Podcasts about Stewardship

Your calendar reveals your priorities more than your intentions ever will. In this episode, Costi Hinn walks through five practical, biblical ways to take back your time and stop living reactively.

Are you still waiting for the Kingdom of God to arrive, or could it have been here all along? This episode challenges everything you thought you knew about the Kingdom, religion, and leadership—revealing how much of what we've built is based on missed expectations and outdated systems. Dive in to discover why Jesus's vision of the Kingdom flips the world's definitions of power, greatness, and success upside down, and how this could radically change the way you live, lead, and build community today. If you've ever wondered what it truly means to be a citizen in a Kingdom that's already present, this is the conversation you can't afford to miss."The kingdom of God is here—not as a religion or institution, but as a foundation that holds everything together." - Tim WindersAccess all show and episode resources HEREEpisode Resources:NT90 Hub – This is the central website for the 90-day New Testament reading plan, with downloadable, printable plans, background information, and links to all episodes and resources.Episode Highlights:00:00 The Kingdom Already Here 01:09 NT in 90 Days 02:21 Four Episode Arc 03:46 Kingdom Arrived First Century 06:27 Upside Down Kingdom Values 10:36 Why We Miss It 15:38 End Times Anxiety Cycle 17:59 Jesus Plus Church Models 22:42 Celebrity Leadership Trap 26:26 Plural Elders Alternative 27:07 Elders by Character 28:03 Jesus Inverts Power 31:35 Strength in Weakness 32:38 Quiet Faithful Endurance 33:42 Kingdom Holds All 36:44 Blueprint in the World 39:33 Knowing the King 42:51 Kingdom Multiplies Scattered 45:55 Modern Misread Exposed 48:54 Love Ladder and Self Control 49:57 Politics Work and Stewardship 51:31 Build on the Foundation 52:34 Next Episode and Invitation

Biblical stewardship recognizes that God owns everything and we are simply managers of His possessions. This fundamental truth applies to every aspect of our lives, including our worship and finances. We are created to worship God naturally, as it is our intended design and purpose. When it comes to money, we must avoid both the prosperity gospel heresy and the opposite extreme that views wealth as evil. True godly prosperity means using our resources to bless God, not using God to get money. The principle of tithing acknowledges God's ownership of everything, while generous giving reflects a heart that trusts Him completely. Faithful stewardship begins with recognizing that nothing truly belongs to us and living as trustworthy managers of God's resources.Thank you for joining us at NorthRidge Church! For more information please visit us online at http://www.northridgethomaston.com.

Money is one of the most practical—and spiritual—areas of our lives, yet it's often one of the least intentionally taught within the home.    In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Patti Garibay welcomes financial author and stewardship expert Matt Bell for an important conversation about raising girls who honor God with their finances. From everyday spending decisions to long-term financial planning, this episode explores how parents can disciple their daughters to think Biblically about money from an early age.    Together, Patti and Matt tackle some of the most common questions families face today: Is all debt bad, or is there a place for wise borrowing? How can parents help their daughters avoid the burden of overwhelming student loans? And what's the best way to teach financial responsibility—through cash, debit cards, or even credit?    This conversation also highlights the deeper heart behind financial stewardship. In a culture driven by consumption and comparison, girls need to learn contentment, discernment, and generosity. Matt shares how giving isn't just a financial practice—it's a spiritual discipline that helps shape a heart aligned with God's purposes.    Whether your daughter is just beginning to learn the value of money or preparing to step into adulthood, this episode will equip you with practical tools and Biblical encouragement to guide her toward a future marked by wisdom, responsibility, and faithful stewardship.    Because when girls understand that everything they have comes from God, they are better prepared to use it for His glory.    Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:    Matthew 6:21   Proverbs 21:5   Luke 16:10   1 Timothy 6:6–10   2 Corinthians 9:6–7   Proverbs 22:7    To learn more about Matt Bell, his work, and resources for Biblically wise financial stewardship for your family, visit mattaboutmoney.com     Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.         Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.      

In Episode 496 of the Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb open with a rich discussion on the theology of congregational singing — including the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, the Getty's Sing!, and why psalm-singing belongs at the heart of Christian worship. The main event, however, is the first installment of their study of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). Tony and Jesse argue that this parable is widely misread as a lesson in personal productivity or spiritual gift deployment, when in fact its center of gravity is entirely eschatological and theological: the wicked servant's failure is not financial incompetence — it is a catastrophic misunderstanding of who the master is, and therefore, who he himself is as a servant of that master. Key Takeaways The parable is eschatological, not motivational. Situated in Matthew 25 as the second of three eschatological parables in the Olivet Discourse, the Parable of the Talents answers the disciples' question about the sign of Christ's coming — not a general lesson about using your abilities for God. "Talents" refers to an enormous monetary sum, not personal giftedness. A single talent represented roughly 20 years of a laborer's wages. Even the least-endowed servant received an immense, unearned gift — which makes the wicked servant's inaction all the more indefensible. The wicked servant's problem is theological, not financial. He doesn't bury the talent out of ignorance or fear alone — he actively mischaracterizes the master as exploitative and unjust. His failure is a failure of theology: he does not know who his master is. The commendation "Well done, good and faithful servant" is the basic reward of every believer, not a tiered prize for the most productive. The five-talent and two-talent servants receive identical commendations, suggesting the measure is proportional faithfulness, not absolute output. Faithful stewardship is active, not passive. Both faithful servants are marked by immediacy and energetic engagement. The parable does not explain how they doubled their talents because the mechanics are not the point — their disposition of active, risk-taking faithfulness is. The parable resists works-righteousness readings. Whether one is Augustine or an anonymous deathbed convert, every justified believer enters into the same joy of the master. The parable is not a theology of graduated heavenly rewards but a distinction between those who understand their master and those who do not. The talents represent the stewardship of the Gospel and the Kingdom itself. The master entrusting his servants with his property is a picture of Christ entrusting the church with the message of salvation — ownership remains with the master, the servants are stewards, not proprietors. Key Concepts The Wicked Servant's Problem Is Who He Thinks the Master Is The most common misreading of this parable locates the wicked servant's failure in laziness or timidity — he was simply too afraid to act. But Tony Arsenal argues compellingly that the servant's own words expose something far more serious. He says, "I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow." This is not a confession of fear; it is an accusation. The servant has constructed a theology of his master as an exploitative, unjust overseer who doesn't deserve a return. What he catastrophically misses is that the very possession of 20 years' worth of wages — an unearned, unimaginable gift — is the master sowing into him. His refusal to act is, at its root, a refusal to acknowledge the master's generosity and authority. This is the parable's most penetrating theological edge. "Well Done" Is for Every Believer, Not Just the Most Productive One of the episode's most pastorally significant observations is Tony's argument that the commendation "Well done, good and faithful servant — enter into the joy of your master" is not reserved for spiritual high-achievers. Because the five-talent and two-talent servants receive word-for-word identical commendations despite wildly different absolute returns, the logical entailment is that the one-talent servant, had he been faithful, would have received the same words. This means the commendation is not calibrated to productivity — it is the basic inheritance of every believer who enters glory. The soul-winner and the deathbed convert, Augustine and the unknown faithful, all hear the same welcome. The parable is therefore not teaching a graduated hierarchy of heavenly reward, but a binary distinction: those who know their master and act accordingly, and those who do not. The Parable Cannot Be Detached from Its Eschatological Context Jesse Schwamb is careful to anchor the parable in its literary and theological context: this is the second of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25, all part of the Olivet Discourse, all delivered in direct response to the disciples' question about the sign of Christ's return and the end of the age. Detaching the Parable of the Talents from that frame — and reading it instead as a general productivity principle or a theology of spiritual gifts — drains it of what Jesse calls its "gravity." The master going away and returning after a long time is a direct image of the ascended Christ and his parousia. The servants' task during the interval is not self-improvement or career stewardship — it is watchful, active discipleship in the time between the first and second comings. Everything in the parable, including the staggering sums of money, is calibrated to that eschatological frame. Memorable Quotes The real difference is that the former servants understood that their master had trusted them with a task and expected something of them, and the unfaithful, wicked, lazy servant had a total misunderstanding of who the master was — and therefore what his role as the master's servant was. That's the point of this parable. — Tony Arsenal Well done, good and faithful servant — that's not a special commendation that only the most amazing Christian servants get. That's the basic commendation that every Christian who enters into glory will receive. Whether you have been the most productive soul-winner in the world... you're going to receive the same commendation as the person who dies, and on their deathbed the last thing that they think is, 'I trust Jesus.' — Tony Arsenal God's measure of faithfulness is proportional, not absolute. The two-talent servant is not judged by the five-talent standard. He is judged by what he received. — Jesse Schwamb Full Transcript [00:00:08] Tony Arsenal: that's not a special commendation that only the most amazing Christian servants get, right? That's the basic commendation that every Christian who enters into glory will receive. Whether you have been the most productive soul-winner in the world, whether you are the most, you know, the most sanctified Christian who's ever lived, whether you are, the most amazing person and millions of people have come to faith because of your ministry, you're going to receive the same commendation as the person who dies, and on their deathbed the last thing that they think is, I trust Jesus." Right. And they've produced no converts, no ministry, and maybe no one even knows that they were justified, because in their final moments before the lights went out, they trusted in Jesus, right? They hear the same well done, good and faithful servant when they enter into glory. Welcome to episode 496 of the Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse.  And I'm Tony, and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brother.  [00:01:19] Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother.  [00:01:21] Parable Teaser [00:01:21] Jesse Schwamb: You know, the parables just keep coming for us, like we've said. And on this episode, to, just to tee it up, to whet everybody's appetites, we've got three servants, one absent master, an uncomfortable amount of money. What could go wrong? Yeah. As it turns out, quite a bit, especially if you're the kind of person who responds to divine generosity by finding the nearest shovel. So we're gonna get to all of that in this, what I call, this now sandwich of eschatological parables or teachings of Jesus in Matthew 25. So hopefully you're curious, hopefully you're stoked. But you can go put your thumb right in the scriptures there, because you're gonna meet us there very, very, very, very shortly. But first we got business. It's always the business we must do, the part of the podcast where we affirm with something or deny against something. And as always, I'm really curious what you have, and now I understand you have a list, or you're keeping a list. So- I do ... never again will there be something like that falls to the cutting room floor, brothers and sisters. Tony is always gonna have for us whatever was- ... what came to his brilliant mind as an affirmation or denial at any point, day or night.  [00:02:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. Do you, Jesse, do you ever have... I know the answer to this question is going to be yes- Yeah. That's good ... but I'm gonna ask it- All right ... mostly for rhetorical effect here. This is good podcasting.  [00:02:38] Psalm 67B Praise [00:02:38] Tony Arsenal: Do you have, do you have those situations where, like, the, the so- a song hits you, and it's just, like, the right combination of words, but also the right combination of, like, musicality?  [00:02:49] Jesse Schwamb: For sure.  [00:02:50] Tony Arsenal: Where it just, like, it just, it just feels- For sure like, right and good in every part of your being. So- All the time, yep ... I, I'm affirming, um, th- this is like the most Presbyterian thing ever. I'm affirming the, the arrangement in the Trinity, uh, psalter hymnal for Psalm 67B. Now, I'm not gonna try to sing it for you, but I wanna read the words, because obviously it's, it's a paraphrase of a psalm. So, like, that's the first thing. Like, people, like, calm down. Like, it's okay to sing paraphrases. It's okay to sing. No one is actually singing the Hebrew psalms. Right. Amen. So, like, just calm down a little bit. Amen. Uh, there is a place for us to dedicate specific focus to psalms and songs that are from the psalms, but that can be something like Better Is One Day. Like, that's a song from a psalm. Anyway, that's a whole different, that's a whole different thing. Yes, I'm affirming psalm singing. Uh, yes, I'm denying overly rigid understandings of what that is. But here's the words for Psalm 67, Setting B. That's important It's, "O God, show mercy to us and bless us with your grace and cause to shine upon us the brightness of your face, so that the whole world over may truly know your way and so that your salvation all nations see displayed. O God, let peoples praise you. Let all the peoples praise. Let nations come rejoicing and songs of gladness rise, raise." Then, um, stanza two, "For you will judge the peoples with perfect equity. To nations of the whole Earth a governor you'll be. O God, let the peoples praise you. Let all the peoples praise. The Earth has brought its bounty throughout its harvest days.  [00:04:24] Why Sing Psalms [00:04:24] Tony Arsenal: Since God our God will bless us, yes, God will blessing send, that all the Earth may fear Him to its remotest end." Now, there are lots of really great, uh, theologically sound, edifying hymns and worship choruses, but there's just something about the Psalms, right? It's inspired- Um- ... it's perfect. Again, like I said, nobody is singing the actual Hebrew Psalms, or even, I shouldn't say nobody, most people are not singing, like, the Psalms from the ESV, right? These are almost all paraphrases. They're, they're translations. But there's just something about the Psalms that I have grown so much to appreciate since joining a Presbyterian church. That's not to say other traditions don't sing Psalms in their own right, and again, like, we would sing Better Is One Day and other songs that were based on Psalms. Um, even, like, real direct translations or real direct versions of Psalms, like Better Is One Day or Create In Me A Clean Heart, there's all sorts of them. But there's just something about singing the Psalms, and this particular musical setting, it's triumphant, but not in the, like, fanfare kind of triumphant. Do you know what I mean, Jesse? Like- Mm-hmm ... it's, it's a triumphant melody, and it has, like, really interesting rises and falls and... So I, I'm gonna probably try to put this at the end of the episode. So listen. Hopefully I'll get the whole thing. Let me just, let me just do this. Hold on a second. It's just gorgeous. It's just beautiful. So I, I, I don't know what it was this morning. Uh, it's, I wasn't, like, promo- particularly emotional. It didn't, like, make me cry. Yeah. But all of that's fine. Like, I've been brought to tears in worship before, and that's, that's all good and well. There was just something about it that resonated, and I was like, "This is just good." Like, this is just good music. It's good singing. Something about hearing, uh, the whole congregation singing together. Like, it was just beautiful. It was just a beautiful moment. So if you are not in a psalm-singing church, first of all, why aren't you in a psalm-singing church? Uh, no worship leader on Earth, no, no person who is worth... Uh, when I say worship leader, I mean the person who's responsible for leading musical worship. No one who's leading worshipful music, worshipful? Worship music, if you approach them and say, "I would like to sing more songs that are based on the Psalms," if they say, "We don't wanna sing Psalms here," then you just go somewhere else. Like, someone who tells you, like, "We don't wanna s- we don't wanna sing God's Word," that doesn't make any sense to me.  [00:06:56] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:06:56] Tony Arsenal: Um, now again, like, there's a way to do it. Sometimes musically they're challenging, especially if you're singing out of something like the hymnal. But again, there are plenty of really good modern style songs and hymn style songs that are either based on the Psalms or are paraphrases, very similar to what you get in the, in the Trinity Psalter Hymnal. Or most, most people who are leading in musical worship are competent enough to just sort of take the sheet music and figure out how to do it on guitar or figure out how to play it on piano. Um, they're not that difficult. So you will be edified if you do this. Your church will be edified. There's probably a lot of people out there responsible for musical worship that actually would really like to do this, and they're kind of probably, like, just waiting for that nudge, so you may even be benefiting them. But yeah, this, this psalm is beautiful. It's just a gorgeous arrangement, and it's, it's perfect, inspired words. Really was a, just a, a balm to my soul this morning.  [00:07:51] Jesse Schwamb: I love it. And o- of course, a lot of that is still happening, which is such a glorious gift to the church. The couple of times that I've had the privilege of writing music for my own church has been right from the scriptures, and for me recently that was, like, Ephesians 1 and Psalm 16. And that's mainly because, like, as a lyricist, I'm not that creative, and I'd rather go direct to the source. And all those end up being a paraphrase, like you said, anyway. Es- especially if you wanna get turn of phrase or if you wanna have a little bit of rhyming, which is always a beautiful thing. I love the Psalter, and my, my hot take on that is I sometimes find that I like, I don't wanna call them, like, the alternate, but, like, the other secondary arrangements-  Yeah and  lyrics better. I don't know why. I don't think that's purposeful, of course. It's probably just my taste. But I always find them to be, like, super fire. I, I don't know why. The, the B and C versions always kinda grab me, especially if... And here's another thing that I appreciate about the Psalter, as you know, is sometimes those B or C versions will be written in an alternate key or a minor key. Yeah. And that's even more awesome, because there's not a lot of, let's say, like, cla- I don't wanna say classic. Classic slash contemporary, uh, Christian music or wors- quote-unquote worship music that's written in minor keys. But it's good to lament, as we've talked about before. So- Yeah ... you're gonna get that full breath and scope in the Psalter there. [00:09:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:09:07] Beyond Music Styles [00:09:07] Tony Arsenal: A- and, you know, maybe let me put in one more little plug here. Um- I am not one of those people that is gonna say that there's like a particular style of music that's more godly than another. I've heard people try to make arguments that there's like certain kinds of rhythms or certain kinds of like beats that are- Right either, either more godly or somehow demonic or less godly. Um, I think there might be an argument to be made that some styles of worship are not suited well for congregational singing, so they may not be appropriate for like a, a congregational worship service. Like, you're probably not gonna go in and do a lot of hip hop and have the congregation be able to like stick with you. Right. That doesn't mean that you can't worship God through that or that it somehow is less like intrinsically beautiful. But, um, there are a lot of Let me just put it this way. In modern contemporary Western Christianity, uh, there's a lot of songs that are basically just the same thing musically. You know, you'll find, um, if you go to, like, YouTube, and, and maybe, like, be careful, 'cause sometimes some of these are, they're funny but they're a little bit crass. But if you look up, like, a video about how, like, every song is Pachel Bell's Canon. Right. Right? Every song follows the same basic arrangement of chords, and this gets even more pronounced when you're talking about modern worship music or contemporary mu- worship music, because it's designed to be able to be very simple and very easily played. Um, a lot of times worship directors are not super classically trained. Um, you think of, like, the youth pastor with the guitar around the campfire. Like, those kinds of songs have to be easy, 'cause they're not, like, classically trained guitar players. They probably picked up a chord book and figured out how to play a couple easy songs like Jesus, Lover of My Soul and things like that. That's how I learned how to play guitar. That's the extent of my skills, so I'm not, I'm not banging on that person. Um, but there are a lot, there's a lot more to music. Um, there's a lot more to singing, and there's a lot more to choral music than, you know, GCDC kind of like worship courses. Uh, and singing something like the Psalter, or even just singing out of a good hymnal- Right will actually expand your musical horizons. And there's something to be said about the creativity of our God being reflected in the creativity of His people that I do think we miss out on when we are locked into really simplistic worship styles. Um, again, like, I interpret Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to mean, like, sing in the vernacular of the people. Um, and I, you know, that's a different episode. We can talk about that sometime. But th- that, that requires the songs to be singable, and I think sometimes, uh, sometimes some of the song- some of the Psalters, some of the songs in the Psalter hymnals, and sometimes hymnals in general, are very difficult to sing. And so I think a congregation, the people leading in music need to be thoughtful of that. But I think you would do well to, like, open your horizons a little bit to something a little bit more challenging and a little bit off the beaten path. Like, this melody, I don't know the chords behind it. It may not be anything crazy, but that, like, musicality and that, that sort of, like, melody is not a typical... And this might be why it resonated with me. It's not a typical kind of melody you're gonna find in contemporary music. Um, it's, it's very different. It's older. It's more classically styled. The, it's, it's meant to sort of bring you up to these crescendos in ways that modern music is not necessarily. So enough about that. I don't know a lot about music theory, so I might be totally wrong and, and- ... people might be rolling their eyes. But I, I do think that there's something to it. Like, a lot of the older hymns- utilize chord progressions and melodies and harmonies and things like that that we're just not used to. You're not gonna get that listening to, you know, even something like, like the more musical kind, uh, more technically proficient music like something like Bethel or Hillsong, which is at times musically very good. Uh, I don't know that I would recommend listening to it, but the music is actually, like, technically very good in some instances. Uh, even there you're not gonna find a lot of this stuff. So instead of going there for, like, really nice sounding musical worship, just go to something like the Trinity Psalter app. You know, for $10 on a- on your iPhone you can sing with it. Um, yeah, enough about that. I, I, I could talk about how great the Psalms are and how great psalm singing is for an entire episode. We should do that episode- We should ... when we're done with the parables, 'cause I know we've done a lot of episodes on, like, uh, on, on, like, the regulative principle and- Right I, I think we're still both in the same spot that, like- Right ... exclusive psalmody is probably not where we would land. Right. But I think I'm coming to the conviction that the psalms should have a much greater portion of our worship diet, uh- Hmm ... than they do in most churches. Um, and I really only came to that conviction when I was in a church where psalm singing was the norm. Uh, I know that we try to have at least one s- one canonical psalm for every single worship service. Usually there's multiple, but, um, even in a, a, a setting where we normally wouldn't be so focused on that, we still try to have at least one, and it's been a, a really huge edifying thing to my soul.  [00:14:06] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I absolutely love that. You'll find no complaint from me on that. I think that that's a good reminder for all of us.  [00:14:13] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:14:14] Book Sing Recommendation [00:14:14] Tony Arsenal: Jesse, what do you have?  [00:14:15] Jesse Schwamb: Well, it's, we're not gonna stop this conversation, just so you know. Because we don't sync up on these things ever, but it just so happens that I'm affirming with a book that it's a really simple primer on congregational singing-  There you go that has  long been on my list and overdue to read, and I am coming in hot with a recommendation for this, and that is the book entitled Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church by Keith and Kristyn Getty. And really, it covers so many of the things that you already talked about. I, I think at the foremost, it's a reminder that God cares whether in what we sing, but he does not mind how well we sing. Yes. But it is, like, the, this... What's true is that our voices might not be of a professional standard, but they are of a confessional standard. Yeah. And so it is incumbent upon every Christian to sing. And if you need just, like, a little bit of inspiration, so to speak, or a reminder of why that's important, I highly commend this book to you. In fact, in the back they have what's called, like, these bonus tracks. It's like four or five separate chapters that they've written just to particular people in the church, pastors, laypeople, musicians, even the people that help produce the sound. I found that bit to be so lovely and pastoral. It, it's gentle, the tone is encouraging, but it is also strong, and I appreciate that. So a lot of it is some of the themes that we've just talked about, but my conviction grows all the time of just how important congregational singing is, and how everything you just said, the music, the liturgy that we bring forward- has to be of a deliberate kind to strengthen that exercise, to make it easy, so to speak. And that does come into practical things like if you look at the psalter, and I, I don't... I have it on my phone, but I don't know where my phone is, so I was gonna look at the one you were referencing. My guess is it's, it's in probably a key with a couple of sharps in it, because those are the ones that are easiest to sing. So even little things like that matter. What you hear on the radio often is, or radio? People still listen to the radio? What you hear, like, in, like, contemporary music, like, often is not necessarily for congregational singing just in its key, and, and that's okay. And so even in my own church, we transpose things to make it reasonable and approachable. But what I think was, like, the critical question put forward in this book that I absolutely loved as a great reminder was: how did the congregation sing? It's very interesting that they kind of bring forward this thesis that that's how you should be judging your music. How did the congregation sing? And I think if we started asking that, it might slightly tweak or maybe change altogether, to your point, the methods and the practices that we use when we undergo worship by way or through music. So this is really great. It's easily readable, and it's for everybody, and it, there's a chapter on family worship as well, how to bring singing into your home and music into your home all the time as an act of worship so that when you get to the Lord's Day, your kids are like, "Yeah, this is our jam." Uh, especially maybe even recognizing some of the pieces of music and be excited about that. So there was a lot that made me think about here. It's fantastic. And to your point, Tony, I would say the Gettys, especially in, like, "Christ Alone," some of the other things, this is probably the closest to what you're talking about, where they've taken and imported kind of the classical hymn structures-  [00:17:26] Tony Arsenal: Yeah [00:17:27] Jesse Schwamb: but modernized a little bit just the language while without sacrificing any of the theological richness or the musicality that draws your ear to those beautiful rising and falling melodies, the swelling of the vocal there, without, like, distracting from anything that's going on there. It's not emotionalism- Yeah but it certainly is filled with the emotion of what it means to be a Christian and to sing in response as an act of praise to God.  [00:17:50] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:17:52] Family Worship Singing [00:17:52] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I mean, I can't underscore enough the importance of congregational singing. We, we've, we've actually talked about, about it in context of, like, how important it is for the men of the congregation to sing, which is something I, I really appreciate about my congregation, is, is the m- the men just go all out. Like, people are, like- Love it ... nobody is, nobody is ashamed of the fact that they squawk on a note that they're not used to or anything like that. And where this really pays out, um, at least in our congregation, but I'd, I'd be willing to bet if you go to any congregation where the, where the men particularly are passionate and active in musical worship, right? Um, I think where this plays out is you see the children very quickly picking up those songs and learning them and singing them. And the, the favorite part of my day, this is gon- any parent of toddlers is gonna be like, "What are you talking about?" Bedtime is one of my favorite times of day, not just because it means that, like, in a little while I'm gonna get a little peace and quiet. Like, that's part of it, too, but there are two songs that we sing almost every single night, and Augie leads them, which is really great. He always wants to start, and he always wants to sing, and it's the Doxology and the Gloria Patri. And these are songs that he has just picked up from being in the congregation, and, you know, I, I don't remember consciously teaching him any of these songs. And now, now Adeline, who is, uh, my two-year-old daughter, almost two, she's starting to pick those songs up, and she's starting to sing them, and she recognizes them, and she responds very differently to those songs than she does to other songs. Um, it's funny because I don't, I don't know where she got this. Neither my wife nor I are particularly, uh, charismatic, emotive people. Like, we don't raise our hands when we're singing, but she, she does. She, she, when we start singing- My girl ... the Gloria Patri or the Doxology, her hand is in the air, and she's looking at the sky, and she's waving her hands around. Yeah. And, um, she recognizes that those songs have a different place than a Miss Rachel song. She doesn't put her hands in the air and wave and look up at the ceiling when Miss Rachel comes on or when Baby Shark comes on. She knows those songs. She can sing those songs. Um, but she doesn't- Respond to those in the same way. And that is a direct result of the fact that congregational singing is an important thing in the life of our church and in the life of our family. And I think a book like Sing, I haven't read it, but I've heard very good things about it, and the, the Gettys are rock solid, like- Right ... theologically. Yes. Musically. They're, they're well within our Reformed tradition, at least broadly speaking. Um, and, and they have a, they have one of the strongest sort of theologies of praise music that you're gonna find. Mm-hmm. It's not quite like a liturgiology or something like that, but it's, it's, it's a theology of praise worship, praise and worship music. Right. Um, and that's not something that's super common, right? There's a lot of theology of liturgy. There's a lot of practical theology on liturgy. Um, the Gettys have developed a really unique kind of place in things in that they've really developed this idea that congregational singing has a specific theological import, and they've developed it in a way that's approachable. So yeah, I haven't read it and I sh- I probably should, but it, it sounds like a really great book. And, um, I c- just can't underscore it enough. And- Maybe this is my little plug. Like, uh, family worship is really tough, and it's not something I've mastered. Like, we don't, we, we don't have a regular rhythm. But what we do have is we have a consistent, uh, we consistently pray at night before bed, and we consistently sing one or both of those songs. And that by itself, like, the kids are learning and they are, they're absorbing that by osmosis. Um, they're picking up the phrasing, right? Augie can tell you who the three persons of the Trinity are, and that's partially 'cause we do catechism questions, but it's also partially, and I would actually argue probably more, because of the Trinitarian structure of those two songs. Right. He's picked up the language of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son from the Gloria Patri and from the doxology in ways that probably I wouldn't have been able to teach him otherwise. So yeah. Anyway, I, I just co-opted your affirmation. But, um, but yeah. I'm here for it. Congregational worship, family worship, singing, uh, to our Lord is commanded, and it's commanded for our good- Right and for his, his benefit and his blessing. Um, and so any book that is, is solid and will help you do that, I, I'm wholeheartedly behind.  [00:22:17] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. This is... All that is fire. This is fire.  [00:22:19] Reclaim Congregational Song [00:22:19] Jesse Schwamb: God designed our psyche for singing, and we're probably, uh, I would say contractually obligated since Reformed is in the name of the title of the podcast- to remind ourselves and everybody else that one of the things the Reformation did was reclaim the singing of God's word by his own people. Yes. Taking it out of that performatory space back into literally the voice boxes of the people who are sitting in worship together. So sometimes we might have to do that again. You know, there is a little bit, I think, of... There, there is in some places, not everywhere, this kind of tilting of that time of worship through music to be vouchsafed or relegated to those who are, uh, let's say, like, the most, like, talented in doing that, and somehow we participate merely by observing or by- Yeah just, uh, you know, being an audience spectator of that, and that's totally backwards. So I get it. The thing is- We're all singers. We may not all be very good singers, but we're all created to be singers nonetheless. This is what the Bible tells us. So we need to lean into that. We need to invest in that. Yeah. And so I, I like, of course, what you're doing with, uh, your kids because you're not only teaching them to sing, and this makes me so happy, but you're teaching them to love singing to the Lord. Yeah. And so that is, I think, what a lot of our congregations miss, is sometimes we do it, and I'm among them often, but grudgingly. And so to get to a place where we come excited that our reasonable response, our reasonable preparation on the Lord's day is to sing together, to hear that gospel message in melody in the ear of our... You know, the voice of our neighbor in our own ear is a wild thing. It's just, like, un- unheard of. And it's like, uh, we gotta stop, right? It's one of those things also that, like- ... we've, we've talked about how it's just kind of otherworldly. Not, not only in the sense that it gives us this really kind of foundational sense of God's, you know, kind of transcendence, of what it means to participate in the worship of someone who is transcendent because it is all these voices together, but also this is something that rarely happens in any other way, especially in the Western culture anymore. This coming together to express and to participate in something where we're all reading literally from the same sheet music is just an entirely different experience, increasingly relegated to this kind of experience. So we, we must protect it, not only because God says that we ought to, but also because, again, it is, it is our reasonable response. Yeah. And it is something, like you've just said, that brings Him glory and is certainly for our good. So, uh, this is the Singcast, so everybody- ... everybody get to it. You can make your own music. God has commanded us to sing. So the sooner we just understand, like, hey, it's, it's... You know. Uh, but... And the last thing I'll say is this is one of those things that's, like, practice too. A- and I get it. Like, you may say, like, "Listen, I can only hit two notes, and that's all I'm gonna hit no matter what the music is." Well, then belt the two notes, and also know that, like, the more you practice that kind of thing, honestly, the better that you'll get and the more comfortable that you'll become. The voice is an instrument like any other instrument that takes, like, a little bit of practice and a little bit of work. But even that can cause, I think, great benefits and build a little bit of confidence. But just the example of singing and doing it from a heart that is keen to worship God and that is filled with passion to respond to Him with gratitude and, you know, adoration is really the key thing. And so I, I'd rather have a entire group full of worshipers that are singing off-key but, like, with just resounding passion than to have this performance of just a handful of voices because they feel like they're the most capable to do it. Yeah. I think we'd, we'd rather have everybody else, and to hear the congregation mixed as one of those instruments. So sing. Yeah.  [00:26:05] Everyone Can Sing [00:26:05] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and y- you and I have made the point in the past, too, like- I, I don't think, uh, maybe I'm wrong. Uh, we are a top 50 healthcare podcast, so maybe some doctor- I'm sure you're correct ... is gonna... Right. Like, I don't think being tone deaf is actually a physical condition. Like- Mm. I, I mean, I, I mean, obviously, like, some people have hearing problems, and that means they have trouble singing. I hear what you're saying. But, like, the people who are like, "Well, I j- I just can't sing. I'm just not capable of that," uh, like, I think the, the physical conditions that would make you incapable of singing are not usually what people are talking about. Like- Right. Yeah ... you know, some people have, like, vocal fold disorders or they have hearing problems, and I guess maybe, like, if perfect pitch is a thing, which it, it is. Like, perfect pitch is a... I don't know what causes it, but some people are born with perfect pitch. I suppose in theory that means some people must be born with, like, the opposite of perfect pitch. But I think most people who say, like, "Well, I just, I'm just tone deaf. I can't carry a tone," that, that's probably not true. Like, it just means you need practice. Um, and some people's voices, like physically, their bodies are more, more designed by God to produce a pleasant sound than other people. But I, I think actually just about anybody with a little bit of practice, and mostly I think this is probably just the confidence to actually sing and a little bit of practice to learn how your body works, like how your voice works, um, could probably get to a point where singing is not only very relatively comfortable and easy, but it's something that is pleasant and is not overly challenging. This is actually something that I think we've lost in the church. We should... This, I mean, this is about to come the episode, but, um- ... something we've lost in the church when we have sort of changed from a true genuine congregational singing model, which was the norm- And I've heard people make arguments about the importance of hymnals, and I, I agree with those arguments, although I know some people have moved them into almost like a realm of, like, divine mandate- Right that you have to use hymnals because it trains people to teach. But we have lost something with both the sort of commercialization of worship music and the pro- like making it a professional thing, and we've lost congregational singing. The, the people in the church throughout history have learned to sing. Many of them have learned to read, learned the scriptures, learned theology, not in the seminary and not in the monastery, but in the pew as they sing God's word and as they sing- Right ... the great theological hymns of, of the church. There's so much you can learn through that process that I just think we've lost. And I think going back to something like a hymnal or the Trinity Psalter Hymnal or whatever, whatever standard music your church is gonna use, and I mean standard music. Like, whether this is a collection of worship choruses that has been curated for the church or it's a published hymnal or something like that, going back to something like that teaches the church how to sing. And I don't remember who wrote it, but the trellis and the vine, like the worship that we sing, I know Mike Horton makes this point. The worship that we sing is the tre- is the trellis that the vine of our wor- of our- Yes ... faith grows on, right? That's true. Like, what the, what the church lex credendi, lex orandi. Like, the church, what the church prays, the church believes. What the church sings, the church believes. So all of that to say, like, the, the importance of congregational singing can't be under-emphasized, and it's... I, I mean, I don't know that I would I don't know that most theologists say technically s- like, congregational singing is an element of worship, but praising the Lord through song certainly is. Yes. It's, it's evidence. Um, and, and so I think that's definitely something that the church has lost in general. Um, and I know there are churches... I- it's funny, when Ashley and I were between churches, uh, very briefly after, um, our previous church closed down, um, we went to a local sort of, like, high, high, uh, production, seeker-sensitive church, very Steven Furtick-esque, and we only lasted, like, 10 minutes in this, in this service. We went in and the production value was great, and the music sounded great, but we couldn't hear ourselves, we couldn't sing- Right ... and it was very performative, and we just left. We were only there for a few minutes, and we left. And I think that's something we've lost as we've sort of migrated worship to almost, like, a professional class. So yeah, bring it back to the pews. Bring it back to your- Bring it back ... bring it back to your house, bring it back to your kid's bedroom when you're tucking them in. Everywhere. Bring it back to the car on the way to work, in the bus. Right. Like, just let's everywhere we go, let's sing and worship the Lord. [00:30:30] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's right.  [00:30:31] Train Your Voice [00:30:31] Jesse Schwamb: Uh, so as a final thing, let me compound your hot take and say that I agree with you, that I... And I think professionals would as well, and I'm gonna stand on a resource that I'm gonna recommend to everybody here in a second, that in fact the Getty say, "If you can speak, you can sing." And there are a f- a few conditions that would prevent you from doing that, of course. And even there, they wanna explore opportunities for you, for instance, signing, for instance, to ensure that you can participate in worship. Uh, the hot take is I do think that because the instrument that God has given us in the vocal cords is exactly that, that it can be trained, and that actually most people can sing. And if you're serious about that, if you think, "You know what? I'd like to be able to do that. How can I explore that?" Here's a book for you. It's called Set Your Voice Free by Roger Love. The full title is How to Get the Singing or Speaking Voice You Want. Roger Love is, like, this amazing behind-the-scenes vocal coach. He has coached, like, a ton of really talented recording artists, and this is his very contention in the book, is that everybody can sing. It's really about how much or little work you wanna put into it. And in fact, this book comes with, like, these exercises that you can listen to and then record yourself. And then he, from a distance basically, can give you some pointers based on allowing you to kinda evaluate what you hear in your own recording back. So if you really are the kind of person that's like, "Listen, I, I dare you. I cannot sing," I would challenge you, I would double dog dare you to get this book, Set Your Voice Free, and if you're really serious about wanting to try and see if it can make a difference, I, I think it can. And I've, I myself have enjoyed this book, gone back to it many times, use it in my own work and practice because I found it to be helpful. So there you go. Sing, sing, and sing again.  [00:32:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:32:07] Singing Apps and Practice [00:32:07] Tony Arsenal: And if you're not a reader, first of all, why are you listening to the podcast? But second of all, if for some reason you're not a reader I'm, I'm joking. I'm sure there are people that are listening to the podcast who are not readers. That was, like, a super smug thing to say. How dare you. I'm sorry about that. How dare you. Um, if for some reason you don't wanna read that book or you're not a reader, um, y- you can do something as simple as looking up Yousician on your Yousician, Y-O-U- Yeah ... S-I, like the word musician, but U instead of, like, Y-O-U instead of, uh, musician. Um, there are plenty of apps out there. I just, I mention Yousician just because I've used that on, like, a free trial basis with some guitar teaching, and it's a reputable source. They also have a vocal module. So, like, if you wanna learn to sing, there are plenty of resources out there who can help you train your voice. A- and it- Again, I'm not a doctor, I'm not a vocal coach, I'm not a professional singer. I'm not even that great of a singer, and I, I probably could be a better singer if I wanted to devote the time to it. Um, it doesn't take much to, to be able- Right ... to become a competent singer. Um, I think most of us, you pick up one s- just like I learned guitar, you pick one or two songs that you really like and you wanna learn, and you learn to sing those songs, and then those skills will develop over time. So enough about that, Jesse. We've got, speaking of talents- ... we've got some talents to talk about. There it is. Boom, bazinga. Baza-bazom. I'm  [00:33:27] Jesse Schwamb: back. There it is. Yeah, so- I was excited  [00:33:31] Tony Arsenal: about that one ...  [00:33:32] Jesse Schwamb: that, that was really good. And, and we should just h- honor everyone. That's it.  [00:33:37] Tony Arsenal: That's it. Tip your waiters and waitresses, folks. It  [00:33:39] Jesse Schwamb: was so good. We're here all week.  [00:33:41] Parable Context Setup [00:33:41] Jesse Schwamb: So we're in Matthew 25, uh, verses 14 through 28, and this is at least gonna be a two-parter for us. This goes by the name you might be familiar of, which is The Parable of the Talents. But before we get to it, just a quick reminder that we've been speaking about this parable, not like in a special way, but hopefully in the more contextual sense. So this is the second of three eschatological parables in Matthew 25. So the first was The 10 Virgins, which we went through. We're in The Talents, and then we're coming up to everybody's favorite, The Sheep and the Goats. All three are part of this Olivet Discourse, which is, of course, Jesus' final teaching block before his Passion. And I think it h- behooves us so that we do not get distracted from, like, the center of gravity of this thing, that this is delivered in response to the disciples' question about the sign of his coming and the age to come. Because I've heard so many, like, little talks, maybe homilies is more the right word, on this particular parable that lack gravity. So little gravity that basically NASA could train their astronauts in it. So we wanna stay away from that and I think get into, like, the, the proper context. So Tony, do you have it in front of you by any chance? And would  [00:34:50] Tony Arsenal: you- I do. I do, yeah. Yeah. Read it for us? I'll read it here.  [00:34:52] Reading the Parable [00:34:52] Tony Arsenal: So this is, uh, starting in, uh, Matthew 25 verse 14, and I'm gonna read down through, uh, the end of verse 30 here. So it, it reads here, "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them, entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time, the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents. Here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, "Master, you delivered to me two talents. Here I have made two talents more." His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." He also who had received one talent came forward, saying, "Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. So I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours." But his master answered him, "You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him who gave it, who give it to him who has 10 talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. For, uh, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness in that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  [00:36:56] Watchfulness and Stewardship [00:36:56] Jesse Schwamb: So it starts with that amazing connective, which we really spoke about in the last episode, in verse four- 14, starting with four. So it's tying, like we said, this parable directly to verse 13, which we know is in the, the parable of the ten virgins. But it's this idea of watchfulness. "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." So th- I think this is the point we really drove last time, that we really felt highly convicted about, that this parable is not like a detached economic lesson, but it's really like an expedition, exposition, not expedition- ... of what watchful discipleship actually looks like during the interval of the master's absence. Like, that's the whole setup here. So it's starting with this idea of like the master goes away, but here we have these slaves or these servants who are entrusted. And to me, again, that's like such a linchpin in this whole thing, 'cause it's, it's carrying the sense that of course, like, he's handing over stewardship. It's a deposit held on another's behal- I love this parable because it has some banking language in it. It's, it's a deposit held on another's behalf, and that's like the key covenant concept of the entire thing. Ownership remains with the master. The servants are stewards. They're not proprietors. And that language, I think, really anticipates, like, the entire New Testament theology of stewardship, which is developed by Paul. So like when Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." So like all of that, that's like just one verse for me. Like, that's an incredible setup.  [00:38:27] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:38:28] Common Misreadings [00:38:28] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and you know, I think it bears saying, too, um, I wanna be careful how I say this because I don't wanna impugn, uh, poor motives or anything like that on, on the, the people that I'm about to speak to. And I say this a little bit tongue in cheek, but also I say this as someone who used to be deeply involved in youth ministry. There's kind of like a, a youth ministry, um- international version of the Bible, I guess, if you wanna put it that way, where, like, there are certain, certain passages and parables that s- for some reason seem really prone to misapplication- Sure in, in some context. And I would say, like, youth ministry is the one I have in mind. Like, um, one of them is, like, in Matthew 18 where it's like, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Like, that's a, that's a statement about God's, God's presence in the judgment of the church and excommunicating an un- like, a, an unrepentant, uh, person who identifies with Christ. And, and ironically here, maybe not ironically, but, like, casting them into the outer darkness of excommunication, which is representative of casting them out into the actual inner darkness of damnation. Right. Like, th- there's a, there's a misapplication of that, that like, well, you know, like, if only a couple people came to youth group tonight, like, it's still worth meeting because where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them. Um, this, this parable has a very similar kind of misapplication that is maybe a, a little bit less of a misapplication. Like, I think there is something to say in this parable about the fact that God entrusts us with abilities, talents, treasure, t- our time. Like, He's entrusted us with resources, and He does expect us to use those resources, uh, in a way that is honoring to Him and beneficial for the, for the gospel and for the kingdom. Um, that's true in a broad sense, but I don't think actually that this is what that... But, like, that's not what this passage- Mm ... is teaching. Right. I think I, I kinda joked last time, but, like, I've heard more than one sermon that draws the parallel between the word talent here and our talents in terms of, like, our spiritual gifts or our ability to play guitar or, like, to bounce a basketball and, like, thr- like, throw a free throw. Like, that's not the kinda talent we're talking about here. So I wanna, I wanna sorta, like, point that out just to sort of exclude that from the conversation. Yes, God gifts His people, and He expects His people to use those gifts for His glory and for their own benefit. Um, but that's not what this parable is talking about. This is a parable about the fact that God has entrusted the kingdom of heaven on Earth to His people.  [00:41:08] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:41:08] Tony Arsenal: And He expects His people to make use of that in a way that expands the kingdom and also in a way that does not... And this is, this is, I actually think, the main point of the parable. In a way that properly understands the nature of the king. The, the punchline or the main point of the parable here, it, just to sort of, like, I don't know, give away the ending or, like, unbury the lead, I don't know, whatever that is. The point of this parable- It's not that, like, it's a really good thing to double what God has resourced you with. The point of the parable, the reason that, just like the, um, just like it wasn't the virgins falling asleep in the last parable that was the problem because everybody fell asleep, in this instance, uh, the amount of money or the amount of return on investment that the servants produce is not the point of the parable. That's not the real difference between them. The real difference is that the former servants understood that their master had trusted them with a task and expected something of them, and the, the unfaithful, wicked, lazy servant had a total misunderstanding of who the master was- Right ... and therefore what his role as the master's servant was. That's the point of this parable, and I think, this is the last thing I'll say before I, I, I take a breath here. There's a lot of people that would look at this parable and might read some sort of works righteousness or, um, and this is more understandable and I think has a place within the Reformed tradition, although I don't necessarily hold this view. But would look at this as sort of like a theology which would, would argue that we receive some sort of enhanced rewards in heaven based on our faithfulness. There's plenty of good, faithful Reformed Bible teachers that would hold that position. I actually think whether or not that's true, this is still also not what this passage is getting at. [00:43:00] Jesse Schwamb: I, I totally agree with you there.  [00:43:02] Talents as Huge Wealth [00:43:02] Jesse Schwamb: I, I think one of the reasons that we know that is because we can look at some of these details and let the details speak to us about the magnitude in their representation, why they're given. So of course, whenever the scripture gives us detail, especially in a context like a parable, it can be helpful of cour- of course not to overanalyze them, but to respect their place in the context of the story, and that's why verse 15 I think is so important. So to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability, then he went away. Now, this, this varies slightly, but there's a lot of, I think, very common historicity here that points us to understanding, like, the talents as a unit of monetary weight, and there is some discrepancy about its exact weight. But what we can say for sure is this: that we're talking about, as I teased at the beginning, a huge sum of money. So in other words, like, this is a gift from God himself. It's a divine gift. Yeah. It's something that's not earned. It's something that's given and something that's entrusted. So in the first-century Roman world, a talent was roughly equivalent to, like, 6,000 denarii, depending on who you talk to, which would mean that a single talent represented approximately, like, 20 years on average of a laborer's wages. So the sums then here we're talking about are staggering even at the lowest one. So the five-talent servant is receiving essentially approximately equivalent of a century's wages, and the one-talent servant is receiving 20 years' worth. There's no such thing as a small gift in Christ's economy, I think is the point here, and even the least endowment is immense beyond our reckoning. Yeah. So the distribution also is deliberately unequal. It's five, one, two, and the text doesn't offer any apology for this inequality. The master distributes to each according to his ability, which as I say that, I realize that could probably be its own episode, that we could talk about what that even means. Yeah. But he is matching and entrusting to capacity, and that's not arbitrary. Of course, that's wise and personal, and even the Greek here for this idea of capacity or power suggests the master knows his servants intimately and calibrates the stewardship accordingly. But nonetheless, it proves the point you're making here, which is not just about, like, well, do you have some kind of innate ability that's above average that God has endowed you with here? That's not even what we're talking about. Again, the whole point of this is to answer the question eschatologically about what the end means and when the time is coming and what good discipleship looks like. And so in that way, we understand then these talents to be these divinely appointed and massively generous gifts of God, essentially, like you said, the stewarding of the gospel in the story of salvation itself unto his people, and then to make something of that, so to speak, by the power of the Holy Spirit that earns a return for the kingdom, that is all empowered by God, that is under the volition of the person, uh, the Christian who says, "As a disciple, it is my responsibility to steward these gifts." That is really what we're after. So we do kind of get in this place where when you take this and say, "Well, what are you doing with," let's say- your home, if you have a nice home, are you being hospitable enough? If you have, let's say, a good singing voice by talent, are you using that to make sure that you're on the, quote-unquote, "praise and worship team," is not, like, entirely wrong, but it's not right either- Yeah to use this passage- Yeah ... for that purpose. There's a bigger theme here. There is, there's a much stronger and widescale framework that God is drawing us to and examine, and it's about the stewardship of the church itself.  [00:46:30] Tony Arsenal: Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.  [00:46:31] The Foolish Servant Exposed [00:46:31] Tony Arsenal: That's really key, and this is what struck me as, as you were speaking about that, is like we see in so many of the kinda like, uh, like the chump in the parable. Like, there's- Yeah ... a lot of these parables have like a chump- Right ... where like you're looking at and you're like, nothing about what you've decided to do makes any sense. We're talking about people who've been given, in the first case, 100 years worth of, worth of wages. Right. Right? Any one of these people, and again, we're talking about a timeframe where, like, you could just take that money and run and, like, nobody's gonna find you. There's no digital trail on any of this, right? If I stole, if I stole 100 years worth of labor from my manager or from my, my employer, they would find me, right? That's not the situation we're talking about. So even the chump who decided, "I'm not gonna do anything with this," he could've just take- taken off with the money and had 20 years worth of labor. Right. Just 20 years worth of wages. Right. This is a, this is a sum of money that makes all f- all three of these servants unimaginably wealthy instantly, right? The point of this is, in part, that the final servant has no idea the amazing blessing and responsibility that he's been given. And again, I come back to this. It's not because he is dumb or because he is, um, somehow less competent in a strict sense, right? It, it's so funny to me, like, we also gloss over the fact that, like, the guy who has five talents, he's got 100 years worth of money, 100 years worth of wages. Right. And he just goes and gets 100 more. Like- Right he just goes and trades and- Right ... comes up with 100 years worth of wages that he brings back. Like, that's, in itself is, like, phenomenally, amazingly outrageous. We ran into this too with the, um, the parable of the unmerciful servant, right? We've, we've got one guy who's got this unimaginable debt, like, like, thousands of years worth of, uh, worth of wages that he could never make up, and he thinks he's gonna somehow come up with it if you just give him enough time. It's kind of like the opposite here. This guy's got this unimaginable amount of instant wealth, and he just buries it in the ground. First of all, how much... We're also talking about an era where money was a physical, entirely physical.  [00:48:53] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:48:53] Tony Arsenal: There were no, there were no digital banks. Like- No zeros and ones most of our money exists as ones and zeros in a computer program right now. Right. Like, in reality, like- Right ... my money doesn't exist. We don't have, like, a physical gold standard anymore in America. Jesse could probably s- I'm probably making dumb things up right now. No, that's that's- Like, it used- Right on to be that, like, every dollar that the United States government printed had, like, a piece of gold sitting at Fort Knox- Yes ... uh, like backing it up, but we just don't have that anymore. Most of the money that exists in our system is entirely imaginary. It's an entirely, like, made-up digital currency way before, like, Bitcoin was a thing. That's not the case in this timeframe. This dude who buried 20 years worth of money in the ground, that's a significant amount of labor in and of itself- Right ... to even be able to do that. So we're not talking about, like... And I think this is the thing we miss when we, when we read the word talents, and one, when we obscure it and we, like, we misappropriate the word talent to mean, like, abilities, 'cause it, that's a convenient, like, illustration tool. We're talking about a huge sum of probably gold or silver that this dude just buries in the ground, and then, like, digs it up when the master comes back.  [00:50:01] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:50:01] Tony Arsenal: And I think, like- When we don't realize how much money this is, we miss the force of the master's like, "You stupid, dumb, wicked, slothful servant." Like, if you had even taken this money to the bank and done the least imaginable- Yes ... effort. Exactly. Like, if you had done anything at all, like how mu- how difficult, granted more difficult back in this age than it is now, but like if you had even done something as simple requiring as little labor as possible and just brought this to the bank and let them collect interest on it, we'd still be talking about a huge return. [00:50:35] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:50:36] Tony Arsenal: And he doesn't even do that, and that's, that's the point. There's the people who do, and they gloss over this. The parable totally glosses over the amazing effort and work that it must have taken to take 100 years worth of la- of wages and turn it into 200 years worth of wages. Right. Or to take 40 years worth of wages and turn it into 80 years worth of wages. That's an amazing, probably almost miraculous return on, on investment. Whatever they did is amazing, and the parable's like, "Yeah, they did that." They just took it to the traders and they brought back five more talents. Like, it's nothing. And then this idiot, and I say idiot in like the most like, like exegetically sound, idios, like, like foolish idiot person. [00:51:20] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:51:20] Tony Arsenal: This idiot just buries it in the ground and doesn't even bother to bring it to the bank where he's gonna get some return on it. This is the picture of the fool who does not make use of the means of salvation. This is the picture of the fool who refuses to receive Christ as savior, who refuses to make use of the benefit and blessing of salvation that is available to all who will trust in Christ and turn to him. This is the same picture as the idiot virgins who didn't buy enough oil and just fell asleep when they knew that the bridegroom was coming, right? Right. It's not that they fell asleep, it's that they didn't do the most obvious, simple,

Few people have shaped environmental policy and conservation efforts in Acadiana as persistently as Harold Schoeffler. Known to many as part of the family behind Schoeffler Cadillac, Harold’s legacy extends far beyond the automobile business. For more than six decades, he has been a tireless advocate for protecting Louisiana’s natural resources, improving public policy, mentoring young people through Scouting, and encouraging citizens to become active stewards of their communities. In this wide-ranging conversation, Harold reflects on a lifetime of work that has touched everything from oil recycling and waste reduction to flood control, wildlife preservation, and public access to Louisiana’s waterways. “The Gifts of the Earth Are Public Gifts” Harold’s philosophy is rooted in a simple belief: “We have private gifts, our health and our intelligence, that we will be held accountable for. But the gifts of the earth are public gifts, and we’ll be just as accountable for that.” That conviction has guided his work for decades. Rather than simply criticizing problems, Harold has focused on finding practical solutions. One of his earliest environmental victories came in the 1970s, when he discovered that used motor oil from most Lafayette service stations was being dumped into storm drains that ultimately emptied into local waterways. At the time, 52 of Lafayette’s 54 filling stations were disposing of waste oil this way. Harold located a New Orleans recycling company willing to install storage tanks at no cost and purchase the used oil from station owners. After identifying a city fire code violation related to dumping petroleum products into storm drains, he worked with local officials to implement a citywide solution. The result? According to Harold, Lafayette became the first community in Louisiana to fully recycle used motor oil, selling it at 50 cents per gallon. “This was just money from heaven, you know.” Transforming Waste into Resources Harold’s efforts extended beyond oil recycling. He became deeply involved in helping Lafayette address mounting waste disposal challenges, particularly yard waste and sewage sludge. At a time when yard waste occupied enormous amounts of landfill space, Harold helped promote the use of tub grinders that could reduce volume by approximately 90 percent. The resulting mulch and compost products created value instead of waste. Similarly, he worked on legislation and policy changes that allowed treated sewage sludge to be safely recycled for agricultural use rather than being hauled to landfills at significant public expense. These initiatives not only reduced environmental impacts but also saved taxpayers money and created new economic opportunities. Today, Harold notes that many residents have little idea how much waste is already being recycled through these systems. Saving the Louisiana Black Bear Perhaps Harold’s most touching conservation achievement is his role in protecting the Louisiana Black Bear. In 1987, he petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to place the Louisiana Black Bear on the endangered species list. After years of advocacy and litigation, the bear was officially listed as threatened in 1992. His efforts later contributed to the protection of more than one million acres of critical habitat for the species. Harold explains that at the time he began his quest to protect the species, there may have been fewer than 300 to 400 Louisiana Black Bears remaining; yet Louisiana was continung to grant 165,000 big game hunting tags yearly before his efforts to save the black bear. His concern was never opposition to hunting itself. As an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman, he viewed conservation as ensuring that wildlife populations remain healthy enough for future generations. As he notes in our conversation, preservation of the species, not opposition to sportsmen, was always the goal. (Note: Due to recovery, the Louisiana Black Bear was officially removed from the List of Endangered and Threatened Species on March 11, 2016; however, it remains protected under Louisiana state law, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries continues to actively manage this subspecies.) The Atchafalaya Basin and Public Access Another major chapter in Harold’s work involves the Atchafalaya Basin. Over the years he has fought against practices he believed threatened the basin’s ecological health and public accessibility, including shell dredging operations and legal disputes involving public waterways. He recounts the landmark Larry Daigle case, in which a commercial fisherman faced criminal trespassing charges while fishing in waters Harold believed were public. The case ultimately became a significant legal battle involving questions of public access, navigable waterways, and property rights within the basin. Harold views the outcome as a victory not only for one fisherman but for the public’s rights throughout Louisiana’s waterways. His extensive firsthand knowledge of Louisiana’s waterways comes from decades spent hunting, fishing, scouting, and paddling through some of the state’s most remote landscapes. A Lifetime in Scouting Ask Harold what accomplishment makes him most proud, and his answer isn’t environmental litigation. It’s Scouting. For 42 years Harold was involved in the Scouts and helped guide 125 young men to the rank of Eagle Scout. Throughout our conversation, he repeatedly returns to the importance of believing in young people. “If you think they can, they can. If you think they can’t, you can’t. And that’s a lesson for parents. You know, if you’re going to have a negative attitude towards your kids, you’re going to get negative results. But if you think they can, you know, they can sense that also.” Harold shares lessons learned from serving on a military school board, where early special education programs demonstrated how expectations can profoundly affect a child’s success. Those same lessons shaped his approach to mentoring Scouts, many of whom achieved far more than others expected of them. His philosophy also extended to environmental stewardship. He often taught Scouts that if boys are taught not to litter before the age ten, they are unlikely to become litterers later in life. Changing behavior early, he argues, is one of the most effective ways to improve communities. The Power of Citizen Involvement One recurring theme throughout this conversation is Harold’s belief that ordinary citizens can solve extraordinary problems. Whether discussing flood control, environmental policy, waste management, or economic development, Harold consistently points to the value of public participation. He shares stories of public meetings where solutions emerged not from experts or consultants but from local residents willing to speak up and share ideas. For Harold, conservation has never been about politics. It’s about facts, integrity, and doing what is right for the long-term health of the community. “If they catch you in a lie one time, you’re dead.” Integrity, he says, must remain at the center of every public effort. Looking Ahead At a time when environmental issues often become politically polarized, Harold offers a refreshingly practical perspective. His message is simple: “If you pick up one piece of litter a day and all the people in town do it, you’d have no litter.” The lesson applies far beyond trash. Positive change often begins with small actions, sustained over time by people willing to care. Harold Schoeffler’s life demonstrates what can happen when one citizen decides that stewardship is not someone else’s responsibility. It’s ours. Topics Discussed Growing up in Lafayette and the Schoeffler family business Boy Scouts and mentoring 125 Eagle Scouts Recycling used motor oil in Lafayette during the 1970s Protecting the Vermilion River and local waterways Yard waste recycling and composting programs Sewage sludge recycling initiatives Flood control and watershed management The Atchafalaya Basin and public access rights The Larry Daigle case Shell dredging litigation The Louisiana Black Bear and endangered species protection Public engagement and environmental stewardship Why integrity matters in public advocacy

In this episode, we welcome Alex Boekelheide from Northville, South Dakota, a fifth-generation farmer passionate about stewardship, continuous improvement, and preparing his operation for future generations. Alex shares the story of his family farm, the responsibility that comes with carrying on a legacy, and the lessons he's learned working alongside his father while transitioning leadership responsibilities to the next generation. The conversation dives into: Growing up on a fifth-generation farm Leadership lessons learned from family and mentors Why succession planning should start earlier than most farms think The value of advisory teams and outside expertise Building a resilient operation through crop diversity Incorporating oats and cover crops into a corn-soybean rotation Soil stewardship and conservation-focused farming Drainage tile, salinity management, and improving productivity Farm marketing strategies and working with trusted advisors Technology adoption and equipment decisions The importance of transparency when preparing the next generation to farm Alex also shares how Farm4Profit episodes featuring Onshore Advisors and BOA Safra inspired him to explore opportunities that ultimately generated substantial value for his operation through R&D tax credits and fertilizer tax programs. He walks through his experience, the process, and why surrounding yourself with knowledgeable experts can help uncover opportunities many farmers overlook. Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that successful farms aren't built by knowing everything—they're built by continuously learning, asking questions, and surrounding yourself with great people. Whether you're focused on succession planning, conservation, profitability, or simply becoming a better operator, this conversation is packed with practical insights and real-world experiences from a farmer who is intentionally building for the next generation. Want Farm4Profit Merch? Custom order your favorite items today!https://farmfocused.com/farm-4profit/ Don't forget to like the podcast on all platforms and leave a review where ever you listen! Website: www.Farm4Profit.comShareable episode link: https://intro-to-farm4profit.simplecast.comEmail address: Farm4profitllc@gmail.comCall/Text: 515.207.9640Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSR8c1BrCjNDDI_Acku5XqwFollow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farm4profitllc Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Farm4ProfitLLC/Farm4Profit Media is not a financial, legal, or tax advisor. Content is provided for informational purposes only, and we serve solely as a platform for third-party opinions. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We learn now about this weekend's Forever Farmland event - connecting local farmers with the community to celebrate a special collaboration between the Argyle Brewing Company and the Agricultural Stewardship Association.The event on Sunday from Noon – 5 PM at the Beer Garden at Argyle Brewing Company in Greenwich, NY is a perfect opportunity to meet the dedicated farmers behind ASA-conserved properties, learn about vital local conservation efforts, and raise a glass to our vibrant agricultural community.

Why do some people know exercise is good for them but still struggle to move? Why can something as simple as a workout trigger emotions, fear, shame, or even tears?In this powerful conversation, Coach Alex sits down with trauma-informed health coach and author De Bolton to explore the deep connection between movement, trauma, healing, and Christian stewardship.Together they discuss:How trauma is stored in the bodyWhy movement can feel threatening for some peopleThe relationship between emotional wounds and physical healthThe disconnect between Christianity and body stewardshipWhy food has become the church's most acceptable addictionHow shame impacts our health and habitsThe difference between neglect and obsession in fitnessWhat it means to truly honor your body as God's templeHow to move from performance-based fitness to worship-based stewardshipWhy healing requires reconnecting body, mind, and spiritThis conversation is especially important for anyone who has ever felt stuck, discouraged, ashamed, disconnected from their body, or frustrated by repeated health struggles.God doesn't merely care about your spirit.He created you as a whole person.And learning to steward your body well may be one of the most overlooked aspects of discipleship today.You are loved exactly as you are.And because you are loved, your body is worth stewarding well.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction to De Bolton01:10 – Why Movement Changes Your Mood02:00 – How Trauma Gets Stored in the Body04:45 – Why Exercise Can Trigger Old Wounds07:45 – Tears, Emotions, and Physical Release08:45 – Why Christians Are Disconnected From Their Bodies11:20 – Stewardship vs. Fitness Idolatry13:15 – Is Food the Church's Most Accepted Addiction?16:00 – Why Your Body Matters to God18:20 – Where to Start If You Hate Exercise22:00 – The Power of Small Wins24:15 – The Mustard Seed Principle of Growth25:25 – How Fitness Becomes an Idol28:00 – Fitness as Worship30:15 – The Difference Between Performance and Stewardship31:00 – Shame, Healing, and Physical Health33:40 – Grace Removes Shame But Not Responsibility36:15 – The Story Behind The Embodied Beloved38:50 – Knowing God's Love vs. Embodying God's Love40:00 – Reclaim Your Temple Program42:45 – The Four Disciplines: Integrity, Grit, Growth & Awe45:20 – Why Integrity Is the Biggest Struggle46:00 – Rapid Fire Questions47:00 – Music, Movement & Motivation48:00 – Parenting Adult Children50:00 – Final Encouragement from De Bolton51:00 – Closing Prayer

What happens when a young couple has to shift from talking about dream dates, honeymoons and wedding bells, to discussing bills and bank accounts? In this transparent and real-life talk, Gaby Alessi Calatayud and her husband Christian share their experience of learning to manage their finances together—without losing their unity or peace of mind. They share why they are doing their best to learn wise strategies from the beginning - from balancing individual spending habits and setting up budgets to tackling debt and resisting the pressure to “look rich” on social media.You'll hear honest reflections on learning to merge money personalities, create open communication about spending, and keep generosity and teamwork at the core - no matter how long (or shortly) you've been married. With actionable advice and plenty of relatable moments, discover how putting trust, grace, and shared goals above the numbers on your bank account can transform how you handle money—and your marriage.If you enjoyed this episode, here's another great TFB episode on managing money and family! Money Matters S4 E10Support the showJOIN THE FAMILY BUSINESS WITH OUR NEWSLETTERSign Up for Our Family Business Newsletter and get more inside news from the Alessis + tips and strategies for a happier family! Get free access to the newsletterTEXT THE FAMILY BUSINESS DIRECTLYYou can connect with us via text to ask family questions and get updates on The Family Business! Text FAMILY to 302-524-0800CONNECT WITH THE FAMILY BUSINESSFollow Us on Instagram and FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeLeave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYListen to the Alessi sisters' daily devotional podcast My Morning DevotionalFollow Our New Podcast with Mary Alessi and her twin sister Martha MunizziWatch The Mary and Martha Show

Key Takeaways: Wealth Must Keep Moving: Wealth is not something you simply hold onto forever. Like a river, it needs care, attention, and wise management to keep growing and supporting others. Think Beyond One Generation: A strong generational mindset sees wealth as a responsibility, not just ownership. The focus is on stewardship and creating lasting value for future generations. Protect the Principles Behind Wealth: Many families lose wealth over time because later generations forget the habits and values that created it. Keeping those principles alive is essential. Stay Accountable and Keep Learning: Economic conditions change constantly. Adapting, improving skills, and taking responsibility are important for maintaining long-term success. Character Matters as Much as Money: Lasting wealth requires both financial knowledge and strong character. Teaching values, discipline, and wisdom is just as important as teaching money management.  Chapters: Timestamp Summary 0:00 Generational Wealth: Flow, Mindset, and Stewardship 8:22 Generational Wealth and the Breakdown of Financial Wisdom 12:44 Defining Self Through Journaling and Conscious Attention Management 16:18 The Illusion of Individualism and the Importance of Stewardship 20:20 Generational Accountability and Economic Challenges 23:09 Stewardship of Wealth and Character for Generational Legacy 31:15 Embrace Growth and Overcome Discomfort for Financial Success   Powered by Stone Hill Wealth Management   Social Media Handles    Follow Phillip Washington, Jr. on Instagram (@askphillip)   Subscribe to Wealth Building Made Simple newsletter https://www.wealthbuildingmadesimple.us/   Ready to turn your investing dreams into reality? Our "Wealth Building Made Simple" premium newsletter is your secret weapon. We break down investing in a way that's easy to understand, even if you're just starting out. Learn the tricks the wealthy use, discover exciting opportunities, and start building the future YOU want. Sign up now, and let's make those dreams happen!   WBMS Premium Subscription   Phillip Washington, Jr. is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Welcome to Bayside Christian Church! We are the body of Christ founded on the revelation of who Christ is and who we are in him! Join us as Pastor Matt shares more into this teaching. Feel free to reach out to us here: http://bit.ly/2y2pmIz If you have any queries or want to know more, please email info@baysidechristianchurch.com.au Or visit us at www.baysidechristianchurch.com.au

$5k a year. For 12 years. Then she sold her business.The fundraiser said, "congratulations," and changed the subject.Sixty days later, with one different question, that same donor transferred $400,000 in appreciated stock before the sale closed.Same donor. Same relationship. Different question.This week on The Intentional Fundraiser, I'm pulling back the curtain on what most major gift teams are quietly missing in 2026: asset-based gifts.Stock. DAFs. Closely held business interests. Real estate.These are not "planned giving department" conversations anymore. They are the next frontier of major gifts for nonprofits of every size. In this episode, Beyond Cash: Unlocking Asset-Based Major Gifts, I walk through:→ The donor signals that say "I'm ready for this conversation"→ Two conversation openers that stay donor-centered and advisor-friendly→ The four asset types every major gift officer should be fluent in→ Stewardship moves that turn one complex gift into long-term partnership→ The internal readiness check you can do with your CFO this weekIf cash giving in your shop feels flat, this is the door I want to open for you.Listen to this week's episode and share it with your CEO and finance lead. The fundraisers who get comfortable with complex gifts now will quietly outpace everyone else over the next three years.What's the one part of asset-based giving that still feels intimidating in your work?More from Tammy ZonkerAuthor of Calling All HeroesFounder of Fundraising TransformedPresident of Modern Institute for Charitable GivingLearn more about the Excellence in Major Gift Fundraising SeminarSubscribe to Tammy Zonker's Scaling Major Gifts newsletterConnect with Tammy Zonker on LinkedInResources: Show notes, links, and resources mentioned in this episode.Review my show: Please review my show. After you click the link, scroll to the bottom, first tap to rate with five stars, and then tap “Write a Review.” Then, let me know what you liked most about this particular episode or how you find my podcast helpful, valuable, insightful, or inspiring in some way.Privacy Policy: See Privacy Policy at https://www.fundraisingtransformed.com/policies

Which is more holy: to quietly trust God's sovereignty, or to trust God and plan intentionally for the future? It's possible to err in the extremes of either direction, so let's learn from Jesus as He tells a story about about a man who entrusts ten of his servants with his own resources, instructing them, "Engage in business until I come back." Being wise with finances, and putting to work whatever resources God has entrusted to us, is actually a healthy thing! The key is to honor Jesus as we do these things, committing our dreams, goals, and plans to Him, then acting in obedient, submitted faith.

1 Timothy 1:1-7 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss the goal of Christian teaching.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=25773The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Pastor Keren begins a new sermon series on the importance of bearing fruit and being a good steward of the gifts that the Lord blesses us with. Deuteronomy 8:18 (New Living Translation)18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth… Acts 17:25 (New International Version)25 …he himself gives everyone life ... Read More

Ben Hamilton, pastor of Del Ray Baptist ChurchSpiritual Disciplines (9): StewardshipTaught June 7, 2026

FIRST THINGS is a series about aligning our lives with what matters most. Part Two, First Loyalty: Who Gets My Loyalty?, explores the challenge of competing allegiances. You can't steward your life well when your allegiance is divided. Stewardship is about choosing the right Master—because every master demands something, and only one is worthy of […]

Fr. Xavier Sanjivi, C.Ss.R., presents a reflective session on the patriarch Abraham, focusing on his spiritual journey and the lessons it offers for modern believers.Key themes include:The Call of Abraham: The transition from Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of Canaan.Faith and Fragility: Exploring how Abraham's journey was marked by both profound trust in God and moments of human error, such as his decisions during the famine in Egypt and the birth of Ishmael.Lessons in Stewardship and Trust: Understanding the importance of patience, returning to God through prayer, and viewing wealth as a tool for blessing rather than a cause of conflict.The session emphasizes that God calls ordinary people and sustains them through their trials, reminding viewers that faith is often a "leap in the dark" guided by divine promise.

Why are so many people being drawn to homesteading right now? In today's episode, I'm sharing a more personal reflection on what I've witnessed during my 15+ years teaching homesteading and traditional skills. While many people initially come to homesteading for healthier food, self-sufficiency, or preparedness, I've noticed something deeper happening beneath the surface. Again and again, people tell me they feel called by God to this lifestyle. In this episode, I share my own story of how God called me into teaching traditional skills, why I believe more people are returning to gardening, food preservation, and self-reliance, and how stewardship, community, and faith all play a role in the modern homesteading movement. In this episode, we'll discuss: • Why homesteading continues to grow • The deeper reasons people are drawn to traditional skills • Stewardship, preparedness, and biblical wisdom • Why community matters more than isolation • The story behind our local Cowboy Church • How faith and homesteading often intersect • Upcoming events and opportunities to gather together Whether you're new to homesteading or have been living this lifestyle for years, I hope this conversation encourages you to thoughtfully consider what is drawing you to these skills and how they can serve your family, community, and faith. Resources & Links:

The post The Devil Wears Prednisone: A Women's Health Perspective on Corticosteroid Stewardship appeared first on JDDonline - Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Patience Kabwasa, Executive Director of Food to Power. They discuss how the organization is reclaiming land stewardship practices and building solutions with community, Colorado's recent policy wins to strengthen food access for children, and how the organization is responding to setbacks created by federal funding cuts, Plus, the US Department of Agriculture proposes closure of bee research facilities, food insecurity in the U.S. rises beyond COVID rates, the Colorado River reaches a historic low, dryland farmers lead climate resiliency, and reflections from FIMCON food as medicine gathering.  While you're listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to "Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg" wherever you consume your podcasts.

Many retirees spend decades building equity in their homes. But could that equity become a wise tool for stewardship in the next season of life? For many people, the words reverse mortgage raise immediate concerns. Some of those concerns come from outdated information, past abuses, or even a sense of guilt about taking on debt later in life. But is it possible that some retirees have dismissed this option too quickly? Harlan Accola, who leads the reverse mortgage team at Movement Mortgage, joined the show today to help separate myth from reality and explain how today's reverse mortgages may fit into a broader financial plan for some homeowners. Why Reverse Mortgages Have a Stigma Reverse mortgages have carried a strong stigma for years, and according to Accola, some of that reputation was deserved. In the past, there were bad products, bad actors, weak regulation, and not enough consumer protections. Those stories have been passed down through families, churches, and communities, shaping the way many people think about reverse mortgages today. But Accola says today's reverse mortgages are very different, especially when handled by qualified professionals and governed by stronger safeguards. Much of the fear surrounding reverse mortgages is based on outdated information. Many people assume that taking out a reverse mortgage means losing ownership of their home. But that is not how the product works. A reverse mortgage is simply a lien on the property. The homeowner does not lose ownership of the home, and monthly payments are not required. Instead, the loan is repaid later, usually when the borrower sells the home, moves out, or passes away. That distinction matters because many retirees may be making decisions based on fear rather than accurate information. Is All Debt Bad Debt? Another common concern is that reverse mortgages are simply “bad debt.” But Accola points out that not all debt functions the same way. Most people would not have been able to build wealth through homeownership if they had waited until they could pay for their first house in cash. A traditional mortgage often allows families to purchase a home, build equity, and create long-term stability. Of course, some debt can be dangerous. Credit card debt, high-interest loans, and unnecessary consumer debt can quickly become burdensome. Proverbs 22:7 reminds us, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” That warning should lead us to approach debt with humility and caution. But a reverse mortgage is different from many other forms of debt because it does not require mandatory monthly payments. That feature may provide flexibility for retirees who are trying to manage cash flow, reduce pressure on investment accounts, or remain in their homes without selling. This does not mean a reverse mortgage is right for everyone. It simply means the question should not be answered by fear or assumptions alone. The better question is whether this tool serves wise stewardship in a specific family's situation. Why Some Christians Feel Guilty For many believers, the hesitation is not only financial—it is spiritual. Some Christians have heard the message that being debt-free automatically makes someone more faithful or responsible. While there is great wisdom in eliminating unnecessary debt, that does not mean every form of debt is morally the same. Accola notes that many retirees still carry mortgage debt into retirement. In fact, many homeowners reach retirement age without having paid off their homes entirely. Others may own their homes but need additional income flexibility. In those situations, shame can become a barrier to wisdom. A retiree may think, “I should have done better,” or “I must not be faithful if I still have a mortgage.” But Scripture does not call us to make financial decisions out of guilt. It calls us to wisdom, prayer, counsel, and trust in God. Stewardship is not about maintaining the appearance of financial success. It is about faithfully managing what God has entrusted to us in this season. For some families, using home equity may be a prudent option. For others, it may not be. But either way, the decision should be made with clarity, not shame. A Tool, Not a One-Size-Fits-All Solution A reverse mortgage should never be treated as a magic solution. It is a financial tool, and like any tool, it can be used wisely or unwisely. For some retirees, it may create breathing room in the budget. It may help them stay in their home. It may reduce the need to sell investments during a market downturn. It may also allow them to preserve other assets for longer. But there are also important considerations. Borrowers need to understand the costs, long-term implications, effect on heirs, and responsibilities that remain with the homeowner, such as taxes, insurance, and maintenance. That is why wise counsel is essential. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” A reverse mortgage decision should involve qualified professionals, trusted family members, and careful prayer. It should also be considered as part of a broader retirement plan, not in isolation. Don't Decide Based on Fear or Rumors Accola's encouragement to listeners was simple: do not make financial decisions based on fear, rumors, or guilt. Instead, get accurate information. Talk with people you trust. Seek guidance from professionals who understand how reverse mortgages work today. And when appropriate, involve your family so they understand your thinking and your goals. A reverse mortgage is not right for everyone. But for some retirees, it may be a helpful part of a broader stewardship strategy. The key is understanding your options. Faithful stewardship does not mean refusing to consider every financial tool. It means asking wise questions, seeking trustworthy counsel, and making decisions that help you manage God's resources with humility and care. For homeowners in retirement, that may include taking a fresh look at home equity—not as a source of security, but as one possible tool to support faithful living in the next season. Learn More If you'd like to learn more about whether a reverse mortgage could be a wise option for your situation, visit FaithFi.com/Movement. Movement Mortgage serves families in all 50 states and can help you understand how today's reverse mortgages work, what safeguards are in place, and whether this tool may fit into your broader financial plan. That's FaithFi.com/Movement. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: I'm 31 and own five properties. I've renovated some myself and built significant equity, but most of my cash is tied up in the homes. Should I sell some properties to free up capital, or hold them, do cash-out refinances, rent them out, and benefit from appreciation and loan paydown? How should I decide between flipping and becoming a landlord? I'm 64 and still working. Because of our income, my wife and I are limited in how much we can contribute to Roth IRAs. I've heard about the backdoor Roth strategy. How does that work, and can the nondeductible IRA contribution go into an existing traditional IRA, or should it be a separate account? I'm trying to pay down my mortgage and a small loan faster. Is it better to make small extra principal payments each month or one larger principal payment once a year? Does it make much difference? I'm 72 and had about $31,000 in credit card debt. After years of disability and financial strain, I called Christian Credit Counselors and started a debt management plan. Now I'm on track to be debt-free in five years, have more usable income each month, and feel encouraged enough to give again. Is it normal to feel this much relief after starting a plan? I'm 61, married, and planning to retire at 67. I have an old employee trust fund with about $8,378 earning 7.5%, plus a traditional IRA with about $3,823. My husband thinks I should roll the trust fund into my IRA. Is that a good idea, especially since it's currently earning 7.5%? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Christian Credit Counselors Movement Mortgage Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Could the equity in our home become a wise means for stewardship in the next season of life? For many, the words, “reverse mortgage” raise immediate concerns—sometimes because of outdated information, fear, or even guilt. But is it possible we’ve dismissed this tool too quickly? On the next Faith & Finance Live, Harlan Accola joins Rob West to help separate myth from reality. Then, it’s on to calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live— biblical wisdom for your financial decisions—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio. Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio. To join our team of supporters, click here.To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.To learn more about Rob West, click here.To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Kevin Clegg, CEO of Clegg Auto, shares his journey of transitioning his family's auto shops into the first employee ownership trust holding company in the U.S., exploring how the care factor drives meaningful, long-term success. We discuss transitioning an exit strategy into a daily operating model, guiding employees to own their own lives before owning a company, and replacing traditional management with a 200% accountability culture, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact. Key Takeaways Transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) protects an organization’s mission in perpetuity, ensuring the business remains evergreen and cannot be sold again. True company ownership requires employees to first own their lives and careers by identifying what they care about most and aligning their vocational track with those values. Traditional management can be replaced by a 200% accountability model where team members are 100% committed to their roles and 100% committed to keeping their peers accountable through peer coaching. Resources Mentioned Visit Clegg Auto at https://cleggauto.com/ Follow Kevin on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-clegg-59655a/ Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn: Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a sharp, inquisitive 14-year-old interviewer starts asking questions most adults never think to ask?In this conversation with Rithvik Raya, Coach Alex dives deep into some of the biggest questions surrounding health, fitness, resilience, agency, suffering, faith, and human potential.Together they explore:Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and chronic painWhy modern abundance may be making us physically and mentally weakerThe science of adaptation and resilienceWhy "calories in, calories out" oversimplifies human biologyThe surprising science behind hope molecules and exerciseWhy coaching and community outperform diets and algorithmsThe role of agency in personal transformationWhat fitness has to do with faith, purpose, and stewardshipHow modern culture encourages victimhood—and how to reclaim responsibilityWhy intensity isn't always the answerThe difference between starting a fitness journey and becoming the kind of person who finishes itThis is one of the most thoughtful and wide-ranging conversations I've had in a long time. Rithvik asked questions that forced me to think carefully about what I actually believe and why.If you've ever wondered how fitness connects to psychology, theology, resilience, leadership, and the pursuit of a meaningful life, this conversation is for you.Life is hard.The question isn't whether you'll face difficulty.The question is:What kind of hard will you choose?⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction01:06 – Living With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome05:15 – Why Modern Comfort May Be Making Us Weak08:42 – Choosing Your Hard10:40 – Childhood Trauma, Science & Finding Truth13:05 – Why Coach Alex Built Faithful Fitness16:45 – The Fitness Industry's Biggest Problem17:05 – Calories In, Calories Out? Not So Fast21:28 – Hope Molecules, Myokines & Exercise Science25:00 – What Is Agency?27:52 – Can Agency Survive the Algorithm Age?29:30 – Why Coaching & Community Beat Every Diet31:57 – The Science Behind SpyFit35:37 – Leadership, Responsibility & Personal Agency38:47 – Is Fitness Really About Intentional Living?40:02 – Is There A Moral Dimension To Fitness?45:32 – Pride, Gluttony, Shame & Stewardship48:21 – The Problem With Victimhood Culture50:38 – Why Intensity Is Overrated53:01 – How the Body Actually Adapts57:31 – Better Daily, Comparison & Following Christ01:01:12 – Social Media, Movement & Human Flourishing01:02:29 – Why People Really Get In Shape01:05:08 – Coaching, Identity & Freedom01:06:46 – Rapid Fire Round01:10:15 – Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden continue their Genesis series with a conversation that feels especially relevant in today's world: what does it actually mean to "steward the earth" as a Christian family?  Starting in Genesis 1:28, Rachael and Melissa unpack the idea of dominion—not as domination or destruction, but as thoughtful care, cultivation, and responsibility. Using the simple but powerful analogy of gardening, Rachael paints a picture of stewardship as tending, nurturing, and bringing order to what God has created. It's a perspective shift that invites both moms and daughters to see the environment not as a burden to fix, but as a gift to faithfully manage.  As cultural conversations around climate and environmental responsibility grow louder, this episode offers a grounded, Biblical response. Melissa introduces the concept of climate activism and acknowledges the good intentions behind it, while also pointing listeners back to a greater truth: this earth is a temporary home, and our ultimate hope is anchored in God's promise of a new heaven and a new earth. That hope doesn't lead to neglect—it leads to peace-filled, purposeful action.  Through the Raising Godly Girls Minute, Patti Garibay reminds us that God works through ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary plan. And that includes how we care for His creation. When we teach our girls to observe the world around them—really see it—we begin cultivating hearts that appreciate, respect, and responsibly steward what God has made.  This episode is filled with practical, doable ways to live this out as a family—from picking up trash at a local park to planting a garden to simply slowing down and noticing God's handiwork. Because when girls learn to love creation, they naturally begin to care for it.  Most importantly, this conversation helps parents anchor environmental stewardship in truth—not fear. We are not responsible for saving the world. We are called to faithfully care for what God has entrusted to us, trusting Him with the outcome.    Three Things to Remember:  Focus on what you can do—small, hands-on actions help combat overwhelm and build joyful responsibility.   Stewardship is about cultivating and caring for God's creation, not controlling it.   Anchor your perspective in eternity—the God who created the world is the One who will restore it.     Scriptures Referenced:  Genesis 1–2   Genesis 1:28   Revelation 21–22    Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.   Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.      

Exploring Heartbreak, Resilience, and Spirituality: A Personal JourneyThis episode dives into raw and honest reflections on heartbreak, personal growth, spirituality, and the resilience that shapes us. Join the host as she shares deeply personal stories, insights on societal boundaries, and spiritual practices that help ground and empower her.Key Topics:The lasting impact of friendship heartbreaks and processing griefThe significance of ancestral connection and spiritual groundingReflections on aging, generational resilience, and longevityThe importance of bodily autonomy, boundaries, and respecting consentThe role of spirituality, ancestor reverence, and black spirituality practicesCritique of societal oppression, patriarchy, and control mechanismsPersonal insights on motherhood, identity, and self-acceptanceThe power of community, self-care, and radical authenticityHow science, history, and social constructs influence gender and identityThe importance of compassion and collective responsibility in humanityTimestamps:00:00 - Heartbreak from lost friendships and COVID-related grief00:39 - Personal scars from past relationships and limerence01:20 - Friendship heartbreak and the healing process01:43 - Reconciliation and the impact of loss02:10 - The significance of therapy and vulnerability02:57 - Nostalgic reflections on identity and self-expression03:26 - Celebrating Missy Elliott and Black women pioneers03:54 - The calming ritual of breathing and creative expression04:28 - Personal struggles, generational trauma, and self-awareness05:08 - Thoughts on millennial longevity and midlife reflections05:37 - Podcast promotion and community building06:05 - Intentions for black spirituality and ancestor connection06:40 - The presence of ancestors and spiritual gratitude07:17 - Living through civil rights history and ancestral resilience07:55 - Reflection on past personal growth and authenticity08:24 - Hope and faith for change08:35 - Honoring a memory through music and legacy09:05 - Building a digital community and legacy09:33 - The desire for motherhood and life's possibilities10:01 - The profound love for her mother and ancestral connection10:31 - Personal style and aging gracefully10:40 - Advice to young people about balancing fun and dreams11:07 - The biological strength of women and reproductive freedom11:31 - Challenging societal norms and oppressive boundaries12:02 - Women's natural resilience and fighting patriarchy12:27 - The impact of trauma on cellular aging and health13:10 - Boundaries for consent and autonomy for all beings14:11 - The need to respect individual choices and human rights14:40 - The importance of boundaries and limits for mutual respect15:05 - Ending the cycle of control through communication and compassion15:47 - Humanity's responsibility to care for each other and the Earth16:12 - Spiritual grounding and connecting with ancestors16:41 - The vastness of existence and human potential17:09 - Critique of societal value based on material wealth17:34 - The scientific and spiritual origins of women as creators17:50 - Reclaiming female power and gender identities18:19 - The importance of consent and respectful intimacy18:52 - Stewardship over humanity and the universe19:20 - The promotion of the host's podcast and community engagementResources & Links:Cosigns and Tangents Podcast

Larry Overton is the Founder & Director of Overton Estates in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Overton Estates stands on land that has remained in the same family for more than a century. This land was not inherited casually — it was earned through determination, sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in ownership, education, and community. Overton Estates is not preserved as a relic of the past — it is activated as a living legacy. Horses, land stewardship, youth engagement, and community gatherings all serve a larger purpose: honoring where we come from while creating space for what's next. Today, Overton Estates encompasses more than three hundred acres of land.Larry has transformed a section of his family's property into an equestrian sanctuary, offering trail rides, horsemanship classes, and clinic.

Dr. Mario Espinoza-Kulick speaks with Becca Lucas Thomas of the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe to discuss what recent developments means for Indigenous land stewardship, and how tribal leadership continues to shape environmental protection, cultural revitalization, and Land Back movements on the Central Coast.Listen live Thursdays at 1 on KCBX

The Disciples Corner

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On this episode of American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan (www.eastleighfarm.com)  welcomes Helen Raleigh of Story Hill Farm in Delaware to discuss her remarkable journey from pollinator conservation advocate to regenerative farmer and heritage cattle breeder.Helen shares how her passion for protecting pollinators led her to embrace farming practices that prioritize biodiversity, soil health, and environmental stewardship. She explains the challenges posed by pollinator decline and the importance of creating healthy ecosystems that support bees, butterflies, and other essential species.The conversation also explores the role of heritage breed cattle in preserving genetic diversity and building resilient livestock populations.Helen discusses how rotational grazing and regenerative agriculture practices improve pasture health, strengthen ecosystems, and contribute to more sustainable food production. In addition, she shares insights into her unique salt-farming operation on Delaware's coastal land and how it complements her broader commitment to responsible land management. Throughout the episode, Helen highlights the importance of thoughtful stewardship, biodiversity, and innovative farming practices that help ensure the long-term health and productivity of the land for future generations. For more on the American Family Farmer…Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.comSocial Media: @GoodDayNetworks

Our guest on the podcast today is Don Phillips. Don is a managing director for Morningstar. He joined the company in 1986 as its first mutual fund analyst and soon became editor of the flagship print publication Morningstar Mutual Funds, establishing the editorial voice for which the company is best known. He helped to develop the Morningstar Style Box, the Morningstar Rating, and other distinctive proprietary Morningstar innovations that have become industry standards. Don has served in a variety of leadership roles at Morningstar, most recently head of global research, before paring back his schedule to take on a part-time nonmanagement role. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a master's degree from the University of Chicago. Episode Highlights 00:01:57 Viewing Investing From 100,000 Feet Up 00:08:20 The Role of the Manager, From Salesmanship to Stewardship 00:11:18 What Indexing and AI Make Easier—and What They Risk 00:17:50 Private Credit and Private Equity Risks for Retail Investors 00:28:01 Finding the Unmet Needs in Asset Management 00:35:47 Fixed-Income Funds as the Industry's Achilles' Heel 00:43:42 The Value of a Liberal Arts Education and the Power of Storytelling More From Morningstar Morningstar's Why Don Phillips: We're All in the Behavior Modification Business Private Equity Funds Step Into the Spotlight If you have a comment or a guest idea, please email us at TheLongView@Morningstar.com. Follow Christine Benz (@christine_benz) and Ben Johnson (@MstarBenJohnson) on X, and Christine Benz, Amy Arnott, and Ben Johnson on LinkedIn. Visit Morningstar.com for new research and insights from Christine, Ben, and Amy. Subscribe to Christine's weekly newsletter, Improving Your Finances. If you want more Morningstar podcasts, check out The Morning Filter and Investing Insights. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are anxious thoughts stealing your peace? Do you find yourself trapped in a cycle of worry, perfectionism, or rigid control—sometimes without even realizing it? You're not alone, and you don't have to face this struggle in silence. In this episode, the conversation dives deep into the pervasive reality of anxiety—what it feels like, why so many of us miss the signs, and how faith intersects with mental health. Nichole Suvar shares her own journey, from childhood panic attacks no one could name, to adulthood struggles with shame, perfectionism, and even suicidal thoughts. Hear how finally receiving a diagnosis for anxiety and depression brought relief, clarity, and a path to healing—and how opening up about her struggles helped others around her do the same. A key theme that emerged was how many in our generation grew up lacking language for anxiety ("just calm down" or "don't worry" was the advice), while younger generations often recognize these feelings sooner. The discussion explores practical steps for those overwhelmed by worry—from identifying anxious patterns hiding in everyday life, to learning how to relinquish false control and invite God into the struggle. One concept discussed is the illusion that peace can be earned through achieving the "perfect" body, success, or image. Instead, lasting peace is something we cultivate—not manufacture—by returning to God's original design and practicing true stewardship, not unhealthy control (18:48). If you've ever felt ashamed of your anxiety, doubted your faith because of your mental health battles, or wondered when worry crosses the line into something more serious, this episode will meet you with wisdom, compassion, and hope. You'll come away with fresh insight, tangible tools for daily surrender, and the freeing reminder: You don’t have to hold it all together. Listen in to discover: How to spot hidden anxiety—even if you think it’s “just your personality” The practical differences between worry, concern, and clinical anxiety Why control feels soothing, but never truly delivers peace What “cultivating Eden” looks like in a modern world Why God’s peace isn’t achieved, but received—and how to start seeking it today Connect with Nichole Suvar: Website: livewithintent.org Instagram: @nicolejsuvar Book: I Don’t Have to Hold It All Together: Cultivating the Peace of Eden When Feeling Overwhelmed (Amazon affiliate link: Tiny portion of your purchase goes to support Compared to Who? ministry.) If you are ready to release shame, deepen your faith, and discover a new way to walk through anxiety, hit play now. Ready to feel less anxiety around your body image and food issues? Join the next 40-Day Journey which starts June 3rd. Learn more here: https://www.improvebodyimage.com/40-day-challenge Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Work is not merely a way to make a living. It is also one of the primary ways we love our neighbors. Whether you lead a company, teach a class, manage a home, serve in your church, care for children, volunteer in your community, or invest resources for the future, God has entrusted you with influence. That influence is not accidental. It is part of your stewardship. We often think of stewardship in financial terms—and rightly so. But God has given us more than money to steward. He has also entrusted us with skills, relationships, opportunities, knowledge, experience, and influence. Dr. Amy Sherman has spent years helping Christians see their daily work as a means of seeking the common good and participating in God's redemptive mission in the world. She calls this vocational stewardship—the faithful use of our work and influence to reflect God's character, serve others, and contribute to the flourishing of the world around us. What Is Vocational Stewardship? Vocational stewardship begins with the recognition that our work is a gift from God. He has given each of us certain abilities, opportunities, networks, and positions of influence. Some of those gifts are expressed through paid employment. Others are expressed through volunteering, homemaking, caregiving, mentoring, leadership, or service. In every case, the question is the same: How can I use what God has entrusted to me for His purposes? Our work is not simply a platform for earning income. It is a platform for reflecting the kingdom of God. It is one of the places where discipleship becomes visible. That means vocational stewardship is not limited to pastors, missionaries, or people in explicitly ministry-related roles. It applies to business owners, teachers, nurses, engineers, artists, parents, retirees, tradespeople, administrators, and everyone else seeking to serve God faithfully where He has placed them. Wherever we are, God invites us to ask: How can my work help others experience something of His goodness, justice, beauty, compassion, and care? More Than Integrity at Work Faithful work certainly includes character. Christians should be honest, dependable, compassionate, and hardworking. We should do our work with integrity, humility, and excellence. But vocational stewardship presses us to go a step further. It asks us not only to consider how we do our work, but also what our work contributes. What does my work make possible for others?  How does it affect employees, customers, clients, families, communities, or creation?  Does it contribute to healing, order, beauty, justice, provision, or human flourishing? Does it help people experience a small glimpse of what God intends for His world? These questions help us see work as part of God's larger redemptive purposes. A Foretaste of God's Kingdom Scripture gives us a beautiful picture of the future God is bringing about—a renewed creation where there is no more suffering, corruption, injustice, or death. God's kingdom will be marked by peace, wholeness, abundance, community, intimacy with Him, and restored relationships. Vocational stewardship asks: How can my work today offer others a small foretaste of that coming reality? That may sound lofty, but it can become very practical. A business owner might create flexible schedules for employees who are single parents, allowing them to care well for their children. An architect might help clients choose safer building materials and energy-efficient designs that promote health and care for creation. A teacher might create a classroom where students feel seen, challenged, and encouraged. A manager might cultivate a workplace marked by fairness, dignity, and trust. These are not small things. They are glimpses of God's kingdom breaking into ordinary places through ordinary faithfulness. Every Vocation Matters You may be working full-time, raising children at home, caring for aging parents, leading a company, serving in retirement, or volunteering behind the scenes. Whatever your situation, you have been entrusted with something. You have skills, wisdom, relationships, experience, and influence. Vocational stewardship is not about having a certain title. It is about asking, “Where has God placed me, and how can I use what He has given me to serve others?” That question can change the way we see daily life. Work becomes more than a task list. Leadership becomes more than authority. Parenting becomes more than a responsibility. Retirement becomes more than leisure. Investing becomes more than preparation for the future. All of life becomes an opportunity to reflect Christ. Investing as Vocational Stewardship Vocational stewardship also affects the way we think about money—especially investing. Many people view investing primarily as a way to grow wealth and prepare for the future. Those are legitimate concerns. Wise financial planning is part of good stewardship. But investing is also about deploying capital into companies that shape communities, culture, and the marketplace. When we invest, we are helping determine which companies grow and thrive. That means Christians can ask deeper questions about what their investments support. What does this company produce? How does it treat employees? Does it contribute to the well-being of communities? Does it view profit as a means of serving people, or as the ultimate goal? These questions do not eliminate the need for wise financial analysis. But they do remind us that investing is not morally neutral. Our financial decisions can reflect what we value and whom we seek to serve. For someone new to this idea, the first step is simple: become more aware of what you own. Look at the companies represented in your portfolio. Over time, consider whether your investments align with your values and contribute to the kind of world you believe honors God. Work as a Place of Discipleship God deeply cares about our work. Since we spend so much of our lives working, our discipleship must show up there, too. Our workplaces, homes, investments, and communities are not separate from our faith. They are places where we are formed into the image of Christ and where we can embody the good news of the gospel. That does not mean every workday will feel spiritually significant. Much of faithful stewardship looks ordinary: answering emails, making decisions, serving customers, preparing meals, managing employees, helping a neighbor, or showing up with patience when the work is hard. Every act of honesty, compassion, creativity, courage, justice, and service can become a way of reflecting God's character. Faithfulness Where God Has Placed You Your work matters to God. He has placed you where you are for a reason, and He has given you work to do—not only for your provision, but also for the good of others. Vocational stewardship invites us to see our influence differently. Instead of asking only, “What can I earn?” we begin asking, “How can I serve?” Instead of viewing work only as a source of income, we begin to see it as a calling to love our neighbors. And as we do, even our ordinary work can become a glimpse of the world God is making new. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: My father-in-law has EE savings bonds that matured in 2023 and are no longer earning interest. Because he has a substantial income, he's considering giving us the bonds so we can cash them in and take on the tax liability instead. Is that allowed, and is it the best way to handle the bonds given his income and tax situation? My company is allowing us to move some 401(k) funds to private investment firms. I have about $1.1 million in my 401(k), and my advisor would charge around 1.99% to manage the funds. Would it be wise to move part of the money to my advisor, or should I keep it in the current 401(k) funds? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good by Amy L. Sherman Agents of Flourishing: Pursuing Shalom in Every Corner of Society by Amy L. Sherman Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Our work is not just a way to make a living. It’s also a way to love our neighbor. Whether we’re leading a company, teaching a class, managing a home, or serving our community, God has entrusted us with influence. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Dr. Amy Sherman explain vocational stewardship and how our work can contribute to the flourishing of others. Then, it’s on to calls. That’s Faith and Finance Live . . . biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio. Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio. To join our team of supporters, click here.To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.To learn more about Rob West, click here.To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:In this special Lean Solutions Summit episode, Patrick Adams sits down with keynote speakers Richard Sheridan, Joe Dyer, and Jason Schroeder to discuss the summit theme: Better Together: People Plus Innovation.The conversation explores the growing role of AI, automation, and technology in today's organizations while emphasizing that sustainable success still depends on people, leadership, and culture. Each guest shares their perspective on innovation, explaining why human-centered leadership, respect for people, and continuous learning remain critical regardless of technological advancements.You'll hear insights on creating joyful workplace cultures, developing a stewardship mindset, and building organizations rooted in respect and stability. The speakers also discuss the importance of reducing fear during times of change, preparing future leaders, and creating environments where people can thrive alongside innovation.If you're curious about the future of leadership, Lean thinking, and how organizations can embrace innovation without losing their focus on people, this episode offers a powerful preview of the ideas and conversations that will take center stage at the Lean Solutions Summit.Key Takeaways:1. Innovation should enhance people—not replace them2. Great leadership requires stewardship, humility, and a commitment to developing others3. Respect, stability, and psychological safety are essential foundations for continuous improvement4. The future belongs to organizations that successfully combine technology, innovation, and human-centered leadershipLinks: Lean Solutions Summit Lean Solutions Website

In this episode, Nathan Stuck sits down with Tara Jenkins, founder of Conscious Revolution, to discuss her 25-year journey through the "belly of the beast" in corporate HR. Tara shares her transition from a high-stakes executive to a "recovering HR person" who now helps businesses build cultures of dignity and transparency. They explore the systemic issues of "supremacy culture," the vulnerability of leaving the corporate inner circle, and why the B Corp community is vital for leaders looking to reconnect the head and the heart of their business. RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE Learn about Consvious Revolution at https://www.consciousrevolution.com/ Follow Conscious Revolution on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/conscious-revolution/ Follow Tara on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-jenkins/ Learn about B Local Georgia at https://blocalgeorgia.com/ Learn about Profitable Purpose Consulting at https://www.profitablepurposeconsulting.com/ CREDITS Theme Music

Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals.  On today's episode, we are back in the studio with Carter Amundsen. We discuss: Land ownership rarely happens when timing feels perfect. Proximity to home can outweigh acreage size. First-time buyers often overestimate how ready they need to be. State foresters are an underutilized resource. Habitat improvements should follow a long-term plan. Section 180 deductions can create significant tax savings. EQIP isn't the only conservation funding option. Access routes often matter more than stand locations. Land ownership creates value beyond financial returns. Stewardship becomes addictive once you start improving habitat. And so much more! Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them! - Buck Land Funding: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -OnX:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Latitude Outdoors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.latitudeoutdoors.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Whitetail Master Academy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Use code '⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOFER' to save 10% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theprairiefarm.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Massive potential tax savings: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASMLABS.Net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Stewardship and Mission – September 12, 2026 by Percy Harrold

Send us Fan MailIn this thought-provoking episode of the Profitable Steward Podcast, Jared sits down with Joel Hollingsworth of Smoke River Ranch to explore regenerative ranching, entrepreneurship, faith, and the future of rural America. Joel shares his remarkable journey from starting with a $1-per-year lease and a handful of cattle to building a rapidly growing regenerative ranch through an innovative herd-share model that connects families directly to food production and land stewardship.Together, they discuss some of the biggest challenges facing agriculture today, including land access, generational succession, government regulation, profitability, rural community decline, and the opportunities and risks presented by emerging technologies. Joel offers a candid perspective on what it takes to build resilient businesses, restore local food systems, and create pathways for the next generation of farmers and ranchers.Key Takeaways:✅ Why community—not individualism—is the key to revitalizing agriculture.✅ How Joel's herd-share model enables families to participate directly in regenerative ranching.✅ The barriers young farmers face when accessing land, capital, and opportunity.✅ How ultra-high-density grazing can improve soil health, resilience, and profitability.✅ Why stewardship, leadership, and mentorship are critical to rebuilding rural communities.✅ The intersection of faith, entrepreneurship, and regenerative agriculture.✅ How innovative agricultural models can challenge outdated systems and create new opportunities.Joel is currently facing a legal battle related to his herd-share model after Oklahoma regulators launched an investigation into whether the program constitutes an unregistered security. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for herd-share programs, local food systems, and agricultural innovation across the United States.Whether you're a farmer, rancher, entrepreneur, or someone passionate about the future of food and rural communities, this conversation offers valuable insights, practical lessons, and a hopeful vision for what's possible when stewardship and profitability work hand in hand.Resources: * Support Joel's fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/protecting-herdshares-local-food-rights* Joel's article, Soil and Money: https://www.theamericantribune.news/p/soil-and-money* Smoke River Ranch article, The American Restoration: Fixing Agriculture in America: https://www.smokeriverranch.com/the-american-restoration-fixing-agriculture-in-america* Recommended video: https://youtu.be/V8MwWArJ1mM?si=b3ujVnhIfnisyPfqJump over to YouTube to catch the video of this and all podcast episodes.https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpLUbiwmZtkszQAjdtlO8ZQiJjgrYGr1x

The future of hunting depends on those who show up. Nate Serlin shows up. Just a few years after harvesting his very first deer, Nate found himself leading a collegiate chapter of Ducks Unlimited.Despite having no prior experience working in professional conservation, Nate's leadership resulted in huge success. In addition to permanently protecting critical wetland habitat, his collegiate chapter of DU raised an impressive sum of money. That exposure to the world of protecting wild places and the activities he loves inspired Nate to pursue a career in hunting and fishing advocacy. In this episode of the Ahí Va podcast, Nate Serlin and Jesse Deubel discuss a variety of hunting and fishing issues.Having worked on sporting policies around the country, Nate provides an important national perspective. This conversation provides a lot of food for thought.Enjoy the listen! For more info:Nate's InstagramWESTERN SKIES STRATEGIESNMWF Website

Send us Fan MailWhat if generosity has less to do with your bank account and more to do with your heart? Paul points to a group of struggling believers whose joy overflowed into radical generosity, revealing a powerful truth: when grace takes hold of a life, everything changes. HOME | PLAN YOUR VISIT | BLOG | DIGITAL BULLETIN

This week on Cultivating Place, public gardens as living classrooms, the quiet power of trees in city life, and how tending landscapes can cultivate resilience, curiosity, and belonging. Host Abra Lee is in conversation with Brent “Fig” Figlestahler, horticulturist, landscape architect, educator, and devoted steward of public green spaces from the cultivated collections and urban woodlands of Cylburn Arboretum Friends, to classrooms, community gardens, and neighborhoods across the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Fig shows what it means to care deeply for plants — and for the people and places connected to them. Listen in! Cultivating Place now has a donate button! We thank you for listening over the years, and we hope you'll continue to support Cultivating Place. We can't thank you enough for making it possible for this young program to grow and engage in even more conversations like these. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud and iTunes. To read more and for many more photos, please visit www.cultivatingplace.com. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF Brent Figlestahler, All Rights Reserved.

Watch the free first hour of today's show on YouTube: here Get a free trial of THC+ with no credit card required: https://www.thehighersidechats.com/plus-tv-trial/ Become a member for the 2 hour extended cut & 15 years of archived content: Subscribe via the THC website: http://thehighersidechats.com/plus-membership Full Plus archive. Dedicated RSS feed. All THC, live shows, and […] The post Joel Salatin | Food Supply Problems, The MAHA Review, & Better Stewardship appeared first on The Higherside Chats.