The Candidates for President

by Geoffrey Grinder, Now The End Begins: Five explosions were reported heard across Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj early on Saturday morning, according to Iranian media, in what is alleged to be the beginning of an Israeli retaliatory attack on Iran. Earlier today, we told you about the shipment of US F-16s that arrived […]

by Alan Barton, All News Pipeline: With so many stories out there about how election results may be delayed, or rather, WILL be delayed, such as Arizona saying it will take at least two weeks to get the results, and Pennsylvania saying “several days”, and many localities blaming very poor service by the United Sates Post Office for their expected […]

October 28, 2024  What Do You Believe About God?JOHN MARK COMER Lee en español "The LORD [Yahweh] came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD [Yahweh]." Exodus 34:5 (NIV) What you think about God will shape who you become. But often what we believe about God says more about us than it does about God. The most ancient, primal temptation, going back to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, is to decide for ourselves what God is like and whether we should live into His vision of human flourishing or come up with our own. The Scripture writers come at it the other way around. From Moses to Matthew, they assume we have no idea what God is like. Jesus spent the bulk of His time on earth helping religious people see that a lot of what they thought about God was wrong. Jesus often observed, “You have heard it said ...” followed by, “But I say to you ...”  In the Old Testament as well, there are climactic moments when we get a brand-new vision of who God is. We witness one of those moments in Exodus 33 in a conversation between God and Moses, who had a unique relationship with the Creator. God "would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11a, NIV). So Moses asked God to go with the Israelites every step of the way on their journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in a new land. Then he got even bolder: "Now show me your glory" (Exodus 33:18, NIV). Moses asked to see God, in person, for who He really is. For Moses, “head knowledge” wasn't enough. He wanted to experience God. God graciously told Moses he couldn’t see God’s face or he would die, "for no one may see [God] and live" (Exodus 33:20, NIV). But God also said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD [Yahweh], in your presence" (Exodus 33:19a, NIV). God was saying He'd reveal His identity to Moses. He'd let Moses in on His inner God-ness, the deepest reality of His being. So Moses climbed to the top of Mount Sinai. Then we read some of the most astonishing words in the Bible: "The LORD [Yahweh] came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD [Yahweh]" (Exodus 34:5). This has staggering implications for how we relate to God. This means God is a person - a relational being. Not an impersonal energy force or a chapter in a systematic theology textbook or a world religion. He wants to know and be known. We often hear "a personal relationship with Jesus" as a cliché, but I don't think we have any clue just how explosive this idea is. If you find it hard to believe that God wants a relationship with you or that God is so much more than what you believe Him to be, know this: Simply showing up to experience God is a step in the right direction. Start by borrowing Moses' prayer: Show me Your glory. Yahweh, You want me to know You. Show me the beauty of who You are. In Jesus' Name, Amen.  OUR FAVORITE THINGS We all live at the mercy of our ideas, and nowhere is this truer than our ideas about God. Explore what God's name says about His character with John Mark Comer's updated edition of God Has a Name: What You Believe About God Will Shape Who You Become. ENGAGE To learn more about John Mark Comer, visit his website or follow along on Instagram. Enter to WIN your very own copy of God Has a Name by John Mark Comer. To celebrate this book, John's publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We'll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Monday, November 4, 2024.} FOR DEEPER STUDY John 15:15b, "... I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (NIV). How does the fact that God has a name change how you relate to Him? What assumptions about God does this challenge? © 2024 by John Mark Comer. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post What Do You Believe About God? – Encouragement for Today – October 28, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer for When You Can't Get through to Your ChildBy Victoria Riollano Bible Reading"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." – Galatians 6:9 Listen or Read Below: I had always heard that raising teen girls was challenging but didn't believe it. Years ago, my tween daughter started to change quicker than I could keep up. She was easily frustrated, snappy, and no longer the kind-hearted child she had always been. As one with a degree in adolescent psychology, I tried everything I had been taught in the textbooks. Yet, no matter which approach I took, it seemed the behaviors increased. In a moment of desperation, I realized that this problem was beyond my intellect, personal experience, or even the advice from other mothers who assured me, "This is just normal behavior." The truth is, I knew that if her attitude did not change quickly, more trouble could arise. In this moment, I knew that I needed the Lord's help. One day, I pleaded with God to show me how to reach her. Surprisingly, the Lord reminded me of her heart for dancing. Although this reminder seemed like an unusual answer to my heart's cry, I immediately signed her up for a ballet class. What I didn't realize is that the ballet class was thirty minutes from home. Yet, twice a week, as we drove to ballet class, I saw her heart soften. A child who was once silent and internally frustrated became full of light and love again. To this day, many years later, our relationship continues to blossom. Certainly, the Lord answered my prayers. Psalm 34:4-6 says,I sought the Lord, and he answered me;he delivered me from all my fears.Those who look to him are radiant;their faces are never covered with shame.This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;he saved him out of all his troubles. What a great verse for parents who may feel frustrated in their parenting! Before we pray today, I want to encourage you in these words written by King David so many years ago. First, the psalm says, "I sought the Lord, and He answered." If you have a child you are struggling with getting through to, ask the Lord for help! The answer may come in the form of sending the resources needed, it may come in the form of God sending a mentor for your child, or perhaps God will help your child have a change of heart. No matter how he chooses to do it, this verse in Psalm 34 is a reminder that he does answer. As Jesus says in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Let us never be found guilty of complaining about a child we have never prayed for! The next part of this passage says, "Those who look to him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame." As parents, this part is so essential. Many times, when we feel like our words are not resonating with our children or they are being rebellious, a sense of shame can overcome us. We start to wonder if we really are good parents and blame ourselves for their choices. Yet, this verse is a reminder that when we look to Him, He gives us hope and joy, even in trials. Lastly, Psalm 34:6 is an exclamation from David that when he cried out to God, he was delivered from "all of his troubles." Thus, the culmination of this passage encourages us that not only will God answer, deliver us from fear, and bring us out of shame, but He will also remove what has been troubling us. Years ago, when my daughter seemed hard to reach, the Lord did just this! He gave me wisdom, he took away the fear that she was on a path of destruction, removed the shame I carried, and completely rid my daughter of the hardness that was growing in her heart! What a mighty God we serve! My prayer for you today is that you would seek the Lord with great intention about your child. May you not give up in your desire to see your child walk according to God's will. I truly believe that He can meet your child where they are and minister to them in ways that we cannot fathom. A prayerful parent is a powerful one. Let's Pray: Lord, I thank you for being present in my life. I praise you for being a God who hears when I call. You are not distant. Father, I ask that you forgive me if I haven't surrendered my parenting to you in the past. I ask for your help today with those you have entrusted me with. Lord, give me the wisdom to know what to say and what not to say. I pray that you will fill my mouth with words that reflect your heart when I speak to my child. I ask you, Lord, for a quick turnaround for my child. May they serve you with all their heart. Show me how to model faith well to them and not grow weary. In Jesus' name, amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes Victoria Riollano is a mother of eight, veteran spouse, Psychology professor, and doctoral student, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God's ultimate purpose for her life. Victoria holds an MA in Child Psychology and is the author of two books- The Victory Walk: A 21-Day Devotional on Living a Victorious Life and  Warrior Mother: Equipping Your Heart to Fight for Your Family's Faith. When she is not writing, you can find her serving in her local church as the pastor's wife, worship leader, and youth pastor. Ultimately, she desires to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. You can connect with Victoria at www.victoryspeaks.org and on social media at Victory Speaks by Victoria Riollano on Facebook and @myvictoryspeaks on Instagram. Related Resource: Jesus Calling – Stories of Faith Kerry Washington. Andrea Bocelli. Reba McEntire. Mark Wahlberg. Tony Dungy. Matthew McConaughey, What do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times-and they've shown up to tell their story of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.  Inspired by Sarah Young’s classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts. Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! The post A Prayer for When You Can’t Get through to Your Child – Your Daily Prayer – October 28 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer for When You Can't Get through to Your ChildBy Victoria Riollano Bible Reading"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." – Galatians 6:9 Listen or Read Below: I had always heard that raising teen girls was challenging but didn't believe it. Years ago, my tween daughter started to change quicker than I could keep up. She was easily frustrated, snappy, and no longer the kind-hearted child she had always been. As one with a degree in adolescent psychology, I tried everything I had been taught in the textbooks. Yet, no matter which approach I took, it seemed the behaviors increased. In a moment of desperation, I realized that this problem was beyond my intellect, personal experience, or even the advice from other mothers who assured me, "This is just normal behavior." The truth is, I knew that if her attitude did not change quickly, more trouble could arise. In this moment, I knew that I needed the Lord's help. One day, I pleaded with God to show me how to reach her. Surprisingly, the Lord reminded me of her heart for dancing. Although this reminder seemed like an unusual answer to my heart's cry, I immediately signed her up for a ballet class. What I didn't realize is that the ballet class was thirty minutes from home. Yet, twice a week, as we drove to ballet class, I saw her heart soften. A child who was once silent and internally frustrated became full of light and love again. To this day, many years later, our relationship continues to blossom. Certainly, the Lord answered my prayers. Psalm 34:4-6 says,I sought the Lord, and he answered me;he delivered me from all my fears.Those who look to him are radiant;their faces are never covered with shame.This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;he saved him out of all his troubles. What a great verse for parents who may feel frustrated in their parenting! Before we pray today, I want to encourage you in these words written by King David so many years ago. First, the psalm says, "I sought the Lord, and He answered." If you have a child you are struggling with getting through to, ask the Lord for help! The answer may come in the form of sending the resources needed, it may come in the form of God sending a mentor for your child, or perhaps God will help your child have a change of heart. No matter how he chooses to do it, this verse in Psalm 34 is a reminder that he does answer. As Jesus says in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Let us never be found guilty of complaining about a child we have never prayed for! The next part of this passage says, "Those who look to him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame." As parents, this part is so essential. Many times, when we feel like our words are not resonating with our children or they are being rebellious, a sense of shame can overcome us. We start to wonder if we really are good parents and blame ourselves for their choices. Yet, this verse is a reminder that when we look to Him, He gives us hope and joy, even in trials. Lastly, Psalm 34:6 is an exclamation from David that when he cried out to God, he was delivered from "all of his troubles." Thus, the culmination of this passage encourages us that not only will God answer, deliver us from fear, and bring us out of shame, but He will also remove what has been troubling us. Years ago, when my daughter seemed hard to reach, the Lord did just this! He gave me wisdom, he took away the fear that she was on a path of destruction, removed the shame I carried, and completely rid my daughter of the hardness that was growing in her heart! What a mighty God we serve! My prayer for you today is that you would seek the Lord with great intention about your child. May you not give up in your desire to see your child walk according to God's will. I truly believe that He can meet your child where they are and minister to them in ways that we cannot fathom. A prayerful parent is a powerful one. Let's Pray: Lord, I thank you for being present in my life. I praise you for being a God who hears when I call. You are not distant. Father, I ask that you forgive me if I haven't surrendered my parenting to you in the past. I ask for your help today with those you have entrusted me with. Lord, give me the wisdom to know what to say and what not to say. I pray that you will fill my mouth with words that reflect your heart when I speak to my child. I ask you, Lord, for a quick turnaround for my child. May they serve you with all their heart. Show me how to model faith well to them and not grow weary. In Jesus' name, amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes Victoria Riollano is a mother of eight, veteran spouse, Psychology professor, and doctoral student, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God's ultimate purpose for her life. Victoria holds an MA in Child Psychology and is the author of two books- The Victory Walk: A 21-Day Devotional on Living a Victorious Life and  Warrior Mother: Equipping Your Heart to Fight for Your Family's Faith. When she is not writing, you can find her serving in her local church as the pastor's wife, worship leader, and youth pastor. Ultimately, she desires to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. You can connect with Victoria at www.victoryspeaks.org and on social media at Victory Speaks by Victoria Riollano on Facebook and @myvictoryspeaks on Instagram. Related Resource: Jesus Calling – Stories of Faith Kerry Washington. Andrea Bocelli. Reba McEntire. Mark Wahlberg. Tony Dungy. Matthew McConaughey, What do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times-and they've shown up to tell their story of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.  Inspired by Sarah Young’s classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts. Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! The post A Prayer for When You Can’t Get through to Your Child – Your Daily Prayer – October 28 appeared first on GodUpdates.

October 28, 2024  What Do You Believe About God?JOHN MARK COMER Lee en español "The LORD [Yahweh] came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD [Yahweh]." Exodus 34:5 (NIV) What you think about God will shape who you become. But often what we believe about God says more about us than it does about God. The most ancient, primal temptation, going back to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, is to decide for ourselves what God is like and whether we should live into His vision of human flourishing or come up with our own. The Scripture writers come at it the other way around. From Moses to Matthew, they assume we have no idea what God is like. Jesus spent the bulk of His time on earth helping religious people see that a lot of what they thought about God was wrong. Jesus often observed, “You have heard it said ...” followed by, “But I say to you ...”  In the Old Testament as well, there are climactic moments when we get a brand-new vision of who God is. We witness one of those moments in Exodus 33 in a conversation between God and Moses, who had a unique relationship with the Creator. God "would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11a, NIV). So Moses asked God to go with the Israelites every step of the way on their journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in a new land. Then he got even bolder: "Now show me your glory" (Exodus 33:18, NIV). Moses asked to see God, in person, for who He really is. For Moses, “head knowledge” wasn't enough. He wanted to experience God. God graciously told Moses he couldn’t see God’s face or he would die, "for no one may see [God] and live" (Exodus 33:20, NIV). But God also said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD [Yahweh], in your presence" (Exodus 33:19a, NIV). God was saying He'd reveal His identity to Moses. He'd let Moses in on His inner God-ness, the deepest reality of His being. So Moses climbed to the top of Mount Sinai. Then we read some of the most astonishing words in the Bible: "The LORD [Yahweh] came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD [Yahweh]" (Exodus 34:5). This has staggering implications for how we relate to God. This means God is a person - a relational being. Not an impersonal energy force or a chapter in a systematic theology textbook or a world religion. He wants to know and be known. We often hear "a personal relationship with Jesus" as a cliché, but I don't think we have any clue just how explosive this idea is. If you find it hard to believe that God wants a relationship with you or that God is so much more than what you believe Him to be, know this: Simply showing up to experience God is a step in the right direction. Start by borrowing Moses' prayer: Show me Your glory. Yahweh, You want me to know You. Show me the beauty of who You are. In Jesus' Name, Amen.  OUR FAVORITE THINGS We all live at the mercy of our ideas, and nowhere is this truer than our ideas about God. Explore what God's name says about His character with John Mark Comer's updated edition of God Has a Name: What You Believe About God Will Shape Who You Become. ENGAGE To learn more about John Mark Comer, visit his website or follow along on Instagram. Enter to WIN your very own copy of God Has a Name by John Mark Comer. To celebrate this book, John's publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We'll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Monday, November 4, 2024.} FOR DEEPER STUDY John 15:15b, "... I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (NIV). How does the fact that God has a name change how you relate to Him? What assumptions about God does this challenge? © 2024 by John Mark Comer. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post What Do You Believe About God? – Encouragement for Today – October 28, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Review by Shawn Perry I know what you’re thinking: What’s an old codger like me doing at a Goose show? As I was to learn, I wasn’t the only boomer there. Plugged into the jam band scene somewhat, I followed the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band before getting into Phish, Disco Biscuits, Widespread Panic, and String Cheese Incident in the 1990s. Since then, it’s become a saturated river with a myriad of tributaries — from bluegrass, to country, to prog, to folk, to EDM, to wherever the imagination may roam. Goose is one of the more cultivated collectives on the current wave — obvious as the Ascend filled up to capacity, in anxious anticipation for the Connecticut quintet. They lifted off with a fan favorite, reggae-driven “Echo Of A Rose” to get the still-incoming crowd stirred up. Almost immediately, random cups of beer popped upward in the pit and it was on. A surge of rhythm spread like wildfire through the first few rows and up into the fully assembled lawn area. As if to heed their roots and influences, they fell into Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Green River” with the grace and reverence it deserves. It wasn’t the first time they’d go rogue and wild with something from a different era. Guitarist and singer Rick Mitarotonda’s wistful vocals seem to fit into any situation. You wouldn’t expect a band to respectfully cover an under-the-radar contemporary song by another jam band, but that’s what Goose did with Swimmer’s “Draconian Meter Maid.” After a rapid fire of shifts, going so far as tease a few notes of the Vangelis Academy Award-winning theme “Chariots of Fire,” the possibilities were pushed to all limits of execution. Suddenly, they drifted back to the 1960s and into the Bossa nova jiggle of Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 with a funky take of Jorge Ben Jor’s “Mas Que Nada.” The lights suspended above the band squared off and stipulated the ambiance. For all the similarities Goose share with Phish, going this far outside of the zone is a calculated risk in most modern-day circles. Clearly, working against the grain without sacrificing the vibe is modus operandi for Goose. Despite his Luigian tendencies, Peter Anspach, who seamlessly switches between keyboards and guitar, is an integral right-hand accomplice of Mitarotonda’s. His turns at piano, Clavinet, organ, synth, guitar — each percolating in an array of effects — provide shades of color to the music. It would be easy to compare his ivory work to someone like Page McConnell of Phish, but Anspach’s approach is more indiscreet, pliable in tone, aligned with the curvature of a song’s framework. This whole wall of cascading sound emanating from Mitarotonda and Anspach was supported beefy, simple basslines from the shaded, stoic guide of Trevor Weekz, along with drummer Cotter Ellis, the band’s newest member, plus utility man on percussion and a smidge of guitar, Jeff Arevalo. Turning on the samba for “Mas Que Nada” and embracing the staccato beats of reggae for Bob Marley’s “Caution” certainly tested the bounds of the Goose engine room. Those raised beers continue to bob without disruption. It was during the second set when Goose really started to unwind and improvise with abandon. “So Ready” skipped and jumped through a pasture, Mitarotonda’s vocals locked in-step with an aching auto-tune effect that quivered alongside Anspach’s Clavinet, a major, ubiquitous component in his arsenal. Onto “Into The Myst,” the band took flight aboard a Pink Floydian-infused spacecraft — all without losing steam or balance, amounting to a dreamy, go-getter jamathon of epic proportions. You could debate tour de force champion of the night, and it would go to “Into The Myst,” “Arcadia,” or the title track of Goose’s 2022 release (and the main set closer) “Dripfield.” How they managed to squeeze in a riveting swing through “When The Saints Go Marching In” is anyone’s guess. “Arcadia,” from the group’s first album, 2016’s Moon Cabin, carried its own cache with a side lesson from the school of Phish. Its funky edge was a delightful jumble of Anspach’s Clavinet, Weekz’s bass. Ellis’ drumming and Arevalo’s percussion moves that offered Mitarotonda’s meandering guitar a seat at the table for a joyous 18-minute vamp. By the time “Dripfield” was let out of its cage, that feeling of the end being near started to sink in. Thankfully, no one seemed to lose sight of the now-or-never spirit of the song. “Boundless and simple,” Mitarotonda proclaimed before adding “love” to punctuate the point. When they weren’t reshaping a Creedence, Mendes and Marley song, Goose pulled a good chunk of tonight’s material from Moon Cabin, 2021’s Shenanigans Nite Club, and the aforementioned Dripfield. How 2022’s “Mr. Action,” along with other none-album entries like “Echo Of A Rose” and “A Western Sun,” fit into the equation is anyone’s guess. Even so, it was light and nimble enough for Goose to end the night with. The next morning, I was shocked to learn Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh had died. I immediately thought of his 83rd birthday run of shows of 2023 he had done at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. Rick Mitarotonda was a featured guest on vocals and guitar. It was definitely a passing-of-the-torch moment, and I’m inspired to think Mitarotonda reflected on it when he received news of Lesh’s passing. You can bet with pioneers like the Dead and the Allmans far and away in the rearview mirror, and Phish moving into the elder statesman status, the jam band highway is liable to leave traditionalists high and dry. That is unless they get on the bus with forward-thinking bands like Goose, who seem to be leading the pack with a glimmer in their eye and a spring in their step. For boomers like me with their ears in search of musical adventure and experimentation, that means there’s still hope.