Podcast appearances and mentions of river jordan

From Joshua to John to Jesus and now THROUGH you! Join Juan Alban as he unpacks the importance of two of the greatest River Jordan events in the Bible and what Jesus meant by Baptizing others in His name.

There are several important mountains in the area that we today call the Holy Land. Mount Hermon is one of these mountains and has been considered sacred for all of recorded history. This is where the fallen Watchers made their descent, not only from the heavenly realm, but a descent into sin that would land them in chains in Tartarus. The River Jordan's headwaters launch from here, El lived here with his 70 sons and the Grotto of Pan stands at its base. This mountain is not discussed in mainline churches, but it should be, because the ultimate battle started here. Main theme: Crazy For Thrills by Muse Music with Groove Studios

Deuteronomy 4 commences with Moses commanding obedience from Israel. Verses 1-14 speak of the people being told that the Word of the LORD was to observed without adding to it, nor subtracting from it. This was because Yahweh their God demanded exclusive worship; He would tolerate no rivals. The demands for obedience were reasonable since He had rescued His people and shown them mighty miracles in the process. He had given them an incomparable Law, at which the surrounding nations could only marvel. Israel needs to diligently observe all the LORD's laws and ensure that these laws were ingrained into their children's minds. The Ten Commandments were delivered to them accompanied by an impressive display of the might and majesty of their Sovereign. So these commandments were morally imperative for Israel to keep when they came into the Promised Land. Verses 15-31 says that idolatry in any form was forbidden. They were not to fashion, or carve, the likeness of any living creature lest it become an idol. The consequences of idol worship would bring punishment upon the nation. If they forsook the idols then Yahweh would show them His love and mercy, which are essential qualities of His character – read verse 31 aloud slowly and contemplate what it teaches you. Verses 32-40 teach that there is no other God than our Almighty Father. And so worship of Him is demanded to the exclusion of all others – idols, covetousness and self (Colossians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:2). Verses 41-43 describe the assigning of 3 additional cities of refuge east of the River Jordan.Proverbs 31 concludes the book with section 7 – the words of king Lemuel, which his mother taught him. Once again Lemuel, although exceptionally wise, is not Solomon David's son – whose wisdom was taught to him firstly by his natural father David; and later, and more importantly by his Heavenly Father. Another sad contrast between Lemuel and Solomon is Lemuel's writing about a virtuous woman, who may have been his soulmate; whereas even though Solomon had a thousand wives (including his concubines) he seemingly failed to find a true companion – Ecclesiastes 7 verses 28. Verses 1-9 are balanced contrastingly with verses 10-31 the virtues of the wise, diligent and faithful wife. Lemuel's counsel is an “oracle” ie wise counsel that harmonises with God's Word. It is recorded here in holy writ as it is endorsed as inspired advice. The name Lemuel means “Godward, or God is Bright”. The author's intention is to focus his reader's minds on their Sovereign, “who dwells in unapproachable light” as we are told in 1 Timothy 6 verses 14-16. Verses 3-7 counsel us against immorality and drunkenness. Verses 8-9 are Lemuel's third admonition to his readers. Only open your mouth to confer a benefit to others – see Ephesians 4 verses 29; James 3 verses 1-10.

Deuteronomy 4 commences with Moses commanding obedience from Israel. Verses 1-14 speak of the people being told that the Word of the LORD was to observed without adding to it, nor subtracting from it. This was because Yahweh their God demanded exclusive worship; He would tolerate no rivals. The demands for obedience were reasonable since He had rescued His people and shown them mighty miracles in the process. He had given them an incomparable Law, at which the surrounding nations could only marvel. Israel needs to diligently observe all the LORD's laws and ensure that these laws were ingrained into their children's minds. The Ten Commandments were delivered to them accompanied by an impressive display of the might and majesty of their Sovereign. So these commandments were morally imperative for Israel to keep when they came into the Promised Land. Verses 15-31 says that idolatry in any form was forbidden. They were not to fashion, or carve, the likeness of any living creature lest it become an idol. The consequences of idol worship would bring punishment upon the nation. If they forsook the idols then Yahweh would show them His love and mercy, which are essential qualities of His character – read verse 31 aloud slowly and contemplate what it teaches you. Verses 32-40 teach that there is no other God than our Almighty Father. And so worship of Him is demanded to the exclusion of all others – idols, covetousness and self (Colossians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:2). Verses 41-43 describe the assigning of 3 additional cities of refuge east of the River Jordan. Proverbs 31 concludes the book with section 7 – the words of king Lemuel, which his mother taught him. Once again Lemuel, although exceptionally wise, is not Solomon David's son – whose wisdom was taught to him firstly by his natural father David; and later, and more importantly by his Heavenly Father. Another sad contrast between Lemuel and Solomon is Lemuel's writing about a virtuous woman, who may have been his soulmate; whereas even though Solomon had a thousand wives (including his concubines) he seemingly failed to find a true companion – Ecclesiastes 7 verses 28. Verses 1-9 are balanced contrastingly with verses 10-31 the virtues of the wise, diligent and faithful wife. Lemuel's counsel is an “oracle” ie wise counsel that harmonises with God's Word. It is recorded here in holy writ as it is endorsed as inspired advice. The name Lemuel means “Godward, or God is Bright”. The author's intention is to focus his reader's minds on their Sovereign, “who dwells in unapproachable light” as we are told in 1 Timothy 6 verses 14-16. Verses 3-7 counsel us against immorality and drunkenness. Verses 8-9 are Lemuel's third admonition to his readers. Only open your mouth to confer a benefit to others – see Ephesians 4 verses 29; James 3 verses 1-10. Proverbs 31 verses 10-31 give a description of the perfect lifelong companion – the virtuous woman. The 22 verses of this segment correspond to the twenty two letters of the Hebrew alphabet (although they are not in the form of an acrostic). Verses 10-15 tell of the preciousness and value of a virtuous wife. These verses also describe her outstanding character and diligence in all that she does. Verses 16-21 speak of the wisdom of her decisions, her motivations and her skills exercised for her family; and her benevolence to the poor; and her wisdom. Verses 22-27 outline the high reputation of this magnificent woman. These verses speak of her astute and appropriate clothing for her family. They tell us of her confidence in the decisions she makes. This conference comes from a moral compass that has been guided by God's Word. And so her speech is soft, kind, giving guidance and direction to all who hear her wisdom. Of course she corresponds to the appeal of the woman wisdom throughout the book. Unlike so many modern mothers of today this mother has loving maternal instincts. Verses 28-29 tell us of the awe and appreciation that her family feels for her. Verses 30-31 reveal the source of her virtue – she is a woman who reverently fears her God. And so we are returning to the beginning of the book – Proverbs 1:7. This woman is a fruitful spouse who typifies the Bride of Christ. We are, through belief and baptism into Christ, that bride. Let our life be virtuous and praiseworthy that when our Lord and Master comes he will joyfully invite us to join him in his kingdom – see Revelation 22:17-21. Chapter 15 of John told us that as Jesus and his disciples moved from the upper room and past the temple; they saw the magnificent portrayal of the vine – that great symbol of Israel. Our Lord told them that he was the True Vine (see Psalm 80). His disciples were the branches and only by associating with him could they bare fruit. The bringing forth of fruit is a tedious and painful process; but ultimately one of great joy. His “agape” love for them was as a friend, who was about to lay down his life for them. The world would hate them just as it hated their Lord. Those believing their Master's Word would likewise believe theirs. In the 16th chapter he told that those that were soon to kill his disciples would believe that they were doing God service. He told them of the of the work of the Holy Spirit – one of its primary roles to give the Apostles an infallible recall of all the Words and life of their Lord. The sorrow that they were to soon experience with the death and loss of their Lord would be turned to great joy in the fulfilment of all the Almighty had promised. Great rejoicing would be associated with the birth by resurrection of the Son of the new creation of our Sovereign God. Let all believers take heart that our Master has overcome the world. He likewise encourages all believers to do the same in Revelation 2 and 3.

Deuteronomy 3 tells of two momentous events prior to Israel's entry into the Promised Land. The first of these was the victory over the other great king on the eastern side of the River Jordan – the defeat of the giant king of Bashan, Og. Although we can tell how tall Og was the Scripture tells us that his bed was approximately 4.15 metres long, ie 13 foot 6 inches for those of my age. That makes him considerably taller than the Philistine giant Goliath, who was between 3 metres and 3.2 metres depending on the length of the cubit. So Israel conquers Og and his people and took possession of their territory in Bashan, which was a part of Gilead. The record tells us that Reuben and Gad occupied this land and its cities – which includes the region of Jair, one of the famous deliverers in the time of the Judges. The extent of the territory is described. The soldiers of the Reubenites and the Gadites were commanded to pass over and aid their brothers from the other 10 tribes in the conquest of the land to the west of the Jordan River. The event with the greatest impact on the nation was the LORD's forbidding Moses from entering into the Promised Land. Verses 23-29 describe why his Sovereign forbad Moses' entry. They tell of Moses' plea to God and also Yahweh's graciously allowing of Moses to see the land he had longed for; and for which he had carried and encouraged Israel for forty years; to guide them and ready them for their future inheritance. Moses will, of course, have an inheritance in the Land in the coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Proverbs 30 we have the sixth section of the book. He was not Solomon who was the son of David. Agur says that he was the son of Jakeh. The Hebrew word for Agur means “the Gatherer”, ie one who collected wise sayings. There are 13 wise sayings, or proverbs, recorded in chapter 30. We cannot speculate on the identity of Agur; but we are told that in his era there were several other wise men – perhaps Agur was among those. When the book of Proverbs was finalised in the days of Ezra a selection of 13 of Agur's proverbs were included. Chapter 30 centre around the theme of humility. Verses 1-4 tell of the grandeur and impossibility of searching out the depths of God's Word. It is of the utmost importance that we understand and appreciate the significance of these first four verses. Agur speaks of the vital nature of divine revelation. The thoughts align with Moses' words in Deuteronomy 30 verses 11-16; which the Apostle Paul explains in Romans 10:6-17. The words of verse 4 focus upon our Almighty God, Yahweh, and His incomparable Son our Lord Jesus Christ and they were the subject of David's closing prayer recorded in Psalm 72 verses 17-20. Verses 5-6 are equally important as the Scriptures tell us that the LORD has magnified His Word above His Name. Every Word from God is pure. And it strengthens and protects those who honour it through seeking to understand our Sovereign's Word and exhibit it daily in their lives. Be careful in the wise and proper explanation of that Word. Do not seek to add to it, nor take away from its saving truth – see Revelation 1 verse 3; 22 verses 18-19. Verses 7-9 provide the formula for a contented and God-centred life. Satisfaction with sufficient and the abhorring of covetousness. The Apostle Paul offers the same counsel in 1 Timothy 6:6-10. Verse 10 tells us to be fair and gracious in our speech – cp Ephesians 4 verses 25, 29. By way of contrast verses 11-14 focus on a proud and selfish generation through the poem Agur gives. These words in concert with the foregoing provide us with the opportunity for self examination. Verses 15-17 are another poem telling of the insatiable appetite of a leech; of a barren women; of a parched earth; and of the grave. By finishing with Sheol (the pit, the grave) we are being warned that a failure to heed God's Word and to obey Him will see us hopelessly and forever entombed there. Verses 18-20 tell us about four marvellous and baffling things; and a contrasting fifth imponderable is added in harmony with the two women of the book – wisdom and folly – the Godly companion and the self interested and destructive harlot. The four marvels are how does an eagle fly; how does a snake slither across a rock; how does move without a trace through the sea; and love, who can explain that. Verses 20-23 speak in a sonnet of four disturbing and unbearable behaviours – an oppressive slave when he rises to become a ruler; a fool who is happy with himself/herself; an unloved woman in a disastrous marriage; and a maidservant who steals her master's affection from his wife (compare Hagar and Sarah). Verses 24-28 tell of four tiny, yet powerful creatures, which are proactive and accomplish great things by acting together – the ants; the rock badgers; the locusts; and the house lizards. Verses 29-31 a poem extolling the grandeur of four created beasts – the majestic lion; the strutting cock, or rooster; the male goat; and a powerful king leading his army. Verses 32-33 the closing advice to control your anger and avoid the otherwise disastrous consequences. In John 13 we have Jesus' demonstration to his disciples of love, when he girds himself with a towel in the form of a servant (Philippians 2) and washes their feet. When Jesus came to Peter he was told you're not going to wash my feet. He was told unless I wash your feet you can have no part with me. Peter's response was, “Wash all of me”. Jesus said that the believers need only their feet be washed. Jesus had given the great example of loving service; and that from the one who was their Lord and Master. We must follow that exemplary service. Our Lord spoke of his betrayal and after given the sop – a sign of friendship – to Judas the betrayer left intent on completing the deliverance of his Lord into the hands of Christ's enemies. When Judas left Jesus' response was, “Just now was the Son of Man glorified”. He told the disciples of a new commandment, which was not entirely new, but certainly it was to the extent our Lord demonstrated in the laying down of his life revealed ‘agape' to an extent never been seen before. Peter's threefold denial was prophesied. In chapter 14 we are told that Jesus is, “the way, the truth and the life” and that no one can come to the Father but through the Lord. Philip said, “Show us the Father and that will be enough. Jesus response was “Haven't you been with me long enough to have seen the Father's character revealed?” Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as their Comforter, when he was to be taken from them. They would be left with peace – not the absence of strife, but the understanding that all things are in the Father's control. So they left the upper room for further instruction.

Crossing the River Jordan by Pastor Alvin Asiamah

Navigating Change with God - Genesis 46 In this week's message, Andy shares a relatable anecdote about a mix-up at an airport, using it as a springboard to explore the theme of unexpected change and God's guidance. Drawing from Genesis 46, he unpacks Jacob's journey as a metaphor for the church's own transitions, specifically the shift to multiple Sunday services and the broader mission within the local community. Andy begins by highlighting the human element of the Genesis narrative. Jacob, settled in Canaan, the land promised by God, is suddenly faced with uprooting his entire family to move to Egypt to reunite with Joseph. This move represents a significant upheaval, a departure from familiar territory and perceived divine promises. Andy draws parallels to the experiences of those who have been displaced, acknowledging the pain and trauma associated with such transitions. The core message revolves around the idea that God often leads us through unexpected changes, challenging our preconceived notions of His plans. Just as Jacob had to let go of his understanding of God's promises in Canaan, we too must be open to God's redirection. Andy emphasizes that these shifts, while unsettling, are part of God's larger, unfolding plan. He identifies four key actions within the Genesis passage that provide guidance for navigating change: two human responses and two divine actions. Beersheba: Returning to the Cross (Genesis 46:1) Jacob's act of offering sacrifices at Beersheba, a place of significant spiritual history for his family, symbolizes the importance of returning to a place of worship and surrender. For us, this means consistently returning to the cross of Jesus Christ, especially during times of uncertainty. Andy emphasizes the importance of worship, sacrifice, surrender, prayer, and calling on God during times of change. He links this to the Easter season, highlighting the cross as a place of reconciliation and transformation. Responding to God's Voice (Genesis 46:2) God calls Jacob by name, prompting an immediate and attentive response. Andy stresses the importance of listening to God, of giving Him our undivided attention, and of being personally responsive to His call. In a world filled with distractions, we must actively seek God's voice and be ready to obey. God's Contextual Revelation (Genesis 46:3) God reminds Jacob that He is the God of his fathers, Abraham and Isaac, providing context for the current situation. This highlights that God's plans are far greater than individual circumstances. Andy connects this to God's overarching plan of redemption, emphasizing that our lives are part of a larger narrative. He references Genesis 15, where God foretells the sojourn in Egypt, illustrating that God's promises are being fulfilled. Andy encourages the audience to see their roles within God's grand design. God's Assurances (Genesis 46:3-4) God offers three "I will" statements: "I will make you into a great nation," "I will go down to Egypt with you," and "I will surely bring you back again." These promises provide comfort and assurance in the face of uncertainty. God's plans are not disrupted by geographical changes; He remains faithful to His promises. Andy highlights that God's presence and promises provide stability amidst turmoil. He also speaks about the idea of building for a future that we might not see, echoing the faith of the patriarchs in Hebrews 11. Andy applies these principles to the church's current situation, acknowledging the anxieties and questions surrounding the shift to multiple services and the community outreach projects. He emphasizes that these changes are part of God's plan to reach the local community and expand His kingdom. He encourages the church to embrace these changes with faith, trusting in God's promises and guidance. He closes by emphasising that God is building his church, and we are part of that process, even if we do not see the full outcome of our work. Andy reminds the congregation that their role is to participate in God's long-term plan, to be faithful, and to trust that God will ultimately fulfill His purposes. Bible References: Genesis 15:12-16 Genesis 46:1-4 Hebrews 11 Hebrews 12 Transcript do that great thing you sometimes need to do in airports and sit around and while away the time well while they saw to do a lot and then I noticed from where I was sat that it started boarding at a gate I could see so I went over to it and I queued up and I got to the gate and I showed my passport and boarding ticket and they waved me on and I went on down down the planes one of those planes with three seats either side of one of those really awful narrow aisles you know so you're walking down like this with your bags trying to get and because my seat was right at the back of the plane so I got to the back of the plane no somebody sat in my seat how dare you I've had a long week of work I'm trying to get home what are you doing in my seat and and the lady who sat there gets out her ticket and we compare tickets and it says the same seat number on both tickets yeah and then it slowly dawns I'm on the wrong plane yeah because cuz so my flight had been delayed and I was now standing on what was the next flight to Manchester whereas my original flight was even later alas so so so of course I'm right at the end of the plane with my bags and everybody else is coming down that very narrow aisle so I've now got it excuse me excuse me excuse me go and I get back to work to the gate I come back through the gate and the lady there says oh I'm so glad you've come back I shouldn't have let you on airport security brilliant anyway I tell that story because sometimes we end up in a place where we think we're in the right place and we're not we're actually need to be somewhere else somewhere different and as we get to Genesis 46 this morning I'm very I'm kind of intrigued by the way we've reached this chapter over the day we've announced moving to multiple services because I think and I hope you'll see this with me but there are some things here to help us navigate what's going to happen to us as a church as we move forward from here because we're now into the ending of Joseph the Joseph story all right and we've all enjoyed it for what seems like months I'm sure it was just weeks but we've all enjoyed it and we're now focus is shifting back slightly to Jacob so remember Genesis is about these three main guys Iberha Abraham Abraham his son Isaac and his son Jacob and focus in the Joseph story is now shifting back to Jacob and in one sense as we look as we've seen before we'll look at the human level to the story okay there's what's going on and the characters that are mentioned so so this is the culmination of Joseph's story we've seen how God's worked in him we've seen how he went through the whole thing of being thrown into the system by his brothers being sold into slavery ending up as a slave in Egypt being put in prison falsely being there for a number of years Pharaoh bringing him out so he's coming interpret his dreams and now whoosh he's number two in the land and he's in charge of all the food is in charge of deciding what tariffs to put on it and he's got that much power and he's dishing it out to the people in Egypt and the people from the nation's roundabout he is the guy with the power and we've seen all of that and now the story is coming he's reunited with his brothers and so he sends from Egypt lots of carts and stuff to go and gather his dad Jacob the rest of his brothers the whole family and all their livestock and have them come and move and live with him in Egypt where they can find all the food they're gonna need and they can be reunited as a family and so it's about Joseph sending to Canaan to gather the whole family and bring them back and you just think for a moment you know for Jacob he lived the latter part of his life in Canaan that was that was where he settled that's where his home was and that that was the land he knew that God had promised he would give to his people you know the promises that started off when God spoke to Abraham then Isaac and Jacob himself had heard about his descendants being as numerous as the sand on the seashore and God will give him a promised land to live in the land of Canaan so Jacob thinks I'm here I'm in the promised land of Canaan and now it looks like he's going to be uprooted and moved to Egypt you know and there are a number of you in this room that know what it means to be uprooted from your homeland and move somewhere else and go somewhere else and there's a lot of pain and trauma with that whole thing and it's a massive deal okay for it to happen and so you know for Jacob this is the land where his dad's buried where his granddad's buried where his wives are buried this is the land that he's lived out for the latter part of his life and now he's to leave all of that of course he wants to see Joseph absolutely and that's why he's going but nevertheless he's got to leave the land of promise in order to achieve that in order to get there you know and the story like so many of the chapters we've had today are like those movies with subplots you know all the time there's the big story that's going on but then there's a subplot happening and and what's happening with Joseph and Jacob is like a subplot to the big thing that's going on you know so one of my favorite films I'm sorry Saving Private Ryan is about Saving Private Ryan but it's in the context of a big issue of a war going on right that's the big thing so here there's a big story going on which is God's plan and purposes and God's promises to fulfill those plans and purposes and underneath that as we look at the story it's about Jacob and Joseph but there's this bigger thing going on this is a story so for Jacob this becomes a story about letting go of what you thought God was going to do this is a story about letting go of where you thought God had brought you to I'm in the promised land this is what God had promised yes but hang on a minute now he seems to be saying we need to move but how can we move when this is the place he brought us to and this we know is the promised land and if Jacob maybe for you and definitely for me sometimes we we build up a picture I thought God was like this I thought God was going to do this you know and we build up what we think God is like and what we think he will do and how we think the Holy Spirit will move based on our experience based on our reading a scripture and then every so often God comes along and and all his cards fall down and suddenly we're thinking oh wait a minute have I got that right I got that wrong what's going you know because we settle a bit like Jacob and we think this is it now this is what it's like following God and then just when we think we've got it God throws it all up in the air our assumptions our expectations our security and the and it all starts to land a little bit different you know for Jacob it's time to leave Canaan the land that was promised to him by God and go to Egypt does that mean God has given up on his plans does that mean God has forgotten his promises you know for Jacob does that would do will he start to think well hang on a minute if I haven't got that right maybe I've not got anything about God right ever been there thought like that and you know answer all these questions would come up because like it or not we are creatures of habit we don't like change and yet change is here to stay right but we don't like it and we develop our ideas of what God is like and what he will do and how he will move and then one day whoosh he's like he whips the rug out from under our feet oh you don't do it like that after all I thought you did God yeah I remember when our kids were going up there was sometimes lay the table for us for the meal you know and they read it really neatly and very kind of bizarrely structured you know with the the knife fork spoon salt pepper napkin drinks glass bottle all very neatly and every day it was exactly the same and sometimes I used to lose the love to go to the table and they weren't looking and do all that and it would freak them out you know don't do that don't do that I've laid it all out nice and neatly and you know it is sometimes it's like that we get our senses of this is what God is about we are in the Promised Land now and he loves to come along and just do all this it's like some of those Tommy Cooper jokes if you feel that age and it's hard isn't it it's difficult because you we just we think we've got it and then we realize we haven't and then we have a big challenge as we see Jacob does here and Rob what actually God is doing when that happens is he is leading us into the next part of his plan and our place like that you know it's like you made Jesus at the end of his life he's telling the disciples I'm gonna die I'm gonna go away and it's better for you that I do that and they're like no Peter's like no it's really good Lord that you we're having a great time we can how well we're hanging out together and we're loving it don't don't leave I'd be really bad and Jesus has to explain to them that actually it's better for you that I go because then I will send the Holy Spirit with you and they don't get it until after the resurrection right of course but but it's like that we build an expectation as we walk with Jesus well this is good this is comfortable I get it and then suddenly it changes because he is leading us into the next part of his plan because God does lead us into big changes right you know for Jacob his whole family is relocating the removal trucks have arrived from Egypt and he's piling them full with all his furniture all his livestock not only his but everything to do with the whole 66 people of his family that he's got living there and all they off go and you can imagine is the the removal trucks set off and he looks out the window and he thinks that's Canaan that's the promised land and we're leaving we're driving away what God what what you do what's going on and I just stirred because God is leading us into something new and exciting and big and different for us as a church we will not function like we do today and like we have done for the last 20 years on a Sunday morning anymore from six weeks time as you've heard it right it's gonna be different and if like me that's a bit scary it's a bit unnerving you know what is what do you mean there's no drinks after the first service this is a disaster but how are we gonna do that all possible station how am I gonna stay in touch with my friends across the church if they go to the other service how what's the life group gonna look like if half go to one service and a half go to the other etc etc and we've all got those sort of questions of how is this gonna work we've got a building project a half a million pound building project is gonna kick off later this year in a building over there that God is taking us into the community to develop hollow more stuff but at this point in time we don't see but it's a massive venture it's a huge thing and something we would never have imagined you know looking back down through the years we've been developing new acts of service in the community the hub church is going from strength to strength men and women are encountering Jesus for the first time in their lives and finding their lives being transformed Wow God God is going to take us deeper into the local community far more than anything we have ever seen before and we will find ourselves getting involved with things like gang culture drug culture addiction challenges but at the moment we haven't even scratched the surface because the gospel is there to transform the communities around us and God is going to do that but I tell you it's flipping scary all right and you know and also because we are creatures of comfort and habit we like it here I like my ten o'clock service I can crawl out a bed at half-past nine and roll down the hill and get there that kind of you know I like it I know what's going to happen unless they do that funny thing where you read the Bible in different languages but which is brilliant by the way but but I like it I've got used to it and that is part of the challenge isn't it of getting used to it and so what is happening in this story is that God is leading Jacob into the next part of his plan of God's plan and purpose and and the same I feel for us as a church God is leading us into his plan and the next part of his plan and purpose for us as a church in this community here but the question is what do we do when that happens because we do get scared and we do panic and whatever but in this passage I've just splashed water at me nose that's gonna look good on camera in it right thank you very much in this passage in this passage there's four things that happen two things that Jacob does and two things that God does that help us navigate these big changes when they come along and the challenges that they present to us okay the point number one is Beersheba right okay so in verse 1 we read in chapter 4 apologies I haven't read the whole chapter because we're out of time but there's a big chunk of list of names in the middle which you can read at home but I'm really speaking from the first opening verses verse 1 so Israel set out with all that was his and when he reached Beersheba he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac the first thing we need to do is go to Beersheba and sacrifice what I mean by that and what is happening is Jacob returned to a familiar but significant place in his life and worshiped God and surrendered to God and prayed to his God and called on his name it was it was a physical place for him he went to Beersheba because that was significant in his family it was here that Abraham had made a treaty with the Philistines when they argued over who owned a well that was an important issue for nomadic people looking after animals it was here that Isaac his dad had had come when they dug three wells he'd taken three wells to dig to find water that's another story but that was very relevant to 146 when we were looking at that and God had appeared to Isaac at that place and spoke to him so Isaac had built an altar at Beersheba and called on God and it was from here from Beersheba that Jacob had fled when he stole Esau's birthright and all the family thing exploded so it was a significant place in the life of him and his ancestors and so he worshipped and called on God there but while it was geographical for him as an actual place for you and I we need to come back to the cross in these times and worship and sacrifice and surrender and pray and call on God because you know when we're saying God I don't know what you're doing come back to the cross God I don't understand why is this happening come back to the cross God how is this working out your plan God come back to the cross it's interesting it's Easter week isn't it and that's exactly what we're going to be doing and concentrating through the week culminating in next weekend what an opportunity for us to do that as we grapple with everything that is happening in the world in the church and maybe in your own life let's be men and women this week who take seriously the opportunity to come back to the cross and worship and surrender and sacrifice and call on God together because the cross is the place where God did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all the cross is the place where Jesus lay down his life as a substitute so that God can look on you and I without displeasure and you and I can look on God without fear the cross is the place where Jesus rescued us from the hole that wickedness has on our lives the cross is the place where the sacrifice of Christ changes our standing before this holy God and the cross is the place where God was reconciled to us through the death of his son and we are reconciled to him through our surrender to that son it's the place where we move from lip service to heart service in saying Jesus is Lord and it's the place where God sifts our motives and our desires and see what is gold and what isn't so as we face these challenges together as a church and these new ventures and these big plans that God is moving us into let's learn what it is to be men and women who come back to the cross time and again and worship and call on him and allow him to deal with us and deal with our hearts that's the first thing second thing Jacob responds to God's voice verse 2 and God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said Jacob Jacob here I am he replied and you know God doesn't say Jacob Jacob because he doesn't know where he is you know it's not like Jacob Jacob it's not like he's calling for his cat at night at the back door but he knows where Jacob is right but the point is that Jacob knows he's got to give his attention to God that's why he's calling him right and and Jacob's response it isn't casual it isn't flippant it isn't ignoring God and just saying yeah this is I don't know if this happens in your house but you know and can be talking to me and I go yep yep yep and then after a while she'll say are you listening to me and I'll say yeah yeah okay what did I just say I've got anybody that identifies with that can we get in the corner together afterwards so that isn't what is happening here God is saying Jacob Jacob and Jacob says here I am because Jacob is stopping he's turning his head to God he's focusing on him and giving him his full attention he is listening he is responding personally to God's call to him the beautiful thing is God knows you by name he knows your name Wow he knows your name and he eyeballs you and he calls your name and when he does that we need to give him our attention we need to say I'm here Lord I want to listen I want to hear what it is you've got to say because God is gonna say we're gonna talk about a few things here son and they're very important yeah and so the second point is really allowing God to get our attention we come to the cross number one number two we allow God to get our attention and we listen and we push aside the distractions and the stuff that would normally get in the way that's to that that's number two number three and these last two are what God does so what we do we come to the cross and we give God our attention number three verse three I am God the God of your father he said I am God the God of your father you see this what I believe God is saying it's Jacob what we need to take courage from is that God is speaking context into what is happening in Jacob's life right now as he leaves Canaan and goes off to Egypt and he is pointing out he's reminding him he is that God is the God of his father Isaac and therefore the God of his father Abraham the God of creation the God who has a plan and a purpose that he has promised to Abraham and to Isaac and to Jacob and that plan that promise is being worked out if that's why when we pray like today for a team going to Zambia it's not just about a two-week trip to Zambia because there's nothing else to do God is working out his plans and his purposes and the guys in the team are figuring out what are their role in God's plans and purposes and it's a it's a context statement I'm the God of your father this isn't just about you Jacob and what is happening to you and to your family you see when God saved you when God rescued you when God plucked you out and pulled you up it wasn't just about you but about drawing you and I into something much bigger than our own lives that he is doing you know and though it may feel like a massive thing to Jacob to uproot his whole family because actually moving house is one of the top three most stressful things that we ever do isn't it I think that's right and he's moving 66 people and all the animals and everything in all his possessions and although that may feel like a massive thing there is something much bigger going on here Jacob than just that the plans and purposes of God are unfolding you see way back in Genesis 15 God spoke to his granddad to Jacob's granddad Abraham and chapter 15 verse 12 was the summer setting Abraham fell into a deep sleep and a thick dreadful darkness came over him then the Lord said to him know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and they will be enslaved and mistreated 400 years but I will punish the nation they serve as slaves and afterwards they will come out with great possessions and what is happening in Jacob and his life at that point in time is the very beginnings of God fulfilling that word that he promised to his grandfather so there is something much bigger happening than just simply Jacob and his family moving and so this is stretching our eyes of faith to see that yes I've called you by name yes I know you personally but I've called you personally to be involved in my plans and purposes that God is working out in his kingdom that's why we often talk about you know if we think about the creation of the world when God spoke and created everything at this end of a line and then at the other end of the line Jesus is going to return for a bride that's made itself ready for the church that is ready for him when he returns and God is going to wrap up history and our life is this bit here that's a context thing that God is in charge that's why we sing we will meet him in the air we will be like him because we will see him as he is you know the suffering that you go through now is a context thing we will see Jesus as he is and we will be like him that's where we're heading towards and Jesus will return when his bride has made itself ready and you and I are part of his bride the church is the bride of Christ and Jesus is making his church ready and he's caught you and I up in his plan for that to happen and so as we look at something like oh but I don't like going to two services I've got lots of questions about it absolutely we need to see that in the context of what Jesus is doing he's preparing his bride ready to come back one day you see this is a reminder to what God has said and done in and through Abraham and Isaac and what Jacob is doing is standing on the shoulders of his ancestors and what you and I are doing are standing on the shoulders of our church ancestors for the last 2,000 years plus in the nations you represent and in this nation today and the state of the church of where it's at the baton is with us the baton is with you and me every single one of us in this room God has given us the baton to lead the charge for his church today and we will hand that on at some point in a minute but but but we have been given that mantle today and we stand on the shoulders of the people that have gone before us and press on I think Eugene Peterson said this really is about a long obedience in the same direction and the trouble for us today is so much of life it is about changing things all the time about sound bites about being instantaneous about being superficial about a fad and the Church of Christ cannot function like that at all because we are called to a long obedience in the same direction and pursue Jesus through these things God is working out his plans and his purposes and they trump the circumstances of our lives they do for Jacob and they do for you and for me and finally the fourth point God speaks it says do not be afraid and he gives three I will statements which we just need to take note of that was a note thank you three I will statements very quickly I will make you into a great nation he reminds Jacob that his promises remain true that what he spoke to Abraham what he spoke to Isaac and what he said to Jacob himself still remains true yes you are leaving Canaan which is the promised land but guess what my promise remains true I will make you into a great nation their promises of God are not affected by a change in geography what I have originally said I would do I will do it is still gonna happen and my plans are not upset by something like this and we need to hear my plans for God's plans for our lives are not affected by these types of things more than that this is how I'm actually going to bring them about Jacob you move into Egypt just doesn't disrupt my plans in fact the very opposite is true you leaving Canaan and going to Egypt is actually me bringing about my plan and purpose there is no plan B but it's not like God takes his plans and puts them on the back burner for 400 years while they go off down to Egypt and all that stuff happens and then when Moses and Joshua bring them back to the promised land he picks it up again and gets going no doesn't happen like that what is happening in your life and my life right now is absolutely wrapped up with God's plans and purposes and we need to begin to see it from that perspective and start to figure that out and work through it as we cope with a sea of change with uncertainty with so many questions yes in the world today yes in the church yes even in our own lives the promises of God remain true they are yes and amen in Christ Jesus he is the anchor second thing God says I will go down to Egypt with you wow that's amazing God is gonna go with you Jacob this same God who has these promises that he's holding on to he's going with you she this is the difference between giving somebody directions and taking them there yourself yeah that has a massive impact on the person you're talking to if you just try and explain particularly if there's a language challenge or or they don't know the area it's a huge difference but God says I'm gonna go with you Jacob that's amazing there's all this upset all this trauma all this effort but God is going with you and as we face uncertain futures and the challenges that that brings the Word of God is that he is going with us and he will bring stability in the midst of the turmoil that is spinning around he is going with us nothing has changed he is still working out his plans and his purposes and thirdly he says I will surely bring you back again I smiled because I thought in the context of two services I don't think that necessarily means God will bring us back but you never know if numbers drop we will come back to one service right but but but I think for Jacob what he's saying is my word will complete what it set out to do you will come back to the Promised Land and again there's up two levels of the story for Jacob he dies and Joseph arranged for his body to be brought back to Canaan to be buried with his dad and his granddad where they were but on the bigger scheme of things God is at work and 400 years later Moses leads the people out of Egypt and Joshua brings them across the River Jordan back in to Canaan and back to the Promised Land God's people will return and the fulfillment of God's plans might not happen in our generation Jacob didn't see any of this in fact the whole nation of Israel that grew up in Egypt and then left Egypt didn't see it they all died in the wilderness and a new generation of the Promised Land and this is a massive thing because this says to us what we're doing here in the church is we're building for a future that we will not see how does that sit with you because it's the complete opposite of where you normally do life right we're very preoccupied with what we can see and rightly so a lot of the time but God is is you is working in our hearts and in our lives and he is building a church and we're working with it and to build something that you and I will not see in our lifetime but maybe our kids will maybe our grandkids will maybe our great-grandkids will who knows and what a challenge that is but when we get that and I think believe Jacob understood that and we'll see why in a minute is that's when the shift happens and the perspective begins to really change in your heart and in my heart because we want to see his name glorified we want to see his plans come to pass and not ours and not mine see in Hebrews 12 no Hebrews 11 a great passage of faith we read about Abraham and Isaac and Jacob all these people were still living by faith when they died they did not receive the things promised they only saw them unwelcome them from a distance and they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth people who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own if they have been thinking of the country they'd left they would have had opportunity to return instead they were longing for a better country a heavenly one therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God hallelujah for he has prepared a city for them so the shift happens and we begin to see God this is about you and I want to shift the priorities in my life and make it more about you Lord because God will surely fulfill his word amen amen you

Harpist, soloist, collaborator (Harlem Chamber Players), educator, and arranger Ashley Jackson's brand new album is called Take Me To The Water.  In the American spiritual tradition, water is a powerful metaphor for freedom and for moving from this life to the next. Jackson's record takes listeners on a watery journey through works by Debussy, the jazz harpist Alice Coltrane, blues, and some classic spirituals. As Jackson declares in a statement about the record, ”Water is something that we all need. It sustains us, it gives us life. Take Me to the Water reminds us we have a choice: we can let water be the thing that divides us, or, it can allow us to come together through our shared humanity.” She plays some of her arrangements of spirituals on a sculpted maple harp, in-studio. Set list: 1. River Jordan 2. Deep River II 3. Take Me to the Water I

Daily Voice Devotional with Niyi AdekunleMonday 24th MarchYou Have It, Use It. 1Since February, we've been discussing Revisiting Redemption Realities, and under this we have studies things like —the name of Jesus, the new birth, the life of God, and more. As we round up this month, our theme is: You Have it, Use It. We have discussed a number of things God has given us in Christ; the authority to use His name, His word, His Spirit, His life and so much more. But all these will make no difference if we don't use them.Think of a car you own but never drive or money you have but you don't spend or invest, obviously they have no value to you. It is in the use that we enjoy the value of what we have. Act 1:8 TPT But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power. And you will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces—even to the remotest places on earth!”Before He was filled with the Holy Spirit at River Jordan, Jesus lived an ordinary life, but when the Holy Spirit came on Him, everything changed. It is that same Holy Spirit the custodian of all of heaven's resources on earth that Jesus has now entrusted to us. With the Holy Spirit, every spiritual resource is at our disposal. Our mission is to represent Christ—first in our immediate environment, then extending outward till we reach the whole world. He wants us to use the ability of the Spirit within us to be a blessing to those around us. He wants us to be let the world know that Heis alive by making use of the resources He has put at our disposal.You might struggle to use these gifts initially but as you continue, your confidence will grow and you will see His power will manifest through you. I pray that you receive wisdom, strength, and boldness to recognize and apply these gifts in your life in Jesus' Name.God bless you, enjoy your day

In this episode of Welcome To The Party Pal hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan examine the hype surrounding Paradise, the political thriller television series created by Dan Fogelman and starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, and James Marsden. Set in a city-sized underground bunker in Colorado three years after a doomsday event, the series follows United States Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (Sterling L. Brown) as he seeks to discover the truth behind the killing of the President of the United States. As Xavier comes under suspicion for President Bradford's James Marsden) death, he searches for answers about what really happened, and is unsure of whom he can trust as his questions lead to many shocking revelations. Join in on an episode that celebrates a season of television refreshingly brimming with surprises and intrigue episode after episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fr John takes us through the Five Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary: the Baptism of the Lord in the River Jordan, the wedding feast at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration, the Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist. L'articolo E2 | First Saturday Devotions – Fr John McCarthy proviene da Radio Maria.

In this episode of Welcome To The Party Pal hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan dissect The Brutalist, the 2024 epic period drama film directed and produced by Brady Corbet. It stars Adrien Brody as a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor who emigrates to the United States, where he struggles to achieve the American Dream until a wealthy client changes his life. The cast also features Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, Isaach de Bankolé, and Alessandro Nivola. Join in on an episode that celebrates a sweeping epic of a film brimming with brilliant production design, a captivating score, and an exceedingly talented cast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live February 23, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Laurie Bunnell.The Cycle of Grace Begins in AcceptanceJesus begins his ministry in acceptance and moves then into fruitfulness. What do you notice in verse 1:1? How does it form the path of what is to come? What do you notice about John the Baptizer? What are the key elements of Jesus' baptism? What are the elements of what God says to Jesus? Can you hear those words said to you? The Spirit's next act is to drive Jesus into the wilderness where he was tempted. How do we receive that hard news?Mark 1:1-141 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way,3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight,' ”4 so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. 11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tested by Satan, and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels waited on him.14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the good news of God.

ANYTHING GOES MON. New Muzic: River Jordan, KekoaTheArtist, No guidnce & Omarion! 108.3 WGKSRADIO, Show 2400

It's The First Friday After the Epiphany, Year I in the Church Calendar, January 17, 2025. Praying today for Sara in Laredo, TX. Our general order and lectionary come from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. Today's song: Behold (Taylor Leonhardt) Psalms 16, 17 Mark 2:13-22 Playlist of songs from Morning Prayer. If you have a prayer request please ⁠submit it here⁠. Sign up ⁠here⁠ for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. ⁠You can go here to find out more⁠. Get an ad-free feed of the podcast with a monthly contribution of any amount! ⁠Join our Facebook group here!⁠ Photo by NinaLesley. Collect of the Day First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord, Rite Two Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

It's The First Thursday After the Epiphany, Year I in the Church Calendar, January 16, 2025. Our general order and lectionary come from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. Today's song: Breathe (Marie Barnett) Psalm 18:1-20 Mark 2:1-12 Playlist of songs from Morning Prayer. If you have a prayer request please ⁠submit it here⁠. Sign up ⁠here⁠ for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. ⁠You can go here to find out more⁠. Get an ad-free feed of the podcast with a monthly contribution of any amount! ⁠Join our Facebook group here!⁠ Photo by Adi K. Collect of the Day First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord, Rite Two Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

For Daily Prayers and more become a Member on PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Year 1 - 1979 Daily Office LectionaryOpening Words:I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.Isaiah 49:6b Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia. Psalm 95:1-7The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.Come, let us sing to the Lord; *let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, *and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, *and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God,and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 119AlephBeati immaculati1Happy are they whose way is blameless, *who walk in the law of the Lord!2Happy are they who observe his decrees *and seek him with all their hearts!3Who never do any wrong, *but always walk in his ways.4You laid down your commandments, *that we should fully keep them.5Oh, that my ways were made so direct *that I might keep your statutes!6Then I should not be put to shame, *when I regard all your commandments.7I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *when I have learned your righteous judgments.8I will keep your statutes; *do not utterly forsake me. BethIn quo corrigit?9How shall a young man cleanse his way? *By keeping to your words.10With my whole heart I seek you; *let me not stray from your commandments.11I treasure your promise in my heart, *that I may not sin against you.12Blessed are you, O Lord; *instruct me in your statutes.13With my lips will I recite *all the judgments of your mouth.14I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees *than in all manner of riches.15I will meditate on your commandments *and give attention to your ways.16My delight is in your statutes; *I will not forget your word. GimelRetribue servo tuo17Deal bountifully with your servant, *that I may live and keep your word.18Open my eyes, that I may see *the wonders of your law.19I am a stranger here on earth; *do not hide your commandments from me.20My soul is consumed at all times *with longing for your judgments.21You have rebuked the insolent; *cursed are they who stray from your commandments!22Turn from me shame and rebuke, *for I have kept your decrees.23Even though rulers sit and plot against me, *I will meditate on your statutes.24For your decrees are my delight, *and they are my counselors. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsIsa. 41:1-16A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;        let the peoples renew their strength;    let them approach, then let them speak;        let us together draw near for judgment.            Who stirred up one from the east        whom victory meets at every step?    He gives up nations before him,        so that he tramples kings underfoot;    he makes them like dust with his sword,        like driven stubble with his bow.    He pursues them and passes on safely,        by paths his feet have not trod.    Who has performed and done this,        calling the generations from the beginning?    I, the Lord, the first,        and with the last; I am he.            The coastlands have seen and are afraid;        the ends of the earth tremble;        they have drawn near and come.    Everyone helps his neighbor        and says to his brother, “Be strong!”    The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith,        and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil,    saying of the soldering, “It is good”;        and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.            But you, Israel, my servant,        Jacob, whom I have chosen,        the offspring of Abraham, my friend;    you whom I took from the ends of the earth,        and called from its farthest corners,    saying to you, “You are my servant,        I have chosen you and not cast you off”;    fear not, for I am with you;        be not dismayed, for I am your God;    I will strengthen you, I will help you,        I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.            Behold, all who are incensed against you        shall be put to shame and confounded;    those who strive against you        shall be as nothing and shall perish.    You shall seek those who contend with you,        but you shall not find them;    those who war against you        shall be as nothing at all.    For I, the Lord your God,        hold your right hand;    it is I who say to you, “Fear not,        I am the one who helps you.”            Fear not, you worm Jacob,        you men of Israel!    I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;        your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.    Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,        new, sharp, and having teeth;    you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,        and you shall make the hills like chaff;    you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,        and the tempest shall scatter them.    And you shall rejoice in the Lord;        in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you; You are the Lord: we acclaim you; You are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. Eph. 2:1-10A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians.And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Mark 1:29-45A Reading from the Gospel According to Mark.And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.  That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.  And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.  And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus Dominus DeusBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages BV. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.V. Day by day we bless you;R. We praise your name for ever.V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;R. For we put our trust in you.V. In you, Lord, is our hope;R. And we shall never hope in vain. The CollectsCollect of the DayFather in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

It's The First Wednesday After the Epiphany, Year I in the Church Calendar, January 15, 2025. Our general order and lectionary come from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. Today's song: Outrageous Love (Ed Cash and Jonathan David Helser) Psalm 119:1-24 Mark 1:29-45 Playlist of songs from Morning Prayer. If you have a prayer request please ⁠submit it here⁠. Sign up ⁠here⁠ for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. ⁠You can go here to find out more⁠. Get an ad-free feed of the podcast with a monthly contribution of any amount! ⁠Join our Facebook group here!⁠ Photo by Darya Grey_Owl. Collect of the Day First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord, Rite Two Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

It's The First Tuesday After the Epiphany, Year I in the Church Calendar, January 14, 2025. Our general order and lectionary come from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. Today's song: Burn (Brooke Ligertwood, Steven Furtick) Psalms 5, 6 Mark 1:14-28 Playlist of songs from Morning Prayer. If you have a prayer request please ⁠submit it here⁠. Sign up ⁠here⁠ for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. ⁠You can go here to find out more⁠. Get an ad-free feed of the podcast with a monthly contribution of any amount! ⁠Join our Facebook group here!⁠ Photo by mali maeder. Collect of the Day First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord, Rite Two Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

For Daily Prayers and more become a Member on PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________Year 1 - 1979 Daily Office LectionaryOpening Words:I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.Isaiah 49:6b Confession:Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The InvitatoryLord, open our lips.And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia. Psalm 95:1-7The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him.Come, let us sing to the Lord; *let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, *and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, *and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God,and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!The Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him. The PsalterPsalm 11Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *nor lingered in the way of sinners,nor sat in the seats of the scornful!2Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *and they meditate on his law day and night.3They are like trees planted by streams of water,bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *everything they do shall prosper.4It is not so with the wicked; *they are like chaff which the wind blows away.5Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.6For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *but the way of the wicked is doomed. Psalm 21Why are the nations in an uproar? *Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?2Why do the kings of the earth rise up in revolt,and the princes plot together, *against the Lord and against his Anointed?3“Let us break their yoke,” they say; *“let us cast off their bonds from us.”4He whose throne is in heaven is laughing; *the Lord has them in derision.5Then he speaks to them in his wrath, *and his rage fills them with terror.6“I myself have set my king *upon my holy hill of Zion.”7Let me announce the decree of the Lord: *he said to me, “You are my Son;this day have I begotten you.8Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance *and the ends of the earth for your possession.9You shall crush them with an iron rod *and shatter them like a piece of pottery.”10And now, you kings, be wise; *be warned, you rulers of the earth.11Submit to the Lord with fear, *and with trembling bow before him;12Lest he be angry and you perish; *for his wrath is quickly kindled.13Happy are they all *who take refuge in him! Psalm 31Lord, how many adversaries I have! *how many there are who rise up against me!2How many there are who say of me, *“There is no help for him in his God.”3But you, O Lord, are a shield about me; *you are my glory, the one who lifts up my head.4I call aloud upon the Lord, *and he answers me from his holy hill;5I lie down and go to sleep; *I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.6I do not fear the multitudes of people *who set themselves against me all around.7Rise up, O Lord; set me free, O my God; *surely, you will strike all my enemies across the face,you will break the teeth of the wicked.8Deliverance belongs to the Lord. *Your blessing be upon your people! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. LessonsIsa. 40:12-23A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand        and marked off the heavens with a span,    enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure        and weighed the mountains in scales        and the hills in a balance?    Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,        or what man shows him his counsel?    Whom did he consult,        and who made him understand?    Who taught him the path of justice,        and taught him knowledge,        and showed him the way of understanding?    Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,        and are accounted as the dust on the scales;        behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.    Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,        nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.    All the nations are as nothing before him,        they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.            To whom then will you liken God,        or what likeness compare with him?    An idol! A craftsman casts it,        and a goldsmith overlays it with gold        and casts for it silver chains.    He who is too impoverished for an offering        chooses wood that will not rot;    he seeks out a skillful craftsman        to set up an idol that will not move.            Do you not know? Do you not hear?        Has it not been told you from the beginning?        Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?    It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,        and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;    who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,        and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;    who brings princes to nothing,        and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Te Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you; You are the Lord: we acclaim you; You are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. Eph. 1:1-14A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians.Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,  To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Mark 1:1-13A Reading from the Gospel According to Mark.The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,    “Behold, I send my messenger before your face,        who will prepare your way,    the voice of one crying in the wilderness:        ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,        make his paths straight,'”              John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”  The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.The Word of the Lord.Thanks Be To God. Benedictus Dominus DeusBlessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, To give his people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersThe Lord be with you.And also with you.Let us pray.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Suffrages BV. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.V. Day by day we bless you;R. We praise your name for ever.V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;R. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;R. For we put our trust in you.V. In you, Lord, is our hope;R. And we shall never hope in vain. The CollectsCollect of the DayFather in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen Daily Collects:A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceO Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that, guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Take a moment of silence at this time to reflect and pray for others. Collect of Saint BasilO Christ God, Who art worshipped and glorified at every place and time; Who art long-suffering, most merciful and compassionate; Who lovest the righteous and art merciful to sinners; Who callest all to salvation with the promise of good things to come: receive, Lord, the prayers we now offer, and direct our lives in the way of Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, cleanse our bodies, correct our thoughts, purify our minds and deliver us from all affliction, evil and illness. Surround us with Thy holy angels, that guarded and instructed by their forces, we may reach unity of faith and the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. A Prayer of St. John ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord to make our common supplications to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will grant their requests: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. DismissalLet us bless the LordThanks be to God!The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

It's The First Monday After the Epiphany, Year I in the Church Calendar, January 13, 2025. Our general order and lectionary come from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. Today's song: The More I Seek You (Zach Neese) Psalms 1, 2, 3 Mark 1:1-13 Playlist of songs from Morning Prayer. If you have a prayer request please ⁠submit it here⁠. Sign up ⁠here⁠ for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. ⁠You can go here to find out more⁠. Get an ad-free feed of the podcast with a monthly contribution of any amount! ⁠Join our Facebook group here!⁠ Photo by aj povey. Collect of the Day First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord, Rite Two Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Today we travel to the banks of the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized and where he received a blessing from God: “you are my beloved son.” May you know yourself loved by God—no matter what—and that you are welcome here.

In this episode of Lectio Divina, Mary and Father Eamon reflect on the powerful moment of Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan. Exploring the gospel from Luke, they discuss the significance of this event in Christ's life, the presence of the Holy Trinity, and the call for repentance and transformation. L'articolo Lectio Divina – Mary | The Baptism of Jesus: A Journey into His Ministry proviene da Radio Maria.

The Collect and psalms will be read from The Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer The Old Testament, New Testament and Gospel will be read from the Christian Standard Bible The Collect: Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the … Continue reading → The post First Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 12 appeared first on Sunday's Lectionary.

Under the leadership of Joshua the people of God were about to cross the River Jordan and begin their conquest of the Promised Land. As they faced an unknown future they were to step out in faith and follow the Lord.

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: Who is Jesus according to John?Scripture: John 1:19-34Matthew 3:1-12Malachi 4:4-5; Deut 18:18Bottom line: John the Baptist comes as the voice of one pointing others to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We receive this forgiveness when we repent and believe.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDMy opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTIONEven if you're not an NFL fan nor a Swifty, you've probably heard about the budding romance between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs). Swifties who never cared about football before this have become KC fans. And some NFL fans have been learning how to "Shake it off" as they learn Taylor Swifts latest songs. There's nothing wrong with being a fan of TK or TS. If you are, that makes you a "Groupie" of the one you are a fan of.However, there can become a point at which being a groupie is detrimental to your heart. It can lead you to sin.As a groupie of TK or TS, if you are consumed with the idea of getting a selfie with them so that you can show everybody that you were with the star, that can be an unhealthy place to be. Because you're making it all about you.In contrast, you could be a roadie. So TS has a crew that she pays but who gladly serve her behind the scenes so that her show comes off great and that she, as the star of her show, is easily seen and heard for her fans. They work tirelessly before, during and after the show for one purpose--to make much about the TS who is the star. The same can be said of all the trainers and support team for TK and the KC Chiefs. The players are the stars and the support crew is all about making the stars look good and be successful as a team. These folks are behind the scenes and embrace their role gladly. We as Christians believe that Jesus is worthy of all our worship. We believe that he is the Star of stars for all time. But do our lives look like that? Do we live gladly serving him behind the scenes making him look good while pointing others to him? Or do we want to be seen serving him or talking about him in such a way that others think we're great?If someone were to follow you around for a week, what would they conclude about you? Who would they think you think is the star in your life?John the Baptist is the best roadie I can find in Scripture. His whole life he lives in obscurity in the wilderness, preparing for over a decade for his brief public ministry. And what ministry is that? To make much of the Star, Jesus Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is where John the Apostle will take us today.It had been 400 years since God had spoken through one of his prophets. (Malachi) God broke the silence through an Elijah-like prophet called John, later called John the Baptizer because he preached a message of repentance and at the invitation, if you repented, you immediately were baptized in the River Jordan. This was considered evidence of your sincere belief that you genuinely repented of your sins and that believed that God forgave you because of your faith. This got a lot of attention. Soon crowds formed to hear the preaching of this great prophet. What was provoking to the religious leaders in Jerusalem was the fact that he wasn't just baptizing Gentile converts to Judaism but Jews. They taught that as God's chosen people, they were already saved and settled in his kingdom. (Not that that is what the OT scriptures actually teach, but I digress)There were rules and regulations about how to do things like preach, baptize, etc. John was unsettling the leaders because he seemed ok ignoring those rules. And, because he was getting large crowds, they knew they needed to investigate further and see if they needed to take action. Thus the inquiry in the desert. CONTEXTThis series is called Signs & Glory. Zooming out, this book of the Bible by John the Apostle or Disciple is written that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God and that by believing have life in his name. That's the point of this gospel account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.Zooming in further, we see this gospel account divided into 2 major sections. The first 12 chapters will show us the 7 signs of belief along with many others truths that illustrate and justify the teachings of Jesus. Chapters 13-20 will show us the glory of God on full display. We'll see the light, life and love of God through his divine AND human son, Jesus of Nazareth during the last week of his life.In John 1:19-2:12, the apostle John begins his gospel narrative like the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) do: Beginning with John the Baptist. This chunk of scripture covers Jesus' first week of public ministry. It skips his actual baptism, though he implies it. It also skips his 40 days being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. John assumes his readers already know about this and, even if they don't, it's well covered in the synoptic gospels already. He's moving on so he can focus on the themes he feels led to focus on.6 of the 7 days are mentioned so we'll point those out along the way. Verse 19 is day 1 of his first week.The first 12 chapters of John are about the Signs of the Messiah. After that, John's focus is on the Glory of the Messiah. SERMON I. Who is John the Baptist & what's he about, according to John the Apostle? (1:19–28)II. What does J the B say about the Lamb of God, according to John the Apostle? (1:29–31)III. What does J the B say about of Jesus' Identity, according to John the Apostle? (1:32–34)CONCLUSION"In 1912, when the Titanic sank, a pastor named John Harper was aboard. As the ship went down, Harper ensured his young daughter was safely placed on a lifeboat but stayed behind to help others. Survivors later recounted how Harper swam from person to person in the freezing water, urging them to trust in Jesus. His final words to a man clinging to debris were, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved."-ChatGPT & GeminiBottom line: John the Baptist comes as the voice of one pointing others to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We receive this forgiveness when we repent and believe.What about you?Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬How are you living today? Like a Jesus groupie or Jesus roadie?InvitationHow do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTESGroupies vs RoadiesDo you know the difference between a roadie and a groupie? If you're on tour with a rockstar and you are part of the crew that travels with the rockstar, that sets up before the rockstar gets there, that tears down after the concert is over, and that works all the things that have to happen behind the scenes like lights and sound, then you're the roadie. You're someone who exists to lift up the star and to make much about the star of the show. In contrast, a groupie is a person who buys a ticket and shows up an hour before the show and then does everything they can to try to get a picture with the star of the show. They want it to be about them as much as it is about the star. They are not around for setting up or tearing down. They are simply there to be seen with the star.John the Baptist is a roadie. He does not want to be seen with the star in the sense that he doesn't want to be in the in the limelight. He makes it very clear that he is not the star and that he's not even worthy to do the most menial task for the star Jesus. This is the posture that God calls all of his followers to have. It is what we see John the Baptist model as well.“Charles Lamb was once in a group of men who were discussing what they would do if certain great men suddenly appeared in their midst. When the name of Jesus was mentioned, Lamb remarked that if other great men appeared, they would all rise but that if Jesus appeared, they would all kneel. Men in every age have felt this reverence, showing that among all who have known him is the feeling that he is far more than a prophet.” -Edward W. Bauman in his book the Life and Teaching of Jesus, pp. 195-196OUTLINESOutline from Willmington's Outline Bible OUTLINE JOHN 1John begins his Gospel by talking about the deity of Christ, then describes the ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized and calls his first disciples.I. FACTS CONCERNING THE PREINCARNATE CHRIST (1:1-5)A. His relationship to the Father (1:1-2)1. Christ's eternality is declared (1:1a, 2): He already existed in the beginning.2. Christ's deity is declared (1:b): He is God.B. His relationship to the world (1:3-5)1. He is the sole creator (1:3): Nothing exists that he didn't make.2. He is light and life (1:4-5): His life gives light to everyone, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.II. FACTS CONCERNING THE INCARNATE CHRIST (1:6-51)A. The miracle (1:14): God became human and lived on earth among us.B. The mission (1:10-13): He came to save sinners.1. Some rejected him (1:10-11): The world and even the people in his own country did not understand him.2. Some received him (1:12-13): Those who believed him became children of God.C. The men (1:6-9, 15-51)1. Christ's faithful forerunner (1:6-9, 15-34)a. John the Baptist and the crowds (1:6-9, 15-18): John makes three key statements to the people.(1) He is to serve as a witness to Christ (1:6-9).(2) Christ is greater than John or Moses (1:15-17).b. John the Baptist and the critics (1:19-28): John speaks to the Pharisees who are sent to cross-examine him.(1) John says that he is not the Messiah (1:19-20).(2) John says that he is not Elijah (1:21).(3) John says that he has been sent to prepare the way for the Lord (1:22-28).c. John the Baptist and the Christ (1:29-34)(1) He introduces the Savior (1:29-31).(2) He baptizes the Savior (1:32-34).2. Christ's first five followers (1:35-51)a. Andrew and John the apostle (1:35-39)b. Peter (1:40-42)c. Philip (1:43)d. Nathanael (1:44-51)QUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.com“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)Claude.aiChatGPT 4.o

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Thursday morning, the of 7th November, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Isaiah 64:4:”For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.” Did you hear that, “Who acts for the one who waits for Him.” Then we go to the 1 Corinthians 2:9-10: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”The only qualification required to succeed in this life is very simple. It is to love Him. That's all. It's not a doctorate in university. It's not a fancy degree. No, it is just to love Him. The Lord says eye hasn't seen, ear hasn't heard, nor has entered into the heart of a man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.That little boy with the two sardines and the five small barley loaves of bread, he loved Jesus. Jesus said, ”Has anybody got any food around here?” And he said, ”Yes, I have.” And he took his little lunchbox that his mother had made for him, enough for one little boy to eat. He gave it to Jesus and what did He do? He fed five thousand people. Today, God wants to use you. When Moses met with the Lord at the burning bush and the Lord said, ”Go and set my people free.” He said, ”I've got nothing, what can I use” He said, ”What have you got in your hand?” He said, ”A stick.” He said, ”Good, use it.” He became probably the greatest leader in the history of the world. He took a whole nation through the desert for forty years and delivered them right to the edge of the River Jordan and then the Lord allowed Joshua to take them across. Today the Lord is speaking into your heart. My dear friend, pick yourself up. Understand that there is nothing too hard for those who would choose to love the Lord. I've been doing a bit of research. I've been looking at ten of the wealthiest Christians in the world, and you'll be surprised how they started. There's a man in Scotland, his name is Robert Todd. He's a strawberry farmer. He read a book called, ”Faith like Potatoes." He decided to close his shop on Sundays. He had a massive farm store. His employees said, ”You'll go bankrupt.” He said, ”No, on the Sabbath, I'm going to rest.” You know something? His turnover doubled. Today, open your heart to Jesus and let Him use you for the furtherance of His kingdom.God bless you, goodbye.

In His baptism, Jesus was symbolically drenched in the sins of others so that He might carry them from the River Jordan to the cross of Calvary. Today Sinclair Ferguson considers the event that began Christ's public ministry. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/things-unseen-with-sinclair-ferguson/baptized-into-the-sins-of-his-people/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

First Day on the Job — Joshua 1:1-9 1. The characters (verse 1) a. Moses b. The LORD c. Joshua 2. The geography (verse 2) a. The River Jordan b. The Land 3. The promises a. Of the land (verse 3) b. Of God's presence (verse 5) 4. The commands a. Be strong and courageous (verse 6) b. Keep the Law of Moses (verses 7)

Subscribe for more Videos: http://www.youtube.com/c/PlantationSDAChurchTV Theme: God can provide the power to restore and heal you but you have to do it on His terms, not yours. Speaker: Dr. Myron Edmonds Title: The Jordan Rules Key text: https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.30.2.esv Bulletin/Notes: http://bible.com/events/49307102 Date: August 24, 2024 Tags: #psdatv #heal #healing #healed #success #plea #cry #help #healingisachoice #jordan #namaan #river For more life lessons and inspirational content, please visit us at http://www.plantationsda.tv. Church Copyright License (CCLI): 1659090 CCLI Streaming Plus License: 21338439 Support the show: https://adventistgiving.org/#/org/ANTBMV/envelope/startSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The documentary A slogan and a Land, saw reporter Tim Whewell travel from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea - perhaps the most contested piece of land in the world. We hear your views on this road trip and Tim tells us about the challenges he faced in making this two-part series.Plus, an emotional response to The Inquiry's report on Easter Island - and just what do the initials O and S really stand for?Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Howard Shannon A Whistledown production for World Service

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Jeremy Kalmanofsku and Barry Chesler. Parashat Mattot-Mas'ai [Numbers 30:2-36:13], the double parashah which concludes the Book of Numbers, is the longest parashah in the Torah by the number of sentences and word. Because it is a double parashah it has, perhaps, a larger number of themes than usual. We spent most of our time discussing the curious request of the tribes of Reuven, Gad and half Menashe, who ask Moshe if they can stake their claim on the east side of the River Jordan, rather than in the land to its west. What does this say about the Zionist enterprise, if already at the beginning, part of the people chose to stay in the Diaspora? Feel free to leave comments below or at parshatalk@gmail.com. The conclusion of another book of the Torah in the annual synagogue reading, reminds us that people have been held hostage since we began the annual reading last Simchat Torah, October 7th in Israel. May the hostages be speedily returned to their homes; may the soldiers in the Israel Defense Force be removed from harm's way. Shabbat Shalom

This is a bonus episode from The Global Story - taking a look at a much-debated slogan, and a journey through the land that it refers to; from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean sea. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last year, the cry “From the River to the Sea” has been heard more and more as a pro-Palestinian slogan. But what river? What sea? And what exactly does the phrase mean? It is the subject of intense controversy. BBC Current Affairs journalist Tim Whewell joins our presenter Lucy Hockings to discuss his journey from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, across a tiny stretch of land - that is perhaps the most argued-over in the world. The Global Story brings you one big story every weekday, making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, from the BBC World Service. For more, go to bbcworldservice.com/globalstory or search for The Global Story wherever you got this podcast.

A look at a much-debated slogan, and a journey through the land that it refers to; from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean sea. Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last year, the cry “From the River to the Sea” has been heard more and more as a pro-Palestinian slogan. But what river? What sea? And what exactly does the phrase mean? It is the subject of intense controversy. BBC Current Affairs journalist Tim Whewell joins our presenter Lucy Hockings to discuss his journey from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, across a tiny stretch of land - that is perhaps the most argued-over in the world. Tim has produced a two-part series about his journey for The Documentary podcast. You can listen to it by searching The Documentary wherever you get your BBC podcasts.The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.This episode was made by Beth Timmins, Laurie Kalus and Peter Goffin. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Richard Fenton-Smith.

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal journeys through the multiverse in a celebration of Dark Matter, the science fiction Apple-TV series created by Blake Crouch, based on his 2016 novel of the same name. In it, a man is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could've lived, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from a most terrifying foe: himself. Dark Matter stars Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Oakes Fegley, Dayo Okeniyi, and Amanda Brugel. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan explore universe after universe, and copy after copy of an embattled main character, in a examination of one of the best science fiction television shows of 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last year, the cry “From the River to the Sea” has been heard more and more as a pro-Palestinian slogan. But what river? What sea? And what exactly does the phrase mean? It's the subject of intense controversy. In this two-part series, reporter Tim Whewell travels from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, across a tiny stretch of land – just over an hour by car if you don't stop - that's perhaps the most argued-over in the world. Along the way, he meets shepherds and teachers, soldiers and gardeners, artists and activists - Palestinians and Israelis of many different views and backgrounds. The shortest line from the River to the Sea doesn't pass through Gaza. But everyone Tim meets on his journey across the Israeli-occupied West Bank of the River, and in Israel, is living in the terrible shadow of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel and the war that's followed. The future of the often-beautiful, fast-changing, overcrowded region he crosses will be at the heart of any eventual solution to the Middle East conflict. In this first programme, he goes from the Jordan, through the Israeli settlement of Argaman, the Palestinian herding community of al-Farisiyah and the Palestinian village of Duma, ending up at the Israeli settlement of Shilo. What do people in those places think now – and do they have any hope for the future? (In Part 2, Tim leaves the West Bank and travels through Israel.) Presenter/producer: Tim Whewell Sound mixing: Andy Fell and Neil Churchill Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Penny Murphy (Photo shows some of the people Tim meets in the two parts of the series. Clockwise from top left: Ben Levy, Israeli nature ranger; Sulieman Mleahat, Palestinian development worker; Susie Becher, Israeli political activist; Okayla Shehadi, retired Palestinian citizen of Israel.)

In this second part of his journey from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, across the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Israel, reporter Tim Whewell continues his exploration of the physical and human reality behind the slogan “From the River to the Sea”, a phrase which creates intense controversy. In this podcast he descends from the high ridge of the West Bank hills to the Israeli Mediterranean coast at Herzlia, known for its beaches and high-tech industry – and then continues along the sea, to end his journey at the ruined ancient city of Caesarea. Along the way, on the West Bank, he encounters a Palestinian dry stone waller and an Israeli hairdresser – and then, crossing into Israel, he talks to Jewish Israelis including teachers, activists and a journalist – and to Palestinian citizens of Israel. Finally, he meets a group of young Israelis who have recently finished their military service. Some of them have been fighting in Gaza. What future do all these people hope for, in the 90 kilometres between the River and the Sea? Presenter/producer: Tim Whewell Sound mixing: Neil Churchill Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Penny Murphy (Photo shows some of the people Tim meets in the two parts of the series. Clockwise from top left: Ben Levy, Israeli nature ranger; Sulieman Mleahat, Palestinian development worker; Susie Becher, Israeli political activist; Okayla Shehadi, retired Palestinian citizen of Israel.)

In this second part of his journey from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, across the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Israel, reporter Tim Whewell continues his exploration of the physical and human reality behind the slogan “From the River to the Sea”, a phrase which creates intense controversy.In this podcast he descends from the high ridge of the West Bank hills to the Israeli Mediterranean coast at Herzlia, known for its beaches and high-tech industry – and then continues along the sea, to end his journey at the ruined ancient city of Caesarea. Along the way, on the West Bank, he encounters a Palestinian dry stone waller and an Israeli hairdresser – and then, crossing into Israel, he talks to Jewish Israelis including teachers, activists and a journalist – and to Palestinian citizens of Israel. Finally, he meets a group of young Israelis who have recently finished their military service. Some of them have been fighting in Gaza. What future do all these people hope for, in the 90 kilometres between the River and the Sea?Presenter/producer: Tim Whewell Sound mixing: Neil Churchill Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Penny Murphy (Photo: Some of the people Tim meets in the two parts of the series. Clockwise from top left: Ben Levy, Israeli nature ranger; Sulieman Mleahat, Palestinian development worker; Susie Becher, Israeli political activist; Okayla Shehadi, retired Palestinian citizen of Israel.)

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last year, the cry “From the River to the Sea” has been heard more and more as a pro-Palestinian slogan. But what river? What sea? And what exactly does the phrase mean? It's the subject of intense controversy. In this two-part series, reporter Tim Whewell travels from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, across a tiny stretch of land that's perhaps the most argued-over in the world.Along the way, he meets shepherds and teachers, soldiers and gardeners, artists and activists - Palestinians and Israelis of many different views and backgrounds. The shortest line from the River to the Sea doesn't pass through Gaza. But everyone Tim meets on his journey across the Israeli-occupied West Bank of the River, and in Israel, is living in the shadow of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel and the war that's followed. The future of the often-beautiful, fast-changing, overcrowded region he crosses will be at the heart of any solution to the Middle East conflict. In this first programme, he goes from the Jordan, through the Israeli settlement of Argaman, the Palestinian herding community of al-Farisiyah and the Palestinian village of Duma, ending up at the Israeli settlement of Shilo. What do people in those places think now – and do they have any hope for the future? (In Part 2, Tim leaves the West Bank and travels through Israel.)Presenter/producer: Tim Whewell Sound mixing: Andy Fell and Neil Churchill Production co-ordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Penny Murphy (Photo: Some people Tim meets in the series. Clockwise from top left: Ben Levy, Israeli nature ranger; Sulieman Mleahat, Palestinian development worker; Susie Becher, Israeli political activist; Okayla Shehadi, retired Palestinian citizen of Israel.)

Gov. Tim Walz was at the Rapidan Dam Tuesday to survey the recent flood damage. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with an environmental expert from Mankato about some consequences of flooding on the environment and the farmers living and working on the affected land.When disaster strikes, the elderly, sick and disabled are often the most impacted. It falls on them and their caregivers to have a plan in place. The president of the Rosalyn Carter Institute for Caregiving joined the show to talk about how to put those plans in place.Dr. Jon Hallberg returned to Minnesota Now with his thoughts on proposed warning labels for social media apps.MPR's senior economics contributor Chris Farrell recently spoke with a Minnesotan transgender lawyer and activist about the wisdom she's learned over her long career. Our Minnesota Music Minute today was “Running with the Wolves” by Cloud Cult, and our Song of the Day was “River Jordan” by Mathias Saint John.

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal breaks from its normal singular-focused episodes and dives deeply into not one, but two films. First up (6:06) is the action-comedy blockbuster Fall Guy, directed by David Leitch and written by Drew Pearce, loosely based on the 1980s TV series. The plot follows a stuntman (Ryan Gosling) working on his ex-girlfriend's (Emily Blunt) directorial debut action film, only to find himself involved in a conspiracy surrounding the film's lead actor (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). The cast also features Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke. That is followed (13:36) by an examination of the weighty themes and cunning black comedy of American Dreamer, a film directed by Paul Dektor (in his feature debut) and written by Theodore Melfi. Based on a segment from the radio show This American Life, it stars Peter Dinklage as a professor who tries to buy the estate of a lonely widow played by Shirley MacLaine. Kim Quinn, Danny Pudi, Danny Glover, and Matt Dillon also star. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan talk two very different, but extremely entertaining, films.River Jordan is the author of four novels and three works of creative nonfiction. She holds an MFA from Seattle Pacific University and her work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, NPR's Book Talk, the Southern Literary Review, and Radix Magazine among others. When not working on her new novel, A Muddy Grace she can be found bartending at, God on the Rocks, a virtual blues and jazz bar located in the City by the Bay where she has soulful conversations great humans talking about the things they love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Crossing of the Red Sea was an extraordinary event, a miracle, described in detail in the book of Exodus. The waters parted to allow the Children of Israel to cross on dry land for precisely the right amount of time required to get across safely and then they returned to drown their implacable enemies. This is the ultimate miracle, an event that breaks the boundaries of nature. To our surprise we discover that the parting of the waters to allow a people to cross is not a one -time event. There are two other instances: one when the waters of the River Jordan parted to allow the people of Israel to enter the Promised Land, and there is a further instance described in the Talmud. This leads us to ask what conditions are required to enable the boundaries of nature to be breached and we look at the survival of the Jewish people and the establishment of the State of Israel from this perspective.

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal breaks down the The 96th Academy Awards ceremony, which was presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and took place on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. In this episode hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan exclaim over Oppenheimer's dominance, Poor Thing's impressive showing, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph's intoxication spirit while recounting the most heartwarming and hilarious moments of this year's extremely entertaining Oscar ceremony. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Welcome To The Party Pal, in the lead up to The 96th Academy Awards, takes stock of the cinematic offerings of 2023 and celebrates another outstanding year of movies. Join in as hosts Michael Shields and River Jordan tip their hats to prestige movies such as Killers of The Flower Moon, Oppenheimer, The Holdovers, Poor Things, Past Lives, and American Fiction — while also lauding exciting popcorn-adventure films such as Guardians of The Galaxy 3, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Godzilla Minus One, and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dead Sea is dead. The Sea of Galilee is alive. But both receive the River Jordan. How could it be that one is alive, while the other is dead? Because only one gives away what it receives.

It's the First Friday After the Epiphany in the Church Calendar. January 12, 2024 Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “Lose My Ability” by David Leonard, Jonathan Helser, Melissa Helser, and Molly Skaggs with a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalms 16 and 17 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is John 2:1-12. We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day followed by a time of spontaneous, prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. You can go here to find out more. Join our Facebook group here! Photo by lil artsy. First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord - Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prayerandworship/message

It's the First Thursday After the Epiphany in the Church Calendar. January 11, 2024 Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “If I Was a Bird” by Jess Ray with a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 18:1-20 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is John 1:43-51. We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day followed by a time of spontaneous, prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. You can go here to find out more. Join our Facebook group here! Photo by Simon Berger. First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord - Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prayerandworship/message

It's the First Wednesday After the Epiphany in the Church Calendar. January 10, 2024 Our general order and lectionary comes from the Book of Common Prayer Daily Office. We'll sing “Holy and Anointed One” by John Barnett with a prayer of confession. We'll read Psalm 119:1-24 followed by the Gloria Patri. Our Scripture lesson is John 1:35-42. We'll say the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Collect of the Day followed by a time of spontaneous, prompted prayer. If you have a prayer request please submit it here. Sign up here for the email list. Morning Prayer and Worship is a production of Steady Stream Ministries, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. Thank you for your support. You can go here to find out more. Join our Facebook group here! Photo by Trang Pham. First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of Our Lord - Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/prayerandworship/message

In His baptism, Jesus was symbolically drenched in the sins of others so that He might carry them from the River Jordan to the cross of Calvary. Today Sinclair Ferguson considers the event that began Christ's public ministry. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/things-unseen-with-sinclair-ferguson/baptized-into-the-sins-of-his-people A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.ligonier.org/donate/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Few organisations in history have names as loaded with legend as the Knights Templar. Western culture is infused with the mythology of these pious warrior monks, who wielded magic and went on quests for legendary treasures. In reality, it was an elite fighting force that became a Middle Ages military and financial powerhouse. Its members moved in the same circles as kings and popes, their influence spanning from Portugal to the River Jordan. But as the Holy Land was lost, European leaders began to turn on the Order, and its final leaders would meet a violent end at the stake.In this Explainer episode, Dan takes us from their pious beginnings in the first Crusades through to the height of their power in the 13th century, and finally, to their abrupt end.Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code DANSNOW. Download the app or sign up here.PLEASE VOTE NOW! for Dan Snow's History Hit in the British Podcast Awards Listener's Choice category here. Every vote counts, thank you!We'd love to hear from you! You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.You can take part in our listener survey here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.