Podcasts about Tyre

What if the two massive bronze pillars at the entrance of Solomon's Temple were never meant to hold anything up, but were meant to tell everyone who entered something about God? In 1 Kings 7, Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy Gimpel discover the powerful meaning behind Yachin and Boaz, the remarkable craftsman who helped build the Temple, and the deeper connection between Israel, the nations, and the House of God. In this chapter we learn: -Solomon's 13-year palace and the striking contrast with the seven years spent building the House of God. -Hiram the craftsman, a man connected to both Israel and Tyre, and his connection to Betzalel and the construction of the Mishkan. -The biblical pattern of righteous people from the nations becoming part of Israel's story, including Rahav, Ruth, Yitro, and Hiram. -The significance of the enormous bronze pillars Yachin and Boaz at the entrance to the Temple. -Why Yachin means “He will establish” and Boaz means “In Him is strength.” -The deeper calling of Israel to be a testimony to the nations and a light pointing toward the prophetic future of Jerusalem.

What happens when Israel finally experiences peace? In 1 Kings Chapter 5, Solomon rules over a kingdom at rest, Israel dwells securely under its vine and fig tree, and the conditions are finally in place to begin building the Temple. But this chapter asks a question that reaches far beyond ancient Israel: when Hashem gives us peace, what will we build with it? In this chapter of Prophets of Israel Daily, Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy Gimpel explore the deeper meaning of Solomon's peaceful kingdom, the connection between Solomon's borders and God's promise to Abraham, the "vine and fig tree" as a picture of redemption, and the extraordinary partnership between Israel and Hiram, the king of Tyre. In this chapter, learn: -Why 1 Kings 5 may give us a picture of the "days of old" we ask Hashem to renew. -Solomon's kingdom stretching from the Euphrates toward the border of Egypt—and its connection to the covenant with Abraham. -The biblical meaning of Israel dwelling securely "under his vine and under his fig tree." -Why peace is not the goal, but the opportunity to build. -Solomon's extraordinary wisdom and his "breadth of heart." -Hiram, the king of Tyre, and the role of the nations in helping build the House of God. -The powerful connection between Solomon's builders and the reality of Israeli reserve duty today. -The imagery of stones being shaped in the quarry—out of sight—as a picture of where Israel may be today. -The question Solomon's generation leaves for us: When Hashem finally gives us the quiet, what will we build with it?

Silca claims to have found the fastest tyre compound for their new road and gravel tyres. While we debate some Cat 5 racers behave baldly. What are "junk" miles and Jesse has his quarterly crisis about the future of racing and riding.

Esarhaddon inherited the Neo-Assyrian Empire at the height of its power—but his kingship looked very different from that of the warrior-kings who came before him. Plagued by questions of legitimacy, surrounded by prophets and diviners, and often absent from his own military campaigns, Esarhaddon nevertheless presided over an extraordinarily aggressive and successful Assyrian state.This episode follows the first half of Esarhaddon's reign: the rebuilding of Babylon, the rise of prophecy as a political force, wars against Chaldeans and Arabs, the arrival of the Cimmerians, the destruction of Sidon, the treaty with Baal of Tyre, and the strange expedition to Bazu. Along the way, we look at how Assyrian kingship was changing, how religion and factional politics shaped the court, and how an empire built for conquest could continue functioning even when its king was no longer personally leading every army.Music from the show: oldeststories.net/music (or search "Oldest Stories Music")Support the show:Books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate: oldeststories.netPatreon / YouTube members get bonus episodes: patreon.com/JamesBleckleyNo-AI readings of ancient texts: youtube.com/@osnightreading

Why was God so angry with Tyre, and how does Tyre’s history prove the Bible is true?In this episode of Shadows to Substance, Pastor George Sayour explores the biblical and historical significance of the Mediterranean city of Tyre.Though Tyre was once an ally of Israel through David, Solomon, and King Hiram, Scripture repeatedly pronounces judgment against it in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, and Zechariah.George shows how prophecies about Tyre were fulfilled through Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander the Great, and later historical judgments, while also pointing to the deeper issue beneath Tyre’s downfall: pride, wealth, self-sufficiency, and rejection of God. Yet even in judgment, Scripture holds out hope that Gentile nations like Tyre can be humbled, restored, and brought under the lordship of Christ.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260821dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Matthew 15:21-22 Don’t Think You Are Not Welcome This woman had every reason to stay away from Jesus. She was a Canaanite. Jesus was a Jew. For centuries, there had been a separation between Jews and Gentiles. The Canaanites were not part of Israel. They were not heirs of the Old Testament covenant in the same way the Jewish people were. Yet she came anyway. Desperation certainly played a role. Her daughter was suffering terribly. But there was something more. This woman believed that Jesus could help. She even addressed him as “Lord, Son of David,” recognizing him as the promised Messiah. Somehow, she had come to trust that this Jewish teacher was more than a teacher. He was the Savior. What happened next might seem discouraging at first. Jesus initially remained silent. Then he spoke of being sent to the lost sheep of Israel. Yet the woman did not give up. She continued to plead for mercy. She trusted that Jesus’ compassion was greater than the barriers that seemed to stand between them. And she was right. By the end of the account, Jesus praised her faith and granted her request. Her daughter was healed, and the outsider was welcomed. What a beautiful picture of God’s grace toward us. By nature, we too were outsiders. Sin separated us from God. We had no claim upon his favor and no right to stand in his presence. Yet he came to save the world. Through his perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, he opened the door of salvation to all people. Like the Canaanite woman, we approach Jesus empty-handed. We come seeking mercy, not deserving rewards. We come confessing our need, not our worthiness. And like that woman, we discover that Jesus welcomes us. So come to him boldly. The mercy you seek is found in him, and his welcome is greater than you ever expected. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for welcoming me into your family through your saving grace. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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John Maytham speaks to Nduduzo Chala about potential Chinese investment in South Africa's tyre manufacturing industry. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An IDF soldier answers the genocide charge with what he saw in Gaza.In this episode, Pastor Nathan Brown talks with Rabbi Pesach Wolicki and his son, IDF reserve Sergeant First Class Meir Wolicki, who served three years in Gaza and Lebanon. The rabbi opens Psalm 83 as the Bible's theology of war, and the IDF soldier walks through evacuating civilians, the famine claims, and the first Gazan family he ever saw. Perfect for the commute or the drive home.You'll Learn:✅ Why Psalm 83 names Philistia and Tyre, and where those places are today✅ How an IDF soldier answers the genocide and starvation charges✅ What Exodus 19 says about God's purpose for Israel and the nations✅ Why one rabbi says Christians are ignoring the persecuted Church

Every great artist from Caravaggio to Frida Kahlo has fought the same invisible war, and Stephen Roach makes the case that it is not a coincidence.In this solo reflection, Stephen traces a decade-long question that has haunted him: why does creative expression seem to attract so much internal and external opposition? Drawing on scripture, church history, and the lives of artists who battled addiction, trauma, and mental illness, he builds a case for why creativity and faith are so deeply intertwined, and why that connection makes artists a centerpiece in a spiritual battle. He highlights an uncanny parallel between the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28 and the artisans in Exodus, then lands in the present moment, asking what it means to keep making human art in an age of artificial intelligence. Listeners will walk away with a framework for understanding creative resistance and a renewed sense of why their work matters.KEY TOPICS COVERED• Why creativity is rooted in the image of God• The historical pattern of struggle among great artists, from addiction to mental illness• The church's complicated relationship with the arts• What the rise of AI means for the future of human creativity• Why art may be the last human frontier in an automated worldABOUT THE HOSTStephen Roach is the host of Makers and Mystics, a podcast exploring the intersection of creativity, faith, and the human experience. He is an artist, curator, poet, and musician. He is currently writing How to See Invisible Things, a book exploring the inner life of art and faith. Stephen has spent over a decade advocating for creativity as a spiritual discipline.RESOURCES AND LINKS The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - referenced for its concept of Resistance and creative struggleSend us Fan MailSupport the showSign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1Connect with Makers & MysticsWebsite: https://makersandmystics.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmysticsInstagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO to this reflection on YouTubeA special guest for our series this Sunday. Fr. Jesse Hiett, a diocesan priest from Springfield-Cape Girardeau, MO here in the United States.His email: frhiett@semocatholic.orgMatthew 15:21-28At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus' disciples came and asked him,"Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."He said in reply,"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply,"It is not right to take the food of the childrenand throw it to the dogs." She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scrapsthat fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply,"O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.

Read OnlineDivine Humiliation“It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” Matthew 15:26–28Imagine the Son of God referring to you as a dog. For most people, that would be deeply offensive. So why would Jesus do such a thing? He did so, in part, to draw forth from this woman an act of profound humility and faith. Through this moment of divine humiliation, Jesus invited her to rise to a heroic response, prompting Him to exclaim, “O woman, great is your faith!” He desires to do the same with each one of us.When Jesus first encountered this woman, He saw into her soul and perceived the depth of her faith. As God, He knew everything about her—her suffering, her love for her daughter, her perseverance. He also knew He would heal the girl, yet He did not do so immediately. Instead, He engaged in what theology refers to as divine pedagogy—a method of instruction by which God teaches slowly, carefully, and with purpose. In this case, Jesus used the moment to teach His disciples, and us, a profound lesson about humility and unwavering faith. He tested her, and she passed the test marvelously.The location of this encounter is also significant. It took place in the region of Tyre and Sidon, in modern-day Lebanon—a Gentile territory known for its Greek-speaking population and pagan customs. The woman is specifically identified as a Canaanite, evoking the memory of Israel's ancient enemies. And yet, it is precisely this outsider—this woman of seemingly little spiritual privilege—who becomes a model of the faith the chosen people were meant to embody.She first approaches Jesus, crying out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” By calling Him, “Son of David,” she reveals her belief in His messianic identity. But what does Jesus do? Nothing. He appears to ignore her—not because He is displeased or uncaring, but because He is testing her faith, knowing full well she will persevere and shine.God often allows similar experiences in the lives of the faithful. It's easy to assume that if we follow Christ, we will be shielded from difficulty. On the contrary, one of the most powerful ways God forms His saints is by allowing them to undergo trials. These trials, far from being signs of abandonment, are invitations to heroic virtue. They are divine tests. And God never permits more than we can endure by His grace.If that seems confusing or difficult to accept, we need only look to the Son of God Himself. Though Jesus was perfect, it was the Father's will that He endure the deepest depths of humiliation: rejection, persecution, suffering, and death. Through this ultimate “divine pedagogy,” the Son not only conquered sin and death but also taught us how to follow Him—by transforming our humiliation into humility, our weakness into strength, and our suffering into sanctification. In this way, God's power is made perfect in our weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9).As the conversation with the woman unfolds, Jesus continues to appear distant, yet He knows she will not give up. Her faith and her love for her daughter drive her to persevere. She humbly persists through every trial, and in doing so, she wins grace—not only for herself and her daughter, but also for the disciples who witnessed the exchange and for all who read her story today.Reflect today on the ways God may be inviting you to a deeper faith through silence, delay, or trial. Could He be calling you, like this woman, to heroic humility and steadfast trust? Embrace those moments of divine testing, for they are often the very means by which His greatest works of grace are accomplished—in you and through you.Divine Teacher and Guide, You teach us through Your Word, Your actions, and even through Your silence. When You are silent in the midst of trials and tribulations, grant me the grace to persevere in faith, trusting that You will never abandon me. Help me to understand that every trial You permit is an invitation to deeper trust, so that Your grace and glory may be revealed in me, and through me, shine forth to others. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Woman of Canaan, by Harold CoppingSource: 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.

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and begged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And He answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:21-28)

Your Throne, O God, Is ForeverTo the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil[a] of the Sons of Korah; a love song.45 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;    I address my verses to the king;    my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men;    grace is poured upon your lips;    therefore God has blessed you forever.3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,    in your splendor and majesty!4 In your majesty ride out victoriously    for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;    let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!5 Your arrows are sharp    in the heart of the king's enemies;    the peoples fall under you.6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.    The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;7     you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.Therefore God, your God, has anointed you    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;8     your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;9     daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;    at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:    forget your people and your father's house,11     and the king will desire your beauty.Since he is your lord, bow to him.12     The people[b] of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,    the richest of the people.[c]13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.14     In many-colored robes she is led to the king,    with her virgin companions following behind her.15 With joy and gladness they are led along    as they enter the palace of the king.16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons;    you will make them princes in all the earth.17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;    therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.+++For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com. Every weekday at 3:30 am and 7:30 am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on KSPD 94.5 FM and 790 AM Boise's Solid Talk in the Treasure Valley,  Idaho, USA.If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.  If you enjoy The Gospel for Life, please give us a rating and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. That helps us a lot!Phone: (208) 991-3526E-mail: thegospelforlifeidaho@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://www.790kspd.com/gospel-for-life/to donate on line https://www.reformationboise.com/donate

 31 And again going out of the coasts of Tyre, he came by Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.Et iterum exiens de finibus Tyri, venit per Sidonem ad mare Galilaeae inter medios fines Decapoleos. 32 And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.Et adducunt ei surdum, et mutum, et deprecabantur eum, ut imponat illi manum. 33 And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:Et apprehendens eum de turba seorsum, misit digitos suos in auriculas ejus : et exspuens, tetigit linguam ejus : 34 And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened.et suscipiens in caelum, ingemuit, et ait illi : Ephphetha, quod est, Adaperire. 35 And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right.Et statim apertae sunt aures ejus, et solutum est vinculum linguae ejus, et loquebatur recte. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man. But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal did they publish it.Et praecepit illis ne cui dicerent. Quanto autem eis praecipiebat, tanto magis plus praedicabant : 37 And so much the more did they wonder, saying: He hath done all things well; he hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.et eo amplius admirabantur, dicentes : Bene omnia fecit : et surdos fecit audire, et mutos loqui.Hyppolytus was a guardian of St Lawrence and baptised by him. He was tied by the legs to wild horses in 260 A.D.St Cassian was a schoolmaster at Imola. He was pierced to death by his pagan pupils in 320 A.D.

Historically, the people of Tyre and Sidon were enemies of God's people. It's no wonder, then, that the Evangelist draws our attention to the presence of a Canaanite woman there who confesses the truth about Jesus as the Son of David as she prays for His mercy upon her daughter. Jesus' seemingly enigmatic responses throughout teach His disciples about the nature of His ultimate ministry to Gentiles, even as Jesus also tests the woman's faith. Despite Jesus' harsh responses, she continues to cling to Him, knowing that she is a Gentile sinner but that He is the generous God who has enough for her to have some crumbs. Jesus vindicates her faith in Him and gives her the mercy He loves to give.  Rev. Charles St-Onge, pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 15:21-28.  “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

31 And again going out of the coasts of Tyre, he came by Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.Et iterum exiens de finibus Tyri, venit per Sidonem ad mare Galilaeae inter medios fines Decapoleos. 32 And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.Et adducunt ei surdum, et mutum, et deprecabantur eum, ut imponat illi manum. 33 And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:Et apprehendens eum de turba seorsum, misit digitos suos in auriculas ejus : et exspuens, tetigit linguam ejus : 34 And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened.et suscipiens in caelum, ingemuit, et ait illi : Ephphetha, quod est, Adaperire. 35 And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right.Et statim apertae sunt aures ejus, et solutum est vinculum linguae ejus, et loquebatur recte. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man. But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal did they publish it.Et praecepit illis ne cui dicerent. Quanto autem eis praecipiebat, tanto magis plus praedicabant : 37 And so much the more did they wonder, saying: He hath done all things well; he hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.et eo amplius admirabantur, dicentes : Bene omnia fecit : et surdos fecit audire, et mutos loqui.St Tiburtius was the son of the prefect of Rome and he was a Roman deacon. He was beheaded after suffering many cruel torments in 286 A.D.St Susanna was a holy virgin of high lineage. She refused to marry the son of Diocletian. She was beheaded after grievous torments in 295 A.D.

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In this episode, we explore one of Jesus' most memorable encounters: a Canaanite woman who comes to him as an outsider, crosses every boundary, and simply pleads, “Have mercy on me.” As Jesus appears to reject her, she refuses to argue for her worthiness and instead holds him to the promise that his mercy is for sinners—even dogs like her who have nothing to offer but their need. Her “great faith” isn't her persistence or ability to convince Jesus; it's the faith that receives his mercy as a gift and trusts that God's kingdom is not about being treated fairly, but about Christ having mercy on the unworthy.GOSPEL Matthew 15:21-2821 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.CARE OF SOULS: DEATHIn Care of Souls, a special mini-series podcast from Luther House of Study, Lutheran pastors and theologians come together to explore the deeply personal and pastoral task of preaching to and caring for those facing death, grief, and loss.Rooted in the theology of the cross and the Lutheran tradition of radical grace, this series offers both theological depth and practical guidance for pastors, church workers, and lay leaders.Across five episodes, the hosts tackle tough but essential questions on death:How does Lutheran theology speak uniquely to death and grief?What does faithful pastoral care look like when walking alongside those who mourn?How can pastors offer both honesty and hope in the face of tragedy and loss?What does ministry look like when death impacts the pastor as well as the congregation?Why do funerals matter, and what is God giving through them?With conversations, real-life stories, and reflections from the front lines of ministry, Care of Souls equips listeners to enter the sorrow of death not with easy answers, but with the crucified and risen Christ.Because in the end, it's not about avoiding death—it's about hearing the Gospel from the One who has passed through death and opened the way to life.Listen to Care of Souls wherever you listen to podcasts or on the Luther House website: Care of SoulsSupport the showInterested in sponsoring an episode of Scripture First?Email Sarah at sarah@lhos.org or visit our donation page: lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate

This is one of the more challenging Sundays of the year, and its texts all press toward the same difficult question: who is inside God's people, and by what authority is the boundary drawn?The Gospel gives us the story of the Canaanite woman — a scene that has troubled Christian readers for centuries because Jesus appears, at first, to refuse her request and to compare her people to dogs. What she does with his answer, and what he does with hers, is one of the most striking moments in Matthew. We will handle the passage with care and honesty about how difficult it is.The Old Testament tracks lead toward the Gospel from complementary angles. Track One brings us the moment of reconciliation in Genesis — Joseph revealing himself to the brothers who sold him — paired with Psalm 133's famous celebration of kindred living together in unity. Track Two brings us Isaiah's expansive invitation to foreigners to join themselves to the Lord, paired with Psalm 67's prayer for God's blessing to reach all nations. The Epistle continues in Romans 11 with what may be Paul's clearest word against the church's later attempts to replace or displace Israel: God has not rejected his people, and the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.For preachers continuing a series: the Matthew arc is now on the threshold of Peter's great confession at Caesarea Philippi, which comes next week. But before Jesus arrives there, the Gospel takes him first through a challenging encounter with a Gentile woman who insists on being heard.The ReadingsGenesis 45:1–15First Reading (Track One) — Joseph Reveals HimselfSummaryThe Joseph story reaches its most tender turning point. Joseph has been elevated in Egypt. His brothers, driven by famine, have come to Egypt to buy grain, not knowing that the powerful Egyptian official standing in front of them is the brother they sold into slavery decades ago. Joseph has tested them, wept privately more than once, and now can hold back no longer. He sends the Egyptians away so that he can weep in private with his family. And then he tells them: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. They are speechless with fear. He reassures them, kisses them, and weeps again.Key Ideas for Preaching* This scene has been prepared by pages of pain. The reconciliation does not happen quickly, and it does not happen because the brothers deserve it. Where in your congregation are people carrying the pain that comes before reconciliation, and how might this text steady them without pretending the timeline is short?* Joseph names what happened plainly — I am Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. He does not paper over the wrong. But he also does not turn the naming into a weapon. What does it look like to preach a reconciliation that tells the truth about what happened without weaponizing it?* Joseph's theological interpretation — that God sent him ahead of the brothers to preserve life — has been misused throughout Christian history as a formula for “God used the bad thing for good.” Read within the story, it is Joseph's hard-won meaning, offered to his brothers as a gift so they can live with what they did. Where in your congregation has “God used it for good” been forced on people prematurely, and how might Joseph's own timing correct that?* The reconciliation happens through tears, not explanation. Joseph weeps three times in this scene. How might your sermon honor the role of grief in real reconciliation — the weeping that has to happen before the family can eat together again?Significant Cautions* “God sent me before you to preserve life” is Joseph's interpretation of his own experience. It should not be handed to any suffering person as an explanation of what God is doing in their life. Joseph earned that meaning through years of hardship; no one else should have to earn a lecture on it.* The reconciliation is real but incomplete. The brothers remain afraid. Jacob will hear the news and be transformed. The years of harm have consequences that this scene does not undo. Do not preach reconciliation as if it erases the past.* The trafficking of Joseph, which we read about two weeks ago, is not made good by his elevation. Do not use his rise to soften the reality of what was done to him.Psalm 133The Psalm (Track One) — How Very Good and PleasantSummaryOne of the shortest psalms in the Bible, and one of the most quoted. How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity. The psalm reaches for two vivid images — oil running down Aaron's head onto his beard and clothing, and dew falling on the mountains — to describe what such unity is like. The psalm closes with the observation that this is where the Lord commanded blessing.Photo courtesy of the Catholic ScotKey Ideas for Preaching* The psalm's images are surprisingly bodily — oil on the head, running down the beard, falling on the collar; dew on mountains. Unity, for the psalmist, is something felt and touched, not just theorized. Where has your congregation reduced unity to an idea that can be agreed on, when the psalm imagines something more embodied?* Read alongside today's Genesis reading, the psalm's celebration of kindred in unity comes at the cost of what preceded it in Joseph's story. Unity is real, and it is also the fruit of long, painful work. How might your sermon hold both together?Significant Cautions* Do not preach unity as the suppression of difference. The psalm celebrates kindred living together, not kindred pretending to be identical.* “Kindred” can be read narrowly — only our people, only our tribe. In light of today's Isaiah and Matthew readings, the wider point of the day is that God's kindred is larger than we thought.Isaiah 56:1, 6–8First Reading (Track Two) — A House of Prayer for All PeoplesSummaryThe prophet speaks a word from God that extends the covenant beyond the boundaries of ethnic Israel. The verses selected for today focus on foreigners who have joined themselves to the Lord — they are welcomed to the holy mountain, their offerings will be accepted, and God's house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. God declares plainly: I will gather still others besides those already gathered. (The verses between 1 and 6, not included in the reading, extend the same welcome to eunuchs — a striking expansion for its time.)Key Ideas for Preaching* The prophet is naming a widening of the people of God that many in the community would have resisted. Foreigners are welcomed. God's house is a house of prayer for all peoples. Where in your congregation is this widening still contested, and how might Isaiah's word speak to it?* The verses skipped by the lectionary include the equally striking welcome of eunuchs — people who could not have children and were, in the ancient world, excluded from full covenant standing. The wider prophetic vision includes people whose bodies and identities the community had already written off. What might it look like to name that omitted section in your sermon, so that its welcome is not left silent?* “I will gather still others besides those already gathered.” That is God's own commitment to keep expanding the people. Where has your congregation quietly assumed that the gathering is complete?Significant Cautions* Do not use this text to bless or condemn any modern political program — the prophet is speaking about God's covenant people, not about state immigration policy.* “House of prayer for all peoples” was quoted by Jesus in the temple. That connection is worth naming, but be careful not to use the connection to displace the original Jewish audience of the prophet.Psalm 67The Psalm (Track Two) — Let All the Peoples Praise YouSummaryA short psalm that opens with the language of the priestly blessing — may God be gracious to us and bless us — but extends outward almost immediately. The whole point of God's blessing on this people is that God's saving power might be known among all nations. “Let all the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.” The psalm closes with the harvest and God's blessing reaching to the ends of the earth.Key Ideas for Preaching* The blessing on this people, in this psalm, is for the sake of all peoples. God's grace does not stop with those who first receive it. Where has your congregation received God's grace as if it were for their consumption, and how might this psalm turn it outward?* The refrain “let all the peoples praise you” is repeated for emphasis. It is not a decorative flourish; it is the psalm's central conviction. What might your sermon do with the specific vision of every people praising God?Significant Cautions* Do not read “all the peoples” as a program for religious conquest. The psalm imagines every people praising God, not becoming absorbed into any one particular tradition.Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32The Epistle — The Irrevocable GiftsSummaryPaul asks the direct question: has God rejected his people, Israel? His answer is emphatic: by no means. He himself is a Jew, an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, and God has not rejected the people God foreknew. The lectionary jumps ahead to Paul's summary: the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. All — Jews and Gentiles both — have been disobedient in various ways, and God has bound all to disobedience so that God may have mercy on all.Key Ideas for Preaching* Paul, a Jew writing to Gentile Christians, is at pains to insist that God has not abandoned Israel. In a Christian tradition that has too often taught the opposite, Paul's word is worth reading slowly and letting land. What does it look like to preach this text in a way that names, and refuses, the church's long anti-Jewish history?* “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” That is one of the most beautiful sentences Paul ever wrote. God does not take back what God has given. Where in your congregation are people afraid that God has taken back what God once gave them — a calling, a gift, an assurance — and how might Paul steady them?* “God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that God may be merciful to all.” That is a startling formulation. The mercy is the point; the disobedience is the honest naming of what has to be met by mercy. How might your sermon land the “so that God may be merciful to all” without softening or hurrying?Significant Cautions* This passage is one of the clearest arguments in Scripture against the church's later teaching that Christianity has replaced Judaism. Preach it against that teaching plainly, without softening. Paul is not saying God has moved on from Israel — he is saying explicitly the opposite.* “God has imprisoned all in disobedience” has been misread as a claim that God causes sin. Paul is describing a spiritual condition, not authoring it. Handle the language carefully.* The universal reach of God's mercy in this text — “mercy on all” — has sparked long debates. Do not try to settle those debates on the pulpit. Let Paul's language stand.Matthew 15:(10–20), 21–28The Gospel — The Canaanite WomanSummaryTwo scenes here, though many preachers focus on the second. In the first (verses 10–20, optional), Jesus teaches that what defiles a person is not what enters the body but what comes out of it — out of the heart. The teaching pushes against the ritual purity system that separated people. Then the second scene: Jesus withdraws to the region of Tyre and Sidon — Gentile territory. A Canaanite woman comes out to him, crying for mercy — her daughter is tormented. Jesus does not answer her. The disciples urge him to send her away. He says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She kneels before him: “Lord, help me.” He says, “It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.” Her answer is one of the most famous lines in the Gospels: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Jesus responds: “Woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you as you wish.” Her daughter is healed instantly.Key Ideas for Preaching* This is one of the hardest passages in the Gospels. Jesus's initial response to the Canaanite woman is not kind. He ignores her, then he says his mission is not to her people, then he uses language that compares her people to dogs. Preachers have handled this text in a dozen different ways over the centuries, and there is no scholarly consensus about what to make of Jesus's behavior. Be honest with your congregation about the difficulty rather than pretending it resolves neatly.* What the passage clearly does is present a Gentile woman as faithful, quick-witted, and correct. She wins the argument. Her faith is what Jesus praises. Where in your congregation has faith been imagined as something that agrees with authority quietly, and how might this woman's persistent, argumentative faith rewrite that picture?* Jesus's ministry visibly expands in this scene. Whatever the initial exchange means, the ending is that a Gentile woman's daughter is healed by the same Jesus whose ministry has, until now, focused on Israel. Something has widened. How might your sermon honor the widening without smoothing over what came before it?* The woman does not accept the terms of the exchange. She does not say, “You're right, I don't deserve it.” She reframes the metaphor and turns it back on Jesus with a wit and dignity that carry the whole scene. What might your people learn from her about the faithfulness of persistent asking — even, sometimes, of talking back?* The word “Canaanite” is Matthew's specific choice (Mark calls her Syrophoenician). Matthew is deliberately reaching back to the ancient enemies of Israel — the Canaanites — and making a point about how far God's welcome now extends. Take a moment to name this if you have space; it deepens the scene considerably.* Read alongside Isaiah 56 and Romans 11, this scene is part of a day whose whole shape is the widening of God's people. The Gospel is the hardest text of the day, but it does not stand alone. How might your sermon set it inside the day's larger movement rather than reading it in isolation?Significant Cautions* Do not paper over Jesus's initial words. He calls the woman's people, in effect, dogs — a real slur in the ancient world. Sermons that pretend the language is not shocking miss what the passage is doing.* Different faithful readers make different sense of Jesus's initial response. Some read it as testing the woman. Some read it as Jesus giving voice to the prejudice of his time so that his final answer breaks it. Some read it as Jesus's own limited understanding being challenged and changed. Do not preach as if the question has been settled. Faithful readings differ.* Whatever you make of Jesus's initial response, be clear that the woman is not being taught a lesson about her place. The passage is not endorsing Jesus's opening line. The woman's answer, and Jesus's praise of her faith, together indicate that her side of the exchange is the right side.* “Great is your faith” has sometimes been used to shame people whose prayers are not answered — as if the woman got what she asked for because she believed hard enough, and anyone who has not received healing lacks her faith. Preach against that misuse plainly.* The optional verses (10–20) about what defiles a person are worth including if you have time. They set up the second scene: Jesus has just said that ritual purity does not determine who is close to God. The Canaanite woman is the immediate test case.Thematic ConnectionsThe Gospel is the natural center for the day, and it is one of the most difficult passages the year hands us. The whole day pushes toward the same question: who is inside God's people, and by what authority is that boundary drawn?On Track One, Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers gives us a picture of unity that has been earned through long grief. The reunion is real, and it is also incomplete — the brothers remain afraid, and the years cannot be undone. Psalm 133 celebrates unity, but the Genesis story has already shown us how much labor unity actually takes. Preachers on Track One can hold the difficulty of the Gospel alongside the fact that the widening of God's family has never been quick or clean.On Track Two, the connection to the Gospel is more direct. Isaiah 56 announces that foreigners will be welcomed to the holy mountain and that God's house will be a house of prayer for all peoples. Psalm 67 celebrates the ways God's blessing on this people is for the sake of all peoples. Read alongside the Canaanite woman's story, the track prepares the ear for the widening that is happening in the Gospel scene, however uncomfortable the way in.Romans 11 sits inside the day as the most direct word for preachers who have followed the Romans arc across the summer. God has not rejected God's people. The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God's mercy is extended to all. This is Paul's answer to the anti-Jewish readings of Romans 9–10 that have plagued Christian history. If you have preached those chapters, this is the Sunday to name plainly where Paul actually lands.For preachers continuing a series: the Matthew arc is now on the edge of Peter's great confession at Caesarea Philippi, which comes next week. But before Jesus arrives there, he has this encounter that widens his ministry beyond Israel. The Gospel is preparing us to hear Peter's confession as an answer to a question that has been growing more urgent throughout these summer weeks: who is this Jesus, and who is he for? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionarypro.substack.com/subscribe

31 And again going out of the coasts of Tyre, he came by Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.Et iterum exiens de finibus Tyri, venit per Sidonem ad mare Galilaeae inter medios fines Decapoleos. 32 And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.Et adducunt ei surdum, et mutum, et deprecabantur eum, ut imponat illi manum. 33 And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:Et apprehendens eum de turba seorsum, misit digitos suos in auriculas ejus : et exspuens, tetigit linguam ejus : 34 And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened.et suscipiens in caelum, ingemuit, et ait illi : Ephphetha, quod est, Adaperire. 35 And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right.Et statim apertae sunt aures ejus, et solutum est vinculum linguae ejus, et loquebatur recte. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man. But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal did they publish it.Et praecepit illis ne cui dicerent. Quanto autem eis praecipiebat, tanto magis plus praedicabant : 37 And so much the more did they wonder, saying: He hath done all things well; he hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.et eo amplius admirabantur, dicentes : Bene omnia fecit : et surdos fecit audire, et mutos loqui.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0808db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – August 08 Hosea 9 – 10 Days of Retribution Are Near Hosea 9 1 Do not rejoice, Israel, with excessive celebration like the nations, because you act promiscuously against your God.     You love the wages you can earn as a prostitute at every threshing floor for grain. 2 The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them,     and the new wine will fail for them. 3 They will not remain in the Lord's land.     Ephraim will return to Egypt,     and they will eat unclean food in Assyria. 4 They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the Lord.     Their sacrifices will not be pleasing to him.     For them, their bread will become like the bread eaten by mourners.     Everyone who eats it will be unclean.     This bread will only serve their own appetite.     It will not enter the House of the Lord. 5 What will you do on the day of the appointed festivals     and on the feast days of the Lord? 6 Know this! Even if they flee from destruction,     Egypt will gather them up.     Memphis will bury them.     Thistles will overgrow their silver treasures.     Thorns will grow inside their tents. 7 The days of reckoning have come.     The days of retribution have come.     Israel should know this! Israel Rejects the Prophets     The prophet is treated like a fool,     and the man of the Spirit is called crazy,     because your guilt is enormous,     and because your hostility is so great. 8 A prophet is to be a watchman over Ephraim for my God,     but a fowler's snare is laid for him on all of Ephraim's paths,     and he encounters hostility in the house of his God. [1] 9 They have become extremely corrupt,     as they were in the days of Gibeah.     God will remember their guilt.     He will punish them for their sins. Fertility Worship Brings No Fertility 10 I regarded Israel like grapes found in the wilderness.     I regarded your forefathers like the first ripe fruit on a fig tree in its first season,     but they went to Baal Peor, and they devoted themselves to a shameful thing,     and they became as disgusting as the thing they loved. 11 Ephraim's glory will fly away like a bird—     no birth, no pregnancy, no conception! 12 Even if they bring up their children,     I will deprive them of each one.     Yes, woe to them when I depart from them! 13 I have seen Ephraim planted in a pleasant place like Tyre,     but Ephraim will bring its children out to the executioner. 14 Give to them, Lord—but what will you give?     Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 15 Because of all their evil in Gilgal,     I hated them there.     Because of their evil deeds,     I will drive them out of my house!     I will love them no more.     All their officials are rebels. 16 Ephraim has been struck down.     Their root has dried up.     They will bear no fruit.     Even if they give birth,     I will put their precious offspring to death. 17 My God will reject them, because they have not obeyed him.     They will be wanderers among the nations. Hosea 10 1 Israel was a spreading [2] vine. He produced fruit for himself.     The more fruit he produced, the more altars he made.     The richer the land became, the richer he made his sacred memorial stones. 2 Their hearts are insincere, [3]     so now they will suffer for their guilt.     The Lord will break down their altars     and destroy their sacred memorial stones. Kings Cannot Save You 3 Certainly now they will say, “We have no king     because we did not fear the Lord,     but what could such a king do for us anyway?” 4 They speak empty words.     With empty oaths, they make agreements.     That is why disputes sprout like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria will be terrified because of the calf [4] of Beth Aven.     Yes, its people will mourn over it,     and its idolatrous priests will cry out over it,     over its lost glory, because it has gone into exile. 6 It will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the Great King. [5]     Ephraim will be gripped with shame,     and Israel will be ashamed of its own idol. [6] 7 Samaria, like her king, will be carried off     like a twig on the surface of the water. 8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will become unusable.     Thorns and thistles will grow on their altars.     They will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”     and to the hills, “Fall on us!” Learn the Lesson of Gibeah 9 Israel, you have sinned ever since the days of Gibeah,     where the evildoers took their stand.     The war against the evildoers caught up with them at Gibeah, did it not? 10 When I see fit, I will discipline them. [7]     Peoples will be gathered against them         to bind them for their double guilt. [8] 11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh.     I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. [9]     I will harness Ephraim.     Judah will plow.     Jacob will break up the ground. 12 Sow righteousness for yourselves,     and reap mercy.     Break up your fallow ground.     It is time to seek the Lord,     until he comes and rains righteousness on you. 13 You have plowed wickedness.     You have reaped injustice.     You have eaten the fruit of your lies,     because you trusted in your own way,     in the large number of your strong warriors. 14 Therefore the roar of battle will rise against your people,     and all your fortresses will be destroyed,     as Shalman [10] devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle.     Mothers were dashed to the ground with their children. 15 This is what will be done to you, Bethel,     because of your great wickedness.     At dawn the king of Israel will be completely destroyed. Footnotes Hosea 9:8 This verse is difficult. Hosea 10:1 The Hebrew word may have a negative connotation like invasive. Hosea 10:2 Or divided Hosea 10:5 Variant calves Hosea 10:6 The text of the last word of the line is uncertain. Hosea 10:6 Or plan. The meaning of the last word is uncertain. Hosea 10:10 The text of the line is uncertain. Hosea 10:10 Or two crimes. The text of the line is uncertain. Hosea 10:11 The text of the line is uncertain. Hosea 10:14 The king of Assyria The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Father Charles Murr joins Terry Gospel – Matthew 15:21-28 – At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But He did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked Him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major at Rome Saint Mary, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day

Original Post Date: August 7, 2024 === Gospel Matthew 15:21-28 At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. Reflection We will always deal with a kind of self-centredness that creeps into our conversation, into what we're doing or saying, and sometimes we find ourselves criticizing without even reflecting. And we know that that is normal. We are always both fully human and also infused with divinity. And one does not override the other. Closing Prayer Father, give us patience as you work to transform us into who you call us to be. We will always find ourselves slipping backwards, being less than we should be, but don't let that discourage us. Give us confidence in the direction you're calling us to live. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read OnlineThe Gift of Counsel, Given and ReceivedAt that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” Matthew 15:21–23At first glance, this interaction is surprising. Yet Jesus is performing an act of love toward the Canaanite woman, while at the same time offering an important lesson to His disciples. This act of love and instruction is conveyed through the divine pedagogy—the way God, as a wise and loving Teacher, draws out deeper truths through patient instruction and testing. Jesus leads the woman through a threefold test, each one revealing the increasing depth of her faith.First Test: The first test comes through Jesus' silence. The woman cries out from the depths of her heart, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” The disciples likely watched closely to see how Jesus would respond. When He did not answer, they misinterpreted His silence as indifference or irritation, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” Yet the woman does not turn away. She endures His silence, waiting patiently for Him to respond. This shows the first fruit of her faith—perseverance in the face of apparent rejection.Second Test: Jesus' next words seem to be a limitation of His mission: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” As a Canaanite from Tyre and Sidon, the woman is, by all appearances, outside the covenant people of Israel. Yet she does not let this discourage her. Instead, she draws even nearer, does Him homage, and pleads all the more: “Lord, help me.” Her faith perseveres, deepening with greater humility and trust.Third Test: Finally, Jesus presents the most difficult challenge: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” His harsh words are a further invitation to the woman to reveal her heart. Instead of taking offense or walking away, she accepts the image and turns it into a profession of faith and humility: “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” With this, she reveals a beautiful trust in God's mercy, recognizing that even the smallest grace from Him is enough. This is precisely what Jesus was drawing out of her—a faith that is humble, bold, persistent, and filled with trust. At that moment, Jesus honors the depth of her faith and boldly proclaims it for the disciples to hear: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.In this sacred encounter, Jesus reveals the Gift of Counsel in action. This divine gift of the Holy Spirit, perfectly possessed and manifested by Jesus, enables the woman to respond wisely to the mysterious ways of God, especially when those ways are hidden or difficult to understand. The Canaanite woman, moved by divine grace and guided by the wise and loving pedagogy of Jesus, navigates the trials He presents with perseverance, humility, and unwavering trust, ultimately receiving the fullness of God's mercy. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. He saw the depth of her heart and, through this gift, skillfully drew that faith to the surface for her own good, for her daughter's healing, and for the instruction of His disciples. We, too, are called to follow His example, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us and others through the trials of life with patient and discerning love. Reflect today on this sacred interaction and ask the Holy Spirit to deepen the Gift of Counsel within you, so that you may always recognize God's hand at work in moments of silence, testing, or delay, and respond with faith, humility, and perseverance. Seek this gift not only for yourself, but also so that God may use you as an instrument of His loving guidance, leading others closer to Him in ways that only He, in His divine wisdom, can orchestrate.Lord of Perfect Counsel, You teach us in many ways, always guiding us closer to Yourself. Open my heart to Your divine pedagogy, and teach me to persevere through every trial You permit, so that my faith and trust in You may grow ever deeper. Bestow upon me the Gift of Counsel, so that I may respond wisely to Your promptings and help lead others to Your loving Heart. Use me as Your instrument to draw souls to the truth, in ways that only You can design. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Exorcism of the Syrophoenician Woman's Daughter, by Carl and Franz JobstSource: 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.

Acts 21:1-16 English Standard Version Paul Goes to Jerusalem 21 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'”12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” 15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. English Standard Version (ESV) The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.

July 13, 2026 - Vacation Bible School Day 2 - Monday PM Bible Class In this episode you'll join a live classroom-style session that explores predictive prophecy as evidence for the Bible's divine origin. Dale opens by describing how they were invited to teach and introduces the evening's themes—archaeology, scientific foreknowledge, cohesion and unity of Scripture, and above all predictive prophecy. The session is interactive: attendees ask questions, volunteers participate in demonstrations, and the presenter references specific biblical passages throughout. Topics covered include Messianic prophecies (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Micah 5:2, Zechariah 9:9, Psalm 16:10, Psalm 110, Genesis 49:10 and the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15), national and historical prophecies (Daniel's four empires in Daniel 2 and 7, Ezekiel 26 on Tyre, Jeremiah 50–51 on Babylon), and the surprising mention of Cyrus by name in Isaiah. The presenter highlights how these prophecies span centuries, languages and cultures, yet converge into a cohesive narrative. The episode features concrete examples and historical verifications: Ezekiel's prediction of Tyre becoming a bare rock used by fishermen, Jeremiah's description of Babylon's fall and the Euphrates being diverted, Daniel's detailed visions of successive empires, and Isaiah's naming of Cyrus long before his rise. The class also discusses how critics have tried to re-date books like Daniel, and how secular records (like cuneiform inscriptions and the Cyrus Cylinder) corroborate key events. To illustrate how difficult it would be to fabricate such prophecies, the presenter conducts a live experiment with two volunteers inventing a hoax prophet named “Curtis,” comparing predictions and fulfillments with often comical mismatches (treadmills vs. sub sandwiches, Milwaukee vs. Canada). A second demonstration—the blue‑ringed octopus cup—drives home points about probability and plausibility. Dale cites statistical arguments (Peter Stoner's calculations) about the improbability of one person accidentally fulfilling multiple Messianic prophecies. Guests and participants include audience volunteers and an engaged crowd asking questions and sharing reactions. The tone is apologetic and inquisitive: the presenter encourages listeners to verify passages, consider historical evidence, and use select, verifiable prophecies in conversations about the reliability of Scripture. Key takeaways: prophecy provides a powerful, testable line of evidence for the Bible's claims; certain prophecies are strikingly specific and historically corroborated; the unity and predictive reach of Scripture (from Genesis through the prophets and Daniel) is presented as faith‑building; and the episode equips listeners with memorable examples and conversational points for discussing prophecy with skeptics.   Duration 40:59

Spiritual Eyes of Faith (1) (audio) David Eells, 8/2/26  V. W. - 6/4/19 (David's notes in red) I had this dream where some of us of local UBM were in the living room of a house. Some of us were talking casually, sitting at a picnic table that was in the living room. My husband and I were sitting next to each other; Debbie Fenske was to the right, a little farther away. She was talking to us about the book we are reading in our Wednesday Bible studies, The Real Good News. (This book is about what the Gospel provides for those who overcome through faith.) She said something about the chapter we are in, and she had read a few chapters ahead. She was also very excited about the deliverance the Lord is doing now, and something about spiritual warfare. I remember seeing Joe D. (who has come here to visit) sitting in a chair diagonally across from her, smiling. As she was talking about the book, I knew we were now receiving “grants”. (For those who take part in the cleaning up process, the heavenly “grants” will come to those who have faith in the promises.) Then, when I woke up I thought of (Php.1:29) …to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf. (Those who suffer with Jesus in our death to self will also reign with him through the grants. (2Ti.2:11) Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us. (Rev.2:26) And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations. All the promises we've been given from the Lord are past tense, so we see them as being “granted” already.) I thought about how a grant is a gift to be used for a specific purpose. And I searched the New Testament for the word ‘granted' and found these verses. (I added the Old Testament grants to overcomers.) It is amazing to see all the things the Lord is granting us now. Thank You, Father, for Your grace and for granting us to be delivered out of the hands of our enemies! Thank You for all the things You are giving us. May we use all You grant us for Your Kingdom and glory in Jesus name, Amen! (Luk.1:73-75) The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, 74 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (Act.4:29) And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness. 30 while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Act.14:2) But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (Act. 27:23-25) For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve, 24 saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me. (Rom.5:5) Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus: 6 that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Gal.3:16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (And He grants to those who abide in Christ who are sons of Abraham by faith.) 17 Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. (Eph.3:16-19) that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. (2Pe.1:3-4) Seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. (1Ch.4:10) And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it be not to my sorrow! And God granted him that which he requested. And He will grant us this too. (2Ch.1:11) And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12 wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like. (Ezr.3:6) From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah: but the foundation of the temple of Jehovah was not yet laid. 7 They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia. (Trump as Cyrus is conquering D.S. Babylon and freeing the Christians and granting them expenses to build the true Temple. Its happening!) (Ezr.7:6) this Ezra went up from Babylon. And he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him. 7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king. 8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. … 13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee. … 15 and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 and all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem; (Just as above, Ezra was granted to lead the people of God out of Babylonish bondage with a grant from the King to build the temple of God, which is a type of God's people so it will be granted today.) (Est.5:8) If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said. (Esther the Bride was granted to save the people of God from the D.S. Beast kingdom and bring them to their spiritual Red Sea destruction so it will be today.) (Neh.2:7) Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through till I come unto Judah; 8 and a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertaineth to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. (Again a grant from the King to rebuild the true Temple of God and so it will be in our day.) (Est.5:6) And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. (So ask today, Bride, for whatever you need!) (Est.7:2) And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. (The Bride is granted to be a joint heir with Christ.) (Est.8:11) wherein the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, (The Bride is granted to give authority to destroy the D.S. Beast kingdom.) (Est.9:12) And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done. 13 Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. (The Bride is granted to give authority to utterly destroy the D.S. Beast kingdom.) (Job.10:12) Thou hast granted me life and lovingkindness; And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. (Pro.10:24) The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 25 When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation. (Psa.20:4) Grant thee thy heart's desire, And fulfil all thy counsel. (Psa.119:29) Remove from me the way of falsehood; And grant me thy law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thine ordinances have I set before me. 31 I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Jehovah, put me not to shame. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart. (Psa.140:7-11) O Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked; Further not his evil device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah. 9 As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise. 11 An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.   Abiding in Heavenly Places Alenna Timoshchuk - 12/17/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamt that my husband went to visit David Eells and Michael, but instead of visiting them where they lived now, he actually was visiting them in heaven. (Representing the first fruits Man-child ministers living in “heavenly places in Christ”.) None of them were dead; they were still alive on this earth, but it was like there was a lower part of heaven that was open to those who abide in Christ, and they could visit it, even though they were still alive on earth. (The first fruits come into perfection through Christ first by abiding with Him in heavenly places.) I got to see a bit of it as if I was looking through my husband's eyes and it looked like it was just above all the mountain peaks. (Looking through our husband's eyes represents seeing the way our heavenly husband Jesus sees. The Bride has the eyes of a dove, representing the Holy Spirit, just as her husband Jesus does. (Son.4:1) Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of mount Gilead. And (Son.5:12) His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks, Washed with milk, and fitly set.) It had beautiful pine trees and rivers, and Michael and David lived in a beautiful large log cabin, a really fancy one. (For anyone who loves the outdoors and appreciates nature, this would be their dream place. Just the prettiest scenery you could ever imagine.) (I was shown in a vision years ago a tower of logs that represented the UBM ministry that the Lord was giving me. This log cabin represents the UBM ministry living the crucified life, represented by the cross timbers at the corners.) My husband stayed with them for three days, then came back to me and was just so excited, telling me all about it. He was saying how Michael (Meaning, “Who is like God”) held a staff in his hand, and if someone wanted to enter that part of heaven, then he'd hold it out, and if the color turned red, then the person could not enter because they were not abiding in Christ. But if it turned green, then they could go in. He told me how relieved he was when the staff turned green and not red. He started telling me about how wonderful and beautiful everything was up there. (The first fruits have very good discernment; the discernment of Jesus, and the wicked don't ever get past them. (2Co.10:6) and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.) Then he pulled out a branch from a pine tree and gave it to me. It had the most beautiful aroma. I thought it was so sweet that he brought me a souvenir from heaven. (Pine trees are evergreens, and they represent everlasting life. Jesus is the Father of Eternity and the Branch. This is the gift or souvenir that Jesus has brought back to us with His resurrection. (Isa.9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (Hebrew: Father of Eternity), Prince of Peace.) Then I told him, “I want to go so badly. I want to be in heaven.” And he smiled and hugged me and said, “Let's go for your birthday on March 6th. (3/6 or 3+6=9. Nine was the hour that Jesus died on the cross, and there are 9 fruits of the Spirit for those who have died to self. And, as in the natural, those who die get to go to heaven. Our birthday begins when we begin to die to our flesh by living the crucified life; then we begin to bear the fruits of the Spirit of God as He makes us a fully born again new creature in Christ.) Then he said, “Maybe then we can stay there for a month.” (30 days? Jesus was 30, as the Law states, when He began his ministry.) I was so excited! I knew it would be the best birthday I've ever had, but I worried a little that we wouldn't have enough money to not work for an entire month. (God will always make provision when He holds the green staff because we walk by faith to follow in His footsteps.) Then I woke up.   Seeing Others Through Faith Eve Brast - 06/13/08 (David's notes in red) The Shulamite bride in Song of Solomon had the eyes of a dove, meaning she saw things the way God's Spirit sees things. This dream teaches us to see others by faith as God does, to see that they have already been given godliness through Christ. This is the opposite of the way the faction views righteous people. (2Pe.1:2) Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; 4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust. Spiritual eyes see the end from the beginning. I had a dream that began in an indoor swimming pool area. The voice of David Eells was talking over my right shoulder throughout the whole dream. He was showing me different people and situations; people that I had wondered whether they were saved or would be saved, or if these people were making the right choices or living their lives the right way. These things had disturbed or concerned me throughout my life. (Rather than wonder about them, we should have faith for them to be saved. (Php.1:6) being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace.) David would show me these different people. Some of them were close friends or family members; others were strangers whom I had never seen before, or people I had only had brief encounters with. I was walking on the right side of the pool. David's voice was talking over my shoulder in my right ear from behind me. Suddenly, I could hear the voices of my son Noah and his friend Nathan squabbling ... I walked up to them, not sure how to handle their squabble, and was frustrated with their childish foolishness ... Then David Eells walked over to both of them and, in a gentle way, started teaching them ... He calmed them with a gentle voice. Then he showed them how to…reconcile their differences. (Mat.5:9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.) Then the scene changed. David's voice was still in my right ear, teaching me. The more he taught me, the more my spiritual sight opened up, and I began to see these people the way God sees them or knows them, even when they are still living in sin or ignorance. (We have to be the peacemakers between the immature and teach them to let God be the judge between them.) The next scene was outdoors on some land that David owned... I drove up in a flatbed pick-up with food, plants, flowers and one small crate of special baby birds. I was contributing these things as a gift to UBM. (No buying and selling but giving and receiving.) All of us lived on his land and had our different positions and chores or things we were assigned to do, based on what we were good at. (Everyone will work according to their assigned gifts and abilities from God, Him working in them to will and to do of His good pleasure; this creates peace and rest.) ... The women and I carried all the food, plants and flowers into the greenhouse nursery to tend to them. I set the baby birds on the top right corner of a table in the center of the nursery. (Baby Christians in the nursery will grow up like the Father's planting.) One of the women who was older than me in her 50's with dyed, dark brown hair walked past the birds and looked down at them with presumptive irritation and said, “What are those?” I started to tell her, but she cut me off because her true intention was to make a point that she wasn't going to help me feed them or care for them. She said, “Well, I hope you don't expect me to take care of them”. I was offended at first by her presumptuousness. But David's voice on my shoulder explained to me why she said that, because that was not God's calling for her and then something amazing happened. All at once, I was able to see her heart attitude and knew this woman intimately as God saw her! All my anger just melted away …and I loved this woman and was so grateful for all she had done for UBM. I was shown how precious and valuable she was to God, and I cherished her like a hidden treasure! (Everyone will learn to appreciate individual callings and gifts as the people manifestly become the body of Christ. No one will do without, for the body will minister to itself as it was in the Book of Acts.) After this, the scene changed, and the plant nursery turned into my grandmother's house. It was Christmas, and there were gobs of Christmas décor everywhere. My mother's family was celebrating Christmas and standing around, eating and talking to one another. My grandmother was being the good hostess that she has always been, preparing food and asking everyone about themselves ... (In God's nursery, the babies can grow up out of their Babylonish traditions without condemnation.) Suddenly, I realized that my grandfather was there. (He passed away back in September 2007.) He was dressed in a colorful Christmas sweater and he looked so young and full of life! (Representing those who are immature, who are dead in their sins, can grow up out of Babylonish works.) My grandmother acted as if it were normal to have a dead man mulling around her house! My mom finally came in, and I rushed over to her in a panic and said, “Thank God you are here! Grandpa is alive! And he is running around here talking to everyone!” I was fearful and horrified. My mother was surprised and concerned. She didn't know what to do except pretend like everything was normal and talk to my grandpa like he was still alive. My mom and I were the only two who realized that my grandpa had died. (Resurrection life will come to those in immature Babylonish habits when we see them and talk to them as though they are alive from the dead and new creatures in Christ. (2Co.5:14) For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again. 16 Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know [him so] no more. 17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. 18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech [you] on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. 21 Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.) As I stood there, I could hear David's voice over my shoulder again, and it calmed me down, and my fear melted away. ... Then that amazing thing happened again! I started quietly observing my grandpa as he talked and interacted with the other family members. He was beautiful and radiant. He was kind and his heart was childlike. I saw him the way God had seen him! (Yes, by faith and renewed imagination as a new creature in Christ.) He was going around, really just pouring his soul into his children and grandchildren! I couldn't believe what a precious soul this was! (My grandpa used to be a very hard man in his younger years. When I was a child, I heard him and my father arguing as my dad tried to share the Gospel with him. A stream of obscenities would pour out of his mouth. He said he didn't need God. Later in his life, during his 60s, he had a change of heart. He got involved in a local Methodist church and went to Sunday school and church most Sundays and dragged my grandma along, who also got involved with that church. They were really serious about it all. (As baby Christians, we were all involved in a simplistic experience of Christianity, so we should love these as Christ loved us as His babies who are learning to walk -- at the same time correcting the system and leaders who would keep them as babes.) When he had been alive, I judged them for their denominational choice and what I viewed as a shallow, almost worthless relationship with God. (Babies play in the shallow end of the pool until they grow up. We must speak justification by faith to them to give them the joy and confidence of their salvation.) As I was observing my dead grandpa at this Christmas party, I was able to see his heart the way God saw him. It was incredible to me how I could feel how God felt and saw my grandpa! I saw that God cherished his childlike faith and his desire to help others understand things and mentor them, and his desire to help others with their projects. (We must see the immature as accounted righteous by faith.) At that moment, I knew that he was with the Lord and not in hell, as I had been concerned about it since his death. The scene changed again, and my grandmother's house turned into the apartment of two homosexual men. As I observed them, they couldn't see me. I was immediately disgusted that I was in their home. (We are forbidden to judge any of the lost, for they have not grace yet to obey and are in bondage, to be pitied [1 Cor.5:9-13].) I was fearful of some sort of defilement or something. These two men were nicely dressed. I listened to them talk. They had several Great Dane dogs that were running around in the backyard. I wasn't happy about those dogs. … As I was feeling threatened by these men and their dogs, I heard David's voice talking in my right ear again, and as I listened, the threat melted away, and I began to see these men's hearts. They had such compassion and loving kindness in their hearts! I watched them love and care for their animals, when suddenly I heard a knock at the door. One of the men went over to open the door. There was a naked man who was obese and hairy all over his body, sitting in a wheelchair with a colostomy bag taped to his lower abdomen that was filled with feces. He was homeless and needed a place to live and someone to help him change his colostomy bag every day. The sight of this man horrified me, and I doubted these men would take him in. I watched as they happily discussed the possibility between themselves and eagerly agreed to take this crippled, naked man into their home and take care of him! I was astounded at their love for other people, their compassion, and their blindness to the flaws of others. God showed me all the qualities that he had formed in their hearts, how He used the betrayal and rejection that they had experienced throughout their lives in order to form Christ in them! I was seeing the end from the beginning in these men (even though they were still in ignorance and lost in their sin). (Those who have been sinners and rejected can appreciate the acceptance of Christ through the Gospel. Some lost people have more of the nature of Christ than some Christians, but they are not justified through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus. In everyone whom God will ultimately draw and call to Himself, He prepares the soil by breaking it up through adverse circumstances and failure, so that through repentance and faith the seed of Christ is planted. Those who are forgiven of much are able to love much. (Luk.7:47) Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little.) God told me, “These are mine!” And they were so beautiful!! So perfect in heart! Such compassion that I had never seen or experienced before! It just made me want to weep. I felt defiled by my own attitudes and judgmental self-righteousness and was horrified at myself. David's words had helped me to see things and people the way that God saw them, in process. I was able to finally see my own heart clearly and repent to God. After this dream, seeing others the way God sees them became a permanent gift. (God sees us as a finished product from the beginning through Jesus' sacrifice, and we must do the same for others. As we forgive them, God forgives us. We can tell them the good news that they are free from sin. The repentant sinner will appreciate this greatly.) They looked so precious to me, and I just cherished each one in my heart like a rare jewel! I didn't see their sin anymore or their imperfections. I wasn't concerned about their immediate state or what they were planning to do that was sinful or wrong. I just saw the end from the beginning and felt such rest! (Seeing our loved ones through the sacrifice of Christ by faith gives us rest that God will do the work in them.) Not only did God settle my uncertainty about the salvation or spiritual condition of all the people whom I have prayed for or been “concerned” about in my family or other people's families, but He gave me the faith I needed to believe in the sanctification of others that we pray for and believe for their salvation. (When we pray for lost loved ones, we are commanded to believe we have received what we prayed for and see it as done. (Mar.11:24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received (in original Greek) them, and ye shall have them.) This has been an issue for me that I have worried over and struggled with a lot. These situations were representative of all the lost loved ones whom the saints of God are praying and believing for! Praise God for peace of mind and for His great mercy! To be balanced on this subject, we must not give grace to believers who walk in willful disobedience. (Heb.10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. 28 A man that hath set at nought Moses law dieth without compassion on [the word of] two or three witnesses: 29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, the Lord shall judge His people.   Learning to Walk in the Spirit Winnie Osegueda - 1/25/22 (David's notes in red) In this dream, I was at my mom's house and there were quite a few different types of people of all colors and nationalities. (I believe this could be part of God's elect still stuck in the mother harlot Church.) There was a man who came into the house who looked like Brandy Arney when he was a bit younger. This man looked like a mix between Brandy Arney and the actor Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond. (Bond is a play on words representing the first fruits Man-child who are bonded together in the agape love of Christ to teach the woman, as Revelation 12 shows. The Man-child body of all nations teaches the woman to fight for the Kingdom like Bond fought for his.) I wanted him to come in because he was going to show me how real the spiritual realm is, and I invited him inside. He was wearing a white or light cream sweater as he stood across from me in front of my mom's front door. As “Brandy/Bond” stood there, I saw his spirit man come out of his body and I was blown away. I asked him how to do that, and he began to teach me. (This represents learning to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit rather than walk in the flesh. (Rom.8:12-14) So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.) Then, as I stood there, my spirit man also came out of my body. This aspect of the dream felt so real. I literally felt myself leave my body. (living in the flesh no more) As I was “walking in the spirit,” I could see and feel my spirit man's arm and hand touch a white lady's sweater with ruffles on the shoulders that was folded over on the back seat of a wooden chair in my bedroom. I believe this sweater was for me. (These are the righteous acts of the saints that we are clothed with when we walk in the Spirit, denying our flesh.) (I see this dream as a parable of coming out of the flesh and walking in the Spirit, and how we are able, by faith, to put on the Lord's righteous garments.) Then I woke up. I asked the Lord for a couple of verses regarding myself in this dream and I received by faith at random: (Joh.3:12) If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? (We walk in Heavenly things when we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.) And (Eph.4:14) (14-16 for context) that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15 but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; 16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.   Seeing Christ in the Mirror Marie Kelton - 1-28-22 (David's notes in red) During the night the Lord gave me a vision of my spiritual man in a dark place. (1Co.13:10-12) but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.) She was wearing all white and standing in front of a vanity that was all white with a desk and a chair. My spiritual man was looking in the mirror and saw a black being there. I knew it was my flesh man in the mirror. (Jas.1:23-24) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. 23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.) My spiritual man broke the mirror by hitting it. (Because we cannot see the old man in the mirror, or we will not be justified by faith and not have the power to obey.) Then I saw the Lord standing next to my spiritual man in front of the vanity. (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.)   Get the Beam out of Your Own Eye C. P. - 1/15/22 (David's notes in red) In a vision, I saw a mist and heard the word “fumigate”. (Fumigate means to exterminate or disinfect using smoke or chemicals.) (I believe this mist is the prayers of the saints, as well as the Holy Spirit). Then in the mist I saw a wooden beam. (Mat.7:1-5) Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.) In the wooden beam, there was the tiniest little black speck, but as the mist continued to stay on the beam, the black speck became bigger until something wriggled out from the wooden beam. It looked like a newt or a small lizard. It was struggling to survive so it left. (The black newt or lizard can be the spirit of judgement, which hangs around with rejection and fear of rejection. These unclean spirits are curses from the evil one. All factious spirits of criticism, judgement, rejection, etc. leave when the fumigation mist of the saints' prayers comes. We need to be praying for our brothers and sisters! (1Th.5:23-25) And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it. 25 Brethren, pray for us.) The prayers, both personal and collective, for ourselves and for others, are how we cast out the beam from our own eye. Then you can see the beam and what was in it. Our prayers to be cleansed from all unrighteousness are heard, and He will complete the good work He has started in each one of us! Praise God!) This vision greatly encouraged me, and I have been trying to use every opportunity in my daily disciplines to pray for others, even if it is in the Spirit with tongues. I asked the Lord if I should share this dream with the body to encourage everyone, and received by faith at random (Psa.65:5) of them that are afar off, so that's an affirmative! (In context 5-7) By terrible things thou wilt answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation, Thou that art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of them that are afar off upon the sea: 6 Who by his strength setteth fast the mountains, Being girded about with might; 7 Who stilleth the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples.   The Lord is Cleansing His Body Winnie Osegueda - 9/20/21 (David's notes in red) I dreamt that I was at the house where we (UBM) meet locally. (Winnie here represents the Bride body that the Lord is faithfully attending to in order to get them cleaned up and ready for ministry during the 7 years of tribulation.) I was sitting on the couch that I normally sit on with my family, which is on the right of David. Instead of David sitting on the chair he normally sits in, however, he was sitting beside me. As David sat next to me, he turned into another man, whom I had not seen before. This man was regular-looking and was younger, but not too young. He also had a nice tan, like someone who'd been out in the sun often. (I believe this man was Jesus, but at the same time, he was also still David.) (Jesus and David 'merged together' represents the Lord through the David/Man-child body of ministers shepherding and caring for their flocks in faithfulness and love.) The man began to speak to me and told me that when I sing, it sounds very beautiful to the Lord. (Our praise and worship are not just songs that we sing to the Lord, but we worship Him with the sacrifice of our lives through obedience to His Word and taking up our cross daily to follow Christ in our suffering of death to self. (Joh.4:23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. The Greek word for worship here is Proskuneo, meaning to “kiss towards.” i.e. an act of love towards God is worship. This could include praise, singing, or what we normally think of as worship or other acts of love towards Him and our fellow man.) (For the morning prayer meeting on the morning that I received this dream, the verses I got by faith at random were the story of the woman with the alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which I received confirmation of when Chuc received the same story in a different gospel the following day or two. (Mar.14:3) And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure nard very costly; and she brake the cruse, and poured it over his head. (This was an act of love toward the Lord.) (I believe this could be symbolic of giving the Lord our all and holding nothing back.) Winnie went on to say: He also said that He hears my pain and that it echoes through the kingdom. In the dream, I knew immediately that it meant I needed to cast my burdens onto the Lord. When the man said this to me, the thought came to me that I had to lay down my pain and give it to the Lord. (When we allow the enemy to inflict his pain upon us by receiving his fiery darts, it affects the whole body of Christ, and everyone suffers when one is suffering. This is how it echoes through His Kingdom.) The man also said to me, “Can't you see the angels around you?” I looked up and saw several angels above me, almost forming a circle. (Psa.91:11) For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. (Psa.34:7) The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them.) (We must keep our angels who are assigned to go forth for us into battle against our enemies employed. (Heb.1:14) Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?) As this man was talking to me, I could see his eyes were very kind, and they also teared up. The man had a lot of compassion, and as he was telling me all these things, my eyes began to well up with tears. As a tear began to fall down my left cheek, the man reached over to wipe it away. As he wiped away my tear, he also began to rub a black spot off of my face. (Jesus not only came to wipe away our sorrows and give us His joy and freedom, but He also came to take away all our sins, spots, and blemishes.) A feeling of shame tried to creep up on me, as if I did not want the man to look too closely at my faults and flaws. (Shame and condemnation will keep us trapped in a prison and an endless cycle, and we will not be effective for the Kingdom of God if we stay in this state.) Then I woke up suddenly. The verse that came to me as I was typing this was: (Eph.5:25-27) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. This is a work that the Lord will complete in us, and all we have to do is repent and believe. (1Jn.1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  I asked the Lord if I should share this dream with the body and received by faith at random: (Eph.2:21-22) in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. (I thought this was a pretty good confirmation.) (I believe, and also Winnie, that when the Lord removed the black spot, she was representing the Body.)   Loving the Hidden Treasure Eve Brast - 07/30/2016 (David's notes in red) I dreamed that my son Elijah and I were in the basement of a greenhouse where David and Michael lived. It was painted forest green. (I believe Father is using a word play here for a greenhouse where plants are nurtured and protected from the harsh elements.) (This is what we do. Eve represents the Bride of the “last Adam”. Elijah means “my God is YAHWEH”, meaning “my mighty one is YAHWEH”. Those who trust in God's strength to do their works.) The basement had a dirt floor, and the dream started with Elijah and me pulling up a large golden crate out of the ground that had been unearthed. (An obvious hidden treasure in the UBM house. The golden ark of the covenant.) We opened the lid and golden light shone forth from its contents. I don't know who had unearthed it, but he and I were excited to carry it upstairs and show it to our brethren. It was surprisingly lightweight and wasn't at all hard to carry up the basement stairs. (God's hidden treasures are Jesus' light burden. His treasures put faith in us, which gives His power to bear any burden.) Elijah and I brought it and set it on the threshold between the living room and dining room, and I knelt in front of it as Elijah moved around to the other side in the dining room next to Michael Hare. I thought in the dream that it was a “hope chest”. (A hope chest is something that young girls used to have in the old days, where they would store things away for the time when they would be married.) (Representing a treasure hidden for Eve, as a type of the Bride's marriage.) There was a well-lit kitchen off to my right and in front of us, where David was busy preparing something for us all to eat. (Jesus said we must eat His body and He is the Word made flesh, the manna from Heaven that the fleshly tire of, for they value flesh.) Several brethren were standing behind me, waiting to see what was inside the crate. They seemed perturbed at us for bringing the crate up out of the basement. (These are not one spirit with the Bride because of a critical spirit. They are not in one accord to prepare for the coming outpouring.) It's hard to explain, but I could see things through their eyes, as well as my own view. I was going back and forth between what I was seeing and what they were seeing and thinking. Once I knelt down in front of the golden crate, I was then inside the minds of those behind me. I saw myself through their eyes kneeling down in front of an ugly, old wooden crate that had mud and dirt on it. (They do not value the treasure of the Bride as she and the Groom do.) When I opened the crate, the people stepped forward, and when they looked inside, they saw nothing but a small piece of white paper lying on the floor of the upper right-hand corner of the crate. It looked like the corner of a larger piece of white paper that had been torn away. (They don't see the whole page but only a small portion. God gives knowledge and wisdom to those who will use it. He does not give the hidden treasure to those who are only hearers and not doers because they would just be more condemned for not obeying.) They began to make critical comments and think critical things about the crate. They said, “There is nothing in there but a little piece of trash! Why did you drag that old thing up here?” (They who speak against the gifts and Word of God become defiled by what they speak. (Mat.15:18) But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: 20 these are the things which defile the man... The righteous treasure everything that comes from God. Those who are satisfied with the world don't hunger for the things of God. (Pro.27:7) The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. (Psa.17:15) As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with beholding thy form.) At the same time, I was able to see myself opening the crate through my own eyes, and when I opened it, Elijah, Michael, and I saw that same warm, beautiful golden light come shining forth out of it again. We saw a rich, golden crate and, as we watched, two silver trays of thinly sliced sourdough bread came rising up out of the light. (Sourdough represents “bitter in the belly” or flesh. The bread of Heaven is the light, and it is Christ. Search for Him as for treasure. (Pro.2:3) Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures: 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God.) One side was completely full of bread, and the other side still had a third of its bread left on the tray. (Two tablets in the ark that were placed there with a bowl of manna and Aaron's rod.) (Both the manna and the tables represent the bread of the Word: (Heb.9:4) ... the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant...) I said in amazement, “Look at that!” But the people behind me asked, “Look at what? There is nothing there!” Then I heard Father say to me in my right ear, “My promises and entrance into My Kingdom are obtained by faith, but they (meaning the ones behind me) only walk by sight. They can't see what you see.” Michael then gestured with an open hand toward the two trays of bread floating in front of me, cocked his head to the side and said, “Y'all have got two days to eat this bread or else it's going to go bad and we'll have to throw it out! Now get to eatin.'” (Those who saved the bread for another day, saw it go bad. Eat it now or lose it. In Exodus 16, what was the manna that was given? Actually, the word given in Exodus 16 for manna is the word “man”. Look at your footnote at the bottom of the page. The footnote says “man”. Do you know who that man was? The man who came down out of Heaven and gave life to the world. The one we have to eat in order to have life. It is Jesus, the Word. How do you eat Jesus and have life? You have to consume Him. He is the Word made flesh. The Word has to go into you and become a part of your being. How does it do that? You have to believe and obey it. This is exactly what the Word says: (Exo.16:4) Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you... Jesus said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven for you”. Exodus continues, 4 ... and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or not. What is it to eat your portion every day? It is to walk in God's Word. He is proving them to see if they will walk in His law. We are supposed to partake of God's Word and walk in it every day. Did you know that for six days they went out and gathered the manna? When they tried to store it up, it bred worms; but when they gathered it for the seventh day, it did not breed worms. What does six mean? Six means “man” and what is earthly and worldly. Seven means rest for those who believe it.) At this point, I had a vision of a flock of Mallard ducks outside the house waiting for that molded bread that had not been eaten after the two days were up, to be tossed to them. (Ducks are waterfowl.) (The bread of the Word is to bring us into the resurrection life of Christ on the third day. (Luk.13:32) And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I am perfected.) I picked up a slice of bread from the tray that had one-third of the bread left and took a bite. It was good but really sour. The people behind me were angry and were asking, “What bread? What are you talking about?!” They couldn't understand because they didn't have the faith to see what was right in front of them. All they saw was the natural state of that crate and all the negative things. They couldn't even see the bread to eat it. (Luk.8:10) And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. (Mat.11:25) At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes... Notice that the treasures are hidden from those who are wise in their own eyes. At this point, I was sad for them and felt alone. I obediently kept eating the bread, but I asked Michael, “How am I going to eat all this myself? I'm only one person.” (Those who love the hidden manna are one in Christ.) He didn't answer; he only smiled at me because I was helping to eat the bread so that it wouldn't go bad. Then I woke up. When I woke up from this dream, I asked Father for a verse or text for this dream and received Acts 1:12 (12-26). This is also the verse I gave at the morning prayer meeting. This text talks about the need for us to be in one accord (for the outpouring) as God replaces Judas with another who is faithful to eat the bread. I asked Father for a verse for the critical brethren behind me and received (Pro.8:13) The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate. This whole chapter is an excellent parable for this dream!   Why Die Walking After the Flesh? Suani Guzman - 03/01/2011 (David's notes in red) I asked the Lord for a dream, and He gave me a very good one. There was a woman whose name was Delilah (meaning “weakened, uprooted or impoverished”) who had lost her son. (She was weakened and uprooted because she lost her spiritual man or fruit of the womb of her heart, as in the parable of the sower. How can we lose our spiritual man or fruit? (Jud.12) Twice dead plucked up by the roots. Jesus said in (Joh.15:2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away.) Some Christians gathered to pray about finding the boy. (Praying for her to find her fruit again.) They were waiting for me to finish washing my teeth. (Son.6:6) Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them. Each tooth has its opposite so that a person may be well fed spiritually. (Gen.49:12) His eyes shall be red with wine, And his teeth white with milk. The teeth must be washed with the milk of the Word. In this way, clean teeth mean clean spiritual food of the Word.) My son began to pray a mellow prayer, and I felt that prayer wouldn't do it. I started to pray with power and faith. We finished and went on the search. I think the boy's name was Elijah (“my God is YHWH”) and his father's name was Onesimus, a carpenter, who was a very good father. (Onesimus was the runaway slave who met Paul and became “profitable or helpful”, as his name means, when he brought forth the fruit of the spiritual man, his son.) I found an old man who was attaching a boy to a pallet. (The old man had taken the spiritual man captive. It's called walking in the flesh. A pallet is for moving merchandise around. So the old man makes merchandise of the spiritual man, much like false ministers do.) I went over to him and took the boy off and grabbed him. I put the old man on my side like carrying a baby (We must take the old man where he would not go, as Jesus said to Peter) and asked him, “Where is the boy, and who do you work for?” He wouldn't say. I said with a firm determination, “I will win”; then he said, “You already won.” (Through Jesus, we have already won against the old man, who works for the flesh and the devil. (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. (Gal.5:24) And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.) While still carrying the old man, I noticed the empty packaging of what he had been using to attach the boy, and I picked it up. I read the label, hoping to trace it to the kidnappers. The price tag read “Humble Oct. 6-11”. (The Lord paid the price to set us free from this bondage above. And the old man will pay a terrible price for taking authority over the spiritual man. What is “Humble Oct.6-11”? This is the opposite of and solution for what happened above when the old man took authority over the spiritual man. This symbolizes the 10th month or book, 6th chapter, 11th verse (Watch this formula), which is (2Sa.6:11) And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and Jehovah blessed Obed-edom, and all his house. A Gittite is a Philistine of the city of Gath. This is the old man of the flesh that dwells in the land. When the flesh is “Humble”ed, as Obed was under David, and serves the spiritual man, who is the ark of God's presence, he is blessed. The very next verse says that the ark was taken to the city of David, which is Zion, the Bride. 12 And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy. It is the most joyful thing for the ark of God's presence to rest in the Holy of Holies of our spiritual man in the Holy City. In the time of Eli, the ark was taken captive under the authority of the Philistines or fleshly man in 1 Samuel 4-6, and it brought a curse to all their cities so much that they returned it under the authority of the spiritual man, Israel. So when we walk in the flesh, we bring these curses on us, but when the spiritual man is in the lead, we are blessed. The moral of the story is so perfectly written in (Rom.8:12) So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. This warfare against the gods that rule over the flesh man and seek to bring under subjection the spiritual man is spoken of in the New Testament, (Here it is again) 10th book, 6th chapter, 11th verse: (Eph.6:11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. Amen.

WARNING: graphic descriptions of violence and warfareMeet Diades, Alexander the Great's overlooked military engineer, the man who made the impossible siege of Tyre happen.Tristan Hughes and Professor Edmund Richardson retell the thrilling, brutal, brilliant story of invention, ambition, and ancient warfare at its most extreme.In 332 BC, he turned a coastal blockade into a 1km causeway, then faced fire ships, molten sand, and a city that refused to yield.MOREAlexander the Great | Rise to PowerListen on AppleListen on SpotifyTyre: The Jewel of PhoeniciaListen on AppleListen on SpotifyThe Ancients is now on YouTube! Watch here: @TheAncientsPodcastPresented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Tim Astall. Produced by Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week, PLUS early access, ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/03-0729db.mp3 Listen to Bible reading Through My Bible Yr 03 – July 29 Amos 1 – 2 Amos 1 1 The words of Amos, who was among the sheep breeders [1] from Tekoa. He saw a vision concerning Israel during the days of Uzziah king of Judah and during the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 He said:     The Lord roars from Zion.     From Jerusalem he sends out his voice.     The pastures of the shepherds dry up, [2]     and the top of Mount Carmel withers. Judgment Against Aram 3 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins [3] of Damascus,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they cut up Gilead with iron threshing boards. [4] 4 So I will send fire against the house of Hazael,     and it will consume the fortresses of Ben Hadad. 5 I will break the bars of the gates of Damascus,     and I will cut off the one seated in the Valley of Aven,     and the one who holds a scepter in Beth Eden. [5]     So the people of Aram will go into exile toward Kir. [6]     The Lord has spoken. Judgment Against Philistia 6 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Gaza,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they sold an entire population into exile,     handing them over to Edom. 7 So I will send fire against the city wall of Gaza,     and it will consume her citadels. 8 I will cut off the one seated in Ashdod,     and the one who holds a scepter in Ashkelon.     I will also turn my hand against Ekron,     and what is left of the Philistines will perish.     The Lord God has spoken. Judgment Against Canaan 9 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Tyre,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they delivered over an entire population and exiled them to Edom,     and they did not remember a treaty of brotherhood. 10 So I will send fire against the city wall of Tyre,     and it will consume her citadels. Judgment Against Edom 11 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Edom,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because he [7] pursued his brother with a sword,     and he had no compassion. [8]     His anger kept tearing Israel apart,     and his fury raged without stopping. 12 So I will send fire against Teman,     and it will consume the citadels of Bozrah. Judgment Against Ammon 13 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of the Ammonites,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their own territory. 14 So I will ignite a fire against the city wall of Rabbah,     and it will consume her citadels         with a battle cry on the day of war,         with a strong wind on the day of the storm. 15 Then their king will go into exile,     he and his officials together.     The Lord has spoken. Judgment Against Moab Amos 2 1 This is what the Lord says: Because of three sins of Moab,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they burned the bones of the king of Edom to make lime. 2 So I will send fire against Moab,     and it will consume the citadels of Kerioth.     Moab will die in an uproar,     with a battle cry, with a blast of a ram's horn. 3 I will cut off the judge [9] from her midst,     and I will kill all her officials with him.     The Lord has spoken. Judgment Against Judah 4 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Judah,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they rejected the law of the Lord,     and they did not keep his statutes.     Their lying idols led them astray,     the idols that their fathers followed. 5 So I will send fire against Judah,     and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem. Judgment Against Israel 6 This is what the Lord says:     Because of three sins of Israel,     because of four, I will not hold back judgment,     because they sell the righteous for silver     and the needy for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth,     and they turn aside the claims of the oppressed.     A man and his father go to the same young woman.     In this way they profane my holy name. 8 They stretch themselves out beside every altar         on pieces of clothing they seized as collateral.     In the temple of their gods they drink wine obtained through fines. 9 I was the one who destroyed the Amorites in front of them,     the Amorites, who were as tall as cedars,     who were as strong as oaks.     I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below. 10 I myself brought you up from the land of Egypt,     and I led you in the wilderness for forty years,         so that you would take possession of the land of the Amorites. 11 I raised up some of your sons to be prophets,     and some of your best young men to be Nazirites.     Is this not so, you people of Israel? declares the Lord. 12 But you made the Nazirites drink wine,     and you commanded the prophets, “You must not prophesy!” 13 Look, I am weighed down under you,     just as a cart is weighed down when it is loaded with sheaves of grain. [10] 14 There will be no escape for the swift runner.     The powerful man will not be able to exert his strength,     and the strong warrior will not be able to save his own life. 15 The archer will not stand his ground.     The swift runner will not save himself,     and the horseman will not save his own life. 16 The most courageous among the warriors will flee naked on that day,     declares the Lord. Footnotes Amos 1:1 Or ranchers Amos 1:2 Or mourn Amos 1:3 Or crimes Amos 1:3 A threshing board or threshing sledge is similar to a toboggan, but it has iron teeth protruding from the bottom. It is dragged over piles of grain to cut up the straw and release the kernels of grain. Amos 1:5 Valley of Aven and Beth Eden mean Valley of Wickedness and House of Pleasure. They may be figurative names for the region around Damascus. Amos 1:5 The location of Kir is unknown. It probably lies far to the north or east. Amos 1:11 Edom is referred to by the singular he because it is also a name of Jacob's brother Esau. Amos 1:11 Or he destroyed pregnant women Amos 2:3 Or ruler Amos 2:13 The meaning of the verse is uncertain. It may mean I will weigh you down as a cart is weighed down. The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

On today’s show: (00:00) Listeners share the moments when a bad day suddenly got a whole lot worse (09:25) Jono fully embraces his new role as the office Town Pryor (11:50) Ben reveals his latest addition to the ever-growing backpack collection (14:50) We go LIVE to Glasgow to chat with Anthony Capaldi and get him to say some hilarious words in his Scottish accent.. (18:50) The tough love tactics your parents used that actually worked (30:40) Can a slice of cheese help you fall asleep? Ben investigates (00:00) New York entertainment correspondent Nicole Ryan joins us to chat SyDney Sweeney in NZ! (33:00)Is July too early to start planning Christmas? (40:15) Ben's wife reveals the quirky habits he probably wishes she hadn’t shared... (43:45) Jono's battle with non-stick frying pans and why they never seem to last Join the Itty Bitty Hitty Committee HERE!Instagram: @THEHITSBREAKFASTFacebook: The Hits Breakfast with Jono, Ben & MeganSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do some biblical prophecies seem to be fulfilled in stages? In this episode of Shadows to Substance, Pastor George Sayour explains the biblical pattern of near and far fulfillment using roller coasters, waterslides, and whitewater kayaking. Looking at Tyre in Ezekiel 26, the Davidic covenant, Ezekiel's temple, and Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin birth, he shows how God's promises unfold across history—and why that should strengthen our confidence in Scripture.

Air pollution in London has changed dramatically over the past few decades — but how much of that is down to policies like ULEZ, and what's still being missed? This week Helen Czerski is joined by Dr. Gary Fuller, an air pollution scientist at Imperial College London who has spent over 30 years measuring air quality in the capital. They cover what's actually in the air we breathe, how ULEZ and other low-emission schemes have changed it, and the surprisingly large health benefits that are now being measured — plus the pollution sources still flying under the radar. Catch us live at Everything Electric Greater London (Twickenham, 11-12 Sept) and Sydney (18-20 Sept). 00:00 Intro – ULEZ and London's air today  02:21 Meet Dr. Gary Fuller  03:50 Has London's air pollution actually improved?  07:25 What's in the air 11:45 How air pollution is measured  16:34 A short history of LEZ and ULEZ  19:13 The evidence  25:37 Tyre and brake wear – the overlooked pollution source  29:24 What Gary would fix next: Heathrow, aviation fuel, wood burning  33:46 Health impacts – the Ella Kissi-Debrah case  37:32 Quantifying ULEZ's health benefits  44:23 Why doesn't the health argument win politically?  48:59 US case study: 40% drop in admissions after a plant closed   Why not come and join us at our next Everything Electric expo: https://everythingelectric.show   Check out our sister channel Everything Electric CARS: https://www.youtube.com/@fullychargedshow   Support our StopBurningStuff campaign: https://www.patreon.com/STOPBurningStuff   Become an Everything Electric Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow   Become a YouTube member: use JOIN button above   Buy the Fully Charged Guide to Electric Vehicles & Clean Energy : https://buff.ly/2GybGt0   Subscribe for episode alerts and the Everything Electric newsletter: https://fullycharged.show/zap-sign-up/   Visit: https://FullyCharged.Show   Find us on X: https://x.com/Everyth1ngElec   Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/officialeverythingelectric   To partner, exhibit or sponsor at our award-winning expos email: commercial@fullycharged.show   EE GREATER LONDON (Twickenham) - 11th & 12th Sept 2026 EE SYDNEY - Sydney Olympic Park - 18th - 20th Sept 2026    #fullychargedshow #everythingelectricshow #homeenergy #cleanenergy #battery #electriccars #electric-vehicles-uk

Why do some biblical prophecies seem to be fulfilled in stages? In this episode of Shadows to Substance, Pastor George Sayour explains the biblical pattern of near and far fulfillment using roller coasters, waterslides, and whitewater kayaking. Looking at Tyre in Ezekiel 26, the Davidic covenant, Ezekiel's temple, and Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin birth, he shows how God's promises unfold across history—and why that should strengthen our confidence in Scripture.Watch all of our videos and subscribe to our channel for the latest content >HereHere

Why do some biblical prophecies seem to be fulfilled in stages? In this episode of Shadows to Substance, Pastor George Sayour explains the biblical pattern of near and far fulfillment using roller coasters, waterslides, and whitewater kayaking. Looking at Tyre in Ezekiel 26, the Davidic covenant, Ezekiel's temple, and Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin birth, he shows how God's promises unfold across history—and why that should strengthen our confidence in Scripture.

She was from Tyre in Syria, the daughter of a pagan named Urban. She is a miraculous example of one brought to faith in Christ without any human intervention. When she was about eleven years old, her father, seeing her great beauty and wanting to protect her from men until she was grown, made her live alone on the top floor of a fine house, with slaves, all worldly comforts, and gold and silver idols. Passing the time by looking out the window, Christina came by her meditations on the beauty and order of nature to believe in the one, living God. An Angel of the Lord then came to her, who marked her with the sign of the Cross and instructed her in the truth of the Gospel. The newly-enlightened Christina smashed all the idols in her room, so infuriating her father that he sent her to be tortured and beheaded for her faith. Her father, though in good health and in the prime of life, died that night. Christina was subjected to horrible tortures and mutilations, and finally died by the sword, her faith unshaken.   Troparion to St Christina: O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice:* O my Bridegroom, Thee I love;* and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried.* I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee;* for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee:* accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice.* Lord, save our souls through her intercessions,* since Thou art great in mercy.

This chapter highlights the oracles concerning Tyre and Sidon. They warn us about putting our hope in money.

21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”23 But He answered her not a word.And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.”27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.”28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.29 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

As we continue journeying through the prophets, Fr. Mike helps us understand the oracle concerning Tyre and points out that God's judgment will always be completed. Today, we also begin reading the Book of Habakkuk and learn about the five powerful woes we can all relate to. Today's readings are Isaiah 23-24, Habakkuk 1-2, and Proverbs 11:1-4. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

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...

How can we be certain the Bible's predictions about the future will actually come true? Jim Scudder opens a new series on Revelation by showing how prophecies about Babylon, Nineveh, and Tyre came to pass exactly as written.

Scene of destruction in downtown Tyre, southern Lebanon, April 29, 2026. Postcard From Southern Lebanon Scott Carrier This is an interview with two people I met in Tyre, southern Lebanon, when I was there for a short time at the end of April. Like most people in southern Lebanon, these two are Shia Muslims who support Hezbollah. This is their side of the story. Donate

Today’s Topics: 1, 2, 3, 4) Gospel – Matthew 11:20-24 – Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of His mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the nether world. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Saint Kateri, pray for us!Bishop Sheen quote of the day Steve Ray joins Terry to discuss the Biblical worldview of grandparents and other relatives

Original Post Date: July 16, 2024 === Gospel  Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the nether world. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” Reflection We know that Jesus is divine. We forget sometimes that he is also human, and as a human being, he can feel and be frustrated as any of us would be. When something that we're working on, something we believe in, so much is not working, it's not convincing people that they need to pay attention to Jesus as the representative of God. And because he can do these marvelous, wonderful deeds, they still won't accept him. And so his condemnation of them is more of a frustration with them wanting them to realize how important it is that they do receive his message. Closing Prayer Father, when we live in an illusion and someone points out that illusion, it's not unusual for us to be absolutely angry and resistant. And that just shows that there is a part of all humanity that has a difficult time shifting its emphasis in its focus. Give us patience with each other. Help us to know that God will continue to work with us, but he'll warn us over and over again that if we don't change, we won't find the life that he's made for us. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Read OnlineLoving as Is NeededJesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.” Matthew 11:20–21Have you ever felt the urge to publicly rebuke someone, crying out in condemnation, “Woe to you!”? Most of us, at one time or another, have experienced that impulse. When we are hurt, dismissed, or sinned against, pride wells up within us, and our wounded hearts may long to strike back with words of righteous anger.But this human reaction is not what moved Jesus when He reproached the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum in today's Gospel. He did not condemn them because He was personally offended or emotionally wounded by their failure to repent. His pride was not injured, nor was He overcome by anger. Christ was fully in control, always responding with divine wisdom, offering exactly what each person needed in that moment.At times, He was gentle, consoling, and compassionate. At other times, He chastised and rebuked. Sometimes He refrained from performing signs and wonders; at other times, He lavished miracles upon the people. At times, He taught in the veiled language of parables, and at other times, He spoke plainly and directly.Jesus always knew how to love in every situation because every situation called for love expressed in different ways. True love is not defined by the one who gives it; it is defined by the one who receives it. What does that mean? It means that Jesus didn't offer a “one-size-fits-all” kind of love. He didn't say, “This is me, and this is how I love. Take it or leave it—I'm not changing for you.” No, Jesus' love was so pure, so other-focused, that it always sought the good of the one He loved and adjusted its expression in order to achieve that good.This is clearly seen in Jesus' rebuke of the people of these three towns, located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which were central to much of His public ministry. Capernaum was His home base; Chorazin and Bethsaida were places He frequented. Near this region He delivered the Sermon on the Mount and performed many miracles. Yet despite His tireless preaching and countless signs, few repented. And repentance was the very purpose of His mission. By chastising them—“Woe to you!”—Jesus lovingly sought to jolt them out of their complacency so that they might repent and receive the abundant mercy He and His Father so deeply desired to bestow. In this case, the rebuke was the precise expression of love that these towns needed at that time.Understanding the various expressions of Jesus' love teaches us much about the nature of divine charity—how God loves us, and how we, in turn, are called to love one another. Though the essence of God's love is always the same—perfect, complete, selfless, and sacrificial—the expression of that love varies, depending upon what each person most needs and what will most effectively lead them to eternal life.What expression of love do you need to give and receive in your life right now? Do you need God's consoling hand, His gentle encouragement, or His firm challenge to awaken you from spiritual complacency? Because God's perfect and unchanging love is expressed in various ways, according to our needs, it is essential to remain open to however He chooses to love us in this moment. In the same way, we should love others generously, purely, and selflessly, mirroring Christ, but the outward expression of that love must be shaped by the real needs of those before us.Reflect today on how God is loving you right now, and ask for the grace to receive that love with trust and humility. Then consider how you are called to extend that same discerning and sacrificial love to others—not merely as you prefer to give it—but as they most need to receive it. Let your love, like Christ's, always be guided by wisdom and formed by charity, loving others in the way that will best draw them closer to God's abundant mercy.Most loving God, Your love is perfect, unwavering, and never changing. Please open my heart to receive the expression of Your love that I need most, so that I may always repent of my sins and turn to Your mercy. Grant me the wisdom to imitate Your perfect love for others, offering not merely what I desire to give, but what they truly need in the moment. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Day of Judgement 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.

Rescuers in Nabatieh say several Israeli attacks have hit southern Lebanon after the ceasefire with Hezbollah came into effect. Meanwhile, US media reports Steve Witkoff is heading to Switzerland for potential Iran talks. Also: the White House confirms it's ending funding for South Africa's HIV programmes, linking the decision to unevidenced claims that the white-minority Afrikaner community is being persecuted; Afghanistan says it's launched strikes on two provinces in Pakistan targeting suspected Islamic State militants; James Burrows, the man behind countless US sitcoms including Cheers and Friends, has died; and for football World Cup fans - are time lags in technology spoiling your enjoyment of the beautiful game?The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Remains of a toy lie amid destroyed buildings in Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, Tyre district, southern Lebanon. Credit: Reuters/Aziz Taher

Israel and Hezbollah have agreed a ceasefire after deadly new exchanges in Lebanon put the fragile deal to end the US-Iran war under immediate strain. Health officials in Lebanon say dozens have been killed in Israeli strikes, while Israel said it was retaliating for the killing of four soldiers by Hezbollah. The US President Donald Trump and his administration have shown growing frustration with Israel, its ally and partner in the Iran war, calling for a complete ceasefire "on all fronts".Also: Italy's top diplomat has cancelled a trip to the US, accusing Donald Trump of insulting the Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. Rare talks take place between representatives of Venezuela's interim president and the country's long-marginalised opposition. A new study from Denmark raises questions about whether certain workplace activities in early pregnancy could increase the risk of miscarriage. The Marathi language film about forbidden love that has captured the hearts of people in India. And how Scotland's football fans have won over the locals in Boston and Providence during the World Cup.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: A woman returning to her village in Tyre district of Lebanon after airstrikes, June 19, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra

The Israeli military has carried out strikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, a day after Iran called for attacks on Lebanon to stop. Thousands of people have fled the city. Also: medical sources say Taliban forces in western Afghanistan have killed two people demonstrating against the detention of women who'd ignored religious dress codes; Honduras approves a series of reforms to tackle the high rate of femicide in the country; rescuers in the Philippines are working to reach isolated areas after an earthquake struck Mindanao; a BBC investigation reveals hundreds of Iraqi migrants were kidnapped and threatened with forced organ removal in Libya; and Japanese wildlife officials have caught a bear that had been roaming a city, causing widespread school closures.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Smoke billows following an Israeli strike in Tyre, Lebanon Credit: Reuters

Even as peace talks continue, the U.S. struck Iran near the Strait of Hormuz and Iran retaliated against a U.S. base in Kuwait, while Israel expanded its assault in Lebanon by issuing evacuation orders for the southern city, Tyre.Texas now has one of the most competitive Senate races in the country after Republicans nominated Ken Paxton, giving Democrats an opportunity to flip a seat in the midterms as they map out their path to controlling the Senate. And the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is worsening with more than a thousand suspected cases and over 200 suspected deaths, as Canada bans travelers from the region and the U.S. sets up a facility in Kenya for Americans who may have been exposed.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Megan Pratz, Tara Neill, Mohamad ElBardicy and Lindsay Totty.It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.Our director is Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.(0:00) Introduction(01:53) Iran Talks And Strikes(05:39) Senate Opportunities For Democrats(09:29) Ebola Outbreak EpicenterSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy