desired future state. Righteous discontent can inspire teams to strive for improvement. Generosity in business leads to long-term success and goodwill. Creating a 12 out of 10 experience can elevate client satisfaction. Mentorship involves teaching, modeling, and allowing for immersion in learning. A strong home life contributes to success in business. Goodness and virtue are foundational to effective leadership. Leaders should communicate their vision consistently to their teams. Investing in personal development is crucial for effective leadership. ----- Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:08 Leadership Insights and Definitions 07:09 Entrepreneurial Journey and Experiences 10:02 The Importance of Vision in Leadership 13:05 Generating Righteous Discontent 16:13 Practical Applications of Leadership 19:08 Communication and Leadership Principles 22:11 Key Leadership Takeaways 28:23 The Power of Serving Clients 30:39 Hospitality and Generosity in Business 38:43 The Importance of Mentorship 44:26 Balancing Business and Family Life

Boudreaux, Spike, and Fenrir investigate what's under the wagon. Now there are 2 Boudreauxs **Find us at:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomesofthechaosbard/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1078849449250614   Our Email: chaosbardpod@gmail.com   Our Discord: https://discord.gg/8NZZ5vyDUX   Merch & Patron Program: https://ko-fi.com/tomesofthechaosbard   Our Website: https://tomesofthechaosbard.wixsite.com/podcast   X: @ChaosBardPod **Shields of Power: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/266946 **Coltrin Compositions: https://linktr.ee/coltrincompositions  **Realmwalker D&D Soundscapes: Forest Campfire. You can follow his work on X or even better subscribe to his YouTube Channel & use his soundscapes for your very own RPG!! **Our Sound Fx and additional audio were created by many folks at www.freesound.org, Monument Studios, and Tabletop Audio https://freesound.org/people/slappy13/sounds/151779/ https://freesound.org/people/BockelSound/sounds/489495/ 

God has sealed us with His Spirit, the Arrabon, a part payment certifying us as authentically His, until we receive our full inheritance. He has granted both authority and power as the equipment for service, and it is important to both know and understand how to use it. This includes wielding the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, by which we will make it through.VF-2100 Ephesians 1:13-14 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

In this special 300th episode, GUNS Magazine host Brent Wheat and guest Roy Huntington make a historic announcement: the print editions of GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner magazine are ending after 70 years. Join them as they explain the business realities behind this bittersweet decision and reveal how the brand will continue in a new, digital-first era. The podcast itself also gets a new name — welcome to the Guns Podcast US. Key Takeaways & Highlights: 70 Years of History: The end of the print editions of GUNS Magazine and American Handgunner magazine. Challenges of Print: A deep dive into the business of publishing, including the low profit margins of subscriptions and the financial realities that led to this decision. The Power of Digital: How the brand is focusing on its website, YouTube channel, and podcast to deliver content every day. The Soul of the Brand: An emotional discussion on how the team's passion, integrity, and respect for their readers will continue in the digital space. Podcast Rebrand: The Guns Magazine Podcast is now the Guns Podcast US. Join us for this momentous episode as we reflect on the past, embrace the future, and look forward to continuing to provide the best firearms content in the industry. Like, subscribe, and share to support the new digital journey of these iconic brands! -- Have a topic idea or a guest you'd like to see in a future episode? Let us know in the comments or email Editor@gunspodcast.us Never miss an episode! Subscribe to our YouTube channel or sign up for our newsletter (https://gunsmagazine.com/newsletters) to get the Guns Podcast delivered straight to your inbox each week. Visit our website at https://gunspodcast.us

Dr. Dianne Olvera brings a remarkable blend of experiences—as an international diplomat, educator, clinician, and even a former intelligence professional—to her work in empowering entrepreneurs and leaders. With dual doctorates in bilingual special education and language, reading, and culture, she specializes in helping others harness the power of connection. Drawing on her diverse expertise, Dr. Olvera transforms communication strategies to drive greater impact in both business and personal relationships.Please learn more about Dr. Dianne Olvera at www.DrDianneOlvera.comIn this episode of Mr. Biz Radio, host Ken “Mr. Biz” Wentworth welcomes Dr. Dianne Olvera for a thought-provoking discussion on the power of language in business and leadership. Drawing from her extraordinary background as an international diplomat, educator, and intelligence professional, Dr. Olvera shares how her journey shaped her entrepreneurial path and passion for transforming communication. She explores how subtle shifts in language can influence business outcomes, team dynamics, and personal success.The conversation also spotlights Dr. Olvera's latest book, The Power of Connection, which emphasizes understanding individual differences to strengthen team morale and productivity. Listeners will gain valuable insights into navigating the challenges of leading multigenerational teams, fostering inclusivity, and unlocking innovation. This episode offers practical strategies for entrepreneurs and business leaders seeking to build stronger connections and lead with greater impact.Key Takeaways: -Dr. Olvera emphasizes how intentional communication and recognizing subtle language shifts can lead to improved team management and business outcomes.-Recognizing and valuing different communication and work styles can enhance team dynamics and productivity.-Leading multigenerational teams requires awareness and appreciation of varied strengths, as each brings unique perspectives and skills.-Creating a safe and inclusive environment for neurodiverse individuals can tap into unique talents and drive innovative team contributions.-Developing self-awareness among team members fosters mutual respect, collaboration, and leadership within organizations.

America is mourning the loss of the gospel preaching conservative leader Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah, sending shockwaves through politics and faith communities alike.  In this urgent conversation, political commentator and pastor Todd Coconato joins Zach Rippey to unpack what this means for the Church, free speech, and the future of our nation.We dig into:    •    The spiritual battle behind political violence    •    How believers can stand firm and respond with courage and clarity.    •    What this “turning point” means for America's next chapterHow we can carry Charlie's torch and use this as fuel to speak more truth with courage? Where was God's Protection at over Charlie?Support this show by sharing it and going to ilikebirdsministry.com to connect with zach, get merch, support the ministry, and book Zach to speak at your event. #charliekirk #america #christianCheck out Todd Coconato: www.pastortodd.orgYou are invited to The Power of the Pod

In this episode I am once again joined by Alex W, long term practitioner of Zen, Pragmatic Dharma, and Western Occultism. Alex explains how to meditate after awakening; details the path to success in Zen, Mahāmudrā, and Dzogchen; and compares Taoist Inner Alchemy to cultivating the enjoyment body, Saṃbhogakāya. Alex reflects on the biases of the Buddhist tradition, summarises the phases of his own meditation development, and differentiates constructive and deconstructive modes of practice. Alex also reveals the purpose of the 6 Yogas of Naropa, warns about the dangers of advanced meditation techniques, and considers whether greater political engagement is a result of spiritual maturity. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep324-how-to-practice-after-awakening-alex-w-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Repercussions of first interview 03:20 - Changing practice priorities 04:26 - Concern for younger generations 07:04 - Constructive vs deconstructive practice 08:18 - Biases of the Buddhist tradition 13:47 - Crystallising the energy body 14:46 - Success in Zen, Mahāmudrā, and Dzogchen practices 17:02 - Why talk about spiritual experiences 19:09 - Beyond nondual realisation 23:04 - Post-awakening stages 26:41 - Rewiring the energy body 31:03 - Out of body experiences and the body of light 35:41 - Summoning spirits 37:36 - Building the Saṃbhogakāya 38:40 - Improving the self 40:51 - Summarising the phases of Alex's practice 41:42 - Cultural resonances and adopting foreign traditions 45:36 - Inner alchemy 49:01 - The big danger of energy practices 52:11 - Power of Now 55:21 - Consciousness and energy 01:00:46 - Preparing for the afterlife 01:04:45 - The purpose of the 6 Yogas of Naropa 01:06:24 - The purpose of deity yoga 01:08:25 - Taoist inner alchemy 01:10:21 - Rainbow body and Dzogchen attainments 01:13:53 - What is the point of post-awakening practices? 01:30:42 - Spirituality vs self improvement 01:36:11 - Dangers of intense practices 01:40:43 - Wrong ideas about freedom from suffering 01:43:24 - Enlightened self interest 01:45:45 - Clarifying the term “ego” 01:51:17 - Cult leader manipulations 01:53:25 - Change of interest from spirituality to politics 01:54:57 - Political concern related to age or spiritual development? 01:56:29 - Perks of aging 01:58:42 - Finding your purpose 02:01:27 - Service as a spiritual path 02:02:27 - Who Alex admires 02:09:56 - Sequel plans … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

I address the critical topic of suicide prevention, particularly during September, which is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month. I share insights on the feelings of hopelessness and the importance of recognizing the choices we have in life, even in the face of suffering. I emphasize that suffering can serve as a forge for personal growth and that finding meaning in our struggles is essential. I encourage folks to reclaim their sense of agency and remind them that their lives have value and purpose. - 00:00 Introduction to Suicide Prevention Month 03:04 The Importance of Choice in Life 05:58 Suffering as a Forge for Growth 08:59 Finding Meaning in Suffering 12:08 The Power of Response Ability 14:03 Conclusion and Call to Action - See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://everybodyspod.com/deals/ - Shop For Everybody  Use code SFE10 for 10% OFF

In this episode we dive into five of the strangest and most unforgettable confessions in criminal history. While confessions can bring closure to grieving families, they are not always what they seem. We explore the astonishing statistics behind false confessions and how they can mislead justice. Thank you to this week's advertisers! Keep it classic and cozy this fall cool—with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to Quince.com/moms for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/MOMS.  For a limited time only, new Cash App customers can use our exclusive code to earn some additional cash. Just download Cash App, use our exclusive referral code FAMILY10 in your profile, send $5 to a friend within 14 days, and you'll get $10 dropped right into your account. Terms apply. That's Money. That's Cash App.  Where to find us! Check-out bonus episodes up on Spotify and Apple podcast now! Get new episodes a day early and ad free, plus chat episodes, at Patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast .  To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://www.advertisecast.com/MomsandMysteriesATrueCrimePodcast.  Check-out Moms and Mysteries to find links to our tiktok, youtube, twitter, instagram and more.    The Power of Confessions According to the Innocence Project, nearly 30% of wrongful convictions overturned by DNA evidence involved false confessions. This number is even more alarming for juveniles, as 69% of those aged 12 to 15 who were falsely convicted had made a false confession. Research shows that jurors convict people who have confessed more than 70% of the time, even if the confession is proven false. Case 1: Robert Durst Robert Durst, heir to a New York real estate fortune, was suspected in three suspicious deaths: his wife Kathie Durst, his best friend Susan Berman, and his neighbor Morris Black. He became the subject of the HBO documentary series, The Jinx. In a stunning turn of events, a hot mic captured Durst muttering, "What the heck did I do? Killing them all, of course," which became an infamous confession. He was arrested the night before the finale of the series aired and was later convicted of first-degree murder for Susan Berman's death. Case 2: Henry Lee Lucas Known as the "Confession Killer," Henry Lee Lucas confessed to hundreds of murders he didn't commit. After being arrested for illegal firearm possession, he began confessing to dozens, and then hundreds, of unsolved murders across the country. Law enforcement created the "Lucas Task Force" and closed more than 200 cold cases based on his confessions. However, a journalist later exposed that Lucas couldn't have committed many of the crimes due to conflicting timelines. The false confessions misled families who were desperately seeking closure, and the real killers remained free. Case 3: Laverne Pavlinac Laverne Pavlinac fabricated a story and confessed to a murder she didn't commit to frame her abusive boyfriend, John. She hoped it would send him to prison and free her from their volatile relationship. Despite John denying any involvement, Laverne's detailed confession led to both of them being convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. While they were in jail, the real killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson, later known as the Happy Face Killer, continued his killing spree. Case 4: Earl Valentine After shooting his ex-wife Keisha and their son Earl Jr., Earl Valentine went live on Facebook to confess to the crime. He stated, "I just killed my wife. I don't feel any remorse for what I did". This real-time confession went viral before being removed, raising urgent questions about technology and domestic violence. Keisha survived, but their son Earl Jr. died from his injuries after calling 911. Case 5: Mark "Chopper" Read Mark "Chopper" Read was a notorious Australian gangster, author, and comedian who was never convicted of murder. However, just 16 days before his death from liver cancer, he gave a final interview and confessed to killing four men. Despite his history of exaggeration, police reviewed his claims. To this day, questions remain about the sincerity of his deathbed confession, with many believing it was his last act of showmanship.  

Tori Weston revisits her story about surviving childhood sexual abuse from 2014 called “The Power” with Kevin Allison. Tori has many new insights eleven years later. You can also watch this episode on YouTube!

MacroVoices Erik Townsend & Patrick Ceresna welcome, Dr. Anas Alhajji. They discuss all things energy, from this past Sunday's Group of 8 meeting to secondary sanctions strategy on India to the reincarnated Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project. https://bit.ly/4gkBeGI   Trade Dr. Anas Alhajji's Oil View Live! (Members-Only Guest Pass) Register For A Free Trial To Claim Your Pass! Here: https://dub.link/qt10D1y  

In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, Cameron discusses one of the most critical hires a business can make, a role that directly impacts leadership alignment, financial clarity, and long-term success: the Chief Financial Officer or CFO.The conversation highlights how small red flags during the hiring process, such as scheduling mishaps or lack of accountability, can be early indicators of deeper issues that shouldn't be ignored. You'll learn why asking tough, direct questions in interviews can uncover whether a candidate truly embodies the ownership and resilience needed for high-stakes leadership.Discover the relationship between this leadership role and the CEO, emphasizing the importance of trust, transparency, and mutual respect. Since not every CEO has the technical expertise to fully evaluate the position, Cameron shows how leaning on outside advisors or experienced professionals can provide the necessary insight to set clear expectations and define success from the outset. This ensures that both sides are aligned on responsibilities and performance measures.This episode offers practical guidance for any company seeking to strengthen its executive team and navigate the complexities of making the right leadership decision. Before you hire your next CFO, hear Cameron's insider strategies for defining the role and setting clear expectations.If you've enjoyed this episode of the Second in Command podcast, be sure to leave a review and subscribe today!Enjoy!In This Episode You'll Learn:The nuances of hiring a CFO, including addressing red flags and setting clear expectations. The importance of outside experts like fractional CFOs or accounting firms in defining roles and setting new CFOs up for success. The role of outside experts in guiding a new CFO and ensuring they meet the company's needs.The value of having a fractional CFO participate in the interview process to assess the candidate's skills. And much more...Resources:Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedInGet Cameron's latest book – "Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO"Get Cameron's online course – Invest In Your LeadersConnect with Cameron on DephiDisclaimer:The views, information, or opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of The Second in Command podcast or its affiliates. The content provided is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. We make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this podcast and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. Listeners should consult with a professional for specific advice tailored to their situation. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that any reliance on the content is at your own risk.

Ray Dalio turned $5 into $160 billion by decoding how empires rise and fall. Now he warns: America is in decline, the UK is in trouble, China is gaining power…and your wealth could be in danger UNLESS you act fast.  Ray Dalio is a legendary investor, billionaire, and founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund with over $160 billion in assets under management. He is also the bestselling author of 5 books, including:, ‘How Countries Go Broke: Principles for Navigating the Big Debt Cycle, Where We Are Headed, and What We Should Do'. He explains:  ⬛ The harsh financial truth about Britain's future and why millionaires are fleeing ⬛ The psychological trick billionaires use that most people never learn ⬛ The "Pain + Reflection = Progress" formula that changed Ray's life ⬛ The dangerous wealth myth that's quietly keeping most people broke ⬛ Why chasing success the wrong way could destroy your future ⬛ Why America's decline is part of an inevitable 500-year cycle (00:00) Intro (05:34) Where Should I Be Living as an Entrepreneur? (06:30) What's Your Honest Perspective of the UK? (11:46) Are You Optimistic About the Future of the UK? (13:12) Are You Optimistic About the US? (15:19) How to Predict What's Coming (17:04) Will the US Dominate Global Power Soon? (22:06) How Would You Fix the UK? (25:28) What Happens Next in History? (29:00) Where Are We in the Predictable Timeframes? (30:33) How Should We Counteract These Risks? (32:53) Most Valuable Skills to Learn Right Now (35:43) What Games to Play in Different Life Seasons (37:55) The Most Important Strategic Decision I Made (44:08) Ads (45:11) The Best Way to Deal With Pain (49:01) How Do I Become a Principle Thinker? (50:42) The Power of Meditation (56:01) Are You Religious? (58:21) How Important Is Hard Work? (01:00:00) The Importance of Being Open-Minded (01:05:16) How to Be a Better Decision Maker (01:09:03) How Do You Find Honest People? (01:11:22) Why Companies Become Less Innovative (01:14:16) How Do You Find Exceptional People? (01:17:45) Ads (01:19:27) What's Your View on AI? (01:28:41) Top 3 Book Recommendations Follow Ray: TikTok - https://bit.ly/4ggWltw  YouTube - https://bit.ly/4m5T9Cc  X - https://bit.ly/3V8KTqc  You can purchase Ray's book, ‘How Countries Go Broke: Principles for Navigating the Big Debt Cycle, Where We Are Headed, and What We Should Do', here: https://amzn.to/4perwK3  You can watch Ray's breakdown of Principles for dealing with the changing world order here:  http://bit.ly/4m6VbSw    The Diary Of A CEO: ⬛ Join DOAC circle here - https://doaccircle.com/  ⬛ Buy The Diary Of A CEO book here - https://smarturl.it/DOACbook  ⬛ The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt  ⬛ The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb  ⬛ Get email updates - https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt  ⬛ Follow Steven - https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb Sponsors: Fiverr - https://www.fiverr.com/diary with code DIARY for 10% off your first order Linkedin Ads - https://www.linkedin.com/DIARY   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie Kirk was assassinated on stage at Utah Valley University, a chilling hit with Israeli fingerprints, timed with 9/11's anniversary to push chaos and strip our freedoms. Tune in as Frankie Stockes exposes the cabal's plot, from vanishing jets to pro-trans ammo, designed to silence truth and crush liberty! Western civilization has been infected by a parasitic invasion of foreign ideals and values that have been introduced into our culture by strange and morally degenerate people whose goal is world domination. We have been OCCUPIED. Watch the film NOW! https://stewpeters.com/occupied/ Locals September Special

Andrew Huberman will be on stage at The Summit of Greatness, happening September 12 & 13! Get your ticket today!What if I told you that the reason you've struggled with confidence your whole life has nothing to do with motivation and everything to do with your nervous system? After 12 years of interviewing the world's top experts and my own journey from crippling insecurity to building a media empire, I've discovered that confidence isn't who you are – it's what you practice. In this episode, I'm sharing seven science-backed frameworks that will rewire your brain for unshakable confidence, from hacking your nervous system with physiological sighs to building proof through failure. These aren't just mental tricks; they're biological and chemical shifts that will transform how you show up in the world. By the end of this episode, you'll have a complete blueprint to go from self-doubt to unstoppable confidence in just seven days.Make Money Easy: Create Financial Freedom and Live a Richer LifeThe Greatness Mindset: Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life TodayThe Mask of Masculinity: How Men Can Embrace Vulnerability, Create Strong Relationships, and Live Their Fullest LivesThe School of Greatness: A Real-World Guide to Living Bigger, Loving Deeper, and Leaving a LegacyIn this episode you will:Discover how to hack your brain for confidence using Dr. Andrew Huberman's physiological sigh technique to calm your nervous systemTransform your relationship with failure by learning to collect failures as fuel and treat them as feedback dataBuild a "proof journal" to stack undeniable evidence of your capabilities until no one – not even you – can question themBreak free from the trap of waiting to "feel" confident by learning to trust data over fleeting emotionsMaster the art of stepping into discomfort to expand your comfort zone and build resilience through exposure therapyFor more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1822For more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960More SOG episodes we think you'll love:Dr. Andrew Huberman – greatness.lnk.to/1073SCDr. Tara Swart  – greatness.lnk.to/1629SCDr. Kevin Tracey –greatness.lnk.to/1812SC Get more from Lewis! Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on SpotifyText Lewis AIYouTubeInstagramWebsiteTiktokFacebookX