Sam here with late sports cards. We are ripping 23 Top Scrone Baseball Jumbo HTA eight box full case break number 16. Pick your team style, read out the list of our names in our teams. Here we got AJF with the Royals, Brian L. Rockies, Charlie C. Marlins, Chen-Z with the Blue Jays, David N. Yankees, Donald W. Pirates, Edward P. Astros, Edward E. Twins, Harold S. Rangers, Jeffrey H. Tigers Cardinals, Dodgers, Jim D. Redsox, Joseph S. Giants-Rays, Joshua H. Brewers, Kevin G. Padres, Kim J. with the Guardians, Kyle K. Nationals, Max T. Diamondbacks, Orioles, Ray G. Phillies, Roy M. Cubs, Ryan L. Whitesox, that is going to be Scott V. with the Athletics, Scott M. Metz, Seth B. Reds, Songla S. Angels, Steven U. Braves in Ye Lin C. with the Mariners. Good luck here, everybody. Thank you there. Kai picking up the Raiders tomorrow. Appreciate you, buddy. Here we go. Next, Top's Crone Case. Another one, Octoboad. Luckily, I'll be ripping Top's Crone for a while, everybody. So hope you are excited for some TC jumbo. Oh, there's the walking red card. Pardon, nothing. It is the biggest sign of disrespect in this entire place, is getting one of those cards. And you are at the top of the list, my friend. This means nothing to me. Nothing. All right, good luck, everybody. Jordan Walker. Did you bring your Spider-Man water bottle today? No, I actually forgot it at home, but the thing is money. Gausman, Prism, and Logan Webb. It's money. Evidently, being left off the trash list is a sign of disrespect. Did you guys do that this week? Christopher Morrell? Was I number one? No. No, I didn't see you for like, you know that first. Yeah. Who took the one spot? If I see you one day, even if it's not at work, you're on it. You just ruined my whole week. Who took the one spot this week? Lane. Really? Yeah. You ever driven in a car with Lane on the way to Kyle? Yeah, that he loved me. No. Corbin Carroll-Rookie? You ever gone 91 in a 55 for no reason? C-Kiltovar. Prism, Mark Vientos. Ree. And Corey Seeger. Let me double check. I think you do, Charlie. Let me see. I might have said the wrong name, accidentally. Charlie. Yes, you have the Marlins, Charlie. Yes, you do. I might have said the wrong team. Jay, picking up a tiered Crown Royale spot. Thank you, Jay. Is that the one right there? Shane, you're just coming back to you this week. What do I, Senga? We'll put it with your NT stuff to go back. James Altman. Rookie. Nolan Gorman. AC at the map. Who? The Air Conditioning. Oh, yeah. Michael Grove. Refractor. Rookie Auditor 499 for the Dodgers. Nice one there. I've never been more distracted by Air Conditioning. Forrest is three. Yeah. Shane or Hallie at five. Yeah. Hallie on there. She killed it. It was trash. That's illegal. Yep. Steve, Anthony, Kyle, Adam. Adam's the dude that went to the baseball game with us. Brett Beatty-Rookie. He's randomly walking down the road, so they may not get in the trash. Oh, oh, oh. Logan Hoppe. Yeah, yeah. That's pretty funny. Hey, what up? Thank you, Monty. Appreciate you, buddy. Monty. What up, Monty? There's Riley Greene, Mike Trout, and Herman Marquez. All the time he's in the trolls. Mm-hmm. I love that, Anthony. He does that. Anthony is my guy. There's Trish and Kossas. Even when I was in Coggle for eight months. Gunner Henderson? Of course. He was in their trolls. Kyle Stevenson in chat trolling you? Yeah. Jealous store. I love it. Anthony, please never change. No. Please never change, Anthony. Knock it off. Please continue trolling him as much as you possibly can. I've had it. Josh Young. Miguel Cabrera. Josh Smith. Gold 250. For the Rangers. Jay Smoove. Nice one there. Congrats. Texas, Josh Smith. Oh, you're good. You're good, Charlie. Yeah.  Yeah. Have you ever, like, never, never hesitate to ask a question like that? Odds are. I said the wrong name. Odds are. It's my fault. Strongly. Strongly. Potentially my fault. In that favor. Kyle Tucker. Matt Olson. Frism. And E. Guy Rosario. Refract. Sam, yeah. Sam needs to tighten up. You know who needs to tighten up? This chat. Yeah. And Sean needs to tighten up as well. There's Riley Green. Good. No. Gordon Alvarez and Attica Alvies. Massataka Yoshida, rookie. E. Dervish. Negative. Nate Eaton. Prism. Nolan Arnaud. Nolan Gorman, rookie. Pisteo Prism with Byron Buxton. No. Can't do it a minute. Outdoor and all of his people as well. And one confined space. Yeah, that's going to be brutal. I'ma start hydrating. Yeah, I was going to say, like, 3 days before. Kevali, Alex Bregman. There's a base auto masatake Yoshida going to the Red Sox grats on that Boston You're absolutely right Shane grats You're absolutely right but And Kyle's talker. I don't see him for a week. I know there's too much other nonsense that uh Yeah, that goes above instead. There's so many other people that need to be on this True Tony picking up a spot in 10 bucks. Thank you Tony. Tony why? Nill what up, dude? Lane got number one, that's awesome. I love how forest is three two four finally makes the list My boy can push some food down, dude. That's Yoshida's signal. I know that's a good one Brian. That's a really good one Can he really that's kind of surprising actually The leader don't need anything like it Lecox see with the spot. Thank you Lecox No problem Harold Thanks, uh, thanks Harold appreciate that man. Oh what did Chris uh Rebound happy for happy fourth birthday. Thanks. Yeah Thanks, Chris. There you go That's Kodai Senga rookie prism and George spring his dad asked me to go to his birthday party yesterday I didn't want to go because it was just like a spider-man party or something like this. No Yeah, Sean showed up in a spider-man footy pajamas. No, I was I I'm like, no I can't do that dance be swanson. I got a rep. I got a rep by uh A pole near and Jonathan a ronda. Yeah. Well, I we celebrate. I mean me and Heather are going out to dinner on Thursday, but um We uh, we just got back from New Orleans Masatake Yoshida That's my uh, it's Kunya and Chris sale factor My favorite part is the blue man The end of the year It's gonna have to be something really big done for that rocky diverge refractor Awards, yeah, that's what we should do. We should have like, uh, it should be like the Grammy trash Granted the yeah, we should have like the trans trash Grammys. Uh, there's no one Gorman. We should have like people. Thank you. Appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you Uh base auto Hayden was meski go into the cubs Top hats like in uh Dumb and Dumber Orange you walk in the orange and powder blue with a big old top hat Okay, I'm yeah, that's better than jigba. There's an Adley rushman. I'm down That will come up with different categories There's prism to our incarnacion and alex thomas Instead of the Grammy for the steamy Yeah There's Uh, Riley green Uh, to our incarnacion base auto go to the marlins. There you go charlie rats on that buddy. There is a little scratch on the top I'm gonna sign you an empty box and wrap her just to be safe. Michael toggly a refractive rookie Just to be safe on that doesn't look too too bad. You might be able to get it out if you try But obviously we're not gonna Not gonna mess with your card too much there charlie. It's still a nice one for sure Again guys six to go in severe Six to go in sapphire Let's get that filled up six to go you know where my uh My birthday dinner my restaurant of choice is gonna be which is really like a guilty pleasure All garden Is it really I love me some hall of garden, dude I could put away your own me too some past quality pizza There's michael harris sunday night. We're gonna go to kobe. That's my oh, yeah, zander bogart's. There's aswaldo cabrera Thank you mill and alex minoa Yeah, we're doing we're gonna do like uh the grammy's for the trash list at the end of the year the steamy's We're gonna come up with a bunch of different categories have nominations and winners Purple mini diamonds Michael grove hyper and cj is just gonna be a big stash Yeah, there you go That's fair. All right boys. Yeah, come on here. Goodbye kyle. Good birthday, sam. Thank you. I will see you tomorrow That is mark stroman to 199 teal lava Now we still we have to deal with donnie for the rest of the night, so So rise he didn't make it at all. That's crazy Francisco alvarez Prism john carlos man's national and nolan gels Yeah, sure Best hat and shirt I gotta wear my jingle jersey again at some point here. We got a blue josh young blue auto G Juan bay it's a 150 for the pirates nice one there congrats pittsburgh He doesn't even rock our shirts now. It's bremen You may I still have ours. Oh, yeah No, no, it's on it's in my uh, oh, yeah true Kodai senga And it's my trout got shon murphy on the prism I know we're shawning our plan this morning actually george springer. It's so true. It's so true christ So funny pork no one gorman root. Let's go, dude Aaron judge Ronald cunha and jazz chisel josh young Insert a refractor rookie base auto is just in steel. Nice one. There's got one of the lowest eras in baseball right now Actually, congrats on that there cubs And cal Stevens and his his resale mark. It's actually pretty good Almost broke everything. I and spencer's talking about the new weapon in florid night. Which one again spencer the hollow purple or the the There's the hollow purple and then there's the the steel doll thing Whatever it's called the the mythic Springer that's a mookie vets prism mark a strome refractor Tom Selleck would present the stash award to Kyle. That's actually very true kenzie gore brice harper raffy debbers I'm so it's dead Is he really? I don't know. Not only me Strider There's cheater. It's an alex thomas Really what up andy? Oh, yeah back from new orleans. Yes, sir Andy Oh, I said, I just said he got his ticket for saturday. Let's go.  It's gonna be no one gorman something special It's auto carlos pareds for the white tucks. I'm gonna stream it all on shiz niz Shiz niz Can I do that? Probably if you wanted to I would do it Uh, glad to make her out junior tyler o'neill Nice one there and neat I'll do it Ball of shiz niz you never know Well, self-promotion your band Yep I work here That is michael harris purple mini diamonds rookie nice Grats on that they're braves. I might really try this Christopher morel CJ probably might be so funny Yeah, true true good lord, Francisco alvarez Christopher morel rookie We'll all stop where it's happening. Yeah, I'm okay. I was good. Don't you worry You know and that is the 199 base and louise iran's the vet checklist again this year is nasty and empty There's a there's a couple of new names in there, which are pretty cool Shame we're all going saturday to Sublime with rome and dirty heads for my birthday. Okay. Gabo merena Like everybody's you don't know guards. Yeah, but it should be off the chain Sean will be leaving in the back of the car more than likely Or i'll be running riley green that's very true too Refractor michael massy rookie otter to 499 Going to the royals and kevin gaussan michael b with his two spots in Sapphire and one in 10 box tuesday. Thank you michael I think that's frosty if i'm not mistaken. Thank you frosty I believe that is wrong I'll be in tampa thursday through saturday. Ah dang shane Through saturday, what shane said he was he wish he wouldn't know an earlier He's gonna be in tampa from thursday through saturday. Oh, I'm just calling them extended. Yeah Tell me you got a thing Very important veterinarian. Yeah, you need to come look at my dog. There you go There's nothing wrong with them, but might as well check them out. All right Pew pew Pew pew Need to add them play with them Huh, you need to add them and play with them. No way. It's up nicolas doing well Thank you. Thank you be there for veterinarian thing already I can't I can't wait and then bone thugs and harmonies opening up Gonna hop in that's a while dude von grissom prism. Take me back and josh young. Hey, what up wahoos? Yes, sir 10 box birthdays today Let's go wahoos. No, I don't have any chrome vault be from my collection Not yet my next next big card. I want to pick up is a tonic win auto That's going to be michael harris. I want to I want a tonic win in a curvy pocket. Those are like my two next big ones Yeah, exactly Jordan walker rookie Alex bregman bubba tomsen prism and louis orteez refractor rookie for the pirates O'Neil cruise boba chef and oba seulu garcia He's already got that birthday. Yeah bling bling around. Oh, yeah, what you talking about got the uh, you got this one right here That was the birthday gift myself Leave it sorry George springer base auto drawing karnassio and this one looks much better for you there charlie So congrats buddy. Nice one there. Hey, no problem. John. You got it, buddy. Hunter green. Thank you, man. Appreciate it Oh, man Glad that we were able to Assist you exactly Was that your uh There's james outman this card. It's far out, man um Look over here dude Frism corbin burns and abon herrer was that the one that you got the personal you got ship sealed Was that you john or was that maybe I was thinking of somebody else with that one Pascal with a personal we've got jesse with a spot in ten bucks Tuesday So guys down to just four to go and sapphire right now sapphire, uh five boxer.  Hopefully you could pull some Gorman, uh, rookie at insert Mini pascantino josh bell Oh texting problems gotcha gotcha gotcha Sold it Appreciate that mill. Thank you though, man Appreciate the thought. Yeah pocket. Puckett's definitely out there for sure. Puckett's just expensive, dude uh looking a hoppy There's equal tov are base auto james outman this card is far out, man. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you're gonna be Huh Yeah, I came I need five days off yvonne herrera pairs Jordan walker to 99 nice one there green wave rookie. That should be my new schedule two of you five Mentally prepared. Yeah Go home recharge and come back Trish and casus Oh, I want to trust me Conner Anderson rookie There's price terrain negative Base and bobby witt prism Francisco alvarez Josh young rookie Abasiel Garcia miggy at its pretty freeman prism And austin riley refractor the braids So zuna from the braids. I'm a zuna from the braids. I hope somebody understood that I wasn't listening. Kyle Tucker blue rye nelson 150 Rats on that one for the diamond backs And lube up And guys for to go on sapphire That's a yellow card on chris right there for making fun of my yellow card on chris for making fun of my My miss on typing Vento's what do you expect? It's cal. Stevenson prism and rye mcman.   Thanks edward appreciate that buddy jonathan aranda. Thank you, man Big two four today big 24 trishon cossus rookie Langley's gonna Henderson rookie Gabriel Moreno purple michael papierski to 250 that's going to the Not rockies the tigers Rats on that to trait and drew waters refractor rookie simian woods richardson with josh young Royce and treva story francesco alvarez michael grove prism and raffi devils Trishon cossus rookie insert That is going to be a base auto ken wall the chuck going to the ace grads open And michael fogger refractor rookie It's christopher morale You got it's going to go up to him and go I was I was going to record so I had it all planned out Jram should have caused his prism that's so funny And I mean I was literally looking for him I ain't going to talk about you spot him let me know because I didn't know it wasn't going to work if he found me And two times I saw him he found me The one gorman rookie Like literally like you look up Shanta ninnia green wave to 99 Kevin gasman Stay down dude What'd you say? I was staying back There's Tyler O'Neill tall 250 Thanks larry appreciate that man. In case you was pretty good I like new orleans wasn't really my uh my scene, but uh it was fun. We had a good time food was excellent there Uh food was fire or Wolpey corbin carol for sure. Yeah personally at least right radiating rookies oscar colas going to the white socks on the super short print I just went there congrats, uh, chicago She's awesome riley prism gunner anderson. I just went there and a nolan joe favorite thing I eat, uh probably And I had we went to this one restaurant kota kota isenga Jordan walker here. I got you after this pack. I'll give you the uh The update erin judge refractor freddy firman to 499 for the royals And alex pregnant a lot of a lot of the restaurants They do like what's called the taste of new orleans So you get like three little portions of like jambalaya And then you can get like gumbo and then you can get like I got crawfish etouffé, which is really good That one was the the etouffé was awesome the crawfish because I'm not a like I I want to like crawfish But I don't love like when you got them in a seafood boil. They're like you have to like It's it's gross. Yeah, like eating them is gross. You know what I mean? I did have barbecue shrimp actually. Yes, I did. Yes, I did to not get Popeyes and and uh in new orleans Did not get Popeyes in new orleans Yeah, I did have some barbecue shrimp. That was really good too, edward. I had like a uh shrimp creole Which was good, but I don't like for 24 dollars. They gave me two pieces of shrimp. No, that's not cool I would have been up there just barking. There's price harper And boba shat. So I'm saying sab right? Yeah, Cajun's good, man. Cajun's good. My first night there. I got pizza too. I got pizza delivered to the room Because if we got in like pretty late gunner 100 we didn't have like dinner or anything because we were waiting for a flight Uh, Clayton Kershaw and Vane Pascantino Like that one Joshy Young rookie Meyer Alex Kahl, Miguel Cabrera, Yelich Prism Yeah, Cajun's really good though Royce Lewis. Yeah, food was excellent food was very excellent. We got like fennies when we were there too which are really good um Alpha Rez Rookie few other things here and there as well Riley Green rookie Sucker bass auto James Altman. This card is far out, man. Jordan Groeschens rookie auto for the Dodgers So disappointed That's such a great new shtick such a great one for the arsenal right there And sandy alcantra refractor It's awesome. Here he is. Oh, yeah, it's great. Hilarious. Christopher Morel Yeah, look everybody's laughing. Not a game comment Unagreeing their standard pro cards for Ridiculous. Bubba Thompson refractor Slip for to go on Saphir everybody Bothy rookie and Corbin Carroll those usually come back to back. Thank you Sean for dropping that link to Gorman rookie Verlander, Luis Castillo. That is a Justin Steele. Nice one there. That is going to be a prism or not prism refractor rookie auto. Whoa Hit the camera. Hold on again refractor rookie auto of Justin Steele And then behind it is a akunya refractor go to central grocery. I did not actually I almost got Mufileta at the like we went to this one place for breakfast two days in a row and I almost got one there, but Uh, I didn't love it. Um I didn't love, uh I don't love the olive spread on it Code I sang up. That's what I got it. You remember when we went to our first birthday? I didn't like the olive spread on that Jordan Walker Um, there's Mike trout. Nice one there and anthony will be refractor So I ended up just getting fried chicken at like this local place. That was really good. It was awesome prep baby rookie Yeah, dude, I got this uh intravenant handy. Nice one there Ryan mount castle and Ethan smile. I got uh, like a white pizza with mozzarella garlic and shrimp on it Yeah, oh my god Yeah, it was delicious Big fan Wander franco to 399 they actually did to be honest on that one they did Nice one there wander to 399 freddy freeman refractor Right in strength exactly Exactly The end so it's oh hop. We got a gold wave zekeel tovah our gold wave Michael massy to 50 nice one there congrats royals In gordon carol refractor otter or not my refractor rookie Goldie entrees hymen as on the prism And breath 80 refractor rookie very nice very nice All right, we've got darin with a spot tcpa robert with a spot in crowns here joshua b with the brew crew and a couple of uh breaks tomorrow So we're very close to being sold out everybody again. We are down to Hey, was that you aj. Let's go dude Uh four to go Thank you. Stavo with a spot in sapphires down to three to go now everybody three to go in sapphire Thank you. Gustavo appreciate you buddy Chasing wit color. Yeah. No. No ferrman's good for sure. Massey's not bad either The royals have a lot of guys in this too because you have pascantino Another one as well adley ruchman rookie Trish and casas rookie langleers and a gunner henderson rookie. Wow Mayhew Langleers for a baby prism and a garret michael refractor. That was a great pack right there I did like that like that's funny. That's funny. See you got Gabriel marina refractor rookie it for the d-back Michael Harris zikio tovar It's a prism alexis ds and louis fortes Yeah, I agree on that mill. I think pascantino is probably the best in this royals class Groschans volti and carol back-to-back They are no longer man rookie base auto is ken wall the chuck. Let's go into the a's nice one there That's uh, open and hunter green rally green rookie rally green rookie again trout and jordan walker refractor rookie He does he does have an all-star Pops all rookie cuff team For some a cunha nice one there The potential buyback michael vargas. Yeah, I'd say right now. It's pretty uh, pretty locked down. I would say the two Jordan walker Miguel cabrera base auto david hensley for the astros grads on that use Luriano, he'd have to hit like Stupid, but you have to hit like 400. Yeah I mean, that's like granted obviously if if neither of them get hurt or he hit like a huge slump like a month-long slump Uh, I wouldn't say it's like red hot right now um Blake, but he's like obviously like he's a good guy to buy right now He's a little like overshadowed by this because this class is so good To ask her nanda's and josh bell. There's like 10 really good guys in this class. There's dansby. There's a green brandon crawford to 99 Austin haze prism and assad. I don't think so Blake I would say pro I mean it would have probably been josh young, but he just got hurt Think they're justin picking up a spot in sapphire. Thanks again, Justin Um, so I'd say probably like young's out until like the post season So it's probably gonna be yoshida would be my guess. Hey, we're almost at 50 likes. Let's go Thank you all yoshida rookie. I like them James outman rookie. There's hosé of reyu two 350. I don't think either of them are like a long-term answer. Okay, kibali Refractor rookie. I don't think either a long-term answer to be honest, but I like them both They're both decent. Paraza is a little bit better. I think there's no hoppy rookie stio jash chisum austin riley refractor manassas Lou ray wave auto is Yenir Diaz grats on that one there astro still 150 Yenir Diaz and lubeb refractor So we are now down to just two spots left in sapphire. I'll get this guy. I got this guy dean out of here Just ask who this new guy is named Sean just started today. It's kind of a bop. I don't really like him that much I don't like him that much At least 22 and yoshida that is kind of wild everything about it. They're both rookies gonna Henderson rookie That's brice to rang What up remorse? Thank you, buddy Sean mature last night. Yeah last night was actually his first night Masataki or she the first night they let him alone let him top float alone uh christen kasas It's a prism aronato And michael stafanik. I don't know. Let me see who the Top three like leaders are right now that at least the top two now that uh, what's his face is out? young Dean don't be nice give it to him Give it to gunner. Henderson would be another one too. I think gunner's up there. I'm gonna scream and schnitz in my ear all day Did I over it? They're used to it though. This is no more sticks Logan ohapi technicolor scherzer and rocky devils refractor All in j ran base auto hidden was naski. Let me go into the Cubs And that's goose on the refractor if you nice one there rally grain rookie Abrams akunya and our heldies When I win the mega billions i'm coming down to give shon a hundred grand Let's go. Oh, is nfl preseason Is it tonight? I think it might be let's put it. Let's throw it on Is there a game tonight and cj abram. So yeah, there's a game. I'll put that on for sure Let's go dean Adley ruchman.  I'm gonna spend 50 of it right there that night Cavalli Get after it blue ray wave auto is will benson to 150 grats on that one there guardians solid one And michael harris you're not lying true Very It's like and teddy bridge water isn't it isn't on the dolphins anymore. So you have god. You're really screwed with someone else Teddy bridge water what that is erin judge hermon marquez prism Fractor garakul never seen a dude go down Get out of here Michael harris here michael jordan walker rookie How stores went flying that's a to 250 is marco vientos on the purple joy vato and logan web refractor Logan web Volpe rookie and corbin carol back to back Think to him now whole season Hopefully honestly Uh blue joy manassas to 150 I'll get sam a real quarter backwards rayman's adley ruch really ride my man. Jeez brutal Who's your favorite team dean? Oh boy I'm sure I can come up with something Yeah, so xander bogart's there's hosel to the Like baker mayfield god otani refractor Yeah as of right now you are correct fret baby rookie It's kind of nuts Anthors, oh, you just got to wait for your quarterback to hit his growth spurt Here's james outman. You gotta wait for price. You ought to go through puberty.  I hope so victor got uh germain palosios got hayden wasneski David hensley can wall the chuck james outman can wall the chuck james outman again Gerard incarnacion carlos pares justin steele gerard incarnacion hayden wasneski masataka yoshida Refractors to 499 on the autos now. We had michael nasi Justin steele freddy firman and michael grove purple 250 michael papierski blues to 150 ryan nelson ianardias will benson g juan vei and gold stiff 50 we had a true gold of josh smith And a daniel nasi gold wave We'll do it for the rest of the or that'll do it for the break guys. Thanks guys for the film coming up next We've got um our mixer


I recognize the gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Nuguz, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I want to thank each of the witnesses today for your testimony. Mr. Zuckerberg, in 2004, when you had launched Facebook, it's fair to say, I think you'd agree with me, that you had quite a few competitors. Would you agree with that? Congressman, yes. Myspace, Friendster, Google's Orcut, Mixi, Cyworld, Yahoo 360, AOLs, Bebo, they were all competitors. Congressman, those were some of the competitors of the time, and it's only gotten a lot more competitive since. Well, let's talk about that, because by 2012, Mr. Zuckerberg, none of those companies that I just identified existed. You're certainly aware of that. They were all basically gone. Facebook, in my view, I think was in a monopoly by then. I wonder whether you would agree with that. I take it you don't. Congressman, that's correct. I don't. A lot of competitors in every part of what we do, from connecting with friends privately to connecting with people in communities to connecting with all your friends at once, to connecting with all kinds of user-generated content. I mean, I would bet that you or most people here have multiple apps for each of those on your phones. Mr. Zuckerberg, why don't we dig into this a bit further? So you and I clearly disagree about that. In 2012, I'm looking at a document that was produced by Facebook in response to the subcommittee's investigation. It's a presentation prepared for Cheryl Sandberg to deliver to the board of directors of a major telecommunications firm, boasting that, quote, Facebook is now 95% of all social media in the United States. The title of the slide is even, quote, the industry consolidates as it matures. So as I look at that graph, I certainly think most folks would concede that Facebook was a monopoly as early as 2012. But nonetheless, I understand that we disagree on that point. Would you agree with me that Facebook, its strategy since that time, to essentially protect what I describe as a monopoly, but obviously what you would describe as market power, that Facebook has been engaged in purchasing competition, in some cases replicating competition, and in some cases, eliminating your competition? Would that be a fair statement? Congressman, the space of people connecting with other people is a very large space. And I would agree that there were different approaches that we took to addressing different parts of that space, but it's all in service of building the best services. And I appreciate that, Mr. Zuckerberg. I appreciate the latter point. It sounds like you are conceding that at least some of those strategies were what I identified. And so I want to talk a little bit about that. In 2014, here's an email. It's from Facebook's current chief financial officer described to the company's acquisition strategy as quote, a land grab, and saying that we are going to spend five to 10% of our market cap every couple of years to shore up our position. And my sense of the facts is that that is, in fact, what has occurred. Facebook, as you conceded earlier, that Instagram was a competitor of Facebook's. You acquired Instagram in 2012. Instagram is now the sixth largest social media platform in the world. Is that right? Congressman, I'm not sure what rank it is, but it's certainly grown beyond our wildest. I can represent to you that the statistics demonstrate that empirical data shows it's the sixth largest. In 2014, Facebook bought its competitor WhatsApp. Is that correct? Congressman, yes, WhatsApp was also both a competitor and complimentary. They competed with us in the space of mobile messaging, which is a growing and important space and is, again, one part of the global space of how people can act more broadly. Understood. By the time WhatsApp had over 400 million monthly users, a clear path towards one billion monthly active users. And WhatsApp is now the second largest social media platform in the world with two billion users worldwide, more than Facebook Messenger. And of course, your company owns WhatsApp. Facebook also tried to buy other competitive startups. In fact, as Chairman Nadler noted, you did tell one of Facebook's senior engineers in 2012 that you can quote, likely just by any competitive startup, but it'll be a while before we can buy Google. Do you recall writing that email? Congressman, I don't specifically, but it sounds like a joke. Well, it certainly, I don't take it as a joke. As I review the email, it was in regards to having just closed the Instagram sale and the response from this individual, this engineer, to you was quote, well played. Your response was, thanks. One reason people underestimate the importance of watching Google is that we can likely always just buy any competitive startups, but it'll be a while before we can buy Google. And given the purchases that Facebook had made previous to this and the attempted purchases, my understanding is that Facebook made several overtures to Snapchat, for example, which rebuffed those efforts, clearly demonstrates in my view that that email was not made in jest. But here's why I ask these questions, Mr. Zuckerberg. It strikes me that over the course of the last several years, Facebook has used its market power to either purchase or replicate the competition. And Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram are the most now downloaded apps of the last decade. Your company, sir, owns them all. And we have a word for that. That word is monopoly. With that, I would yield back, Mr. Chairman.


Isn't it convenient, wherever you are, wherever you go, whenever you want, you are connected, to life, to friends, to business. Did you know that there's one institution that has made possible all of what you're doing right now? In 1956, the first voice call crossed the Atlantic from Canada to Scotland. In 1964, the first communications satellite was installed in a geostationary orbit. The 1980s hosted the beginning of the analog to digital revolution. The internet was created, optical fiber networks were installed, and the transition to packet switching began, the highly efficient triple play of voice, video and data. And what makes this possible are international standards developed by ITU members, called ITU recommendations. Now we're standing on the brink of a new era with enormous possibilities. How is the match going? Is your team winning? In coding and decoding images, broadcast up to 4K and 8K video, we have to keep pace with the amount of data, big data. At ITU, experts from all over the world create and debate solutions, then find a consensus on the solutions to become international standards. The next year's data is increasing exponentially, as we connect everything and everyone, billions of devices online. In the years following 2020, ITU standards will enable the 5G era, hosting the industrial internet of things, where smart, sustainable cities will conduct traffic, where harbors, roads and stations guide ships, trucks and trains, and persons with disabilities will more easily participate in life. In developing countries, financial services will be provided to over 2 billion people who currently have no access to bank accounts. ITU standardisation is working to build a human-centric ICT environment, where physical space and cyberspace are managed in unison. As technology advances, more of our lives are mirrored in cyberspace. Daily tasks and duties will be automated. Digital devices assist with the detection of medical conditions. ITU standardisation will work to ensure that our digital identities are as trusted as our identities in the real world. We can deal with storms and tsunamis as consequences of climate change, through efficient early warning systems and education will be brought to people living in developing countries. We see a future built on international standards created in a spirit of collaboration, standards that are created by ITU.


Good morning, everyone, and welcome back to another week of studying from God's Word, learning. And welcome to our class on Titus. We finished 1st and 2nd Timothy, and we began looking and studying the book of Titus last week. And a very good morning to all of you. For some of you, it's night. I'm not going to say good night, at least you'll fall asleep. Must be tired, but thank you all for joining class. And I just pray that it just be a meaningful time for all of us. Let's begin with a word of prayer. Can I ask Siddharth to lead us in prayer, please? Father, in the name of Jesus, Lord, we thank you for this time, for your grace and mercy, Lord. Thank you for the class as well. As we learn, Lord, help us to receive and understand. Lord, we surrender ourselves to the Word of your grace, which is going to build us. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. Thank you, Siddharth. Last Monday, we began studying the book of Titus. We looked at the first nine verses. And we just saw in verses six to nine what Paul writes to Titus, how he must look for leaders, appoint leaders. And then he lists out various qualifications that he needs to look at as he appoints leaders at the church, for the churches at the island of Crete. And so we divided these qualifications into four categories, domestic, personal, positive and doctrinal qualifications. And we looked at all of the qualifications that Paul lists out for Titus in these four different categories, which he mentions in verses six to nine. And then he goes on to talk about the characteristics of false teachers. Now, why does he bring in the characteristics of false teachers when he's talking to him about the qualities or the important things that he must look at while appointing leaders? He's saying that it's so important for Titus to appoint leaders at the churches of Crete because of the background that these people had. You know, the Cretans were known as greedy, lazy, gluttonous and evil as well. They were very evil. So one of their own poets who they looked at as a prophet said Cretans are always liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttonous. And in the midst of such kind of, you know, characteristics of people that dwelt in the island of Crete, Paul is mentioning how important it is for Titus to appoint the right kind of leaders. And then he goes on to say that, you know, the need to appoint such kind of leaders is because that there are so many false teachers in the island of Crete among the people, among the believers in the churches as well. So this is not a problem from outside but within. And then he talks about the characteristics of these false teachers and then he goes on to tell him what he needs to do. So one of you can please read verses 10 to 16, please. And before you read that, you know, the notes are very elaborate and detailed. And as I mentioned last week, this is my own study and research. So whatever, you know, I have studied and just put in the entire content. So it's quite, you know, lengthy, complete content that is there and I'm just going to teach from this because there's nothing more that I need to add. And I'm not just going to be touching on every aspect. I'm going to be just mentioning, highlighting a few points because it's very detailed. And I've given it in detail so that you all can use it for your own personal study. Okay. So with that, we'll begin looking at verses 10 to 16. Can one of you please read verses 10 to 16, please of Titus chapter one. Yeah, for there are many rebellious people full of mean meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach. And that for the sake of dishonest gain. One of Crete's own profits has said it.  This saying is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions, they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Thank you, Christopher. So we see in these verses, Paul is listing out the kind of false teachers or the characteristics of false teachers that are there in the island of Crete. And he says there are many of them. So there are many who stand opposed to the truth. He mentions this in verse 9 as well as in verse 14 that there are many who and also in verse 10, there are many who are insubordinate. There are many who stand opposed to the truth of the gospel. And he says that there are insubordinate, which means that they're not willing to subordinate or willing to submit themselves to God's authority or God's authority structure that he has placed in the church. And these false teachers or those who are teaching false doctrines, they are basically people who are indulging or who are just speaking empty talk. There's no point in what they're saying. There's nothing. There's no truth. There's nothing substantial in what they're saying. They basically their empty talk is all about Jewish fables, which is like picturesque tales, which they talk about Adam, Moses, and Elijah and all the other saints in the Old Testament. I already mentioned this when we were studying the book of Western Secondary and also Romans as well. So all of these false teachers that, you know, all of these in these various churches at Ephesus, at Rome, at Crete, where not false teachers who were outside the church were impacting the saints or the believers in the church. But they were these Jewish, you know, Hellenistic Jews, those who were, you know, came from the Jewish faith and they received salvation. They're part of the church. But they're bringing in all of these Jewish fables, mythology about, you know, the prophets and the Old Testament saints. And also what he says is these false teachers can be characterized by people who are having, you know, making their own commandments, commandments of men, which is, you know, they're very legalistic, very acidic in their rules, very severe in their kind of rules that they are bringing in, which is basically these rules and regulations of they've been very legalistic in dealing with the things of the flesh. So it's basically circumcision, the kind of food that they need to eat, bringing in all of these Jewish laws regarding the way you need to pray, the way you need to dress, the way you need to eat. And also the circumcision rituals. So he says that, you know, these men who teach these false teaching are basically empty talkers because they talk about Jewish fables and, you know, they have their That's why it's called commandments of men, which is very legalistic and acidic or very severe in their rules is basically they're doing it to deal with the things of the flesh. Okay. And that is why Paul is saying it's so important or it's absolutely necessary for him to choose elders who hold on to the truth in the gospel. And, you know, and they're able to teach and teach the truth so that it can impact the lives of people who are influenced by these false teachers. And he says, you know, that their idol talkers and deceivers is because basically they've been deceived by Satan, and, and it's only the truth in God's word that has the power to change life. So he's saying, you know, this preach and teach the word of God. And he says that these false teachers are especially those of the circumcision. The, you know, other version says that they are some of them who are from the Jewish followers, the passion translation says converts from Judaism. So this gives us a clue or the identity of the nature of these false teachers who were, you know, bringing about false teaching in the churches at Crete. These were Jewish Christians, Jews who became Christians who became believers and who insisted on, you know, circumcision and keeping the rituals of the law in terms of food in terms of how they pray and other things, which was necessary for salvation. And in verse 11, Apostle Paul says that, you know, they must be stopped, whose mouths must be stopped. That means these offenders must be refused or not given the opportunity to spread their teachings in the churches. And also this, this word stopped means it also that you need to silence them by, you know, logically denying their views from the truths in God's word so that, you know, you can stop them from further causing damage or bringing division in the church and spreading their false teaching, which would, you know, impact the entire church, families, and there can be such a chaos in the church.  So subword means the word Burt, B-E-R-T in this, in this word subword means turn. So basically the word subword means to overturn or to overthrow. So, you know, these false teachers and their false teaching is basically having such a disastrous effects in the life of the church that it's overturning or overthrowing families or the entire house churches that are gathering and are meeting together to worship God. So he's saying, you know, to subvert households so these households can either mean, you know, the churches that are meeting in houses in, in Paul's time, they didn't have, you know, churches in terms of buildings or structures. But there were many house churches. So here households means, you know, the house churches and also it could mean families because families consist of these house churches. So either way, you know, if a family is impacted or affected by these false teaching, or if the head of the family is impacted by these false teaching, then he is going to, you know, get his wife and his children also. And to this false teaching. And if this family is going to be affected, then it's going to affect other families, and it's ultimately going to affect the entire house churches that are meeting. And he says that these false teachers, they're not doing these false, they're not sharing these false teachings, because, you know, they are so zealous for the truth or that they are holding on to or they're so passionate about what they believe in. Or what they think is the truth or holding on to these things, because they're so convinced that this is the truth. But the main motive of these false teachers is to make money. And we, we, we looked at this even in, you know, Second Timothy, when Paul writes to Second Timothy, the main agenda for these false teachers is basically to make money and they did not basically care in what they believed in. They didn't even know if it was the truth or if it was the right doctrines. They were not fully convinced or passionate or zealous that they are, you know, holding on to this truth and this truth has to be taught to others.  Now, verse 11 points us to the nature of their seductive activity of the false teachers and why Paul is saying that they must be totally silenced or their mouths must be stopped because in verse 11 we see the motive. Their motive of these false teachers is this honest gain and what is their method? Their method is they teach what ought not to be taught that is false doctrines and what is the multiple result of it, it is misleading the whole family. So, you know, verse 11 basically points us to the nature of the seductive activity of these false teachers. And in verse 12, you know, Paul points out another reason why, you know, that Titus must appoint elders or, you know, leaders in the church is because what one of their own prophets or the poet who was considered as a poet, a prophet, a religious reformer who was living in Crete during the 6th of the 5th century BC. He says that all Cretans are liars, evil beasts and lazy delusions.  And so it's important to appoint leaders with good qualities having all of those qualifications so that, you know, they can lead the church at Crete. And then in verse 13, he says, you know, this testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith. So he says rebuke them sharply. Now this word rebuke is, you know, is something that points out to convict, you know, have those who are guilty, you know, teach them, convince them, give them the proof of God's word. So they are convicted. And, you know, they're hopefully they're convinced of the false teaching that they are teaching and hopefully they're convinced of the truth. And so he says, you know, you need to do this very, very sharply because knowing the characteristics of these false teachers and knowing also the kind of people these Cretans are by nature. And hence it is very important to rebuke them very, very sharply. So the word sharply in the Greek means severely or rigorously.  And, you know, if not, it's going to escalate the problem and it's not going to help in any way. So he says, you know, rebuke them sharply so this them can refer to the false teachers and also to the believers in the, in the, in the house churches who have kind of listened to these false teachings and have received it and are part of it. So, you know, he's saying, even them include them in rebuting them sharply so that, you know, they become sound in the faith and they are no longer open or interested in these false teachers and then teachings. And so he says, you know, rebuke them sharply so that they may be sound in the faith. So there may be sound means they may be whole, they may be healthy in the faith. So the goal of rebuking these false teachers and the goal of rebuking the others in the church, the saints and believers who have kind of listened to these false teachers, to receive their teaching is basically to rebuke them, to restore them to wholeness and to wholeness in the faith and to healthy faith that they can hold on to. So that is the main reason why he's telling them to be, to rebuke them so that they are not sick in their belief system, but they're restored to the truth and that would help them to be healthy in their faith. Okay. And then in verse 15, he says, you know, to the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but even their mind and conscience are defiled. So he says, to the pure, all things, so this all things, you know, applies to all kinds of food that, you know, is that the some of the Jews, these Jewish believers who are now spreading all of these false teachings, you know, Jewish fables and this weird legalistic aesthetic rules of eating the right kind of food, eating it in a particular way and all of that. So he says all things which means, you know, applies to food as well applies to all kind of food. So he says all kind of food is created by God for consumption, which we studied in 1 Timothy chapter five verse five.  And they said it's still applied for Christian believers who are part of the church. And so, you know, Paul says, it's not what you, what goes in that makes you clean, but for those who are already clean in their hearts, those who are internally pure, all things are pure. So the statement does not mean that, you know, does not include sinful things because sin is not pure. But here he's basically meaning talking about food. So he says you can eat any and every kind of food because everything is created by God. And it's not what goes in that makes you clean or pure but it's, you know, having a clean and a pure heart that is more important. And he says that, you know, for the pure, all things are pure. But those who are defiled, you know, the word defiled in Greek means when a person either rejects the truth of salvation by grace, you know, as an unbeliever or because of other forces or other outside pressures. So here the pressure can, the outside forces can be those who are Judaizers or these Jewish Christians who become the Jews who become Christians for bringing in all of these legalistic aesthetic rules. And he says, you know, who are doing this to add to their work of sanctification, or they're doing this and saying that, you know, you have to follow all of these laws so that you can maintain your salvation. They're not just looking at salvation by grace, you know, and through faith, but they're saying, yes, it is by grace through faith, but also you have to maintain your salvation. You have to add works for your sanctification for you to be sanctified. You have to add works. And one of this is, you know, circumcision and the others is all of the other legalistic aesthetic rules that they were, you know, spreading among the believers in the church. And the house churches. So he's saying that when you add to salvation that is by grace through faith, and you add all of these legalistic rules, then Paul is saying, you know, your mind, your thinking process also becomes defiled and polluted. And when you're thinking or your thought process is defiled and polluted because you're trying to achieve or maintain your salvation or, you know, being sanctified by works, then it's naturally going to impact your conscience as well. And, you know, the conscience which influences your faith and your actions also becomes defiled as well. So he's saying that, you know, it's important to, you know, not add anything to salvation by grace or not add works for your sanctification, but just receive it by grace through faith, and, you know, not add on to anything apart from that. If you do it, it's going to basically defile or pollute your basic mind, your thought process, and also impacts your conscience, which influences your faith and your actions. And thus we see in 1 Timothy chapter 15, you know, Paul is demonstrating to us that the true purity lies not in just observing external rules, but in the inner purity of the heart. And that has to be cleansed. That has to be regenerated. And how can it be cleansed and regenerated when it's only when we put our faith and our trust in the finished work of the cross. And, you know, the complete provision that we receive because of what crisis accomplished for us on the cross for our salvation. And it is this that, you know, leads us to moral, moral rightness, or this is what leads us to be righteous and justified in God's sight, and also gives us the capacity because our minds are sound, our thinking process is sound. It's not defiled. It's not polluted. It's only then we can discern what is truly good and evil. So what Paul is telling Timothy Titus is, hey Titus, these people are not able to discern truth from wrong, from error, good from evil, because, you know, they are not fully trusting or putting their faith in the complete finished work of the cross. But they're trying to achieve salvation by works. They're trying to achieve sanctification by works. So this is something that we too can learn. You know, it's not our works that is important. I'm not saying that, you know, we don't bother about our actions and the way we live. You know, when we are fully trusting on putting our faith in what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross, what he has purchased for us, we are mindful of that, you know, and that becomes our thought process. That becomes what is there in our minds, and our minds are not polluted by other things, then it just automatically translates into our actions and our faith in God.  You know, it's nullified. I'm dead to sin. So the sin cannot overrule, overpower me, have any kind of dominion over my life.  But if you think that, you know, we need to do works, works become very important for our salvation, then we will continue to live in sin thinking that, hey, you know, I have not been able to, I can't overpower the sin. This is something that genetically is part of me. It's coming down from generations, anger or strife or outburst of anger, you know, with that leads in being physically very abusive. And I can't overcome this because, you know, I've seen this in my parents. I've seen this in my grandparents and it's coming down from the generations. I can't do anything about it.  So I'm going to do something to cover it up. So, you know, maybe feed the poor or, you know, giving to some orphanage. So try to, you know, or go and take holy communion thinking that the sin can be atoned and covered for trying to do it by works. But if you're somebody who's looking at the finished work of the cross, sorry, if you're somebody who's looking at the finished work of the cross and what Jesus has done for us and the provision that he's made for us on the cross, then you will think differently. Your whole thought process is different. Hey, you know, Christ has nullified this, has indebted to this sin. The sin has no longer control over my life. The Holy Spirit is going to empower me because the same power, the same dunamis power that has resurrected Jesus back from death to life. And I identify with him spiritually in his death, in his burial, in his resurrection, in his ascension and him being seated.   And I'm seated on the right hand of God and I have dominion and power and authority over every force of evil that is trying to tempt me and overpower me to, you know, indulge in the sin. You know, I have the authority and I'm going to speak against this use God's word and then you're trying to not, you know, do it in your own flesh, but standing on the finished work of the cross, standing on the word of God, declaring it and using your spiritual authority and position that you're given in your mind full of that. And that will translate into deeper faith in God and action that can be seen in your lifestyle. And also you are totally dependent or abandoning yourself to what Christ has done on the cross, cross and the complete provision that you have received for your, as part of your salvation, the gifts that you have received, the spiritual blessings that you've received.  So let's not, you know, depend on works, but let's just, you know, depend on what Christ has done and make that a reality in our own lives. Okay. So any questions so far? So I just wanted to ask, just to confirm. So you're saying that the verse that says that to the pure, all things are pure. And then to the pure. It's basically referring to food and nothing else. Correct? Yeah, it's not just, you know, these all things is in this context talking about food because they're bringing in the legalistic son of how what kind of food to eat, what how to eat it. And also, yes, you know, so he's saying what goes in is not what defiles a person. But in this context, he's talking about that. But it can also apply in our context, it can apply about what not just what we eat, but what we watch. You know, how we live our lives, who we are listening to, whether we're following the pattern of the world or following the pattern of the things of the spirit of the things of God. Okay. Thank you for that clarification. Thank you, Pastor. Okay. Any other questions? Anyone else has. Okay, if not, we'll move on to verse 16. Verse 16, as was read says, you know, they profess to know God, but in work they deny him being admirable, disobedient, disqualified for every good work. So in verse 16, Paul states a fact that nearly sums up the matter as it is related to the false teachers. He says that, you know, they profess to know God, which could simply mean that they know him as savior because these are not somebody who's from outside the churches. They are part of the churches, their believers, these Jews who have become believers, who have become Christians, they have received Christ as their Lord and savior. But it could also be, you know, a profession to know him in a deeper, in a more intimate way through observing rules and regulations which they seek to impose on others. So they're trying to bring in their whole ritualistic baggage that they had for the Jews in terms of keeping those strict laws and rules, which of course, yes, God gave it to them. But his whole idea of giving it to them was not for it to become illegalistic. It was not for them to become ritualistic, but it was a means where they would actually do it out of love for God, out of a sense of reverence, a meaning, and, you know, in getting close in their relationship, in their fellowship with God. But this totally took about a different turn than what God had brought in all this for them in terms of purity in words so that they can relate to this pure God who is holy. But, you know, they were trying to achieve salvation or maintain their salvation, so to say, through not just what they have received by grace or the finished work of the cross, but also through rules and regulations.  They just followed it because they had to. It was no love for God. It was, they did not worship him with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. So he says, though, their works deny him, which means their works means the Greek word means it refuses or disregards, this owns or rejects their works. So their works does not have any standing. It does not have any beaming because they have slipped from, you know, their fellowship with God in terms of receiving what they should by grace and by love.  And so he uses very strong words. He says they're admirable, disobedient, disqualified for every good work, which means admirable means, you know, the Greek word means the testable. It just carries this idea of disgusting because they've turned away from grace into legalism and hence it is this testable in God's sight. They're disobedient, which means they are failing to trust or rest in the person and the work of Jesus Christ as their savior in what he has accomplished for them on the cross. And disqualified means that they, you know, the Greek means they have been rejected, not standing the tests and hence they are unqualified, worthless and unfit for any good work, which means one of the purposes of our life and why we have been, you know, transformed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light is so that we can be that royal priest to that holy nation. People declaring, who are declaring the praises of him who was brought us from darkness into his marvelous light. People who are kingdom builders who are building God's kingdom, who are, you know, in the, in the, in the whole work of fulfilling his purpose for our lives, which is usefulness in the ministry and serving Christ, you know, they cannot be useful. They cannot be qualified. They are worthless and unfit for any good work because, you know, their sufficiency is not in what Christ has accomplished for them on the cross, but is this based on works and hence they cannot do any good work. They cannot be part, you know, accomplish anything. And so he's saying, hence, you know, choose leaders who can, you know, would not be disqualified or obedient, who are qualified for that position so that they can continue the good work that God has started in their midst and encourage and strengthen and identify the churches at feet. Okay, so that was chapter one. Anyone has any questions? Chapter one. Any questions? Any doubts? Okay, there are no questions and doubts. Then we'll move on to chapter two. Okay. Can one of you please read chapter two versus one to three, please. Chapter two versus one to three. Anyone can read. Shall I read now? Yeah, please. Thank you. Chapter two versus one to three says, but as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience. The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given too much wine, teachers of good things. Amen. Thank you, Stephanie. So here in verse one, Paul is talking to Timothy, Titus here, in contrast to, you know, the false teachers, he was just described, sorry. In contrast to false teachers that he has just described in chapter one, verses 10 to 16. So he's telling Titus that, you know, he is supposed to speak things that are sound and keeping with sound doctrine. So he says, speak the things, these things that Paul is referring to, is what he has mentioned in verses two to ten, which is regarding the truths, the attitudes, the actions that are all biblical based, which are based on biblical truth. So he's saying, you know, speak these things. And he says, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine. I've just put various translations here that the Living Bible says, speak up for the right living that goes along with true Christianity. The New Living translation says, promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching. And the Passion translation says, your duty is to teach them to embrace a lifestyle that is consistent with sound doctrine. So the idea behind this phrase which are proper for sound doctrine has to do with right living and not just right thinking. Now sound doctrine in Titus chapter one, verse nine, which we already looked at, focuses on the teaching of sound doctrine and how to refute the false teachings or the errors that are there. Whereas the sound doctrine that Paul is writing here in chapter two, verse one, is more on a practical application of sound doctrine that I said that the idea behind this phrase has to do with right living and not just right thinking. So wherever we see sound doctrine, it does not mean just teaching it like he writes in Titus chapter one, verse nine, where he says, teach the sound doctrine so that you can refute the false teachings or the errors that is here. But here in, that is there, sorry, but here in chapter two, verse one, he's saying, you know, it's a more practical application. It's about living right in accordance with the sound doctrine or the truths that is in God's Word. So Paul always, you know, he ties up sound doctrine with practical Christian living that flows out of it. So it is not just a sound doctrine has to do with teaching sound doctrine or teaching the truth of the doctrines in God's Word. So people are sound in their understanding of the truth of the doctrines in God's Word. But also he ties it along with, you know, that the sound doctrine has to translate into practical Christian living. So if you have doctrine and and it does not, you know, it's not showing in your, in the way that you're living in your lifestyle, then it basically shows whether you are following the right doctrine. You're following the truths in God's Word because you're following the truths in God's Word, the doctrines in God's Word, it will translate into right living. Otherwise, it is just, you know, having a doctrine without practice or without the right kind of living or the right kind of lifestyle is a dead belief. And it was true, he says, following it was his true following. He talks about older men, then he goes on to talk about older women, and he talks about younger men, younger women. And also he goes on in this chapter to talk about born servants or he talks about slaves. So first he talks about older men. He says that older men must be sober, reverent, temperate, sound and faith in love and in patience. So he says, you know, teach them these sound doctrines. So the older men will have all of these qualities, which means that it does not come automatically with age. All of these things to be sober, reverent, temperate, sound and faith in love and patience. It does not come automatically. You know, you have to teach it to these people so that, you know, those who are older and they do not have these qualities that should describe them. Then they would need to focus on them rather than going on as they are. So the first thing he says these qualities of these older men should be that they should be sober, which means that they must be vigilant. They must be watchful over themselves, over their conduct, their conversation, the way that they are living their lives so that they are not setting a wrong example to the younger folks, the younger people in the church or the community of saints or believers. And then he says they need to be reverent, which means that they need to be honorable in their behavior, in their speech, in the way they dress. They need to be temperate, which means, you know, here the word literally means not to be intoxicated by wine or strong drink. So temperate here is not talking about your temper, emotion temper, but it's talking about this word literally means that not to be intoxicated by wine or strong drink. But it also has a meaning to be sober-minded and clear-headed in how you're living your life. And then he says sound in faith, sound means healthy whole in your faith. So the older men have to be healthy in their faith in God.  And there should be sound in their minds in the doctrine of the faith. And they should not be led away by all of these false teachings so that, you know, they are able to be an example to the younger folks. And he also says that their faith in Christ should be right and genuine so that it can, you know, it can help impact the younger folks. Then he says in love, you know, even as older people, you know, people who are old and they grow into old age, they become very grouchy and, you know, hard to live with. And so he says, you know, you should be loving rather than being intolerant and being hard in towards others, you should be more gracious and compassionate. And then he says, you know, they should be patient, which means the Greek word here means to be steadfast and active endurance, not passive, waiting on others, you know, but older men are usually not patient with others around them.   And you should continue running your race with perseverance and endurance, fixing your eyes on Jesus Christ as we read in Hebrews chapter 12, verses one and two. So he says, you know, when older men have these kind of qualities, they stand out in the world, they stand out in the church and, you know, they are ultimately able to point out the beauty of Christ. And the other younger people are able to follow that, and that becomes a kind of lifestyle and a pattern that they set for the believers in the churches. And then he says the older women likewise need to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not giving too much wine, teachers are good things.  You know, what are these qualities that these older women should possess that should be reverent in their behavior. The Greek word here translated reverent is used only here in the Bible. So, of course, reverent is used elsewhere in the Bible, but the Greek word for reverent that is used here is only used here in the Bible. And it conveys an idea of being priest-like, which means acting as a representative of God. So the word Paul uses here is basically, you know, describes the whole thing of being devout and having a godly character. So these older women should be devout and have a godly character. And they are to live like holy priests serving in the churches, serving in the presence of God. And their sacred personal devotion to the Lord will have an influence on every aspect of their lives and also will influence the younger folks. And so he says, you know, reverent in their behavior, which basically points to their inner characteristics. And of course, when your inner characteristics are reverential, it translates in the way that we, in our actions, that can be seen outwardly. And he says there should not be slanderers. Very interesting here. The word slanderers here is diabolos. The Greek word for slanderers is diabolos. And diabolos, as you know, is one of the Greek words that is used as a name for Satan. And the word diabolos is used as a name for Satan 34 times in the New Testament. So this gives us a whole background of this word slanderer. So, you know, we know that Satan is a slanderer. He slanders the saints. He's a false accuser. And each time he, you know, he leads us as believers to slander, to gossip about others. It is basically we are doing the devil's work. And it's, it is so eye-opening to this whole fact. We never thought of it, you know, when we're slandering somebody behind their backs or we're gossiping about somebody, it is actually we are doing the work of Satan because the word slander is diabolos, which is one of the names of Satan. And so he says when older women or anyone is slandering or indulging in gossip, they're doing the devil's work. And so he says that older godly women should never surrender their tongues to the devil. I hope this is an eye-opener to all of us, you know, to be very careful that, you know, when we slander people, when we are gossiping about others, it's basically we are doing the work of Satan because the word slanderer, the word slanderer means diabolos, which is one of the names of Satan. So if any of us have been indulging in that, you know, we can just come, repent and ask God to forgive us and break that spirit and ask the Holy Spirit to take control of this area of our life. Okay, we'll stop here. I'll meet you at 11.01. I've taken one minute extra so I'll give you one more minute. Okay, thank you everyone. Enjoy your break.


Hello everybody, thanks a lot to the organisers for this interesting session and for inviting me. I would like to speak about religious romanticism as a possible obstacle to an understanding of prehistoric sacred topographies. By religious romanticism I mean a mindset that developed in Europe from the 17th century onwards. It was particularly important in the 19th and 20th centuries and could impact our thinking about mountain sacredness in earlier periods. I'm a historian working about the last five centuries mostly relying on written sources. Many prehistoric contributions to this session deal with periods much more remote in time and on the basis of material relics. Nonetheless, I think it is important to talk to each other. Historians should have an idea about the starting point of their investigation and archaeologists are often influenced to some degree by contemporary ideas, particularly when the material relics give only scarce indications about the research subject. My goal here on this occasion is to share some experiences made by a group of historians about sacred topographies in historical perspective. A while ago the group published a special issue of journal mountain research and development. The picture here on the cover shows so called Traveling Gods in Himachal Pradesh, carried by mountain villagers to a regional religious ceremony. The issue is called Religion and Sacredness in Mountains, a historical perspective, and has articles about Asia, Latin America and Europe quite similar to our session today. We wanted to examine the idea whether mountains were focal points of religious concerns more or less equally across the planet, a view which had been promulgated by scholars in the late 20th century, or alternatively whether cultural diversity produced by different religious attitudes and doctrines prevailed in the overall picture. We all know that differences between religions belong to the elementary experience and basic knowledge. This is a world map of major religions I was brought up with in the 1960s. The reddish-brown color stands for Christians, the beige color for Muslims, green for Hindus, yellow for Buddhists, and followers of other East Asian doctrines, as the adaptation reads. And blue stands for Naturreligionen, literally nature religions, or perhaps better, animism. Sometime earlier, an atlas of this kind would have spoken not of Naturreligionen, but of Haydn, Heathen, or Pagans. Of course we know that this is a very superficial image of the complex patterns and currents of religious allegiances. Nevertheless, I think that official religion is important for the circumscription of sacred and sacredness. There is no universal definition of these terms, but many scholars agree that some aspects thereof can be generalized and that it is useful to leave other aspects open for a more context-specific use. Sacred certainly implies a contrast to profane and commandments or taboos regarding transgressions. So it has to do with hierarchy. It embodies power and creates social attention. It can be mediated through written texts or through rituals, and it can involve different layers between public or official and more hidden or unofficial expressions. A good starting point for the comparison between different mountain beliefs is the situation in the Andes in Latin America in the 17th century. On the map there. In the Andes, the colonial church of the Spanish rulers directly challenged indigenous religious attitudes towards nature. The intention of the Spanish was to destroy them in order to create devoted Christians and loyal subjects of the king. A manifesto for the campaign was printed in Lima in 1621. Exterpacion de la idolatria del Perú, in English, a eradication of idolatry in Peru, by Pablo Josef Ariago of the Jesuit Order. Ariago was a main figure of the campaign. His book contained an addict against idolatry and 20 explaining chapters. The chapter titles read, for example, as follows, what the Indians worship today and what is their idolatry, what they sacrifice and how they do it, of the Indians abuses and superstitions. Ariago gives lengthy descriptions of indigenous beliefs. They included the worship of mountains and conspicuous rocks in the Andes, called by particular names and considered of ancient human origin. For the Spanish, this was sinful behavior and idolatry, since worship could only be addressed to the Lord and not to natural and other objects. The ecclesiastical campaign was carried out by appointed visitadores who called on the parishes along with a few assistants in order to expose and punish the rampant errors. They combed each community, destroying all cult objects they could find. In several waves, these actions lasted from the beginning of the 17th to the mid 18th century. The process is well documented by written sources and well researched by modern studies. So we have here two types of religious attitudes. The indigenous open to nature and the Christian sealed off from nature. Christianity was inward looking and emphasized the community of the believers, the brothers and sisters in Christ. This anthropocentric character has often been observed by scholars. In consequence, it is hard to find a true, officially acknowledged Christian mountain cult for the earlier periods. But things were changing in transition to modernity. Indeed, the very same 17th century saw the rise of research in parts of Europe, the so called scientific revolution, and the curiosity and ideas of naturalists were an important driving force for new attitudes towards nature in Christian countries. Let us illustrate this trend with a German book of the mid 18th century.  Orotheologie means mountain theology and the title says that the text offers edifying considerations on mountains as important witnesses of God's power, wisdom, prestige and benignity. Composed by the Protestant pastor Johann Christoph Wolff. This is a typical example of a religious tendency called natural theology or physical theology. The tendency started some generations earlier and considered nature as God's creation. The act of admiring the creation was a way of praising the Lord. Wolff begins with this idea, I quote and translate from German. There are two books by which we can achieve the knowledge of the great God the creator, namely the book of Revelation, that is the Holy Scripture on the one side and the book of nature on the other side. Wolff takes care not to put these two books on an equal level. To be sure, the book of Revelation is the Hauptbuch, the main book and the book of nature only the Nebenbuch or a side book. It would have been outside of legitimate religious discourse to proceed otherwise. And even to include the Nebenbuch like this was a change from former practice and therefore in need of lengthy justification. Wolff provides various information and considerations on mountains, particularly the sizable and respectable ones. Yet these remarks are not an end in itself. The pleasures thereof would be totally negligible and imperfect, Wolff writes, unless they were combined from the very beginning with attention for the creator of the mountains. The praise of the mountain creator however does not mean to behave like heathen since the heathen considered mountain themselves to be there it is. The explicit differentiation of these two ways of mountain praise is typical of the move towards nature. It reflected the criticism of the orthodox towards the new natural theology. Their advocates had to stress that they did not behave like pagans. Yet in the long run the official attitude of the churches changed as well and nature became a more important reference for mainstream Christianity. The change from an introverted religion to a religion paying attention to the environment paralleled the general discovery of nature in European culture including the discovery of the Alps and other mountains. It was a complex process influenced by naturalists and giving new impulses to other scholars. One particular current focused on popular culture or folklore and linked them to remote pasts. This kind of what we can may call romantic scholarship claimed to be to dig beneath official religion and disclose an ancient folk's seal national soul completely in tune with nature. The most celebrated folklorists were of course the brothers Grimm. In this place I would like to present shortly Wilhelm Mannhardt, a student and ardent follower of them. Mannhardt was a German folklorist, mythologist and librarian. Today he is mainly remembered for his pioneering inquiry of 1865 using printed questionnaires. Mannhardt sent 15,000 copies of this questionnaire to teachers, pastors and other potential correspondents in many countries. One work written after that major enterprise was entitled Wald und Feldkulte, Forest and Field Cults. This was a kind of animistic encyclopedia started with a baumseile, soul of trees. According to Mannhardt prehistoric populations considered trees to be of human nature. Of course the Urmensch, the original man or woman was not really able to respond to his printed questionnaire in 1865, but this did not impede the work to become a huge success. The mythological school was already criticized by some contemporary scholars. One critic said that soon there would remain no red cock or stinking ran in Germany that would not be in danger to be declared a Germanic deity. Nonetheless romantic scholarship celebrating nature cults of the remote past proved to remain attractive also in the 20th century. The publications often used some elements of oral or semi-oral tradition recorded in present times. In the Alps they were usually attentive to the mountainous landscape. Let me mention two Swiss examples. Edward Renner, Golden Ring over Uri, Golden Ring above Uri, a book about experience and thinking of our mountain folks about magic and ghosts and about the first and the last things. First printed in 1941, fifth edition in 2016. Christian Caminada if a Talbotan tailor. The enchanted valets, prehistoric cults and customs in the ancient Gryzins, 7th edition 2006. This is not to say of course that everything is fake in such works, but it is important to point to the fact that the authors did not restrict their statements to what could reasonably be known. That is their methods were lacking according to current standards. To some degree the romantic illusion concerns also this knowledgeable and beautiful is illustrated book by Edwin Bernbaum. Sacred Mountains of the World published in 1990, not yet as successful as the other books, but with a second edition. With Bernbaum, a nation scholar, alpinists and deep ecologists, we contour the planet from one mountain region to the other one. And everywhere we discover Sacred Mountains. This is indeed the standard book that we wanted to examine with a group of historians mentioned at the beginning of my talk. And our conclusion pointed more to the importance of cultural diversity and less to a universal mountain pattern. In particular the older periods of Christian belief did not fit into a generalized mountain sacredness. But there were differences and changes on other continents as well. When I wrote the editorial to the special issue, I remember having had an interesting discussion with my co-editor Chetan Singh, an expert on Himalayan history. In order to underline the reasons for diversity, I proposed among others this sentence. After all, it is men who speak to mountains not mountains to men. Coming from the Indian tradition, my colleague considered the statements too hard and we changed it to a softer version. It is men who speak more often to mountains than mountains to men. Thank you.