With that said I'm going to begin reading at verses 11 and 12 here in chapter 16 and I'll give you a little bit of a background again a reminder and Then we'll move into our study what we're looking at is the foundation or the birth of the church of Philippi and We're going to be seeing an event that takes place here first with a woman named Lydia and then an event that takes Place right after that and so beginning at verse 11 reading to verse 12 and introducing our study therefore sailing from Torus we ran a straight course to Samathrace and The next day came to Neapolis and from there to Philippi Which is a foremost city of that part of Macedonia a colony and we were staying in that city for Some days and so as we've already seen the Apostle Paul and A man that he loved very much a man by the name of Barnabas have had a falling out They had the falling out over Barnabas's cousin a young man by the name of John Mark Now Paul had been in the city of Antioch in the country of Syria and he'd been there for around a year It was time for him to leave it was time for him to go and to Ministering the churches where he had that he had planted to see how the people in those churches were doing He knew that it would take careful nurturing and careful time in the word for these young Disciples to grow to mature and the fact is that that churches that are neglected easily will fall apart if they're not cared for So Paul was ready to go but but Barnabas his dear friend wanted to take with him his cousin Mark and As we saw Paul disagreed with this and so they divided over that and they developed actually two different ministry teams Barnabas took John Mark and he sailed to the island of Cyprus, which is to the the Southwest Or so of of Turkey of the the nation of Turkey But Paul took a man by the name of Silas and he went through Syria and Solicia in other words he went to the southeast now they came to a city in modern Turkey Called Missia From there they went to Troas and Troas was a port on the northwest border of Turkey So while in Troas Paul had received a vision This is a vision the scripture says of a man of Macedonia notice verse 9 It says a vision appeared to Paul in the night a man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him saying come over to Macedonia and help us and so He knew that God had called them to go preach to these Greeks these Macedonians So Paul Silas and Timothy are now joined by Luke and as a unified ministry team They're boarding a ship and they went together to the work and that's where we left off last time we were together So he says in verse 11 sailing from Troas. We ran a straight course of Samoth rays and the next day came to Neapolis and So they're embarking on a short ministry journey and if you were looking at a map You'd be looking at the Mediterranean Mediterranean would be to the west of of the nation of Turkey Turkey would be north of the nation of Israel if you will and to the north and the northwest and So they're going across the Mediterranean and they're on their way now to an area called Macedonia So they first stop in a place called Samoth rays. It's an island probably spent the night there in a port They came to a place called Neapolis, which is on the Greek coast in Macedonia and then they move on to a city called Philippi That was about 10 or 12 miles inland. It was northwest of Neapolis So what we have here is the gospel entering for the first time into Europe It's interesting that it was a man of Macedonia who had said come and help us But when Paul arrives he actually is ministering to a woman a woman by the name of Lydia and So it says they were staying in that city for a while on the Sabbath day verse 13. We went out Of the city to the Riverside so they went to Greg Laurie's church and where prayer was customarily made and We sat down and spoke to the women who met there and So I'll develop this a little bit with you Normally as we've been seeing this and even Paul Paul even writes this to the Jew first and then to the Gentile The practice of Paul in his ministry was to go first to the Jewish population So the gospel was for the whole world But Paul because he had a heart for his Jewish brethren according to the flesh He would go to a synagogue and as he would go to the synagogue He'd first go and minister to them But again, he was open to ministering to whoever who would listen to the gospel And so normally he would first go to a synagogue to share with this fellow Jews But the absence of a synagogue pointing out here that they were at a Riverside tells us there's no synagogue and it tells us There were very few Jewish people there in that area and how we know this is very simple It took 10 Jewish men to form a synagogue So instead of meeting in a synagogue they're meeting at a Riverside and they're praying there That would be considered an unofficial meeting place So it's a prayer meeting. It's made up of Jews as well as what you would call God fear is there were Gentiles And in this prayer meeting, there's a Gentile woman a woman that we're introduced to here by the name of Lydia It says in verse 14 a certain woman named Lydia heard us And she was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira who worshiped God By the way, it says but who worshiped God that tells us two things one is she's from Thyatira, which is a It's a Gentile city. It's on the coast there in Turkey And that she worships God tells us that she wasn't Jewish, but that she was a God fairer God fairers were those who we like the moral teachings of the Jewish Rabbis and all but were not fully converted. They were not Jewish. They didn't convert to Judaism They basically were Gentiles who embraced the the moral moral teachings of the Jews and so that's who she is and it tells us that she's a seller of purple and It says something I want to develop here Notice in verse 14 it says a certain woman named Lydia heard us that when you read your Bible the word heard It doesn't mean much to you and it probably wouldn't why because the way we use the word here in the United States The way we use the word heard isn't something that's going to give us much information But you need to remember that in the New Testament it was written with a language called Greek coin a Greek common Greek and It actually has a deeper meaning than just listening It says that she heard us and she was listening very Intently she was hearing the message that Paul was sharing. She was listening and and was understanding the heart of the message She was listening with great Observation she was thirsting it's telling us she was longing for truth and it's a truth that would set her free so this is a person who's Listening who's hearing with intensity not just kind of like sometimes people are in church where they're just there You know, it's the time we go to church, but I've got other things I've got a roast in the oven or I got to go wash my car with a lot She wasn't doing that She was a Gentile she was a woman who went to prayer because she had a desire to know God She didn't embrace fully the God of Israel. She didn't convert fully. She was a God fairer But she was intensely listening to the things that the Apostle Paul was saying she was not indifferent She wanted to know what he was saying. She was understanding the heart of the message. She was thirsting She's longing for truth. She wants the truth That is going to set her free So she's not indifferent She's a worshiper of God. She's a God fairer now It says that she was originally from Thyatira When you read your Bible in book of Revelation it speaks of the seven churches and seven churches one of the seven churches is Thyatira it was on it was on the Turkish site was in Turkey and it was one of the seven churches that later on were spoken to She's from that city. It's on the Western coast there in Turkey. Now. She's living in Philippi and Philippi was again there on in in Macedonia and she's a notice a seller of purple now purple is an expensive die It's very valuable. And so that tells us something else and I'm trying to build something with you here She was a Gentile God fairer who is wealthy Because she sold purple and purple was a very expensive die but her wealth Did not satisfy her The money she had Did not satisfy the longing of her heart It didn't meet the thing that meant most or I didn't reach the deepest part of her You know, sometimes when we're younger perhaps we think well I'll get a job not based on whether it's something I enjoy doing or want to do or would like to make a career of because It's really what I feel I'm called to do but I'm gonna look for a job that'll produce the most income that I can have Why well because we think that if we have money we're gonna also have happiness and You know, it doesn't buy the things that matter There were for profits that have said this they said money can't buy me love. They were the Beatles John Paul George and Ringo the four Apostles I'm sorry But anyway She knew That there was something more than what she has She knew that money might buy you things and of course it does and grateful to God for it But it doesn't meet your deepest longing We're going through the book of Ecclesiastes and I'd invite you to be part of that on Wednesdays Ecclesiastes chapter 6 verse 7 says it like this all the labor of man is for his mouth Yet the soul is not satisfied It's something that you eat it's something that satisfies you in that way your physical appetites are met But your spiritual hungers are not So what you put on? What you drink what you eat are all necessities of course But they aren't the most important thing the most important thing is the Lord Satisfying your spiritual need Lydia was wealthy, but she was longing for something else This is a spiritually hungry gentile woman Who is open to the things of God and she knew that? Everything she ever gained would one day be simply left behind you don't take it with you Ecclesiastes 221 says there is a man whose labor is with wisdom knowledge and skill yet He must leave his heritage to a man who is not labored for it This also is vanity and a great evil you work all your life you get up early you work late You gain all this finance you get all this influence you gain this affluence But in the back of your mind is you're growing older You know you're gonna leave your business behind to someone who didn't work one day to develop it Friend of mine was talking about that. I share this on Wednesday night a couple weeks ago friend of mine was saying you know when the day comes for me to to move out of ministry full-time and to hand my Fellowship that that God gave me to develop. I'm gonna hand my fellowship over to somebody who didn't do a thing To develop this ministry didn't cry one time for this church, and that's a fact You leave it behind to somebody else Everything you do is left behind and she knows that all the money that she has all The things she has and you'll see she's a wealthy woman. We'll see that in a moment If there's even a more obvious thing we'll see in a minute, but she knew her wealth wouldn't satisfy She was there listening she would go to the prayer meeting and she'd hear and make her prayers made to God and all And hear the other prayers and and and here comes the Apostle Paul and he's sharing a message and she's hearing him She's listening intently According to John chapter 6 verse 27 Jesus said do not work for food that spoils But for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give you for on him God the Father's place is seal of approval food that spoils We had our family over for Christmas dinner a horde Greedy little things and they came over and it's like locusts descended on my house But there's food left over and At the end where does that food go it goes into the trash right it goes into the trash That's where it goes. That's what Jesus is saying don't labor for the food that spoils You have an abundance of it. Thank God you do But you don't eat all of it don't labor for that kind of food He said labor for the food that endures to eternal life You get that from me He's saying which the Son of man will give you for on him God the Father place the seal of approval and so the Lord Jesus made that very clear in John 6 35 Jesus said I'm the bread of life whoever comes to me will never go hungry whoever believes in me will never be thirsty You're not gonna hunger for spiritual truth. They're thirst for spiritual truth because Jesus satisfied those things He satisfies those things that you have in your in your heart when I got saved I didn't go and see what Muhammad had to say when I got saved. I didn't go and try and hear what Buddha had to say I didn't need to hear that are already was satisfied. I didn't want anything else. I was satisfied and that's what Jesus is saying Whoever comes to me will never be hungry. Why because I'm the bread of life I will meet I will satisfy your inner longings the hungers of your heart. So Paul came to a prayer meeting and While he's there. He's sharing about Jesus and he's preaching the gospel and and Lydia is there and she's listening intently And something inside of her begins to respond Something inside. It's like deep calling unto deep something. He's saying something within is beginning to Respond to it's drawing her It's like Paul is speaking just to her It's like she's the only person in That room even though she's with few other ladies and all It's like she's the only one there at the Riverside I've had people approach me after a Bible study and they've said, you know, I know there were other people around me But I also know that God was speaking straight to me today his word spoke to my heart That's what Lydia was doing She was seeking God she was at a prayer meeting It may be that even in her prayer. She was saying God. I want to know you Jesus in Matthew 7 verse 7 said it like this. He said ask it will be given to you Seek you will find knock and The door will be open to you And so Paul is speaking and he's sharing that God sent his son He's speaking at the right moment in the right period of time God sent his son He's spoken he's speaking about how how Jesus was born of a virgin and that he dwelt in Israel and and That he grew to be a man and he did miracles and he was speaking of his teachings and and how they took him and they put him on a cross and They put him to death and yet he was buried in the third day He he was raised from that a sharing the gospel and as she's listening to this God begins to work on her God is moving on her heart notice verse 14 The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul The spirit of God Convicted her he opened her heart convicted her within the core of her being Lydia was in the right place to receive what Paul was sharing and as she's listening she knows that what he's saying is true Like the two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus her her heart began to burn with within her and as she she heard She believed and God opened her heart to heed what Paul said and that that word heed in verse 14 The Lord opened her heart to heed the word heed means to respond it Means to act upon It's not just listening. You see a lot of people hear Bible studies, but they're really not heeding. They're not acting upon it They hear it with their ear, but they don't receive it within they oh, yeah, that's a good idea or that's neat Sometimes when they're convicted they'll go. Oh, yeah, that's his opinion. I Remember two young ladies who came to a Bible study on a Wednesday night and it just so happened I was in a passion passage that was speaking concerning Homosexuality and I just you know you teach the word as it is and so She contacted me and She said to me Pastor David. I want you to know something. She said my My girlfriend and I came she was lesbian that girlfriend and I came to to the Wednesday night She said we don't go to your church. We were invited to come to the fellowship and so we came and you were teaching about the sin that is my sin and she goes I went home and I spoke to my partner and I said what we're doing is wrong. The Bible teaches. It's wrong My partner said and I remember this conversation very well. She said my partner said oh, that's just his opinion Because that's what a lot of people do they they listen if they don't agree with that well That's his opinion even if it's very black and white. Well, that's his opinion or that's an old book. It doesn't matter That's you know today's different. We have all of these arguments But she said I knew that it was true and I told her Know what he said he didn't make that up. I read it myself today She said that and she broke up with this partner of hers. She got married. She has children She she was set free why because God opened her heart to hear what the Spirit has to say Because the truth will set you free and Lydia is there And she's listening and God is opening Her heart and she responds. She heeds. She applies herself to this And God graciously grants to her the free gift of salvation. You see by the Holy Spirit God opened her her eyes of understanding to believe in Jesus Christ In John 644 and 45 no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him I will raise him up at the last day. It's written in the prophets They will all be taught by God Everyone who listens to the father and learns from him Comes to me and that's what's taking place She's listening And God is opening her heart listen. It's it's not as if He's forcing her heart open She went with an attitude to receive she went because I want to know she's listening to this man who's speaking to these women at a prayer meeting And as she's listening The conviction of the Holy Spirit comes upon her And she knows that what he's saying Is true She's listening Well as she's listening verse 15 when she and her household were baptized She begged us saying If you've judged me to be faithful to the lord come to my house and stay She persuaded us So she heard Was being what was being taught There's no doubt that in the conversation in the sharing in the teaching preaching of the apostle paul That he mentioned that jesus has said uh go out to all the nations And baptized them in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit and teach them observe all things that i've commanded you Lord i'm with you always even into the end of the age There's no doubt that he spoke of baptism because she is saying i want to be baptized I and because the scripture says that she she and her household were baptized So her desire to follow christ is revealed by an open demonstration of faith There are there are no real secret christians really here in the united states shouldn't be By being baptized she openly declared that she's a follower of christ It's revealing to us that she is she's knowing that she had been dead to sin But now is alive because of the work of the spirit within her. She's actually evidencing genuine salvation And and she's desiring more of god notice verse 15 how it says that She says if you've judged me to be faithful to the lord come to my house and stay she persuaded us She's so overjoyed to have heard the gospel she wants to know more She's actually begging saying if you've judged me to be faithful to lord her hunger Is for more teaching again That is an evidence of a real salvation When you're really saved you want to know more about god That's basic isn't it When you really save for me it was not a once in a while thing When I first got saved it was I need to know more I I want to have more The way it was prior to getting saved and again. I was only 20 years old at that time But my lifestyle was when I'm partying. I loved to party and obviously a lot of people did and many still do But for me it was like where's the next party? You know you could party every day. I discovered that and I tried to do that I enjoyed partying go to somebody's house and do what you do But when I got saved It changed now is where's the next bible study? Where's the next place we can go for fellowship and and we had a day by day every day kind of thing Where we were together where the church was together that was by the way part of the What people today look at and call the jesus revolution.  We wanted to know him so we gathered together and that's what she's saying She's saying I want you to come to my house. She's persuading them Listen, if you if you trust that I really have been saved then please come to my house and and stay I want more teaching. I want to know more and and and it would be great to have you stay with us That way I have access to you. I can ask my questions and and you can disciple me and and my household I want more of you when I got saved it would have been nice I've had pastor chuck smith living in my house so I could say well chuck What about this and how about that and that's kind of what she was doing on a greater degree? It was with the apostle paul. I want to know you. I want to know more about god and and and the eagerness is is there On christmas morning, we came for our christmas morning service and and my wife and I marina we're talking And she said something that stuck with me. She said to me. I said well, it's great to go to church on christmas day, isn't it? She said What could be better Think going to church And I was blessed to hear my wife say that because she has to come and hear me But the question is real, isn't it? What could be better? There are a whole lot of people who will say there's a lot of things that are better Well, I'd better do this. I'd rather go to the game. I'd rather do this. I'd rather do that and rather go to the beach I'd rather there's a lot of people that would say there's a lot of things that are better And that kind of reveals our hearts for god it reveals our depth of relationship with him very clearly If I can find alternatives, you know make excuses to not be there tells me where my heart really is for her She wanted to be there. She wants to know god So she invites paul luke sylas and timothy to stay She wants to have them with her that they might teach her They more than likely at this time we're staying in a rented place But she wants to she wants to free them from having to pay any kind of rent And in doing so she's revealing something about herself. She's revealing that she's a wealthy woman She has a large enough home to lodge them And so it's demonstrating her generosity And so she asked him could you stay with me in my place and And here's something that I also love about this something else about lydia as a woman She has the privilege to be paul's first convert in europe the very first convert in europe and This is also the planting of the very first church in europe You see after she was saved her home became a place for believers to gather and ultimately It became the way the church in the city of philipi Was established And we may not know the word philipi that well, but we know the book of philippians And that book would have been written concerning a church that we saw birthed here and it was birthed in a house Many churches begin in homes by the way this church began in a home this church began in a home as a bible study In in pomona and then ultimately began sunday services in a home in ontario A lot of churches were were built or originated In a home and this church the church of the philippians did too And so that's the first part Here's your second message beginning at verse 16 it happened As we went to prayer that a certain slave girl possessed with the spirit of divination Met us who brought her master's much profit by fortune telling This girl followed paul and us and cried out saying These men are the servants of the most high god who proclaimed to us the way of salvation and this she did for many days But paul greatly annoyed turned and said to the spirit I commend you in the name of jesus christ to come out of her And he came out that very hour Now what we're seeing here is a spiritual battle And you see where it actually begins it begins as they went to prayer And that's where many spiritual battles take place You see god answers faith-filled prayers And because he does The enemy is in constant opposition. I want you to see this Notice how it says on their way to prayer. They encountered a slave girl the slave girl was following them And crying out we were in jerusalem several years ago now mike mackintosh Holland davis and i and our wives. We were in the city of jerusalem And we were walking And our wives were up ahead Scouting out places to buy stuff They were walking ahead of us And as they were walking ahead mike and holland and i were talking And directly behind us maybe 30 feet or less was a woman Who was following behind us at first you didn't notice her But she got close enough to us for us to hear her voice and she was muttering and speaking And speaking out loud And she was saying i don't know I still remember someone what she was saying when i finally Could hear her words.  That's mike I was getting a hamburger, but So i said okay, i said of course So we stop And the woman stops She's doing something very similar to You know sometimes people read the bible and say oh that happened 2000 years ago We're in jerusalem. There's a woman behind us. She's muttering about christ. She's speaking perfect english And we turn and look at her And mike says in the name of jesus to her And she stops Freezes and i'm not it was very dramatic. I'm not making it dramatic. It was she stops and kind of freezes in her steps and looks at us And then turns and scurries away So we start following her Going after mike's the step ahead of me, but we're going And she keeps rushing away from us These kinds of things still happen These kinds of things are real. This is not a story book This isn't fiction. This isn't a myth. It's not a fable. This is not a scary story This is real paul is walking This woman with the spirited divination. We'll look at that in a moment. I'll explain to you a little bit about that Begins to say things these men are the servants of the most high god who proclaimed to us the way of salvation And she's following them several days doing this She is notice possessed with the spirit of divination in other words Her body has been taken over by an outside intelligence a demon And this is the spirit of divination I'll explain that to you a little bit in a moment, but it's a demon that pretends to be able to predict future events We need to remember That there are satanic forces satan left heaven His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven a third of the angelic hosts followed him He now has a oversight if you will commands legions Spiritual entities that are explained to us in Ephesians chapter 6 When it talks about the various world rulers and all And so he is what jesus called the ruler of this this age the prince of this world He has demonic authority It's all subject to christ, but he has minions demons who basically follow after his lead He has him His tail took a third of the angels as I mentioned And so on planet earth In the new testament especially You see several mentions of demons and demonic activity The things that demons will do you you'll see instances where someone was demonized and they were blind or They had a demon that had made them mute or They have a physical illness of some sort or the appearance of insanity Or they have an impurity These are many times not just simply carnal things that that they're dealing with flesh things, but the scripture will say they had the demon of Or they cast the demon out who had made the the person mute And so you have it in the new testament and jesus went about delivering people Well, there are demons that pretend to be able to predict the future And they're referred to as a spirit of divination now the word divination speaks of Communicating with the demon for the purpose of obtaining the demon's knowledge In order to make a decision or foresee the future Divination Is an occult practice And it was and continues to this day to be strictly forbidden And the old testament book of deuteronomy chapter 18 verses 9 through 11 god was giving Marching orders to the children of israel And he was speaking about how he was giving them the land And when you enter the land the lord your god is giving you do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire Who practices divination or sorcery? Interprets omens engages in witchcraft or cast spells Or who is a medium or spiritist or one who consults the dead Those were the practices of the heathens and israel is not to practice those sins Well, this young woman had a spirit of divination Now it's forbidden To seek them out because it is god who reveals what he desires us to know We're not to go through other sources or seek other sources Oh, you know as you know, I look at my horoscope once in a while. It's kind of fun. We're not to do that We're not to go to the palm reader. We're not to go to the person there, you know Madam lulu who can tell you the future or whatever We don't do that deuteronomy 29 29 the secret things belong to the lord our god But the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever That we may follow all the words of this law You see when god desires us to know God in the old testament would use prophets his true prophets Amos 3 verse 7 surely the lord god does nothing unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets In our day, he normally and most often reveals his will through scripture So demons cannot foretell the future why they are not all knowing They're not omniscient In fact, when you read the book of isiah god challenges demonic in spite demonically empowered idols to predict the future isiah 41 22 through 24 Tell us you idols. What is going to happen? Tell us what the former things were so that we may consider them and know their final outcome Or declare to us the things to come Tell us what the future holds So we may know that you are gods do something whether good or bad So that we will be dismayed filled with fear But you are less than nothing your works are utterly worthless and whoever chooses you Is detestable This woman had the spirit of divination She was a fortune teller The word divination speaks of the spirit of python It was a spirit worshiped as a symbol of wisdom Someone writing concerning this said Often the priestesses of this demon Became agitated and gave answers apparently from their bellies when their mouths remain closed. They were ventriloquists is what they were and The people believed her notice verse 16 It says as we went to prayer a certain slave girl possessed with the spirit of divination met us who brought her masters Much profit by fortune telling She brought her masters much gain the word fortune telling is literally truth Saying in other words the superstitious people believed what she had to say They thought that these diviners spoke by the inspiration of their god and that means whatever they were saying must be true So as this is taking place verse 17 She's following paul and us crying out Saying these men are the servants of the most high god who proclaimed to us a way of salvation She followed that word followed is in a greek tense. It means she continued She kept following When it says she followed she kept following paul and us and cried out the word cried out isn't like i'm doing I'm speaking with a louder volume. She was shrieking She's screaming. It's it's not just a loud voice. It's a shrieking voice It's that screaming You know with You know a loudness that you can you can tell it's not just raising your voice. It's it's screaming out And so as she's doing this it's it's it's And it's interrupting everything that paul is trying to do and the notice she's saying in verse 17 These men are the servants of the most high god are claiming proclaiming to us a way of salvation Now One thing about it. I want you to notice that i'm going to develop it a little further in a different direction But one of the things about this She kept on following us one of my commentators that i use when i'm doing my study said The fact that she kept on following them there may have been something within her that was drawn to them hoping that somehow That she would be set free. She was in in bondage. She may have hope that they would help her She was in bondage notice that speaks concerning her masters The word master speaks of those who were controlling her And so it's possible she she kept following them Maybe within herself a hope to be set free But she's saying these men are servants of the most high god And the revealing salvation something she needed but verse 18 says she did it for many days But paul greatly annoyed turned and said to the spirit i commend you in the name of jesus christ to come out of her And he came out that very hour. He came out immediately Now i want to develop this Notice how it says in verse 18. She was continually doing this for many days But paul was greatly annoyed that word annoyed speaks of being exasperated. He was troubled. He was fed up She keeps following him and she keeps shrieking and every word she's saying may be true But paul is greatly annoyed of it now why because It's interrupting his ministry, but somebody says but but her witness is true We need to remember that satan sometimes will speak truth But he always adds a twist for his own benefit understand that He sometimes will speak truth. He's speaking to the lord jesus christ. He says if you cast yourself down from the pinnacle of this temple Isn't it written that the angels Have been given charge concerning you And that he will lift you up lest you dash your foot against the stone Remember in those temptations that jesus went through the three temptations one was cast yourself from the pinnacle of this temple And the angels will hold you up and that'll demonstrate to everybody Where else would it be a where would be a better place for this to happen than outside the temple where people come to worship But the problem when he said that yes, the scripture says he shall give his angels charge concerning the end Yes, the scripture said That they will hold you up lest you should dash your foot against the stone Yes, but you forgot the whole scripture said To keep thee in all thy ways And so we don't tempt the lord god see So the devil can quote scripture The devil can proclaim jesus as the way of salvation But he always adds a twist and that's why When someone knocks on your door and the representing jahovah's witnesses or mortems for that matter or you hear something from a christian scientist Or sometimes you may hear a muslim say well jesus was a prophet or you might hear a buddhist monk who would say well He was a great teacher They will say things about him But they're not completely true This woman is speaking the truth But in doing so Is going to cause real problem now. Why is that? Because the fact that the demon is bearing testimony of their ministry undermines it. Wow Well, the jews would be led to believe that the apostles are in agreement with demons And that means they'll harden their hearts against the preaching of the gospel But the gentiles finding that their own demon was bearing testimony to the apostles Would think that it's one system Which would mean they have nothing to learn and nothing to correct Which again would make the preaching of the apostles useless Her constant shrieking is interrupting paul's efforts to minister She's shrieking as he stops to speak So somebody can't approach him and say to him. I was wondering He can't minister to somebody because she's there screaming in his ear So where he and his team are going everywhere they're going this woman is following behind And so paul is grieved.  He's going to set her free He's grieved at the spirit notice verse 18 paul Greatly annoyed turned and said to the spirit. I command you in the name of jesus christ to come out of her And he came out that very hour He's grieved by the woman not by the woman by by the spirit by the demon He's annoyed that the enemy is interrupting the preaching and the teaching people are being distracted. They're being confused The woman is saying these men are true ministers, but the teaching of what that means is being interrupted It went on for several days And finally he simply cast out the demon in the name and the power Of jesus and that's something jesus said that his followers would do in mark 16 17 He said in my name. They shall cast out demons And it reveals that it's jesus who sets captives free The demon came out of this woman this girl immediately It had no power To resist the mighty name of christ now Sometimes and we'll roll to a conclusion sometimes people may think that these incidents are simply growing up scary stories Kind of you know the kukui stories those kinds of things You know These are true stories There are demonic powers a couple of things I told the a true incident to the First service i'll i'll repeat it to you. It's a true incident sometimes Sometimes people think that pastors just make up stories and some do This isn't made up When and i'm going to develop this with you when the holy spirit began to move when we were saved in in genuine revivals God begins to move in powerful ways and i'll share something about that in a moment And there are people who are actually actually held captive That are set free I got saved in december 27th two days after christmas And my dad as a joke bought me a weegee board Yeah, a weegee board. He thought it was funny. I wasn't saved yet. It was december 25th I got saved two days later So dad thought this is kind of a funny gift.  You know why it's called a weegee board because it's a compilation of two different words we and ja We in french ja in german. It's the yes. Yes board And it's used as a parlor game. I'm not going to tell you how it's used some of you already know And i'm not going to teach you how to use it. I will say this that it has Letters of the alphabet and different different different things on the board and some kind of little Little cursor of some sort So I come walking into the house now. I'm now saved. I haven't been saved a week And I come walking in the house My mom and my sister madeline Madeline had come to faith in christ, but she's brand new christian and so my mom and and madeline Had the weegee board out And I walk up and they're sitting there and my sister madeline a very innocent sweet woman Young woman. She says look david It works We're asking it questions and it's answering us And I said to her and I wish I could remember the exact wording, but I said that's garbage You shouldn't be messing with that now. I'm a whole week old in god telling you what to do But you shouldn't do that that's demonic Oh, no, it's just a game. I said you shouldn't be using that That's demonic because I was taught read your bible. I was reading I'm seeing demons already I started with Matthew and I'm going through the gospels And I'm seeing demons all over the place and naturally I see the weegee board and I said And I said, oh, it's just a game watch And I'm standing there true story. I'm standing there And she says weegee board She says you have to ask you questions weegee board Do you like david She puts her hand on that thing my mom No It spells that no and I'm just looking at it. I don't like you either. It says no And she says why and their hands are moving on board No respect And I look at it It's weird. I'm a brand new christian, but I had I just talked to carry a bible in your pocket I dropped it on the board And it writes Now see I didn't tell this story because people think I'm making it up.  I'm a brand new christian. I took the board took it to the fireplace and burned it That's what I did with it, right now There were things happening When I first got saved and I want to share with this as a conclusion in matthew 12 43 through 45 listen to this When an unclean spirit goes out of a man he goes through dry places seeking rest and finds none Then he says I will return to my house from which I came And when he comes he finds it empty swept and put in order Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself And they enter and dwell there And the last state of that man is worse than the first And so shall it also be with this wicked generation When the lord jesus christ began to do works first we need to remember that the foundation and I'll just take a moment the foundation of this nation. It was built on christian principles The laws and everything else were built on christian principles, believe it or not or like it or not it was And at first there was this desire you see it that there in monuments in out in uh washington dc scriptures everywhere Sermons everywhere. It was very very scriptural everything And then people would walk away and then It would get evil and then There'd be a revival A great awakening they call it. There were a couple of them And then things would change and once again the nation would return to its moorings In the jesus movement God was moving in a powerful way. I believe it was a genuine revival. There's no doubt We saw many supernatural things that we thought were ordinary normal I was at a revival Some guy fell fell down outside They carried him in Put him on the platform in front of me.  I'm no more than three weeks old in christ And this guy's laying there.  I'm kneeling looking at this guy He's right. He's two feet or three feet away at the most And he's just laying there. He had moved from him then just laid And i'm praying for the guy. I don't know him lord. He fell down.   It was that like His grip was strong enough to make his face turn red and he was choking himself And I took his hand and I moved it Like it was there was no power in it. So at the very beginning When I got saved There were things we were seeing That people would scratch their head and say how can that be it was we saw it why because we knew that god could do Anything according to as well. We knew that we knew that we were taught that So we expected him to This nation Was cleansed There was a powerful moment Where god moved and some of the most beautiful churches that were That are to this day were birthed from this movement called the jesus movement Calvary chapel, west covena golden springs Calvary chapel, san diego that became horizon Harvest which was calvary chapel riverside God was moving in powerful ways But many people walked away When the demon leaves He comes back And he brings with him seven spirits And that generation is worse than it was prior to having him kicked out Who here would believe that we would be living in the ways that we're living now Who would believe that that you would have men calling themselves women winning women's titles and having judges say that it's okay Who would believe that that a man could call himself a woman and undermine all of title nine and all of the different Things that women Deservedly should have but now men are once again doing that and nobody's standing up saying it's wrong Or who would say that a school can tell a little kid Well, if you feel like you're a girl and yet you're a boy, then we won't tell your parents We'll we'll help you to discover who you really are We'll have women we'll have men dressed like women come in here for the story hour When you're three years old and four years old and to teach you that it's okay to have drag queens in libraries When did we believe that would happen? We didn't it is seven times worse now Then it was when I got saved why because we rejected jesus christ as a nation We have to come back to the lord jesus christ We have what you're dealing with is a spiritual war You're dealing with a spiritual war And the church is asleep at the wheel Oh, you shouldn't judge pastor david You shouldn't these people are who's saying they're not sweet people But they're also lost They need jesus christ Because the enemy is attacking from genesis Where god established marriage marriages are being destroyed Children are being destroyed Government is being destroyed And the church is being undermined He's going all the way back to genesis right now And undermining the first three institutions you find in the book of genesis up to chapter nine marriage Government in the church That's what's happening So we as believers as old fashioned And ignorant as people think we are It's time to suit up It's time to suit up. We're in a war We're in a war. I had somebody approach me the other day and I'll close with this It was a sweet thing for him to say he said, you know what I've come to realize pastor david And I said what is that? He said pastors are warriors He said you've been in battle for many years And I said that's exactly right. We're warriors and we stand against the enemy But we don't stand alone. We stand with jesus and we have people who follow christ Who go with us as we win the world for jesus christ. That's how it's supposed to work So I invite you to be part of the battle To be part of the battle Weapons of our warfare are not carnal. They're mighty in god to the pulling down of strongholds casting down imaginations Every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of god and bringing into subjection every thought into the captivity of christ We have the word and we have the power We have the weapons and we have the victory and we need to open our mouths and speak it And live it That's what god has called us to do So this wasn't just a story This is what the enemy does And this is how he works


This is a question that I know lots of you have been wondering.  So who's to say there isn't like party goer, bacon or smile or steaks in the back rooms? Back room shower thoughts. Can you tame entities by feeding them food? Like can I just drop meat and a smiler would be my friend after that? Or would it still wanna eat me? If you go to level 666 and just start laughing hysterically and literally not taking anything seriously, will the level break?  What happens when you mix almond water, cashew water and liquid pain together? Will almond water cancel out all the negative effects of all those things? Or will it do absolutely nothing? Let me know your shower thoughts in the comments below.


Hi, my name is Dr. Manjana Tharidas. I'm a colorectal GI surgeon in the Department of Gastro-Science at Manipal Hospital Whitefield. The September 23rd conference is dedicated to the biliria disease. We will be talking about what is new in the biliria disease world, new innovations in terms of laparoscopic surgeries, endoscopic procedures and also other research that is upcoming. We have one of a kind new innovative approach to gallbladder disease. I hope you can join us to update yourself. We are here to share our experiences. Please do come and visit us so that you can share yours.


of think tech Hawaii in downtown Honolulu and my home office in Makiki. Today, we have Devin Nakasone of prayers on wings, POW Powell, sharing his heart and his life experience with us. His mission statement is that no child should feel alone. Aloha and welcome Devin Nakasone. But before we get started, please share a little bit about yourself. Aloha Wendy, how are you? Of course you said my name is Devin Nakasone. Thank you for having me. A little about myself. Well, I'm a state worker, maintenance worker by day, entertainer by weekend, and a bunch of other stuff in between. I guess we'll have time to talk about it in the next half an hour or so. That's just a little bit about myself. So that's a pretty balanced life I would say. I know you do a lot of community service, but you need to get income so you work for the state and then you do your passion, which is entertain and we're going to talk all about that. But I know you also wrote a book, so you're an author. The book is called Lucky Duckie. So please tell us the story around that title. Lucky Duckie is a children's book. And the children's book is a true story about a little boy at the age of 11 being diagnosed with leukemia. And the struggles in the book, I mean, there's so many struggles of being a patient of chemotherapy and cancer, but the struggle in the book is about not having enough communication. And that story is about myself being diagnosed at the age of 11, all the way back to, should I say it, 1984. Hey, what a survivor. That's the way I look at it, Devin. Yes. So that book is, well, was never my plan to be an author, but it is my book and we use that. We did that as a tool for outreaching to children and families in crisis. That's what that book is about. Wow, and I'm sure that was the part of the journey.  And I'm sure it must help a lot of families who are going through what you experienced and not only the families, but the patient, which you were and which you were writing about. And so that's the part that I think is quite important because it's the patient writing about the journey which you did. So we're gonna get more into that, but how did your prayers on wings, how did you come about making the logo for this organization? Well, so why the duck, right? Everyone wants to know why the duck. And the reason why the duck is because as a cancer patient and being an only child, my best friend, because I was taken out of school, believe it or not, the one thing that brought me comfort at the age of 11 was a little rubber ducky. And a little rubber ducky, I clearly remember back to 1984, first being diagnosed and my mother taking me to the store to buy whatever we needed, thermometer, this, this and whatever we needed. And on the shelf was a rubber ducky. And I told her, I still remember, I told her, mom, can I have that? Can I have that? And she said, yes, of course, right? So that became my best friend. So yeah, so that, so that ducky, you know, the first years, the company, the first years, that was the rubber ducky, an actual first year's rubber ducky. And they squeaked and everything. And they had a special bed and it had a blanket which was actually a hand towel, but it had a blanket and I would take it everywhere with me. Yeah. You could even take it into the shower with you, right? With the shower, I would sing to it, I would talk to it. It was literally my best friend, but it was a hidden best friend. Right. I would talk to it in secret and cry to it in secret. But that's why the logo.  As long as you talk to someone, something, something even of higher power, but you had the duck. And that's how, you know, it got you through it. Still, however old you are till today, you still remember that duck and how it was there for you. That is so very, very powerful, right? And then the prayers on wings, so the ducks, they have wings. So it just makes so much sense now that you look at it. There's so much tie-in that you can use, right? Yes, yes, we do. It's funny. So, you know, with the duck, we have things that we see on the side, which is ducks flock together, you know, which is what we do as a team and as a community, you know? And then we tackle Christ as one feather at a time, you know, so everything is tied into the duck, right? To the ducks.  Boy, that's serious, Devin, that's serious.  Yes, wow. I love it. I never, I didn't hear that other one you just said. We tackle one feather at a time. Yeah. That is so cool. And that's exactly when a child is going through a disease and experience, you take one step at a time, you handle one feather at a time. Yes, yes, very much so. A lot of symbolism there, I love it. So I know I have a photo of you and in this photo you have an award in your hand. So tell us about, what is this, what is this photo about? That photo is the, it's an eight pound trophy that is known as the 10 Outstanding Young Americans Award. Wow. So that is presented by the United States. JC's and how that award came about was the Hawaii JC's. They were watching me since we started our journey with POW or prayers on wings. And it was from a good neighbor column in the midweek that got their attention. So from there, they were watching us grow. And next thing I know, I got a call and it was the local award, which was first, which was called the Three Outstanding Young Persons. So winning that, being one of the three, my name gets submitted to the national level. So that award you see me holding is the national level award. So every year there's 10 young men or women so under 30 award, or under 40 awards, sorry, that is presented every year. So 10 awardees per year for 50 states. Yes. One out of 50. So, whoa, Devin. Yeah, so. No. So it was something that was not, I didn't know there was an award. Such as this, the really cool thing, the really cool thing, Wendy, is that that award is also who is also a recipient of that award is Elvis Presley. Oh my God.  I think at that time they got a medal back in that day. And if you search Elvis Presley out of all the concerts, out of movies, all the awards that he's been in, that was his, he states it as his most nerve-wracking moment in his life too. Wow, well congratulations Devin, congratulations. Can you just give me the title of that award again? Yes, it's called a Toya, or also known as a 10 Outstanding Young American Award. Oh wow, congratulations, job well done. So where did this all happen? Where did you receive that award? That award was received in Seattle. In Seattle. And so it was a big whoop-de-doo because all 10 of you gathered there to receive this award. And I'm sure, was it a surprise or did you go up knowing you won that already? Oh, I went up there, I went up there knowing that I won. Okay. If there is time, I'd love to share the story of when it was told to me that I won the award. But yes, so it was, it was a call during lunch break, I was on the state clock, I was on lunch, in case my bosses are watching. I was on lunch, I got a call, it was April 3rd that I got a call that I would be receiving this award and they were asking me if I could fly to Seattle. But it was very meaningful in April 3rd because April 3rd is the day that I became sober from crystal meth. I was already crying and thanking God that I was either he blessed me again. Yes. And then here I got a call from Seattle saying that they wanna fly me up for this award because I was chosen. Wow. See how it all works?  And so that's the brilliance in you and your life is that things happen, it doesn't just happen that there was a duck on the shelf. There was a reason and you needed to see the symbolism behind that duck and you continue using it. And yet the duck also for kids, for adults, it's a comfort animal, it's cute, it's squeaks, it's loving, it's everything, right? So as you found every meaning of it and then also the April 3rd date, I mean, what are the chances, right? That it's the day that you celebrate your sobriety, your new journey in life and now you're being honored and rewarded as well to just empower you to continue to do as great as you are. Can't turn back, right? Yeah, can't you? You got it in your hands. You're gonna have it in your hands. Eight pounds of glory right there physically in your hand. So wow. So I know the prayers on wings, I'm sure it's not a big organization, but tell me about it. How large is the prayer on wings community?  We've worked with, I think the correct question would be who haven't we worked with locally? So everyone that we've, the team that knows in their head, we've reached out to them somehow some way. And we've done whether it's keynote speaking, whether it's workshops, whether it's whatever it's getting into even community service, we've done as much as we could over the past years. So this organization that we started back in, technically we started 2012, but became a 501 C3 in 2013. We've actually done a lot. Of course I had to go back home. And I think we've touched every nonprofit that is based out of cup of learning whether it's in children's hospital. That was my home back in the day. Still is my home. And then from there, we also worked with at risk teams, big brothers, big sisters, kind of a youth build. I believe I gave a keynote speech at the graduation for the year that we were there. We worked with for Billatat. That is actually my family. So I do talks over there. Also, of course we do music over there as well when we have the opportunity. But there's so many organizations that we've worked with that make a wish. I mean, it's been amazing. And of course the amazing Hava EJCs who actually took prayers and rings to that next level. Wow, they sure did because they gave you that eight pound honor. So, you know, and not just in statewide, it was nationwide. And so that sure power lifted you to another level. But just real quick, what are just, Ness, name me some of the projects that you are created, you have created. Well, we, of course we do our communication project. That is our main goal because that is our mission statement, building bridges of communication. So constantly to find projects that will have the child and family bond together. Constantly working to have that. And also so that the child does not feel a little more important. We've done other projects expanded in prayers and wings where we did the duckling giving projects to where the child can pick a charity of their choice where they can become young entrepreneurs and develop a mission statement of why they have chosen a certain charity and do their own outreach. And we're just there to support them. Yes, mentor them and so you're mentoring them. Right, so they can become big humanitarians themselves. Yes, because they have a journey and a story. They need to be the voice as well. And the dynamics behind, just like what you had, what you experienced, right? So Devin, I know that you are very passionate about prayers on wings from the beginning of our friendship. You spoke to me about all this and I loved it. But I often see you around town at great events, performing or MCing. So that's why now I get the story. The last time I saw you the other night, you were at the JC's banquet. And that's the tie in why you were there not just an entertainer or an MC, but because of the commitment to that organization of what they did with you for you and what you give back to them. So I get it now. Okay, so I know that I'll be able to see you at more of their events because I often support especially the Chinese JC's but congratulations for continuing to keep that commitment to that organization. Thank you, thank you. Yes, and so I know with your passion for prayers on wings, for the passion of music, please share with us, how do you make both of that work together to benefit so many? You know, over the years of doing music because Hawaii is so aloha, so tight and we always come together for whatever reason even just to have lunch, right? So you throw music in there. That's another thing. And when you think about all the struggles that we have in Hawaii, just living on an island, there's so many, there's so much need for fundraisers and more so the importance of what we're fundraising for. So music has come into play with prayers on wings also where we actually started the prayers on wings jam bet to where it's comprised of 120 plus musicians to where if there is ever a need for music or entertainment that we have a roster that we can put together a band in case the band that you wanted a book can't make it. But if we can get the singer from the band that you originally wanted to book for your fundraiser, we can get a bass player, we can get this, we can get that and we can still make that fundraiser a success. So that's where the prayers on wings jam band was created.  So, and we, you know, that's genius, that's totally genius. Yeah. So I love it. That's been a fun ride. That's been a fun ride.  We just, we just call the bands and supply the electric. I got a sound man that will come and then, you know, you've got a full functioning copy fundraiser, you know. And you know what? It bonds all of you musicians as well. It's not just Devin and company playing at every one of these events, but you're giving them the opportunity to do that as well. But some, like you said, maybe they may not have all the components that can come out. So that is a genius concept. And you know, you're talking about fundraiser queen right here cause I sit on 12 nonprofits. And yes, they do a lot of, we need a lot of you and entertainment just to make that, that our audience feel just more at ease and welcomed. But what is your vision? I really want to get onto this. What is your vision for prayers on wings? Well, you know, after going through back and forth so many just narrowing things down, we really narrowed it down to no child should feel alone. That is really, when you think of the word alone, that would best describe everything that I felt as a cancer patient receiving chemo for four and a half years as a 10 year drug addict right after receiving chemo. It was always alone. And the child in me, no matter what age I became or how old I ever got, that alone had never left. And surviving cancer was enough. Surviving drugs was even more than enough. And I was so blessed to just be able to live through one day but I got to live how many years after. And that alone, it was another miracle that I never took my own life because I was suicidal. And I'm not a lot of kids will be that blessed. So that's where that outreach of why we go into the hospitals, why we go and talk to the families together so that they can bond because this was once upon a time that and so we go in there with no walls, with no reservations and we share. And we share humbly that maybe that someone might be feeling this way. And you know, just that word alone is such a sad word. And even not going through any kind of health issue or addiction alone, even for anyone, it's a bad word, it's a hard word. But alone and going through an ailment or a disease or an issue, it is. I mean, I could understand totally where suicide would be the next word to alone, right? Because there's no one and you're alone, there's no one to turn to. So the fact that you're going in to not just talk to the parents about helping the child or the patient during that moment when they're alone. See, when they're together, the child could be anything. But once the parent leaves the room, you would know, Devin, you would know. And the child knows how alone alone feels. And it's not, it's dark, it's not a good place. Yes, that's absolutely correct. There were so many moments. My mom worked so hard to become, literally she was, she became the best nurse with just one patient.   Before doing that, I would look at my mom, my dad sleeping. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it because I knew how hard they worked that day and the day before and the day before just to keep me alive. Yeah. And I had to put it back very quietly. But there were so many times that I just wanted to end it, but of course I didn't. I could totally see that.  I mean, truly the ducting place into your world but imagine all the children and all the patients that don't have or they couldn't see the mission and they just give it up. So that's why somebody like you going through it and being able to communicate this with the parents and reaching their hearts to just tell them that this is real and you experienced it so that they have a better education and understanding approach to guide their child through these darkness, these dark times. But it's truly dark, I can understand. Yeah. So I know that you offer workshops for families in crisis. Can you tell us a little bit about these workshops? Yeah, you know, this is, you know, we started out with paint your own ducts projects where families would paint ducts for each other. The ducts would symbolize a promise that they would exchange the ducts after painting it and they would place it somewhere in their house where they would always go to, whether it be in the kitchen or by their toothbrush, somewhere that they would always go. And that duct would bring them, will bring them back to the day that they painted it. More importantly, the promise that they made that they will always have open communication that they will never be busy in the day to say, I love you, never busy in the day to ask, how was your day? In return, the child will always know that they can rely on mom and dad and talk to them. And not a rubber duck, but their parents. And if not their parents, their teachers, not their teachers and their auntie, their brother, their sister, just not alone. That was the first workshop we put together. Because the duct became, the painting project became a little destructive, we launched the book, turned it into a coloring book where everybody started coloring. But more importantly, reading the story to the families of how important communications. So how does one get those books at this point? I mean, like if I know someone going through this, how do we refer them to your website? Unfortunately, we just lost our executive director and everything, she did everything. And she was really the heart of prayers and winks. But Charlene has passed and these books, what she was in the middle of turning it into a local publication because it was nationally published. We got it back and to answer your question, there really is no way to get the book. I believe you can do the free download if you look it up online, it's free for download. But the best thing is my schedule will be free for anyone, organization that never wants to hear the book. I can, I will be happy to read it to them in person. So, but until we figure that part out, Wendy, of course I will let you know. All right, well, I'm hoping then whoever can, or is hearing your voice and the hearing the need and they have those skills, it will give them a purpose to partner with you and put that together and have even maybe a second edition or even update it so that it can be used because as is so critical, especially in these times where these children are suffering and alone and it should not be. And it's the parents, like you said, your mom, she works so hard, they work so hard and just trying to survive and the medical bills and just putting food on. I mean, you were a single child, but some families have more than one, so they're needing help and they need the voice and the story and the love and the compassion that you have in that book to share with them so that they can get through these times. So let us help you to see if there's someone out there that can take over and continue or sharding their top and get more heart back into the prayers on wings. All right, Devin? I will take you up on that. Okay, so we're gonna try our best and as I said, we'll post it and we'll look, we're on the look for that. So anybody that can help has those skills, please, please, please, please, just let us know and Devin is going to receive your call and he'll come and read the book to you and then you guys figure it out, all right? Thank you. So Devin, for now we've run out of time and I knew we would, but I just wanna say mahalo to you Devin Acasone of prayers on wings an organization that is so needed to assist our Kiki as they heal and better their communication skills. I'm Wendy Lowe and we'll see you back here in two weeks with another edition of Taking Your Health Back. Aloha and mahalo Devin Acasone. Thank you so much, Wendy. Thank you.


Resilience isn't just a one-time thing, it's a fractal pattern that echoes strength and complexity at every scale. Just like fractals repeat their self-similar patterns, resilience shows up in individuals, communities and societies. It's all about bouncing back from challenges, adapting, and growing. The resilient fractal theory teaches us that these principles are interconnected and evolve across diverse contexts.


Welcome to JSA TV and JSA podcast the newsroom for telecom and data center professionals I'm Lauren Oland here in beautiful Honolulu, Hawaii for PTC 20 joining me now is Lynn Gowen the vice president of sales and marketing at 1623 Farnham welcome Lynn. Thank you. So I'm happy to be here Lynn let's start by telling our viewers a little bit about 1623 Farnham and what your specialties are All right 1623 Farnham is an edge interconnect facility. We're in the center of the country essentially We specialize in essentially interconnection between carriers and carriers carriers and businesses but we're also starting to merge into doing edge connect more edge connect type of Interactions or interconnections with the cloud the hyperscalers CDNs things like that Okay, and you mentioned you're in the center of the country. You're in Omaha, Nebraska So tell us why that's a good a good spot for you and moving forward with business opportunities We think it's great because it's two degrees there now, but so cooling is really great No, and all seriousness when the fiber networks were first being built across the country years ago They passed right through Omaha east-west as well as north-south So we're right in the nexus if you will of the fiber backbone and as more and more fiber facilities have been built They all continue to pass right through Omaha and most of them connect right into our facility Gonna warm up a little bit here in Hawaii I'm looking forward to it recently you secured some funding for a massive construction project. That's underway Can you tell us about that? We sure did we we we got some new ownership back in the fall of 2018 and that allowed us to be able to start to realize what the true We think what we see is the true potential of that facility and in last year we invested about 10 million into the building and allowed us to build out the fifth floor and Start to provide some data center space We're starting to fill that up now as we as we speak and then in this year in 2020 We're gonna put another 40 million into the building that it's gonna allow us to rework the entire electrical power infrastructure of the building So we're gonna be providing about eight megawatts of power to support everything in that building as well as continue to build out floors six seven eight nine Wonderful all right lots of work coming up and we'll be watching for sure this year So what's something that maybe our viewers don't know about 1623 farm that you'd like them to know? I think that the one couple of things one of them is that we are you know We our type of facility has been viewed in the past as a co-location facility And we're certainly will continue to do that but going forward I think it's our biggest focus is gonna be and our biggest importance is gonna be the fact that we're gonna help support the migration of cloud companies of Edge providers and getting their data out pushed out close to the edge closer to their customers Where they can the customers can interact with it quicker faster? Additionally, we also house the Omaha X or the internet exchange and that it's currently Ramped up to about 200 gig of traffic that passes through that on a daily basis So quite phenomenal for something that hasn't been in our facility much more than a couple of years Well if folks want to learn more about 1623 far num Where can they go website or social media? They can certainly just Google 1623 far no more It's WWW 1623 far num.com. Well, thank you so much Linda for joining us. Thanks. Laura. It's great chatting with you And thank you viewers for tuning in to JSA TV and JSA podcast. Happy networking