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01 November 2025 Daily Devotion: "Grace of God" Acts 11:23 New Living Translation 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God's blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Acts 11:23 says, "When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." In this verse, Barnabas visits the believers in Antioch and witnesses the transforming power of God's grace among them. He is filled with joy and urges them to stay devoted to the Lord wholeheartedly. This devotion is about maintaining a steadfast commitment to their faith and the teachings of Jesus. Remaining true to the Lord with all your heart involves trust, obedience, and love. It's about seeking God in every aspect of life and being faithful, even in challenges. Barnabas's joy reflects how God delights in our devotion. Remember, devotion to God brings peace and strength. Encourage one another in faith, supporting each other togrow closer to Him. Embrace the grace you've received, and let it inspire you to live a life that honors God, trusting in His unfailing love and guidance.

(00:00) Zolak & Bertrand start today's show by reacting to the Celtics destroying the Cavs last night and whether it should provide some hope moving forward. (10:50) We question Charles Barkley saying it's going to be a long year for the Celtics.(23:42) The guys break down Game 5 of the World Series and why it's been such a great watch overall.(33:28) We finish the hour by reacting to Tom E. Curran's prediction for the rest of the Patriots season.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pastor Trevor Wilder

Is it time to tell the rest of the country we are not separatists? To declare that we want to stay in Canada, or, perhaps it's the opposite?

Remaining faithful to the gospel. Please click here for the YouTube video.

On the latest episode of our new Batman comics retrospective podcast, Detective Comments, Paul and Hemen take a look into The Men Who Made The Batman! They read The Untold Legend of The Batman and The Many Deaths of The Batman two stories that illustrate how the path to becoming the world's greatest detective was not a solo affair! And remember: we want YOU to pick which theme we discuss each week! Tune into our socials or check out the text below for the remaining themes and cast your vote in the comments. The theme with the most votes gets played next week. Remaining themes: 'Batman, you loser!', 'Bat-Hamm!', 'Monsters & Mad Monks', 'Not My Batman', 'Joker's Wilder!', 'Batman: The Animated Comics', '...Versus...', Vote in the comments or on our socials!

This week, Pastor Will shared Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones from Ezekiel 37. In it, we hear a word for today as we await the breath of God to breathe new life into our lives, our church, and our world.Scripture references: Psalm 85; John 20:19–23; and Ezekiel 37:1-14“DAYS OF ELIJAH” -- CCLI Song # 1537904  |  Robin Mark  |  © 1996 Song Solutions Daybreak (Admin. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)  |  For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com  |  CCLI License # 2544867“COME ALIVE” (DRY BONES) -- CCLI Song # 6573588  |  LaurenDaigle | Michael Farren  |  © 2012 CentricSongs; See You At The Pub; Curb Congregation Songs; Remaining portion is unaffiliated  |  For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com"GO NOW IN PEACE" – Words by Nancy Price and Don Besig -- Music by Don Besig -- Copyright (c) 1988 by Harold Flammer Music, a Division of Shawnee Press, Inc. -- International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved

Colossians: Remaining in the Gospel pt. 2 - Logan Maloney by Storyline Church

Christian College Sex Comedy: Part 18 Even if you know who you crawl into bed with, be surprised. In 30 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the podcast at Explicit Novels.   You will never see tomorrow's sunrise or yesterday's night. Caught In the Middle My clothing melted away as I slowly made my way to the bed. On the far side, Mercy reclined with some degree of expectation and happiness on her face. Her hands were cuffed over her head and her thighs showed some degree of vaginal stimulation by Rio. Last night Rio had taken it slow and gentle with her. Tonight, I imagined that Rio was going to tear a chunk off, so to speak. On the closer side of the bed rested Brandi (on the outside), Opal, Paige and Barbie Lynn. Barbie Lynn was pretending to be disinterested, throwing a yawn into the act; Paige's eyes were riveted on me; Opal acted as if she was smitten with me as well; and Brandi knew something was going on but wasn't sure what it was. Poor Paige was about to be ambushed. "Hey, my petit Принцесса," I simmered at Paige as I crawled up the bed toward her. It was clear she wanted to be center stage tonight, but she kept dragging along her body issues she'd felt thrust upon her years ago. A woman doesn't have to be busting out of a D-cup, have an hourglass shape, or the face of a Victoria's Secret model to pull a man's eye in for a feast. I got to Paige's ankles and the confidence of her smile shown through. She pulled her legs up and prepared to slip off her panties. "No you don't," I cautioned her as I grabbed her ankles and pulled her down toward me. "What did you call her?" Brandi chimed in. "I'm pretty sure that means 'Princess' in Russian," I replied in a husky voice, my eyes still soaking up Paige's beauty. "I once saw a Swedish art house film translated over to Russian in a Bangkok theater." "That's freaky-weird," Mercy remarked, running her fingers along her collar. "You can recall a word from a film in a language you don't even understand." "It had to do with a woman," Barbie Lynn grinned at Mercy before turning to me. "He's like that, and I love him for it." Paige looked from Mercy to Barbie Lynn to me, and that was her mistake. "Hey!" Paige squawked as Barbie Lynn and Opal grabbed her wrists and forearms, maneuvering them over her head. She struggled with Barbie Lynn and Opal but they were far more athletic than she was. I settled in between her legs and began kissing the insides of her upper thighs. "No," Paige began moaning as Barbie Lynn and Opal began sucking on her breasts through her sheer bra. Rio came striding into the room still stark naked but now carrying a large bowl of Neapolitan ice cream covered in chocolate syrup and a cherry. She rounded the bed and stutter-stepped. "Crap," she muttered. "Take this," Rio put the bowl on Mercy's quivering stomach, "I've got to get something for my Spank-o-matic." Spank-o-matic was her pet name for Barbie Lynn. Opal moved her lips up Paige's chest to her throat. Barbie Lynn, on the other side, jumped past Opal by going straight from the nipple to the ear. Since Opal was on her side, Brandi was able to straddle her and lean over to Paige's chest. She rolled up Paige's bra, temporarily pinching those pale pink nipples. "Iiieee!" Paige jolted. "Watch, her protests were buried by Opal's lips clamping down on Paige's and their tongues starting to play tag. Brandi continued her attack on Paige by popping her mouth over the breast closest to Barbie Lynn and swirling the nipple with her tongue, Opal had been doing a good job showing Brandi how to share pleasure. "Good God!" Brandi exalted. "This one tastes like cherries." Paige stifled a sob as Brandi went down for a second taste. I imagine Paige wanted me to discover this inventive little twist. I began rubbing her panties with my nose and kissing her panty covered cunt. I rolled my lips back and forth over her cunt. "Why are you doing this to me?" Paige whimpered once she broke her lips free from Opal's embrace. "Honey, do you think none of us noticed how much you make Zane smile?" Barbie Lynn drawled. "It isn't like he'd tell us what turned him on about you, Paige, so Barbie and I decided to find out for ourselves," Opal added. "Zane?" Paige begged for understanding. "I had no part of this, but once I saw Opal and Barbie Lynn closing in for the kill, I decided to play along because, quite frankly, you are so tasty," I confessed. "Brandi, please, I can't think straight with you nipping at my breasts like that," Paige pleaded. "Umm," Brandi mumbled before releasing her suction on Paige's breast. "Tell me what flavor the other one is. Is it cherry too?" Never more than an inch away, Brandi fell back to Paige's pale but painfully aroused nipple. "No," Paige wailed. "I want Zane to find out, ah, strawberry," she finally gasped out. "Let me sample it first, Brandi," I requested. Brandi shot me a peek down past her naked breast and gave me a wink. Barbie Lynn took advantage of Paige's distress, kissing her deeply and passionately. "Honey," Barbie panted to Paige, "is there anywhere else you want to be?" "I, no," Paige managed to get out. Opal tilted Paige's head toward her and took in a full kiss. "You are so eminently fuckable," Opal purred. Before Paige could respond, Barbie Lynn drew Paige back in. Within seconds, Paige was working in a three-way tug-of-passion with Opal and Barbie Lynn tongues. Brandi was letting her tongue wander from Paige's right nipple down to her belly and below until we kissed. Before and after that we worked down her panties until I finally cast them aside. I did a push up, Brandi wiggled underneath me, pressing her delicious tush against my raging rod, and I switched positions to where Brandi had been. Her left nipple really did taste like strawberries. I figured she'd used strawberry jam in a light enough glaze that its sugary redness was perfectly camouflaged by the pale pink of her areolas, freaking clever girl. Paige tilted her head away from her playmates long enough to see if I was the participant in question and if I enjoyed the experience. "Umm, damn clever," I murmured. "I've never thought of doing that before." Her eyes positively flared triumphantly at the news. "Well," Paige gasped, "you have only a, mediocre, intellect," she finished purring because Opal and Barbie Lynn's fingers and lips were driving her to distraction. "I still don't understand." Paige struggled for a breath between amorous attentions. "You pretty, pretty girl," Opal soothed seductively. "You are the most beautiful creature here tonight. Tomorrow morning the contest goes on, but tonight you are the Grand Prize winner, mainly, you've won us," she indicated herself, Barbie Lynn and Brandi. For other girls, they had often been called beautiful, pretty, and had reason to believe they were the hottest woman in the room. That had never been Paige; she had pride and pride to spare but that had always been based on her smarts. Her smarts were how she had ensnared me and while she knew I saw her as a beautiful creature, she largely believed I was alone in that assessment, until now. The borderline panic that had been residing inside Paige evaporated as all that energy turned into boiling sexual expression. It wasn't until Brandi was sucking deeply on her cunt that Paige realized I'd withdrawn to the foot of the bed. "Zane?" she panted as she raised her head once more and looked for me. "Paige, trust me; you are doing fantastic without me. Besides, we have most of the night. Once they have had all they can take from you, you are all mine," I grinned wickedly. She lowered her head back slowly and let Barbie Lynn and Opal hold her down and dominate her affections. "Mercy, wouldn't it be nice if some hottie wanted you as much as those bitches want Paige?" Rio teased her playmate. Mercy's immediate reaction was drowned out by her shudder as Rio dolloped a spoon full of ice cream onto her breast just above the nipple. The 'near miss' was torture enough for the girl. "Yes, one does," shivered Mercy. "Have you been letting someone else sample your goodies which are rightfully mine?" Rio quizzed her as she lapped up the ice cream as it melted toward Mercy's neck. "No," Mercy squeaked. "The only hottie in my life is you." "Wait; did I give you permission to speak?" Rio changed the direction of her attack. "Yes," Mercy gulped, "I mean, you asked me a question." Rio shimmied up until she was resting her crotch on Mercy's hips. She then took Mercy's nipples between her thumbs and forefingers, twisting them and pulling them up painfully. "That definitely sounded like you were being a smart-ass," Rio declared authoritatively. "Were you being a smart-ass, my cum-bunny?" "Eeep!" Mercy squealed from the pain. "Which answer do you want to hear?" Rio's eyes grew wide. She rolled her body forward until they were breast to breast and chin to chin. "Oh, yes, you are being a clever little wench. No matter what I say, you are going to say the opposite because you want me to take ownership of your lush, big-titties body, don't you?" Rio teased. "Yes?" Mercy hesitantly guessed. "Sorry, but you can't piss me off tonight, you annoying cunt," Rio taunted. Of course, 'annoy' was Rio and Mercy's key word for loving one another. "I've already got something horrible planned for this evening and you aren't going to distract me." Mercy noticeably perked up at that announcement. "I promise this is going to tear you up inside and out too," Rio gloated. Rio dismounted Mercy and scampered to her personal toy drawer. She gathered up several preselected goods and strode confidently back to Mercy's side. "Zane, I could use a hand," she called out as her goods spilled out of her hands. Mercy looked on attentively but didn't risk Rio's wrath by speaking. "Sure, what do you need?" I inquired as I crawled over carefully so as not to disturb the ladies on my side of the bed. Rio lubed up a slender steel vibrator. "Here, hold this (a vibrator) in place," Rio directed me to press the device's point against Mercy's clit with the trigger on her belly. I did it and was curious to figure out what Rio had planned. Rio presented her 'normal' strap-on, grinned at me, then started rubbing it on Mercy. I had to smile at her imagination but I had a feeling Mercy hadn't totally clued in yet to what the plan was. Rio began pouring lubricant over the artificial cock, the other vibrator, and then over a small series of anal beads, anal beads? When did I get anal beads? "AK!" Mercy gasped as the first bead was pushed in. "What was that?" "Shut up, Ass-angel," Rio smirked, "only a few more to go, so suck it up and be my bitch." As this new form of sexual expression was going on before me, a thought occurred. "Rio, you borrowed my credit card and car, didn't you?" I whispered. Rio's response was a maniacal grin. Mercy on the other hand, "Zane, I'm sorry," then Rio slapped Mercy's thigh, "Ow! She said she had your, Ouch!, permission." "I'm cool with it, Mercy, but Rio's license was suspended so next time you need to do the driving," I consoled the girl. Rio was too happy with herself to become overly upset with our little conversation. As if she was trying to prove how crazy/inventive she could be, Rio began putting the strap-on on, Mercy. Even as she fitted it snugly in place the realization was coming over Mercy. She desperately wanted to ask Rio something but was too torn up by Rio's glee to ruin the moment. Rio stroked Mercy's artificial cock a few times to make sure it was totally lubricated. "Okay," Rio cooed to Mercy as she mounted her stomach, "I'm going to make this easy on you because you are annoyingly child-like. When I rub your breasts," Rio let her hands settle and caress Mercy's tits, "it means I want you to pump me slow and easy." "When I pull your delicious nipples like this," Rio yanked and Mercy bucked up and grunted in pain, "I want you to hammer me as hard as you can. Does any part of my instructions confuse your little mind?" Mercy shook her head, indicating her understanding, but a definite sense of joy was coming over her countenance. She knew how good being penetrated felt and Rio trusted her to return the favor. Only when Rio's hip rotations rubbed the dildo into Rio's cunt did Mercy protest. "Rio, that's your, your cunt?" Mercy pleaded softly. Remaining incredibly unpredictable, Rio leaned down to Mercy's face and kissed her with tenderness. "Mercy-babe, I haven't been a virgin for some time. Stupid shit-long ago-let's not talk about it right now," Rio whispered. "Rio, I lo, I've never found anyone more annoying than you," Mercy breathed back. "I never thought I would." "That's your problem," Rio laughed quietly. "It is my job to do all the thinking while you look all hot, sweaty, and sexy. Am I going to have to hammer your tight asshole to make my point clear?" "Please?" Mercy perked up. Rio responded with some serious tongue-on-tongue play accompanied by intense mammary stimulation before speaking. "Maybe," Rio teased, "but someone has to get my rocks off before I contemplate anything else, so get to it." Rio began a series of rotations and presses to work the strap-on further into her cunt. After a few motions, Mercy fell into a sympathetic rhythm and was rocking up when Rio stopped, making Rio's ride one continuous penetration. Rio kept an intense eye-lock with Mercy as she took the plastic cock. She playfully tugged at her own lower lip as her breathing picked up a pace. "I think you've been fucking dozens of other sluts behind my back," Rio expressed deeply. "So have you been jumping some poor girl in the showers? Do you press them up against the wall and tear up those untouched cunts, or do you bend them over facing the wall and bugger those virgin assholes? " "No, no, I haven't," Mercy whimpered. "But you've wanted to," Rio teased her through increasingly hearty pants. "No, Mercy gulped. "So, you've never wanted to bend me over a sofa out there and make me squeal with pleasure?" Rio persisted in a mysterious tone. Mercy squeezed her eyes shut and turned away. "So if I ordered you to surprise me some night, jump me, bend me over and stir me up inside like only a wanton fuck-bunny could, you wouldn't do what I commanded, my Whore?" Rio taunted. "No," Mercy replied desperately as she looked upon Rio's face once more, "I would do that for you." "Do you know why?" Rio whispered. Mercy had no thoughts she could articulate. "You'll do it because you are Mine, I own you and you will do whatever is necessary to make me happy. You are going to tell me every dark little secret you hide in the horniest, sexiest part of your mind; every fantasy you have, every thought that makes you wet, and I'm going to make you live them out. You won't try to hide any from me because you know that if you lie, when I figure them out eventually, and I will figure them all out, I'm simply going to fulfill them with some other hottie I pick up instead of you. Is that what you want?" "No," Mercy whispered. "So every kinky, freaked-out, sexy over-the-top thing you want to do, you are going to tell me about, even though you know I'm going to force you to do it?" Rio scolded. "Yes," Mercy continued quietly. "If you don't tell me or you refuse to do what I say, I'm going to start selling you to motorcycle gangs and frat parties and find someone I can trust instead. All you can do is obey because I have total control over you, and if you don't you know how crazy I can be; clear enough for you, Butt-Slut?" Rio closed the trap. "I'll do whatever you want," Mercy responded; liberated by Rio from any guilt she might have. Now she could still be the Good Girl, only now she was one forced to do bad things against her will. Rio would soak up all the 'badness' in their relationship, be the one she could blame, and Mercy found that overwhelmingly, annoying. It was enough to make Mercy want to annoy Rio for years and years to come. "Good girl," Rio stroked her cheek. "Enough talking; shut the fuck up and start pounding this cunt until I squirt and scream." Mercy was a moment too slow so Rio began working over her nipples energetically and painfully. It got the desired effect; Mercy propelled her hips up so forcefully Rio rose over an inch off the dildo. "Wow, better than a whole year of horse-riding lessons," Rio giggled. "Oh, before I forget, I have one more treat for my personal prostitute." She reached down to the top of the vibrator and cut it on to the medium setting, shooting a jolt straight to Mercy's clit. "Oh, God!" Mercy gasped. "You are so annoying I had to think of something special just for you, Butter-cunt. I bet those vibrations feel great against that juicy clit of yours," Rio teased, and Mercy nodded vigorously in response. I had to consider that it wasn't two weeks ago that fundamentalist Mercy had been weeping on top of me, crying that her life was over because I had gently masturbated her once. Now she was working out 1,001 Nights of Pleasure with one of the greatest perverts I knew, who says you never see miracles anymore? As turned my attention back to Paige's prize, I noted a small black wooden paddle Rio must have tossed Barbie Lynn's way right behind her rump. Feeling inspired, I rolled back to Mercy and Rio, reached around to retrieve the lube, and began slinking up on Barbie from behind. Barbie Lynn was totally drawn into the play around Paige so ignored me. Opal and Barbie Lynn were orchestrating sensitive excitement from the top of Paige's pale haired head to the flat plain that flowed from her ribs down past her hips. Barbie Lynn had told me she was familiar with other female students before she met me. I would have bet that Opal had experimented a time or two. That the two of them could make such compassionate love to Paige was a surprising marvel to me. Paige's normally translucent flesh was blushed red with blood at every point her top two lovers had tantalized with all their kisses and licks. I was sure that if Paige could have found her voice, she would have been singing out to the Heavens with joy. The cause of her physical incapacity was Brandi, who was experimenting on her own style of cunt-licking. I studied Brandi for a minute before I knew what her technique was. She'd flit her tongue back and forth like a tiny motorboat for several seconds then switch to a slow probing action for twice as long before returning to the rapid-fire motion. The result was that Paige would amp up but before she could spike, Brandi would let her cool down before driving her to even greater heights closer to climax once more. I guess I can be a bit of a bastard. The girls were going along so wonderfully yet I still felt I had to indulge in my swelling need. I settled on my knees behind Barbie Lynn and brushed the paddle across that so-perfect ass. She taunted me with that ass, pushing back toward me, increasing its vulnerability, but kept her primary attention on Paige. I repeat: Barbie Lynn is beyond awesome. I reached back and paddled her once. Barbie Lynn took a deep breath but didn't relent. The second spank was harder and the third harder still. It was the fourth one that did the trick. "Oh, God, Yes," Barbie Lynn exclaimed. The great thing was that her body rocked forward and her ginormous breasts brushed over Paige's face. Paige was excited, not lost in orgasm. It took her maybe three milliseconds to latch onto one of Barbie Lynn's tits and engulf an areola in her mouth. Chewing on that nipple came a few seconds later. Barbie Lynn began moaning up a storm and stroking Paige's hair, Opal grinned and fell ravenously on Paige's left nipple, and Brandi went over to full-on clitoral assault mode. Paige gamely held on for almost a minute before she let Barbie Lynn go and proclaimed her immense pleasure. "Oh, all of you, oh, God, I, I can't take, Oh Fuck, Zane!" she ended up screaming. Huh? I had done nearly nothing this session and still there was my undeserved name on a woman's lips. If the girls had resented me I would have totally understood. Instead, Barbie Lynn looked over her shoulder, rubbed a hand along the paddle resting on her ass and smiled. Opal laughed musically. Brandi was beset by Paige's orgasm though. Paige's stocking clad thighs were wrapped tightly around Brandi's head as she thrashed and undulated over the sheets. Brandi kept lapping like a champ because Paige was a copious ejaculator, as I could attest. "Damn, Zane, you can pick 'em," Opal congratulated me. "What? This plan wasn't mine," I confessed. "No, I mean your luck in picking out bed partners is better than mine," Opal explained. "Oh, you were missing a few nights ago. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. Who did you home in on?" I asked. "Cappadocia," Opal told me. Uh-oh. "I don't think Cappy is ready for a bi-sexual encounter. Besides, she's far too aggressive for you right now," I informed her. "Yeah, we figured that out. We both tried being on top all the time and things sort of fell apart," Opal related to me. "We both did agree you are one hell of a primer for virgins." "Thanks, that's very kind of you," I jibbed. "Oh, wow," Brandi gasped out, finally released by Paige. "That was wild." Brandi backed away from Paige's cunt on all fours before rolling over and resting the back of her head on Paige's thigh. "She's yummy," Brandi giggled. "We should get her over for shower time." Paige was now splayed out, limp, and looking up at the ceiling. "I, I, Paige rasped. "Yes, Sugah?" Barbie Lynn purred down at Paige. "I, I have to do this again," Paige worked out. She followed that up by wrapping a hand into the hair at the back of Barbie Lynn's head and pulling her in for a kiss. "Woot!" Opal shouted. "We got another one. Zane, who is next on the menu?" "How about Vivian?" Brandi suggested. "Okay, ladies, there is no menu. We are not stalking girls down for bi-sexual trysts, and if we were interested in anyone, we should ask Paige for her opinion first," I countered. Paige rapidly disentangled from Barbie Lynn and propped herself up excitedly on her elbows. "Cordelia," she declared defiantly. "Cordelia Dresden, I've always had this secret thing for her, which also involves a little bondage and having her tell me I'm smarter than she is as I torture her with an ostrich feather," Paige finished with a wicked smile. "Thought this out much?" Opal snickered. "Just because Zane was the first person to see me as the devastatingly beautiful woman I am doesn't mean I haven't made contingency plans for when the inevitable happened," Paige was smarmy right back. "Paige, you were sure Zane would take you to his bed?" Barbie Lynn said. "As I recall, those were some shaky few minutes you two had." "Inevitable?" Paige scoffed. "I never doubted for a moment. In fact, I already have him trained." Even Brandi looked askance at that declaration but Paige beamed victoriously. "Zane," Paige grinned sweetly. "Bouncy, bouncy." I sighed, reached over Barbie Lynn, hooked one arm under Paige's arm and around her back while the other was reaching between her legs. I hefted her up and pulled her over on top until she comfortably straddled me. Paige glowed like the Sun. "Holy crap," Opal giggled. "Bouncy, bouncy," Brandi perked up and spoke to me. I wasn't sure what I'd do or say but it turned out I didn't matter. "No, you don't," Paige scolded Brandi. "Get your own command phrase; this phrase is mine." "What happens now?" Brandi prodded. I had the feeling that actual intercourse fascinated her. Paige turned her head away from the woman and looked down on me. She crashed upon my frame in slow motion until she was resting her chin on the top of my sternum and we had to strain to keep eye contact. "Please, Zane, take your mighty cock and put it in my tight, wet cunt. Make me tingle from the tip of my toes up to the ends of my white hairs on the crown of my head," Paige playfully pleaded. "Be gentle because my new-found friends have left me tender and hyper-sensitive all-over." Mighty cock, it isn't like my buddy attracts amorous attention from sequoias or something. My cock is a highly valued member of the team, but come on now, it is a freaking piece of meat. I can certainly get the job done without, Paige looks up and licks her lips while she pants like a famished huntress. Suddenly the last three years of my maturity lose their blood supply as it rushes elsewhere. Oh, well. I'll recall what I was bitching about later. "Okay," I grinned. "Maneuver up and I'll work it in." "I'll help!" Brandi excitedly volunteered. Before I could politely decline, Brand landed on my left leg and was pushing Paige's ass up. Paige was far more amused with the situation than I was and reconciled Brandi's movements with her desires to rise up from straddling to kneeling with one leg up. Brandi took the opportunity to stroke my cock, raised it to the vertical, and dragged it over Paige's cunt. She rested my cock a little far back, or so I thought. Paige thought so too. "Not the ass!" she squeaked. "Not the Butt!" "You want it in your, Brandi hesitated. "Her cunt," Barbie Lynn filled her in. "Yes, it looks so delicate," Brandi wondered. "Well, yes," Paige snipped, "but Zane has taken my virginity. My anus is even smaller than my cunt, and it isn't like Zane isn't already going to pass Cleopatra's Needle through something the size of a dime as it stands." "Did you just call Zane a needle-cock?" snickered Opal. "No," I groaned. "Cleopatra's Needle is an obelisk, like Washington's Monument, except only one-twentieth the size." "Yep," Rio panted from her side of the bed, "she definitely called him 'needle-cock'." "I don't care what you gals call it," Barbie Lynn chuckled. "He can stick me with that cock anytime." "Tell me you love me, Zane," Paige sighed. "I can't. You are absolutely wonderful to me but I can't lie to you even though I think it would make you happy to hear those words," I frowned sadly. "Why can't it be you and me?" she asked but her fatigued smile betrayed no anger. "Eh, the tired old romantic tale: boy loves girl but girl can't, or won't, show affection for him," I related. "How about this story instead," Paige's smile grew. "A post-Apocalyptic tale where you, me, and a select group of other genetically superior women retreat to a remote coastal island, fend off the end of the world, and set about repopulating the Earth over, and over, and over again." "Wait; if I agree does this mean you are going to plot out a way to bring about the end of civilization as we know it?" I questioned. What I didn't question was the reality that Paige would never have children of her own womb, but hell, this was her fantasy; right? "I know where your mind is, Zane Braxton," Paige said softly with tears brimming in her eyes but that smile still on her lips, "and that makes you a wonderful, wonderful man." "Now, please, bouncy, bouncy," that mischievous glint returned to her countenance. In some stories this would be the trigger for me to ram my thunderous love pylon deep into her womb. Or, I could hug her tight and let us express our emotions in some open, healing manner. In my reality, I was still somewhat of a tool to Paige, an object that brought her happiness and fulfillment. I was almost a human person of worth to her too. Paige had arrangements, not friendships, and controlled those relationships with mental domination. I know it would have surprised her and brought forth a torrent of denial if I showed she trusted me, as exhibited by her actions of the past few minutes. Rarely did one love their power drill or hammer and you certainly didn't get all teary-eyed when you read their mind correctly. Brandi steadied and reinforced my cock with a hand as Paige worked her way down. I held Paige by the hips to keep her from trying to move too fast. She was busy concentrating, undoubtedly committing the sensations to memory, I kind of like really smart women. "What does it feel like?" Brandi questioned Paige timidly. "If, you have never been, penetrated, you couldn't understand," Paige panted. "Don't worry about it," Opal cooed to her friend. "We are sophomores so we have nearly three years with Zane here at school. That is plenty of time to talk him into doing the deed." "That shouldn't be hard," Brandi giggled. "I've seen Zane scoping me out. He wants me." "Ha," laughed Barbie Lynn. "If it was that easy, there wouldn't be a virgin in this room. Zane could have woken up that part of me ten times over if his wanting my body was all it took." "Pop your cherry!" Rio shouted, close to climax. "Call it what it is, you dumb bimbo, oh, fuck!" She twisted Mercy's nipples with a violence that caused me pain by just looking. That cued Mercy to pound up into Rio unmercifully. Rio released Mercy's breasts and put her hands to torturing her own nipples. Her orgasm came in seconds. With sheer force of will, Rio fought off her physical spasms until she was body to body with Mercy, Rio's hands cupping Mercy's face and her lips planting fast kisses on Mercy's lips, nose, and eyes. "You are mine, mine, mine," Rio exulted with animalistic fury magically melded with heartwarming compassion. It was coaxed along by the vibrator to her clit, sending Mercy off to her own orgasm. "God mother-fucking damn, Rio," Mercy screamed, "Own, own me; make me yours." "I'm tattooing, your ass, this weekend," Rio whispered and groaned. On my side of the sexual diorama, Paige was still screwing herself down my cock, though Brandi had less to do but more to think about. "I can't decide when I want Zane to do the deed for me," Brandi wondered. "No," I breathed heavily, eyes still on Paige and her radiance, "Brandi, you and I will figure things out when the time is right." "Or you tie him down and ride him like Paige," Opal giggled. "Bouncy, bouncy," Paige panted through her chuckle, "It is not just a catchy jingle. It is the recipe for romantic success." "You talk too much, Princess," I emphasized with a thrust deep into her womb, "I think it is time to start your interrogation." She sizzled and I had a dark desire to feel her body heat burn me so we quickly figured out how we could get along. "Roll over, Pound cake," Rio ordered as she worked the strap-on off Mercy. "I've got all sorts of issues to work out and your priceless backside is my destination of choice. Buck up, Buttercup, stick out that ass and get ready for some furious pent-up teenage aggression." I was stunning that the friction Mercy generated as she spun over in the sheets didn't set the bed on fire. She wasn't on all fours but her ass was raised at a four-five degree angle and quivering in her desire. Rio affixed her tool of choice before allowing her gaze to bask in Mercy's splendor. It took her several seconds before she draped her body over Mercy's back. "I'm going to become so bored with this view," Rio teased, "in about fifty or sixty years." Mercy flexed and undulated her back, ass and thighs against Rio's body. Together the two lovers moaned sensually. "I lied to you," Rio panted into Mercy's ear. "I'm not going to get tired of your body in fifty or sixty years. I'm going to fuck you to death before you hit thirty." Mercy gave some sort of guttural reply which she accentuated by driving her posterior against Rio's artificial cock. It slid up between Mercy's cheeks as opposed to going into her anus but Mercy was certainly energetic enough to keep thrusting. Sometimes I wasn't sure which one was leading the other down the road to impassioned insanity. Afterglow The whispering in my ear had woken me up. I shifted my head toward the noise and saw Paige's elfin head cloaked by her fine white hair. In her slumber, Paige had brought one hand up to her chin and took slow nibbles out of the tip of her thumb. Her body was curled up in a near-fetal ball with her other arm vanishing beneath the sheets. Paige's lips parted and she moaned. "Oh, right there, Brandi, yum, yeah, right there." She rotated the shoulder of her downturned arm and her hips rocked gently beneath the covers, certainly driving those attached fingers against her cunt. She went back to nibbling her thumb and slowly quieted down. Paige was in the middle of the bed so I had to raise my head to peek past her sublime form to see Rio and Mercy who were both facing away, Rio was closer to me with her arms wrapped around and cradling Mercy. Fingers stroked my stomach bringing my head to the other side. Barbie Lynn was snuggled up against me and both her hands rested on my stomach, though only one was rubbing against my abs. The only problem was that Barbie Lynn regularly slept on her side with one hand on me and the other resting under the pillow, plus both hands on my stomach were lefties. I shifted slightly, looked over and tracked the moving hand back to the arm that led to a slumbering Vivian. I swear to God I did nothing to deserve this. I had to think about this for a few seconds. Finally I decided on a little clarity. "Vivian," I whispered as I tapped her hand. From experience I knew she woke slowly so I was patient. "Umm," she smiled dreamily at me. A three-count later her eyes focused enough to match my gaze. "You are in my bed and while I don't mind, I want to make sure you are doubly okay with this," I requested softly. "Opal and Brandi woke me up when they left," Vivian informed me, "and I felt, alone and left out. Are you okay with me being here? Are you going to be able to control yourself?" A few things made sense now. Vivian and her boyfriend had fallen into the habit of cuddling on one of their beds. Before long they were falling asleep comfortably in each other's arms. He woke up, high school boy's hormones racing, and she took a few moments too long to realize what was going on. I gave her bonus points for not hating the guy for taking her virginity and stealing away the bedtime comfort of lying with another person she yearned for. "Vivian, you have my permission to crash on my bed anytime," I smiled warmly. "Barbie Lynn will keep me in check. If you ever want to join me and no one else is around, I keep some restraints, left dresser, second drawer." "I don't want to tie you down, Zane," she whispered. "Restraints are not only about holding someone down but empowering the other partner. You get to feel comfortable close to me, I don't mind you being close to me one bit, and I don't have to worry about doing something I'll regret," I related. "You learned all of this in rural Thailand?" Vivian mused. "They are an ancient and scholarly people," I countered. "Are we okay?" "We are okay," she responded. "Great," muttered Barbie Lynn, "let's go to sleep because if I wake up, Vivian, I'm going to make you hold my head in your lap while Zane pleasures me from behind." Vivian grinned, rested her head, and closed her eyes. I laid back down and let my vision darken behind sleepy lids. I really felt like hammering Barbie's delicious ass but I knew she was tired and needed her sleep. Besides, she had only said that because she wanted Vivian to go to sleep. "Honey," Barbie Lynn whispered words sweeter than fresh cane sugar, "you had best give me all the long, hard strokes I can stand in the morning or I'm going to leave my own set of teeth and claw marks all over that wonderful body of yours." Normally I should accept the warning and fall asleep immediately but since it is a well proven fact that I have no sense where sex and sensuality are concerned, I was awake for quite a while. When I did wake up, it was brought about by Barbie Lynn rolling away from me. "Vivian," Barbie whispered kindly. Once Vivian was appropriately responsive, "Vivian, I'm about to wake Zane up and make him take that damn fine cock and use those powerful strokes I love to fill up my ass with cum until I scream." "You might want to go back to your sofa until he lifts me to climax," she advised. "On second thought, make that two screams, I'm feeling extra horny this morning." Isn't it wonderful that I get no say in where my cock is going or when I'm going there? I mean, it's not like I'm an adult or we are currently residing in my room. Wait, I am!! I'm sick and tired of this shit and I'm putting my foot down! Barbie Lynn rubs her scrumptious ass cheeks against my thigh and moans like my bitch in heat. I Man-Up; I'll set her straight as soon as I finish fucking her, damn it! Okay, I'll set her straight when I finish fucking her twice, but that's all she's getting from me. Barbie Lynn languidly gets onto her elbows and knees, favoring the sore one. She scoops the tube of lube from under the pillow and pushes it back to me as Vivian shakes her head, scoots off the bed, and makes her way to the exit. I pour some lube onto my palm then rub my hands together to warm it up because I don't want to cruelly use something cold on her vulnerable flesh. "Zane, I need this so bad," Barbie Lynn purrs. "Hammer me, hammer me twice and make me scream." "Oh," I growl, "I intend to." I'm going to nail her good then give her a piece of my mind. "Baby, I know you are taking Iona home this weekend so can you sneak away during lunch and sex me up one more time?" she pleads with a voice rich with need. "Of course I will, Babe," I reply. And then I'll give her a piece of my mind, damn it! "What's wrong, Zane?" Rio asked as she watched me strip my bed. She wasn't offering to help. "Man," I sighed, "sometimes I think I'm nothing more than a tool for sexual release on this campus." "That's surprisingly accurate," she chuckled. "I'm stunned you realized it so quickly." "Realized what?" Iona grinned as she glided into the room, unusually chipper. "Zane realized he's a sex toy, a pleasure slave to our whims," Rio pontificated. Mercy sighed slightly and came over to help me with the bed, as did Iona, and she hadn't even made the mess. "The willingness to give of yourself does not indicate a surrender of your will," Iona countered. "Zane gives and gives freely, without expectation of return." "He is your mirror image if you think about it," Iona continued. "With Zane it is pleasure and with you it is pain." Now you never know which way Rio will go with something like this; Iona was like a kid sister to her but I wasn't totally sure Rio hadn't experimented with patricide, matricide and infanticide along with cannibalism. "Damn, Iona," Rio came up and wrap her arms around Iona's waist from behind, "that's real cool." "Ah, you are welcome?" Iona smiled but with uncertainty. "How about I give you Mercy for a night? You know, a snuggle buddy for you to sleep with. We could dress her in an appropriate nightgown and she could be like a big warm teddy bear for you to cuddle with." "I would rather have Zane dressed up as a cuddly teddy bear," Iona glanced to me. "Oh, hell, no!" I declared. "I have my pride, ya know." "Get over it, Zane," Rio laughed. "You are the only guy I know whose home page is linked to both gay and lesbian porn sites." I am? How the fuck did that happen? "Would you do that for me, please?" Iona pleaded playfully. I had to avoid answering no matter what. "Iona, I've decided to designate you as my heir," I surprised her. "We'll do that Monday." "I already knew that," Iona stated evenly. "It was posted on your website yesterday." "What!" I squawked. "Am I bugged? Am I carrying a wire? How do people figure out these things?" "Cordelia," all the women in the room said simultaneously. Yep, I'm going to have to fix her little red wagon. I wonder if she has my home wired for surveillance as well. "Iona, what would you do with all that money? Zane's got a boatload of money; right?" Mercy broke in. "I don't know," Iona began; "Maybe make a trust for Christian World Charities or something like that." "Bitch," Rio recoiled, "do you know what Zane's family does? He's a freaking gazillionaire." "Rio," Iona swiveled so that she was facing Rio, "there is no such number and Zane's family mines copper, cobalt, chromium and manganese, primarily." "Dummy, that's the parent company," Rio scoffed, heady with her one-time mental superiority over Iona. "They build spaceships." "That's silly," Iona countered. "No one builds spaceships anymore. Do you mean rockets?" "Yeah," Rio groaned with impatience, "they build rockets that put satellites in orbit, spacecraft components, space-age ceramics, non-integrated circuit computers, and crap like that." Iona looked to me for some clarity. "I don't know," I shrugged. "I had a collage of the solar system in my room when I was five; I went to the NASA facility in Florida once a year; I've been to that space facility in Russia once; and I've seen a rocket launched from this site in South America. I figured all kids did stuff like that." Then something occurred to me. "Rio, how do you know all this about me?" I inquired. "Eh," Rio grunted. "In that first week I considered kidnapping you so I wanted to figure out what you were worth so I would know how much to ask for." "How much is he worth?" Mercy asked. "Enough so that his people wouldn't call in the FBI, they would call in some former Spetznaz and simply kill me instead of paying the ransom," Rio chuckled. "Yeah," I laughed too, "I recall Dad saying that he'd 'met up' with some South African Commandos when he was not much older than I am now. He sent them Christmas presents every year until he died." "Zane, I'm not sure I want that much money," Iona worried. "Well, you've met Aunt Jill and we both know she couldn't handle it," I countered. "What, what, what about Rio, Oh, My God, what am I saying? That would be nuts," Iona fretted. Rio gasped. "Hey!" Rio shouted. "What's wrong with me?" "You are totally insane with an annoying lack of impulse control," Mercy stated clinically. Rio's mouth dropped open and she gawked at her 'toy'. "Pound cake!" she barked at Mercy. Mercy perked up and looked ready to throw herself on the bed and at Rio's mercy. "No," I intervened. "We have to get to breakfast and I can hear Vivian pacing like mad just beyond the screens. She deserves better from us. Now let's get going." Everyone was remarkably behaved until we got into the elevator and the door shut. "Are you sure you are the right person for this job?" Vivian asked Mercy as the doors shut. "What?" Mercy gulped. "What do you mean?" "Yeah, what the fuck do you mean by that, ya Cunt?" Rio interjected both her words and her body into the conversation. "Mercy and I are doing just fine." "You shower together, sleep together, stick all kinds of things in one another; I'm neither blind nor stupid," Vivian growled out. "I'm sorry," Mercy mumbled. "Oh, I don't blame you. They got to you before this 'guardian' thing happened. It is simply unfortunate that you ended up as Rio's minder and now we will have to deal with it," Vivian responded without heat or condemnation (toward Mercy). "Are you going to turn her in?" I had to ask. "Forcing Mercy to face the condemnation and ridicule of those who have no clue to her situation would not be the Christian thing to do," Vivian sincerely related. "I will not let Mercy fall into depravity. She and I will work together to save her soul." Rio didn't trust her and looked ready to pounce. On the other hand, I was truly impressed and believed her. "What is your plan?" Iona joined in. "Vivian, you wouldn't bring this up if you didn't have a plan." "I am creating a list of Christian works, not the Bible, Rio, that the two of them could read together for half an hour before bedtime," Vivian enlightened us. In the short-term it sounded naive but if you took into account the almost three years Mercy and Rio could be here together it was rather clever. "Blow it out your ass!" Rio growled back. "No, Rio, you will do it," I demanded. I had never demanded anything of her before. I'd asked, begged and suggested but I had never told her 'do this or else'. I was now. Rio and I locked gazes. She felt betrayed and pissed. "Fuck you," Rio snapped at me. "You don't tell me what to do." "You'll do what I tell you to do now," I insisted. "Or what?" she sneered. I could feel Iona cringing beside me. Mercy was afraid and looked trapped. Vivian was taking the exchange with interest. "Or nothing. I am not going to hold anything over your head but I'm also going to fight to keep you from fucking up your life," I kept at it. "It is what friends do." There was a pause. "Glenda, you suck," Rio declared quietly. That quavering in Rio's resolve was Mercy's cue. "I'll do the readings," Mercy said. "Rio, if you want to wait in the bedroom for me, well I'm fine with that, if that is what you want to do." "Gurr," Rio mumbled. "Fine, I'll do it, but if I hear even one chorus of Kumbaya, I'm skewering someone with a pool stick." "Thank you, Vivian got out. "Not a word," Rio warned. "Not another damn word, from any of you." Mercy shot me a look and I could see she finally got it. You let Rio run amok for 90% of the time so that you could coax Rio toward stability the other 10% without her rebelling. I didn't want to make Rio sane; I was sure she was happy being fucking nuts. I only wanted her to be a 'fucking nuts' that didn't make her destroy her life and drive away the people that really cared for her. What can I say? I'm selfish. Rio fills a void in my life and I didn't want to see her fall away into the darkness the way my Mom did. Aliens, Vampires and Werewolves, maybe not. To make the right decision requires a combination of confidence, knowledge, and luck. A little nonsequitur: I once asked my close associates why they believed in God. Rio said: "Well, I can't very well be a convincing Satanist if I don't give lip service to the Other Guy." Iona put it this way: "The Universe makes sense. It is our roadmap for Ascension and a fuller understanding of God's Love." Christina reasoned: "I've seen Evil so there must be Good." Heaven s take was: "Because I prayed for death but Christina came; and I prayed for you (Zane) to go but you stayed." Hope expounded: "Because I live in a country that allows me to own a K11 assault rifle for home defense." No one wants to ask Hope if she has the official rifle of the R O K Army with her at school, or if she actually has the grenades that go with it. What good would it do; it isn't like we would try to take it away from her. Most of us like living too much. Chastity observed: "Firefighters, organ donors, Christian converts in Iran, with so many people giving for no material gain, that indicates to me a higher purpose for mankind, a struggle between right and wrong." Faith rebutted: "Belief in Christ cannot be given a definition. If you define it, it ceases being faith." Barbie Lynn: sweetly gave me a peppermint and smiled. She had to look no farther than the fate that had brought us together and the joy we shared; she didn't need words. Paige resolved: "Only something with infinite precision and power could bring about the Big Bang. The day they can give a name to that force, I will gladly surrender my faith." Cordelia said: "Let me think about my reply. Why do you believe in God?" (Like I'd ever tell her.) Cappadocia lamented: "What an empty and lonely thing life must be, if these few years are all we have?" Opal s mind was made up: "I always have and never heard an argument that would make me think differently." Brandi chided: "It was how I was raised. But the first time you kissed my stomach, I had my own personal religious experience (giggle)." And Now, Back to the Story! Breakfast unfolded pretty much like it had a week ago, with the added bonus of poisonous glares between clumps of students, bandages, bruises, and the sense of unease that comes from unresolved conflict. After all, neither Christina nor Rhaine had won. This was acceptable to most of the sane crowd as the alternative would have been to make the school unbearable to the other half of the student body so that they left. Instead, we got to bask in the chilly civility that Christian politeness dictated. At least I wasn't (too) worried about a pack of girls ambushing me. As was becoming her habit, Gabrielle Black had devoured her food in less than four minutes and paced the perimeter of the Dining Room floor, her eyes dodging about with no discernible pattern. I kept an eye on her because she worried me in a way that went far beyond hormones. "Zane?" Iona repeated. I had barely registered her first request for a moment of my time. "Yes, Hon?" I smiled down at her. She looked happy for the eye contact but worried about what she had to say. "Zane, there are two other candidates for Freshman Class President, Mhain Reynard and Millicent Pierce," Iona informed me. "Millicent?" grumbled Rio. "Zane saved her ass and now she's kicking sand in his face? The bitch." "Millicent is free to do what she wants. She may have wanted to be nominated before all this chaos came about. I'm not going to begrudge her having political ambitions," I told them. "Zane, I don't think you understand what this means," Iona worried. "Sure I do; Millicent and I are going to split the Pro-Christina vote. There will be a run-off. If it is Millicent and I, Mhain's votes will go to her and I lose. If it is Mhain and Millicent, my votes will go to Millicent and she wins. If it is Mhain and I, it will be a toss-up. Essentially, Millicent can definitely defeat Mhain but I can't." "This sounds like a job for the NSA," Rio glared off to where Millicent was sitting. I don't think Rio knew what Mhain looked like. NSA referred to Rio's title as my in-house assassin, Ninja Stripper Angel. "Don't worry," I patted Rio on the shoulder, "I got this, Bro." When I got up, Rio followed me nonetheless. Chancellor Bazz was absent for the second day in a row so the highest authority seemed to be Doctor Scarlett, the Vice Chancellor. Gabrielle noted my movement but didn't deviate from her path. Mrs. Cunningham was closest but seeing neither authority figure appeared nervous, she too went about her rounds. Mind you, girls are moving around the Dining Hall all the time but I'm special, being a troublemaking, devious male. I rounded a table and walked over to Millicent, who was warned of my approach by an associate. She twisted in her chair and waited for the flavor of my greeting. "Hey, Millicent, I want to congratulate you on your nomination and I hope you get the votes to be on the ballot," I said as I extended my hand. She shook it and smiled. "Thank you, Zane. Good luck to you too," she replied. "How about we have a debate a few nights before the election? Interested?" I pondered. "That would be great," Millicent agreed. "We can request the Assembly Hall but we'll need to figure out who should be moderator." "We'll figure it out," I nodded. "I'm going to say 'hi' to Mhain as well." "I will come along," Millicent informed me as she stood up and stepped to my side. "Hi, Rio." "Eat shit and die, you ungrateful whore," Rio snarled back at Millicent, who backed off. "Zane should have left you for Bazz to fuck over." Millicent's crowd was shocked, then outraged. "Cool it, Rio." I stroked her arm. "You and I do what we do for our own ends and not for the accolades of others." I turned to her, "Right?" Rio took a deep breath. "You are such a dumb blonde," she smirked at me. "I get my thirty pieces of silver up front." "Thanks, Babe," I grinned at Rio. I looked back to Millicent. "I'm still going to see Mhain if you want to tag along with me and Rio." "I'm feeling fearless with a positive outlook on life so I'll risk it," Millicent smiled. Yeah, beating Millicent in this election was going to be fun, right up there with waking up on the

The Orioles have crossed one item off of their offseason to do list by hiring a new manager. What should we know about Craig Albernaz? Matt Weyrich joined the guys to discuss that and more.

 The weekly podcast of Empowerment Ministries Christian Center, led by Dr. Gregg S. Magee, Sr.

 The weekly podcast of Empowerment Ministries Christian Center, led by Dr. Gregg S. Magee, Sr.

Dani Vee and Paula McLean have an insightful chat about storytelling, feminism, women and how the past shapes you. The One Remaining is a story of memory, endurance, loss and love. Hilary comes upon a stack of her old diaries, which document the trauma she's endured and decides she is ready to face the hidden backstory of her life. The One Remaining is a captivating story of overcoming loss, finding the courage to trust and the self-healing power of writing our stories. Paula McLean is an author, philanthropist and advocate for Australian literature. A Patron and former Deputy Chair of the Stella Prize, she now serves as their NSW Ambassador. With a background in publishing and a legacy of supporting the voices of women, Paula brings a thoughtful perspective on purpose, creativity and the power of storytelling.

Achieving victory through virtue means actively producing good fruit and investing the spiritual "bags of gold" Yahweh has entrusted to each believer, rather than letting personal grievances, apathy, or conflicts stifle their purpose. Satan vigorously works to entangle Yahweh's people in infighting and distractions, aiming to render them unproductive branches that ultimately risk being cut off from His nourishing vine. Remaining humble, forgiving, and focused on Yahweh's Kingdom, even amidst challenges, is crucial to avoiding the fate of the "wicked and lazy servant."

Claire and Rachel caught up with Dr. Shelly Rambo, a theologian at Boston University, working in the areas of trauma, spiritual care and chaplaincy. Shelly's book Spirit and Trauma is a seminal work in the field of trauma and theology, and she brings over twenty years of thought and exploration to the study of Scripture and the Christian tradition through the lens of trauma. We talk about the reality of trauma that remains, and how Jesus prepares us to live with the unresolved, what we can learn from Julian of Norwich about regaining inner spiritual authority, and the theological classroom as a site of post-traumatic growth. Shelly finishes by sharing insights from Howard Thurman on maintaining spiritual vitality in the midst of embodied threat. In a time when many are leaving institutional religion, Shelly brings wise insight into the reasons people leave and ways in which they can develop a sustaining spiritual community in the aftermath of harm.Shelly's BioDr. Shelly Rambo is a theologian and professor at Boston University School of Theology, whose work explores the intersections of trauma, theology, and spiritual care. Her research has shaped trauma-informed approaches to chaplaincy and theological education, particularly in seminary contexts. She is the author of Spirit and Trauma: A Theology of Remaining, and Resurrecting Wounds, and is a leading voice in rethinking how Christian theology engages suffering, survival, and the work of healing.Regent College Podcast Thanks for listening. Please like, rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice and share this episode with a friend. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook Instagram Youtube Keep in Touch Regent College Summer Programs Regent College Newsletter

(0:00) Paul Perillo of Patriots.com joins the show and the hour opens with the discussion continuing on teams acquiring their QB through bottoming out in the standings. (10:59) Paul weighs in on the discussion of who has more to do with the success of Drake Maye: Mike Vrabel or Josh McDaniels? () The callers weigh in on the Patriots with Paul Perillo. (28:33) Is the Patriots schedule tougher than it looks to end the season? Plus, could the Patriots be buying at the Trade Deadline? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, due to a clash in Jeff and Ian's schedules, it's a solo episode this week and Ian takes to the studio alone. In this episode Ian explores the importance of remaining human, while still benefiting from the efficiency benefits that AI powered marketing automation offers.  Enjoy! — The Links The people: Ian Truscott on LinkedIn Mentioned this week: The Era of AI-Made Everything (501) - This Old Marketing podcast The Rose & Rockstar: Personalization is Still Creepy Why AI Generated Content Wont Move You - Nudge podcast Velocity B Rockstar CMO: The Beat Newsletter that we send every Monday Rockstar CMO on the web, Twitter, and LinkedIn Previous episodes and all the show notes: Rockstar CMO FM. Track List: Stienski & Mass Media - We'll be right back You can listen to this on all good podcast platforms, like Apple, Amazon, and Spotify. This podcast is part of the Marketing Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

the safest place you can be is close the the shepherd "Jesus"

Longhorns/Texans Comparison Rockets Tari Eason needs rookie extension in Houston Callers talk Texans, Rockets, and Astrodome curse Texans possible 2026 Draft targets Rockets and OKC Thunder preview PGA lawsuit Jack Nicklaus wins News-R.Kelly House-$2 million discount, Ohio vs A.I., Brewers fan threatens to call ICE on Dodgers fan drinking hard seltzer, Angry bedtime for a happier relationship

Colossians: Remaining in the Gospel pt.1 - Josh Wilson by Storyline Church

Weather the Winter Speaker: Duncan Crook (An Elder of ReCreate Church) Scripture: John 15:1-8 Episode Summary Duncan Crook uses the metaphor of winter to explore life's difficult seasons - times of loss, health struggles, waiting, or unexplained hardship. Through Jesus' teaching about the vine and branches, we discover how God works through our "winter seasons" to prepare us, prune us, and prove His faithfulness through us. Key Points - Life follows a pattern of sowing and reaping: seed + time = harvest, but the growth is invisible - Winter seasons serve three purposes: God is preparing you for something, pruning something from you, or proving something through you - Remaining connected to God during difficult times is more important than understanding why they're happening - Our faithfulness in winter seasons becomes a powerful witness to God's glory Main Takeaway You can't always choose your season, but you can choose your response. When you stay connected to God through winter, you don't just make it through - you come out mature, pruned, and bearing fruit that reveals God's glory. Memorable Quotes - "The harvest is inevitable, but the growth is invisible." - "I'd rather be cut back than cut off. I'd rather go through trials with God than without God." - "I don't want to just make it through this, I want to get something out of this. I want to come out more mature." - "Some seasons are so hard and cold that survival is success. So just remain." - "The greatest witness you will ever have is when you go through a hard time and simply remain faithful." - "If I have to be pruned and my life has to hurt for a little while, I want it to produce something good. I want it to not be wasted." Reflection Question Are you the kind of Christian who shows up in the cold - who remains faithful even when you can't see what God is doing? Tune in to hear Duncan's inspiring story about running cross-country in freezing weather and how it taught him about showing up faithfully during life's winter seasons. Special Note Join us in celebrating ReCreate Church's 7th anniversary on October 22, 2025! Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Rob and Joe took some time from Monday's BBMS to share their thoughts on the Ravens' remaining schedule. It seems nine wins will be good enough to get Baltimore into the playoffs, something that didn't seem impossible a couple weeks ago, but now, do their remaining games look a little more daunting than originally thought?

Remaining faithful and persistent in prayer. Bishop Mark Beckman delivers the homily at the 9 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, Tenn.

Leave & Cleave - Remaining One Flesh With Your Spouse

Prince Andrew's long-avoided reckoning has finally landed, and it's as humiliating as it is overdue. After years of disgrace, denials, and royal damage control, Andrew has officially agreed to give up the use of his Duke of York title, along with every other vestige of dignity the crown once lent him. This move wasn't born of honor—it was forced by shame. His statement about “not wanting to distract from the work of His Majesty” is laughable considering he's been nothing but a distraction since his disastrous BBC interview, his shady friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, and his multimillion-dollar settlement with Virginia Giuffre. For a man who spent years hiding behind palace gates while denying the undeniable, this is the closest thing to accountability he's ever faced. The “Prince of Nothing” has finally lived up to his title.Even now, the monarchy is pretending this is a graceful abdication rather than a desperate effort to cauterize a festering wound before it infects the entire institution. Buckingham Palace didn't take his titles out of moral courage—they did it to save their own skin. The public relations damage was radioactive, and with new revelations resurfacing from Giuffre's memoir and Epstein's lingering shadow, the palace had no choice but to exile him once and for all. He'll still technically be “Prince Andrew” by name, but in the eyes of the British people, he's been permanently stripped of honor. No ribbon or royal handshake will ever wash off the stench of Epstein's rot that clings to him. The monarchy can spin it however they want, but this isn't redemption—it's damage control dressed in ermine.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Prince Andrew gives up all of his titles, including Duke of York and his Order of the Garter membership, as he's banished from royal life after fresh string of scandals | Daily Mail OnlineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Prince Andrew's long-avoided reckoning has finally landed, and it's as humiliating as it is overdue. After years of disgrace, denials, and royal damage control, Andrew has officially agreed to give up the use of his Duke of York title, along with every other vestige of dignity the crown once lent him. This move wasn't born of honor—it was forced by shame. His statement about “not wanting to distract from the work of His Majesty” is laughable considering he's been nothing but a distraction since his disastrous BBC interview, his shady friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, and his multimillion-dollar settlement with Virginia Giuffre. For a man who spent years hiding behind palace gates while denying the undeniable, this is the closest thing to accountability he's ever faced. The “Prince of Nothing” has finally lived up to his title.Even now, the monarchy is pretending this is a graceful abdication rather than a desperate effort to cauterize a festering wound before it infects the entire institution. Buckingham Palace didn't take his titles out of moral courage—they did it to save their own skin. The public relations damage was radioactive, and with new revelations resurfacing from Giuffre's memoir and Epstein's lingering shadow, the palace had no choice but to exile him once and for all. He'll still technically be “Prince Andrew” by name, but in the eyes of the British people, he's been permanently stripped of honor. No ribbon or royal handshake will ever wash off the stench of Epstein's rot that clings to him. The monarchy can spin it however they want, but this isn't redemption—it's damage control dressed in ermine.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Prince Andrew gives up all of his titles, including Duke of York and his Order of the Garter membership, as he's banished from royal life after fresh string of scandals | Daily Mail OnlineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Texas DogmanAfter 25 years in Alaska, where the narrator immersed himself in the rugged wilderness—from the Arctic Pipeline to the Aleutian Islands and gold mines—developing a passion for cryptids, they spent over five years earning the trust of tribal elders. These elders shared ancient encounter stories, histories of elusive creatures, and even passed down a Woolly Rhinoceros tooth from a hunt in the late 1600s or early 1700s. Alaska's extremes brought thrilling wildlife sightings, like cooperative black bears raiding dumps and moose wandering urban streets, evoking Jack London adventures. Seeking warmer climes, the narrator relocated to a lush, open suburb in East Texas—137°F milder than Alaska's winters—only to discover cryptids thriving amid the greenery and barking dogs that suddenly fall silent at night. One afternoon, after a doctor's visit in a one-story office complex, their service Jack Russell Terrier grew agitated, pulling on the leash before freezing and trembling violently. As the narrator knelt to comfort the shaking dog, an unnatural silence descended—like a shadow blocking sound—accompanied by a foul, inexplicable odor. Remaining still, they waited it out until birds and frogs resumed chirping, and the presence lifted. In the soft mud nearby, a massive footprint appeared: longer and wider than the narrator's size 13 shoe (which barely dented the earth), ending in three deep claw marks from a heavy, narrow foot. Photos sent to Alaskan hunter friends yielded no identification. Locals whisper of similar run-ins with 10- to 12-foot-tall beasts, dubbing this a "Dogman." The narrator teases more harrowing tales for the brave-hearted. A devoted fan of the channel, they praise the host's non-judgmental, enthusiastic narration of such bewildering experiences, plus the joyful glimpses of farm life—chickens, dogs, roosters, and drone views—that brighten their housebound days due to disability. Grateful to have survived, they urge vigilance: always stay alert to live and share your stories.Join my Supporters Club for $4.99 per month for exclusive stories:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-if-it-s-true-podcast--5445587/support

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As Hamas announced it has released all the bodies of hostages that can be found, Berman asks whether Hamas is playing games or whether they can't locate the remaining 19 bodies. The prevailing thought in the government cabinet is that Hamas can access more if it so desired, and therefore, Israel will slowly ramp up the pressure on Hamas, for now, blocking reconstruction materials. Berman also talks about whether the war against Hamas has ended, given that Israel hasn’t declared an end and wants to keep the military threat hanging over Hamas’s head unless it moves forward with its obligations in the peace plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was diagnosed with bronchitis on Wednesday, amid his long-delayed corruption trial. Berman comments that the prime minister, who is about to turn 76, doesn't have perfect health and was in close contact with recently released hostages whose immune systems have been compromised. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Hamas returns bodies of hostages Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, Eitan Levy; 4th body a Palestinian Senior Israeli official insists Gaza war ‘not over’ until all truce phases complete Trial hearing ends early for ill Netanyahu, who’s accused of exposing freed hostages to disease Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remaining Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas. Learn more about this story on today's podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pediatrician Dr. Paul Bunch consults Dr. Kahleb Graham from the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and Dr. Megan Miller from the Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology on disorders of gut-brain interaction. Episode recorded on September 17, 2025.    Resources discussed in this episode: Anxiety Assessment - Community Practice Support Tool Anxiety Management - Community Practice Support Tool Chronic Nausea and Vomiting - Community Practice Support Tool  Functional Abdominal Pain - Community Practice Support Tool     Financial Disclosure:  The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed: None All relevant financial relationships listed have been mitigated. Remaining persons in control of content have no relevant financial relationships. To Claim Credit: Click "Launch Activity." Click "Launch Website" to access and listen to the podcast. After listening to the entire podcast, click "Post Test" and complete.   Accreditation In support of improving patient care, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Specific accreditation information will be provided for each activity. Physician:  Cincinnati Children's designates this Enduring Material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  Nursing:  This activity is approved for a maximum 0.75 continuing nursing education (CNE) contact hours. ABP MOCpt2: Completion of this CME activity, which includes learner assessment and feedback, enables the learner to earn up to 0.75 points in the American Board of Pediatrics' (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Cincinnati Children's submits MOC/CC credit for board diplomates.   Credits AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.75 hours), ABP MOC Part 2 (0.75 hours), CME - Non-Physician (Attendance) (0.75 hours), Nursing CE (0.75 hours)  

 Headlines: – Welcome to Mo News (02:00) – Remaining 20 Living Israeli Hostages Freed From Gaza; About 2,000 Palestinian Prisoners Released From Israeli Prisons (04:30) – Trump Addresses Knesset After Historic Peace Deal (13:00) – Trump Signs Ceasefire Deal In Egypt (19:10) – Dozens Rescued In Alaska After Remnants of Typhoon Halong Batter Region (29:40) – Education Department Layoffs Hit Offices That Oversee Special Ed. (30:40) – Airports Say They Won't Air Kristi Noem Shutdown Video At TSA Checkpoints (33:20) – News Outlets Broadly Reject Pentagon Rules Before Signing Deadline (35:00) – Why Everyone Is Getting a Prenup (39:45) – On This Day In History (42:20) Thanks To Our Sponsors:  – ⁠LMNT⁠ - Free Sample Pack with any LMNT drink mix purchase –⁠ Industrious⁠ - Coworking office. 50% off day pass | Promo Code: MONEWS50 – Incogni - 60% off an annual plan| Promo Code: MONEWS – Factor Meals – 50% your first box plus free shipping | Promo Code: monews50off – Monarch Money - 50% off your first year | Promo Code: MONEWS – Shopify – $1 per-month trial | Code: monews

Dirty Work Hour 3: The guys address the intense sideline conversation between Jauan Jennings and Kyle Shanahan during Sunday's game, and search for positives in the remaining 11 games in the 49ers' season. 49ers insider Matt Maiocco joins the show to talk about where the 49ers stand after losing Fred Warner for the season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Listen to the Show notes and podcast transcript with this multi-language player. INTRODUCTION: The Father's plan is for He Himself to come and take up His abode in us. This is not a one-time experience, but it's the development of an ongoing relationship, as the Holy Spirit comes to us and leads us. It's important to develop a relationship with the Holy Spirit by opening our hearts to Him and receiving what He is saying. This voice may come from the “God in the sky” but in this day, it is more likely to come from people who know Him and love Him. SHOW NOTES: Christ is teaching us to function together as we come into oneness as the body of Christ. Before we come into a maturity in the Lord, we try things on our own to observe what's available in the world and eventually realize it is pretty dead. When a new person begins to search to find life and God's love, he will most likely find help from someone in Christ's body. Many people say they're being led by the Holy Spirit, but they may only be led by their minds, their imaginations, their own independence. As believers function together, they are being built up into the head—Christ. Remaining open and teachable is really important so we don't miss things that the Lord is trying to impart to us. Even if you don't get a witness the first time you hear a word, stay open for possible confirmation. QUOTATIONS: The Lord in the flesh is knocking on our door; each one of us is Christ in the flesh. At times you don't know where you're at, and it helps to have someone walk you into it. As we love one another, the Christ in us begins to create these deep relationships of trust and love in one another. As we go into this deep oneness of the body of Christ, as we enter into it more and more, I believe we're going to be so open to the Christ in one another, that we will have our wills crossed, and we will be taken to places that we would not. Someone comes up with something that you can't handle, put it on the shelf for a little bit and let the Lord deal with you on it. I personally do not want to close off or reject something that I either don't understand or that doesn't resonate with me at that moment.

Dirty Work Hour 3: The guys address the intense sideline conversation between Jauan Jennings and Kyle Shanahan during Sunday's game, and search for positives in the remaining 11 games in the 49ers' season. 49ers insider Matt Maiocco joins the show to talk about where the 49ers stand after losing Fred Warner for the season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 20 living hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas were released after two years in captivity. President Trump arrived in Israel on Monday to meet with their families. The Wall Street Journal's Anat Peled joins to discuss what comes next. Thousands of federal workers received layoff notices over the weekend, as the government shutdown continues. The Washington Post reports on how the closure’s impact will start this week to affect the general public in a more significant way. Trump has described Portland, Oregon, as a war zone as he seeks to deploy National Guard troops there to quell protests against ICE. Zusha Elinson, national reporter for the Wall Street Journal, describes how police reports paint a different picture of what’s going on in the city. Plus, four people are dead after a mass shooting in South Carolina, the grassroots movement that was built by this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, and remembering Diane Keaton. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.

All remaining living Israeli hostages have been released, while some 2,000 detained Palestinians are released. Plus, President Donald Trump speaks to Israel's Parliament.USA TODAY Money and Personal Finance Reporter Medora Lee takes a look at recessions on the state level.Little progress emerges toward getting out of a government shutdown.USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer gives us some of the historical context behind the Insurrection Act.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Israel is welcoming home living hostages from Gaza as the ceasefire holds.

Middle East correspondent Perry Wilton spoke to Lisa Owen about the fast approaching release of the remaining Israeli hostages. It is part of the first phase of what is a fragile peace deal between Israel and Hamas - that will also see nearly 2000 Palestinians prisoners and detainees freed. US President Donald Trump is making his way to Israel for the release, before heading to Egypt for a summit to try and finalise an end to the war in Gaza.

PLUS: Crooked Letitia James indictedSchumer shutdown enters day 12Cuomo issues bogus apology to JewsWill Ciatarelli pull off major upset in New Jersey?

The Trump administration is making good on its threat and are beginning the process of mass firings at multiple federal agencies. Plus, 19 people are missing in Tennessee after a power blast at a military explosives plant. Also, updates in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israeli Cabinet approves ‘outline' of deal to release all remaining hostages held by Hamas. Nobel Peace Prize goes to Maria Corina Machado, despite calls for Trump to receive the award. Friday Sound Salad. Chad's Wheel of Surprise. Grand jury indicts N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James on bank fraud charges. Chad's Scary Movie Countdown #16. Zach Abraham, Bulwark Capital, talks the future of AI. Dueling court hearings on National Guard deployments. 

Seth and Sean continue their talk with Texans EVP & GM Nick Caserio, give some takeaways from the conversation, assess just how hard the remaining schedule is for the Texans, and dive into which Astros they'd pay the arbitration rate to bring back.

Seth and Sean discuss why Sean's trip to a game during the Texans' bye week may be in jeopardy, some of their big takeaways from talking to Nick Caserio, and just how hard the Texans' remaining schedule actually is.

The Trump Peace Plan and the Problematic Role of the Palestinian Authority Guest: Peter Berkowitz Peter Berkowitz examines the Trump peace plan, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of 50 remaining hostages (living and dead) within 72 hours, and the disarming of Hamas. Hamas disarmament is a crucial Israeli war aim. The central challenge is the future role of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which Berkowitz argues is corrupt, incompetent, weak, and lacks democratic legitimacy, having not held elections since 2005. International recognition of a Palestinian state is viewed as counterproductive, as it rewards proponents of armed struggle. The plan anticipates a pathway toward a Palestinian state only after substantial and comprehensive PA reform, including ceasing terror incitement and abandoning the goal of Israel's destruction. Given the security challenges and the history of Palestinian rejection of a state coexisting with Israel, the realistic possibility of a two-state solution is seen as many years in the future.

Gaza Ceasefire Talks: Hostages, Disarmament, and Hamas's Reach into Europe Guest: Joe Truzman Joe Truzman details the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, which center on the release of the remaining 48 hostages (living and deceased) within 72 hours, potentially in exchange for a significant number of Palestinian prisoners, including convicted terrorists. The central obstacle to peace is Hamas's refusal to disarm, viewing it as tantamount to surrendering their identity. Fighting has lessened, with Israel toning down air strikes, possibly to show goodwill to President Trump. Truzman emphasizes that if Hamas retains its arms, another conflict is inevitable. He also notes the rise in reported Hamas plots in Europe, something uncommon historically, indicating the organization may be branching out its operations and feeling emboldened, as seen in the recent deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester. 1950 RAMALLAH

The Trump Peace Plan and the Problematic Role of the Palestinian Authority Guest: Peter Berkowitz Peter Berkowitz examines the Trump peace plan, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of 50 remaining hostages (living and dead) within 72 hours, and the disarming of Hamas. Hamas disarmament is a crucial Israeli war aim. The central challenge is the future role of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which Berkowitz argues is corrupt, incompetent, weak, and lacks democratic legitimacy, having not held elections since 2005. International recognition of a Palestinian state is viewed as counterproductive, as it rewards proponents of armed struggle. The plan anticipates a pathway toward a Palestinian state only after substantial and comprehensive PA reform, including ceasing terror incitement and abandoning the goal of Israel's destruction. Given the security challenges and the history of Palestinian rejection of a state coexisting with Israel, the realistic possibility of a two-state solution is seen as many years in the future. 1898 RAMALAH

Gaza Ceasefire Talks: Hostages, Disarmament, and Hamas's Reach into Europe Guest: Joe Truzman Joe Truzman details the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, which center on the release of the remaining 48 hostages (living and deceased) within 72 hours, potentially in exchange for a significant number of Palestinian prisoners, including convicted terrorists. The central obstacle to peace is Hamas's refusal to disarm, viewing it as tantamount to surrendering their identity. Fighting has lessened, with Israel toning down air strikes, possibly to show goodwill to President Trump. Truzman emphasizes that if Hamas retains its arms, another conflict is inevitable. He also notes the rise in reported Hamas plots in Europe, something uncommon historically, indicating the organization may be branching out its operations and feeling emboldened, as seen in the recent deadly attack on a synagogue in Manchester. 1937 RAMALLAH