Podcasts about Remind

It’s one of the hardest — and most important — conversations parents can have: teaching kids about consent. In this episode of the Happy Families Podcast, we break down the powerful lessons from Parental Guidance season 3, episode 2, including insights from consent educator Dan Principe. From why consent conversations can’t wait, to the right age to start, to how to empower kids without shame or fear — we’ll help you get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations, and raise kids who understand respect, boundaries, and healthy relationships. KEY POINTS Why consent education starts “before age two” — and why “early and often” matters. The startling reality: 15–19 year old girls are the largest group of sexual assault victims; 15–19 year old boys are the largest group of perpetrators. Why old-school “guns and shovels” attitudes harm more than they help. The role of ongoing, informal and formal family conversations about tricky topics. The three E’s: Explore, Explain, Empower — the simple framework for any difficult talk. How social media and “sharing” require kids’ consent too — even within the family. The risk of silence: what happens when kids don’t feel safe coming to their parents. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE "We need to get comfortable being uncomfortable — because no young person should feel like their curiosity or desires are shameful." — Dan Principe RESOURCES MENTIONED Dan Principe: Consent educator and speaker (recommended for schools) Federal Government’s Consent Can’t Wait campaign (Justin as ambassador) More parenting resources at: happyfamilies.com.au Watch Parental Guidance seasons 1–3 on 9Now ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS 1. Start the conversation early — even before they understand the words, practice being open and clear.2. Commit to ongoing “early and often” chats — not just one big talk.3. Schedule regular family check-ins to discuss tricky topics.4. Use the three E’s: Explore what they know and feel, Explain what’s important, Empower them to make good decisions.5. Check in on consent within your own family dynamics — ask before sharing kids’ stories or images online.6. Drop the fear-based jokes and attitudes — empower kids with respect and tools, not shame or threats.7. Remind yourself: if they don’t learn it from you, they’ll learn it somewhere else.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 3rd hour of today's show, the guys chat with Connor Riley of Dawg Nation on what he expect to see and hear from Kirby at SEC Media Days.

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: A natural disaster hit Texas at just the wrong time on the calendar and wrong time of day from our perspective. The disaster is already exposing who are the real adherents of “hate” and our arrogance that we can be “in control.” Some go dark at such times, others reflect the light of Christ that testify to our capability to go good. I want to thank the Christian faith of Tavia Hunt, wife of the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, for her witness at this terrible time (click to read.).   You can find links to many of the stories I cover on the flooding today here.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Border news: ICE, Border Patrol, police come under armed attach in Texas. This morning an armed Michigan man attacked Border Patrol at a facility adjacent to the McAllen airport. Friday, a group of armed people attacked police outside an ICE facility near Alvarado. Police officers shot in each of the two incidents. Noem approves expediting waterborne barriers in Rio Grande Appeals court panel rules Texas immigration law unconstitutional Oil and gas rig count fell last week in Texas.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

Introduction: IYKYK Heart Hearing Evaluation (Luke 8:4–15) Does Your Heart Hear BUT DISBELIEVE? (Luke 8:12) 2 Corinthians 4:4 – In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Does Your Heart Hear BUT STALL OUT? (Luke 8:13) Matthew 7:13–14 – Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Does Your Heart Hear BUT GET DISTRACTED? (Luke 8:14) 1 Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Does Your Heart Hear AND PRODUCE A CHANGED LIFE? (Luke 8:15) Revelation 2:4–5 – But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead Luke 8:4-15What was your big take-away from this passage / message?What is your biggest heart problem right now? Why can't it be ignored and how should you address it?Re-read the Parable of the Sower and break down what the characters and elements represent. What is the major message of this parable?According to Jesus, what is the true test of saving faith?BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT We all love quick fixes, don't we?If we have a problem, we wanna solve itin the quickest and simplest way possible.And our bent towards quick fixespops up almost every single day.The router is acting up, so what do you do?All right, try to be a bit louder so I can hear you.What do you do when the router's acting up?You unplug it, then you plug it back in, right?You have a pounding headache.What's your go-to when you have a flare up?Just pop a few ibuprofen or Tylenol to take the edge off.And when the edge doesn't grow dull or you get so annoyed,when that router issue isn't fixed by the unplugand plug back in, you get so frustrated.The ultimate example of an easy fix from my lifeis the N64, the Nintendo 64, whoever owned one growing up.For those of you who weren't born sometime in the 1900s,let me make it clear that these gameswere not played on discs.You couldn't download them digitally.You had to play them on cartridges.And for you, 80s and 90s kids in the room,what was the quick fix to the problemof the game glitching or freezing?The harmonica method, right?(splat)We thought there was dust in the cartridgeand you had to blow it out.According to my internet research,people are divided over the effectivenessof the harmonica method.Some people say that it was the placebothat made you feel better, but didn't actually do anything.While others say, yeah, it was a short-term fix.It worked for a bit, but it caused long-term damage.According to these gamers online,the moisture from your breath corrodedthe inside of the cartridge or something, I don't know.But all of these nerds online agree about one simple fact.This was a quick fix,not a long-term solution.It either did nothing to help the problemor it made the problem even worse.As you saw in the promo video a few momentsago, we have been hyper-focused on one major themefrom Scripture over the past nine months.God wants your heart.He doesn't just want your external rule following,He wants your internal love and devotion.But maybe you've heard this theme of God wants your heartpreached about Sunday after Sunday,but you still aren't there.Maybe you know what God wants from you,for some reason you don't want to give it to Him.Your heart is distant from the Lord.Your heart is cold towards His Word.There is something off inside of you.You need to get to a better place,but you don't know how to get there.And for weeks, months, or even years,you've been trying all the quick fixes,but nothing is working.The problem just keeps getting worse and worse and worse.You have a serious heart problemthat you cannot solve on your own.If that's you, I have a two-part question to askthat you don't have to answer out loud,but you do need to answer in your heart.Are you ready to put away the quick fixesand stop doing things your way?Are you ready to grab ahold of God's long-termsolutions and start doing things His way?If the answer is yes, I have to warn you,it's gonna hurt.It's gonna take God's painful scalp cuts,scalpel cuts to truly lead you to the change that you need.True change requires an open heart procedure.Over the next month,we're gonna undergo four surgical solutionsto our heart problems, evaluating our hearts,confessing from our hearts,giving thanks with our hearts, and guarding our hearts.As you may have noticed, all these surgical solutionsrequire your cooperation and participation.None of these solutions will be easy,but they are guaranteed success.If you submit to your divine doctorand let Him do His work in your heart.So before we continue, let's go to the Lordand ask for His help.Please pray for me and I will pray for you.Father, we thank you for this most important appointmentof the week.This isn't just a throwaway time.We come if we have a break in the schedule.There's a time we come together as your peopleto worship you and to come under the teaching of your Word.Or may you do a work that only you can.May you work in human hearts.May you bring conviction.May you challenge.May you build up.May you bring life where there is none.What I can do, none of those things, only you can.Preach a much better message in people's heartsthan I ever could with my mouth.We ask all these things in Jesus' name, amen.So the first surgical solution to your heart problemis found in Luke chapter eight, verses four through 15.Please turn there with me.Luke chapter eight, verses four through 15.At this point in his ministry,Jesus is being followed around by crowdswho want to experience his miraclesand hear him preach messages that are unlike anyone else's.In our passage for this morning,Jesus teaches the crowd a parable.And as a refresher, a parableis an everyday story with a spiritual meaning.It is a work of fiction that points to the realityof God's kingdom and the salvation that Jesus offers.Let's read one of the greatest parablesin Luke chapter eight, verses four through eight.And when a great crowd was gatheringand people from town to town came to him,Jesus said in a parable,a sower went out to sow his seed.And as he sowed, some fell on the pathand was trampled underfootand the birds of the air devoured it.And some fell on the rock.And as it grew up, it withered awaybecause it had no moisture.And some seed fell among thornsand the thorns grew up with it and choked it.And some fell into good soiland grew and healed at a hundredfold.As Jesus said these things,he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."So a sower is in his field,scattering seed anywhere and everywhere that he goes.And some of this seed lands on good soilbut most of it lands on bad soil.Some of the seed falls along the pathwhere people stomp on itand it is quickly picked up by birds.Some falls on soil where it looks goodbut there is a bedrock underneath the soilthat you cannot see.So the seed has no moisture.It can't develop a root systemso it withers away and dies.Some of the seed falls on thornswhere it is choked out.But some of the seed falls on good soilwhere it steadily but surely grows over timeand leads to an abundant harvest.That's the story.And Jesus closes out by saying,"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."Why does he say that?What's the point of saying that?Well, the modern day equivalent is on the screen behind me.Can any of you young people decipher this for us?What is it?Thank you, Sierra.If you know, you know.Jesus is saying you're either gonna understandwhat I'm saying or you won't.Well, the disciples themselves are left confusednot really understanding the story.So they work up the courage to go up to Jesusand say, "Hey, Jesus, great story."But what in the world was that about?And check out Jesus' response in verses nine through 10.And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,he said, "To you, it has been given to know the secrets"of the kingdom of God,"but for others they are in parables."So that seeing they may not see and hearing"they may not understand."Now you may be thinking, hold on a minute.It seems like Jesus is sayingthat he taught in parables to confuse some people.Yeah, you get a gold star for observation.That is exactly what he is saying.This may be a hard pill to swallow,but Jesus taught these parablesboth to reveal and to conceal the truth.He taught these parables to reveal the truthto those whose hearts are soft and ready to receive it.But he also told these parables to conceal the truthfrom those whose hearts are hardenedand resolved to reject it.The good news is if you truly want to understandthe parables, you will.But if you don't really careabout understanding the parables, you won't.It's that simple and clear cut.But thankfully Jesus does something that he rarely does.He explains the meaning of the parable.Praise the Lord, isn't that so convenientfor every single one of us in this room?Jesus is like that teacher who tells youwhat's on the final examand lets you go to the back of the book to find the answers.So let's go to the back of the bookand see Jesus answer for what this parable meansin verses 11 through 15.Now the parable is this.The seed is the word of God.The ones along the path are those who have heard it.And the devil comes and takes away the word from their heartsso that they may not believe and be saved.And the ones on the rock are thosewhen they hear the word, receive it with joy,but these have no root.They believe for a while and in time of testing fall away.And as for what fell among the thorns,they are those who hear, but as they go on their way,they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasuresof life and their fruit does not mature.As for that in the good soil,they are those who hearing the word hold it fastin an honest and good heart and bear fruit with patience.Jesus clearly spells out everything for us.The seed is the word of God that is scatteredby the sower by anyone who faithfully shares the word.The seed of the word is scattered every single Sundayas someone stands before you to proclaimwhat God has to say.The seed of the word is scatteredwhenever you teach the lesson back in Harvest Academyor do family devotions with your kids.The seed of the word is scatteredwhenever you share the gospelwith that unsafe family member, friend, coworker, or neighbor.And according to Jesus, the scattered seed of the wordlands on four different types of soils,which represents four different types of human hearts.And Jesus is not talking about the organthat's bumping in your chest right now.He's talking about who you really are on the inside.Your heart is the source of all your emotions,your affections, and your motivations.Your heart is constantly taking in everything you seehere and experiencing and evaluating it.And according to God's word,you don't just have physical ears on the sides of your head,you also have spiritual ears on your heart.And these spiritual ears can either hear the truthand reject it or can hear the truth and accept it.Three of these soils,three of these heart hearers in this parablereject the word, which leads to eternal destruction.Only one soil, only one heart here accepts the wordand is saved and has eternal life.Do you remember those hearing evaluationsyou had to take back in elementary schoolwhere you shuffled the school library or some random room?You put on the headphones,where they play different noisesat different frequencies and decibels.And what would you do if you could hear the noise?Show me what you would do.You raise your hand, right?Or you kept it down if you couldn't hear it.And depending on how the evaluation went,you could either go about the rest of your day as normalor you'd be sent to an ear doctor.Well, this parable is a heart hearing evaluation.It gauges how your heart hearsand responds to the word of God.It reveals if you are currently rejecting Jesus Christin His gospel or if you've actually accepted Him or not.It reveals how serious of a heart problem you haveand how serious of a heart surgery you need.So after one of the longest introductionsin the history of this church,it's time to put on the spiritual headphonesand take your heart hearing evaluation.First question of the heart hearing evaluation.Does your heart hear but disbelief?Does your heart hear but disbelief?Let's start with the pathway soilwhere the seed is crushed and eaten by birds.Listen again to Jesus' explanation in verse 12.The ones along the path are those who have heard,then the devil comes and takes away the wordfrom their hearts so that they may not believeand be saved.The birds stand in for Satan himselfwho has a mission to accomplish,to keep unbelievers from truly hearing the gospel messageand accepting it.The apostle Paul speaks to this ministry of Satanin 2nd Corinthians 4/4.He says, "The God of this world, that Satan,"has blinded the minds of the unbelievers"to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel"of the glory of Christ who is the image of God."Do you know that Satan and his demonsare faithful church attenders?I guarantee they have a better track record of attendancethan anyone in this room.They never miss a Sunday.But they don't show up to worship God,they show up to deceive and to divert attention.Satan wants you to daydream during the messageand think about what's for lunch afterwards.Like that even matters at all.Satan wants you to have sleepy eyesand a head that bobs up and down, up and down.He wants you to be restless and fidgety in your seat.He wants you to absentmindedly doodle on your outlinerather than take diligent notes.He wants you to be doubtful regarding the things of God.He wants you to suffer from this condition of believingthat God could never love or forgive someone like you.He wants you to hear the word, but disbelieve the word.Is that where you are this morning?Is your heart problem that you're disinterested inand maybe even disgusted by?What is preached behind the pulpit here?Or shared with you by faithful Christian relatives and friends?Maybe you're here to make your family happy,but you're not buying into all this Jesus stuff.Maybe the teachings of the Bible seem outdated,harsh and even harmful to you.Maybe when you look at this book,it just doesn't make any sense whatsoever.If I've described you at all,I wanna share with you that I am so glad that you're here.And I have been praying for you all week.I've been praying that Satan would not stealthe seed of the word from your heart once again.I've been praying that you would hear the wordwith fresh ears and a willing heart.I've been praying that you would see yourselfas a sinner and Jesus Christ as the only savior.Turn from your disbelief, turn to Jesus Christand believe in what he accomplishedthrough his perfect life, his sacrificial death,and his resurrection from the grave.If you do, he will wipe away all of your sins.He will give you his perfect righteousness.He will give you a new heart that has new lifeand a new love.That is what faith in Christ will get you.Let me ask, what has disbelief in Christ ever gotten you?Nothing but an anxious and dissatisfied heart.If you continue with that disbelief,you will experience spiritual death that lasts forever.Second question of the heart hearing evaluation,does your heart hear but stall out?Does your heart hear but stall out?Next up is the rocky soil.Let's read verse 13."And the ones on the rock are those,when they hear the word, receive it with joy,but they have no root.They believe for a while in time of testing fall away."This kind of heart hears the word and seems to accept it.There is an immediate willingness to follow Jesus.There is quick growth.Bad habits are put away and new habits are formed.This person feels happy.Boy, oh boy, it's fun to be a Christian.Life is the best.But then times get tough.They experience hardship.And life isn't so great anymore.It isn't so fun to be a Christian anymore.The view ahead used to be filled with hope and with life,but now it is full of darkness and uncertainty.Back in high school, my friends and I were drivingin two separate cars to a concert.When the car I was in stalled and came to a halton the side of the road.And the other car full of guys parked right behind us.And my friend Robert, who was driving the car I was in,got out.He popped the hood, which was basically an empty gesturebecause none of us had jumper cablesor knew how a car worked.I wish Ben Maul was there that day.That would have been fantastic.He could have helped us.And so Robert pretended like he knewhe was doing looking under the hood.And then he called his stepdad to come and help.But the problem was the other car full of guyswas getting antsy because they still wantedto go to the concert.And the driver of that car said,"Hey guys, we got one less spot.We got one more spot less in this car.Two of you are gonna have to stay herebecause we're not waiting."And that made me so mad.I was like, "Seriously?I'm not gonna go have fun at the concertwhile we leave people stranded here."Well, my friend Ryan didn't feel the same way.He said, "I'll go with you."And he jumped in the car.They sped off while we were coughing up dustfrom their speedy getaway.And we waited for Robert's stepdadfor what felt like hours.And it was the dead of summer, so it was hot.It was hot like this auditorium often is, right?And we got so desperate,we drank the emergency water in the trunk,which must have been there for years'cause it tasted like warm motor oil.And eventually Robert's dad, his stepdad showed upand he said, "Hey, I called a tow truck.It's gonna come soon.And I can still take you to the concert if you want to."How do you think we felt about that?We're like, "No, we're totally over that.Just take us back home."We were so done with that concert.The day had started out so well.It was a ton of fun.Then the car stalled outand we were thrown for a loop.The concert was no longer exciting and appealing to uslike it used to be.That happens to so many people who profess faithin Jesus Christ.They seem to be doing just fineas they drive along on the Christian journey,but then they hit an unexpected bump in the roadand totally stall out.Family members stopped talking to thembecause of their new beliefs.Friends make fun of them for their new ridiculous standards.Coworkers belittle them for missing happy hourto go to small group.Romantic interests threaten to break up the relationshipif you don't cut it out with this religious nonsense.Instead of persevering through these tough timesand moving forward, they give up on Jesus.They retreat and go back to their old lives.Following Jesus was convenient for a season,but then there was too high of a price to pay.Have you already given up?Are you tempted to give up right now?You have to understand that Jesus never promisesan easy life if you follow him.That's not listed in the brochure.True Christians are not exempt from suffering and persecution.Actually, true Christians are targetsfor suffering and persecution.Listen to Matthew chapter 7 verses 13 through 14."For the gate is wide and the way is easythat leads to destruction,and those who enter by it are many.For the gate is narrow and the way is hardthat leads to life, and those who find it are few."Let me ask you, what is the smarter play?Easy for several decades in this lifeand horribly hard in hell foreveror hard for a little bit in this lifeand easy for all of eternity in heaven?Which is the better option?Anyone can start out well, but very few finish well.A quick start out the gate doesn't mean muchif you don't cross the finish line.Only those who hear the word and persevere in the Wordpossess a transformed heart.So please do not give up.Do not pick up your ball and go home.If you already have, it's not too late to get back in the game.It's not too late to jump back on that racetrackand keep going until the end.Third question of the heart-hearing evaluation.Does your heart hear but get distracted?Does your heart hear but get distracted?Does your heart hear but get distracted?In verse 14, Jesus talks about the thorny soil.And as for what fell among the thorns,they are those who hear, but as they go on their way,they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of lifeand their fruit does not mature.This kind of heart here is not at all hostile to Jesus.This person may even claim to be a Christian,know a lot about the Bibleand even sit in church on Sunday.But the knowledge in his or her braindoes not affect his or her heartbecause any growth, any transformationis pushed down by an obsession with the world.It is choked out.Climbing the ladder of achievement,having a stacked financial portfolio,planning for a carefree retirementand raising impressive kids who do impressive thingsis always the front of this person's thinking.They have no interest in hearing what God has to sayabout how they should livebecause they already have a plan for their life.To be clear, I'm not saying it's bad to have a lot of money,invest in the stock market or plan for retirement.It's not bad if you own things,but it is bad when things own you.People often misquote the apostle Pauland say, "Money is the root of evil."Is that what the Bible says?The apostle Paul says it this way,"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.It is through this cravingthat some have wandered away from the faithand pierced themselves with many pangs.The greedy longing for more and more and more stuffand success will spiritually bankrupt you."Please be honest with yourself.Are you distracted by the things of this world right now?Are you more excited to receive your direct deposit from work?More than you are excited to receive and read God's word?Does remodeling your house or buying a new carthrill your heart more than worshiping God?My son is almost six years oldand my daughter is three and a half,and they are totally oblivious to the basics of finances.And they have next to no interest in money.If I were to come home and tell them,"Hey, do you want to spend an entire day with me?Or do you want all the money in my various accounts?"What do you think they would say?They want to spend a time with their dad.They would want me more than stuff from me.And please listen to me. This is so important.It is a serious heart problem to want stuff from Godmore than God himself.This is a symptom of a heart that is thorny and distracted.According to Jesus, this kind of heart does not truly know Him.If that's you, please don't push aside this concernand say, "I'll deal with it later."No, deal with it right now.Ask God to take His scalpel and clear the thornsfrom your heart that are keeping you from Him.Let go of the garbage of this worldso you can grab ahold of the treasures of heaven.Final question of the heart-hearing evaluation.Does your heart hear and produce a changed life?Does your heart hear and produce a changed life?Let's see what Jesus has to say about the good soilin verse 15."As for that in the good soil,there are those who hearing the word hold it fastin an honest and good heart and bear fruit with patience."This heart here receives the word and perseveres in the word.It doesn't experience quick growth.It actually grows in a sustainable pattern for the long run.This person has a good and godly heartthat produces good and godly life.This good and godly fruit is a changed life.This good and godly fruit includes ongoing repentance of sin,loving the church, refusing to throw in the towel,sharing their faith, making disciples.The true test of saving faithisn't that you pray to prayer as a kid.Walked an aisle at a revival service,raised your hand or signed a card.There are so many people who grew up in the churchand say that they accepted Christ,but there is nothing different about them now.A past action means nothingif there is no present evidence of God at work in your life.What you did back then doesn't really matterif you're not trusting in Jesus now, loving Jesus now,following Jesus now.The true test of saving faith is a changed life.And it brings my heart so much joy to knowthat many of you in this room are the good soil.You have received the word of Godand it is growing up and taking over your life.It changes how you think, it changes how you speak,it changes how you react.Your heart is good soil.But that doesn't mean that your heart is exempt from heart problems.The temptation to stay still or to backslidewill always be there.You will go through seasons of apathy and depression.There will be times you read the words in these pagesand they mean nothing to you in your heart.You will know what you should do,but you still decide to do what you shouldn't.The question isn't will you experience heart problems?The question is what will you do when you experience heart problems?And we're going to spend the rest of this series answering that question,but I don't want to leave you hanging until next Sunday.So I'm going to provide you with Jesus' own answer to this questionin Revelation 2 verses 4 through 5,where the church in Ephesus gets a personal message from Jesus himself.He says this,"But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.Remember therefore from where you have fallen.Repent and do the works you did at first."Brothers and sisters, have you abandoned your first love?Have you lost the passion that you used to have for Christ when you were first saved?Remember how you used to feel about Him.Remind yourself of how you couldn't get enough of the Bible and impactful sermons.Remind yourself of how you couldn't wait to grab ahold of peopleto tell them all that you were learning, to tell them about Jesus.Don't you miss how things used to be?Don't you want your heart to be on fire for Christ again?You can get back to that point and move so far beyond it,if you repent of your dispassion and do what you did before.Don't wait to make the right choice until you feel like it.Make the right choice so you will feel the right way once again.Now, I know what some of you are thinking as we come to a close with this message.Man, this is a super heavy sermon series for the summer.Don't you realize this July?Mentally, I'm just checked out and on a beach somewhere wearing flip flops.This is the month of rest and relaxation.Not in this church, it's not.We're going to get after it for the next month.We are going to walk out of this building as different peoplewith different heart attitudes at the end of July.We are going to be done with the quick fixes.And instead, we're going to pursue after God's solution to our heart problems.Is anyone else with me?The first step in receiving God's solution to your heart problemis to evaluate the health of your heart.So how is your heart doing?Is it stomped on and disbelieving?Is it rocky and stalled out?Is it thorny and distracted?Or is it good and ready to go?Only one of those hearts will truly hear God's word over the course of this seriesand be changed.The other three, we denied access into heaven one dayand cast into hell.And I don't want that fate for any of you.I want to spend eternity with every single person in this room.As much as I may want to, I can't change your heart.But thankfully, I know the one who can.I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit is cultivating the soil of your heartand preparing you to receive the word in an honest and good heartthat perseveres in patience.He who has ears to hear, let him hear.Let's pray.Father, this is a very weighty passage.Lord, it's obvious that there are serious consequences for rejecting you and rejecting your word.Well, let the very single person in this room, if there is anybody here who does not know you,does not have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, may today be the day of salvation.May today be the day where the seed lands on the soil of the heart,grows up, takes over, and continues.But Lord, only you can do this.Well, I pray that you'd push away the distractions.You'd push away the worries about what's after service or what's happening tomorrow.I pray that we would fix our minds on Jesus Christ and what He accomplished.And what He offers to every single one of us.And for those of us who do know and love you,where we admit that we are all experiencing heart problems of some kind right now.And we need your assistance. We need your healing.But we do pray at the end of this month, we would look way different than we do this Sunday.We ask all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

2025-07-06

10:20 - Top 5 (movies that remind you of America) full 985 Fri, 04 Jul 2025 04:03:17 +0000 ahkbH9N3cxbaGSRPlRG9blHVfXq9Nxrs usa,top 5,america,sports The Fan After Dark usa,top 5,america,sports 10:20 - Top 5 (movies that remind you of America) The Fan After Dark includes a rotation of hosts offering a truth-telling sports entertainment experience that gets listeners right on the biggest sports topics in and around DFW, across the country, and around the world. Focusing on the Cowboys, Rangers, Mavericks, etc., The Fan After Dark airs M-F from 7-11 PM and is the only live and local sports radio show in the MetroplexCome 'Get Right' with Reg on The Fan, and be prepared for sports talk on a whole new level. You can follow Reg on Twitter @regadetula © 2024 Audacy, Inc. Sports False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed

This week on Your Move Fridays, I invite you to embrace something simple—but profoundly strategic: the pause.In this short, soothing, soul-refueling episode, I share a spark of gratitude pulled directly from my Gratitude in Motion practice in the Overflow Journal.“YOUR THOUGHTS MATTER. Pair your gratitude with affirmations. Amplify your belief in your strengths. Remind yourself just how awesome YOU are!Because as busy, purpose-driven professionals, we often move fast… and sometimes the most powerful move you can make is the one where you stop, listen, and realign.You'll walk away thinking with:✨ One spark of gratitude✨ One reflective leadership prompt... Activating (encouraging!!!) one bold action to lead yourself with intention the next week!Let these Friday episodes be your invitation to lead from the inside out, slow down with purpose, and move forward from clarity (not chaos.)Gratitude is motion. Overflow is a choice. Your leadership starts here.It's your move.BUY YOUR OVERFLOW Gratitude Journal

Have you ever felt guilty after giving in to a craving for chocolate, chips, or soda? What if cravings aren't the enemy but signals from your body telling you what it truly needs?In this episode, we explore:The science and psychology behind cravingsWhy cravings aren't just about willpowerThe nutritional, hormonal, and emotional reasons behind common cravingsHow to listen with curiosity instead of shamePractical steps to decode your cravings and nourish your body wisely

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 6-7; 2 Chronicles 26-27; Philemon 1 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where every day is an opportunity to gather around the Scriptures and be reminded of God's unfailing love. In today's episode for July 3rd, 2025, your host Hunter invites you into a journey through Isaiah 6 and 7, 2 Chronicles 26 and 27, and the book of Philemon. Together, we'll witness Isaiah's transformative vision of God's glory, reflect on the rise and fall of King Uzziah, and listen to Paul's heartfelt appeal to Philemon—a call to radical love and laying down our rights for the sake of others. Hunter encourages us to allow these passages to wash over our lives, offering rest, insight, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live out the gospel each day. Whether you're joining for the first time or returning as a long-time listener, get ready to experience Scripture in community, prayer, and hope—reminding us all that we are loved, and called to participate in God's work of making all things new. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Lay down your rights for love's sake. The only way this world is going to be made right is if someone puts aside their rights and offers love instead. That is the request that Paul makes of Philemon. Onesimus was Philemon's slave who had run away from him, and in God's providence both men had been led to the Lord by Paul. Now Paul is sending Onesimus back to Philemon, who by law still owns him. In this moment, Paul is challenging Philemon to discover the depths of the gospel—the radical extent to which the gospel transforms individuals and societies. Paul is reminding Philemon, and us, that the only way this world will be made right is if people put aside their rights and extend love instead. Legally, Philemon has every right over Onesimus, but Jesus has shown us a better way. Jesus set us free by giving up his own rights and becoming a servant, a slave, so that we might be set free by God. Paul, in Philippians chapter two, says that Jesus “gave up his divine privileges. He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” Jesus gave up what was rightfully his in order to set the world free. That is the only way broken people and this broken world are made right—by the man who gave up his rights. Now, Paul is calling Philemon—and he is calling you and me—to follow this example. This isn't just a word for an ancient slave owner, but for every one of us who is trying to live in the light of Christ. There's no greater demonstration of love than to lay down our lives, our privileges, and our rights for another. When we do, we participate in the very life of the One who is making all things new. That's the prayer I have for my own soul today—that I would join Christ in learning how to lay aside my rights, my privileges, in the service of others. It's my prayer for my family—my wife, my daughters, my son. And it's my prayer for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Jesus is my shepherd. You have called me by my name into the life of the Beloved. Here in the stillness, I remember that I am not alone. I belong to you and to the great communion of saints and sinners held together in your love. Remind me, Lord, that every breath is grace. Every encounter is a chance to give what I have received—mercy without measure. When I forget who I am, when I lose my way, lead me again to still waters. Restore my soul, renew my hope. Reroute me in the joy of simply being yours. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.   OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Join us this week as Rick is asked to rate Julie's hairstyles of the last 20+ years together. While not as uncomfortable about discussing teen advice for tattoos and piercings, this one made Rick squirm a little BUT he came out unscathed. Just a little friendly couple nostalgia today....also, we take it back to songs of the past that remind us of one another. We also discuss 4th of July foods and habits we would like to break. Squish on in....(The Victory Couch is hosted by Rick and Julie Rando)Show notes: Connect with us on Instagram @thevictorycouch, Facebook, victorycouchpodcast@gmail.com, or www.thevictorycouch.comWant a new Victory Couch sticker for your water bottle, laptop, guitarcase, etc.? Send us a message and we'll mail you one.SUBSCRIBE to The Victory Couch e-mail list by visiting https://www.thevictorycouch.com/ and click SUBSCRIBE at the top of your screen. Is there a song/songs when you hear them that instantly remind you ofme?Unwell, Matchbox Twentyhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt14173774/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkHemorrhage, Fuel https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21444672/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkFeelsLike Home, Chantal Kreviazuk https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471092/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkThe Power of Love, Huey Lewis & The News https://youtu.be/wBl2QGAIx1s?si=zKZEXmLwugS_I9DBBeautiful Mess, Diamond Rio https://youtu.be/5H2Dy_sNSdQ?si=1U_sTnHIWWr2TyE7Here Without You, 3 Doors Downhttps://youtu.be/kPBzTxZQG5Q?si=biYWZiltIVzCLBmyThe Chicks https://thechicks.com/Alanis Morrisette https://alanis.com/Butter, BTS https://youtu.be/WMweEpGlu_U?si=VqwMXYafSabGiGa0According to Food & Wine let'sdiscuss the most purchased foods for July 4, 2024.Taylor Swift Kate Plus 8 SNL bit: https://youtu.be/2122YO0cbg0?si=uDxlfai0Ki-Jiec0What's one habit you would personally like to break?Couch crumb: birthday planning indecisiveness, young lady fighting illnessProp your feet up: new creative ideas launching at KMK, Beetlejuice Jr.Connect with us on Instagram @thevictorycouch, Facebook, victorycouchpodcast@gmail.com, or www.thevictorycouch.comWant a new Victory Couch sticker for your water bottle, laptop, guitarcase, etc.? Send us a message and we'll mail you one.SUBSCRIBE to The Victory Couch e-mail list by visiting https://www.thevictorycouch.com/ and click SUBSCRIBE at the top ofyour screen. Is there a song/songs when you hear them that instantly remind you ofme?Unwell, Matchbox Twentyhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt14173774/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkHemorrhage, Fuel https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21444672/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkFeels Like Home, Chantal Kreviakhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471092/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkThe Power of Love, Huey Lewis & The News https://youtu.be/wBl2QGAIx1s?si=zKZEXmLwugS_I9DBBeautiful Mess, Diamond Rio https://youtu.be/5H2Dy_sNSdQ?si=1U_sTnHIWWr2TyE7Here Without You, 3 Doors Down https://youtu.be/kPBzTxZQG5Q?si=biYWZiltIVzCLBmyThe Chicks https://thechicks.com/Alanis Morrisette https://alanis.com/Butter, BTS https://youtu.be/WMweEpGlu_U?si=VqwMXYafSabGiGa0According to Food & Wine let's discuss the most purchased foods for July 4, 2024.Taylor Swift Kate Plus 8 SNL bit https://youtu.be/2122YO0cbg0?si=uDxlfai0Ki-Jiec0What's one habit you would personally like to break?Couch crumb: birthday planning indecisiveness, young lady fighting illnessProp your feet up: new creative ideas launching at KMK, Beetlejuice Jr.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 1-3; Titus 3 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter invites us into the first day of July—day 183 in our journey through the Scriptures. Together, we explore Isaiah chapters 1-3, where we witness God's call for justice and mercy, alongside Titus chapter 3, which reminds us of the transformative power of God's grace. Hunter reflects on the reality of judgment described by Isaiah and the hope of redemption found in Christ, as shared in Titus. After our readings, we're guided through heartfelt prayers, encouragement to seek God's presence in creation, and a reminder that no matter our circumstance, we are deeply loved. So, settle in and let's spend some time soaking in God's Word and His goodness together. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Once upon a time, there was judgment. We lived under the weight of our own rebellion—the consequences of turning from God, of choosing our own way instead of his. Rebellion, with all its promises of freedom and fulfillment, always ends up bringing something much different: judgment, pain, and brokenness. The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of what it's like to be estranged from the One who loves us most. We see the heartbreak of a Father whose children have turned their backs, the emptiness of religious rituals without heart, and the devastation that comes from ignoring justice and mercy. But Isaiah doesn't just show us ruin—he points to hope. Even when God's people are stained and burdened, he pleads with them: “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.” In the darkest places, he offers the promise of restoration, of lives made new by his mercy. Then, in Titus, the story turns. We are reminded: judgment isn't the whole story. “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us—not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” God's grace breaks through. Through Jesus, our sins are washed away, our lives are reborn, and we are given confidence of eternal life. Salvation isn't earned; it's poured out—generously—through the Holy Spirit. This is the story of God's grace: the story that redefines everything. Once, we lived under judgment. But now, there is a Savior. The door is wide open for return, renewal, and relationship with the living God. Mercy triumphs over judgment, and we are called anew into his light. Let us lean into that story today. Let's receive the mercy that is ours in Christ, let his Spirit renew and restore us, and remember that every new day is a testimony to his kindness. May we walk in the knowledge that God is our Father, not our enemy—always ready to welcome us home, always making a way for restoration. That's the prayer I have for my own soul. That's the prayer I have for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that is the prayer I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Jesus is my shepherd. You have called me by my name into the life of the beloved. Here in the stillness, I remember that I am not alone. I belong to you and to the great communion of saints and sinners held together in your love. Remind me, Lord, that every breath is grace, every encounter is a chance to give what I have received—mercy without measure. When I forget who I am, when I lose my way, lead me again to still waters. Restore my soul, renew my hope. Reroute me in the joy of simply being yours. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.   OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Heard this great reminder from a manager of a Christian Retail company “The biggest challenges in my life and work have been when I have forgotten WHO God is, or WHO I AM in Christ.” So how about you? Are you in the midst of a challenge at work? If so, CLING to the words of God. Remind yourself right now who you are IN HIM, not the words of what the world tells you. Here are just a few: I am a child of God, I am Jesus' friend, I am a NEW creation, I am an heir with Christ, I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God and I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. 

We've all heard about the armor of God—maybe you memorized it in Sunday School or highlighted it in your Bible. But the armor wasn't given to decorate your bookshelf. It was meant for battle. Real armor. Real war. And today, we're stepping into the action.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” — Ephesians 6:11 (ESV)Paul wasn't writing theory when he described the armor. He was under Roman guard, likely chained to soldiers, and very aware of what armor was meant for: protection, preparation, and perseverance.Let's break this down for battle:* Belt of Truth – This isn't just about honesty. It's about being anchored in what God says—even when your feelings scream the opposite.* Breastplate of Righteousness – Not your righteousness—His. It guards your heart when the enemy tries to bring up your past or disqualify you.* Shoes of the Gospel of Peace – Your foundation is peace. You walk into battle knowing your steps are ordered by God, not driven by fear.* Shield of Faith – Every lie, every fiery dart, every discouragement? Your faith in God extinguishes them when held up daily.* Helmet of Salvation – Guard your mind. Remember who you are in Christ and whose you are.* Sword of the Spirit – The Word of God isn't just comfort—it's your weapon. Speak it. Declare it. Fight with it.This isn't passive gear—it's active armor. And you don't put it on just once. You wear it every day, through prayer, worship, and truth.Don't go into spiritual battles unarmed. You've already been given everything you need to stand strong.Question of the Day:Which piece of armor are you least intentional about wearing—and how can you strengthen it today?Mini Call to Action:Choose one piece of armor you've overlooked. Look up a verse connected to it and pray that truth over your life today.Let's Pray:Father, clothe me in Your armor. Make me battle-ready. Remind me to walk in truth, righteousness, peace, and faith—and to wield Your Word with boldness. In Jesus' name, amen.Let's Get To Work!The armor only works if you wear it—and the battlefield won't wait.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Overwhelmed by life’s crashing waves?In “God’s Power is Stronger than Your Challenges,” Whitney Hopler shares the inspiring faith of a small island community literally disappearing beneath rising tides—and how their trust in God’s power sustains them. Psalm 93 reminds us that even when the storm surges, “the Lord on high is mighty.” When problems rise like pounding waves, God’s strength stands firm.

A Sermon for the Second Sunday after Trinity 1 John 3:13-24 & St. Luke 14:16-24 by William Klock Another town.  Another Sabbath.  And Jesus found himself in the synagogue reading the scriptures.  He'd spent the last few days doing the usual Messiah things: healing the sick, casting out demons, proclaiming good news to the poor, calling the people to repentance because God's kingdom was coming.  Some people loved it.  Others hated it.  If Jesus was the Messiah, he sure was doing it all wrong.  St. Luke says some of the Pharisees were determined to trap him.  They lurked everywhere he went, waiting for him to do or to say just the wrong thing that would get him into trouble.  “See!  See!” they want to shout to the crowds.  “He's a fake!”  If they were really lucky, maybe Jesus would do something downright arrestable and he'd end up in jail.  So far, no such luck. One of the leading Pharisees in this town invited him to lunch after the synagogue service.  If nothing else, it would look good to have this popular rabbi in his house, but maybe he'd get lucky.  Maybe he'd catch Jesus breaking the law red-handed.  And lo and behold as Jesus arrived at this Pharisees' house, he met a man whose limbs were swollen with dropsy.  I doubt he was invited.  The rabbis taught that dropsy was the Lord's punishment for secret sexual sins.  But in those days, doors were open, people came and went from banquets.  The poor and needy would show up looking for handouts.  On any other day, this Pharisee might have shooed away the man with dropsy, but not today.  It was a perfect opportunity to see what Jesus would do.  It was a given that Jesus healed the sick—but would he do his messianic doctoring on the Sabbath? But instead of letting himself be put on the spot, Jesus—as he so often did—flips the tables.  He takes one look at the afflicted man, then turns to the Pharisee and his torah-expert friends and puts them on the spot.  “Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath or not?” he asked.  They really should have seen that coming.  Now, no matter what they said, they'd condemn themselves.  And so while they stood there looking awkward, Jesus healed the man with dropsy and sent him away.  And then he turned back to the Pharisees and to the lawyers and said, “Suppose one of you has a son—or an ox—that falls in a well.  Are you going to tell me you won't pull him out straightaway even on the sabbath day?”  And, of course, they just looked at him.  They had nothing to say that wouldn't condemn them.  Because if their son or their ox fell in a well, even on the sabbath, of course they'd pull him out. It was hard to hear.  The Pharisees were right about a lot of things. They knew that Israel was supposed to be a bubble of God's light in the middle of a dark world.  They were the people who lived with the living God in their midst.  They were his people, graciously chosen, delivered from bondage, and made holy for just this task: to be light in the darkness.  The Pharisees were zealous for the law because they were grateful for God's grace.  Not all of the people in Israel were as faithful as the Pharisees.  The Pharisees tried to live their lives—even the little things—as if they were in the temple, in the presence of God.  They saw themselves as walking manifestations of God's light and of his kingdom—walking bubbles of what the world is supposed to be like.  And Jesus just exposed them, because as much as they were right on a lot of things, they'd forgotten the most important thing.  The law was about more than do this and don't to that.  It was about loving God and loving neighbour.  It was about showing others the same grace, the same lovingkindness that God had shown to them.  They knew this deep down, but somehow, through the generations, they'd forgotten.  Instead of being a light to lighten those lost in the dark, they were being light to shame and condemn those lost in the dark—and that's not light at all. At this point Jesus had already spoiled the party, so he just kept going.  Luke tells us in 14:7 that Jesus noticed how each guest claimed the best seat he could, so he told them that God's people should, instead, be humble.  “If you go to a wedding and just assume you can sit in the seat of honour, the host is going to tell you to move so the real guest of honour can sit there and you'll look like a fool in front of everyone.  No.  Instead, be humble.  Take the lowliest seat and let your host offer you a better place.” They were starting to figure out what Jesus was getting at.  He said, “Everyone who pushes himself forward will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be honoured.”  They knew this wasn't just about banquets.  Jesus was saying that the way these leaders of Israel were behaving at banquets had become representative of how they thought of themselves in relation to God and to each other.  They acted like God had chosen them because they were special when it was really the other way around: They were special because God had chosen them.  They knew better—just like we do.  They knew God chose Israel because he is gracious.  But they didn't act like it. So Jesus says: If you truly want to represent God and his kingdom, stop thinking so loftily of yourselves, stop avoiding the people who aren't like you and who don't share your status, and start throwing banquets for the crippled, the lame, and the blind.  Rejoice when sinners repent.  Rejoice when God saves the lost.  That's what God has done for you, after all—you've just forgotten. Everyone could feel the tension in the room growing and that's when some poor, clueless soul shouted out, “A blessing on everyone who eats bread in the kingdom of God.”  Maybe he'd totally missed point.  Maybe he was just trying to defuse the situation.  Blessed, indeed, is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God, but who will be there.  That was Jesus' point.  These people were sure they'd be there, but in so many ways the way they acted and the way they saw themselves said otherwise.  They weren't the walking bubbles of the kingdom they thought they were.  For all their holiness, they were really more like walking bubbles of darkness. So in response, Jesus told them another parable.  This is our Gospel today beginning at Luke 14:16. Jesus said, “Once a man made a great dinner, and invited lots of guests.  When the time for the meal arrived, he sent his servants to say to the guests, ‘Come now.  Everything is ready!'  But the whole lot of them began to make excuses.  The first said, ‘I've just bought a field, and I really have to go and see it. Please accept my apologies.'  Another one said, ‘I've just bought five yoke of oxen, and I've got to go and test them out.  Please accept my apologies.'  And another said, ‘I've just got married, so naturally I can't come.'  So the servant went back and told his master all this. As they sat eating what was probably a simple sabbath lunch prepared the day before, Jesus brings to mind an elaborate and expensive feast—the sort of thing that took days to prepare and that cost so much that the man throwing the part would send out invitation months in advance.  And the guests responded, “Yes, we'll be there!” and he made preparations.  So much wine and so much fruit.  So much meat and so much bread.  He arranged for musicians and dancers and other entertainers.  He got his house ready.  He sent his servants around to remind everyone.  And then the day of, he put on his finest clothes, threw open his doors—and no one came.  So he sent his servant out to find out what was up with his guests.  And they all had excuses.  This one bought a field sight unseen and had to go have a look at it.  This one bought a bunch of oxen and just had to try them out.  Another just got married.  Obviously his honeymoon was more important than this man's great feast. Imagine all the effort and expense that this man invested.  It was a huge deal for him.  But no one else cared.  No one else valued all that he had done for them.  Imagine how you'd feel if no one came to your wedding banquet after they all returned their RSVP cards saying they'd be there.  Jesus says the man was understandably angry, but he wasn't going to let all his expense and preparations go to waste. ‘Go out quickly,' he said to his servant.  ‘Go into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.'  ‘Alright, Master,' the servant said, ‘I've done that—but there's still room.'  ‘Well then,' said the master to the servant, ‘go out to the highways and the hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be full!  Let me tell you this: none of those people who were invited will get to taste my dinner.' If his rich friends won't come, he'll invite the poor.  Notice that his servant literally has to bring, to compel them to come to the banquet.  Imagine what the poor people in the town thought at the invitation.  Imagine what the blind beggar sleeping in a ditch thought when this rich man's servant pulled him up and dragged him into a fancy house full of fancy food.  They would have thought it was a joke, at least until they actually got there.  That's why the servant had to compel them to come, because they knew how these things worked.  They didn't belong.  But the rich man brought them in.  He brought them all in.  And they had the time of their lives—and, I think, so did he. Now, Luke doesn't tell us how the Pharisees responded.  In the next verse he jumps to a completely different time and place.  But we know.  We know that this just made them angrier and more hostile to Jesus—not every last one of them, but most of them.  Eventually they'd be angry enough that they'd conspire to have Jesus arrested.  But why did the things that Jesus did and said at that sabbath lunch make them so angry? So remember that the Jews, and especially the Pharisees, were waiting for the Lord's return.  The prophets had talked about that day in terms of a great banquet and this banquet idea then became a common image of the coming Day of the Lord.  Israel's God would return to judge and to cast down the nations (and the unfaithful within Israel—like the tax collectors and the sinner with dropsy) and then he'd throw a great feast for his beloved people.  The closest things they had to describe it was their entry into the promised land, the land of milk and honey, and the prosperous days of King David.  It would be like that, only a thousand times more so.  When Jesus told a story of a man preparing a great feast, everyone listening knew he was talking about the Lord and how he would come to deliver his people and set everything to rights and usher in the age to come—the age when they would feast in his presence.  And now Jesus explains that he's come to throw open the doors to God's great banquet.  This is what Israel has been waiting for all these years.  And yet Jesus rebukes them.  This isn't the first time the Lord has extended his invitation.  For centuries he had called to his people through the prophets, but they had refused to hear the prophets and had even killed some of them.  The Pharisees knew that and they were committed to making sure they didn't do the same thing.  Except that's exactly what they were doing.  This time God has spared no expense.  His people had rejected and killed the prophets.  This time he's sent his own son, who humbled himself to be born in their flesh.  He's travelled through Galilee and Judea, calling everyone to the banquet, but like the people in the parable, they all have excuses. And those excuses.  One man says that he's bought five yoke of oxen sight-unseen and has to check them over.  Another has bought a field sight-unseen and needs to go have a look at it.  The third just got married and has obligations to his new bride.  All three of these excuses have echoes that go back to the law in Deuteronomy.  A man who had built a new house, but hadn't dedicated it yet; a man who had bought a field, but hadn't enjoyed its produce; and a newly married man were all legitimately excused from going off to war.  And now these guests twist those laws as excuses to reject their host's banquet.  But this is what Israel had done with the law: twisting it into something it was never meant to be.  And it's that twisting of the law that was particularly exemplified by the Pharisees.  Jesus didn't meet their expectations of the Messiah.  His banquets included too many sinners, unclean people, and outsiders.  Those were the people that the Pharisees, with their hyper-holiness, left exposed.  The Messiah was supposed to come and feast with people like them, while raining down fire and brimstone on all those unholy people.  And so they scowled as Jesus forgave sins and welcomed home the prodigals.  The Pharisees had gutted the torah of its loving heart and that was profoundly exemplified by their angry glares as Jesus healed a sick man on the sabbath.  There could be no better way to celebrate the sabbath than to dance and sing and glorify God for his lovingkindness, but instead they tisked-tisked and frowned and gave Jesus disapproving how-dare-you scowls.  The angels rejoiced in heaven to see God's mighty works—but here on earth the people most expecting it, the people most longing for it, frowned and disapproved because God didn't do his mighty works according to what they thought the rules were.  That was their attitude towards Jesus' entire messianic ministry.  The banquet had come, but now they wanted nothing to do with it.  And so Jesus warns them: I'm going to take my invitation to the unclean and to the sick and to the poor—and even to the gentiles—and having rejected me, you will have no share in God's new creation.  If I were to let you in, you'd only mess it up—because you don't know what love is. The parable was a warning.  Matthew records it too, and I expect he was thinking of his people, most of whom continued to rejected Jesus even as their judgement day was so close.  But think of Luke.  He was one of those gentiles.  He was one of those poor men, sleeping in a ditch while the rich man prepared his banquet.  Maybe he didn't even know the banquet was going to happen.  He saw the caterers coming and going, wondered what it was all about, but he never expected to be there.  He'd never received an invitation, but more importantly, he wasn't even the right sort of person.  He was a gentile—uncircumcised and unclean.  Jews didn't associate with his sort.  And then the rich man's servant came, woke him up with a kick, and said, “Hey!  My master's thrown a banquet and no one came, so now he's inviting you to know his goodness.”  For Luke, that servant seems likely to have been the Apostle Paul.  And Paul gave Luke a firm gospel shove into the banquet.  And before he knew it Luke was dancing and singing and praising and glorify the God of Israel—the God of those weird, annoying Jews—and this God was like none of the gods he'd ever known.  This God was good and loving and most of all faithful.  And even though Luke, as a gentile, had no right to be at the banquet, he was welcomed in because when he heard about this Jesus, this Messiah who had died and risen from the dead, and he believed and he was caught up in God's great redemptive act of new creation. In fact, this unexpected and undeserved invitation to the banquet so transformed Luke that before too long he joined Paul as they set sail for Europe as gospel heralds—to proclaim to the lordship of Jesus.  A few years later he would join Paul on another missionary journey.  And about ten years after they'd left Troas that first time, Luke would journey with Paul on his final voyage, the one that took him to Rome to appeal his case before Caesar.  And not only was Luke, with Paul, singing the glories of Jesus and the God of Israel through Greece and on to Rome, he also talked to those who had met Jesus and he recorded their stories and wrote his gospel and then followed it up with the book of Acts.  Luke learned profoundly what grace is.  He knew profoundly the love of God.  Because even though he was a foreigner, through Jesus, the God of Israel had made him a son and even poured his own Spirit into him—including Luke in promises he had no natural right to be part of. Brothers and Sisters, Luke is us.  Like Paul hauling him out of the ditch and sending him into the banquet, the Lord's servants have come to us, proclaiming the good news about Jesus, hauling each of us out of our own ditch, giving us a gospel kick in the pants, and (with the Spirit's help) propelling us into God's great banquet.  We need a reminder of this, because we're prone to taking our place before the Lord for granted.  The Pharisees had their way of taking their family status for granted and we have our ways, but however we do it, it always seems to stem from forgetting that whether Jew or gentile, whether we were born into the family or whether we came later, we forget that it is by the gracious lovingkindness of God—who gave his son to die so that we who were his enemies can be here as his sons and daughters.  And when we forget the lovingkindness of God, we tend to become unloving ourselves—just like the Pharisees. Remember how Paul rebuked the Corinthians saying that they could have all sorts of spiritual gifts, but without love, they were might as well just be clanging cymbals?  Well, here's how John puts that same sentiment in today's Epistle—form the third chapter of his first letter: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the family.  Anyone who does not love abides in death.  Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has the life of the coming age abiding in him.  This is how we know love: [Jesus] laid down his life for us.  And we too ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  Anyone who has the means of life in this world, and sees a brother or sister in need, and closes his heart against them—how can God's love be abiding in him?  Children, let us not love in word or in speech, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:14-18) Does God's love abide in us?  I think that all too often, we come to the banquet, to the Lord's Table.  We eat the bread and we drink the wine, but we've forgotten the amazing sacrifice of love in which we participate here.  We take the Lord's feast for granted.  Or maybe we eat it for the wrong reasons.  But we find some kind of assurance here, the Table reminds us that we belong to God and to his family, but then we go out into the world—or maybe we even interact with our brothers and sisters here—and instead of being bubbles of gospel light in the darkness, instead of being bubbles of God's future here in the present, we're darkness.  We call ourselves God's sons and daughters, we follow the rules, but there's no love.  We eat the Lord's bread and we drink the Lord's wine and we should be reminded of God's great provision for us, of his great blessings, but we ignore the needy.  Here we're reminded that in Jesus and because of his death on our behalf, we've been given life and have a share in God's new creation, but too often we keep it to ourselves instead of taking it to the highways and hedges.  Here we have the means of life, the gospel, the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen.  We know the gracious lovingkindness of God.  We don't belong here, but he's invited us anyway.  He's forgiven our sins and filled us with his Spirit and given us a promise of new creation.  And we go out to a world in need, people suffering physically and people dying spiritually, and we close our hearts against them. So, Brothers and Sisters, come the Lord's Table this morning and be reminded that in Jesus, God has humbled himself and given his life for our sake.  This is the defining act of love.  But don't just remember.  The Lord's Supper is more than an intellectual exercise.  As we eat the Lord's bread and drink his wine, we participate in that great act of love ourselves.  So be shaped, be transformed by the love of God made manifest at the cross.  Every time you come to the Table and participate in God's perfect love, let it define you more and more.  Abide in God's love and, more and more, let God's love abide in you, that you might truly be a gospel light in the darkness. Let us pray: Father, you delight to show mercy to sinners and you graciously sent your Son to suffer the punishment we deserve.  We have received your grace and have been given new life.  Remind us to set aside all thoughts of self-righteousness.  Give us opportunities now to share your gracious love with others—with each other and with the world, that everyone we encounter may be transformed by your gospel.  We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Your Nightly Prayer

May you have the courage to stand in your own knowing.May you find the grace to let go of striving for perfection, and instead embrace the sacredness of your imperfect, human journey.May luminous moments of optimism and possibility guide you,even as you move through gray times of despair and doubt.May you have the wisdom to choose differently, to prioritize what truly matters,creating a legacy that lingers. May you always find solace in the holy ground beneath your feet,the sacred presence that dwells within and all around you.Shine your light, dear one,your small, precious gifts are needed in this world.Happy Spring Equinox! I hope you are enjoying a gentle leap into a new season. Our own weather has been erratic and wild, including nearby tornadoes that wreaked havoc on our town. And, then, today, as I work on the newsletter, sporadic power outages at our house cutting off my internet. As such, this newsletter will be a little shorter than usual with only a brief audio edition. I've gotten very off schedule this week! Our shop update today is an eclectic one, featuring assorted divine imperfections, “Luna” one-of-a-kind goddesses, and some red winged Nemesis goddesses (by customer request).We also still have assorted goddesses in our very special spring pigment—a beautiful lilac with small flowers. We are using this pigment to honor Áine, the Irish Fairy Queen, who is this year's featured goddess at Gaea Goddess Gathering. We do know that she is a summertime goddess, but we felt like this pigment was an excellent match for the spring equinox/Ostara and our month of Persephone as well, so we went forward with it!This week's magic:* 8 minute video: beholding delight.Resource Reminders:* New free series: An Introduction to Goddess Studies* 1. getting started* 2. printable journal* 3. affirmation card set* 4. portable altar space* 5. introduction to thealogy* 6. influential authors in goddess studies* 7. audio retreat: spots of time (note: publishing Saturday)Blog Posts:* Ritual Reading for Spring Equinox (A Spring Ritual of Returning)* Clarity and the CrossroadsBeholding DelightReminder: Let us be open to delight. Let us be open to wonder. Let us allow joy. Let us be open to the possibility of bliss.Journal prompts for the week:* What is calling to you? What doorway are you sensing?* What are you saying yes to? What is your ritual of returning?Affirmations for this week:* Happiness and ecstasy flow through me wildly and freely.* I am open to joy.* I say yes to life.* I listen to the call.* I allow an expansive dream or creative quest to emerge.* I find the small sacred moments in my daily life and let them sustain me.* I walk my path with presence and intention.Goddess of quiet knowing,help me to make a space for stillness,to guard a place for peace.Remind me that stillness and motionare a constant interplay,the beat between notes,the space between raindrops,the pause between breaths,the silence between heartbeats.The nature of the body is to be in motion,the constant unfolding of a whole universewhirling within our cells,the still spaces in betweensomehow holding the whole together,as in stillnesswe move.Much love,Molly, Mark, + Family Get full access to Rituals of Returning (from Brigid's Grove) at goddessmagic.substack.com/subscribe

One Song is closing out our celebration of Black Music Month with award-winning musician and composer Patrice Rushen. Alongside LUXXURY and Diallo, Patrice delves into the artistic foundation and creative process that shaped her beloved 1982 classic “Remind Me.” One Song Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/40SIOpVROmrxTjOtH7Q1yw?si=e2023fe26fc7497a Songs Discussed: “Remind Me” - Patrice Rushen “Forget Me Nots” - Patrice Rushen “Number One” - Patrice Rushen “Take Your Time” - Heavy D & the Boyz “Fallin' In Love” - Faith Evans “I Need You Tonight” - Junior M.A.F.I.A. “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” - Sly & The Family Stone “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)” - Stevie Wonder “Speak Like A Child” - Herbie Hancock “As” - Stevie Wonder “Doing It To Death” - The J.B.'s “I Feel For You” - Prince “I Wanna Be Your Lover” - Prince Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"God Cares About You" — Be Encouraged! PodcastHave you ever felt like God just… doesn't see you?Like you're doing all the right things, but still feeling unseen, unheard, or overwhelmed with worry? Same. I've been there—wondering if God really cares about the pain I'm feeling, the prayers I'm praying, and the things I'm still waiting for.But today, we're resting in this truth from 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT):“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”This verse has been such a balm for my soul lately, and in this episode, I want to walk with you through what it really looks like to live this out. Not just reading it, but believing it. Deeply. Personally.We'll talk about:The real-life moments that make us question if God truly sees us (yes, even tantrums in the grocery store and the sting of being left out)How we sometimes carry around things God never meant for us to holdWhy casting our cares on Him starts with humbling our heartsAnd I'll leave you with 3 simple takeaways to help you come back to this truth: God cares for you. Deeply. Intimately. Always.Whether you're in a season of waiting, worry, or weariness—this one's for you, friend.✨ Here's what we're holding on to:Remind your heart of who God is and what He's already done.Cast it out (and don't reel it back in --- Let it go, for real!)Trust Him with the parts of your story you can't see yet.Because the truth is—God doesn't need us to have it all together. He just wants our heart. He wants to carry what's too heavy for us. Why? Because He cares about you.

Ah, to be the wounded one—the one who gets to be the powerful forgiver.  We covet this rare role because we're usually more sinning than we're sinned against.  And when it comes our turn to show the grace once given us, we linger with the choice, as if it were a heavy thing to pardon what's been done. We can't, of course, refuse forgiveness outright:  Jesus tied our own forgiveness to the habit of forgiving.  But first, a little groveling, we say.  Some real contrition, perhaps a tear or ten.  Some promises to never—ever—injure us again. And so we fall far short of grace.  We strike a lender's bargain with the sinner:  pardon only if the penitent submits to our superiority. But grace is always washinbg someone's feet—abandoning all power in the goal to make the sinner whole.  We cannot—dare not—charge for what was freely offered us.  If it's not free, then it's not grace. Remind yourself of how forgiveness made you valuable to you.  And stay in grace. -Bill Knott

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Your Nightly Prayer

Ah, to be the wounded one—the one who gets to be the powerful forgiver.  We covet this rare role because we're usually more sinning than we're sinned against.  And when it comes our turn to show the grace once given us, we linger with the choice, as if it were a heavy thing to pardon what's been done. We can't, of course, refuse forgiveness outright:  Jesus tied our own forgiveness to the habit of forgiving.  But first, a little groveling, we say.  Some real contrition, perhaps a tear or ten.  Some promises to never—ever—injure us again. And so we fall far short of grace.  We strike a lender's bargain with the sinner:  pardon only if the penitent submits to our superiority. But grace is always washinbg someone's feet—abandoning all power in the goal to make the sinner whole.  We cannot—dare not—charge for what was freely offered us.  If it's not free, then it's not grace. Remind yourself of how forgiveness made you valuable to you.  And stay in grace. -Bill Knott

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comRomans 6 “Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who die to sin still live in it?” Through baptism, believers unite with Christ in His death and resurrection, representing the death of their old sinful selves and their rebirth into a life dedicated to God. Becoming new in Christ demands that sin no longer reign over the body. The members of the Christian's body become instruments of righteousness, reclaimed by God to carry out His good will in this world. Once slaves to sin and subject to death, believers become slaves of righteousness, resulting in sanctification and eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Grace is never an excuse for sin. God forgives those who repent, but to willfully sin is to distort His grace. In baptism, we are buried with Christ, united with Him, and raised to a new life through His power. This is wonderful news! However, we also die to our old selves, putting to death the body of sin as we are made alive in Jesus. Our bodies are renewed and repurposed for God's intentions. Once slaves to sin, we now live indebted to God, enslaved to righteousness. Many will not commit to God, wanting to claim their lives as their own. But everyone belongs to either sin leading to death or God leading to eternal life. Choose wisely. Gracious God, thank You for freeing us from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ. Help us to live united with Him in His death and resurrection, leaving behind our old ways and walking in the newness of life. Empower us to resist sin and to offer ourselves fully to You as instruments of righteousness. Open doors of Christ-like service for us today. Remind us daily that we are no longer slaves to sin but are servants of Your grace, secured now and forever. May our lives reflect Your holiness, and may we honor You in all we do. Thought Questions: -       What must be understood about baptism according to this chapter? What does it mean to crucify the old self through baptism? -       Christians are instruments of righteousness to God. What does that mean, and how does it shape how you live your daily life? -       Are you comfortable with being “enslaved to God”? Why is sanctification in God worth surrendering your whole self to Him?

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.theflyingfrisby.comOh, my goodness me. I don't think I've ever seen volatility like it.We have a huge speculative bubble on our hands, and it's popping.What's more, this bubble is full of chancers, charlatans and chief executive officers.The Mail has got onto the story. That is not a good sign. If I told you ten days ago that the price of a share you just bought would rise from 6p to 40p in a week, you'd be pretty happy.Then again, if I told you on Monday that something you owned was going to drop by 60% the following day, you'd be pretty unhappy.That's what happened with the UK-listed bitcoin treasury companies.Nobody said it would be easy.Today we are going to try and make some sense of what is going on. We have a comprehensive list of all the UK companies jumping on this nutty bandwagon. And, most importantly, we consider what to do next.Let's start with a timely reminder: owning a speculative bitcoin treasury company is not the same as owning bitcoin. One is a crazy speculation, the other is the future money system of the world. Bitcoin treasury stocks ≠ bitcoinI hope that is clear.Now a rant.The Great British FCA Crypto FarceI'm looking at the price of Coinsilium (AQUIS:COIN) this morning. It is ranging from 60p to 30p, i.e. doubling and halving. This situation means the beloved UK market makers might be creaming off enough money to keep them in caviar and truffles for the foreseeable future, but the ordinary retail investor is getting hammered.In the course of 7 trading days, Coinsilium has gone from 6p to 90p to 30p.The bitcoin price, meanwhile, is pretty much unchanged.This situation is almost entirely a creation of the FCA, with its decision to “protect” UK investors from the dangers of cryptocurrencies. That protection began in 2020 when bitcoin was $5,000. Today it's $105,000. That's a $100,000 per coin increase—a 21x or 2,000% gain—UK investors were protected from.Remember UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak spinning his “Britcoin” BS?“It's my ambition to make the UK a global hub for cryptoasset technology, and the measures we've outlined today will help to ensure firms can invest, innovate and scale up in this country.We want to see the businesses of tomorrow – and the jobs they create – here in the UK, and by regulating effectively we can give them the confidence they need to think and invest long-term.This is part of our plan to ensure the UK financial services industry is always at the forefront of technology and innovation.”Nobody told the FCA! How was any of that even remotely possible when the FCA had banned the sale of crypto derivatives to UK consumers, and effectively regulated cryptoasset technology out of existence in the UK?Did the two departments even speak before he trotted out that rollocks?Of course they didn't. They are different departments.It's as though the UK government is inherently incompetent.Remember UK Chancellor George Osborne publicising himself buying bitcoin at an ATM? The FCA made ATMs illegal.Remind me. Who voted for the FCA? Or indeed Ofcom? Or Ofsted?Why do these bodies have such extraordinary power?It's enough to make you a libertarian.In any case, we now have this situation of extraordinary pent-up demand, built up over many years, with hundreds of billions of pounds in ISAs and pensions wanting exposure. The result is this insane volatility in UK bitcoin treasury companies.Smarter Web Company (AQUS:SWC) went from 2.5p to above 600p, giving it a market cap over a billion. It has just £45 million in assets. Great work, FCA.Today it's sitting just below 300p.Japan has similarly prohibitive anti-bitcoin regulations, and has thereby created the market leader in this second wave of bitcoin treasury companies, Metaplanet (3350:TYO). (Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) was the leader in phase one.)The Japanese company announced this week that it has raised another $500 million, with which it is going to pay down its 0% debt and buy more bitcoins. Why is it paying down its debt? Presumably to clean up its balance sheet so it can raise further capital on better terms to buy more bitcoin (it has targeted 1% of total supply, which would be 210,000 bitcoin). The Japanese market is starved of bitcoin access. Metaplanet is exploiting this situation.Despite a flat bitcoin price, there was a worldwide sell-off of treasury companies starting on Monday. The sell-off coincided, as these things always seem to, with coverage in the mainstream press. In this case, the Mail marked the top with a piece on the Smarter Web Company.Pretty much all the treasury sh1tcos are now down 50–70%. Is that it? Game over? Or was that just phase one?I've seen this play out many times over the years. I've seen it with uranium sh1tcos in 2006, gold junkcos, silver rubbishcos, graphite flybynights, helium hotaircos and moreIt doesn't take a genius to work out where all this is going, and a lot of people are going to make a lot of money. A lot more are going to lose a lot of money. These things are not necessarily going to zero - they will have bitcoin on their balance sheet. But when bitcoin has one of its biennial corrections, they are going to get crucified.But we are also going to see a new corporate model emerge as a result.It's dotcom, basically. But which companies will be the Amazons and Microsofts? And which are Pets.com and ClickMango?Every day we are hearing news of another company “pivoting” - who invented that awful word? - into a bitcoin treasury company. It is all happening very quickly.Here's a list of the UK companies getting in on the game. Then we will look at what to do next .Meet the Players. Should I say, '‘Monkeys”?In addition to Smarter Web Company (AQUIS:SWC) and Coinsilium (AQUIS:COIN) we have:

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible, where together we journey through the pages of Scripture and warm our hearts by the fires of God's love. In today's episode, Host Hunter guides us through powerful stories from 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and 1 Timothy. We witness the dramatic rise of young King Joash, hidden away during a time of evil, and learn how God is always working behind the scenes—even when darkness seems to rule. As we explore the restoration of the temple and the steadfast hope of God's advancing kingdom, Hunter reminds us that grace is never transactional; it is given freely, before we've done a thing. Settle in as we seek encouragement, realign our hearts with God's truth, and remember together: you are deeply loved—no strings attached. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Seven years is a long time. That's how long Athaliah, the evil queen, ruled over the land and the people of God. Seven years had gone by since she committed unspeakable evil, murdering her own grandchildren. She wore the crown, her power seemed unshakable. She was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and the darkness of her reign must have felt never-ending for God's people. It can often feel, in our own lives, that evil is entrenched—that things will always remain as they are, with pain, injustice, or sorrow wearing the crown. But the story of Joash shows us something different: things are not always as they seem, and they will not always be as they are. Even when it looks as though evil is sitting on the throne, God is quietly at work, hidden away, preparing something new, something hopeful. Inside the temple, out of sight, there is a boy—a son. And at just the right moment, when all hope might seem lost, he is revealed. Joash's crowning is a signal: God's kingdom is advancing, even when we cannot see it, even when evil appears enthroned. The crown is placed on Joash's head, the true king is revealed, and the evil reign comes to an end. But Joash, as faithful as he may have been, is not the perfect king we ultimately need. His story, though hopeful, is unfinished and flawed. Our true King is Jesus, God's own Son, who does not falter or fail as Joash did. Jesus is the hidden King, waiting for the right time to be revealed in glory. He is at work—accomplishing all the Father asks, reigning forever. The evil that seems so strong will not last. The kingdom of God will be seen by all. The pages of Scripture remind us that God is always at work behind the scenes. His real King is alive and coming. In times when darkness lingers, when evil seems to rule, do not despair. Hold fast, by the Spirit's power, to the hope of His coming. See and hear this truth—your King is coming. That is my prayer for myself, my family, and for you, dear listener. May we hold on to the hope of Christ's reign, and may we remember: God is at work, even now, in ways we cannot see. Let this hope strengthen us and fill us with courage, as we wait for our King. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Jesus is my shepherd. You have called me by my name into the life of the Beloved. Here in the stillness, I remember that I am not alone. I belong to you and to the great communion of saints and sinners held together in your love. Remind me, Lord, that every breath is grace, every encounter is a chance to give what I have received—mercy without measure. When I forget who I am, when I lose my way, lead me again to still waters. Restore my soul. Renew my hope. Reroute me in the joy of simply being yours. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

John Maytham is joined by Adriaan Basson, Editor-in-Chief of News24, to unpack his latest column drawing parallels between Deputy President Paul Mashatile and former President Jacob Zuma. From benefactor-funded lifestyles to family-linked business deals, Basson argues that Mashatile is walking a dangerously familiar path — one marked by excess, blurred ethical lines, and public distrust. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Storms will come. That's not a matter of if—but when. The question is: where will you stand when the wind picks up, and how will you respond when the waves crash in? The answer isn't in trying to control the storm—it's in knowing who's in the boat.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” — Mark 4:39 (ESV)The disciples panicked—and it's easy to understand why. The storm was real. The danger was intense. And Jesus was… asleep.That's how it feels sometimes, doesn't it? Like God's sleeping on your situation while everything around you falls apart. But notice what Jesus did—He didn't panic. He didn't match the chaos. He commanded peace.And peace obeyed.That same Jesus is with you now. He may not always calm the storm immediately, but He always brings peace to the one who calls on Him. Peace is not the absence of struggle—it's the presence of Christ in the middle of it.If you're overwhelmed right now, stop trying to control the outcome. Call on the One who controls the wind and the waves. Let Him quiet your heart even if the storm still rages around you.The goal isn't to escape the storm—the goal is to walk through it without losing your peace.Question of the Day:Are you trying to calm the storm yourself—or are you calling on the One who speaks to storms?Mini Call to Action:Take five minutes today, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Say aloud, “Peace. Be still.” Let those words settle into your spirit as a declaration of trust.Let's Pray:Jesus, I invite Your peace into the chaos of my life. Remind me that You are near, that You are greater than the storm, and that my soul can rest in You. In Your name, amen.Let's Get To Work!Peace doesn't come from the storm dying down—it comes from knowing Jesus never left.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

If you've ever felt stuck in a cycle of frustration, guilt, and broken promises to yourself, this episode is for you. Today we're talking about what it looks like to pursue peace in your Christian weight-loss journey — not as something you earn when you “get it right,” but as the very path that leads to lasting change. You'll learn why being mad at yourself doesn't create progress, how peace can actually guide your decisions, and how telling the truth to yourself builds self-trust and spiritual alignment. God invites you to stop punishing yourself and start walking in grace — right where you are. What You'll Learn: Why self-criticism keeps you stuck in shame (not growth) What the Bible says about pursuing peace, not just waiting for it How peace with yourself reflects peace with God What it means to tell yourself the truth and rebuild self-trust How to take action from a place of peace, not pressure Faith Anchor:

By mindful cloud-watching, we: ☁️ Relax your nervous system ☁️ Shift your attention from overthinking to simply observing ☁️ Remind you that change is natural—and often gentleMy live guided meditations are designed for groups to breathe together, let go together, and then find the way back to peace together, with the benefit of feeling more focused and calm. When you join our groups, you share a positive energy that makes it easier to stay centered and relaxed. This shared experience can make your meditation feel stronger and more connected, one gentle step at a time.Rise Above Stress and Anxiety on MeetupThursdays, 8:00 PM MST.Rise Above Stress and Anxiety on MeetupSaturdays, 9:30 AM MST.Calm from Within on MeetupMondays, 5:45 PM MST.For more support with anxiety, join our community on Facebook.This event is produced by Alto Cirrus TechnologiesMusic permission by Uppbeat, Quiet Mountain Meadow Ivo Vicic.Hosted on Acast. For more information, visit Acast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“No! I don't want to!” How many times have dads heard something like this? Is it defiance, or something else? Kids talking back is part of growing up. Dads need to know how to react when their children get mouthy. In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to talk about keeping our cool when this happens in our homes.Why This MattersThere are different kinds of “talking back,” and handling them all the same could lead to friction in your relationship with your kids. Key TakeawaysTalking back, or being “mouthy,” is developmentally normal. Recognize that there are always reasons kids talk back. Practical Tools for DadsWhen your kids get mouthy, try these techniques to better understand their behavior:1. Stay calm. 2. Acknowledge their feelings. 3. Treat them with respect. 4. Remind them of the parent/child dynamic5. Focus on the message. Important Episode Timestamps00:00 – 00:55 | Introduction & Big Question of the Week00:55 – 03:13 | Personal Stories: Were You a Mouthy Kid?03:13 – 05:10 | Why Back Talk Pushes Our Buttons05:10 – 07:07 | Defiant vs. Dismissive: What Kind of Back Talk Is It?07:07 – 09:50 | Reacting vs. Responding: Fear-Based Parenting Doesn't Last09:50 – 13:36 | The Power of Curiosity: What's Really Going On?13:36 – 15:15 | The Role of Imitation in Behavior15:15 – 17:58 | Practical Tools to Diffuse the Moment17:58 – 22:00 | Teach, Don't Just Stop the Behavior22:00 – 28:00 | Pro Move of the Week:  Remember, mouthy kids are normal kids. They just need guidance. Sponsor:The All Pro Dad Podcast is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. Learn more at FamilyFirst.net.We love feedback, but can't reply without your email address. Message us your thoughts and contact info!Connect with Us: Ted Lowe on LinkedIn Bobby Lewis on LinkedIn BJ Foster on LinkedIn Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Get All Pro Dad merch! EXTRAS: Follow us: Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)Join 200,000+ other dads by subscribing to the All Pro Dad Play of the Day. Get daily fatherhood ideas, insight, and inspiration straight to your inbox.This episode's blog can also be viewed here on AllProDad.com. Like the All Pro Dad gear and mugs? Get your own in the All Pro Dad store.Get great content for moms at iMOM.com

When hardship strikes, it feels like everything unravels—our plans, our peace, even our confidence in what God promised. But this is exactly when His Word matters most. In times of crisis, we don't cling to what we feel—we cling to what He has said.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28 (ESV)This verse isn't a cliché—it's a cornerstone. Paul didn't write it from a place of comfort. He wrote it as someone who had been beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, betrayed, and misunderstood. And yet, his conviction remained unshaken: God works all things—even suffering—for good.That doesn't mean everything feels good. It doesn't mean every moment is easy. But it means nothing is wasted.Your hardship might feel random, but it's not. Your pain may seem senseless, but in God's hands, it has purpose. He redeems what looks ruined. He transforms what feels hopeless. He rewrites stories with endings we never saw coming.When God makes a promise, He's not speaking from your perspective—He's speaking from eternity. He sees the full picture. He knows how this chapter connects to the next. And even in your deepest sorrow, His Word stands firm.This is why we need His promises hidden in our hearts before the storm hits. Because in the middle of the storm, emotions scream—but truth sustains.If you're in hardship today, don't just survive it. Anchor yourself in what God has said.Question of the Day:What promise from God do you need to hold onto right now—despite what you're feeling?Mini Call to Action:Write down Romans 8:28 on a card or in your phone. Every time discouragement rises, read it aloud. Let God's Word reshape your focus.Let's Pray:Lord, thank You that nothing in my life is wasted. Even in hardship, You are working. Help me to trust Your promises when I can't see the outcome. Remind me that You are faithful. In Jesus' name, amen.Let's Get To Work!When the pain is loud, let the promises of God be louder.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Study 23- Luke 18:31–19:27 Seeing and trusting There are 4 sections in this study all of which have something to do with seeing and not seeing, understanding and not understanding or just plain hidden. The first section, Luke 18: 31–34 serves as a summary of what is to follow. Do read Luke 18:31-34. The disciples had a reasonable excuse for not understanding. What Jesus was saying was so strange and unexpected they could be forgiven for not understanding. But we, in all probability, have some knowledge of how things turned out so we do not have that excuse. v 34 provides a challenge to us, the readers or hearers: will we be blind or deaf, will we see or hear and understand? Blindness and sight are metaphors for no faith and faith. Have you moved from blindness to sight? Remind yourself what the effect of your blindness was and how you first knew that you were seeing or, if you are in a group, share together your journey from blindness to sight, darkness to light. Question 1: What is the significance of the rising sequence of names given to Jesus by the blind man (named as Bartimaeus, literally ‘son of filth’, in Mk 10: 46). Those names are Jesus of Nazareth; Jesus, son of David; Lord. Jesus of Nazareth probably meant to him the prophet with power to heal and who would have compassion on him; Jesus, son of David, meant Jesus was the Messiah; Lord that Jesus was worth following. The question and answer in 18: 41 may appear strange but begging was a profession in those days as it still is in some countries, dependant on a visible handicap and providing a good income. If the man was cured of his blindness he would have to find a job with no skills or experience to call on. Question 2: The emphasis is not on Bartimaeus’ restored sight but his faith (18: 42, 43). What exactly did his faith consist of? What is this miracle saying to us? The important phrase is ‘he followed Jesus’. He must have known something about Jesus or he would not have made so much noise trying to attract his attention. We, too, are not expected to start from detailed knowledge about what following Jesus means. We, too, are expected to get up (metaphorically speaking) and follow him. Do read Luke 19: 1–10. Zacchaeus was not only short of stature; he was a collaborator with the hated Romans. He would not dare to push his way to the front of the crowd for fear of a knife in his back. So he ran ahead! Not what an important man should do. But the crowd saw him go and mocked him so that Jesus learned his name. Jesus was intending to go straight through Jericho so that he would not have to spend time (possibly days?) being entertained with full ceremony. But he is prepared to go to Zacchaeus’ house. Question 3: Note the significance of seeing in this account. Who does the seeing? Everybody. Zacchaeus had to take action to see Jesus, Jesus sees him; the crowd sees what is going on and starts to mutter. The servant figure of Is 53 takes hostility meant for others on himself. Statements there like: “he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” reflect the costly love that Jesus gives to Zacchaeus? Question 4: We read earlier in this chapter that the rich man/camel had to go through the eye of the needle! What happened to prove that Zaccheus didn’t dodge round? The promises of repayment Zacchaeus made are far reaching. If you do the Maths on what he said you will see that if he had cheated just on one eighth of his debtors he would end up with nothing. Perhaps he is saying that he has been a good man and that he has not been cheating in the past? Do read Luke 19: 11–27. Luke does not use the parable of the minas to teach successful stewardship as Matthew uses it in Matt 25: 14–30 but to explain the apparent non-appearance of the Kingdom (the people thought the kingdom of God was going to appear at once 19: 11). The parable uses a well-known and well-understood situation. 73 years earlier Herod the Great, second son of the just assassinated king, made a successful journey to Rome to petition Caesar to appoint him the next king of Judea. Later, about 37 years before Luke wrote, Herod’s son Archelaus had made a similar, but unsuccessful, journey seeking the same thing. (A ‘mina’ was about 100 days wages for a working man.) Queston 5: What would be the likely outcome for a servant of the would-be king if (a) the petitioner who would be king was successful, (b) he was unsuccessful? By their actions the servants would demonstrate their allegiance or otherwise to the man seeking to be king. Their future livelihoods, or possibly their lives, would be dependant on having chosen the right option. The last phrase of v 15 should perhaps read ‘how much trading have you done’ effectively asking how conspicuous have you been while I was away when it was known that you supported me. If I win, you win. If I lose, you lose. Question 6: How was this relevant to the developing situation as Jesus travelled to Jerusalem? How is it relevant to us? If he was indeed the Messiah he claimed to be and they showed their loyalty by open declaration of their support of him they would gain. If he wasn’t, they would be in a very dangerous situation. At least that was the way it looked. Things did not quite work out in that straightforward way. He was indeed the Messiah but they were still in a dangerous situation, humanly speaking. But in the vast story of human history they became very important. The comment of the third servant in 19: 21 must have been meant as a complement! He must have been suggesting that his master was something like a warlord in a country with much internal fighting going on! Question 7: How can this and the master’s reply (v 21, 22) be related to Jesus, or to God? Ps 18: 25, 26 relates to this sort of situation. It says of God ‘To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.’ It suggest that, at least in part, our understanding of God will depend on our general attitudes. Question 8: The final comment in 19: 27 ‘But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them — bring them here and kill them in front of me. is realistic in the Judaean kingship, or warlord, scenario. How can it possibly be related to Jesus, or God? This is another unfinished story. We are told what the enemies deserved, not what actually happened to them. Compare what we deserve and what we actually get from the Lord. After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. So says 19: 28, finally bringing to an end the long account of the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem and introducing the last phase of Luke’s account of Jesus’ life, death and victory. Tap or click here to save/download this as a MP3 audio file

Welcome to today's sermon podcast, where we dive deep into understanding the challenges discipleship faces in our modern world. Drawing from Acts 2:44-47, we explore how secularization, privatization, and pluralism act as metaphorical riptides challenging the grace of God and our mission as His disciples. We reflect on the importance of maintaining our focus on God's kingdom, regardless of the cultural pressures to conform. We journey through scriptural insights and personal anecdotes, examining how cultural trends threaten to obscure the truth and grace we are called to live and share. Join us as we discover how to live counter-culturally, prioritize our heavenly citizenship, and ensure that our lives are a testament to God's abundant life and everlasting grace. with Pastor Mike Curry WHY IS DISCIPLESHIP SO DIFFICULT? Challenges to Grace Acts 2:44-47 Main Idea: Discipleship may not be easy, but it is essential to God's mission on earth, and God has promised to help us. Introduction: Three Cultural Rip Currents Secularization – Church losing influence as shaper of life and thought in the wider social order. Privatization – Spiritual things are being confined to the private arena of life. Pluralization – An unending buffet of ideologies and faith options competing for attention.   Three vital principles for living as a disciple in today's age. I. Principle #1: Maintain the priority between your primary and secondary cultures. Primary culture = Christian community of faith Secondary culture = The world in which we live. Matthew 6:33 – “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God” Principle #2: Remind yourselves that our true citizenship is in heaven. We have dual citizenship (Phil. 3:20). We may use the things of the world, but we should not become “engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:31). III. Principle #3: Live as a counter-culture. Jesus said we must be in the world but not of it (John 17:16-18). Jesus calls us to be salt, light, and yeast (Matt. 5:13-16; 13:33), and that requires us to challenge the incorrect beliefs and corrupt practices of our age. Conclusion We must pass our faith to the next generation through discipleship. We are citizens of heaven living and working for Him on this earth, busy making Christlike disciples in his name. Action Step: Examine Acts 2:44-47 this week. What daily practices shown there do you exhibit in your daily life?  What disciplines listed in the passage seem difficult for you to practice daily?  Pick one and work on incorporating it into your life this week. Enlist the help of others in your family or church to do so. Find other Podcasts, Sermon Notes and the Bulletin here. https://www.mvcnaz.org/live Stay in touch with our Church Center App at https://www.mvcnaz.org/churchcenter Contact us through our CONNECT form at https://www.mvcnaz.org/connect

On day 342 of this podcast, I said this: "If you're like most people, the voice inside your head is probably pretty incessant. It's probably very critical and anxious. That voice is not you. If it was you, it wouldn't need to share all of it's wild ideas with you. You would know the message and have already made decisions, instead you engage in these dialogues or arguments with yourself because you're not that voice. You know it's wrong or mean or negative and you recognize it. The work you must do is continue to recognize it. Continue to notice when it's chatting with you. Other the voice and name it, or address it with love - because in reality the voice is looking out for you in the only way it knows how. Which, yeah, we can agree this voice is not a great parent, but it does love us. So address this voice, ask it to sit down. Hear it out, and then thank it for its concern. Remind it you're safe and that the advice it is sharing is not helpful or needed at the moment. Then you can move on with you leading the way, rather than this wildcard with random ideas and thoughts leading you through fear. Other it, welcome it, and recognize our thoughts and feelings are often valid but not always rooted in truth or reality. Resources for Resisting a Coup: https://makeyourdamnbed.medium.com/practical-guides-to-resisting-a-coup-b44571b9ad66SUPPORT Julie (and the show!): https://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bedDONATE to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund: www.pcrf.netGET AN OCCASIONAL PERSONAL EMAIL FROM ME: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.comTUNE IN ON INSTAGRAM FOR COOL CONTENT: www.instagram.com/mydbpodcastOR BE A REAL GEM + TUNE IN ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/MYDBpodcastOR WATCH ON YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/juliemerica The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Overview In this episode, John Kitchens sits down with powerhouse real estate leader Jack Perry to explore how thinking like a CEO can elevate your business—even in fluctuating markets. Jack shares his journey from pastor to full-time real estate CEO, why positivity matters more than ever, and how creating a culture of community, mentorship, and accountability helped his team grow to 200+ agents. Key Topics Covered Embracing the Storm The importance of staying positive amid market uncertainties.  “People still buy homes…if you talk negative…your agents start feeling that.” How perseverance through 2009's downturn shaped Jack's leadership. Refocusing the “Why” Behind Buying Avoiding transactional fixation in favor of long-term living needs. Jack's own home purchased in 1988 still houses his family today—emphasizing the real purpose of homeownership. Building Culture Over Commission Cultivating team unity through mutual support (Slack-driven showings, monthly barbecues). Every agent—veteran or new—plays a vital role: “once a rockstar, always a mentor.” Leadership Through Service The power of empathy and hands‑on communication (texting/personal outreach to 200+ agents). Jack's servant leadership style is grounded in authenticity over ego. Empowering High Performers Encouraging ambition: “If you're comfortable doing 5–10 deals/year, we might not be a good fit.” Flagging complacency early; celebrating agents pushing 25–35 deals. Keeping Your Eye on the Long Game Social media as a window into intent and consistency. Insight gleaned from Daymond John's quote: "I look at your social media profile" to assess discipline. Qualifying and Coaching the Right Way Ask deeper questions to uncover client motivations and timelines. Remind clients of their original goals throughout the journey to avoid wheels spinning. Scaling with Integrity Protecting culture as team grows—self-policing, core values in action, not on the wall. Ego-free leadership and letting others operate and innovate within the organization. Resources & Strategies Mentioned Mentorship model inspired by Frank Shamrock's “plus-minus-equal” creed Frequent personal outreach “Outcome over ego” mentality drives collaboration in turbulent times “If you talk negative or doom and gloom…your agents start feeling that.” — Jack Perry   Connect with Us: Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach   If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time!

May you have the courage to stand in your own knowing.May you find the grace to let go of striving for perfection, and instead embrace the sacredness of your imperfect, human journey.May luminous moments of optimism and possibility guide you,even as you move through gray times of despair and doubt.May you have the wisdom to choose differently, to prioritize what truly matters,creating a legacy that lingers. May you always find solace in the holy ground beneath your feet,the sacred presence that dwells within and all around you.Shine your light, dear one,your small, precious gifts are needed in this world.Happy Spring Equinox! I hope you are enjoying a gentle leap into a new season. Our own weather has been erratic and wild, including nearby tornadoes that wreaked havoc on our town. And, then, today, as I work on the newsletter, sporadic power outages at our house cutting off my internet. As such, this newsletter will be a little shorter than usual with only a brief audio edition. I've gotten very off schedule this week! Our shop update today is an eclectic one, featuring assorted divine imperfections, “Luna” one-of-a-kind goddesses, and some red winged Nemesis goddesses (by customer request).We also still have assorted goddesses in our very special spring pigment—a beautiful lilac with small flowers. We are using this pigment to honor Áine, the Irish Fairy Queen, who is this year's featured goddess at Gaea Goddess Gathering. We do know that she is a summertime goddess, but we felt like this pigment was an excellent match for the spring equinox/Ostara and our month of Persephone as well, so we went forward with it!This week's magic:* 8 minute video: beholding delight.Resource Reminders:* New free series: An Introduction to Goddess Studies* 1. getting started* 2. printable journal* 3. affirmation card set* 4. portable altar space* 5. introduction to thealogy* 6. influential authors in goddess studies* 7. audio retreat: spots of time (note: publishing Saturday)Blog Posts:* Ritual Reading for Spring Equinox (A Spring Ritual of Returning)* Clarity and the CrossroadsBeholding DelightReminder: Let us be open to delight. Let us be open to wonder. Let us allow joy. Let us be open to the possibility of bliss.Journal prompts for the week:* What is calling to you? What doorway are you sensing?* What are you saying yes to? What is your ritual of returning?Affirmations for this week:* Happiness and ecstasy flow through me wildly and freely.* I am open to joy.* I say yes to life.* I listen to the call.* I allow an expansive dream or creative quest to emerge.* I find the small sacred moments in my daily life and let them sustain me.* I walk my path with presence and intention.Goddess of quiet knowing,help me to make a space for stillness,to guard a place for peace.Remind me that stillness and motionare a constant interplay,the beat between notes,the space between raindrops,the pause between breaths,the silence between heartbeats.The nature of the body is to be in motion,the constant unfolding of a whole universewhirling within our cells,the still spaces in betweensomehow holding the whole together,as in stillnesswe move.Much love,Molly, Mark, + Family Get full access to Rituals of Returning (from Brigid's Grove) at goddessmagic.substack.com/subscribe

Your Nightly Prayer

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 20-21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter guides us through day 169 of our year-long journey through the Scriptures. We begin with the dramatic stories of First Kings 20-21, witnessing the confrontations between King Ahab, Ben-Hadad, and the tragic story of Naboth's vineyard. We continue into Second Chronicles 17, where King Jehoshaphat's faithfulness brings strength and blessing to Judah. Our reading concludes in Colossians 3, with the Apostle Paul's powerful reminder to embrace our new life in Christ and to clothe ourselves with love, forgiveness, and gratitude. Hunter brings these ancient texts to life, reflecting on God's impartial love, the futility of viewing our relationship with Him as transactional, and the good news that we are all included and deeply loved. Join us as we listen, pray, and let the truth of God's Word shape our hearts today. TODAY'S DEVOTION: God has no favorites. I have three daughters and there have been times in life when people have asked me, Hunter, who's your favorite? And I have to chuckle when I hear that because my mind doesn't even go there. I don't think in terms of one daughter being favored over another because they're all my kids. They're my girls. I love them dearly. I have no favorites. And we're told that God has no favorites. We are all his children. It doesn't matter whether we're Abigail, Magdalene, or Eden Hunter, or Heather, or you, or whoever. It doesn't matter. Whether we are Jew or Gentile, circumcised, uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave or free, it doesn't matter. Christ is all that matters. He is the favored one. And we—our lives—are hidden in his. That's what Paul says. Our real life is hidden with God in Christ, the favored one. He has no favorites because we're all favored. We're all loved. We've been included. God has reconciled the whole world to himself. Paul says he has no favorites because we are all loved by him. And that, my friend, is such good news. And the prayer of my own heart today is that I will see who I am in Christ, favored and loved. And that's a prayer that I have for my family, too—for my daughters, for my wife, and for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Jesus is my shepherd. You have called me by my name into the life of the Beloved. Here in the stillness, I remember that I am not alone. I belong to you and to the great communion of saints and sinners held together in your love. Remind me, Lord, that every breath is grace, every encounter is a chance to give what I have received—mercy without measure. When I forget who I am, when I lose my way, lead me again to still waters. Restore my soul, renew my hope. Reroute me in the joy of simply being yours. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory Forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Beyond Trouble #RTTBROS #Nightlight Beyond Today's Troubles"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." - Jeremiah 29:11"God's plans for your life far exceed the circumstances of your day."When we find ourselves overwhelmed by the weight of today's challenges, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. The bills on your kitchen table, the tension in your relationships, the uncertainty at work, or the health concerns that keep you awake at night can feel all-consuming. In these moments, our vision becomes narrow, focused only on what we can see right in front of us.But God's perspective is infinitely different from ours. While we see today's struggles, He sees the masterpiece He's creating through every season of our lives. The very circumstances that feel like obstacles may actually be the tools He's using to shape us, strengthen us, and prepare us for the good works He has planned.Consider Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery. In that moment, his circumstances seemed hopeless. Yet God was orchestrating events that would eventually place Joseph in a position to save nations from famine. What appeared to be a devastating setback was actually a divine setup.The same God who worked through Joseph's difficulties is working through yours. Your current chapter is not your final story. The financial pressure you're facing doesn't define your future provision. The broken relationship doesn't determine your capacity for love. The closed door doesn't mean there isn't a better one waiting to open.God's plans for you are not merely about getting you through today, though He will. They're about transforming you into who He created you to be and positioning you for purposes you haven't even imagined yet. His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace, hope, and a future filled with meaning.Today, when the circumstances feel heavy, remember that they are temporary, but God's plans for you are eternal. Look beyond what you can see with your eyes and trust what He has promised with His word. Your best days are not behind you – they're ahead of you, woven into the perfect plan of a God who loves you more than you can comprehend.Prayer: Heavenly Father, when I can only see today's troubles, help me to trust in Your eternal perspective. Remind me that You are working all things together for my good and Your glory. Give me faith to believe that Your plans for my life far exceed anything I can see or imagine today. In Jesus' name, Amen.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Preacher: Mark Schledorn 2 Peter 1:2–12 Special Guest: Mark Schledorn.

“For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” - 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12With Father's Day approaching, we're asking a deeper question: What kind of legacy are we leaving as men, as dads, and as stewards of what God has entrusted to us? Jonathan Lewis from Fathers for Fathers joins us to talk about fatherhood, faith, and the financial discipleship that shapes generations.Jonathan Lewis is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®), a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA®), and President of Eastport Financial Group Inc. He is also the founder of Fathers for Fathers, a faith-based organization dedicated to restoring hope, healing, and purpose in the lives of men, especially fathers. A Story RedeemedWhen Jonathan was 15, he experienced a trauma no child should face—dragging his father's lifeless body onto a beach in Nova Scotia after a drowning accident. That moment became a fracture point in his life, leading to years of instability, homelessness, guilt, and emotional isolation.But out of those ashes came clarity: a calling to reach other men who feel lost, alone, and ashamed. His ministry, Fathers for Fathers, is a direct response to the epidemic of fatherlessness and emotional isolation plaguing men today.The Epidemic Few Talk About84% of men say they don't have a single person they can talk to.Guys have been trained to withdraw, but we need each other. If you're listening and feel like you've failed as a father, or you don't even have the strength to keep going, you're not alone. You can do this, but not by yourself.The solution is community and accountability. And for men who do have a support system, pursue others. Don't take the first 12 ‘no's as a brush-off. Broken men want to be pursued. They're just afraid.What Does Faithful Fatherhood Look Like?So, what does it mean to be a successful father?First, if you're still breathing, your story isn't over. You haven't missed your chance.Using a football analogy from Fathers for Fathers' upcoming study, life can be described as a game we're all born into—on the wrong team. But we don't have to stay there. Through Jesus Christ, we're invited to join the winning team. But it requires repentance, humility, and a willingness to fight.And it often starts with small steps.Practical Steps Toward RestorationFor divorced dads and those estranged from their children, you may think there's no way back. But there is. If you're not in your kids' lives, start. If you haven't supported their mom, own it. If you've been battling secret sin—confess it.These are hard words, but they're spoken with deep compassion. God will honor you when you honor Him. This ministry isn't about beating men up. It's about helping them get back in the game.Stewardship Starts at HomeStewardship isn't just about money. If you're generous with your wealth but not your love or your time, you've missed the point.Stewardship begins with the way a man loves and leads his family, especially his wife. When reading Ephesians 5, men might say, ‘I'd take a bullet for my wife.' But Christ calls us to something harder: dying to ourselves daily.Stewardship, then, is about priorities: honoring God with your money, your time, your attention, and your affection.A Prayer for DadsIf you're a father or a man who feels discouraged, who is ready for more, and who is just hanging on. Pray this out loud:“Lord, I pray that Your Spirit would touch the heart of the man listening who thinks he's too far gone. Remind him that nothing can separate us from Your love, not even failure. Let him know Jesus already put on the jersey for him. I pray for courage, for repentance, and for grace. Thank you for the scandalous grace that says You would've sent Jesus for just one man. You sent Him for all of us.”If you're a father who feels broken, or if you know one, visit FathersForFathers.org. You'll find tools, encouragement, and a brotherhood of men committed to healing and hope.This Father's Day, let's not just celebrate the dads who've done it right. Let's rally around the men who are trying to get it right, one step at a time.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm curious about nursing home costs and what happens to my parents' assets. I learned that Medicare covers limited skilled nursing care, and Medicaid restricts asset access, meaning my siblings and I likely won't be able to access their money while they're in a nursing home.I'm currently working and planning to retire soon. How could I invest in ways that align with my faith and ensure I'm not supporting companies that go against my beliefs?I wanted clarification on fixed indexed annuities. I wasn't familiar with them and wanted to understand if they were a good investment option.Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Fathers For FathersList of Faith-Based Investment FundsWisdom 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.

Reference: John 16:33 Prayer: Father, when our kids face things that they don’t understand and when their questions seem bigger than we have answers for, we ask for you to give us wisdom. Remind us that we don’t have to have everything all figured out. Help us to continually point our kids to you, even when things get sad. LINKS: Get today's devotion and prayer in written form to keep for future use! Support the ministry with your $5 monthly gift through Patreon. Discover more Christian podcasts at LifeAudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at LifeAudio.com/contact-us. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Does your to-do list feel endless? Try this short, guided practice to help you reflect, reconnect, and release the pressure to do it all perfectly.How To Do This Practice: Find a Comfortable Posture: Sit or stand tall with a sense of dignity, grounded, yet relaxed. Take Three Cleansing Breaths: Inhale twice through the nose, then exhale slowly through the mouth. Repeat this three times to settle into the moment. Scan Your Body from Head to Toe: Gently bring your attention to each part of your body, noticing sensations and letting go of any tension as you move downward. Visualize Your To-Do List as Floating Bubbles: Imagine each task as a bubble above you. Observe them without judgment, simply noticing their presence. Ask Reflective Questions: Is it the number of tasks that's overwhelming, or is it fear of forgetting, failing, or letting someone down? What's truly fueling your stress? Recenter with Gratitude and Self-Compassion: Acknowledge that being needed is a form of purpose. Remind yourself that even if not everything gets done, you are still enough and already whole. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Explore more talks, workshops, and resources atggsc.berkeley.edu/speaking.Today's Happiness Break Guide:KIA AFCARI is the director of Greater Good Workplaces at GGSC. Kia grounds his work in the science of well-being, prosociality, and contemplative practices and uses creative methods like “instant dance parties” and Boal-informed theater techniques to achieve results.Watch Kia's TED Talk on reshaping diversity, equity, and inclusion here: https://tinyurl.com/483tdjp5Related Happiness Break episodes:Making Space For You: https://tinyurl.com/yk6nfnfvMake Uncertainty Part of the Process: https://tinyurl.com/234u5ds7Who Takes Care of You: https://tinyurl.com/5xmfkf73Related Science of Happiness episodes:Are You Following Your Inner Compass: https://tinyurl.com/y2bh8vvjHow Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6How To Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xcFollow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe'd love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/5dvk3d7m

In this episode, Brooke and TJ respond to a common Instagram question — and unpack why they don't subscribe to the modern “gentle parenting” movement. From exploring its origins to calling out how it's been distorted by social media, they share what they do instead in their home: biblical parenting rooted in truth, grace, and Holy Spirit-led wisdom. This episode is honest, clarifying, and practical — perfect for any parent navigating today's overwhelming parenting culture.

Sign up for our e-newsletter today! --------Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible. Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org. Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:Eccl 1-3; Ps 45; Eph 2 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, your host Hunter invites you to join him on June 6th as we continue our journey through Scripture. On this 158th day of Bible reading, we explore the deep questions of meaning and purpose found in Ecclesiastes chapters 1-3, take comfort and inspiration from Psalm 45, and close our reading with the hope-filled promises of Ephesians chapter 2. Hunter reflects on the age-old struggle between despair and hope: while Ecclesiastes wrestles with life's apparent meaninglessness, Ephesians reminds us of the new life and abiding peace we have in Christ. Through thoughtful Scripture reading and heartfelt prayer, today's episode encourages us to see beyond life's challenges, embrace the joy that God offers, and remember that in Christ, we are never alone. So grab your Bible, take a deep breath, and let's spend some time together in God's word. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Meaningless, meaningless, cries the preacher. All is meaningless, he cries. Try as he might, he cannot make sense of his broken life. Nothing in the end seems to be right. All seems to be wrong. He cannot find a way to reconcile life's disparities. He has eternity in his heart. And yet the present is fraught with fractures. Nothing makes sense. But Paul in Ephesians cries out something different. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now, he says, you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. Christ himself has brought us peace through the cross. The good news has come to us. In Christ, no longer is life meaningless and hopeless. No, now we have life in him. When we are tempted to see the world through the lens of despair and hopelessness, we can look to the life of Jesus. We can look to his sacrifice. We can look to the love that has been poured out in order that we might be united with him. In our hopelessness and despair, he has offered us his love. His love led him to a cross so he could free us from that despair and offer us life here, life now with eternal purposes and present joy. The preacher says, "Everything is meaningless, completely meaningless." But Paul says he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. There is someone far greater than Solomon who is able to mend the human soul and make us new. He is even now making all things new. So let us step into the eternal purposes that he has for us so that we can begin to live, abide and rest and play and have joy and strength in him. That's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Jesus is my shepherd. You have called me by my name into the life of the beloved. Here in the stillness, I remember that I am not alone. I belong to you and to the great communion of saints and sinners held together in your love. Remind me, Lord, that every breath is grace. Every encounter is a chance to give what I have received—mercy without measure. When I forget who I am, when I lose my way, lead me again to still waters. Restore my soul, renew my hope. Reroute me in the joy of simply being yours. Amen. And now, as our Lord has taught us, we are bold to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Are You Speaking to Their Greatness or Their Deficiencies? This conversation challenged me in the best way—and I think it will challenge you too. I sat down with relationship coaches Jocelyn and Aaron Freeman, and we didn't hold back. We got into the real, unfiltered truth about what makes a relationship thrive and what quietly breaks it down over time. And I'll be honest—I learned a lot about myself in this one. We talked about why most couples argue the same way every time, how we start talking to our partner's flaws instead of their potential, and how easy it is to stop being curious about the person we love the most. That hit me hard. Because curiosity? It's not just a phase when you're dating—it's a choice. When you stay curious, people become more interesting. And when you stop being interested, they stop showing you who they really are. One of the most important takeaways: the “5 Rs” the Freemans teach—Reflect, Responsibility, Reconnect, Remind, Reconcile. It's a practical framework that helps couples come back from conflict stronger. But what stood out even more was this mindset they kept coming back to: we're on the same team. That phrase alone has the power to stop an argument in its tracks and realign a relationship that feels like it's drifting apart. This episode is packed with real tools, honest moments, and a whole lot of heart. If you're in a relationship—new or decades deep—there's something here for you. You're either training your partner that this is a safe space to share… or you're teaching them to keep it all inside. That's the choice. And I want you to choose connection. Key Takeaways: The most damaging part of conflict isn't the argument—it's the lack of repair after. Learn the 5 Rs to recover and reconnect after a disagreement. “Speaking to your partner's greatness” builds them up and strengthens your bond. Curiosity is the secret to keeping relationships alive and engaging. One person can spark change, but both have to sustain it. You don't have to end the relationship to end the version of it that isn't working. Let this episode be the spark. Listen with your partner. Talk about it. And remember—you're on the same team.  

Inspired by the Ramit Sethi quote—“Spend extravagantly on the things you love, and cut costs mercilessly on the things you don't”—this episode dives into the heart of values-based spending. We're talking about how to ditch guilt, align your money with what truly matters to your family, and why it's okay to love what you love. Plus: how this mindset has helped our marriage and changed the way we spend in both big and small ways. Closing Liturgy / Prayer: God who gives generously, Teach us to love what we love without shame. Help us release what no longer serves— The obligations, the expectations, the guilt. Remind us that wisdom looks like alignment, Not approval. And may our money—our time, our resources, our yeses— Be spent with joy. On what matters. On what lasts. On what You love. Amen. If you love what we do and want more behind-the-scenes fun, bonus episodes, and exclusive content, join the walk in love. Podcast Membership today!

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