Rich Yet Poor, Blind Yet Seeing: The Paradox of Lukewarm Faith

Grace Is Not Your Excuse: A Hard Conversation

Are You Listening?

Elijah is one of the more colorful people mentioned in the Bible. His story is told extensively in First and Second Kings. One very impressive account of his life is the story of his confronting the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18 and following). He challenges them to a contest of sorts to see whose god is the true God. The futile attempts of the Baal prophets to call down fire upon their sacrifice are almost laughable. Elijah even engages in some good-natured chiding as he challenges them to call louder to their gods because they don't seem to be responding.

Then what follows is the extraordinary demonstration of the power of the God of the Bible, as God sends fire to not only consume the sacrifice, but also the water, the wood, and the rocks of the altar. When King Ahab's wife Queen Jezebel hears of the confrontation and the fate of the prophets of Baal at the hands of Elijah, she threatens him with death before the end of the next day.

Hold Forth the Word of Truth

As we enter the new year, we are reminded again of the encroachment of false teachings within the Church. Jesus prophesied that many will fall away." (Matt. 24:10) Likewise, Paul, speaking of the last days said, "Men will hold to a form of religious but will deny its power." Paul also said that the Anti-Christ cannot be revealed until the great apostasy" takes place. (2 Thess. 2:3) Many Christian scholars believe that the beginning of apostasy began in the 1920's when the German School of Higher Criticism teaching swept into American seminaries, stating that the bible should be treated like any other piece of literature with a critical eye. The concept of inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible were rejected. The Bible came to be viewed as man's search for God rather than God's revelation to man. As a result of human interpretation, the Bible was considered to be full of myths, legend and superstition. Before long, theologians denied the virgin birth of Jesus, His miracles, His resurrection and His second coming.

An Unexpected Gift: Living by Grace | Fred Gravening | Wyanett EFC

My Resolution for 2026....

MANNY'S DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

Unity in Essentials, Liberty in Non‑Essentials, Charity in Everything

Building strong bonds in 2026

It’s New Year’s Eve, and I’m sitting on the couch typing this one handed cuddling a sick 9 month old. Tiff went to meet with her mom to get the older two and I'm listening to a 10 year old debate between James White and Steve Gregg. They are debating two positions that terrify the heart of pastors all throughout Evangelicalism - Calvinism vs. Arminianism - Nearly as hair raising a conversation as hearing someone in the fellowship hall mention that Scofield invented the rapture or if someone brings up tounges,or politics. And if we’re not careful, these conversation turns into something far uglier than theology: suspicion, labels, and broken fellowship.

Back to the Calvinism discourse (I'll cover the specifics of good ol' Calvin Vs Arminian vs Molinist or Vs Provisionist in a later post). The truth is, many sincere believers fall on either side... being a hodgepodge of bapti-lutho-costals at Wyanett we have a contingent of both in our pews and sometimes we can feel the tension. The truth is scripture gives plenty of texts to support a good faith interpretation of both systems

But the fact is even in these two camps you have to walk a razors edge if you Push one system far enough and you risk flattening human responsibility. Push the other system far enough and you risk making salvation feel like it hinges on the creature more than the Creator. So what do we do with the tension?

The Gift Goes On

Here Is a Cute Christmas Story

A young lady was in her first year of teaching first graders. On the last day of school before Christmas recess, the kids all lined up to give her presents.

The first student gave her a small box. She shook it and heard little things rattling inside. Knowing that the child’s father owned a candy store, she said, “I know what this is—it’s a box of candy!” “Yes, teacher, it’s candy.”

The next student handed her a thin, long box. Her father owned a flower shop in town, so she said, “I know what this is—you gave me flowers!” “Yes teacher, it’s a bunch of flowers.”

The next student handed her a tall box. His father owned the local grocery store. As she began unwrapping the box, she noticed that it was leaking. She touched her finger to a droplet and tasted it. “I know what this is—it’s champagne!” “No,” said the grinning student. She tasted it again. “Is it wine?” The child replied, “No—it’s a puppy.”

Now I know I got at least a smirk out of you!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving | Pastor Bruce Talso | Wyanett EFC

Kids Singing Christmas at Wyanett! 🎄 (So Powerful!)

LOVE, which is, in reality, the heart of the Christmas message

Today, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of LOVE, which is in reality, the heart of the Christmas message. "God so LOVED the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son....." This candle is a reminder that God stepped out into the darkness of sin to bring the light of salvation to us. Long before Jesus took His first breath in Bethlehem's stable, God was preparing the world for His arrival. He chose a humble place, a humble family, wrapping His gift of LOVE in 'swaddling clothes' which were often large muslin blankets or specialized wraps, used to snugly wrap newborns to mimic the womb, thereby giving them a calming effect after birth. Into this humble, earthly beginning came the second person of the Triune God—Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace!

Love: The Heart of Christmas 🎄

This Weeks Study Guide on PEACE

Experience the peace Jesus promised in a world that feels anything but peaceful. This week at Wyanett Evangelical Free Church, Pastor Bruce Talso preached “The Gift of Peace,” a powerful Advent message on what it really means to have peace with God, the peace of God, and the coming peace on earth through Jesus Christ, our Prince of Peace.

Watch the Sermon on YouTube

If you missed Sunday—or want to watch it again with your family or small group—you can catch the full message on our YouTube channel. Hear how Christ brings peace into a world marked by fear, corruption, and anxiety, and how that peace can anchor your heart this Christmas season.

Click Here to visit YouTube and watch the full sermon.

Join “The Recap Live” on Thursday

On Thursday night, join us for The Recap Live on our YouTube channel as we sit down and talk through the sermon in greater detail. This is a relaxed, conversational deep dive where we:

• Revisit key Scriptures and big ideas from Sunday’s message
• Answer questions and wrestle with real-life application
• Encourage one another to walk in Christ’s peace in the middle of everyday stress and struggle

Invite a friend, jump into the live chat, and be part of the conversation as we process the sermon together.

Free Resources to Go Deeper

Use these tools for your personal devotions, family worship, or small group discussion:

📄 Download the Study Guide ​

📊 Download the PowerPoint from The Recap ​

This Advent, do more than just hear the word “peace.” Discover what it means to truly receive The Gift of Peace in Christ—and walk it out day by day.

3 Kinds of Peace Every Christian Must Know

they PRAYED for a KING... they got a BABY

PEACE – The Third Sunday of Advent

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. The theme is PEACE, representing both the birth of the Prince of Peace and the PEACE that His coming gives to all His followers. His coming did not bring the peace that the world was seeking for. According to His own words, His coming brought "a sword". (Matthew 10:34) This was His prophetic word, that the truth He was proclaiming would not bring universal peace, but conflict. Throughout the centuries His person and message have been controversial, just as they are today. Jesus has been and is the greatest dividing force in the world. He knew that He was going to be the source of ridicule, rejection, and rebellion. He knew that most people would never accept Him for who He was, yet He came to seek and save those who would not accept Him.

What I Saw God Do in Kenya (You Need to Hear This)

Sharing Some Thoughts on Article 1 of Our Statement of Faith

The Bible Is Not Background Noise

There’s a battle in the church that doesn’t always look like a battle. It looks like noise. TV on in the background. Kids on tablets. Grown adults scrolling. A Bible sitting on the end table, closed and quiet. And yet that Book is the one thing in the room that is actually alive and speaking and I’m convicted how often I act like it’s optional instead of essential.

Our church says, “We believe in the inspired Scriptures, the complete revelation of God for salvation and the authority for Christian faith and life.” 

That little sentence is huge. It’s us saying in a world full of voices where everyone has a hot take or a platform that there is one voice that sits above them all. God’s voice in His Word.

God has actually spoken

I remember one morning lying on the couch, Bible open, notebook out, trying to squeeze in some study time. The kids were all around me, locked in on their screens, Ryguy watching Veggie Tales and Kai Kai listening to Forrest Frank... All noise... bouncing off the walls. And it hit me like a punch. 

I was feeding my soul on Ribeye steak while handing them veggie straws and cheezits.

I was letting them fill their minds with digital junk while I sat with the very words of the living God in front of me... How dare I do that... 

When we say Scripture is “inspired,” we’re not saying it’s just “deep” or “emotional” or “beautiful literature.” 

We’re saying it’s God breathed. The same God who spoke light into darkness has spoken words onto these pages. He used Moses and David and Paul and John but behind them and through them is His voice.

Some thoughts on 1 Timothy 2:5

Christ the One Mediator: How Protestants and Catholics See It a Bit Differently

Christians of all kinds love 1 Timothy 2:5–6.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.”

We all agree on this… if anyone is saved, it is only because Jesus, the Son of God, became truly human, died on the cross, and rose again. The tension starts with this question… if Jesus is the “one mediator,” what do we do with praying for each other, asking the saints to pray, or talking about Mary’s role?

This is not just theory for me. I used to be Roman Catholic. I’ve wrestled with these things in my own heart, and I’ve had to rethink habits and devotions.

Where Protestants Are Coming From

Most Protestants read 1 Timothy 2 and see a clear chain. One God… who wants all kinds of people to be saved… so there is one mediator, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.

So:

• one God with one saving plan
• one Mediator with one complete sacrifice

For Protestants, “mediator” is a big word. It means the only bridge between a holy God and sinful people. No one else stands in that spot. No one else adds to what Jesus did on the cross.

That was a huge part of what pulled me toward a Protestant view. As I read Scripture, I kept seeing how often the New Testament points me straight to Christ… “come boldly”… “draw near”… “in Him we have access.” I started to feel real relief that I didn’t need to stack extra helpers between me and God, even ones I had honored since childhood.

So in the Protestant world I live in now, people usually:

• keep “mediator” for Christ alone
• still pray for each other and preach and encourage… we just don’t call those things mediating in the same sense

I get the Protestant concern because I’ve seen it in my own heart… if we talk too loosely about “many mediators,” people can slowly lean more on Mary, the saints, or other figures and less on Christ’s finished work, even while still saying “Jesus is first” with their mouths.

Where Catholics Are Coming From

Catholic teaching on paper really does say Jesus is the one Mediator in the deepest way. Only He is God and man. Only His death and resurrection reconcile us to the Father. No saint or angel, not even Mary, can add anything to the Cross.

But Catholics also notice something in 1 Timothy 2. Before Paul mentions the one Mediator, he tells the church to offer “supplications, prayers, intercessions” for all people. So they ask… if Christ is the one Mediator, why does Paul immediately call us to intercede?

They connect it like this:

• Christ alone saves and redeems
• but He also involves His people… letting believers pray, share the gospel, and help others grow… in that sense, we “come between” others and God as helpers pointing to Him

Catholics sometimes call this “mediation” too. They talk about subordinate or participated mediation:

• Jesus is the only Mediator of salvation
• Mary and the saints share in His work by praying for us and leading us toward Him, not away from Him

For me this used to feel very natural. I remember praying that Mary or one of the saints would help me out, trusting they were “closer” and could carry my needs to God. When I started wrestling seriously with Scripture, it wasn’t just my ideas that changed… it felt like I was stepping back from my long held family tradition. That’s part of why I still understand Catholic instincts. I know Catholics who sincerely love Jesus and honestly believe they’re just asking older brothers and sisters in the faith to pray, not trying to replace Christ.

Why the Words Matter

So a lot of the clash is over how wide we stretch the word “mediator.”

• Protestants say… keep “mediator” tight and strong… it belongs to Jesus alone because only He stands between God and sinners as Redeemer
• Catholics say… yes, Jesus is the one unique Mediator… but He can share His work with His body, so in a smaller, dependent way other believers can be called mediators when they intercede

I’ve stood on both sides of that. As a Catholic, I loved the sense of a big family… saints cheering me on. As a Protestant, I’ve tasted the simple peace of going directly and immediately to Christ as my Mediator.

Both sides are guarding something good:

• Protestants guard the sufficiency and exclusivity of Christ
• Catholics guard the richness of how Christ uses His people in each other’s lives

I’ve also seen the downsides. In some Catholic settings, devotions can make Christ feel distant while Mary or a saint feels central. In some Protestant settings, people act like it’s just “me and my Bible,” with very little sense of needing the church. Those real‑life experiences make me slow to mock or flatten either side.

Walking This Out Before God

So where does this leave me now?

First, I want to start where Scripture starts… one God, one Mediator, one ransom for all. Whatever my background, my only hope before a holy God is one Person… Jesus Christ, the God‑man, who died and rose for sinners.

Second, I want to speak honestly about my own journey without assuming the worst about others. I know many Roman Catholics who truly love Jesus and want to honor Him, even if I now see serious problems in how that love sometimes plays out. At the same time, I know I cannot go back to a pattern where the center of gravity shifts away from Christ’s direct, perfect, finished mediation.

In the end, this isn’t just a debate about words… it’s about where a guilty, struggling sinner runs. When I picture standing before God, I don’t lean on a chain of helpers or a cloud of holy figures anymore. I rest on one Mediator, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.

Trusting Him sets me free… free to come boldly to the throne of grace… free to ask others to pray for me, knowing they are not extra mediators but fellow beggars pointing to the same Savior… free to thank God for the believers He uses in my life without confusing their role with His… and free, above all, to rest my whole weight on Christ alone, who will never fail those who come to God through Him.

Joy vs. Happiness: The One Gift You’re Missing This Christmas

The Joy of our Hope

Download Study Guide

Download the study guide for Pastor Bruce's sermon from December 7 (Second Week of Advent – Joy):

Download Study Guide (PDF)

Today is the second Sunday of Advent. 

As we considered the HOPE of Jesus' coming last Sunday, today we celebrate the JOY of our HOPE! Joy is the feeling that comes from anticipating something good. Our hearts do not rejoice because of perfect circumstances, but because of the perfect presence of Jesus in our lives.

We are reminded of the Advent themes that are displayed with four candles on the Advent wreath. They are:

• The HOPE (anticipation) of His coming
• The JOY in the message of His coming
• The PEACE that comes as a result of His coming
• The LOVE that is expressed in the reason for His coming

The traditional Advent candles are three purple and one pink, and of course the white center candle that signifies Jesus, the light of the world. 

Purple speaks of the passion of Jesus in His life on earth, while pink represents our joyful response at His birth. Some churches use all one color of candles, (usually red) and just observe the four themes of each candle. Today our celebration is centered on the JOY in the message of His coming.

You have probably heard about the 'source' of JOY, Someone has observed that if we put Jesus first in our lives-Others second, and Yourself last, that that sequence will produce JOY in our lives. 

Yes, I am sure it will, but then again, let's look at the SOURCE of JOY. Real JOY is a 'fruit of the Holy Spirit; so, JOY comes from God! He produces it in our lives. Let us also look at the difference between JOY and PLEASURE. (happiness) Pleasure / happiness comes and goes with whatever is happening in our lives. JOY comes from within. It is steady and abiding regardless of our circumstances.

In John chapter 15 Jesus spoke of 'abiding in Him'. 

He spoke of this after teaching His disciples about the vine and the branches saying that being attached to Him would produce fruit in their lives. He then told them that His JOY would remain in them so that their JOY would be "full." The Greek word for" full" has the picture of something being of full measure overflowing. What was the source of Jesus' JOY? Hebrews 12:2 gives us the answer. "Jesus, who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross" John 4:34 gives us the reason for His JOY "to do the will of my Father, who sent me and to finish His work." That was His source of JOY completing His Father's will to redeem mankind. With His promise to His disciples, and us, we are assured that our JOY will be full and overflowing as we are obedient to the will of the Father. That is our calling to do the will of the Father. That produces JOY!