Christian Natural Health

We know salvation (sozo) is by grace through faith, and a gift, not of works (Eph 2:8-9). All of the promises of God are included in that word (appearing 110 times in the NT). So we receive them all the same way--entering the rest of receiving by grace through faith--and so we are also to live, in His power (Romans 5:17, Romans 8:37, 2 Cor 13:4, 1 John 4:9) and not by our own strength.The OT types of entering God's rest: - Israelites going from wilderness to Promised Land:- God's grace provided it, but the first generation failed to add faith (Heb 4:2). Psalm 95:7-11: God laments that they would not enter His rest because they knew His works but not His Ways, leading to an evil heart of unbelief (Heb 3:12, 19) and hardened hearts (Heb 3:15). - So knowing His ways is the key to entering His rest. Caleb's example: Joshua 14:7-15.- When they did finally go in, they still had a battle (though God fought for them and promised them victory): Hebrews 4:8-10- The type of the Sabbath: - Hebrews 4:4, quoting Genesis 2:2- Exo 20:11: God made this the 4th of the 10 Commandments (right after no Gods before Him, no idols, and not taking His name in vain)--so rest is key. (All the rest of the 10 Commandments were about how people were to interact with each other)- Blessings associated with keeping the Sabbath: Isaiah 58:13-14- The Heptadic calendar: - Week of days – Shabbat (sabbath): the day of rest- Week of weeks – Shavout - Week of months – the religious year- Week of years – the sabbatical year or the shmita year: when the land was to rest- Seven weeks of years + 1 – Jubilee year: when slaves/captives were to go free- Is it possible that God used the heptadic calendar, and structure throughout scripture of 7s appearing everywhere, because He intended to emphasize rest?- But it was always just a type, not about actual works on the Sabbath: Matt 12-1-12We can't achieve righteousness through our own works--the harder we try, the worse we get (Romans 7:15-20). This is meant to drive us toward giving up (Romans 7:22-25) and receiving righteousness/life from the Holy Spirit, who literally imbues our bodies with it (Romans 8:1-11). This isn't just about righteousness, or about receiving God's promises (2 Cor 1:20). Our "identity in Christ" also gives us the strength, energy, stamina, courage, etc to do what He has called us to do. - We "reign in life" through Him (Romans 5:17)- We were raised in Him to bear fruit to God (Romans 7:4). This includes love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22).- You can't bear these if you're burned out. "contentions, outbursts of wrath" are rather fruits of the flesh (Gal 5:20) which are consistent with burnout. If the fruit is negative, we're living from our own resources (flesh), not His (Spirit).- We are full of goodness and complete in knowledge (Romans 15:14).- We are enriched in every way (1 Cor 1:5).- We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).- All things are ours (1 Cor 3:21).- His power is in us (Eph 1:19) - the word eis translated for or toward can also be translated in. Also Eph 3:20- We are competent and can be confident (2 Cor 3:4-6)- We can serve others from God's strength (2 Cor 13:4)- We have every blessing in the spirit realm (Eph 1:3)- God created good works for us to do, which we do in Christ (Eph 2:10)- We have grace and peace in abundance (2 Pet 1:2)- We have power, love, and self-discipline/sound mind (2 Tim 1:7)- We have everything we need for life and godliness so that we may participate in the divine nature (2 Pet 1:3-4)- Examples: - 1 Cor 15:10: Paul labored from God's grace- Jesus still went out on the boat, but slept through the storm (Matt 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25). Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week's podcast comes from this blog post on Methylation Defects: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/articles/methylation-defects/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Steven K. Scott flunked out of his first 9 jobs right out of college, but after reading the book of Proverbs, he learned 16 strategies that he applied to each area of his life. Steve is a best selling Christian author & billion-dollar business builder. Steve’s blessed entrepreneurship journey has funded his ministry. His latest project is called “Neumi” and he refers to it as the biggest health breakthrough he’s ever seen.To learn more about Steve, go to https://stevekscott.com where you can also learn more about Neumi! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week's podcast comes from this article: Why Is My Fasting Glucose Too High? https://www.drlaurendeville.com/articles/why-is-my-fasting-glucose-too-high/This is the podcast I mentioned on how to break the sugar addiction: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/podcast/breaking-the-sugar-addiction-interview-with-teresa-shields-parker/Here's the resource on stress management techniques: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/articles/stress-management-techniques/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

- In the last days, deception will come-- false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Matt 24:11), claiming to be Jesus returned (Mark 13:6), some with signs and wonders, deceiving even the elect, "if possible" (Matt 24:24, Mark 13:22). How do we protect against this? - Focus on knowing the truth, and then you will recognize deception (as how the bankers are trained to recognize counterfeit money). The world is confused about what truth is (John 18:37-38) because they don't hear His voice. God’s word is truth (John 17:17, Psa 25:5, Psa 91:4, Psa 96:13, 100:5, 117:2, 119:142, 151, 160; 138:2, Prov 3:3), including the gospel (Col 1:5)- God is called the God of truth (Isa 65:16). - Jesus is the truth (John 14:6, as well as the Word, John 1:1-3, 14).- The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 5:6) and He will guide us into all truth. Through the anointing of the Holy One, we know all things and He will instruct us (1 John 2:20, 2:27). - We must worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)--i.e. according to His word and by the help of the Holy Spirit. - Love rejoices in truth (1 Cor 13:6) - both fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23, Eph 5:9)- Renew our minds with the Word (Romans 12:2); thus we will recognize God's will. Truth is the foundation of the spiritual armor (Eph 6:14)--it goes on first. Only knowing the truth will make us free (John 8:32). - Once we know the truth, we are to continue in what we were taught (Col 2:6-7, 1 John 2:24). - Truth of course also means words corresponding to reality (Gen 42:16), and whether our actions/words correspond to our thoughts and emotions (Josh 24:14, 1 Sam 12:24, 1 John 3:18)- The opposite of this is hypocrisy, or pretense (Phil 1:18), or unrighteousness (2 Thess 2:12). - What if an idea, concept, or belief that comes to us isn't addressed in scripture at all? - Is it consistent with God's character? Jesus said we can ask anything in His name and He will give it to us (John 14:14). What's in God's name? He is Jehovah Nissi (the Lord my Banner), Jehovah-Raah (the Lord my Shepherd), Jehovah Rapha (the Lord that Heals), Jehovah Shammah (the Lord is There), Jehovah Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness), Jehovah Mekoddishkem (the Lord who Sanctifies You), Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who Provides), Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is Peace), Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts). - What is its fruit? (Gal 5:19-23, Romans 8:6-8) God won't lead us into anything producing negative fruit--if the fruit is negative, it's from the flesh and not the Spirit. - The opposite of truth is deceit(Prov 12:17, Isaiah 59:4, Jer 9:5, 2 Cor 4:2). Satan is the father of deceit/lies and there is no truth in him (John 8:44). Those who are unrighteous will suppress the truth (Romans 1:18).- False teachers will distort the truth (Acts 20:29-30, 2 Peter 3:16), by mixing it with myths/fables (Titus 1:14) or "merely human commands" (Matthew 16:1-12) or the traditions of men (such as forbidding to marry, abstaining from certain foods, 1 Tim 4:3), according to the principles of the world (Col 2:4-8). They will pretend to be godly or moral, though (2 Cor 11:13-15, 2 Tim 6:5)--so we must use discernment.- How do we know a false teacher vs just one who is flawed?- Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is a false teacher (1 John 2:22-23, 4:2-3)- Some may lie intentionally for their own gain (Deut 18:20, Ezekiel 13:9, Jer 14:14, Jer 23:16, Titus 1:10-11) or in hypocrisy (1 Tim 4:2)- Others may be so blind that they truly believe they are doing God a favor in persecuting His true followers (John 16:2). - Romans 16:18: Paul said in this verse that these individuals use good words and fair speeches and deceive the hearts of the simple. This means that they flatter people (2 Timothy 4:3) and appeal to the same selfish desires that they themselves have, to draw people after... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's podcast comes from this article, Why You Should Only Use NSAIDs Sparingly: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/articles/use-nsaids-sparingly/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Steven Arms lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Emily, and is the proud father of two young children. In his book 'Milestone to Manhood' , Steven shares his firsthand experience of his Rite of Passage weekend with his dad and reflects on how it shaped him into the man that he is today.To learn more about Steven, see https://www.milestonetomanhood.com/ or get the book 'Milestone to Manhood' here: https://www.amazon.com/Milestone-Manhood-Christian-Passage-Boyhood-ebook/dp/B09VDRC5TH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=285TREKIQDRXG&keywords=milestone+to+manhood&qid=1662743021&sprefix=Milestone+to+Man%2Caps%2C280&sr=8-1 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Linda Elsegood is the founder of the UK charity LDN Research Trust, established in 2004. She has Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) significantly impacted her life. She wanted to help other people, not only with MS but all autoimmune diseases, cancers, mental health issues, etc. In the last 18 years, the charity has helped over a million people worldwide.To learn more about LDN Research Trust, see https://ldnresearchtrust.org/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Mike Novotny is a pastor at The CORE, a church in downtown Appleton, WI, as well as spiritual leader and lead speaker for Time of Grace—a media ministry that reaches a national television audience of 400,000 a week and engages with people more than five million times a month across its various media platforms. He is also the recent author of, “What’s Big Starts Small: 6 Ways to Grow Great Faith.” He enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, continuing his streak of 37 years of playing organized soccer, running long distances and reading any nonfiction he can get his hands on. To learn more about Mike, get the book or other resources, visit https://timeofgrace.org/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Michael Rubino is an air quality expert who helps bridge the gap between the air in our homes and its direct impact on our health and founder of Change the Air Foundation. Rubino works with over 100 doctors globally to not only raise awareness but also provide solutions to correctly identify and remove the pollutants causing this global health crisis. As President of Home Cleanse, Rubino specializes in working with people who are immunocompromised or have acute and sustained reactions to mold exposure and has helped heal over 1,000 families—including celebrities and athletes. He is also a council-certified Mold Remediation Supervisor by IICRC and ACAC and is a contributing member, sponsor, and speaker for the Indoor Air Quality Association. He is the author of The Mold Medic and a contributor to MindBodyGreen. Rubino has been featured on Gwyneth Paltrow’s The goop Podcast and goop's website, Brandi Glanville’s Unfiltered podcast, Luke Storey, Forbes, USA Today, and Bloom TV, to name a few. He hosts the YouTube series, Mold Talks, where guests include medical experts as well as mold recovery patients, including media icon Atoosa Rubenstein. To learn more about Michael, go to:https://www.themoldmedic.com/https://changetheairfoundation.org/https://www.homecleanse.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Jesus says we should discern good people from evil people by their fruit (Matthew 7:16-20, Matt 12:33). Every seed bears fruit according to its kind (Gen 1:11) so this is how we can see physical evidence of what they've planted in their hearts. But what fruit does He mean? Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 6:22, 2 Cor 9:10, Eph 5:9, Phil 1:11, James 3:18, 2 Peter 1:5-8 Fruit of righteousness is a "tree of life": Prov 11:30Fruit of labors: Psalm 1:3, Psalm 92:14, Prov 12:12 (the root yields fruit... eventually I assume), Prov 31:31, Romans 15:27-28 (those who sow the gospel reap material provision), Phil 1:22, Col 1:10 (seems like good works are blessed to produce fruit, not that they are the fruit in and of themselves) Fruit of financial seed: Phil 4:17 (sowing finances to spread the gospel reaping fruit from the same) Fruit of trust = blessing: Jeremiah 17:7-8, Hosea 14:8 Fruit of wisdom/ good choices: Prov 8:19, Isaiah 3:10, Jeremiah 17:10, Jer 32:19, Matt 12:33, Luke 6:43-44, James 3:17 Fruit of the Word / Kingdom: Matt 13:23, Matt 21:43, Mark 4:20, Luke 8:15, John 4:36 (including souls to eternal life), John 15:16, Romans 1:13 (souls), Romans 7:4, Col 1:6, James 5:7-8 (with patience) Fruit of discipline by the Word: John 15:2-8, Heb 12:11 Fruit of repentance: Matthew 3:8 (a changed heart/ways?), Luke 3:8 Fruit of words ("you can have what you say"): Prov 12:14, Prov 13:2, Prov 18:20, Prov 18:21, Isaiah 57:19 Includes praise: Heb 13:15 Negative fruit: Fruit, or consequences, of poor/evil choices: Prov 1:31, Isaiah 10:12, Jeremiah 17:10, Jer 21:14, Jer 32:19, Matthew 3:10, Matthew 7:16-20, Matt 12:33, Luke 3:9, Luke 6:43-44, Romans 6:21, Romans 7:5 Fruit of negative words: Prov 18:21, Hosea 10:13 Fruit of negative thoughts: Jeremiah 6:19 No fruit of the kingdom (when there should be --those who profess to be believers): Luke 13:6-9, John 15:2, Jude 1:12 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dr Neil Nathan has been practicing medicine for 50 years, and has been Board Certified in Family Practice and Pain Management and is a Founding Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine. He has written several books, including: Healing is Possible: New Hope for Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Persistent Pain, and Other Chronic Illnesses: https://amzn.to/3UtvpeMOn Hope and Healing: For Those Who Have Fallen Through the Medical Cracks: https://amzn.to/3BA7yBuHe has hosted an internationally syndicated radio program/podcast on Voice America called The Cutting Edge of Health and Wellness Today. He has been working to bring an awareness that mold toxicity is a major contributing factor for patients with chronic illness and lectures internationally on this subject which led to the publication of his ebook, Mold and Mycotoxins: Current Evaluation and Treatment, 2016, (now updated to 2022), and then to his best-selling book Toxic: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Chronic Environmental Illness. His new book, out winter, 2021, is Energetic Diagnosis, a discussion of the value of intuition and energetic devices as an aid to both diagnosis and treatment of medical illness. Dr. Nathan has been treating chronic complex medical illnesses for 25 years now, and Lyme disease for the past 15 years. As his practice has evolved, he finds himself increasingly treating patients who have become so sensitive and toxic that they can no longer tolerate their usual treatments, and his major current interest is in finding unique ways of helping them to recover. To learn more about Dr Nathan, see www.neilnathanmd.com: https://neilnathanmd.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Having worked with CEOs, celebrities, church leaders and everyday people from every walk of life and countries around the world, Ray Leight has spent nearly two decades teaching people how to know, believe and live the truth of who they are. Having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD, discovering and living out of one's true identity in Christ is a journey he is all too familiar with. Cofounder (along with his wife, Kathryn) of Faith by Grace Ministries, he serves as a pastoral counselor with Bethel Church and is a devoted father and husband, as well as a sought-after speaker. He is also the author of 'Maturing Into Yourself: Grow Into the Fullness of Your Healing,’ which explores the different aspects of the maturation process, beyond trauma and healing ... beyond experiencing revelation through spiritual discernment and finally believing the truth of who we are.To learn more about Ray, see his book, Maturing Into Yourself, or go to https://www.faithbygrace.org/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dr. Nayan Patel is a sought after pharmacist, health expert, and thought leader in the industry. Since 1999, he has been collaborating with physicians to develop customized medication for their clients and design patient-specific drug and nutrition programs. He has been the pharmacist of choice to celebrities, CEO’s and physicians themselves. He recently published his first comprehensive book, The Glutathione Revolution: Fight Disease, Slow Aging & Increase Energy. After 11 years of clinical research on the master antioxidant, glutathione, Dr. Patel finally shares how powerful and essential glutathione is to the body’s detox system. He talks about the various benefits it has with slowing down the aging process, and explains how to increase your levels naturally. Dr. Patel is a firm believer in providing the body with tools it needs to defend itself and promote a healthy lifestyle that fits the pace of the modern world. To learn more about Dr Patel, see www.aurowellness.com. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Ryan Beck is the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Pray.com, the world’s #1 app for daily prayer and faith-based audio content. Pray.com is driven by a mission to grow faith, cultivate community, and leave a legacy of helping others. Beck brings expertise in computer science, software engineering, and theological studies to his role as chief technology officer. He helped start Pray.com in 2016. To learn more about Ryan, see https://www.pray.com/articles/founders Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dr Greg Hammer is a Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, pediatric intensive care physician, pediatric anesthesiologist, mindfulness expert, and the author of GAIN without Pain: The Happiness Handbook for Health Care Professionals. A member of the Stanford WellMD initiative, Dr. Hammer is currently the Chair of the Physician Wellness Task Force for the California Society of Anesthesiologists. He has been a visiting professor and lecturer on wellness at institutions worldwide and teaches GAIN to medical students, residents, and fellows at Stanford. Dr. Hammer’s clinical focus is in pediatric cardiac anesthesia and pediatric critical care medicine. His research is in developmental pharmacology and immunology, and he has an active laboratory with multiple ongoing studies in these areas. He has published widely on topics related to pharmacology and perioperative care of children undergoing cardiac and thoracic procedures as well as organ transplantation. Dr. Hammer is a health enthusiast and meditator, utilizing a non-duality and mindfulness-based approach, including the GAIN method. To learn more about Dr Hammer, visit greghammermd.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today we jump around in scripture a lot. Here are some of the verses: John 10:3-5 Romans 3:4 John 10:27 John 8:47 Jeremiah 33:3 Rev 3:20 Isaiah 30:21 James 4:8 Jeremiah 29:13 Heb 8:6-13 Psalm 37:4 Col 3:15 1 Kings 19 Hebrews 4:12 and more... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week's podcast comes from this blog post: Spotlight On: Baking Soda. To find a root cause doctor in your area, check out wholehealthdr.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's podcast is a meditation on how to pray for the world in dark times. Our anchor verse is Proverbs 4:23. Other scriptures discussed include: - Philippians 4:6-8 - Colossians 3:15 - James 5:16 - Psalm 2 - 2 Cor 3:14 - Matthew 9:38 - Romans 1:19-22 - Luke 12:2-3 - 2 Chronicles 7:14 - Psalm 37:34 - Proverbs 26:27 - Proverbs 11:21 - Genesis 50:20 - Romans 8:26-28 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's podcast comes from this blog post, Clotting: The Real Cause of Heart Disease? To find a local holistic doc near you, go to wholehealthdr.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Bob Hasson (hass-en) is a businessman, author, consultant and podcaster. He is both the founder and CEO of HPCI, a painting subcontractor he founded in 1978 and that operates across the western U.S. For over 30 years, he has been active as a consultant and board member for churches, ministries, non-profits and school boards. A sought-after speaker, Bob has co-authored books with Danny Silk and Shawn Bolz. He has been married for 33 years to his wife, Lauren, and they have four children and two grandchildren. To learn more about Bob, go to bobhasson.com, or follow him on Instagram @bob.hasson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week's podcast comes from this blog post: How Uric Acid Affects Blood Pressure. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Don and Esther Parsons have served in cross-cultural missions for over 25 years. Sensing the call to use their language and cultural skills in the region where their missionary ministry began, Don joined the staff of Mission Eurasia in 2020 working as the only western member of their Field Ministries Team. Through Mission Eurasia’s vast regional network and working with other partners Don is serving as Ministry Director for the Unreached People Groups Initiative; mobilizing, inspiring, and equipping the next generation of leaders in Eurasia to take the Gospel to the unreached in Eurasia and beyond. This new challenge allows Don to use his extensive experience and training to help equip the church in Eurasia to impact the nations in profound ways. When the war broke out on February 24, Don’s focus and direction with Mission Eurasia changed. He is currently heading the relief efforts of Mission Eurasia in Warsaw, Poland, through work with several refugee relief centers providing for physical and spiritual needs. Don and the Mission Eurasia team meet with and encourage refugees, organizing provisions and much needed counseling services. To learn more about Don and Mission Eurasia, go to: Website: https://missioneurasia.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missioneurasia Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissionEurasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missioneurasia/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/missioneurasia/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8FIPHrNVyXOGoqWSalOCMg/featured Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Coach April is an international speaker and author who loves to exhort people to tap into their greatness to identify who they really are! Now a Certified Fitness Trainer, April carried around the weight of feeling fat for many years after a boy called her “big” at the ripe age of 12. Finding her identity in Christ is what set her free, and now she challenges and supports her clients to change both the inside and outside; tackling both mindset and physical fitness with programs like the 90 Day Breakthrough, Clean Eating and Love My Body Challenges. April believes everyone is able to make the changes they desire, whether by baby steps or giant leaps—they just have to start moving! Her vision is to get the Body of Christ and anyone who is interested in reclaiming their health to make sound choices that will lead to victory in their overall lives! To learn more about Coach April and for a free gift, see loseweightloveyourbody.com or find her books on kingdompowerliving.com. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dr. Jared Zeff is a licensed doctor of naturopathic medicine and a licensed acupuncturist. In addition to maintaining a private practice, Dr. Jared Zeff currently teaches at the Bastyr University, College of Naturopathic Medicine in Seattle. Dr. Zeff is considered a traditionalist, practicing a classical form of naturopathic medicine. He began a private practice in McMinnville, Oregon, based around obstetrics and family medicine. He was named “Naturopathic Physician of the Year” in 1989 for his contribution to the development of naturopathic clinical theory. In April, 2002, he was given the first Lifetime Achievement Award of the Northwest Naturopathic Physicians Association for his contributions to naturopathic medical education. For more on Dr Zeff, see www.salmoncreekclinic.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Defeating Anxiety and Control Realize you are not in control anyway - that is an illusion. Think back over the events in your life: list the other times that you have tried to control your circumstances. Did it work? What was the outcome? Admit that you are powerless to make your life work out the way you want it to. (You might as well, because it’s true whether you admit it or not.) Psalm 127:1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” Proverbs 21:30: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” Proverbs 19:21: “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 16:9: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” God wants to be first in your life. This is the key to defeating control and anxiety: we are anxious when we want something more than we want to follow God. Letting go of the thing we desire is terrifying (in fact, it feels a lot like dying to ourselves), but it is the only path to peace. The paradox is, God promises that if we lose our life, that is when we will find it. As long as we insist on controlling our lives, it will remain forever out of control. Matthew 6:33-34: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Proverbs 21:21: “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” Matthew 10:39: “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” When we let go of “trying to find our lives” (whatever the problem is that obsesses us), we will experience grief - but it is a good, healing grief. It is a grief that leads to joy in the end, because it is the only path to life. Psalm 126:5: “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Psalm 30:5: "Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." What to do instead: God invites you to bring your troubles to Him. Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Philippians 4:4-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 55:22: “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” God is a good God; therefore you can trust Him. He is for you and not against you; He wants good things for you. (And He is in a better position to know what is good for you than you are. If you doubt this, stop and think about some of the things you wanted desperately in the past and didn’t get.) Isaiah 46:3-4: “You whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Jeremiah 33:41: “I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.” Nahum 1:7: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” Isaiah 58:11: “And the Lord will... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's podcast comes from this blog post: The Dark Side of Statins. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Ronald D. Ramsey retired from corporate life after a twenty five-year career as an organization development consultant specializing in large scale culture change. After earning a doctorate in family therapy, he has worked as a licensed marriage and family counselor in private practice. In 2017 he completed the requirements of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education for hospital chaplaincy with additional training in Palliative Care chaplaincy. The majority of his work since then has been with patients receiving palliative care and their families. Ron is the author of the powerful book Forty Days to Forgiveness: A Christian’s Field Guide to the Forgiveness Journey. The book draws from Ron’s experiences as an organization development consultant, his knowledge of the behavioral sciences and theological studies, and his own unforgiveness challenges, to lead readers on a life-changing forgiveness journey. For more on Ron, see fortydaystoforgiveness.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Devin Burke is an international and TEDx speaker, the bestselling author of “The Sleep Advantage,” the founder of Sleep Science Academy, and one of the top health and sleep coaches in the world. His books, keynotes, programs and videos have inspired thousands of people to improve their sleep, energy, and life. Devin Burke helps high achievers and exhausted insomniacs get and stay asleep so they can wake up with more peace, power and presence. He was named one of the “Top 25 Health Coaches in America.” and has studied innovative holistic coaching methods from some of the world’s top health and human performance experts for over a decade. As a speaker and coach, he has inspired thousands of people to open their eyes to what is possible through creating new sleep, health and performance habits, and routines. For more on Devin, see SleepScienceAcademy.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dr Moshe Daniel Block is the author of The Revolution of Naturopathic Medicine: Remaining True to Our Philosophy, a book about the philosophy and practice of naturopathic medicine, and Holistic Counseling – Introducing the Vis Dialogue, a book about a breakthrough healing method uniting the worlds of Mind-Body Medicine & Psychology. He graduated from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (Toronto, Ontario) in 2000. Dr Block then went on to complete the Homeopathic Master Clinician course with Louis Klein in 2003. He now focuses his practice doing one on one "Physician, Heal Thyself!" and mentoring appointments with NDs and students enrolled in his mind-body medicine certification program called "Holistic Counseling." He continues to specialize in autoimmune illness and myasthenia gravis, a disease he was personally diagnosed as having and from which he has healed himself. For more on Dr Block's counseling certification, see https://holistic-counseling.ca/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Michael Andrews is the author of “The Influential Christian: Learning to Lead from the Heart.” He has taught and preached in a number of churches across the country over the past 30 years. He retired as an engineer from the telecommunications industry, after directing several research and development projects. In addition to his degrees in electrical engineering, Michael has a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry. He is an ordained minister affiliated with the Churches of Christ. To learn more about Mike, see mwandrews.com, or see his book The Influential Christian here. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We jump around, but these are the scriptures mentioned: 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Colossians 3:13: "bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." Matthew 6:12, 14-15. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors... For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (The same prayer also appears in Luke 11:4) Luke 6:37 also says, "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 17:4:“And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,' you shall forgive him.” Matthew 18:21-35: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Mark 11:22-26: So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. 25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” James 5:13-16:"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Luke 17:3:“Take... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dr Lorenzo Cohen, PhD, is the Richard E. Haynes Distinguished Professor in Clinical Cancer Prevention and Director of the Integrative Medicine Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Cohen conducts research examining integrative medicine practices such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture and other strategies aimed at reducing the negative aspects of cancer treatment and improving quality of life. He is also conducting research to demonstrate that lifestyle changes can influence cancer outcomes. In addition to publishing more than 125 scientific articles in top medical journals and numerous book chapters, Dr. Cohen and his wife, Alison Jefferies have published their own book, titled “Anticancer Living,” which outlines six pillars of lifestyle change to support health and well-being and reduce the risk of cancer. Dr. Cohen in fact is living proof that this approach works, as the day he finished his book, he received notice that he himself had cancer. He then “lived his book” and today is cancer free. For more about Dr Cohen and Alison, see anticancer-living.com or check out their book, Anticancer Living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Norm Wielsch was an agnostic police officer for over 25 years. He was exposed to many traumatic incidents and diagnosed with PTSD. Then he was diagnosed with an incurable debilitating neuromuscular disease, and had over 25 surgeries in ten years. He was prescribed opioids for the pain, and soon began to abuse the opioids to relieve the negative emotions of PTSD. After that, his daughter was diagnosed with liver tumors, and the prognosis was poor. This placed him in a downward spiral that led him to make some very poor decisions that led to a 14-year prison sentence. He responded to God’s calling, and though divine intervention, his daughter and he were both healed. He spent over 8 years in Federal prison where he co-pastored the church and taught how God heals PTSD. In prison, he obtained a master’s degree in Theology and Counseling, then a doctorate in Christian Counseling. He went on to become a Registered Addiction Counselor and pastoral care provider in a residential treatment facility. He wrote a book called, “Christ-Centered Healing of Trauma: Healing a Broken Heart” and a small group study guide to go with it. Both are on sale now. To learn more about Norm, see www.christ-centeredhealing.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Rick Kirschner is a retired speaker, author of 9 books, filmmaker and vitalist naturopathic physician. He is coauthor of the international bestseller, ‘Dealing With People You Can’t Stand’ now in it’s third edition and in 27 languages. He is the past President of the Naturopathic Medicine Institute. He has worked with some of the world’s best known organizations and businesses, from NASA to Starbucks to the US Army and National Guard, as well as city, state and national governments, hospitals and healthcare conglomerates. His documentary film, How Healthcare Became Sickcare: The True History Of Medicine is available for free viewing on his website, TalkNatural.com He lives just across the long bridge in Sagle, Idaho with his wife, one eyed cat, and 5 chickens. To learn more about Rick, see https://talknatural.com/. To watch his film, How Healthcare Became Sickcare: The True History of Medicine, click here: https://talknatural.com/documentary.html Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's meditation and retelling is from Acts 16:16-40. Introduction: I always thought it strange that this demon-possessed girl announced the truth of Paul and Silas’s message, and yet the disciples found this troublesome. Why would a demon endorse their message, and if it did, why would that be a bad thing? There must be something we’re missing. Perhaps this gave the distinct impression to listeners that Paul and Silas were in cahoots with the demons. Jesus was accused of this very thing, too (Luke 11:15). Also, if this demon-possessed girl bothered Paul (whatever the reason), why did it take him “many days” to cast the demon out? Why didn’t he do so at once? We’re not told what was going on that would have hindered this solution, so we can only speculate. Andrew Wommack’s interpretation is that perhaps the girl had no desire to be free of the demon. If that were the case, as Jesus said, casting out one demon without replacing it with a new Spirit might leave her with more demons than she started with in the end (Matthew 12:44). As a naturopathic doctor, I think of this as similar to a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics. They might wipe out the pathogen, but if you don’t repopulate with good bacteria to defend the territory against subsequent attacks, opportunistic organisms may invade instead. The end state of that patient’s digestion and health generally can then be worse than it was to begin with. Perhaps Paul and Silas waited to see if the girl might give any indication that she wanted deliverance. But after many days of her presumably hindering their message and preventing others from coming to the Lord, they’d had enough. Unfortunately, the girl turned out to be a valuable slave, because of the demon. In their anger, her owners dragged Paul and Silas before the magistrates of the city. I’m not sure why Paul didn’t tell the magistrates that they were Roman citizens then, since apparently that would have changed everything. Perhaps God told them to keep their mouths shut about that for the time being, though it seems like if that were the case, it would have been recorded. Also, while the apostles were certainly persecuted in many cases for their faith, I can’t think of a time in scripture when God explicitly told them to submit to persecution because He intended to use it for the greater good, even though He always did so. God taking evil and turning it for good certainly isn’t the same thing as God causing evil and turning it for good. Later in Paul’s life, God specifically tried to lead him away from Jerusalem, apparently to spare him persecution (Acts 21:4-11). It therefore seems more likely to me that in the ensuing brouhaha, Paul just couldn’t get a word in edgewise. I love how God redeemed this miserable story, though. Beaten, bloody, in stocks so they couldn’t even move, and now thrown into prison, Paul and Silas surely didn’t feel like singing. Yet they offered a sacrifice of praise, anyway (Hebrews 13:15). This time, God didn’t send an angel, but an earthquake. He needed to make sure the jailer was awake to see Paul and Silas’s deliverance. As a result, rather than committing suicide (since the jailer knew that if all the prisoners escaped on his watch, he would be killed for his negligence), he and all his family were saved. Not only that, but the Roman law protected Roman citizens from being punished without a trial (Acts 22:25-29). When the magistrates learned they had thus treated Roman citizens, they were afraid, for their positions and possibly even for their lives. Naturally, word of the scandal would spread—“Did you hear what the magistrates of Philippi did to two Roman citizens? Yes, and without trial!” The next question of course would be, “What did the men do to deserve such treatment?” And so the gospel might spread even farther than it might have otherwise. Also, magistrates in other cities would be careful not to repeat the offense, protecting Paul and Silas from similar treatment... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Glenn Livingston, Ph.D. is a veteran psychologist and was the long time CEO of a multi-million dollar consulting firm which has serviced several Fortune 500 clients in the food industry. Glenn has sold $30,000,000 of marketing consulting services over the course of his career. Disillusioned by what traditional psychology had to offer overweight and/or food obsessed individuals, Dr. Livingston spent several decades researching the nature of bingeing and overeating via work with his own patients AND a self-funded research program with more than 40,000 participants. Most important, however, was his own personal journey out of obesity and food prison to a normal, healthy weight and a much more lighthearted relationship with food. To learn more about Glenn, see neverbingeagain.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Victoria Davis’s career began in the music industry after attending NYU’s Music Business program. While attending school, her passion for health began while working at a renowned allergy- friendly bakery. This experience was the catalyst to her shifting her focus to a career in health and healing. In the years following, she experienced radical healing from Tourette Syndrome, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, food intolerances, and feminine health concerns. Today, Victoria is a Strategist for Health and Fitness Businesses and speaker, combining her experience as a Health Coach, Certified Sports Nutritionist, Personal Trainer, and health-conscious baker. She is also the author of the book, Addicted to Health. She specializes in vision-casting and program development for Christian health and fitness business owners for their clientele’s unique needs. For more about Victoria, see victoriapdavis.com or healthaddictionfree.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Kathleen Trotter, MSc, is a fitness expert, media personality, personal trainer, writer, and author of Finding Your Fit: A Compassionate Trainer’s Guide to Making Fitness a Lifelong Habit and Your Fittest Future Self. Making Choices Today for a Happier, Healthier, Fitter Future You. Kathleen has been a personal trainer and fitness expert for almost twenty years. Key Takeaways: Consistency is better than perfection. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Keep your long-term goals in mind. Set up systems to keep yourself on track on those inevitable days when you "don't feel like it." Use dopamine to your advantage to help you celebrate your "small wins" along the way. Cultivate a growth mindset. Use your bad days to set you up for better days in the future. Choose a form of movement that you enjoy. Links Kathleen mentions in the interview: Kathleen's article on dopamine Kathleen's review on "Mindset" Kathleen's review of "Atomic Habits" kathleentrotter.com Facebook: @FITbyKathleenT Instagram: @fitbykathleent Twitter: @fitbykathleent Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week's podcast comes from this blog post on Spotlight On: Chamomile. Chamomile flowers are in the daisy family, also known as asteraceae or compositae. Compounds beneficial to health are many and varied, and it is generally recognized as safe for consumption with few contraindications. Chamomile is probably best known as an herbal tea, with over one million cups consumed per day, though there are other ways to access its health benefits as well. Which benefits you’re after may influence the form of chamomile you choose to use medicinally. Chamomile for Digestion and Menstrual Cramping A carminative herb used to calm digestive upset, chamomile is known for the anti-spasmodic effects of the bioflavonoids apigenin, quercetin, and luteolin. These compounds also decrease inflammatory prostaglandin release (the same mechanism of action of NSAIDs), and extract well into water, making them easily absorbable from tea. Anti-inflammatory effects are found in the essential oil components (called chamazulene and α-bisabolol) which don’t extract as well into tea. Bisabolol also helps to prevent and treat stomach ulcers by decreasing pepsin production without affecting HCl production. These constituents are best absorbed via capsule or tincture. Anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects of course are both useful for menstrual cramping and pain, too. Chamomile for Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia Chamomile tea is one of my favorites for a nightly “wind-down” routine before bedtime, helping to calm the mind and acting as a gentle sedative. This may be due to the plant’s water-soluble glycine content, a calming amino acid which assists the body with getting into deeper stages of sleep. Chamomile has indeed been shown to improve sleep quality. Because of this gentle calming effect, chamomile has been shown to even significantly reduce moderate to severe generalized anxiety disorder symptoms, and to assist with depression when it is comorbid with anxiety disorder as well. Chamomile for Infection, Wound Healing, and Skin Care Topically, chamomile’s antioxidant polyphenols can assist with wound healing and restoration of a breached skin barrier. Since polyphenols extract well into water, a compress soaked in strong chamomile tea and applied to, say, a sunburn, may assist with quicker healing. A similar compress, or even a wet tea bag, can be used on skin lesions such as acne, styes, or eczema; this is because in addition to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile is also antimicrobial. Since a breached skin barrier often leads to opportunistic infection by normal skin flora, topical chamomile may assist the healing process in multiple ways. The essential oil has been studied for its antihistamine purposes for atopic lesions as well (see below). Chamomile’s antioxidant properties have also been utilized topically for reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Chamomile for Allergies There is evidence that chamomile stabilizes mast cells, thus decreasing release of histamine for those who suffer from allergies, those with histamine intolerance, and as an adjunctive treatment for those with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Disorder. These effects were observed from the alcohol tincture extract form. The Upshot Chamomile tea is consumed worldwide in large quantities for a reason, though it’s helpful to know which effects you’re after to help choose the most appropriate extraction method. Bioflavinoids apigenin and quercetin are water soluble, which means they will easily be extracted into a tea. These are helpful for anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, antioxidant, and sedative properties. Essential oil components chamazulene and bisabolol do not extract as well in water. These are better consumed either in powder or capsules made from the whole dried flowers, an alcohol extract, or using the essential oil itself (diffused or topically). These have been observed to protect against ulcers, and to stabilize mast... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A meditation and retelling of Acts 12:5-19 Introduction: It’s amazing to me how involved angels seemed to be in the early church. This is at least the third time Peter has encountered one: the first was after Jesus’ ascension (since the story in John of Peter at Jesus’ empty tomb didn’t indicate that he encountered the angels there). The second time was when an angel had helped Peter to escape prison once before, in Acts 5. Historians date that escape in the same year as Pentecost. Given that, I’m not sure why Peter was so surprised to find himself delivered this time, though it was estimated to be about twelve years later. Perhaps it wasn’t the deliverance that surprised him necessarily, but simply the fact that he felt he was having a vision. Maybe there was a dreamlike quality to this encounter because it was in the middle of the night. Still, though, James the brother of John, one of Jesus’ core three disciples, had just been martyred publicly by the sword, to the delight of the Jewish mob (Acts 12:1-3). It certainly looked like Peter might die the next morning, too, and Jesus himself told the disciples that they could not expect to escape persecution (Matthew 24:9, Mark 10:30). Despite all this, Peter slept so peacefully that the angel had to strike him to wake him up. Either he was not bothered by the prospect of death, or perhaps he expected that he would escape somehow, given Jesus’ prophecy that he would not be martyred until he was an old man (John 21:18). Since the story mentions that the church was praying for Peter constantly (Acts 12:5), perhaps it was their prayers that dispatched the angel to free him. We’re not told the exact cause and effect, though this seems to be the implication—even though they, too, were pretty shocked to see him when he showed up (Acts 12:14-16). This Mary was mother of John Mark, who wasn’t one of Jesus’ original apostles, but instead was Barnabas’s cousin (Colossians 4:10). Barnabas and John Mark both traveled with Saul, later called Paul (Acts 12:25). At this point, Saul and Barnabas were in town (Acts 11:30), and since Mary was Barnabas’s relative, it’s possible they were staying with Mary when Peter showed up. Saul’s conversion was estimated to be not quite a decade before this, though it would be around another six years before he went on his first missionary journey—so I wonder if the other believers were still getting used to him. Neither Barnabas nor Saul are mentioned in the story, though. Why in the world did the believers in Mary's home suppose it was more likely that it was Peter’s angel at the door (presumably his guardian angel, as mentioned in Matthew 18:10) than Peter himself? Were their encounters with angels in the early church really so common as that? Perhaps… an angel again appeared at the end of the chapter, to strike down Herod for his arrogance (Acts 12:23), which presumably meant Peter could return to the city freely. Later, an angel also appeared to Paul during the tempest at sea (Acts 27:24), and the writer of Hebrews mentions that sometimes we can entertain angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2). At least the early church didn’t consider encounters with angels nearly so unusual as we might today. Fictionalized Retelling: “Seize him!” Herod’s soldiers surrounded me even as I was in the middle of my sermon to the assembly of the Jews before the Temple. I had no hope of escape. My listeners scattered, and I turned a resigned expression upon my captors. Even as they shackled my wrists and led me away, I marveled somewhere in the back of my mind at how much had changed, in how short a period of time. These were the days of Unleavened Bread, leading up to the twelfth Passover since Jesus had been crucified. Nearly twelve years ago, I had denied Him. I’d feared for my own life, that I might share his fate. Now, even though my brother in the Lord, James, had been publicly executed by Herod only days before, a fate Herod surely intended for... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Johnny Crowder is a suicide/abuse survivor, TEDx speaker, touring musician, mental health and sobriety advocate, and the Founder & CEO of Cope Notes, a text-based mental health platform that provides daily support to users in nearly 100 countries around the world. Since his first keynote in 2011, Johnny's refreshingly candid perspective has attracted praise from hundreds of outlets, including Upworthy, CNN, and Forbes. Even when commanding a virtual stage or touring with his metal band, Prison, his infectious positivity and firsthand experience with multiple mental illnesses (ranging from bipolar disorder and OCD to schizophrenia) uniquely equip him to provide realistic, yet hopeful insight into the pains of hardship with authenticity, levity, and unconventional wit. For more about Cope Notes, you can go to copenotes.com For more about Johnny, you can learn about him on johnnycrowder.com or johnnycrowderlovesyou on Instagram. His Ted Talk On YouTube: How to Grow as a Person and Why It Sucks Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dr. Chacko is the new author of Amazon best seller Pilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey. She practiced medicine for decades, first as a radiation oncologist and later as a family medicine doctor, caring for the poor in Washington, DC. Now Donna works in the ministry she founded, Serenity and Health, to promote health of body, mind, and spirit. Dr. Chacko will send Three Keys to A Holy, Happy and Healthy Life to listeners of the podcast when they sign up for her newsletter and blog.To learn more or to purchase Pilgrimage, go to https://www.serenityandhealth.com/pilgrimage . Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Wendie Trubow, M.D., MBA is a functional medicine gynecologist with a thriving practice at Five Journeys, and is passionate about helping women optimize their health and lives. Through her struggles with mold and metal toxicity, Celiac disease, and other health issues, Trubow has developed a deep sense of compassion and expertise for what her patients are facing. She is the co-author of Dirty Girl: Ditch the Toxins, Look Great, and Feel Freaking Amazing! To learn more about her, please visit: https://www.fivejourneys.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/5journeyshealth/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wendietrubowmd Twitter https://twitter.com/5JourneysHealth Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fivejourneys LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendietrubow/ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBIkSOxPL3t3wQuKmnGwGRA/about Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's podcast comes from Daniel 6. Introduction: I’ve known the story of Daniel and the lion’s den since I was a kid in Sunday School classes, but I never really considered before what Daniel was thinking at the time. As I wrote some of these retellings, it was obvious that the heroes were actually terrified and full of doubts, like Gideon. Samson wasn’t at all fearful, but he’d placed his confidence in himself, rather than in God. It was only very rare individuals that seemed to be completely confident in the Lord. David and Jonathan clearly had this mentality, because the things they said to those around them just before their exploits revealed their thoughts. With Daniel, it’s not quite so clear, until you put this event in chronological context with the rest of the book of Daniel. The first half of the book of Daniel is historical, telling events that transpired during Daniel’s lifetime as the kingdom changed rulership. The second half, from chapter 7 through 12, is prophetic, in which Daniel is treated to a series of profound visions which encompass the “silent” years of the Old Testament through the coming of Christ, and then apocalyptic visions that harmonize with John’s account in Revelation. We’re told in Daniel 5:31 and 6:1 that this episode of the lion’s den occurred during the reign of King Darius, and historians say he only reigned for two years. We also know from Daniel 9:2 that Darius was king during the time that Daniel received his famous seventy weeks prophecy, so these two events must have occurred relatively close to one another in time. In the seventy weeks prophecy, Gabriel appeared and helped Daniel to understand that while Jeremiah’s prediction of seventy years of captivity (Jeremiah 25:11-12) was nearly over for Israel, there was a deeper meaning for the seventy years as well. There would also be seventy weeks of years, or 490 years, from the time of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, until the end of the age. It would be sixty-nine weeks of years from the rebuilding of Jerusalem until the Messiah would come (and according to “The Coming Prince” by Sir Robert Anderson, from the time Nehemiah was sent to rebuild the walls of the city, sixty-nine weeks of years, where a year in the calendar of the day was 360 days, would work out to 173,880 days. This is to the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey on Palm Sunday, proclaiming himself to be king, Luke 19:28-44.) That last week of years, or the last seven years, will be the end of the age—and the rest of Daniel’s seventy weeks prophecy describes the antichrist, the covenant with Israel that begins those seven years, and the abomination of desolation 3.5 years in, which will initiate the last 3.5 years of tribulation. Daniel’s prophecy here doesn’t indicate that there is a gap between the 69th and the 70th week, though some scholars believe that was because there didn't have to be a gap: had the Jews accepted Jesus as Messiah when he rode in on Palm Sunday, the first and the second coming might have been one and the same. This might have been why Jesus wept as he rode into town (Luke 19:41-44). As it was, there is a pause in Daniel’s timeline “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). In my retelling, therefore, I imagined how full Daniel’s mind must have been with such wonderful revelations. He’d seen and spoken with God’s messenger, not once, but twice (Gabriel also came to him in Daniel 8:16). He’d been in captivity nearly all his life, and now in his eighties, he realized that the time drew near for his people to return to Jerusalem. His prayer in Daniel 9:4-19 is so impassioned, one can almost picture him weeping as he contends for their release. Gabriel told him that he was greatly beloved (Daniel 9:23), and told him that not only did the time draw near for his people’s release, but also showed him God’s entire plan for history. Meanwhile, Darius wanted to promote Daniel because, like Pharaoh had said of Joseph,... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's podcast comes from this blog post: Spotlight on: Oregano. Oregano might be primarily associated in our minds with pizza and Italian food, but it’s also a powerful medicine. A member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family which also includes basil, lavender, marjoram, and sage, oregano is a hearty plant that doesn’t require a lot of water or even especially fertile soil. It’s an easy one to grow on a sunny kitchen windowsill. While the fresh or dried herbs will certainly confer additional nutrition to your dishes, most of the studies on oregano as medicine have been done using its powerfully concentrated essential oil. The active constituents are called thymol and carvacrol. Here are some of the medicinal properties of these compounds. Oregano: Antimicrobial Oregano essential oil has been shown to be effective against a wide variety of different species of bacteria, and is one of the most effective antibacterial essential oils. In test tube studies, it has been shown to neutralize multiple viruses within a single hour of treatment. Oregano has also been recognized for its antifungal properties as well. Oregano as an Anti-Inflammatory Inflammation is always a secondary process, so I suspect that given oregano’s other properties, it’s natural that it also acts as an anti-inflammatory. Yet it may have a direct anti-inflammatory effects as well; animal studies have shown reduction in inflammation for a variety of different lesions, as well as for colitis. Oregano as an Antioxidant The active constituents thymol and carvacrol have been shown to have high antioxidant activity (1, 2). This goes hand in hand with decreased inflammation, as oxidative damage produces inflammation. Oregano for Metabolic Support Oregano has recently been studied for its metabolic support as well. It has been shown to assist in lowering blood sugar and in elevated lipids, which go hand in hand. Hypertension is also part of this picture, and oregano also helps in regulating blood pressure. The Upshot While you might not notice dramatic effects from adding more oregano leaves to your meals, they certainly have enough beneficial properties to contribute to an overall healthy and nutrient dense diet. To enjoy some of the medicinal benefits, choose oil of oregano in capsules, or as an essential oil diluted in a carrier oil such as olive or jojoba for topical use. Note that oil of oregano is contraindicated in pregnancy. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's meditation and retelling comes from Luke 1:5-25, 39-80. Background music by www.bensound.com. Foreword: Zacharias and Elizabeth are the only other truly elderly couple in scripture to bear a child, besides Abraham and Sarah. There are a lot of parallels between Isaac and John the Baptist. Why this couple, and why now? Why did his need to be a “miraculous” birth? Gabriel did tell Zacharias that his prayers for a child were heard (Luke 1:13), so we know that Zacharias and Elizabeth wanted children long before this. Zacharias’s response to Gabriel’s good news was skepticism, based upon their ages (Luke 1:18), which suggests that he’d given up praying for children long ago, when he thought that it was too late. But given all the promises in scripture for fertility for those who followed the Lord, and the fact that this couple was blameless (Luke 1:6), I’m sure they wondered why it seemed that the Lord had not fulfilled His end of the promise. Elizabeth also called her barrenness a “reproach” (Luke 1:25). We know from the question the disciples asked Jesus about the man who was blind from birth (John 9:1-5) that it was a common belief among Israelites that physical ailments were a direct punishment for personal sin. Thus, like blameless Job, the people likely would have believed that it was some sin on their part that had kept them from bearing children all these years. Yet God had not forgotten them… it just took faith and patience (a lot of it!) for them to inherit this particular promise (Hebrews 6:12). One reason for this likely is because John’s conception and birth would have caused such a stir, and attracted such attention. Gabriel appears to Zacharias while he is performing his duties at the Temple, and the fact that he is subsequently struck dumb alerts everyone who was waiting for him outside the temple that he must have seen a vision (Luke 1:21-22). Then, after five months of seclusion, elderly Elizabeth reveals to all that she is pregnant. Imagine the whispers! She gives birth to the child, and then on the eighth day they break with all tradition and name him John, a name found nowhere in their lineage. As soon as Zacharias complies with Gabriel’s final decree, his tongue is loosed, and he announces to all the onlookers that this is to be the prophet they have all been waiting for these four hundred years. Had his conception and birth been ordinary, this child would not have caused such a stir, or such expectation (Luke 1:65-66). That’s one reason why the Lord probably chose an elderly, faithful couple to be the parents of John the Baptist. But I suspect the other reason is because Elizabeth and Mary were close relatives (Luke 1:36). (In my retelling, I imagined that she was her great aunt, though the scriptures don’t say what their exact relationship is.) They obviously knew each other well, though, because Mary goes to stay with Elizabeth for three months. This close relationship with another woman who had a miracle pregnancy was probably very important for Mary, who was being asked to take such an enormous step of faith, knowing she would be ostracized for getting pregnant out of wedlock. Not only does Elizabeth’s pregnancy confirm Gabriel’s words for Mary, but then the Lord reveals to Elizabeth that Mary, too, is pregnant, by the Holy Spirit, and with the Son of God (Luke 1:42-45)! I’m sure Mary very much needed this confirmation of the angel’s word to her, and the encouragement. While scripture never talks about the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist as children, given the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth and the prophetic connection between the two boys’ lives, they must have known each other before they each stepped into their ministries. And Jesus was born “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4-7); he could not have come any earlier than He did. His forerunner had to just barely precede him. So had the Lord granted... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's podcast comes from this blog post: The Anti-Aging Nutrient You've Never Heard Of. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's podcast comes from this blog post, Health Benefits of Algae. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's podcast is a meditation on the scriptures of our identity in Christ, from the verses below. Who We Are and What We Have In Christ "Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith” (Romans 1:5) “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2). “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9) “when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son… how much more… shall we be saved through his life!... rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:10-11). “those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (5:17). “through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (5:19). “Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, [so] we too may live a new life” (6:4). “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11). “you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God” (7:4). “we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code” (7:6). “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (8:1-2). “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you” (8:9). “you received the Spirit of Sonship… Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (8:15, 17). “And those he predestined, he also called; those he called; he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (8:30). “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (8:37). “you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another” (Romans 15:14). “in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge” (1 Cor 1:5). “we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us” (1 Cor 2:12). “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16). “All things are yours” (1 Cor 3:21). “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11). “the man who loves God is known by God” (1 Cor 8:3). “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Cor 1:20). “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Cor 2:14-15). “in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God” (2 Cor 2:17). “Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 3:4-6). “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18). “through God’s mercy we have this ministry” (2 Cor 4:1). “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is... Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.