I wasn't originally going to do this poem. First of all, thank you to Jankinol, the engineering client and all of the Litquake staff. This is just a tremendous honor to be here. Tremendous honor to read with all these very, very talented poets today. It's a big thrill for me. I wasn't going to read this poem originally, but my wife talked me into it. So this is called the ninth. It doesn't mean the ninth inning. You'll see why at the end. There's a feeling you artistic types perhaps know in relation to the perfect creation, that poem that poured from your heart through your arms out your wrist onto the page in five minutes or less. A poem that needed one edit at most, even that one questionable, such a beautifully crafted poem like it wasn't even you who wrote it. Your beautifully crafted poem quickly made the final round of an esteemed local literary magazine contest. Your beautifully crafted poem quickly made the final round of an esteemed local poetry slam. Your beautifully crafted poem quickly garnered you an orgasm with the most beautiful person, with the most beautiful genitalia you could possibly hope to share an orgasm with. But that's not the feeling I'm talking about. I'm talking about the feeling the day after, when the most beautiful person with the most beautiful genitalia has gone back to their life. When the poetry slam is looking for a new champ and the local lit mag has a new deadline. And you are alone with your beautifully crafted poem and all the space on the page after. And that is how God felt on the eighth day and why war was created on the ninth. This poem I dedicate to my teacher, my great teacher, David Meltzer. This is called Rabbinical Rant 168. Why do so many poets spend so much time crucifying so many other poets? Because there can't merely be cleverness. There can't merely be virtuosity for virtuosity's sake. There must be humor. And humor means someone's going to get hurt. There must be humor or we will be dragging the corpse of academia around with us forever. And perhaps that's why we perpetuate this game as business of usual. What is the passing of the moment? But an interlude between all of these lyrical preludes, where all we're really hoping to do is break out our galleries of adjut porn. Wasn't it romantic remembering our individual points in the high points of a history that pointed towards a source we all came here to search for? An Easter egg hunt for common consciousness by poets who just so happened to be the first lawyers, poets who just so happened to be the first tag artists, poets who just so happened to be the first clergy in an Eden of their making. But if you want prayer, you must take the hajj of your life into the big theater for hymnals and chants of the interior body. Some poets just don't have what it takes to love Lilith, though she's there for us all.  She's the medicine you need. This brother with his baby girl on the train wants so badly to be loved by the young teen dreamers all dolled up for the season. But the baby girl squirms. She's breaking his cool down in front of the hotties, a man unbabed by his baby. And taint the first time this train has gone down the path of the secular hand. No. Some poets just don't know Lil. But you don't have to baller to love her. Break it down like you mean it, brother.  Reminding us how close we lounge to the reptiles in the big theater? And after all that is said and done, there's still the moment, crying out for your attention, still crying out for your naming. And once you've engaged in this process, you'll never be asked to stop. You'll be lost in a wide open mouth, lost in a process of singing, smoking, sucking, licking, eating, gnashing, swallowing, breathing, all in search of a construct which may or may not belong to God. And all the while you must keep in mind somehow that this is always, always a two-way street. Do you want to record the death and decay of Western society? Well, please do take a number and stand in line. Work sets the self-analyzing monkey free. In this elegy, poet, seduce thyself and know that the inner heaven cylinder is the place that you will see through constructs. Man, I tried to be an atheist. I tried not to believe. But ever since night came to the Mojave redlands, the exorcism never stops. And language poetry, thy cup runneth over and spills out into the greater Los Angeles basin with no regard for whom you may drown along the way. But the survivors will be stronger in the end for this flood over the stage is, over the world, is a stage that the Great Curtain is a colonizer of context beneath which the wizard is naked and horny and leering at Dorothy. But at least we have the United Auto Workers to thank for reminding us why Hegel keeps hanging around like a true jazz man, riffing the apocalypse fantastic from the brim of his felt, pork pie special, all the while asking that we crucify him so that a prophecy might come true. Thank you, San Francisco.


What's going on everyone Sam here with late in sports guards, and I'm ripping five packs of 2022 national silver packs for Luke. Oh, so good luck Luke Here we go, man. Luke is in chat right now. This is already sick Jonathan Taylor gold What is this gold splash LeBron James 17 out of 25? boom Right there Congrats Luke. Let's go man all the way from London Luke is supporting us. Congrats, buddy. Let's go nice brawn Little go straight into a mag Riley green and orange Tom Brady there you go 113 out of 199 congrats man. Let's go Nice Brady Vladdie purple Carl Anthony Towns 23 out of 25. Let's go. I Agree with you artists. I love these silver Killing it right now Two packs to go here we go Got Steph Curry and Henry Davis orange 109 out of 199 There you go Luke last pack for you, buddy Kyrie kill as a dolphin and red Steph Curry 87 out of 99 That'll do it for your break there Luke congrats on the hits man. We'll get them right out to you


Ahead on early birds the scoreboard says it all week one the Falcons against the Visitors what better way to start the season than rivalry week and who better to sit down with than the unicorn himself Plus could the mailman deliver a hyphen trophy to Athens that and so much more ahead on early birds Up in your favorite Joe and let's talk Falcons football on early birds presented by Mercedes Benz Oh, good morning, and welcome into early birds. He's DJ. I'm Justin. I can hardly contain myself. Oh, man It's go time the season is here Falcons debut tomorrow against the Saints That's a good way to start. We'll start things off with the opening drive Falcon and Saints tomorrow here on Fox 5 and the return of an old friend James Winston, but shot this might not be the handout interceptions like candy. James. We know so well Yeah, I think his time behind Drew Brees has really helped him He's become a better passer a guy who doesn't take as many risks as he did in the past last year in 2021 before he got hurt 67% of his passes were 10 yards or less So he does a good job of just trying to complete the ball not completed to the other team So don't expect Justin to be James to throw it to other teams this year because he's learned a lot from being with Yeah, 14 touchdowns only three picks last year before he got hurt. Here's AJ Turrell Still just watch the film but just trying to get any any little details any little you know hints and stuff That we just pick up on and just being able to apply it on game day They just got a lot of weapons. You got to respect everybody, but at the same time just go out there and compete As we continue on the opening drive We should finally get a look at most if not all of this Falcons offense for really the first time on the field at the same time So I've for a handful of snapshot in the preseason, but what should we be looking for? I think you're gonna see a totally different office than you've seen in the last 14 years Because no matter run now you have a different style of quarterback now You get an opportunity to see a lot of different weapons. Sometimes you may see Cowpets back in the backfield you may see CP in the backfield with Damian Williams There could be a lot of wrinkles I think inside of this offense that the fans will be excited to watch and I'm glad we get a chance to see a lot of them now Not preseason now you get a chance to see a fully entire ball game And one of those playmakers is in Lincoln making his Atlanta debut receiver Brian Edwards You know, I feel like we can be explosive We have a lot of different weapons a lot of people a lot of different people that can do different things So I feel like we can each carve out our own role and just help this team win And as we wrap up the opening drive DJ starting strong, it's always important But especially so this year considering the Falcons first seven games that they're brutal makes that all the more in part Important to try and start one or no Yeah, just make a good point This is going to be a brutal schedule like you mentioned you want to start fast You want to be able to get out and get a win especially at home to get a division rival Let's start fast simply because it gives your team a lot of confidence You're your fans a lot of confidence to be able to come back out and watch you So let's start this thing the right way and get a dub at home and game number one, especially against those saints Well, welcome into early birds alongside DJ Shockley. I'm Justin Felder Falcons and Saints tomorrow right here on Fox 5 in Atlanta Also trying to avoid how they started last year all that promise all that it's excitement and ugly 32 to 6 loss at home to the Eagles That wasn't good. That was a big opening statement for Jaylen Hurst He came out and play well ran around through the ball well So we don't want that same thing to happen here with the aintes coming to town Yeah, especially considering who you're playing all right shot against the Falcons the fans are hoping the Saints come up Trombone shorty come up short. Oh, yeah, I like Trombone short These music references are a lot harder than I thought they would be all right go warm up the telestrator I'll consider my script You but first if you look down a wide-open fairway anywhere in Georgia You might just see a unicorn coming towards you falcons tight end who can do everything is adding a new sport to his arsenal Golf and for tight end Kyle Pitts. That's been the best place to get to know his new quarterback Marcus Mariota I spoke to Kyle Pitts one-on-one and got the 19th hole details on their golf games You're standing in a t-box with him par 4 who's got the longest drive I Competitively, I'm gonna say me But now he's been playing longer than me. So Marcus. He definitely hits the ball up for me. Okay, Marcus off the tee Let's say you guys are both in the middle of the fairway 150 yards out. Who's closest to the pin? I'm a sticky. Okay, but he's really good. So I'm not gonna try and discredit him. He's like really good I'm mentally I'm a beat him. So I'm a talk trash. All right, so the mental game That's that's up around the green 10-foot putt you guys can both make it Who makes it more often? Probably him. Oh, okay. It takes a big man to admit that Yeah, truth is set you free and I definitely don't hit those 10-foot sometimes I too put you spend a lot of time with Marcus with a New quarterback obviously out here on the practice field in the facility What kind of things can you learn about him out on the golf course in three or four hours that you can't learn on a Football field like life skills In your relationship in your faith Financially wise I can go on and on because our first conversation, you know, we just was out playing and we just you know Carrie just trying to get to know each other and then he just was telling me his routine different things like that So just different things like I can nitpick and you know, maybe take from whatever was in that conversation into You know my regular life. What feels different going into year two for you I would say a lot feels different because my confidence from one Knowing that I know where to line up now is how can I beat you? How fast can I beat you and you know, how can I mention to beat you? We're sitting in these really cool refurbished suites here at the Ben's got the Saints coming into town I know you grew up in Philly. So you knew the Eagles rivals. You went to Florida. So, you know some great college rivalries How do you describe the Falcon Saints rivalry? I feel like I didn't really understand it until like last year or this offseason I was talking to real Falcon fans and it's telling me how bad it is and I was okay It's kind of like photo for the state or for the Georgia. It's a big game is scrappy competitive I think it's gonna be packed. It's gonna be you know, make the game more intense There's all the projections and the records you set last year and the NFL top hundred things like that Do you feel like you can be one of the best tight ends in this game? Yes, sir Any DB I'm gonna put my best foot for any linebacker anybody any DN linebacker try and show people number one winnings The most important things Super Bowls are the most important thing. I get it Is it important to you to be known as the best or one of the best at your position? Yes Why is that? I mean selfishly speaking, I want to be the best at tight end But also I want to help do my part in this team and you know help this team win games And we all we all go to Super Bowl last thing I want to ask about I saw the post on Instagram Seeing everywhere at the photo shoot the rows and there's a story behind that is it was I was trying to do the Allen Iverson the sports illustrator nice. How do you think it turned out? I think I look pretty good I was doing it for one of my photographer friends. Okay, I came up the idea. So I was like sure I was pretty optimistic about it at first. I didn't want to do it, but I was there It's time to get some game and tell from shock. You're invited into the film room. So cut the lights. Let's get started We look at his father's offense everybody's wondering will they be ready for Sunday? Will they be ready for the Saints is the timing there? Well, let's go back to preseason game number two that shows you the timing is there for the Falcons This is the touchdown here to alarm days the kids the kids are he's gonna run a skinny post over the top But the timing of this route and Marcus, Mariano, what are you doing with his head? This is the guy he has to control now other guys have to do their job as well This inside receiver hasn't got an inside release and he has to go across his face here Now that will take this defender out. Now you got the back coming out running a little out route That takes away this flight defender. So now all you have back here is this safety you have to worry about now The play gets started once you watch his eyes. Look at Mariano's head. His head is here But he's holding that safety right in the middle of the field now This guy did a good job of cutting across his face now that guy's out of here by him going vertical It keeps this guy in the middle of the field Ozzie does a good job what we call stacking him when I say stacking he takes outside release But he gets back on top now He can win across his face and now the ball has to be on time That's the most important part of here is the ball being on time watch for this ball That ball is out of his hand and look where Ozzie is Ozzie hasn't even hardly came out of the break yet and this ball comes right over here this is a nice job of Timing and precision and it does a good job of coming out of it and is up in a touchdown play These are the type of plays that his offense will create and Marcus Mariota and Ozzie and his other receivers I think they're on time Justin Oh, thanks shock That's what they want to see more of tomorrow against the Saints We've got more coming on early birds is it possible Stetson Bennett makes his way into the Heisman conversation Michael Jenkins weighs in plus Just continue to tell myself as you breathe breathe so I can see the ball better The segment is called going deep and he is a going deep specialist We go deep with Olamide Zaccheus next on early birds Falcons fans score a touchdown with low tire prices at Mavis tires and brakes the official tire retailer of the Atlanta Falcons Visit Mavis Tire calm the finder store near you Presented by Mercedes Benz the best or not And bought to you by Georgia lotter today could be with the board to you by truest B&T and Suntrust are now truest here again. It's Fox 5 Welcome back into early birds and we welcome former Falcons receiver Michael Jenkins talking a little college ball Georgia they got Samford today with all due respect to Samford. We're gonna find a different topic. Yeah, let's talk about the quarterback Right Stetson Bennett people are using the h-word with him Heisman. Should the mailman be in the Heisman conversation? Why not? I mean his guy just came off a natty. He went eighty percent Completion percentage three hundred seventy yards a couple touchdowns.  Definitely in the race. It was an incredible win against Oregon 368 yards passing two touchdowns. He ran for another one and Jake I'm even seeing NFL folks that the draft experts say could he be an NFL prospect Is that too much or is it possible? No, definitely possible Okay, this guy can play and so he's proving it and he'll continue to prove it all year long the mailman What an incredible story from walk on to this ad Mitchell one of his top targets had this to say This is his third year with coach marketing. Yeah, so he was I mean he looked Extremely comfortable. He looked like he was in full control, and it felt like it was So, you know, it was His third year if you look at his 10th year at this point But that's a bit sets of Bennett and Georgia hosting some other Bulldogs Samford at 4 p.m.  I'm sorry, and it wasn't pretty so of course They see what app state did put up 40 points in the fourth quarter on North Carolina So they're thinking they can do the same only a you know seven point dog So we'll see what happens. Yeah in Georgia State like you mentioned they even they played South Carolina last week They hung with the SEC school before ultimately losing of course few years ago. They beat Tennessee They didn't they have to feel pretty confident How big would that be for this program that they're building there to put this on their resume? This would be huge I mean a program that's only with 12 13 years in right them to be playing the competition They're playing and having a team like this power five comes to their place. I get a win at home It'll be huge looked good against South Carolina Sean Elliott disappointed with that loss But thinks it'll help the Panthers today. I Want you to know we have a talented football team We have a hard-working football team. We have a gutsy football team and I think we're gonna grow I think learning from the struggles that we had tonight in the areas that we did I will only make us better and prepare us for next week And finally it sounds like those those folks in Baton Rouge The welcome mat is wearing a little thin with new coach Brian Kelly. There's that that viral video this week He kind of chatted a reporter for being late to a press conference reporter said Maybe if you won I'd be on time. They step back at him. That was great. That's a bold move But man, it's it's getting a little bit the seats not quite warm yet. Oh, not yet, but the honeymoon is over I mean he's done all the speeches and you know the accent right came up with so he's he's an SEC country He's not a Cincinnati's not Notre Dame and it's time. They brought down a win football games Yeah, what does he need to do? I mean he needs to win But is it a style is it just that personality? Well, it's just him I think he's trying to you know, win everybody else over with this kind of different personality But just be him and do what he's always done to win football games. LSU will try to write the ship I know Ohio State you're predicting another big win today over Today, Arkansas State tough one today. All right shock We'll see if Ohio State can handle things and your dogs can do the same should be a fun one DJ will send it over to you All right, Jay and Jay you guys like that jink and just no male. Okay, maybe to stick We'll see. All right, if I was hoping for some big plays down the field to help beat the Saints tomorrow And one of their best downfield threats is a llama days the kids He says the key to catching deep passes is taking deep breaths.  It's hard to see the ball So like one thing I just you know, just continue to tell myself as you breathe breathe so I can see the ball better And if you can see the ball like it's just about catching the ball after that you try to look around late for it I mean are there look, you know, are there little ways that you can keep the defender from you know jumping on? definitely just depends on how the ball is thrown where the defenders at little things like that, but Little nuances here and there nothing too crazy, but just pen it depending on ball when defenders at Well, we've got more to come on early birds including asking Falcons fans to do the unthinkable Say something nice about the Saints. I hope you're sitting down for this one You're watching early birds Presented by Mercedes Benz on your official home for Falcons football Fox 5 and Lynn Well, the training room is a sacred space for NFL players pre-game during the game and post-game in Mercedes Benz stadium The Falcons have some of the best equipment and treatment areas that players may need Dr. Kyle Hammond walks you through what the room looks like inside the locker room and this week's emory road to recovery In the training room here, we have You know a line of training room tables that are for players both pre-game During the game and post-game to receive various types of treatments and so a lot of things are utilized besides just kind of topical massage ointments and Taping and padding and things like that, but we also have machines like this which is a game ready which would be hook up to a Compression type wearable item that you would wear on a various joint. That's usually a recovery method It's kind of icing and compression at the same time So if a guy got their knee or their ankle injured or something like that They may go into that post game to start the recovery process or just for general inflammation We have ultrasound machines as well we have Red laser machines things that are used for not only treatments for various issues or inflammation issues and soft tissues but also for warm-up methods to have warm-up soft tissues sometimes create, you know Blood flow generate warmth generate an anti-inflammatory effect to help with the warm-up process But can also be used in the recovery process as well More to come on early birds Falcon fans beat the bigger person. It's time to be nice to the safe We'll try our best next on early birds It's been presented to you by Mercedes Benz the best or nothing Falcons fans score a touchdown with low tire prices at Mavis tires and brakes the official tire retailer of the Atlanta Falcons Visit Mavis tire calm the find a store near you Falcons fans Saints fans can't we all just get along nope No, it's never gonna happen. All right We sent Miles Garrett out with the toughest job in the 404 get some Falcons fans to say something nice about the Saints Good luck. My Oscar look Who is your favorite team in the NFL gotta be the Falcons? What do you like about the Falcons? Well, I've been a I was hometown fan Color scheme always got to me and you know, it's just it's something about root for the home team I just love it Jake. How big of a Falcons fan are you? My favorite team in the entire universe favorite player Cowpets are you guys big Falcons fans? Huge Falcons fans. What is one nice thing you can say about the New Orleans Saints? Falcons open up against the Saints this weekend pretty friendly rivalry Would you say so?  What's one nice thing you can say about the Saints? What's one nice thing you can say about the New Orleans Saints? Make sense Bourbon Street is the best place on earth, but that's about all they got nothing else. No, absolutely not No No, I can't actually now that took a lot just the first one So yeah, not if you guys had to say one nice thing about the Falcons rival the Saints. What would you say? No, I can't say No, no, I'm trying really hard here. You know forms are cool. I guess, you know that black-and-goal plays really well Yeah, no, no, that's it. I Feel the last guy do I have Nothing really good to say or think about the Saints of me, right? I think the puppies made some good points about the football analysis We might actually invite them on as a guest host next week. All right If you want to go to more Falcons game this season just scan the QR code you see here for details The code will also send you to the Falcons season ticket page packages are available now for the exciting new season head And that starts off with Falcons and Saints tomorrow. Give me a match-up to watch shock Alvin Kamarovos are linebackers Michael Walker Those guys keep him under wraps because he's usually a big part of their offense It's a team effort containing the Norcross High School alum. That's true He always seems to have a big game in store for his hometown team. All right. Thanks for joining us They'll be a fun game tomorrow for DJ Shockley. I'm Justin Felder. See you here next Saturday. Have a good morning and a great weekend


What's going on everyone? Sam here with late in sports cards doing a rip in 2020-21, Community Donnerous Optic Basketball Retail, five box break, number 30. Random team style, here's a look again at your random results. As always, you can find these on the website under the results tab, as well as the link in chat. Do you hear that? Those are true. Oh, okay.   Oh, it was a barking. All right, good luck, everybody. That was weird. I think Alex is like barking out there or something. That dude needs help. All right, good luck, everybody. Let's do some optic retail. Unless we get an auto, probably won't be a recap on this unless there's an auto or something like load numbered. Every now and then, you'll snag like a blue or something. It'll sneak its way into here. Triggered your Kerkle baseball for that Mike Trout. Anthony Edwards, nice Ant-Man. My house, man. Kassha Stanley, got Jason Tatum. I didn't enjoy that. Now he just made me do it for the rest of this break, so. RJ Hampton, purple, my house, Paul George. I hope we do have some full boxes of splashes. Purple, Cody Zeller. Onyeka Kongwu.  This is just memes of you guys being terrible. Yes, pretty much. Purple, Lonnie Walker. At least you can laugh at it. Yeah. Any of D, there's a Expresslane AI on the refractor, or the Hollow. Savinly, Expresslane Luca. Stay at home, Brad, just followed. What's up? Stay at home, Brad. Savin' both. Isaiah Stewart, Hollow, Andrew Wiggins. Let's have both. Clint Capella and Onyeka Kongwu. Payton Prichard. Purple Shea. Gilgis Alexander, that is. Nessmith. Purple Air Defense is Bayamata Bayamata, for EAT. Interesting answer. Gajmaes Ramsey. Expresslane Ben Simmons. Robert Woodard. Purple Zion, nice one there. Intelligence. Which one, the Air Defense? Yeah. I like that one. Seekbei Rookie and Hollow Luca, nice one there. You invested, all right, well that's your first problem, you invested in Nyeka Kongwu. That's your own doing. All right, Flynn. Purple Desmond Bain. Does that one double-loatings?  My house, James Harden. Air Defense Lebron.  Onyeka Kongwu owns your franchise. Patrick Williams. Rookie. Larry Bird. Zeke Najee. Hollow Onyeka Kongwu now. He's still buying the dip, boys. Just keeps on dippin'. Waitin' for the dip, then. T-minus, Jason Taylor. Turn it around. All right, box two. Purple Anthony Davis. Color match. James Wiseman Rook. Press lane, jungle. Winner stays. Invest in Mario Zonia, yeah. There you go. That's the move, right there.  Ah, yeah. Very. Manual quickly. You got a hollow Lamello ball. Nice one there for Justin T. in the Hornets. Great hit. Is it like he's bad or he's on a bad lead? He's bad. He was the fifth overall pick. Vernon Carey Purple for the Magic in 2015. And just was absolute trash. That's your belt, though. I don't, I'm trying to learn. He's trash. He's trash. He's actually trash. Trying to learn. Geez. Killian Hayes. My house called George. He's, don't worry. I'm livin' up to my Riddler name. You could fully go ahead and call Mario Zonia trash. Purple hold. Oh, you have my permission to call Mario Zonia trash. Wow, Forrest is here. Hazoja. Mario Hazoja. Super Mario, that was his nickname. Hazoja. Air defense bam out of bio. Jalen Smith. Hello, Deer and Fox, Expresslyn. Forrest is out here threatening. I do remember LeBron. I do remember when he blocked LeBron. Game winning block on LeBron. That was kind of wild. Expresslyn, that's like his career highlight. That's like his one highlight. If you look up Mario Hazoja highlights on YouTube and you watch the one minute and 12 second video that's probably up there, that takes up most of the time. T-minus Jimmy Butler. How their hero without the skills the backup is done. Oh, God. I don't understand how we just, Cole Anthony. Forgot this is the Mario Hazoja fan club in late in sports cards chat. Forgot about that. Bunch of Mario Hazoja truthers. Purple Killian Hayes. Winner stays, Larry Burr. Desmond Bain Rookie. Purple Mitchell Robinson. No, I know. Illegal says Hazoja was trash. See, yeah, illegal's on your side. Yeah, Forrest, sure. See, illegal ever on your side. Is it illegal in any way side besides skills? No, I've had it. All right, Sean Isaac Acura. My house, Jimmy Butler. Chasing Tatum T-minus Purple. Bradley Beale, who he said? Like the flash zone or the flash. Yeah, yeah. That's a goal explosion in Rocket League too. Is it? Yeah, I think it's like, it's just like there's like a voice goes splash. No, no, they're not drunk. They're, it's retail. So you get like maybe one a case, maybe two a case. They're very short printed. Manual quickly. I bet you can play Rocket League before night. Hey, I'm in on Snoop Huntley making the Pro Bowl. Same amount of Pro Bowls as Joe Burrow. Winner stays, Jason Williams. Is Tyler Snoop Huntley. Desmond Bain. Play Griffin Hollow for the Pistons. Pistons. Vaughn, you ready for 2016-2017 select today? Ready for some names out of there. Chris Middleton, Purple. Select basketball. Aaron Nessmith. Nice. I'm the signature series auto for the Celtics. There you go, Boston. Congrats on that. Dennis H. Purple J Val. By Anthony Davis. Snoop Huntley. Ah, it's Pro Bowl or Snoop Huntley you're talking about. Purple Jared Allen. Ready to pull some Dante Smata-Hunus. And Greg Monroe. Some Scala Bissier Heat. Cole Anthony. Chris Don. Sure, it's your phone. Jimmy Butler. Sure it is. Sure it is. That's what I always say. You got an Android show.  Still not good. I still can't type. True, fair, fair. Winner stays Shack for the Lakers. Hollow. Ooh, there should be. There should be some Dante-Hunus. I mean Dante Axum. I thought Dante Axum was going to be so good, dude. Oh, wow. Change just saying what we were all afraid to say. John Wall, Purple Express Lane. Saying that. Way too controversial coming from Shane. Shane's going to have to get timed out for that one. Way too controversial to take. That's Bouquet. There's Hollow Big Nerk. Jackson Hayes. Will he die on that hill? I wanted Dante Axum to be so good, dude. I love Dante Axum. I have a Dante Axum shirt jersey. James Wiseman. That's Isaac Coro, Purple. I also thought Emmanuel Moudier was going to be a stud out. I also own an Emmanuel Moudier shirt jersey. You're going to sell it? No. No one's going to buy that. I used... I also own a King's Willie Collie Stein jersey. Shirt jersey. As well as a Chandler Parsons Maverick shirt jersey and a Michael K. Gilchrist Hornet shirt jersey. Sounds like you own a lot of bad shirts. I do. I own a lot of bad shirt jerseys. Is that your... Is that like your collecting style or is it a bad jersey? No, I just like to get the ones that were random like that people didn't have and just hope that maybe they'd be good. What's up, Pimp? It's like what I do with football cards? Yes, exactly. Oh, I think Palo Bancaro is going to be a superstar for us. I'm going to get a Palo Bancaro shirt jersey. Obi-Toppin. James, though. Stop rooting for young guys. There's Kevin Durant. James, there's whole career right there. I did. I wonder who my big investment of 2014 was for football. Paul Richardson of the Seattle Seahawks was my guy. That didn't work. Purple, Dante, Devin, Chenzo. Oh, and me and Jacob, I'm going to buy them all. I'm going to buy them all. Hey, true. It's very true. You won't fill out any 22-23 NBA breaks. Very good point. J.D. McDaniel. Splash. Damien Lillard. You like that? No. No. I should get a Scrooge jersey. I want to get a Scrooge jersey just for the culture. There's Lamello Ball. It's just for the... Hollow is Yanisantana Kubo. Just for the bit. Just for the shtick. I want to get a Scrooge jersey. Purple, a little precious, a Shua. There's Splash. Kemba Walker. There's a lot of splashes in this box. I don't like this.  Oh, a Scrooge would be the CFL MVP. Be a great Cup MVP if we're being honest with ourselves here. Tyrese Maxi. There's Yanisantana Kubo. Oh, that's tough salvation. That's tough. Here's a question. Oh, yeah. I'm with you. Sal. There's CJ Elby. I have about 30 of his rookie cards in my house. Anyway. Who, Scrooge? No. Oh, J.D. and Raker. Raker. Yeah, I know. It's not great. If Scrooge wins either the USF or XFL just blew up, would you block them? Desmond Bain, probably. Kemba Walker. But then you get expensive.  And he's like, well, he was in the NFL and was not a stud. Cole Anthony. My house hollow is Kyrie. Illegal. Did you fall into the jail and ring your trap? Yeah, Tray Jones. I can imagine. That'd be so funny, Patrick. Good God, man. Isaiah Thomas. Purple Keldon Johnson. Patrick is legitimately the only Bengals fan. I kind of feel sorry for. I didn't know that, illegal. Hollow Tyrell Terry. You're the only one I'm like, genuinely like, I feel kind of bad that your team's out. Everybody else I don't care about. Purple PJ Tucker, because Patrick's actually cool. Like Matt, Matt's a Bengals fan. Whatever. Glad they lost. If I pull a Sam Decker auto tonight, all right. Bat Forest, that Sam Decker coming in. Sam Decker better be coming through now. What sport is that? Basketball. Splash. Step Curry. Purple. Dude, that was constant. He was scary. Him and Decker and Frank. Minsky. Purple little KP. Jason Tatum. What do you say? I have like a dealer splash card. Marcus Smart Hollow. Yeah, it looks like it's just Splash-O. I think they lost in the finals. That was, they lost to Okafor's Duke team, I believe. Kira Lewis Jr. Purple. Yeah, they lost to, I just kind of know. I did not pre-order a Huntley Pro Bowl jersey, David. I promise you that. Winner stays Tim Duncan. That'd be pretty funny though. Yeah, they lost to, that was when Okafor won it, right? Because then Decker and Kaminsky were both in the 15 draft. Kaminsky went to where Charlotte and Decker went to the Rockets, I want to say. Obi Toppin. Oh, that count. That was cool. Has that done a sureer? Probably, it's that four shots. That sounds like someone who doesn't have a lot of players on their team in the Pro Bowl. Lamello Ball. Yep, that counts. Sounds like someone who doesn't have a lot of players from his favorite team in the Pro Bowl that's hating. Sounds like a hater right there. Manuel Quickly. You're getting up to Sam level as a hate now for us. Geez, man. Frank Kaminsky is a Hawks legend right now. Hollow Drew Holliday. Drew Holliday. That works. What are you saying? It's a hollow of Drew Holliday, so Drew Holliday. Oh, okay. That's been Bane. That guy just tuned Sam out when he was breaking. Understandable. After like the first couple of hours was later. It's not worth it anymore. There's Steve Nash Express Lane, Hollow. Yeah, we just saw it Vaughn. That's Hawks legend and Thunder legend and Celtics legend, Dennis Schroeder. That's who you're watching. Splash. That would be a splash-o. Splash-o. The most casual half court shot you've ever seen. Pretty much. Purple in my house, Jason Tatum. Rockets legend, yep. Rockets legend is right. Cole Anthony Rookie. Purple Mello. I don't know, illegal. Maybe. Probably. Probably. Last pack. Precious Chua. Ben Simmons, Purple. We've got Aaron Nesmith. Auto for the Celtics. That'll do it for the break, guys. Thanks again for the fill. Next up, we've got the Optic Mix.


It's day one of training for the noble partner participants. The soldiers are learning from each other, like what the priorities of work are for a U.S. infantry platoon when setting up a tactical assembly here. It's been great. Once we get to this part, we're actually able to get closer to Bradley's and see everything we're doing. It works our better to get a lot more involvement, a lot more questions, a lot more integration. Soldiers also learn from Georgian instructors on the procedures of casualty metavag. As an instructor, but I also learned some news here, like with American procedures, and also we shared our experience to each other, so it's a good experience. Sharing experiences and procedures helps to prepare these soldiers if they are ever deployed together in support of the NATO Response Force. It's better to share your sweat in peace than share your blood in war. Learning from the Vaziani training area, Tony Sweeney, Army Europe, compares.


Right, so let's pray in line with what stitches that we read out. Let's pray. Father, we thank you.  And yes, Master, we thank you that you will establish our thoughts for the good, Lord, so that the words that we speak, God, will be the ideas we communicate, what we share will be, Lord, will be something that really is impactful, brings fruit, God, in people's lives. It is helpful, beneficial for their lives, Master. And also, Lord, we thank you that you direct our steps, Lord. You direct our choices, our decisions. You direct us, God. We thank you. And even to that end, Lord, we yield, we commit ourselves, Lord, so that you can direct us, God. Thank you for this promise. Thank you for this privilege that all of us can enjoy your directing. And yes, Lord, we choose to be sensitive to your direction. We choose to be sensitive and obedient, Lord, to your direction. We thank you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen, amen. OK. So the Lord directing us and we being sensitive to that, and also us committing this work to him, is especially when it comes to the last topic that we discussed last class, in leading people to respond to God's word. So that's something that we looked at. So when it comes to leading people to respond to God's word, it helps. You might have this thing, OK, maybe I can do these things, one, two things creatively. But the Lord actually would either give his approval on it, breathe life into that, or it could be the Lord directs, gives some fresh ideas, gives some inspiration, and say, OK, why don't you do this? And that would be always turn out for the best. And emotionally, we might not feel like it. But when we step in, when we just show up, when we step in, and start to do that, what the Lord is leading, then you begin to see the hand of God. And that further strengthens us, that refreshes us, in the Spirit, right? OK. OK, so today, let's look at, in continuing with chapter 12, leading people to respond, we're going to look at a few things about application. So you remember, we looked at making things relevant, so that people can actually apply the word, and apply the truth of what was shared. They can, people can apply it. If I can apply it, meaning if I can live it out, do it, then it's going to stay with me, right? But if it's something very abstract, and if it's not something that I can actually readily apply it, then it might stay for some time, but then I begin to lose whatever was shared. So it's good that I apply it. So the thing is, here are some guidelines for when it comes to application. OK, let's, excuse me, sorry. OK, here are some guidelines. Now, the application should not change the interpretation. Just give me a minute, sorry about that. OK, so the application should not change the interpretation. It's very important. So what do we mean by that, in the sense that the way you apply the word should not change the meaning of the truth that you shared? For example, if you look at some of these scriptures, let's say Romans 14, let's look at Romans 14. And Romans 14 talks about about receiving a person who is weak in faith and not allowing our liberty to hinder that person in any way, right? So the whole chapter talks about that. It talks about when we, it talks about, OK, somebody's observing a day, time, et cetera. And one person esteems one day higher than the better than the other, and let each one be fully convinced, right? And this goes on. The second part of it goes on to talk about the food. The first part also, one believes that one may eat all things and another one does not believe that way. So it goes on to talk about how this is what it ends, right? The chapter verse 21 onwards, it's good neither to eat mate or drink wine or do anything in which your weak brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak, OK? Now, for example, if you look at 1 Corinthians 8, let's quickly go there. OK, so 1 Corinthians 8 is, again, very clear about food awful to idols and about the eating of it. And so it's basically the same message, right? If this liberty of ours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak, OK? So now this is for a weaker brother, OK? It's very, very clear. In both these cases, it's about someone who is not mature enough in faith. It's about someone who is there. You have a scenario where there's somebody who is a strong Christian, someone who's not so strong as a believer, maybe a new believer. One has maturity to know that, OK, a food does not take one person away from God, so it's fine. Idol is not anything in the world who the true God is and so on. So that person believes that, OK, it's fine. I can do this. I can eat this. But the other person is actually hindered in their walk. Now, that is for a believer, OK? So the context is for a believer. It's not for an unbeliever, a person who is not a believer. That's the thing. So if you're using it in the context for making a non-Christian or somebody who is not a believer, then we are missing the whole point, right? So somebody is not a believer. Somebody is not having a walking with the Lord and you're using that, these principles, and you're saying, OK, therefore, you cannot do these things, then it is not applicable at all. So the thing is, we have changed the interpretation of it. We've changed the context in which both these passages are communicated. So it is not relevant. It's not for an unbeliever. It's for someone who is in the Lord. So that's a small example of how we can't use it in preaching a message. Then the second one is, there are a couple of other examples you can just go through it. The second one is if an application is given as an evidence, which is different from or broader than the application. Now, here we have this application. Now, it has a broader scope. Then there are some ways by which we can justify it. So we have this particular truth which is shared in scripture, and this is how it needs to be applied. But it can be applied in a broader sense also. So what things can I keep in mind? OK, let's look at two things. One, basic thing is just, does it appeal to common sense? Does it appeal to common sense? Does it appeal to common wisdom that this application cannot be expanded to a broader scope, to a wider range? So when we're saying, can it be applied in other scenarios also, which is not really described here. For example, 1 Corinthians 6 and verse 19, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Corinthians 3, we're talking about how our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6 specifically says, do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? So can I use that scripture to talk about, let's say, not smoking? So because if you see the context, it's about the spirit of God dwelling in me, and therefore I should not in any way defile the body, defile the temple, because I've been bought at the price, and it's actually talking about sexual immorality, if you read the previous verses. So can I use that in the context of anything else that defiles the body? Well, the answer is yes, you can. But it is something that is destroying the physical body, so you can use it, of course. So the scope of the application is widened, you can use that, but we should also know that that is not the context in which that truth is mentioned here, that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Fact is that we are doing something that is definitely going to be harmful to the physical body, and we can use it in that sense. You can apply it in that sense. So similar examples are here. There are several scriptures mentioned here, and you see that some would be, does it appeal to common wisdom? Yes, it does. Or there could be a language indicating that you can apply for other versus other scenarios also. If they're indicative of that, then we can apply it. So that's the second one. If the application has a scope for a wider scenario or different circumstances, different scenarios, I should check and use it. Because if we don't do that, then it will be forced application, which means it is actually error. We are bringing people unnecessarily under bondage, because it is we're not saying what scripture actually meant in that place, and we are applying it there. So anything that is forced, twisted, will not really bring life. So that's the thing. The third thing is that a narrative example cannot be imposed authoritatively. Let's look at a few examples here. When you look at Acts chapter 14 and verse 23, Acts 14, 23, so it says so when they had, Acts 14 talks about how they went in their second missionary journey, and then they did all these things. They went to all these places, preached the gospel, and then 23 says so when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. So the thing is that in the church, there are many leaders. It's not just one person who's a leader, but there are plurality, not just a singular leader. There are many leaders in a church, and that is very clear here. And also other places in scripture, we see that apostles, elders coming together, considering, so there is, yes. So you see that principle there, that Paul also talking about how he considered James, Peter, and others to be pillars of the church. So you know that. Let's look at one more verse, which does not seem to fit. Acts chapter one, if you just back up to Acts chapter one and verse four. And being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. This is the Lord's instruction to the disciples, the apostles, saying you wait for the promise of the Father. Promise of the Father, meaning the outpouring, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, saying you wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. You go down to verse 13, and they went up, they were praying, they were in the upper room, and they were praying, and I've listed on all these people. Verse 14 says, they all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and maybe the mother of Jesus and with his brothers. So they did that. So because the Lord had actually given them commandment not to move out of Jerusalem, but to wait there. So now to extrapolate that or to use that to apply in another scenario where if we say that in order for you or for one person to be filled with the Holy Spirit, one has to tarry or one has, that's the old English term for wait. We need to wait. We need to wait for n number of days. We need to wait in prayer. You need just like the Lord commanded, wait so that you may be filled with the Spirit for the promise of the Father. So we see that. So if we take that narrative, this is what happened. So that's a story, that's an incident, that's an account. So I take that narrative and say, okay, this is how it happened, therefore I also, therefore you also you need to tarry in order to be filled, in order to be baptized. Okay, that would be forcing the application. Why? Because this is one narrative. This is one account. And we read the other accounts when we read accept. Of course, accept two is a part of that when we read accept maybe nine and then we read accept a 10. And so on, all the other incidents of people being filled, people being baptized, you realize that, well, it was not so. In fact, accept a 10, Cornelius's house, as Peter was preaching, they were receiving, responding and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, right there and there. So this whole thing actually, this tallying actually happened in church history, right? We know that there was actually a teaching going around. One has to tarry, one has to sit, wait, even wrestle with the Lord. And then only then would you be filled with the Holy Spirit, would you be baptized with the Holy Spirit? So it was birthed from that, this application of this particular narrative. This was birthed from that place, right? So we don't see that. We don't see that in the rest of the places where people are just filled. So the narrative example, you cannot say, okay, this is how it happens with their form. You need to do this unless there is a principle. So you look at other things, you see that there is no other principle. The principle is that you're a believer and you come to the Lord in faith and you be baptized in the Holy Spirit, right?  So that's the principle. It's the principle of faith and not just tallying, okay? So these are just three examples or three guidelines for us when we make our application because we can be at the risk of, being, making things relevant, we should not fit in, try to like force the truth into that scenario, okay? Many times, people do that and the interpretation changes because they have not been really rightly dividing the word, okay? Okay, any questions here before we get into the, some of the practical aspects? No questions, Jafina, no question at all. Okay. Yeah, please, go ahead. Pastor, let's say, regarding in the printing scripture and while sharing with people, is it, can this be applicable culture-wise in the sense like there is a culture where people are okay to take wine, okay? So how do we present the truth? Can we, I don't know if the compromise is the right word, but talk about it. What do you think? Yeah, so something culturally, something like clothing and also, of course, it doesn't come into the same category drinking wine. But we know that we can actually present a view where, there's a lot of scripture about wine and about the demerits of it, rather that wine is a brawler, Rob talks about that and impairs judgment and all that talks about that. So I guess we can just present that and it also depends on, I'm just talking from experience, it just depends on, as a ministry and as a church, you know, what is it that you are, that you are, what is your value? Okay, now it's, we know the demerits of it, we know the dangers of it, we know the doors that open to it, but culturally it seems to be prevalent. So one of the two things, right, you co-counter culture and you say this is the truth and we as a church, we preach that, we share that, right? Now if you're, let's say you're part of a church and the leadership team and everybody indulges in drinking and then it's going to be tough. We can just present and say, okay, this is what scripture says and these are some of the dangers, these are some of the physical dangers to your body, these are some of the spiritual dangers and yeah, so that's the most we can do, but if you are a leader and God is interested to you as a leadership, then you can go ahead and present the truth in this way. So now your question is okay, now have we been truthful in applying the truth in or have we kind of compromised, right? So in the sense you have presented your views, it depends on who you are in that environment, right?  You know, we should not compromise. We should just say, okay, this is the truth, this is what the truth is. I know culturally this is what it is, but I won't be part of that, you know, to put us to take that stand. However, if we are in a place of, let's say, you know, if you are in a place of leadership or influential leadership and then I guess we can take that stand where we say, okay, this is what we believe as a church and this is how we are going to live this out as a church and stay true to that. Yeah, but sir, just to add to that, so let's say someone from your church is having a function, let's say housewarming or birthday party or something and they are serving wine. Okay, so it's a social, even it's not like alcohol, but you know, yesterday there is a homemade. Okay, so we can always abstain from it, but I'm just thinking like, should we teach that we are not following and if they are also part of your volunteer team members, volunteer team leader, how do we, because I'm just talking about Mangalore and they are very, honestly speaking, they're very socially involved and they have wine everywhere as far as we have seen. Right, right, right, yeah. Yeah, so the thing is, you know, with regard to volunteering, I think it's pretty clear what the expectations are. If you're volunteering in church, it is very clearly mentioned, no alcohol, no wine, no drugs, no smoking, whatever. So it's very clear, you know, you're representing the church, the ministry, which has this stand, so it's very clear. So it's easy to communicate to someone who's a volunteer in church saying, this is the stand of the ministry. So you're representing, you're being part of it. So that's clear. But otherwise, I think, yeah, people see you and you're toasting with a glass of water instead of wine. And those are teachable moments when people ask you that question, you know, why not? Why don't you do this and say, you know, this is what I believe in, this is a, and therefore I'm being true to this. True. So that'll be a teachable moment. And yeah, so we're not condemning anybody. Yeah, yeah. So what if, I'm just going one more step further. Yeah. What if they ask, you know, Apostle Paul also mentioned Timothy that he can have wine. So yeah, so whenever you have a stomach ailment, the question to ask is, do you have a stomach ailment? And yeah, why don't you take care of it? But we also have other things like not flogs and, you know, other drugs to take care of it. Yeah, so, yeah. So that's a thing, you know, it's, I know it's not a, when it comes to culture and when it's so intermingled with tradition, when it's so intermingled with, you know, the popular things of the day, then it's difficult to kind of extricate, okay, what is culture, what is truth? But I think it's important that we do that. And it, and be patient with it, you know, be patient with people also as they, and slowly they will come to see the truth of it. Yeah. So it's not a very, yeah, it's not a very watertight situation, you know. But for us, we can, you know, we can, and in fact, I think there's a whole sermon on this very topic, yeah, so we can share that, yeah. Yeah, so Sid came in saying in Delhi, people think if you are a Christian, then it was with drinking wine, yeah, correct, that's true. So, same thing, you know, and when I was working organizations, people said, hey, you must be at least drinking wine.  So yeah, so that's popular or traditional view, yeah. That's true. Okay, so we, so yeah, so we were talking about application of truth, and I think that's, that we went into these discussions, but it's good, yeah, it's good that we understand these things and we take a stand on these things, right? Okay, any other questions?  It's not in any way. It's not in, I'm just reading John's comment, yes. Time to have a meeting, volunteer team meeting, yeah. First of all, one more question. So we spoke about smoking and that any other scripture like which we can point out. For the body, yeah? Yes, Pastor. Yeah, the body actually talks about gluttony also, you know, being sin, right? So which is affecting the body, you know, weight-related issues, weight-related complications. So God really wants us to be functioning well. The body is a gift from God and he wants us to be functioning well to actually run the race well, right? So that's something that gluttony is sin that we can use. But particularly about smoking, I think this verse, 1.6 actually refers to that. Anything else that I can think of, John? Sure, yeah, yeah, okay, right, okay. Okay, so let's move on to chapter 13 and we're gonna look at some practical instructions, okay? Some practical instructions when it comes to ministering God's word. And we'll go through this before we go into, to just focus on the presentation of it, confidence speaking. And like I mentioned earlier, we're gonna look at some draw some, you know, insights from TED Talks, that is technology, education, and I always design the TED Talks. And also, you know, these are talks that are just 18 minutes, not Christian, secular, various topics, but we can learn a lot from presentation, right? From that, so we're gonna look into that, okay? So let's look at chapter 13. And, you know, first thing that we see is that, again, this is again a reiteration, Jeremiah chapter one and verse 12, that now God confirms his word. God is watching over his word to confirm it, okay? So several things here that we can learn, okay? One, let my content, the content of my message, content of my message, be the word, be the truth of God's word that I'm communicating, okay? So, because he watches over the word too, perform it, to confirm it, right? So let it be the truth of God's word. Let me speak as the oracles of God. Let me communicate that truth, okay? So that is one. The same thing is that when we know that this is the promise of God's word, not only in Jeremiah, but also in Hebrews chapter two and also in the book of Acts, we see that God confirms or gives evidence to the preaching of the truth with his presence and power, okay? So that gives us great reassurance, right? And the fact that we are partnering with him in this, we are privileged to partner with him in this, right? And that fills us with joy, that gives us great reassurance that God is actually doing this. God is confirming it. God is bringing evidence to whatever I'm doing. He's confirming it, but he'll do it when, sorry, when I make sure that I'm speaking as the oracles of God, and I make sure that I'm speaking, not from my own resources, but whatever God has put in my heart, right? And I'm depending on him and he will establish things, right? So that's the second point is that we deliver the word, but God will confirm the word, okay? Now, when it comes to confirmation of God's word, we may not always see immediate results, okay? But having said that, I just want to say that we will see immediate results as well, okay? So there are things that happen immediately because God's word functions in that way. There is that immediate that happens. There is that spontaneous thing that happens. How do we know that? Because we know that God's word is alive, powerful, Hebrews chapter four talks about that.  Now fire is immediate. It's something that you know that there's a fire, right? Visibly, there's some change that's happening. So it is immediate as well. At the same time, do not underestimate the longterm, right? Do not underestimate the longterm because Mark chapter four talks about, well, the word of God is like the soul went to the field to sow and the seed is the word of God. So we know that the seed takes time, right? But there is something that's happening. The seed has intrinsic power and life and when it is sown and it's in that environment, it is going to bear fruit, right? So do not get discouraged and we don't see the immediate but also expect the immediate because we know that this is the nature of God's word. Okay, so two things, right? So we can expect immediate and also never underestimate the timeframe or the process that it takes because it is working. The word will work in a person's life, right? But it needs to be mixed with faith and a whole lot of other things as well, right? So, okay, the other thing when we are called to minister the word, minister the word to edify, okay? Now you might ask, what if it's a birthday celebration? What if it's some get together? It's strange things happen, right? Somebody says, okay, birthday celebration, pastor, you share the word and it's the birthday of a one-year-old, you know? So what do you do? You share the word, share something. You don't have to go into a long message. Oh, I remember going to a birthday party of this similarly, one-year-old or two-year-old and then the person who prayed for the dinner for the food rather, so that person actually went on to preach a message starting from Genesis, went on to the cross, went on, oh, it was, it was misery.  So, you know, the other side of it. But the fact is, you know, we can always, you know, minister the word even in a similar setting, right? And I know quite recently, a couple of birthday celebrations and the Lord gave the word for the parents, not for the children, but for the parents and it was good to share that, right? Something simple, yeah, it was good to share that. So, preach to edify and never to entertain, okay? The fact is that if you're an engaging speaker and if you're, I don't know, maybe you're skilled with words and all that, then there is a temptation, okay? You know, you want the approval of people, maybe.  Of course, all that is valid, but you know, just maybe the temptation is to make people like you laugh and be engaging and all that. So, just think about the motivation, right? What is it that's motivating me to be right there, to minister the word, right? And think about the fact that it's a privilege. You've been invited, you know, you have an invitation, so you have an opportunity and it's not just to, you know, it is to edify, right? And entertainment in a sense, well, people will anyway enjoy as they are being edified. They will be comforted, they will be encouraged, they will be inspired, they will be motivated and of course, they will, you know, go home with a very wholesome experience, right? And all that stems from edification, being edified. But if it's only entertainment with the motive of being entertained, then all the other things may not happen, right? It'll just fall by the way, they may not be inspired, they may not be motivated, they may not be, you know, edified, it'll just be entertained. Oh, wow, it was a great message. What is it? I don't know, it was great, it was funny, right? So, be careful, think about it, okay? Also, the fifth one is to deliver the unadulterated word of God in all sincerity, okay? Let's look at a few scriptures here, second Corinthians two and so 17, verse 17. Paul says, you know, we are not as so many peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. Now, at the writing of this time, Paul, there were a lot of people who were actually ministering, in the name of ministry, they were traveling to churches, and so Paul is actually distinguishing between the true apostles and the false, and in doing so, he's saying, they are peddling the word of God, and the word used there is to adulterate, how you could take a liter of milk and then you add two more liters of water to it, and it becomes diluted, right? It's adulterated. So that's the picture we have here. So he's saying, you know, do not adulterate the word of God in order to set it, in order to make it palatable, or in order for acceptance, don't adulterate the word of God. And but, you know, sincerely minister, as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. So that's the, so that's the instruction we have. So, you know, let's not adulterate the word of God. And second Corinthians four, was one and two, says we have, therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. So here again, when it comes to the ministry, when it's handling the word of God, is very specifically saying, we have renounced the hidden things of shame, and we are not walking in craftiness, okay, in wanting to deceive people or manipulate people, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, like trying to use it as a means to get something, using the word of God in order to control your behavior for my benefit and so on. So very careful, especially the area of giving in the area of giving financially.  So putting people, fear in people's heart, right? And using the word so that you get something, so Paul is saying, we don't do anything, not in craftiness, not deceitfully, by manifestation of the truth, because the truth always liberates, like truth does not bring people into bondage, it liberates, it has its capacity to liberate, and the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. So he's saying by manifestation of the truth, by display of the truth, that is how we minister. So we minister the word in that way, okay? We also rightly divide the word of truth, second Timothy chapter two, and we won't go into that scripture, but Paul reiterates that you need to rightly divide, because the reason is this, if believing leads to conviction, leads to action, leads to destiny, right?  So a whole lot is actually linked to rightly dividing the word of God, okay? So interpretation to be consistent with the rest of scripture, of course, and avoiding arguments over words, second Timothy two verse 14, avoiding arguments over words, but to actually share something which is edifying, because of those arguments, there is strife and saying not to strive over words to no profit to the ruin of the hearers, right? Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord, not to strive about words to no profit to the ruin of the hearers, okay? So arguments on words, arguments on, maybe other things also, but there'd be no striving which because of which the hearer is not edified, okay? So do not do that, okay? Several things here, minister present truth, this is a big one, second Peter two verses one, two. So minister the present truth. So what do we mean by that? Let me say present truth, okay? So understand that we are in which dispensation we are in and what are the things that have been given to us freely by the Holy Spirit? Understand, walk in it, right? So this is what Peter says, right? Peter when he, second Peter chapter one, he talks about adding to your faith, and he gives several things that you need to add to your faith, meaning this needs to be part of your life. And then he says, if you do these things, you will never stumble. Verse 12, for this reason, I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth, okay? So the thing is this, yes? Understand what dispensation you are in, understand that you are living on this side of the cross, understand the aspect of the change in identity because of that, understand the work of the Holy Spirit, you know, understand your inheritance, all that you have in Christ, understand that. And the move that we are in right now, though the things restorative moves of God, God has brought back several things back to the body, back to the church, and the fact that there's a restoration of the apostolic, the prophetic, the teaching ministry, and all that God has brought about that restoration. And the present truth is that, that yeah, the saints doing the work of ministry. So saints are not spectators, right? Believers are not spectators. So if you're a leader in a church and you're shepherding a group of people, then it's not for people to just be a spectator, it's not for people to come and attend and be passive about it, but for them to discover the call, discover the gifts, experience, walk in it, and to go and do the work of ministry, right? Now that's the truth, that's the present truth, the fact that every believer is a minister, the fact that every believer can, and can manifest the gifts of the spirit, the fact that every believer can hear the voice of God, you know, and prophesy and deceive from the Holy Spirit, and all these things. So this is the present truth, right? So minister the present truth, just don't go and hold on to something which is in the old dispensation and forget the times that we are in, okay? Okay, so we have four more things, but yeah, we'll pick it up next class, okay? Thank you and God bless.