​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.

​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

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

​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.

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 

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) 

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).