Podcasts about Ultimate reality

In this episode, Fr. Anthony examines the nature of ultimate reality—God, gods, and the arche'—through Scripture and the Fathers. With insights from Journey to Reality, he shows how God transcends all categories and draws us into worship and transformation.  Enjoy the show! ------ Ultimate Reality: God, gods, arche' Fr. Anthony Perkins; 10 September 2025 Text: Zachery Porcu, PhD. 2025. “Chapter 2 – Ultimate Reality” in Journey to Reality; Sacramental Life in a Secular Age.  Ancient Faith Publishing. Verses to Frame the Discussion Exodus 24:10. And they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. Exodus 33:11. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tent. Isaiah 6:5. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” HE IS GREATER EVEN THAN THIS (SOME FUN WITH AN “INCONSISTENCY”  Exodus 33:17-20. And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “I pray thee, show me thy glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for man shall not see me and live.” St. Ambrose: “Who shall see my face and live?” Scripture said, and rightly so. For our eyes cannot bear the sun's rays, and whoever turns too long in its direction is generally blinded, so they say. Now if one creature cannot look upon another creature without loss and harm to himself, how can he see the dazzling face of his eternal Creator while covered with the clothing that is this body? St. Gregory of Nyssa: He would not have shown himself to his servant if the sight were such as to bring the desire of the beholder to an end, since the true sight of God consists in this, that the one who looks up to God never ceases in that desire. For he says, “You cannot see my face, for man cannot see me and live.” Scripture does not indicate that this causes the death of those who look, for how would the face of life ever be the cause of death to those who approach it? On the contrary, the divine is by its nature life-giving. Yet it is the characteristic of the divine nature to transcend all characteristics. Therefore he who thinks God is something to be known does not have life, because he has turned from true being to what he considers by sense perception to have being. Job 38:19-20.  “Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,   that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? 1 Timothy 6:16. I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;  and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,  who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. John 1:18. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. On the resulting religion: Revelation 9-11.  And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,  “Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding[a] the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. St. John Chrysostom.  The Spirit is God, and we are raised to the level of the apostles, because we shall all behold him together with uncovered faces. As soon as we are baptized, the soul beams even more brightly than the sun because it is cleansed by the Spirit, and we not only behold God's glory, we also receive from it a kind of splendor. Segue to the book chapter (theosis requires a repentant mind) Religion should be more than our consumer society would lead us to believe it is. “What is the nature of reality?”  What does it all mean? Mankind wants to know, and he has tried to provide answers.  Many involve a mysterious higher power we call God. The problem with the word “God.” [Psalm 94:3.  For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.] [Isaiah 45:5.. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.] Zachary Porcu's solution: Arche' Other solutions? Capital “G” God.  “I AM”.  Unmoved Mover. Light.  True God. Tian, Brahman, Absolute. What is the Arche' like? (P. 25; J) Life (essence).  Light (essence) Arche compared to gods, angels, men, and rocks. Last paragraph of chapter; So then, when we ask about whether there is a God in this sense, we are not asking whether there is some specific superhuman entity that orders or governs the universe.  That is thinking far too small.  We are asking about the arche' of all being: the source, principle, the thing that is being itself.  This is the highest of all questions; there is nothing the answer does not affect.  NOTE: The question of whether the God of the Old Testament was the arche' or a demiurge was settled decisively: God was, is, and always shall be perfect and uncreated.

Something we've seen over the last few weeks is that this original audience badly misunderstands Jesus.Going back to Chapter 7, we saw it first with the brothers of Jesus and then we saw it with the crowd in Jerusalem — The Jewish people, led by the Pharisees, are incredibly lost when it comes to who Jesus is; they're walking in darkness — the metaphor that will come up soon in Chapter 9 is blindness.But that's what's happening in Chapter 8! — the people are spiritually blind.And … at the same time … Jesus is different.It is the people's own problem that they can't see Jesus, but Jesus is also unlike any person they've ever met before. And that's what I want us to focus on today.We've talked enough about the Pharisees — this morning I want to show you in this passage three ways that Jesus is different. It has to do with his judgment, his origin, and his mission. And this matters for us because these three differences will guide us in our worship of Jesus and our devotion to him. Let's pray:Father in heaven, thank you for your Word, and for this moment. As best as we can, by your Spirit's help, we surrender our hearts to his work. Speak to us, in Jesus's name, amen.Three ways Jesus is different …1. His judgment is not like ours.To start, remember last week in verse 12 Jesus said that he's the light of the world, but then the Pharisees ignore what he says and try to make the whole thing a legal dispute.They said that Jesus was out of bounds to bear witness about himself, but Jesus says that's not really the case because he never does anything by himself — that's not how he works. And just like that, this dialogue presents an opportunity for Jesus to explain how different he is.So in verse 15 he says,“You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.”Now wait a minute: How can Jesus say that? We know he judges. He's gonna say in verse 26 (just a few verses away) that he has “much to judge.” He said back in Chapter 5 that the Father has given him authority to execute judgment (5:27); And he describes his judgment as just and right and true (5:30; 7:24; 8:16). So what does he mean when he says “I judge no one”? According to the FleshWell, he means it in contrast to how people judge “according to the flesh” — Jesus is saying “I judge no one like that.” Remember, we've already seen that wrong judgment is a problem for the people.This goes back to Chapter 5 when the Jews didn't like it that Jesus healed that man on the Sabbath. And in Chapter 7, Jesus refers back to that incident and he tells the people You're seeing it all wrong. Chapter 7, verse 24 …“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”Judging by appearances (ch. 7), and judging according to the flesh (ch. 8), are basically the same thing. And that's the problem. This kind of judgment is judgment based on the limited perspective of fallible humans.So catch this. This human judgment has two things going against it: one is that the lens is limited; the other is that the eyes looking through the lens are fallible.I imagine this to be kind of like those mounted binoculars you find on a fishing pier. (Y'all have seen these before, either on piers at the ocean or somewhere else that has a scenic view.) You pop a quarter in and you can look through these binoculars, but they're limited. You're constricted in how far you can turn the thing. And you can see a part of the ocean, but not the whole ocean, and then the time runs out.Well, judgment according to the flesh is like that, except also the person looking through the binoculars is legally blind (we're all like Mr. Magoo…).This is judgment according to the flesh — it's limited and fallible — and the twist here is that Jesus is not addressing this problem of judgment because of how people treat other people, but this has to do with how they see him.It's About JesusI want to make sure you catch this …There are moral implications when it comes to human judgment and how we treat one another, but that is not Jesus's first concern here.The bigger problem with broken human judgment is that it's what's keeping people from recognizing who Jesus is!We see this problem all throughout the Gospel of John:“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (1:46)“Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (6:42)“How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” (7:15)“Is the Christ to come from Galilee?” (7:41)See, the people were spiritually blind to Jesus. Blindness TodayAnd it's not just a problem with this original audience, but this has been a problem throughout history. This is part of the Christian story — because, according to the flesh, the Christian message is not very impressive.We believe that the Savior of the world is a Jewish peasant who had a three-year teaching ministry in First Century Palestine until the Roman governor had him brutally murdered. No wonder why that at the time that John wrote this Gospel people called this silly! According to the flesh it is silly… by human appearances it's foolishness. But this just means that the only way we can recognize Jesus is if we start seeing beyond what's natural to us.John tells us from the start: We must be born again — not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13).To see Jesus we have to start seeing the way he sees. His judgment is not like ours.2. His origin is not from here. We're going to pick this up in verse 23. But in verse 21, Jesus has acted as a prophet and pronounced a coming judgment, and the Jews are baffled by this. They mock Jesus in verse 22. Then, verse 23: He [Jesus] said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”See how plainly he puts this? Jesus is saying I'm different.He's saying to this crowd: We are from and of different realms of reality — just wait and see what he says next week!Setting the SceneBut then Jesus says something here in verse 24 that gets their attention. He sobers ‘em up real quick, and it comes through in their question in verse 25.Everybody find verse 25. Y'all are gonna want to see this one. Verse 25. Chapter 8, verse 25:So they said to him, “Who are you?”Now, I want to back up for a minute and set this scene for you. I'm gonna describe how this might have looked (I need a little poetic license) …Verse 21 opens: Jesus is talking to a small crowd, and you gotta imagine they're basically heckling him. It's one of those group-think moments when people bond over their shared criticism. Y'all ever see that before?You can picture it — they're twisting his words and making their jokes. That's verse 22 — they say: Hey, what's this guy gonna do, kill himself? And the crowd busts out laughing, and as the laughter's dying down, Jesus says something that makes them instantly shut up and get serious. It's like the music just goes errrr — silence. And they say: “Who are you?”That's the scene.So I wanna know: What did Jesus say in verse 24 to cause that question? Let's look at verse 24:“I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”What part of these words stopped the crowd in their tracks? Face-to-Face with I AMNow, it could have been that Jesus told them they're gonna die in their sins. That's pretty serious, but it's not new. Jesus said that in verse 21, and he says it twice here. I think the bombshell in verse 24 is when Jesus says “unless you believe that I am he … you will die in your sins…”That's because the words here, “I am he,” in the Greek, is the ἐγώ εἰμι — which literally translates as I AM.And this crowd has heard those words before. They know about the I AM. They know the Book of Exodus, and the story of the burning bush. They've heard the Book of Isaiah, when God speaks and says:Isaiah 41:4,“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am.” Isaiah 43:13,“… from ancient days I am; No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (NIV)Isaiah 43:25,“I am, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 48:12,“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am! I am the first, and I am the last.”These people knew Who said these words in the Book of Isaiah. And here Jesus is saying unless you believe I am the I AM, you'll die in your sins. And they're floored. They take a big gulp, and they say:For real, who are you?And Jesus says: I've been trying to telling you. It's what I've been saying from the beginning.The Big BeginningAnd this first audience hears Jesus say “beginning” and they think he's talking about when their conversation started, but we as the readers, we see that word “beginning” and we think back to John 1:1, to how this Gospel started:“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”He was in the beginning with God.This is what Jesus meant in verse 23 when he said I am from above and I am not from this world. Jesus's origin is not like ours because he had no origin, not as the eternally begotten Son of God. He has always been … Ultimate Reality, the Great First Cause, the Unmoved Mover. He is from everlasting to everlasting … Of old he laid the foundations of the world, and the heavens are the work of his hands! They will perish, but he will remain! They will all wear out like a garment, he will change them like a robe and they will pass away! But he is the same and his years have no end! (see Psalm 102:25–27; Hebrews 1:10–12).Church, Jesus is different — if you can see him. Jesus is different. His origin is not from here.3. His mission is not by himself. This is verse 28: So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. There will come a moment when Jesus's identity as the I AM will be most manifest, and ironically, it'll be a moment that these unbelievers bring about. It'll be when they lift him up. To Be Lifted UpIn the Gospel of John, when Jesus talks this way, he's talking about the cross. To “be lifted up” has a double meaning — it's another example of the layers in John — Jesus will be “lifted up” literally on the cross, to die — And he'll also be lifted up as in he's exalted and glorified in the cross event which culminates in resurrection.Both are in view.And when Jesus is lifted up, literally, on the cross, that's a moment that by appearances — according to the flesh — it looks like the worst kind of defeat. He was crucified! But that was actually the moment when the I AM blots out the transgressions of his people! So, what is most atrocious to human eyes is the greatest divine miracle ever displayed. That is the mission of Jesus. That's why he came. And he came, Jesus tells us, in collaboration with his Father. Collaborating with the FatherThat's what he says in verse 28. His mission is not a solo endeavor, but the Father is involved. Jesus has talked this way before: John 4:34,“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”John 5:19,“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.”John 6:38,“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”So Jesus didn't come on a self-directed mission — he was not sent by himself — And he also didn't come by himself. Look at verse 29: “And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”Now, in what way is the Father with Jesus? How has the Father not left Jesus alone?Theologically, the right answer is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is how the Father was with Jesus in his earthly ministry. The Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and he is the bond of love between them. But in verse 29, Jesus doesn't give us those theological details. He just tells us why the Father is with him. He says it's because“I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”Now in one sense, we could say that Jesus is just stressing again the unity he has with his Father, and that's true. But in another sense, if we're taking Jesus at his word, in verse 29 he grounds the “with-me-ness of God” in what he does. He's saying: I enjoy the blessing of the Father's nearness because of what I do.The Father is with me because I do what's pleasing to him!‘Don't Try This at Home'And this is one of those things that should come with a warning: “Don't try this at home.”Because we can't talk that way. I don't recommend it. That's because one of the facts of our fallen humanity is that we often to confuse the proper placement of our doing. And the simple name for this is called “works-righteousness.”But Chip Dodd calls this confusion the DO-HAVE-BECOME mindset.Many people live their life this way. They think: “If I only could DO (x) then I could HAVE (y), and finally BECOME (z).” Get it? DO … HAVE … BECOME. Look, I'll go ahead and tell you: that's a mess in the making. It will burn you out. Because all you can do in that mindset is keep chasing, always looking for that next milestone, that next thing just above the horizon. This is the path of so many people, and it just leaves you weary and empty.The right order, though, is not “Do-Have-Become” — but “Be-Have-Do!”“Because I AM (z) then I HAVE (y), and therefore I DO (x).”That's the Christian life:Because I AM (a child of God) then I HAVE (every spiritual blessing in Christ) and therefore I DO (a life of love and witness for his glory).We must constantly be reordering our lives this way. We often get it wrong. But we should realize that Jesus is different. Because Jesus was/is the perfect man … This means Jesus lived here with absolutely perfect harmony in his being, having, and doing. Theologians have talked about this as the harmony of his person and work. His Glorious CongruenceSee, Jesus never needed to reorder anything here because he never had a hiccup between who he is and what he does. Part of his holiness was his wholeness.He is the truth and he speaks the truth. He is light and he shines light. He is life and he gives life.This is glorious congruence! Everything that Jesus ever DID was impeccably aligned with his BEING as the Beloved Son of God with whom the Father is well-pleased.He was so aligned, so congruent — his activity was so perfectly an expression of his identity — that doesn't talk of one without including the other.That's why he can say I always DO the things that are pleasing to my Father and that's why he's with me. His mission was not by himself, and here, church, is glory!Behold Him!This is a closeness of relationship with the Father and a congruence of person that we can barely fathom, but certainly adore.Back in 1738, the pastor-theologian Jonathan Edwards meditated on the person of Jesus and focused on the union of his “diverse excellencies” — Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb; he is majestic and meek, just and merciful … Edwards said,“In him meet together infinite highness and infinite condescension; infinite justice and infinite grace; infinite glory and lowest humility.”And for this, he is worthy of our adoration. … And I want to add … Just like we adore Jesus for the “admirable conjunctions of his diverse excellencies,” we adore him for the simple harmony of his person and work. Who he is is how he lived.In the most profound way, What you see is what you get — if you can truly see. So that's where we end. Can you see him yet? Do you recognize who Jesus is?If you see him, you trust him. You put your faith in him, and maybe that's something you want to do today for the first time. You can do it right now — tell him: Jesus, I see you, I trust you. And for so many of us who have seen him, don't you want to see him more? Jesus is different … in his judgment, his origin, and his mission — and we just want to see more of him! More of his glory! We wanna behold him!That's the invitation now as we come to this Table. The TableFor all of us who trust in Jesus, if you see him, let's see him anew this morning as we receive the bread and cup. We are remembering Jesus's person and work, and together, church, we behold him.

1 Corinthians 7:25-40 Live from what is ultimate.

Feel into this for a moment. Feel into the possibility that your deepest, most cherished wishes have already come true. That the love you seek is already yours. That the abundance you desire is already flowing. That the purpose you're searching for is already being lived. That the peace you crave is already present. This feeling you're beginning to sense... this is what we call the Wish Fulfilled State. It's not a state you achieve through effort or struggle. It's a state you remember, a state you recognize, a state you allow yourself to inhabit. Because in the deepest truth of your being, all of your wishes have always been fulfilled. The separation between you and your fulfilled desires exists only in the realm of time and space. In the realm of consciousness, in the realm of pure being, there is no separation. There is no waiting. There is no becoming. There is only the eternal fulfillment of your deepest nature expressing itself in infinite ways. And as you begin to align with this truth, as you begin to feel into this reality where all is already accomplished, you're recognizing something that has always been. You're stepping into the version of yourself that has never known lack, never experienced separation, never felt the pain of unfulfilled longing. 

The life you've been dreaming of, the reality you've been hoping for, the existence you've been working toward, isn't something you need to create in the future, but something you can step into right now. The distance between your current experience and your ultimate reality isn't measured in years or effort, but simply in the willingness to shift your consciousness from one dimensional frequency to another. In this episode you will live a complete day in your ultimate reality. Not as someone observing from the outside, but as someone inhabiting that reality from the inside. You're going to wake up, move through an entire day, and go to sleep as the version of yourself who has everything they've ever wanted. This is reality rehearsal. This is your nervous system learning what it feels like to operate from fulfillment rather than lack, from abundance rather than scarcity, from joy rather than struggle. The reason this activation is so powerful is that your subconscious mind cannot distinguish between a vividly experienced inner reality and an actual outer experience. When you fully immerse yourself in the feeling of living your ultimate life, your nervous system begins to operate from that frequency. Your energy field begins to broadcast that signature. Your consciousness begins to attract experiences that match that vibration. 

Why is the “Golden Rule” found in almost every major religion? Some truth seekers insist that because of commonalities like this weaving their way through so many religions, they must be equally legitimate paths to Ultimate Reality. Is that right or wrong? If this concept is found in the Scripture base of multiple worldviews, how did it get there? There are three possible answers. See which one you believe.Comparative religion website: www.thetruelight.net Ministry website: www.shreveministries.org The Catholic Project website: www.toCatholicswithlove.org Video channel: www.YouTube.com/mikeshreveministries All audio-podcasts are shared in a video format on our YouTube channel. Mike Shreve's other podcast Discover Your Spiritual Identity—a study on the biblical names given to God's people: https://www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/discoveryourspiritualidentity Mail: P.O. Box 4260, Cleveland, TN 37320 / Phone: 423-478-2843Purchase Mike Shreve's popular book comparing over 20 religions: In Search of the True LightPurchase Mike Shreve's new book comparing Catholicism to biblical Christianity:The Beliefs of the Catholic Church

Crafting Your Reality: Harnessing Transformative Energy with Cacao Ceremonies and Focused IntentionsJoin Kelle Sparta, a transformational shaman and spiritual coach, along with her co-host Joshua Radewan, as they explore the profound impact of creating your own reality. In this episode, Kelle recounts her weekend involving a near-death experience and hosting a powerful cacao ceremony focused on trauma healing and clearing fear.Key Topics Include:The importance of intentional focus and commitmentThe balance between active and passive practices necessary for manifesting one's desired realityThe significance of positive energyAvoiding victimhoodThe power of curated intent in spiritual practicesTransforming your life through spiritual rituals00:00 Introduction and Weekend Recap00:33 The Cacao Ceremony Experience02:23 Clearing Trauma and Fear07:33 Creating Your Own Reality11:45 The Power of Intentions and Words13:51 Commitment and Manifestation31:20 Balancing Productivity and Self-Worth33:49 Conclusion and Key TakeawaysKeywords:law of attractionspiritual growth practicespersonal development spiritualitynervous system regulationspiritual retreatsenergetic boundariesmanifesting abundancehow to receive abundancesacred healing ritualsconscious reality creationtrust the universeIf you would like to learn more please book a Discovery Call here: https://kellesparta.com/discovery-call/Licensing and Credits:“Spirit Sherpa” is the sole property of Kelle Sparta Enterprises and is distributed under a Creative Commons: BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. For more information about this licensing, please go to www.creativecommons.org. Any requests for deviations to this licensing should be sent to kelle@kellesparta.com. To sign up for, or get more information on the programs, offerings, and services referenced in this episode, please go to www.kellesparta.com.

As dharma students our task is to know reality.  And, as the Buddha tells us, there is a conditioned reality, the reality of the senses; and there's an unconditioned reality, a reality that is timeless.  The path leads us to knowing this reality:  ultimate reality.  In this talk, Peter Doobinin discusses ultimate reality, what it is, and what we need to do to know it.  The talk was given in the winter of 2025.

As we wrap up Season 3 of the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts podcast, we find ourselves reflecting on a season that has been both challenging and enlightening. We've had the privilege of engaging in conversations with guests from a variety of spiritual traditions, each offering profound insights into the nature of Ultimate Reality and non-duality from their spiritual traditions.It has been all about expansion—of our hearts, minds, and understanding. We've explored how our contemplative practices open us up to new ways of seeing and being, helping us move beyond the boundaries of dualistic thinking. The idea of Ultimate Reality as a shared experience, something we can only begin to describe through stories, metaphors, and silence, has deeply shaped our reflections. Our guests invited us to consider how connection, kinship, and the experience of God weave through all of life.To connect further with us:Visit our website: www.contemplativeoutreach.orgFind us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prayerofconsentLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prayerofconsentCheck out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@prayerofconsentTo learn more about the founding theological principles of Contemplative Outreach, visit https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/vision/Stream and Download the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Amazon and Spotify!

Brian Greene is a Professor of Physics and Mathematics at Columbia University. His research has significantly contributed to the advancement of string theory, and he is widely regarded as one of the world's leading science communicators. As a best-selling author, co-founder of the World Science Festival, and frequent guest on prominent television programs and films, Brian has a remarkable ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible to audiences across the globe. His latest book, Until the End of Time: Mind, Matter, and Our Search for Meaning in an Evolving Universe, is a fresh look at the cosmos. Brian joins the podcast to explore the fundamental nature of reality. What is “Nature”? Is it an idea, a force, a physical reality, or a god? How does a universe come to exist in the first place? To explore this mystery, check out our essay by Manil Suri, entitled “Mathematics Can Do Anything But This.” Join our growing community of 45,000+ listeners and be notified of new episodes of Templeton Ideas. Subscribe today.  Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Ruth is joined this week by Rasool Berry, teaching pastor and director of partnerships and content development at Our Daily Bread Ministries. They continue our conversations about tarrying, this time focusing on justice and the transformative nature of tarrying. Rasool shares his journey from a non-church upbringing to embracing faith, how tarrying helps him orient himself to God's reality, and highlights the deep spiritual lessons learned through practices of waiting and quiet. The conversation underscores the importance of embodying the spirit of justice and the need for contemplative action in today's disorienting world.   We are journeying through Lent with a podcast season entitled “Tarry with Me Awhile: Learnings from the Black Church.” We will use Dr. Selina Stone's book, Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, as a guide. Black spirituality has much to offer us in understanding the practice of tarrying as a Lenten practice. Together we will seek a deeper understanding of waiting on God in the liminal space—where the resurrection feels far off, and our deaths and suffering are present.    Rasool Berry (TC19) serves as Teaching Pastor at The Bridge Church in Brooklyn, New York, and is Director of Partnerships & Content Development at Our Daily Bread Ministries. He is the host of the Where Ya From? podcast, is featured in the award winning, Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom documentary directed by Ya'Ke Smith. He is the general editor of the book and video series called, The Whole Man which focuses on spiritual development for African American men. Rasool graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in Africana Studies and Sociology. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Tamica, and their daughter. Music this season is provided by Julian Davis Reed. Julian Davis Reid (TC20) is an artist-theologian from Chicago who uses sound and word to offer hope to the searching, presence to the sorrowful, and rest to the weary. A pianist, composer, and producer, his projects featured on this podcast are the two solo piano records Rest Assured (2021) and Beside Still Waters (2024) and his single Moan (Matthew 2:18) featuring Tramaine Parker, released on Inauguration Day 2025 on the project When Souls Cry Out. Julian steadily releases music under his own name and with his group, The JuJu Exchange. You can learn more about his work at juliandavisreid.com. Mentioned in this episode: Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith by Dr. Selina Stone The Spirit of Justice by Jemar Tisby The Sovereignty of Quiet: Beyond Resistance in Black Culture by Kevin Quashie Music Credit: Kingdom Come by Aaron Niequist O Sacred Head, Now Wounded from Lent- Music in Solitude In the House of the Lord My Whole Life Long by Julian Davis Reid   Are you interested in learning more about Haven, our newest community offering from the Transforming Center? Haven is a community that meets alternately online and in person to create space for leaders to forge a stronger connection between their souls and their leadership. Each gathering (online and in-person) offers spiritual practices that increasingly open us to God over time. This new 18-month community experience will provide more intentional opportunities to engage with a diverse community of believers who are united around Christ. Learn more about dates and how to apply!   Alumni: The Alumni Membership Community is here! For Transforming Community Alumni who are still cultivating rhythms that allow them to flourish in their life and leadership, you have the opportunity to stay on the journey with TC alums through a membership community! This exclusive membership is a safe place to be honest about the challenges of spiritual leadership, to remember the teachings and practices that open us up to God, and to be supported by an ongoing community that sustains us in the hope and the mystery of God's transforming work in the world — starting with us! Membership window is open March 12-31, 2025. Join today! Support the podcast! This season patrons will receive special bonus episodes with each guest, exploring different practices associated with Lent, such as solitude, self-examination, confession, and more. Become a patron today by visiting our Patreon page!     The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. You are invited to join our next Transforming Community:® A Two-year Spiritual Formation Experience for Leaders.  Delivered in nine quarterly retreats, this practice-based learning opportunity is grounded in the conviction that the best thing you bring to leadership is your own transforming self! Learn more and apply HERE.   *this post contains affiliate links

From the March/April 2025 edition of The Scottish Rite Journal.  Any accompanying photographs or citations for this article can be found in the corresponding print edition.Make sure to like and subscribe to the channel!  Freemasons, make sure you shout out your Lodge, Valley, Chapter or Shrine below!OES, Job's Daughter's, Rainbow, DeMolay?  Drop us a comment too!To learn how to find a lodge near you, visit www.beafreemason.comTo learn more about the Scottish Rite, visit www.scottishrite.orgVisit our YouTube Page: Youtube.com/ScottishRiteMasonsJoin our Lost Media Archive for only $1.99 a month!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv-F13FNBaW-buecl7p8cJg/joinVisit our new stores: Bookstore: https://www.srbookstore.myshopify.com/Merch Store: http://www.shopsrgifts.com/

Welcome to another episode of Opening Minds, Opening Hearts. This time, we are joined by Abdul-Rehman Malik, affectionately known as AR, an award-winning journalist, educator, and cultural organizer whose life story is deeply intertwined with themes of migration, faith, and social justice. As a lecturer at Yale Divinity School and the Yale Jackson School for Global Affairs, AR directs a leadership program focused on social justice and public service. His podcast, "This Being Human," explores the intersections of faith, culture, and social change, inviting meaningful dialogue and action. Through his work, AR embodies the belief that mercy, justice, and compassion are essential in navigating the complexities of our world.Join us as we reflect on the nature of Ultimate Reality, the importance of community practice, and the power of mercy in a fractured world, drawing on AR's rich experiences across the globe. To connect with AR:Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armalik/Follow him on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/armalikFollow him on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/armalikListen more on his podcast,This Being Human: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-being-human/id1549041471To connect further with us:Visit our website: www.contemplativeoutreach.orgFind us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prayerofconsentLike us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prayerofconsentCheck out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@prayerofconsentTo learn more about Father Thomas Keating's guidelines for service and principles visit www.contemplativeoutreach.org/vision. Stream and Download the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Amazon and Spotify!

Discover the power of resilience in It's Not Over Yet. Dr. Samarth Joseph's inspiring journey proves your story is still unfolding. Don't miss this transformative book—filled with faith, hope, and perseverance. Embrace the next chapter of your life! More information visit the website: https://itsnot-overyet.com/ Dr. Samarth Joseph City: Garden City Address: P.O. Box 7574 Website: https://itsnot-overyet.com

Send us a textIt seems our world is struggling with how we share our thoughts and ideas with each other.  This becomes even more difficult when the thing we are sharing is near to our heart. There are some topics that have become almost impossible to talk about without the urge to take sides and judge others.  This can happen with those we love and those we do not know. This episode of More Than One Way wrestles with moving past our beliefs to our shared experiences as a way to listen, share, learn, and grow.8 Points of Agreement from Snowmass Conferences  (read more)1. The world religions bear witness to the Ultimate Reality, to which they give various names. 2. Ultimate Realty cannot be limited by any name or concept. 3. Ultimate Reality is the ground of infinite potentiality and actualization. 4. Faith is opening, accepting, and responding to Ultimate Reality. Faith in this sense precedes every belief system. 5. The potential for human wholeness - or, in other frames of reference, enlightenment, salvation, transcendence, transformation, blessedness, - is present in every human being. 6. Ultimate Reality may be experienced not only through religious practices but also through nature, art, human relationships, and service to others. 7. As long as the human condition is experienced as separate from Ultimate Reality, it is subject to ignorance and illusion, weakness and suffering. 8. Disciplined practice is essential to the spiritual life; yet spiritual attainment is not the results of one's own efforts, but the result of the experience of oneness with Ultimate Reality. Contact Us: Email | Instagram | Facebook | Web Presented by: The Center for Spiritual PracticeCreative Team: Nathan Tipton, Christibeth Paul, Thom Rasnick, Kerry Ruff, Paul Ruff, Shay Boswell, and Whitney RossOriginal Music composed by: Paul Ruff

In his 4th year at University in Halifax, NS, Canada, Bernie Flinn saw death close up in his family. He had grown up as a religious Roman Catholic, but was shaken in the face of life's ultimate reality. Later, while pursuing graduate studies in chemistry in London, Ontario, Bernie met a young lady who spoke to him about the only way to be ready for death – to be saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Reading: John 3.16, The post A Chemistry Student Faces the Ultimate Reality (22 min) first appeared on Gospel Hall Audio.

Apologizes for the audio issues this Sunday. In our series Unhindered Worship, we are exploring the factors that impact our love for Jesus. This week, we focus on the power of the realities we live under and how worship reorients us to ultimate reality.

This episode features a wonderful conversation between LDF board member Terri Petersen and author Larry Jordan, who wrote the book, The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World detailing his spiritual journey from active but low-belief Christianity to more mystical understandings of Ultimate Reality informed mostly by eastern religious traditions. In many ways, the book is an attempt to unite eastern and western spirituality. They have great exchanges on many topics, ranging from the two worldviews, how quantum physics is describing reality in much the same way mystics do, the role of myths/stories and what difference it makes if God is a person or not, or if Biblical miracle stories really happened, and more! Enjoy! 

Philip Shepherd is a recognized leader in the global embodiment movement, known for his work in integrating the mind and body's intelligence. He is the co-founder of The Embodied Present Process (TEPP), a set of practices designed to help individuals reunite the thinking of the head with the deep, present, and calm intelligence of the body. Embodied PresentShepherd's journey into embodiment began in his teens when he cycled alone through Europe, the Middle East, India, and Japan. His studies included classical Noh theater in Japan, and he has had a diverse career as an actor, playing lead roles on stages in London, New York, Chicago, and Toronto. He has also co-directed an interdisciplinary theater company and taught workshops on embodied thinking and spontaneous creativity. Embodied PresentAs an author, Shepherd has written several books exploring themes of embodiment and wholeness:New Self, New World: Recovering Our Senses in the Twenty-first Century (2010)Radical Wholeness: The Embodied Present and the Ordinary Grace of Being (2017)Deep Fitness: The Mindful, Science-Based Strength-Training Method to Transform Your Well-Being in Just 30 Minutes a Week (2021), co-authored with Andrei YakovenkoThrough his teachings and writings, Shepherd emphasizes the importance of listening to the world through the body's intelligence, fostering a deeper connection with oneself and the present moment. Embodied Present

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Mirabai Starr, an acclaimed author, translator of sacred writings, and interspiritual teacher. Her insights blend timeless wisdom with a modern perspective, focusing on contemplative spirituality, the experience of grief, and the profound beauty found in everyday life.With two decades of experience in teaching philosophy and world religions, along with a lifetime of personal practice, Mirabai imparts her insights globally. She explores contemplative living, writing as a spiritual practice, and the profound impact of grief and loss on transformation.From her early years immersed in spirituality at the Lama Foundation, to her recent book, Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground, Mirabai shares her journey of finding the divine beyond religious structures.In our conversation, Mirabai invites us to leave the safety of our known spiritual world and encounter Love, the Beloved, the Divine, and Ultimate Reality in a new and less familiar way.To connect with Mirabai Starr:Visit her website: www.mirabaistarr.comCheck out her Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mirabaistarr/Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirabai.starr.author/Order her latest book - Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred GroundTo connect further with us:Visit our website: www.contemplativeoutreach.orgFind us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contemplativeoutreachltd/Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/contemplativeoutreachCheck out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/coutreachTo learn more about Father Thomas Keating's guidelines for service and principles visit www.contemplativeoutreach.org/vision. Stream and Download the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Amazon and Spotify!

Restaurant owners, are you making the most of your social media? Most restaurants only post food pictures and miss out on the opportunity to post content customers crave—your story. In this video, I'll show you how to turn behind-the-scenes moments, employee spotlights, and your brand's story into social media gold. Learn how to showcase the heart of your restaurant, connect with your audience, and build a loyal community that feels like part of your journey. Whether it's highlighting your team, sharing your process, or giving customers a peek behind the curtain, this approach will help you stand out and keep them coming back for more. -- Do you need some help driving sales?   I'm the CEO of Restaurant Marketing That Works, and we help restaurants find HUNGRY customers. RMTW owns two companies, America's Best Restaurants and DRYVER, powered by Repeat Returns. Go to www.restaurantmarketingthatworks.com for more information That's Restaurant Marketing That Works Dot Com

We're thrilled to share this conversation with Cynthia Bourgeault, an Episcopal priest whose insights into spirituality have transformed our understanding of connecting with Ultimate Reality.Cynthia is a modern-day mystic with a diverse background in contemplative spirituality, theology, and interspiritual dialogue. Known worldwide as a retreat leader and author, she divides her time between her home in Maine and teaching engagements around the globe, where she's a passionate advocate for reviving Christian contemplative practices. Cynthia's work builds bridges across spiritual traditions, and her new book, Thomas Keating: The Making of a Modern Christian Mystic, explores Keating's life and influence on modern spirituality. Her teaching incorporates her profound respect for Thomas Keating, Teilhard de Chardin, and other visionaries of contemplative theology, offering fresh insights into Christian non-duality and inner transformation.To connect with Cynthia Bourgeault:Visit her website https://wisdomwaypoints.org/Get your copy of her new book, Thomas Keating: The Making of a Modern Christian Mystic: https://bookshop.org/p/books/thomas-keating-the-making-of-a-modern-christian-mystic-cynthia-bourgeault/21221862To connect further with us:Visit our website: www.contemplativeoutreach.orgFind us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contemplativeoutreachltd/Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/contemplativeoutreachCheck out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/coutreachTo learn more about Father Thomas Keating's guidelines for service and principles visit www.contemplativeoutreach.org/vision. Stream and Download the Opening Minds, Opening Hearts Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Amazon and Spotify!

”I have spent my life judging the distance between American reality and the American dream.” Bruce Springsteen

We hope you find this shiur inspirational. If you would like to sponsor any future shiurim, please get in contact with us at ⁠office@rabbiroodyn.com

In today's devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that those seasons in which we do not feel like praising God are precisely the seasons when we most need to.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon Empowered by Praise, Part 2: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOWAVAILABLE NOW FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNTToday, you can learn to release your fears and be filled with the abiding peace of Christ.The trials of this world prompt us to run for shelter and sanctuary. Our hearts long for a place of peace. In his NEW devotional book My Refuge, My Strength, Dr. Michael Youssef leads you to find true rest in Jesus, the only unshakeable foundation. Join him on a journey to surrender your restlessness and move from discontentment to contentment as you develop a profound intimacy with the Lord through sixty deep, Biblically-sound devotions. Request your copy today for your gift of any amount! *Offer valid in US, UK, and Canada through November 30, 2024

Wow! The last few days has been filled with very serious news happenings, but we know that Yahuwah holds our future in His hands, so we can remain in peace.

What you don't know really can hurt you when it comes to God and what will happen in the end times. Today we will walk through Revelation 14 and discover what every person must know about God.

Brendan Graham Dempsey is the director of Sky Meadow Institute and the author of the Metamodern Spirituality Series. He explores the evolution of spirituality and the integration of science and religion in contemporary culture. To learn more about his latest book release, "A Universal Learning Process," which is the first volume in his series "The Evolution of Meaning," please visit this link.   Can Metamodern Christianity breathe new life into ancient religious frameworks?   In this episode of "Voices with Vervaeke," John Vervaeke and Brendan Graham Dempsey continue their exploration of MetaModern Christianity in part two of their discussion. Building on their previous conversation, which addressed the potential for metamodern spirituality to rejuvenate the Christian faith, they delve deeper into the integration of ancient doctrines with contemporary thought. They tackle the limitations of traditional religious frameworks, explore the concept of ultimate reality and the sacred through a non-theistic lens, and emphasize the significance of dialogical relationships in meaning-making. Vervaeke and Dempsey connect these insights to broader philosophical and cultural themes, examining the evolution of spiritual maturity, the interplay between personhood and the universe, and the integration of scientific and mystical perspectives.   —   Embark on a journey of personal growth and meaning with us. Join our Patreon Patreon community, where shared wisdom fuels transformation.   —   00:00 Introduction and Recap of Part One 00:45 Brendan's Work on Metamodern Spirituality 02:45 Ultimate Reality and the Sacred 13:25 Integrating Critiques: Schellenberg, Transcendence, and Non-Theism 16:50 Meaning and Learning in Sacred Evolution 29:20  Dialogical Relationship with the Sacred 41:45 God as Cosmic Self-Realization 50:00 Prayer and Maturation in Deep Time 54:30 Prayer and Transpersonal Dialogue 58:30 Prayer and Ultimate Reality 01:15:05 Conclusion: The Evolution of Meaning and the Sacred   —   The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Become a part of our mission.   Join Awaken to Meaning to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships.    —   Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned in this Episode   J.L. Schellenberg Gregg Henriques Rudolf Otto  Clifford Geertz Carl Sagan Meister Eckhart Paul Tillich Iain McGilchrist Martin Heidegger Michael Levin Epicurus Bobby Azarian Kasra Mirzaie Leonard Angel Spinoza John Hick Dan Chiappe Paul Tillich Dionysus Brendan Graham Dempsey, A Universal Learning Process (The Evolution of Meaning) ​​Matt Rossano, Ritual in Human Evolution and Religion Joseph A. Bracken, The Divine Matrix: Creativity As Link Between East and West Leonard Angel, Enlightenment East and West   Relevant Episodes   Reviving Faith with Metamodern Spirituality and the Future of Christianity | Brendan Graham Dempsey   Follow John Vervaeke: Website | X | YouTube | Patreon Follow Brendan Graham Dempsey: Website | X | Facebook   —   Thank you for Listening!  

Ralston College Humanities MA Dr John Vervaeke is a cognitive scientist and philosopher who explores the intersections of Neoplatonism, cognitive science, and the meaning crisis, focusing on wisdom practices, relevance realization, and personal transformation. Ralston College presents a lecture titled “Levels of Intelligibility, Levels of the Self: Realizing the Dialectic,” delivered by Dr John Vervaeke, an award-winning associate professor of cognitive science at the University of Toronto and creator of the acclaimed 50-episode “Awakening from the Meaning Crisis” series. In this lecture, Dr Vervaeke identifies our cultural moment as one of profound disconnection and resulting meaninglessness. Drawing on his own cutting-edge research as a cognitive scientist and philosopher, Vervaeke presents a way out of the meaning crisis through what he terms “third-wave Neoplatonism.” He reveals how this Neoplatonic framework, drawn in part from Plato's conception of the tripartite human soul, corresponds to the modern understanding of human cognition and, ultimately, to the levels of reality itself. He argues that a synoptic integration across these levels is not only possible but imperative.   — 00:00 Levels of Intelligibility: Integrating Neoplatonism and Cognitive Science 12:50 Stage One: Neoplatonic Psycho-ontology and the Path to Spirituality 41:02 Aristotelian Science: Knowing as Conformity and Transformation 46:36 Stoic Tradition: Agency, Identity, and the Flow of Nature 01:00:10 Stage Two: Cognitive Science and the Integration of Self and Reality 01:04:45 The Frame Problem and Relevance Realization  01:08:45 Relevance Realization and the Power of Human Cognition 01:20:15 Transjective Reality: Affordances and Participatory Fittedness 01:23:55 The Role of Relevance Realization: Self-Organizing Processes 01:31:30 Predictive Processing and Adaptivity 01:44:35 Critiquing Kant: The Case for Participatory Realism 01:53:35 Stage Three: Neoplatonism and the Meaning Crisis  02:00:15 Q&A Session 02:01:45 Q: What is the Ecology of Practices for Cultivating Wisdom? 02:11:50 Q: How Has the Cultural Curriculum Evolved Over Time? 02:26:30 Q: Does the World Have Infinite Intelligibility? 02:33:50 Q: Most Meaningful Visual Art? 02:34:15 Q: Social Media's Impact on Mental Health and Information? 02:39:45 Q: What is Transjective Reality? 02:46:35 Q: How Can Education Address the Meaning Crisis? 02:51:50 Q: Advice for Building a College Community? 02:55:30 Closing Remarks   — Authors, Ideas, and Works Mentioned in this Episode:    Antisthenes Aristotle Brett Anderson Byung-Chul Han Charles Darwin Daniel Dennett D. C. Schindler Friedrich Nietzsche Galileo Galilei Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Heraclitus Henry Corbin Immanuel Kant Iris Murdoch Isaac Newton Igor Grossmann Johannes Kepler John Locke John Searle John Spencer Karl Friston Karl Marx Mark Miller  Maurice Merleau-Ponty Nelson Goodman Paul Ricoeur Pierre Hadot Plato Pythagoras Rainer Maria Rilke René Descartes Sigmund Freud W. Norris Clarke anagoge (ἀναγωγή) Distributed cognition eidos (εἶδος) eros (ἔρως) Evan Thompson's deep continuity hypothesis Generative grammar logos (λόγος) Sensorimotor loop Stoicism thymos (θυμός) Bayes' theorem Wason Selection Task The Enigma of Reason by Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber The Ennead by Plotinus Explorations in Metaphysics by W. Norris Clarke Religion and Nothingness by Keiji Nishitani The Eternal Law: Ancient Greek Philosophy, Modern Physics, and Ultimate Reality by John Spencer   — Additional Resources  John Vervaeke https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke  Dr Stephen Blackwood  Ralston College (including newsletter) Support a New Beginning  — Thank you for listening!

The Ultimate Reality is beyond time, all pervasive, formless and inexpressible. And YET in the day to day practice of Tantra, there are certain times, places, forms and words (mantras) that are considered to be especially sacred. How is that? Is it not a paradox to say that the One Eternal Reality which is everywhere and all the time immediately available is "more" available at this or that time, in this or that place? In this very deep discussion (if I may say so), we talk about the best times and places for practice (especially for the worship of Mā Kālī) while explaining carefully, in a direct-path pointing sort of way, the timeless and all pervasive nature of Consciousness.This class is part of a lecture series on puja, a step by step, mantra by mantra guide to daily tantrik worship of any deity, with a focus on Kali. You can watch the previous lectures in this series here:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815And of course, you can always come to the live puja classes which happen every Thursday at 6:30pm PST via this link:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and Friday at 6pm PST.  There's Q&A right after the lectures. It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815Our hatha yoga class is Monday 5pm PST with Amrita and Wednesdays at 11am PST and again at Friday 5pm PST with me via this same link also.For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrMSupport the Show.

Besha’ah Shehikdimu – Lekutei Torah Bamidbar 12C

Besha’ah Shehikdimu – Lekutei Torah Bamidbar 12C

Well today is the last sermon in our series through the Book of Philippians. We started this series the first Sunday of January, and over the last 23 weeks we've been looking closely at this book, verse by verse, line by line, and what we have found here is a vantage into Ultimate Reality. We have encountered God and his truth, which is what we consider to be the penultimate goal of preaching. The reason that we slow down and look at the words and the phrases, and try so hard to understand what Paul meant, is because we want to see and think what he saw and thought. Because Paul has written this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. His words have been breathed out by God — God IS revealing himself through these words — and so we look at the words not to get stuck on the words, but to see through the words to God and his truth (Ultimate Reality!). That's the second-to-last goal of preaching. That's what we've been doing these past six months, and that's what we're gonna do one last time today as part of this series. Today we are looking at Philippians Chapter 4, verses 19–23, and the main thing I want you to know is this: God will provide for you. That's the promise of Philippians 4, verse 19 — God will provide for you — and as you hear me say that, I want you to track what's going on … How are you responding to this promise internally where nobody else but God can see?I'm going to say it again and I want us to just sit in it for a minute. Here it is: God will provide for you. Father in heaven, you know the hearts of every man and woman and boy and girl. You know where we're at in this moment as you confront us with your promise to provide for us. You know what our hearts are doing and why, and this morning, we ask, as humbly as we can, whatever is going on in us that is unbelieving, or whatever is not pleasing to you, would you change us today? Would you work in us now, through your word, by the power of your Spirit, to change us, in Jesus's name, amen. In this passage I want to show you three details about God's provision for you, and then close with application. The first detail is this:1) God will provide every need of yours. Look at verse 19:And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.In the ContextNow it's important that we see this verse in its context, so let's back up to the previous verses and remember what we saw last week: Paul is talking to this church about their true partnership. They've given money to Paul to support his ministry, and in verse 15 Paul calls what they have a partnership in giving and receiving. That was the criterion for a true friendship — there had to be mutual benefits — and we know that Paul received money from this church (physical money for physical sustenance). But what did this church receive from Paul? Remember we looked at verse 17, where Paul says that this church, in return for their giving material money, receive a spiritual credit — spiritual benefits. And last week we focused on that fact — that these benefits are spiritual — but here in verse 19 we see more about where these benefits are coming from. The church gave to Paul; now the church receives from Paul — except they're not receiving from Paul himself, they're receiving from God. (Verse 18 is like a parenthetical; it's a comment to the side.) But we need to look at verse 19 in connection to verse 17. I'm going to try to paraphrase that connection — Paul is saying: We have a true partnership of giving and receiving! … Not that I seek your giving, but I seek your receiving, which has an increasing profit! I'm good. I'm well-supplied. And now my God will supply every need of yours …It's significant here that Paul says “my God.” Because he's not just highlighting his personal relationship with God, but he's saying that God will provide for this church on his behalf! Remember Paul is in prison. He doesn't have anything to ‘give' this church. Paul can't give this church spiritual blessings — but God can. And Paul says my God will. My God will supply every need of yours.Every Need?And we have to ask, “Every need, really?” What does Paul mean here? Again, in light of the context, I think this applies to mainly spiritual needs, but it also includes material needs. On the material side, I think Paul is saying here what he said to the Corinthians about their generosity. In 2 Corinthians 9:10, Pauls says that God will supply seed to the sower. In other words: if you give, God will give you what to give. This is where we get the saying, “You can't out-give God!” — you've probably heard that before. I've always heard that saying (and used it myself) in terms of experience. People have experienced that reality; they've seen it to be the case — but the theological support for that saying comes from places like 2 Corinthians 9 and here in Philippians 4. If you give, God will not let you run out of what to give. That's material provision.But Paul says “every need” here and so he means more than material needs — but like, how much more? This is where we have to think. We need to drill into this …When Paul says “every need” he could simply mean “every” as in both material and spiritual — God provides both categories of needs. Which is true. This could be just an umbrella statement.Or — Paul could mean, not just that God provides both categories, but that God provides for every single need within each category — every single material need you have and every single spiritual need you have, God provides it all. In an absolute, literal way, God will provide for every single one need of yours. Is Paul saying that?Well see, it really has to do with how we understand the meaning of needs — and that's something that Paul has already talked about in this chapter. So we should go back a couple of weeks, back to when we looked at verse 11. In verse 11 Paul says, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content”Whatever my need is, I have enough!And we saw that the key to that statement is in the fact that needs are relative to goals. If the goal is to stay alive, then the needs would be things like oxygen (and food and water) … and for your head to stay attached to your neck. That's an important need in order to stay alive (and that need was not provided for Paul about five years after he wrote this letter). So is staying alive the goal?Well see, if this church's goal was like Paul's goal — if they were actually practicing what they had learned and received and heard and seen in Paul (verse 9) — then there goal would not be to stay alive, but their goal would be everlasting joy in Christ that honors Christ for the treasure he is (see 1:20!). Secret Turned PromiseTwo weeks ago we saw that Paul's secret to contentment is Christ-sufficiency. Finish this sentence here: “All that Paul truly needs to be happy in Jesus is … JESUS.”That's Paul's secret, and here in verse 19 he turns that secret into a promise for this church: God will supply every need of yours …Every need that you have in order to be eternally happy in Jesus, God will provide that for you.Whatever you need to have joy in Jesus forever, God will provide. I don't know how to say that so that it lands for you. I don't know how to make you be helped by this truth. But I just want to tell you as best as I can: God sees every single need that you have, big and small, long-standing needs, brand-new needs, pain-inflicting needs, losing-sleep-because-of-them needs, thorn-in-the-flesh needs; God knows more about your needs than you do, and he knows that behind your every need there is your ultimate need to be happy in him, and he will give you what you need for that even if it means withholding from you other things … and even if that withholding hurts.And we don't know why exactly. God doesn't give us all the details here, but he gives us himself and he will always give us whatever we need to have him forever.That's the promise of Philippians 4:19, church. That's the promise in its fullest. Here's the second detail about God's provision.2) God will provide for you according to his riches in glory.Look at those words closely in verse 19: “according to his riches in glory.” This tells us more about the nature and capacity of God's provision. The NatureWhen it comes to the nature of God's provision, it's according to his riches — not according to what we deserve, not according to what he owes us (which is nothing). I want us to get this clear: God's provision here, in context, is a response to this church's generosity, but a response and compensation are not the same. God is not paying this church back. God is never in debt to anyone. But instead, because this church's generosity in an expression of their faith in God — and God from all eternity has an unchangeable disposition of delight in response to the exercise of faith — God provides for this church in accordance with himself. “God takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love” (Psalm 147:11). That is true about God, and God provides for us in accordance with that truth of who he is! That's what his riches mean. His riches is the resource of himself. And one thing that might help us wrap our heads around this is how we think of tipping. Now, this analogy is gonna break down if you push it too far, okay — I need you to take it easy on me — but in general, at a restaurant, every time you leave a tip you have one of two choices: either you will leave a tip based on the kind of service you received or you will leave a tip based on the kind of person you are. You will either give in accordance with the server's performance or you will give in accordance with your own generosity. Now both are a response, but only one of those is to truly give. If it's according to performance, we call that compensation; but if it's according to your generosity, that's truly giving — and see, God only gives.He only gives in accordance with who he is as the eternal God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible, who is all-sufficient — he does not stand in need of anything that he has made but instead all things are dependent upon him!The nature of God's giving is in accordance with himself, his riches.The CapacityAnd, they are his riches in glory, which tells us even more about the capacity of his provision. “In glory” here means that these riches transcend this world; they come from where God is — from where God dwells in his infinite splendor and majesty, in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. These riches are not sitting in a J.P. Morgan account. This is not “his riches in Miami real-estate.” It's not “his riches in Tesla stock.” It's his riches in glory — so it doesn't just cover what you need now on this earth, but it will more than abound for what you need for eternity.See, his riches in glory confirm for us that God's provision is not mainly material and current, but it's spiritual and eternal. Because, in the grand scheme of things, material provision here is peanuts. Easy. “His riches in glory” means that we are moving from more to more to more to more — more and better is always yet to come. God gives in accordance with his capacity in glory, and it's bigger than what we can fathom.Practiced in PrayerAnd this is a fact that we bring to God in prayer. This is where we make this truth practical. It's that when we come to God with our petitions — when we are asking God to provide for us — we are not appealing to how good we've been; we're not asking God to give in accordance with the quality of our service; but we are asking him to give, to supply, to provide for us in accordance with his riches in glory. This is why we say: “Is anything to hard for the Lord?” In glory means there is nothing he cannot do; there is no deficit he cannot overcome; there is no amount he cannot make happen!God will provide for every need you have in order to be eternally happy in him according to his riches in glory. Third detail:3) God will provide for you according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.And here is where Paul reminds us that every promise from God to us is fulfilled in Jesus. Paul says this plainly in 2 Corinthians 1:20 — “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [in Jesus].”This means that all that God is for us, and all the good that God wills to do for us, and all that God has ever said to us, comes to us through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the face of God's revelation and redemption. We cannot know God apart from Jesus, and we cannot have a relationship with God except through Jesus — and keeping this front and center in everything we do is basic to the Christian life. And there are two very simple and clear ways we live this out: in baptism and again in prayer.Clear in BaptismWhen we're baptized as a sign of our faith-union with Jesus, the first question the pastors ask before we bring you under the water is this. We ask: “Are you now trusting in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and for the fulfillment of all God's promises to you?”And the person being baptized will say, “I am!” And what they're saying is that Jesus is not just the way to get their foot in the door — he's not just giving them a clean record — but they're saying that every good thing that God will ever give to them comes through Jesus. Jesus is the “Amen!” to all of God's promises to us!Clear in PrayerAnd also we express that same hope every time we pray, when we end our prayers with “in Jesus's name, amen.” First, we pray “in Jesus's name” because that's how Jesus told us to pray — he told us to petition the Father in his name (see John 15:16; 16:23, 26) — but also, when we're deliberate with our words, from our hearts, to pray in Jesus's name, we are recognizing that Jesus is only way we have any right at all to be speaking to God. We don't receive from God based upon ourselves; and we don't even come to God based upon ourselves. It's all because of Jesus. That is his glory. The Father has highly exalted him to that place. In ChristAnd so we live and move and have our entire being in Christ … And we endure present sufferings in Christ … And we strive side by side for the faith of the gospel in Christ … We follow Christ's example of humility in Christ … We work out our own salvation in Christ … We do all things without grumbling and complaining in Christ … We shine as lights in the world in Christ … We seek to receive and honor one another in Christ … We rejoice in Christ … We worship God in Christ … We boast in Christ … In Christ, we consider everything else as loss compared to his surpassing worth … In Christ, we press on to know him more clearly and fully … In Christ, we will agree together and help one another agree … In Christ, we will not be anxious but we will pray … In Christ, we will think of whatever is true and honorable and just and pure and lovely and commendable … In Christ, whatever the situation, we will be content … In Christ, God will provide everything we need to be eternally happy in him. In Christ! — That is the Book of Philippians. That is our Christian existence. That's this promise.There is no greater security that you could have that God will provide for you than this. So we wanna just live in this promise. Let the reality of God and his truth surround you. Let us see him! (That's the second-to-last goal of preaching.)And then we come to verse 20.The ApplicationSo far we've looked at the details of God's promise in verse 19, and I told you we'd close with some application, and that's what we find in the text here in verse 20. What do we do with everything that we've seen about God and his truth in this book?Eternal WorshipVerse 20 tells us:“To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”This is worship, and worship is the ultimate goal of preaching. It's what the seeing is for. We see God and his truth so that we will worship him — and it's worship that will last forever, because eternal worship is what God is worthy of. Infinite worth deserves infinite praise, and that's our ultimate calling. So Paul closes this letter by pointing us to what is vastly bigger than ourselves …And Paul does this not just by calling us to the worship God deserves, but he also does this in final greeting in verse 21. Look at verse 21:“Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”+ All the SaintsA final greeting like this is a normal way to end a letter. Paul does this in his other letters too, but look at verse 21 together with verse 20. Verse 20 says “to God be the glory” and verse 21 says “greet every saint.” Both of these verses point us to something bigger than ourselves: Worship is our ultimate calling — that's why God made us! — but greeting “all the saints” reminds us that we're not in this alone. “All the saints” are more than us, and “all the saints” are everywhere, even in Caesar's household! There's no place the gospel cannot advance, and it will advance — until the knowledge of God's glory covers this earth as the waters cover the sea! One day all the saints will worship God together, but even today we are connected to what God is doing through the saints scattered all around the world.That little comment in verse 22 is meant to remind this church what they're a part of. The saints are in Caesar's household in part because of how God has used the church at Philippi. This is bigger than you, don't you see? God at work through you, church, has made you part of something vastly bigger than yourself — and that's not only true of this church, but that's true of our church, like right now …Right now, as our church gathers in worship here … all the saints at All Peoples Church in Minneapolis gathers for worship, and all the saints at Westview Church in New Hope gathers for worship, and all the saints at Gospel Joy Church in Mankato gathers for worship. They gather, in part, because our church has sent them out to be a church. We're connected and they greet you — and the same could be said of Exalting Christ Church in Northeast and Redemption City Church in Rochester and Horizon City Church in Orlando — we're part of that.Just like we're part of gospel advance in Turkey and Oman and Cameroon and Ireland and France and Austria and southeast Asia and the Philippines and the Peruvian Amazon — All the saints everywhere, and the worship of God forever. That's what this is all about. And God indeed will provide for you … for you and for our church.That's what brings us to the Table.The TableWe come to this Table to remember Jesus and to rest in God's love for us. God proved his love for us in that while we were sinners, Jesus died for us. And if God did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?All things that we need to be happy in him forever.

Besha’ah Shehikimu – Lekutei Torah – Bamidbar 12C

In Buddhist teachings there are the ideas of conventional and ultimate reality. In Mahayana tradition they're known as the two truths of relative and absolute. These two ideas enable us to move through the world dealing with the ins and outs of our everyday lives (convention/relative) reality, while using the teachings of impermanence, no-self, and dukkha as a foundation as we move towards liberation (ultimate/absolute). Understanding the difference between the two is vital to avoid falling into spiritual bypass.Recorded June 1, 2024 in the virtual worldVisit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

The youngest of the world's seven largest religions is Sikhism, founded in Punjab in the 16th century. Nanak, a guru, or teacher, from outside Lahore, spent three days lost along a river and returned with an undestanding of one God: the Ultimate Reality. Nanak created a religion founded on equality, service, and openness, yet his successors would soon find themselves under attack from vested interests, particularly the Mughal Empire. In this episide, we visit the Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, their holiest shrine. It is a brilliantly gorgeous golden temple surrounded by a tranquil pool, visited by a steady stream of devoted Sikhs. We'll recount some of the challenges the Sikhs have faced, challenges which have made them fiercely willing to defend their people and their faith. And of course, we'll include that most famous Punjabi dish: tandoori chicken, or at least as close as we can come without an actual tandoor!

In the first chapter of Revelation Jesus is unveiled as the King of kings who has Conquered, the Final Sacrifice, the Final Temple, and the Great High Priest who supplies His people with the Holy Spirit! Revelation pulls back the veil and helps us see what Ultimate Reality is so we can live from its Truth! Join us as we worship the Lord and continue our journey through this powerful book!

Recently I have been talking about how nonduality is integrated into and expressed in everyday life. In the past couple of episodes I have been addressing moral and political decisions, such as politics and war. Specifically I have talked about the Gaza war and dualistic American politics of right versus left, conservatives versus liberals, Republicans versus Democrats. The responses I have received indicate to me that I am not communicating very well that nonduality is not political position or a worldview or a philosophy or a religion or an idea or a principle or something like that.  That means that I need to get back to basics once again. So that is what I am doing today.I have said before that I see two approaches to awakening to Ultimate Reality. Self-inquiry and God-inquiry. We look inward in search of a self and we look outward in search of a God. Both inquiries end up in the same place: the realization that there is no self and no God. What I mean by that is that there is no separate self and separate God as traditionally understood. When it is seen that there is no separate self and separate god, it is seen there is no problem. All problems, including the problem of suffering and the problem or evil drop away when Reality is seen.

In this talk, Rev Lee discusses that A Mystic is someone who seeks a direct revelation and or experience with the Ultimate Reality, Infinite Source, or God. If you found this content valuable, please support our mission by donating: https://app.easytithe.com/app/giving/agapespiritualcenter

"As a Westerner, my heart was lifted in the 1980s when I heard about Sarvodaya. It answered my longing for a way to transform our very individualistic and materialistic culture. Thus began my own 40-year journey to translate Dr. Ari's principles into American cities." - Richard Flyer A disciple of the late, recently deceased Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, who was informally revered as the Gandhi of Sri Lanka, Richard Flyer has dedicated his life to integrating embodied spirituality and the building of community-based ecosystem networks. Author of Birthing the Symbiotic Age: An Ancient Blueprint for a New Creation (2023), he synthesizes his learnings from five decades of experiments and explorations across different nations, wisdom traditions, and organizational structures, seeking a shift from a culture of separation to a culture of connection. The book provides his autobiographical and historical roadmap outlining "how we can emerge from our fragmented and conflicted social networks/silos and create sustainable, interconnected ecosystem networks consisting of local leaders, organizations, businesses, and local government -- in parallel to our already established systems." He concludes that a new culture of connection can only be created from the bottom up by connecting and amplifying the positive work of local communities. Realizing that every crisis in the world is at its root a spiritual crisis, he writes that we must first cultivate "spiritual climate change" within ourselves and practice it daily "in the context of a down-to-earth, face-to-face, local community" rather than "trying to reform, fix, or tear down the systems by which society operates." Birthing the Symbiotic Age is partly based upon Richard's first-hand experiences with Sarvodaya Shramadana, an ongoing grassroots movement in Sri Lanka, founded in 1958 by the late Dr. Ariyaratne. The movement has mobilized millions of poor across 15,000 villages in Sri Lanka to build tens of thousands of small businesses, preschools, health centers, village banks, etc., without any government support -- restoring to the poorest people "control over their own lives and destinies." "Meanwhile, I've gotten to experience Sarvodaya's wise theme and motto time and time again: We build the road, and the road builds us," says Richard. In addition to his decades-long involvement in various regenerative projects in Sri Lanka, Richard has been engaged with a syntropic food forest project in Big Island, Hawaii, and a Local Food System Network in Oahu. He is also the visionary behind Symbiotic Culture Lab, which aims to activate 50,000 micro-bioregional villages, towns, and cities as community networks by 2033. In reflecting on Dr. Ariyaratne's unique impact flowing from the blend of personal spirituality with community-based practice --which inspired Richard's own desire to develop and embody spirit in his community-building work in the West -- Richard writes, "Dr. Ari is an example of living a spiritual life wherein one does not have to make the ego smaller by beating it into submission. Rather, by living a daily, engaged Spiritual AND community life -- being of service to others, with all its challenges and egos involved, and by seeing everyone as sisters and brothers -- our ego identification with everyone keeps growing until it disappears!" Born into a middle-class Jewish family in the 1960s, Flyer enjoyed a typical American childhood until he had his first spiritual experience at the age of twelve. "I connected to a 'Luminous Web' that I recognized as the Ultimate Reality beyond that which we see and feel with our senses. The experience was truly 'trance-ending' -- ending the trance of separation. I was left awestruck and feeling connected to something larger than myself -- in fact, connected to everything." Rather than retreating from the material world after such an "other-worldly" experience, he writes that he "ran TOWARD the world. I was fueled by the desire to embody the Love I had received from those transcendent experiences and be that Love in the world -- to bring the two worlds I have been experiencing together as one." Richard's experiments in "connecting the Transcendent with the Immanent" or "bringing Heaven to Earth" extend well beyond Sri Lanka's villages -- including when he found himself stuck in a confrontation of drug dealers armed with baseball bats, knives, and guns. He also founded Vecinos Unidos (Neighbors United), a non-profit initiative in a high-poverty and high-crime community of 50,000 people in San Diego, and subsequently led San Diego Food Bank, one of the county's largest nonprofit social service agencies. Overcoming his own prejudice and negative feelings about "the business world", he even started his family business in the medical industry in Reno, Nevada, where he parallelly engages in creating in local symbiotic networks by customizing his learnings from Sri Lanka -- a developing country, for an "overdeveloped" western city context. In addition to Dr. Ari, many teachers have graced his journey, including a Vietnam war Veteran in San Diego who taught him about Christianity and service; an Aztec medicine woman in Mexico who taught him what Love and Service in action are; a Tibetan Buddhist Rinpoche who taught him meditation; his wife Marta, who he says "has shown me what unconditional love is." Richard's list of teachers would be incomplete without including nature. After high school, he worked as a Hellitack firefighter at Challis National Forest in Idaho, sometimes rappelling down from a helicopter to fight a blaze and then hiking forty miles back to the station. Years later, he would spend hours in solitude in nature, often with insights bursting forth spontaneously in the form of his poetry. Inspired by Jane Goodall, he spent several years researching pilot whales, often literally immersing himself in their society around Catalina Island. He also pursued a master's degree in biology, seeking to unravel the mystery of whale and dolphin communication. The call will be moderated by Rick Brooks and Preeta Bansal. Rick is the co-founder of the Little Free Library project, a movement that has spawned 60,000 registered Little Free Libraries in all U.S. states and over 80 other countries. Preeta is an Awakin Calls anchor and has  served for more than 25 years in some of the most senior posts in the public and private sectors including the White House and the U.S. Supreme Court.     Join us for a conversation with this visionary leader, community weaver, and student of nature.

"The knowledge of the Self is the fire that burns up the dry grass of desire. This indeed is what is called samadhi, not mere abstention from speech." Inspired by this verse from the Yoga Vasishta Sara, Swami Sarvapriyananda speaks on the nature of the Self. ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate

This week I was very excited to be in conversation with Dr. John J. Thatamanil. In this conversation we discuss Dr. Thatamanil's book "Circling the Elephant: A Comparative Theology of Religious Diversity". Thatamanil builds a compelling case for Religious Pluralism that is deeply shaped by humility, hospitality, and mutual transformation. Christians do not have a monopoly on encounters with the Divine or Ultimate Reality and other Religious Traditions do in fact have access to both Truth and transformation. It is more than time that we stop just learning ABOUT other religious traditions, and start learning FROM them. Thatamanil demonstrates that religious diversity should be seen as a promise and not a problem and proposes a theology of religious diversity that opens the door to robust interreligious learning and transformation through encountering the other. Enjoy! RESOURCES: Dr. John J. Thatamanil Circling the Elephant: A Comparative Theology of Religious Diversity (Book) Theology Beer Camp 2024 (Use code RETHINKINGBAGGINS for $25 off) Join the Patreon for Bonus Content & Add-Free listening *A Special thanks to Josh Gilbert for managing the podcast, to Marty Fredrick for producing the podcast, and Dan Koch for providing the music for the podcast. Love you guys.* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Equipped Newletter's Thann Bennett talks about how when God transforms your life, it's in part meant to help transform others lives, as well.  Apologist Daniel DeWitt of the Theolatte blog offers encouragement about looking forward to heaven even if some loved ones might not be there.  He also talks about how an eclipse in 585 BC lead to the creation of what we call science. Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here  

Something we need to keep in mind as we're working through the Book of Philippians is that this is a very personal letter. It's personal in that the apostle Paul tells us a lot about himself over these four chapters — he tells us how he's doing in his current situation; he tells about how he relates to others and others to him, (good and bad); he tells us about his ministry intentions, he tells us about his past, he tells us about his values and goals — Paul gets personal in this letter, and I don't think we see that any better than we do in our passage today, Chapter 2, verses 25–30. At one level, what Paul says in these verses has nothing to do with us — because he's talking about details for his own day and about what he's got going on. But then at another level — at the level of “This is Holy Scripture” — Paul is modeling something for us here. Paul is an example for us, and I've not been exactly sure on what to call it. I've gone back and forth on this …I think you could call it “Christian realism” — meaning that Paul as a Christian is in touch with reality in this world. He's constantly aware of Ultimate Reality — he knows Jesus is real — and he knows that as he navigates the hardships and setbacks of life in a broken world. You must have both! Paul is not just a realist, he's a “Christian realist.” We could call his example that (but apparently that term is already taken and used for something else, so never mind). Instead, what if we just called Paul's example here, his honesty?In these verses in Philippians 2 we see the honesty of the apostle Paul. Here's what I mean: there's no doubt that Paul kept his eyes on heaven. We see that in this letter — we see that in all his letters. The hope of the gospel was right here for Paul. But although Paul kept his eyes on heaven, his head was not stuck in the clouds. He was honest.And I want to show you that in these verses, because I think what we find here will help us as we navigate our own lives in this broken world. So let's pray again and we'll get started. Father in heaven, by your grace, we trust this morning in your sovereign care for us and we rest in your great love for us in Christ. We remember now, that in this moment, we are here together beneath your smile, and that you are pleased to speak to us through your Word. By your Spirit, would you do that? Help us receive what you have for us, in Jesus's name, amen. Three ways we see the honesty of Paul: 1) Paul made practical ministry decisions.We're going to be talking a lot about Epaphroditus, and if you've never encountered Epaphroditus before… Don't worry, you can't catch it! It's a name. Epaphroditus was the name of man that we read about only in the Book of Philippians. We first read about him here in Chapter 2 and then also in Chapter 4, verse 18. Based upon what Paul says, we can put together a pretty good picture of who he was. First, with a name like “Epaphroditus” he definitely had a Gentile background. The name Epaphroditus was connected to the Greek goddess Aphrodite — and we know Jewish parents didn't give out that name! This guy was a pagan from a pagan family. He was ‘straight outta Philippi' — but at some point this pagan man from a pagan background heard the gospel and believed and he became part of this local church. And he wasn't just part of this church, but this church had chosen him to be their messenger and minister to Paul's need. We see that in verse 25. What exactly does that mean?Remember that Paul is in prison in Rome, and back then, prisoners relied upon the support of friends outside of prison to make sure their needs were met. Paul needed his friends to send him money. That's why in Chapter 4, verse 18, Paul confirms for this church that he received the gift they sent him through Epaphroditus.So Epaphroditus, then, was the one this church had commissioned out to take Paul a gift of money. Which is a big deal. Epaphroditus was the representative of this church, sent from Philippi to Rome, with a stack of cash for Paul. And by now — if we can put ourselves in the shoes of these first readers — by the time the church is reading this letter, Epaphroditus had been gone for months but now he's back. Epaphroditus was most likely the one who brought this church the letter from Paul that they're reading — and Paul wants to tell them why. Paul wants to tell the church why Epaphroditus came back to Philippi and not someone else. Notice the difference between what Paul says about Timothy and what he says about Epaphroditus. In verse 19 — y'all look back at verse 19 — Paul said that he hoped to send Timothy. See the word “hoped”? Now look at verse 25. Paul says there he thought it was necessary to send Epaphroditus. Why did he consider it necessary? Paul gives us four reasons in the passage, and I want to show them to you right away, and then I'll tell you the story. Paul says, “I have sent Epaphroditus back…”#1 — verse 26 — for he has been longing for you#2 — verse 26 — he has been distressed because you heard that he was illLook at verse 28: “I am more eager to send him, therefore …#3 — that you may rejoice at seeing him again#4 — that I may be less anxious (less sorrow)These are the four reasons. Here's the story:His Mission Situation First, we need a little context for what Epaphroditus has done. Today, if you were in the City of Philippi (in Greece), and you wanted to travel west, to Rome, you can get there by car within a day. You'd have to ferry across the Ionian Sea, which would slow you down some, but in theory, you could get there in 20 hours. By car. If you made that same trip by foot, you're looking at 235 hours, according to Google Maps, and it would take you a couple of weeks. That's today.But if we were to go back a couple thousand years ago, to the year 60, traveling from Philippi to Rome — from where this church was to where Paul was in prison — it would have taken you a couple of months. So, from the time that Epaphroditus first left for Rome, to when the church could expect to hear anything back from him, it would have been at least four months. But if you add to that the fact that Epaphroditus got sick, verse 26, it would have been even longer.It was most likely around six months since this church had heard from Epaphroditus. Some commentators suspect six to nine months.Understandably DistressedTime is relative. That's not a super long time. But it probably feels like a long time when you're waiting to hear from somebody and especially when they left with a bunch of cash! There would have been a moment when this church wondered: What happened to Epaphroditus?And Epaphroditus knew that they wondered that. Because Paul tells us in verse 26 that Epaphroditus was distressed that the church heard he was ill. Now why? Why would Epaphroditus have been distressed that the church heard he was sick? I'm sure it's because they cared for one another and he wanted this church to know he was okay, but also remember, there's cash involved. Epaphroditus wanted the church to know that he got that money to Paul! He wanted them to know, not just that he survived, but that he did what they sent him to do! That's at least one reason, in verse 26, that Epaphroditus had been longing to see his church family. This is not just generic homesickness. But he wanted his church to know that: he didn't flake out; he didn't take the money and run; and he didn't die. But he made it to Rome. He gave Paul the gift. He completed the mission. He wants his church to know that. And he knows they wanna know that. We're talking about very basic, understandable desires. It makes sense.Paul's Common SenseSo when Paul is trying to figure out who is gonna get his letter and update back to the Philippians, do you see how these things factored in? Paul thought: Epaphroditus longs to go home; Epaphroditus is distressed because the church knows he was sick; this church would be really happy to see him; and man, I'd be less anxious if I sent Epaphroditus instead of Timothy (because I need Timothy to stay closer by for the meantime) — there are four reasons here why Paul considered it necessary to send back Epaphroditus, and one thing all the reasons have in common is that they're practical.It seems like Paul is just using good old common sense. He's not over-spiritualizing things here — and this is for a man who had encountered the risen Lord Jesus in blinding light. Remember Paul had heard Jesus's voice. He once had a prayer experience when he was caught up to the third heaven. There's no doubt that Paul had his mind set on things above, not on things below — heaven was right here for Paul — and sometimes when it came to decision-making, practical things mattered. Paul made practical ministry decisions. Now this does not give us license to go bonkers and be super-pragmatic to our spiritual detriment — Paul would never do that — but it does mean that in our Christian lives, and in our ministry together, we should take into account practical things. Paul did that and we should too. It's being honest.Here's a second way we see the honesty of Paul …2) Paul knew who truly deserved honor.Skip down to verse 29. Paul concludes everything he says about Epaphroditus with two commands. Verse 29, talking about Epaphroditus, he says: So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men …Receive him and honor him. But notice the second command about honor. Paul says to hold in honor such men — meaning, he's not only talking about Epaphroditus here. He goes beyond Epaphroditus and he wants us to know something about honor in general. Paul wants us teach us something about the kind of person we honor in the church.And I'll go ahead and say it: the idea of showing honor to certain individuals in our church, it's a little uncomfortable for us. That we would make distinctions by showing honor to some people over others — that feels Victorian and un-democratic. So I wanna try to bring some clarity here. First, when it comes to the topic of honor — of humans showing honor to other humans — that's a universal human reality. You could go anywhere in the world you want, look at any human culture under the sun, and you're gonna find that in every human society, honor exists. One way or another, humans will find a way to distinguish other humans as being more celebrated than others. Showing honor will happen.And I'm not gonna get too deep into this, but I'll just say that our society is very confused with this topic.At one level, we don't want there to be any distinctions. That's why everybody gets a trophy; nobody gets their feelings hurt; everybody is the same. You are all equally good basketball players. But then at another level, our society has created “The Celebrity.” As a society we make valuations and comparisons of other people for the shallowest of reasons. And we esteem our celebrities so highly in America that we actually let these people become a scorecard for how we view others. It's nuts! Our society shows honor like crazy! And it's a mess!Clarifying the ConfusionAnd it's such a mess that we might think: “There should be no showing honor in the church.” “In the church, every single person should be treated the exact same.” “There should be NO holding certain individuals in honor.” We might think that, but remember, it's not just human to show honor, and it's biblical. Because Paul clearly says here in verse 28 to “honor such men.” And that word “honor” means it. It means to treat someone with high esteem, to show special attention to them. It means to give someone deep respect.See, the issue is not that we show honor; it's why we show honor. This topic all comes down to what we could call the honor-metric. What are the things we're looking at to be the reason we show honor?For example, say a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into our assembly, and then a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in. If you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there” — if you do that, the Bible says That is evil — James Chapter 2, 1–4. It's evil because you've made distinctions among yourselves based on worldly reasons. The Bible calls that partiality and it has no place in the church. That's of the world! Don't bring that in here.But showing honor is different, and it's different because of the reason we show honor. Paul says in verse 30. He says to show honor to Epaphroditus and to those like him because — he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. Do you see how that honor-metric is so different from the world's? It's so counter-cultural.We honor those in the church, not because of their jewelry and jackets, but because of their sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. In the church, we treat as the highest those whom the world would call the lowest. We have a cross-shaped honor-metric.The Cross-Shaped Honor-MetricTo bring this home, pretend for a minute that on a Sunday morning, Taylor Swift visited our church. That would be great! And you know we'd say to Taylor? We'd say: Welcome! You might be able to find a seat over there (that's what our ushers say).But, if Matthew and Kailie visited our church, whose last names I can't tell you, and where they live, I can't tell you — for security reasons — if they come here, we would try to find out days in advance, and we'd get here early and save a place for them to sit, and we'd throw a reception for them after the service so that you can greet them. We want to honor such people! — if we're listening to Paul.If we're listening to Paul, we show the most honor to those who most resemble the example of Jesus in Philippians 2:5–8. Honor Epaphroditus. Honor those like him — because he did not count comfort in the world a thing to be grasped, but he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant and being found as worthless in the eyes of the empire. He humbled himself by risking his life in the work of Christ. He was willing to die for the advance the gospel.The apostle Paul cares nothing about worldly prestige. He burned that scorecard (we're gonna see in Chapter 3). But he knew who truly deserved honor. That's part of his honesty.Okay, here's the last point. Third way we see Paul's honesty:3) Paul understood that death is still terrible.And I want to end on this point because of what our own church is going through in the loss of Kayla Rigney. I can't help but see the providence of God here, in that the topic of death is in today's passage after we just gathered yesterday to grieve in hope because of the death of Kayla.Look back at verse 25. Epaphroditus was not just a member of the church at Philippi who they commissioned out, but he had become dear to Paul. Paul calls him in verse 25, “my brother and fellow worker and fellow solider.” And notice that this is different from what Paul said about Timothy in verse 22. Paul said Timothy was like his son, but he calls Epaphroditus his brother.Now I think this is important, because technically Timothy was Paul's brother too — because all Christians, young and old, are sons and daughters of God and therefore fellow brothers and sisters. But Paul doesn't call Timothy his brother because he's not being technical, he's being personal. Personally, Timothy was like a son to Paul. Personally, Epaphroditus was like a brother. He was a colleague. He was Paul's fellow comrade in arms.And for Paul to say this about someone is a gushing commendation. The apostle Paul considered Epaphroditus to be a vital partner in his missionary work. And so already then, by verse 25, the church at Philippi would have read this, and it would have gotten their attention. Whatever they had been wondering at Epaphroditus, this would have set the record straight. Paul was vouching for him. Paul is saying Hey, Epaphroditus means a lot to me! And then he keeps going. Look at verse 26 again: “for he [Epaphroditus] has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death.”Paul confirms that Yes, Epaphroditus was sick — and he was so sick that he almost died. Verse 27 — But God had mercy on him.Does everybody see that in verse 27?What was this mercy? The mercy was that he did not die. Paul says that God had mercy on Epaphroditus by keeping him from death — and that wasn't just mercy on Epaphroditus, but Paul says it was also mercy on him, verse 27, “lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” The death of Epaphroditus would have multiplied Paul's sorrow.So get this! Verse 27: Paul is saying that it's a mercy not to die and that death causes sorrow. But wait a minute Paul! Wait a minute! You just told us in Chapter 1, verse 21 that to die is gain! You said that it is far better to depart and to be with Christ! In Chapter 1 it sounds to me like the mercy is dying. But here in Chapter 2 the mercy is not dying! Which is it, Paul? Which is it?It's both. For the Christian, it is true that death is gain, because of where death takes you. Because to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), and to be in the physical presence of Jesus is better than anything we can imagine. For the Christian, death is never a tragedy in the technical sense because death is never the final ending, because “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). This means that death has been so overpowered by Jesus that he has actually made death to be our chauffeur into his joy. Because of what Jesus did, death is now the vehicle that carries us into amazing grace bright shining as the sun … Amen!That is now the ultimate result of death for Christians. That's why Paul says what he does in Chapter 1. This is why we grieve in hope. There's hope! Thanks be to God!And church, there's still grief.We can rejoice for where death takes us, but death itself, death as death, it's our worst enemy. Death is the last enemy to be finally destroyed, and until then, until Revelation 20:14, we should hate death. We should hate it. Nothing in this world hurts more than death. It causes sorrow, Paul says. And we know this, if we're being honest like Paul. You know this if you've suffered the death of people you love.Because death is the separation of things that should be united. Death robs us. Death robs us of so much that could be — of so much that should have been — with the people we love in this world. So yes, Jesus has defeated death — thank you, Jesus! — death is a defeated enemy! But it's not yet a destroyed enemy, and it's still an enemy. Paul understood that death is still terrible. And that's what brings us to the Table.The TableToday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week — next Sunday is Easter.Easter would not be Easter unless death were terrible.That's what makes the cross of Christ so wonderful, see. The wages of sin is death, and that's precisely what Jesus set out to conquer. Jesus disarmed the worst that death could do to us by dying himself in our place. That's why death does not have the final word. Jesus has won victory. And we're gonna celebrate next Sunday! We have hope!But it's fitting to enter Holy Week grieving in hope. Jesus invites us to bring that heaviness to him.

How does one coherently speak about the ineffable? Was Paul Tillich a religious naturalist? This week, I talk with the ever stupendous Jeff Speaks about metaphysics, apophaticism, the complexities of naturalist theology, and how to best characterize Tillich's theological lens. This is an especially relevant episode for any one who, like Jeff and myself, thirsts for a philosophically informed spiritual framework but rejects supernaturalism. Jeff Speaks is a PhD Candidate at Boston University School of Theology studying theology, philosophy, and ethics.

Introduction:Background on Robert AF Thurman, the first western monk ordained by the Dalai Lama in 1964.A glance into Robert's transition from a Buddhist monk to lay life.Introduction to the Menla Spa Resort in the Catskills of New York, co-run by Bob and his wife.Journey to Tibetan Medicine:Bob's initial interest in Tibetan Medicine as a young monk, drawing parallels with Ayurveda from India.Exploring the concept of enlightenment and its link with holistic healing.Vajra Yoga: The Science of Inner Well-being:Bob's insights into Vajra Yoga as a way to become “inner scientists.”How Vajra Yoga connects the dots between spirituality and neuroscience.Delving deep into the various systems of the body: lymph, nerves, breath, endocrine, and biochemistry, and how Vajra Yoga impacts them.Key Takeaways from Vajra Yoga:The importance of understanding that the Ultimate Reality serves as the universe's foundation.Recognizing the essence of this reality, which lies in its spacious infinite goodness.Merging Ancient Wisdom with Modern AI:A discussion between Amy and Bob about the potential of AI in translating ancient spiritual texts.The significance of integrating large language models with ancient languages, particularly Sanskrit.Bob's emphasis on the ethical foundation present in most ancient literature and its critical role in shaping the thought process of future AI systems.Closing Thoughts:Reflecting on the harmonious blend of spirituality, traditional medicine, and modern technology.Bob's hopeful vision for the future where AI aids in disseminating age-old wisdom and ethical values to the broader world. If you would like to receive the free infographics and handouts that correspond to each episode on the Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast, please subscribe to our segmented email list. You will have the opportunity to determine the Infographic Topics that you would like to receive. When The Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast has a topic that corresponds to your choices, then you will receive an email for that week with the PDF's for download.Topics you can choose from include: Yoga Therapy & Mental HealthYoga Therapy & Physical HealthSocial Justice in yoga & Yoga TherapyYoga/Ayurveda ToolboxYoga & Indian PhilosophyGlobal & Trending Yoga Therapy TopicsClick the link below to subscribe. It takes 10 seconds total.https://amywheeler.com/subscribe Check out Amy's website Visit Amy's training section on her website to check out the courses belowYoga therapy training courses 865-certified-yoga-therapist-program www.optimalstateyoganidra.comUniversity of Minnesota Online Therapeutic Yoga Series webpage: https://csh.umn.edu/for-community/wellbeing-workshops/online-therapeutic-yoga-series Contact with Bob Thurman: https://bobthurman.com

A great talk on the yearly November online conference “Beyond the Brain” with David Lorimer, who is the program director for the Scientific and Medical Network who hosts the yearly conference.  Hear how many people of science and medicine ARE interested in life after death and consciousness existing outside of the body. David has a LOT of credentials under his belt, including being the author of over a dozen books, including ‘Survival: Death as Transition', and ‘Science, Consciousness and Ultimate Reality.' Find his books on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3tv3Lox You can find out more about him and the network at https://scientificandmedical.net and the conference website https://beyondthebrain.org/ and https://galileocommission.org/ Enjoy!  **Join our Patreon Community for as little as $1 per episode and receive ad-free, early bird episodes, and a full clickable & searchable list off all Sandra's 550+ afterlife episodes https://www.patreon.com/wedontdieradio *Enjoying this? Also listen to Sandra's other show on iHeartRadio and the Coast to Coast AM Network: https://bit.ly/ShadesoftheAfterlife  **Join the supportive and loving, We Don't Die Listeners Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/wedontdielisteners/  ***Join our free Sunday Gathering with medium demonstration, one of our upcoming medium classes, demonstrations, download past audio episodes and more at https://www.wedontdie.com/

Get into Love and feel and know It to be _______.  Then wear the feeling like a cloak and don't take it off ever, haha.  If you keep It on, It becomes your life. I Love you and I'm with you,Niknikki@curlynikki.comSupport the show:▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings__________________________________________Today's Quotes: "Brahman is to be meditated upon as the source of all thought and life and action. He is the splendor in wealth, he is the light in the stars. He is all things.  Let a man meditate upon Brahman as support, and he will be supported. Let him meditate upon Brahman as greatness, and he will be great.  Let him meditate upon Brahman as mind, and he will be endowed with intellectual power.  Let him meditate upon Brahman as adoration, and he will be adored.  Let him worship Brahman as Brahman, and he will become Brahman." - Taittiriya Upanishad translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Frederick Manchester "Attune yourself to the active inner Guidance; the Divine Voice has the answer to every dilemma of life." - Lahiri Mahasaya Brahman definition via WIKI- The ultimate reality underlying all phenomena.  Brahman connotes the highest Universal Principle, the Ultimate Reality in the universe. In major schools of Hindu philosophy, it is the material, efficient, formal and final cause of all that exists. It is the pervasive, infinite, eternal truth and bliss which does not change, yet is the cause of all changes.Support the show