You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

The Bible says a lot about idolatry and to put it concisely, it doesn’t say anything positive. From the very beginning God sets the precedent for His people early on that His people shall have no gods except Him.

For many, including Christians, there is a great misunderstanding about idols. They are often thought of as ancient objects like statues and even household goods placed in certain places that were worshiped in various ways at various times.

Tim Keller in his book Counterfeit Gods says an idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.

Colossians 3:5 tells us to put to death; therefore, what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. I am not saying that all modern idols are inherently bad. Rather we need to evaluate our lives and make sure they are in the right order, that none of these things have become more important than God to us.

It’s easy to place our identity as something or someone other than God. Whether it be our social media following, our position at work, our abilities/skills, or the achievements we are after. For some their identity has become an idol. They have placed more value on who they are rather than in God.

It doesn’t matter if you have money or are broke. The pursuit of money and the acquisition of things is an idol for many in our culture. Many people trust their money more than they trust God. Money isn’t the problem; it’s how we use it and view it that can become a problem. If the motivating factor in your life is money and not God, then that’s an idol.

When our lives become all about the search for entertainment and chase of the best experiences we can find, then it’s become an idol. It’s become more important than God. We are obsessed with sex in our culture, it is everywhere. It might be the only thing we think about more than money. We have taken a gift from God and made it into the god of our lives.

While comfort isn’t bad, it can become damaging when it becomes the main pursuit in life. When comfort is an idol we will struggle when God calls us to something difficult.

Our cell phones are quickly becoming an idol for many. The problem isn’t our phones or social media or any form of technology. It’s the value we place on it that makes it a problem. When our lives revolve around how many likes we get, what our following looks like, or if we can’t sit in silence for 5 minutes without refreshing our news-feed,we might have an idol. When a good thing becomes an ultimate thing ultimately it becomes a destructive thing in our lives.

So how do we know if something has become an idol? Here are 4 questions to ask yourself to help you identify idols in your life.

• Where do I spend my time?

• Where do I spend my money?

• Where do I get my joy?

• What’s always on my mind?

Whatever is my idol is my god. Don’t let anything, even a good thing, take the place of God in your life. You do not have to bow down to a stone statue to be an idolater. An idol is whatever comes first in your life. Anything that comes before Jesus Christ in your affections or priorities—that is your idol.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

ADVICE FROM PROVERBS:

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.” (Prov 3:5)

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Prov.12:15)

“Where there is no guidance, a people fall, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Prov. 11:14)

“Without counsel, plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Prov. 15:22)

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” (Prov. 19:20)

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

When building a team, always search for the people who love to Win. If you can’t find any, look for the people who hate to lose.

Be honest. If people heard what you are thinking most of the time, you would be in either jail or a mental hospital.

We are all lonely for something. We just don’t know what we are lonely for. David Foster Wallace

What God knows about me is far more important than what others think about me. Ken Whitten

Say about people only what you would say to them. Jim Denison

The choices we make determine the direction of your life. Rob Taylor

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:13

He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is a folly and shame to him. (Prov.18:13).

Week Thirty-One, 2020

“HOW TO LIVE”

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

To me, the most important message of the Bible comes in those verses that explain salvation, like Romans 10:9-10 which tells us that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. But there is so much more.

The Bible is a book of life and living. Paul tells in Titus (2:11-14) that Jesus gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us and to make us His very own people, totally to doing good deeds.

Francis Schaeffer was one of the foremost evangelical thinkers of the twentieth century, and long pondered the fate of declining Western culture. In this brilliant book, How Shall We Then Live? he analyzed the reasons for modern society’s state of affairs and presented the only viable alternative: living by the Christian ethic, acceptance of God’s revelation, and total affirmation of the Bible’s morals, values, and meaning.

As I look around our country in these present days, Schaeffer’s words could not be more true. We have slipped away from Biblical morality. It is now the age of anything goes and increase of intolerance. There is violence on the streets. Fake news has become the new norm to form public opinion. Recent polls show that American’s pride in their country has reached a new low. Police are now the enemies, and statues and other symbols of those who made America great are being destroyed.

If this country is to survive, it must return to the advice of the Bible on how to live:

Ephesians – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Micah – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Proverbs – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Jeremiah – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Philippians – Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

Hebrews – Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Ephesians – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

How shall we then live? The answers are in hundreds of verses in the Bible. Lord, I pray that our land will return to Biblical foundations and live the kind of life they admonish us to lead.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.” – Psalm 100 ESV

Praise Him… For He is a God who saves… a God who heals… a God who loves!

Praise Him for who He is, for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He is yet to do.

Praise Him for the day, for the night, for the good times and for the struggles.

Praise Him for wisdom and for the lessons learned.

Praise Him for His guidance, His insight, His direction, His hope.

Praise Him for His creation, His imagination, His detail.

Praise Him for being there in our time of need.

Praise Him for being all we need.

Praise Him for His love, His patience, His forgiveness, His mercy, His grace.

Praise Him for the healing and salvation that only He brings and for the life that He gives.

Praise Him for He is good and His love endures forever.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth for He is worthy of our praise!

— o —

Our God created every one of the one billion trillion stars in the observable universe (that’s 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars). He measures them, names each one of them and the entire universe with the palm of his hand (Isaiah 40:12).

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Don’t push others down in order to pull yourself up. Ken Whitten

If God’s people won’t speak up for Him, who will? Ryan Denison

God has made it possible for us to come to know Him through the visible and tangible things of our world. Have you ever looked at a sunset and been reminded of who’s really in charge in this world? Chris Seidman

Only God can change this world, but He seeks to use us to do so—one by one, day by day. Jim Denison

Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale

One time I bought a treadmill, now it’s the most expensive clothes hanger in my home. The Minimalist

God traded His Son for our sin. (GRACE) Ken Whitten

People need to see our faith, not merely hear about it,” wrote Bob Buford in his book, Halftime.

Week Thirty, 2020

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2

Look around the world today. Look in your community and, yes, look in your own heart and mind. The economy is in shambles and who knows when it will recover, racial strife is at an all-time high and the pandemic continues to threaten the health and lives of everyone.

Paul wrote to the church members in Colossae, issuing a stern warning. Many of them were strong in their faith, but many were influenced by strange religious ideas and practices, worldly in nature. He wanted them to know that Jesus was with God in heaven and is where their worship, thoughts and worldly activities should be directed.

He makes it clear that since we have been saved by Jesus, we should not participate or even think about the sins that trap unbelievers. He lists some of those and encourages believers to demonstrate compassion, humility, patience and forgiveness.

Proverbs 23:7 warns us what we think about in our heart we become. What occupies your thoughts? That’s a challenging question and one we should not ignore. In many ways, we are what we think. If our thoughts are focused on the concerns of this world, we will become like the world. But if our minds are set on the things above—in other words, where Christ is—we’ll become more like Him.

Things of the world will lose appeal. The more aware we are of Jesus, the less we tolerate sin, because we know it doesn’t fit us anymore. Instead of chasing the passing pleasures and goals of the culture, we’ll pursue a lifestyle of obedience to the Lord.

Your beliefs determine your perspective on life, and that shapes your priorities and attitudes. The decision is ours to make. We can look at the world and let it drag us down or we can look up and let Jesus forge our thoughts and our patterns of life.

The point of all this that Paul is making is simply calling on his people to set their minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. He points it out explicitly in Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

Which way are you looking and thinking?

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

BIRTH RATE FALLS TO A 35-YEAR LOW:

U.S. births have dropped to the lowest level in 35 years. About 3.75 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2019, down 1 percent from 2018, according to provisional data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control. The total fertility rate in 2019 was 1,705 births per 1,000 women, well below the level at which a given generation can exactly replace itself: 2,100 births per 1,000 women. The total fertility rate has been below the replacement rate since 2007. I wonder if that number is down because approximately 862,320 abortions were performed in that year.

— o —

Jim Elliot said, “He is No Fool Who Gives What He Cannot Keep To Gain What He Cannot Lose.”

Peter Drucker said, “the number one characteristic of an effective leader is that he or she enjoys people.”

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift-up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

If there is a mist in the pulpit, there will be a fog in the pews. Tony Evans

We know the cost of everything, but not the value of anything. Ken Whitten

Treat every person you meet as if you will meet them again. Jim Denison

Get a glimpse of God’s vision for your life. It will change who you are. How you live. And where you will spend eternity. Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

No matter what you face today, your Father is as close as your next prayer. Jim Denison

Throughout life we all have problems of various degrees. God doesn’t protect us from them, but He prefects us through them. Family Life

If service is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you. Marcus Rogers

Wise people know what they don’t know. Chip Luter

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

When I think about the root cause of so many mistakes and spiritual pitfalls in my life, the source seems to be the one and only, the ugly…fear. Fear will cause us to buckle and settle for less than God’s best. It’ll cause us to disobey after diluting our trust in Him, and even when do stay strong, it’ll rob us of our peace and joy. Here are some of the best scriptures helping us overcome fear by increasing our faith.

Especially in these difficult pandemic and local violence there is a lot to cause us to fear…. Physical health, loss of employment, loss of business and the list goes on. God actually commands us not to fear, or worry. The phrase “fear not” is used 365 times in the Bible, most likely because God knows the enemy uses fear to decrease our hope and limit our victories.

1. Deuteronomy 31:8 “He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

When you’re fearing a situation or emotional challenge, really envision God saying this, just to you. He’s on your side. No matter who leaves after promising forever. When friends, family members or co-workers disappoint you, He’ll never turn on you. I am here. You will be okay. I’m all you need, and you’re never going to be alone.

2. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

So much fear is based on the wrong assumption than when we’ve made a mess of a situation, it’s too late for God’s help. God has not only forgiven me after some blatantly unwise, selfish choices, but He’s been quick to open doors, answer prayers and pour out more blessings than I could ever deserve. He’ll turn your situation around for good, simply because He has a wonderful purpose for your life, which no amount of blunders can hinder.

3. Isaiah 43:1 “Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.”

God, who created the universe, cares about every detail of our lives. We belong to an all-powerful, all-knowing, victorious Father who cares deeply about us. When we really meditate on this truth, it’s hard to remain fearful about the trials we face. By focusing on Him, and how He considers us His prized, redeemed ones, our focus naturally shifts from fear to faith.

4. 1 John 4:18 “Perfect Love Casts Out All Fear”

God is love. Perfect love. And the closer we come to Him, the less power fear has over us, because we feel God’s continual presence – His strength, His comfort, and His guidance. When faced with even the deepest most crippling of fear, we need to trust God with the confidence a child ascribes to a loving parent.

5. Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.”

We weren’t saved and redeemed only to limp through life riddled with fear and anxiety. God can only be our rock if we let Him. Trust Him to deliver you from every fear coming against the truth not only in His ability, but His desire to deliver you.

Fear has no place in the heart or mind of a believer. Ask God to increase your trust and faith in His willingness and ability to deliver you completely from fear and anxiety. Ask for a deeper revelation of His love and watch how powerfully He moves.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831:

“I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests — and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning–and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution — and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness, did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!”

— o —

What’s the Purpose of Quiet Time? Ken Whitten

1. Proves Devotion

2. Provides Direction

3. Promotes Dependence

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Refuse “stinkin” “thinkin”. Ken Whitten

Inventor Thomas A. Edison said, when asked why the experiment of electricity had failed, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Failure is success if we learn from it. Malcom Forbes

Satan is behind all sin. Preacherman Ken Weliever

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Richard Niebuhr

Good judgement is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgement. Mark Twain

The Bible was not given for our information, but for our transformation. D. L. Moody

Week Twenty-Eight, 2020

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:13-14

Suppose you were at a party last New Year’s Eve playing a game of word guessing and someone drew the word “COVID19.” Would you or anyone else be able to identify it? Probably not, but now a half year later it is one of the most frequently appearing words in almost every language around the world.

This terrible disease has brought consequences and changes in our world that no one would ever have expected. There are times when life seems easy and everything is working out just as desired. During these times, stress-ridden thoughts such as “how will I get through this?” or “what happens when….?” rarely enter our awareness and front-of-mind thinking.

Proper and effective planning takes into consideration the “what if’s” that happen when you’re not expecting them. I am referring to potentially life-altering experiences that you rarely contemplate when everything is working just fine.

As an attorney, I advise clients we all have an expiration date. We just don’t know when or how, but we need to be prepared for our benefit and for the benefit of those we leave behind.

But, far more important is being prepared spiritually. Recently a friend much younger than I suddenly had a heart attack and died on the spot. He was in good shape, athletic and looked so healthy and then the unexpected came.

We never know what tomorrow will bring or even today for that matter. We know not when Jesus is coming and we don’t know when we are going, but we need to be prepared for the unexpected. Warnings come at us every day – about what to eat or not eat, the importance of having the right insurance coverage, saving for retirement, and the list goes on.

The Bible is clear. Romans 6:23 says: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in or through Christ Jesus our Lord. God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. John 3:16, reads: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 10:9 says: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Have you made that declaration? Are you prepared for the unexpected?

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

If you are worrying read Matthew 6:25-34 and then see this list that breaks down Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-34 and puts them into 7 bite size morsels for us to chew on about why we should not worry:

6:25 – The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.

6:26 – Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today.

6:27 – Worrying is more harmful than helpful.

6:28-30 – God does not ignore those who depend on Him.

6:31,32 – Worrying shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.

6:33 – Worrying keeps us from real challenges God wants us to pursue.

6:34 – Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.

— o —

“The preacher had said there was nothing magic in the water. Yet as I descended into its depths and rose again, I knew something life-changing had happened, a cleansing inside out. No longer did there seem to be two uncertain, contradictory Paul Harveys; just one immensely happy one. I felt a fulfilling surge of the Holy Spirit and afterward I cried like a baby. The change this simple act has made in my life is so immense as to be indescribable. As the old song says, ‘He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.'” —Paul Harvey

— o —

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.” – 1 Chronicles 29:11 NLT

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The secret of success is aptly described. When one obeys God and does what He tells him to do believing His presence in all He does, he will have success. (Joshua1:9) —Stephen Bernard

People cannot be saved unless Jesus saves them. Dr. Ronnie Floyd

Don’t look around. Look up. Ken Whitten

There’s no win in comparison. Andy Stanley

Nothing compares to Jesus.

Jealousy is about people. Envy is about things.

An open hand is better than a closed fist. Ken Whitten