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The Gospel of John Week 11 Scripture: John 7:22-59. Pastor opens by sharing details of the Feast of Tabernacles and the scriptures of the Living Water that were read during this 8 day festival. Festival readings included: Ezekiel 47:1-12, Zechariah 14:8 and Jeremiah 17:13b.  As our story opens, it is the Feast of Tabernacles and these scriptures would have been read. Pastor goes on to share that there has been much learned over the last 100 years and especially in the last 15 or so that helps to bring this text and the story alive. As we look at what we know about the time of Jesus and what we are discovering, they are changing our understanding of the Bible, bringing a new sense of significance and even urgency as what we are discovering is a testimony that says, “This is real!” Some recent archeological work has found what is believed to be the City of David - but not at all where it was thought to be, and the discovery of the Hezekiah Tunnel, and more recently the Pool of Siloam show us a different location than originally thought for the Pool and also that it was a very large pool, not a small one. Also that it was filled with fresh water by the Han Spring flowing through the Hezekiah Tunnel into the Pool. The Pool of Siloam was the only fresh - or living water in the city of Jerusalem. Pastor shares the events of Tabernacles and the pouring out of water into the Temple by the priests carrying it from the Pool of Siloam for the first 7 days of the festival.  On the 7th Day they carried and poured water 7 times in the Temple.  So as our story continues, it's either Day 7 (7 times the priests poured water in the Temple) or it's Day 8 (the day of rejoicing, and celebration) when we read verse 37-38, “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” He is essentially telling them that what you've been doing for the last week with the pouring of water, point to Me and it's what the prophets said would happen when Messiah comes, that living water would pour out of the Temple. And then it goes on in verse 39, “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.and that the Living Water is the Holy Spirit.”  Jesus is saying that He is the fulfillment of what the prophets have declared and that everyone who believes on Him will receive the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is calling us to a new day - the fulfillment of what the prophets have said - Messiah-  is here!  And He, the Messiah, gives the Holy Spirit. Jesus is claiming to be God. At this some called Him prophet, others called Him Messiah and others were in disbelief and angry. The crowd became divided with many wanting to seize Jesus.  The temple guard go and report back to the chief priests. The chief priests were Sadducees and they united with the Pharisees, a group that they did not get along with but they did unite together over their desire to do away with Jesus.  The very ones who should have embraced Jesus as the Messiah, instead say, “Let's kill Him.” Pastor concludes by saying in 6 months from this event  of Tabernacles, the Passover will be celebrated and we will see Jesus dead, and raised during another important festival and how this festival too, finds its fulfillment in Jesus.      Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

The Gospel of John Week 10 Scripture: John 6:22-7:24. Our teaching today starts with Jesus saying He is the Bread of Life.  He is teaching from the synagogue at Capernaum. Jesus is the rabbi that is teaching. In a service in the synagogue in the first century, people talk back and forth asking questions and engaging with the rabbi.  It can get heated - and what Jesus says is causing things to become heated.  He continues to say many things in this dialogue:     ⁃    I am the Bread of Life     ⁃    Believe in Me and you will not hunger or thirst     ⁃    You've seen Me yet you still do not believe     ⁃    Whoever comes to Me I will not drive away     ⁃    I have come down from heaven to do the Father's will     ⁃    I will raise them on the last day     ⁃    My Father's will is that everyone look to the Son and believe in Me      ⁃    In Me is eternal life Pastor talks about a current day synagogue built on the first century synagogue there in Capernaum in Jesus' day and shares pictures. This current day synagogue is built on the foundation of the synagogue of Jesus' day.The foundation of black basalt from the first century is still visible. On this basalt foundation is built the several other synagogues with the newest synagogue built over these others. But the basalt rock shows us just where Jesus was as He gave the teaching we are studying today.   Pastor also shares what the inside of a synagogue in Jesus' day would have looked like in order to help us visualize today's story As our story continues, John 6:53-57 “Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.”   Pastor helps us understand this:     ⁃    Jesus is Jewish     ⁃    The crowd He's talking to is Jewish     ⁃    Hearing what Jesus is saying - the listeners would have processed what Jesus was saying through a Jewish perspective - their thought would have gone to temple sacrifices where they brought their sacrifices to the Temple     ⁃    The blood was drained from the animal and sprinkled on the altar because without the shedding of bleed there is no forgiveness     ⁃    We have sinned against a Holy God and that requires blood to be shed     ⁃    Jesus is saying here that He is the real sacrifice     ⁃    “I am the One who offers up My flesh and blood for the life of the world”     ⁃    “If you do not realize who I am, that I am the One the Father has promised, then you don't have life”The scriptures all along have said that God Himself would pay the price for our sin. Old Testament offerings were offered up day after day, year after year, but Jesus is the offering made once for all.  Jesus is saying that He is the “Once for all sacrifice” and many of the people following Jesus turned away from Him after He said this.  Jesus then turns to His disciples and asks if they want to leave Him too, but Peter answers: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” Note Peter says, “we have come to believe” and then he says, “and to know that You are the holy One of God.”This is highly significant as we human beings think that we know in order to believe. Pastor shares a personal story of an interaction from a friend who brought this truth to light that “I do not know in order o believer, instead, I believer in order to know God.”  So many time we say, “if you prove this to me (once I know it)  then I'll believe.” But what Jesus calls us to do is to believe FIRST and then we will know Him. When we trust and follow Him - He reveals himself to us. Pastor comes with a look at three Jewish festivals - and how each has its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.      Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

[00:30] Fighting for Americans' Health (35 minutes) Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces a lot of criticism from the media and political establishment, but President Donald Trump loves him because he is a fighter who is targeting the root problems of our national health crises. [35:00] Scholars in the Tabernacle (15 minutes) Scholarly reasoning invites satanic influence. [50:00] The United States and Britain in Prophecy Documentary: Part 11 (4 minutes)

The Gospel of John Week 9 Scripture: John 5:41- 6:22. The feeding of the 5,000 (this is 5,000 men plus all the women and children there).  Speculation is that there were close to 10,000 people there and from five loaves of barley bread and two fish, Jesus multiplies the food and feeds all 10,000.  And not just a small portion, but as much as they wanted! Can you picture it? What is everyone thinking? What are they whispering to each other about this amazing miracle?  Then Jesus has the leftovers gathered filling twelve baskets. This feeding of the 5,000 happened during Passover - a time the Jewish people remember God delivering His people from captivity, feeding them manna and leading them out of captivity by tribes.  12 tribes feed manna by God and now we have twelve baskets and the people fed fish and loaves by Jesus. Jesus is providing for them just as the Heavenly Father did in the wilderness. With this being Passover - this likeness had to be obvious to them, because we read that they began to recognize that Jesus is the One Moses predicted.  John 6:14 “After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” In Deuteronomy we read “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”  Deuteronomy 18:15) They thought when Messiah came He would bring them back to the glories of the time of King David and so Jesus withdraws to a mountain by Himself.  “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” John 6:15 Pastor speculates on which mountain this may have been and shares pictures. Later that evening the disciples went to their boat and set off into the Sea of Galilee. Pastor then shares the discovery of a Sea of Galilee boat found in the summer of 1985.  There was a drought and the Sea of Galilee had sunk to a new low and a couple brothers, amateur archeologist, went searching for items of antiquity and they found a 2,000 year old fishing boat from Jesus' day! Our story continues with the disciples struggling against a storm and they see someone walking toward them. They do not recognize it is Jesus until He says, “I Am, don't be afraid.” This is the same name God gave Moses, “I Am.”  Jesus is saying He is the God of the Old Testament who appeared to Moses. When we are going through the storms of life - the person we want in the boat with us is Jesus! The story continues with “Then immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” What was that like!!?? The author, John, continues to emphasize who Jesus is - Jesus is the One that Moses predicted - He is the Living God who took on human flesh, gave Himself for all, and shows us all the attributes of the Divine in His life, ministry and work. And His disciples are coming to the realization that Jesus is the One that Moses predicted! He is the only One who can deliver His people and He does only what God can do. These stories are Real people in Real situations, in a Real boat, encountering the Real Savior! And that changes their lives forever - May it also change the lives of everyone of us!      Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Join us this episode for a conversation with Norbert Weidner, MD, Professor and Chair of the Spinal Cord Injury Center at Heidelberg University Hospital. In this conversation we discuss results of the Neuroimmunophilin Nogo-A Antibody in Spinal Cord Injury (NISCI) trial, published in a paper titled "Safety and efficacy of intrathecal antibodies to Nogo-A in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial" in the journal Lancet Neurology. In this paper Weidner and their NISCI team discuss the top-line findings from a large multi-center clinical trial where antibodies against Nogo-A were administered to the spinal space early after acquired SCI. We invite you to listen in as Dr. Weidner gives an insider perspective on the NISCI trial, and trust you will enjoy our conversation on intrathecal drug delivery in the acute phase of SCI.

Last time we spoke about the Battle for South Sakhalin and the Kurile Islands. In August 1945, as Japan teetered on the edge of destruction following the atomic bombings, a desperate situation unfolded. The Soviet Union launched a sudden invasion of Manchuria, catching Japanese forces off guard. On August 14, Japan's decision to surrender was made, announced to the world the following day. However, the Kwantung Army resisted fiercely, engaging in frantic evacuations. In South Sakhalin, Japanese defenders clashed with advancing Soviet troops, facing overwhelming odds. By August 18, chaos reigned on the Japanese side, with forces surrendering and civilians in panic. As the Soviets pushed forward, the situation became increasingly dire for Japan. Despite valiant resistance, the imminent defeat became clear. In a moment of critical decision, Emperor Hirohito accepted the surrender terms, officially sealing Japan's fate and marking the end of the Pacific War. However the Soviets had not yet stopped their onslaught.  This episode is the Soviet Victory in Asia Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  We are drawing near to the real conclusion of this series! Japan has officially surrendered, however the Soviets are not done just yet. East asia is a delicious piece of cake, laid wide open and Stalin intends to take every piece he can grab before the curtain falls. Now as we last left off it was August 18, and General Yamada's Kwantung Army had surrendered to the Soviet forces led by Marshal Vasilevsky, who were advancing rapidly through Manchuria. Yet, some Japanese units, like those at Kalgan, continued to resist occupation until the month's end. On August 19, following Yamada's announcement that all military operations had ceased, a Soviet delegation arrived at Hsinking.  A daring operation took place, where a 225-strong detachment from the 6th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, part of the 5th Guards Tank Corps, was airlifted to the city's main airfield. This mission, along with others, was carried out under orders from Marshal Vasilevsky on August 18, following the commander's initial offer of surrender from the Kwantung Army. Vasilevsky's directive was urgent: “The Japanese resistance is broken, and the challenging road conditions hinder the swift advance of our main forces. We need to deploy specially formed, fast-moving, and well-equipped units to capture Changchun, Mukden, Jilin, and Harbin immediately. These units should remain flexible for future missions, regardless of their distance from the main forces.”The push to accelerate operations came directly from Stalin himself. In Kulichkin's biography of Marshal Vasilevsky, he recounts a pivotal phone call on August 15. Stalin was informed that the Japanese had “lost command and control” and were unable to mount a strong defense, with their forces divided into several fragmented groups. Vasilevsky confidently stated, “Even a miracle cannot save the Japanese from total defeat,” stressing the need to maintain the momentum of the offensive. Stalin's response was straightforward: “Good. We need to increase the pace. What proposals do you have?” Vasilevsky revealed plans to use airborne assault forces against larger cities like Harbin, Changchun, Jilin, and Mukden, alongside advanced mobile units across all combined arms armies. These units, consisting of tanks and assault guns, were fully equipped with desantniki, ready to engage firmly in the ongoing operations. The landing at Shenyang revealed a remarkable twist of fate. Waiting at the airfield for evacuation to Japan was none other than the recently abdicated Emperor Puyi of Manchukuo. On August 15, 1945, Puyi tuned in to the radio and listened to Emperor Hirohito's address announcing Japan's surrender. In this historic speech, the Showa Emperor referred to the Americans' use of a "most unusual and cruel bomb," which had just devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For Puyi, this was the first revelation of the atomic bombings, information that the Japanese had conveniently withheld from him until that moment. The aircraft carrying Major Chelyshev's force, escorted by fighter planes, landed at 1:15 PM without any opposition and captured him. This small unit's survival hinged on remaining unchallenged, and they successfully secured the airfield. They also freed several Allied personnel held at the nearby Hoten prisoner-of-war camp. As soon as the landing was secured, additional reinforcements were airlifted in later that day, led by General Kravchenko, the commander of the 6th Guards Tank Army. He formally accepted the city's surrender, and the Soviets then transported Puyi to the Siberian town of Chita.  Meanwhile, Vasilevsky's ground offensive pressed on, mostly unopposed, though some resistance persisted. In the Transbaikal Front, Marshal Malinovsky's General Pliyev led his cavalry-mechanized units against the Japanese forces at Kalgan. Other units reached Jehol and accepted the surrender of the 108th Division. General Danilov's 17th Army secured the Shanhaiguan coast, while General Managarov's 53rd Army pushed towards Kailu. The main force of General Kravchenko's 6th Guards Tank Army regrouped at Tungliao and Kaitung, preparing to advance south toward Mukden. General Lyudnikov's 39th Army steadily approached Changchun, confronting the bypassed 107th Division, and General Luchinsky's 36th Army occupied Tsitsihar, accepting the surrender of the 136th Independent Mixed Brigade. At the same time, on General Purkayev's 2nd Far Eastern Front, General Teryokhin's 2nd Red Banner Army continued its siege of the Aihun fortified region. Meanwhile, a forward detachment moved slowly south through the Lesser Khinghan Mountains. General Mamonov's 15th Army began capturing and processing prisoners from the many retreating Japanese units after a successful amphibious assault secured Sansing. The Amur Flotilla supported the army's push towards Harbin, while General Pashkov's 5th Rifle Corps finally reached Poli, which had already been occupied by other Soviet units. In Marshal Meretskov's 1st Far Eastern Front, forward detachments of General Zakhvatayev's 35th Army began arriving at Linkou, focusing on the surrender of Japanese units in the area. Rear elements effectively eliminated the last traces of enemy resistance in the Hutou fortified area.  After a challenging struggle through the wetlands and the capture of Mishan on August 12, advanced detachments of the 35th Army's main force, the 66th and 363rd Rifle Divisions, continued their advance against minimal opposition. The situation was starkly different to their rear, where the 1056th Rifle Regiment of the 264th Rifle Division, supported by the heavily reinforced 109th Fortified Region, worked to dismantle the now-isolated Hutou fortified area. Despite the dire circumstances, the garrison refused to surrender. Thus, the focus shifted to systematically eliminating their defenses, which became a painstaking task. The attackers deployed an artillery destruction group, secured air supremacy, and utilized well-trained assault formations. Their techniques included pouring kerosene or gasoline into ventilation shafts of underground structures, sometimes in alarming quantities. For instance, two tonnes of gasoline were recorded being poured into a single installation before ignition was applied. Despite the brutal and methodical obliteration of their positions, the defenders continued to ignore orders to surrender. Notably, on August 18, a Japanese prisoner was sent under a flag of truce to inform those still holding out that the war was officially over; tragically, he was hacked to death by a sword-wielding officer. Ultimately, this stubbornness led to catastrophic consequences: about 3,000 defenders were killed, blasted and burned, before a small number finally capitulated. Additionally, advanced detachments of General Beloborodov's 1st Red Banner Army reached Shangzhi before continuing towards Harbin, and forward elements of General Krylov's 5th Army pushed on toward Jilin. General Chistyakov's 25th Army commenced disarming General Murakami's 3rd Army, while the 10th Mechanized Corps advanced rapidly westward, crossing the Laoilin Mountain passes to arrive at Tunhua by nightfall. Over in North Korea, the 335th Rifle Division successfully landed in Chongjin, as General Kabanov's Southern Defense Region prepared for an assault on Gensan. In South Sakhalin, despite the surrender of the 125th Regiment and ongoing negotiations with General Mineki's 88th Division, Soviet forces opted to proceed with the planned landing at Maoka. Consequently, Admiral Andreyev's Northern Pacific Flotilla departed from Sovetskaya Gavan in the morning, carrying the bulk of the 113th Rifle Brigade along with a battalion of marines for the long and challenging voyage to Maoka. On Shumshu Island, as General Gnechko's forces were landing their artillery to renew their assault, Japanese officers unexpectedly approached the Soviets under flags of truce, carrying a letter from General Tsutsumi proposing negotiations for surrender. Representatives from both sides began discussions, and by 6 PM, the 91st Division formally surrendered the garrisons of Shumshu, Paramushir, and Onekotan. On August 20, Gnechko dispatched a small detachment on six vessels to seize control of the airfield at Kataoka. However, as they crossed the Second Kuril Strait, batteries on both sides of the narrow waterway opened heavy fire on the Soviet ships, forcing them to withdraw. This breach of the surrender agreement sparked a renewed offensive at 1 PM, coordinated with air strikes. The bases at Kataoka and Kashiwabar were bombed by 61 aircraft, which dropped over 200 bombs, enabling ground troops to push forward up to six kilometers. It was not until General Tsutsumi intervened that the Soviets were assured the Japanese would indeed lay down their arms. Meanwhile, Andreyev's convoy arrived at Maoka harbor on the morning of August 20, successfully landing the first wave of marines amid heavy fog. They quickly spread out and secured the area while the second and third waves of infantry followed behind. By noon, the port area was secured, and the marines began advancing eastward into the city, supported by infantry on their flanks. Taken by surprise, the Japanese defenders were ultimately compelled to retreat, with the 113th Rifle Brigade pursuing them through the mountains to the villages of Futamata and Osaka. In Manchuria, between August 20 and 21, Vasilevsky's units continued their advance to occupy the region's main centers. Stalin urged for greater speed, fearing that any delay might prompt President Truman to order General MacArthur's air-naval assault forces to land there. Notably, Pliyev's first column successfully captured Kalgan, while his second column moved south toward Beijing, securing Gubeikou at the border. Located in one of the passes through the Great Wall, marking the border between Manchukuo and China, the town was garrisoned by Japanese units. These forces surrendered upon the approach of the Soviet troops, who then quickly advanced toward Beijing, about 100 kilometers away. Although not the former capital itself, this area was under the control of Chinese Communist forces known as the 8th Route Army, who aligned with the Soviets. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek was acutely aware that any Japanese capitulation to the Communists in northern China would allow the latter to occupy vital territories, making their removal difficult. Consequently, he commanded the 8th Route Army not to accept any Japanese surrenders, insisting they only surrender to Nationalist forces, with dire punishments threatened for defiance. Adding to the complexity, the Soviet Union and China had signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, discussed at Yalta, just six days earlier on August 14. This treaty promised mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. The Soviets had also committed to providing “moral support and aid in military supplies and other material resources” exclusively to the National Government as the legitimate central authority of China. Thus, a significant political and military predicament loomed. However, the Soviets quickly extricated themselves from this situation when Malinovsky issued an order forbidding Pliyev's forces from crossing the border. As Pliyev recounted, his formations were poised just halfway between Chengde and Beijing, needing “only one 'leap' to the Chinese capital.” He noted, “I had to suspend the offensive and move north beyond the Great Wall.” Units from the 6th Guards Tank Army occupied both Changchun and Mukden, initiating a rail movement towards Port Arthur and Dairen. For those curious, at Pingfan and Changchun, General Shiro Ishii and the remaining personnel from Units 731 and 100 were captured by Soviet forces. In a tragic turn of events, all test subjects were murdered and cremated, while the Japanese attempted to destroy evidence of their facilities but were unable to do so in time. Following their capture, the Soviets launched an extensive campaign to uncover the secrets behind Units 731 and 100, leading to the Khabarovsk Trial. If you want to learn more about what I would call “japans operation paperclip”, the secret dealings between Unit 731 and the Allies after the war, I did make an episode about it over on my patreon. Its pretty gruesome stuff so big disclaimer there.' The Soviets arrived to Dairen on 24 August, although these places had surrendered to air-landed forces two days earlier. This was, no doubt, much to the relief of Stalin, as these were amongst the main locations where he most feared American intervention. Indeed, on the day of the landing he had told Vasilevsky to ‘keep in mind' the fact that any delay could mean ‘Truman will order General MacArthur to land his naval assault forces'. The long-resisting 135th Independent Mixed Brigade finally surrendered at Aihun, while advanced units of the 2nd Red Banner Army secured Nencheng and Peian before pushing towards Tsitsihar and Harbin. Forward detachments from the 15th and 1st Red Banner Armies also reached the already-occupied Harbin. Furthermore, advanced units of the 5th and 25th Armies arrived in Jilin to reinforce the air-landed detachment there. Additionally, units from the 88th Rifle Corps and the 10th Mechanized Corps began their southward movement into Korea, heading toward the 38th Parallel. In North Korea, Kabanov dispatched a marine battalion and other units, totaling around 2,000 men, to occupy the fortified port of Gensan on August 20. The following morning, the landing force arrived and disembarked without opposition. However, the Japanese garrison refused to surrender until orders from higher command were received. Meanwhile, Japanese troops began to peacefully surround the harbor area, while Soviet sailors and marines, in a similarly calm manner, took up their defensive positions. As Kabanov noted, “An incomprehensible situation arose, neither peace nor war. The enemy has numerical superiority, but he neither fights nor wants to capitulate.” Unsurprisingly, he added, “the night passed in suspense.” The surreal situation was resolved when Rear Admiral Hori Yugoro and Colonel Tado boarded the frigate EK-3 to meet with Captain Studenichnikov on the morning of August 22. During their discussions, they attempted to negotiate terms, but the Soviet captain issued a bold threat of an immediate large-scale air strike and the initiation of hostilities at the port unless they surrendered unconditionally. While the latter was likely an empty threat, the Japanese officers signed the surrender agreement nonetheless. The process of surrendering the garrison began that evening and continued until August 26. In total, the Soviets captured more than 7,000 officers and men, along with all their military equipment. Looking toward the northern Kuriles, Japanese forces on Shumshu finally began to lay down their weapons on the afternoon of August 22, as Gnechko's units spread out to secure the island. In Manchuria, airborne detachments were also landed at Dairen and Port Arthur to secure these key administrative centers before the Americans could take control. Vanguard units of the 6th Guards Tank Army arrived to reinforce them two days later. Meanwhile, in South Sakhalin, heavy fighting persisted at Futamata despite Mineki's ceasefire agreement on August 22. Soviet air strikes supported the ground forces when weather conditions allowed, and the Japanese finally surrendered by the nightfall of August 23. At the same time, Andreyev dispatched three marine battalions on a small convoy to capture Otomari. However, a fierce storm forced the flotilla to seek refuge in the port of Honto on the morning of August 24. Once the storm subsided that evening, the force left a company of marines to garrison the port and resumed their voyage to Otomari, arriving there on the morning of August 25, just as elements of the 113th Rifle Brigade reached the eastern outskirts of the city. By noon, the 88th Division surrendered, and the city was secured. Shortly after, the 214th Tank Brigade arrived at Toyohara to secure South Sakhalin's administrative center. Thus, the South Sakhalin operation concluded with nearly 18,320 Japanese soldiers taken prisoner. Yet, this wouldn't mark the end of operations for General Cheremisov's 16th Army. Stalin pushed for the 87th and 135th Rifle Brigades, along with three marine battalions, to assemble at Otomari and execute amphibious landings on the southern Kurile Islands, specifically, Etorofu, Shikotan, and Kunashiri, and the islets of the Habomai group. The failure to include the Kuril Islands in the areas designated for surrender to Soviet forces in Truman's General Order No. 1, originally issued on August 15, exacerbated Stalin's inherent suspicions regarding American intentions. Consequently, Vasilevsky was instructed to organize landings on the Kurils, ensuring that, similar to Port Arthur, Soviet occupation would manifest physically through boots on the ground. Despite Truman's subsequent correction of the omission, mistrust endured, as did the directive to occupy the islands. However, where Stalin hesitated was concerning Hokkaido. Truman's somewhat abrupt rejection of Stalin's demand for a portion of Hokkaido undoubtedly irritated the Soviet dictator, yet he chose not to take further action. Scholarly debates have arisen around the rationale behind Stalin's ‘retreat.' When viewed within the framework of his stated geostrategic goal of securing the Soviet Union's sea lines of communication in the Pacific, it becomes understandable. Churchill once likened the Soviet Union's challenges in this regard to those of a “giant with his nostrils pinched.” A look at the map reveals that control of the Kurils would significantly alleviate this pressure in the Far East, making their acquisition crucial. Similarly, occupying southern Sakhalin would allow the Soviet Union to control the northern side of the La Pérouse Strait, which connects the Sea of Japan to the Sea of Okhotsk. The strait's opposite shore is formed by the northern coast of Hokkaido, and possessing this area would undeniably enhance the security of communications and is therefore highly desirable. However, any unilateral action in this regard would incur a significant and public breach with the Americans, the consequences of which could not be easily predicted. Given that Stalin's claim to the Kurils was firmly based on the agreement reached at Yalta, an agreement which Truman honored, his choice to avoid completely rupturing relations with the U.S. was motivated by strategic self-interest. Consequently, Andreyev's flotilla, carrying these units, departed Otomari on August 27, reaching the west coast of Etorofu at 3:15 AM on August 28. The landing, conducted using small boats, went unopposed and was met by the surrender of General Ogawa's 89th Division. The occupation of the other islands was also peaceful, with the Soviets securing Kunashiri by September 2, and Shikotan and the Habomai islets by September 5. The remaining northern Kurile Islands surrendered without incident as elements of Gnechko's Kamchatka forces arrived at Paramushir on August 24, Onekotan and Shiashkotan on August 25, Matsuwa by August 26, Shimushiru on August 27, and Uruppu by August 29. In total, 63,840 prisoners were taken throughout the Kuriles. On August 24, air-landed detachments arrived at the cities of Pyongyang and Kange to secure the last administrative centers in North Korea. Two days later, units of the 25th Army reached Gensan. With this move, albeit with some geographical liberties, Chistyakov asserted that "the troops of the 25th Army, on the orders of Marshal Meretskov, reached the 38th Parallel.” In the days that followed, units of General Kushibuchi's 34th Army gradually began to surrender and disarm. Finally, in Manchuria, most of Yamada's units had surrendered and were being disarmed. However, one unit continued to resist until the end of the month. The bypassed and encircled 107th Division was engaged in fierce fighting for survival against the 94th Rifle Corps. Due to a lack of communication with Kwantung Army Headquarters, they did not receive any ceasefire orders. As a result, a staff officer from General Iida's 30th Army was dispatched by plane to locate the division and deliver the ceasefire orders. The 107th Division was found near Chalai, and the plane made a forced landing between the Japanese troops and the opposing Soviet forces. The staff officer successfully delivered the orders terminating hostilities in that sector on August 30, which the Japanese troops promptly complied with. By September 1, units of the 53rd Army occupied Kailu, Chaoyang, Fuhsin, and Gushanbeitseifu, while forward detachments secured the Chinchou area on the Liaotung Peninsula. This marked the conclusion of the Manchurian campaign, with the Soviets claiming to have captured between 594,000 and 609,000 prisoners of war across Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, and North Korea. The captured Japanese military personnel were subjected to forced labor in Siberian internment camps, as well as camps in Sakhalin, Manchuria, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. A significant number were assigned to the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline. Unfortunately, the treatment of prisoners of war was deemed inhumane and mishandled. Many suffered from malnutrition, overwork, cave-ins, floods, unsanitary working conditions leading to epidemics, harsh winter weather, violent guards, and brutal suppression of even mild resistance. Disturbingly, some Japanese prisoners were even lynched by their fellow captives. Estimates suggest that between 60,000 and 347,000 Japanese died in captivity. Although 18,616 prisoners were released in 1946, the process of repatriating prisoners of war extended into the 1950s. Those who remained after 1950 were detained for various convictions. However, their release began in 1953 under different amnesties. Following Josef Stalin's death and the subsequent Khrushchev Thaw, the Soviet attitude toward the remaining Japanese prisoners shifted significantly. Accompanied by Soviet officials, they were taken on tours of cities and allowed to purchase gifts for their families. Before repatriation, a banquet in Khabarovsk, hosted by Nikolai Gagen, included high-ranking prisoners such as Jun Ushiroku as attendees. The last major group of 1,025 Japanese POWs was released on December 23, 1956. After that, some Japanese POWs were released in small groups, with some only returning in the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Interestingly, some prisoners who had been held for decades, many of whom had married and started families during their captivity, chose not to return permanently to Japan. The Soviets committed numerous war crimes during their invasion and occupation of Manchuria and other Japanese territories. During the invasion, Soviet soldiers killed and raped Japanese civilians and looted civilian property. Following the Soviet invasion of Manchuria on August 9, 1945, a large number of Japanese citizens residing in the region sought to repatriate to Japan. The Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers supervised this mass movement and, in October 1945, delegated responsibility to Japan's Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Kwantung Army, which was meant to protect the Japanese settlers in Manchuria, quickly retreated and abandoned them. With most able-bodied men drafted into the army, the majority of those left behind were women, children, and the elderly, rendering them highly vulnerable to attacks from Soviet soldiers and local Chinese seeking revenge.In Soviet-occupied Manchuria and North Korea, the repatriation of Japanese civilians was characterized by violent expulsions, accompanied by widespread looting, mass killings, and rampant sexual violence perpetrated by both Soviet soldiers and local populations seeking retribution. Many Japanese civilians succumbed to starvation, disease, mass killings, and mass suicides. Approximately 223,000 Japanese civilians residing in the Soviet-occupied zones died, most within a year and a half after August 9, 1945. Regarding the extensive rape of Japanese women and girls by Soviet soldiers, a former Japanese soldier, Wakatsuki Yoshio, detailed these grim experiences in his memoir, The Records of Postwar Repatriation “What word can possibly describe the violence committed by the Soviet soldiers on Japanese women? I can only think of the word “hideous”. The victim could be a girl of twelve or thirteen years old or an old lady of almost seventy years old. These soldiers did not choose the sites where they raped them, in public, in broad daylight, even on snow-covered roads”. The Soviet invasion of Manchuria in 1945 left many Japanese women stranded after their male family members were either conscripted or killed. These women, including young girls, endured severe hardships, facing gang rapes by Soviet soldiers and local Chinese militia groups. In a desperate effort to survive, many were forced to marry Chinese men, either out of necessity or in exchange for assistance in repatriating their remaining family members. Disturbingly, some victims were as young as thirteen. Some women were held in groups and subjected to repeated sexual violence over extended periods. In certain instances, to ensure the safety of the group, members of the Japanese community offered women to their perpetrators. There were also reports of women voluntarily submitting themselves to protect their families, younger peers, or others in their communities. After Japan's defeat in 1945, leaders of the Kurokawa Settler Group in Manchuria offered approximately 15 young women, aged 17 to 21, to Soviet soldiers in exchange for protection. This tragic practice continued from September to November 1945, with some of the women later being offered to Chinese soldiers as well. With no protection from Japanese soldiers, Japanese women often had to devise unique strategies to avoid rape. Memoirs from female repatriates detail various escape tactics. Some women hid in attics every night, narrowly avoiding capture or even gunfire. Others managed to trap intruders in rooms before fleeing or bribed Soviet soldiers with valuables, such as wristwatches, to secure their escape. Notably, some women, particularly former geisha and bar workers, voluntarily went with Soviet soldiers to protect others. These women were referred to as tokkōtai (kamikaze) for their self-sacrifice. Additionally, it wasn't just Japanese women who suffered; Korean and Chinese women were also victims of sexual violence at the hands of various perpetrators in Manchuria. British and American reports indicate that Soviet Red Army troops looted and terrorized the local population in Shenyang, a city in Manchuria. A foreign witness described how Soviet troops, formerly stationed in Berlin, were permitted by the Soviet military to enter Shenyang for "three days of rape and pillage." In Harbin, Soviet forces ignored protests from leaders of the Chinese Communist Party regarding the widespread mass rape and looting committed by their troops. In the immediate aftermath of the war in 1945, in areas of Manchuria occupied by the National Revolutionary Army, 176 Koreans were killed, 1,866 were injured, 3,468 were detained, and 320 were raped by armed Chinese mobs. The attacks against Korean residents in Manchuria were believed to stem from a perception of Korean collaboration with Japanese colonial rule. One of the most infamous instances was the Gegenmiao massacre. On August 10 and 11, Xing'an was bombed, nearly destroying its urban functions. It is estimated that 3,000 of the 4,000 civilians. Anticipating the Soviet invasion, Xing'an had prepared an evacuation plan divided into three groups based on residential area and workplace. The Kwantung Army, however, failed to inform the General Office officials about their retreat. As a result, residents in the eastern area, many of whom were self-employed or office workers, had difficulty obtaining information and securing transportation, while those in the western area had military personnel who were first to learn of the situation. Some of the civilians with a handful of armed men had proceeded on foot towards Gegenmiao Township, about 35 kilometers southeast of Xing'an Street, to wait for a train at Gegenmiao Station and then evacuate to Baichengzi. They aimed to receive protection from the Kwantung Army in Baichengzi. Around 11:40 AM on August 14 in the vicinity of Gegenmyo Hill, where a Lamaist temple was located, they encountered an infantry unit consisting of 14 Soviet medium tanks and 20 trucks. The column reportedly stretched for two kilometers, with about a hundred survivors among them. Soviet troops launched an attack from the hilltop, deploying tanks with machine-gun fire. The tanks attacked multiple times, and when they ceased, Soviet soldiers disembarked and ruthlessly shot and bayoneted survivors. Many who escaped death from gunfire were still severely injured or witnessed family members being killed. Some were left holding their loved ones or chose to commit suicide. It is estimated that only about a hundred survivors were later confirmed, including nearly 200 schoolchildren from the Xing'an Street Zaiman National School. Kwantung Army units, which were supposed to escort the civilians and counterattack, had already retreated southward. Even after the Soviet soldiers left, sporadic gunfire continued, presumably due to suicides. Local residents began to plunder the bodies, stripping them of clothes and valuables. Others drowned in the river while attempting to escape. Reports tell of one woman who had her child killed by Soviet soldiers, only to later face an attack from Chinese militia, who stripped her of her clothes and mutilated her. Surviving mothers and children were also attacked, and those separated were often taken by the Chinese. At the time, it was common for Japanese boys to be sold for 300 yen and girls for 500 yen. Some survivors gathered together and began committing mass suicide, killing those who wished to end their lives. Others expressed intentions to form a death squad with rifles for revenge but ultimately did not resist.   After the war ended on August 15, attacks on displaced persons continued. A 12-year-old girl who joined a group of about ten women after the incident reported that they were attacked and robbed, taking over a week to reach Zhenxi Station, 10 kilometers from Gegenmiao Station. The women sought shelter in an abandoned house near the station but were discovered by Soviet soldiers that night who assaulted them until midnight. Afterward, the soldiers piled dry grass into the house, setting it ablaze in an attempt to burn the women alive. The girl and her sister managed to escape through a window, but many others could not flee in time due to the fire's rapid spread. The girl was forced to live as a residual orphan afterward. Fortunately, some Chinese, Mongolians, and Koreans provided food for the survivors, with some Chinese showing kindness towards the children. Those orphaned children, whose parents had been killed, became known as residual orphans, with about 30 in this unfortunate situation. Many women were forced to become residual women as well. Tragically, around 200 students from a local school, including the headmaster and his wife, were killed during this chaos. Some historians believe the attack stemmed from Soviet soldiers mistaking the refugees for armed Japanese troops because men within the group were carrying firearms for protection. In general, displaced persons at this time often carried small weapons like rifles, and some groups were even armed with light machine guns. In the pioneer groups, women sometimes participated in fighting against bandits, and in the Sado pioneer group incident, children above the fifth grade were forced into combat, regardless of gender. There may also have been prior skirmishes with other Japanese civilian groups before the war's end, further complicating the situation as the Soviet Army, which included female soldiers, may have regarded these mixed civilian and armed groups as a threat. According to Soviet military combat records, on August 14, the Soviet 17th Guards Rifle Division, 19th Guards Rifle Division, 91st Guards Rifle Division, and 61st Tank Division were stationed northwest of Gezhne Temple, but there was no combat activity in the area. On August 15, this unit advanced toward Bai Chengzi and occupied Bai Chengzi Station, which was then taken over by tanks from the 61st Tank Division. Despite extensive documentation, nothing about this incident was revealed until 2014 during the process of perestroika. Reports from British and American sources indicate that the 700,000 Soviet troops occupying Manchuria also terrorized and looted the local population in Mukden. They were not deterred by Soviet authorities and engaged in what was described as "three days of rape and pillage," with similar atrocities occurring in Harbin and across the country. Amid the mass repatriation of Japanese civilians living in the region, Japanese women in Manchuria faced repeated sexual violence at the hands of Russian soldiers every day. In North Korea, it was similarly reported that Soviet soldiers raped both Japanese and Korean women. Additionally, Soviet soldiers looted the property of Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans residing in Manchuria and North Korea. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Amid chaotic surrenders, Emperor Hirohito accepted defeat, but Soviet advances continued relentlessly. As they pushed deeper, the Soviets captured key cities, including Harbin, while Japan's soldiers and civilians struggled for survival against the onslaught. War crimes committed by Soviet troops added to the tragedy, with rampant violence against Japanese civilians. Amidst political tensions, the Soviets secured territory, culminating in the surrender of remaining Japanese forces. The grim conclusion of this campaign marked a profound shift in the power dynamics of East Asia and paved the way for post-war ramifications.

The Gospel of John Week 8 Scripture: John 5:19-40, Revelation 20. As we pick up our story, the religious authorities continue to question Jesus about who He says He is and about His actions and miracles. Jesus not only claims to be the Messiah, but also the God of the universe come in human flesh. Chiastic Structure is used as a teaching method by Jesus in John 5:19-30 - a speaking structure that repeats over and again certain fundamental truths. It's a way of speaking what's spoken first and then speaking it last. It's speaking what is spoken second and repeating it second to the last and what's spoken third, speaking it again as the 3rd to the last item. A diagram of this type of speaking looks like this: A1 verse 19     B1 Verses 20-21         C1 verses 22-23                 D1 verse 24                 D2 verse 25         C2 verses 26-27     B2 verses 28-29 A2 verse 30 Chiastic Structure is a complex speaking structure that Jesus uses to emphasize the seriousness of these life-changing truths. Other items Pastor discusses:     Spiritually dead vs alive in Christ     The 4 views of the millennium - Revelation 20         Historic Premillennialism         Postmillennialism         Amillennialism         Dispensational Premillennialism     Pastor focuses on the commonalities of the 4 views rather than what they don't agree on. Their commonalities are: missionary age, great tribulation, rapture, millennium, physical return of Jesus to earth, dead will be raised, new heaven and a new earth. Pastor also explains first resurrection is when we become believers. The Bible says we go from death (not knowing God) to life (knowing God) through faith in Jesus Christ. The second resurrection is when Jesus returns and the dead are raised. The first death is unbelief. The second death is hell itself on judgement day for those who do not repent and believe on the Son. This teaching closes with the testimonies of Christ's identity and with an emphasis on knowing Jesus, believing in Him and having a relationship with Him.      Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

This is the third of a special 3-part series of our podcast, and in this episode—which is Part 3—we will focus on disseminating scholarly results in various outlets. Part 1 focused on being a consumer of scholarship, and Part 2 focused on engaging in the scholarly process.  Parts 1 and 2 were featured in Season 5, Episodes 9 and 10, respectively, of this podcast. Our guests for this episode are Bill Heinrich, Sarah Lacy, John Moore, and Marti Snyder, each of whom represents a scholar-practitioner perspective related to teaching, learning, assessment, and improvement.   Links to publications related to this episode: Assessment Update:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15360725 Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education:https://journals.calstate.edu/elthe Journal of Student Affairs Inquiry, Improvement, and Impact:https://journals.indianapolis.iu.edu/index.php/jsaiii Research & Practice in Assessment:https://www.rpajournal.com/  This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: February 2025.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute. 

It's YOUR time to #EdUpIn this episode, sponsored by the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19, YOUR guest is Rusty Cowher, Founder & CEO, ScholarlyYOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio  How is AI transforming faculty lifecycle management in higher education?What does it mean to build software specifically designed for faculty affairs?How can institutions centralize disparate faculty data from multiple systems?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Support the podcast trusted by higher ed leaders. Get early, ad-free access & exclusive leadership content by supporting Elvin & Joe for only $5.99 a month. YOU can also donate or gift a subscription at edupexperience.com

The Gospel of John Week 7 Scripture: John 4:31-5:29. Our study this week begins with a look at people beginning to realize that the Jewish Messiah has come, but He has come to be the Savior of all - not just the Jewish people, but ALL people! Jesus has been in Samaria and now returns to Cana where a high official in the government seeks Jesus out to heal his son who is dying.  Jesus heals the man's son and the official and his whole family came to faith in Jesus. 
Pastor talks about the feasts mentioned in the Gospel of John and how each finds its fulfillment in Jesus.  The feast mentioned in John 5:1-3 doesn't specifically mention which feast event is going on at this particular time, but Pastor speculates that it could be the Feast of Trumpets - Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - a time when the Jewish people are focused on this feast's call to repentance.   As we continue we see Jesus is at the Pool of Bethesda that had 5 colonnades.  Pastor talks about the discovery of this pool in 1890 and shares some photos of his from a visit there in recent years. He also shares additional discoveries and info that are quite interesting regarding deeper insights into the use of this pool and by whom. As Jesus approached the pool, hundreds of people may well have been at the pool.  Jesus says to an invalid of 38 years “Do you want to get well?”  There were many there but Jesus chooses to speak to just one person. Jesus, on this Sabbath Day, tells the man to get up and walk and the man walks away carrying his mat. The religious leaders had added many additional specific regulations to God's Sabbath Day - rest day. They had added 39 additional man made rules and the 39th rule was that carrying a piece of property from 1 location to another location was not allowed and what this man just did in carrying his mat broke their Sabbath regulations.  Jesus had deliberately provoked the religious establishment's petty laws saying in effect “How dare you substitute the goodness of God with your own petty regulations and rules.” And the religious leaders become incensed when they hear it was Jesus that healed him and so now they are after Jesus and they begin to persecute Him and desire to kill Him. Not only had Jesus broken their religious man-made rules by doing the work of healing this man on a Sabbath, but also because Jesus called God His own Father making Himself equal with God.  Jesus claimed deity - Jesus is the Living God come to earth!! Yet they desired to reject this truth! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

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The Gospel of John Week 6 Scripture: John 3:22-4:30, Jeremiah 2:13, Ezekiel 47. Today we look at the character of Jesus and into His identity in the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well. Great Points from Today's Study:         Jesus is the groom and His people are the bride         Jesus is above all!         God gives the Spirit without limit!         Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life         Tensions amongst the people were high so Jesus heads to Galilee and decides to go through Samaria on the way.         Jesus always has purpose and follows what The Father tells Him         This woman didn't know it but she needed something from the Lord. She didn't know that Jesus was going to change her.         Pastor shares about who the Samaritans were. The basic difference in their beliefs with the Jews was a difference in where they were to worship. Though the rest of their beliefs were the same the Jews did not like the Samaritans at all and would not associate with them or even talk to them.         The meeting with the woman happens at Jacob's well in Samaria, at noon         The time is important as women typically went to get the water for the day early in the morning. But it was noon when this woman was coming to the well. Why was she at the well at noon when other women were not there? We surmise it is because she maybe is shunned based on her lifestyle         Jesus sits down by the well and proceeds to talk to the Samaritan woman, something that is just not done because men did not speak to women in public let alone a Samaritan woman         Jesus asks her for a drink         She's surprised Jesus talks to her.         Jesus is not a rule follower!         She asks why He would ask her for water. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”         God is the giver of Living Water (Jeremiah 2:13) - Jesus is claiming deity.         Jesus tells her that anyone who drinks the water He gives will never thirst again.         Jesus is speaking spiritually         He alone quenches the thirst of our souls - He wants to fill up her needy soul with His Himself!         Jesus told her much about herself - He knew her - He know all about her life         He knows us too!         Jesus tells her “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)         It is by the Holy Spirit that we understand who Jesus is. The Holy Spirit is the comforter, counselor and advocate.          Real worship isn't where you go, it's who you know         Real worship is not a matter of a place, real worship is a matter of a Person.          Real worship is knowing the Messiah and the Holy Spirit that He gives.         Real worship is not about ritual of where one worships, worship is about relationship with the one we worship!         Jesus declares to her that He is the I AM. He is the Messiah - He is God! The Living God! The Living Water.         She returns to town - forgetting that she probably is seen as an outcast, and shunned and instead tells everybody about Jesus! She can't help herself but to share all about Him! What we learn: No one in need is ever turned away by Jesus. Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01         The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.          The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible. Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

The Gospel of John Week 5 Scripture: John 3:1-14, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Numbers 21:5-9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 2 Kings 18:4, Mark 1:14. Today's class explores the story of Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin Council.  Pharisees were a group Jesus often had harsh criticism for.  They are all about religion and following rules, and about what they do instead of what God has done and having a relationship with Him. Nicodemus acknowledges Jesus is a teacher come from God because of the miracles there have been and Jesus responds, “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again from above.” Born again is something God does individually in each person. Nicodemus replies with how does one do that? And Jesus goes on to say we must be born of water and the Spirit. Ezekiel 36:25-27 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”  Jesus is saying what the prophets have said all along - it is now coming true - A New Covenant - the time of the New Covenant has come and Jesus is saying He's bringing it! God Himself washes us clean and pours out His Spirit on us and gives us a new heart. He changes us from religion to a relationship with God that endures forever.  Nicodemus was a Pharisee - he was into religion - but not relationship with God. Jesus is calling Nicodemus to take his eyes off himself and put his eyes on God and take his eyes off his own accomplishments and put his eye on the Messiah who is going to deliver, redeem, restore and renew. Jesus is breaking Nicodemus' paradigm. It's not what we do, it's what God does! Jesus goes on to say, “so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” Jesus is saying He will be lifted up and all who look to Him will be saves.  He's saying we need a Savior and that Savior is Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus goes on to speak these marvelous words, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”  The Light shows us for what we are - hypocrites- looking good on the outside but inside we are dead. But now the Son has come and He's come not to condemn us but to save us! To redeem us!   When we live by the Truth - we come into the Light.  Jesus is calling Nicodemus to set aside what he has always believed and instead yield himself totally to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is breaking into Nicodemus' life and He wants to break into our lives too! To give us a new heart and to pour out His Spirit into us. Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Episode DescriptionJoin Bishop Andy Lewter and Bishop D. A. Sherron in this illuminating theological discussion as they delve deep into one of Christianity's most debated phenomena: the speaking in tongues as recorded in Acts chapter 2 during the Day of Pentecost. This scholarly conversation moves beyond denominational perspectives to examine the historical, linguistic, and theological significance of glossolalia in the early Christian church.Drawing from extensive biblical scholarship, archaeological evidence, and historical context, both bishops bring their academic expertise to bear on critical questions surrounding this pivotal moment in Christian history. They explore the distinction between the xenoglossia (speaking in known foreign languages) described in Acts 2 and contemporary practices of glossolalia, examining the original Greek text and its implications for understanding the apostolic experience.The discussion addresses the socio-cultural backdrop of first-century Jerusalem, the diverse linguistic landscape of the Roman Empire, and the strategic importance of the miraculous communication that occurred when devout Jews "from every nation under heaven" witnessed the apostles speaking in their native tongues. The bishops analyze the theological purpose behind this supernatural manifestation—whether it served as a sign for unbelievers, a reversal of the Tower of Babel narrative, or the inaugural moment of the church's universal mission.This episode offers a balanced, academically rigorous exploration that will appeal to theology students, biblical scholars, clergy, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this foundational Christian event. The conversation examines various interpretative frameworks while maintaining respect for different theological traditions and their approaches to pneumatology and charismatic gifts.

The Gospel of John Week 4 Scripture: John 2:1-22, Genesis 1:10 & 12, Isaiah 62:5, Isaiah 25:6-9 Today's study starts with the story of a wedding at Cana in Galilee and the text opens with “On the third day.”  The first day is Sunday, the second day of the week is Monday and the third day is Tuesday.  The wedding is happening on a Tuesday. Why is the wedding on Tuesday? The answer is because of what we read in Genesis 1:10 and 12 where God declared everything as good, not once but twice on the third day of creation and the rabbis said the third day is an especially good day - what a great day for marriages! So orthodox Jewish people have set their wedding dates on Tuesdays going back to Biblical times. Mary, Jesus' mother is at this wedding, too. They are most likely into the 4th or more day of the wedding feast. (They typically lasted a week or longer). And they run out of refreshment and Mary lets Jesus know they have run out of wine. Mary then tells the servants to “do whatever He tells you.”  This is a word for us today - to do what Jesus tells us. We are to listen and obey. Pastor considers the questions: “Isn't this a rather frivolous miracle? Why would Jesus for His first miracle make 150 gallons of wine?”  Let's take a look at this miracle in light of what the Old Testament Scriptures say and what the Jewish people believe: God speaks of Himself as being married to His people. God calls Himself the groom and He gives Himself for His bride (the children of Israel). We reading Isaiah 62:5 "For as a young man marries a young woman, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." And the Bible talks of wedding feast banquets when Messiah comes. Isaiah 25:6-9 begins with:  “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare     a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—     the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy     the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;     he will swallow up death forever.” These are a sample of the verses Jewish people knew and now Jesus performs His first miracle at a wedding! This is not a frivolous miracle - this is Jesus saying: “I am the Bridegroom. I am the One who provides everything you need. I am the One who brings in the wedding feast!”  This miracle points to Jesus as the Messiah! It is a dramatic declaration of Jesus' identity and purpose and going forth Jesus will continually refer to Himself as the Bridegroom and to His people as those who get to be invited to the wedding feast. Pastor shares other great insight into:     1.    Why it's important that the jars where stone and not clay pottery     2.    The use of the word “signs”     3.    The 7 miracles shared in the Gospel of John and how they show Jesus' identity and demonstrate He is the Messiah.     4.    The recent archeological discoveries that go back to the 1st century. Next in our text we read the story of the Temple cleansing where Jesus overturns money changing tables at the Temple.  John is the only gospel that has this story at the beginning of Jesus ministry, the other gospels have it at the end of His ministry. Pastor shares the perspective of there being 2 temple cleansing: 1 at the beginning and.another at the end of Jesus' ministry. Other interesting points     ⁃    The temple was to be a house of prayer - not a market place     ⁃    Money changing was being done where worship was supposed to be happening     ⁃    Tyrian Stater - 1/2 shekel temple tax     ⁃    Pastor shares a detailed description of the Temple in Jesus' day and does a dating of events in conjunction with the building of the temple and Jesus' ministry     ⁃    Pastor suggests a book by Jack Finnegan, “Handbook of Biblical Chronology” Our reading today ends with John 2:20-21 where we read that Jesus knows what is in our hearts. He can see into our very souls. We cannot con Jesus. He is the Living God come to earth and we cannot fool Him.   Pastor ends today's class with a look at the Feasts of the Lord celebrated by the Jewish people and how the festivals point us to understanding their connection to who Jesus is: The Fulfillment of each festival. Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

This is the second of a special 3-part series of our podcast, and in this episode—which is Part 2—we will focus on engaging in the scholarly process. Part 1, which was featured in Season 5, Episode 9, focused on being a consumer of scholarship.  In part 3, which will be featured in Season 5, Episode 11, we will learn about disseminating scholarly results in various outlets. Our guests for this episode are Jerry Daday, Erica Eckert, Sara Evans, and Amy Johnson, each of whom represents a scholar-practitioner perspective related to teaching, learning, assessment, and improvement.   Links to publications related to this episode: Assessment Update:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15360725 Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education:https://journals.calstate.edu/elthe Journal of Student Affairs Inquiry, Improvement, and Impact:https://journals.indianapolis.iu.edu/index.php/jsaiii Research & Practice in Assessment:https://www.rpajournal.com/  This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: February 2025.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute. 

This book engages historically and theologically with the Hindu and Jewish traditions, covering conceptions of the divine, religious heroes, women, devotional literature, theodicy, land, and nationalist claims on it, and social differentiation and oppression. Scholarly considerations are enriched with actual conversations between Hindus and Jews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

This book engages historically and theologically with the Hindu and Jewish traditions, covering conceptions of the divine, religious heroes, women, devotional literature, theodicy, land, and nationalist claims on it, and social differentiation and oppression. Scholarly considerations are enriched with actual conversations between Hindus and Jews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

This book engages historically and theologically with the Hindu and Jewish traditions, covering conceptions of the divine, religious heroes, women, devotional literature, theodicy, land, and nationalist claims on it, and social differentiation and oppression. Scholarly considerations are enriched with actual conversations between Hindus and Jews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

This book engages historically and theologically with the Hindu and Jewish traditions, covering conceptions of the divine, religious heroes, women, devotional literature, theodicy, land, and nationalist claims on it, and social differentiation and oppression. Scholarly considerations are enriched with actual conversations between Hindus and Jews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Movements may feel like a modern phenomenon, but their roots trace all the way back to the New Testament. In this episode, Cynthia sits down with Dr. Wes Watkins—scholar, academic, and leader in the Motus Dei Network—to explore how God is working through disciple-making movements today. Together, they dive into a thoughtful and honest theological and academic examination of these movements, asking the tough questions and seeking clarity for the future of missions and the church. Find out more at https://MotusDei.Network

October 7th exposed to everyone what many in and around the academy have known for years: American universities—not all, but many—are failing catastrophically to educate the next generation about the history, cultures, and politics of the Middle East. Instead of producing students versed in the region's complexities, these institutions have become factories for ideological activism. And nowhere is this truer than in the case of Israel and its history: Zionism in the modern university classroom is rarely examined as a movement of national liberation but instead as a caricature of colonialism, racism, repression, and occupation. And outside of the classroom, we've seen the most prestigious campuses in the United States transform into nodes of anti-Israel activism and Jew hatred. These are immense and long-standing problems. But instead of just diagnosing their sources and discussing their perils, today we're going to talk to someone who's actually done something about it. Robert Satloff saw this crisis clearly. Having published back in 2001 the eminent historian Martin Kramer's short volume on the corruption of Middle East Studies, Ivory Towers on Sand, Satloff has spent decades watching the field drift toward anti-Israel political advocacy. As the executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, he decided to stop complaining and found his own professional master's program. Working with Pepperdine University, the Washington Institute has established a completely new graduate program designed to train policy professionals with rigorous scholarship and historical accuracy, without anti-Israel bias. The program offers full scholarships, accepts no foreign funding, is fully accredited, and will convene its inaugural cohort in Washington, DC this fall.

The Gospel of John Week 2 Scripture: John 1:1-18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Psalm 33;6, Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 55:11, Exodus 40:34, Exodus 33:18. An Overview of the Gospel of John     ⁃    Prologue 1:1-18     ⁃    Jesus' ministry 1:19 - 11:57     ⁃    Passion of Christ and resurrection 12:1 - 21:25 Important terms in the Gospel of John (# = number of times it is used in the Gospel of John:     ⁃    Life: 36     ⁃    Light: 23     ⁃    Witness: 47     ⁃    Believe: 98     ⁃    World: 78     ⁃    Truth: 56     ⁃    Glory: 42     ⁃    Father: 136 Several of these key words above appear in the prologue. Prologue (1:1-18) The prologue begins John 1:1 “In the beginning” which is just how Genesis 1:1 starts “In the beginning.” In Genesis those words introduce creation.  In John those words introduce the new creation - God is doing a new things. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Everything that the Father said through the prophets from the beginning, and what was spoken since the beginning is coming to its fullness and fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah. John 1:1 - “In the beginning was the word.” The following verses help us understand more about The Word. We read in Psalm 33:6 that “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” God's WORD is living and active! Psalm 107:20 tells us that the Word rescues from the grave, just as Jesus rescues us from the grave. - “He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” And then in Isaiah 55:11 we read “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” God's word accomplishes His plans and purposes. Just as Jesus accomplishes the fulfillment of God's promises and plans and purposes.   Everything was created by the Word of Jesus Christ. The Word holds everything together. And Jesus - The Word - was there at the beginning! John 1:1-3 tells us that the Living God loved us so much that he was willing in a way beyond our ability to understand, willing to become one of us, a real human being but also truly and fully God. He gave Himself up for us all and that's the way this gospel begins and that's powerful! John 1:4-5 reminds us of Genesis 1 where we read that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…. And He said let there be light. And in John we read, “In Him was life and that life was the Light of the World!” Those who receive Jesus as Messiah become the children of God - adopted by the Creator of the Universe! Right from the opening of this powerful and amazing book we see who Jesus is - He is the Living God. - He is the Messiah - He is The Word - He is the fulfillment of every promise of God. John 1:6-14  - Pastor talks about John the Baptist who bares witness to Jesus the Messiah as the Light and shares pictures of the Jordan River at the town of Bethany - the traditional site of Jesus' baptism. The Gospel of John is uniquely crafted by the Spirit of God to bear witness to Jesus and to lead people to faith.  It's an easy read but filled with depth! John shares that Jesus wasn't who was expected and that the people didn't recognize Him as the Messiah. Jesus came in flesh to dwell (tabernacle) among us as God did with Moses - Exodus 40:34. Side note Jesus is referred to as Emmanuel in the Old Testament and that means God with us! And He is! John 1:15-18 Law came through Moses - Grace and truth come through Jesus Christ and Jesus is the fulfillment of everything God promised in the Torah. Jesus is not simply a great teacher or merely a worker of miracles, He is the One who is the Only begotten God. In the prologue we see who Jesus is and starting next week we will see what this means and how this works!  Join us! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

In this episode, I'm sharing (and discussing) 10 powerful affirmations specifically for Scholarly Mamas®—words to ground you when the workload is heavy, the juggle-struggle gets tricky, the guilt creeps in, or the doubt gets loud. Whether you're deep in PhD mode while juggling little ones, or just trying to hold it all together, these affirmations are here to remind you: you are not alone, and you are more capable than you think!Tune in now—and don't forget to grab your FREE printable copy of all 10 affirmations so you can keep them close when you need them most: get them here.Want more?1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® blog.2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tik Tok or Threads3. Join us inside Scholarly Mamas®!4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series!These are our journeys of becoming!Send me a text message.Support the show

The Gospel of John - Week 1 Scripture: An overview of John chapters 1-21. The Gospel of John is different than the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The Gospel of John is unique as 90% of what is written in this gospel is found nowhere else. And John gives us a unique view of Jesus, too. Pastor Dodge shares with us who John was, and the evidence around John being the author of this book.  John was considered Jesus' best friend and one of Jesus' inner circle.  Also, John and Peter often worked together in their mission work. It is thought that The Gospel of John was primarily the gospel story written for gentiles. However, this view changed after the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Pastor shares the interesting story of the young boy, tending his sheep, who discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in Quman Cave 4 around 1946-47 on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea Scrolls contained copies of the Hebrew Scriptures. After there discovery, the Gospel of John was seen as a book that speaks to all, but was written to let the Jewish people know the Messiah has come. Pastor shares that recent archaeological evidence points to the accuracy of the Gospel of John and shares several examples. Simple Outline of John:     ⁃    Prologue 1:1-18     ⁃    Jesus' ministry 1:19-11:57     ⁃    Passion of Christ and Resurrection 12:1-21:25 From the opening verses of this gospel it is clear it is special. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:1-5 This book is all about God's love for us, about Jesus' identity, who He is and written in a way that proves Jesus is who He says He is.  John shows Jesus as being the One who fulfills everything that God promised to His people. We see John's purpose in the end of chapter 20, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31.   John ends his gospel with, “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21:24-25. Jesus did so much that if we wrote down everything the world itself couldn't contain the volumes! Next week we will dive head long into the Gospel of John and move from this broad view to a verse by verse study of the book! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Death rituals reveal a civilization's deepest beliefs. But what if a religion rejects the cult of death entirely? In this episode we explore Judaism's unique perspective on death and mortality. It is almost a cliché that Judaism is all about “Choosing Life”, but in our conversation we rely heavily of the academic research of Biblical scholar Baruch Levine who uncovers how the Torah's approach to death rituals stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern practices. This normally under spoken scholar exclaims: “death rids the community of death!” Key Takeaways In this episode we explore Judaism's unique perspective on death and mortality. It is almost a cliché that Judaism is all about “Choosing Life”, but in our conversation we rely heavily of the academic research of Biblical scholar Baruch Levine who uncovers how the Torah's approach to death rituals stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern practices. This normally under spoken scholar exclaims: “death rids the community of death!” Timestamps [00:00:00] — Introduction: A cultural view of death across civilizations and contrast with Torah. [00:02:00] — Show overview and episode topic: Judaism's rejection of the cult of death. [00:03:26] — Start of Torah discussion: Impurity and the Red Heifer ritual in Numbers 19. [00:05:06] — Defining "Ger" and the universality of death rituals in Torah. [00:07:00] — Scholarly insight from B. Levine on priestless death rites. [00:09:55] — Application of purification rites in Numbers 31 and death in warfare. [00:14:45] — Judaism's rejection of temple burials and the Cult of the Dead. [00:20:36] — The minimalist account of Miriam's death and narrative transition. [00:24:00] — Aaron's death and the seamless transition of priestly leadership. [00:28:00] — Philosophical and theological reflections on death, legacy, and the mission beyond death. Links & Learnings Sign up for free and get more from our weekly newsletter https://madlik.com/ Safaria Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/659883 Transcript on episode web page: https://madlik.com/2025/07/02/death-cults-vs-israel-why-judaism-chooses-life/ 

Joseph and Aseneth: A Study in Manuscript Transmission (de Gruyter, 2025) expands a few verses from the book of Genesis into a novella-length work. It is increasingly used as a source for Judaism and Christianity at the turn of the Common Era. Scholarly attention has largely focused the work's provenance, the priority of a longer or shorter text version, and the implications for interpretation. But few have engaged with the work's manuscript witness and transmission. This study returns to the sources. It considers how the redaction and translation of Joseph and Aseneth affected its interpretation, and looks at the interests of the redactors and copyists. Its findings warn against placing too much weight on details that lack such an importance in the manuscript tradition. Important contributions made in this monograph include: a detailed study of the two earliest versions, the Syriac and Armenian translations; focus on the Greek manuscripts of the three longest families (f, Mc, a); analysis of four abridged versions (family d, E, Latin 1 and so-called "early modern Greek"); the first available synoptic edition of the Greek versions of the story, including the first edition of manuscript E. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Joseph and Aseneth: A Study in Manuscript Transmission (de Gruyter, 2025) expands a few verses from the book of Genesis into a novella-length work. It is increasingly used as a source for Judaism and Christianity at the turn of the Common Era. Scholarly attention has largely focused the work's provenance, the priority of a longer or shorter text version, and the implications for interpretation. But few have engaged with the work's manuscript witness and transmission. This study returns to the sources. It considers how the redaction and translation of Joseph and Aseneth affected its interpretation, and looks at the interests of the redactors and copyists. Its findings warn against placing too much weight on details that lack such an importance in the manuscript tradition. Important contributions made in this monograph include: a detailed study of the two earliest versions, the Syriac and Armenian translations; focus on the Greek manuscripts of the three longest families (f, Mc, a); analysis of four abridged versions (family d, E, Latin 1 and so-called "early modern Greek"); the first available synoptic edition of the Greek versions of the story, including the first edition of manuscript E. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

Joseph and Aseneth: A Study in Manuscript Transmission (de Gruyter, 2025) expands a few verses from the book of Genesis into a novella-length work. It is increasingly used as a source for Judaism and Christianity at the turn of the Common Era. Scholarly attention has largely focused the work's provenance, the priority of a longer or shorter text version, and the implications for interpretation. But few have engaged with the work's manuscript witness and transmission. This study returns to the sources. It considers how the redaction and translation of Joseph and Aseneth affected its interpretation, and looks at the interests of the redactors and copyists. Its findings warn against placing too much weight on details that lack such an importance in the manuscript tradition. Important contributions made in this monograph include: a detailed study of the two earliest versions, the Syriac and Armenian translations; focus on the Greek manuscripts of the three longest families (f, Mc, a); analysis of four abridged versions (family d, E, Latin 1 and so-called "early modern Greek"); the first available synoptic edition of the Greek versions of the story, including the first edition of manuscript E. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Joseph and Aseneth: A Study in Manuscript Transmission (de Gruyter, 2025) expands a few verses from the book of Genesis into a novella-length work. It is increasingly used as a source for Judaism and Christianity at the turn of the Common Era. Scholarly attention has largely focused the work's provenance, the priority of a longer or shorter text version, and the implications for interpretation. But few have engaged with the work's manuscript witness and transmission. This study returns to the sources. It considers how the redaction and translation of Joseph and Aseneth affected its interpretation, and looks at the interests of the redactors and copyists. Its findings warn against placing too much weight on details that lack such an importance in the manuscript tradition. Important contributions made in this monograph include: a detailed study of the two earliest versions, the Syriac and Armenian translations; focus on the Greek manuscripts of the three longest families (f, Mc, a); analysis of four abridged versions (family d, E, Latin 1 and so-called "early modern Greek"); the first available synoptic edition of the Greek versions of the story, including the first edition of manuscript E. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

Joseph and Aseneth: A Study in Manuscript Transmission (de Gruyter, 2025) expands a few verses from the book of Genesis into a novella-length work. It is increasingly used as a source for Judaism and Christianity at the turn of the Common Era. Scholarly attention has largely focused the work's provenance, the priority of a longer or shorter text version, and the implications for interpretation. But few have engaged with the work's manuscript witness and transmission. This study returns to the sources. It considers how the redaction and translation of Joseph and Aseneth affected its interpretation, and looks at the interests of the redactors and copyists. Its findings warn against placing too much weight on details that lack such an importance in the manuscript tradition. Important contributions made in this monograph include: a detailed study of the two earliest versions, the Syriac and Armenian translations; focus on the Greek manuscripts of the three longest families (f, Mc, a); analysis of four abridged versions (family d, E, Latin 1 and so-called "early modern Greek"); the first available synoptic edition of the Greek versions of the story, including the first edition of manuscript E. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

listing smart words

This is the first of a special 3-part series of our podcast, and in this episode—which is Part 1—we will focus on being a consumer of scholarship.  In Part 2, we will learn about engaging in the scholarly process, and, finally, in Part 3, we will discuss disseminating scholarly results in various outlets.  Parts 2 and 3 will be featured in Season 5, Episodes 10 and 11, respectively, of this podcast.  Our guests for this episode are Katie Busby, Nick Curtis, Ken O'Donnell, and Heather Strine-Patterson, each of whom serves as an editor of a publication devoted to teaching, learning, assessment, and improvement.  Links to publications related to this episode:Assessment Update:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15360725 Experiential Learning and Teaching in Higher Education:https://journals.calstate.edu/elthe Journal of Student Affairs Inquiry, Improvement, and Impact:https://journals.indianapolis.iu.edu/index.php/jsaiii Research & Practice in Assessment:https://www.rpajournal.com/ This season of Leading Improvements in Higher Education is sponsored by the Center for Assessment and Research Studies at James Madison University; learn more at jmu.edu/assessment. Episode recorded: February 2025.  Host:  Stephen Hundley.  Producers:  Chad Beckner and Angela Bergman.  Original music:  Caleb Keith.  This award-winning podcast is a service of the Assessment Institute in Indianapolis; learn more go.iu.edu/assessmentinstitute. 

We're back with part two of our ongoing summer series devoted to the newest physical media releases from The Criterion Collection & today's episode is a must for neo-noir fans everywhere. First up, you'll hear from bestselling award-winning authors S.A. Cosby (whose newest novel KING OF ASHES just hit shelves last week) & Jordan Harper (SHE RIDES SHOTGUN & EVERYBODY KNOWS) on director Stephen Frears' outstanding adaptation of author Jim Thompson's THE GRIFTERS. Then we leave the '90s behind & go further back in time to catch up with the brilliant film essayist & historian Priscilla Page on two of her all-time favorite films in director Michael Mann's THIEF & Arthur Penn's NIGHT MOVES. Scholarly, fresh, funny, & filled with razor sharp analysis, hold onto your wallet, car, & any missing girls or crooks in your orbit & just try to keep up with all of these cons.Originally Posted on Patreon (6/22/25) here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/131774814Listen to the Watch With Jen™ Podcast on RSS, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, Apple, Pandora, and MoreShop Watch With Jen logo Merchandise in Logo Designer Kate Gabrielle's Threadless ShopDonate to the Pod via Ko-fiTheme Music: Solo Acoustic Guitar by Jason Shaw, Free Music Archive

If you listen to this podcast for any length of time, you'll know that I believe the way forward is predicated on our finding shared values—I'd go for integrity, compassion, courage and generosity of spirit as the baselines—and then a suite of clear asks in the outer world and needs in the inner world.  In logistical terms, at an absolute baseline, we need Clean Air, Clean Water, Clean Soil. These are non negotiable and the fact that we currently have none of these is a grim indictment of how much we live in an economy that sucks the life out of everything rather than a society that grows. But we do have people who are working flat out to change the narrative on exactly these topics and this week's guest, Tim Smedley, is one of these.  Tim is an award-winning sustainability journalist who has worked with the BBC, the Guardian, Sunday Times and Financial Times. He is also a celebrated non-fiction writer. His first book, Clearing the Air: The Beginning and the End of Air Pollution, was shortlisted for the UK's Royal Society Science Book Prize. His latest: The Last Drop: Solving the World's Water Crisis was a Times Book of the Year and has been described as 'Smart, Sobering and Scholarly' which it certainly is.This is one of those books that's both terrifying, utterly compelling and—I'm glad to say—ultimately inspiring.  Yes, the world's water is in a desperate state.  Yes, it has been horribly mismanaged almost everywhere by the kleptocracy that masquerades as a democracy in our modern world.  But yes, we do have responses that will work, they have been carefully explored and water is one of those unifying elements that brings people together across tribal boundaries. We all need clean water and getting there means we need to find common principles by which we can live. Spoiler alert: turning water into a for-profit commodity is not a part of the solution.  Regenerative agriculture, re-Wilding our waters, beavers (yay!) and sane water saving/sparing practices definitely are. Tim is so knowledgeable and his books are both brilliantly researched and utterly personal.  He goes to the places he writes about and his first-hand experiences are priceless.  I have put links in the show notes for both of his books, plus the Medium article on DeGrowth which is where I first came across his work.  Please do explore afterwards. Tim's website https://www.timsmedleywriter.com/Medium on Degrowth: https://medium.com/the-new-climate/we-need-to-talk-about-degrowth-part-ii-4d71c44067b9Article in Prospect Magazine https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/environment-news/climate-change/70022/why-isnt-it-raining-extreme-weatherTim on LinkedIn https://uk.linkedin.com/in/timsmedleyTim on Medium https://medium.com/@tjsmedleyTim on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/timsmedley.bsky.socialTim's BooksClearing the Air https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/clearing-the-air-shortlisted-for-the-royal-society-science-book-prize-tim-smedley/1246586?ean=9781472953339The Last Drop https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-last-drop-solving-the-world-s-water-crisis-tim-smedley/7544965?ean=9781529058178What we offer: Accidental Gods, Dreaming Awake and the Thrutopia Writing Masterclass If you'd like to join us at Accidental Gods, this is the membership where we endeavour to help you to connect fully with the living web of life. If you'd like to join our next Gathering 'Becoming a Good Ancestor' (you don't have to be a member) it's on 6th July - details are here.If you'd like to train more deeply in the contemporary shamanic work at Dreaming Awake, you'll find us here. If you'd like to explore the recordings from our last Thrutopia Writing Masterclass, the details are here

Host Michael Tamblyn spoke with Elyse Graham, author of Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War Two. It's the true story of how the United States, as war raged in Europe, quickly built an organization staffed with intelligence officers recruited not from the military—but from the ranks of the bookworms—the academics, librarians, and archivists found in universities and libraries across the US. After being trained in the art of espionage (and mortal combat) they were sent off to faraway places as exceptionally well-read spies. Elyse Graham tells the story of WWII's scholarly spies

Sign up for our weekly newsletter here! Are we missing an essential ingredient for creativity in education—like sleep? In the Season 10 finale of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett hand over the mic to their resident scholar, Jimmy Wilson, for an in-depth reflection on the standout moments and innovative insights from an eclectic season. Jimmy draws connections between classroom creativity and essential factors we often overlook, like the power of sleep and the importance of understanding our own creative process. The discussion dives into research showing how just a few minutes of rest can double or even triple creative problem-solving, and why productive struggle—not just instant success—is critical for growth. The hosts and Jimmy also grapple with how students can find their purpose in an AI-driven world, and why fostering community and authentic connections in the classroom are more important than ever. With highlights from luminaries like Teresa Amabile, Leo Bird, and Robert Sternberg, this episode asks educators to reconsider not only the tools they give students, but also the passion and purpose fueling the next generation. Noteworthy Mentions The Role of Sleep: Research cited showed that brief periods of sleep or even twilight rest significantly improve creative problem-solving. Metacognition in the Classroom: Guests discussed the growing importance of helping students understand their own learning and thinking processes, especially amid the rise of AI. Feedback & Incremental Growth: Celebrating small wins and providing clear, iterative feedback is more motivating than focusing solely on the end product. Purpose and Passion: Transformational creativity comes from students connecting their work to a bigger purpose—benefiting themselves and their communities. Productive Struggle: Perseverance and learning from failure are reframed as keys to creative development. Authentic Audience: The impact of students seeing their work valued in the real world proves to be a major motivator. About Jimmy Wilson Jimmy Wilson is a doctoral candidate specializing in creativity and education at the University of Connecticut, currently completing a prestigious NSF fellowship in educational neuroscience. As the show's resident scholar, Jimmy brings a unique blend of fresh academic research and practical classroom insight. His work focuses on how biology, environment, and emerging technologies intersect to shape creativity at all levels of education. Passionate about connecting theory to practice, Jimmy is dedicated to helping educators foster greater creativity, resilience, and purpose in children and young adults alike.   Eager to bring more creativity into your school district? Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org and join their Creativity Network for Educators at Curiosity2Connect! Check out our Podcast Website to dive deeper into Creativity in Education! For more information on Creativity in Education, check out: Matt's Website: Worwood Classroom Cyndi's Website: Creativity and Education  

The Harvard Professor who was fired for dishonesty in a study on honesty, wrote 140 scholarly papers and we get how she did it.  Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.

What if the version of success you've been chasing isn't actually yours? In this episode, we crack open the myth of the “ideal Scholarly Mama®” and ask a bold question: What does real freedom look like for Mamas juggling PhD life, careers, and family life in 2025? If you've ever felt like you're performing instead of living, this conversation will invite you to step out of the box, drop the guilt, and start defining success on your own terms.Tune in to explore why rigid roles don't serve us anymore—and how to create space for the scholar, the mother, and the whole, real you.Want more?1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® blog.2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tik Tok or Threads3. Join us inside Scholarly Mamas®4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series!These are our journeys of becoming!Send me a text message.Support the show

Join us this episode for a conversation with Daniela Terson de Paleville, PhD, professor of Physiology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and Marcelo Gatti, PT, director of neurorehabilitation in the area of spinal cord injury at Fleni Institute Escobar, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In this conversation we discuss the paper titled "Gait recovery in patients with late assessment of incomplete spinal cord injury: A retrospective study in Argentina" published in The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. In this paper Terson de Paleville and Gatti discuss the current state of neurorehabilitation targeting recovery of gait after incomplete spinal cord injury at the Fleni Institute in particular and Argentina more broadly. We invite you to listen in as Terson de Paleville and Gatti connect Latin America to ASIA both in their science and in our discussion, and trust you will enjoy our multi-lingual conversation on Argentinian gait rehabilitation.

Episode Overview:Welcome back to Ryan and Brian's Bible Bistro, where hosts Ryan and Brian dive into the Bible, theology, and all things pertaining to the Christian faith. Recorded during Holy Week, this episode explores the story of Malchus, the servant of the high priest, and discusses encouraging trends in Christian faith globally. From historical insights to modern revivals, Ryan and Brian cover it all with their signature wit and wisdom.Timestamps & Topics:[00:00 - 03:30] Introduction and BanterRyan and Brian kick off with playful banter about Brian's “conversion” to the word “pertaining.”Setting the scene: It's Holy Week, recorded the day after Palm Sunday, with Easter approaching.[03:30 - 06:00] Holy Week ContextBrian shares his busy schedule as a pastor, preparing for a unique Maundy Thursday service and Easter celebrations.The episode will cover two main topics: a biblical reflection for Holy Week and a discussion on current trends in Christianity.[06:00 - 28:00] The Story of MalchusFocus on Malchus, the servant of the high priest, whose ear is cut off during Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.Examination of the account across all four Gospels:Mark 14:47: An unnamed person cuts off the servant's ear; Jesus rebukes the action (Mark 14:48).Matthew 26:50-51: Similar account, with Jesus saying, “All who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).Luke 22:49-51: Adds that Jesus heals the servant's ear, still unnamed.John 18:10-11: Names the servant as Malchus and the disciple as Simon Peter; Jesus commands Peter to put away his sword.Discussion on why details differ:Traditional view: Later Gospels add details for verisimilitude.N.T. Wright's perspective: Gospel writers interacted, emphasizing different aspects.Scholarly insights from Richard Bauckham's book (Jesus and the Eyewitnesses):Anonymity in earlier Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke) may have protected early Christians, like Malchus, from persecution.Naming in John could indicate safety or recognition of Malchus as a believer.Theories suggest Malchus became a Christian after Jesus healed him, supported by early church traditions.Criteria for authenticity:Multiple attestation (all four Gospels include the story).Criterion of embarrassment (Peter's rebuke reflects poorly on him, suggesting authenticity).Connection to Holy Week: Jesus' call to avoid violence and embrace a “cruciform life” of sacrifice.[28:00 - 50:00] Resurgence of Christian FaithThree encouraging studies highlight a revival in Christianity:UK Bible Society Report (The Quiet Revival):Interview with Dr. Rhiannon McAleer, Director of Research.Church attendance in England and Wales has grown, especially among Gen Z.Stats: Young men's attendance up from 4% to 21% (2018–present), young women from 3% to 12%.Quote from Dr. Rob Barward-Simmons: Church offers meaning amidst mental health struggles, loneliness, and loss of purpose.Barna Group Study (US):66% of U.S. adults report a personal commitment to Jesus, up 12% since 2021.Gen Z men show a 15% increase in commitment (2019–2025).David Kinnaman's Faith for Exiles: “This is the clearest trend we've seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal.”Ryan Burge notes a plateau and slight decline in “nones” (religiously unaffiliated).Voice of the Martyrs Report...

Discourse by Revered Swami Chetananandaji Mahara, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math and spiritual head of the Vedanta Society of St. Louis, given at Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram on 25 January 2025.

​ @joerogan  and  @WesHuff  had a lot to say about Mormons in their recent conversation—but how much of it was actually true? Spoiler: To borrow a phrase from Huff, "It was rough." In this video, I break down their claims, expose the inaccuracies, and fact-check the so-called "scholarship" behind Huff's takes. This episode explores themes like the complete Biblical silence on the resurrected ministry, the ability to recognize ancient disruptions of established conventions but not modern ones, and the irony of admitting we cannot comprehend eternity while dismissing prophetic teachings about it. Once again, we see a "scholar" confidently getting it wrong—over and over. Let's dive into the details and set the record straight.

Join us for an engaging conversation with Temor “Tay” Amin-Arsala, a new Clinical Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at Sargent College! Temor's clinical practice history stretches across the entire lifespan in a multitude of settings, with an additional focus on LGBTQIA+ health. This discussion dives into Temor's experiences, academic and scholarly interests, and current leadership roles, including being the AOTA Massachusetts representative.

In this contentious debate, Wesley Huff—a Christian scholar—faces off against Billy Carson, an outspoken atheist often critiqued as a pseudo-intellectual. Their clash delves into religious doctrine, historical context, and philosophical inquiry, with Wesley relying on scholarly expertise and Billy presenting less conventional perspectives. After the heated exchange, Billy offers an extensive rebuttal aimed at discrediting Wesley's arguments rather than engaging with their substance. Observers note that the personal nature of the critique underscores the deep rift between a rigorous, academic approach to faith and more speculative interpretations, raising questions about how best to reconcile divergent worldviews.

Back on Fringe Radio Network!The two research scientists who originally hosted PhiloSophia have returned with a new show, now titled the Happy Fools Podcast. Despite the playful name change, they continue their trademark high-brow intellectual conversations, focusing on the intersection of religion and science. By blending rigorous scholarly insight with open-minded curiosity, they offer a fresh take on theological issues, scientific inquiries, and the philosophical implications that lie between them.

Dr. Craig receives questions on Buddhism, how to determine consensus among scholars, and the difficulty of choosing among Christian denominations.