Podcasts about when philip

We are in Acts 8:26 on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast reading more of what God did thru Philip the evangelist. In the midst of a revival, an angel of the Lord instructs Philip to go down the road to a desert place near Gaza. Luke records that an Ethiopian eunuch was worshipping, riding along in his chariot having come from Jerusalem. He was reading a passage from Isaiah, chapter 53 to be exact. When Philip was told by the Spirit to come up along side of the man's chariot, he heard him continually reading out loud this passage. So Philip asked him whether he was yet understanding what he was reading. He said, I need someone to guide me in understanding who this Scripture is speaking about. Let's turn to Acts 8:26 with Dr. Mitchell as he guides our hearts to Jesus. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unchanging-word/message

Philip Anthony Mangan, a.k.a. Your Wellness Wingman, helps overwhelmed women lose weight & regain control through daily personalized support. Philip is a model, commercial actor, an environmental activist, and a NASM Certified Personal Trainer & Fitness Nutrition Specialist. He is the founder of a holistic health and wellness coaching business that focuses on providing people with the clarity, confidence and control they need to make lasting changes in their lives. His 3-step method emphasizes that building simple and consistent self-care habits are the key to success by encompassing the practices of; slowing down, quieting the noise, and opening your mind. Things we discussed: · How Philip was motivated to become a Vegan · His best nutritional tips · Creating his future TIME STAMPS: 3:00-19:41 · Who is Philip · His reason for going Vegan. · When Philip wasn't being his authentic self 19:41-32:04 · How he created his reality? · His lowest moment and the lesson he learned · Why he chooses to work with women 32:04-48:00 · His best advice for sleep · His best nutritional advice · His best ideas for movement · How to connect with Philip Connect with Philip Email: philipanthonymangan@gmail.com Website: philipmangan.com Facebook: /philipanthonymangan Instagram: @philipanthonymangan Philip offers a free 30-minute coaching consultation and a free eBook on how to build a healthy morning routine

The story of the early church is one of unlearning assumptions and learning the power of the Holy Spirit. When Philip ran into the Ethiopian eunuch on the road, the Holy Spirit showed him that the gospel was for all people.

Here we have Phillip being sent to a man who is 4x an outsider. So often we think ourselves to be Phillip, needing to be sent out to find this type of man. But I wonder, how often are we the man in the chariot with the open Bible, needing help?Acts 8:26-40An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.) So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”“How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,and as a lamb is silent before its shearer,so he does not open his mouth.In his humiliation justice was denied him.Who will describe his generation?For his life is taken from the earth.The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing. Philip appeared in Azotus, and he was traveling and preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.O God, you give us your Son as the vine apart from whom we cannot live. Nourish our life in his resurrection, that we may bear the fruit of love and know the fullness of your joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.

A Little About Philip Topham:Philip Topham is an Entrepreneur, patented inventor, author, and creator of The Founders' SMARTER Toolkit.  Philip has an inquisitive mind and a passion for ideas. He launched The Savvy Founder to help technical founders “bring tomorrows' future today”.    With more than 25 years in both corporate and startup roles, Philip has been everything from janitor to the Founder and Chief Everything Officer. He's served as the head of Information Technology as well as startup Chief Technology Officer building software and solving problems others said couldn't be solved.Philip has experienced what happens when a traditional company gets $20M venture capital infusion to become the next big thing. He has also experienced building a business without venture backing. He built a business from zero to profitability, 86% gross margins, selling more than $5M to big pharma, and changed the way the pharmaceutical industry operates.Among his many accomplishments, Philip is an armchair sociologist with peer-review publications in social network analysis and machine learning. He holds a BS in Biological Sciences from UC Irvine and an MBA from Pepperdine University. When not working, he can be found playing billiards, traveling, or socializing with friends and family.In this episode of The Millionaire's Lawyer, JP and Philip Topham discuss:When Philip was young he got into a corporation just as they had received FundingFunding allows the corporation to accomplish a lot and causes people to spend money recklessly. Ensure to always plan ahead, and plan where the money is going to go."Spending money like a drunken Sailor"NetworkingHaving a solid network behind you is essentialYou want the people who talk positively about you when you are out of the roomWhen looking for a network connection approach it from a "How can I contribute?" standpointSince Philip was in IT, he was able to have his hands in everything, "Cheif Everything Officer"Begin with the end in mindBe clear with what your CORE VALUES are Three Types of Power:PhysicalCapitalInformationalSo many people feel as though more money is what is going to get investors, but what is really required is for the Risk to be lowered.Angel Investors like to invest when the risk has been loweredThe Internet  has allowed information to flow and allows for Global Leaders to talk making it tremendously powerful Philip Topham worries that the online dynamic allows for there to be "Group Think" that could be very dangerous.Another thing that Philip feels as though the internet is negatively impacting is peoples learning  as it shows them the top five things the algorithm feels suit that question. People are no longer looking into things and wondering why that is what Google is showing them.Make sure you are Pitching your tent, know what you are pitching, and make sure it is the correct audience.TIP OR TRICKYou may see things as a molehill or a mountain, but be happy with what your path is. No one else can walk your path. Enjoy it.Connect with Philip Topham:WebsiteLinkedInConnect with your host, JP:TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsiteShow:LinkedInEmail:  jpmcavoy@conductlaw.comPhone:  1-833-890-8878THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR:Conduct LawWebsite

Why is confidence in God the second weapon in the spiritual battle? In the last episode, we finished reading Chapter 2, on Distrust of Self. We have seen that this distrust is distrust of the self that relies on its own strength. We can call it the false self, the self that thinks its own strength is all it needs. What is the foundation of distrust of self? Self-knowledge of our own weakness and tendency to all evil, left to ourselves. Humility of heart -- desire for oneself what is proper to oneself, that is, to lower ourselves before God and others. Are there any saints who practiced such distrust of self as a foundation for their spiritual life? St Philip shows us a great example of distrust of self. Here are some quotations from him. Every day St Philip used to make a protest to God with the Blessed Sacrament in his hand, saying, “Lord! beware of me to-day, lest I should betray You, and do You all the mischief in the world.” At other times he would say, “The Wound in Christ's Side is large, but if God did not guard me I should make it larger;” When Philip was just going to receive Holy Communion, he would say, “Lord, I protest before Thee that I am good for nothing but to do evil.” He used to say that his only preparation for mass was to present himself to God as one who was ready, so far as he was concerned, to be guilty of any and every evil, if God did not assist him. Why does God send us trials and even allow us to fall into terrible sins? Scupoli says that this is God's way of giving us distrust of self. God prefers the proper means. What are the proper means that we can practice for obtaining this great weapon? 1) meditating on our weakness, 2) begging Christ on the Cross for this gift, 3) getting used to accepting our weakness in the face of temptations from ourselves and demons, 4) humbling ourselves after we fall.

Russ finds Elizabeth nursing a hangover. Thankfully the artist isn’t annoyed by her and Vince’s antics yesterday especially as Vince has bought one of his works. Once Vince is out of the shower Russ shows him round the gallery again and suggests that Casey Meats becomes a patron of the gallery. Russ is stunned to learn that Vince can name a respected contemporary American graffiti artist. Vince reveals that art was the one subject he got on with at school. Russ and Vince talk more generally about what draws people to Lower Loxley. Russ really wants to improve the gallery’s prospects. He’s embarrassed by its current state. Vince advises him to not worry about what other people think; instead he should look at the positives of his situation. Elizabeth walks in on their cosy chat and Vince quickly uses it as an opportunity to invite his daughter Stephanie for a Lower Loxley wine tasting. Shula visits Philip in prison. He’s adamant he doesn’t need forgiveness from God because he hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s pleading not guilty. He assures Shula he’s not feeling suicidal. When Philip starts asking after other people, Shula reminds him she is there for spiritual support only. Philip defends his actions saying he’s done a lot more than most by taking those he found off the streets. Just before she leaves, Shula tries again to impress on Philip the harm and heartbreak he’s caused but he only pushes back with insults.

John 1:43-51The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”Last week, within the hour following worship, two people who know me pretty well (even better than I realize sometimes) texted me to ask if I was okay – that I seemed “off,” even angry during worship. As much as I hate to give off such a vibe when leading worship, I can’t say I was surprised. I blame part of it on this mask. My eyes don’t smile, dang it, and there’s not much I can do about that!But the larger truth is that – as many of you know or can imagine – I’m feeling as overwhelmed about life in the world these days as the rest of you. And sometimes I forget that and don’t realize how it shows as much as I wish it didn’t. And it was a hard, holy, deeply meaningful thing to realize that two people who care about me could see me – even through the mask and over the internet – in that way. And that they cared enough to let me know what they saw.And then I read about Jesus collecting disciples in John’s Gospel. And that constant command or invitation or double-dog-dare, whatever you want to call it: “Come and see.” And I thought differently about Nathanael this time around, because of it. When Philip tells Nathanael to “come and see” this Jesus, Nathanael is like, “Yeah. Whatever. Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (I imagine Nathanael rolling his eyes, stubbing out his 1st Century cigarette if there was such a thing, and reluctantly following his friend, even though there were 37 other things he’d rather be doing than going to meet some knucklehead from Nazareth.)But I like Nathanael for that question and for his skepticism, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” And I think Jesus liked him for it, too. Because when Jesus approaches him he seems to applaud Nathanael for it. Jesus says, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “Here’s a guy who isn’t afraid to say what he’s thinking.” “Here’s a guy who isn’t afraid to be suspicious – even about ‘the Lamb of God,’ or about the ‘one Moses and the prophets wrote so much about.’”And when Nathanael wonders how in the world Jesus knows so much about him already, Jesus says that he saw him, sitting under a fig tree sometime before Philip introduced them.And, no one knows exactly what Nathanael was doing or what made Jesus notice him sitting under some fig tree on that particular day. But it sure meant something to Nathanael that Jesus saw him there – really saw him, apparently. Maybe he was waiting for work or taking a lunch break. Maybe he was rehearsing a difficult conversation he needed to have with his parents or his wife or his kid. Maybe he was grieving a loss. Maybe he was praying for God to send him a sign of some kind. Maybe Nathanael wasn’t doing anything and just marveled at the notion that Jesus had seen and noticed and remembered him at all.Whatever the case, “seeing” and “being seen” seem to matter to Jesus. And it mattered for Nathanael. And I think it matters to the rest of us, too. I know it mattered for me last Sunday after worship. We all want to know that we matter. That our words and our thoughts matter. That we’re not alone in this world. We all want to know that someone, somewhere cares enough about us to worry when we struggle and to celebrate when we succeed. To be seen and heard – really seen and heard – is to have our value and worth confirmed and to know we matter to someone other than ourselves. So, it mattered terrifically for Nathanael to know – even in spite of his skepticism – that he had been seen by Jesus. It mattered so much that he followed that knucklehead from Nazareth and became his disciple because of it.I heard someone this past week talking about what happened at our nation’s Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on January 6th – the violent, hate-filled, murderous riot or insurrection or attempted coup or terrorist attack, I mean. I’m still not sure what we’re supposed to call it. Maybe it was a little of all of those things.Well, this pundit was talking about the likes of those who stormed the Capitol that day – and about what it is or was that inspired them to go to such crazed and ugly extremes. Without mention of voter fraud or election corruption or any political issue in particular, really, this guy suggested that somehow – over the course of the last four years – the President convinced a whole lot of rural, white, lower and middle-class Americans that he had “seen” them in a way that no one else had “seen” or “heard” or “cared” about them before. He suggested that a particular demographic of our population had been – or was convinced they had been – ignored and dismissed and disregarded by the likes of Hollywood and the “mainstream media” and by politicians and political parties heretofore so that when Donald Trump seemed to “see” them, their allegiance to him became so complete and so total and so blind, so as to become dangerous and destructive and deadly, even – as we all saw it become a week-and-a-half ago, when these people – the rioters – were under the impression that no one was listening to their side of the story anymore.And it made me think about something Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for having said once: that “a riot is the language of the unheard.” “Riot is the language of the unheard.” (It’s important to know that King wasn’t condoning or celebrating or advocating riot or violence in any way. And I’m certainly not, either. In fact, when King said that “a riot is the language of the unheard,” he was simply acknowledging the Truth of that while holding fast to his own commitment to remain non-violent at all costs as a man of God, as a follower of Jesus, and as a leader of the Civil Rights Movement in this country.)So, I think there’s a lesson still to be learned from Martin Luther King, Jr. – and from Jesus and Nathanael in this morning’s Gospel – about the unsettled and unsettling times we’re living in. Because we have work to do – all of us – when it comes to seeing and hearing one another in our country these days … because I think we’ve stopped seeing and hearing one another in so many ways that matter and that could make a difference in all of this.Obviously, those waving their Confederate flags and sporting their “Camp Auschwitz” hoodies need to “come and see” for themselves what oppression and injustice really look like. They need to stop and listen to the stories of their Black and Brown, Jewish and Muslim neighbors, just for starters.Obviously, Democrats and Republicans need to “come and see” and hear and listen to the Truth that exists on both sides of the imaginary aisle we pretend separates us so much of the time.Obviously, the mob mentality and violent uprisings that threaten our safety and disrupt our democracy need to be condemned and stopped and held accountable so that they no longer look like a reasonable solution for anyone to engage – no matter what it is they’re protesting.And what seems obvious to me – but not to everyone, I realize – is that we also need to stop pretending it’s okay, or even preferred, to steer clear of hard conversations about politics and religion in order to keep polite company. It’s this kind of taboo, I think, that has allowed a disconnect between how we vote and how we behave and what we profess to believe, as Christians, in so many ways. (It is silence on the part of too many Christians – and this sort of caveat against discussing or mixing ‘politics and religion’ – that allows “Jesus 2020” banners to hang in such close proximity to a gallows and a noose during the same insurrection.)And please know that I’m looking you. And I’m looking in the mirror, too.Because those of us who think, pretend, and have convinced ourselves that we are above and beyond and better than all of this, might just need to crawl out from under our own fig trees, let ourselves be fully seen by Jesus for a change, and “come and see” for ourselves, again, what Jesus has been trying to show us all along:The stuff of courage that speaks Truth to power, I mean.The stuff of mercy and forgiveness, which makes room for the stuff of repentance…Repentance which, when done faithfully and fully, implies confession and contrition and change…and that leads to the stuff of self-sacrifice and humility and the need to offer and to receive grace upon grace.Because if and when we gather the courage to practice that kind of faith – to see one another and to let ourselves be seen – even in all of our cynical, skeptical, broken, and sinful ways (like Jesus saw Nathanael)…If and when we dare to engage honest, faithful, vulnerable conversations about all of it … then something might change; then justice might be served; then hearts might soften; peace might win the day; and we might start following – more faithfully – the Jesus who died so that we might love one another – and love our enemies, too – in a whole new, life-giving, earth-shattering kind of way.And then – then, then, then – we might see something like Jesus promised so long ago to Nathanael and those first disciples. We might see the heavens opening, and the angels of God ascending and descending, in our midst and upon the Son of Man; which is another way of saying, if you ask me, that things will be more “on earth as they are in heaven.”Amen

I am still shaken over what happened at our nation’s capitol on January 6th.  My heart grieves because of the deep brokenness in our culture.  In fact, I have been feeling for some time that our present context could be described by the words we find in 1 Samuel this morning where we read, “The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.”  Too frequently, the loudest religious voices in present culture have been voices of Christian nationalism which is not Christianity.  What we saw on January 6 was the result of the fusion of fundamentalist Christian nationalism, racism, conspiracy theories, populism, white supremacist ideology, and extremism.  And, as insurgents stormed the capitol, many described themselves as participants in a kind of holy war.  It was hateful, violent, appalling, and it was wrong! This is NOT Christianity! This is NOT how Christians are called to live. These actions do not display the call to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself! So, it is fitting that in today’s readings, we hear call stories.  Call stories tell us about the response of people of faith to God’s call in their lives, and they help to inform us of the way we are called to live. We hear about the call of Samuel, a little boy who grew up to become one of the great prophets of the Old Testament.  In our New Testament reading, we hear Paul telling us we are called to live our lives as faithful Christians, thinking of our very bodies as temples, bodies worthy of bearing the Holy Spirit in this world.  And our gospel reading tells us of the call of Philip and Nathanael, two of Jesus’ first disciples. In this gospel reading, Nathanael’s call to follow Jesus is not dramatic like Samuel’s. It is somewhat gradual.  It evolves through engaging conversation.  In fact, it seems as though Nathanael did not even want to meet this guy, Jesus.  He was just doing it as a favor to his friend. When Philip tells him Jesus is the one of whom the prophets spoke, Nathanael replies by honestly speaking his mind saying, “Really? A self-appointed teacher, from that back woods, podunk, little town of Nazareth?” Well, he quickly discovers that this guy, Jesus, at least had a sense of humor.  When he meets Jesus, Jesus says, “Glad to meet you Nathanael, an Israelite without deceit.”  Now, this might have been a backhanded compliment.  Maybe Jesus was saying he appreciated Nathanael honestly speaking his mind, because he did not seem to take offense at the whole Nazareth comment.  But, we who are overhearing this conversation should understand there is a double meaning here. Jesus' calling Nathanael an "Israelite" should bring to mind the ancient story of Jacob which is found in Genesis.  Jacob, a name meaning the deceiver – remember he deceived his brother Esau – later became known as Israel. Anyway, Nathanael is an Israelite without deceit, and this conversation marks the beginning of his relationship with Jesus. But, wait!  There is more! Jesus was not there for Nathanael’s Nazareth comment.  How did Jesus know what he had said?  So, Nathanael asks, “How did you know me?” Jesus then says he saw Nathanael sitting under the fig tree!  How could that have been?  With Jesus’ words, Nathanael becomes convinced, and a confession of belief comes pouring out of Nathanael’s mouth. Nathanael proclaims, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God.”    Jesus confirms it with yet another Jacob reference – this time to Jacob’s ladder.  He says, “The angels will go up and down on the son of man.”  That is, upon himself.  And, he is referencing Jacob’s experience at Bethel, that Genesis story where heaven, the realm of God, comes so close to earth that the inhabitants of the two realms could meet. Now, in Jesus, not just in one geographical place, in this person Jesus, the very life of God has come near. This was the beginning of Nathanael’s journey with Jesus, one that would take him to the most unlikely places. This gradual conversation is important as we hear references of heaven touching earth.  In this person of Jesus, heaven has touched earth.  Heaven is where love reigns.  Heaven is where there is room for all God’s children, and all are welcome at the table.  Heaven is where nothing is broken, and no one is left out.  That is the life-giving ministry Jesus brought to this earth, the ministry he lived, and the ministry into which Nathanael became a disciple. That is what the writer of John’s gospel consistently refers to as eternal life, life that truly matters right here and right now. Wow! Quite frankly, that is not what we have been seeing in our present context over the past few weeks!  But, the good news is that, in Jesus, heaven gets a foothold on this earth as we live into life that truly matters. In Jesus, life that truly matters is breaking in upon this earth.  As Jim Wallis says, “In Jesus, God hits the street.” And, friends, those who follow Jesus are called to live as he lived!  We are called to live God’s LOVE on the streets of this earth as we live in relationship to others. Friends, this is truly an appropriate reading for this weekend as we remember and honor the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., another disciple who followed Jesus.  His call to ministry was also a gradual call.  Listen to how he described being called.  He wrote: My call to ministry was neither dramatic nor spectacular.  It came neither by some miraculous vision nor by some blinding light experience on the road of life.  Moreover, it did not come as a sudden realization.  Rather, it was a response to an inner urge that gradually came upon me.  This urge expressed itself in a desire to serve God and humanity, and the feeling that my talent and my commitment could best be expressed through ministry.  At first, I planned to be a physician; then I turned my attention in the direction of law.  But as I passed through the preparation stages of these two professions, I still felt within that undying urge to serve God and humanity through the ministry.  During my senior year in college, I finally decided to accept the challenge and enter the ministry.  I came to see that God had placed a responsibility upon my shoulders and the more I tried to escape it the more frustrated I would become.  A few months after preaching my first sermon I entered theological seminary.  This, in brief is an account of my call and pilgrimage to the ministry. In 1955, shortly after Dr. King began his ministry in Montgomery, AL, God guided him in new directions. Forced segregation on city buses had become an intense issue that required a response. Rosa Parks had recently been arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white person while on a city bus. With her trial approaching, local pastors gathered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church to strategize.  They shared ideas, but nothing emerged until a young pastor raised his hand and became the boycott leader. Just like Nathanael, the young Rev. King, experienced in Jesus life that truly matters, the life of God come near. God’s justice had broken into this world and gotten a foothold through the actions of Rosa Parks.  And, Dr. King invited others to join him as they began following Jesus into the streets, seeking justice. Dr. King was God’s ambassador as God’s life-giving, life-changing presence again broke into this world. Many years later, Dr. King would describe his glimpse and vision of what it looks like when the realm of God comes near.  He said: . . . one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. . . my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. (I Have a Dream speech) Martin Luther King, Jr., responded to the call to follow Jesus and he followed to the unexpected places, places that did bring about justice and change.  Quite frankly, it is hard to follow Jesus to some of those places, and Dr. King knew this.  It was from one of those unlikely places, the Birmingham jail, that he wrote about a letter he had just received from a white brother urging caution, who had said, “All Christians know that the colored people will receive equal rights eventually, but. . . The teachings of Christ take time to come to earth."  Dr. King responded to him, saying: Such an attitude stems . . . from the strangely irrational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. Actually . . .human progress . . . comes through the tireless efforts of (persons) willing to be co-workers with God . . .Early Christians entered a town . . . in the conviction that they were “a colony of heaven,” called to obey God . . . Small in number, they were big in commitment . . . By their effort and example, they brought an end to ... ancient evils . . . The time is always ripe to do right.  (Letters from A Birmingham Jail) As we follow Jesus’ call into the streets of this world, we walk in the footsteps of Samuel, Paul, Nathanael and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., living into eternal life, life that truly matters, while bearing God’s creative and redeeming Word in this world.  The time is always ripe to do right!

When Philip’s work in the city of Samaria was complete, the Lord whisked him away for an important meeting divinely arranged along a rural road. God’s providence is clearly witnessed as the evangelist meets an African dignitary along the Gaza road. When Philip met the man, he found him reading a scroll of the prophecy […]

Guess what put us on the map in 2018? Hamilton had more hate crimes than any other Canadian city. While there's lots of hate to go around on the right and the left, that's not the point; the Church isn't here to identify with an ideology, but with misfits. This message concludes our series: "In Hamilton as it is in Heaven" with many helpful, pointed corrections for Conservatives and Liberals. When Philip visited the Ethiopian Eunuch, it changed both of them, and we need to learn their lessons too. Otherwise, we risk making cross-carrying harder for each other than it already is, and saying "no" to those to whom God may be saying "yes".

Most people are content to make pretty good money at a 9-to-5 and live an average life. But Philip Sessions is not most people. So, what is he doing to build his own dream business opportunity? And how does Philip’s desire to help others play into his becoming the best version of himself? Philip works full-time as a Systems Specialist for BMW. But he is also the creator of Healthy Living Sessions, a business dedicated to teaching men, specifically entrepreneurs and business owners, how to reach their peak physical and mental performance. Philip has 10-plus years of experience in the realm of health and wellness, and he is on a mission to help clients fast-track their fitness and grow into the best version of themselves. On this episode of Destined to Be, Philip joins us to explain how he is building an online personal training business alongside his 9-to-5, discussing how he is using social media to build a brand and how niching down has helped him attract more attention. He opens up about his resistance to the frou-frou aspects of personal development and describes why he is committed to creating a more-than-average life. Listen in for Philip’s insight on the compounding effect of showing up every day and learn how healthy habits can help YOU become the best version of yourself! Key Takeaways How Philip is building an online personal training business alongside his 9-to-5 Philip’s commitment to helping clients become a better version of themselves The power of social media to engage, teach and build a brand When Philip developed a passion for health and fitness How niching down to serve entrepreneurs has helped Philip attract more attention Why Philip wants to help entrepreneurs build healthy habits How Philip divides his time among his W-2, working out, spending time with his wife and building his own business What made Philip realize he wanted more than an average life Philip’s insight on the compounding effect of creating consistent content + showing up every day The challenge around promoting personal development to your partner Philip’s commitment to being more open-minded about the frou-frou aspects of personal development Connect with Philip Healthy Living Sessions Healthy Living Sessions Podcast Philip on Instagram Connect with Jeremiah & Mallory Destined to Be Jeremiah on Instagram Mallory on Instagram REVOLUTION WELLNESS Facebook Group Resources 1st Phorm Arete Syndicate 75 Hard Andy Frisella Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill Ryan Stewman on The Force of Average Debt Cures ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About by Kevin Trudeau Dr. Joe Dispenza Dr. Joe Dispenza’s Defining Intention YouTube Video Gregg Braden Gregg Braden on YouTube Bruce Lipton Bruce Lipton on YouTube

When Philip met the Ethiopian, he asked him "do you understand what you are reading?" The reply was "How can I, if no one explains it to me?" How can we expect the world to learn about Jesus if we don't actively participate in the explanation of who Jesus is? Today we pose a challenge....are you up to it? Watch and let us know if you're willing to take the challenge on this week! (sermon begins @ 15:24)

When Philip the good went to the Imperial Diet in Regensburg in 1454 it gave his son and heir, Charles, the count of Charolais, a chance to get some practice at ruling in his stead, giving subjects in the Burgundian Low Countries a glimpse into what the future of the dynasty might hold. When Philip returned he was obsessed with the idea of crusade, meaning both Charles and Isabella of Portugal remained involved in major political actions. However, as always, events in the Low Countries soon demanded Philip’s attention again, as he would execute plans to expand the Burgundian influence over the spiritual as well as temporal realms in his domains. He would force one of his many illegitimate children, David, onto the bishopric throne in Utrecht in 1455 and the year after that another Burgundian puppet into the same role in the ever-troublesome bishopric of Liege. As Philip was busy dealing with these various issues, however, a power struggle broke out within his inner circle that would see the Croy family begin making plans to take down Philip’s longtime right hand man, his chancellor Nicolas Rolin. To further complicate matters, in 1455 a bombshell would drop when the heir to the French throne, the dauphin Louis, would flee the issues he had with his own father, the King of France, and sensationally seek and receive exile at the Burgundian court. A generational shift was taking place and, faced with all these new contenders for his father’s honour and affection, Charles would feel threatened and the relationship between the Burgundian father and son would sour. By the time he was just 23 years old, the two men would no longer be on speaking terms and Charles would be removed from the political process altogether. The Burgundian dynasty, as strong as it looked from the outside, was looking very frail from within. With thanks to Ron Shokker, Gerco Broekstra, Ken Heugel, Oisín O Mahony, Tatiana Magdaleno and polypat for their Patreon support. To book a tour on the Amsterdam canals with us, go to www.tdbg.nl and make sure you include "I believe in Dave" in the subject line! SHOW NOTES: www.republicofamsterdamradio.com/episodes/historyofthenetherlands/episode-26-beautiful-burgundian-bureaucracy PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/historyofthenetherlands TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/historyofNL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greetings! Welcome to the show! As, always, it is good to have you with us and we sincerely appreciate your tuning in to Lechem Panim. Lechem Panim is the Hebrew phrase for the bread of the presence of God that was in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. And it represented the reality that what we need for everyday life (bread) is found in the presence of God. And Jesus (who called Himself the Bread of Life) was saying that in Him we can have life. And so each week we seek to draw closer to Him through His word so that we can eat that Bread ourselves; but also so that we might share that Bread with the world. Kreisler's Violin-- I'd like to open today with a story I read some time ago. [Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn't able to buy it. Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping to purchase the beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the new owner's home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. "Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?" he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector's emotions were deeply stirred. "I have no right to keep that to myself," he exclaimed. "It's yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it.”] It Must Be Shared-- I find it so fascinating how strongly Christianity is associated with music. From the earliest days of Christianity, Christians were known to be men and women who were singing. Other religions have music to some degree, but nothing in comparison to Christianity. There is something about Christianity that (whether through proclamation or through music) is not content to remain in storage. It must be shared; it must be declared; it must be proclaimed. The invitation of Jesus is to “Come and See”. But what we find in scripture is that those who “Come and See” also “Go and Tell”. And this is where we find Philip. Philip has caught the music; he has encountered Jesus. And he has to go and tell the world; and he begins with those closest to him, which includes Nathanael. It says in… John 1:45a (NIV)-- 45 Philip found Nathanael… Nathanael/Bartholomew-- Now Nathanael (or Bartholomew), as he is sometimes referred to (Bartholomew simply means “son of Tholomaios”; Bartholomew simply reveals to us who his father was), [is linked with Philip in all three Synoptic lists of apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14).] There is a close relationship between these two disciples, which we talked about before. And because of that close relationship, Philip wants Nathanael to know the same hope that he himself has found in this Rabbi named Jesus. So it says in… John 1:45 (NIV)-- 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Philip's Witness-- Now here we see that [When Philip witnessed to Nathanael, the evidence he gave was Moses and the prophets (John 1:45). {We are not sure how Philip was able to connect all these dots. It has been suggested that} Perhaps Jesus gave Philip a “quick course” in the Old Testament messianic prophecies, as He did with the Emmaus disciples (Luke 24:13ff.). {And if so, Philip then relays to Nathanael how Jesus is the fulfillment of those prophecies. And} It is always good to tie our personal witness to the Word of God.] But it is the last title that really throws Nathanael. It is the title Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. He responds… John 1:46a (NIV)— 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. A Region, A City, a Father of Bad Repute-- Now the reason that Nathanael reacts the way that he did was because the Messiah should be from a place like Jerusalem in Judea (somewhere important and religious; where the temple was). Now it would have been bad enough for Jesus to be from Galilee because of the unclean nature of Galilee in general (a place filled with Gentiles and Jews who were perceived to be sub-par because of their having mixed with the Gentiles. That would have been ridiculous enough. But Philip was saying not only that Jesus was from Galilee, but that Jesus was from Nazareth! Now [Nazareth did not have a bad reputation in Jesus' day, but neither did it have a famous reputation. It was a small south Galilee mountain village, a fraction of the size of the modern Arab Christian city {that we see today.] Possum-neck— Now what's the name of the town around here that whenever you want to make fun of a person for being from a small town, you say they are from there? In and around the city where I pastored my first church; Kosciusko, MS (which itself qualifies) was an even much smaller town called Possum-neck. And I'm not sure you can get smaller than Possum-neck, Mississippi. Before the great depression it got large enough to support it's own post office, but has long since faded from that not-so-glorious glory. But Jesus was from Possum-neck, Galilee. I mean this a tiny tiny town. You could throw a frisbee from one side to the other. I mean this place is so small, that for years secular historians and critics called us Christians neanderthalic boneheads and crazy for believing it even existed. But of course the ruins of Nazareth were then discovered. But you can't get more insignificant than Nazareth! It was the Possum-neck of Galilee. Two Skeptical Pharisees-- So Nathanael responds: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” And he's making a joke. “Okay Phillip, who stopped payment on your reality check?” And we probably see some town-rivalry here. I know you guys don't know what that is. It's when one place thinks they are better than another place. It is known in some places as sports. Now Nathanael is no doubt laughing at his own joke. He's very cynical. He's probably thinking, “Yeah, the more Nazarenes I meet, the more I like my dog.” He has a very low opinion of Nazareth. Philip's Invitation-- Now I love Philip because he doesn't suddenly start to explain or get into some sort of theological discussion or try to debate Nathanael. No his response is so simple; and is probably the greatest evangelistic and apologetic call that we can make in our witness for Christ. John 1:46b (NIV)— “Come and see,” said Philip. The Mirrored Call: “Come”-- And that invitation, [“Come and see” is the refrain heard the previous day in Judea (1:39) and now becomes Nathanael's challenge.] And this is the most effective method because it is the one that mirrors most closely the call of Christ Himself. Warren Wiersbe points out that [When Nathanael hesitated and argued, Philip adopted our Lord's own words: “Come and see” (John 1:39). Later on, Jesus would invite, “Come … and drink” (John 7:37), and, “Come and dine” (John 21:12). “Come” is the great invitation of God's grace.] Another author said, [Throughout the Gospel many people will be challenged to “come and see.” Conversion is not about knowledge alone; it is about coming yourself and appropriating a relationship with Jesus personally.] And the question we ought to ask ourselves is, “Have we truly come and experienced Christ personally?” “Do we know of Him; talk about Him? Or do we know Him? Do we talk with Him? The call of Christ is to come and know Him personally. The question is, “Is He personal for us?” The miracle that Jesus Christ offers us is the ability to (at any moment we choose) to come into the presence of God and find forgiveness, healing, and grace. And when we “come and see” our immediate response will be to go and tell what Christ has done for us; to take somebody else by the hand and lead them to Him. The Strongest Argument-- You know, I love studying the historical evidence of the truth of Christianity. I love the field of apologetics. But you know [The strongest argument for the Gospel of Christ is {not argument, but rather} the personal testimony of someone whose life has been changed by it. Charles Bradlaugh, an avowed infidel, once challenged the Rev. H.P. Hughes to a debate. The preacher, who was head of a rescue mission in London, England, accepted the challenge with the condition that he could bring with him 100 men and women who would tell what had happened in their lives since trusting Christ as their Savior. They would be people who once lived in deep sin, some having come from poverty-stricken homes caused by the vices of their parents. Hughes said they would not only tell of their conversion, but would submit to cross-examination by any who doubted their stories. Furthermore, the minister invited his opponent to bring a group of non-believers who could tell how they were helped by their lack of faith. When the appointed day arrived, the preacher came, accompanied by 100 transformed persons. But Bradlaugh never showed up. The result? The meeting turned into a testimony time and many sinners who had gathered to hear the scheduled debate were converted.] The greatest testimony we can have is showing how Christ has made a difference in our lives and inviting those we come into contact with to “Come and see” the Savior. People, Our Lasting Monuments-- You want to know what the impact of Nathanael's response to Philip's call to “Come and see” was? In later years he became [one of the Church's most adventurous missionaries. He is said to have preached with Philip in Phrygia and Hierapolis; also in Armenia. The Armenian Church claims him as its founder…], a Church of over 11,000,000 self-proclaimed members. Perhaps it is little wonder that Nathanael's name means “Gift of God”. To those of you who are listening today, I want to encourage you to not let Christ remain silent in your life. Let Him be played. Let people be able to hear the song sung through your life and hear in that melody the chord their own hearts have been searching for. And then invite them to “come and see” Jesus so that He might bring about that song in their own lives. Amen.

Arguments and Confrontation and Frustration, Oh MY! I don’t know about you, but I really hate confrontation. Whether it’s with Philip, my husband, or with one of my teens, it is not something I enjoy. But like most families, we’ve had our fair share of arguments. When Philip and I were first married, the whole conflict thing was really hard. We learned quickly that there’s a difference between arguing to win versus arguing to find a solution or resolution. Arguments and Boundaries We’re made definite strides since then, and once we had the kids, we really tried to nail down some guidelines for when we disagree. I don’t know that we’ve done it well, but we have tried to keep some boundaries in place. Ours look like this: No name-calling We use our words not our hands (this is a given) We work for solutions, not for a “win” And, especially when the kids were younger, whenever Philip and I argued were consistent in reassuring them that we still loved one another. The same for when we were angry with them – “I love you very much and I’m very angry at the choice you made,” was something they heard often. Now that Patrick and Phoebe are teens, I’ve come to terms with the fact that it’s developmentally appropriate for them to argue. It’s not fun, nor is it easy, but it is to be expected. Modeling Healthy Arguments It’s my job as their parent to model what healthy disagreements look like. And to embrace the fact that it is healthy and preferable for our kids to see strongly opinionated parents hashing things out in a loving, respectful way (that might sometimes include raised voices.) It’s not something that’s come easily to us; we’ve had to work at it and practice, and we’re always learning. I wanted to share some of the things we’ve learned so far. And please hear me when I say we’re a work in progress – we’re practicing these things; we haven’t yet mastered them. This Is Your Brain in an Argument Okay, first, it helped us to understand how the brain works during an argument or confrontation. This is something I talked about in Episode 41, called the “fight, flight, or freeze” response. It’s probably something you’ve heard of before, but just in case, here’s what happens: You’re faced with something that signals “danger” to your brain. Only, instead of a wild animal chasing you, it’s actually your teen expressing displeasure. In a very attacking way. And probably loudly. Your prefrontal cortex – the part of your brain in charge of decision making and moderating social behavior – goes completely offline. Your amygdala takes over – it’s part of your brain’s limbic system and mediates many aspects of emotion and memory. It passes along the “danger” information to other areas of the brain and to the endocrine system. These other areas trigger the “fight, flight or freeze” response. Your heart may pound, you might start breathing rapidly, and you may start to sweat. Sometimes this reaction happens more quickly than our “thinking brain” (prefrontal cortex) can process what’s happening. Which is useful if you see a car speeding toward you and you jump out of the way before you can even think about it. Not so useful if you’re dealing with an argumentative teen. Because unless you’re using your prefrontal cortex, you’re going to be hard-pressed to ask good questions. Argument Solutions So, what’s the solution? Getting yourself out of the fight, flight, or freeze mode. And that’s going to look different for everyone. This is where the previous episode - #41 – I mentioned comes in handy. It’s got lots of great tips on how to calm yourself. For our purposes today, just know that it’s key to recognize when you’re in that fight, flight, or freeze state and HOLD OFF on trying to have a meaningful conversation until you can think clearly. Whether that looks like deep breathing or a time-out is dependent on your circumstances. Obviously, for you teachers out there, I know putting yourself in a time-out isn’t usually an option, but you might consider waiting until the end of class to talk to a student or having them come in during lunch or after school to chat. Once you’re clear-headed, think about the situation at hand with curiosity. Which means asking questions. Here’s What Matters (and What Doesn’t) in an Argument But, before you ask any question, you need to keep a couple of things in mind. I’m just going to touch on this, and if you want to know more, you can check out last week’s episode (#62). Tone matters – remember: curiosity, not inquisition. And leave any snark out of it. Energy matters –Changing your language and your energy can go a long way when you’re faced with a teen who’s (as we say in Texas) “loaded for bear.” If you’ve truly gotten out of fight, flight, or freeze, your energy will be calm and self-controlled Location matters – DO NOT have this discussion in front of an audience – one or both of your responses will be highly influenced, and you both might feel backed into a corner as you try to save face Being “right” does NOT matter – sometimes it’s better to be kind than to be right – not in every case, but in some Then, depending on the situation, think about what will create a connection and move you toward a solution or resolution. Examples for Teachers and Parents For instance, if a student is arguing with you after you’ve called them out for disrupting the classroom in some way, you, of course, need to stop the disruption. Once you’re calm, let yourself be curious about the student’s motivation. Asking a question like, “Help me understand what’s going on right now?” or “What’s keeping you from listening quietly while I talk to the class?” Then, really listen. (Again, more on this in Episode 62) The same goes for parents. Let’s say your teen is arguing with you about something you’ve asked them to do. First, make sure you are calm – this may mean sending them (or yourself) to a different room until you’re back in thinking mode. Once you’re using your prefrontal cortex, again, you’re aiming for a curious energy rather than an authoritarian one. Talk to your teen with the intent of understanding and connection, using questions like “Help me understand why you’re refusing to wash the dishes/fold the laundry/take out the trash?” or “What’s keeping you from doing the things I’m asking you to do?” Now, in both cases, you might not get an answer that feels “acceptable” in the moment. But what you will have done is made your teen reflect on their behavior. Which means that next time, they might make a different choice. And if not next time, maybe next year, or the year after that, it will all click. One of the things that I struggle with is letting a confrontational moment like this go, without resolving it immediately. But this isn’t about “winning” in the moment – it’s about connecting in the long-term and teaching them how to evaluate and modify their own behavior. The Ultimate Goal In moments like these – ones of conflict and stress – it is so easy to forget that our goal is not controlling our teens' behavior so that things go the way we want it to. Telling them that disrupting class or refusing to do chores is wrong and forcing them to comply might work in the short term, but we’re playing the long game. Our objective is that they learn how to think about the choices they make and why they’re making them. Eventually, when they’re not with us – especially when they’re adulting on their own - they know how to make good choices because they know how to think for themselves.

In this episode we talk to content writer and blogger Philip Volna who at a very young age, felt lost and uncertain about his future. When Philip was just 14 years old, he struggled with depression as he felt that he needed to have his career path all figured out.    About Philip: Philip is a Ukrainian digital content strategist, self-help consultant, and entrepreneur. He is also the author and founder of the website lifetomake.com. From a very young age Philip felt very lost and suffered from depression. At around the age of 14 he felt pressure to figure out what career path to take but didn’t know what he really wanted to do. At such a young age he noticed his family and other families struggling from paycheque to paycheque and he knew that he didn't want the same.    I hope that you enjoy our conversation but as always, do note that there is some adult language so when listening, it’s best to pop on those headphones! If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources Feel free to connect with Philip over on his website & social media profiles: www.lifetomake.com Follow Philip on Twitter @PhilipVolnaFollow Philip on Facebook @Philip.Volna

Philip McKernan is the author and founder of One Last Talk, the book and the movement. Philip helps you turn your mess into your message, find your deepest struggle and turn it into your best story. He works with people all over the world to remove mental roadblocks and see things they aren’t seeing. Philip has worked with the Canadian Olympic team, the Pentagon, and many professional sports teams. In this, the Only Business Networking Podcast on iTunes, Philip talks to your host Travis Chapell about how your pain makes you who you are and allows you to become the best version of yourself, how Philip got his first book deal and takes a new spin on networking. Episode Highlights: At 12 years old it was a time where he was being told what he could and couldn’t do and felt disconnected and lost but couldn’t articulate it. He went to a protestant school but was a Catholic and one class helped him to feel heard and think outside of what he was told. When Philip was 14 years old he went to NYC on his own and it was the freest he’d ever felt. The most courageous part of any change is beginning to question the current reality. After high school, he got a job and was mostly selling consumer products in Ireland. Anything other than the status quo is better if the status quo isn’t working for you. You have to be willing to stop and ask really simple questions. Judgment is the greatest block and inhibitor to growth. The number one challenge everyone faces in the world is self-worth. Where the internal disgust with ourselves comes from. Modelling has some upside but a massive dark side. Every person on earth has done things they’re ashamed about. The thing that you bring to the world is the thing you almost didn’t have yourself. You need to be in touch with the cost of doing something every day that doesn’t bring you joy. If you go and do a job that you don’t love, you have t to manage your expectations. When people do something they don’t love they put undue expectations on the other areas of their life. We’re not practising our gifts because we can’t monetize them. The practice that helps Philip gain clarity: Stop consuming information for a period of time. Create space for yourself. If you chase growth and insights and passion it often runs away from you. There are so many people living in their heads it’s becoming an epidemic. How to cultivate genuine relationships with people better. The most important relationship we have on earth is the one with ourselves. If you feel you need someone on this earth in order to be happy, that’s a flaw. People compartmentalize networking and relationships and there shouldn’t be a difference. If networking doesn’t look the same as relationship building, you’re in trouble. Scarcity is more about you than the world. Who you know is most important because when you’re at your lowest those people will lift you up. The Random Round What profession other than your own do you think it would be fun to attempt? Full-time writer If you could sit on a park bench with anyone past or present and talk with them for an hour, who would it be and why? His 12-year old self How do you like to consume content? Video Philip’s morning routine: Wake up in the morning Have a cup of coffee Decide what he wants to do What is your go-to pump up song? He doesn’t have one, listens to grounding music. It would be U2 Where the Streets Have No Name What is something you’re not very good at? Managing people What is one place online where we can find Philip the most? Onelasttalk.com or philipmckernan.com 3 Key... For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy (https://www.acast.com/privacy)

The Bible isn’t hard to understand, but sometimes we need a little help. Sure sometimes there are difficult names (Methuselah) and teachings that are hard to understand (did Jesus really want us to eat his body?) or apply (does Jesus really want us to put him first all the time?), but for the most part the Bible can be read by anyone. One of the awesome things about being able to own a Bible translation in the language we speak is that we can pick up and read God’s Word for us today.When Philip meets the Ethiopian Eunuch though, the Eunuch needs a little bit of help to understand what he is reading. Fortunately Philip has been sent by God on a divine mission to do just that. Philip is the person who God appointed to help this Ethiopian hear the Gospel. Who did God put in your life to help you understand the Bible and hear the Gospel?As with any text we sometimes need a little help to understand the Bible but one of the best ways to crystallise what you have learned is to teach others. Who has God put in your life to pray and read the Bible with. Who can you help to get more out of the Bible? If you can read, and have heard the Gospel, then like Philip, you ‘come and sit with’ someone to help them unlock the joy of reading God’s word and the salvation found in the Gospel. DBQuestionsWhat do you find difficult about understanding the Bible?Who has helped you to get more out of the Bible? How did they help you gain more understanding?Who can you help to understand the Bible?PrayerLiving Lord, we thank you for the gift of your word and that we can read it in our own language. Thank you for the people you have put in our lives to help us understand the Bible. Help us do the same! Amen.


Philip was called by Jesus Christ to be his disciple. His response was positive; he was willing to follow Christ. But he wanted his friend Nathanael to join him in this newfound adventure as well. When Philip found Nathanael and told him that he had found the Messiah (the person the Jewish people had been waiting for) he was not so eager to follow Jesus. Instead, he said, “What good can come out of Nazareth?” There seems to be a great deal of speculation in Nathanael's mind concerning Jesus. Further, he didn't seem too intrigued with idea that the Messiah hailed from the area of Nazareth.

God Roars - Why? Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3. G'day and welcome to Partake! The Bible, as we discussed in the last podcast, tells of how God has roared, or spoken if you like, to all of humanity.  He has done this through the Bible using revelation, inspiration and illumination.  In this podcast, we will go onto ask why we should interact with the Bible.  But firstly, lets look at some keys to understanding how to read the Bible. Keys To Understanding the Bible. Here are six short keys to help you open the doors of the Bible, and allow it to have an impact on your life - to let God roar into your life! Firstly, pray that the Holy Spirit will help you as you read. That is part of His role in your life as a Christian Disciple and believer. He will use the Bible to enlighten and illuminate your mind, heart and will as you seek to be obedient to Him.  As you read the Bible, pray what you read - let it have an immediate impact on your life! The God who wrote it, is listening and is eager to see you transformed into the image of God the Son in the power of God the Holy Spirit! Secondly, the Bible is inerrant, or without error, and that it is totally trustworthy. It does not contain errors or mistakes in its original form. That is in the original manuscripts and languages. It is not inerrant, however, in so far as the translation from those languages. As Christian Disciples, we maintain the Bible as our final authority over all things.  If it was not inerrant, then it could have no authority at all. Thirdly, no part of the Bible will explicitly contradict another part. It is a balanced and unified message from a God who does not change. God is not a God of confusion, but a God of order. As you read it regularly and consistently, you will be amazed how it holds together. Fourthly, we are to keep what we are reading in context - not only in its immediate context, but also in context with the rest of the Bible. Take for example Psalm 14:1 where the Bible says "There is no God". What Psalm 14:1 actually says is that the fool in his heart has said "There is no God". It is also out of context with the rest of the Bible where God is said to exist, such as Genesis chapter 1. You can make the Bible say whatever you want it to say, by merely taking sections out of context, and thus creating pretexts. Ask yourself questions about the passage: How, who, when, where, why and what? Fifthly, use a Bible you can read easily. There are many translations available to suit the taste of anybody. You may like to use a Bible reading plan, which will take you through the Bible in a year. Lastly, expect to be changed when reading the Bible. Read it with an obedient heart, mind and will. The Bible is God's Written Word because it is active, and God will not cease transforming you into the image of Jesus the Living Word - which is the goal of Christian Discipleship. So if they are the keys to the doors, what are the doors! The Bible Equips For Service! One of the main ways that the Bible helps you, is by equipping you as a Christian for active service! There are at least four ways, in which the Bible does this in your life as a Christian! Firstly, is that the Bible both equips, and is useful for, evangelism and pointing others to Jesus Christ. When Philip the evangelist was talking to the Ethiopian about the Christ, it was Isaiah 53, which was the point of query. The bible also equips in order for you to give counsel & instruction to others seeking help. An example of this is seen when Paul urged Timothy to use Scripture when teaching others. Thirdly, the Bible equips you as a Christian to use your spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is an ability given by the Holy Spirit, to you the believer, so that the church as a whole is encouraged and God is glorified. Your spiritual maturity derives from building Bible knowledge, which in turn helps you use your spiritual gifts in the best way possible. Finally, it also equips you for doing battle with Satan and resisting temptation. In writing to the Ephesians, Paul likened the believers' spiritual armour to that used by Roman foot soldiers. In this anecdote, the Bible is compared to a soldier's sword. A sword is not only used to defend, but also used to attack. Jesus fended off and attacked Satan by using Scripture to negate the temptation. You can use all these methods in order to live the Christian life, and also to grow into spiritual maturity. This is as you read your Bible regularly, asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate it to you, as you do so. The Bible Helps Know God More One of the very key teachings from the Bible is that God can be known personally. People are not naturally born possessing this knowledge, even though they know the very existence of God. Knowing that God exists is not the same as actually knowing God personally. In the same way that I know about the Queen, I don't know her personally. That is the same state people are in, with regards to God. Personal knowledge of God is ultimately crucial however, since knowing God personally and developing the relationship is what being a Christian is all about. As a Christian believer, you should be rejoicing that God earnestly desires you to attain this knowledge of Him, in order to know Him more and more. For this reason, He has spoken to you through His written Word, the Bible, revealing Himself and disclosing how you may know Him more. Whilst God can be known, your knowledge of God is partial and you will never know everything there is to be known about Him. Knowledge of Him is both wondrous and without end. As you grow spiritually, knowing the Bible and thus knowing Him more, you will grow in spiritual maturity. The Apostle Peter commands that you grow in the knowledge of Jesus. You do this as part of your spiritual journey, in order to become more like Jesus Christ. One of the Christian life's' greatest delights, is developing an intimate knowledge of God and of developing an intimacy with Him. The gospel, or the news of Jesus you share with other people, is rightly entitled: "the power of God to salvation". The Bible, and its gospel whereby people come to know God, are found in that the gospel is the agent of the new birth. The gospel is the soap or cleansing agent whereby God gives the believing sinner a spiritual bath resulting in salvation and the Bible is a teacher that brings wisdom, which leads to salvation. The Bible Helps Know God's Will God has a program for the universe and it is revealed only in the Bible. The overall will of God, is that all people come to believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and their Saviour. After starting the Christian life, you discover God's program from humbly reading His written word, the Bible. God's initial will for those who believe is the changing and conforming of the believer into the likeness of Jesus. But this is only the beginning of God's work in you! This serves as merely an introduction into the lifelong process of becoming like Jesus. Paul writes "God who began the good work in you, will keep on working in you until the day Jesus Christ comes again". God will not abandon you, but will keep working in you, transforming you to be like Jesus Christ. Obeying God's will as revealed in the Bible, helps speed this transforming work along. It is work, because sometimes obedience is difficult and involves cost, yet worthwhile in the light of eternity. Secondly, as a Christian believer, you should not overlook God's work in this world. Was it not Jesus' who commanded all his followers to tell all men about Himself? God uses people to tell this gospel and conviction comes through the work of the Holy Spirit. This includes you, if you allow Him and seize every opportunity! Finally, believe it or not, God is at work in and through the church - His church. The church is to be a dynamic organism ordained by Jesus to do work for God. As the church reflects biblical truths to the world, God works through His Holy Spirit and through his followers in order to strengthen and bless the church. God has roared and continues to roar! The Bible, by way of revelation, illumination and inspiration, help transform the reader! By using 6 keys of understanding, there are 3 doors opened up: door to serve God efficiently, know God more and know God's will!  Let God roar to you through the Bible and go have an impact on your community! For more to think about, please do read in the Bible, Luke 24:25-35; Matthew Chapter 4:1-11; 2 Peter 3:14-18. Philippians 1:3-6. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together. 1. What do I understand by the word "inerrant" and authority in regards to the Bible? 2. What is my expectation when I read the Bible and in what ways can I use the Bible every day to be cleansed and grow in spiritual maturity? 3. How does the Bible help my relationship with God and allow God to reveal His will and programme? 4. Why should I reflect biblical truths in my life to those who do not know God? Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3. You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site! Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Philip Schuyler was born on the corner of what is now State and Pearl Street on November 20th, 1733, to Johannes and Cornelia Schuyler. Abraham Ten Broeck was born on the corner of Columbia and Market Street on May 13, 1734, to Dirck and Margarita Ten Broeck. Both Philip and Abraham came from large families, but they were each the eldest surviving son. Both the Ten Broeck and Schuyler families came from rather humble origins. Back in the Netherlands, the Schuylers were bakers and the Ten Broecks employees of the West India Company. The patriarchs of both families had arrived in New York, or New Netherland, as it was called at the time, by the 1650s. Both families garnered wealth through the beaver fur trade. The families have a history of operating prominent trading businesses, serving on Albany’s city council, as mayors, Indian Commissioners, and holding militia commissions. When Philip and Abraham were born, they inherited the legacy of their ancestors. They made ample use of it, and built upon it with their own accomplishments, as you’re about to learn in this episode of Tales of Old Albany. “Philip and Brom - A Lifelong Friendship” Presented by Casey Polomaine and Aaron Holbritter Written by Jessie Serfillipi Conceived and Edited by Aaron Holbritter Produced by Aaron Holbritter and Casey Polomaine Recorded by Isaac Newberry Featuring: Ian LaChance* as Abraham Ten Broeck, age 20, and the Poet Isaac Newberry* as Philip Schuyler, age 20 Chris Foster as Abraham Ten Broeck, age 40 Patrick White as Philip Schuyler age 40 and Johannes Van Rensselaer Casey Polomiane* as Philip Schuyler, age 8 Brigitta Giulianelli as Abraham Ten Broeck, age 8, Catherine Schuyler, and others. Angela Potrikus as Elizabeth VR Ten Broeck Evan Jones as School Teacher, and others Maeve McEneny** as Cady Schuyler, and others Marquis Heath as Prince, and others Nick Bosanko as Rensselaer Schuyler Joe Plock as Dirk Ten Broeck, Sr. Matthew G. Hamm** as Albany Resident (*Creative License founding member) (**Albany County Historical Association Board Trustee) Music: Theme song: Chase, Epic Adventure Composer: Johannes Bornloff http://audiograb.com/T2hGvDX5Fn Additional Music: Cinematic Piano by AShamaluevMusic. https://youtu.be/6Sq5Y2HzF1c Fife Feature: Lowlands Away Music by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps http://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_United_States_Army_Old_Guard_Fife_and_Drum_Corps/Celebrating_50_Years/04_1725 Johann Pachelbel - Kanon in D by Aitua https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-whoXu79zk "Forgotten" by Whitesand https://www.patreon.com/Whitesand “Baron Steuben’s March” Sturbridge Colonial Militia https://archive.org/details/MusicOfTheRevolutionaryWar/BaronSteubensMarch.mp3 "A Mothers Sacrifice" Music By: Jay Man @ https://ourmusicbox.com/ Official "OurMusicBox" YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/c/ourmusicbox All music licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/… Resources: Letter used to inspire fictional letter: https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%20Author%3A%22Schuyler%2C%20Philip%22%20Period%3A%22Revolutionary%20War%22&s=1111311111&sa=schuyler&r=42 References: People of Colonial Albany Book of Common Prayer: https://archive.org/stream/bookommray00epis#page/n189/mode/2up “The Story of Arbor Hill and the Ten Broeck Mansion at Albany, New York” https://www.jstor.org/stable/23154791?read-now=1&loggedin=true&seq=4#page_scan_tab_contents NYPL Philip Schuyler Papers Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site Ten Broeck Mansion

This week, much of the United States was riveted by the appearance of a total solar eclipse. If you are fatigued on this topic please be patient with me as I feel it is relevant. I drove up to Idaho with my two kids, unfortunately my wife had to work. As the eclipse began, my kids were quite complacent.  Despite the fact that other people had told them of how amazing it would be, they were bored. Ii tried to explain why it was worth the long drive and sleeping in our vehicle but they didn’t grasp the vision. The moment the sun was totally eclipsed was completely stunning to see in person. My children cheered and threw their hands in the air. There is no way that I could have understood it without seeing it. I could stare directly at the sun and see it glowing with a celestial brilliance, but with my own eyes. The glowing beams that surrounded the eclipsed sun was surreal and, at least for me, extremely spiritual. I imagined what it would be like to be able to see Jesus on the mount of transfiguration. I thought of the words of Peter “it is good to be here.” (Luke 9:33) As the smalles part of the sun broke around the edge of the moono I could see it glisten with perfect clarity. As the bright streams of light broke forth as it came out, I didn’t want to look away. I imagined that this was, on a small scale, like wanting to look directly upon the glory of God but wanting to. As we go through this meditation, perhaps one thing you could reflect on is what Joy will fill our hearts as we are received into his glory through Jesus Christ our Savior and why Jesus says this to Nathaniel. Relaxation is often best to be begun with introspection. As you sit comfortably, look inside of your body. What tensions are there in you, and where are they? On the positive side, where is there a gleam of God’s glory poking through allowing its light to be shown? Allow your breathing to slow. Be very minful about the air comming in. You are preparing your heart to read the words that God spoke through the spirit.  Gently fill your stomach with air. As you breath deeply, you feel your body relaxing. Luke 9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. Continue to breath deeply as I read these verses of the bible for meditation. Imagine what message stands out to you as you listen to them. Bible verse for meditation: John 1:48-51 - KJV The calling of Nathanael 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. Reflect on that message. As I read from another version look for similarities and differences.  See how this contributes to the message you heard the first time. John 1:48-51 -  ESV 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. Meditation on scripture / bible verse for meditation: As you were hearing this verse, what message stuck out to you? Continue to remain relaxed and allow yourself to focus on the message you got from scripture. This describes when Jesus called Nathaniel to be one of his primary disciples. Nathanial is not naive. When Philip tells him about Jesus he rebuts “can any good thing come from Nazareth?” He knows the prophecies. Phillips response is a powerful one. Come and see. The same option is available to each of us. Come and see. Consider what it teaches us as Jesus praises Nathaniel. What is he praised for? He is a true Israelite, but why? Because there is no guile or deceit in him. He has no desire to pretend to be something he isn’t. As Jesus talks of seeing him under the fig tree we don’t have much of a backstory here but this is extremely meaningful to Nathaniel. As Nathaniel was living his life, perhaps in devotion to God under a fig tree, Jesus was aware of him. Now that he is called by Jesus he will see greater things. The heavens opened. What would it look like for the heavens to be open? Spend some time on that thought for a second. As the heavens open and glorious angels are seen ascending and descending how would that feel. From the experiences we see from scriptures such as Moses and others, an experience with God is not intellectual it was spiritual. The feelings associated with such an experience would be so profound. Take stock this moment. How open are you to the guiding light God has placed in you? With no deception in your heart consider how willing you are to follow God in whatever he asks you to do despite your own preconceived notions. As we are willing to give up all that we think we are to be closer to Him, His spirit will bless us. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: As we sit in quiet, Imagine how it would feel to sit before the open heavens and watch angels ascend and descend to Jesus Christ. Meditate and Visualize Positive Change in Your Life: Take the message that you gained from God’s word as you continue to allow his breath cleanse you. What message has solidified in your mind? Remember that you can use your own experience, reason, but more importantly scripture and the Spirit of God to bounce this idea off. I invite you to imagine how this message would play out in your life.  What behaviors would change if you lived your life, with the knowledge that this thing is true.  Imagine at least one specific thing that you could do today or tomorrow based on this message. Fully visualize this.  What would it look like in your life?  What positive things could you do, or what would happen around you, knowing that this thing was true? Visualize the change Conclusion: Thanks for joining me. I release a new episode every Sunday morning at 1AM Mountain time in the US. You can help someone feel the peace you experienced here by sharing this podcast with those you care about. First Patreon donation: Michelle. Requested more King James Version. It was because of this that I now decided to include two different translations. I’m hoping that this will enhance our understanding of the content of the message. I had my first patreon subscriber Michelle mentioned how she loves the KJV. As I was trying to decide this week’s episode and what version of scripture to use. I realized that I could use two different versions. So when we get to that section I will use two. On Itunes: Mtnbikechick “Meditation really helps me with anxiety, which unfortunately seems to have gotten worse as I have gotten older. Being a Christian, I wanted a faith based meditation. I just found this, and it’s been very helpful.”   FIND ME ON: iTunes Facebook ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Youtube Twitter Pintrist

A brush with greatness is cause for speaking up. When Philip brushed with the greatness of Jesus, he told others. In this installment of our current series, we learn three best practices of engaging others so that they can have a brush with the greatness of Jesus.

A brush with greatness is cause for speaking up. When Philip brushed with the greatness of Jesus, he told others. In this installment of our current series, we learn three best practices of engaging others so that they can have a brush with the greatness of Jesus.

Chapelwood Road Trip - Go: The Tenacious Traveler: Sometimes we feel as if we’re struggling to get where we’re going. It’s as if something or someone is standing in our way (and it’s usually us). Life has a way of throwing us curve balls, but God has a plan for each of us. And at some point, we all have to decide that nothing is going to keep us from living out God’s plan. In Acts 8:26-40 we read the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. And it is the complete and ready obedience of Philip that brings the gospel to one unlikely person – A gentile eunuch, who the Jewish religious establishment would have excluded from the faith community. Yet God is often up to something we cannot see – his thoughts are not our thoughts; and our ways are not his ways. When Philip the Tenacious Traveler shares the Truth with an entitled outcast, he witnesses the Spirit’s tenacity come alive in the Eunuch as well, who asks with admirable credulity and conviction, “What is to prevent me from being baptized?” Nothing – once we follow the Spirit’s call and live into the conviction that nothing is going to stand in our way.

When Philip meets an Ethopian one day on the road, he seizes the opportunity to teach and share about Jesus. The impact of that one conversation and the resulting work of the Holy Spirit not only impacted the Ethopian who was baptised but brought the message of Jesus to another place. This weeekend to we continue to celebrate the message of Jesus is one we continue to pass on and share as youth are confirmed in their faith and as they to continue to look for opportunities to share Jesus.

When Philip uttered the words, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us” (John 14:8), he probably didn't fully understand the implications of what he was asking.  Actually, his words went more like this:"Lord, show (or, put on a demonstration, to point out, to present in sight) us the Father, and it is sufficient (or, it will satisfy, we will be content) for us" (John 14:8).This was not Moses begging God to reveal His glory (Exodus 38:18).  No, this was the disciples wanting more than Jesus.  They wanted to trust a visible manifestation of something more than simple faith in Christ.Have you ever done the same?  Have you longed for the Lord's power or blessing or answered prayer or a miracle more than the Lord Himself?  If so, keep listening.The following is a study on John 14:7-9.

Life is filled with the intersection of events that seem to be mere chance. However, when we look back at these intersections, we realize that these moments cannot be coincidence. There is such a mystery about life. Because of the unknowable and unexplainable there are often questions. Many become hung up on the questions and unexplainable. We all have questions. As a result there often comes a hardening. The disappointments in life tend to cause a defense mechanism that hardens the outer shell. The number of people sidelined by these questions and hardening is staggering. These people come to a point in life that no matter what is said or done, they are locked into this world of protection . The questions of life can propel us to find something, or they can lock us in a world of hardened disillusionment. The question posed by Nathanial in our text displays such an attitude. It implies a prejudice about Nazareth being less than other regions of Israel. When Philip announced that he had found the Messiah, and it was a Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanial closed his thinking and discounted it as not being possible. This almost cost him to lose his discipleship. Nathaniel is not the only one to have almost missed the opportunity of a lifetime. Nathaniel questioned if anything good could come from Nazareth. Some of us might question if anything good could come from our situation. Sometimes we restrict the movement of God due to a location, but the truth is that God can move anywhere anytime. Do not let life get locked into thinking that I cannot happen here. It CAN happen here. Do not let our attitudes and opinions keep us from the blessings that God wants to pour out. Many opportunities are missed even in a church service. "Well it is only Wednesday night." "If we were in the auditorium and not the gym..." The truth is that on a Wednesday night, in the family center, or under the fig tree under which Nathanial was sitting, God can move. There are people facing dispute in their families due to no other reason than attitudes and prejudices between family members. There are people who need blessing at church, but they cannot receive it because of attitudes about the one trying to minister to them. The attitude is at the root of the unhappiness. We cannot let the attitude or spirit get in the way of God reaching for us. How many things are missed in life because we are not willing to go where God wants us to go? How many times are we like Nathanial that the evidence is there, but the timing or place are not to our liking? It is a dangerous place to be to let attitudes and prejudices get in the way of the hand of God. More than the questions of life, it is more often the mindset that hangs us up. What attitude, what mindset, what preconceived idea is limiting us today? What is it that is keeping us from moving on in life? What kind of spiritual rendezvous are we in danger of missing because of an attitude?

A key to reigning in life is to stand on the truth that Christ lives in a believer. If you believe Jesus, you are united with Christ, and you can reign in life through him, who is the head over every power and authority. Do not think that Christ will reign for you. No, it is you who must reign though him who lives in you. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ (Rom 5:17). Note that the subject for the verb “to reign” is “those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness,” not God, or Christ, or even life. You reign because the one who lives in you has already defeated “death” and is now seated at the right hand of the Father with all authority and power given to him in heaven and on earth. So, now, together with Jesus, you are also seated at the right hand of the Father. Do not think that it is difficult to be one with Christ or with God. The Bible says: Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Cor 6:16-17). You might think that it is a mark of elegance to say that you are one with God. No, it is not. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one (John 10:30),” yet, he is the humblest person of all. No truth per se makes you prideful. You become prideful by standing on your own ideas about yourself. Hearing Jesus say that, the Jews got mad, and tried to kill him. When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, he answered: Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work (John 14:9-10). The expression, “I am in the Father, and… the Father is in me,” was his way of saying that he was one with the Father. He went on to say: On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you (v. 20). Think what Jesus meant by “you are in me, and I am in you”? It surely is an amazing statement. It was not, however, the first time that he identified himself with somebody else in this way. Look at the following words, for instance: And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea (Mat 18:5-6).