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The Lamb's Book of Life Calls for Reform in the Church

9/27/2022

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​A church that immediately and gladly accepts new members without requiring a statement from them regarding their repentance from sin, faith in Christ Jesus alone for salvation, and commitment to live for Him is not much of a church but is more of a country club with a religious veneer. Many modern-day churches take people into membership regardless thinking that it is accepting and loving, when it is actually acting contrary to how the church of Jesus is formed. The church that names the name of Christ is comprised of professed believers who are committed followers of Christ. It will be sad to one day discover that many people were on the church rolls but not on Christ's roll.
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Let's Safeguard the church for spiritual growth to the Glory of God

6/13/2022

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​How grateful I am for what the Lord does in our lives and in our church. I praise the Lord that He has added sixteen people to the membership of our church over the past fifteen months, not even counting their children who are not yet official members or the several other individuals and families who are coming faithfully but haven’t “joined” yet. Praise God! He is at work in our church, and it’s encouraging and exciting to behold.

As I analyze the church in America, unfortunately, sometimes they have friction, divisions, selfish motives, and personal preferences that are not spiritually healthy, and other factors which are detrimental to the life of the church – and by “life” I mean its spiritual life. This was also true in the Apostle Paul’s day in the first century. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-11)

Sometimes churches operate like a country club or interest group. The church is neither. The church is the body of followers of Jesus Christ, who have been purchased by His blood. Since He has purchased the church, it belongs to Him. It does not belong to anyone or any group within the church. In our day, there are some who value numerical and financial growth more than spiritual growth. However, a church can grow in numbers and yet not grow in its spiritual life, depending on its focus.

The Spirit of God working through the Word of God is what brings about spiritual growth. Yet, many churches have downsized their approach to the Word of God. Many folks are not willing to attend a Bible study or listen to teaching or preaching that is not to their preferred topic or length. Our nation, and the world, is plagued with churches who only want to hear what seems interesting to them. Often they term it “relevant”–as if the Bible is not relevant. When the Word of God is minimized, a church abandons being theocentric (God centered) and moves to being egocentric (man, or self, centered). This is not honoring to our Lord and it does not produce spiritual growth no matter how many activities are offered.

We must bless our new church members with the Word of God in everything we do – in our Worship Services, our practices, our policy decisions, and in our entire church life. Too many church attenders and members in our land hold and voice opinions by saying things like, “Well, I don’t agree with that because . . .” but then don’t give Scripture to support their view or opinion. We need God to guide us, and His Word (the Bible) is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105)

We should never allow those who have little to no interest in spiritual matters to make decisions which affect the spiritual life of the church. Polls, surveys, statistics, and such are poor directives for spiritual vitality in a church owned by the Lord Jesus Christ. The first course of action is prayer, including personal and corporate prayer; it is difficult to have people attend such meetings, which is indicative of spiritual anemia.
A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) wrote, “It is scarcely possible in most places to get anyone to attend a meeting where the only attraction is God. One can only conclude that God’s professed children are bored with Him.” It is a sad situation when healthy and able church members do not faithfully attend Bible study and Worship Services. It seems that they are seeking something in the church more than God, His Word, and His will.

Sometimes people don’t take criticism well because they would rather stay in their comfort zone instead of stretching and growing spiritually. The main areas are their neglected prayer life and their unwillingness to take in biblical and thorough teaching and preaching and thus they remain spiritual babies, clinging to their own expectations, traditions, and preferences.

The principles of God’s Word must be brought to light by accurate teaching. A faithful spiritual leader of a church must guide a church so that the church grows spiritually. A hungry Christian will prayerfully read the Scripture that is to be taught or preached even before the time of the teaching/preaching, so that God will give him or her more understanding of the meaning of that particular Scripture and then meditate on it in the days after the teaching.

May God continue to bring us more people to join our church. May others come to trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the payment of their sin and gift of eternal life. May our baptismal waters be continually swirling with the testimony of spiritual life. May we avidly hunger for God’s Word, God’s will, and God’s Spirit with us. We are His.

Let’s exalt the Lord in all we do in our church and pray that we all become captivated by Him. Let’s be careful not to be conformed to the image of those who do not have a deep desire for knowing God, loving God and people, and obeying God. Christians are to be light in this world and the church is to be a lighthouse. The light is provided by the Holy Spirit of God. May our church be seen as the light of God shining forth in a dark world. May all we do be molded by the Word and will of God, for His glory.

We must be in prayer constantly, and always willing, ready, and eager to take in God’s Word regardless of likeability or length. We must love it and have it, for it causes us to grow spiritually. If a pastor faithfully and accurately teaches and preaches the Bible, then it is imperative that the people hear it. They need to understand that when they do hear it, they are hearing Christ, the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4).

When people in any given church do not follow the healthy spiritual leadership of their pastor, but rather seek to fashion him within their mold, the church suffers spiritually. When people in the church do not heed the sound spiritual guidance and wisdom of their pastor, but instead label him as one who isn’t a team player or one who doesn’t receive correction, it may actually mean that they refuse to listen to that spiritual leader of the church. This is one way in which churches in our day become more of a country club rather than a spiritually growing body seeking the glory of God, striving to understand and obey the Word of God, and growing in spiritual vitality in Him. So, my analysis of the modern church in America leads me to its greatest need – that of the church growing spiritually in Christ for His glory. May He help us.

On another “note” – My live radio show Monday-Friday called “Morning Praise” is for you, too. It is an opportunity for me to minister the Word of God and His glory more than only an hour or so on Sunday morning. I know many are working from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., but many others can listen. It can be heard on regular radio on WJYK- 99.3 FM or 980 AM, or over the Internet at wjykradio.com, and taterpatchradio.com. WJYK stands for Worship Jesus Your King. The show features music that glorifies God (through several genres including contemporary Christian, gospel, hymns, praise and worship choruses, and southern gospel music, etc.), Scripture readings, short program features (1 – 2 minutes) from people like Joni Eareckson Tada, Beth Moore, David Jeremiah, R.C. Sproul, John MacArthur, and more. You are invited to join us to worship and praise our Lord and grow in His grace!
You can still visit me in my ____ Pastor’s office during the show. I might even put you on the air!

Let’s be the church that our Father in heaven wills us to be. I love our church and am very grateful for what He is doing in and through us. Soli Deo Gloria.

Grace and peace to you,
In love,
Pastor Steve
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An official cancer patient

4/23/2022

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God is good.

So, I am officially a cancer patient.

God is still good.

The following was correspondence from Janis to friends and family members yesterday (Friday): “The surgeon just came out. It took much longer than expected because he had to do a lot of digging around in the tongue to find a positive sample, but it definitely is cancer. He seemed to think stage 1 but will have to have further testing to know for sure. Theoretically survivable with radiation and chemo. Another hour in first recovery room, then I should get to see him in the second recovery room, then we’ll come home. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.”

Our prayer requests continue to include the physical body, but also for us to rejoice in the Lord and give Him thanks in all circumstances. My body belongs to Him. God reigns and Jesus is Lord. He is faithful and He is worthy of my all.

​Thank you, again, for your care, prayer, and outpouring of love to us. It helps us. I consider it to be one of the means of God’s grace to us.

I now join many others in the category of cancer patients, including many friends. I will be scheduled for a PET/CT scan and consultations with radiologist and hematologist soon.

Though this personal health event has been surreal and troubling, the Lord is drawing me closer to Him during these circumstances, and I trust Him for whatever occurs in the future. I trust not in any particular outcome (though, of course, we pray for physical, mental, and emotional strength and healing). I trust God – in His will and in His wisdom. No one loves me like He does. May He be magnified. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 1:20)

God is good. He is good all the time, regardless of circumstance. Therefore, by His grace (and I emphasize our need for His grace), we will rejoice in Him, continue to pray to Him, and be thankful to Him.

#cancer #cancerawareness #cancerwarrior
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He is risen indeed!

4/17/2022

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​Sunday, Day 8 of 8:
“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:6) The first to announce the good news was an angel. There were more announcements to follow, that three days after His death, Jesus was alive! The angel stated, “As he said.” Jesus had told them, and He kept His promise.
All of the Gospels testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, the tomb was empty, but the greater revelation and evidence came to the women seeking Jesus and then to the disciples. He appeared. Jesus rose from the dead, never to die again. Greater proof than an empty tomb is that He was seen and there was testimony by many.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Cor. 15:3-8)
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10)
The promise of forgiveness of sin and eternal life are provided by the death and resurrection of Jesus. He is not simply an example, and He didn’t die as a martyr. A martyr could never take away sin nor provide eternal life to anyone. A dead savior is no savior at all. Jesus was alive! Jesus is alive!
Jesus died and arose as the Savior and Lord!

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Holy Week - Jesus' Passion

4/16/2022

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Holy Week – Jesus’ Passion

Sunday, Day 1 of 8:
Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord. (Psalm 118:25-26)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)
In Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19, Jesus descends from the Mount of Olives towards Jerusalem, and the crowds lay their clothes on the ground to welcome him with shouts of “Hosanna” (“Save us” as recorded in Psalm 118:25) as he triumphantly enters Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9.
The triumphal entry is traditionally commemorated on Palm Sunday.

Monday, Day 2 of 8:
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” (Mark 11:12-17)
(See also Matthew 21 and Luke 19)
Jesus expects fruit, and not empty religious attitudes and activities. He wants people to pray to the Father in heaven, not prey on others, especially in the name of God.
Do our affections, attitudes, and actions flow from our love for the Lord Jesus Christ and for the glory of God?
On this Monday let’s drive out the pretensions of our hearts and activities and bear spiritual fruit to God, for without Jesus we can do nothing. (See John 15)

Tuesday, Day 3 of 8
Jesus is in conflict with the religious establishment in Jerusalem and pronounces seven woes on them. A “woe” is a statement of judgment. One such to them was: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-28)
They were withered and fruitless like the cursed fig tree.
In Jesus’ first recorded public sermon approximately three years prior, He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, …” and He taught the internal nature of the law, in that, only regarding external regulations does not mean that you are regarding the law in the heart.
On this Tuesday, let’s endeavor, by God’s grace, to guard our heart (Proverbs 4:23) and keep His commands by loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and other people (our “neighbor”) as ourselves. (Mark 12:30-31)

Wednesday, Day 4 of 8
The Bible does not mention Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday.
According to the traditional interpretation of the Bible, Holy Wednesday is the day on which Jesus was anointed with spikenard
during a meal (Matthew 26:6–13). The day is sometimes called “Spy Wednesday” since it is traditionally thought of as the day Judas conspired with local authorities to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14–16).
Some use the word “Tenebrae” in regard to Holy Week Wednesday. Tenebrae means “darkness or obscurity.” Besides us not dogmatically knowing the events of this day, Jesus’ disciples did not know the significance of this week. It was rather obscure to them. Judas was in darkness in his willingness to betray the Master. Jesus knew. He knew it all and the significance of His “Passion Week.”
May God open our eyes to His plans and truths that are dark and obscure to us. May we come to appreciate all that Jesus did this week, especially since He knew Judas would betray Him, His other disciples would forsake Him, and He would suffer in ways we could never, and then be brutally killed on a cross. He “set his face like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7) to do what He came to Earth to do.

Thursday, Day 5 of 8:
Jesus and His disciples shared the Passover meal, which is known as the Last Supper, since it was their last Pesach seder (Passover meal) before Jesus was to give His life and blood on a cross for the forgiveness of the sins of those who would trust in Him as their Savior.
Luke 22:14-20: And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Afterward, Jesus washed the disciple’s feet.
Many call the fifth day of Holy Week “Maundy Thursday” – maundy is from the Latin mandatum meaning mandate or command.
Jesus’ mandate to His disciples after Pesach and washing their feet: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
May we partake of Jesus’ body and blood by faith with a heart of love for Him, and may we obey His command (mandate) to love each other as He has loved and does love us.

Friday, Day 6 of 8:
Jesus is crucified. (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19)
This day is referred to as “Good Friday.” It was God’s plan for our good.
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6-11)
Let’s make sure that we are trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice for our forgiveness of sins. He died for us. Nothing else will suffice. Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) Jesus fully paid the price. We must believe in Him (fully trust) and in Him alone for our salvation.
May we then fulfill the words of 1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.”

Saturday, Day 7 of 8
At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry of showing Who He was, He changed water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, then stayed a few days in Capernaum, and then went to Jerusalem and drove out the money-changers from the temple. The Jewish religious leader’s response is recorded in John 2:18-21: So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
Three years later, Jesus was killed “according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). According to each of the Gospel writers, His dead body was buried according to Jewish burial customs (Matthew 27:59-60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53-54; John 19:39-42).
He was dead, and there was no doubt about it. But that was to be temporary, and it was only day two of three of Jesus being dead and buried in a tomb (sepulcher).
Seven hundred years prior, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” This was fulfilled by the burial of Jesus. His body was placed in a rich man’s tomb by its owner, Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus would only need it’s use for three days, and today was only day two of the three.
As we remember this particular Shabbat (Sabbath), the day of rest, may God work in our hearts to trust Him and to rest in His precious and very great promises (2 Peter 1:4). He is at work even when we can’t see His hand and even if we don’t perceive His plan.
It’s day seven of His Holy Week, and it’s only day two of three of His very great promise which is precious to us.

~Steve Battaglia, 4/16/2022

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Reluctant Revelation of Recent Real Life:

3/12/2022

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After several weeks of appointments and waiting, I finally had my biopsy earlier this week. We should know the results Monday or so. We have had time to mentally, emotionally, and practically prepare for this, but it still is a bit surreal, and I know we can never be fully prepared for some things. We walk in God’s grace, through the presence of the Holy Spirit day by day.

We all know many people who have had to enter into this type of situation, and some are currently going through it, God bless them. This gives me greater understanding and empathy for those who have to deal with this in their lives.

​This situation is quite distracting, but I'm assured that God will use it, however it goes. My prayer, and my prayer request is, that I will trust, love, worship, and proclaim the Lord regardless of the results. If the results are what we hope and pray for, then we will proclaim, "God is good." If the results are not what we would have hoped for and I begin the difficult path, then I will still proclaim, "God is good."

A song sung by Kutless and written by Scott Krippayne and Tony Wood (originally from Chase City, the location of our radio station) states:

Sometimes all we have to hold on to
Is what we know is true of who You are.
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are.
And we trust in who You are

Even if the healing doesn't come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing doesn't come

Lord we know Your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are

Even if the healing doesn't come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing

I really didn’t want to publicly share my current health situation, but then I thought that it may be helpful for others since there is so much difficulty and heartache in so many lives, and that it may help us all to transition from sympathy to empathy for others in their hardships of life.

My chief end (the purpose for which I was created) is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Therefore, I desire to glorify Him in everything - in delights or in difficulties, in pleasures or in pain, in life and in death (Psalm 73:25). He is worthy. I do enjoy fellowship with Him and know that it is eternal, through His grace and the purposeful and sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.

Whatever the results I am confident that God will be glorified and that it will be for my ultimate good, godliness, and glory in and with Him.

So if you think of offering a prayer for me then please pray that I become more like my Savior in my attitudes and actions, with my lips and with my life. Pray that this will be a mechanism to move me to deeper love and obedience to God. Pray that Jesus be known, that God’s sovereign rule become apparent and come in fullness, and for His will to be done.

He is God, He is good, forever faithful One, no matter what happens.

Soli Deo Gloria

~Steve

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The Deeper Issue and Lasting Hope

2/17/2018

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​The following is an adaptation to my responses to a social media platform the day following the school shooting in Florida:
 
It's sad and difficult to try to process what happened yesterday at and in the Florida school and to grieve with the families, students, and staff while seeing and hearing debate on policy so soon (it's understandable in ways, but is still sad and difficult in light of what happened.)
Pray for the ones in the hospital right now, and for the long process of counseling that will be much needed, and looking closer at the effects of mental illness (and I realize this is only one issue involved.)
I'm not wasting my time talking policy right now (trust me, I have a view and I could enter in), but instead I wanted to try to refocus on what is initially necessary. No one is going to "win" an argument on “gun control” or “gun rights” (and there are many good and valid points from different perspectives.) It seems that everyone is concerned about the safety of kids and teachers in schools. We must seek to lay the blame deeper and to state the hope higher than simply a blame game and debate on gun rights, safety, and gun control laws, et al.
It breaks my heart for these neighbors in Florida who are in such deep and lasting pain. (Jesus: "'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” -recorded in Mark 12:30-31)
Much needs to be done in regard to what is being asked; so I appreciate the passion about safety and the value of life from people from all sides of the social-political spectrum. Though I do want to enter into the discussion at a more appropriate time (including, but not exclusively, with our church family - and we have been discussing it for two months now, especially as it regards church safety and working with our law enforcement officials here. We have had classes, and hope to do much more. We also have a member of the School Board in our church.)
However, my highest passion is that people come to love God (and not only claim to love people.) Both are imperative, but to love God actually accentuates and deepens ones love for people. The way to love God is to come to know the majesty of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. His purposed and performed sacrificial death for our sins and His resurrection for everlasting life (and abundant life now) for any and all who believe in Him (trust in Him and His sacrifice) is what opens the gate for one to love God. Only when one comes to love God through the Lord Jesus Christ will he or she be whole for time and eternity.
I must work for the present time but also for the time to come, and I encourage all to think deeper and more lasting than what is typical. I see from the news that the funerals have begun. Let us weep with those who weep.
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Oh Say Can You See?

9/28/2017

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The USA is very divided and this division within our nation has been evidenced (again) by the latest peaceful protests at the NFL football games, and by the ensuing emotional reactions to them. It has proven to me that many do not really care about learning about others or about working toward righteous resolutions, but only about what they consider to be right, “winning”, or by disparaging people with petty, proud, disrespectful words.  This is unfortunate.
We must listen … really listen, and go deeper than the surface arguments.  I don’t expect everyone to agree with me (and that is not my purpose), but I do hope to help people think outside of their personal boxes.  It has been repeated lately: “Saying that taking to a knee has to do with the flag is like saying Rosa Parks was protesting public transportation.”  I have stated that I would stand, that I do not like the protests, and that I served in our military.  However, the flag is not my idol. This nation is not my god.  I love our flag and our country, and with that should be a deep and sincere desire to inconvenience myself to try to gain a better understanding, appreciation, and empathy for other people within this country, especially people who are not like me and that I may disagree with. 
When people get offended and rude at those trying to understand, it ironically seems to manifest an attitude of apathy toward issues that are dear to others … others who have long felt insulted, injured, and abandoned by their own. We must cease being angry about a thing and apathetic about a person. 
One’s patriotism ends when he or she would rather someone stand for the flag or not lock arms than learn (really and deeply learn) what his or her reasons are for not standing or for locking arms.  One’s “American exceptionalism” ends when he or she chooses to assume that peaceful protesters are proud, thugs, ungrateful, etc. instead of him or her choosing to get off of your proverbial easy chair which holds his or her “this is what America is” soda cup and sincerely attempt to reach out and reach over to see what others have gone through, are going through, feel deeply, and care about.
This is deeper than patriotism versus disrespect, the NFL, or the President. It hits to the core of the soul of our nation, and my deepest burden is for those who claim Christ as Lord.  It has to be more about people than a flag. The flag saga is but a test for us to see what is most important to us – the cloth or Americans (all of them.)
I wonder if those in other countries think it strange that there is such controversy about a flag and yet little concern for all people of the “Republic for which it stands.”
It is a sad day when there is more activity on a social media post about our flag then on a post about our Savior.  That is quite telling.
Hopefully, we can grow in maturity to listen to one another (even those not like us, or who disagree with us) in order to understand one another so there can indeed be "liberty and justice for all."
For me, this whole flag thing is much deeper, and has revealed in me that I need to come out of my comfort zone to find out more about people (all kinds) in order for me to understand (with my heart, not only my head) so that I can do my part to love my neighbor (all of them, even the ones who take a knee.) This is not easy for me, but I am trying and I want to be more wise, empathetic, and helpful.
I realize (personally) how thoughts go to loved ones who served our country in the military when the National Anthem is played, and I get that and appreciate that.  However, I think many people … including me … do not really see, nor understand, what some in our country feel and know.  I want that to change in me, and I am not going to get offended enough to keep trying.  I am hoping others will try too.
I will still enjoy watching the NFL, and I will hope that our nation will see past their personal colors, preferences, diversionary tactics, ratings and rantings, ... and come together as "one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Believers in Jesus Christ must be especially careful in this, so as to not make one’s patriotism become synonymous to his or her Christianity, as if one cannot exist without the other. We must not allow our political leanings and preferences to guide our gospel, thus making a false gospel.  Of course we would never say that we are guilty of that, but actions sometimes speak louder than words. 
I hope that our love for our soil does not diminish our love for a soul.  Let's pledge allegiance to this too.
​“My little children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21 
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Dusty Discernment

3/1/2017

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There have recently been many promotions, praises, and criticism of a certain best-selling book and its coming to the silver screen as a major motion picture. I will not directly comment on either.  What disturbs me is that many, if not most, Christians cannot name the resurrection chapter in the Bible (evidencing that it must not be very important to them), cannot expound the nature of God (as taught in the Bible), cannot explain the gospel, do not know what “born again” means nor give the biblical context of that statement, cannot define repentance nor state whether it is needed today or not, cannot define "justification", are not drawn to Bible books such as Jude and the "pastoral epistles", cannot name the most common warning in the epistles, do not value corporate worship, wrongly think that discernment is opposed to love, do not know the biblical meanings of “love”, cannot link Matthew 7:1 with John 7:24, and do not care to know the before-mentioned (since they do not seem to “meet me where I am.”) On the contrary, they can expound on the latest best-sellers, and generally think that anything that seems to “lead someone to God” is from God, thus elevating pragmatism above the level of truth and truthfulness. I am not responding to anyone's post. I am simply making general comment regarding the biblical illiteracy and egocentric movement of the church (believers, real or pretend) that is so prevalent. It concerns me greatly that people erroneously think that "theologians" and ministers are supposed to know all about biblical matters, but not every Christian. It seems to me that if it is revealed in the sacred Scriptures (the Bible) then it is for everyone to value, understand, believe, and trust in. When a society of believers wanders from a strong stand on what has been revealed by God in the Scriptures, then personal experiences, personal testimonies (which was key when I was in sales), relevancy, novelty, emotionalism, and personal comfort zones will take precedence and will be trusted and relied on more than the Scriptures. Lack of discernment is largely due to biblical illiteracy. Could it be that this is the real problem with Christianity today?  Could it be that we can dust off our Bible and gain discernment?  It's not as entertaining, but it has quite the eternal value for those made by God of the dust of the ground.  It's time for God's people to be grounded in His Word. “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.” (Ephesians 6:24) 
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The Battle toward Obedience

2/24/2017

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Fruit produced from our faith is necessary (Ephesians 2:8-10.)  ​It would appear from Scripture (James' epistle and John's first epistle, for example), that obedience is a validation of one's salvation. I highlight "a validation." Some appear to be obedient but are not since they do not love, and love if the fulfillment of the law. In Jesus' first recorded sermon (Matthew 5-7) he reveals the intent and scope of the law and obedience to it, in that one can abstain from certain outward sins, and still commit those sins in his heart. The end of that sermon is about obedience and disobedience, which is a mark of a true believer, and is illustrated by the house on the rock or sand. I thank God that He causes us, by the Holy Spirit through the Word, to be grieved by our sins and to desire to confess our sins (1 John 1:9).  It seems that the true believer will never be satisfied with disobedience or partial obedience, but will deeply desire to be obedient (Romans 7) and will continue to battle, since God's Spirit resides in him, and He is the Holy Spirit (underlined: "Holy".)  The root of faith will, by God's work in His child, produce the fruit of faith. The fruit will point to the great Gardener, God Himself, and thus He will be glorified (John 15:8).
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