Podcasts about reformers

Evening Prayer for Tuesday, March 3, 2026 (The Second Sunday in Lent; John and Charles Wesley, Priests and Reformers of the Church, 1791, 1788).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 3-4Proverbs 2Romans 15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

Morning Prayer for Tuesday, March 3, 2026 (The Second Sunday in Lent; John and Charles Wesley, Priests and Reformers of the Church, 1791, 1788).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 1-2Exodus 10Matthew 13:44-59⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.

The sermon presents the Protestant Reformation not as a radical innovation but as a recovery of the ancient gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, grounded in Scripture alone—truths rediscovered by Martin Luther and the Reformers amid the spiritual darkness of medieval Catholicism. It traces Luther's personal journey from despair over his inability to earn salvation through asceticism to the life-changing realization of justification by faith, sparked by his study of Scripture and the distinction between law and gospel. Drawing on biblical precedents such as Isaiah's prophecy of light in darkness and Jesus' ministry in Galilee, the sermon affirms that the Reformation was a divine restoration of the church's foundation in Christ and His Word. The enduring call of the church—Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda, secundum verbum Dei—reminds believers to remain perpetually reformed under the authority of Scripture, relying on the ordinary means of grace—Scripture, sacraments, and prayer—to sustain faith, foster holiness, and bear witness to the gospel in a culture that often drifts from truth.

A recent poll has good news for Montana Sen. Steve Daines' re-election chances. A longtime Democratic legislator enters the eastern district Congressional race. A new nonpartisan political group forms to elect "principled candidates." And past and present Montana politicians have opposing takes on the State of the Union

A recent poll has good news for Montana Sen. Steve Daines' re-election chances. A longtime Democratic legislator enters the eastern district Congressional race. A new nonpartisan political group forms to elect "principled candidates." And past and present Montana politicians have opposing takes on the State of the Union

This week, Keaton Paul explains the mechanics of medieval theology and how that theology influenced the Reformers and the theology we study today.For questions and feedback, reach out to keaton.paul@pcazion.orgFor more about Zion Presbyterian Church, visit zioncolumbia.org.

Lesley Logan and Brad Crowell unpack what having a “Pilates body” actually means, diving deep into the misconception that health has a specific aesthetic. They explore why moving for health matters more than chasing a look, how confidence is built through action, and what it takes to stop shrinking your own story. Through honest reflection and real examples, this episode challenges the narratives that keep people playing small. Listeners are invited to redefine strength from the inside out. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:Why “Pilates body” was never meant to describe a physical aesthetic.Moving for health instead of chasing shape or size outcomes.Reframing “fake it till you make it” as a confidence tool.How luck narratives keep people from owning their grit.Why having the right people in your corner matters long-term.Episode References/Links:Agency MINI - https://prfit.biz/mini Poland Contrology Pilates Conference - xxll.co/poland Brussels - xxll.co/brussels POT London - https://xxll.co/pot Spring Training - How to Get Overhead - https://opc.me/events The Pilates Body by Brooke Siler - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063337163The Great American Spit Out - https://beitpod.com/americanspitoutRethinking Thin by Gina Kolata - https://a.co/d/0djq9K9pHysteria Podcast - https://beitpod.com/hysteriaButts: A Backstory - https://a.co/d/gHqMk8vSend your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questions If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:00  We have to cut to the bullshit of like, what a healthy body looks like. We just have to. Like, I am massively impressed by these strong women and strong men. They are not tiny people, they are big people, and what they can do is fucking insane. Lesley Logan 0:14  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:54  Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the redefining convo I had with Brooke Siler and Maria Earle in our last episode. And if you didn't listen to that one, you fucked up, you missed, you messed up. Brad Crowell 1:09  Game over. Lesley Logan 1:09  I'm sorry. I hate to say it that harshly, but you gotta, you gotta listen. I mean, what are you doing? How are you missing the Tuesday episode? No, I'm kidding. Listen to this. Sometimes people like to listen this, and then they go listen to that one. So if that's you, I'm not harping on you, you're gonna go listen to it, because you are gonna be so intrigued if you missed it. It was so good. It was so fun. Brad Crowell 1:28  Yeah, it was good. It was actually a lot of fun. And there were, like, some great moments in there that I started taking notes. Lesley Logan 1:35  Whoa, whoa. 643 episodes later, friends and he is taking notes. Oh, my God. Well, today is February 19th 2026, it's a Great American Spit Out. We observe Great American Spit Out on the Thursday of February's third full week every year. So complicated. This year it takes place. I have a really funny side note, I listened to this podcast. Brad Crowell 2:01  Third full week. Thursday of the.Lesley Logan 2:04  Yeah, The February's third full week every year. Yeah. So there's this one podcast I listened to, and those, I won't say the podcast name, because if you listen to it, you'll know what I'm talking about. And she always says the date, and she'll say 2000 2026 and it's taken forever for her to go, what I'm not saying it right? They're like, No, you're not, anyways. And that just made me think of it like, let's make it as complicated as possible. Thursday of February, third full week of every year. So would it be the third Thursday of the fullest week in February? Brad Crowell 2:37  Why would the third week of February not be full? Lesley Logan 2:39  Well, because you could start on a for the first could start on a Thursday. Brad Crowell 2:40  Oh, I see. Lesley Logan 2:41  And so that's not a full week. Brad Crowell 2:43  So it's not, technically, the third Thursday, because if the if the week start, if it starts on a Wednesday, the first Thursday is not a full week.Lesley Logan 2:54  The third Thursday of February's fullest week. Brad Crowell 3:00  I think this is hilarious. Moving on.Lesley Logan 3:02  Anyways, they're like, dying to know what this is. So this year, it takes place on February 19th. It's a day to encourage people, especially veterans, to stop using smokeless tobacco products. The important mission of the day. I mean, honestly, this is for everybody. I appreciate that we're encouraging our veterans.Brad Crowell 3:19  All tobacco products, but right now we're talking about the Great American Spit Out, which is clearly talking about dipping, yeah, dipping and other things. Lesley Logan 3:27  Dipping and other things. I guess there's other things. So the important mission of this day is to provide users with enough resources to help them stop using such products that tobacco plant is cultivated for its leaves. Tobacco leaves are rich in nicotine, which is an addictive chemical people can use tobacco to smoke, chew or sniff. The Great American Spit Out as the perfect day to start, to start fighting the addiction caused by tobacco products and nicotine. Smokeless tobacco users are encouraged to quit, even if just for one day. Hey, you know what? You know around here, we are here for just one day. Anything to start. I actually really picked this day because a few other days were quite boring. But my family has a history of smokers and it and all of them had to have surgery, and all of them did not die on an easy in an easy way. So my grandfather, he had a part of his lung removed, like a huge part back in the day when they did those surgeries, it looks like a shark bit him. And they would show us, this is this is our hooked on trucks. This is our dare campaign. My family would pull up a shirt and show us the shark attack. Oh, this is gonna happen to you if you smoke. And then, yes, but your parents did a more, kinder.Brad Crowell 4:25  Yeah, we didn't have any shark attack smoking shark attack (inaudible).Lesley Logan 4:29  Everyone was able to learn, like the way I was raised. And then my mom had another because of the blood, the way his blood coagulated, and his tobacco use started losing limbs. And to the day he died, he still smoked. Because at one point he was like, Well, if I have no feet or legs or fingers, I should at least continue to smoke. And then his wife died of secondhand smoke. She died of emphysema. So yeah, so at any rate. So I also looked up because we are hearing that tobacco products are back on the rise again, partly because, like, you know, the hooked on drugs is your brain on drugs and and and things like that aren't working. But also the youth today, the youth, the younger people today, the youths, they are actually they're they actually don't they have a deeper sense of fatalism, like they actually don't think that they'll be alive as long as the rest of the world has been or in a world that is going to be healthy and clean for them. So why not smoke? Which I get that? Here's the deal. Brad Crowell 5:25  Aren't they drinking less though?Lesley Logan 5:28  They don't drink as much, they also have sex later, so that's cool, or less. Do you know today, the day that we're recording this, I heard that 40 year old women are having more babies than teenagers, and that's huge. That is a huge deal Because, like.Brad Crowell 5:43  That's not what I don't think I would have expected that, but that's great.Lesley Logan 5:46  Well, because now IVF has gotten better and kids are having less sex. So, you know, so I think, but here's the deal. Like, look, we all have our vices. We all have our addictions. And there's just something about cigarette smoke that just and if you're a smoker who listens this, I'm not judging you. I feel bad that you got hooked on that you got hooked on it, and it bothers me, and I understand, like you could be addicted to alcohol and other things that are as bad. But there's just about cigarette smoke that I fucking can't stand. I can't stand walking by a doorway and smelling it. I can't. So if, if, if me wanting to stand next to you outside matters, maybe you quit today, and I know you're like Lesley, this is chewing. Well, chewing causes jaw cancer, you know, so tongue, not not sexy, not sexy. In fact, one of our friends fathers had jaw cancer from smoking, from chewing tobacco, and so we all got to see that. That was my parents way of making sure we never started chewing. Brad Crowell 6:43  The Shark Attack of the jaw cancer. Lesley Logan 6:45  Well, it's not sexy. I'm gonna tell you right now, even if you're fatalistic, you definitely want your teeth you do. So stop smoking, even for today. Okay, let's get into it. So oh gosh, my goodness, babe. Agency Mini kicked off today.Brad Crowell 6:59  Today. This morning. We are, we are, while you're listening to this, we're probably live on a webinar. Lesley Logan 7:05  Yeah? So you can, I think you could still sign up today, but. Brad Crowell 7:08  You sure can. Lesley Logan 7:07  But it's gonna move quick, so and you don't want to wait till the next one, because I know you're like, Oh, I'll wait till the next one. You'll forget about it. So you should just sign up for today. prfit.biz/mini it's for Pilates instructors and studio owners who work for themselves or want to. We are going to get you clarity. We're gonna help you with your business. Brad and I have been around a lot of different fitness business coaches out there, and one thing that they all have in common is treating you all the same and encouraging your business to follow certain templates. And we want you. We've I believe that your business will ride any recession wave if you are differentiated and your services are diversified, and it follows your goals and your life, and that's what we coach. Brad Crowell 7:31  That is. But, so go to prfit.biz/mini. That's profit without the O slash mini, and then in March, we're hitting the road, y'all, in a different way than normal when we when we say we're hitting the road, usually means we're hopping in the van. This time, we are hopping on a plane. We are going to be skipping across said pond. Lesley Logan 8:07  We're going to be in Poland. Yeah, Poland first for the Controlology Pilates conference with Karen Frischmann. That's gonna be a couple of days of epicness. And there's a day where you can get some sessions, and it's just a lot of fun. If you didn't, if you missed us the last time was a couple years ago. Don't miss this one. We don't know when we're coming back, and that's just because the world is really big, and I've got to start going to new places. You know, we need to go to Australia and stuff. So xxll.co/poland and then we'll, we'll venture over. I don't really know if it's I have, you know, when I look at the map, I'm so confused. I don't know. I clearly forgot how to study the map of Europe. So we're gonna go over to Brussels. I'll just say that, because I don't really know if it's up or down, or east or west. We're going to Brussels. xxll.co/brussels, we'll be at Els Studio. P li tells which I just love. I love NFL is listening to this one of my Oh, whenever I hear what else I always think of? What else? Yeah, yeah. From our time with Jay, we would start going, what else? What else? Anyways, xxll.co/brussels that's, when we meet Karen, again. Brad Crowell 9:11  Let's just say that again, xxll.co xxll.co/brusselsLesley Logan 9:17  What you can't you can't hear this fast you can hear. And that's just giving out the fine print. It's Karen and I again, also our friend Ignacio is going to be there. Oh my gosh, I love him so much I can't even wait. So definitely snag your spots to that before it's sold out. And then we're gonna do our second honeymoon and make our way over to London to POT London, and I have some information for you folks. My Saturday workshop is sold out. Brad Crowell 9:45  What already? Holy mackerel. Lesley Logan 9:47  Yeah, it is. It is at max capacity. And there's only a few spots left in my Sunday workshop. So if you are wanting to add classical concepts to your contemporary classes, then you're going to want to go xxll.co/pot xxll.co/pot I'm super excited. We'll have our decks there. Those workshops will happen, and you definitely want to stick around, because there's also going to be a little hangout session that we're doing for our members and our listeners. And then there's a really cool documentary that they are doing. The release, Pilates Anytime is doing the release of at that POT event. Yep, you'll want to be there. Then we're gonna come back. Brad Crowell 10:25  Then we're coming home. Lesley Logan 10:26  And we're doing some fun stuff at home. We have eLevate weekend, we have eLevate retreat. We have business retreat. You know those things you can't come to unless you can, and you'll know if you can. So you got an invite, but what you can come to is something we're doing in May. And believe it or not, May is still springtime. Brad Crowell 10:49  Believe it or not. Lesley Logan 10:49  It's still springtime. And so. Brad Crowell 10:51  News flash. Lesley Logan 10:48  News flash. Well, some people think it's the summer because of the weekend, the holiday weekend, but it is still spring, and we're doing spring training, and it's how to get overhead so this is our overhead exercises. We have a lot of requests for people struggling with Overhead, Jack Knife, Control Balance, High Season, Bicycle Headstands. So what I'm super excited about is that we're going to do a whole week long on all these different classes with different teachers from the OPC platform, so that no matter your body size, height, age, experience, you are going to have a class. It's going to give you tips for for your life, for your practice. I mean, we even have a teacher who's removing overhead exercises from her practice, and so you don't let fear stop you from this one or, Oh, I'm a beginner, or I can never do that. I have contraindications. We will have versions and variations for you. And our goal is it's kind of like. Brad Crowell 10:51  Look, it's how to do it, not necessarily having to do it, right? How to do it, not have to do it. Lesley Logan 10:54  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And at OPC, we're really big fans of like you you learn the variations and the versions replacements for your practice, and then we believe it's brave and courageous that you do that. So we're super excited about it. You're going to want to go to opc.me/events, to get on the waitlist for that, because you'll, you'll, if you're on the waitlist, you'll hear about Early Bird and all that good stuff, and so you won't miss out on that information.Brad Crowell 12:08  Yeah, totally. Well.Lesley Logan 12:10  I'm excited we have. I mean, hello, welcome to the new year. I know it's February 19th, everyone. Brad Crowell 12:14  Busy busy year already. Lesley Logan 12:16  But we just got home. This is our first day in the office. Brad Crowell 12:18  This is literally the first full day in the office, and it's already January's almost done.Lesley Logan 12:23  I know, I know I kind of like it, though I feel very I felt ready to come back to work today. So anyways, we have to get into this episode before that. We have a question from audience. Would you like to share it with me, babe? Brad Crowell 12:35  Yeah. So IG, from IG, Pilates_Rosi is asking, Hey, someone told me that you should always gear out on the Reformer to do the short box series. Yes, no. Do you agree? Lesley Logan 12:48  Isn't always such a strong word? Brad Crowell 12:50  Always. This is why I failed all personality tests, because there's always an exception. So the answer would be fucking no, but.Lesley Logan 12:57  Yeah, I don't always do anything. Brad Crowell 12:58  Oh, right. We don't always do anything ever come on. Lesley Logan 13:00  And also not every Reformer gears out. So then what? Right? Brad Crowell 13:04  Then, what are you supposed to do? Should you be gearing out? Maybe that's a better way to ask the question. So we're not getting into our ADHD-ness.Lesley Logan 13:12  All right, so in an ideal world, your some people call it a sitting box. I call it a short box, goes over your shoulder blocks on the carriage, like a hamburger side, like it's, I guess. Anyways, I'm trying to describe how it goes on the Reformer for visual. But anyways, the short box goes on the carriage over the shoulder rest. That's the goal. So most Reformers will have a peg or some sort of post that is on there, and then there's space, and then there's your shoulder block. And so the box would, one side of the box would fit between that and lock it into place, lock in air quotes, right, would sit in there.Brad Crowell 13:44  So it's not sliding off easily. Still can if you're not paying attention. Lesley Logan 13:44  I mean, you could. You know, people have done funny things, but in an ideal world, you just sit on it, and it's not going to move forward or backwards. It's going to be in place. And then from that position, your feet go underneath the strap and they should. Brad Crowell 14:01  You're facing the foot bar. Lesley Logan 14:06  You're facing the foot bar. Brad Crowell 14:08  Feet go in the strap. Lesley Logan 14:03  In an ideal world, your feet do not rest on anything. That said, sometimes they touch things. There's a difference between touching and resting, right? However, I have noticed in our tours that there are a lot of new rules out in the world, and so there are some people who put the box in front of the shoulder rest. And I think this is because people aren't really paying attention to how they put the box on.Lesley Logan 14:09  So you're saying in front, as opposed to over the shoulder, okay. Lesley Logan 14:10  Over exactly in front. So they put them in front of the shoulder rest. Because I think the boxes are getting damaged because people aren't paying attention to what they're putting the box on. Or some equipment has, like, different things back there on their blocks. They have to go in front of the shoulder blocks. So if you're going in front of the shoulder blocks, most of the time, you're going to gear out. Unless someone is fun size and your box is really big, you're going to gear out. What does that mean? It means you're going to move the carriage away from the strap a little bit so that you can actually have straight, non resting legs when they're under the strap. Now, can the legs be slightly bent, of course. Should they be forced to bend? I wouldn't, because then it makes it really difficult to get into your seat. Makes it really difficult to get into your center. Your hip flexor start pulling you up. So here is the thing that I would agree with.Brad Crowell 14:10  When you say the thing you're talking about now we're talking about the actual gearing. Lesley Logan 14:10  We're going to talk about the exercise. In an ideal world, you place the box on the equipment where the body needs it, so that their legs can be reaching as long as possible without locking out, and their feet are underneath the strap flex without resting. That's the goal. Brad Crowell 14:10  Okay.Lesley Logan 14:10  That's the goal. So it's going to be different for everyone. Some people are going to be in front of the shoulder blocks. Some people are going to be over the shoulder blocks. Some people are gonna be front geared out. But if you are putting the box in front of the shoulder blocks, because that's a rule, most often, you're gearing out. Brad Crowell 15:27  Yeah, because it's now shifting the box forward like four inches. Lesley Logan 15:35  And then, by the way, you have to gear back in, because the straps are measured with the carriage geared in, and so in my opinion.Brad Crowell 15:52  So it's really a pain, that's a pain in the ass. Lesley Logan 15:54  Yes, thank you so much. Just put the box over the shoulder blocks. Why are we doing why are making this harder? Oh, because we don't want just teach people, you have to. I remember my trainer saying, hey, when you put the box on, make sure this part of the leather is underneath the box. Otherwise it will curl in and it will break and it will hurt against someone's neck. Okay, great. Just tell people. This is why we have a weird rule, you know, Hey, you think polite is expensive. Don't damage the box. How about that? Okay? Brad Crowell 16:21  Yeah, don't damage my damn box. Lesley Logan 16:24  So anyways, I just think that like I get, I get, I get why some people make funny up rules, but we are when you change the exercise placement, you change the exercise, and when you change that, it affects the cueing that people are giving, and then teachers are giving out weird ass cues that make no sense to the person doing it, because they're like, well, how do I get my butt on if my hip flexors are overworking, you know? So it's just hard. So anyways, hopefully, Pilates_Rosi, this gives you some ideas to think about. Definitely check out my videos on the short box, and in my flashcards, you can see where the box is placed. You can see how long my legs are. And if you're an OPC member, you can send in a video. Brad Crowell 16:57  You can see how long her legs are. Lesley Logan 16:59  Oh, my God, they're so long. But if you're an OPC member, you can send in a video of your setup for your short box, and I'll give you personalized feedback on where your box goes. There you go. If you have a question, you can send it in.Brad Crowell 17:13  Yeah, send it in. You can text us, 310-905-5534, or hit us up. At beitpod.com/questions, beitpod.com/questions, where you can leave both a win or a question. Lesley Logan 17:25  I want your wins. Brad Crowell 17:26  Yeah. Lesley Logan 17:27  I want your questions and your wins. I want all. I want it all. Brad Crowell 17:30  We want them all. All right, stick around. We're going to talk about Brooke Siler and Maria Earle. Brad Crowell 17:34  All right. Welcome back. Let's talk about Brooke Siler and Maria Earle. Brooke and Maria are internationally respected Pilates educators with over 50 years of combined teaching experience. Brooke, the author of the best selling The Pilates Body dropped in 2000 y'all, has spent decades teaching and researching Joseph Pilates' original writings, photos and archival materials which deeply inspired the new 25th anniversary edition of her book and its expanded chapter on internal sensing and natural movement. Maria, who began teaching in 1997 and previously owned a Pilates studio in Manhattan's Upper East Side, now runs a global education practice from Barcelona, where she moved, I think she said, about 15 years ago, she appears as the model in Brooke's new edition of the book, and was chosen for her grounded, internal, authentic approach to movement, rather than an her aesthetic performance. Together, they're redefining what a Pilates body really is.Lesley Logan 18:34  Okay, so I have to say, and I did say this on the episode, but I had, I have many Pilates people pitched to be on this podcast, and while we talk about Pilates a lot, it's not a Pilates podcast like I know it's for Pilates listeners. But to me, Pilate is a mind body, you know, practice, and sometimes our mind is a little fucked up, and we need help from these Be It guests that we have so we can get into our body around our practice. So, but I really wanted to interview them, because what a e it till you see it story and just how the book came about, how the second edition came about, how Maria jumped in on the second edition. I mean, she was so vulnerable and authentic about all about that, about joining the book. And I love that Maria said, let's celebrate the body as it is. Let's cut to the bullshit of what it means to have a Pilates body. And I here's the thing that's really interesting, right? Like, when I bought the book, The Pilates Body, I wasn't like, Oh, I'm going to look like this after I do this book. Like, that's not how I interpreted the book. It's kind of like, like a runner, like, you know what I mean? Like, what do these things mean.Brad Crowell 19:31  That'd be weird to pick up, like, a Gold's Gym muscle book and be like, Oh, if I do these exercises, I'm gonna look like Arnold.Lesley Logan 19:37  I'm gonna have the Gold's Gym body, you know? And like, I mean, I guess like people, I guess people do, but I think this all stems from just terrible media information on what a healthy body looks like. And so I couldn't agree more with like, with the cut through the bullshit of what a Pilates body means, because we have to cut through the bullshit of like, what a healthy body looks like. We just have to. Like, I am massively impressed by these strong women and strong men. They are not tiny people. They are big people, and what they can do is fucking insane. Brad Crowell 20:07  Yeah like, the dudes who pick up the boulder and carry it down the thing, or those, like weird, like rock that are, like, shaped like, kind of like a diamond, like those, and there are hundreds of pounds. Those people who are in those bodies, those are huge bodies. They're not, they're not. Lesley Logan 20:23  They are stronger than anybody I know. Brad Crowell 20:25  Yeah. Lesley Logan 20:26  Literally any, any of the bodies that we work out with, that we're friends with, that we're connected with, stronger than any of the bodies I know. Remember when we watched, what was that Korean show?Brad Crowell 20:36  The one the 100, the 100, the physical doc.Lesley Logan 20:39  Oh, physic, Physical 100. Brad Crowell 20:42  The Physical 100. Lesley Logan 20:42  Didn't translate well, which is why. But like, it was interesting because, like, they brought on all these different athletes, or pseudo athletes and trainers, and they had all these different bodies, and depending on the challenge, certain bodies did better, right? Like, the mountain climbers certainly slayed the first challenge over the strong men, but then when it came down to the end, you had an equal amount of people who were in bigger bodies and endurance bodies at the same challenge. And so what it comes down to is like, on average, most of us, if we are paying attention to our body and balancing out our strength and flexibility and our endurance, can do a fuck ton of stuff, but so many of us are, like, obsessed with getting smaller, and it's boring. Anyways, I could keep going, but she for Maria, you know, she there was an internal struggle because, of course, like, she was excited about the conversation, and then she's still a human being. So we got to talk about, like, when you look at yourself in those pictures and you go, yeah, I'm a proud of my body. I'm proud to be part of this, but ooh, that's what I look like, and I resonate with this so much. I was, I was doing a photo shoot yesterday, and I was just like, Okay, guys, this is not a sitting outfit. This is a standing outfit. So can you like because, because also it's like, how much of it do you want to be as a just, how much of it is a distraction versus like, the point or, or do we just do it so that people feel real, see real bodies more often? Like, it's, it's such a complicated thing, and your your mind messes with you based on how you were raised. And these stories take a long time, but she said for her, it was bigger than the photos. She said it became about reframing what is in our bodies, to be embodied and to celebrate all the different phases. And I love this so much because, you know, Maria, Brooke, and I, and many people listening, our bodies are in a different part of our journey. So it's just we're, you know, we're not going to look like 20 year olds, nor should we. And then Brooke also was conscious of this issue because in 2000 she had wrote in that issue that she said she hopes, in earnest that the models in the book inspire and don't intimidate, because she chose the original models for their strength and endurance, and also because they knew the work, I think that that's, you know, really hard when you're trying to pick it out and not because of their size and it. And I think even though her heart was really, you know, in there about inspire and not intimidate, like people just have a really hard time reading all the words and applying that to themselves. And so I'm excited for this additional chapter.Brad Crowell 22:57  Yeah, I also just wanted to say I'm glad you grabbed this as your topic, because I when I said I started taking notes, I actually was quoting you. As much as I appreciate the interview, you said something that really stuck out to me. You said we should have always been moving for the health of it and not for the shape of it. Move for the health of it and not the shape of it. In fact, I thought it was kind of quippy little, like, tagline, you know, for the health of it, because it's almost like, for the hell of it. Lesley Logan 23:29  Isn't it so great that I can come up with these things?Brad Crowell 23:33  Also, it's so great that I can hear them and be like, we should clip that. Lesley Logan 23:36  That's your job. Brad Crowell 23:37  Be It Till You See It, baby.Lesley Logan 23:39  Well, and I think that comes from like, I don't know if I mentioned on this episode or a different one, but I read a book called Rethinking Thin and at the same time that I picked up The Pilates Body book, I picked up that book because I was thinking about becoming a personal trainer, and I was doing this personal training stuff. And it was this history. It's a history of dieting and, like, where dieting came from and where the ideal woman's body came from. And it's two fucking things that'll fuck and piss you off. One, it's a cartoon drawing. So that's annoying, because it's not even fucking real. And then the other was on the statue, Norman. So the Norman statue. Brad Crowell 24:12  Is it the one holding the earth? Lesley Logan 24:13  No, but it's just a man. It's just a man. And then what they did for Norma. Brad Crowell 24:14  Oh, Norman, Norman, versus Norma. Lesley Logan 24:19  Norma, or nor woman, from what I understand from it, a book about butts it's, they basically took. Brad Crowell 24:27  I really hope that was the title, A Book About Butts.Lesley Logan 24:29  I think it is. I'll look at while you're talking about your favorite thing, I'll look it up. They basically put boobs on Norman. Well, Norman does not have estrogen. His pelvis is a different shape, like, oh my God, he doesn't even have.Brad Crowell 24:42  Oh I see. So you're they took, they took sculpture of a man and just put boobs, and then said, this is what the ideal woman should look like.Lesley Logan 24:50  This is what a woman looks like. And so I think ideal, I think it might have been average, right? But it's not that's not even a thing, not even impossible. So, anyways, like, because of the book Rethinking Thin, I learned about all the different diets that came around, all the different things that were obsessing about, and also how genetics plays such a massive role on the size that your body is determined to be. And then there's and then you go into the history of, like, when being heroin chic is in and it's always when they're trying to take rights away from women. Like, literally, if you take all the different times heroin chic was in and then you take all the different times they're trying to oppress women, they literally line up at the same time. So it's like, it's a cultic behavior of like, ladies stop eating so you your brain isn't functioning and you're not able to hear how we're taking your rights away. Anyways, what did you love?Brad Crowell 25:41  Well, I just wanted to say shout out to a podcast called Hysteria that I listened to that talks about this all the time, like the women's rights and. Lesley Logan 25:52  Oh, we love Hysteria, yeah. Brad Crowell 25:53  And, you know, like, it's a lot of politics as well, but it's two, you know, very powerful women who really dig in. And it's been really enlightening for me to see this from a different perspective.Lesley Logan 26:06  Yeah, the book is called Butts: A Backstory by Heather Radke. Brad Crowell 26:12  By who? Lesley Logan 26:13  By Heather Radke. Brad Crowell 26:14  That's really funny.Lesley Logan 26:15  If anyone knows her, I want to interview her. But yes, it's about race, gender, control, beauty standards. It's, it's it's a lens of the human backside, and it's really great. But I also just want to say, if you're like, Oh, I get so annoyed when they get political. Ladies, being a woman in this world is political. Just, I hate to break it to you, but it is. Anyways, your turn. Brad Crowell 26:36  Yeah, you're not wrong. All right. Well, hey, look, back to Brooke and Maria. Maria also recounted how her mom often said, fake it till you make it. And I know that we've talked both times here about Maria, but I this really resonated with me, because I actually really wanted to hear you say, be it till you see it is the positive spin of fake it till you make it.Lesley Logan 27:02  I know, but, but I know, and I'm. Brad Crowell 27:03  We're not trying to take away from her. Lesley Logan 27:05  But also it works for her, like it works for her and it doesn't hold her back. So, like, I don't ever want to take something that works for someone away. And so I will let Brooke have fake it till you make it. That said. Brad Crowell 27:16  Maria. Lesley Logan 27:17  Oh, Maria said that, oh, yeah Maria said that. I will let Maria have that, because I think that's important. And also, if that is hard for you or inauthentic, then that's the be it till you see it reframe. That's all.Brad Crowell 27:28  Yeah and it is a reframe and, but it's obviously, you know. Lesley Logan 27:33  It's why always is a terrible word. Brad Crowell 27:36  Right. But she, she, so, Maria said she uses this when she's not quite sure what she's doing, or when she feels like she's not quite sure, helps her bypass the paralysis of starting where, you know, often starting things not 100% sure where they're going, but trusting that she's going to land on her feet. And, you know, I think it's really helpful. There's got to be, you know, it is a weird thing, right? This, this idea of having this internal dialogue of, like, your own internal like cheerleader versus like, you know, antagonist. And I think it's hard to sometimes be in the moment and see this is a time right now where I have to choose to fake it till I make it, right? You know, it's, it's hard to do that, but if you can, you know, being it until you see it is a win. You know, there's, there's a way to to at least get the ball rolling until, because confidence comes through action, right? It comes through doing and experiencing. So if you there's got to be a point where you got to get the ball rolling.Lesley Logan 28:39  Oh, couldn't agree more. And I like, I remember, like, you know, when I had a job in retail, one of the guys who worked for me, I was going through a lot, and I took him for his like, you know, monthly meeting. I said, Are you good? Like, I just know you got a lot going on outside of this. And he goes, Oh, none of that bothers me here, because when I cross the threshold of the store, sure, it's showtime. And that's another way of being it till you see it, or fake it till you make it, like, and I think that that's good mantra for us to have. And I also like, I think we are all putting too much pressure on feeling ready. You know, I don't know that I got to ask Brooke, like was, did she feel ready to like, add to this book? But also, like, this is a big endeavor to take a bestselling book and make changes to it. Like, like, the number of people like this book changed my life. I still have my book from 25 years ago. And then to go, Oh, I'm adding on. Brad Crowell 29:30  I'm just gonna make it better. Lesley Logan 29:30  I'm just gonna make it better. Brad Crowell 29:30  No big deal. Lesley Logan 29:31  And people didn't go, Oh, I'm just gonna keep the one I have. No. A bunch of our OPC members and our eLevate members all were like, Oh, I pre ordered the copy. I'm ready to go and, like.Brad Crowell 29:43  But, but I think this is, like, we're dancing around the word perfectionism, right? You know, like, the the idea of being ready to get started to do the thing, you know, that's, that's very much a perfectionism mentality, yeah. And it's, it creates this fear. That we're not gonna it's not gonna be right or done or perfect or whatever, and that that is debilitating, and also it is, like, the fastest way to go nowhere.Lesley Logan 30:10  Yes, it really is. And like, first of all, I think we, we're also blessed for the second edition of this book to be out, because the additional chapter isn't only a visual understanding of of what Brooke was trying to get in the first book, and also in the research she's done since. But, you know, she got to go through and, like, with 25 years of hindsight, and add into that, and it's, and I think that is a really beautiful thing, because it means the conversation continues, you know. And I think, like, going back to the word perfection, like, even though the book is it has hit print and you can all get it and you should, the conversation will continue. And I think that's what's really cool.Brad Crowell 30:47  Yeah, I think I'm, I'm excited for her, and also I love that she shared, that Brooke shared, oh yeah, I thought it was gonna get away with, like, the easy smack two books together and re release it, and be like, done. And then her publisher was like, No, no. Lesley Logan 31:02  Yeah, I know. I know. I actually really appreciated that, because when we redid the mat deck, we were like, Okay, we're gonna break these things out. And I think Meredith, I remember Meredith going, Oh, you edited every single card. And I was like, Well, yeah, because I thought we could just, like, pull these three out. But then once I did that, I was like, Well, I kind of got her through the whole thing like I now I know too much. I know too much about how it was used, and I.Brad Crowell 31:25  Well it would also have been five years, right? We got a tons of feedback. So I imagine that Brooke was similarly like, inundated with feedback for 25 years which is amazing.Lesley Logan 31:37  Probably, most unsolicited and some solicited.Brad Crowell 31:39  Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure. But hey, there's one more thing I wanted to talk about that Maria mentioned that really struck a chord with me. I really appreciate it. She didn't quite say it that way that I have said it, but the story she told herself, right? She, you know, was that, oh, she was just in the right place at the right time to be able to move to Spain, decide to live there and become an international educator, right? That's the story that she told her. She said it was she was spinning a narrative that kept her small, right? And so effectively, that was how she was viewing herself, (inaudible) well, and then when people would ask her, what did she do? How did she do it? She would say, I was just in the right place at the right time, which then allows them to go, oh, you lucked out, right? And she's like, but that takes away from all the hard work and the tough decisions, then the scary decisions that I had to make to get here. And that's not, that's not true. Yes, there's, of course, there's always some element of luck to it, but, you know, she was very intentional about that. And so she started to talk about the that that like addressing the narrative of playing small, you know, and, and I really appreciate that, because I remember when I was working for someone else. I, you know, why did I not go and ask for a raise? Oh, I'm just, I shouldn't even be here, was what I kept telling myself. I'm just the musician that, like I, you know, if I had ever gone through an interview process, they never would have hired me. These are all the things that I used to say to myself to justify the position that I was in, and that's 100% playing small. So I really resonated with this when she was talking about this. And she said today, she reframes her story. She said, you know, what got her here was her grit, persistence and tenacity, not luck, you know? And I just applaud her for I think it's really important that we identify that in our own lives. What story are you telling yourself that's keeping you small?Lesley Logan 33:31  Ooh, good question. Journal on that. Brad Crowell 33:33  Yeah. Well, stick around. We'll be right back. We're going to dig into those Be It Action Items that we got from Brooke and Maria right after this. Brad Crowell 33:42  Welcome back. All right. So finally, let's talk about those Be It Action Items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Brooke and Maria? Brooke said the only way out is through. The only way out is through. She said she has a mentor who's a Buddhist, and their guidance has been helping her push through the fear, especially when it comes to like we talked about, how do you make something that's 25 years successful even better, and not jack it up? The only way out is through, right? She said, if I see fear, I'm going to head towards that fear so that I can make it through, right? She said, now, when she has an idea she wants to share, she reframes taking action as sharing, rather than doing a thing for others to react to, which I thought was pretty cool, because what she was talking about you asked her, like, how do you have the confidence to do this stuff? She said she started teaching, and three years later, wrote this book, three years later, wrote this book that has been an international success. Lesley Logan 34:45  Took me six years to get the fuck on YouTube.Brad Crowell 34:48  Right? So that's kind of amazing. And you asked her, like, how did you do that? And she said, Honestly, I just get so excited about the thing that I'm focusing on that I want to share it. And I didn't, don't approach it in the way that, like I'm the authority. Listen to me. No, she's excited about this thing. She's nerding about out about it, and then she's sharing it with others. And that's how you know, that's what gave her the confidence.Lesley Logan 35:12  Well, and also, do you know that, like fear and excitement, the difference is breathing like they're on the same energetic wavelength. But why don't you breathe? Yeah, so if you're afraid or nervous, exhale, and then you can enjoy excitement, because it's the same. Brad Crowell 35:29  That's amazing. Lesley Logan 35:30  According to Gay Hendricks, and you know he is, he is one of the lords around here. Him, by the way, on the day we're recording this, it's not the day you're listening to it. He's 81 today, so, he's an Aquarian. Of course, he is. Of course, that's why I love him.Brad Crowell 35:43  That's amazing. Well, what about you? What was your big takeaway? Lesley Logan 35:47  All right, so I took some of Maria's Be It Action Item as my takeaway. So make sure you have people in your corner. Fuck yeah. If you don't, if your people in your corner suck at life. I know it's hard, it's almost hard to, like, have nobody, but I'd rather you have nobody, and like, you've held a space open for somebody, rather than have people who are who are, like, actively bringing you down. So just keep that in mind. Make sure you have some people in your corner. And she said, it's important that we nurture those relationships that you've built. It doesn't have to be big, but it should be something you can hold on to. And this is interesting, like, I'm always just reflecting, you know, yesterday in our photo shoot like I'm used to having a lot of friends I only saw once a month because we live in LA and there's traffic. And I love those friendships. And they don't have to to me. It goes back to me. It doesn't have to be big, doesn't have to be a weekly relationship, but it is something you have to have tangible. You have to hold on, to have some connections, and those are people you have in your corner. And so if you haven't yet, take some time go through your context, who's actually in your corner? Which nurture? Which relations do you want to nurture back and because in the hard moments, people who show up for you and see you for you are can reflect back to you all the good stuff that you are. And this has happened to me more times than I can imagine. And we have a friend who is recently going through something that's really quite frustrating and awful. And you know what? We don't talk to her very often, but we heard what happened. Someone else told us who's also in her corner. And a bunch of us are like, Oh, here's how we can support you. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, and she didn't ask for that help. I'm sure she didn't even know what kind of help we can give. But when you have relationships, you nurture, even it's on a quarterly basis, people will show up for you, and they'll and you'll show up for them, and it's, and it's quite it makes life a lot more fun. Brad Crowell 37:17  Yes, yeah. I definitely agree. You know, I think that we've talked about it before, being intentional about who you let weigh in, you know, or how, how much weight you give to their feedback, you know. So that's important. But I think also too, you know, there was an element to this conversation about allowing life to life and for relationships to change, which I also really appreciated, because I have always had a fear of loss, of letting go, I don't know why, and I've always struggled with, like, friendships drifting apart. And it was really interesting to hear her say, hey, it's kind of okay that that happens, and it allows you to take stock of who actually is paying attention and, like, in your world and choosing to be in your world instead of you, you know, trying to drag people along.Lesley Logan 38:07  Well, and also, I think, like, if they're really meant to be in your life, and you run into them, or something comes up and you call them, it will pick back up. Maybe there might have to be a quick conversation, or, like, why there's been so much space, but it'll pick back up. You know, we recently saw someone I haven't talked to in years. They were a part of my life for quite some time, and I had reflected about, like, why I let that kind of fade out. And when I saw them, I was like, yeah, it's okay. Like, I'm still okay with that decision. And I think it's hard, because we go, should I have a whole conversation with them? Should we dialog? Should we have, like, a whole like, here's why our relationship didn't know you don't need to have those things. You just can move on, because no one is right or wrong in these instances. It's just the way life goes. And you evolve, and they evolve, and sometimes that evolution is together and sometimes it's apart, and you can still support them from afar. I'm Lesley Logan. Brad Crowell 38:56  And I'm Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 38:57  Go get The Pilates Body book if you haven't already, you should. It's so good, especially if you're into Pilates, it's, it's.Brad Crowell 39:02  The new one. Is the new one out? Lesley Logan 39:04  Yeah, the new one's been out since December. Brad Crowell 39:05  Great. So, so The Pilates Body 25th Anniversary Edition.Lesley Logan 39:09  Oh my God, if you want to see my reaction to my husband literally opening the package for me, instead of, like, every day for five days, watching me go to the mailbox to open this package, and then he just opened it. It's on my Instagram. It's in December. Brad Crowell 39:25  It would have been in November. It may or may not have happened. Lesley Logan 39:29  Yeah, yeah. It was, I was like, every day he's filming me check the mail for this book, and then the one day he gets the mail, he opened it. Anyways. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Lesley Logan. I'm just so grateful for you. Make sure you send this to a friend who needs to hear it. We want to hear your wins and your questions, so send them in to the Be It Pod, and until next time, Be It Till You See It. Brad Crowell 39:49  Bye for now. Lesley Logan 39:50  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 40:32  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 40:37  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 40:41  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 40:48  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 40:52  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Pastor Keaton Paul and Seth Scruggs continue the story of the reformation by discussing the second generation of reformers including Philip Melanchthon and John Calvin.For more information about Zion Presbyterian Church visit zioncolumbia.orgFor questions and feedback, leave a comment or email Keaton Paul at keaton.paul@pcazion.org.

February 8th, 2026

This week, Seth and Keaton discuss the first generation of reformers including Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli and Thomas Cranmer. For more information about Zion Presbyterian Church visit www.zioncolumbia.org.For questions and feedback, leave a comment or email keaton.paul@pcazion.org.

February 1st, 2026

This week begins a new series on For The Church, talking about the Reformation. Pastor Keaton Paul and Seth Scruggs begin before the beginning by talking about the proto-reformers, the precursors to the Reformation.For more about Zion Presbyterian Church, visit www.zioncolumbia.orgFor questions and feedback email keaton.paul@pcazion.org

What if the ache you feel on Sunday isn't a lack of passion, but a hunger for roots? Tony Nektarios Vasquez joins us to share how a Pentecostal upbringing, a non-denominational season, and eventually a Calvinist-leaning church plant still left him asking where the first 1,500 years fit in. His story is not a theory lesson—it's a family saga: a praying father discovering the Desert Fathers, a brother slipping out to Vespers, a wife and children encountering reverence for the first time, and a co-pastor who realized that history, Scripture, and worship belong together.We trace Tony's path from Pentecostal roots and a non-denominational church plant to a sober look at church history, liturgy, and apostolic succession. Family doubts, online study, and the beauty of Vespers turn hesitation into conviction as Scripture and tradition align.• questioning charismatic altar practices and emotionalism• moving from Reformers to the first 1,500 years• parish visits to St James and first Vespers• answers on icons, relics, and intercession from Scripture• liturgy as continuity with Old Testament worship• apostolic succession and the promise that the Church endures• closing a young church to enter Orthodoxy• finding healing and stability in the sacramentsWe walk through the uncomfortable questions most avoid. Are altar manifestations genuine or coached? Does sola fide stand when held beside James and the early Church? How do relics, icons, and the intercession of the saints square with the Bible? Tony takes us inside St. James Orthodox Church in Modesto, where incense and chant weren't novelty, but a doorway to Christ-centered prayer. He shares the moment his daughter said the hymns made her want to cry, the way Revelation reframed prayer as a communion of heaven and earth, and how apostolic succession answered the authority problem that haunted his independent church.This conversation is a guided tour from system to story, from proof texts to a living tradition. We touch on the continuity between Old Testament worship and the Divine Liturgy, the claim that the Church Christ founded never paused or rebooted, and the quiet courage it took to close a young church for a faith that felt both ancient and alive. If you've wondered where the dots connect—Scripture, history, and sacrament—this is an honest map drawn in real time.If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful journeys into the ancient faith, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your questions and stories shape future episodes—drop them in the comments and say hello to Tony.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

For thus it says in 1 Peter 2[:9], “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a priestly royalty.” Therefore we are all priests, as many of us as are Christians. But the priests, as we call them, are ministers chosen from among us. All that they do is done in our name; the priesthood is nothing but a ministry. This we learn from 1 Corinthians 4:1, “This is how one should regard us. Servants of Christ, and stewards of the ministries of God.” Let everyone therefore who knows himself to be Christian be assured of this: that we are all equally priests. That is to say, we have the same power and respect to the word and the sacraments. However, no one may take use of this power, except by the consent of the community, or by a call of a superior. For what is the common property of all. No individual may arrogate to himself, unless he is called. And therefore, this sacrament of ordination, if it is anything at all, is nothing else than a certain right, where by one is called to the ministry of the church. Furthermore, the priesthood is properly nothing but the ministry of the Word; the Word, I say; not the law, but the gospel. Martin Luther King on Priesthood Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days I will pour out my spirit. Joel 2:28-29 (NRSVUE) Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Matthew 3:4-9 (NRSVUE) So, binasa natin ang quote from Martin Luther, one of the prominent Protestant reformers, who also happens to be an Augustinian monk. What many people do not know is that he was also a Bible scholar. Maraming gumugulo sa isip ni Martin Luther noon. Takot na takot talaga siya sa Diyos. The fear was very palpable. Hindi talaga siya mapakali. Walang panalangin, walang misa, walang sacred space na kayang mag-alis ng takot niya sa Diyos at ng pakiramdam na makasalanan siya, through and through. One of the suggestions given to him by the head of his religious order was to go to the university and study theology and the Bible. Eventually, he became an expert in the New Testament. Para sa akin, doon nagsimula ang kanyang critical response at critical view of the Catholic Church. Inaamin naman ng Catholic Church na mayroong mga abuses during that time. Some of these abuses can be read in the writings of Martin Luther. Isa sa mga tinuligsa niya ay ang hierarchy of the church based on priesthood, where ordinary people were treated as inferior. May mga sulat siya describing how priests and bishops treated ordinary people like basura, parang hayop, according to him. There was this strong distinction between the priesthood and the lay people, and he saw this as deeply oppressive. When he studied Scripture, one of the things he articulated—particularly in The Babylonian Captivity of the Church—was his critique of the seven sacraments. He argued that only two were truly sacraments, while the rest were ministries and did not carry special power or grace. Later on, Protestant scholars pointed out that the Greek word for priest, hierus, is almost always used in the New Testament to refer to Jesus Christ as the High Priest. The only other time it is used for people is in First Peter, where it says, “You are a royal priesthood, a chosen race.” One of the arguments, then, is that Jesus Christ did not try to establish a new priesthood in the way that it later developed in the Roman Church. Scripturally, the word for priest does not refer to church leaders. Leaders were called episcopos (overseers), presbyteroi (elders), and diakonoi (servants or ministers). There is a specific Greek word for priest, and it is not used for church leadership. Some Protestant arguments say that Jesus did not intend to establish a priesthood similar to the temple priesthood, which was hereditary and separated from the people. There are also interpretations pointing to the tearing of the temple veil at Jesus' death, symbolizing direct access to God's holiness for all. For Luther and the Reformers, ordination was not about special grace or spiritual superpowers. It was simply a difference in ministry. Any power connected to sacraments and rituals belongs to the whole community—to the priesthood of all believers. All sacramental authority has already been given to every baptized Christian. This is why some churches emphasize apostolic succession, while others do not. In Reformed, Protestant, and evangelical traditions—including MCC—ministry flows from baptism and faith, and leaders are discerned and called by the community. There is also a connection between the Reformation and Western democracy. The Reformers helped democratize Christianity by declaring that no special group has sole authority over Scripture and sacraments. It is the people of God who discern, and from among themselves, call leaders to serve on their behalf. For MCC, this matters deeply. MCC was formed by LGBTQ+ Christians who were excluded, rejected, or oppressed by their churches. From its earliest years in the 1970s, MCC affirmed that women could and should be ordained. That decision came very early in its life, even when many other churches still resisted women's leadership. As MCC grew rapidly across different countries, the question became both practical and theological: who will lead the church? Looking back to its Pentecostal and Baptist roots, MCC affirmed that the call to ministry is not limited by gender, sexuality, or status, but grounded in the priesthood of all believers. The post Priesthood of All Believers appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

In this episode of The Retreat Leaders Podcast, Shannon sits down with Bessie Refalo, a yoga and Pilates retreat leader who is carving out a unique lane in the wellness retreat industry - reformer Pilates retreats in Europe. Bessie shares the behind-the-scenes reality of creating retreats that require specialized equipment, including the challenges of finding venues with reformer Pilates machines and the creative solutions she's used to make her retreats possible. From transporting reformers by lorry in Portugal to discovering bespoke studios in Italy, this conversation is a masterclass in persistence, adaptability, and thinking beyond traditional retreat models. Shannon and Bessie also discuss the rapid growth of the wellness retreat industry, the realities of hosting retreats in Europe, and why networking, flexibility, and on-the-ground familiarity are essential for successful international retreats. This episode is a must-listen for retreat leaders who want to expand internationally, host niche retreats, or navigate complex logistics without giving up on their vision. Key Takeaways Niche retreats (like reformer Pilates) require creativity, persistence, and flexibility. Hosting retreats with specialized equipment presents challenges - but solutions exist. Europe offers strong appeal for US-based retreat guests due to accessibility and travel interest. Building relationships with local studios and partners is key to international retreat success. Logistics, cultural differences, and local business hours matter more than most hosts expect. Networking and in-person learning accelerate retreat growth and confidence. Fully booked retreats are built through clarity, demand, and aligned offerings - not shortcuts. About Bessie Refalo Bessie Refalo is a yoga and Pilates instructor and retreat leader specializing in wellness retreats that combine movement, travel, and intentional experiences. Known for her innovative approach to reformer Pilates retreats, Bessie creates immersive international retreats that prioritize high-quality instruction, thoughtful locations, and meaningful connection. Connect with Bessie here:  www.bessierefalo.com    The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links: Learn to Host Retreats Join our private Facebook Group Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide Get your legal docs for retreats Join Shannon in Denver at the Retreat Industry Forum  Join our LinkedIn Group Apply to be a guest on our show Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let's create a vibrant retreat community together! Subscribe:  Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Spotify ----- TIMESTAMPS Bessy's Background and Journey (00:01:36) Bessy shares her background, the Bessy Raffaello Method, and her entry into retreats. Launching Retreats with Limited Resources (00:02:21) Discussion on starting retreats without a clear blueprint or abundant resources. Personal Motivation and Reformer Retreat Challenges (00:03:04) Bessy describes her inspiration and the unique challenges of hosting reformer Pilates retreats. Finding Venues and Logistics of Reformers (00:04:03) Exploring the difficulty of finding venues with reformer machines and the logistics involved. Pilates Reformer Popularity and Industry Growth (00:06:15) Conversation about the booming Pilates and wellness industry and its opportunities. Venue Search and Forming Partnerships (00:07:36) Bessy details her search for venues, challenges with unresponsive owners, and finding her business partner in Portugal. First Retreat Execution and Overcoming Obstacles (00:09:12) How Bessy and her partner transported reformers and handled unexpected issues during their first retreat. Expanding to Italy and Other Locations (00:10:00) Bessy discusses finding a unique venue in Italy and her desire to expand to more locations. Retreat Industry Forum Announcement (00:11:36) Shannon announces the upcoming Retreat Industry Forum event in Denver. Venue Owner Mindset and Cultural Differences (00:13:27) Discussion about the challenges of working with European venues and cultural differences in business practices. Importance of Site Visits and Local Culture (00:15:19) Advice on visiting retreat locations and understanding local customs and schedules. Budgeting and Financial Realities (00:17:14) Bessy shares lessons on budgeting, accounting for lost income, and the importance of honest financial planning. Retreat Agenda Planning and Avoiding Over-Scheduling (00:19:21) Tips on not overpacking retreat agendas and allowing space for rest and integration. Group Energy and Audience Fit (00:21:32) The importance of group dynamics, attracting the right participants, and managing energy drains. Attracting and Repelling the Right Clients (00:23:27) Shannon and Bessy discuss the value of attracting ideal clients and repelling those who aren't a good fit. Investing in Training and Community (00:24:21) Bessy reflects on the value of attending workshops, investing in herself, and connecting with like-minded leaders. Upcoming Retreats and Availability (00:28:20) Bessy shares details about her upcoming Portugal and Italy retreats, including availability and unique features. Closing and Contact Information (00:31:16) Shannon and Bessy wrap up, discuss future collaborations, and share how listeners can connect.

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by my friend and Early Church scholar Dr. Thomas Scheck to talk about his latest work, a translation of St. John Fisher's refutation of Martin Luther. The importance of this discussion can't be understated as we unpack one of those Catholic writers, theologians, and bishops who wrote against Martin Luther, and the Reformers, at the very time of the Reformation. Counter to what so many of us thought as Protestants, the Catholic response to Reformation era ideas was immediately, intense, and thorough. Our discussion this week digs into that response and how figures like Fisher called Luther to task – on some of his misquotations and misuses, too! – at the very inception of the Reformation.For more from Dr. Scheck check out his author page on Amazon.Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!Theme Music: "Splendor (Intro)" by Former Ruins. Learn more at formerruins.com or listen on Spotify, Apple Music,A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out their faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

In this episode of Christ the Center, we welcome Josiah Leinbach to discuss William Whitaker's A Disputation on Holy Scripture—a monumental sixteenth-century defense of sola Scriptura, newly edited and republished by Prolego Press. Written in 1588 against leading Roman Catholic theologians such as Robert Bellarmine, Whitaker's work offers a comprehensive treatment of Scripture's authority, canon, clarity, and sufficiency. Leinbach explains how Whitaker combined Renaissance humanism with scholastic rigor, engaging Scripture, church history, and patristic sources to show that Protestant convictions about Scripture were neither novel nor reactionary, but deeply rooted in the catholic tradition of the church. The conversation also explores the modern relevance of Whitaker's work—especially amid contemporary debates over authority, tradition, and ecumenism. Leinbach reflects on how advances in historical and textual scholarship have confirmed many of the Reformers' arguments, while Rome's own positions have shifted over time. Whitaker's insistence on the perspicuity of Scripture, the singular infallibility of God's Word, and the Spirit's inward testimony offers not only apologetic clarity but deep pastoral comfort. This episode invites listeners to recover confidence in Scripture as God's clear and sufficient means of revealing Christ to his people. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 01:08 William Whitaker's A Disputation on Holy Scripture 07:25 Leinbach's Transition from History to Machine Learning 18:10 Whitaker's Polemical Approach 22:03 The Canon of Scripture 25:50 The Perspicuity of Scripture 28:29 Biblical Authority 32:02 The Testimony of the Holy Spirit 35:27 Ecumenical Dialogue Yesterday and Today 48:10 Future Works 52:25 Conclusion Participants: Camden Bucey, Josiah Leinbach

Albania was once the strictest and most isolated of the Communist countries and was sometimes called the “North Korea” of Europe. Saimir Braho was born in Albania during the Communist regime and witnessed the period of religious turmoil that came after the collapse of Communism. Saimir eventually embraced the truth of Christianity, despite living in a country in which talking about God had been grounds for imprisonment and believing in Christ had been illegal.The Reformers and Their StepchildrenYuriy Kravets' StorySpecial thanks to Credo Schloss Unspunnen for the filming location and hospitality. This episode was recorded at the Kingdom Connect Conference in Switzerland; find more information at https://kingdomconnecteurope.org.This is the 302nd episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and featured content!Join us on Patreon or become a website partner to enjoy bonus content!Visit our YouTube channel or connect on Facebook.Read essays from our blog or listen to them on our podcast, Essays for King JesusSubscribe on your podcast provider of choiceSupport us or learn more at anabaptistperspectives.org.The views expressed by our guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Anabaptist Perspectives or Wellspring Mennonite Church.

The question seems simple: did Protestants ever agree on the Lord's Supper? The answer, drawn from history and confessions, is messy. The early church spoke with one voice about a true, real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, a conviction shared across geography and centuries. Then the Reformation fractured that consensus. Luther defended real presence with fire, appealing to Christ's words as plain and binding; Calvin insisted on a true spiritual presence without a change of substance; Zwingli argued for a powerful memorial devoid of presence in the elements. These are not minor tweaks; they are different maps of reality, worship, and church. The implications ripple through how we pray, preach, and gather.  Special episode for our brother  @theprotestantgentleman Dillon Baker.Luther's stance, preserved in the Augsburg Confession, reads with startling clarity: the body and blood of Christ are truly present and distributed to those who partake. For him, the promise of Christ anchored the sacrament; God acts, we receive. This wasn't speculative metaphysics; it was pastoral assurance built on Christ's words. Yet even within that stance, Luther rejected philosophical explanations he considered overly rationalistic, choosing instead to guard the mystery. For many today seeking historical Protestant roots, that text offers a bold continuity with the ancient church's devotion, placing emphasis on Christ's promise rather than human mood or memory.Calvin pushed in another direction. The Westminster Confession, reflecting Reformed insight, rejects any change in the substance of bread and wine. Christ is truly received, they say, but not by the mouth; He is given to faith by the Spirit. This attempt to safeguard both biblical language and philosophical coherence introduced a careful distinction: presence without material change. It aimed to avoid what they saw as superstition while retaining sacramental grace. Yet the same document criticizes views it considers contrary to Scripture and even to common sense, sharpening lines against both Roman Catholic teaching and Luther's insistence. The Reformed vision sought transcendence through the Word, Spirit, and faith rather than in the elements themselves.Zwingli's memorial view drew still sharper boundaries: the Supper is a sign and remembrance, a communal pledge of loyalty and gratitude. Here, the focus shifts from divine action in the elements to the church's act of obedience and memory. The table becomes a proclamation of the gospel rather than a locus of Christ's bodily presence. This view resonated with those wary of idolatry and eager to stress the sufficiency of faith. Yet critics asked whether such symbolism thins the mystery and reduces sacrament to lecture, exchanging presence for reminder and gift for gesture.Why the divergence? One claim in the conversation is that sola scriptura, untethered from a living interpretive authority, multiplies interpretations. The Reformers shared a high view of Scripture but not a shared hermeneutic about sacramental language. When “This is my body” meets different commitments about sign, substance, and promise, meanings diverge. The result is denominational lines drawn at the table itself. Confessions not only teach; they exclude. Augsburg rejects contrary teachings. Westminster calls other views repugnant. Such language reflects the stakes: worship sits at the center of identity, and the Supper is worship in its most intimate form.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

On this episode of A History of Christian Theology, Chad sits down with Dr. Stephen Chester to discuss his recently published book, Paul through the Eyes of the Reformers: Living under Grace (Eerdmans). Dr. Chester is the Lord and Lady Coggan Professor of New Testament at Wycliffe College in Toronto and is widely known for his influential work on the interpretation of Scripture—especially regarding Paul and the Reformers.Chad and Dr. Chester enjoy a thoughtful and engaging conversation about the New Perspective on Paul: what it is, what to make of it, and how we should understand the reformer's view of Paul. Many thanks to Dr. Chester for taking the time to join us. We hope you enjoy!Buy "Paul through the Eyes of the Reformers Living under Grace"Subscribe to our PatreonX: @theologyxianFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahistoryofchristiantheology

The word Paradise is used infrequently in the Bible. Jesus tells the thief on the cross that they will be together that day in Paradise, and Paul says in 2 Corinthians that he had a powerful out-of-body (maybe!) experience in Paradise. Paradise is a Persian word describing a cool, relaxing garden in an arid climate, and it looks like Jesus is using this word to describe the intermediate state to promise the thief on the cross that after death - but before the resurrection - his spirit will be in a comfortable resting place with Jesus himself. This corresponds to the place Christians typically call “heaven”, as in “going to heaven when you die.” Although this usage amongst contemporary Christians is common, the Bible never says Christians go to heaven when they die. Instead, the biblical language of “heaven” describes the realm of God - a realm which overlaps and interlocks with our human realm in the person of Jesus. In other words, heaven is a reality Christians are experiencing already, but not yet completely. Chuck and Aaron also discuss the notion of “soul sleep” - a concept describing the possible unconscious state of believers in between their earthly deaths and the return of Jesus. Since Paul describes this state as “better” than life on earth, and as a “being” with Jesus, Chuck and Aaron both lean toward understanding this intermediate state as a conscious presence of the human spirit with Jesus while the human body remains on earth awaiting the final resurrection. And the idea of Purgatory - common in Roman Catholicism - has no attestation in the Bible. However, the Reformers' teaching against it by (rightly) insisting that the spirits of dead Christians are immediately with Jesus led to an unfortunate overemphasis on the intermediate state and an underemphasis on the resurrection of the dead, which they didn't emphasize since they shared this belief with their Roman Catholic opponents. Hosts: Aaron Mueller and Chuck Rathert Subscribe to the show at https://cacg.saintjamesglencarbon.org. To comment on this episode, visit https://saintjamesglencarbon.org/cacg-ep134.

Did you grow up learning about Bible stories through Sunday school felt boards while holding your storybook picture Bible? Does your grandmother have a picture of blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jesus hanging in her home? Have you watched Mel Gibson's The Passion or Dallas Jenkins' The Chosen and felt as if it helped you to better connect with Jesus' humanity?In this episode, we dive deep into the scope of the Second Commandment - "You shall not make for yourself an idol" - exploring both what Scripture has to say and how it was viewed historically. From Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 4, we unpack God's prohibition against fashioning representations of Himself, including the two-fold command against making and worshiping them. We trace the regulative principle of worship through church history: from early Christian symbols to the Roman Catholic veneration of images, the Reformers' ban under Calvin and the Puritans, and its modern relaxation.Drawing on the golden calf in Exodus 32, we see how "good" intentions don't excuse transgression, as God declares His jealousy and promises blessings for obedience (Exodus 20:5-6). God's holiness (Leviticus 19:2) and invisibility (Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15) demand faith in the unseen (Hebrews 11:1), not visual aids.We address common concerns: intentions of the heart, classical art, teaching children about Jesus, and more, all while affirming the Westminster Larger Catechism's clear stance against any depiction of the Godhead. Whether you're Reformed or curious, join us for a Scripture-saturated discussion on worshiping God as He commands, especially in the season celebrating the Incarnation.Keep Up with Reformed Faith and Family in the Following Ways:Never miss an episode, article, or a new FREEBIE by joining our weekly newsletter here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/subscribe/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Build your library with our recommended resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/recommended-resources/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read the latest articles: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/blog/⁠⁠⁠⁠Download your FREEBIES in our store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/educational-resources-store/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the Gift Shop: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/gift-shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Good Dog Bible Rebinds: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://reformedfaithandfamily.com/good-dog-designs-and-rebinds/⁠⁠⁠⁠WE HAVE A FAVOR TO ASK! If you are excited about our mission at Reformed Faith and Family to guide men and women as they seek to learn more about Reformed theology and equip families as they disciple their children, then please leave our podcast a 5-star review and share it with a friend. We appreciate each one of our faithful listeners, but we also depend on you to help us get the word out. Thank you for your continued support!

In this interview I'm joined by Dr. Brandon Smith to discuss his book, Taught by God: Ancient Hermeneutics for the Modern Church. We talk about how Christians have read Scripture over the course of history, what we can learn from the way the Fathers, the Reformers, and others read Scripture. We also talk about what this looks like in a Protestant context. Smith earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Baptist University, an M.A. in Theological and Biblical Studies from Criswell College, and a Ph.D. in Theology from Ridley College (Melbourne). He is the author of numerous books, book contributions, and journal articles. His books include The Trinity in the Book of Revelation (IVP Academic, 2022), The Biblical Trinity (Lexham, 2023), and Taught by God (B&H Academic, 2024).Read the Book: https://amzn.to/4qcvdQ6Check out his channel:  @churchgrammar Want to support the channel? Here's how!Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity  Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicityBook a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austinRead my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/Support the show

What if the way we tell time shapes the way we love God? We trace the deep roots of Advent and Candlemas to show how the early church used feasts to form memory, kindle joy, and carry light from the sanctuary into ordinary homes. Along the way, we meet Anna in Luke 2—a widow of great age whose quiet devotion becomes a loud sermon about steadfast hope. Her story pushes back on the myth that only big platforms change the world, revealing how staying, fasting, worshiping, and praying can open our eyes to recognize Christ when He draws near.We explore how secular calendars took center stage and why the church once organized life around retelling God's acts. From the Nativity candles taken home as living reminders to the offering of light returned on Candlemas, these practices were never about optics; they were about formation. We dig into the history, the Reformers' calendar cuts, and the way those choices still shape how we mark the season today. Then we contrast Zechariah's divinely imposed silence with Anna's honored voice, highlighting Luke's careful theme: God dignifies the overlooked and entrusts His message to those the culture underestimates.This conversation is both historical and deeply practical. You'll leave with simple ways to embody Advent: light a candle and pray at dinner, choose a modest fast to make room for presence over hurry, begin and end each day with short prayers, and serve quietly without fanfare. If you've ever wondered how to move beyond holiday noise into holy attention, Anna's life offers a clear path—steady, unseen, and radiant with hope.My hope is that this podcast helps grow your faith and equips you to accomplish your dreams and goals!Follow me on InstagramFollow me on FacebookFollow me on TikTok

The 16th century Reformers, John Knox, Martin Luther and John Calvin, were supersessionists. That is, they believed God was finished with the Jews and had replaced them with the Church. The most common term for this idea is “replacement theology”. More recent Reformed theologians tend to hold to a soft-supersessionist continuation-fulfillment view, where the Church is called “spiritual Israel” and/or a continuation of Israel. In this sermon on Ephesians 3, Michael Penfold shows that the Church began in Acts 2 as a new and separate entity The post The Great Mystery – Ephesians 3 | Michael Penfold first appeared on Gospel Hall Audio.

Romans 8:33-34 — The Reformers were adamant that the church stands or falls on the doctrine of justification. Martin Luther, says Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, was thrilled when the doctrine of justification dawned upon him. Many Christians today, however, may be apathetic towards justification. Even those who happily affirm the truth of justification may do so with less excitement than previous generations of Protestant believers. Given that there is no charge whatsoever the devil can bring against God's elect and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believer, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says justification is the key to everything. In this sermon on Romans 8:33–34 titled “Justified By God,” he gives an exposition of the meaning of justification along with its legal and covenantal context. For Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Christian's joy, security, and safety is at stake when considering the doctrine of justification by faith. If one relies on anything else, including experience, then they will certainly be shaken as the devil shows one's guilt before the law. Hear this grand exposition of the only ground that a believer can truly stand on as they proclaim that it is God who justifies. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29?v=20251111

Why do Catholics look to the Pope and the Magisterium for ultimate authority, while Protestants look to Scripture alone—and what does that mean for everyday faith? Mark continues the “Why Protestantism?” series by examining the heart of the authority debate. He explains how Roman Catholicism understands the Pope, apostolic succession, sacred tradition, and the Magisterium, and why Catholics believe these provide an infallible guide for the Church. Mark then contrasts this with the Protestant conviction that the Bible alone is the final and sufficient authority for faith and life.Mark explores where these two systems diverge, why the Reformers rejected papal infallibility, and how the question of authority shapes everything—from doctrine, to worship, to the clarity of the gospel itself. This episode sets the stage for next week's focus on gospel clarity and why authority matters for every Christian.Episode Highlights00:00 — Framing today's question: who speaks with final authority in the Church? 02:14 — How Catholicism understands authority: Scripture, tradition, and the Magisterium 04:41 — Apostolic succession and why Catholics believe the Pope is Peter's successor 06:58 — What papal infallibility actually means (and what it doesn't) 10:08 — Ex cathedra teaching: when the Pope speaks infallibly 12:15 — Protestant concerns: where is the biblical basis for an infallible papacy? 14:02 — Why the Reformers insisted on sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) 16:40 — The practical implications: how these differences shape the Christian lifeResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineGavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as RenewalMichael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten FaithChad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader's EditionCatechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

Unity sounds simple until you try to build it without a shared center. We take listeners inside the lived tension of modern Protestant life: a movement born from reform that still reforms itself into new churches, new brands, and new streams whenever conviction collides with leadership and local control. From the Reformers' early disagreements to today's non-denominational megachurches, hosts Jeremy Jeremiah, Mario Andrew, and Michael trace how authority, interpretation, and personality shape the health of congregations—and why splits feel inevitable when a pastor retires or launches a fresh vision down the street.We examine why Protestant unity remains elusive, especially for Dillon Baker, host of The Protestant Gentleman, (https://www.youtube.com/@theprotestantgentleman/videos) how non-denominational structures fuel repeated splits, and why so many seekers turn to older, historic forms of Christianity. We share lived stories, weigh online apologetics trends, and offer practical next steps rooted in church history.• the claim that Protestantism functions as serial reformations• structural fragility in non-denominational leadership models• real case of a founding pastor splitting a congregation• growth versus true flourishing in church life• online apologetics momentum and confidence gaps• questions to test practice against early Christian history• counsel to study church history before choosing a church• invitation to explore Orthodox parishes as a concrete stepAlong the way, we unpack a candid story of a founding pastor pushed to retire who planted a new church and took half the congregation, and we ask what that choice demands of ordinary people. Are they comparing preaching styles, or discerning which community is more biblically faithful? We zoom out to the online apologetics landscape where prominent voices admit Protestants are “losing” the debate on history and continuity. That candor points to a deeper hunger: believers want a faith that is ancient, coherent, and recognizable across centuries, not just persuasive proof texts. The guiding question becomes, Where have Christians practiced this?We offer a practical path forward. Start with church history: the first centuries, the councils, the formation of canon, and the worship life that carried the Gospel through persecution and empire. Test present practices against the witness of the early Church. Many seekers find themselves drawn to Eastern Orthodoxy for its conciliar authority, sacramental life, and stable doctrine—less an escape from Scripture than a home where Scripture, tradition, and worship live together. Whether you remain Protestant or explore Orthodoxy, you'll leave with sharper questions, clearer criteria, and a stronger sense of what flourishing looks like beyond weekly attendance numbers.If this conversation helps you or someone you love, share it with a friend, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a review with the biggest question you're wrestling with right now. Your voice shapes where we go next.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses Radio: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses Radio on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTokPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

In this episode, Professor N. T. Wright joins us to walk through Ephesians as a panoramic room with a view—sunrise to moonset—where heaven and earth meet, and spiritual warfare is real but not partisan. Drawing from his new book The Vision of Ephesians: The Task of the Church and the Glory of God, Wright argues that Paul's language about “predestination” is vocational before it's destinational: the church is chosen to live for the praise of God's glory in the present. RDM and Wright explore why Ephesians might have changed church history had the Reformers centered it as much as Romans and Galatians, how “principalities and powers” makes surprising sense in an algorithm-shaped age, and why unity and holiness aren't rival goods but twin commands. They also wade into the passages that spark the most questions—marriage in Ephesians 5, mutual submission, and the armor of God—insisting on careful reading, cultural context, and a refusal to demonize flesh-and-blood neighbors. Whether you're Christian-curious or deep in the commentaries, Wright offers a way to read Ephesians both fast (to catch the sweep) and slow (to trace the seams), with the church embodying a many-colored wisdom that refuses tribal sorting. Resources mentioned in this episode:   Keep up with Russell: Sign up for the weekly newsletter where Russell shares thoughtful takes on big questions, offers a Christian perspective on life, and recommends books and music he's enjoying. Submit a question for the show at questions@russellmoore.com  Subscribe to the Christianity Today Magazine: Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we compare the church in the book of Acts with the church Joseph Smith built—showing how the LDS ‘restoration' actually rebuilds the hierarchy, temples, and priesthoods Jesus fulfilled and the Reformers fought to remove. It's not a return to the New Testament but a reversal of the freedom Christ brought.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --SUMMARYLatter-day Saints teach that after the apostles died, the church fell into total apostasy—losing authority, truth, and the gospel—and that Joseph Smith “restored” the original church in 1830.But when we compare the Bible, early church history, and the medieval church, a clear pattern emerges: the LDS system doesn't look like the church in the book of Acts. It looks like the institutional system that developed centuries later.This episode walks through that history and shows why Mormonism isn't a restoration of the New Testament—it's a rebuilding of the very system Jesus fulfilled and the Reformers worked to correct.1. What the Early Church Actually Looked Like (Book of Acts)No templesNo priestly hierarchyNo prophet-presidentNo exclusive priesthood lineageBelievers met in homes, prayed, broke bread, and studied ScriptureLeadership was shared among elders/pastorsEvery believer was a priest (1 Peter 2)Access to God came directly through Jesus, not through mediatorsBottom line: The early church was simple, Spirit-led, and centered entirely on Jesus.2. How the Church Drifted in the Middle AgesBy the 4th century, especially after Constantine:The church became tied to political powerBishops became rulersPriests acted as mediatorsSalvation was tied to rituals and sacramentsA single head (the Pope) claimed God-given authorityThis system dominated medieval Christianity and buried the gospel under layers of tradition and hierarchy.3. The Reformation: Returning to ScriptureLuther, Calvin, Zwingli, and the Anabaptists didn't invent a new church.They removed the medieval layers and returned to:Scripture aloneGrace aloneChrist aloneFaith aloneReal renewal happens when ordinary believers open the Bible again.4. Joseph Smith Recreates the Medieval SystemDespite claiming to “restore” the church, Joseph Smith introduced:A layered priesthood (Aaronic & Melchizedek)A prophet-president with final authorityTemple rituals and restricted accessOrdinances required for salvationCentralized headquarters claiming exclusive truthThis mirrors the medieval Catholic model, not the church in Acts.5. The LDS Temple: The Most Striking IronyJesus

In this episode, we compare the church in the book of Acts with the church Joseph Smith built—showing how the LDS ‘restoration' actually rebuilds the hierarchy, temples, and priesthoods Jesus fulfilled and the Reformers fought to remove. It's not a return to the New Testament but a reversal of the freedom Christ brought.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --SUMMARYLatter-day Saints teach that after the apostles died, the church fell into total apostasy—losing authority, truth, and the gospel—and that Joseph Smith “restored” the original church in 1830.But when we compare the Bible, early church history, and the medieval church, a clear pattern emerges: the LDS system doesn't look like the church in the book of Acts. It looks like the institutional system that developed centuries later.This episode walks through that history and shows why Mormonism isn't a restoration of the New Testament—it's a rebuilding of the very system Jesus fulfilled and the Reformers worked to correct.1. What the Early Church Actually Looked Like (Book of Acts)No templesNo priestly hierarchyNo prophet-presidentNo exclusive priesthood lineageBelievers met in homes, prayed, broke bread, and studied ScriptureLeadership was shared among elders/pastorsEvery believer was a priest (1 Peter 2)Access to God came directly through Jesus, not through mediatorsBottom line: The early church was simple, Spirit-led, and centered entirely on Jesus.2. How the Church Drifted in the Middle AgesBy the 4th century, especially after Constantine:The church became tied to political powerBishops became rulersPriests acted as mediatorsSalvation was tied to rituals and sacramentsA single head (the Pope) claimed God-given authorityThis system dominated medieval Christianity and buried the gospel under layers of tradition and hierarchy.3. The Reformation: Returning to ScriptureLuther, Calvin, Zwingli, and the Anabaptists didn't invent a new church.They removed the medieval layers and returned to:Scripture aloneGrace aloneChrist aloneFaith aloneReal renewal happens when ordinary believers open the Bible again.4. Joseph Smith Recreates the Medieval SystemDespite claiming to “restore” the church, Joseph Smith introduced:A layered priesthood (Aaronic & Melchizedek)A prophet-president with final authorityTemple rituals and restricted accessOrdinances required for salvationCentralized headquarters claiming exclusive truthThis mirrors the medieval Catholic model, not the church in Acts.5. The LDS Temple: The Most Striking IronyJesus

A Day of Distinction Please turn to Malachi 3:13-18. That is on page 955 in the Pew Bibles. We are in the home stretch of Malachi. Next week will be our last sermon. By the way, Malachi has often been used for an Advent series. It is the last book of the Old Testament, and, as we saw 2 weeks ago, it promises that the Messiah will come soon. Next week will be another advent prophecy. Our sermon this morning concludes the pattern of (1) God's accusation, (2) the people questioning God, and (3) the Lord explaining. After that, we will we hear a surprising turn. There were some who did fear the Lord and responded to him. Listen for the contrasts between those who questioned the Lord, and those who feared him. Reading of Malachi 3:13-18 Prayer How do you justify sin in your life? I know that question presupposes an understanding of sin. I'm simply referring to breaking God's commands as he has revealed in his Word. ·      Do you find yourself saying, “well, this is a small thing. It doesn't really matter.” ·      Or, “everyone else does it, so what's the big deal.” ·      Or “At least I'm not as bad as he or she is.” ·      Are you tempted to make the ends justify the means? You think, “well, the results will be good, so it doesn't matter how I get there.” ·      Or maybe you are angry with God or wonder if he is even there? You think, “why does it even matter?” ·      Maybe you have been sinned against and therefore are tempted to respond likewise. ·      Or do you think that nobody will know. ·      Or do you tell yourself, “It feels right, how can it be wrong?” How do you justify sin? Really, the more important question is, will you respond to God's Word? These verses give us a contrast between two responses. 1. Those who justify and continue in their sin and 2, those who repent and respond. All throughout Malachi, we've seen different ways that the priests and the people have justified their sin. Often it was about their situation. They were poor and didn't want to bring their unblemished male animal to offer at the temple or bring their required tithe. Or they didn't love their spouse anymore, so why not get a divorce. Why not marry someone who didn't know Yahweh if they could get ahead economically. Based on their experience, they didn't even believe that God was just, so why did it matter what they did or didn't do. Verses 13-15 are the climax to their dismissal of God and how they justified their sin. The Lord said, “your words have been hard against me.” And they asked once again, “how” “How have we spoken against you?” And the Lord responds… you have said, , “it is vain to serve God. What is the profit of keeping his charge?” They didn't see any value in continuing to honor God. Why bother? It was so bad they didn't even want to mourn before the Lord because of their situation. They had gotten to the place where they weren't even sure God existed. In verse 15, we learn they'd been saying that “the arrogant were blessed.” “Evildoers not only prosper, …but they put God to the test and they escaped.” In other words, good things were happening to bad people. Why would God allow that and leave them to flail in their situation? You see, the people were feeling despondent. They didn't think God cared about them. In fact, to them, God seemed to care more about their enemies. And so, they responded by not caring themselves. They didn't care about God, and they didn't care about his commands. They felt defeated and wondered if God was even paying attention. Do you ever feel that way? You see other people seemingly doing well or prospering. Many of whom you don't believe should be prospering. And you are struggling with health or with finances or in relationships or in a career. And it brings you to a place of despondency - hopelessness and asking why. I've found that in those moments, I have been very susceptible to temptation. You know, you get down about something and feel discouraged and disconnected from the Lord. And then, you wonder if trying to honor God is even worth it. Just like the people were saying, it is vain… you know, it seems worthless to pursue the Lord. You then ask yourself, why not just do what I want? Why not just take matters into my own hands? And then, you do. That's exactly what the exiles who were back in Jerusalem were doing. They justified their sin. More and more, they rejected God. It was like a downward spiral of complacency and disillusionment that was leading them away from God. Instead of drawing closer to God, they were pulling away from him. Instead of seeking to honor him, they were dishonoring him. And then along came Malachi, the prophet. And he spoke God's very words to them. You have done this, and this, and this. You have questioned my justice. In your hearts and in your actions, you have walked away in defiance from my commands. You have been faithless. I think of all the accusations that the Lord has leveled against them, calling them faithless was perhaps the worst. They no longer trusted in the God who loved them, as he had just reminded them. What would they do? Really, they were at an inflection point. They were at a fork in the road. God had just called them to return to him. The question is, would they return? Would they renounce their ways and their thoughts against the Lord and return? The Lord's arms were open for them to come back to him. The question was, would they before it was too late? You know, I love our church family. I love you. We love each other and we love our neighbors. And I believe that each of us honestly want to honor the Lord in our lives. I know my glasses are a little rosy. But I know that there are secret sins in this room. There are dark closets. There's heart adultery, for sure, but statistically speaking, there's likely actual adultery happening, too. Other sexual sin as well. There's also a range of anger and prejudice and heart idols that turn our attention away from the Lord. Some sin we are blind to, but other sin we simply justify. It may be hidden from one another, but it is not hidden from God. Let me ask, How have you been responding to God's word in Malachi? It's been pretty intense. Have you felt convicted and have you been responding to the Lord in repentance and faith? …Have you renewed yourself to pursue the Lord and his commands? Will you forsake them and turn your heart back to the Lord? What would they do and what will you do? And that brings us to verse 16. This is the first time, in the entire book of Malachi, that we are given a glimmer of hope.. in regard to their hearts. Verse 16 – “then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another.” It's talking about people who with reverent awe and faith submitted themselves to the Lord. They were there. One question that people disagree about is whether this is a totally separate group from the Israelites who had been questioning God. Or whether some of those who had been questioning God repented and returned to him. Most think that it is one or the other. But I think what is more likely is that it's both. God has always had his remnant from among the people. But God also draws people away from their sin and back to him. Malachi was prophesying God's very Word. Of the thousands who had returned to Jerusalem, certainly there were some who upon hearing God's word, repented and returned as he had called them. We don't know for sure, but whatever the makeup of this group, the point is that there were some who by faith reverently trusted God… and as it says, sought to serve him. We don't even know what their conversation was about, but we are told that whatever it was God was pleased. They had in some way affirmed God's word and encouraged each other in that affirmation. And, they esteemed God's name. Rather than questioning God, they exalted the Lord God. This is God's very Word. Will you hear and respond to it by faith? Or will you react in defiance against it? What will you do? I want to take a brief tangent. Some of you will know this. The Protestant Reformers were very concerned NOT to bind someone's conscience. You know, someone's internal sense of right and wrong and truth and error. Martin Luther in his famous speech at the diet of Worms said that to go against one conscience is neither right nor safe. When we hear that, it's easy, I think, to mistakenly apply our culture's understanding of conscience. We might think Luther meant that we should never tell someone that what they believe or do is right or wrong. But that is not what Luther nor John Calvin nor the other Reformers meant. They meant that only the Word of God should bind someone conscience. Luther even said in that same speech, “my conscience is bound by the Word of God.” The Roman Catholic church was trying to bind the conscience of people to believe things that were contrary to Scripture. That is what they were opposed to. The Reformers believed that our consciences are marred by sin. Even as redeemed people, we need to submit our minds and hearts to God's word so that our inner sense of moral right and wrong will be transformed to God's standard. We absolutely can and should challenge one another. When we see a brother or sister do something or believing something contrary to God's Word, we should call it out in love. That is not wrongly binding someone's conscience; rather, it is directing someone's conscience to God's Word. Some churches and Christians today will justify lifestyles and beliefs so as not to constrain someone elses conscience. Some will say, “my conscience is clear,” as if their conscience is the final moral authority rather than Scripture. No, rather, as we each mature in our faith and in our knowledge of God's Word, our conscience will become more and more aligned with God's standard and THUS sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Our conscience should never replace what God has revealed in his Word. I bring this up because it is a common way to justify sin today – to appeal to a “clear conscience” even when it contradicts Scripture. Ok, back to Malachi 3 – the conscience of these people who feared the Lord were captivated by God through his Word. God had either convicted them of their sin and they repented and returned… or they has been in the minority, as a remnant, faithful to God and his Word all along. Likely, as I mentioned, both. And because they feared the Lord, God wrote their names and their faithful works in his book. It's called here the book of remembrance. A common practice at that time was for kings to write down significant events and significant people. It was their history. In fact, Persian kings were meticulous at this task. They preserved their records in the royal archive. Remember, it was the Medo Persians who, at this time, ruled over the region. So, this reference to the Lord keeping a book would have been understood even beyond the Israelites. The point is that God would not forget them. He would not forget his remnant who fixed their hearts and minds on him. Who esteemed his name. They shall be mine, he says. By the way, there is a little tiny phrase there in verse 17 that has huge significance. It's the phrase “in the day.” Do you see it? “In the day,” it says, “when I make up my treasured possession, I will spare them.” It is looking forward to the judgment day. It's looking forward to that day when God, in Christ, will fulfill his just judgment. That day will happen when Christ comes to judge. For us, we know that the final judgment will come when Jesus returns. In his first coming, Jesus came to save – he came to bring salvation. In his second coming, he will come for the final judgment. And on the day when Christ comes to judge, God will make his people his treasured possessions. I love that description. They had feared the Lord and honored him… and God wrote their names down in his book of life. We all have treasured possessions. If your house or apartment is on fire, what are the things that you would want to risk your life and run back in to save? Certainly, family members. Maybe a pet. Maybe your great great grandmother's pendant. Or maybe that jersey signed by your favorite athlete or coach. I'm not telling you to run back into your house for things. Let the firemen do that. But on that day, those who fear God and keep his commandments will be God's treasured possession. He will save them. That phrase “treasured possession” is a reference back to Mount Saini. God had rescued his people from slavery in Egypt. He had brought them across the Red Sea. He was about to give them his commandments, and he says, and listen to this… “if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, I will make you my treasured possession among all people of the earth.” In Malachi, at the end of verse 17, Lord says that he will “spare them as a man spares a son who serves him.” Back when I was about 14, my sister and I wanted to surprise our parents and clean the garage. Isn't that very nice.  However, there was still a car in the garage. So, I told my sister, ok, you get in the car. I'll push it back, and as soon as it gets out of the garage, put it into gear. It was a manual transmission. Every time my parents parked the car, they would put it in gear, so I thought it was like a parking brake.  So, I pushed the car out of the garage, but when my sister tried to put it in gear, it wouldn't go. Neither of us thought about the brake pedal. Well, our driveway was sloped, so the car started to pick up speed, and I was running alongside of it, but my sister couldn't stop it. Then the steering wheel locked up. We were both panicking. Then the car smashed into the stone wall next to our driveway. We both thought, oh no, we're going to get in big trouble with our dad. But when he got home, he wasn't angry at all. No, he was just glad we weren't hurt. We were spared. But I can tell you, if we had been one of his employees, the story would have ended differently. You see, a father spares a son. A father loves his children. They are his treasured possession. God the Father has done the most amazing thing for those who fear and honor him. He has spared them from his judgment. And he's done that by not sparing his only Son. God has rescued us from the fire of his wrath by sending his only son who endured his wrath on our behalf. And because of it, on that day, on that judgment day, God will spare his children. To put it in terms of Jesus first and second coming. God sent his son, Jesus Christ, into the world, to be judged so that when he comes again as judge, those who fear and serve him will not be judged. All of this has all been leading up to verse 18. On that day, there will be a distinction, it say, between the righteous and the wicked. By the way, let me mention, this is like a two-part sermon. Malachi 4 continues explaining what will happen on that day. I've titled today's sermon A Day of Distinction. Next week will be A Day of Deliverance. So, we won't spend any more time on that coming day. But come back next week to hear about the “sun of righteousness.” Rather, we'll spend the rest of our time today on the distinction spoken of in verse 18. At the heart of the distinction is whether someone fears and serves God. The first words at the beginning of 18 are pretty telling. It says, “Then once more… you will see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked” Malachi's entire prophecy has focused on (1) how God's people had walked away from him in disobedience. And (2) how he calls them to return to him in faithfulness in their words and actions. Those who did not return are included in verse 18 with the wicked. Those who did return are included with the righteous. The two words used to describe the righteous are those who fear and serve the Lord. Fear in verse 16, which we already discussed, and the word serve, here in verse 18. Let me put it this way: At the heart of serving the Lord is a heart that fears the Lord with reverence and awe. Those two distinguishing marks cannot be separated. There is no fearing the Lord without serving him. …AND, no one truly serves the Lord without fearing him. When someone comes to fear the Lord, they will desire to honor him in their lives. Let me put this in some New Testament terms. ·      True faith in Christ will result in the fruits of righteousness. ·      Or as James put it, faith without works is dead. Our works, meaning our obedience to God's Word, testifies to our faith in him. Works do not lead to faith, faith leads to works.·      Or as the Apostle Paul put it in Romans 6 “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” To use theological terms. We are justified in Christ. We receive Jesus' righteousness by faith in him which leads to sanctification in our lives. More and more through God's Spirit, we die to sin and live to righteousness. So, fearing and serving the Lord IS faith and works which IS trusting and obeying God. It describes the righteous. The wicked do not fear the Lord nor honor him. They do not hear his Word. They do not return to him. Rather, they have rejected the Lord by dishonoring him in all his ways… including, of course, they ways that Malachi had prophesied. They questioned God… and to bring this back around, they justified their sin. As they said up in verse 14, “it is vain to serve God.” In closing, we all struggle with sin, but let me ask: As you search your heart, do you fear the Lord by faith in Christ? Are you seeking, by God's Spirit, to hear God's Word, see your sin, and respond by serving and honoring him? If you are, then on that day, God in Christ will spare you as a father spares a son. If that does not describe your life, then God is saying to you, “return to me.” No longer justify your sin but fear me and honor me. Come to me by faith in Christ. And when you do, the Lord says, you will be my treasured possession. On that day, may we all be described as the righteous. Not because of our righteousness, but because of the righteousness of Christ. A righteousness that we receive by faith AND which we demonstrate by serving and honoring him.

Pastor Lutzer highlights a Wittenberg church painting by Cranach, illustrating the Reformation: Catholics neglect the vineyard, while Luther and Reformers remove weeds, nurturing the gospel of Christ for believers.

Why do Protestants and Catholics differ so sharply on authority, Mary, and the nature of the true church—and why does it matter for following Jesus today?In this episode, Mark Vance continues the “Why Protestantism?” series by examining some of the most significant theological differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestant belief. With clarity and charity, Mark explains how Catholic teachings on Mary, the papacy, and church authority developed—and why he believes they obscure the clarity of the gospel.Mark walks through the “four Marian doctrines,” the Catholic understanding of sacred tradition, and the claim of papal infallibility, showing how these teachings shape the Catholic view of the church. He contrasts this with the Protestant conviction that Scripture alone is the final authority and that salvation is grounded solely in the finished work of Christ. This episode lays crucial groundwork for understanding why the Reformers believed a return to biblical authority was necessary for the health of the church.Episode Highlights00:00 — Why Protestantism? Continuing the series and framing today's topic: authority 02:47 — How Catholic doctrine develops: tradition, councils, and magisterial teaching 06:10 — The four Marian doctrines (Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, Assumption, and Mary as Mediatrix) 11:52 — Why these Marian teachings matter for understanding the gospel 14:30 — How Catholicism understands the church's teaching authority (magisterium) 16:44 — The logic behind papal infallibility and ex cathedra teaching 19:55 — Protestant concerns: where is the biblical warrant for these doctrines? 22:18 — Scripture vs. tradition: which has final authority? 24:12 — Why Mark believes the Catholic view of authority obscures gospel clarityResourcesCornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineGavin Ortlund, What It Means to Be Protestant (Truth Unites)Matthew Barrett, The Reformation as RenewalMichael Svigel, RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten FaithChad Van Dixhoorn (ed.), Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader's EditionCatechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican)

Pastor Lutzer highlights a Wittenberg church painting by Cranach, illustrating the Reformation: Catholics neglect the vineyard, while Luther and Reformers remove weeds, nurturing the gospel of Christ for believers.

"Has the doctrine of justification by faith alone really been the faith of the church in every age—or was it invented at the Reformation?In Galatians 2:15–16, Paul declares that “a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox critics often claim that the Reformation view of justification is a late, novel interpretation. But the testimony of Scripture and church history shows otherwise.In this sermon, we explore:The Perspicuity of Scripture – why Paul's teaching on justification is clear and authoritativeThe Early Church Fathers – Clement, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Chrysostom, Basil, Ambrosiaster, and others who spoke of justification by faith aloneAugustine & the Medieval Witnesses – how even in the Middle Ages, voices like Anselm, Bernard, and Wycliffe upheld the truth that salvation is wholly of graceThe Reformation – not a new doctrine, but a return to the biblical and historic gospelFrom Adam to Abraham, from Paul to the Reformers, from the fathers to faithful believers in every century, the church has always confessed the same truth:We are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone.#JustificationByFaith #FaithAlone #SolaFide #Galatians #ChurchHistory #ReformedTheology #GospelTruth #ChristAlone #GraceAlone"

Looking back at church history may not sound exciting to some, but it's vital to understanding how God has worked through time. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar reflect on the church as the story of believers, emphasizing that history reveals God's ongoing movement beyond the book of Acts. Though historians tell it in an exciting way, church history shows the evidence of faith lived out in different eras. Biographies of faithful men and women remind Christians of how the Lord worked through ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things, inspiring believers to live with the same devotion today.Oscar begins by discussing Paul's conversion, a pivotal moment in the spread of the gospel. The guys trace how the church grew organically from that point, not emerging centuries later as some assume. E.Z. focuses on the Council of Nicea, which addressed theological controversy and affirmed Christ's deity. While Constantine allowed Christianity to be practiced, he did not truly Christianize the empire. Oscar highlights Basil, credited as the father of the first hospital, whose compassion reflected the image of God in all people. His example shows that true faith always leads to action and care for others.The fall of Rome marks another turning point, when the church preserved art and literature but also took on roles it was never meant to hold. The guys note how pagan influences crept into traditions over time and stress that truth must come from Scripture alone. Ray points out that Acts remains the blueprint for the church, calling believers back to gospel proclamation and discipleship. The modern church, he warns, risks valuing entertainment over genuine transformation. The group agrees that true renewal comes from giving prominence to God's Word and from pursuing historical theology rather than trends or rituals.Finally, they explore the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther's stand against the Catholic Church, sparked by his 95 theses, ignited a call for revival rather than rebellion. Though the Catholic Church branded him a troublemaker, Luther sought to restore biblical truth through Scripture, faith, and grace alone. The Reformation was not about creating something new but recovering what had been lost. Reformers relied on Scripture and the writings of the early church fathers to return Christianity to its roots. Their courage paved the way for believers today to read God's Word freely and pursue authentic faith. Through these key moments, the guys remind listeners that understanding history deepens gratitude for the gospel and renews passion to live it out now.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

People aren't coming to your studio for your Reformers, your music or your plush towels. They're craving memorable experiences and genuine connection to keep them coming back.  If your member experience is off, everything is off. Join Alina Cooper and me for Episode 689: How to Turn Your Studio Around -- Part 3 to ensure you're exceeding expectations.  Adopt fresh eyes: inspect your studio, add new touches, make small changes   Interact intentionally: make eye contact, use names, recall personal details Practice small acts of kindness: delight members with thoughtful, low-cost gestures  Watch your words: regularly reassess and refine messaging to appeal to your ICA Sell strategically: start small, test, tweak, track and scale marketing that works   The studios that fail are those that stop trying. Make sure you're bringing fresh energy, heart and clarity to your business so it remains alive and compelling. Explore how in Episode 689.   Catch you there,   Lise   PS: Join 2,000+ studio owners who've decided to take control of their studio business and build their freedom empire. Subscribe HERE and join the party! www.studiogrow.co www.linkedin.com/company/studio-growco/  

What happens when Christians lose confidence in the truthfulness of Scripture?In this episode of the Bible and Theology Matters Podcast, Dr. Paul Weaver interviews Dr. Richard Howe, Provost of Southern Evangelical Seminary, to discuss one of the most foundational doctrines of the Christian faith—Biblical Inerrancy.Together they explore:

Re-evaluating Penal Substitution and Vicarious Satisfaction This talk addresses the central soteriological question: "Was Jesus Punished?" While it is undisputed that Jesus was punished by human authorities, this presentation argues against the proposition that He was punished by God. It critically examines the dominant theory of penal substitution (substitutio penalis) and advocates for a return to the classical model of vicarious satisfaction (satisfactio vicaria). The presentation traces the problem's origin to the post-Anselmian theological shift, which was radicalized by the Reformers into penal substitution. Extreme interpretations of this doctrine (e.g., L. Bourdaloue) portray God the Father as a "persecutor" discharging "divine hatred" onto His Son, creating a "toxic" image of a sadistic God while ignoring the Son's will. Three strategies for resolving this impasse are analyzed, rejecting "finding depth in penal substitution", which introduces "darkness" into the image of God, and the concept of Stellvertretung as a dialectical evasion. The preferred strategy is to restore the Anselmian distinction between involuntary punishment and voluntary satisfaction. The talk argues that Christ did not receive punishment but offered satisfaction. Defending this model biblically, it shows that "ransom" (lutron, Mk 10:45) is rooted in OT law (Ex 21:30) as a payment instead of punishment to avoid violence. It also refutes key penal substitution "proof texts": "made sin" (2 Cor 5:21) means "sin offering" (hattā't); "became a curse" (Gal 3:13) means "cursed in the eyes of Israel"; and "bearing guilt" (Isa 53) signifies non-retaliation. The talk also analyzes the position of St. Thomas Aquinas. It highlights that although Aquinas, unlike Anselm, uses the term "punishment" (poena) to describe Christ's act, he understands it as voluntarily accepted satisfaction. This is structurally distant from later penal substitution, as for Thomas: God's wrath is directed solely at sin, never at the Son, and Both act from supreme love; God the Father only permits the Passion (not positively willing it), which is the work of human freedom; and the formal, decisive element of salvation is love, not suffering itself. The talk concludes with a negative answer to the titular question, affirming a soteriology of love and voluntary satisfaction, not divine retributive punishment.

Why did the Reformers upend Europe? Because God's Word belongs in the common tongue—and in common homes. From Tyndale's plowboy to Knox's "church in the house," Kevin, Scott, and Danny show how Scripture reshaped family life, restored marriage, and redirected education. The stakes remain: man-centered modernity or God-centered discipleship in every sphere.

A new MP3 sermon from Generations Radio is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Sola Scriptura at Home – Why the Reformers Rebuilt the Family Speaker: Kevin Swanson Broadcaster: Generations Radio Event: Radio Broadcast Date: 11/11/2025 Length: 35 min.

The Rise of Reformers: A Call to Courage in the Face of DarknessIn a time when darkness is being celebrated, God is raising up reformers—bold voices like Martin Luther who will confront compromise, expose deception, and return the Church to truth. This episode, preached on October 31st, is both a warning and a commissioning. It's a call to stand in the gap, rebuild the altar, and carry the fire of reformation into this generation.This is your moment. Rise and reform.Support the show

11/6/25 - Many of the sharpest divisions between Catholics and Protestants trace back not to Scripture itself, but to how words and ideas have been interpreted across centuries of separation. Dr. Adam Van Wart, professor of theology at Ave Maria University, unpacks the roots of these misunderstandings and offers a path forward rooted in truth and charity. Dr. Van Wart explains how key debates - such as faith alone versus faith and works, Scripture alone versus Sacred Tradition, and the role of the Church's magisterial authority - often stem from differences in emphasis and historical context rather than outright contradiction. Drawing upon the writings of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and early Reformers like Luther and Calvin, he demonstrates how theological language developed in response to real pastoral concerns, and how those differences became hardened into divisions over time. If you've ever wondered why Christians still struggle to understand one another after 500 years of dialogue, or how we might finally move toward genuine unity in Christ, this episode offers a thoughtful, hopeful vision rooted in history, theology, and the enduring witness of the Church.

Something Worth Dying For | Christ For YouText: Revelation 2:10 | Reformation 2025Description:What would you die for? Your family? Your country? Your reputation? What truth is worth living for? What truth is worth dying for? This Reformation confronts the comfortable Christianity of our age with the unshakable confession of the martyrs and Reformers. Why did ordinary Christians stand before emperors and say, “I will suffer all, even death, rather than fall away”? Why does the Lutheran Church still make that vow today? And what kind of Gospel gives courage strong enough to sing while dying?Learn about the Savior who suffered all, even death, rather than fall away from you. Discover why the cross of Jesus doesn't just reform your but also your death. Subscribe & Share: • Apple Podcasts: Christ For You • Spotify: Listen on Spotify • Website: ZionWG.org/podcastStay Connected: • Email: PastorRojas@ZionWG.org • Website: ZionWG.orgIf this sermon strengthened your faith, share it with others and leave a review. Your support helps more people hear the faithful preaching of Christ crucified and risen for you.

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!A shaky ad read and some friendly ribbing give way to a rare, candid conversion story: a Reformed pastor worn thin by 2020, family burdens, and Sunday dread begins asking God for an exit ramp he can't yet name. An old friend—now Catholic—offers a simple challenge: read the Catechism to learn the Church from the Church. So he does, pencil in hand. Circles for “yes,” rectangles for “I need more,” triangles for “no way.” Then daily Mass. Then Latin Mass. What surprises him first is the familiarity—the lectionary, the reverence, the shape of worship echoing his Lutheran childhood. What changes him next is Scripture: Hebrews 12 reframes worship as a present communion with the saints; Isaiah 22 and Matthew 16 connect the key and the office in a typology he already loves to preach.Meanwhile, life doesn't pause. His wife grieves, becomes a guardian overnight, and shoulders state paperwork while he strains to shepherd a congregation on an empty tank. One prayer breaks through the fog: Mary, be a mother to my wife while she's losing hers. Grace answers. The exit ramp appears on a Florida trip when his wife says, Maybe this is it. He resigns gently, stays through year‑end, and answers one summer's worth of honest questions—including a sermon on Mary's perpetual virginity built from the Reformers themselves. In January, they slip out of town to worship quietly. Friends notice and ask. There's no recruiting, just real answers. The Holy Spirit moves: four couples and their children, plus two reverts, begin OCIA and enter the Church. Seventeen souls. More ripples follow—his oldest starts OCIA in another city.We also talk about the temptations after conversion: platform, hot takes, “professional Catholic” life. He chooses stillness over speed, daily Mass over instant punditry, Our Lady and the saints over arguments for their own sake. He's drafting a practical guide to help Catholics “speak Protestant,” especially on typology and authority, but only with spiritual direction and doctrinal checks. If you've ever wondered how Scripture, suffering, and friendship might converge to redirect a life—and a community—this story will meet you there.If this moved you, share it with someone discerning, subscribe for more thoughtful conversations, and leave a review with the one moment that surprised you most.Support the showTake advantage of Recusant Cellar's "Christ the King" sale by heading over to https://recusantcellars.com/ and using code "BASED" for 20% off at checkout!********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://avoiding-babylon-shop.fourthwall.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comFull Premium/Locals Shows on Audio Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1987412/subscribeRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssRumble: https://rumble.com/c/AvoidingBabylon

It's Thursday, October 16th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark British Christian teacher fired for Facebook post about Islamic violence A British Christian teacher, who was unjustly  fired, shared his testimony at a Reform UK party free speech conference last week. Simon Pearson had a 20-year unblemished teaching record. However, Preston College dismissed him last year for allegedly being “Islamaphobic.” He had simply expressed concern on Facebook over violent crime and political bias. Pearson is challenging his dismissal with the help of the Christian Legal Centre.  Listen to his comments at the free speech conference. PEARSON: “Previously, I've worked as a missionary in a communist country where freedom of speech and religion are tightly controlled. I know what it means to live under a regime where truth is suppressed and conscience is punished. “I never imagined I would face similar pressures in the United Kingdom, a country built on the foundations of liberty, of justice and of Christian values. I'm fighting for justice, not just for myself, but for every teacher, for every Christian and every citizen who fears that their voice no longer matters and they are being silenced.” Young people of Northern Ireland more open to Christianity Speaking of the United Kingdom, young people in Northern Ireland are leading a revival of interest in Christianity, according to a poll by The Iona Institute. The survey found 18-24-year-olds in Northern Ireland are more likely to have a very positive attitude toward Christianity than any other age group. These findings are similar to studies of young people in Ireland, Britain, and the United States. Gen Z boys most likely to believe that Jesus is way to Heaven Here in America, the Barna Group released new research from its ongoing State of the Church initiative.  Surveys show that Gen Z is increasingly open to Christian faith. However, among young people, women are the most likely to disengage from church, prayer, and belief.  Meanwhile, young men and especially teenage boys are the least likely to identify as having no faith among young people. They are also the most likely to believe in God and that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Fewer young Americans identifying as “transgender” Here some more good news. Trans identification is declining among young people in America. Eric Kaufmann, a Canadian professor of politics, posted the findings on Tuesday. His analysis is based on multiple data sets, including those from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. The data shows 3.6% of undergraduates identify as a gender other than male or female. That's down from 5.2% in 2024 and 6.8% in 2022.  The data sets also showed young people are becoming less likely to identify as something other than heterosexual.  Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk Presidential Medal of Freedom President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday. Kirk's widow, Erika, received the nation's highest civilian medal on his behalf on what would have been his 32nd birthday.  The ceremony comes about a month after the Christian activist was fatally shot while speaking at an event for his organization, Turning Point USA.  Listen to comments from President Trump. TRUMP: “Charlie never missed an opportunity to remind us of the Judeo-Christian principles of our nation's founding or to share his deep Christian faith. In his final moments, Charlie testified to the greatness of America and to the glory of our Savior with Whom he now rests in Heaven. Anniversary of martyrdom of two English reformers And finally, today is the anniversary of the martyrdom of two English Reformers. Their names were Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley. Both were bishops in the Church of England. Ridley was born in 1502, becoming a great scholar and renouncing Roman Catholic doctrine. Latimer was born earlier in 1485. He became a great Reformation preacher, also rejecting Catholic traditions. His preaching brought Protestant teachings effectively to the middle and lower classes. However, a Catholic queen came to power in England in 1553. She was known as “Bloody Mary” for her deadly persecution of Protestants. After her ascension to power, Latimer and Ridley were tried for their beliefs and burned at the stake on October 16, 1555. As they faced death together, Latimer told his friend, “Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” In Romans 8:36-37, the Apostle Paul wrote, “As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, October 16th, in the year of our Lord 2025, the 60th wedding anniversary of my parents, Mike and Harriet McManus, with whom I will celebrate this very weekend.  Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

What happens when life forces you to stop, reflect, and rebuild? In this recap, Lesley and Brad unpack their conversation with wellness coach and the Balanced Your Life Podcast host Meghan Pherrill, who transformed her life after battling OCD, depression, and anxiety. They reflect on how Meghan's journey shows the power of starting small, listening to your intuition, and choosing practices that spark joy. This episode will inspire you to rethink your habits, embrace imperfection, and create a life rooted in balance and authenticity.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:How Meghan's breakup became a turning point for self-discovery.Why healing from OCD required both slow shifts and sudden breakthroughs.The importance of starting with one simple habit and sticking with it.How support systems can either hold you back or help you grow.Meghan's meditation guide for creating lasting calm and balance.Episode References/Links:Cambodia Retreat Waitlist - https://crowsnestretreats.comWinter Tour - https://opc.me/tourPilates Journal Expo - https://xxll.co/pilatesjournalContrology Pilates Conference in Poland - https://xxll.co/polandContrology Pilates Conference in Brussels - https://xxll.co/brusselsSubmit your wins or questions - https://beitpod.com/questionsEpisode 580: Wendy Valentine - https://beitpod.com/580Meghan Pherrill Website - https://www.balancebymeghan.comBalance Your Life Podcast - https://www.balancebymeghan.com/podcastInternational OCD Foundation - https://iocdf.org If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Lesley Logan 0:00  We know from how habits are truly created, it has to actually bring joy and dopamine, you have to get dopamine high. If you don't, you're not going to get that habit. If it feels like it's shameful or like you're judging yourself, it's possible that's not your intuition and you're following someone else's. Lesley Logan 0:16  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 0:55  Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the restorative combo I had with Megan Farrell in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to the episode and you are not new here, you know what to do. If you're brand new here, hi, we're gonna talk about something that already happened, and you can listen. If you're like me, you'd listen to this one and then you listen to the other one. Or you can be like, Brad and pause us now. Brad Crowell 1:23  You do that? Lesley Logan 1:24  Of course. I want, when we watch The Crown, do I not look up the historical facts before we finish?Brad Crowell 1:31  She does. She always looks up the ending. Yeah, I watch it from start to finish.Lesley Logan 1:34  I need, sometimes I get just nervous, and I just need to know how it's going to be, so that I can sit and pay attention. Because sometimes I'm just so nervous for them. They're like, I can't you saw my stress results after watching F1. Brad Crowell 1:47  Yes, I did. Lesley Logan 1:48  So you guys, we saw the F1 movie, and mostly I went for the Brad Pitt part, but my friend said it was just on edge of her seat, and so I looked at my WHOOP and, like, heart rate monitor and you can see from the horror film preview to the end of the movie of the of the F1 you can actually see every time they had a race, because my heart would spike for every race, and I just like, can someone just tell me if he wins this race? So I can just enjoy the race, because I can't enjoy the race right now because I'm so stressed for him. So that's why I like to listen to these kinds of episodes, podcasts, and then I listen to the one.Brad Crowell 1:48  Yeah, yeah, okay.Lesley Logan 1:52  Today is October 2nd, 2025, in case you didin't know, it is the day before our 10th year wedding anniversary. Brad Crowell 2:37  What? Oh, yeah. Lesley Logan 2:39  But it's also the actual day of International Day of Non-Violence. Today, we celebrate the birthday of a man who helped bring forward the notion of non violence and the tremendous impact this form of social response has all over the world in the last century. On the International Day of Non-Violence created by the United Nations in 2007, we look back on the influence of an Indian activist born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, but known the world over as Mahatma Gandhi. The International Day of Non-Violence honors how Gandhi's work and legacy has impacted global non-violent protests. The UN has good reason to use Gandhi's birthday to celebrate International Day of Non-Violence. Gandhi's commitment to India's independence and his methods have been the cornerstone of civil and human right initiatives all over the world. Put simply, Gandhi saw it as completely irrational to use violence to achieve peace. But rather just means.Brad Crowell 3:29  But rather, just means lead to just ends.Lesley Logan 3:32  Oh, but rather comma just means lead to just ends. Period. Got it, okay. This is a lesson we can all take to heart. I mean, I completely agree, you know.Brad Crowell 3:43  Yeah, it's, it's amazing that, especially in, you know, when he died in 1940s like late 40s, and his message spread all around the world, which is amazing, because, no, no computers, no email, no social media. Lesley Logan 4:01  Did you ever wonder? But do you wonder, like, would Mahatma Gandhi actually be famous today? Do you know what I mean? Because, like, some of the people we looked to were like, wow, like, would they actually keep the attention of the people who are like, hold on, let me see this kid, like, try lemon for the first time. I just, I just kind of like. Brad Crowell 4:19  Or drink Coke for the first time. Lesley Logan 4:20  Here's my, my faith in humanity's ability to, like, take, take seriously things that are serious is, like, dwindling every day. Lesley Logan 4:34  Yeah. I mean. Lesley Logan 4:35  We don't even know what's happened today when this comes out. I'm telling you, we're recording this in August, so, like, who knows what has happened to people's rights between August and August 2nd because it feels like every day they're trying to take someone's rights, or some city's rights away. We're talking about the U.S.Brad Crowell 4:50  Over the weekend, in the U.S., the federal government deployed troops to 17 cities, or something like that.Lesley Logan 4:57  I think they threatened 17. Brad Crowell 4:57  Or they, like, they we're gonna take, yeah. Lesley Logan 4:58  But by the time this has happened, maybe it's happened, but by the time we're recording this, no. So right now, they're in D.C. and they're threatening to go to Chicago and something else, but, like.Brad Crowell 5:08  They're in L.A. and D.C., yeah. Lesley Logan 5:10  And, you know, like, I just, I mean, it's all control, right? The more they have you scared, the more they have you changing your life, you know, then it's one day you wake up, it's too late, you can't even vote. So keep protesting. Go find a protest. There's a woman who's 104 I think she turned 104 two months ago. She protests every Thursday. Every Thursday. She is 104 she has very few days left on this planet, and she's like, I'm gonna spend one of every seven protesting for people's rights. We are not going to be here. Brad Crowell 5:44  She's not going to be here for them. Lesley Logan 5:45  She's not going to be here, right? Someday she will go. So I'm just saying, you, too.Brad Crowell 5:50  Yeah, but I think also, the thing, you know, like, we've been.Lesley Logan 5:54  By the way, we all boycott Target and look what happened. CEO is gone. So these things work.Brad Crowell 5:58  Well, the point of it is, is not necessarily the, the action of boycotting is important and and like, you know, making your voice heard. But I think that the key here is the non violent part, right? And I'll tell you, it's really challenging when you know the police are out in force or the military is out in force. It's very scary feeling to be in a crowd and, you know, see a clash, and you know that's, that is, we haven't been around like extreme violence, but we've been around like high pressure, like, environments where you're like, oh, if somebody does one thing stupid, this could all blow up. Right? Lesley Logan 6:42  I got really nervous at that one protest because this guy kept taunting the police and I was like, let's just go over here, because, like, it just, he's acting a little crazy. They're going to take it crazier, and then, who knows, but.Brad Crowell 6:55  But that's where I feel like that's why we need to focus on the non-violence, because it's important to make our voices heard. We have to make our voices heard. If we don't do that, then there are people who will make decisions that will that will hurt us, right, as a society and, literally, individually. But how do we do that in a way that doesn't make us exactly like them? Right?Lesley Logan 7:20  Yeah, well, you're going to call your congress person and senator every day. You are going to not pick every single company to boycott. I get it, lifestyle, we gotta do something. You know, we still shop in these places I'm not happy about, but you gotta, like, pick, like, I'm not doing these places or I'm gonna do, we did an FYFwhere I explained how you could, like, boycott in a way that was, like, successful for you and where your life is. You could borrow things. You can also, like, let's say you have a (inaudible), you don't have time to go out on a Saturday to go protest. Okay, great. So then, how can you help promote protests? How can you make sure that everyone you know goes out? Like, how can you do that? And, you know, there's just, there's just, there's always a way, no matter what your situation is. But I get that you're busy and I get that you're tired. I get that you're scared. We don't have time for that. And if you don't listen live in this country, and you're having to listen to us every Thursday talking about this, tell your American friends to get the fuck up and do some action, non-violent action. You know, we gotta do it. You know, it's just so important. And I promise you, you feel better after you do it. Non-violence, to me, does not mean telling people, like yelling what you want to yell out. That's what you could do at a protest. It's quite nice. I find it cathartic. Yeah, oh, I have a fit. We're, did we share this already? So we were at a protest, and there's like some dickhead on his little vape sucky thing, can't even handle, can't handle grown people with, like, a little passy. Anyways, he's like, flipping us off, and the guys next to us are like, oh, I'm gonna pray for you. And he's like, they hate that. And I was like, oh yeah. Thoughts and prayers. So if you have some dickhead, fascist, loving person in your life, you can just be like when they flip you off or they call you some, don't worry, I'll be praying for you. Brad Crowell 9:05  Yeah, thoughts and prayers. thoughts and prayers. Lesley Logan 9:06  Thoughts and prayers for you and your children. Anyways, today. Do you have anything more to say? Lesley Logan 9:12  I know Gandhi is great. Have you watched the movie? Go watch it. If you're like, Gandhi, I haven't thought about in a while. There's a movie about him. I'm sure there's some, I'm sure you can get chatgpt to give you the Cliff Notes as well, you know. But like. Brad Crowell 9:23  It's worth watching. Lesley Logan 9:25  I think it's worth watching. I think it's we, it's nice to learn about. If people think that this is all new, none of, none of what we're going through is new. Brad Crowell 9:33  The same stuff happened in the 60s. I mean, we're we're recycling, we're recycling fascism. I mean, it happened in the 40s and 30s, 20s.Lesley Logan 9:43  And they, and I love this, if we don't learn history, we're doomed to repeat it. People do, do learn history, and they're still repeating it, you know. So it's also, I think a lot of people who think that, like they could never be in a cult, they could never fall for that. They could never understand coercion, because they would never let that happen. And yet, they're also the same, people, very coerced. So, you know, take some time to learn about Gandhi today. And what can you do that's non-violent today to protest what you're pissed off about? Tell us what you decided to do. Tag us in the Be It Pod. We'll share it. We'll share with friends. Lesley Logan 10:15  Today is October 2nd. We are in Chicago, as we speak. We're having a great time with our members, and people came to our workshop, and we'll be at the Balanced Body's Pilates On T our. Brad Crowell 10:25  Yeah, if you are in Chicago, we're going to coordinate members only hang. So you know, if you are, you can come hang. If you're listening this podcast and you're at P.O.T. and you're not a member, just come hang out anyway. We'd love to meet you and hang out with you. Brad Crowell 10:36  And if you're like, where is it? You gotta reach out to us. Just text the company. Brad Crowell 10:42  Yeah, just text us 310-905-5534, text us there and we'll let you know.Lesley Logan 10:45  Supposedly Instagram is just gonna start telling over my location. And last week, it was everyone saying this is how you turn the location things off. And I was like.Brad Crowell 10:57  It seems like a bad idea. Lesley Logan 10:58  I was like, oh, great, then people will know where I am. Like, I don't know. Brad Crowell 11:02  Turn that shit off.Lesley Logan 11:03  Brad, do you know any people go, oh, you live in L.A., right? Like everyone's (inaudible) so it doesn't really matter. Brad Crowell 11:03  No, I think your profile can say Vegas. Lesley Logan 11:03  I know, but every I'm just saying, like, I don't actually know how it works.Brad Crowell 11:13  Maybe if it's general, and you're like, I'm in the city of.Lesley Logan 11:17  I, we told everyone where we are already. So I'm just really not so sure like, how, like, what they're gonna say she's at the movie thing. Like, how specific is it getting? Like, I don't know. Lesley Logan 11:25  Yeah, we'll see. Lesley Logan 11:26  You know what the fucking Earth is on fire. I'm not really worried about this right now. I don't currently have a stalker that is yelling at me. If I do, I'll figure that out. But that's not, that's not the, there's, I'm sure there's VPN for that. Brad Crowell 11:37  That's fair. Lesley Logan 11:38  But after this weekend, we leave for Cambodia for our retreat. And so we want you to join us next October, once you go on the get on the waitlist at crownestretreats.com so go do that.Brad Crowell 11:50  Yeah, come join us in January of next year, we're going to be announcing the early bird special. Lesley Logan 11:56  Yeah, next year's the early bird, October is the retreat. Brad Crowell 11:57  Yeah, October, it's gonna be like the third week of October 18 to 23 or something like that. Lesley Logan 12:01  It's a little later because of a holiday, I don't want to be there. We don't like being on a retreat during Pchum Ben because it's like the (inaudible) and they are, Pchum Ben, literally celebrate for 30 days. But the first three days are really big deal, and it makes it really hard to go into the temples because some of the rooms are blocked off for the holidays so we go around it.Brad Crowell 12:20  Yeah, they're doing a lot of, you know, there's a lot going on there that we are trying to avoid for next year. So, yeah. Anyway, come join us, and we're telling you now so that you have a literal year to plan. Lesley Logan 12:35  No excuses. Brad Crowell 12:36  That's right, no excuses, y'all, the spots are limited, and if you want the information, get on the waitlist, go to crowsnestretreats.com now and then, we're really fired up on the way home from this year's trip. We are going to be teaching in Singapore. And then really, what I'm really fired up about is we're going to go do the Botanical Gardens. If you've never looked these up, y'all, you have to look them up. I saw them in a movie, and I was like, that doesn't look like CGI. What the hell? Where is that place? I need to figure this out. And it is the botanical gardens at night in Singapore, and they are up on this walkway that's raised up above the city with these epic statues that are full of vegetation and the gardens that they've built. And it is just mind blowingly cool. And I've been dreaming of going there for many, many, many years, and finally.Lesley Logan 13:24  And we have a 15-hour layover during the day, so we can do workshops and the garden. Brad Crowell 13:27  Yeah, it's gonna be great. So go check that out. Lesley Logan 13:30  You can't check out our workshop, but you can go check out their gardens. Brad Crowell 13:33  That's right, yeah, the workshop is private event, but the but the gardens are dope. Winter tour.Lesley Logan 13:37  It was announced yesterday. Lesley Logan 13:39  Oh, yeah. Lesley Logan 13:39  I bet you you can go to opc.me/tour at this point. Brad Crowell 13:42  Yeah, you can go to opc.me/tour I'm sure the events was redirected to tour, but if not, you'll get an email saying you're on the waitlist. Thanks. Oh, by the way, tour is open. Click here, so go check your email if you just signed up on the waitlist, opc.me/events or opc.me/tour we are planning to do another 8000 miles. We are. Lesley Logan 14:00  Crazy people. Brad Crowell 14:02  We're looking at like 22 to 24 cities, I think, on this, this tour. And we're really looking forward to being back up in the northeast, all the way back down in Miami. Well, we're going to do Fort Lauderdale this year instead of Miami, but we'll be in the area. And then, yeah, it's going to be awesome. So we can't wait to hang with you again in person, if you've joined us last year, just so that you know, tickets are starting to sell really fast when we make these announcements so.Lesley Logan 14:28  Especially for winter tour, because people, like, can go see family members at certain places. So like, they are, they're on it. They're watching it.Brad Crowell 14:35  So tickets opened yesterday. So go check it out, opc.me/tour. Now, we got some exciting things. We're already talking about 2026 here. Yes, what's going on in January?Lesley Logan 14:44  The Pilates Journal Expo in Huntington Beach, which is near Los Angeles. It is, I forget, I think the dates are like the ninth and 10th, or the 10th and 11th. At any rate, it's like right there. As soon as we end the tour, we go there and we do a couple great events there. So our first expo in the U.S. I'm really excited for them, because we need more conferences. Yeah, we need more ways to get together. Brad Crowell 15:06  It's gonna be awesome. So we've got a new URL for you, everybody, are you ready? This is the unveiling ofLesley Logan 15:13  xxll.co/pilatesjournal so my initials how I sent off xxll.co/pilatesjournal.Brad Crowell 15:20  That'll take you straight to the Pilates Journal Expo. Brad Crowell 15:20  And they have tickets already. Brad Crowell 15:23  Yep, it's available. Lesley Logan 15:28  And then in March, we're going to be in Poland, the Contrology conference in it's like, wut-waf and then sometimes people try to tell me say, oh, ruk-luf. And that's not how you say it. It's like, Wroclaw, but I'm going to be there. And so it's xxll.co/poland and then the next week we'll be in Brussels, different workshops, same, great people. So come to both xxll.co/brussels. So that's Q1, that's as far as I'm going with guys, I don't want to scare myself.Brad Crowell 16:02  Well, then we're gonna be in London in April. Lesley Logan 16:05  Okay, well, just let the cat out of the bag, babe. I'm not talking about Q2. No, no. Refuse. Refuse. We have to wait a couple months. Brad Crowell 16:15  Oh, shoot. We'll wait. We'll wait. Lesley Logan 16:17  I don't like, then it's like, and then in June, and then people are like, too much. They're not listening anymore. It's not, we're losing listeners.Brad Crowell 16:24  It's true. All right. Here we go. We had an audience question. Kaylee Nicole Medina asks, hey Lesley, I wanted to ask you, which classical Reformer do you recommend for a small studio that I'm opening, I'm planning to have only four Reformers, and Kaylee, I can already tell you exactly which Reformer she's gonna recommend.Lesley Logan 16:40  Brad is taking over the answers these days. Well, let's see.Brad Crowell 16:43  Lesley is, if you don't know this, Lesley is a a Pilates Contrology demo center right here in Las Vegas. Lesley Logan 16:52  Just my whole self, yeah. Brad Crowell 16:53  Lesley herself, our our home, is a demo center for Contrology. So, of course, she's going to go with the Contrology Reformer, which is 80 inches. Lesley Logan 17:01  Well, they have a couple but. Brad Crowell 17:04  But the ones that we have are 80. Lesley Logan 17:10  They're 80. Brad Crowell 17:10  So for a smaller studio, get the 80 inches.Lesley Logan 17:08  Yeah, they're gonna work for people up to six-three and all that stuff. And then the other thing I did, I will say, Kaylee, is, if you're like, you could do 280 and 286 is so that way, if you had a couple tall people, you could do that, they're still not what I like about them is they're lightweight, so they're easy to move around. So if the floor is like hardwood floor you could put some little felt on the bottom. It's really easy to, like, slide things around. And Kaylee, if you want to take it up another notch, I'm gonna say you can get both the 80 and the 86 with Towers on them. Now, obviously. Lesley Logan 17:33  You get the 80s with Tower? Lesley Logan 17:37  Shhh. They don't advertise, but you can ask. You gotta talk to me. Gotta talk to me. I'll give you to my girl. My girl will help you out with it.Brad Crowell 17:49  Didn't know that. Lesley Logan 17:49  If you are a taller body, it's obviously not a long enough mat for you, which is why I'm suggesting 286 is 280s and with Towers, and now you have a small studio with two different oh, and get this.Brad Crowell 18:03  That's right, you'll get the you'll get the Reformers, the Towers, and you'll be able to put the mats right on them, so.Lesley Logan 18:08  By the way. But wait there, and not just it. You can buy the handles. This is how genius Balanced Body and Contrology are, they made it so that that converted mat or Tower, you could put the classical mat handles in and now it's a three in one. Brad Crowell 18:22  Come on. Lesley Logan 18:23  You're welcome. And you can use my discount and that's gonna save you like 5% which is like shipping. So, you're welcome. Lesley Logan 18:32  Yeah. So reach back out, Kaylee, that's great. I didn't know that. Fancy, fancy. Don't tell.Brad Crowell 18:39  If you have a question, just text us at 310-905-5534, or submit your question at beitpod.com/questions beitpod.com/questions where you can leave your wins or your questions. And we really actually love hearing from you. Brad Crowell 18:56  I want your wins. I want all your wins. Brad Crowell 19:03  We want more wins. Lesley Logan 18:59  Of course, I want your questions, but I want your wins, too. Brad Crowell 19:01  Yeah, bring it on. All right. Well, stick around. We'll be right back. We're gonna dig into this convo that Lesley had with Meghan Pherrill. Just a minute. Brad Crowell 19:08  All right, welcome back. Let's talk about Meghan Pherrill. Meghan Pherrill is one of the is the creator of Balanced by Meghan, a wellness brand and top Canadian podcast, Balance Your Life. Shaped by her journey through personal challenges and past trauma, Meghan discovered yoga, meditation and healthy eating habits as tools to rebuild her life and really battle OCD and debilitating trauma, right? Today, she inspires others to embrace small, sustainable changes that lead to a well -balanced life. Through retreats, workshops and her podcast, she empowers people to tune into their intuition, find patience in their healing journey, and create a life rooted in health, resilience and authenticity. So it was, it was, it was definitely interesting. It was an intriguing conversation. There's definitely a lot more to that conversation that you y'all didn't go into. But what? But, but what? Tell me what? What is one of the things that jumped out at you?Lesley Logan 20:00  Well, I think, like, what I what I really was interested in talking with her about, because being it till you see it is like she used to, she was, she is diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, right? She had depression and anxiety, and, like, she now is in a whole different place in her life, right? And she worked through all those things. And I'm just like, I think that's really amazing. Because I think a lot of people have this badge of, oh, I have anxiety, or I'm depressed, or I have OCD, and they use it as like, and that's why I can't X, Y and Z. And she had this breakup that was a total wake up call for her, and she was able to realize that she'd become someone she didn't want to be. She didn't like who she was. And, I mean, it's kind of like last week's episode with Wendy Valentine, like out of a relationship, but different points in their life. Meghan is very young. Brad Crowell 20:45  Yeah, sure. Lesley Logan 20:46  And so it's a whole it's not like a midlife crisis, it's like a no, you're an adult now, and you're you don't like who, what's going on with your life and who you become. And so she put all this energy into into this relationship, and she changed herself, and she just didn't like who she so it didn't, didn't work, but she found herself in another way, which is, like, led her discovering yoga, and she got off her medications and started eating really clean, and that really allowed her to, like, start to become this person who you know isn't being controlled by OCD and depression anxiety.Brad Crowell 21:25  Yeah, I think the thing that I loved about that, that kind of buckles right into it, is that change from something like that, you know, it was, it was fast and slow at the same time. And she, she kind of emphasized that it it was quick in the grand scheme of things, but it wasn't quick in the moment, you know. And she said she felt so lost, and was, was like she talked about, you know, having the will to live, you know. And she realized that, she realized the necessity of trying to be happy. She said it was a long journey, but it was her truth, and that her advice for others starting their wellness journey is to just start with one thing, one thing at a time, and give yourself time to do the one thing like this isn't like one thing today and a new thing tomorrow, and a new thing the next day and a new thing the next day. Just like, just focus on one thing. I mean, we're talking obsessive compulsive in in a way that I've only seen portrayed in movies. You know, flip the lights on and off multiple times, open and shut the door multiple times, stand up, sit down. She mentioned something about checking her books, something like 46 times. I don't understand that, you know. I don't even understand what that why she's doing when she's when someone would be doing that.Lesley Logan 22:51  I know I think like, it's like, now I want to know more about OCD, because I do think people flip it and go, oh, I have OCD. Oh, you know. And I like, and maybe you do, but if.Brad Crowell 23:03  I think there are different, like, extremes of OCD.Brad Crowell 23:05  But like, this is completely time-consuming. I mean, she had a traumatic.Brad Crowell 23:14  You mentioned that you were like, man, that must have been so much time. And she said, you don't even know. She's like, yeah, it was a lot of time. Lesley Logan 23:14  Yeah, like, and, of course, that's what I focused on. Like, how much time is that? Like? Just seems like a lot of time. Is one reason why I could, I don't think I could become OCD because, like, I just can't. I hate wasting time that would really.Brad Crowell 23:27  Yeah, really what she what she said was quick was the breaking of the habits. And she said that was, and that was also from a interestingly, it was like a traumatic moment snapped her out of the some of the habits that she had formed. And it was her grandfather. She got news that her grandfather was, I don't remember if he was diagnosed or if he had actually passed away yet, but she, like he, he was incredibly important to her and and there was, like this, this moment of clarity that really changed things for her. And it's she stopped the habits, and then she's, you know, so now she's not, you know, checking her books 46 times, standing up and sitting down, 15 times, you know. And she said, all of a sudden, I had so much time on my hands. And then she asked, like she said, you know, what are you going to do with it? You might as well do something that makes you feel happier with that time.Lesley Logan 24:22  Yeah. And I think, like, I think how cool that she got to do it at such such a young age. Because I and now she's, like, her whole life is so different. She has an amazing podcast. She's got a kid and, like, and. Brad Crowell 24:34  Yeah it sounds like she connected with a really supportive boyfriend, and now husband, who happens to have a great name. Lesley Logan 24:40  Yeah, is it Brad? Brad Crowell 24:43  It is and, but he, he, you know, was helping her through the steps that that, like, like, kind of, I guess helping her through is the wrong way out. He was there alongside her, through the change. Lesley Logan 24:54  And I think, you know, I think that can go both ways. I think it could be like, oh, my. God, like I if you're alone and like, I just wish I had someone to go through this with. If you are currently alone, you, there are, there might be someone you can hire or like a person to go through with, that like you could bring on versus a partner. Because not every partner, like, don't like, not every partner is as great as this person, right? So she had a perfect person to be on her side who would like, could see the person she wanted to become, and could envision that dream and like, be there for all the journey. But you might end up finding out you're with someone who doesn't want to be part of that journey, and then it makes it so. I would just say, like, don't be jealous, or think it, the grass is green on that side. If you're wanting to make a change like this, there are people out there who want to help you. You know, there are, there are services out there. And I that's one of the things I find so fast, and the more I learn about services in the world, there are literally services. There is a charity who will do anything. So, like, there's going to be someone out there, you it's not the easiest thing to, like, look for help. But like, we had that one guy on who talked about all the different ways you can get money or food or diapers. We just found out from the charity we donate to that they will help people who can't afford dog food get dog food so they can keep the dog so the dogs are not going to the shelter. So like, there is some so if you are needing help with something right now, and her journey has, like, sparked something new, like, please advocate for yourself to get help.Brad Crowell 26:23  Yeah, there's a community called the International OCD Foundation, or the IOCDF, and it provides education, resources, community support, professional training, you know, so you can there definitely are tools, you know, if you are feeling isolated, yeah.Lesley Logan 26:40  I love it. I think it's really, I think it's really cool. I don't, I don't know anyone who's had this, but I've always wondered, like, what it's like, and it was really nice of her to share that with us and then share how she's changed her life.Brad Crowell 26:52  Yeah, yeah. Lesley Logan 26:53  It's a true be it till you see it story. Lesley Logan 26:56  I'm it was, you know, and I'm excited for her that she, you know, has been moving forward and building these things, and, you know, starting a family and doing all this stuff. So that's great. It's, you know, I think she's clearly doing things that are making her happier. So, good for her. Brad Crowell 27:12  Yeah, we can all learn from that. Yeah. Brad Crowell 27:13  Yeah. Stick around, we'll be right back. We're going to dig into those, Be It Action Items that we had with Meghan Pherrill. Brad Crowell 27:22  All right, so finally, let's talk about those Be It Action Items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Meghan Pherrill? She said, hey, start with meditating five minutes a day. It will absolutely change your life, just five minutes. And she said, if you're brand new to this, maybe set aside 10 minutes so that you can get five minutes in, because it is hard. You know, I can tell you from personal experience, what do you think about when you're meditating? Are you supposed to think about things? Are you like? You know, I don't really know. I've all these preconceived notions of what it is, she said, but ultimately, recognize that you can five minutes is just five minutes. You got this, right, but she said, choose a style that resonates with you. She said if you struggle with to quiet your mind, but you can listen, maybe you do an opted maybe you do a guided meditation where you're listening to a YouTube video. I've done this, you know, and that's I find that really helpful, because it allows me to focus on something instead of just letting my mind wander. If you prefer physical a physical element, you can try breath work style meditation, which obviously we've also done, especially with your, you know, being breathwork certified, and then that will really help you focus on your breath and, you know, counting and just focusing on that thing. You know, for you know, we often talk about in yoga and in Pilates, that it is a movement meditation, because when you're when you're when you are so focused on the movement, you cannot think about anything else like there's no room for it in your head. And that is a form of meditation, right? That's where that mind body connection starts to happen, kind of a thing. And she said there's plenty of relatable teachers and resources out there. Find someone online. You can find someone on YouTube or podcast apps who you like their voice.Lesley Logan 29:13  There is this one person who I heard on a podcast when she said that she has an 11-second meditation, she turns it on, and the person goes, inhale, exhale. That's 11 seconds. Brad Crowell 29:32  Amazing. Lesley Logan 29:33  Yeah. Brad Crowell 29:34  Well, you too can meditate. And then she said get comfortable. And she said, some people like to meditate first thing in the morning. So if you're getting comfortable in your bed, make sure you sit up, otherwise you're just gonna fall back asleep. But meditation doesn't require a rigid posture, per se, right? You don't need to be like stiff as a statue, or like a monk or whatever. You can lie down, or you can be in a comfortable position, you know, just be aware that it's you know. If you're doing it right after you've woken up, you might just fall back asleep on your seat. Brad Crowell 29:59  I get in the cold plunge before I meditate. That's just like, it's not gonna happen.Brad Crowell 30:04  Hey, that's a great idea. It's a great idea. And then you know when, when the two you're talking you were talking about permission to be imperfect, right? It's not about being perfectly still or having the clearest mind. It's about being kind to ourselves and setting aside time to let our brain think and process things, and you know, in a subconscious way that we're not like actively, you know, we're creating space for that's what the meditation will do.Lesley Logan 30:34  Yeah, we talked a little bit about one more thing that I think, is it's, it's really beautiful, and it kind of springs true with last week. So if you're avoiding last week's Be It Action Item, this is gonna keep knocking on your door until you do it. But first she said, follow that intuition of yours. Just run with it and go with it. I'm studying tarot right now, and you'll know why, because we have a tarot guest coming up. I'm studying it. And the High Priestess card is all about the intuition. And like, like, going into your intuition and having some making sure that you're, like, understanding, because it's mystery. Like, intuition is also like, a mystery, right? Like, what is it? What am I saying? What am I feeling? Is that my is that my words? But anyways, so you can think of it as a High Priestess card and learning about that. Or you can figure out, like, how, how do you best understand what your intuition is saying, What does it sound like to you? So she said, just whatever's calling you or resonate with you. Follow that intuition of yours. Just run with it and go with it like just leap, right? And then she also said, don't make it complicated. Just start and see how you feel. And she also reminded us to give it some time too. It's not a one time thing. So we said it before, we're saying it again, not a one-time thing, you have to keep doing it. And she also said, as you're doing it, how did I feel? How did I feel? And that's so important, because we know from how habits are truly created, it has to actually bring joy. And dopamine, get your dopamine high. If you don't, you're not going to get that habit. If it feels like it's shameful, or like you're judging yourself, it's possible that's not your intuition, and you're following someone else's thing, so.Brad Crowell 32:06  I think, I think that's one of the things I constantly remind myself, but also when people ask me, why do you do a cold plunge every morning? You know it's a decision. But how do I feel afterwards? I've been describing it as the best cup of coffee I didn't have. Yeah, you know, you feel alert, awake immediately, and the cold is only cold for a second. Right? And now, like, because I've done it so many times that, like, shock of cold water isn't really even there anymore, even when, when the when the temperatures in the 40s, you know? Because, yeah, it's cold, but, like, I already know what to expect. But afterwards, even with just three minutes, it feels, you feel your brain is going it is actually functioning. You're up and at 'em. It's awesome, so.Lesley Logan 33:03  I hate it and love it, and I actually, I was on Meghan's podcast, and she asked me about cold plunging, and she was like, yeah, because everyone's saying, like, you shouldn't cold like, women shouldn't cold plunge. Oh yeah, oh yeah. Because being a woman means being told to cold plunge and not cold plunge. Being told, being told to do this and not do this. It's like, it's like, just, we talked about in Amy Ledin's pod episode that's coming out in December, and we're talking about habits. We're gonna have a whole habit series. So this really is building up for that. But like being a woman today, with everyone going wear a weight vest, it's not gonna do anything. Do a cold plunge. It's the worst thing you can do during a little cycle. Blah, blah, blah, I told Meghan, I said, I don't actually care. I and you have to listen to the whole conversation, but I'm summarizing. I said, it makes me feel good, and that's all that matters. And when it doesn't make me feel good anymore, then maybe I do something different. But I'm only in it for four minutes, and I'm doing it for 15 minutes every day. It's four minutes, and it really does shake the sleep off, bring me to my life, and it makes me excited to start the day. Yeah, and I can't Why? How could anything be bad? If it makes you so excited to take on your day, there's no way that could be bad for me. Impossible.Brad Crowell 34:21  Well, Meghan's podcast is called Balance Your Life. I'm just gonna look up really quick.Lesley Logan 34:26  What episode number I was? Brad Crowell 34:27  Yeah, and I'm not sure exactly, so. Lesley Logan 34:37  I don't either, but it's, it's out. It came out. Brad Crowell 34:40  Did it? Cool. Lesley Logan 34:42  I think so.Brad Crowell 34:43  Yeah go look at the Balance Your Life pod.Lesley Logan 34:47  It's one of the top podcasts in Canada, so it's super cool Way to go, Meghan, I'm Lesley Logan. Brad Crowell 34:52  And I'm Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 34:53  Thank you so much for listening to us. Send in your wins, send in your questions. Send this to a friend who needs to hear it, and until next time, Be It Till You See It. Brad Crowell 34:59  Bye for now. Lesley Logan 35:00  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 35:43  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 35:48  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 35:53  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 36:00  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 36:03  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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