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Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #451: 1 Enoch 20–22THE BOOK OF 1 ENOCH describes journeys by the patriarch to the places of punishment for fallen angels and sinful humans. The author of 1 Enoch described rebellious angels, called “stars of heaven,” as “great mountains… burning with fire.” This is consistent with other descriptions of angels in the ancient Near East as burning mountains (for example, the “stones of fire” in Ezekiel 28:14, 16). Enoch also describes the “mountain of the dead,” a place with four chambers holding the spirits of the departed—one for the righteous, with a fountain of water, one for sinners, and one for the godless. One chamber...2025-06-291h 43Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #450: 2 Chronicles 19–23THE ELDEST SON of good King Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, was more like his mother-in-law, Jezebel, than his father. After Jehoshaphat’s death, Jehoram killed his brothers and turned his kingdom toward the gods of the Amorites (i.e., Phoenicians) worshiped by Jezebel. As a result, Jezebel was afflicted with a terrible and horribly painful disease that killed him seven years later. Jehoram’s son, Ahaziah, reigned only one year when he was killed by Jehu while visiting his uncle, Ahab’s son Joram. Upon his death, Jehoram’s wife, Ahab’s daughter Athaliah seized the throne, killed the royal...2025-06-221h 25
Old Asian LadyKaren Chung: Decades of English Teaching Inspires a Mission for Change (Pt 2)In Part 2 of our thought provoking conversation, #OldAsianLady welcomes back Karen Chung—retired professor at National Taiwan University (NTU), linguist, polyglot, and developer of EarBug. After 30+ years in Taiwan’s top academic institution, Karen reflects on her legacy, the gaps in English Language education, and the Echo Method she believes can fix Taiwan’s listening and pronunciation struggles.Karen shares:- Insights into cross-linguistic learning from Chinese to English- Her legacy at NTU and the importance of deep listening in life and communication- The creation of her app Earbug, a phon...2025-06-1154 minGilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #448: 1 Kings 19–20IT SEEMS odd to us, looking back across more than 2,800 years of history, that Elijah would run from Jezebel right after seeing what God had done on Mount Carmel. Well, it’s easy to criticize. It’s likely none of us would have done better in Elijah’s place. We discuss how he was ministered to by the Angel of the Lord, the preincarnate Christ, while on the way to Horeb (Mount Sinai), and how God revealed Himself to Elijah in a way that was less than spectacular—especially after sending winds that tore the mountain, an earthquake, and fire...2025-06-011h 33Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #447: 1 Enoch 16–19THE REBEL WATCHERS of the Book of 1 Enoch were described as “burning mountains” in a chasm so vast there was no end to the height or the depth. These were identified by the archangel Uriel as “the angels who mingled with the women,” who will remain there until the final judgment. This is consistent with the description of the sinful angels who are “kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6). We discuss other biblical references to angels as mountains and “stones of fire,” as in Ezekiel 28:14. The father-god of Mesopotamia...2025-05-251h 36
Look and Listen English Lessons | English conversation practice Podcast with Sharon FayeDating in English: Essential PhrasesSend us a textWe tackle the challenging world of dating conversations in English, providing essential phrases, cultural insights and practice dialogues to help learners navigate romantic situations with confidence.• Common dating expressions used by native English speakers• Cultural notes on dating in English-speaking countries• Vocabulary for giving compliments and expressing boundaries• Role-play dialogues with pronunciation practice• Guided speaking practice for first date scenarios• Reflective exercises to enhance language learningDownload our free PDF with the full episode transcript, vocabulary and phrases, role play scenes, and exercises for speaking and...2025-05-1811 minGilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #445: 2 Chronicles 16–17; 1 Kings 16THE NORTHERN KINGDOM of Israel changed hands twice in a week. And more often than not, succession in Israel involved a sword. Baasha became king through a coup against Nadab, son of Jeroboam. After a twenty-four year reign, Baasha died and his son Elah ascended to the throne. However, after two years, Elah was assassinated by Zimri, a commander of chariots, who lasted all of seven days before Omri, commander of the army, was declared king by his troops. After a battle at the capital city of Tirzah, Zimri barricaded himself inside the citadel and set it on...2025-05-111h 24Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #444: 1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13–15MOST OF THE kings of Judah, and all of those who ruled the northern kingdom of Israel, “did evil in the sight of the LORD.” One notable exception was Asa, king of Judah between about 910 and 873 BC, whose “heart was wholly true all his days.” He got rid of the idols erected by his father, Abijah, and banished male cult prostitutes from the land. The account of his reign in 2 Chronicles further records the religious reforms instituted by Asa, who even removed his mother (or grandmother) Maacah from her position as queen mother because she’d erected an Asherah po...2025-05-041h 19Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #443: 1 Enoch 14–15WHERE DO DEMONS come from? The Book of 1 Enoch answers that question. This week, we discuss Enoch’s mission to deliver God’s reply to the petition of the rebel Watchers for mercy—not just for them, but for their monstrous offspring, the gigantic Nephilim. In short, God’s reply was “no”—the Watchers would not be allowed back into heaven because they’d given up their divine natures and defiled themselves by acting like humans. That’s not an insult, it’s simply that the Watchers were created for the unseen realm while we are created for the natu...2025-04-271h 21
My Slice of LifeS9 Ep 5 Ancient Vines: The Superstitions & Folklore of IvyWelcome to this week's episode of the My Slice of Life podcast. From ancient Greek gods to bringing good fortune to a church’s congregation, the ivy has a wide, varied and often contradictory place in folklore and magic. Find out whether this wondrous plant really does bring trees down and why you should ONLY ever bring it into your house at Christmas!
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youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@my...2025-04-0719 minGilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #442: 2 Chronicles 11–12; 1 Kings 15IT DIDN’T take long for simmering tensions in Israel between north and south to erupt into civil war. Following the death of Solomon, Jeroboam led the northern tribes in rebellion against Judah and the House of David. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, wanted to go to war immediately but was warned by the prophet Shemaiah that it was not the will of God to do so, since the rebellion was God’s punishment for Solomon’s fall into the worship of pagan gods. However, after just three years of peace, north and south were at war. Egypt’s...2025-04-061h 15Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #441: 1 Enoch 12–14Enoch is the only human in history, as far as we know, tasked with delivering God’s judgment to a group of rebellious angels. This week, we discuss Enoch’s mission to the fallen Watchers. We note that he was called by loyal Watchers—which suggests that “Watcher” is a class or rank of supernatural being, some of which are still faithful to God (as in Daniel 4)—to announce God’s punishment to the rebels: No peace, no forgiveness, and they would see the destruction of their sons, the giant Nephilim. It is interesting to note that Azazel (o...2025-03-301h 28Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #440: 1 Kings 13–14; 2 Chronicles 10YOU’D THINK that being anointed king over the northern tribes because of Solomon’s disobedience to God would have caused Jeroboam to be more careful about his theology. We follow up last week’s study with the consequences of Jeroboam’s decision to set up altars with golden calves. Contrary to some who teach that the golden calves were idols representing God, we believe the locations—Bethel (“House of El”) and Dan, at the foot of Mount Hermon—point to the Canaanite father-god El, whose main epithet was “Bull El.” Mount Hermon was El’s “mount of assembly,” which is one...2025-03-231h 13Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #439: Proverbs 31; 1 Kings 12KING LEMUEL is unknown outside of the reference in Proverbs 31. It may be an epithet of Solomon meaning “belonging to God,” or Lemuel may have been an Arab king descended from Massa, the seventh son of Ishmael. What we can say for certain is that verses 10–31 of Proverbs 31 is a well-known section of scripture that praises the virtues of an excellent wife. We discuss the value placed on trust between a husband and wife in these verses. In the ideal marital relationship, both spouses trust each other implicitly. The virtues of a woman who embraces her role in the ho...2025-03-161h 18Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #438: Proverbs 30THE WORDS of Agur son of Jakeh include a prayer to be given just enough to get by, since too much can lead one to forget the source of one’s blessings and too little can drive the desperate to steal from others. The identity of Agur, who is mentioned only once in the Bible, is still unknown. It may be an epithet of Solomon, but the writing style differs from the rest of Proverbs. Some scholars have speculated that Agur should be translated “the assembler,” while others have suggested that Agur and Lemuel, to whom Proverbs 31 is attrib...2025-03-091h 13Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #437: 1 Kings 10–11; 2 Chronicles 9FOR ALL of Solomon’s vaunted wisdom, he failed in the thing that mattered most. God had told the Israelites not to enter into marriage with foreigners. Not because of racism or any perceived superior bloodline, but because the nations around Israel followed other gods—fallen angels who’d rebelled against the Creator. Solomon disobeyed to the extreme—700 wives and 300 concubines, and they turned the king away from God. This cost Solomon’s son kingship over all Israel and led to the Mount of Olives being referred to by the priests as the Mount of Corruption (more accur...2025-03-021h 23
The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching035 - Pit Pony Ruth O'Neill - Classroom to SEND Consultant and TutorIn today's episode of The Pit Pony Podcast, we sit down with Ruth O’Neill, an educator who spent over 20 years in the classroom before stepping into a new role as a SEND consultant and English tutor. Ruth’s journey took her from teaching in the UK to classrooms in Cairo and Costa Rica, before returning home to take on a challenging SENCO role. Over time, the pressures of the role, increasing workload, and systemic challenges pushed her to breaking point.Ruth opens up about the realities of working in SEND, the emotional and professional toll of the...2025-02-251h 02Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #436: Ecclesiastes 7–8THE NOTION that grief is better than rejoicing is counterintuitive, but the lesson is profound: Wisdom is gained through suffering. On the surface, Ecclesiastes 7 seems terribly downbeat: “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting” (v. 2); “Sorrow is better than laughter” (v. 3); “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning” (v. 4), and so on. The point is that true wisdom is gained through adversity, not the pursuit of pleasure—a message that’s never been very popular. At the end of the day, what matters is...2025-02-161h 21Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #435: Ecclesiastes 5–6CHASING WEALTH for its own sake does not bring happiness. The chapters of Ecclesiastes we read today are unified by this verse: Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep (Eccl. 5:12, ESV). Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah. Our new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback (htt...2025-02-091h 20
The Lansing USD469 Lion Pride-CastLion Pride-Cast Episode 3.3 - “Celebrating Excellence & Recruiting Future Educators” (Feb. 5, 2025)Hosted by Miles Azzeh & Sharon BurnsAbout the Podcast: Lion Pride-Cast is the official podcast of Lansing USD 469, bringing you the latest district news, staff and student spotlights, and key updates. Whether you're a parent, staff member, or community supporter, this podcast keeps you informed and connected. New Weekly Format – Featuring employee spotlights, academic highlights, and district updates. Employee Spotlight: Emily Bucher (LMS Art Teacher) – Inspiring students for 14 years, passionate about art and the outdoors. Academic Spotlight: First-year English teachers Jess Moore & Emily Osmeier created an Immersive Elizabethan Museum to engage students with Shakespeare. Spring Recruitment Begins – Visiti...2025-02-0612 minGilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #434: Ecclesiastes 1–4LIFE IS SHORT and then you die. That’s the surface-level interpretation of the opening chapters of the Book of Ecclesiastes. The book is attributed to “the Preacher,” usually identified as King Solomon. However, some scholars believe the book was written or edited by a Jewish scholar after the return from Babylon in 539 BC and attributed to Solomon since the book is in the tradition of Solomon’s wisdom. The first four chapters of Ecclesiastes aren’t cheerful, that’s for sure. The author considers the value of work, seeking pleasure, and life itself, and concludes that “all is...2025-02-021h 31Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #433: 1 Enoch 9–11The author(s) of the Book of the Watchers (chapters 1–36 of 1 Enoch) saw the punishment of the rebellious Watchers resulting from the intercession of the four archangels. In chapter 9, Michael, Sariel (or Uriel), Raphael, and Gabriel brought the complaints of humanity to God and accused Shemihazah, Asael (Azazel), and their colleagues of creating the monstrous Nephilim and teaching humanity forbidden knowledge. In response, chapters 10 and 11 describe God’s response: He commissioned Sariel/Uriel to go to Noah and tell him to hide himself and reveal that a global deluge was about to destroy everything on the eart...2025-01-261h 29Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #432: Proverbs 27–28ACCEPTING CORRECTION and wise counsel can be difficult, but it can save us from a world of trouble. The value of wisdom as opposed to following one’s unrestrained appetites is again a theme in this week’s proverbs. And, as always, we find verses that are especially timely right now:Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. (Proverbs 28:15–16, ESV)Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, was recently di...2025-01-191h 20Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #431: Proverbs 25–26THE CONTRAST between God and kings, and between wisdom and folly, are a central theme of these proverbs of Solomon. While God’s glory is manifest through the mysteries of His creation, it is the duty of a ruler to know and understand to rightly govern. Likewise, wisdom is exhibited through prudent behavior, hard work, and self-restraint, while fools are “like a dog that returns to his vomit.” Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertH...2025-01-121h 08The Pit Pony Podcast - Life After Teaching012 - Pit Pony Amy Meade - Classroom to Learning & Development ManagerAfter 14 years in teaching, from secondary English to primary leadership roles, Amy Meade’s journey out of the classroom is remarkable. Amy candidly shares the burnout that came with Ofsted pressures, the life-changing realisation that school didn’t have to own her, and how she stepped into a new career as a Learning and Development Manager. Through over 400 job applications, Amy’s resilience and adaptability are an inspiration to anyone contemplating a leap into life after teaching. This episode is packed with advice, heart, and a beautiful Sliding Doors moment that reminds us of the pr...2024-11-261h 10
In Plain English: Science Made SimpleLifesaving Treatment for Premature Infants: An Interview with Dr. Sharon AbadaIn this special episode, my friend Dr. Sharon Abada shares the story of her grandfather, Dr. Marshall Klaus, and how he helped discover a lifesaving treatment for premature infants called surfactant. This story weaves together family, scientific curiosity, failure, and collaboration to tell the story of a treatment that has saved countless lives.
You can read Dr. Klaus's paper on the website: https://inplainenglishpod.org/2024/11/12/season-4-episode-2-lifesaving-treatment-for-premature-infants-an-interview-with-dr-sharon-abada/
More information about the other characters in this story:
Dr. Mary Ellen Avery: You can read her paper here: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/499174...2024-11-1248 minGilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #430: 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8YOU’D THINK an appearance by God Himself would be enough to keep even a king on the straight and narrow for the rest of his life. After completing the Temple, God revealed to Solomon the blessings and consequences for obeying His Law or turning aside to worship other gods—which, sadly, we will learn is exactly what Solomon did as an older man. We also discuss the significance of 1 Kings 9:3, where God tells Solomon, “I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever.” We’ve discussed “Name theology” in previous episo...2024-11-031h 15Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #429: 1 Enoch 6–8THE SINS of the “sons of God” mentioned in Genesis 6:1–4 are listed in detail in chapters 6 through 8 of the Book of 1 Enoch. Specifically, the rebellious Watchers “defile[d] themselves” by commingling with women and taught humanity things we weren’t supposed to know—the making of weapons, sorcery, beguilement, enticement, and venerating the sun, moon, and the host of heaven. The monstrous offspring produced by these unholy unions became an existential threat to humankind, eating the produce of human labor and, when that was gone, eating humans. Not content to contaminate the human genome, “they began to sin against th...2024-10-271h 16Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #428: Psalm 134, 146–150TRUSTING IN other people will usually disappoint. This week’s reading in Psalms is timely, giving that we’re less than three weeks away from electing a new president in the United States. Americans, remember this verse: Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. Ps. 146:3 (ESV) “A son of man” in this context refers to a human, not to the New Testament “Son of Man,” a messianic title Jesus applied to himself nearly 80 times. The point is that we need to remember, amidst all the distractions of...2024-10-201h 21Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #427: 2 Chronicles 5–7; Psalm 136SOLOMON’S prayer of dedication for the Temple includes a phrase we read often in the Psalms, “steadfast love,” which is sometimes translated “mercy,” “favor,” “loyalty,” or “lovingkindness.” The Hebrew word chesed doesn’t have an exact English equivalent, but it appears 245 times in the Old Testament which means it’s important. 26 of those uses occur in our reading of Psalm 136, which reminded the Israelites—and us—that God’s live is for eternity. Our question of the week: What is the difference between Israel and Judah? Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cance...2024-10-131h 15Gilbert House FellowshipGilbert House Fellowship #426: 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 4SOLOMON’S PRAYER of dedication is a wonderful petition to God, asking Him to listen to the prayers of His people. Solomon notes that repentance, turning from sin, is important, and that “there is no one who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46), a concept we see again in the New Testament (1 John 1:8). Our question of the week: What is Behemoth? Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah. —————— Our new book The Gates of Hel...2024-10-061h 08
Look and Listen English Lessons | English conversation practice Podcast with Sharon FayeUnlocking New Levels of English FluencySend us a textReady to transform your English-speaking skills with just five magic words? Join us on this enlightening journey as we reveal powerful terms that will elevate your communication game. Learn how to infuse empathy, eloquence, versatility, serendipity, and resilience into your conversations to enhance your emotional intelligence, clarity, adaptability, positivity, and strength. By understanding the meanings, usage, and significance of these words, you'll unlock the secrets to making your interactions more impactful and meaningful.This episode is packed with insights and practical tips to help you incorporate these words into your daily...2024-07-2103 minLook and Listen English Lessons | English conversation practice Podcast with Sharon FayeYour Guide to Speaking the Language of Landlords with ConfidenceSend us a textEver feel like you're playing a game of charades when trying to rent a flat in an English-speaking country? Worry not, because in our latest Look and Listen English Lessons podcast, I, Sharon Fay, am decoding the language of leasing for you! Picture this: a young college student, new to the twists and turns of the rental market, on a call with a potential landlord. It's a scenario many face, but armed with the vocabulary and know-how from our episode, you'll be signing leases like a native speaker in no time....2024-05-1004 minLook and Listen English Lessons | English conversation practice Podcast with Sharon FayeMastering Air Travel and booking a hotel Lingo and HumorSend us a textEver wondered how to glide through the complexities of British English when your flight's boarding? Hold tight, because we're about to turbocharge your conversational skills to navigate the skies with panache. Today, we've got Sarah in the co-pilot seat, an enthusiastic learner ready to crack the code of booking flights, managing cancellations, and snagging the best seats—all with the charm of British idioms and expressions. We kick things off with a captain's announcement that sets the stage for a linguistic journey into the world of air travel, packed with useful phrases and a...2024-02-2525 min