Podcasts about sustained

The high statistical prevalence of burnout in the education system has moved past the realm of speculation and into undeniable systemic reality. While modern teacher preparation programs provide good technical training, they consistently fail to equip people with the emotional tools required to withstand chronic occupational stress. Katrina G. Huels, an educational consultant, former special education leader, and author of Transformational Tools for Special Educators, joins Emily to talk about the cumulative emotional load of behavior management, chronic staffing shortages, and high administrative demands. They outline practical micro-interventions, and reframe emotional intelligence not as a passive wellness trend, but as a critical, evidence-based instructional skill set. TAKEAWAYS Educator burnout frequently leads to detachment from instructional purpose, high absenteeism, and significant early-career retention deficits. Teacher preparation and district professional development programs rarely include formal training on managing chronic physiological stress and emotional fatigue. Shifting an educator's baseline out of a chronic survival state requires self-awareness, self-regulation, and internal motivation. Integrating brief, structured regulatory check-ins into existing daily routines helps prevent acute stress responses from overriding clear situational analysis. Sustained district-wide improvements in school culture and collaboration starts at the top, in administration. Check out our continuing education courses for educators through our online platform, the Neurodiversity University! Find them here and here. Katrina G. Huels is an educational consultant and former special education leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning classrooms, specialized programs, and district leadership. Her work focuses on helping educators sustain both their effectiveness and well-being in one of the most emotionally demanding areas of education. Drawing on her background in psychology, neuroscience-informed practice, and educational leadership, Katrina translates research into practical, real-world tools educators can use throughout the school day. Her work emphasizes emotional intelligence, neuroplasticity, and professional resilience. She is the author of Transformational Tools for Special Educators: How to Beat Burnout and Become the Best at What You Do and The Motivation Toolkit: Cultivate Your Inner Drive. BACKGROUND READING Katrina's website, Instagram The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com If you'd like members of your organization, school district, or company to know more about the subjects discussed on our podcast, Emily Kircher-Morris provides keynote addresses, workshops, and training sessions worldwide, in-person or virtually. You can choose from a list of established presentations, or work with Emily to develop a custom talk to fit your unique situation. To learn more, visit our website.

Dale "Captain Fingers" Allison joins the lads for yet another musical wander through the weirdness of this week's news!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deana Corbin of the Animal Protective League of Springfield joins Patrick to discuss the damage from severe storms that likely rendered their shelter a total loss and how they managed to save all 150 animals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gale force winds can come at any time and in any season. Sometimes storm clouds warn of their imminent arrival, but other times you wake up surprised by the strong gusts that have pushed in under the cover of darkness.But what about when the storms aren't outside your window, but inside your life? Where should you turn?One place to find the answer is in the book of Isaiah, one of Jill's favorite books in the Bible. Jill teaches about the character of God by sharing how He cared for the Israelites and Isaiah, but she also shares practical stories from her many years of ministry to illustrate God's promise to shelter us when things get difficult. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

Gale force winds can come at any time and in any season. Sometimes storm clouds warn of their imminent arrival, but other times you wake up surprised by the strong gusts that have pushed in under the cover of darkness.But what about when the storms aren't outside your window, but inside your life? Where should you turn?One place to find the answer is in the book of Isaiah, one of Jill's favorite books in the Bible. Jill teaches about the character of God by sharing how He cared for the Israelites and Isaiah, but she also shares practical stories from her many years of ministry to illustrate God's promise to shelter us when things get difficult. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29?v=20251111

DMV Hoops Podcast – Episode 110

Pastor John Bingham - When God Still Speaks - 1 Kings 17:8-16

For this section of Colossians, Paul reminds the church in Colossae of what the Gospel is and gives reason for why they should never depart from it. Today's Readings: Colossians 1:21-23; John 3:22-30.

Delivered by Christine Gunawan from the Parish of Saint Joseph Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Pontianak, Indonesia. Deuteronomy 8: 2-3.14b-16a; Rs psalm 147: 12-13.14-15.19-20; 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17; John 6: 51-58.WE ARE SUSTAINED BY THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST The theme for our meditation on this Sunday, Solemnityof the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is: We are Sustained by the Body andBlood of Christ. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christinvites us to contemplate a profound truth: Christ does not only teach us froma distance. He gives Himself completely to us. In the Eucharist, Jesus becomesour food and drink so that we may have life in Him and continue our journeywith strength, hope, and love. In the Gospel, Jesus states frankly that His body, the flesh of the Son of Man, and Hisblood are the food we should eat. This reveals more than just His power toprovide material food, but a deeper gift. Just as people are nourishedphysically, Christ nourishes us spiritually through His Body and Blood. Humanshunger for many things: acceptance, peace, meaning, forgiveness, and love. Nogift from this world can fully satisfy our hunger. Only Christ can fulfill thedeepest longings of the human heart. The Eucharist reminds us that God understands ourweakness. We often become tired, discouraged, and burdened by life's struggles.At times we may feel inadequate in our vocation, family responsibilities,ministry, studies, or work. Yet Jesus does not leave us to rely solely on ourown strength. Every time we receive the Eucharist with faith, He shares His ownlife with us. His patience strengthens our impatience. His love heals ourwounded hearts. His courage sustains us when we feel afraid. The Eucharist is also a call to become what we receive.We receive the Body of Christ so that we may become the Body of Christ forothers. The bread that is broken for us challenges us to share ourselvesgenerously. The cup of salvation invites us to pour out our lives in service,compassion, and forgiveness. Nourished by Christ, we are sent to nourish othersthrough our words, presence, and acts of kindness. A father shared a story about how the daily and weeklyEucharist sustains him and his family. The burdens of life and theresponsibility of caring for his family are daily tasks that cannot beneglected. Therefore, every time he attends the Eucharist, he is given theopportunity to receive the Lord Jesus and bring Him into every situation andactivity in his life. Like that father, we often find that our strength isinsufficient. The Eucharist reminds us that we are not sustained by our ownefforts alone. We live by Christ himself. He feeds us so that we can continueour journey faithfully.Let us pray. In the name of the Father … Lord, Jesus, You give us Your Body andBlood as the food of eternal life. When we are weak, strengthen us. When we arediscouraged, renew our hope. When we are tempted to rely only on ourselves,remind us that You are always with us. May every Eucharist deepen our unionwith You and transform us into instruments of Your love for others. Glory tothe Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father…

When we quickly grow restless - as the Israelites did - to whom do we turn? God desires to sustain us with His Spirit. A message from Pastor Stephen.  This message was recorded on 24/05/2026 during the 10am service.  For more information, head to riveredgechurch.com.au.

At NAB 2026, Larry O'Connor of Other World Computing discusses the new Express 4M2 Ultra, a Thunderbolt 5-certified, four-blade M.2 DIY storage solution built for speed, quiet operation, and thermal control. The conversation also covers OWC's dual 10G dock, StudioStack, Helios 5S PCIe chassis, and the company's focus on reliable, accessible technology for creators, prosumers, and professionals.  Show Notes: Chapters: 00:00 Introduction from NAB 202600:59 What's new from OWC01:05 Introducing the Express 4M2 Ultra01:26 A Thunderbolt 5 four-blade M.2 DIY solution02:09 Feedback from the original Express 4M202:42 Designing for smaller size, silence, and smart cooling03:43 Sustained performance and Thunderbolt 5 certification04:07 Managing heat in compact SSD enclosures04:36 OWC's approach to thermals and noise06:15 Drive safety, throttling, and poor enclosure design07:19 Pricing, pre-orders, and availability07:56 DIY drive installation and product positioning09:43 Dual 10G dock for advanced workflows10:27 StudioStack storage expansion for Mac and PC11:33 Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth advantages13:34 Thunderbolt 5 hub, dock, and Helios 5S PCIe chassis14:19 Building solutions customers can trust14:39 OWC's commitment to consumer, prosumer, and pro users16:11 Where to find OWC products16:24 Wrap-up with Larry O'Connor Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:     https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

At NAB 2026, Larry O'Connor of Other World Computing discusses the new Express 4M2 Ultra, a Thunderbolt 5-certified, four-blade M.2 DIY storage solution built for speed, quiet operation, and thermal control. The conversation also covers OWC's dual 10G dock, StudioStack, Helios 5S PCIe chassis, and the company's focus on reliable, accessible technology for creators, prosumers, and professionals.  Show Notes: Chapters: 00:00 Introduction from NAB 2026 00:59 What's new from OWC 01:05 Introducing the Express 4M2 Ultra 01:26 A Thunderbolt 5 four-blade M.2 DIY solution 02:09 Feedback from the original Express 4M2 02:42 Designing for smaller size, silence, and smart cooling 03:43 Sustained performance and Thunderbolt 5 certification 04:07 Managing heat in compact SSD enclosures 04:36 OWC's approach to thermals and noise 06:15 Drive safety, throttling, and poor enclosure design 07:19 Pricing, pre-orders, and availability 07:56 DIY drive installation and product positioning 09:43 Dual 10G dock for advanced workflows 10:27 StudioStack storage expansion for Mac and PC 11:33 Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth advantages 13:34 Thunderbolt 5 hub, dock, and Helios 5S PCIe chassis 14:19 Building solutions customers can trust 14:39 OWC's commitment to consumer, prosumer, and pro users 16:11 Where to find OWC products 16:24 Wrap-up with Larry O'Connor Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Don't miss out on your RACE-approved CE—completely free. Strengthen your veterinary dentistry skills with practical, case-based training you can apply immediately in practice. https://ivdi.org/free --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Host: Dr. Brett Beckman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC, DAAPM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This week's episode answers some of the most common surgical extraction questions submitted during recent veterinary dentistry trainings. Dr. Brett Beckman shares practical guidance for improving extraction technique in general practice, with a focus on flap elevation, bone removal, luxation technique, fractured root tip retrieval, and surgical decision-making during difficult extractions. The conversation centers around real-world challenges veterinarians encounter during canine and maxillary tooth extractions—including managing soft tissue attached during flap creation, how deep to remove bone around roots, preventing root fractures, and approaching difficult maxillary fourth premolar and molar extractions safely and efficiently. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What You'll Learn in This Episode

Penn State wrestling just keeps winning — but Mitchell Messenbrink and Sean Degl make it clear that the dynasty is not only about talent.In this episode of Off the Mat, Messenbrink and Degl break down what makes Penn State wrestling different: the coaching staff, the culture, the team-first mindset, the love for the program, and the discipline required to sustain greatness year after year.They talk about Penn State's record-setting season, what makes Coach Cael Sanderson's program so unique, why Coach Casey Cunningham is one of the most important figures behind the scenes, how teammates push each other without jealousy, and why the Nittany Lions' success is rooted in giving more than taking.This is a rare inside look at the mindset behind one of the greatest dynasties in college sports.Chapters:0:00 Penn State's fifth straight national championship1:09 Sean Degl on his first year with the team1:44 Messenbrink on record-setting teams and elite coaching2:42 Sustained success3:19 Repeating greatness is so difficult4:29 Day-by-day approach to winning5:43 What made this Penn State team different?6:49 Love for Penn State wrestling7:39 Messenbrink on Degl being there for him8:36 When they realized this team was special9:33 Outside the wrestling room11:44 Hard work showed up12:18 PJ Duke's discipline13:34 The young guys15:19 Levi Haines' leadership and energy21:46 What they will remember most about this team25:18 What it means to be part of Penn State wrestling27:29 Final thoughts and offseason outlookFOLLOW STATE MEDIA HERE:► TWITTER | ⁠https://twitter.com/StateMediaPSU⁠► TIKTOK | ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@statemediapsu⁠► INSTAGRAM | ⁠https://www.instagram.com/statemediapsu/⁠► YOUTUBE | ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@StateMediaPSU?sub_confirmation=1⁠► FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558183472272#pennstate #weare #happyvalley

In this episode of the CRO Spotlight podcast, Warren Zenna hosts Kris Billmaier, EVP & GM of Agentforce Sales at Salesforce to discuss how the traditional CRM interface is rapidly evolving, shifting revenue teams from manual data entry to autonomous workflows. We explore the transition toward headless CRM and how AI agents are automating administrative tasks, allowing sales professionals to focus on direct customer engagement and high-leverage closing activities.Modern chief revenue officers must transcend traditional sales leadership to become comprehensive revenue architects. The conversation highlights the necessity of breaking down operational silos to integrate sales, marketing, and customer success into a unified engine. By leveraging conversational insights and predictive data, CROs can build highly predictable forecasts, accurately define ideal customer profiles, and design frictionless deal cycles.We examine the tangible deployment of AI within the sales funnel, specifically focusing on how automated prospectors are redefining the business development phase. By assigning agents to previously ignored leads and automating initial outreach, organizations drastically expand their pipeline capacity. This shift requires human representatives to transition into management roles, overseeing hybrid teams of both human talent and automated systems.Sustained business growth relies heavily on post-sale customer advocacy rather than endless top-of-funnel acquisition. We analyze why revenue leaders must prioritize retention and customer success as core growth mechanisms. By gathering intelligence from renewed accounts and deploying agents to follow up on deferred buying cycles, companies create a compounded data loop that continuously refines targeting and scales revenue efficiency globally.

Listen to the Best of Phillies on 94WIP where the Morning, Midday and Afternoon Shows discuss Aaron Nola's pitching struggles and the potential impact of his long-term contract. They also discuss Bryce Harper's resistance to batting second in the lineup and Don Mattingly's decision to share those details publicly. Scott Franzke provides updates on Alec Bohm's offensive adjustments and the outlook for the series against the Cleveland Guardians. 01:50 - Aaron Nola Slump 06:55 - Pitching Strategy Discussion 12:00 - Pitching System Impact 17:40 - Nola Playoff Outlook 22:35 - ABS Rule Changes 28:00 - Managing Pitching Struggles 34:30 - Harper Lineup Debate 39:30 - Lineup Comfort Levels 45:15 - Mattingly Lineup Comments 50:30 - Team Leadership Issues 58:30 - Scott Franzke Joins 01:04:30 - Realmuto Batting Struggles 01:09:15 - Jackie Baseball Report 01:14:10 - Nola Bullpen Conversion 01:20:10 - Phillies Future Outlook

Listen to the Best of Phillies on 94WIP where the Morning, Midday and Afternoon Shows discuss Aaron Nola's pitching struggles and the potential impact of his long-term contract. They also discuss Bryce Harper's resistance to batting second in the lineup and Don Mattingly's decision to share those details publicly. Scott Franzke provides updates on Alec Bohm's offensive adjustments and the outlook for the series against the Cleveland Guardians. 01:50 - Aaron Nola Slump 06:55 - Pitching Strategy Discussion 12:00 - Pitching System Impact 17:40 - Nola Playoff Outlook 22:35 - ABS Rule Changes 28:00 - Managing Pitching Struggles 34:30 - Harper Lineup Debate 39:30 - Lineup Comfort Levels 45:15 - Mattingly Lineup Comments 50:30 - Team Leadership Issues 58:30 - Scott Franzke Joins 01:04:30 - Realmuto Batting Struggles 01:09:15 - Jackie Baseball Report 01:14:10 - Nola Bullpen Conversion 01:20:10 - Phillies Future Outlook

Listen to the Best of Phillies on 94WIP where the Morning, Midday and Afternoon Shows discuss Aaron Nola's pitching struggles and the potential impact of his long-term contract. They also discuss Bryce Harper's resistance to batting second in the lineup and Don Mattingly's decision to share those details publicly. Scott Franzke provides updates on Alec Bohm's offensive adjustments and the outlook for the series against the Cleveland Guardians. 01:50 - Aaron Nola Slump 06:55 - Pitching Strategy Discussion 12:00 - Pitching System Impact 17:40 - Nola Playoff Outlook 22:35 - ABS Rule Changes 28:00 - Managing Pitching Struggles 34:30 - Harper Lineup Debate 39:30 - Lineup Comfort Levels 45:15 - Mattingly Lineup Comments 50:30 - Team Leadership Issues 58:30 - Scott Franzke Joins 01:04:30 - Realmuto Batting Struggles 01:09:15 - Jackie Baseball Report 01:14:10 - Nola Bullpen Conversion 01:20:10 - Phillies Future Outlook

Being a lawyer is one of the most high-pressure jobs in the world, but it should not come at the expense of your health or your family. In this episode, hosts Bob Bianchi and Dave Bruno sit down with Texas litigator Marco Flores to discuss how to navigate the hard seasons of life and law with a healthy mindset. Marco shares his personal story of how the stress of starting a firm led to a physical health crisis and how he used that adversity to build a better way of living. We explore why law school fails to teach us how to actually live as lawyers and why optimizing your wellness is the missing infrastructure for long-term success. You will learn about the false bargain many professionals make, the power of time blocking using the Covey quadrants, and how to create specific identities that help you show up as the best version of yourself for your clients and your loved ones. We also redefine what toughness really means in the modern legal landscape, moving away from the old-school mentality of burnout toward a smarter, more sustainable toughness.

Pastor John Bingham - When God Still Speaks - 1 Kings 17:8-19

We continue our episodes of the Auto Remarketing Podcast originating from the Live Stage, which was sponsored by SYCN Auto Logistics, during the Used Car Industry Summit in Miami this spring. FlexPath DXP chief executive officer Tarry Shebesta draws on his decades of industry experience to recap why used-car leasing has yet to gain sustained momentum. Now with affordability permeating the car business, Shebesta sees leasing as the path dealers can take to turn their used inventory frequently and solve the monthly payment concerns of their customers.

Guest JoAnne Duncan has had a varied career, from Alaskan fly-fishing guide to elementary teacher and principal, always focused on valuing the strengths of every student and staff member. Though she's stepped away from her career in public education, she continues to learn, grow, and inspire others. A lifelong learner, she finds joy and insight outdoors, exploring nature, and discovering new ideas, always growing, always learning, and always curious.   Summary In this episode, JoAnne reflects on her unconventional path into education, her transition into school leadership, and ultimately her decision to leave the profession. Initially drawn to teaching through a lifelong inclination to instruct and guide others, she became a principal after experiencing ineffective leadership that she felt failed both teachers and students. Her administrative career, particularly during and after the pandemic, became increasingly defined by crisis management rather than instructional leadership. She describes the growing demands of handling high-needs students, safety concerns, constant meetings, and a lack of systemic support. These pressures led to chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and a decline in her physical health. Despite leading a "dream school" with a strong staff, the cumulative toll forced her to step away in 2024. Since leaving, JoAnne has focused on what she calls "radical self-care," prioritizing physical and mental health through activities like yoga, swimming, and surfing in Hawaii. This period of recovery has restored her well-being and opened space for reflection about her future. While she continues to enjoy substitute teaching, she is exploring new directions, particularly those involving helping others, possibly through fitness, motivation, or personal growth. The conversation emphasizes uncertainty as a productive space. Inspired by the idea of "falling in love with questions," JoAnne commits to exploring possibilities without rushing toward definitive answers, remaining open to curiosity, serendipity, and personal evolution. A key takeaway Sustained burnout from systemic pressures can force even the most dedicated educators to step away—but recovery, reflection, and openness to uncertainty can create space for a more aligned and healthy next chapter. References / Links Instagram — @newave_nana  LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneduncan990/

Jeannette is joined by Dr. Guy Sandelowsky, co-founder of the award-winning plant-powered pet food brand, Omni. Guy reflects on the business's phenomenal journey over the past 12 months, detailing how their appearance on Dragons' Den acted as a massive catalyst to 10x their top-line revenue.  From surviving a brutal grilling by Peter Jones to securing backing from Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden, he shares invaluable insights into scaling a startup, navigating corporate sustainability through B Corp status, and the unique challenges faced as an LGBTQ+ founder in the business world. You'll Learn Why: Appearing on Dragons' Den can serve as a powerful catalyst for unprecedented business growth by providing massive, free national television exposure. Sustained growth relies on establishing a clear product-market fit by solving a genuine, widespread pain point for your consumers. Achieving B Corp certification is not just about ethical practice; it creates a highly resilient business model that aligns with the values of modern consumers and drives higher revenue growth. Navigating investor bias by remaining fiercely authentic to your identity can ultimately unlock the right opportunities and secure partners who truly support your vision. This episode is living proof that no matter where you're starting from — or what life throws at you — it's never too late to be brave, bold, and unlock your inner brilliant. Visit https://brave-bold-brilliant.com/ for free tools, guides and resources to help you take action now

I Corinthians 1:4-9 –4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for Read more about Sustained by God's Grace[…]

When the World Shakes, Look Up In this grounding and timely message, Pastor Rhonda Giles Davis addresses the heavy culture of anxiety, economic strain, and digital noise that characterizes modern life. Drawing from the calling of the Prophet Isaiah, she reminds the congregation that when earthly systems begin to crack, our response shouldn't be to panic, but to lift our gaze to the King who remains completely unshaken. Key Highlights The Low-Grade Anxiety of Our Day: Pastor Rhonda challenges the church to be vigilant about what they consume online. She warns against the "cannibalistic" culture of social media and AI-generated distractions designed to induce panic and tight chests, urging believers to limit exposure to things without godly intent. The "King Uzziah" Crisis: Isaiah's vision didn't happen during a time of peace; it happened "in the year that King Uzziah died." Uzziah had provided stability and prosperity for fifty-two years. His death threw the nation into panic. Pastor Rhonda notes that everyone faces a "King Uzziah moment"—the sudden loss of a job, a diagnosis, or a closed door that causes earthly foundations to shake. The Trap of Hedonic Adaptation: Humans naturally get used to amazing things over time, causing them to become routine. Pastor Rhonda warns against allowing our relationship with Jesus to fall into this routine, urging the church to return to the pure awe and amazement of their first love. The Breaking is Holy Ground: True encounters with God's holiness don't produce a shame that destroys us; instead, they produce a holy brokenness that opens us up. Real transformation requires moving past a polished religious exterior and being completely honest about our mess before the throne. Sustained from the Inside Out: God doesn't just create the universe; He actively sustains it. Pastor Rhonda points out that if God can naturally replace the seven octillion atoms in the human body without our effort, we can completely trust Him to sustain our families, our health, and our finances. Shifting Perspectives: Street Level vs. Throne Level Perspective The Street-Level View (Looking Down) The Throne-Level View (Looking Up) Focus Constantly staring at problems, scrolling through chaos, and rehearsing limitations. Beholding the Master, high and exalted, seated firmly on the throne. The Mind Fear tightens its grip; low-grade anxiety settles into a permanent residence. Faith builds up; earthly troubles begin to grow strangely dim. The Cry "Woe is me! I am ruined and completely unqualified." "Here am I, Lord! Your grace has atoned for my past—send me." Outcome Emotional exhaustion and a fixed mindset of defeat. Spiritual recalibration and a fresh, active "yes" to your calling. Core Message: Your Perspective Dictates Your Peace The central premise of the sermon rests on a foundational truth: where you look determines what you see, and what you see determines how you live. If you can see God completely sovereign above your storm, you can easily survive the waves beneath it. "God isn't looking for people who have figured out how to make the world stop shaking, because you're not gonna do it. He's looking for people who will see Him clear enough and say, 'The shaking in my world does not determine my yes.'" Scriptural Foundation Colossians 1:16-17: All things were created through Him and for Him; He is before all things, and in Him, all things consist. Isaiah 6:1-8: Isaiah's majestic vision of the Lord seated on the throne, surrounded by the seraphim crying, "Holy, holy, holy." Psalm 139: A reminder that we are fearfully and wonderfully knit together by God. Luke 12:27: Jesus' teaching to consider the lilies of the field and abandon toxic worry. Action Steps for the Week Silence Your Mouth, Guard Your Clicks: Step back from online arguments, negative commentary, and profit-driven clickbait that feeds your anxiety. X-Out the Dragons: Like master mariner Sir John Franklin, look at the maps of your past trauma and write "Here Be God" right over the spaces where the enemy tried to plant demons and dragons. Attend Consecration Service: Use the upcoming Wednesday night service to lay down your performance, stop pretending you are okay, and let the fire of God's grace touch your wounds. Would you like me to help you create a specific scriptural reading plan focused on the sovereignty and peace of God to ground you when daily life starts to feel overwhelming? "Thanks for listening! For more information, visit churchoftheharvest.com. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and YouTube @cothcleveland.

Ever wonder why your child melts down after a “good” day? Understanding why school quietly fills your child's stress cup reveals how hidden stress builds all day. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, expert in Regulation First Parenting™, shows how to calm dysregulation at its source.Ever wonder why your child falls apart the second they get home—even after a “good” day? Understanding why school quietly fills your child's stress cup helps you understand what's really happening beneath the surface.It's not misbehavior—it's a nervous system that's run out of capacity. When we calm the brain first, we can finally decode what those after-school meltdowns are trying to tell us.Why does my child melt down right after school even if nothing went wrong?You're not imagining it—and you're definitely not alone. After-school meltdowns aren't about what just happened… they're about everything that built up all day.Your child's nervous system has a limited capacity. Every demand, transition, and social moment adds a “drop” to their stress cup. By the time they get home? It's overflowing.Meltdowns = nervous system overflow, not bad behaviorHome feels safe, so emotions finally release“Good at school” often means “holding it together all day”Picture this: A teacher says your child had a “great day,” but at home, they explode over homework. That's not defiance—it's regulation fatigue.What is the “stress cup” and how does school fill it?Think of your child's brain like a cup. Every stressor adds a drop—big or small. School quietly fills that cup faster than most adults realize.Here's what's happening behind the scenes:Sustained attention: Long focus periods drain mental energyConstant transitions: Switching tasks adds cognitive loadSocial pressure: Navigating friendships and group work is exhaustingSensory overload: Noise, lights, and movement overwhelm the brainEmotional suppression: Holding it together takes serious effortBehavior is communication. When the cup overflows, your child isn't choosing chaos—their brain has run out of space.If you're tired of walking on eggshells or feeling like nothing works… Get the FREE Regulation Rescue Kit and finally learn what to say and do in the heat of the moment. Become a Dysregulation Insider VIP at www.drroseann.com/newsletter and take the first step to a calmer home.Why does my child behave better at school than at home?It can feel confusing… even frustrating. But here's the truth: It's not bad parenting—it's a dysregulated brain.Many kids use all their energy to meet expectations at school. That means:Following rulesMasking discomfortSuppressing emotionsPushing through challengesBy the time they walk through your door, there's nothing left.

Pastor Alisha preaches this Mother's Day on sustained praise and how true praise gives us the ability to remain stable in the midst of uncertainty. She teaches that sustained praise submits us to the will of God, reminding us that there is no safer place to be than in submission to the will of our Father in heaven.

Event Tickets: Political Economy in a Time of Monsters (May 12th) Welcome back to After Order - a series from Macrodose and the Alameda institute exploring power, sovereignty, and crisis in today's unstable world.This week, James is joined by Juliano Fiori, Director at Alameda, to look back at the series so far, and discuss its core premise: that we're not living through what Antonio Gramsci called an “interregnum” - a moment where the old world is dying and the new struggles to be born. Instead, that our world is now one of sustained disorder. In his own writing, Juliano takes this one step further, arguing that the very notion of order as we've come to understand it is tied to the system of US hegemony that has dominated global politics since the end of the second world war.For Juliano this “order” is not only conceptual, but material. Sustained first by the unparalleled industrial base of American capitalism, and then by its transformation into the hub of global trade and finance - secured at every turn through military might. He argues that, in losing sight of this, progressives too often take this exception for granted, and with it the belief that its decline will organically precipitate the rise of a new stability - perhaps one governed by a more just or democratic set of institutions. But this is not a mistake we can afford to make. With the dominance of the dollar waning, the US grip on global capital is beginning to slip. And Trump's warmongerings, from Venezuela to Iran, now appear as the violent shocks of an empire in sharp decline.The materiality of what we once called “order” is coming to an end. So what, if anything, comes next? The continued rise of China? A patchwork of competing regional powers? And a world defined by domination without hegemony?All that and more, in this week's After Order.

In this episode of The Responsive Lab, Carly and Scott sit down with Chris Larson, President & CEO at Ligonier Ministries. Chris has been with Ligonier since 2004, directing all strategic outreach initiatives and overseeing daily ministry operations through significant growth and leadership transitions. You'll hear about:* Why monthly sustainers became the backbone of Ligonier's 55-year mission* How to create "beautiful reciprocity" where donors benefit from the org they support* Balancing investment in younger donors while honoring longtime supporters* Using AI and technology as force multipliers for human relationship building* How to navigate the K-shaped economy without compromising donor relationships* Why fundraising conversations should focus on alignment rather than guiltLinks from the episode:* Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislarson73/* Learn more about Ligonier Ministries: https://www.ligonier.org/Looking for technology that helps you build deeper donor relationships with less work from your team? Learn more at virtuous.org.

If you’ve ever typed “am I homeschooling my child the right way” into a search bar at 11pm — this post is for you. Most homeschool moms have experienced some version of that same question — am I homeschooling my child the right way? — and most of them are asking it for exactly the right reasons. Not out loud, necessarily. More likely, as a quiet voice at the end of the day, after the books are closed and the planner is put away. Here’s the truth: there is no single “right way” to homeschool your child. But there is something that works — and it’s more accessible than you think. Am I Homeschooling My Child the Right Way? (& Why the “Right Way” to Homeschool Is a Myth Worth Busting) The homeschool world has a way of making moms feel like there’s a correct answer they haven’t found yet. The right curriculum, the right schedule, and the right philosophy. Classical or Charlotte Mason. Structured or unschooling.90 minutes a day or seven hours? And so the search begins — and the second-guessing never quite stops. Every mom who has ever asked “am I homeschooling my child the right way” deserves a better answer than another curriculum or method recommendation. Here’s what I’ve noticed after many conversations with homeschool moms who are deep in this: the ones who feel most lost are rarely the ones doing it wrong. They’re the ones paying close enough attention to notice the gap between what they planned and what their child actually needs. That gap isn’t failure. It’s information. The “Right Way” Is a Moving Target — And That’s Actually Good News The truth about homeschooling the “right way” is that right was never a fixed destination. It’s a moving target — and it moves because your child moves. She grows, shifts, changes her mind, surprises you. The mom who is asking am I getting this right? is almost always the mom who is watching closely enough to ask better questions. What “Right” Actually Means for Your Child Let me tell you about a mom I’ll call Joni. Joni had done everything by the book. Researched curricula for months. Built a beautiful schedule. Joined a co-op. Colour-coded her planner. By any external measure, she was homeschooling the “right way.” And yet her daughter — bright, curious, twelve years old — was disengaged. Resistant. Going through the motions, most of the time, so she could put her books back in her designated basket so she could run off and play. Joni kept adjusting the external pieces. Different workbooks. Different incentives beyond playtime or screentime. She offered her daughter more flexibility. Less flexibility. The result was always the same. Not the daughter she’d hoped to homeschool. Not the child the curriculum would work for. The specific, real, living girl in front of her — with her own interests, her own learning rhythms, her own quiet signals about what was and wasn’t working. The Question Underneath the Question That shift — from am I following the right method? to is this right for this child? — was where freedom lived. If you’d rather listen than read — or you want to share this conversation with a homeschool mom you know — I’ve covered all of this in this week’s podcast episode too. Press play below. https://youtu.be/ICLwWbL_9Uc?si=mfVtMHFoSfTdfYhf Am I Homeschooling My Child the Right Way? A Framework for Making Decisions You Can Trust After many conversations like the one I had with Joni, I built something I call the Right-for-This-Child Framework — six questions designed not to grade your homeschool, but to help you think with your child instead of about her. It’s not a lens into the reality of your homeschool kiddo and your homeschool plans. Here are two of the six questions, because they tend to be where the most immediate relief lives when you’re wondering if you’re homeschooling your child the right way: “Does this approach honour who she is right now?” Not who she was six months ago. Not who you’re hoping she’ll grow into. Who she is today — her interests, her energy, her actual learning preferences. This sounds obvious until you realize how often we design our homeschool around a future version of our child who doesn’t quite exist yet. The more focused, more compliant, more grateful version. Or even the child that doesn’t exist. And I’ll add that sometimes we’re trying to build a homeschool around the “child” that is within you! You might be, like me, trying to build a homeschool you would LOVE at age 28-54;) Meanwhile, the real child in front of us is sending signals we’re too busy adjusting the plan to receive. Observing your child’s energy — not just her output — is data. When she lights up, that’s data. When she goes quiet in a particular way, that’s data. Small, genuine check-ins about how she’s experiencing things give you more useful information than any progress tracker. “Am I reacting out of fear right now — or out of clarity?” This one requires self-awareness. So much of what looks like a homeschool problem is actually a mom’s nervous system problem. When a child resists or stalls, it can activate something old — a fear about falling behind, about not being enough, about her future narrowing in some irreversible way. From that place, we tend to push harder, control more, and inadvertently make the resistance worse. The practice is simple but not easy: pause before you respond. Five or ten minutes. Journal a sentence. Let the reactive emotional wave pass. What’s left after the pause is almost always much closer to your actual wisdom. The Other Four Questions (And What They Cover) The full framework goes further — into aligning decisions with your core values, weighing short-term discomfort against long-term growth, building flexibility into your plans rather than demanding perfection, and creating a simple weekly rhythm of reflection and recalibration. Together they give you a repeatable way to move through doubt. Not by eliminating it — but by using it as a starting point rather than a stopping point. The real answer to “am I homeschooling my child the right way” is never yes or no. It’s: are you paying attention, staying curious, and adjusting as you learn? If yes — you’re doing it right. The Doubt Is Not the Actually the Problem Joni didn’t need a new curriculum. She needed permission to trust what she already knew about her daughter — and a structure to help her hear herself think. If you’re in that place right now — doing the work, carrying the worry, wondering if anyone else feels this too — I want you to say this out loud: The fact that I’m asking this question means I’m the right person for this. Say that sentence again. And again. Remember that “bad homeschool moms” don’t lie awake wondering if they’re getting it right. The negligent homeschool moms aren’t googling “am I homeschool my child the right way” at midnight? (ps If I’m right and YOU are googling those words and that’s why you found me, drop me a comment below, I’d love to hear!) If you’d like support figuring out what “right for this child” actually looks like in your specific home, with your specific kid — that’s exactly the kind of conversation I’m here for. Start there. The rest tends to follow. Free Resources to Help You Homeschool With Confidence You’ve made it this far in this post because something here resonated. Maybe it was the question you’ve been carrying quietly. Or maybe it was Joni’s story. Maybe it was simply the relief of someone finally saying there is no single right way. Whatever brought you here — whether you googled “am I homeschooling my child the right way” or stumbled in through a friend’s share — I don’t want you to leave empty-handed. Depending on where you are in your homeschool journey, I’ve created something specific for you. Take the one that fits. For First-Year Homeschool Moms: The Confident Homeschool Roadmap Starting your homeschool journey is one of the bravest things a mom can do — and one of the most disorienting. You pulled your child out of traditional school (or never put them in) because you believed there was something better. And now you’re staring at a blank calendar wondering where to begin. The Confident Homeschool Roadmap is your starting point. It walks you through the foundational decisions every new homeschool mom needs to make — in the right order, without the overwhelm — so you can stop spinning and start building something that actually fits your child and your family. Inside you’ll find a clear sequence for getting started, questions that help you define what you want homeschooling to look like, and a simple structure that creates confidence without locking you into someone else’s method. When you download the Roadmap, you’ll also receive the Purposeful Homeschool Mom Weekly newsletter — a short, grounding note each week with practical encouragement, honest reflections, and tools to help you keep trusting yourself through every stage of this journey. → Grab Your Free Confident Homeschool Roadmap Download your 1st Year Confident Homeschool Roadmap For Moms Who’ve Been At It a While: The Deschool Your Homeschool Checklist You homeschool to give your child something better. So why does it still feel like you’re just recreating school at home? Your child resists anything that looks like “school.” You’re stuck somewhere between structure and freedom, second-guessing every decision, and quietly wondering if you’re doing it wrong. Here’s the truth: you’re not doing it wrong. You just haven’t deschooled yet. Or maybe you need to deschool deeper or for a new season of your family life. Deschooling is the most commonly skipped step in homeschooling — and the one that makes a ginormous difference. It’s the process of letting go of traditional school thinking so you can build something that actually fits your child, your values, and your real life. What You’ll Work Through Inside the Checklist The Deschool Your Homeschool Checklist is your reset button. It’s a free, simple guide that helps you: Step back from school-y mindsets that are quietly running the show Reconnect with how your child actually learns — not how school said she should Create space for curiosity, calm, and genuine connection Set a new course with intention and clarity Inside you’ll work through seven foundational shifts: observing your child’s natural interests, noticing what genuinely sparks their excitement, understanding their real learning style, examining the rhythms of your family relationships, getting curious about boredom instead of fixing it, defining your own version of education, and embracing the gaps instead of fighting them. When you download the Checklist, you’ll also be joining the Purposeful Homeschool Mom Weekly newsletter — where each week I share honest encouragement, practical tools, and gentle reminders that you are more capable of this than you think. → Download the Free Deschool Your Homeschool Checklist

Last time we spoke about the battle of West Suiyuan. The Ma Clique, Muslim warlords controlling Northwest China, led by Ma Hongkui and Ma Hongbin, rebuffed Japanese overtures to ally, citing historical grievances like the 1900 invasion. Driven by patriotism, they aligned with the Nationalists, reorganizing forces into the 17th Army Group. In 1938, Ma Hongbin commanded West Suiyuan defenses, building fortifications in harsh desert and mountain terrain, blending cavalry tactics with modern training despite equipment shortages. In January 1940, Japanese and puppet troops advanced from Baotou, occupying Wuyuan and Linhe. Chinese forces, including Fu Zuoyi's 35th Army and Ma's 81st Army, employed guerrilla and mobile warfare. A major counterattack in March recaptured Wuyuan, killing Lt. Gen. Mizukawa and thousands, forcing Japanese retreat. Through ambushes and night raids, the Chinese recovered territories, securing Soviet aid routes and the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region. Over 2,000 Ningxia soldiers perished, their sacrifices underscoring peripheral fronts' role in national resistance.   #200 The battle of Yaoyi Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. After capturing Wuhan, the Japanese army had already stretched itself dangerously thin. Most regular and Class A reserve divisions were committed to the front, yet they failed to annihilate the main Chinese force. Despite losing its core industrial and resource regions, the Nationalist government in Chongqing refused Japan's peace terms. Japan now found itself trapped in the very protracted war it had desperately sought to avoid. The logical Japanese response was to halt major advances, consolidate control over occupied areas, and conduct limited offensives to pressure Chiang Kai-shek into negotiations—essentially repeating the post-Nanjing strategy of late 1937. But the situation had deteriorated sharply: occupied territory had at least doubled, Japanese garrisons were inadequate, and strategic reserves were nearly exhausted. What might have been prudent a year earlier had become plainly unwise by late 1938.   To stabilize the front, Japan reorganized its China Expeditionary Army at the end of 1938. Large numbers of newly raised independent mixed brigades and lower-quality Class B reserve divisions were sent to relieve veteran regular and Class A divisions. The relieved units were either demobilized back to Japan or shifted north to reinforce the Kwantung Army against the Soviet threat.   By early 1940 Japan maintained roughly 24 divisions, 21 independent mixed brigades, and 2 cavalry brigades in China proper (excluding Manchuria), totaling nearly 800,000 ground troops. The enormous scale and expense strained the home economy severely. Even so, the vast occupied zones could not be effectively controlled: divisions often held only a single mobile battalion while dispersing the rest into scattered platoon- and squad-sized outposts. Guerrilla activity by both Nationalist and Communist forces not only persisted but intensified, occasionally clashing with each other in "friction" incidents.   Beyond mere occupation, Japan sought to wear down Chinese strength. With most elite Central Army units held in reserve in the southwest or around Wuhan, Japanese local offensives targeted the Fifth and Ninth War Zones, aiming to methodically destroy Chiang's best troops. Thus, while other Japanese armies focused on garrison relief and brigade substitution, the 11th Army—still holding Wuhan with seven divisions and three brigades—remained the main offensive instrument. In 1939 it captured Nanchang, then mounted major operations against the Fifth War Zone (Suizao Campaign) and Ninth War Zone (First Battle of Changsha). Except for the seizure of Nanchang, however, these offensives inflicted only limited and temporary damage on Chinese forces.   Japan's domestic economy was in even worse shape. In early 1937, it had approved a massive 2.4 billion yen naval and army rebuilding program aimed at countering the United States and Russia, but implementation had barely started when the Sino-Japanese War erupted. The conflict generated enormous war costs while military expansion continued unabated, rapidly draining the Bank of Japan's gold reserves. By the end of 1938, those reserves (valued at just 1.35 billion yen) had shrunk by more than two-thirds. To fund the Battle of Wuhan that year, Japan postponed key elements of the rebuilding plan. After Wuhan fell, the Army revised its wartime reorganization: the original target of forty divisions grew to fifty-five by early 1938, then to sixty-five divisions plus 164 Army Air Force squadrons by 1942. The funding required to equip and stockpile for this expansion escalated steadily; the 1939 expansion budget alone demanded 1.8 billion yen, pushing Japanese finances to the breaking point.   Japan repeatedly sought a way out of China, but its peace terms remained far beyond what Chongqing would accept, leaving negotiations stalled. Efforts to install puppet regimes in North and Central China—culminating in the Wang Jingwei government in 1940—aimed to "use Chinese to control Chinese" and undermine Nationalist influence, yet produced disappointing results.   The 11th Army's 1939 campaigns yielded only mediocre outcomes, hampered by chronic troop shortages. Even its divisions were tied down in occupation duties; mounting a serious offensive required pulling garrison forces, leaving no reserves to hold the line unless new units arrived. Sustained large-scale operations to seriously weaken Chinese strength demanded a major troop increase—otherwise, Japan was limited to shallow, localized attacks. Lt. Gen. Yasuji Okamura, commanding the 11th Army, recognized this clearly. In a December 1939 report, he argued that diplomacy and small offensives were futile and urged a large-scale operation backed by substantial reinforcements. His superiors, however, were preoccupied with funding the broader military buildup and could offer no extra men. The post-Wuhan "defensiveization" of operations was largely a cost-saving measure to support that expansion. Japanese ground strength in China, which peaked near 850,000 after Wuhan, had already dropped by about 50,000. Full-strength regular or Class A divisions numbered roughly 22,000 men (four regiments), while newer garrison divisions had only about 15,000 (three regiments), and independent mixed brigades just 6,000. Okamura's proposal was sensible but politically impossible; high command was even contemplating slashing China troop levels to 400,000.   The Chinese Winter Offensive of December 1939, together with counterattacks at Nanning and Kunlun Pass, inflicted serious losses and exposed the limited damage done to Chinese forces in 1939 operations. The recapture of Wuyuan in March 1940 signaled the start of a new phase. Shortly afterward, intensified Chinese guerrilla raids deep into Japanese rear areas prompted large Japanese "mop-up" operations in southern Shanxi, central Hubei, southern Jiangxi, and northern Hunan. In the Wuhan sector, repeated blows from the Winter Offensive heightened fears of Chinese forces in the Dahong and Tongbai Mountains, which threatened control over the vital Jianghan Plains rice-producing region. In mid-April 1940, the Japanese abandoned outposts at Macheng (eastern Hubei), Fengxin, and Jing'an (northern Jiangxi), withdrew elements of the 6th Division (northern Hunan), 40th Division (northern Jiangxi), and the 3rd, 13th, and 39th Divisions (Hubei), and concentrated them around Zhongxiang, Suixian, and Xinyang for a maximum-effort push.   These setbacks finally forced Tokyo to abandon deep troop reductions in China and approve reinforcements of two regular divisions for a major 1940 offensive. The revised end-1940 target became 740,000 troops in China. In spring 1940, the 11th Army—backed fully by Imperial General Headquarters and the China Expeditionary Army—began detailed preparations for a large-scale assault on China's Fifth War Zone.   On February 25, 1940, the 11th Army issued its "Guiding Strategy for the Campaign." The operational goal was to defeat the main force of China's Fifth War Zone along both banks of the Han River before the rainy season, inflict further heavy losses on Chiang Kai-shek's army through decisive victory, and thereby advance Japan's overall political and strategic position vis-à-vis China. The guiding principle called for the quickest possible preparations, with the offensive to begin around early May: first destroy Chinese forces on the left (east) bank south of the Baihe River, then completely annihilate the core units on the right (west) bank near Yichang. On April 7, under the new commander Lt. Gen. Sonobe Kazuo (who replaced Okamura Yasuji), the 11th Army produced a more detailed plan. On April 10, Imperial General Headquarters Order No. 426 ("Continental Order") authorized the China Expeditionary Army to conduct operations in central and southern China during May–June, even beyond established boundaries, to fulfill current objectives.   Japanese planners viewed the Fifth War Zone—roughly 50 divisions encircling Wuhan—with its main strength concentrated along the Han (Xiang) River in northwestern Hubei. Striking Yichang would deliver a severe blow to the zone. As the gateway to Sichuan, only 480 km from Chongqing, Yichang held immense strategic value: an inland port, Three Gorges logistics hub, and key base for air raids on Chongqing. Capturing it would directly threaten the Nationalist wartime capital and southwestern rear, advancing political leverage. Still, long-term occupation was not pre-decided; initial plans stressed inflicting maximum damage followed by withdrawal, in line with the post-Wuhan policy of avoiding permanent overextension. China, aware that holding the Jianghan Plain's rice-producing areas enabled sustained attrition against Japan, deployed guerrilla units to harass Japanese rear areas (increasing occupier losses) while tasking the River Defense Force to hold key front-line points: Jingmen, Shashi, and Yichang.   To achieve these aims, the 11th Army committed as much as possible of its seven divisions and four brigades (88 battalions total). Core units included the 3rd Division (Maj. Gen. Yamakoshi Masataka; regiments 6, 18, 34, 68), 13th Division (Maj. Gen. Tanaka Shioichi; 58, 65, 104, 116), 39th Division (Maj. Gen. Murakami Keisaku; 231–233), elements of the 40th Division, detachments from the 33rd and 34th Divisions, and others. Reinforcements comprised the Ikeda Detachment (three battalions from 6th Division), Ishimoto Detachment (four–five from 40th), Ogawa Detachment (two from 34th), and Provisional Mixed Brigade 101. Supporting assets included the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, 7th and 13th Tank Regiments, 3rd Air Group, Navy 1st China Dispatch Fleet, and 2nd Combined Air Team. The China Expeditionary Army transferred seven battalions from the 15th and 22nd Divisions (13th Army, lower Yangtze). The main effort north of the river involved roughly 48–54 battalions, or 80,000–110,000 men, making the Zaoyi (Zaoyang–Yichang) Campaign the largest Japanese operation on the central front since Wuhan. Sonobe's staff structured the offensive in two phases. Phase One targeted the Fifth War Zone's main force around Zaoyang (east of the Han River) through converging pincer movements: right flank from Xinyang (reinforced 3rd Division), left flank from Zhongxiang (reinforced 13th Division), and central thrust by the reinforced 39th Division from Suixian. The plan exploited terrain—Dahong and Tongbai Mountains—for encirclement. After seizing Minggang (right flank) and advancing from Zhongxiang (left), the pincers would close on Zaoyang, with the center (along the Xianghua Highway from Suixian) drawing Chinese forces into the trap for envelopment. Diversionary attacks south of the Yangtze, propaganda hinting at limited scope, and planted false orders helped mask intentions. Japanese radio intelligence—intercepts and direction-finding of Chinese headquarters signals—provided critical advantages, especially in later stages.   By March 1940, Chinese intelligence had already detected the 11th Army's intent to mount a major offensive from Xinyang and Wuhan into northwestern Hubei. On April 10, Chiang Kai-shek telegraphed Li Zongren and other Fifth War Zone commanders, urging immediate preparations for a preemptive strike against any push toward Shapingba and Yichang. He emphasized proactive flanking attacks on Japanese rear areas via Wusheng Pass and threats to the Pinghan Railway, while keeping main forces east of the Han River for decisive engagement once the enemy committed.   Following Military Commission directives, the Fifth War Zone devised a plan that used part of its strength for forward advances and deep raids into Japanese rear areas to harass and divert. The bulk of forces would hold the rear, seizing chances for preemptive strikes and a decisive battle east of Zaoyang or south of Jingmen–Dangyang. Deployments included: the 33rd Army Group garrisoning the Xiang River; in the center, the 45th Corps (22nd Army Group) west of Luoyangdian–Suixian and the 84th Corps (11th Army Group) north of Suixian–south of Gaocheng; in southern Henan, the 30th Corps east of Tongbai and the 68th Corps north of Pingchangguan–Minggang; the 41st Corps in reserve near Xiangyang; the 29th Army Group (with part garrisoning north of Tongqiao Zhen–Sanyangtien) concentrated in the Dahong Mountains; and the 31st Army Group positioned between Queshan and Ye Hsien as the mobile force to strike invaders. River Defense Army commander Guo Chan controlled the 26th, 75th, and 94th Armies, the 128th Division, and the 6th and 7th Guerrilla Columns. Total Chinese strength approximated 350,000–380,000 men across roughly 50–54 divisions. To mask preparations and mislead, the Japanese conducted a late-April "mop-up" near Jiujiang, staged naval feints on Poyang and Dongting Lakes, and bombed key points in Hunan and Jiangxi, simulating an imminent Ninth War Zone operation.   With forces assembled, the Japanese offensive began May 1, 1940, from Xinyang, Suixian, and Zhongxiang. The advance split into five routes: (1) Changtaiguan–Minggang–Biyang–Tanghe; (2) Xinyang–Tongbai; (3) Suixian–Zaoyang; (4) Suixian–Wujiadien; (5) Zhongxiang–Shuangkou. Employing flanking with central breakthrough, the reinforced 3rd Division (right flank, including Ishimoto Detachment from 40th Division with tanks and engineers) spearheaded from Xinyang toward Biyang, breaching the Chinese Second Army front on day one. By May 1, elements of the 3rd and 40th Divisions captured Minggang, Lion's Bridge, and Xiaolintien; on May 5 they took Biyang and Tongbai. The Chinese 31st Army Group (northeast of Biyang) linked with the 68th and 92nd Corps to hit Japanese flanks and rear. Leaving some forces west of Tongbai to press the enemy, the main 30th Corps struck Japanese flanks. After seizing Tanghe on May 7, the Japanese pushed south toward Zaoyang. On May 8–9, the 31st Army Group retook Tanghe and Xinye, pursuing vigorously. On May 8, the Japanese left flank (13th Division) attacked from Zhongxiang, breaking through the 33rd Army front the same day.   On May 3, the Japanese 13th Division—supported by over 20 tanks, 40 aircraft, artillery, and cavalry—advanced north from Zhongxiang, capturing Changshoudian and Tianjiachi. It seized Fengyao and Changjiachi by May 6. Chinese 33rd Army Group forces used favorable terrain to intercept, while the 29th Army Group struck Japanese flanks and rear at Changjiachi and Wangjiadian, and the 41st Corps fought tenaciously to halt the advance. By May 7, Japanese spearheads reached Changjiachi on the Zaoyang–Xiangyang Highway, with elements entering Shuangkou; their rear cavalry took Xinye on May 8. Fifth War Zone commander Zhang Zizhong personally led attacks along Tianjiachi–Huanglongtang, supported by fierce 29th Army Group assaults on Japanese rear.   The Japanese 39th Division and a 6th Division brigade delayed their assault on the Chinese 11th Army Group until May 4 from Suixian. After overrunning Gaocheng and Anchu on May 5, Chinese forces withdrew to Huantan–Tang Hsien–north of Gaocheng. As the 33rd Army Group faltered, part of the 11th Army Group reinforced it; the 175th Division held at Tang Hsien while the main body fell back toward Zaoyang. During the maneuver, Japanese tanks enveloped at Tang Hsien, cutting the Zaoyang–Xiangyang Highway and forcing bitter fighting by the 174th Division. To break out, Chinese abandoned Zaoyang, using the 173rd Division for rearguard resistance while the bulk shifted west of the Tang and Bai Rivers. Japanese captured Suiyangdian and Wujiadien on May 7, Zaoyang on May 8; the 173rd Division suffered heavy losses, including the death of its commander, Gen. Zhong Yi.   On May 10, Japanese completed an encirclement east of Xiangdong along the Tang and Bai Rivers—but it collapsed as Chinese exterior forces outflanked both Japanese wings and compressed the center, trapping much of the Japanese in the Xiangdong Plains. The Chinese 2nd and 31st Army Groups plus 92nd Corps pressed south, 39th and 75th Corps east, and 33rd and 29th Army Groups north against the pocket. The 94th Corps advanced along the Han–Yichang Highway deep into Jingshan, Zaoshi, Yingcheng, and Yunmeng to sever Japanese rear communications. Meanwhile, the 7th Corps and eastern Hubei guerrillas seized Jigong Shan, Lijiachai, and Liulin station on the Beijing–Hankou Railway. The 92nd and 68th Corps retook Zaoyang, Tongbai, and Minggang, encircling four Japanese divisions in the Xiangdong Plains. By May 11, battered Japanese retreated eastward under pursuit, Chinese flanking and rear attacks leaving many dead on the field. The 31st Army Group recovered Zaoyang on May 16. Chinese reports claimed 45,000 Japanese casualties, plus capture of over 60 guns, 2,000+ horses, 70+ tanks, and 400+ trucks. The 33rd Army Group fought fiercely to intercept retreating columns, driving large Japanese remnants toward Nanguadian.   Tragically, on May 16 noon, Gen. Zhang Zizhong—personally commanding his Guard Battalion and main 74th Division—was killed in action. With pressure eased on the Japanese left, they counterattacked and retook Zaoyang on May 17. Chinese forces withdrew to Xinye on the Tangbai River's west bank and north of the Tang River, regrouping for a renewed counteroffensive.   The Military Commission anticipated a Japanese withdrawal to original lines, likely along the rain-impassable Xianghua Road. Exploiting the enemy's supply shortages, exhaustion, and retreat difficulties, it ordered Fifth War Zone units to encircle and annihilate Japanese forces near the battlefield, then pursue toward Yingcheng–Huayuan. The zone promptly launched a counteroffensive. By nightfall on May 8, Japanese pincers neared junction, having inflicted serious damage on the Chinese 84th Army but achieved little else. Nonetheless, the 11th Army ordered frontline divisions to withdraw to the Tanghe–Baihe line after reaching it, preparatory to encircling Chinese forces west of the Han River. Chongqing issued general offensive orders at 8 PM and 11 PM that night. By then, six divisions of the 31st Army Group advanced south from Nanyang in the north, five from the 33rd Army Group pressed from the south, and five from the 45th and 94th Armies pursued in the southeast—nearly completing the Japanese encirclement. Intense combat erupted.   On May 10, retreating Japanese first clashed with the advancing 33rd Army Group from the south. Seizing the moment, they ordered the 13th and 39th Divisions plus Ikeda Detachment south to smash it, with the 3rd Division covering the northern flank. Full-scale battle broke out on May 12: two Japanese divisions assaulted five Chinese divisions of the 33rd Army Group, plunging them into desperate fighting. Japanese radio intercepts—including telegrams between the Military Commission and Fifth War Zone, plus Zhang Zizhong's report to Chiang on his five divisions' movements—revealed exact positions and plans. Sonobe Kazuo concentrated the 13th and 39th Divisions to strike south along the Han's east bank against Zhang's army group, while ordering the 3rd Division (south of Xinye) back to Zaoyang to guard the rear. Direction-finding had long pinpointed the 33rd Army Group headquarters radio (call signs and bearings) about 10 km northeast of Yicheng. With air support, the Japanese encircled it. On the night of May 15, the 39th Division advanced from Fangjiaji and Nanying toward Nanguadian, completing tactical encirclement by dawn on May 16. Artillery-supported four-sided assaults followed. The defending 74th Division resisted fiercely with repeated counterattacks. Fighting raged into the afternoon, with the Special Service Battalion joining. Japanese attackers swelled to over 5,000, backed by concentrated artillery and 20+ aircraft for a final push. Zhang Zizhong, wounded multiple times, continued commanding calmly until a severe chest wound killed him heroically. The exhausted, isolated 74th Division and battalion suffered devastating losses. That day, the 13th Division also routed the main 33rd Army Group force, breaking the southern encirclement. Japanese then redeployed, concentrating around Zaoyang.   In the north, 17 divisions (including six from the 31st Army Group) attacked the isolated Japanese 3rd Division from east, south, and north, severing its supply lines. With limited ammunition and no resupply, the division faced crisis; its 29th Brigade telegram pleaded: "Enemy fighting spirit extremely high... safe return very difficult; request battalion reinforcements." Yet southern Chinese forces remained undestroyed amid chaos. Japanese choices narrowed to independent 3rd Division retreat or holding for relief. They opted to lure pursuers: ordering the division southeast toward Zaoyang to draw Chinese into pursuit. From May 16–18, the 3rd Division fought a delaying retreat; relentless Chinese pursuit inflicted limited damage due to insufficient firepower, allowing escape. By evening May 18, it reached northeast of Zaoyang and prepared offensives. The 13th and 39th Divisions, after defeating the 33rd Army Group, also advanced north to the Zaoyang line.   The 3rd Division's retreat shortened Japanese lines and hastened convergence. Unsuspecting Chinese pursued to Zaoyang. After a successful counterattack northeast of Yicheng, the 13th and 39th Divisions rejoined the 3rd Division there. On May 19 morning, three Japanese divisions attacked abreast, forcing decisive battle along the Tang River. Chinese divisions collapsed within hours; the 75th Army took heavy losses, others significant casualties. Fifth War Zone ordered hasty retreat. Japanese pursued vigorously. By May 21, the 3rd Division reached Dengxian, 13th east of Laohekou, 39th Fancheng. Early that day, the 39th Division—crossing the Baihe—met fierce west-bank fire, losing Regiment Commander Kanzaki Tetsujiro and over 300 men. That evening, the 11th Army halted pursuit, ending east-bank (Xiang River) fighting. The 20+ day operation east of the Han inflicted heavy Japanese losses, far exceeding the planned duration, leaving troops exhausted. After halting, units withdrew to Zaoyang vicinity for rest and reorganization rather than immediate return to base positions. Commanders debated proceeding to Yichang west of the Han: abandoning the plan would signal Phase One failure, eroding authority and imperial trust. Most argued troop fatigue and casualties should not deter continuation. Over 1,000 tons of supplies rushed forward via six motor companies. Following east-bank termination, Japanese consolidated for the next phase targeting Yichang. Reinforcements arrived: the 4th Division from Manchuria and 18th Independent Brigade from Wuning. The 4th Division assumed Shayang–Zhongxiang positions east of the Xiang River.   The Japanese bombarded the west bank of the Han River for ninety minutes before forcing a crossing at Wangji north of Yicheng. That midnight, the 3rd Division also crossed southeast of Xiangyang. Both met little resistance and completed crossings before dawn. The 11th Army left the 40th Division at Dahongshan for rear-area mopping-up and assigned the Xiaochuan and Cangqiao Detachments to guard mobile supply depots. On May 31 night, the 3rd and 39th Divisions crossed the Xiang River at Yicheng and Oujiamiao. After seizing Xiangyang on June 1 night, the main force split into columns crossing westward. By June 3, Japanese captured Nanzhang and Yicheng. The Chinese 41st Corps fiercely counterattacked, retaking part of Xiangyang while its main body battled around Nanzhang; the 77th Corps also struck hard. On June 4, Chinese recovered Nanzhang, forcing Japanese retreat southward. Meanwhile, the 13th Division and elements of the 6th Division forced a crossing on the Han–Yichang Highway near Jiukou and Shayang to link with southern columns for a joint push. The Chinese River Defense Force shifted its main strength to key positions, using terrain to block southward advances. The 2nd and 31st Army Groups pursued south separately. Chinese abandoned Shayang on June 5; Japanese took Jingmen, Shilipu, and Shihujiao on June 6. The 77th Corps and river defense units resisted stubbornly from Jingmen to Jiangling. After retaking Yicheng, the 2nd Army Group continued pursuit. Japanese concentrated around Jingmen–Shilipu as Jiangling fell.   On June 9 morning, Japanese launched joint air-ground assaults from Dongshi to Dangyang and Yuanan. By afternoon, penetrating the Chinese right flank forced a night withdrawal to Gulaobei–Shuanlianshi–Dangyang along the Zu River to Yuanan. June 10 saw Japanese capture Gulaobei and Dangyang, pushing Chinese to Yichang outskirts. After days of heavy fighting and prohibitive losses, Chinese abandoned Yichang on their own initiative. The 2nd and 31st Army Groups then reached Dangyang north of Jingmen. On June 16, they mounted a general offensive. By June 17, Chinese briefly retook Yichang; the 2nd Army Group linked with the 77th Corps against Dangyang, while the 31st Army Group severed Dangyang–Jingmen communications and assaulted Jingmen violently. South of the Yangtze, the 5th and 32nd Divisions crossed to hit Shayang and Shilipu. By June 18, Japanese main force held stubbornly from Dangyang to the Xiang River with superior equipment. Chinese, fighting on exterior lines, formed an encirclement from Jiangling–Yichang–Dangyang–Zhongxiang–Suixian–north of Xinyang while maintaining surveillance. Thus, the Zaoyi (Zaoyang–Yichang) Campaign ended. No prior decision existed on holding Yichang long-term. Per post-Wuhan Imperial General Headquarters policy, even extended operations aimed only to inflict severe blows and erode Chinese resistance, not expand occupation. On capture day, the 11th Army declared objectives achieved, ordering reorganization, destruction of Yichang military facilities, and dumping irremovable captured supplies into the Yangtze preparatory to withdrawal. At 10 PM June 15, formal orders withdrew to the Han's east bank: 3rd and 39th Divisions first to Dangyang–Jingmen to cover, then the 13th Division. The 13th began retreating from Yichang at midnight June 16, reaching Tumenya (10 km east) by 7 AM June 17. Chinese counterattacked along the route; the 18th Army pursued and retook Yichang morning of June 17. Japanese held Yichang only four days.   Intense debate erupted between frontline commanders and Imperial General Headquarters over retaining Yichang. With Nazi Germany's Western Europe offensive underway—Paris fell June 12, the day Yichang was taken—global upheaval intensified Japanese urgency to resolve China swiftly and free resources for wider competition. Many in high command and China Expeditionary Army argued long-term occupation would threaten Chongqing more directly, aid political maneuvers, and hasten settlement, offering immense strategic value. This swayed the Emperor, who inquired at the June 15 Imperial Conference about securing it. Backed by imperial support, high command ordered temporary retention (one month) on June 16. By transmission through Expeditionary Army and 11th Army channels, the rearguard 13th Division had withdrawn 52 km. With 3rd Division cooperation, it reversed, broke Chinese resistance, and retook Yichang afternoon June 17. On July 1, to offset expanded 11th Army responsibilities, General Headquarters transferred the 4th Division from Kwantung Army (Jiamusi, Heilongjiang) to 11th Army control. July 13 orders confirmed long-term Yichang retention, redefining Wuhan-region operations to Anqing–Xinyang–Yichang–Yueyang–Nanchang. The 11th Army assigned: 13th Division to Yichang, 4th Division to Anlu, 18th Independent Mixed Brigade east/west of Dangyang; remaining units returned to original defenses.   Post-recapture, Chinese continued counterattacks on Yichang and rear lines until ordered to halt: "To adapt to international changes, preserve National Army combat strength, and facilitate reorganization, Fifth War Zone cease attacks on Yichang immediately." A stalemate followed along lines encircling Yichang, Dangyang, Jiangling, Jingmen, Zhongxiang, Suixian, and Xinyang. To shield Chongqing and Sichuan, Nationalists re-established the Sixth War Zone (briefly created post-First Changsha, abolished April 1940), appointing Chen Cheng commander-in-chief with 33rd and 29th Army Groups, River Defense Army, and 18th Army covering western Hubei, western Hunan, eastern Sichuan. The Zaoyi campaign thus concluded. Japanese combat power again proved markedly superior. Official Japanese records (11th Army/China Expeditionary Army) reported 2,700 killed, ~7,800 wounded (total ~10,500; some phases ~1,403 killed/4,639 wounded). Chinese admitted heavy losses: 36,983 killed, 50,509 wounded, 23,000 missing (total >110,000 in some accounts). Wartime Nationalist claims inflated Japanese casualties to 45,000 killed/wounded with major captures (60+ guns, 70+ tanks, 400+ trucks), likely propagandistic; Japanese sources show far lower equipment losses. With 56 battalions deployed, Japanese suffered 12–15% combat casualties; Chinese (54 divisions, ~380,000 men) incurred 25–30% or higher—underscoring firepower/equipment disparity. Japan achieved tactical success by securing Yichang long-term (as a Chongqing bombing base) but failed to annihilate the main Chinese force or compel peace. Chinese resistance thwarted full encirclement and imposed attrition, albeit at crippling cost to the Fifth War Zone—severely weakened and never fully recovering until war's end. Japanese aims were realized to a significant, though not decisive, degree.   The Fifth War Zone's operational plan was fundamentally sound. Chinese intelligence detected Japanese intentions early, accurately predicted the attack axis, and deployed accordingly. The plan included preemptive strikes at Wusheng Pass and the Guangshui section of the Pinghan Railway to harass Japanese rear areas, threaten Wuhan, gather reconnaissance, and disrupt enemy preparations. Though well conceived, these actions never materialized. In the first phase (Xiangdong operations), Chinese forces resisted while shifting the main body to outer lines, securing mobile flanking positions. This frustrated Japanese encirclement efforts in the Xiangdong Plains. Exploiting the enemy's retreat, China launched a timely counteroffensive that encircled the Japanese 3rd Division. Despite breakout support from over 100 aircraft and 200 tanks, the poorly equipped Chinese inflicted heavy casualties during the three-day siege, blunting the division's momentum.    On the southern front, the 33rd Army Group's intercepting deployment was appropriate, but insufficient strength and compromised communications allowed the Japanese 13th and 39th Divisions to counterattack decisively, inflicting major losses and claiming the heroic death of Commander-in-Chief Zhang Zizhong—whose steadfast patriotism remains a lasting source of national pride. Overall, Chinese assessments and deployments in Phase One were largely correct. The battlefield showed China retained initiative and was not wholly dominated by Japanese plans. The core issue was overestimation of Chinese combat power amid severe shortages of heavy weapons. At least three corps suffered heavy attrition, yet Japanese captured only twenty-three mountain/field guns. Relying on manpower for brute force left Chinese units critically undergunned, enabling repeated encirclement attempts but preventing decisive destruction or severe damage to encircled enemies like the 3rd Division.   Phase Two, by contrast, was entirely passive. The initial Japanese Han River crossings were largely feints, yet the west bank received scant attention in overall planning—leaving Yichang virtually undefended as main forces deployed east of the river. Post-Phase One, Japan reinforced the 11th Army with three infantry battalions and one mountain artillery battalion from the 13th Army (lower Yangtze), plus six motor transport companies rushing massive supplies forward. Chinese intelligence missed these moves, remaining complacent in expectation of Japanese withdrawal eastward. After regrouping, Japan abruptly pivoted west with rapid advances. The Military Commission and Fifth War Zone, caught unprepared, made frantic, chaotic adjustments that failed to mount effective defense. The loss of strategically vital Yichang was inevitable, complicating the resistance both militarily and psychologically. This stemmed directly from command misjudgment of Japanese strategic and operational aims. Had plans anticipated a westward thrust and retained strong reserves—or detected the 10-day regrouping window to readjust deployments—China could have retained greater initiative, inflicted more damage, and reduced its own losses.   I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Japan's 11th Army launched an offensive in Hubei to encircle Chinese forces in the Fifth War Zone and seize Yichang for bombing Chongqing. Chinese troops countered effectively, encircling Japanese divisions and inflicting heavy losses, though General Zhang Zizhong was killed in action. After intense fighting east of the Han River, Japanese crossed west, captured Yichang, briefly withdrew, then retook and held it long-term. 

The Fire That Remains Life in the Spirit After the Collapse of the Religious Self Week IV — The Heart That Bears the World Love, Intercession, and the Hidden Life in the Spirit ⸻ Opening Invocation O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, Come and dwell in us, Cleanse us from every impurity, And save our souls, O Good One. ⸻ I. The Return — But Nothing Is the Same At the beginning, the Spirit leads a man inward. Into exposure. Into poverty. Into silence. And it can seem as though the path is one of withdrawal. A leaving behind. A diminishing. But this is not the end. Because the same Spirit who leads a man into the desert of his own heart leads him back again. 1 Not outward in the old way. Not into activity rooted in self. But into a different kind of presence. The man returns to the world. But he does not return as he was. ⸻ II. The End of Living for Oneself Something has been broken. Quietly. Deeply. The constant reference to self. The need to interpret everything in relation to oneself. The subtle movement of: How does this affect me? What does this mean for me? Where do I stand? These begin to loosen. And with this a space opens. A freedom. Where others can begin to exist without being filtered through the self. This is the beginning of love. Not as an emotion. 2 Not as an effort. But as a way of being. “Love seeketh not her own.” (1 Corinthians 13:5) And for the first time this is not an ideal. It is something that begins to happen. ⸻ III. The Heart Enlarged by the Spirit The heart changes. Not outwardly. Not visibly. But in capacity. It begins to hold more. Not by effort. But by grace. You begin to feel: The weight of others. The pain of others. The confusion of others. Not in a way that overwhelms. But in a way that includes. The boundaries of the self soften. And the heart becomes... spacious. 3 “My heart is enlarged.” (Psalm 118/119) This is not sentimentality. It is not emotionalism. It is participation. A sharing in something greater than yourself. ⸻ IV. Intercession That Is Not Chosen Prayer changes again. Not in method. But in direction. Before, you struggled to pray. Then prayer began to live within you. Now something else happens: Others begin to appear in your prayer. Not because you decide to pray for them. But because they are given to you. A face. A name. A burden. And it remains. Quietly. Persistently. 4 You carry them. Sometimes without words. Sometimes without understanding. And this is intercession. Not as an activity. But as a participation in the love of Christ. “I could wish that myself were accursed for my brethren...” (Romans 9:3) A love that does not calculate. A love that bears. ⸻ V. The Hidden Nature of This Life And yet, outwardly, very little may change. You may still live in the same place. Do the same tasks. Speak with the same people. There is no need to appear different. No need to manifest anything. Because this life is hidden. Deep within. And this hiddenness is essential. Because the moment it becomes something seen something recognized something affirmed 5 the old self begins to stir. So the Spirit preserves this life in obscurity. In simplicity. In what appears to be ordinariness. “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3) And this hiddenness is protection. ⸻ VI. Love Without Self-Consciousness There is a further purification. Even love becomes purified. Because at first we can become aware of loving. We notice it. We reflect on it. We take some subtle satisfaction in it. But here, even this begins to fall away. Love becomes unselfconscious. It acts without referring back to itself. It gives without knowing that it gives. It responds without constructing meaning. 6 And this is freedom. Because the self is no longer at the center even of what is good. ⸻ VII. The Bearing of Suffering As the heart expands so does its capacity to suffer. Not in a destructive way. But in a participatory way. You begin to feel more. To see more. To carry more. And yet there is no resistance. Because this suffering is no longer meaningless. It is no longer isolated. It is held within something greater. Within the life of Christ. “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) This is not something you choose. It is something you are drawn into. ⸻ 7 VIII. The Absence of Claims At this point something remarkable appears. Or rather something disappears. The need to claim anything. You no longer need to: Define your state. Explain your path. Assert your identity. Even inwardly. You do not need to know where you are. You do not need to measure. You do not need to conclude. You simply live. Before God. With others. And this simplicity is a great freedom. ⸻ IX. The Life That Becomes Prayer Everything begins to unify. Prayer is no longer separate from life. Life is no longer separate from prayer. 8 Silence speaks. Speech can remain rooted in silence. Action flows from stillness. There is less division. Less fragmentation. More wholeness. And this is not something you maintain. It is something given. Sustained quietly. By the Spirit. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20) Not as an idea. But as a mystery slowly becoming real. ⸻ X. Closing Exhortation Do not seek this. Do not attempt to become this. Do not imitate what has been described. Remain faithful to what has been given to you. Remain in poverty. Remain in prayer. Remain in truth. And the Spirit will do His work. 9 Quietly. Hidden. Beyond your understanding. And what will emerge will not be something you have made. But a life. A heart. Capable of bearing others. Because it is held within Christ. ⸻ Closing Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Thou who didst bear the sins of the world in Thy Body, grant us the grace to bear one another in love. Enlarge our hearts. Purify our love. Deliver us from ourselves. And grant that, hidden in Thee, we may become a place where others are held in Thy mercy. For Thou art the Lover of mankind. Amen. 10

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today!How do you anchor your soul and stand firm when the world around you feels completely unstable? This week, Mariel Davenport, a Bible study teacher and creator of the TEND method, joins Jaime for an uplifting and encouraging conversation on reorienting your heart based on her newest Bible study, 1 Peter: Sustained by a Living Hope. In this episode, Mariel shares the beautiful picture of community through the lens of her salsa garden—explaining how the "companion planting" of tomatoes and jalapeños perfectly mirrors how the body of Christ is designed to mutually benefit and grow together. Mariel also tackles the misconception that reading the Bible is just an academic exercise, and offers practical advice on how slowing down to handwrite Scripture can cultivate a vibrant, intimate relationship with God rather than just gathering a collection of facts. Mariel also opens up about the reality of spiritual warfare, sharing how deeply knowing who God says you are is your greatest defense against the enemy's lies. You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective on what it means to truly tend to your soul, and how remembering your identity as chosen and holy can transform your daily walk with Jesus. Visit marieldavenport.com to connect with Mariel and pick up a copy of 1 Peter: Sustained by a Living Hope, which provides a timely, step-by-step guide to standing firm and finding eternal hope in our shifting culture. While there, you can also learn about her weekly podcast and her Tending Together online community, and connect with her on instagram at @marieldavenport. Discover More: Explore additional episodes of Praying Christian Women, Mindful Christian Prayers, and other Christian podcasts at Lifeaudio.com Check out our new podcast, Christian True-Crime Junkies!, on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts! Connect with Us: Stay updated and engage with our community: On Substack @PrayingChristianWomen On Facebook @PrayingChristianWomen On Instagram @PrayingChristianWomen On YouTube: @PrayingChristianWomen Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It's The Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew to hear about a must on the bucket list…The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale.  Plus, we have the latest cattle industry news, market recaps and lots more wrapped into this all-new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Rodeo & Western Lifestyle Come Together At The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale (MCBHS) is where rodeo history, cowboy culture, and thrilling equine action come together. Held annually in Miles City, Montana, this four-day event is a one-of-a-kind Western experience featuring PRCA-sanctioned bronc riding, high-energy wild horse races, and the exhilarating Derby Horse Races. Whether you're a lifelong rodeo fan or a first-time visitor, this is the must-attend cowboy event of the year! Miles City Bucking Horse Sale 2026: Full Event Schedule Celebrating 75 years of Rodeo, Cowboys and the Western Way of Life! Thursday, May 14 – Kick-Off Concert Live music kicks off the action with a party in the dirt! Concert Line Up! 6:00 PM – Kenny Feidler – Opening Entertainer 7:00 PM – Corb Lund – Special Guest 8:30 PM – Trace Adkins – Headliner Buy Concert Tickets here! Friday, May 15 – Permit Challenge Rodeo, Horse Racing, Western Shopping, Live Music PRCA Permit Challenge Rodeo showcasing up-and-coming cowboys. Wild Horse Races, Derby Horse Racing with pari-mutuel betting is a fan-favorite adrenaline rush! Plus the Western Trade Show! Your night ends downtown with live country music at the street dance! Saturday, May 16 – The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale, Parade, Horse Races, Shopping, Live Music World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale celebrates 75 years– featuring the VERY best bucking stock in the country. Derby Horse Races – Place your bets on top-tier racehorses in an electrifying competition. Trade Show & Western Shopping – Explore a massive trade show packed with authentic Western clothing, home décor, and cowboy gear. Dance the night away at the downtown street dance featuring live country music! Sunday, May 17 – PRCA Xtreme Bronc Match Rodeo, Horse Racing, Trade Show Shopping PRCA Xtreme Bronc Match Rodeo – The world's best bronc riders face off against elite roughstock horses in a high-stakes battle! Expect more Derby Horse Races and Wild Horse Racing, and enjoy western – cowboy shopping at the huge trade show! Find the FULL SCHEDULE with times of events HERE. Why You Can't Miss the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale Thrilling Rodeo Action & Wild Horse Races This event isn't just a rodeo – it's an all-out cowboy celebration! Experience the thrill of top-level PRCA-sanctioned saddle bronc and bareback riding, wild horse races, and a true Western showdown. Massive Trade Show Featuring Western Lifestyle & Shopping The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale hosts one of the largest Western trade shows in the region, featuring authentic cowboy gear, Western clothing, home décor, and specialty items. Whether you're looking for handcrafted leather goods, custom cowboy hats, or unique Western art, this trade show is a shopper's paradise. Non-Stop Live Music & Entertainment From the Kick-Off Concert featuring country music stars to nightly live performances downtown, the party never stops! The event attracts some of the best country artists, keeping the Western spirit alive with live performances throughout the weekend. Cowboy Culture & The “Cowboy Mardi Gras” The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale is known as the “Cowboy Mardi Gras” for a reason! Between the parade, shopping, and endless Western festivities, you'll be fully immersed in cowboy tradition and camaraderie. AND don't forget the live country music at the street dance in downtown Miles City, Montana! Derby Horse Races & Pari-Mutuel Wagering Place your bets on elite race horses competing in the Derby Horse Races – a thrilling addition to the Bucking Horse Sale weekend! With pari-mutuel wagering, fans can experience the excitement of big-time horse racing right in Montana. Plan Your Trip: Montana Bound in May! Whether you're a rodeo enthusiast, horse racing fan, or just love the Western way of life, the 74th Annual Miles City Bucking Horse Sale is an event you don't want to miss. How to Get There: By Air: Fly into Billings Logan International Airport (BIL) and drive 2 hours east to Miles City. By Car: Located along Interstate 94, Miles City is easily accessible from anywhere in the Midwest. Where to Stay: Book early! Hotels, Airbnbs, and campgrounds fill up fast. Check local listings for accommodations and visit Miles City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Join the Legacy – Get Your Tickets Today! Tickets are selling fast – secure yours now and be part of Montana's greatest rodeo and horse racing tradition. Visit BuckingHorseSale.com for details. Mark your calendar for May 14-17, 2026, and we'll see you in Miles City, Montana! Cattle Industry News Cattle Herd Rebuilding & Drought These are the best of times for cow-calf producers, at least on paper. The CME feeder cattle index, which tracks the price of feeder cattle at various auctions, is currently 28% higher than a year ago. Even when adjusting for inflation, current feeder cattle prices are almost 20% higher than the previous cyclical peak in 2014.  However, the dramatic increase in cow-calf returns has not caused producers to retain more heifers for cow herd replacement. The sharp jump in returns in 2014 resulted in a 7% increase in beef cow replacement heifers to start the new year.  Last year may have been the best on record for producer returns, but replacement heifers increased just 0.4%, with the beef cow replacements up less than 1%. The Livestock Market Information Center or LMIC expects cow-calf producer returns to be even better in 2026 and 2027. The surge in futures has caused LMIC to raise calculated returns for 2026 by 32% vs. October, while returns for 2027 are now 54% higher than estimated six months ago, at nearly $1,100/cow. There is certainly interest on the part of producers to invest in their operations, but there are several critical hurdles. The main one is drought. We do not yet have a full reading of pasture conditions, but expectations are that conditions are far worse than last year.  According to USDA, about 45% of US cattle are now in areas experiencing severe or more intense drought. Producers with hay stocks are working through them as they wait for spring weather to green up pastures, but that is not guaranteed. Producers may have the best intentions to breed more heifers, but if feed is not there, they may opt to replace older cows rather than expand the herd. The other challenge is uncertainty about beef demand, not today or tomorrow, but in 2027, 2028, and beyond. The economy is on solid footing, and combined with a growing consumer appetite for protein, this has helped push beef demand to the highest point in 30+ years. Consumers are fickle and tastes change. After many years of battling drought, packers, and changing consumer diets, for some producers this is a golden opportunity to cash out.  REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/dlr-monthly-exclusive-herd-rebuilding-collides-with-drought-uncertainty/ Canada's Beef Traceability Rules On Hold Changes to Canada's beef traceability regulations were set to take effect in spring 2026 under Part 15 of the Health of Animals Regulations, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has paused publication of the proposed amendments after significant pushback from cattle producers. The complexity of the regulatory package has fuelled misunderstanding across the industry, and opposition has been vocal — including a petition launched Jan. 8 that has drawn nearly 30,000 signatures. Traceability efforts began before the 2003 BSE crisis, as the disease spread across Europe and Canada prepared for its arrival. The system was built to identify where infected animals came from and where they went, so the Canadian market could reopen as quickly as possible.  Rick Wright of the Livestock Markets Association of Canada said   without  industry being at the table from day one, we may have been slapped with something that's closer to what Europe is than what we've got today. Producers have raised concerns about several elements of the proposed changes: the requirement to use premises identification numbers to purchase identification tags, the seven-day movement reporting window and the expanded role of the Canadian Livestock Tracking system. —  particularly for those without reliable internet access. Other concerns include government overreach, the administrative burden on producers who move and sell cattle frequently, and what many see as insufficient communication from both the CFIA and producer organizations. Some producers have said publicly they do not intend to comply. REFERENCE: https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/news/beef-traceability-rules-paused-producer-backlash/ Vet Shortage Challenges Livestock Producers Access to large animal veterinary care continues to be a growing concern, as livestock producers in Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado face ongoing shortages in rural veterinary services. Much of the region has been identified as underserved through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, which designates areas lacking sufficient veterinary coverage and offers incentives to attract practitioners. These designations underscore a widespread challenge in maintaining adequate care for livestock-heavy states. In these states, livestock operations are often spread across large geographic areas, meaning  veterinarians cover extensive territories. Even a small decline in available practitioners can have significant impacts, leading to longer response times, increased travel distances and limited availability during critical periods. For producers, access to timely veterinary care is essential for herd health, productivity and regulatory compliance, especially during high-demand seasons such as calving. Federal and state programs across the Northern Plains show a growing recognition of the issue, but also highlight the scale of the challenge. Incentive-based programs in states like Nebraska aim to recruit veterinarians into rural practice, while proposed federal legislation seeks to strengthen those efforts. Wyoming's investments, meanwhile, support the broader animal health systems that depend on veterinary capacity. Even with these efforts, the shortage of large animal veterinarians remains a long-term concern. Sustained focus on education, recruitment and retention will be critical to ensuring livestock producers across Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado have access to the veterinary care they depend on. REFERENCE:  https://www.thefencepost.com/news/veterinary-shortage-challenges-livestock-producers-across-the-northern-plains/ McDonald's Big Arch McDonald's efforts to balance prices and value in the face of more expensive inputs and inflation-stressed consumers is leading the chain to upgrade burgers even as chicken takes up more menu space, according to CEO Chris Kempczinski. He went viral recently in a video promoting McDonald's newly introduced Big Arch, drawing social media ridicule for taking a dainty bite. Bosses from competing chains made videos chowing down on their own sandwiches, but the hoopla ultimately dramatically raised awareness of the new burger. Kempczinski said in a recent video interview with the Wall Street Journal that there's a group of consumers out there who want a really big burger that's a half pound of beef in the Big Arch. He went on to say as you look at what consumers were buying, and perhaps other places; fast casual restaurants or or even fine dining or full dining, there's a desire to have sort of an elevated burger experience. And I think what we've done with the Big Arch, the bun, sauces that we have with it, the crispy onions, all those things. That was for us, a way to offer that more elevated burger experience.” Kempczinski said there's been quite a bit of cost inflation, both on the input side, so food and packaging, those costs are up pretty significantly,” Burgers and beef … has probably been one of the most hard-hit areas, and then you also had quite a bit of labor inflation that's happened.” McDonald's has been steadily adding chicken items to its menu for years, in part to manage input costs. Its expansion this year of value menu items has also been chicken-centric. REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/ceo-pricy-beef-moving-mcdonalds-toward-more-chicken-elevated-burgers/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260424014&utm_date=20260424-1300 Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry Steve Kenyon - The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale https://buckinghorsesale.com/ Follow On Facebook: @BuckingHorseSale Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos Contact Us with Questions or Concerns Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via: Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Email: RanchItUpShow@gmail.com Follow us: Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC. https://tiggerandbec.com/ Industry References, Partners and Resources For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources: Allied Genetic Resources: https://alliedgeneticresources.com/ American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/ Axiota Animal Health: https://axiota.com/multimin-campaign-landing-page/ Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com/#/?ranchchannel=view Medora Boot: https://medoraboot.com/ RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/ Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/ Superior Livestock Auctions: https://superiorlivestock.com/ Transova Genetics: https://transova.com/ Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/ Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/ Wulf Cattle: https://www.wulfcattle.com/

Dan Wiederer and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic discuss if they believe the draft class the Bears added this year will help them build sustained success for the first time since the 1980s. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sustained stress is a reality for many veterans, first responders and federal employees. New data from the Veteran Tickets Foundation looks at how shared live experiences help people reset and reconnect, particularly when formal systems move slowly or unevenly. Federal News Network's Eric White caught up with Chief Strategy Officer for Veteran Tickets Foundation, Steve Weintraub, to get more insight.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Drawing on experiences from governments across the globe, a new trends report focuses less on prediction and more on how public institutions respond when resources are tight and systems are under strain. We'll talk about what those shared lessons suggest for decision‑making ahead with the executive director of the Center for Government Insights at Deloitte, Bill Eggers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Message by Justin Ray 

Message By Daniel Broyles 

Gene Marks analyzes the resilient American economy, noting strong manufacturing expansion and banking stability despite global turmoil, while highlighting sustained consumer spending and the positive impact of 2025 tax refunds on small businesses. (13)1947 C-47

Federal recovery operations continue across the Mariana Islands under FEMA Emergency Declarations for Guam and CNMI following Super Typhoon Sinlaku; the President affirms a Major Disaster Declaration for Hawaii tied to the March Kona-low storms; CISA adds an Apache ActiveMQ flaw to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and publishes four new ICS advisories; SPC highlights an Enhanced Risk of severe storms across the Plains and Mississippi Valley today; and several states post boil-water actions after water-main breaks. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.Key Takeaways• Super Typhoon Sinlaku response: FEMA Emergency Declarations cover Guam and the CNMI; Saipan and Tinian remain without full power, water, and road access as federal resources deploy.• Hawaii disaster declaration: Presidential Major Disaster Declaration affirmed for Kona-low storms (March 10–24); Individual Assistance available in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Maui counties; IA deadline June 7, 2026.• CISA KEV update: CVE-2026-34197 Apache ActiveMQ added to the KEV catalog on April 16; federal civilian agencies must remediate under BOD 22-01.• CISA ICS advisories: Four new advisories (ICSA-26-106-01–04), including Delta Electronics ASDA-Soft stack-based buffer overflow — Critical Manufacturing sector.• Severe weather outlook: SPC Enhanced Risk today across Upper/Middle Mississippi Valleys and Central/Southern Plains; WPC Slight Risk for excessive rainfall; SWPC G2 geomagnetic storm watches April 17–18.• NIFC situational picture: April 16 IMSR shows 1,744,190 YTD acres burned; eight large uncontained fires; 770 personnel assigned nationwide.• Florida — Newman Drive Fire: 1,733 acres, 60% contained; evacuations remain for five streets in Collier County; pet-friendly shelter open at Golden Gate Community Center.• Water-system advisories: New boil-water notices or active advisories in Silver City, Nevada; portions of Newark/Belleville/Bloomfield, New Jersey; Rotterdam, New York; five counties in southwest Iowa; and portions of Guam.SourcesFEMA• FEMA — CNMI Emergency Declaration (Typhoon Sinlaku) — Federal assistance available to CNMI for Typhoon Sinlaku beginning April 11, 2026.• Hawaii News Now — FEMA Affirms Major Disaster Declaration for Hawaii — Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Kona-low storms.• Governor of Hawaii — FEMA Affirms Presidential Major Disaster Declaration — State reaction and federal assistance breakdown; June 7, 2026 IA deadline.• FEMA Newsroom — Official FEMA press releases.CISA• CISA — Adds One Known Exploited Vulnerability to Catalog (Apr 16, 2026) — CVE-2026-34197 Apache ActiveMQ improper-input-validation vulnerability.• CISA — Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog — KEV catalog landing page with remediation deadlines.• CISA — ICSA-26-106-01 Delta Electronics ASDA-Soft — Stack-based buffer overflow in Critical Manufacturing sector software.• CISA — ICS Advisories index — Listing of current ICS/OT advisories including ICSA-26-106-01 through 04.NOAA / NWS / SWPC• Storm Prediction Center — Day 1 Convective Outlook — Enhanced severe risk across Upper/Middle Miss Valleys and Central/Southern Plains.• Weather Prediction Center — National precipitation and flash flood guidance.• NOAA SWPC — G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm watches April 17–18, 2026.NIFC / Wildfire• NIFC — Incident Management Situation Report (April 16, 2026) — National wildland fire synopsis: 1,744,190 YTD acres; 8 uncontained large fires; 770 personnel assigned.• NIFC — National Fire News — Daily national wildfire activity summary.DHS / NTAS• DHS — National Terrorism Advisory System — Current NTAS bulletins and updates.Travel Advisories• U.S. Department of State — Travel Advisories — Country-by-country levels and recent updates.CDC / Public Health• CDC HAN — Medetomidine in the U.S. Illegal Fentanyl Supply — Health Advisory on overdose and severe withdrawal syndrome risk.Florida• WUSF — Newman Road Fire containment rises to 60% — Collier County wildfire at 1,733 acres; 60% contained; evacuations in place.• WGCU — Newman Drive Fire evacuations and shelter info — Evacuation streets and Golden Gate Community Center pet-friendly shelter.Iowa• We Are Iowa — Boil order across five counties — Pottawattamie, Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, and Cass counties on Regional Water system.• Iowa HSEMD — Regional Water boil order bulletin — Official Iowa HSEMD bulletin forwarding boil-order details.Nevada• Nevada Appeal — Silver City boil-water notice — Notice issued 7:45 a.m. April 16 by Storey County for all Silver City residents.• KOLO — Silver City boil-water notice — Additional coverage with resident guidance.New Jersey• Clean Air and Water — New Jersey boil-water advisory (April 15, 2026) — Summary of Newark-area advisory following water-main break in Belleville.• Newark Patch — Boil Water Advisory guidance — Ward-level impact in Newark and resident instructions.New York• WGY — Rotterdam residents under boil-water advisory — Precautionary boil advisory after April 15 water-main break.Hawaii• Star-Advertiser — Trump issues disaster declaration after Kona-low storms — Declaration detail and affected counties.• Hawaii Public Radio — Federal disaster aid for storm-impacted residents — Governor Green deploys federal IA for affected counties.Guam• Kandit News — GWA boil-water notice update — Sustained pressure loss in distribution system following Typhoon Sinlaku.• Commonwealth Utilities Corporation — Precautionary Boil Water Notice — Official utility notice for affected islands.Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)• Isla Public — CNMI/Guam federal emergency declarations — Status of the April 11 emergency declaration as Sinlaku advanced.• The Watchers — Sinlaku cripples Saipan and Tinian — Infrastructure, power, and road impact summary.• NPR — Super Typhoon Sinlaku pounds remote U.S. islands — National coverage of the storm's Mariana Islands impact. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

Thursday, April 16, 2026II Week After EasterToday's episode calls us to live as sustained people, set-apart people, and deeply loving people. And includes a closing word on the issue of slavery in the bible.In **Exodus 16:10–22**, God provides manna from heaven—daily bread for His people in the wilderness. It's enough for each day, teaching Israel to trust His provision and not rely on their own запас or control. God is forming a rhythm of dependence, reminding them that He will supply what they need when they need it.In **1 Peter 2:11–3:12**, that dependence shapes how believers live in the world. Peter urges us to live as sojourners and exiles, abstaining from sinful desires and reflecting Christ in every relationship—with authority, in the workplace, and in the home. Even in suffering or injustice, we are called to respond with humility, blessing, and righteousness, pointing others to God through our conduct.Finally, in **John 15:12–27**, Jesus raises the standard even higher: “Love one another as I have loved you.” This is sacrificial, enduring love—the kind that lays down its life. As we live this way, we bear witness to Him, even in a world that may reject us. And we are not alone—the Holy Spirit empowers us to testify and remain faithful.Together, these passages remind us: God faithfully provides for us, calls us to live distinctively in the world, and commands us to love deeply—just as we have been loved by Christ.

A new report shows many parts of greater Minnesota are diversifying and growing. However, sustained population growth looks unlikely with an aging Baby Boomer generation and declining birth rates. That's the topline from the 2026 State of Rural report by the Center for Rural Policy and Development. Ben Winchester says there's even more to the story around these trends — and it has a lot to do with housing. As a rural sociologist with the University of Minnesota Extension, he studies housing dynamics across the state. MPR News host Kelly Gordon talked with him on Minnesota Now.

In this episode, Ryan and Mike take on one of the most hotly debated topics in the ADHD parenting space: do kids with ADHD actually need consequences? Social media influencers say no — just connection, co-regulation, and emotional validation. Ryan and Mike push back hard with decades of research showing the opposite: ADHD is a disorder of performance, not knowledge, meaning behavior is governed by immediate consequences far more than by understanding or insight, and kids with ADHD need more consequences, not fewer — clearer, more consistent, and delivered in the moment. They also dismantle popular labels being used to justify removing consequences altogether — masking, rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), pathological demand avoidance (PDA), and vague "nervous system disorder" language — and explain why these frameworks, however emotionally compelling, leave parents stuck without real strategies. The takeaway: authoritative parenting, warmth plus structure, is what the evidence supports, and parents can step into that authority with confidence.Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠{{chapters}}[00:00:00] Start[00:00:39] Research vs. Social Media Parenting Myths[00:02:41] ADHD as a Disorder of Performance, Not Knowledge[00:04:21] Connection Is Not the Problem[00:07:39] Why Parents Are Over-Connecting and Over-Functioning[00:08:48] Authoritative Parenting: Warmth Plus Structure[00:11:08] Feelings Talk vs. Behavior Change[00:13:53] Why Therapy Alone Doesn't Work for ADHD[00:15:10] Masking, RSD, PDA, and Nervous System Labels Debunked[00:19:03] Real Reasons Kids Act Out at Home[00:20:31] Help vs. a Hug: What Parents Actually Need[00:21:09] Act Don't Yak: What Keeps Parents Stuck[00:23:41] The Bottom Line on Consequences and Praise[00:25:05] School Accountability and the Principal StrategyResearch Citations:Wolraich, M. L., Hagan, J. F., Allan, C., et al. (2019). Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 144(4), e20192528.Doffer, D. P. A., et al. (2023). Sustained improvements by behavioural parent training for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analytic review of longer-term child and parental outcomes. JCPP Advances, 3(4).Dekkers, T. J., Hornstra, R., van der Oord, S., et al. (2022). Meta-analysis: Which components of parent training work for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Luman, M., van Meel, C. S., Oosterlaan, J., & Geurts, H. M. (2009). Are ADHD symptoms associated with delay aversion after controlling for neuropsychological functioning? Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37, 587–598.Hulsbosch, A. K., et al. (2024). Behavioral and emotional responding to punishment in ADHD.

Today we look at the further strong resurgence in risk assets, noting in particular the first signs of a comeback in some of the most beaten down names in software of late. Elsewhere, Oracle, the most beaten down name in our AI basket was the strongest performer on the S&P 500 Monday. Also, a look at what looks like a fresh bear trend developing in the US dollar, thoughts on the importance of the incoming Trump-Xi summit and much more on today's pod, which is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy. Links John's The FX Trader from today, covering the USD sell-off, latest reads on FX trends, USDJPY technicals and more. A very long form interview with the great Craig Tindale on China's "gaming the system", the rest of the world's physical supply chain challenges and much more. Shanaka Anslem Perera discusses Iran's short fuse on dealing with any disruption to its oil output flows if the US is indeed going after a blockade on Iranian exports as a pressure tactic. Also, did a US-sanctioned ship bound for China just slip through the blockade? Macrovoices interviewed Adam Rozencwajg on what comes next after the Iran war crisis. (Sustained higher oil prices, he believes.) About twice per week, you will also find links discussed on the podcast and a chart-of-the-day over at the John J. Hardy substack. Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here. Please reach out to us at marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions. Click here to open an account with Saxo. Intro music by AShamaluevMusic DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Howard Hewett Interview (Part 2) Legendary R&B and soul singer Howard Hewett returned for Part 2 of his interview on Money Making Conversations Masterclass to continue discussing his iconic multi‑decade career, his transition from Shalamar to a solo artist, new collaborations, performing for multi‑generational audiences, the evolution of R&B, and his philosophy on life, legacy, work ethic, and spiritual grounding. This segment is rich with personal stories—from unexpected collaborations to the behind‑the‑scenes decision-making that shaped his career. Hewett also reflects on aging gracefully, staying relevant, maintaining integrity, and building a strong foundation that supports longevity in both life and music.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Howard Hewett Interview (Part 2) Legendary R&B and soul singer Howard Hewett returned for Part 2 of his interview on Money Making Conversations Masterclass to continue discussing his iconic multi‑decade career, his transition from Shalamar to a solo artist, new collaborations, performing for multi‑generational audiences, the evolution of R&B, and his philosophy on life, legacy, work ethic, and spiritual grounding. This segment is rich with personal stories—from unexpected collaborations to the behind‑the‑scenes decision-making that shaped his career. Hewett also reflects on aging gracefully, staying relevant, maintaining integrity, and building a strong foundation that supports longevity in both life and music.