Showing posts with label leaders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leaders. Show all posts

Monday, December 1, 2025

Godly Men And Women Keep Their Promises, Simple As That. They Live The Life Consistently Keeping Their Commitments. Why Lose Creidiblity And The Respect Of Those Around You? Part C

Godly Men And Women Keep Their Word. They Won't Yield To Any Pushy Selfish Fool. 

We all need God's help to follow through and live right before the Lord. 

Don't be a serial flake. Do you under promise and over deliver or quite the opposite? 

Godly men aren’t flaky, fear-driven, or passive. They lead with courage, integrity, and devotion—both in the home and in the church. Their strength flows from Christ, not ego.

People Get So Strange When They Isolate Like Some Religious Cloistered. 

Men, Please Become Authentic Instead Of Flakey And Weird Away From God. You've Got This If You Want To -- Get Grounded In The Word. 

No matter your generation, have these values of authenticity, practicality, and cutting through all the religious "Fuff and Fufu."
  • Responsible adults do what they say and close the circle of follow-up. By God's power, you can keep your commitments like you should, believer, no matter how many others won't. Are you a real believer? Do you keep your word? With a humble heart attitude, minus the deceptions making others selfishly demanding. Be honest always and be involved in prayerfully building up the church. Make good wise promises and keep all of them. Don't make stupid promises, but if you do then repent of that and apologize. God can help you live right and make it right when you are forgiven. Godly men don't lie. They take responsibility for their decisions and actions. They protect the innocent.  If you aren't sure you can keep your commitment to be there on time, then don't say it all that you'll be there. Commit wisely and then trust the Lord to help you be a little early. Keep all your promises and don't make stupid ones. If you've messed up in a major way then just work on getting that in order rather than running from it for your whole life. Simplify and focus on the basics rather than getting all caught up in craziness and fake news information from all over the web. Don't get caught up in nonsense.
Did Jephthah sacrifice his daughter to the Lord?

No pushy preachiness, no pressuring or performative stuff. Your walk should match your talk.

  • Be a mentor, not a guru: Live exemplary with others in mind. Guide the younger crew; don't just "preach at them".
  • Own your faith, flaws and all: It's okay to say "I don't know" or "That's what I believe, others believe differently". Authenticity over having all the answers.
  • Truth and grace are a package deal: Fight sin with one hand, hold out mercy with the other. It's about balance.
  • The basics don't change: The core message (is the "gospel"), it is the same, even if the tech (overhead projector vs. Insta or TikTok) is different. 
Living a life guided Jesus as Lord by faith can involve various aspects, regardless of the generation. Here are some approaches:
  • Seeking Understanding and Purpose: Exploring the core beliefs and principles of your faith and understanding how they can provide meaning and direction in life.
  • Building Community: Connecting with others who share similar beliefs can offer support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging.
  • Integrating Faith into Daily Life: Finding ways to apply the values and teachings of your faith to everyday situations and interactions.
  • Serving Others: Engaging in acts of service and contributing to the well-being of your community, motivated by your faith.
  • Openness to Growth and Learning: Continuously seeking to deepen your understanding of your faith and how it relates to the world around you.

WHAT GODLY MEN DO

• They take responsibility for their dishonest accusations, ditching their lame excuses and word salad mumbo jumbo!
“Quit you like men, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13–14).
Bonhoeffer said, “The man who is afraid of taking responsibility is no true leader.”

• They lead with courage, not bravado to prove something to a fool.
Joshua 1:9; Psalm 27:1.
Tozer wrote, “A scared world needs a fearless church.” Fear never gets the last word -- we don't have time to reason with those unreasonable.

• They protect what’s been entrusted to them spiritually.
1 Tim. 6:20—“Guard the deposit.”
Real men defend truth, purity, marriage, and the vulnerable.

• They pursue purity in a pornographic world.
2 Tim. 2:22; Psalm 101:3.
Studies show over 60% of Christian men report battles with impurity—godly men fight it, not excuse it.

• They serve sacrificially.
Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:3–5.
Keller: “A real man uses his strength for the good of others, not himself.”

• They keep their word.
Psalm 15:4—“He swears to his own hurt and does not change.”
Integrity is consistency between what you say and what you live.

• They love deeply and tenderly.
Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19.
Lewis: “To love at all is to be vulnerable.” Strength and tenderness walk hand-in-hand.

• They repent quickly and honestly.
Psalm 51; 1 John 1:9.
Piper: “The most mature men are the quickest repenters.”

• They build others up.
1 Thess. 5:11; Proverbs 27:17.
Godly men lift, not belittle.

• They steward their emotions instead of burying them.
Jesus wept (John 11:35).
Maturity is feeling with control, not feeling without restraint.

• They work hard without complaining.
Colossians 3:23; Proverbs 12:24.
Wiersbe: “A believer’s work is an act of worship.”

• They stay rooted in Scripture.
Psalm 1; Joshua 1:8.
Research shows Bible-engaged Christians are 228% more likely to share their faith and 407% more likely to memorize Scripture.


WHAT GODLY MEN DO NOT DO

• They don’t quit when it’s hard.
Galatians 6:9. Godly men endure.

• They don’t let fear dictate decisions.
2 Tim. 1:7. Fear may whisper; it never rules them.

• They don’t play the victim.
Romans 8:37—“More than conquerors.”
Responsibility replaces self-pity.

• They don’t speak before thinking.
James 1:19. Wisdom slows the tongue and quickens the ears.

• They don’t live double lives.
Matthew 6:24; Proverbs 10:9.
Duplicity destroys; integrity endures.

• They don’t follow the crowd.
Romans 12:2. They stand alone if truth demands it.

• They don’t use strength to harm.
1 Peter 3:7. Strength protects, never intimidates.

• They don’t isolate themselves or their family.
Proverbs 18:1. Lone wolves lose battles; brothers win people if they can.

• They don’t drift spiritually.
Hebrews 2:1. Vigilance keeps them anchored.

• They don’t tolerate passivity.
Ezekiel 22:30. Real men stand in the gap.

• They don’t settle for emotional immaturity.
1 Cor. 13:11—men put away childish things.

• They don’t treat faith as optional.
Matthew 6:33. Christ is first, not some leftover priority.


THE BIBLICAL SNAPSHOT 

Godly men stand firm, lead well, love deeply, work diligently, repent quickly, protect faithfully, and live courageously. They reject fear, passivity, impurity, duplicity, and childishness. They are strong, humble, anchored, dependable, repentant, servant-hearted, and Scripture-shaped.

They don’t whine—they enjoy fellowship upwards in a close relationship with the living Word and grow.

They don’t flake—they enjoy a personal relationship with Christ and finish strong.

They don’t collapse—they prayerfully enjoy a close relationship with Jesus as Lord stand.

As Tozer said, “God is looking for men in whose hands His glory is safe.”

1. Biblical Qualifications for Church Leadership

Elders/Bishops/Christian Leaders

  • Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6–7

  • Key Traits: Blameless, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, gentle, not quarrelsome, faithful to God and family.

  • Focus: Moral and sexual purity is foundational—Paul repeatedly stresses a “one-woman man” (literally “husband of one wife” in Greek), meaning devotion and fidelity if married. Children, if present, must be raised faithfully.

  • Quote: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “The man who is afraid of taking responsibility is no true leader.”

  • Clarification: Being single is not a disqualifier. Paul himself (1 Cor. 7:32–35) highlights that unmarried men can serve the Lord fully, focusing on God’s affairs without divided attention.

Deacons

  • Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:8–13

  • Key Traits: Worthy of respect, sincere, temperate, honest, faithful to wife, manage household well, hold deep truths of the faith.

  • Role: Acts 6:2–6 shows deacons as servants—practical leaders ensuring care and ministry continue while elders shepherd the flock spiritually.

  • Quote: John Piper: “A man’s strength is measured by how faithfully he serves others, not how much he gains for himself.”


2. What Godly Men Do (Biblical Leadership in Action)

TraitScriptureInsight/Quote
Lead courageouslyJoshua 1:9; 1 Cor. 16:13“God is looking for men in whose hands His glory is safe.” – Tozer
Take responsibility1 Timothy 3:4–5Lead home and church well; accountability is non-negotiable.
Protect the vulnerable1 Peter 5:2–3Shepherd the flock gently; protect with strength and care.
Pursue purity2 Tim. 2:22; Psalm 101:3Resist sexual temptation; maintain integrity in thought and deed.
Serve sacrificiallyMark 10:45; Philippians 2:3–5Deacons serve tables; elders serve souls.
Keep promises & integrityPsalm 15:4Words and actions must align—trustworthiness is king.
Love deeplyEphesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19Leadership flows from love, not authority.
Repent honestly1 John 1:9; Psalm 51Quick to acknowledge sin, quick to return to God.
Build others up1 Thess. 5:11; Proverbs 27:17Discipleship, mentoring, and encouragement are essential.
Manage emotionsJohn 11:35; Galatians 5:22–23Strong men feel and respond with Spirit-led self-control.
Work diligentlyColossians 3:23; Proverbs 12:24Labor as worship, not complaint.
Rooted in ScripturePsalm 1; Joshua 1:8Steady, anchored, and equipped for spiritual warfare.

3. What Godly Men Don’t Do.. Like Allow Liberal Deceptions In And Act On Those. They Don't...

  • Let fear of losing control over others.. dictate choices (2 Tim. 1:7)

  • Play the victim (Romans 8:37)

  • Speak without thinking (James 1:19)

  • Lead double lives (Matthew 6:24; Proverbs 10:9)

  • Follow the crowd blindly (Romans 12:2)

  • Use strength to harm (1 Peter 3:7)

  • Isolate themselves spiritually or relationally (Proverbs 18:1)

  • Drift from God’s Word (Hebrews 2:1)

  • Settle for passivity (Ezekiel 22:30)

  • Tolerate immaturity (1 Cor. 13:11)

  • Treat faith as optional (Matthew 6:33)


4. The Heart of a Godly Man Leads Him to Keep His Word

A godly man is firm, loyal, disciplined, humble, and servant-hearted. He is “one-woman” faithful, emotionally mature, spiritually alert, and committed to God’s Word.

  • Bonhoeffer: “The man who is afraid of responsibility is no true man.”

  • Tozer: “The man who fears God fears nothing else.”

  • Lewis: “To love at all is to be vulnerable; to lead in love is to be strong.”

Godly men stand, they serve, and they shepherd—whether in marriage, singleness, family, or church. They live so that Christ’s glory is evident in all they do.

Faithful To The End: Promise-keepers And Promise-breakers In Scripture

Faithful to the End: Promise‑Keepers and Promise‑Breakers in Scripture

“He who swears to his own hurt and does not change.”Psalm 15:4

Scripture treats faithfulness not as a personality trait but as a moral weight. God esteems men and women who keep their word, and He exposes the cost of broken vows, delayed obedience, and unreliable character. What follows is a carefully organized, Scripture‑anchored survey of those who kept their commitments, those who failed to do so, and the unshakable truth that God always keeps His promises.


I. GOD: THE ULTIMATE PROMISE‑KEEPER

Core Truth

God’s faithfulness is the foundation of all covenant, trust, and hope.

Key Scriptures

  • Numbers 23:19

  • Joshua 21:45

  • 1 Kings 8:56

  • Psalm 89:34

  • Isaiah 55:10–11

  • Lamentations 3:22–23

  • 2 Corinthians 1:20

  • Hebrews 10:23

  • Titus 1:2

Summary Every human promise rests on God’s character. Scripture repeatedly affirms that not one word of all He promised ever failed.

Christian Voices

  • Charles Spurgeon: “God is too good to be unkind and too wise to be mistaken. When you cannot trace His hand, trust His heart.”

  • A.W. Tozer: “Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.”


II. MEN AND WOMEN WHO KEPT THEIR PROMISES

A. Covenant Faithfulness (Long‑Term Obedience)

Abraham — trusted God’s covenant over decades

  • Genesis 12:1–4; 15:6; 22:1–18

Sarah — believed God’s promise despite delay

  • Genesis 21:1–7; Hebrews 11:11

Noah — obeyed fully before results were visible

  • Genesis 6:22; Hebrews 11:7

Joshua — finished the task God assigned

  • Joshua 24:14–15, 31


B. Integrity Under Pressure (Promises Kept at Personal Cost)

Joseph — remained faithful despite betrayal and imprisonment

  • Genesis 39–41; 50:20

Daniel — would not compromise prayer or loyalty

  • Daniel 6:4–23

Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego — faithfulness even unto death

  • Daniel 3:16–18

Nehemiah — completed the work despite opposition

  • Nehemiah 2–6


C. Loyalty to People (Relational Commitments)

Ruth — covenant loyalty to Naomi

  • Ruth 1:16–17; 4:13–17

Jonathan — faithful friend despite personal loss

  • 1 Samuel 18:3–4; 20:13–17

David — honored covenant with Jonathan

  • 2 Samuel 9:1–7


D. Keeping One’s Word to God

Scripture distinguishes between faithful vows and foolish vows. Not every vow honors God, and not every promise should be kept.

Hannah — fulfilled a wise, God-centered vow

  • 1 Samuel 1:11, 27–28

Jephthah — made a rash, unbiblical vow

  • Judges 11:30–40

Jephthah promised God what God never asked for. His vow reflected ignorance of the Law (Deuteronomy 12:31; 18:10), not faith. Scripture records the event soberly, not approvingly. The tragedy was not obedience, but foolishness.

God never commanded the vow, never affirmed it, and never required its fulfillment.


E. Faithful Servants in the New Testament

Mary (Mother of Jesus) — surrendered to God’s will

  • Luke 1:38, 46–55

Joseph (husband of Mary) — obedient protector

  • Matthew 1:24; 2:13–15

Paul the Apostle — finished his course

  • Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 4:7–8


III. PEOPLE WHO BROKE PROMISES OR PROVED UNTRUSTWORTHY

A. Delayed or Partial Obedience

King Saul — obedience only when convenient

  • 1 Samuel 13:8–14; 15:22–23

Lot — compromised convictions

  • Genesis 13; 19


B. Flaky Character and Broken Trust

Samson — repeated vows broken by appetite

  • Judges 14–16

Esau — despised covenant responsibility

  • Genesis 25:29–34; Hebrews 12:16

Ananias and Sapphira — false commitment

  • Acts 5:1–11


C. Betrayal and Faithlessness

Judas Iscariot — betrayal masked as loyalty

  • Matthew 26:14–16; 47–50

Demas — abandoned ministry for the world

  • 2 Timothy 4:10

Israel as a Nation (Repeatedly)

  • Judges 2:10–19

  • Hosea 6:4–7


IV. BIBLICAL WARNINGS ABOUT BROKEN COMMITMENTS

God does not measure faithfulness by intensity of words but by truthfulness of heart. Scripture is blunt with those who speak rashly, vow foolishly, or promise more than obedience requires.

What God Says

  • Ecclesiastes 5:2–6 — God warns against being quick with the mouth and declares that fools multiply words before Him.

  • Proverbs 20:25 — A vow made rashly becomes a snare.

  • Matthew 5:33–37 — Jesus condemns oath-inflation and calls for simple, truthful speech.

  • James 5:12 — Anything beyond honest yes or no invites judgment.

God is not impressed by dramatic vows. He desires obedience, humility, and repentance more than performative commitment.


V. CHARACTER, CONSEQUENCES, AND MODERN PARALLELS

The Bible’s teaching on vows and faithfulness lands squarely in modern leadership, marriage, ministry, and everyday Christian living. Scripture does not condemn commitment; it condemns careless commitment.


A. Leadership: Overpromising and Underdelivering

Modern leaders often fall not from malice but from mouthiness.

Biblical Parallel

  • Saul promised obedience but delivered excuses (1 Samuel 15:13–24).

  • Jephthah promised what God never required (Judges 11).

Modern Reality

  • Leaders promise vision without counting cost (Luke 14:28).

  • Pastors vow unsustainable workloads and burn out families.

  • Executives make commitments to please stakeholders rather than honor truth.

Biblical Principle

  • Proverbs 25:14 — “Whoever boasts of gifts never given is like clouds and wind without rain.”

  • Luke 16:10 — Faithfulness is tested in small promises before large ones.

Christian Insight

  • Peter Drucker (often quoted in leadership circles): “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Scripture would add: create it with integrity.

God values leaders who say less and finish more.


B. Marriage: Covenant, Not Careless Vows

Marriage vows are sacred—but Scripture never endorses foolish, unrealistic, or manipulative promises.

Biblical Guardrails

  • Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 — Better not to vow than to vow and not fulfill.

  • Matthew 19:6 — Marriage is God-joined, not self-defined.

Modern Distortions

  • “I’ll make you happy” (only God can do that).

  • “I’ll never struggle again.”

  • “Love alone will sustain us.”

These are sentimental vows, not biblical ones.

Biblical Model

  • Ephesians 5:25 — Love is sacrificial, not performative.

  • Malachi 2:14–16 — God witnesses marriage vows and judges treachery.

Christian Insight

  • Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “It is not love that sustains the marriage, but from now on, the marriage that sustains the love.”

Faithful spouses do not promise perfection; they practice repentance, forgiveness, and perseverance.


C. Ministry Commitments and Spiritual Talk

Ministry culture can reward bold declarations more than quiet obedience.

Biblical Warning

  • Matthew 23:5 — Doing things to be seen by others.

  • James 3:1–2 — Teachers judged more strictly.

Modern Examples

  • Saying yes to every opportunity instead of obeying God’s assignment.

  • Public commitments made under emotional pressure.

  • Spiritual language used to cover lack of follow-through.

Biblical Wisdom

  • Colossians 3:17 — Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, not ego.

  • Zechariah 4:6 — God’s work is sustained by His Spirit, not human bravado.


D. Personal Integrity in Everyday Life

Faithfulness is rarely tested on a stage. It is tested in calendars, conversations, finances, parenting, and unseen decisions.

Scriptural Anchors

  • Psalm 15:1–4 — God honors those who keep their word even when it hurts.

  • Proverbs 11:3 — Integrity guides the upright.

  • Luke 12:48 — Faithfulness is measured by stewardship, not intention.

Modern Application

  • Keep fewer commitments, but keep them fully.

  • Say no without apology when wisdom requires it.

  • Repent quickly when words outrun discernment.

Timeless Observation

  • John Stott: “The Christian life is not about convenience but about faithfulness.”


VI. REPENTANCE IS BETTER THAN FOOLISH FAITHFULNESS

God’s View of Stupid Vows

God consistently prefers repentance over reckless follow-through:

  • Leviticus 5:4–6 — Provision is made for repentance from rash oaths.

  • Psalm 51:16–17 — God delights in a broken and contrite heart, not ritual sacrifice.

  • Hosea 6:6 — Mercy over sacrifice.

To keep a sinful vow is not integrity; it is stubbornness baptized as devotion.

Christian Insight

  • Matthew Henry: “It is better to repent of a rash vow than to persist in it to the dishonor of God.”

What Happened to Jephthah’s Daughter?

Judges 11 records a tragic narrative, not a model to follow. Most faithful scholars agree on one of two views:

  1. She was literally sacrificed, exposing Israel’s moral decay during the Judges era.

  2. She was dedicated to lifelong virginity and service, illustrating the severe cost of foolish leadership.

Either way, the text condemns Jephthah’s ignorance, not celebrates his resolve.

God’s Final Word on Character

  • Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).

  • Wisdom restrains speech.

  • Faithfulness begins with truth, not theatrics.

VI. A DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST: TESTING YOUR COMMITMENTS

Before making, keeping, or repenting of a commitment, Scripture invites sober self-examination.

1. Is This Commitment Biblical?

  • Does Scripture command or clearly commend it? (Micah 6:8; Matthew 22:37–40)

  • Does it align with God’s revealed will, not just my emotions? (Psalm 119:105)

  • Will it honor God and serve others, not merely enhance my image? (1 Corinthians 10:31)

If yes: pursue it with humility and perseverance.


2. Is This Commitment Foolish?

  • Was it made hastily or under emotional pressure? (Ecclesiastes 5:2–3)

  • Does it promise what God never asked for? (Judges 11)

  • Does it contradict wisdom, Scripture, or godly counsel? (Proverbs 12:15)

If yes: repent early. God provides mercy for rash vows (Leviticus 5:4–6).


3. Is This Commitment Pride-Driven?

  • Am I trying to impress people or secure approval? (Galatians 1:10)

  • Did I speak to be seen as spiritual or indispensable? (Matthew 23:5)

  • Would I still keep this commitment if no one noticed? (Colossians 3:23)

If yes: withdraw humbly, confess honestly, and realign motives.


A Final Test

  • Can I say a simple, truthful yes—and a clean, honorable no? (Matthew 5:37)

  • Does this commitment increase faithfulness or feed self-importance?

God is not glorified by reckless promises kept stubbornly. He is honored by wise obedience, honest repentance, and steady faithfulness.

FINAL SUMMARY

  • God always keeps His promises.

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Indifference Stinks During Any Season Of The Year.. Yes, At Christmas Time Too. Let's Live Fervently-Warmhearted (Prayerful), Attentively-Ardent.. Actually Authentic, And Conscientiously-Concerned For All People.

"And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel." —Matthew 2:6

Remember how the theological experts of Jesus' day, were the so-called guardians of spiritual truth in Israel.

Remember how the religious leaders wouldn’t even bother to walk a few miles to Bethlehem to go check out if the Messiah had really been born.

When King Herod heard from the wise men about a “newborn king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2 NLT), he summoned the chief priests and scribes and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem in Judea ..for this is what the prophet had written: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel’” (see verses 5–6 NLT).

They knew the answer. In fact, from the text, it almost appears like they knew it right away. So why weren’t they looking for the Messiah in Bethlehem? It wasn't far away, their city of Jerusalem over to Bethlehem. They could have gone there, but they were indifferent inside.

Some foreign dignitaries came on the scene locally from the far East, claiming to have seen a star that led them to that very area, and the One they were seeking was called a "king.”

They had inquired.

The Bible says, "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.'" Matthew 2:1-2

Did all that pique the religious leaders’ minds and curiosity? Did it cause wonder and inquiry? Nope. They didn’t have the time for that, so they didn't do anything. They simply told King Herod that Bethlehem was where the Messiah would be born.

It would appear that Herod feared Jesus’ authority. But what about these religious leaders? They already felt they knew better. They thought they knew all the answers from the Scriptures (it's certainly good to study to find out the answers), yet these folk did nothing in response. Was their studying leading them to wise applications of Scripture? Did it lead them to get right inside and have softened hearts? These men stayed cold, distracted, and indifferent. They simply stayed too busy with themselves and their Jewish hierarchy to feel concerned about Jesus and what the Father in Heaven was even doing.

After Jesus began His public ministry in the area, the spiritually dead religious Jewish leaders became His principal adversaries. Our sins (and we all have sinned) put Christ upon the Cross at Calvary. But think about how it played out. For all practical purposes on how that was carried out, these religious men were responsible for His execution. They must have felt that Jesus was a real threat to their religious structure on how they wanted things done there. How did this upstart quickly gain so much influence among the people!? These small "leaders" couldn't control Christ by fear or by anything in their world of spiritual manipulation.

What did they do with Him? They wanted to act shrewdly, practically, and politically so they sent Christ to Pilate. It was from envy they did this. They were jealous of His spiritual authority (no mere human had such authority as Christ's).

They were grumpy, grippy, too stiff, and crochety -- unflexable. God was doing a new thing in their midst according to old prophecies and they were at all not ready for this.

Most of them at least didn't even want to be. They liked things the way they were and got ticked off inside at the idea of change. Maybe not all of them were ticked, but many felt resentful about how the masses of people were excited and loved Jesus. They hung on His every word of truth taught. And the religious leaders were very jealous that He seemed to have an intimate (even blessed) relationship with God the Father that they totally lacked. What in this world is more important than having this first-hand relationship with God. NOTHING, null, nada, zero even comes close.

Q: Do you lack this intimacy with God during Christmas time? You don't have to. Do you need a second chance in this broken world when none else here feels you should have that?

Have you somehow grown cooler or lukewarm spiritually? Have you been burned by so-called Christians or leaders? Was there a time in the past when you walked closer to Jesus? Come close again! God can heal and strengthen you. Be refilled with His Spirit.

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'” Matthew 11:28-30 nlt

This Christmas season is all about a compassionate (non-indifferent kind of) God of second chances. There's only One God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

The Son of God, Jesus came here in love for us. He was born to die in your place (and in my place) to pay the penalty for our sins. You've heard this--it's true!

God isn't stiff and religious--never has been. Has dead religion made you feel bored out of your gord? It did that to me (in the so-called Roman Church) for 17 years of my life. It wasn't about a healthy relationship with God, it was more a sick-controlling situation-ship.. that kept a far away Pope happy. Just sayin'.


Ditch it, run (don't walk) to Christ in humble repentance and faith. He will forgive, cleanse, sanctify in His Word, and gently lead you to a healthy local church with real believers who will lovingly edify you with what is so..

He is all for raising you up, and raising others up too. He cares about you and your friends.

Jesus wisely addressed these leaders later on, saying to them, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me’” (Mark 7:6 nlt).

These hard-hearted men had been sort of looking for a completely different type of Messiah. They were non-responsive, arrogant, and unrepentant. They had been looking for someone who would support their intricate, overly complicated, boring religious system and their preferred way of living. They wanted a more lux lifestyle and a Messiah who showed more respect towards their way of having all that. They desired to keep controlling the "ignorant commoners" of their day. They wanted a Messiah who would help them have it their way and would cater to their every vain or stupid whim.

There are a lot of people like this today. Sadly in some so-called churches. They want Jesus, but do they want the real Jesus of the Bible? They desire Christ but on their own terms. They want the kind of Christ whom they can control, the kind of Jesus who won’t challenge them or be Lord of all.

The religious leaders knew God the Father’s Scriptures (to a degree and were not humbly teachable). Yet they did not know His heart at all, and they did nothing to meet God the Father's living Savior walking before them. Please don’t completely miss the (Bible) Christ of Christmas this year, as those religious leaders did. Religion and ritual kept them from Jesus. It's really about relationships, not religion.







What is the significance of Laodicea in the Bible? What does the Bible say about the city of Laodicea?
What did Jesus mean when He said “Let the dead bury the dead” (Luke 9:60)? Are lost people really dead spiritually? Yes. Aren’t Jesus’ words “let the dead bury the dead” kind of harsh? Nope, we each have limited time to do what we are called to do, right? 
Why do I have trials and pains as I seek to walk with Jesus? 
According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there have been more than 800,000 Christians killed in the 2010s. And that was significantly lower than the 1.6 million Christians killed in the 2000s, according to the center’s most recent report. It's been said that there have been documented cases of over 26 million Christian martyrs from AD 33 to 1900. That's a conservative number.

Photos by Daniel Seßler Unsplash
Have you been smeared firsthand (or perhaps secondhand), or dissed by the religious power-hungry? So sorry. Brush it off and go forward. Far worse happened to our Lord.

As this culture in these Western countries continues to colapse, much worse will happen to last-days Christians soon enough -- live ready. The Lord's grace will be sufficient.



"Be steadfast, unmovable always abounding, excelling in the work of the Lord for you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain." I Corinthians 15:58

“Whatever your state of mind is this Christmas, this abundant life is yours when you believe in Christ and place your faith in the God of peace—Jesus.” ~ Jack N. Graham

Please gain Christ today inside, onboard (He gets it, totally understands you. loves you and has a good plan. It happened to Him too), and He by His Spirit will give you helpful Bible knowledge, wise applications, and a heart for people as they come to Christ due to your caring influence. Don't plan on first cleaning up your life to come to God.. just come as you are willing to cooperate with His Spirit and Word.

This Fisher (Jesus) catches His fish so to speak and then He cleans them.

Here's a good Christmas report: We just saw 901 decisions made for Christ (individual professions of faith after the unique altar call)! Yes, this happened with excellence, glory to God! Worshipping Him acceptably, and boldly sharing His gospel is what this holiday is to be about!

"We never know who will walk through the doors for the Gift of Christmas (that's the name of the evangelistic production with over 1,000 volunteers in it that over 75,000 people come to experience each year..), but it’s always our prayer that they will hear the Gospel message and that by the Holy Spirit they will come to trust in the Lord. As we are celebrating with those who have made a decision, please pray for them as they begin a new life in Christ." ~Jack N. Graham

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Flawed leaders need what today? Your prayers with the correct address on em. Us flawed people also need prayer.. and to pray daily as well. To the Father in the Name of the Son. Looking to Jesus to meet all, not merely a few, of our needs.

Man, wouldn't it be cool if we still had those millions of dollars that were thrown in the trash and blown on the impeachment.. to help Americans now that so many businesses are closed up.
None of our leaders here could have foreseen it.. except One of our leaders did. Before your birth He foresaw Covid-19 coming. Christ knew -- He can help and heal.
Good idea: Let's be faithful in Jesus and earnestly pray for our flawed earthly leaders here.
"The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will." Proverbs 21:1
Hey peeps on both sides guess what.. it's kinda hard to hate human leaders that ya regularly pray for. God can still guide people.
   "Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling." Psalms 2:10-11
   "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers." Proverbs 11:14
   "He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them." Job 12:23-25
Franklin D Roosevelt quote