Podcasts about those christians

INTRODUCTION Paul next applied the implication of this exhortation to various groups of Christians. "What is beyond question is that the three paragraphs which follow are given as examples of Christian submission, and that the emphasis throughout is on submission." He addressed six groups: wives and husbands (3:18-19), children and FATHERS (20-21) and slaves and masters (3:22-4:1). In each of the three pairings, the first partner is responsible to be submissive or obedient However the second partner is also to show a submissive spirit. All are to relate to one another as unto the Lord. This is one of several "house-rule" lists in the New Testament (cf. Eph. 5:22—6:9; 1 timothy 6:1-2; Titus 2:1-10; 1 Pet. 2:18—3:7). The writings of some Apostolic Fathers also contain such lists. "Too much so-called 'holiness teaching' emphasizes a personal relationship to Jesus Christ without any attempt to indicate its consequences in terms of relationships with the people we live and work with. In contrast to such holiness-in-a-vacuum, which magnifies experiences and minimizes ethics, the apostles spelled out Christian duty in the concrete situations of everyday life and work." When God controls us, we experience harmony in the home and in the workplace, in spite of possible friction, tension, and opposition there. Up to this point Paul has been describing how we ought to live In what might appear at first to be an abrupt change of direction, Paul begins to describe how various family members are to conduct themselves The responsibilities of wives The responsibilities of husbands The responsibilities of children The responsibilities of fathers The responsibilities of servants or employees The responsibilities of masters or employers 3. But the subject matter is really not so abrupt as it may appear, for Paul mentioned earlier... How the church is to treat each other How we are to put on certain attributes which show we love Christ...and it is through family relationships that we can often do this more successfully than in any other way! 4. How can this be? It is through our families that we interact so much with the society in which we live... Thus it is through our families we have great potential to demonstrate the wisdom of God... The same principles that underlie the gospel message (submission, love, sacrifice, obedience, honesty, fairness) are to be displayed in our family relationships By example, then, we can demonstrate in our families what is truly good and right (i.e., God's will), and prepare others to be receptive to the gospel message!   Thus Paul is not abruptly changing direction, but continues to talk about those sort of things which are crucial to having a "walk worthy of the calling with which you were called". The root problem is pride and wanting first place in everything Satan: Is 12 Submission involves voluntarily putting oneself under another's authority              The idea implicit in the term is “to place under” (in the active voice).  As it is found in our text, the idea would be, “to subordinate oneself” or “to place oneself under.” In general terms, submission is the placing of oneself under the one to whom we submit. Since we are commanded to submit ourselves one to another, we are to place all others above ourselves. This idea is certainly not foreign to the New Testament, nor is it found only where the term “submit” is employed:             It is the love of our Lord which prompted Him to subordinate His own rights and privileges, and to humiliate Himself by taking on human flesh, and then by death on Calvary. In His first coming, Jesus not only submitted Himself to the will of the Father (see Matthew 26:39), He also submitted His interests to the interests of lost sinners, whom He would save by His death, burial, and resurrection:             Phil. 2:3-8 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.            I doubt that any one word can sum up the heart of what the Scriptures mean by submission. Let me suggest several words, each of which identifies a certain element of submission. The first word is “surrender.” Submission is a voluntary act or surrendering one's rights or will. The second word is” sacrifice.”  The third is “service.” The service which is rendered those to whom we submit often involves a sacrifice. It costs us something to render service to the other person. A fourth term is “authority,” while a fifth is “obedience.” When we submit to one who has authority over us, we should evidence this submission, in part, by our obedience. On the other hand, when we submit to those under our authority, we evidence this with sacrificial service. The final term is “priority.” Those to who we submit have, in some manner, priority over us, our rights, our pleasure, or our will.   Mt 8:5-10 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." 7 And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 "For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! Submission involves Sacrifice and Responsibility Jesus gave up His rights yet maintained His responsibilities. The biblical concept of authority emphasizes responsibility, not tyranny Responsible authority does not wield power; it serves with it." The writer to the Hebrews has much to say about the sacrificial aspects of our Lord's earthly ministry (see chapter 9). We must distinguish between what we are as a person in Christ and what role we are to portray about Christ and His church. We are all given a role to play, but a subordinate role does not imply an inferior relationship to Christ. If someone were to protest that the role they have been given to play is beneath them, Let's remind ourselves that we are not worthy of any role. We were, as sinners, worthy only of Christ's eternal wrath. Any role is a privilege. And, also, that in order to achieve our salvation at Calvary, Jesus took on a role which was beneath Him. Finally, I would say that the values assigned to our roles by our culture are opposite to those assigned by God. Do you think it demeaning to hold a position of service? Our Lord has taught us that to be the greatest is to serve, and not to be served (Matthew 20:20-28,           Mr 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.").    Why, then, should we agonize about any role which God has graciously given to us? A CALL TO WALK IN MATRIMONIAL HARMONY (18-19) DUTIES OF WIVES (18) Submit to their own husbands, as to the Lord (18) DUTIES OF HUSBANDS (19) Love their wives Don”t be bitter towards them FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES THE DUTY OF CHILDREN... (20) Children are to obey their parents in a way that honors them But there are also spiritual repercussions - cf. Co 3:20 ("for this is well pleasing to the Lord") THE DUTY OF FATHERS... (21) Fathers are charged negatively.. DON'T provoke children (i.e., put unreasonable demands on them, exasperate them) Lest they be discouraged THE DUTY OF SERVANTS OR EMPLOYEES... (22) In the First Century A.D., servants or slaves were an intricate part of many households, which may explain Paul including instructions to them and masters in this and parallel passages - cf. Eph 5:22-6:9 Christians who were servants or employees we could say in today's setting were expected to demonstrate the proper kind of obedience required of all Christians... Obedience in sincerity of heart, as to Christ Himself, not with eye service, as men-pleasers Obedience with fear of God, Holy and reverential fear of God[i] - cf. Ph 2:10 Obedience with good will, as to the Lord Obedience with an understanding that the Lord is an impartial Judge In this way even slaves or employees in today's setting could demonstrate by example what true obedience was according to the Will of God Col 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Paul reminds the believers that there are rewards to come for the good and faithful servants of Christ. Christians are to work as if they are in God's service: they ‘serve the Lord Christ'. This is their calling, so they are to do the best they can and pray for grace and protection (Matt. 6:13). Whatever believers do for their Savior here on earth it will not be regretted; in fact, when they reach heaven they will wish that they had given more to him who gave everything for them (John 21:15–17). Ultimately, we do not work for our employer but for the Lord Jesus Christ. Understanding this principle will help produce a better and healthier attitude to work and allow us to do the unpleasant tasks with patience. There are rewards promised and waiting for believers in heaven after a lifetime of faithful service[ii] Col 3:25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. THE DUTY OF MASTERS OR EMPLOYERS... (4:1) Those Christians who had slaves (like Philemon) were charged to treat their servants in very special ways: " give your bondservants what is just and fair", i.e., their treatment of slaves should be governed by the same sort of principles given to the servants...             1) "with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ"             2) "not with eyeservice...but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart"            3) "with good will...as to the Lord, and not to men" By their example, masters could demonstrate the proper exercise of authority, and reveal much about how our Master in heaven rules over us in the kingdom of God! This series of warnings is actually a practical application of Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” It is by His power and authority that we should live in our daily relationships. If He is the preeminent One in our lives, then we will love each other, submit to each other, obey, and treat one another fairly in the Lord.[iii] Our Lord Jesus became a slave in order to bring about our salvation (Mark 10:45), and thus also became an example of submission for slaves (1 Peter 2:18-25). Paul often referred to himself as the Lord's slave (see Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 9:19). Beyond this, every Christian has been delivered from slavery to sin, and has become a slave of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:16-20; 14:4; 1 Corinthians 7:22). And so the instructions which Paul gives to “slaves” applies to every Christian, as Christ's slave. Paul contrasted masters according to the flesh with the Master of the human spirit, namely, Jesus Christ. Christian slaves owed their earthly masters obedience. Obedience demonstrated their submission to Christ. "Christianity does not offer us escape from circumstances; it offers us conquest of circumstances." Earthly rank has no relevance in heaven As we review this section of duties, we need to remind ourselves that only a WORD filled or Spirit-filled believer will be able to fulfill them (3:16-17). Essentially what Paul urged was humility that expresses itself in loving submissiveness to others rather than arrogant self-assertiveness. CONCLUSION It would be well for us to review Ephesians 5:18–6:9 and note the parallels between that passage and the one we have just studied. This section of Ephesians emphasizes being filled with the Spirit, while the Letter to the Colossians emphasizes being filled with the Word; but the evidences are the same: joyful, thankful, and submissive living. To be filled with the Spirit means to be controlled by the Word. The fullness of the Spirit and the fullness of the Word are needed in the home. If family members are controlled by the Spirit of God and the Word of God, they will be joyful, thankful, and submissive—and they will have little trouble getting along with each other. Christian employers and employees will treat each other fairly if they are filled with the Spirit and the Word. The heart of every problem is the problem of the heart, and only God's Spirit and God's Word can change and control the heart. Can the people who live around you detect that you are filled with the Spirit and the Word?[iv]   [i] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon (p. 78). Day One Publications. [ii] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon (p. 79). Day One Publications. [iii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 145). Victor Books. [iv] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 145). Victor Books.          Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32             Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F             The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

The difference is hope! Those Christians just seem "odd" to me. They're fine with not knowing what the latest trends are. Their values are different - kind of old-fashioned, or something. They pray as if God is right there in the room with them... and listening! And they have this confidence. They call it "hope," but it's not like hoping the weather will be nice this weekend - it's deeper than that. Today Jim will talk about our hope; what it is, and where it rests. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS02282025_0.mp3Scripture References: Acts 3:17-26

Arguing is not one of the spiritual gifts! Imagine this: Some scoffer wants to debate you about the fine points of Deuteronomy - and by your demeanor in that discussion, you give him justification to reject the gospel. "Where's the grace?" "Where's the gentleness?" he wonders, self-satisfied. "Those Christians can be downright mean." How do we guard the truth while somehow living out the love? We're in 2 Timothy 2; Jim is looking at verse 24. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS01242025_0.mp3Scripture References: 2 Timothy 2 & 3

The central question of Christianity is why does someone dying 2,000 years ago and rising from the dead matter to you? If the answer to that question is "it doesn't" then it's all meaningless, but what if it's real? What if God came to do something bigger than you can imagine?. Join us Sunday to dive in! EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ). Get the fill-in-the-blank bulletins my.harmonychurch.cc/bulletins. OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Did you guys know there is a proper way to fold a towel? Look all the women are like, “Of course there is” All the men are like, “You fold towels?” It's really true. The other day I was folding towels when I was done I came back in and my beautiful wife was refolding the towels, I was like, “What are you doing?” She, with a kind look on her face said, “I appreciate you trying…” Lol… I wasn't mad though - it just means I don't have to fold towels anymore… :) Some of you are like, “No, it means you need to learn to fold towels correctly…” One of the worst feelings in the world is to put your energy into something that ends up being worthless… The other day I was having a conversation with someone who said he didn't believe Jesus died and rose from the dead. What he said was he couldn't understand how someone dying 2,000 years ago and rising from the dead would do anything for anyone. It's a good question, right? How does someone dying 2,000 years ago and then raising from the dead do anything for you? b What if you put all this energy into Christianity and it all ended up being worthless? b The even better question is, what if it's real? I wanted to share with you a historical account from the Story of God - if you don't know we've been in a series on this looking at how God's interaction in the world has worked. I want to show you a story today that I think will help make sense of why Jesus' death on the cross makes a difference for us… and then hopefully help you see that it's worth investigating… DAVID: Probably one of the most famous people from the bible is King David. David did not start off as King. He was a shepherd boy, he'd spend his days in a field, all by himself watching over flocks and caring for these animals. He would lay on rocks some days and other days watch as a wolf or bear prowled on his sheep and would have to fight them off. He was a musician and a warrior - actually, he was one of the fiercest men in the scripture. He did a lot of good things and did some hideously bad things… One time when he was older, while all the kings normally went off to war - meaning he was home in his Kingdom with most of the women - He took for himself one of his key men's wives and hatched a murderous plot to kill her husband - one of his friends… David did plenty wrong - but what he got right was he had a heart for what God's heart beat for. b Even when he messed up, David would turn back to God… one of the most famous stories of David was from when he was a young man before he had blood on his hands and before he'd seen enough life to know better… You have probably heard this story before. David was delivering food to his brothers who were fighting in the then King's army, Saul… Israel had drawn up battle lines with their foes, the Philistines. You HAVE to get your mind out of the little kid books you've seen about these stories. These fierce battles warn men. There is dust in the air, the stench of sweat and campfires. One minute these guys are prodding one another on, the next they are talking about back home. Picture any movie you've seen with military men waiting… They are waiting because neither army wants to go out and attack. The Philistines keep sending out their champion, a giant of a man - Goliath - 9 ft tall… (the bible was not meant to be a science book - the point of the biblical author is not to give you an exact height, their point is to tell you this guy was massive.) He would come out and offer to the armies of Israel - Let the battle of one take the place for the two 1 Samuel 17:8b-9 Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” You know the story, don't you? David, delivering some bologna sandwiches (that's not really what it was, but it's how I like to picture it) hears these taunts and he says, “Why is no one going out to fight this man? God is with us! David will do what seems ridiculous… b One man will go out to battle this giant - he will put his life on the line for all people of Israel. David will gather 5 smooth stones, he has a little sling - it's a shepherd's weapon. Goliath sees him and can't understand why they would send a boy out to be killed by him. David will swing the sling and with deft accuracy his first stone will leave the sling - you can almost picture it in slow motion ILLUSTRATION: Did y'all see Vince Dawson from Great Crossing sink that show over Lexington Catholic for the buzzer beater? That kid has ice in his veins! David's moment was like that. Everything had to be just right. Slow motion, that stone left the sling and it could go nowhere else but into Goliath's head. The stone turned into a bullet at that moment… Goliath fell and the part we never tell kids is that David ran over, grabbed Goliath's sword, and hacked his head off, the crowds are all watching in disbelief as David holds up Goliath's head. He had won the battle for the people that day! What a beast! Look, I get it, you may have not been here for all the sermons on the story of God… But it's a story you've been living… Humans, throughout all our history, have looked at God and said, “We can do this on our own…” b The problem is, when we rejected God, we had to pay the price for it… Scripture says the price is death, an eternal death Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death” I was just telling a friend, Hell is just God giving us what we wanted - an existence that is completely devoid of the good that God puts in the world… b Death is the giant in our world - it's what brings the deepest fear in the human heart. It's the giant standing out there defying us… Remember at the beginning I said my friend's question was how someone dying and rising from the dead would do anything for me today? b David's story isn't just David's story. God was showing us all those years ago what our story would look like. b In order for Jesus to defeat death, He had to go through death. b How would you know someone conquered death itself unless that person came back from the dead? that is really as weird as it sounds… It is why early Christians gave their life for this message. Actually, that's why I personally believe it. The early Christians were the ones who would actually claim to see Jesus alive after seeing Him dead. Those Christians, when asked to renounce their claim. They chose to die rather than renounce it. They believed so firmly Jesus had risen from the dead and that His promise was to do the same for those who placed their trust in His leadership that they allowed their own lives to be taken from them. THAT is significant! Again, I ask you the question. What if it's real? What if those people died because they had really seen Jesus alive after seeing Him dead? What would change about your life if you knew every sin you'd committed could be forgiven and you could find eternal life in Jesus? Because he defeated the giant of death with a stone too - it was a stone that sealed his grave and he rolled it away and came out alive and changed the world! CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: I remember when I first met my now wife. I thought, who is this beautiful woman and how do I get to know her more? I started trying to get around her, I'd invite her over to a party I was having. I'd try and be around when she was around. I did everything I could to be near her. Look, I get you might not be convinced. But What if it's real? Wouldn't you want to be around Jesus and get to know Him? Could I ask you a question today? What if you took the next 5 weeks and you just decided you were going to give God a try? You were going to see if you seek Him if He doesn't show up… What if it's real? It changes everything! Get around Him and I believe 100% you'll fall in love!

The Acts 8 episode of Philip and the Ethiopian official is the story of a divine appointment. It was not by chance that they met on the Gaza road – God arranged the encounter. While this is an extraordinary event, it is not unprecedented. God is even today in the business of arranging divine appointments – for those who are qualified, prepared, and willing to answer them. I. Philip was both qualified, prepared, and willing to lead a man to conversion. II. The normative mode of Gospel transmission is by speaking and hearing… and one-on-one is the ideal.III. Those Christians who are qualified, prepared, and willing can expect divine appointments like the one Philip received.Discussion points:1. The Ethiopian man was, for more than one reason, excluded from ‘the assembly of the Lord.' What is the reason for this exclusion?2. Why do you suppose God chose Philip for this assignment?3. Why do you think God chose the Ethiopian to receive this extraordinary messenger and message?4.Working from the same passage (Is. 53) that the Ethiopian official read, make the connection between the prophet's words and Christ the Messiah. 5. Reflect on your own conversion. How were you guided into an understanding of the Scripture and the Gospel message?6. Have you ever been on either the going or receiving end of a divine appointment? How do you know that is what it was?

The disciples in Antioch were first called Christians. The term Christian may hold the same place of dishonor in the minds of many today. Those Christians are a bunch of judgmental hypocrites. They are inflexible on social issues, resistant to scientific consensus, and religiously exclusive. Rather than trying to disprove those accusations here, I find it important to embody the qualities of Christ to whatever extent I am able. I'll never do it perfectly, but if I can be gracious and truthful, merciful and faithful, good and humble, that may help at least one person gain a better understanding of what a Christian truly is: a sinner who has been saved by Grace through faith, loves God because of his great love, and desire his honor and glory alone.

Music, Discussion, Food, and Drink with Ringside and the St. James Chicago Community. Check out the YouTube channel to watch!    Topics: Preach Christ, not Christendom, Rev. Joel Hess Trapped in Consumerism, Rev. Paul Koch What's Wrong? THOSE Christians, Cindy Koch   Thank you:  St. James Lutheran, Chicago   YOU CAN BE A RINGSIDE SPONSOR:  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=TZBU7UQQAWEVN   Music: Joel Allen Hess, more on bandcamp Dead Horse One  “I love my man”

Everyone's life must and should be undergirded by their faith. Your real basis for faith is not your circumstances of even the things God has enabled you to overcome in your life but rather a constant development of your faith, based on God's word. Those Christians, who regularly, every day, read God's word, meditate upon God's word, confess and apply God's word, are the ones who become faith champions. Not only are they armed to overcome, in their circumstances but they are also able to help other Christians in their own situations. Their faith enables them to be a blessing, through the Holy Spirit's leading, to the church as a whole.

Everyone's life must and should be undergirded by their faith. Your real basis for faith is not your circumstances of even the things God has enabled you to overcome in your life but rather a constant development of your faith, based on God's word. Those Christians, who regularly, every day, read God's word, meditate upon God's word, confess and apply God's word, are the ones who become faith champions. Not only are they armed to overcome, in their circumstances but they are also able to help other Christians in their own situations. Their faith enables them to be a blessing, through the Holy Spirit's leading, to the church as a whole.

We have a few brief hours to embrace an aspect of our mission that I think we've largely forgotten, namely, praying for the peace of Jerusalem. What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? Jerusalem will never have peace until they recognize the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Some we can reach now, in which case they become a member of the Church. Some will not believe until it's the last hope in a very, very dark, and painful world after the rapture of the Church. Let's make sure that we have uttered a prayer for that nation. They are surrounded by enemies. They are facing from a human point of view, certain annihilation. You know, Henry Kissinger said in ten years there will be no nation of Israel. That's the best joke I've heard in a long, long time. They will never be driven out. So how can you know? I'm asked this question all the time. How can you know? How can you know that they won't be driven out and scattered again and things that go on for a thousand years? Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is they're there to stay. The bad news is you don't have another thousand years. We'd like to think that we do. But we are are at the conclusion of our short paragraph in history. Check out Isaiah 11:11. The prophet foresaw that there would be two dispersions and two returns, and “after the second time” God will re-gather them and then will return. And, folks, it has happened! And He's coming. Israel is not going to be driven out, but it's going to be painful in the extreme. A third of those who survive into that time are going to believe (Zechariah 13:8). We have a mission mandate, and that mandate is to all the nations of the world. But I do believe that there is a specific focus of that mandate and that that aspect of the mandate is with special attention to the children of Israel. Israel is a burning passion in the heart of the impossible and should be to you and me. You remember that Paul in Colossians 1:24 that it was his pleasure “to suffer on their behalf because he was filling up that which was lacking in the sufferings of Christ.” Paul saw very clearly that it was his responsibility as a member of the Body of Christ to continue what His Lord had begun, what Christ came to do. That's what Paul was here for, and what Christ died for. That was what Paul was willing to die for and therefore to carry on Christ's ministry. And Paul, in Romans 10:1, we see how he makes this a little bit more specific. “ Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” You know, my friends, the Bible commands us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” comes from Psalm 122. What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? When you and I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, there will be no peace in Jerusalem until Jerusalem and Israel receives the prince of peace. And therefore, we pray for the opening of their eyes. Have you ever thought that a prayer that you utter today could impact the soul of someone who will live in the next dispensation? A thousand years before Christ, David prayed for us in the Psalm 102. This is similar to when Paul says, “My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” Don't you think, Paul, being doctrinally accurate and having the mystery of a new creation revealed to him would just say, “Who cares about them?” And “we're done with them.” “We've moved on to new ground.” A thousand years before Christ came, there was someone praying for you. David, by the way, often praise as an expression of the trials of Messiah when He would come. I like the way Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it. He said, “When you read the prayers of David, you are reading the prayers of Messiah, because the prayers that David prayed, Messiah prayed when he was here.” Interesting thought, isn't it? Psalm 102 is picturing the whole history of the nation of Israel, which is summarized in brief in Revelation Chapter 12, which tells us that “the woman will conceive and bear a child,” and because of that child that she brings, she “will be driven into the wilderness.” The hatred against the nation of Israel that existed in David's day and the hatred that existed against Israel in the time of Nazi Germany, and that exists today comes from the same source. It's satanic in origin because Satan still knows that God's plan for those people is not done. And so Satan stalks to the woman who is in travail. Psalm 102 says in part, “But you all Lord shall endure forever, And the remembrance of your name to all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion for the time to savor her. Yes, the time that was set has come.” What time is he talking about? Jesus Christ's Second Advent, right? The Psalmist continues, “Your glory for the Lord shall build up Zion. He shall appear in His glory. He will regard the prayer of the afflicted. He will not despise their prayer.” Did you get the message that he just said this that is promised is going to happen? “He will not despise their prayer.” Now, get this, because here is the kicker in Psalm 102:18, “This will be written for a generation to come. There are people yet to be created, may praise the Lord.” Do you see the church there? He's not just talking about the next generation of Jews. He's not just talking about another generation. He's talking about a new people. Generation is often used for race that are race yet to come of people yet to be created. I believe that David here anticipated, and maybe because of something He saw in the writing of Moses, Moses knew there was more to be revealed, but he knew that it was not for the children of Israel, it was for someone else. David knew that the things he wrote would be an encouragement and a strength to a people who did not yet exist. He didn't know who they were. He didn't know what they would be called. The idea of church never entered his mind. The concept of being in Christ was beyond his ability to comprehend. Although I would say that of all the prophets of the Old Testament, no one came as close to church age truth as did David in the Psalms. The Psalms are timeless and express the prayers of Christ. I would even be willing to bet that the Lord Jesus Christ had the entire Psalms memorized and uttered each of them at their proper place throughout the time of his pilgrimage on this earth may be continues to pray them. Who knows? He intercedes in our behalf. If David had a concern for a people that would not yet be created, how much concern can you and I have for a people who preceded us? If the last are going to be first, how great will they be? Paul asked the question in Romans 11 If their casting off is the salvation of the world, what will their reception be but a resurrection from the dead? It's going to be something amazing. Pray for the opening of their eyes. Our nation is no longer a friend to Israel as we have been. But somewhere there has to be a people that will not only pray for that nation and speak out for that nation, but if necessary, shelter that nation. Those Christians who fought in the resistance for the sake of the Jewish people, they did what the church is supposed to do. And through their dedication and devotion, many, many people of the Jewish nation have come to Christ. Many people will yet come to Christ. How many will come to Christ because you played your part? Let's pray that you and I can play the part through our prayers. Stand up for them, be their advocate, be their defender, and above all, be their intercessor. It will make a difference. The priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. See the previous video “I will bless those who bless you – Mission Forgotten” for more detail.

Hebrews 5:11   Those Christians who are dull, sluggish, lazy of hearing are spiritual infants who need milk rather than solid food. 14   The mature hear and practice and discern good and evil. Hebrews 6:1-3   Some were still holding onto the law and not faith in God's grace. The resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment are part of the elementary teachings of Christians; yet, most wrongly understand them due to ignorance or wrong teaching. Elementary – basic, rudimentary, fundamental, essential, underlying 6   Hebrews 10:26-31; 2 Peter 2:21; 1 John 5:16 8   Jesus often used agricultural illustrations to drive home this point – the sower and the seed, tares and the wheat, the vine and the branches, knowing a tree by its fruit. 10   Matthew 25:34-46 12   Sluggish – same Greek word in 5:11 – dull of hearing 14   Genesis 22:1-18   Offering Isaac   Hebrews 11:17-19 17   The unchangeable character of the Creator is stressed in Hebrews 1:10-12, and now the focus falls on the unchangeable character of His purpose. The unchangeable purpose of God sets Him apart from the capricious, contemporary, pagan deities and all of humanity. God means what He says. 18   The two relate either to God's nature and His oath or the promise and the oath. Neither can change! Strong encouragement denotes an urgent turning away from a state of discouragement and apathy. 19   The anchor is to remain fixed in the seabed, whatever the conditions. The rougher the weather, the more important is the anchor for the stability and safety. 20   Our anchor is connected to Jesus, not the seabed.The post The Anchor of the Soul first appeared on Living Hope.

INTRODUCTION: Anna, pronouns anything respectful, is a Chicago-born social entrepreneur who builds streaming platforms which center & celebrate BIPOC & QTPOC creatives. Media has always been her passion and in 2009 she turned that passion into a reality when she founded E3 Radio, an online radio station playing Queer music & reporting on Queer news with an intersectional lens. Most recently, she founded The Qube, a curated app of music & podcasts by BIPOC & QTPOC creatives. Anna is determined to ride media into its next era by utilizing digital media streams to tell the stories and play the music that deserves to be heard.  Learn more about her work here. In no particular order I'm also a daughter, wife, sister, and friend who loves cooking and running. Favorite Quote: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” –Gandhi Did you know? Anna has been in love with Robin Roberts all her life. Interviewing her would be the ultimate experience. Media Coverage ABC 7 Pride Coveragehttps://abc7.ws/3BGSAZz  Choose Your Struggle https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VaUCZRfUCxUNzdfmAibuV?si=Wqu7M0knQmWZYyJ_Ahmleg&nd=1 191: Learn How To Do Queer Radio Right with Anna DeShawn, Founder of E3 Radiohttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/191-learn-how-to-do-queer-radio-right-anna-deshawn/id1189319336?i=1000521261587  Trindi Media Podcasthttps://podcasts.bcast.fm/e/mn4wvyq8 Park Careers Podcasthttps://anchor.fm/icparkcareerspodcast/episodes/Episode-9--Anna-DeShawn-IC07-e10l4bp/a-a5haqne   INCLUDED IN THIS EPISODE (But not limited to): ·      Exposure To The Qube App·      Celebration Of BIPOC & QTPOC Creatives·      Why It's Good To Be Complete BEFORE You Enter A Relationship·      Why Mental Health Therapy Is SOOO Damn Good For You·      The Variety Of Mental Health Options Available To You·       A Warning Against Being Addicted To Church·      A Warning About Biblical Interpretation·      Politics & Religion = YUCK!·      Why Being Non – Straight Is Not A Damn Choice! CONNECT WITH ANNA: Website & Radio: https://www.AnnaDeShawn.comTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@annadeshawn Facebook: https://facebook.com/annadeshawnInstagram: https://instagram.com/annadeshawn  Twitter: https://twitter.com/annadeshawn  E3 Radio: https://e3radio.fmThe Qube: https://theqube.app   ANNA'S RECOMMENDATIONS: ·      EyeWear: https://thekayakollection.com·      VDOM: https://thevdom.com/the-vdom/ CONNECT WITH DE'VANNON: Website: https://www.SexDrugsAndJesus.comYouTube: https://bit.ly/3daTqCMFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SexDrugsAndJesus/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sexdrugsandjesuspodcast/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TabooTopixLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devannonEmail: DeVannon@SexDrugsAndJesus.com  DE'VANNON'S RECOMMENDATIONS: ·      Pray Away Documentary (NETFLIX)o  https://www.netflix.com/title/81040370o  TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk_CqGVfxEs ·      Upwork: https://www.upwork.com·      FreeUp: https://freeup.net·      Disabled American Veterans (DAV): https://www.dav.org·      American Legion: https://www.legion.org  INTERESTED IN PODCASTING OR BEING A GUEST?: ·      PodMatch is awesome! This application streamlines the process of finding guests for your show and also helps you find shows to be a guest on. The PodMatch Community is a part of this and that is where you can ask questions and get help from an entire network of people so that you save both money and time on your podcasting journey.https://podmatch.com/signup/devannon  TRANSCRIPT: [00:00:00]You're listening to the sex drugs and Jesus podcast, where we discuss whatever the fuck we want to! And yes, we can put sex and drugs and Jesus all in the same bed and still be all right at the end of the day. My name is De'Vannon and I'll be interviewing guests from every corner of this world as we dig into topics that are too risqué for the morning show, as we strive to help you understand what's really going on in your life.There is nothing off the table and we've got a lot to talk about. So let's dive right into this episode.De'Vannon: What's up. What's up. What's up everyone. I'm so happy to have you with me again. One more week. I hope everyone is fucking fantastic. Happy Cinco de Mayo. Today we have a spotlight on black indigenous people of color and queer trans people of color as well. Anna de Shawn has created the cube app, which is a safe space for creative people of color of various ideas.We dish on religion, sex [00:01:00] self-acceptance mental health and so much more. And I throw some shade at Lakewood church over in Houston, Texas, because of the way they dehumanize people behind the scenes. Take a listen to my people.Anna. Good girl, girl. How the fuck is you doing the day? That's what I need to know. Anna: I'm amazing that I'm here with you period. De'Vannon: Looking at you, trying to gain me up, see energy. Like that is the reason why sometimes contemplate letting a lesbian fuck me in the ass because y'all have got that. Yeah. The game was on point.The words on point y'all is I am a survivor. I'm like, oh, almost y'all I'm just like Emile come in there. And I'm like a good low to come in my ass. Okay. Anna: We don't get that. We don't got that. We got a lot of other things, but we got a lot of other. De'Vannon: Although they [00:02:00] have those buildings. Now you can put something like different juices or whatever in them, and then it'll squirt it into whatever hole you want.So Anna: mommy, my homemade is actually creating this really amazing strap. It's her, her business is called V Dom. Y'all should check it out. V D O M she was on television recently for a pitch competition. Like it's like mechanical, so it's not hard all the time. So you hit a button, it gets hard on the, on the whim.It's like from an app. So you don't gotta go. And like, yo it's legit stuff. It's good De'Vannon: stuff. So it's a Dick, a plastic Dick that get, that can give, go from levels of softness to hard, Anna: but the press of a button. De'Vannon: I ain't seen that before. Hmm. Next level I found real. It, it okay. Also Anna de Shawn is a bad bitch.She. It's the [00:03:00] greater of an app called the cube. She hosts the radio station and everything like that. And she considered herself to also be a social entrepreneur as an initial. We're going to be talking about what the cube is, how this benefits the LGBTQ plus community, the alphabet mafia, as I like to call us, because we will fuck a bitch up if we have to, we don't want to, but sometimes y'all just make us pull the will Smith on a bitch and just Anna: necessary.Okay. Sometimes it's necessary.De'Vannon: I don't think he should have done it, but I'm not here to judge him. I feel suck his Dick right now and buy tickets to his movie. But I, we, we, we will not be slapping everybody on Smith. Anna: I don't know what he was thinking. I think actually, I think he thought it was recorded. I think he forgot. It was like. I mean, there's so De'Vannon: many of them things, it's just like he's sitting at his [00:04:00] kitchen table.Anna: I think he forgot it was left. I think he thought they were going to be able to enter that up. De'Vannon: So we'll be talking about what the cube is. It's a new thing specific for our community and people of color and things like that to help help us with podcasts and getting our creative arts and media out there.And then we're going to talk about Anna's history. She has a lot of history with the church and church Bo shit, and there's so much bullshit and the church is unreal. And so what do you got to say about your own history? Tell us about you got the run Anna: down to the quick rundown, quick rundown south side of Chicago, born and raised.I consider myself a social entrepreneur who. Platforms digital platforms that celebrate and center black, brown and queer folks of color. I, I love my [00:05:00] people and I love the power that media has to actually create some change, some meaningful change to humanize people's stories and experiences. And I think that we have the power to shift that, you know, if we tap into it and since 2009, I've been interviewing black queer folks to raise awareness around our stories out of Chicago.And I've always been into media. Let's be clear, Robin Roberts is everything to me. Okay. I want it to grow up and be just like her on ESPN or doing some play by play announcing. But it became very clear that people don't look like me on television. They're not masculine the center. Prokes a report in the 10 o'clock news.Okay. But radio allowed for me to speak to folks without folks having to see me. And that is a very powerful thing. And I realized I really loved it. So I got into radio. Which of course leads you into podcasting. And then I just saw the same things that were happening in traditional media. What's happening in podcasts.I'm like, where are my black people at? Where am I brown people at? Where am I queer [00:06:00]folks of color at? Like, why is it that when I go to apple and Spotify and all these places, like I can't find my people and I wanted to change that. De'Vannon: Well, it is a noteworthy thing you're doing. And I can tell you have sense enough to understand that this is something that's takes time.You know, this is, this is a long-term dedicated process. Does it? Don't take, you know, a long, long time to, to see, come to fruition. Hopefully you see it in your generation, but you know, you know, these things take time. So I appreciate that. You're laying this foundation here, you know, for generations to come, you know, I can see it in a, in a hundred years, you know, you know, when you did that and gone somebody is going to have a very successful.Show you know, public broadcast and everything like that. You gonna be like, we want to thank him to Sean for the work that we did back in 2009 to make this day [00:07:00] possible for me in 3050 or whatever the Anna: case. That's unbelievable. Let me tell you. But I do say this, that I do see the radio station and what we're building with the cube as being far bigger than myself, I feel like, and I think we connect can connect on this on a spiritual level.Like we're here because we're called to do something. And when I think when you tap into your call, it is bigger than you because you're just a vessel for the work and you've been given some gifts and you, and you've been called to use them. And so I feel like I'm called to use these gifts in this way.Everything about me says I'm about systematic changes about changes that can affect masses amount of people. That's what I'm called to do. Some folks is called to be in the streets activating, you know, some folks has called to do one-on-one work and change people's lives one by one by one. And I feel like I've been called to change folks' lives through media and a massive amount of [00:08:00] ways.And so I'm excited about what the cube is going to be to the world of podcasting. I'm excited what it's going to be for discoverability. Today 43% of people listening to podcasts actually identify as people of color and there's no place that is serving those folks. And the discoverability of those folks.There's so many people like you creating amazing content, raw content, authentic content, quality content, and more people need to know, you know what I'm saying about sex drugs and Jesus. Come on. De'Vannon: Okay. We don't want to go down that rabbit hole is a tight, deep hole and trust me may have gotten stuck in it.Anna: I love you. De'Vannon: So I love you too, baby. So one of my favorite things about you. So we're going to talk about Anna for a little bit and get into her personal story, which tells us a lot about why she's doing what she's doing. And then we're going to get very granular and talk very specifically about what the cube [00:09:00] is, where you can find it.Who's who was this for a podcast. As people want to go on shows what sort of content you can find there and all of that. So when I was reading through your bio and everything like that, and researching you as I do, I found that your pronouns, you don't have like, he, she, they. You know, whatever you said, anything respectful.And I admire the open-mindedness of that and the flexibility of that, it reminds me a lot of myself because when people ask me who I am, sometimes I like to refer them to the Torah, you know, to the, to the oh, Hebrew scripture when when Moses was first called by God. And he had his slippers off on the side of the mountain and God was in the burning Bush.And Moses was like, God, who is you? Who are you? He was trying to put God in a box and figure out how shall I, what can, what can, how can I associate you with what I already know? Okay. And God told him, bitch, I am that I am. [00:10:00] And that's all there is to it. Anna: Yes. Is that a quote description? That is, I am what I am and that's really it.Right. Because the point of even. The initiatives around using someone's proper pronouns is about respect. It is about honoring someone's identity, right? And for me, depending on what space I'm in child, ain't no telling what the pronouns is going to be. If I, with my boys, it's just, it is whatever. Right.And then I'm in society and people see me a certain way. And then that's that all I'm saying is with respect to who I am. So anything respectful is what resonates most with me, De'Vannon: right? Because it's in the tone of voice in the spirit behind the words. So you can be like, what a bitch and mean it would love.And you can be like, oh, Hey girl, Amina, what all the painting is and violent as that you could contrive. And when you hate that bitch, and you're like, Hey girl, you [00:11:00] know, that was not really in the word, but isn't the heart behind it. More than anything.Anna: Absolutely cause the shade is real. You can notice the shade.Okay. De'Vannon: At all. Oops. Plaque.Anna: You don't have it, but I see it. Okay. Y'all got it. But I see it. De'Vannon: I keep one in my glove compartment, just in my car, just in case I needed somewhere. And I got several in the house. Anna: So does my wife, Lord, all the De'Vannon: things, speaking of that. Yeah. And your bio, it says you are a daughter, a wife, a sister, and a friend who loves cooking and running.What I wanted to know from you about the wife. How did it feel? I want to know how did it feel to be married? Did you have any struggles and things like that? I don't meet a whole lot of married women. I don't. So talk to me about that whole process. Anna: Yeah, we just celebrated our five-year wedding [00:12:00] anniversary.We've been together for nine years. Just like when I met her, my momma loved there. Okay. And I don't like the ideas of, or the statements around, like someone completes me. I was done and completed, but she just adds so much to my life. She's just such a sweet and kind person. And she just fit right in with my family.It was like she had always been there. Everybody embraced her and, and I love her. So she's my best friend. She is the ultimate diva. Okay. She is the most high film woman I have ever dated in my life. But she balances me out and I just love her to pieces. De'Vannon: Yeah. Opposites attract like that. I learned that when I was in my hitting the therapy class, I was training to be a licensed hypnotist, which I am, you know, there's all kinds of signs [00:13:00]behind why quiet, conservative people attract more outgoing people, you know, and vice versa.If you too much alike, you tend to repel each other, you know, to put it simply my boyfriend's the same way. He's quiet. Fucking there. Okay in there, I'm the ones linking from the poles and the chandelier's and hitting the splits. And even now with all of that, you know, showing up, you know, shutting the shit down and everything, and he couldn't even talk.He would, he's not necessarily the most comfortable talking to people in public. You know, when I walk in the bitch, I own the room. Oh, his y'all's belongs to me until I leave this bitch. Anna: Okay. And let me tell you, so I turn it on when a microphone is in front of me, but other than that, I don't have to say a word to anybody.Okay. Yes, my wife is the same way. She walked into a room, she's a stylist. She just takes up space. Okay. Take some space. You came misled. And she also sells, I wear all right. [00:14:00] So the Kia collection.com. So she sells customer. I wear. And so every time she walked into a room, somebody taken something off her face off her risk, won't something.And she is, she's the life of a party.Oh, yeah. The K a collection.com. K a K a Y a K O L L E C T I O N. So the K a collection.com. De'Vannon: Okay. So then I'm like, Hey, yo, collection.com. All right. I'll drop that shit in the show notes, but show ya. I also heard what you said about how you were complete before you met her. This is something I concur with.None of this. This person completes me. I'm lost without you. I can't. Oh that you better know who you are before you get into a relationship with somebody. And a lot of that has to do with just theory, spirituality and shit like that. I think so many relationships in between. People lose [00:15:00] sight of their own individual identity in the whole process.And if you're not in tune with who you are, you're not going to be able to truly cater to that other person. You know, you gotta be whole firstAnna: a hundred percent and let's also be clear. We all been broken, right? So I ain't coming up here. Like I walked, I woke up like this therapy saved my life. Right.Therapy saved my life. We've all had tough and challenging relationships that have taken you all types of places that you never thought you would go. Then at some point you have to like, do some self reflection. Like, is it me? Maybe it's me. And you got to own that. You have to own that. Otherwise you'll continue to date the same person over and over again in a different body with a different sign and all types of stuff.And that was my reality. I had realized that I was dating the same person over and over again. I'm like, what is wrong? And so quickly checked myself into therapy and it saved my life. And so when my wife came into my [00:16:00] life, I didn't need completing. At that point, I was very clear about who I was and who I am.And she was just like the perfect fit into, into my life. So now we have our life with our puppy and grateful. De'Vannon: So when you say you checked yourself into therapy, are you being general in that saying you started seeing a therapist, did you check into a residential. Anna: I'll say it in general. Like I went to start, I started seeing a therapist and I've seen a few over my life and actually it's just about to start seeing a new one.And I think there'll be, is one of these things where you can choose to be in it for a really long time with the same person, but sometimes you even grow out of your therapist. And so sometimes you have to shift and sometimes you don't need it anymore and sometimes you gotta restart it because life would be doing a lot of living.And we just went through what, two years of an airborne panic. And if you listen into this, that means you survived it too. And [00:17:00] so none of us are the same as we were in 2019. There's no way you're the same person. So I think that there's there's seasons. And so I'm in a season where I got a lot going on.So I'm about to go see another therapist and it's just, if you've never done it, it's just a refreshing opportunity to talk to someone who is not fully engaged in your life, but can offer an outside an outside viewpoint that is often not, it's not critical, it's not judging. Right. You find somebody that works with you that you can vibe with, and you'll find yourself lighter after leaving.They're clearer, maybe about something you're struggling with. And for me, it was, it saved my life. De'Vannon: What kind of therapist? A licensed clinical social worker, a Anna: licensed clinical social worker and a black woman. De'Vannon: I find the LCSW to be [00:18:00] more like down to earth, then send like a psychologist, cause an LCSW is not prescribing medication.So they're actually the only way they can help you is through the words and the talking and the exercises and the practices. They, they, they give you to take home. I see an LCSW. I see a licensed marriage and family therapist together with my boyfriend together for, I don't know, 2, 3, 4 years, some shit I don't keep up with the damn time.You have to ask him I'm bad with birthdays and just general time, because I, I view things more eternal. You know, I don't believe in time constraints. It always has existed and always will in a way. And so And then I see my hypnotherapists individually and I love hypnotherapy because of how focused it is and how it gets into the subconscious and how you rip out what you don't want.You speak back to your open, vulnerable mind, which you do want. And so I particularly use that to help me stay off of [00:19:00] drugs. And so all. So that is our plug for mental health, because we know that it's something that's lacking in both the color community and in the gay community. It is not a straight a strike to your pride.If you want to go talk to somebody about getting help, there's many different types of therapists. That's why I asked her that if you go to one therapist and they're a fucking piece of shit, then fuck that hell you go to somebody else. Maybe you need a different type of therapy. There's all sorts of new age, metaphysical shit out there, getting the therapy Stella constellations all kinds of mind, body, soul meditation, shit.If you don't want to do traditional therapist, you can therapy. You can do the shit off his own. Now there's all kinds of shit. So whatever it is you think mental health is if you have a bad taste in your mouth about it I asked you to revisit it and take a second look at it. Because again, I said, we all had been fucked.You know, and so you need help to get unfucked up and to get an objective perspective. So you [00:20:00] don't keep getting fucked up relationships and sabotaging yourself. So just humble yourself down and go get some help, baby. And look, no one has to know, these therapists are bound by confidentiality, so it's not like they can go put it on social media that you were in treatment, or they would get their license taken and probably go to jail.So it's a secret, nobody. Nobody nobody has to Anna: know that's right. And may is mental health awareness month. So there is so much information out here right now in promoting and making awareness, you know, mental health awareness, I think this month. So you just one Google search. De'Vannon: Just one Google search away.So a quote that you had it says is your favorite pro. You said at first they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you, then you win. And that was by Gandhi. Tell me what this quote means to you.[00:21:00]Anna: And that you can't be waiting for people to validate who you are or validate your idea or validate what you call to do. It is not about that. You know, people gonna go along for the ride, you have to be clear about what you want to do. And I think that along the way, you're going to encounter different people.You know, I'm building a business. I don't come from a whole lot. I come from a whole lot of love. And so, but we got a lot of things and a lot of people, I talked to a lot of asks and the requests, I take a lot of leaps of faith. I have to keep practicing my faith muscle and building up my face muscle and what it means to take risks.And along the way, I'm going to run into people that don't agree with me, who don't believe what I'm in, what I'm doing, who don't see a market for it, who don't see a need for it. And honestly, like when we make it, that's when everybody want to be down. So for me, that quote by Gandhi just resonates a lot with what it means to be on the journey.And not, and for me, it's [00:22:00] not caring so much about the destination because to your point, like, I feel like things just will continue to be, but it's about enjoying the journey. And that quote reminds me that it's a journey that is not just going to be one thing or another thing. It's all of things, De'Vannon: all of them each and every last one of them.I love the friction that comes along. When w when people would try to repel us, though, I believe it helps to meet tourists. And it helps to refine us like when a moth or a butterfly. It's trying to crawl a lot of that Chrysalis after they'd been a caterpillar, you know, that struggle helps to release the, you know, the blood flow in whatever juices are in their little furry bodies to expand their wings.You know, that that struggle is needed. They can not become what they are to be without the problems. And, you know, and so I'm thankful for all the Karens for all the church, people who told us we had to get out, you know, and, and everything like that. For [00:23:00] the people who told us since we were black, we can't, we can't stay there.And stuff like that. When I read that, I thought about how I got kicked out of Lakewood church in Houston, Texas for not being straight, you know, but eventually I'm going to get the victory over them. Cause you know, I've been there when they kicked me out. This was like 2008, 2009. And I just finished my book and I went into great detail about how I felt about all of that.It took me over 10 years, but I finally clapped. I finally clapped the back. And so I will win. Yes, Anna: you are winning. You are winning. You've already won. The victory is yours. You're already, De'Vannon: they may in an amen. Okay. So then I'm just curious about, what do you think some of the top issues are facing just the lesbian community today?Hmm. [00:24:00] And why are you thinking about that? I noticed some of your top lives being moments when I was researching you. I would agree with queen Latifa from set it off. Anna: Yes, honey. That is number one of all time. You know what? I would argue anybody down and say that ain't the number one black lesbian moment in film, because.She was studied out in and go, okay, let dances. It was everything. Okay. It's a freaking classic acquaint. Lindsey foot is number one and she ain't even have to be out she out now, but she ain't going to have to be out. She is out to us anyway. So that was actually a really fun video to do. And I'll probably do another one because so many people rode in some of their favorite black lesbian moments that I had not even thought about again, or that people didn't tell me about because I asked my friends.So for example Lena commented, Lena [00:25:00] wave comments. And then she was like, what about when Tasha was on, came out on the L word? And I was like, dang, that was a pivotal moment because L where had been so white up until that point and it Tasha show up and just wreck the crew. And I was just like, Hey you.Right. So I'll probably do another video. But I think, I think for lesbians, some of the major challenges is still representation. And I think there is a lot of invisibility happening with lesbians. So there's a, there's a podcast called cruising, which on this podcast and but there's a podcast called cruising and they have like three lesbians going across the country and they are going to all of the last lesbian bars.And so there's 60,000 bars across the country and there's only 25 lesbian bars, 25 lesbian owned bars across the whole country. And so they did a whole podcast traveling around the country and visiting these bars. [00:26:00] So I think that there is a great need for visibility of lesbians. Not only in media, but just in life in general, you know?And I think lesbians often can kind of get lost in the south. So similar to how people feel like there's some invincibility with, by bisexuals in the community right now, I think, you know, a lot of trans folks get a lot of press because there is a political onslaught happening from right wing conservatives politically.And it doesn't mention, you know, gay folks or lesbian folks or bisexual folks it's specifically mentioned trans folks, you know, and I think that there's some, there's a definitely a sector of lesbians who feel like they have been left behind often also because we use the word queer these days and no one really uses the word lesbian.So I know that there's some lesbians out there that just feel like they've been left [00:27:00]somewhere in the eighties and. I think it's a, I think it's a challenge for them in that respect with all that being said, if one of our alphabet mafia is as you put it, okay, it's being attacked. Then we all being attacked.If we all don't have freedom, then none of us have freedom. So I think that some of what I hear as lesbian concerns, you know, aren't really concerns at all. I think it is fear. And I think that when our trans fam is experiencing right now, what they are experiencing right now affects every single last one of us.De'Vannon: So when you say someone says there's a lesbian concern and it's not really a concern, it sounds like you're speaking about hate and ignorance. Anna: Well, it might be a problem for them. It's not a problem for me. I think [00:28:00] that. I think it's just people being who they are.And I think that there, I think that people evolve and I think that terms evolve. And so I think there are people who are lesbians, who identify with a very strict definition of what it means to be a lesbian. I think there's people who identify with the very strict definition of what it means to be, get men who love men and women who love women.Like these are various particular definitions like that is it. And that is all right. That we're coming upon a time. I felt like we were living in a time where there is sexual fluidity and so forth, and I can speak for myself and I statements are so helpful in these moments. It's like I came out as a lesbian, but at the end of the day today, I identify as queer because child, I love a lot of things.Okay. And it's not just, it's not just women or assists women. Okay. It's just not. And so I needed an expansive word. I needed an expansive definition outside of [00:29:00] lesbian to identify with. So I think that I think oftentimes people get. And what they always known or anything like or stuff like that.But at the end of the day, things evolve, people evolve terms, evolve, communities evolve. And I also think that if there is one major issue affecting lesbians today, it is just continues to be a lack of representation and visibility, especially for masculine scent and lesbians. I mean, fam lesbians, they, their level of Ms.Visibility is a whole nother story, right? I've I've had films. Tell me, like, I intentionally date, you know, masculine of center women. So people know that I am a lesbian. I don't want you to think I'm straight, you know? And for masculine of center women, there is a, there is an appearance that out you, when you walk out the house.So you know, [00:30:00] visibility on a grander scale is still not there, even though there's a different level of acceptance. I believe four lesbians than there are even for gay men. I think gay men have a whole other struggle that around masculinity, especially in this country, that it's just really different than the lesbian experience.I've talked about. A friend I grew up with a gay guy who was very flamboyant, right? We was cool. He had to come to school with a knife right in his shoe. He never left home without a knife. And underneath the sole of his shoe, that was not my story. I never felt unsafe. He always felt unsafe. And I think at the core of it, I mean, there's so much to be said around the differences between a male identified experience and a woman identified experience within the LGBTQ community.De'Vannon: Let's talk about these experiences in the church. So in researching you, there is some Lutheran Baptist. History [00:31:00] here. Talk to us about how you grew up in cherish. Anna: Ah, man, my mama and my daddy met at church. So my dad has been a teacher for 40 years and he was teaching at teaching at a private Lutheran school where my mom had enrolled my sister.So my sister is 17 years older than me. And so my mom rolled my sister there and then they started a love affair in which they had to keep on, on the low, because the teachers weren't supposed to be thanking the parents, the parents were supposed to be dating the teacher's child, but in a way,and let me tell you, 40 years later, they still at the same church. Okay. So. They landed at a black Lutheran church on the south side of Chicago. And so that's where I grew up, but my dad's side of the family started a missionary Baptist church also on the south side of Chicago. So I would often have two Easter speeches.Okay. I, we would often end up going to two different churches on Sundays. Cause my family was at that church, [00:32:00] my uncles, my aunts, my grandma. I mean, everybody was that Christian Love missionary Baptist church. Right. And so we would, you know, time's always different to, with black church. So Lutherans start at a bright and early 10:00 AM.Okay. And we was done in 60 minutes, strong, maybe 75 on communion. Sunday Baptist church was just getting started about 11 and praise and worship. 30 minutes. And so by the time we get that, we still at the beginning of the service, so it would a lot more shouting to go. So it was definitely two very different religious experiences growing up too, which I think just kinda tells a lot about my life in general.The dichotomies. I'll be one place at one moment and be in total different place in the moment. Another moment, you know, I could be at some highfalutin place one moment, and then I could be in the projects the next moment. All of it [00:33:00] made sense to me for where I was in my life. But church church was a good time.De'Vannon: So you're a preacher's kid. You, you, you say that would explain why you are freaking, you call yourself queer into all things. You have them PKS. I'm pretty freaky deaky. Anna: We get into some things, we get into some things and they'll see it. My dad. So he's a deacon, but at the end of the day, he could preach anywhere and he does preach all the time.And. He just for Lutherans, you got a lot of rules, regulations. And so he never went back to get that final piece, but he has his master's in divinity and all this stuff. So, yeah. Child, Sundays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and church. De'Vannon: Yeah, that's awesome. That's how I was growing up. Pentecostal Wednesday, you know, Bible ban this night, delivering service this night and the other service [00:34:00] that night when I was at Lakewood, I was there four nights a week, choir practice, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, kids worship leading and teaching Saturday night kids, life choir, Sunday choir.I think, I think we get like addicted to church before we realized we are Anna: Church is a big part, right? If you grew up in the church, it's a big part of your identity. It's your community, it's your family and my home church where my parents still go is home. They have always loved me, always embracing me.I've never been anything that I'm not there, but I have my own thoughts around religion and religious organization. So joining the Missouri Senate is not an option for me because they don't see me as a whole person. So for me, it goes beyond the church. It's about the religious organization, right. [00:35:00] But it defined so much.And that's why when queer folks get rejected from church, It is incredibly impactful and can really damage and cause harm because the first couple of places you learn how to love is at home and at church. And that's often times the two places you spend the most time. And so when one, or both turn their back on you as a human being, you are not the same person you were before.It can, it, it leads you down a path that it, it destroys you period. Point blank. It destroys you, you know, and a lot of my work over the years has been around dismantling that and telling the truth about it. That Jesus never said one thing about gay people, not one, Jesus never said it. Now. I just, these clapper scriptures and everything else, I mean, The Bible is meant to be interpreted.It's meant to be [00:36:00] understood. It's meant to be put into context and the way folks have picked and chosen what they want to and who they want to damn to Hale is, is the most unlocked ungodlike thing they can absolutely ever do. And back in the day, I did this project with this organization called church, was in a church where we did a video 30 day release them to do video every 30 days called my God is not a bully to just emphasize that point that God is not bullying anybody.It's the people in the pulpit that are, and their lack of interpretation of scripture and in context of strip scripture. So The church means a lot to me actually is part of the Q we are releasing our own content as part of the queue and to, and one of our podcasts first podcast is called second Sunday.And I cannot wait for y'all to hear this podcast [00:37:00] because it's talking about the intersections of being black queer and in the church. And we had the opportunity to interview a lot of black queer theologians, lay people musicians for this podcast and the things that they share a child, it's just, it humanizes an experience that gets polarized a lot.And I hope I hope folks can get seen through this work. De'Vannon: Yeah. I was at a graduate at the Houston graduate school of theology and he of course, Euston, Texas, but I was going to get a master's of divinity as well. When you said that it, it popped out my ears, but I, I left that bitch. I broke up, I broke up and that bitch, when the, when the law professor said that, that they like to control people in church.And so that was like, well, I didn't come here to dominate motherfuckers, so I'll be going now. And so let me get more, I want to get more granular [00:38:00] with your per perspective. Cause I watched that video. One of the, one of the God is not a bully and I agree with what you're saying and it's at the epicenter of my message to people.I preach spiritual independence and people getting close to God on their own without a church or with one. But if you're going to have a church, remember that it's second to God. And so You bring up. Okay. So you're talking about like how the people are using the scripture to throw shade at people who are unlike them.It, how. Scriptural interpretation is very subjective and it is, everybody can read the Bible and come out of it with what they want. It's clearly not an easy to understand book because if it was simple to interpret, then you wouldn't need a thousand different translations of it. And so, I mean, And so since people are indoctrinated in such a young age, you know, at churches, you, you understand you go there to learn, but critical thinking about what the preacher is saying is not what's taught to you.And [00:39:00] so you're accepting whatever is being said. And by the time you're old enough to know any difference, you've got all of these issues to sort out, and then you feel conflicted about it because you've been told never to disagree with a preacher or a church, but now you like the shit don't make sense though.And so, so we add an out here to tell you that you will not burn up and go to hell for not being straight and to all the straight people. And I mean that loosely, because you never know what the hell people not doing behind closed doors. I didn't fuck so many straight married men and my day is unreal.And so you know, just, just know that while they're trying to use these scriptures over here to condemn you to hell since they want to be so strict about that. The, the Bible and everything. You know, the Bible speaks against getting divorced for any reason, other than infidelity. It speaks against interracial couples and stuff like that, stuff that we're all totally cool with.Now, them people in church got 50,000 divorces. [00:40:00] It all kinds of reasons and all kinds of mixed, mixed racial shit's going on. And I'm cool with all of it. But my whole point is this. If you're going to be such a hard ass about one part, you need to be a hard ass about the whole fucking thing. I don't want to see you eating nothing that divided the hoof.I don't want you getting down with the pig or nothing like that. If you going to be that much of a, of a bitch about it, then follow the whole fucking thing from end to end and not just a P a few slices of. Anna: And that's what they do, right? Those Christians like them, so-called Christians cause they not Christian some so called Christians.You know, they use, they use it for whatever they feel like they want to use it for. And they cause a lot of freaking harm and they're causing harm right now. And now it's entered the political round, you know? And we need more folks like you, we need more projects. I tell queer folks and LGBTQ young people that you'll still love that God still loves you.That your relationship with God is far more important [00:41:00] than whatever this preacher is saying from a pulpit. I also think critical thought is so incredibly important when you understand that there are books missing from the Bible, right? When you understand that, that what you're reading is not the entire Canon, like what are we doing here?People, what are we doing here? And also think it's easy to make God this very angry damning person and being. That was not what God taught at all. That's not what God taught at all. De'Vannon: He's not, he's a God of mercy and grace forgiveness, long suffering, slow to anger, quick, the mercy, quick, the compassion.That's what the scripture say. He's not like man, you know, quick to judge and clobber you and what you speak of about getting kicked out from churches and how it changes you. It's it's, it's what I call being dehumanized. It makes you feel like you're less than a person. And when a church tells you, you have to go.Not because of [00:42:00] something you've done with church has never supposed to tell anyone to go, no matter what, you know, Jesus accepted murderers and everybody. So for a terrace would be like, you can't go because of who you love, which is what Lakewood church did to me. You know, you can't. There, you know, you, that, that, that, that sent me on a downward spiral that ultimately led me into drugs and to drug dealing and to getting hepatitis B and HIV, my choice to do what I do, do what I did, but they certainly would've sparked the set that shit in motion and fuck them.Fuck you wake with church in on repeat, if we can dub stuff, that shit, then the video you also said. You, you made a comparison about how, okay. Say like procreation, one of the arguments people use against the non straight community is that God hates what you're doing because when you have sex, you can't, and there's no kid that's gonna come of it.[00:43:00]And then you were like, okay, well they're straight couples that God has prevented them from having children's. It was that because he hates them too. You know, it's not a, you can't apply that sort of a rubric evenly. You can't do it. And then you were also saying, you said something very interesting to me.You said that you wouldn't choose another burden and you were like, I'm already blessed. That's hard enough as it is. Do I really want. Add queer to it and all the problems that come along in this life, in that statement, you're rebutting the stupid shit. Like I heard Joyce Meyer and whoever the fuck else say that, where they think it's a choice, you know, like, like we just, oh, well we'll think we'll be gay today, you know, or some or some stupid shit like that as that is the most overly simplistic, dumb ass shit.These supposedly educated people Anna: say 100%. And I think that that's at the core of it. And I was talking to somebody recently whose child just came out to [00:44:00] them a year or so ago. And I was just like, you know, We have to start the conversation at choice with choice, because if you believe what I'm doing is a choice, then we're not going to get very far because at the heart of homophobia, is this idea that you can change.Hence why conversion therapy, right. Has been such a popular way for Christians to change people because you don't think it's a choice because you think it's a choice. But in fact, it's not. In fact, I grew up when my mama put me in bowls and matching ruffle socks. Okay. And doing everything in her power to make, to, to raise a feminine girl.And in fact, I was who I was from the moment I had any say over it. It's just not who I was. And I was very clear about that from a very young age. I was very clear that I was [00:45:00] athletic. Does that make me gay? No, but I was also very clear. I liked wearing my dad's shirts and my dad and I had the same initials and he gets his shirts embroidered with his initials on them.And I wanted to wear his shirts. I was not going to wear my mother's dresses. I didn't want nothing to do with heels. I didn't want to do a pantyhose. It's just, it just wasn't who I was and it's not who I am. And so I think all of these conversations around homophobia and transphobia and hate come around, the idea that who we are is a choice and who we are is not a choice in the same ways who they are, you know innately is not a choice.De'Vannon: That do be facts though, because if there was, they're going to apply that logic, the us, and it has to go in reverse. And I like you when I was two, three years old, I was already playing with Kendall. I was trying to see what was up under his shorts and shit like that. So, but if, but if there's a choice, then when did they kick to be straight?And [00:46:00] then if that's the case, are they confessing that they had homosexual desire at some point, you know, the way they tell it, they'd been straight from the beginning. So if that's the case, you know, it's uneven, but it's like anything else from your favorite food to your favorite color? Life is a thing of discovery.We do not get to put ourselves together like a doll or a made out of Play-Doh. You don't get to go. My favorite color is going to be green. My favorite dish is going to be lobster. My favorite state, I think I'll go with Kentucky. My favorite shoes, I think van sounds nice. You know, you, you get exposed to shit and then you pay attention to what keeps standing out to you.And what keeps drawing you in and then you go, oh, it seems like I'm into the color green or, oh, I think I really, really liked these fucking vans. They represent me. Well, you discover who you are, the beginnings of who you are, is shaped. And when you're in your mother's womb everywhere, she goes, the things she says, the people she talks to, the thing she thinks read, exposes [00:47:00] that child to everything, you cannot separate the two.So you're predisposed to so much before you're even born. So for them fuckers to be like, well, you chose to be gay. I goes again, signs and all logic. And they're just stupid as hell. Anna: Pretty much, pretty much. And what's really unfortunate is, is that I, I see that there can be a differentiation. So let me give you an example.Like you can believe that being queer is wrong, right? You can believe. But that should not equate to me not having the rights as a citizen, within a country that I pay taxes in, if that makes sense. So for me, politics shapes society. So you can think being gay is wrong, but that doesn't mean you have the right to limit my rights, [00:48:00] to control who I love control.If I can get married control, if I can get medical care control with books, I read you not have that type of control in my life. Just because you don't agree with who I am. I don't agree with you being a white, racist, homophobic transphobic person. Right. Right. But I ain't trying to write legislation to kill off your human existence.Right. Because that is exactly the fact of the matter is that what's happening across the country right now is killing. Trans youth, the numbers the suicide hotlines, like the Trevor project, they are outrageous right now, right? People are trying to leave states where they have had homes and families and a legacy because their children can't get the medical care they need.Because now politicians are saying that parents don't know what's best for their own children. How dare you? Just because you don't believe in who I am. [00:49:00] And I think it's just so incredibly contradictory because they don't want anyone telling them who they are or what they should be doing. You know,De'Vannon: if it's any consolation, these people are the hypocrites of our day. You had them in Jesus's time. I agree with what you said earlier, how the Bible is not complete. Some people will say everything you need to know about life it's in the Bible. That's bullshit. It's a general. It's a general guide to help get you close enough to God.So you can talk to him for yourself and then he can fix you and instruct you the rest of the way. But everything is not in there, but these, these Republicans and evangelicals and everything, these are today's hypocrites. Every generation has to have them. There's not going to come a time in this earth until probably the millennial kingdom when Jesus Christ reigns here again, but even, well, I'm not going to say that because even then there's going to be people who don't believe in him in the earth.And so there's always going to be those people who are contradictory, these people [00:50:00] are like how solid the apostle is before you became Paul. The thing is if God doesn't open somebody's eyes to their hypocrisy, then they won't see if you don't up in their ears to hear truth. They won't hear, they won't believe and be converted.Every generation has to have the people who are going to be citizens of hell bound to go to hell. Because if they have humility and love in their heart, they would go to heaven and they would be rugged. You people not going to accidentally end up in hell, you have to be like Pharaoh or somebody and just hardheaded ignoring the signs, not hearing what the people under you are trying to say, not hearing the voice of the people.That's how far was he just would not hear logic and reason because he was so set in his ways and what he wanted to want other people to do. Now, Paul Saul took his ass to the Sanhedrin saying Hedron was a religious council of the day. I think it's like 70 something. My fathers who control shit. It's no [00:51:00] different than legislation.The day, a whole group of motherfuckers who control. You say, I look this Jesus person and come here with his bullshit and these people trying to act like him and we can't be having none of this. So give me some power, some letters and shit. So then go arrest. They asses and beat them and fuck with them and shit beat this Jesus out of the acids.Cause this ain't right. It's on rip up our moral fabric. And this is going to tear our society down because of how they believe. And the Sanhedrin was like, go on, play a gong. Now his way to Damascus Jesus intercepted his bitch ass. And it was like, ah, ah, ah, ah, what you doing? You need to stop this shit because I did not send you scripturally speaking.He said, Saul saw, why, why are you persecuting me? It's hard for you to kick against the pricks. And so what do we have here? Somebody who said those people over there, I don't like what they doing. So let me in and enact laws to change them. And the Lord said, I don't want [00:52:00] you to do that. That, that is the what the whole beginning of that, that part of the book of acts is about Jesus Christ.Being against using the law to co Eris people to behave differently. It was right there yet. When those people, the people of our day, the hypocrites, the Republicans, evangelicals, if they even read they dusty ass Bibles, I don't see how they can. And when they read the Bible, they, they read it to find not what's wrong with other people.They are right there. But when they killed Steve and I'm going to say this and shut the hell up, but this is a hot button for both of us when they killed even the one who said to me, the first martyr, he read the religious people for Phil, and he told them, you motherfuckers are the same people who kill the prophets and everything like that.While you sitting up here trying to judge me that he, it was a whole long chapter in acts. And then they stoned him to death and everything like that. So these things must be so, Anna: and I think so, [00:53:00] Chad, you just said so much, there's so much to say. I think, I think at the heart of it also is that the theology, like your own spiritual connection to God is, can be so expansive.So the, to your point, right, the Bible is one thing. But then, right. Christians will tell you that all these, you shouldn't even explore these other religions. They can't give you nothing. Like, no, you can't get nothing out of nothing out of these, none of these other spaces. And I think to myself, like I thought God created everything.I thought God created everything. And if God created everything and God is in everything. And and I find myself having a very expansive worldview about God and my beliefs, like, so. Growing up. You're taught that if someone commits suicide, they go into hell. [00:54:00] And then now I was thinking, and then as I grew up, I was like, why would God send anybody to hell for committing suicide?And where does it say that in the Bible? And it doesn't right. We're just fed these. We fed these things out of fear to control you to not commit suicide, but who in the world told you that? When I think about the, the, the, the preachers and spiritual teachings that like folks around the world, anyone who doesn't call Jesus by name as their Lord and savior is going to go to hell, how is that possible?When there's people in the other countries, in the world who don't even know who Jesus is. So you're telling me that this God of love is going to send somebody who had an opportunity to get to know who, who Jesus was. That doesn't make any sense to me. And I think that. When for me, because of my sexual identity, it caused me to have to question a whole hell of a lot of stuff.Definitions of [00:55:00] what heaven heaven is, definitions of what hail is, definitions of who's going, and who's not, you begin to question all of it. And for me, when it boils down, I love it. When my mom says this to people about me. When she would tell me this all the time, she'd be like, have you read your 10 commandments recently?I don't see nothing in there about God, about gay people, you know? But I see a whole lot of other stuff that applies to you. Hello. So my mom, you know, she got to the point where she was empowered enough to, you know, stand up and say something and speak out about that. And I think that we need more people to do just that.Cause they ain't gonna say it to me. They gonna say it to their friend who they think agreed with them, you know? So. I just think we have a long way to go to the, understand what it means to, to embody and to embody a godlike existence, because it has so much [00:56:00] more to do with love and choice than anything else.De'Vannon: I was like you a very well said girl. I was like you very confused and conflicted about myself because of what the church said. They only gave me peace with learning, how to read the scripture for myself. I went back to the original Greek Hebrew and Aramaic the original, the Bible and discovered it for myself, what I want people to do, because any translation you read king James, a message or whatever, the living Bible, those are all other people's translations.That's not the actual original language. Instead, if you want the true truth, then you got to go back to the source. You got to go back to the original languages of the net and you get. Somebody else's version Anna: that end. You have to I think you gotta find your own practice. So you have to find what that practice looks like for you.Especially when you feel disconnected from church, because church was a practice Sunday, Saturday, Wednesday, however many times a [00:57:00] week, that was a practice. So as if you feel yourself pulling away from that, that you have to figure out what your practice look like. And so today, like my practice looks like me being in my prayer corner in the mornings, but my affirmation books with my journals, with my candle, with my music, with pictures of my family, like for me growing up, like it is being grounded in quiet and close to God in those moments.And that's my, that's my practice today. And I feel closer to God than I ever have. I see signs all the time. I think numerology is real. Like if something profound happens, I'm like, what time is it? I think, I think there's so many ways to connect with God. And when you choose to close yourself off to all the possibilities and all the possibilities of who God is, you will miss her.You going to miss, you're going to miss her. You gonna miss her. That's it.[00:58:00]De'Vannon: Let me see here. So we wanted to talk about the cube. As we begin to wrap it up, I'm going to read your favorite quote by Shirley Chisholm believes you better than she was the first black woman to put in a bid to be a presidential nominated back in the seventies and her eyeglass, a tiny her frame game was on point yes and date match for the gods date.And she said, if they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. You go on to say in your it says in your, in your, in your website, you know, we bought our folding chairs and there hasn't been any equity to be found at those tables. It's time for us to build our own tables and our own chairs to this space and model the change we want to see in the world of podcasting.Anna: Yes. All of that. So I love Shirley chill. I love [00:59:00] everything. She's still fought. She she's made a lot of things possible and she had to bring her folding chair. Okay. She had to, they weren't inviting her to no tables. She had to bring a folding chair, but because of the work that she did and in fact that we can stand on the shoulders of so many other incredible, incredible people of history from Ella baker to Angela Davis, to Coretta Scott King, Utah, I mean, Elaine brown, I can go on and on.We can build our own tables. We don't have to wait on anyone to do anything for us. Should apple be more inclusive? Yes. Should Spotify be more inclusive? Yes, they should. But it is not about what they should do because capitalism rules this country. So if it's not, if it doesn't make money, it doesn't make sense in so many ways in that world, but we have an opportunity to do something different.[01:00:00]And I think we have an opportunity to shape, especially the podcasting space, because I feel like it's still very much so a new medium, I believe it's coming into its own after 20 years. And that's why I like new it's like, so it's such a funny thing to say because it's been 20 years, but for so many people, they are just really getting into what it could mean to listen to a podcast.And we can shape what we want this world to see. And I wanted to see more diverse. I want to see more people like me and I wasn't finding them. And so the cube will be that there'll be the one and only curated destination of music and podcasts by BiPAP and QT POC folks. And the music is powered by our radio station.Ethan. Which plays queer music and reports on queer news and high rotation specifically at the intersections of race and sexuality. So there's so many queer artists out here doing their thing, and you don't hear about them. [01:01:00] There's so many of them making good music. I got one of my favorite inspirational artists is a black queer woman who was on Sunday.Best Maya be you know, her, you know, like they deserve a space to be. And then there's like, dope podcasts is like, you whole deserve to be seen who to serve more visibility, more amplification of your work. And I think we can do it. And matter of fact, I know we can do it. We are doing it. And I think we can do it really, really well.So it's going to be an app or in development. My goal. My hope is that we are dropping beta in July and totally out to the public. By September of this year, we've accepted 94 podcasts into the app. We've got a team of folks listening to every single piece of podcast content, because we want the best pod-casters inside of our app.I want the best because there's a lot of poor Lee produced podcasts in the market. People who [01:02:00] sound like they got the iPhone on top of the roof on a fourth bottle of wine. Okay. And you know, that's okay. That's okay. You can do that. You got something to say and you better go say it. Okay. But they don't have to be what's in my ears.It doesn't have to be what's inside this app. I want it to have to be where the best reside and that's what resonates with me. And that's what we're building. De'Vannon: Yeah. I was listening to somebody, his podcasts earlier, who's trying to come on my show and be a guest. And I was like, God, I can't hear what you're saying.You sound muffled. Yes. Out there. So I thank you for your compliments. Just all the sex, drugs and jingles podcast has been accepted into the cube. So our clients, our quality is on point enough for these standards. And so. I'm going to read it a little bit further. So it says the cube is majority owned by a black queer woman and co-founded by three black LGBTQ persons.The cube will be a centralized [01:03:00] destination for discovery of BiPAP and QT pop music and podcasts. Tell us what the BiPAP and QT pox Anna: fans. Absolutely BiPAP is black indigenous people of color. And I choose to say BiPAP because I leave with my blackness. And so I choose to say black indigenous people of color.And then I choose to identify queer trans people of color specifically, even though we inside the BiPAP, we in there. But I think it's important for queer folks to know that I'm talking about that, that this platform is also for them, that I want to be able to center and amplify their work as well. And so that's why I, I include QT POC into the narrative now is my marketing team happy about that?No. Okay. It's a lot of words. It's a lot of acronyms people don't know what the heck I'm talking about, but the people, the people who know know. Right. And so, you know, at the end of the day I'm in this accelerator right now with Google, which is [01:04:00] really dope. It's the Google for startups like founders academy.And one of the mentors was like, I need five words, five words to describe your business. You should be able to describe your business in five words. And I was like, God, dang it. And so I came up with discover, discover the best bi-pod podcast. Right. If I had to describe it in five words, discover the best BiPAP podcast is what I came up with.And so that's what it all means. At the end of the day. It's about discovery. You will, will be able to listen to these podcasts inside of the app. And I hope people would choose to do that as well. There's an opportunity for Uproxx to tip their creators from within the app and that money would go straight to those creators.And I'm excited about that. The moment we get enough users, we'll be able to roll out an ad revenue sharing program, right? So we could put more money into creatives pockets who do want to make money from advertising. And, you know, I think we just continue to build this platform in this [01:05:00] space for folks to discover some of the amazing ways that black, brown, and queer folks of color show up in the world.And I think podcasting is a space that people are choosing to share their experiences with the world the same way you share yours. You know? I think there's a, there's a, I know there's a lot of people doing that and you just can't find them. De'Vannon: Up until now, because now Anna: you got the keyDe'Vannon: cue, baby. Yeah.All right. So just any last words you have for the world, any community, whatever you want to say, you can say, what the fuck you feel? Anna: I love it. I love, I can say whatever the fuck I feel.I feel like we're in. I feel like we're in a moment right now. So I, I feel like we've survived a pandemic and it feels like the world is restarting in some ways. [01:06:00] And I feel like we've got an opportunity here to change the way. We do media and podcasting has a way, has an opportunity to show folks how to do media collaboration.Right? I think we can show what it means to be a community inside of a media industry. I think podcasting has an opportunity to do it differently than what and how things have been done in the past. And so I hope that I, I hope that I can be part of that change. There are so many amazing people in this space doing amazing work, our partners.And my hope is that I can amplify them as well. So when we talk about the black podcast association, when I think about the women of color association, when I think about the

Acts 9:1-19a Paul and Ananias, each called into Christ's service Saul is in a rage. Those Christians really tick him off. Blasphemous, heretical, unholy, spreading lies, and Saul is going to get them and get them good. Saul collects his letters and his authority and heads towards Damascus to look for followers of the Way. Then he has a ‘come to Jesus'…

Good Monday, this is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Monday, April 25th, 2022.Our CrossPolitic Liberty Tour is coming to a close as of May 19th, as we’ll be in Phoenix Arizona, talking about the five stones of true liberty. The Water Boy, The Chocolate Knox, and Pastor Toby, will be joined by Pastor Jeff Durbin, and Delano Squires, so you don’t want to miss out! Sign up today at crosspolitic.com/libertytour. Tickets are only $20 by the way… You’d be losing money by NOT signing up to hear such a great lineup. Some big news for you guys right off the bat, Twitter board in final negotiations with Elon Musk over buyout bid. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-twitter-board-in-final-negotiations-with-elon-musk-over-buyout-bid?utm_campaign=64487 Twitter's 11-member board of directors met on Sunday to discuss selling the social media platform to big tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and could finalize a deal as soon as this week, or even Monday, CNBC reports. Shares in Twitter rose 5 percent on Monday in reaction to the news. This after Musk revealed made his public, $43 billion bid for the influential platform, then secured the financing. The board, and current CEO Parag Agrawal, appeared opposed to the deal at first, but the offer per share is well in excess of the current price. Musk offered $54.20 per share, saying that this was his "best and final" offer. Twitter shares were valued at over $60 through much of 2021. According to the Wall Street Journal, Twitter was planning to reject Musk's April 14 offer, and looked at a plan to issue a "poison pill" to block him from increasing his stake. Twitter changed its attitude and began negotiations after Musk announced that he had obtained the financing to back hid bid, The Journal reported earlier Sunday. According to Reuters, Musk "wooed many of the social media company's shareholders with financing details on his $43 billion acquisition offer," but noted that, per sources familiar with the process, "The company’s decision to engage with Musk… does not mean that it will accept his $54.20 per share bid," but that "It signifies, however, that Twitter is now exploring whether a sale of the company to Musk is possible on attractive terms." Twitter is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings Thursday and is expected to address the bid by then, if not sooner. Musk reportedly met privately with several shareholders on Friday to discuss his proposal and has also pledged to solve the free-speech issues on the platform, his main reason for undertaking the takeover. Twitter is reportedly facing increased pressure from a number of its shareholders to negotiate with Musk. ___________________________ The left can’t meme. It’s true. Because they live off borrowed capital. They only corrupt what has already been built. But Christians are meant to be makers. Because we know the Bible, we know history, and we know God in Christ, the Creator and Maker of all things. _____________________________ Back in 2017, Netflix tweeted, that “love, is sharing a password.” But now, Netflix would love it, if you stopped doing that. https://twitter.com/netflix/status/840276073040371712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E840276073040371712%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnbc.com%2F2022%2F04%2F23%2Fhow-netflixs-password-sharing-crackdown-is-likely-to-work.html - Show Tweet Netflix surprised the world this week, saying it plans to finally address the rampant practice of password sharing. More than 100 million households are using a shared password, Netflix said Tuesday, including 30 million in the U.S. and Canada. But the video streamer doesn’t plan to simply freeze those shared accounts. Instead, the company will likely favor the setting of an extra fee for those accounts being used by multiple people outside of the home. Netflix’s plan to capture that lost revenue would start with an alert being sent to account holders whose passwords are being used by other households. This announcement comes after Netflix’s first quarter report came out, showing that Netflix had lost subscribers for the first time in over a decade. The company reported a loss of 200,000 subscribers globally compared to Q4, and it’s forecasting even bigger losses to come. Netflix estimates it could lose up to 2 million subscribers in the second quarter. I mean, maybe it also has to do with the simple fact, that Netflix now costs between $15, and $20 per month… There are free streaming services available like Tubi… It’s time for Christians to invest in Christian media… Which begs the question, are you a club member? Because if not, you can sign up for the low, low price of $5 per month! That’s a lot better than Netflix’s $15-$20, especially when you consider some of the harmful content on there. Sign up now at flfnetwork.com/membership. ____________________________ "When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world. The world thinks that when a marriage is confronted with hardship, either spouse can push the emergency eject button and simply move on due to “irreconcilable differences.” But Christian couples are commanded, in sickness and health, riches and poverty, good times and bad, to display the glory of Christ and the church. To do this takes gritty faith, covenant fidelity, and joyful forbearance. Grace Agenda 2022: Marriage Bootcamp aims to equip Christian couples to ride into the turbulence of the world in which we live with a fearless resolve to glorify God in their home and so advance the kingdom of God in the midst of the smoking crater that is Western Civilization." Go to https://www.graceagenda.com to sign up, and we will see you in Moscow. I’ll be there by the way, make sure you come say hi at our booth! __________________________ The Supreme Court ponders the right to pray on the 50-yard line https://www.npr.org/2022/04/25/1093116619/the-supreme-court-ponders-the-right-to-pray-on-the-50-yard-line?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews&fbclid=IwAR0c9a1XCEKLFvDa2WHRuaTM091yNb4MqdanyRKuxUadz5Fve5KYlAf5FmI This is according to NPR: The U.S. Supreme Court jumps back into the culture wars Monday in a case that involves a football coach's asserted right to kneel and pray on the 50-yard line at the conclusion of a public school football game. Joseph Kennedy, a coach for the Bremerton, Wash., High School Varsity and JV football teams began praying with his players before and after games in 2008. At the end of a game, he would take a knee and say a prayer with his players at midfield. By the 2015 season, Kennedy was often joined at the 50-yard line as well by players from the opposing team. Indeed, it was an approving comment by an opposing coach that finally alerted school district officials to the practice.Oh that HORRIBLE PRACTICE, Those Christians are at it again! Stop them! We want them worshipping Baal instead! The prayers prompted the athletic director, and later the superintendent, to order the coaching staff to stop praying with students. Kennedy stopped his locker room prayers completely, and for a least one game left the home field, returning later when the crowds had gone, to pray by himself on the 50-yard line. But the Marine veteran didn't like doing it that way. So Kennedy returned to his praying practice right after the game, mainly at away games, and with little fanfare. By the time of the big homecoming game, Kennedy had retained lawyers from the First Liberty Institute. In a letter to school officials, they said that the coach had a constitutional right to pray on the 50-yard line at the end of the game, and that students should be free to voluntarily join in. But as events unfolded, "it was a zoo," said John Polm, Bremerton High's principal, describing the homecoming game during his deposition. Attendance doubled, five TV stations showed up, and a group of Satanists unsuccessfully attempted to take the field to perform their own competing ritual. That right there, ladies and gentleman, is the power of prayer. If you ever feel like prayer to our creator doesn’t pack a punch, you need to think of this story. The school argued, the problem was this was never personal or private or solitary or any of those other adjectives that Mr. Kennedy's lawyers describe. He chose to put himself in the center of the field at the end of the game to make a spectacle. That’s why I never had a problem with Tim Tebow, Tebow-ing on the field. I heard the same exact arguments from critics. “He’s bringing all the attention to himself!” Imagine for a second, that coach Kennedy, was praying to Allah… or that Tebow was bowing down towards Mecca to celebrate his Touchdowns… Then imagine, that opposing players would sack Tebow, and then mockingly bow towards Mecca, like they mocked Tebow when he honored God after his Touchdowns… all hell would have broken loose. The school district would 100% let coach Kennedy continue to pray to Allah, or heck, if he wanted to dress as a drag queen… and dance for his team like a pervert, that’d be okay. Now, NPR noted in the article, that coach Kennedy’s case, could eventually lead to the over-turning of a 60-year-old decision banning official prayer in public schools. Now some might think that’s a good thing, but for me, I frankly don’t give a damn. I’m of course appreciative of the courage coach Kennedy is showing, but we need our kids out of public schools. Period. By the way, if you need help doing that, visit our sponsor, Classical Conversations… So, you remember how I mentioned the word drag queen? Well, Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire, posted a 4-year old video, showing a Good Morning America clip, of an 11-year old boy, dressed up as a woman, dancing to the delight of all the adults in the audience. https://notthebee.com/article/matt-walsh-reminds-us-that-the-groomers-at-disney-and-abc-have-been-sexualizing-children-literally-for-years/ Heck, even Michael Strahan, an athlete I once looked up to was clapping and smiling throughout the whole segment… I won’t play the whole thing, but if I had to see this, you do too. https://youtu.be/JxdvOLdG_34 -Play 1:11-3:34 Now, if that wasn’t bad enough, they brought out three men parading around as women out to talk to Desmond, and they gave him gifts, including makeup, girls’ toys, and then dance classes, so he can dance for all the perverts that his parents are setting him up for. I won’t play that clip for you, because otherwise that’d be 8-minutes of hell for you all. But here’s a picture of them in all their hideous get-up. By the way, to those parents… shame on you. I’m glad we serve a God, who will hand out perfect, and righteous judgement on you both. Because that is cruel, what they are setting that child up for. Walsh’s point in bringing this up, is that Disney didn’t just NOW become woke… they’ve been trending this direction for years and years, all while the Church slept… Thank God for bringing judgement on our nation. If you haven’t seen our Sunday Special, we had Pastor James White of Apologia Church, and Jared Longshore join us… and they talk about how we as a nation, got where we are today. Jared even mentions, how he’s hopeful we see more judgement, because we as a nation, have SUCH a short memory. Heck, I didn’t even remember this clip until Matt Walsh shared it this morning. Now that the mask mandates have been lifted, we can not stop there. We have to keep fighting our wicked culture, so go forth, and Fight Laugh & Feast. This has been your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief. If you liked the show, share it. If you want to sign up for a club membership, sign up at flfnetwork.com/membership. And as always, if you’d like to partner with CrossPolitic, email me, at garrison@fightlaughfeast.com. For CrossPolitic news, I’m Garrison Hardie. Have a great rest of your day, and Lord bless.

Good Monday, this is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Monday, April 25th, 2022.Our CrossPolitic Liberty Tour is coming to a close as of May 19th, as we’ll be in Phoenix Arizona, talking about the five stones of true liberty. The Water Boy, The Chocolate Knox, and Pastor Toby, will be joined by Pastor Jeff Durbin, and Delano Squires, so you don’t want to miss out! Sign up today at crosspolitic.com/libertytour. Tickets are only $20 by the way… You’d be losing money by NOT signing up to hear such a great lineup. Some big news for you guys right off the bat, Twitter board in final negotiations with Elon Musk over buyout bid. https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-twitter-board-in-final-negotiations-with-elon-musk-over-buyout-bid?utm_campaign=64487 Twitter's 11-member board of directors met on Sunday to discuss selling the social media platform to big tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and could finalize a deal as soon as this week, or even Monday, CNBC reports. Shares in Twitter rose 5 percent on Monday in reaction to the news. This after Musk revealed made his public, $43 billion bid for the influential platform, then secured the financing. The board, and current CEO Parag Agrawal, appeared opposed to the deal at first, but the offer per share is well in excess of the current price. Musk offered $54.20 per share, saying that this was his "best and final" offer. Twitter shares were valued at over $60 through much of 2021. According to the Wall Street Journal, Twitter was planning to reject Musk's April 14 offer, and looked at a plan to issue a "poison pill" to block him from increasing his stake. Twitter changed its attitude and began negotiations after Musk announced that he had obtained the financing to back hid bid, The Journal reported earlier Sunday. According to Reuters, Musk "wooed many of the social media company's shareholders with financing details on his $43 billion acquisition offer," but noted that, per sources familiar with the process, "The company’s decision to engage with Musk… does not mean that it will accept his $54.20 per share bid," but that "It signifies, however, that Twitter is now exploring whether a sale of the company to Musk is possible on attractive terms." Twitter is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings Thursday and is expected to address the bid by then, if not sooner. Musk reportedly met privately with several shareholders on Friday to discuss his proposal and has also pledged to solve the free-speech issues on the platform, his main reason for undertaking the takeover. Twitter is reportedly facing increased pressure from a number of its shareholders to negotiate with Musk. ___________________________ The left can’t meme. It’s true. Because they live off borrowed capital. They only corrupt what has already been built. But Christians are meant to be makers. Because we know the Bible, we know history, and we know God in Christ, the Creator and Maker of all things. _____________________________ Back in 2017, Netflix tweeted, that “love, is sharing a password.” But now, Netflix would love it, if you stopped doing that. https://twitter.com/netflix/status/840276073040371712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E840276073040371712%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnbc.com%2F2022%2F04%2F23%2Fhow-netflixs-password-sharing-crackdown-is-likely-to-work.html - Show Tweet Netflix surprised the world this week, saying it plans to finally address the rampant practice of password sharing. More than 100 million households are using a shared password, Netflix said Tuesday, including 30 million in the U.S. and Canada. But the video streamer doesn’t plan to simply freeze those shared accounts. Instead, the company will likely favor the setting of an extra fee for those accounts being used by multiple people outside of the home. Netflix’s plan to capture that lost revenue would start with an alert being sent to account holders whose passwords are being used by other households. This announcement comes after Netflix’s first quarter report came out, showing that Netflix had lost subscribers for the first time in over a decade. The company reported a loss of 200,000 subscribers globally compared to Q4, and it’s forecasting even bigger losses to come. Netflix estimates it could lose up to 2 million subscribers in the second quarter. I mean, maybe it also has to do with the simple fact, that Netflix now costs between $15, and $20 per month… There are free streaming services available like Tubi… It’s time for Christians to invest in Christian media… Which begs the question, are you a club member? Because if not, you can sign up for the low, low price of $5 per month! That’s a lot better than Netflix’s $15-$20, especially when you consider some of the harmful content on there. Sign up now at flfnetwork.com/membership. ____________________________ "When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world. The world thinks that when a marriage is confronted with hardship, either spouse can push the emergency eject button and simply move on due to “irreconcilable differences.” But Christian couples are commanded, in sickness and health, riches and poverty, good times and bad, to display the glory of Christ and the church. To do this takes gritty faith, covenant fidelity, and joyful forbearance. Grace Agenda 2022: Marriage Bootcamp aims to equip Christian couples to ride into the turbulence of the world in which we live with a fearless resolve to glorify God in their home and so advance the kingdom of God in the midst of the smoking crater that is Western Civilization." Go to https://www.graceagenda.com to sign up, and we will see you in Moscow. I’ll be there by the way, make sure you come say hi at our booth! __________________________ The Supreme Court ponders the right to pray on the 50-yard line https://www.npr.org/2022/04/25/1093116619/the-supreme-court-ponders-the-right-to-pray-on-the-50-yard-line?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=npr&utm_medium=social&utm_term=nprnews&fbclid=IwAR0c9a1XCEKLFvDa2WHRuaTM091yNb4MqdanyRKuxUadz5Fve5KYlAf5FmI This is according to NPR: The U.S. Supreme Court jumps back into the culture wars Monday in a case that involves a football coach's asserted right to kneel and pray on the 50-yard line at the conclusion of a public school football game. Joseph Kennedy, a coach for the Bremerton, Wash., High School Varsity and JV football teams began praying with his players before and after games in 2008. At the end of a game, he would take a knee and say a prayer with his players at midfield. By the 2015 season, Kennedy was often joined at the 50-yard line as well by players from the opposing team. Indeed, it was an approving comment by an opposing coach that finally alerted school district officials to the practice.Oh that HORRIBLE PRACTICE, Those Christians are at it again! Stop them! We want them worshipping Baal instead! The prayers prompted the athletic director, and later the superintendent, to order the coaching staff to stop praying with students. Kennedy stopped his locker room prayers completely, and for a least one game left the home field, returning later when the crowds had gone, to pray by himself on the 50-yard line. But the Marine veteran didn't like doing it that way. So Kennedy returned to his praying practice right after the game, mainly at away games, and with little fanfare. By the time of the big homecoming game, Kennedy had retained lawyers from the First Liberty Institute. In a letter to school officials, they said that the coach had a constitutional right to pray on the 50-yard line at the end of the game, and that students should be free to voluntarily join in. But as events unfolded, "it was a zoo," said John Polm, Bremerton High's principal, describing the homecoming game during his deposition. Attendance doubled, five TV stations showed up, and a group of Satanists unsuccessfully attempted to take the field to perform their own competing ritual. That right there, ladies and gentleman, is the power of prayer. If you ever feel like prayer to our creator doesn’t pack a punch, you need to think of this story. The school argued, the problem was this was never personal or private or solitary or any of those other adjectives that Mr. Kennedy's lawyers describe. He chose to put himself in the center of the field at the end of the game to make a spectacle. That’s why I never had a problem with Tim Tebow, Tebow-ing on the field. I heard the same exact arguments from critics. “He’s bringing all the attention to himself!” Imagine for a second, that coach Kennedy, was praying to Allah… or that Tebow was bowing down towards Mecca to celebrate his Touchdowns… Then imagine, that opposing players would sack Tebow, and then mockingly bow towards Mecca, like they mocked Tebow when he honored God after his Touchdowns… all hell would have broken loose. The school district would 100% let coach Kennedy continue to pray to Allah, or heck, if he wanted to dress as a drag queen… and dance for his team like a pervert, that’d be okay. Now, NPR noted in the article, that coach Kennedy’s case, could eventually lead to the over-turning of a 60-year-old decision banning official prayer in public schools. Now some might think that’s a good thing, but for me, I frankly don’t give a damn. I’m of course appreciative of the courage coach Kennedy is showing, but we need our kids out of public schools. Period. By the way, if you need help doing that, visit our sponsor, Classical Conversations… So, you remember how I mentioned the word drag queen? Well, Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire, posted a 4-year old video, showing a Good Morning America clip, of an 11-year old boy, dressed up as a woman, dancing to the delight of all the adults in the audience. https://notthebee.com/article/matt-walsh-reminds-us-that-the-groomers-at-disney-and-abc-have-been-sexualizing-children-literally-for-years/ Heck, even Michael Strahan, an athlete I once looked up to was clapping and smiling throughout the whole segment… I won’t play the whole thing, but if I had to see this, you do too. https://youtu.be/JxdvOLdG_34 -Play 1:11-3:34 Now, if that wasn’t bad enough, they brought out three men parading around as women out to talk to Desmond, and they gave him gifts, including makeup, girls’ toys, and then dance classes, so he can dance for all the perverts that his parents are setting him up for. I won’t play that clip for you, because otherwise that’d be 8-minutes of hell for you all. But here’s a picture of them in all their hideous get-up. By the way, to those parents… shame on you. I’m glad we serve a God, who will hand out perfect, and righteous judgement on you both. Because that is cruel, what they are setting that child up for. Walsh’s point in bringing this up, is that Disney didn’t just NOW become woke… they’ve been trending this direction for years and years, all while the Church slept… Thank God for bringing judgement on our nation. If you haven’t seen our Sunday Special, we had Pastor James White of Apologia Church, and Jared Longshore join us… and they talk about how we as a nation, got where we are today. Jared even mentions, how he’s hopeful we see more judgement, because we as a nation, have SUCH a short memory. Heck, I didn’t even remember this clip until Matt Walsh shared it this morning. Now that the mask mandates have been lifted, we can not stop there. We have to keep fighting our wicked culture, so go forth, and Fight Laugh & Feast. This has been your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief. If you liked the show, share it. If you want to sign up for a club membership, sign up at flfnetwork.com/membership. And as always, if you’d like to partner with CrossPolitic, email me, at garrison@fightlaughfeast.com. For CrossPolitic news, I’m Garrison Hardie. Have a great rest of your day, and Lord bless.

THE THESIS: It's not possible to hide the ruin The Party has reigned down upon people in the past two years, on a global basis. Still, The Party will use the Russia Vs. Ukraine War to launder every terrible deed they have done and to push every awful thing they intend to install. It's the constant crisis model and, as Christians, we have the ultimate answer: they have now power over us but that which our Father in Heaven grants.  THE SCRIPTURE & SCRIPTURAL RESOURCES:  The LORD Thwarts the Counsel of the Wicked, by Luke Bernston  "The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations." (Psalms 33:10-11) In August of 1944, Russian soldiers invaded and conquered the kingdom of Romania. For the next 45 years Romania was ruled by communists. The communist authorities did great evil. They killed and tortured many Christians. They subverted the churches to the authority of the state. Atheism became the official philosophy of the land. The name of Jesus was greatly despised. During this time Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned for over 14 years for proclaiming the name of Jesus. He was treated shamefully. His feet were brutally beaten. He was burned with hot irons. He, and many others, were put into small wooden boxes lined by nails on all sides and made to stand perfectly still for hours and even days. Starving rats were released into his cell. The communist authorities routinely beat Pastor Wurmbrand and all the other Christians they could find. They desperately tried to force their prisoners to name other Christians so they could torture them as well. The Christian prisoners were strictly forbidden from praying or preaching. Pastor Wurmbrand said, "We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us - so everyone was happy.." *1 The communists tried to wipe Christianity out. They failed miserably. They succeeded in murdering many Christians, but those Christians died with the name of Jesus on their lips. Those Christians entered into the eternal Kingdom of glory, but the rule of the communists in Romania was brought to an end nearly 30 years ago. Read the entire thing, here. THE NEWS & COMMENT: Biden has lost all grasp of reality. He says Putin invaded Russia. It didn't have to be this way . . .  Why isn't there criticism of Democrats for allowing Putin to fund his war? Liberty Lockdown w/ Clint Russell has Lara Logan on. She seem to agree with me about this all.  America's national debt surpasses $30 trillion for the first time Fed Chair Powell: 'War Underscores Need' for Crypto Regulation PSAKI: "The reason why the price of gas is going up is not because of steps the president has taken, they are because Putin is invading Ukraine." Gas prices rose $1.14 from Biden's inauguration to the day Putin invaded. The Biden Admin is illegally demanding tech companies provide info on Americans engaged in wrongthink and the NYT writes it up as if this is just a legit attempt at purging “misinformation”  Daniel Horowitz: White House is asking for $10 Billion for Ukraine and $22.5 billion for pfizer and moderna all rolled into one emergency supplemental. Watch Republicans support it. The average American just doesn't matter. "These people control our dollar, brother, and we didn't vote for them. Think about it." - Bryce "Based" Mitchell See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is time for prophetic voices to arise. We are in the last days. The parallels between forced vaccinations and the Mark of the Beast, and the religion of Babylon are too great to be providential. Pastor Hall will explain these similarities not by political commentary, but by mere Scriptural observation. Those Christians denying this as a beta test for the eschaton are ignoring the plain writing of the Holy Bible.

I am for America, and I am for the truth, even if it is inconvenient, tough, offensive to feelings, and goes contrary to everybody and everything!  I am against bad government and the violation of our constitutional rights. I am against government on any level ordering the closure of churches and businesses. I am against wearing useless masks, social distancing, and surrendering to extremely dangerous so called "vaccines." I am against "vaccine" passports and restricting access to businesses and government buildings based on vaccination! I am against injectable medical chips. Many Christians believe that the mark of the beast will be something overt. I agree, but it will come as a deception. In other words, it will be clearly from the devil to those that can see spiritually, but you must remember that Satan loves to transform himself into an angel of light! (2 Corinthians11:14) The devil loves masquerade and playing the part of an angel of light. So do his masquerading ministers and churches! (2 Corinthians 11:15) They are those that "look" righteous but are not because they don't obey the Scripture. They have a "form of godliness but denying the power of God". (2 Timothy 3:5) OK now. Back to the subject. I don't believe it will necessarily have a literal 666 in it. Why? That would be too clear even for the world. Where would the deception be in a literal 666 tattooed onto your forehead or your right hand? Listen closely and read why I have come to this conclusion. "He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast - that is, his name or his number. This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666." (Revelation 13:16-18 NET) The number 7 refers to God's perfection as in the 7th day after He finished creation with the creation of man. Remember that it was Adam, the creation of God on this 6th day, that betrayed God. The number 666 represents the number of a man. It is something of man, for man, and made by man. “Earthly, natural, and demonic” (James 3:15), and “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are from the world and not from the Father” (1 John 2:16) seem to fit the bill of 666. You can believe what you want, but the mark of the beast is going to be something that will make absolute sense to large portions of the world. If it does have a literal 666, it will be well hidden. It will not be obvious because it will be a great lie and deception from the father of lies, the devil. (John 8:44) The world and many capitulating "Christians" will fall for Satan’s mark because it will be "wisdom" and only plain smart to get an injectable chip, QR (invisible to the naked eye) code, or some other device under the skin that will eventually wind up tracking movement, medical and bank information, personal data such as address, social media, cell number, family, occupation, social security number, driver's license, etc., and allow you to buy or sell.  If you cannot see how all these Covid restrictions and mandates are training the world and preparing weak "Christians" to receive the mark of the beast, then I really feel sorry for you! If you can't already see the similarities between the mark of the beast and all the Covid mess, then even the Scripture above will seem far-fetched to you.   I am shocked by the number of pastors and Christians ignoring this. It is pitiful to watch people grovel before the huge deception of wearing masks, social distancing, getting an unproven mRNA experimental “vaccine,” or one that alters your genes. Many pastors do not want to hear any of this because they caved and surrendered to all the Covid mess and closed their churches without resistance. They are too proud to repent and admit that closing the churches was a demoniacally inspired SIN! Read the previous 3 articles to get the fullness of these comments, and why I am saying this.  Do you know what will happen to all those that wind up taking the mark of the beast? It's not pretty! "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and takes the mark on his forehead or his hand, that person will also drink of the wine of God’s anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb. And the smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever, and those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 NET) All these Covid restrictions and mask mandates, the talk of medical chipping, digital passports, and more seem like a trial run for the antichrist. Could the man of sin or lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12) be coming just around the corner? Unless the Church rises up against this evil NOW, the great apostasy already rearing it's ugly head will continue to grow and expand, and our time will be cut short upon the earth. Listen closely to the words of Jesus. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:21, 22 NIV) The followers of Jesus that serve God and obey His Word, these are the elect. That clarification is just in case you are wondering. Don’t think that there is no danger of the days being cut short here. They will be cut short because Jesus also said, “As it was in days of Noah so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man.” (Matthew 24:37) The time for the end is fast approaching because of the violence, corruption, and wickedness that has increased exponentially in all the earth. (Compare Genesis 6:5, 9, 10) Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no-one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth-pains. ‘Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Dan’s note: All those that teach an extreme and unbiblical “grace”, a Calvinist theology that espouses the false doctrine of “once saved always saved”, or so-called "eternal security", you are in direct violation of the words of Jesus!) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ‘So, when you see standing in the holy place “the abomination that causes desolation,” spoken of through the prophet Daniel – let the reader understand – then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no-one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no-one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!  Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again. ‘If those days had not been cut short, no-one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Messiah!” or, “There he is!” do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you in advance. ‘So if anyone tells you, “There he is, out in the desert,” do not go out; or, “Here he is, in the inner rooms,” do not believe it.  For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the distress of those days “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” (Matthew 24:4-29 NIV)  I truly believe that we are in what Jesus called the "birth pangs." Things will progressively get worse for those without God's Psalms 91 protection! Don't despair! There is good news here because God is moving in the earth! There will be great areas where the anointing and the power of the Spirit will be manifested in consistently greater and greater real “Book of Acts” style signs, wonders, and miracles. The rest of the world will be going from extremely bad to getting even worse. The gospel of the Kingdom will be preached as a testimony, which means with evidence that cannot be denied! It's not over yet because the "fat lady" has not sung her last opera, and the real Church of Jesus Christ will fulfill its mission! We, all the true believers and followers of Jesus, will be covering the earth with the gospel with undeniable testimony or evidence! There is a short period of time for this to happen before the time is cut short and we are out of here! The Lord sees the condition of the planet with the apostasy of "Christians" that has already begun. Yes, these were real Christians at one time because you can't turn away from faith and your love grow cold unless at one time you had you had a turned on faith and piping hot love for God and His kingdom! (Compare 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 2:4, 5) Because of the exponential growth of lawlessness and believers' love growing cold and turning away from faith-faithfulness, and because of hatred, violence, corruption, and wickedness spreading on the earth, He will finally cut the time short. Suddenly, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and the catching away of the real Church will happen, and we will be caught up and meet the Lord in the air! Then, after that glorious event, the man of lawlessness or sin (the antichrist) will show up. Things will then unfold quickly in preparation for the physical return of the Lord to rule and reign upon the earth for a thousand years. During the brief attempt of Satan's leader, the beast, to rule the world, things begin to happen all over the world that thwart his demonic plans. The wrath of God will come upon the kingdom of the antichrist. Everyone that worships the image of the beast and takes the mark of the beast will have horrible days of cataclysmic events. Many lukewarm "Christians" that weren't caught up to meet the Lord in the air will be on earth at that time. I know that is shocking, but absolutely true. Those "Christians-in-name-only" fell away from the faith and lost their first love. Those masquerading Christians were spewed out of the mouth of the Lord (Revelation 3:14), and they will be here on the earth during Satan's attempt at world domination.  The Covid mess is preparing lukewarm Christians now for the reception of the antichrist and his demonic mandates and totalitarian orders. If you fell for all this Covid mess and closed your church, if you wear useless masks, submit to deadly vaccines, and think Covid passports and injectable medical chips are good ideas, you are already a candidate for the mark of the beast! I have one word for you, "REPENT!" Don't waste another second! Do it now! REPENT because you are already in danger of the lake of fire! We are so close, so VERY close to the end! I believe the end could still be a little bit further out in the future. BUT, I could be wrong and Jesus could meet us in the air today or tomorrow! We are getting close, and the Lord will come when He receives the order from the Father! Nobody but the Father knows the day or the hour, but it will not be like a thief in the night for God's people! (See Mark 13:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-7.) We can tell it is getting closer than its ever been, and we see more and more evidence of His appearing as the days go by. One would have to be spiritually blind and deaf not to see it! 2 Thessalonians 2:7 teaches that believers can be a restraining factor against the manifestation of the man of sin and lawlessness and his attempt to control the planet. By the way, the man of lawlessness will never rule the whole planet. From what I see in the book of Revelation, he will only get about a third of the planet to follow him and take his mark. The antichrist will try relentlessly to get the whole world on his bandwagon, but he will fail miserably. Everything goes south for him pretty quickly after he comes into ruling power. Here are a few of the supernatural events coming upon the antichrist's kingdom: Angels preach from the heavens the eternal gospel to the people of the earth that they should only worship God and not follow the beast or get his mark! No internet or social media censorship will work against that! Haha! (Rev. 14) The man of sin will have to contend with the glorious ministry of 144,000 Jewish, Holy Spirit-anointed evangelists roaming the earth making great gains for the kingdom of the Lord Jesus on the earth. Haha, again! (Rev. chapters 7 and 14) Then, there will arise two fire-breathing prophets that will ruin every day for the devil! If you try to hurt them, whatever hurt you tried on them will boomerang and come on you! Oh, BIG haha! (Rev. 11) On top of all that, the world falls apart in many ways with bloody waters everywhere, 100 pound hailstones, skin boils, attack of the scorpion-like creatures that sting people, and the water sources becoming poisonous. Oops and haha! Great meteors and other weird unnatural phenomena will strike the earth mercilessly, and the antichrist won't be able to stop or control any of these horrors! The antichrist will be like the screaming guy or girl in a Freddy Kruger or Dawn of the Dead movie when they gets sliced and diced or eaten alive! Oh-oh! The tables will be turned on him! I love it! Victory! All the devil's followers will gnaw their tongues in pain, refuse to repent, curse God, go through seemingly endless days of darkness, and they won't even be able to put themselves out of their misery! Death will take a hike! That means suicide will be out of the question. Jumping off a building, mountain, or bridge will bring you back to earth's temporary hell! No way out for the wicked and the woke! Hey, not to worry because it's temporary. Right? Wait for it, because it gets worse with the antichrist and the wicked being thrown into the lake of fire, and that will be forever! (See Revelation chapter 20 and 21. For all the plagues and wrath of God poured out on the earth during the reign of the antichrist, see Revelation 6, 8, 9, and 16.) 2 Peter 3:12 tells us that it is possible to “hasten” or to “hurry up” the coming of the Lord. The real Church has to be made presentable to the Lord as a holy Church without blemish. It is not anywhere near that yet! To sanctify her (the Church) by cleansing with the washing of the water by the word, so that he (Jesus) may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:26, 27) The Church is not ready to be presented to the Lord! Frankly, the Church seems further away than ever to being presentable! Jesus is not presenting to Himself a slutty, dirty, despicably dressed, and raunchily ornate Church! He is not presenting to Himself a a surrendering-to-the-enemy, capitulating, crippled, powerless church. There are many that have a form of religiosity but deny the power of God! (2 Timothy 3:5) They are not carrying out the great commission according to Mark 16:15-19 and Matthew 28: 18-20. Most of the church is anemic right now! They are not bringing people to repentance, laying hands on the sick, casting out demons, ministering the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues, and preaching the Word without compromise. No internet-bought sissy sermons with no spiritual power or substance should be among us! All those art, seeker-friendly, and hyper-grace churches must repent or perish! (Luke 13:3, 5) Denominational churches that capitulated and closed their doors must repent! Most churches aren't ready for the return of the Lord! Most are cold and dead! I know that the Lord can accelerate things (redeem the time) so what could take decades can happen in weeks or months. Even though Matthew 24:22 tells us that those days before the coming of the Lord will be cut short upon the earth for the sake of the elect, believers can hold back some of the evil things until they get their job done in the earth. Once that restraining is accomplished, the true and real Church can get its job done in the earth with less hindrance from the enemy, and get gloriously ready to meet the Lord in the air! Paul wanted to get to Rome to minister, but Satan often hindered him. (Romans 15:22) He was also hindered or thwarted repeatedly from ministering to the Thessalonians. (2 Thes. 2:18) Don’t you think Satan is attempting to thwart what the Spirit of the Lord is wanting to do on the earth during these last days? Yes, the devil has already begun, and all this Covid trash is Satan's initial hindrance. We can develop great restraining power and overcome him as more and more of the Church takes a stand against him with the power of binding and loosing (Matthew 16:19), the authority, power, and presence of Jesus in His Name (Mark 16:17, 18), and the agreement of believers in faith (Matthew 18:19). The mask mandates, church closures, social distancing, etc. all halted much of the work of Churches around the world. Don't you see Satan's hindering hand in stopping evangelism, church services, altar calls, and the ministering to the saints and the world with the power of God? Satan MUST be restrained! In the authority and power of Jesus, we can get it done! It is true that the dragon (Satan) will try to make war against the saints and overcome them because we do the commandments of God and keep our faith in Jesus. That is the devil's plan, BUT… there is a plan from Heaven!!! BUT they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. (Revelation 12:17 NET)      Glory to God! The way to overcome the mark of the beast and the antichrist attempting to manifest himself even now, is found in the verses already quoted. I left one out the following verse from Revelation 14 after the quote about what will happen to those that bow down, acquiesce, or surrender to the mark of the beast and worship his idol in 14:9-11. Look at verse 12!   This requires the steadfast endurance (or perseverance) of the saints—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to (who keep) their faith in Jesus (or faithful to Jesus because lexically “faith” can mean faith or faithfulness). (Revelation 14:12 NET, but I added most of the NET notes in parentheses.) We win as we stay unmovable from God’s Word or commandments and are faithful to Jesus! Churches and ministries closed down all over the planet because they were not following the Word or being faithful to Jesus! That can change, and it all starts with repentance! Brethren, I pray that the Body of Christ, the real, anointed, on-fire-for-the-Lord, Church, that we unite in faith against the works of hell so we can have a reprieve or a little bit more of time before all hell breaks loose. I pray that we be washed continually by the Word and empowered gloriously by the Spirit of the Lord! In case you didn’t get the scoop in my previous articles on useless masks, vaccines, and more: Canadian doctors and medical professionals reject the closures, lockdowns, quarantines, and masks: https://medicalkidnap.com/2021/03/10/canadian-doctors-speak-out-against-government-covid-restrictions-masks-and-vaccines-not-needed/ At the end of the article, listen to the 11-minute video presentation. Doctors from other countries speak out: https://healthimpactnews.com/2020/doctors-around-the-world-issue-dire-warning-do-not-get-the-covid-vaccine/ Mask mandates: Medical studies on the use of masks reveal a few shocking things: *Masks are useless at stopping viruses from infecting a person wearing one, and from stopping the virus from escaping the mask if someone is infected. Keep in mind the fact that ALL viruses are much smaller than the microscopic openings in the material used for masks. "It's like using a chain link fence to keep out mosquitos!" I heard someone else say that, but I don't remember who it was or I would give them credit because it really gives you a mental picture of what I am saying here. *Masks hinder the intake of air for breathing (up to 30%) and hinder the exhaling of carbon dioxide into the air. That means that what you are rebreathing under the mask is partly carbon dioxide (a waste product that is unbreathable) and not the air you need to live! That contributes to the diminished function of a lot of internal organs! There is evidence that surgeons have decreased mental acuity after 4-6 hours in the operating room after using a surgical mask. The real losers here are the little children being forced to wear masks for hours a day. What do you think oxygen deprivation together with carbon dioxide inhalation is doing to their developing brains and internal organs? It is child abuse and it is criminal. Here follows an article by Dr. Margarite Griesz-Brisson MD, PhD. a Consultant Neurologist and Neurophysiologist with a PhD in Pharmacology, with special interest in neurotoxicology, environmental medicine, neuroregeneration and neuroplasticity on the child abuse and criminal demand to mask up children: https://www.globalresearch.ca/covid-19-masks-crime-against-humanity-child-abuse/5726059 *Studies indicate that continual use of masks will have a detrimental effect on the immune system and will contribute to infections in the gums and lungs. Look at this article: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/mask-mouth-dentists-warn-prolonged-use-of-masks-leading-to-poor-oral-hygiene Dr. Lee Merritt on the falsehoods of masks: https://www.americasfrontlinedoctors.com/custom_videos/mask-myths A surgeon speaks out on the falsehood of the general population wearing masks: https://principia-scientific.com/surgeon-destroys-myth-if-masks-dont-work-why-do-surgeons-wear-them/ Penile shrinkage because of mask usage: https://nationalfile.com/study-chemical-that-causes-penile-shrinkage-found-in-face-masks/ Men, masking up is death to your manhood! Take off that stinking mask! Your wife will thank you! Interviews with Dr. Richard Urso: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4BfPl2EzMI https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/conservativebusinessjournal/id/17376962 The medical profession is slowly but surely revolting against all the lies of Covid-19, and they are coming from different countries around the world.  In some countries, and in some local socialist governments (NYC and others), they are implementing an ID card to prove you have been vaccinated or you can’t go into a business or eat at a restaurant. That is just like wearing the emblem of the beast! The same has been done with mask wearing. Sometime back, I tried to get my little boys ice cream at two different shops on Treasure Island (next to St Petersburg Beach) and they would not serve me without a mask! Did I yield? No way! I went through a Chick-Fil-A drive through and got each one of my boys an Ice-Dream! Haha! Trust me, it’s not an advertisement. Chick-Fil-A closed in store service and tripled up on their drive-thru operation. They also capitulated!   “May no man eat fruit of you hereafter forever?” Mark 11 anyone? That may have been Jesus’s attitude and words to a non-productive ice cream shop, I mean, fruit tree. Hmm! Nazi-like measures similar to those used against Jews in Germany are in place! Jews were forced to identify their businesses with a special emblem (a star) so Germans faithful to the Third Reich would not buy from them or sell them anything. In many places, you can’t buy or sell unless you have on a mask, and still, churches don't get it and try to defend their closure actions and capitulating ways. At a SunBank/Truist bank, I was told that to come into their lobby to open an account, I had to wear a mask! Do you know that many states have laws on their books that prohibit wearing a face mask inside a bank and most businesses? It wasn’t that long ago that if you wore a mask inside a bank, you were considered a criminal trying to rob the bank! I refused to wear a mask in their bank, so, I couldn’t open the account there. Food, money, grocery stores, government buildings, and what else is coming? If that doesn’t sound like preparation for the antichrist's one-world government in training with the mark of the beast, then I don’t know what would! Saint reading this, are you still yawning and sleeping? Vaccination, forced vaccinations, vaccination passports: Article and 55 minute interview with Dr. Kaufman: https://vaccineimpact.com/2020/censored-dr-kaufman-they-want-to-genetically-modify-us-with-covid-19-vaccine-loses-his-job-and-willing-to-go-to-jail-to-resist/ https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/1739-dead-as-cdc-adds-another-200-recorded-deaths-this-week-following-covid-experimental-vaccines/ These are already very old numbers. The associated deaths and side effects are MUCH, MUCH higher running into multiplied thousands and maybe millions all over the planet. Now a new phenomenon is taking shape among the vaccinated as brain function after vaccination in many can begin to go haywire. The root of these dire problems with people passing out, going into an intense mental fog, and losing perception of reality, is being only now taking center stage among the vaccinated. There a huge amount of reports of non-sensical auto accidents because of these issues among the vaccinated. This is no joke and no conspiracy theory. It may take weeks or months before this begins to make headlines, but I have already read many reports about this terrible vaccine side-effect, and here is the science behind it.  Vaccines can modify DNA permanently and contribute to Mad Cow Disease like symptoms and illnesses in humans: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/science-mrna-vaccines-alter-dna/ https://naturalnews.com/2021-04-08-mrna-vaccines-may-cause-your-body-to-churn-out-prions-eat-your-brain-mad-cow-disease.html# 8 ways that the mRNA vaccine can kill you by Dr. Sherri Tenpenny: https://www.brighteon.com/3ef68971-87ad-4ac5-9a1c-8552364d8ccd https://rumble.com/vd0vrj-interview-with-sherri-tenpenny-about-dangers-of-vaccines.html New medical research reveals that the Pfizer mRNA vaccine can lead to the development of common neurodegerative diseases. I hope the government doesn't bury the research, so I suggest you download it and keep a copy for your records, especially if you stupidly took the experimental "vaccine". That way, when you get crippled from some neurodegenerative disease, you can try to sue Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, or Astra Zeneca for damages. News flash: The government has released big pharma from liability for any injuries or deaths resulting from the "vaccines." Basically, that means that if you get a neurological disorder, a debilitating disease, or die from the experimental "vaccine", big pharma cannot be sued. Below is the PDF of the research paper that recently came to light, though it was accepted by the SciVision Publishers (medical journals and medical research site) January 18, 2021. That was 4 months ago from me publishing this article! News like this can really travel slowly. This should be FRONT PAGE news on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and the rest of the alphabet soup devil-inspired news networks! Don't hold your breath because the fake news, mainstream media, are corrupt and in bed with the devil. This paper will not see them light of day on any major news channel or social media. It doesn't fit their agenda or lying narrative. It took Nationalfile.com to report it.   https://nationalfile.com/report-pfizer-vaccine-confirmed-to-cause-neurodegenerative-diseases/ PDF research paper: https://scivisionpub.com/pdfs/covid19-rna-based-vaccines-and-the-risk-of-prion-disease-1503.pdf The side effects of these demon-inspired experimental gene modifiers erroneously called "vaccines" will have a huge effect among the vaccinated population. Watch for a huge increase in senseless accidents of all kinds and generally people losing their minds and ability to concentrate and carry out everyday activities. It will be a plague unto itself and demonstrate that the supposed cure is a million times worse than the coronavirus!  Look at the latest official info (May 2021) on deaths and injuries from the experimental gene altering jabs falsely labeled as vaccines that already reported. These numbers are way behind the real numbers but it shows you where all these injections are doing to the people receiving them and there are many more yet to be reported.  https://healthimpactnews.com/2021/genocide-in-the-u-s-continues-3848-deaths-118902-injuries-following-covid-injections-children-now-being-reported-as-dying-also/ More than 52,000 medical professionals worldwide have signed the Great Barrington Declaration at https://gbdeclaration.org/ calling into question the draconian Covid 19 policies, procedures, and vaccinations: https://healthimpactnews.com/2020/covid-has-caused-tens-of-thousands-of-medical-doctors-and-scientists-to-wake-up-to-corruption-in-the-medical-industry/ Israel’s “vaccination passport” and the violation of the Nuremberg Code: https://vaccineimpact.com/2021/israelis-cry-out-to-the-world-to-stop-mandatory-covid-injections-as-lawsuit-is-filed-in-international-criminal-court-over-nuremberg-code-violation/ Chananya Weissman: 31 Reasons Why I Won’t Take the Vaccine. Some points have to do specifically with what is going on in Israel, but we see the same nonsense in the U. S. A. New York Teachers for Choice: https://nyteachersforchoice.wordpress.com/2020/09/20/top-10-reasons-why-a-covid-vaccine-should-not-be-mandatory/ Mandatory vaccines, or forcing people to get vaccinated, is a direct violation of the Nuremberg Code that was established after WW2 to counteract Nazi policies and practices. These are all signs of the times where the antichrist system is being pushed to set things up for the still future man of sin or lawlessness. This is not funny! Listen to what Bill Gates is doing NOW with injections from this medical doctor: https://media.gab.com/system/media_attachments/files/073/075/235/original/214821d7b2498c91.mp4 We must take a stand. The protests are going on all over the world. There is a complete media blackout on these protests going on worldwide. Video of just ONE day of protests against the overreach and removal of our human rights by tyrannical governments:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvXXgPHyPFE Why are not churches protesting? Where is the righteous indignation and anger against evil!  Look at all the protest videos under the hashtag "wewillallbethere"  https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/wewillallbethere . We are not alone! Disclaimer: There is profanity in some of the video clips. I didn't record any of these videos. I don't support profanity, though I do support edgy and VERY tough language if it gets the message across! It's important that the Church understands that even unbelievers are rising up against the falsehoods so you will hear some cussing because they are super angry! I am in 100% in agreement that we must stand and refuse to bow down to the world's falsehoods! Now to the podcast message:

''But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites (Matthew 24:48-51).'' A wicked servant is one that is unprepared for his master's return. A wicked servant actually abuses his fellow servants. Jesus likens this abusive servant to those Christians who don't care about their fellow Christians. Who boil everything down to where nothing matters anymore in the faith. Those Christians barely deserve the name Christian. They don't wish to bear Christ's name. Nor do they wish to build up their fellow Christians. Be prepared for Christ's return. Don't abuse your fellow Christians. Build each other up in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It truly matters more than anything else. Amen.

Welcome to Day 1496 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.I am Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomImaging After The Fall and New Testament Application – Worldview WednesdayWisdom - the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. Today is Day 1496 of our Trek, and it is Worldview Wednesday. Creating a Biblical Worldview is essential to have a proper perspective on today's current events. To establish a Biblical Worldview, you must have a proper understanding of God and His Word. This week, on our Worldview Wednesday episode, we will continue our study based on a course I recently completed taught by Dr. Michael Heiser. Our study is titled “Sons and Daughters of God: The Believer's Identity, Calling, and Destiny” Throughout this multi-week course, we will demonstrate that, in the Old Testament, “sons of God” and “holy ones” refers to supernatural beings whose Father is God and who work with God to carry out His will and that this divine family was present before humanity. By fully engaging with biblical texts such as Psalm 82; Psalm 89, and Deuteronomy 32:8–9, our study will show that this divine family functions as a template for God's human family. God desires of humans, as His imagers, to participate in His council. This study addresses issues such as polytheism, the nature of the (little ‘g') “gods,” and Yahweh's uniqueness. This study will apply insights to the New Testament texts and show how the metaphor of being in God's family informs our sense of identity and mission as believers. Imaging After The Fall and New Testament Application·      Segment 26: Imaging After the Fall Image Remains After The Fall If the image of God is about us being representatives of God, the fall, the entrance of evil into the world, is certainly a factor in our understanding. Our understanding is that we continue with our purpose. I've met Christians that believe that after the fall, the imaging idea was totally lost. Those Christians surmise the only people who image God now are Christians or believers because they've been brought back to a relationship with God through redemption. I don't believe that. I think that's an inferior understanding of the text and leads to some dangerous theology. For instance, in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+9%3A6-7&version=NLT (Genesis 9:6-7), which, of course, is after the fall, it's after the flood—we read this, If anyone takes a human life, that person's life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth.” This is an obvious reference to Eden with the Edenic commands repeated. The commands that were originally given to Adam and Eve, the original imagers. The idea here is that the death penalty, taking the life of a person, is legitimized somehow, and we're going to find out in the rest of the Torah when that situation might be the case. That idea is legitimized because God cannot tolerate the unlawful, unwarranted taking of any human life. After all, those humans are created in His own image. When you kill a person, it's like killing God in effigy. If the image were linked only to Christians or only believers, then this verse would, in effect, be saying, “Well, it's only a crime if you kill someone who's a Christian. You can kill other people, and God is not going to care about it, but only if you kill His children, then we're in trouble.” That's an absurdity, but this is where some thinking goes. We don't want to go there. We want...

WHO WILL BE LEFT BEHIND DURING THE RAPTURE MATTHEW 24:40-51 Mateo 24:40 Sa panahong iyon, may dalawang lalaking nagtatrabaho sa bukid, kukunin ang isa at iiwan ang ikalawa. Mateo 24:41 May dalawang babaing nagtatrabaho sa gilingan, kukunin ang isa at iiwan ang ikalawa. Mateo 24:42 Kaya't maging handa kayo dahil hindi ninyo alam kung kailan darating ang inyong Panginoon. Mateo 24:43 Tandaan ninyo ito: kung alam ng may-ari ng bahay kung anong oras sa gabi darating ang magnanakaw, siya'y maghahanda at hindi niya pababayaang pasukin ang kanyang bahay. Mateo 24:44 Kaya't lagi kayong maging handa, sapagkat darating ang Anak ng Tao sa oras na hindi ninyo nalalaman.” Mateo 24:45 “Sino ang tapat at matalinong alipin? Hindi ba't ang pinamamahala ng kanyang panginoon upang magpakain sa iba pang mga alipin sa takdang oras? Mateo 24:46 Mapalad ang aliping iyon kapag dinatnan siyang tapat na naglilingkod sa pagbabalik ng kanyang panginoon! Mateo 24:47 Sinasabi ko sa inyo, gagawin siyang tagapamahala ng kanyang panginoon sa lahat ng mga ari-arian nito. Mateo 24:48 Ngunit kung masama ang aliping iyon, sasabihin niya sa kanyang sarili, ‘Matatagalan pa ang pagbabalik ng aking panginoon.' Mateo 24:49 Kaya't sisimulan niyang bugbugin ang ibang mga alipin, at makikipagkainan at makikipag-inuman sa mga lasenggo. Mateo 24:50 Babalik ang panginoon ng aliping iyon sa araw na hindi niya inaasahan at sa oras na hindi niya alam. Mateo 24:51 Buong higpit siyang paparusahan ng kanyang panginoon, at pagkatapos ay isasama sa mga mapagkunwari. Doo'y tatangis siya at magngangalit ang ngipin.” 1. UNBELIEVING – V. 48 “THAT SERVANT SAYS TO HIMSELF”. Mateo 24:48 Ngunit kung masama ang aliping iyon, > sasabihin niya sa kanyang sarili, Matatagalan pa ang pagbabalik ng aking panginoon.' 2. UNWATCHFUL – V.48 – “MY MASTER IS STAYING AWAY A LONG TIME” Mateo 24:48 Ngunit kung masama ang aliping iyon, sasabihin niya sa kanyang sarili, > ‘Matatagalan pa ang pagbabalik ng aking panginoon.' > To this person rapture is not important Mateo 24:42 Kaya't maging handa kayo dahil hindi ninyo alam kung kailan darating ang inyong Panginoon. 3. UNKIND – V.49 Mateo 24:49 > Kaya't sisimulan niyang bugbugin ang ibang mga alipin, at makikipagkainan at makikipag-inuman sa mga lasengo . 4. UNGODLY – V. 49 –“EAT AND DRINK WITH DRUNKARDS”. Mateo 24:49 Kaya't sisimulan niyang bugbugin ang ibang mga alipin, at > makikipagkainan at makikipag-inuman sa mga lasenggo. > Those Christians who still have vices will be left behind. 5. UNAWARE OR UNPREPARED – V. 50 “HE DOES NOT EXPECT HIM” Mateo 24:50 Babalik ang panginoon ng aliping iyon sa araw na hindi niya inaasahan at sa oras na hindi niya alam. (Lips service not heart service will be left behind) MATTHEW 15:8-9 Mateo 15:7 Mga mapagkunwari! Tama nga ang sinabi ni propeta Isaias tungkol sa inyo, Mateo 15:8 Ang paggalang sa akin ng bayang ito ay pakunwari lamang, sapagkat sa bibig at hindi sa puso ito bumubukal.

Rev. Sam Beltz, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Oskaloosa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 14:1-12. The love that Christians owe to each other is free from judgment and despising. Whether weak or strong in the faith, all Christians are to welcome each other. Those Christians whose consciences allow them to live fully in the freedom they have in Christ must not despise those Christians who are not fully exercising that freedom. Similarly, those not exercising that freedom must not judge those who are; God alone stands as judge. We will all stand before Him on the Last Day to give account. For this reason, each person must be convinced on his own to live and act in thanksgiving and honor to the Lord. The lordship of Jesus provides the true unity of the Christian Church. His death and resurrection mean that He is Lord of the living and the dead; in life and in death, we belong to Him.  “The Righteousness of God for You” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Human righteousness cannot save, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Only the righteousness of God can bring life and forgiveness to sinners. This is the righteousness that He has fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the righteousness that is revealed in the Gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is the righteousness that is not earned, but is freely given by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

2 Peter 2 False teachers are real (2 Peter 2:1-3). They will eventually receive judgment from God. God has a history of bringing judgment on the wicked (2 Peter 2:4-9). Peter describes the behavior of those men in 2 Peter 2:10-19. Those Christians who are deceived by false teachers are worse off than before (2 […]

Jesus, the Forerunner of the New Humanity Luke 2:39-52 Exegetical Main Point: Jesus matured and grew in his identity as Son of God and as son of man, but his identity as a Son of God outweighed all other identities. Jesus was paving the way for all who would follow him as the forerunner of the new humanity. Main Point of the Sermon: Jesus grew and matured so that his followers could grow and mature. Sticky: Jesus is the forerunner of the new humanity. ME: One of the greatest hindrances to my spiritual growth in recent years is the pride of spiritual comparison. Instead of looking to Christ’s righteousness as my standard, I find myself looking at the world or others walk with Jesus to determine my level of spiritual maturity. Or I look to my fruitfulness in my work, my marriage, my prayer life, my bible reading, among other things to determine where I am with the Lord. I think, “Oh, I have what they have.” “I’m doing more than them in this area of life.” The problem with this thinking is that the Bible has clearly stated that all of us have fallen short of God’s standard for humans. No one’s got this thing perfectly right. So, when I look at anyone else to determine my spiritual maturity I get a faulty picture that leaves me stagnant in my faith. Can any of you relate to this? Sadly, this is the same kind of thinking that keeps the world lost in sin. “Those Christians are no better than I am.” Maybe they’re right! Maybe you’re right! Maybe you are further along than the average man, but what good is that to you and me if God’s standard is completely different than ours? WE: Many Christians, including some of us, still look like infants in our faith even after years.Rather than living as the powerful forces for the Kingdom that we were made to be, many of us are still nursing on the basics. What is it that keeps us from maturing in Christ the way that we ought to? Among many things, it is a misunderstanding of our identity. We have forgotten who we are fundamentally, who made us, and what we were made to be. We spent a lot of time in this Christmas season looking at Jesus’s birth, and today’s passage gives a glimpse of Jesus’s life as he grew and matured. Today’s passage is fitting because it shows us how to reset our hearts so that we can begin to grow like Jesus grew. You see, Jesus had a different standard. His standard was not the world or others, but rather his Father’s perfection. He strove to look like him. I do have good news for you today: Jesus grew and matured in his identity as God’s Son so that his followers could grow and mature in him.Jesus is the forerunner of the new humanity. Here’s where we’re going today: Jesus is the Forerunner Of the New Humanity The Church is the New Humanity God: Jesus is the Forerunnerof the New Humanity: Let’s read starting in verse 39: 39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. Verse 39 tells us that Joseph and Mary “performed everything according to the Law of the Lord”. These details that Luke shares of these early years of Jesus’s life are no throw away. He wants to show us that Jesus’s life fulfilled the Law of God perfectly. There’s very little written about Jesus’s childhood. In fact, Luke’s Gospel offers the fullest picture of Jesus’s birth and childhood. And it is a topic not discussed often. Jesus’s three year ministry, including his death and resurrection usually take precedence, and it makes sense. The cross and resurrection are the pinnacle of Christ’s work on earth. But the importance of the righteous life of Jesus lived in his first thirty years cannot be overstated. It is his perfect life – his spotlessness – that made his death and resurrection so important for humanity.Not only does his death appease God’s wrath for our sin, Jesus’s perfect life is actually counted to everyone who has faith in him, so that God no longer looks at our record of sin, but looks at all of our lives as spotless like Christ’s. Romans 8, which we are memorizing this month captures this point: “By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…”Jesus fulfilled the Law so that the Law might be fulfilled in us so that we could live in the power of the Spirit and no longer under the power of the Law and our flesh. Verse 40 tells us that “the child grew and became strong.” We spent a good deal of time this Christmas marveling at the absurd humility of our God who was born outside of his home town in horrible conditions, but we must marvel a little more! The maker of the universe submitted himself to the natural growth process of humanity. He nursed at his mother’s breast, he crawled in the mud, he babbled his first words, teethed, lost his first tooth, he learned to talk, learned to walk, falling and scraping his knees. He potty-trained; he went to school – whatever that looked like; he learned Hebrew so that he could study the Scriptures, as well as Greek and Aramaic the common languages. He had growing pains; finger pains – you know, when he was learning to swing a hammer; he experienced puberty and all the fun that brings, and worked till he was exhausted with his father, who was a carpenter. Jesus was a human. He didn’t have a halo glowing around his head or an odd symbol permanently made with his right hand like you see in paintings. Though he was the divine Son of God, he was a kid, growing strong and wise… for us. What a humble God! Luke tells us that Jesus was like every other boy, but two things set him apart. He was “filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” Notice verse 52, which says something very similar: 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.When you see repeated statements in the Bible it’s important that you listen and look carefully at what the author is communicating. Luke has something that he wants us to see about Jesus. So, let’s look a little deeper at these words “wisdom”and“favor”that defined Jesus’s life. Wisdomis most commonly defined in the book of Proverbs, which was written in large part by King Solomon, the one who sought the Lord specifically for wisdom during his reign. There, wisdom is depicted in a series of sayings that capture what it looks like to live skillfully and reverently. It so practical, but goes beyond worldly practical wisdom. Proverbs 1 describes wisdom as beginning with fear of the Lord. We’ve discussed this more in depth in other sermons, but in essence, a fear of God is a reverence and submission to him in all things. This, the Scriptures teach, is the foundation of all other wise living. Get this wrong and you will get everything wrong. You could be the most knowledgeable, experienced, and tried in good decision making, but the Scriptures teach us that if you don’t fear God you’ve missed true wisdom. Luke tells that Jesus got this right. How? Because God’s favorwas on him. Being born of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was not born of Adam’s seed. He did not have a sin nature, so there was no limits to God’s presence in his life. The Spirit of God was with Jesus in a unique way. Now, as we press into our text a little further we see an example of Jesus’s wisdom in action. We are told that when his parents left Jerusalem with the rest of the masses, Jesus stayed behind to be with his Father. His parents didn’t realize that he was not with their traveling party for several days. They were frantic. Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph must have felt when they realized Jesus wasn’t with them? “WE LOST GOD” Now, for the teenagers in this room, I’m not encouraging you to freak your parents out by staying at church secretly when they head home… but I am encouraging you and everyone here to learn from Jesus who is the forerunner of the new humanity. Let me explain. A forerunner is a trail blazer. They go ahead of the rest to show the way forward. Do you guys know who Bear Grills is? Man vs. wild? He gets dropped in the most extreme situations for weeks at a time with little to nothing and shows people how to survive on natural surroundings. Bear is a forerunner. Without a wise forerunner, everybody’s dying from eating the strange mushroom or making the wrong move. Jesus is the forerunner of the New Humanity: Jesus was born to the sin-scarred world under the curse in order to pave the way for a new people, a people with new hearts who would again reflect the image of God to the world like we were originally created to do. When sin entered the world through Adam, our proper identity as humans was marred. We no longer perfectly reflected our Creator but began to reflect the rebel, Satan, the chief of the fallen angels. But in his life, through his death and resurrection, Jesus came to restore our true humanity. Jesus said, “Come follow me.” He is simply inviting us to follow him as he goes ahead of us. Satan has been lying from the beginning telling humanity that freedom from God is to truly live, to be truly human, but Christ came to remake us and to show us the true path of wisdom. Jesus is the second Adam. He is the firstborn, the forerunner of a new humanity who would live in their true identity as God’s children. So what was so different about Jesus? Today’s text from Jesus’s childhood provides at least four lessons of wisdom that every human should learn from. Lesson 1:Jesus sought God’s face in community.Luke tells us in 46 that they “found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” Even Jesus submitted to human teachers. The one who IS the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14), who GAVE the Word, learned the Word from fallible and sinful men. Listen to Proverbs 2, which exhorts the young and foolish in how to grow in wisdom: 2 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God…. 10 for wisdom will come into your heart… Jesus lived this Proverb perfectly. Throughout Scripture God gave his Spirit to prophets, priests, and kings who instructed the people in God’s Law, and he continues to give his Spirit to the church so that we can be instructed in the full counsel of God, that we might know him and know who we are as humans. If you want to be all that you were created to be as a human being, if you want to look like Jesus, listen to the wise and mature, those who know and treasure God’s Word and walk by the Spirit. Lesson 2:Jesus sought God’s face personally. Verse 47 tells us that “all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. At the age of 12 the eldest teachers of the law were amazed at Jesus’s understanding. Similarly, during Jesus’s ministry people marveled at the authority with which Jesus spoke when he taught the Word. Where did this wisdom come from? From a personal relationship with His Father. Jesus knew God as Father and communed with him at all times. He told his befuddled parents, “didn’t you know I mustbe in my Father’s house? Not just wanted to be, but needed to be with his Father. You see, mankind was made to be in relationship with God in an intimate way, like a child with his Father. Jesus understood this not only as the divine son of God, but as the truest image of God as a man. Jesus as fully human did not have some special cheat code that he didn’t need to spend time with God like we do. No, he sought intimacy with his Father by the Spirit just like we do! If you want to be all that you were created to be as a human being, if you want to look like Jesus, know God personally as your heavenly Father. Lesson 3:Jesus’s identity as Son of God trumped every other human identity. Verse 48 tells us that Jesus’s parents were greatly distressed and didn’t understand why Jesus would treat them so. This was their child, so it makes sense for them to ask this question. But hear Jesus’s response: 49“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” It should not be overlooked that these words are the first recorded words of Jesus. It was more necessary, Jesus says, to be with his Father in his house, than to be in his earthly father’s house. As a 12 year old, Jesus understood that his identity as God’s Son trumped his familial identity as Joseph and Mary’s son. If you want to be all that you were created to be as a human being, if you want to look like Jesus, you must know that your identity as God’s child must trump every other human identity. If you have faith in Christ, you have been united to him in such a way that Paul can say to the church, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[g] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. What Paul is not saying is that these things are no longer true of you – if you are a woman you are still a woman, if you are Hispanic you are still Hispanic. But what he is saying is that being united to Christ through faith makes you sons of God, and that that identity takes precedence over all others. This identity is an eternal, while many of your earthly identities are not. Some of you might ask, “But isn’t Jesus special? Isn’t his relationship to his Father different than ours? He can say these kinds of things because he is the divine Son of God who dwelled with his Father from eternity past as the second member of the trinity.” You’re right! Jesus had a unique identity as the Son of God and understood that reality even from his youth. But what we must not miss is this important reality that I have been talking about throughout this sermon of Jesus’s full humanity. The Scriptures and the Church has taught and affirmed throughout history that Christ is fully divine and yet also fully man. He had two natures that were supernaturally united. But remember why Christ came. Christ was sent into the world by his Father to fulfill the loving plan of salvation set forth before time. He came as the forerunner of the new humanity and the new creation. Colossians 1 teaches us this truth speaking of Jesus, the God man:15 He is the image of the invisible God, thefirstbornof all creation…17 And he is beforeall things, and in him all things hold together.18 And he is the headof the body, the church. He is the beginning, thefirstbornfrom the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent [first]. Paul tells us that all of this is true about Christ because God intends for him to be first. Jesus came as the forerunner so that all who follow him will find what it means to live, to be human, to be an image bearer of God. In this short statement by the teenage Jesus we get a secret glimpse of his true identity and what we can assume of what the rest of his life looked like up until his ministry. But after these words, it was back to normal. We are told in verse 51 that “he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Obedience to God meant obedience to Jesus’s parents. Honoring God meant honoring them. Luke’s birth narrative ends with Jesus growing and maturing in manhood. This word “increased” in verse 52 is “προκόπτω” in Greek, meaning ‘to progress, advance’. I was helped by one commentator who points out that this word has lost its original sense ‘to make one’s way forward by chopping away obstacles’.[1]In his life of increasing wisdom and favor with God and man, Jesus was trailblazing for the new humanity. Hebrews 5 pulls back the curtain a little more on this reality: 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him… He was going before us as our forerunner, suffering the world’s temptations, and yet perfectly modeling for us the paradox of living in two kingdoms with multiple identities in this world in between Christ’s first and second coming. He was showing the way. You may be shocked by these words “being made perfect” like I was when I first read them, but understand that this is not making a statement about a lack in Christ’s divinity, or even his sinlessness, but rather makes a statement about his becoming the mature image bearer of God that God intended for Adam and Eve and every man who came after them. Christ overcame and matured in this life so that we might overcome. This leads to my last point. The Church is the New Humanity You may wonder why am I going to such great lengths to talk about this complex concept of Jesus as our forerunner. What I am trying to set up for you today is this reality that Christ came before us, growing and maturing the way that he did so that you and I could be set free from slavery to sin and be empowered to mature and grow like him. Christ was made perfect so that he could save those who follow him, creating a beautiful new creation with a new humanity who are not ruled by the flesh, the world, and the devil but by God’s Spirit as his children. This new humanity is the Church. The New Testament expounds on Jesus’s life and ministry in order to train the church in our interactions with human government, employment, public life, marriage, family, etc. He trains us in wise and reverent living in every sphere of life. But again we are presented with the problem I presented at the beginning: many of us our not maturing. We are stuck. Our growth is stunted. And this is not a new problem in the history of the church. The author of Hebrews wrote to members of the early church, saying: 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14). I admitted to you that this is true of me also. I’m afraid that many of us here could be condemned with similar words. We need milk rather than solid food because we lack maturity, though we ought to be so much further along in the fight against sin, our spiritual discernment, and in our handling of the Word. Rather than lettingyour identity as a child of Godinform all other earthly identitiessome of us are trying to fit God into our self-made identity. Rather than listening to Godly teachers and voices, many of us have given our ear and have been influenced by the world’s philosophy on dating, sex, money, food, and work. Rather than loving God’s presence in prayer, meditating on His Word and putting it to memory, we are distracted by the American dream, by comfort, and games. Rather than seeing ourselves as blessed for being disillusioned by the world’s success and persecuted for our kingdom values, many of us despise meekness and humility, and fear the world’s critique, running from persecution. By looking to things other than Christ to establish our standard for the Christian life, we have set our expectations far too low and even assume that we will live in constant failure. Let me ask you, Christian, to which world do you belong? Who defines who you are? Let me remind you who you are, church. You are adopted children of God in Christ. Jesus taught us to call God our father, to see him as our brother. This reality should shape the way you live in every way. Jesus knew who he was and thus lived out that identity. SO HOW DO WE GROW LIKE JESUS GREW? 1. You grow by following him. If you are not yet following Jesus, I want to urge you to escape the path of death by coming and finding life in Jesus. Jesus came to recreate humanity because of the fundamental problem of sin in the world leading to our death. Unless you turn from the path of sin and put your faith in him, you will die in your sin apart from God, and that is not what he wants for you, or what we want for you. He went to the cross as a perfect man in our place so that all who believe would have the same relationship he has with his Father. We love you, so we speak this truth in love. Come and find your true identity in God today. Come and talk to me if you have any questions about this. 2. If you are in Christ today, he has caused his Spirit to dwell in you. So you must be led by the Spirit. “If you walk by the Spirit you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). What does that mean? It means that you have two natures warring. The old man trying to make you live in that past identity, and the new man that wants to be like your Father. Those who walk by the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. All this means is that we fight by the Spirit to make our desires align with God’s desires. He rules every moment. Not me. Not my hunger, not my sexual desires, not my need for attention – the Spirit leads. 3. So also we must remind one another daily in our DNA’s, MC’s, and in these gatherings who we are so that we can walk in that identity. Our aim is to “proclaim [Christ to you], warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Col 1:28). This is part of the reason we are taking the month of January and focusing on spiritual renewal: fasting and praying, memorizing Romans 8, and refocusing on our Bible reading. If our growth in Jesus is stunted, here is an opportunity for us to jump start our growth together. During this time we want to be asking ourselves, “Where have I not embraced and lived out of my identity as God’s son?” Would you join us in this pursuit this month? Conclusion: Jesus’s life in the flesh showed and empowered Christians to faithfully live in this world, maturing and growing until we see him face to face. Christians recognize with our Lord Jesus that God the Father creates the meaning and purpose of all other identities, thus we submit to him. This is true wisdom. This is what it means to be human. There is nothing easy about trying to live in this world as son, carpenter, dad, American, etc. There are so many identities. But if we follow Christ, our forerunner, the rest will fall in place, even unto eternal life. Keep your eyes on Jesus! [1]Marshall, I. H. (1978). The Gospel of Luke: a commentary on the Greek text(p. 130). Exeter: Paternoster Press.

It's all too common for Christians to hear talk of financial issues and simply tune out. Some would say it's too earthly minded or too complex to understand or doesn't have much relevance to the Christian life. Those Christians should think again because finance, economics, trade, business, manufacturing, consumption, debt, and currency are geo-political drivers that greatly impact all of us...

Those Christians who have spent much time in conservative Christian circles know that we are pro-life. That almost goes without saying. And we often have some of the basic arguments down, but we need to make sure that we have the true foundational issues down as well. That means, as you should instinctively know, that we have to ground our convictions on the Scriptures that have been given to us by God.

We live in a broken world that is desperately groaning and longing to be fixed. As Christians we realize that the pain and suffering of life will exist until the day when Jesus ushers in the New Heaven and the New Earth. Until that day when things will finally be restored to the way they're supposed to be, we will experience pain and suffering in our lives. The cultural narrative works to convince us of a different perspective, that pain should be avoided at all costs and that we should only pursue pleasure. But God invites us into the suffering of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Those Christians who have experienced great suffering would say that their suffering led to deep spiritual growth. We'll be hearing one of those stories today as we talk to Russ Ramsey about his encounter with sickness and death on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

There is a segment of contemporary Evangelical Christianity that believes that every true Christian has to ability to speaking in tongues. Those Christians typically fall into the Charismatic/Pentecostal camp. Is this true? Does every Christian have the ability to use this spiritual gift? Should every Christian be speaking in tongues? In this episode, Kenny says, "No!" Not all Christians speak in tongues. Kenny clearly combats this belief by examining several Bible passages. Kenny proclaims his appreciation and admiration for certain elements of the Charismatic movement, but he clearly challenges the belief that all Christians should be speaking in tongues, as espoused by most Charismatics. Kenny examines the passages that mention the gifts of the spirit (1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12) and makes the point that God works in different ways in each believer. Highlighted Passages: 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 Romans 12:3-8 Acts 2:4 Acts 10:44-46 Acts 19:6 Acts 2:41 Acts 8:5-25 Acts 16:31-34 Acts 21:20 Romans 8:9 1 Corinthians 12:13 Ephesians 1:13-14    

Today we are doing something a little different. We are speaking to the "Tour Bus Christians," Those Christians that sit on the sidelines and observe the world.

Today we are doing something a little different. We are speaking to the "Tour Bus Christians," Those Christians that sit on the sidelines and observe the world.

Subject: The Sunday in the Octave of Epiphany Speaker or Performer: Pr. Mark D. Lovett Scripture Passage(s): Luke 2:41-52 Date of Delivery: January 11, 2015 In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.“The parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.” (Luke 2:41)It was the custom of the Jews to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. It has always been the custom of the people of God to make the pilgrimage to where God is. So even the Wise Men of the East made the pilgrimage to where God was born in Bethlehem. One might even say that it is the custom of all men to make pilgrimage to find God. All religions of the world have pilgrimages. This isn’t coincidence. It began when Adam and Eve were thrown out of the garden and Cain wandered the earth. Then Noah made pilgrimage on a boat, in the ark, until he came to where God rested the ark. There Noah built an altar and worshiped the Lord because that’s where God was with him. Later Abraham made pilgrimage to the land of Canaan where he, too, built an altar and worshiped having arrived where God promised to rest with him and his descendants. (Genesis 12:7)Then there is Jacob who made pilgrimage into Egypt with his whole family, and Moses who led the people in pilgrimage out of Egypt and Joshua who led the people of God – the pilgrims – into the Promise Land where Abraham had built an altar and worshiped God. The people of God are always on pilgrimage. They are always moving, never settling even as our Lord Himself says that the Son of Man has no place to rest His head. So it is our custom to call our whole life a pilgrimage, a journey. We begin where Noah left off, having come up out of the water. Then we walk the way of Enoch so that rather than journeying with mere men, we walk with God.It may seem somewhat trite, but you have made pilgrimage today. You were at home but you prepared yourself and your family and you set out as the Lord has directed you. You set out to come here where God has promised to meet you, to instruct you, to feed you the Bread of Heaven; where He has promised to confirm you in His promises through Jesus our Lord. You have come to the altar to worship God.So it is your custom to make pilgrimage even as it was the custom of your parents and grandparents, the custom of many of our brothers and sisters, cousins and relatives. But it’s not our earthly families with whom we are making pilgrimage but our heavenly family, the family of whom God is our Father and Christ is our Brother. It is our custom to gather to the Lord on the Lord’s Day, as it was the custom of the holy apostles and all the saints of God since then. And it is a good and godly custom.For this is where God promises to be for us.But it’s not the location as it was for our forefathers in the faith, men like Abraham and Moses and David. It’s not the location but the things. We could, as the saints of God have done in years past, gather in cemeteries or in the pastor’s house or some other place (though having a meeting hall such as this is good and a blessing for many reasons). The location is not a physical location so much as it is a heavenly location where the word of God is preached and the mysteries of Christ are given and received according to His instruction and mandate. That’s where God has promised to meet us.Those Christians who say that they can meet God anywhere, that they don’t have to come to the Divine Service, that it isn’t necessary, they miss the point entirely. And they miss the point entirely because they misunderstand what the Divine Service is. They must else they would make their custom to be here.This Divine Service is the service of God to His people, just as the temple cult in ancient Israel was the service of God to His people. How many make excuses why they can’t be here. Too tired; too sick; too ashamed; too whatever. Now there are some who can’t be here, we call them shut-ins. But then the Lord does not abandon them but goes to them and take His Service with Him. We call it Shut-in Communion Visits. And I know, people will ask if it’s necessary to be here every Sunday or every time the doors are open. But I refuse to answer that question from now on because it’s a question of the Law. What’s the bottom line? What’s enough? What is necessary? It’s a question of man who always seeks to do only what is absolutely necessary and nothing more. But the ways of the Lord give in abundance, even wastefully as He provides more food than there are people and fills cups to overflowing. Don’t be so concerned about the minimum but more concerned about what is necessary.It is necessary for us to be among our Father’s things.It was necessary for Jesus to be among His Father’s things – in His Father’s house, we translate it. So it is necessary for us to be among our Father’s things, too. The things that Jesus was speaking of were the ark of the covenant, the lampstands, the altar of sacrifice, so too the scrolls of the prophets and the teachers of God’s word. And these things are all types of Christ. He is the Ark of the Covenant, containing in Himself the Law of God and judging the people of God from the Mercy Seat. He is the lampstands from where the light of God shines and the Spirit of God flows. He is the Teacher. He is the things of God and it is necessary for us to be among Him.But there is something more, too. You are the things of God too. You are the Body of Christ, the Church, which means the gathering. It is necessary for you to be around the saints of God. Not just those who happened to still be breathing, but also and especially around the apostles of Christ through whom the Spirit teaches, leads, and instructs.The Lord Jesus is still among His Father’s things. He is among you: teaching you and asking you questions. Not to learn from you but that you would learn from Him. His questions open you will and your heart and His answers draw you ever closer to the Father. Do not be surprised that it is necessary for Jesus to be among His Father’s things, for He is the thing of the Father. Do not be surprised that it is necessary for you to be among your Father’s things, for you must be where Christ is who is seated at the right hand of the Father.And it is your faith that hears and obeys God so that you come to hear His word and participate in His mysteries and be called the children of God.It should not surprise you, this talk about the necessity and glory of the Divine Service. Where else would you expect to find the Christ, the Son of God? Or do you not know that it is necessary that He be among His Father’s things? And the things of the Father are the Bible, Holy Baptism, preaching, the Holy Supper; but you are also the things of the Father. You, too, are part of this gathering, part of the Church, part of the Body of Christ. It is necessary for you to be among your Father’s things; to be blessed by Him and to bless Him. To be loved by Him and to love Him. To be claimed by Him and to claim Him.+ In Nomine Iesu +

On our annual Old Fashioned Sunday, we are reminded that this church was a "come-outer" church. It must ever be one. Those Christians who, 150 years ago, sat where you sit today were "come-outer" Christians. So, too, must we be today.

Speaker or Performer: Pr. Lovett Scripture Passage(s): John 1:19-28 Date of Delivery: December 23, 2012 In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.John the Baptist’s preaching is marvelous. He doesn’t mince words. He says that he is not the Christ but the Christ is among the people, even though they do not know Him. And He points to Jesus and boldly and loudly proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” John is the model preacher, the prototype of all ministers of the Gospel, and of all those who have opportunity to bear witness to Jesus. John answers all their questions by saying that there is One who comes after Him who is greater than him and who is the One for whom the world waits.In a word, John is the template and model of all preaching, whether in a pulpit or in a living room or in the fields. To deny that we are anything and to point to the One who is everything. For preaching is not a talk about theology or a discussion about God. That’s academia and has it’s right and proper place. But true preaching takes our eyes off ourselves as when John said plainly that he was not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet, and points to Jesus who is greater than us and who is Himself the peace of God that passes all understanding.But how does one point to Christ? Where is He that we might point others to Him? It seems that John got the easier task than we. He was able to point to a concrete man in a concrete place at a specific time. He could make the way of the Lord straight, clearing out all misconceptions and false Christs, by pointing straight at the Son of Mary and saying, “There, that man is the Christ. He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. There He is, follow Him.”We seem to be left with the harder task of trying to convince people to believe on the One to whom John pointed, without being able to point to Him ourselves. We meet unbelievers and lapsed Christians and guilt-ridden sinners and it seems the best we can offer them is that God loves them and Jesus died for them. The unbeliever scoffs because he knows what sort of people we Christians really are; sinners. The lapsed Christian says, “Yeah, I know,” and goes on his merry way thinking all is well, when in truth the devil has him hard and fast. And the guilt-ridden sinner says, “Thank you,” and wants more, but we seem to have no more to give. The best we seem to offer is to tell the new Christian to read this book, attend this class, use this devotional, hang out with this group, go to this coffee house, listen to this music, and so on and so forth. So that they are full of things to do and see, full of ideas about God and Jesus, but when someone asks them who and where the Christ is, they too don’t know where to point and they find that they’re not sure where He is either.At this point the devil dances the jig and loads another pile of books, TV preachers, sermon series, and so forth on our heads and says, “Here, find the Christ in here!” so that we all have our own paths and routes to God and no one can help anyone. Or else he says, “Don’t you know, Jesus is in your heart, don’t worry about it, you have Him with you.” So the weak Christian goes looking for Jesus in pop-Christian culture, thinking that he’s following Jesus when he looks and acts like the popular Christians. And the self-secure Christian thinks no more on Christ or God because he reasons that Jesus is in his heart and that’s all there is to it. And the unbeliever? He shakes his head at all this and thinks to himself, “What fools. Those Christians are running around all over the place looking for the One they call Lord and Master, yet none of them seem to have found Him or know where He is.”What beauty and clarity, then, to have our Lord say that where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is among them.In truth, we have it easier than John, easier than all those who walked the earth with Jesus. We don’t have to know what Jesus looks like to find Him. And we always know where He is staying for sinners and the world to find Him and follow after Him. He is where His gospel is preached and His sacraments administered. It is through His church, through His congregations that He reveals Himself to the world and dwells over the whole earth, reigning in peace that passes all understanding.We point the unbeliever to the gathering of the Lord, saying, Here is Jesus. Don’t go looking for Him in history or in apologetics or in reason and legend. For there you will learn about Him, but you will not meet Him. Here is where you will meet Him.We point the lapsed Christian to the gathering of the Lord and say, “Brother, it is true that God dwells with you and hears your prayers wherever you may be, but it is also true that our Lord and Master beckons us to come and hear Him and receive His blessing and gather to Him.”We point the troubled sinner to the gathering of Christ, and say, here He is; here is the Christ who died for you and shed His blood for you and who forgives you and welcomes you into His Father’s kingdom. Hear His holy absolution and receive His blessing, for He is the Lord and He sits and eats with sinners.” Here you meet the Christ and see Him with your ears.The way of the Lord is straighten and the path made smooth. The mountains have been leveled and the valleys have been raised so that there is nothing between you and Jesus, between you and the Christ of God who has taken away the sins of the world and reigns in peace and majesty, welcoming sinners and baptizing them with His Spirit that you might be called the sons of God.In Nomine Iesu+ Amen +