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What happens when years of unimaginable suffering don't weaken your faith—but deepen it?In this powerful episode of the Rooted in Christ Podcast, Eric sits down with author, apologist, and homesteader David Libby to discuss one of Christianity's most difficult questions: Why does God allow suffering?Drawing from his family's 15-year battle with chronic illness, David shares how watching his wife and daughters suffer transformed his understanding of prayer, leadership, and what it truly means to trust God's sovereignty. Together, Eric and David explore how suffering can refine our faith, strengthen our relationship with Christ, and prepare us to glorify God in life's darkest seasons.They also discuss the importance of biblical literacy, Christian apologetics, the role of sanctification, and why believers can confidently trust God's goodness—even when they don't understand His plans.In this episode, you'll discover:Why suffering is often God's tool for spiritual growthHow David's prayer life was radically transformed through hardshipThe difference between knowing about God and truly knowing HimBiblical perspectives on pain, trials, and God's sovereigntyThe importance of Christian apologetics in today's cultureHow to respond when life doesn't make sensePractical encouragement for anyone walking through sufferingWhether you're facing trials yourself or looking to strengthen your faith, this conversation offers biblical wisdom, hope, and encouragement rooted in Scripture.Connect with David Libby:Email: DavidLibby87@gmail.comIf this episode encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share the Rooted in Christ Podcast. Your support helps us continue sharing Christ-centered conversations that point people to the hope found in Jesus.#RootedInChrist #ChristianPodcast #DavidLibby #Suffering #Faith #GodsSovereignty #ChristianApologetics #BiblicalTruth #Prayer #TrustGod #JesusChrist #ChristianLiving #HopeInChrist---Want to be a guest on Rooted In Christ? Send Eric Stephens a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1759833790503730c0e0ceb0e
Most things that matter are difficult. Yet, when the Lord has called us to the work, He will provide the grace and strength to accomplish it. Today we turn to Ezekiel 2 & 3 and we'll see that Ezekiel's calling was difficult, but it wasn't supposed to be done in his own strength, but the Lord's. Join us for another key study in a Key Chapter of God's Word! Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.
Send us Fan Mail“So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:3-6).Freshly written and sent out immediately "morning by morning" from the morning prayer time of Tommy Hays each day.God bless you and you have a great day!—Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministrieshttp://messiah-ministries.org
In this message from Acts 18, we see how God strengthens weary servants so they can strengthen others. Through Paul, Priscilla, Aquila, Timothy, Silas, and Apollos, we are reminded that a healthy church is built through mutual encouragement, faithful discipleship, and ordinary believers helping one another keep going.
When we pray to God in every situation, our faith is strengthened, and we learn to live in the reality of God's truth, no matter what we face.
2026 - 0712 - A Sent And Strengthened People
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Eph 3:14-19 KJV)
A Christian devotional on Joshua 1:7-9 about finding lasting strength and courage through daily meditation on God's Word.
July 6, 2026Today's Reading: 1 Kings 19:11-21Daily Lectionary: Joshua 24:1-31; Judges 1:1-36; Acts 13:1-12“I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life” (1 Kings 19:10, 14) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Elijah, wearied from forty days and forty nights of wandering toward Mount Horeb, waits in the cave for “the word of the Lord.” He waits alone, afraid for his life. If it were only Jezebel who sought to kill him, perhaps he could endure it—but it is not just the queen. It is the “people of Israel” themselves who seek his life, to take it away. If he had even one faithful prophet besides him, perhaps he could bear it—but no, he alone remains. All the rest have bowed their knees to Baal. They have forsaken God's covenant, thrown down his altars, and slain his prophets. Twice, the Lord asks Elijah a question he may already be asking himself: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Perhaps Elijah restrains himself from asking the same in return: “What are you doing here, Lord?” And the Lord answers that unspoken cry—not in the wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire—but in a still, small voice. A prophet in solitude, prophets in death, a covenant broken, and altars overthrown—Elijah cries into the silence and believes alone.Yet how does God answer Elijah's zealous lament? Elijah, who fears Jezebel's injustice, is given the power to anoint leaders in both church and state who will bring justice to the land. The Lord of heaven and earth, who commands wind and land and fire, commands the weary prophet to anoint two kings and one prophet. From Hazael to Jehu to Elisha, none will escape the sword. Elijah, who shrank back because of Israel's faithlessness, is welcomed into the company of seven thousand men who have not bowed their knees to Baal. God shows His love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His Commandments. Finally, Elijah, who mourned in lonely exile, departs and finds a faithful companion near. Elisha receives the prophet's cloak, call, and commission, and commits himself to the Lord's work. Strengthened by the presence of his God on Mount Horeb, Elijah descends to the plain to proclaim—together with Elisha—“the word of the Lord.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.God of the prophets, bless the prophets' sons; Elijah's mantle o'er Elisha cast. Each age its solemn task may claim but once; Make each one nobler, stronger than the last. Anoint them prophets, men who are intent To be Your witnesses in word and deed, Their hearts aflame, their lips made eloquent, Their eyes awake to ev'ry human need. (LSB 682:1-2)Rev. David Woelmer, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Smithville, Texas.
Pastor John teaches on the strength of God.
James discusses on CNBC prospects for the US-Iran negotiations and US President Donald Trump's interview with the network.
Welcome to Sylvan Way and thanks for joining us as we worship Jesus! Title: Strengthened by His Power (Ephesians 3:14-21) Big Idea: God strengthens us with His power so we can know the love of Christ and live for His glory. God Strengthens you from the inside out Be Rooted in the Love of Christ Live for the Glory of God Takeaway: The Christian life is not lived by our strength, but by God's power, through Christ's love, and for God's glory. Next Step: This week, pray Paul's prayer over your life. “Lord, strengthen me by Your Spirit, root me in the love of Christ, and use my life for Your glory. To learn more: sylvanway.com Send us your prayer requests & comments: sylvanway.com/connect To partner with us through giving: sylvanway.com/give
A sermon from Geoff Zeigler on Ephesians 6:10-24
Fluent Fiction - Swedish: Midsommar Mishap: How a Mistake Strengthened Bonds Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/sv/episode/2026-06-28-22-34-01-sv Story Transcript:Sv: Solen sken klart över Stockholm, och det var Midsommar.En: The sun shone brightly over Stockholm, and it was Midsommar.Sv: Vasa Museet var fullt av besökare.En: The Vasa Museet was filled with visitors.Sv: Under de dimma, upplysta hallar, vilade det stora Vasa-skeppet.En: Under the dimly lit halls, the great Vasa-ship rested.Sv: En doft av ek och gammalt trä fyllde luften.En: A fragrance of oak and old wood filled the air.Sv: Det var en plats där historia kändes levande.En: It was a place where history felt alive.Sv: Lukas, museets noggranna curator, gick omkring.En: Lukas, the museum's meticulous curator, wandered around.Sv: Han älskade varje del av svensk historia, särskilt de som fanns på museet.En: He loved every part of Swedish history, especially those at the museum.Sv: Idag hade han mycket att tänka på.En: Today, he had a lot on his mind.Sv: En speciell utställning var pågående, och många människor hade kommit för att se deras skatter.En: A special exhibition was ongoing, and many people had come to see their treasures.Sv: Freja, en entusiastisk praktikant, var i museet för första gången.En: Freja, an enthusiastic intern, was at the museum for the first time.Sv: Hon var glad men också lite nervös.En: She was happy but also a little nervous.Sv: Hon ville så gärna visa Lukas att hon var duktig och pålitlig.En: She wanted so much to show Lukas that she was capable and reliable.Sv: Men ibland var Freja lite klumpig.En: But sometimes Freja was a little clumsy.Sv: Hon knuffade till något och hörde ett kras.En: She bumped into something and heard a crash.Sv: En liten skulptur låg trasig på golvet.En: A small sculpture lay broken on the floor.Sv: Paniken steg i Freja.En: Panic rose in Freja.Sv: Hon visste att hon hade gjort ett stort misstag.En: She knew she had made a big mistake.Sv: Vad skulle hon göra nu?En: What would she do now?Sv: Lukas skulle inte bli glad, och hon kunde inte riskera att förlora sin praktik.En: Lukas wouldn't be pleased, and she couldn't risk losing her internship.Sv: Lukas hade nästan sett allt.En: Lukas had almost seen everything.Sv: Men när han närmade sig hörnet där Freja stod, såg han hennes skräckslagna ansikte.En: But as he approached the corner where Freja stood, he saw her terrified face.Sv: Frejas hjärta bultade.En: Freja's heart was pounding.Sv: Hon samlade sitt mod och tog ett djupt andetag.En: She gathered her courage and took a deep breath.Sv: "Det var jag," sa hon, rösten var tyst men ärlig.En: "It was me," she said, her voice was quiet but honest.Sv: "Jag råkade välta skulpturen.En: "I accidentally knocked over the sculpture.Sv: Förlåt mig.En: Forgive me.Sv: Kan jag försöka reparera den?"En: Can I try to repair it?"Sv: Lukas stod tyst ett ögonblick.En: Lukas was silent for a moment.Sv: Han kunde se hur ledsen och rädd Freja var.En: He could see how sad and scared Freja was.Sv: Det var ett ömtåligt ögonblick för dem båda.En: It was a delicate moment for them both.Sv: Han kunde antingen rapportera händelsen eller låta Freja försöka rätta till det.En: He could either report the incident or let Freja try to fix it.Sv: Han visste att varje ögonblick av lärande var värdefullt.En: He knew that every learning moment was valuable.Sv: "Freja," började Lukas långsamt.En: "Freja," Lukas began slowly.Sv: "Jag uppskattar att du berättar sanningen.En: "I appreciate you telling the truth.Sv: Vi ska fixa detta tillsammans.En: We will fix this together.Sv: Det är oacceptabelt att vi låter någon annan upptäcka detta."En: It's unacceptable for us to let someone else discover this."Sv: Freja nickade ivrigt, och lättnaden fyllde henne när hon förstod att Lukas var beredd att hjälpa till.En: Freja nodded eagerly, and relief filled her when she realized that Lukas was willing to help.Sv: De arbetade ihop resten av dagen för att reparera skulpturen noggrant och försiktigt.En: They worked together the rest of the day to repair the sculpture carefully and cautiously.Sv: Lukas guidade henne genom varje steg, och Freja lärde sig mycket.En: Lukas guided her through each step, and Freja learned a lot.Sv: Slutligen var skulpturen återställd till sitt tidigare skick.En: Finally, the sculpture was restored to its former state.Sv: Freja kände sig lättad och tacksam.En: Freja felt relieved and grateful.Sv: Lukas lärde sig också något under denna händelse.En: Lukas also learned something from this incident.Sv: Misstag kunde vara en väg till lärande och förbättring.En: Mistakes could be a path to learning and improvement.Sv: Midsommarkvällen sänkte sig sakta över Stockholm.En: The Midsommar-evening slowly descended over Stockholm.Sv: Freja och Lukas gick ut ur museet och kände att dagen hade varit både utmanande och lärorik.En: Freja and Lukas walked out of the museum and felt that the day had been both challenging and educational.Sv: Deras band hade stärkts, och Freja kände en nyfunnen självsäkerhet.En: Their bond had strengthened, and Freja felt a newfound confidence.Sv: Sommarvinden bar med sig ljudet av jublande firande från staden.En: The summer breeze carried with it the sounds of jubilant celebrations from the city.Sv: Det var en påminnelse om att ibland, genom att möta sina misstag, kan vi finna något ännu mer värdefullt – en möjlighet att växa och förbättras tillsammans.En: It was a reminder that sometimes, by facing our mistakes, we can find something even more valuable – an opportunity to grow and improve together. Vocabulary Words:shone: skendimly: dimmafragrance: doftmeticulous: noggrannacurator: curatorexhibition: utställningenthusiastic: entusiastiskintern: praktikantnervous: nervösclumsy: klumpigbumped: knuffadepanic: panikpounding: bultadecourage: modaccidentally: råkadedelicate: ömtåligtincident: händelseunacceptable: oacceptabelteagerly: ivrigtrelief: lättnadcarefully: noggrantcautiously: försiktigtrestored: återställdgrateful: tacksamopportunity: möjlighetjubilant: jublandereminder: påminnelsevaluable: värdefulltstrengthened: stärktsconfidence: självsäkerhet
Ever feel like you're standing on the edge, carrying more than you know how to hold? In this week's message, “Hitting Breaking Point,” we explore what it means to bring our exhaustion, questions and hidden burdens to Jesus and discover the rest he offers right in the middle of real life in Hong Kong. Whether you're a long-time follower of Jesus, newly exploring faith, or simply feeling worn out, we pray this service helps you encounter the One who knows you, loves you and invites you to lay down what you were never meant to carry alone. If you are new to Community Church, WELCOME! We would love to get to know you. Please fill in the following form and we look forward to connecting with you: https://bit.ly/cc-new-connect You can find all timely and relevant links from this service on https://bit.ly/cc-links You can also find out more about us at https://communitychurch.hk/ ================ This Week's Scripture: // 1 Kings 19:1-13 (NIV) // Elijah flees to Horeb Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, ‘May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.' Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,' he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.' He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.' So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. The LORD appears to Elijah And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?' He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.' The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?'
Challenges arise that stretch belief and endurance. Frank shares how trials, rather than weakening faith, became tools that refined and strengthened it. Listen to the book here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqbOHHzAEbyK3mheTTSH5lwzVN2WW8lVo Weekly Shorts https://www.frankjulianministries.com/shorts Connect with us https://www.frankjulianministries.com/
People are obsessed with the end of the world, but we spend far less time thinking about our personal ending in this life. Maybe it's too hard to think about. Yet for the Apostle Paul, the assurance of life that comes through Jesus Christ removes the sting of our own mortality and actually gives us purpose; to pray for and participate in the ever-expanding work of taking the life-changing Gospel to every person, tribe, and tongue. We do that with the confidence that God promises to hold on to us forever.
Patience is freedom from the tyranny of my world's constant conflict. It's peace by the supernatural strength of Christ in me…the kind that is only mined out of trials. They aren't signs of failure, but doors into the power my soul hungers for. Patience is the force of God's presence under pressure, not mere human effort.
Pastor Duke Backus brings an encouraging message from the Word of God.
Be Strengthened in Your Faith Walk: Do you want to be stronger in your walk of faith and be empowered to walk stronger than you ever have before? If your answer is "yes," then tune in to this episode of Fight To Win with Pastor Kurt Owen and learn how to strengthen your faith.Tactical Tip: Many of our videos contain a short section we call Tactical Tips. Most offer ways to improve personal safety and security.Request the Free Offer: https://www.fighttowin.tvLearn More, Register for Events & Donate:https://www.kurtowen.com/***UPDATED TEXT TO GIVE INFORMATION***Text GIVEKOM to 44321Prefer to Watch the Video?https://youtu.be/JP1kAJZBKakBecome a supporter of this podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fight-to-win-tv-with-kurt-owen--5638799/support.
Strengthened for the Journey | Weekly Fellowship MessageAre you weary from the battles of life? Have you been praying for a breakthrough but feel like your strength is running low? In this week's fellowship, we looked at the promise of Isaiah 40:31 and discovered that while we often ask God to change our circumstances, His first work is frequently to strengthen us in the midst of them.Together, we explored three powerful truths: God knows exactly where you are and sees every struggle, prayer, and tear; true strength comes not from striving harder but from abiding in Yeshua and remaining connected to the source of life; and your labor in the Lord is never in vain. Every prayer, every act of obedience, and every seed sown in faith matters to God. Even when we cannot see the breakthrough, He is at work behind the scenes.If you are facing a difficult season, this message will encourage you to keep standing, keep trusting, and keep moving forward in faith. Sometimes victory is simply taking the next step when you cannot see the whole path ahead.Key Scriptures:• Isaiah 40:31• Psalm 139:1–3• John 15:5• 1 Corinthians 15:58We would love for you to join us live each week for fellowship, prayer, encouragement, and a deeper study of God's Word.Discussion Question:Where have you seen God's faithfulness sustaining you through a difficult season, even before the breakthrough arrived?#Faith #Encouragement #StrengthInTheLord #Isaiah4031 #Yeshua #BibleStudy #Prayer #Discipleship #KingdomLiving #BulldozerFaith #Israel
Pastor Stephen shares a message based on 1 John 2:18-27.Support the show
Eph 3:14-21. Paul prays for the Ephesians that all he has said to them, would be part of their blessed experience and not merely theoretical. We can pray for peoples physical needs and circumstances, but it is also vital to pray for people spiritual life and empowerment. The spirit-filled life is daily opportunity for each […]
A sermon from Geoff Zeigler on Ephesians 6:10-20
Preview for Later Today: Jack Burnham discusses Kim Jong-un's rise from pandemic-era economic failure to a confident global leader. A modernized military and support from Russia and China have strengthened his position relative to Xi Jinping.1951 Korea
Homily of Fr. Mike O'Connor from Mass on June 7, 2026, at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, MS. Readings Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a 1 Cor 10:16-17 Jn 6:51-58 If you would like to donate to OLG and her livestream ministry, please go to https://olgchurch.net/give
What if our circumstances are wrapped in Christ along with us — and the battle is already won before we ever step onto the field? Graham Cooke continues unpacking the anatomy of a good fight, contrasting the language of the overwhelmed with the language of the overcomer. Discover the beauty of the Bible as concentrated wisdom, the partnership of the Holy Spirit in revelation, and why an overcomer doesn't just survive a battle — they prosper through it.Key Scriptures:+ Romans 8:35-39. "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" + Numbers 14:7-9. "The LORD is with us; do not fear them." + Colossians 1:10-12. "Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." + Colossians 2:15. "When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." + 2 Chronicles 20:15. "Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's." Want to explore more?
Rock Point Church exists to glorify God by leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Did you miss last Sunday or just want to hear it again? Check out our sermons here on the Rock Point Sermons podcast!
Ray Fittipaldo from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette comes on The Fan Hotline to address the latest involving the Steelers through the second week of OTAs with Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson.
The Book of Colossians — a 10-week verse-by-verse study from Beth Studies.Week 2 — Faith, hope, and love: Paul's prayer for the Colossians — Colossians 1:1-14-------------------------Support us today in creating more content!www.Sharing-Bread.com/donateEverything made up to this point has been done without donors, but now with your support we can multiply your giving to create unimaginable amounts of quality content to inspire, teach, and bring Gods word into every household.------------------------Paul writes from a Roman prison to a church he had never met — the believersat Colossae, a flourishing congregation now threatened by a strange brew ofmystical philosophy, Jewish legalism, and angel worship. His pastoral burdenis clear and undivided: Christ is the head of the universe, and there isnothing missing in him. We approach the Father through Christ — not throughintermediaries, not through human philosophy, not through ascetic rules.Across ten sessions we walk the whole letter — Paul's prayer that we be filledwith the knowledge of God's will, the great titles of Christ (image of theinvisible God, firstborn over all creation, head of the church, fullness ofdeity), the warning against hollow philosophy, the call to put off the oldself and put on the new, the wardrobe of compassion–kindness–humility–gentleness–patience–love, the household codes, and Paul's closing greetingsto Tychicus, Onesimus, Mark, Epaphras, and Luke."Christ in you, the hope of glory."----------00:00 Introduction00:13 Reading Colossians 1:1-1401:14 Holy, faithful, and graced02:06 Faith, hope, and love03:46 Paul's prayer for the Colossians06:32 Strengthened to endure09:11 Qualified for the kingdom of light10:31 Closing prayer----------▸ Start with Week 1 for the introduction, or jump to any episode▸ Subscribe so you don't miss new studies▸ Share with a friend who would be encouraged#BookOfColossians #BibleStudy #BethStudies #ChristInYou #SupremacyOfChrist
May 27, 2026Today's Reading: Genesis 11:1-9Daily Lectionary: Numbers 23:4-28; Luke 22:47-71“Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.” (Genesis 11:9)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.When Noah and his family left the ark, God sent them forth with the blessing He had first given to Adam and Eve; “And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it,” (Genesis 9:7). Maybe it was just sinful pride or perhaps it was out of fear that God would go back on His promise and send another flood upon the earth, Noah's descendants willfully disobeyed God's directions. Instead of multiplying on the earth, they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth,” (Genesis 11:4).In response to this sinfulness, God came down and confused their language, and He dispersed them across the earth. This event not only explains the origins of the different races and languages on the earth, it also teaches us an important lesson about the nature of sin. Sin always causes division. Sin divides us from God, and it divides us from one another. Whether in sinful pride or because we fail to trust God as we should, every sin we commit is a crime against God or our neighbors, or both. We hurt ourselves and we hurt others. Our relationship with God is strained, and our earthly relationships are also hampered. Many of you have probably seen that sin has the power to destroy even the strongest bonds. Thankfully, on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit shows us that there is something even stronger than sin, with the power to heal broken relationships and bring us back together. That, of course, is the blood of Jesus, which covers all our sins. When the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles that day, He gave them the ability to preach the Gospel in different languages, so that each person might hear “in our own tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:11). With that, the curse of Babel began to unravel. Today, as the Holy Spirit comes to us through God's Means Of Grace, He cleanses us in the blood of Jesus and reconciles us to God. That means that our relationship with God has been restored. God no longer regards us as enemies, but as His own beloved children (Romans 5:10, Ephesians 2:12-13). And with that, God also begins to reconcile us to each other. In forgiving our sins, the Holy Spirit is both teaching and empowering us to forgive others as we have been forgiven by God (Matthew 6:12, Colossians 3:13), so that we might live as God's children, united and at peace with those around us. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You reconciled the world to Yourself and have given to Your Church the ministry of reconciliation. Strengthened by Your forgiveness, grant that Your whole Church may live in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.Rev. Aric Fenske, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life.
Edward J. Larson details how, during a grueling retreat through New Jersey, Thomas Paine's The American Crisisrevitalized colonial spirits. British and Hessian atrocities against civilians further alienated the population and strengthened the resolve for independence. (13/16)1780
Jeanmarie Tade
Jeanmarie Tade
Daily Devotion with Pastor Balla explores Psalm 65:5–8, revealing God's awesome deeds in creation and salvation through Jesus Christ. In this LCMS Lutheran devotional, the Lord is confessed as the God of our salvation who stills the chaos of sin, fear, and the troubled world through His righteous power. The same God who established the mountains and calmed the seas brings peace through His Word, Holy Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. Centered in Christ crucified and risen, this devotion proclaims forgiveness, hope, and steadfast joy for believers living in a world of unrest. Strengthened by the ESV Scriptures, this Bible-based message encourages daily faith, repentance, and trust in Christ alone. Subscribe for daily Lutheran devotions, gospel encouragement, and Christ-centered teaching. Support this ministry and daily outreach through Buy Me a Coffee and connect for ongoing encouragement rooted in Scripture and the Lutheran confession of faith for all believers everywhere.Buy Me a Coffeehttps://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalph⸻Hashtags:#DailyDevotion #Psalm65 #LCMS #Lutheran #GospelHope
Send us Fan MailCompanies often speak of their mission as a core business purpose centered around the primary products or services that it is producing to serve its customers and create value. But for Firehouse Subs, its mission is twofold: One is serving its customers the hot subs they crave, and the other is serving first responders across the country. The company, which was founded in 1994 by brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, takes this mission to help first responders personally. The Sorensen brothers are both former firefighters who opened the first Firehouse Subs in Jacksonville, Florida before expanding to over 1,200 restaurants in about 46 states in the U.S. As part of its mission, a portion of every purchase at Firehouse Subs goes toward the Public Safety Foundation. According to Alex Arkhangelskaya, Senior Product Manager for Firehouse Subs, the company has provided over $100 million to first responders through the foundation to help fund life-saving equipment.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has locked in new trade and defense deals with the UAE, Netherlands and Sweden. What’s on the agenda for Norway and Italy? Plus: the papers, Asia news and talks between Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk over more US bases in Greenland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do you read the fertile grounds of your body? Are you really infertile? How do you support your emotional and mental energy during fertility? Does fertility rejuvenation exist over 40? Special Guest Episode: Aimee E. Raupp, MS, LAc, is an acclaimed women's health and fertility expert and the best-selling author of several books, including Yes, You Can Get Pregnant and The Egg Quality Diet. As a fertility expert with two decades of experience, Aimee works virtually with clients all over the world. She is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist in private practice, founder of Aimee Raupp Beauty, cofounder of Rejoova supplements, and a world-renowned fertility coach. She engages her large community worldwide through her social media presence, online programs, and website. A hopeful, science-informed and deeply compassionate roadmap for improving fertility at any age Drawing on two decades of clinical practice, Aimee Raupp blends evidence-based medicine with holistic approaches to offer readers a clear, proven fertility framework that has supported thousands of women worldwide. Grounded in clinical experience and current research, this book provides practical, accessible strategies to improve egg and sperm quality, reduce inflammation, balance hormones, and support IVF success when needed. Designed for women at every reproductive stage - from those just beginning to think about pregnancy to those navigating fertility treatments - this approach restores agency, reduces overwhelm, and reframes fertility as something that can be actively supported rather than passively experienced. GET her new book and look into other books - https://aimeeraupp.com/fertility-books-and-workshops/ What's New: Updated fertility rejuvenation plan integrating nutrition, lifestyle, and emotional health Expanded guidance on fertility after age 35, including conception beyond age 40 New strategies to enhance IVF outcomes and support healing after pregnancy loss Emerging insights on ovarian rejuvenation and future fertility therapies Revised research and testing guidance addressing egg quality, sperm health, and immune factors Key Features: Comprehensive fertility guidance integrating lifestyle nutrition emotional wellness and medical science Strengthened fertility confidence informed treatment choices and reproductive readiness Step-by-step plans, lifestyle tools, and practical checklists Written by a nationally recognized fertility expert with 20 years of clinical experience A practical fertility roadmap that bridges holistic care and modern reproductive medicine
Room To Breathe pt. 2 | MAY 10, 2026Pastor Wes MorrisI Kings 19:1-9 (NIV) Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.√ GOD MEETS US IN THE WILDERNESS, NOT JUST THE BREAKTHROUGH.I Kings 19:4-5 (NIV) “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him...√ GOD SEES WHAT NO ONE ELSE UNDERSTANDS.I Kings 19:6 (ESV) And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. √ GOD CARES ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOU, NOT JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING THROUGH YOU.I Kings 19:9-12 (NIV) He came to a cave and camped there, and the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “Why are you here, Elijah?”And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, Lord of Hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword, and I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”He said, “Go and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind split the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake came, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, a fire came, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire, a still, small voice. THE GOD WHO SEESI. BE HONEST WITH GOD ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING INSIDE OF YOU.Psalm 62:8 (NLT) O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.Where we bring our honesty, God brings His healing.II. LET GOD CARE FOR YOU TOO.Matthew 11:28 (NIV) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.III. TRUST THAT GOD IS STILL WORKING IN QUIET SEASONS.Isaiah 30:15 (TLB) For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says: Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved; in quietness and confidence is your strength...
For 11 May 2026, Monday of the 6th week of Eastertide, based on John 15:26-16:4a, sent in from Kingston, Jamaica.
God's rules aren't many, but He does expect you to measure up to the things He says. Broadcast #7475To help support this podcast, please visit walkwiththeking.org/donate and select "Podcast" from the dropdown menuA transcript of this broadcast is available on our website here. To hear more from Bob Cook, you can find Walk With The King on Facebook or Instagram.
Recorded on 5/3/26.
Most of what shapes your life will never be seen. It happens in quiet decisions, private battles, and moments where you choose God without an audience. This message walks through the life of Timothy and the kind of strength God builds behind closed doors, the kind that does not come from a perfect background but from surrender, obedience, and being formed in hidden places. If you have ever wrestled with insecurity, felt overlooked, or wondered if your story disqualifies you, this will meet you right there. What God is doing in secret is not wasted. It is preparing you to live with purpose, to invest in others, and to bring Him honor in ways that go far beyond what people see. Did you accept Christ today? Fill out our digital connection card: https://churchontherock.net/connect-card
Strengthened by Joy: Communion Celebration by Saylorville Church
13. Headline: The Ironclad Bridge: China's Strategic Military Foothold in Serbia Guest: Ivana StradnerSummary: Serbia and China have strengthened their "ironclad friendship" through a free trade agreement and military cooperation. President Vučić is integrating Chinese-made missiles and drones into Serbia's defense, creating a security threat for NATO and providing Beijing with a critical outpost in the Western Balkans. 131880 WIEN
ABOUT SILVERDALE BAPTIST CHURCH Silverdale exists to lead people into an authentic relationship with Christ so they will worship God, grow in their faith, and serve the Lord in our community and world. Silverdale's Lead Pastor is Tony Walliser. FIND US ONLINE Website http://silverdalebc.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/silverdalebcInstagram https://www.instagram.com/silverdalebcFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/silverdalebc
Mastering the shift from MSP to MIP. Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/Check Out UPX: https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ In this insightful episode, Oguo Atuanya, CVP of Vendor Experience at Pax8, joins us to discuss the pivotal evolution in the IT channel: the transition from Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to Managed Intelligence Providers (MIPs). We explore how the marketplace is moving beyond traditional infrastructure support toward a future defined by AI-driven orchestration, business consultancy, and scalable agent-tech organizations. Oguo details how Pax8 is leading this transformation by curating solutions that allow partners to move from transactional service models to life-cycle management that prioritizes measurable ROI for the Small and Medium Business (SMB) market. Key Takeaways Pax8 is redefining the role of the distributor by acting as an AI commerce platform for the SMB market. The shift from Managed Service Provider (MSP) to Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP) is critical for scaling in the modern tech era. Successful MSPs must evolve into business consultants who integrate AI-driven workflows rather than just selling infrastructure. Security and automation are foundational elements that every modern MIP must prioritize to ensure scalability for customers. The “MIP Playbook” provides the curriculum-driven enablement partners need to successfully pivot their business models. Building strong, end-to-end customer lifecycle management is the key to minimizing churn and maximizing long-term value. https://youtu.be/c8uCnMJd9bg If you're ready to lead through change, elevate your business, and achieve extraordinary outcomes through the power of partnership—this is your community. At Ultimate Partner® we want leaders like you to join us in the Ultimate Partner Experience – where transformation begins. Key Tags Pax8, Managed Intelligence Providers, MIP, AI commerce platform, SMB technology, MSP evolution, AI-driven workflows, agent-first strategy, digital transformation, channel partner strategy, cloud solutions, customer lifecycle management, IT channel innovation, scalable automation, business consultancy, technology architecture, agent store, managed service providers. Transcript Oguo Atuanya Audio Episode [00:00:00] Oguo Atuanya: I, I mean, the ultimate goal is to get that MIP channel as intelligent or even more intelligent and agile than any enterprise IT department. [00:00:13] Vince Menzione: We just finished Ultimate Partners Winter Retreat here in beautiful Boca to a sold out crowd. Today I’m joined by Dexter Hardy, the founder of Integral for a compelling discussion, a guo. Welcome back, [00:00:29] Oguo Atuanya: Vince [00:00:29] Vince Menzione: to the welcome back to the podcast, my friend. So good to see you. [00:00:33] Oguo Atuanya: Good to see you, my friend. It’s been about, what, two years? [00:00:35] Vince Menzione: It has been two years, almost two years. Almost two years ago now. And uh, man, this [00:00:40] Oguo Atuanya: thing is just picking up steam. [00:00:41] Vince Menzione: It is. We’re having a blast. We were having so much fun. It was [00:00:44] Oguo Atuanya: awesome. [00:00:44] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:00:44] Oguo Atuanya: Really awesome. [00:00:45] Vince Menzione: And you were for context, for people watching and, and listening. Uh, we were here in Boca yesterday for the Ultimate Partner Executive Retreat. [00:00:52] Yep. It was this awesome event and great to have you involved in it. Uh, pat, thank you so much. So, uh, last time you were here [00:01:00] Oguo Atuanya: Yes. [00:01:01] Vince Menzione: Uh, you were representing Microsoft where you spent 22 years. [00:01:05] Oguo Atuanya: 22 [00:01:06] Vince Menzione: years. [00:01:06] Oguo Atuanya: Two years, right. Outta outta Junior Heart. [00:01:07] Vince Menzione: Amazing. And, uh, tell us, tell us about your journey so far. Uh, almost two years, a year and a half at Pax. [00:01:14] Eight. About a [00:01:15] Oguo Atuanya: year and a half. [00:01:15] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:01:16] Oguo Atuanya: a year and a half. [00:01:17] Vince Menzione: And tell, tell for our viewers and listeners, uh, your role at Pax eight. [00:01:21] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:01:22] Vince Menzione: Which is a preeminent company in this space. We used to use the term disty. I’ll let you describe them. Uh, officially [00:01:29] Oguo Atuanya: No, [00:01:30] Vince Menzione: because they don’t, you don’t use that term. [00:01:31] Oguo Atuanya: We’re not, we’re not a distributor. [00:01:33] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:01:33] Oguo Atuanya: Scott Cha would kill me. [00:01:35] Vince Menzione: That’s right. No, I know, I know. I remember the, uh, [00:01:38] Oguo Atuanya: the New [00:01:38] Vince Menzione: York, was it the New York Times article? Yes. Yes. [00:01:41] Oguo Atuanya: Was kind of a, [00:01:42] Vince Menzione: that was a launching point coming out. Yeah, yeah. [00:01:44] Oguo Atuanya: No, we, we, we see ourselves as, um, um, the pre, uh, permanent marketplace. For SMB. [00:01:52] Vince Menzione: Nice. [00:01:53] Oguo Atuanya: Right. So you think about the SaaS and the cloud. [00:01:55] Yeah. You know, solutions that you need. In SMB, we work with vendors to bring it, um, you know, to the SMB market through, uh, MSPs. And we also, uh, see ourselves as the premier [00:02:08] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:02:08] Oguo Atuanya: Um, AI commerce platform for SMB. [00:02:13] Vince Menzione: Very interesting. [00:02:14] Oguo Atuanya: Right. And as we go through the discussion, uh, this afternoon, you’ll see why. [00:02:20] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:02:21] Oguo Atuanya: That differentiation is [00:02:23] Vince Menzione: key. I, I love, I love to dive in. I love to dive in. I will say this, I, I think you’ve gotten a lot of people very interested in the community. I mean, certainly your events are becoming bigger and bigger. You’re beyond conference. [00:02:36] Oguo Atuanya: Next one’s coming up in Salt Lake City [00:02:38] in [00:02:38] Vince Menzione: June. [00:02:38] I plan on being there, salt Lake City in June. [00:02:41] Oguo Atuanya: I must have you there. [00:02:42] Vince Menzione: I will be there and you will, and you will be at our event in May. [00:02:45] Oguo Atuanya: Absolutely. [00:02:46] Vince Menzione: Talking about beyond, but also talking about this community. Uh, I’ve also woken up over the last year or so as well and learned a lot about this SMB community and ms, what we call MSBs. [00:02:58] You’ve re you’ve re-categorized them, uh, but this community is palpable. The opportunity is huge. [00:03:04] Oguo Atuanya: It’s huge. [00:03:05] Vince Menzione: And, um, I would say that, uh, yeah, we can talk, we’ll talk, we’ll just talk through it. ’cause it is huge. Yeah. There’s a lot of things that need to be done. [00:03:12] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:03:13] Vince Menzione: And I think, I think PAX eight is, uh, at the forefront in driving a lot of this. [00:03:17] The hyperscalers, like Microsoft are, are paying attention now more in a big, in a bigger way than before [00:03:23] Oguo Atuanya: being great partners. [00:03:24] Vince Menzione: Been great, great partners. Yeah. We’ll talk about your role with Microsoft in that regard. [00:03:28] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:03:28] Vince Menzione: But talk, let’s talk about this evolution too. Let’s, uh, so for those who are listening, who are used to maybe us talking about a SaaS software company Yep. [00:03:36] Or an ISV or an SDC, uh, we’re talking about MSPs, managed service providers, which is the common term that people use. These are, these have been traditionally the companies, the smaller companies, they used to call em mom and pop shops back. The old VARs that became managed service, the past [00:03:53] Oguo Atuanya: provider in, in the past, they’re getting bigger. [00:03:54] Vince Menzione: And then Yes. One of the big [00:03:55] Oguo Atuanya: ones, y say [00:03:56] Vince Menzione: Nexus Tech. We had Yes. [00:03:57] Oguo Atuanya: Partners of ours. [00:03:58] Vince Menzione: Nexus Techs, new Charter. [00:04:01] Oguo Atuanya: Charter, Michelle [00:04:02] Vince Menzione: Evergreen, I could Ira Lyra. Yeah. They’re, they’re becoming bigger and bigger. Private equity is getting involved. What’s important, what’s important to note too is that the customer is driving this because customers are requiring more and it’s no longer about, and my my point of view is it’s no longer about loading up software and just letting it go. [00:04:22] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:04:23] Vince Menzione: You need to be hands-on all the time. [00:04:24] Oguo Atuanya: Abs. Absolutely. And, and [00:04:26] Vince Menzione: yeah, [00:04:26] Oguo Atuanya: kind of skating towards that park of, um. MIP? [00:04:31] Vince Menzione: Yes. Let’s talk about MIP [00:04:33] Oguo Atuanya: managed intelligence providers. [00:04:35] Vince Menzione: So last year, year Beyond conference, I believe you launched this like new in I, we’ll call the new nomenclature or the new name, or this new thing. [00:04:46] And evolved. And evolved, yeah. [00:04:48] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:04:49] Vince Menzione: So talk about the managed intelligence provider for us. [00:04:52] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. Wow. When it happened In Beyond Or at? Beyond, I should say. Um. We thought it’d catch on because it’s apt. I mean, it’s, it’s sort of indicative of what’s happening now and what will happen over the next 24 months, but, uh, the sort of migration towards this and the marketplace has been immense. [00:05:17] I mean, you, and you, you know, hit on what the difference is. Yes. Earlier on, um, today. What’s driving this shift is that most MSPs have been really good at being tools and technology infrastructure providers. [00:05:36] Vince Menzione: Yep. [00:05:36] Oguo Atuanya: Right. [00:05:37] Vince Menzione: They would hook up your network and your printer. In the old days, they fix your, fix your computers. [00:05:42] Yes. Or replace re-image, all those things. Right? Yes. That was the old days. And, [00:05:46] Oguo Atuanya: and, and also provide some very manual services delivery, which will now play. In this new era that we are actually, I shouldn’t say going into, it’s taking all, [00:06:00] Vince Menzione: we’re, we’re there, [00:06:00] Oguo Atuanya: we’re there right now. So, um, you know, they, they, I guess the transformation from MSP to MIP others partners that would actually become managed intelligence providers. [00:06:14] That means really, you know, integrating intelligence into workflow that matters for the SMBs. Right. So you [00:06:23] Vince Menzione: so double click on that for, [00:06:25] Oguo Atuanya: for [00:06:25] Vince Menzione: our [00:06:26] Oguo Atuanya: viewers. Yeah. So all really means is that you’re moving from being that, you know [00:06:29] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:06:30] Oguo Atuanya: Technology, infrastructure, tools, provider to, you know, becoming an, an orchestrator and a and a and a business consultant. [00:06:38] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:06:38] Oguo Atuanya: Right. For you. SMB. Right. So important. ’cause you have to now get into, uh, very secure, streamlined automated AI driven workflows to help them. [00:06:52] Vince Menzione: All driven in the cloud. Everything’s in the cloud now, as opposed to the old days. Right. On premise. [00:06:58] Oguo Atuanya: All gone. None. That’s happening. It’s all gone. All gone. Yeah. [00:07:00] So you, you’ve got this automated platform right now. You should as, um, an MIP, um, we actually gonna be in a position to design, um, agent tech organizations for your, uh, SMBs who wanna scale. ’cause as we talked about yesterday, yeah. SMBs have opportunities they wanna grow, but not have the wherewithal to go hire a hundred people. [00:07:27] Instead of doing that, you go hire a hundred agents. Yeah, but you’re gonna need that MIP to architect, the organization, launch it for you, manage it, get you, you know, automated, you know, workflows that you’d leverage to run your company, and then they have to manage and optimize the technology. Um, as necessary. [00:07:49] So, so, huge shift. [00:07:50] Vince Menzione: Huge shift. [00:07:51] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:07:52] Vince Menzione: And it was interesting for me being at the, where you talked about the write of Boom conference that you, were you, your organization was there? Yeah, I was there as well and I was in the room with some of the Microsoft folks and we had some of those larger partners we talked about [00:08:07] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:08:08] Vince Menzione: That were in the room as well. And just, uh, different perspectives too. Like I hadn’t heard it firsthand. It was interesting for Microsoft too, to get that feedback from. From some of them as well. Um, I think, I think the ones that are progressive are already on board with you. I’ve, I’ve already talked to some of those organizations, like, oh, we’re a hundred percent Pax eight, that’s it. [00:08:29] But then some of the others I think are still, there are still people out there that are stuck in the past. Would you agree? Like this community is in the, is in a transition right now to this new model? [00:08:38] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:08:39] Vince Menzione: Tell [00:08:39] Oguo Atuanya: us [00:08:39] Vince Menzione: about that. [00:08:40] Oguo Atuanya: There are, I mean, listen, I, I don’t, you know, wanna put a number. You know what we’re seeing. [00:08:48] But I’d say that about eventually, let’s say we’re gonna have about 30% of folks that really get it and move. [00:08:56] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:08:56] Oguo Atuanya: Right. The others we’re gonna have to, [00:08:59] Vince Menzione: there’ll be the laggards that’ll [00:09:00] Oguo Atuanya: take longer and let me just, you know, sort of rephrase that state. Most of them understand, you know, what the opportunity is with this whole Yeah. [00:09:14] Vince Menzione: You [00:09:15] Oguo Atuanya: know. They’re still struggling with being able to, you know, articulate this story, um, from a value prop perspective, right? You know, go in, talk to the SMBs, help the SMBs understand how, you know, they can be more productive, more efficient, and um, ultimately more profitable and scale, um, with an agent, you know, framework. [00:09:44] They still struggle. Yeah. And, and that’s kind of where we come in, where we helping these SMB or sorry, MSPs and to be ips. [00:09:54] Vince Menzione: So tell us, understand that. Tell us what you’re doing. I believe you, you stood up like academies and things like that, right? You’re doing some outreach, some enablement for the community? [00:10:02] Is that what it is? [00:10:03] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah, we we’re heavy, we’re heavy in, um, enablement. Um, because, you know, everyone realizes that. To be successful with this whole campaign. It’s not just about putting agents up in an agent store, real, SMB, you know, native, um, vertical aware agents that actually, you know, when you deploy it in an SMB business, right, they drive value right away, [00:10:37] Vince Menzione: right? [00:10:38] Oguo Atuanya: Right. So, but we also realize that it’s not just about, you know, landing the agents in the marketplace, but enablement is a huge factor. That’s why when you go back to things, you know, like academy, uh, the MIP playbook, uh, some of the, uh, inculcation integrations we we’re doing with, um, partners, really critical to have that enablement layer. [00:11:04] Vince Menzione: Interesting. [00:11:04] Oguo Atuanya: Along with providing the agents and the, in the agents store. [00:11:07] Vince Menzione: Who’s developing these agents in the agent store? Are they providers for the MSP community? Are they organizations like Take, take us through that model. [00:11:17] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. So they, they, they, because [00:11:18] Vince Menzione: you, you manage all the vendors. [00:11:20] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah, I do. Right? [00:11:21] Vince Menzione: I do. So tell us more about that. [00:11:22] Oguo Atuanya: I do. So it’s, it’s multifold, right? Um, one fold is you have prebuilt solutions that you know vendors. [00:11:30] Vince Menzione: Yep. [00:11:30] Oguo Atuanya: Built for, you know, SMBs and they’re directed towards SMBs. Then you also have a second category, uh, sorry, category of solutions that are more tools that MSBs use. [00:11:42] Right? But there’s also a third, um, prompt to this where we are orchestrating an integration of, um, um, IP between [00:11:54] Vince Menzione: interesting the [00:11:55] Oguo Atuanya: vendor department, uh, into providing, you know, solutions. That we can land in the, in the agent store. [00:12:03] Vince Menzione: That’s fascinating. So, yeah. So you have, so you have a standalone product or a standalone solution or agent. [00:12:10] You have the orchestration and then you have the customer tools and the tool. And the tools. [00:12:14] Oguo Atuanya: Yes. [00:12:15] Vince Menzione: Yes. That’s fascinating. [00:12:17] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. It’s um, it’s sort of a three flying approach that, um, the market needs, right? Yeah. And that, that’s key. By the way, Vince, when you know, um. You’re developing these agents and these solutions. [00:12:30] Yeah. Because they’re not, they’re not just tools anymore, right. Essentially it could be somebody’s, uh, FTE. [00:12:38] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:12:38] Oguo Atuanya: Right. So they have to address a specific outcome. They have to be, you know, uh, valuable. You have to show the ROI and for these SMBs. Don’t have a lot of wiggle room. [00:12:53] Vince Menzione: So you, that they’re smaller companies, right? [00:12:55] Yeah. So anything you do is gonna be super impactful. Yeah. It’s not something they can absorb necessarily, or, you know, lose time and money. [00:13:03] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:13:03] Vince Menzione: Uh, you’ve gotta be very sensitive to that in this, in this market, this size market. And even the MSPs are, even though there are some that are much larger, there’s still a lot of smaller MSPs out there. [00:13:14] Oguo Atuanya: And, and coming to the MIP playbook, um, what partners don’t need anymore. Um, it’s hype. [00:13:23] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:13:24] Oguo Atuanya: They need an almost curriculum driven approach, right. To landing this initiative and infrastructure and also managing it long term. Yeah. So that’s what the MIP playbook does. [00:13:39] Vince Menzione: So you were an executive at Microsoft. [00:13:41] You managed the channel partner. I, I would call the resellers and the disti. In fact, for the America’s business, I believe was your role. [00:13:49] Oguo Atuanya: I I did manage the large resellers. At [00:13:51] Vince Menzione: large resellers. So at one point, and you also had the Disti at one time? [00:13:54] Oguo Atuanya: At one point I had the Disti, the telco, the domain providers. [00:13:58] Vince Menzione: Yes. The large resellers. I remember when we first met, yes. I think that was when, [00:14:00] Oguo Atuanya: yes. [00:14:00] Vince Menzione: Yes. And so when you came, PAX eight is a very strong Microsoft partner. You were, again, I mentioned you were the launch partner or one of the launch partners for the marketplace. [00:14:09] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:14:09] Vince Menzione: But talk about the role and the relationship with Microsoft and the value that PAX eight provides for this market, uh, kind of layering between, uh, the Microsoft components and, and the SMB market. [00:14:24] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. Does that [00:14:24] Vince Menzione: make sense? [00:14:25] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. So, so Microsoft has always been. Um, keen on the SMB segment, um, you know, Jose Gomez and Company in the Americas, and folks like, um, Alison West Hughes from a core perspective that, yeah, they’re very serious about this SMB segment. And, um, I’d say the key difference with Microsoft is Microsoft realized early. [00:14:56] Probably based on the fact that Microsoft’s always been a very strong channel friendly, [00:15:01] Vince Menzione: yes. [00:15:01] Oguo Atuanya: Oriented company. I realized earlier that you really can’t scale cost efficiently by having a direct SMB business, right? Right. You have to go through the channel. [00:15:14] Vince Menzione: They’re what, 160,000 MSPs or ips? [00:15:19] Oguo Atuanya: Um, for us at pax, [00:15:21] Vince Menzione: I think for the world. [00:15:22] Oguo Atuanya: Uh, yes. [00:15:22] Vince Menzione: Somewhere the world around there. The world, yeah. You would have to reach all those companies individually, which Yeah, you’d [00:15:27] Oguo Atuanya: have to, well, I mean, even then the, there’s the Ians of SMBs [00:15:31] Vince Menzione: Yes. In worldwide. Yes. That’s right. Right. At at the customer level. The pyramid is huge. You can’t, [00:15:35] Oguo Atuanya: you can’t really scale. [00:15:36] No, you can’t. You can only do that through the channel. [00:15:38] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:15:39] Oguo Atuanya: And, um, I think, I think the relationship between Microsoft and PAX has just. Strengthened over time because Microsoft sees, if we go back to that definition of a, you know, distributor versus a marketplace and a platform provider stuff. So we’re seeing the difference. [00:15:56] Yes. And the value add and, you know, the services led approach that packs it, you know, brings to, um, um, driving the SMB business. Yes. Um, you know, just that we have, we think PAX eight, we have a very strong relationship. And a very strong MSP ecosystem, which is critical when you sort of, you know, uh, look at that difference between just a regular reseller and an MSP. [00:16:26] Vince Menzione: Absolutely. [00:16:26] Oguo Atuanya: Right. Um, you just can’t, what we talked about earlier, just transact a solution and then walk away. It’s, it’s, uh, it’s, um, it, it’s, it’s really a sustainable end-to-end, you know, customer life cycle management approach. When you’re dealing with them. [00:16:44] Vince Menzione: I think it’s important here too, and, and again for the maturity model of our listeners and viewers, it might be at different levels of understanding about the, about the model. [00:16:53] But if you think about the model and the evolution, right, being the, from the old model of being, uh, hardware centric and maybe software centric, uh, the old days of what was a disti, which are not at disti anymore, but, um, the distis were there to provide credit. Availability of product. [00:17:12] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:17:12] Vince Menzione: And And delivery, basically. [00:17:14] Right? Yeah. That was it. [00:17:15] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:17:16] Vince Menzione: And that’s how that they were intermediaries on some of that. [00:17:19] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:17:20] Vince Menzione: But PAX eight evolved at a later time. [00:17:22] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:17:23] Vince Menzione: More modern time, I would say in the cloud. Yeah. [00:17:25] Oguo Atuanya: PAX eight. So one in the cloud, if you will. [00:17:28] Vince Menzione: And I think that’s maybe a differentiation and this new model that it also feels to like this MSP community has been coming along. [00:17:36] And I, I, I believe a lot of thought leadership from the PAX eight side. I’m speak, I’m speaking for you here, but in terms of some bold moves that the organization is doing. [00:17:46] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. Listen. Um, as you know, I dealt or engaged with PAX eight for a while before joining PAX eight. [00:17:54] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:17:55] Oguo Atuanya: I’d engaged with p fact fact pxi, funnily enough was the first meeting I had, um, when I came back from the uk. [00:18:02] Vince Menzione: Is that [00:18:02] Oguo Atuanya: right? Yeah. During my stint running, um. Um, devices, uh, sales organization for Microsoft. The first meeting I had coming back into the Americas was so P Aid and Nick Hedy and, uh, Ryan Walsh and, oh, that’s so funny. Joke about it. By the way, Ryan Walsh all has a prep, uh, notes study, you know, he got ready for the media. [00:18:26] Vince Menzione: Oh, that is hilarious. I met Ryan. Uh, we were on stage together at a channel partners a couple years ago. [00:18:32] Can’t [00:18:32] Oguo Atuanya: miss his energy. [00:18:33] Vince Menzione: He can’t [00:18:33] Oguo Atuanya: miss his energy. [00:18:34] Vince Menzione: Such great energy. [00:18:35] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. But, but listen, I think if I could just sum it in a, you know, in a, um, a framework or a box. The key difference between PAC sales is we look at engaging with MSPs in SMB, um, from a customer lifecycle management. [00:18:57] So we start from, Hey, how do we help you with customer acquisition? When you do acquire the customers and you make that first licensing transaction, it doesn’t go away. That’s when we actually start, you know, thinking about how do we help, um, you ensure that your SMBs realize, um, value from what you sold them. [00:19:18] You know, if you need to expand, but, um, beyond one, you know, skew in the stack, that’s what you do because you understand the needs of USMB that helps drive consumption, you know? Nurture that through all, we start, you know, looking at, is it time for re sorry, renewal. There’s a team minus approach to renewal. [00:19:37] ’cause we also keep our eyes on churn. You can, you know, gain as much business as you can, but if you churn, it does nobody any good. Yeah. So we look at things end to end from our position to churn. And that really is embedded in the platform that sits underneath the marketplace. [00:19:53] Vince Menzione: And you act as the, well see, we’re gonna use technical terms here. [00:19:57] CSP. You’re the first layer of CSP and then they, they also, in many cases, sometimes they’re not, but in many cases they are the CSP to the customer. They’re providing the, the licenses to the customer. [00:20:10] Oguo Atuanya: Well, we, so we, we are the first tier of that, you know, two tier [00:20:14] Vince Menzione: Exactly. [00:20:15] Oguo Atuanya: Model. So we, we, [00:20:16] Vince Menzione: you’re tier one [00:20:17] Oguo Atuanya: Microsoft. [00:20:18] Vince Menzione: Yep. [00:20:19] Oguo Atuanya: Right. We, you know, as an existing might press on an example, it could be one of our other vendors, like, you know, um, any of the 150 vendors we have. We engage with them, we enable the um, MSP, who’s the resell, who’s really in the traditional sense, the reseller layer, much more valuable in terms of what they do. [00:20:41] Vince Menzione: That’s right. [00:20:41] Oguo Atuanya: And then. The MSP engages with, uh, the end customer. So that’s kind of what the flow is. [00:20:47] Vince Menzione: Yep. Yeah. And that’s one component of what they do for the customer. The transaction is a one one and done sort of. [00:20:53] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:20:53] Vince Menzione: But then it’s all the managed services and layering Oh, provide on top of it. And then all the other solutions say 150 platforms. [00:21:00] Oguo Atuanya: Uh, 150 vendors. [00:21:01] Vince Menzione: Vendors, yeah. So hundreds of platforms that are available to the customer for [00:21:07] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:21:07] Vince Menzione: Through taxane. [00:21:08] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. But, but lemme just emphasize that especially. We are going actually where we are. Right. Um, again, it starts, it starts way to the left of the continuum than just driving the transaction. [00:21:23] Vince Menzione: So take us through the continuum then. [00:21:25] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah, that’s what I said earlier, the continuum is, you know, helping this, helping with [00:21:28] Vince Menzione: acquisition, customer acquisition, [00:21:30] Oguo Atuanya: even, you know, prior to that it’s, it’s helped. We’re getting to a point now where we’re helping these MSPs and they should all be able to do that during the MIP era. [00:21:38] Vince Menzione: Yep. [00:21:39] Oguo Atuanya: Understand the market they’re playing it. Yeah. Understand, you know, the market, their SMBs are in, understand their verticals or their scenarios so that you can actually build, you know, this precision, outcome driven, you know, solutions. [00:21:52] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:21:52] Oguo Atuanya: Right. That, that’s the beginning and then you sell and acquire. [00:21:58] Right. And then once you acquire that business, uh, it’s always on, you know, situation. You’re helping realize value. ’cause if you don’t. You’re not expanding beyond the stock. Yes. And um, you’re not driving consumption. And if you don’t drive consumption, [00:22:14] Vince Menzione: you’re not making any money. You’re really not making, [00:22:16] Oguo Atuanya: it’s not churn. [00:22:16] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:22:17] Oguo Atuanya: Right. And then they have to keep an eye on, when renewals come about, there has to be a healthy T minus period. Right. Um, so ensure that you renew during renewals. Um, that’s actually when we then look at, Hey, what’s your stack look like? Right. Especially with the agent era, right? Do you have everything you need? [00:22:37] Do you have the processes? Is there governance? Is there enough security for your, um, SMB, right? So that’s kind of the tune up time before we renew, and then we help you renew and then retain so that it’s, it’s a, it’s a sort of lifecycle approach, not just transactional. [00:22:55] Vince Menzione: Oh, I, I hear. Talk and, you know, I talk to different people in the industry about the SMBs, the MSPs in the SM B market, uh, that some of these organizations are very much, they’re very technical. [00:23:07] Yeah. Like they’re technical folks. Sometimes they’re not sales folks or they’re not consulting type folks. Yes. So how do you help them overcome some of those challenges or those gaps? I mean, I know some of it’s through the academy. [00:23:19] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:23:19] Vince Menzione: Do you help them also with selecting like, how do they think about their organizational structure to have the right people in the right seats and those types of [00:23:26] Oguo Atuanya: things and that, that’s, that’s, [00:23:27] Vince Menzione: yeah. [00:23:27] Oguo Atuanya: All what the MIP playbook, that’s, and the process is all about Nice. It’s, it’s, Hey, how do we expand your horizon, you know, beyond just providing the technical aspect things, how do you understand the business? How do you go about conversations to discover, right, your, uh, SMB, right? And once you discover, how do you go about architecting, you know, a value framework that includes, you know, maybe looking at the organization and suggesting agents and then, you know, when you land them, right? [00:23:59] What’s the, um, optimization, you know, process beyond just landing them. So it’s, it’s helping them. [00:24:08] Vince Menzione: Make transit, become business [00:24:09] Oguo Atuanya: consultants. [00:24:09] Vince Menzione: Right, exactly. Which is what they need to do. [00:24:11] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. The, in this era, you really need to understand what your SMB is doing because, you know, think about it for the longest, this sort sub, you know, consultative approaches were only sort of reserved for enterprise. [00:24:26] Vince Menzione: Yeah, that’s right. [00:24:27] Oguo Atuanya: But when you look at how, you know, the solutions that we sell, I change, they’re really enterprise solutions now that are in SMB. Right. You have to sell that way. You have to engage that way. Right? So that, that’s, that’s a key differentiator between being an MSP and an MIP, bringing that intelligence into you applying, you know, an intelligent workflow to the way your SMB conduct that, sorry, conducts their business. [00:24:56] Vince Menzione: So tell, take me through, uh, what the ideal MMSP or MIP looks like to you. Like what is the. The, the top of the top and to the right. And then where do you see the challenges? Why do some organizations or, or, ’cause I’m sure there are some that struggle, whether it’s 10%, 20%. [00:25:14] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. Yeah. [00:25:15] Vince Menzione: Because it’s, it’s, it’s a continuum. [00:25:16] It’s a, it’s a cycle to get from, from point A to point B for a lot of these organizations. Right? [00:25:21] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. So [00:25:21] Vince Menzione: what do you see from the challenges they need to overcome and, yeah, so, so the, [00:25:25] Oguo Atuanya: the, the optimal MSP looks like what we just described, right? Yeah. Right. You have an organization that thinks through the process that way, set up. [00:25:33] Right. [00:25:34] Vince Menzione: And they become an ongoing consultant. They help them through the process. They understand ai. Right. This is another thing too, right? Organizations, I mean, are struggling right now with their [00:25:43] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah, absolutely. [00:25:44] Vince Menzione: Their people. [00:25:45] Oguo Atuanya: It’s gotta be the baseline. [00:25:47] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:25:47] Oguo Atuanya: You know, these days, understanding ai, understanding the agent, you know, journey. [00:25:53] Uh, what works well is, um, you know, you, um, you know, you, you. You have to be able to design, um, land a scalable, secure, uh, environment, um, [00:26:13] Vince Menzione: secure. [00:26:16] Oguo Atuanya: So, so security is key here, [00:26:20] Vince Menzione: right? I keep thinking about Claude, what’s happened just in the last several weeks. Yeah. In our industry with people putting things up on, through, through open browsers. [00:26:28] Yeah. [00:26:29] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:26:29] Vince Menzione: To Claude and to. Different tools. [00:26:31] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. Yeah. [00:26:32] Vince Menzione: And if you’re an SM B and you’re trying to lock down your environment’s, don’t want, that’s, you don’t want your data exposed. [00:26:37] Oguo Atuanya: That’s why security is [00:26:38] Vince Menzione: huge, [00:26:39] Oguo Atuanya: is key. But, you know, one of the things we recommend is start very specific. Uh, it could be a bundle that includes, you know, could be co-pilot, could be some other AI pillar. [00:26:52] Uh, and then it has to be, you know, a security layer. [00:26:57] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:26:58] Oguo Atuanya: Uh, to that. Then there has to be an enablement, you know, services layer to that as well, right? So, um, you build secure, um, you land, uh, and then skills develop key, right? And then monetization. You have to be able to hit those levels, uh, to be able to survive in this world. [00:27:22] You’re no longer just selling. Tools. [00:27:27] Vince Menzione: Yes. At margins, [00:27:30] Oguo Atuanya: flat margins. So the tool, the tool sprawl, um, is what takes a lot of margins away. [00:27:37] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:27:37] Oguo Atuanya: From the equation. [00:27:38] Vince Menzione: Right? Tell, tell us about that. ’cause I, I, I remember even back in my Microsoft days, yeah, we would go in and, and have partners that were successful that would say. [00:27:47] In fact, the ones that are most successful would basically tell the customer, you already own it. Like you have a, you have an enterprise agreement and it has all the capabilities you need to run your enterprise, and you’re buying all these other one-off solutions and trying to patch them into your, into your portfolio of your, your solution set. [00:28:04] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. Nobody, nobody, especially in SB, nobody wants any more tools. [00:28:08] Vince Menzione: No, I can [00:28:09] Oguo Atuanya: imagine. Um, you, you’ve gotta sort of assemble this thing into a platform that works. [00:28:14] Vince Menzione: Yep. [00:28:15] Oguo Atuanya: Right. And it’s gotta be repeatable. If it’s not repeatable, then you’re not driving the frequency. Right. It’s gotta be scalable. Um, ’cause if it’s scalable, then you’re going into, um, that kind of sprawl where people start thinking they need to replace gaps with more tools. [00:28:32] Yeah. Nobody needs. Right. [00:28:34] Vince Menzione: And that creates more vulnerability by putting [00:28:36] Oguo Atuanya: Absolutely. [00:28:37] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:28:37] Oguo Atuanya: Absolutely. Yeah. It’s [00:28:39] Vince Menzione: fascinating. So [00:28:40] Oguo Atuanya: it’s, it’s a different, um. Sort of engagement and I, I’m refraining from saying it to different kind of sell because the connotation of sell is you transact and you’re gone. It’s a full lifecycle engagement model. [00:28:56] Yeah. [00:28:56] Vince Menzione: I think what you’re doing is you’re enabling the evolution of this market. [00:29:01] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah, [00:29:01] Vince Menzione: that’s the way I would say it. [00:29:02] Oguo Atuanya: Well, that, that’s exactly what we’re trying to do with, um, the shift from MSP to MIP is. Um, we’re driving the transformation in SMB. [00:29:12] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:29:13] Oguo Atuanya: I, I mean, the ultimate goal is to get that MIP channel as intelligent or even more intelligent and agile than any enterprise IT department. [00:29:23] Yes. ’cause they are the, [00:29:24] Vince Menzione: they are ones, the enterprise IT department [00:29:26] Oguo Atuanya: for that customer. Yeah. The, the word trusted advisor is gonna take a very, you know, it’s [00:29:31] Vince Menzione: fascinating, [00:29:31] Oguo Atuanya: more serious connotation in this space. Because the SMBs are dependent on you as the MMIP for that. [00:29:39] Vince Menzione: Yeah. Let’s talk, we, we had a session on marketplace yesterday. [00:29:42] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:29:43] Vince Menzione: Um, you have been a great driver now through, especially through this new program, the new unified marketplace. [00:29:50] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:29:50] Vince Menzione: Uh, PAX eight is stood, stood above and beyond and doubled sales, I think is what I thought I heard. Take, take us through some of the, [00:29:58] Oguo Atuanya: well, I mean, uh, uh, a marketplace. Uh, marketplace sales has grown exponentially, [00:30:04] Vince Menzione: exponentially, [00:30:04] Oguo Atuanya: right? [00:30:05] Um, um, this partnership with Microsoft is really all about for the first time, um, integrating, you know, both the, uh, Microsoft, uh, marketplace and the P State marketplace into the MSP delivery, you know, system. Right? What does that mean for the MSP? It means that for the first time, the MSP is gonna have an ability to, um, you know, uh, bundle seamlessly or package seamlessly. [00:30:36] I know from a Microsoft Yeah. Package seamlessly. Um, you know, so Microsoft, uh, solutions and third party solutions that are complimentary again, to driving the outcomes that, you know, uh, the SMB needs. It’s really all about provisioning. Um, and, um, you know, building those solutions intelligently and, and dynamically, right? [00:31:05] Where it’s very scalable, right? So that, that’s sort of what the intelligence and the, the dexterity of our marketplace, uh, does. Right? So, so it’s, it’s, it’s creating, you know, um, provisioning, building, uh, transacting. Then really managing in a very automated fashion. Right. So that’s what the MSP gets. Yes. [00:31:32] The vendor, like Microsoft and other vendors remove the guesswork from, is this actually gonna hit the mark for, uh, SMBs? ’cause we do that curation through the discovery when we, you know, integrate marketplaces. Make sure that those solutions, those agents that land in the marketplace are SMB applicable. [00:31:57] ’cause the other thing we, we, we see in the marketplace, and I’m using the general marketplace is, um, a lot of companies will tell you that they have SMB solutions or agents. Yes, in the marketplace. And then you go into the marketplace and these are really enterprise, enterprise [00:32:14] Vince Menzione: solutions. Solutions that are [00:32:15] Oguo Atuanya: being forced down into SMB. [00:32:18] Well, you can’t do that these days ’cause you have to hit that, you know, customer, um, precision when you’re driving, you know, outcome based solutions. You have to be precise. [00:32:29] Vince Menzione: What is, what is the curation process for? Um, I’m an SMB customer. I come to the MSP. And you help at your marketplace level, it sounds like you help design what the right solution is. [00:32:42] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. Yeah. [00:32:42] Vince Menzione: So what, tell, take us through that process real quick. [00:32:45] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. So, um, you know, we have a set of folks internally. Along with our PXI labs people. [00:32:52] Vince Menzione: Okay. [00:32:53] Oguo Atuanya: When we’re actually intaking, you know? So [00:32:56] Vince Menzione: you’re using AI as well on that side of Yeah. We use AI Doing your discovery process for the customers. Yes. [00:33:02] Using [00:33:02] Oguo Atuanya: AI as well. It, it uses ai, the rules that are being written into it, you know, [00:33:06] Vince Menzione: it [00:33:06] Oguo Atuanya: processes, Hey, it’s gotta be applicable from an SMB perspective. Right. This [00:33:10] Vince Menzione: is very cool. [00:33:11] Oguo Atuanya: Right. So, um, you know, we, we do that, we ensure that it’s, um. It’s applicable. There’s no guesswork. Right. Then we put it on the, um, on the agent store. [00:33:22] Right. And then, um, you know, we help the, uh, uh, MSPs, um, architect and fit solutions around the agents, you know, for very specific outcomes. That’s, uh, so it’s, [00:33:36] Vince Menzione: this is fascinating. [00:33:37] Oguo Atuanya: It’s a very curated process. [00:33:39] Vince Menzione: Yeah. So for, um, the market, the MSP market or MIP market that are watching and listening today, and maybe they’re not with PAX eight yet. [00:33:49] Like what would, what would be the, the, I mean you’ve already described what the differentiation Yeah. Just, I’m just thinking out loud here. Like what would you say to them today, especially as this market is changing, not your market, but the, just the technology sector, the, the shifts are happening so fast right now. [00:34:07] What would be the. I guess the one piece of advice you would give to this community of technology companies out there that they should think about for 10 26. [00:34:18] Oguo Atuanya: It’s, it’s really refrain from Yeah. Selling just tools and infrastructure. Yeah. [00:34:30] Vince Menzione: Which is the way a lot of them have been structured. That’s right. [00:34:32] They’ve done right. [00:34:33] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. Think about [00:34:34] Vince Menzione: they’ve gone down a road with a vendor because they got great margins for some reason. [00:34:37] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. So understand your customer, the space they’re playing and how you can build, you know, solutions, uh, for them. Be specific vis-a-vis the solutions that you’re building. Right. [00:34:50] Again, um. I was having a conversation yesterday with Nina Hard, and we’re talking about the high heat of, uh, traffic verticals, right? Yeah. Uh, you know, things like healthcare, uh, things like financial services, right? Be very specific in the solutions that you’re building, right? Don’t experiment too much land on what an applicable solution is. [00:35:18] Vince Menzione: Yeah. Predictable [00:35:18] Oguo Atuanya: solution. Make it repeatable, make it. Scalable. Emphasize on the upscale and enablement right, and focus on the monetization. Understand exactly how you’re gonna articulate the value add and the ROI. To [00:35:40] Vince Menzione: To the customer. [00:35:41] Oguo Atuanya: The SMB. [00:35:41] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:35:42] Oguo Atuanya: Because that’s where a lot of folks struggle, right. They still cannot do all that, [00:35:47] Vince Menzione: and they get stuck on the cost to the customer. [00:35:50] They get hung up, I guess, is what I would say. Right. They don’t, they don’t articulate the value enough. [00:35:55] Oguo Atuanya: Well, they’re not selling outcomes. [00:35:57] Vince Menzione: They’re not selling outcomes. They’re selling, [00:35:58] Oguo Atuanya: they’re trying to piece together tools. [00:36:00] Vince Menzione: Hot [00:36:00] Oguo Atuanya: and hot [00:36:01] Vince Menzione: tools, [00:36:01] Oguo Atuanya: spot applications. [00:36:02] Vince Menzione: Tools, tools is the best way to [00:36:03] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:36:04] Vince Menzione: To describe it [00:36:04] Oguo Atuanya: to [00:36:05] Vince Menzione: the [00:36:05] Oguo Atuanya: company and all else spills come to Pax it. [00:36:07] Yes. Teach you how to do it. [00:36:09] Vince Menzione: Well, I, I’m fascinated to join you in June at Beyond. [00:36:13] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:36:13] Vince Menzione: Um, same [00:36:15] Oguo Atuanya: here. [00:36:15] Vince Menzione: So dates again. [00:36:18] Oguo Atuanya: Vincent, you put me, I think it’s, uh, June 7th to the ninth. [00:36:21] Vince Menzione: June 7th to the ninth. [00:36:22] Oguo Atuanya: And this is, uh, in Salt Lake City. In Salt Lake City [00:36:25] Vince Menzione: this [00:36:25] Oguo Atuanya: year. [00:36:25] Vince Menzione: Salt [00:36:25] Oguo Atuanya: Lake [00:36:26] Vince Menzione: year. Yeah. You had it, you had it in a different in Colorado last year [00:36:28] Oguo Atuanya: we had it in Denver. [00:36:29] So this is actually, this is actually, um, this is [00:36:32] Vince Menzione: your hometown, [00:36:33] Oguo Atuanya: the company. Yeah. This is, this is the mainstream. Beyond. So [00:36:36] Vince Menzione: I love [00:36:37] Oguo Atuanya: it. This is a big event. [00:36:38] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:36:38] Oguo Atuanya: Right. ’cause we also have regional events. [00:36:40] Vince Menzione: Yeah. Like four or 5,000 people. I think last year [00:36:43] Oguo Atuanya: it was right around three to 4,000. Three to 4,000 last year. [00:36:45] I think we’re gonna get, you know, more than that. Yeah. In, in, uh, salt Lake City. Then of course we have, um, a regional beyond. We just had the Em me version in, um, Berlin. Um. Netherlands, [00:36:56] Vince Menzione: Netherlands [00:36:57] Oguo Atuanya: after that. [00:36:57] Vince Menzione: But you did Berlin last year? We [00:36:59] Oguo Atuanya: did Berlin. Berlin last I knew years ago. Next year we’ll be in, uh, uh, Copenhagen. [00:37:03] Vince Menzione: Okay. [00:37:03] Oguo Atuanya: And then we’ll also have, um, uh, Asia version. Nice. Uh, in 27 [00:37:08] Vince Menzione: Milano. Maybe the year after would be good. [00:37:11] Oguo Atuanya: We, we, we need to arrange, I’ll work with, um, uh, you know, uh, MCEO. Harold. [00:37:16] Vince Menzione: I love it. I love it. [00:37:17] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. [00:37:17] Vince Menzione: Um. I would, uh, so I have one question. I might’ve asked you this question before, but I would love to just ask you now. [00:37:24] ’cause times have changed. Our lives change, but this is my favorite question. I ask all my guests, especially all my good friends like you, you’re hosting a dinner party and you can host a dinner party anywhere in the world. It might be here, it might be in Houston, it might be in Kenya, it might be anywhere. [00:37:41] We maybe, maybe it’s in EMEA or AsiaPac. Um. You can invite any three guests from the present or the past to this amazing dinner, whom would you invite? A guo and why? [00:37:55] Oguo Atuanya: So this one always gets me because [00:37:58] Vince Menzione: I love that. [00:37:59] Oguo Atuanya: Yeah. So, you know, you and I have talked before, right? So there’s a standing, uh, invitation for my mom, you know, who know? [00:38:05] Love that. Yes. Swear a while ago. [00:38:07] Vince Menzione: Yes. Yes. [00:38:07] Oguo Atuanya: And then, you know, my sister also who [00:38:09] Vince Menzione: passed [00:38:10] Oguo Atuanya: away, passed away in May [00:38:10] Vince Menzione: last year. [00:38:11] Oguo Atuanya: So I’d love to have this tea because, you know. [00:38:14] Vince Menzione: Some great conversations. We’ll see how [00:38:15] Oguo Atuanya: he’s doing and, you know, and check [00:38:17] Vince Menzione: in with [00:38:17] Oguo Atuanya: how, how, how things, um, are going and now Wow. This third one, [00:38:24] Vince Menzione: who’s the third one? [00:38:26] Oguo Atuanya: This third [00:38:26] Vince Menzione: one is, he talked about your son a little bit the last couple of days. Yeah. Days. But I don’t think, [00:38:30] Oguo Atuanya: I don’t think he’s, he wants to be bored. [00:38:33] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:38:33] Oguo Atuanya: Having, having, um, a dinner with you [00:38:35] Vince Menzione: and you’ll be there. So now we need to ask add one more [00:38:38] Oguo Atuanya: person. Yeah. We need to add one more person. I’m thinking about that. [00:38:42] MSB. Who’s become an MIPI [00:38:46] Vince Menzione: love it. [00:38:47] Oguo Atuanya: I [00:38:47] Vince Menzione: would [00:38:47] Oguo Atuanya: love to have him at the, or her at the table. [00:38:50] Vince Menzione: Yes. [00:38:51] Oguo Atuanya: And, and talk about what that journey was like. [00:38:53] Vince Menzione: I love it. I love it. Well, that’ll be a fun dinner and I might come by and bring dessert or something. [00:38:58] Oguo Atuanya: You, [00:38:58] Vince Menzione: you, you, [00:38:59] Oguo Atuanya: you’re [00:38:59] Vince Menzione: always maybe just stop by and say, [00:39:00] Oguo Atuanya: you’re always welcome. [00:39:01] Vince Menzione: I’d love to meet your mom and your sister. So [00:39:03] Oguo Atuanya: thank you Vince. [00:39:04] Vince Menzione: Um, you are a great friend. I’m so excited to have you here in the room. Your organization is doing incredible things and we love having you as part of ultimate partner in our community. So, so great to see you again, my friend. [00:39:18] Oguo Atuanya: Appreciate it, Vince. [00:39:19] It’s always a, a pleasure being here with you and seeing you and, uh, I can’t wait to see you beyond. [00:39:24] Vince Menzione: I love [00:39:24] Oguo Atuanya: it folks out there. It’s selling out. So [00:39:26] Vince Menzione: babe, [00:39:27] Oguo Atuanya: get our, [00:39:27] Vince Menzione: get your tickets [00:39:28] Oguo Atuanya: soon. June 7th to ninth. It’s, uh, the biggest show in the MSU [00:39:31] Vince Menzione: world. It’s the biggest show. And then we, uh, is also gonna participate, I believe, at our, at our Bellevue event, Bellview Forum, which will be an incredible event. [00:39:39] Yeah. And May 13th, May 11th, through the 13th. I want to thank you for watching. I wanna thank you for listening to this episode of The Ultimate Eye, to partnering and following our YouTube channel, ultimate Partner, and for being part of our community at Ultimate Partner. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. [00:39:55] Thank you. Don’t forget, ultimate Partner Live is coming soon, may 11 through the 13th in beautiful Bellevue, Washington. I hope to see you there.
What would you do if $5 million was on the line?In this episode, Jerrad sits down with Beast Games runner-up Cory Sims — the fan favorite who captured hearts by refusing to compromise his faith and integrity.Cory shares what it was like to:• Compete for 42 days without phones or outside contact• Face life-changing decisions with $5 million on the line• Lose the final challenge — and discover God had a bigger planWe also talk about fatherhood, faith under pressure, and the surprising lesson Cory learned after walking away without the money.Turns out… some things are worth more than $5 million.Mentioned in today's Episode:- Cozy Earth promo code DADTIRED- Dad Tired One Dy Conferences - Attend the Annual Retreat- Become a Dad Tired Partner- Shop the Dad Tired Store