The Greatest Enemy of God

Most people would probably think that Satan is God's greatest enemy. But let's remember that Satan was not always the devil. Ezekiel 28:14 says that he was the "anointed cherub."

His name was Lucifer. Verse 15 says that God spoke of him saying, "I appointed you to be the anointed guardian cherub. You had access to the holy mountain of God. You were perfect in all you did from the day you were created until that time when wrong was found in you. Therefore, I cast you out of the mountain of God like a common sinner. Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor". So, you see, the original 'sin' actually occurred in heaven with the corruption of this 'anointed cherub!"

Earth was once a paradise placed under the dominion of Adam, whom God created in His own image. In order to "be like the most high" Lucifer sought to become god on earth. In the form of the serpent, he enticed Eve to disobey God by eating from a certain tree which God had forbidden them to eat. Eve gave the fruit of the tree to Adam, and he ate it. This was the moment that sin and death entered God's 'perfect' creation. Through their disobedient act, sin and death were passed on to all humanity. So, sin itself is the greatest enemy of God! Think about it-you and I were born with this inborn enemy!!!

God has never and will never forgive sin! 

Let me clarify that. He has never and will never forgive His worst enemy the willful act of sin! But He will forgive sinners those who commit sin because of their inherited sin nature. Paul wrote in Romans 5:19, "For by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous. Can you say Hallelujah?

Let us also remember where sin comes from it comes from Satan himself! 1 John 3:8 says, "He that commits sin is of the devil." The very next verse tells us, "Whoever is born of God does not commit sin."

Let's remember, God's Spirit dwelling in us will never cause us to sin. God is incapable of sin He is sinless! When He gives us His Spirit at the time we invite Him into our lives, that Spirit within us cannot sin! Oh, the sin nature still hangs around, and Satan's deceit and temptation battles our God-given nature, but we are assured by the Word of God that the Holy Spirit will keep us from temptation and sin. But the question must then be asked. who or what will we yield to? Reading Romans 7 will give us some incite as to how Paul handled this predicament! Yes, the great Apostle Paul battled with his sin nature! But he gave us an "antidote" to this sin problem. He wrote in Romans 7: 24-25, 

"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (sin) I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Here's another good time to shout Hallelujah! We are blessed!

- Pastor Bruce

How To Remain Unmovable When Life Falls Apart – 1 Corinthians 15:58

Live as Salt & Light in a Dark World (And Shine Bright)

The Spontaneous Church Moment Everyone Needed

The Thankful Heart

The month of November brings to our minds the thought of Thanksgiving. We are reminded continually in God's Word that thanksgiving is to be a continual attitude each day of our lives. Hopefully, you are practicing this. It certainly is not difficult to say thank you' to God for His many blessings! Here are some thoughts on being thankful.

"Thankfulness is a healer, a multiplier of the good and a dissolver of the negative. Thankfulness is an attracting power for blessings, a lightener of any load or burden, an ingredient that produces miracles in the life of anyone, in any situation. Let the words thank you, God' become a habit. Let them start your day and fill your nights. Thank God in the good times and in the bad. Thank Him when you feel like it and when you do not. Thank God for your many blessings, for the healing of the body and the growing of the soul. Thank Him when you laugh and when you cry, when you feel filled with faith, and especially when you do not! Listen to yourself say this "Thank You, God, thank You, God", and then thank Him again! Begin to develop this in your life so that blessings and miracles can flow into your life. As the bible says "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord." (Psalm 92:1)

When Joshua went forward to conquer Jericho, his instructions were to encircle the walls of the city for seven days. On the seventh day, the people were to give a shout of praise. (Joshua 6) It was with this shout of praise that the walls of the city fell. Victory was assured! The central truth here is that spiritual victories are not won by conventional means, but by putting our trust in God. Praise and thankfulness are what God responds to, as they are expressions of our faith which allow God to work on our behalf to bring the needed answers in our lives. When Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, His words were, "Father, I thank you. They were uttered before the healing was evident; before Lazarus walked from the tomb. Jesus said that He spoke those words aloud on account of those who stood by. We should never be afraid to speak audible words of praise and thanksgiving to our wonderful Lord, especially before we face the challenges of life. As praise and thanksgiving surrounds life's situations, we will experience victory inside and out!

THE THANKFUL HEART

The thankful heart is a happy heart - God believing 

The thankful heart is a bountiful heart - God receiving 

The thankful heart is a generous heart - It knows the joy of giving 

The thankful heart is a healthy heart - It is the key to living!

Pray Without Ceasing - Pastor's Pen

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 is a very short verse.

It simply says, "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING." Paul gives instruction to this in addition to other things that the church ought to be doing. What is he trying to tell us? Well, looking at a few other translations and paraphrases we come up with these descriptions

• "Always keep praying" - Living Bible.
• "Pray continually" - New International Version
• "Pray without ceasing" - Life Application Bible
• "Never give up praying" - Goodspeed Translations
• "Be unceasing in prayer" - Amplified Bible
• "Be praying unceasingly" - Greek New Testament
• "Never stop praying" - Phillips Translation

Praying without ceasing? How do we do that? We can't spend all our

time on our knees praying! That's true, but it is possible to develop a prayerful attitude. This kind of attitude is built upon acknowledging that God's presence is within us and that we can 'communicate' with Him at any time, anywhere. It doesn't have to be a 'formal' prayer, but just simple conversation with God, just like you would talk with me. The child of God should be able to acknowledge God's presence in his life even though he may not 'feel it." Our communication is not dependent upon our feeling, but upon a confidence in knowing He is with us because He said so! Having that kind of confidence will make it natural to converse with God, any time. any place. We develop our 'conversation skill' with God by practicing it!

I think it is pretty clear that God wants to hear from us. Our memory verse from last month confirms this, "CALL upon me and I will ANSWER you and I will SHOW you great and mighty things that you do not know." Can you remember my three points on this verse? There is a PROMPT -There is a PROMISE and then there is a PROVISON. Consider-

• Prayer helps us to trust God
• Prayer helps us worship God
• Prayer draws us closer to God
• Prayer warms the soul to spiritual things
• Prayer is answered by the One we are praying to.

If we are not praying, then we are not communicating with God and we are missing the above points and.... we are missing the blessings of heaven Oswald Cambers has written - "We cannot live spiritually without prayer. Prayer is the refreshing, life giving water for the soul."

Rejoice Beyond Your Circumstances

 

Tonight I'm all in with this study of Philippians… I'm  not getting super far but I did manage to get through 1:12-18 before Tiff came upstairs and RyGuy decided to use my back as a bouncy horse. The circumstances for study are rarely ideal… My mind is rarely clear of distractions but it's encouraging to hear Paul's take on circumstances and how God uses them.

Phillipians 1:12-18 (Legacy Standard Bible)

Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,so that my chains in Christ have become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord because of my chains, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me affliction in my chains. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice

Paul could have easily focused on his chains, his discomfort, or his likely upcoming death.  Instead, he saw something wonderful… his imprisonment was actually advancing the gospel! The imperial guard was hearing about Christ, and other believers were becoming bolder in sharing their faith by seeing Paul's witness. 

What's fascinating here is Paul's response to those preaching Christ. Some did it out of love, while others preached from envy and rivalry. As someone that once aspired to be a pastor, I can't help but think about how this applies to ministry even today. We compare ourselves to other peoples Ministries,  we do mental headcounts and try to quantify our efficacy by baptisms and altar call respondents. We can sometimes let our pride get in the way and warp our motives… But here's what really gets me … Paul wasn't bitter or frustrated… he didn't jump online and start calling out people…His singular focus was that Christ was being proclaimed… Whether through people with pure motives or those with selfish ambitions.. PAUL REJOICED BECAUSE THE GOSPEL WAS ADVANCING.

Tonight my bride made dinner, did laundry and a load of dishes… after a full work day and all while literally growing a human… and if He's anything like his siblings he's probably climbing around everywhere in there… and in spite of all the noise she's showing the grace and love of Christ and it reminds me that our circumstances don't determine God's ability to work. 

Sometimes what looks like a setback is actually God's setup for something greater at least it is here for Paul.

The question isn't whether our situation is comfortable or ideal. The real question is this… Can we see beyond our circumstances to rejoice in how God might be using them for His glory? Paul's chains became a pulpit.. and his prison became a mission field.

Remember, the gospel isn't limited by our circumstances, it advances through them. And in that, we can truly rejoice.

Our Exodus from Sin

Exodus 12:41 tells us "At the end of 430 years the children of Israel left the land of Egypt." While they had their freedom, 430 years had dulled their understanding of who they were. Egypt had not only controlled their labor - it had shaped their identity. The people had been born into bondage, raised in oppression, and conditioned to believe they were nothing more than slaves. For generations they had belonged to Pharoah. So, while they physically walked out of Egypt, their hearts were still in Egypt.

The Exodus of God's people, while a divine intervention, was not so much a physical deliverance, as it was the beginning of a new identity. They would not be totally free until their hearts and minds belonged to God. The wilderness journey was not just about reaching a new land it was about removing Egypt from the people and instilling in them dependance and obedience to God. The 40 years in the wilderness would do that!

We have recently learned from Romans chapter 7, that the old nature of sin still plagues us. Even the Apostle Paul battled the flesh, as do we. We are reminded in God's Word that the battle between the flesh and the new man in us, is an ongoing battle. But the Word of God also tells is us that there is a power within us that is a greater power than the world, the flesh and the devil. The concept of "the world, the flesh, and the devil" refers to three opposing forces to God's will, as found in the Bible, with verses like Ephesians 2:2-3, 1 John 2:16, and 1 Peter 5:8. The world represents systems and societies that oppose God, The flesh refers to our fallen human nature and its desires. The devil is Satan and his forces of evil. These terms represent the spiritual adversaries believers face.

When we decided to follow Jesus, it was the beginning of a journey. Our intent was to follow the Lord and serve Him, but the world, flesh and the devil often impeded our progress. The patterns of our old life don't change overnight. It is the progress of the journey under God's direction that changes us. God has not only delivered us from the life of sin, but He also began the process of restoring us to be the person He intended us to bel Yes, Egypt (the old life) still influences us, but our submission to the Holy Spirit's work will cause the old nature to slowly die, being replaced with the "new man." This new man refers to a redeemed individual who has undergone a transformation through faith in Jesus Christ, being created anew In God's image and righteousness. This transformation involves putting off the old sinful nature, and putting on the new identity found in Christ. This new nature is characterized by a renewed mind, a holy nature, and the ability to live in accordance with God's will. Our decision to follow Christ begins an exciting spiritual journey that aligns our lives with divine principles, resulting in a life blessed and used by the Holy Spirit. I remind you that His fruit is not manufactured by man's ability, but by His supernatural power working in our lives. Have a blessed week!

He is Coming Quickly

From the very earliest days of the Church, the return of Jesus was expected to happen imminently and suddenly. Jesus said, "Behold I am coming quickly", the Greek word for 'quickly" is tacheos. We get our word "tachometer" from this word. It means more than just speed, but also means "suddenly, without delay. There are over 22 verses in the New Testament that clearly speak of the immanency of Jesus' return. When his disciples asked about His return, Jesus said, "But of that dey or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Be alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. (Mark 13:32-33) "You too, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." (Luke 12:40) We are instructed repeatedly throughout the New Testament to be watchful and ready for Jesus's return, not knowing the exact time. We are to be aware of the signs of the times, remaining ready for Jesus' return, when it does happen.

Most Evangelical churches believe in the 'imminence' of Jesus' return. "Imminence" refers to the concept that the return of Jesus (the Rapture) could happen at any moment, without any specific sign or event needing to occur first. Why is the imminence of Jesus' return important? It is important because it's timing aligns with the Pretribulation Rapture, the three concepts being "Pre-tribulation Rapture" "Mid-Tribulation Rapture and "Post-Tribulation" Rapture. All views, other than "Pretribulation Rapture" require a number of prophetic occurrences to take place before the Rapture can be declared imminent.

If the return of Jesus for His Church is Imminent, then obviously it must take place before the coming Tribulation the seven years when God's wrath is poured out on an unbelieving and unrepentant (Revelation 9: 2021) If the Church were world. required to go through the seven-year tribulation, you would expect the New Testament writers to have warmed us to be prepared for trying times. But they repeatedly tell the Church to be comforted by the "coming of the Lord" (1 Thes 4:18). The word "comfort" alone strongly implies the rapture will take place before the tribulation. The early church used the word "Maranatha" frequently. Maranatha consists of three Aramaic words: "Mar" ("Lord), "ana" ("our"), and "tha" ("come"). "Our Lord Come: The Interesting thing about Maranatha is that it comes in the form of a petition. When a Christian in the early Church would make this statement, he was actually petitioning the Lord to come. Someone has observed that Revelation 22:9 is the last prayer of the Bible, (Even so come, Lord Jesus.) Someone else has pointed out that Revelation 19:20 also includes the last "promise" of the Bible "Surely, I come quickly." What the Church must remember in that not only is the coming of Jesus imminent, but it is also certain!

The Fragrance of Christ

Some years ago, a Philadelphia newspaper published an article with the following caption: "Couple Sells Candles That Pastor Smell Like Jesus." "Now there's a candle that lets you experience the scent of Jesus, and they have been selling out by the case. Light up a candle called "His Essence" and its makers say you will experience the fragrance of Jesus. The formula for the candle is spelled out in Psalm 45:8. It's a Messianic Psalm referring to the return of Jesus and that His garments will have the scent of myrrh, aloe and cassia." This is the aroma that the candle gives off.

The concept of the "fragrance of Christ" is found in 2 Corinthians.

2:14-15 conveying the idea of the spiritual influence that Jesus and His followers have in the world. The true fragrance of Christ is not emitted from a candle, but from the presence of Jesus in the life of the believer. This is what Paul is referring to in these verses. He is saying that a believer's life will give off a pleasing aroma as a result of the presence of Jesus in his/her life. While Paul uses the term 'fragrance' and 'aroma' metaphorically, it is clear that he is referring to the influence you and I have as we intermingle with spiritually dead people. Yes, a life filled with the 'beauty of Christ does affect others! I referred to a chorus of a bygone era in last Sunday's message. Here it is again in the context of 2 Corinthians 2:14-15. It is certainly a sentiment that we should include in our praying.

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me All His wonderful passion and purity Oh, thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

A sculptor was working with his hammer and chisel on a large block of marble. A young boy who was watching him saw nothing more than pieces of stone being chipped away left and right. But when the boy returned to the studio a few weeks later, he saw to his great surprise a large, powerful lion sitting in the place where the block of marble had stood. With great excitement the boy said to the sculptor, "Sir, how did you know there was a lion in that block of marble?" Like the sculptor, God is at work in our lives creating something beautiful; something that is often beyond our expectations. He is working with who we are.....but. He is transforming us into people who will be 'conformed to the image of His Son." (Romans 8:29) Do you ever wonder what He is creating in you? Ephesians 2:10 gives us a hint, "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS which God has ordained that we should walk in them." While God chips away our old nature, there is nothing more exciting than to be a part of what God is creating in us! 

Let's submit to His work! 

- Pastor Bruce

The Mendiola Family Journey

 Reflecting on the incredible journey God has brought Tiffany and I on together. When we first got married 19 years ago, we had no idea the plans He had in store for us. We knew we wanted to start a family, but struggled with infertility for several years. It wasn't easy, we both struggled with feelings of longing, emptiness, and grief.. and the Lord knows I didn't make it easy for my wife as I battled depression and self-harm. But by God's grace, Tiff and I clung to each other and to our faith in Jesus. We knew that every life, from the moment of conception, has inherent dignity and worth. So even when our chances were slim, we kept praying and believing for a miracle.

God is Good all the time

 

And God answered in ways beyond what we could ask or imagine! After 10 years of trying, we were overjoyed to adopt our precious daughter Kairi. Tiff even got to be in the room the moment she came into the world!  What a gift from above she has been to us. Then, amazingly, the Lord blessed us again 4 years later with our son Rylan. Two beautiful, healthy children - clear evidence of God's faithfulness when we felt all hope was lost. In March of 2025 We welcomed Micah James into the family.

Now, in this season, we are filled with gratitude that Tiffany is carrying our fourth little one, who we affectionately call "Gabey." The journey has not been easy and we definitely weren't expecting to be raising two toddlers well into our 40s... But we know the Author of Life is knitting this baby together in her womb and we trust fully in His perfect plan.

Through the valleys and the mountaintops, Tiffany has been my rock. Her unwavering faith, her sacrificial love for our family, and her inner strength inspire me daily. I couldn't imagine walking this road with anyone else by my side. Together, we are committed to raising our kids to know Jesus, to affirm the sanctity of every human life, and to love and serve others the way Christ loved us. 

We don't know what the future holds, but we know the One who holds the future. As Joshua 24:15 says, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." That is the anthem and the aim of our family. We are so grateful for the story He is writing in us and through us!

Surviving the Enemy's Flaming Arrows

Since the encounter with Satan in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been in the midst of a constant battle between the forces of good and evil. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us - "For our fight is not against any physical enemy; it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen powers that controls this dark world; spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil." (Phillips paraphrase)

Satan uses lies and untruth to try and convince people that God ordained truths are archaic and do not apply to our modern times. But God does not change His mandates are for all generations from creation throughout eternity Satan is a formidable adversary, and he uses cunning lies to blind the eyes and twist the minds of those he is trying to take with him to Hell. We can clearly see this in his twisting of the many social issues of our time. Abortion is not the taking of innocent life, but rather a women's health issue. Homosexuality is not a sin, but a lifestyle choice. Transgenderism is becoming your true self and correcting the 'mistake God made when He created you. There are countless examples of how Satan twists and rationalizes the Truth to cause our minds to question what God says.

We might wonder what chance we have against Satan and his evil forces. Ephesians 6:11 gives us the answer, Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (tricks of the devil." We must be careful that we do not fall into the trap of thinking that just because we are believers, we are safe from the attacks of the enemy. We, who profess Christ as our Savior, are his prime targets! Regular reading of God's Word and prayer are our main defensive weapons! These provide the protection we need to counter the enemy's onslaught.

We must not allow ourselves to fall into the trap of Satan's lies and trickery, but rather, claim the promises of Scripture. God has good plans for us and wants us to repent and follow Him. Some would say that believers are being intolerant and judgmental if they speak against sin. In truth, it is God who judges each of us and will not allow sin to be tolerated. It is true that everyone has sinned and that each of us must recognize our sinfulness, repent of it, and receive the forgiveness that comes only through the shed blood of Christ. The most loving thing we can do is point others toward the redemption purchased on the cross of Calvary!"

The above article was included in the August-September issue of the Revival Tidings, authored by Gary Stenberg. He is the Administrative Director for the Helping Hands Ministry, a position that Pastor Van Someren once held. Our own Jim Hanson is a board member of this ministry. May God continue to bless this ministry 

-Pastor Bruce.

The Importance of Hearing

 I found the following article interesting. I think you will eye, the Lord has made them (Proverbs 20:12) These remarkable organs allow us to participate in the world around Master Designer.

 Besides the intricate mechanism of the inner ear, the outer us. But they also are reminders that they are designed by the ear is remarkable in its design as well. Not only is it a receiver, it also is constructed to protect the entryway. The outer ear, known as the 'pinna' tunnels sound into your inner ear canal. The pinna can tell you where sounds arm coming from, the ridges and grooves of the ear shape sound waves differently depending on where the sound originates. As a result, the brain learns to associate certain amplification patterns with certain directions. 

So, if you lost your ears, you might be able to hear, but you would not be able to tell where the sound was coming from. Scientists have pointed out "Our ears act like satellite dishes, capturing and focusing sound waves centrally down the ear canal. Although the ears cannot move like some animals ears, Our heads will automatically turn to improve the reception."

"And then there is the ear canal. This canal has a special coating-earwax, which protects the inner ear from insects and small debris. Most people think earwax is regarded as a minor nuisance, something that has to be cleaned out with a swab. But scientists have discovered that earwax is crucial to the health of our inner ears and is essential to good hearing. Known as 'cerumen earwax is an oily substance produced by specialized glands in the ear canal which acts like a powerful yet gentle push broom, sweeping out harmful elements that enter our ear canal. Due to its oily nature, it repels water from getting further inside the ear canal and damaging it, yet it allows air and sound to enter. Ear wax mixes with inner ear hair follicles to provide a natural filter that traps dust and other harmful particles. Ear wax also lubricates the ear canal as the wax moves towards the outer ear, made possible by the movement of the jaw, allowing it to exit with all its debris."

While evolutionists insist that earwax is just another accidental and unplanned feature that evolved over a period of time, Christians are assured that God planned His creation well. 

The Scripture that comes to mind is found in Psalm 139:14, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are thy works." Even in an increasingly unbelieving world we live in, even the details of the inner ear testify to God's careful design of our bodies. Psalm 94:9-12 reminds us, "He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eyes, will He not see?" Most assuredly God sees and hears us. 

May the Holy Spirit grant us the ability to 'see' the truth of God's written Word, and may He assist us in 'hearing' what God has to say to us. Be alert this coming week; alert to 'see' God's plan unfolding in your life. Be alert to 'hear' what He is saying to you to you through His Word, and through the promptings of the Holy Spirit's voice. Have a blessed week!

The Importance of Good Soil

Jesus' ministry was short, but His preaching/teaching was powerful. We only have a few recorded words of Jesus preserved for us. Our historical knowledge of Jesus is limited, but we have been given all we need to know. The last verse in the Book of John tells us,

"Jesus did many other things as well, if every one of them were written down I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."

Nearly one third of the words of Jesus are parables. The parable is a unique teaching method because it reveals more meaning than appears on the surface. Someone has made the statement that "a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly (or spiritual) meaning." Jesus used everyday life to teach spiritual truths to His listeners. He knew that by telling stories He could hold the attention of His audience. Early in His ministry He used few parables, but as hostility grew He began using more parables to lessen the opposition to His ministry. For those whose hearts were prepared, the parables had meaning. For the sceptics, the parables were just stories.

Let's consider the parable of the sower found in Luke 8:4-15. Actually, it is the parable of the soil, as it describes the receptivity of the Word of God. The seed that is sown is the Word of God. (v11) The soil is the condition of the heart of man into which the seed is sown. Jesus said there were four different types of soil to which the seed is sown.

WAYSIDE v12 

Seed that fell on the edges of the plowed field which would never penetrate the soil and grow. This would refer to the hard-hearted Jewish leaders who would never receive the Word of God. It also describes people of today who, because of a hardened heart, reject the message of truth.

STONY GROUND v13 

This describes those who hear the Word of God but have no root and soon fall away. It describes those who make a superficial commitment to salvation; they remain interested only until there is a sacrificial price to pay and then abandon God.

THORNY GROUND v14 

This describes those who receive the seed (hear the Word) but the cares of life choke out the seed. choke out the commitment to the Word of God.

GOOD GROUND v15 

This describes fertile ground that receives the seed and produces a crop / fruit. It also describes people who hear the Word of God-understand it keep it (obedience) and, as a result, bring forth fruit. (a visible expression of power working inwardly) Fruit in the life of a believer, not only blesses that person, but also blesses the lives of others as they are able to give way the 'fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in their lives. 

Let us share some of that fruit with others...today!

The Importance of Israel

Much is happening in the Middle East! The troublesome news remind us that we are living in the 'last' of the last days, those last days. Through the prophet Zechariah (12:1-3) God declared that in the last days preceding the Second Coming of Christ, Jerusalem, and certainly all of Israel would be a stumbling stone among the nations. Another prophecy found in Zechariah 12:6-9 describes tiny Israel as being so powerful militarily that she will defeat the surrounding nations that would attack her. This we have seen numerous times since Israel became a nation in 1948.

Israel's history is undeniably the fulfillment of prophecy, exactly as foretold in the Bible. Yet to be fulfilled in the future is the prophecy declaring that Israel will be deceived into making a false peace covenant that will set her up for an attack by all the nations of the world at Armageddon under the leadership of the Antichrist. Most world leaders will accept a false peace treaty, described in Daniel 9:27, This false messiah will be so politically influential and powerful, so militarily strong that he will guarantee this peace agreement. Then, after a few years, he will break that treaty himself, and Israel's "peaceful" neighbors will turn and make war against the Jewish people. That will be Satan's last attempt to destroy the Jews-God's people. History shows that the Jewish people have come under attack from many nations of the world, but God has preserved His people even during those troublesome times. Current events are moving us along to the One World Government, a government in which the Antichrist will control all banking and commerce with his identifying number, (Revelation 13:16-18) a remarkable prophecy which modern day computer technology will provide.

There are thousands of verses in the Bible dealing with Israel. Prophecies pertaining to Israel are a major part of the Scriptures, yet nothing about the great events foretold in the Bible concerning Israel are found in the writings of any of the world religions. Nor do they contain any prophecies concerning the coming of Israel's Messiah; His birth, the place of His birth, His rejection, the very day of His ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, His crucifixion, His rise from the dead three days later. Only the Bible contains these prophecies many written hundreds of years before their fulfillment. Prophecy proves the existence of the true God and that the Bible is His Word. The fulfillment of numerous prophecies in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus cannot be explained by coincidence and proves that Jesus is, indeed, the only Savior of mankind, exactly as He claimed to be. It is difficult to explain how a person can be an atheist or agnostic with such irrefutable proof. But, as Peter points out in 2 Peter 3:5; "For they are willingly ignorant of the Word of God. Sadly, the world is spiritually blinded by unbelief. But true believers trust the Word of God-it is their supreme authority for life and godliness I willingly accept the Bible's claims and its promises... and yes, it's prophecies! 

Jesus is coming soon, are you ready?

Celebrating Our Deliverance

 Exodus 12:41 records the day when the children of Israel left Egypt after 430 years of slavery. After that many years the people felt 'comfortable' in their habitat, and life droned on year after year. Not until God sent Moses to lead them out of bondage, did they see any hope for the future. After that many years of slavery their understanding of who they were was nonexistent. Egypt didn't just control their labor - it shaped their identity. They were born into slavery, raised in opposition and conditioned to believe they were nothing more than slaves. For generations, they had belonged to Pharaoh.

So, when scripture says "on this very day" all the people of God went out from Egypt, it recorded more than a historical date it recorded a divine intervention. God was now beginning to fulfill His promise of a Promised Land. (There are at least 170 references to this Promised Land in the Bible) Genesis 14: 11-12 also records that while their bodies walked out of Egypt, their hearts were still in Egypt. God's work has always been-will always be with the heart of man. While their leaving Egypt was a physical deliverance, the people would never really be free until their hearts and minds belonged to God, just as it is for us today. The wilderness wandering was not just about reaching a new land - it was about learning to become a new people. Egypt had to be left behind - its foods-its lifestyle and yes, its gods. The people would carry the identity of Egypt 'within' themselves until they learned to trust and depend upon God and follow His ways. (Can you see the spiritual application here?)

The Exodus was not just a change in geography - it was the beginning of a change in identity. For centuries, the people of Israel had been defined by their chains. Slavery shaped how they saw themselves, how they saw others and even how they imagined God. So, when God led His people out of Egypt, He began the process of restoring who they were and what they were meant to be. (Again, note the spiritual application)

new We often celebrate the moment of our deliverance. (a memorial) And we certainly should do this, but if we are honest with ourselves, we can often see hints of "Egypt" in our lives. We wrestle with fear, shame, habits, Insecurity or doubt. The patterns of the past life don't change overnight! But our journey of faith produces new lives new thoughts attitudes; all developed by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Some call this 'progressive sanctification,' a theological term that describes the ongoing process of Christians becoming more conformed to the image of Christ; empowered to live a life pleasing to God. It's a lifelong journey. a continuous work of the Holy Spirit. We must allow Him to reshape our thoughts, our hearts and our lives, reminding ourselves continually, that we belong to Him. A life of continual surrender is certainly in order! Have a blessed week! - Pastor Bruce

Memorial Day

In 2000, only 28% of Americans understood the meaning of Memorial Day. It is important that we do not forget the sacrifices of our military service members. We must pause to honor, reflect and remember the precious lives lost while fighting in war. Here are some facts about Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is a national holiday set aside to honor military service members who died fighting in a war. It is often confused with Veterans Day, November 11, when we thank and honor all those who served in the military.

Memorial Day was initially called Decoration Day because graves were decorated with flowers and flags. In May of 1874, Mrs. Laura D. Richardson of Knoxville, Tennessee, Chairperson of a committe to obtain flowers for decorating the graves in the national cemetery of Knoxville, saw flags in a store window. She had an idea and subsequently purchased the flags and had the local lumber mill provide the wood for tiny flagpoles. This began the movement to decorate graves with flags.

The holiday had been observed on May 30, but in 1971, when it became a national holiday, Congress changed it to the last Monday of May to create a three-day weekend. This change, some argued, would contribute to Americans neglecting the true meaning and observances of the holiday.

Poppies a symbol of death in war, have been worn on Memorial Day since 1915 to remember the fallen. This movement was initiated by an American teacher named Moina Michael who read the well-known poem by a Canadian military doctor, "In Flanders Fields."

Flags At Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldier's and Airmen's Home National Cemetery every Friday before Memorial Day, American flags are placed before the gravestones and niches of service members buried there. It takes approximately three hours to place the flags in front of more than 260,000 gravestones. Soldiers remain in the cemetery throughout the weekend to ensure that a flag remains at each gravestone.

Every year on Memorial Day, the president of the United States gives a speech and places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at the Arlington National Cemetery. Batteries on military installations fire a 21-gun salute to the nation's fallen heroes.

In an effort to remind and re-education Americans about the true meaning of Memorial Day, the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day was established by Congress in 2000. Americans are asked to pause at 3 p.m. local time and remember those who have perished in battle. To this day, many Americans still do not understand the true meaning of Memorial Day, nor do they take any measures to observe Memorial Day for what it was established to be May each of us do our part to recognize the significance of the holiday and give honor to those who have helped to guarantee our freedoms

The Symphony of Life

Paderewski, the famous composer-pianist was scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in America some years ago. It was an evening to remember black tuxedos and long evening dresses a high-society extravaganza. Present in the audience that evening was a mother with her fidgety 9-year-old son. Weary of waiting for the concert to begin, the boy squirmed constantly in his seat. His mother had hopes that her son would be encouraged to practice the piano if he could just hear the immortal Paderewski play. Against his wishes, he had to come.

As the mother turned to talk with friends, her son could stay seated no longer. He slipped away from her side, strangely drawn to the ebony grand piano and its leather tufted seat on the big stage flooded with blinding lights. Without much notice from the audience, the boy sat down on the piano seat, staring wide-eyed at the black and white keys. He placed his small, fingers in the right location and began to play "chopsticks!" The roar of the crowd was hushed as hundreds of frowning faces turned to the stage. Irritated and embarrassed, they began to cry out, "Get that boy away from there!" "Somebody stop him!" "How did he get up there?"

Backstage, the master pianist overheard

the sound out front and quickly grabbed his coat and rushed out on to the stage. Without one word of announcement, he stooped over behind the boy, reached around his sides and began playing a countermelody to harmonize with and enhance the boy's playing of chopsticks. As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering to the boy, "Keep on playing....don't stop...don't quit." The audience, once irritated by the boy's action was now treated to a special improvised rendition of "chopsticks."

And so, it is with us. We go on through life, facing heartache, disappointment and experiences. We hammer away at our projects which seem about as significant as "chopsticks" in a concert hall. But, just about the time we want to give up, along comes the Master of our souls, who leans over and whispers, "Keep going... don't quit... don't stop... don't give up!" He provides a "heavenly" melody, adding the right touch to our lives. I remember a song of long ago that we used to sing in our youth group back In Chicago

Life is a symphony, since the man of Galilee Changed my discords into song, Makes life sweet the whole day long. Life is a symphony, praise the Lord of Calvary No more a stranger, He is the arranger of my symphony.

Bush Eyes

  A newly appointed missionary was walking along a jungle trail with some natives. Suddenly, one of the natives fired his gun and by doing so, killed a huge green snake lying in the path ahead. The missionary had not seen the snake and would have stepped on it. As they walked on, the native stopped the missionary and asked, “Do you see the leopard?” The missionary said that he did not see the leopard – just shadows. When the leopard was pointed out to him, he asked, “Why could I not see the snake or the leopard? I walk on the same path as you do – you see the snake; I just see the path. You point out the leopard and I just see shadows.  Why can’t I see those things?”  The native responded, “You have to develop ‘bush eyes.’ If you stay in the jungle long enough, you will develop what we call ‘bush eyes.’

 
Some people can walk through life and never see the blessings of God; are never truly grateful for what they receive from Him. But when the Holy Spirit begins to develop our ‘bush eyes’ we begin to see blessings we have never seen before.

•   We begin to develop attitudes of gratitude for things around us.
•   We begin to see the beauty and worth of persons around us.
•   We begin to see God where no one else sees Him.
•   We begin to see God when everyone else sees a newborn baby.
•   We begin to see God when everyone else sees a flower.
• ·We begin to see God in a bubbling stream of water when others just see the movement
  

            of  water.

• We begin to hear God speak to us in a song – when others just hear a melody.
• We begin to hear the voice of God even in a moment of silence – when others think that silence is a waste of time.
• We begin to see God in the vastness of the heavens – when others just see points of light.

 
Complaining seems to be a way of life for many, even Christians. One of the sins that God dislikes is that of complaining – or murmuring.  Numbers 11:1 reads, “Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord.” Our society seems to have something in common with those Israelites thousands of years ago. There seems to be very little gratitude for what God has blessed us with. I can understand where an unbeliever might be ungrateful, but the Christian ought always to be grateful to God for His unlimited blessings. Reading the Book of Psalms, we find innumerable references to being thankful. One we are most familiar with is found in Psalm 100:4, “Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING and into His court with PRAISE.” The spiritual life is not difficult. We often make it difficult. All we need to do is look a little closer at the ‘ordinary’ things in our lives, realizing that they come from God. Asking God to develop our ‘bush eyes’ will enable us to see unlimited blessings that heretofore have gone unnoticed. As has been said, ‘from a grateful heart springs untold blessing.’  May that blessing be yours!                    

Finding Balance: A Christian Father's Perspective on Stoicism

 

Finding Balance: A Christian Father's Perspective on Stoicism

It’s been a while since I posted…sorry about that, we’ve been hard at work launching the new site, but here I am back behind the keyboard making with the clickety clacks, as my whole world is in front of me watching Oliver and Company. Rylan is on his fourth viewing this weekend (my brain is constantly playing a looped mix of theme songs from the Minno Laugh and Grow Bible, Bible Man the Animated Adventures, and Billy Joel slowly eroding my sanity). That said… Oliver and Company has always been my favorite animated Disney film. 

I know the film is full of music and fun, but also there are some lessons to be grasped for my little dude. Be it Oliver’s resilience in the face of adversity or Dodger’s sense of duty and responsibility, the way the gang maintains their dignity and make the best of their situation despite the circumstances, the way Fagin still chooses to do the right thing even though Sykes absolves him of his debt… as I ponder the themes and how they might shape my young son’s character it strikes me how much Stoicism is on display in these characters and in this story.  And thus here we are… as Rita ironically belts out “Streets of Gold” I'm reflecting on this philosophical tension… as one does right?  The growing attraction to Stoicism among Christian men, particularly fathers, gives me pause… not least because I've felt its pull myself.

The Intersection of Stoic Philosophy and Christian Thought Isn't New

When Paul stood at the Areopagus… you know, the famous Mars Hill incident  (Acts 17:16-34), he engaged with Stoic philosophers, even quoting their poets in verse 28, “ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring’”.  Paul does this to build a bridge to the Gospel. Where they saw an unknown god, Paul flipped the script and proclaimed the personal, sovereign Lord.

Just last week, as I was dealing with Rylan… pulling a Rylan.. I caught myself falling into pure Stoic reasoning: "Calm down buddy, find your center.” It sounds like the right thing to say, right? It’s how I’ve been conditioned to handle my emotions… “Control your response, emotions are a choice, no one is responsible for my reactions but me, maintain composure". While these aren't bad principles, per se, I realize I operate from a position of self-reliance rather than God-dependence. And as a result, I end up exploding in rage as my reliance on self is a reliance on a weak flesh and a simple mind. Instead, I needed to model what David expressed in Psalm 62:5: "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him." 

When Kairi comes to me with her fears about school, or some middle schooler on the bus.. or at the skating rink saturday  when she was worried about the kid in the Zimmerman hat and if he was making fun of her… my instinct is often to echo Seneca: "We suffer more often in imagination than in reality." While there's truth there, I'm learning to instead point her to 1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." The difference is HUGE! One philosophy offers cold comfort, while our Father offers warm embrace.

The Allure… and the DANGER of Stoicism

Marcus Aurelius wrote, "Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." This sentiment resonates with many of us seeking stability in chaotic times. However, as I hold this against Paul's words in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," the fundamental contrast becomes clear.

The danger lies not in Stoicism's practical wisdom, but in its underlying assumption of self-sufficiency; how we respond to our circumstances. 

When Epictetus teaches, "The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control," it sounds remarkably practical. But Jesus says, in John 15:5: "Apart from Me you can do nothing." The Stoic pursuit of self-mastery fundamentally opposes the Christian understanding of complete dependence on God.

The stoics write that "We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.” The biblical perspective goes deeper; Scripture teaches "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". Our response should flow from dependence on God, not self-reliance.

The Stoic focus on self-sufficiency as "the ultimate virtue" directly contradicts biblical truth. The Bible declares, "But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength", pointing to God as the source of all strength and virtue.

Rather than seeking self-sufficiency, Scripture calls us to God-dependency. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble". This is not weakness, but rather the path to true strength through submission to and reliance on our Creator.

The Christian life isn't about mastering ourselves through force of will, but about surrendering to the One who masters us through His grace and power.

How do we Find the Biblical Balance

In those moments when Micah (coming soon!) keeps us up all night and Tiff and I are running on empty, Epictetus would tell us "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." But I'm learning I need to lean into James when he says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

Marcus Aurelius says "Accept the things to which fate binds you." But as I look at my beige brigade, I want them to know something far more powerful… Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." This isn't mere acceptance, it's triumphant hope.

A Father's Prayer

As I navigate this journey of fatherhood, I'm grateful for the wisdom of the Stoics. Their insights into human nature and self-discipline aren't worthless… in fact they’re common grace gifts from God. But I want more for my children. When Rylan faces disappointment, when Kairi encounters injustice, when baby Micah cries in the night, I want them to know more than self-reliance. I want them to know the God who "neither slumbers nor sleeps" (Psalm 121:4).