Hello friends. Many of us in the USA will be bunkering inside on Sunday because of the snow storm, and so I thought I’ll share many resources with you. I hope you’ll make time to learn from some of these good conversations and stories. With much prayers and in the love of Jesus Christ 🙏
Bible reading plan:
If you are not in a bible reading plan yet, please join me in TSC’s chapter a day plan. It will take four years to go through the entire Bible. I am really enjoying their commentaries and learning even more about ancient biblical culture and history. I have been studying the Bible A LOT in last fifteen years and so if someone summarizes it incorrectly then I can sense that very quickly. TSC summaries are excellent.
Here’s commentary on Genesis 22:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chapter-by-chapter/id1858948633?i=1000746161611
Bible recap’s commentary on Genesis 22 is very helpful too. Please listen to her comments before you get offended on why God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Learn the cultural and historical background first.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bible-recap/id1440833267?i=1000745706635
I’ve been listening to the Bible chapters on Biblegateway. It’s really good narration. I am more of a visual learner but I have developed my audio learning skills by listening to the Bible last year.
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Gen.22
Dilbert + Pascal’s Wager + Queen Victoria:
I used to be entertained by Dilbert’s comics and thought they were hilarious especially when I was working as a young adult in corporate America. The cartoonist died at age 68 from pancreatic cancer. Scott Adams accepted Jesus Christ a few days before he died after weighing the pros and cons of being born again. Here’s a short news about his passing.
https://cbn.com/news/entertainment/i-accept-jesus-dilbert-cartoonists-final-message-his-death
This Anglican clergy, Glen Scrivener is brilliant and he helps me sort through cultural and theology issues. Apparently, the famous philosopher and mathematician Blase Pascal wrote about the pros and cons of being born again. This is called the “Pascal’s Wager”. In this podcast, he talks about Scott Adams’ last minute conversion on his deathbed. When I was a young Christian in college, after couple of years of following Jesus Christ, I used to think that it’s better to be born again later in life so that you can do what you want and enjoy your youth. I felt like I joined a military without understanding what it required from me. I suppose I had buyer’s remorse. It’s remarkable that I dragged along for another three more years, obeying the rules and the voice of God in my life’s decisions. I would have greatly appreciated clergy talking about topics like this – the pros and cons of being born again now, or in your deathbed. Who knew that the brilliant Blase Pascal had already thought about this and wrote down his conclusions.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-speak-life-podcast/id626198781?i=1000745309168
Here’s a brief bio on the Anglican clergy, Glen Scrivener:
Here’s a brief recap of Pascal’s Wager and some criticisms about it:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Pascals-wager.html
FYI – the Church of England (aka the Anglican Church) has a long unsavory history and relationships with the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church. Many battles were fought between Christians. I thought he was a bit harsh at times. Just take it easy and don’t get upset with his few harsh comments. He is human. I slip with my mouth frequently and so I need grace from my fellow Christians as much as possible. Overall he was very good and I always appreciate him addressing hot topics.
I’m currently watching “Victoria” series. It’s about Queen Victoria of England during the height of British empire and power in mid-1800s. You can see the prejudices of the Anglican Church as she married a German prince (Protestant Church was started by Martin Luther who was German, and ex-Catholic monk); and as they dealt with the great potato crop failures in Ireland who are Catholics. This famine killed a million people and caused the immigration of two million Irish people to America. Anyway it’s very good, and I am learning a lot about this time period while I’m googling information as I’m watching.
Did you know that 20% of the population had sexually transmitted diseases at that time?! They addressed that as well, and the futile medical efforts to help. Back then there were none that worked. Did you know that life expectancy was only 40-43 years in mid 1800s? Most of us would be dead by now back then.
Here is the Victoria series that I’m watching.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt5137338/
What do young men want?
Carey Nieuwhof speaks with a social influencer, Ruskan KD about what young men need from the church. They address hot topics and cultural issues, as well as sharing practical advice on how to overcome porn from his own struggle with porn. Let’s not be naive and think that porn isn’t in the church. We must address it and show the young men the pros and cons of porn in their life. People are generally smart and self-preserving. Let’s give them a Pascal’s Wager challenge on porn. And for those who are all in, we have to be a more public ambassadors for Jesus Christ especially for the young people who need role models nearby. Sometimes I wish I can see a Christian’s obedience barometer when I’m listening to their advice and thoughts. Obedience to God’s word is essential. Please be good fruit inspectors when you are looking for mentors in the church. Look for the fruits described in Galatians 5:22-23.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205&version=ESV
Interceding for the next generation:
I cannot really reach the young men but I can pray for them. My college prayer group resumed back praying this week. Though my daughter graduated in December from Indiana University, the Holy Spirit wants me to continue leading our prayer group and to keep our momentum going. IU in Bloomington has been faithfully prayed upon by our women’s prayer group for the last four years. God is drawing many students there by their football team and increasing academic ratings. We did not see that coming. We are praying for a student-led revival in IU. We look forward to seeing what happens next. Here’s a brief news story about their football team and a quarterback who is very open about his faith. Go Hoosiers!
For those needing some inspiration on the power of your prayers and intercession, I just heard this excellent sermon from Dr Youssef. Please listen to this message to be encouraged to pray with perseverance. With God, all things are possible.
“In this climactic message, Dr. Michael Youssef calls every believer to the sacred duty of persistent intercession for the next generation. Teaching from John 4, he shows that God honors faith rooted in the inerrant Word of God and confidence in the promises of Jesus Christ, God in human flesh. Dr. Youssef urges believers to move from crisis faith to confident, contagious faith that trusts Christ without visible proof. He reminds the Church that God is a covenant-keeping God who works through families and generations. This episode confronts shallow belief and calls for repentance, faithful modeling, and relentless prayer—because shaping the future of the Church begins on our knees before a faithful God.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leading-the-way-radio/id273093852?i=1000745278027
Parent/daddy issues:
This is a classic sermon from 1989 by Tim Keller. I was an angry teenager in 1989. I really could’ve used this message and prayers at that time. Please give this sermon a listen since most of us have “parent issues”. It was excellent.
“The fifth commandment is talking particularly to adult children. It says, “Honor thy father and thy mother.”
What’s intriguing about the Ten Commandments is they are a summary of everything human beings ought to be. Yet in all of the Ten Commandments, there’s no place that talks about how people should relate to the government or to the people above them. It doesn’t talk about authority except right here.
So let’s look a little bit deeper and ask the commandment three questions: 1) what does this commandment tell us to do? 2) why should we do it? and 3) how can we do it?”
If anyone is stuck on “daddy issues” then I think you’ll appreciate this interview too. He talked a lot about his dad and a powerful revelation that he received to set him free for his dad’s approval. It’s an interview from 2023. I heard it again because I have been listening to his church’s sermons recently and I wanted to be reminded about his background. They have such intense personalities in that church. They come from former communist countries like Ukraine, Russia etc. These pastors who came from communist countries have an intensity that is well…different. Pastor Vlad is from Ukraine and his wife is from Russia. If anyone wants to learn more about the history between Ukraine and Russia, he has many messages when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. I learned a lot.
https://www.sidroth.org/video/vlad-savchuk
Here is his church website and sermons:
https://hungrygen.com/sermons/
In my church’s women prayer group we often pray for love and unity in the ministry team, in our church and in our families. Because without love and unity, no one cares how much you know and do. That’s just my opinion and experiences as I’ve been on-again and off-again in being part of the Church. Believers who showed me kindness and love made the most impact on me in my faith journey. Their theology and denomination were not as important. I often pray that I am a good example for others, now that I am the older sister or “auntie” in my church and community.
Please remember that I’m a work-in-progress just like you. I used to have a lot of anger issues. I have done a lot of work on controlling my anger in the last 15 years. I think many Gen Xers struggle with anger, especially those from Asian countries. Today’s cultural advice that “it’s better out than in” is wrong, and a demonic lie to destroy you and those around you. Rather the truth is “what you feed will grow”. Stop feeding the anger. Feed the love first. And as your love grows, then perhaps one day, God will send you out to help in the exact area where you used to be so angry about. By the way, I don’t go by “feelings” on love since it’s easy to be deceived and to ruin your life and your relationships; but rather like a mechanic, I go through the love list mentioned on 1 Corinthians 13. These love verses are posted right in front of my kitchen sink so that I don’t ever forget the list. And when you fail; just repent to God, say your sorrys if you are lead by the Holy Spirit, and do better next time.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2013&version=ESV
Lead to Win
I thought this interview was excellent. Jon Gordon is similar to John Maxwell. They are both Christians who have been sent out into the marketplace to help and support business leaders and managers. In this podcast Jon Gordon interviews another pastor who also does the same. They talk about all the things that I mentioned above. Please give them a listen. You will learn a lot and they will help you to lead in your life, relationships and vocation. I wish I had someone like them guiding me when I joined corporate America in the mid-90s.
“On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with Jeff Little, pastor, coach, and dedicated people-builder, for an uplifting conversation about leading with heart and purpose.
Jeff shares his journey from stepping into leadership at age 21 to guiding a thriving community, highlighting the power of authentic care and connection. Together, we explore the “shepherd” approach to leadership, the importance of building real relationships, and how leaders can create cultures where people truly thrive. Jeff also discusses practical lessons from his books, Win with People and The Way to Win, emphasizing the difference between leaders who serve others and those who simply manage for their own gain.
Whether you’re leading a team, a family, or looking to grow personally, this episode will encourage you to embrace your role as a shepherd, reminding you that great leadership is about investing in others, building meaningful connections, and leaving a legacy through the people you empower.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jon-gordon-podcast/id1329995882?i=1000741001493
Journal of Faith 