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FREE WORD SEARCH and CROSSWORD for this episode: https://weirddarkness.com/AmericasFirstUFOsWhen Puritan settlers first witnessed strange lights over Massachusetts in 1639, they couldn't have imagined it would spark a centuries-long mystery involving government cover-ups, Project Blue Book, and the terrifying Men in Black who silence anyone who gets too close to the truth.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.IN THIS EPISODE: The Men in Black, the beginning of Project Blue Book, America's first UFO sighting from 400 years ago… and a mysterious incident experienced by actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd. This and more from the world of space, extraterrestrials, and government secrecy.CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Lead-In00:03:26.615 = Show Open00:04:36.586 = America's First UFO Sighting00:22:54.997 = The Men In Black, Part 100:35:19.592 = The Men In Black, Part 200:52:17.119 = Show CloseSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“America's First UFO Sighting” by Christopher Klein: https://tinyurl.com/y3ex36n4; Greg Daugherty: https://tinyurl.com/yyog7d5n“Men In Black”: Lee Speigel for Huffpost: https://tinyurl.com/wps8b8e; Steve Rose for The Guardian: https://tinyurl.com/z8d5wqd; Jacob Geers for Thought Catalog: https://tinyurl.com/qldplkwDan Aykroyd interview: https://tinyurl.com/v4e8qhq“Mirage Men” documentary: https://weirddarkness.com/archives/5894“UFOs: Past, Present and Future” documentary: https://weirddarkness.com/archives/5898=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: July 2018EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/AmericasFirstUFOs
Anne Bradstreet was a young Puritan woman with ink-stained fingers and a heart full of dreams. Growing up in 17th-century England, she found solace in her father's library. Anne felt a God-given calling to express herself through poetry. Her faith grew stronger after a battle with smallpox as a teenager. The suffering drew her closer to God.Anne married Simon Bradstreet, a man of wisdom and quiet strength. He saw the gift God had placed within her and encouraged her to write.Together, they journeyed to the New World, settling in the rugged wilderness of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Anne clung to her faith and found comfort in poetry. She poured her heart onto parchment. To her, Anne's words were an act of worship.Then came the fire that consumed her home. All her family's earthly possessions were turned to ash. But rather than letting grief consume her, Anne turned to God. Through her sorrow, she penned verses of trust and surrender. Her resilience and unwavering faith became a light to many. Soon, her brother-in-law took Anne's poetry to England, where it was published, making her the first published female poet in America. Though she never sought fame, her words carried weight, offering insight into faith, perseverance, and the unique struggles of womanhood in a rigid Puritan society.As the years passed, Anne remained devoted to writing, using her gift to leave a legacy of faith. Anne's words, shaped by both sorrow and hope, continue to inspire generations.Tricia Goyerhttps://triciagoyer.com/books/Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet–The Complete Collection (Kindle Edition) by Anne BradstreetThe Poems of Anne Bradstreet (Christian Heritage Paperback) by Anne BradstreetGreat Women in Christian History by A. Kenneth Curtis & Daniel Graves
Historian and journalist Molly Worthen explores the mysterious and potent force of charisma, and its power to shape American identity, culture, politics, and religion. She explains how storytelling, transcendence, and authority are used by America's most charismatic leaders. Drawing on her new book Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump, Worthen shares how charismatic authority reveals deep human desires for meaning, agency, and transcendence. The conversation explores themes of vulnerability, spiritual hunger, religious disaffiliation, and the evolving nature of belief and belonging in modern society. Worthen unpacks the often-overlooked distinction between charisma and charm or celebrity, examining the role of storytelling in cultivating authority and devotion. She also shares how researching this subject intersected with her own spiritual journey, culminating in her recent conversion to Christianity. Key Moments Molly Worthen discusses her latest book, *Spellbound.* Charisma: a relational, story-driven phenomenon, not mere charm or celebrity Our religious impulse persists despite declining traditional affiliation Worthen's personal spiritual journey: from intellectual agnosticism to Christian faith while writing the book Donald Trump's narrative charisma and religious-political appeal examined in depth Human longing for transcendence and meaning as the root of charismatic power Episode Highlights “Evangelism is just telling people what happened to you.” “The heart of charisma is the leader's ability to tell a story… that does a better job at explaining the chaos and the suffering.” “We want the comfort of knowing that some force larger than us is ultimately in charge—and yet we also seek agency.” “I came to realize I was writing a book that was fundamentally about spiritual hunger—and that I myself had that hunger too.” “Authenticity as a personal style has no necessary relationship with honesty.” “We kid ourselves if we think more sources solve the mystery of charisma—reality is an asymptote we never perfectly reach.” About Molly Worthen Molly Worthen is Associate Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in North American religion, politics, global Christianity, and the history of ideas. She is a contributing writer for The New York Times and author of several books, including Apostles of Reason and The Man on Whom Nothing Was Lost. Her most recent book is Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump. Show Notes Authority—who should we listen to? Internal battles within American evangelicalism The definition of charisma and its distinction from charm, celebrity, and power Charisma: “ the allure in a leader that gives him or her the power to move a crowd that is premised on a relationship. … you need two parties at least. It's not solely a quality of fluorescence that shines out from the individual without other people to interact with it.” The leader's ability to tell a story that explains the audience's experience of life Paradoxical quality: we want our decision to make a difference in our fate, but we also want some being or force larger than us to make it all okay. “ It's not just about looking at the one who is the special anointed one, but it's that somehow through that person, I too, or we too, see ourselves more clearly.” Special revelation and stories of experiencing God in particular ways “Capturing the ineffable” Role of charismatic leaders in American religious and political life Impact of Joseph Smith, Anne Hutchinson, JFK, and Adlai Stevenson Why institutional religion no longer captures spiritual impulse for many Americans Storytelling as the essence of charismatic authority Evolution of American individualism and the cult of authenticity How mass media, trauma, and cultural crises shape charismatic influence Coming to terms with the limits of your “source base”—”Reality is an asymptote.” “It's that sort of transcendent storytelling ability that is the heart of charisma.” Mormonism and the charisma of Joseph Smith Leaders like JFK and Adlai Stevenson offered different models of modern charisma “So much of my book is really about the fortunes of established institutions in American culture because charismatic figures always define themselves vis-a-vis institutions.” Routinizing charisma (cf. Max Weber) “The gap or the consistency between what our subjects are, are thinking and intending consciously and what they actually do.” Intuition vs analysis—steeping in cultural milieu and operating out of personal life experiences The Puritan heretic, Anne Hutchinson “Very few humans are out and out cynics.” Charismatic figures aren't always attractive or eloquent—they resonate through meaning-making “ The religious impulse is finding a place to land other than organized religion.” Protestant roots of American consciousness tied to authority and self-discovery Humanist psychology and positive thinking “The age of the gurus” Charisma and Contemporary Politics: Donald Trump Trump's story of victimhood, self-made success, and defiance of institutions as a charismatic myth Trump's stream-of-consciousness style perceived as authenticity by many followers. “For example, his rambling stream of consciousness, speaking style that actually is a core, is core to his appeal, I think for many Trump supporters because it comes across as a kind of authenticity—as a willingness to tell it how it is and speak off the top of his head. And authenticity as a personal style has no necessary relationship with honesty in terms of correspondence to, you know, empirically verifiable facts.” The alignment between his narrative and the prosperity gospel ”While Donald Trump is no one's idea of an Orthodox Christian, he grew up in Norman Vincent Peale's Church in New York City, Marble Collegiate Church, hearing the Prosperity Gospel, the gospel of positive thinking.” ”I think Trump has a, has a really acute spiritual instinct for. That picture of reality one in which we can really reshape reality with our minds.” Early support from independent charismatic church networks shaped his rise. Importance of positive thinking theology (e.g., Norman Vincent Peale) in his spiritual instincts. “I suppose I was about two thirds of the way through the rough draft of this book when I was rudely interrupted by the Holy Spirit. I have always studied Christianity as a very sympathetic and, frankly, envious outsider and never was entirely happy with my agnostic fence sitting, but also wasn't actively looking to resolve my metaphysical questions.” “ I've always had this conviction that humans are fundamentally religious creatures and they have this impulse to connect to a transcendent source of meaning to worship.” “I came to realize that I was writing a book that was fundamentally about spiritual hunger and how humans cope with it. But that I myself had had that hunger as well—that I'm not immune to that feature of the human dilemma.” “We want to be pulled into something transcendent, where we are more fully ourselves.” Praying for a mystical experience—at least being “strangely warmed” ”God had already done something to my desires—I was walking in the direction of Jesus already.” “ I always see every kind of historical problem as somehow having to do with contesting visions of human nature.” “There's this silly misconception that Christianity is intellectually stultifying—that to become a orthodox, traditional Christian is to shut off all kinds of questions and accept a black and white way of thinking. And that has not been my experience.” Research project on miracles “ Evangelism is just telling people what happened to you.” Conversion was driven by rigorous academic inquiry into the resurrection and New Testament Experience echoed themes in the book: story, vulnerability, and being seen Her analysis: “God had already done something to my desires before the arguments convinced me.” Post-conversion excitement about theological study, healing, and miracles Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.
Samuel Davies | Earnest Kevan | Charles Spurgeon | Anne Cousin | Morning Mist by Dundas | Young Girl Reading by Jean Honoré Fragonard | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
It is not enough to see our kids come to Jesus. Rather, our goal should be to lead them into walking with Jesus, both now and for the rest of their lives. Some three hundred and seventy five years ago, the Puritan pastor Jeremiah Burroughs wrote about what it means to walk with God. He wrote, "Walking with God is when we make God's will the rule of our will. The soul does what God does. What's the way of God but the way of holiness and righteousness, when the soul makes the will of God to be its own rule? I will not act on my own will. I will not act on anything but the will of God. What is it that God wills? Then I will the same thing. The soul walks the way God walks when it suits itself with God, when it sets the Lord as an example before it. This is to walk with God: to do as God does, to imitate God." Parents, God has willed that you be the one to nurture your children in the faith. You do so through your words and your actions. And there's not substitute for the example of your walk with God.
Hymn Stories (https://hymnstories.transistor.fm/) | The Denial of Saint Peter by Caravaggio | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. —Psalm 123:2 For the next three weeks on All of Life for God, Pastor Jonathan Cruse returns with three more sermons on the Psalms of Ascents. This week, Pastor Cruse calls us to look to the heavens until we receive mercy from God for our earthly pilgrimage in his sermon on Psalm 123. Want to find more encouragement from the Psalms of Ascents? Pick up Jonathan Cruse's newest book, Worshiping on the Way. Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
The Adultery Act, passed into British law on 14th May, 1650, made having sex with a married woman a crime so severe it was punishable by death – but only for her. Radical groups like the Ranters mocked Puritan prudishness, Royalists called the law joyless and tyrannical, and Presbyterians argued the law would be impossible to apply fairly. But the Puritans needed something everyone could rally around – and sexual sin was an easy target. Those who thought the English Civil War had been divine punishment for a sinful nation believed only Old Testament-style legislation could stop society from descending into full-blown chaos. Yet, during the time the law was on the statue books, no one was actually executed. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider the practicalities of proving adultery in a time when no reliable records of marriage existed; explain why sex with your son's wife or daughter's husband was considered incest; and reveal how, in some form, adultery stayed on the books until 2022.... Further Reading: • ‘An Act for suppressing the detestable sins of Incest, Adultery and Fornication' (House of Parliament, 1650): https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/acts-ordinances-interregnum/pp387-389 • 'England's Culture Wars - Puritan Reformation and Its Enemies in the Interregnum, 1649-1660, By B. S. Capp' (OUP, 2012): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/England_s_Culture_Wars/d42Z-58lIdcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=7+Puritans+and+Sex&pg=PA132&printsec=frontcover • '60 Second Lecture Series- "The Puritans Had Sex? Why, Yes, They Did...!" - Kathy Cooke' (Quinnipiac University, 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faHxWKgtkkw Love the show? Support us! Join
In 1692, Salem Massachusetts was overrun by the Devil himself. Or that's what the Puritan men running the Massachusetts Bay Colony believed. Hundreds of men and women, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft, and more often than not, by a group of young girls. Throughout the witch trials that took place throughout that year, 18 people were hanged and one man was pressed to death. Want access to our first 45 episodes? Grab em here! We've made them available for free to anyone who signs up! Remember, these episodes were recorded when we had no idea what we were doing, so just keep that in mind. The audio isn't the quality we would want to put out now, but the cases are on point! Visit killerqueens.link/og to download and binge all the archived episodes today! Hang with us: Follow Us on Instagram Like Us on Facebook Join our Case Discussion Group on Facebook Get Killer Queens Merch Bonus Episodes Support Our AMAZING Sponsors: IQBAR: Text QUEENS to 64000 to get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. Orgain: For 30% off your order, head to Orgain.com/QUEENS30 and use code QUEENS30. © 2025 Killer Queens Podcast. All Rights ReservedAudio Production by Wayfare Recording Music provided by Steven Tobi Logo designed by Sloane Williams of The Sophisticated Crayon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Matthew J. Tuininga is Professor of Christian Ethics and the History of Christianity at Calvin Theological Seminary in Michigan. He is author or editor of several books, including most recently The Wars of the Lord: The Puritan Conquest of America's First People, which has been an important source for this podcast's series on King Philip's War. This episode is useful context not only for our series on King Philip's War, which is still very much in progress, but also many of the other stories we've told about early New England. We talk about the intersection of religion and war in 17th century Massachusetts, the sheer difficulty of colonialism, the evolution of Puritan evangelism in the decades between the landing of Mayflower and King Philip's War, the slow development of racialist thinking, the rise of racial hostility against Indians first among the settlers on the frontier to the distress of the Puritan elites in Boston, the influence, or not, of the younger generation of settlers and Indians on the coming of the war, whether Uncas of the Mohegans was a great and shrewed leader or merely treacherous, whether King Philip's War was inevitable, the "war guilt," or not, of Samuel Mosely and Edward Hutchinson, the wisdom of John Winthrop, Jr., whether King Philip's War was "worth it" from the perspective of the settlers, the influence of the fog of war on Puritan decisions, KPW as counterinsurgency, historical myths of recent vintage that inflate Christian Indian deaths, the validity of Native American oral tradition as an historical source, and the importance of narrative history in getting people excited about history. X: @TheHistoryOfTh2 Facebook: The History of the Americans Podcast
John Durant | Ray Palmer | Tender Darkness by Matt Stewart Evans | Interior with a Young Couple Pieter de Hooch Dutch | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
It's Mailbag Friday! You've got questions, we've got answers! Segment 1 • How do I honor God by not allowing my mom's same-sex partner at our wedding? • Where does Scripture claim to be the sole authority in the Christian life? • Are there any red flags I should watch for when reading Puritan writings? Segment 2 • Can you spend too much time with Jesus—or is more always better? • If a pastor has no seminary training but meets biblical qualifications, is he truly fit to lead? Segment 3 • Did Lazarus go to heaven during the four days he was dead? • As a young woman, how do I biblically prepare for marriage and motherhood? • Is bringing coffee into church irreverent—or are we being too rigid? Segment 4 • Is the “secret rapture” a biblical idea—or a misunderstanding of Scripture? • What did Jesus really write in the sand—and does it matter? • Why does John's Gospel leave out the Transfiguration? • How do I lovingly correct a friend who thinks God audibly speaks to him regularly? – Preorder the new book, Lies My Therapist Told Me, by Fortis Institute Fellow Dr. Greg Gifford now! https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/liesmytherapisttoldme – Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!
Charles Spurgeon | Fog by Tranquilium | Allegory of Music by Laurent de La Hyre | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
What happens when two theological giants who love Jesus have a FIERY public fallout?
"Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”—Revelation 2:16 This week, on All of Life for God, Paul Washer levies his final three indictments against the modern church: that we have abandoned the call for holiness, ignored the authority of the Scriptures in our homes, and listened to unqualified shepherds. Pick up Ten Indictments on the Modern Church by Paul Washer.Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
This podcast episode focuses on the genealogy of two women, Clarinda Knapp Allen and Jerusha Barden Smith, and their connection to early settlers and significant figures in American history and the Latter-day Saint movement. Nicole discusses her husband's ancestry, specifically how his relatives married into the Hyrum Smith family. She then shifts focus to one of her own ancestors, Clarinda Knapp, whose relationship to Hyrum Smith's wife, Jerusha Barden, becomes the central point of discussion. Diana and Nicole trace the lineage of both women back to their common ancestors, Caleb Knapp and Hannah Smith, who lived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They explain how Caleb's father, Nicholas Knapp, arrived in Watertown in 1630 and later moved to Stamford, Connecticut. The episode details the different paths taken by the Knapp descendants. Nicole shares how Clarinda Knapp's line stayed in Stamford and Danbury, and eventually clarifies her life events including her baptism into the Latter-day Saint church, her travels, and her family. Diana describes Jerusha Barden's line and how it also passed through Danbury before her marriage to Hyrum Smith and her baptism into the same church. The hosts examine the lives of both women, including their religious experiences and migrations, highlighting how their ancestry connects them to early American history and the beginnings of a religious movement. Listeners will learn how to follow ancestral lines, connect to historical events and figures, and understand how genealogy connects people and stories. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR) https://www.txsgs.org/tigr-2025/ TIGR Course 4 – Integrating AI into Genealogical Research and Writing https://www.txsgs.org/tigr-course-4-integrating-ai-into-genealogical-research-and-writing/ Clarinda Knapp Allen and Jerusha Barden Smith - https://familylocket.com/clarinda-knapp-allen-and-jerusha-barden-smith/ Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code “FamilyLocket” at checkout. Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, we will read it on the podcast and answer any questions that you bring up in your review. Thank you! Leave a comment in the comment or question in the comment section below. Share the episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcast app. Sign up for our newsletter to receive notifications of new episodes - https://familylocket.com/sign-up/ Check out this list of genealogy podcasts from Feedspot: Best Genealogy Podcasts - https://blog.feedspot.com/genealogy_podcasts/
John Piper | Making Progress by Dan Phillipson | Mrs. Richard Alexander Oswald by Sir Henry Raeburn | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
Pastor Garrison GreeneTEXT: Genesis 36:1-43OUTLINE:1. Be Sure: God Keeps His Word2. Beware: Gain Without God Is Loss3. Behold: Grace Reaches the EstrangedRESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Commentary on Genesis by John Calvin; Reformed Expository Commentary: Genesis by Richard Phillips; Genesis: Book of Origins by Philip Eveson; Whole Bible Commentary by Matthew Henry; Historia Scholastica by Peter Comestor Flowers From the Puritan's Garden by Charles Spurgeon
John Bunyan | William S. Plumer | Psalm 65:3-4 | Interior of the Oude Kerk by Hendrick van Vliet Dutch | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
1 Corinthians 1:17-25NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER SLIDE***Corporate Cry: “God we need you to move in our midst to see people AWAKEN WITH HOPE, LIVE IN GRACE, and REST ON FAITH.”GOD DELUSION30 “‘No, father Abraham,' he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'”Luke 16:30-3116 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:1615 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…1 Peter 3:1522 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.1 Corinthians 1:17-2516 For I am not ashamed of the gospel…Romans 1:16“ISN'T RELIGION OUTDATED?”“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about that; I'm right and will be proved right. We're [the Beatles] more popular than Jesus now—I don't know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity.”John LennonPride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.Proverbs 16:18For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.1 Timothy4:3-4THE “GOSPEL” OF TECHNOLOGYTHE “GOSPEL” OF SCIENCEOne day, students in one of Albert Einstein's classes were saying they had decided that there was no God. Einstein asked them, how much of all the knowledge in the world they had amongst themselves collectively, as a class. The students discussed it for a while and decided they had 5% of all human knowledge amongst themselves. Einstein thought that their estimate was a little generous, but he replied: “Is it possible that God exists in the 95% that you don't know?”THE “GOSPEL” OF PERSONAL FREEDOM21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.Romans 1:21-23THE TRUTH IS WE ARE NOT GETTING BETTER OVER TIMEThe record of personal achievements and spiritual milestones he attained while still in his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood is int itself remarkable. He began devouring Puritan classics at the age of five or six years old. He was strikingly converted when he was only fifteen, began to preach regularly when he was sixteen, and took his first pastorate in a country village at just seventeen. He received a call to pastor perhaps the most prominent Baptist church in London when only nineteen years old, and by the time he reached the age of twenty, he had already preached over 600 sermons. The first biography of Suprgeon, written by an American, appeared when he was only twenty-one years old. By his mid twenties, he was pastoring the largeset church in the entire protestant world. Alex DiPrimaTHE TRUTH IS BELIEF IN GOD IS GROWING; NOT DECLININGBarna's latest study shows that 66% of U.S. adults now say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today. That marks a 12-point increase since 2021, when the number reached its lowest level in more than 30 years of Barna tracking.“Undeniably, there is renewed interest in Jesus,” said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna. “This is the clearest trend we've seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal.”The growth has been especially concentrated among Gen Z and millennials. Gen Z men reported a 15-point increase in personal commitment to Jesus between 2019 and 2025. Millennial men reported a 19-point increase over the same period.Barna Research GroupWHY?THREE THINGS THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY OVER TIME:JESUS' IMPACT ON THE EARTHOUR LONGING FOR MORE10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:10-11OUR NEED FOR A PERFECT SACRIFICE11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.Hebrews 10:11-14
“You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”—1 Peter 1:18-19 Has today's church forgotten these verses? This week, on All of Life for God, Paul Washer contends that the modern church needs to remember her identity as Christ's pure, blood-bought bride before she is ready for a revival.Pick up Ten Indictments on the Modern Church by Paul Washer.Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
John Durant | Portrait of a Young Boy by Sébastien Bourdon | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
For more than two centuries, between the late 1400s and early 1700s, a terror of witches gripped Europe. From Scotland to Spain, thousands of people were accused, tortured and executed. But as the hysteria faded in Europe, it crossed the Atlantic. In 1692, in New England, it took hold of a small Puritan settlement in Massachusetts - Salem. The events that followed resulted in the most infamous witch hunt in history. But how did the actions of a group of young girls lead to 22 executions and over 200 accusations of witchcraft? Why did Salem believe the Devil had arrived on its doorstep? And how did a family grudge, a minister's intransigence, and a rising tide of fear lead to the self-destruction of the small town? This is a Short History Of The Salem Witch Trials. A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. With thanks to Kathleen Howe, an award-winning historian and novelist, and author of The Penguin Book of Witches. Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You'll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you're on Spotify or Android, go to noisier.com/subscriptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Palm 11:1-2 | James Smith | Light of Day by Tobias Voigt | The Trojan Women Setting Fire to Their Fleet by Claude Lorrain | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.”—1 Corinthians 1:23 This week, on All of Life for God, Paul Washer launches two more indictments against the modern church: that we have forgotten the cross of Christ and the doctrine of regeneration. Remember the love you had at first as Paul Washer calls us back to gospel faithfulness. Pick up Ten Indictments on the Modern Church by Paul Washer.Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
Witches are having a moment. Beyond the hit musical Wicked, there TikTok Hashtags and millions of posts celebrating witches as icons of empowerment, mystery, and resistance. It's far from the dark history of mostly women accused of being witches all over the world. In The US, there is a movement to exonerate people convicted of witchcraft centuries ago. Sarah Jack and Josh Hutchinson are descendants of witch hunt victims and their accusers. Now they advocate for the exoneration of women executed in Puritan 17th Century America, beyond the infamous Salem witch trials. They're calling for justice while reminding us of what happens when we turn against those who don't fit in.
J.C. Ryle | Anne Steele | Isaiah 61:10-11 | Observation by Peter Cavallo | Landscape, Ile-de-France by Camille Pissarro | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
In March 1643, Lady Brilliana Harley received a formal demand to surrender her castle to the royalists - those who supported the king against the Parliament. Her husband, Sir Robert Harley, had been in London since the start of the civil war. With six hundred soldiers marching against her and only fifty men fighting on her side, she had to decide whether to resist or surrender. Discover the rest of this exciting story as our hosts Sophia, Linus, and Sean talk with Dr. Michael Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the author of A Phoenix of Women: Puritan Spirituality in the Letters of Brilliana Harley. Thanks to the generosity of H&E Publishing, we are pleased to offer our listeners a copy of Dr. Haykin's book about Brilliana Harley. Enter here to win! Show Notes: If you'd like to find out more about Brilliana Harley, here is a link to Dr. Michael Haykin's book: https://hesedandemet.com/product/a-phoenix-of-women-puritan-spirituality-in-the-letters-of-brilliana-harley/
Charles Spurgeon | Scandinavia by Simon Folwar | Peonies by Berthe Morisot | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”—Revelation 2:5 For the next few weeks on All of Life for God, we will hear from preacher and evangelist Paul Washer on our desperate need to reform if we want to see revival. Listen to this piercing assessment of the modern church as Washer calls us back to the true gospel. Pick up Ten Indictments on the Modern Church by Paul Washer.Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Check out the Puritan Treasures for Today, Spurgeon's Sermons, the Family Worship Bible Guide, and the writings of Dr. Joel Beeke. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
John Milton—the sixteenth-century blind Puritan poetic genius, reviled by some, beloved by most, second in greatness only to Shakespeare—pens an epic poem: Paradise Lost. In astonishing beauty and depth, he retells the tragic fall of man in the Garden of Eden. But did he make Satan the poem's hero? Dr. Grant Horner, Professor of English, Renaissance, and Reformation at the Masters University, will help us find out, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education. You can learn more about Dr. Horner's book, John Milton: Classical Learning and the Progress of Virtue, by clicking this link.
In this series of special episodes of All of Life for God, Drs. Joel Beeke, Gerald Bilkes, and Sherif Fahim, along with pastor David Woollin, offer you a tour of a fascinating civilization from the times of the Bible—Egypt! Listen to these lectures to take a thrilling look into the land where Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and more sojourned in ancient times. These episodes are provided by Reformation Heritage Books and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
On this special episode of All of Life for God, Dr. Jerry Bilkes continues our biblical tour of Egypt by giving us a survey of the stories of Egypt scattered throughout God's Word. These episodes are provided by Reformation Heritage Books and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Check out the Puritan Treasures for Today, Spurgeon's Sermons, the Family Worship Bible Guide, and the writings of Dr. Joel Beeke. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
The Pyramids. The Great Sphinx. The Nile River. These are the famous landmarks that come to mind when most people think of Ancient Egypt. But for Israel, references to Egypt reminded them of two locations: the Red Sea and Mount Sinai. Continue your biblical journey through Egypt as Dr. Beeke shows us how God's revelation of His law reveals His character in Exodus 19-24.These episodes are provided by Reformation Heritage Books and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Check out the Puritan Treasures for Today, Spurgeon's Sermons, the Family Worship Bible Guide, and the writings of Dr. Joel Beeke. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
In the fourth part of our biblical tour of Egypt on All of Life for God, Dr. Sherif Fahim shows us how Jesus delivers us from the spiritual Egypt of sin through His superior work as the Great High Priest.These episodes are provided by Reformation Heritage Books and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Check out the Puritan Treasures for Today, Spurgeon's Sermons, the Family Worship Bible Guide, and the writings of Dr. Joel Beeke. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
In the final part of our biblical tour of Egypt on All of Life for God, we survey some of the mysteries and lessons from the book of Exodus, answering big questions about God's sovereignty, the life of Moses, Egypt's pagan religious life, and more. These episodes are provided by Reformation Heritage Books and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Check out the Puritan Treasures for Today, Spurgeon's Sermons, the Family Worship Bible Guide, and the writings of Dr. Joel Beeke. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
James Renwick | Psalm 52:8-8 | Joseph Hart | Exile by Jonny Easton | Woman Reading in the Studio by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
Raised by secularists, Justin Miller's family life was a wreck. While in the eighth grade, his parents divorced—a trauma worse than death—and Justin's mom looked to him to help raise his two younger siblings. Given a Bible at age 11, he read it every morning till age 23, but felt no peace. Newly married at the time, he was powerfully saved when he heard Adrian Rogers preach the true gospel on the radio. His wife came to Christ four months later, and they soon joined a church where the pastor taught through the Bible, verse by verse. As their faith grew, Justin was called to pastoral ministry. Moved by the Puritans' legacy, Justin has given his life to sound but heart-felt teaching and currently serves as lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Puxico, Missouri.
Samuel Rutherford | Momentum by John Hayes | Northern Landscape by Caspar David Friedrich | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
In this thought-provoking episode of Reasonably Happy, Paul Ollinger sits down with journalist and author Jane Borden to unpack her explosive new book Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America. Together, they explore how apocalyptic beliefs, religious extremism, and cult-like behaviors have shaped American identity—from Puritan roots to modern political movements like MAGA. Jane reveals how tribal psychology, anti-intellectualism, and the prosperity gospel fuel division, and why both the far right and far left are vulnerable to cultish thinking. With dark humor, candid insights, and a deep dive into American history, this episode is a must-watch for anyone curious about religion, politics, and the future of democracy. Check out Janes book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cults-Like-Us/Jane-Borden/9781668007808 Get Pauls Book: https://www.paulollinger.com/the-book
This week, on All of Life for God, we interview Paul Washer on his powerful book, The Preeminent Christ. Listen to this fascinating discussion on the importance of knowing and experiencing the glory of our Lord and Savior. Pick up Paul Washer's latest work with Reformation Heritage Books, The Preeminent Christ, here.Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
Puritan poet Anne Bradstreet once said, “Wisdom without an inheritance is better than an inheritance without wisdom.”Every parent hopes to leave an inheritance for their children, but doing so wisely takes careful thought and prayer. Today, Ron Blue joins us to discuss the Uniqueness Principle and how it can guide parents in passing down wealth effectively.Ron Blue is the Co-Founder of Kingdom Advisors and the author of many books on biblical finance, including Splitting Heirs: Giving Your Money and Things to Your Children Without Ruining Their Lives.The Uniqueness Principle: Equal Love, Unique TreatmentProbably every parent of more than one child has asked, “How can children coming from the same two parents, with the same gene pool, living in the same environment, with the same stimuli…be so different?” Of course, we all know that estate planning can be challenging, and we understand the desire to be fair. However, the answer lies in what Ron Blue calls the Uniqueness Principle: Love your children equally, but treat them uniquely.If we think about how God treats us, He loves us all equally and treats us uniquely. In other words, God doesn't give everyone the same gifts, challenges, or circumstances—and maybe we shouldn't either when planning our estates.One child may have greater needs, and another may be wiser in handling money. Those realities need to be part of the decision-making process for transferring wealth. Each of my children is different financially, emotionally, and spiritually. Over the years, Ron and his wife, Judy, have allocated varying amounts to each of them, taking into account their individual needs and life circumstances. Good stewardship means recognizing these differences and allocating resources accordingly.Fairness vs. Favoritism: Learning from ScriptureMany parents worry about resentment among their children if they don't divide assets evenly. The best way to handle this is through clear communication. Open and honest conversations while you're alive can help your children understand your reasoning and prevent misunderstandings. Explaining your heart and thought process fosters unity and clarity.As parents, we need to work diligently to avoid favoritism. Rightfully so, as favoritism has caused much pain and divisiveness in families for thousands of years. Look at the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. The Bible says that his father, Jacob, "loved Joseph more than any of his other sons" (Genesis 37:3). Jacob later gave Joseph a richly ornamented coat of many colors. Although Jacob had unique treatment toward Joseph, Jacob violated the Uniqueness Principle. Jacob did not love his sons equally. Equal love often requires unique treatment. As stewards of God's resources, we are called to manage them wisely, ensuring that our decisions reflect both love and responsibility.The Three Questions That Changed EverythingThat said, we aren't saying that it is better to leave different amounts to children. Instead, following a systematic process is the key to wise decisions. When making wealth transfer plans, Ron encourages parents to ask themselves three key questions:It's helpful to ask yourself three questions:What is the worst (or best) thing that can happen if I transfer wealth to this child?How serious is it? How likely is it to occur? The purpose of these questions is not to arrive at a predetermined answer. You may end up distributing assets to your children equally or disproportionately, but that's not the objective of these questions. The goal is to guide you toward a well-thought-out decision.Ultimately, wealth transfer should reflect God's wisdom, not just human emotions. We are accountable to Him for how we allocate His resources. Factors such as financial need, spiritual maturity, and life circumstances should all be prayerfully considered.So, should you leave different amounts to your children? Maybe. Maybe not. The key is to seek God's wisdom, ask the right questions, and make decisions that honor Him and bless your family in the best way possible.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:How do I restructure my finances since I was terminated from my position and am no longer working?I have $700,000 and want to invest in a variable annuity with a 20% buffer. Is this a good idea?I received correspondence requesting a vote to approve the reorganization and merger of my mutual fund shares into a new account. How do I evaluate what factors to consider when making this vote?How do we balance stewarding our money well and living radically generously?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineRedeeming Money: How God Reveals and Reorients Our Hearts by Paul David TrippSplitting Heirs: Giving Your Money and Things to Your Children Without Ruining Their Lives by Ron Blue with Jeremy WhiteWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.
1 John 4:9-10 | Thomas Brooks | Peruvian Highlands by Fernweh Goldfish | Advice to a Young Artist by Honoré Daumier | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
Joseph Swain | Hanserd Knollys | Lewis Bayly | Nimbus by Braden Deal | Still Life with Shells and a Chip-Wood Box by Sebastian Stoskopff | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
Has today's church forgotten the "godness" of God?This week, on All of Life for God, Dr. Ian Hamilton suggests that reading spiritual giants from bygone eras can help us recapture our vision of a glorious God.Read more from Ian Hamilton here.Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Check out the Puritan Treasures for Today, Spurgeon's Sermons, the Family Worship Bible Guide, and the writings of Dr. Joel Beeke. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
John Durant | John Monsell | Inhale Exhale by Christopher Galovan | The Lovesick Maiden by Jan Steen | Find more helps at www.ryanbush.org
PREVIEW: Conversation with Professor Richard Carwardine regarding the voices that condemned the Puritan characters Ieverywhere for provoking "moral extremism.". More later. 1863 OONFEDERATE COMMANDERS..
Susannah Spurgeon | S. Trevor Francis | Thomas Wilcox | Wasteland by Zimpzon | Saint Jerome in the Wilderness by Andrea Mantegna | Find more at www.ryanbush.org
This week, on All of Life for God, Pastor David Cook calls us to worship God by trembling at His words of warning and promise. Listen to this challenging message on a classic passage to learn how you can enjoy God's favor in your worship. Pick up David Cook's new devotional, Standing in Awe, here. Check out Our Great Redeemer, Glorifying and Enjoying God, Spurgeon: A Life, and Paul Washer's books here Check out the Puritan Treasures for Today, Spurgeon's Sermons, the Family Worship Bible Guide, and the writings of Dr. Joel Beeke. Thank you for listening to All of Life for God by Reformation Heritage Books. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Reformation Heritage Books is a non-profit ministry that aims to strengthen the Church through Reformed, Puritan, and experiential literature. To learn more about this ministry and how to support us, please visit rhb.org.
Richard Baxter was a Puritan who lived in England and we go through some of his marital advice. It may be more spicy than you'd expect! Link to his full text used for the episodeSupport us on the Patreon! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/revived-thoughts6762/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy