The Bible Is Offensive to Those Who Tolerate Sin

Have you ever been in church and felt like the pastor was talking just to you? You wonder how he knew what you were going through or what sin you were wrestling with in your life. Probably he didn’t know, but God knew. He breathed out the words of the Bible to guide, counsel, encourage, scold, convict, and offer help to those who hear or read it. Hopefully, your pastor was preaching accurately from a passage that spoke to your situation.

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:15-17

The Bible wasn’t written to condone our actions, but to teach us right from wrong and how to lead a holy and righteous life. Since we were all born with a propensity to sin, only the Holy Spirit living in our hearts can help us overcome sin and choose God’s good in our life. Many people are good, but God wants redeemed people, not just good people. I’ll say it again, without God, you can’t be or do good as God defines good. That statement might offend some of you right now so let’s look at what the Bible says.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. Rom. 5:7-9

So you may be wondering if I’m saying that anyone who hasn’t accepted Jesus and received the Holy Spirit will lead a sin-filled life? Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying and that’s going to be offensive to every nonbeliever. Without God, there’s no plumb line of God’s expectations for His people and their spiritual alignment with His Word. That’s why it’s so important when you read the Bible to know the context and whether it’s directed to the believer or unbeliever.

So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.” Heb. 4:5-7 NLT

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. 16 But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. Ps. 34:15-16

Pastors’ Challenge

Today, many pastors acquiesce to the secular culture’s demands to be “inclusive.” In an attempt to not be offensive, they avoid preaching on biblical sin. The Bible calls that a false teacher. A pastor’s godly commission is to counter cultures’ lies with biblical truth. The righteous pastor tells the truth in love. If he doesn’t share the truth, he isn’t loving his congregation.

A pastor who avoids boldly covering the hard offensive places in the Bible is looking for the congregation’s affirmation not God’s confirmation. You can’t teach the Bible without offending someone. The Bible is clear on what is sinful and why we should strive to not sin. Believers don’t expect our sinful choices to be excused or legalized but instead confessed and forgiven. Unbelievers who might be in the congregation need to hear that Good News and believers need to live by it.

God is not “inclusive.” He’s actually very exclusive. All are welcome to spend eternal life with Him and His Son Jesus Christ, but there’s a qualifier. Only those who believe Jesus Christ died on the cross, rose again three days later, as we will celebrate on Easter, and confess their sins, ask for forgiveness, and turn from their wicked ways will be saved.  (John 3:16)

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NLT

 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:23

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Rom. 3:23-25 NLT

The entire concept of salvation is confessing and repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The word “sin” is used 1,364 times in the NIV Bible translation, but when’s the last time you heard a pastor preach about sin, even though forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith? Think about it. Paul understood the importance of us recognizing our sins.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Gal. 5:18-21 NLT

 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. . . Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. . . 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Rom. 1: 24-27, 29-30

We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. 1 Tim. 1:9-11 NLT

Jesus talked about sin.

He [Jesus] went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Mark 7:20-23 NLT

Satan is using the secular left to legalize and champion sinful lifestyles and intimidate and silence the church on the one thing Satan uses to destroy God’s civilization—sin. I grew up going to church and I knew from a very young age what was sinful versus what was pleasing to God. In my backsliding days, while I might’ve been resentful of anyone calling out my sin, I knew I was breaking God’s heart because in my heart I knew I was sinning. How many people are sitting in woke churches today living under the lie that if culture says it’s okay and my pastor doesn’t call it wrong, it can’t be all that bad.

Have you heard a message in your church lately on why abortion, the murder of unborn babies, is sinful and wrong? Pastors often don’t teach on the sin of abortion because it might offend someone, so they skip over the Old Testament sacrificing of children to Baal and Moloch. Today, babies are burned or dismembered before they’re even born. With 1 out of 5 pregnancies ending in abortion, there probably will be a family touched by abortion in the congregation, but what if that pastor had been speaking all along about the sanctity of life and why God wants every baby He creates to receive the gift of life. Pastors could be saving babies’ lives. And for those women suffering with the guilt of killing their own child, the pastor could help them find comfort and forgiveness from Jesus. When pastors are afraid to touch that sinful painful subject, babies keep dying and women keep suffering.

Or has your pastor approached the subject in a sermon of why men should not be competing in women’s sports because no man can ever be a woman? Has he talked about what the Bible says about homosexuality, perverse sexual lifestyles, and exposing young children in school to this sin? No, you say. Well, why not? The Bible has a ton to say about it and because pastors don’t discuss it, the number of children experimenting with the rainbow mafia has skyrocketed. Children believe the devil’s lie that they can change their sex surgically or medically, when girls’ genetic XX chromosomes and boys’ XY chromosomes will NEVER change. These children will become patients for life instead of receiving help from Bible-believing pastors, psychologists, and counselors.

Or what about the mutilation and sterilization of children. Has your pastor talked about the deception of parents allowing young children to make such life altering permanent changes to their body that will NEVER change their God-given sex? Someone is probably dealing with this right now in your church.

God’s church can’t and shouldn’t avoid difficult issues. It’s a sin!

I know it sounds like I’m putting the onus for much of the culture’s woes on the church and actually that’s exactly what I’m doing. No one should leave a church sermon with a warm fuzzy feeling that nothing needs to change in their life. That’s a milk toast church. Pastors should be teaching what the Bible says about evil and sin. While it might be offensive to some, God’s Word is the ONLY way to eternal life with Him.

 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Heb. 5:12-14

Many people wrongfully think that politics and spirituality should stay separate and that’s a lie straight from the enemy. Politics has invaded the church by normalizing or even legalizing what we all know is sin. Gay marriage. Abortion. Sexual perversion. Child mutilation. The war against women.

No one is perfect. We see many pastors falling in their personal lives. They’re tempted by sin like any of us. Maybe if they were studying the Scriptures and preaching accurately about overcoming sin, they too would be convicted to live by all of God’s Word. Pastor Jack Hibbs advises pastors, “You don’t avoid the difficult Scriptures, you look for Jesus in them!” The Apostle Paul gave a commission to every pastor.
 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. 28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. Acts 20:27-28 NLT

The Lord appears to every believer through His Word, the Holy Bible, and unbelievers can meet Jesus there. Don’t rely on your pastor; rely on your Savior.  You might be offended by what you read, but God loves you enough to tell you the Truth.

This morning in church, we heard a message on 1 Samuel 3 and we sang in church the old hymn “It Is Well With My Soul.” I’m closing with 1 Samuel 3:21 and a stanza from the song.

The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. 1 Sam. 3:21

“My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”

Please let us know if your pastor helps your church family in overcoming the sins of this world, even when it’s offensive. Leave a reply here.

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‘Maybe’ Is Not In God’s Vocabulary!

I was praying last week with the Jack Hibbs LIFT daily morning prayer, which I’ve mentioned in blogs before, when he said something that caught my attention. He said you won’t find “maybe” used in the Bible. Actually, it’s in there but only three times, and never used by God or Jesus. Twice ‘maybe’ is used as a taunt to deny that God exists in 1 Kings 18:27 and Jonah 1:6, and another time in 1 Kings 18:5 by Ahab saying maybe they can find grass for the horses and mules. That’s it!

So think about that. God is never indecisive, wondering if maybe we should do one thing or another. His Word, the Bible, is always specific, confident, instructive, definitive, and direct. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:15-17

We’re the ones that interject maybes into the Scriptures and question the intent of what God is actually saying. Sometimes we want to give the benefit of the doubt or question His intent, but God says I tell you the Truth and you should absolutely follow it in your life. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

You might question that many people interpret the Bible differently. That’s true. The Bible might speak to each of us differently in our individual situation. But if we rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in exegesis of Scripture in context, and not on what we want the Bible to mean, Christians will usually agree on the interpretation.

A good example of misinterpreting Scripture is people saying that God is the God of love, so you need to love everything everyone does because God loves them. That’s what someone wants the Bible to mean, not what God actually says.

If you counter and ask, “Where does God say, ‘maybe’ it’s okay to sin in this area because I love you?” Of course, they can’t find anywhere it says this because God hates sin. Sin destroys the ones He loves. What God does say is that He loves us all so much, He sent His only begotten Son to die on a cross for those of us who ask for forgiveness for our sins, repent, and become followers of Jesus for eternity. (John 3:16)

When you look at all the red-letter words of Jesus in the Gospels, you won’t find Jesus ever using “maybe.” His words when he preached and taught are full of unqualified, unambiguous, unquestionable, and unwavering wisdom, lessons, and truth to live by.

Jesus didn’t say ‘maybe’ He was the only way to heaven and there could be other beliefs or ways. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 No maybes.

Jesus didn’t say ‘maybe’ if you follow me, you might be saved. He said you will be saved. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” (John. 10:9)

Jesus didn’t say you should ‘maybe’ repent and turn from your wicked ways. He said you must repent to be His follower. “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Luke 5:32

Jesus didn’t say ‘maybe’ that one sin will be okay because overall you’re a good person. He said go and sin no more. Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:11

We’re the ones that try to soften the Gospel and Jesus’ own words by interjecting doubt or suggesting that ‘maybe’ Jesus didn’t really mean what He said.

Sadly, many pastors today want to make their congregations feel good about their sinful lives, insinuating that maybe it’s not all that bad if it makes you happy or it’s not hurting anyone. That’s a false gospel by a false teacher.

God is much more concerned with our holiness than our happiness.

Maybe In Our Vocabulary!

Maybe’ is noncommittal, non-decisive, and reluctant. Maybe we’ll come to your party. Maybe I’ll read the Bible. Maybe I’ll follow most of what the Bible says. Maybe we’ll go to church this weekend. Maybe we’ll come visit.

The Christian life is committed, decisive, and never reluctant. The antithesis of ‘maybe.’

God is looking for bold Christians who are fully committed and fully decisive in their spiritual and personal life. No maybes about it!

Our family rule at the Thompsons is let your yes be yes, and your no be no. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37 

‘Maybe’ and ‘try’ are ways to keep all your options open without making a full commitment. Maybe you will, maybe you won’t. Or other times you don’t want to tell the person no, so you use ‘try’ or ‘maybe’. When I hear those two words, it means the person isn’t reliable. They’re not being forthright. I can’t count on them.

 When you ask someone about anything that has a yes or no answer and they answer with “Maybe,” or “I’ll try,” they most likely mean no. They’re just afraid to give the honest answer, “No.”

If someone says for example, “I’ll try to be on time.” I’ll counter with “That doesn’t sound very committed. Are you going to be on time or should I not expect you?” I want an answer I can depend on, knowing that circumstances can change but they’re going to make an effort. Just tell me yes or tell me no, but don’t say try or maybe.

A favorite stall of some is I need to check my calendar, but since most people today have a calendar on their phone, that’s pretty easy to check. I would prefer to hear, “We won’t be able to make it, but thanks for thinking of us.” Then they can always call later if their plans change and that’s always pleasant news.

There are certain situations where we want to pray before committing. That’s often advisable. In fact, many of us can think of a time we wish we had taken time to pray before saying yes. If that’s the case, then give a timeframe where the other person can expect you to respond. Stick to that time commitment.

Do you think that’s too strict or not flexible enough? Well, God is strict in His commands to us knowing that if we follow them with commitment, perseverance, and diligence, we’re going to be a better witness to others and live a fuller life in Christ.

How many of us who are married would’ve answered, “I’ll try” or “Maybe” when the pastor asked if we would love, honor, and cherish our spouse? If we want the ceremony to continue and the marriage to last, we say, “Yes” loudly, boldly, and committed.

Sometimes we say “maybe” because we’re really not sure what we want. It can mean numerous things, from “I’m not sure I want to do this,” to “I want to do that, but I’m not sure if I can” to “this doesn’t sound like how I want to spend my time” to any number of combinations that make us unsure.

Many times, kids that have lived with divorce and are trying to please both parents find themselves saying maybe or I’ll try because they don’t want to hurt either parent by saying no. Or even worse say “I’ll try” or “maybe” to both parents knowing they can’t be at both places. They live with that worry and angst hanging over them because eventually one of the parents is going to be disappointed when they don’t show up. It would’ve been better to tell one parent no but let’s make other plans to get together. That’s a hard lesson to learn.

If we can learn to say no when it’s not a sure yes, there’s clarity for everyone and actually much less stressful.

Like me, most people are looking for truth they can depend on. If we want to be good witnesses for Christ, we need to be the kind of people others can depend on to live by our words. Sometimes, we’re so uncomfortable saying no, we think we need to give long explanations to justify our reasons. That can lead to lying or making up a story. Not necessary. Not godly. Leviticus 19:11 commands “Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.”

When you know your maybe really means no, you’re essentially lying to the other person. That’s why “maybe” and “try” are not in God’s vocabulary, but “yes” and “no” are. God never vacillates in the way He wants us to live. He sets boundaries and guidelines for us. We need to go and do likewise.

Freedom isn’t the ability to say maybe. It’s the ability to say no or yes and own it.

Please leave a comment here.

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What Should Christians Do In The ‘Golden Age’?

At the start of President Trump’s Inaugural address on January 20, 2025, he promised, “The Golden Age of America begins right now!”

The nation would be safe, secure, and prosperous again. Trump also vowed to eliminate DEI and that “Almighty God” would again be honored in America. He has since established a White House Faith Office and created a task force under Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate “targeting of Christians and eradicate anti-Christian bias. At the National Prayer Breakfast in D.C. President Trump said, “Without God, we are isolated and alone, but with God, the Scriptures tell us, all things are possible.”

Trump’s diplomatic goal for our country is restoring an era of American exceptionalism in which the U.S. is an economic powerhouse, common sense the rule, and traditional values centered on God, family, and freedom are celebrated. The Golden Age.

Origins of Golden Age

Golden Age is a term used to describe a period in history where a culture, society, or nation experiences a period of prosperity, peace, and advancements. This era is characterized by significant achievements, significant contributions, and a collective sense of prosperity and unity. Major advances in science, technology, art, and literature often mark golden ages.

Wikipedia describes ‘Golden Age’ as a metaphor for a time considered as a peak in the history of a country or people when the greatest achievements were made. The term originated from early Greek mythology and Roman poets who used it to refer to a time when mankind lived in a better time.

Characteristics of a Golden Age

While there is no strict definition of a Golden Age, it typically exhibits certain characteristics:

• Profound economic prosperity: The era is marked by stable economic growth, trade flourishing, and widespread wealth creation.
• Cultural achievements: Art, literature, music, and science experience significant advancements, contributing to the development of civilization.
• Peaceful relations: There is little conflict or war, with nations and groups coexisting harmoniously.
• Innovative spirit: New ideas, inventions, and discoveries drive progress, pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Historical Golden Ages

  • Hellenistic Golden Age (323–31 BCE)
  • European Renaissance (14th-17th century)
  • Age of Exploration (15th-17th century)
  • Golden Age of Islam (8th-13th century)

Recent Golden Ages

  • Digital Age (late 20th century-present)
  • Biotechnology and genomics (late 20th century-present)
  • Space Age (20th century)
  • The American Century, the period since the middle of the 20th century has been largely dominated by the United States in political, economic, and cultural terms and may be taken to represent a golden age of global cultural influence and political hegemony.

To many of us, the last four years under the Biden Administration was a demonic dark age.

  • Our national debt close to bankruptcy.
  • DEI and evil woke policies reigned throughout government and businesses.
  • Murdering babies from conception through birth considered a “right.”
  • Perverted decrepit sexual practices normalized and taught to young children in schools.
  • Lines blurred between biological and biblical definitions of men and women.
  • Children sterilized and castrated with drugs and surgical mutilation.
  • A war on women with men invading women’s and girls’ sports and private spaces.
  • A “new green deal” climate hoax forced on Americans.
  • Government censorship.
  • A lack of diplomacy, military readiness, or supremacy on the global stage.
  • People forced to take an experimental vaccination to keep their jobs or children to attend school.
  • Businesses, churches, schools closed by the government.
  • Terrorists funded, including Iran a country that hates America.
  • Our closest ally Israel snubbed and defunded during their horrific crisis.
  • Our border invaded by illegals, terrorists, and criminals.

I could go on, but you and I both lived through the insanity and tyranny. Certainly NOT a Golden Age. It was a dark, demonic, evil age and anyone who spoke or acted against complying with it was threatened, silenced, censored, or even imprisoned. This and so much more is what the American people voted against on November 5, 2024.

So yes, as we watch all of President Trump’s Executive Orders coming out of the Oval Office reversing the evil of the past administration, it does certainly feel like the dawning of a Golden Age. Many of us wake up every morning celebrating the return to sanity and common sense in America as corruption, fraud, and abuse is discovered and eliminated by DOGE.

Last week, we watched the first Cabinet Meeting begin in a beautiful prayer given by HUD Secretary Scott Turner where he prayed, “Father the Bible says, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord’” and he ended with, “In Jesus Name, Amen.”

What a blessing. What hope. What grace and mercy the Lord is granting America.

In today’s Golden Age, spiritually correct is politically correct. Hallelujah!

But we must remember that as good as this feels, our current Golden Age isn’t God’s future Golden Age. It’s like saying heaven on earth, knowing that as good as it might get here, this isn’t eternal Heaven. 

God’s Golden Age

When I told my husband I was writing on the Golden Age, he said he had just bought a book by Dr. David Jeremiah titled, you guessed it, The Coming Golden Age: 31 Ways To Be Kingdom Ready. Wow, what timing! Notice the word “coming” in the title. While we might be living in America’s earthly Golden Age, and let’s pray it continues, the Lord’s Golden Age is in the future. Dr. Jeremiah’s book is prophetically timed because it was published in October 2024 before Trump’s Golden Age for America inaugural speech.

You won’t find the term “Golden Age” in your Bible, but you will find it inferred prophetically. Let me share a few quotes from the Introduction to Dr. Jeremiah’s book.

“Recently I’ve been digging them up—hundreds of verses about the coming Golden Age, the impending thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on this planet. Some commentators say it is the single most mentioned subject in all of God’s Word. Ten centuries when the world will be peaceful, prosperous, and under the power and authority of Jesus Christ! This Millennium of time is ahead of us. It’s the epoch between our Lord’s return to this planet and the onset of the new heaven and new earth of the eternal age.”

“If you belong to Jesus Christ, you’re included in the future He’s designed. There is a coming Golden Age, and it gets even better after that!”

Dr. Jeremiah describes the timeline before the Millennium starting with the Rapture of the church in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. This could happen at any minute. Maybe even before I finish writing this blog! “The vanishing of millions or billions of people will traumatize the nations, leading to a global power shift and worldwide war (Rev. 6:1-8). A cunning one-world ruler [Antichrist] will emerge, triggering seven years of Tribulation on our planet (Dan. 9:27; Rev. 6-18).”

Revelations 15:1 and Zech. 14:2 describes what Jesus called “great tribulations, such as not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21 NKJV). This will climax in the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16.) “Just when Israel appears on the verge of annihilations, Jesus Christ will appear in the sky and destroy the hostile forces of the Antichrist (Zech. 14:2; Rev. 19:11-16). Our Lord will literally speak the victory, and He will deliver His people.”

Those already raptured will be with Jesus and see Him descend onto the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4; Acts 1:11) as He gloriously enters Jerusalem and assumes the reins of world government for one thousand years (Rev. 20:4-6). The Millennium. God’s coming Golden Age.

As Dr. Jeremiah explains, “It’s the kingdom to come, the fulfillment of all the promises God made to Israel in the Old Testament. It’s also the bridge of time that will take us into the eternal enclaves of the new heaven, the new earth, and the everlasting capital of New Jerusalem.”

The Christian Golden Opportunity

The earthly Golden Age for Christians should mean more to us then an easier life where we feel less threatened and more supported. We should take every opportunity to proclaim the name of Jesus to anyone and everyone who will listen, and even those who won’t!

“The time has come,” he [Jesus] said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15

I recently heard a pastor pray asking God that we wouldn’t just experience the next four years of President Trump’s Golden Age, but we would have a Golden Age for the next four generations. I’m not sure why he limited it to four generations, except maybe it synced with four years. Many of us pray the Rapture comes before that.

I agree with those who believe God has granted a reprieve with President Trump. Christianity will be celebrated and not berated or silenced so that reformation and revival can occur publicly and profusely.

God wants as many people as possible saved before they die or the Rapture, whichever comes first. Today, we clearly see many blatantly endorsing and choosing evil. A denial of God. Yet, God wants them saved too. However, if they continue to rebel against Him, He will leave them to their own demise (Romans 1:18-32).

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done . . . They not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Rom. 1:28, 32

The earthly national Golden Age is our Golden Opportunity as Christians to share the Gospel to as many people as possible. Look at unbelievers in your family, friends, neighbors, fellow workers, or acquaintances with a new conviction to spare them from eternity in Hell when they die or experiencing a time when God’s wrath will pour out on the world during the tribulation for anyone left behind after the Rapture.

The thought of this fate is what kept me on my knees praying daily for six years for my daughter, which I describe in Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter. I love her so much. I couldn’t, and wouldn’t, settle for her going through the terrible tribulation, or if she died before the Rapture, going straight to Hell.

There is no second chance to change your mind after death. No in between. No reprieve. People can become believers during the Tribulation, but they’ll be tortured and probably killed by the Antichrist for not accepting the Mark of the Beast. Even today, we hear of Christians in the Congo beheaded for their Christian faith.

You’re probably thinking how did we go from opening this blog with a joyous Golden Age era and ending up talking about Hell?! Because Hell is as real as Heaven. Don’t be fooled thinking everyone who dies goes to Heaven. Only those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior here on earth will be with Jesus in eternity.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell[a] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matt. 7:13-14 NLT

Sharing the truth of the Gospel is our job as Christians during this relief from governmental persecution of faith. Now is the time to unashamedly tell your testimony that Jesus saves! So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. 2 Tim. 1:8 NLT

It’s no coincidence you and I are living during this earthly Golden Age. God wants us to take advantage of the freedom to spread Christianity. There’s no guarantee it’s going to last four generations as that pastor prayed or even four years. Jesus doesn’t tell us the hour or the day when God says He has had enough. People have had a chance to make their decision and it’s time to take His people home. I’ve given you a lot to consider and pray about. Jesus doesn’t want anyone lost. Let it be said the same of us.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. John 6:39

If you don’t receive my weekly newsletter, you can read the opening article in the February issue, “God Knows What A Woman Is!” here. Also, signup for the newsletter on my website.

Have you read my latest blogs? Make America and You Healthy Again! Or Making America Godly Again!

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Make America And You Healthy Again!

I’ve been rooting and praying for all of President Trump’s cabinet picks, but one I especially was excited to see pass all the Senate scrutiny and interrogation and eventually be confirmed was Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also known as RFK Jr. Even when he was running for president as a Democrat, I enjoyed hearing him talk about his goal of researching the cause of chronic illnesses, especially in children, and his stumping for eating real food, avoiding processed food, and investigating the additives in our food. The Democrats tried to prevent him from being on the ballot, denied him Secret Service protection, and were so mean to one of their own, I knew he must have some good qualities if they were that against him.

RFK Jr. ended his presidential campaign and is now the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While I don’t agree with some of his political views, I’m completely onboard with him joining President Trump’s team to Make America Healthy Again, otherwise known as MAHA.

My MAHA Story!

First, a little of my history and explanation of why I’m so excited to be a “MAHA Mom.” Actually, I was a MAHA Mom, MAHA Wife, and now MAHA Grammie, long before there was MAHA!

My first career out of college was as a hospital clinical Registered Dietitian. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Administration, a one-year internship at the Santa Monica VA Hospital and UCLA, passed a grueling registration test, and maintained a continuing education requirement for many years.

I was naive when I entered the nutrition field back in the early 70’s. I was going to be the Florence Nightingale of Dietetics, so sure that R.D.s would have the respect of M.D.s after all the education it took to become a Registered Dietitian. Doctors would surely treat me as a peer in the medical treatment process. Patients would be eager to learn how they could overcome or even prevent many of their illnesses by simply eating healthy.

My lofty aspirations of people wanting to help themselves by eating healthy turned out to be the most disappointing, degrading, deflating and unfulfilling career I’ve ever experienced. It’s even easier being an evangelist now helping people turn to Jesus to save their spiritual souls than it was back then trying to help people save their physical bodies.

Both doctors and patients it seemed would prefer depending on pills, shots, surgeries, and repeated hospitalizations rather than including a healthy diet in their treatment plan. Patients accused me of taking away their favorite foods thus their reason for living! Often, I got to know patients well because it was like a revolving door of them returning back to the hospital worse than when I last saw them.

I would counsel wives that they were loving their husband to death by feeding him unhealthy food and not following the prescribed diet. I was shocked when most of the wives just looked at me with eyes that conveyed, I’m going to feed him whatever he likes because it’s his love language. I pleaded, “Even if it kills him?”

Doctors didn’t respect R.D.s and patients resented us. After several years of this career abuse, I realized I couldn’t do this for the rest of my life. After dipping my toe into sales, I discovered I was good at it, so I became a manufacturer’s rep for dietetic products and my customers were those poor berated R.D.’s in hospitals.

But once a dietitian always a dietitian as my family will attest to in how I feed them! Times have changed and nutrition has become more popular, yet still Americans are the most overweight and unhealthy people in the world?! When RFK Jr. abandoned his presidential aspirations and teamed up with Trump and I heard their joint goal was to Make America Healthy Again, I bought the MAHA trucker’s hat and started cheering for RFK Jr. to be successful.  I wasn’t alone.

I wore my Make America Healthy Again hat everywhere during the election campaign, especially when we went shopping. Now, I wear it victoriously. People often stop me to say, “I love your hat!” Or even, “I’m praying for them.” Sometimes it’s just a knowing smile or nod. When I wore it on vacation, I even had a radiologist tell me how happy he was that soon government officials would be taking steps to eliminate additives and unhealthy ingredients in our food, especially processed foods. I was thrilled to hear a doctor onboard with MAHA!

I’ve always been a huge proponent of reading all food labels. If there’s more than five ingredients, dyes, sugar, or ingredients you don’t recognize, don’t buy it or eat it. Especially, don’t give it to your growing children. Fresh is always best.

I now write a Nutrition Nook column in the bi-monthly Idaho Christian Living Magazine. It’s fun to still share my nutritional knowledge and passion. Maybe in the future, I’ll post some of those columns in this Monday Morning Blog.

Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And What is His Spiritual Testimony?

I watched the swearing in of RFK Jr. as the next HHS Secretary by Justice Neil Gorsuch in the Oval Office and President Trump signed an executive order establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which will be led by Kennedy. I was super impressed to hear Kennedy give God the glory in his remarks, “For twenty years I’ve been on my knees every morning praying that I could end the childhood disease epidemic and God gave me President Trump.”

The night of his swearing in, Kennedy was interviewed on the Laura Ingraham program. You can watch the interview @ RFK: We’re In A Spiritual Crisis; “People Feel Disconnected, And That’s Fueling Depression, Addiction & Chronic Disease” | Video | RealClearPolitics. Here’s a snippet of the opening.

INGRAHAM: Before we get into the priorities on day one, you talked about prayer today in the Oval Office with all of those paintings from Reagan to Andrew Jackson to Abraham Lincoln, Washington all around you. Why did you go to that moment?

KENNEDY JR.: Well, you know, I think it’s relevant because we’re not just in a health crisis, but we’re in a spiritual crisis and those things are connected. And you know, so many times during my campaign, traveling across the country, I sense that that people are feeling disconnected.

You have a whole generation of kids that feel alienated, dispossessed. They are in an existential crisis, not only because their health is, you know, 77 percent of our kids can’t qualify for military service. There is no purpose in their lives and no sense of usefulness or effectiveness or connectedness to their communities. And that drives also the chronic disease epidemic, and the epidemics we’re seeing of depression, of suicide, of alcoholism, of drug addiction. I think we have to address all of those things at the same time. We can’t just say we’re going to make you physically healthy.

INGRAHAM: That’s a tall order.

KENNEDY JR.: Yes, well, I think, you know, we all have to learn. You know, we need to get up in the morning and not think about, what am I going to do to make myself happy today? We have to get up and say, what am I going to do to make myself useful today, to be useful to my friends, to my family, to my community and that paradoxically is ultimately the path to happiness connected to this, you get from doing, you know, from doing good things, from being of service to others.

In the interview, Kennedy told Laura that he’s been a recovering addict for 42 years and goes to meetings every day. His references to God both during his swearing in and this interview made me want to delve a little deeper. Here’s what I found in an article in the Western Journal “RFK Jr. Talks About His 14-Year Battle with Addiction and How He Overcame It Through Faith in God.” The author Richard Bledsoe wrote the following words July 11, 2023, while RFK was still running for president himself.

“Politicians often evoke God for cynical reasons. They may be trying to appear pious, claim divine approval for some policy proposal, or fit in with the priorities of their constituents. However, when it’s a personal story of how God impacted a life, and the visible evidence supports that claim, it’s possible even a politician can bear witness to God’s love.”

The addiction RFK Jr. struggled with began when he was 15, a year after his father was assassinated in 1968, although on the Ingraham Angle he made the statement he always felt he was born with a propensity to an addiction.

In a podcast interview with MIT research scientist Lex Fridman, Kennedy spoke about his addiction and recovery. “When you’re an addict, you’re living against conscience,” he said. “I was always trying to get off of drugs, never able to. But I never felt good about what I was doing.”

The addiction grew despite Kennedy’s religious upbringing. He had to find his way back to God before he could beat it. After learning that addicts who believe in God have better recovery rates, Kennedy chose to behave as if he were a believer, even though at first it was a pretense. “I just started pretending there was a God watching me all the time,” he said.

Kennedy said then God accomplished the impossible for him.

“I had a spiritual awakening and my desire for drugs and alcohol was lifted miraculously,” he said. “And to me, it was as much a miracle as if I’d been able to walk on water because I had tried everything earnestly, sincerely, and honestly for a decade to try to stop and I could not do it under my own power.

“And then all of a sudden, it was lifted effortlessly. So I saw that early evidence of God in my life … and I see it now every day of my life.”

I agree with Bledsoe who wrote, “Opening up about the role of faith in his life, and not being afraid to discuss his flaws, makes Kennedy seem more real than other politicians.”

After hearing more about Kennedy’s faith journey, his humble surrender and dependence on God, and his willingness to talk openly about his past addiction, I do believe RFK Jr. is sincere about wanting to Make America Healthy Again. Especially to discover why children and adults have so many more chronic illnesses and shorter lives than the rest of the world even though we’re one of the wealthiest countries.

What Are the Goals of MAHA?

If you would like to read more, I would encourage you to read RFK Jr.’s Top Health and Wellness Priorities As Doctors Share Input. The goal categories are Reforming Food Policy, Improving Healthcare Access, More Accountability for Pharma Companies, Restoring Medical Freedoms, Advocating for Physical Activity, Promoting Personal Accountability.

Here’s a little more from the Ingraham Angle Interview:

Kennedy: “I believe in freedom of choice. If you want to eat Twinkies, you ought to be able to eat them. But you ought to know what’s in them. So, a lot of what I’m going to do is about being transparent—radical transparency. What I’m about is I want people to understand and empower them to know that if you eat that, it may seem cheap, but it’s gonna cost you in the long run. You might get diabetes etc.”

We have 10,000 additives in our food. Europeans have 400. Many of our additives are illegal in Europe.

Ingraham asked if we were going to become a “nanny state.” She brought up that Pres. Trump likes Big Macs. “You’re not going to take those away, are you?” she asked him.

Kennedy: “McDonalds ought to be incentivized to use beef tallow fat when it’s cooking its Big Mac so that they’re good for people. Rather than using seed oils or some other cooking oils that are actually probably going to make you sicker. So, we want to do a number of things but not take away choice from people.”

“The one place where I would say that we need to really change programs is SNAP [Supplemenal Nutrition Assistance Program], food stamps, and school lunches because they are federal programs and, in many cases, we’re paying for it, and we shouldn’t be subsidizing people to eat poison!”

Kennedy’s message resonates with me. The young enthusiastic altruistic “Florence Nightingale R.D.” who became so disillusioned all those years ago, still has the burning desire to help people nutritionally fuel their body, God’s holy temple. As Kennedy says, and I echo, “For too long, we’ve been stuck in a passive disease management system that treats symptoms instead of addressing the root causes of illness.” 

Kennedy’s, and my, message is the same as it’s been since God created our bodies, “Your health is your responsibility. The government won’t fix it. Your doctor won’t fix it. Big pharma certainly won’t fix it. It’s on you.”

God will help anyone who is willing to help themselves. “The Bible is like food for the inner person. It is milk (1 Peter 2:2), solid food (Hebrews 5:11-14), bread (Matthew 4:4), and honey (Psalm 19:9-10).” Warren Wiersbe

“I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.” Florence Nightingale

Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest. Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. Is. 55:2-3 The Message

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Cor. 6:10-20

PS If you want to learn more about MAHA Moms here’s an interesting article. The ‘MAHA Moms’ Behind Kennedy – The Kennedy Beacon

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Praying for President Trump: A Call to Action

As you read this blog, you may be getting ready to watch President Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, or maybe you’ve already watched it. Regardless, history is being made as he becomes only the second president in United States history to win non-consecutive terms as we launch into a new era that Trump has called the “Golden Age.”

Most of us would agree that the past four years have been hard, but we made it. I personally can see many reasons that God had President Trump wait until this year to reenter the White House and perhaps I will save that for a future blog. Today, I want to do something a little different and suggest a call to action to pray for success, protection, and wisdom for our new President and all those who will be serving our country with him and his family who love and support him. So, pray with me please and feel free to add any prayers the Holy Spirit brings to your mind in the comments.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come together today using these humble written words and Your Words to praise You and pray for newly elected President Donald J. Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, cabinet members, and additional staff who will be serving the American people in the federal government. And we pray for all their families.

Father, You tell us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 that You command us to pray for those in authority because it is vital to the success of any leadership, and we want this administration to be successful. You say, I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

As Your followers who want to live peaceful and quiet lives, we pray that our national, state, and local governments would rule with godliness and holiness and seek You always for wisdom, guidance, and discernment in governing.

The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. 11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. 12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. Ps. 33:10-12

So first, we pray that President Trump, his advisers, cabinet, and team would look to You, Lord, as they make and execute their plans for our Nation. That they would humbly and patiently seek Your will and not their own. We trust Father that if they would simply ask You will help them with all the decisions and policies they will be making, changing, or discarding. The king’s [President’s] heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases. (Pr. 21:1)

For those, Lord, who refuse to seek You, we pray for their removal from positions that would inflict anything on constituents which goes against Your Word and Your will. We especially pray for eyes to open and hearts to break for the imperative need for righteous protection of the unborn. The removal of evil teaching policies and sexual grooming in the education of our children and grandchildren and that You, Lord, would be brought back into our schools along with a patriotic love for our country. We pray that marriage and sex would be governed as you designed in creation and not as man has “reimagined” and distorted it.

Lord, Your Word tells us in Proverbs 29:2 that, When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. Lord, we have been groaning now for four years under a heavy burden of wickedness and unrighteousness with evil, lies, and injustice in our government. We identify with Old Testament people as they vacillated between bad and good judges and kings. We praise You and give You gratitude for hearing the pleas of over 77 million Americans who voted for a return to civility, common sense, and biblical principles and values in our country as our founding fathers envisioned in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

We praise You, Lord, that there are some godly people now in positions of authority. We pray not only that they would not bend or break in their devotion to You in all their actions, decisions, words, and policies, but that they would also be a witness of the power of Jesus Christ in their life as they serve along some who may not know you personally. Let the faithful never be afraid to share that their hope, strength, and power originates from You, Lord. “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matt. 10:32-33)

Please let each official who knows You as his or her Savior remember Your counsel to live by and govern with a biblical worldview and be ready to explain the reasons why. 1 Peter 3:15-16 advises how to do this.  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

We pray Lord that You will protect President Trump from physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual harm. We know that the worst of all the world’s enemies is Satan who prowls around like a roaring lion night and day looking for someone to devour. We’ve watched satanic evil target President Trump in assassination attempts to take his life and lawfare to falsely slander and imprison him. Yet still he has prevailed. We see in his words that he understands it is You, God, who has saved him physically, and we pray he is saved spiritually. Let all the attempts of the evil one against President Trump, his family, his cabinet, and his team bounce off their shields of faith and boomerang back on the assailants. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Eph. 6:16

Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Pr. 30:5 NLT

Franklin Graham reminds us that, “As we pray, remember above all that our hope is in the Lord, not men. Only [You] God can save souls and only [You] God can bring revival to the nation—a moral and spiritual transformation that brings stability, true peace and God’s blessings.”

Oh Lord, You never fail and You always achieve Your good and rightful purpose. Let us be people who continue to pray for our president and government not just on Inauguration Day, but every day. Even when we can’t see clearly what You’re doing, You tell us to partner with You in praise, prayer, and purpose. So, we now humbly submit and commit to You that we will do just that to the best of our ability. We will give You all the praise and glory for the blessings You have given each of as American citizens currently and Heavenly citizens for eternity.

“We have no King but Jesus.” John Adams

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chr. 7:14)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer. 29:11-13

Amen

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God, NOT The Government, Controls the Climate!

You can’t turn on the news today without hearing about the “LA Apocalypse” of wind and fire that has destroyed thousands of homes, displaced over 100,000 people, and taken 24 lives as of this writing. The LA sheriff expects the loss of life count will go up when they’re able to search through the ashes for those who have gone missing. Not to mention the wildlife that couldn’t escape. The pictures we see of charred cars, burnt homes and businesses looks like the fictional movies depicting the apocalyptic end of the world.

Certainly, it could seem like the end of their world to those impacted by these horrific fires with the loss of keepsakes, treasures, possessions, clothes, shelter, homes, and maybe even lives. We need to be praying for the first responders, firefighters, and residents—rich or poor—who only escaped with the clothes on their backs and maybe a computer and pets.

What’s Predictable is Preventable

What has infuriated many watching and experiencing this crisis unfold, is California government’s neglect to prepare the residents and take preventive preparation when the National Weather Service had issued numerous red flag warnings of a dangerous situation brewing. Finger pointing, excuses, lying, and blaming instead of taking responsibility and showing leadership is the government response. There’s an apparent lack of sincere compassion and caring by the governor and mayor whose job it is to protect the residents of California. Instead, they seem more concerned about their own political futures or defending their political agenda.

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. Pr. 29:2

Then there’s the liberal politicians in Washington who immediately start touting the climate change hoax as the cause, which helps no one and is a lie straight from the devil.

Remember back in the Garden of Eden where Satan tempted Adam and Eve with the idea that they could be God. That didn’t work out well for them and it doesn’t for us either. No matter how smart or scientific man thinks he is, God created climate, the weather, and the wind. In the Bible, wind is mentioned 247 times and in 41 Books in the Bible. The first time was right after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit after Satan told them they could be like God (Gen. 5).

 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Gen. 3:8 NLT

Winds became violent in biblical times too. For example, Job 1:19, 23; Jer. 4:11, 13:24; Ex. 14:21, 26. And who can forget Jesus quieting the winds with the disciples in the boat during a storm. These might’ve been 100 mile per hour winds too, maybe worse.

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:40-41

Wind isn’t new. Seasonal weather changes aren’t new. Fire isn’t new. Sadly, man thinking He can control what only God controls isn’t new either.

What is new is . . .

  • Dry fire hydrants with no water!
  • The LA water chief admitting her work is guided through an ‘equity lens.’
  • The LA fire chief touted as a “lesbian” whose goal is to make the fire department more DEI staffed.
  • The LA mayor being on a junket to Ghana and cutting the fire department’s budget by $17 million.
  • The governor cutting fire management budget by $100M a few months before the lethal fires!
  • Because of budget cuts, using prisoners and firefighters from Mexico to help battle the blazes.
  • The governor sending rain and snow water out to the ocean and shutting down four dams in the state while nearby reservoirs are empty.
  • And on and on…

Over the years, man’s atheistic attempt to corral and control the weather has been called climate change, climate control, global warming, greenhouse gasses, climate crisis, climate emergency, climate breakdown, polar vortex, and the latest “green new deal,” which climate cult alarmist AOC said in 2019 we’d all be dead in 12 years if not followed. Before AOC, others made similar wild predictions that never materialized.

When AOC and liberals first proposed the green new deal, it was considered a ridiculous joke. Yet today, liberal states like California have used it to create an environment safer for fish than for people! They’ve wasted billions of dollars to satisfy environmentalists while not clearing brush, doing controlled burns, logging, or collecting the rain and snowfall God sends to help put out fires.

Man tries to predict the weather that God sends, but that weather forecast can change minute by minute. In the case of California, high velocity Santa Ana winds were predicted in the LA area and winds often lead to fire from fallen power lines or arsonists, maybe even terrorist, who use the winds to nefariously and satanically start fires.

Before moving to Idaho almost 14 years ago, I lived my entire life in SoCal. I’ve experienced earthquakes, Santa Ana winds which I thought was going to rip off my roof the night before my wedding, fires which caused several evacuations in an area where we had a cabin, and mudslides when the rains come after the fires. So, I understand California weather and I know it’s important to vote in government officials who care more about protecting their constituents and the land then the latest DEI or progressive liberal ideology.

Here’s what I also know about God and weather regardless of the state you live in.

  • God created fire and it’s a significant symbol of divine manifestations in the Bible. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and the pillar of fire led the Israelites by night through the desert, representing the presence and power of God.
  • We see other Demonstrations of God’s power and authority, such as Elijah’s sacrifice and fiery furnace in Daniel, showcase the divine ability to consume and protect through fire.
  • The Holy Spirit descending as tongues of fire at Pentecost signifies spiritual empowerment and the purifying work of God in believers’ lives.
  • The Lake of Fire serves as a cautionary warning for believers and unbelievers, reminding them of the consequences of rejecting God, His Son, and His righteousness.

Everyone Needs the Lord Now More Than Ever! Is God Trying to Get Our Attention?

We’re experiencing weekly, sometimes daily, crises and catastrophes. While many of us remain hopeful that progressive woke, DEI policies, illegal invasion, terrorism, and crime will be contained under a new presidency, only God knows the future. We need to put our trust in Him and not in our government. Government will surely fail us because they often forget they’re NOT God. Listen for the still small voice like Elijah heard after the wind, the earthquake, and the fire.

 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-13

The True Meaning of Apocalypse

Tom Gilbreath wrote in “A Message From HalLindsey.com” On January 12, 2025 . . .

The word apocalypse means “reveal” or “revelation.” We associate the word with massive, fiery disasters because of the horrors described in the book of Revelation. But the first five words of that book tell what it’s really about — “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” 

With the real definition in mind, I hope that Los Angeles and California, along with the rest of America, will view this as a wakeup call. Actor Dennis Quaid, on a local television news report Friday night, said, “I think there’s a spiritual awakening on the other side of this.” May it be so. May there be a real apocalypse — a revelation. May Christ be revealed, and may America see the light.

I wrote this blog on July 18, 2022. Only God Decides the End of the World

Victor Davis Hanson lives in California. Victor Davis Hanson: California’s Catastrophic Wildfires Are ‘A DEI, Green New Deal Disaster’

Pastor Jack Hibbs, I wrote about in last week’s blog 2025 A Year of New Beginnings, that I’m praying with him on Facebook live every morning, was fired up in his Sunday morning message on January 12, 2025. He doesn’t hold back. Here’s a clip of who he thinks should run for Governor in California and LA mayor.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
Is. 61:1-4

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We’re Not Called to Be Christians; We’re Called to Be Disciples!

When I first heard Christian comedian John Stein say on Flashpoint, “We were never called to be Christians,” my ears perked up and I was thinking, “Say what?” Then, when he followed it with, “We were called to be disciples!” I said aloud, “Yes!” Christian outreach and mentoring. The heart of the Christmas and Easter stories.

At this time of year, we hear the Christmas story in sermons and read in our Bibles of how Jesus sacrificed his home in heaven to be born as an infant in a smelly earthly manger. Aren’t we grateful that Jesus’ teenage mother Mary didn’t have access to abortion clinics or abortion pills, but instead welcomed a child, the Savior of the world, at an extremely inconvenient and embarrassing time. She didn’t count the cost of the sacrifice of reputation and marital plans. She and fiancé Joseph both trusted God.

Then at Easter, we remember the reason Jesus came to earth was to die a painful humiliating death on a cross and rise alive three days later to offer those who believe in Him forgiveness of their sins and eternal life. But salvation comes with a responsibility as a “Christian.” Before ascending back to heaven, Jesus’ parting assignment to His disciples and to all Christians is The Great Commission.

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:16-20.

Jesus didn’t say go and make Christians. He said go and make disciples and then teach them what it means to be a Christian so that they in turn will disciple others. During his three-year earthly ministry, Jesus discipled men and women who then became His faith-filled followers: Christians. The term Christian doesn’t even occur in Scripture until after Barnabas and Saul (later named Paul) had been discipling the church.

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:25-26

 Jesus never called his followers “Christians,” he called them disciples. Jesus’ divine plan for each of His followers was to multiply Christianity through discipleship and mentoring. Likewise, He called each of us who know Jesus as our Savior to be disciples. That should be a sobering and challenging thought and a commission for us this Christmas season.

How Can We Be Disciples?

  • Share Your Faith by Witnessing What Jesus Has Done for You

Christmas is an easy time of year to share our faith through conversations, Christmas cards, at parties, social media, wishing store clerks and everyone we have conversations with a Merry Jesus Christmas. But the real test of our faith is whether we take advantage of opportunities to talk about Jesus when it’s not Christmas or Easter.

Every Christian has a story to tell of how Jesus became his or her Savior. Why don’t we tell that miraculous divine story more often? People are intrigued to know more about each other. We ask questions like: How did you meet your husband or wife? How long have you been married? How long have you lived in this city or neighborhood? What kind of work do you do? How long have you attended this church?

Why don’t we ask: “How long have you been a Christian?” “How and when did you ask Jesus to be your Savior?” “What’s your faith story?” “What are you doing for Jesus today?” “How are you discipling others?”

Even if we’re not asked, why don’t we spontaneously tell our faith story of becoming a discipling Christian? Some might say that’s too personal. Jesus warns us against hiding the light of Jesus in our life.
 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt. 5:14-16

Asking Jesus to come into our heart should be THE most important highlight of our life. It should define us! It’s our identity! We’re called to be disciples sharing Jesus. Not Christians who keep the greatest news in the world as a private secret.

In my blog last week, The Battle to ‘Fight, Fight, Fight’ Has Just Begun, I mentioned Pete Hegseth who is President-Elect Donald Trump’s cabinet choice for Department of Defense. As Pete encounters a media smear campaign, the Lord has given him tremendous opportunity to share his faith. Pete repeatedly says to reporters and cameras, “I am not the man I was ten years ago because of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Or he’ll say, “Jesus Christ saved my life.”

Hegseth is using an unfair persecution to disciple the public. He’s not just saying, “I’m a Christian,” which he actually does say on his Facebook profile. He’s discipling the world by telling what Jesus Christ did for him personally and offering hope that the listener’s life could also experience the same divine intervention.

Recently Boise State University’s football team won the Mountain West Championship and the first words out of the coach’s mouth when interviewed was, “Thank you Jesus!” Which my husband tells me the coach says after every win. The BSU running back Ashton Jeanty also gave all the glory to “Jesus for saving my life” when he was interviewed. Thousands of viewers heard these discipling moments and only God knows the young people or people going through a hard time who also gave their heart to Jesus after hearing these athletes use their platform to share Jesus.

“I thank God, man. I never thought I’d be in this position,” Colorado’s Travis Hunter said when accepting the Heisman Trophy, wiping away tears on Coach Prime’s shoulder.

These men understand discipling and how to publically and unashamedly give the glory to God for what He’s done, and is still doing, in their life! We marvel at them and yet they’re discipling us to also be just as proudly bold about Jesus. Not just at this time of year or when it’s convenient, but every opportunity, everyday.

  • Be a Mentor; Find a Mentor

Another word for discipling is mentoring. I like to paraphrase Titus 2:3-5 “Teach what you’ve been taught so others can go and teach or disciple what you taught them.” I always sign my book, Mentoring for All Seasons, “Be a mentor, find a mentor.”

Life is full and diverse. We encounter seasons and God helps us through each one so we can help someone else going through something similar. The subtitle to the book is my tagline and the perfect description of mentoring, “Sharing life experiences and God’s faithfulness.” Who do you know who needs you to disciple or mentor them through a life experience right now?

What Will It Cost to Be a Disciple?

While ruminating on the concept of being a Christian disciple and how I would write about it, I came across my Facebook friend Christine Trimpe’s meme, which is the opening picture I’m sharing with her permission. There is a cost of discipleship. Our time. Energy. Effort. Maybe even persecution.

  • While Jesus called us to be disciples, He also warned us of the sacrifice.

 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. Luke 14:25-32. NLT

  • We may suffer for being a discipling Christian.

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:16

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” Matt. 12:30 NLT

Peter was saying what the opening picture of this blog depicts. We need to completely surrender our heart to Jesus and be ready to go wherever He sends us, talk to whomever He puts in our path, and be ready and willing to tell the Greatest Story ever told! “Once I was lost, but Jesus found and saved me and He wants to save you too.”

After dark one evening, he [Nicodemus] came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:2-3

Jesus answered [Thomas], “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Who do you know this Christmas who needs to hear discipling truths?

Please leave a comment here.

Note: I’m taking off the next two Mondays, but the Lord willing, I’ll be back with a Monday Morning Blog on January 6, 2025, and my December end of the year About His Work Ministries Newsletter will be out on December 30.

Merry Jesus Christmas and Happy Discipling 2025!

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Don’t Let Politics Cancel Thanksgiving This Year!

I know all of you don’t receive my monthly free About His Work Ministries Newsletter, so I wanted to share with you the November opening article that posted today in case you missed it. It’s so important that we don’t let politics or an election cause us to boycott or ghost friends and relatives on a day that’s all about thanking and praising God for His goodness to us. Don’t let anyone persuade you differently. If you’ve already read this article in the newsletter, I hope it blessed you. If you haven’t read it yet, here you go. Have a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving from Dave and me!

14 Ways to Celebrate a Peaceful Prayerful Post-Election Thanksgiving!

An extended family member was surprised we were celebrating a family Thanksgiving this year. She had heard the ludicrous decree that families and friends with differing political views shouldn’t celebrate Thanksgiving?! She believed this outrageous proclamation as fact and surveys show she’s not alone. A quarter of Americans say they’re canceling Thanksgiving plans over political clashes. Pathetic and tragic.

Much of the mistruths, lies, and gas lighting made from the liberal side of the aisle works to disintegrate and divide friends and families instead of uniting them around the things they do agree on like loving your family regardless of their political or faith beliefs. Family is stronger than politics and God tells us to love those who don’t agree with us, even though we don’t always love their actions or beliefs.

Absolutely, we’re having a joyous family Thanksgiving celebration! We have much to be thankful for this year beyond the election. So yes, I’ll be making my famous sweet potatoes for those who love them. And I’ll be bringing my Thanksgiving tablecloth, which you can read about at the end of this article. We won’t let political or faith differences prevent us from giving praise, glory, and thanks to our Lord and Savior for another year of life together.

In the fragile aftermath of a volatile election, I imagine many of you are having similar concerns and conversations. I remember my mom cautioning that if you want to keep the peace, don’t talk about religion or politics. As a kid, I never understood that warning. Believers are supposed to tell everyone about Jesus. Since being a Christian is our first identity . . . how could we not talk about our Savior? Likewise, if we’re happy about our vote resulting in political policies that align with our faith and beliefs, then we shouldn’t have to stifle our joy.

I’m bold about my first role in life: being a born-again Christian. All other roles come second. As I wrote in Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten, “Bold doesn’t mean obnoxious. It simply means not being afraid to speak the truth, even in the face of adversity: ‘Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold’ (2 Cor. 3:12).”

For example, if someone asks what I write, I answer, “Christian living nonfiction.” Or, “I’m a Christian author and speaker.”  My response often opens the door for further discussion of my books. If someone asks if I’m happy with the results of the election, I respond with a resounding, “Ecstatic!” I recently wore my “Make America Healthy Again” hat on vacation, as I do around town when home, and I’m inundated with smiling people loving my hat. I worked hard and prayed hard for the outcome that represented my biblical worldview, and I’m not ashamed. I do understand others are disappointed, just like I was in 2020, but we still had Thanksgiving that year too!

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. Philippians 1:20 NLT

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 2 Timothy 1:8 NLT

Is Thanksgiving a Religious Holiday?

That could be an awkward question in some circles. I was with a group of people and mentioned how I hoped people would set their differences aside on Thanksgiving Day, and one person said, “It’s just a time for eating a lot of food, watching football, and shopping online anyway.”

Me: “I’m pretty sure the first pilgrims who celebrated Thanksgiving didn’t have TV or Amazon.

Another responded: “Well at least Thanksgiving isn’t a religious holiday.”

I asked: “Who then are we thanking?”

Complete silence.

Of course, the answer is: God. Abraham Lincoln made it an official national holiday “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.” The English colonists we call Pilgrims celebrated days of thanksgiving as part of their religion as days of prayer, not feasting.

Yes, it’s a time of family and friends gathering, but as we sit around the feast together, we can’t thank each other, or aliens, or the “big bang” for giving us life, the sun, moon, trees, food, the earth, water, sky, sweet babies, and all the blessings we enjoy.

We read in Genesis that God spoke everything into being, and yet, many of us will be sharing turkey and dressing with people who don’t believe or discount the existence of God. They don’t know where they’re going when they die or where everything we enjoy on earth came from . . . and maybe they don’t even care.

They’ll walk out of the room when we pray before the meal, and may try to bait us into an argument over who we voted for and why. Maybe after a few drinks, their conversation will turn ugly, even though innocent young eyes are watching how the “adults” interact.

Daily, not just at Thanksgiving, my husband and I pray beseeching God to prepare us to be a light in the darkness . . . not to avoid the darkness because that would be the cowards way out . . . but to help us respond as if Jesus was standing behind us speaking through us. You’ve all been in situations where it seemed like Satan was standing behind or speaking through the other person.  So how can we let Jesus reflect through us? Granted, some might not recognize Jesus . . . but they’ll see there’s something different about us.

14 Ways to Maintain Peace and Joy on Thanksgiving

As I prayed and talked to the Lord, here’s a list I hope will help all of us. I’d love to hear your ideas too.

  1. Don’t worry what to say—“Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:11 (Jesus was talking to his disciples if they were arrested, but I think it could apply to us too if we felt our faith or political beliefs was being tested or put on trial.)
  2. Speak kind words—“Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Pr. 16:24 NLT
  3. Strive for peace—“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
  4. Don’t instigate or respond to antagonistic discussions“Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.” Pr. 26:17 NLT
  5. Play with children present“We will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.” Ps. 78:4 NLT
  6. Don’t drink“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 NLT
  7. Smile, Smile, Smile“Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” Psalm 42:5 The Message
  8. Listen“Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” Pr. 12:15 NLT
  9. Take a deep breath and think before you speak—“There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.” Pr. 29:20 NLT
  10. Less is more—“The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?” Ecc. 6:11 NLTThere’s “A time to be quiet and a time to speak.” Ecc. 3:7 NLT
  11. Pray mind prayers.—Pray continually.” 1 Thess. 5:17
  12. Have a sign or word with others that signals: Change the subject if the conversation gets heated or move into another room.—“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” Ecc. 4:9
  13. If you’re hosting—Thank God for each guest. Pray over your home and each chair at the table. Pray as you normally would at the meal, your guests know they’re coming to a Christian home.—“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9
  14. If you’re a guest—As you approach the home, pray to be a blessing. If your hosts don’t pray before the meal, bow your head and pray over your food as you normally would. — “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23

Thanksgiving is a day for harmony and focusing on God and giving Him thanks and praise in whatever way He leads. Fiction writers have a saying: “Show don’t tell.” You don’t always have to speak Jesus with your words. Show Him with your actions. People will want what you have!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4 NLT

I give thanks for each of you who follow me on this Monday Morning Blog. I pray you have a joyful, peaceful, and God-filled Thanksgiving Day.

Memory Making Thanksgiving Tablecloth

In Forsaken God?: Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten, I share how to use your tablecloth as a conversation piece and a way to make memories for generations to come. Here is an excerpt from the book. I hope it gives you some ideas. I’ll be taking our Thankful Tablecloth with us this Thanksgiving to my daughter’s house. My grandchildren love to look back at their tiny handprints and drawings when they were toddlers and the comments written over the past twenty-one years.

When my breast cancer journey started, I became keenly aware of making memories with my family. At times like that, you think seriously about your mortality and the legacy you want to leave with your loved ones. You appreciate each new day of life. The sun rising every morning is an act of God to celebrate.

Holidays like Thanksgiving have new meaning. Typically, Thanksgiving is a celebration where family and friends gather for a feast, and everyone says what they’re thankful for in the past year. But after finishing the dishes and putting away the leftovers, how many really remember what everyone said?

Please leave a comment here and I’ll reply!

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Vote To Let Freedom Ring and Remain!

Engaging in discussion regarding the people and platforms involved in the 2024 election can be frustrating and even divisive. This blog will post the day before we find out which side will govern our country for the next four years or maybe longer. It might take days in our current election chaos to know the outcome of the election. That says so much about the deterioration that has occurred at every level of government.

What’s distressed me most this election season is discussions with fellow believers who have opposing worldviews. We read the same Bible and pray to the same God, so how can this be? I think the answer is the powerful influence the mainstream media, which has literally become a propaganda arm of the Democrat/liberal/progressive party, has effectively had on the minds and hearts of people who to me seem brainwashed and blinded by Satan’s lies. Yet, they’ll tell me I’m brainwashed as they defend the evil the Democrat party wants to inflict on us. It amazes me that they can’t see the moral, spiritual, and economical destruction that’s occurred in our country and our culture over the past four years. How could they call this good?

I’ve also seen Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) at its worst exemplifying the power of propaganda and lies to influence intelligent godly people to hate and detest someone so much they would vote against Trump knowing the other side has an evil, demonic, anti-God agenda. They hate Trump more than they love America. Even Trump commented recently when asked why he thought so many people have such strong views against him, even to trying to assassinate him. His response is that only consequential candidates produce that kind of reaction in people. Many in the deep dark Washington swamp don’t want him in power because they know he’ll reveal and remedy the evil that’s taking place there.

Speaker Johnson has warned that Republicans need to win the Senate and the Congress because if the Democrats win either one, they’ll immediately try to impeach President Trump. How crazy is that?!

As we countdown to the election, here are links to the blogs the Lord led me to write about this election. Also, I’ll post the About His Work Ministries opening newsletter article “What Does It Mean to Think Biblically” because not everyone receives my monthly newsletter. (You can sign up at my website.)

What Does It Mean to Vote Biblically? continues to receive more hits than any blog I’ve ever written.

Don’t Be Fooled by the ‘Joy and Vibes’ Political Shield, which now has turned to ugly name calling, yelling, and angry tirades.

What Does It Mean to Think Biblically Versus Culturally or Secularly?

The opposite of thinking biblically is thinking secularly. Christians should vote their faith and values, but when we see the polls of Christians voting for a candidate whose platform is anti-biblical, anti-life, anti-Christian, anti-God, and anti-capable, it’s evident that many Christians aren’t checking with God or their Bible before selecting a candidate’s platforms and policies to govern our land. That goes for down ballot too.

It’s blessed me to see many Christians during this election cycle who aren’t afraid to discuss politicized biblical issues like sanctity of life, marriage, sexuality, protecting children from pornography and gender mutilation, and God’s design for humanity. Social media is full of brave posts and conversations. Now many are speaking and posting biblical values publicly. Praise God!

I even heard one pastor say, “Don’t be afraid to talk about politics and religion at holiday or family gatherings.” For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Tim. 1:7 NLT

We need to speak God’s truth no matter the circumstances. It’s the fear of man rather than the fear of God that has sent many Christians underground and silenced them. This has congruently allowed a nefarious government to successfully enforce laws contrary to God’s laws. But God’s Word in Hebrews 13:6 NLT assures us, “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’”

However, here’s what “mere people” will try to do when Christians don’t speak up and vote. Ohio voted to codify abortion into the state constitution and a judge recently ruled unconstitutional the state’s previous six-week abortion ban law, which had been the law in Ohio since 2019.  “Ohio voters have spoken,” Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Christian Jenkins wrote in the filing. “The Ohio Constitution now unequivocally protects the right to abortion.” I would add, nullifying rights and protection of the unborn.

Why weren’t there enough Christian Ohio voters to protect the unborn? Ohio, once considered a conservative red state, is now a “swing state.” Up for grabs politically and morally. How did the Christians in that state let this happen? How is it that after the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional Roe v Wade and sent the decision back to the states, that we now have more abortions not fewer? More precious babies killed in the womb before they have the right to life?

Harris’ platform is to federally codify abortion in every state, which would strike down unborn baby protection laws like those we have in Idaho that bans all abortion. Christians need to vote against her and her radical platform.

Pro-life activists and leaders in Missouri are sounding the alarm about Amendment 3, the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative,” on the ballot that would not only result in unrestricted abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, but would also “go way beyond abortion” and enshrine transgender surgeries on children. Let’s pray Missouri Christians are sounding the alarm to vote it down.

How are some Christians okay with killing human babies? Surveys tell us they are?  45% of Christians and 6 in 10 Catholics say they’re in favor of abortion and are voting for an unbiblical political platform?!

The only answer has to be that some Christians aren’t praying and reading their Bible to help them think biblically. Their worldview is influenced by secular culture, not God’s Scriptures. They may go to Bible studies, attend church, and check the Christian box. But they’re not allowing the Bible to transform and renew their mind and heart, thus their thinking and actions. How can I say this? Because God would NEVER condone killing human babies that He creates in His own image.

Randall Terry of Operation Rescue, along with several pastors, created TV commercials to depict the horrors of abortion and he’s paying to run them during prime time. Here’s the link to one that ran on The View, but warning, it’s graphic.

Tools For Thinking Biblically

Our Couples Bible Study group is viewing and discussing a My Faith Votes free online video series “Think Biblically” led by faith experts to help Christians stand firm on God’s Holy unchanging Word and think biblically about culture and politics. The video series is designed for churches, small groups, families, friends, couples, or on your own. The focus is to help Christians firmly align their beliefs with God’s Word and gain an understanding of how their views of culture align with a biblical worldview.

A quote from Think Biblically website: “In today’s polarizing world, many struggle to anchor their views on the truth of God’s Word. Now, more than ever, Christians need to evaluate our nation’s issues through a biblical lens and stand with an unshakeable faith.”

Another free resource, even after the election, is from Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of Billy Graham and daughter of Franklin Graham. Fearless Family: Eight-Day Election Prayer Guide to take a biblical look at the issues affecting the heart of our families. Cissie writes, “Today, we are surrounded by a culture, both inside the church and out, that continues to compromise on truth and morality. It feels as if the only sin in America today is to call something sinful! Marriage, gender, sexuality, equality, and justice are simple words that have been twisted and redefined in ways God never intended. People are choosing to be ruled by their feelings rather than truth. My grandfather once said, ‘The secret strength of a nation is found in the faith that abides in the hearts and homes of the country.’ We must have a strong faith if we want to have a strong nation!”

What Does It Mean to Think Biblically?

  • We’re guided by God’s Word and His truths alone, not the latest cultural or political trend or talking points.
  • We will not bend to political or social pressure.
  • We will not break our vows, promises, and adherence to God and His laws.
  • We will stand for our faith and biblical values, even when they’re unpopular, especially when they’re unpopular.
  • We won’t be intimidated or coerced into denying the Gospel. We will be proud of our faith never apologetic for our Christian beliefs.
  • We will fill our minds with Scripture not propaganda.
  • Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
  • Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Col 3:2
  • Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Pr. 4:23
  • For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb. 4:12
  • All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17

“Our battle is not between political parties—it’s a matter of good versus evil. Truth versus lies. And God’s absolute truth never changes—no matter how our culture tries to redefine it.” Cissie Graham Lynch

Please Pray and Vote on November 5th If You Haven’t Already!

If you’re undecided about how to vote, listen to this message by Pastor Jonny Ardavanis at Stonebridge Bible Church in Franklin, TN “Pastoral Perspective on Politics.”

Also join in a prayer group on Monday Nov. 4th as they take place online, in person, or in your own homes and churches. Pray for God’s will to take place at the voting polls. Election interference subverted. Truth and justice prevail.

My hope for after the election is “Revive in 2025.” I pray God is preparing us for a mighty revival and just as we became brave and bold speaking against the evil that one side is trying to legitimatize, we would continue supporting biblical values and God’s good and gracious plans for the America we’re so blessed to call home. No victory is ever won easily. It takes diligence, persistence, focus, and God’s wisdom and discernment.

This will be my last blog for the month of November. I want to thank you for letting me share what God puts on my heart each week. I pray no matter who wins this election, you’ll continue serving God wherever and however He calls you!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving month. To God be the glory for the things He has done and will continue to do until His Son, Jesus Christ, returns.

Here’s a beautiful song from Danny Gokey, My America. Listen, watch, enjoy.

Please leave your comments here and I will reply.

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What Does It Mean to Vote Biblically?

The 2024 election is quickly approaching on November 5th. Some of you may have already started early voting and good for you! For those who are still considering who to vote for and how to vote on your state bills, I wrote this blog for you.

I’m in leadership as an Idaho Area Coordinator for My Faith Votes. On our website, we offer a Pledge to Vote Your Biblical Values. I encourage you to take that pledge to vote in every election, be an informed and prayerful voter, and pledge, “As a Christian, I commit to voting for candidates and policies that uphold the sanctity of life, the traditional family, religious liberty, and justice for all. I believe that my biblical values should guide my choices at the ballot box, ensuring that our nation’s laws and leaders reflect God’s truth and righteousness.”

When we encourage everyone to vote their “biblical values,” that can mean different things to different people. It shouldn’t because according to Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ and the Word of God is timeless and universal. Unchanging. The Bible clearly states what we should champion and support or reject with our vote. By definition, our biblical values are based solely on Scripture and should reflect our biblical worldview.

 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 NLT

We typically rely on instruction manuals, Google, or YouTube for how to use appliances, automobiles, take medication, operate machinery or technology, find destinations . . . the list is endless. Guidance is essential to assure we’re functioning correctly for our own good and not harm.

For the Christian, our Life Instruction Manuel is the Bible. Like every owner’s manual, the Bible must be read to be useful. It contains everything believers need to know to follow Christ, glorify God, and live fruitful and righteous lives in a culture that tries to tell you that your faith can be set aside when you do something as important as voting.

What does God say about platform and policy issues that candidates champion to govern our lives, the lives of our friends and families, our communities, our churches, and the future?  Are their platforms biblical or unbiblical? It doesn’t matter what our personal opinion is of them, it matters whether or not they will govern biblically.

Dr. Jeff Myers, president of Summit Ministries, wisely advises, “We can figure out which candidate is most likely to lessen evil when it comes to diminishing life, when it comes to diminishing liberty, when it comes to diminishing the value of property. We’re not seeking a perfect world. We’re not utopians. But we are trying to figure out how to lessen evil so that people can be more free.”

We vote as our civic duty as an American, but also as our biblical responsibility as a Christian. However, research from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shows as many as 104 million people of faith, including 32 million self-identified Christians who regularly attend church, are unlikely to vote in the upcoming 2024 presidential election mainly due to lack of interest. How could this be biblical when Christians could be the deciding factor in matters of life and death, good and evil? How can they stay home?

While the survey revealed some Christians don’t vote from complacency, it also showed many want instruction and guidance from their church on how to think about the issues from a biblical perspective. 

“Pastors often seek opportunities to have a positive influence in people’s lives and upon the culture, and to help the community in which their church is located,” the long-time researcher George Barna explained. “This research underscores the fact that simply encouraging people to vote in order to fulfill their biblical responsibility would not only be seen as doing their job while helping the community, but an estimated five million regular churchgoers would be likely to vote as a result of that simple exhortation. That, in itself, could change the outcome of the election by simply doing their job and getting congregants to fulfill one of their chief duties as an American citizen.”

When 45% of Christians and 6 in 10 Catholics say they’re in favor of abortion or are voting for an unbiblical political platform, it’s evident to me that pastors aren’t teaching biblical values and many Christians have not read their Bible. Culture, not the Bible, is shaping Christian opinion rather than God’s truths.

I’m not a pastor, but I am a seminary graduate and have been in ministry for thirty years. In this blog I’m providing Scriptures and resources for voting biblically in this election and every election. My blog would be far too long if I included all the issues, but you can hit on the highlighted links below to see the differences between the Democrat and Republican platforms according to Scripture to determine which federal, state, and local candidates will govern with more good than evil as measured by the Bible.

Did God Really Say?

Satan has used his most effective tool against living righteously since the Garden of Eden when he asked Eve, “Did God really say?” I’m here to tell you that God really did have something to say about many of the spiritual moral issues in our culture which we the church have let become politicized and are on the ballot on November 5th. I’m not talking candidate’s personalities. I’m talking about policies, which will become the law of the land if elected.

Do your own research. Read your Bible. Don’t let the biased media or even the candidates themselves influence your vote. Look at their policies and plans and your local ballot bills, then look at what the Bible has to say about each issue. That’s what should influence your prayerful vote as a Christian. Let’s look at a few of them.

ABORTION vs RIGHT TO LIFE is on the ballot in many states, and it’s also a Presidential issue because Harris has vowed that on day one, she’ll try to codify Roe v Wade into federal law. She and Democrat politicians tout the distorted lie that abortion is “reproductive rights” and “women’s healthcare.” That’s called twisting language that we see described in 2 Peter 3:16b-17.

Trump was the most pro-life President in history. He appointed three constitutional Supreme Court Judges who helped move the abortion laws from the federal government to the states. Sadly, because of the wide use of the abortion pill and “sanctuary abortion states” denying the sanctity of life and sacrificing babies to Molek, abortions have increased.

Harris has used Satan’s “Did God really say?” tactic to argue repeatedly that “you don’t need to abandon the principles of your faith or deeply held beliefs to support ‘abortion rights.'” She’s suggesting you can “choose” to kill babies guilt-free because it’s a woman’s right?! It’s Ok with God. Wrong!! That’s a nonsensical, unbiblical, demonic, and heretical lie. Harris denies that the government should protect a baby’s right to life even though the first “right” listed in our nation’s Declaration of Independence is the right to life, firmly rooted in the Judeo-Christian standards of morality upon which the United States of America was founded. Murder is a crime.

The truth is a Christian absolutely must suspend their faith in God and biblical principles to support legally or illegally killing babies. Kamala Harris has zero authority, faith, or knowledge of the Bible to speak on this matter and no person of faith should be persuaded by her. Yet she’s deviously planting doubt in many people’s minds, including pastors and Christians. It’s called syncretism!

She clearly told pro-life advocates they were “at the wrong rally.” These two young men bravely told her, “Abortion is a sacrament of Satan. Christ is King! Jesus is Lord!” They went there to represent God and counter her abominations with truth, but any Christians cheering and voting for a candidate stumping for the “freedom” and “right” to kill babies, are the ones at the wrong rally.

What Does the Bible Say About Abortion vs Right to Life?

When God creates each child through conception, there’s a flash of light and life begins. God gives him or her a spirit and soul that can’t be destroyed or denied. That’s a spiritual not political fact. Biologically, no person has ever been born without a spirit and soul.

Unborn babies are human. Humans are sacred! God declares in His Word the sanctity of life that He created in His image.

  • You must not murder.” Ex 20:13
  • For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16
  • [Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Ps. 127:3-5
  • I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born. Ps. 22:10 NLT
  • “This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
  • I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself.” Is. 44:24
  • Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. Is. 49:1
  • “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jer. 1:5
  • As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Ecc. 11:5
  • “‘Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. Lev. 18:21
  • Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensure justice for those being crushed. Pr. 31:8
  • There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood. Pr. 6:16-17

You absolutely would have to abandon and deny your faith and God’s Word to be a Christian who supports or votes for abortion or any candidate promoting abortion! It’s a sin. Satan wants to kill, steal, and destroy everything God loves. It’s an abomination to God to shed innocent blood. If you’re still not convinced, please watch Baby Olivia.

If you know someone who has had an abortion, or maybe you have, God sees you and you can repent and ask for His forgiveness. He’s waiting with open arms of grace and mercy. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

For each party platform and presidential candidate’s position on abortion, go to ivoterguide Understanding Right to Life. On that link, you can also enter your address and view where the presidential, state, and local candidates in your area stand on this issue.

An article to read: Being Human: Abortion and the Church – Light Magazine

Please listen to this message by Pastor Keith Harrington of Rockharbor Church in Meridian, Idaho in his Truth Wars series titled Imago Dei (the image of God) and the Sanctity of Life and the testimony of a brave couple sharing their abortion story.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: This category covers LGBTQ+ and trans issues infringing on the religious freedoms of those who don’t agree. Protecting Title IX to keep men out of women’s sports and private areas. Sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. Defending family. Preventing schools from teaching sexual deviancy and promoting gender confusion. Protection of children from sex change indoctrination and castrating surgeries and drugs.  Bringing the Bible, 10 Commandments, and prayer back into schools. Allowing religious speech in the public square.

“Watchdog database Stop the Harm reported that just under $120 million in medical expenses were submitted to insurance companies for treatments designed to hide a minor’s gender characteristics in the United States between 2019 and 2023. The database, launched by the medical advocacy group Do No Harm, reported about 14,000 minors receiving such treatments within the four-year period. About 8,500 minors received hormone blockers and more than 5,500 minors underwent actual surgeries to hide their gender characteristics, the database reported.” 

Read more at World. These children have been permanently mutilated and castrated for life. This atrocity is happening at the nation’s largest children’s hospitals designed to treat and save children’s lives, not maim them for life at an age many are too young to fully appreciate or comprehend the damage being done to their bodies. Who could’ve ever imagined this travesty would happen in America, but the Biden /Harris administration has championed this by protecting the doctors and hospitals rather than putting a stop to the madness and Harris would not stop it either.

The Biden/Harris administration tried to change Title IX to include gender and allow boys to play in girls’ sports and be in girls’ locker rooms and bathrooms. Harris will not support girls. President Trump says he will ban ‘trans’ aka men in girls’ sports.

What Does the Bible Say About Religious Liberty?

Gender isn’t fluid, it’s God-given. To affirm radical gender ideology is to implicitly deny the workmanship and sovereignty of God. It’s to deny God and His Word. Government is ordained of God (Romans 13:1-7), but government cannot become God.

  • “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21
  • So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Gen. 1:27
  • That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Gen. 2:24
  • God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity:  Romans 1:18-32

Read this article discussing Harris and Trump’s positions on men playing in women’s sports. DAVID MARCUS: Kamala Harris can no longer hide from her dangerous stance on men playing in girls’ sports | Fox News

For each party and candidate’s position, go to ivoterguide Understanding Religious Liberty.

My Faith Votes!

I encourage you to go to My Faith Votes My Voter Hub where you can print out a copy of your ballot, Compare the Party Platforms, and download an important Presidential Election Candidate Comparison Guide Fact Sheet covering a number of current political topics. Also, find A Christian’s Guide to Today’s Issues: Abortion, Immigration, Religious Liberty, Gender, Parental Rights, Gun Rights, Government, Justice, which also includes Scriptures as I have done in this blog.

You can also become an Action Partner and pray weekly from zoom or your phone with other believers across the nation who work and pray together to be God’s hands and feet in returning America back to its godly foundation.  

iVoterGuide

iVoterGuide is Grounded in God. Rooted in Research. They’ve done the biblical ground work for you on important topics this election. In addition to Right to Life and Religious Liberty, which I discussed above, here are the additional issues I didn’t have room to include in this blog but are important in this election. They’re discussed in detail with Scripture. At each link, you can also find out the candidates’ positions both federally and locally. I hope you’ll take advantage of their wonderful research.

Understanding National Defense For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Rom. 13:4

Understanding Healthcare Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Tim. 5:8

Understanding EconomyAlso, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jer. 29:7

Understanding Border Security No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. Is. 60:18

Let the Bible be Your Voter Guide!

Which candidates will protect the unborn through the elderly? Which candidates will support Israel?

We must as Christians do our part to ensure as much as it is up to us that candidates who protect biblical principles are voted into power. But we must always remember that our highest authority is God. The mandate in Romans 13 is simple: obey God, then man. When man’s orders conflict with God’s, we follow God. So pray, read your Bible, and vote how God instructs you in the Bible.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Ps. 119:105

Please leave a comment here. I will reply. Thank you.

If you would like to listen to Pastor Keith Harrington’s previous week’s Truth’s War’s Message on things to consider when voting “Governing the Earth” click here.

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