Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth
POPULARITY
Fr. Mike reads about the powerful moment God reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush and promises to set the Israelites free from slavery. Today's' readings are Exodus 3, Leviticus 2-3; and Psalm 45. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Ex 5:22-7:25, Matt 18:21-19:12, Ps 23:1-6, Pr 5:22-23
Ex 5:22-7:25, Matt 18:21-19:12, Ps 23:1-6, Pr 5:22-23
“Can Muslims pray to the same God?” This question opens a discussion on the theological connections and differences between Islam and Christianity. The conversation also touches on the implications of John 14:6 in light of the Quran’s view of the Gospels, the Catholic response to Jesus’ separation from God in Matthew 24:36, and effective approaches to engaging with cradle Muslims and converts. Join the Catholic Answers Live Club Newsletter Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 01:47 – Since the Quran gives positive credit to the Gospels, what do they think of John 14:6? 05:33 – Muslims quote Mt 24:36 as Jesus separating himself from God. What’s the Catholic response? 12:21 – Sunan abi dawud 44:52. Is there any evidence for the four-witness claim? 16:35 – What’s the most effective approach to cradle Muslims and Muslim converts? 19:40 – Sure Muslims pray to the same God but He doesn't hear them since they don't pray in Jesus' name. 23:40 – What does the Quran sawilliam alby about God being love? 28:45 – Did Islam come from Hagar and Ishmael 32:01 – What do you think about the theory that a gnostic offshoot of Catholicism prepared Mohammed to start Islam to foil the economic plans by the Jewish authorities that were challenging the growth of Catholicism? 33:23 – Do you ever discuss the Cappadocian fathers to Muslims? 40:23 – My friend is marrying a Muslim woman. She is going to convert to Christianity. Does it make a difference if she goes either Catholic or Orthodox? 45:17 – What was Islam before Mohammed? 48:16 – Where did Muslim veneration for Mary come from?
Many believers don't fully recognize all they've received in Christ Jesus—God's love, healing, provision, peace, and joy. Instead, they often spend their lives trying to get God to give them what's already theirs. Join Andrew for this collection of faith-filled teachings and rediscover the abundant life made possible through the finished work of the cross.
This week, Paul concludes our series on forgiveness by unpacking the real cost of forgiving others.Join us for a weekly narration of Paul Tripp's popular devotional. You can subscribe to our email list to receive this devotional straight to your inbox each week, or read online at PaulTripp.com/Wednesday or on Facebook, Instagram, and the Paul Tripp App.If you've been enjoying the Wednesday's Word podcast, please leave us a review! Each review helps us reach more people with the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
In this special part 2 episode, Samuel James and Shane Morris answer more listener-submitted questions about how Christians should think about artificial intelligence. Samuel James and Shane Morris are both acquisitions editors at Crossway. They are also both contributors to 'Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age' from Crossway. Samuel James is also the author of 'Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age.' Read the full transcript of this episode. Listen to part 1: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show.
We live in a moment where spiritual language is everywhere, but formation is rare. Many people claim to be spiritual while rejecting authority, truth, and discipline. Others consume sermons built on slogans rather than Scripture, leaving their faith thin, sentimental, and easily shaken. The result is a generation that feels awakened but remains unformed. This week on Win Today, Lisa Bevere joins me for the final installment of the [Formed.] discipleship series to confront the cost of being spiritual but not anchored in truth. We talk about the rise of tarot and oracle cards, what an exorcist revealed about their spiritual danger, how progressive theology often drifts toward self-deification, and why the church has grown far too comfortable preaching phrases instead of the Word. This conversation is not reactionary; it is corrective. If you're hungry for real formation, grounded truth, and a faith that can withstand deception, offense, and cultural pressure, this episode brings the series to its necessary conclusion. Guest Bio Lisa Bevere is a bestselling author, speaker, and co-founder of Messenger International. Known for her prophetic clarity and uncompromising commitment to Scripture, Lisa has spent decades calling believers to spiritual maturity, courage, and wholehearted devotion to Jesus. Her books and teaching reach a global audience, challenging cultural Christianity and inviting the church back to truth, holiness, and biblical authority. Show Partners We spend a third of our lives asleep, so stop treating your bed like an afterthought. Cozy Earth's Bamboo Sheets are a game-changer. They're silky smooth, breathable, and cool to the touch. And they're more than bedding; Cozy Earth also makes bath essentials, pajamas, and men's and women's loungewear designed to bring calm and comfort to everyday life. Try their sheets risk-free with a 100-Night Sleep Trial and a 10-Year Warranty. Start the New Year right. Head to cozyearth.com and use code WINTODAY for up to 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, tell them you heard about Cozy Earth on Win Today. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Pastors' Perspective is a one-hour call-in program where listeners can call in and get answers to questions about the Bible, Christianity, family, and life. The program is live Monday through Friday from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Pacific. You can call 888-564-6173 to ask your questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Matt 18:21-19:12
The post If you’ve sinned, don’t run. appeared first on Key Life.
It's not secret to anyone paying attention: America is more divided politically and ideologically than we've been in a very long time. And conversations about important cultural moments often quickly devolve into name-calling, shouting, and shaming those who don't see things the way that we do. Regardless of what side you're on of whatever issue is in the forefront of the news cycle, there's talking points we repeat that we've been given from whatever news source we've consumed while we simultaneously shout down the “other side” as loudly as possible. But none of this is working. Something is deeply broken. And for all our rage, it's not getting fixed anytime soon. But why? Why is it that we've found ourselves at such a deeply divided ideological impasse? Perhaps the problem isn't just about politics. Maybe it's not really political at all. Perhaps we are living in the same country, using the same words, but operating with two very different visions of reality itself. Two competing answers to deeper questions we rarely stop to name: Like, what is America, really? What is justice? What does it mean to be free? What is the purpose of law, and who gets to define it? And for those who call themselves Christians, the divide cuts even deeper. What is Christianity at its core? Is it a gospel that calls us to repentance, faith, and obedience to Jesus as Lord? Is it a message that calls us to submit to the commands of God and speaks of God's judgment towards the wicked and unrepentant? Or, is it following a Jesus who was a social activist who lived primarily to extend compassion towards the weak, poor, and disenfranchised? If we're commanded to love our neighbor, what is the wisest and most faithful way to do that in a fractured culture? When love and truth appear to collide, which do we choose? Or is just a false dilemma altogether? OK, real talk. Our intent with this episode is not to yell louder or score points with a certain side. We just want to ask better questions, and hopefully name the rival stories shaping our moment. Because until we understand the visions competing for our allegiance, we'll keep fighting the wrong battles and wondering why nothing ever changes. And maybe…just maybe…if we'll listen long enough and seek truth, maybe the fractures among us just might to start to slowly heal.
For the Good of the Public brings you news and weekly conversations at the intersection of faith and civic life. Monday through Thursday, The Morning Five starts your day off with scripture and prayer, as we also catch up on the news together. Throughout the year, we air limited series on Fridays to dive deeper into conversations with civic leaders, thinkers, and public servants reimagining public life for the good of the public. Today's host was Michael Wear, Founder, President and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life. Thanks for listening to The Morning Five! Please subscribe to and rate The Morning Five on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about the work of the Center for Christianity and Public Life at www.ccpubliclife.org. Today's scripture: Psalm 121 News sources: https://apnews.com/live/minneapolis-shooting-immigration-updates-1-27-2026#0000019c-0095-d9ab-a7dc-c7fd11830000 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/us/politics/census-2025-estimates-population-immigration.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/01/27/east-coast-winter-storm-possibilities-snow/ https://www.notus.org/2026-election/eleanor-holmes-norton-retirement-congress https://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-grinding-war-ukraine https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/us/politics/russia-ukraine-casualties.html https://www.reuters.com/world/ukrainian-capital-under-russian-attack-air-defences-operation-2026-01-24/ https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/24/ukraine-russia-talks-war-ceasefire-00745581 From this month's sponsors: -Please donate today at MercyShips.org/podcast -Visit OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off sitewide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use promo code FUN at checkout. Join the conversation and follow us at: Instagram: @michaelwear, @ccpubliclife Twitter: @MichaelRWear, @ccpubliclife and check out @tsfnetwork Music by: Amber Glow #politics #faith #prayer #scripture #Trump #AlexPretti #winterstorm #EleanorHolmesNorton #populationgrowth #Russia #Ukraine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 Peter 5:5-14 (ESV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin discuss humility.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24255The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/
Today we begin our journey in Egypt and Exodus as Fr. Mike reads about the birth of Moses, and the connection between burnt offerings and the sacrifice of the mass. Today's readings are Exodus 1-2, Leviticus 1, and Psalm 44. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Congratulations on completing the Patriarchs period! Today, Jeff Cavins joins Fr. Mike to explore the world of Egypt and Exodus. They discuss the common problems we encounter in this period and how to discover the true purpose of God's law. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Ex 4:1-5:21, Matt 18:1-20, Ps 22:19-31, Pr 5:15-21
Ex 4:1-5:21, Matt 18:1-20, Ps 22:19-31, Pr 5:15-21
Does “belief alone” actually save — or has modern Christianity watered down the gospel?In this episode, I'm joined by legendary evangelist Ray Comfort to tackle repentance, false conversions, the sinner's prayer, and eternal judgment. We unpack where modern evangelism goes wrong, why skipping sin and God's holiness weakens the message, and how everyday Christians — including busy moms — can confidently start gospel conversations with unbelievers and the “spiritual but not religious.”Thank you to our sponsors!TAYLOR DUKES WELLNESS — Use code ALEXCLARK for 10% offPRIMALLY PURE — Use code ALEXCLARK for 15% offA'DEL NATURAL COSMETICS — Use code ALEX for 25% off first-time ordersPALEOVALLEY — Use code ALEX for 15% off your first orderJOOVV — Get an exclusive discount on your first red light therapy orderGEVITI — Use code ALEX for 20% off your first purchaseOur Guest:Ray ComfortRay's Links:WEBSITEINSTAGRAMFACEBOOKPODCASTX
Former pastor and exvangelical Justin DZ of "Deconstruction Zone" joins us in a Bible study that just might blow your mind.PART TWO of this podcast (releases 1/30/26)VIDEO of this conversation: (releasing 1/30/26)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.
Stefan Molyneux takes on objections to Universally Preferable Behavior as a moral framework. He pushes back against the idea that morality stands on its own, stressing the need for clear definitions in any philosophical talk. When it comes to tying morality to gods or divine sources, he points out that fuzzy claims don't hold up as real arguments. Molyneux questions whether morality can just be about chasing the good, the true, and the beautiful, pulling in examples from religious texts to show the inconsistencies there. He looks back at how Christian morality has fallen short over time and doubts whether theocratic setups really deliver on ethics. In the end, he calls for a straightforward grasp of morality and what UPB means in practice, urging people to check their own biases and lean on real-world evidence in these discussions.Email from listener:UPB reduces down to "Morality is being". Or "By the act of living, you prefer life". Or Universal Preference for Being. But even without beings, morality still exists. So morality is God based, and is the rational pursuit of, participation in, and defense of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful (with evil being precisely whatever actively undermines or destroys those ends). Plato would agree. Jesus said, to love God with all your mind heart soul and strength, and love others as yourself, and the whole of the law rests on these two principles. It means to fight for the Good, the True, and the Beautiful - for order. Of course, this can only be done through rationality and power. So, the Good must take the power back. This cannot be done through secular materialism which only reduces to hedonism. People that hear their conscience seek rationality and God more than anything else, because everything else is temporary.However, Christianity displays false theories. The biggest one is the idea that an innocent person needed to suffer and be sacrificed for evils committed by everyone else. God would never require this because God is 100% good. The reality is that Jesus needed to be killed and resurrected so that His story would be way bigger and spread Goodness to way more people, and last forever. So, he did die for sins in that sense alone, so that more people would hear His story and turn away from sin.There is no other practical moral framework to turn to. Philosophy alone is rational, but it does not ground morality the same way God does. Actually, rationality requires one to accept God. Without God, people literally have absolutely no reason to be moral at all. And Deism's impersonal God doesn't connect with people. Christianity was working until the Jews brainwashed society and the Church and destroyed its influence on society. Notwithstanding its misinterpretations, Christianity appears to be the only effective thing people can actually believe in and follow. And Neitzche would say the will to power is too potent for UPB to control. However, Christianity at least affords a will to power of the True, the Beautiful, and the Good. Jesus whipped the little bastards in the Temple. That needs to come back, because that is all the little bastards can understand.Someone wants steak for dinner and the other person doesn't, or go hungry forever, that does not make the steak guy forcing the other to eat the steak immoral. UPB is a logical construction that fails in the real world, and honestly, not even to be a jerk, but literally no one at all gives the slightest fuck about it. Sorry for the language.And I really do appreciate your efforts and all your good works. And sure, UPB is a true logical construction, but people are irrational and will never be rational. And that is why the real world philosophy is 100% might makes right. And this is why Christianity must be forced down their throats until the world is functional again. Irrational people only understand force, and Christianity is the valid, justified, moral, virtuous, reason and purpose of true physical force against irrational and evil people.There is an attempt at logic in UPB, and it sort of works, but not really. Morality already existed before Mankind, and UPB only points out the effects of immorality, it does not define morality. And lastly, to include with all the arguments I have made against UPB. I will just say that bottom line, UPB is merely a survival instinct desire and not the creation of morality. Every person would agree that they don't want to be attacked or stolen from, simply because they want to live and survive, so that would make that universally preferable behavior. However, because this is all survival instinct based, as soon as a person sees a chance to steal or attack, that best serves their own survival, they will immediately not care the slightest about UPB because they are about their own survival over everyone else's. UPB is matter-based biologically-based morality, and simply does not hold up, just like all the other secular ethical frameworks before it - they all failed, and all secular ethical frameworks will always fail. This is because God-based, soul-based morality is the only Truth, as proven at dynamicentity.comGET FREEDOMAIN MERCH! https://shop.freedomain.com/SUBSCRIBE TO ME ON X! https://x.com/StefanMolyneuxFollow me on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@freedomain1GET MY NEW BOOK 'PEACEFUL PARENTING', THE INTERACTIVE PEACEFUL PARENTING AI, AND THE FULL AUDIOBOOK!https://peacefulparenting.com/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Subscribers get 12 HOURS on the "Truth About the French Revolution," multiple interactive multi-lingual philosophy AIs trained on thousands of hours of my material - as well as AIs for Real-Time Relationships, Bitcoin, Peaceful Parenting, and Call-In Shows!You also receive private livestreams, HUNDREDS of exclusive premium shows, early release podcasts, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and much more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/UPB2025
In this episode, we welcome Alisa Childers back to the show. She is a former Contemporary Christian Music recording artist turned Christian Apologist. She's an outspoken opponent of “Progressive Christianity”. She is the author of “Another Gospel?” and “The Deconstruction of Christianity”. In this interview, we discuss how there is ongoing crisis of discernment, her read of the growing popularity of conspiracy theorists like Candace Owens that do not provide an evidentiary basis for their claims, the downstream consequences of feminism, the looming crisis of Christian Conservative men not being able to find Christian Conservative women, the impact that the Charlie Kirk assassination has had on the public, when Christians seem to root for certain people to go to hell, how we can place our preferences and feelings under the Word of God, and much more. Let's get into it… Episode notes and links HERE. Donate to support our mission of equipping men to push back darkness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Many believers don't fully recognize all they've received in Christ Jesus—God's love, healing, provision, peace, and joy. Instead, they often spend their lives trying to get God to give them what's already theirs. Join Andrew for this collection of faith-filled teachings and rediscover the abundant life made possible through the finished work of the cross.
Do you ever wonder how all the events of Jesus public ministry fit into an overarching mission? Dr. Sri explains how the Gospel of Matthew gives us the big picture of Jesus' public ministry, connecting the old testament to Jesus' Kingdom mission. _ _ For full shownotes, visit Ascensionpress.com/Allthingscatholic, or text ALLTHINGSCATHOLIC to 33-777 for weekly shownotes sent to your inbox.
Reformation always precedes revival. Our conversation today is designed to help us seek a ‘reformation’ within our culture of what Christianity actually is—namely, that Jesus’ message is one of love and not division and that the Church an institution that protects and doesn’t harm. Sean Nolan will translate theology into eveyday language, illuminating afresh and anew the classic Gospel message as the antidote to the identity crises plaguing modern Western Christianity.Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Road Hill House was no longer home. It was a crime scene that everyone recognised and no one could forget. The servants whispered in corners. New staff refused positions. And somewhere across England, a teenage girl carried a secret that would rattle the nation.Three-year-old Francis Saville Kent had been dead for five years, but his presence haunted everyone connected to Road Hill House. His wicker cot had been moved to the attic. His toys—the wooden rocking horse, the tin soldiers, the stuffed rabbit he couldn't sleep without—were packed away in trunks. The family attempted to erase all physical evidence of the child who had been murdered in his own home, but some things cannot be buried. This episode examines the devastating aftermath of the Road Hill House murder, tracing five years of silence, scandal, and psychological torment that led to one of the most unexpected confessions in criminal history.By early 1861, Samuel Kent had made an impossible decision: the family would abandon Road Hill House forever. The whispers, the stares, the neighbours who crossed the street to avoid them—it had become unbearable. Constance Kent, the sixteen-year-old half-sister whom Detective Inspector Whicher had accused of murder, was sent far from England. First to a French convent across the Channel, far from English newspapers. Then, in 1863, to St. Mary's Home for Religious Ladies in Brighton—a place of strict Anglo-Catholic ritual that would transform her utterly. Meanwhile, her brother William built a successful career as a marine scientist, seemingly untouched by scandal. But questions lingered. Had he been involved that June night? Was Constance protecting someone?At St. Mary's, Constance encountered Father Arthur Wagner—a charismatic Anglican priest whose theology emphasized confession and penance. Wagner's version of Christianity demanded that sins be spoken aloud, that guilt find voice, that secrets be exposed before God. For nearly two years, Constance resisted. Then, in early 1865, something broke. She requested a private meeting with Father Wagner. What she told him changed everything. On the morning of April 25, 1865, Father Wagner and Constance Kent boarded a train for London. At Bow Street police station, she dictated a written confession to the murder of Francis Saville Kent. She provided details that matched evidence Inspector Whicher had gathered five years earlier—details only the killer could have known. Headlines screamed across England: ROAD HILL HOUSE MURDERESS CONFESSES.The Road Hill House case became a watershed moment in British criminal justice and religious history. Constance Kent's confession raised profound questions about the intersection of faith and law. Had Father Wagner provided genuine spiritual guidance, or had he manipulated a vulnerable young woman? The Anglo-Catholic confession practices at St. Mary's drew intense scrutiny. Victorian society, which had destroyed Inspector Whicher's career for daring to accuse a "young lady of breeding," now had to confront its own prejudices. The detective had been right all along—class bias had protected a murderer for five years. Constance's case also highlighted emerging Victorian understanding of psychological trauma. Her childhood losses—mother's death, father's remarriage to the governess, blatant favouritism toward the second family—would today be recognized as severe emotional abuse.What remains unexplained is why Constance confessed after five years of freedom. The investigation was closed. The world had moved on. She could have stayed silent forever. Some historians argue the confession was genuine religious transformation—Wagner's theology finally breaking through her defences. Others suggest coercion—a priest manipulating a vulnerable woman consumed by guilt. A third theory persists: that Constance was protecting her brother William, who may have been involved that night in June 1860. Her confession mentioned resentment but offered no specific. Listeners fascinated by Victorian detective work should explore Episode 2 of this series, which details Inspector Whicher's revolutionary investigation methods. For more cases involving religious confession and criminal justice, Foul Play's archives include coverage of other nineteenth-century crimes where faith and law intersected in unexpected ways.Next episode: The trial lasted thirty minutes. The death sentence wasn't carried out. And England's most notorious murderess would live to be one hundred years old under a completely different name. Episode 4 reveals the extraordinary aftermath of Constance Kent's confession.Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/foul-play-crime-series/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
In this 4 minute "Special Edition, I discuss how Richard Dawkins, the atheistic evolutionary biologist, and a strict Calvinist, J. Gresham Mechen, agree on one thing: Certain Christians have abandoned Christianity. It shows up in how we approach the transgender issue in law and public policy. I'll be back on Friday to examine whether sin has a metaphysic that we see at play in Minneapolis.
In this engaging conversation, John Fugelsang discusses his new book 'Separation of Church and Hate' and explores the misuse of religious texts by fundamentalists. He reflects on his unique upbringing, the teachings of Jesus, and how they contrast with the actions of modern Christian nationalists. The discussion delves into various social issues, including poverty, LGBTQ rights, and immigration, while emphasizing the importance of understanding the true messages of Christianity. Fugelsang also addresses the historical context of antisemitism and the dangers of aligning religion with authoritarianism. Be sure to check out the On Brand with Donny Deutsch YouTube page. Takeaways John's upbringing as the son of a Franciscan brother and a nun shaped his views on religion. His book aims to reclaim the Bible from fundamentalist interpretations. Fugelsang argues that many politicians misuse Christian teachings for their agendas. He emphasizes that Jesus' teachings focus on compassion and helping the marginalized. The book serves as a guide for engaging with Christian nationalists and fundamentalists. Fugelsang highlights the disconnect between Jesus' teachings and the actions of right-wing Christians. He critiques the prosperity gospel and its misalignment with Jesus' message. The conversation touches on the historical roots of antisemitism in Christianity. Fugelsang discusses the importance of welcoming immigrants as a Christian value. He concludes that true Christianity should oppose authoritarianism and promote love and understanding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
C. S. Lewis famously wrote that we cannot remain neutral about Jesus: He was either a lunatic—on the level of a man who claims to be a poached egg—or He is the Son of God.In today's episode, we continue our sermon series from the archives, The Gospel According to Mark, as Paul teaches through the entire third chapter of Mark and the six vignettes that reveal the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.To hear more sermons from Paul, visit PaulTripp.com/Sermons.
Pastors' Perspective is a one-hour call-in program where listeners can call in and get answers to questions about the Bible, Christianity, family, and life. The program is live Monday through Friday from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Pacific. You can call 888-564-6173 to ask your questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
One of the biggest risks people face when trying to understand the economy, investing, or personal finance isn't a lack of information. It's the illusion of being informed—while quietly limiting the sources that shape your thinking. We live in a world where information is everywhere. Podcasts, X threads, YouTube clips, newsletters, reels. But abundance doesn't equal diversity. In fact, the algorithms behind social media are designed to do the opposite: they show you more of what you already agree with. Over time, your worldview narrows—not because you chose it to, but because it was curated for you. I noticed this years ago when I started listening to alternative asset podcasts. At first, it felt refreshing—new ideas, new language, new opportunities outside the mainstream. But after a while, something became obvious. Many of these shows were operating inside an echo chamber. Different hosts. Same conclusions. Same narratives. Same villains. Same heroes. It was as if they were all listening to one another and simply regurgitating the same ideas, reinforcing them in a closed loop until they felt like truth. And to be fair—knowing many of these hosts personally—that's often the business model. Audience reinforcement is rewarded. Dissent is not. Ever since then, I've made a conscious effort to study people I don't naturally agree with. Not because I want to adopt their views—but because I want to stress-test my own. This matters more now than ever because social media accelerates groupthink at scale. When an idea gains traction online, disagreement quickly becomes social friction. It's easier to conform, retweet, and nod along than to pause and ask, “What if this is wrong?” I once had a conversation with Robert Kiyosaki where he told me he actually gets worried when everyone in the room agrees about the economy. When viewpoints converge too neatly, it's usually a sign that critical thinking has been replaced by consensus comfort—and that's exactly where blindsides are born. If your goal is to get closer to the truth, you must seek out opinions that challenge your own. That includes people you disagree with—especially people you disagree with. Truth doesn't emerge from unanimity. It emerges from tension. And that applies to me as well. Daon't let me—or anyone else—be your sole source of information. No matter how much you trust someone, outsourcing your thinking is always a risk. I can tell you from personal experience that in economics and personal finance, narrow perspectives lead to surprises you only recognize in hindsight. Those are the moments people regret most—not because they lacked intelligence, but because they lacked perspective. Financial education is critical. But a real curriculum doesn't just confirm what you already believe. It exposes you to competing frameworks, conflicting data, and uncomfortable questions—and forces you to think for yourself. That's how you build conviction that actually holds up when the world changes. This week's episode of Wealth Formula Podcast examines this groupthink problem on a broader scale throughout society with an author who wrote a bestseller on our inherent appetite for misinformation. It's a fascinating conversation that will surely get you thinking about the way you view the world. Transcript Disclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI and may not be 100% accurate. If you notice any errors or corrections, please email us at phil@wealthformula.com. You can imagine people who are conflict avoidant, probably not so likely to post online, as opposed to people who are conflict approaching who love a fight, right? If that’s, if those are the folks who are more likely to post, that’s gonna shape our information space in really, really important ways. Welcome everybody. This is Buck Joffrey with the Wealth Formula Podcast. Coming to you from Montecito, California today. Uh, wanna remind you before we begin, there is a website associated with this podcast called wealthformula.com. That’s where you go if you wanna get more involved with, uh, the show, with the community, uh, specifically, um, if you are interested. There is a sign up there for something called investor club, which if you aren’t a credit investor, you sign up basically, uh, you, uh, get onboarded and then you can see potential deal flow that’s not available to the public. And, uh, lots of things going on in there. Real estate, we’ve had stuff in the aircraft spaced, um, interesting stuff. You should check it out for sure. If you are, uh, enter credit investor. And again, that is wealthformula.com. Just click on investor Club. Now today, let’s talk a little bit of, you know, just let’s talk a little bit about one of the biggest risks that people face when trying to understand the economy of investing personal finance. It’s not lack of information, right? These days, there’s an enormous amount of information. It’s just the illusion of being informed while quietly limiting the sources that shape your thinking in the first place. So we live in this world. I live in this world too, where information is everywhere. You got podcasts, you got X, you got YouTube newsletters, reels, random emails. Abundance of information doesn’t really equal diversity. In fact, the algorithms behind social media are designed to do the opposite. They just show you more of what you already agree with, and that is a little bit of a problem because over time your worldview really starts to narrow. And not because you chose to narrow it necessarily, but because it was curated for you. You know, I noticed this myself, uh, several years ago when I started listening to podcasts like my own. Even before I started my podcast. And what happens is that you get, initially you get kind of interested ’cause the stuff resonates with you. You get some ideas, you get new language, new opportunities outside the mainstream. But after a while you start to realize, or I start to realize that, you know, these shows were sort of operating inside of an echo chamber. They’re saying the same thing, different house, same conclusions, same narratives, villain. Same heroes, you know, it was as, again, it was as if they were all listening to one another and, and simply regurgitating the same ideas and reinforcing them, uh, in a, in a closed loop. Um, and when you do that, it starts to feel like truth. And to be fair, knowing many of these hosts personally, that is kind of the business model. You know, audience reinforcement is rewarded, descent is not so ever since then. You know, I’ve actually made a conscious effort to study people. I don’t, uh, naturally agree with. I actually don’t listen to any other personal finance podcasts, uh, that are sort of in this alternative space because I already know kind of what our narratives are. I wanna know what others think. I wanna, uh, I, it’s not necessarily that I’m looking to adopt their views, but because I wanna kind of, you know, challenge my own and this matters more now than ever. Again, because of social media. How that accelerates group think at scale. You know, when an idea gains traction online, um, you know, disagreement quickly becomes social friction. Now I think the thing to do is, you know, always be questioning yourself and asking the question really, what if I’m wrong? What if this narrative is wrong? And it reminds me actually once, uh, you know, I’ve had a chance to spend a little time with Robert Kiyosaki. Period, uh, different, different times, and I still. Kind of consider him a mentor. And I remember being at a table with him, a bunch of people talking about, you know, where the, where the economy was, what’s going on. And he looked at me and he says, this is what gets me nervous. I said, what, what gets you nervous? And he says, everyone here, everyone here, even people who normally disagree with one another, are agreeing with each other. Uh, the point is that when some of these, you know, viewpoints converge too neatly. Uh, it’s usually a sign, uh, that, you know, that critical thinking has kind of been replaced, and that’s exactly where you start to get blindside and where, you know, there’s a danger there that there’s something that no one’s, no one else has really even mentioning anymore. So if your goal is to get closer to the truth, you actually have to seek out opinions that challenge your own, and that includes. People you disagree with, especially people you disagree with. Because you know, truth doesn’t really emerge from unanimous thought. It emerges from sort of that tension and challenging, and that applies to me as well. You know, if I’m the only personal finance podcast you listen to, you probably shouldn’t be because I have, you know, made my own conclusions based on what I’m thinking and what I’m listening to. I try to get people. Um, you know, from different spaces talking about stuff, but the reality is that, you know, everyone’s biased. I’m biased too. So, um, you know, I can tell you from personal experience, uh, that in economics and in personal finance, the problem is that when you have these narrow perspectives, um, they often lead to. To prizes. Uh, you can’t, you know, they only recognize in hindsight, and those, uh, those are the moments that most people, I think, regret more than anything. Not because they lacked intelligence necessarily, but they lacked perspective, right? Listen, financial education is critical and we, we know that that’s the point of doing the show in the first place, but, you know, any real curriculum is, isn’t there, just to confirm what you already believe. I, I, if you, it should expose some competing frameworks. And, you know, different questions or different takes on things and, and that’s how you know, if you listen to those and you listen to those arguments, that’s how you can really build conviction that you can stand behind. And even if you’re wrong, you say, yeah, you know, I heard the other argument too. I didn’t buy it, but I guess I was wrong. Believe me, I’ve been wrong, uh, more than once myself. So the reason I bring that all up is because this week’s, uh, episode of Wealth Formula podcast really examines. Greater than just the idea of, you know, personal finance and macro economics and that type of thinking, but a greater problem, which is group think in general on a broader scale throughout society. And my, uh, my guest is a, a woman who wrote a best seller on this topic. It’s fascinating stuff. I think it’ll get you think. Make sure to listen in and we’ll have that interview right after these messages. Wealth Formula banking is an ingenious concept powered by whole life insurance, but instead of acting just as a safety net, the strategy supercharges your investments. First, you create a personal financial reservoir that grows at a compounding interest rate much higher than any bank savings account. As your money accumulates, you borrow from your own. Bank to invest in other cash flowing investments. Here’s the key. Even though you’ve borrowed money at a simple interest rate, your insurance company keeps paying you compound interest on that money even though you’ve borrowed it. At result, you make money in two places at the same time. That’s why your investments get supercharged. This isn’t a new technique. It’s a refined strategy used by some of the wealthiest families in history, and it uses century old rock solid insurance companies as its backbone. Turbocharge your investments. Visit Wealth formula banking.com. Again, that’s wealthformulabanking.com. Welcome back to the show everyone. Uh, today my guest on Wealth Formula podcast is Professor Dana Young, who’s a professor of communication and political science at the University of Delaware, where her research explores how media psychology and identity shape belief systems she’s the author of Wrong, how media politics and Identity drive our appetite for misinformation and examines why people clinging to false narratives, and how understanding identity can improve persuasion. Our work helps decode the emotional and cognitive forces behind how we process risk, truth, and decision making. Welcome, professor Young. Great. Thanks so much for having me. Thanks for that intro. Someone has done their homework. I like that. Well, I try to, uh, well, let’s start with this. You know, one of the central arguments, uh, that you have is that people often believe things, not because they’re true, but because those beliefs serve as an identity function. Interesting concept, which I can kind of see in, uh, when you watch TV these days, can you, can you talk a little bit about that? Sure. And, and realize this is not happening at a conscious level. This isn’t something that we are thinking about. We’re not thinking, I wanna believe things that are untrue, but make me feel like I’m a part of my team. It doesn’t work that way. It is the, the truth, value of the things that we perceive is contingent on how those beliefs serve our team. Mm-hmm. So if there are things that our team believes. Those are the things that sort of historically, based on evolutionary psychology, those are the belief systems that would’ve made us probably really good members of our, of our tribe. Mm-hmm. That would’ve, um, if we had embraced those beliefs that would have. Give an indication to the shared members of our team that we are a good team member and therefore they should protect us. They should protect me, I will protect them. There’s a reciprocity there. So that belief sharing with our teammates is something that historically has served us well. And when it comes to survival, we really prioritize our social motivations above all else, because that is such a huge predictor of what allows us to survive and thrive. Is being a part of a community. And so, yeah. So the empirical validity of those claims is a little bit beside the point. The obvious, uh, the, the things that I think about there, I guess the, the sort of analogy there is like, you know, being a a, like I’m a big football fan, right? So I’ve been a big fan of the Minnesota Vikings for my entire life, although I’ve not lived there in from, you know, three quarters of my life. I grew up as a kid and that was my team. People come in, right? People go out. They’re people who, you know, were never there at the beginning, but I still root for them. Yeah. Yeah. And I still believe in them. And so, yeah, it, it reminds me of the sort of a, uh, you know, this tribal thing you’re talking about. The other place you see it, uh, is, is in politics. Uh, you know, when I, when I think about like, the way the parties have changed without getting political at all here. The, the, there’s some very, very significant changes that have happened in the ideologies, uh, or maybe not in the ideologies, but in the actuality of these parties and what they believe. They’ve changed so much in the last 30 or 40 years, yet the same people believed, uh, or identify as those party members. Is that kind of what you’re getting at? Yes, and, and because I’m a political scientist and political communication scholar, a lot of my interest in this area was born out of my concerns about our political, the political moment that we’re in, and how we really lack. A shared reality that’s necessary for democratic governance. Um, we, and we are seeing that literally there are dozens of examples every single day of different perceptions of reality across the left and the right. And so, so that was sort of why I tried to understand this, um, in the first place. But the. What you can glean from these theoretical dynamics, um, extend far beyond politics, right? To, as you were saying, and everything from economics to health, to the environment. Um, but because the shift that I think has been most impactful in this area regarding political identity is that in the United States, the. How the parties, what the parties are made up of, who the parties are made up of has changed dramatically over the last half century. And so rather than being these sort of loose coalitions of interest groups that would kind of come together and perhaps share a platform on specific policies, the way that the parties have shifted, especially sort of after the Civil Rights Movement made it that. Individuals began to identify with political parties based on like fundamental characteristics of who they are. Things like race, religion, geography, and, and fundamental aspects of culture. And so you have two political parties that actually look very different from one another in their racial and ethnic and religious and geographic sort of composition that is not good for democracy. Because we actually do not want our political parties to map onto such primal aspects of identity. ’cause it creates sectarianism and opens the door for dehumanization and violence, all kinds of bad stuff. But it also really tends to fuel some of these identity-based processes that we’re talking about because when you look around and everyone on your, in your political party. Lives like you do. They look like you do they worship like you do? They have the same hobbies as you. They drive the same kind of car. You know, those kinds of things. Like there’s a lot of that overlap that really makes your political identity take on a life of its own, and that life is increasingly. Um, unrelated to policy and more about kind of culture and aesthetics. So all of these caricatures that we think about of the left and the right, the, there’s. Stereotypes for a reason. They exist for a reason and they are so exaggerated through as a result of this political party shift over time. And, um, uh, as I talk about in the book, these differences are also exploited by our media environment. It’s really good for targeting and target marketing to have these kinds of divisions, uh, not great for democracy. Um, but they, these identities become further exacerbated. The more media we consume that tends to play into these identities. Yeah. It, it’s interesting to me, I think sometimes when you, when you think about what people believe mm-hmm. And then, you know, and then. Identifying those beliefs with like a, a political party or something like that. It’s interesting to think of the actual identification of the party coming first. Yeah. And then the beliefs following. Based on the identification. So that’s almost like religion, right? Exactly. Exactly. Right. And that’s a lot of the, the metaphors that we’ve been drawing from in political science. A lot of political scientists have been writing about this, really drawing upon the sociology of religiosity and how it operates because it, it, you’ll notice there’s another similarity too, that people will. Have this large identity as like a Catholic, right? Like I was raised Catholic. It’s, it’s part of who I am. Now. Do I believe everything that they say at church? No, but my identity as a Catholic is still very big. I, I, I will let it drive certain things, but I’m gonna write off other things as like. Not as important as my overarching identity. In the same way that we will find people who have a Democrat or Republican identity, and they live like a Democrat. They live like a Republican. However, when it comes to their actual policy positions. They don’t necessarily agree with their party platform. And that actually is where I get a little more optimistic because even though these caricatures seem so distinct when you drill down to actual policy positions, Americans have a lot in common. Those divides are not as giant as we think they are. I’m curious in terms of understanding the United States versus other countries, um, we, we seem to have a certain polarity which. It’s relatively new. I would say that, you know, even compared to, um, being a kid in, in the eighties, um, feeling like, you know, there was these two parties, but they seemed to get along pretty well. Mm-hmm. And for the most part, they were both kind of near the center. Yeah. And, um, but there’s this, there’s a much bigger division now. Um. What, I guess what drives the, the changes and when you look at different countries, like if you can compare and contrast like Sure. Are there certain specific variables Yes. That about our culture that that makes us who we are. Yes. Yeah. So that first question, um, I, I think that what’s really important is that when you think about how our political parties used to operate, um, in the aftermath of the Civil War, the two parties. We’re kind of in agreement when it came to racial issues in a way that was not good for African Americans in this country. Once the great migration happened and you had blacks from, from former slave states moving north and west, there was real pressure on leaders in those cities to advance or civil rights. Platforms, civil rights legislation, and to advance the rights of African Americans. That really put pressure on the parties in such a way that then it was the Democratic Party who became the party of championing civil rights. Then there was a response from the Republican party that was framed in terms, right, in terms of. State’s rights. That really drove the sorting of different kinds of people into the parties. It’s also fascinating to look at how religiosity and religion. Play a role here because during this very moment under the Nixon administration, there were efforts to revoke the tax exempt status of certain Christian schools that were sort of defacto segregated schools that were in violation of the policy at the time, which was to integrate those, the school system well. Those Christian parents were very unhappy with this, you know, revoking their tax exempt status. And there was a man named Paul Wyrick who came in and said, you know what, this is a moment to really bring together these two issues regarding race and religion. And he mobilized and created a grassroots movement out of this effort to sort of like protect our schools. And that actually became the conservative group, the Heritage Foundation. So that, that bringing together sort of the, the project of evangelical Christianity with this sort of move in opposition to integration that has a long history in our country. To your second piece though, about why the United States is, is. Special. Um, one, we have our, our history of slavery is not fundamentally unique, right? There are many countries that also practice slavery. I think the role that slavery already p played in the founding of our nation was important to keep in mind in terms of how the, the issue of race played into these shifts across political parties. And two, probably the biggest thing of all is that we have a. Two party system in countries that are dealing with some of these same pressures related to race and ethnicity, immigration, right? Where you see some of this polarization happening on ideology and a lot of those places they have multi-party systems. Which play a real amazing role at buffering some of these dynamics. So it’s not black or white, yes or no left, left or right. Uh, so we are uniquely positioned to have a hell of a time with polarization. When I, um, uh, I, you already sort of referenced, um, media. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, like when you think about polarization or you think about like. Re um, sort of constantly, um, emphasizing the things that you already suggest that you believe, uh, social media in particular is, I mean, is just pounding away at that, right? Yeah. I mean, sure. I just think about like my own feed, the things that I Yeah. You know, respond to or the things that I, you know, show affirmative, uh, reactions to the next thing. You know, like on x, you know, on Twitter, which I’ve been in. You know, doing more of, that’s all I get. Right? Sure. And it’s interesting because the next thing you know, you feel like. Everybody agrees with you. Sure, sure. And you’re like, oh, this is, this is amazing. I’m so Right. Right. No one has, right. No one believes the opposite of me. Right. Yeah. And it feels amazing. What role is that playing? Uh, I guess in, in your view? Social media dynamics are, are really fascinating because let’s, let’s realize, talk for a second about why it is that a lot of the content that we’re exposed to on social media is so divisive and identity evoking. Um. The reason that that happens is because the algorithms really just want us to be more and more engaged, obviously, because the only way that they’re able to, to micro target us with ads, et cetera, is by making use of the data points, the breadcrumbs that we have left behind. The only time that we leave those data points that we leave those breadcrumbs is when we do things. So if we’re just lurkers, we are not serving them at all. If we’re just hanging out looking at stuff, if we are actively liking or doing an angry thing, or writing or sharing, that’s what they need. So the algorithm is going to prioritize the content that is sort of outrage inducing, especially because negative emotions are exceptionally sticky. And there’s been some amazing work by um, uh, Jay Van Beil and his team who studied the sort of virality of different kinds of content online. And they found that the kind of content that is especially suited to virality is content that is both moral. Emotional that makes claims about what ought to be and what ought not to be, but is also like really emotionally and effectively evocative. And the kinds of content that tends to check those boxes is the content that is identity activated. Us versus them. They are doing this awful thing to us. Our way of life is under threat. Um, they are the bad guys. We are the good guys. So that’s how that happens, right? So that’s the kind of content that tends to be privileged across these platforms. That’s a piece of the puzzle. Another piece of the puzzle is that the kinds of people who tend to produce the most content online. Are weird, uh, as someone who posts online, uh, I, I just offended myself, but that’s fine. Um, the people who post a lot online tend to be more ideologically extreme. They also tend to have certain kinds of personality traits that maybe aren’t great is some of my work is looking at the, the trait of conflict orientation. You can imagine people who are conflict avoidant. Probably not so likely to post online as opposed to people who are conflict approaching who love a fight, right? If that’s, if those are the folks who are more likely to post, that’s gonna shape our information space in really, really important ways. Well then you get responses that are much more aggressive too, right? Like sure. In either direction. Sure. Something that’s kind of lukewarm. No one really cares to respond to it. Right. That’s exactly right. And then, and then those, those particular posts are rewarded by the media companies themselves because they’re getting all sorts of attention rising the top and those influencers who getting paid for that. So yeah, I mean, that’s the thing that really, that’s where I, I, I get to the point sometimes with this work where I, I’ve, I do feel a bit demoralized because I don’t necessarily see. Where there are really empowered agents to who can work within the system, we have to try to dismantle the incentive structure. So you know, if there are entrepreneurs out there who can think about ways to incentivize different kinds of content, I applaud that kind of development there. There are some, of course, who, who do the sort of, um. Positivity posts, you know, posts for good and viral videos about people help helping other people, and there is some indication that those also, they’re people love those. Those do go viral, but they don’t have the immediacy of the outrage, I guess, that when you think about, you know. The implications of this is really just, you know, I guess polarization, maybe some misinformation. Even misinformation is difficult because Sure. You don’t even actually know what is real information anymore. You don’t have like, sure. You know, when I was a, again, going back to being a kid in the eighties, it’s like you had one set of. Set of facts, you know? That’s right. But now that’s, there’s lots of different sets of facts, and in reality it’s hard to know what’s real. You just, you know, you just, you, you believe something and the next thing you know, something comes out and it, boy, that wasn’t real at all. Um, yeah. And, and let’s just, I’ll pause you for a second because, you know, as someone who studies misinformation, I, I have been through quite a journey with how I’ve thought about digital technologies, right? Yeah. Whereas. When I first started in this field 20, 25 years ago, I really lamented the fact that there were these voices on high at the news organizations who got to gatekeeper. They were the ones who decided what was true and what was not. And because of the way that they produced the news, that tended to reinforce certain kinds of official narratives. You know, there were times when conspiracies were exposed later on, when we learned that Wow. They did not tell us the truth, right? So early on I thought, oh wow, digital technologies are gonna be revolutionary, citizen journalists and iPhones. Mm-hmm. And in 2011, we saw the Arab Spring and we watched all these, these, you know, dictatorships. Topple. And then we saw the real tide shift with misinformation, with and disinformation deliberate efforts to exploit those. The lack of gatekeepers to exploit the, the lack of professional, quote unquote truth tellers, and really just make hay of our information space. And now sometimes it’s amazing, right? Because sometimes. The official account is not true, and other times the official account not only is true, but belief in the official account is necessary for us to sort of make progress as a society, right? So. The trouble is we don’t know which time is which. Well, well that, that’s, that’s what I was gonna say. I mean, I, I used to actually kind of in my own rein, have this narrative that, you know, certain sources were true and certain not, but even, yeah. You know, even after, you know, things that happened during COVID, for example. Yeah. Um, um, you know, the Wuhan Laboratories and, and things like that, that, you know, everybody looked at as a. A conspiracy theory and all this stuff, right? A tinfoil hat theory, a tinfoil hat, and you brought it up and you were crazy and everybody, you know, and, and the next thing you know, that’s the truth. That’s what happened. Yeah. So it, I think you’d even take people, um, it, it makes people who, uh, believe in the system, not believe in the system anymore. And, and I think that’s kind of where a lot of people are headed. That’s where the huge danger is. Yeah. And, and I think one area of research that is so. That is empowering and is hopeful. I have a, a doctoral student who is doing her dissertation on this. It’s a, it’s a concept called intellectual humility, which is just the extent to which we acknowledge that our beliefs and our perceptions of the world could be wrong. And what happens is when you operate in an intellectually humble way when you have beliefs, but you also are open to the fact that new information could come in at any moment, that could tell you that the things that you thought were true are not true. When you live that way, you tend to. Be closer to empirical truth than the people who are intellectually arrogant because the people who are intellectually arrogant, they’re so sure they’re right and they’re never looking to update their views. Yeah. You know, curiously on that too, like what, what does a research show about like highly educated or quote unquote intelligent people? Are they just as vulnerable? Are they more vulnerable? Because of this. And you know, in some ways I would think they’re almost more vulnerable. Yeah. And, and I think that it depends. So when we look at individual level factors and how they interact with susceptibility to MIS and disinformation, all of these different, so there’ll be psychological traits that interact with education level, that interact with what kinds of things you then are exposed to. So it is complicated. It’s complicated. So it tends to be the case that people who are. Perhaps more educated are more likely to seek out information from more like legacy journalistic sources. Yeah, yeah. Right. Yeah. Right. So, and on average, those sources tend to have more things that are empirically true than if you’re just sort of like looking on the internet for whatever you can find. Um, in fact, there’s also some research that shows that the people who report, um, quote unquote doing their own research. They are statistically more likely to believe misinformation, which actually makes sense because when you think you’re doing your own research, you’re actually doing what we call selecting on the dependent variable, which is you are looking for the information that confirms what you think is true. That is just what we tend to do. Unless you’re doing a controlled experiment. Yeah. You’re not actually looking for information that contradicts your beliefs. So, you know, we do this, this is, uh, a lot of times, um, you know, we talk about, uh, personal finance and mm-hmm. And macroeconomics and stuff. How does this translate over to like, beliefs about. Economy, the, you know, ’cause these are, these are important things that, again, there is incredibly different, uh, views on. Sure. You know, um, an example now, uh, an example is that everyone, you know, whether, whatever you believe the pol policy or not, that, that, that, that tariffs were going to drive inflation, a hundred percent inflation was gonna skyrocket. The last CPI number comes under like under three right? 2.7%. Yeah. Like what, what, tell me how this all applies to that kind of news, that information. Yeah, so, so I, I’m going to make a, a couple points that I think will, will get to your question. Yeah. Because, you know, a, a lot of what I have landed on is this role of social identity, right? In shaping belief systems and. One thing that I’m sure you’re familiar with is that when the party in the White House switches overnight from Democrat to Republican, people’s perception of how the economy is doing as a function of political party flips over. So when the White House went from Biden to Trump in January, 2025, overnight, Republicans went from thinking the economy was in the trash to thinking the economy was doing excellent, and Democrats did the opposite. So is that an actual empirical observation of the world, or is that an expression of their. Perception that their team is in charge. Therefore, things must be better. Or now my team is no longer in charge, so now things must be worse. Right. That’s the big one. We see that. You know, I’m. Every election back to who, however long this has been tracked, we see this. Um, another thing that I think is interesting is in terms of people’s perceptions of whether or not the economy is good or bad, that is very much shaped by who we’re talking to and what information we’re exposed to. So this, this in invites a whole host of questions about how should elites talk about. Economic health, right? You had under Biden, Biden trying to tell people, the economy is doing really well, the economy is doing great. Look at all these metrics. The economy is doing great. And so you have Democrats saying, oh yeah, the economy is doing well, and Republicans saying, I am looking at how much things cost. I am looking at, you know, various things in my bank account. I’m gonna say the economy is not doing well. I also think that Biden is not a great president, so I tend to think that things aren’t going well when the other party’s in charge. And then you look now under Trump. Trump is in a bit of a pickle, right? Because he is saying the economy is doing well. He’s saying, look at these metrics, look at these numbers, and you have this sort of. Viral perception among people that we are in a stagnant economy. I even heard my 15-year-old, we were at Costco and we got, you know, their pizza slices are like $2. We got pizza slices and she said, well. You can get a whole dinner for $8 in this economy, Rick. I was like, what? Economy? But, but those perceptions are so, and it, it’s also very, very difficult to figure out where did that perception come from? Yeah, yeah. How do we isolate the source of that perception that this economy is, is not good. Yeah. Well then certainly like behaviors follow, right. And yeah. So I guess, yeah. I guess that’s like, I mean, I’m sure that’s a completely different thing. Like, I mean, how do, how do these, you know, different perceptions. Party based perceptions Sure. Ultimately influence the economy because of the way people think of the economy. Exactly. Right. And how, how do mm-hmm. When it comes to what have tariffs done, right? Mm-hmm. Like I’m not an economist. I do not know what tariffs have done. My understanding from my media exposure is that there are, on some certain kinds of items, prices have gone up a bit, but that some of the other. Like at the grocery store, for example, some of the price increases that we see there are not the result of tariffs. So then what are they the result of when it comes to how we attribute responsibility and blame, that is also very much shaped by our social identity. So if it helps me to think my grapes are expensive because of Donald Trump, then that’s what I’m going to think. Give us your sort of final thought here. Mm-hmm. Just in terms of, you know, what’s, what’s the learning. Here and how can we apply this to our own thinking? So, so I, I like to leave things on, on a kind of positive note because there is a lot to be concerned about in such a fractured information space. Um. One of the things that has been bringing me some, some hope that I think we could carry with us into how we think about what it is that people yearn for, what it is that people want. Even in this, this very splintered environment, I am convinced that even though all of our technology is creating atomized spaces for us to become our most exaggerated version of our self. I think what we really crave as human beings are shared experiences, opportunities for us to share experiences together, whether that be media content that we then want to talk about, whether those be events. There is a reason why football is still such a successful, um. Kind of entertainment. Right? And there’s also a reason why when there are cultural stories that allow us to all talk about them, like the couple at the cold play concert that was outed or whatever, there are reasons why those moments just catch fire. And I think it is because despite the fact that our technology platforms are trying to give us. Atomized, individualized, discreet spaces. At the end of the day, we really do want to share things with one another. Good stuff. Uh, professor Young, uh, uh, Dana Young, it, the book again is Wrong. How Media, politics and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation. Thank you so much for being on Wealth Formula Podcast. Great. Thanks so much. It was fun. We’ll be right back. You make a lot of money, but are still worried about retirement. Maybe you didn’t start earning until your thirties. Now you’re trying to catch up. Meanwhile, you’ve got a mortgage, a private school to pay for, and you feel like you’re getting further and further behind. Now, good news, if you need to catch up on retirement, check out a program put out by some of the oldest and most prestigious life insurance companies in the world. It’s called Wealth Accelerator, and it can help you amplify your returns quickly, protect your money from creditors, and provide financial protection to your family if something happens to you. The concepts here are used by some of the wealthiest families in the world, and there’s no reason why they can’t be used by you. Check it out for yourself by going to wealthformulabanking.com. Welcome back to the show everyone. Hope you enjoyed it. Again, just make sure that you are getting multiple sources of information. Whether that comes to, you know, this show really is about personal finance and macroeconomics and only politics and all that is not what I’m into, but the point is. That, uh, when it comes to, uh, when it comes to anything including personal finance and microeconomics, make sure you have multiple sources of information. Listen to the arguments and, uh, you know, make a decision that you can live with, whether you’re right or wrong. That’s it for me this week on Wealth Formula Podcast. This is Buck Joffrey signing up. If you wanna learn more, you can now get free access to our in-depth personal finance course featuring industry leaders like Tom Wheel Wright and Ken McElroy. Visit wealthformularoadmap.com.
This week on the show we're joined by Mennonite pastor David C. L. Driedger to talk about his new book Nothing Will Save Us: A Theology of Immeasurable Life. We talk 2010s theology blogs, Canada, Thomas Muntzer, and how to deal with Christianity being so complicated.#Pre-order our bookhttps://themagnificast.wordpress.com/pre-order-now-enough-is-enough-degrowth-capitalism-and-liberation-theology/Get our Winstanley Zinehttps://themagnificast.wordpress.com/zines/Join our patreonhttp://patreon.com/themagnificastMusic by Amaryah Armstrong and theillalogicalspoon
The post Don’t leave. For God’s sake, don’t leave. appeared first on Key Life.
Your life is a marathon. And it's tough. In today's episode of Live the Bible, we get to gulp down some encouragement to keep going and growing in the hardest part of every marathon: the middle! What keeps you from giving up when you have so far to go?If you're growing weary in the race, I'm here to cheer you on! Support the show
Don't Settle For Less Than God's Best—WAIT FOR IT | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start The Day With GodSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™
Every headline feels louder, messier, and darker, but how are followers of Jesus supposed to respond when scandal, controversy, and evil keep cycling nonstop? This short video challenges you to stop reacting like the world and shows how to avoid becoming the next headline—no scandal life here.#ChristianReels #FaithTok #JesusTalk #ViralFaith #TruthTalk #RealTalk #GraceNotGossip #StayHumble #ByGraceAlone #CheckTheMirror #HeartCheck #SavedNotSuperior #reflect #ChampTalk Galatians 1:10Matthew 5:16
Send us a textYou've had insight before. The clarity, conviction, and even real momentum. And yet, somehow, it didn't last.If you've ever wondered why meaningful change feels so hard to sustain, this episode is for you.In this conversation, Amy explores why insight alone—no matter how true or powerful—rarely leads to lasting transformation. Not because you failed, but because insight was never meant to carry the full weight of change on its own.This episode gently reframes skepticism as wisdom-in-the-making and invites you to consider a different path forward & one rooted in formation rather than intensity.You'll explore:Why insight often sparks change but can't sustain itHow intensity-based growth struggles to survive real lifeWhy seasons of disappointment don't mean you're resistantThe difference between performance-driven change and formation that lastsWhat it means to stay with your story long enough for wisdom to take rootThis isn't a call to try harder or hope faster. It's an invitation to slow down, notice patterns, and consider what kind of change can actually be carried over time.If you've been protecting yourself from false hope (or wondering why past breakthroughs faded), this episode offers language, clarity, and a steadier way forward.Not through reinvention. Through spiritual formation.Support the showRESOURCES FOR YOU: Book a High-Value Clarity Call with Amy Wicks https://www.simplywholehearted.com/callamywicks Not sure about your Enneagram Type? Start here: https://www.simplywholehearted.com/enneagramquiz Wholehearted Enneagram Coachinghttps://bit.ly/SWcoachingcollectiveEnnea-what? The Beginners Guide to the Enneagram(free course + printables)https://bit.ly/Enneagram101GuideThe Real History of the Enneagram Course(use code AMY for 40% OFF)https://bit.ly/EnneagramHistoryShould Christians Use the Enneagram? (Amy's book)https://amzn.to/3VB9PrxConnect with Amy:IGWebsite
347 – What do you do when no one understands you?Have you ever been with a group of close friends and you share some pretty deep ideas you've been thinking about, but then everyone looks at you like you're crazy. They have no idea what you're talking about. You try to explain, but they're still clueless, their eyes glaze over, and they go back to discussing with great enthusiasm, something that seems trivial and inconsequential.The same thing happens with your family. You share ideas from way down inside of your heart about life or what you think your purpose is and you get those blank stares. Or they say you need to be more practical.It can be really frustrating when it seems like no one understands you. Who do you talk to? What do you do? Is there any way not to feel so lonely? In this episode, you'll learn Why some people will never understand you What needs to happen before you find the folks who will understand youWhat you can do to find the people who will understand and be supportive of you.SHOW NOTES: For a full transcript and all the Bible quotes: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/347Article mentioned: Being Grateful when People Reject Your PurposePrevious episode mentioned: Episode 256: The Biblical Cure for LonelinessText me your questions or comments.Support the showIf you enjoy the podcast, please rate and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify__________________James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Reach out today if you need a speaker or Bible workshop for your church or organization (online and in person) Subscribe to the podcast (and get your copy of Praying with the Mindset of Jesus) Make a donation to support the show Schedule a free one hour coaching call to see if the Jesus Mindset Coaching program is a good fit for you Contact James here
In this episode of The Leader's Notebook (Ep. 297), I take us to Ephesians 4 and 5 to confront the gap between theoretical Christianity and real life in the Spirit. Too many believers are content to talk about faith without ever stepping into the canoe. Paul reminds us that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an abstract idea—it shows up in how we speak, forgive, submit, give, and love one another. Spirit-filled living is intensely practical. This message calls us beyond gifts, experiences, and religious language into holiness expressed in community. Walking in love means allowing the Holy Spirit to probe our lives, heal our relationships, and shape the way we live with family, church, and the people God places around us. Real Christianity is not learned in theory—it is lived in love. – Dr. Mark Rutland Chapters (00:00:03) - The Leaders Notebook(00:00:25) - Paul's Letter to the Church(00:07:35) - Paul lists the negative aspects of human relationships in Ephesians 5(00:12:50) - The Gifts of the Holy Spirit(00:17:40) - Have You Received the Holy Spirit?(00:21:50) - Paul on Submission in Ephesians 5(00:27:39) - Paul's On Submission and Love(00:30:58) - The Contradiction of Submission and Authority(00:36:09) - Gossip in the Family(00:43:08) - How to Live in Community(00:47:24) - The Leader's Notebook
We continue our look back at some horror films from 2025 with a film that's already been discussed a good bit on the show through interviews and Whatcha segments. Adam Cesare's book CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD first hit Reed's radar when it was published back in 2020. He had already been pitching it for years as "Scream: The Novel". Naturally, when Eli Craig (of Tucker and Dale Vs Evil fame) directed the adaptation, we had to cover it! Last year, we had the chance to sit down with both Adam Cesare and (briefly) Eli Craig to discuss the film. And this week we invite back friends of the show A J Porfirio and Evan Derrick of Van Ryder Games (creator of the smash board game hit Final Girl) to discuss it in all its spoiler glory.Also joining us is Gorey Gamer Matt Murray (who also visits Hawkins with us in a Patron-only segment about Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 2). On this hearty episode, we not only discuss all the clowns in all the cornfields, we also play a Board Game trivia contest and share the latest updates about FINAL GIRL SERIES 4, which launches on Kickstarter Feb 4.So, kick back and enjoy this lively conversation that we really hope you'll enjoy!5:14 - Final Girl Series 4 Kickstarter UpdatePatron Only Segment: STRANGER THINGS, Season 5, Episode 218:43 - Board Game Trivia!27:32 - CLOWN IN A CORNFIELDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Truth.Love.Parent. with AMBrewster | Christian | Parenting | Family
It can be argued that love and hate are the very root of our human existence. Join AMBrewster to learn how biblical families can love the way God commands.Truth.Love.Parent. is a podcast of Truth.Love.Family., an Evermind Ministry.Action Steps Purchase “Quit: how to stop family strife for good.” https://amzn.to/40haxLz Support our 501(c)(3) by becoming a TLP Friend! https://www.truthloveparent.com/donate.html Download the Evermind App. https://evermind.passion.io/checkout/102683 Use the promo code EVERMIND at MyPillow.com. https://www.mypillow.com/evermind Discover the following episodes by clicking the titles or navigating to the episode in your app: Family Love https://www.truthloveparent.com/the-four-family-loves-series.html Evidence of Spiritual Life Series https://www.celebrationofgod.com/evidence-of-spiritual-life.html Click here for Today's episode notes, resources, and transcript: https://www.truthloveparent.com/taking-back-the-family-blog/tlp-616-biblical-families-part-4-the-preeminence-of-love-and-hateDownload the Evermind App! https://evermind.passion.io/checkout/102683Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthLoveParent/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.love.parent/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruthLoveParentFollow AMBrewster on Facebook: https://fb.me/TheAMBrewsterFollow AMBrewster on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrewsterhome/Follow AMBrewster on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMBrewsterPin us on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TruthLoveParent/Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTHV-6sMt4p2KVSeLD-DbcwClick here for more of our social media accounts: https://www.truthloveparent.com/presskit.htmlNeed some help? Write to us at Counselor@TruthLoveParent.com.
What do you do when you're in “flood season”, when life feels fast, heavy, and uncertain?In this conversation, Pastor Chris Kouba and Josh Thomas dig into Joshua 4 and the powerful moment when God tells Israel to build memorials after crossing the Jordan River—one on the riverbank and one set in the river. Why two? Because we forget. And when we forget where we've been, we lose confidence about where we're going.They talk about practical ways to remember and recount God's faithfulness like journaling, physical reminders, and intentionally telling the “God stories” to your kids, your wife, your friends, and the people you lead. If you're in the middle of something right now, this one is for you: God is faithful at the finish line and He's faithful in the middle too!To find out more about Pastor Chris, follow him on all the social platforms (@ckouba) and to connect with the ministry of United City visit https://unitedcity.church.Show NotesFollow on Instagram: @stepup.podcastFollow United City: @untdcitychurchConnect with Pastor Chris: http://chriskouba.comMore About United City: https://unitedcity.church/
Join Darrell Bock and Jake Prochaska as they explore the resilience of the church in Sudan and South Sudan as indigenous leaders navigate persecution and extreme poverty to build self-sustaining communities centered on the gospel Time codes: 1:37 Background to Sudan and South Sudan 9:32 Building a Community with the Church 14:54 The Ripple Effect of Church Planting 16:52 The Importance of Indigenous Leadership and Training 23:09 How Western Christians can Help Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
For the Good of the Public brings you news and weekly conversations at the intersection of faith and civic life. Monday through Thursday, The Morning Five starts your day off with scripture and prayer, as we also catch up on the news together. Throughout the year, we air limited series on Fridays to dive deeper into conversations with civic leaders, thinkers, and public servants reimagining public life for the good of the public. Today's host was Michael Wear, Founder, President and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life. Thanks for listening to The Morning Five! Please subscribe to and rate The Morning Five on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about the work of the Center for Christianity and Public Life at www.ccpubliclife.org. Today's scripture: John 14:1-7 News sources: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/26/us/minneapolis-shooting-ice https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/26/weather/weather-snow-updates-ice-cold/heres-the-latest?smid=url-share https://abcnews.go.com/Health/lifetime-alcohol-linked-higher-risk-colorectal-cancer-new/story?id=129547475 https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/ice-alex-pretti-shooting-minnesota-minneapolis-twin-cities-immigration-churches/ Join the conversation and follow us at: Instagram: @michaelwear, @ccpubliclife Twitter: @MichaelRWear, @ccpubliclife and check out @tsfnetwork Music by: Amber Glow #politics #faith #prayer #scripture #Trump #Minnesota #cancer #winterstorm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 Peter 5:1-5 (NKJV)Andrew, Isack, and Edwin continue the discussion of the organization of Christ's church. Today, they discuss the nature and organization of the universal church. And they discuss who is the Chief Shepherd of the universal church and every local congregation.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=24244The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/