“Let sleeping dogs lie,” “don’t poke the bear,” “leave well alone,” or “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” are all common proverbs that, if followed, might just save your life! We poke fun with these at times, but these have become common phrases we use to warn others that they are about to go too far.  Once they cross the line, it is too late to turn back, the damage has been done and the carnage begins.  Of course, the use of the word “carnage” is an extreme, but I could not help but think of these common warnings when I heard about what scientists claim to have done with the long extinct dire wolf. Yes, the one from Game of Thrones.

Colossal Laboratories and Biosciences announced this week that they genetically engineered dire wolves from extinction.   Ben Lamm, co-founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences told reporters, "We took a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull, and made puppies."  With the help of a little edited grey wolf DNA, Romulus and Remus were born on October 1 last year, Khaleesi (their sister) on January 30.  Colossal used the gene-editing method called CRISPR to edit the grey wolf's genome to more closely resemble that of a dire wolf and all the pups came out white as snow and ready to go.  Go to do what, is the question? Back in 2019 you might remember a Chinese court sending a scientist to jail for three years for using the technology to produce the world's first gene-edited babies. This whole thing gives me Jurassic Park vibes, and not the good first part of the book herbivore kind. I’m thinking more end of the movie T-Rex chomping down on the Velociraptor as the park banner comes crashing down, and the humans run for their lives, type of vibes!

There is something to be said about advances in science.  I am a firm believer that God allows people to discover things that help advance His cause through medicines and procedures, but there are somethings that are best left in the past.  The dire wolf has been the source of mythical fear for a reason and I believe went extinct for a reason.  Does God want us messing around with these things? I don’t know, but obviously He has allowed it in this case.  I like the way The Living Bible translates Ecclesiastes 3- There is a right time for everything: A time to be born; A time to die. Sometimes it’s best to just let sleeping dogs lie.  Okay, I made up that last part, but seriously, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

The article goes on to say that back in March the scientists were inspired by the fact that they were able to edit lab mice into what they called a “woolly mouse.”  They took woolly mammoth genes and mixed with mice genes to produce a “gene edited” mouse with bushy fur. The whole experiment is in hopes to use Asian Elephant DNA to resurrect woolly mammoths. They had raised $435 million at that point, now it’s reported to be worth $10.2 billion. It looks like there is no limit, but should there be? We all know there always is a limit and when we mess with the natural order of things, we have a habit of making things much worse.

God has allowed us to do some amazing things, but we must remember that life belongs to Him and Him alone.  I pause in amazement and thankfulness, while at the same time being reminded that all good things come from Him and in His time.  As the old hymn goes: To God be the glory! Great things He has taught us, great things He has done.  I hope we have been paying attention and learned the lesson in this season of discovery!  

Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan

Forbes Magazine Australia had this to say about Davie Fogarty back in October:  Davie Fogarty is perhaps Australia’s most well-known young retail mogul, thanks to the viral success of his sleepwear brand, The Oodie. Now, with $600 million in sales, a coaching business, a Shopify course and a seat on Shark Tank Australia, he’s on his way to becoming a household name.

He might not be a household name in the US at the moment, but as a young business man, new seat on Aussie Shark Tank, and obviously intelligent, his opinion still holds weight.  That is why he caught my attention when I read one of his posts on X, that is cited in a recent article about him.    https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/breakpoint-daily-commentary/the-bible-ai-and-the-fight-to-preserve-what-makes-us-human.html#google_vignette

His X post reads as follows: “Reading books is now a waste of time. AI reasoning models can distill key insights and tell you exactly how to implement them based on everything they know about you.”  https://x.com/daviefogarty/status/1893528367607226624

“Reading is a waste of time”? All of my previous English, Literature and History teachers just went by my eyes in a flash! What a horrible thing to say to an impressionable generation looking for an excuse not to read (like I did when I was their age). Is this what Elon was warning us about in the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence? I don’t think we are at the point in time where Arnold is looking for John Connor, but I do believe that this type of thinking is why we need to be cautious of this great new tool.  Yes, I love the fact that I can put all our dirty dishes in a box in our kitchen, hit a few buttons and they come out clean.  I am so thankful for those two machines that take our dirty clothes and wash and dry them without a washboard and clothes line.  But in both examples, if the power were to go off, I still know how to get the same outcome without the use of technology.  I don’t think we can do that with allowing AI to read FOR us!

Spending more years in school than I care to admit, I am all for tools that make the job of research and study easier.  I am very thankful I no longer have to type each sermon on a manual typewriter.  I am forever thankful to the Lord and the men that came before me that I have access to scripture4all.org and digital commentaries and pastor opinions on specific Scripture passages. But if the power went out on Saturday, I still have the ability to prepare for Sunday by candle light and the printed Word of God! (I still use the print version anyway. Don’t send me any emails).  My point is this, these modern “tools” do not take the place for study, meditation and inspiration from the Holy Spirit.  Same goes for any form of taking the human element out of a subject.  AI is only as good as the human that designed it.  We bring all of our preconceived ideas and prejudices to any information we encounter. It is the human element that helps digest and apply information.  If a computer is telling us what is important, and heaven forbid, what to believe, we find ourselves at the mercy of the code.

I had a great philosophy professor at seminary.  One day a student stopped him during a lecture and says something to the point of “you have told us what all these great thinkers believe, what do you believe?” To his great credit he responded, “I will never tell you what I believe about these things in the context of this class because if I do, you will not wrestle with the material and will only respond with what you think I want to hear on your exams. The whole purpose of this class is to get you to wrestle with what is out there and make up your own mind.”

Maybe that is one of the things that is wrong with the Church today.  Humans are prone to follow the path of least resistance.  Not often, but every now and again, you will encounter someone who questions and thinks outside the box.  Church History shows that they normally imprison those folks or kill them.  But the Bible challenges us to make up our own minds about Jesus.  In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asks that question we all have to wrestle with, “But who do you say that I am?”  No AI program can answer that eternal question for you.  When you stand before the Lord, as we all will, “who do you say I am” can only be answered from the personal perspective.  If you haven’t read the Book, walked the path and established the relationship, you will not be able to say for sure yourself.
 
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you...Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:11 & 105

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

As you know, today marks the beginning of Lent as it's Ash Wednesday.  According to LifeWay Research, only 26% of Americans observe this Christian holiday.  That is about the same number that said they will be partaking back in 2016.  Beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending during Holy Week, a traditional 40-day window of fasting before Easter, Lent serves as a time of preparation for many Christian. The practice often involves the spiritual discipline of fasting and abstaining from convenience as a way to focus one’s attention on Christ and His suffering.  The practice has been around for thousands of years, but if you watch TV, use social media or listen to the radio, the tradition is making a modern push. Today you will see people with the Sign of the Cross marked in ash on their forehead. This symbol acts as a public declaration as they begin the 40-day journey.  More celebrities are joining the movement by making public statements of their faith in God as they take on the Sign of the Cross and join in other ways of expressing their faith journey.  
   
This morning I enjoyed a great interview by Fox News senior correspondent Benjamin Hall as he asked actor Mark Wahlberg about his faith and the start of the Christian season of Lent.  Wahlberg was transparent about his past, his choice of movie roles and how his personal faith guides his life path.  I have been a longtime fan of Wahlberg’s and it was refreshing to hear him talk about these things so openly.  One needs not to be a fan of his to appreciate the role he has taken in getting his thoughts on faith into the public arena.  One of the ways he has accomplished this over the past few years is by becoming the face of the Hallow prayer App.  Thanks to his efforts (and the guy who plays Jesus on The Chosen) the App has become the #1 prayer app in the world.  It was during the interview this morning that I learned something I did not previously connect with Wahlberg; since April of 2022 he’s been a paid partner of the App.  As a matter of fact, right now they are offering FREE TRIAL: “a 40-day prayer challenge alongside millions of others around the world with Mark Wahlberg, Chris Pratt, Jonathan Roumie, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sr. Miriam, and featuring special guests Gwen Stefani, Shayne Smith, and more! For 40 days, you’ll pray and meditate on John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” https://try.hallow.com/  I hate to admit, but I have never looked into the app until this morning.  I did not realize it cost something to partner in prayer.

Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking capitalism, nor Wahlberg’s efforts to get people praying, because I am for anything that gets people talking about Christianity, but I have a few observations.  During the interview this morning Wahlberg only mentioned the name “Jesus” once.  He referred to his “faith in God” many times. Also on this subject, I read an article this morning on season five of The Chosen.  This is the hit series that started as an App and has moved onto the Big Screen and streaming. Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the series, is a popular face on the Hallow App. It is reported that in the fifth season of The Chosen, Jesus and Judas have a dialogue in which the character Jesus says, "I will pray for you." Apparently, the series is at the place in Scripture where Judas is about to betray Jesus.  The scene causes viewers to have pity on Judas, as if he struggles with betraying Jesus and Jesus offers to pray for him.  The Bible does not support this at all.  In fact, this is a Gnostic traditional teaching that came many years after the Bible and is heretical. John 17:12 gives us a clear picture of Judas from the beginning.  He was never a true believer. This is one, of many reasons, I am not a fan of The Chosen.

What’s my point? Like I said, I am in favor of most things that get us talking about the Bible, but when we begin the dialogue, we have to establish ground rules of where we take the conversation from there.  Anything that does not ultimately take the conversation to the Biblical truth about Jesus is a fool’s errand to follow for any length of time. What normally happens is our “tradition” is used to excuse our sinful behavior and become our religion.  We spend more time practicing an act, than reflection on why we are performing the act.    
I am excited to enter this time of Lent, the conversation around the Hallow App, conversation that stems from The Chosen, however, I am cautious in the fact that I believe these have the ability to become a person’s religion instead of leading one to a relationship with Jesus.  It is fun and easy to watch a streaming series that is produced well.  It is exciting to hear a prayer in the voice of the person who plays Jesus or is in one of your favorite movies. It is nice to be in the crowd that makes public declarations of faith through symbolism.  However, the Scripture does more to warn us against these types of things than it is in support of them.

In Matthew 6, we are given an entire chapter that warns us against what can happen while in public displays of acts of service if we are not mindful of the Biblical reason they even exist. Jesus warns us about the temptation that comes when we give to the poor (vs. 1-4), offer prayers (vs. 5-15), fasting (vs. 16-18) earthly treasure (vs. 19-24) and worry (vs. 25-34).  None of these should draw attention to ourselves, but be something we do in private with the Lord.
 
Again, please don’t mistake what I am trying to say.  I am for anything that gets us talking about Jesus, but I am not for simply practicing tradition to make us feel better about our sin.  We are warned many times in Scripture about this.  Everything should always point to Jesus and Him alone!
       
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” - Matthew 6:16-18

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Several years ago, I remember listening to a message on leadership and keeping things simple.  The speaker told a story about a seasoned captain of a sailing ship. The first officer, who had great respect for the old captain, would watch each day as the captain would walk into the office, pull a key from a chain around his neck, unlock a desk drawer, take out a piece of paper, read it and lock the drawer back.  Afterwards, the captain would begin the leadership duties of his day.

When it came time for the captain to retire, the first officer was made captain and to his pleasant surprise, the old captain gave the key around his neck to the first officer.  Upon handing him the key the old captain said, “Young man, guard the contents of this cabinet well. Follow the words that you will find and you will not fail.”    
The young captain could not wait to learn of the great treasure he had been given.  His mind raced, what would he find? Would he find the old captain’s journal, a great work of previous historical captains, a collection of Biblical teachings?  He hurried to open the drawer and found only one page of writing.  On the page was written in large letters:  “PORT IS LEFT.” “STARBOARD IS RIGHT.”

That old preacher illustration is a great one I have to remind myself of from time to time.  Especially when I’m looking for some dynamic fix or answer to a difficult situation in ministry. As in ministry and all of Christianity, sometimes we convince ourselves that to move to the next level we have to come up with some miraculous fix or catchy solution that will wow the crowd or impress the masses.  In the process, many times, we get so focused on the “wow factor” that we forget the basics of the Bible and ministry.  The Lord calls us to be brave and bold, but at the same time we are told to not forget the simple components that make up the foundations of our faith.  Sometimes, in a difficult situation, what we need is a simple reminder from a brother or sister.  A gentle answer and the simple encouragement to not complicate a situation with a dynamic fix and to simply trust in the basics of the Bible and the sovereign love of God.

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. — 2 Peter 1:12

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Today, the BBC is reporting on an advance in technology that will allow us to read ancient scrolls that were long believed too damaged to be usable.  Several years ago, hundreds of scrolls were found in the charred remains of the Roman town of Herculaneum.  The entire area was destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD.  Similar to Pompeii, it was buried beneath layers of volcanic ash.  Archaeologists were unable to unwrap the unearthed library discovered there because the scrolls were too badly burnt.  Up until this point, what looks like lumps of coal, lay undisturbed until technology caught up.  The University of Oxford's Bodleian Library held several of these scrolls. Now scientists are using a combination of X-ray imaging and artificial intelligence to virtually unwrap what hasn’t been seen for 2000 years.
 
Recently, one of the scrolls was placed in a specially made case and taken to Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire and placed inside a new X-ray type machine.  Inside this huge machine, which is called a synchrotron, electrons are accelerated to almost the speed of light to produce a powerful beam that can probe the scroll without damaging it."It can see things on the scale of a few thousandths of a millimeter," explained Adrian Mancuso, director of physical sciences at Diamond.  The scan is used to create a 3D reconstruction, then the layers inside the scroll have to be identified. "We have to work out which layer is different from the next layer so we can unroll that digitally," said Dr Mancuso."We're confident we will be able to read pretty much the whole scroll in its entirety, and it's the first time we've really been able to say that with high confidence," said Stephen Parsons, project lead for the Vesuvius Challenge, an international competition attempting to unlock the Herculaneum scrolls.

More work is needed to make the scroll fully legible to decipher its contents, but the team behind the project say the results are very promising.  Some letters are already clearly visible in the ancient text and the team believes it's a work of philosophy.  Last year, a Vesuvius Challenge team managed to read about 5% of another Herculaneum scroll. Its subject was Greek Epicurean philosophy, which teaches that fulfillment can be found through the pleasure of everyday things. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yvrq7dyg6o

Amazing what Artificial Intelligence is able to do now! I can’t help but think about what the Bible says about nothing can be hidden.  In Mark 4, Jesus challenges us to consider the light that a lamp produces.  Once it is lit, it cannot be hidden.  Truth is like that.  No matter how hard someone tries to hide it, eventually, it will come out. Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand? For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. Mark 4:21-22

Take heart and pay special attention to what our Lord has to say.  Stay on the straight and narrow and know in the end, God takes care of everything.  

"However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:20

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

By most accounts, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris was a success.  According to the International Olympic Committee, there were a total of 878 medal events across individual and team disciplines and a combined total of 5,084 medals awarded at Olympic and Paralympic Games.  The medals were unique in the fact that each one contained a piece of original iron from the Eiffel Tower. A great piece of history and a great story to tell in each one.  Along with those stories, there are still new ones coming out of the games.  According to a report from the International Olympic Committee, more than 100 athletes have complained about their medals now looking nothing like the ones they received last summer.  The bronze medals specifically, show visible signs of crumbling, staining and surface wear.  One athlete joked that their 2024 medals look like relics from the 1924 Paris Olympics - the last time the French capital hosted the Games.  According to French investigative outlet La Lettre, a defective varnish seems to be the reason for the degraded appearance of the medals. The varnishes were switched as the old one reportedly contained chromium trioxide – a powerful oxidizer that happens to be a carcinogen.  The IOC has apologized, saying “will find replacements.” https://www.sportbible.com/other/olympic-medals-returned-paris-2024-update-703819-20250121

As Ricky Bobby said, “If You Ain’t First, You’re Last!”™ (used with permission by Ricky Bobby, Inc.).  I know there is “nothing wrong with silver,” but in this case the bronze medalists did come in last.  Cutting corners never pays in the long run.  This whole story is a great reminder of what we are told in Scripture about earthly treasures.  In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus challenges us to realize, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

But perhaps this most ironic passage is found in 1 Corinthians 9.  Using an Olympic example, Paul reminds us that ALL the awards on earth are perishable.  Only those that await us in Heaven are imperishable. His challenge then is for us to work each day for those types of rewards that we do take with us and one day lay at the feet of Jesus!  
It is amazing how God can use the little things of our world to point our attention toward Him. Let this story be a reminder to us all concerning the things that really matter in our day to day encounters.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore, I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

I have always been fascinated by the night sky.  I don’t think I could make it as an astronaut, but I have a great deal of respect for what they do and the contribution they make to science.  The creation of the solar system is one of the first things mentioned in the Bible.  God speaking all things into existence out of nothing is one of the key principles in understanding Biblical theology.  Basically, order out of chaos. Over the next couple of weeks we will be able to see God’s created order on display.

According to Farmer’s Almanac, (https://www.farmersalmanac.com/planet-parade-2025) in January and February of this year, six planets will form a giant arc in the evening sky: Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn. At the end of February, Mercury will join the fun, replacing Saturn.  This is called a Parade of Planets, which is an astronomical phenomenon in which several planets appear aligned or grouped in the night sky from Earth's perspective.  Although the planets are not physically aligned in space, they form a visually striking configuration along the ecliptic plane, the apparent path of the sun across the sky.

According to Discover Magazine, (https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/seven-planets-will-soon-align-creating-a-planet-parade-in-the-sky) Depending on the number of visible planets, this phenomenon can range from a mini planetary alignment involving three planets to a grand parade showcasing all the solar system's major planets.  Large planet parades (six or seven planets): This is much rarer, occurring roughly every 10 to 20 years.  Grand alignments (all eight planets): True grand alignments involving all eight planets are extremely rare, occurring once every 100 to 200 years or more.  According to https://skyandtelescope.org/ the last time all eight planets aligned was on December 28, 2022.

What difference does this make and why is it important that you realize it? Human beings have been able to predict the movement of the stars and planets for thousands of years.  Out of the vastness of space, it is still possible to determine where these heavenly bodies will be and when they will be there.  The order of the universe declares the glory of God.  If all things were simply an accident, how do we explain the precision of the planets? What are the odds of all of this happening by chance?

No matter how much or little you care about the specifics, you have to admit the fascination and wonder of the universe.  To know that God is in control and brings order to the chaos has to give you comfort on some level!  Colossians 1:16-17 tells us this about Jesus: For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Your new year might be off to a chaotic start, but knowing that the God of the Universe holds all things together should bring you the assurance that He can hold you together in turbulent times.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1
Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

In the New Year, everyone is evaluating their position in an attempt to refocus and reengage their place in society and personal wellness.  I, like so many others, read through all the self-help articles, spiritual advice and “Bible In One Year” challenges trying to find inspiration for myself and to help lead others at our church.  This year, like many in the past, there are plenty of advice columns, Bible verses to connect and morning devotions.  It’s never good, however, when the best advice I find comes from an atheist.  Maybe embarrassing is a better term.  Christian news reporter, Michael Foust, shares his review and opinion on Jonathan Rauch’s new book: Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy.  Rauch is a self-identified atheist and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. There is no question about his personal lack of spiritual faith, but he is a keen observer of culture and a knowledgeable historian of sorts.  In the Michael Foust review, he points to a Rauch interview with the podcast Matter of Opinion to discuss the book.  In the podcast Rauch summarized his opinion of the Church and Christianity in our present culture.  Rauch says, "What really needs to happen to get our country on a better track is for Christianity not to become more secular or more liberal, but to become more like itself, to become more truly Christian.”  He defines Christianity by "three fundamentals”: 1) imitating Jesus, 2) not being afraid, and 3) forgiving one another. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ndwpdnYGZKE98UabIEOqb

Rauch goes on in the podcast to say, "Christianity is a load-bearing wall in democracy, and the Founders told us that," he said. "They didn't specify that you have to be a Christian, per se, but they said that our liberal, secular constitution … relies on virtues like truthfulness and lawfulness and the equal dignity of every individual. And they understood that those have to come from an outside source. The Constitution won't furnish them. And the source that they relied on principally was religion to teach those things and to build and transmit those values. And it turns out that for most of our history, Christianity has been pretty good at that." Rauch goes on, “But when the church becomes less Christian people begin looking to other places for their sources of values. They go to wokeness or QAnon or MAGA, and those turn out to be not the kinds of values that you can use to underpin a democracy. And that's the situation that we seem increasingly stuck in."

Although I do not agree with his “fundamentals of Christianity,” I do agree with the heart of what he is saying.  The morals, ethics and love for neighbor is what makes a society great.  World leaders throughout time have made similar comments when evaluating what makes the American experiment work.  They all point back to the Christian Church, family and traditional Biblical teachings. The modern Church has gotten away from teaching these things and has positioned itself as a competitor with culture.  Borrowing from culture, the Church works to insert what “attracts,” but in reality, it “distracts.”  It is embarrassing to have an atheist write a book to point out what should be so obvious to Christians.  When the local church looks no different than the clubs around them, how can you blame the world for choosing the world.  When those that choose the path of the world or the woke church culture, they are left personally empty and spiritually void.  Jesus never used bells and whistles because He was not training pets to do His bidding, He was building relationships.  He preached to the masses, but He spoke and related to individuals. Most modern church services are a Pavlovian example of classic conditioning.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioning  “When you hear the music play do this. When the leader says this, do that, and then you will be rewarded.”  These services can be “fun” at first because of the group excitement, but after a while the spiritual sugar cubes no longer satisfy as life happens and there is no foundation to land on.
 
Jonathan Rauch’s last statement in Foust’s review https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/atheist-writer-asserts-that-true-christianity-is-the-key-to-saving-america.html  is most telling: Rauch says, "I think it can only do good and not harm to the country and to Christian witness if Christians can do the work of rediscovering and elevating those elements of the Christian faith which uphold our democracy and which uphold the teachings of Christ. I can't see that any possible harm would ever result from that. And so, what I come down to is addressing my Christian fellow citizens and saying: Why not give Jesus a try?" To that I say, “Wow!”

Sometimes, modern worship services remind of Daniel 3.  The king created a large statue of himself and had the people bow down.  “When you hear the music play you are to worship the image of gold.” When the Hebrew children would not bow, the king threatened to kill them.  There answer to the king in verses 16-18 is inspiring. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

A Biblical worldview and putting into practice are what is missing from the Church today. It saved the lives and witness of the Three Hebrew Children.  I pray that in 2025 we wake up to this truth and make it our mission to set ourselves apart from the world, and like the atheist Jonathan Rauch, inspire people to ask “why not give Jesus a try?”

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

On April 15, 2019, the World watched in horror as the Notre Dame Cathedral was in a blaze.  Hundreds of firefighters and emergency workers rushed to save what could be salvaged as onlookers watched helplessly.  After many years of dedicated work and millions in donations, the site was reopened the first week of December this year.  Over the next few weeks and months many of the items that were saved will be returned and placed back on display.  One of the most famous items saved that day was returned last Friday.  In a special ceremony, Jesus Christ’s “Crown of Thorns” was brought back into the Cathedral, presided over by the archbishop of Paris and attended by knights and dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher.  Why such a grand display? According to the history surrounding the Biblical relic, the crown was presented as the Biblical crown of Christ and was then acquired by King Louis IX of France in Constantinople in 1239 for 135,000 livres. The currency of France at the time would amount to nearly half the royal annual expenditures. King Louis really wanted that crown and whoever sold it to him has to go down as the GOAT of sales people of all time.

Why would anyone pay that much for something 1200 years removed from the actual time of the event and to be in that good of condition?  This is where Rick Harrison’s of Pawn Stars “Let Me Call An Expert” should have originated.  Think about it for just a moment.  At the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, He was no different than other accused criminals of that day.  No one would have saved the crown, pieces of the cross or the Last Supper cup, for that matter.  It wasn’t until after the Resurrection that the eyes of the Apostles and others were opened to who Jesus really was. No one cared to save those items back then, but we see what we want to see and believe what we want to believe.
 
That brings me to the Nativity in our present season. Although we sing as if it were, there was nothing silent about that night.  Yes, an angel and heavenly host appeared to the shepherds.  Yes, the town was over crowed.  And Yes, there are a lot of loud noises when a baby is born.  However, most folks missed the holy part of that night.  The arrival of Jesus was just one more birth among many that week. Shepherds see all kinds of crazy things while they watch their flocks by night. Life went on and people saw what they wanted to see and believed what they wanted to believe.  But Mary treasured all these things in her heart.

In 1 Corinthians 2:9-11 Paul reminds the reader of the words of Isaiah 64:4 - From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. On that Christmas morning the wait was over and the words of Isaiah rang true since the beginning, no one had ever heard, understood, nor seen a God like ours. But Paul adds the source of hearing, understanding and seeing the things of God to whom will receive. In verse 10 he continues his thought from Isaiah: these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit!
 
With Spiritual ears, eyes and a discernible mind, we see what God wants us to see, hear, and understand about His love for us.  We can allow ourselves to be influenced by all kinds of manufactured emotions and feelings at this time of the year or we can humble ourselves before the Lord and really see beyond human imagination.
Use whatever helps you to feel closer to God at this time of the year, but don’t let the commercialization of the season distract you from the revelation of God so loved the world though the birth of Jesus.  We don’t need ancient relics or symbols of the season to prove the reality of the birth, death and resurrection of Christ.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our life guides us to the truth.    
       
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.  John 16:13

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

A new survey on Christmas trends has been published by LifeWay Research.  https://research.lifeway.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Lifeway-Americans-Aug-2024-Christmas-Report.pdf

LifeWay takes time each year to gauge the holiday pulse of the American people.  Once again, their research has shown that Christmas is still important in the hearts and minds of most people.  In the report, Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research said, “The very name ‘Christmas’ originates in the church’s celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. In the mid-14th century, the words ‘Christ’s Mass’ were first merged as a single term for this celebration.  We discovered that 9 in 10 Americans do something to celebrate Christmas, however, less than half typically attend church at Christmastime today.”

Most pastors know that Easter, Mother’s Day and Christmas will be the most attended services of the year.  At West Haven, we plan our Christmas Dinner on the first Wednesday of the month, we offer a minimum of three Sunday Services dedicated to Christmas and one Christmas Eve service.  No less than five events in the month of December to give people an opportunity to celebrate the arrival of Jesus. As I tell my congregation every year, most people who normally don’t attend church are looking for an invitation at this time of the year.  They would like to go, but they don’t know where to go.  This year’s report gives us the data to backup what we know to be true concerning those who are looking for a personal invite!    
McConnell’s report shows: Those who don’t typically show up at Christmas may simply be waiting on an invitation. Most (56%) say they would likely attend church if someone they know invited them to attend with them at Christmas time, including 17% who are very likely. Around a third (36%) say they’re unlikely, including 24% who are very unlikely. Another 8% say they’re not sure.

“More than 1 in 8 Americans are convinced they would not attend a Christmas service if an acquaintance invited them. However, the majority of Americans who do not typically attend church at Christmastime say they probably would if they were invited by someone they know,” said McConnell.

The research goes further to show that: Catholics (71%), Protestants (65%) and Americans of other religions (58%) who don’t typically attend during Christmas are more likely than the religiously unaffiliated (40%) to say they’re likely to attend a service if invited. The religiously unaffiliated are the most likely to say they are unlikely to attend if invited (55%).
What about those church attenders you have not seen at your church in a while? The survey shows that Christians who already attend church, at least occasionally, are more likely to show up this time of year if invited. Christians who attend a worship service about once a week (76%) and those who attend once or twice a month or only on religious holidays (69%) are more likely than those who rarely or never attend (52%) to say they’re likely to show up if invited.

What does this all mean? If you ask someone to attend, the odds are in YOUR favor that they will say yes!  What more of an invitation do YOU need to invite someone to come with YOU this week?    
 
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Seeing all of the Operation Christmas Child boxes stacked on stage this past Sunday gave each of us a feeling of community.  This is one of those events, like VBS, where every person in the church has a part to play.  Over 200 boxes collected to send to boys and girls around the world, represent a spirit of contentment with our material possessions and a need to share with others out of our abundance.  This same spirit is also reflected in a new study released by LifeWay Research.      https://research.lifeway.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Lifeway-Americans-Aug-2024-Consumerism-Report.pdf

American Views on Consumerism takes a look at the contentment level of Americans as it relates to consumer behavior.  LifeWay asked 1200 participants how they felt toward subjects such as technology, shopping, money and their peer group.  Evaluating their reported findings, it was discovered that most Americans are content with their stuff, but when it comes to money, there is always room for a little more.  Broken down by age groups, on average, eighty percent of said they were content with entertainment, fun, toys and clothes.  However, on age group average, forty to fifty percent said shopping makes them feel good and having newer technology makes them feel like they are getting ahead.
Thinking back on the exercise of filling a Christmas box for a child we will never meet; Christians are reminded that there is more to life than a great deal on Black Friday.  Many of us plan our day around this event, we put much less energy into planning around those shoe boxes.  But where would we be without the visual and weekly reminder of doing our part in reflection of how physically blessed we are as Americans.  More than the boys and girls needing those boxes, we need those boxes as a reminder of how quickly consumerism can entangle us in the affairs of this world.  Human nature draws us to the pattern of this world.  Culture makes it easy to jump in line for that new iPhone when the one we have works just fine.  We need the physical reminder that comes with filling something that is empty, because our pockets and cupboards are not.    

This season, make sure you fill that emptiness with something that has a lasting legacy.  True contentment comes when you know you have done the best with what God has entrusted you with.          

“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 your master’s happiness!’  Matthew 25:23

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Just a few minutes ago, I saw the President and President-elect shake hands in the Oval Office.  In previous days, their words for the other were harsh, hateful and cruel.  Today, somehow, they can move on from what has become a political game to the players, but the tension lives on in their “fans” after the game is over.  The problem is that this is not a game.  It’s been a week and there are people who are still not talking to each other. What could cause neighbors, family members and Christians to stop communicating?  Never in my lifetime have I seen people turn on one another so quickly.  How did it come to this? 
In a Washington Post article: I’m a doctor. I limited social media and quickly saw health benefits. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/10/07/deleting-social-media-benefits/
Trisha Pasricha, MD, points to recent studies that show how social media and too much screen time has caused an increase in anxiety, depression and loneliness.  Dr. Pasricha reported after only two weeks of quitting she felt a gratifying shift in her life.

I have never been a fan or user of social media.  Keeping up with birthdays is about the only use I can find for most platforms.  However, others have found positive uses, but the intended results are not always the actual outcome.  The rise of Artificial Intelligence has allowed these outlets to tailor information based on personal use.  Companies and organizations can limit what they want users to be exposed to, spinning the information to their personal advantage.  The result is large segments of the population that only hears what the source wants them to hear.  Knowledge is power.  If one controls the knowledge, they hold the power.
 
We are in a dangerous place. Never before have we had such unlimited access to information, but never before have we been so ignorant of what is going on around us.  The depravity of the human condition causes us to seek the path of least resistance.  Americans want it quick and now.  Our Adversary takes every advantage and our lack of diligence in educating ourselves in this information age has become his greatest tool in keeping us out of authentic relationships.  However, restoration is possible! No matter what you have been led to believe about the “other side,” God loves us all.  No one is out of His reach and no heart is so gone that He cannot bring it back.  Our tendency is to say, “people never change.”  Not true, the God that never changes, changes people! Think about the life Paul had before he encountered Jesus.  Acts 8 and following shows us how far from Jesus Saul was, but when He changed his heart, Paul and the Christian movement was never the same.  A man who was controlled by hate, now was motived by the love of Christ!  Most didn’t believe it, but it was a genuine change that came about by God.

The point is this; don’t believe everything you read/hear! God is doing a great thing in our World.  Pray that He will allow you to be part of it! Don’t miss out by only getting one side of the story.  Give yourself fully to God and let Him use you fully in this world today!  

“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” Romans 8:31

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

My two favorite headlines of the day:
No more sad lunches! Make a better sandwich with chef-approved tips and tools
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/no-more-sad-lunches-make-a-better-sandwich-with-chef-approved-tips-and-tools-155337068.html
This Is The Secret Ingredient For The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/secret-ingredient-perfect-chocolate-chip-115819293.html

Two solutions to the biggest problems in my life; sad sandwiches and imperfect cookies!  I just had to laugh out loud as I attempted to navigate the fallout noise caused by the election results reported this morning.  Half the nation is celebrating, the other half is probably still in bed.  In a few days it will be just like what follows the Super Bowl or World Series: Monday.  That’s right, the half that is celebrating right now will find something wrong to complain about and the half that is drowning in depression right now will have found new life because they have a new impeachment angle to pursue.  What’s the problem? We have too many people waiting for someone else to fix their problems.  Instead of like how it used to be, your team won or lost, but Monday is a new day and no one is going to pay your bills or raise your kids for you.  Just wait, in four years a majority of people will be ready for “change” because the person in their now didn’t “fix” their issues. Both sides will once again spend billions of dollars in advertisements to flip the script and put their party in to save democracy.  This election cost billions of dollars and every one after will too.  The only people who have not figured this out is the American people.  Those in power love it.  The election has done only one thing, keep the people on TV employed. This should be a happy day for the liberal leaning news agency. What else do they have to talk about if the election didn’t go the way that it did.  The conservative side now gets to go back to work defending the accusations the other side throws out. That’s all they have done for the past eight years.  With this mindset we will always end in “They win, we lose.”  I believe we have now entered the “one term” presidency cycle because the American people have become so accustomed to wanting someone else to fix their problems for them.  

“Accountability,” that’s a word we don’t like and rarely use because, well, no one likes to be held accountable.  Washington is in the shape it’s in because the “don’t judge me and I will not judge you” keeps the fleecing of America going.  It also keeps small towns, business, churches and families going, but going in the wrong direction.

Yes, Romans 13, Daniel 2:21, and Hebrews 13:17 all affirm that God appoints our leaders, but in a system like ours, God instructs us how to live and how to evaluate the leaders we vote into place.  We are also told in Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Evidently, we all are going to give an account to Him for the choices we have made.  You are responsible for you, no one else.  The Bible also tells us: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 You can’t say I didn’t give you a couple of really good articles at the beginning to help out with this one.  

Today, enjoy the win, or lick your wounds but it will be Monday soon and no one remembers who won the Super Bowl last year, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the Cowboys!  Even though they break my heart, it doesn’t stop me for cheering for them.    

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Here are some facts from www.candystore.com.
Americans are expected to spend 3.5 billion on Halloween candy this year. 12 billion over all. M&Ms have taken over the top candy for the first time, knocking Reese's Cup to second. In Tennessee, Reese's are still number one.  While Maine Kansas and New Hampshire prefer candy corn?
Halloween Candy Quick Facts
-172 million Americans celebrate Halloween
-32% of all Halloween purchases are made online
-The top costumes for pets are pumpkin and hot dog
-Among those who celebrate Halloween, 95% will purchase candy. They will spend about   $31.69 on average
-Most Halloween shopping is done the first 2 weeks of October.
-In Oregon, full-sized candy bars are the norm.
-Overall Halloween spending is expected to be $11.6B in 2022
-Over 50% of parents stash some Halloween candy to enjoy later in the year.

If you don't participate, there are alternatives to Halloween.  My favorite is Reformation Day.  Celebrated since October 31, 1517.  This was the day Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg.  This was his scholarly objection to church practices at the time.  There wasn't any candy on that day, but thanks to his efforts we now can read the Bible for ourselves and learn of the personal relationship Jesus seeks to have with us.

Whatever you do tomorrow, leave your front door light of opportunity on and use October 31 as a way to interact with those in your community. Handout candy or Bibles, better yet,
do both!

Let's be thankful that God placed someone in our life to tell us about Jesus. Hopefully you see how He is using you to do the same!

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Reading over the headlines for today, one caught my attention. The NYPost:  “Star Wars’ unveils first transgender Stormtrooper, Sister — and fans are divided”  The story reports:   
The first transgender Stormtrooper, named Sister, appears in the new book “Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers.” According to the X account Star Wars Holocron, the character Captain Rex gives a description of Sister in the book that says, “When one of our kind expressed her gender identity differently than her fellow troopers, she featured [sic] she’d have to hide who she truly was inside. Fortunately, her brothers in the 7th Sky Corps gave her the name Sister as a constant reminder that she belonged.”  Sister made her “Star Wars” canon debut in the 2022 book “Queen’s Hope.” She served the Galactic Republic alongside Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader) and Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Clone Wars.
I guess I was confused on a few issues.  I admit that I began to lose interest in the Star Wars franchise during the prequels. I watched them as a three-part origin series to the three movies I grew up with in the 70s and 80s.  I lost total interest in Episodes 7-9.  I did liked watching the Clone Wars cartoon with my son, but all other cartoons and live action movies did not have the draw I remember as a kid.  There was one thing I did pick up of interest from the prequels; the origin and purpose of the Stormtrooper.

According to screenrant.com- The most sensitive Jedi had long foreseen this. Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas foresaw the Clone Wars, and indeed he commissioned the clone army to give the Jedi the support he believed they needed; but Darth Sidious learned of Sifo-Dyas' actions, and he corrupted them, manipulating the Kaminoans into implanting inhibitor chips in the clones in order to control them. The chips were programmed with a number of orders that the clones would be unable to disobey, the most prominent being Order 66 - a command that would turn the clones on the Jedi themselves. Ally would become enemy in an instant, and most of the Jedi were cut down by their clone troopers.  https://screenrant.com/star-wars-order-66-timeline-canon-explained/#:~:text=When Anakin had departed, Sidious issued Order 66,Jedi - beings he either feared or hated.

They were clones, made from one source for one purpose.  They all looked the same, talked the same and did the same.  They had different jobs, but the Jedi used them to fight the droid army alongside them.  The Jedi didn’t realize that they were built to serve the Empire until it was too late.  They were conditioned not to have personalities, but positions. That is what made them so feared. The Jedi developed a false sense of security when they were given personalities and different colors on their armor.  All it took was one hologram message “Order 66” and it was over.  When the Troopers started having personalities and individual storylines, they lost their original purpose or maybe not.  Maybe the purpose was to build up a sense of trust and then go in for the intended kill?

I read something else that was a great reminder.  In another article, Jim Denison writes, “God intends for us to understand his word. To this end, the same Spirit who inspired the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:21) now interprets their truth to us (John 16:13) as we study God’s word objectively and carefully (2 Timothy 2:15).” https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/denison-forum/the-growing-disconnect-of-moral-truths-and-its-threat-to-democracy.html?aps=801b64d2014d91c378e2e1c8fa13eb17390007a459ba202312379d2c75ae08a1&utm_content=933348_20241016_312&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lst_ccom_todays_christian_headlines&utm_source=newsletter&bt_ee=+6BokZ9YqIv3Y2jxm4vPNUlksCNgE/V3fB6cXEbELT7xq82Ce0ncLDru8xxAqa3v&bt_ts=1729080967971

I am a Creationist, so I ask what was I created for? The first question of The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks  1. What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.  If this is true (I believe it is), then how does God speak to us? God reveals Himself through His word and the person of Jesus Christ. 2 Peter1:21 tells us that God inspired the Old Testament writers and Jesus confirmed their words through His death, burial and resurrection.  God desires a relationship with His Creation, chiefly human beings. He made us as individuals but we are all made for the purpose of glorifying Him.  It is difficult for a Bible believer to accept any activity that runs contrary to what He has communicated with us as being acceptable.  Maybe that is why it is so hard to understand what we are being offered by our world today as factual.  If it calls you to question, then look for the answer.  Just make sure you look in a place that is trustworthy, not one that is trying to give you a false sense of security.

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Back in 2017, the internet was shocked to learn that seven percent of Americans were found to believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows; 48 percent of respondents said they don’t know where chocolate milk comes from. The same research reported that another agriculture study had discovered that four out of 10 fourth, fifth and sixth-graders didn't realize cows are used to make hamburgers and three in 10 didn't know milk is used to make cheese.  It went on to report over half of the elementary school students didn't realize onions and lettuce are plants and that pickles are small cucumbers which have simply been placed in brine or vinegar.  How dumb are we??  Well, how curious are we might be a better question.  Thousands of people (myself included) clicked on the article in disbelief. After reading the report and watching the response, “How dumb is the media,” might be the best question. Many reposted the report and their comments of how embarrassed they were by American ignorance.  “Our education system is in freefall,” one posting read.  Taxpayer funded NPR ran with the story and even interviewed the author: https://www.npr.org/2017/06/16/533255590/alarming-number-of-americans-believe-chocolate-milk-comes-from-brown-cows  Just a little investigation into the research showed the story to be misleading on purpose.  The “survey” was real and commissioned by something called The Innovation Center of US Dairy and Edelman Intelligence.  The questions on the survey were purposely vague to force the results they were looking to report.  The data was skewed and purposely misleading to kick off a marketing campaign called Undeniably Dairy.  https://www.cjr.org/analysis/brown-milk-study-cows.php
They thought it was funny, but unfortunately, some folks acted upon it as if it was legit.

I couldn’t help but come back to this story due to the present political climate we find ourselves.  Reporting has become so bad that after watching political news channels throughout the week, viewers have a preview of what they will find on Saturday Night Live this weekend.  The material is so unbelievable, the comedy writes itself.  It’s become more fun to fact check the news reporters than the candidates. We know the politicians are purposely misleading, but the reporters? Which side are they on?

That brings me to the local Church.  As Christian witnesses of God’s work, our job is to report what we have seen and heard.  The validity of the message is based on the trustworthiness of the messenger.  Do you have your story straight? The story of God’s continued work in our world does not need to be sensationalized.  We do not need to add to or take away anything to make it applicable to our day and age. We all are tempted at times to envy the work of the Holy Spirit in the public individual lives of others.  Realize that God has you where He has you on purpose.  You are to be the most influential on the people in your circle.  We don’t need an advertising campaign or catchy zinger to win for Jesus.  Your story, His work in your life, is enough.  Just remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Same thing goes for fake news, if it sounds too fake to be true, it’s probably not.

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

The Christian Post reports the findings of a new study out of The Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University which was released on Tuesday.  Their findings report the rise in mental health issues for young people, such as anxiety, depression and fear, might have more to do with the lack of Biblical Worldview rather than “psychological or chemical imbalances.” https://www.christianpost.com/news/worldview-drives-mental-health-more-than-chemical-imbalances-acu.html

There is no questioning the fact that mental health issues among Millennials and Generation Z have been on the rise from many years.  Care providers in the field are mixed as to the source of this sudden rise. After conducting research among the two groups, Center founder George Barna points to his team’s research findings as a possible indicator.
Barna concludes, “Only 1% of Generation Z and 2% of millennials possess a biblical worldview.  It is not uncommon to find a young adult who trusts feelings more than facts, sees no inherent value to life, believes in Karma, and rejects the existence of the biblical God. Add to this a lack of any sense of purpose or meaning, and the idea that truth is subjective. This common set of components results in a lifestyle that is inconsistent, chaotic, frustrating, and lacking hope. Anxiety, depression, and fear are virtually inescapable in such a life…However, embracing a biblical worldview offers a sense of purpose, security, and peace that can alleviate many of these mental health challenges.”  https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/CRC-Release-AWVI-5-Sept-24-2024.pdf

I do not believe that Barna is suggesting that all mental health issues can be fixed by adopting a Biblical Worldview, but I do believe that he is correct in suggesting many of the problems and issues that I learn about and experience as a pastor could be helped by viewing life through the teaching and application of Scripture.  We are warned not to trying figure out life on our own. (Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. & Jeremiah 17:9 -The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?)  Proverbs 22:6 tell us to: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. And in Deuteronomy 6 & 11 we are commanded to teach the ways of the Lord to our children.  In other words, we are to teach them about life.

Yes, Barna and his findings make a great point, but the results point us to a possible greater issue; the breakdown of the home.  Adults have a great advantage over youth, experience.  It’s our job to share that knowledge. Proverbs 9:10 tells us The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. You don’t just wake up one day knowing that truth.  Too many young people today are lost and trying to find their way amongst a sea of wrong choices.  Make a point today to help others who struggle to make sense of the chaos.  Life through the lens of Scripture brings everything into focus.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Our school aged students have been back in the routine for a couple of months now.  By now, the “newness” has worn off and the routine has set in.  One of the things that I looked forward to at the beginning of a school year was new writing utensils.  In elementary school, the cool ones were those that had some type of theme printed on them.  NFL teams were my favorite to have pencil wars with.  In middle school, I remember the pencils that had the removable plastic cartridges that you pulled out of the bottom and replaced at the top.  The worst thing that could happen was losing one of those cartridges and the pencil became useless.  But they were so cool looking.  Next came the mechanical pencil. They came in .07 and .05. No one knew what that meant but it was so satisfying to give yourself a fake shot with one of those.  The really fancy ones came with a pack of replacement erasers.  So why did we need all these “improved” pencils?  What was the purpose of the evolution?  To make the pencil company more money, of course!  Who likes a plain looking No. 2 yellow school pencil? According to author Caroline Weaver, at one time in the world, everyone!  In her book, Pencils You Should Know: A History of Ultimate Writing Utensil in 75 Anecdotes, Weaver tracks the history of pencil making and how manufactures have made millions by changing just a few things to separate themselves from the competition.  https://www.amazon.com/Pencils-You-Should-Know-throughout/dp/1452178372/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

According to Weaver’s research, John Thoreau was the first successful pencil maker in the US.  He began in the 1810s with his son Henry David, who would later become famous for his writing. At the same time in Europe, the “yellow No. 2” had not be invented.  Before then, lacquered pencils were often a sign of low-quality wood that needed to be covered up, and they were usually finished in darker colors such as black or maroon. A decent pencil, meanwhile, would either be plain or varnished wood. In 1893, at the World’s Fair in Chicago, the Austrian pencil brand L&C Hardtmuth changed all of that with what they called a luxury pencil.  What made this one special? Called the Koh-I-Noor (after the famous diamond), the pencil boasted the finest high-quality Chinese graphite and visually set itself apart with its bright fourteen coats of golden yellow paint.  The pencil was so popular that copycats began to pop up using the “pencil yellow” color, but less expensive graphite. By 1895 the large German company Faber had a “Yellow Siberian” pencil. The American-made Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2 pencil (the one we had to take all the bubble tests with) arrived in 1913. According to Caroline Weaver’s research, it was the finest, purest graphite, that came from a mine on the border of China and Siberia that made the first “yellow pencil” so unique, but it was the company’s decision to paint them yellow that made them famous.
 
Stories like these have always stood out to me because it demonstrates the power of suggestion.  Most people don’t take the time to look inside if the outside looks like the real thing!  “Don’t judge a book by the cover,” is a popular caution that calls our attention to check the contents before making a decision.  Jesus used a similar description to point out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of His time.  In fact, most of Matthew 23 contains metaphor after metaphor to describe how the religious leaders look good on the outside, but are corrupt on the inside.  In verses 27-28 Jesus charges them in saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”  

A fancy yellow pencil with inferior graphite, a dynamic looking cover on a horribly written book, or a hypocrite passing himself off as righteous; all serve as cautionary examples of not acting too quickly.  They also serve as reminders to us about our own character.  Don’t try to be something you are not.  Use what God has given you for His glory and your life will be a well written story!  

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.  Luke 8:17

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Economists tell us that The Federal Reserve is preparing to report today its first interest rate cut since March 2020. They guess between a 0.25 or 0.5 percentage point reduction.  Financial folks tell us that this could mean cheaper borrowing at the bank, credit card balance relief on interest, lower returns on savings accounts and the potential for even lower rates in the months to come.  So, what does all this mean to the average person; not much.  All of the major news programs have this as a top story, but few of them are able to put these changes into terms most Americans understand.  Coming from a banking family, it is at times like this that I like to remind myself of the history of money in our country.  Although I might not have the insight and experience of a Wall Street pro, I do have a working knowledge and real interest (dad joke) in money.  What I find interesting (last one), is the history of currency.

Most nations take great pride in their currency, as it is a symbol of their strength, stability and history.  America produced its first official coin in 1787.  At this point we had no “Founding Fathers,” no official mottos, no symbols or history.  So, what do you put on your first coin? How do you tell the world what this new nation is about?  Our first coin was called a Fugio cent and featured a sundial on the obverse and a chain of 13 links on the reverse. https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/us-circulating-coins, but it is what was written on the coin that gives us a better idea as to what our leaders at the time were thinking.
 
Designed by Benjamin Franklin, the face of the coin featured a tiny face of the Sun, looking down at a giant sundial. Letters spelled out the word "FUGIO" (which is why the coin is known as the Fugio cent). Fugio is Latin for "I fly," so the coin was reminding everyone that time flies—and possibly that money flies, since time is money. At the bottom are the words, "Mind Your Business." The obverse did not bear the words "In God we trust"; that slogan wouldn't appear on coinage till after The Civil War. Instead, it had the motto “We Are One” in the center of thirteen interlocked rings.

A casual observer of US history could no doubt get most of the meanings behind the symbolism in Franklin’s first official coin. The 13 rings, the sundial for time and FUGIO, “time” flies. In Poor Richard’s Almanac (1773), he wrote, “A penny saved is two pence clear.”  It is the meaning of the phrase “Mind Your Business” that might have been lost with time.  In the age we live in, and how the term “mind your OWN business” is being used in the political world today, the importance of Franklin’s message on the first coin could be missed.
He believed every person should be responsible for their own character building. Within his desire for personal development, in 1726, at the age of 20, he created a system to develop his character called: The Thirteen Virtues www.thirteenvirtues.com.  He believed people should dedicate a week to practicing each of these respective virtues. After thirteen weeks, when each virtue has been practiced, the cycle begins anew, and this happens four times a year. Franklin believed if each person focused on these virtues for an entire week, four times per year, they would surely progress in business and life. It was clear that he believed if each person did their fair share, society would be better off.  The actions of one can have a positive or negative impact on the whole.  https://fee.org/articles/the-hidden-message-on-ben-franklin-s-fugio-cent/#:~:text=Inscribed on the coin: Mind Your Business. By,work,” or, “Time flies, so use it wisely!”

It's sad how our society is abandoning this truth. In this heated political climate, politicians tell us that we can weave in and out of personal responsibility when it comes to individual preference.  “Mind your OWN business” works for somethings, but if we really are interlocking rings, then we all must “Mind YOUR Business.”
 
Franklin would have been the first one to agree that government should stay out of a citizen’s personal affairs (founding father dad joke, sorry I lied), but he also recognized how the missteps of one could bring down an entire community.  His Thirteen Virtues also acknowledge the fact that virtue did not come naturally to people.  Franklin wasn’t much of a church goer, but he did recognize the truth that Paul wrote of in Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All of us are lost, and the selfish desires within us must be addressed.  If only Franklin had spent more time on verse 24: and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus, I guess we might have had “In God We Trust” imprinted on our currency much sooner.

Today, recognize the gravity of your actions on others.  We have personal responsibility while living in a community with others. There is a line between personal choice and selfish destruction of society.  We should be able to determine this without the government passing a law.  There is a nod to this on the first coin! More so, God has called us to recognize and take action to address this truth.  
         
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”  “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  Genesis 4:9

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

The Lord designed the human body in amazing ways.  We have the ability to go back in time, in our memory by having one of our senses stimulated.  Upon hearing, seeing, smelling or simply feeling something, you can be immediately transported back to where you were years before when an event took place.  I was reminded of this while reading an article about sounds we do not hear anymore.  On the list were dial-up modem, phone busy signal, fax machine, rotary phone dial and TV test pattern.  Simply reading those names, the sound came right back for many of you and took you to a place in your past where many people today have no reference.  https://interestingfacts.com/sounds-you-dont-hear-anymore/

Why do we remember these things, and why does it even matter? In some situations, it is for our protection and in others, it helps our advancement in knowledge.  Memory is something God has given us and calls us to rely on for our relationships as well.  Over 63 times in Scripture, the word “memorial” is used to describe a physical or symbolical thing that was done to mark a special occasion or to draw attention back to it, so that a memory of the event would not be lost.  In many cases, the Lord commands us to remember by giving us days and dates to mark and help us not forget.  When we stop honoring these memorials, we forget the importance of what happened and what continues to happen or what will happen if we forget.  As powerful as our human abilities are, one of the most destructive things we can do to ourselves and those around us is to forget.
 
Today marks 23 years since the September 11 attack on our nation.  For many of us, simply hearing the date takes is right back.  We know where we were, what we were doing and who we were with.  The memory of what took place afterwards and what was lost and gained in the process.  Now we come to a generation that has no personal memory of the event.  With the passing of time, the significance of what we learned during those months and years after the attack is being lost.  News casts don’t spend as much time, lead stories on line move to current events and the anniversary is sifted lower down the feed.  Those too young to remember or those born after 2001 have no cause to pause, if we don’t give them a reason.  That’s why the weight of remembering falls on those of us who were there.  For our protection and advancement in knowledge we must remind, we must remember, we must memorialize.    
 
In March of 2002, a clean-up crew was sifting through the last remnants of the south tower. And it was there that a firefighter uncovered a very special piece of debris!  He’d found a Bible verse fused to a chunk of rubble. In shock, he called out to Joel Meyerowitz, who was nearby. Joel is a photographer who wrote the book "Aftermath: World Trade Center Archive."  "This shredded, burned and rubble-covered Bible came to me from the loving hands of a fireman who knew that I was the record keeper of ground zero," Joel said.  "My astonishment at seeing the page that the Bible was open to made me realize that the Bible's message survives throughout time." The passage was The Sermon on The Mount in Matthew 5 – Jesus teachings about forgiveness.  https://www.godupdates.com/bible-verse-fused-911-rubble/

Memory is a powerful thing. Many things in life that have an impact on us we don’t have a direct memory of, so having someone explain the importance of historical events shapes our behavior going forward.
 
Today, if you are the giver or receiver of information that awakens your senses, be thankful for the way God has designed you.  Find your place in the importance of relationships and share your memories so that what you have learned will not be lost.

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  We all grew up hearing that from our moms after some bully kid said something to us on the playground that hurt our feelings.  As we got older, what we discovered was that learning to have a thick skin, take criticism from trusted advisors and ignore the rest serves us well.  However, back then and today, we know that words do hurt.  Words from the right source can build up and break down.  In fact, the Bible tells us as much in Proverbs 18:21 - The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

I guess that is why we should choose our words wisely, as we don’t know the power we have over others.  This all makes sense in light of recent events in the “word of the year” judgment of dictonary.com and NPR.  These two major sources study the culture to determine which words have had the most impact on society as a whole.  According to one story by these outlets the words selected were as follows.  In 2016, it was “post-truth.”  In 2017, it was “fake news.” This year (2018), misinformation 
https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2018/misinformation-is-dictionary-coms-word-of-the-year/#:~:text=This year, misinformation is the word of the,role of technology platforms in spreading fakery online.  
In 2019 it was 'Disinformation' https://www.npr.org/2019/12/30/790144099/disinformation-is-the-word-of-the-year-and-a-sign-of-what-s-to-come

Over four years later, our culture continues to be shaped by creative ways to lie and deceive people.  This morning we woke up to the news that the government attempted to censor social media to control the narrative concerning COVID.  CNBC reports Mark Zuckerberg in a letter he wrote to the House Judiciary Committee : “In 2021, senior officials from the Biden Administration, including the White House, repeatedly pressured our teams for months to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire, and expressed a lot of frustration with our teams when we didn’t agree.” https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/27/zuckerberg-alleges-white-house-pressured-meta-to-censor-covid-19-content.html  It is really telling when websites like the Babylon Bee, a known satire site, is censored, as Zuckerberg complied with the government.   https://babylonbee.com/plans?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=bombshell 

Sad how one side screams “misinformation” when they simply disagree, but will purposely promote an all-out lie when it benefits them.   The government knows the power of words, so they sought to censor those that disagreed with them, and it worked.  People blindly follow what they see on TV and hear from those in authority.
 
This all goes to explain why we are finding that self-prescribed “evangelicals” are not really evangelical at all.  George Barna has released new data that “reveals the limitations of Christian evangelicalism in American society.” In his latest release he writes: “The events from recent years have caused “millions of Americans to realize just how depraved American society has become. Corrupt politicians, dishonest journalists and media outlets, broken social institutions, immoral religious leaders, unconstitutional government programs and policies, and more, have generated non-stop headlines highlighting the decadence of American society and the demise of the United States. The report goes on, “The depth of the depravity is shocking” and that it’s “indisputable” that the “decline is a direct result of the spiritual collapse of Christianity in the nation”—particularly the way in which the evangelical community has changed over time.”  According to Barna, not only are there fewer evangelicals than some reports have claimed there to be, but many of them “are far less biblical in their thinking … and tend to vote in far fewer numbers than expected.” https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CRC-Release-AWVI-4-Aug-6-2024-Fourth-Draft.pdf

On a Youtube episode of “Washington Watch,” former Rep. Jody Hice interviews Barna about the research and stated, “this also strongly suggests that evangelicals are more likely to be shaped by the culture around them than they are to influence or evangelize it.” These results are “devastating,” he said. And it begs several questions: What led to this? What does it say about the current church? And what is the way forward?  Barna agreed and said of those who are not living the life of a Christian evangelical,  “I’m not saying [they’re] a lost cause or they’re bad people, but there’s a lot of misinformation in the minds and hearts of people who, even when you define them theologically as evangelicals, they’re not buying into what the Bible teaches and they’re not living it out. This comes in conflict with the heart of what evangelicalism is supposed to do.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdRiEN2vf4

We are a culture that simply “takes the preacher’s word for it” instead of searching the Scriptures ourselves.  This practice can be destructive when it comes to personal faith. People let us down, but the Bible does not.  As we have experienced in recent days, some in political power will do anything to hold on to that power.  They justify their deception as good for the whole, but no one likes to be lied to.  When the world sees the hypocrisy of a few “well positioned” Christian influencers, it can have a devastating result on the Church as a whole.  Words and actions together matter.  We not only have to be more mindful of how we live our faith, but point others to the actual source of truth.  Influencing this world for Jesus means putting into practice the words that He has shared with us, not simply posting a verse on social media.  
 
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.  John 14:15-17

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

The Wilson County / Tennessee State Fair is going on in our area, and several of our members have won ribbons.  Kevin and Elijah Fisher both have Blue Ribbons to add to their collection! Saylor Mitchell is a ribbon winner for her fresh chicken eggs! I’m sure there are several others that brought home prizes, and we congratulate and rejoice with them.  There is something about seeing people we know do well.  You might say, “it’s exciting.”  As Christians, we rejoice together and we cry together.  As we go through life, we find that the ups and downs of those around us has a great impact on our life as well.  Their emotions become our emotions.

Since 1970, the General Social Survey performed by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago https://www.norc.org/ has explored the trends in society, Subjects ranging from Marriage, Current Affairs, Liberties and Politics can all be explored on their website https://gssdataexplorer.norc.org/trends   One of the trends I found most interesting is “Life Satisfaction.” Their research allows the user to cross reference age, education, health, marital status, politics, race and religion.  They discovered that as a whole, 52% of Americans currently describe their life as routine, 43% say it is exciting, and 4% call it dull.  Since the early 1970s the findings reported that Americans who saw “life as exciting” was slowly but steadily increasing, from 43% in 1974 to 51% in 2018. But in 2021, they reported just 35% said the same. This marked the lowest in the history of the GSS. The number rebounded in 2022 but only to the previous low mark of 43% from 1974.  When we isolate this number to those who attend a religious service or not, we see never-attenders experiencing a steep drop. In 2018, 48% called their life exciting, but that dropped to 29% in 2021.  But for those who attended a church service on a regular bases, the “life as exciting” number goes as high as 63%.
 
The numbers are left to individual interpretation, but there is no denying that those who attend a church regularly find life to be just a little more exciting than those who do not. Could it be that the joy felt by others is contagious? When one wins, we all win?  To those who do not attend church, our life as church goers might not seem too exciting. However, once you become part of small group fellowship, something happens that is undeniable.  Life gets better.  You have others to experience the highs and lows of life with.  It might not be as exciting as a ride at the State Fair, but it sure is comforting to have others around you when life throws you for a curve!    
 
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

Almost everyone has a favorite go to snack.  Walking down the aisle at the grocery, one can choose from any number of sweet to salty treat.  In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan introduced me to what would become my favorite, Jelly Beans!  Not just any jelly bean, but Jelly Belly jelly beans.  Up until that point in my life, jelly beans were the discarded leftovers under the fake grass found in the attic in last year’s Easter basket.  The beans I grew up with where waxy, flavorless and simply unremarkable.  When Reagan became President, he spoke of beginning every meeting with jelly beans and was often photographed with a jar on his desk.  As a young man at the time, I knew he was old, but jelly beans, seriously?  I had to try these out.  Jelly Belly came in assorted “flavors,” not just colors.  On the back of the package was a picture of the bean and the flavor you were enjoying.  In 1983, they were so popular that they were taken into space on the Shuttle! The company introduced a buttered popcorn flavor a few years later! I have been a fan since that time!

I came to appreciate these little beauties on a greater level when I saw an “Unwrapped” episode with Mark Summers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U0IhDD7xAA  It takes about two weeks to make just one bean! Jelly Belly beans taste so good because the company takes its time and has perfected a process that injects flavor in the center and the shell.  The process is one of mixing, drying, applying and reapplying special coatings to give the bean their famous look.  Upon earning a final thumbs-up by way of visual inspection and spot taste-testing, the beans are stamped with the Jelly Belly logo and shipped out into the world. https://www.jellybelly.com/company-history

Two weeks to make one batch of beans?  Yes, the results of the attention to detail are enjoyed in the difference between Jelly Belly and every other bean!  The familiar Jelly Belly stamp on each one is a mark of approval and a promise of quality.  With this in mind, I am reminded of the process that a Christian goes through each and every day.  Ephesians 1:13-14 tells us, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

This verse tells us that we are eternally secure and marked positionally as holy through Jesus, however, we know that we still sin. That’s why the Bible also refers to sanctification as a practical experience of our separation unto God. “Progressive” or “experiential” sanctification, as it is sometimes called, is the effect of obedience to the Word of God in one’s life.  2 Peter 3 tells us to continue to grow, Paul tells us in Philippians 1:6 that God will continue the good work in us unto completion.  Unlike the two-week process to make a Jelly Belly, it takes an individual a lifetime to become more like Christ, but we are immediately “marked” at the moment of confession.  Sometimes it seems like we will never get there.  Similar to the wait we endure for the perfect jelly bean, the process of becoming more like Jesus is well worth it!

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

A Gallup headline by Megan Brenan caught my attention this morning:
Majority Still Credits God for Humankind, but Not Creationism: New high of 24% say God not involved in human origins; new 37% low say God created humans in present form  https://news.gallup.com/poll/647594/majority-credits-god-humankind-not-creationism.aspx

Her reporting shows that the readings have not changed significantly from Gallup’s previous measurement in 2019, the percentage who believe God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years is the lowest in this four-decade trend, by one percentage point, and the share who do not believe God had any role in human evolution is the highest recorded, by two points.

The numbers not making a statistical shift during the measurement period brings me great hope. One of the things that has often been a dividing point in communicating with nonchurch attenders is the subject of origin.  To know that a majority of people still believe that a “Higher Power” had a role in origin tells me that people are still thinking on their own.  Spending a great deal of personal time on a college campus, I can testify to the battle of evolution and creationism that goes on. A university campus should be a place of open discussion, presenting evidence and allowing one to come to their own conclusions.  The evidence should speak for itself.  Unfortunately, “trust the science” has become a phrase too often used as a defense among evolutionists.  Their “only one way” approach is off-putting and offensive, as very rarely are they open to a real discussion.  I was encouraged to know that there are still people who are open to a profitable dialogue.  

Paul makes this argument multiple times in the Bible.  In the first chapter of Colossians, verse 15 and following, he lays out his argument for the eternal presence and work of Jesus.  He points to the continuing work of Jesus in Creation.  But it is Romans 1, verse 18 and following that he writes of his (and others) logical conclusions through the individual observation of the created order around them and as reflected in the hamartiological results that naturally occur in the rejection of God’s plan for salvation.

My point is that if people are open to communication, why are we not talking to them about the subject?  I believe that it is because most people think it is too much of a “science” conversation, so they avoid it all together.  Through just these two Biblical examples, Paul makes it easy to present the subject using the Scientific Method.  If someone rejects this, are they not rejecting science?
 
Today, take heart in the fact that God is still working in those you do life with.  Be open to discussion.  Look for opportunities and trust the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation. 
     
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan

God designed people for connections.  There is something within us as people that desires to be connected to others.  It makes sense then that Satan would attempt to place obstacles in our path to thwart that desire.  Political and social events over the past several years represent some of these obstacles.  As people, we can easily point to the differences we have with others based on their political party, social relationships or personal choices.  We use these as excuses to isolate ourselves from those God puts within our scope of influence.  Without giving it a second thought, we miss out on being exposed to what God is doing thought people who do not look, act or behave like we do.  How do we know what God is doing if we don’t make an attempt to connect?

As a nation, we are not well.  It doesn’t take much to look around and see that most every area in our life has been tainted by the sense of separation the Evil One is attempting to promote amongst us.  Christians must be the ones that take the lead and rise above the separation that is being promoted in the climate today.  We have to be willing to put ourselves out there for others to see that there is a way out of this mess.
 
One of the best ways is to follow Jesus example in Scripture.  I love the story of the Woman at the Well. Jesus was intentional in breaking cultural and political norms of His day as a witness to that lady and to His disciples.  He purposely met the woman where she lived, worked, and connected with others. John 4:4 tells us: Now he had to go through Samaria.  No one “had” to go through Samaria, in fact, Jews purposely went around the town.  Jesus loved that group of people just as much as He loves the group of people you might have differences with today.  Who else will go if we do not?

If we’re going to rise above the hate and division we see in the world today, we have to acknowledge the fact that our sovereign Lord knows exactly where He has us.  Your scope of influence could be the one thing that connects people who normally would remain disconnected.  You might not have a national platform to speak from, but your influence over those around you is much stronger and more powerful than any person we see on television or social media.  The people around you see the way you live your life, the choices you make and the people you surround yourself with.  We all have a witness; is yours a good one or bad one.  Do you connect with people or play it safe on the sidelines?  Satan tries to keep us separated from those that need to hear the Gospel message.  Make a point to step up somewhere today and make a connection with another person that might last for Eternity.

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. John 4:28-30

Serving the Savior,  
Bro. Jonathan