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What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

With all the doom and gloom in this world, it can be hard sometimes as Christians to see what good there is. We can long for eternity and even "check out" of the things going on here on Earth, hoping for Christ's soon return. However, we are called to live in the tension of the present alongside the hope of Heaven. With Romans 8:31-39 as a backdrop, this episode looks at the hope we have in Christ despite the uncertainty of the world around us. We see that Jesus intercedes for us and loves us deeply. We also understand that we are more than conquerors because of the life we have in Christ. For those who do not know this hope, today's episode offers a simple salvation prayer and presentation of the Gospel.

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He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Luke 12:54-56

Do we recognize times and seasons? Are we prepared as events around us take place that have the potential to shake this world? And do we see the rapid nature in which things are changing...an acceleration that seems to only be growing by the day? In Christ we are called to preach the Gospel. It never changes no matter what this world brings. Additionally, we must seek the Lord to ask what He would want to do in and through us and that we would be ready, even in seasons of great change. From now until the end of 2024 and even beyond, I feel much is going to happen. Are we ready and are we willing to be used by the Lord "for such a time as this?"

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But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. Revelation 2:20

In this last installment of the "Stuff That's Been On My Mind" series, we take a look at the Jezebel spirit. This is somewhat of a buzzword concept in much of Christian/church circles these days and the topic comes at us from many angles. It has certainly been a hot button topic in recent news headlines relating to various pastors and churches. This episode seeks to identify and define Biblically what this spirit is by tying it back to passages in 1 & 2 Kings (relating to Queen Jezebel) and to passages like Revelation 2 in which Jesus addresses the church of Thyatira. Is Jezebel alive and well today? Yes. Do we have authority in Jesus' name to overcome this spirit? Yes. Take a listen today and put on your spiritual armor for the fight.

Related podcast referenced in this episode:

ELIJAH (Profiles In Courage)
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elijah-profiles-in-courage/id1551824939?i=1000553132253
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ih9FHMT3x7iwM56kFIgkw?si=A_M7G0bxRiuIGRKwl0KSng

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What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

A year spent in Artificial Intelligence is enough to make one believe in God. Alan Jay Perlis.

On this next installment of "Stuff That's Been On My Mind," we look at A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) and finding a Christian approach to this technology. We can see already that A.I. is here and influencing much of what we do on a daily basis. Additionally, we know that potential nefarious deeds can or could come as a result of using A.I. As Christians it's my belief (Derek) that we do not run from this conversation or from this technology but we figure out how to use it to benefit the Kingdom while at the same dispelling the darkness it may bring elsewhere.

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DC Talk's song "What If I Stumble?" from their 1995 Jesus Freak album, feature the opening lyrics Is this one for the people? Is this one for the Lord? Or do I simply serenade for things I must afford?

What has always been a temptation with the platform and with the stage is to make the person(s) bigger than the message. Today a quick websearch of "Christian Celebrity Culture" will bring up several articles and viewpoints about where we are at as a church culture with our own "celebrities" and big names. Overall, is this a bad thing? Is seeking fame wrong? And if we have influence, is it being used to point people to Christ or simply to ourselves?

Today's episode is the first in this "Stuff That's Been On My Mind" series; a series looking at some hot-button issues that need to be looked at within the lens of the Gospel.

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Thus says the LORD to you “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s”. 2 Chronicles 20:15

When the people of Judah face a fierce opponent in 2 Chronicles 20, there is a right response made by King Jehoshaphat. Even as he is afraid of the enemies of Moab and Ammon, the king calls for a fast over the land. His prayer in verse 12 is one of the most honest prayers in all of Scripture: "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” The Lord does end up answering the prayers of the people and the king. The enemy is routed. Judah experiences peace and fear of their nation grips even other nations beyond them.

This week's podcast realizes that even though we face daily battles, those fights belong to the Lord. We must stand in obedience and wait patiently as we give the fight over to Him. Furthermore, we must worship as we go into the battle. As praise goes up, His presence leads us. Finally, as we fight we know the enemy has to run when God shows up. May we take courage and may go into each situation knowing that we can operate from a place of victory. Christ has already won the fight!

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In the Book of Judges, a sad thing happens to the people of Israel; God's chosen people for His promise: they fall into sin and disobedience. After the years of being delivered, crossing the Red Sea, and even settling into the Promised Land, the people have done the very thing God warned them not to do. They fell for the gods and idols of the people who surrounded them. Into this, they ultimately forgot what God had done for them and forgot the legacy that was theirs to claim.

If we are not sharing the faith with our kids and making it a daily aspect of our lives, the steps that lead us (and them) from the Lord are not far. In one generation, faith can either be solidified and built up OR it can be torn down and dismantled. It's up to us to talk about the things of God as Moses declared in Deuteronomy 6:6-9. From there, if the generations that follow us have heard, it is their choice to listen and obey. Today's podcast takes us down this trail of thought and uses the Israelites' experience as one we can learn from.

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As we follow Christ, there is a tendency that can always creep in to lull our hearts away from Him. This temptation can take various forms. Sometimes we can ask "If I am doing all of this for the Lord, where is the payoff for me personally?" This can be very subtle and an idea that grows over time. We see that in other aspects of life, hard work = reward. But often the rewards we seek in the faith are not in this life but in the one to come. As we follow that temptation and our hearts are drawn from the Lord, we can easily fall into the trap of "the gospel of me." Today's podcast unpacks this thought a bit further as we look at the origins and characteristics of a me-focused gospel. May we rejection this notion at every turn and may we find our rest and hope in the Lord!