Podcasts about twelve

Welcome to Day 2914 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2914– “Joyful Return, Insightful Response”  based on Luke 10:17-24 Putnam Church Message – 07/19/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “Joyful Return, Insightful Response.”   Last time our message was “Practical Talk to Those in Ministry,” where we learned to leave the harvest in the hands of the Lord who is the Lord of the harvest. Today, we continue with our thirtieth message from Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: “Joyful Return, Insightful Response.” Our core passage today is Luke 10:17-24, on page 1612 of your pew Bibles. The Seventy-Two Return 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Opening Prayer Father, we come before You today with joy and humility. Thank You for calling ordinary people into Your Kingdom work. Thank You that the name of Jesus is greater than every power of darkness, every accusation of the enemy, and every fear that troubles our hearts. Lord Jesus, help us rejoice in the right things. Teach us to celebrate Your victories without becoming proud of our usefulness. Remind us that our greatest joy is not what we accomplish for You, but that we belong to You. Open our eyes to see what prophets and kings longed to see. Give us childlike hearts that receive Your truth with faith and obedience. Holy Spirit, guide us now as we listen to Your Word. Amen. Introduction: A Story - Returning From the Battle In the early nineties, a few years after Desert Storm, General Norman Schwarzkopf wrote an autobiography titled It Doesn't Take a Hero. Near the middle of the book, he describes his thoughts as he headed for his first combat command position in Vietnam. He was a West Point graduate, full of energy and idealism. He went to Vietnam, as he said, for “God, country, and Mom's apple pie.” But later, after a second tour of duty, he returned from a battle-scarred landscape where young men under his command had died or had lost parts of their bodies to landmines. He came home to a divided nation, and he wrote with exhausted realism, “I realized then I was really tired of being a commander… I thought, Thank God it's over. I'd saved as many lives as I could… I wanted to get home to my family.” Same geography. Same war. Same mission. But what a difference between the man who went out and the man who returned. In Luke 10, the seventy-two whom Jesus sent out also return from the battlefield. But the seventy-two return with joy. In our last message, “Practical Talk to Those in Ministry,” we watched Jesus send them out two by two. He told them the harvest was great and the workers were few. He sent them like lambs among wolves. He told them to travel light, offer peace, heal the sick, and announce that the Kingdom of God had come near. They went out as messengers of the King. / Now they return. And they come back like children running through the door after seeing something amazing. “Lord,” they say, “even the demons obey us when we use Your name!” They had gone out to announce peace, but they discovered that the name of Jesus also carried authority over the powers of darkness. Jesus rejoices with them. But He also corrects their perspective. He lifts their eyes above the thrill of ministry success and says, in effect, “Yes, rejoice that evil is retreating. But do not build your joy on power. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” That is our theme today: The greatest joy of a disciple is not what we do for Jesus, but that we belong to Jesus. Which brings us to our four truths today which are found in your bulletin insert on the side that is titled: Joyful Return, Insightful Response Main Point 1: Kingdom Ministry Pushes Back the Powers of Darkness The seventy-two return with joy and say, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use Your name.” That little word “even” carries their surprise. Jesus had told them to heal the sick and announce the Kingdom. But apparently, as they ministered in His name, demons also submitted. They saw firsthand that the mission of Jesus was not merely moral improvement, social kindness, or religious instruction. It was war against the dominion of evil. Luke has been showing us this from the beginning. Jesus confronted demons in the synagogue. He delivered the man in the region of the Gerasenes. He gave the Twelve authority over demons. He healed the boy whom His disciples could not help. And now the seventy-two discover that the authority of Jesus extends through them as well. This is where we need to understand the Bible's bigger supernatural worldview. The late Dr. Michael S. Heiser often reminded readers that the Bible presents a spiritual world populated by heavenly beings. In the Old Testament, we see scenes of God's heavenly council, sometimes called the Divine Council. God is the Most High, the Creator, the supreme King. But Scripture also shows lesser spiritual beings who serve, rebel, accuse, deceive, or oppose God's purposes. In Job 1 and 2, we meet “The Satan,” or “the adversary,” appearing among the heavenly beings. In that setting, the word functions like a title — the accuser, the challenger, the prosecutor. By the time we reach the New Testament, Satan is clearly presented as the great enemy of God's people, the tempter, the accuser, the ruler of a rebellious kingdom of darkness. So, when Jesus says in Luke 10:18, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning,” He is not giving the disciples a small compliment. He is interpreting their ministry as part of a cosmic victory. Every sick person healed, every demon rebuked, every message of Kingdom peace proclaimed — all of it was evidence that the usurper's rule was cracking. The adversary was falling. Object Lesson: The Flashlight in a Dark Room Imagine turning off the lights in a room and then switching on a flashlight. The darkness does not negotiate. / It does not hold a committee meeting. / It simply retreats where the light shines. That is what happens when the Kingdom of God advances. When Jesus walks into a synagogue, demons cry out. When Jesus steps into Gentile territory, a legion of demons loses its captive. When Jesus sends out His followers, evil spirits submit to His name. Not because the disciples are impressive, but because the King is present through them. Ancient Israelite Context For a first-century Jewish listener, this would not sound like a mere private spiritual experience. It would sound like the long-awaited victory of God. Genesis 3:15 promised that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head. Psalm 91 spoke of trampling lions and serpents underfoot. Daniel 7 envisioned the Son of Man receiving authority, glory, and sovereign power. The prophets looked forward to the day when God would defeat evil and restore creation. Now Jesus says, “You are seeing the beginning of that victory.” The Kingdom has come near. Modern Illustration We may not always see dramatic confrontations with evil spirits, but we still see the Kingdom push back darkness. When an addict finds freedom in Christ, darkness...

Twelve years of bleeding. Every doctor. Every option. Nothing worked. Today on BOLD STEPS, Mark Jobe sits with the story of a woman whose long-term suffering had exhausted every human solution. If you’ve ever been in a situation with no apparent way out, this message is for you. There is still One who hasn’t run out of answers. Listen to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Bold Steps Gift: The Five Love Languages: Men's Edition Visit or watch Mark Jobe at New Life Community ChurchBecome a Bold Partner: https://www.moodyradio.org/donateto/boldstepsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Note to self: Today on Soundtracker, we're talking about Dirty Work. And I'm joined by musician, one of the hosts of the No Homework Podcast, and inventer of the Everyone is Twelve theory, Patrick Cosmos (@veryimportant.lawyer on Bluesky). In this episode we talk about how this is the one movie that truly understood how to use Norm Macdonald, Don Rickles, Chris Farley's disgusting prosthetic nose, and a lot more. So why don't you get a horse and live in the mountains someplace and don't bother anybody? Or just listen to this episode. Whichever.Check out No Homework here: https://nohomework.website/Support the show on Patreon! It's the one thing that's gonna help keep the show going: www.patreon.com/soundtracker

Read OnlineReceptive to the GospelJesus said to his disciples: “Hear the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground…” Matthew 13:18–20After preaching the Parable of the Sower to the crowds and then explaining to His close disciples (likely the Twelve) the purpose of parables, Jesus, in today's Gospel, offers them an interpretation of the parable. He speaks clearly and personally to them because they are open—their hearts are properly disposed to receive the truth.The parable reveals four kinds of hearts: hardened, shallow, distracted, and receptive. By presenting these four interior dispositions, with only one being ideal, Jesus shows that becoming receptive to the Word of God takes effort, humility, and grace. The first three types reflect a progression of deepening receptivity, but each falls short. The final type, the good soil, represents the goal to which all hearts are called.The first—represented by seed sown on the path—refers to those whose hearts are so hardened that God's Word cannot enter. Their ears hear the Word of God—as symbolized by the sower sowing seed on the path—but the soil of their hearts has been trampled by many sins and self-centered habits, so the seed cannot penetrate. As a result, they do not understand the Gospel, nor do they seek to understand. This might even refer to some who attend church, hearing the readings and the homily, yet remain unmoved by the Gospel.The second—represented by seed sown on rocky ground—refers to those whose hearts are shallow. They receive the Word of God with initial joy and enthusiasm, perhaps even with emotion and spiritual fervor. But that joy is not rooted in deep conviction or sustained by persevering faith. When trials come—when faith demands sacrifice, endurance, or courage—they quickly fall away, disillusioned. The root of divine truth never penetrates the deeper layers of the soul. These are those who like the idea of the Gospel but not the cost that comes with living it fully.The third—represented by seed sown among thorns—refers to those whose hearts are distracted. They welcome the Word of God and allow it to take root, but they simultaneously cling to worldly anxieties, attachments, and desires. The thorns—symbolizing wealth, comfort, ambition, and the cares of daily life—choke the Word so that it becomes fruitless. These are the souls who try to live both for God and for the world. They desire Heaven, but they also crave control, pleasure, or security on their own terms. In such soil, the Word struggles to grow and cannot bear lasting fruit.The final—represented by seed sown on rich soil—refers to those whose hearts are truly receptive. They not only hear the Word of God but understand it, welcome it, meditate on it, and allow it to transform their lives. This heart is open, humble, prayerful, and detached from worldly distractions. The Word penetrates deeply and becomes a source of abundant spiritual fruit—thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold. These are the saints-in-the-making: souls who, though not perfect, cooperate with grace and allow God's truth to sanctify them day by day.Reflect today on the progression revealed in this parable. How open is your heart to the Word of God? As a spiritual seed, God's Word is powerful. When received into a mind filled with faith, and a heart filled with hope and charity, the seed is nurtured and grows. As it grows, authentic transformation takes place. Good fruit becomes evident, and God does great things in and through this holy soul. See yourself on this journey, till the soil, and await God's Word as it is sown. Receive it with joy, and resolve to nourish that seed so that an abundance of good fruit may be borne from your life—thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.My Divine Sower, You sow the seed of Truth generously and abundantly. You are always speaking to me, revealing Your Love and Your perfect Will, yet I am often hardhearted, shallow, or distracted. Please till the soil of my heart and make me receptive to all You reveal, so that my life may bear an abundance of good fruit for Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Image:  The Sower, by James Tissot Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

In this episode, we explore the career of Matt Damon, Hollywood's ultimate everyman. Join us as we unpack how he's spent three decades as one of the industry's most dependable, and surprisingly interchangeable, leading men, why he's seemingly contractually obligated to spend every movie trying to get back home, and why it's finally time for him to stop escaping and give us the cinematic love letter to his hometown we've been waiting for. Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/668Like what you hear? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to our show.The Dossier: Wiki | Rotten Tomatoes Rankings | IMDb Watch Mentions: The Rainmaker | Mystic Pizza | School Ties | Geronimo: An American Legend | Courage Under Fire | Good Will Hunting | All The Pretty Horses | The Departed | Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Thirteen | Contagion | We Bought A Zoo | Stillwater | Jason Bourne movies | Interstellar | The Departed | The Martian | The Last Duel | Promised Land | Behind the Candelabra | Drive-bys: Ken Griffey Jr. | Leonardo DiCaprio's Credits | Sacred Cinema: The Faithful with Minnie Driver | AO3 Jason Bourne (see also: AO3 Damon/Affleck) | The Sheep Detectives | Jennifer Garner Vanity Fair Feature (see also: Affleck's Tattoo) | Three Things Christopher Nolan Expects You To Know Before Watching the OdysseyRed Light Mentions: People besmerching Taco Bell | Jimothy the Raccoon (see also: Punch the monkey) | Dave Portnoy's memoir | FIFA's Halftime Show | Prioritizing dogs over humans | The Hawk (see also: July AUA)Green Lights:Jamie: movie - The OdysseyMutual: movie - The InviteBonus segment: Join us on Patreon to listen ad-free and get exclusive weekly and monthly content. Episode sponsors: Leesa (code: POPCAST) | Hungryroot (code: POPCAST) | Hers | Pura | Gabb (code: POPCAST) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Day 2909 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2909– “The Ultimate Close Encounter”  based on Luke 10:1-16 Putnam Church Message – 06/21/2026 The Good News According to Luke: “Practical Talk to Those in Ministry.”   Last week's message was “A Face Like Flint,” in which we studied the One who set His face toward Jerusalem now sets His grace upon His people. Today, we continue with our twenty-ninth message from Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today's message is: “Practical Talk to Those in Ministry.” Our core passage today is Luke 10:1-16, on page 1611 of your pew Bibles. Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two 10 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.' 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick>who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.' 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. 13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[b] 16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Opening Prayer Father, we come before You today grateful that You invite ordinary people into Your extraordinary work. We confess that we often feel inadequate, distracted, discouraged, or afraid. Sometimes we carry burdens You never asked us to carry, and sometimes we measure ministry by results rather than faithfulness. Lord Jesus, teach us today from Your Word. Show us what it means to be sent by You, to labor for Your harvest, to depend on Your provision, to speak peace, to serve faithfully, and to leave the results in Your hands. Help us see that ministry is not reserved for a few, but belongs to all who follow You. May our lives become faithful witnesses to the nearness of Your Kingdom. Amen. Introduction: Why Would God Use Us? I have often wondered why God involves people in His work when He can do everything Himself. Have you ever thought about that? God does not need our talent. God does not need our strength. God does not need our planning ability. God does not need our committees, schedules, buildings, sermons, songs, or programs. He can do the job better than we can. He can speak a word, and worlds come into existence. He can open blind eyes, raise the dead, calm storms, silence demons, and move kings according to His will. So why does He entrust something as important as building His Kingdom to people like us? People who get tired. People who misunderstand. People who get proud. People who become discouraged. People who argue about greatness. People who sometimes want to call down fire on their enemies. That is the mystery of grace. God does not involve us because He lacks power. He involves us because He loves us, forms us, and gives us a genuine part in His redemptive work. In the previous message, “A Face Like Flint,” we saw Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 is a hinge in Luke's Gospel. From that moment forward, Jesus is moving toward the cross, the resurrection, and the ascension. Nothing will distract Him from the Father's mission. Now, in Luke 10:1–16, Jesus does something remarkable. He multiplies the mission. Earlier, He sent the Twelve. Now He appoints seventy-two others, or seventy depending on the manuscript tradition, and sends them ahead of Him into the towns and places He plans to visit. This means the ministry is expanding beyond the inner circle. The Kingdom is not a private project for the Twelve. It is not merely the work of clergy. It is not limited to those with public titles. Jesus is building a people who are sent. And in this passage, He gives practical talk to those in ministry. That includes pastors, teachers, elders, deacons, missionaries, children's workers, worship leaders, caregivers, parents, grandparents, encouragers, prayer warriors, business owners, neighbors, friends, and every believer who bears witness to Christ. If you belong to Jesus, you are involved in ministry. So let us listen carefully to His practical instruction found in four truths in your bulletin insert on the side that says Practical Talk to Those in Ministry. Main Point 1: The Harvest Belongs to God, but the Labor Belongs to Us Jesus says the harvest is great, but the workers are few. So, He tells His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest, asking Him to send out workers into His harvest. That is where ministry begins: not with panic, but with prayer. Jesus looks at the world as a harvest field. That image would have been vivid to His listeners. In an agricultural world, the harvest was urgent. When the crop was ready, delay could mean loss. Workers had to go into the field while the time was right. But notice what Jesus calls it. It is not our harvest. It is not the church's harvest. It is not the pastor's harvest. It is the Lord's harvest. That matters. When we forget this, we carry burdens God never intended us to carry. We begin to think the future of the Kingdom depends on us. We stay awake at night worrying about results we cannot control. We measure faithfulness by numbers, approval, visible response, or immediate fruit. But Jesus calls Himself the Lord of the harvest. He owns the field. He knows the soil. He sees the hearts. He sends the workers. He brings the growth. Our responsibility is not to control the harvest. Our responsibility is to labor faithfully. Object Lesson: A Seed Packet and a Basket Hold up a packet of seeds and an empty basket. The seed packet represents the work entrusted to us. / We can plant. / We can water. / We can tend. / We can prepare. But we cannot force life into the seed. The basket represents the harvest. / We long to see it full, and that longing is good. / But only God can bring the harvest. Paul says something similar in 1 Corinthians 3:7  It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow. That is freeing. We are not excused from labor. Jesus calls us workers. But we are freed from pretending to be God. Ancient Context When Jesus sent these seventy-two, He sent them ahead of Him. They were not going out to build personal followings. They were preparing towns for the arrival of the King. In the ancient world, messengers often went ahead of a ruler to announce his coming. They did not invent the message. They did not negotiate the king's authority. They...

Book of the Twelve: Malachi Nicolas Olson Malachi - Sermon by Nicolas Olson

Welcome to Gospel Rant, and our new series, Breaking Badly! Episode 5: Othniel and Ehud Today we finally arrive at the first stories of the judges themselves. But before we jump into those stories, it helps to remember how the book of Judges is structured. Judges is not random storytelling. It is carefully arranged narrative. The book begins with two prologues, which explain how Israel’s spiritual collapse began. At the end of the book there are two epilogues, which show the depth of corruption that eventually overtakes Israel—including corruption among the priesthood itself. Between those bookends are the stories of the judges. Twelve of them. The number twelve is probably intentional. Just as Israel had twelve tribes, the editor seems to be saying that every tribe had an opportunity to return to Yahweh. But they didn’t. And one more thing to remember: these judges probably did not serve sequentially. Many of them likely ruled in different regions at the same time. Israel was geographically fragmented, and Canaanite peoples were scattered everywhere throughout the land. Today we look at the first two judges in the narrative. Othniel and Ehud. Interestingly, they are the only judges in the book specifically described as being raised up by God. We will see what you think. And now, it’s your turn…

Hour 1 - That is TWELVE straight for the Red Sox. How in the world did they save their season? Bradford and Gordo have a real belief that this team can be somethin real.

This sermon from the Book of Obadiah was preached on July 19, 2026 by Will Barkley as part of the sermon series "Salvation Through Judgment: The Book of the Twelve."

We continue our series through the book of Proverbs, How to Build a Life, with a message from Proverbs 18:21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and Grant Clark walks through what Proverbs teaches about the hidden power of everyday words, spoken or typed, to destroy or to give life, and why the deeper call is not simply to speak better but to let Jesus change the heart our words flow from.A little fun with words to start:pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (45 letters)Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (36 letters)The shortest complete sentence: "Go." or "I am."Shortest English word containing all five vowels: Sequoia (7 letters)"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo."In 2013 a PR worker named Justine Sacco posted a twelve word tweet before an eleven hour flight, switched off her phone, and landed to find the sentence had gone viral, cost her job, and redefined her life. Twelve words, less than a minute of typing, changed everything. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Our words carry power for good and for evil, power to destroy reputations, end marriages, start feuds, and crush people, and creative power to place dreams in hearts, comfort the brokenhearted, and shape how someone sees their own worth, whether those words are spoken or typed.Grant shares from a heavy season this year, and how a folder of letters of affirmation, read in the early hours of a significant birthday, lifted a real weight and put life back into him. We should not live for these kinds of words, but they are incredible fuel for the journey God has for us. Proverbs 10:11 says the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, and Ephesians 4:29 says no corrupt talk should come from our mouths, only what builds someone up and gives grace to those who hear.## Words of Death"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is not true. A broken bone heals, but words can hang around for years."There exists, for everyone, a sentence, a series of words, that has the power to destroy you. Another sentence exists, another series of words, that could heal you. If you're lucky you will get the second, but you can be certain of getting the first." - Philip K. DickProverbs 16:27 says a scoundrel's speech is like a scorching fire. A wildfire brings immediate devastation, but its most lethal effects are often invisible, the toxic smoke that damages from the inside long after. Some words work the same way, a gut punch at first, then a slow internal toxicity that scars confidence, self-image, and identity. Proverbs 26:20-21 says that without wood a fire goes out, and without a gossip conflict dies down. A throwaway comment can be the small bit of fuel that grows into a fire that damages families, communities, and churches. Be a church that extinguishes fires rather than one that feeds them.This connects to expressive individualism. Our culture treats our inner feelings as the truest thing about us, meant to be voiced and affirmed publicly. Proverbs pushes back. Our mouths, our tongues, and our speech belong to God, and some things should not be spoken even when they feel natural or normal. Proverbs 10:20 says the tongue of the righteous is pure silver, and Proverbs 12:18 says rash words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Silver is purified over time in the fire, and in the same way we train and discipline our speech. Psalm 19:14, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. This is not a call to avoid hard conversations, which we often need to give and to receive, but a call against careless, hurtful words that do great damage.Justine Sacco later said she had to reclaim her identity, because she feared that one sentence had replaced everything else that was true about her. Many of us carry a word like that, spoken over us and repeated until it found a home in our hearts, defining us more than anything else. Grant pictures a word written on our forehead that we walk through life believing is the truest thing about us. Jesus wants to redefine us. If you are in Christ, the truest thing about you is that you are a child of God, forgiven, made new, chosen, and called his beloved.## Blessing and CursingJames 3:5-10 says the tongue is a small part of the body that boasts great things, a fire that no one can tame, and that blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. This is not magic or manifestation. A curse is a word that wounds, redefines, and strips the nutrients from the soil of a soul."Blessing is the projection of good into the life of another." - Dallas WillardIf blessing is the projection of good into the life of another, then cursing is the projection of bad. Not flattery or well meaning lies, but the truths of God spoken into people so they can live in the reality of who Jesus says they are.## Words of Life"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." - Mother TeresaProverbs 12:25 says anxiety in the heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up. Proverbs 16:24 says pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweet to the taste and healing to the body. Proverbs 25:11 says a timely word is like gold set in silver. The right word at the right time has power to change a life. Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, once read his own obituary when a newspaper confused him with his brother and named him the merchant of death. Disgusted by how he would be remembered, he reassessed his life and left most of his fortune to establish the Nobel Prizes. Words changed his life.## Words Reveal the HeartMatthew 12:34, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Proverbs 4:23, above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Luke 6:45, a good person produces good out of the good stored up in the heart, and an evil person produces evil, for the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Speech full of gossip, slander, judgment, lying, and complaining reveals what already lives inside, and so does speech full of encouragement, honesty, blessing, thanksgiving, confession, and grace.## Jesus's Ministry of WordsJohn 1:1-5, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and in him was life. John 1:14, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John points back to Genesis 1:1, where God creates and orders the world through his word. His claim is that the Word is not just something God speaks but a person, the logos, Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God and the perfect expression of who God is. In Jesus, God has spoken himself to us.In John 6:66-68, after a hard teaching, many of Jesus's disciples turn back. He asks the twelve if they will leave too, and Peter answers, Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.The big idea is not that we should simply speak better or stop sinning with our mouths. James already told us no one can tame the tongue. We do need to train and purify our words, but first we need Jesus to transform our hearts, which is what Proverbs points to again and again. On the cross Jesus bore the condemnation our words deserve, and from the cross he spoke words of forgiveness and life. He does not merely give us better rules. He gives us new hearts and, through his Spirit, teaches us to speak grace, life, and truth.So the invitation is to come to Jesus for a clean heart and a redefined life. For everyone in Christ, God loves you, your sins are forgiven, you are made new, and you are no longer defined by your worst words or your worst moments. You are God's beloved child. Where other words have been burned deep into how we see ourselves, he wants to write a new word over our lives.Verses referenced:Proverbs 18:21Proverbs 10:11Ephesians 4:29Proverbs 16:27Proverbs 26:20-21Proverbs 10:20Proverbs 12:18Psalm 19:14James 3:5-10Proverbs 12:25Proverbs 16:24Proverbs 25:11Matthew 12:34Proverbs 4:23Luke 6:45John 1:1-5John 1:14Genesis 1:1John 6:66-68

JULY 19 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:1-11 ...Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

JULY 19 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:1-11 ...Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

JULY 19 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:1-11 ...Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

JULY 19 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:1-11 ...Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

All good things must come to an end, including podcasts that have been bringing you cinematic joy for 15 years!! It's been a fun run, but we've decided to close the doors on I Like to Movie Movie so we can apply our creative energies in exciting new ways. So while this may sound like “goodbye” it's more accurate to call it a “see ya later.”As a farewell treat, Dan, Megan, and Stephen have come together for a movie potluck, with each host bringing one of their favorite films to the table for discussion. So today we discuss three excellent films, and you can guess who chose each one (it's not hard). We've got Habit, Ocean's Twelve, and Miss Congeniality on deck to close it all out. Thank you to everyone who listened, commented, or joined the show over the years. It's been a pure joy to bond over our collective love of cinema. A big, wet kiss on the cheek from Dan, Stephen, Megan, BB, and Garrett to you, dear listener. As previously noted, this may be an end, but it's not the end. Stay tuned to our socials for future fun, and as always, stay tuned to ScullyVision.com for updates. And while you're at it, maybe add Peak Form to your watchlist. It's coming out soon and I promise it's going to rock your socks!!Be kind to each other, fight hate with love, and call your friends and family if you have the ability. Go make something cool. The world needs it!!And Scott, wherever you may be, I miss you already and I'm thankful to have had you as a friend. I've been upgraded from “second loudest person on earth” to “first loudest person on earth” and I'll never forgive you for it. Love you, bro. ~ Dan

Joel is a short, but very powerful book. His main message is "repent, for the day of the Lord is at hand." In this lesson we'll give an introduction to the book overall, then dive into meaning and imagery he uses to warn the Jews to return to God before it's too late. Joel's message to his audience applies to us as well. Enjoy this sample from Lesson 5, "The Day of The Lord (Joel 1:1—2:11)" from Dr. Nick's 20 part course, "The Minor Prophets: The Book of the Twelve." Anyone can join our community of students and stream the entire audio lesson and full course (and other courses too!) whenever they wish.

We Found That All-Around Forgiveness Was Best Step Eight asks us to look honestly at the people we have harmed and become willing to make things right. But the Twelve and Twelve reminds us that one of the greatest obstacles is forgiveness. It is easy to focus on what others have done to us while minimizing our own behavior. Real freedom begins when we admit our part, forgive the wrongs done to us—real or imagined—and stop using resentment as an excuse to avoid responsibility. Today we'll discuss how forgiveness prepares us for amends, helps repair our relationships, and begins to end our isolation from other people and from God. #TheDailyTrudge #Forgiveness #StepEight #AlcoholicsAnonymous #TwelveAndTwelve #AARecovery #MakingAmends #Recovery #Sobriety #SpiritualGrowth #OneDayAtATime

Twelve states just sued to block Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing the deal would leave viewers with fewer choices and higher prices.Today on Second Request, Executive Editor Teddy Downey sits down with The Entertainment Strategy Guy, who writes one of Hollywood's leading newsletters about the streaming and entertainment industry.Read The Entertainment Strategy Guy's Substack here: https://entertainment.substack.com/

Mark 5:25-34 | REACH ANYWAY — Every Door Closed… But God Left One OpenTwelve years. Everything tried. Nothing worked.YOU know what that season does to a person. YOU spend everything YOU have. YOU go to everyone YOU are told to go to. YOU do what is supposed to work — and not only does it not work, YOU end up worse than when YOU started. And by the end of it, YOU are not just sick of the problem. YOU are sick of hoping.That is exactly where Mark 5 begins.The person in this passage had run out of every option a human being can run out of. Money, gone. Options, gone. Permission, gone. And it was worse than YOU think — because there were rules in place at that time that made it flatly forbidden for someone in that condition to even be in that crowd, let alone reach for anyone in it. Legally. Publicly. Religiously.Every single door was closed. Except one. And what she did with that one remaining door — the one thing that had not been taken from her, the one thing nobody had the authority to shut — is the entire reason this story is still being told two thousand years later.Here is what most people never notice. That day, she was not the only person touching Him. A whole crowd was pressed up against Him. People were bumping into Him, brushing past Him, making physical contact with Him from every direction.Only one of them left different. Something separated her from every other person in that crowd — something YOU cannot see in the passage unless YOU slow down and look for it. And once YOU see it, YOU will understand why some people are around God for years and never receive anything, while someone else reaches once and everything changes.There is also something she said — before she moved, before she reached, before anything happened — that she said to no one but herself. And it is the single most overlooked sentence in this entire passage.And then there is what He did next. He stopped. He was already on His way to something urgent, something that could not wait, something a powerful man had begged Him for. And He stopped everything — in the middle of a crowd — to find her.Why? And the first word He said to her when He found her was not about her body. It was not about her healing. It was one word — an identity word — and it gave her something she had not even reached for.YOU are going to want to hear what it was.Press play — because every door may be closed on YOU, but God left one open. REACH ANYWAY. And this message will show YOU exactly which door that is, and exactly what happens when YOU stop asking for permission and finally reach.Thank you for joining me today. Subscribe for daily teachings, morning prayer broadcasts, and live services.

Twelve people, comprising nine males and three females, have died in a gory accident involving three vehicles at Konongo, near the Anglican Basic School. Forty-four others sustained injuries, with 30 reported to be in critical condition

Reflections from host Sarah Olivieri ... The Power Of Shared Infrastructure There is a quiet assumption baked into how most nonprofits operate. If you need something, you build it yourself. Need a fundraising event, plan one. Need HR, handle it in-house. Need systems, cobble them together. The nonprofit shared infrastructure that could carry all of this rarely enters the conversation, because the default is to go it alone. I understand where the instinct comes from. Nonprofits are scrappy by necessity. Budgets are tight, and doing it yourself feels like the responsible, frugal choice. But there is a hidden cost to building everything from scratch, and it shows up in the same place every time. Your team's time. Your leadership's attention. The liability nobody was watching. The event that ate six months of staff capacity to net twelve thousand dollars. When an organization tries to be its own event company, its own HR department, and its own back office all at once, it is running several businesses it never meant to start. And none of them get the focus they need to be excellent. I've been thinking about this lately I recently had a conversation about exactly this with Bob Burbridge, founder of the Battle Green Run Foundation and a longtime leader in the HR world. He built something that lets small nonprofits plug into infrastructure they could never build on their own, and that changes what is possible for them. Running An event is a business, not a fundraiser Here is the thing most nonprofits underestimate. A run, a walk, a gala, a conference. These are not fundraisers you tack onto your year. Each one is a whole business, with its own logistics, systems, vendors, permits, marketing, and expertise. Bob's foundation exists to run one road race well. Twelve board members. A website that handles all the fees. Relationships with sixty local restaurants. Decades of accumulated knowledge about how to actually pull it off. That is what it takes to do an event at a level where the numbers work. Now picture a small nonprofit deciding to launch its own 5K to raise money. Same permits. Same logistics. Same insurance. Same marketing. Except now it is being done by two staff members who already have full-time jobs, learning it all for the first time, for an event that might clear ten thousand dollars if everything goes right. The math rarely favors building your own event from zero. The work is enormous and the expertise is real, and both are invisible until you are standing in the middle of them. Before any organization takes on an event, it helps to ask a hard question. Are we prepared to run this like the business it actually is? If the honest answer is no, that is worth knowing before you commit a year of your team's life to it. Shared infrastructure changes the math This is where Bob's model gets interesting, because it solves the problem from a completely different direction. Instead of each nonprofit building its own event, one organization builds the event infrastructure once, and many nonprofits plug into it. A small nonprofit brings a team of runners. They raise money through a website that already exists, run by people who already know what they are doing, with fees already covered. When the race is over, the proceeds come to them. They got the full benefit of a professionally run event without having to become an event company to get it. He built the same thing in his professional life through the professional employer model, where small businesses pool together so they can access group health plans, HR expertise, and compliance support that no single small employer could afford alone. The logic is identical. Specialized infrastructure is expensive to build and cheap to share. When you pool it, small organizations get access to a level of capability that would otherwise be completely out of reach. One line from that conversation has stayed with me: "We become a platform for these nonprofits to raise money on their own. We pay all the fees, and then when the race is over and our bills are paid, we take all that's left and share it with all the teams." What I appreciate about this framing is that it explains the mechanism. The value is not that Bob's group is generous, though they are. The value is structural. One entity absorbs the fixed cost and the expertise, and many organizations draw on it. That is leverage, and it is available far more often than nonprofits assume, if they stop defaulting to building alone. Some things should never be built in-house The same principle applies to the least glamorous part of running an organization. Human resources. Bob spent decades in the HR world, and his advice was direct. For most small nonprofits with paid staff, HR is not something to handle yourself. The regulations span fifty states and the federal government. The liability is real. And the power imbalance, when something goes wrong, is enormous. I know this one personally. Years ago I had an employee in another state and I had done everything correctly. New York State decided otherwise and started sending me fines that climbed toward thirty thousand dollars. I had to hire a lawyer. I spent many hours on paperwork. In the end I was right, I had done nothing wrong, and it still cost me thousands of dollars and a mountain of time. The lawyers on the other side had resources my small organization simply did not. Being in the right was not enough to make it painless. That is the kind of risk that lives quietly inside "we'll just handle it ourselves." HR compliance is specialized work, and specialized work is exactly the kind of thing that benefits from shared infrastructure. When it starts eating too much of your time, or when the liability is more than you can responsibly carry, that is the signal to bring in people who do it for a living. Community is the return most events forget to count There is one more piece of Bob's model worth naming, because it reframes what an event is even for. When you make an event a real community experience, the money is not the only return. The nonprofits at Bob's race network with each other. Startups learn from organizations that have been around for decades. Runners come back year after year because it feels like something, not just a transaction. The Minutemen fire a volley. A buffet from sixty restaurants. Families showing up to help. That community is an asset, and it compounds in a way a check never will. The fortune in fundraising is in the follow up, and an event that builds real relationships gives you something to follow up about. I had such a good time with you. Would you like to come tour our facility. Those conversations are where major gifts and lasting support actually come from, and they only exist if the event was built to create connection, not just to collect donations. Giving days and one-click donations have their place. But an experience people participate in creates relationships, and relationships are the quiet engine underneath every organization that fundraises well. What this makes possible When a leader sees this clearly, the pressure to build everything shifts. The question stops being how do we pull off our own event, our own HR, our own everything, and becomes what infrastructure already exists that we could plug into instead. That question opens doors. It means a small organization can access a professionally run event without becoming an event company. It means HR risk can be shared instead of shouldered alone. It means leadership attention goes to the mission, not to running four accidental businesses at once. The work does not disappear. It gets focused. And focus, applied to the few things only your organization can do, is what separates the nonprofits that thrive from the ones that stay stuck doing everything themselves. The bottom line This is not about doing less. It is about not building alone what someone has already built. Nonprofits can run excellent events. They can protect themselves from risk they cannot afford. They can grow without becoming experts at everything. Not by shouldering every function themselves, but by plugging into the infrastructure that is already there. About the Guest Bob Burbridge is a lifelong Lexington resident, community leader, and accomplished business executive with decades of service in both the nonprofit and human resources sectors. He is the founder and former CEO of Genesis HR Solutions, which he led from 1991 to 2023, growing it into one of New England's largest accredited professional employer organizations. Deeply committed to his community, Bob has held numerous leadership roles, including Chair of the Lexington Housing Assistance Board, Director of the Battlegreen Run Foundation, and founder of the Genesis Community Fund. His extensive civic involvement spans local government, youth athletics, and charitable initiatives, earning him honors such as Lexington's White Tricorne Hat Award. Throughout his career, Bob has also been a prominent figure in the HR industry, serving as President of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations and helping shape key legislation across New England.   Connect with Bob: Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093515606579     Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/battlegreenrunfoundation/?hl=en Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Jesus sends His twelve first, not to the Gentiles or Samaritans, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. These lost sheep need to hear the message that both John and Jesus have preached: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand!” God's reign as King brings healing from sickness and rescue from demons among those who hear the Twelve's message. God's reign as King will provide for the Twelve as they go, as He provides for their physical needs through the generosity of those who hear and believe. Those who believe the Word will receive peace from God, but those who do not believe are warned that the Day of Judgment is coming as it once came for notoriously wicked places.  Rev. Tim Sandeno, missionary church planter to Spangdahlem, Germany, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 10:5-15.  “The Reign of Heaven Stands Near” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims that God has fulfilled His Old Testament promises by sending Jesus to bring the reign of the heavens among us. As the Son of David, Jesus is the gracious King we need, and as the Son of Abraham, Jesus is the blessing to all the families of the earth.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Pastor Appel serves at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL. Learn more at flcgodfrey.org. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Alan Skorski recently interviewed ordained Minister and Heritage Foundation Visiting Fellow, Luke Moon, who returned to Heritage following the Tucker Carlson fiasco last year, in which President Kevin Roberts initially refused to distance the think tank from Tucker Cralson, following his interview with Holocaust denier, racist groyper, Nick Fuentes. During the interview, Moon said that he had several conversations with Carlson, who sought his counsel on how to shed the “antisemitism” label. After advising Carlson on the necessary steps needed to redeem himself, “Tucker doubled down on his antisemitism,” according to Moon. Luke returned to Heritage as a Visiting fellow to combat antisemitism, from both the right and left. Moon spent last decade focusing his attention on raising awareness about persecuted Christians in the Middle East and encouraging Christian support for Israel and the Jewish people. During the interview, Moon spoke about the Marxist/Islamist alliance. While taking about Wisconsin Gubernatorial candidate and other DSA candidates, the frequent refrain is, " "None of us are free until Palestine is free." Moon asks, "Why is it important for the DSA activists and candidates to declare this idea? It is because the liberation of Palestine means the end of Israel. And Israel is a stand-in for God. To destroy Israel is to destroy God which would bring about liberation from God's commands and expectations." Israel is the living testimony that the God of the Bible makes promises and keeps them. You cannot look at a reconstituted Jewish state in the ancient homeland — after two thousand years of exile — and call it a coincidence. It is a provocation to every worldview that denies a sovereign God who acts in history. Karl Marx was once asked who he hated the most in Britain and his answer was a British preacher named Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon was a revivalist preacher who was leading thousands of working-class people to faith and taking away Marx's army. Marx hated him for it. Similarly, the Islamists demand total submission to Allah. The God revealed in scripture, particularly through Israel and the Church, is a rival truth claim that must be suppressed. When Islamists come to power, the churches and synagogues are destroyed. The ones that aren't destroyed are turned into museums or government-controlled PR outlets. Back in 2014, when I started advocating for Christians in the Middle East, there were over 450,000 Christians in Iraq. Twelve years later, there are less than 185,000. There are more Christians in Israel than Iraq. Alan Skorski Reports 16JULY2026 - PODCAST

We continue to look at Jesus sending out the twelve.

Why are companies spending heavily on AI tools while struggling to show meaningful improvements in productivity, revenue, or business performance? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I speak with Matt Cloke, Chief Technology Officer at Endava, about what it takes to become an AI-native business, why deploying thousands of AI licenses does not amount to an AI transformation, and how companies can move from experimentation to measurable business outcomes. Matt has played a central role in Endava's own adoption of artificial intelligence and the development of Dava.Flow, the company's methodology for applying AI throughout the technology delivery lifecycle. With more than 11,000 employees and clients operating across multiple industries, Endava has treated itself as "client zero," testing AI internally before advising other companies about how to introduce it across their operations. Matt shares the story of a CEO who proudly told him that his company had completed its AI transformation after purchasing 10,000 licenses for an AI tool. Twelve months later, the business had seen little return on its investment and returned for help understanding what becoming AI-native actually required. The story captures one of the biggest problems with enterprise AI adoption today: buying technology is easy, but changing how people think about problems, redesign workflows, and create business value is much harder. We discuss why Matt believes becoming AI-native is primarily a mindset. Rather than treating AI as another application added to the technology stack, employees should become curious about where AI can improve existing processes, remove unnecessary work, and create new ways of delivering value. Matt also explains his idea that AI works best when it becomes invisible. Instead of requiring employees to constantly interact with chatbots and standalone AI applications, software agents can operate inside existing workflows, monitor information, prepare responses, identify problems, and bring people into the process when human judgment is required. His own use of AI agents provides a practical example. While attending meetings that prevented him from monitoring email for several days, Matt used agents to review incoming messages, redirect requests, identify urgent communications, and prepare draft responses. Rather than handing complete control to automation, he determined which actions required approval and where AI could operate independently. This leads to a wider discussion about human oversight and accountability. Matt argues that managing AI agents may increasingly resemble managing teams. Leaders do not inspect every decision made by every employee, but they establish responsibilities, controls, escalation points, and circumstances where intervention is required. Companies introducing agentic AI need similar approaches to supervision. We also examine two mistakes Matt frequently sees companies make. The first is treating AI adoption as a software rollout, buying tools for employees and expecting productivity gains to appear automatically. The second is creating centralized AI centers of excellence and expecting a small group of specialists to determine how every department should use the technology. Matt argues that employees closest to business processes are often best placed to identify opportunities for improvement. At Endava, the legal team runs monthly AI hackathons to redesign its own workflows, supported by technology specialists but led by people who understand the work itself. For companies operating in payments, financial services, and other regulated industries, the conversation turns to reliability, auditability, traceability, and risk. Matt explains how Dava.Flow allows companies to translate regulatory requirements and operational controls into policies that AI systems must follow and demonstrate throughout the delivery process. Rather than searching for a single killer AI application, Matt recommends examining end-to-end business workflows. Companies can map how information moves between employees, departments, and systems, identify unnecessary handoffs and manual processes, and determine where AI agents can improve speed, cost, and performance without replacing entire technology platforms. Leadership is another major theme throughout the episode. Matt believes the companies that achieve meaningful results from AI will be led by executives who personally use the technology, understand its capabilities, and demonstrate the behaviors they expect from their workforce. He shares how Endava brought senior leaders from legal, technology, people, and other business functions together to build software agents themselves. The experience changed how executives thought about technology investments, including one leader realizing that an existing vendor contract might no longer be necessary because the company could build the required capability internally. For CIOs, CTOs, technology leaders, and business executives under pressure to demonstrate returns from AI investment, this conversation provides practical lessons on becoming AI-native, redesigning workflows, managing software agents, maintaining human accountability, operating AI in regulated industries, and moving beyond technology adoption toward measurable business value. The companies that succeed with AI may not be those buying the most tools or making the biggest announcements. They will be the ones whose leaders understand the technology, whose employees rethink how work gets done, and whose AI systems quietly become part of everyday business operations.

DOCKET ALERTS:   Todd Blanche will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week as it considers his nomination to be Attorney General. Can he advance without Senator Lindsey Graham, his biggest protector?   Judge Tim Kelly in DC reluctantly dismissed the charges against several Proud Boys gang members convicted for their roles in the January 6 assault on the Capitol after the Justice Department walked away from the appeal.   Twelve states filed an antitrust suit in California to block the merger of Paramount and Warner Brothers.   DOOFUS OF THE DAY: Patrick Byrne, the former CEO of Overstock.com, who managed to lose a defamation suit against Hunter Biden.   MAIN SHOW:   South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham passed away this weekend. We'll discuss his failures as a lawyer and the fight to replace him in Congress.   Open AI is having a rough week in court. Apple sued it in California under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, alleging that the company stole proprietary information to help it design a new phone-type gadget. And in New York, plaintiffs in a lawsuit accusing Open AI of scraping data in violation of copyright moved for sanctions because of systemic discovery violations.   SUBSCRIBER BONUS:    Trump's "settlement" with the IRS establishing the weaponization compensation fund for J6 criminals was ruled illegal by the court. Judge Kathleen Williams also referred Trump's lawyers, Alejandro Brito and Daniel Epstein, for bar discipline and sent records of this case to the courts considering discipline of Todd Blanche and Stanley Woodward.   US v. Nordean [Proud Boys] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59704048/united-states-v-nordean   California v. Paramount-Skydance https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73606877/the-state-of-california-v-paramount-skydance-corporation/   Biden v. Byrne https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67990012/robert-hunter-biden-v-patrick-m-byrne   In re OpenAI  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69879510/in-re-openai-inc-copyright-infringement-litigation   Apple v. Liu  https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73602437/apple-inc-v-liu/   Trump v. IRS [docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72207870/trump-v-internal-revenue-service/ Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Today you asked us... how much Fletch is worth, and what the biggest argument we've ever had was... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the podcast, Patrick and Tracy welcome back Michael Damian Thomas, to talk about Uncanny Magazine Year 13: The Space Unicorn Believes in YOU! About Uncanny Magazine Year 13: The Space Unicorn Believes in YOU!: We have something special planned this year, Space Unicorns. Along with it being Year 13, this year will feature our DIAMOND Issue 75! In celebration of this milestone, all of the solicited fiction contributors and two of the solicited essayists for Issue 75 have previously won an award for their Uncanny story or essay. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!? Welcome back, Space Unicorns! Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Michael Damian Thomas and Team Uncanny Magazine have run successful Kickstarters for the eight-time Hugo Award-winning, World Fantasy Award-winning, and Locus Award-winning Uncanny Magazine Years One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve. We promised to bring you stunning cover art, passionate science fiction and fantasy fiction and poetry, gorgeous prose, and provocative essays by writers from every conceivable background–not to mention a fantastic award-winning podcast featuring exclusive content. Through the hard work of our exceptional staff and contributors, Uncanny Magazine delivered on that promise every single year. Stories from Uncanny Magazine have been finalists for or winners of Hugo, Nebula, Locus, Sturgeon, Ignyte, and World Fantasy Awards! The Space Unicorn Ranger Corps, our name for the Uncanny Magazine community, made it possible for our remarkable staff and contributors to create this wonderful art for all of our readers via the web or as eBooks. THANK YOU, SPACE UNICORNS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! If you've been looking for an opportunity to join or re-up with the Space Unicorn Ranger Corps, now's your chance! We need your help to continue this mission for another year. This is your magazine, Space Unicorns! Let's make Year 13 happen! Though Uncanny continues to have multiple ways to support us, we still need the help of the Space Unicorn Kickstarter community to keep bringing you this amazing content. Unfortunately, there is a less-than-celebratory side to this Kickstarter. Recently, a very large online eBook retailor changed its terms again, and we lost all of our subscription earnings. YOUR support, specifically, makes it possible for us to make our magazine freely available on our website and to pay our contributors and staff. We need your help more than ever, Space Unicorns! About Michael Damian Thomas: Michael Damian Thomas is the eight-time Hugo, British Fantasy, World Fantasy, and Parsec Award-winning co-publisher (with Lynne M. Thomas) and editor-in-chief of the Locus Award-winning Uncanny Magazine. Michael was a Hugo Award finalist as the former Managing Editor of Apex Magazine (2012-2013), co-edited the Hugo Award finalist essay anthology Queers Dig Time Lords (Mad Norwegian Press, 2013) with Sigrid Ellis, and co-edited the anthology Glitter & Mayhem (Apex Publications, 2013) with John Klima and Lynne M. Thomas. Michael was additionally a contributor to the SF Squeecast podcast (with Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell, Seanan McGuire, Lynne M. Thomas, and Catherynne M. Valente), a contributor to the Down and Safe- Blake's 7 podcast (with Amal El-Mohtar, Scott Lynch, and L.M. Myles), and is currently the Content Editor (with Lynne M. Thomas) of the It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton podcast. Michael was formerly the full-time caregiver of his late daughter, Caitlin. Caitlin had a rare congenital disorder called Aicardi syndrome. This week's picks: Michael #1: AEW Wrestling Michael #2: Scotland History Tours (YouTube) Michael: Ruth Aisling: Discovering Scotland (YouTube) Tracy: The Chameleon (Big Potato Games) Patrick: Platform Decay: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells Links: Uncanny Magazine Year 13 on Kickstarter Tracy Townsend on BluSky Patrick Hester on Instagram The Functional Nerds Patreon Page © 2026 Patrick Hester The post Episode 710-With Uncanny Magazine's Michael Damian Thomas appeared first on The Functional Nerds.

76% of agencies and advertisers currently advertise in podcasts. Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free https://podnews.net/cc/3591 Visit https://podnews.net/update/interest-in-podcast-ads for the story links in full, and to get our daily newsletter.

Welcome to the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026 — a year of reading chosen entirely for you. Can I ask you a question? Who is nurturing you? It’s a question most homeschool moms never get asked. We pour everything into our children — our time, our creativity, our patience, our presence — and somewhere in all that nurturing, we forget that we are humans with needs too. Who Is Nurturing You? I’ve been there. I spent years showing up for everyone else and calling what was left of me enough. Occasional Wednesday nights at Starbucks with a latte and a journal were the thing that kept me going. I thought that was enough. It wasn’t. It’s cliche, but it’s true: I was surviving, not thriving. I craved time to read and write and learn for myself — not just enabling it for the kids. And when I began reading for me, I realized I could answer some of the challenges I was noticing in my homeschool family. After nearly two decades homeschooling and six years coaching women who home educate, I’ve learned that books, and their authors, can be incredible resources for us as home educators. I’ve also learned, from my own life, and the lives of other homeschool moms, we consistently DON’T put ourselves on our to-do lists. We leave our needs, our interests, our rabbit trails last on our lists. Our social lives can be abysmal (funny that onlookers are concerned that our kids aren’t socialized, when mom is driving them hither and yon, waiting in the parking lot while they meet new friends and do cool things). That’s why the Homeschool Mom Book Club 2026 exists. And that’s why I want to invite you into the 2026 lineup — twelve books, one per month, chosen entirely for the woman doing this work every single day. A Gift for the Mama Who Keeps Coming Last If you’ve been putting yourself last in your homeschool, I made something for you. It’s called the Permission Slip — 14 daily anchor practices for the homeschool mama who keeps coming last. It’s free and it’s yours. Grab it here: Yes, I Give Myself Permission You Are the Most Important Curriculum in Your Homeschool Before we get to the books, I want to say something I come back to again and again in my coaching work with homeschool moms: You are the most important curriculum in your homeschool. Not the books you choose for your kids. Not the actual curriculum you pull out each morning. And not the co-op or the field trips or the Charlotte Mason inspired nature study either. You. The way you show up. The way you regulate. Even the curiosity you model. The grace you extend — to your kids and to yourself. That is what your children are absorbing every single day. So investing in yourself isn’t something you do when you finally have time. It’s the most important work you can do for your homeschool. And a good book — and a community of women to think about it with — is one of the most accessible ways to begin. How the Homeschool Mama Book Club 2026 Works One book a month. Twelve months. Four quarterly themes that build on each other — so the reading isn’t just a list but a year-long conversation with yourself. When you’re listening to yourself, able to hear two thoughts in a row (because you know that is hard to do with kids afoot), and willing to unpack the challenges in your homeschool mom life, you’ll move toward enjoying the charms of your homeschool family life. And here’s the part I want you to hear clearly: you don’t have to read the book to show up. I know, crazy, right? A book club where you don’t HAVE to read. Of course, you’ll be more deeply benefited if you do. But I know I wouldn’t have been able to read a book a month in my busiest homeschool years and I’m certainly not expecting it of anyone else. Come for the conversation, come for the community, and come because for one Friday morning a month someone is asking what you think and what you need. Every month in the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective we gather for four Friday sessions built around each book: Roundtable Chat — the big question the book is really asking Book Club Discussion — diving into the ideas together Writer’s Room — putting pen to paper on what surfaced for you Actionable Strategies — taking what you learned and building it into your real homeschool life https://youtu.be/WX9ALm-uODU?si=j3xVN-WWRQWkyJWm The 2026–2027 Homeschool Mama Book Club Lineup ☀️ Summer — Your Inner Life June, July, August We start by turning inward. Before we can talk about education philosophy or creative practice we need to know ourselves a little better first. June — Atlas of the Heart by Brené BrownDo you actually know what you’re feeling — or are you just reacting to it? Brown maps 87 emotions and gives you the vocabulary to finally understand what’s happening inside you — and why it matters for every relationship in your home. July — The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne StabileWhy do you parent and teach the way you do? This warm, witty introduction to the Enneagram helps you understand your core motivations, your stress responses, and the invisible rules you’ve been living by without even knowing it. And when you join the Confident Homeschool Mom Collective (where the Homeschool Mama Book Club lives, you’ll have access to a workshop on how the Enneagram works in your homeschool family.) August — The Life That’s Waiting by Brianna WiestWhat would your life look like if you stopped forcing it and started living it? Wiest’s newest collection of essays is for the mom who has been pushing herself toward a life that doesn’t quite fit — and is finally ready to choose differently.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Suspect in Ann Widdecombe murder seen on CCTV getting into car with object Sam Neill obituary A versatile actor whose roles went far beyond Jurassic Park Burnham cements Labour leadership with backing of 349 MPs Trump reinstates Iran port blockade and vows 20 charge on cargo passing through Hormuz BBC documentary found spycams secretly filming women online Twelve arrested over threat to an Islamic event in Suffolk Briton tells of surviving Spain wildfire in car as wife and friends died trying to walk to safety Nigel Farage The secretive crypto firm backed by Reforms biggest donor Escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife assisted by two friends, jury told Judge voids Donald Trumps improper 1.8b IRS settlement that gave him immunity from tax audits

Apple sued OpenAI, alleging ex-employees stole trade secrets for its hardware push. Twelve states sued to block the Paramount-WBD merger, Anthropic extended free Fable 5 access as rivals raced on price, and Meta killed its Instagram AI opt-out feature. Apple sues OpenAI, alleging that ex-Apple employees stole "Apple's trade secrets for the benefit of OpenAI", and says OpenAI never responded to its concerns (9to5Mac) A coalition of 12 states led by California files an antitrust lawsuit to block Paramount's WBD merger, alleging it lessens competition in three markets (Variety) Anthropic says it is extending Claude Fable 5 access on all paid plans, as well as keeping Claude Code's weekly rate limits 50% higher, through July 19 (Economic Times) OpenAI, Meta, and SpaceXAI are racing to offer more cost-efficient AI models as enterprise customers, stung by "tokenmaxxing" bills, scrutinize their AI spending (Bloomberg) Meta says it will discontinue a feature that allowed users to generate images in Meta AI using public Instagram accounts, following days of criticism (Variety) Subscribe to the ad-free feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jodi Robuck's first beet harvest: one bunch. Maybe $3. Twelve months later, the same bed produces over $850. Not luck — he changed one variable at a time until the math worked. Click here to watch the full episode on our YouTube Channel!  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!   Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:  Instagram  Instagram Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:  Carrot Cashflow  Farm Small Farm Smart  Farm Small Farm Smart Daily  The Growing Microgreens Podcast  The Urban Farmer Podcast  The Rookie Farmer Podcast  In Search of Soil Podcast Check out Diego's books:  Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon   Ready Farmer One on Amazon **** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Original Post Date: July 15, 2024 === Gospel Matthew 10:34-11:1 Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous  will receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple– amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns. Reflection Two things strike me about this gospel passage. One, is we see Jesus in a way, frustrated. We see his humanity, his deep desire that people receive the truth, that he longs to give them. And he's constantly met with rejection. So he makes it clear to his disciples that this process of establishing a kingdom of peace is not going to be a peaceful process. There'll be tension. There'll be division. There'll be violence. But he reminds them that there's something in this whole thing that Jesus is trying to teach us about receiving something. You have to receive the message of God as it is presented in the person, Jesus. You have to allow that presence to enter into you and change you and transform you, and make you strong against those who would be against you. So Jesus wanted to make sure his disciples understood. This is not going to be a simple case of going in and doing miracles, everybody believes and then it's over. No, it'll take centuries. We're still in the process trying to figure out truth versus illusion. Closing Prayer Father, fill us with hope when things are difficult and divided and separated. Keep us in tune with your promise that what you have set out to do, you will accomplish, and we will live in the kingdom of God. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twelve US states sue Paramount Skydance over its planned takeover of Warner Brothers. We hear from California's attorney general Rob Bonta who's leading the charge against that proposed 81 billion dollar Hollywood merger. Plus, South Africa's biggest diamond mine pauses production for two years. Find out why?And what would you pay for a bit of trash from Taylor Swift's wedding?(Picture: California Attorney General Rob Bonta holds a press conference next to the iconic Hollywood sign, in Los Angeles. Credit: Reuters)

Read OnlineThe Sword of Truth and PeaceJesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household.” Matthew 10:34–36At first glance, this Gospel sounds like a mistake. Did Jesus really say this? He certainly did. Understanding this passage requires a deep and clear awareness of Christ's mission. He came to bring the true and lasting peace that comes only through adherence to the fullness of truth and cooperation with the fullness of grace.Note that this teaching was not delivered to the crowds but to the Twelve. Jesus often spoke to the crowds in parables, gently nourishing them with truths they could gradually grasp. But to the Twelve, He spoke with increasing clarity and depth. Today's Gospel is one such instance.This passage comes from what is sometimes referred to as the Missionary Discourse, in which Jesus prepares His Apostles for the upheaval their mission will bring—first as they go out two by two to the towns of Israel, and later, after the Ascension, when they are sent to the ends of the earth. At first, Jesus' words seem jarring, even paradoxical, coming from Him who is the Prince of Peace. But when we grasp their meaning, we discover the “tough love” this Gospel both encourages and demands.We all desire peace, especially within our families and communities, but peace is multifaceted and can have different meanings. On a superficial level, peace simply means the absence of conflict. While such tranquility has its place, Jesus came to offer a far greater and more enduring peace: the peace of shalom.Shalom, the Hebrew word for “peace,” signifies far more than the absence of strife. It encompasses the fullness of harmony, justice, and blessing that flow from a right relationship with God. It is a peace rooted in truth and communion with Him. Ironically, true peace can provoke division, especially when the Gospel confronts the sins and falsehoods people are unwilling to abandon.The “sword” our Lord brings is not for destruction, but for purification. It cuts away what is false so that the peace of shalom may take root. The sword Christ promises is the Truth: the living and active Word of God, “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). It cuts through deception, pierces the heart, and forces a choice—a decisive turning toward or away from Him. God directs that sword at each of us, and through us, toward others. Even familial bonds will be tested and purified by the Gospel. Sometimes that purification results in visible division. But often, such division is necessary to bring about a deeper and more lasting unity in God's truth.Which do you prefer? The mere absence of conflict at any cost—or a peace so deeply rooted in divine truth that it heals, unites, and strengthens bonds of love after purifying them? Certainly, the former is easier. Avoiding conflict is good when it means refraining from sinning against another—whether through anger, harsh judgment, or rudeness. But when conflict arises from purifying love, conveyed through the power of God's saving Word, then such conflict becomes an act of charity. It does not seek division for its own sake, but aims at the heart—at conversion and truth—rather than at preserving what is fleeting and passing.Reflect today on the kind of peace you seek in your own life. Are there areas in which you've settled for comfort rather than truth? Have you avoided necessary spiritual conflict for fear of tension, even when it might have led to growth or reconciliation? Pray for the courage to welcome the “sword” of God's Word—not to cause division, but to purify—so that the peace of shalom may take root more deeply in your heart, your relationships, and your mission. Prince of True Peace, You did not come to bring superficial peace to the world, but to bring the Sword of Truth—Your Word—that purifies and heals, so that true unity may be found. Pierce my heart with Your Word, O Lord. Cleanse me of all that separates me from You, and make me an instrument of Your purifying truth for those to whom I am sent. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: The Exhortation to the Apostles, by James TissotSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Book of the Twelve: Zechariah Trevor Hoffman Zechariah - Sermon by Trevor Hoffman

Read OnlineHeralds of the GospelJesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.” Matthew 10:16–18No one is naturally drawn to persecution. We flee from it. We are made for communion with one another. In Heaven, and in the New Heavens and New Earth at the end of time, our eternal experience will be of peace, unity, and solidarity with all as we jointly gaze upon and adore the Beatific Vision of the King of the Universe.Today, however, the kingdom of darkness retains a great hold on this fallen world. War, violence, injustice, and divisions of every kind affect families, communities, and nations because hostility is much easier to achieve than the peace and harmony that Christ seeks to establish through the inauguration of His Kingdom.One of the surest ways to avoid persecution is to stand for nothing. Those who hold no moral convictions or remain silent about the truths of the faith are unlikely to draw the world's wrath. But those who speak with clarity and charity about the eternal truths of the Gospel often find themselves the object of rejection.This was the reality for which Jesus was preparing the Twelve Apostles. Today's Gospel comes from a lengthy exhortation Jesus delivered to His Twelve as He was sending them out two by two to proclaim the arrival of the Kingdom of God. They were to go forth with courage, rely on divine providence, perform miracles, and prepare the various towns and villages to which they were sent for Jesus' coming.At first, one might think that entering a Jewish town to share the good news that the Messiah had arrived—and was soon coming to them in person—would be met with much rejoicing. However, that's not the reality for which Jesus prepared them. He offers a striking image, saying He is sending the Twelve “like sheep in the midst of wolves.” This evokes both the innocence they were to embody and the hostility they would inevitably face. As sheep, they were to act with meekness, vulnerability, and complete dependence on the Good Shepherd's providence.Today, as our Lord sends us forth to proclaim the Gospel within our families, communities, and world, we should expect nothing other than what the Twelve encountered. For example, those who uphold the Church's moral teachings publicly often provoke strong resistance. Even proclaiming that salvation is found solely through Jesus Christ can lead to hostility. The accusation is frequently made that such beliefs are intolerant or judgmental, when in truth they are rooted in love and fidelity to God's revelation—and in genuine concern for the good of every soul. If we wish to continue Jesus' mission of establishing His Kingdom, we must be prepared for persecution by knowing how to respond to it. Returning hatred for hatred or persecution for persecution is not the Gospel. Instead, we must expect and anticipate hostility when we become messengers of the Truth—and respond with serpent-like shrewdness and dove-like simplicity. We must perceive dangers, avoid traps, and navigate persecution without being naïve. We must also embrace sincerity of heart, freedom from malice, and unwavering peace. Reflect today on whether you are willing to endure hardship for the sake of Christ. Is your heart prepared to speak the truth in love and to receive rejection with peace? Pray for the grace to imitate the Apostles, who went forth not in fear but in trust. Resolve to bring the light of the Gospel into a dark and hostile world with shrewdness, simplicity, fidelity, courage, and meekness, knowing that the Good Shepherd will guide and protect you always, when you act in accord with His perfect will for the mission on which you are sent. Most glorious King, You came to establish Your Kingdom on earth in preparation for the Eternal Kingdom to come. Please send me forth to prepare the way for Your coming—into the hearts of my family and friends, into the wider community, and into every place where You call me to bear witness in the world. May I act with the shrewdness of serpents and the gentleness of doves, with wisdom and humility, as I seek to prepare the way for Your Kingdom of truth and love. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: The Apostles by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

To access premium episodes, subscribe to our Patreon: https://patreon.com/PostingThroughIt~~~Preliminary hearings began this week in the case against Tyler Robinson: the 23-year-old man accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a campus speaking event in September 2025. Jared and Mike break down the scenes at the courthouse, where a gaggle of Kirk's former employees and friends filled the gallery to watch prosecutors present their evidence against Robinson. Then they turn their attention to right-wing conspiracy theorists, who remain largely unconvinced that it was Robinson who pulled the trigger.Unlike Kirk, it seems like viral speculation about the forces behind his murder may never die. And despite TPUSA's efforts, they haven't been able to dissuading high-profile influencers like Candace Owens from just asking questions: Why didn't the bullet go all the way through Kirk's neck? Was it an inside job orchestrated by TPUSA staffers? Can we be sure Mossad wasn't involved? Or Egypt? What if Kirk is still alive and his death was staged? But before that, Jared and Mike address the campaign-ending allegations against US Senate candidate Graham Platner, who was running to dethrone Sen. Susan Collins until a former romantic partner accused him of drunkenly raping her. They also discuss the surprise rally staged by Patriot Front in DC on the Fourth of July, where some participants may or may not have soiled their khakis.Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of alleged instances of sexual assault and rape.

Many West Virginians have trouble with their teeth. In fact, there's a big gap between the folks who can reliably access an affordable dentist and those who can't. That's no surprise when half the state's counties have fewer than six dentists. National rankings consistently put West Virginia at or near the bottom in overall oral health care and a state report shows that by third grade, 56% of children show signs of tooth decay. Twelve percent of older adults have had all their teeth extracted. But as Us & Them host Trey Kay learns in this award-winning encore episode, there are new approaches that aim to change some old habits.  

Hey friends, Chase here. Every summer, I revisit conversations from the archive that have stood the test of time. Not because I'm nostalgic, but because the best ideas don't expire. They deepen. This is the first installment of Summer School, a series where we're bringing back conversations that still have something important to teach us. This episode with Brené Brown was originally recorded more than a decade ago, shortly after Daring Greatly was published. A lot has changed since then. The platforms have changed. The technology has changed. The creative landscape has changed. But one thing hasn't. If you want to make meaningful work, build something that matters, or live a creative life, you'll eventually have to face criticism, self-doubt, and the fear of being seen. That's why I keep coming back to this conversation. Brené's research reminds us that creativity and vulnerability are inseparable. You can't create something original while trying to protect yourself from judgment. You can't innovate without uncertainty. And you can't live wholeheartedly if you're constantly waiting for permission. Twelve years later, this conversation feels just as relevant—maybe even more so. Summer School: Brené Brown on Vulnerability, Creativity, and the Courage to Be Seen One of the reasons this conversation has endured is because it addresses something every creator wrestles with: how to keep showing up when criticism feels inevitable. Brené explains why vulnerability isn't weakness—it's the birthplace of creativity, innovation, trust, and meaningful connection. The people creating remarkable work aren't fearless. They're simply willing to enter the arena despite the uncertainty. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, leader, or simply trying to live more authentically, these lessons remain timeless. What You'll Hear in This Episode Why vulnerability is the foundation of creativity, not the enemy of it How fear of criticism keeps us from doing our best work What Theodore Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" speech teaches creators today Why belonging begins with belonging to yourself How perfectionism masquerades as self-protection The difference between courage and fearlessness Practical ways to create even when you're uncertain Why this conversation remains as relevant today as when it was first recorded Timecodes So You Can Jump Around 00:00 – Welcome to Summer School and why this conversation is worth revisiting 06:30 – Brené on vulnerability and why it's misunderstood 18:00 – Creativity, innovation, and the courage to be seen 32:00 – The cost of perfectionism and people-pleasing 46:00 – Theodore Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" and dealing with criticism 59:00 – Shame, resilience, and wholehearted living 73:00 – Audience Q&A 87:00 – Final thoughts and key takeaways Why This Conversation Still Matters It's remarkable how much of this conversation feels like it could have been recorded today. We're living in a world where sharing your work has never been easier—and where criticism has never traveled faster. The temptation is to wait until you're completely ready before putting yourself out there. But as Brené reminds us, waiting for certainty is often another form of hiding. The people who make meaningful work aren't the ones who eliminate vulnerability. They're the ones who learn to create alongside it. That's as true today as it was twelve years ago. Keep Exploring Brené's Work If this conversation resonates, we've been fortunate to continue exploring these ideas with Brené over the years. You might also enjoy: Daring Greatly: Unlock Your Creativity with Brené Brown Brené Brown's Rules for Overcoming Criticism and Getting in the Arena Brené Brown Revisited: The Courage to Belong in a Divided World Brené Brown: The Quest for True Belonging Questions to Reflect On Where am I holding back because I'm afraid of criticism? What would I create if I stopped waiting to feel ready? Where has perfectionism become a substitute for courage? Whose opinions have I given too much power over my creative life? What would stepping into the arena look like this week? The Core Idea The greatest creative breakthroughs don't happen after fear disappears. They happen when we're willing to create despite it. That's why this conversation continues to resonate more than a decade later. The tools have changed. The platforms have changed. But courage, vulnerability, and authentic creative expression remain timeless. If there's one lesson worth carrying forward from this Summer School session, it's this: The work that changes your life—and perhaps someone else's—is almost always waiting on the other side of vulnerability.

Read OnlineJesus said to his Apostles: “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” Matthew 10:7–8And they were off! After choosing Twelve of His disciples and naming them Apostles—that is, those who are sent—Jesus sends them out, two by two, into the towns and villages of Israel, places where He Himself would later come. They go before Him, preparing hearts to receive the fullness of the Gospel when the Lord Himself arrives.At this stage, their mission is directed solely “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). They are not to go into pagan or Samaritan regions—not yet. Only after the Passion, Resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost will they go to the ends of the earth, empowered to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). This first mission, therefore, is a foretaste—a seed of the universal mission that will blossom in the early Church and continue through missionary efforts today.In this twofold sending—first to Israel, then to all nations—we glimpse the pattern of the spiritual life: God first works inwardly, forming and healing the soul, and then sends it outward in love. Our evangelization must arise from an interior communion with Christ, deepened by grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Just as the Apostles could not be sent to the world until Pentecost, neither can we bear lasting fruit unless we, too, are first transformed by His Spirit.Consider this twofold process in your life. The Apostles' first mission can be likened to our calling to witness to the faith within our homes—to spouses, children, relatives, and close friends. But just as the Twelve had to be formed by Christ before proclaiming His Kingdom, we, too, must be formed in the school of grace. The Apostles were first called, taught, shown signs and wonders, drawn to deeper faith, and only then prepared for this first mission.Likewise, before we can effectively evangelize even within our families, our own conversion must be sincere. For example, parents hand on the faith to their children not merely by teaching doctrine, but by living a faith that is visibly alive. Daily prayer, faithful attendance at Mass, and a genuine love for Christ in the home form the atmosphere in which grace can flourish. This must flow from an interior transformation—similar to the Apostles, who left everything to follow Jesus and were gradually conformed to His mind and heart.That the Apostles were sufficiently prepared to proclaim the Kingdom is evident in Jesus' words as He sends them forth. To “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons,” and to give freely what they themselves had received, reveals that they had already been entrusted with much. Their transformation was not yet complete, but it was real. And Christ, knowing their weaknesses, still entrusted them with His power—because their hearts were open and receptive to grace.So it is with us. Unless we allow Christ to heal, instruct, and sanctify us—unless we live in daily communion with Him—we will struggle to pass on the faith, even to those closest to us. Evangelization does not begin with strategies or words, but with lives deeply conformed to Christ. Only then will we be able to proclaim, with credibility and power, that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Reflect today on this first mission upon which Jesus sent His Apostles. See in their example your own calling: to be formed interiorly by grace so that you become a living witness to the Kingdom of God within you. Begin with those closest to you and, from there, remain attentive to the ways the Holy Spirit leads you to bring the Gospel even farther. As with the Apostles, trust that your response to grace will bear fruit in ways fully known only to God.My Lord and King, You desire that Your Kingdom be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Please first establish Your Kingdom in my soul, conforming me to Your reign. From there, please use me as an instrument of Your grace for those closest to me and to all to whom You wish to send me. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Jesus blesses the Apostolic College by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

The Lord gives his authority to the Twelve, inspiring us to receive Christ's call in our hearts today and swiftly respond with joyful faith. (Lectionary #385) July 8, 2026 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – Matthew 10:1-7 – Jesus summoned His Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'” Bishop Sheen quote of the day

The fight for Dan Markel justice continues as members of the Adelson family remain behind bars or face ongoing legal proceedings in the murder-for-hire case that shocked the nation. In this episode of the STS podcast, we examine the latest developments in the pursuit of Dan Markel justice, how the Markel family continues to honor Dan's legacy, and what legal battles may still lie ahead. The call for Dan Markel justice remains at the center of one of the biggest stories in true crime news. Join Emmy Award-winning journalist Joel Waldman and the #BestGuests in true crime as they discuss the convictions, pending cases, and unanswered questions that continue to surround the murder-for-hire plot. We explore the impact on Ruth Markel and the Markel family, the upcoming legal proceedings involving Donna Adelson, and whether additional accountability could still emerge as the investigation and court cases continue. More than a decade after Dan Markel's murder, his family remains committed to seeking justice while preserving his legacy as a father, scholar, and beloved son. This episode delivers a direct, conversational, and concise update with expert legal analysis, compelling real crime stories, inspiring survivor stories, the latest true crime news, discussions of significant cold cases, and trusted coverage from the STS podcast.Key Points from the Episode: The ongoing fight for Dan Markel justice Current legal status of the Adelson family cases The Markel family's continued pursuit of accountability Latest developments in the murder-for-hire investigation Donna Adelson's upcoming legal proceedings Expert legal analysis from the #BestGuests Dan Markel's lasting legacy and the road ahead Today marks the 12th yahrzeit of Dan Markel, the beloved Florida State University law professor who was murdered in a shocking murder-for-hire plot outside his Tallahassee home in 2014. Twelve years later, Dan's family continues its relentless fight for justice as one of the nation's most closely followed true crime cases remains in the spotlight.  Dan Markel was ambushed and fatally shot in what prosecutors described as a murder-for-hire conspiracy following a bitter custody dispute. The case has led to convictions and prosecutions involving members of the Adelson family, including Dan's ex brother-in-law Charlie Adelson and his ex mother-in-law Donna Adelson. Dan's ex-wife, Wendi Adelson, continues to be a central figure in public discussion surrounding the case--and what happens next in the pursuit of justice.  Join STS and Ruth Markel, Dan's mom, as we honor Dan Markel's life, remember his legacy, and discuss why the fight for truth and justice is not over yet.  #DanMarkel #WendiAdelson #DonnaAdelson #CharlieAdelson #JusticeForDanMarkel #TrueCrime #MurderForHire #Tallahassee #STSSubscribe Subscribe, Like & Set Alerts to "ALL" for show times & breaking news. https://www.youtube.com/@SurvivingThe... Become a Member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-yr... Support the show & be a part of #STSNation: Donate to STS' Trial Travel: Https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/GJ... VENMO: @STSPodcast or Https://www.venmo.com/stspodcast Check out STS Merch: Https://www.bonfire.com/store/sts-store/ Joel's Book: Https://amzn.to/48GwbLx Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SurvivingTheSurvivor Email: SurvivingTheSurvivor@gmail.com Surviving The Survivor is a leading destination for true crime analysis, breaking crime news, murder trial coverage, criminal investigati... Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sixteen children. One room. Twelve feet by twelve feet. The Ohio attorney general stood at a podium this week and said out loud that if investigators had waited one more day, some of them might not have made it. Chalene is breaking this one down carefully, because there's a part of this story that almost nobody is talking about, and it changes everything. Then there's a story that's going to make you think twice before booking any cosmetic procedure. Three patients. One doctor. All within a few months of each other. That doctor is still practicing today, and there's a reason that's completely legal. This one is important. Share it with someone you love. And because the world never stops delivering, two influencers broke into the Empire State Building on Monday night, climbed to the top of the antenna at 1,450 feet, got engaged, and were in handcuffs by morning. Their one comment to reporters outside court is genuinely unbelievable. Go Beyond The Podcast Join Chalene on her private podcast 

In 2008, University of Wisconsin–Madison student Brittany Zimmermann was murdered in her apartment in the middle of the day, and then the trail went cold. An unlikely informant leads the police to search for two mystery men, a theory that would steer the investigation for years. As time passed and leads fell apart, the case slowly faded from view. Twelve years later, detectives discovered the truth wasn't buried; it had been right in front of them all along.Get instant access to all episodes, including premium unreleased episodes, commercial-free at swordandscale.com