Podcasts about Sodom

264. Simple Ideas for Incorporating Art with Children and Teens with Courtney Sanford   Colossians 3:23 NLT "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."   **Transcription Below**   Questions and Topics We Discuss: Can you give us an overview of the seven major forms of art and give an example of ways our children can engage with each? What are the best art supplies to have on hand? As our children grow, why is this helpful in the teen years to have a healthy way to express ourselves and our ideas?   Courtney Sanford is a dedicated wife, and mother who triumphantly homeschooled her three children. With one pursuing a career in orthodontics, another just finishing a master's degree while working in higher education, and the youngest studying computer science at Regent University, Courtney's commitment to their education has yielded remarkable success.   Passionate about nurturing creativity and self-expression, she guides students through captivating art classes, exploring the intersection of imagination and skill. With her background as a graphic designer and experience in studio art, Courtney embarked on a new adventure as an art teacher.    As a multitasking mom, author, artist, teacher, and adventurer, Courtney embodies the spirit of embracing life's opportunities and fostering a love for learning and artistic expression.   Beyond her love for education, Courtney has an insatiable wanderlust. She finds joy in traversing the globe, hosting art retreats, and volunteering at Spiritual Twist Productions: both painting sets, and serving on the board of directors. When time permits, Courtney indulges in spring snow skiing, hiking in exotic locations, and leisurely walks with her dog, Zoey.   Delightful Art Co. was born out of a time when life gave Courtney a handful of lemons, and she creatively transformed those lemons into refreshing lemonade. The Covid shutdown rather forcefully prompted a major shift from in-person art classes to online classes.    Courtney's Website   Thank You to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   Other Episodes Mentioned: 202 Simple Ways to Connect with Our Kids And Enjoy Breaks with Beth Rosenbleeth (Days with Grey) 223 Journey and Learnings as Former Second Lady of the United States with Karen Pence   Continue the conversation with us on Facebook, Instagram or our website.   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “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.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*    Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:10 - 1:36) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   I am thrilled to introduce you to our sponsor, WinShape Marriage.   Their weekend retreats will strengthen your marriage, and you will enjoy this gorgeous setting, delicious food, and quality time with your spouse. To find out more, visit them online at winshapemarriage.org. That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E marriage.org. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Courtney Sanford is my guest today, and she's an amazing artist and teacher and author, and I'm just so excited to share this conversation. If you're like me and you're ready for summer and your rhythm changes with your kids, she's going to share some super practical tips for incorporating art and beauty into our homes.   And I think that you're going to conclude this conversation by knowing where to begin and understanding why it matters. Here's our chat.    Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Courtney.   Courtney Sanford: Thanks for having me.    Laura Dugger: I'm so excited to hear more about your story, so will you share what has led you into the work that you get to do today?   Courtney Sanford: (1:37 - 4:20) I sure do like to share that story. I didn't start off as a homeschooler. I didn't imagine that that would be where my life went, but I was always a creative person.   I was a graphic designer, and I worked in the Performing Arts Center, and I got to do lots of fun design for shows. Then along came kids. I actually enjoyed dropping them off at school and going to Target, and I was okay with that.   We didn't do public school because the school near me didn't look safe, and we had lived near Columbine High School and thought it was just a beautiful, beautiful school. And when we left Colorado, we thought, oh, isn't it sad that our kids won't go to school there? And then just about a month later, the whole Columbine shooting happened, and so we were kind of traumatized by all of that.   And then when I saw the school that my precious five-year-old would go to, it didn't look safe, and so we sent them to a private school. So here we are spending a lot of money, having high expectations, and the kids were doing all worksheets all the time, and they started to dread going to school, and they didn't love learning, and the excitement of learning just kind of drained out of them. And so we looked into other options and decided that homeschooling would be the way to go, and I found the classical model and just loved the way that sounded, and we tried it, and it worked, and the little lights just came back on in their eyes, and they started to love learning again.   And I just found my people, and I just learned everything I could about homeschooling, and I just poured myself into it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord. And had a great time, and I just loved my time with my kids, and I felt like it was successful, and I encouraged other people to do it, but I wasn't really sure that it worked until they got into college and they turned out to be successful, thriving humans, and we're really proud of them. One will be a doctor in about a month.   He's about to graduate. He has a wife and a little girl, and then my second one has her MBA, and she works for a Christian college where she leads trips, and she's getting ready to take a group to Paris and London, and so she kind of ministers to students through that, and then my youngest is still in school staying to be a software developer. So now I can confidently say it was worth all the energy that I put into it.   It was hard work, probably the hardest thing I've ever done, but so worth it.   Laura Dugger: (4:21 - 4:40) That's incredible, and I love hearing the success story where your children are now, but you really also inspired them with beauty and art in their learning and growing up time, and I'm curious, are there any personal lessons that the Lord has taught you through art?   Courtney Sanford: (4:41 - 6:32) Oh, goodness. Yeah, I think my desire was to make learning interactive because I saw what they were doing in the private school, which was sit in a chair all day and do your worksheets, and it was just worksheet after worksheet after worksheet and then a quiz, and then you get graded, and so I was thinking if I'm going to pull them out, I've got to do better than that, and so that was my standard, and I was going to beat that standard every day, and so I pulled in art because that's what I knew, so if we were learning about an animal, we would draw the animal. If we were learning about a continent, we would draw the continent until we could draw it from memory, and I really learned with them. I did not have a great elementary education or even high school education, so I would learn this stuff, and then I would think of creative ways to get them involved with it, so a lot of times it was drawing.   It could be painting. It could be making things out of clay. We used to make things out of Rice Krispie Treats, and then they could take it to their co-op group.   Well, it was a classical conversations group, but they do presentations, and so we made a Mayan temple out of Rice Krispie Treats, and we would make volcanoes, and then they could take it to their friends and share it with them and tell them about it, so anything I could do that would get us out of the chair using our hands and using our senses and think, you know, how can I incorporate all five senses, and that just made learning so much more fun for them and for me, and so a lot of it was art. Some of it was science.   Anytime I could incorporate a sense of play into what they were learning, I could see that they would learn so much more.   Laura Dugger: (6:32 - 6:55) I love that, trying to incorporate all five senses, especially. That gets some ideas coming, but can you even back it up, and because you're an artist, will you give us an overview of the seven major forms of art, and can you give us examples as parents for ways that we can engage our children with each of those?   Courtney Sanford: (6:56 - 10:58) Oh, sure. Let me think. All right, so drawing, of course, you can draw what you see, so when I teach students to draw, I do a progression, so we'll draw from line art, and you can find line art anywhere.   It might be in a children's book, so using the library was key for me, so I'd get a laundry basket, and I would go to the library with an index card of what we'd be studying, and I would grab all kinds of books related to that, so when you come home, you get out a kid's book. If you see a good line drawing, say you're studying a lizard, if you see a good line drawing, draw from that. They could even trace it to start with, so you draw from the line drawing, then once they get really confident with that, you go to drawing from photos, and then you go to drawing from real life, so maybe you have a fish tank.   Maybe there's a fish in the fish tank, and you could draw from that or draw things in your yard, so that is how I break down drawing for them, and it could be years. You could draw from line art for years before you go to drawing from photos, and then to drawing from real life, and drawing's great for learning to memorize things. For painting, painting's just fun, and so I like to go to the kitchen table every afternoon and paint what you see, so you start off with the younger kids.   You could start with color and markers and fill in the areas, and then you can teach them how to shade using painting. Sculpture is also fun with kids. I like air-dry clay, and I like Sculpey clay.   I like to get a one-pound block of Sculpey clay and teach them the basic forms, like roll out a snake, do your hands together. Those of you who are listening, you can't see my hands, but I am making a sphere with imaginary clay. These are really good for developing their fine motor skills, too.   We also make the letters out of roll-out snakes and form your letters. That will really help if they're reversing letters. It takes a while to build the whole alphabet, so maybe you do three or four letters a day.   You work on it a couple times a week. It might take a month to make the whole alphabet, but that can be one goal, to get them working in three dimensions. We usually do additive sculpture, like adding on, and you can use found objects to make sculptures.   One time, my son took apart a pen. I rearranged the pieces into a human shape, and it was lovely. Getting them thinking in three dimensions is related to sculpture.   Carving, I don't like to do until they're old enough to be safe with a knife, but once they are, especially the boys love to go outside in the yard and get a log. They spend a lot of time carving spoons. Just a simple shape they can hold in their mind and then carve it is a good activity.   It keeps their little hands busy, too, if you want to read aloud to them and you don't mind a little mess in the house, they can carve. You can also carve out of a bar of soap as well. For that, that's a subtractive sculpture technique.   Let's see. That's the three main ones, drawing, painting, sculpture. I know film is one.   Film, I don't really incorporate much into my homeschool, except we will occasionally watch a movie about history. That has gotten me into trouble a few times because some of those movies that I think are going to be historic turn out to have racy scenes in them, and I'll have to jump up and get in front of the TV or cough really loud. But there are some good films that you can watch together as a family.   That's about as far as I went with film.   Laura Dugger: (10:59 - 11:19) I would, if you don't mind me interrupting there, too. I feel like that's one that our girls have actually begun to develop on their own, where our eldest daughter once wanted a video camera, so she got the old-school video camera. They're making their own movies, and I've seen that as a form of creative, artistic play.   Courtney Sanford: (11:20 - 11:49) Oh, that's fabulous. Yes, so when my kids were little, we didn't even have phones or video cameras on the phones, so that wasn't an option. When we first started homeschooling, our TV died, and so we did not even have a TV for years.   We just decided not to replace it, which forced us into audiobooks and reading aloud and then just playing outside instead and reading books. So that was a blessing.   Laura Dugger: (11:49 - 12:03) I love that because that's one of the other forms. That was new to me, that literature is an art form. Sorry, I sidetracked you because we still have literature, architecture, theater, and music.   Courtney Sanford: (12:04 - 14:20) Yeah, I think the best thing that we did for our kids, of course, I love teaching them to write using Andrew Pudewa's method with IEW. It's kind of imitative writing, so you learn to imitate good writers. But also, my husband read aloud to the kids every single night.   That was his time with him. He gave me a break, and he would read for hours. He loved it.   The kids loved it. And he would choose classics or funny things, you know, science fiction. Probably not the books that I would choose.   I would choose classics and things related to what we were studying, but he chose what he wanted to read. So I would read aloud in the afternoons, and we would do audiobooks like Story of the World and all the Jim Weiss readings. And then he would read aloud at night.   And just whatever he wanted to choose, he would read aloud. And I think hearing good language produces good speakers and good writers. So he gets about 50 percent of the credit for the success of the kids, I think, for just reading aloud every night.   It was such a great thing to do for the kids. And then the last one, architecture. I do incorporate architecture when I'm teaching about a culture.   So, if we're doing art history or history, we'll look at the buildings. So, of course, you do that with ancient Egypt. You look at the pyramids.   When you're talking Old Testament times, you look at the tents. And then as I go through art history with the high schoolers, I'll point out more and more like neoclassical, of course, comes from the ancient Greeks, but it's come to symbolize power and authority. And that's why we see it in government buildings.   So, my degree is graphic design, but it was in the School of Architecture. So, I had a lot of history of architecture and I appreciate it. And so I'm always pointing that out to my kids.   And I do that in my class, in my art history class. I always incorporate the architecture just as a part of understanding a culture.   Laura Dugger: (14:21 - 14:29) I love that. And was there anything specific that you did with your kids for encouraging music or also theater?   Courtney Sanford: (14:30 - 15:29) Oh, yeah. One thing I wish I had done more of was kinder music. I don't know why we didn't do that much kinder music, but now I'm learning more about it.   I wish I had done more of that. And I did put them in piano lessons. One wanted to do violin.   So, they had a few years of learning the basics of music, and then they really got into theater. We have a great Christian youth theater nearby. And so that was a really good experience.   In their Christian youth theater, they would sing praise and worship songs before and during and after a play. They would be praying for the audience and singing worship songs in addition to the singing on the stage. And that whole experience was really good for them.   Even my quietest kid got a big role in a play one time, and he had to memorize a lot of lines and sing in front of people. It's just such a great experience for them.   Laura Dugger: (15:30 - 15:57) I would think so. Even if they don't choose something that we would consider a very artistic career, I can see why all of this is still beneficial. That leads me to another question for you.   Regardless of the way that all of us parents listening are choosing to educate our children, why is it still beneficial for all of us to incorporate art into our homes and into our parenting?   Courtney Sanford: (15:58 - 21:59) That's a great question. So, the first line of the Bible says God created. So, the first thing we learn about God is that he was creative.   He created everything. And then just a few lines later, it says then he created man in his own image. So that tells me that we were created to be creative, to create.   Now, he doesn't let us create stuff out of nothing like him, which is probably for our own good. That would be a mess. But we can create things out of what he created.   And there is a study done by George Land. And there's a video on YouTube of George Land giving a talk about this creativity study that he did. And he created a test for NASA to help them find creative engineers when they were trying to get to the moon.   And they used it to study creativity in children. And they tested five-year-olds. So, they found a group of 1,600 five-year-olds who were in school.   And when they tested them at five years old, 98% of them tested as creative geniuses. So, their plan was to go every five years and test them again just to see what was going on. So, they went back after five years.   The kids are now 10. And it dropped down to like 27%. They went back another five years when the kids were 15, and it was down to about 17%.   And then they were so depressed, they stopped testing them because they could see they began as very creative. So, we're created creative. And a lot of moms will say, yes, I can see that in my children.   But something happens. And this was all in school. Something happened during school that taught them to not be creative.   So, the school teaches the kids to be obedient, to sit still, and to get the same outcome from every kid. Right? There's an expected answer on every test.   And you're to try to get the answer that the teacher wants. That's not creative. So, the first thing to do to preserve their creativity is don't send them to school.   That's the safest bet. And then when you do homeschool them, which I think is the best environment for them, don't do what they do in school. To bring them home and to go to all this trouble just to do the same thing that they're doing in school is not worth the trouble.   So, you've got to not do what they're doing in school. And so, for me, that meant don't do worksheets, make the content interactive. So, I did rely on curriculum, but I didn't rely on the curriculum to be the teacher.   So, I get the content from the curriculum, and then I make it interactive using artistic, creative skills so that they can be creative. And I don't teach it out of them. So, if you have young kids, that's good news.   They're already creative. You just have to don't teach it out of them. If your kids are older and maybe they've been in school, then you might have to like undo some of that training and set up some experiences where you ask them or even like in my classes, I'll set up a challenge.   And I expect everyone's to be different because everybody's going to do it a little bit more creatively in their way. And so, at the end of class, instead of like calling out the answers to see if everybody got the same thing, they're holding up what they did and telling me what they were thinking. And everybody's is different.   And then I really praise the ones who did something different. Maybe they changed the colors. Maybe they put glasses on Mona Lisa.   You know, maybe they gave her a cat to hold. So, I reward thinking outside the box. Now to to pour in beauty, and I think I might have heard this from Charlotte Mason, beauty in, beauty out.   So, you've got to load them with beauty. Now, I think that we were naturally drawn to beauty and people will argue with me about this. They'll say, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.   But I betcha I could find something that's beautiful and do a survey. And I betcha I could get 100% of people to say, yes, that's beautiful. And I could find something else, maybe a Hindu goddess sculpture.   And I could find something that 100% people would say that is not beautiful. And so, I think that ingrained in some of us because we're created by God, I think we have a sense of appreciating beauty. I do think that it gets taught out of a lot of people.   So, with my kids, I show them a lot of beauty. And this can be as simple as get a coffee table book from the secondhand bookstore on art and put it on your coffee table. Get books from the library and have lots of beautiful things to look at.   And so, when I now when I was teaching my own kids, this is kind of a fly by the seat of my pants. Make it up as I go. Now that they've left home and I can think about it, I'm putting together books that are a little bit more thoughtful.   So, in my books, you will see I've chosen a piece of art that is beautiful and I will pair it with the lesson. And then I'll give you an art activity. So, for example, in Into the Woods, you'll see I've chosen a beautiful piece of art and I paired it with a poem, which is another piece of beauty.   Yes. And then I'll give you an art lesson so that they can get creative with it as well. So, it is this hard to pull it together.   So that's why I'm making books to help parents. So, you have something beautiful and something to do with it. And so, that's how I pour in beauty to give a beauty in beauty out.   Laura Dugger: (21:59 - 22:36) I love that so much. And just even holding this resource, it is so beautiful. There's so much to it.   When it arrived, our daughters were delighted to go through it and to dive in and get to learn. But I'm just thinking many listeners are fellow homeschool parents and also many are not. But I don't want them to be discouraged because I'm even thinking of your courses or if they do intentional art in the evenings or on weekends or summer break and winter break.   There are still ways for all of us to incorporate this.   Courtney Sanford: (22:36 - 24:28) Yes, for sure. Yeah. Even so, my mom, I was public school.   And of course, the word hadn't been invented back then, but my mom appreciates art and poetry and she would always have art books on the coffee table. And I would just stop and, you know, in my free time, flip through the pages. And those images stuck with me my whole life.   She had one that had a Monet on the cover of the Field of Red Poppies. And that was just ingrained in my mind as a piece of beauty. So just something as simple as putting it out on your coffee table.   She also took us to museums whenever we traveled. And she didn't make a big lesson out of it, but I was exposed to beautiful buildings. You know, most museums are in beautiful buildings.   You see the beautiful architecture. And I was exposed to a lot of art that way. So, that was that totally goes with which with summer vacations and your vacations to, you know, make an effort to see a gallery or an art museum when you're traveling.   That makes a big difference. It'll make an impression on them. And of course, the books you could do in the summer.   We have summer classes and we have an art retreat that might not line up with school because it's in May. But the books you could for sure add on. Hopefully someday we'll have evening classes so that you could go to school.   We've got some this coming year that will start at four o'clock. So, hopefully some kids can go to school and come home and join an art class. So, we're working on getting it out as we as I get teachers willing to.   Most of my teachers are homeschool moms, too. And by the end of the day, they're tired. So, I've got a few.   I've got a young lady who's just graduating and she's going to do some late afternoon ones for us next year. So pretty excited about that.   Laura Dugger: (24:28 - 25:04) I love that. And then even thinking of the beauty and beauty out stepping outdoors. There's so much beauty in God's creation and so much change depending on where you live throughout the seasons.   But I love how you also brought up the library, because anytime I'm trying to learn something new, that's my first go to is put books on hold at the library. And so, if we're wanting to know what to add to our library cart just to get us started into this, can you share books that you recommend, both yours and others that you think would be good additions?   Courtney Sanford: (25:05 - 26:19) Oh, that's a good question. Yes, there are. I love to think about the biographies of artists.   And if so, if you're studying ancient history, you could look up a biography on Giotto. And they're still tell the stories in such a nice, kid friendly way. Like there's the story of Giotto.   He was actually watching the sheep. And while he was out in the fields, he would draw on the sides of rocks like big rocks. But you get another rock and you would draw on the sides of rocks.   And another artist was walking through one day and he saw these drawings on the rocks. He was like, wow, you're really talented. Come with me.   I'll make you an apprentice. And those stories are just they're fun to read together and hear those kinds of stories. And of course, the Usborne books of art are beautiful and they often have projects for the kids to do.   I can't think of any specific ones, but I do love a short paperback on the particular artists. And so, I kind of line those up along with the period in history that we're studying.   Laura Dugger: (26:20 - 26:32) That's great. And even you're making me think of picture book biographies on artists. We've always enjoyed those as well.   Obviously, the illustrations are fantastic, too, but the storylines are so interesting.   Courtney Sanford: (26:33 - 27:23) Yes. So, I just grab whatever they have. I had a big laundry basket.   And and I know card and I just grab whatever I could find and sometimes let the kids choose. And sometimes I would choose. If you're going with geography, you can find beautiful photos of the different areas.   See the landscapes or the sunsets. And that can through photography. And you can really get to know a place through beautiful photographs.   I like that part, too. And then that might inspire a pastel drawing of a landscape. Maybe it's a beautiful sunset you could recreate with pastels.   So, photography books are really inspirational, too.   Laura Dugger: (27:23 - 28:10) It's a great idea. And circling back, you had mentioned Andrew Pudewa earlier in our conversation. And I remember learning from him that with writing, the worst way we can teach our children is to say just free write, just write something down or here's a prompt to finish this sentence because better writing comes through imitating.   And so, you've even mentioned tracing is a great way to start. That's not cheating in art if you're not stealing credit from them. But if you're just practicing and tracing, this is a way to imitate.   And so, I'm wondering, do you have any other cautions for ways that may be the wrong way to introduce our kids to art?   Courtney Sanford: (28:11 - 30:50) I agree that. Yeah, you can get writer's block. What I find funny is that some people are so afraid to imitate artists.   But if I were teaching piano, I would teach your kid how to play something by Bach in which he would learn what Bach did. And nobody would say I'm stealing from Bach. You know, and you learn to play Beethoven by playing Beethoven and you you learn to reproduce those pieces of music.   I do the same thing in art. We look at what the masters did and we'll copy it in order to learn what they knew. And that way we build.   We're like standing on the shoulders of giants. So, we don't want every kid to have to start with inventing the wheel themselves. We'd never get very far.   We want to learn what the masters knew and then build on that. So, I do a lot of imitation. And then as the students ready, I let them know you are free to change this or to experiment with it.   So just last week we were drawing and painting red poppies and learning about Georgia O'Keeffe. And so, I said we can do an imitation of her poppy. And I'll show you step by step how to reproduce her poppy.   And in doing that, we're going to cause us to look more closely at it and study her blends. Like she would blend from yellow to orange to red in every petal. And we can study that technique.   And then as we do it and we practice it, we look more closely at hers and it kind of becomes a part of us. And then we'll find another flower and we'll use that same technique on a flower that we choose. Or maybe it's a flower we make up and we take that technique and we can apply it.   And it's a much better way to learn than trying to learn it yourself without looking at what the masters did. So, I think that I think I pulled a lot of that from Andrew Pudewa. The idea of I'm going to assist you until you say I got this.   I can do it from here. So, I do assist until they get it. And then I always say whenever you're ready, as soon as you're ready, change it and make it your own or do your own thing.   And because turning them loose too soon can break their confidence. So, you want to build them up until they can confidently experiment on their own.   Laura Dugger: (30:51 - 32:34) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. I'm so excited to share today's sponsor, WinShape Marriage, with you. WinShape Marriage is a fantastic ministry that helps couples prepare, strengthen, and if needed, even save their marriage.   WinShape Marriage is grounded on the belief that the strongest marriages are the ones that are nurtured, even if it seems like things are going smoothly. That way they'll be stronger if they do hit a bump along their marital journey. Through their weekend retreats, WinShape Marriage invites couples to enjoy time away to simply focus on each other.   These weekend retreats are hosted within the beautiful refuge of WinShape Retreat, perched in the mountains of Rome, Georgia, which is just a short drive from Atlanta, Birmingham, and Chattanooga. While you and your spouse are there, you'll be well-fed, well-nurtured, and well-cared for. During your time away in this beautiful place, you and your spouse will learn from expert speakers and explore topics related to intimacy, overcoming challenges, improving communication, and so much more.   I've stayed on site at WinShape before, and I can attest to their generosity, food, and content. You will be so grateful you went. To find an experience that's right for you and your spouse, head to their website, WinShapeMarriage.org.  That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E Marriage.org. Thanks for your sponsorship.    Well, and as parents, once we're past the resistance to maybe invest some of our time or our money or allow the mess into our home, but if we push past through that and we're ready to get started, I'd love to go over some practical tips.   So, Courtney, first, just what are some great art supplies to have on hand?   Courtney Sanford: (32:36 - 37:13) A number two pencil and some Crayola markers you probably already have. Those are great tools. I like to have my kids work in an art journal, and you can get these real inexpensive at Michael's.   It'll say on the cover, mixed media art Journal, and they come in different sizes. I kind of like the big ones, and that will allow you to use paint, pencil, and marker or anything you want. If it says sketchbook, it's not going to hold up to paint very well.   So that's why I get the mixed media paper. So, I start with the art journal, and then I like to make that journal be their book on a subject. So right now, I'm doing ancient history with some kids, and so they are making their own book about ancient history.   So, every week we'll do a drawing or a painting or watercolor on a lesson in ancient history. And so, each piece is not a masterpiece to hang on the wall. Each piece is a part of the story in their book.   That takes all the pressure off. So, they don't see this as, I don't know if this is going to be good enough to hang on the wall. That's not even a question.   It's a part of the story in your book. They can also take some notes. They can show their grandparents and review the topic by presenting it to their grandparents and showing off their book.   And then you can collect their books and put them on a shelf. It's not all over the house making you crazy. And then you can see from year to year how their skills have improved.   So, I kind of like every year I like pick a topic to be the subject of our art journal. So, I call it arts integrated learning. So, I'm pairing an academic subject with art for that year.   So, it could be poetry. It could be history. It could be science.   Whatever you pick. That's what you'll add to your art journal with.   Pencils. I like blending tools too. There are some people call them stompies.   For those of you who are watching. Here's one. It's just rolled up newspaper, but you can buy these at Michael's.   They're really cheap. But it takes a drawing to the next level. You can just blend things out and shade things really lovely.   Mark Kistler does some videos and teaches you how to. He'll go shade, shade, shade. And so that's a good way to start.   And it really elevates a drawing and it gives them a lot of confidence. And then of course the good eraser. The book drawing with children is a really good one for our parents to read and then teach from in that book.   They suggest you have them draw with markers so that they don't spend an hour erasing. If you have someone who's a perfectionist, they will make one mark and spend 20 minutes erasing it. And so, if you go right to drawing with markers, that's gonna teach them to make a good mark first and then keep going and not spend half an hour erasing.   When I get to age nine or 10, I like to use acrylic paints, but I only buy four colors of paint and then I make them mix all the other colors. So, we use yellow, magenta, blue, and white. Those are like the colors in your printer.   Cyan, magenta, and yellow are the ones in your printer. And those colors can make all the other colors. Now your printer has black, but I don't give kids black.   Instead of black, they could make purple or brown or dark color. So, you know, you teach them how to mix the colors that they want. They'll learn to mix it because they want green or they want purple, or they want brown.   And then they develop a sense of color theory, and you don't even have to teach it. They'll figure it out because they want those colors. If they find, if, if you don't feel confident in that, you can buy craft colors of the specific colors, especially brown.   That's a hard one to mix. But I do like the coverage of acrylic paints. I like watercolors too.   That's a little bit easier to get into. You just take it slow and practice a lot. So that's really all you need.   It's pretty simple.   Laura Dugger: (37:14 - 37:27) Well, and I'm wondering too, even with the acrylic paint at that age, once they're older, that one, I'm assuming can stain. So are there any tips that you have for containing the mess?   Courtney Sanford: (37:28 - 38:32) Yes, I get, and they're a little bit hard to find. So go to Amazon and find a, a tablecloth that is plastic on one side and felt on the other side. I forget what you call it, but there'll be like picnic tables, tablecloths.   And the plastic ones are going to drive you crazy because they're too thin. So, if it's flannel backed, it's a little bit thicker. So I get a white one at the beginning of the year.   And that comes out anytime we do clay or paint, and it goes over the kitchen table and I don't worry about cleaning it. You just let it dry, fold it up. And I put mine in the China cabinet right there by the table.   And then anytime we do something messy, that tablecloth comes out and, and then just fold the mess back up in it. And it works, it works really great to, and then you might, if you're, if you're a neat freak, maybe plan on buying one at the beginning of every school year so that you get clean slates. And then the paint that gets onto the tablecloth is actually lovely and it'll be pretty next time you get it out.   Laura Dugger: (38:33 - 39:11) Oh, I love that. That's a genius tip. I appreciate that for coming indoors because in the summer, I guess we could take it outside depending on where we live.   But then what about any hacks for finding the time to do this? And I guess I'm thinking back to a previous episode with Beth Rosenbleeth. She's the one who started Days with Grey and she would talk about different art prompts that she would set out for her children in the morning for a variety of ages.   But were there any things that kind of required minimal time from you, but had maximum return for your kids?   Courtney Sanford: (39:11 - 41:06) Yeah, that's a good point. I had, I wouldn't say I had a strict schedule, but I had a pattern to my days. And the time after lunch was a good time to do messy things in the kitchen because we were in the kitchen anyway.   And as I could clean up lunch and start dinner, I could be in the kitchen with them and they could be creative at the kitchen table with minimum involvement from me. One of my best afternoons was we had the microscopes out to do something specific and I left it out as I was cooking chili. And as I cut up each ingredient, I would cut a thin slice for them to look at under the microscope.   And so they were looking at a bell pepper and a red pepper and celery and tomato. And they were so, they so enjoyed that and I was able to cook dinner at the same time, which was fabulous. And that turned, it was probably like a 15-minute science lesson into like four hours of discovering things under the microscope.   So that element of play and you can do that with your art supplies too. Like I'll demonstrate a technique and then leave it out. I'll turn my attention to cooking dinner while they see what else they can do with it.   And, um, you know, I'll give them a few tips. Like, um, if you mix these three colors together, you're going to make brown and then turn your back and let them discover it for themselves. So, um, I'm a big crock pot person.   And so after lunch would be the time I need to clean up lunch and put something in the crock pot. So that would be a good time for me to get them started on art or science and, um, and then turn my back and let them have that, um, that discovery time without me hovering or telling them what to do or something.   Laura Dugger: (41:06 - 41:22) Oh, that's a great rhythm. I love these ideas. And then I kind of want to go in chunks of age.   So, thinking of little kids, how would you define the difference between a piece of art and a craft?   Courtney Sanford: (41:23 - 43:41) Yeah, a craft is going to be something where the focus is on following directions and that's important. They need to learn how to follow directions. And so we would do, especially around the holidays, I might do a craft and we all follow directions.   Um, a piece of art is going to be where they're, they all come out different. They're allowed to play and express themselves. Um, for me personally, if I'm doing a craft when I'm done, I think, oh, I could make 50 of these and sell them.   If it's an art, when I'm done with a piece of art, like one of these paintings behind me, when I'm done with that, I'm thinking I could never do that again. That took so much out of me. I'm exhausted.   A little piece of my soul is in that that's art. That's the difference. Um, so I don't sell my paintings because there's a little piece of my soul in, um, my husband makes fun of me for that.   He's like, you could just sell your paintings. They're like, what? They're, they're like my babies.   I can't, I can't part with them. It took so much out of me to create them. Um, but a craft, yeah, I'll just give away things that are, that I just followed directions for, um, in terms of kids, younger kids will enjoy crafts, but getting to high school, they recognize it as slave labor and they don't want to do that.   They are in what the classical education people call the, the, um, poetic stage, you know, they want to express themselves and they want to be unique. I think this is why they get tattoos. The tattoo is a way of saying this is who I am.   This is what it means to me. I'm unique. Um, so I think if we don't teach them to express themselves in art, they're going to get tattoos.   So that might encourage moms to, to give them the skills so that they can express themselves. You know, they need to be able to write poetry or write songs or paint a painting or do a drawing. There's that need inside of us to do that that God put in us.   And if they don't have an outlet, then they're going to find something like tattoos or something that we don't want them to be doing. Yeah. I mean, some of my kids are tattooed.   It's not bad.   Laura Dugger: (43:42 - 44:25) Well, and you've kind of answered a follow-up question I had because we talked about little kids, but I'm thinking of teens. So going back, my background is in marriage and family therapy, and we would encourage everyone that journaling is a free form of therapy. But I think of art as the same way.   And there's even studies that show when you're engaged in something artistic, the critical side of your brain goes offline. So you can't think negative thoughts while you're creating something new, but with teens, there's that added benefit of getting to express themselves. So is there anything else with art that you see as basically free therapy for adolescents?   Courtney Sanford: (44:26 - 46:54) Oh, sure. I do see it a lot. I experienced it because I started my business because of the shutdown and because I was teaching in person and then I had to switch to online teaching.   And so, the group that I had moved online and I figured out how to do it and got a little bit better at it. And then that summer I offered a class for adults. These were directors and I was in classical conversations at the time.   And so a whole bunch of teachers are expected to teach Western cultural history without a lot of background. And so some of the moms asked me if I would do my art class for them. And so I had about a group of like 50 adults and we would get on for an hour and a half every day.   And this was at the height of the shutdown when turning on the news, just stresses you out. Going to the grocery store was stressful because people were in masks or they weren't in masks or, you know, we didn't know anything. It was such a stressful time, but that hour and a half that we had together, we, our focus was on discovering a piece of art.   So, we were looking at beautiful things and then we were creating something and that changed our focus from what was going on in the world. And we would just relax, and we'd enjoy it. Having the live class kept our focus on it.   And when I don't have a live class in front of me, I'll be like, oh, I should put the laundry in or I should start dinner and I get distracted. But with that, you know, with other people on zoom, it keeps me focused. And so, we'd have this wonderful hour and a half vacation from the world.   And after it was over, I would just have this sense of peace. And then I'd come down and be like, oh yeah, that's still going on. And it was, it was so good for our mental health.   And, and I get, I hear moms tell me that the hour and a half once a week they spend with me doing art has been such a blessing. Like one student lost her father a year ago and this is helping her. She said she's finally coming out of her depression and she's finding a way to express herself and find beauty again.   And it's, it's been transformative for some students. So, it is a blessing. And I didn't, I didn't read that somewhere.   That's just from my experience. So, I'm a big believer in that.   Laura Dugger: (46:54 - 47:51) I can see why I think you're bringing up two points. I don't want to miss both with art therapy and then also art in community. So art and community first, I think for all of us at any age, what can we do as this is airing probably when everybody's getting out for summertime, how can we gather others alongside of us for whether it's our kids or us as peers to get to engage in these activities together.   And so, I want to follow up with you on that, but also before I lose my thought, I also want to link back to Karen Pence's episode. She had started art therapy for veterans, I believe, and just incredible. The healing that is possible through this.   So, do you have any thoughts Courtney on ways that we can this summer gather together community at different ages and do something artistic?   Courtney Sanford: (47:51 - 52:15) That is a good question. So, we have, I have found the online classes are the easiest for people to get to. And it's I get people ask if we can do it in person, but honestly it's hard to get people out or they're busy.   They're doing things in summer. So, we do offer a class online in the summer that's live. We have recorded classes that you could do alone or get a few people together and, do them together.   I have some sampler packs too. So, some of them are just three lessons. You could get some friends together and find, maybe you could find three, three times during the summer to do.   I have like a Vango sampler pack and a couple of short ones that you could just pay for the video and do with your friends or maybe a mother daughter event. Maybe you do the self-paced class with your daughter. And I've had some seniors, like seniors in high school, do a mother daughter class together and just say, this is such a good time for us to spend a little bit of time together, a little bonus time before they go off to college.   During the school year, we have, I have a watercolor artist friends. She lives near me and she's a professional watercolor artist and she does the class called Bible journaling. And that is a beautiful combination of a devotion and a watercolor time together.   Those are hour and a half classes too. And they meet once a week. And we sometimes we'll have grandmas, we'll have high school students, we'll have mother daughter pairs do it together.   And they actually have a little prayer time, a little study of scripture. And then then Kate teaches them step-by-step how to do a beautiful watercolor and incorporate some hand lettering in it. So that's just a beautiful fun time together.   So I highly recommend her class during the school year. If, if a mom could get away, or if you have a high school daughter to do it together, that is a great experience. And then I have a short version of art history that you could do with friends or your high school daughter.   It's called paint your way through marvelous to behold, which is just 12 lessons that goes through. And that's a variety of drawing and painting. If you wanted to do something like that.   So, lots of things, or you can check out the books. And if you feel confident following step-by-step instructions in a book, you could use the book or a combination of videos and books. If you're feeling kind of like you could lead a art group, you could get the cell page video, watch the video and then do, you know, exactly what I said, do that live with a group.   And if you have any art experience doing that, you could get, probably get, I would like invite all the homeschool moms in your co-op group to get together. And I do some, sometimes I'll go to do a mom's group, do a watercolor or I love to do the milkmaid with moms because the milkmaid is this beautiful painting from the Dutch masters of a woman cooking. She's just pouring milk.   I think she's making bread pudding and it's just so beautiful. It's like, what I think I look like homeschooling. I'm wearing like a long gold gown and those suns coming in and everything's perfect.   I'm like, this is the ideal. This is what I think homeschooling is going to look like. And then I kind of use that painting as a launch pad for painting Delft tiles from the period.   And so sometimes I'll, I'll do that with some homeschool moms because I like to encourage homeschool moms. I know it's hard. And I had some mentors when I was homeschooling that I really appreciated.   So, I'm always happy to, to be the support and be able to say it's worth it. Keep going. I know you're driving a crappy car, but it will be worth it.   And so, the sacrifices you make now totally pay off. And you know, before I know it, my son is going to be homeschooling his daughter. She's seven months now, but it's going to fly by, you know, she'll be four before you know it.   And I'll be teaching her how to paint. I suppose.   Laura Dugger: (52:16 - 53:13) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you?   Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials, anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help.   Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.    I don't want to miss what website to direct everyone to. If they want to sign up for one of these classes, where's the best place to follow up?   Courtney Sanford: (53:14 - 54:27) Go to delightfulartco.com and on that page, you'll see live classes, self-paced classes, summer retreats. I've done adult retreats before. I'd be open to doing it again if people want to.   So, I have, I would call it private retreats. So, if you want to get a group of women together, maybe somebody has a beach house, I'll come and do the art. It could be a one day, two day, or three-day event.   So that's an option. And we have self-paced classes. So, lots of things to look at.   I have a lot of sample classes on the website too. If you want to drop in and see what they're like. I think there's a how to paint Monet's water lilies is on the site.   You can watch that and see what it's like. Some people are afraid to try an online art class, but we all loved Bob Ross, and we watched him. So, if you can imagine saying, Bob, stop, could you do that again?   That's what my classes are like, and I'll be happy to stop and show you again. And then you can hold up your work at the end and I can give you some feedback. So, I'm like the new Bob Ross.   Laura Dugger: (54:27 - 54:46) There you go. That's wonderful. Thank you for sharing that.   And Courtney, I just have a couple more questions for you. If let's turn it back to parenting. If we want to get started today and we just want next step to get started.   What is an art prompt that we can still try today?   Courtney Sanford: (54:47 - 57:26) I would look at what you're, what, what are you teaching your kids? So, if you're teaching them, maybe you have a library book on the coffee table that you're studying biology. Pull out one thing from that and draw what you see and reproduce that.   Just one drawing a week. And before you know it, you'll have a whole biology book. So, I like to instead of saying parents, you have to add on another course.   You have to add art to everything else you're doing. Slide it into what you're already doing and it will enhance what they remember about that. And it's not like a whole other subject.   So just use art as a tool to help them remember what you want them to learn anyway. So, anything you want them to teach, if you have a photo or a drawing, have them trace it or draw it. I actually another good way to start is if you have little kids and Bible story time, let them draw what you're reading about.   My son loved to do stick figures. So, I have the whole Bible told in stick figures from when I'm from my youngest kid. And it is fabulous, especially like Sodom and Gomorrah.   And, you know, there's a lot of violent stuff. Boys love that stuff. So, he illustrated a lot of the Old Testament because I read it every morning, and he would just draw what he heard me.   I think I was using the Children's Illustrated Bible. So, he had some things to look at. That's another great way to get started.   Just let them look at the story and draw in their own art journal. So, there's so many fun ways you can use it in every subject. I had a mom tell me she read me an email.   She said, my daughter is just blooming in your classes. I wish every subject could be taught with an art journal and a paint palette. And I replied, we're working on it.   We're we've got we've got Latin and art, science and art, literature and art. There's just so many ways to find inspiration and what you're already studying and find the beauty in that subject. So, in our site, our art and biology course, students do a beautiful watercolor of the DNA strand.   And they draw the cell in watercolor. And it's just beautiful. And it helps them remember it and practices their art skills.   So, it's like a two for one. Think of it as a two for one. Take art and put it in another subject.   Laura Dugger: (57:26 - 57:46) I love win wins. That sounds amazing. And Courtney, I just have one final question for you today.   We are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge or insight. And so is my final question for you today. What is your savvy sauce?   Courtney Sanford: (57:47 - 58:15) The beauty, in beauty out, has been kind of my savvy sauce and also as unto the Lord. So, whatever I do, I do as unto the Lord. If I'm homeschooling, I'm teaching biology.   I'm going to do as unto the Lord. I'm not going to hand out a worksheet. I'm going to make it.   I'm going to make it a great experience. So, I would have to say whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as unto the Lord and not for men.   Laura Dugger: (58:16 - 58:36) What a great place to end. Courtney, you are so inspiring. You've given us great ideas and kind of confidence to get to put this into practice.   Even if we're not artists like you, we're all created in God's image and therefore can be creative. So, thank you for your time and wisdom today. Thank you so much for being my guest.   Courtney Sanford: (58:37 - 58:40) You are sure welcome. I had a great time. It's good to talk to you.   Laura Dugger: (58:41 - 1:02:25) You as well. One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before?   It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus.   We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So, would you pray with me now?   Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life?   We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.   If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason.   We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you ready to get started? First, tell someone.   Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible.   I selected the Quest NIV Bible, and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ.   I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Today's message is considered inappropriate for children. Genesis 19 reveals the vilest and most sinful behavior recorded in Scripture. What does God do for Lot? What does God do about Sodom? How has Sodom rubbed off on us? All important questions as we read through Genesis 19.

Join us for the finale of season one, as we break down Genesis 19, and the great destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Visit our linktree: https://linktr.ee/scatteredabroadnetwork Visit our website, www.scatteredabroad.org, and subscribe to our email list. "Like" and "share" our Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/sapodcastnetwork Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ the_scattered_abroad_network/ Subscribe to our Substack: https://scatteredabroad.substack.com/Subscribe to our YouTube channel: The Scattered Abroad Network Contact us through email at san@msop.org. If you would like to consider supporting us in any way, don't hesitate to contact us through this email.

Friday, 23 May 2025   “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16   “You behold! I, I send you as sheep in wolves' midst. You become, therefore, sagacious as the serpents and simple as the doves” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles what it would be like on judgment day for the cities that rejected their message. He now continues His words to them, saying, “You behold! I, I send you as sheep in wolves' midst.”   The pronoun is emphatic, “I, I send you.” Jesus is personally sending them, knowing in advance what they will face. The emphasis looks back on everything He had already faced, knowing that they too would receive like treatment. Thus, they shouldn't feel that what they were to experience was unique or unknown to Him.   As for the metaphors, they are self-explanatory to anyone who knows the difference between wolves and sheep. This wording was known to Israel from their writings, such as when the Lord, through Ezekiel, spoke of the leaders of Israel in their treatment of the people –   “Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27   This and other instances from Scripture told them that they should expect ill-treatment. They were like lambs. Their message was harmless and should be taken as inoffensive. And yet, when it was heard, they would face vile accusations, possibly be attacked, and so forth. Because this was expected, He next says, “You become, therefore, sagacious as the serpents.”   From the earliest account of man on earth, the serpent is portrayed as a cunning beast. It is the serpent that caused Adam to fall through his deceptive tongue. Barnes notes that the Egyptians used the serpent in their hieroglyphics as a symbol of wisdom. Thus, this was something understood beyond the borders of Israel as a common theme.   Jesus is telling them to be cunning like serpents, not in a negative way, but in the sense that they should be aware of the attacks that would come against them and respond accordingly in a sagacious manner to the situation at hand. Further, He says, “and simple as the doves.”   The adjective translated as simple, akeraios, is most literally translated as unmixed, being derived from the negative particle a and the verb kerannumi, to mix. Saying unmixed, however, may leave the reader not sure what is being referred to.   However, the word simple is from the Latin word simplus which then carried through old French. It signifies a medicine made from one constituent. Thus, it is unmixed or pure. This meaning continues in intent today.   As for the dove, they are just that, pure, untainted by other constituents that might corrupt them. They simply act as doves regardless of the world around them being fraught with terror or easy manipulation. In other words, they don't join in the terrorizing, nor do they cunningly try to manipulate their surroundings to obtain what they need.   As such, one can see the beauty of the symbolism of the dove representing the Holy Spirit. He meets His purpose within the Godhead without any form of terror or manipulation. Rather, He inspires, helps, edifies, and leads according to the love and wisdom of God, reassuring and comforting those who are His.   Life application: Today, there are nations that have carried the gospel message for eons. The nation itself has been identified with the Christian faith. There are those who are within such nations who are trying to retain their country within that same context. Therefore, they go out and preach the gospel in the streets, hand out tracts, appeal to the masses concerning what is right, etc.   It is true that some of these people are annoying to the point that nobody wants to listen to them. Some of them stand on street corners and condemn everybody to hell. That is not a very good selling point concerning one's message, but they do it anyway. Despite people like that, there are those who truly care about sharing the grace of God in Christ Jesus, they pass on a message that is inoffensive, pure, harmless, and good. And yet, there are wolves out there that literally attack them, steal their Bibles, publicly tear them apart, stomp on them, etc.   Some will come up and shout in the faces of these people as if what they are doing is harmful. And yet, it is the most loving thing they could do. They just want people to know Jesus. Some are converted, making their efforts worthwhile. Some will never be converted and continue to rage against Jesus. They must face the same judgment Jesus spoke of in the last verse. It will be more sufferable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for them on that day.   Despite this, it is right that we present the gospel, even if it receives serious animosity and blowback from those we speak to. Our words will serve their purpose if they are rightly spoken in accord with the words of Scripture. So be bold, cunning, and simple all at the same time. But be sure to speak!   Lord God, help us to be people of powerful pronouncement as we walk in Your presence. May our words convey to others the knowledge we possess concerning the riches and glory of the gospel so that others can be saved. Without us, who will speak? Help us to do so! Amen.

Thursday, 22 May 2025   Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! Matthew 10:15   “Amen! I say to you, it will be sufferable – land Sodom and Gomorrah – on judgment day than that city” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus instructed the apostles to out-swing the dust from their feet of any house or city that rejected their word concerning the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Now, He tells them what that act signifies, beginning with, “Amen! I say to you.”   As has been seen, this forms an emphatic declaration concerning what follows. He is stressing the importance of what follows. In this case, it is the ramifications for rejecting the word they carry, saying, “it will be sufferable.”   It is a new adjective, anektoteros, signifying more endurable, more tolerable, etc. It is derived from the verb anechó, to endure, bear with, tolerate, etc. In this case, a single word that will fit the surrounding thought is sufferable. Next, to describe what is sufferable, He says, “land Sodom and Gomorrah.”   The epitome of what is considered biblical punishment and judgment on sin is found in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. So poignant was this lesson found in their writings that the memory of it is referred to throughout their history.   At times, the cities are referred to as the epitome of wickedness. At times, they are used as the epitome of judgment upon it. In Isaiah 1, both thoughts are referred to at one time –   “Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah.” Isaiah 1:9, 10   These warnings didn't end with Jesus' words, though. They are referred to in 2 Peter and Jude. Finally, in Revelation 11, Jerusalem of the tribulation period is equated to Sodom and Egypt, a stinging and shameful rebuke.   Of these cities and what will be sufferable for them, Jesus says, “on judgment day than that city.” In other words, at the time when judgment is meted out upon the world prior to the lost being cast into the Lake of Fire, Sodom and Gomorrah will receive less punishment than such a city. How could that be?   The reason isn't the direct, flagrant, and open wickedness of these cities. Rather, it is a matter of revealed light. As Jesus says elsewhere –   “But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48   Sodom and Gomorrah were cities filled with perverts and wicked people, but they only had the light of general revelation to direct them, along with the consciences that God gave them. Israel, on the other hand, had God's special revelation in the form of the law, the writings, and the prophets.   They were given these things to lead them to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. Upon His arrival and His proclamation that everything they were promised was about to be presented to them, they rejected what these writings proclaimed. In their rejection, there could be no excuse. This is a truth that continues to this day.   Life application: Today, it is popular among Christians to give Israel and the Jewish people a pass for their conduct and their way of life. Condemnation of those around her comes quickly, as it should, but when it comes to pointing out the behavior of Israel, there is often not a peep made.   And yet, it is Israel the people who bear the name of God, who openly hold “pride” parades, condone abortion, promote or tolerate wickedness, etc. Christians should support the nation in their state of return because God has ordained it, while not failing to call out their corruption as well as their rejection of Jesus.   Jews must be evangelized like any other group of people. Those who reject Jesus will be eternally separated from God. What came upon them for the past two thousand years was a self-inflicted wound. Paul explicitly says this when writing to those at Thessalonica –   “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16   Be sure to pray for Israel, be willing to call out their flaws, and be sure to have tracts ready to hand out to any Jews you meet, just as you would for any other person.   Heavenly Father, help us to think clearly about how You have presented Your word, including its warnings, to the people of the world. Judgment really is coming, and people must be warned of the consequences for failing to heed the word You have given us. May we be bold in this, O God. Amen.  

In chapters 18 and 19, Abraham pleads with God on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah, primarily on behalf of his nephew Lot. Discover the stark contrast between Abraham's steadfast growth in grace and Lot's descent into carelessness. Reverend Eric Alexander calls us to consider the depth of our own faith and live for the things that are eternal, as Abraham did, in Hear the Word of God. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29

The Time Is Late (2) (audio) David Eells 5/18/25   The Warnings Have Ended Michael Boldea Jr. - 08/14/2006 (David's notes in red) Rom.13:11-12 And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. My heart is heavy, my soul is burdened, and as so many who have been called, anointed, and charged to preach a message of warning and repentance to this nation, I am a weary man. Though the time is upon us, though undeniable events continue to come to pass, still most of Christendom suffers from a severe case of abject indifference. I often feel as though I am a man standing outside a building engulfed in flames, screaming at the top of my lungs for those inside to come out, to save themselves, to escape the fire, while all the while, those inside stand by the windows and wave merrily, coffee in one hand, donut in the other, unaware of the tragedy that is about the befall them. Seeing that they will not heed the warning, the only option left is to run into the burning building and drag as many out, by force if need be, and lead them to safety. This is the mindset that I have adopted over the years. Since early youth, when I served as my grandfather's translator, I realized that some would hear and heed, but most would not. There is no doubt God has been merciful to this nation, first having raised up men from within your own borders to speak a heavy but needed truth, men who were promptly dismissed or ridiculed as being instigators, those who would enjoy stirring up provocation, simply for the sake of being provocative. Though the message fell, in large part, on deaf ears, they labored, and wept, and labored some more, for it was their calling, their mission, their sovereign duty toward an omnipotent God, one they could not as readily dismiss, as the message itself had been by the masses. Then, in His infinite mercy, God called on faithful servants from half a world away, and placed the same message in their hearts, in some cases almost identical, and sent them in the hope that perhaps the nation might heed the message if spoken from new lips. These too, were promptly rejected, either for being too harsh, not having the right credentials, or not having graduated from a proper theological seminary. We have found a reason, and an excuse to reject every messenger that has come, that has spoken, and that has warned. In their hearts, some consider, that surely God is merciful enough to send yet another messenger, to give yet another warning, as though they were waiting for a bus, they think to themselves, “I'll catch the next one, I'll believe next one”, but I say to you this day, the warnings have ended. (Certainly, after this warning was given many lost their lives to foolishness that scripture surely corrected. Since history repeats when men take no heed this revelation is still true today.) To be clear in what I am trying to relay, for this is the core reason I write this article today, I will repeat myself: the warnings have ended. No new messengers are waiting in the wings, no new warnings are coming, but merely the visions and forewarnings of the specific judgments that are about to unfold. These words are not my own, and I write them with a heavy heart, but on three separate occasions while in prayer, I heard the same phrase repeated, over and over again: “The warnings have ended, the warnings have ended.” The time has come for the true servants of God to weep between the porch and the altar, to lament and cry out, to stand in the gap and be fearless for righteousness' sake. If you must stand alone, dear brother, then so stand, for you will be in good company, counted among such giants of the faith as Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. They too stood alone in the face of overwhelming odds, with only the truth of God's Word on their side, but the truth proved to be more than enough. So I say this day, to you whom God has been urging to step up, to take up the charge, to be on the front lines of the battle that is raging, be fearless in unmasking deception, and propagating righteousness, for you are on the side of right. If our desire were to spread a false gospel, to deceive the sheep, to bring division to the house of God, then there would be reason for fear, for God Himself would be set against us, but since He stands with you, since He is the one urging you into battle, be bold, and brave and confident in Him and you will always be the majority. Recently I was rereading Foxe's Book of Martyrs, and weeping, and I thought to myself, where have all the valiant defenders of truth gone, those that even in the face of death would proclaim the name of Christ, and pour out their lives to their final breath for His sake, with a smile on their lips? Is their time past? Surely it cannot be, for this is the greatest time in the history of the Church, the time in which God needs warriors, faithful and true, fearless and uncompromising, to do battle against the forces of darkness. No, the time for the valiant, faithful soldier has not passed, but rather, many of those who have been called to this service are quick to bow out, finding either excuse or justification for their unwillingness to do battle. The time has come to blow the trumpet, while time still remains, for it is quickly running out, and the sheep that slumber are too many to number. It is incumbent upon all servants of righteousness to proclaim truth and defend it, if need be, with their very lives. Jude 20-23 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.     Removing Stumbling Blocks to the Kingdom Deborah Horton - 08/06/2013 (David's notes in red) In a dream, a small group of people, maybe 30-50, including myself, were walking up a mountain (seeking the Kingdom of God; Mount Zion). Some were ahead of the main group and about the same number were trailing at the rear. It was a stretched-out grouping. Now even though we were walking up a mountain, somehow the road was perfectly level (because straightened the way that leads to life), but the effort needed to walk was as if we were climbing. (We climb against the gravity and magnetism of the world and our flesh.) The road was also completely straight. David wasn't in the group but was encouraging us onward. He was also the only one who could (or was allowed to) go both up and down the entire mountain, which He did with ease many times. In a vision within the dream itself, I saw that sometimes he was with us and sometimes he was at the top of the mountain or possibly below us. (As we have seen in other revelations, the Davids will be on top of Zion in the presence of the Lord and they will be with the righteous on their journey up the mountain of God's Kingdom. They will do those things that they have seen of the Father.) Next, I was in an enclosed space of some kind off to the side of the road, but I can't call it a room. The lighting was subdued. David and a handful of other people were there. A Siamese cat was limping on its left front leg, as it was facing me, making this its right front leg, and I asked David if that was alright because I was concerned. He said, “Yes, it's supposed to be like that”. (Siamese cats seem to be some of the meanest cats out there. They represent rebellion and self-will. We know who this person is, but also this represents many. Their limping is by the hand of God. “Yes, it's supposed to be like that”. The limping right leg represents their inability to walk with God.) Then David somehow, I can't remember if he just lifted it up or there was a ladder or whatever, but it was a project for him to put the cat on the back of a horse, which is what David was there to do, allowing us to keep on walking up the mountain. (“It's supposed to be” that rebels are turned over to the strength of their own rebellious, beastly, flesh so that the rest may see this and continue to enter the Kingdom. There's an old saying that “Getting on a high horse” means being very prideful and arrogant, lifting yourself up in your own strength to be a stumbling block to others. One of the greatest signs that we are in the end times is that Jesus said to let the tares and the wheat grow together until the harvest, and He has been and continues to separate them by turning them over to demons. Mat.13:37 And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil [one]; 39 and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, 42 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear. (As to those who are stumbling blocks to others trying to enter the Kingdom, we hear of Jesus: Luk.11:52 Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. 13:24 Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.) End of dream. Siamese cats were specially bred in Tibet (Far East; the sun rises in the East) to be guardians of the temple treasures. They were cross-eyed (probably due to bad breeding or the product of a bad seed but they say it is) to scare off demons. They were big, too, and weighed approximately 25 pounds and had blue eyes. The monks (demon-possessed, foreign to the kingdom, religious leaders) trained them so that they would attack anyone who touched the gold, etc., that was in the temple. (In the natural, these people cannot be trusted with the temple gold, for they are thieves and take possession of what is not theirs, like Judas. On the spiritual side, anyone who possesses the spiritual attribute of gold in the temple of Jesus Christ will be attacked by the rebels and Pharisees.) Visitors could walk through and look at all the stuff, but if they touched anything, the cats would jump on their heads and blind them. (The rebels are out to blind anyone who goes for the spiritual gold.) I asked for a verse for the dream and received Act.2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified. (They crucified the Man-child, who then ruled over them, just as it will be.)   Harvest Awaits While Laborers Play Debbi Rennier - 07/23/2006 (David's notes in red) Mat.9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest. Over the last three nights, the Lord has given me the following dream: I saw the most beautiful, golden wheat field gently rippling in the breeze. This field was of gigantic proportions, as large as California and Texas combined. I seemed to be floating just above the field, and as I gazed downwards, I saw hands reaching up out of the wheat field. The hands were of all sizes and colors. They seemed to be trying to reach or grasp for something or someone. I then saw a few people, perhaps a half a dozen or so, go into the field and start to help those whose hands I saw grasping. Those whom they helped in the field also began helping others. This scene was really heartbreaking as there were so many who reached up and so few to help. Many more were missed and overlooked than were saved. I then looked at the edges of the enormous field and saw much frantic activity. Construction workers were busily building large churches and big houses. I saw businesspeople rushing to work and car dealerships selling expensive cars. They were all totally oblivious to the tragic scene in the wheat field. They rushed about as if nothing was wrong. I then woke up. The Lord led me to the 10th chapter of Hosea. Then HE spoke: “People keep building and laying up treasures here on earth. They will be destroyed. Seek that which is lost. Do not waste your time on the foolish things that will perish...”   Liquidate Luxuries S.L. - 02/27/2015 (David's notes in red) In this dream, I am driving a horse and carriage. (Representing the old scriptural ways.) The kind that you would see in New York Central Park. I see many people. I am driving around this narrow course that they have cordoned off. As I go, I'm stopping and picking up people and they ride for a while, and then they get off, and more people get on. (Many have ‘gotten off' “the narrow course” because of disobedience to the Scriptures, or falling into faction, and others have come to take their place.) Sometimes there are obstacles in the way that I have to avoid. But I can't veer off. I have to be very careful to stay on this path. The whole area is like a very large and busy city block. (Temptations to get off the narrow road.) Then the scene changes, and I am in a very large restaurant. It is very crowded and there are many tables with people eating and drinking. (I asked about the restaurant and at random got Psa.49:6 They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches.) (Large ministry serving unspiritual food.) I am sitting at a small table with a few friends, and a sister in Christ. Then I got up in search of a restroom. When I found the ladies' restroom, I noticed that it was very crowded. (Getting rid of waste from lives.) All of the women crowding around it are very financially wealthy, wearing richly made dresses and hats, and the restroom itself looks to be made of marble. It is too crowded to get in. (Many are getting rid of the luxuries of life, which is a weight and distraction.) My sister and I both had the same idea that we needed to find another restroom, so we left there and found one a few blocks away. This restroom is much humbler and one that not many people know about. (Some have already cast out the luxuries that slow our progress.) So, we are moving down the street pretty quickly. (Meaning, able to progress quickly without the distractions. We must get light and ready to move into the wilderness through liquidation.) I noticed that our pace had increased and we are both taking long strides. We come to what looks like the outskirts of town. I see a hill (a higher place in God) with several red brick apartment buildings on top. (Apartments are congregations of God's people built together into a holy temple in the Lord.) Closer towards us, I see there is an area that is being graded by a bulldozer. (What comes to mind is “earth mover”.) They are preparing the area for more buildings. (Dirt or flesh must be conformed in order to build the Kingdom.) I looked over just opposite this hill, and there's another hill, and on top of it, I saw white horses and white chariots. The horses have riders. They are milling about and exercising the horses. (This is Jesus in the Man-child ministries who are ready to begin the tribulation.) Next, my attention is drawn back to the bulldozer. It suddenly whirls around and moves out of the area very fast! I mean, like someone punched the fast-forward button. (The foundation is prepared; people must get out of the way for the building to start. This means the people who make up the buildings are coming.) We both follow him, going very fast. Now, keep in mind we are still on foot, but now it's like we are in racecars. We are going around curves, and I am trying to slow down. I hear the other sister who's with me say, “This is very scary”. Finally, we managed to slow down and stop. (There is much business that does not promote spirituality) Then I woke up. While meditating on this dream, the Lord brought this scripture to mind: Mat.24:37 And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. 40 Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left: 41 two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. 44 Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh. I also asked the Lord for another word concerning this dream, at random, and my finger came down on Amo.4:4 Come to Beth-el, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes every three days; 5 and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill-offerings and publish them: for this pleaseth you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah. 6 And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. 7 And I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. 8 So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. 9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: the multitude of your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees hath the palmer-worm devoured (A curse on the distractions): yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. 10 I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have carried away your horses; and I have made the stench of your camp to come up even into your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. 11 I have overthrown cities among you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a brand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. (Stop, repent, seek God) 12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.     Wait for the Director K.H.- 10/23/2011 (David's notes in red) The dream began with me walking to my seat in a band hall. As soon as I reached my seat, I was asked by a girl to bring some papers up front to the band director's desk, so that's what I did. As I turned around, I saw a couple of young girls come through the back door of the hall, giggling and sitting in the back row of chairs. Then, I went back to my seat. I began to warm up playing the flute, and after I was done warming up, I sat looking around the room. A few minutes later, more than half of the people began to play their instruments. The sound was deafening! There was so much discord because they were playing without the band director. (Instead of being in “one accord”, the whole group was in discord. Rom.15:5 Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus: 6 that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.)(The discord in Christianity because of denominationalism weakens us.) A small group of us, including me, remained ready to play but waiting for direction. (Listening and waiting on direction from God is the key to walking as He walked. Isa.30:21 thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it; when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.) I then realized that the band director wasn't there yet, and I was perplexed at why there were so many doing their own thing and not realizing that the band director was not there. A young man stood up and said, “Wait!” A few more people stopped playing and began to wait. (Some Christians are easily distracted and do things without waiting on the Lord.) I was grieved that some were still playing with complete disregard for what the man said. (Many Christians are not paying attention to what is going on around them and what the Lord is speaking to them.) Then, I woke up. (Saul did not wait for Samuel to sacrifice and bring the Word of the Lord and it cost him his kingdom. David waited for the sign in the mulberry trees and conquered his enemies.) The Lord impressed in my heart how important it is to seek His face, His direction, His truth, and walk in the steps He has ordered for me. Listening to the voice of the Lord is so important, especially in the days ahead. The world is getting darker and darker; the only way to be able to see clearly is through the Lord's eyes. Psa.27:14 Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, And let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah. Lam.3:26 It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Jehovah. Mic.7:7 But as for me, I will look unto Jehovah; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Then I thought of Php.2:1-4 If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, 2 make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. The majority of the body of Christ is in much discord right now. The Lord reminded me of this passage in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 about the body and how we all need one another. 1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: 23 and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; 24 whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked; 25 that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.   Covert Attack on Christians and Jews B.A. - 04/20/2015 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that I was in the Spirit and I was in a secret meeting room in the basement of the White House. There was a group of people sitting around a table, and each of them had an outline of a plan they were discussing concerning Christians and Jews. The only thing I was allowed to remember was that when a particular part of this plan/agenda is revealed, it will create a great uproar with apostate Christianity. (The recent leftist administrations raised up ISIS who rampaged through the middle east to kill Christians and Jews. Since the conservatives were behind President Trump to execute the lawless leftists, they are looking for their chance to strike back. The new age in their seances are talking to aliens who are masquerading demons that hate Christians. You see we have the perfect foundation to bring the mark of the beast to exterminate Christians who will break that law. Jesus said we would be hated of all nations for His name sake. As a result, many apostates will give in to their flesh and fight against the Beast and will lose, in a repetition of history. Dumitru Duduman received of the Lord that the communists in this country would start a civil war.) I asked the Lord for a verse concerning this dream and I received: Psa.112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. Pro.1:7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. According to the Lord, history always repeats: Ecc.1:9 That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us. Whenever God's people have turned from His Word to their own religious, self-seeking ways, He has always sent conquerors to bring them to their cross. From the lesser kingdoms around Israel to the world-ruling kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome and the coming Dragon kingdom made up of the seed of all of the above seven heads, they all conquered God's people when they went astray from the Word. To a large extent, Christianity has become a harlot that must be crucified of evil and evil people. God has ordained and raised up Governmental Administrations to do this necessary work of returning His people to the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. When I read this dream, this verse was spoken to me concerning it: Eze.21:31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee; I will blow upon thee with the fire of my wrath; and I will deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, skilful to destroy. This scripture is in the midst of many pages of judgment spoken against God's apostate people. God departs from all of this for a moment to address Ammon here, warning that brutish men would destroy them. It appears that this text is out of context until you see that Ammon means “My people”. They are sons of Lot through Ben-Ammi, which means “Son of My people”. Lot was called a righteous man, but his children became enemies of God's people, just like there are enemies among Christians who claim to be Christian today. In like manner, Abraham had seed who became enemies of God's people. The Harlot is that enemy in our midst who claims Christianity but does not follow God's Word, which is His only true seed. Lot had two daughters who represented God's people. On one level, the older daughter represents His Old Covenant people, whose offspring were called Moab, and the younger daughter represents His New Covenant people, whose offspring were called Ammon. These two daughters had what in the letter would be called an incestuous relationship with their father, Lot, although he knew it not. However, in the spirit of the Word, a different story is told. The relationship of these two daughters to their father was exactly like the relationship of Israel and the Church to their Father. Her Father was also her Husband. The Lord's Bride is also His children. Mother and child were born of the same Father. If you question Jesus being a spiritual Father, remember Isa.9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given (Jesus); and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. “Everlasting Father” can also be translated as “Father of eternity”. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this. Jesus was the Sower who sowed His seed in our hearts, which brings forth His fruit in us. He is the Father of our eternal lives. Paul also called himself a father because he sowed the seed of the Word, which is Jesus' seed in the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. 1Co.4:15 For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel. In two parables Jesus is our husband and our spiritual Father and we are all sons of The Father. Brutish men will bring the apostate Church to the cross but even then, some will not repent and will die in their sins, denying their Lord.   Hidden Manna: Urgent Call to the Apostate Church Deborah Horton - 10/07/2007 (Jan Albayalde | David ) In the dream, the first image I remember is several people coming to greet other people. Of two ladies who were coming my way, the one whom I thought I was supposed to greet stopped in front of someone else and they hugged, so the other lady came toward me and I thought, “Were we supposed to hug?” because it didn't seem like what we were supposed to do and she wasn't the person I thought was supposed to be for me to “greet” (or receive). This young woman was very elegantly and understatedly dressed. (In God's eyes, there are only two women -- the True Church and the Laodicean or harlot Church of Babylon.) (Jan went on to speak of all the scandals in the Church that turned people off.) I remember being surprised by that, too. All I remember was that she had on a very expensive beigey-colored sweater with darker minkish-colored cuffs, and it was stunning. But as I looked at the sweater, my eyes were drawn to a button (like a political button) that was on her left front side. It was white and in solid, thick black writing, there was the number “11”. As I focused on the button, it ended. (You were impressed by her beauty and wealth. The “11” on the woman could represent the coming destruction or persecution of the rich Laodicean church.) (Also the prosperity movement is clearly seen by the beast as a fleecing of the ignorant sheep. Also the political button could be speaking of the apostates being overly political rather than representing the Lord to ALL men.) Then I found myself reading the outside of a very thick, hardbound book. Apparently, I'd been reading for a while because I was coming to the end of a long, single-spaced list on the right-hand side of the cover. Each item in the list was just a short phrase (no more than four words) of some sort. They all must have been mundane, normal stuff, because none of them were outstanding. Then I got to the end, and I was stopped cold. The last three items in the list were “survival”, “hunger” and “fear”. Anything I remembered up to that point from the list was knocked out of my mind by those three words. Then I woke up. I almost never ever dream about anything with numbers. (I had the same thought as you -- that this is Hidden Manna that you have “been reading for a while.” You have read it so many times it's become “mundane” and that is why you were brought up cold, taken by surprise, by the last three words because the Lord was impressing you that this is His survival guide to the Laodicean Church; a call to overcome because hunger and fear are truly at the door. What is Hidden Manna? A guide to survive the coming persecution of the apostate church. If this is a dream from the Lord, maybe the Lord is saying the hour is late, persecution, the number “11” is coming to the apostate church and the Lord is encouraging the progression of the book into people's hands; hunger and fear are at the door, and they certainly are. You were to greet (receive) the wealthy, beautiful woman because she is the one who needs the survival manual -- you've been thinking Hidden Manna is for the True Church, those already right with God, hence your surprise.) It is then time to impart this labor of love (or a hug) to the apostate church to prepare them for “survival”, “hunger” and “fear”. The number 11 could indeed be a political button. The apostate church has been pushing politically as never before to press retaliation for the 9/11 loss of life issue. There could also be another “9/11” attack by the DS.   Plundering Egypt Jacob Patek - 09/01/2012 (David's notes in red) The dream has two parts. It started with a group of UBM brothers and I all walking together across a university campus (Which the Lord is giving us.) at what I would say was 12 noon, as the sun was directly overhead (noon being the time of day when the sun is at its highest and casting no shadow -- Jesus directly above our heads). (High noon was a 1952 Western American film: the time for a showdown with the enemy when victory was won back from them.) We were walking into what seemed like a bank and our thoughts were, we are going to take back all that the enemy has taken from us. (NESARA/GESARA is doing this in the natural realm. Also, Satan has plundered the people of God of their rightful and legal heritage. God has already put in our account every need, according to His riches. Phi.4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.) As we walked in, there were two women sitting at the front desk. We simply told them we were here for all of our money. It ended up amounting to five million dollars. (5 is the number of grace, which has met all of our needs.) (When I first woke up, I thought we had robbed the bank, but as I meditated on the dream and the Word, I felt the money was already deposited into our accounts and we were making a withdrawal. [Our money will be in our QFS account]) As we withdrew the money, one of the secretaries sitting at the front desk called someone. (The Lord will provide all of our financial needs to build His Kingdom. The DS is being plundered and President Trump/Cyrus has recovered all the gold. We all have a QFS account and the money will be there, and the NESARA/GESARA is about to go into effect.) At this point in my dream, I could see she was talking to a man whose head was shaven (meaning he had no submission to God). He was very irate and filthy, and from the looks of it, a very strong man. (Jesus has plundered the strong man of his goods in this world and given them to us and we are to divide the spoils of the god of this world. Luk.11:20 But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. 21 When the strong [man] fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: 22 but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him (as Jesus did), he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. If you are not chasing demons, you are running from them. Claim what is yours as sons of the living God. Plunder Egypt with your faith! Didn't He say in Mar.11:24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.???) The strong man said, “Don't they know who I am, and why don't they respect my authority? I am the leader of the most powerful gang”. (No, we don't respect his authority because it is no longer his; it is ours: Luk.10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. Let us plunder his world.) This is when we all walked out of the bank and back across the campus. (This is the first of three university campuses the Lord is giving to the Man-child ministries to teach in.) Next, we stopped at a deli shop and ordered only a loaf of bread and sat down to eat (possibly meaning that we are partaking of the body of Christ and having fellowship one with another in the Spirit). End of the first part of this dream. The second part of my dream had only me and two other brothers in it. It started with two of us walking to the gas station. As we were walking, I was telling him that this was the gas station I used to walk to when I was a child. (In my dream, I told him of a story involving this gas station that actually happened when I was a child around the age of seven). I proceeded to tell him that when I was younger, I walked to this gas station with some of the neighborhood kids, and while we were getting our soft drinks, one of the kids stole a package of baseball cards. I asked him why he did that and if he knew that was wrong. His reply was, “It's only a pack of baseball cards”. (With the desperate economic situation about to hit our world, the immature in Christ will be tempted to steal and justify it in their minds. But God has a better answer in this dream. Live by faith!) As we approached the gas station, we saw an elderly woman restocking a newspaper stand. The brother wanted to buy the day's newspaper and was holding some money to pay for it. He asked the woman how much it was, and she replied, “I don't know”. We started searching for some sort of price tag and found a couple, but the prices were outrageous, somewhere in the range of $90. Then he said, “It's usually $3.49, but it used to be only 50 cents”. (In the natural and in the tribulation, inflation will to go through the roof and we will need to know the principles of our supernatural provision above to escape this.) We ended up not getting the newspaper. (Filling our minds with the bad news is costly to our lives. Better to refuse it and accept the Good News in the first part of the dream.) End of dream.   Antichrist School System Diana McIlroy - 11/21/2009 (Rex Veron's notes in red) Mat.19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven. Joh.12:23 And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. 1st Dream: Shane came home from school with a seed to plant. (Coming home with the seed [teaching] to plant in the midst of the home. Seeds bear fruit of a specific kind; error cannot birth truth, nor truth produce error. A mixture is still error. When Achan took the spoils of the people from Ai, he took that which he was commanded not to take. Not only did he take it but he hid it in the midst of his tent [his heart] among his family [Joshua 7]. We are commanded to “touch not the unclean thing” (Isa.52:11). What better way to propagate error than to start with the children in school? This is also true of the spiritual school, the Church.) We planted it outside and when it grew, it grew all over the farm property -- garden, fields, pastures. (A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 1Cor.5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Satan can use the school system to take over the world with his leaven.) It wasn't a bad plant to look at, but it was useless. We couldn't eat it and the animals couldn't eat it either, but it overgrew the existing crops that we could've eaten. What appeared good had no power to give life. 2Tim.3:5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away. Joh.6:63 It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, are life. Mat.5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. The goal is obvious to look like the church and to talk like the church but to be full of antichrist. Antichrist is not necessarily recognizable; deception is the plan. The plant looked harmless. 2nd Dream: I went to class with Claire. The class was being taught by Oprah Winfrey. (A type of the New Age teaching through the Jezebel spirit that is invading the schools -- physical and spiritual. 2Pet.2:1 But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.) She proceeds to say, “Now we will watch the video.” The video showed a big animal that you could see through. Behind the bones of the rib cage, there were two children (so basically they were trapped in the belly of the beast). (Nothing is ever mentioned about the children being in “fear”. They are lulled into acceptance of the world beast's methods and belief systems.) Next in the video, they are saying to the kids that they shouldn't listen to their mother. (Antichrist schools are going far beyond their traditional educational role to impose their politics and spiritual understanding on the young minds. This is the seed that invades the house to bring division between the parents. And we have seen this escalate in these days, how they've let in LGBTQ+ and their sick sexual perversion, with transgenders teaching in the schools, purposefully confusing children about their sexuality and telling them to keep their “transgender identity” secret from their parents, and many other lies. The Trump administration has been making many changes to the U.S. Department of Education and cleaning it up.) Luk 12:52-53 for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law. The DS has thrived on division because of their factious spirit. Father also is dividing His called from among this world. 2Pet 2:15 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing; 16 but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet. 17 These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved. 18 For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error; (the children) 19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.) In the video, the two kids inside start reaching through the bones and beating their mother with a stick. 2Ti.3:1-4 But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Then the video says, “especially if she is a believer” -- then the two kids start stabbing her. So, then I get up and say, “That's it, we're out of here!” They would let me leave, but not allow my children to come with me. It seemed pretty clear that God was saying to get them out of the traditional school system. So we did. (This is true of the literal and spiritual school systems. This is a warning of that which is already here, regarding the apostate church and leadership. Children generally idolize their teachers. The use of Oprah is a type because of the idolization of such TV personalities, as well as sports figures. This also points children to the “get rich if you believe it my way” teachings. Like the “give to get”, “God doesn't want you poor and you can have everything you want” leadership in most churches of today. The entertainment industry is also a trap for child trafficking and prostitution.)   Jesus Rebukes Worldly, Patriotic Idolatry G.C.- 5/01/07 (David's notes in red) I dreamt I was walking around in a building. I kept seeing paintings and pictures of Jesus of all kinds. In every room there seemed to be a painting or wall mural of Him. This was upsetting because I do not like all the paintings of Jesus, because I know they are idols and pagan images. Then I walked into a classroom with about 30 other American Christians. I recall that most of them were women. They were in long dresses, wearing bonnets and/or veils. Jesus was in the front of the class by the teacher's desk. His face was fuzzy, and I could not make out his facial features. He was standing there talking to the people, and He was very angry with them. He was so upset with what these people had been doing. He was telling them to repent. One of the things I heard Him say was that He was upset that they were actually embracing George W. Bush as a Christian and exalting him as a good man. He was really upset that they could not discern that he was a wicked man. (We should not idolize any person in government or judge them as a ‘Christian' because we don't see as God does. We should not exalt Donald Trump, as well as many in his administration who proclaim Christianity. Christians want to make America a “Christian” nation, which, as we will see, it is not.) This really bothered Him and He was very wroth because of it. You should have seen the room. The women were weeping and wailing, crying out and begging for mercy. Most of them were on their knees and completely terrified and broken. I remember some other things the Lord said. He threatened a plague on them as well for their evils. I don't know if He was merely threatening them with it or if He said that it was absolute. I'm reminded of these scriptures in Eze 8:7-18 And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. 8 Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold, a door. 9 And he said unto me, Go in, and see the wicked abominations that they do here. 10 So I went in and saw; and behold, every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. 11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, every man with his censer in his hand; and the odor of the cloud of incense went up. 12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say, Jehovah seeth us not; Jehovah hath forsaken the land. 13 He said also unto me, Thou shalt again see yet other great abominations which they do. 14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of Jehovah's house which was toward the north; and behold, there sat the women weeping for Tammuz. (The false virgin birthed son of God at Babel) 15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? thou shalt again see yet greater abominations than these. 16 And he brought me into the inner court of Jehovah's house; and behold, at the door of the temple of Jehovah, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of Jehovah, and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun (Baal, the false god) toward the east. 17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have turned again to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. (To please the sun god, Nimrod, Baal, false father of Tammuz from Babel, mothered by Semiramis the false virgin.) 18 Therefore will I also deal in wrath; mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them. The building is the church and the rooms are the different sects. The different images of Jesus represent the different ways they view Jesus -- Who He is and what He does and what He believes, etc.; they are idols and not the true Jesus. They are “another Jesus”, which Paul warned of. The women are the different sects of Christianity who bow down to these idols. Jesus' angry rebuke is a reflection of their need to turn back to the Word and away from their idolatrous religious sects. They are in bed with the beast by confusing the kingdom with worldly government. Their worldly patriotism has caused them to worship one like themselves, a professor but not a possessor of the life and nature of Christ. An honest person only has to read the Sermon on the Mount once to know this. The coming plague represents the coming tribulation, just as the judgments on Egypt were all called plagues. Their grief at Jesus' rebuke for their ignorance of Him and their lack of fruit is similar to these verses in Isaiah: Isa.32:9 Rise up, ye women that are at ease, [and] hear my voice; ye careless daughters, give ear unto my speech. 10 For days beyond a year shall ye be troubled, ye careless women; for the vintage shall fail, the ingathering shall not come. 11 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones; strip you, and make you bare, and gird [sackcloth] upon your loins. 12 They shall smite upon the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. 13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city. 14 For the palace shall be forsaken; the populous city shall be deserted; the hill and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; 15 until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest. 16 Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.   Your House Is Left... Desolate Jarred Smith - 04/04/2008 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I saw a house. There did not appear to be any houses around it and it also seemed that it was elevated on a hill. (The original house of the Lord, His body, the temple.) I was standing, looking at it from a distance of about 30 feet away, so all of the detail of the front of the house was shown. It was beautiful, like a brand-new house that was built. Shiny windows, beautiful doors, new shingles, one-story, no garage and an open dining room with a nice-looking table you could see from the outside. (The Book of Acts Christianity, feeding on the pure unleavened bread of the Word.) THE walkway to the house was new, and the grass was so green you would think they were made of emeralds. (New Life born from above, God's Jewels walking in the WAY of life.) What really set off the grass was the clear and sunny sky above. (There was an open heaven; the SON was not obscured.) There was a sign out front. It was white (holy), newly painted with the words, “WELCOME ALL YE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST”. (There were no denominational divisions, which Paul said was a work of the flesh; for “all ye are brethren”, as Jesus said: Matthew 23:1-12) In the next scene I was looking into the dining room at the nice table. It was a long table, longer than it was wide; it accommodated many people. These were people in everyday casual clothes. I could not overhear the conversation, but it was joyous with laughing and merrymaking. I could pick up on that they were talking about the things of God, possibly Jesus and all of them shared openly, without any form of a leader there or anyone who was running the show. (This is a beautiful picture of the early church gathering to eat the “Bread of Life” which was given for the sins of the whole world. 1Jn.2:2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. Much room to accommodate others. They are dressed casually, not in “church” attire, not in formal clergy outfits or fancy suits. They are joyful with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and Christ is the Head; no man is running the show as with the Nicolaitan clergy of our day, for the five-fold ministry was used as God's vessel.) I saw this and was about to ask someone there a question about what they were talking about, but all of a sudden, the scene changed again. In the final scene, I was looking at the house from the original point of origin, as in the first scene. This time the house was a total wreck. It seems as if I was transported many years later, and no one was there to take care of the house. There was something different about the house this time. Other than the faded brownish-green yard, the scuffed-up ruined walkway, (the walkway is marred by the “walk” of unclean people) the broken windows, (eyes that cannot see), the dining room table (that was once so beautiful) now a wreck, warped, broken; (Their table is unfit to eat from. Psa.69:22 Let their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, [let it become] a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; And make their loins continually to shake. 24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them. 25 Let their habitation be desolate; Let none dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; And they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded. 27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity; And let them not come into thy righteousness. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous. Their table is the typical apostate church-service format: a few songs, announcements, offering, sermon; week after week.) the shingles were flapping in the wind and missing here and there; there was the sign out front. I looked at it, and nearly all of the white paint was gone and all that was there was bare wood. (Holiness and purity are gone; bare wood: 2Ti.2:20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.) Instead of reading, “WELCOME ALL YE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST,” it read “WELCOME ALL YE CLERGY AND LAITY”. (The kingdom of God usurped by the NICO-“LAITAN” clergy system of hired professional preachers that God says He hates (Rev. 2:7,15). This is a priestly order between the people (laity) and God that Catholicism and later protestants adopted from the Pharisees.) As soon as I read this, my eyes were opened. This house once belonged to one group of people, and that group of people abandoned the house. (Because it was corrupted.) Now the house belonged to another group of people. (The sheep have left the folds of men, the apostate leaders usurped the house just as they did in Jesus' day.) I was thinking all of this in my head when I heard someone say, “This is the house they, (the first church), met in”. (Falsely proclaiming themselves to be the inheritors of the original faith.) I looked up and saw no one, but instead I saw many other signs around the house to try and cover up the broken windows. (Denominationalism dividing up the house, causing more blindness.) Some repair was made to the shingles, but the grass and the walkway remained the same. Also, it seemed as if the sky, once sunny and clear, was now darkened slightly by overcast clouds. (The church world attempts to substitute its patches of programs, money, entertainment, erroneous teachings like the pre-trib rapture, legalistic tithing, “once saved, always saved”, etc., and so the SON was obscured.) A person came up to me from behind and had a sketch pad and a pencil in his hand. He had asked me to sketch out what the original house looked like when I was there. For some strange reason, an artistic ability came over me and I was able to sketch out the house with precise detail, using just a regular pencil. (In these days God is sending reformers who are giving the revelation of what the original house looked like to the modern church. Ezekiel was a type of the Man-child who was caught up to the throne of God. He was commanded to show the original house to the house. Eze 43:10 Thou, son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, make known unto them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the egresses thereof (What is leaving the house), and the entrances (What it is to enter the house) thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof; and write it in their sight; that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. 12 This is the law of the house: upon the top of the mountain  (Mount Zion, the Bride) the whole limit (limits of conformity to the Bride) thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. When it came to sketching the sign, I had come to leave it blank. (It is the individual's responsibility to put his name there, to make the original church their church. Jude 3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints. ... Isa.30:20 And though The Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be hidden anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers; 21 and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it; when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.) Why, I don't know, but I then began to sketch out a little girl standing next to and leaning on the sign. (Reformers are giving the revelation of the innocent, young, primitive Church to the modern church.) Once I was done, I was going to go back to the sign and fill in the letters “WELCOME ALL YE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST”. My pencil broke, and something compelled me to put it down and look at the sign once more. I lowered the sketch pad, lifted my eyes and behold, the old house was in worse shape than ever before. (Jesus gave the revelation of the true house and they killed Him for they were unregenerate. All will not be welcome in the original house, only those who come out from among them. Rev.18:2 And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness. This time, the sky was almost dark, and a haunting feeling rushed over me as if this were a haunted house. (The great falling away in tribulation of the demon-haunted house of death. Fallen, fallen is Babylon…) There was a mighty wind blowing that seemed to knock me off my feet (tribulation). This time, the house was showing some of the walls busted out, with the studs showing in some places. The grass was no longer there. There was nothing but dirt. (The house of fleshly corruption.) The walkway was torn to bits. There was hardly any trace of it. (“The Way” has been corrupted.) The signs in the windows that the second group had put up were all busted, revealing once again the broken windows. (The denominations joining together as the one-world harlot) The dining room had no table this time for it had deteriorated due to termites or something. (Table of corrupt spiritual food.) The roof was caved in on one side. Overall, the house had been deserted for some time, even after the second group left. I looked at the sign out front. This time the words “WELCOME ALL YE CLERGY AND LAITY” were scratched out to the point you could not even read them. Underneath this was written in big bold letters, in what looked like human blood dripping from them: “TOO LATE”. (Rev.18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.) Those who do not forsake the corrupt house will be ruled by the wolves and will be reprobated and condemned to be destroyed by the beast of the world. Rev.17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire. 17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.) I looked at my sketch to see what was going on. The sketch looked like the house I was looking at right now; something had caused my original sketch of the original house to change to what my eyes were seeing before me now. (Given the truth, they turned it into a lie.) I saw the little girl standing next to the sign. The sign read “TOO LATE” in the sketch as well. The little girl's eyes had been darkened out. They were so dark. (Instead of the innocent girl of the primitive Church, there's an immature girl full of hate. 1Jn.2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.) I looked into those eyes and then heard a beastly, deep roar coming from in the midst. I looked up to see what it was and then I woke up... (The source of her hatred is the Satan-ruled beast that has invaded her. Mat.23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. But the saints shall say, “Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh”.)

Welcome to "The Bible in Today's World", the show that compares today's world with the Word of God. In general and specifically, are we following the Bible in our daily walks? Is society demanding that we follow the Word of God in all that we do? Does our Almighty Father look upon us and frequently say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" - or is He thinking of us as He thought/thinks of Sodom and Gomorrah? On today's show, we will discuss Acts - Chapters 16 and 17.

Motivated by Greed (vv. 3-4; cf. Isaiah 14:12-14)Promising Freedom (vv. 2-3, 5; cf. Genesis 3:1-6; 6:5-6; Judges 17:6; 21:25)Denying Reality (vv. 1, 3, 6-10)Discussion StartersMonday—What are false prophets/teachers? Why do you think Peter feels the need to warn us that they will be around until the end?Tuesday—How was Satan motivated by greed? (Isaiah 14:12-14) What are some different things that we can be greedy for? Which do you struggle with?Wednesday—What do false teacher promise freedom from? Do they ever deliver that freedom? Why not? Are you ever tempted to think freedom means fighting God's commands?Thursday—What does it mean to deny reality? How did those in Sodom and Gomorrah do it? How can we be tempted to deny reality?Friday—How are these acts of judgment (and deliverance) from history meant to comfort you? How do they help you see the future (and prepare for it)?

Context of Genesis; Hammurabi?; Ruling over other men - offices of power; King of Sodom; Aleph-mem-resh-phe-lamed = sayer of darkness; Disliking Hammurabi codes; Representatives vs lawmakers; Your relationship with government; Covetousness; Biting neighbor with the teeth of government; "Citizen"; "Shinar" = Babylon? Shin-nun-ayin-resh; Goyim = other nations; "Bera" son of evil; Families of God = generations; Rebellion of kings; Meanings in names; "Moses"; Becoming merchandise; Appetites for benefits at others' expense; Blood lickers; Seeing the whole truth; Lot in Sodom; Theme of the bible - being free souls under God's authority; vs Men who want to be God for you; "Hebrew"; Legal vs Lawful Title; The solution; Setting the captive free; Going the way of righteousness; "brother"; "Mamre" mem-resh - not just a location; Abraham = Hebrew = wanderer = not subject = free soul; In spirit and truth; "confederate"; Freewill offerings; Freeing people; shin-vav-heh = to agree; Righteous charity; Melchizedek; Taxation; Walking with Holy Spirit; Bread and wine?; Shem; Why Sodom was destroyed; Fleshpots; Charity-based social welfare; Use tax = Usury; Linking Genesis to Jesus; One purse government; Legal title; Permits; "Goyim"; Dictators; Idol worship; Servant ministers; Pure Religion; Lot's lot; Lacking faith; Repent and seek kingdom of God; How to get out of bondage; Christ's commands; Ps 91:1; Abraham, Moses and Christ in agreement; Gen 15:17 vision; Smoke and furnace; Mammon - righteous and unrighteous; Way of the world - force, fear and fealty; Learning to be Israel; God's simple way; Universal income?; Cost of liberty; Circumcision of your heart; Join us on the Living Network.

How does Lot raise his kids in Sodom? Evidently, it didn't work out well for Lot. But, how do we speak of the sins of Sodom with our children? What if an uncle wishes to justify his sinful lifestyle in the presence of your family? These are real and present, critical questions for every Christian family living in Sodom today. The dad panel talks the right perspective to take on the world, and the right way to speak of the world with our children today. This program includes:1. The World View in 5 Minutes with Adam McManus (Former FBI Director calls for Trump's assassination, RFK Jr. agrees to examine the dangers of Abortion Kill Pill, Christian band under fire by atheists)2. Generations with Kevin Swanson

A new MP3 sermon from Generations Radio is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Raising Godly Kids in Sodom – Discipleship for Dads Speaker: Kevin Swanson Broadcaster: Generations Radio Event: Radio Broadcast Date: 5/16/2025 Length: 49 min.

Hey there! Ready to add some flavor to your day? In this episode of 'Relish,' Rowan Miller and Don Patterson delve into some mind-boggling Old Testament tales that'll leave you scratching your head and pondering life's deeper questions. Ever wonder why God almost killed Moses for not circumcising his son? Or the intriguing story behind Lot's wife and her infamous glance back at Sodom and Gomorrah? We've got you covered! Join us for a laid-back discussion full of laughter, insights, and the kind of storytelling that might just spice up your outlook on some of these classic biblical narratives. Don't miss it!   Do you have questions for Pastor Don?  send them to tmadask@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbkAVsuqU5_zWnmGca-OYaw/videos Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RELISH319 Apologetics, Theology, Kalona, Wellman, Washington, Kalona Mennonite Church, West Chester Community Church, Jesus, Christianity, Christian, Church, Best New Christian Videos, Podcast, Relish 

Arcana Coelestia 7443. And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, upon which My people stands, that no noisome fly be there. That this signifies that they shall not be able to infest by falsities of malevolence those who are in the spiritual church, although they are near them, is evident from the signification of “severing,” as being to separate so that there is no communication; from the signification of “day,” as being state (see n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785, 4850), and therefore “to sever in that day” denotes to separate in that state; from the signification of “the land of Goshen,” as being the midst or inmost in the natural (n. 5910, 6028, 6031, 6068), and as the sons of Israel were in Goshen, as being also the church (n. 6649); from the representation of the sons of Israel who are here the “people of Jehovah,” as being those who are of the spiritual church (see above, n. 7439); and from the signification of the “noisome fly,” as being the falsity of malevolence (n. 7441). Thus “no noisome fly being there,” denotes that they could not flow in, consequently could not infest by means of these falsities. That they could not infest by means of these falsities, is because these falsities are falsities from the evils in the outermost parts of the natural mind, that is, in the sensuous, from which sensuous, thus from the falsities therein, they who are in good and truth can be elevated (according to what was said just above, n. 7442); and when they are being elevated, they are then also separated from those who are in falsities there. 7449. The land was destroyed from before the noisome fly. That by this is signified that the natural mind was corrupted in respect to all truth, is evident from the signification of “being destroyed,” as being to be corrupted; from the signification of “the land of Egypt,” as being the natural mind (see n. 5276, 5278, 5280, 5288, 5301); and from the signification of “the noisome fly,” as being the falsity of malevolence (n. 7441). It is said that it was corrupted in respect to all truth, because truth is wholly corrupted by means of falsity from evil. [2] It was from this signification that the Lord commanded His disciples to shake off the dust of their feet if they were not received, as in Matthew: Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city (Matthew 10:14-15; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; 10:10-12); by the “disciples” here are not meant disciples, but all things of the church, thus all things of faith and charity (n. 2089, 2129, 2130, 3354, 3858, 3913, 6397); by “not receiving, and not hearing,” is signified to reject the truths of faith and the goods of charity; and by “shaking off the dust of the feet,” damnation. That “it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city,” is because by “Sodom and Gomorrah” are meant those who are in evil of life, but who have known nothing of the Lord and the Word, and thus could not receive. From this it can be seen that there is not meant a house or city which would not receive the disciples, but those who are within the church and do not live the life of faith. Everyone can see that a whole city could not be damned because they did not receive the disciples and at once acknowledge the new doctrine which they preached. Third Round posts are short audio clips taken from Round 3 comments offered in the online Logopraxis Life Group meetings. The aim is to keep the focus on understanding the Text in terms of its application to the inner life along with reinforcing any key LP principles that have been highlighted in the exchanges.

"Faith vs Sight"Genesis 13:5-18The Book of Genesis Series - In The Beginning, GodPastor Nate ClarkeMay 11, 2025KIDS SPACE with EXPANDED MOTHER'S ROOM!Along with dedicated play and classroom spaces for babies, kids, and youth, we just expanded our Mother's Room — a quiet, private space for Mother's to care for their babies and still be able to watch the worship and sermon on Sunday mornings. https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/reel/C8FqHIipr3u/Learn about this year's Kingdom Builder's project: https://www.oasischurch.online/kingdom-buildersHow should Christians think about voting and politics? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak82aD16r04OUR NEW VISION STATEMENT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0WFhtL7h3ISERMON NOTES:- Genesis 13:5-18- Faith vs Sight- 2 Corinthians 5:7- Lot looked at Sodom with his eyes- Genesis 13:10- “There is a road from the eyes to the heart that does not go through the intellect.” GK Chesterton- “What we think about when we are free to think…that is what we are or will soon become.” AW Tozer - Lot moved around Sodom with his feet- Genesis 13:12- “Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions. Men do not differ much about what things they call evils, they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable.” GK Chesterton- Lot camped in Sodom with his life- Genesis 14:12- Sodom is a slippery slope- Abram looked at the promised land with his eyes- Genesis 13:14-15- Abram looked in obedience to God's commands, not in submission to his own desires.- Abram moved around the promised land with his feet- Genesis 13:17- Abram camped in the promised land with his life- Genesis 13:18a- Genesis 13:18b- If Sodom gets your eyes, feet, and life, it'll end up taking something way move valuable; your worship.Oasis Church exists to Worship God, Equip the believers, and Reach the lost.We are led by Pastor Nate Clarke and are located in Richmond, VA.Stay Connected:Website: https://oasischurch.online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oasischurchva/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisChurchRVA/

This week, Jonas Holmberg, vocalist for Swedish blackened hardcore outfit This Gift Is A Curse, joins the podcast to talk about their blistering new album, "Heir", released on Season of Mist in March. We explore Covid's impact on the band, how Jonas' career outside the music industry fuels his songwriting, we discuss the band's creative process and much more.   Then it's on to a solo news rant where I answer your questions, including ranking my top five Swedish death metal albums, spotlighting bands primed for a comeback, and explaining why I haven't launched a Patreon. Plus, I check out new tracks from Kaamos Warriors, Sodom, Gaahl's Wyrd, Gruesome, and Full of Hell, and I weigh in on Machine Head's latest public humiliation.   PLUS - we have another Premiere on the Sphere, featuring Turkish true black metal act Ash Magick with an exclusive track from their upcoming album, “Rituals of the Anathematic East”.   Please support the bands featured on this episode THIS GIFT IS A CURSE: https://thisgiftisacurse.bandcamp.com/   SERPENTES: https://serpentes.bandcamp.com/  RED HARVEST: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057788554463     Pre-order the new ASH MAGICK ALBUM, “Rituals Of The Anathematic East” https://apocalypticwitchcraft.bandcamp.com/   

What happens when a city no longer blushes at its own sin—when darkness becomes not just tolerated but celebrated? In Genesis 19, angels arrive in Sodom, and what follows is one of the most sobering accounts in all of Scripture. But it's not just a story of fire and brimstone—it's also about God, in His mercy, snatching the hesitant from judgment, and a God who saves even when His people falter. Yet, we're also given dire warnings about disobeying God's will.  The Rev. Kevin Yoakum, pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Riverview, FL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 19.  Genesis isn't just the start of the Bible; it's the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal. In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you've read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Todaywe're looking at Luke 18:1-8. Jesus is teaching a lesson on how men oughtalways to pray and not to faint. We are to pray without ceasing, and here Jesusgives us a story of contrast. There is a widow who has no standing with thecourt, going to an unjust judge, asking to be avenged of her adversary. In ourfirst lesson, I said this widow is like us in some ways, but that's beforewe're saved. We have no standing with God; we are lost, hopelessly andhelplessly lost.  Butthe contrast begins when we realize what Jesus says at the end of this story: "Shallnot our Father in heaven, shall not our God avenge his own elect who cry untohim day and night?" He closes by saying, "Yes, he'll avengethem speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he really findfaith on earth?" Eventhough this widow is lost and helpless and can't find help unless she bribessomeone, which she has no money to do, the judge avenges her because she'sdriving him crazy with her screaming and yelling, "Help, help, help!"Jesus is basically saying to us, "Hey, you're not like that widow anylonger. You're a child of God, you are in the family of God, you have thepromises of God in the Bible."  Godis a great and awesome God; He loves His children, protects His children, andcares for His children. In Romans 8, we can call Him Abba, Father, dearprecious Father. We can sit in His lap; He longs for us to come into Hispresence. “If God spared not His own Son, how much more freely through Himshall He give us all things” (Romans 8:32). The unjust judge did it becausehe got weary of this woman crying to him. God is teaching us to pray withoutceasing, but remember, you have a Father who is ready, willing, able, andpowerful to answer your prayers. ThenJesus closes this passage asking the question, "Shall He find faithwhen He comes?" In Luke 17, we see the story of Noah and the ark,where only eight people were saved. The gospel was preached, the message ofhope was preached for hundreds of years, and no one responded by faith to trustNoah's message and escape the judgment of God. Remember at Sodom and Gomorrah,only four people were saved from that destruction.  Jesusis saying, "Shall the Son of Man, when He comes, find faith on theearth?" According to 2 Timothy 3:1-7, in the last days, it will beperilous times, evil, terrible times. People will be blasphemers, haters ofGod, and haters of Christians. It's not going to get better, my friend; it'sprobably going to get worse before Jesus comes again.  ButHe's reminding us we have a heavenly Father. You don't need to bribe Him. He'sa God that doesn't have to be bribed; He has a willing heart. The Bible says “ifwe ask anything according to His will, we know that He hears us, and we canhave this confidence that whatever we ask of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).  He will give it to us if it's according to Hiswill. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires ofyour heart” (Psalm 37:4). Jesusis teaching us to pray in this passage with faith, believing we have a loving,kind, providing heavenly Father, Who, when we come to Him, will meet every needwe have. What an awesome God we have! Come to Him today in faith, believing. Weare not like the widow with no standing. Through Jesus Christ, we have fullaccess, and He is also our intercessor, making intercession for us (Hebrews7:25). We have the Holy Spirit making intercession according to the mind andwill of God (Romans 8:26-27).  Thereis no reason we should not be crying out to our Heavenly Father day and night,"Oh God, we need help in this evil, wicked, cruel world. We need yourprotection, your grace, your strength." We can do that today.  Let'sbe encouraged to pray always and not to quit. Our Heavenly Father is waitingfor us to come to Him! Godbless!

Welcome to "The Bible in Today's World", the show that compares today's world with the Word of God. In general and specifically, are we following the Bible in our daily walks? Is society demanding that we follow the Word of God in all that we do? Does our Almighty Father look upon us and frequently say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" - or is He thinking of us as He thought/thinks of Sodom and Gomorrah? On today's show, we will discuss Acts, - Chapters 14 and 15.

Gods many; Ruling judges; Which god do you worship (serve)?; Two "worlds"; Constitutions; Legal systems; Governing ourselves; "Shechem"; Circumcision?; Living God's way; Nimrod the hunter?; "Leaven"; Making the word of God to none effect; Baptism?; The Temple Laver; Hyrcanus and Aristobulus; Death of Zachariah; Sacrificing; Gen 17:4; Antisemitism?; Sons of Shem; Melchizedek; Good sons; Following Abraham; Corban?; Agreement with Egypt; Becoming Israel; Gen 18:1; "plains" of Mamre; 3 men?; nun-tzdek-biet+yod+mem (stood by); Divine spark; Referencing spirit; Where is Holy Spirit leading you?; Learning the Tree of Life; "Elder"; Church jobs; Hunters and Shepherds; Reading the bible; Testing forgiveness; Entertaining angels; Understanding societal relationships; v9 Sarah; Bible translators; Robbing Christ's Church; Sarah's denial; Fear not!; Lacking faith; Cry of Sodom and Gomorrah; Bargaining for Sodom; LORD and Lord; Today's politics; Seeing divine spark; Blessing from Shem; Abraham's case; Sin of Sodom; Aleph-lamad-vav; Plains and Oaks?; Walking in Spirit and Truth; The sin of Sodom; Weakening the poor; Long, fat breadlines; The need for challenge; Giving life; "Mamre" mem-mem-resh-aleph; Rebellion?; Understanding Abraham; Church of Constantine in Milan - ordered baptism; Blood money; Mixing iron and clay; Anti-Christian ministers; Welfare snares; Legal charity; Willful ignorance; "Mara" mem-resh-aleph - not spirit and truth; Beyond rebellion; Covetousness; Consequences; Job 39:18; Job 39:9; Revealing required corruption; Unicorn; Instant Christians; Zeph 3:1; Revealed lies; Becoming merchandise; False freedom; Opening eyes; Who is your savoir?; Sour grapes; The Harlot; Sloth; Gather and care for one another.

What if an ordinary day, a simple act of kindness, brought you face-to-face with the Divine? Genesis 18 thrusts Abraham into such a moment. Mysterious visitors arrive, YHWH's promise of a son defies human biology, and Sarah laughs at what she believes must be impossible. But then, the conversation shifts. The strangers are from God—even the preincarnate Son of God Himself accompanied by two angels—and God reveals impending judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham, in astonishing boldness, begins to intercede. How close can humanity draw to God? Can we truly plead for mercy against divine justice? Is anything too hard for the Lord, and how does He respond when we dare to ask?  The Rev. Robert Smith, pastor emeritus in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 18.   Genesis isn't just the start of the Bible; it's the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal. In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you've read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Thursday, 8 May 2025   And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Matthew 10:1   “And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority – unclean spirits, so to eject them, and to cure every disease and every malady” (CG).   In the previous verse, Chapter 9 finished with Jesus telling the disciples to beg the Lord of the reaping to eject toilers into the reaping. Chapter 10 now begins with the words, “And having summoned His twelve disciples.”   This thought contains a new word, proskaleó. It signifies to call toward oneself, and thus to summon. Matthew completely omits the appointment of the twelve apostles in his gospel narrative. They were already appointed by this time, according to Mark 3:14 and Luke 6:13. In fact, instead of calling them apostles here, he calls them twelve disciples.   It won't be until the next verse that he will call them the twelve apostles. Despite that, Matthew designating them as the twelve indicates that they had already been selected out of all of the disciples as the twelve preeminent ones.   This calling is in response to the final verses of Chapter 9. People were coming with every sickness and disease. Jesus looked at the multitudes and had compassion. These masses before Him would be but a small portion of the people who needed such help spread throughout Israel.   Jesus, therefore, is beginning the expansion of the ministry by calling these twelve. As such, the narrative continues with, “He gave them authority.”   The word signifies authority, such as having jurisdiction to accomplish duties or appointed tasks. Thus, it is power, not in the sense of physical might, but power to wield influence, weight, etc. The Greek word is derived from a verb indicating to do what is lawful or permitted. This authority that Jesus is giving them is for “unclean spirits, so to eject them.”   To this point, only Jesus is recorded as having ejected demons. That right and authority will now be given to them. This will increase the ministry in a great measure. These men had learned how to conduct themselves by spending time with their Master. They are sufficiently prepared to meet the tasks before them because of this.   However, there is a specific incident recorded later where they will not be able to eject a demon. Jesus will rebuke them for this and set them straight on the matter. That is coming in Matthew 17:14-21. Despite this, they will have the appropriate authority to do what is necessary in this regard, “and to cure every disease and every malady.”   Not only did they have the full authority to eject demons, but they were also given the authority to tend to people's physical ailments as well. Again, to this point, only Jesus has accomplished these things. The ministry will now greatly expand because of this delegation.   Life application: In the analysis of this verse by the Pulpit Commentary, they make at least two blunders in their review. One thing they say is that the twelve were “To be heads of the tribes of the new Israel.” The statement has no meaning. There is one Israel, not an old and new.   Israel is a people group descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was renamed Israel and became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus explains the matter later, saying, “So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).   He is speaking there of these same twelve tribes, meaning the real descendants of Israel. Again, this is confirmed by the apostles' final question to Jesus before He ascended, along with His response –   “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' 7 And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.'” Acts 1:6, 7   It was perfectly understood by these men that the kingdom promised to Israel was coming. They wanted to know the details. Jesus instead told them to get about the business of establishing the church, a completely different entity. Paul's words in Romans 9-11 clearly refer to this as well.   A second stunningly ridiculous statement made by them says, “Observe that nothing is said of their receiving authority to convert. This God himself keeps.” This is standard Calvinist thinking that blinds people to the plain sense of words elsewhere in the Bible. In fact, this statement is refuted in this same Chapter –   “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Matthew 10:11-15   This was the point of sending these men out, meaning to obtain converts. The miracles of ejecting demons and healing people were to be a sign to them to believe and accept that Jesus was their promised Messiah.   The point being made is that just because you are reading a commentary, you should take the time to think through what is said. Be ready to dismiss things that do not line up with Scripture. However, you cannot do this unless you know Scripture. Be sure to read your Bible!   O God, help us to be responsible with our time, reading Your word, contemplating it, studying it carefully, and applying it to our daily lives. Without it, we are at the mercy of men who may or may not be explaining it properly. May this never be the case. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

The Old Testament presents us with many passages that are challenging to preach—but some are especially disgraceful and disturbing. Genesis 19 is one such passage, detailing a troubling incident involving Lot and the men of Sodom, who sought to commit a wicked act against those in his house. Willie Philip from the Tron Church, Glasgow, leads us through this difficult chapter, demonstrating how even passages revealing the horror and darkness of human sin can be preached in a way that points hearers to the Gospel. Bible passages: Genesis 19:1-38

In this episode, Dr. Sadaphal invites you to consider Lot, Abraham's nephew. Lot lived with his daughters in the ancient city of Sodom, a place well known for its godlessness and immorality. Lot was not immune to his environment; the pagan society in which he lived impacted him negatively. Hence, when we consider Lot, we are in essence embarking on a path of self-reflection where you begin to consider how the world in which you live impacts how you think and what you do.As you meditate on Lot's example, ask yourself, “How does the story of Lot speak to me today? How does the nation, culture, city, town, or village in which I live persuade me to think and act like society at large? How am I like Lot?”

32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will loseit, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  Luke17:30-36 describes what will occur when Jesus Christ returns in judgment todefeat His enemies and establish His kingdom on earth (Rev. 19:11-20:6).Believers in every age of the church can take warning from these verses, butthey apply in a special way to Israel at the end of the age (see Matt.24:29-44). When Jesus comes for His church and takes it to heaven, it willhappen "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Cor.15:52). Nobody taking part in the rapture of the church need worry about beingon a housetop or in a field and wanting to get something out of the house!However, when the Lord returns to the earth, His coming will first be precededby a "sign" in heaven (Matt. 24:30-31), and some people might try tohurry home to rescue something. "Remember Lot's wife!" Theverb taken in Luke 17:34-36 does not mean "taken to heaven" but"taken away in judgment" (Matt. 24:36-41). The person"left" is a believer who enters into the kingdom. Noah and his familywere "left" to enjoy a new beginning, while the whole population ofthe earth was "taken" in the Flood. In spite of their sins, Lot andhis daughters were "left" while the people in Sodom and Gomorrah were"taken" when the fire and brimstone destroyed the cities. Thefact that it is night in Luke 17:34 but day in Luke 17:35-36 indicates that thewhole world will be involved in the return of Jesus Christ in glory. "Behold,He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him" (Rev. 1:7). Threetimes the disciples had heard Jesus talk about people being "taken"and "left," so they asked Him a most logical question: "Where,Lord?" Our Lord's reply has the sound of a familiar proverb: "Justas the eagles [and vultures, Matt. 24:28] gather at a corpse, so the lost willbe gathered together for judgment." The description of the last battlein Revelation 19:17-21 certainly parallels the image of carrion-eating birdsgorging themselves on flesh. Inother words, when the Lord Jesus returns to judge His enemies, there will be aseparation of the saved and the lost. Whether it be day or night, whetherpeople are working or sleeping, the separation and judgment will come. Thosewho are saved will be left to enter the glorious kingdom, while those who arelost will be taken away in judgment. Eventhough the primary interpretation of these verses is for Israel in the endtimes, they do emphasize for the church the importance of being ready whenJesus returns. We must not be like Lot's wife whose heart was so in Sodom thatshe looked back in spite of the angels' warning (Gen. 19:17, 26). There aremany professed Christians today whose plans would be interrupted if Jesusreturned! (note 1 Thes. 5:1-11) Our Lord's warning in Luke 17:33 findsparallels in Matthew 10:39; Luke 9:24; and John 12:25, and is a fundamentalprinciple of the Christian life. The only way to save your life is to lose itfor the sake of Christ and the Gospel. Jesuspictured civilization as a "rotting corpse" that would one day beripe for judgment. The discerning believer sees evidence of this on every handand realizes that the "days of Noah" and the "days of Lot"are soon on us. Our Lord can return for His church at any time, so we are notlooking for signs; but we do know that "coming events cast their shadowsbefore." As we see many of these things begin to come to pass (Luke21:28), we know that His return is nearing. Arewe looking for His return, and do we really want to see Him come? Remember, Lot'swife, and don't look back but be looking up! Godbless.

• RFK Jr. & Chemtrails: RFK Jr.'s chemtrail pledge dismissed as gaslighting. Cites studies (10% fully believe, 20-30% partially), RFK Jr. suspects DARPA. Realize, there are real geoengineering projects and Monsanto has aluminum-based soil seed patents. • Inhaled mRNA Vaccines: Canadian "Aerovax" could vaccinate populations without consent via atmospheric spraying, just evil • Noahide Laws & Trump: Trump's Pope-like portrayal and Alcatraz reopening consideration smell of Noahide law enforcement. • Political Theater: Politics is scripted to divide; Biden and Trump push AI-driven "beast system." • Economic Hardship: 30-54% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck; Gen Z struggles rise to 69% by 2025. Trump is doing the will of the Bankers to control you. • Pulitzer Photo: Pulitzer-winning Trump bullet photo by Doug Mills (also 9/11 Bush photographer) is so suspect. Do you have eyes to see? • AI & Israel / USA Inc: Meta's AI staff linked to Israel's IDF Ai Experts. Jerusalem seen as the Women of Revelation that sits on seven hills, is called the Great City that crucified Christ called Sodom and Egypt. With USA inc, Isreal is building the "beast system" that will enforce Noahide laws. Underground Bases: A New York Post article cites Catherine Austin Fitts claiming the US built a $21 trillion underground city and 170 bunkers since 1998 for elites to survive a near-extinction event. The host questions if common people might be included for genetic diversity or servitude, linking it to biblical prophecies of elites hiding from God's judgment. Scripture: Matthew 24:29 describes cosmic upheaval post-tribulation, with darkened skies and falling stars. Isaiah 2:19-21 and Revelation 6:16 depict people hiding in caves and rocks from God's wrath, with Isaiah noting they'll abandon idols and Revelation showing them begging rocks to fall on them during the earth's shaking, suggesting futility of such bunkers.

**Thank you for supporting this ministry, I lovingly refer to as "The Little Green Pasture." Click here: PayPal: http://paypal.me/JoanStahl **Please prayerfully consider becoming a ministry partner: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/joaniestahl **Contact Email: jsfieldnotes@gmail.com **Subscribe to me on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-534183There are challenges coming in the future that have us truly looking to the Lord for answers. About four days ago in devotions I came across the account of Abram (not yet Abraham) who went to war on the behalf of the King of Sodom.After the battle was won Abram was offered the spoils of war. But he made it clear that he had made a solomn vow. "I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine." Genesis 14:23.Then God brought Abram forth abroad and said, "Look now toward heaven." The tent was exchanged for the sky, moreover, for heaven. That is what God does, He brings us forth out of our small imprisonments and He sets our feet in a large place. He puts new heavenly songs in our mouths.How is it with your love? Is it a thing of the tent or the sky? How is it with your prayers? How big are they? Will a tent contain them, or do they move with the scope of the heavens? Look now towards the heavens and see there is never any limit to what you ask for. This should be your outlook if you are the companion and friend of God."Prayer is not always petition, sometimes it is just communion. It is the exquisite ministry of friendship."- John Henry Jowett

26 Andas it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son ofMan: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage,until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed themall. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, theybought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot wentout of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. InLuke 17, Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, has been especially teaching Hisdisciples about forgiveness (vv. 1-6), faithfulness (vv. 7-10), and thankfulness(vv. 11-19). In verse 20, the Pharisees brought up the subject of the coming ofthe “Kingdom of God”, referring to the time when the Messiah would set up Hiskingdom on earth. Jesus reminded them to quit looking for a physical, political,and material kingdom and to look for a spiritual one (v. 21).Thenin Luke 17:22-30, Jesus turns and speaks to His disciples about His return, theday of the Son of Man. Today, this passage challenges us to live withreadiness, not distracted by the world's noise or lulled into complacency.Jesus uses vivid Old Testament examples to show how sudden and certain Hiscoming will be, urging us to stay faithful and alert.Jesus warnsHis disciples that a time will come when they'll long for His presence, but itwon't be as they expect. False voices will cry out, “He's here! He's there!”but Jesus says not to chase them. His return will be unmistakable, likelightning flashing across the sky. It will be sudden, visible to all, andimpossible to miss (Read Revelation 1:7; and 19:11-16). Yet, before that day,He must suffer and be rejected, a reminder that the path to glory goes throughthe cross (v. 25).Todrive home the urgency, Jesus points to two Old Testament events: the days ofNoah and the days of Lot. In both, people were consumed with everydaylife—eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, building. There's nothingwrong with these activities, but the problem was their focus. They were sowrapped up in the ordinary that they ignored the warnings of coming judgment. BothNoah and Lot lived in days of religious compromise and moral declension, notunlike our present time. During "the days of Noah," population growthwas significant (Gen. 6:1), lawlessness was on the increase (Gen. 6:5), and theearth was given over to violence (Gen. 6:11, 13). In Lot's day, the unnaturallusts of Sodom and Gomorrah were so abhorrent to God that He completelydestroyed the cities. Only Lot, two of his daughters, and his wife (who laterwas destroyed) were saved from the terrible judgment.Jesussays it will be the same when He returns. The world will be caught off guard,living as if life will go on forever. But for those who follow Him, the call isclear: stay awake, stay faithful, and don't get lulled into spiritual sleep.This isn't about obsessing over dates or signs but about living each day withpurpose, doing God's work, and keeping our hearts fixed on Him. The suddennessof His coming isn't meant to scare us but to spur us to live differently. To beready, expectant, and aligned with His kingdom.So,here's the challenge for us this week: Live ready. Take a moment each morningto ask yourself, “If Jesus returned today, would I be found displaying thereality of Jesus Christ in my life. Living a life of forgiveness, faithfulness,and thankfulness because of my faith and love for the Lord?”  Today, identify one area where you're temptedto drift into complacency—maybe it's neglecting prayer, chasing distractions,or ignoring a call to serve. Commit to one intentional action to counter thatdrift.  Maythe Lord help us to be prepared for His coming living with eternity in view andnot be caught off guard like the world was in Noah's or Lot's day. Will you be readywhen He comes?

The Old Testament presents us with many passages that are challenging to preach—but some are especially disgraceful and disturbing. Genesis 19 is one such passage, detailing a troubling incident involving Lot and the men of Sodom, who sought to commit a wicked act against those in his house. Willie Philip from the Tron Church, Glasgow, leads us through this difficult chapter, demonstrating how even passages revealing the horror and darkness of human sin can be preached in a way that points hearers to the Gospel.

When You Walk on Water, ?Remember This - Part Three In Walking on Water Part Two, we looked in depth at the Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33 account of Yeshua walking on water. The "fourth watch of the night" was our key phrase, helping us to understand the elation, terror, and sinking feeling Peter might have had as he processed: a) Sababa! Yes! I can walk on water like it's dry land! It's like the Exodus! b) Oy vey! It's the last watch of the night, and the wind will allow the waters to return to normal at daybreak! I could be killed like Pharaoh's army! Yeshua, however, had authority over the wind frightening Peter with its ability to destroy armies and pound them into the abyss of a watery grave. Yeshua's authority over the angels of the four winds and all other principalities and powers is a second key to understanding why Peter might have had that sinking feeling that his solid footing in the water might collapse. One example is the destruction of Sodom and three other cities of the valley at sunrise. Oddly, the text describes Lot and his daughters as arriving in Zoar when the sun came up, yet, this is when the angel took them by the hand to depart Sodom! How could they be in two places almost simultaneously? It was humanly impossible to escape to Zoar that fast unless there was a supernatural quality to the angel's "hand" that saved them. Likewise, Yeshua took Peter's hand when Peter cried out, "Lord, save me!" Yeshua walked him to the boat, and John adds a detail: “So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going” even though the text states they were three or four miles along the water. (Jn 6:21) This, too, would be impossible if Yeshua's hand of salvation weren't supernaturally fast transportation. A boat is a symbol in Scripture not only of international commerce, but of how nations and continents are connected and interconnected. The fact that walking on water occurs on the Galilee is also symbolic. Galilee came to be known as "Galilee of the Nations" not only because of the diverse people groups that lived there during epochs of history, but because of Isaiah's prophecy: But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. (Is 9:1-2) While Peter made the connection between the Exodus past and a prophesied Exodus of the future, the Book of Acts suggests he didn't completely internalize the commission to the Gentiles until much later. Perhaps he assumed that Isaiah's prophecy was intended only for the lost Israelites among the nations who were to be restored by Messiah. Indeed, the deportation of many Israelites and Jews occurred from that very area, yet the Greater Exodus will also draw many from every nation, tribe, and tongue just as it did in the first Exodus. All those who call on the Name of YHVH will be saved then as Peter demonstrated. In Part One, we parsed the Hebrew text of Exodus 14:21 to see that the English translations of how the water was swept back all night didn't do justice to the text: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back…” But let's read the literal words: “And stretched Moshe his hand over the sea and will walk YHVH the sea…” For modern English grammar purposes, let's read: “and YHVH will walk the sea.” It explained why Yeshua, the arm of YHVH, walked on water and why Peter believed it might be Yeshua instead of a "ghost"...and why he, too, might walk on water: The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, ?????????? ????????????????

Abraham decides to help his nephew out, but he's smart about it. On the journey, he meets a king-priest named Melchizedek, and his faith is credited to him as righteousness. There's a lot going on, but let's continue walking through Genesis 14 and 15.

Isaiah 1:1–20 (Listen) 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The Wickedness of Judah 2   Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;    for the LORD has spoken:  “Children1 have I reared and brought up,    but they have rebelled against me.3   The ox knows its owner,    and the donkey its master's crib,  but Israel does not know,    my people do not understand.” 4   Ah, sinful nation,    a people laden with iniquity,  offspring of evildoers,    children who deal corruptly!  They have forsaken the LORD,    they have despised the Holy One of Israel,    they are utterly estranged. 5   Why will you still be struck down?    Why will you continue to rebel?  The whole head is sick,    and the whole heart faint.6   From the sole of the foot even to the head,    there is no soundness in it,  but bruises and sores    and raw wounds;  they are not pressed out or bound up    or softened with oil. 7   Your country lies desolate;    your cities are burned with fire;  in your very presence    foreigners devour your land;    it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.8   And the daughter of Zion is left    like a booth in a vineyard,  like a lodge in a cucumber field,    like a besieged city. 9   If the LORD of hosts    had not left us a few survivors,  we should have been like Sodom,    and become like Gomorrah. 10   Hear the word of the LORD,    you rulers of Sodom!  Give ear to the teaching2 of our God,    you people of Gomorrah!11   “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?    says the LORD;  I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams    and the fat of well-fed beasts;  I do not delight in the blood of bulls,    or of lambs, or of goats. 12   “When you come to appear before me,    who has required of you    this trampling of my courts?13   Bring no more vain offerings;    incense is an abomination to me.  New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—    I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.14   Your new moons and your appointed feasts

Welcome to "The Bible in Today's World", the show that compares today's world with the Word of God. In general and specifically, are we following the Bible in our daily walks? Is society demanding that we follow the Word of God in all that we do? Does our Almighty Father look upon us and frequently say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" - or is He thinking of us as He thought/thinks of Sodom and Gomorrah? On today's show, we will discuss Acts, - Chapters 12 and 13.

In this episode, we're wrapping up our Genesis Takeaway series with a powerful reflection on the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. At first glance, it's a story of judgment, but when we slow down and look deeper, it reveals profound lessons about hesitation, obedience, and trust.Are you struggling to move forward in faith? Do you find yourself looking back at what's familiar, even when you know God is calling you into something new? Today, we're diving into the dangers of hesitation, the cost of looking back, and the temptation to stop short of God's best.Join me as we explore how these lessons apply to our daily lives and what it truly means to trust God's call forward—without hesitation. Plus, I'll share a personal story about my own struggle with letting go and stepping into freedom.Don't miss this episode—it just might be the encouragement you need to take your next bold step of faith!Ready to change your marriage without the exhausting work of trying to control your husband? Sign up for my FREE mini-course, The 4 Things You Must Do To Become The Happiest Wife. Discover ways to work with me at www.myhappyvault.comQuestions? Email Jill directly at Jill@thehappiestlives.com

https://www.modernrootslife.com/jtfollowsjc In this engaging livestream, JT discusses his recent explorations of historical sites in Florida, including the Henry Flagler Museum, while also teasing upcoming collaborations with notable guests. The conversation flows into community engagement, addressing viewer questions and thoughts on various topics, including architecture, spirituality, and the importance of unity within the community. The session culminates in a discussion with Paul from Understanding Conspiracy, where they delve into deeper themes surrounding historical narratives and community connections. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the importance of community and local meetups for those interested in conspiracy theories. They share personal experiences exploring historical sites and emphasize the value of fellowship in understanding and navigating beliefs within the conspiracy community. The discussion also touches on the challenges of staying diverse in topics, the role of faith in these discussions, and the need to integrate knowledge into daily life while living with purpose in the current 'little season.' In this conversation, the speakers delve into the complexities of biblical narratives, particularly the Book of Judges, and draw parallels with other stories such as Sodom and Gomorrah. They explore the nature of good and evil, the role of spiritual warfare in contemporary society, and the implications of modern technology on prophetic interpretations. The discussion also touches on the influence of figures like Albert Pike and the shifting ideologies among younger generations, emphasizing a resurgence of traditional values amidst societal chaos. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the challenges faced by younger generations regarding economic disparity, shifting political ideologies, and the impact of AI on employment. They discuss how the current societal landscape is shaping the attitudes of the youth, leading to a more conservative approach to wealth and work. The conversation also touches on the dangers of abundance and dependency on technology, emphasizing the need for purpose and community in an increasingly automated world. Finally, they explore the potential future of humanity amidst these changes, advocating for proactive discussions about societal issues.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jt-s-mix-tape--6579902/support.

This week, we continue our ongoing series of Jarvis interviews with influences, friends, pals, and so on. We pick up the story with Midnight visionary Athenar as he explains how Midnight evolved from 2003 to the present day. You will hear many parallels between the careers of Midnight and Night Demon, how Athenar grew to take Midnight more seriously year by year as their popularity expanded by leaps and bounds, and his misgivings along the way. Athenar and Jarvis break down the discography album by album, with particular emphasis on the forthcoming Steel, Rust and Disgust opus. If you care about Midnight, Night Demon, or real heavy metal, this episode is a must-listen.  Enjoy. Listen at nightdemon.net/podcast or anywhere you listen to podcasts! Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook

It's a big deal because Jesus rescues us from sin, fear, and death. 3:1-2  Its a big deal because Jesus was sent by God. - Apostle and High Priest - 4:14-16It's a big deal because Jesus gives us mercy and grace in time of need. - 5:1-10v. 1-4 Old Testament High Priests descended through Aaron are appointed to serve but they are imperfect men.v. 5-6 Its a big deal because Jesus was appointed by God.Psalm 2:7–8 “I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”v. 7-8 It's a big deal because Jesus, the Son of God, obeyed the Father perfectly and suffered willingly. This qualifies Jesus as High Priest and demonstrates his humanity.v. 9-10 It's a big deal because Jesus is perfect and therefore, the source of our salvation.It's a big deal because he is not from Aaron, but from Melchizedek. Genesis 14:17-206:19-20It's a big deal because Jesus is the anchor of our souls.It's a big deal because Jesus entered the Holy of Holies.It's a big deal because Jesus is eternal. - 7:1-22Now, let's try to understand Melchizedek - Genesis 14:17–20 “After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was a priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” •      A mysterious but important individual.•      King of Salem - would become Jerusalem.•      A King and Priest, but not from Abraham or Aaron.•      No genealogy and no birth/death recorded. •      He blessed Abraham and Abraham gives an offering.v. 11-14 It's a big deal because Jesus isn't from the line of Aaron (Levitical) but from the eternal line of Melchizedek.v. 15-19 It's a big deal because Jesus is a better hope so we can draw near to God.v. 20-22 It's a big deal because Jesus guarantees a new and better covenant! HE IS THE FINAL PERFECTION, THE EFFECTIVE SACRIFICE.

What happens when we grow too attached to the comforts of this world? In this episode, Dr. John delves into the story of Lot's escape from Sodom, showing how his compromise with a sinful culture led to the loss of his family and influence. He challenges us to reflect on our own lives—are we prioritizing Christ over the fleeting pleasures of this world? Dr. John emphasizes the importance of living with eternal values in mind, urging us to consider where our true loyalties lie.Confident Faith: In this 4-week series on Genesis 18-25, Dr. John Neufeld looks at the life of Abraham and unpacks the topic of faith. How is faith formed? How does faith mature? And how can faith help us trust in what God has promised, even though we can't see it yet?

Sink or Walk on Water? Part Two In Walking on Water Part One, we looked at the following account of Yeshua walking on water: But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God's Son!” (Mt 14:24-33) Last week, we found one answer as to why Yeshua walked on water. We'll look at some other answers next week, but our second question was, “Why was Peter afraid of the wind?” Hadn't the wind been blowing just as fearfully up until then? He didn't think about that before he crawled out of the boat? Knowing what Peter knew about the dangerous time of the morning watch, the last watch of the night, we can venture an educated guess. To know what Peter knew, we refer to the Torah: “When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, ‘Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city. But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.'” (Ge 19:15-16) The sun had risen over the earth when Lot came to Zoar. Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven, and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Now Abraham arose early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the LORD; and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace. (Ge 19:24-28) Yeshua came to rescue the disciples from the windstorm in the last watch of the night [in Roman calculation, the fourth watch; in Hebrew calculation, the third watch]. From the texts above, we can see that the last watch of the night before the dawn is a dangerous time. Especially back then, who could know the precise moment when the sun would break the horizon, ending the last watch and beginning the timeframe of morning? When the morning dawned, destruction could begin, rescue could end, or righteousness could view the destruction from afar, or “the place where he stood before the LORD.” In this account of Genesis Nineteen, Peter could see the traditional explanation of the destination of three groups of people: the righteous (Abraham), the lukewarm (Lot and his wife and daughters), and the wicked (the cities of Sodom). Yeshua reminds the Laodiceans in Revelation of the danger of remaining in the category of the lukewarm, who ultimately cannot stand in the same place as the righteous in the Kingdom. It doesn't mean they are not rescued, but it does mean they are not in good “standing” relative to the righteous. At the crossing of the Reed Sea, Peter has this reference for destruction following the last watch of the night: So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak,

In this message, Dr. John traces the fall of ancient Babylon and the judgment of Sodom to reflect on the collapse of human civilizations in light of God's coming judgment. Through the stories of Belshazzar and Lot, we're reminded of what it means to live righteously and remain faithful—even when the culture around us stands condemned.Confident Faith: In this 4-week series on Genesis 18-25, Dr. John Neufeld looks at the life of Abraham and unpacks the topic of faith. How is faith formed? How does faith mature? And how can faith help us trust in what God has promised, even though we can't see it yet?

Pastor Dave Gargano's sermon focuses on the story of Lot and Sodom from Genesis, emphasizing the gravity of sin and the importance of heeding God's warnings. He illustrates how Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at her past, symbolizing the dangers of allowing one's past to hinder spiritual progress. Pastor Dave warns that negotiation with God, disobedience, and lingering in sin can lead to dire consequences. He encourages the congregation to move forward in faith, leaving behind past transgressions and embracing God's mercy and righteousness.Genesis 19:1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. 2 And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.”And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.”3 But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.4 Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”6 So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, 7 and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! 8 See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”9 And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. 10 But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11 And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! 13 For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”18 Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”21 And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Pastor Dave Gargano's sermon focuses on the story of Lot and Sodom from Genesis, emphasizing the gravity of sin and the importance of heeding God's warnings. He illustrates how Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at her past, symbolizing the dangers of allowing one's past to hinder spiritual progress. Pastor Dave warns that negotiation with God, disobedience, and lingering in sin can lead to dire consequences. He encourages the congregation to move forward in faith, leaving behind past transgressions and embracing God's mercy and righteousness.Genesis 19:1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. 2 And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.”And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.”3 But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.4 Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”6 So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, 7 and said, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! 8 See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.”9 And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. 10 But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11 And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! 13 For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, “Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed.”18 Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.”21 And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Understanding context; Nature of man and God; (Tree of) Knowledge?; What is true?; Information sources; (Dis)respecter of persons; Holy Spirit; Enoch?; Abraham's vision; Rivers in Genesis; Furnace and burning lamp; Caudrons in cities of blood; Welfare snares; Becoming merchandise; No coveting!; Gen 15:6; Learning from our mistakes; Seeking kingdom of God; Government of, for and by the people; Man and woman; Gen 16:1; Sarah and Haggar; "handmaid"; shin-pi-chet-hay+kuf; Who was Hagar?; Freewill offerings only; Haran; Put to death; Terah and Nimrod; Idolatry; "Pure Religion"; Turtledove goddess of Sumer; Bondage of Egypt; Altars of sacrifice; Gen 16:2; Respecting Sarai; Importance of children; Population collapse?; Lessons to be learned; kuy-lamad-lamad+tav (despise); Hagar left; Destroying the character of society; Duty?; Serving one another; Temptation of oppression; ayin-nun-tav (humbly submit); tav-hey-tav (to her authority); Modern Christians not knowing the Lord; Civil corban; Setting the captive free; Learning to do your duty; Ishmael; Serving without benefit; Kadesh and Bered; Hagar's vision; Muslims; Artificial duty; "Kadesh" = homosexual; Oppression of women; Knowing Holy Spirit; Ministering for God; 70% on welfare? Duty to fellowman; Being Israel; Public religion; Public school?; Repentance; Doing what Christ said to do; Covetous practices; God's judgment; Linking Gen 16 to Christ; Two witnesses; Willingness to see yourself; Fleeing Holy Spirit; "Beerlahairoi" (0883); "was called" kuf-resh-aleph - redemptive; biet-aleph-resh (Beer) lamad-heh-yod (lahai) resh-aleph-yod (roi); Hagar going back to serve Sarai; Dying on a cross; Testing your forgiveness; Aleph = relationship of God and man; Yod = divine spark; Awakening of leaders; Returning to God; Sin of Sodom; Strengthening the poor; Caring for one another; Leaven; Freewill vs force; Presidential salvation?; Charity; Are you ready for truth?; To whom do you serve?; Trust Holy Spirit.

In this episode of the Strength and Weakness podcast, Davion and Guy begin an honest and empathetic discussion around the controversial "clobber passages"—six key scriptures often cited in debates over homosexuality and Christian faith.They open by addressing Genesis 19 and the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, asking: Was the city's destruction really about homosexuality, or was there more to it? Together, they explore the context, cultural implications, and modern interpretations that continue to divide churches and shape theology today.Also: Guy announces the release of his upcoming book and documentary, "Following Jesus in an LGBTQ+ World," featuring both hosts!Subscribe and join us next week as we break down the remaining five passages in Leviticus, Romans, Corinthians, and more.

Welcome to Day 2616 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “When Angels Do Time” –  I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2616 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2616 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today is the 53rd lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church. The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God's redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it's also a book that seems strange to us. While God's Word was written for us, it wasn't written to us. Today's lesson is: “When Angels Do Time.” Most Bible study resources describe fallen angels as demons who joined Lucifer in his rebellion against God. But what if I told you that the only place in the New Testament that describes angels sinning does not call them demons, has no connection to Lucifer, and has them in jail? Welcome to the world of 2 Peter and Jude. 2 Peter 2:4: “For ... God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.” Jude 6: “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.” Second Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 are nearly identical in their description of angels doing time, but there are differences that help us figure out “what in the spiritual world is going on.” Jude 6 defines what 2 Peter 2:4 means by the angelic sin. These sinning angels “left their proper dwelling.” Second Peter doesn't say they were in cahoots with Satan, or that they did anything in Eden. It tells us they left their designated realm of existence and did something in another realm. But what did they do? Both 2 Peter and Jude compare the sin of these angels with the Sodom and Gomorrah incident, where the sin involved sexual immorality (2 Pet 2:7; Jude 7). Second Peter also connects it to the time of Noah. There is only one sin involving a group of angelic beings in the entire Bible, and it coincides with Noah and is sexual in nature. That incident is Genesis 6:1-4, where the “sons of God” leave heaven, their normal abode, and come to earth and father children (the nephilim giants) by human women. Two features in these passages in 2 Peter and Jude point to Genesis 6:1-4. First, “sons of God” is a specific phrase used elsewhere in the Old Testament of angelic beings (Job 1:6; 2:1; 3 8:7; Psa89:6; Peut 32:8 V Second, both 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 explicitly tell us that these angels are imprisoned in chains of gloomy darkness—in “hell” until judgment day. While it is true that Genesis 6:1-4 never tells us what happened to the sons of God who sinned, Jewish...

Revelation 11:1-19   11:1 Then there was given to me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the courtyard which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations; and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. 7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie on the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 Those from the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who live on the earth. 11 And after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that time there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly. 15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give You thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18 And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net

We delve into Genesis 18 and 19, exploring the story of Sodom's destruction. We discuss God's judgement and mercy as shown through His interactions with Abraham and Lot. We examine the significance of Abraham's negotiation with God, the wickedness of Sodom, and the salvation of Lot. We also explore how God's actions in these chapters demonstrate His character and justice.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...