Word of the Week - Shalom

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:  “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.   Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.  Jeremiah 29:4-7

The Hebrew word Shalom has a far more comprehensive meaning than its English translation of peace.  Although peace is a good definition and a fruit of God’s spirit that we all desire, the Hebrew meaning of Shalom is described as the webbing together of God, humans and all creation in harmony, wholeness, fullness, abundance, justice and fulfillment.  Shalom means universal flourishing and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed (living in God purpose), a state of living that inspires joyful wonder (divine curiosity).  In other words, Shalom is the way things ought to be when we are living with a sense that “all is well”.In the Garden of Eden before the Fall, Adam and Eve lived in perfect Shalom.  Because of the fall, we live in a broken and sin filled world that is anti-Shalom due to the adversary who is out to steal, kill and destroy.  That being said, God’s intent for His sons and daughters (us) through the blood of the Cross is that as we abide in Him, we are redeemed in Christ and restored to what He intended for us from the beginning.  Yes, even in 2020 in this crazy culture we live in, we can experience Shalom.  God is clear throughout scripture in both the old and new testament that He has come to set us free and give us “life that is truly life” Shalom.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11 and ^“ The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance” John 10:10.  Shalom is abundant life.How do we live in Shalom:

• First and Foremost, we must surrender our lives fully to Christ and His Lordship –  “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths”. Proverbs 3:5-6
• Know God by abiding in Christ daily through His Word, prayer and spiritual disciplines – “I am the vine and you are the branches, if you abide in me I will abide in you and you will bare much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.  John 15:5  &  “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me” John 10:27
• Be a peacemaker and strive to live in Harmony with God and others – “Peacemakers who sow in peace will reap a harvest of righteousness” James 3:18

 If we take hold of God’s intention for us and depend upon Him for our strength, then we can experience Shalom in Christ.  More importantly, we can stay faithful to God and stand strong in our godly values without compromising, while at the same time living and working within the world and our communities, continuing to influence our culture for good and ultimately for God’s glory.  If we experience Shalom then we will be salt and light to those around us and God will use us to expand His Kingdom as we live with eternal purpose and perspective.Shalom,-Duane

Word of the Week - Graciousness

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6

Solomon taught that wise men speak graciously, but fools destroy themselves with their words (Ec 10:12). While he attached the critical adjective “odious” to women, he attached “froward” to men. A froward man is difficult, harsh, obnoxious, perverse, and unreasonable; he is the opposite of gracious. Kings delight in righteous speech (Pr 16:13), for they want counselors and ambassadors that advise and represent them well. Solomon highly praised pleasant words. Graciousness begins with a pure heart. Bitterness, envy, or strife in the heart is from the enemy of our soul, and leads to all sort of confusion and evil (James 3:14-16). A man’s speech reflects his heart (Luke 6:45), so you must keep your heart with all diligence (Pr 4:23). If your heart is cheerful, contented, forgiving, kind, and thankful, you will think gracious thoughts. We must reject all sinful thoughts of bitterness, envy, evil surmising, malice, or revenge.  A pure heart produces gracious speech. Paul said, “Let your speech be always seasoned with grace” (Col 4:6).  Graciousness is wonderful character trait. A gracious person is often described as a beautiful or charming person. Whether man or woman, graciousness makes a person delightful, pleasant, and winning. It is a rare and sweet pleasure to meet one. And this trait is most clearly shown by excellent speech. You will meet very few in life; they will have great reputations; they will warm your soul; and you will crave their company.  Lord create in me a pure heart and renew in me a steadfast spirit so I can have a full portion of your graciousness to dispense from my inmost being.This seemed to be a timely word given all that is going on in our world.  Simple but powerful.Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Faith and Politics

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” Romans 13:1

Faith and PoliticsI recognize that there is risk when we mix faith and political views and I am very hesitant to do so; therefore, I ask for your grace.  That being said, I feel convicted to go there given the chaos and confusion we are experiencing as a nation during this time.  It is clear that the Lord Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, was not politically oriented.  In fact, based on his teachings, He seemed somewhat anti-political during his time on earth as He redefined priorities of the day.  That being said, Jesus was perfect and without sin in His obedience to the Father and lived and taught a way of life that was very principled according to the Scriptures.  My simple approach to the political process is that as Christians we should align our vote/politics with the people and parties that are advocating for godly values, principals and convictions.  It is probably no secret that I would consider myself conservative in most categories as it relates to politics, moral views, fiscal policies and secular/cultural trends.  That being said, I would not say I agree with all of the policies and values of the Republican Party or any party for that matter (you can get more comparative details on both party policy platforms by going to https://www.alabamapolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-Election-Platform-Comparison-Final.pdf ), but as a conservative Christian, I definitely lean toward right of center on many of the bigger issues facing our nation and leaders.  My main objective in this “Word of the Week” is not to tell you who to vote for but to better equip you my friends and family with a framework to consider as we approach this very critical election.Regardless of political affiliation, I think it would be hard for anyone to reasonably argue with the fact that the United States of America, even though it is still relatively young at the age of 244, is one of the greatest success stories in the history of the world and remains the greatest nation of modern times.  It is envied and revered by most nations around the world as a place where  foreigners, if given the opportunity, would love to gain U.S. citizenship.  Our nation was founded as a Republic Democracy under God, which by definition means we have rights antecedent to all earthly governments; rights that cannot be repealed or retrained by human laws; rights derived from the Great Legislator of the Universe (God)”.  Nothing in our constitution suggests that government is a grantor of rights.  Instead, government was envisioned as the protector of rights as outlined in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”.  Whereby the government is chosen by the people for the people to govern to serve the best interest of the people under the system outlined by our founding fathers in the constitution.  As good as our system of government has proved to be for the last 244 years, one of the main intentions and insights of our founding fathers is that our leaders and people of our nation would maintain and share the core values that are outlined in the Declaration of Independence.  That being said, our value system is under attack and at risk.Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness are at risk:

• Life  – Regardless of your party stance, I think we would all agree that the essence of our existence as human beings is that we should value human life at all stages.  If you spend any time thinking about what it looks like when you devalue human life, you would quickly realize that this is a terrible scenario and definitely a spirit opposite of God.  It is historically evident throughout history that governments that trended towards socialistic and communistic approached to govern devalued life and people to the point where they were just numbers.  Once you start down the path of allowing our government to define what makes a life valuable and worth keeping, or not, you are on a very dangerous path.  As followers of Christ we should stand firmly for pro-life in any and all circumstances.  “The spirit of God made me, and the breadth of the Almighty gives me life”. Job 33:4
• Liberty – Government poses the gravest threat to our liberties, which has become very clear and evident during the recent pandemic.  The framers of our constitution used very clear language toward Congress in the first ten amendments of the Constitution such as: shall not abridge, deny, disparage, shall not be violated nor be denied.  In a republic all citizens, including government officials, are held accountable to the same laws.  Government power is limited and decentralized through a system of checks and balances and should not be mandated toward our civil society except where there is a breach of law and order.  Laws do not represent reason, they represent power.  Our forefathers understood that our rights were not to be seen as privileges that could be granted or rescinded by the government but the government was simply an agent to protect and uphold our rights and civil liberty.  The Lord Jesus was very clear that we should respect authority while living peaceable godly lives but that He came to bring us Liberty and Freedom.  “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”. Galatians 5:1
• Pursuit of Happiness – I liken the idea of pursuing happiness to the concept that we are not limited or constrained in our pursuits.  That we can become all that God has called us to be and live to our full potential.  I believe, and have personally experienced, that when I am living and growing to the fullness of God’s purpose for my life that I am most joyful and fulfilled. I would equate to the idea of happiness as intended by our forefathers.  In order for our citizens to grow and flourish, we need a good and healthy environment where our individual rights and freedoms are protected so we can be empowered to live and grow to the full.  Our government’s role is to help create an environment that is conducive to growth and development both individually and corporately.  There are many dimensions of what this looks like, but at the core includes freedom of religion, speech, press, commerce etc…all with limited government involvement.  Similar to the concept of liberty, the more our government tries to use its power to mandate how we should live, believe and think, the less we will be free to pursue fulfillment and our God given purpose.  “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

There is no doubt that there are different ways to look at these aforementioned tenets of our founding principles, but I believe that as followers of Christ we have a different lens and moral obligation to see things from a biblical perspective when it comes to the policy and platform that are elected officials are pursuing.  There is no doubt that we live in one of the greatest countries ever formed and we have been blessed by our Judeo Christian heritage shared by our founding fathers.  I pray that God would keep His hand of blessing on our nation and we as citizens would step forth and each do our part to perpetuate our republic and expand the Kingdom of God both in the U.S. and around the world. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14Ultimately we know that God is sovereign over all nations, so we have nothing to fear.  Some might think that man reigns but where mankind rules, God overrules and will do whatever He decrees and wills.  “He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” Daniel 2:21-22All that being said, your vote counts so if you have not already done so, please vote with a prayerful perspective.  God does not need mankind to do what He is going to do but He desires for us to co-labor with Him and gives us the dignity of participation in what He is doing.  Thank you Lord God.Have a great week!!!!!-Duane

Word of the Week - godly Wisdom

For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing your desire can compare with her.  Proverbs 8:11

I have been doing a study on godly wisdom by Ken Boa, which is excellent and I highly recommend https://kenboa.org/series/wisdom/.  As I understand and grow in godly Wisdom I see the truth of Proverb 8:11 above, because it is so very valuable to attain godly wisdom, which can be simply defined as “supernatural skill for day to day living”.  Our world/culture seems to be moving further away from pursuing godly wisdom and more towards the ways of this world.  The bible tells us that there are two kinds of Wisdom “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from Wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” James 3 14-16Attributes of godly wisdom (outline from a recent sermon from Pastor Chris Hodges):

• The wise are pure hearted – We must make it one of our highest priorities to keep our hearts pure.  When we see things within our lives that are not good and pure we should ask God to remove it from our hearts and deeply desire to “not be that way”.  Most importantly we should guard our hearts from the being contaminated by the things of this world. We know that “friendship with the world becomes enmity with God” James 4:4  We must be vigilant in choosing to guard our hearts and minds from the things of this world that are not pure and of God.  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8
• The wise are peace loving – The spirit of God is a spirit of love, unity, peace and harmony not of disunity.  There is definitely going to be conflict in this world and we will be tested by situations where we are unjustly attacked.  That being said, human anger and strife does not produce good.  This is quite apparent in the current strife of our culture.  All we see is one side pitted against the other in a spirt of anger, strife and disunity.  It only sows seeds of discourse and that is of the enemy not of God.  Our goal as followers of Christ should be to sow seeds of love, peace and unity. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. Romans 12:18
• The wise are considerate – To be considerate is to think of others and how we can love and serve them.  Part of the fruit of God’s spirit that comes from abiding in Christ is the capacity to be others focused.  We can only love others if we are secure in Christ and take time to understand the needs, wants and desires of others.  As Christians we should be others focused because that is the focus of the Lord Jesus.  “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.  For even Christ did not please himself”.  Romans 15:2-3
• The wise willing to yield and submit – We must be willing to admit that we are human and don’t know everything.  We must be willing to admit when we are wrong.  We must be willing to submit to authority.  We must seek to understand and be reasonable (reason able). “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice”.  Proverbs 12:15
• The wise minimize the mistakes of others – It is much more profitable, and life giving, to be full of grace and mercy rather than to prosecute to the full extent even with justification.  If we realize what God has done for us and the amazing grace and mercy He has shown us, we begin to grasp this concept. “While we were still sinners Christ died for us” Romans 5:8  We will be judged by the same standard in which we judge others; therefore, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgement” James 2:12-13
• The wise are real and authentic – God made each of us in His image for a special and unique purpose.  There is not another you and thus we should celebrate our uniqueness by being true to who God made us to be.  Being authentic allows us to live our lives with integrity, per the Word of the Week from last week.  If we have our true identity in Christ then there should not be anything to hide.  Our goal should be to become the best version of ourselves in and through Christ.  Like my partner Zane says, “be the best me I can be”.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared in advance for us” Ephesians 2:10

So let’s pursue godly Wisdom to be salt and light to a hurting world and reap the amazing benefits because ^“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” James 3:18Have a great week ….-Duane

Word of the Week - Integrity

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out” Proverbs 10:9

What is Integrity?  The definition is simply “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness; the state of being whole and undivided”.  I think of integrity as being true to God, myself and others with God at the center of it all.  I think we have all heard the concept of Integrity as what we do when no one is looking. ^“Not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” Ephesians 6:6  As followers of Christ, are we truly living our lives first and foremost to an audience of one, Christ Jesus?Integrity allows us to live free before God and man – One of the most powerful blessings of Christ is that He came to give us true freedom through the Cross.  By overcoming the sin of the world He gave us the gift of eternal life and the ability to access that same power to overcome our sin and curse of this world.  When we are born of the spirit of God, we are redeemed into wholeness in Christ and through this process we become what God intended us to be in Him, our unique person in Christ.  There is tremendous security and freedom that is found in realizing that we are created uniquely perfect in God’s image as His sons and daughters and His purpose for us is to live to the fullness of who He called us to be in Him.  “Be the best me I can be” and let God take care of the rest.  In my own personal walk of life, prior to my rebirth in Christ at the age of 33, it seemed I was not satisfied with who I was, and was always trying to become something or be like someone else.  This made me insecure, incomplete and mostly frustrated.  When I truly accepted Christ, almost instantaneously and miraculously my identity was made complete in Him and I started living secure, free with wholeness/integrity to Christ, myself and others.  I now know who I am in Christ.  What an amazing and powerful gift.  “For creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into freedom and glory of the children of God”. Romans 8: 20-21Integrity protects us from sin and death  – If a man walks with Integrity before God and man then he will be a man of virtue, pleasing to God.  The bottom line is that being a person of Integrity is foundational to being a person of truth and trust.  If we have a tendency to compromise then how will we know if we are trust worthy.  Of course the enemy is crafty and looks for our vulnerabilities, and as humans we all have weaknesses.  That being said if we desire to be men and women of Integrity we will seek the Lord and ask that our hearts be pure and our ways be blameless.  The power to walk in Integrity comes from God the author and perfecter of our faith that walked on this earth with full Integrity, blameless and without sin.  Walking in Integrity brings life and protection to every aspect of our lives.   “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12Christ centered Integrity brings order and begets blessing  – If we place the Lord at the center of our lives and make Him our first and preeminent priority, then every area of our lives will be Integrated in and through Christ and we will live with divine order and blessing.  The alternative, which is very common to the ways of this world, is to compartmentalize our lives so that we have all of the components of life in different silos. This is a very challenging way to live because we are always fretting over how to order our time and priorities, and we generally live in disorder.  When we put Christ at the center of our lives and invite Him into every aspect of our lives, then we can live with much more order, which produces harmony, peace and fulfillment in our lives. “Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”.  Colossians 3:23  As we place (surrender to) Christ at the center of our lives, we become more Christ-like and begin to produce spiritual fruit in all areas of our lives.  Christ at the center means that He is connected to every area of our lives and He is the source, which brings us back to a key concept I talk about often, abiding in Christ. “I am the vine, you are the branches, if you abide in me I will abide in you and you will bear much fruit.  Apart from me you can do nothing”.  John 15:3  This is the life blood of our walk of faith and living a life of Integrity.See illustration below from my friend Ken Boa www.kenboa.org of Compartmentalized Life vs. Christ Centered (Integrous) Life:As followers of Christ living with Integrity, there should be no sacred/secular dichotomy.  Our lives should be Integrated in all things.  We should be the same person at Church on Sunday, at work on Monday-Friday, on the golf course or at the hunting camp on the weekends, and especially at home with our families.  This is the evidence and blessing of Christ at work within us.  Everything connects together, so that you live in light of eternity and become all that Christ has in store for you to become in Him.Have a great week,-Duane

Word of the Week - Power of the Tongue

If anyone thinks himself to be religious and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. James 1:26

I was reminded today of the power of our tongue/words and wanted to share the essence of Pastor Chris’ sermon in my “Word of the week” especially given the heated environment we finds ourselves in around all of the issues of the day.  Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit”.  As this scripture reminds us, we have a choice in everything we say, to speak life and build people up or speak death and tear people down.The power of our words:

• My Words determine my direction – We shape our words and then our words shape us.  If we speak life with a view towards positivity and optimism then it impacts those around us, just as negativity can poison those around us.  James likens our tongue to a horse bit and a ship rudder as it sets direction for our lives and who we become.  “Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. And look at the ships.  Even though they are so large and are driven by the strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines”. James 3:3-4
• My Words can poison and destroy  – One small word can do tremendous damage just as a small spark can start a forest fire that destroys thousands of acres of forest. “See how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is itself set on fire by hell”. James 3:5-6  It is wise to limit the duration of your talk, less is more because too much talk leads to sin.  We should also be careful not to speak negativity into your surroundings to poison the thoughts of those around us.
• My words reveal my heart – Words are simply an expression of what is inside our hearts and minds, so the tongue is just the means of delivery. Only God can tame our hearts and tongue.  The tongue is considered the wellspring of our hearts.  “But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.  Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing.  These things, by brothers, should not be this way (for as Christians we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear God and profound respect for His precepts)”. James 3:9-10

 How do we control our tongue?

• Allow God to change our hearts –  Let God reign as Lord and submit to His ways so you can know and experience Him and produce fruit of His spirit. “This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord.  I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people.  No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, Know the Lord, because they will all know (experience) me, from the least to the greatest of them” Hebrews 8:10-12
• Put a filter on what I allow to enter my mind and heart –  We are products of our environment and what we consume.  “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23   If we allow ourselves to consume garbage in the form of media or hanging out with the wrong people, then our hearts will be polluted and our words will not be edifying. “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” Matthew 12:35
• Make a decision each day to speak words of life – If we know the Lord and eat of the vine of Christ daily then we will have the capacity to speak life and live life to our full potential.  We still must consciously decide to speak words of life that include:
  • Words of Affection -  like I love you, you are a special friend!!!!!!!
  • Words of Praise and Affirmation - like great job, way to go, you are a winner!!!
  • Words of Encouragement - like you have what it takes, you are really talented, I enjoy spending time with you!!!!
  • Words of Healing – like you will get better, you will overcome, you will find health again and be better than before!!!
  • Words of Faith – like reminding people of who they are in Christ, you are a child of God, you are a new person in Christ!!!

^“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”. Ephesians 4:29Have a great week speaking words of life….-Duane

Word of the Day - Truth

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

As followers of Christ, we should be pursuers of Truth in all aspects of life.  Webster defines Truth - as most often being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard.  As Christians, our faith is founded on biblical Truth, the original standard, that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light and all Truth comes from Him and through the Bible – the Living Word of God.  The truth of the matter is that we have to fully accept God at His Word to know Truth in order to receive the full benefits of our faith.  We cannot pick and choose, we must believe and receive all of Him and His Word and Truth.  As human beings this can be very hard for us because much of the Truth does not make sense or resonate with us or the way we want to live, or we simply don’t understand.   If you step back for a second and realize that God is the Creator of heaven and earth and we are simply people, His creatures that He made in His image for His purpose; it does not take long to realize that we may not understand many things of God because His ways are not our ways and His ways are higher and not fully comprehensible to us.  Nonetheless, as God, He is the author of all Truth.Our foundational world view should be grounded in the Truth of the Word of God.  But we should not stop there in our desire to seek and know the truth.  In day to day living we have the opportunity to seek the truth or allow our culture and circumstance to paint a façade of what is real and true.  There are so many different forces coming at us each day that must be deciphered to stay grounded in the Truth.  We should be vigilant in our pursuit to know the Truth of the matter as we guard our hearts and minds from the lies of the world, which are so prevalent in our culture, media and day to day living. Richard Simmons in his book “Wisdom – Life’s Great Treasure”, emphasizes that an essential component of wisdom is our ability to see things as they really are and not as they appear to be.  Wisdom enables us to distinguish between those ideas in life that are true and those that are not true.  I would add to this that godly wisdom, which is developed through our knowing God’s word, gives us the ability to see things for what they really are.  In fact the case is made in Richard’s book that knowing and living in the Truth is “Key to a Healthy Life” in regards to our mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well-being and being healthy is very much correlated to our happiness and fulfillment in life.  Scott Peck, a well-known author who wrote the book “The Road Less Travelled , says that a key to being healthy in life is “being dedicated to the Truth”.  In fact he and many experts in the field of mental disorders correlate mental illness to our ability as humans to deal with truth and reality.  Essentially, mental illness is our inability to deal with reality and the truth so we create our own anti-truth that creates havoc and disorder in our lives.  Seeking, knowing and understanding truth allows us to live in harmony with reality and leads to health and wellbeing.Contrary to our countries recent trend towards secular humanistic relativism, True Freedom is a function of absolute Truth.  If you believe that God’s Word is absolute Truth then you will know and experience the power and freedom in seeking, discovering and knowing the Truth.  God’s Word makes it clear that we live in a fallen world and have any enemy of our souls who is literally out to destroy us through perverting the Truth through lies.  The Devil is the father of lies and deception – anti-Truth.  “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires.  He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies”  John 8:44  Our enemy desires to destroy us by keeping us in the dark and away from the Truth.  God came to bring Truth and light so we can overcome our adversary and be set free to live in the fullness of Christ and do what God has called us to do.  “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”. John 3:21So let’s seek the truth, speak the truth so we can know the truth and live in freedom and health?Have a great week!!!-Duane

Word of the Week - Fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

When we make the decision to surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, we are made new in Him 2 Cor 5:17.  In our newness, the Holy Spirit is imparted and becomes alive within us, giving us the power to overcome our natural flesh so we can be vessels that produce spiritual fruit as described in Galatians 5:22-23 above.  This passage goes on to say that “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” Galatians 5:24-26.  I think we would all agree that the 9 fruits of the spirit listed above are very attractive and desirable but not easily attained.  In fact I would suggest that we cannot produce these characteristics in our own strength no matter how hard we try, I know this from personal experience.  For example, we really cannot give ourselves true peace or patience, it is something that we only experience as a blessing from God.Three thoughts on Spiritual Fruits:

• Unlike spiritual gifts or natural talents, which are not universal to all believers, all Christians have the capacity to experience the fruits of God’s spirit – These fruits are not granted selectively but the result of our abiding in the person of Christ through our connection to Him in spirit.  As our spirit man grows and develops it takes on the attributes of Christ, which encompass the 9 spiritual fruits and more.  We become Christ-like, which should be the goal of a Christ follower.  Alternatively, if we do not nourish our spirit through the vine of Christ and we allow our flesh to be fed beyond our spirit, we will experience our sinful nature, the acts of the flesh that Paul lists as things like hatred, discord, selfish ambition immorality and the list goes on.  The things are in opposition to God’s spiritual fruits.
• We cannot produce spiritual fruit in our own strength but we can create and develop the right environment and conditions for the fruit to be produced – Analogous to the natural process of a fruit tree’s ability to produce fruit, the fruit is produced when the tree is planted in good soil and receives key ingredients for growth and health like sunlight, rain and the right temperature and is not competing with other things that are trying to choke it out.  When the fruit tree is properly nourished then it flourishes and produces much fruit.  In the same way, we cannot control the fruit production in our lives but we can control our environment and what we are pursuing and feeding our flesh and spirit.  This is so important to the life of a believer, we must posture ourselves daily by connecting to the vine of Christ so we can receive the nutrients of God’s spirit allowing spiritual fruit to be produced in us and through us.  “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.  This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:23
• It is by the fruits of the Spirit that Christians are recognized as true believers both by other Christians and by unbelievers -  I think we have to really question the sincerity of our faith if we are not seeing spiritual fruit being produced in our lives.  The Lord deeply desires for His sons and daughters to produce fruit so 1) they can experience the power of God in a tangible way as we become new in Christ and become more Christlike, 2) So we can be an encouragement to other believers as we exhort one another to be all Christ has called us to be and live to our full potential, and 3) To be an attractive witness to people who are lost and don’t yet know Christ.  Desiring that the fruit of the Spirit being produced in our lives would be salt and light making those who don’t believe become curious about what it is that makes us different giving us the opportunity to share the Good News.   “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.  People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers.  A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:43-45

So how do we remain in the Spirit so God can produce fruit in our lives?  Jesus makes it very clear in the Gospel of John that Spiritual Fruit is a bi-product of being intimately connected to the vine of Christ.  He uses the analogy of a vineyard; “I am the vine and you are the branches, if you abide in me, I will abide you and you will produce much fruit, but apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5.  He makes it very clear that He is the source of spiritual fruit in our lives and the only way we can produce spiritual fruit is through our connection with Him.  He promises us that if we seek Him and remain connected to Him, we will bear much fruit.  So let’s seek the Lord with all of our heart by abiding in Him through the spiritual disciplines, which I shared in my “Word of the Week” last Sunday, see here.  Preparing the soil of our hearts by connecting daily to Jesus through the vine, will produce an abundance of fruit and allow us to become beacons of life and light in a world that is starving for this amazing Fruit of God’s Spirit.I hope you have a fruit filled week abiding in Christ.Thanks,-Duane 

Word of the Week - Spiritual Disciplines

Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline and good judgement. Proverbs 23:23

Spiritual Disciplines Spiritual disciplines are habits, practices, and experiences that are designed to develop, grow and strengthen our spirit man allowing us to grow closer in relationship with God.  There are profound parallels between training the physical body and the spiritual soul.  Using the analogy – spiritual disciplines are ways for us to grow in spirit and expand the breadth of our inner life through structured workouts of the soul and spirit.  Some spiritual disciplines are personal inward exercises that are practiced alone while others require interpersonal relationship and are practiced in community.  I would like to be clear that I am not advocating religious activity or works to win God’s approval but simply proven daily practices that build godly strength and character and nurture relationship with the living God.  As Christians we know that salvation is received by grace alone, the spiritual disciplines are not a way to earn ones way to heaven, but rather are the means by which to put oneself in position to more fully receive God’s grace.Some of the tried and true disciplines of the Christian faith include:  reading the bible, prayer, meditation, fasting, simplicity, fellowship, journaling, chastity, stewardship, obedience/submission, study, evangelism, contemplation, confession, solitude, gratitude, self-examination, silence and celebrationQuestions and principals of spiritual disciplines:

• Are spiritual disciplines for everyone – If you desire to have a deeper, richer inner life and grow closer to God, then spiritual disciplines are for you.  We all desire to have more peace and enjoy the fruits of God’s spirit (Joy, Love, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control).  I believe, and have personally experienced, that we receive the fruits of God’s spirit as a biproduct of abiding in Christ through a real and engaged relationship.  Spiritual disciplines are simply the things/activities we can do to pursue relating with God.  If we truly love the Lord then we will want to actively engage with Him daily.  “Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all of your mind”” Matthew 22:37
• What can we expect if we faithfully walk out spiritual disciplines in our lives – First and foremost, we should expect to have a more rich and deep relationship with the Lord and experience the fruit of this relationship as noted above.  Secondly, there are many benefits that come over time as a result to include:  Hearing God’s voice more often, making better decisions, experiencing inner peace, being less impacted by external circumstances, being able to stand with moral courage, being able to persevere through hardships, overcoming character flaws and the list goes on…..  This is the process of sanctification that we experience when we actually walk out our faith through spiritual disciplines.  “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22
• Shouldn’t spirituality be spontaneous – Many believe that our relationship with God should be more organic and spontaneous and not relegated to a list of to-dos.  I would agree, and suggest that if we truly desire to know God and walk in relationship with Him, we must approach Him with the right heart perspective.  Similar to the marriage analogy, if I am going on dates with my wife to simply check the box and my heart is not in the relationship then I will be going through the motions and this is not very fruitful.  This can be likened to dead religion.  That being said, we generally demonstrate what is important to us by how we prioritize.  The first part of a healthy relationship is showing up, which puts us in position to experience organic spontaneous relationship with our spouse in a marriage relationship.  Similarly, showing up and pursuing God on a frequent and consistent basis puts us in position to experience whatever He has in store for us.  We must consistently be available and seeking.  God loves it when we earnestly pursue Him. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart” Jeremiah 29:13
• We find true freedom through disciplines – The fact of the matter is that discipline is the only way to freedom.  Spirituality without discipline can become confusing and move in hapless fits and starts; it can be sporadic and dependent upon our ever changing and less than dependable feelings, moods and external circumstances.  Faith without discipline requires less effort but also typically produces less fruit.  Similar to faith without works.  For our spirit man to strengthen, it has to be trained in a consistent and deliberate way.  Just like our physical muscles need healthy exercise and resistance, our spirit man needs to be trained and strained to grow and strengthen.  This is not a spectator sport, we have to be in the game getting reps. As we gain strength in our spirit we find amazing freedom from the things that used to hold us down.  If you really want to possess power, if you really want to be free then you need structure and discipline this is the paradox of our faith. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery” Galatians 5:1

Spiritual discipline help us develop our spiritual muscles and reflexes of the soul so we are equipped for times of trial and crisis, because they are coming.  We all know the practical value of discipline in our lives and typically apply it to other areas such as work, sports and physical fitness but it seems like few people see the need to apply it to their spiritual health and wellness. You may have never thought about disciplining yourself spiritually, but the same principles that underlie other life pursuits also apply to your spirit/soul.  As Paul encourages us in 1 Corinthians 24-27 below, as if we are training like professional athletes, so I encourage you to engage in daily and consistent spiritual disciplines of faith and see how God uses these things to bless you and produce spiritual fruit in your life, fruit that will last for eternity.^“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself may not be disqualified for the prize”. 1 Corinthians 24-27 Have a great week,-Duane

Word of the Week - Stewardship

Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

Biblical StewardshipThe Webster definition of Stewardship is – the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care; the faithful and efficient management of property and resources belonging to another in order to achieve the owner’s objectives.  As Christians we understand that God created us and He is the provider and owner of all things.  Therefore, we are simply Stewards of what He has given us and we should always be seeking to know and understand God’s objectives for us and our lives so we can be great Stewards of all He has given us to include our families, possessions, giftings, relational influence etc.A few principals of godly Stewardship:

• Order matters most – God makes it very clear that He wants to be first, so make sure you make God the First Fruit of all of your increase.  Give God the first of your time, money, energy and He will bless the remainder.  “Seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and all things will be added unto you” Matthew 6:33
• Contentment vs. Materialism – As noted in last week’s Word of the week, contentment is key to being a good Steward.  If we believe and understand that God’s plan for us is the right plan, and it is, contentment allows us to have peace and this gives us the freedom to be generous in all situations as we are more focused on pleasing God than feeding our appetites.  Paul learned how to be content in all circumstances and he was an extraordinary steward of his giftings. “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” Philippians 4:11-12
• Living within our means – Contrary to what we hear and see 24/7 from our culture, the truth is that “less is more”.  As stewards of what God has given us we must learn to live within our means so we have margin (extra) to be available to God when He calls up on us.  If we live beyond our means or with little or no margin then we don’t have anything available to give.  Even though this may seem efficient it is not healthy and minimizes our ability to be good Stewards.  “Better is one handful with peace and tranquility than two hands full with toil and chasing after the wind” Ecclesiastes 4:6
• Stewardship is spiritual – The truth of the matter is that how we Steward our lives is a true reflection of our hearts toward God and our true belief in Christ.  This is a spiritual principal.  The bible is loaded with text about love of money and the challenges we all face with the battle of worldly things/possessions vs. the things of the spirit.  “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul” Mark 8:36
• There is a blessing in Stewardship – The truth of the matter is that God loves when his sons and daughters take hold of this principal and live our lives in faith as godly Stewards.  Since God is the provider of all good things He deeply desires to bless us with more resources and giftings if He knows we will use it for His purpose.  “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share in your master’s happiness!’. Matthew 25:23

What is so awesome about the Lord is that He is an amazing Father who wants to give us the desires of our hearts, but we can only find our true heart desires in Him and thus we have the paradox of our faith.  By surrendering our lives and possessions and becoming true stewards of Christ we find true life, the abundant life.  I encourage us to continue to grow in our pursuit of godly Stewardship in Christ.^“17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”  1 Timothy 6:17-19Have a great week,-Duane

Word of the Week - Contentment

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and we can taking nothing out of it….But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  1 Tim 6:6-12

Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?Labor Day is an annual celebration of workers and their achievements, originated in the late 1800s during one of America’s most challenging chapters during the height of the Industrial Revolution.  There was much achieved by our young and ambitious country at the expense of many.  During that time the average American worked 12-hour days seven days a week to eke out a basic living.  Many of these folks had no choice because they were simply trying to survive and they had the grit to do whatever it took.  Today the pendulum has seemed to have swung the other way with a culture fraught with apathy and entitlement.  God put us on this earth first and foremost to know and love Him and each other (great commandment), and secondly to be productive and purposeful.  This is godly contentment.Definition of ContentmentSo what is contentment?  The world generally defines contentment as a quality or state of being satisfied with your portion and condition in life.  This definition is mostly geared towards the physical or material state of being.  The biblical definition of contentment goes beyond the physical realm and focuses on our internal condition and perspective.  Godly contentment is much more focused on the condition of our heart and soul.  Are we at peace with God and our eternal condition?Contentment in all Circumstances Saint Paul spoke clearly about his amazing contentment in the face of many external trials and challenges in Philippians 4:11-12 “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want“.  I am convinced that if we receive the gift of internal contentment through our hope and trust in God, it will permeate into our external lives allowing us to find contentment in all things and situations, which is truly a blessing that we all desire.  That being said, our Western values and self-focused culture of materialism and social media makes it very easy for us to get sucked into the swamp of envy and discontentment, which at its core leads to discontentment.  It is clear that God has called His people to a life marked by contentment.  So how do we gain godly contentment and extricate ourselves from the pervasive appeals of our materialistic culture?  We seek godly purpose and contentment!!!Godly Contentment vs. Worldly Ambition This has always been an interesting and challenging topic for me.  On one hand, I love the ideal of the American Dream and grew up believing that personal ambition was a very good characteristic that gave me the drive to pursue and achieve my dreams.  I learned early in my life/career that too much ambition if not tempered with godliness and contentment can lead to destruction.  I almost lost everything (wife, family, health) during my mid to late 20’s because I was so ambitious and insecure.  Through the pain of this experience, called the school of hard knocks and by the grace of God, I discovered the amazing gift of godliness with contentment in my early 30’s and it has been life changing.  It is a beautiful thing when we come to the realization that God is our provider and He is truly the one that we should be striving to honor and please.  Most importantly that He has a plan and purpose for our lives that is way bigger and better than our own, and if we submit and align to His plan for our lives, we can live with godly contentment that Paul describes in Philippians 4 above.  This is an amazing sweet spot where we are living to our full potential by using our gifts and talents to the full while at the same time keeping our lives in good and healthy order.  It is like a world class runner who is running at an amazing pace but does not seem to be straining or struggling because they were built with the god given talent to run and they are just doing what God called them to do.  This does not mean that it is easy and they don’t give it full effort, it simply means they are doing what they were created to do and thus they are in their groove and can sustain extremely high performance for long periods because they are in their gifting.  If we “Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness” Matthew 6:33, then we find godly contentment and will flourish.  Divine order leads to divine blessing which produces godly contentment.Have a great Labor Day…..-Duane

Word of the Week - Goodness (90 Second video must watch)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 1 Peter 1:5-7

If we remove God, we remove His Goodness and blessing over our nation – “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end leads to death.” Proverbs 16:25  It seems that our country is on this path and headed towards a place of destruction as we try to remove God and religion from our identity as a nation.  There are many case studies throughout history that have proved this to be a perilous pursuit.  No matter your political preference, if you are a follower of God and desire to have the blessing and Goodness of God as described above, we must stand firm in keeping our “Nation under God” and vote for leaders who hold firm to our God fearing heritage.  This 90 second video produced by a Harvard Business School faculty member really drives home this reality and is something we should all watch and reflect upon https://www.youtube.com/embed/YjntXYDPw44 .What is Goodness - The spiritual fruit of Goodness enables us as sinful people to do good and to be good – good in the truest sense of the word.  Goodness, after all, is the essence of God’s nature as opposed to man’s nature, which is selfish and sinful.  Yes, contrary to today’s popular belief, we are born from sin and into sin and thus we come out of the womb sinful and selfish.  All you have to do is observe any young child and how they act when they don’t get what they want.  Yes, according to God’s Word, badness comes naturally and Goodness does not, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7  This is truth.  But God has an amazing plan to radically transform our character!!  Though our natural inclination is to defy God in sin, He has determined and purposed through his love and grace to help us overcome that nature to live a life of righteousness and Goodness, which is possible only through a personal relationship with Jesus.  As the apostle John explained, “He who does good as of way of life is of God, but he who does evil as a way of life does not know God.  “By their fruit you will recognize them.  Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”  Matthew 7:16-17.   Since we live in a fallen world we are in a daily battle against the principalities of darkness and must stay connected to the vine of Christ to overcome and remain good to bear Good fruit.God’s Goodness is a blessing to us and those around us - As followers of Christ we must seek the be transformed into the likeness of Christ so that we can possess godly Goodness and the character of Christ so that good fruit is produced in our lives simply as a byproduct of our love and relationship with Christ.  As a people and a nation we must understand that the blessing on America and her Goodness is rooted from our forefathers understanding of this truth, which led them to found our republic on a Judeo Christian foundation.  One of the most famous quotes about the blessings of America was by a French author Alexis de Tocqueville who spent years studying the success of young America and published Democracy in America in 1838.  He concluded that “America is great because America is good”.  Referring to the Goodness that comes from our Judeo Christian heritage so clearly stated on our currency “In God we Trust”.  It is our responsibility as “we the people” to do our very best to protect this amazing and godly heritage of our country, which is definitely at risk in this generation.  It is the Goodness of God that produces the Goodness of “we the people” who as a whole are the United States of America.So let’s resolve to pursue the Goodness of God through our pursuit of the Lord Jesus so that “we are not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, but especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10Oh, taste and see that the Lord is Good; blesses is the person who trusts in Him!  Psalm 34:8Have a blessed and Good week in Christ,-Duane

Word of the Week - Refresh

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

Our Need to be Refreshed – The universal law of entropy is active in our world and lives each day.  Entropy is defined as: a measure of the degree of disorder in a substance or a system;  entropy always increases as available energy diminishes in a closed system; a process of degeneration marked variously by increasing degrees of uncertainty, disorder, fragmentation, chaos, etc,; a doctrine of inevitable social decline and degeneration;  Based on what has transpired in our world and country over the past 5 months, I think we would all agree that the law of entropy is alive and well, and at work in a big way creating disorder in all aspects of life.  Entropy is not only at work in our society, it is also at work inside us and impacts our family, personal relationships and everything we do, especially during particular seasons of life.  I think we can all relate to the fact that summer can accelerate entropy as we are out of our rhythms and routines and have a tendency to gravitate to less structure and order, which has been exacerbated by COVID-19.  So how do we work to oppose this negative force that leads to apathy and be refreshed by God so we can live to the full?  I believe the best way to overcome the forces of entropy is to seek the power of God by connecting with Him through His spirit.  He is a God of Refreshing, Rebirth, Renewal, Redemption, Regeneration, Re-vision, Rejoicing….Re-everything.  He designed this world such that we would be dependent on Him and need Him to overcome the reality of this world and be Refreshed in Him.Refresh your Mind:  I think if we are honest, we would admit that our thoughts are influenced by our culture and what is going on in the world around us, and over time it impacts our perspective and distorts how we see things.  We are all susceptible to allowing our minds to think and believe things that are not true and not aligned with God’s word and plan for us.  God is very clear when He tells us “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will”.  Romans 12:2  So the antidote to stinking thinking is to reject the ways “patterns” of this world and adhere to God’s ways, which are clearly outlined in God’s Word.  God’s promise is that if we turn from the patterns of the world and follow His ways then our minds will be transformed and renewed and our thinking will become aligned with Christ.  Everything starts in our head with our thoughts allow our minds to be renewed in Christ.  When we allow God to renew our minds by pursuing His ways, He give us life, peace and hope as we gain spiritual clarity and live with more purpose and God breathed vision.  This allows us to better align with the will of God.  There is no better place to begin than renewing our minds in Christ.Refresh your Strength:  Similar to entropy, there is another force at work in this world in that all things are aging and decaying including our bodies. “Do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day”. 2 Corinthians 4:16  The forces of life take a toll on us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and if we are not careful we can grow tired and weary as life goes on, especially when we are enduring times of hardship and strain.  Life has a way of simply wearing us out.  When we get tired and weak we become vulnerable.  “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on the wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40: 28-31 God makes it very clear in this verse that He desires to renew our strength so we can soar and never run out of energy.  But God is the only source of this strength and we must pursue Him daily to tap into this amazing strength that only comes from the Lord, “The Joy of the Lord is our strength” Nehemiah 8:10Refresh your Soul: Our soul is the wellspring of life and emotions and I would say it is synonymous with our heart, which is the core of our being.  This is where we find the deepest joy and most painful sorrows.  This is where we dream dreams and find excitement about life and our deep longing for connection and purpose on earth.  We are all born with a deep sense of longing for something more, the hole of the soul, a desire to connect with something that is larger than life and eternal.  God’s Word reveals that He is the only thing that can fill this desire and make us complete through Christ.  In Psalm 23, King David articulates this beautifully “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.”  God makes it clear that He is the source that refreshes our soul and gives us all that we need to be secure in Christ if we simply allow Him to be our good Shepherd.  The key to having a full heart is to give it fully to God and allow Him to be our Shepherd.  It is at this place that we find amazing grace and are able to drink of the living water that never runs dry.  This is where our cup runs over and we are living the abundant life that is made available through the Cross. This is a place where we are so full of the living water of God’s spirit that we cannot contain it within ourselves and we are compelled to share it with others and in doing so we are filled with even more.  The reproducing life of Christ.  This is the life that is truly life and I pray that we will all live in this place.I pray that as we move into this fall season that we are refreshed in mind, body and soul so that we are filled to overflowing, allowing us to spill over and bless all those around us in the name of Jesus.Have a great week.-Duane

Word of the Week - Be Prepared

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Biblical Perspective on End Times  – No one knows the day or hour of the events highlighted in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 noted above, but scripture does give us the signs of the times “Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven” Luke 21:10-11.  Just like in the days of Noah people were going about their day to day lives as normal when the end came.  There is much confusion about end times prophesy both inside and outside the church and thus I wanted to share a few scriptures and thoughts around this very important topic especially given the signs of our times.Max Lucado, a well-respected Christian author and pastor https://maxlucado.com/about, recently recorded a short video on this topic.  I highly suggest you take 10 minutes to watch this video for insight and context https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhx9wNblwLo . The following are a few key insights about end times from the video:Believers Escape:  As noted in last week’s “Word of the Week” the good news is that as followers of Christ we are “caught up together” (raptured).  God has not destined us His sons and daughters in Christ to suffer His wrath and thus His plan is to rescue us by removing us from earth in an instant prior to the great tribulation.  “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him”.  1 Thessalonians 5:9-10.Unbelievers will suffer terribly:  The really concerning reality about the end times is that all of those who are not followers of Christ (non-Christians) will be left to endure a time of tribulation that is characterized in the bible by unprecedented pain and suffering.  The book of revelation outlines a period of 7 years after the believers are raptured where God removes His church and the covering of the Holy Spirit from the earth and allows the satan to have his way on earth.  This is a nightmarish scenario for all the lost who are left behind to bare the wrath and consequences of the sin of mankind.  “Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.  They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Revelation 6:15-17Let’s be prepared and share the Good News with the lost:  There are millions and millions of people who are lost spiritually and don’t know Jesus and thus according to scripture they are at risk.  These include those closest to us such as friends, family and neighbors along with those who we many not know so well.  Jesus came to earth for the purpose of saving all 1 Timothy 2:4 and one of the last things he did before He left earth and ascended to heaven was instruct His disciples (us) to spread the gospel to all the ends of the earth Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  As followers of Christ one of our primary missions and objectives should be to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus with others so they can be saved.  To share the love of God and also the impending wrath of God for those who are not in Christ.  Also the risk for the lost who are alive on earth during the end times to have to suffer through the free reign of satan during the time of tribulation.  This should motivate us to remain in Christ John 15:5, and stay intent on sharing our faith with others who are lost.Listen, I tell you a mystery;  We will not all sleep, but we will be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable (Christ), and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true;  “Death has been swallowed up in victory”. Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  1 Corinthians 15: 51-58If you are a follower of Christ think about someone you can share your faith with this week and encourage them God’s word to step into faithStay encouraged and ready in Christ,-Duane

Word of the Week - Be Encouraged

“At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:27-28

Biblical Worldview Truth is Encouraging – In follow up to last week’s “Word of the Week” that outlined why it is most important as believers to stand firm in God’s Word during these challenging and sometimes confusing times we are experiencing.  God’s Word is a solid bedrock that we can stand upon because it does not change based on what is going on in the world around us, it is timeless truth that will always give us a true north so we can continue to navigate life even during the storms.  I was reminded last week by my Pastor Chris Hodges that the Good News is even better news during times like these when there is so much angst in our world as it relates to disease, political division, and social and racial unrest.  The bottom line is that as followers of Christ we are promised ultimate victory in Christ and thus we should not view things through the same lens as the rest of the world.  This does not mean that we should have a nonchalant attitude toward what is going on in our world, but we should have a good and healthy perspective based on the truth in God’s Word.  The following are three biblical truths that should encourage us as believers during these times and equip us to be lights of encouragement and hope to those around us who might not know or share this perspective.Here are 3 Biblical Truths that bring Encouragement: Heaven is Real, Earth is Temporary and as followers of Christ our ultimate destination is Heaven:  We tend to invest so much of our time and energy in things of this world that we often forget that we are Sojourners simply passing through this life for 80-90 years if we are fortunate.  This life as we know it is but a vapor in the context of eternity, and thus we should continue to step back and frame life from biblical perspective in the context of eternity.  This changes the way we see and experience life in a positive way.  It will impact how we feel, live and operate day to day and allow us to step into the abundant life of Christ vs. our tendency to be focused on how to manage through our next day, week and month navigating all the challenges and brokenness we face in life on this earth.  “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18  The Good News for believers is that what we are facing on earth during these days is as bad as it gets, because our destination is spending eternity in heaven with the Lord Jesus.  By the way, Heaven is not flying around on clouds playing a harp and singing hallelujah, it is truly paradise where there is no more pain and suffering.  God is literally preparing a house in heaven for all of those who call Him Lord and savior.  As a duck hunter, I am hoping there are lots of ducks in heaven and no daily bag limits😊.As believers we do not suffer the wrath of God:  During times of peril and strife it is easy for us to get anxious about the implications for us and our families, but we should not fear because God’s promise is that as His children in Christ we do not suffer His wrath.  “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9 The wrath of God is reserved for those who have decided to go their own way and not receive the free gift of salvation offered through the Cross.  “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be know about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:18-20.  This is why we need to have a heart for the lost and continue to pray and pursue the lost so that all would come to know God through His son Jesus and experience salvation.Revival is coming:  Throughout history God moves most during times of trial, uncertainty and persecution.  Due to pain and brokenness, people tend to be more open to seeking God to find understanding, peace and security.  50 years ago there was a similar situation that we are facing today in our country.  The Vietnam war along with political, social and racial unrest during the mid to late 1960s created havoc in our nation.  During the spring of 1966 the cover of Time Magazine quoted “Is God Dead”, as our society had seemed to reach a low point based on what was transpiring. This wave of strife led to an amazing revival throughout America in the early 70’s, the Jesus Revolution.  Just a short 5 years later on June 21, 1971 the cover of Time Magazine quoted “Jesus Revolution” an awakening of faith in America.  This was an amazing time in our history where God moved and millions of people came to faith.  I can actually tie my journey of faith to my uncle Jimmy Lejeune who got radically saved during this period.  He and his family had a tremendous influence on my coming to faith.  In addition to revival, we saw enormous social change as Dr. Martin Luther King led our country through the equal rights movement in this same time period, which laid the foundation for much progress and healing in our country in regards to racial issues but there remains more work to accomplish.  So we should be encouraged as we anticipate how God will use the challenges we are facing to begin a spiritual revival in our country. “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you”.  Psalm 22:27Remember, revival begins with us in our own personal walk with Christ.  We cannot give away what we do not possess.Pressing forward in faith,-Duane 

Word of the Week - Biblical Worldview

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15

I received a letter from a few friends on Friday that addresses much of what we are experiencing as a nation during these times and it resonated with me in many ways.  What resonated mostly with me was the idea that as a man of faith I know the power of a Biblical Worldview and should be compelled to share it with others as a beacon of light and hope.  The letter, see linked here, prompted my “Word of the Week” this week.  I hope you find light and hope in what I have written and will share it with others.Biblical Worldview is Truth – So the real question from the beginning of time is “What is truth and how do we find it”.  I believe that “truth” is simply God’s truth, which is laid out in His Word, the Bible.  Since He is Creator of all things and set the world into motion at the beginning of time, we must trust that He knows what is true and good.  It is very clear throughout history that people are easily led astray when they follow their own ways.  Since we live in a fallen world and have a depraved nature, “There is a way that seems right to man but leads to death” Proverbs 14:12.  Given the times that we are experiencing as a nation, it is apparent that now more than ever we need to seek and find truth in order to have a true north to guide us through.  I believe that God the Father, the Son (Jesus our Savior) and the Holy Spirit is who we need to look to for truth, clarity and direction through God’s Word.  If we are united and standing in the truth we will find healing, unity and blessing.Here are 3 Biblical Truths that give us clarity: Gratitude:  God’s word exhorts us to “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18  Having an attitude of gratitude in all circumstances truly changes our perspective on life.  Understanding that life is a gift from God makes us really appreciate our blessings and is an antidote for our tendency to develop an attitude of entitlement as if the world or government owes us something.  One of the biggest issues we are facing in our county is a lack of appreciation and gratitude for the blessings we have as a nation.  It is amazing to me to see the attitude of many toward our country given the amazing opportunity and prosperity we have as a nation, especially compared to any other countries in the world.  The truth is that there are endless opportunities for anyone with character who wants to work and is willing to put in the time and energy to be successful.  It is not the responsibility of the government to provide for us and take care of us.  It is the role of the government to create a safe and stable environment for us to apply our talents and creativity to make a difference, create value and reap the return on our investment.  By the way the combination of our Country being founded on Judeo Christian biblical principles along with a free market capitalistic economic system has paved the way to create the most free and prosperous democracy in world history.  Something to ponder.Obedience:  Blessings come through trust and obedience to God and following His ways.  “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.  And because they love me, my Father will love them.  And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21 Just like good parents know what is best for their kids, even more so does God know what is best for us, His sons and daughters in Christ.  To get the best God has for each of us and to rise above the confusion of the day to day challenges and distractions of this world, we must walk in obedience to God and His commandments, which He created for our safety and protection so we can remain healthy and flourish in Him.  The essence of recent movements, BLM and Cancel Culture, are advocating we redefine things like marriage, the core family unit, and gender clarity.  These ideas are in defiance to how God has clearly defined them in His word and thus innately destructive and counter to what is good and healthy.  It is not hard to understand the demise of this thinking and the long term implications, many of which we are already experiencing in our country with so much identity confusion and brokenness in families creating a repeating cycle of poverty, brokenness, addictions, bondage, incarcerations etc.  Faith, trust and obedience  in God bring life and freedom.  “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding.  Acknowledge Him in all things and He will direct your paths and keep them straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6Dependence:  Though I agree there is much room for improvement, our government and political leaders cannot solve all of our problems are be our cure-all, but God can and desires to be our everything.  He has declared Himself the great “I am”, everything we need, He is. Since the beginning of time, God’s desire and intention was companionship with mankind through a personal relationship with me and you.  To be our Abba Father. God loved us so much that He gave His son Jesus as a sacrifice so we can be in relationship with Him through the cross John 3:16.  He makes it very clear that “He is the vine and we are the branches, if we abide (pursue and connect) in Him then He will abide (pursue and connect) with us and we will bear much fruit (Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & Self-Control), but apart from Him we can do nothing.” John 15:5 The chapter goes on to say “If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15:6  There are blessings that come from being dependent and staying connected to the vine of Christ and there are consequences if we are not connected.  This is a simple and profound truth that I continue to experience in my life.God’s promise to us is that even in the midst of the challenges of life (Covid-19, political uncertainty, economic uncertainty, riots and chaos etc) we can rise above it all and experience the abundant life of Christ if we follow His Word and walk in Gratitude, Obedience and Dependence with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit standing on the Word of God.  This is a biblical worldview and it is powerful if we walk in it.I truly believe that if we walk out these truths in our lives we will change the world and experience the Joy of the Lord, which is our strength especially during these challenging times.Pressing forward in faith,-Duane

Word of the Week - Put God First

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Timeless Life Truths – If you are like me, recent developments in our world/country (Covid-19, George Floyd tragedy, social unrest, political disunity etc.) are quite unsettling and bring legitimate concerns for the future of our nation.  As I have prayed and pursued conversation to seek understanding, I recognize that many of these issues are quite complex and not easily resolved.  That being said, I am reminded that God is sovereign and still in control, His word is timeless and true, and what we are facing today is not a “new thing” from God’s perspective.  This reality should encourage us towards “seeking God first” to gain wisdom and understanding of our role in being part of the solution.  We cannot fix all of these generational complex issues but we can each take a part in bringing God’s kingdom to earth by using our resources, talents and influences to make a difference and create a better world for all.  I don’t have all of the answers but I am certain that the following God principals are a good starting point for each of us as outlined in this very powerful 11 minute commencement talk given by actor Denzel Washington to a group of college grads and their families.  Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--1dFvyjt-AHere are 3 Timeless Biblical Truths from Denzel’s talk: Put God First in Everything you do:  God makes it very clear that He desires to be the “First” priority in our lives.  In fact the 1^st commandment from God is that “You shall have no other god’s before me” Exodus 20:3.  He goes on to send His only begotten son Jesus our savior to be the “First Fruit” offering to all mankind for our redemption, He went First.  If I have learned anything in my walk of faith over the last 19 years it is that there is a tremendous blessing in walking out this God principal by faith.  Making the Lord our First priority each day and in all things is key to receiving the benefits of our faith.  He promises us that if we simply make Him the First in all things then He will bless us and protect us as we navigate through the challenges of life.  I have personally experienced this in my walk with Christ and have made it one of my life pursuits to walk in this truth and encourage others to do the same.  By the way firstfruits is putting God First in everything to include our thoughts, day, marriage, relationships, money etc.  Try it and see the blessing.  “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine” Proverbs 3:9-10Dream Big and have goals: Our country was founded on Christian based principals that all things are possible for those who are willing to take risk and work hard with persistence to achieve their goals.  I believe this is more true today than it ever has been for our citizens.  The key to this as Denzel laid out in his talk is that we must apply simple core principals like hard work, discipline, consistency, perseverance, wisdom, counsel and understand that we may fail a few times before we find success.  That is actually part of life and another biblical truth to develop us and our character.  “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.  Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” James 1:2-4  The key is that we walk by faith, believe in ourselves and our dreams and understand that these things take time and sacrifice and don’t just happen because we dream them up.  There is generally a price to be paid to build something of value and delayed gratification is a good thing and the reality of life.  “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” Hebrews 6:12 .Make a difference:  If you walk by faith “Put God first in everything” and “Dream big with goals” you will have success over time and be blessed.  God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others and use what He has given us to make a difference in this world for His kingdom, which is the opportunity and true joy of life.  First and foremost we must understand where our blessing come from and have a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving toward the Lord.  “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;  give thanks to Him and praise His name”. Psalm 100:4  The heart of God is to reach the lost and help lift others up towards Christ, so let us make this our priority and use everything the Lord has given us to include our time, talent, treasure and influence to share the good news and sow the seed of the Gospel.  “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19I truly believe that if we walk out these truths in our lives we will change the world and experience the Joy of the Lord, which is our strength especially during these challenging times.Pressing forward in faith,-Duane

Word the Week - Life Lessons (Continued - Part 4 final)

“We will not hide them from our descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done”  Psalm 78:4

Life Lessons with Scriptural Context Continued – The following are the final 10 life lessons that Regina shared along with bible verses that I found that reinforce the principals/life lessons that Regina discovered over her 90 years on earth.  I think there is much truth and wisdom to be gleaned from Regina.  Just FYI, the “Word of the Week” email from last 3 weeks with context is enclosed below with the first 30 life lessons and relevant scriptures.

31. However good or bad the situation, it will change.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot…”.  We must embrace change and see it as a reality of life.  If we understand seasons and life cycles then they become our ally.
32. Don’t take yourself too seriously, no one else does.  Matthew 18:2 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven”. We must have a childlike spirit toward God and this is not possible if we take ourselves too seriously, not to mention, life is difficult enough without taking ourselves too seriously.
33. Believe in miracles.  Matthew 19:26 “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” God is the same today as He was in the beginning.  Since He is the creator of heaven and earth there is nothing that impossible with God.  Hope is a blessing and having faith in God to perform miracles is a wonderful gift.  Believe and receive!!! 
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.  Romans 5:8 “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” We are God’s children saved by grace not from our works and what we do.  We simply have to believe and receive the gift of salvation and walk by faith.  This is the good news of Christ Jesus!!!!!
35.  Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.  1 Timothy 6: 6-11 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it”.  Living life in the present with contentment is the life that is truly life.
36. Growing old beasts the alternative of dying young. 2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” If we understand and accept that the purpose of life is to be prepared for eternity with Christ, we can see each day as a gift toward being sanctified (prepared) for our ultimate journey home.  “So to live is Christ and to die is gain”. Philippians 1:21
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.  1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love”.  God is love and thus the most important thing for us to receive and give is love.  “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trust, always hopes and always perseveres” 1 Corinthians 14:4-7
38. Envy is a waste of time.  Accept what you already have not what you need.  Proverbs 14:30 “A heart of peace and contentment gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones”. Accepting our lot in life and finding contentment is truly a blessing that bring peace and joy.  It is our choice to focus on our blessings looking toward Christ or focus on what we don’t have and those around us, which bring strife and discontentment.
39. Life is not tied with a bow but it is still a gift.  Psalms 139: 13-14  “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”. God created every human being unique and in His image; therefore, every life is precious and valuable in the eyes of God.  This is why we should value our lives and the lives of all, and make the most of the gift of life that we have been given.
40. The best is yet to come!!!!!  Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than you can ever ask ore imagine by His power at work in you”.  As long as we are living and breathing there is an opportunity for God to do even more of His great work within us and through us.  Se be encouraged, God has a great plan for you and the best is yet to come, even when you are 90 years old like Regina when she wrote this.

Have a blessed week,-Duane

Word the Week - Life Lessons (Continued - Part 3)

“We will not hide them from our descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done”  Psalm 78:4

Life Lessons with Scriptural Context Continued – The following are the third ten life lessons that Regina shared along with bible verses that I found that reinforce the principals/life lessons that Regina discovered over her 90 years on earth.  I think there is much truth and wisdom to be gleaned from Regina.  Just FYI, the “Word of the Week” email from last 2 weeks with context is enclosed below with the first 20 life lessons and relevant scriptures.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.  Don’t save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.  Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”. and, I say “Let us make the most of it (this day)”.
22. Over prepare then go with the flow.  Proverbs 16:9 “A man plans his ways but the Lord directs his steps”. and I suggest that life is much better when we prepare but leave room for God to lead us and direct us by his Holy Spirit.
23. Be eccentric now, don’t wait for old age to wear purple.  Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared in advance.” And I suggest that He created us all unique and we are called to walk in our uniqueness even if it is perceived to be different and eccentric, not to mention Purple is a great color especially when combined with yellow/gold.  Geaux Tigers!!!!!!
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.  Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” If we take our thoughts captive and think upon things that are good and pure, we will live pure lives that are pleasing to God.
25.  No one is in charge of your happiness except you.  1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” An attitude of gratitude is our choice each day and the Lord makes it clear that His will is for us to choose life by being grateful, by the way this is a joyous way to live, which gives us the ability to “rejoice”.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’ Philippians 3:13-14 “But one thing I do; Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” We must learn from our past experiences both good and bad, but our focus should not be on the past, which we cannot change but we should be focused on the future.  If we learn from the lessons of life time is our friend not our enemy.  This is called wisdom.
27. Always choose life.  Psalms 139:13-14 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well”.  Life is truly a gift from God and thus we should always choose life and understand the sanctity and value of life, all life, especially the unborn and vulnerable.
28. Forgive.  Colossians 3:13 “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive”. God forgives us so we must forgive others, which is a gift that sets us free.  Unforgiveness is a poison to our soul and forgiveness is the anecdote that brings healing and life.
29. What other people think about you is none of your business.  Proverbs 29:25  “It is dangerous to be concerned about what others think of you, but if you trust in the Lord, you are safe”. A healthy fear of God is what keeps us from fear of man.  With divine order comes divine blessing and thus if we put the Lord at the head of our lives then we will have favor with God and man, and find protection from the enemy of our soul allowing us to live authentic and integrous lives.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.  Psalm 147:3 “He (Jesus) heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”.  I am happy Regina acknowledged that “Time heals almost everything”.  On more trivial issues of life, I agree that the passing of time heals as we forgive and forget.  Based on my experience with life, I agree that time is our friend in the area of the deep wounds of life because time puts space between acute pain and emotion, and allows us space for being ministered to.  That being said, time cannot heal the deep wounds of our soul like losing a loved one or being betrayed by a close friend.  Only Jesus can heal these wounds if we allow Him to do the work in our soul/spirit.  Thank you Jesus our Healer!!!

Have a blessed week,-Duane

Word of the week - Freedom

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 

Given the division we are experiencing as a nation, I felt compelled to share this Word of the Week message even though I sent out a “Life Lessons” word of the week earlier today.  No matter our race, religion, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation or political orientation, we should all stand united as Americans on the basic truths and principals that our forefathers founded our country upon.  Let’s stand together in unity for something opposed to looking for something to stand against!!!The price and value of Freedom:  Given the current challenges we are facing as a nation, I think it is most important to reflect on the true blessings and responsibilities of Freedom.  In a practical sense, we are truly blessed to live in a country that values Freedom and Independence for its citizens.  The United States of America was founded by men of faith on the premise that we must value and protect individual rights and hold these things sacred as outlined in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”.  It is easy to take this for granted because we are so accustomed to this reality that we really cannot relate with not having these Freedoms and individual rights.  Besides bar-b-que, fireworks and time on the water with family and friends, the purpose of the July 4^th Holiday is to set aside a day to recognize the high price that has been paid over the past 200 plus years to gain and defend this amazing gift of Freedom and to never take it lightly or for granted.  To remember the cost of Freedom and the blood and sacrifice that was poured out to attain our Freedom as a nation.Responsibility of Freedom:  As American citizens and believers (citizens of the Kingdom of God), I think it is most important that we take on the mantle and responsibility that comes with the gift of Freedom.  Ronald Reagan said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”  It is our responsibility as Americans to value, protect and steward our Freedom.  Similarly, but more importantly, Christ Jesus was crucified, died and rose again so that we could overcome death and have the ultimate Freedom that comes with salvation through Christ.  His blood gives us the power to find true Freedom from the wrath of God and the sin and strife of this world.  “It is for Freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1.  It is interesting that the Freedom of Christ is received not through a spirit of independence but by a spirit of dependence whereby we live our lives depending on God through an abiding relationship that He describes in John 15:5.  By living connected to the vine of Christ He blesses us with Freedom so that we can do His good work and produce godly fruit in our lives for His glory and purpose.  “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  Galatians 5:13Lord we thank you for our many Freedoms to include 1) Freedom of religion and individual belief, 2) Freedom to worship, 3) Freedom of prayer and 4) Freedom of speech to name just a few.  We are grateful that we live in a nation that that values Freedom and want to remember and honor all of those who have sacrificed and died to make this a reality for us by exercising our Freedoms in a healthy, respectful and honoring manner.  Lord, most of all, we thank you for the fact that while we were still sinners you died for us so that we can be Free from the wages of sin and live with you in Eternal Freedom.God Bless you and God Bless America, the land of the Free,-Duane