Podcasts about Underline

Bogdan Iordache conduce fondul de investiții Underline Ventures, activ pe piața din România și cea regională. Alături de Oana Coșman, el a analizat piața de investiții din momentul de față, dar și contextul macroeconomic. "Cea mai mare problemă pe care o avem în industria de capital de risc e lipsa de lichiditate. Fără stabilitate, tot ecosistemul este afectat", spune Bogdan Iordache. De asemenea, el consideră că investiții în zona de Industry 4.0 și space tech au devenit cruciale, iar Europa poate să schimbe sectoarele de energie și de manufactură. "Când evaluăm startup-urile ne uităm la problema urgentă a clienților pe care aceste companii încearcă să o rezolve imediat”.Episodul de astăzi este susținut de către Unicredit. Ești IMM și vrei pachetul MicroStar? Intră aici

3/5/25: DA David Sullivan: Trump's address & local scammers. Amherst School Supt Dr Xi Herman: accused, exonerated & back to work. Brian Adams w/ Underline Farm's Karl Prahl: organic-fed poultry in Avian flu times. Johnny Memphis previews the Back Porch Festival. Larry Hott: the Oscar-winning documentaries.

Kondantha potential. Output emo dabidi dibidi. Underline!____________________Subscribe, and Share!***Patreon: patreon.com/ThyGapInstagram: @_ThyGap |Twitter: @ThyGap |Email: mindthygap@gmail.com |Discord: https://discord.gg/mPS4aNWa94 |All Links: https://linktr.ee/thygap |

Kondantha potential. Output emo dabidi dibidi. Underline!____________________Subscribe, and Share!***Patreon: patreon.com/ThyGapInstagram: @_ThyGap |Twitter: @ThyGap |Email: mindthygap@gmail.com |Discord: https://discord.gg/mPS4aNWa94 |All Links: https://linktr.ee/thygap |

Genesis 4 gives us a challenging but important set of instruction regarding the kind of worship that God accepts. We'll look at the offering of Cain and Abel and see that there is a very real kind of worship that God is looking for. We'll also see, that Cain struggle for sincere worship was the overflow of a life out of fellowship with the Lord. Join us!   DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: Genesis 4 1.    Circle every reference to the name “Cain.” Looking back over this chapter, how many times does his name occur? What does this tell us about who this chapter is ultimately about? 2.    Underline every place where the Lord speaks. What kind of “tone” is in the Lord's words? Why do you think the Lord speaks with this tone towards someone who is in outright rebellion to Him? 3.    In verse 2, what were Cain and Abel's occupations? How did that influence the offerings they brought to the Lord? Do you think that mattered to God? Why or why not?  4.    In verse 4, what does it mean that God “had regard” for Abel and his offering? How do Hebrews 11:4 and 1st John 3:12 help us understand why God had regard for Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's?  5.    In verse 7, what was tempting Cain? What was Cain's responsibility in dealing with that temptation? How did he handle it? 6.    In the New Testament, Jude 11 warns us about “the way of Cain.” What does this passage tell us about Cain's self-made religion and self-made society? How has society today gone after the “way of Cain”?  7.    According to the study, how does Genesis 5:4 answer the question, “Where did Cain get his wife”? 8.    As you prayerfully look into your own life, are there any places where you are following in the ways of the world and not the way of the Lord? What would it look like for you to follow the way of Abel and Seth?  9.    If you're seeing parts of your life out of fellowship with the way of the Lord, how about laying those items before the Lord so that His transforming grace might enable you to live in conformity with His instructions?  Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Podcast Show Notes: Episode: "The Lost Week Reflections - Day 2"Welcome to Day 2 of The Lost Week Journaling Challenge! In this episode, we dive into a practical and reflective prompt to help you analyze a typical day in your life and gain clarity on how your daily routines align with your goals and values.Episode Highlights:Reflecting on a Typical Day: Thea encourages listeners to thoughtfully break down their day, from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed, to better understand their habits and routines.Day 2 Prompt:Write down the details of a typical day, avoiding judgment or idealizing your schedule.Underline the parts of your day that are most important to you.Circle areas you'd like to change or improve.Cross out activities you wish weren't part of your day, opening your mind to creative solutions for adjustment.The Power of Neutral Reflection: Thea emphasizes the importance of viewing your daily habits objectively, as information to inform sustainable and meaningful changes for the future.Creative Options: Whether through bullet points, written narratives, or voice notes, Thea encourages using whichever method helps you process and reflect effectively.How to Participate:Download your free Lost Week journaling worksheets by texting "LOST" to 970-512-8206 or find them here.Join the Cowgirls Over Coffee community at cowgirlsovercoffee.com for more inspiration and connection with like-minded women.Thea's thoughtful approach to dissecting your daily routine is a game-changer for creating a fulfilling, intentional life in 2025. Tune in tomorrow for the next reflective prompt!

A rate critical to attain better care for patients, I'm gonna say, is enlightened leadership—maybe dyad leadership—at a clinical organization. I am saying this because without enlightened leaders, it'd be harder to build from the blueprint that Beau Raymond, MD, talks about today on the show. For a full transcript of this episode, click here. If you enjoy this podcast, be sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter to be a member of the Relentless Tribe. I'd say an enlightened leader is someone—and this is my definition, but it's a term that Tom Lee, MD, brought up first in an earlier episode (EP445)—an enlightened leader really cares about providing better patient care at an affordable price. They have a manifesto to that end, if you will. They also have studied, likely, and understand how change management works because every improvement requires change. They get the bit about people, processes, and technology being intertwined and what operational excellence means. Further, they are probably doing or considering many of the things that Robert Pearl, MD, talked about in episode 412. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there's a new term floating around called administrative harm. There's a study. Admin harm refers as much to what administrators—who I refuse to call leaders at this context because I'm talking about the not good administrators, so let's be clear—but I'd say administrative harm results from what the administrators choose not to do as much as what they choose to do. It is actually a thing to be an enlightened leader, especially in these profit-driven times. It's really tough, actually, and nothing anyone should take for granted. So, maybe this whole show is kind of a shout-out to the enlightened leaders out there. Thanks for doing what you do. Okay, so this said, and it needed to be said, let's talk blueprint for better care in the conversation that follows. Dr. Beau Raymond says, step 1, right out of the gate, set clear goals. Then step 2, engage others throughout the organization to together build the framework needed to achieve said goals. Engaging frontline folks and others is really the only way that any proposed framework will actually work in the real world. Listen to the shows with Karen Root (EP381) and Ashleigh Gunter (EP447) for just one proof point after another that what I say is based in fact. Step 3 of the blueprint to better outcomes that Beau Raymond, MD, talks about today is get your data. We talk a lot about plan sponsors and the getting of data, but same thing applies to clinical organizations. For clinical organizations, the getting of data means longitudinal data. The need for longitudinal data has come up in multiple shows, most recently the one with Dan Nardi (Spotlight Episode), and this is just one example of why getting the whole bag of data really matters. Dan said on that earlier show, it's often a thing that oncologists are unaware of how many of their patients are winding up in the ER for nausea after chemo, which, by the way, is the most common cause for readmission. And the reason for this is lots of patients travel to their oncologist but go to a local ER in a different health system. The show with Brendan Keeler (EP454) about the Particle v Epic lawsuit in general dustup over who gets the data is super relevant here. That's what I was thinking when I was talking with Dr. Raymond, and maybe it just popped in your head, too. Or just continuing this topic of the importance of longitudinal data, how many specialists, in almost any specialty, see a patient and then don't know what happened to that patient subsequently? Or even primary care in transactional models? So, step 3 here is get your data and also, as part of that, figure out how to make sure everybody understands the data and also understands that it is fair. Eric Gallagher (EP405), Dr. Raymond's dyad counterpart over at Ochsner, talked about this some in that episode. So did Kenny Cole, MD (EP431), interestingly, also from Ochsner. Amy Scanlan, MD (EP402) mentions it as well. Step 4 in the blueprint to measurably better outcomes that I discuss with Dr. Beau Raymond, data collection and data management probably need to be system-wide because … yeah, longitudinal and etc. But the “What are you gonna do now with the insights that you derived from the data?” is pretty local. The obstacles and enablers are going to be different depending on the geography. For example, an area with a large Vietnamese population and a big variation in colorectal screening rates as a priority, just logically, is gonna have a program that is in no way suited to roll out in an area with, say, a large Black or African American population with high hypertension rates. Priorities and programs are just different depending on the geography. So, step 4 here is, ask each region, based on the data, what fixes they're going to own. What will they take ownership on and commit to improving? What I thought was interesting in this interview is kind of the way that equity comes up between ethnic groups or between genders. In and of itself, obviously, striving for equity is critical. But also, if you're trying to improve quality across the board and you see disparities in care, figuring out what is going on with the group experiencing the worse outcomes is also just operational excellence. You don't want to be a solution looking around for a problem, after all; so, you need to figure out the actual problems for the actual people experiencing the problems to avoid that. Those are the only solutions that are actually gonna work. Step 5 is to learn from each other. Maybe not a whole program is flat-out transferable from one geography to another, but that doesn't mean that nothing is transferable either. As usual, it's about being thoughtful and nuanced and finding that productive middle. At Ochsner, they do these cool weekly primary care huddles to share learnings and goings-on that Dr. Raymond explains in the show that follows. Throughout all of these steps in this blueprint, there is obviously a need to align how the practice or system is getting paid for the time and capital expenditures, of course. And Dr. Raymond addresses this and interestingly says something similar to what Dr. Tom Lee (EP445) and Scott Conard, MD (EP391) have said on earlier shows: that a lot of times compensation for improving care, if you do it in an operationally excellent way, can be revenue positive for systems with a combination of both FFS (fee for service) and value-based reimbursement. Underline, however, the part about having an enlightened leader who cares about clinical quality for that to work out. Dr. Beau Raymond, my guest today is chief medical officer for Ochsner Health Network. Ochsner Health Network, by the way, includes Ochsner and some other health system partners. There's also a bunch of small independent practices of one to two docs. Ochsner patients, in case you are unaware, are in the entire state of Louisiana, a little bit of Mississippi, Alabama, and also Texas. Also mentioned in this episode are Ochsner Health; Tom X. Lee, MD; Robert Pearl, MD; Karen Root, MBA, CCXP; Ashleigh Gunter; Dan Nardi; Brendan Keeler; Eric Gallagher; Kenny Cole, MD; Amy Scanlan, MD; Scott Conard, MD; Joshua Liu, MD; Eboni Price-Haywood, MD, MPH, MMM, FACP; and Chris Skisak, PhD.   You can learn more at Ochsner Health Network and by following Dr. Raymond on LinkedIn.   Sidney H. “Beau” Raymond, MD, MMM, FACP, is a board-certified internist now serving as the chief medical officer of Ochsner Health Network and medical director and executive director of Ochsner Accountable Care Network. Prior to joining Ochsner, Dr. Raymond was vice president, physician practice administrator, and chief medical information officer at East Jefferson General Hospital (EJGH). His experience included serving on the steering committee and later as a board member for Gulf South Quality Network. Beyond the administrative roles at EJGH, Dr. Raymond was involved with medical staff committees, including serving as chief of staff. He is also a past president of the Jefferson Parish Medical Society. Dr. Raymond earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Loyola University, earned a medical degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in internal medicine at LSU-New Orleans. He has also earned a Master of Medical Management from Tulane University.   07:50 What is step 1 of improving care for healthcare leaders? 10:44 Why is it important to be flexible while keeping your goals in sight? 11:48 Dr. Eboni Price-Haywood's article on disparities in COVID. 12:29 How is equity a data point to achieving overall care improvement? 15:01 “If you can't measure it … accurately, you're not going to be able to do anything differently.” 20:52 What strategies have been successful in using data to improve healthcare outcomes? 23:17 Why did Ochsner Health avoid looking at the individual physician standpoint in regard to an equity standpoint? 30:40 Why engaging patients in their healthcare actually improved patient visits and did not necessarily reduce patient visits. 34:49 “It's really about engaging with the patient.”   You can learn more at Ochsner Health Network and by following Dr. Raymond on LinkedIn.   Sidney H. “Beau” Raymond, MD, MMM, FACP, discusses #leadership on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #financialhealth #primarycare #patientoutcomes #healthcareinnovation   Recent past interviews: Click a guest's name for their latest RHV episode! Brendan Keeler, Claire Brockbank, Cora Opsahl, Dan Nardi, Dr Spencer Dorn (EP451), Marilyn Bartlett, Dr Marty Makary, Shawn Gremminger (Part 2), Shawn Gremminger (Part 1), Elizabeth Mitchell (Summer Shorts 9), Dr Will Shrank (Encore! EP413)  

In this episode of the Real Estate Podcast, titled "Designing Decisions: How Places Shape Our Choices", hosts Alex and Jamie delve into the fascinating world of how our surroundings influence the decisions we make every day, often without us even realizing it. The episode kicks off with a deep dive into social and behavioral design, explaining how strategic choices in the design of public spaces, products, and environments can nudge human behavior in specific ways. From the arrangement of snacks in a cafeteria to the strategic placement of trash cans at Disney World, the hosts highlight how design shapes our choices through subtle cues. The discussion explores key concepts such as: Nudging: Small interventions that steer behavior without restricting freedom. Affordance: How the design of objects suggests their use. Feedback: Immediate responses to actions that reinforce behavior. Choice Architecture: Structuring choices in ways that guide people toward better outcomes. The episode provides real-world examples, like how a staircase designed as a piano in Stockholm increased its usage by making it more engaging, and the use of a fly etched in a urinal at an airport in Amsterdam to reduce spillage. They also discuss how locations like casinos, airports, and retail stores utilize design to control and influence customer behavior—whether it's to guide them through specific paths, reduce litter, or increase sales. The conversation moves to more serious applications, such as designing spaces for people with dementia or how parks like the High Line in New York and the Underline in Miami use behavioral design to transform unused urban spaces into vibrant community areas. The episode concludes with a thought-provoking question: How much control do we really have over our decisions, and how much are we influenced by our environment? Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the ways social and behavioral design shape their choices in everyday life, whether it's through technology, urban spaces, or retail experiences.

Welcome to Two Middle School ELA Teachers, the podcast where we unravel the complexities of English Language Arts. Join us as we explore innovative strategies, like incorporating writing prompts before reading assignments, to help students master new standards and excel in state assessments. This season, discover how our UQO method—Underline, Question, and Original Thinking—empowers students to think critically and connect reading and writing in meaningful ways. Tune in for practical tips, engaging discussions, and a fresh perspective on ELA education! 7th Grade 1st nine weeks Pacing Guide 

Good morning church family. If you have your Bible I would ask you to go aheadand make your way to the book of 2 Timothy. Today we will be looking at 2Timothy 4: 1-5. My name is Mikey, I am a member here at GCF and have been fora few years now. My wife Brooke, and our 5 children love this church, and Ialways count it as an honor when I have the opportunity to preach.Pastor Ken did a great job last week as we worked our way through the closing ofchapter 3. And one passage that we looked at in particular was chapter 3 vs. 16-17.There was a family that joined about 3 weeks ago, and as they stood up on thestage and were sharing their faith and what they believe, brother said, we believein the sufficiency of scripture. I was in the back, I said amen! And that is reallywhat this passage gets to. All Scripture, not some scripture is from God.[2Ti 3:16-17 ESV] 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable forteaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 thatthe man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.We rightly believe that when we armed with the word of God we haveEVERYTHING we need for God to accomplish everything he wills to do in ourlives. We really don't need anything else.The word of God is the center piece of Church. And is delivered by the man ofGod, the preacher. There is no greater calling, there is no more importantassignment, there is no greater need.2One of my heros of the faith is Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones said it this way in his book“Preachers and Preaching”, “The primary task of the church and of the Christianminister is the preaching of the word of God”.As Paul is writing this, We know he is nearing the end of his time here on earth.In fact this is likely the last writing that we have. And as I studied this passage thisweek, I gave some thought to how I might handle my final hours on earth.And I pictured myself maybe in a room, surrounded by those that I love. Perhaps aspouse, parents, or children, or even close friend perhaps would have gatheredaround. Have you ever wondered how you might feel in those moments. Whenyou don't have much time left, and there is so much that you wanted to say to yourchildren, but time will just not allow. And you realize in those moments thedifficult times that perhaps your loved ones will have to go on to face. And yourealize you will not be there to help. You will not be able share guidance or bearburdens because your time has come to an end. What would you say in those lastmoments? I think if you get this picture in your mind, then you are close to feelingexactly like Paul feels as he pens the last words to Timothy. And so what will hesay, what is his closing plea to make sure that he leaves young Timothy headed inthe right direction.Paul knows all too well the dangers that are facing the church. He himself hasbeen imprisoned and stoned. He has seen the false teachers and he knows whatthey aim to do. He has seen false converts defect from the church. And with all ofthis on his mind, his eyes fix on Timothy, what possible advice can he give?[2Ti 4:1-5 ESV] 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, whois to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, andexhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming whenpeople will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they willaccumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turnaway from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, alwaysbe sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill yourministry.3First, I want to talk about the structure of the passage, because that helps me digestand organize the thoughts in my mind. In verse 1, Paul lays out an overarchingcharge that sets the tone of the passage. Then in verse two we have the mainimperative statement of the entire passage. What is Timothy supposed to do? He isto “preach the word”. Highlight and double underline in. That is the title of themessage, and that is Pauls main point. Preach the word.And the rest of the passage simply explains “how” Timothy is to preach the word.So there are 8 or so imperatives that come after that explain how the Pastor is topreach. And we are going to go thru these this morning. Let's look at verse 1.[2Ti 4:1-5 ESV] 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who isto judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:We see the first verb is “charge”. It's an important word and one we don't usevery often. Can you imagine if you walked around telling people they are chargedto do something for you. They would think that you are crazy. The language usedhere is a military term. In today's term an officer might say “this is an order!”.This assignment is not optional. There is no negotiation. Timothy must be all earsbecause what Paul is about to say is important.He goes on to say “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus.” It is as if he stepsthe importance up yet another notch. Paul borrows language in this phrase from aRoman court room. In that day if you were charged with a crime you would begiven instruction of your court date, of the crime that was committed, and thissummons would say something like in the presence of the honorable judge so andso. It is as if we are being reminded of this task that Paul is about to lay out is aformal task. It is not optional. And none other than the Holy trinity itself will standand take account.Verse 1 says he is the judge of “the living and the dead”. The idea here goes backto God as the judge of all mankind.[2Co 5:10 ESV] 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, sothat each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whethergood or evil.4Paul sets the tone for this charge as one of grave importance. This task ofpreaching for both Timothy and all men who would be called to follow after is notto be taken lightly. In fact, this judge mentioned here in verse 1 will judge thesepreachers with even greater scrutiny. This concept of preachers being judged in aspecial way is not just here take a look at James 3:1.[Jas 3:1 ESV] 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for youknow that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.One of my favorite preachers in church history is none other than Dr. MartynLloyd Jones. He was an outstanding physician in London, and even as a youngman was promoted to chief clinical assistant to the King. Sounds like prettyimportant work right?When I came here, people said to me: ‘Why give up good work – a goodprofession – after all, the medical profession, why give that up? If you had been abookie, for instance, and wanted to give that up to preach the gospel, we shouldunderstand and agree with you and say that you were doing a grand thing. Butmedicine – a good profession, healing the sick and relieving pain!' One man evensaid this, ‘If you were a lawyer and gave it up, I'd give you a pat on the back, butto give up medicine!MLJ said about this ‘if you knew more about the work of a doctor, you wouldunderstand. We but spend most of our time rendering people fit to go back to theirsin!' I saw men on their sick beds, I spoke to them of their immortal souls, theypromised grand things. Then they got better and back they went to their old sin! Isaw I was helping these men to sin and I decided that I would do no more of it. Iwant to heal souls. If a man has a diseased body and his soul is all right, he is allright to the end; but a man with a healthy body and a diseased soul is all right forsixty years or so and then he has to face an eternity of hell. Ah, yes! we havesometimes to give up those which are good for that which is the best of all – thejoy of salvation and newness of life.5MLJ had no problem leaving behind a physician for an earthly king, because heknew that call he received to be a preacher for the king of kings was far moreimportant work.So that is verse 1, it sets the stage, it provides the mood, the lighting of everythingwe are about to discuss. Verse 2.Preach the word. Underline this. We said this phrase is the main imperative of thetext. Not just for Timothy but all preachers will be judged based on how true theywere to the command. Preach the word.The Greek verb for preach here is Keruso. And it means to herald. Back in thosedays when there was an order from the King, perhaps a meeting that needed totake place in a particular village, they didn't have a website or a newspaper toshare information. There would be assigned heralds. Who would move out into thebusy parts of towns, into the markets and they would begin to shout, attentionattention, and they would pass along the information. It was a public proclamation,given to all could hear, That is the idea about what it is to preach.But Paul does not permit the preacher to herald just anything, he says preach theword. You may think that should be obvious, but let me tell you it is not. Theremay be a temptation by a pastor, perhaps even by pressure of his congregation todo so something other than preach the word. Paul speaks of the entire council ofscripture. Both the OT and the NT are included. It would be a grave error toexclude any part of the word. “All scripture is God breathed”.I want to stop here and say why I am thankful that our church teaches verse byverse through entire books of the Bible... Growing up topical. Strawman sermonson easy texts. It was rare to deal with difficult passages or work through things thepastor or congregation was struggling to comprehend. A pastor who preaches ashallow message will only develop a shallow congregation. 7 out of 10 youth willwalk away from the faith after they move out of their parents home. Could someof that be that we just won't go deep in the word. To help them understandeverything they are seeing in the world, taught in schools, through the lense of realdeep understanding.6If anything of power, of God is to happen in our church it must happen through thepower that comes from obedience to this command, Preach the word. We can getcaught up in numbers, in strategy, in surveys, and start looking at all the wrongthings. To fufill the imperative in this verse, the church must be a church that iscommitted to the power of preaching as the centerpiece. The church has the task tomake dead men come alive.So now we look at the question of how the pastor is to preach. He is to be ready inseason and out of season. This is the second command or imperative. Did youknow there is no season that is not either in season or out of season? That's all theseasons. The preacher is to always be ready to go. The verb here has a suddennessto it. It is like a soldier who has been put on alert. His bags are packed he is readyto deploy he simply stands by the phone for his orders. He is ready to go, that isthe picture here.This applies to pastors mainly, but we as the congregation can certainly apply it aswell. If our day to day life is marked by disobedience. If we are neglecting theword, if we are neglecting to spend time in prayer. If we are living in a perpetualstate of sin, then how on earth can we be ready. It's easy to get ready for a singleevent right. We can clean ourselves up and get it together for 1 maybe 2 days aweek, but Paul says the preacher is to be ready 24/7. Not an easy thing to do, butthis is the standard by which they will be judged.Okay more imperatives coming up that answer the question “How is the word tobe preached?” We will group the next 3 together because they are sort of similaror related. Still in verse 3 we have:reprove, rebuke, and exhort. This is basically 2 negatives and a positive. Firstly,lets look at reprove. We just saw reprove back in 2 Tim 3:16. It means to correctmisbehavior or to correct false doctrine. It can almost be thought of more as ahead knowledge correction. Or to helps someone think about something rightly.Next we have rebuke. It is closely related, but it deals more with the heart. Itcarries more of the idea of the heart. When the pastor rebukes he is bringing thecongregation under conviction.7This is one of the fundamental differences between teaching and preaching. If Iam teaching you an idea or a passage of scripture I'm just talking to you so thatyou understand the idea that I am trying to communicate, but if am preaching andI am rebuking you now we have the will and the heart and conviction all takingplace. It is something entirely different.Exhort. This is the positive. Parakaleo. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is referred to asParaklyte. Which is to say that he is our helper. So Exort or parakaleo is to comealong aside and lovingly encourage.With complete patience and teaching. The preacher is not to be irritable orimpatient. Even if progress is slow and painful. I think back to Jesus and hisdisciples. Things were slow. Those guys sometimes were just slow. And healways taught with patience.Phil Robertson movie, Blind. Phil was bad. Phil had already turned away thepreacher. Phil bought a bar. Preacher came in the bar. Phil throws him out and isborderline abusive to his wife and family. He ends up throwing them out. And Philhits rock bottom. Pastors be patient. Wives be patient. Husbands be patient. Ms.Kay aske the reverend to go back and talk to him one more time.Vs 3 the preacher is to preach with urgency, “For the time is coming”. Throughoutchurch history there have certainly been ebs and flows. Times of falling away, andthere have been times of great revival. But I think the overall trend as time goes onis that more and more people turn from God. Paul says to Timothy, hey it's the 2minute warning. It's time to score because time is of the essence. The time iscoming, and I believe now more than ever the time has come where:People will not endure sound teaching. Some translations use the pronoun “they”here. The ESV says people, but in either case I think we should consider whothese people are that don't endure sound teaching. At first I thought it was simplythe everybody in the world, but I don't think that is exactly right. You see peoplewho don't go to church have never endured sound teaching or doctrine. So I thinkthe people that are discussed here are what I call “church going people”. These arepeople who fill the seats and the pews of various congregations each and every8Sunday all throughout the world. By context that is the only way this really can beread I think. And when we think about the parable of the wheat and the tares weknow that these congregations, sometimes entire congregations are made of lostpeople.And so as we look around the world, as we look around the churches in the lowcountry, as we look around right here at GCF, what is it that distinguishes thosewho have been born again from those who have not. I believe it is a love and anembrace for true sound doctrine. Paul says the day is coming when they won'ttolerate the true word. Many times a false convert is easy to spot because theyhave no love for the truth of Scripture. Sound doctrine shines a magnifying glasson the wickedness of our sin.Paul says they have “itching ears”. Have you ever had someone ask for your trueopinion and the second that they realize you don't agree with them they stoplistening to you. These unconverted church goers don't want to be confronted withthe weight of a Holy God and a wicked sinner. So with itching ears they seek outsomeone to tell them exactly what they want to hear.The text says they “accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their ownpassions”. I don't know if there has ever been a more obvious time where this hasplayed out in front of us. There is a welcoming congregation for every lifestyle ofsin.And the pulpits are filled with people who not only won'tt mention the sin, butthey will contort scripture and tell you that it is not sin at all.Sin of greed. My pastor never preaches about money because he just says he letsGod deal with that.Self-help and prosperity focused churches are filled with people who want nothingto do with sermons that rebuke and reprove.I remember I was flipping through the channels and I ran across a Pastor who waspreaching to a church that was literally meeting in a football stadium, and it wasfull. I was shocked as I heard the sermon. The Bible was not even required forwhat the man was saying. And I remember thinking how can thousands and9thousands of people sit here with a Bible in there hand and not realize that this isnot the gospel?You know why... I know now. Paul just told me. The day is coming when theywon't tolerate sound doctrine but they will accumulate ear tickling preachers. Hereyou have 10s of thousands of people having their ears tickle, and it is exactly whatthey want to hear.For preachers, it's not easy to say the hard things. For true believers that sit heretoday, don't fall into this trap where you avoid the hard work of searching yourheart for sin. This is why we are here.4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. Theverb here that is translated “turn away” has a medical connotation of a dislocatedjoint. It is as a person turns away so quickly that they snap their neck out of joint.These folks are so turned off by sound doctrine or sound teaching that they snaptheir necks to turn away from it.These false converts then wander off into myths. I think there is principle that isbeing taught in verse 4 that if you don't fill your mind with sound doctrine, yourmind will be increasingly susceptible to believe a lie. (garden of eden example) Bynot filling yourself with sound doctrine, or preachers without preaching sounddoctrine create in the congregation a vulnerability to deception.5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of anevangelist, fulfill your ministry.Finally Paul says to be sober minded. This is to be level headed.Endure suffering. It is not a question of if suffering will occur. Faithful preacherswho preach the word become a lightning rod for suffering. Paul knows sufferingvery well and even as he writes these words his suffering continues. It is areminder to those who do the work of ministry, not just preachers, but especiallythose who preach, ministry comes at a cost.10Do the work of an evangelist. This is the 8th imperative. It is the call to the preacherthat he must share the gospel of salvation. Its interesting that Paul doesn't call himto be an evangelist, but to do the work of an evangelist. It is as if he wants him toremember, in everything you do as a preacher, you must also in that do the workthat evangelist would do.Simply put, the pastor is to help people come to terms with their sinfulness. Tounderstand that they are separated from God. To call all who have ears to hear thatthe time is now to repent and to trust in Christ for salvation.Fulfil your ministry. Do everything God has stored up for you, every good work tothe fullness of your ability.This text of course is primarily for preachers, but we as the congretation have arole to fill as well. We must participate in the process of sanctification.Let's pray.

Drew gets some nostalgia via a candy purchase. A friendly listener points out a show mistake. The boys review all the great new stuff coming out of this year's "Apple World Wide Developer Conference" and what they're excited for (and what they're not). Paul is still hooked on Diablo 4, and Drew tries streaming on TikTok. Recorded 06/13/204 Show Links Boston Stoker - Buna Fruta The Verge - Introducing Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that puts powerful generative models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac The Verge - Apple WWDC 2024: the 13 biggest announcements The Verge - Apple and OpenAI aren't paying each other yet, says Bloomberg Apple Unveils Calculator App for iPad With Math Notes, Apple Pencil Support Apple Reveals New Head Gestures Coming to AirPods Pro Later This Year iMessage on iOS 18 Features Bold, Underline, Italics, and Text Effects iOS 18 Lets You Swap Out Lock Screen Camera and Flashlight Buttons Apple Introduces Standalone 'Passwords' App Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred PC Gamer - Destiny 2's new exotic mission is the best Bungie has made in years, but some solo players are furious about having to speak to each other

Apple earnings are out and revenue was down almost everywhere. Boy, AI can't come fast enough for them. Did you know you can send Bluetooth signals to satellites in space? The full Rabbit R1 reviews turned out exactly how we expected. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions.Links:Apple Sales Fall as iPhone, China Businesses Remain Sluggish (WSJ)FDA Qualifies Apple's AFib History feature as an MDDT (MyHealthyApple)Hubble Network makes Bluetooth connection with a satellite for the first time (TechCrunch)Coinbase's First-Quarter Profit, Revenue Top Forecasts (Bloomberg)Rabbit R1 review: nothing to see here (The Verge)Weekend Longreads Suggestions:The Revenge of the Home Page (The New Yorker)Nick Bostrom Made the World Fear AI. Now He Asks: What if It Fixes Everything? (Wired)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we take the temperature of urban development in the US and check in with a few projects currently under way. We explore The Underline in Miami, Hazelwood Green in Pittsburgh, Detroit's tallest skyscraper in 50 years and the transformation taking place in Queens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sunday Worship April 28th, 2024   “Difficult Friendships” Colossians 4:10-11 Rev. Tyler Dirks   Sermon Audio   Sermon Outline: Substantial Differences Shared Suffering Admit You're Wrong Being a ‘Nobody' Reflection Questions: Read through Paul's letter to the church in Galatia. Underline all Paul's comments about “the men from James” or “the circumcision party,” and notice […] The post Difficult Friendships appeared first on East Charlotte Pres.

We continue our discussion on Fundraising during and after the tech reset, as part of our little hype parade ahead of the launch of the State of European VC Fundraising Report. Today, we have with us two close friends of the pod: Carlos Eduardo Espinal from Seedcamp and Bogdan Iordache from Underline Ventures.Carlos Eduardo Espinal is a Managing Partner at Seedcamp, arguably, Europe's leading seed fund, first launched in 2007 to support European entrepreneurs truly compete on a global scale. With investments in over 460 companies including publicly listed Romanian-founded, UiPath, Wise and unicorns Revolut, wefox and Pleo. Carlos is a published author, fellow podcaster and has been on the Forbes Midas List as one of the most influential VCs in Europe for more or less as long as yours truly has been alive.Bogdan Iordache is the Founding GP of Underline Ventures, a $20M seed fund in Romania and the first solo GP in the region. Bogdan and his team are focusing on backing Eastern European founders with global ambitions, and though I just said vertical-agnostic, Underline does pay extra attention to enterprise automation, AI, cybersecurity, industrial tech, defense, and climate-related startups

How can we navigate the swift passage of time and the relentless push towards our goals in an ever-evolving world? This is the philosophical question that host Denis Gianoutsos explores in this episode of "Leadership is Changing." Focusing on the three R's—Reflect, Reset, and Relaunch—he provides a roadmap for personal and professional development. From evaluating our progress to embracing new challenges, Denis offers a series of reflections and strategies designed to help us make the most of our time. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for leaders seeking to elevate their impact in an ever-changing world.In This Episode:Denis emphasizes the importance of reflecting on past actions, resetting goals based on those reflections, and relaunching with renewed focus to achieve leadership and organizational success.He underscores the significance of evaluating progress against goals at the end of the first quarter as a critical checkpoint for individuals and businesses.Denis advocates for reflection not as self-criticism but as a means of understanding and learning from successes and failures, setting the stage for informed future strategies.He points out that adaptability in goals and methods is essential for staying relevant and practical, showcasing the need for flexibility in leadership.He advises crafting detailed action plans that include actionable steps, timelines, and accountability measures, which are fundamental for achieving goals and ensuring organizational progress.Denis suggests viewing challenges not as setbacks but as opportunities for growth, learning, and strengthening leadership skills and organizational practices.He calls for leaders to not just aim for progress but to strive for continuous improvement and transformation, leading to significant changes in leadership and organizational outcomes.Main Takeaways:Reflecting on past actions and outcomes is essential for learning and growth. It allows leaders to assess what worked, what didn't, and how to improve.Underline the value of flexibility in setting goals and developing strategies. This adaptability is not just a trait but a crucial skill that prevents leaders from missing out on opportunities and becoming irrelevant.Accentuate the role of detailed action plans in achieving goals. These plans are tasks and a comprehensive roadmap that sets clear steps, timelines, and accountability measures, increasing the likelihood of success.Instead of fearing challenges, we should see them as opportunities to learn, grow, and strengthen leadership and organizational practices.Continuous improvement can lead to significant transformations in leadership style and organizational success.Today's dynamic world demands leaders who are adaptable, proactive, and open to changing their approaches to meet new challenges.Gaining insights from experienced leaders and adapting those lessons to one's context can greatly enhance leadership effectiveness.The 10 Ways to Lead in Today's World - FREE Executive Guide Download https://crm.leadingchangepartners.com/10-ways-to-lead Quotes:"It's that time now to reflect and reset and relaunch to make a bigger impact in the remainder of the year." - Denis Gianoutsos"Reflecting on the past is not about criticism. It's about understanding and learning." - Denis Gianoutsos"Resetting is not a sign of failure. It's an indication of your commitment to be adaptable and to grow." - Denis Gianoutsos"Embrace the challenges and the

Welcome back!

Great scripts can flop or flourish - the difference is in the delivery. And, the secret to a well-delivered script is what you're looking at when you read. In this episode, I'm sharing my top tips for marking up your script to get you the best, most engaging performance possible. This is the art of script delivery and it's a game-changer for any podcaster. Learn how to transform your scripts from dull to dynamic with insider secrets I've gleaned from over 30 years in broadcasting. Whether you're scripting top to tail or just framing your episodes with my Oreo Cookie method (check out episode 10 for more), I'll show you how to deliver like a seasoned pro. First up, let's write like we speak. Forget fancy writing – we're all about authenticity here! Embrace contractions, dropped g's, and misspellings to capture your natural voice. Now, let's talk punctuation.  It's not just for grammar nerds – it's your secret weapon for a killer performance. Add extra commas, slashes, and exclamation points to guide your delivery and keep your audience hooked. Anything that catches your eye and reminds you to... take... your... time! Say goodbye to chunky paragraphs and hello to readability! Break up your script into bite-sized chunks to make it easier to digest and deliver. Write out numbers and punctuations to avoid tripping up during your delivery. For example, my script don't have 'visit podcastperformancecoach.com' – it's 'visit podcast performance coach dot com'. Keep it smooth, keep it flowing! Grab a pen and mark up your script like a pro! Underline important words, add exclamation points, arrows – whatever helps you deliver your message with passion and conviction. Can't print your script? No problem! Use digital tools like bolding, italics, and emojis to mark up your script and enhance your delivery. And here's a little trick I learned early on – restart and repeat! After recording your full script, swing right back to the beginning and restart your read without stopping (like in episode 133). It's a surefire way to warm up and get into your flow for a flawless performance that sounds just as good out of the gate as it does on the CTA at the end. Ready to take your podcast to the next level? Implement these tips in your next recording and watch your audience grow. Click play now to listen to the full episode and take your podcasting journey to the next level. And if you're ready to turn your podcast into a marketing powerhouse, book your free podcast coaching call today! Until next time, keep podcasting like a boss!   GET THE PODCAST TUNE-UP WORKING FOR YOU https://members.podcastperformancecoach.com/ptu BOOK A FREE PODCAST COACHING CALL https://calendly.com/timwohlberg

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports on the U.S.'s strong support for the Philippines over China's actions in contested waters.

Charity and her 11th grade students read Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl along with Robert Spaemann's address "Education as an Introduction to Reality" as part of Texas Holocaust remembrance week. Charity shares a speech she gave to the high school, generated from reading these texts together.Read Robert Spaemann's article "Education as an Introduction to Reality" You can print it as a pdf if you like. Underline and annotate it. ;)Purchase a copy of Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

Genesis 4 gives us a challenging but important set of instruction regarding the kind of worship that God accepts. We'll look at the offering of Cain and Abel and see that there is a very real kind of worship that God is looking for. We'll also see, that Cain struggle for sincere worship was the overflow of a life out of fellowship with the Lord. Join us!   DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: Genesis 4 1. Circle every reference to the name “Cain.” Looking back over this chapter, how many times does his name occur? What does this tell us about who this chapter is ultimately about? 2. Underline every place where the Lord speaks. What kind of “tone” is in the Lord's words? Why do you think the Lord speaks with this tone towards someone who is in outright rebellion to Him? 3. In verse 2, what were Cain and Abel's occupations? How did that influence the offerings they brought to the Lord? Do you think that mattered to God? Why or why not? 4. In verse 4, what does it mean that God “had regard” for Abel and his offering? How do Hebrews 11:4 and 1st John 3:12 help us understand why God had regard for Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's? 5. In verse 7, what was tempting Cain? What was Cain's responsibility in dealing with that temptation? How did he handle it? 6. In the New Testament, Jude 11 warns us about “the way of Cain.” What does this passage tell us about Cain's self-made religion and self-made society? How has society today gone after the “way of Cain”? 7. According to the study, how does Genesis 5:4 answer the question, “Where did Cain get his wife”? 8. As you prayerfully look into your own life, are there any places where you are following in the ways of the world and not the way of the Lord? What would it look like for you to follow the way of Abel and Seth? 9. If you're seeing parts of your life out of fellowship with the way of the Lord, how about laying those items before the Lord so that His transforming grace might enable you to live in conformity with His instructions? Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

In this episode, we are joined by Kyle Glaeser, Director of Emerging Networks at Underline. Specializing in outside plant architectures and smart city applications, Kyle ensures Underline's networks are primed for the next 50 to 100 years. Always looking towards the future, Kyle fosters an environment for new applications beyond traditional internet services, driving innovation and excellence in the world of broadband. Click now to learn about his unique perspective and the future of the internet. Also, subscribe to the Broadband Bunch on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode. https://www.underline.com

In this episode we embark on a fascinating journey into the heart of Miami, where innovative technology and data-driven insights are transforming the urban landscape. The Underline, a 10-mile linear park designed by the world-renowned architects of New York's High Line, is redefining Miami's public spaces and connectivity, transforming the city's underutilized spaces into vibrant, green, and connected corridors. Scott Loughlin, co-lead of the Hogan Lovells Privacy & Cybersecurity practice, is joined by Hogan Lovells Counsel and Pro Bono Counsel to The Underline, Daniel Balmori, and The Underline's Chief Innovation Officer, Jake Moskowitz, to discuss how data and technology can shape a more connected, sustainable, and inclusive city.

How to Measure Up In the Spiritual House.Grace Christian Fellowship1 Peter 2: 3-10Fallen Condition FocusWe must be believe on Jesus to be united in his Kingdom. He is the standard bywhich we measure ourselves.Introduction: (Show Picture of Airplane Assembly)If you have your Bible this morning I would ask you to go ahead and turn with meto 1 Peter chapter 2, as we continue our study of that book today.Notice on the screen I have a picture of an airplane assembly, I remember back in2011 when I moved to Charleston to take a job in this very building to work onthis very airplane in the photograph. It was the first 787 assembled right here inCharleston.And one of the things I didn't have an appreciation for was the complexity of howall these parts came together. While as engineer, I understood many of thetechnical challenges, I think maybe one of the even greater challenges waslogistically getting all these pieces in place.How many of you have ever seen the Dreamlifter flying over Charleston? Wellthere are four of those giant airplanes and their sole purpose is to fly all over theglobe to collect these parts, and bring them back to Charleston for assembly.Can you imagine the complexity of wings built in Japan, fuselage sections built inItaly, a cockpit made in Wichita, the parts literally scattered around the globe.And when they arrive in Charleston they have to be assembled to exactspecification. Everything has to fit. It's an overwhelmingly complicated system.This morning Peter talks about an assembly, in this case a building that has tocome together. How can Christ's church scattered all over the world be arrangedexactly the way God has designed. In fact this morning we are going to see that it2is not designed carelessly, but in a way it is engineered perfectly, designedthoughtfully by God himself. Beginning in verse four let's look together.[1Pe 2:4 ESV] 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,I think it is interesting that Peter begins with a stone analogy. After all Peter namewas changed from Simon to Peter which literally is translated rock. You mayremember back to Matthew 16 when Jesus asks the disciples a question, “Who doyou say that I am?” Peter has the famous answer, “Thou art the Christ the Son ofthe living God”. And do you remember what Jesus says.[Mat 16:17-18 ESV] 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is inheaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.Jesus reminds him firstly that his knowledge of Christ was first and foremost a giftof a grace from the Father. And secondly, the Church would be built on JesusChrist.The verse uses 2 words to describe how God views Jesus, chosen and precious.God views Jesus as precious. As a treasure to be lifted high, to be praised and tobe adored. Peter also notes that he is “chosen” the word is eklekton which literallymeans to be selected. More on that later, but for now think back to the airplane.The dreamlifter does not just stop at a random spot on the globe, grab a couple ofwings and head back to Charleston to slap them on an airplane. No the wings arecarefully chosen or selected to fit.So if we see Jesus rightly as we sit here today we see Jesus in the same way Goddoes. We see him as a treasure worthy of all praise and worship. But many peopledo not see Jesus this way at all do they. In fact, many people curse his name, andtreat him with supreme disrespect. We saw that in the book of Matthew, but Ithink we see it all around us today. Those who are not born again don't see thetreasure in Jesus.3Perhaps even as believers it is good for us to be reminded, we should rightly seeJesus as the Father sees Jesus.[1Pe 2:5 ESV] 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offerspiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.In verse 5 Peter continues his stone building analogy. Peter says not only is Jesus aliving stone, if you are born again (chapter 1), you too are a living stone.Every year about this time of year, I go to Brooke's STEM class and talk to thekids about engineering and about airplanes. And one of the things I always like toask he kids is this. If you were going to build an airplane what are some materialsthat you might use and why? And then we kind of walk thru the pros and cons ofdifferent building materials; things like weight and strength and corrosionresistance its always a great conversation.So one thing I notice as I'm reading Peter's metaphorical spiritual house is thebuilding material that he chose for his house is STONE. Jesus is a living stone, weare living stones. I think Peter is pointing to something here about the significanceof this structure. Jesus is not putting together a tent or a hut. Jesus is a greatpowerful stone and he makes great stones out of us. This spiritual house will notbe destroyed.We know that the Jewish temple was destroyed, and in that destruction they hadno way to continue practicing Jewish religion in terms of sacrifices.Jesus built a better temple, one not made with rocks, but one made with livinghuman stones.Then we have Holy Priesthood. When I think about the Priesthood two thingscome to mind. First of all is sacrifice. Did you know you are a priest if you are abeliever? In the old physical temple we know that the primary role of the priest4was to perform animal sacrifices. But in what way are we now priest? We arecalled in this new spiritual temple to offer up “acceptable sacrifices”.But we don't offer up animal sacrifices do we? Our sacrifices are our affections toGod. Our true worship is a sacrifice. In fact in how we choose to live our lives wechoose to make (living) sacrifices each and every day.[Rom 12:1 ESV] 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, topresent your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which isyour spiritual worship.The second thing that comes to mind when I think about the priesthood is accessto God. Remember how the temple was constructed. It was a series of walls. Andin the very center of all of the walls was the arc of the covenant. Now any personcould not just waltz in to the center of the temple. If you were a woman you had tostop on the outside, men could get a little closer, but then priest could go evenanother layer in. Until finally the most high priest on a certain could go all the wayinside to the mercy seat and the ark. He has access to God. Remember the veil thatwas in the Holy of Holies the curtain that shielded the ark was torn when Jesuswas crucified signifying that the access to God is now open.So when Peter says here that we are a Holy Priesthood, he is saying now you cancome in to the most holy place and commune directly with God. And the only waythat was ever possible was because of Jesus![1Pe 2:6 ESV] 6 For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen andprecious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."Peter goes on now to quote Isaiah here as he continues with his analogy of thisspiritual building.There are some things I want to pull out of verse 6. First of all, notice who isdoing the action. Who is laying the stone? “I” is the Father. It is the Father whoinitiated the building of the house. The Father sends the Son into the world tobuild this house.5The son is the supreme stone he is called here the “cornerstone”. The cornerstoneis the most important stone in the structure. The cornerstone would be thereference by which all the other stones would be laid. The cornerstone wouldestablish where the foundation would start. What would be vertical what would behorizontal. All other stones in the structure would be compared to the cornerstoneto ensure they were correctly place.So many get this wrong today. They think that they themselves will establish whatis right and what is wrong, and then they will just get a version of Jesus that linesup with their own wicked ideas. We have to be very careful, if indeed we are partof this magnificent structure that we align ourselves with Christ the cornerstone.[2Ti 4:3 ESV] 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure soundteaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers tosuit their own passions,Paul speaks here of those who have no interest in alignment with cornerstone butinstead have found false teachers who will distort horizontal and distort vertical sothat this false cornerstone lines up with their own sinful desires.One thing that you should always look for when studying a passage of scripture isthings that are repeated. If something is repeated it is probably important. Andhere in verse 6 we see a repetition of “chosen and precious”. To those who are inthis house, there is nothing more precious, more treasured than the cornerstone.Peter says this most sacred stone was “chosen”. I think what Peter has in mindhere is something from 1 Kings. In 1 Kings we see the building of the Temple. Inthis book we get a good look at the physical process that Peter is speaking to in aspiritual sense.[1Ki 6:7 ESV] 7 When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at thequarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in thehouse while it was being built.6The perfect stone was selected at the quarry. And can you imagine that the stonewas so perfect, that after the stone arrived at the temple no tool was even required.This is the opposite of how I do carpentry work. Sometimes I will cut a board takeit hold up its to long. Back to the saw. Cut it. I may do that several times before Iget a perfect fit. Jesus was the perfect stone who was chosen because he did notrequire shaping are correction he just fits perfectly.[1Pe 2:7 ESV] 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but forthose who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"[1Pe 2:8 ESV] 8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey theword, as they were destined to do.We talked about those who try to shape scripture to shape Jesus into fitting theirpersonal distorted view right. Remember as we studied the book of Matthew wesaw time and time again the religious leaders try to reshape the cornerstonebecause he didn't line up with what they wanted.The Jews were looking for a messiah that would be a warrior, who would leadthem and free them from the oppression of Rome. The wanted a messiah whowould validate their corrupt authority, their disgraces at the temple, and theirreligious system that crushed the poor and elevated them.Do you see that the house that they had built was not plumb, it was not levelbecause they had lost the reference that was given to them in Scripture.They didn't look at Jesus and see a treasure or anything precious, but they werefilled with sin and hate to the point of murder. They are the “builders thatrejected” him.And what does Peter say is the ultimate end of this rejection? They didn't alignthemselves with the cornerstone, but they tripped over the stone and met the“stone of offense”. Which to the Jews of that day would be to trip over and to becrushed or fatally wounded by the stone.7There really is no middle ground. We either see the infinite value and preciousnessof Christ or he becomes the stumbling block for our ultimate judgement anddestruction.[1Pe 2:9 ESV] 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession,that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.Here we have our repetition again. Do you see it? Underline that word “chosen”.Now Peter shifts from Jesus being a chosen stone and he says YOU are a “chosen”race. Who is you? You are those in the Spiritual house. Those who have been bornagain (1 Peter 1). Those who see the preciousness of Christ. Those who have notstumbled over him. Those who have aligned with him. YOU are a chosen race.Doesn't that just make your heart want to burst? Why me Lord? Why have youextended such amazing grace to me? I don't deserve it! No you don't. Let that bethe essence of your worship.It's interesting that Peter uses the word race here. Because a race of people sharegenetic characteristics. And he we sit as the body of Christ, made up of alldifferent races, nations, cultures you name it and Peter says you are now all achosen race. Because you are my children. The Spiritual DNA of our heavenlyfather has bonded us all together in such a way that we are now a common race ofpeople in all our diversity.We are now a royal priesthood. Earlier we talked about the significance of beingpriest but Peter extends that now and says not only are you a priest but you are aroyal priest because you belong to the King! You worship the King and you arehis possession.If we find ourselves as part of this Spiritual building then we can worship sowonderfully this morning and every morning because our cornerstone allowed usto assemble.8We have been called from darkness and into marvelous light. I don't have to tellyou that the world is a dark place. When you walk outside those doors and into theworld you can see darkness all around. But in Christ we have the light.(Call the musicians and Lord's Supper folks)My prayer this morning is for those this morning who maybe have never trusted inthis Stone. For those maybe who have stumbled over the stone for whateverreason. Today, you have heard that God is calling people to him. Today maybe heis calling you to join in this great building.Maybe you have been a part of the spiritual house and you know that when youlook over at the cornerstone your life is not level. You are not plumb. You don'tline up with the reference. This morning is your opportunity to confess those sinsand repent or align with him.Let's Pray.

South Africa made it two wins from two at the 2023 World Cup at the expense of Australia, as Temba Bavuma's men underlined their World Cup credentials with an authoritative performance. Yas Rana and Ben Gardner react to a significant result and to a match not short of controversy. You can follow Wisden Cricket on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok: https://www.facebook.com/WisdenCric https://www.instagram.com/wisden_cricket/ https://twitter.com/WisdenCricket https://www.tiktok.com/@wisdencricket The latest issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly is available now at https://wisden.com/shop/wisden-cricket-monthly-issue-71 The digital version of the magazine is also available for just £2 a month at https://pocketmags.com/wisden-cricket-monthly-magazine#5c1cd17fa0b05 #Cricket #CricketWorldCup #CWC23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chapter 1 What's how to read a book"How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading" is a book written by Mortimer J. Adler and co-authored by Charles Van Doren. It was first published in 1940 and since then has become a popular guide for improving reading skills. The book provides strategies and techniques for effectively reading different types of books, including fiction, non-fiction, and practical books. It also discusses the importance of active reading, comprehension, and critical thinking.Chapter 2 Why is how to read a book Worth Read"How to Read a Book" by Mortimer J. Adler is worth reading for several reasons:1. Comprehensive guide: The book provides a comprehensive guide on how to read different types of books effectively. Adler covers topics such as reading for information, reading for understanding, and reading for evaluation, equipping the readers with useful strategies to enhance their reading skills.2. Improve reading comprehension: Adler emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with the text and teaches readers how to ask the right questions, identify the main ideas, and extract meaning from complex texts. By following Adler's approach, readers can significantly improve their reading comprehension and retention.3. Appreciation for literature: The book encourages readers to approach great works of literature with an open mind and provides techniques to fully appreciate and understand the depth and meaning in these texts. Adler's insights on reading fiction, poetry, and drama offer readers a new level of appreciation for the arts.4. Critical thinking: Adler emphasizes critical thinking as an essential skill for effective reading. He provides tools and methods for analyzing arguments, detecting fallacies, and evaluating the credibility and validity of information. This helps readers to become more discerning and thoughtful consumers of written material.5. Timeless advice: Despite being written in 1940, "How to Read a Book" remains relevant and valuable in the modern age. The principles and techniques proposed by Adler still apply to various forms of reading, including books, articles, and online content. The book serves as a timeless guide for anyone seeking to enhance their reading skills.Overall, "How to Read a Book" by Mortimer J. Adler is worth reading for its comprehensive approach, focus on critical thinking, and timeless insights on effective reading that can benefit readers across various disciplines and pursuits.Chapter 3 how to read a book SummaryTo read a book by Mortimer J. Adler, here is a summary of the process:1. Preview the book: Before starting to read, spend some time looking at the cover, table of contents, preface, and introduction of the book. This will give you an understanding of what the book is about, the author's purpose, and the main ideas it will cover.2. Skim the book: After the initial preview, skim through the book to get an overview of its structure and layout. Read the chapter headings, subheadings, and any bolded or highlighted text. This will help you grasp the organization of the book and the main topics covered in each section.3. Active reading: When you start reading, engage in active reading techniques. Underline or highlight key points, write notes in the margins, and jot down questions or thoughts that come to your mind while reading. This will help you better understand and remember the content.4. Break the book into sections: If the book is long, divide it into smaller sections or chapters and set goals for yourself. This will make it easier to manage the reading and keep you motivated to continue.5. Take breaks: Reading a book by Adler can be...

Official Standard of the Border Collie Preamble: The Border Collie originated in the Border country between Scotland and England where the shepherds' breeding selection was based on biddable stock sense and the ability to work long days on rugged terrain. As a result of this selective breeding, the Border Collie developed the unique working style of gathering and fetching the stock with wide sweeping outruns. The stock is then controlled with an intense gaze known as "eye", coupled with a stalking style of movement. This selective breeding over time developed the Border Collie's intensity, energy and trainability which are features so important that they are equal to physical size and appearance. The Border Collie has extraordinary instinct and an uncanny ability to reason. One of its greatest assets is the ability to work out of sight of its master without commands. Breeding based on this working ability has made this breed the world's premier sheep herding dog, a job the Border Collie is still used for worldwide. General Appearance: The Border Collie is a well balanced, medium-sized dog of athletic appearance, displaying gracefulness, power and agility in equal measure. Its hard, muscular body conveys the impression of effortless movement and endless endurance. The Border Collie is extremely intelligent, with its keen, alert expression being a very important characteristic of the breed. Those aspects of structure, movement or temperament that enhance the dog's ability to function as a herding dog are virtues that should be strongly rewarded. The Border Collie is, and should remain, a natural and unspoiled true working sheep dog whose conformation is described herein. Honorable scars and broken teeth incurred in the line of duty are acceptable. Size, Proportion, Substance: The height at the withers varies from 19 to 22 inches for males, 18 to 21 inches for females. When viewed from the side, the body from the point of shoulder to point of buttocks is slightly longer than the height at the withers. The length to height ratio is approximately 10:9. Correct bone must be moderate, strong and oval. Overall balance between height, length, weight and bone is crucial and is more important than any absolute measurement. Dogs must be presented in hard working condition. Excess body weight is not to be mistaken for muscle or substance. Head: Expression is intelligent, alert, eager, and full of interest. Eyes are set well apart, of moderate size, oval in shape. Any eye color is acceptable, but blue eyes in dogs other than merle are not preferred. Eye rims should be fully pigmented. Ears are of medium size, set well apart, one or both carried erect and/or semi-erect (varying from one-quarter to three-quarters of the ear erect). When semi-erect, the tips may fall forward or outward to the side. Ears are sensitive and mobile. Skull is relatively flat and moderate in width. The skull and muzzle are approximately equal in length. In profile the top of the skull is parallel with the top of the muzzle. Stop moderate, but distinct. The muzzle is strong, tapering slightly to the nose. The sides of the head should taper smoothly into the muzzle. The underjaw is strong and well developed. Nose should be fully pigmented. Nostrils are well developed. A full complement of strong healthy teeth should meet in a scissors bite. Neck, Topline, Body: Neck is of proportional length to the body, strong and muscular, slightly arched and blending smoothly into the shoulders. Topline - Back is level with a slight muscular rise over the loin, falling to a gently sloping croup. Body is athletic in appearance with a deep, moderately broad chest reaching no further than the point of the elbow. The rib cage is moderately long with well sprung ribs. Loin is moderately deep and short. Underline should have a slight but distinct tuck up. The tail is set on low and is moderately long with the bone reaching Page 2 of 3 at least to the hock. The ideal tail carriage is low when the dog is concentrating on a given task and may have a slight upward swirl at the end like a shepherd's crook. In excitement it may be raised, but the base of the tail should not curve forward over the back. Forequarters: Forelegs should be parallel when viewed from front, pasterns slightly sloping when viewed from side. Because sufficient length of leg is crucial for the type of work the breed is required to do, the distance from the wither to the elbow is slightly less than from the elbow to the ground. The shoulder blades are long and well laid back. Shoulder blades and upper arms are equal in length and meet in a right angle as nearly as possible. The prosternum is easily felt but not pronounced. There is sufficient width between the tops of the shoulder blades to allow for the characteristic crouch when approaching and moving stock. The elbows are neither in nor out. Feet are compact, oval in shape; pads deep and strong, toes moderately arched and close together with strong nails of moderate length. Dewclaws may be removed. Hindquarters: Broad and muscular, in profile sloping gracefully to the low set tail. The thighs are long, broad, deep and muscular. Stifles are well turned with strong well let down hocks. Proper length of hock is approximately one-quarter to one-third the height of the dog. When standing with the hocks perpendicular to the ground the toes of the rear feet should be in line with the point of buttock. Rear feet should be parallel, but may toe out slightly when freestanding. Feet are compact, oval in shape; pads deep and strong, toes moderately arched and close together with strong nails of moderate length. Dewclaws should be removed. Coat: Two varieties are permissible, both having close-fitting, dense, weather resistant double coats with the top coat either straight or slightly wavy and coarser in texture than the undercoat which is soft, short and dense. The rough variety coat may vary in length without being excessive. Proper texture is more important than length. Forelegs, haunches, chest and underside are feathered and the coat on face, ears, feet, fronts of legs is short and smooth. The smooth variety is short over entire body, is usually coarser in texture than the rough variety and may have slight feathering on forelegs, haunches, chest and ruff. Neither coat type is preferred over the other. Seasonal shedding is normal and must not be penalized. Excess hair on the feet, hock and pastern areas may be neatened for the show ring. Whiskers are untrimmed. Dogs should be presented naturally, without excessive trimming or sculpting. Color: The Border Collie appears in all colors or combination of colors and/or markings. All colors are to be judged equally with no one color or pattern preferred over another. White markings may be clear white or ticked to any degree. Random white patches on the body are permissible but should not predominate. The predominant ear color should match the primary body color. Color and markings are always secondary to physical evaluation and gait. Gait: The Border Collie is an agile dog, able to suddenly change speed and direction while maintaining balance and grace. Endurance is its trademark. The head is carried level with or slightly below the withers. When shown, Border Collies should move on a loose lead and at moderate speed, never raced around the ring with the head held high. When viewed from the side the trot covers the ground effortlessly with minimum lift of feet. The topline is firm with no roll or bounce. Front reach and rear drive are symmetrical, with the front foot meeting the ground directly under the nose and the rear foot pushing back without kicking up. When the rear foot is coming forward, it should reach to the spot just vacated by the front foot. Viewed from the front, action is forward and true without wasted motion. Viewed from the rear, hindquarters drive with thrust and flexibility with hocks turning neither in nor out, moving close together but never Page 3 of 3 touching. The legs, both front and rear, tend to converge toward the center line as speed increases. Exaggerated movement is not efficient, and therefore is not useful to the Border Collie. Temperament: The Border Collie is energetic, intelligent, keen, alert, and responsive. An intense worker of great tractability, it is affectionate towards friends but may be sensibly reserved towards strangers. When approached, the Border Collie should stand its ground. It should be alert and interested, never showing shyness, fear, dullness or resentment. Faults: Any deviation from the foregoing should be considered a fault, the seriousness of the fault depending upon the extent of the deviation, and the degree to which working ability would be impacted. Approved: April 21, 2015 Effective: July 1, 2015

According to the 19th century writer John Ruskin, “The measure of any great civilization is its cities; and the measure of a city's greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces- its parkland and squares.” In this episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad will speak with Meg Daly and Isabel Castilla about the role of contemporary public space in America. High quality public space is vital for the social life of a community, the economic competitiveness and environmental performance of a city and the overall health and well-being of its population. Yet despite these virtues, the development of public space in America is increasingly challenged due to the surge of privatization and the rise of land costs in urban centers throughout the country. Castilla and Daly will share the success story of The Underline project, a new 10-mile linear park that is transforming the land below Miami's elevated Metro rail into a linear park, urban trail and public art destination. When complete, the project will provide 120 areas of new public space for the city, radically transforming the citizen's relationship to nature, transportation and recreation. Tune in Friday, July 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST, 8:00 PST on the Voice America Variety Channel https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/4119/on-cities; and find all previous episodes on Spotify, Apple iTunes or your favorite podcast platform.

According to the 19th century writer John Ruskin, “The measure of any great civilization is its cities; and the measure of a city's greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces- its parkland and squares.” In this episode of ON CITIES, host Carie Penabad will speak with Meg Daly and Isabel Castilla about the role of contemporary public space in America. High quality public space is vital for the social life of a community, the economic competitiveness and environmental performance of a city and the overall health and well-being of its population. Yet despite these virtues, the development of public space in America is increasingly challenged due to the surge of privatization and the rise of land costs in urban centers throughout the country. Castilla and Daly will share the success story of The Underline project, a new 10-mile linear park that is transforming the land below Miami's elevated Metro rail into a linear park, urban trail and public art destination. When complete, the project will provide 120 areas of new public space for the city, radically transforming the citizen's relationship to nature, transportation and recreation. Tune in Friday, July 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST, 8:00 PST on the Voice America Variety Channel https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/4119/on-cities; and find all previous episodes on Spotify, Apple iTunes or your favorite podcast platform.

An exploration into Growth vs Fixed Mindsets and it's impact on life and personality. 

Hey – I'm taking the next two weeks off for a summer vacation. I'll be back as usual on July 5th. If you listened last week, you know that I've implemented a DIY vs. DFY segment at the end of each podcast. Be sure to stick around! Today, I want to talk about behavioral interview questions. Specifically, where do they come from? How can you know what you're going to be asked so you can prepare appropriate CARL stories? The answer to these questions begins with the job description – if the recruiter or your contact doesn't provide you with this, be sure to ask for one. Next, read the job description. Carefully. Underline or otherwise pull out the keywords the employer is looking for. For example: -Strong verbal and written communication skills -Experience in project management -Ability to juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously -Experience in a fast-paced environment -Ability to manage conflict  Your next step is to come up with a CARL story that would illustrate your ability in each of these areas. As a reminder: C – Challenge A – Action R – Result L – Lessons learned (or skill demonstrated)  Before you wrap up your CARL stories, think further about the position you will be interviewing for. Other than what's in the job description, what other skills or competencies might be reasonably expected of someone in this role? Here are some examples: -A time when you had to manage a team that was underperforming -A time when you had to manage your relationship with your boss -A time when you failed -A time when you had a particularly difficult customer service situation to manage -A time when you had a conflict with a coworker  I recommend outlining your CARL stories, then practicing. If you have at least 10 stories, you should be covered no matter what the interviewer asks you.  DIY vs. DFY Segment In need of some sample behavioral interview questions? You can access an extensive list of behavioral and other interview questions here: https://bit.ly/interviewcoachingguide When do you want to hire a coach to help you with your interview skills? I consider three factors: When the bar is very high, when you know your skills are below average, and/or when you are so concerned about some aspect of your work experience that it is overshadowing your ability to properly prepare for the interview. Examples might include a lengthy gap in employment, frequent job changes, or a recent termination. My interview coaching program involves two, one-hour sessions. We spend approximately 20 minutes in character as interviewer and interviewee; the remainder of the hour is spent analyzing your performance and developing strategies for improvement. The second session is structured exactly the same, and this is where the confidence shoots up as you hear yourself improving, I give you feedback to that effect, and you have the opportunity to compare your performance in both interviews via the recordings I provide you. If you would like to schedule a consult with me about my interview coaching program, click here: https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2

“This new braille has so many extra dots!” This is something we hear a lot, and it's often followed by the question, “What do they all mean?” This Masterclass will help to solve the mystery. James Bowden, Braille Technical Officer at RNIB, Chairman of the Braille Coding Group of the UK Association for Accessible Formats, and the UK Representative to the Code Maintenance Committee of the International Council on English Braille, described the common indicators in UEB and gave some real world examples of their use. In particular, we covered: Capital letters and block capitals Making sure a word or symbol is not misread as a contraction Italicised, bolded and underlined text This session was recorded on Tuesday 16 May 2023. For further information please visit the Braillists Foundation Media Page.

April 22, 2023 - Equipped Workshop Day 3 10:00AM MPR 4 Speaker    Cherie Vestal kicks off the ladies sessions for Equipped Workshop on day 3.   Notes: Launching Out Into The Deep - Diving Into the Word James mentions the Word in several places James 1:18, 19, 21, 22, 23-25  2:12 - blessed by hearing  1: 18 - 27 holistic :8-9 royal law  2:1-13, 3:1-12 consistent Seven ways to grow in your Bible Knowledge – Taking a Voyage  Motivation - Why do you want Bible Knowledge Heart check - sometimes we study as if there will be a Heavenly test someday. Beware of knowledge for the sake of knowledge. 1 Cor 8:1, 1 Cor 13:1 Paul - to know Christ - Phil 3:10 Jesus - Matt 7:21, Matt 11:28-30 - a relationship with Him Holy Spirit - renewing of your mind, transformation - Rom 12:2 - Don't just accumulate knowledge/facts, but change. Jesus will judge by how we live not by what we can quote Peter - be ready to give an answer. 1 Pet 3:15  Does your motive for study line up A Vessel - A venue for uninterrupted time with God You need the right vessel Acts 6 - devote yourself to the Word and to prayer Create a plan for consistency, snatches of time here and there are not enough.  What does your venue look like? It can change with what season of life you are in. Young mothers for example will have a very different “venue” than older empty nesters. Equipment The Bible - there are several translations available BibleHub is an electronic resource Other tools to consider include notebook, pencils, pens, consulting tools such as a Bible dictionary and commentaries (Remember MEN created these so read with discernment and use them last — find your own discoveries first) Itinerary - Your study plan can be varied, above all pace yourself What book/books will you study?  Will you read Gen - Rev? Or some other reading plan?  How much time will you spend daily? Will you do devotional study, word study, character study, read chronologically? Journaling  Bible Marking Study (Come Fill Your Cup has many Bible Marking lessons from Kathy Pollard) Filter study - you can go through a book of the Bible with a “word filter”. For example a filtered study of the word Jesus in the book of Acts.  Interaction - Sailing out on your voyage (Consider Philippians 4:4) Context - in Ch 3 Paul's been encouraging the Philippians to stay focused on their Eternal focus.  Write out the passage leaving space above and between for notes What does the passage say to you?  Where is God in the passage? Look for what God “is” “has” or “does” - you might have to look a verse before or after the one you are focusing on.  Underline what people are doing positively or should be doing. (You could mark negatives with a caution sign triangle) Mark absolutes in a special way (words like “all”, “any”, “never”, etc)  Examination - What does it mean  Utilize other translations and cross references to help you understand the passage. Your Experience - Evaluate and journal your thoughts as you meditate on what you've studied and journal how you can apply it. Write out a prayer on what you found/discovered in the passage you studied and ask for wisdom. You might also sing a song or hymn that is applicable to your study.   Duration 41:10

Introduction: We are at WarFACT: We are at war. Bold. Underline. Italics. Exclamation point. We are at war. There are an estimated 600 million Evangelical Christians around the globe today making up about 8% of the world's population. The majority of the other 92% are walking in darkness, held captive by our great enemy Satan who is the father of lies. Billions have been led astray by false forms of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Secularism, Materialism, Atheism, and vast array of other false religions. These all stand in opposition to the Gospel and often fight with great zeal against Jesus Christ and His people. We are engaged in a war for the souls of men, women and children. The Battle is real and it one that we cannot win on our own.Stories of persecutionIn a few weeks we will be celebrating Palm Sunday here at TPC. Six years ago, on Palm Sunday 2017, bombs blew up at two churches in Egypt, killing nearly fifty Christians and injuring more than one hundred others. Just hours after the blast, amid outrage and grief, Pastor Boulos stepped before his packed church in Egypt and gave the terrorists a three-point sermon that went viral worldwide. It was entitled “A Message to Those Who Kill Us.” His three points were simple: “Thank you,” “We love you,” and “We're praying for you.” Pastor Boulos said “Thank you” because the terrorists gave the dead the honor to die as Christ died; and because theterrorists' actions made people outside the church mindful of their eternal destinies. (After the attacks, Egyptian churches overflowed with people who had never attended before). Then Pastor Boulos said “We love you” because even murderers and thieves love those who love them, but only followers of Jesus are taught to love our enemies. Pastor Boulos closed hismessage with “We're praying for you” because, he reasoned, if a terrorist could taste the loveof God even one time, it would drive hatred from his heart.This is one story of persecution among millions through the ages. Across 76 countries, more than 360 million evangelical Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith today. We are indeed at war. And on our own, it is a war that we cannot win.John Piper on Prayer as a War-Time Walkie TalkieJohn Piper has been preaching that we are war for decades. In his book “Let the Nations Be Glad!” Piper says some convicting things about our major weapon in fighting this war against our adversary the devil – a weapon that we often misuse or do not use at all. That weapon is prayer as we know from Ephesians chapter 6 (which we read earlier). It is our primary firepower against the devil. But let me read directly from JohnPiper's book, because I'm not so sure we act like life is a battlefield. Piper says:“Probably the number one reason why prayer malfunctions in the hands of believers is that we try to turn a wartime walkie talkie into a domestic intercom. Until you know that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for. Prayer is for the accomplishment of a wartime mission…[Our] field commander (Jesus) called in the troops, gave them a crucial mission (go and bear fruit); [he] handed each of them a personal transmittercoded to the frequency of the General's headquarters, and [he] said, ‘Comrades, the general has a mission for you. He aims to see it accomplished. And to that end he has authorized me to give each of you personal access to him through these transmitters. If you stay true to his mission and seek his victory first, he will always be as close as your transmitter, to give tactical advice and to send air cover when you need it.'“But what have millions of Christians done? We have stopped believing that we are in a war. [There's] no urgency, no watching, no vigilance. No strategic planning. Just easy peace and prosperity. And what did we do with the walkie talkie? We [have] tried to rig it up as an intercom in our houses and cabins and [our] boats and [our] cars – not to call in firepower for conflict with a mortal enemy, but to ask for more comforts [andcushions] in the den.”Four Elements of Earth-Shattering Missions PrayerWith that as our introduction, I want to turn to our two texts for today. We will be looking at two biblical prayers that were prayed in times of great distress for God's people. We will look at one prayer in 2 Kings 19 and one prayer in Acts chapter 4. In both situations God's people were at war and they were engaged against enemies they knew that they could not defeat. They knew they were hopeless unless God came to their rescue. So, they turned to Him in God- exalting, enemy-defeating prayer. In both instances, these prayers moved the heart of God and he acted with great power to help his people.Both of these prayers follow a pattern and have 4 key elements that I want to examine. As we look at prayer as a weapon of war against the enemy, I want to encourage us to integrate these elements in our prayers as individuals, as families and as a church body here at TPC. We can use these prayers as roadmaps as we pray for the work of spreading the Gospel to every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Let's look at the pattern first, and then we will look at how it plays out in these two prayers. The pattern is printed on the back of today's bulletin.The Pattern is:We acknowledge the DIVINE POWER of God aloneWe affirm our DEPENDENCE on God aloneWe arouse the heart of God to DELIVER his people and to DESTROY our enemiesWe appeal to God to DISPLAY HIS GLORY for all the earth to seeHezekiah's Prayer (2 Kings 19:14-19)First, let's consider Hezekiah's prayer. Let us look at the historical backdrop. Hezekiah was King of Judah. He was a good king. In fact, the Bible says there were no kings of Judah before or after him that followed God like he did. In 2 Kings 18:5-7 we read:5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him.”Now these last words were the epicenter of the problem that Hezekiah was facing. He rebelled against the King of Assyria. He would not bow his knee to a pagan king. The King of Assyria was named Sennacherib and the capitol of his evil empire was “Ninevah” if you have ever heard of it. It is no wonder that brother Jonah had no love for this people.So, Sennacherib was coming to extract his vengeance on this rebel king of Judah. He besieged Jerusalem with the largest most powerful army on earth. Then he sent a blasphemous letter (in 2 King 19:10-13) to Hezekiah that read: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, orthe king of Ivvah?'”In verse 14 we read about what Hezekiah did upon receiving this letter. It says: “Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord.” What a glorious demonstration of faith. He didn't sit and fret on his throne, filled with anxiety and fear. He didn't sit and strategize and mull over all of his military options to fight or surrender. He went into the temple and spread the letter before the Lord and prayed! And what did he pray?First, Hezekiah Acknowledged the DIVINE POWER of God alone:15 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.”Consider these words in contrast to the blasphemy of Sennacherib who had mocked the God of the Israelites. Hezekiah here is saying to God, Sennacherib is a blasphemous liar, for we know, we believe, we have faith that you alone, not Sennacherib, are the Sovereign Lord who is above all kings and who sits enthroned over all nations.Second, Hezekiah Affirmed His DEPENDENCE on God alone: In verse 16 we read:“Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 17 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed.”After acknowledging the power of God alone, Hezekiah humbly entreats God, demonstrating his complete dependence on God. He says incline your ear O Lord. Listen to me. Hear me. We need your help, Lord. And “Open your eyes Lord and see. “ If you don't listen to us and see us, no one will hear us, see us, rescue us. The idols of the other nations did not save them. But we depend on you, the true and the living God who alone has the power to save us!Third, Hezekiah Aroused the heart of God to DELIVER his people and to DESTROY their enemies: In verse 19 we read: “So now, O Lord our God, save us, please, from his hand.”Only after acknowledging God's power and sovereignty, and his dependence on God alone, Hezekiah appeals for help. He simply says, “O Lord our God, save us, please from the hand of Sennacherib.” His heart's desire was for his people to be delivered and he knew that no one else could deliver from the mighty hoards of the Assyrians, so he simply says, “save us, please.” It is beautiful in its simplicity and earnestness.Finally, Hezekiah Appealed to God to DISPLAY HIS GLORY for all the earth to see: “That all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.” Hezekiah was praying for something bigger to happen than just for his people to be rescued. He knew the power of the Assyrian army, the arrogance of King Sennacherib, the wanton cruelty, and destruction and annihilation that they had wreaked on the entire Middle East. He knew that if God delivered His people and destroyed the Assyrians, then all the Kingdoms of the earth would know that there is only one and true and living God who answers prayer and is more powerful than any king or empire that sets themselves up against Him. He wanted God to deliver his people in the same magnificent way that he had delivered His people from the hands of Pharoah King of Egypt hundreds of years before and all of the world heard and trembled. He wanted God to be glorified far beyond the borders of Judah, and so he prayed for this very thing.So what did God do in response to Hezekiah's prayer?Two things. First, God sent the prophet Isaiah to assure Hezekiah that God had heard his prayer and would surely come to the defense of his people. We will not read Isaiah's entire message for the sake of brevity, but in verse 22 God says to Sennacherib:“Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to theheights? Against the Holy One of Israel!”And jumping down to verse 32-34 God says:32 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city or shoot an arrow there, or come before it with a shield or cast up a siege mound against it. 33 By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come into this city, declares the Lord. 34 For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”The second thing that happens is that God acts with great power. He sent his angel and destroyed the Assyrian army. In verses 35-37 we read:35 And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 36 Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home and lived at Nineveh. 37 And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.Indeed, now the whole world knew there was only one God, the God of Israel, that he alone had all power, and that He delivers His people from their enemies when they pray. The blasphemous king of Assyria and his mighty army were totally annihilated by Jehovah Sabbaoth—the God of Angel Armies.The Prayer of the First Church (Acts 4)Let us turn our attention now to the New Testament, to Acts chapter 4, to a prayer of the disciples, of the early church. The context here is that in chapter 3 Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray. Along the way they met a beggar who had been lame from birth who asked them for money. Peter replied:“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”Peter then proceeds to preach a powerful gospel sermon at the end of Acts chapter 3 to everyone gathered at the temple. This results in Peter and John being arrested because all of this greatly annoyed the Jewish religious leaders. They interrogated them and asked them where they got the power to heal this man. Peter boldly says:“Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus[a] is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.[b] 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.”The religious leaders and rulers then ordered Peter and John to stop preaching about Jesus and doing miracles in His name.“But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than toGod, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”“When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and prayed.”What did they pray? Their prayer is very similar to Hezekiah's, containing the same 4 elements although in a different order. Let's take a look.First, in verse 24, the church Acknowledged the DIVINE POWER of God alone: “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” Before they ask for rescue, they begin with worship, adoration and an affirmation of faith in God's sovereignty and power over all things.Second, the church Aroused the heart of God to DELIVER his people and to DESTROY their enemies: In verses 25-28 we read: 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'—27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.They reminded God that these very same enemies of theirs, these Jewish religions leaders, who are now persecuting them had only a short time ago set themselves up against God and his Anointed son Christ Jesus and joined with the Gentiles to destroy him. But the disciples also acknowledged that all of this was part of God's sovereign plan that he has predestined to take place.Third, the Church Affirmed their DEPENDENCE on God alone: In verse 29 they pray:“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness”We see that they have a simple prayer for help. Strengthen us to continue preaching your gospel in the midst of persecution. We need your help. We cannot win this war on our own. Protect us and strengthen us and give us boldness. We depend on you in this war for souls.Finally, the church Appealed to God to DISPLAY HIS GLORY for all the earth to see: In verse 30 we read:“while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of yourholy servant Jesus.”In addition to a plea for boldness, the church asks God to do signs and wonders through the Name of Jesus. They wanted something greater to happen than just to be able to continue to share their faith. They wanted God to act in powerful ways so that all the earth would know that salvation is found in no other name than in the powerful and beautiful name of Jesus Christ.How did God answer this prayer? We see in verse 31:“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”God answered their prayer for boldness. He shook the earth and poured out the Holy Spirit upon them. Along with that, he also answered their prayer for miracles. In the next chapter, Acts 5 we read that they continued to do miracles in the Name of Jesus. People from all around brought the sick and demon possessed to the disciples and they were ALL healed.Conclusion: As we draw to a close this morning, I want to offer three words of encouragement as we wage war for the souls of the lost through prayer, as we continue the battle of global missions and church planting among every tribe and language and people and nation.First. Your prayers matter. The enemy wants you to believe that your prayers do not matter, that your prayers are not heard, that God is not moved by your prayers. That is a lie. James 5:16 says: “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” In Revelation chapter 5 we get the glorious glimpse into the throne room of God. We see angels, elders, heavenly creatures and the redeemed from every nation are gathered to worship the Lamb of God. Here we see that our prayers are a fragrant incense before God. It says that angels and heavenly creatures and elders are holding golden bowls of incense before God. What is the incense that fills those bowls? The prayers of all the saints through the ages. They are a beautiful aroma to God and they move his heart. Your prayers matter and are effective in this battle. They are ever present in the throne room of heaven.Second. We do not pray alone. Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit pray with us and pray for us. In Hebrews 7:25 we read: “Consequently, he (Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” And in Romans 8:26-27 we read: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” We do not pray alone in this war.Third, and finally, the war has already been won. As opposition to the Gospel grows stronger day by day, and persecution of the church intensifies, it is easy to be discouraged and to believe that we are losing the war. Perish the thought! King Jesus has already defeated sin and death and Satan through his death and resurrection. Satan is in the throes of death, wriggling and writhing and lashing out like the great serpent that he is. The final victory will soon be revealed, so let us persevere to the end in our faith and in our God-exalting, enemy-defeating wartime prayers. What shall we pray? And what shall we pray? Let us pray that the light of the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit will push back the darkness that holds almost 7 billion souls in slavery to the devil. Let us pray that the lost sheep will come into the fold of Jesus. Let us pray that the Church of Christ will prevail as we storm the gates of hell. Let us pray that the elect from every tribe and people and language and nation will be saved. And let us pray that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior to the glory of our Heavenly Father. And let us pray, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus, Come Quickly, and let your sovereign rule and reign be revealed for all of eternity!” To him be the glory. Amen.

Do you often feel stuck battling the same fears, temptations, lies, and doubts, wondering if you'll ever overcome them? Does it seem as if you're in that battle alone? Stephanie welcomes Judy Dunagan to discuss Christ-centered solutions to these problems that plague most of us. How do we live in the victory that Christ has purchased for us? How does it become our reality TODAY? Judy has traversed many valleys of anxiety, burnout, relational conflicts, and more. She is well-equipped from the trenches to give us insights on how to walk the pathways to God's presence that Jesus opened for us. In this conversation, Judy focuses on the nature and power of prayer, as well as the essential foundation of a high Christology. You are invited to experience Jesus as the mighty Lion of Judah today! Judy says, “Take heart. The enemy's roar is but a whisper in the presence of our mighty God.” In The Loudest Roar, you'll marvel at the power, majesty, and authority of our Lord Jesus and learn how to stand in the unshakable victory He's already won for you. In that victory, you will: - Discern God's voice over the lies of the enemy - Stand firm in faith rather than give way to fear - Dwell in the cover of God's armor over you and your loved ones - Keep your thoughts captive to truth Find victory over cycles of sin in your life God's roar over you will become your roar, diminishing the lies of the enemy . . . to a whisper. MEET JUDY DUNAGAN JUDY DUNAGAN is an acquisitions editor for the women's Bible studies and books at Moody Publishers. A wonder seeker of God and His Word, Judy is passionate about discipleship and making God's Word and prayer come alive in everyday life. She is a speaker and Bible teacher and serves on the Board of Deeper Walk International, the ministry her father Mark I. Bubeck founded. Judy and her husband Rick live in Colorado. Connect with Judy at: www.JudyDunagan.com Endorsements for The Loudest Roar “The Loudest Roar is a much-needed book for today, filled with truth and wisdom. Judy writes with clarity, strength, and warmth, inviting the reader to take hold of everything that Christ has taken hold of for us. Reading it will empower you to understand your position of authority in Christ and how to live in the victory that Jesus has won for us. Read it. Underline it. Marinate in it. Take it to heart. Make it your own.” —Stasi Eldredge, New York Times bestselling author, Captivating “If you want to rise up and make a difference for yourself, those you love, and your community, read this book. To be victorious, which God wants for you, you must appropriate God's strengths and weap[1]ons. I benefited from so many of Judy's explanations, stories, and challenges, and you will, too. I need[1]ed her insights and refreshing, vulnerable, and accurate explanations of relevant Scripture. Passages came alive! And her prayers! They'll mature me and give me hope. I'll be reading them often. Truths here will allow you to become who you know you want to be—an equipped and powerful warrior in God's army!” —Kathy Koch, founder of Celebrate Kids, Inc., and author of Five to Thrive, 8 Great Smarts, and other titles “If you long for courageous faith, authentic truth, righteous living, and a prayer life that faces fear and uncertainty head-on, look no further. In The Loudest Roar author Judy Dunagan teaches us to defeat the enemy and stand firm in the mighty strength of our powerful Lion of Judah! This book gave me tools to develop my ‘roar' in the face of disappointment, discouragement, temptation, and unfulfilled expectations. Read this treasure on your own, or better yet, with a group of friends who will explore the ‘Going Deeper' section together. The prayers in the back of the book give you everything needed to roar like our Lion, and to send the enemy whimpering away.” —Carol Kent, Executive Director of Speak Up Ministries, speaker, and author, When I Lay My Isaac Down “ This book on spiritual warfare is optimistic, realistic, and personally applicable. I appreciated Judy's candor in sharing her personal struggles and even those within her own marriage. This is a book that can be given to any Christian, knowing that all of us need to be reminded that we are in a winnable battle with our unseen enemy, whose roar is drowned out by the louder roar of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The book is a wonderful reminder that we are serving a King who has already won!” —Erwin W. Lutzer, Pastor Emeritus, The Moody Church, Chicago We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with. Or, of course, you can start at the beginning with episode 1.  Season 1: the gospel of Matthew like you've never experienced it https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3280/link/ Season 2: Experience Jesus through the Psalms https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/ Season 3: the gospel of Luke, faith in action https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/ Season 4: Proverbs spiced with wisdom https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/ Season 5: Identity in the battle | Ephesians https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/ Season 6: Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/ Season 7: Shades of Red | Against human oppression https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/ Season 8: God's glory, our delight |  https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/   Support us!

Genesis 4 gives us a challenging but important set of instruction regarding the kind of worship that God accepts. We'll look at the offering of Cain and Abel and see that there is a very real kind of worship that God is looking for. We'll also see, that Cain struggle for sincere worship was the overflow of a life out of fellowship with the Lord. Join us!   DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: Circle every reference to the name “Cain.” Looking back over this chapter, how many times does his name occur? What does this tell us about who this chapter is ultimately about? Underline every place where the Lord speaks. What kind of “tone” is in the Lord's words? Why do you think the Lord speaks with this tone towards someone who is in outright rebellion to Him? In verse 2, what were Cain and Abel's occupations? How did that influence the offerings they brought to the Lord? Do you think that mattered to God? Why or why not? In verse 4, what does it mean that God “had regard” for Abel and his offering? How do Hebrews 11:4 and 1st John 3:12 help us understand why God had regard for Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's? In verse 7, what was tempting Cain? What was Cain's responsibility in dealing with that temptation? How did he handle it? In the New Testament, Jude 11 warns us about “the way of Cain.” What does this passage tell us about Cain's self-made religion and self-made society? How has society today gone after the “way of Cain”? According to the study, how does Genesis 5:4 answer the question, “Where did Cain get his wife”? As you prayerfully look into your own life, are there any places where you are following in the ways of the world and not the way of the Lord? What would it look like for you to follow the way of Abel and Seth? If you're seeing parts of your life out of fellowship with the way of the Lord, how about laying those items before the Lord so that His transforming grace might enable you to live in conformity with His instructions? The Key Chapters Bible Podcast is a daily, 15ish minute podcast that goes over the key chapters of the Bible, one per day, explaining how it fits into the overall message of God and how it relates to our lives now. Jump in today or start back in Genesis 1! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Available on all major podcast platforms, and now on The YouVersion Bible App Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

As we continue in our study in the book of Genesis, we now move to Genesis 2, which gives us a closer, more intimate look at the creation of Adam and Eve. In this chapter, we find profound truths about who we are and God's purposes for our lives. And as we rest in God's purposes and design for mankind, we will find our ultimate fulfillment. Join us!  DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. Underline every place where the Lord lays out men's and women's purposes and tasks. How are they similar? How are they different? How might these similarities and differences be reflected in our world today? 2. When you think of “utopia,” what does it look like? What is the basis for your thinking about it this way? Does it conform to the picture you see in this chapter? Why or why not? 3. In verse 2, what did God do when He finished His work of creation? Why is that significant? Is there any transferrable principle for our own life today? 4. In verse 4, God is called “the Lord.” What does this name mean? Why should we call Him this? (By the way, the Key Chapters podcast discusses this in even more detail). 5. Based on verse 7, what makes mankind different than other animals? What does this mean about the value of human life to God? 6. What two trees were named in the Garden of Eden? What were they for? 7. What were some of the reasons Adam was to cultivate the garden? What did God give to Adam to equip him for this task? What talents, resources or means has God given you to carry out the tasks that He has set before you? 8. What are some specific ways you could bring glory to God in your daily tasks? 9. What responsibilities did God give to Adam? How does this help us understand God's design for men today? 10. How does the separate and distinct creation of Eve establish her dignity in the design of God? How does this honor her? 11. What was God's purpose in creating Eve? Is any of that original purpose still transferable to the role of women today? Why or why not? 12. God's command to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil was a command, among other things, to not seek to learn about evil. What are some ways people still seek to learn about evil? 13. Why do you think God decided it was necessary to so clearly state that a husband was to leave his family and be joined to his wife (in verse 24)? What does it look like when this principle is not followed in a marriage? 14. If you are married, how are you seeking to follow God's design for men and women in your home? Why would following God's design bring peace, joy, and meaning in life? Why would it even help resolve some of the other challenges mentioned in the study? 15. As you reflect on Genesis 2, what windows does this give into God's plan for your own life? Why not take a moment and lay those before the Lord, that He might transform every aspect of your life to align with His design? The Key Chapters Bible Podcast is a daily, 15ish minute podcast that goes over the key chapters of the Bible, one per day, explaining how it fits into the overall message of God and how it relates to our lives now. Jump in today or start back in Genesis 1! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Available on all major podcast platforms, and now on The YouVersion Bible App Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

We are studying the Book of Mormon for the first 90 days of this year! If you'd like to join us, just go here and sign up! In the Come Follow Me book Elder David A. Bednar taught: “We should not expect the Church as an organization to teach or tell us everything we need to know and do to become devoted disciples and endure valiantly to the end. Rather, our personal responsibility is to learn what we should learn, to live as we know we should live, and to become who the Master would have us become. And our homes are the ultimate setting for learning, living, and becoming” (“Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 102).As we read the New Testament this year, seeking personal revelation is so important. Make sure you are looking for good sources when you do have questions.Seek understanding from GodAct in faith - keep doing those things you know you should to be close to your Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost.Keep an eternal perspective. In April 2018 President Nelson said:“In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort. Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.” Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!” Personal Revelation President Nelson gives us step by step how to receive personal revelation. In this last general conference he actually mentioned some of these same things.- As you are preparing to study and read this year - take these steps into account.- Find a quest place- Humble yourself before God- Pour out your heart to HF- Turn to Him for answers + comfort- Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about concerns, fears, weaknesses - longings of your heart- LISTEN!- Write down thoughts that come to you.- RECORD feelings- FOLLOW through! Other Insights: Marking - don't make this harder than it is. Grab one pen. Underline with it. Circle words or phrases with it. Put a rectangle around a word or phrase. Make notes in the margins. It's okay if it's messy and imperfect.Look for the JST's in the New Testament! These are important changes that have been implemented. It is one of the things that makes our Bible unique. Before reading a chapter just skim over the footnotes, and circle the JST at the bottom and then circle the letter that goes along with it in the verse - then you can remember to glance down and check out what's changed.Read first - gain your own insights and revelations. THEN go to other materials. Other Resources for Studying Scriptures: There are so many podcasts you can look up to get supplemental material.The CFM Manual is a great book to have with you as you read, along with the notebook. Jot down things that come to mind. If you like specific things to think about as you go along, use the CFM manual.I also love the “Walking with the Women of the New Testament” book - there is one for the Book of Mormon and Old Testament as well.One Minute Scripture Study is a great book for a quick CFM family discussion.Elder Holland just came out with a book called “Our Day Star Rising” that goes through chapters and gives insights on them.Finding Yourself in the New Testament is a new book by Al Caraway. It's beautifully written to help you put yourself and your experiences in those of the New Testament.*Affiliate links listed above. Make this time of studying the New Testament and the Book of Mormon a time that you focus on learning about J...

"We stand before you today in preparation for your work, for your capability and great capacity to be re-known, to be rendered anew. Each of you here has chosen, at one level or another, that the lives you have lived may be altered, re-known, sung in a higher tone, a higher key. Each of you who has said yes stands before us today in willingness—and readiness, we would suggest—for what this offering is. Some of you say, “Yes, I may. I may know myself anew.” Some of you say, “Perhaps.” But, in fact, all of you are here in readiness at a point in history where what may be known, what may be rendered new, has capacity to be made new. The vibration you hold is always in coherence with the reality you will find yourselves in, and the co-resonant reality you have chosen, with its highs, lows, and in-betweens, is being altered by your presence. Underline those words, friends: altered by your presence. Humanity itself has chosen this. You cannot agree to what you are or who you have been, but the collective has agreed to make a new choice—we would suggest a high choice—to release an idea of self that has been known through fear, known through contention, known through aggression, to be re-known in what we will call the Upper Room, which is a higher octave of resonance, a collective field where indeed all things are made new." Paul Selig Paul Selig is considered to be one of the foremost spiritual channels working today. In his nine breakthrough works of channeled literature, including I Am the Word, The Book of Mastery, and the Beyond the Known Trilogy: Realization, Alchemy, and The Kingdom author and medium Paul Selig has recorded an extraordinary program for personal and planetary evolution as humankind awakens to its own divine nature. Paul was born in New York City and received his master's degree from Yale. A spiritual experience in 1987 left him clairvoyant.  Described as “a medium for the living,” Paul has the unique ability to step into and “become” the people his clients ask about, often taking on their personalities and physical characteristics as he “hears” them telepathically. His work has been featured on ABC News Nightline, Fox News, the Biography Channel's The UnXplained and Gaiam TV's Beyond Belief.  Also a noted academic, Paul served on the faculty of NYU for over 25 years and is the former director of the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Goddard College. Paul offers channeled workshops internationally, conducts frequent live-stream seminars and makes his home on the Island of Maui. You can get a copy of Paul's new book here https://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Channeled-Text-Manifestation-Trilogy/dp/1250833779/r Buy Tickets to Reality CON 2 Activating the Large Sums Of Money Mindset https://realityrevolutioncon.com/tickets Buy My Art - Unique Sigil Magic and Energy Activation Through Flow Art and Voyages Through Space and Imagination. https://www.newearth.art/ The New Earth Activation trainings - Immerse yourself in 12 hours of content focused on the new earth with channeling, meditations, advanced training and access to the new earth https://realityrevolutioncon.com/newearth Alternate Universe Reality Activation  get full access to new meditations, new lectures, recordings from the reality con and the 90 day AURA meditation schedulehttps://realityrevolutionlive.com/aura45338118 BUY MY BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Revolution-Mind-Blowing-Movement-Hack/dp/154450618X/ Listen to my book on audible https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Reality-Revolution-Audiobook/B087LV1R5V Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/The-Reality-Revolution-Podcast-Hosted-By-Brian-Scott-102555575116999 Join our Facebook group The Reality Revolution https://www.facebook.com/groups/523814491927119 Contact us at media@advancedsuccessinstitute.com For all episodes of the Reality Revolution – https://www.therealityrevolution.com Follow Us on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/TheRealityRevolution/ Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_reality_revolution/ Follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/mediaprime Follow me on MeWe https://mewe.com/i/brianscott71 All My Interviews -- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKv1KCSKwOo_Y78_zt_zv9TI1AGx-WimT All my Audiobooks - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKv1KCSKwOo-ArT_9WQ-SrKaEP7VgIPb5 #psychic #channeling #intuitive

In this episode, Bob'nJoyce share a process on how to accelerate learning for front line supervisors. People new to supervising a team are often confronted with issues that challenge their judgment. Over time, a new supervisor grows in their judgment and wisdom. Today's podcast provides ideas to short circuit this process. In this episode, Bob'nJoyce will: • Underline the importance of the front-line supervisor role. • Share a unique approach to develop supervisors • Explore ways to speed up the process of developing supervisory judgment Come on in. Grab a snack. Welcome.

Today's slide deck: http://bit.ly/3txmyMH   - Click here to open an account with Saxo   -   Today we discuss US markets exploding higher yesterday after a soft PPI release, only to have an apparently Russian missile hitting Poland on the Ukrainian border roiling sentiment. The USD behavior yesterday was inverse to the swings in equities, pointing to more correlation with risk sentiment swings than US yields as we look ahead at today's US Retail Sales data. Crude oil, tightness in the commodity markets, the huge announcement from Apple on plans to purchase US-made chips and much more on today's pod, which features Peter Garnry on equities and John J. Hardy hosting an on FX. Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and Saxo Strategy Team here. Intro and outro music by AShamaluevMusic

Today we are happy to welcome Bogdan Iordache, General Partner at Underline VC. Bogdan is also the founder of HowToWeb, the go-to conference for startups and investors in CEE. This year's event in Bucharest Romania was amazing, we were able to do a shit load of live interviews and host some of the craziest EUVC dinners. Will we be seeing you in the next ones?In this episode you'll learn:– How sticking to the vision of a fund for 5 years can lead you to become one of the best emerging funds in Europe– How asking friends “Who would invest in my fund?” can pop the “well I would!” answer if your timing is right– How fundraising is an exercise of building trust and identifying & expanding circles – How Bogdan's fund is tailored specifically to access the best deals in Underline's target geo and verticals– Why the most important element of selection is the team and what that means in reality

Tom Canton is joined by Kaya Kaynak for the first edition of View From The Clock End. In this episode, they discuss: + Winning ugly against Leeds + Gabriel's performance + Ramsdale's comments on changes for PSV + Southampton preview

Tom Canton is joined by Kaya Kaynak for the first edition of View From The Clock End. In this episode, they discuss:+ Winning ugly against Leeds+ Gabriel's performance+ Ramsdale's comments on changes for PSV+ Southampton preview

Review: This podcast is Day number 2 in my series about Buckling the belt of truth. In the first day in this series (which can be found by searching for 195 or the word ‘buckling', I explained what I consider to be the first step in putting on the belt of truth. The belt of truth is one of seven parts to the Christian's armor found in Ephesians 6. But I suggest that we make this clarification: Buckle the belt of truth by believing what God says about you in the Bible. The belt of truth is put on by believing what God says. (Remember: Believing = faith.) The belt of truth includes all of the truth found in Scripture. But if you just believe a lot of general truths found in the pages of the Bible, but don't believe what the Bible says about YOURSELF (your own identity), it would be like leaving your house with your belt in your belt loops, but not buckled. Everyday we live in a spiritual war zone. You'll be at a great disadvantage if your belt isn't buckled! The main thing I am after in this belt-buckling is living in spiritual victory and standing firm in our worldly battle with the flesh and the devil. What God says about you in the Bible often seems too good to believe, because the devil has been feeding us lies about ourselves all of our lives. So, taking one example from the Day 1 lesson, when we read in the Bible, “God loves you,” the truth of this seems to bounce off of our minds. “How nice,” we think, “but God can't really love me because I am so bad.” We must seek to notice the things we find in the Bible that are repelled by our minds. Write them down. Underline them. Preach to yourself that you should believe what God clearly says about you. Pray, asking for God to make the concepts clear and believable to you. Meditate on those things, and you will start seeing your life being transformed by God's Word. Here are some major mind-challenging truths from our Day 1 study: God loves us. We often unfairly think of God as an angry judge. God's Word tells us that we are one with Christ, joined to Him. We are united to Christ, so much so that He considers us actually part of his body. We have a powerful guarantee, the Holy Spirit, which is not an external thing, but an inward witness that we are joined to Christ. We are God's holy people, not because we have the power to be holy. But God has made us holy by our unity with Christ. This is our identity! Take hold of this identity. Paul wants us to understand all these things so that we understand that God will use his power to help us. Residue from Day 1: Here's something I ask you to bear in mind: We each have different versions of what the Bible calls ‘flesh'. The flesh is basically the evil and selfish desires that spring from our bodies. Men and women are normally very different in their sinful desires. And even among Christians of the same sex, one sin may be highly adictive to you, but not to your fellow brother or sister. This means that Bible verses that I will share which mean so much to me may not ring any bells for you. If so, I hope you will still find basic principles in my presentation that will apply powerfully to you. I think that it is important to remove a faulty excuse for persistent sin that many people use. In Romans 7:24 Paul says, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Please do not take the end of Romans 7 to negate what Paul was saying in chapter 6 and 8! The theme of chapter 6 is given by the NLT translators in the section heading, “Sin's Power is Broken.” And Romans 6:6 is a key verse for buckling the belt of truth: “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives.” Here's why readers have been confused by Romans 7:24: In Rom. 7:5-6, Paul brings up a difficult concept: “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the lawThen starting in verse 7, Paul explains how the law gets involved in our ‘living in the flesh'. Note that for 17 verses more, Paul carries on for an uncharacteristically long time without mentioning Christ. That's because he is either talking about how living in the flesh works out for someone who doesn't know Christ, or someone who forgets about Christ and reverts to living in the flesh., were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.” But Paul doesn't leave us wallowing in our fleshly weaknesses (in 7:24-25) with ‘Wretched man that I am', but quickly returns to his victorious theme. In chapter 8:2 he says: “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” And then he begins to talk about living in the Spirit. Clearly, we are supposed to start having victory because of the Spirit. Understanding our spiritual position plus the help of the Spirit allows us to ‘put to death' various sins that beset us. Yes, I must admit that as long as we are in our bodies, we will stumble. We are ‘saints' (holy people) who occasionally still fall into sin. However, overwhelming victory over fleshly sin is available to us. Don't be satisfied with falling back to being a ‘wretched man' or woman like Romans 7:24 when you have the riches of chapter 8 available!   THEME: Buckle up the belt of truth regarding your PRESENT RESURRECTION LIFE. ROM.6.1-14, 8:10-13; 12:1-2 2CO.5.14-15 GAL.2.19-20 COL.2.11-15 COL.3.1-11 EPH2.6   There are basically four steps to buckling the belt of truth: Realize: Be alert when reading the Bible for truths that are presented as true for believers in Christ, but which seem too good to be true. Note them down, and check out translations like the NLT, GNT, and NET to make sure you are understanding what the Scripture says. Ask God to help you overcome your difficulty in believing the truth you have discovered. It may be appropriate to ask God to help you discover if strong opposing ideas are coming from demonic influence or previous sins that you should confess. Meditate on the scriptural truth you are working to internalize. Imagine how your life would be different if you started to live according to that truth. Take any steps the Holy Spirit gives you to put your new identity into practice. Today's topic for belt-buckling is our resurrection life in unity with Christ. This goes along with Romans 6:6 that we just read: “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives.” Being ‘crucified with Christ' of course means that in some sense we have died. There's a truth that will definitely bounce off your mind! It will go in one ear and right out the other. This is because we are dealing with a spiritual reality, not something that we can see with physical eyes or understand with earthly minds. It will often help to consult a meaning based translation when we deal with spiritual realities. Let me illustrate from my experience in Indonesia. I was speaking to a small congregation and I read Colossians 3:1-3 in the default Indonesian literal translation. You'll understand better if I read the ESV: 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. There was a man on the second row who must have been an elder in the church, and I put him on the spot. I said to him, “This verse says, ‘For you have died'. Have you died?” And he replied, “No.” So I asked someone else to read the verses again and I again asked the man, “Sir, this verse in your Bible says ‘You have died.' Have you died?” And he again said, “No.” I would have been smiling by now, because I knew this would help me make my point. I said, “This verse says ‘You have died'. Is there a spiritual way that you have died?” “Oh,” he said, “well yes, if you put it that way!” The next thing I would have done is to read our translation, which makes the verse much clearer. So let's read the NLT for those verses: Col. 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Our first step that I mentioned above is to realize that this truth is something every Christian is supposed to believe. I hope you will take steps 2 and 3, namely Asking God how to do this and Meditating on this truth. But we are helped significantly in step 4, as Paul gives us steps to follow in the next part of Colossians 3. For now, I am leaving those as homework. Let's go back to Colossians 2 to pick up more important ideas about how God releases us from our fleshly weaknesses. Col. 2:11 NLT When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. In verse 11, we see a different spiritual reality: That of our receiving a spiritual circumcision. This invisible circumcision was performed by Christ, and putting two and two together, I conclude that his own crucifixion is what made this possible. Verse 12 is linked with the word ‘For', describing how this circumcision takes place. 2:12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. So in chapter 3, Paul says we died, and here in chapter 2, we have been buried with Christ when we were baptized. This is exactly what Romans 6 says also. Note that the spiritual reality of our spiritual death and resurrection is so important that God gave a command for all believers to be baptized, so that all believers would have the physical experience of baptism to remind them. We can see the picture in the Lord's supper, where we take the symbols of Jesus' death right into our bodies. We in effect become unified with the Lord in that sacrement (John 6:56). We see our spiritual death in Jesus' words in Mark 8:34: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Look deeper and you will find this concept in so many places. It turns out that if we are to be ‘born again' (as in John 3), then it implies that something fatal has happened to our old life. Consider the details: We are born again ‘of water and the Spirit'. (John 3:5) I love the powerful implications of our being ‘crucified with Christ' in Romans 12:1-2. Rom. 12:1-2 NLT And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. In our Plain Indonesian Translation we found it more powerful to translate ‘give your bodies to God' as a promise spoken directly to God: “O God, I offer up my body as a sacrifice to You.” I suggest that you, my listener, say that out loud: “O God, I offer up my body as a sacrifice to You.” Now notice that your having made that commitment is the prerequisite for verse 2! This is the way that we ‘let God transform' us into new people! We become transformed in our minds. We will think differently. There is an added bonus promise: We will discover God's will for us, “which is good and pleasing and perfect.” I think by now you will agree with me. This is what we want! And I hope that I have proved that this spiritual reality of our being crucified with Christ and resurrected by the Spirit is the key to our transformation. Unlock this transformation by following the steps of Realizing, Asking God for his help, Meditating on this spiritual reality, and Taking the steps given to you by the Spirit and guided by passages like  Colossians 3. Do those things while reading these passages: ROM.6.1-14, 8:10-13; 12:1-2 2CO.5.14-15 GAL.2.19-20 COL.2.11-15 COL.3.1-11 EPH2.6   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Review: This podcast is Day number 2 in my series about Buckling the belt of truth. In the first day in this series (which can be found by searching for 195 or the word ‘buckling', I explained what I consider to be the first step in putting on the belt of truth. The belt of truth is one of seven parts to the Christian's armor found in Ephesians 6. But I suggest that we make this clarification: Buckle the belt of truth by believing what God says about you in the Bible. The belt of truth is put on by believing what God says. (Remember: Believing = faith.) The belt of truth includes all of the truth found in Scripture. But if you just believe a lot of general truths found in the pages of the Bible, but don't believe what the Bible says about YOURSELF (your own identity), it would be like leaving your house with your belt in your belt loops, but not buckled. Everyday we live in a spiritual war zone. You'll be at a great disadvantage if your belt isn't buckled! The main thing I am after in this belt-buckling is living in spiritual victory and standing firm in our worldly battle with the flesh and the devil. What God says about you in the Bible often seems too good to believe, because the devil has been feeding us lies about ourselves all of our lives. So, taking one example from the Day 1 lesson, when we read in the Bible, “God loves you,” the truth of this seems to bounce off of our minds. “How nice,” we think, “but God can't really love me because I am so bad.” We must seek to notice the things we find in the Bible that are repelled by our minds. Write them down. Underline them. Preach to yourself that you should believe what God clearly says about you. Pray, asking for God to make the concepts clear and believable to you. Meditate on those things, and you will start seeing your life being transformed by God's Word. Here are some major mind-challenging truths from our Day 1 study: God loves us. We often unfairly think of God as an angry judge. God's Word tells us that we are one with Christ, joined to Him. We are united to Christ, so much so that He considers us actually part of his body. We have a powerful guarantee, the Holy Spirit, which is not an external thing, but an inward witness that we are joined to Christ. We are God's holy people, not because we have the power to be holy. But God has made us holy by our unity with Christ. This is our identity! Take hold of this identity. Paul wants us to understand all these things so that we understand that God will use his power to help us. Residue from Day 1: Here's something I ask you to bear in mind: We each have different versions of what the Bible calls ‘flesh'. The flesh is basically the evil and selfish desires that spring from our bodies. Men and women are normally very different in their sinful desires. And even among Christians of the same sex, one sin may be highly adictive to you, but not to your fellow brother or sister. This means that Bible verses that I will share which mean so much to me may not ring any bells for you. If so, I hope you will still find basic principles in my presentation that will apply powerfully to you. I think that it is important to remove a faulty excuse for persistent sin that many people use. In Romans 7:24 Paul says, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Please do not take the end of Romans 7 to negate what Paul was saying in chapter 6 and 8! The theme of chapter 6 is given by the NLT translators in the section heading, “Sin's Power is Broken.” And Romans 6:6 is a key verse for buckling the belt of truth: “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives.” Here's why readers have been confused by Romans 7:24: In Rom. 7:5-6, Paul brings up a difficult concept: “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the lawThen starting in verse 7, Paul explains how the law gets involved in our ‘living in the flesh'. Note that for 17 verses more, Paul carries on for an uncharacteristically long time without mentioning Christ. That's because he is either talking about how living in the flesh works out for someone who doesn't know Christ, or someone who forgets about Christ and reverts to living in the flesh., were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.” But Paul doesn't leave us wallowing in our fleshly weaknesses (in 7:24-25) with ‘Wretched man that I am', but quickly returns to his victorious theme. In chapter 8:2 he says: “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” And then he begins to talk about living in the Spirit. Clearly, we are supposed to start having victory because of the Spirit. Understanding our spiritual position plus the help of the Spirit allows us to ‘put to death' various sins that beset us. Yes, I must admit that as long as we are in our bodies, we will stumble. We are ‘saints' (holy people) who occasionally still fall into sin. However, overwhelming victory over fleshly sin is available to us. Don't be satisfied with falling back to being a ‘wretched man' or woman like Romans 7:24 when you have the riches of chapter 8 available! THEME: Buckle up the belt of truth regarding your PRESENT RESURRECTION LIFE. Readings: ROM.6.1-14, 8:10-13; 12:1-2 2CO.5.14-15 GAL.2.19-20 COL.2.11-15 COL.3.1-11 EPH2.6 There are basically four steps to buckling the belt of truth: Realize: Be alert when reading the Bible for truths that are presented as true for believers in Christ, but which seem too good to be true. Note them down, and check out translations like the NLT, GNT, and NET to make sure you are understanding what the Scripture says. Ask God to help you overcome your difficulty in believing the truth you have discovered. It may be appropriate to ask God to help you discover if strong opposing ideas are coming from demonic influence or previous sins that you should confess. Meditate on the scriptural truth you are working to internalize. Imagine how your life would be different if you started to live according to that truth. Take any steps the Holy Spirit gives you to put your new identity into practice. Today's topic for belt-buckling is our resurrection life in unity with Christ. This goes along with Romans 6:6 that we just read: “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives.” Being ‘crucified with Christ' of course means that in some sense we have died. There's a truth that will definitely bounce off your mind! It will go in one ear and right out the other. This is because we are dealing with a spiritual reality, not something that we can see with physical eyes or understand with earthly minds. It will often help to consult a meaning based translation when we deal with spiritual realities. Let me illustrate from my experience in Indonesia. I was speaking to a small congregation and I read Colossians 3:1-3 in the default Indonesian literal translation. You'll understand better if I read the ESV: 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. There was a man on the second row who must have been an elder in the church, and I put him on the spot. I said to him, “This verse says, ‘For you have died'. Have you died?” And he replied, “No.” So I asked someone else to read the verses again and I again asked the man, “Sir, this verse in your Bible says ‘You have died.' Have you died?” And he again said, “No.” I would have been smiling by now, because I knew this would help me make my point. I said, “This verse says ‘You have died'. Is there a spiritual way that you have died?” “Oh,” he said, “well yes, if you put it that way!” The next thing I would have done is to read our translation, which makes the verse much clearer. So let's read the NLT for those verses: Col. 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Our first step that I mentioned above is to realize that this truth is something every Christian is supposed to believe. I hope you will take steps 2 and 3, namely Asking God how to do this and Meditating on this truth. But we are helped significantly in step 4, as Paul gives us steps to follow in the next part of Colossians 3. For now, I am leaving those as homework. Let's go back to Colossians 2 to pick up more important ideas about how God releases us from our fleshly weaknesses. Col. 2:11 NLT When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. In verse 11, we see a different spiritual reality: That of our receiving a spiritual circumcision. This invisible circumcision was performed by Christ, and putting two and two together, I conclude that his own crucifixion is what made this possible. Verse 12 is linked with the word ‘For', describing how this circumcision takes place. 2:12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. So in chapter 3, Paul says we died, and here in chapter 2, we have been buried with Christ when we were baptized. This is exactly what Romans 6 says also. Note that the spiritual reality of our spiritual death and resurrection is so important that God gave a command for all believers to be baptized, so that all believers would have the physical experience of baptism to remind them. We can see the picture in the Lord's supper, where we take the symbols of Jesus' death right into our bodies. We in effect become unified with the Lord in that sacrement (John 6:56). We see our spiritual death in Jesus' words in Mark 8:34: “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Look deeper and you will find this concept in so many places. It turns out that if we are to be ‘born again' (as in John 3), then it implies that something fatal has happened to our old life. Consider the details: We are born again ‘of water and the Spirit'. (John 3:5) I love the powerful implications of our being ‘crucified with Christ' in Romans 12:1-2. Rom. 12:1-2 NLT And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. In our Plain Indonesian Translation we found it more powerful to translate ‘give your bodies to God' as a promise spoken directly to God: “O God, I offer up my body as a sacrifice to You.” I suggest that you, my listener, say that out loud: “O God, I offer up my body as a sacrifice to You.” Now notice that your having made that commitment is the prerequisite for verse 2! This is the way that we ‘let God transform' us into new people! We become transformed in our minds. We will think differently. There is an added bonus promise: We will discover God's will for us, “which is good and pleasing and perfect.” I think by now you will agree with me. This is what we want! And I hope that I have proved that this spiritual reality of our being crucified with Christ and resurrected by the Spirit is the key to our transformation. Unlock this transformation by following the steps of Realizing, Asking God for his help, Meditating on this spiritual reality, and Taking the steps given to you by the Spirit and guided by passages like  Colossians 3. Do those things while reading these passages: ROM.6.1-14, 8:10-13; 12:1-2 2CO.5.14-15 GAL.2.19-20 COL.2.11-15 COL.3.1-11 EPH2.6 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Noel Casler makes his monthly visit to talk about the whacky USA / Interesting hockey stats / More on our singing Prime Minister / The Retirement Sherpa / Dan Duran the anchorman / Jasmine Branderhorst of Underline.ca

"He forever made perfect those who are being made holy." Heb 10:14 NLTStop putting yourself down by saying, "I keep failing, so I'm no good. I never do anything right." If you keep telling yourself that, you will find evidence to prove it. One counselor says: "Putting yourself down reinforces rather than corrects your imperfections by placing unnecessary attention and energy on everything that's wrong, rather than what's right with you. Why would you do this knowing the only possible result is a negative outlook, more negative feelings, and less appreciation for the gift of life? People who regularly put themselves down are seen as complainers, not to mention the example they set.Everyone has aspects of themselves they'd like to improve, but this doesn't mean you should beat yourself up." The Bible says, "He forever made perfect those who are being made holy." Max Lucado writes: "Underline the word perfect. Note, the word isn't better. Not improving. Not on the upswing. God doesn't improve; He perfects. He doesn't enhance, He completes…I realize there's a sense in which we're imperfect. We still err. We still stumble. We still do exactly what we don't want to do….that part of us is 'being made holy.' But when it comes to our position before God, we're perfect.When He sees each of us [who have placed our trust in Christ to save us], He sees someone who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect-Jesus Christ." Yes, you should continue to work on improving yourself, but go easy; stop often and remind yourself that you are "being made new... becoming like the One who made you" (Col 3:10 NCV).Support the show

Bill reports a story about a New York mother who was executed while pushing her baby in a stroller in broad daylight. Bill talks about gun control how it is crippling the country. He talks more on abortion and discusses the common idea of morality. Bill looks at the numbers plaguing Americans. He claims we are now in a recession.

You don't have to wait until tomorrow for another great podcast, because this week Beck Did it Better is the best podcast about Jimi Hendrix and the 92nd greatest album of all time, Axis: Bold as Love, not to be confused with Hendrix's other great albums with Underline as Love or Subscript as Love.   But before we listen to Jimi we get a live call in from the Drake Relays, making this the best track and field podcast to listen to. In addition, the guys cut loose talking consumer slogans that we just can't quit, the best BBQ restaurants in the southeast and Minneapolis, and taking in a show at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. In addition, Rob has a habit that Aaron declares is the weirdest thing he has ever heard on the podcast.      Then at (48:00) we talk about Jimi Hendrix's third album on the list, Axis: Bold as Love. We discuss the jazz influence on this album, what direction Hendrix would have taken had he lived past 27, and how Jimi Hendrix ruined Eric Clapton's life. We also run down the best songs not sung by the lead singer. The conversation on this episode is truly slow roasted.   Call or text 802 277 BECK.  Don't be a brat! You can email us at beckdiditbetter@gmail.com follow us on our Twitter and Instagram @beckdiditbetter and feel free to leave a review on your favorite podcast app. Please mention feet if you do review the show. If we can get "ROSIE LOVES FEET" to be something that is searchable online, I feel like this will all be worth it.    This episode will fall into the sea, eventually, but don't worry, because next week's episode is the bomb diggy and the best Missy Elliott podcast when we talk Supa Dupa Fly.