The David Alliance

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Sermon Psalm 103:5    who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. NIV   Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. KJV   He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle's! NLT       Desires/mouth/Glory/years/….souls desires -  the inner most parts of a person.            With good things • The “good things” are both spiritual and tangible. Notice the catalog earlier in the psalm: – Forgiveness of iniquity (v 3) – Healing of diseases (v 3) – Redemption from the pit (v 4) – Crowning with loving devotion and compassion (v 4) • God never rations goodness. “He who did not spare His own Son…how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). • Every blessing in the heavenly realms is already ours in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).     Youth GK - Juvenality, young youthful (youth in all that you are. Energy, mindset, optimist)   Eagle A symbol of strength and renewal in the Bible, the eagle is often used to depict God's provision and the renewal of strength for those who trust in Him.  

  Some pharisees even argued that it was illegal to pray for someone on the sabbath.    When is the sabbath? The determination of the "actual" day of the Sabbath depends on the religious and historical context, as different traditions observe it on different days of the week. Judaism: Saturday In the Jewish tradition, the Sabbath (Shabbat) is the seventh day of the week. It commemorates the biblical narrative of the seventh day of creation when God rested. Timing: It begins at sunset on Friday and concludes at nightfall on Saturday. Significance: It is a day of rest, prayer, and cessation from all forms of creative work (melakhah). Christianity: Sunday (The Lord's Day) Most Christian denominations observe the Sabbath on Sunday, the first day of the week. Reasoning: This shift occurred early in church history to honor the Resurrection of Jesus, which took place on the first day of the week. Exceptions: Certain groups, such as Seventh-day Adventists and Seventh Day Baptists, continue to observe the Sabbath on Saturday, citing the original biblical commandment to keep the seventh day holy.     THE ORIGINAL COMMANDMENT Exodus 20:8-11 THE COMMAND 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested (ABANDONED) on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.           The sabbath was given for man to rest and reconnect with God. Jesus said it was a day for Good… not evil. It was to Meet the deepest needs of man spiritual and physical renewal.       THE SABBATH: PRE-VIEW FOCUS ON GOD FOCUS ON WHAT HE IS ABOUT FOCUS ON WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO FOCUS ON HOW HE HAS USED YOU AS YOU SEEK TO HONOR HIM IN ALL YOU DO… Thats the secret!       The pharisees were mad that Jesus did not keep the rules… they were powerless, so rules are all they had to feel powerful!    Remember - rebellion is a false sense of power… but even if fake it sure can feel real… and taste good.  What rules do you hang on to when you feel powerless? We all do it.  DO YOU FIND IT EASY TO POINT OUT OTHERS WHO BREAK THE RULES? THAT STEMS FROM A PLACE OF POWERLESSNESS.    Have you ever said or thought “well at least im not as bad as them”. That is just simply your flesh acting out like the Pharisees… I have more power because I act better.   At least five things in these verses need special comment. 1. Remembering First, Israel is to remember the rest day. Sabbath means rest. "Remember the sabbath day," means, "Don't forget to take a day off.”     Remember: Make it a pattern. not just day off, NOT JUST A DAY YOU GO TO CHURCH…but a pattern of keeping it holy, focused on God and his works.      We live in a world where we revel brag and posture on how busy we are.... think about that for a minute... we are proud that we do not take time to focus on God, celebrate his holiness and goodness.     DON'T FORGET TO ABANDON!     It's God showing us a discipline we all need more of. learning to say NO… No to people No to pressures and expectations No to purchases we think we need No to things we are not good at No to time that is spent on meaningless events   Abandon!

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com          Mark 2  23 One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. 24 But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?” 25 Jesus said to them, “Haven't you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 26 He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.” 27 Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”      The Pharisees lived in cities… don't miss the point. If they were following  Jesus they were a long way from home. They were simply there to find something wrong with him. ooohhhh people who spend all their time pointing out what others do wrong… powerless and religious!     The people were required to meet the requirements of the Sabbath… this is the law. JESUS NOW COMES TO FULFILL THE LAW     Lord even over the Sabbath.   The Pharisees tried to make the Sabbath Holy by following the rules… Jesus is Lord over the Sabbath. Its not about Rules it's about Jesus being Lord of your life.     3 Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. 2 Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” 4 Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn't answer him. 5 He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 6 At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.     A great example of what happened to the sabbath could be wrapped up in what happened to healthcare. In the USA Churches started hospitals… care for the lost and poor If it was a country - It's the 5th largest economy in the world  A paper pill cup on amazon is .2 cents, in a hospital it can be as much as $15 *what was once meant to be serving and healing is now consolidation, ownership for the sake of monopolizing profit!  its about the Benjamin's!  The pharmaceutical companies control the curriculum in the medical schools.      Some pharisees even argued that it was illegal to pray for someone on the sabbath. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Did you know that yesterday EASTER was the exact anniversary of our Lord and Saviors death. Exactly 1,993 years ago on that exact day Christ rose from the grave.    Walking through the cemetery as a kid at night… We fear death.. Not birth Not life But death… we can't relate.   I could claim to be born as a God I could claim to live as a God I could claim to die as a God But am I willing to CLAIM to resurrect 3 days later to prove it…   But because he did resurrect we now no longer need to fear death. He conquered it, he made a fool of it, he said where is your sting oh death. Thats all you got? And why wait 3 days until you come back to life?       1. Ancient Medical Understanding: When is someone truly dead?   In the ancient world (including Jewish and Greco-Roman thought), people didn't have modern tools to confirm death (no EEG, no heart monitors). So they relied on observable signs:   What they looked for:   * No breathing * No pulse (very hard to detect accurately) * Body cooling * **Onset of decomposition**   The key issue: People could appear dead and revive (coma, shock, hypothermia)   So there was always a lingering fear: “What if they weren't really dead?”   2. Why “Three Days” Became a Cultural Threshold**   In Jewish thought, there was a widespread belief (not formal doctrine, but common teaching) that:   The soul hovered near the body for about 3 days**   After that:   * The body began to visibly decay * The soul was considered fully departed * Death was **final and irreversible**   You see this hinted at in the story of Lazarus:   “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” (John 11:39)   That's not just a detail—it's a theological statement: “This is beyond recovery. This is real death.”     3. Modern Medical Insight: Decomposition Timeline   Even today, decomposition supports why 3 days is significant:   Within ~72 hours after death:   Rigor mortis comes and goes Autolysis** (cells breaking down) accelerates Putrefaction begins (bacteria causing decay) Odor becomes noticeable   By day 3, the body is unmistakably dead.   So even by modern standards: Three days removes doubt.     4. The Power of the Resurrection Timing   Jesus didn't rise immediately. That's critical.   If He rose:   * After a few hours → skeptics say “He fainted” * After one day → “Maybe He wasn't fully dead”   But after three days: It destroys every natural explanation.   This is why the resurrection isn't just miraculous—it's strategically undeniable.   5. Biblical Pattern: “Third Day” = Divine Intervention   The “third day” shows up all over Scripture as the moment God acts decisively:   * Hosea 6:2 — “On the third day He will raise us up” * Jonah 1:17 — Jonah in the fish 3 days * Genesis 22 — Abraham receives Isaac back (figuratively) on the third day   The pattern: Day 1 = loss Day 2 = silence Day 3 = God moves   Jesus steps into that pattern and fulfills it.   6. Roman Execution Certainty   From a historical standpoint:   * Roman crucifixion was brutally efficient * Executioners ensured death (piercing, blood loss, asphyxiation) * Bodies weren't casually misdiagnosed   So combine:   * Roman certainty of death * 3 days in the tomb * Sealed grave   The resurrection claim becomes *maximally bold*.   Bottom Line (Teaching Power Statement)   Three days wasn't random. It was intentional.   It ensured that:   * No one could argue Jesus merely fainted * Death had fully taken its course * Resurrection could only be explained as supernatural     “Jesus didn't come back early—He waited until death had fully won… and then He crushed it.”

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Bearer of Measured Brutality.   Do You YOU, feel like I do! Peter Frampton comes alive…   Be the BOMB…  The man who would go off. Is it seen in your walk, talk, dress, your command of your kids, your eye contact, your voice, your mental involvement in your kids, your social setting awareness.   **Yes, I know exactly what you're referring to.** This comes from a 2017 interview with Jack Reynolds, a convicted child molester from Indiana who served over 12 years in prison for offenses in the 1980s (he claimed more than 300 victims). In the interview—conducted after his release and shared widely in child safety circles—he openly described his victim selection process.   One of the first things he assessed was the child's father. His exact words (from the interview footage and transcripts that have circulated): “If I thought the father was a threat, I would not approach the child.” He targeted boys who appeared isolated, from split or unstable families, or who lacked a strong, present father figure. If the dad seemed attentive, involved, capable of confrontation, or simply “in the picture” in a protective way, Reynolds moved on to easier targets. He wanted zero risk of exposure, confrontation, or interference—predators like him operate in secrecy and silence, and a vigilant father raises the stakes dramatically.   He scoped out potential victims in everyday places like school grounds, Little League fields, or neighborhoods, and he explicitly looked for vulnerability: no close friends the child would confide in, mothers who might welcome “help” from a friendly outsider (he'd position himself as a “superhero” offering to take the kid for outings), boys with little sexual experience, and families lacking strong values or structure.   ### Other insights from this and similar predator accounts This isn't unique to Reynolds—multiple law enforcement interviews with convicted offenders (and research on grooming patterns) show predators treat “father presence” as a high-risk filter. Here are related patterns that consistently come up:   - **They prioritize low-resistance targets overall.** Beyond the father, they avoid kids who seem confident, assertive, or likely to speak up immediately. They test boundaries gradually (grooming) and bail if the child resists early or has a tight support network (close friends, involved siblings, or other adults who pay attention). Reynolds himself said he skipped kids “that he would tell” because the risk of the child disclosing was too high.   - **Absence or perceived weakness is the real opportunity.** Predators don't necessarily need a completely absent dad—they exploit dads who appear distracted, disengaged, overly trusting, or unwilling/unable to act. The “threat” Reynolds described wasn't just physical size or aggression; it was *perceived capability and willingness* to protect (being present, setting boundaries, staying alert). This is why child-safety experts emphasize that involved, visible fatherhood itself is a deterrent.   - **Grooming is calculated, not impulsive.** Reynolds stressed it wasn't random or overnight—it involved scouting, building trust with the family, and exploiting cracks (e.g., a stressed single mom or a lonely kid). Modern versions often use social media for the same low-risk access, which he himself warned about in the interview as giving predators even more tools.   - **Broader deterrence themes from other interviews.** Similar accounts (from prison interviews and prevention programs) repeatedly highlight that predators scan for *opportunity + low consequence*. Strong parental involvement (dad *and* mom), clear family rules about strangers/adults, kids who are taught to recognize uncomfortable situations and report them, and communities where adults watch out for each other all shrink the “easy target” pool. Physical fitness or “intimidating” appearance can play a role, but consistent presence and boundaries matter more.   The core takeaway from Reynolds' own words (and why clips of this interview keep resurfacing on parenting and men's accounts) is simple: predators are opportunistic and risk-averse. They don't want a fight or attention—they want silence and compliance. A father who is actively engaged, physically and mentally prepared to protect, and visibly part of his kids' lives sends a clear signal: “Not this one.” It's a powerful, evidence-based reason for dads to stay sharp, involved, and unapologetically protective. This interview was shared precisely because Reynolds hoped it would help parents close those windows of vulnerability he once exploited.             The Bible portrays fatherhood as a sacred responsibility that includes providing, guiding, disciplining, and actively protecting children—both physically and spiritually. While it does not contain a single verse that says "fathers must be aggressive defenders against predators," it repeatedly emphasizes a father's duty to guard his family from harm, sin, and vulnerability through presence, wisdom, instruction, and spiritual leadership. God Himself is often pictured as the ultimate protective Father, serving as the model. Key Direct Instructions to Fathers   Ephesians 6:4 (ESV): "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." This verse gives fathers primary responsibility for raising children. "Bring them up" implies nourishing and protecting their growth, while "discipline and instruction" involves training them in God's ways to equip them against moral and spiritual dangers. The warning against provoking anger highlights balanced, non-abusive leadership that builds rather than breaks. Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not turn from it." This calls fathers (and parents) to proactively guide children onto a righteous path, which serves as long-term protection from poor choices or harmful influences. Proverbs 13:24: "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." Loving discipline is framed as protective care—guiding children away from folly and self-destruction. (This is balanced by calls for compassionate, non-exasperating leadership elsewhere.)   God's Example as Protective Father The Bible often compares human fatherhood to God's character:   Psalm 103:13: "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." A good father shows tender yet strong care, knowing his children's weaknesses and shielding them. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (instructions to Israel, applied to fathers): "These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Constant, everyday spiritual instruction acts as a hedge of protection.   Jesus strongly warns against harming or causing children to stumble:   Matthew 18:6: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." This underscores God's fierce concern for children's safety and innocence, implying fathers (as protectors) must guard against those who would exploit or lead them astray.   Biblical Examples of Protective Fatherhood   Job: He rose early to offer sacrifices for his children, acting as a spiritual "hedge" around them out of awareness of their vulnerability to sin or attack (Job 1:5). This models proactive vigilance. Noah: He obeyed God to build the ark, saving his entire family from destruction (Genesis 6-9). Joseph (earthly father of Jesus): He protected the child Jesus by fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod's threat (Matthew 2:13-15). Broader theme: Fathers in Scripture are called to be providers, leaders, and defenders of the household (e.g., 1 Timothy 5:8 on providing for one's family, or the general principle of headship in Ephesians 5:23).   Broader Insights on Protection The Bible ties a father's protective role to:   Spiritual warfare and awareness: Being alert to dangers (physical, moral, or demonic) and trusting God while taking action (echoed in passages like Psalm 127 on the Lord watching over the house, or fathers as "watchmen"). Teaching and presence: Deuteronomy 6 and Proverbs emphasize daily involvement—being there, teaching truth, and building character so children are not easy targets for evil. Compassion with strength: Protection is not harsh control but loving guidance that prepares children to stand firm (Proverbs 14:26 links fear of the Lord with confidence and refuge for children).   In short, Scripture presents the protective father as one who is present, spiritually vigilant, disciplining with love, instructing in God's ways, and willing to stand against threats to his family's well-being—modeling God's own fatherly care. This aligns with the idea that involved, attentive fatherhood raises the "cost" for anyone seeking to harm or exploit a child. Many Christian teachings on family draw from these principles to encourage dads to be both tender shepherds and strong guardians. If you'd like specific translations, more context on any verse, or examples from Old vs. New Testament, let me know!881msFast

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      One of my favorite lines from Chuck Norris movie was - If you come back in here Im going to hit you with so many rights you're going to beg for a left. It is a scene where a man shows up to threaten Chuck and ends up getting his chest kicked in and everyone running away.  Matthew 8:28 from screaming and threatening to begging and pleading.  Why doesn't Jesus run scared? I know it sounds simple - uh… he's God? Hello? But what is behind this moment really? He was man who laid down his deity in order to live completely through the power of the Holy Spirit. So what is going on here? First he went across the lake and storm on purpose… because after the demons get cast out he goes back… yes the city begs him not to come to their city… but he knew that already. He came for one demonic crazy man. No every day that you are heading into at least ONE ordained moment where its going to feel more natural to run than to stand in faith. Now you may not actually run.. but you may shut up, shrink back from speaking the truth, sharing Christ, praying for the sick, inviting the person to church or to accept Christ. Its easy to run from those situations. But stand your ground… and watch satan get angry and threaten you… but stand your ground. What does Ephesians say after standing your ground, stand firm and stand your ground.  He then calls them out and says what's your name? Why would he do that? For those around him. He wanted the disciples to see that even when its on against 6000 you still have the victory. I can see Jesus asking the man and when the demons say “legion for we are many”… Jesus kind of smacks his lips, smiles and cackles… still not enough. YOU ARE OUTNUMBERED BY ONE AND ONLY ONE!  Then he casts them into the pigs… You have the right to cast out demons… notice Jesus did not ask the man if he wanted to be delivered. He just did it. I am not asking someone if they want to be delivered… I am just going to pray that the demon leaves them…then I will ask them if they want to accept Jesus as their lord and savior. If not I will warn them that this demon will be back with even more demons and they will be in far greater danger…  Finally, the man begs to come with Jesus, but he says no. Why? I think he would make an incredible disciple… right? Think of the stories and banter with the other disciples… well at least I never ran around naked and bloody…. Oh bob your killing me. Seriously… why not take him on the road? He needs to be the light to those he knows best. Your testimony is greatest to those who used to know you… don't ever hesitate telling them - don't be ashamed  - that is the power you have been given - that is the word of your testimony. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      The 13 Rules for Radicals   In 1971, community organizer Saul Alinsky published Rules for Radicals, a manual intended for "have-nots" to take power back from the "haves." His tactics focus on pragmatism, psychological warfare, and using an opponent's own rules against them. Here are the 13 tactical rules Alinsky outlined: The 13 Tactics  * "Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have." If your organization is small, hide your numbers in the dark; if it's large, flaunt it in the light.  * "Never go outside the expertise of your people." If your activists aren't comfortable with a tactic, they will fail or lose morale.  * "Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy." Look for ways to cause confusion and fear by forcing the opposition to deal with something they haven't practiced for.  * "Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules." If their rule is "every letter must be answered," send 30,000 letters. You can kill them with their own red tape.  * "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon." It is almost impossible to counter-attack ridicule. It also infuriates the opposition, who then react to your advantage.  * "A good tactic is one your people enjoy." If people are having fun, they will keep doing it and come up with better ideas.  * "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag." Don't let your movement become boring. Commitment has a shelf life.  * "Keep the pressure on." Never let the opposition rest or regroup. Use different tactics to keep the pressure constant.  * "The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself." Imagination and anticipation of what might happen often cause more damage than the actual action.  * "If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive." Every move by the opposition can be flipped into a rallying cry for your side.  * "The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative." Never let the enemy score a point by asking, "Okay, what would you do?" Have a plan ready.  * "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it." Don't attack "the system." Attack a specific person (a CEO, a politician). It's harder for people to ignore or defend a single individual than a nameless institution.  * "The most important requirement for the tactic is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition." Action is a series of hits; you must keep the momentum going. The Philosophy Alinsky's core argument was that in a fight for power, the ends often justify the means. He believed that the only way to effect change was through direct, often uncomfortable, confrontation. > Note: These rules have been used across the entire political spectrum, from labor unions to modern grassroots tea party movements and digital activists.     Comparing the principles in Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals with Biblical teachings reveals a fundamental tension between tactical pragmatism and moral absolutes. While both share a concern for the "have-nots" and the pursuit of justice, they differ sharply on the methods used to achieve those ends. Here is how a Biblical perspective might respond to the core themes of Alinsky's work:   1. The Ethics of Means and Ends Alinsky famously argued that "the ethics of means and ends" are relative to the necessity of the situation—essentially, that the end can justify the means if the cause is just. Biblical Response: The Bible generally rejects the idea that a good outcome justifies a sinful method. Scripture emphasizes that the way a person conducts themselves is as important as the goal they seek. Key Principle: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). The pursuit of justice must remain "blameless and innocent" (Philippians 2:15). 2. Ridicule and Polarization (Rules 5 & 13) Alinsky's Rule 5 states, "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon," and Rule 13 advises, "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it." These tactics are designed to dehumanize an opponent to make them easier to attack. Biblical Response: The Bible warns extensively against the "scoffer" or "mocker" (Proverbs 21:24) and places a high value on the dignity of all people, including opponents. Key Principle: Jesus' command to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44) stands in direct opposition to the tactic of "personalizing" and "polarizing" an individual as a target for destruction. 3. Truth vs. Perception Alinsky viewed communication as a tool for power; he suggested that organizers must work within the "experience of the audience," sometimes using exaggeration or strategic deception to maintain momentum. Biblical Response: Biblical ethics are rooted in the concept of absolute truth. Deception, even for a "good" cause, is viewed as a violation of God's character. Key Principle: "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor" (Ephesians 4:25). 4. Points of Convergence: Justice for the Oppressed Where the Bible and Alinsky find common ground is in the diagnosis of social ills. Both recognize that power is often concentrated in the hands of the few at the expense of the many. Biblical Alignment: The Hebrew prophets (like Amos and Isaiah) were "radicals" in their own right, fiercely condemning systemic corruption and the exploitation of the poor. Key Principle: "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow" (Isaiah 1:17).   Comparison Table Alinsky's Rule / Concept Biblical Counter-Perspective Tactical Ridicule "Let your speech always be gracious" (Colossians 4:6). Polarization "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9). Power-Centric "Whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (Matthew 20:26). Social Justice "He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty" (Luke 1:53).   In summary, the Bible would likely support Alinsky's objective of empowering the marginalized but would reject his methodology of using ridicule, deception, and the polarization of individuals as tools for change. Would you like to explore a specific Biblical case study where a leader successfully challenged an existing power structure?     Summary: Power vs. Transformation Ultimately, Alinsky's response to injustice is a struggle for external power. He wants to shift power from the "Haves" to the "Have-Nots." The Bible's response to injustice is a transformation of the human heart, which then works its way outward to change society. It suggests that if you use hatred, ridicule, and polarization to win power, you will simply become the new oppressor once you are at the top.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Jimmy Carr - yes he needs to be listened to in small bites, but he is way more than just a comedian, he is a political assassin and has an incredible and unique way of looking at life. I saw a short clip where a young man asked him for advice on how to be a comedian. He said something… and maybe it just hit me more than most but he said - don't try to be the best, try to be the only. Get it? Be you. But when he said it the way he said it - it reverberated in me. Yes, be the only - because God made us all uniquely individual and we are all ONLYS. Most people spend their entire life trying to be like others… and never feel complete and never hit the mark for what God has created them for… but if you try to be the ONLY - you most likely will fall into place where God can use you most, best and completely.      "OG" stands for Original Gangster, a slang term originating in the 1970s/80s to describe someone who is authentic, old-school, or a pioneer in their field. It is now commonly used to mean simply "original," referring to the first or classic version of a person, item, or concept. They are truly themselves, copying no one and not caring what anyone thinks.      Here are a few OGs (Original Gangsters / foundational legends) from the Bible—pioneers who set the tone, faced impossible odds, built legacies, and influenced everything that came after them:   Old Testament OGs: - Noah – The ultimate survivor and boat-builder. When the whole world went wicked, he stayed faithful, built the ark, and restarted humanity. OG of "prep and persevere." - Abraham – The father of nations. Left everything behind on God's call, pioneered monotheism in a pagan world, and became the root of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. True OG patriarch. - Moses – Delivered an entire enslaved nation from the world's superpower (Egypt). Parted the Red Sea, received the Ten Commandments, and led through the wilderness for 40 years. OG liberator and lawgiver. - David – Went from shepherd boy to giant-slayer to king. Warrior-poet who unified Israel, established Jerusalem as the capital, and laid the foundation for the Messiah's line. Ultimate underdog-to-legend story. - Elijah – Fearless prophet who called down fire from heaven, confronted corrupt kings and false prophets, and was taken to heaven in a whirlwind. OG of spiritual warfare and boldness.   New Testament OGs: - John the Baptist – The wild desert preacher who prepared the way for Jesus. Lived on locusts and honey, baptized crowds, and fearlessly called out hypocrisy (even Herod). OG forerunner. - Peter – Impulsive fisherman turned "Rock" of the church. Denied Jesus once but became the bold leader of the early church, preached at Pentecost, and helped spread the faith. OG of redemption and leadership. - Paul (Saul of Tarsus) – Former persecutor of Christians who became the greatest missionary and theologian of the New Testament. Wrote half the New Testament letters, planted churches across the Roman Empire. OG of radical transformation.   Bonus "Ride-or-Die" OGs: - Joseph (son of Jacob) – Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, rose to second-in-command in Egypt through integrity and God-given wisdom. OG of forgiveness and divine comeback. - Esther – Orphan who became queen and risked her life to save her people from genocide. OG of courage and strategic influence ("for such a time as this").   These are the originals who walked by faith in hostile territory, changed history, and left blueprints for generations. Who's your favorite Bible OG, or do you want more in a specific category (warriors, prophets, women, etc.)?   Eph. 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.   Workmanship/Masterpiece… not really - more like divine craftsmanship.  It speaks of Gods specific and unique intentionality for each creation/person- his precision i.e. nothing as was before or will be. Like snowflakes…   Be the OG of your life and your walk - and watch what God can do! 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Gumption Fortitude Tenacity Perseverance Spunk Guts Resilience Backbone Grit without grace   JEN - sin against her - no big MY WIFE? - its a big. I know how much she has given me, served me. Loved me, sacrificed for me.   Nancy - I love being around her. She always has a heart of “there is so much more, God keep me humble, tender in love”.    So we…  II. Repent   ** **The Truth is we think we need to repent if we have huge moral failure!  The church at Ephesus did not!  It was unnoticeable to all who saw them!     Teen Challenge someone stepped out to give their testimony and they talked about their addiction to work?  To Gossip?  To neglect of their spiritual gift?  Judgmental spirit, To not being in love with Jesus anymore!      Repeat: "Do the things you did at first."    Between Eph. 1 and Revelation Chapter 2 was 30-35 years. Thats all it took to lose ones love.  Key verses in Ephesus OF WHAT THE CHURCH WAS LIKE! A hate for sin in your life A love for fellow believers and the lost An active faith i.e. sharing X Growing in spiritual wisdom.   Here is the secret: it is a repeatable pattern Ask God to show you your sin Ask God to help you see the lost Ask God to grow your faith. Share the gospel. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com  Heb.10:32 Don't ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail. When all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity. 35 Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.   We must remember What love is like! Pedro Calderon the poet says “Without madness there is no love”!     Rev. 12:11 By the word of our testimony we overcome the enemy.   Memories are free Spiritual nitro glycerin - explosive in our soul. And here is the secret - they don't have to just be our memories - they can be from other believers.    fMRI's tell us the affect on the brain in real time: Reliving memories :  restore emotional grounding and clear thinking. It is the emotional, mental and spiritual reset button.  You see the big picture and God for who he is.    Stories of healing, winning muslims to christ, provision, salvation.  

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      GRIT WITHOUT GRACE  1 COR. 13:1 BUT  WITHOUT  LOVE  YOU  ARE  A CLANGING  CYMBAL.      3. The Path Back: Remember, Repent, Repeat Jesus doesn't just diagnose the problem; He provides a three-step recovery protocol in verse 5: Remember: Look back at the "height from which you have fallen." Recall the early days when the fire was natural. What were you doing then? What was your mindset?   I.  REMEMBER   V. 5 Remember from the height you have fallen.   When Kim and I were first dating I would do the craziest things for her because I was madly in love. Spent 1400 bucks on her for Christmas Drove all night from Dallas to Madison to see her And little things like leave here notes all over her house, car and work.       I Peter 1:9  But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.     DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE IN LOVE HEAD OVER HEELS FOR JESUS? What were you like? What did you think about? What were your spiritual disciplines? Who were your friends? What was your conversation like?

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Deigo Garcia Diego Garcia is a remote island located in the central Indian Ocean, just south of the equator. It is the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago and forms part of the British Indian Ocean Territory   Many have lived through this scenario: a parent enters a Childs bedroom. Explains they are getting a divorce. The reason: They just don't love each other the same way they did.  CAN YOU IMAGINE TELLING JESUS THIS?    Yet I hold this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first." (Rev 2:4)   REV. 2+3  Jesus tells us here that there are churches that are in grave danger: You looked good but are dead You compromised culture over Christ You allowed adultery in the church You allowed idolatry in the church You look no different than the world You allowed false teachers in your pulpits   We see something here - catch it: You can have impeccable theology, Model Christian behavior and no sin to speak of… and be Dead! (Like fake dessert in the glass case)    **You have heard “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing”.    Harry Burnette Reeses Reeses peanut butter cups… not using real chocolate or real peanut butter.   The scariest rebuke is to Ephesus: You look good. No one can tell by your actions… but I know - you no longer love me #1   Where's the love? We desire love when we are stressed: 82% of men said they rely on physical affection and sex to cope with stress and burn out.    Many men have a hard time fully investing into Church/Christianity… because they do not feel the love of God.      We see a conundrum - we lost our love for God, we don't feel Gods love.    On paper, they are the gold standard of a disciplined community. But then comes the "but." "Yet I hold this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first." (Rev 2:4)   *Jesus does not call them out on any behavior! He calls them out on heart!        mechanics vs. motivation.   Think of a musician who has spent years mastering every scale and every piece of equipment. They can play a perfect set without missing a note, yet the "soul" of the music is gone. They are hitting the right frequencies, but they aren't feeling the song anymore. In our own lives, we often fall into the trap of the "routine." We show up. We do the reps. We check the boxes. But duty is a poor substitute for delight. When we serve, work, or live out of a sense of "should" rather than "want," we aren't practicing love; we are practicing management.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      John 18 Jesus before Pilate on trial for his life…. Innocent, guiltless, perfect and all knowing      1. **Stop explaining yourself — it gives away your power.**      Explaining every decision or boundary seeks permission and invites debate, doubt, and unnecessary energy drain. Destiny doesn't wait for approval; over-explaining hands control to others and delays your progress.   2. **Silence is a powerful strategy and strength.**      Silence confuses critics, disciplines emotions, guards your vision, and preserves peace. It says "I don't need your approval" without words, denies manipulators engagement, and allows quiet alignment and growth (like seeds growing underground before visible results).   3. **Walk away without warning or explanation — it's wisdom, not weakness.**      Leaving draining situations, conversations, or relationships silently protects your purpose, creates space for better opportunities, and commands respect through discipline. It's often a divine shift into alignment; don't negotiate your life or beg for understanding.   4. **Your purpose is sacred and must be protected.**      Purpose doesn't require everyone's understanding or validation — not everyone is assigned to your journey. Seeking approval leads to compromise and diluted convictions. Live for fulfillment of purpose, not applause; let your actions, consistency, fruit, and results speak louder than words.   5. **Stop chasing approval — it's a moving target and a trap.**      Approval from people is unreliable and conditions self-doubt. Break free to gain clarity, freedom, and strength. Your value isn't measured by others' reactions but by alignment with your destiny.   6. **Discern energy and set strong boundaries.**      Recognize what (or who) drains vs. builds you — energy doesn't lie. Guard your peace, time, and focus fiercely. Boundaries aren't walls but gates that control access; set them without guilt to prevent invasion of your assignment.   7. **Let results be your testimony.**      When you stop explaining and start moving in silence, your life, growth, and achievements become undeniable proof. True power shows in discipline, peace, and unapologetic alignment rather than endless justification.   Overall message: Reclaim your energy, protect your peace, and trust that walking away silently from what doesn't serve you opens doors to what truly does. This empowers self-respect, emotional maturity, and unstoppable progress toward your calling.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Its not how you see yourself… Its not how others see you, its how you THINK others see you that changes your behavior.   IMAGE The bulldog's nose is slanted backwards so that when it is in a fight it can bite down, hold on and still breathe.   IMAGE TL Osborn- was told one week how much he was like Jesus in every way.  the next week he was told how much he reminded someone of the devil... you cannot let your image hinge on others opinions.   Most men don't live based on truth. They live based on a guess. Not: Who they are Not even who others actually think they are But: Who they think others believe they are. And that invisible belief… is quietly controlling everything: Your confidence Your leadership Your obedience to God   IMAGINATION Worry is a misuse of creativity and imagination. Yet adults use it 99% only for worry.     That statement is deceptively simple—but it's actually pointing at one of the most powerful drivers of human behavior: perceived social judgment.   Let's break it down clearly and then get to the power behind it. 1. What it means “It's not how you see yourself”   Your internal self-image matters—but it's not always what drives your moment-to-moment behavior.   “It's not how others see you”   Reality doesn't control you as much as you think. People may not even be judging you at all.   “It's how you THINK others see you”   This is the key:  Your perception of their perception becomes your operating reality.   This is known in psychology as the “looking-glass self” (from sociology) and ties closely to social anxiety, identity formation, and behavior conditioning. Change the perception → change the behavior → change the outcome → change your life. How do I change my perception? Read gods word, pray, be with like minded Godly people.   

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Lk. 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”   Now you might find yourself - like many of us at times - asking… God what do you want from my life? What is my life about? What should I be doing with my life? I think this verse if pretty clear - it answers those questions. I have found personally and in many conversations that the minute details I want are typically found when I obey the big details. I know I am to seek and save the lost for Jesus - and when I major on the majors - the minors seem to fill themselves in. And yes, your job, who you marry, where you move, should you buy a house, etc… those are actually minors for the most part… if you put Luke 19:10 as a priority.  Yes, who you marry is a big decision if you don't have Luke 19:10 in place - but if you do… well it takes care of itself. Think about it!    Christians have wrestled with this question for centuries. Scripture actually gives a very clear pattern. When you look across the Bible, **three primary pathways consistently reveal God's will**.   ---   ## 1. God's Word (Scripture)

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      The Snow Storm of snow storms… 14-18 inches and counting plus 45 MPH winds. But people didn't miss the gym today…    Great weekend… a nice Sunday to just hang out and relax. Ate a lot of food, good work outs… finally got my ischial Tuberosity to calm down… did some deeds at 550 and had very little discomfort. My next birthday is in 4 months… what do I want to do at 61?  Last year deadlift 630, squat 650 bench 335…. Maybe this year I will do the splits… uhm no!    Chris Krymera 9mm sexy, mean, well built, feels great in the hand, feels like its already broken in…      Have you seen the memes “you only had one job”… and some are good most are bad!      What is our mission? Well I think we could agree it is the same as Jesus mission…right? So what is his mission? Where do we see the most concise definition of what he was called to do?  Luke 19:10 The Bible verse "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" is Luke 19:10 (NIV). It serves as a concise summary of Jesus Christ's mission and earthly ministry, spoken after his interaction with Zacchaeus, highlighting his focus on redeeming those spiritually separated from God.    Key Aspects of Luke 19:10  The Context: Jesus spoke these words in Jericho after visiting the home of Zacchaeus, a despised tax collector, demonstrating that his mission was for the outcast and broken, not just the self-righteous. The Mission: "Seek and save" signifies an active, purposeful pursuit of humanity. It highlights that salvation is initiated by Jesus. The "Lost": This refers to anyone spiritually lost due to sin and separated from God, emphasizing the universal need for redemption. "Son of Man": A title Jesus frequently used for himself, fulfilling prophecies regarding the Messiah.  This verse is considered a key statement in the Gospel of Luke regarding the purpose of Jesus' incarnation—to bring salvation to all   Now you might find yourself - like many of us at times - asking… God what do you want from my life? What is my life about? What should I be doing with my life? I think this verse if pretty clear - it answers those questions. I have found personally and in many conversations that the minute details I want are typically found when I obey the big details. I know I am to seek and save the lost for Jesus - and when I major on the majors - the minors seem to fill themselves in. And yes, your job, who you marry, where you move, should you buy a house, etc… those are actually minors for the most part… if you put Luke 19:10 as a priority.  Yes, who you marry is a big decision if you don't have Luke 19:10 in place - but if you do… well it takes care of itself. Think about it! 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      2 Kings 22 2 Chronicles 32 ISAIAH 22   An old Jewish legend – and nothing more than a legend – says how it was that Sennacherib's sons came to kill him. Sennacherib was troubled at how God seemed to bless the Jews so much, and tried to find out why. Someone told him it was because Abraham had loved God so much that he was willing to sacrifice his son to the LORD. Sennacherib thought he would be even more favored by God, and decided to kill two of his sons in sacrifice to the LORD, becoming even more blessed than Abraham and his descendants. But his two sons learned of the plan, and killed him before he could kill them, thus fulfilling the word of the LORD.         The "15-Year Bonus" Shortly after the invasion, Hezekiah falls terminally ill. He weeps and prays for mercy; God heals him and promises him 15 more years of life, confirming it by making the shadow on a sundial move backward.   **THINK OF IT THIS WAY: God I do not want to be in heaven. I do not want to be with you. I want my success here on earth.   This is when Manessah is born: Worst King ever!      The Diplomatic Blunder In a moment of pride, Hezekiah shows off all his treasures to Babylonian envoys. The prophet Isaiah warns him that this pride will eventually lead to the Babylonian exile of his descendants.     Three "Pro-Tips" from Hezekiah's Life Start Strong: He didn't wait to "settle in" before making big changes. Take it to the Top: When he got a threatening "email" (the Assyrian letter), he went straight to God. Finish Carefully: His later-life lack of fear for God serves as a warning that even a great start requires a humble finish.     LIFE LESSONS!  Immediate action - The best time to plant a tree was a 100 years ago, the second best time is today. The Best time to quit smoking, over eating, read and pray, forgive someone, love your parents, invest, pray for the sick….  -   WAS YEARS AGO AND TODAY     Pure heart You may not do things right, but it is critical to keep your heart inline with God.    - There are numerous places in scripture where what people did was wrong, but God sees the heart.          David eating the show bread Disciples eating grain on the sabbath       Jesus touching the lepers Jesus teaching women             Letting a woman with the issue of blood touch him    Jesus touching the dead          Jesus talking to the woman at the well     *Sometimes its easy to have an impure heart by judging someone else's actions.       ****Satanic trick. You get an impure heart because of what someone else did, not your actions - but their actions.   The Levinsion study: Doctors that did not get sued spent 3.3 more minutes with their patients!  **Patients felt like they new their doctors hearts.   PASTOR GREG LOCKE - PASTOR ___________________ DIDN'T LIKE HIM - BUT THEN SPENT TIME WITH HIM.       Seeks Gods intervention  First, middle, last, last minute… any time is a good time to seek him!      THIS MESSAGE IS FOR YOU TODAY: GOD SEES YOUR HEART      GOD WANTS YOU TO ACT TODAY           GOD WANTS YOU TO CRY OUT TO HIM TODAY! 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com  2 Kings 22 2 Chronicles 32 ISAIAH 22   Hezekiah is not panicking but he is trying his best to keep his people safe from the Assyrians. They are brutal people. They kill the army, then maim the remaining citizens as if to mark their territory… you can see why Hezekiah is wanting to do anything he can to spare his people from this terror.    During this time God leads Hezekiah to prepare.  Covers up the springs and brooks Rebuilds the walls Raised the towers Made new weapons and shields  He set up captains over the people He encouraged them - For there are more with us than with him: “We have more power than they have. (These words he quotes from the prophet Elisha, 2 Kings 6:16.) He rerouted the water   But even after all this prep…  2 Kings 18:13-16, that Hezekiah unwisely and unsuccessfully tried to satisfy Sennacherib with gold and treasures from the temple.   He takes silver from the temple and strips gold from the doors of the temple: tendency to seek security through compromise - compromise Gods Glory - MGLG  * even at the cost of diminishing the visible honor due to God's house. Then he goes to God with Isaiah and cry's out.   God never reprimanded him for his work, or his effort. Scripture describes these actions as part of Hezekiah's strategic and faithful preparation for the Assyrian invasion…   A pure heart, not Gods plan.   The Supernatural Intervention In response to Hezekiah's prayer and the prophecy of Isaiah, the Bible records that the Angel of the Lord sweeps through the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib retreats to Nineveh, and Jerusalem is spared without a single arrow being fired.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      2 Kings 22 2 Chronicles 32 ISAIAH 22   He Promoted Obedience to God's Law   He restored:   * The priesthood * Temple offerings * Tithing systems   The nation became spiritually and economically stable.   How powerful is tithing… when you start it you will see blessing and then the enemy will come at you!  Don't tithe if you don't want to be attacked… oh and if you don't want to be blessed by God.    The Assyrian Crisis (701 BC) The superpower of the day, Assyria, led by King Sennacherib, invades Judah. They conquer 46 cities and surround Jerusalem. This is Hezekiah's "darkest hour," where he takes Sennacherib's threatening letter to the Temple and spreads it out before God in prayer.   The Propaganda War: Sennacherib attempts to demoralize Judah, but Hezekiah encourages his people to trust that "there is a greater power with us than with him".   c. Has not the same Hezekiah taken away His high places and His altars: The Assyrian accuser knew that King Hezekiah had implemented broad reforms in Judah, including the removal of the high places (2 Kings 18:3-4). Yet in the Assyrian's thinking, Hezekiah's reforms had really displeased God, so he should not expect help from the LORD God of Israel. The Assyrian would say, “Look at all the places there used to be where people would worship the LORD God of Israel. Now, since Hezekiah came in, there is only one place. More is always better, so the LORD God of Israel must be pretty sore at Hezekiah!”     The enemy of our souls has an amazing way of discouraging our obedience. If Hezekiah was not careful, this argument of the Assyrian would start to make sense, when really it was demonic logic through and through. Doubt leads to fear and then it leads to our own self building fear and we defeat ourselves before we even fight.    Satan can sound so caring and convincing: You choose to go on a diet and a friend comes to you and says - “Wow, good for you. That shows great discipline and that you want to take care of your body. You will look and feel so much better, way to go. Did you know that sometimes a person on a diet needs extra protein and carbs for energy? Hey you know what… cake has eggs, milk, flour in it. With your daily intake of sodium… boy if you get low on sodium you can cramp up. Plus what I like is that cake gives you an immediate burst of energy… and lets not forget how good it tastes. THIS IS ALL TRUE - BUT THE MOTIVE IS YOUR DESTRUCTION.  

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      2 Kings 22 2 Chronicles 32 ISAIAH 22   2 Kings 18:5 "Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.”   Hezekiah's reign was defined by a radical, almost stubborn reliance on God during a time of national crisis.   He became king after one of Judah's worst rulers, **Ahaz**, (HIS FATHER!) who had plunged the nation into idolatry. Hezekiah reversed the spiritual direction of the nation.   How does this happen… a 25 year old in the prime of life, sex drive, life drive and power… how did he turn out completely different from his father? Well… he had a mom called Abijah the daughter of the prophet Zechariah… Now I don't know why she married him, but she did. Ahaz's wickedness—idolatry, child sacrifice, and alliances with pagan powers (2 Kings 16)—developed or became evident during his reign, but he was likely already crown prince or young king when the marriage was arranged. Ancient betrothals or marriages could occur in youth (Ahaz was around 20 when he became king, and Hezekiah was born when Ahaz was quite young), often before a person's full character was manifest or before major moral failings were public.   Beside the point… King Hezekiah was a complete 180 from his father… Mom did something right!    Our tendency is to think that when we are genuinely faithful to God we will be immune from attack. The experience of Hezekiah and countless other men and women of God tell us otherwise.   He does everything right in the face of unbelievable circumstances… truly an uphill demonic battle and for his faithfulness and troubles he gets attacked from the worst enemy in the world.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      If you want crazy results you gotta train with crazy people. If you wanna be rich you gotta hang out with rich people, if you want to be smart you gotta hang out with smart people and if you want to be Godly… you guessed it - and thats where we are going today.      My Granddaughter has one functioning kidney…  Since birth, her non-functonal left kidney has had fluid surrounding it. They've monitored it because if it gets to be any more, she has risk for infection or something more serious.    Today, for the first time, our urologist said that the dilation around that kidney was GONE.    They don't wanna see her again until she's 13!   BUT UNDERSTAND LIFE IS SHORT Life is short Olympics is years for seconds. The 100 meter dash, years of training, dieting, working out, stretching, overcoming injuries, saying no to normal life activities - all for less than 10 seconds…  I run the race to finish (Apostle Paul) life is short! The training isn't for life, its for eternity.      THE LAST DANCE  Key Quotes and Descriptions:  Jud Buechler: "People were afraid of him... The fear factor of MJ was so, so thick". Will Perdue: "Let's not get it wrong: He was an a--hole... He was a jerk. He crossed the line numerous times". Horace Grant: "It was a bully approach... If you didn't confront Mike, he would ride you every day, all day, all the time". Scottie Pippen: "He Couldn't Have Been More Condescending If He Tried". Steve Kerr: Regarding their practice fight, Kerr noted that Jordan "tested everybody he played with”. BJ Armstrong: "Was he a nice guy? He couldn't have been nice. With that kind of mentality he had, you can't be a nice guy. He would be difficult to be around if you didn't truly love the game of basketball". Michael Jordan (defending his approach): "Winning has a price. And leadership has a price".  MJ emotional in the last dance: You ask my teammates and they will say One thing about Michael Jordan was he never asked me to do something that he didn't do when people see this well he wasn't really a nice guy. He may have been a tyrant well that's you because you never wanted anything. I wanted to win, but I wanted them to win and to be a part of that as well, but I don't have to do this. I'm only doing it because it is who I am. That's how I played the game that was my mentality, if you don't wanna play that way, don't play that way. Break     When Jesus says “take up your cross” he says it in this same context as MJ. Right here in verse 22 Luke 9:22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Nice shoes…     Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.   Would you give up your shoes to follow Jesus? Your wardrobe, your education, your house, your friends, your spouse, your dreams, goals amibitions…  WOULD YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING?      Lets talk gym membership   PEOPLE TODAY PICK A CHURCH BECAUSE ITS EASY.   -  Great worship     -  Great preaching        -  Great friends           -  Great technology               -  Great ministries                 -  Great location                    -  Great facilities … coffee… etc… BUT IF THEY DO NOT CHALLENGE YOU TO PICK UP YOUR CROSS - THEY ARE AN APOSTASY.  Def: abandonment or renunciation of one's religious faith, principles, or cause.   Churches are competing with other churches to attract people to their church - RATHER THAN… preaching the cross of Christ!     What is the price of your cross… what is the cost of the cross: Loneliness, misunderstanding, lack of friends or lose friends, viewed as odd or religious, fired, financial loss… old school

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    The Best football names in the NFL Dick Butkus — Sounds like a no-nonsense enforcer (and he was one of the most feared linebackers in history). Bronko Nagurski — Old-school powerhouse name that matches his legendary fullback/linebacker dominance. Johnny Blood — Rugged and mysterious; fits a tough early-era player perfectly. Frank Zombo —The zombie    LUke 9: 23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. NASB     Jonathan Goforth (1859–1936) A Canadian missionary to China and Korea, Goforth witnessed powerful revivals (e.g., the Manchurian Revival of 1908), with thousands repenting, confessions of sin, and spiritual awakenings spreading like wildfire. The cost was staggering: five of his eleven children died during his ministry (due to harsh conditions and disease), he faced intense persecution, physical exhaustion, and personal grief. Yet he pressed on through prayer and humility, seeing God move in extraordinary ways—proving revival often follows deep personal sacrifice.   In all things seek to know God's Will and when known obey at any cost. Jonathan Goforth     Would you give up your shoes to follow Jesus? Your wardrobe, your education, your house, your friends, your spouse, your dreams, goals amibitions…  WOULD YOU GIVE UP EVERYTHING?      Lets talk gym membership   PEOPLE TODAY PICK A CHURCH BECAUSE ITS EASY.   -  Great worship     -  Great preaching        -  Great friends           -  Great technology               -  Great ministries                 -  Great location                    -  Great facilities … coffee… etc… BUT IF THEY DO NOT CHALLENGE YOU TO PICK UP YOUR CROSS - THEY ARE AN APOSTASY.  Def: abandonment or renunciation of one's religious faith, principles, or cause.   Churches are competing with other churches to attract people to their church - RATHER THAN… preaching the cross of Christ!     What is the price of your cross… what is the cost of the cross: Loneliness, misunderstanding, lack of friends or lose friends, viewed as odd or religious, fired, financial loss… old school

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      I have spoken to groups of 20k, I have spoken to a 1000 dentists, I have spoke to professional sports teams, I have spoken to kindergartners and I have even spoken to men in prison… like Jeffery Dahmer… but nothing could have prepared me for that day…     INTRO: I stood in front of a group of boys who were all under 18 and were in prison. They were hardened criminals… in for stabbing, shooting, killing, raping… You are not in here because you made a bad choice, you are not in here because you got caught, you are not in here because you chose the dangerous path… You are not in here because you chose the hard way You are in here because you chose the easy way!      The ultimate choice!  LUke 9: 23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. NASB       Chew on this: Your health right now is because you chose hard or you chose easy… your feelings. Your finances - you chose your feelings or you chose the cross. Your marriage to your spouse - you chose your feelings or you chose the cross.  Your spiritual depth - feelings or cross. EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE… INCLUDING YOUR ATTITUDE IS FEELINGS OR CROSS.   *TO be the BOSS you gotta choose the CROSS!      CROSS - what does it mean?    Context: In 1st-century Roman culture, this phrase meant carrying the instrument of one's own execution, signifying absolute surrender and a, willingness to die to one's own desires. The Cost: It means putting aside personal ambition, comfort, and, if necessary, one's own life to follow Jesus. The Reward: Jesus contrasts this by saying, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it”.   Daily Application: It is not just about extreme sacrifice, but daily choosing obedience, patience over anger, and selflessness over comfort.        In the first-century Jewish context under Roman occupation, the cross symbolized the most degrading, torturous death imaginable—not a mere "burden" like a difficult circumstance (a common modern misinterpretation). Jesus' audience would have immediately understood "take up your cross" as a vivid metaphor for being willing to face execution, shame, and total loss of life for His sake. It was shocking and countercultural: no one "took up a cross" expecting to survive or gain worldly power.   Cross = shame, guilt, suffering, rejection, 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    What do you want for your kids? Happiness? Great life? Money? Health?    Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again,   Rising After the Fall: The Resilience of the Righteous Scripture: “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”(Proverbs 24:16)   1. The Reality of the Fall - the gun will go off, someone will get shot The first thing we notice in this verse is a sobering honesty: the righteous fall. Many people operate under the misconception that a life of faith is a life of perfection or a shield against gravity. But Solomon doesn't say the righteous might fall; he says they fall "seven times." In biblical terms, the number seven often represents completeness. This suggests that the righteous will face complete, repeated, and sometimes exhausting setbacks. The Fall is not a Failure of Faith: Falling is simply part of the human condition. Whether it is a moral lapse, a financial collapse, or an emotional breakdown, being "righteous" does not mean being “bulletproof." I love Mauy Thai because you get kicked and punched and elbowed and kneed and that is the real world… most people don't like to fight because they don't want to feel pain… but once you get over that you become deadly.  2. The Definition of Righteousness If both the righteous and the wicked face "calamity," what is the difference between them? The difference isn't found in the descent, but in the response. The Wicked: When they stumble, they stay down. Their foundation is built on circumstances, so when circumstances crumble, they are undone. The Righteous: Their righteousness isn't based on their ability to stand perfectly; it's based on their relationship with the One who pulls them back up. Righteousness is a matter of orientation, not just performance. 3. The Grace of the "Again" The power of this verse lies in two words: "rise again." This is the theology of the second chance (and the third, and the seventh). God is more interested in your recovery than your stumble. The "rising" is an act of grit fueled by grace. It implies that as long as there is breath in your lungs, the story isn't over. "Failure is not the opposite of success; it is a stepping stone to it. In the Kingdom of God, failure is often the classroom where we learn the most about God's strength and our own weakness."   Application: How Do We Rise? Acknowledge the Fall: Don't waste energy pretending you didn't trip. Honesty is the first step toward upward mobility. Reject the Label: You may have fallen, but you are not "a failure." You are still "the righteous" because of whose you are. Lean on the Lifter: We don't rise by our own bootstraps. We rise because we serve a God who reaches down into the pit. Conclusion: If you find yourself on the ground today—spiritually, mentally, or professionally—take heart. The "seven times" you've fallen are not a tally of your defeat, but a setup for your next rising. Dust yourself off; your Storyteller isn't done writing yet.   Would you like me to expand on this with some specific modern-day illustrations or perhaps draft a concluding prayer to go with it

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      A lot of pastors recently have told me they are burning out, they are looking for different churches, bigger churches… one of the reasons is because they are tired of people coming to church… they give them everything they can on Sundays and through church… and then people leave. But now thats what the pastor is doing… he is walking out on his members… Look here is the bottom line… Being a Christ follower is not supposed to be easy. Its not easy, and its not supposed to be easy. Do you know here in the USA we whine about everything… here is a quick cure to that… go plant a church in China, in North Korea, in Sudan, in Nigeria… Maybe just one of our own inner cities in the US. Learn just how easy you have it.  People tell me all the time… Im leaving my job its to hard, Im leaving this relationship its to hard, Im leaving this group, Im leaving this church, Im leaving this family, Im leaving this sport…    Its supposed to be hard - God put you there as the change agent!      Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV):     “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”       This passage describes the way of life in Christ as **narrow** and difficult (or "hard-pressed" in some translations), in contrast to the easy, broad road many choose.   Matthew 16:24(also paralleled in Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:23):     Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”       "Taking up your cross" refers to embracing suffering, self-denial, and even potential death—hardly an easy commitment. Jesus repeats this call to daily cross-bearing.   Luke 14:27   “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”       In the larger context of Luke 14:25-33 (the cost of discipleship), Jesus emphasizes counting the cost and that true discipleship requires giving up everything, making it a demanding, all-in commitment.   2 Timothy 3:12     “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”       Paul straightforwardly states that pursuing godliness in Christ guarantees opposition and hardship.   These verses highlight that while Jesus offers rest for the soul (e.g., Matthew 11:28-30, where His yoke is "easy" and burden "light" in the sense of grace and purpose rather than legalism), the Christian life often involves trials, sacrifice, and swimming against the current of the world. The path isn't promised to be comfortable or popular, but it's the one that leads to true life.   If you're reflecting on this personally or preparing a message/sermon, these passages together paint a clear picture that authentic Christianity demands cost and effort—yet it's worth it for the eternal hope it brings. Let me know if you'd like more context or related verses!

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com        Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.”** – Proverbs 10:26 (NASB)   When Laziness Becomes a Liability***     Most of us have experienced irritation that lingers: – Smoke burning your eyes – Sour vinegar shocking your teeth   Solomon compares laziness to these two deeply uncomfortable sensations. This is not mild annoyance. This is painful frustration.   God is showing us that laziness doesn't just hurt the lazy person — **it hurts everyone connected to them. The lazy Dad hurts his wife, his kids, his boss and his own psyche…      Laziness is not a personal weakness — it is a communal burden.   1. The Cultural Meaning of Vinegar and Smoke**   Vinegar to the Teeth   In the ancient world, vinegar was cheap, acidic wine. If you expected refreshing grape juice and received sour vinegar instead, your mouth would recoil.   It shocks. It irritates. It disappoints.   Smoke to the Eyes   Smoke was a daily irritation in ancient homes. Cooking fires filled small houses, burning eyes, blurring vision, causing tears and coughing.   Smoke disorients. Smoke blinds. Smoke frustrates.   together, these metaphors paint a picture:   Laziness creates irritation, disappointment, confusion, and emotional strain.       2. The Problem Isn't Slowness — It's Unfaithfulness**   The proverb says:   “So is the lazy one **to those who send him.”   This isn't about personal motivation. This is about assignment, responsibility, and trust.   The lazy person:   * Was sent with a purpose * Was trusted with a task * Was expected to deliver   But instead:   * They delay * They deflect * They disappoint They act drained… but its only those around them that are truly drained due to their behavior.      Biblical Insight:   Laziness is not neutral. It is unfaithfulness with delegated authority. - ITS DOING NOTHING AT ALL THE WHILE GIVEN THE POWER AND THE PRIVILEGE TO DO IT.    Jesus echoed this principle in **Matthew 25 (Parable of the Talents)** — the servant who buried his responsibility was not rebuked for inability, but for slothfulness and fear.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Proverbs 3: 31  Don't envy violent people     or copy their ways. 32  Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,     but he offers his friendship to the godly. 33  The Lord curses the house of the wicked,     but he blesses the home of the upright. 34  The Lord mocks the mockers     but is gracious to the humble.[c]     Proverbs 3:31–34 serves as the "sharp turn" at the end of a chapter famous for its beautiful imagery of wisdom as a "tree of life." While the earlier verses focus on the internal benefits of wisdom—peace, long life, and favor—these final verses pivot to how we should view others, specifically those who seem to get ahead through ruthlessness.   The Biblical Context Chapter 3 is a fatherly discourse intended to guide a young person through the complexities of social and spiritual life. At this point in the text, the author is contrasting two very different lifestyles: the covenant-keeper (the righteous) and the covenant-breaker (the wicked/scoffer). Verse 31: The Trap of Envy "Do not envy a violent man and do not choose any of his ways." The Background: In the ancient world (much like today), it was easy to look at the "strongman"—the person who used force, intimidation, or exploitation—and admire their results. They often gained wealth and power quickly. The Wisdom: Wisdom warns that "success" built on violence or oppression is a mirage. To "choose his ways" is to adopt a mindset that people are tools to be used rather than neighbors to be loved. Verse 32: The Divine Reaction "For the devious man is an abomination to the Lord, but He is intimate with the upright." The Contrast: The word "devious" refers to someone who is crooked or slippery in their dealings. The Reward: The "upright" receive something far more valuable than the spoils of violence: intimacy with God. The Hebrew word used here for "intimacy" (sôd) refers to a confidential, friendly conversation or a secret counsel. While the wicked get "stuff," the righteous get "God's ear." Verse 33: The Home and the Heart "The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous." The Scope: This verse suggests that the consequences of our character leak into our environment. A "house" in the biblical sense isn't just the architecture; it's the lineage, the family, and the legacy. The Reality: The wicked may have a mansion, but it carries a "curse" (instability and spiritual decay), while even a humble "dwelling" of the righteous is a place of divine favor. Verse 34: The Law of Reciprocity "Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor." The Principle: This is one of the most famous verses in the Old Testament, later quoted by both James (4:6) and Peter (1 Peter 5:5). The Mechanics: God mirrors the attitude of the heart. If you are a "scorner" (someone who thinks they are above the rules and looks down on others), you will eventually find yourself looking up at a God who opposes you. Conversely, "favor" (grace) is a gift that flows to the lowest point—the humble.   Summary Table Verse The Human Action The Divine Response 31 Envy/Violence (Warning) Avoid these paths 32 Deviousness vs. Uprightness Abomination vs. Intimacy 33 Wickedness vs. Righteousness Curse vs. Blessing 34 Scorn vs. Humility Scorn vs. Favor/Grace   Modern Application The "background" of these verses is essentially a reality check. They remind us that character is more than just personal morality; it is a social and spiritual trajectory. We are encouraged not to be "gaslit" by the visible success of the ruthless, but to value the quiet, steady blessing of walking in integrity. Would you like me to look into the original Hebrew meanings of any specific words in these verses to give you a deeper look?

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      That viral video features a young girl named Jessica, and it is widely known as "Jessica's Daily Affirmations." In the video, which was originally recorded in 2001 but became a massive internet sensation years later, Jessica stands on her bathroom counter in front of the mirror. She energetically pumps her arms and shouts positive phrases to herself, including: "I can do anything good!" "My whole house is great!" "I like my pajamas!" "I like my hair!" "I am great!"     Proverbs 19:8 To acquire wisdom is to love yourself;     people who cherish understanding will prosper.     The Core Meaning At its simplest level, this verse is about enlightened self-interest. It suggests that seeking knowledge isn't just a dry, academic exercise or a moral obligation—it is the highest form of self-care. 1. "Loving Your Own Soul" In the ancient Hebrew context, the "soul" (nephesh) refers to the whole person—your life, your being, and your vitality. The verse implies that if you neglect your mind and character, you are essentially being unkind to yourself. By acquiring wisdom, you are equipping yourself to navigate life's traps, which is the ultimate act of self-love. 2. "Keeping" Understanding There is a distinction here between getting wisdom and keeping it. Getting: The initial act of learning or seeking advice. Keeping: The discipline of applying that knowledge consistently. The promise is that those who hold onto their discernment don't just "have" information; they "find good"—meaning they experience practical success, peace, and favor.   The Context of Proverbs 19 To understand this verse fully, it helps to look at the surrounding themes in Chapter 19: Integrity vs. Wealth: The chapter opens by saying it's better to be poor and honest than a rich fool. Verse 8 reinforces this by showing that true "wealth" is found in the mind and spirit. The Consequences of Folly: Much of the chapter warns against laziness, false witnessing, and hotheadedness. Verse 8 stands as the "positive alternative"—the way to avoid the disasters mentioned in the rest of the chapter. Relationship with God: In the Book of Proverbs, wisdom is never purely secular. It begins with "the fear of the Lord." Therefore, "getting wisdom" implies aligning your life with divine order.     To get the "3D" version of this verse, look at these two specific Hebrew words: Qoneh-leb (Getting Heart): The literal Hebrew says "The one who acquires heart." This implies that wisdom isn't just something you're born with; it's something you purchase or acquire through effort, discipline, and sometimes painful experience. Shomer (Keeping/Guarding): The second half of the verse uses shomer, which means to watch over, guard, or preserve. It's the same word used for a watchman on a city wall. It suggests that once you learn a truth, you have to defend it against your own impulses or the world's distractions.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Ever say something that immediately provoked a beating? Just one slip of the lip and you got jacked? Not me, but my buddy did, sitting in the stands of a high school football game… smarted off to the wrong person… clip, down goes Frasier…    Prov. 18: 6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,     and his mouth invites a beating.   16 A man's gift makes room for him     and brings him before the great.   It is fascinating to put these two verses side-by-side because they represent two opposite ways a person's "mouth" or "actions" can open doors. While Verse 6 shows how words can get you into trouble, Verse 16 shows how generosity can get you into "the room." Comparison: Proverbs 18:6 vs. Proverbs 18:16 Feature Verse 6: The Fool's Lips Verse 16: A Man's Gift The Action Speaking recklessly and provocatively. Giving a gift (generosity or social grace). The Motion "Walking into" a fight. "Making room" for the person. The Result Conflict and "a beating." Access to "great men" (influence). The Direction Downward spiral into trouble. Upward movement into opportunity. The Contrast: Verse 6 describes someone who forces their way into a situation with loud, aggressive words, only to find pain. Verse 16 describes someone who clears a path through excellence or generosity. One uses their mouth to create a wall; the other uses their resources to open a door. (Note: In Hebrew, "gift" can mean a literal bribe or a sincere gesture of honor. In a wisdom context, it generally refers to the "gift" of one's talents or a spirit of generosity that makes people want to welcome you.)   Discipleship Lesson: "The Door-Opener" Scripture: Proverbs 18:6, 16 Theme: Controlling our influence through restraint and generosity. 1. Check Your Entrance A disciple of Christ is called to be an ambassador. Verse 6 warns us that if we enter conversations with a "fighting" spirit—ready to argue, correct, or insult—we aren't just representing ourselves poorly; we are inviting unnecessary suffering. Question: Are you "walking into fights" on social media or in your family that could be avoided with a bit of silence? 2. Let Your Character Clear the Way Verse 16 tells us that a "gift" makes room. In a spiritual sense, your "gift" is the grace and talent God has given you. You don't need to shout to be heard or kick doors down to get ahead. When you lead with generosity and excellence, God provides the "room" for your influence. Question: Are you trying to "talk" your way into leadership, or are you serving your way there? 3. The Gospel Connection Jesus is the ultimate example of these two verses. When He was insulted, He did not "invite a beating" by trading insults (1 Peter 2:23); He remained silent. Yet, His "gift"—the sacrifice of His life—opened the ultimate door for us to enter the presence of the "Great King."   Prayer Focus: Lord, keep my lips from inviting conflict today. Help me to lead with a spirit of generosity and excellence, trusting that You will open the doors You want me to walk through.   Would you like me to find a few more verses in Proverbs that specifically discuss how "the gift of the tongue" can be used for healing instead of fighting?

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com          Phil. 3: 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the [a]false circumcision; 3 for we are the true [b]circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason:     2-6 Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they're interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it. We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it—even though we can list what many might think are impressive credentials.   To understand the weight of Philippians 3:2-3, you have to imagine Paul writing from a prison cell, not with a sense of defeat, but with a sharp, protective urgency for his friends in Philippi. These verses represent one of the most famous "tone shifts" in the New Testament, moving from joy to a stern warning.   1. The Historical Background When Paul writes, "Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh," he isn't just being grumpy. He is addressing a specific group known as Judaizers. The Conflict The Judaizers were early Christians who argued that for a Gentile (non-Jew) to truly follow Christ, they first had to become Jewish by being circumcised and adhering to the Mosaic Law. The Term "Dogs": In the first century, "dogs" wasn't a cute term; it referred to scavengers. Ironically, Jews often used this term for "unclean" Gentiles. Paul flips the script, calling the legalists the "unclean" ones because they were trying to add human effort to a divine gift. The "Mutilators": Paul uses a Greek wordplay here. He contrasts peritome (circumcision) with katatome(mutilation). He's saying that if circumcision is done for the wrong reasons—as a requirement for salvation—it's nothing more than a physical wound with no spiritual value.   2. Defining the "True Circumcision" In verse 3, Paul redefines what it means to be the people of God. He lists three marks of a true believer that don't depend on physical lineage: Mark Meaning Worship by the Spirit Authentic worship isn't about following a ritual checklist; it's an internal prompting from God. Glory in Christ Jesus Our "boasting" or confidence is placed entirely in what Jesus did, not in our own resumes. No Confidence in the Flesh This means we stop trusting our background, our education, or our "goodness" to save us.   3. Application for Today While we aren't usually debating physical circumcision in modern life, the root issue—legalism versus grace—is still very much alive. Avoiding "Performance" Christianity It is human nature to want a "to-do list" to feel secure. Today, "the flesh" might look like: Thinking you are closer to God because you attend more services than others. Relying on your political stance or social activism as the source of your righteousness. Feeling "better" than others because of your specific lifestyle choices. Finding True Identity Paul's message to us today is a call to spiritual exhale. If our standing with God is based on Christ's performance and not ours, we are free from the "treadmill" of trying to earn God's favor. The takeaway: Religious rituals are fine as expressions of love, but they are "dogs" if they become the basis of our hope.   Would you like me to look into the verses that immediately follow this, where Paul lists his own impressive "religious resume" only to call it "rubbish"?

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Would you rather game: Would you rather put your hand in a blender with lemon juice or kneel on a drill bit in salt water?  Would you rather have a billion dollars and be the fattest ugliest person in the world, or be poor the rest of your life but be absolutely ravishingly beautiful?      Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure, and turmoil with the treasure. 17  Better is a portion of vegetables where there is love, Than a fattened ox served with hatred.   Proverbs 15:16–17 offers a profound "this is better than that" comparison, focusing on the relationship between material wealth, spiritual peace, and emotional health. Here are the verses for reference: 16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.   The Philosophy of "Better Than" These verses belong to a category of wisdom literature known as comparative proverbs. They don't argue that being poor is inherently superior to being rich; rather, they argue that the quality of your inner life and relationships is the true multiplier of your happiness. Verse 16: The Spiritual Math "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” I had the profound privilege of working for some of the richest people in the world when I was just 18. They had it all, everything, there was no want in their life… and they were miserable!  The Component of Peace: The "fear of the Lord" in Proverbs refers to a deep reverence and alignment with divine wisdom. This creates a psychological and spiritual foundation of security. The Hidden Cost of Wealth: The "trouble" mentioned often refers to the anxiety, ethical compromises, or sleepless nights that can accompany amassing wealth without a moral compass. The more stuff you have the more stuff you have to take care of, watch over, worry about,  The Takeaway: $Small Assets + High Peace > Large Assets + High Stress$. It's an argument for contentment over accumulation. Verse 17: The Social Climate "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it." The Dinner of Herbs: In the ancient world, a meal of herbs (vegetables) was the "budget" option—the food of the commoner or the poor. The Fattened Ox: This represents the height of luxury—a "choice cut" reserved for royalty or major celebrations. The Emotional Environment: This verse points out that our physical environment is secondary to our emotional environment. A feast tastes like ash if you are eating it with someone you despise, or who despises you. Conversely, the simplest meal is elevated by genuine connection.   Why This Matters Today In a modern context, these verses act as a warning against "the grind" at the expense of everything else. They remind us of two things: Wealth cannot buy a quiet conscience. If the pursuit of "treasure" creates "trouble" (broken integrity, legal issues, or chronic anxiety), the treasure is actually a net loss. Relationships are the ultimate seasoning. We often spend our lives trying to provide the "fattened ox" for our families, but these verses suggest that our families would much rather have "herbs" and a present, loving version of us.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Bad Bunny, President Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, ICE, Transgender rights, Olympic outrage, Tarrifs and trade, mass deportation, conversion therapy, Turning point halftime show vs NFL halftime show, The Epstein files, expanded travel bans, MAHA regulations, DOJ, Republicans, Democrats, Government shutdown…. Kidrock, JayZ, NFL players who are Christian,    When you feel powerless you choose a platform to publicly rebel so that you cover your emptiness. Rebellion is a false sense of power.  Why do you act out, rebel, etc… selfishness - its all about me. I am empty, I am entitled, I am important (because I truly don't feel important) I matter and my opinion matters… because internally I don't feel like I matter or like my opinion matters. Listen to this verse.    Proverbs 16:32 one who rules his spirit is better than one who captures a city.    It is far more important that you rule your spirit, keep it under Gods control and act out in the fruits of the spirit than it is for you to rampage on social media about what ever cause you are trying to conquer.  Chew on that one for a second. Sweat that one out. It is far more important to God that you rule your heart, control your heart, control your spirit than it is for you to change that cause you are ranting about. Yes we as Christians are just as guilty as non christians.    Finally… we have forgotten the purpose of our walk- its not to point out all the things that are wrong? Did Jesus do that? He had the opportunity and the power to showcase everyones sins… but his purpose was the gospel. Look -personally I am to busy to trash, yell, argue, road rage about any of the so called controversial things that are going on in our country - the only thing that is going to change our country is the gospel. If you are not actively sharing Jesus - you my friend are the problem. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Keep your heart open to God.   Cam a young man who got a new heart. Sunday stopped service.  Showed the picture. They keep his chest open so they can get to it ASAP if something goes wrong.      Psalm 62:8 (VOICE) — "Have faith in Him in all circumstances, dear people. Open up your heart to Him; the True God shelters us in His arms." A direct call to open your heart to God in trust.   Acts 16:14 — "One who heard us was a woman named Lydia... The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.”   Psalm 51:10 — "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." David's prayer for renewal reflects a desire for a heart continually open and right before God. Hebrews 10:22 — "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience…" Sincere heart - GK. ah-lay-thee-NOS.    True inside and out. Exposing the “inner make up” of the heart.      Father keep my heart open…  Why is it so important for my wife to keep her heart open to me? Because it means she is sympathetic to what I am going through, my needs, my hurts, my wants, needs, hopes, fears… it is the foundation to a healthy growing relationship between us. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Superbowl… t's actually been fascinating. Mike Macdonald is doing stuff he hasn't done all season long to just completely confuse Drake Maye and the Patriots. He rarely blitzes, and he is blitzing the CRAP out of Drake Maye tonight. Seattle's scoring: All points initially came from kicker Jason Myers, who hit four field goals (tying a Super Bowl record for most in a game, all from shorter distances like 39-41 yards). This gave Seattle a 12-0 lead by the end of the third quarter. First touchdown: Late in the game (early Q4), Seahawks QB Sam Darnold connected with tight end AJ Barner for a 16-yard TD pass, making it 19-0 (with the extra point). This came right after a key forced fumble by the Seattle defense on Patriots QB Drake Maye. Patriots' response: New England finally got on the board with a touchdown pass from Drake Maye (to Mack Hollins in some reports), cutting it to 19-7. Their offense has struggled significantly, with very few first downs and low yardage (e.g., around 58 total yards at one point in the third). Defense dominates: Seattle's defense has overwhelmed the Patriots, holding them scoreless through three quarters—the second Super Bowl ever with no TDs through three quarters. Kenneth Walker III and the Seahawks' run game have been effective, while New England's offense has been stifled. YOu might miss this: Yardage disparity: Seattle has racked up far more yards (e.g., 252+ at points) compared to New England's anemic output, highlighting how one-sided the trenches and play-calling have been.   Turning point Halftime show… cool, but needed more life on the stage like dancers etc… But the kid rock / Joe Rogan montage was absolutely fantastic… loved it.    When love becomes selective, it stops looking like God's Love.    The Pattern**   Every wrong love in Scripture has one thing in common:  It centers on self instead of surrender.   Our biggest failure in love is we always first see how it should be applied to us and very rarely to other others.    Jesus said “love your neighbor as yourself”.  We apply that is positive situations… but what about negative, problematic, painful situations. Where the other person may not exactly deserve love according to how they are treating us… AGAIN - love your neighbor as yourself.  When you are like that - and yes you, me all of us are like that - how do you want to be loved? Remember Every wrong love in Scripture has one thing in common:  It centers on self instead of surrender. Now here is the kicker… every wrong love in our lives has one thing in common - it centers of self instead of surrender.    When I want to be loved the way I want to be loved - when I am at my worst - but I don't want to love others in the same situation and in the same way - I am the ultimate hypocrite. **lets practice self love on others… make sense? I hope so. Now go do it! 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Im gonna make you an offer you can't refuse…  What exactly does that mean… It is such a great offer I just can't refuse it OR because of whom is offering you better not refuse it or it could be the last offer you ever get before you eat a bullet.   1. Tom Hagen in The Godfather (1972) One of the best examples of "delegated authority" is Tom Hagen acting as the consigliere. When he visits the film producer Jack Woltz in Los Angeles, he is physically unassuming and polite. However, he makes it crystal clear that he isn't speaking for himself; he is the voice of Vito Corleone. The Power Move: Hagen calmly explains that Mr. Corleone is a man who "insists on hearing bad news immediately." He wields the Don's entire criminal empire through a quiet dinner conversation.     Special Instructions on "How" Beyond the "what" and "where," the Bible gives specific tactical advice: In Secret: Jesus warned against performing for an audience. He suggested going into a "closet" or inner room (Matthew 6:6) to keep the motive pure. With Persistence: The parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) teaches us not to give up if an answer doesn't come immediately. In the Spirit: Paul mentions praying "in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18), which implies a deep, divinely-guided connection beyond just reciting words. Briefly and Simply: Jesus cautioned against "vain repetitions" (Matthew 6:7). God isn't impressed by a high word count; He's looking for sincerity. In Jesus' Name: This isn't a magic phrase at the end of a prayer; it means praying in alignment with His character and authority (John 14:13).

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    What if our prayers were simply admissions rather than confessions…  What do I mean? Most people pray begging God… telling him what he already knows, asking for things he already said he would provide. We are confessing our doubts to him rather than praying simple confessions… that is what the word of God already says about a situation… we confess what Gods word says.    1. The Core "Postures" of Prayer These are the different intents or "heart-settings" mentioned throughout scripture: Petition (Supplication): Simply asking for what you need. From the "daily bread" in the Lord's Prayer to Paul's instruction in Philippians 4:6 to "let your requests be made known to God." Intercession: Praying on behalf of others. Abraham interceding for Sodom or Paul praying for the early churches are classic examples. Thanksgiving: Shifting the focus from what you want to what you have. The Bible often pairs this with petition—gratitude is the "atmosphere" in which prayer should happen. Lament: A raw, honest cry to God in pain or frustration. About a third of the Psalms are laments, showing that God welcomes our "unfiltered" emotions. Adoration & Praise: Prayer focused entirely on God's character rather than your own needs.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    One of my good friends who is also my racquet ball partner, my tattoo artist and also a non Christian… has a great theory about life and retirement…    German Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll titled Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral ("Anecdote concerning the Lowering of Productivity"). The Story in a Nutshell The Meeting: An American investment banker (or businessman) is at a pier in a small coastal village. A fisherman pulls up with a few large tuna. The banker compliments the fish and asks how long it took to catch them. The Simple Life: The fisherman says it only took a short while. When asked why he doesn't stay out longer, he says he has enough for his family's needs. He spends the rest of his day sleeping late, playing with his kids, taking naps with his wife, and strolling into the village to play guitar with his friends. The "Advice": The banker scoffs, "I have an MBA! I can help you." He outlines a 20-year plan: catch more fish, buy more boats, open a cannery, move to the city, and eventually take the company public to make millions.         Good GK agathos - you did what God intended for you (in a personal sense) No more no less. You fulfilled your duty of service.    It's often the "invisible" roles—the ones we walk past every day—that keep the world from fraying at the edges. These acts are small in the moment but have a massive cumulative effect on human dignity, safety, and well-being. Here are a few examples of people whose "small" jobs carry immense weight:   1. The Crossing Guard On the surface, they just hold a sign and blow a whistle. But in reality, they are the guardians of community safety. The Impact: They provide the literal "safe passage" for the next generation. Beyond traffic, they are often the first friendly face a child sees outside their home, offering a sense of security and neighborhood belonging. 2. The Night Shift Janitor (in a Hospital) While surgeons get the credit for saving lives, the person mopping the floors is the one preventing the next outbreak. The Impact: Their meticulousness is the front line against Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). A missed spot isn't just "dirty"—it's a biological hazard. They provide the sterile foundation that makes modern medicine possible.   High Stakes, Low Visibility: You only notice them when they don't do their job. Repetitive Nature: The impact comes from the discipline of doing the small thing correctly every single time. The "Butterfly Effect": A clean floor prevents a fever; a tagged photo saves a legacy; a whistle prevents a tragedy.

The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com  Garth Heckman     Matthew 25 14 “For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey. 16 The one who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he [made a profit and] gained five more. 17 Likewise the one who had two [made a profit and] gained two more. 18 But the one who had received the one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 “Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 And the one who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents. See, I have [made a profit and] gained five more talents.' 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.' 22 “Also the one who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have [made a profit and] gained two more talents.' 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.' 24 “The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping [the harvest] where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 So I was afraid [to lose the talent], and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.' 26 “But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap [the harvest] where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money with the bankers, and at my return I would have received my money back with interest. 28 So take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.' 29 “For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away. 30 And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].     INTRO:  Matthew 24 the Olivet discourse it deals with the signs of the end times.    Matthew 25 is the waiting “how to” while the end times ares growing closer and closer. This sermon is during Holy Week Jesus is about to be arrested His time is extremely short In Chapter 24 the disciples when will this happen Chapter 25 Jesus is just talking to the Disciples and says - “Don't worry about when, but worry about how you live”.    Matt. 25 The virgins Be alert and on guard The talents - work while you wait, time is short The sheep and the goats - serving the least of these       Lets focus on v. 23 V.23 ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.'     What does the world value today?  Big, Better, Best… Hate to be an NFL coach - you are judged by wether or not you win the Super Bowl.    What are you called to carry?  The young man who gave up his 6 figure income and corner office in the NY high-rise to become a monk. **He calls his father after a year of silence to tell him that he thinks given enough time he can become the number one monk in the monastery.    **—**Well done thy good and faithful servant.    What does God judge us on?  Well done thy successful and rich servant Well done thy thin and beautiful Well done thy self made millionaire  Well done thy cure'er of cancer Well done thy strong and influential Well done thy business mogul who has created 1000's of jobs Well done thy parents who raised perfect kids Well done thy pastor who has a church of 5000 Well done thy healer, miracle worker, word of knowledge speaker Well done thy wise and intelligent     Compared to faithfulness and doing what is right.   Well Done. GK  YOO You acted right within your calling and responsibility  an approving verdict, an ethical summons, and a covenant promise of welfare. Each occurrence reinforces the biblical conviction that true “well-being” is inseparable from faithfulness to the will of God.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      A. Twelve disciples chosen and commissioned. 1. (Matthew 10:1-4) The twelve disciples are listed. And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. a. When He had called His twelve disciples to Him: The main feature of this list is its diversity. Jesus chose His disciples from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. About all they had in common was it seems that none of them were privileged or from backgrounds of high status. This is very much in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. b. He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease: Jesus did not only call the twelve; He also gave them power to do what He had called them to do. The same principle holds true today: whom God calls, God equips. The equipping may not be completely evident before the ministry begins, but it will be evident along the way. c. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: These twelve (excepting Judas, of course), have an important place in God's plan of redemption, including some particular role in the future judgment (Matthew 19:28), and in the founding of the church (Ephesians 2:20). The Bible promises that their position and work will be remembered through eternity (Revelation 21:14). i. This is the first and only time in Matthew that the twelve are called apostles. “The word apostle literally means one who is sent out; it is the word for an envoy or an ambassador.” (Barclay) “Called here for the first and last time apostoloi, with reference at once to the immediate minor mission and to the later great one.” (Bruce) The word apostle can mean a mere messenger, as in John 13:16, referring to he who is sent. Jesus is called an apostle in Hebrews 3:1: consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. Paul sometimes used the word in the sense of messengers or representatives, as in 2 Corinthians 8:23: they are messengers [apostles] of the churches; possibly also in Romans 16:7. Yet Paul also used the term in a more narrow sense, referring to the Twelve and himself by special dispensation (1 Corinthians 9:1-5 and 15:7-10; Galatians 1:17 and 1:19 following).

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Isaiah and Jessica thanks for tuning in.  Taiwan, Ireland, Bahamas,    Matthew 7The Tree and Its Fruit 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. True Disciples 21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' Building on a Solid Foundation 24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”   So what is it? Actions? Or not actions? What makes the difference? Well what about the house built on sand…. The key is obedience to teaching… to the acts of the teaching. Its not if you can produce the acts of Jesus but rather if you are doing it for Jesus. In todays world there are so many pastors, teachers, evangelists, Spiritual Christian influencers that have lots of “fruit” / actions… but that is not the key the key is your motive. Are you simply out to build your brand, your influence, your ministry, your face, your public persona…. Obedience is greater than sacrifice right? But obedience is also greater than works…  Matthew 7:22 you did the acts… but you never knew me. I do not know you!  These guys built the same thing… a house. Its not like one built a house and the other a liquor store and God said… Liquor store has got to go. They built the same thing… but one built his house on what he wanted… the other built a house on what God wanted.  People always want to ask… what are you building. God asks why are you building! 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    My dog is huge!!   Vacation… not a cruise guy.  My wife had not packed enough medication, then lost other medication, I got food poisoning for 2 days, our Flight canceled 9 times… just the flight to get to Chicago… but wait there's more… it was only to fly us to Philadelphia… which was canceled another 5 times, only to take us to Baltimore… and then to Minnesapolis…. Anyway after sitting in the airport for 18 hours with my wife… we decided if we do get to Chicago we will just drive home… and that is what we did. So I sit here tonight doing tomorrows podcast which you are hearing today… because I have not been up for 32 hours and I am about to drop over…  How do I stay up after being sick, and having to drive at night with no sleep for almost a day… Simple: 2 coffees, 2 Red Bulls, one huge bottle of water and a tin of Chew… and some great music… my choice for this ride home was random music from the 80's hair metal collection from obscure bands….  BTW I am starting to post more music on my social media sites… and My publisher and my graphic designer just topped off my book, so this week I have to get the audio portion recorded and then we set the world on fire for Jesus - Ok, one thing I want to quickly cover today that is sooo apparent after being on a ship for 7 days and in an airport for almost 24 hours straight… is this… YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE BECAUSE OF:    -  A.  Your family, B. Your friends and C. Your choices.Yes God changes us and he can do radical things but wether on this side of the cross or the other side… we still have to choose. You know you want a really nice table made out of dark Cherry wood. Well guess what God will grow the tree, but you will have to work, learn and sacrifice time for it to happen. To many people are in the world today complaining about God not giving them a table… when they do not realize “you get no table without a tree… and you get no tree without God”. You can't make a tree… oh you say I can plant it, water it, fertilize it… But that still doesn't make it grow and sure as heck does not protect it or assure it will grow. That is all up to God. But once that tree is grown… well well well you are just a few steps away from a table.   What do you want in life? Now before you start listing goals… and how to's and a year template of how to achieve these things… first it would be wise to ask God to show you what only he can do in these situations before you try to do everything yourself.  Example: I want a better relationship with my spouse… now it would be easy to track all the things you could do… spend time with her, take her to shows, movies, dinner, tell her you love her, write her letters and notes, spend time with her family, do special things for her and buy things for her… But wait thats not the tree… what is the only thing that God can do that you can't? Open up your wife's heart to you. Soften her heart and countenance, help her forgive and trust again.  See what happens is many times in our best plans we leave God out of the picture. But when we start the other way around we realize just how much we need him… how very much he must guide us, give us grace and patience, forever love while waiting on our wives to awaken… why is this so important? Simple because it invites God into our daily lives and our daily dealings. It creates in us a mindset of thankfulness and utter trust in him… for what only he can do! If you are like me I start to focus more on what only he can do rather than all I think I can do. What I can do is important and needed - the choices are a must… but what only God can do is vital… mandatory and completely out of our hands. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Awaken the Spirit    Eph. 5: 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, (the god of Dionasis) for that is debauchery (a complete and utter loss, you wasted it), but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  Debauchery - you wasted a $20 bill. If I burn it, can I have another one? NOPE! At some point the HS says… no more!  **The God of Dionasis - hedonism (sex partying) materialism and power.          Acts 5:32 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”   The verse you are looking for is Acts 5:32. Given GK - Pour into - The act of and effect of obedience.    Obedience GK - (Aorist participle) submit to advice/ To hearken to one, …Did you hear that? You think you heard it… you hearken to it?    Here it is in the King James Version (KJV), which uses the specific phrasing you mentioned: "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Context of the Verse To understand the full meaning, it helps to know what was happening at that moment: The Scene: The apostles (including Peter) had been arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court). The Conflict: The high priest demanded to know why they were still teaching in Jesus' name after being strictly forbidden to do so. The Response: Peter famously replied in Acts 5:29, "We ought to obey God rather than men." He then explained the gospel and concluded with verse 32, affirming that the Holy Spirit is a witness to these truths—and that this Spirit is given to those who obey God (specifically in the context of believing the Gospel and obeying the command to witness).     The pharisees were keeping the law, they had large portions of the OT memorized. They were the “Christians” of their day - but they lacked the power and witness of the Holy Spirit because they would not “hearken” to the Holy Spirits voice! 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Awaken the Spirit      The Spirit of Michael Jordan…  The Spirit of Jesus “the Holy Spirit” Why don't we live more like Jesus? We lack following the leading of the Holy Spirit     One of the Holy Spirits main job is to redeem… MAKE NEW, BRING LIFE  and he works through us. Extreme home makeover, Overhauling,    The Holy Spirit moves primarily through our words of faith in obedience to his inward prompting.      1 Thess. 5:19 do not quench the Holy Spirit   Eph. 4:30, 31 do not grieve the Holy Spirit   1 Cor. 2:14 the Natural man cannot understand the Holy Spirit.    WE QUENCH THE SPIRIT BY BLOWING HIM OFF…NOT JUST BLATANT SIN!  **In the presence of God, at church, you don't tithe!

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Awaken the Spirit    Christina walking past my door     The river of God… The Mississippi River John 7:38 He who believes in, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. The very next verse (John 7:39) explicitly identifies this river: "But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive..."   John 4:14 a fountain of living water - the Holy Spirit     Why does the spirit dry up - how do we awaken the spirit?   1 Cor. 2:14 But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord's thoughts?     Who knows enough to teach him?”[h] But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.     **Here Paul talks about how the sinful man/unspiritual can't understand the spiritual realm.  BUT HE GOES ON IN CHAPTER 3… Stating that there are some Christians that cannot understand the spiritual realm due to living in their flesh.  Chapter 3 3 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature.      CONTROLLED BY THE FLESH…. VS. CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT  

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Awaken the Spirit    Christina walking past my door     The river of God… The Mississippi River John 7:38 He who believes in, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. The very next verse (John 7:39) explicitly identifies this river: "But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive..."   John 4:14 a fountain of living water - the Holy Spirit     Why does the spirit dry up - how do we awaken the spirit?   1 Cor. 2:14 But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord's thoughts?     Who knows enough to teach him?”[h] But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.     **Here Paul talks about how the sinful man/unspiritual can't understand the spiritual realm.  BUT HE GOES ON IN CHAPTER 3… Stating that there are some Christians that cannot understand the spiritual realm due to living in their flesh.  Chapter 3 3 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature.      CONTROLLED BY THE FLESH…. VS. CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT  

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    **What You Love Determines Where You're Headed**   At EAST Town Mall in Madison… Reese is 3.5 yrs old. We are all at the food court… he disappears - everyone panics except my mom. There is a series of stores around us - everyone starts dashing through the chairs and tables of the food court - Grandma walks over to the candy store and sees him in there.  HIS LOVE DETERMINED HIS DIRECTION.    **Scripture:** Matthew 6:19 “Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.   WHATEVER YOU VALUE - IS LEADING YOU   Jesus doesn't say *“Where your duty is…”* He says, *“Where your treasure is…”*   Because love always leads.   Illustration: The Compass   A compass doesn't tell you where you *want* to go—it tells you where you *are going*.   Your spending, your schedule, your thought life, your words, your daily choices—those are spiritual compasses.   Application:   * Eternity isn't shaped in one big decision—it's shaped in daily affection. What you repeatedly choose - is it eternal?   Loving temporary things more than eternal things always leads to loss.   **Eternity follows affection.**   ---   Finally Eternity gives illumination to the true value of life.    Lobsters: From "Sea Cockroaches" to Luxury (History/Economics) The Original Frame: Until the late 19th century, lobsters were considered "bottom feeders" and "cockroaches of the sea." They were so plentiful that they were ground up for fertilizer and fed to prisoners. In fact, there were laws forbidding prisons from feeding inmates lobster more than twice a week because it was considered cruel and unusual punishment. The Reframe: With the advent of railways, trains started serving lobster to inland passengers who didn't know its "low-class" reputation. It was marketed as an exotic, rare curiosity from the sea. The Result: By rebranding the abundance as "exoticness" and serving it with butter on fine china, it became one of the most expensive items on a menu.   When you stand in heaven and see Jesus, see the Father, see those that are saved and see those that are lost in Hell…. How will that reframe how you understand life on earth? Wouldn't it be wise to see that way now?  

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    11,000     Paul says, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen… what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)     * Feelings are real—but they aren't final. Circumstances are loud—but they aren't lasting. HOWEVER * God's promises are unseen—but they are eternal.     **Eternal thinking stabilizes emotional living.**     Maybe the best question we can ask when at the crossroads of a decision is this “what is the eternal consequence of this?”     **The old saying “if consequences were immediate there would be very few bad decisions”.  One donut, 200 pounds One cigarette, cancer One charge, in debt beyond control One quiet time skipped, backslidden One temper tantrum, in prison One drink, alcoholism One drug, addiction    WARNING: The eternal is not immediate but the consequences are!     2 Your Life Is Short,  But It Is Not Small   **Scripture:** Psalm 90:12   Moses says, “Teach us to number our days.” Not to depress us—but to **focus us**.   22,116 days… that is how many days I have been alive!  So realistically I only have about 11K days left to live.      The Bible says life is:   * a mist * a vapor * a breath   But it never says life is meaningless.   Illustration: The Dash on the Tombstone   On every gravestone there's a birth date, a death date, and a dash in between.   That dash represents:   * your choices * your faithfulness * your obedience your love   THAT DASH EQUALS THE AMOUNT OF ETERNITY YOU HAVE SOWN YOUR LIFE INTO.    Short doesn't mean insignificant.   Application:   * Ordinary obedience has eternal weight.     **A short life lived for God becomes a long story in eternity.**

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Paul says, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen… what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)   “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen… what is seen is temporary,   Temporary - pros-kee-ross  Fleeting, non important for the task, WHEN I WAS 22 YEARS OLD SHOPPING FOR A CAR. MARRIED 3 YEARS, BUT NEVER BOUGHT MY OWN CAR. … I was looking at sound systems … I was looking at paint color … I was looking at rims and stance MY DAD WAS LOOKING AT … mileage … monthly payment … accident history … gas economy … the dealers reputation…. I WAS LOOKING AT THE FLEETING.      If eternity is real—and the Bible says it is—then living only for the moment- THE FLEETING is the most dangerous way to live.     1  Eternity Is More Real  Than the Moment   **Scripture:** 2 Corinthians 4:18   Paul doesn't say the visible world isn't real—he says it's **temporary**. Temporary doesn't mean unimportant. It means *not ultimate*… NOT THE PURPOSE   Going on a cruise in 2 weeks… my wife “what are you going to pack”. My wife packs for a month if we stay 3 days in a hotel…   Illustration: The Hotel Room   You treat a hotel room differently than your house. You don't remodel it. You don't get a bigger TV for it You don't hang family portraits. You don't panic if something breaks.   Why? Because you know **you're not staying long**.   Many of us are rearranging furniture in a world we were never meant to settle in.