Podcasts about Wright

BEST OF 2025 PART THREE Chris and Wright gather a different lineup of regulars and friends to discuss more of the best movies and tv shows of 2025 that MAYBE aren't the things you've heard everyone else talking about. Things have gotten a little looser on this second (in person, third overall) segment as the […]

The story of the Wise Men from the East led by a star to worship the Christ child is one of the most enchanting stories in the gospel. And for two thousand years this story has fascinated artists of all kinds—painters and poets, composers and writers.

Our King has come, is coming, and will come again. What does it mean to think of Jesus as "our coming King"? In this first lesson of the series, I ask us to consider the conversations before creation.The sermon today is titled "The Return of the King." This sermon is the third installment in our series "The Coming King." The Scripture reading is from Daniel 7:9-14 (NIV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on December 21, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under BEGIN: A Loving Christ.Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):J. R. R. Tolkein, The Return of the KingN. T. Wright, When God Became KingN. T. Wright, The Old Testament & The People of GodN. T. Wright, Jesus & The Victory of GodI'd love to connect with you!Watch sermons and find transcripts at nathanguy.com.Follow along each Sunday through YouTube livestream and find a study guide on the sermon notes page.Follow me @nathanpguy (facebook/instagram/twitter)Subscribe to my email newsletter on substack.

This January, our archive episodes—presented every Friday—will cover the theme of ADVENTURE! Because we could all use a little more adventure in our lives, and January is the perfect time to start thinking about the adventures we want to take during the new year. The Camino de Santiago is a popular pilgrimage route across Spain. On this episode from our archives, our guest Aarin Wright set off on the Camino with her father after finishing university. Was all the walking as rewarding as she had hoped?  ***The Bittersweet Life podcast has been on the air for an impressive 10+ years! In order to help newer listeners discover some of our earlier episodes, every Friday we are now airing an episode from our vast archives! Enjoy!*** ------------------------------------- COME TO ROME WITH US: Our third annual Bittersweet Life Roman Adventure is in the books! If you'd like to join us in 2026, and be part of an intimate group of listeners on a magical and unforgettable journey to Rome, discovering the city with us as your guides, find out more here. ADVERTISE WITH US: Reach expats, future expats, and travelers all over the world. Send us an email to get the conversation started. BECOME A PATRON: Pledge your monthly support of The Bittersweet Life and receive awesome prizes in return for your generosity! Visit our Patreon site to find out more. TIP YOUR PODCASTER: Say thanks with a one-time donation to the podcast hosts you know and love. Click here to send financial support via PayPal. (You can also find a Donate button on the desktop version of our website.) The show needs your support to continue. START PODCASTING: If you are planning to start your own podcast, consider Libsyn for your hosting service! Use this affliliate link to get two months free, or use our promo code SWEET when you sign up. SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you never miss an episode. Click here to find us on a variety of podcast apps. WRITE A REVIEW: Leave us a rating and a written review on iTunes so more listeners can find us. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: If you have a question or a topic you want us to address, send us an email here. You can also connect to us through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Tag #thebittersweetlife with your expat story for a chance to be featured! NEW TO THE SHOW? Don't be afraid to start with Episode 1: OUTSET BOOK: Want to read Tiffany's book, Midnight in the Piazza? Learn more here or order on Amazon. TOUR ROME: If you're traveling to Rome, don't miss the chance to tour the city with Tiffany as your guide!

Send us a text"In the Christmas story, God slips through a birth canal underneath the empire. This star child is born in a borrowed room and takes his first rest in a feeding trough. God chooses vulnerability over visibility and humility over dominance. Christmas helps us to know who God is through God's choices. The child we say we love tonight but are afraid to love too much is born on the underside of history. No status, no security. So if you're looking for God, you can always find God where the world least expects God to be. So if we're only watching the Empire's headlines, we may be missing the holy things that are being born right in front of us. Christmas is God's graceful and gentle refusal of the Empire's terms and methods. In God's Christmas story, domination is overthrown by incarnation and love."Excerpt from Bishop Wright's Christmas Sermon "Born Beneath the Headlines"Support the show Follow us on IG and FB at Bishop Rob Wright.

Mariah and Sierra share a beautiful story how God has worked in their entire life to bring them both to faith in Jesus Christ!

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. What does a 2,000-year-old epic have to say to us today about exile, duty, love, power, war, misinformation, and the fragile hopes of human community? A great deal, say translators Scott McGill and Susannah Wright, whose new English translation of Virgil's Aeneid captures both the grandeur of the epic … Continue reading The Relevance of Virgil's Aeneid: A Conversation with Scott McGill & Susannah Wright →

In this episode of The Observatory, Scott and LaRae share what they are consciously choosing to let go of this year and what they are welcoming in as new anchors for joy, creativity, and connection. They reflect on releasing the need to earn joy, opening more fully to music and vibrational engagement, and embracing a deeper relationship with nature as a way to remember their place in a larger harmony. This new year, Scott and LaRae invite you to consider your own “ins and outs” so you can align this season with what truly nourishes your spirit and life.Timestamps[04:09] What's out and what's in for Scott this year[05:00] What's in and what's out for LaRae this year[06:20] The big out for both Scott and LaRae this year[09:58] Sharing of experiences[13:43] Letting go of the feeling of having to earn joy[16:49] What we can learn from the older cultures[19:16] Having a deeper connection with nature[21:50] A challenge for the new yearNotable quotes:“The connection to nature allows you to understand that we are in harmony with nature.” - LaRae Wright [17:48]Relevant links:Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcast

What does New Year's Day really mean—and why do we celebrate it the way we do?In this episode of the MX3 Podcast, we break down the history of New Year's traditions, from ancient calendars and midnight rituals to modern-day resolutions and symbolic actions meant to bring luck, love, and financial success into the year ahead. We explore where customs like black-eyed peas, midnight kisses, champagne toasts, and goal-setting truly came from—and why most people abandon their resolutions before the year even gets started.At MX3 Podcast, our mission is simple: we discuss money, motivation, and relevant events that shape how we live, think, and plan for the future. This episode is a reminder that the new year isn't about recovering from the night before—it's about intentional choices and momentum.

We’re being told that light rail is coming to Tacoma Dome but you should only believe it when you see it. A new Seattle business merges pickleball with dining. Guest: Patrick Foley with Lake Union Partners on the Seattle business community’s reaction to Katie Wilson’s victory. // LongForm: GUEST: Energy Secretary Chris Wright.  // Quick Hit: The Democrats have another dumb talking point and want to extend Obamacare subsidies.

Jessica Coody sat down with senior defensive back Ceyair Wright for the Cornhusker Conversation ahead of kickoff in the Las Vegas Bowl.

12/31/25 - Born into slavery in Missouri, scarred for life by violence, and left with only one working eye, Julia Greeley arrived in Denver with nothing the world would call success. What she did have was an unshakable love for Jesus Christ, especially present in the Blessed Sacrament, and a tireless devotion to the poor. Known for walking the streets at night so she wouldn't embarrass those receiving her help, Julia quietly gave food, clothing, and comfort to families who had nothing to offer in return. Her deep love for the Sacred Heart and her daily presence at Mass shaped a life of hidden holiness that transformed an entire city. In this episode, we reflect on the extraordinary faith, suffering, and charity of Servant of God Julia Greeley, a woman the world overlooked, but heaven did not.

Remember how there was a federal election? In this episode, we return to Anthony Albanese's astonishing landslide victory in May with former chief political correspondent David Crowe and senior economics correspondent Shane Wright. Crowe and Wright reflect on how history-making the win was, and what Albanese will do with his mandate.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The boys high school basketball game between the Houston Wildcats and the Newton Indians is now available on demand at no charge

Remember how there was a federal election? In this episode, we return to Anthony Albanese's astonishing landslide victory in May with former chief political correspondent David Crowe and senior economics correspondent Shane Wright. Crowe and Wright reflect on how history-making the win was, and what Albanese will do with his mandate.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God Centered Concept Discipleship Series is now live. Our first book is now on Amazon called the Victory in 7. Help support us by purchasing your copy today on your kindle or paperback.Victory in 7: The Foundational Process (God Centered Concept Discipleship Series): Wright, TS: 9798274946032: Amazon.com: BooksTo have TS Wright speak at your event or conference or if you simply want spiritual or life coaching or just a consultation visit:www.tswrightspeaks.comVisit our website to learn more about The God Centered Concept. The God Centered Concept is designed to bring real discipleship and spreading the Gospel to help spark the Great Harvest, a revival in this generation.www.godcenteredconcept.comKingdom Cross Roads Podcast is a part of The God Centered Concept.In this episode of the Kingdom Crossroads podcast, host T.S. Wright interviews Mark Osborne, who shares his transformative journey from a life of self-absorption to one focused on faith and service. Mark discusses the pivotal moments in his life, including his struggles with purpose, fitness, and relationships, leading to the creation of his podcast aimed at helping Christian men. He emphasizes the importance of legacy, decision-making, and the impact of family on faith. The conversation highlights how personal testimonies can inspire others and the significance of following God's calling in one's life.TakeawaysMark's journey began at 48, feeling lost and without purpose.He turned to fitness as a way to regain happiness.Self-absorption led him to neglect his relationships with God and family.The decision to focus on God transformed his life.Mark's podcast aims to help men become better leaders.Family legacy plays a crucial role in faith development.Every decision impacts the legacy you leave behind.Listening to the Holy Spirit makes decision-making easier.Iron sharpens iron; community is vital for growth.God rewards those who serve Him faithfully.Mentioned in this episode:Victory in 7 Book on Amazon - Get your copy today

In this heartfelt episode, Rodney and Traci Wright share their powerful story of finding healing—both individually and as a couple. Long before discovering Pure Desire, their recovery journey began with a deep recognition of their need for help and God's grace to rebuild what was broken. They open up about the early steps they took to survive as a couple, the community that supported them, and how joining a Pure Desire group years later helped them experience a new depth of healing and connection. Together, they reveal the truths and tools that have sustained their marriage and shaped their ongoing recovery. Through honesty, accountability, and faith, Rodney and Traci now walk in freedom and are helping others do the same. Their story offers hope for any couple longing to experience the redemptive power of God's healing love.Resources:Year End Giving:Rodney & Traci's Book GET STARTEDFree eBook: 7 Keys To Understanding Betrayal TraumaFree eBook: 5 Steps to Freedom From PornSchedule Your Free 15-Minute Counseling ConsultationJoin A Pure Desire Online Group SOCIALSFollow us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramFollow us on X (Twitter) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Success is Subjective, Joanna sits down with Arch Wright — former professional athlete, trauma therapist, and co-founder of One Elm at Horton Bay — for an honest and deeply human conversation about healing, identity, and what it truly means to live a successful life. Arch shares his journey through addiction, recovery, and emotional healing, reflecting on how success can mask unresolved trauma and how true fulfillment comes from learning to feel safe within ourselves and our relationships. Together, they discuss emotional sobriety, developmental trauma, and the courage it takes to do the deeper work. This conversation offers an honest look at growth, resilience, and redefining success from the inside out.Arch's Resources: One Elm at Horton BayAdult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA)Al-Anon Family GroupsConnect with Joanna Lilley  Therapeutic Consulting AssociationLilley Consulting WebsiteLilley Consulting on Facebook Lilley Consulting on YouTubeEmail joanna@lilleyconsulting.com#TherapeuticConsulting #LilleyConsulting #Successful #TherapeuticPrograms #Therapy #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #TheJourney #SuccessIsSubjectivePodcast #TheUnpavedRoad #PFCAudioVideo #AddictionRecovery #RecoveryIsPossible #SobrietyIsBeautiful #SobrietyJourney

RTÉ Arts and Media Correspondent Evelyn O'Rourke delved deep into the declassified State Papers files for new insights about what those in power were saying in private all those years ago.

The boys high school basketball game between the Elder Panthers and the Wayne Warriors is now available on demand !

God Centered Concept Discipleship Series is now live. Our first book is now on Amazon called the Victory in 7. Help support us by purchasing your copy today on your kindle or paperback.Victory in 7: The Foundational Process (God Centered Concept Discipleship Series): Wright, TS: 9798274946032: Amazon.com: BooksTo have TS Wright speak at your event or conference or if you simply want spiritual or life coaching or just a consultation visit:www.tswrightspeaks.comVisit our website to learn more about The God Centered Concept. The God Centered Concept is designed to bring real discipleship and spreading the Gospel to help spark the Great Harvest, a revival in this generation.www.godcenteredconcept.comKingdom Cross Roads Podcast is a part of The God Centered Concept.In this conversation, T.S. Wright and Lori Yarbrough discuss the foundational concepts and skills necessary for building and maintaining a strong, Christ-centered marriage. They explore the importance of healthy expectations, communication, and the role of spiritual principles in navigating challenges. Lori shares practical advice for couples, emphasizing the need for grace, forgiveness, and ongoing courtship, while also addressing the impact of past trauma and the necessity of spiritual warfare in relationships.TakeawaysHealthy expectations are crucial for a strong marriage.Align your expectations with God's word.Prioritize love over personal desires in marriage.Recognize your spouse as a partner, not a savior.Communicate needs clearly and humbly to avoid misunderstandings.Expect forgiveness and grace as a lifestyle in marriage.Embrace growth and change together as a couple.Courtship should continue even after marriage.Words of affirmation can significantly impact your spouse's behavior.Seek professional help when dealing with deep emotional issues.Mentioned in this episode:Victory in 7 Book on Amazon - Get your copy today

Elite climber Mat Wright is cut from a different cloth than your average professional crimp-jockey. We hear about Mat's journey from a sometimes-fractious childhood all the way to 9a, 8C and E11 (not really). Mat opens up about some frisky situations along the way to enlightenment. Much crack.

In today's episode, Dr. Judith Borger sits down with the brilliant Dr. Giselle Prado-Wright to unpack the real story behind modern body sculpting. From awake liposuction to Brazilian Butt Lifts, breast and penile fat transfer, and the future of in-office contouring solutions, this conversation gives listeners a transparent, myth-busting look at today's most requested procedures. Dr. Prado-Wright shares her clinical insights on what makes a safe and effective BBL, the nuances of fat transfer, how to identify good candidates, and the latest innovations making body sculpting more accessible.    Whether you're curious about how these procedures really work, considering treatment, or simply love learning from leaders reshaping the aesthetics landscape, this episode is packed with expert wisdom, practical takeaways, and empowering education.   Dr. Giselle Prado-Wright Links: exertbodysculpt.com instagram.com/exert.bodysculpt tiktok.com/@exert.bodysculpt facebook.com/exertbodysculpt   Dr. Judith Borger Links: www.theaestheticdoctor.com www.instagram.com/doctorborger

Bigger losses than expected?

What if better sleep, clear goals, and daily discipline were the real keys to financial freedom and long-term success?In this episode of the MX3 Podcast, we reflect on an incredible year of growth—going from 100,000 to over 250,000 subscribers—and lay out bold goals for 2026. We dive into why writing goals down matters, why fitness and sleep come before money for many people, and how small daily habits can completely change your trajectory.We also break down practical, no-cost strategies for waking up rested, improving focus, and building momentum—no gimmicks, no shortcuts, just real-life systems that work.

Get ready for a journey through pure rhythm and uplifting energy! From Afro House, Latin Tech House to Club ready grooves. A Mix Set full of infectious beats, it's designed to make you move!

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Career Notes. Threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, Charity Wright, shares her story from the army to her career today. Transitioning from the army to cybersecurity was an exciting change for her. During college she was recruited by the U.S. army where she started her journey and learned new skills paving her pathway to threat intelligence where she is now. She shares that she works with a great team of junior analysts who are constantly checking each others' biases which helps keep Charity grounded in her work. Charity spends her days keeping an eye on threats around the world where she says there is never a dull day in her line of work. We thank Charity for sharing her story with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Incarnation is salvation. The moment the Word became flesh and joined the human race, salvation for humanity was guaranteed. Everything connected with this would have to play out in due course—a human life, death upon a cross, resurrection on the third day—but salvation for the human race was guaranteed the moment Mary said, “Be it unto me according to your word.” With the birth of Jesus, humanity would no longer be founded in Adam but founded in Christ. Incarnation is salvation.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Truth is not something we possess; it is Someone who possesses us.”~Dietrich Bonhoeffer “Christianity is not a set of ideas, but a Person who walks before us and calls us to follow.”~Timothy Keller “To follow Jesus is to discover that life itself has a direction.”~Dallas Willard “Truth is not found in a principle but in a person—Jesus Christ.”~N. T. Wright “The central pronouncement, ‘I am the Way,' is profoundly significant within the chapter as a whole, for it states in so many words what Bunyan knew, that ‘the way' is not what Thomas thought it was, a literal route or pathway, but a Person, Jesus himself. The destination, accordingly, is not a place (not even precisely ‘my Father's house'), but also a Person, the Father himself.”~J. Ramsey Michaels  “The road to heaven runs through the cross.”~Billy Graham “Where is the highway to heaven? Where is the love we all need? Where is the peace we long for? Where is the man who is free?”~ John Denver, “Hold On Tightly”  SERMON PASSAGEJohn 14:1-14 (ESV) 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

While our team is out on winter break, please enjoy this episode of Career Notes. Threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, Charity Wright, shares her story from the army to her career today. Transitioning from the army to cybersecurity was an exciting change for her. During college she was recruited by the U.S. army where she started her journey and learned new skills paving her pathway to threat intelligence where she is now. She shares that she works with a great team of junior analysts who are constantly checking each others' biases which helps keep Charity grounded in her work. Charity spends her days keeping an eye on threats around the world where she says there is never a dull day in her line of work. We thank Charity for sharing her story with us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Distraction is everywhere—but faith that isn't focused will never produce lasting fruit. In “Focused Faith,” Pastor DeWayne L. Wright delivers a prophetic and practical word, calling believers to develop intentional, disciplined faith for the year ahead. Drawing from Hebrews 11:6, Romans 1:16–17, and Mark 4:14–20, Pastor Wright unpacks how faith must be fed, exercised, protected from distractions, and anchored in Christ's unlimited supply. Through the parable of the sower and clear real-life application, this message challenges listeners to tune out competing voices, trust God at every level of life, and live with a faith that is active, consistent, and firmly fixed on Jesus. pasted

A Sermon for the Feast of the Holy Innocents St. Matthew 2:13-18 by William Klock Have you read a great book and then gone to see the movie and the movie totally lost the plot?  Or maybe you got into a TV show, but then the longer the show ran, the more it seemed to lose the original plot?  We've been watching one show that started out spectacularly, but now I'm starting wish they'd just ended it after the first season, because lately it feels like the original plot has been hijacked by today's obligatory plot about sexuality. I found myself thinking how ironic it is that in a postmodern culture that claims to hate metanarratives and insists we all write our own stories, its stories all seem to go the same way. And in the midst of it all, as we all try to write our own stories while having our stories hijacked by the various commercial, political, and sexual plot-writers of our culture, often without our even realising it's happened, well, Christmas comes.  And if we'll listen, we just might hear, we must might realise that there's a greater story and a greater drama with a happier ending.  A story so wonderful, so masterfully written, that it shows up just what fools we've been to try to writer our own stories.  A story, too, that's full of grace.  A story in which God himself has come into the midst of our mangled plotlines to forgive our bad writing, to remind us how the story is supposed to go and what a truly good story looks like, even to welcome us back into his great drama of love and faithfulness and redemption and glory. Genesis reminds us how the story was supposed to go: human beings created by God, mortals made of the same stuff as the rest of creation, but animated and brought to life by the very breath of God.  And then we were placed in his temple.  In the spot where pagans would place their idols to represent the presence and rule of their gods, the living God placed us.  To represent his good and sovereign rule over creation, to act as his stewards, and to know the goodness and the life only found in his presence.  It was a story in which we knew all those things we've recalled when lighting the Advent candles—a story of perfect love, peace, joy, and hope.  And we were to be fruitful and to multiply so that we might ever expand the Lord's temple until it filled all of creation with his glory. And then we tried to hijack the temple for ourselves.  Instead of being the image of God, we tried to become gods ourselves.  And immediately we began to accuse each other.  We began to exploit and dominate each other.  Within a single generation, as Genesis tells it, we were murdering each other.  We were at each other's throats.  Everyone out for himself, no matter who he had to step on or exploit or enslave or kill. I talked last week about the darkness of the pagan world into which Jesus came.  A world of petty and fickle gods, constantly fighting amongst themselves.  Gods representing the idols of the human heart: power, sex, money, war…you name it.  If it can be used to exploit others, we made a god for it.  The world was dark.  But there was a light—or there was supposed to be.  Two millennia before, the living God had called Abraham out of the darkness of pagan Ur and set him up to be a light in the midst of the darkness.  A man who knew the light of the living God and became, himself a light to the nations.  At first just one man, but then a growing family, and eventually a whole nation—set apart by God and living around a temple in which that light was manifest as a visible and awe-inspiring cloud of glory.  But even Israel succumbed to the darkness.  The kings and people of Israel did what rebellious humanity had always done: they tried to write their own script.  And so Jesus came not only to the dark world of the pagans; he also came to the dark world of Israel. Our Gospel today is a stark reminder of just how off-script things had gone for God's own people.  It picks up immediately after the wise men had visited Jesus.  Remember that they had travelled to Jerusalem from somewhere in the east, probably Persia, following a star that somehow told them that a king had been born.  They went to the palace of Herod, who was the King of the Jews—at least in title.  And when they asked where they might find the new-born King of the Jews, of course, he had no idea what they were talking about.  These foreigners had to remind him of his own scriptures about the coming king, the one who would finally shepherd God's people aright, and how he would be born at Bethlehem. From Jerusalem, the wise men travelled to Bethlehem where they became the first of the gentiles to worship Jesus the Messiah. And you'll remember that an angel came to them and warned them to avoid Jerusalem on their way home.  But Herod didn't forget the prophecy or the wise men.  He bore the title “King of the Jews”, but he wasn't really Jewish.  He was the child of a forbidden marriage between a Jew and a gentile.  He was a puppet king set up by the Romans.  He tried to win the people over with grand building projects and public works.  The most important was a renovation of the temple.  But no one like him and no one really thought he was the legitimate king.  And so he was also paranoid.  He wasn't above murdering his own sons just to make sure he had no rivals. And so, St. Matthew tells us, “After the wise men had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,' he said, ‘and take the child and his mother and hurry too Egypt.  Stay there until I tell you.  Herod is going to hunt for the child, to kill him.'” Tom Wright tells a story that I expect must have happened when he was Bishop of Durham.  A prominent historian who was well-known for his scepticism about the Bible showed up at church one Christmas.  Wright was preaching.  And when the service was over, the historian approached him and said something to the effect of, “I've got it all figured out why people love Christmas so much.  It's about a baby and babies threaten no one, and so we all feel good, but in the end it's really all about nothing.”  And Wright goes on to say just how dumbfounded he was.  Had this man not heard the Christmas story?  Right here from the get-go, an evil king—a king who insisted on writing his own story—did everything he could to stop God's rewrite before it could even be started. Considering how impious Herod was, I suspect he didn't even really believe the prophecy about Bethlehem and a king.  He was just a paranoid despot who had it in his power to murder people frivolously, so…why not?  You know, just in case. “So,” Matthew goes on, “Joseph got up and took the child and his mother by night and went off to Egypt.  He stayed there until the death of Herod.  This happened to fulfil what the Lord said through the prophet [Hosea]: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.' And so Jesus escapes, but there's no good news here.  Herod just lashes out blindly.  He's powerful, he can, and he does.  And so Matthew tells us, “When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he flew into a great rage.  He dispatched men to kill all the boys of Bethlehem, and in all the surrounding districts, from two years old and under, according to the time the wise men had told him.  That was when the word that came through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: ‘There was heard a voice in Rama, crying and loud lamentation.  Rachel is weeping for her children, and will not let anyone comfort her, because they are no more.'” Tell me again how this baby threatens no one.  The shadow of the cross hangs over Jesus' story before he can even walk or talk.  Because Herod couldn't stand the thought of not being the master of his own story.  And under threat, he did what he always did: he murdered.  How many?  Bethlehem was likely a town of about a thousand people in those days.  There were probably somewhere between a dozen and two dozen boys there two years old and younger.  And Herod didn't give it a thought to have them killed.  And apparently neither did his soldiers.  That, or they feared Herod more than they feared God. Again, Herod reminds us that it wasn't just a dark pagan world into which Jesus was born.  The same darkness hung over Israel.  Because Herod's problem is a universal one.  Ever since Adam and Eve, we've all been trying to write our own stories and to put ourselves in the place of God.  To define for ourselves who we are and what our purpose is.  To define for ourselves what is right and what is wrong.  And the end result of all of our self-serving stories is that we trample and abuse and exploit others to further our own ends.  None of us has the relatively unchecked power of an ancient near eastern despot like Herod and so we balk at his evil.  And yet here in Canada the official statics show that about 20% of pregnancies in any given year are ended by abortion.  And that number is low, because it under-reports at-home chemical abortions.  If we can get away with it, if we can dehumanise another person in our minds, and if that child threatens the story we're trying to write for ourselves, many, many, many of us will do precisely what Herod did and kill an innocent.  And many will and have done it repeatedly.  Abortion is an extreme example.  Maybe we'd never dream of going that far to guard the narrative we write for ourselves.  Maybe we'd never go that far in our attempt to play God.  But this rot, this rebellion that corrupts human relationships spreads its roots through our society in all sorts of ways.  Maybe it's the influence of the wicked principalities and powers that St. Paul writes about in Ephesians—trying to corrupt everything, even the good systems we try to put in place.  But the rot spread.  Recently I was listening to a friend tell me the havoc pornography has wreaked in her life.  We tend to think of pornography use as a personal sexual sin—and that's certainly part of it—but this conversation had me thinking that at the heart of pornography is a dehumanising exploitation of others.  It turns fellow human beings into objects to be used to fulfil our own ends, human beings turned into non-player characters in the sinful and self-gratifying stories we write for ourselves.  It's not just about sex or sexual immorality.  It's about the abuse and exploitation for our own ends of fellow human beings, created by God, meant to bear his image, fellow priests of his temple to whom we have an obligation of love and humility and grace and respect. And when you think about it in those terms, you start to see just how much our rebellion against God, just how much our desire to write our own stories and to be our own gods infects and corrupts our network of relationships.  Our marriages and our families break down because we choose to use our husbands or our wives or our children to fill roles in the stories we write for ourselves, instead of being the fellow players we're meant to be in God's great drama.  We do the same thing in business and with the people we employ—as if they exist to serve us, to meet our needs, to act their parts in our stories.  And then we get into economics and politics and without even realising it, we've let the powerful and the well-placed convince us to live out their stories—that we have to be this  and buy that in order to be fulfilled and happy.  That we have to support this and vote for that, that we have to hate this person over here and that person over there because they have the wrong values, support the wrong thing, or are playing parts in the wrong narrative.  And so we write those people into our stories as the bad guys or the guys to be exploited or the guys to be hated or the guys who aren't really human at all—they're garbage, trash, something sub-human.  And they do the same to us and it spiral and spirals and the pain and the sorrow and the hurt and tears just get worse and worse.  And we get caught up in all of this and forget that none of these stories, none of these narratives, none of these dramas matter one whit.  Brothers and Sisters, it's God's great drama that matters; it's God's drama that we need to remember and live. And God knows all this.  He knows how we've fallen.  He knows how we so want to write our stories for ourselves.  He knows—better than we do—the pain and the misery and the tears that we inflict on others and that they inflict on us.  And so he comes, as the baby, into the midst of the darkness and the tears and, again, before he can even walk or talk, he's a homeless refugee in a foreign land with a king looking to kill him. This was the thing no one expected of the Messiah.  They expected a great king, like David, but greater.  Born in a place.  Eventually riding in to Jerusalem in a chariot to bash Roman heads and to set the world to rights by putting Israel on the top of the heap.  They expect that because the people of Israel were still trying to write their own story for themselves.  But, instead, Jesus is born in humility to ordinary parents.  From his birth he knows the danger and the tears of being part of someone else's wicked story.  All things that Israel should have known.  This is what Matthew is getting at when he quotes Hoses saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”  That's who Israel was.  They were God's beloved son and they were the rescued-form-Egyptian-slavery people, born in sorrow and tears and pain, exploited and abused by a king who thought he was a god and who forced them to live his drama.  Jesus came the same way.  He knew the pain of sin.  He knew the pain of abuse.  He knew what it meant to be forced to live as someone else's non-player character. And in that echo of Israel's past and Israel's identity, there's hope.  Again, Matthew cites the prophets—this time Jeremiah—as he recounts the horrible murder of the holy innocents of Bethlehem.  Think again of Pharoah, threatened by the fruitfulness of the Israelites.  Pretty soon there would be more of them than there were Egyptians.  And so he ordered their baby boys to be drowned in the Nile.  Rachel wept for her children, as Jeremiah said.  But Moses, Israel's deliverer—Israel's first “messiah”, if you will—escaped in the Lord's providence, and rose up to challenge Pharoah and his gods and to lead the people out of their bondage in Egypt.  Just so, Matthew wants us to hear that story echoing in the story of Jesus.  Like Pharoah, Herod tried to write his own story, he tried to stamp out the Lord's deliverer, but the Lord is sovereign and somehow always manages to take our bad and pathetic rewrites and bring them into his own great drama to further his own ends and to reveal his glory to the world. He did this at the cross, Brothers and Sisters.  The people of Judaea, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the priest and Levites and scribes together with Pilate as the representative of Rome and the pagan nations, they tried to write their own story—a story in which Jesus was a pretend king and a blasphemer of the temple and the things of God, a story in which they were right and Jesus was wrong, a story in which they were justified in rejecting and mocking and crucifying the son of God as a false messiah.  And that Friday when Jesus gasped out, “It is finished” and his friends took him down from the cross and buried him in a tomb, the people of Judaea, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, Pilate and Rome all thought they had the happy ending they wanted.  They were the heroes of their own stories and Jesus was dead, but all the while God was using their rebellion and their grasping at godhood to his own ends.  They rebelled, but God in his sovereign grace, incorporated their stories into his own to serve his own ends.  A story in which evil and sin and death foolishly concentrated themselves all in one place, in which evil and sin and death did their worst—and failed—as three days later Jesus burst out of the tomb with the power of God's life and his new creation.  Burst from the tomb alive to sweep the whole of creation itself up into God's great drama of light and life. Brother and Sisters, that's grace.  If this were one of our stories, we'd fire the writers who made such a mess of it and consign them to oblivion, but God instead comes in love and grace to forgive and to set right.  He takes our horrible stories and, master storyteller that he is, he uses them for good and instead of consigning us to oblivion, he offers us our places back in the great divine drama we once rejected…if we will only trust that he is the way and the truth and the life, if we will give him our allegiance and pledge to live out his story instead of ours.  It should be such an easy choice when see the wake of destruction our stories have left in contrast to his great story of love and grace that leads to life and new creation and all the sad things we've written for ourselves somehow one day becoming all untrue. Brothers and Sisters, hear the Christmas story again this year.  Really and truly hear it so that it drowns out and overcomes all the other narratives and stories and dramas you've been hearing and living.  Let it be a reset.  Let this story of God, humbly incarnate who humbly dies for rebellious sinners, let this truth become the truth by which you measure everything.  Let the glorious light of resurrection and new creation and the presence of God be your hope and your only hope and be so overcome by it that you lose all desire to write your story for yourself, and choose to become a faithful player in Jesus' drama of love and peace, of joy and hope. Let's pray: Almighty God, whose loving purposes cannot be frustrated by the wickedness of men, so that even infants may glorify you by their deaths: strengthen us by your grace, that by the innocency of our lives and constancy of our faith even to death, we may glorify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Everything you wanted to know about 1st Century Palestine, but were afraid to ask… The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians By: N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird Published: 2019 992 Pages Briefly, what is this book about? An deep dive on the New Testament covering (as the subtitle suggests) the history: Second Temple Judaism against a Greco-Roman background; the literature: the New Testament's genesis, structure, authors and audience; and theology: the religious claims of the book, the doctrine, miracles, and contentions. What's the author's angle? Despite me saying that this is a deep dive, it is also something of a sampler for Wright's other, even more expansive books. Also it's important to note that Wright is very much a believing Christian and while the book is exceptionally scholarly, it's also backgrounded by the idea that Jesus Christ is the Messiah who died for the sins of the world and was gloriously resurrected.  Who should read this book? This is a long book, and I ended up deciding to read it, rather than listen to it. As such, it honestly took me several months to get through, so you should certainly take that into account. This should not be construed as saying the book is difficult. It's very accessible, and reads easily. I will say that I learned a lot, but I'm not sure that will be true for everyone. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) don't generally focus on straight down the line Bible scholarship. To the extent that we do deep scholarship in this area it's in search of parallels between early Christianity and LDS Christianity. (For example in 1 Corinthians 15:29 when Paul mentions baptisms for the dead. Something no major denomination does, other than us.) This is all to say that I think LDS individuals might find this book particularly enjoyable, as being somewhat outside of our normal wheelhouse. Specific thoughts: It's both shocking how much New Testament we have and how little we have of everything else

This guided Solstice meditation invites you to ground deeply into Mother Earth while opening to higher realms of light and consciousness. Through visualization, breath, and chakra alignment, you'll release absorbed energies, restore balance, activate abundance and inner power, and reconnect with your soul's true essence. A deeply nourishing journey of healing, surrender, and renewal.Elizabeth Wright is a vibrational healer who facilitates self-healing by channeling high-frequency light to clear blocks, raise vibrations, and deliver spiritual guidance from the Higher Self, Spirit Guides, Angels, and deceased loved ones.https://www.energyhealingteacher.com/Discover Enlightened World Network: a safe space for spiritual growth. Explore archangels, Divine Mother, the Christ Consciousness, light codes, energy healing, and guided meditations all with the purpose of strengthening one's understanding and oneness with Source. https://www.enlightenedworld.onlineClick here to SUBSCRIBE to the Enlightened World Network YouTube channel with over 1000 videos: http://bit.ly/2KQp6PDCheck out the EWN website featuring over 150 lightworkers specializing in meditation, energy work and angel channeling Explore videos, articles and meditations. https://enlightenedworld.onlineSign Up For News from Enlightened World Online: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/FBoFQef/webLink to EWN's disclaimer: https://enlightenedworld.online/disclaimer/#guidedMeditation #solsticemeditation #lightworkers #activation

The Miami Valley League girls basketball game between the Xexia Buccaneers and the Stebbins Indians is now available on demand at no charge!

The boys high school basketball game between the Xenia Buccaneers and the Stebbins Indians is now available on demand at no charge!

TRANSLATING THE SOUND AND METER OF VIRGIL Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. The translators explain choosing iambic pentameter over dactylic hexameter to provide an English cultural equivalent to the original's epic feel. They describe their efforts to replicate Virgil's auditory effects, such as alliteration and assonance, and preserve specific line repetitions that connect characters like Turnus and Camilla. NUMBER 10

ROMAN EXCEPTIONALISM VS. HUMAN TRAGEDY Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. They discuss whether the Aeneid justifies Roman empire or tells a human story. McGill argues the poem survives because it creates sympathy for antagonists like Dido and Turnus. They explore how Virgil portrays the costs of empire and Aeneas's rage, complicating the narrative of Augustan propaganda. NUMBER 12

THE AENEID'S PLOT AND HOMERIC INFLUENCES Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. McGill and Wright summarize the plot, from Troy's destruction to the war in Italy. They analyze Virgil's dialogue with Homer, noting how the poem's opening words invoke both the Iliad's warfare and the Odyssey's wanderings. They also highlight the terrifying, visual nature of Virgil's depiction of the underworld. NUMBER 11

SHOW 12-25-25 THE SHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT THE MODERN STORY OF MARY AND HER FAMILY. 1868 NAZARETH SEPPHORIS AND THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF MARY'S LIFE Colleague James Tabor. Tabor identifies Sepphoris, a Roman capital near Nazareth, as Mary's birthplace. He reimagines Jesus and Joseph as "tektons" (builders) working in this urban center rather than simple carpenters. This proximity meant Mary witnessed Romanbrutality and the city's destruction, influencing her family's spiritual views on the Kingdom of God. NUMBER 1 INVESTIGATING THE NAME PANTERA Colleague James Tabor. Tabor explores the name "Pantera," found in rabbinic texts and on a Roman soldier's tombstone. He suggests this might be a family name rather than a slur, investigating the possibility that Jesus's father was a relative or soldier, which challenges the theological narrative of a virgin birth. NUMBER 2 RECLAIMING THE HISTORICAL JEWISH FAMILY Colleague James Tabor. Highlighting the Protoevangelium of James, Tabor contrasts its depiction of a perpetual virgin Mary with historical evidence of a large Jewish family. He argues Mary had numerous children and that her parents were likely wealthy property owners in Sepphoris, integrating Jesus into a close-knit extended family. NUMBER 3 JAMES THE JUST AS TRUE SUCCESSOR Colleague James Tabor. Tabor asserts James, Jesus's brother, was the movement's true successor, not Peter. Citing Acts and the Gospel of Thomas, he notes James led the Jerusalem council and stood at the cross. Tabor argues the "beloved disciple" entrusted with Mary's care was this blood brother, not Johnthe fisherman. NUMBER 4 THE HEADQUARTERS ON MOUNT ZION Colleague James Tabor. Tabor describes excavations on Mount Zion, identifying a first-century house foundation as the "upper room" and headquarters of the early movement. He visualizes Mary as the matriarch in this courtyard, welcoming pilgrims and apostles like Paul, and establishes James as the leader of this house synagogue. NUMBER 5 THE FLIGHT TO PELLA AND MARY'S DEATH Colleague James Tabor. Tabor discusses the Christian flight to Pella during the Roman revolt. He speculates Mary died before this event, likely around 49–63 CE, and was buried on Mount Zion. Consequently, she disappears from the New Testament record, which shifts focus to Peter and Paul after the Jerusalem church's dispersal. NUMBER 6 THE TALPIOT TOMB AND DNA EVIDENCE Colleague James Tabor. Discussing the Talpiot tomb, Tabor details ossuaries bearing names like "Jesus son of Joseph" and "Mariamne." He argues statistical clusters and potential DNA evidence suggest this is the Jesus family tomb, positing that physical remains support historical existence without necessarily negating the concept of spiritual resurrection. NUMBER 7 THE Q SOURCE AND MARY'S TEACHINGS Colleague James Tabor. Tabor identifies the "Q" source as a collection of ethical teachings shared by Matthew and Luke. He attributes these core values—such as charity and humility—to a family tradition taught by Mary to Jesus, James, and John the Baptizer, aiming to restore Mary'shistorical influence as a teacher. NUMBER 8 VIRGIL'S RURAL ORIGINS AND AUGUSTAN CONNECTION Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. The guests discuss Virgil's birth in 70 BCE near Mantua and his rural upbringing, which influenced his poetry. They trace his move to Rome during civil war and his eventual connection to Augustus, noting that Virgil promised a grand epic for the emperor in his earlier work, the Georgics. NUMBER 9 TRANSLATING THE SOUND AND METER OF VIRGIL Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. The translators explain choosing iambic pentameter over dactylic hexameter to provide an English cultural equivalent to the original's epic feel. They describe their efforts to replicate Virgil's auditory effects, such as alliteration and assonance, and preserve specific line repetitions that connect characters like Turnus and Camilla. NUMBER 10 THE AENEID'S PLOT AND HOMERIC INFLUENCES Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. McGill and Wright summarize the plot, from Troy's destruction to the war in Italy. They analyze Virgil's dialogue with Homer, noting how the poem's opening words invoke both the Iliad's warfare and the Odyssey's wanderings. They also highlight the terrifying, visual nature of Virgil's depiction of the underworld. NUMBER 11 ROMAN EXCEPTIONALISM VS. HUMAN TRAGEDY Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. They discuss whether the Aeneid justifies Roman empire or tells a human story. McGill argues the poem survives because it creates sympathy for antagonists like Dido and Turnus. They explore how Virgil portrays the costs of empire and Aeneas's rage, complicating the narrative of Augustan propaganda. NUMBER 12 CLODIA'S PRIVILEGE AND CICERO'S AMBITION Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin introduces Clodia, a privileged woman from an ancient Roman family on Palatine Hill. He contrasts her aristocratic, independent nature—manifested in her name spelling—with the rise of Cicero, a talented outsider. Boin frames their eventual conflict as a clash between established power and ambitious newcomers. NUMBER 13 THE POLITICS OF TRIBUNES AND REFORM Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin details the divide between the Optimates and Populares. He explains how Clodia and her brother Clodius used the office of Tribune—the "people's protector" with veto power—to enact reforms. This strategy allowed them to challenge the Senate's authority and set the stage for Clodius's political dominance. NUMBER 14 THE TRIAL OF RUFUS AND CICERO'S MISOGYNY Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin describes a trial where Clodia accused her ex-lover Rufus of poisoning. Cicero defended Rufus by launching misogynistic attacks on Clodia, calling her "cow-eyed" and alleging incest. Boin argues this famous speech unfairly solidified Clodia's negative historical reputation while obscuring the political power she wielded. NUMBER 15 THE DEATH OF CLODIUS AND THE REPUBLIC'S END Colleague Douglas Boin. Boin recounts the violent death of Clodius by rival gangs, marking a turning point toward the Republic's collapse. He views Clodia's subsequent disappearance from history as a symbol of the loss of women's influence and civic rights, framing her story as a cautionary tale about political violence. NUMBER 16

VIRGIL'S RURAL ORIGINS AND AUGUSTAN CONNECTION Colleagues Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. The guests discuss Virgil's birth in 70 BCE near Mantua and his rural upbringing, which influenced his poetry. They trace his move to Rome during civil war and his eventual connection to Augustus, noting that Virgil promised a grand epic for the emperor in his earlier work, the Georgics. NUMBER 9

PREVIEW Guests: Scott McGill and Susanna Wright. Rice University classicists McGill and Wright discuss their new translation of Virgil's Aeneid, a "Hollywood worthy" epic detailing the origins of Rome. The narrative follows Aeneas leading a band of refugees from the burning ruins of Troy westward to their destined home in Italy. Their journey is fraught with the goddess Juno's opposition, leading to a detour in Carthage and a tragic romance with Dido. The poem concludes with a fierce war in Italy, ending abruptly as Aeneas kills his rival Turnus, securing the legacy where Trojansultimately become Romans. MORE TONIGHT AUGUSTUS, OCTAVIA AND LIVIA, LISTENING TO A READING OF THE AENEID BY VIRGIL HIMSELF

What is the real value of Christmas beyond gifts and traditions?In this special Christmas Day episode of the MX3 Podcast, we dive into the deeper meaning of Christmas — faith, family, generosity, and intentional living. We discuss the origins of Christmas, the powerful lessons behind it, the “three-gift rule,” and how modern culture can reconnect with purpose instead of excess.Whether you celebrate Christmas through faith, family, or tradition, this episode challenges you to think differently about what truly matters — not just during the holidays, but all year long.

What if paint is the vehicle and you are the medium? We dive deep into Jack Whitten's Notes from the Woodshed with guest host Jamel Wright Sr., tracing how a life shaped by the Jim Crow South, pre-med rigor, and carpentry precision produced a studio practice built on invention. From the famed developer tool to a crow's nest for high vantage points, Whitten redesigned the act of making—choosing systems over spontaneity and treating process like a living experiment.Jamel brings a rich perspective as an Atlanta-based artist and professor whose work spans Georgia red clay, Dutch wax cloth, and large-scale textiles. Together we map the long road to abstraction—Turner's atmospheres, Monet's shadows, Cézanne's form, and the New York School's debates—while centering the Black artists too often written out of the frame. We talk Norman Lewis, Joe Overstreet, Sam Gilliam, and the way community quietly powers discovery, even as art remains a solitary grind. The result is a candid look at research, journaling, and “recipes” that transform failed trials into the first real painting, then the next ten that lock in the language.Along the way, we wrestle with Whitten's audacity—“May the history of Western painting die within me”—and why abstraction can be activism: engineering new tools, removing gesture, and insisting on thought as freedom. If you've ever wondered how to balance materials, memory, and ambition without losing your voice, this conversation offers a field guide. Press play, then tell us what rule you're ready to break. If the episode resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your support helps more artists find their way.Follow Jamele Wright, Sr. at https://www.instagram.com/artthenewreligion Send us a message - we would love to hear from you!Make sure to follow us on Instagram here:@justmakeartpodcast @tynathanclark @nathanterborg Watch the Video Episode on Youtube or Spotify, https://www.youtube.com/@JustMakeArtPodcast

Laurence Holmes and Carmen Vitali welcomed on legendary Bears cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman, who expressed his frustration over playmaking Chicago cornerback Nahshon Wright being a Pro Bowl snub.

Born in 1976, hailing from Narrabeen on the northern beaches of Sydney, Oscar "Ozzie" Wright burst onto the scene in the mid-1990s and swiftly ascended to global surf fame—never in contests, but nearly always doing something imaginative, like flying through the air, doing spell-casting things with the tube, or surfing remote Indo in a pair of handcrafted bat wings.   Wright appeared in a number of Volcom-produced videos, among them BS!, Psychic Migrations, Lobotomy, and One Hundred and Fifty Six Tricks. A prolific maker of artwork in a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, ceramics, furniture, skate ramps, film, and video, Wright is also lead singer of the Goons of Doom, an experimental, piss-taking punk band. In this episode of Soundings, Wright sits down with host Jamie Brisick to talk about the differences between North and South Narrabeen, airs, childhood memories, the influence of grunge, dealing with criticism, style, unlocking the self through creativity, going on tour with his band, and finding fun in subpar waves. Produced by Jonathan Shifflett. Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin). 

Christmas marks the moment when the kindness and love of God appeared in history—but what happens after the lights come down and the season passes?In this episode, we journey through Titus 3, where Paul reminds the church that salvation is rooted not in righteous works, but in mercy, renewal, and the work of the Holy Spirit. From public conduct to private humility, this chapter shows us what it looks like to live as people shaped by grace in a watching world.This episode explores:Why remembering who we were produces humility todayHow the incarnation reshapes our public witnessWhy grace saves us from works-based righteousness—and for good worksHow the gospel forms communities marked by peace, unity, and fruitfulnessWith reflections inspired by N.T. Wright, Tim Keller, and the early church, this is a call to live out the implications of Christmas—not just during the season, but every day after.

Born and raised in the mountains of rural northwest Georgia, Chadd grew up obsessed with becoming a SEAL, but when the Navy discovered a rare but asymptomatic cyst on his heart, he was disqualified from entering BUD/s. Chadd refused to give up, ultimately tracking down a surgeon willing to perform a procedure deemed too risky by every cardiologist he previously petitioned. Cyst successfully removed, Chadd went on to realize his SEAL dream, serving over the next decade as a Team Leader on multiple deployments to conflict zones across the world. He became a SEAL instructor. A Master Training Specialist. Chadd even served a stint as President Obama's bodyguard. Along the way, he battled PTSD and traumatic brain injury. Now retired from the military, Chadd has found new life as an elite ultramarathoner — a spiritual quest for self-knowledge and mind-body mastery that has compelled him to tackle some of the world's most insane endurance slogs like The Revenant — a 118-mile footrace across south New Zealand with over 52,000 feet of elevation gain that not one person has ever successfully completed. The 3 of 7 Project: https://www.3of7project.com/   Today's Sponsors: Black Rifle Coffee: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com David: Order a sample pack at https://Davidprotein.com  

In 735 BC Isaiah gave a prophecy to king Ahaz about a young woman giving birth to a boy called Immanuel—a prophecy that seemed to be fulfilled with the birth of Hezekiah and the destruction of Aram and Samaria. But there was to be a much deeper fulfillment of this prophecy—as deep as Sheol, as high as heaven—because the testimony of JESUS is the spirit of prophecy.

An interstellar object just cruised into our cosmic neighborhood and—naturally—humanity immediately responded with calm, measured curiosity… by screaming “ALIENS!” into the void.This week on Hysteria 51, we're diving into 3I/ATLAS, the latest confirmed visitor from beyond our solar system. Is it just a dirty, fast-moving comet minding its own business? Or is it something a little more… engineered? We break down what scientists actually know so far, why this thing has the internet acting like it found a Wi-Fi signal in the Kuiper Belt, and what the “completely natural” crowd says (spoiler: they have math and spectra and other buzzkills).Then we do what we do best: lean into the fun. If 3I/ATLAS is under intelligent control—even hypothetically—what does that mean for humanity? First contact? Surveillance? A cosmic prank? Or just a high-speed reminder that we are absolutely not the main character of the universe.Strap in, stare into the sky suspiciously, and remember: “closest approach” doesn't mean “close,” but it does mean the conspiracy machine is about to hit maximum RPM this week on Hysteria 51!Special thanks to this week's research sources:YouTube (video): 3I/ATLAS Is Causing Scientists To Panic. Here's Why. YouTube. YouTubeNASA Science: NASA. (n.d.). Comet 3I/ATLAS (mission/observation timeline page). NASA Science. NASA ScienceMinor Planet Center (MPEC): Minor Planet Center. (2025, Jul 2). MPEC 2025-N12: 3I/ATLAS = C/2025 N1 (ATLAS). Minor Planet CenterarXiv (early discovery & characterization): Discovery and Preliminary Characterization of a Third Interstellar Object: 3I/ATLAS. arXiv:2507.02757. (2025). arXivMNRAS (SOAR photometry): Frincke, T. T., et al. (2026). Near-discovery SOAR photometry of the third interstellar object: 3I/ATLAS. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (Advance Article). OUP AcademicMNRAS Letters (spectrum paper): Opitom, C., Snodgrass, C., Jehin, E., et al. (2025, Nov). Snapshot of a new interstellar comet: 3I/ATLAS has a red and featureless spectrum. MNRAS: Letters, 544(1), L31–L36. OUP AcademicA&A (context vs other comets/interstellars): de la Fuente Marcos, R., et al. (2025). Assessing interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS with the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias… Astronomy & Astrophysics. A&A Scientific JournalarXiv (technological hypothesis paper): Hibberd, A., Crowl, A., & Loeb, A. (2025, Jul 16). Is the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Alien Technology? arXiv:2507.12213. arXivJason Wright (rebuttal / anomaly breakdown): Wright, J. (2025, Nov 9). Loeb's 3I/ATLAS “Anomalies” Explained. AstroWright (Penn State). Penn State SitesSecondary roundup referencing rebuttal: ScienceAlert. (2025, Nov 13). Don't Panic! 3I/ATLAS Isn't an Alien Death Probe, But It Is Wildly Unusual. ScienceAlertEmail us your favorite WEIRD news stories:weird@hysteria51.comSupport the ShowGet exclusive content & perks as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at https://www.patreon.com/Hysteria51 from just $1ShopBe the Best Dressed at your Cult Meeting!https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51?ref_id=9022See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.