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Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Crystal Hughes. Shared her journey as a licensed cosmetologist, entrepreneur, and founder of the Wig Capital Foundation. The conversation focused on her innovative wig donation and recycling program, which supports individuals experiencing medical hair loss while also promoting environmental sustainability through hair and wig recycling. Drawing from more than two decades in the beauty industry, Hughes explained how a childhood dream evolved into a mission-driven organization that restores confidence to people facing hair loss and creates opportunities for education, community involvement, and environmental impact. Purpose of the Interview The interview was designed to: Raise awareness about the Wig Capital Foundation. Educate the public about wig donation and recycling programs. Encourage salons, barber shops, cosmetology schools, and community organizations to participate. Support individuals experiencing hair loss due to medical conditions. Highlight the environmental benefits of recycling wigs and hair products. Inspire listeners through Crystal's entrepreneurial and philanthropic journey. Key Takeaways 1. Wigs Can Be Recycled and Repurposed Many people are unaware that wigs can have a second life. Crystal's organization collects: Human-hair wigs Synthetic wigs Hair extensions Donated hair products Usable wigs are refurbished and redistributed, while damaged wigs are recycled into materials used for environmental cleanup and research. 2. Medical Hair Loss Impacts Quality of Life A major focus of the foundation is supporting individuals experiencing hair loss due to: Cancer treatments Medical conditions Health-related challenges By providing donated wigs, the organization helps restore confidence, dignity, and self-esteem. 3. Community Partnerships Drive Impact Crystal built her program through partnerships with: Cosmetology schools Hospitals Cancer organizations Beauty supply stores Community volunteers These partnerships allow the foundation to process, repair, and distribute large volumes of donated wigs. 4. Education Creates Opportunity Cosmetology students participate in refurbishing wigs as part of their training. The program provides students with: Hands-on experience Community service hours Technical training Exposure to real-world client needs This creates a win-win situation for both students and recipients. 5. Sustainability Is Part of the Mission One of the interview's most unique themes was environmental stewardship. Unused or damaged wigs are broken down and recycled into products that can assist with: Environmental cleanup Oil-spill recovery efforts Sustainability research Crystal sees beauty and environmental responsibility as connected causes. 6. Small Ideas Can Become Large Movements What began as a personal vision expanded into a network that attracted support from multiple states and organizations. The foundation received donated wigs from: Individual donors Beauty supply stores Community members Organizations across the country The response demonstrated the widespread demand for programs that combine social impact and sustainability. 7. Entrepreneurship Begins with Passion Crystal traced her inspiration back to childhood visits to beauty supply stores with her grandmother. What started as an eight-year-old girl's dream eventually became a career, a nonprofit initiative, and a growing social-impact enterprise. 8. Don't Wait for Perfect Conditions Crystal repeatedly emphasized that she started with limited resources and often funded projects herself. Her story demonstrates that taking action, even without complete certainty or financial backing, can lead to meaningful results. 9. Innovation Comes from Solving Problems In addition to the Wig Capital Foundation, Crystal discussed creating "hat wigs," combining a hat and hairpiece into a practical solution for women dealing with hair challenges. Her approach reflects a broader entrepreneurial mindset of identifying problems and developing creative solutions. 10. Service Is the Foundation of Success Throughout the conversation, Crystal emphasized helping others first. Whether through wig donations, student training, environmental initiatives, or community partnerships, her work is built around creating positive change. Key Themes Beauty With Purpose The interview highlights how the beauty industry can be used as a force for social good. Entrepreneurship Through Service Crystal's success grew from solving real problems rather than simply pursuing profit. Community Collaboration Partnerships with schools, hospitals, and volunteers make the organization's impact possible. Confidence and Dignity Providing wigs to individuals experiencing hair loss is about more than appearance. It is about restoring confidence and improving quality of life. Notable Quotes On Her Childhood Dream "When I get older, I want to own one of these." On the Program's Mission "Helping our environment." On Taking Action "You got to start somewhere." On Entrepreneurship "You can't let circumstances and people and places stop you from living your dream." On Innovation "Maybe other women might need a hat wig." On Community Involvement "Everybody wants to get involved with wigs. Wigs is fun." On Program Growth "People started to reach out to be members as well as start chapters in their states." On Her Vision "Just get involved. Spread the word." Success Highlights Founder of the Wig Capital Foundation. Created a large-scale wig donation and refurbishment initiative. Developed partnerships with cosmetology schools and healthcare organizations. Collected thousands of wigs through donation campaigns. Introduced environmentally conscious hair and wig recycling efforts. Expanded outreach beyond local communities through chapters and partnerships. Created innovative hair products such as custom hat wigs. Bottom Line Crystal Hughes' interview is a powerful example of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. By combining her cosmetology expertise with a passion for helping others, she created a program that supports individuals facing medical hair loss while promoting environmental sustainability. Her story demonstrates how a simple childhood dream can evolve into a mission that restores confidence, creates educational opportunities, and positively impacts communities across the country. #SHMS #STRAW #BEST Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcastSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Crystal Hughes. Shared her journey as a licensed cosmetologist, entrepreneur, and founder of the Wig Capital Foundation. The conversation focused on her innovative wig donation and recycling program, which supports individuals experiencing medical hair loss while also promoting environmental sustainability through hair and wig recycling. Drawing from more than two decades in the beauty industry, Hughes explained how a childhood dream evolved into a mission-driven organization that restores confidence to people facing hair loss and creates opportunities for education, community involvement, and environmental impact. Purpose of the Interview The interview was designed to: Raise awareness about the Wig Capital Foundation. Educate the public about wig donation and recycling programs. Encourage salons, barber shops, cosmetology schools, and community organizations to participate. Support individuals experiencing hair loss due to medical conditions. Highlight the environmental benefits of recycling wigs and hair products. Inspire listeners through Crystal's entrepreneurial and philanthropic journey. Key Takeaways 1. Wigs Can Be Recycled and Repurposed Many people are unaware that wigs can have a second life. Crystal's organization collects: Human-hair wigs Synthetic wigs Hair extensions Donated hair products Usable wigs are refurbished and redistributed, while damaged wigs are recycled into materials used for environmental cleanup and research. 2. Medical Hair Loss Impacts Quality of Life A major focus of the foundation is supporting individuals experiencing hair loss due to: Cancer treatments Medical conditions Health-related challenges By providing donated wigs, the organization helps restore confidence, dignity, and self-esteem. 3. Community Partnerships Drive Impact Crystal built her program through partnerships with: Cosmetology schools Hospitals Cancer organizations Beauty supply stores Community volunteers These partnerships allow the foundation to process, repair, and distribute large volumes of donated wigs. 4. Education Creates Opportunity Cosmetology students participate in refurbishing wigs as part of their training. The program provides students with: Hands-on experience Community service hours Technical training Exposure to real-world client needs This creates a win-win situation for both students and recipients. 5. Sustainability Is Part of the Mission One of the interview's most unique themes was environmental stewardship. Unused or damaged wigs are broken down and recycled into products that can assist with: Environmental cleanup Oil-spill recovery efforts Sustainability research Crystal sees beauty and environmental responsibility as connected causes. 6. Small Ideas Can Become Large Movements What began as a personal vision expanded into a network that attracted support from multiple states and organizations. The foundation received donated wigs from: Individual donors Beauty supply stores Community members Organizations across the country The response demonstrated the widespread demand for programs that combine social impact and sustainability. 7. Entrepreneurship Begins with Passion Crystal traced her inspiration back to childhood visits to beauty supply stores with her grandmother. What started as an eight-year-old girl's dream eventually became a career, a nonprofit initiative, and a growing social-impact enterprise. 8. Don't Wait for Perfect Conditions Crystal repeatedly emphasized that she started with limited resources and often funded projects herself. Her story demonstrates that taking action, even without complete certainty or financial backing, can lead to meaningful results. 9. Innovation Comes from Solving Problems In addition to the Wig Capital Foundation, Crystal discussed creating "hat wigs," combining a hat and hairpiece into a practical solution for women dealing with hair challenges. Her approach reflects a broader entrepreneurial mindset of identifying problems and developing creative solutions. 10. Service Is the Foundation of Success Throughout the conversation, Crystal emphasized helping others first. Whether through wig donations, student training, environmental initiatives, or community partnerships, her work is built around creating positive change. Key Themes Beauty With Purpose The interview highlights how the beauty industry can be used as a force for social good. Entrepreneurship Through Service Crystal's success grew from solving real problems rather than simply pursuing profit. Community Collaboration Partnerships with schools, hospitals, and volunteers make the organization's impact possible. Confidence and Dignity Providing wigs to individuals experiencing hair loss is about more than appearance. It is about restoring confidence and improving quality of life. Notable Quotes On Her Childhood Dream "When I get older, I want to own one of these." On the Program's Mission "Helping our environment." On Taking Action "You got to start somewhere." On Entrepreneurship "You can't let circumstances and people and places stop you from living your dream." On Innovation "Maybe other women might need a hat wig." On Community Involvement "Everybody wants to get involved with wigs. Wigs is fun." On Program Growth "People started to reach out to be members as well as start chapters in their states." On Her Vision "Just get involved. Spread the word." Success Highlights Founder of the Wig Capital Foundation. Created a large-scale wig donation and refurbishment initiative. Developed partnerships with cosmetology schools and healthcare organizations. Collected thousands of wigs through donation campaigns. Introduced environmentally conscious hair and wig recycling efforts. Expanded outreach beyond local communities through chapters and partnerships. Created innovative hair products such as custom hat wigs. Bottom Line Crystal Hughes' interview is a powerful example of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. By combining her cosmetology expertise with a passion for helping others, she created a program that supports individuals facing medical hair loss while promoting environmental sustainability. Her story demonstrates how a simple childhood dream can evolve into a mission that restores confidence, creates educational opportunities, and positively impacts communities across the country. #SHMS #STRAW #BEST Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Crystal Hughes. Shared her journey as a licensed cosmetologist, entrepreneur, and founder of the Wig Capital Foundation. The conversation focused on her innovative wig donation and recycling program, which supports individuals experiencing medical hair loss while also promoting environmental sustainability through hair and wig recycling. Drawing from more than two decades in the beauty industry, Hughes explained how a childhood dream evolved into a mission-driven organization that restores confidence to people facing hair loss and creates opportunities for education, community involvement, and environmental impact. Purpose of the Interview The interview was designed to: Raise awareness about the Wig Capital Foundation. Educate the public about wig donation and recycling programs. Encourage salons, barber shops, cosmetology schools, and community organizations to participate. Support individuals experiencing hair loss due to medical conditions. Highlight the environmental benefits of recycling wigs and hair products. Inspire listeners through Crystal's entrepreneurial and philanthropic journey. Key Takeaways 1. Wigs Can Be Recycled and Repurposed Many people are unaware that wigs can have a second life. Crystal's organization collects: Human-hair wigs Synthetic wigs Hair extensions Donated hair products Usable wigs are refurbished and redistributed, while damaged wigs are recycled into materials used for environmental cleanup and research. 2. Medical Hair Loss Impacts Quality of Life A major focus of the foundation is supporting individuals experiencing hair loss due to: Cancer treatments Medical conditions Health-related challenges By providing donated wigs, the organization helps restore confidence, dignity, and self-esteem. 3. Community Partnerships Drive Impact Crystal built her program through partnerships with: Cosmetology schools Hospitals Cancer organizations Beauty supply stores Community volunteers These partnerships allow the foundation to process, repair, and distribute large volumes of donated wigs. 4. Education Creates Opportunity Cosmetology students participate in refurbishing wigs as part of their training. The program provides students with: Hands-on experience Community service hours Technical training Exposure to real-world client needs This creates a win-win situation for both students and recipients. 5. Sustainability Is Part of the Mission One of the interview's most unique themes was environmental stewardship. Unused or damaged wigs are broken down and recycled into products that can assist with: Environmental cleanup Oil-spill recovery efforts Sustainability research Crystal sees beauty and environmental responsibility as connected causes. 6. Small Ideas Can Become Large Movements What began as a personal vision expanded into a network that attracted support from multiple states and organizations. The foundation received donated wigs from: Individual donors Beauty supply stores Community members Organizations across the country The response demonstrated the widespread demand for programs that combine social impact and sustainability. 7. Entrepreneurship Begins with Passion Crystal traced her inspiration back to childhood visits to beauty supply stores with her grandmother. What started as an eight-year-old girl's dream eventually became a career, a nonprofit initiative, and a growing social-impact enterprise. 8. Don't Wait for Perfect Conditions Crystal repeatedly emphasized that she started with limited resources and often funded projects herself. Her story demonstrates that taking action, even without complete certainty or financial backing, can lead to meaningful results. 9. Innovation Comes from Solving Problems In addition to the Wig Capital Foundation, Crystal discussed creating "hat wigs," combining a hat and hairpiece into a practical solution for women dealing with hair challenges. Her approach reflects a broader entrepreneurial mindset of identifying problems and developing creative solutions. 10. Service Is the Foundation of Success Throughout the conversation, Crystal emphasized helping others first. Whether through wig donations, student training, environmental initiatives, or community partnerships, her work is built around creating positive change. Key Themes Beauty With Purpose The interview highlights how the beauty industry can be used as a force for social good. Entrepreneurship Through Service Crystal's success grew from solving real problems rather than simply pursuing profit. Community Collaboration Partnerships with schools, hospitals, and volunteers make the organization's impact possible. Confidence and Dignity Providing wigs to individuals experiencing hair loss is about more than appearance. It is about restoring confidence and improving quality of life. Notable Quotes On Her Childhood Dream "When I get older, I want to own one of these." On the Program's Mission "Helping our environment." On Taking Action "You got to start somewhere." On Entrepreneurship "You can't let circumstances and people and places stop you from living your dream." On Innovation "Maybe other women might need a hat wig." On Community Involvement "Everybody wants to get involved with wigs. Wigs is fun." On Program Growth "People started to reach out to be members as well as start chapters in their states." On Her Vision "Just get involved. Spread the word." Success Highlights Founder of the Wig Capital Foundation. Created a large-scale wig donation and refurbishment initiative. Developed partnerships with cosmetology schools and healthcare organizations. Collected thousands of wigs through donation campaigns. Introduced environmentally conscious hair and wig recycling efforts. Expanded outreach beyond local communities through chapters and partnerships. Created innovative hair products such as custom hat wigs. Bottom Line Crystal Hughes' interview is a powerful example of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. By combining her cosmetology expertise with a passion for helping others, she created a program that supports individuals facing medical hair loss while promoting environmental sustainability. Her story demonstrates how a simple childhood dream can evolve into a mission that restores confidence, creates educational opportunities, and positively impacts communities across the country. #SHMS #STRAW #BEST Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success. Business Podcast Entrepreneurship Small Business Business Growth Financial Literacy Wealth Building Black Entrepreneurs Minority Business Leadership Executive Leadership Business Funding Marketing Strategies Personal Development Startup Advice Sales Training CEO Interviews Founder Stories Professional Development Economic Empowerment Business Success Networking Brand Building Innovation How to start a business Small business funding Entrepreneur success stories Business leadership podcast Wealth building strategies Black entrepreneur podcast Minority business development Marketing for small businesses Business growth strategies Startup funding opportunities Executive leadership training Financial literacy education Success mindset podcastSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sexual energy is about a lot more than just sex. I can take that drive and transmute it into motivation, discipline, or professional achievement instead of allowing it to stay focused on sexual behavior. Energy can change forms, and the drive for sex is an energy that can be redirected. The real question is where that energy is getting discharged or redirected. Show Notes: [04:05]#1 Sexual energy is an achievement. [10:40]#2 Unused sexual energy needs a constructive outlet. [15:24]#3 Control creates power. [17:58] Recap Episodes Mentioned: 3438: Why Powerful Men NEVER Masturbate Next Steps: --- Execution is not a talent.   It is a standard. If your results don't match your ability, something in your approach is out of alignment. Most people do not have a motivation problem.   They have a consistency problem. Power Presence is the system for operating with greater discipline, clarity, structure, and execution under pressure. Learn more: → http://www.PowerPresenceProtocol.com  Know what to do but not always doing it?  Measure your execution at → http://RateMyExecution.com. Get Dre's free Daily Game email at http://WorkOnMyGame.com. Every day you'll receive one practical lesson on leadership, mindset, discipline, and execution to help you perform at a higher level. No fluff. Just game

Listener Q&A where Andy talks about: How to sell and rebalance positions in a brokerage account when they have unrealized gains and you're trying to be tax-efficient about it ( 7:06 )His thoughts on a few different variable portfolio withdrawal strategies, namely Amortization Based Withdrawals ("ABW"), Total Portfolio Allocation Withdrawals ("TPAW") and Big ERN's CAPE-based approach ( 14:10 )Converting to a Roth IRA money you plan on spending in the near-term, instead of outright distributing it to your bank or brokerage account to be spent from there ( 23:18 )Whether doing Roth conversions or backdoor Roth contributions are ultimately the same thing from a tax planning perspective ( 28:02 )His thoughts on deciding which type of advisor and/or advisory fee model might make the most sense for you when considering the potential fees to be paid to an advisor over a lifetime ( 33:41 )At what point should you just take out unused 529 funds and pay tax and penalty on the gains, assuming you have no expectation they'll eventually get to be used for qualified education expenses ( 40:15 )Potential ideas for small or solo advisory firms to establish a succession plan in the event of the death or incapacitation of the advisor ( 45:26 )What to look for in an advisory relationship to help minimize the risk of the advisory committing fraud with your money ( 50:50 )Whether to live off cash for multiple years - assuming you have saved that much cash - or instead pull from your investment accounts ( 56:53 )His thoughts on Securities Backed Lines of Credit, or SBLOCs, from brokerage firms ( 1:00:35 )To send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.comAndy's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andypanko/Links in this episode:Tenon Financial monthly newsletter/blog - Retirement Planning InsightsYouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com

— The Unused Harp— Preached by Pastor James Knox— Preached at The Bible Baptist Church of Deland, FL.— More messages by Pastor James Knox can be found at https://jameswknox.org/sermons/—Thanks For Listening, I hope you were helped by this!—I know the audio is not great on a lot of these, but it is the best that I can find.Many of these messages were recorded in the early to mid 1900's, and the audio recording equipment was not great then. But! The messages are worth the extra focus that it takes to get it.

Arch Rao is Founder and CEO of SPAN, the company behind the smart electrical panel that has expanded into utility grid management with SPAN Edge and distributed AI infrastructure with XFRA. What began as a smarter way to manage home electricity has evolved into a platform designed to digitize the electric grid, enable mass electrification, and unlock new AI compute capacity using existing residential infrastructure. In this episode of Inevitable, Rao explains why SPAN's vision has grown beyond the home electrical panel, how utilities are using software-defined power management to avoid expensive infrastructure upgrades, and why distributed AI inference could become a new class of digital utility. He also discusses the intersection of electrification, grid modernization, and AI demand, arguing that the next major energy transition is the digitization of the electric grid itself. Note: SPAN is an MCJ portfolio company  Episode recorded on July 8, 2026 (Published on August 4, 2026). In this episode, we cover:  (0:00) An overview of SPAN (1:53) How SPAN evolved from smart panels to grid infrastructure (3:41) The inspiration behind XFRA and distributed AI compute (5:21) What an XFRA node looks like and how it works (6:04) Why homeowners would host AI compute infrastructure (8:06) The homeowner business model: free panels, batteries, and lower utility bills (10:48) Why SPAN is focused on new home developments (11:56) How SPAN Edge helps utilities avoid costly service upgrades (16:35) SPAN's go-to-market evolution (17:16) Lessons from customer behavior and software adoption (20:53) How SPAN Edge creates value for utilities (26:16) Securing distributed AI infrastructure in residential neighborhoods (27:48) Who is buying XFRA compute today (29:45) Why distributed infrastructure offers flexibility over traditional data centers (31:04) XFRA as a new form of digital infrastructure (32:50) How SPAN differs from virtual power plants (VPPs) (34:56) Why the real energy transition is analog-to-digital (36:43) Why talent is SPAN's biggest hiring priority Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

A tornado can leave a farm standing and still prevent the next crop from going into the ground. North-central Oklahoma farmer Karen Eifert Jones shares what happened after the April 23 tornado passed over her family's headquarters near Enid and tracked across five of their farms. Barbed wire, lumber, shingles and household belongings covered fields and pastures that needed to be planted within days. Karen explains how more than 150 volunteers, neighbors and emergency crews helped locate equipment, wind-damaged fence and walk fields shoulder to shoulder before the next rain. She also shares practical lessons about disaster donations, community shelters, farm mental health, USDA fence assistance, crop decisions and the local relationships that make agricultural recovery possible. Key takeaways: Tornado debris can create serious hazards for planters, combines, livestock and vehicle tires long after the storm. Local emergency coordinators can help farmers locate highly specialized equipment such as hydraulic wire winders. Flexible cash donations allow trusted local groups to purchase the tools and supplies survivors actually need. Community recovery must address mental health, livestock losses, warning communication, and access to safe shelter. Long-term crop rotations still require flexible decisions based on moisture, weeds, labor, cattle, and planting windows. Detailed timestamped rundown 00:00–02:47 — Episode introduction Dave introduces Karen Eifert Jones and the episode's central story: recovering farmland after a tornado scattered fences, construction material and household debris across multiple farms.02:47–03:55 — What is growing on the farm Karen reviews millet planting, completed canola harvest, nearly completed wheat harvest, full-season corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, double-crop soybeans and the cattle operation.03:55–05:04 — Making annual crop decisions The discussion turns to balancing a five-year operating plan with short-term field conditions, rainfall and individual farm constraints.05:04–06:52 — Why millet fits one difficult farm Karen explains how access limitations make hay the only practical option on one rented farm and why millet has become its most profitable use.06:52–07:11 — Hay sales build new relationships A wheat field overtaken by rye was harvested as hay, creating a relationship with a drought-stricken customer who later subleased pasture.07:11–08:49 — Canola's place in the rotation Canola may only break even in some years, but Karen values it as a rotation tool that can improve the following wheat crop.08:49–09:33 — Wheat and canola yield losses Both crops produced roughly one-quarter of expected yields because the moisture needed during production did not arrive.09:33–10:57 — Why the farm still double-crops Double-cropping helps keep the soil covered, manage weeds and provide an opportunity for revenue rather than leaving ground idle.10:57–12:06 — Soybeans, sorghum and weed pressure Moisture, broadleaf weeds, grasses and Johnson grass influence which crop goes into each field.12:06–12:56 — Why double-crop corn does not fit The family has considered double-crop corn but regards the timing and production potential as too marginal.12:16–12:56 — Connecting crops and cattle Corn and sorghum residue can be grazed, so water access, fencing and planned cattle locations also influence crop choice.13:03–15:10 — Buying equipment versus hiring custom work Karen describes how labor availability, machinery costs, custom rates and cooperation with neighboring operations shape equipment decisions.15:10–16:34 — Preparing for generational transition Her son is working as an hourly employee before purchasing shares in the operation, while the family expands primarily through rented land.16:44–19:23 — Remembering the April storm Dave recounts watching tornadoes near Braman and Enid before realizing one was approaching Karen's farm and Vance Air Force Base.19:23–20:28 — Karen watches from Stillwater Karen was attending an Oklahoma State University event and sheltered in the student union after discovering her friend's hotel lacked an adequate tornado plan.20:28–21:43 — The tornado crosses the operation A neighbor sent video showing the funnel over Karen's house. The path crossed the headquarters and continued along five farms.21:43–22:56 — Debris blocks spring planting Four fallow farms were filled with wire and wreckage just as full-season planting needed to begin.22:56–24:29 — The search for wire winders After two unsuccessful days, Karen asked the local emergency command center for help locating a hydraulic wire winder. Within minutes, one was found—and a neighbor located another.24:29–25:06 — One request produces two crews Karen's church planned to send volunteers, while emergency coordinators arranged an additional crew.25:06–26:29 — Walking fields shoulder to shoulder Volunteers searched the ground systematically. One 20-acre field contained so much material that workers could barely take a step without encountering debris.25:30–26:29 — Returning personal belongings Crews recovered photographs, checks, certificates and named clothing that could be cleaned and returned to tornado survivors.26:29–27:29 — More than 150 people volunteer Volunteers came from Enid, Tulsa, Wichita, Oklahoma City, Woodward and surrounding communities, representing many ages and occupations.27:29–28:13 — The Oklahoma Standard in action The hosts reflect on the rural instinct to ask what work needs to be done and then show up to do it.28:13–28:59 — Clearing the final field before rain A second crew completed debris removal around 3 p.m. The planter was already waiting, and the field was planted by 5 p.m.29:14–30:06 — A growing crop becomes a thank-you Karen's son arranged for a roadside banner thanking donors and volunteers. Grain sorghum growing behind it demonstrates what their work made possible.30:08–32:45 — Community shelters and warning access Karen argues for more public shelter options, particularly for lower-income residents, immigrants, apartment residents and people who may not receive or understand warnings.32:45–34:41 — Livestock losses and mental health The group discusses the emotional consequences of losing animals, homes and personal security, including anxiety that can return during later storms.34:41–35:34 — Surviving more than one disaster Karen recounts the story of an elderly couple who lost a home in the 1973 Enid flood and then lost its replacement in the 2026 tornado.35:34–37:51 — What disaster survivors really need Water, snacks, gloves and flashlights were useful, but excess or poorly matched donations created storage and distribution challenges.37:51–38:31 — Cash purchases specialized equipment Local coordinators used donated funds to buy tow-behind magnetic sweepers for collecting nails and other metal from fields and properties.38:31–40:10 — Keep donations close to the community Karen recommends working through trusted local organizations, churches, Extension offices or other groups that understand immediate needs.40:10–40:39 — Leftover supplies become emergency trailers Unused water, first-aid materials, gloves and tools were stored in trailers that can be deployed during the next tornado, fire or emergency.41:14–41:58 — USDA assistance for damaged fencing Karen used her previous USDA experience to help neighbors find the appropriate forms and ask about cost-share support.41:58–43:02 — Previewing an Enid canola meeting The conversation shifts to an Aug. 4 producer meeting focused on canola production, harvest methods, varieties and market opportunities.43:02–44:16 — Comparing canola harvest strategies Wind damaged windrowed canola, while rain complicated desiccation, illustrating that no harvest approach eliminates every weather risk.44:16–45:40 — Canola's renewable-fuel market Karen explains that much of the region's canola enters a specialized market connected to renewable jet fuel, carbon ratings and energy policy.45:40–46:14 — Final reflections The hosts thank Karen for sharing both the tornado recovery story and her perspective on the future of canola.46:14–46:56 — Closing and listener invitation Dave directs listeners to Red Dirt Agronomy for guest information, resources and future episodes. RedDirtAgronomy.com

How many gift cards do you have that remain unused? As many as Dorene?

It's summer!  Time for fun in the sun and extra time with friends and family, which can have an impact on the finances!  In this episode of Financial Clarity for Doctors, hosts Corey Janoff and Rachelle Vanderzanden walk through a few things that can be helpful during a mid-year financial planning check. Ideas for Summer Planning: Take a moment to review your spending and reflect on whether it matches up with those goals! Spent a lot of money on eating on travel, but travel is important to you? That might be just fine!  Everyone is different. Review progress toward making maximum retirement contributions (if you are able). Are you on track to make the maximum employee deferral contribution of $24,500 to your employer plan? Review your cash on hand to see if you have anything “extra” that can be put toward long-term goals. Can potentially add funds to 529 college savings accounts, 530A (Trump Accounts), or other investment accounts, depending on your goals. Go through your workplace benefits to ensure you are using them! Unused vacation days that may expire? Flexible Spending Account balances that need to be used? Potentially make some strategic tax planning moves depending on your circumstances. Example: Roth conversions add funds to your taxable income in the year converted, but then funds can grow tax free if used for qualified retirement withdrawals. Do a quick risk review – For example do you have adequate insurance and an estate plan drafted? You can review your finances any time of year, but the summer can be a great mid-year reset.  Sit back and relax on your deck with a cold beverage and lots of numbers!  Sounds like fun to us! For more financial planning tips from Corey and Rachelle, find them on social media! LinkedIn: @CoreyJanoff; Instagram: @CoreyJanoff and @VanderzandenRachelle; and Twitter: @CoreyJanoffCFP Discussions in this show should not be construed as specific recommendations or investment advice. Always consult with your investment professional before making important investment decisions. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.  Finity Group, LLC is a separate entity from LPL Financial.  Finity Group and LPL Financial do not provide legal advice or tax services.  Please consult your legal advisor or tax advisor regarding your specific situation. This material is for general information and educational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Investing involves risk including the loss of principal. There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. A Roth IRA conversion—sometimes called a backdoor Roth strategy—is a way to contribute to a Roth IRA when income exceeds standard limits. The converted amount is treated as taxable income and may affect your tax bracket. Federal, state, and local taxes may apply. If you're required to take a minimum distribution in the year of conversion, it must be completed before converting. To qualify for tax-free withdrawals, you must generally be age 59½ and hold the converted funds in the Roth IRA for at least five years. Each conversion has its own five-year period, and early withdrawals may be subject to a 10% penalty unless an exception applies. Income limits still apply for future direct Roth IRA contributions. This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual circumstances. Prior to investing in a 529 Plan investors should consider whether the investor's or designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program. Withdrawals used for qualified expenses are federally tax free. Tax treatment at the state level may vary. Please consult with your tax advisor before investing.​ Trump Accounts offer tax deferred growth on earnings. Family contributions are made with after tax dollars, and eligible employer contributions may be excluded from the employee's taxable income. A one time $1,000 federal contribution may be available for eligible children born between 2025 and 2028. Distributions are generally prohibited during the child's growth period and, once permitted, are taxable as ordinary income and may be subject to a 10% IRS early distribution penalty if taken before age 59½. Contribution limits and other restrictions apply, and some rules remain subject to future Treasury and IRS guidance. Consult a qualified tax advisor or financial professional before making decisions. Rebalancing a portfolio may cause investors to incur tax liabilities and/or transaction costs and does not assure a profit or protect against a loss.​ Finity Group and LPL Financial do not provide legal advice or tax services. Please consult your legal advisor or tax advisor regarding your specific situation. Citations: Internal Revenue Service.  Frequently asked questions on gift taxes. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/frequently-asked-questions-on-gift-taxes. Internal Revenue Service.  Charitable contribution deductions.. https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/charitable-contribution-deductions. Trump Accounts. https://trumpaccounts.gov/. Bart, Susan T. and Connie T Eyster.  What is a Trump Account? Rules, Taxes, and How They Work for Families. https://www.actec.org/resource-center/video/trump-accounts-explained/. 2026. The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

You may not need more customers to increase your profit. You may just need to stop wasting the money you already make. In this episode of The Level Up Podcast, Paul Alex breaks down why cutting unnecessary expenses can improve your bottom line faster than chasing more leads and increasing top-line revenue. Revenue may look impressive. But the money left after expenses is what actually builds the business. Unused software, weak vendor agreements, and bloated overhead quietly drain the cash that could be invested into talent, marketing, and expansion. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why cutting one dollar of waste can be more valuable than earning one dollar of revenue• How low profit margins force businesses to work harder for less• Why every subscription, invoice, and vendor contract should be audited• How lean operations create more free cash flow for growth The truth is simple: Making more money means nothing if you cannot keep it. Review every expense. Cancel what you do not use. Renegotiate weak agreements. Protect your margins. When you plug the leaks, you create more cash without adding another customer to the roster. Your Network is your NETWORTH! Make sure to add me on all SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: Instagram: https://jo.my/paulalex2024Facebook: https://jo.my/fbpaulalex2024YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhDAD1JyGGzSQUPD9lc9HQLinkedIn: https://jo.my/inpaulalex2024 Looking for a secondary source of income or want to become an entrepreneur? Check out one of my companies below to see if we can help you: www.CashSwipe.com FREE Copy of my book “Blue to Digital Gold - The New American Dream”www.officialPaulAlex.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal delivers a rich expository sermon on James 5:1–6, one of the most striking prophetic passages in the New Testament epistles. Drawing on the Jewish literary and cultural context of James's original audience — Jewish Christians scattered from Jerusalem by persecution — Tony unpacks why this text is not a blanket condemnation of wealth, but a devastating judgment oracle against those who hoard riches and oppress the vulnerable. Along the way, he explores the eschatological weight of accumulated wealth, the theology of God's omniscient justice, and the stunning comfort available to the suffering believer. The episode closes by returning to James's thesis: that trials of every kind, including economic oppression, can be counted as joy because of who God is and what He has done in Christ. Key Takeaways James is a deeply Jewish book written to a specific audience — Jewish Christians dispersed from Jerusalem by Saul's persecution, not a general audience of wealthy or Gentile believers. The prophetic "Come now" signals a judgment oracle, not a direct address — James is not rebuking wealthy members of his congregation, but pronouncing eschatological judgment on oppressive landowners using a technique common in Amos, Malachi, and Micah. Hoarding wealth is not morally neutral — it is self-condemning — The corroded gold and moth-eaten garments are not just symbols of decay; they serve as legal evidence against those who refused to use their wealth for God's glory and the good of others. Withholding wages from laborers constitutes a form of murder — In the ancient world, depriving workers of their wages could literally cost them their lives. James draws on Old Testament law to frame predatory economic exploitation as a capital sin. God sees and hears the cries of the oppressed — The wages of defrauded workers "cry out" to the Lord of Hosts, echoing the blood of Abel in Genesis 4. God's justice is not passive or delayed out of ignorance — it is certain and coming. Matthew 25 reframes Christian mercy as care for the body of Christ — The sheep-and-goats judgment is not a general humanitarian mandate, but a specific call to care for persecuted brothers and sisters — and to recognize that mistreating them is mistreating Christ Himself. Trials are counted as joy through the doctrine of imputation — Suffering is not stripped of its pain, but it can be moved from the loss ledger to the profit column because God uses adversity as the instrument of sanctification and glorification. Key Concepts The Prophetic Address: Who Is James Actually Talking To? One of the most common misreadings of James 5:1–6 is assuming James is directly rebuking wealthy Christians in his own congregation. Tony Arsenal corrects this by grounding the passage in its literary and historical context. James employs a well-established prophetic technique — seen in Amos, Malachi, and Micah — of addressing an absent party in order to pronounce judgment on them, while simultaneously comforting those who overhear the oracle. His audience is the dispersed, impoverished Jewish Christians who fled Jerusalem under Saul's persecution. There were almost certainly no wealthy landowners in the room. The "Come now, you rich" is a judgment declaration directed outward, designed to assure the suffering poor that God has seen their oppressor and will act. Far from being a proof-text for radical poverty, the passage is a pastoral comfort wrapped in prophetic fire. Corroded Gold as Legal Evidence Against the Soul James's claim that gold and silver have "corroded" is deliberately shocking — and theologically precise. Gold, uniquely among metals in the ancient world, does not corrode. By saying it has already corroded, James is not making a metallurgical claim but a moral and eschatological one. The accumulated, hoarded wealth of the oppressor has lost its purpose. It sits idle while workers starve, and in doing so it becomes evidence — a legal witness — against its owner in the court of divine justice. Tony draws a direct line between this image and Jesus's teaching in the Sermon on the Mount about treasures stored on earth being subject to moth and rust. Both brothers — Jesus and James — appear to be drawing on the same shared wisdom, likely rooted in the same household and the same mother's instruction. Unused wealth does not just fail to help others; it actively indicts its holder. Counting It All Joy: The Accounting Logic of Sanctification Tony closes the sermon by returning to James 1:2 — the thesis statement of the entire letter — and unpacking the word "count" as an accounting term, directly related to the doctrine of imputation. Just as righteousness is reckoned to the believer in justification, so suffering can be reckoned as joy in sanctification. This is not a call to pretend pain isn't real, or to perform contentment. It is a theological reframing: what belongs in the loss column of the ledger can, by faith, be moved to the profit side — not because the trial was pleasant, but because God is sovereign, good, and working all things toward the believer's conformity to the image of Christ. The oppressor means their wickedness for evil. God means it for glory. The supreme example is the cross itself — the only truly innocent man, suffering the worst evil ever committed, for the redemption of His people. Memorable Quotes The corrosion of that gold serves as evidence for the condemnation of those who are harming you — and the corrosion of this wealth is an indication of the corrosion of their very souls. He sees your pain. He sees your suffering. He sees your victories even when no one else is celebrating them. He sees you — and that should be a great source of comfort. Imputation is an accounting term. And when we count it all joy, we're taking what should be a red line in the loss ledger — what should be an expense — and we're able to move it to the profit. Not because it didn't hurt, and not because we wanted it to happen, but because our God is good enough to not rob us of the chance to be sanctified. Full Transcript Tony Arsenal: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you." It's always a little, uh, strange to sort of jump into the middle of a series, and, um, you know, Wes is one of the most competent preachers that I know personally, so I trust that he has given you a good and satisfying overview. Uh, but I don't feel like I would be doing my responsibility if I didn't at least touch on a few things, uh, related to the, the intro to James that I think is relevant for this particular passage in a way that maybe is not relevant for the rest of the book. So some of this I hope is review, I, I anticipate is review, but I think it's worth, uh, touching on. James, as you know, is the, the half brother of Jesus. He was the leader of the Jerusalem church, and specifically he was sort of the figurehead of the Jewish church as a whole. Um, the Jewish church was the only church for the very early part of the church's growth. There were always, uh, Gentile believers. Even in the Old Testament, there were Gentiles who trusted in the Lord of Israel and the God of Israel. They were often called God-fearers. They rarely converted all the way to Judaism, but they were sort of seen as an attachment to the Jewish people. They didn't participate in all of the blessings of the Jewish people, but they did participate in most. They often had the same kind of protection. They were in a form of covenant with God. Um, they were able to worship and offer sacrifices. The temple itself had a whole portion of the temple dedicated called the Court of Gentiles, specifically for these Jewish worshipers. And as the church spread, primarily through persecution, which we'll touch base on here in a minute, as the church spread out from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria, and ultimately to the ends of the earth, it took on a, an increasingly Gentile Greek flavor. As more and more primarily initially Greek converts came into the church, and then of course, as it spread to other sort of non-Hellenistic lands, other, other types of people, other nations, other people groups joined the church, the scriptures which-- the New Testament we receive primarily from Paul, at least in terms of the epistles, um, also began to take on a more Gentile flavor. Not because Paul was a Gentile, but because Paul was ministering primarily to Gentiles What we'll see here is that James is a very Jewish book. I'm sure that along the way there's been several kinds of things pointed out to you to show that, but I wanna show a couple things that not only establish James as the author, James the brother of, of Jesus, but also root the, not only the author, but the audience in a distinctly Jewish Christian, uh, context. So you don't have to turn there, I'll read this, but in Acts, uh, 15, which is the, the great Jerusalem Council, uh, we read this. It says, "With the following letter..." So the, the council meets, they make a decision about what k- what parts of the Jewish law were going to be commended to and recommended, uh, and required for the Christian believers, the Gentile Christian believers, and when they're done, they send this letter to all of, all of the churches. And it says, "With the following letter, the brothers, both apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are at, of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings." Now, I don't know about you, but I always sign my emails the same way, right? I've got, like, my work signature that I have to use, that the, the hospital makes me use with all the proper formatting and colors and fonts, but I always have the same signature. Mine is very simple. I just say, "Thanks," right? I just sign it as, "Thanks," above my signature, and I'm sure you all have that sort of characteristic way you sign a s- sign an email, or maybe it's the way you say goodbye at the end of a phone call. My father-in-law always says, "So long," which is a phrase you don't hear very often, so it's very distinct to him. We all have these little tells in our communication that sort of tip off who they're from. If you turn quickly back over to James 1, so just flip the page, uh, to the left here, he starts his letter by saying, "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes in the dispersion, greetings." It's the only two letters in the New Testament that we have where the author identifies himself, sends to a sort of generalized audience, and then signs it, "Greetings." Now, James, the brother of Jesus, was the leader of the Jerusalem Church. He was the leader of the Jewish ch- the Jewish Church in general, and he signed the letter coming from the Acts Council as sort of the presiding minister. If, if we were, y- you might call them, like, the moderator of your business meeting, or we would call them the moderator of our presbytery or our session in the Presbyterian context I come from. He was the one who sort of, like, presided over there, and so the letter that went out to the churches was signed in his name and written, drafted by him. So we see this characteristic way that the letter is addressed with this final word, "Greetings," which is not used frequently in the New Testament We also see when we look at the language carefully that the audience of this, uh, of this letter, it's debated and there are good arguments, but i- in my opinion, it's very clear that the audience of this letter is not Jewish Christians in general or, uh, Jews who have not yet converted. There are some people who would say that 'cause they're called the 12 tribes. But instead it is the Jewish Christians who originally dwelled in Jerusalem and were sent out into the countryside after the persecution that was started primarily by Saul. If you look at Acts, Acts 1 which is, uh, the passage where Saul begins to persecute the church or where Saul kinda comes on the scene as the persecutor of the church, there's a couple distinct, um, distinct linguistic markers we should touch base on. Starting in verse one it says, "And p- Saul approved of his execution. And there arose a day-- that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem. They were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church and entered the house after house. He dragged off men and women and committed them to prison." When we look at this and we compare it to that, uh, again, that first verse of James where he says to the ones who are scattered, we see that there's a pretty strong linguistic parallel that tells us that the people he has in mind for this letter, the people he's addressing, are the same people who were dispersed or scattered out of Jerusalem in the persecution. When he says to the 12 tribes in the dispersion, that word dispersion is not really a translation. It's what we call a transliteration. So it's not like we've taken a word and sort of given it an English word. We've just changed the word, the letters over to English letters. In Greek, the word is diaspora, dispersion, and in, uh, Acts 1, the verb used to, to sort of describe this scattering of them is diaspero. And it is a picture of scattering seed. This is what a farmer would do. So it's not even the normal word we would use when someone is fleeing persecution. It's this idea that God has scattered Christians out into the world, in this case by persecution. He scattered them out into the world to be planted. A lot of this is where we get phrases from Tertullian about the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Now, why does this matter? As I mentioned, we often think in Gentile categories when we're reading the New Testament, and for good reason. One, we're all, all Gentiles, I'm presuming. I, I don't, I don't think-- I think I mentioned this last time, and no one came up and corrected me. I don't think anyone here is ethnically Jewish with ancestry that they're directly aware of, you know, where they trace their lineage directly back. Europe is a, a big amalgamation of just about everything, so most of us probably have a smattering of different ethnicities. But none of us are ethnically Jewish to the idea that we would, uh, identify as such in the same way. And even if we were, we've been raised and grown up in a Gentile context. We live in the West. We have-- We think in different categories. And what's more is most of the New Testament is written primarily to Gentiles by someone who is ministering to Gentiles. So Paul uses a fair amount of, of Hebraisms or things that are related to the Old Testament. Of course, he's explaining the Old Testament, and he makes ample reference to the Old Testament because that is the word of God, and it is profitable for our teaching, our correction, our reproof, and ultimately for our, our sanctification. But he uses metaphors and language in a way that is not common to the Israel context that Jesus and James and Peter and the other apostles were raised in. We don't have time to go there, but there's even some metaphors that Paul uses that are actually used the opposite way in, uh, in the more Hebraic Jewish, uh, epistles we have. One example that comes to mind is, um, Paul looks at the concept of milk, and that's not necessarily a good thing, right? It's not a bad thing, but it's what immature believers use, right? They can't handle the meat of the Bible. They have to be given the milk of the gospel before they can progress to the meat. In the Book of Hebrews, which I don't think was written by Paul, and in other places, Peter uses milk as a way to talk about nourishment, right? We think of the land flowing with milk and honey. Milk was not seen as some sort of substandard food that was only for babies. It was seen as, like, the richest, best thing that you could eat. We all have a linguistic environment that we grow up in. We all have a shared vernacular. You know, if I say something like, "You can't get there from here," everyone knows what that means. Obviously, you can get there from here, but you have to take this circuitous route. We know what that means. I think if we went around the room, we probably would find that there is this shared language. And then if we took individual families, we'd find that even within those families, there's further narrowing down of sort of like inside jokes and words that are used in ways that are not necessarily the same as others So when we read James, or when we read the letters of Peter or the letters of John, we should default to thinking more along the lines of comparing them to the words of Christ in the Gospel, first and foremost, and then to the Old Testament before we start to think about them necessarily comparing them to Ja-- or to Paul or to other kind of first century Hellenistic literature. That's not, of course, to say that Paul and James contradict. I'm sure that we went through a long explanation with much detail when you got to James chapter two, which is, of course, the most famous example. Paul uses the word justification or justify in a legal sense to make or to declare someone to be righteous. It's the verdict that the judge delivers, and it communicates the status. It actually performs what it says. When the judge says, "I find you not guilty," it changes your status from being potentially guilty to being cleared of all charges. Paul uses it slightly differently. He's not using it in the sense of to make someone righteous or to declare them righteous. He's using it to say they've been shown to be righteous. They've been validated. They've been vindicated. And if we get that mixed up, that's the source of all sorts of confusion. So when we come to this passage, and we'll get there, I promise, when we come to this passage, we have to understand some of the metaphors and the language that's being used draws from an existing body of shared cultural language that is foreign to us and is in some ways foreign to the rest of the New Testament, apart from what we see in the Gospels And it's important to remember, and this is why it's so key to land, that the audience of this letter is the persecuted, poor Jewish Christians who probably had a fairly comfortable life, relatively speaking, living in Jerusalem. These are city folks. These are people that live in Jerusalem or farm into the fields immediately around Jerusalem. They were established. They owned land. They probably had family that they had to leave, and now they're scattered out into the country with nothing. They're sent out into the world with no jobs, no family connections, no social welfare. Because they've left the Jewish faith, at least from the perspective of the Jews, they can't even go to their Jewish brothers and sisters and rely on the hospitality that's required in the law of Moses This is so important when we think about how James opens the letter and delivers what I think is his thesis statement. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of every kind." Trials like not knowing where the next meal is gonna come from, not knowing where the next roof over your head is, not being sure you can feed your children. We all face real trials and tribulations in our life. Some of them are related to our faith, and some is just the fallen human condition in the fallen world we live in. But we're talking here about a totally different category of, uh, trial and persecution than most of us hopefully will ever experience That brings us to our actual passage now. James opens up this section with a linguistic marker that signifies this is a change in topic. He says, "Come now," or another way to translate it might be, "Now listen. Listen up." When my son is doing something that, uh, I need him to stop or I need to give him instructions, I hold him by his shoulders and I say, "Look at my eyes. I want your eyes right here. Look at my eyes." That's what Paul is doing. He's stopping and he's interrupting the flow of language. This shows us this is a new topic and a new audience. James is not speaking to rich Christians in his audience. First, 'cause there likely weren't any rich Christians directly in his audience. Remember, these are the, the poor Christians scattered out into the Judean countryside, into Samaria He's using a technique that's really common in the prophets. It's common in Jesus, where he's addressing the people who are not really listening as a way to establish that they will be judged, to hold them accountable, but also to comfort those who are hearing the message. This is a form of prophetic address. We see this in Amos, where he's chastising the Jewish leaders. Uh, in Malachi and Micah, this happens. Malachi is primarily, at least initially, is primarily, uh, a book that is railing against the rich leaders in Jerusalem who had oppressed their own brothers and sisters. The chances that those Jewish cr- uh, Jewish leaders were reading his prophecy or hearing his prophecy is pretty slim. So he was addressing a different group to establish the judgment that he was proclaiming on another party. Jesus does this when he says like, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees." There were probably scribes and Pharisees in the audience there, but he wasn't just talking to the people in front of them. He was pronouncing a judgment oracle, a judgment prophecy on all people who fit that category, and James is doing the same thing here James is not opposing wealth generally. Sometimes James is used as kind of a New Testament example to justify the idea that we should all be poor and wear shabby clothing and walk around barefoot and dirty all the time. Right? This is a key passage that's used, uh, in parts of the church that really emphasize sort of a poverty-based lifestyle. Think of like the wandering monks of the Middle Ages or the, the, um, sort of more radical exclusionists that exist even in our day. I remember when I was in college, I was really enamored with this figure named Shane Claiborne. Some of you have probably heard of him, and I remember I was so impressed because he, he didn't buy new shoes. He just cut new shoes out of duct tape and put them back together. Now, there's some, you know, there's some rugged, uh, rugged get-it-done-ness that, uh, I think us, uh, New Englanders can appreciate, but God does not call us to wear duct tape shoes, at least not universally. I'm not gonna comment on whether he calls Shane Claiborne to do that. I also don't think Shane Claiborne does that anymore. Um, some of us he may call to a lifestyle of poverty in association with a mission field or in association with a specific calling. He does not call us generally to be poor or to not gain wealth What he is opposing here is the refusal to use wealth appropriately for God's glory and the accumulation of wealth just for wealth's sake We'll see that as we unpack the language here a little bit. He establishes that he's not just talking about the earthly hoarding of wealth, as though somehow the very act of accumulating wealth was itself the problem. What he's doing is he's pronouncing an eschatological judgment on those who hoard wealth and use it to oppress others. We see here he says, "Come now, you rich, and weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you." Th- that word weep and howl, those are li-- those are words that are most commonly used in prophetic literature to describe the final cry of anguish. Think about the weeping and gnashing of teeth that Jesus talks about. This is the language he's using. He's talking about the final estate of those who refuse to submit their wealth to God He says, "Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be the evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasures in the last days." Now, remember what we said. We, we should read this not in light of some general wisdom, although it is general wisdom that if we accumulate wealth, it tends to not actually go well for us if we're not utilizing it in God-honoring ways. But we should read this in light of the most obvious connection, his big brother, Jesus, who taught his people, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be." To maybe land this linguistic, uh, this linguistic connection a little more, I don't know, vibrantly, I'm gonna speculate a little bit. So if you don't like it, then you can disregard it. This is not God's Word. This is a speculation. I can just imagine little Jesus, little nine-year-old Jesus, and probably little six or seven-year-old James and the rest of their siblings, and there's quite a few of them. And we have Joseph, uh, who maybe at this time was still living, although probably not. We know he was living until Jesus was later, you know, 12, he was still around, but we don't know exactly when he left the picture. But he was a carpenter, and he was not, probably not overly wealthy. Uh, they had had to pick up and move, you know, cross-country anyways. They-- We don't know exactly where they were from initially, but they went to Bethlehem, and then they returned to Nazareth. They probably didn't have a lot. There were a lot of mouths to feed and only one business. They didn't have a farm. They didn't own livestock that we know of. I can just imagine a time when little J- little James or one of his sisters was frustrated about the fact that they didn't have anything. And I could picture Mary getting down and going, "Do not store up treasures in, in, uh, in heaven or on Earth. It's all gonna waste away." The same way we might tell our children kind of a, a moral kind of story. Sometimes we have this picture, last time I was here I, I spoke on Philippians 2, we have this idea that Jesus was somehow like Superman, that he, he was just pretending to be a normal human most of the time. As it touches his humanity, as, as we think about Jesus as a human, he had a, his own human set of thinking faculties, his own human knowledge. He grew in wisdom and stature is what Luke teaches us. Well, where did he get some of this wisdom? There's a good reasonable argument to be made that some of the pr- more proverbial type sayings that we see in Christ, that they actually come from the wisdom of his mother and father. And a really good reason to believe that is James relies on the same exact, uh, sort of proverbial wisdom to l- land his point. He doesn't create his own metaphor, he goes back to, at the very least we can say he goes back to the words of Christ. That's a very safe position to take. But this is the shared linguistic context that they both grew up in And he says, "You've done this in the last days." Now, the, the phrase last days in the Bible, uh, in the New Testament generally refers to the time period from Christ's resurrection to his return. We, for a lot of reasons, think about it as kind of like that climactic end period in time. Depending on your, your persuasion, maybe this is when the Antichrist comes, or maybe this is before or after, or maybe during the time when the church is raptured. But in either case, we think of that sort of last period in time before Christ finally comes back. But the New Testament writers are really talking about the entire duration, from Christ's resurrection to his return is what they're referring to. But it does have in view this idea that we are in the last times. The, the final judgment is not necessarily strictly something that's out there in the future. We are living in the last days now, and so what we do and what we say and, and how we worship and if we worship is eschatology. It is the theology of the last times He also positions this as though this is a universal thing going on with those who hoard wealth. This is a very shocking image. Um, we have very good ways to preserve things in our modern world, right? We have ways to m- to make, uh, stainless steel that won't rust, or at least won't rust quickly. But most things in the ancient world, even most precious metals, corroded. Um, I remember when I was growing up, there was this project in my hometown. I lived in a, a little town called White Bear Lake in, in, um, Minnesota, although little is relative. It's pretty big compared to most of what we have out here. And I remember when I was maybe 12 or 13 years old, they had this big building project to build this brand-new, beautiful lakeside pavilion in the center of town, and it w- just gleamed in the sun. It was so gorgeous, and it was made of copper, and everybody loved it, and two years later, it was bright green. I think it's still bright green. I think they figured out it wasn't worth repairing, so they, they just, they just make sure it doesn't keep getting worse, and at some point, I'm sure they either have or will tear it down. But the one metal in the ancient world that didn't do this was gold. It's part of why gold is such a durable measurement of wealth is because it doesn't wear out. It doesn't corrode. It's very soft. It's very easy to damage it, which is why we don't build statues out of it, or we don't build, uh, buildings out of it usually, but it didn't corrode. So when James says here, "Not only your silver, which tarnishes and corrodes, but your silver and gold have corroded." Not are corroding, but have corroded. The rich hearer of this is probably, you know, sitting around like Scrooge McDuck with a pile of gold coins thinking, "Ah, it looks pretty good to me." And what James is saying is, "No, no, no. No, it's corroded. It's eating away at your heart. It's lost its value because you refuse to use it, and so it sits in a pile doing nothing for no one, except serving to further your own condemnation." This is such a crazy, shocking situation that the insanity of not using your wealth, period, the insanity of sitting on your wealth in the ancient world is going to serve as a form of evidence justifying the condemnation of these wicked fools And further, the corrosion of this wealth is an indication of the corrosion of their very souls. There's something about money. I was-- When I was here a couple times before, I preached one of the wealth passages out of Ecclesiastes, and there's something about money that has a unique way of really, really wrecking us. Either we don't have it and we want it, or we have it and we don't wanna lose it, or we have it and we don't spend it wisely. It seems like there's an infinite number of ways to screw it up. And we landed last time that the gospel is good news because with the nearly infinite ways of screwing it up, we're going to screw it up. But the one way that he talks about screwing it up here is hoarding it and sitting on it and not using it Moving on into verses four and five, James moves us now to a more sort of temporal register. He starts out by talking about what wealth is and what it's doing and how it will ultimately affect the entire life and eternity of those in his targeted audience, those he's proclaiming this prophetic, uh, judgment against. But in verse four, he moves back to the behaviors that are being, uh, being engaged in to show the state of these people's souls. He says, "Behold, the wages of the laborers you, who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter." James here points at the, at the behaviors that show this hoarding behavior, and he does it for a number of reasons. One, he needs to call out sin. That's part of the role of a Christian, and especially a leader or a minister in the church, is, um, to not only call out sin in the body of, of Christ, but in a, I think a very particular way, and there's all sorts of, uh, all sorts of theological controversies flying on around about Christian nationalism and other associated things. Some of it is just the spirit of the age. Um, post-COVID, there's a, a real strong sense that our government has failed us and we need to replace it with something else. But there is a, a true way, and I, I think some of those things are a little misguided, but there's a true way that the church, particularly her leaders, should be speaking to the culture around us, and yes, even to the government, to proclaim the truth of God into a wicked and godless culture. This might take the form o- of a m- minister who goes to a town hall meeting to speak out against a gambling association that's going to be forming, or a, an elder in the church or a deacon in the church who goes to speak to, uh, to the city hall or to the state legislature about the wickedness of abortion and about what we see it does to women's lives when they are fooled into thinking that this is the right thing for them. Again, the church is not the state, and the state is not the church, and we should be very careful not to cross those lines for all sorts of reasons. But we as a culture, as a Christian culture, in the United States particularly, have lost sight of our responsibility to speak truth in all circumstances to those in power So James is doing that, of course. But even more so, this is a way that he establishes for his direct audience, for the Jewish poor Christians who have been scattered in this diaspora, in this dispersion. He looks at them in a sense and says, "I see you. I see what's happening to you." And as God's representative, as his chosen voice for this message, as his inspired author, God sees you too This goes back again, the first two chapters of James serve as kind of a thesis statement and table of contents for the whole book. We get an idea of what may have been happening, the actual, uh, acts that were being engaged in, in, in chapter two verse six, he says, "You have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?" James has in mind here a form of predatory land purchasing, where the rich were sort of sweeping up property. They were sweeping it up, and then they were charging probably exorbitant prices to those who would lease the land to try to eke out a living. Does that sound at all like any of our current context, right? When's the last time any of us have tried to buy a house and found anything reasonable? Well, a large part of that is that there are big companies that are scooping up all the land and buying all the, the developments. Now, I'm not commenting on those particular situations. I don't know those people. I don't know their hearts, and some of those things actually are doing good things for the community. But we're familiar with this idea of someone who will purchase a resource, who will then jack the price up in order to turn a profit on it. I'm not opposed to turning a profit. Y- y- yeah, it takes money to run a business, and you have to, you have to recuperate those funds if your business is going to survive. But there's a, there's a way that that can be done that is a predatory act These rich landowners were getting fat on those that they were victimizing In our, in our modern world, we tend to think of someone who is overweight as unhealthy, for good reason, right? Too much weight, and I say that with someone with a little too much padding around the middle, so no, no judgment on this, but too much weight is not healthy, right? We hear that from our doctors, that there's a healthy weight range and there's an unhealthy weight range. In the ancient world, obesity was not the concern, right? Malnutrition was the concern. And so when you see, uh, a king in the Old Testament who's, who's noted to be fat, that's not always negative. Sometimes it is, but he's noted to be fat or he's noted to be large. Even the word for glory, I'm sure you've heard this before, the word for glory in the Old Testament has to do with being heavy. So this idea of weightiness or, um, being able to eat enough to actually gain weight instead of being thin was seen as a good thing, but not when you use it as a way to victimize other people. A person who gathers wealth honestly and enjoys it, that's, that's Proverbs right there. That's the Book of Ecclesiastes in its sort of positive sense, is that we, when we accumulate wealth and we use it for God's glory, it's perfectly okay for us to also use it for our enjoyment. God wants us to enjoy the fruit of our labor. But when we accumulate wealth and use it as a way to gain power over someone and to abuse them, that is what James is railing against here And ultimately, with the audience that James is writing to, this is a form of murder. This is why he says, "You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter." Because a person who can't feed their family in the Old Testament or in the New Testament era was likely to see them die. There are not a ton of people in modern America that are starving to death on the streets. It's not to say it doesn't happen. It's not to say that there's not things like food insecurity or malnutrition, but there are, there are plenty of places people can go to get their basic food needs met. It was not like that-- It's not like that in most of the world now, and it certainly was not like that in the ancient world. And so a, a landowner who again refuses, we're talking about the Jewish landowners, refuses to obey the Jewish law to leave some leftovers for the poor, and instead gleans all the way to the corner so that they can turn a little bit of extra pro-profit, is not only sinning against the Old Testament law, but is committing murder in the strictest sense by refusing to preserve the life of these poor, uh, Christians who are destitute And again, James is encouraging his readers here that the Lord has not ignored their plight. We can think back to the Book of Habakkuk, where Habakkuk basically lodges a lawsuit against God, saying, "You are not paying attention. You're not doing your thing. You're not being faithful to your covenant." And God says, "Let me show you how faithful to my covenant I am. The Chaldeans are on the way." And Habakkuk is like, "Whoa, wait a second here. That's not what I had in mind." God sees the oppression of the poor. He knows when His people are targeted. He knows when children are abused or when widows are ignored. He knows when the government does something to shut down a church, or when the medical institution refuses to acknowledge your personal rights. He sees those things, and He's not ignorant, and He's not static. He's not sleeping on those things. The purpose here is to comfort the oppressed by showing that God is not ignorant of what has happened to them. Just two quick Old Testament examples that use similar language. In Genesis 4, we read of Cain and his murder of Abel, and in verse eight it says, "Cain spoke to Abel his brother, and when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' He said, 'I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?' And the Lord said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.'" Numbers, uh, 35 verses 30 says, "If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. And you shall accept no ransom from him who has fled to the city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land except for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it." There's a rich history in the Old Testament of language of inanimate things, land, blood, wealth, other kinds of things that give testimony to God in some way, and specifically of these inanimate, uh, impersonal things testifying to the sin of the people that dwell around them. Even Christ says, "If these people do not worship me, the rocks will cry out." Now, the rocks are not literally crying out, although it certainly would be within God's power to make the rocks sing. But Christ is not saying in that passage that the rocks are going to form mouths and begin singing Hosanna or whatever song they might have been doing. What he's saying is that the very rocks themselves give testimony to the glory and goodness of God. So even if the people around here fail to do so, the entire rest of creation is doing so, and that is what James is saying here. My dear brothers and sisters scattered in the dispersion who have nothing, and in society's eyes are nothing, some of you are facing persecution. Some of you will be killed for your faith, but God sees because the wealth that is being accumulated on the breaking of your own backs is crying out. The corrosion of that gold serves as evidence for the condemnation of those who are harming you We often want justice in the moment. I think we always want justice in the moment, don't we? I think it's a really hard discipline to say, "That person wronged me, but I'm okay letting God sort it out." That is a hard pill to swallow, but it is often the pill that we have to take. It's the medicine that God uses to further our justification, our j- our, uh, excuse me, our sanctification Paul says, you know, "Do not take vengeance. Let the Lord do that." We can trust, and this is where the comfort of this passage comes for us, brothers and sisters, we can trust that when we are wronged, that when someone has done something to us that is a violation of God's law, that that sin will be punished. Now, when we're dealing with other Christians, that sin has already been punished, and so it is not, it is not appropriate for us to hold onto that and to take vengeance. That's what the parable of the unmerciful servant is all about If I as a Christian refuse to forgive my brother and sister when they've wronged me, it's me saying that I'm a better judge of their sin and I'm a better executioner than the Lord is when he punished that sin on the cross. But that sin was not atoned for when we're talking about unbelievers. When we're talking about those who will ultimately end their earthly life and find themselves waking up in flames, that sin has not been atoned for, and so God will have his justice, and we will have our justice. We won't turn there, but in Revelation, we're familiar with the passage, I think it's chapter six, where the martyred saints are under the throne and they say, "How long, O Lord?" Well, God doesn't answer their question, but he gives them new clothes. When Job cries out and he's, he's saying, "I don't understand why this is happening. Why are you targeting me, God? Why, why are you a hunter with your arrows in my liver?" God doesn't tell him why, but he says, essentially, "I'm God and you're just going to have to trust me that this is right." We see a very similar, uh, kind of situation here when we think about when, uh, when Abraham, uh, when God tells Abraham what he's about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah, and then Abraham negotiates, apparently negotiates with God, uh, trying to secure the salvation of the city for the sake of the righteous. And we read starting in verse 20 of chapter 18, he says, "The Lord said to, to Abraham," he says, " 'Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. If not, I will know.' " God is always seeing and investigating the sin of people We're, we're teaching my son, August, the children's catechism, which is a, a great resource. Um, and one of the questions is, "Can you see God?" And the answer is, "No, but he always sees me." Now that may feel at first to some people like a little bit of a heavy-handed answer, but knowing that God sees us is not just there to correct our sin. It should do that, right? Even the secret sins we commit in the dark when, when we're not being watched by anyone else, even, even those God sees. But do you know what else He sees? He sees your pain. He sees your suffering. He sees your victories even when no one else is celebrating them. He sees your progress. He sees you, and that should be a great source of comfort Now this passage, especially verse six, can be a little bit hard to apply because although we're the targeted audience, we're not the target of the judgment oracle. So I think what we have to do, we have to, we have to think about this in light of the way that God talks about the judgment of unbelievers in other places in the scripture, and how that helps us to understand kind of what our, what our status is. If you'll take your Bibles and open to Matthew chapter 25, I think the, um, the account here of the goat and sheep judgment, uh, is instructive for us Starting in verse 31, it says, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory and the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King answered them, 'Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those on the left, 'Depart from me for you for, uh, depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, I was naked and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also, uh, they also will say, answer saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not minister to you?' Then he will answer them saying, 'Truly I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Now, this passage is sometimes understood as a general command to feed the poor or the sick, or to visit those in prisons, or any of the f- the sort of mercy ministry things that, that, um, are mentioned here. And those are all things that Christians should do, right? We should be engaged in, um, in mercy ministry to the poor, to those who are destitute. We should be mindful and thoughtful of those who have needs around us. What this passage is teaching, though, is not a general command to feed all people, but a specific command to care for your brothers and sisters in Christ when they have a need He doesn't say to the righteous, "You did these to everyone." He says, "Whatever you did to the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me." All of the things that are listed here, the, the six mercy ministries that are listed by Christ here, are things that persecuted Christians were suffering at the time, persecuted Jew- Jewish Christians, and that would be common experiences for, for Jewish Christians and for all persecuted Christians. Right? They're hungry. They don't have food. Our diaspora Jewish Christians don't have land to farm, and even if they're able to scrape together enough funding to lease out a farm, they're being, uh, they're being totally overwhelmed by the cost of that. The sort of homeowners association dues of these pyramid schemes that were going on in the first century, they were so exorbitant that it wasn't even subs- subsistence farming. Christians were being thrown in, uh, in prison. They didn't have enough money to replace their clothes when it wore out. They couldn't have access to clean water. We take clean water as such a, such a basic thing, and it's so easy. You just turn on the tap, or you just go to the store and you buy a bottle of $7 water. It wasn't like this in the first century. If you didn't have a well, you didn't have water, unless you had someone who cared enough to share this precious resource with you. And so what Christ is saying to, to his people, both in the immediate audience on the Sermon on the Mount, uh, and in this, the Olivet Discourse here, what he's saying to his people is when someone in the body of Christ does not have what they need, the body of Christ should step up and make sure that that is the case, that they take care of that person. And likewise, he's saying to those who are not a part of the body of Christ, "Depart from me, I never knew you." Now, the intro to this, why it sometimes is called a parable, is the sheep and the goats. We sometimes go way too far into the arena of comparing the behavior of sheeps with the behavior of the people here, right? Sheep are nice, they're affable, they listen to you. In reality, from what I understand, sheep are pretty dumb and can be very stubborn, right? And then we, we read and we go, "Goats are stubborn, they're rebellious, they're not really good for anything." Well, there's a reason people have goats on farms. They, they can be stubborn, right? They can be destructive, but they also serve a purpose. So the point here is not that sheep are good and goats are bad. The point is that sheep are not goats and goats are not sheep. And, uh, another point that comes with this is sheep don't become goats by behaving like goats, and goats don't become sheep by acting like sheep. I have some friends that will tell you they have very affectionate, friendly, lovable goats, right? I'd, I would... If I could get my kids one of those little pygmy goats that everybody loves, I would do that, 'cause they can be very kind, very sweet, and they're very smart. But they're not sheep. And if you read this passage carefully, this fact that those who are taken to the right are, are in fact taken to the right is not because they fed the poor. It's not because they ministered to Christ by feeding the least of these. They did those things because they were part of the kingdom The King says to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." The sheep on the right were always going to be the sheep on the right. They were predestined according to the counsel of God's will before all time to live and walk in good works. That's just Ephesians 2 there. That's also just James 2 there. You have faith, I will show you my faith by my works. This is evidence language, loved ones Likewise, the ones who are told to depart into eternal darkness were also predestined not to inherit this kingdom. No kingdom was prepared for them before the foundation of the world. They have no inheritance. They have nothing. They will end up in the state that they are trying to impose on these poor Jewish Christians. They will end up in the state that they may be trying to impose on some of us in this room And for the final verse here in, in chapter five, in verse six here, there's a lot of discussion and debate in the commentaries about who the identity of this righteous one is. It says, "You've condemned and murdered the righteous person, he does not resist you." Now, some commentators will take the fact that this is the singular righteous person, that he has been murdered and h- was condemned, and will take this as a reference to Christ. And that would, would make good sense, right? The Jewish, the wealthy Jewish landowners, the wealthy Jews in Jerusalem who per- who persecuted and cast out, um, the Christians, they were in the same group of people who condemned and murdered Jesus And at least at the time of writing this, and in many ways in our own day, God is not necessarily resisting them. He's allowing them to store up judgment for the coming day of wrath There are others who will take this as sort of the hypothetical singular, right? The righteous one or the righteous person is this, uh, representative hypothetical person that represents all of the persecuted Christians. And so it's more like saying, um, to the, the wealthy landowners who are persecuting Christians, "You have condemned and murdered the Christians, the righteous people, and we do not resist you." Now, at the end of the day, it's, it's always good to have good, sober, well-intentioned, text-based debates about what the Bible means. We can and we should try to convince others, uh, when we think they're wrong about what the scripture means. So that's not what I'm saying here. But in many ways, which of those two perspectives it actually is doesn't change the interpretation of this passage. Like we read in Matthew 25, like we read in Acts 9 when Christ comes and confronts Saul, what you do to God's people, you are doing to Christ himself. What you do to the body, you have done to the head. It's a little bit weird to say that when I stub my toe, I injure my head, but that's true, right? I don't injure my toe as though it's some separate piece. It's not like I'm a Lego man where I can just swap out a hand that gets cracked and put it back on. When I injure my toe, I injure myself. My whole body is injured even though it's specific to a part of my body. When you-- when someone persecutes you, when they, uh, try to extort your wealth, your funds, when they try to harm your body, when they try to take away your children, all things that are happening not just out there in the world, but in our country, even in our own region. When they try to tell you that because you don't wanna play a basketball game, that you can't play sports at all. When a city taxes a portion of a church's property because they don't think it's being used for religious purposes, they are doing that to Jesus Christ himself, and God will not be mocked This should call us both to faithfulness and to encouragement How people treat Christ or how people treat Christ's people, including how we trust, tr- uh, treat Christ's people, shows us what we think about Christ. The people who take care of the church do so because they love God, and they do it out of a regenerated heart that already loves God. And the people who hate the church do it because they hate Christ, and they do it out of their wickedness and out of their wicked heart This brings us back again to the thesis statement of James. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." And then he says later in that, uh, first chapter in verse nine, "Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass, he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower fails, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." Now, you're all coming up to the end of James here. Um, we probably have two, two more sermons, I would guess, and the rest of this chapter is reinforcing this. It's unpacking for the immediate audience and therefore for us, it's unpacking that although the rich have their punishment coming to them, that likewise our consolation, our comfort from Christ is also coming to us. He closes the whole letter out, he returns to his thesis statement to say, "I'm not going to pretend that the trials you're going through are joyful, but you can count it all joy." You can reckon it, you can impute it as joy, my brothers and sisters. You can put it in the joy column instead of the t- the pain column, right? We had discussion about the beautiful word imputation in the announcements and scripture reading in the beginning here Imputation is a, is an accounting term. And when we count it all joy, we're taking what should be a red line in the, in the loss ledger, right? We're taking what should be an expense, and we're able to move it to the profit. We're able to move it to the positive side, not because it didn't hurt and not because we wanted it to happen, but because our God is good enough to not rob us of the chance to be sanctified When we are oppressed and opposed, those who are oppressing and oppose us mean it for evil, just like Joseph's brothers, uh, and Pharaoh, and all sorts of wicked men in, in the Old Testament and in our own world. Pilate, Herod, you mean, you name it in the Bible, this applies. They meant their wicked acts for wicked things, but God, rich in mercy, works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. And what is that purpose? That we might be transformed into the image of Christ so that Christ may be glorified and He may be the firstborn among many brothers. When we face trials and suffering of every kind, it leads us to our sanctification and to our ultimate glorification. We do not earn those things. We don't sanctify ourselves any more than we justify ourselves, or that any more than we will glorify ourselves or will raise ourselves from the dead. That is all God's work from start to finish. But God does use these things that He brings us through as a way to bring about that work It's like he bends us over the hammer, over the anvil of trials, and he hammers us until we become a sharp sword in the hand of, in his hand. Or he polishes us with a rough cloth until we become a smooth, beautiful gem, right? Think of any number of refining things that need to be done. It always involves, if the thing was, uh, was a person, it always involves something that would hurt a little bit. It always involves a little bit of damage to wear away the impurities. Our sanctification and our glorification is no different than that. He uses adversity. He uses the wicked actions and intentions of, of evil men and women. He uses those things to glorify us. So although we should never, uh, we should never seek those things, right? You don't have to go and make yourself the soft target to the wicked people. It's okay to keep your head down. There's nothing wrong with that. The Jewish Christians were probably doing their best to keep their heads down most of the time, and that's fine. There's not any words in scripture about being a coward if you don't, if you don't put a target on your back. But your target is gonna get there eventually, and that's not a bad thing. We can welcome that. We can count it as joy because of who God is and what he's done. The supreme act of suffering, the supreme act of, of evil happened to the only innocent person there ever was, and it happened to him for us.  this episode is available below.

Episode Summary Senior IT change and adoption consultant Janie McNeil joins host Justin Lake to talk about why new technology so often goes unused, and what it actually takes to change that. She makes the case that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem: when workers aren't brought in early, tools that cost millions sit idle and the damage trickles downstream for months. Janie digs into using data to prove adoption is working, why frontline teams learn by doing and watching rather than reading dense documentation, and why change management and learning teams get the best results when they're pulled in from the start instead of the eleventh hour. She closes on AI, arguing that the way to get people to embrace it is to show them their worth, not warn them about restructuring, and she shares a simple task list anyone can use to see where AI helps and where a human is still the answer. It's a practical, empathetic look at keeping people at the center of technological change.   Key Topics The operational cost of poor technology adoption Downstream effects of adoption failure Bringing change management in early Measuring adoption with data The product manager's role in system success How frontline workers actually learn Change management and L&D working together Building trust to get involved sooner Supporting AI adoption without fear   Episode Chapters 00:00  Introduction to the episode and guest 00:30  Janie McNeil's background and expertise 01:02  The operational impact of failed technology adoption 01:35  The importance of early stakeholder engagement 02:00  The cost of unused tools and systems 02:47  Downstream effects of poor adoption 03:25  The prolonged impact of adoption issues 04:25  Measuring adoption through metrics and data 05:24  The role of product managers in system success 06:21  Aligning success metrics with organizational goals 07:17  The importance of user behavior and process adherence 08:00  Challenges faced by product managers 09:07  Diverse user groups and their needs 10:01  Including change management early in projects 11:12  The late involvement of change management teams 12:24  The undervaluation of change management 13:32  The power of data literacy in adoption 14:54  Using data storytelling to demonstrate value 16:04  Microsoft's investments in adoption tools 18:06  The ongoing challenge of software adoption 19:50  Supporting frontline workers through community and education 22:21  Effective learning methods for frontline teams 24:36  The strategic role of L&D and change management 26:43  Defining responsibilities of change management vs. L&D 28:45  Streamlining project delivery with integrated teams 30:56  The risks of delaying documentation and training 32:40  Building relationships and trust in change initiatives 36:50  Managing overwhelm and delegation in change projects 39:03  Supporting AI adoption and addressing fears 44:52  The importance of human value in technological change 47:02  Embracing AI as a tool for growth and development 48:38  Closing remarks and key takeaways   About Janie McNeil Janie McNeil is a senior IT change and adoption consultant who helps organizations turn new technology into lasting behavior change, working at the intersection of people and the tools meant to support them. She grew up in one of the world's largest manufacturing communities, and that experience shapes how she thinks about supporting frontline and deskless workers through change. Her work spans organizational change management, learning and development, product adoption, and using data to show that adoption is actually taking hold.   Resources Frontline Innovators Podcast: https://skyllful.com/podcast Connect with Janie McNeil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janie-rosales-mcneil Microsoft adoption resources: https://adoption.microsoft.com Prosci change management resources: https://www.prosci.com

The YAs tackle 1 Corinthians 9 themselves looking at Paul's rights that he doesn't take advantage of for the sake of the gospel.

Free Copy of My Book: Building Wealth In the TSP: Your Road Map To Financial Freedom as A Federal Employee: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/free-tsp-e-book Want to schedule a consultation? Click here: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/whatservicemakessense I am a practicing financial planner, but I'm not your financial planner. Please consult with your own tax, legal and financial advisors for personalized advice.

Stuart Keating, Executive Director of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis is working with St. Louis Public Schools on how to save at least some of the historic buildings they no longer need. He joins Debbie Monterrey.

Nick Halter from Axios joins Jordana to talk about the future of housing in Minneapolis.

Can a rental property put $30,000 in your pocket without adding $30,000 to your taxable income? Let's talk about rental property tax strategiesMike explains how rental real estate can create tax savings even when you can't use rental losses to offset your business or W-2 income. He breaks down the difference between cash flow and taxable income, how depreciation can shelter rental income, and what happens to suspended passive losses. He also covers short-term rental rules, real estate professional status, common entity mistakes, and the key questions to ask before buying a rental property.

In a shocking tale of technology gone wrong, a speaker shares a personal experience that highlights the darker side of automated surveillance in retail. A chance encounter at a self-checkout lane sparks a journey into the world of facial recognition technology, false accusations, and the consequences of a system that's more interested in collecting money than justice.This episode delves into the world of shoplifting accusations, where a machine's mistake can lead to a lifetime of financial burden. The speaker shares a case that's both disturbing and thought-provoking, involving a woman who was accused of shoplifting and ultimately awarded $2.1 million in damages. But what's even more alarming is the system that led to this outcome, and the way it's being used across the country.The speaker takes us on a journey through the world of civil shoplifting statutes, where the burden of proof is often shifted from the retailer to the accused. We explore the concept of "probable cause" and how it's being used to justify detentions and accusations, often with devastating consequences. The speaker also examines the role of facial recognition technology and the companies behind it, including Walmart's use of the "Missed Scan Detection" system.If you're concerned about your rights as a consumer, or if you've ever been accused of shoplifting, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we explore the darker side of retail technology and the importance of standing up for your rights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Free Copy of My Book: Building Wealth In the TSP: Your Road Map To Financial Freedom as A Federal Employee: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/free-tsp-e-book Want to schedule a consultation? Click here: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/whatservicemakessense I am a practicing financial planner, but I'm not your financial planner. Please consult with your own tax, legal and financial advisors for personalized advice.

With peace talks continuing between the US and Iran, what are the big sticking points and what does this all mean for Israel? Following Starmer's resignation, what should we expect next from Downing Street? And after Peter Murrell was sentenced for embezzlement this week, is the SNP finally drawing a line under the affair?Luke is joined by four of The Times' finest journalists to answer your questions on this week's big stories.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Rebecca Myers, foreign editor, The Sunday TimesLizzie Deane, news editor, The TimesDaniel Sanderson, Scottish political editor, The TimesMark Sellman, technology correspondent, The TimesHost: Luke JonesProducers: Harry Bligh, Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Marco Rubio kicks off Gulf tour to sell Iran deal to sceptical alliesFurther listening: How infinite scrolling damages our brains Clips: Sky News, Fox News, The Guardian, GB News.Photo: Getty Images. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Questions? Comments? We love feedback! Email us at info@baishavaad.org  Rav Yosef GreenwaldQuestion: My friend heard that I have some extra space in my warehouse and asked if he could rent the space to store some boxes there. I declined because I wanted the space available in case I needed it. I went away for a few weeks and, when I got back, I saw that he had stored boxes there without my permission. Can I bill him? Answer: At first glance, this seems a classic case of Zeh Nehene v'Zeh Lo Chaser. The case the Gemara discusses involves a person who moves into his friend's house without him being aware and without causing any loss to the homeowner. This would be very improbable today because when someone moves into his friend's house or bungalow, he would inevitably cause the owner some expense through his usage of electricity and water. In the case in question, however, the friend is merely putting his boxes down in a warehouse. If he doesn't turn on the lights or water, he isn't causing any loss to the owner at all. However, the Shulchan Aruch rules that if a potential customer makes it clear that he would have been willing to pay the owner for the usage, he can be charged for his usage even if no agreement was ever reached. In this case, since the friend clearly indicated that he would have been willing to pay rent for the warehouse space, putting his boxes down is considered a consummation of that proposal, and he would have to pay if he did end up using the space.  

One of the least talked about yet most potent highways into happiness is making things that cause you to get to know potential you didn't know you had. As we grow more aware of our natural genius and create things that are beautiful, excellent and original, a sleeping part of us begins to see the light of day. We realize how talented we are. We feel more alive. And our joy soars.My latest book “The Wealth Money Can't Buy” is full of fresh ideas and original tools that I'm absolutely certain will cause quantum leaps in your positivity, productivity, wellness, and happiness. You can order it now by clicking here.FOLLOW ROBIN SHARMA:InstagramFacebookYouTube

Unused parts of the GPO complex will be given over for use as community-event spaces on an interim basis while a master plan to redevelop the site is being worked on, Cabinet will be told this week.Some of the suggestions that have been made are to use the GPO as a music venue, or to host retail and food markets.Joining Ciara and Shane to discuss this is Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent Columnist and Architect.

Welcome to the third episode of Group Dentistry Now & Black Talon Security's Dental Cyber Watch Live. As dental groups rush to adopt artificial intelligence, many are spending on tools no one uses and feeding patient data into platforms no one controls. The result is wasted budget, hidden liability, and growing security exposure. In this episode of Dental Cyber Watch Live, Bill Neumann (CEO, Group Dentistry Now) sat down with Gary Salman (Co-founder and CEO, Black Talon Security) and Matthew McGaw (founder, DSO Compass; co-founder, Relay) to unpack the promise and peril of AI in dentistry. The clear message for DSOs of every size: AI is transformative, but only when paired with governance, training, and due diligence. Here are the key takeaways. Shadow AI: The Risk You Can't See Shadow AI is the unmonitored use of large language models — ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude — by employees without policy, oversight, or controls. Staff turn to these tools to work faster. The problem is that no one is watching what data goes in. Salman described the scope at a recent DSO event with roughly 20 leaders, representing practices from 10 to 200-plus locations. Most reported a mix of LLMs already in use across their teams. Few had standard operating procedures governing what could be entered. Fewer still had any technology to monitor that activity. The exposure is real. Information uploaded to a free model may be anonymized, but it can resurface when others ask similar questions. "When the product's free, you're the product. They're not doing you a favor." — Gary Salman, Black Talon Security For an organization handling protected health information, that is a compliance event waiting to happen. The fix doesn't require shutting AI down — it requires structure: enable privacy settings so platforms don't train on your data, write SOPs that define what can and cannot be entered, and train staff on why it matters. The AI Graveyard: Paying for Tools No One Uses The "AI graveyard" is where promising technology goes to die. It's the software a DSO bought with enthusiasm, then abandoned because of poor implementation, failed training, low adoption, or clunky integration — while the subscription keeps billing. McGaw pointed to two familiar culprits: "shiny object syndrome" and the "Hawaiian shirt guy effect," where a charismatic salesperson wins the room and the product never fits the problem. Neumann offered a grounded example. Some automations at Group Dentistry Now worked well. Others proved clunky and were better handled manually. A buried tool isn't just a wasted subscription. It drains training hours, erodes staff confidence in future rollouts, and makes the next investment harder to champion. The escape route is unglamorous but reliable: plan, implement, and train before you scale. Roll out to a small group, confirm adoption, refine the workflow, then expand. Design Backward, Build Forward The smartest framing of the conversation came from a concept Salman credited to Andy Farina of Destination DSO: design backward, build forward. Understand the problem you're solving first, then align products to it — never the reverse. Most purchasing runs backward. A leader sees an exciting tool, then invents a reason to need it. McGaw captured the trap: "Sometimes the problem that they think they have to solve isn't always the problem that is really the problem." Salman's advice for separating substance from hype was blunt: "Stay away from the shiny penny and buy the gold." Before any AI purchase, leaders should define the problem, set clear criteria for success, evaluate fit against those criteria, and only then buy. Vendor Due Diligence — and Who's Really Liable Many DSO leaders misunderstand a critical point: under HIPAA, breach liability sits with the healthcare entity — the DSO — not the software or technology provider. Assuming the vendor carries that risk is a dangerous shortcut. That makes cyber due diligence non-negotiable. Before signing with any AI vendor, ask: How do they access, store, and share data? Who, specifically, has access to it? What security measures protect it? Salman's larger point: security should be the first question in any technology evaluation, not the last. Too often it's raised only after the contract is signed and the data is already flowing. Building AI Securely The throughline of the discussion was AI governance, risk, and compliance treated as a foundation, not an afterthought. For organizations handling patient data, that distinction separates innovation from exposure. Leaders should expect real safeguards from any tool touching PHI: scrubbing confidential data like dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and patient health information on upload; annotating sources so answers can be traced; flagging possible hallucinations; and hashing files to protect their integrity. Pair those safeguards with disciplined implementation, and today's investment doesn't become tomorrow's graveyard occupant. Protecting What You've Built AI is a genuine opportunity for DSOs willing to pair ambition with discipline. The risk isn't the technology — it's deploying it without control. Three steps to start now: Audit current AI usage to learn which tools your team uses and what data flows into them. Establish AI governance and SOPs before the next tool goes live. Make vendor security due diligence standard, with security as the opening question. Is your DSO adopting AI faster than it can secure it? Get these fundamentals in place, and AI stops being a liability waiting to surface — and becomes the advantage it promised to be for your practice and your patients. Get the MAX Surgical Specialty Management Case Study: https://dso.pub/4v8OwfP  

In today's talk, I break down what negging is, whether or not you should do it, and whether or not it works. CONQUER SHYNESS

New data shows former politicians are taking the taxpayers for a ride. A new article in the Spinoff has revealed the Government has been spending around $300,000 per year to provide Crown limousines to former Prime Ministers and their spouses - even though the service goes mostly unused. Remuneration Authority chair Geoff Summers says it's unclear if these costs could be cut as a result. "All it says is that when a person stops being a Prime Minister, as the Royal Commission said way back then - it inevitably attracts obligations of a social nature that don't disappear with retirement." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes the hardest clutter to let go of is not the thing itself.It is the version of ourselves we hoped it would help us become.The yoga mat for the daily practice we imagined. The craft supplies for the creative afternoons we thought we would have. The kitchen gadget, the unread books, the course, the clothes, the resources, the hobby equipment, all waiting for a future life that may not actually fit who we are today.And that can feel surprisingly emotional.Because aspirational clutter is often tied to hope, good intentions, identity, and the pressure to become a better, calmer, more organized version of ourselves.In this episode, you'll learn:What aspirational clutter is and why it can feel so difficult to declutterWhy we often hold onto items for an imagined future version of ourselvesHow things like craft supplies, fitness equipment, books, kitchen gadgets, courses, and clothes can become identity clutterWhy keeping something does not bring back the money you spent on itHow aspirational clutter can contribute to clutter stress, emotional overwhelm, mental overload, and the feeling that you are constantly falling short The difference between genuinely wanting to do something and liking the idea of being someone who does itTwo simple decluttering questions that can provide instant clarity when you are struggling with decluttering guilt Why motherhood, neurodivergence, self-improvement goals, and changing interests can all create their own unique forms of family clutter and personal clutter How letting go of unused items can allow someone else to benefit from themIf you have shelves, drawers, boxes, or cupboards filled with things for a future version of yourself, this episode is an invitation to look at them with honesty and compassion.Because life changes. Priorities shift. And sometimes the things we once hoped for no longer fit the season of life we are in now.Here's to making space for who you are today,CarolineThanks for listening! For more organizational motivation, support and free resources:Join my online membership Clutter Free CollectiveJoin my podcast Facebook group Living Clutter Free Forever Podcast: KonMari® Inspired Organizing | FacebookVisit my website www.caroline-thor.com Come and say 'hi' on Instagram @caro.thor Follow me on Facebook @carolineorganizer 

Bong Misajon is Founder at Nextkpr. Nextkpr is a circular‑economy platform that transforms unused items into renewed value and regenerative funding for causes. Renewed value is realized by finding the next keeper of an unused item — the person who will give it continued purpose and extended life. Nextkpr uses raffle - a game of chance - to facilitate fundraising and selling of unused items. This episode is recorded live at Yspaces in BGC, Taguig. Yspaces is our official Co-working and Event Space Partner.In this episode:00:00 Introduction01:19 Ano ang Nextkpr?11:08 What is the startup trying to solve? 35:26 What are the stories and vision of the team? 01:08:03 How can listeners find more information?01:12:07 Nextkpr has changed its allocation method from chance to a deterministic model based on member participation signalsNEXTKPRWebsite: https://nextkpr.comLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nextkprTHIS EPISODE IS CO-PRODUCED BY:OneCFO: https://onecfoph.coKredit Hero: https://kredithero.comYspaces: https://knowyourspaceph.comSymph: https://symph.coTwala: https://www.twala.ioGigGenius: https://gig-genius.ioSkoolTek by Edfolio: https://skooltek.coRed Circle Global: https://www.redcircleglobal.comCHECK OUT OUR PARTNERS:Ask Lex PH Academy: https://asklexph.com (5% discount on e-learning courses! Code: ALPHAXSUP)CloudCFO: https://cloudcfo.ph (Free financial assessment, process onboarding, and 6-month QuickBooks subscription! Mention: Start Up Podcast PH)ArkoTech: https://www.arkotechspacesolutions.comDVCode Technologies Inc: https://dvcode.techArgum AI: http://argum.aiPIXEL by Eplayment: https://pixel.eplayment.co/auth/sign-up?r=PIXELXSUP1 (Sign up using Code: PIXELXSUP1)School of Profits: https://schoolofprofits.academyFounders Launchpad: https://founderslaunchpad.vcHier Business Solutions: https://hierpayroll.comAgile Data Solutions (Hustle PH): https://agiledatasolutions.techSmile Checks: https://getsmilechecks.comCloverly: https://cloverly.techBuddyBetes: https://buddybetes.comHyperstacks: https://hyperstacksinc.comWunderbrand: https://wunderbrand.comUplift Code Camp: https://upliftcodecamp.com (5% discount on bootcamps and courses! Code: UPLIFTSTARTUPPH)START UP PODCAST PHYouTube: https://youtube.com/startuppodcastphSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6BObuPvMfoZzdlJeb1XXVaApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-up-podcast/id1576462394Facebook: https://facebook.com/startuppodcastphPatreon: https://patreon.com/StartUpPodcastPHPIXEL: https://pixel.eplayment.co/dl/startuppodcastphWebsite: https://phstartup.onlineThis episode is edited by the team at: https://tasharivera.com

Aisling Moloney, Irish Independent Political Reporter

For 14 years, the path ahead seemed clear.From Radio Sport to Sky Sport, each step in Goran Paladin's broadcasting career naturally led to the next. Then suddenly, the industry changed. His contract wasn't renewed. The station where he started no longer existed.What happens when the roadmap disappears?Cue  ⁨@TheUnusedSubs⁩  A 'has-been' and a 'never-was' talk to pro footballers and pundits about the beautiful game, and share the stories they've gathered along the way.Sometimes the biggest opportunities arrive disguised as endings.Check out  @TheUnusedSubs  on YouTube and Spotify Come check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ashburton Eyecare⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ashburton.eyecare/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ryanoconnornz/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stagryan/  Twitter https://twitter.com/stagryan  Tik Tok @ryanstagoconnor  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WaiKeto/  Blog https://stagryan.com/

We took an old steel box and put stuff in it that we don't use very much. The unused box then became the box for stuff we don't use. Don't let this happen in your life.Life lived is life learned. Every experience has facts, concepts and applications.  These arestories from the eclectic life of Lonnie Jones, Licensed ProfessionalCounselor, Minister, SWAT Team Chaplain, Outdoor Enthusiast, Quixotic Jedi andholder of an honorary doctorate from the University of Adversity.  To Support this podcast projectplease send gifts via Venmo @Lonnie-Jones-19 or use Cash App$Lonniejones3006.    Please follow us and share. Want lonnie to speak at yourevent?  Contact:  lonjones@bellsouth.net Check out YouTube for thelive eye view while the episode was being recorded.  Also look for archived lessons, Skits, and videosshowing/explaining some of the rope stuff we talk about.  YouTube.com/@LonnieJones Visit www.lonniejones.org  to find links tooriginal art, swag, 550guys and the following books:"Cognitive SpiritualDevelopment: A Christ Centered Approach to Spiritual Self Esteem";"Grappling With Life. Controlling Your Inside Space";"Pedagogue" The Youth Ministry Book by Lonnie Jones; "If I Werea Mouse" a children's story written and illustrated by Lonnie Jones;"The Selfish Rill, a story about a decision" A fantasy parableby Lonnie Jones.   T-shirts, stickers, prints and other art at www.teespring.com/stores/lonnie-jones-art https://lonnie-jones-art.creator-spring.com/listing/buy-podcast-swag?products=46  #www.worldchristian.org#tkminc2001@twlakes.net #www.hcu.edu #hpcitizensfoundation.orgFaulkner.edu/kgst  graduateenrollment@faulkner.edu    

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Irene Mpolweni, former Director-General of Military Veterans, about reports that 7,000 tablets purchased for military veterans at a cost of R53 million have remained unused for years. The discussion explores government planning, implementation failures and broader questions about how support programmes for veterans are designed and delivered. 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg-based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team brings you all you need to know to start your day Thank you for listening. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 6 am to 9 am (SA Time) https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show and catch-up podcasts, visit Primedia+ here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Let’s keep the conversation going online: 702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Nathan Huba | 05/31/2026

To tell us more about these swarms, Grace McCormack, Zoology Professor at the University of Galway.

The first of 7 director interviews Wilson conducted at this year's Hong Kong International Film Festival. Mary Stephen is a legend in world cinema, having worked as an editor for Éric Rohmer and Ann Hui, and being a celebrated film director in her own right. Wilson chats with Mary about her latest film, the personal documentary PALIMPSEST: THE STORY OF A NAME — its twisty narrative structure, its relationship to memory and family, and her deep ties to the city of Hong Kong. They also dig into her remarkable career as an editor, from switching between film and digital, to her creative collaborations with Rohmer, Ann Hui, and Jessey Tsang, and what she carries from that work into her own filmmaking.Links:Trace your roots in our  FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.com Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:08 Mary presenting her film to Hong Kong audiences05:03 Palimpsest's twisty narrative07:04 How being an editor influenced her filmmaking 08:25 Narration and narrative in the film10:27 Unused archive footage 12:27 Mary's relationship with her family15:11 Mary's relationship with Hong Kong17:33 Editing: Switching from film to digital19:20 Working with Eric Rohmer30:13 Collaborations with Ann Hui and Jessey Tsang35:41 Working with collaborators as a director herself38:43 Closing

In this episode, Michael shares details from a major internal platform shift at work, including the decision to completely remove an underused public JSON API and rebuild integrations around real customer needs instead of hypothetical use cases. The conversation dives deep into Laravel Passport, Sanctum, OAuth flows, request authorisation, and some tricky edge cases around testing authenticated APIs.Jake then broadens the conversation into AI infrastructure, local model hosting, security implications of autonomous AI systems, NVIDIA hardware demand, and the future potential of photonic processors as a solution to the growing power and cooling bottlenecks facing AI workloads.Show linksLaravel PassportLaravel SanctumLaravel Passport actingAs testing helpersPHP enumsPHPStanLarastanZapierClaudeNVIDIA DGX systemsPhotonic processors

#709: Keith Wargo has spent decades navigating one of the most daunting financial planning challenges a family can face: raising a child with a developmental disability. He joins us to share what families need to know. The financial stakes are significant. Keith, who is the CEO of Autism Speaks, estimates lifetime care costs for a person with a developmental disability can run between $1.4 and $2.4 million - and that figure may be conservative. Yet many families put off financial planning because the day-to-day demands of caregiving leave little room for anything else. One of the first things Keith walks us through is the federal benefits system. Medicaid and SSI are the primary lifelines for many families, but qualifying takes time - for Keith's family, it took three years of meetings and paperwork. There's also a critical detail: SSI requires the individual to have no more than $2,000 in assets in their name. A well-intentioned inheritance from a grandparent can wipe out eligibility overnight. That's why Keith recommends a special needs trust for most families. Assets held in the trust don't count against federal benefit limits. He also recommends pairing the trust with a "second to die" life insurance policy - one that pays out after both parents are gone - to help fund it. ABLE accounts round out the toolkit. Similar to a 529 plan, they allow tax-free contributions of up to $20,000 per year for a person with a qualifying disability. The funds cover everyday expenses like food, transportation, and entertainment. Unused 529 funds can also be rolled into an ABLE account, up to $20,000 per year. Keith also addresses trustee succession - who manages the money after the parents are gone, and who steps in after that person. His advice: start building a network early, revisit the plan every few years, and bring siblings into the financial conversation sooner than feels necessary. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths. (00:00) The Financial Reality of Developmental Disabilities (02:00) Caregiving's financial toll on families (03:41) Keith's background (04:26) His son AJ's diagnosis and journey (07:08) Rights and services end at age 22 (08:06) Medicaid, SSI, and SSDI explained (14:12) The $2,000 asset limit for SSI eligibility (14:33) Why special needs trusts matter (16:04) Life insurance as a funding tool (23:08) Planning two retirements simultaneously (25:04) ABLE accounts - the basics (27:06) ABLE account balance limits by state (36:35) Employment opportunities for neurodiverse workers (42:11) Fraud and safety risks to be aware of (51:15) Trustee succession planning (53:22) Rolling 529 funds into ABLE accounts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Answering listener questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the stories from today's show in THE STACK: https://justinbarclay.comJoin Justin in the MAHA revolution - http://HealthWithJustin.comProTech Heating and Cooling - http://ProTechGR.com New gear is here! Check out the latest in the Justin Store: https://justinbarclay.com/storeKirk Elliott PHD - FREE consultation on wealth conservation - http://GoldWithJustin.comTry Cue Streaming for just $2 / day and help support the good guys https://justinbarclay.com/cueUp to 80% OFF! Use promo code JUSTIN http://MyPillow.com/JustinPatriots are making the Switch! What if we could start voting with our dollars too? http://SwitchWithJustin.com

WSJM Morning News for 04-15-26See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever come home from a trip with thousands of photos and no plan for what to do with them, this episode is for you. Whitney sits down with email marketing expert and travel advisor Kaytee Fisher to unpack one of the most common struggles in a travel business: unused content. Together, they explore why so much valuable content goes to waste and how to turn past trips into long-term marketing assets that actually drive bookings. Kaytee shares simple but powerful frameworks for storytelling, content repurposing, and aligning your messaging with what your clients actually care about. The conversation also dives into how to think about content strategically over time, not just during and immediately after a trip. If you're ready to stop letting your best content collect dust and start using it to grow your travel business, this episode will give you the clarity and structure to do it.Join Kaytee's FAM Marketing Playbook workshop on May 6, 2026 - https://moxieandfourth.myflodesk.com/fam-workshop

WSJM Afternoon News for 04-14-26See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deciding what to do with unused embryos after IVF can feel overwhelming, lonely, and loaded with grief. In this episode, we talk honestly about the emotional weight of unused embryos and why so many people get stuck here for years. I walk through the most common options clinics offer, explain what each one actually means, and introduce additional paths like compassionate transfer and using ritual when none of the standard choices feel right for you. Then I share a simple 3‑step system to help you move forward when you feel completely stuck, so you can make decisions that align with your values and find some peace with whatever you choose. In this episode you'll learn: Why unused embryos bring up such big and conflicting feelings What your clinic's standard options really involve (storage, donation, research, disposal, and more) What a compassionate transfer is and when it may be offered How ritual and meaning‑making can help with grief around unused embryos A practical 3‑step process to move from paralysis to the next right decision for you If you're facing decisions about unused embryos and feel torn, this conversation is for you. You are not alone, and there is a way through. For more support around IVF, donor conception, and surrogacy, check the links in the show notes.

Happy Freedom Friday! The show kicks off with Sam celebrating an anniversary and Jon explaining why his routine was thrown off yesterday. Jon revisits allocating tax dollars for newspapers. MN Rep Max Rymer joins the show to offer his thoughts on legislative options for local media and St. Paul discretionary bonus payouts.

Happy Freedom Friday! The show kicks off with Sam celebrating an anniversary and Jon explaining why his routine was thrown off yesterday. Jon revisits allocating tax dollars for newspapers. MN Rep Max Rymer joins the show to offer his thoughts on legislative options for local media and St. Paul discretionary bonus payouts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Bernstein opens with a produced satirical cold open recapping the full lunacy of the Iran war, then dives into why the Kash Patel hack was probably Iran flexing that they have more dirt where that came from. The episode centers on the growing case for breaking up with Israel: other countries are paying Iran for Hormuz access, creating a natural off-ramp to the war that only Israel loses from -- and Donald Trump might finally be cornered into choosing between Netanyahu and reality. Rob tears through clips of Caroline Levitt insisting Iran has "already been defeated" while Iran blows up a $300 million plane and strikes Israeli desalination plants, Marco Rubio's goalpost-shifting "weeks not months" timeline that's now past a month, Netanyahu telling Trump to ignore anti-war polls, and Ben Shapiro's pitch for ground troops that boils down to "we have a military so we might as well use it." Trump's staff reveals they have an unofficial rule of waiting for him to say something twice before acting on it because he says too much crazy stuff, and Rob proposes a 24-hour confirmation system for presidential statements. The show wraps with USAID green energy grift allegations in Ukraine, the TSA self-funding fix, and DeSantis spending $2 million to rename an airport after Trump. Full episode on YouTube: RobbieTheFire More content and paywalled episodes at robbernsteincomedy.com -- all five bucks a month. Merch at: RobbernsteinMerch.com Sponsors: YOKRATOM.com --- ## Chapters 00:00:00 - Cold Open: The Iran War Satirical Newsreel 00:06:07 - Kash Patel Hack: Iran Flexing They Got More 00:07:01 - Countries Paying Iran for Hormuz Access: The Off-Ramp 00:09:52 - Cut Your Losses and Break Up With Israel 00:12:09 - Trump Wants His Signature on US Currency 00:13:35 - Trump's Negotiation Timeline: 5 Days, 10 Days, 15 Days 00:14:06 - Iran Blows Up a Kurdish Oil Tanker and a $300M Plane 00:15:14 - The Military's "95% Obliterated" Lie 00:16:57 - New York Post Selling the War: Ex-General Says We're Ahead of Schedule 00:17:42 - Roll the Clip: Rubio's War Timetable 00:19:17 - Rubio on Iran: Imagine If They Spent Money on Their People 00:20:42 - Rubio's Weeks Not Months Claim vs. Reality 00:23:06 - Netanyahu Says War Beyond Halfway Point, Tells Trump to Ignore Polls 00:25:28 - War Progress Report: Only 30% of Stockpiles Destroyed 00:26:00 - Trump on the Aircraft Carrier Getting Hit 00:27:05 - 13 US Bases Uninhabitable and Remote Work Joke 00:27:44 - Caroline Levitt: Iran Has Already Been Defeated 00:30:05 - Monty Python "Tis But a Scratch" Iran Comparison 00:30:40 - The Hill: Trump's Staff Waits for Him to Say It Twice 00:33:41 - Comments Break 00:37:40 - Trump Distracted by a Gold Tractor 00:38:26 - Proposal: ADD Trump Off These Topics with Atlantis 00:39:44 - Trump on Unused 10-Year-Old Equipment (Epstein Context) 00:40:25 - Trump's 15-Point Iran Truce Plan Lets Missiles Slide 00:42:54 - Trump Annoyed France Won't Share Airspace 00:44:53 - Europe Breaking Up With Israel Over Oil 00:45:15 - Ben Shapiro's Pitch for Ground Troops 00:46:00 - This Is COVID All Over Again: Two Weeks to Slow the Curve 00:48:12 - Shapiro Flips the Script: "Military Activity Is Necessary" 00:50:51 - Iranian Propaganda Guy Mocking Trump and Epstein Connection 00:53:02 - Mark Levin Troops on the Ground Tease 00:53:18 - Trump on Fox: My Uncle at MIT Knew Nukes 00:55:37 - Hegseth on Hormuz Tolling: "Unacceptable" 00:58:03 - Producer Man Technical Difficulties 00:58:23 - Netanyahu "I Can Control the Height of the Flames" Leaked Video 01:00:34 - USAID Ukraine Clean Energy Grift Allegations 01:02:53 - At Least Trump Gives Us Real Problems (Not Climate Nonsense) 01:03:29 - Ice Core CO2 Study: Both Sides Claim Victory 01:04:27 - TSA Self-Funding Fix: Just Charge $10 a Ticket 01:05:30 - Politicians Only Fix Things When It Affects Their Flights 01:07:06 - Florida Renames Palm Beach Airport for Trump 01:07:34 - Comments, Paywall Tease, and Sign-Off

Rob Bernstein opens with a produced satirical cold open recapping the full lunacy of the Iran war, then dives into why the Kash Patel hack was probably Iran flexing that they have more dirt where that came from. The episode centers on the growing case for breaking up with Israel: other countries are paying Iran for Hormuz access, creating a natural off-ramp to the war that only Israel loses from -- and Donald Trump might finally be cornered into choosing between Netanyahu and reality. Rob tears through clips of Caroline Levitt insisting Iran has "already been defeated" while Iran blows up a $300 million plane and strikes Israeli desalination plants, Marco Rubio's goalpost-shifting "weeks not months" timeline that's now past a month, Netanyahu telling Trump to ignore anti-war polls, and Ben Shapiro's pitch for ground troops that boils down to "we have a military so we might as well use it." Trump's staff reveals they have an unofficial rule of waiting for him to say something twice before acting on it because he says too much crazy stuff, and Rob proposes a 24-hour confirmation system for presidential statements. The show wraps with USAID green energy grift allegations in Ukraine, the TSA self-funding fix, and DeSantis spending $2 million to rename an airport after Trump.Full episode on YouTube: RobbieTheFireMore content and paywalled episodes at robbernsteincomedy.com -- all five bucks a month.Merch at: RobbernsteinMerch.comSponsors: YOKRATOM.com---## Chapters00:00:00 - Cold Open: The Iran War Satirical Newsreel00:06:07 - Kash Patel Hack: Iran Flexing They Got More00:07:01 - Countries Paying Iran for Hormuz Access: The Off-Ramp00:09:52 - Cut Your Losses and Break Up With Israel00:12:09 - Trump Wants His Signature on US Currency00:13:35 - Trump's Negotiation Timeline: 5 Days, 10 Days, 15 Days00:14:06 - Iran Blows Up a Kurdish Oil Tanker and a $300M Plane00:15:14 - The Military's "95% Obliterated" Lie00:16:57 - New York Post Selling the War: Ex-General Says We're Ahead of Schedule00:17:42 - Roll the Clip: Rubio's War Timetable00:19:17 - Rubio on Iran: Imagine If They Spent Money on Their People00:20:42 - Rubio's Weeks Not Months Claim vs. Reality00:23:06 - Netanyahu Says War Beyond Halfway Point, Tells Trump to Ignore Polls00:25:28 - War Progress Report: Only 30% of Stockpiles Destroyed00:26:00 - Trump on the Aircraft Carrier Getting Hit00:27:05 - 13 US Bases Uninhabitable and Remote Work Joke00:27:44 - Caroline Levitt: Iran Has Already Been Defeated00:30:05 - Monty Python "Tis But a Scratch" Iran Comparison00:30:40 - The Hill: Trump's Staff Waits for Him to Say It Twice00:33:41 - Comments Break00:37:40 - Trump Distracted by a Gold Tractor00:38:26 - Proposal: ADD Trump Off These Topics with Atlantis00:39:44 - Trump on Unused 10-Year-Old Equipment (Epstein Context)00:40:25 - Trump's 15-Point Iran Truce Plan Lets Missiles Slide00:42:54 - Trump Annoyed France Won't Share Airspace00:44:53 - Europe Breaking Up With Israel Over Oil00:45:15 - Ben Shapiro's Pitch for Ground Troops00:46:00 - This Is COVID All Over Again: Two Weeks to Slow the Curve00:48:12 - Shapiro Flips the Script: "Military Activity Is Necessary"00:50:51 - Iranian Propaganda Guy Mocking Trump and Epstein Connection00:53:02 - Mark Levin Troops on the Ground Tease00:53:18 - Trump on Fox: My Uncle at MIT Knew Nukes00:55:37 - Hegseth on Hormuz Tolling: "Unacceptable"00:58:03 - Producer Man Technical Difficulties00:58:23 - Netanyahu "I Can Control the Height of the Flames" Leaked Video01:00:34 - USAID Ukraine Clean Energy Grift Allegations01:02:53 - At Least Trump Gives Us Real Problems (Not Climate Nonsense)01:03:29 - Ice Core CO2 Study: Both Sides Claim Victory01:04:27 - TSA Self-Funding Fix: Just Charge $10 a Ticket01:05:30 - Politicians Only Fix Things When It Affects Their Flights01:07:06 - Florida Renames Palm Beach Airport for Trump01:07:34 - Comments, Paywall Tease, and Sign-Off

Episode 160 of the Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast, where amp tech Skip Simmons fields all of your questions about tube amps.  Thank our sponsors: Grez Guitars; Emerald City Guitars and Amplified Parts.  Some of the topics discussed this week: 1:09 Fishing and weather report, Tule fog 4:43 Skip's amp backlog 5:19 A West guitar amp with a Dynaco 454216 transformer, a paper plate breakfast hack 10:45 Our sponsors! 12:56 What's on Skip's bench: A 1950 Princeton, a White amplifier, a Tweed Deluxe AND a Vibrolux; Electromuse amps 14:39 The Lonesome Captain's music video (YouTube link) 17:31 A Webster-Chicago 166-1 with a post phase-inverter tone control 20:36 The Valco/National/Supro single 6V6 with reverb and tremolo 28:06 A Silvertone 1472 with replaced parts; terminal strip grounds 30:55 Two filter cap Princetons (link to TDPRI forum) 32:11 An original Garnet Session Man; modding a Masco ME-27; recommended reading 39:49 The Wood Wire & Volts show; the Benson Babylon (as mentioned on episode 158!) 44:16 Speaker impedance mismatch on a Danelectro amp and its effect on tone, Spanish rice, Goya pasta 50:21 Suggestions for an unused triode in a Geloso G226A amp 54:32 Bill Krinard's return?; Dr. Z's new, single-ended PhD amp; Emery Sound amps 57:18 A new speaker for my Traynor YGM-3?; Peavey amps; smoked pork tenderlions 1:03:35 Making a baby Leslie speaker at home and adding caps to filter out EMI/interference (check out more pics on our Patreon) 1:11:00 Getting spray paint off a grill cloth (3M Safest Stripper); fixing a Fender speaker baffle; and a cursed reverb unit 1:16:50 A Cunningham CX322 tube giveaway; Alembic stereo pre-amps, redux Note: Starting around minute 60, our Zoom connection went bad and Skip can be a little hard to hear. We tried to clean it up as best we could. Sorry! Want amp tech Skip Simmons' advice on your DIY guitar amp projects? Want to share your top secret family recipe? Need relationship advice? Join us by sending your voice memo or written questions to podcast@fretboardjournal.com! Include a photo, too. Want to support the show? Join our Patreon page to get to the front of the advice line, see exclusive pics, the occasional video and more.  Hosted by amp tech Skip Simmons and co-hosted/produced by Jason Verlinde of the Fretboard Journal.