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https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260901dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed . . . the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Romans 8:19,22 Creation Can’t Wait Have you ever noticed how often the world reminds us that something isn’t right? Wildfires scorch forests. Tornadoes uproot trees. Droughts wither crops. Pretty soon, depending on where you live, the beauty of creation will fade with the changing seasons. Sometimes we speak of nature as though it is simply running its course. But the Bible tells us that creation is groaning. It wasn’t always this way. When God completed his work of creation, he declared that everything was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). There was no death. No decay. No storms. No disease. The world reflected the perfection of its Creator. Then Adam and Eve sinned. When humanity fell, the curse reached far beyond Adam and Eve. God said, “Cursed is the ground because of you” (Genesis 3:17). Thorns and thistles appeared. Death entered. Since then, every hurricane, every broken body, every dying tree, and every cemetery has proclaimed the same truth: sin has affected everything. Yet, there is hope. Creation is waiting for the day when Christ returns to reveal his children. The created world knows, in a way beyond our understanding, that its own freedom is tied to ours. When Jesus raises the dead and makes all things new, creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay. That means the groaning of creation is not the groan of despair but of eager expectation. Just as a mother experiences labor pains in anticipation of celebrating a new life, so does this world. Therefore, we can look at natural disasters differently. We are not left without hope. Every time we see creation suffer, we are pointed to the One who is coming to restore it. When he does, the curse will be lifted, and we will enjoy a new creation forever. Therefore, with creation, we can’t wait. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I see the brokenness of this world, remind me that you have already conquered sin, death, and the curse. Give me confidence to endure the groaning of this present age as I wait for the glory you have promised. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Dive into our literary analysis of House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, the long-awaited third novel in the bestselling Crescent City series. In this season, we break down House of Flame and Shadow through an academic lens, using our combined 13 years of literary training to analyze Bryce Quinlan, Hunt Athalar, Ruhn Danaan, Lidia Cervos, and the novel's most pivotal character arcs, relationships, and world-building. We explore Sarah J. Maas's use of symbolism, mythology, foreshadowing, narrative structure, and character development while examining the book's biggest themes, including fate, power, identity, sacrifice, love, and redemption. Whether you're searching for a House of Flame and Shadow recap, Crescent City theories, Sarah J. Maas Easter eggs, Maasverse connections, ACOTAR crossovers, or in-depth literary analysis, this season is your complete companion to one of the most talked-about fantasy books of the year. Spoilers: This episode contains full spoilers for House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, as well as the entire ACOTAR series (A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames). Any other books or larger Sarah J. Maas universe theories and connections will be discussed in a separate Breadcrumbs and Broomsticks episode. Chapters Summary: Ithan heads to the House of Flame and Shadow to seek a necromancer to raise Sigrid from the dead, and in the process becomes Jesiba Roga's unwilling assistant. Bryce returns from Prythian, only to be caged like an animal in the Autumn King's estate. Lidia puts her plan into motion, breaking Ruhn, Hunt and Baxian from the Asteri's palace and destroying the Spine of Pangera with the help of Ophion and Irythis. But her best laid plans take a turn, requiring the males to fly for the Depth Charger while Lidia faces down the wolves she once led, knowing it'll be her doom. The question we ask ourselves this week: Now that we're in part 2 of HOFAS, how have the themes of the story and character arcs changed or remained the same? Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at booktalkforbooktok.com for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show: Patreon: patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok Merch: Etsy Store Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is Romantasy ruining reality? Allie unpacks the ACOTAR phenomenon, highlighting how the author of the series, Sarah J. Maas, is proud of the smut she writes, but she's even prouder that readers are leaving their boyfriends and husbands thanks to her work. While women should always leave an abusive partner, Allie believes ACOTAR is setting an unrealistic standard of romance for women that is causing them to throw away good relationships and self-improvement. Meanwhile, the Bible showcases far better examples of romance and strong, female protagonists than spicy novellas from BookTok. Allie is also joined by Share the Arrows guest speaker Costi Hinn, who discusses the similarities between Kathryn Krick and his uncle Benny Hinn and the broader dangers of the charismatic movement. Do you have a question for Allie? Leave a voicemail at 844-755-5252. Share the Arrows 2026 is on October 10 in Dallas, Texas! Tickets are on sale now at: https://sharethearrows.com Share the Arrows is sponsored by: A'del Natural Cosmetics: AdelNaturalCosmetics.com Range Leather: RangeLeather.com/ALLIE We Heart Nutrition: WeHeartNutrition.com Buy Allie's book "Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion": https://www.toxicempathy.com – Time Codes 0:00 Introduction 11:34 Sarah J. Maas & ACOTAR 25:17 ACOTAR Ruins Relationships 45:34 Biblical Femininity 56:34 Costi Hinn on Kathryn Krick – Today's Sponsors: Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code RELATABLE for an exclusive 20% off. A'del | Visit AdelNaturalCosmetics.com and enter promo code ALLIE for 25% off your first-time purchase. Pre-Born | To donate, dial #250 and say the keyword “BABY.” Or visit Preborn.com/ALLIE. Good Ranchers | If you go to GoodRanchers.com and subscribe to any box of 100% American meat, you'll save up to $500 a year! Plus, if you use code ALLIE, you'll get an additional $25 off your first order. Take charge of your health expenses and be part of a community. Join CrowdHealth to get started today for $99 a month for your first three months using code ALLIE at joincrowdhealth.com. Episodes You May Like: Ep 1319 | Teen Fiction's Dark Turn, Islamification Update & Reaction to Netflix's Dino Doc https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1319-teen-fictions-dark-turn-islamification-update/id1359249098?i=1000756011652 Ep 1240 | TikTok's Spicy Novels Are Warping Women's Minds https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1240-tiktoks-spicy-novels-are-warping-womens-minds/id1359249098?i=1000725942755 --- ► Buy Allie's book, "You're Not Enough (& That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love": https://alliebethstuckey.com/book ► Subscribe to the podcast: iTunes: https://apple.co/2UVssnP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2FwkXxj ► Connect with Allie on Social Media: https://twitter.com/conservmillen https://www.instagram.com/alliebstuckey/ https://facebook.com/allieBlazeTV/ ► Relatable merchandise – use promo code 'ALLIE10' for a discount: https://shop.blazemedia.com/collections/allie-stuckey
In this episode of Beloved & Blessed's women's Bible study, Kimberly Hahn unpacks the Third Sorrowful Mystery—Jesus's Crowning with Thorns. Taking up the story immediately after Jesus's scourging, Kimberly walks us through His crowning with thorns, Pilate's remark “Ecce Homo,” and the Jewish leaders' demand for crucifixion. In this episode you'll discover what happened to Judas, the religious leaders' true attitude toward Jesus, and why the crown of thorns hearkens back to Genesis Rich with Old Testament background, this episode will deepen your meditations on the Third Sorrowful Mystery and help you discover why “bearing wrongs patiently” is this mystery's fruit.
Tom takes a brief respite before the end-of-year events hit, and before we discuss "simple" versions of popular games intended for the Mass Market shelves. Then, we answer a bunch of questions from the mailbag before moving on to a new batch of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:00 - Intro 00:55 - Hottest Days of the Year and Dice Tower West 02:06 - Too Many Games? 04:30 - Future Events: Spiel, PAX Unplugged, Internal Conventions 06:57 - "Simple" Versions 28:40 - Question: Theme or Mechanism? 30:00 - Question: What to Play? 34:34 - Question: Airing of Grievances? 38:29 - Question: Latecomers? 42:45 - Pondscape 45:38 - Sandcastles 51:20 - Miniature Adventures: Adventure 1: Goblin Trouble 55:10 - Dino Racer 57:31 - The Crew: Journeys to the Ends of the Earth Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com
St. Louis, King of France, once paid a fortune for Christ's Crown of Thorns — then carried it home barefoot himself. St. Louis IX ruled one of Europe's most powerful kingdoms while attending Mass twice daily and praying the full Liturgy of the Hours. When Christ's actual Crown of Thorns came up for sale in 1238, Louis paid an enormous sum for it and walked barefoot through Paris to carry it home, later building the stained-glass Sainte-Chapelle to house it. He washed the feet of lepers with his own hands. "A prince ought not to believe too readily those who flatter him; he ought to distrust his own judgment whenever it is in his own favor." ⭐Want to keep living St. Louis's story after the episode ends? Grab our free Every Day's a Feast Day calendar and get every saint and every challenge delivered, so your family can follow along together: https://shop.catholicsprouts.com/pages/every-days-a-feast-day-follow-along
Dive into our literary analysis of House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, the long-awaited third novel in the bestselling Crescent City series. In this season, we break down House of Flame and Shadow through an academic lens, using our combined 13 years of literary training to analyze Bryce Quinlan, Hunt Athalar, Ruhn Danaan, Lidia Cervos, and the novel's most pivotal character arcs, relationships, and world-building. We explore Sarah J. Maas's use of symbolism, mythology, foreshadowing, narrative structure, and character development while examining the book's biggest themes, including fate, power, identity, sacrifice, love, and redemption. Whether you're searching for a House of Flame and Shadow recap, Crescent City theories, Sarah J. Maas Easter eggs, Maasverse connections, ACOTAR crossovers, or in-depth literary analysis, this season is your complete companion to one of the most talked-about fantasy books of the year. Spoilers: This episode contains full spoilers for House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, as well as the entire ACOTAR series (A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames). Any other books or larger Sarah J. Maas universe theories and connections will be discussed in a separate Breadcrumbs and Broomsticks episode. Chapters Summary: The fight for Tharion's freedom results in a duel to the death between Ithan and Sigrid, and though he pulls his punches, she is surprisingly ruthless. Though Ithan does his best to avoid hurting the Fendyr heir, he accidentally kills Sigrid, and his hopes for the future of all wolf shifters end with her. In the Asteri's dungeons, Baxian bites of Ruhn's hand in an attempt to free them and Hunt, but their attempts are in vain when Rigelus shows up to steal Hunt's lightning. Forced to put her plans into motion, Lidia frees Irythis from her cage and shares her plan with the fire sprite queen. Meanwhile, in Prythian, Bryce, Nesta, and Azriel are witness to Silene's story of the past. Before Nesta and Azriel can attempt to seize her to remove the Horn from her back, Bryce claims the power left by Silene in the stone of the Prison, only to discover the true evil lurking beneath their feet. The question we ask ourselves this week: How does colonization shape the landscape of the story and the characters' development as well? Sponsor: Jones Road Beauty For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full-sized mascara on their first purchase when they use code BOOKTALK at checkout. JonesRoadbeauty.com Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at booktalkforbooktok.com for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show: Patreon: patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok Merch: Etsy Store Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Matthew Bunson, Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News, joins the Son Rise Morning Show to discuss the life and holiness of St. Louis IX, King of France. Dr. Bunson begins with the profound influence of Louis' mother, Blanche of Castile, who taught her son to love God above everything—even telling him she would rather see him dead than commit a mortal sin. From there, they explore Louis' remarkable example of Christian kingship, his efforts to establish justice and fair trials, his care for the poor, his patronage of the arts and architecture, and the building of the Sainte-Chapelle to house the Crown of Thorns. The conversation also examines Louis' participation in the Crusades, his reputation as a peacemaker and arbiter among European rulers, and what his life can teach Catholics today about leadership, responsibility, and putting Christ first. St. Louis IX's enduring message is simple: whatever our station in life, Christ must come before everything else.Support the show: https://www.sacredheartradio.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Art historian and author Liz Lev joins the Son Rise Morning Show on the feast of St. Louis IX, King of France, to explore one of his greatest contributions to Christian art and architecture: Saint-Chapelle in Paris. Liz explains how St. Louis acquired the Crown of Thorns in 1239 and why the chapel was constructed as a magnificent reliquary for the Passion relics. She also explores the profound spirituality behind the project, including Louis' understanding of kingship as service and his desire to create a space that would draw people beyond the ordinary world and into the mystery of salvation. The conversation takes listeners inside Saint-Chapelle's breathtaking stained-glass windows, which tell the story of salvation history from Genesis through the arrival of the Crown of Thorns in Paris. Liz also shares what it is like to walk into the chapel for the first time—and why sometimes the best response to great sacred art is simply wonder.Support the show: https://www.sacredheartradio.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lisa Carlin and Darian Jenkins are live after Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC for the Attacking Third Week 18 recap and reaction show! The duo is live after the titanic matchup between the coast-to-coast rivals, and we were joined by a special guest after the match! But that's not all for this show. A wild match between Boston Legacy and North Carolina Courage saw a penalty kick by Ashley Sanchez deep into injury time. Sophia Smith scored the lone goal for the Thorns in their win over the Denver Summit on Tobin Heath Day. And much, much more!00:00 - Welcome 05:18 - Esther González joins Saudi club Al Qadsiah 08:42 - San Diego Wave vs Utah Royals reaction 13:33 - Angel City GK Angelina Anderson joins the show 19:33 - Angel City vs Gotham FC reaction 32:04 - Ashley Sanchez gives NC Courage the win 32:32 - Denver Summit vs Portland Thorns recap 36:39 - Chicago Stars vs Racing Louisville recap 38:22 - Cristiana Girelli scores her first goal for Bay FC 39:47 - KC Current vs Seattle Reign recap 43:57 - Attacking Third team of the weekWatch USWNT and NWSL games on P+" with a link to https://www.paramountplus.com/home/Attacking Third is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and wherever else you listen to podcasts.Follow the Attacking Third team on Twitter: @AttackingThird, @LisaCarlin32, @SandHerrera_, @Darian_Jenks, and @CCupo. Visit the Attacking Third YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wgolazo You can listen to Attacking Third on your smart speakers! Simply say "Alexa, play the latest episode of the Attacking Third podcast" or "Hey Google, play the latest episode of the Attacking Third podcast."For more soccer coverage from CBS Sports, visit https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/
THE WAIT IS OVER, BOOK BESTIES. We're here with a very special ACOTAR EMERGENCY EPISODE
Chef Dean Harrison has spent 14 of his 22 years as a chef cooking on superyachts — from a 100-footer that rode out a cyclone in the South Pacific to a 280-footer spending $50,000 a week on provisions. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered what's actually on the other side of the "yacht life" fantasy, and for any chef weighing whether a different version of this career exists.Register for the free monthly Culinary Leadership Lab @ https://thecheflifebrigade.com/thelab"You need to leave that ego in the restaurant. But honestly, if you can do that, you're going to be a successful yacht chef."The Job Nobody Warns You AboutDean's first yacht job was a six-day crossing from Brisbane to Fiji — and it put him inside the eye of a cyclone for the entire trip. Two sailors racing in the same storm system died and fell overboard. The boat's stabilizers failed, the hydraulics overheated, and the captain hand-steered for 48 hours while the hull rolled hard enough that Dean kept a mask and snorkel by his bed, working out which doors he'd swim through if the boat flipped.That's not the version of yacht life that makes it into the brochure, or the reality show. And it's the story Dean leads with now — not the biggest boat he's worked on, not the fanciest guest — because it's the truest one.Why YachtsTwenty-two years ago, Dean started his apprenticeship at 15 in what he calls "the Gordon Ramsay era" — yelling, getting burned, abusive kitchen culture treated as normal. He wasn't chasing Michelin stars. He was looking for a version of this career that let him travel, get paid what he was worth, and keep his sanity intact. Yachting checked every box he didn't know he was allowed to want.What "Below Deck" Doesn't Show YouOn a superyacht, roughly 70% of the boat belongs to guests — the flowers, the leather, the finishes. The other 30% is crew country: bunk beds, shared cabins, thinner carpet, harsher lighting. You can feel exactly where you cross that threshold. It's not exploitation, Dean is clear — it's just the part nobody photographs.The economics on the guest side are almost absurd by comparison. A week charter on his last boat ran $1.2 million. The chef's food budget alone was $50,000 a week — not because guests eat that much, but because you're provisioning for anything they might ask for, at any hour, with no grocery store to run to mid-ocean. Tips ran $4,000–$8,000 a week per crew member. Which is how you end up getting woken at 3am to make chicken fingers, and being genuinely fine with it.The Village That Gave Him a FreezerThe two places Dean says actually changed him weren't the biggest boats — they were Alaska and Raja Ampat, Indonesia. In Vanuatu, his yacht stopped at a remote village the owners had given solar panels the year before. Dean asked the chief's son the reflexive question — "what do you do for a living?" — and got looked at like it didn't compute."I fish, I grow my vegetables, and I live," the man told him. "I smoke a bit of weed." In the year since the solar panels arrived, the village had built a small economy around freezing fish to sell in town. Dean's takeaway wasn't a lesson about simplicity — it was a correction to the assumption that wealthy people are careless with what they have. He's met, in his words, some of the most generous people he'll ever know, on boats most people will never set foot on.What It Actually CostsThe entry price is almost nothing — an STCW safety course and a basic medical exam run about $1,300 total. The real cost shows up later: missed weddings, relationships that don't survive the distance, and years living in shared cabins with people you didn't choose. Dean calls himself lucky — he started young, with no baggage — but he's honest that the mental toll compounds, especially for anyone who isn't naturally good with people in tight quarters.His one non-negotiable: coffee on deck every morning, watching the sunrise, before the day starts. And a rule he wishes he'd learned faster — know when to leave. "This is bullshit. I don't feel happy waking up every day. I leave," is how he puts it now, after staying on boats longer than he should have more than once in 14 years.Eight Years to Feel Like a Real ChefDespite steady work on increasingly high-end boats, it took Dean about eight years to fully trust that he belonged — that he could walk onto any yacht, read what the guests actually wanted, and deliver it. Now running a coaching program and recruitment agency for yacht chefs, he says the imposter syndrome is gone, not because he became perfect, but because he can see exactly where he went wrong and hand newer chefs a shortcut around it.The One Thing That Still Worries HimNot the storms. Not the isolation. The mental toll of chefs sacrificing themselves for people who, in his words, "couldn't care less if you stay or leave" and "forget about you within a year." Three or four burnouts into his own career, it's the part of the industry he's most focused on changing — both through his coaching and by pushing owners and agencies to actually pay chefs what they're worth.Big appreciation to everyone building something real out of an industry that doesn't always make it easy — this conversation is for anyone quietly wondering if there's a different way to build this career.Chapters00:00 — Cold Open — The Hallway Where the Yacht Changes02:04 — Almost Dying in a Cyclone Crossing the South Pacific06:13 — Welcome, Chef Dean Harrison06:35 — Why Yachts? Leaving the Gordon Ramsay Restaurant Era10:31 — What "Below Deck" Doesn't Show You13:36 — Provisioning $50K a Week for One Charter16:01 — The 365-Day Operation: Where the Extra Food Goes17:17 — Temp, Full-Time, and Rotational Contracts18:43 — Recession-Proof: Why the Rich Keep Chartering20:39 — The MLC: The Law That Protects Crew at Sea21:40 — The Creative Freedom of Not Costing a Plate24:15 — Alaska, Raja Ampat, and the Village That Changed Him26:56 — What It Actually Costs to Get In27:55 — What It Costs You Emotionally, Physically, Romantically29:26 — Coffee, Sunrise, and Knowing When to Leave a Boat31:50 — Safety, Predators, and What the MLC Actually Protects34:31 — The Thorns: 24-Hour Service and Leaving Your Ego Behind35:46 — How to Actually Prepare for This Industry37:41 — Why Chefs Leave: Camaraderie, Burnout, and the Clock39:36 — Eight Years to Feel Like a Real Chef40:50 — Imposter Syndrome on the Other Side of the Table42:29 — Building an Agency and Fighting for Better Pay43:00 — What He'd Tell His 22-Year-Old Self44:28 — Play: Snowboarding, Free Diving, Staying Human45:00 — The Next 12 Months46:14 — The One Thing That Still Worries HimBecome a Yacht Chef | Get Hired, Get Paid, See the WorldAbout Dean Harrison — Yacht Chef & FounderThe Yacht ChefDean Harrison | The Yacht ChefAB Techniccal College | Culinary ProgramCarolina Health & WellnessRegister for The Leadership LabAdam M LambChef Life Media LLC
Dive into our literary analysis of House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, the long-awaited third novel in the bestselling Crescent City series. In this season, we break down House of Flame and Shadow through an academic lens, using our combined 13 years of literary training to analyze Bryce Quinlan, Hunt Athalar, Ruhn Danaan, Lidia Cervos, and the novel's most pivotal character arcs, relationships, and world-building. We explore Sarah J. Maas's use of symbolism, mythology, foreshadowing, narrative structure, and character development while examining the book's biggest themes—including fate, power, identity, sacrifice, love, and redemption. Whether you're searching for a House of Flame and Shadow recap, Crescent City theories, Sarah J. Maas Easter eggs, Maasverse connections, ACOTAR crossovers, or in-depth literary analysis, this season is your complete companion to one of the most talked-about fantasy books of the year. Spoilers: This episode contains full spoilers for House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, as well as the entire ACOTAR series (A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames). Any other books or larger Sarah J. Maas universe theories and connections will be discussed in a separate Breadcrumbs and Broomsticks episode. Chapters Summary: Bryce regrets her choice to abandon Nesta and Arizel to the Middengard worm and returns to rescue them, only to have her treachery served back to her on a cold platter and a forced encounter with the Mask of the Dread Trove. In the Asteri's Dungeons, Hunt, Ruhn and Baxian attempt to escape their shackles while Lidia seeks the help of Ophion to enact her plan to liberate them. Meanwhile, Ithan makes a deal with the Viper Queen to let him and his friends go (including Tharion) but doesn't bargain well enough to avoid the worst possible outcome. Back in Prythian, Bryce, Nesta and Azriel resume their trek through the subterranean tunnels to find themselves at the bottom of the prison, where a hidden message from Princess Silene is waiting to be found by a starborn heir. The question we ask ourselves this week: How does colonization shape the landscape of the story and the characters' development as well? Sponsor: Vionic Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at booktalkforbooktok.com for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show: Patreon: patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok Merch: Etsy Store Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this message, Pastor Mark Varughese teaches that the greatest threats to our spiritual fruitfulness are not always the obvious problems around us, but the hidden issues growing within us. Using Jesus' parables of the soils and the wheat and tares, he distinguishes between the tares around us—people, circumstances, disappointments, and offenses—and the thorns within us—unforgiveness, resentment, fear, anxiety, cynicism, pride, and unbelief. The tares may be visible, but the thorns are what choke the Word of God and keep our lives from producing thirty-, sixty-, and hundredfold fruit. Pastor Mark explains that believers must learn to “garden” their hearts. Guarding the heart does not mean isolating ourselves from people; it means allowing God to remove the attitudes and wounds that do not belong there. Rather than constantly changing jobs, churches, relationships, or circumstances, we are called to deal honestly with what those experiences have produced inside us. The person may have caused the pain, but the condition of our heart remains our responsibility. Ultimately, this message is an invitation to daily surrender. A little daily gardening is better than waiting for a major spiritual crisis. Pastor Mark encourages believers to pray regularly, “Create in me a clean heart,” and trust God as the divine gardener who knows exactly what needs to be removed. Jesus wore a crown of thorns so we would not have to carry thorns in our hearts, and when we let God do His work within us, our lives can become healthy, free, and fruitful.
Whether you have or haven't read books like Heated Rivalry, A Court of Thorns and Roses or Fourth Wing, you can't deny the rise in smutty literature. In 2025 romantasy and sports romance experienced triple-digit growth.But there's been some criticism around how DR and romantasy books often glamourise SA and are too accessible for young readers. In today's episode Dee is joined by guest co-host Esme James, a sex historian and author, to discuss why we're all so obsessed with fantasy smut. SHOW NOTES:https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/2026/feb-2026/romance-revival-why-we-love-stories-about-love?utm_source=chatgpt.comWhy romance novels thrive on tiktok - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-27/why-romance-and-romantasy-novels-are-so-popular-on-tiktok/103198518?utm_source=chatgpt.comEsme's book! https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Esme-Louise-James/244716193Dr Esme Louise James IG - https://www.instagram.com/esme.louisee/?hl=enDM us your thoughts, questions, topics, or to just vent at @triplejthehookup on IG or email us: thehookup@abc.net.auThe Hook Up is an ABC podcast, produced by triple j. It is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.
We've known for quite some time that the Orlando Pride have not been playing well. Ever since the restart after the World Cup break, the Pride have been nearly unwatchable, and with Barbra Banda first injured and then off with Zambia for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, there haven't even been many goals to celebrate, let alone wins. Despite knowing that going in, your hosts attended Friday's Pride match against Racing Louisville — the very first time the two of us have been at a game as a fan at the same time. With one of us living in Tallahassee and the other one of us working the equivalent of about three jobs, including being at Orlando City games to cover those for The Mane Land, it just hadn't happened yet. That changed Friday, and although we did not enjoy the game much at all, we did enjoy being at the stadium, hanging out, and commiserating about how badly the team was playing (misery loves company). The food and beer were good. The soccer was not.We look back at the Pride's latest difficult outing, check our oh-so-close score predictions, and I think we picked a Player of the Match, but honestly we should not have.We also discussed the additions of Zoe Matthews and Gabi Nunes to the roster.This week's mailbagbox was incredibly robust, and it takes up a large chunk of the middle of the show. Our listeners wanted to know about goal of the week, long intros/outros in songs, the Pride's most urgent need, and more. Remember, you can ask us anything by hitting us up on Twitter at either @TheManeLand or @SkoPurpSoccer and using the hashtag #AskSkoPurp. You can use that same hashtag and hit @TheManeLand.bsky.social up on Bluesky. Or you can visit our show page, scroll down, and fill out the handy form. We'd also appreciate any ratings or reviews you can leave wherever you get your podcasts, and if you do that on Apple Podcasts, we'll find them easily and read them on the show.Finally, we looked ahead to Saturday night's Pride match in Portland. (Please note that we had not known the full extent of Olivia Moultrie's injury at the time of recording.) We're not holding out a lot of hope for a result for Orlando on the road, although the Thorns are in poor form. That's usually immaterial, as the Pride's recent trip to North Carolina showed us. We checked on the history of the series, looked at the teams' relative position in the table, provided our key matchups, and tried to predict the final score.If you'd like to support our independent writing and podcasting efforts, we'd love to have you as a subscriber or donor over at our Buy Me a Coffee site.Here's how Episode 133 went down:0:15 – The Pride were bad on Friday, but the company, food, and beverages were great.17:42 - The mailbagbox is bursting at the seams, and it was more fun than watching the game this week.48:08 - Orlando heads to the Pacific Northwest. We think we know what will happen, but we hope we're wrong for all the right reasons.
The book club wraps House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas, book 2 in the Crescent City series, but . . . is it really the beginning of book 6 in the A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series hitting book stores at midnight on October 27, 2026??? Can we talk for a minute about Hunt Athalar's little trick? What was the pre-Asteri world really like? And, what boundaries does Bryce need to set with Ember Quinlan? Remember, Lorcanis is watching
We're back from Gen Con with stories to tell! Lots of steps logged, games played, and high fives acquired. What were the big hits of the show, and where were we when the alarms went off? Plus, a completely normal amount of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:00 - Introduction 00:47 - Back from Gen Con 01:19 - Dice Tower West 02:07 - Biggest Gen Con Ever? and Construction 05:21 - What Did Gamers Run For? 08:26 - Artist Alley Has Gotten Crowded 09:00 - Dungeon Crawler Carl 11:34 - Games Played at The Booth: Citadels Duel 13:57 - Open Gaming at JW Marriott 15:48 - Geting Our Steps In 16:38 - Dedicated Publisher Rooms 18:18 - The Dice Tower Awards 19:53 - Loud Parties 21:02 - Light Games, CCGs, and RPGs 23:14 - Non-Game Purchases 26:30 - Paizo's New Boardgames 28:00 - Pins, Ribbons, and Trinkets 31:29 - Memorable Fan Interactions 32:52 - Tornado Warning 38:46 - Uh Oh, Dino 42:33 - Le Chocolat 43:37 - Drillers 46:58 - Panic Lab 50:05 - Invincible Season 2 52:01 - Kronologic Babylon 2500 56:39 - Wrap-Up Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com
Welcome to the ultimate Maastermind Compilation! We've gathered every Maastermind segment from our entire ACOTAR: Revisited series into one place, tracing the foreshadowing, Easter eggs, lingering plot threads, hidden connections, and theories Sarah J. Maas has planted throughout all 3 series! ⚠️ MAJOR SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for all three Sarah J. Maas series: A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City ✨ Love the show? Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode! Leaving us a rating and review is one of the best ways to support the podcast and help more fantasy romance readers find our book club! ✨Join the Flights of Fantasy community:PatreonWebsiteInstagramTikTokSJM Series Episode Playlists: ACOTAR Throne of Glass Crescent City Maasverse Theory Episodes Follow along for episode updates, book recommendations, theories, reactions, and all things romantasy!
Dive into our literary analysis of House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, the long-awaited third novel in the bestselling Crescent City series. In this season, we break down House of Flame and Shadow through an academic lens, using our combined 13 years of literary training to analyze Bryce Quinlan, Hunt Athalar, Ruhn Danaan, Lidia Cervos, and the novel's most pivotal character arcs, relationships, and world-building. We explore Sarah J. Maas's use of symbolism, mythology, foreshadowing, narrative structure, and character development while examining the book's biggest themes—including fate, power, identity, sacrifice, love, and redemption. Whether you're searching for a House of Flame and Shadow recap, Crescent City theories, Sarah J. Maas Easter eggs, Maasverse connections, ACOTAR crossovers, or in-depth literary analysis, this season is your complete companion to one of the most talked-about fantasy books of the year. Spoilers: This episode contains full spoilers for House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, as well as the entire ACOTAR series (A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames). Any other books or larger Sarah J. Maas universe theories and connections will be discussed in a separate Breadcrumbs and Broomsticks episode. Chapters Summary: Bryce and Nesta navigate the ancient tunnels beneath the Court of Nightmares. On their trek, they encounter a Middengard Worm and discover mysterious carvings that hint at the history of the Dusk Court. In Midgard, Ithan and company find uneasy refuge with the Viper Queen, where they reunite with Tharion. Lidia tests the honor of Irithys, Queen of the Fire Sprites, and begins recruiting Ruhn's friends to help break Hunt and Ruhn out of the Asteri's dungeons, where the two men and Baxian continue to endure relentless torture. The question we ask ourselves this week: All of our characters are struggling or in terrible situations right now. Out of all of them, which has SJM made us personally sympathize with most? Least? Sponsor: Vionic Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at booktalkforbooktok.com for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show: Patreon: patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok Merch: Etsy Store Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We have a new array of crowdfunding campaigns and presales to introduce you to, and our listener challenge this month is to buy a reissued album.--- SPOTLIGHT CAMPAIGN ---* Sandra McCracken - God's Highway 10th Anniversary double vinyl reissue* https://www.sandramccracken.com/store/p/gods-highway-vinyl-dn78b--- OTHER CAMPAIGNS ---* Crumbacher - Incandescent, Escape From The Fallen Planet, Thunder Beach CD reissues https://girdermusic.com/collections/pre-orders* Morella's Forest - indie tapes on CD (Bozur & bass) - https://steadfastrecords.com/products/morellas-forest-cd-bundle* Various - The Songs Live on - music of the Jesus revolution - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thejesusrevolution/the-songs-live-on-music-of-the-jesus-revolution* River & Rail - sophomore album - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/riverandrail/river-and-rails-sophomore-album-studio-videos/* Humble Feet - Spiritual Trench - songs of struggle and worship - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/917116175/spiritual-trench-songs-of-struggle-and-worship* Stryper - Throne of Thorns - https://frontiers-us.shop/collections/stryper* The River Cryers - debut album - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rivercryers/the-river-cryers-debut-album-on-vinyl-cd-and-digital* Nobody's Uncle - Kiss the Son - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nobodysunclemusic/kiss-the-son-album-2-from-nobodys-uncle--- CREDITS ---* Host/Producer - Garret Godfrey* Executive Producer - Dave Trout* UTR's All Aboard 2026 Campaign - https://utrmedia.org/aa26* New & Notable, Summer 2026 pt.1 - https://utrmedia.org/nnsum126/* Playlist of over 200 great artists all with under 10K monthly listeners - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4kVNh7DVpO5eoMssGS2Lmi?si=eb1bb0f5aa5c487c* Good Patron's email newsletter https://utrmedia.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85113034823cd07c83d277cad&id=ca2fe47e5d* Good Patron's newsletter @ Substack - https://goodpatronpodcast.substack.com/* All the socials - https://linktr.ee/goodpatronpodcast* Email: goodpatronpodcast@gmail.com* Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/good-patron-utr-media-555222* All songs used are with permission or under fair use provisions(c) 2026 UTR Media. All Rights Reserved. A 501(c)(3) non-profit org - info at https://utrmedia.org
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Parenting in Speculative Fiction with author Laura E. Weymouth. During the episode, Laura lays down the law of the (fictional) house, discussing being a parent AND a professional writer, the stereotypes of SFF parents, good and bad parental role models, writing believable parent characters, how parenthood can be intertwined with plot, teaching children empathy/morality through SFF stories, portraying community and partnership on the page, toxic vs. healthy relationships, the challenges of portraying motherhood in fiction, using spec fic to envision new ways of parenting, parental nostalgia and more.NOTE: This is part two of a two-part chat with Laura. Click here to check out part one.OUR SPONSOR:TRANSFERENCE by Ian Patterson is a sci-fi dystopia that dissects what it means to be human in a city where diseases can be transferred.Purchase it here in eBook + paperback.SHOUTOUT TO THE 'SFF ADDICT' PATRONS:Thank you Ian Patterson, David Hopkins, Luke F. Shepherd, Christopher R. DuBois and Luke A. Winch for supporting us on Patreon at $10+.SUPPORT THE SHOW:- Patreon- Rate and review SFF Addicts- Share us with your friendsEMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS & COMMENTS:sffaddictspod@gmail.comABOUT OUR GUEST:Laura E. Weymouth is the author of The Light Between Worlds, A Treason of Thorns, A Rush of Wings and more. Her latest novel is The Castle & the Cloister, which you can purchase here.Find Laura on Instagram, Amazon and her website.ABOUT OUR HOSTS:Adrian M. Gibson is the author of Mushroom Blues and A Murder Most Fungal. M.J. Kuhn is the author of Among Thieves, Thick as Thieves and Killswitch Protocol. Greta Kelly is the author of The Queen of Days, The Frozen Crown, The Seventh Queen and the upcoming The Throwaways.FOLLOW SFF ADDICTS:LinktreeMUSIC:Intro: "Into The Grid" by MellauSFXOutro: “Galactic Synthwave” by DivionAD ATTRIBUTION:Music: "Corporate Advertising Music" by SigmaMusicArt / "Synthetic Deception" by GioeleFazzeri
We're back with another edition of Geekwire, bringing you the latest, greatest, and dumbest rock and metal news from around the world! This time around, we're talking about the reported circumstances surrounding Sid Wilson's exit from Slipknot, while members of Cinderella sound increasingly open to the idea of getting the band back on the road; but which ones? Also, Nikki Sixx addresses the allegations of Mötley Crüe's use of backing tracks and pushes back on criticism of the band's live performances, Phil Lewis discusses the surprising new look that has him feeling liberated, and Theory of a Deadman's Tyler Connolly explains where the shortened “Theory” name actually came from. Elsewhere, Geoff Tate apparently has his sights set on sharpening his skills in the kitchen, Glenn Hughes announces his retirement from touring and live performances, and Blackie Lawless shares a message of support for former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes. Plus, John 5 recruits Wednesday 13 for The Creatures in 2027, Michael Sweet reveals a major change to the guitar lineup on Stryper's upcoming Throne of Thorns album, and Motörhead enters the world of immersive entertainment with a new KnuckleBonz360 partnership. We've got opinions, reactions, tangents, and probably a few arguments along the way. It's all happening on the latest Geekwire from the Decibel Geek Podcast. Decibel geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're back with another edition of Geekwire, bringing you the latest, greatest, and dumbest rock and metal news from around the world! This time around, we're talking about the reported circumstances surrounding Sid Wilson's exit from Slipknot, while members of Cinderella sound increasingly open to the idea of getting the band back on the road; but which ones? Also, Nikki Sixx addresses the allegations of Mötley Crüe's use of backing tracks and pushes back on criticism of the band's live performances, Phil Lewis discusses the surprising new look that has him feeling liberated, and Theory of a Deadman's Tyler Connolly explains where the shortened “Theory” name actually came from. Elsewhere, Geoff Tate apparently has his sights set on sharpening his skills in the kitchen, Glenn Hughes announces his retirement from touring and live performances, and Blackie Lawless shares a message of support for former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes. Plus, John 5 recruits Wednesday 13 for The Creatures in 2027, Michael Sweet reveals a major change to the guitar lineup on Stryper's upcoming Throne of Thorns album, and Motörhead enters the world of immersive entertainment with a new KnuckleBonz360 partnership. We've got opinions, reactions, tangents, and probably a few arguments along the way. It's all happening on the latest Geekwire from the Decibel Geek Podcast. Decibel geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Timbers finally lose, Thorns get a big win...WNBA can't get the focus on the court...M's can't win and one of the classiest classes at the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend.
More famous for his science fiction and dark fantasy, Ray Bradbury also tried his hand at crime fiction, with often-fascinating results. Writer, critic, and editor Aigner Loren Wilson talks us through the strange flourishes and tonal experiments of Killer, Come Back To Me! Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books. Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon! Guest: Aigner Loren Wilson Title: Killer, Come Back To Me by Ray Bradbury Host:Jake Casella Brookins Music byGiselle Gabrielle Garcia Artwork byRob Patterson Opening poem by Bhartṛhari, translated by John Brough References: The Possession of Alba Díaz & Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas Leslie Feinberg’s Stone Butch Blues The Ship of Death by Kyle Winkler Adrian Tchaikovsky's Shroud Ray Bradbury: The Life of Fiction by Jonathan R. Eller & William F. Touponce Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett Dandelion Wine, Fahrenheit 451, The Illustrated Man, The Martian Chronicles Damon Knight "The Smallest Assassin" Leigh Brackett The Chucky franchise Frank Miller’s Sin City, Shane Black’s The Nice Guys Yestermorrow: Obvious Answers to Impossible Futures "Dead Men Rise Up never" "Where Everything Ends" "The Town Where No One Got Off" "The Utterly Perfect Murder" The Bradbury Chronicles by Sam Weller "Punishment Without Crime" "The Whole Town’s Sleeping" & "At Midnight in the Month of June" "The Women" from I Sing the Body Electric "And So Died Riabouchinska" "The Smiling People" "The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl" "Some Live Like Lazarus" Octavia E. Butler Darker Times Writing Skins, Aigner’s newsletter Aigner's website Scene Builder
Hi everyone! August is a Fallow Month for us, and so we are dialing back on some of our activities while we focus our attention on coursework production, curriculum development, and - most importantly - hands-on herbalism in the field, kitchen, and apothecary. If you don't know or don't remember what a Fallow Month is, listen to the full explanation in episode 212! Or if you'd prefer some reading, check out Katja's piece If You Really Want to Learn Herbalism, Stop Studying.This week we're airing a replay of episode 274: Thorn Medicine.Have you ever wished you had thorns? Have you ever felt like you needed to protect your heart, your space, your peace of mind, or your time from a world that asks too much of you – or takes without asking? You're not alone. This is what thorn medicine can bring you.Thorns aren't weapons, they're defenses. They don't seek an animal or human out with the intent to cause harm, they hold space and define boundaries. Touch me here, says the rose, but not there. Admire my flowers, says the motherwort, but don't you dare clutch my seeds. We can learn from this.We can take the medicine of thorns into ourselves. We can do this literally, not only (oh, “only”!) metaphorically or symbolically. Most all thorny herbs, and particularly the thorns themselves, carry a key herbal action: astringency. This is an action which literally pulls things together, and holds things together.Each plant's thorn is different, serving its own purpose. Hawthorn's long, widely spaced thorns evolved to counter the hungers of the giant sloth, and they retain that shape long after the lumbering herbivore went extinct: they are the living memory of a predator past. Ocotillo's inexhaustible rows of spines render it no more easy a prey than the cactus who share its landscape. Thistle spikes out from every possible surface, asserting itself in all directions as its firework flowers reach for the sky. Which thorns are yours?Pull yourself together. Hold your boundaries. Make a safe space.Then, within that thorn-walled refuge, your flowers will unfold.Thorn medicine is only one form of support herbs can offer our emotions. Our Neurological & Emotional Health course is a user's guide to your nerves, your emotions, and the herbs who can lift you, hold you, brace you, and sustain you. We teach holistic herbal strategies for addressing both neurological & psychological health issues. It includes a lengthy discussion of herbal pain management strategies, too!Like all our offerings, this is a self-paced online video course, which comes with free access to twice-weekly live Q&A sessions, lifetime access to current & future course material, twice-weekly live Q&A sessions with us, open discussion threads integrated in each lesson, an active student community, study guides, quizzes & capstone assignments, and more!If you have a moment, it would help us a lot if you could subscribe, rate, & review our podcast wherever you listen. This helps others find us more easily. Thank you!!Our theme music is “Wings” by Nicolai Heidlas.Support the showYou can find all of our online herbalism courses at online.commonwealthherbs.com!
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0808db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – August 08 Hosea 9 – 10 Days of Retribution Are Near Hosea 9 1 Do not rejoice, Israel, with excessive celebration like the nations, because you act promiscuously against your God. You love the wages you can earn as a prostitute at every threshing floor for grain. 2 The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, and the new wine will fail for them. 3 They will not remain in the Lord's land. Ephraim will return to Egypt, and they will eat unclean food in Assyria. 4 They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the Lord. Their sacrifices will not be pleasing to him. For them, their bread will become like the bread eaten by mourners. Everyone who eats it will be unclean. This bread will only serve their own appetite. It will not enter the House of the Lord. 5 What will you do on the day of the appointed festivals and on the feast days of the Lord? 6 Know this! Even if they flee from destruction, Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Thistles will overgrow their silver treasures. Thorns will grow inside their tents. 7 The days of reckoning have come. The days of retribution have come. Israel should know this! Israel Rejects the Prophets The prophet is treated like a fool, and the man of the Spirit is called crazy, because your guilt is enormous, and because your hostility is so great. 8 A prophet is to be a watchman over Ephraim for my God, but a fowler's snare is laid for him on all of Ephraim's paths, and he encounters hostility in the house of his God. [1] 9 They have become extremely corrupt, as they were in the days of Gibeah. God will remember their guilt. He will punish them for their sins. Fertility Worship Brings No Fertility 10 I regarded Israel like grapes found in the wilderness. I regarded your forefathers like the first ripe fruit on a fig tree in its first season, but they went to Baal Peor, and they devoted themselves to a shameful thing, and they became as disgusting as the thing they loved. 11 Ephraim's glory will fly away like a bird— no birth, no pregnancy, no conception! 12 Even if they bring up their children, I will deprive them of each one. Yes, woe to them when I depart from them! 13 I have seen Ephraim planted in a pleasant place like Tyre, but Ephraim will bring its children out to the executioner. 14 Give to them, Lord—but what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 15 Because of all their evil in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their evil deeds, I will drive them out of my house! I will love them no more. All their officials are rebels. 16 Ephraim has been struck down. Their root has dried up. They will bear no fruit. Even if they give birth, I will put their precious offspring to death. 17 My God will reject them, because they have not obeyed him. They will be wanderers among the nations. Hosea 10 1 Israel was a spreading [2] vine. He produced fruit for himself. The more fruit he produced, the more altars he made. The richer the land became, the richer he made his sacred memorial stones. 2 Their hearts are insincere, [3] so now they will suffer for their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars and destroy their sacred memorial stones. Kings Cannot Save You 3 Certainly now they will say, “We have no king because we did not fear the Lord, but what could such a king do for us anyway?” 4 They speak empty words. With empty oaths, they make agreements. That is why disputes sprout like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria will be terrified because of the calf [4] of Beth Aven. Yes, its people will mourn over it, and its idolatrous priests will cry out over it, over its lost glory, because it has gone into exile. 6 It will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the Great King. [5] Ephraim will be gripped with shame, and Israel will be ashamed of its own idol. [6] 7 Samaria, like her king, will be carried off like a twig on the surface of the water. 8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will become unusable. Thorns and thistles will grow on their altars. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!” Learn the Lesson of Gibeah 9 Israel, you have sinned ever since the days of Gibeah, where the evildoers took their stand. The war against the evildoers caught up with them at Gibeah, did it not? 10 When I see fit, I will discipline them. [7] Peoples will be gathered against them to bind them for their double guilt. [8] 11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh. I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. [9] I will harness Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break up the ground. 12 Sow righteousness for yourselves, and reap mercy. Break up your fallow ground. It is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and rains righteousness on you. 13 You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped injustice. You have eaten the fruit of your lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the large number of your strong warriors. 14 Therefore the roar of battle will rise against your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman [10] devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle. Mothers were dashed to the ground with their children. 15 This is what will be done to you, Bethel, because of your great wickedness. At dawn the king of Israel will be completely destroyed. Footnotes Hosea 9:8 This verse is difficult. Hosea 10:1 The Hebrew word may have a negative connotation like invasive. Hosea 10:2 Or divided Hosea 10:5 Variant calves Hosea 10:6 The text of the last word of the line is uncertain. Hosea 10:6 Or plan. The meaning of the last word is uncertain. Hosea 10:10 The text of the line is uncertain. Hosea 10:10 Or two crimes. The text of the line is uncertain. Hosea 10:11 The text of the line is uncertain. Hosea 10:14 The king of Assyria The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
Cutting away a thorny branch does not make the remaining thorns harmless. The same is true inside a law firm. In this episode, Victoria Collier explores the problems that can continue causing damage long after an employee leaves, a client relationship ends, or outdated technology is replaced. She also examines how missing accountability and an owner's own habits can create hidden risks that quietly affect operations and firm value. Buyers do not expect perfection, but they do need confidence that past problems have been fully identified and resolved. What You'll Learn • Why an employee's departure does not necessarily eliminate the problems they left behind • How processes lose their value when accountability is missing • What must be addressed when ending a difficult client relationship • How unused or poorly implemented technology can become an ongoing liability • Why the law firm owner may be the biggest obstacle to growth • How unresolved "dead thorns" create uncertainty for potential buyers About Victoria Collier Victoria Collier is a seasoned attorney, entrepreneur, and expert in law firm sales and valuations. With a background in law and accounting, including prior military service and CPA training, she brings a unique perspective to the financial side of business valuations. She helps transform law firms into more valuable and sellable businesses while guiding attorneys through life after law. We want to hear from you! You can leave us a rating and review in Apple Podcasts. Click here and then scroll down the page to the rating and review section. You can also leave us a rating in Spotify by clicking here. Connect with Victoria Collier https://quidproquolaw.com/ Private Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1284225722042602 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/victoria-collier-coaching/
Sheila and Tara continue discussing the second half of House of Sky and Breath, book 2 in the Crescent City (CC) series by Sarah J. Maas, and they left all the good bits for this part. Don't you think Ruhn Danaan and Agent Daylight have a real Love is Blind experience? Danika Fendyr had at least one more big secret and isn't it the best?! Rigelus is spilling all the tea, the Asteri's footnotes on the universe are freaking us out, and, how old are they really anyway? New places and spaces – we are in it now folks (wink, wink)! Safe if you've read all of the House of Sky and Breath, and no cross Sarah J. Maas universe spoilers. Send voice memos or emails to sandtfaemail@gmail.com and check @mortallands on Instagram for updates! Season 1: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series Season 2: Throne of Glass (TOG) series Season 3: Crescent City (CC) series Season 4: Maasverse – coming soon!
Ali Riley & Kelley O'Hara are BACK after a week off with our BIGGEST NWSL ICYMI yet! We'll dig into a wild week of games that had us seeing 5s all over the place, including Utah silencing the Portland crowd after Sophia Wilson's early goal with a 5-1 win over the Thorns. Gotham is dealing with some significant losses as Sonnett heads to SEI and Esther back in Spain, but we don't think it'll keep the Bats down. Then Kelley digs into the biggest news of the week as we break down FIFA controversial announcement and subsequent walk back of their funding plan. Plus Ali gets us caught up on her trip to Ireland. This episode is presented by Amazon Prime. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:40 Ali's Trophy 05:47 A Wedding Scavenger Hunt… 09:00 Esther Leaves Gotham 15:00 Sonnett out for the Season 18:57 Anatomy of a Shross 23:14 Hope's Direction at 2012 Olympics 26:37 BREAKING NEWS 27:49 NWSL ICYMI 30:07 Utah Scores 5 on Thorns 33:25 Ali's BIG Surprise 36:36 Jess Fishlock & Cloé Lacasse DELIVERED 41:05 FIFA Controversy 50:21 Lu Barnes back with the Reign 54:54 Alright, Bet Just Women's Sports is the leading digital media platform dedicated exclusively to women's sports. In a world where women's sports have been historically underfunded and under-promoted, Just Women's Sports exists to shine a light on all the stories, athletes and moments that define and fuel the space. Through original podcasts, premium video programming, social media, editorial content, a newsletter, and exclusive merchandise and live events, Just Women's Sports is committed to making it both easy and fun to be a women's sports fan. Listen to Time Wasting here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/time-wasting/id1522055041 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6RTMyWpdSBY9I4vO528qX3?si=4ffbdaf315814b19&nd=1&dlsi=8ead3e4fd463490d iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-time-wasting-68461888/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a6f36ad8-f5e2-4478-8650-3f6f8805810b/time-wasting Add us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timewastingpod/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/justwsports Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@timewastingpod? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
While Jesus walked this earth, he taught us the truths of God and the secrets of living well. In just 3 years of ministry he said everything he needed to say, and he said it perfectly. Now, over 2000 years later, his words are our perfect guide for life. Some of Jesus’ teachings were on deeply spiritual things that he knew we would struggle to understand. Not all things needed to be understood, but for some things we would need to understand so we could live well. For these things, Jesus often taught in parables. Parables are stories. The word parable means “to throw alongside”. So, Jesus is teaching using a story thrown alongside a truth. These are earthly stories with Heavenly meaning. Today, we begin our study of the parables of Jesus. We will read the stories he told, understand them, and apply them to our lives so we grow and get better. Through these parables we will see how a holy God speaks to ordinary people with everyday stories we can see, understand and remember. Some things God says are mysteries and simply cannot be figured out – but these are not. God essentially leaned down and brought his wisdom in a way we would actually get it. (Now you will notice with these parables, they are often found in a few of the gospels. Remember the 4 gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the accounts of 4 of Jesus’ disciples as they walked with him. They are retelling everything they saw, experienced, heard and learned from Jesus. So, you may read the same parable in the gospels and that’s why. For simplicity, I’ll just be choosing one of the gospel accounts and reading it. You could also study the other books to see if there’s any special differences noted by the authors.) Ready to get it? Let’s dive in to the Parables of Jesus! —————— Part 1: The Parable of the Sower Scripture: Matthew 13: 1-23 Here’s the setting. Jesus is in his 3 years of actively teaching and preaching here on earth and more and more people are beginning to follow him. On this particular day Jesus was staying at a house near the sea and when he walks outside a large crowd starts gathering around him. So, Jesus gets in a boat, goes out a little on the water and sits down in the boat to start teaching. The crowd of people stood on the beach to listen. First, just knowing that the King of the Universe, the Savior of the world, the divine Creator in human form didn’t choose a fancy synagogue like all the other teachers. He didn’t choose a formal stage or a platform. No, he chose a boat floating on the sea, wearing his ordinary robe and sandals like everyone else there that day. We see through this example that Jesus really didn’t come to judge the world, he came to save it. In humility, he met us right where we are to teach us the highest of lessons. And here, in this boat, is where Jesus begins teaching in parables – again earthly stories with heavenly meaning. “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” That was Jesus’ story. But what was the point in this? Was he giving a gardening lesson? For some listening, it would seem like nothing more than that – but for those God was calling to follow him and setting apart as his people, he was speaking in a way they could truly understand. Everyone in this day understood farming. Everyone had to grow crops to survive. Their survival depended on a successful harvest. They knew seeds, they knew soils. And for those who were called as followers of God, he was about to open their minds to how his word works in their lives through the example of the sower, the seed and the soils. The disciples heard Jesus’ story and came to him asking why he was speaking in such a different way, then Jesus explains the story. The seed is the word of God. This seed falls on 4 different types of soil, and it is the soil that makes all the difference. It’s the same seed. The same sower. Different soil. ————— Soil #1: The Path Verse 19, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.” Do you ever read your Bible, skim the words, get through the whole chapter so you can check the box, but not actually understand it? Yip, that’s seed hitting the soil along the path. That’s seed that won’t grow. That’s knowledge that quickly gets snatched up by the evil one. He swoops in like a bird and takes the surface level seed. Growing in God’s word isn’t about speed reading and getting through chapters. That’s just the path – that’s where everyone is walking – that’s ground that can’t really grow anything. If it’s worn with traffic, fast moving ground, it’s not growing ground. Surface level knowledge of God’s word will get snatched up every time by the evil one. Satan knows the life changing power of the Bible even more than you do – that’s why he continually tries to hinder you from really diving into it. He’s perfectly fine with you keeping it on the surface, speed reading to check a box, and never have it actually grow in your life. Life doesn’t change on the soil of the busy path. The seed never changes. The Sower never changes. The harvest is determined by the soil. ————— Soil #2: The Rocky Ground Verses 20-21, “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.” Rocky soil is shallow dirt mixed in with rocks. This little bit of soil warms quickly with the sun and the rocks, creating fast growth of the new seed, but it simply won’t last. The rocks keep the seed from ever growing roots. While it sprouts up fast, the first hard rain will wash it right out. That can be us. We can get all excited about what God says to us, we can be all gung ho in the beginning, convinced we’re going to really do it this time, but as soon as life gets hard and the storms hit, we just get washed right out. Life hits and we’re out – why? Because our soil was rocky and allowed for no permanent growth. Everything was temporary and short lived. Have you noticed how you get excited fast but fizzle? That’s rocky ground. There’s ground work to be done. The seed never changes. The Sower never changes. The harvest is determined by the soil. ————— Soil #3: Thorns Verse 22, “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Notice something. The seed actually grows here. This isn’t the path where nothing happens. This isn’t the rocky soil where it dies immediately. The plant starts growing, it just never produces what it was created to produce. Why? Because something else is growing right beside it. Jesus says the thorns are “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t have to plant weeds. Have you ever noticed that? You can spend all weekend pulling weeds out of your flower beds, and two weeks later they’re back like they own the place. You never planted them. You never watered them. You never invited them. They just showed up. Our hearts work the same way. Nobody wakes up and says, “Today I’d really like to become anxious.” Nobody decides, “I’m going to slowly make my job my identity.” Nobody plans to let social media steal their contentment. The weeds just grow. The bills. The schedules. The kids. The comparisons. The endless to-do lists. The pursuit of more. The fear of not having enough. The pressure to keep everyone happy. None of these things may be sinful by themselves… But together they quietly choke what God is trying to grow. Notice Jesus didn’t say the thorns killed the believer. He said they made them unfruitful. You can know Jesus, love Jesus, go to church, read your Bible… And still have a life where God’s Word never reaches its full potential because everything else is competing for your attention. Maybe today isn’t about planting more seed. Maybe it’s about pulling weeds. Sometimes growth doesn’t require adding one more Bible study. Sometimes it requires removing what has been choking the life out of the one you’re already doing. The seed never changes. The Sower never changes. The harvest is determined by the soil. —————— Soil #4: The Good Soil Verse 23, “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” This is beautiful. Notice Jesus doesn’t say good soil is perfect soil. He simply says it receives the seed. It welcomes it. It protects it. It gives it room. It lets it sink deep. It keeps coming back day after day. And eventually… Fruit. That’s God’s goal. Not information. Transformation. God isn’t trying to make you a Bible trivia champion. He’s trying to make you look more like Jesus. Fruit takes time. An apple tree doesn’t apologize because it didn’t produce apples the week after it was planted. Growth is slow. Roots grow before fruit shows. Sometimes you’ll wonder if anything is happening at all. Keep showing up. Keep reading. Keep praying. Keep obeying. The roots are growing even when you can’t see them. And one day the fruit everyone sees will simply be the evidence of what God has been growing underground all along. So today… Which soil are you? Actually… That’s the wrong question. The better question is… Which soil is your heart today? Maybe today you’ve been living on the busy path. God’s Word has stayed on the surface because you’ve been rushing from one thing to the next. Maybe today your heart is rocky. You love the excitement of following Jesus until life gets hard. Maybe today you’ve got weeds. Not terrible sins. Just too many things competing for your heart. Or maybe… By God’s grace… Your heart is becoming good soil. Not perfect. Just open. Soft. Hungry. Ready. Here’s the best news of this whole parable: Soil can change. A hard path can be broken up. Rocks can be removed. Thorns can be pulled. The condition of your heart today does not have to be the condition of your heart tomorrow. So before you close your Bible today, don’t just ask, “What did I learn?” Ask, “God, what kind of soil is my heart today… and what do You want to do with it?” Because the seed never changes. The Sower never changes. But when the soil changes… Everything changes. “Lord, soften whatever has become hard. Remove whatever is keeping me shallow. Pull whatever is choking my growth. Make my heart good soil so your word doesn’t just inform me – it transforms me.” Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com
Dive into our literary analysis of House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas, the long-awaited third novel in the bestselling Crescent City series. In this season, we break down House of Flame and Shadow through an academic lens, using our combined 13 years of literary training to analyze Bryce Quinlan, Hunt Athalar, Ruhn Danaan, Lidia Cervos, and the novel's most pivotal character arcs, relationships, and world-building. We explore Sarah J. Maas's use of symbolism, mythology, foreshadowing, narrative structure, and character development while examining the book's biggest themes—including fate, power, identity, sacrifice, love, and redemption. Whether you're searching for a House of Flame and Shadow recap, Crescent City theories, Sarah J. Maas Easter eggs, Maasverse connections, ACOTAR crossovers, or in-depth literary analysis, this season is your complete companion to one of the most talked-about fantasy books of the year. Spoilers: This episode contains full spoilers for House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, as well as the entire ACOTAR series (A Court of Thorns and Roses, A Court of Mist and Fury, A Court of Wings and Ruin, Frost and Starlight, and A Court of Silver Flames). Any other books or larger Sarah J. Maas universe theories and connections will be discussed in a separate Breadcrumbs and Broomsticks episode. Chapters Summary: Bryce Quinlan finds herself imprisoned beneath the Night Court's mountain, mistrustful of the Inner Circle and determined to protect her secrets. In Midgard, the Hind kneels before the Asteri, masters she despises, all the while fooling them of her intentions to destroy them. Tharion fights for the Viper Queen while Ithan struggles to convince his friends that the mer is in need of saving. In the Asteri's dungeons, Hunt, Ruhn, and Baxian find dark humor and unexpected brotherhood, while Ruhn refuses to hear Lidia's truth, choosing pain over understanding. The question we ask ourselves this week: Given the publishing gap between Sky and Breath and Flame and Shadow, do these opening chapters sufficiently reorient us to where we are at in the Crescent City series? How does what the opening achieves differ from fan expectations prior to the book's publication? Sponsor: Vionic Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at booktalkforbooktok.com for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show: Patreon: patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok Merch: Etsy Store Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with author Laura E. Weymouth about her new novel The Castle & the Cloister, cultural identity and rootedness, the intersection of politics/religion/war, incorporating themes of religion and competing faiths into fantasy, kinghood and tyranny, shifting trends and surviving in publishing, writing YA vs. adult fantasy, lyrical prose that isn't overindulgent, unreliable narrators and more.NOTE: This is part one of a two-part chat with Laura. Stayed tuned next week for her writing masterclass on Parenting in Speculative Fiction.OUR SPONSOR:Go Back by Emily Wagner is a dystopian novel that explores the role of technology in our lives, and the ways in which governments can control it.Purchase it here in hardcover, paperback and eBook.SHOUTOUT TO THE 'SFF ADDICT' PATRONS:Thank you Ian Patterson, Emily Marie Wagner, David Hopkins, Luke F. Shepherd, Christopher R. DuBois and Luke A. Winch for supporting us on Patreon at $10+.SUPPORT THE SHOW:- Patreon- Rate and review SFF Addicts- Share us with your friendsEMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS & COMMENTS:sffaddictspod@gmail.comABOUT OUR GUEST:Laura E. Weymouth is the author of The Light Between Worlds, A Treason of Thorns, A Rush of Wings and more. Her latest novel is The Castle & the Cloister, which you can purchase here.Find Laura on Instagram, Amazon and her website.ABOUT OUR HOSTS:Adrian M. Gibson is the author of Mushroom Blues and A Murder Most Fungal. M.J. Kuhn is the author of Among Thieves, Thick as Thieves and Killswitch Protocol. Greta Kelly is the author of The Queen of Days, The Frozen Crown, The Seventh Queen and the upcoming The Throwaways.FOLLOW SFF ADDICTS:LinktreeMUSIC:Intro: "Into The Grid" by MellauSFXOutro: “Galactic Synthwave” by DivionAD ATTRIBUTION:- Music: "Catching the Killer" by JoelFazhari- Video made using licensed materials from https://envato.com/
What if the Lie the Character Believes isn't really a lie? For years I've taught the Lie the Character Believes as the foundation of character arc. But over time, I've come to see that this concept may point toward something much deeper than just a mistaken belief. In this episode, I explore three increasingly complex models for understanding the Lie the Character Believes—from a simple false belief, to a limited perspective, and finally to an ego identity. Along the way, we'll look at why character arc may be less about transformation and more about alignment, how the backstory Ghost creates the identities that shape our stories, and why the deepest arcs mirror the lifelong process of individuation. We talk about: • Why the Lie the Character Believes isn't always a lie • The difference between false beliefs, limited perspectives, and ego identities • How the Ghost creates the coping mechanisms behind character arc • Why character arc may be better understood as alignment rather than transformation • The relationship between story, consciousness, and individuation • Why archetypal stories resonate so deeply with readers • Examples from Jane Eyre, Everything Everywhere All at Once, A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Matrix, and more Whether you're developing a story, studying character arc, or simply fascinated by the deeper psychology of storytelling, I hope this conversation offers a fresh perspective on one of story theory's most foundational concepts. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 02:51 The Lie the Character Believes Isn't Really a Lie 03:45 The Lie Starts Out as Truth 04:40 Yesterday's Truth Is Tomorrow's Lie 06:39 Three Ways to Understand the Lie the Character Believes 07:55 The Lie as Separation 09:53 Three Stories, Three Models 11:05 How the Ghost Creates the Lie 12:35 The Point at Which the Story Begins 13:27 Coping Mechanisms That Become Cages 14:40 Why Character Arc Is Alignment Rather Than Transformation 15:44 Non-Reactivity as the Path 17:14 Four Examples 18:10 The Lie the Character Believes as Social Reality 20:10 The Tyrant-Ogre Holdfast: Keeper of the Status Quo 22:40 Character Arc as the Union of Consciousness and the Unconscious 23:44 Want More? Shadow Archetypes: Writing Complex Fictional Characters 25:22 On the Blog: Why Honesty Makes Flawed Characters More Likable Read the accompanying post: https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/lie-the-character-believes-consciousness LINKS & RESOURCES Want More? 8-WEEK COURSE: Shadow Archetypes: Writing Complex Fictional Characters Learn how passive and aggressive shadow archetypes reveal the deepest fears, coping mechanisms, and transformational opportunities within your characters' arcs. This eight-week email course explores how archetypal psychology can help you create richer inner conflict, more resonant themes, and stories that reflect the deeper patterns of human growth. Sign Up Here: https://kmweilandstore.com/b/shadow-archetypes-course
Send us Fan MailListen to a message from Emmanuel Baptist Church of Longview, TX.Join us for this year's Spiritual Renewal Retreat! Spend a refreshing weekend surrounded by piney woods, meaningful truths from God's Word, and intentional fellowship with other Christ-centered singles. Come expecting - leave encouraged.Enjoy a refreshing time of fellowship and fun at this year's Spiritual Renewal Retreat! Suggested for ages 18 to 35, our annual retreat is a time dedicated to enjoying the company of spiritually like-minded believers while expe RG33 Candle Co. doesn't just make candles — they honor a life. Each hand-poured soy candle was created to celebrate the spirit and legacy of RG Gray III, a young man whose love, joy, and unforgettable personality inspired this company's mission.If you want a candle that feels personal, uplifting, and full of purpose — check out RG33 Candle Co. Visit rg33candleco.com and use code PODCAST10 for 10% off your purchase. Support the show
Time for the second half of House of Sky and Breath, the second book in Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series. The cousins get philosophical about Declan Emmett's role in the series. What can a mystic really do, what really makes an alpha, and what's the Viper Queen actually all about? And, how much of a certain someone's pillow talk could lead to treachery? Safe if you've read all of the House of Sky and Breath, and no cross Sarah J. Maas universe spoilers. Send voice memos or emails to sandtfaemail@gmail.com and check @mortallands on Instagram for updates! Season 1: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series Season 2: Throne of Glass (TOG) series Season 3: Crescent City (CC) series Season 4: Maasverse – coming soon!
In this con-coverage episode, Casella talks to folks at Readercon in Boston, including Lisa from Narrated, author Sara S. Messenger, and editor Carl Engle-Laird. We also visit Porter Square Books, an indie bookstore that has recently launched their own book review. Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books. Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon! Host:Jake Casella Brookins Music byGiselle Gabrielle Garcia Artwork byRob Patterson Opening poem by Bhartṛhari, translated by John Brough References: Readercon Porter Square Books Lisa from the Narrated podcast The Hugo Awards Elizabeth Bear’s White Space series C.J. Cherryh & Lois McMaster Bujold Sara S. Messenger “Jennifer’s Daughter” in Nightmare Magazine “When We Loved Giants” in Lightspeed Karel Čapek Hope Mirrlees’ Lud-in-the-Mist (good AMOT episode on that!) AMOT episode on Ready Player One Clark Seanor’s “Recycled Air: Wayfarers and the Tyranny of the Everyday” in Strange Horizons Lovestruck Books in last year’s Readercon episode Katherine @ Porter Square Books K.A. Applegate’s Animorphsseries Chuck Tingle Ann Patchett’s Whistler Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou Roseanna Pendlebury’s review of Sour Cherry Sunny Moraine (from our Pattern Recognition episode) Will McMahon Scott Edelman’s Eating the Fantastic podcast Benjamin Rosenbaum (from our Fire Logic episode) Carl Engle-Laird, editor at Tor Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera Notes from a Regicide by Isaac Fellman The Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction Jon Bois’ 17776 Cambridge Porchfest & the Good Trouble Brass Band Gracenote & Broadsheet coffee Thomas Wensma has an interview with Australian barista champ Jack Simpson & coffee farmer Juan Pablo Campos about the Ombligon cultivar at Perfect Daily Grind, if that caught your ear Bujold’s Vorkosigan series & Barrayar Josh Cook of Porter Square Books & the Porter Square Review of Books PSB’s Bluesky Josh’s articles at LitHub Poly Barton’s What Am I, A Deer? Grace Krilanovich’s The Orange Eats Creeps & Acid Green Velvet
This time, we're poised for Gen Con 2026 and making plans. Where will we be? What games do we want? What games do others want? Who is good at thumbs? All will be answered along with a sprinkling of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:48 - Busiest Time of the Year 02:01 - Where Can We Be Found? - Booth 249 04:09 - New at Cephalofair - Buttons and Bugs Expansion 06:07 - Getting Steps In 07:19 - Game Bag Giveaway 07:55 - The Dice Tower Awards 09:11 - The Dwarves of Aquilon 10:23 - Meet the Final Girls - Julie on Friday Morning 10:47 - Eric's Gen Con Releases: Gudnak Means War, Mountain Goats Legacy 11:50 - Julie's Releases: Tales of Myth and Legend, Coloring Book 13:02 - BGG Preview List and the Nature of Thumbs 13:58 - Entropy 14:53 - Jason and the Argonauts 16:01 - Container 16:33 - Enchanted Ivy 17:18 - Mountain Goats Legacy 18:30 - Hercules and the 12 Labors 18:43 - Jibber Jabble 19:25 - High Society and 3 Witches 19:56 - Gruntz 20:12 - Torchlit 20:29 - French Toast 21:37 - Piñatas 22:06 - Kokeshi 23:08 - Book Club 24:28 - Fiction: Banned Books 25:07 - Golden Goal 25:24 - Under the Leaves 26:06 - Movie Night 26:17 - Stonk Market 26:26 - Triangulation 27:04 - Phantom Ink and Wordsy 27:21 - Endangered Australia 27:37 - The Game Makers 28:58 - Night at the Zoo 29:54 - Lairs 30:17 - Drillers and Lost Ruins of Arnak: Surprise Shipment 31:47 - Holliday Hijinks Friday Fright and More 32:12 - Orloj: The Prague Astronomical Clock 32:32 - Cascadia Alpine Lakes 33:02 - Nippon 33:49 - Wingspan Pocket 34:30 - The Old King's Crown 34:37 - Railway Boom 36:00 - Glasgow Train Robbery 36:16 - Tag Team: Arthur's Legacy 37:25 - Three Sisters Harvest Edition 37:53 - Forage 39:12 - SETI: Space Agencies, Forest Shuffle: Smoky Mountains, and Rock Hard 1977: Ear Candy 39:42 - Kingdom Crossing 40:19 - Shackleton Base: Below. Within. Above. and Fliptoons Season 2 40:54 - Moytura 41:01 - Tenby 41:20 - Jisogi: Anime Studio Tycoon 42:02 - Faraway: Under Starry Skies and Castle Combo: Out of the Oubliette 42:10 - Gold Country 42:52 - Mythologies 43:11 - Scythe: Duel of Meloch 44:13 - Friendly Fishing 45:50 - Codenames: Critical Role Adventures 46:25 - Trick to the Future 46:45 - Chris Couch Games: Garden Clubs 47:23 - Crime Scene Tamperer 47:52 - Games Played in the Booth 49:31 - Container (Eric) 53:33 - Cthulhu: Death May Die (Julie) 57:55 - Falling (Tom and Julie) 1:02:17 - Stuff to Watch if You Can't Come to Gen Con Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com
Today's episode of Gospel Spice, centered on the launch of "Awaken Delight," is a timely exploration of the Christian experience of suffering. Stephanie combines personal vulnerability—sharing excerpts from her new book about living with chronic pain and deep questions—with biblical wisdom on how hardship fits into our walk with God.In suffering, God does not abandon; he lovingly prunes and allows thorns for our growth. The path to deeper faith, humility, and delight in God runs directly through honest wrestling with pain—and leads to true spiritual fruitfulness.Christians often wonder: If I am serving God, why do I suffer? Is suffering a sign of God's displeasure or my failure? Stephanie shares that Christians who suffer yet trust God often appear as if they're not suffering—because they refuse let suffering have the final word.Our FREE gift to you today! An exclusive, in-depth 10-day FREE recovery plan to rekindle your delight in God when you are going through seasons of deep pruning from God's hand: go to https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelightthepodcast and find the form for Episode 454. Give us your email, and you will receive the full plan in your inbox immediately!Just as fig trees need hard soil to bear fruit, Christians grow most deeply in spiritually tough conditions. Comfort produces "leaves without fruit," but hardship develops true character and delight in God.In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul's incredible spiritual experiences led God to allow him a "thorn"—not as punishment, but to keep him humble and dependent on God. Paul's journey shows that deep suffering is not proof of failure or sin, but God's purposeful investment in our transformation.In John 15, Jesus says that healthy, fruitful branches are the ones pruned by the Gardener (God), so they'll bear even more fruit. Pruning feels like loss or reduction but is God re-focusing our lives on what truly matters.Pruning is when God removes something from our lives. It is the elimination of even good things for us to be more fruitful and focused. By contrast, thorns are when God allows painful weaknesses or situations to remain. These serve a specific, humbling, and formative purpose. Both types invite deeper dependence on God.We misunderstand suffering when we see it as divine punishment. Biblical teaching says it's part of God's commitment to us—not against us, but for us. The goal is not mere improvement, but transformation—making us more like Christ."Faith" is not something we muster by willpower, but a posture rooted in humility: recognizing our need for God and opening ourselves to His work. Humility is both the soil in which faith grows and the fruit that results from faith.Christ was not merely "pruned"—he was "cut off" entirely for our sake, taking on the ultimate suffering so we would never face it alone. Now, even our suffering is transformed by his presence and purpose.Practical ApplicationWhen hardship comes, instead of merely asking "Why me?" or "How can I escape this?", ask "What is God showing me?" and "How can I delight in Him through this?"Choose to see suffering not as a sign of God's absence, but as the attentive hand of the Gardener who loves and invests in us.Remain in Christ—even weak connection is connection, and transformation is always worth the pain.Reflective action: Next time you face loss or pain, remember the lessons of pruning and thorns. Ask God to help you trust His restorative, purposeful hand, and seek delight in Him above all.We are in the middle of our “Awaken Delight” series, based on Stephanie's new book. Each week, we explore a different facet of what makes delight in God difficult and challenging. How can we live the reality of Psalm 37:4 when life is hard? "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." This is God's promise to you in Psalm 37:4. But many believers quietly assume it's just a poetic suggestion, or it doesn't really work here on earth.What you will (re)discover as you journey with God through Awaken Delight:Delight in God is identity-shaping, not emotion-driven. Delight in God is not fleeting emotion but resilient identity.Delight in God is altogether trust, satisfaction in God, relational intimacy with Him.Delight in God is often expressed and grown through resilient joy under suffering.Delight in God is the missing engine behind resilience. It's the antidote to burnout. It's even the foundation for sustainable ministry.God's delight in you is secure, not performance-dependent. God's delight in you frees you from striving! That's the beginning of delight.Jesus is the center of every endeavor to delight in God.You can build a delight-centered spiritual life.Awaken Delight invites you to follow Scriptural truths and spiritual practices that cultivate daily joy in God.DISCOVER THE BOOK BEHIND THE PODCAST | "Awaken Delight" by Stephanie Rousselle"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 isn't a poetic suggestion — it's a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn't really work, or it's not really possible here on earth.In Awaken Delight, Stephanie Rousselle invites you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight — not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is.Delight in God isn't a mood to manufacture; it's a relationship to receive.Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you'll learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable.Delighting in God isn't sentimental optimism. It's deeply rooted in Christ, Jesus.It's the quiet revolution that reshapes how we endure pain, love others, and understand our own heart.Awaken Delight is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued and are ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.More at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Purchase the book, "Awaken Delight" by Stephanie Rousselle: https://a.co/d/0bqhUb5JKind words from Jennifer Rothschild, Bible teacher, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host, Founder, Fresh Grounded Faith: “Stephanie helps us awaken to and experience true delight. It is a rich mix of God's delight in you and your delight in him. This is the life you were made for, the life your soul deeply longs for. So, the table is set. Pull up a chair and let your heart sit alongside Stephanie. As your delight in God wakes up and becomes fully realized, you'll find a satisfaction in Christ that makes you want more and more.”Kind words from Amanda Jenkins, Lead creator of THE CHOSEN's literary content: "I have yet to meet another person quite as eager to intimately know Jesus as Stephanie is. Her enthusiasm for the beauty found inside a thriving relationship with her Savior is downright contagious. Indeed, Stephanie's joy and faith and commitment to growth—along with her love for really good food!—will implant themselves in the hearts of readers. Lucky readers."Kind words from Os Guinness, Theologian, Social critic, Author, The Call: "Stephanie addresses one of the greatest needs of Christians today. Knowing God is not knowing about God, but knowing Him genuinely and with desire and delight. She does so practically and helpfully, and in a style that sparkles with a verve and joy that is distinctively French."Kind words from Pippa Gumbel, Pioneer, The Alpha Course; Author, The Bible in one year with husband Nicky: "Stephanie's love of God is inspiring and infectious. Her book is an invitation to share in that delight and to come to know God in new and wonderful ways."More at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Purchase the book, "Awaken Delight" by Stephanie Rousselle: https://a.co/d/0bqhUb5JSupport us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!
In Medici Florence there were two ways of maintaining power - one was money and the other was murder. Isabella de' Medici was the believed daughter of the Medici patriarch, a patron of the arts and a sparkling wit. But that meant nothing to her own husband, who murdered her, or her own brother, who turned a blind eye.Maddy and Anthony are joined by Estelle Paranque author of numerous books, including most recently Thorns, Lust and Glory: the Betrayal of Anne Boleyn.This episode was edited by Amy Haddow. The producer was Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Freddy Chick.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here.All music from Epidemic Sounds.Voting is now open for the Listener's Choice Award at this year's Podcast Awards. Click here to place your vote! Thank you! https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Daffnee and Torri are getting into the full, unfiltered world of integrated and holistic health: supplements, saunas, sixty-dollar mushroom hot chocolate that tastes like garbage, and the wellness purchases that were worth every penny versus the ones currently rotting in the pantry. Daffnee rates herself a 92 out of 10 on the woo-woo scale (no, that's not a typo), and they're not holding back on the credential-less internet grifters who fear-monger vulnerable people into buying whatever they're selling. Real talk on who to actually trust, why "listen to your body" is backed by more science than you think, and why the receipt-paper panic is the least of your worries. Part one of two, you are not ready for part two. Recommended LINKS: Better with Daffnee podcast homepage: https://www.daffneecohen.com/podcast/ Connect on Instagram: @Daffnee Learn more at and get tons of freebies at daffneecohen.com What We're Reading: Daffnee's pick: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry — still going, nearly finished (it's a long one), and still getting the highest possible praise. She's noticed it popping up more on book accounts lately and is thrilled to see a non-trendy favorite finally getting its flowers. Torri's pick: A Court of Thorns and Roses (final book in her re-read) plus a new one: The Correspondent — a novel told through letters from an aging former attorney's assistant, following her complicated relationships with family and a younger friend as she ages. Torri calls it beautiful and says she cannot recommend it enough.
On this episode, Sam Ali, @readwithsama on instagram, talks about how she is developing a love of reading in her daughter, recommends some amazing Canadian books, and we gush about our shared love of awards. We talk about how it can be hard to be readers with wide interests when you have so many great books available to you! Sam on Instagram Books mentioned in this episode: What Betsy's reading: The Möbius Book by Catherine Lacey The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward Books Highlighted by Sam: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Pachinko by Min Jin Lee We Measure the Earth with our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy Astra by Cedar Bowers A History of Burning by Janika Oza The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar Almond by Won-pyung Sohn All books available on my Bookshop.org episode page. Other books mentioned in this episode: Salt Houses by Hala Alyan The Arsonists' City by Hala Alyan Whistler by Ann Patchett Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Pick a Color by Souvankham Thammavongsa How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
#10MinuteswithJesus ** Put yourself in the presence of God. Try talking to Him. ** 10 minutes are 10 minutes. Even if you can get distracted, reach the end. ** Be constant. The Holy Spirit acts "on low heat" and requires perseverance. 10-Minute audio to help you pray. Daily sparks to ignite prayer: a passage from the gospel, an idea, an anecdote and a priest who speaks with you and the Lord, inviting you to share your intimacy with God. Find your moment, consider you are in His presence and click play.
We are Traci and Ellie, two bookish friends who read in any spare minute that we have. This week we are sharing our favorite books of 2026 (so far)! To shop the books listed in this episode, visit our shop at bookshop.org. Care to join us on Patreon with even more content? We would love to have you join us at From the Bookstacks of Literally Reading! Traci: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune Yesteryear by Claire Caro Burke Ellie: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune I Guess I Haven't Learned that Yet by Shauna Niequist This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
We drive from Iowa to Indiana to wheel three spots in brutal heat, and the trip turns into a chain of breakdowns, fixes, and stories that only make sense once you've earned them on the side of the road. We end up comparing Interlake and Thorns to Ty's property, and we leave convinced that the best trails are the ones that come with the best people.August 15th at MIOBI, wheeling for Wyatt, Wyatt's Warriors, Rocks Ruts and Resilience, find it on Facebook events or Wyatt's Warriors Foundation dot org, $20 per rig.Support the show#heattreatedgarage #fellas #myfriendsarebetterthanyourfriends #ickyvicky #tetanus #scout #htgadventures #socialbutterflymedia #crawleroffroad #podcast #nailedit #trailhated #seasontwo #dontfollowcal #meetnewpeople #ontherocksoffroad #988 #suicideawareness #wyattwarriorshttps://youtube.com/@heattreatedgarage?si=zKZLGcioixSqLbg8, https://youtube.com/@ricosgarage?si=eP4tMxqAGJozvHdq, TOTAL OFFROAD PODCAST https://open.spotify.com/show/6LL95sLySeLmCXOInxE8Ft?si=f568d41471b3445e
Trust us, we have marriage all figured out…. Daffnee and Torri are diving headfirst into the wild, unfiltered reality of marriage as a millennial: what it actually looks like ten-plus years in versus what you thought it would be at 25. They get real about why "let me check with my spouse" is not the controlling red flag your single friends think it is, whether marriage is actually overrated or just misunderstood, and the exact moment you walk in the door and can feel your partner's mood before they say a word. Plus, they name the specific brand of grumpy, huffy, silent-treatment energy every husband seems to get when he's stressed but won't say why (you'll know it when you hear it). One of Daffnee's personal favorites. Buckle up. Recommended LINKS: Better with Daffnee podcast homepage: https://www.daffneecohen.com/podcast/ Connect on Instagram: @Daffnee Learn more at and get tons of freebies at daffneecohen.com What We're Reading: Daffnee's pick: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry — a 600-plus-page deep dive into life in India during a chaotic era, discovered through a book influencer. Daffnee says it's the kind of hidden-gem, non-trendy read that asks something of you, and she's fully immersed. Torri's pick: A Court of Thorns and Roses (re-read, book four) — her self-declared "book junk food" era. Poolside, no shame, plowing through the series again because, in her words, she has Swiss cheese brain, so it's basically a new book every time. Bonus reco: Salman Rushdie — prompted by Daffnee's Fine Balance pick, Torri throws in a highly-recommended nod to Rushdie's work for anyone wanting to go even deeper into literary fiction.
The team is back from Dice Tower East with stories to tell. What games were taught? What events ran well? What did Eric find in the library? Plus, we have a Tale of Boardgaming Horror, and a particularly pointy collection of Roses, Thorns, and Hula Hoops. 00:00 - Introduction 00:46 - Games That Could Have Been Played at East 03:08 - Unloading from Dice Tower East 03:43 - Dice Tower East: General Thoughts 04:51 - Looming Gen Con 07:22 - DTE: Crowd Size 09:04 - DTE: The Top 10 10:09 - DTE: Number of Games Played 13:05 - DTE: Changes to the Library 16:55 - DTE: Eric Finds a Playmat 20:31 - DTE: Inflatable Curling 24:14 - DTE: Parsely 25:50 - DTE: Favorite Games Taught - Dwarves of Aquilon 28:29 - DTE: Favorite Games Taught - Cat Between Us 29:49 - DTE: Favorite Games Taught - Mechs vs. Minions 31:10 - DTE: Most Played Games 32:17 - Tale of Boardgaming Horror 38:33 - Wispwood 43:30 - Inkwell 48:25 - Crafting the Cosmos 51:50 - Puppy Pile 56:53 - Wingspan Pocket 1:01:21 - Bunny Kingdom Town Questions? Tales of Horror? tom@dicetower.com