Notes of Faith August 6, 2020

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. — Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah can discern the voice of God. Can you?

Wouldn’t it be easier to hear from Jesus if He was still walking among us? I thought so too, so I spent every Tuesday with Him for six months.

If you’re imagining me arm-in-arm with that white-robed, blue-sashed Sunday school Jesus, that’s not quite it. I was in college, and my conversations with Jesus sometimes felt abstract and distant. So, over a cup of coffee, my friend Jessica and I decided to do something crazy. We decided to make it easier to hear from Jesus, in a self-styled experiment we called Tuesdays with Jesus.1

Every Tuesday, we pretended Jesus was physically with us. We imagined Him walking beside us, sharing a meal with us, or riding in the passenger seat. He went to class with us and to work with us; He watched whatever we watched and heard everything we said. Jessica and I met each week on Tuesday for coffee, with Jesus, of course, and shared stories about our time with Him.

I can still remember my first Tuesday with Jesus. I woke up, bright and early, and there He was in my desk chair. “Well, hello!” I greeted Him, laughing to myself.

I felt surprised by my own confidence as I walked to my car and opened the passenger door. Because, Jesus. I took those few extra seconds to hold open His door to remind Him (and me) that I remembered. I buckled my seatbelt, grabbed my iPod (remember those?), and played a worship song, smiling in His direction, with a slow-motion point and a wink and a “This one’s for You.”

We drove to the coffee shop to meet Jessica. She had ordered one coffee for herself, one for me… and a third one.

I pointed. We laughed.

“You seriously paid for that?” I playfully asked. “Shhhhhhhhh… He can hear you,” she whispered.

At one point in our conversation she flipped around her MacBook and we took pictures with Him to document our first day.

I didn’t feel alone on Tuesdays. I put creative energy into my relationship with Jesus on Tuesdays. I talked about Jesus a lot on Tuesdays. I had to. My friends didn’t find it amusing, but I had to explain why they had to sit in the back seat: “Jesus called shotgun.”

I developed a new, literal meaning to the phrase “Introducing Jesus to people for the very first time.” I realized that leaving Him out of my interactions was like having a person — a real, living person — standing next to me, unacknowledged.

Once, Jessica made a bed for Jesus at 1 a.m. only to wake up two hours later feeling guilty for not giving Him her bed. She slept on the ground that night. Often, I’d hold open the door for Him, and someone just far enough away thought it was for them and began to walk quicker. Most of the time I’d hold the door open for that hustling someone, but not always. Don’t judge me. I’m not Jesus. I just hung out with Him… on Tuesdays.

I listened to different music on those Tuesdays. I spoke about Him boldly and even introduced people to Him for the very first time on Tuesdays. I asked for forgiveness and quite often reminded myself that He forgave me and then murmured to myself, “That’s so like Him.”

But here’s the reality: Jesus is kind of a strange party guest. It was true in all of the Gospel narratives,2 and it’s true now too. Once, I pulled up a chair for Jesus when I was having a friend over for dinner. I told her who the chair was for, and she looked at me like I had a third eye. The shotgun joke got old quickly, and friends would just roll their eyes and sit down in the front seat of my car. I knew the experiment was pushing me, when, sometime in the middle of the fourth month, I thought to myself, Tuesday again? That means so much explaining.

And then one Tuesday, I accidentally left Jesus at home.

I was at the gas station, staring off into the distance while the tank filled. The thought flitted across my mind, “It’s Tuesday…” and I remembered that I hadn’t asked Jesus to come with me. The realization washed over me. Leaving Jesus in the armchair in my living room was more of a common occurrence in the rest of my week than I’d like to admit. I left Jesus at home and just about everywhere else. Sometimes I left Him in the pews at church or at a Starbucks table, or in the prayer at dinner time. I acknowledged Him where I expected to see Him… and where other people expected me to see Him. Did He belong at a gas station on a Tuesday morning? He would have gone anywhere with me, even the places He didn’t seem to fit. I just didn’t invite Him.

Tuesdays reminded me that I needed to take Jesus with me everywhere.

Those Tuesdays with Jesus transformed me. Not only did I develop a habit of talking about Jesus, I became more confident talking with Him. What was most surprising was when I became more confident in my ability to listen to Him. What did He say, you ask? Well, turns out, Jesus has no tolerance for those negative thought spirals. I’d start dogging on myself for something, like being late for a meeting or distracted with my family, and He’d say, “Megan, you have a choice. You can either continue feeling guilty or be grateful for awareness.” Truth is, He wasn’t very sentimental about it. Or in the aftermath of a mistake, I’d consider His character and imagine Him saying something like: “You’re not perfect, but you’re Mine!”

The conversations went a lot like this: He’d remind me that I belonged to Him. Again and again, He affirmed my identity as His. And then He’d point me toward someone else who needed to know it too. Pretending to see Him next to me changed the way I heard from Him.

In my new awareness of His presence, I could discern His nudges. I could sense His elbows jabbing my side, making me less aware of myself and more aware of the people who needed to meet Him for the first time or needed to be reminded that He was with us. There were plenty of times when I wanted to ignore Him, and, honestly, many times when I did. But I’d look over at Him after the moment of obedience had passed, and realize that He had more chances for me, continually offering opportunities to step into His plans. Slowly but surely, I became aware of the fact that Jesus not only wants to speak, He wants to speak into every area of our lives. He wants a say in how we act, share coffee conversations, sometimes even dictate what or whom we listen to as we drive.

Tuesdays with Jesus reminded me that He is present — always. And His presence prompted me to listen.

Rich Ferreria was the first person I ever heard share stories from spending time with an imaginary Jesus. Thanks for the life-changing idea, friend.

1. Jesus shows up at a Pharisee party and calls the host out on not inviting the poor (Luke 14:12–14). He also shows up at the parties of tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:13–17). And who could forget that wedding at Cana where he turned water to wine (John 2:1–11)?

Excerpted from Meant for Good by Megan Fate Marshman, copyright Megan Fate Marshman.

What a fantastic idea! How would you like to invite Jesus to join you on Tuesdays? Or any other day? Or every day?

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 5, 2020

Dear Friends,

As I write this newsletter, voters across this nation are only a few short months away from the next general election. What an ominous time this is for our 244-year-old republic. Its future hangs in the balance. The choices we make on November 3rd will send this nation down one of two dramatically different paths. The wrong decision will be catastrophic. I agree with former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, who said recently that the next election will be "the most important since 1860."1 He also warned that if we appease or ignore the violence and anarchy occurring in the streets, it might be the end of civilization as we have known it.2 Those are sobering words coming from a man who has stood at the pinnacle of national power.

Mr. Gingrich referred to the significance of 1860 because that was the year Abraham Lincoln was elected president. I'm sure the Speaker would agree that the following election of 1864 was also critical to the future of the nation. Lincoln and his opponent, Maj. Gen. George McClellan, were in a hotly contested campaign for the White House that could have gone either way. The "war between the states," as it was called, had been raging for three ghastly years, and the entire nation was staggered by reports from the bloody battlefield.

Lincoln was running for a second term, and he campaigned on the promise of finishing the war and preserving the Union. These were momentous times for the young nation. During the first week of January 1863, the President signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves.

Democrats and their presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. McClellan, initially campaigned on a "peace platform," pledging to end the war and send soldiers home. As the election approached, he talked more about negotiating to let the South establish a separate government whose cornerstone would be slavery. If McClellan had been elected, there would have been no foreseeable end to the inherent evil of buying and selling human beings and treating them like cattle. Thus, the Civil War was a struggle for the soul of America.

The summer before the election, the war was going badly for the Union. Lincoln, in fact, was convinced he was going to lose the election.3 He wrote the following memorandum on August 23, 1864, asking his Cabinet to accept the grim prospects for his re-election. These are his words:

This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so cooperate with the President-elect as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such grounds that I cannot possibly save it afterwards.4

No wonder Lincoln dealt at times with depression. Clearly, the Union was a hair's breadth away from losing the war. But then, the tide began to turn. One historian wrote, "The political landscape shifted dramatically when Gen. William T. Sherman took Atlanta in early September. This major military shift, coupled with the severe internal strife within the Democratic Party, solidified Lincoln's chance at victory."5

As you know, Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans won the election of 1864 in a landslide. McClellan was defeated by more than 500,000 popular votes and 191 electoral votes. An estimated 78 percent of Union soldiers cast their ballots in favor of Lincoln. McClellan took just three states: Kentucky, Delaware, and his home state of New Jersey.6 Less than two months after Lincoln's inauguration, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. He is said to have been the "last casualty" of the Civil War.7

Why have I recounted our Civil War history and the election of 1864 at this time in our history? It is for two reasons. The first is to consider some striking similarities between then and now. Our nation is divided like no time since the Civil War. Lawlessness and anarchy stalk the cities as angry mobs riot, burn, loot, rob, and kill innocent bystanders. Cultural monuments are being destroyed. Scores of people have been shot. Our courageous police officers are being brutally attacked by the same people they have vowed to protect. A man and his son stopped to ask for directions, and he was gunned down on the spot. A one-year-old baby was shot in the stomach while he sat in his stroller. The child died at the hospital.

What began as a justified and lawful protest in response to George Floyd's senseless murder by a rogue police officer has morphed into violence for the sake of violence. Hatred flows in the streets, including vitriol directed at the President of the United States or anyone who dares to support him or his policies. Constitutional rights to freedom of speech and religious liberty are being trampled. There is also widespread belief that violence and anarchy are being organized and funded by powerful forces that are maneuvering America toward a socialist dictatorship. There is always a kingmaker behind such lawlessness. Most disturbing is open talk of another civil war. It is troubling to even utter those words. The last time Americans faced off against each other, 600,000 soldiers died. May God forbid it from happening again.

During the revolution of the 1960s, I recall a ubiquitous bumper sticker that read, "What if they gave a war and nobody came?" It was a catchy phrase that made sense to those who opposed the Vietnam War. But my reaction to it then and now is "What if they gave a war and only one side came?" That question keeps me awake at night. There are multiple millions of passive Americans out there today, many of them Christians, who are clueless about what is happening to their homeland. They are losing something precious and irreplaceable. Do they not understand that their children and those who are yet to be born will live in tyranny if we fail them on our watch? Countless young men and women have laid down their lives on battlefields around the world to protect liberty and our way of life. Now, what they purchased for us with their blood is slipping away. Disengaged people won't lift a finger to preserve this great land. They won't take even a few minutes to go to their polling places to vote. There are also thousands of pastors who won't allow voting registration tables in the lobbies of their churches. Don't they know or care that America is on the ropes? Hordes of angry anarchists are salivating over the next election, hoping to push America over a cliff. If they succeed, as Newt Gingrich said, Western civilization will never recover. Is there anyone left who believes some things are worth dying for? Aren't there patriots out there such as Patrick Henry who said in defiance of British tyranny, "Give me liberty or give me death!"? That was the spirit during his day. The Declaration of Independence closed with these words endorsed by the signers, "We pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They knew they would be hanged if they lost the war. Why did they do it? Because they loved their country enough to die for it.

How I pray for the emergence of silent, intimidated Americans who will come out of their hiding places to let their voices be heard on Election Day 2020. There must be tens of thousands of ministers in our midst who, like the Black Robed Regiment of the Revolutionary War, will strip off their clerical garb and fight valiantly for religious liberty. If these men and women of faith and conviction don't come to the rescue of their country, it is doomed.

During the Civil War, untold soldiers gave their lives to preserve the integrity of the United States of America and to end the tragedy of slavery. Here is the question of the hour: Are you and our brothers and sisters willing to carry the bloodstained banner around which our predecessors rallied? We will know the answer on November 3rd.

That brings us to the second reason I have addressed the Civil War and the election of 1864. It is to remind us that voting matters. Each presidential campaign has been important, but some have had jaw-dropping and nation-shaping consequences. I believe we are at such a pivotal moment now. You can be certain that America will be forever changed by the political party that gets its supporters to the polls. They will win the day—and the future.

Unfortunately, the majority of Christians have a record of not showing up on Election Day. It is unbelievably sad. As many as 75 percent of them sit on their hands, apparently assuming that their votes don't matter. They are wrong. Voting ALWAYS matters. George W. Bush won the presidency in 2000 by 537 votes in a nation of 130 million registered voters. Many down-ballot contests have been won or lost by a single vote.

I plead with you to register and vote in this presidential election. I won't try to tell you who to vote for because you can figure it out for yourselves. But I will suggest how you might evaluate the situation we face. I'll close with seven critical issues that have stunning significance for the nation. Please think hard about them, and then go to the polls.

1. The Next Generation

There is a fierce battle being waged now in the nation's classrooms for the hearts and souls of our children and grandchildren. Those of us who are passionately committed to the Judeo-Christian system of beliefs are losing our kids right before our eyes. They are being force-fed a radical curriculum that is godless, anti-American, and sexually perverse. Make no mistake, the left and secular culture are manipulating the minds of your sons and daughters every day of the year. I urge you to be extremely careful about those whom you set in power over your children. Protect them with your very lives.

2. The Sanctity of Human Life

All life is sacred and is a gift from Almighty God. But as you know, America has the blood of innocents on its hands. Since 1973, more than 60 million babies have been murdered through abortion and countless lives have ended by euthanasia. This is the most tragic holocaust in the history of the world! Some states have even passed laws allowing wounded and suffering infants to lie alone on porcelain trays after somehow surviving unsuccessful abortions. They will die without the comfort of their mothers' breasts. If that doesn't touch your heart, you are without compassion. I hope you will not cast a single vote for any politician who supports such wickedness.

3. Marriage and Family

The family is God's original building block for society. Marriage continues to serve as the foundation for every dimension of human life. Everything of value rests on it, including procreation and the care and training of children. If that ground floor is weakened or undermined, the entire superstructure of civil society will come crashing down. But listen carefully: powerful and highly funded forces, including LGBTQ and other leftist entities, are determined to destroy the family as an institution. It is already on its knees, and its future is grim. Before you vote, find out what position the candidates have taken on this issue. Then vote accordingly.

4. Religious Liberty

The first item listed in the Bill of Rights addresses the issue of religious liberty. All the other enumerated rights flow from that fundamental freedom. That is why it is alarming to recognize that this right to worship and honor God as we choose is under vicious attack today. The courts have done the greatest damage, but now an entire sub-culture is trying to bring down the Christian faith. Whether it has invaded your private world or not, it is at your front door. It was this primary concern that led to the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War in 1776. We can't compromise one jot or tittle within that fundamental right. Fight for it with every ounce of your strength and determination. Don't let the government close the doors of your church or tell you when you can sing praises to the Lord Almighty. They have a devious agenda, and it is dangerous. Be ready to go to the mat in defense of what you believe. And let this passion influence how you cast your ballot in November. Here I stand. Will you join me?

5. Capitalism v. Socialism

It is difficult to believe that for the first time in American history, our nation appears to be thinking about trading our democratic way of life for the tyranny of socialism. I can hardly catch my breath. Could we really consider abandoning the beloved system of government that was designed to be of the people, by the people, and for the people? Is it true that up to 40 percent of millennials and others are prepared to surrender their liberties in exchange for the absolute authority of the state? Democracy and capitalism have made ours the most powerful and successful nation in the history of the world. Are we really considering scuttling the system that has served us for 244 years in exchange for what some people call "free stuff?" I pray not! But that option awaits you in the polling booth.

6. The Judicial System

Given recent rulings, we know that judicial overreach has almost ruined this great nation. Justices and judges are constitutionally charged to interpret the law, not make law. But again, and again, they have overstepped their authority and brought us atrocities such as abortion on demand, same-sex marriage, and the so-called "separation of church and state," which doesn't appear in the Constitution. Most recently, the Supreme Court handed down one of its most egregious rulings since Roe v. Wade. It is the case of Bostock v. Clayton County. This decision was not based on constitutional law but on the whims of six justices. It created a new legal definition of sex out of thin air. Lawyers tell us that this ruling will affect every dimension of culture and haunt the nation as long as it endures. Please don't vote for politicians who will expand, rather than limit, the power of the judiciary.

7. The Nation of Israel

Scripture tells that those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Our prayer is that the next Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. will continue to promote and cultivate a vibrant bond of friendship with the nation of Israel, which is our only ally in the Middle East. Anti-Semitism and all forms of racial discrimination are inherently evil, and we condemn them categorically. We are a nation that is dedicated to "freedom and justice for all" (The U.S. Pledge of Allegiance).

I could list dozens of other issues that should be considered as we vote on November 3rd. I will end with this final statement from Abraham Lincoln. He said:

"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have."8

Let us come boldly before the throne of grace and ask God for His mercy on America.

Sincerely,

James Dobson

P.S. This just came to my attention. Would you like to see where America may be headed if it abandons the sanctity of human life? New Zealand recently passed legislation that allows abortion up to the moment of birth, for any reason. That means a baby can be killed for sex-selection purposes or for the presence of disabilities, such as a cleft palate, Down syndrome, or yes, being born alive after a botched abortion. Do you shudder at those grotesque words? Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had promised, if elected, not to allow any kind of deadly discrimination, but she broke her word. We can anticipate something similar happening in America if anti-life factions prevail.

We will help any of you that are not registered to vote to get registered.  Please read the Word of God, pay attention to what is going on around you in the world, and be ready for the return of Jesus Christ.  We must pay attention to the signs of the times and do all that we can to bring glory to God!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 4, 2020

Notes of Faith August 4, 2020 

Respect is incredibly important to men, not just in the NFL but in all walks of life. We crave it from our peers, our friends, our family, and especially our girlfriends or wives. Plenty of authors have pointed out that most men would rather feel unloved than disrespected. There is a reason why the Bible tells husbands to “love your wives” (Ephesians 5:25) while teaching that “the wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:33). 

For a man, respect is top priority. 

As in the NFL, respect in everyday life isn’t something you attract by talking about your accomplishments and intentions. It’s earned by your actions. 

To me, sacrifice and respect often go hand in hand. You have to give up something to get respect. It might be letting go of the dream of buying the new car you’ve been eyeing so you can give that money to a needy neighbor. It might mean saying no to a promotion at work because it would take too much time away from your wife and family. It’s making the tough, unselfish choices that benefit others. 

If you’re a dad and want to raise your kids right, sacrifice is definitely part of the deal. You might have to give up a few things and start spending your time and money on more family oriented priorities. To set an example for Taylor when he was younger, I listened only to gospel music. He didn’t understand my position back then. He just rolled his eyes at me. But today, Taylor understands why I did it. I believe he respects me for it. In the long run, that sacrifice has been well worth it. 

One thing I’m proud of is that when people compliment me nowadays, most often they talk about how I conducted myself off the field instead of how I played on it. They appreciate how I handled myself. 

My intention was never to earn people’s praise, but it’s rewarding to hear those comments. It’s another by-product of respect. 

To truly understand respect, we need to give it as well as pursue it. 

For me, that means acknowledging the one who deserves my respect above all others: God. 

The Bible says that 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. 

— Proverbs 1:7 

Fear of the Lord is awe, reverence, love, and honor for Him all wrapped together. 

Some fear is healthy — we should be a little afraid of the dad who has authority over our earthly lives and the God who has authority over all of creation. Both have power that far exceeds our own. It’s pretty simple, actually. The reason people sometimes admire me is because of my respect for God. It’s only because I worship and obey Him that anyone might find me worthy of respect. 

Excerpted with permission from The Making of a Man by Tim Brown, copyright Thomas Nelson. 

Some of you may not know Tim Brown, but he was a great football player and someone I would like to meet because of his respect/love for God.  We cannot deny our heavenly Father … He is our Creator, Provider, Protector, Encourager, Discipliner, Teacher, Guide, and many more characteristics of our earthly fathers. He is deserving of our respect being holy, loving and perfect in all His ways, far above our earthly fathers.  Respect for God is reverent fear, not the kind that makes you afraid, but the kind that makes you stand in awe of who He is and all that He does.  May we respect God and obey the Father that loves us like no other.  May we respect one another as children of the same Father . . . we are family! 

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 3, 2020

I spent my first twenty-one years without once cracking open a Bible. When my brother, who recently had come to faith, gave me a Bible for Christmas — I think it was 1980, when I was twenty — I let it sit unopened for six or seven months. I thought it was a waste of a gift, and an insult to boot. He could have bought me a case of beer. He could have bought me tickets to a Queen concert. He could have given me cash and let me pick my gift. Even, he could have got me socks or underwear and at least I would have made use of them. But he got me a Bible, which I had no intention of reading and which implied that my life was weighed in the balance and found wanting. That I lacked something. 

Which, indeed, I did. I was both stuck and careening — going nowhere but out of control. Every step took me closer to somewhere I didn’t want to be, to becoming someone I didn’t want to become. So one day, bored as much as curious, I picked up the book. I read Genesis quickly. It was wondrous and strange. I started into Exodus and soon stalled. I called my mother — I didn’t want to confess to my brother that I had started the book he gave me — and told her that the book was boring and confusing. She also had recently come to faith. She told me that I wasn’t to read the Bible like a normal book, front to back, start to finish, but to jump around in it. I should start, she said, in the Gospels and then Acts and then the Epistles and then maybe the Psalms and Proverbs. She had to explain what all this meant. 

I glanced through the Gospels. I discovered that one was named after me, or vice versa. The gospel named after me, or vice versa, was the shortest of the four. I cottoned on to it for that reason. 

What I didn’t know until later is that I stood at a crossroads, looking, asking. Seeking a good way, an ancient way, a new way. What I did find, startlingly, is Jesus leaping off the pages. Jesus blazing out of nowhere, with dazzling suddenness, without even a greeting, rearranging everything, upending everyone’s lives. 

The heavens tear open. 

The Spirit descends.The Father speaks. 

Then the Spirit drives Jesus headlong into the desert. 

Satan and angels and wild animals all crowd into a single sentence, maybe a single scene. Then Jesus speaks. He announces and commands. He tells tradesmen to leave their jobs and families. You, you, you, you. A demon-possessed man hears him speak, flips out, bellows and thrashes, and Jesus shuts him right up. Sick people hunt Jesus down, beg him for just a touch, and he heals them. And that’s just the first chapter, and not even all of it. About a third of the way through Mark, I came to a tentative conclusion: 

Jesus was either plum crazy or the most interesting person who ever lived. I had to find out which. 

I decided to follow Him, which isn’t the same thing as believing in Him. I was just going to tag along for a stretch, see where things got. 

I kept reading. Standing at the crossroads. Looking. Asking. Following. Walking. 

Jesus enraged me, delighted me, inspired me, troubled me, and always and in every way intrigued me. I would read some portion — His rudeness, for instance, to people who asked Him the same questions I wanted to ask Him — and think, Ah, I guess He’s not the one for me. But then I’d read something else — how Jesus dealt with a sick woman or told stories or cared for people whom others despised — and I’d think, Well, maybe I’ll go a few more miles, see how I’m feeling then. 

After a long time, I decided that, though likely some things about Jesus would always perplex me and trouble me, He was worth my whole attention and, yes, obedience — which meant, then and now, if He told me to do something, I’d do it regardless of whether I was inclined toward it or even understood it. I decided to follow Him always, everywhere. 

I chose to believe in Him. The Jesus who turns the world upside down turned my world upside down. 

I still sometimes lose my way. I still sometimes walk in a bad way. But every time I do, I go back to the book and the one whom the book points to. I stand at the crossroads. I look. I ask. And I find, fresh as though I stumbled on it just then, the ancient paths. I find the Ancient of Days. The good ways. The Good Way. 

And I walk. 

Excerpted from God Walk by Mark Buchanan, copyright Mark Buchanan. 

How did you begin walking with Jesus? Did you wonder if He was crazy or the most interesting person who ever lived? What happens when you lose your way or walk in a bad way? Are you walking back to the Gospel and Jesus? 

Coming to faith is not easy, nor should it be.  Walking in faith is not easy, as so many of you have experienced.  Maybe we are meant to share the Gospel and our own personal journey with others that they might know God and His faithfulness through each day and year. 

Please feel free to share these daily Notes of Faith with others. 

Facebook.com/cgbclb/posts 

Web page: communitygrace.church 

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 2, 2020

Enjoy today this special family devotional, a collection of some of Max's most beloved devotions, meant to be read side-by-side so child and parent can each read their devotion then talk and pray together. 

FOR ADULTS 

Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God. By the time your life is over, you will have spent six months at stoplights, eight months opening junk mail, a year and a half looking for lost stuff (double that number in my case), and a whopping five years standing in various lines. 

Why don’t you give these moments to God? By giving God your whispering thoughts, the common becomes uncommon. Simple phrases such as “Thank you, Father,” “Be sovereign in this hour, O Lord,” “You are my resting place, Jesus” can turn a commute into a pilgrimage. You needn’t leave your office or kneel in your kitchen. 

Just pray where you are. 

Let the kitchen become a cathedral or the classroom a chapel. Give God your whispering thoughts. 

Read Together 

  God, examine me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. — Psalm 139:23 

FOR KIDS 

Imagine — what if you thought of every second of every day as a chance to talk to God? 

By the time your life is over, you will have spent six months waiting at stoplights, a year and a half looking for lost stuff, and a whopping five years standing in lines. 

Why don’t you give these “lost” moments to God? By giving God your thoughts during these moments, the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Your prayers don’t need to be out loud. Your eyes don’t have to be closed. Prayers can simply be silent whispers — just between you and God. 

Simple prayers — such as “Thank You, Father,” “Be with me this day, God,” and “I trust You, Jesus” — can turn a car ride into worship. You don’t need a special place. Just pray where you are. Let the kitchen become a church and the classroom become a chapel. Give God your whispering thoughts. 

GROWING IN GRACE 

Do you only pray at church and at home? Only before meals and at bedtime? Try a “pray where you are” challenge today. How many different places can you remember to pray to God? Can you make it five, or ten, or even twenty? 

Excerpted with permission from Grace for the Moment Family Devotional by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado 

Praying without ceasing is evidence of intimately following Jesus.  The life of Jesus given to us in the gospels, is our example and we must follow Him and live like His example.   Heavenly Father, sometimes it is difficult to know what to say… May we sit quietly in those times, and listen for your still small voice.  Speak to our hearts, draw us close, and help us to live a life of love for You beyond all earthly treasure! 

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith August 1, 2020

I Declare War by Levi Lusko 

There’s no other area that is easier (for me) to mess up with, and that has caused more heartache afterward, than talking. I’ve shot my mouth off and felt remorse so regularly that it is a great source of sadness for me. I measure how well a meeting went not by the number of good ideas I had or whether the content was covered but by whether it ends without me having said something I want to take back. 

You know that feeling when you walk away from a conversation and the perfect insult comes to your mind just a minute too late? (“Well, the Jerk Store called, and they’re running out of you!”) The French have a term for it: esprit de escalier, or the witty comeback you think of after you’ve left the situation. There is science behind why that happens: when you’re in a confrontation, the limbic portion of your brain kicks into fight-or-flight mode, allocating all available resources into keeping you alive; unfortunately, both cleverness and people skills suffer. Once the moment passes, the blood that was being diverted to your muscles and to your vision with a shot of adrenaline returns to the rational part of your brain, so you are able to think of what you couldn’t in the moment. I wish I had that feeling more often. The feeling I have more regularly is, why didn’t I put a hand over my mouth and not say the thing I thought of? Tragically, words are like toothpaste; once they’re out of the tube, there’s no putting them back in. 

The Power of the Tongue 

The book of Proverbs says that the tongue contains the power of both life and death (Proverbs 18:21). It’s like a tiny nuclear reactor capable of being both an energy plant that lights up a town and a bomb that can destroy a city. 

I read that Orville Wright was heartsick over the use of airplanes in World War II because they allowed mankind the option of raining bombs from the sky. It disturbed him to know that he had created something that would do so much harm, yet he didn’t regret the invention. What reassured him was knowing that all things that can do much good can also do great evil. 

Bricks can be used to build hospitals or be thrown through windows. Water can quench a thirst or flood a city. Likewise, words are neutral in and of themselves; it’s how you use them that determines whether they are good or bad. 

That is the argument James makes in one of the most powerful statements on speech ever put into words (pun intended): 

Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 

Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. — James 3:3-10 

James explained that one tiny spark — a cigarette thrown out a car window or an improperly doused campfire — can lead to an inferno that burns down a whole forest. 

In the same way, a single sentence can alter your life: 

“I love you.” 

“Will you marry me?” 

“It’s a boy.” 

“I want a divorce.” 

“I forgive you.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

A sentence can devastate: 

“We’re going to have to let you go.” 

“It’s cancer.” 

“There’s nothing more we can do.” 

But it can just as easily cause you to celebrate: 

“You’re being promoted!” 

“You have the golden ticket!” 

“Your long-lost aunt left you an enormous inheritance!” 

Words can cost you your job; Don Imus had a successful radio career but he was brought down by uttering a racial slur. 

Words can cost you your life; mouth off to the wrong person and get yourself killed. 

When I read what James wrote about the tongue’s deadly poison, I can’t help but think of the komodo dragon, the largest living lizard. Komodo dragons are stocky and built low to the ground. Even though they’re not fast, they can kill pigs and even cows with their venom. Careless words, too, can cause hurt — sometimes even kill. 

Besides poison and fire, which have obvious dangers, James used the analogies of horseback riding and boating — two fun activities that can quickly go wrong. 

You might remember that the actor Christopher Reeve, who played Superman in the original films (long before the Man of Steel got in a fight with Batman and joined the Justice League), broke his neck jumping over a fence on his horse and became a quadrapalegic who needed a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Boating accidents can also cause great harm. I remember a horrific accident that happened where I live in Montana. A ski boat had stopped to pick up a fallen water-skier. While the boat was idling, a passenger jumped off the boat to go to the bathroom — only the driver of the boat didn’t know. When he looked back and saw the skier was far behind him, he put the boat in reverse and drove over the guy peeing in the water. The driver wasn’t even aware the other man was there, right behind the boat. Rescuers were able to save the injured man’s life, but he still lost his foot in the accident. 

Just as heredity controls what kind of tongue you have — whether you can roll it up or how long it is — heredity is also the reason our tongues are so destructive. We read in Romans 5:12 that it’s our sin nature that makes our words so dangerous: 

Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. 

Fortunately, whatever can be used for evil can be reclaimed and used for good. 

The tongue can be set on fire by hell, but it can also be set on fire by Heaven. While under control of the Holy Spirit, Peter — who had cursed Christ and denied knowing Him — preached the gospel to the saving of two thousand souls on the day of Pentecost. Proverbs 25:11 tells us, 

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. 

If your speech is filled with grace (Colossians 4:6), your words will have the same impact salt (or Tabasco sauce) does on food — they will make things better! Then your words can build people up, share the gospel, pray for the sick. Your words can encourage, comfort, reassure, and make people laugh.  

Proverbs 27:17 says, 

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. — NLT 

Sometimes you need to speak difficult words that are necessary to help people become who they were born to be. In a sense, love will ask you to stab your friends in the front. And that’s a good thing! 

When the tongue is working properly, it is both a spring that refreshes and a fruit tree that nourishes. A runaway horse is dangerous, and a boating accident can end in disaster; but when the bit is firmly in place, and the rudder steers correctly, you can enjoy scenery that is both beautiful and pleasurable. 

Paul instructed the Ephesians to choose their words carefully: 

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. — Ephesians 4:29 

  My high school youth pastor made me memorize that verse when I confided in him that I regularly got into trouble because of things I said. He advised me to process what I wanted to say through an Ephesians 4:29 filter before I spoke. 

Consider The Message’s translation of this verse: 

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. 

What could happen if the words you used weren’t foul or dirty but rather were gifts for those you were speaking to? 

If Jesus is the Lord of your life, He must be the Lord of your lips too. 

Excerpted from I Declare War by Levi Lusko, copyright Levi Lusko. 

 Unfortunately, we all need a message like this from time to time because we fail to tame our tongue.  As long as your mind and mouth are able to work you must battle with the fallen nature of man.  Just as Levi did, if we will memorize God’s Word, and keep it close to our heart, God’s Spirit within will be the bit in our mouths that stops hurtful, damaging words, releasing beautiful words of kindness, encouragement, and forgiveness.  As believers, we do have a holy filter through which to express our thoughts and emotions.  Use it well. 

Pastor Dale 

Notes of Faith July 31, 2020

God is Near 

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. — Luke 12:7 

Never take for granted My intimate nearness. Marvel at the wonder of My continual Presence with you. Even the most ardent human lover cannot be with you always. Nor can another person know the intimacies of your heart, mind, and spirit. I know everything about you — even the number of hairs on your head. You don’t need to work at revealing yourself to Me. 

Many people spend a lifetime or a small fortune searching for someone who understands them. Yet I am freely available to all who call upon My Name, who open their hearts to receive Me as Savior. This simple act of faith is the beginning of a lifelong love story. 

I, the Lover of your soul, understand you perfectly and love you eternally. 

What does God’s “ultimate nearness” mean? Do you take His Presence for granted?  

What comfort does God’s loving knowledge — even the number of hairs on your head — provide? 

We are not only fully known and understood but also eternally loved. What assurances does this give? 

Read More: Psalm 145:18 NKJV; John 1:12; Romans 10:13 

 Finding Him 

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. — Hebrews 3:1 

  I am renewing your mind. When your thoughts flow freely, they tend to move toward problems. Your focus gets snagged on a given problem, circling round and round it in attempts to gain mastery. Your energy is drained away from other matters through this negative focus. Worst of all, you lose sight of Me. 

A renewed mind is Presence- focused. 

Train your mind to seek Me in every moment, every situation. Sometimes you can find Me in your surroundings: a lilting birdsong, a loved one’s smile, golden sunlight. At other times, you must draw inward to find Me. I am always present in your spirit. 

Seek My Face, speak to Me, and I will light up your mind. 

Do your thoughts “tend to move toward problems”?  

How have you seen the truth that “a renewed mind is Presence-focused” in your own life? 

God is always present with us. When do you feel God most near? 

Read More: Psalm 105:4; Romans 12:2 

Excerpted from Life in His Presence: A Jesus Calling Guided Journal by Sarah Young, copyright Sarah Young. 

God knows every detail about us and loves us completely. 

Pastor Dale 

Notes of Faith July 30, 2020

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. — Acts 3:19 

  You think it will never happen as you perspire your way through the dog days of summer. When the fans run full blast and there isn’t enough sweet tea in the world to quench your thirst. The pavement is hot, the air is thick, and the mosquitoes outnumber the people. You begin operating in survival mode, believing that, maybe, this will actually be the year when it doesn’t show up. 

  Then, one morning, you step outside onto your front porch, and you feel it. There’s something different in the air — a coolness that tells you fall has finally arrived. There’s a crispness to the wind that invigorates you as the burden- some heat of summer fades away. Your heart is lightened, and your spirit is revived. There isn’t anything quite as refreshing as that first fall breeze that announces the arrival of a new season. 

  Our lives go through seasons, just like the calendar. There are periods when we feel weary from the weight of our sins. The guilt and shame we carry are as oppressive as the heat of a Southern July day. There seems to be no end in sight, and we find ourselves just trying to survive. That is not the life our heavenly Father desires for His children. Thankfully, just as we turn a calendar page, we can turn from the heaviness of our former ways. 

  Just like that first fall breeze, repentance will bring a refreshing new season into our lives. When we turn from our sins and turn toward Jesus, forgiveness blows over us like a crisp autumn wind, and new energy is instilled in us. The sky is a little brighter, the colors are a little bolder, and our steps are a little lighter as the burden is lifted. 

  Walking in freedom with Jesus is as stimulating as that first fall breeze. Everything that once weighed us down just falls away, and a fresh beginning is ours for the taking. Everything is brimming with possibility, and the opportunities are endless. 

  Let’s repent, be refreshed, and embrace a new season with Christ. 

Excerpted from Devotions for the Fall by Stacy Edwards, copyright Thomas Nelson. 

 Can you believe it? Fall is right around the corner! A brand new season and brand new opportunities for faith and forgiveness.  The election results will be in, maybe Covid-19 will be over.  Change will occur and yet whatever the seasons bring we will still serve the living God! 

 Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith July 29, 2020

Will UFOs be used to explain away the Rapture of the Church?

To answer this question, we invited Billy Crone, the senior pastor of Sunrise Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nevada and founder of Get A Life! Ministries, to our television program Christ in Prophecy. Billy covered a number of sensationalist Bible prophecy topics such as UFOs and the Nephilim.

Aliens Unmasked

Nathan Jones: Billy, when it comes to sensationalist Bible prophecy, often we're talking about UFOs. You've done a lot of research into UFOs. Can you explain why you approach UFOs so often in your teachings?

Billy Crone: UFOs were part of my background when I was involved in the occult and New Age before I became saved. In the New Age, one of the big subjects is UFOs and the lie that is going on about them. Quite a lot of sensationalism and deception has been going on with that topic. It's a topic that we the Church do need to get equipped on because the Scriptures, I believe, give us the answer.

Whether we accept it or not, our world is enthralled with the topic of UFOs and aliens. Right now, just looking at current statistics in the United States of America, more people believe in the existence of UFOs and aliens than they do in the existence of God. More people in the United States of America believe that aliens have visited planet Earth than Jesus is the Son of God.

So many people are obsessed with UFO-ology, because Hollywood has been promoting it. The lie of Evolution sets the foundation for this study. UFO-ology has become the new religion of the 21st Century in our own country. It's adherents believe that aliens are going to save them; not God.
We need to deal with this new religion because our world is being led astray. Plus, the Scriptures say we are to give a defense for the hope that lies within us.

From a biblical perspective, number one, you know that there is something deceptive going on because the very nature and the whole premise of UFOs is built on a lie. It is called the lie of Evolution. When these aliens are supposedly going to show up, they're expected to say, "We're a higher, evolved race."

Stop right there! Evolved? Wait a second. Evolved equals Evolution. Well, Evolution is not true. We were created by God! We didn't come from the goo, to the zoo, to me and you. No, we came from God, right?

But, the whole alien premise, their whole identity when they supposedly show up on the scene, is a lie. Now, go back to the Scriptures. In John 8, what does Jesus say? "Satan is not only a murderer, and he's been one since the beginning, he's a liar, and he's the father of all lies." The alien's claim to evolutionary superiority tells you right out of the gate that you are being deceived.

The other lie aliens are supposed to make, too, is they'll claim, "We are here to give you some incredible messages, and we've come all the way across the universe to give you this important information." When you look at what they are "sharing," it's all about debunking Jesus, the Bible, God, and salvation. These supposed alien visitors claim there is no such thing as sin. They say that we need to combine into a one-world religion and a one-world government. I kid you not! They claim humanity needs to follow a one-world ruler, or we are going to be destroyed. They say that we need to worship Mother Earth.

These alien visitors actually have the audacity to say that Satan is a good guy who has come to free us! Now, excuse me, that is demonic, that is a deception, that is a lie.

Then they say, in order to receive these messages, you have to let them take over a person's vocal cords, and speak through people with their messages. Stop right there! These aliens are supposed to be this higherly evolved, technologically advanced race, much more scientific than we are, for that's how they supposedly traveled here across the cosmos, right? But then, they cannot communicate to us by just sending a text message or calling us on the phone? I'll even take an old handwritten letter. Why do they have to take over people's vocal cords and speak through them?
Folks, that's demonic possession. That's exactly what demons do!

I believe the bulk of UFO sightings can be explained by natural experiences. But then, there's an element that we need to take a look at closely to see what is going on there. Secular guys are confirming that there is one way to get rid of these aliens 100% of the time. When you command them in the name of Jesus Christ to flee, they flee instantly!

One lady I interviewed in Oregon who had this encounter said when she did that, not only did the "aliens" flee out of there, they fled out of there so fast they were tripping over each other. Now, wait a second, who flees in the name of Jesus? That'd be a demon. They didn't flee due to the name of Mohammed, or Buddha, or Confucius. No, just the name of Jesus Christ.

UFOs to Explain the Rapture

Billy Crone: UFO-ology is leading to the last day's deception. In order to fall for the lie of UFOs, you first have to fall for the lie of Evolution. This tells you how slowly and methodically the Enemy has been setting up the planet for this great deception. He started back in the 1850's with Charles Darwin who has now permeated the planet with his Theory of Evolution.

Secondly, Evolution gets some help from Hollywood. They glamorize aliens and UFOs. Everybody then "knows" there must be real live aliens out there. As a matter of fact, you're considered a wacko for not believing that aliens must be real. Folks, science fiction is leading society to somewhere.

I remember back before I was saved and was emmersed in the New Age. I received these so-called "channeled messages" from supposed space aliens. Now that I'm saved, I know that was all demonic. In my documentary I actually quote these demons who are continually preparing the way to explain away the Rapture of the Church.
The Rapture of the Church is true. The Bible teaches about that soon coming event. Put yourself, if you will, in the Enemy's shoes. Soon there will be an event that will occur around the globe where millions of people from all across the planet instantaneously disappear, and they'll specifically only be Christians. You just can't spin that baby. You can't hide that event. So, you better come up with some good excuse.
Think about how slowly and methodically the Enemy has been preparing their lie to explain away the Rapture. It started with Evolution back in the 1850s, and Hollywood has perpetuated it today. All somebody has to do right after the Rapture is stand up on the world scene, maybe somebody even like the Pope, and try to reassure people. He may say, "Hey, people! I just want you to know. You were right all along. The government has been hiding this truth from you. UFOs and aliens are real. See, that's why all of these people have disappeared. It was aliens. They beamed all of those Christians up to their ships."

Nathan Jones: Isn't that a central tenant of New Age teaching, that when Maitreya returns, after Christians have been taken off this planet, that humanity can at last evolve to their true states without those accursed Christians holding people back?

Billy Crone: That is another one of Satan's lies. It's very convenient, I dare say. Think about how much UFOs have permeated the mindset of people. They are going to fall for that excuse for the Rapture lickety-split.
They'll actually spin the fact that the world has been left behind into a seemingly good thing. Jesus said the seven-year Tribulation will be the worse time in the history of mankind. But, no, these deceivers will spin that being left behind was a blessing. "You are a chosen one. Now you get to be a part of the Age of Utopia as we rebuild the planet in a wonderful time of peace."

How crazy! After all, the event that starts the seven-year Tribulation will be the Antichrist, as Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 6:1 reveal, this White Horse Rider, initiates a false peace. The people will go, "This is true. Look! He made a deal in the Middle East that nobody could do. How amazing! We've at last got peace on our planet. Everybody has come together, even religion and government. How amazing! How wonderful!" Nope! You just found yourself left behind in the seven-year Tribulation. It wasn't UFOs that sucked those people up. That was Jesus Christ coming back to collect His Bride.

Especially in a time of crisis and on such a massive scale, human nature gravitates toward any lame excuse just to maintain one's sanity. Aliens are not a lame excuse for the Rapture because with this one the world is ripe to fall for it.

Nathan Jones: Some people theorize that the Antichrist might arrive claiming that he is an alien, sort of like Superman. I don't know where they get that, but do you think they may be correct?

Billy Crone: Well, sure. Why not? You've got some people who say the Antichrist will be a Muslim. Where in the Bible are they reading that one? The origins of the Antichrist, unfortunately, is often a topic people sensationalize. In doing so, they lead people astray from the biblical teaching. Such a theory may warrant our attention, but stick purely with the Bible.

I'm convinced this fascination with UFOs provides us a great opportunity to witness to the lost. The lost are enthralled with UFOs and aliens, and to me, it provides a fantastic opportunity to share the Gospel with them. 

 Nathan E. Jones, Internet Evangelist 

I have never believed in aliens from some faraway place in the heavens, but have and do believe in demonic angels being able to travel between heaven and earth.  There is much that we do not know about fallen angels, their power, strength, authority, and ability to travel in ways that most could not comprehend.  We are living in a time of great deception and lies, earthly and heavenly demonic.  May we stand firm in truth, discern the spirit of the anit-christ, and speak truth, until the day we join our bridegroom Jesus Christ in all His glory! 

 Pastor Dale 

Notes of Faith July 28, 2020

Thoughtful Christians don’t fear difficult questions. They expect them. Rather than blind faith, they ask questions such as, “is the Bible really true for everyone, everywhere, all the time? If so, how do I know? How ought this to change my life? How would I explain this belief to others? 

The Pikes Peak Ascent is one of America’s epic races. Starting at 6,000 feet above sea level, runners navigate a narrow trail to the top of Pikes Peak, which is at 14,115 feet. I’ve run the race twice and it is intense, to say the least. The Pikes Peak Marathon is even more extreme. Runners arrive at the top, turn around, and run back down. This race, which I’ve also run, to my regret, proves that running downhill is much more difficult and painful than running up. 

Eight years ago, when I decided to run the Ascent, I realized that this half marathon was going to be as hard on the body as most marathons. The training schedule called for hours of training, ten to be precise, every week. It hurt. My body was in full rebellion. I quickly learned to put in earbuds and turn my music up loud so that I couldn’t hear my body screaming at me to stop. 

The Man Who Challenged My Mindless Training Method 

I live in Colorado Springs, where some of the world’s most fit people live and train. One of them is Matt Carpenter, a world-class, world-champion ultra-marathoner. He’s won the Pikes Peak Marathon 12 times. Incidentally, he also runs a frozen custard shop for tourists at the foot of Pikes Peak. I tease him that fattening everyone else up is his way of gaining a competitive advantage. 

One day, I crossed paths with Matt training on Pikes Peak. I noticed he didn’t have earbuds in. No music. A few days later, I saw him in town and asked him about it. 

Matt said, “When I wear earbuds and listen to music, I can’t hear my body talking to me.” 

I laughed and said that was exactly why I did wear them. 

Matt replied, “You’ll notice that all truly competitive runners are extremely thoughtful about everything they do. It might look like they’re in a trance, with their brains turned off, but in fact, they’re tracking their heart rate and breathing, monitoring their muscle strength, and carefully planning their steps. They’re deeply thoughtful at every moment of the race.” 

The Importance of Thoughtfulness 

For Matt, thoughtfulness brought clarity and perseverance. For example, while running, his body might be telling him, “Hey, we’re dying here,” but then he’ll see he’s still 10 beats away from his optimal heart rate for training. His body is lying. In response, he doubles down and pushes through the pain to a level that lesser-disciplined runners, such as myself, will never reach. 

For me, thoughtfulness during my long runs just made me more aware of how miserable I was. When I ran, I wanted to think less, not more. 

But here is a very important distinction: I run to finish. Matt runs to win. It’s not Matt’s stubbornness but his thoughtfulness that keeps him competitive year after year. 

The Fork in the Road 

In 1 Cor. 9:24, Paul said, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” As Christians, we have to answer this question: are we trying to merely finish the race of life with as few slipups as possible and then sliding into heaven, or are we determined to win by helping the whole world obey Jesus in every area in which He has authority (Matthew 28:18-20)? 

My experience tells me that most people think only of making it to the finish line with their spiritual lives somewhat intact. They don’t expect to condition themselves to win. 

People who run life’s race merely to finish don’t concern themselves with being thoughtful. They rarely wrestle thoughtfully with unanswered questions that require hard thinking. Rather, they struggle with unquestioned answers, beliefs they hold out of ease and convenience. In my book Unquestioned Answers, I highlight the top ten sayings that keep Christians thinking at a shallow level. For example, “God said it; I believe it; that settles it for me.” 

Thoughtful Christians don’t fear difficult questions. They expect them. Rather than blind faith, they ask questions such as, “is the Bible really true for everyone, everywhere, all the time? If so, how do I know? How ought this to change my life? How would I explain this belief to others? 

Christ has called us to be thoughtful and intentional as we follow Him on the race set before us. We ought to dig deep and look beyond pithy, bumper-sticker theology. As I wrote Unquestioned Answers, I became convinced to question the clichés that keep my faith at a shallow level. I question these not out of cynical suspicion, but in order to go deep into God’s truth. 

So let’s stop trying to avoid hard thinking about our faith and run to win. Are you with me? 

Clichès are making your faith shallow 

We hear and say short Christian clichés all the time, such as “Jesus was a social justice warrior,” “Just have faith,” and “It’s not my place to judge.” These trite statements often go unquestioned. Sometimes they even substitute for truth, leading to a fragile and shallow faith. But what if a close study of these clichés could lead us to deep biblical truth?
 
In Unquestioned Answers, Jeff Myers rethinks ten popular Christian clichés. Through an in depth and fresh look, Myers shares insights into these over-used statements to strengthen readers’ faith and encourage them to share Jesus with others. Walk with Myers on a path to biblical truth as he explores critical topics such as social justice, faith, sin, loving others, God’s goodness, prayer and more. 

© 2020 Jeff Myers. All rights reserved.  

I am definitely thinking of getting this book.  No, I am ordering this book this morning!  I want a deep relationship with God.  I don’t want a “churchy” cliched relationship with God nor with those He puts around me.  Let us seek a deep committed faith, devoted to the One who loves us and loving relationships with those around us that produce heavenly fruit! 

Pastor Dale