Week Thirteen, 2020

By Florida Senator John Grant, Retired

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word” (Psalm 119:9).

Love ’em or hate ’em, this much is true: one day soon, millennials will rule America. This is neither wish nor warning but fact, rooted in the physics of time and the biology of human cells.

Millennials – born between 1981 and 1996–are already the largest living generation and the largest age group in the workforce. They outnumber Gen X (born 1965–1980) and will soon outnumber baby boomers (born 1946–1964) among American voters.

Their startups have revolutionized the economy, their tastes have shifted the culture, and their enormous appetite for social media has transformed human interaction. The millennial wave is coming: the only questions are when and how fast it will arrive.

Youthquake

Time Magazine recently did an in-depth study into the changing trends in America coming from the millennials. They are reshaping our culture, even in religion in a way that is not encouraging. They have exchanged spirituality for astrology. Millennials have earned a reputation for reshaping industries and institutions — shaking up the workplace, transforming dating culture, and rethinking parenthood. They’ve also had a dramatic impact on American religious life. Four in ten millennials now say they are religiously unaffiliated, according to the Pew Research Center. In fact, millennials (those between the ages of 23 and 38) are now almost as likely to say they have no religion as they are to identify as Christian.

Any leader working with the youth of America can attest to the fact this generation is different than all others before it. Today’s youth speak in a language we don’t always understand, run circles around us with new technology, and think differently when it comes to religion and social issues.

This new generation interacts with the world very differently from previous generations, and that has spilled over into how they interact with the Bible. Even more than previous generations, Millennials desire authentic relationships and yearn for a deep sense of belonging. Younger generations desire to engage the Bible in new ways.

Some older churches and pastors are stuck in the rut of traditionalism and want to write the younger generation off if they don’t want to follow traditionalism. But I say we shouldn’t write them off…. We should write them in and welcome new ways of involvement.

I am an old traditionalist. I like to hold a hymnal in my hand and sing the hymns of yesterday. I don’t care for loud music, disco lights and fog, but I know I have to be open to newer ways that are open to younger people, just like my parent’s era had to be open to me.

The Word of God is inviolate and the message of salvation is unchanging. Within those parameters the way it is presented and the way we worship has to be relevant to the times. That’s how we have to relate spiritually to the Youthquake of today.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

ABORTIONS:

There were 862,000 abortions in the United States in 2017. This is the lowest number since abortion became legal in 1973. However, abortion remains the leading cause of death in our country: that same year, 647,457 Americans died from heart disease, the second-leading cause of death.

Worldwide, abortion is the leading cause of death as well, killing forty-two million people last year. By contrast, 8.2 million people died from cancer in 2019, thirteen million from other diseases, and 1.7 million from HIV/AIDS.

Pro-abortion forces in America are conspiring to do everything they can to protect the threat. Planned Parenthood in New York is pressuring doctors to violate their conscience by performing abortions or leave medicine. The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) is working to fight abortion restrictions and to help states enact legislation protecting the practice.

There are two popular arguments cited by pro-choice Christians:

The first is the claim that they oppose abortion personally but are not sure they should “impose” their beliefs on others. Many pro-choice people, many Christians, believe life to begin at conception based on her understanding of Scripture. They consider this position to be their personal religious belief and have been taught by our culture that the “separation of church and state” means we should keep her religious beliefs private.

Let’s work with the logic of this position for a moment. If you believe that human life begins at conception, you will view birth as merely the movement of that life from inside the mother’s body to outside. Prior to this movement, the law allows the mother to abort the baby’s life. After it, the mother and her doctor must do all they can to protect the baby’s life.

Nothing has changed about the baby except its location. We are not “imposing our beliefs” to protect the baby after its birth. In fact, we are preventing infanticide. Why are we imposing them to protect the baby a moment before its birth?

A second assertion by some pro-choice Christians is that we cannot be sure in scientific terms when a fetus becomes a human being. They believe life begins at conception, but fear “imposing” their theological position on others. If we cannot be objectively sure when the fetus becomes a human, the abortion decision should rest with the mother rather than the state, or so they claim.

Once again, let’s consider the logic of this position. Imagine that you heard a noise outside your front door in the middle of the night. It might be a person, or it might be an animal of some kind. Would you shoot through the door before you were sure it was not a human being on the other side?

One incontrovertible fact is that every fetus, left to develop naturally to full term, will be born as what we know to be a human being. If we have to err on one side or the other, should we not err on the side of life?

Every person is a miracle. David’s testimony is ours: “You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13–14).

As a result, each life is a story. Perhaps the most effective way we can defend life is to tell such stories.

Let’s pray and work for the day when our nation values every life, from conception to natural death, as passionately and practically as does our Father.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Jesus’ message is both personal and present to us this day. Kelly Knouse

The Word of God is for the people of God. Max Wilkins

Takers live better, but givers sleep better. Ken Whitten

Our lives and our resources are limited—so how we spend them matters.

Rather than bringing happiness into life, possessions often distract us from it.

Week 12, 2020

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).

Florida has $2B in unclaimed property. Is it yours? When a bank or other financial account remains inactive long enough, the money gets turned over to the state. You might ask, who forgets about a bank account? But it happens enough that Florida is holding about $2 billion in unclaimed property, including money and items like watches, jewelry, coins, stamps and other collectibles from unused safe deposit boxes.

It is returned if and when the rightful owner comes forward and files the necessary application. Last year $213 million defaulted to the state because it was not claimed. It’s yours if you ask, but not if you don’t.

There is a spiritual parallel here. James (4:2-3) says we do not have because we do not ask God.

Salvation is a good example. Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship, one that comes when we ask for it through the prayer of salvation.

The sinner’s prayer is a Christian term for a prayer that is said when someone wants to repent of their sin, ask God for forgiveness and state belief in the life, death, and saving resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9-10 says that “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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Millions have come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ through church services, friends, and family leading them in a salvation prayer, but salvation is not something someone can do for you. You have to ask for it and pray it yourself.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.

Salvation? You have not because you ask not.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

China intends to rewrite the Bible to reflect its Communist ideology. The Committee for Ethnic Affairs has announced a “comprehensive evaluation of the existing religious classics aiming at contents which do not conform to the progress of the times.”

According to reports, “Jesus Christ’s parables” will have to fall “in line with the Communist Party, failing which they run the risk of being purged from the bibles [sic] available to the faithful.”

Many churches and preachers are rewriting the Bible in America these days, maybe not in writing, but in preaching and interpretation. Much of what gets preached from American pulpits is contrary to Bible teachings and that includes many mainline denominations that are Biblically and politically sliding to the left. They call it religious progressivism. I call it heresy. John Grant

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Death rates are increasing for middle aged Americans of all racial and ethnic groups. Suicide, drug overdoses, and alcoholism are the main causes, but heart disease, stroke, and other medical conditions are contributors as well.

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After roughly a decade of rising home prices, homeowners are flush with record amounts of home equity they can tap. But many Americans remain short on cash and are increasingly relying on debt to fund their lives.

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Half of all Protestant pastors feel as though the demands of ministry are more than they can handle; 54 percent find their role to be frequently overwhelming.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Jesus’ message is both personal and preset. To us this day. Kelly Knouse

You are what you think about all day long.

Rather than bringing happiness into life, possessions often distract us from it.

The peace of God requires the power of God. Jim Denison

God does His deepest work in the deepest times of your life. Adrian Rogers

The greatest gift we can pass down to the next generation is to instill the value of giving back.

When Told Abortion Kills More Women Than Anything, Abortion Activists Say “They Don’t Count”.

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John Grant, Week 11, 2020

From the overlook, it appears to be so beautiful and full of life. I stood there and partook of its beauty and then thought of its lack of life. The Dead Sea, lies 1,300 feet below sea level and is the lowest and most mineral-rich body of water in the world. A significant landmark, too salty to sustain any marine life, the Dead Sea is famous for the water’s mysteriously buoyant qualities which allow people to float across the top of the water, without needing to swim. The sea is mentioned numerous times in the bible and has long been associated with mysticism, wonderment, and religious significance in the Biblical era.

It begins in the North where pure snow melts from Mt. Herman and cascades to the South through some of the best fishing grounds in Israel. It picks up nutrients along the way that support plant and animal life. Finally, it reaches the Dead Sea, where is stops and goes no further.

dead-sea

The nutrients built up to the point of snuffing out any semblance of life. There is too much goodness to support even the most microscopic forms of life.

Is there a parallel to life? Of course, there is. As we go through life, we build up goodness in our lives and as we pass it on, we sustain a balanced life, but when we hold it all in, it chokes our very being. Now, I am not talking about our nutritional goodness. I am referring to the goodness we get from society and from others as they pass goodness along to us.

When we begin to discipline ourselves spiritually, so much of the work is personal and interior that it is easy to become self-focused. This is why God has given us the task of reaching out and ministering to others. Ministry is crucial to spiritual growth. We are commanded to give and to serve, not because of what it will do for others, but because of what it will do to us.

The Dead Sea is dead because it has water flowing into it, but not out of it. It only takes and never gives. Our spiritual life is like that. If we take in but do not give out, like the Dead Sea, we spiritually stagnate and spiritually die.

The commands of Jesus, the teaching of the Scripture and the needs around us demand that we accept the challenges of ministering to others.

Who will you minister to today?

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

APPRENTICE DEVILS:

There’s an old fable that tells about three apprentice devils who were sent to earth by Satan to finish their apprenticeship. The Devil asked them about their plans to tempt people and lead them astray.

The first demon said, “I will tell them there is no God.” Satan said, “That will not delude many, for they know there’s a God.”

The second said, “I will tell men there is no hell.” Satan replied, “You will deceive some that way.”

The third said, “I will tell men there is no hurry.” Satan excitedly responded to him, “Go, and you will ruin them by the thousands.”

Sadly, many people will be lost because of neglect, disregard, and spiritual lethargy. Maybe this is why there are so many warnings regarding spiritual inattention. —Preacher Man

— o —

When was the last time you were attacked for being a Christian?

Maybe it was a disparaging word. Or exclusion from a group. Maybe it was even physical harm, as so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ suffer across the globe. The fact is: Jesus promised us that, if we are following him, we will face persecution (Matthew 10:22).

— o —

Pastor Ken Whitten on Idols:

• Whatever Gives You Joy and Security Apart From God Is an Idol.

• Idols Evoke the Deepest Emotion in Our Heart.

• Idols Need To Be Protected While Giving You the Illusion They Are Protecting You.

• Idols Demand Sacrifice to Keep Them Happy.

• Idols Are Not Just Psychological Forces, They Are Demonic as Well.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Never be a prisoner of your past. It was just a lesson, not a life sentence.

Every time an old person dies, it is like a library being burned down. —Alex Haley

President Trump Tells March for Life: “Every Child Born and Unborn is a Sacred Gift from God”

Don’t Just Organize, Minimize. Minimizing is better than organizing. Minimizing possessions is an act of permanence. It lays the groundwork for overcoming consumerism and forces questions of values and purpose. And minimalism provides the opportunity to pursue our passions.

Jesus is the only God whom, when you obtain Him, will satisfy you, and when you fail Him, He’ll forgive you. —Tim Keller

How could anyone expect a gift from God if they have their hands cliched so tightly around what they already have.

Patience, the quality we love in the driver behind us…but hate in the car in front of us. —Dwight Short

Week Ten, 2020

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Amidst all the partisan rancor and hatred spewing from our nation’s capital most Americans are more upbeat about the country and their own prospects.

A recent Gallup poll revealed some fascinating findings. Most encouraging is this: An astounding 84% said they’re satisfied with the overall quality of life,” and “Americans” overall satisfaction with the country’s direction is at its highest point since 2005.

Issues with wide satisfaction include the economy (68%), “the opportunity for a person to get ahead by working hard” (72%), and military strength (81%). All three areas have gained tremendously in the past four years.

It’s no surprise that there’s plenty of dissatisfaction, though. Income distribution, race relations, immigration, healthcare, abortion, poverty and homelessness, and the moral and ethical climate” are all areas where dissatisfaction runs high.

It is heartening though most Americans see clearly the problems we face and at the same time they have a positive view of the greatest nation on earth.

As children, we thought it might be that bag of potato chips we begged our parents for at the store or that new bike, video game, or doll we wanted for Christmas. We thought they would make us happy. But they didn’t. As teenagers, we sought satisfaction in good grades, athletic accomplishments, a car, or in a significant other. But all of it left us discontent. As adults, we think that a bigger house, more (or less) children, or a better job will quench our thirst. But we’re still left wanting more.

At the root of our dissatisfaction is a never-ending thirst that nothing in this world can satisfy. We’ve been duped into a better job, more money, cooler friends, another spouse, or a new life is really what we need. And if we can’t obtain any of these things, or when they leave us dissatisfied, we resort to drug abuse, sexual immorality, or senseless entertainment.

While people gauge happiness and optimism from things of this world, true optimism and satisfaction comes from things above this world. God is the source and sustainer of all good. He and He alone is the abundant fountain of all goods. In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (PS 16:11)

Nothing in this universe is able to produce true goodness, unless the God, the good creator, is its wellspring. This truth puts all of life in perspective for mankind. To state it plainly, if goodness is what we desire, we must go to the source of all goodness: God.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The U.S. government’s budget deficit is projected to reach $1.02 trillion in 2020, according to a report released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, as the federal government continues to spend much more than it collects in taxes. Why can’t the government learn to live within its own means, just like you and I have to do?

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Nearly 3,400 Hepatitis A cases reported in Florida in 2019

— o —

Rick Warren was right: “The way you store up treasure in heaven is by investing in getting people there.”

How much treasure in heaven will you store up today?

— o —

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us. The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

“You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you“(Matthew 5:43-44).

We need to conquer the fears that cripple our faith. Kelly Knouse

As long as a man has friends, he is not a failure.

It is impossible to praise or thank Jesus too much.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Don’t say God is silent when your Bible is closed.

When we buy things, we get maintenance. When we buy experiences, we get memories.

You can’t enjoy the sight of the beautiful rainbow without rain.

The peace of God requires the power of God. Jim Denison

The Encourager

By John Grant, Week Nine, 2020

“When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (Acts: 11:23).

He was born on the island of Cyprus and his name was Joseph and he was later named Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.”. He moved to Jerusalem and became well-educated and relatively wealthy. He became a leading Christian. After traveling on missionary journeys with the Apostle Paul, he returned to Cyprus and formed the orthodox church before being martyred.

I recently stood by his grave on the Island of Cyprus and could only think that while he was never a person of notoriety, his fingerprints are all over the Book of Acts. He was the constant companion, the constant helper. When Paul dismissed John Mark after a disappointing missionary journey, it was Barnabas who persuaded Paul to give him a second chance and he did. Without that encouragement, we might not have even gotten the first Gospel written, the Gospel of Mark.

A reporter once asked the celebrated orchestra conductor Leonard Bernstein what is the most difficult instrument to play. Given Bernstein’s experience, and expertise, the reporter was eager to hear the great conductor’s valued opinion. To the reporter’s surprise, Leonard Bernstein replied without any hesitation whatever: “Second fiddle! I can always get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm, or second French horn, or second flute, now that’s a problem. And yet if no one plays second part, we have no harmony.”

Barnabas was a man content to play second fiddle, always the helper, not the leader, but the faithful follower. He was the messenger, the follower, the servant. He supported Paul financially. He was a generous giver and a faithful friend, a committed encourager and a forgiving brother. He was a model of character and integrity.

The world needs more people like Barnabas. He never wrote a book of the Bible, but he made many of them possible. Never trying to be the leader, he was the consummate follower.

We believe what we tell ourselves about ourselves, and if we are influenced by negative people, we will have a negative self-image. If we believe the encourager, we will have a positive self-image. That is why every person is truly blessed if they have a Barnabas in their lives, for Barnabas was an encourager. He always saw the good side of people. He saw past their failures to their potential for good.

It is amazing we do not know Barnabas better, for he is one of the most influential men in the New Testament. He played a major role in the early history of the church, and a major role in the lives of the men who wrote the New Testament. Yet he seems to be an obscure person because we do no know very much about him. Barnabas encouraged these men to be all they could be for the cause of spreading the Gospel.

Who will you be a Barnabas to today? Who will you encourage today?

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Do you want a great blessing and words of wisdom each day? Go to http://www.thepreachersword.com/ and sign up. It’s free.

WORDS OF SPIRITUAL WISDOM FROM PASTOR KEN WHITTEN:

▪ Discipleship Is Not Just a Church Word, It’s God’s Word.

▪ One of the Ways You Know You Are Living Out God’s Plan Is You’re Investing in Others, Not Yourself.

▪ Apostleship Is not a Vocation, It’s a Conviction.

▪ Hardship in the Christian Life Is Not an Exception for Followers of Christ, It’s an Expectation for Those Who Do.

▪ Are You Risking Anything for Jesus That Might Cost You?

▪ Sometimes God Does Call Us to Dark Places.

▪ Don’t Change the Bible to Accommodate the Listener.

▪ Remember God Is With You When You Are Discouraged.

▪ Just Be Faithful, Give Yourself to the Gospel.

▪ The Sweetest Time in Your Life Can Come After the Darkest Time in Your Life

— o —

Americans are dying of heart disease and strokes at a rising rate in middle age. Normally that period is considered the prime of life. But an analysis of mortality statistics by the WSJ shows the problem is geographically widespread. Death rates from cardiovascular disease among people between the ages of 45 and 64 are rising in cities all across the U.S., including in some of the most unlikely places. The findings suggest that the underlying causes of cardiovascular disease are universal and difficult to address.

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CHOCOLATE IS GOD’S APOLOGY FOR BROCCOLI

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Worldwide Leading Cause of Death in 2019: Abortion

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Grace is the fact that God knows every stupid mistake I’ll make in the ministry and yet he has chosen me anyway…that’s what grace is! Rick Warren.

Life in the Spirit is about letting go. Max Wilkins

Dwight Moody was once asked why he urged Christians to be filled constantly by the Holy Spirit. “Well,” he said, “I need a continual infilling because I leak.”

Harboring bitterness against someone is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die. George Acevedo

It is impossible to praise or thank Jesus too much.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. —1 Thessalonians 5:18

The Wolf Pack

Week Seven, 2020

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1Thess. 5:11).

We all live in the midst of a “me too” generation. It’s all about me, accordingly to an increasingly large population. That’s contrary to what the Bible teaches the opposite. “And look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own.” (Phil 2:4). We as Christians are a community, but do we even know who are our neighbors today?

We can learn a lot as we study nature. Take for instance the wolf pack.

We can all learn an invaluable Leadership Lesson from this pack of wolves:
▪ The 3 in front are old and sick. They walk in front to set the pace.
▪ The next 5 are the strongest. They protect the front side from an attack.
▪ The middle group is fully protected.
▪ The 5 behind them are also among the strongest. They protect the back side.
▪ The last wolf is the LEADER. He ensures no one is left behind. He keeps the pack tight and on the same path. He is ready to run in any direction to protect his pack.

Being a leader is not about being in front.

Do you care more about others than about yourself? Do you respect and protect your elders? Are you a leader in life’s orchestra or do you just play your own piccolo solo?

Being a leader takes courage, discipline, and determination. While a great leader can bring great success, it also comes at the cost of being judged and overwhelmed. The Bible speaks of so many wonderful leaders and how God blessed them for their work. There are many verses and Scriptures that God spoke to encourage men and women who choose to step up and lead.

The Bible tells us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal 6:9).

The Bible tells us not to fear or be dismayed and assures us He is our God and He will strengthen us and help us. (Isaiah 41:10)

The Bible tells us as leaders to be humble and assures us that when we do, He will lift us up. (James 4:10)

The Bible tells us to not focus on our own interests but on the interests of others. (Phil 2:4)

It seems to me that the leader wolf at the back of the pack has been reading his Bible. How about you?

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The book of Revelation describes Jesus as “the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (13:8 NIV). 1 Peter 1 points to “the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (v. 19) and says that “he was foreknown before the foundation of the world” (v. 20).

In other words, before God made the world, his Son was already a sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world.

Romans 5:8 makes this fact plain: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” “While we were still sinners”—before we had done one thing to earn God’s forgiveness, Jesus died for us.

Here’s the point to understand: Jesus chose to die for you before you committed your first sin. He knew your forgiveness would cost him his life, but he chose to create you anyway. And every other person in human history with you.

There is nothing we can do to earn such love because it was decided before we even existed. His redeeming grace is like a house you build for your grandchildren before your children are born. It is like a soldier who dies for a country that does not yet exist, but his death helps create.

— o —

Nearly half of Jewish young people in America have been the victims of anti-Semitic acts in the last five years. Think about that fact for a moment. More than a third have experienced such hatred on a college campus or know someone who has.

Today, 88 percent of Jewish Americans think anti-Semitism is a problem in the US; 84 percent believe the problem has gotten worse over the last five years. The Anti-Semitic League reports that anti-Semitic acts in the US rose 57 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year. These are staggering numbers as well.

Writing for The Atlantic, Emma Green documents a frightening list of anti-Semitic reports in recent months. The title of her article: “American Jews Are Terrified”.

— o —

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.

The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

There is no one too unclean or too far away that God will not go after them. Jesus is an equal opportunity Savior. Kelly Knouse

If You Contain a Fire, It Will Die; If You Let It out, It Will Spread. Ken Whitten

You can’t teach that which you don’t know. Bob Sprinkle

But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 2 Timothy‬ ‭2:23‬‬

Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. American author and scientist James Jay Horning.

Takers live better, but givers sleep better. Ken Whitten

Abortion Clinic CEO Compares Abortion to Removing a Mole or Getting a Root Canal.

The higher your Pedestal, the further you fall. Ken Whitten

Week Six, 2020

LOOK DOWN

“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,” (Acts 7:55).

It was a cold winter day as the four of us huddled together on a London train platform waiting for the local to go see one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. When we arrived, the outside was nothing outstanding, but when we entered, it was another story.

St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle is famous as the burial place of Henry VIII as well as the location where Prince Harry and Princess Meghan were married. I was amazed by its stunningly beautiful ceiling. But staring up at this exquisite architectural masterpiece is difficult, so a mirror has been placed on the ground.

When we stand before it, we can look down to see up. I couldn’t but think of a spiritual parallel. Jesus came down to earth so we could see the God who lives in heaven. There is one difference between Jesus and the mirror in the castle.

A mirror is not a person, though it reflects one. But Jesus is God, not just his reflection. He is “God made visible.” Colossians 1 states that the Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (v. 15). This is an astounding fact. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

When you watch Jesus in action, you watch God in action. When you hear Jesus teach, you hear God teach. When you come to know what Jesus is like, you know what God is like. You don’t need to be in the dark about God. He has gone beyond parchment and paper.

He has gone beyond tapes and cassettes. He has gone beyond videos and even beyond live drama. He has actually come and pitched His tent in our backyard and beckoned us to watch Him and get to know Him in the person of his Son Jesus.

So, to see the God above, look down and look around to see Jesus in action and God will come into your focus.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my border.

I was reading through 1 Chronicles and came upon the passage made famous by Bruce Wilkinson’s bestseller, The Prayer of Jabez: “Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!’ And God granted what he asked” (1 Chronicles 4:10).

For God to “enlarge” his “border” meant to increase his territory and influence. Jabez wanted his life to count as fully as possible. But he knew that this was impossible unless the “hand” of God was “with” him to lead, empower, and protect.

Such a prayer may seem audacious, but “God granted what he asked.” It seems that the Lord wants us to seek to be all we can be for His glory and the good of others.

• We are to “work heartily” in all we do (Colossians 3:23). Are you doing so?

• God wants us to “approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10). Are you ready for that day?

• Our Father empowers what he expects: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). Are you seeking such empowerment? Jim Denison

— o —

What would you guess might be the most popular Bible verse, according to You Version’s 400 million users?

Philippians 4:6 is the answer. The verse says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

What does its popularity say about us?

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

We cannot be like Christ without the help of Christ. Jim Denison

The phrase “do not fear” appears more than 300 times in the Bible. Kelly Knouse

Christians spend more time and money in the streets than the followers of other religions spent in their temples. Historian Eberhard Arnold

The church’s greatest need is the Word of God

God uses ordinary people for extraordinary plans. Ken Whitten

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

Week Five, 2020

THE BUTTON

By Florida Senator John Grant, Retired

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

Remember way back when as you were on a family vacation and you want to get a photo for the coffee table of the whole family, kids and dog included, with the mountains in the background? After finding the right backdrop and staging the right pose, then you had to find another tourist to snap your vacation memory photo.

You would hand the camera to someone who looked like a good candidate and meticulously show them what to press and then get back in the pose (the dog was the hardest) Ready, aim…. “Now what do I have to push,” says the photographer and you start all over again.

Now things have changed. Cameras are out and phones are in. Want a photo? Just ask anyone and hand them your phone. Snap and it is done. No training required because everyone has the same phone. Picture taking is universal.

There is a spiritual parallel here. There are many religions that profess different ways to access God, but Christianity says there is only one way. This is the universal way, so clearly spelled out in the Bible.

It seems that religious pluralism has become the default setting in our culture. Everyone wants it their way. But, no matter how great the pressure to conform or to compromise, Christians must stand firm and insist that there is only one way of salvation, namely, faith in Jesus Christ. The reason is simple: that’s exactly what Jesus Himself taught.

The message of the New Testament could hardly be clearer: if you’re not saved through Jesus, you’re not saved. The modern-day pluralist may allow Christ to be one among many ways to salvation, but—to borrow a thought from C. S. Lewis—Christ Himself didn’t leave that option open to us. Either He is Lord overall, or He isn’t Lord at all.

If the basic human problem is as the Bible describes it—that we’re sinners standing under the righteous judgment of God, unable even to begin to make an adequate atonement for our own sins—then only Christianity presents a solution that adequately addresses the problem. No other religion offers a perfect mediator between God and man who removes the enmity between us and our Creator by bearing the penalty for our sin in our place.

If the Bible is right about our predicament, then Jesus must be the only way of salvation, and our duty must be to proclaim Him as the only way. Love of God, love of Christ, love of neighbor, and love of truth leave us with no alternative.

There is no other button to press.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

THEY:

As we delve into 2020, we are learning about the latest social trends. Pop culture fads. The person of the year. The most googled word. And each dictionary announces their word of the year.

Merriam-Webster billed as “America’s most trusted dictionary,” recently announced their word of the year is “they.”

They? How could an elementary, third-person plural pronoun be the word of the year?

The answer is simple. Sort of. “They” has changed its meaning. In a statement, the organization explained that “they” is now used by those who identify as gender non-binary. “English famously lacks a gender-neutral singular pronoun,” they explained.

Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor-at-large, told the Associated Press that searches for the term skyrocketed after a number of celebrity figures announced their gender-neutrality, including model Oslo Grace and Amandla Stenberg. “It’s a word we all know and love,” Sokolowski said. “So many people were talking about this word.”

According to another source, the American Psychological Association approved “they” as a singular third-person pronoun and updated its latest style guide for scholarly writing accordingly.

And so, the confusion and controversy in our culture over gender-identity continues, as evidenced by the simple word of the year, “they.”

Don’t you miss the simple days, when boys were boys and girls were girls? When we knew the difference between single and plural pronouns? When “he” meant a male. “She” meant a female. And “they” referred to a group.

I don’t claim to understand the confusion over gender identity. I’m not a psychologist or psychiatrist. I’m a preacher. So, I will offer a simple Bible explanation.

Gender crisis and confusion exists because people have strayed away from God. They have lost their spiritual identity. And they have denied the Creator and His purpose for their lives.

Our society is on the fast track to becoming like the pagan culture Paul described in Romans chapter one. “…They knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” (Rom. 1:21-25)

The Bible says that in the beginning God created the first pair “male and female.” He pronounced a blessing upon them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply.” (Gen 1:27-28). Later when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees a question relating to marriage, he responded this way.

“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh; therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matt 19:4-6)

The Bible does not give us free rein to choose our sexual preferences and gender identity.

Our culture has taken something simple, and obvious and made it so complex and complicated that it goes beyond the absurd. Yet, “enlightened” educators, politicians, journalists and sadly some church leaders, nod with some kind of knowing empathy that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, feelings, behavior and sexual identity or preference.

Our culture has lost its way. The real crisis today is a crisis of values. G. K. Chesterton was right when he wrote, “The danger when men stop believing in God is not that they’ll believe nothing; but that they will believe in anything.”

The solution is not to seek our gender identity, but to seek God. To desire spiritual communion with Him. And to accept who He created us to be.

Parents, preachers, and Bible teachers must now emphasize to a new generation influenced by the confusion of their culture, that God created us. He made us male and female. He gave us distinct gender roles. And that our body does not belong to us, it belongs to the Lord.

In response to those truly disturbed and confused by their gender and sexuality, let us offer God’s grace. Extend mercy. Show love. And care for those emotionally tortured.

May we, like our Heavenly Father, grieve over the brokenness of our culture and the depravity into which the devil has ensnared them.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

You can’t enjoy the sight of the beautiful rainbow without rain.

The peace of God requires the power of God. Jim Denison

Would you have a second child if you knew that child would murder your first child? We are God’s second children. And He chose to make us, and His first child chose to die for us, anyway. Jim Denison

No one ever choked from swallowing his pride.

God does his deepest work in the deepest times of your life. Adrian Rogers

The greatest gift we can pass down to the next generation is to instill the value of giving back.

We don’t need a platform or a position to share the Good News. Kelly Knouse

Week Four, 2020

THE PLAYBOOK

By Florida Senator John Grant, retired

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

It’s the biggest sports event of the year. Millions watch it and thousands pay big bucks to be able to attend and view it in person. Athletes train year-round and compete throughout the fall just for the opportunity to participate and hopefully win “the ring.” Not only do they physically train and compete, they are in a mental game which requires much understanding and mental comprehension. They have a playbook and what they read on each page has to be precisely executed on the field of play. The event is called the Superbowl.

The playbook is one of the common elements in all levels of football from peewee to pro. It contains the game plan each team uses to try to overcome its opponent. Without the playbook teams and players would be in a state of confusion, not knowing what to do or where to go. On the other hand, no matter how good the playbook is, it’s absolutely useless if the players don’t study and apply it.

Life is like that and there is no better playbook than the Word of God. It contains everything we need to defeat the opposition (the Devil).

Although we may recognize that God has a plan for our lives, we often do not acknowledge that the Devil has a game plan too. It is completely opposite of God’s plan. The Devil’s plan is to “steal and kill and destroy” our lives, while God’s plan is to give us a full and abundant life.

In order for us to consistently overcome our adversary, we must know what God’s “playbook” says by reading and studying it and apply what it says to our lives. If we don’t, we are feeding right into the plans of our enemy. God has placed us all in another game. It is called the Superbowl of Life.

Here are some of the plays in God’s playbook for our lives.

So, then, how can we know God’s plan for our lives? Over the past twenty-five years that I have been in ministry, I have discovered eight vital keys to knowing God’s will and plan for your life. Here they are:

1) Walk with God.

2) Surrender your will to God’s.

3) Obey what you already know to be God’s Will.

4) Seek godly input.

5) Pay attention to how God has wired you.

6) Listen to God’s Spirit.

7) Listen to your heart.

8) Take a look at your circumstances.

The next time you begin to ponder God’s plan for your life, mull over the above eight keys. Use these principles to help you to focus on the plays in His plan. And when you seek His will earnestly, you will find it!

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Fruits of God’s Kingdom:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Gentleness
• Faithfulness
• Self-control
• Rest
• Acceptance
• Fruits of Satan’s Kingdom:
• Hatred
• Depression
• Anxiety/Angst
• Impatience/Irritability
• Mean-spiritedness
• Evilness
• Harshness/rough
• Faithless/hopeless
• Out of Control
• Striving with exhaustion
• Rejection

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The of kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in you” (Luke 17:20).

— o —

CASH NO LONGER KING:

When Oliver Hicks finished helping his family with yard work last summer, his dad handed him $50 in cash. Oliver didn’t want it. He asked his dad to send him the money through an app on his phone.

“He was like, ‘What do you mean? There’s $50 in cash right in front of you. Why don’t you want it right now?’” recalls Oliver, a 20-year-old sophomore at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

Oliver is like many young adults and teens in that he prefers the convenience of a digital wallet to physical cash—even if it means waiting a while to receive payment. People often use mobile payment services like Venmo and Cash App to reimburse friends for office gifts or dinner. But with young people snubbing cash altogether, parents and grandparents now are being forced to join in if they want to compensate them for chores or babysitting.

— o —

The average American household now has almost $16,000 in credit card debt.

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

You may be the captain of the ship, but God is the ruler of the seas. Steve Scott

We don’t always believe things because they are true, but because they are expedient. Elle Sheen’s Diary

Sometimes we need darkness to reveal our light.

Our disappointments are often God’s appointments. Ken Whitten

Take time every day to celebrate the many gifts that are hidden in the ordinary events of your life. Cesar Milla

Comedian Will Rogers said it well: “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.”

Are you walking in your calling? Sol Pitchon

It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t have a choice.

Week Three, 2020

What is weighing you down?

By Florida Senator John Grant, Retired

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

When I studied pre-flight aeronautics, I learned what I had to do to check my airplane before departing. One important item was weight and balance. In order to fly, an aircraft has to be within weight limitations and weight has to be distributed in the right place. Too much weight or wrongfully distributed weight will keep the plane from lifting off the runway or if it does, if it is nose or tail heavy, it will come back to earth quickly, often with disastrous consequences.

Life is like that. We cannot move forward when we are held back by carrying too much of the past. All too often our priorities are in the wrong place.

Often, we can be oblivious to the number and cumulative impact of the initiatives we have in progress at the same time. Too often we lack the mechanisms to manage the demands that having too much on our plate places on us.

Worse than having too much to manage, is having the wrong priorities. What needs to get done now doesn’t get done, because what can be done later is speaking more loudly. Often our choices are not items that are right or wrong, but rather important or more important.

Sadly, too often our spiritual life gets unprioritized and pushed to the back burner. Often this happens to me and I get disconnected from God

What’s a good way to tell that you’re disconnected from God? When you feel like an emotional mess. Every time you feel angry, sad, resentful, unworthy, depressed, you name it, you are being given a sure sign that you’re putting God last. I have been that way all too often and ashamed of it.

When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims of our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.

Jesus said that the most important thing in our lives is to first seek the kingdom of God. And, oh by the way, He continues to add that when we do this, everything in our life falls into its proper and manageable place.

What is the most important priority in your life today?

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

The temptation of being good:

As I read about our veterans, thought about my father’s sacrifice, I was inspired to make Jabez’s prayer my own. If millions of men and women could give their best to serve our nation, I can give my best to serve my Lord.

Here’s the problem: it is tempting to settle for less than our best when our good seems better than others. If we have not yielded to cultural pressure on abortion, homosexual relations, euthanasia, etc., we can conclude that we are more moral than those who have. But heterosexual sexual sin is sin as well. God cares for the poor as well as the unborn. He wants the best medical care for the indigent as well as the terminally ill.

And He wants us to champion all that He champions. I have noticed that it is easier to preach against sins I am not tempted to commit personally. Jim Denison

— o —

$123 billion: The value of the cancer-drugs market which is expected to double by 2024.

— o —

The Warren Buffet Foundation Spent $77 Million on Abortion, enough to Kill 220,000 Babies in Abortions.

— o —

Where are you heading? What are you running after? We’re all running after something. Too often we find we’re running after stuff, and money, things, trophies and awards. Maybe we’re running after our image, reputation or some recognition, hoping to find fulfillment, satisfaction and purpose. But whatever it is, we’re all running after something. What are you running after? Pastor Scott Whitaker

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Why is it that people with the smallest minds have the largest mouths? Elle Sheen’s Diary

By limiting our compassion to those we know, we miss the opportunity to serve those we do not. Jim Denison

Within the covers of the Bible are the answers to all problems people face. Ronald Reagan

Start the day with eating the big frog first and nothing worse will happen all day.

We only die once. We live every day. Snoopy

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Lao Tzu

Whenever it feels uncomfortable to tell the truth, that’s often the most important time to tell it.” Jennifer Lopez

There is a fountain of youth: It is your mind, your talent, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. Sophia Loren