Podcasts about violating

Movin' on up! To the (more) east side. We finally got a piece of the pie (for the last time) after finishing our SIN event and before the Temptation Cruise. Like smart people we're exhausted, tired, dirty and cranky - so nothing has changed. SIN was the best event ever, well-behaved guests that always surprise us on how much they love to play! Richard and Lauren felt like proud mamma and pappa, like their job has been done! Richard uses a TabuToys blowjob machine to ejaculate on air in record time. Hear how his new toy feels - not looks!When giving farewells after playing with another couple, is a fist bump acceptable?We interview guests at SIN about admiration, who they want to f@#k at the party, and why they love us.Richard uses his creepy Urologist Degree to get sex, while, once again, proving his degree is super fake. Richard decides he was the one in our foursome that no one wanted to play with (just like in elementary school.) Was he the ‘one' in the ‘Take one for the Team'?We ventured into the playroom on the last night. We tried to stay in sexy mode, but couldn't.#bestguestsever #tinysombreros #AutoblowAI Check our sponsors:Tabutoys.com (15% promo code: ROOM77) Check out AUTOBLOW AI ULTRA (like Richard!)Shivers.store (10% promo code: R77) THC GUMMIES; LEGAL MUSHROOMSBikiniAddiction.com (10% promo code: ROOM77) LIMITED EDITION COMING BLACK FRIDAY!!Patreon Help us #keepitupSave Money on your Desire / Temptation /Hedo trip* with Lauren and get a free Bikini Addiction bikini!

First, a settlement was reached last year between the city of San Diego and a group of RV owners who live in their vehicles, but now the RV owners say the city is violating terms of the settlement. Then, the San Diego City Council votes to raise valet parking fees. And, an interview with journalist and author, Osita Nwanevu. Then, oyster castles in South County are protecting against erosion. Finally, a San Diego dog who will star in the next “Air Bud” film!

Hamas Violates Ceasefire and Maintains Political Control Guest: Jonathan Conricus Jonathan Conricus states that Hamas is systematically violating the ceasefire, deliberately stalling the release of hostages' bodies to maintain political leverage against Israel. Hamas is internally working to settle scores and communicate that they are "here to stay" as a governing force. Conricus notes that the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian terrorists, including experienced operatives, significantly increases the likelihood that they will eventually resume terror activities.

  As we head into the final stretch of 2025, we're back on the mic to tackle some of the most common questions we hear about accountability advocacy. Whether your organization is calling out broken promises, uplifting community voices, or demanding action from those in power, this episode is all about giving nonprofit organizations the clarity, confidence, and tools to hold public officials accountable boldly and legally.    Attorneys for this episode  Natalie Ossenfort  Monika Graham  Victor Rivera    Shownotes Can 501(c)(3) organizations participate in protests or rallies that are critical of the current administration without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status?  Yes, 501(c)(3) organizations can legally participate in protests or rallies that are critical of the current administration or its recent decisions as long as the advocacy connects to the organization's charitable purpose and the activities remain nonpartisan.  What's Allowed:  Protesting specific policies, laws, or actions taken by elected officials or government agencies  Organizing or participating in rallies that align with the organization's mission (e.g. immigrant rights, environmental justice, LGBTQ+ protections)  Naming elected officials and holding them accountable for their actions taken in their official capacity  Consulting with counsel about applicable laws and best practices  What's Not Allowed:  Endorsing or opposing a candidate running for office, including incumbents up for reelection, even implicitly like connecting a stance on a specific issue and a political party or candidate (e.g. "Vote Pro-Choice")  Participating in protests that are clearly organized by or for/in coordination with candidate campaigns or parties  Timing a protest to coincide with an election with the intent to influence the outcome  Violating any federal, state, or local laws, engaging in criminal activity such as unlawful assembly, disorderly conduct, obstruction of law enforcement, or inciting or aiding illegal acts    As the new Supreme Court term begins, are 501(c)(3)s allowed to educate the public about pending cases? What about organizing social media campaigns in response to recent decisions?  Yes, 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely allowed to educate the public about Supreme Court cases, including pending decisions, and to organize social media campaigns in response to recent rulings.  But it may be wise to exercise best practices to ensure the work remains in compliance with IRS rules and regulations.   What's Allowed:  Explaining the case's impact on the organization's mission and/or the community it serves  Highlighting real stories, lived experiences, and systemic impacts to make the stakes unmistakably clear  Publishing statements, issuing press releases, writing blog posts, speaking to the media, and launching social media campaigns to share the organization's position on an issue   Drafting or joining others in filing an amicus brief   What's Not Allowed:   Using language that directly or indirectly supports or opposes a candidate or group of candidates.   Statements suggesting how to vote in an upcoming election in response to a Supreme Court (or other court's) decision.  To what extent can 501(c)(3) organizations engage in accountability advocacy? Are there specific guidelines when it comes to holding power accountable?    Yes, 501(c)(3) organizations can engage in accountability advocacy so long as the work remains nonpartisan and mission aligned. Holding public officials accountable for the impact of their actions is not political; it's principled. And it is not only legal, but a vital expression of a nonprofit's responsibility to the communities it serves.  What's Allowed:   Criticizing or praising policies, actions, and decisions made by public officials  Demanding transparency, equity, and accountability from Congress and administrative agencies  Using creative, nonpartisan ways to engage in advocacy through art and collaboration (e.g. Create a "Wall of Faces" featuring images and stories of people who have been personally impacted by recent policy changes)  What's Not Allowed:   Using language that suggests an elected official is not well suited for public office  Linking policy criticisms directly to upcoming elections or campaigns  Explicit or subtle suggestions about how individuals should vote in response to an elected official's actions    If you had to make one recommendation for groups wanting to engage in accountability advocacy, what would it be?  Engage responsibly during election season: As you may know, Nov. 4 is election day in many places so we just wanted to give a friendly reminder that while 501(c)(3) organizations cannot support or oppose candidates, they can participate in nonpartisan activities—such as voter education, Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts, and issue awareness campaigns—focused on empowering voters and strengthening civic participation. Remember to only share materials or resources that are 501c3-safe and to train your staff and volunteers before engaging in an election-related activity.  Stay mission-aligned and consistent: Focus your advocacy on issues that directly reflect your organization's mission, and comment on them consistently (not just when an election is near)  Get loud and amplify your message: Use social media strategically to highlight your stance, mobilize supporters, and hold decision-makers accountable. Remember, it is an inexpensive yet powerful way to expand your reach and impact.     Resources Rules of the Game: A Guide to Election-Related Activities for 501(c)(3) Organizations  Influencing Public Policy in the Digital Age  Accountability Advocacy for 501(c)(3)s   ROTG #142: SCOTUS Term Preview and Advocacy for 501(c)(3)s  Haunted by the Chaos? Perfect. Let's Talk Accountability Advocacy 

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas shows multiple examples over the past few days of Donald Trump being caught on camera engaging in egregious violations of court injunctions prohibiting the warfare he has unleashed against American cities and towns accross the country. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial 82-MEDICARE (826-334-2273) to speak with our trusted partner, Chapter, or go to https://askchapter.org/mtn Disclaimer: Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NFL has handed out more than a quarter million dollars in fines to one team after appearing to interfering with their QB's concussion evaluation. Correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh reports.

Today is Thursday, October 23. Here are some of the latest headlines from the Fargo, North Dakota area. InForum Minute is produced by Forum Communications and brought to you by reporters from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV. For more news from throughout the day, visit InForum.com

The Hamas terrorist organization has already violated the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal with Israel by failing to give back the bodies of the Israeli hostages they murdered in captivity. At the same time, Hamas terrorists ambushed and killed two Israeli soldiers HY"D on Sunday. Israel retaliated, but only hours later, said it was re-instituting the ceasefire. On this week's Israel Uncensored, Josh Hasten says that no doubt Hamas will see how far they can push Israel and get away with it without the Jewish state declaring the deal null and void.

This week I am going to stick with some local Sevier County issues, but those issues have a national implication. The free speech that is being silenced is being conducted by none other than the state representative for Tennessee House District 12, Fred Atchley. Additionally, it would seem that the County Sheriff has decided not to follow his oath. Guess what though - they both belong to the same group of people, yep the Good Old Boy network that have controlled Sevier County for nearly 50 years now. Visit https://libertyleadershipandlies.com You can subscribe to or follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform – Rumble | YouTube | Overcast | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | Pocket Casts | RadioPublicJoin me on social media:Twitter – both at @LarryForTN12 @LiesLibertyTruth Social – @LarryForTN12Instagram – @larry_conservative_activist @the_l5_podcastFacebook – Larry Linton - Sevier County Conservative Activist Facebook – Liberty, Leadership and LiesGab – @LarryLintonGETTR – @LarryLintonTelegram – t.me/libertyleadershipandliesTiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@libertyleadershipandliesOr on the web at – https://libertyleadershipandlies.com#LarryForTN12 #LintonForTN12 #LarryLintonForTN12 #LibertyLeadershipAndLies #Liberty #Leadership #Lies #Constitutionalist #Conservative #Tennessee #StandInTheArena #SevierCountySwamp #Transpublicans #ThreatsToLiberty

The Israeli military said it launched airstrikes and artillery fire at targets in southern Gaza on Sunday, Oct. 19, in response to Hamas violating the cease-fire agreement.Tens of thousands took to the streets across the United States on Saturday for the "No Kings" protests. We'll take you to Chicago, where NTD's Chris Bob was on the ground with demonstrators.Is there a real possibility of economic or strategic decoupling between the United States and China? Our expert panel weighs in as U.S.–China trade tensions build.It took only a couple of minutes for thieves to rob the famous Louvre Museum—while tourists were still inside. The thieves reportedly stole pieces of jewelry from the Napoleon collection.How can regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy, help ease the pain of arthritis? Brendon Fallon, host of "Vital Signs," shares insights from a leading rehabilitation and pain medicine specialist.

Find the 9 Points Rating System here: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ Find our Tron Legacy review here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/maverick51411/episodes/2025-10-09T04_00_00-07_00 In this episode of A Lost Plot, hosts Maverick and Andrew delve into the third installment of the Tron franchise, Tron Ares. They discuss their initial impressions, ratings, and the film's plot, which diverges significantly from its predecessors. The conversation covers character analyses, particularly focusing on Ares, Eve, and Dillinger, highlighting the film's themes, visual effects, and storytelling flaws. The hosts express their disappointment with the film's lack of depth and connection to the original Tron narrative, ultimately questioning the necessity of its existence within the franchise. The duo critiques the film's structure, likening it to a cash grab by Disney, and reflects on the future of the Tron franchise, emphasizing the need for meaningful storytelling.----------Highlights:0:00 ‘Tron Ares' Introduction7:05 Violating the Original Films20:52 Opening Scene26:26 The Protagonist: Ares35:59 Side Characters: Eve44:11 The Villain: Dillinger51:35 The Villains: Athena54:49 The Jeff Bridges Cameo58:19 The Climax1:01:59 Themes and Messages1:08:47 Lasting Impact & Missed Opportunities#tron #tronares #jaredleto #characterarc #characterdevelopment #disney #dillinger #athena #ares #storytelling #alostplot #film #movie #moviereview #themes #scifi #thegrid 

The difficulty of recovering the dead bodies of Israeli hostages comes under the spotlight, as Washington downplays claims that Hamas is violating the ceasefire deal. But Israel's prime minister warns that the war in Gaza is not over. Also: The government in France survives two no-confidence votes. The impact of the brutal civil war in Sudan on its children. Violence erupts at a youth-led protest in the capital of Peru, despite the appointment of a new president. The last surviving Sherpa of the team that first scaled Mount Everest dies. And the backlash against a firework display in Tibet promoting a well-known outdoor-clothing brand.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Support the show: Antiwar.com/donatePhone bank for Defend the Guard: https://defendtheguard.us/phonebankSign up for our newsletter: https://www.antiwar.com/newsletter/ 

Theologian Miroslav Volf reflects on solitude, loneliness, and how being alone can reveal our humanity, selfhood, and relationship with God.This episode is part 1 of a 5-part series, SOLO, which explores the theological, moral, and psychological dimensions of loneliness, solitude, and being alone.“Solitude brings one back in touch with who one is—it's how we stabilize ourselves so we know how to be ourselves with others.”Macie Bridge welcomes Miroslav for a conversation on solitude and being oneself—probing the difference between loneliness and aloneness, and the essential role of solitude in a flourishing Christian life. Reflecting on Genesis, the Incarnation, and the sensory life of faith, Volf considers how we can both embrace solitude and attend to the loneliness of others.He shares personal reflections on his mother's daily prayer practice and how solitude grounded her in divine presence. Volf describes how solitude restores the self before God and others: “Nobody can be me instead of me.” It is possible, he suggests, that we can we rediscover the presence of God in every relationship—solitary or shared.Helpful Links and ResourcesThe Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us WorseFyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and PunishmentRainer Maria Rilke, Book of Hours (Buch der Stunden)Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Creation and FallEpisode Highlights“Nobody can be me instead of me. And since I must be me, to be me well, I need times with myself.”“It's not good, in almost a metaphysical sense, for us to be alone. We aren't ourselves when we are simply alone.”“Solitude brings one back in touch with who one is—it's how we stabilize ourselves so we know how to be ourselves with others.”“Our relationship to God is mediated by our relationships to others. To honor another is to honor God.”“When we attend to the loneliness of others, in some ways we tend to our own loneliness.”Solitude, Loneliness, and FlourishingThe difference between solitude (constructive aloneness) and loneliness (diminishment of self).COVID-19 as an amplifier of solitude and loneliness.Volf's experience of being alone at Yale—productive solitude without loneliness.Loneliness as “the absence of an affirming glance.”Aloneness as essential for self-reflection and renewal before others.Humanity, Creation, and RelationshipAdam's solitude in Genesis as an incomplete creation—“It is not good for man to be alone.”Human beings as fundamentally social and political.A newborn cannot flourish without touch and gaze—relational presence is constitutive of personhood.Solitude and communion exist in dynamic tension; both must be rightly measured.Jesus's Solitude and Human ResponsibilityJesus withdrawing to pray as a model of sacred solitude.Solitude allows one to “return to oneself,” guarding against being lost in the crowd.The danger of losing selfhood in relationships, “becoming echoes of the crowd.”God, Limits, and OthersEvery other person as a God-given limit—“To honor another is to honor God.”Violating others as transgressing divine boundaries.True spirituality as respecting the space, limit, and presence of the other.Touch, Senses, and the ChurchThe sensory dimension of faith—seeing, touching, being seen.Mary's anointing of Jesus as embodied gospel.Rilke's “ripe seeing”: vision as invitation and affirmation.The church as a site of embodied presence—touch, seeing, listening as acts of communion.The Fear of Violation and the Gift of RespectLoneliness often born from fear of being violated rather than from lack of company.Loving another includes honoring their limit and respecting their freedom.Practical Reflections on LonelinessQuestions Volf asks himself: “Do I dare to be alone? How do I draw strength when I feel lonely?”The paradox of social connection in a digital age—teenagers side by side, “completely disconnected.”Love as sheer presence—“By sheer being, having a loving attitude, I relieve another's loneliness.”The Spiritual Discipline of SolitudeVolf's mother's daily hour of morning prayer—learning to hear God's voice like Samuel.Solitude as the ground for transformation: narrating oneself before God.“Nobody can die in my place… nobody can live my life in my place.”Solitude as preparation for love and life in community.About Miroslav VolfMiroslav Volf is the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and Founding Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. He is the author of Exclusion and Embrace, Flourishing: Why We Need Religion in a Globalized World, and numerous works on theology, culture, and human flourishing—most recently The Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse.Production NotesThis podcast featured Miroslav VolfInterview by Macie BridgeEdited and Produced by Evan RosaProduction Assistance by Alexa Rollow, Emily Brookfield, and Hope ChunA Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/aboutSupport For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

Did you like this episode? Dislike it? In this episode, Marc Cerniglia shares insights from 15 years of law firm marketing experience and breaks down how to promote your firm confidently without crossing ethical lines. From understanding your state bar's intent to using smart, compliant strategies that still get attention, Marc explains how to balance creativity and caution in your marketing — so you can stand out and stay out of trouble.

 By law, emergency rooms must ensure that individuals receive appropriate care regardless of their ability to pay when coming into the ER. But, new reporting from ProPublica shows that more than 90 psychiatric hospitals, including one in Oregon, are turning away or discharging patients too early and are breaking this law. Eli Cahan is a pediatrician and investigative journalist. He joins us to share more.   

Pastor Chas Stevenson

Title: Good News Reviled Text: Acts 28:17-22 FCF: We often struggle making the gospel the only offender of the world. Prop: Because the gospel offends sinful men and our character can hinder the gospel call, we must be blameless in our character. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 28. In a moment we will read starting from verse 17 from the Legacy Standard Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. By the hospitality and brotherly love provided to him by fellow followers of Christ, Paul has made it safely to Rome. He has been set up with a rented room and is under house arrest being guarded by a Roman soldier. Still, he is afforded a good deal of freedom, and today we will see that he really doesn't waste a lot of time before he sets out to work in the city of Rome. But where will Paul begin the ministry in Rome while he waits to see Caesar? Let's find out. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Oh Heavenly Father, we come to you today with hearts that desire that the whole world hears the good news of Your Son and His sacrifice for His people. We know that no man is without excuse having all the signs of nature around them. Yet we desire to share with them the hope of Christ crucified for sinners. We confess and know that you alone save the hearts of men. We cannot be persuasive enough to convince men to believe. You must give them a new heart to first. Still, we desire to be Your servants in delivering this call to the nations. At times we can live in ways that keep us from doing this. May we be shown by Your Spirit today, Lord, how we can live blamelessly so that we can be granted an audience with those who need to hear. We pray this in Jesus' name… Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] Richard Own Roberts: “The nature of the gospel is that it divides.” Charles Coleson: “The gospel is good news. But Jesus never said it was easy news.” Oswald Chambers: “There is nothing attractive about the gospel to the natural man; the only man who finds the gospel attractive is the man who is convicted of sin.” Since the gospel is this way… we must be sure that we don't provide even more reasons for natural man to turn aside from the gospel. May our offense be from the gospel alone and nothing else. Let me show you how this was Paul's concern… I.) Violating laws of government or using the legal system for vengeance harms the church's gospel witness, so we must be blameless in our character. a. [Slide 3] 17 - And it happened that after three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, i. So, Paul spends a little time settling in, no doubt getting accustomed to his new living arrangement and getting some specifics of what he can and cannot do. ii. It seems as though he is sequestered to his home and if he is permitted to go out, it would only be for essentials. iii. All the interactions we see in the book of Acts are when people come to Paul. iv. Because of Paul's love for his fellow Jews, and as was his custom in every new city he arrived in, if there were Jews present, he took the gospel to the Jews first. v. Normally he would go to the synagogue, where he would find the leading Jews of the city. However, because he cannot leave his home, he found it necessary to call them to him. vi. It is necessary for us to do a bit of historical background to fill out some of the context for this last segment of the book of Acts. 1. First, in regard to the Jews in Rome. a. In AD 48, Emperor Claudius responded to growing tensions in Rome between Jews and Jewish Christians by expelling all the Jews from Rome. b. When Paul entered Corinth for the first time on his second missionary journey, he met Aquila and Pricilla there. They were said to have been Jewish Christians who were expelled from Rome due to Claudius' edict. c. Before the expulsion there were probably around 40-50 thousand Jews living in Rome. d. Emperor Claudius died in AD 54 but Nero did not reinstate this edict. e. So, for the last 6 years or so, Jews had been steadily making their way back. f. It is estimated that there were around 20,000 Jews living in Rome at this time. g. Because of the recent expulsion though, history seems to indicate that the returning Jews tried to maintain a low profile within the city of Rome. There were at least 5 synagogues but they did not seem to be highly organized and the social status of the Jews living in Rome seemed to be rather low class and probably largely illiterate. h. Nevertheless, The Jews' influence over the Romans was not insignificant. Indeed, many high-profile Romans had converted to Judaism, which would have been quite scandalous for pagans to go from polytheism to monotheism. i. It is believed that Nero's second wife, which he would have been married to at the time of Paul's arrival in Rome, was at very least a Jewish sympathizer if not Jewess herself. 2. We also know that a thriving Christian community exists within the city of Rome. a. We glean this not only from the church existing in Rome for many years but also because of Paul's letter to the Romans indicating a thriving church albeit somewhat theologically imprecise. b. Luke has already shown us the interaction Paul had with some Christians from Rome as he made his way to the city. c. But Luke chooses not to focus on Paul's interaction with the church once he arrives. Instead, he focuses on Paul's desire to go to the Jew first with the gospel message. d. Luke does this in order to show yet another major theme in the book of Acts. Christianity is not a new religion. And no one thought so. Not even the Jews in Rome. More on that in a bit. b. [Slide 4] and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. i. Paul, wisely, tries to get ahead of the issue for which he has been sent to Rome. ii. In a sense, Paul is trying to put a truthful spin on the events that have led him here because he knows that those who have opposed him have not been the kind to value or always tell the truth. iii. So, what does he say? iv. He says first, that he has been a good Jew. He has not done anything against the Jewish people nor has he done anything against the customs of their fathers. v. Is this true? 1. We know that Paul has overtly violated the somewhat cultural law not to eat with gentiles. We also guess that he has himself violated the dietary laws while with Gentiles. 2. He has even advocated in some of his letters that the eating of meat offered to idols is not necessarily or inherently sinful so long it does not cause others to violate their conscience and so long as it is not consumed at the worship feasts for these idols. 3. Again, this goes back to what God has said about the dietary laws in the first place in Acts chapter 10. It is not that these laws are no longer in force. It is that God has purified the unclean animals. Therefore, the list of animals which are unclean is populated by exactly zero animals. 4. We have recently discussed something similar in foundations. When something ritually unclean interacts with God's presence, the ritually unclean thing is made clean. This is another aspect of Christ fulfilling the law of Moses. Ceremonial aspects of the law are completed, fulfilled. The picture they illustrated now has come to full fruition. 5. God making the unclean animals clean, is a signal that God's Kingdom is invading and permeating the world – whether the world wants it to or not. 6. But despite Paul probably not following dietary laws, we have seen him encourage Timothy to be circumcised. He has made great effort to regularly be in Jerusalem for ritual feasts and celebrations. He has even endured purity rites after having spent large amounts of time in gentile lands with gentile people. And he did this specifically to assuage the fears of Jewish Christians that he was teaching that the Jews should stop following the ceremonial aspects of the law of Moses. He wasn't. 7. And that brings us to what most recently happened in Jerusalem. 8. Did Paul do anything against the law of Moses or against the culture of the Jewish Fathers while he was in Jerusalem this past time? 9. The answer to that question is a resounding… NO. 10. They accused him of bringing gentiles into the temple courts, which is not actually in the law of Moses but would have been a tradition dating back to the late second temple era. 11. And, of course, Paul hadn't brought a gentile into the temple courts. vi. This is what Paul is referencing. He obviously cannot mean that he has never done anything to upset the Jewish sensibilities or cultural mores. Because he has definitely done that. vii. But Paul, in the most recent events in Jerusalem, was innocent of even doing that. viii. In spite of his innocence, they still delivered him to the Romans. ix. It is unclear which Romans he is talking about here, but it matters little because at every stage the same thing happened… c. [Slide 5] 18 - And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. i. Now when the Sanhedrin examined Paul – they wanted to find cause to put him to death. ii. In the midst of that trial, Paul pivoted the discussion to center on the resurrection of the dead. A matter that is both core to the gospel and highly disputed among the Sanhedrin between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. iii. But in every stage of Roman imprisonment, Luke dutifully records the testimony of each judge-like-figure to be a declaration of Paul's innocence. At least innocence of anything for which he would be executed. iv. This is what Paul recounts. v. No Roman official saw any evidence of a charge which would lead to his execution. vi. Of course, this begs the question… well then how did you get here? d. [Slide 6] 19 - But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. i. This is a very quick summary of what took over 2 years to play out. ii. Festus saw no grounds to hold him on anything Roman, so he attempted to compromise with the Jews to curry their favor, and have the judgment of Paul take place in Jerusalem. iii. Paul had seen this play out before and did not trust Festus to be just in his dealings with him. iv. So, Paul was forced to appeal to Caesar. v. Paul knew it was because of the Jews' insistence that Festus desired to move the trail to Jerusalem. vi. And Paul knew the Jews wanted him dead any way they could because he actually discovered at least one of the two plots to kill him during this time. vii. But Paul assures these Roman Jews that he did not have an accusation against his nation. viii. If a Roman citizen is appealing to Caesar they can do so on a couple of grounds. ix. Either they feel as though the judge has acted unjustly or the ruling is unjust… or that those accusing are doing so unlawfully or with intent to not honor the legal system and harm the prisoner. x. Thus, Paul could bring a countersuit against the Jewish leaders for their sham of a trial. And he would be just to do so. xi. But Paul wants the Roman Jews to know that he did not appeal because he wanted to submit a countersuit. xii. He simply desired to go before Caesar because he did not feel that the justice he deserved would have been granted to him otherwise. e. [Slide 7] 20 - For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.” i. Finally, Paul wants to make it very plain why he is here as a prisoner of Rome appealing to Caesar. ii. What exactly was the beef was between him and the Jews in Judea? iii. It is because of the hope of Israel. He was given over to the Romans because of a theological dispute. iv. Specifically, he took the side of the Pharisees, which insisted that there was a hope for Israel in that there would be a future resurrection of all those who were God's people. An eternal kingdom made up of all those who were true Israel. v. Couched in this, of course, is the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth being the Messiah who was the first born from the dead. vi. This seems to be one of Paul's primary strategies to lead into presenting the gospel to Jews. To speak of this theological issue where he takes an established and very popular position in the debate and then expands it to speak of Jesus. vii. We'll see that he will do just that next week when he meets with the Jews again. f. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Luke begins this final segment in the book of Acts centered around some of the key themes he has been developing since the beginning. Indeed, everything in this text this morning is centered on the expansion of the church. In this first point specifically we see Luke zero in on the reason that Paul is here in Rome under house arrest set to appear before Caesar. It is incredibly important for Paul to clarify to the Jews of Rome why he is really in chains. Indeed, in order for Paul to have an audience with them to preach the gospel, he must clear his name from any hint of wrongdoing from the authorities of the Jews and of the Romans. If Paul is to preach the gospel to them, he cannot be viewed as a criminal. And so, Paul sets out to clarify that he is neither in chains for violating the Mosaic law and the customs of the Jews, nor is he in chains because he had committed some crime worthy of death according to Rome, nor does he plan to seek vengeance upon the Jews by filing a countersuit against them. Instead, Paul insists that he is in chains for the sake of the hope of Isarel. He is in chains because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This becomes our primary point of application today. We must be sure that our character is blameless and holy. Not as a replacement for preaching the gospel… but to keep ourselves from setting up unnecessary hindrances to people hearing the gospel. If we are criminals violating laws of men that do not directly contradict God's Word, or we use the legal system to seek vengeance on others, we should expect the gospel witness of the church to be hindered. So, we must live holy and upright lives, only suffering disdain for the sake of the gospel. Transition: [Slide 9(blank)] Being blameless affords us opportunities to give the call of the gospel to unbelievers. Does this mean that if we are blameless they will listen and receive the gospel? Will they even like us or see us as blameless? Let's look at the next two verses as the Roman Jews respond to Paul. II.) Stirring up disputes and social unrest while preaching the gospel cannot be helped, so we must be blameless in our character. a. [Slide 10] 21 - And they said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. i. After Paul explains his side of the story hoping to control the opinion of the Roman Jews, somewhat comically they inform him that this is the first they are hearing about it. ii. In fact, they haven't received any letters from Judea that indicate anything about Paul good or bad. iii. And they certainly haven't seen any brothers from Judea reporting or speaking anything bad about Paul. iv. This is quite comical because it is so anticlimactic. v. Perhaps Paul wasn't laughing. It had been around three years of his life, spent in prisons and shipwrecked, only to find out that the Jews in Judea had not even followed up with the case. vi. Now why might this have been so? vii. The most likely reason is that the Judean Jews had little interest in actually standing before Caesar and attempting to prove that Paul is guilty of a crime worthy of death. 1. If they were having difficulty proving it to local officials, they would certainly have even more difficulty proving it to Nero. 2. Also, this would have required a trip from Judea to Rome in order to accuse the apostle. 3. They were no doubt satisfied that he was no longer in Judea and wouldn't be for the foreseeable future. viii. Another reason they don't pursue it is probably because Festus rules well in the region for the next two years before dying unexpectedly. 1. While Paul travels to and waits in Rome, they enjoyed relative peace and harmony with the local Roman governor. 2. Traveling to Rome and accusing Paul before Nero could have repercussions that may even include Festus being removed from office. 3. They don't want that. ix. This report is also Luke's way as a storyteller to foreshadow the release of Paul after he meets with Nero. 1. It is difficult to know if Luke writes up to the point he knows or if he writes with the shared knowledge that Paul is released and freed to continue his missionary journeys. 2. But since Luke ends his book saying that Paul spent 2 years in Rome preaching without hindrance – it seems like Luke knows the end of the time in Rome, meaning he knows that Paul was released. 3. This would have been a detail that Theophilus was already well aware of. Perhaps because it had happened very recently, and perhaps because Theophilus was part of Roman legal system which acquitted Paul. 4. So, Luke recording this communication between the Roman Jews and Paul is a subtle way to foreshadow that no Jew from Judea is going to show up for Paul's trial. 5. More than likely this means that Paul will stand before Caesar and plead his case, but the trial will probably be very short. 6. Around AD 62 Nero's tutors had died. He loathed dealing with these appeals in the first place and without his tutors insisting that he perform this duty, he was very slow to deal with the backlog of appeals. History records that he rushed through many of these trials. 7. Paul was probably one of them. x. But the Roman Jews, although not knowing anything bad about Paul, are interested in the hope of Israel he spoke of, but not for the reasons we might think. b. [Slide 11] 22 - But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.” i. It is interesting that they understand what Paul says about the hope of Israel. ii. They know that he is a well-known teacher in this sect of Judaism known as “The Nazarene Sect” or “The Way” or “Christianity”. iii. They connect this hope of the resurrection with what the Nazarene sect taught. In many ways, to the Jews, the Nazarene sect would have seemed like an offshoot of the Pharisee party. iv. Learning this it isn't that hard to understand why there would be a Pharisee party within the church like we saw back in Acts 15. v. And once again, Luke reinforces the concept that Christianity is not a new religion. Even the Jews don't see it as a new religion. They see it as a sect of Judaism. Meaning that it is part of their own religion. Of course, the apostles would argue that it is TRUE Judaism and only those who receive Jesus as their Jewish Messiah remain TRUE Jews. But the point is well taken. vi. But why do they wish to know more about this sect? vii. They obviously have some idea of the resurrection being central to its teaching. But the main thing they've heard about it… is that it is causing problems everywhere. viii. And if they were in Rome before Claudius' edict, they would have witnesses this firsthand. ix. And so, we do find out that the Jews around the empire are talking bad about those who followed what Paul taught… not necessarily about him specifically. x. Having set aside the legal concern that he might be executed at this trial, now Paul will get a chance to preach the gospel to the Jews in Rome. xi. We'll see how that goes next week. c. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Luke conveys a similar point in verses 21 and 22 as he did in the previous section, only this time from the perspective of the Jews in Rome. They did not know any different of Paul. They had not received letters or any person saying he was a bad person. But they had heard rumblings from all over the empire of the problems that The Nazarene sect had been causing. Having read all of Acts up to this point, we know that they couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact, we know that the unbelieving Jews had actually been the cause of all the strife. Primarily because they would not believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of this, they stirred up crowds, instigated riots, beat and dragged Christians before judges, and pursued Paul and his team from town to town persecuting them and attempting to prevent them from preaching the gospel. Even if we are blameless, the church will still inevitably cause strife and civil unrest. This is all the more reason for us to ensure that our character remains blameless and that only the gospel offends and not our actions too. Conclusion: So, what have we learned today CBC that corrects and informs our beliefs and shapes and guides our lifestyles. Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 13] Today we've seen two truths that flow out of the same thought. The reputation of the church is quite important. When individuals in the church seek out trouble, become lawbreakers themselves, unnecessarily push the boundaries of legality, and/or use the legal system to punish their enemies, this actually hinders the church's ability to share the gospel. And yet, the church's witness to the nations will always cause civil unrest and stir up strife. Why? Because what the church preaches is naturally offensive to the world. So why guard our reputation at all when the message we preach will cause unrest anyway? When it is only the gospel that is offensive it validates and draws attention to its truths and not to us as lawbreakers. So, we must be blameless people. But let me apply this a little more specifically today. 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that our character can hinder the general call of the gospel. a. Peter and Paul both express in their letters that if you suffer for doing wrong things, there is no reward. You have gotten what you deserve. b. But as Jesus says, if you suffer for my name when you are accused falsely, then you are blessed. c. There is a saying floating around evangelicalism today which says “Preach the gospel and if you must, use words.” d. This represents a tension we must maintain. e. In one sense, the gospel cannot be preached without the Word of God. So, we must use words… always. f. But the point of this saying is well taken and proven by this text. g. The gospel preached without a life lived in blameless character, can severely limit the general call of the gospel. h. The general call is the when the gospel is preached to everyone. This is different than God's effectual call which will be heard by those whom He is drawing to repentance and faith. i. The effectual call is God's job. The General call… is ours. j. And our civilly malevolent behavior can heavily restrict or even eliminate our ability to deliver the general call of the gospel. k. Just as Paul was concerned that the Roman Jews knew that he did nothing to earn the chains he wore, nor did he plan to seek legal vengeance on those who falsely accused him, so too we must concern ourselves with blameless and upright character which becomes the perfect complement to our gospel proclamations. l. At the council of Nicaea, in AD 325 (which incidentally is the most blamed council for all the bad things the Roman Catholic church did. I've heard people say that this is where they decided the books of the bible, this is where they edited the bible to say what they wanted. And many more. But none of that is actually true.) At the real council of Nicaea, and not the one from fantasy, 220 bishops gathered together at the request of Emperor Constantine to define the nature of God and eliminate confusion within the church. m. It is here that Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria brought one of his Elders before the council with whom he could not agree on a particular definition of the divinity of the Son of God. n. Arius argued that Jesus was not fully God and had a beginning, not being eternal. o. He argued so strongly that a bishop known as Nicholas of Myra slapped Arius across the face for his heresy. p. Although never having a history of violence and generally being an example of generosity and giving (yes this is the Nichoas from which the Santa Claus story evolved) Nicholas was immediately stripped of his Bishop status and imprisoned for his actions. He was eventually released and the council did end up condemning Arius' beliefs as heresy, while also clarifying the hypostatic union of Jesus in the writing of the Nicaean Creed q. Still the church universally disapproved of Nicholas' action. r. This serves as a good illustration for us to harmonize this tension. s. I also hate Arianism. And if you are a follower of Christ, you should too. Why? Because Arianism can't save anyone from the judgment of God. t. That's ok, Arianism being declared a heresy means that it has been snuffed out of existence, right? u. No! v. Arianism is still alive and well. w. Modern Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses and many more cling to a form of Arianism today. x. But if I were to set out to stamp out Arianism using every means available to me… if I went around slapping Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses, not only would they not listen to my call for them to repent… but other unbelievers would not listen either because of reprehensible behavior. y. Though I preached the gospel to them… pure truth… my actions would cause others to dismiss all that I had to say as something not worth hearing. z. This illustrates the point quite well. aa. Our character can adversely affect whether or not someone is open to hearing the general call of the gospel. bb. This is why Paul went to great lengths to clear his name. cc. But we must not pendulum swing too far here. 2.) [Slide 15] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that the world will accept the gospel if we are loving, kind, and winsome in our proclamation. a. Although poor character can adversely affect whether or not someone hears our gospel proclamation, loving, kind, and winsome character does not guarantee that the world will accept the gospel message. b. All blameless character gives to us is the opportunity to proclaim the gospel. c. It merely gains us an audience. d. If we enter into the ministry of evangelism with the expectation that people will accept the gospel if we are loving and kind, we will be sorely discouraged very quickly into that endeavor. e. Why is that the case? Well, we will get to that in a moment. But before we do… what should we do since our blameless character gives us opportunities to proclaim the gospel? 3.) [Slide 16] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must be blameless in character to ensure that the gospel is the only thing causing offense. a. Why do we do this? What is the motive of our having blameless character and being loving, meek, and winsome. b. Because this is what our Lord has commanded and demonstrated to us. c. We don't live with blameless character for the result of winning people to Christ. God alone saves. d. Our blameless character is in service to our Lord and merely to eliminate possible stumbling blocks to being heard. e. We will still be blamed for much and accused falsely. But when we live as blameless people, eventually the world will have to recognize that it is our message itself that is offensive, and not our methods. f. Friends, when the world hates us for our message – we are doing something right… not wrong. g. But if we offend them before we are even able to speak the message, this will not do. h. We must be above reproach and ensure that the only reason someone will not listen to what we have to say, is because of what we are saying. i. But what comfort can we find in this? 4.) [Slide 17] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” Knowing that we will cause offense to sinners even with a meek and blameless presentation of the gospel, gives us more realistic expectations of how we will be received. a. Many people never or rarely share the gospel with others because they are afraid that they will be rejected. b. They are terrified that the person will oppose the gospel message and raise many objections that they are not equipped to answer. c. They are frozen by the very real possibility that they will be despised because they affirm the truth of the Word of God. d. How comforting to know… that you will be rejected, you will be objected to, and you will be despised. e. Wait a minute, that doesn't seem comforting. f. Oh but it is. g. Knowing that something may happen can freeze us completely. Knowing that something will happen removes the fear of the unknown. h. When we know that we will be rejected, despised, and objected to, merely because of the things we say – we can put aside the fear of what might be, and trust the Lord for what will be and obey Him anyway. i. It removes the doubt and uncertainty and allows us to depend on our Lord to sustain us. j. But why is our blameless character not enough to convince people to receive the gospel? 5.) [Slide 18] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” The gospel is good news that no one wants until they know and believe the bad news. a. The gospel teaches all men that they are sinners by nature and subject to the judgment of a Holy God who is a Just Judge and will ensure that every single sin against Him is paid in full. b. This is the first word of the gospel. And generally speaking, men do not like anyone telling them that what they love and cherish is worthy of judgment and death. c. The Roman Jews had heard from various parts of the Roman Empire that the Nazarene sect had been causing problems. d. In reality, it was the rejection of the good news of their own Messiah that had stirred them up. e. Because the gospel confronts mankind with their wickedness and declares that the things they love are an abomination to God who is holy – many never make it beyond the bad news of the gospel. f. But even if they do somewhat believe that this is true, the good news is that Jesus has come as their substitute to free them from sin and to righteousness. g. That also is news that natural man has no interest to hear. h. If mankind loves their sin – they certainly don't want anyone freeing them from it to live differently. i. The gospel is good news to those who believe that they are condemned by a Holy God and desire mercy to be forgiven and grace to be made new. j. To everyone else… it is detestable. k. So, my friends, here is a question to consider – is the message that Jesus Christ was made sin so that you might become the righteousness of God – is that good news? l. If it is and for the first time you see it that way… I'd invite you to talk to an Elder and we can show you how you can become the righteousness of God. [Slide 19 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the English Reformer Myles Coverdale who assisted William Tyndale and many others in translating the bible into English. God of mercy, help us to cling to you and follow your commands. Tame our bodies in honest labor, so we escape the pull of bad habits. Draw our hearts always upward, so we set aside all worldly things and focus only on you. Gracious Father, give us faithful fishers, true and careful in their calling. With the net of your holy word, may they draw us out of the raging sea, so that we with them, and they with us, may enjoy the everlasting banquet. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Benediction: May your days be like the inscribed cooking pots in the Lord's House, setting them apart as HOLINESS TO THE LORD. As God Himself sanctifies you completely so that your spirit, soul and body be preserved without blame until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Until we meet again, go in peace.

Title: Good News Reviled Text: Acts 28:17-22 FCF: We often struggle making the gospel the only offender of the world. Prop: Because the gospel offends sinful men and our character can hinder the gospel call, we must be blameless in our character. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 28. In a moment we will read starting from verse 17 from the Legacy Standard Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. By the hospitality and brotherly love provided to him by fellow followers of Christ, Paul has made it safely to Rome. He has been set up with a rented room and is under house arrest being guarded by a Roman soldier. Still, he is afforded a good deal of freedom, and today we will see that he really doesn't waste a lot of time before he sets out to work in the city of Rome. But where will Paul begin the ministry in Rome while he waits to see Caesar? Let's find out. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Oh Heavenly Father, we come to you today with hearts that desire that the whole world hears the good news of Your Son and His sacrifice for His people. We know that no man is without excuse having all the signs of nature around them. Yet we desire to share with them the hope of Christ crucified for sinners. We confess and know that you alone save the hearts of men. We cannot be persuasive enough to convince men to believe. You must give them a new heart to first. Still, we desire to be Your servants in delivering this call to the nations. At times we can live in ways that keep us from doing this. May we be shown by Your Spirit today, Lord, how we can live blamelessly so that we can be granted an audience with those who need to hear. We pray this in Jesus' name… Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] Richard Own Roberts: “The nature of the gospel is that it divides.” Charles Coleson: “The gospel is good news. But Jesus never said it was easy news.” Oswald Chambers: “There is nothing attractive about the gospel to the natural man; the only man who finds the gospel attractive is the man who is convicted of sin.” Since the gospel is this way… we must be sure that we don't provide even more reasons for natural man to turn aside from the gospel. May our offense be from the gospel alone and nothing else. Let me show you how this was Paul's concern… I.) Violating laws of government or using the legal system for vengeance harms the church's gospel witness, so we must be blameless in our character. a. [Slide 3] 17 - And it happened that after three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, i. So, Paul spends a little time settling in, no doubt getting accustomed to his new living arrangement and getting some specifics of what he can and cannot do. ii. It seems as though he is sequestered to his home and if he is permitted to go out, it would only be for essentials. iii. All the interactions we see in the book of Acts are when people come to Paul. iv. Because of Paul's love for his fellow Jews, and as was his custom in every new city he arrived in, if there were Jews present, he took the gospel to the Jews first. v. Normally he would go to the synagogue, where he would find the leading Jews of the city. However, because he cannot leave his home, he found it necessary to call them to him. vi. It is necessary for us to do a bit of historical background to fill out some of the context for this last segment of the book of Acts. 1. First, in regard to the Jews in Rome. a. In AD 48, Emperor Claudius responded to growing tensions in Rome between Jews and Jewish Christians by expelling all the Jews from Rome. b. When Paul entered Corinth for the first time on his second missionary journey, he met Aquila and Pricilla there. They were said to have been Jewish Christians who were expelled from Rome due to Claudius' edict. c. Before the expulsion there were probably around 40-50 thousand Jews living in Rome. d. Emperor Claudius died in AD 54 but Nero did not reinstate this edict. e. So, for the last 6 years or so, Jews had been steadily making their way back. f. It is estimated that there were around 20,000 Jews living in Rome at this time. g. Because of the recent expulsion though, history seems to indicate that the returning Jews tried to maintain a low profile within the city of Rome. There were at least 5 synagogues but they did not seem to be highly organized and the social status of the Jews living in Rome seemed to be rather low class and probably largely illiterate. h. Nevertheless, The Jews' influence over the Romans was not insignificant. Indeed, many high-profile Romans had converted to Judaism, which would have been quite scandalous for pagans to go from polytheism to monotheism. i. It is believed that Nero's second wife, which he would have been married to at the time of Paul's arrival in Rome, was at very least a Jewish sympathizer if not Jewess herself. 2. We also know that a thriving Christian community exists within the city of Rome. a. We glean this not only from the church existing in Rome for many years but also because of Paul's letter to the Romans indicating a thriving church albeit somewhat theologically imprecise. b. Luke has already shown us the interaction Paul had with some Christians from Rome as he made his way to the city. c. But Luke chooses not to focus on Paul's interaction with the church once he arrives. Instead, he focuses on Paul's desire to go to the Jew first with the gospel message. d. Luke does this in order to show yet another major theme in the book of Acts. Christianity is not a new religion. And no one thought so. Not even the Jews in Rome. More on that in a bit. b. [Slide 4] and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. i. Paul, wisely, tries to get ahead of the issue for which he has been sent to Rome. ii. In a sense, Paul is trying to put a truthful spin on the events that have led him here because he knows that those who have opposed him have not been the kind to value or always tell the truth. iii. So, what does he say? iv. He says first, that he has been a good Jew. He has not done anything against the Jewish people nor has he done anything against the customs of their fathers. v. Is this true? 1. We know that Paul has overtly violated the somewhat cultural law not to eat with gentiles. We also guess that he has himself violated the dietary laws while with Gentiles. 2. He has even advocated in some of his letters that the eating of meat offered to idols is not necessarily or inherently sinful so long it does not cause others to violate their conscience and so long as it is not consumed at the worship feasts for these idols. 3. Again, this goes back to what God has said about the dietary laws in the first place in Acts chapter 10. It is not that these laws are no longer in force. It is that God has purified the unclean animals. Therefore, the list of animals which are unclean is populated by exactly zero animals. 4. We have recently discussed something similar in foundations. When something ritually unclean interacts with God's presence, the ritually unclean thing is made clean. This is another aspect of Christ fulfilling the law of Moses. Ceremonial aspects of the law are completed, fulfilled. The picture they illustrated now has come to full fruition. 5. God making the unclean animals clean, is a signal that God's Kingdom is invading and permeating the world – whether the world wants it to or not. 6. But despite Paul probably not following dietary laws, we have seen him encourage Timothy to be circumcised. He has made great effort to regularly be in Jerusalem for ritual feasts and celebrations. He has even endured purity rites after having spent large amounts of time in gentile lands with gentile people. And he did this specifically to assuage the fears of Jewish Christians that he was teaching that the Jews should stop following the ceremonial aspects of the law of Moses. He wasn't. 7. And that brings us to what most recently happened in Jerusalem. 8. Did Paul do anything against the law of Moses or against the culture of the Jewish Fathers while he was in Jerusalem this past time? 9. The answer to that question is a resounding… NO. 10. They accused him of bringing gentiles into the temple courts, which is not actually in the law of Moses but would have been a tradition dating back to the late second temple era. 11. And, of course, Paul hadn't brought a gentile into the temple courts. vi. This is what Paul is referencing. He obviously cannot mean that he has never done anything to upset the Jewish sensibilities or cultural mores. Because he has definitely done that. vii. But Paul, in the most recent events in Jerusalem, was innocent of even doing that. viii. In spite of his innocence, they still delivered him to the Romans. ix. It is unclear which Romans he is talking about here, but it matters little because at every stage the same thing happened… c. [Slide 5] 18 - And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. i. Now when the Sanhedrin examined Paul – they wanted to find cause to put him to death. ii. In the midst of that trial, Paul pivoted the discussion to center on the resurrection of the dead. A matter that is both core to the gospel and highly disputed among the Sanhedrin between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. iii. But in every stage of Roman imprisonment, Luke dutifully records the testimony of each judge-like-figure to be a declaration of Paul's innocence. At least innocence of anything for which he would be executed. iv. This is what Paul recounts. v. No Roman official saw any evidence of a charge which would lead to his execution. vi. Of course, this begs the question… well then how did you get here? d. [Slide 6] 19 - But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. i. This is a very quick summary of what took over 2 years to play out. ii. Festus saw no grounds to hold him on anything Roman, so he attempted to compromise with the Jews to curry their favor, and have the judgment of Paul take place in Jerusalem. iii. Paul had seen this play out before and did not trust Festus to be just in his dealings with him. iv. So, Paul was forced to appeal to Caesar. v. Paul knew it was because of the Jews' insistence that Festus desired to move the trail to Jerusalem. vi. And Paul knew the Jews wanted him dead any way they could because he actually discovered at least one of the two plots to kill him during this time. vii. But Paul assures these Roman Jews that he did not have an accusation against his nation. viii. If a Roman citizen is appealing to Caesar they can do so on a couple of grounds. ix. Either they feel as though the judge has acted unjustly or the ruling is unjust… or that those accusing are doing so unlawfully or with intent to not honor the legal system and harm the prisoner. x. Thus, Paul could bring a countersuit against the Jewish leaders for their sham of a trial. And he would be just to do so. xi. But Paul wants the Roman Jews to know that he did not appeal because he wanted to submit a countersuit. xii. He simply desired to go before Caesar because he did not feel that the justice he deserved would have been granted to him otherwise. e. [Slide 7] 20 - For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.” i. Finally, Paul wants to make it very plain why he is here as a prisoner of Rome appealing to Caesar. ii. What exactly was the beef was between him and the Jews in Judea? iii. It is because of the hope of Israel. He was given over to the Romans because of a theological dispute. iv. Specifically, he took the side of the Pharisees, which insisted that there was a hope for Israel in that there would be a future resurrection of all those who were God's people. An eternal kingdom made up of all those who were true Israel. v. Couched in this, of course, is the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth being the Messiah who was the first born from the dead. vi. This seems to be one of Paul's primary strategies to lead into presenting the gospel to Jews. To speak of this theological issue where he takes an established and very popular position in the debate and then expands it to speak of Jesus. vii. We'll see that he will do just that next week when he meets with the Jews again. f. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Luke begins this final segment in the book of Acts centered around some of the key themes he has been developing since the beginning. Indeed, everything in this text this morning is centered on the expansion of the church. In this first point specifically we see Luke zero in on the reason that Paul is here in Rome under house arrest set to appear before Caesar. It is incredibly important for Paul to clarify to the Jews of Rome why he is really in chains. Indeed, in order for Paul to have an audience with them to preach the gospel, he must clear his name from any hint of wrongdoing from the authorities of the Jews and of the Romans. If Paul is to preach the gospel to them, he cannot be viewed as a criminal. And so, Paul sets out to clarify that he is neither in chains for violating the Mosaic law and the customs of the Jews, nor is he in chains because he had committed some crime worthy of death according to Rome, nor does he plan to seek vengeance upon the Jews by filing a countersuit against them. Instead, Paul insists that he is in chains for the sake of the hope of Isarel. He is in chains because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This becomes our primary point of application today. We must be sure that our character is blameless and holy. Not as a replacement for preaching the gospel… but to keep ourselves from setting up unnecessary hindrances to people hearing the gospel. If we are criminals violating laws of men that do not directly contradict God's Word, or we use the legal system to seek vengeance on others, we should expect the gospel witness of the church to be hindered. So, we must live holy and upright lives, only suffering disdain for the sake of the gospel. Transition: [Slide 9(blank)] Being blameless affords us opportunities to give the call of the gospel to unbelievers. Does this mean that if we are blameless they will listen and receive the gospel? Will they even like us or see us as blameless? Let's look at the next two verses as the Roman Jews respond to Paul. II.) Stirring up disputes and social unrest while preaching the gospel cannot be helped, so we must be blameless in our character. a. [Slide 10] 21 - And they said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. i. After Paul explains his side of the story hoping to control the opinion of the Roman Jews, somewhat comically they inform him that this is the first they are hearing about it. ii. In fact, they haven't received any letters from Judea that indicate anything about Paul good or bad. iii. And they certainly haven't seen any brothers from Judea reporting or speaking anything bad about Paul. iv. This is quite comical because it is so anticlimactic. v. Perhaps Paul wasn't laughing. It had been around three years of his life, spent in prisons and shipwrecked, only to find out that the Jews in Judea had not even followed up with the case. vi. Now why might this have been so? vii. The most likely reason is that the Judean Jews had little interest in actually standing before Caesar and attempting to prove that Paul is guilty of a crime worthy of death. 1. If they were having difficulty proving it to local officials, they would certainly have even more difficulty proving it to Nero. 2. Also, this would have required a trip from Judea to Rome in order to accuse the apostle. 3. They were no doubt satisfied that he was no longer in Judea and wouldn't be for the foreseeable future. viii. Another reason they don't pursue it is probably because Festus rules well in the region for the next two years before dying unexpectedly. 1. While Paul travels to and waits in Rome, they enjoyed relative peace and harmony with the local Roman governor. 2. Traveling to Rome and accusing Paul before Nero could have repercussions that may even include Festus being removed from office. 3. They don't want that. ix. This report is also Luke's way as a storyteller to foreshadow the release of Paul after he meets with Nero. 1. It is difficult to know if Luke writes up to the point he knows or if he writes with the shared knowledge that Paul is released and freed to continue his missionary journeys. 2. But since Luke ends his book saying that Paul spent 2 years in Rome preaching without hindrance – it seems like Luke knows the end of the time in Rome, meaning he knows that Paul was released. 3. This would have been a detail that Theophilus was already well aware of. Perhaps because it had happened very recently, and perhaps because Theophilus was part of Roman legal system which acquitted Paul. 4. So, Luke recording this communication between the Roman Jews and Paul is a subtle way to foreshadow that no Jew from Judea is going to show up for Paul's trial. 5. More than likely this means that Paul will stand before Caesar and plead his case, but the trial will probably be very short. 6. Around AD 62 Nero's tutors had died. He loathed dealing with these appeals in the first place and without his tutors insisting that he perform this duty, he was very slow to deal with the backlog of appeals. History records that he rushed through many of these trials. 7. Paul was probably one of them. x. But the Roman Jews, although not knowing anything bad about Paul, are interested in the hope of Israel he spoke of, but not for the reasons we might think. b. [Slide 11] 22 - But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.” i. It is interesting that they understand what Paul says about the hope of Israel. ii. They know that he is a well-known teacher in this sect of Judaism known as “The Nazarene Sect” or “The Way” or “Christianity”. iii. They connect this hope of the resurrection with what the Nazarene sect taught. In many ways, to the Jews, the Nazarene sect would have seemed like an offshoot of the Pharisee party. iv. Learning this it isn't that hard to understand why there would be a Pharisee party within the church like we saw back in Acts 15. v. And once again, Luke reinforces the concept that Christianity is not a new religion. Even the Jews don't see it as a new religion. They see it as a sect of Judaism. Meaning that it is part of their own religion. Of course, the apostles would argue that it is TRUE Judaism and only those who receive Jesus as their Jewish Messiah remain TRUE Jews. But the point is well taken. vi. But why do they wish to know more about this sect? vii. They obviously have some idea of the resurrection being central to its teaching. But the main thing they've heard about it… is that it is causing problems everywhere. viii. And if they were in Rome before Claudius' edict, they would have witnesses this firsthand. ix. And so, we do find out that the Jews around the empire are talking bad about those who followed what Paul taught… not necessarily about him specifically. x. Having set aside the legal concern that he might be executed at this trial, now Paul will get a chance to preach the gospel to the Jews in Rome. xi. We'll see how that goes next week. c. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Luke conveys a similar point in verses 21 and 22 as he did in the previous section, only this time from the perspective of the Jews in Rome. They did not know any different of Paul. They had not received letters or any person saying he was a bad person. But they had heard rumblings from all over the empire of the problems that The Nazarene sect had been causing. Having read all of Acts up to this point, we know that they couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact, we know that the unbelieving Jews had actually been the cause of all the strife. Primarily because they would not believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of this, they stirred up crowds, instigated riots, beat and dragged Christians before judges, and pursued Paul and his team from town to town persecuting them and attempting to prevent them from preaching the gospel. Even if we are blameless, the church will still inevitably cause strife and civil unrest. This is all the more reason for us to ensure that our character remains blameless and that only the gospel offends and not our actions too. Conclusion: So, what have we learned today CBC that corrects and informs our beliefs and shapes and guides our lifestyles. Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 13] Today we've seen two truths that flow out of the same thought. The reputation of the church is quite important. When individuals in the church seek out trouble, become lawbreakers themselves, unnecessarily push the boundaries of legality, and/or use the legal system to punish their enemies, this actually hinders the church's ability to share the gospel. And yet, the church's witness to the nations will always cause civil unrest and stir up strife. Why? Because what the church preaches is naturally offensive to the world. So why guard our reputation at all when the message we preach will cause unrest anyway? When it is only the gospel that is offensive it validates and draws attention to its truths and not to us as lawbreakers. So, we must be blameless people. But let me apply this a little more specifically today. 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that our character can hinder the general call of the gospel. a. Peter and Paul both express in their letters that if you suffer for doing wrong things, there is no reward. You have gotten what you deserve. b. But as Jesus says, if you suffer for my name when you are accused falsely, then you are blessed. c. There is a saying floating around evangelicalism today which says “Preach the gospel and if you must, use words.” d. This represents a tension we must maintain. e. In one sense, the gospel cannot be preached without the Word of God. So, we must use words… always. f. But the point of this saying is well taken and proven by this text. g. The gospel preached without a life lived in blameless character, can severely limit the general call of the gospel. h. The general call is the when the gospel is preached to everyone. This is different than God's effectual call which will be heard by those whom He is drawing to repentance and faith. i. The effectual call is God's job. The General call… is ours. j. And our civilly malevolent behavior can heavily restrict or even eliminate our ability to deliver the general call of the gospel. k. Just as Paul was concerned that the Roman Jews knew that he did nothing to earn the chains he wore, nor did he plan to seek legal vengeance on those who falsely accused him, so too we must concern ourselves with blameless and upright character which becomes the perfect complement to our gospel proclamations. l. At the council of Nicaea, in AD 325 (which incidentally is the most blamed council for all the bad things the Roman Catholic church did. I've heard people say that this is where they decided the books of the bible, this is where they edited the bible to say what they wanted. And many more. But none of that is actually true.) At the real council of Nicaea, and not the one from fantasy, 220 bishops gathered together at the request of Emperor Constantine to define the nature of God and eliminate confusion within the church. m. It is here that Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria brought one of his Elders before the council with whom he could not agree on a particular definition of the divinity of the Son of God. n. Arius argued that Jesus was not fully God and had a beginning, not being eternal. o. He argued so strongly that a bishop known as Nicholas of Myra slapped Arius across the face for his heresy. p. Although never having a history of violence and generally being an example of generosity and giving (yes this is the Nichoas from which the Santa Claus story evolved) Nicholas was immediately stripped of his Bishop status and imprisoned for his actions. He was eventually released and the council did end up condemning Arius' beliefs as heresy, while also clarifying the hypostatic union of Jesus in the writing of the Nicaean Creed q. Still the church universally disapproved of Nicholas' action. r. This serves as a good illustration for us to harmonize this tension. s. I also hate Arianism. And if you are a follower of Christ, you should too. Why? Because Arianism can't save anyone from the judgment of God. t. That's ok, Arianism being declared a heresy means that it has been snuffed out of existence, right? u. No! v. Arianism is still alive and well. w. Modern Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses and many more cling to a form of Arianism today. x. But if I were to set out to stamp out Arianism using every means available to me… if I went around slapping Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses, not only would they not listen to my call for them to repent… but other unbelievers would not listen either because of reprehensible behavior. y. Though I preached the gospel to them… pure truth… my actions would cause others to dismiss all that I had to say as something not worth hearing. z. This illustrates the point quite well. aa. Our character can adversely affect whether or not someone is open to hearing the general call of the gospel. bb. This is why Paul went to great lengths to clear his name. cc. But we must not pendulum swing too far here. 2.) [Slide 15] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that the world will accept the gospel if we are loving, kind, and winsome in our proclamation. a. Although poor character can adversely affect whether or not someone hears our gospel proclamation, loving, kind, and winsome character does not guarantee that the world will accept the gospel message. b. All blameless character gives to us is the opportunity to proclaim the gospel. c. It merely gains us an audience. d. If we enter into the ministry of evangelism with the expectation that people will accept the gospel if we are loving and kind, we will be sorely discouraged very quickly into that endeavor. e. Why is that the case? Well, we will get to that in a moment. But before we do… what should we do since our blameless character gives us opportunities to proclaim the gospel? 3.) [Slide 16] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must be blameless in character to ensure that the gospel is the only thing causing offense. a. Why do we do this? What is the motive of our having blameless character and being loving, meek, and winsome. b. Because this is what our Lord has commanded and demonstrated to us. c. We don't live with blameless character for the result of winning people to Christ. God alone saves. d. Our blameless character is in service to our Lord and merely to eliminate possible stumbling blocks to being heard. e. We will still be blamed for much and accused falsely. But when we live as blameless people, eventually the world will have to recognize that it is our message itself that is offensive, and not our methods. f. Friends, when the world hates us for our message – we are doing something right… not wrong. g. But if we offend them before we are even able to speak the message, this will not do. h. We must be above reproach and ensure that the only reason someone will not listen to what we have to say, is because of what we are saying. i. But what comfort can we find in this? 4.) [Slide 17] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” Knowing that we will cause offense to sinners even with a meek and blameless presentation of the gospel, gives us more realistic expectations of how we will be received. a. Many people never or rarely share the gospel with others because they are afraid that they will be rejected. b. They are terrified that the person will oppose the gospel message and raise many objections that they are not equipped to answer. c. They are frozen by the very real possibility that they will be despised because they affirm the truth of the Word of God. d. How comforting to know… that you will be rejected, you will be objected to, and you will be despised. e. Wait a minute, that doesn't seem comforting. f. Oh but it is. g. Knowing that something may happen can freeze us completely. Knowing that something will happen removes the fear of the unknown. h. When we know that we will be rejected, despised, and objected to, merely because of the things we say – we can put aside the fear of what might be, and trust the Lord for what will be and obey Him anyway. i. It removes the doubt and uncertainty and allows us to depend on our Lord to sustain us. j. But why is our blameless character not enough to convince people to receive the gospel? 5.) [Slide 18] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” The gospel is good news that no one wants until they know and believe the bad news. a. The gospel teaches all men that they are sinners by nature and subject to the judgment of a Holy God who is a Just Judge and will ensure that every single sin against Him is paid in full. b. This is the first word of the gospel. And generally speaking, men do not like anyone telling them that what they love and cherish is worthy of judgment and death. c. The Roman Jews had heard from various parts of the Roman Empire that the Nazarene sect had been causing problems. d. In reality, it was the rejection of the good news of their own Messiah that had stirred them up. e. Because the gospel confronts mankind with their wickedness and declares that the things they love are an abomination to God who is holy – many never make it beyond the bad news of the gospel. f. But even if they do somewhat believe that this is true, the good news is that Jesus has come as their substitute to free them from sin and to righteousness. g. That also is news that natural man has no interest to hear. h. If mankind loves their sin – they certainly don't want anyone freeing them from it to live differently. i. The gospel is good news to those who believe that they are condemned by a Holy God and desire mercy to be forgiven and grace to be made new. j. To everyone else… it is detestable. k. So, my friends, here is a question to consider – is the message that Jesus Christ was made sin so that you might become the righteousness of God – is that good news? l. If it is and for the first time you see it that way… I'd invite you to talk to an Elder and we can show you how you can become the righteousness of God. [Slide 19 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the English Reformer Myles Coverdale who assisted William Tyndale and many others in translating the bible into English. God of mercy, help us to cling to you and follow your commands. Tame our bodies in honest labor, so we escape the pull of bad habits. Draw our hearts always upward, so we set aside all worldly things and focus only on you. Gracious Father, give us faithful fishers, true and careful in their calling. With the net of your holy word, may they draw us out of the raging sea, so that we with them, and they with us, may enjoy the everlasting banquet. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Benediction: May your days be like the inscribed cooking pots in the Lord's House, setting them apart as HOLINESS TO THE LORD. As God Himself sanctifies you completely so that your spirit, soul and body be preserved without blame until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Until we meet again, go in peace.

Tesla's Full Self-Driving is violating the rules of the road! by Nick Espinosa, Chief Security Fanatic

Today on AOTA Shorts: Haters call them the “University of Spoiled Children” but USC isn't doing themselves any favors these days with a brazen violation of the new CA law banning donor and legacy status being used as a factor in the college admissions process even at private universities in the state. USC will have to share data on legacy and donor admits, and will be placed on the state DOJ website for what can be described as a proverbial slap on the wrist. Yet again, when confronted with the opportunity to have an actual meritocracy, minus their unearned privilege, the haves decline to do so. Manuel and Jeff discuss!Woah, new format! AOTA Shorts give a brief, quick-hitting breakdown of a single story in this increasingly wild world of education that you can enjoy in the car, at work, or in those precious minutes of down time you (maybe) get during your busy day.  Let us know what you think in the comments!MAXIMUM WOKENESS ALERT -- get your All of the Above swag, including your own “Teach the Truth” shirt! In this moment of relentless attacks on teaching truth in the classroom, we got you covered. https://all-of-the-above-store.creator-spring.com Watch, listen and subscribe to make sure you don't miss our latest content!Listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify Website: https://AOTAshow.comStream all of our content at: linktr.ee/AOTA  Watch at: YouTube.com/AlloftheAboveFollow us at: Facebook.com/AOTAshow, Twitter.com/AOTAshow, LinkedIn,

NATO's airspace is busy these days. And not in a good way. That's especially true for member nations on the alliance's eastern flank.It's not supposed to be that way. In recent weeks, states like Poland, Estonia, Romania, and Denmark have seen drones or other aircraft violate their airspace. In some cases, these airborne craft clearly identify they're Russian in origin.Multiple countries have called on NATO to consult about what to do next. So, what's going on? What is Russia up to?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Minnesota found GUILTY of VIOLATING Title IX after allowing TRANS pitcher to DOMINATE girls sports!

In this week's One Decision In Brief, Christina Ruffini and former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove assess Russia's latest gray-zone provocations — from fighter jets entering Estonian airspace to swarms of drones over Poland. What do these incursions reveal about NATO's readiness, Europe's vulnerabilities, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's strategy? And with One Decision heading to the Warsaw Security Forum, these questions will be put directly to Europe's leaders. Plus: inside MI6's new dark-web recruitment portal, and how British intelligence is adapting to the digital age. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He speaks with guest host Alex Guye.

Indiana's former Public Safety Secretary Jennifer-Ruth Green faces a complaint accusing her of violating multiple provisions of the state's ethics code. Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales says his office provided the personal information of the state's registered voters — nearly five million Hoosiers — to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Muncie Human Rights Commission president, Ste-Ven Knipp, will step down from his position following social media comments he made that celebrated the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The annual Tippecanoe Latino Festival brought people together over the weekend to celebrate culture and community. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts. WFYI News Now is produced by Zach Bundy and Abriana Herron, with support from News Director Sarah Neal-Estes.

Saturday, 13 September 2025   And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. Matthew 13:7   “And others, it fell upon the thorns, and they ascended, the thorns, and they choked them” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus described how the seed that fell on the rock-like areas scorched and withered. He now turns to another category, saying, “And others, it fell upon the thorns.”   Thorns in Israel are about as bad as they get. They are everywhere, and they come in a seemingly unlimited number of torturous varieties. When God cursed the earth and said that it would produce thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18), it seems He was specifically highlighting this promised curse in the land of Israel.   Everyone listening would understand His words. The sower is out spreading seed. As he does, some of it falls on the uncleared area where thorns had not been fully removed through burning or tilling. They may not be evident if the tops were burned off, but the roots remained because they weren't in the main part of the field that was fully tilled and cleared.   Leaving thorns around a field can have a positive purpose, such as keeping out unwanted creatures, but once the seed falls into such an area, there is no going back and picking it out. It is there for the duration. Once cast there, Jesus says, “and they ascended, the thorns, and they choked them.”   Like dominant plants in any area, those that are hardiest will overcome those that are not. Thorns don't need much water to thrive. They get started early, and when the rains come, they are already prepared to speedily grow beyond whatever else is in the soil. As such, the grain cannot compete against the thorns, and they become choked out, never reaching maturity. Vincent's Word Studies notes the words of Ovid that closely match Jesus' words of these past verses –   "Now the too ardent sun, vow furious showers, With baleful stars and bitter winds combine The crop to ravage; while the greedy fowl Snatch the strewn seeds; and grass with stubborn roots, And thorn and darnel plague the ripening grain." Metamorphoses   Life application: If you go to Israel on a vacation, business trip, tour, or whatever, be sure to have long pants and appropriate shoes if you plan on going for walks in the fields or mountains.   There are thornbushes, thistles, scratchy weeds, etc., all over the place. One can have a jillion lacerations after a short walk through an area that was not cleared. Many of these look innocuous until you step into them. Once you do, it is painful just trying to back out.   This is true throughout the world. The curse that was pronounced at the beginning has continued to be proven true throughout human history. In Israel, a land that is still being reclaimed after two thousand years of inactivity due to the curses of the law being brought to bear against the people for rejecting Jesus, every hill that remains unoccupied bears a reminder of the curse.   Slowly, Israel is subduing these areas and rebuilding towns and villages in the wilderness. Where they haven't, the walk may appear beautiful and an exciting challenge when viewed from a distance, but once you get into the area, you may find yourself wishing you had gone to Tahiti or even to North Korea... anywhere but the painful hill you are walking on.   So be careful if you go. If you remember to avoid such pitfalls, you should probably have a great adventure as you enjoy the land where Jesus walked.   Lord God, it will be really great when we are given a new place to set our feet, one without thorns, thistles, poison ivy, and harmful critters. Violating one law brought about all of this and so much more. But we know that through the grace of Jesus Christ, what we willnow experience will be more wonderful than we can imagine. Thank You for this sure hope we possess. Amen.  

Answer: probably zero. As astonishing as it might seem among all the other astonishing outrages in today's America, it turns out that there is no legal way to stop Trump's unprecedented financial profiteering from his presidency, even when it damages the nation's interests. Only society's norms — stronger than the laws — could have prevented it in earlier times when Americans had higher values. Walter Shaub, former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, details Trump's corruption in a gripping, distressing conversation. And he has urgent advice for government employees who do, despite Trump, want to act ethically.

When the president orders a strike, who decides if it's legal? Sarah Isgur and David French unpack the commander in chief's powers after a hit on an alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessel. The Agenda:—The laws of armed conflict—Violating the Constitution?—The complexity of terror designation—SCOTUS to decide fate of Trump's tariffs—Interim docket before the emergency docket—Sarah name-drops Jonah Goldberg—SCOTUS interim docket decision on immigration stops in L.A. Show Notes:—Orin Kerr on Los Angeles immigration enforcement case Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that Russian drones “did not veer off course” but deliberately targeted Polish airspace, as he called out “lies and denials” from Russia. Speaking to Fionnuala this morning was Misha Glenny, Rector of the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna and a former BBC Central Europe Correspondent.

Should Nato take a tougher stance on Russia following its violation of Polish airspace? Then: the state of US-Israel ties after the latter’s attack on Qatar. Plus: is FM radio still important?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Tuesday, Tyson Foods announced that Brady Stewart, group president of prepared foods, beef and pork and the company's chief supply chain officer, was leaving the food company immediately. Stewart took "certain actions" that violated the company's code of conduct, the company said in a statement, though it didn't provide further details. 

AP correspondent Haya Panjwani reports on an arrest of someone Trump commuted his last term

Unity Without Compromise with Dr. Steven LaTulippe – Despite the domestic enemies targeting us from every direction in their insurrection (the real one), we are still refusing to take on America's most vile, sinister, and dangerous enemy: the embedded spineless cartel that still thrives in our government. We must stop playing defense when it comes to domestic enemies. Even the staunchest Trump cabinet members are guilty of this offense...

Unity Without Compromise with Dr. Steven LaTulippe – Despite the domestic enemies targeting us from every direction in their insurrection (the real one), we are still refusing to take on America's most vile, sinister, and dangerous enemy: the embedded spineless cartel that still thrives in our government. We must stop playing defense when it comes to domestic enemies. Even the staunchest Trump cabinet members are guilty of this offense...

A gag order, also known as a judicial gag order, is a legal order issued by a judge that restricts or prohibits certain individuals involved in a legal case from speaking about or disclosing certain information to the public or the media. It is typically employed to ensure a fair trial or to protect the integrity of ongoing legal proceedings.The purpose of a gag order is to prevent potential prejudice or bias that may arise from pretrial publicity or excessive media coverage.By limiting the dissemination of information, a gag order aims to safeguard the right of the accused to a fair trial and maintain the impartiality of the jury.A judge may impose a gag order on various parties involved in a case, including the prosecution, defense attorneys, witnesses, and even the media. The specific terms and scope of a gag order can vary, but it commonly restricts individuals from discussing case-related details, evidence, or opinions outside of the courtroom.Gag orders can be broad, prohibiting all communication on a case, or they can be more specific, focusing on certain topics or individuals. Violating a gag order can result in contempt of court charges, fines, or other legal consequences.While gag orders are intended to protect the legal process, they can also raise concerns about freedom of speech and the public's right to information. However, judges may consider the potential impact on the fairness of the trial or the privacy rights of those involved when deciding to issue a gag order.In this epsiode, we are diving into the court documents once again and we are taking a look at the amended gag order, order graning motion to take judicial notice of press coverage, order granting motion to intervene for limited purpose and the order reserving the issue of cameras in the courtroom.(commercial at 8:10)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:06232023 Revised Amended Nondissemination Order.pdf (idaho.gov)source:06232023 Order Granting Motion to Take Judicial Notice of Press Coverage.pdf (idaho.gov)source:06232023 Order Granting Motion to Intervene for Limited Purposes.pdf (idaho.gov)source:06232023 Order Reserving Ruling on the Issue of Cameras in the Courtroom.pdf (idaho.gov)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

In this episode of r/EntitledParents, an entitled mother insists that people allow her into their business without a mask. In the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic. It's really easy to tell who has an IQ in the double digits these days, isn't it? #reddit #entitledparents #coronavirus Join me on Discord dude: https://discord.gg/fmfCdmP Support this channel on Patreon: http://patreon.com/daytondoes Stalk me on the Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/daytond... Check out my other channel: https://www.youtube.com/dayton... Have you ever met an entitled person? They are frustrating to deal with, but luckily you aren't alone! These r/entitled parents stories from Reddit are among the top posts of all time and include some of the funniest Reddit stories ever posted on the entitled parents subreddit! rSlash EntitledParents stories have all kinds of funny entitled parents in them, but especially the Karen. Listening to ReddX's entitled parents playlist is a great experience! These EntitledParents Top Posts of All Time from Reddit are made for you to enjoy any time you feel like it, so be sure to save my rSlash entitledparents playlist to your favorites! While there are many rslash channels that read r/entitled parents stories and r/prorevenge from reddit, each channel has their own way of performing them. Some of the top rSlash entitled parents channels I recommend checking out are the original rSlash, Redditor, fresh, r/Bumfries, VoiceyHere, Mr Reddit, Storytime and Darkfluff. These Reddit story channels inspired me to start my own Reddit story channel, with a focus on Entitled Parents stories and at times going into the r/pettyrevenge and r/choosingbeggars subreddit as well. Because most of my audience prefers Entitled Parents stories of Reddit, I tend to just stick with reading the r/EntitleParents Top Posts of All Time. Subscribe to ReddX for the freshest daily Reddit content. I post relatable readings of Reddit posts and Reddit stories every single day! Journey with me as I relate these amazing Reddit stories to my personal life journey. I'm greatly inspired by the top reddit posts of all time videos and reddit stories on YouTube which is why I started doing them myself. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channe... Discord: https://discord.gg/Sju7YckUWu Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/daytondo... PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/daytondo... Patreon: http://patreon.com/daytondoes Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/daytond... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReddX... Merch: https://reddx-shop.fourthwall....

The Washington State Court of Appeals upheld nearly $1 million in fines against Stuffy's II in Longview for repeatedly defying the state's COVID indoor dining ban. The ruling follows earlier decisions by the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and Cowlitz County Superior Court. The restaurant has been closed since an August fire. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/appeals-court-upholds-1m-in-fines-against-longview-restaurant-for-violating-covid-restrictions/ #WashingtonState #Longview #StuffysII #COVID19 #IndoorDiningBan #PublicHealth #CourtOfAppeals #BusinessPenalties #RestaurantFines #EmilyFitzgerald

Advocates call for better conditions for immigrants at the Adelanto Detention Facility. Santa Ana police admit to violating state military equipment law. Former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do has turned himself into prison. Plus, more.Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comVisit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency! Support the show: https://laist.com

Send us a textScholar and former economics professor Mark Perry spoke with Liz Collin about how George Floyd memorial scholarships at Minnesota colleges may have started with good intentions—but have ended up violating students' civil rights.Support the show

Hey Collectors! This episode is for the over the top predatory practice of QVC and other like sites. They take advantage of your lonliness and your pocket book.

The federal judges are trying their best to protect the American people against Donald Trump's lawlessness and unconstitutionality. In a recent court ruling, DC Federal District Judge Emmet Sullivan - not only ruled that the Trump administration violated a federal statute that requires transparency and public disclosure about how the executive branch is spending ("apportioning") the people's tax dollars, but he directly and pointedly told the Trump administration, "stop violating the law!"In a very real sense, the federal judges are protecting the American people from an administration that is knowingly and intentionally acting in ways that violate the our federal laws.For nightly live Law Talks, please join Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comIf you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glennkirschn...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/glennkirschner2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The federal judges are trying their best to protect the American people against Donald Trump's lawlessness and unconstitutionality. In a recent court ruling, DC Federal District Judge Emmet Sullivan - not only ruled that the Trump administration violated a federal statute that requires transparency and public disclosure about how the executive branch is spending ("apportioning") the people's tax dollars, but he directly and pointedly told the Trump administration, "stop violating the law!"In a very real sense, the federal judges are protecting the American people from an administration that is knowingly and intentionally acting in ways that violate the our federal laws.For nightly live Law Talks, please join Glenn on Substack: glennkirschner.substack.comIf you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glennkirschn...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/glennkirschner2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oregon INVESTIGATED for VIOLATING Girls RIGHTS as Transgender INVADES THEIR SPORT and Locker Room!

How do we know about the separation of body and soul? Cremated or buried? DEI training moral? Join us for Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

Krystal and Saagar discuss Rogan speaks against Trump Home Depot raids, Tucker unloads on 'repulsive' Ted Cruz, Jeffrey Sachs on how Bibi will sabotage ceasefire. To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show AD FREE, uncut and 1 hour early visit: www.breakingpoints.comMerch Store: https://shop.breakingpoints.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump told Israel NOT To bomb Iran, Israel did it anyway Become A Member http://youtube.com/timcastnews/join The Green Room - https://rumble.com/playlists/aa56qw_g-j0 BUY CAST BREW COFFEE TO FIGHT BACK - https://castbrew.com/ Join The Discord Server - https://timcast.com/join-us/ Hang Out With Tim Pool & Crew LIVE At - http://Youtube.com/TimcastIRL

Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but has now accused both countries of violating it. Reuters has the latest. What to know about New York City’s mayoral primary, and the unique ranked-choice voting system that will decide the next mayor. Laura Nahmias with Bloomberg News has the details. Wyatt Myskow with Inside Climate News reports that congressional Republicans’ proposed federal budget would cut millions from national parks, as part of the Trump administration’s broader attack on public land. Plus, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can resume deportations to “third countries,” a study found that abortions are rising three years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, and the world’s largest camera delivered extraordinary new pictures of space. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

It looks like Donald Trump's Department of Justice lawyers just can't stop violation court orders. The presiding Judge, Paula Xinis, has granted Abrego Garcia's legal team's request to pursue sanctions for the DOJ's violation of court- ordered discovery. As the Fox network (of all places) wrote: " Federal judge delivers one-two punch to Trump in Abregao Garcia case." Glenn discusses this new legal development.If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support Glenn and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/glennkirschn...TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/glennkirschner2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.