Podcasts about Sabbath

By making a few practical changes, you can reduce stress in your life, quiet the chaos and restore your sanity. Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory share what being overwhelmed feels like for the four main personality types (expressive, analytic, driver, and amiable). They talk about practical ways to organize your schedule, say no, increase your capacity for joy, make time for the Sabbath and create a personal manifesto that states your values to help you make choices in the future. Receive a copy of the "Overwhelmed" bundle and an audio download of "Practical Help for When You're Overwhelmed" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive. Get more episode resources Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly! If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

I guess I'm just too sensitive. I feel guilty when I walk in a store, knowing I'm not going to buy anything. And some bored salesperson sees me come in, and then you see that look of hope, that look of expectancy on their face, “At last I can justify my existence. At last I've got a customer! At last I can accomplish something. At last I can sell something.” And so they very pleasantly ask, “May I help you?” And then come those two most hated words to the ears of a salesperson, “Just looking.” Suddenly they lose all interest in me and they retire dejectedly back to their corner. Did I say I'm too sensitive? Well, I'll tell you this, nobody ever gets very excited about someone who is just looking. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Spiritual Spectators.” Our word for today from the Word of God comes from John 9. I'll begin reading at verse 13. It's the story of the man who had been born blind who Jesus healed. Now, Jesus has always been troubled by people who are just looking. For example in this passage, “They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was the Sabbath. Therefore, the Pharisees also asked Him how he had received his sight. ‘He put mud on my eyes' the man replied, ‘and I washed and now I see.' Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God for he does not keep the Sabbath.'” This is amazing! You want to say to the Pharisees, “Guys, wake up! A man who could never see before was just healed! Do you understand what just happened?” And they are busy doing their theological analysis of the situation. They have no intention of buying into what Jesus is doing. They're just looking. Everywhere Jesus performed miracles it seemed that there were two groups of people: the "expectors" who had faith, who wanted to get in on the supernatural and who did, and the "dissectors" who stood off with their arms folded and said, “What shall we call this? Where does this fit in our theology?” And they saw no miracle. What bothers me is that the dissectors were the religious folks, the spiritual veterans, the Bible people. That's me. That might be you. And they were always so busy analyzing the miracle, they missed the miracle. You know, as you get more settled into Christian things and you know more Christian ideas, and hold more Christian jobs, a subtle numbness can start to grow inside of you. You go to church to watch God speak to others. You make spiritual events happen, but you stop letting them happen to you. You start to become a discusser of God's working rather than an experiencer of His working. You used to have an experience now you just have knowledge. You start to become critical of His leaders and their methods. Can you see that creeping sleep in your soul? Somewhere you stepped out of the middle of God's life-changing work and you moved to the edges to watch, to analyze, to categorize, to criticize. Hey, it's cold out there. You show up at God's store, you look around, but you don't buy into the wonder of it all. Why don't you get back into the mainstream where the miracles are? Let God happen to you again, not just happen around you. When Jesus is offering such supernatural merchandise, it would be a shame if you were just on the edges and just looking.

Somewhere along the way, rest became something you have to earn instead of something you were made to receive. In Mark 2:23-28, Jesus is confronted for letting his disciples pick grain on the Sabbath, and his answer flips the entire religious system on its head. This episode unpacks why resting in God is actually an act of rebellion against a world built on hustle, and why it forces a kind of dependence most of us have never practiced. If you have ever felt guilty for taking a day off, this one is for you. KEY TAKEAWAYS: 1. The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath, and Jesus alone defines what rest means. 2. Resting in God is a rebellion against the world because it forces dependence on him instead of self-reliance. 3. Sabbath is a gift to receive, not a rule to obey, and it becomes the foundation the rest of your week is built from. CONNECT: Find more at TRPFAMILY.ORG

By making a few practical changes, you can reduce stress in your life, quiet the chaos and restore your sanity. Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory share what being overwhelmed feels like for the four main personality types (expressive, analytic, driver, and amiable). They talk about practical ways to organize your schedule, say no, increase your capacity for joy, make time for the Sabbath and create a personal manifesto that states your values to help you make choices in the future.Receive a copy of the "Overwhelmed" bundle and an audio download of "Practical Help for When You're Overwhelmed" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.Get more episode resources Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

By William Bradford - The twenty-first part in a series of mid-week Bible studies, covering the book of Hebrews. This session is a character study from the faith chapter - Sarah.

Presented by Julie Busteed Are you the kind of person who would rather do everything yourself than delegate or ask for help? I can be that way sometimes. It’s not because I think I can do everything better than everyone else. Sometimes it’s a control issue. Other times it simply feels like more work to explain the task, ask for help, and trust someone else to follow through. As I’ve thought about that, I’ve realized I sometimes treat my relationship with God the same way. Without even realizing it, I start acting as though everything depends on me and my effort, my planning, my ability to keep checking things off the list. And before long, I’m exhausted because I’m striving in my own strength instead of depending on his. As I’ve been learning to develop healthier rhythms that aren’t centered only on work and productivity, God has been showing me something. I wasn’t created to carry everything myself. More than anything, I need to trust him. I’m finite. He is not. I have limits. He doesn’t. One of my favorite passages is maybe a familiar one to you—Proverbs 3:5–6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Those verses raise some honest questions for me. Do I really trust him in every area of my life? Or am I quietly depending on my own abilities, my own plans, my own resources? Do I truly believe he will lead me? That he has good purposes for today and for my future? Notice what the passage doesn’t say. It doesn’t tell me to figure everything out or make every path straight myself. It simply says to trust him and submit to him. That’s incredibly freeing. When I humble myself before God, remember his promises, and surrender my plans to him, I don’t have to carry the weight of being in control. I can rest in him. He already knows my limitations. He never expected me to do everything or carry every burden on my own. So how do we live this out? It’s one day at a time. Really, one moment at a time. It’s choosing to seek him throughout the day instead of relying only on ourselves. And it’s choosing to set aside one day each week to stop striving. To let go of the unfinished work. To trust him with everything waiting for us next week. Sabbath rest becomes an act of trust. It’s where our minds, emotions, and bodies are refreshed. It’s where we stop toiling long enough to remember that God is still at work, even when we aren’t.

At 89, Cynthia Goren is navigating a profound new chapter. Since the death of her husband last October after 67 years of marriage, she has become more aware of her own mortality—and more determined to live meaningfully. For Cynthia, that means continuing to learn, staying engaged in the things she loves, and, above all, helping others.“People need favors,” she says. “Physical help, someone to listen to their stories.” Listening and helping have been threads throughout Cynthia's life.A lifelong learner and teacher, Cynthia traces her love of learning to her parents. Teaching became a natural extension of her curiosity: she taught English in elementary school and literature at community college, delighting in explaining ideas and sharing what she was discovering. Even today, learning remains an essential part of who she is.Cynthia's Jewish faith and traditions have also shaped her sense of responsibility to others. Wanting to pass those traditions on to her children and grandchildren, she wrote Tales from a Jewish Grandmother: A Book of “Bubbe Meises,” using stories, food, Jewish education, family life, and humor to preserve a heritage she treasures.Now she is turning to another family story: the life of her father, who grew up in a shtetl before coming to the United States at age nine. Using handwritten notes he left behind, Cynthia is transforming his memories into historical fiction—preserving one generation's story for those who come after.Her compassion has extended beyond her family. Trained as a para-chaplain, Cynthia met weekly with older adults in a nursing home, using conversations about the Sabbath to create a space where people could talk openly about sadness, loss, and the realities of their lives.Cynthia's story reminds us that meaningful living doesn't require standing still when life changes. It can mean adapting, remaining curious, listening deeply, preserving the stories that matter—and continuing to ask, “How can I help?”“Helping others is the Jewish way of life.” - Cynthia GorenConnect with Cynthia:Book: Tales from a Jewish Grandmother: A Book of “Bubbe MeisesEmail: cyngoren@gmail.comThanks to our Platinum Sponsor, AARP Illinois, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 1.7 million members in Illinois, AARP volunteers advocate for better health, financial security, and stronger communities. Visit AARP.org/IL to learn more.

Rest can feel almost irresponsible when there's still so much left to do. Yet from the beginning, God built a rhythm of work and rest into the way He created us to live. Sabbath invites us to loosen our grip on the unfinished tasks, disconnect from the constant demands, and trust that God can keep the world moving without us. It's a different pace—and one that can lead us toward greater peace.

Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 09/1/2026) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include: Should Christians Worship on The Sabbath?/Romans 14/ Babies and Salvation/ Are we in The Last Days?/Seeing God?/ Matthew 25-Final Judgment and Righteousness/ John 2- Was Jesus a Sinner?/An Answer to Islam/ Different Kinds of Apostles/ September 1, 2026

Episode Overview In this episode of the Ministry Architects podcast, hosts Anthony Rogers and Mike Crain sit down with Philip Nation to unpack the state of biblical literacy, effective strategies for guiding those in your care toward scripture engagement, and practical ways ministry staff can avoid burnout. Whether you're a senior pastor, youth pastor, kids director, or ministry volunteer, this conversation offers actionable wisdom on discipling through scripture, building sustainable personal faith habits, and evaluating biblical content.

It's summertime and here on Youth Culture Matters were devoting our time to shorter episodes where we're talking about purposeful parenting, addressing timely topics to encourage and equip you as parents to help your kids navigate their world in ways that bring honor and glory to God. Take a few minutes to listen in today as I share about how to prioritize nurturing your kids' faith as we launch into another busy and distraction-filled school year.

Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett launch the Renewed Pastor Podcast, sharing why 95 Network became The Renewed Pastor and how the new Renewed Pastor Pathway helps pastors get healthy in life, leadership, and legacy.This is the first episode of the Renewed Pastor Podcast, formerly the 95 Podcast. Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett use the launch conversation to explain a significant transition: as of September 1, 95 Network has officially become The Renewed Pastor.Dale Sellers walks through the ministry's history. 95 Network was founded in 2014 by Jim Powell, a pastor in Peoria, Illinois, who led a large church but carried a deep burden for smaller congregations. The name reflected the statistic that roughly 95 percent of American churches were small or midsize. Dale joined the board in 2016, and in late 2017 Jim handed leadership to Dale and a group of pastors. Dale became executive director on July 1, 2018, and has led the ministry for eight years.The conversation then turns personal. Dale describes the isolation he experienced as a pastor, including a board member who literally put a hand up at a restaurant table and said he did not want to hear about his pastor's struggles. Years of internalized stress, a devastating church split, and a culture that expected pastors to appear invincible contributed to quadruple bypass surgery at age 53. When Dale asked his surgeon how it happened, the answer was blunt: hypertension and high blood pressure caused by his vocation. That crisis launched a decade-long journey of inner work that eventually produced his book, Stalled.Dale also names the shift he has watched unfold in the church world. Pastors no longer need more content; content is everywhere. What they lack is relationship, mentoring, and honest community. Denominations, seminaries, and networks often repackage old approaches instead of making the changes pastors actually need. After more than a year of prayer, conversations with leaders, and a two-day retreat with Jesse Barnett of The Message Clarity Company, the team landed on a new name, a new focus, and a new offering.That offering is the Renewed Pastor Pathway™, a one-year, research-informed coaching track built around four quarters: Soul Care, Identity and Calling, Mission and Vision, and Leadership Development with Succession planning. It includes twelve sessions, a monthly call, and an on-site day with the church's leaders. Dale explains why soul care must come first: an unhealthy soul produces an unhealthy congregation, and a pastor who cannot take a Sabbath is functionally saying that everything depends on him.The vision behind the rebrand is a goal Dale believes God gave him: help one thousand pastors get healthy over the next ten years. With the average pastor now between 62 and 64 years old and more than 100,000 expected to retire in the next decade, the leadership pipeline problem is urgent. The Renewed Pastor exists to serve pastors of any church size who genuinely want help, with scholarship dollars available for those who cannot afford the full cost.Support the show

OCF Crosspoint Show Notes with Lt Col Jeff Miller, USAF (Ret.) Opening Summary "How does a Christian in the military achieve balance between work and family?" A cadet asked Lt Col Jeff Miller, USAF (Ret.), that question during a panel event for ROTC, and after 34 years in the Air Force, 34 years of marriage, and four children, Jeff realized he didn't have a good answer. Neither did the seasoned officers around him. One active-duty squadron commander admitted he felt like he was failing his family, his squadron, and Jesus every day. That unsettling moment sent Miller into a study of Scripture that reframed the question entirely. Instead of balance, he offers a different word: ascendancy—Christ's priority so eclipsing every other priority that his values become yours, and those values guide every competing decision. Miller, an OCF local leader for ROTC at Mississippi State University, unpacks that framework, what biblical rest is, and how to discern a hard season from an unsustainable one. A companion Bible study by Jeff Miller on this topic is in editing and will be posted at ocfusa.org soon—link to follow.   Questions answered and themes covered in this interview include: How does a Christian in the military balance work and family? Balance is likely the wrong goal. The nature of military service does not lend itself to balance, and what most people are seeking when they seek balance is control—a life that feels manageable. Jeff Miller describes it as sitting on a seesaw waiting for someone of equal weight, only to have an 800-pound gorilla drop onto the other end: a national crisis, a deployment, a command billet where you are effectively owned by the organization, a child with special needs, or a personal struggle you brought on yourself. None of those are within your control. Miller's own attempt to answer the question from a panel stage amounted to little more than warning cadets to tell their future spouse what they were getting into. The better question, he concluded, is not how to balance two priorities but whether Christ is ascendant over both. How do I put Christ first in a demanding military career? Study Christ closely enough to know what he values and let those values decide the tradeoffs because when his values become yours, you can ask which principle he values most in this moment. Putting Christ first means letting him ascend over, eclipse, and swallow up every other priority, including family. Jeff Miller calls this ascendancy, drawing on Luke 14, where Jesus says that anyone who loves family more than him cannot be his disciple, and on the parables of the pearl and the hidden treasure, where the finder sells everything without hesitating (Matthew 13:44–46). Practically, ascendancy works like this: when you study Christ closely enough to know what he values, his values become yours, and you can ask which principle he values most in this moment. Sometimes the answer is that military duty takes precedence and family runs at a temporary deficit; at other times, it might mean the opposite. Miller admits he entered service with Christ merely augmenting his own agenda; ascendancy means Christ is the agenda. Single service members can ask the same question of work and life. What's the difference between Biblical rest and taking time off? Rest is not the cessation of movement. In Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus invites the weary to take his yoke—an instrument of work—and learn from him, promising rest for their souls. Jeff Miller notes that taking a master's yoke in that culture meant submitting to that master's instruction: put yourself under my program, and I'll show you how to find rest. That reframes Sabbath. Getting away from the workplace or doing nothing at all isn't the point; ceasing normal activity in order to reflect on what God has done, what he has given you strength to do, and who he is (and to give thanks) is the point. Family fun is good but a distant second. Miller confesses that his beach vacations used to be packed so full that he came home exhausted, having never sat still to watch the sun come up and meditate on God's Word. How can a Christian find rest during a high ops tempo or deployment? Rest travels with you. In a high-tempo environment, the rhythm of a weekly Sabbath may not be available, but daily rest is, even if found only in 5-minute increments. Military life has hurry-up-and-wait moments built into it: heavy information loads and rapid decisions, then a pause. Jeff Miller's counsel is to memorize Scripture so that you have something to reflect on in those pauses, to thank God for the surge he just carried you through, and to ask for help with what's ahead. Waiting for a deployed chapel service or a real day off usually means waiting a long time. Miller applies the same principle in retirement: he swims laps for half an hour daily, where there's no conversation and nothing to look at, and meditates on Scripture—coming out physically rested and spiritually restored. How do I know if a demanding assignment is God's calling or not? Three sources of guidance apply: God's Word, the Holy Spirit, and the counsel of wise people around you. God's Word tells you what God values, which is the starting point for sorting through competing priorities. Jeff Miller adds a hard question to weigh alongside it: can anyone else fill your role? In general, someone can almost always fill your place in the military, but no one will ever fill your place as a husband, wife, mother, or father. The Holy Spirit teaches, but struggles to speak to someone who isn't in the Word and hasn't taken the time to ask. And wise counsel requires actually being in fellowship, which is difficult when you move every one to three years. This is one reason Miller points to the OCF network for relationships that cross assignments and miles. After weighing all three, you have to act, and the action may be drastic. Can a Christian officer step back from career advancement and still be faithful? Yes. If God calls you to separate or slow down, you should do it, and he will take care of you. Jeff Miller is one example: he stepped off the fast track and moved to the reserves, serving in seasons that ranged from six days a month to full-time as an Air Reserve technician. That pace let him meet his obligations at home while staying in uniform for 34 years and walking alongside young officers. He also describes a friend who left active duty for the airlines specifically because Christ was ascendant, using the income to support ministry and the travel benefits for long-term mission work overseas. Miller acknowledges the cost: he watched classmates reach flag rank and felt the envy. But he wouldn't trade the joy of serving quietly and helping younger commanders succeed.

f you want to give through Grace Church you can do so here: https://pushpay.com/g/grace-alone?src...To Learn more about Grace Church go to https://gracechurchco.com/The Hurry Problem is a 5-week journey to help you slow down and reconnect with God and others. Learn how to replace stress and distraction with rest, rhythm, and intentional living—because life is better with less rush and more presence.In this message, Pastor Rick Long of Grace Church addresses the pervasive problem of the "hurry trap"—a state of constant busyness that he identifies not just as a scheduling issue, but as a deep-seated spiritual problem (7:01). Drawing from the biblical story of Mary and Martha (9:51), he explains that while both sisters had good intentions, Martha became overwhelmed by her attempts to serve, while Mary chose the "one thing" that mattered most: sitting at the feet of Jesus (10:36, 18:27).Pastor Rick offers five practical principles to help believers escape the cycle of hurry and find rest for their souls:Abide before attempting to achieve: Prioritize your relationship with God through worship and prayer before checking your phone or starting your to-do list (17:27, 23:18).Stop obsessing over every detail: Do not let the pursuit of perfection or urgent tasks distract you from being present and connected with people (25:55, 30:51).Focus on the one thing that matters most: Continually evaluate your priorities, eliminate distractions, and elevate God and your relationships to the top of your list (32:29, 37:05).Be fully present: Practice single-tasking, give others your full attention, and remember that life is short—be wise with your time (41:51, 46:07).Create margin for connection: Build quiet moments into your day, observe a weekly Sabbath, and leave space for God to interrupt your plans (47:39, 52:10).The message concludes with an invitation to find rest in Jesus, emphasizing his promise in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (54:43).0:00 Welcome and Announcements2:03 Escaping the Hurry Trap7:06 Hurry is a Spiritual Problem9:51 The Story of Mary and Martha12:13 Five Ways Hurry Becomes a Problem17:26 Principle 1: Abide Before Attempting to Achieve25:56 Principle 2: Stop Obsessing Over Every Detail32:29 Principle 3: Focus on the One Thing That Matters Most41:51 Principle 4: Be Fully Present47:38 Principle 5: Create Margin for Connection54:43 Matthew 11;28-30 and Conclusion

I wonder what comes to mind for most people when they think about the Ten Commandments. Studies have shown that most folks are unable to name more than one or two of them. I bet many others would probably have to admit that when they think of the Ten Commandments, and this may just be, you know, thinking about the older generations, but for many of us, I imagine some when they hear about the Ten Commandments, they think of Charlton Heston with a gray bouffant hairdo, wearing a bathrobe, and special effects in the background. Others might have a visceral reaction to a phrase that, for them, conjures up feelings of a threatening, judgmental, angry God. But my guess is that most people probably don't think of the Ten Commandments much at all, which may be what drives some people to make such a fuss about trying to get these things posted in prominent places. Have you noticed the spate of legislation being forwarded in a number of, I will have to say, mostly southern states to place the Ten Commandments in public schools and buildings? Have you been following this? It's a whole situation, friends. It's a whole situation. The youngest among us may think that that sort of thing is a new phenomenon. It is not. A quick search revealed that perhaps the first large scale campaign to mandate public posting was launched in 1950. The first time the Supreme Court took up the matter was 1980. And then there's Roy Moore, the twice elected, twice removed justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, I won't go into all of that, but I can tell you if you're curious, I'm sure. During Moore's first stint on the bench, beginning in 2001, he waged and lost a stubborn fight to keep a Ten Commandments monument in his courthouse. One thing I remember about this episode is the fact that after being removed as Chief Justice, Judge Moore continued this crusade through speaking engagements and would bring along the Ten Commandments monument with him wherever he went to give a talk. Now, I'm all for visuals to help you support your message, but get this: the monument weighs 5,280 pounds, roughly just a little more than 500 pounds a commandment. So Judge Moore would lug this massive thing across the country on the back of a flatbed truck. You cannot make this stuff up. It was reported that even the five-ton crane that was used to move the monument off the truck buckled visibly under its weight. What an amazing mental image, really. I mean, it's so appropriate, since many of us may have a sense that the commandments are heavy and dangerous, that they hang over people like an ominous threat just waiting to crush you with their weight the minute you step out of line. This is the way that some folks use the commandments and the scriptures in general, as a heavy yoke that the masses, regardless of culture or creed, need to have publicly strapped to their backs and nailed to their walls so that they'll get into shape, lift those heavy laws, carry those burdensome commandments, and do three sets of ten repetitions every other day. Weightlifting morality. That's what that is. However, I don't think we have to look too far to find a challenge to this way of thinking. Just look back at the text we read today from Exodus. The recital of the Ten Commandments begins this way: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." This is God's reminder to the people of who God is and what God has done. God is no dictator. God doesn't impose the weight of unfair laws upon people. The commandments are not a mandate to enslave God's people. God is the one who has brought the people out of slavery, who has unburdened them from unjust laws. God is the one who has given the people freedom. But I find that many folk focus less on that and more on the "thou shalt not" of the commandments. Why do they have to be so negative? If God cares enough about us to set us free, I imagine some people thinking, then why does it seem like God is trying to control us, to limit our freedom? Now let's think about it for just a minute. Jesus experienced God as Abba, as father. All you mothers and fathers out there, all of us who have spent significant time caring for children, just think about when the children are very young. They're curious about everything. They want to touch everything. They want to put everything in their mouth. They want to get into anything and everything. And as a loving caregiver, you are trying to keep them alive. You want to do everything you can to keep them safe. And so you set boundaries for your children to keep them safe. However, we do know any parent will tell you that children always push against the boundary. Can I get an amen from anyone? Children will always push against the boundary. I will say as a pastor, people push against the boundary. We really do not like to be told no. But really, only the most naive among us will assume that true freedom means total freedom from restraints. I just think of our dog, Daisy. If Daisy were allowed to run completely free with no restraints, she might catch sight of another dog and dash across our busy street in front of the house to chase it, and that would get Daisy killed for sure. Because we love Daisy, we provide restraints that keep her safe, that help her enjoy the world in ways that are good for her and for the other creatures around her. God, who has brought people out of slavery, is setting some boundaries for the people so that they will remain free, so that they may live in peace and safety together, so that they may experience the fullness of life. And this is the thing about God's commandments: every "thou shalt not," every no, is protecting a yes. God says no to the things that enslave us, that diminish us, or destroy life together, so that we can say yes to the things that make life free and whole for everyone. The no is never the point. "Thou shalt not" is not the point. The life God is protecting, the freedom God is protecting, the dignity God is protecting, that is the point. With this framework in mind, we see that the commandments might sound like this: the no to other gods, the no to idols and their empty promises, protects a yes to trusting the God whose word is good, to trusting the God who sets us free, to recognizing what is truly holy. No to using God's name to manipulate or to threaten or to serve our own agenda means yes to honoring God with humility and with reverence. No to endless work, to treating ourselves or anyone else as machines for production, is a yes to Sabbath, to rest, to delight, recreation, and remembering that the world does not stop turning because you take a break. Remember, a pause here, remember who God is speaking to in these commandments: former slaves, people whose lives had been measured by how much they produced. God says, you're free now, you can stop. No to dishonoring those from whom we have received life means yes to honoring those who came before us, while telling the truth about what we've inherited, and choosing what we will bring forward. No to violence and to the destruction of life is a yes to reverence, to life, and for life. No to betrayal and broken promises and the cheapening of intimacy is a yes to faithfulness to the covenants that we make, yes to trust and intimacy cherished. No to taking what belongs to another is a yes to respecting our neighbors and building a community where theft is unnecessary because all have enough. No to lies, slander, and words that destroy another person is a yes to truth spoken in love and words that build one another up. No to coveting, to allowing someone else's life or possessions to make us dissatisfied with our own, is a yes to gratitude, to generosity, and to rejoicing in our neighbors' good. Every no protects a yes. Every boundary opens space for life to be lived well, and a world shaped by all those yeses, what a wonderful world that would be. That world isn't here yet. We still go so far astray. Think again with me about Sabbath. God says to people who have been slaves, whose worth was measured by their productivity, you can stop. And not only you, did you notice? It's a great part of that commandment. Not just you, your children, your workers, the immigrant living among you. Even your animals get to stop. Give them a break. Everybody gets to rest. Now imagine taking that commandment seriously in a culture where people work multiple jobs and still can't make ends meet, where paid leave is a luxury for many, where productivity so easily becomes a measure of our human worth. It's one thing to post the commandment on a classroom wall, but are we willing to build a society in which people can actually live it? And we could ask that question not just about Sabbath, but about the one about idolatry, or truth telling, or violence, or faithfulness, slander, greed, and whether our neighbors have enough. Even after all this time, we continue to misunderstand. We can turn even the commandments themselves into monuments, into idols, things to display and defend, rather than a way of life to practice. Are we hopeless? Sometimes I just wonder, are we hopeless? Is the answer to be found in posting bigger and heavier versions of the Ten Commandments wherever possible? I don't believe we're hopeless. Newsflash: I don't believe we're hopeless. And I don't think, surprise, surprise, I don't think our hope lies in mandated public posting of the commandments. Our hope is found in the public living of the commandments. Of course, to live the ways of God, we need to know them. We need to learn and study what they really mean for us in our time and place. We need to understand the law of God and teach the law of God in appropriate ways and in appropriate contexts. We need to understand that the commandments set us free to live together in such a way that nobody has to be enslaved, exploited, violated, betrayed, robbed, lied about, or consumed by another person's greed. Do I want to say that one again? Can I say that one again? There was a lot in there. Let me just say it again: the commandments set us free. They set us free. Oh, Lord, I'm going to say it again, they set us free to live together in such a way that nobody has to be enslaved, exploited, violated, betrayed, robbed, lied about, or consumed by another person's greed. The more we learn and live and teach the commandments in ways that reveal their freeing and life-giving purpose, the less they'll seem like stones hanging over people's heads, 500 pounds a commandment, ready to crush or imprison us. The more we live according to God's way, the closer we will be to that world of all those yeses, a world that is safe and peaceful and whole. To see how to live according to the law, we only have to look as far as Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, the fulfillment of the law in flesh, says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." We know that this teaching of Jesus doesn't mean the way will be easy. All you have to do is love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself, and you have to do 25 sets of 100 repetitions daily for the rest of your life. Doesn't mean it's easy to take on the yoke of Christ. It does mean that Jesus gives us grace and strength and stamina to live according to the way of God, not so that we might finally earn our freedom, because God has already set us free. The commandments show us how to live together in ways that honor the life and the dignity of all. That is the weight God asks us to carry, not 5,000 pounds of stones strapped to our backs, but the light burden of learning day by day how to live God's freedom together. May that be so, and may the day come soon. Amen. Beloved, my invitation for us today, and as we go into the week: I was wrestling and praying about this, and there are two things I want to suggest. One is that you consider the commandments. If you haven't read them over, take a look at them again and ask, is there one of these things that I need to study and pray over so that I can receive the freedom that God wants to give me through its practice? That's an invitation, take a look at them again. Some of it's a little confusing. You can read my sermon for help, but think about it: is there one of these commandments that you just need to sit with, to discover where God wants to give you more freedom through practicing that commandment? And the second invitation I want to extend today, and encourage you to think about as we move closer into this fall season, is: how are you going to stay close to the word of God? How are you going to stay close to the practices that sustain life and life together, through your participation here at Foundry Church? Begin to pray about it. Look at those opportunities that are coming up for service, for learning, for community, and begin to get clear. Make some decisions, or make a decision, not more. We have to make too many decisions. Make one decision: where are you going to, what are you going to do, to help you really stay connected in ways that help sustain your life and your freedom? That's my invitation today. Amen.

In this episode of Behind the Scenes, host Kevin Van Hall sits down with Rev. Kevin Johnson to explore the Sabbath as God's gift to us.As we enter Labor Day weekend, Kevin and Kevin talk about why God commands us to rest and what that commandment means in a world that never seems to slow down. Looking at Deuteronomy 5:12-15 and Mark 2:23-3:6, they unpack Jesus' reminder that “the Sabbath was created for humans” and consider how we can recover a healthy rhythm of rest, worship, connection, and renewal.Why has Sabbath become so difficult to practice? How has technology changed our relationship with work and rest? And what might it look like to intentionally create Sabbath in our lives today?This conversation challenges us to consider whether busyness has become a badge of success and invites us to rediscover the freedom of knowing that we are more than what we produce or accomplish. Sabbath isn't meant to be another burden or a list of rules. It is a gift from God, inviting us to stop, breathe, worship, enjoy the people and world around us, and trust that everything does not depend on us.Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Mark 2:23-3:6 (CEB)Series: The Sabbath, God's Gift to UsGuest: Rev. Kevin JohnsonHost: Kevin Van HallSubscribe to Behind the Scenes from North Raleigh United Methodist Church for weekly conversations that go deeper into Sunday's scripture and sermon, helping you connect faith with everyday life.

Sabbath problem. What power was casting out demons? The unpardonable sin. Seeking for a sign. Who was Jesus' mother?

In this AMA episode, Dennis tackles a range of topics, from the reasons behind his friends' adoption of liberal philosophy to the importance of understanding and controlling one's desires. He also delves into the complexities of relationships, and the role of faith in our lives, discussing the benefits of keeping the Sabbath and the importance of understanding the differences between Judeo-Christian and secular values. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Join Me To Build Your Best Fall – https://buildyourbestfall.com/ You wake up, and your hand goes straight to your phone before your feet even touch the floor. By ten in the morning, you're wired and foggy at the same time, reaching for sugar, caffeine, and one more scroll I already know will make me feel worse.That pattern has a real reason behind it, and it comes down to four brain chemicals that shape how we feel every day: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. Neuroscientist TJ Power calls this system DOSE, and understanding how these four work together helps explain why your midlife energy, your focus, and that low hum of anxiety you've carried for years start to make sense in a whole new way.I have been trying to get TJ Power on the show for eight months. This is my favorite episode in eight years of recording.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Why dopamine gets all the attention while oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins quietly run your mood and your capacityThe one morning habit that sets what your brain craves for the rest of the dayWhy boredom is one of the most restorative things you can give your brain, and what your default mode network does with those quiet minutesHow decision fatigue actually builds in your brain, and how fast it clearsWhy motivation shows up after you move, not beforeThe simple body check question TJ asks every morning before he touches his phoneWhat rest has to do with performance, and why athletes figured this out firstTimestamps:(02:09) — What DOSE stands for and why all four chemicals matter(03:50) — Oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins in plain English(06:14) — How dopamine actually builds, and the 15 minute rule for reading(07:31) — Golden retriever puppies and what they do to your nervous system(08:36) — TJ's 36 hours without a phone and what he and his wife did instead(10:40) — Where he keeps his phone all day (it isn't near him)(12:35) — The 9-to-9 detox: one woman's Saturday without a phone(15:51) — What 50 of Alli's clients named as their biggest time waster(16:49) — Instagram Reels, Coca-Cola, and how much we're really scrolling(17:43) — Your default mode network: the wise guide you stopped listening to(19:24) — Decision fatigue, glutamate, and the ache behind your forehead(23:02) — Alli's hour-long walk and the 15 minutes that are always rough(24:08) — The 60-minute headphone-free walk that changes lives(25:16) — Motivation is an outcome of behavior, not a prerequisite(26:47) — Endorphins, hills, saunas, and roller coasters(32:38) — Serotonin lives in your body, and 90% of the vagus nerve runs upward(35:20) — Why scrolling Reels in the afternoon is chemically similar to a glass of wine(36:32) — "Hey body, what would you like right now?" The morning practice(38:48) — Chasing what feels good instead of escaping what feels bad(41:12) — Do I deserve to rest? What elite athletes understand, and Alli on Sabbath(43:11) — ADHD, dopamine, and what phones are really doing(49:07) — "Dopamine diabetes": the new diagnosis TJ thinks we need(50:42) — If you only have 20 minutes a day, spend them like this(52:36) — Whatever your first dopamine hit is, that's what your brain craves all day(55:29) — The phone-free first hour and how to build a life around itLinks to great things we discussed: The Dose EffectFunction HealthUplift AppJoin me on Substack: Wise Woman MethodAlli on YouTubeI hope you loved this episode!

What does it look like to stay full of the Holy Spirit and live from a place of overflow? In this episode, Caroline sits down with Josie to talk about staying connected to Jesus, recognizing when you are carrying things God never asked you to carry, and learning to stay in your lane without comparison. Josie shares practical wisdom for stewarding your spirit, soul, and body, navigating different seasons with grace, teaching your children about the Holy Spirit, and building rhythms of Scripture, prayer, Sabbath, and community. This conversation will encourage you to reconnect with the Lord and live from intimacy instead of exhaustion. Josie Carignan is a speaker, pastor, and author with two great passions in life: Jesus and her family. She and her husband, Brad, co-pastor Uncommon Church in Euless, TX. With over 25 years in ministry, Josie's journey has taken her around the world—preaching, leading mission trips, fighting human trafficking, and navigating three international moves, along with many other adventures. Visit Our Website for Show Notes: ACupFullofHopePodcast.com Follow A Cup Full of Hope on Facebook and Instagram: Instagram • Facebook Follow Caroline on Facebook and Instagram: Instagram • Facebook

Connect With ChazRylee Meek gave his life to entrepreneurship at fifteen. He started in network marketing, moved to personal training, discovered dinner seminar marketing at 26, made his first million dollar year selling insulation without knowing what the R value stood for, and has since built a nine-figure sales and client acquisition empire across industries including insurance, regenerative medicine, and home remodeling. He also co-founded The King's Council, a ministry and mastermind for faith-driven entrepreneurs.In this conversation with Chaz Wolfe, Rylee breaks down the dinner seminar model that changed his entire trajectory, why following your passion is the worst advice ever given, the predictable-sustainable-scalable selling system he builds into every business, and the seven-day creation template from Genesis that he now runs every business and life decision through.Key Takeaways:If you build it, they will not come. Unless you have a consistent, predictable flow of leads and sales, you do not have a business. You have a very expensive hobby.The number one enemy of every vision is lack of provision. You can have the greatest vision in the world, but if you cannot create enough value in the marketplace that someone will pay for, you have nothing.Do not follow your passion. Follow opportunity. But always bring your passion with you. Passion without opportunity is just a broke person with a great attitude.The dinner seminar breakthrough: delivering one presentation to 20 qualified prospects versus 20 individual presentations is leverage. Once Rylee discovered it in 2011 at age 26, he never went back. That year became his first million-dollar year.You cannot manage what you do not measure. If you do not know where in the funnel your leads are dropping off, you cannot fix it. Every advertising dollar is a seed. Know where it is landing.Build a predictable, sustainable, and scalable selling system. If you cannot dial it up or slow it down on command, you do not have a system. You have a hustle.Every product and service is a commodity unless you can articulate why a buyer should pay a premium for yours. If you cannot, you are competing on price. That is a race to the bottom.The seven-day Genesis blueprint applied to business: Day 1 is vision, Day 2 is culture and atmosphere, Day 3 is structure and playbook, Day 4 is order and implementation, Day 5 is momentum, Day 6 is dominion and fruitfulness, Day 7 is rest and reflection. Most entrepreneurs skip days 2 through 4 and wonder why the momentum fades.Rest is not weakness. The Sabbath was created for man. One day of rest and reflection allows you to pour gas on what is working and stop doing what is not. Entrepreneurs who never stop never know which is which.You were created to create. Whatever your faith background, the template of vision, atmosphere, structure, order, momentum, dominion, and rest is a framework that works in business and in life.If you are a contractor business owner doing $1M+ and you feel stuck in the day-to-day, we built GTK for you.Through peer mastermind and 1:1 coaching, we help you:increase profitinstall real systemsbuild a team that runs the businessget your time backVisit www.gatheringthekings.com for information on how to apply.Connect with Chaz Wolfe (Host):WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeProfit Starts with Better Books!Clean books. Clear reports. Monthly bookkeeping built by business owners, for business owners.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showLike what you heard? Share this episode with a friend and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Join the conversation by visiting GatheringTheKings.com and apply to connect with other high-performing entrepreneurs and their families.

Presented by Julie Busteed I'm sure you've heard the phrase “work-life balance”. When I hear it, I picture a seesaw, constantly trying to stay perfectly balanced. But if you've ever been on a seesaw, you know that's not easy. There are always ups and downs. I'm not convinced that “balance” is the right goal. I think God calls us to something different—to healthy rhythms. Life has seasons. Some seasons are naturally busier than others, but how do we live out those seasons without always feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and out of sync? The truth is, you and I were never created to live at full throttle all the time. We were created to regularly rest. We were created to practice Sabbath. But what does that really mean? And what does it look like in our lives today? Going back to the very beginning of Scripture, we see that God himself established the pattern. Genesis 2:3 says: Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Think about that. God didn’t rest because he was tired. He rested because he was establishing a rhythm for his creation. A rhythm you and I are meant to follow. The Ten Commandments also references the Sabbath. Exodus 20 says: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work…. God points back to creation as the reason. Just as he worked for six days and rested on the seventh, he calls us to do the same. Now, Sabbath certainly includes worship but notice that God also repeatedly emphasizes rest. He tells his people to stop working. To cease striving and to follow his example. And perhaps even more importantly, I think we need to change our mindset. Instead of thinking, “I have to take a day off,” what if we saw Sabbath as a weekly declaration that God is enough? It’s a way of saying, “God, you’re in control. The world keeps turning even when I stop working. I trust you to provide. I trust you with what didn’t finish today.” Sabbath isn’t primarily about following another rule. It’s about nurturing our relationship with God. It’s about trusting him enough to stop, worship, rest, and remember that he is the one who sustains our lives.

Sabbath School panel discussion and insight by 3ABN pastors and teachers. This podcast episode follows 2026 quarter 3, lesson 10 of the adult Bible study guide book. This quarter's book topic is “First and Second Corinthians”, and this week's Sabbath School lesson is titled “Authentic Christian Ministry”. Join us every week for a fresh and relevant study of the word of God.  Reading: 2 Cor. 3:1–9, 2 Cor. 4:7–18, 2 Cor. 5:11–15, Col. 1:19–23, Eph. 2:13–16, 2 Cor. 6:11–7:1, 2 Corinthians 7. Memory Text: “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you” (2 Corinthians 2:4, NKJV). August 30 - September 04 Sunday, Ryan Johnson – Fruits of an Authentic MinistryMonday, John Lomacang – Suffering and GloryTuesday, Jill Morikone – Christ-focused Ministry of ReconciliationWednesday, James Rafferty – Call to HolinessThursday, Shelley Quinn – Comfort and Joy Want the Panelists' notes? You can sign up here: https://3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com/notes/ Questions or Comments? Email us at mail@3abn.org Donate: https://3abn.org/donate-quick.html

Clinton Twp. Campus - Sam Anderson *** Join Kensington Church here: kensingtonchurch.org Follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/kensingtonchurch Catch us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/kensingtonchurch

Every year, we step away from our normal routines as every Room of our House pauses its regular gatherings and meetings to embrace the rhythm of Sabbath. We realize the idea of not gathering from Sunday-Sunday is a little crazy on the surface, but we are guided by a deeper spiritual belief that God intended to weave Sabbath rest into the fabric of creation. We believe that as we cease from our efforts and celebrate again that God is the source of all we have and need, we will experience renewed strength and vision as a House. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From dinosaurs to flying birds, beauty queens to eating snakes we've got it all for you on our monthly mixtape. Join us for some brand new tunes and some all time bangers. Dinosaur Jr - Blowin' Up Beacon - Between the Waves Ace of Base - Young and Proud The Clientele - Harvest Time Paul & Linda McCartney - Eat At Home Enigma - I Love You... I'll Kill You Beauty Queen - Blade of Light Mastadon - Snakes For Dinner Rattlesnake Milk - Bank Robber The Cranberries - Sunday Good Flying Birds - Every Day Is Another Ace of Base - Voulez-Vous Danser This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are a number of important elements in parsha “Ki Tavo” (Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8) — but it’s probably known for being the most daunting collection of curses in the Bible. And — again — that puts it, arguably, at the heart of the destruction of Western Civilization. Is that deserved? Mark Call, of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship, begins to lay out the issue in the Erev Shabbat reading: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SSM-8-28-26-Ki-Tavo-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3 The words ‘ki tavo,’ are translated from the Hebrew as “when you have come” – into the land. And those curses certainly apply there. And one of the specific consequences is ‘shalach’ – or being “sent out.” Exiled. And that has happened – to BOTH kingdoms. And it REMAINS the case to this day. So – do the curses still apply? Or not? And don’t miss the irony in the fact that some who say, “of COURSE not” – because “the law is done away with” – probably should be paying more attention. NOTE: ‘Curses’ are another one of those topic that tends to upset people. Particularly when they hit close to home, and Mark again pulls no punches. Neither does Scripture, of course. “Ki Tavo: Most Curses in the Whole Bible – Does it MATTER?” https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WT-CooH-8-28-26-Ki-Tavo-Curses-Public-private-and-by-acquiescence-podcast-xxx.mp3 Service information: Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship worship services and teachings are broadcast live every Sabbath, via Paltalk. (www.paltalk.com has both the link, and the app.) The “room name” is “Walking Torah with Shabbat Shalom Mesa,” and can be found via the paltalk search, then bookmarked. Erev Shabbat services begin at 7:00 PM Mountain Time Friday evenings (9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central) Live Sabbath teachings begin shortly after 11 AM Mountain time on Sabbath day (Saturday). email: mark@markniwot.com The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:

Why was the New Testament Church not to eat blood or strangled animals? How does this relate to Sabbath?

Daniel's Prayer Was “seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong'” MESSAGE SUMMARY: There are times when you need clarity, understanding, knowledge and insights from God about the specific issues that you, your family, your church, or your country are facing. In your personal relationship with God as a Jesus Follower, the Lord will speak to you; but sometimes it takes your listening and fasting to hear Him. For example, when Joel received a Word when the land was to be destroyed, he called a fast (i.e. Joel 1:14): “Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.”. Some things you are facing in your life must be dealt with by both prayer and fasting. Fasting releases a spiritual power – in your weakness, God is made strong in your life. Daniel's prayer, from Daniel 9:3-5, provides a context for asking direction from God: “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.'".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Joel 1:13-16; Matthew 6:16; Daniel 9:3-7; Psalms138:1-8. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Is Your Life's Focus on Jesus the Narrow Door and the Only Door to Your Eternal Life?”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Our bodies need rest. Our hearts need healing. Our souls need the presence of God. On the seventh day of creation, God implemented rest which is a ceasing from work, a rhythm that Adam enjoyed immediately. The Israelites in the wilderness were commanded to collect extra food ahead of their sabbath day and trust that God had given them enough. In Matthew 11, Jesus invites us to reorder our hurried lives around Him. Jesus is our rest. Pastor Ryan Akers teaches this week's message from our mini-series, “Rest and Work.”Click here for message notes.Click here for the discussion questions for this episode.Find us on:YouTube: YouTube.com/TheHarborInstagram: Instagram.com/TheHarbor_lifeFacebook: Facebook.com/TheHarbordotlifeWebsite: https://www.TheHarbor.lifeWatch/listen on The Harbor AppNew episode every week!

We're taking two weeks off from meeting in person at New Vision Church — not to disappear, but to rest. We call it "fallow to hallow," a season to let our hearts lie fallow so we can come back more fruitful. In this message, we talk about why rest is so hard to actually do, what Scripture says about Sabbath, and what it means to trust God enough to stop.New Vision Church, Fayetteville, Georgia.A community to belong, be loved, and believe.newvisionc.com | @nvcnextgen

The Sabbath was a gift from God, but the Pharisees turned it into a burden. They missed the heart behind the Sabbath. But Jesus reminds them of the purpose of the Sabbath and tells them that He is Lord of the Sabbath.

Sunday, 30 August 2026   They said to Him, “Caesar's.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” Matthew 22:21   “They say to Him, ‘Caesar's.' Then He says to them, ‘You render, therefore, those Caesar's to Caesar, and those the ‘God's' to God.'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus asked the Pharisees and Herodians whose image and inscription were on the coin. In response to that, “They say to Him, ‘Caesar's.'”   Rather than holding up the coin and saying, “Look, this is Caesar's image and inscription,” Jesus had them respond to His question. By doing so, they have, with their own mouths, affirmed that the coin they used belonged not to the Jewish nation, but to their overlords, the Romans.   Therefore, their thought of trapping Jesus in His words will fail. Their question to Him in Verse 17 was not an either/or response after all. Instead, the correct response, when thought through, is seen in the continued exchange, “Then He says to them, ‘You render, therefore, those Caesar's to Caesar.'”   The nation was subject to Rome. They used its currency, they lived by whatever laws were imposed on them, and they could be elevated in the Roman society or cast into Roman prisons. The coin in Jesus' hand confirmed this. To say otherwise would be an act of rebellion against those who ruled over them. Along with that thought, Jesus says, “and those the ‘God's' to God.”   To the Jews, whether they believed in God or not, they knew that the culture of the nation was established on the premise that there is a God and that He had given His law through Moses to the nation. Nobody would deny that. Anyone who spoke against it could be punished up to death, even if the death penalty had been reserved for Rome to mete out.   As this is so, their laws mandated many things that the people were expected to do. This included the sacrificial system, the tithes and offerings, observing particular days like the Sabbath and the Day of Atonement, etc. Even the garments they wore had aspects mandated in the Law of Moses.   The crops they could grow in a field and the types of food they could eat were also governed by the law. Obedience to the law was considered rendering to God because their law came from Him. These points were undeniable, and these leaders' attempts to trap Jesus in His words had failed, epically.   Life application: If these men had taken .00156 seconds to think through what their own Scriptures said, they would have seen the error in their thinking concerning an either/or answer to the question they asked of Jesus. In Jeremiah 29, it says –   “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:4-9   The fate of the people, be it living in freedom, in captivity, or under the rule of their enemies in their own land, was solely at the will of the Lord. This is recorded throughout Judges and onward. The word of the Lord through Jeremiah explicitly notes this.   It is the Lord who sent them into exile. He did it by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, and their exile was to Babylon. This wasn't an aberration. Rather, it was prophesied in advance, and even the number of years the exile would continue was told to them by Jeremiah in his words to them.   During the time of that exile, at the Lord's direction, they were expected to render unto Babylon the things that belonged to Babylon. Babylon was God's chosen instrument to chastise Israel for its aberrant ways. If they rebelled against the authority placed over them, there would be consequences.   The Lord instructed them to live in peace in their new land. To disobey that would be to incur the Lord's wrath. Likewise, they would incur the wrath of those who held them captive. That truth has not changed to this day. Whether they accept their state in the world or not, and whether they believe in the Lord or not, they are to render unto whatever nation they live in what belongs to that nation, and they are to render unto God what belongs to Him.   The same is true for believers. Paul says in Romans 13 –   “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1, 2   Stand on the word when such things arise. God has ordained your time, place, and station in life. Live within the framework of those things in a manner that will honor Him.   Lord God, in so many ways, You have taken the pressure off us. When Your word tells us to do something, all we need to do is be obedient to what You have said. Help us to remember this, complying with such things according to Your will for each of us. Amen.

From dinosaurs to flying birds, beauty queens to eating snakes we've got it all for you on our monthly mixtape. Join us for some brand new tunes and some all time bangers. Dinosaur Jr - Blowin' Up Beacon - Between the Waves Ace of Base - Young and Proud The Clientele - Harvest Time Paul & Linda McCartney - Eat At Home Enigma - I Love You... I'll Kill You Beauty Queen - Blade of Light Mastadon - Snakes For Dinner Rattlesnake Milk - Bank Robber The Cranberries - Sunday Good Flying Birds - Every Day Is Another Ace of Base - Voulez-Vous Danser This show is part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew 12:1-14 12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God

Is Your Life's Focus on Jesus the Narrow Door and the Only Door to Your Eternal Life? MESSAGE SUMMARY: From the Gospel of Luke (12:49-56): “Jesus the Narrow Door” Introduction from “Jesus the Divider”:  While Jesus does bring us “Peace”, Jesus tells us that His ways are not always our ways; and Jesus does not always bring us “Peace”. In the world, we have tribulation; but Jesus has overcome the world. In Jesus, we do have “Peace”; but when we do stand with and for Jesus, “division” and conflict are created. In this passage from Luke 12, Jesus wants His followers to know that following Him will have a cost in terms of conflict and worldly tribulation. Many in and of the world will not tolerate our communication of the Gospel. Jesus is not saying that “division” is good. Rather, Jesus, in John 17:22-23, expresses His desire, to the Father, for His followers to all be at one with Him and the Father. However, Jesus is warning us that “division” is inevitable because we are human and sinners. Jesus ends His message to those assembled, in Luke 12:54-56, with: “He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.' And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,' and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?'". In this passage, Jesus was pointing toward His purpose on earth and the cross; but no one understood His message at the time period of His teaching in Luke – they could not read God's signs. Do we see and follow God's signs, or do we miss them and become party to creating “divisions”? Today's Message -- Jesus the Narrow Door: In our Gospel focus from Luke 13:22-30, Jesus was pointing His earthly ministry toward Jerusalem, the Cross, Resurrection, and His Ascension. Jesus was asked, in Luke 13:23-25, a pivotal question; and He responded: “And someone said to him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?' And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.'”". It's not that Jesus doesn't want all to be saved, it's just that the “gate”, to our Salvation, is “narrow” and difficult to enter. As Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, that Jesus wants all people to be saved: “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.". However, all people will not be saved because some will not come to Jesus – they don't want to be saved. In Luke 13:26-30, those rejected by the master of the house argue for admission: “” Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, ‘I tell you; I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!' In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”". Jesus is the “narrow door” and the “gate” by which we enter the Kingdom of God and our Salvation. Jesus Himself tells us in John 10:9-10: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”. We have been given the job, by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20, to help others find the “narrow door”. As believers in the Gospel and followers of Jesus, we are invited, in Revelation 19:9-10, to the “Marriage Super of the Lamb”: ““And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.' Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.' For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”". Is your focus on Jesus, the ”Narrow Door”, that is the only way to the Kingdom of God and your Eternal Life?   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 12:49-56; John 16:36; John 17:22-23; John 14:27; Luke 13:22-30; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Matthew 7:13-14; Hebrews 11:1-40; John 10:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20; Revelation 19:9-10; Psalms 33a:1-11.   SCRIPTURE REFERENCE SEARCH: www.AWFTL.org/bible-search/ WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Daniel's Prayer Was “seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong'””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.   DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

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How do we stay compassionate without abandoning discernment? On today's Fan Mail Friday, I'm answering your questions about enjoying the little years without fearing what comes next, a pastor husband's changing relationship with alcohol, helping others without enabling them, calling out false teachers, teenagers who seem embarrassed by their faith, and whether Christians have lost the gift of Sabbath rest. We're covering a lot of ground today, but it all comes back to the same thing: we need biblical wisdom for the everyday decisions we're facing.Sponsors: Bob Jones University — http://bju.edu/visit | Angel Studios — http://angel.com/Heidi | My Freedom Cart — http://myfreedomcart.com Shop MyFreedomCart for trusted, American-made products that support your values.http://myfreedomcart.com/heidiShow mentions: http://heidistjohn.com/mentionsWebsite | http://heidistjohn.comSupport the show! | http://donorbox.org/donation-827Rumble | rumble.com/user/HeidiStJohnYoutube |    / @‌heidistjohnpodcast  Instagram | @‌heidistjohnFacebook | Heidi St. JohnX | @‌heidistjohnFaith That Speaks Online CommunitySubmit your questions for Fan Mail Friday | http://heidistjohn.com/fanmailfriday