The David Alliance

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.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    I realized the past few weeks why I am so worn down… im not doing what I am supposed to do. I understand that I have a few things in my life that motivate me and give me energy. I am solar powered I need a good book I need music to play or listen to I need affection from my wife AND… I need to be actively sharing the gospel.   The past few weeks I have not been  ***WHICH MEANS I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE TEMPORAL!     Living Like Forever Is Real   THE RUBIKS CUBE HAS OVER 4 QUINTILLION CHOICES BEHIND SOLVING IT.  But it can be done in 3.08 seconds if you make the right choices.    Life is filled with choices… but its not the choice itself its the why behind it that matters.    Are your choices eternal?      Big Idea: Eternity is not just where we're going—it's how we're meant to live.*     THOUGHT 1: THE PROBLEM WITH MOST CHRISTIANS IS SIMPLY THIS:  SHORT-TERM THINKING   We live in a culture obsessed with *now*. Same-day delivery. Instant downloads. Microwave patience.   We're trained to ask:   * “How does this make me feel right now?” * “What do I get immediately?” * “What's in it for me today?”   But the Bible keeps interrupting us with a different question:   The child who asks a 1000 questions: why why why why why….  The Bible asks the same question over and over.     -  Is it eternal?  **“What lasts forever?”**   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)

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com        Matthew 14:22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It's a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don't be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.     The power was in the word from God… not in Peter, or his hopes or aspirations, NOT EVEN HIS OWN PERSONAL BELIEF… it was in the word of God.      Peter understood authority and submission to it.  Peter is saying, if you command it, I will submit to your authority and follow your words.      **But Peter didn't just walk out of the boat, he didn't just take anyones word… he said “Jesus if it is you command me”.  Look, there are waves, wind, spray, its night time, maybe one lantern, shadows everywhere… who is this? A ghost? A shadow? A demon? A…a…a… is it Jesus.  Before you jump ship - make sure you are following Jesus - and following his command.      The Goal was Intimacy, not Magic Notice the full phrase: "Command me to come to You."    The original phrase in the greek is “if it is you Command me to come to you” - he did not ask to walk on the water, he did not say Jesus I want to walk on the water… he knew safety was with Jesus!      Peter didn't want to walk on water for the sake of a thrill; he wanted to walk on water because that was the only way to get closer to Jesus. The miracle was just the method of transport; Jesus was the destination.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    A few times I will get an email about all the things I miss in a podcast over a topic or a portion of scripture… Look I only get 7 minutes before you lose your attention… so focus on the seven minutes… and don't get distracted. It's Gods word, focus on that and not on what is not being said…and that's where we are going today!    Matthew 14:22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It's a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don't be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.   PETER DID NOT SAY “LORD LET ME WALK ON WATER” HE SAID COMMAND ME TO WALK ON WATER…. Touch the heavens, speak from the throne of God and make it happen by your words and your words alone.      Peter doesn't know much… but at this point he does know one thing: If Jesus commands it- it will happen. If he speaks the word- it will fulfill its purpose. **THIS IS WHY HE NEEDED TO HEAR JESUS SPEAK THE WORD.        It is important to note that Matthew also includes several "summary verses" (e.g., Matthew 4:23, 14:14) stating that Jesus healed "many" or "all" who came to Him, implying the actual number of miracles was in the hundreds or thousands.However, the specific, detailed accounts recorded up to Matthew 14:28 are as follows:     Cleansing a Leper (Matt. 8:1–4) Jesus commands be healed Healing the Centurion's Servant (Matt. 8:5–13) You don't need to come just say the word Healing Peter's Mother-in-Law (Matt. 8:14–15) Casting out demons with his command Calming the Storm at Sea (Matt. 8:23–27) He commands it to be calm Casting Demons into a Herd of Pigs (The Gadarene Demoniacs) (Matt. 8:28–34) He commands them into the pigs Healing a Paralytic (Matt. 9:1–8 Speaks take up your Matt and walk Healing the Woman with the Issue of Blood (Matt. 9:20–22) Raising Jairus' Daughter from the Dead (Matt. 9:18–26) 10.Healing Two Blind Men (Matt. 9:27–31) 11.Healing a Mute Demoniac (Matt. 9:32–34) 12.Healing the Man with a Withered Hand (Matt. 12:9–14) He tells him to hold out his hand 13.Healing a Blind and Mute Demoniac (Matt. 12:22) 14.Feeding the 5,000 (Matt. 14:13–21) Jesus commands the disciples you feed them.   **THIS WAS THE SET UP FOR PETER! He knew that all authority was subject to his voice, his words, his authority. Nature, Supernatural and Physical.  15.Jesus Walking on the Water (Matt. 14:25–27) 16. Peter walking on Water     Things we learn: Peter did not jump out of the boat on emotion… any emotion he felt would have been fear, uncertainty in the storm. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      Matthew 14:22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It's a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don't be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.   WHUH? 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. WHAT IS THIS TELLING US?  NO TEST, NO TESTIMONY NO MESS, NO MESSAGE NO STORM, NO STORY …SURE YOU ARE IN THE CALM OF THE BOAT WITH JESUS… BUT WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN BETTER IN THE STORM?   I had a man in my office a few years ago trying to push a multi level marketing program on me (no problem with those) but I asked him “what are the biggest tests and challenges you have had in life”.  He said I am very blessed I have had none… IF THATS TRUE… WHAT A NON BLESSED LIFE, BORING LIFE!   GIVE ME THE STORY OF THE STORM!    World Series of Poker Jack Straus one chip one chair. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      OT Expectation  Psalm 36:7 (The Hebrew word for expectancy) 7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.   **Covenant Culture** The phrase *“LOVING KINDNESS/steadfast love”* translates the Hebrew word **ḥesed**, which refers to **covenant loyalty**, not mere affection. In ancient Israel, ḥesed described God's faithful commitment to His people despite their failures.   UNDER YOUR WINGS * **Intimacy** – closeness, not distant protection * **Nurture** – like a mother bird covering her young * **Divine Presence** – God is actively involved, not passively watching Protection   **Key connection:**   * Psalm 36 describes what God *is* * Jesus reveals what God *does* * Humanity's problem is not access, but **unwillingness - LACK OF TRUST/ OR EXPECTANCY to come under His covering**  

The David Alliance TDAGiantSlayer@gmail.com Garth Heckman Expectations Craig Randall drives a garbage truck in Peabody, Massachusetts. in a garbage container one day, he noticed a Wendy's soft drink cup bearing a contest sticker. Having won a chicken sandwich the week before, Randall checked it, hoping for some french fries or a soft drink. Instead, he peeled a sticker worth $200,000 toward the construction of a new home, reports U.S. News and World Report (11/6/95). What we get out of life depends a lot on what we look for. Are we more likely to see each experience as trash or a potential treasure?     Maybe you've played this game before… Look around and find everything green. Now close your eyes and tell me what is blue. **What are you looking for?     Puppy watching is a life of expectation… is he going to chew my chair, poop on my chair, pee on my chair, jump from my chair… every move he makes is a move of expectation on my part.      Christmas is a time of EXPECTATION  Children expecting… waiting… knowing there will be presents under the tree. I used to get up Christmas morning at 4am!      **have you lost that loving feeling… of expectation       FAITH, HOPE, EXPECTATION Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith… you have faith that in the future you will get married and have a family. YOU GET MARRIED: You now hope to have a baby. YOU GET PREGNANT: you are expecting.        There are signs/evidence you are pregnant. **Living in a state of signs… building expectation.  Eager Anticipation of the Future Romans 8:19 (NIV): "For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” FULLY REDEEMED. *(This highlights the intense, longing nature of the anticipation for the final redemption.)   Earnest expectation--A single word in the Greek, and a very striking one. It means, literally, a straining forward with outstretched head, just as we might imagine the crowds outside a race-course straining over the ropes to catch a sight of the runners; an eager, intent expectation. The same word is used once again in the New Testament (Philippians 1:20).   God expects us to expect!  Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.   Expectation creates participation… Expectation creates participation in Gods plan Jesus reveals a principle here: If we truly expect God to act for us, we must be willing to let Him act through us.   If I claim to trust God for provision, favor, and breakthrough, but refuse to be a vessel of those same things to others, then I am not operating in expectation—I am operating in self-interest.   If my faith stops at “God, do for me,” but never reaches “God, flow through me,” then I am not trusting God—I am trusting my own control. Real faith doesn't just ask; it allows.   Option 4: Illustrative and Relational The Golden Rule is not just about behavior—it's about belief. If I expect God to respond when I call, I must also be willing to respond when He calls on me. Faith that only receives but never releases isn't faith at all—it's spiritual entitlement. But when I allow God to use me for others, I demonstrate that I truly trust Him to take care of me.     Expectation without participation in Gods plan is not faith.   **Remember whatever you look for you see, you find- and you can enter into - expectation is looking through Gods spirit.     VERSE 12 “For This Is the Law and the Prophets” This is massive. Jesus is saying: The entire Old Testament ethical vision Every command about justice, mercy, love, and holiness …can be summed up in this one relational principle. In other words: If you get this right, you are living out the heart of God's law. This aligns with Jesus' later words: “Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37–40)

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      NOW LETS LOOK A LITTLE FURTHER INTO THE TEXT IN LUKE 1 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God. 36 And listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is now the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. 38 Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left her.     The Whole Christmas story is filled with fear… and Wonder… but fear none the less Angel to Zach “Don't be afraid” Angel to Joseph “Don't be afraid” Angel to Mary “Don't be afraid” Angel to Shepherds “Don't be afraid”   It seems to me that sometimes when God is at his finest work we might be a little afraid when we do not understand how or why!  A PLAN OF EPIC PROPORTIONS… and yet people are still afraid. Wether they know him or not, trust him or not - there was fear they had to overcome.  Zach did not believe Mary did believe - but both came with fear   Both Zach and Mary had doubt… but Zach got zapped… why not Mary? I have an idea… v. LK.1:38 Behold I am a servant of God… Zachariah was a priest… head knowledge, but not much heart knowledge. Mary not much head knowledge, but great heart knowledge.    *Mary did not ask in doubt, but rather with the intent of … ok, so go on, what further instruction do I need to know.  Zach said let me tell you why this won't happen. Mary said… how will this happen? 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com        Catch this first: …The natural mind is speaking into the Supernatural… this never turns out good.   *Rather the natural mind needs to be in line with the supernatural.      The Mahotmetan writers suggest that Elizabeth was 89 years old… what does that say in the natural?    1 Cor. 2:13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone's judgment.…     What did Zechariah not believe? They would have a baby? It would be a great man of God? He would be filled with the Holy Spirit? In Elizabeths womb?…  He had prayed… maybe it was believable to have a son (or not) Maybe he just doubted the greatness of his son's calling?      **Don't miss the point - they prayed for a son… God is so good, he gives us more than we pray for?      Not just a son - but a son of history!      Eph. 3:20,21 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.   We pray, we ask, we think…. And he still goes above what we even ask for!      He was struck mute… in the greek the word means deaf and mute.   **As a punishment? NOPE - as confirmation that this is real. And to protect him from speaking against God. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    The Mahotmetan writers suggest that Elizabeth was 89 years old… what does that say in the natural?      Luke 1: 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.  **Blameless but childless Historically in these times it meant that Elizabeth was cursed, a sinner punished by God.   Only God knows your heart, your prayer your need   You can be blameless and wonder to God… what is happening.   You can be blameless and others won't see it.   advanced in years. GK Pro-bay-ee-No elderly saints    8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. There are over 20,000 priests and Zachariah is old… probably has given up on many of his dreams… Being able to go into the Holy of Holies Having a Child   10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, (STARE AT HIM) standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.   He's praying but not for a child… that has long passed!    Luke 1:18 And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. 19 And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news. 20 Now behold, you will be and will continue to be silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Ever have that friend or foe who just always interrupts you? Like they literally can't help themselves. I once had a counseling appointment with a mom dad and son. They were there for their son who was in some trouble. But this dad literally interrupted every persons sentence… every sentence. I finally snapped and said if you interrupt anyone again I am kicking you out of my office… it took 2 seconds…. 2 SECONDS and I had to kick him out. I hate people who interrupt!      SCENE THREE   Mark 5  The Physical    21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?' ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”     V. 33 trembling with fear Here is the secret… can fear and faith work together? TREMBLING GK  TREMOUSA TREMOR.. UNEASY Don't make it about me FEAR GK. PHOBEO Alarmed due to reverence -      ***If you have never seen the grand canyon… and I take you to it and pull the blindfold off of it… the response should be awe in the sight of it - AND NOT YOU ARE SO AWESOME FOR TAKING ME HERE! Our faith is most effective and most powerful when it is about wanting God to get the glory, the attention.  Its simply: Giving God glory, building his kingdom vs. Getting the attention and building our brand/empire

SCENE TWO   Mark 5 The Spiritual 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.   Fear neutralizes faith… NOT FEAR IN JESUS BUT FEAR IN WHAT IT WILL COST THEM.           MOVING IN FEAR WILL COST YOU!    REPUTATION MONEY TIME FRIENDS

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    This weekend Jt had a baby girl and Luke had a baby boy… congrats!    People Xmas cards, gifts, Not necessary but I feel the love. John B you shouldn't have but I love it I will put it on one of my guns!    Alexa listening… now listening in Singapore…   Mark 4, 5 The natural, Spiritual, Physical Scene one The Natural Mark 4 The Storm Jesus Calms the Storm 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”     V. 40 Do you still have no faith?” What does Jesus mean by this statement…. It is so obvious we can miss it.  Jesus: I said we are going over to the other side!  …You don't believe me??? I said it!    SIMPLE BELIEF IN HIS WORD IS STEP ONE!   Reinhard Bonke: what if you pray for 99 people and they don't get healed? You pray for the 100th person like the first 99 were totally healed. - You believe his word PERIOD! 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com  You see the evangelist or special speaker heal the sick, speak words of knowledge, Move in faith you could never imagine so you think its unattainable- ONLY FOR THE SUPER SPIRITUAL - but then you meet someone normal and they do the same… so you think “well you must have to be special or chosen by God”.  …But maybe you get to know them and think they are no different than me really…  You realize its not that its unattainable -  MAYBE -   You just don't understand it.       it just cost you a little more.          Step out of comfort              Risk Failure                 Looked at differently    Hebrews 11 Hero's of Faith? Really?  COMMERCIAL….  Noah, Abraham, Sara, Moses, Joseph, David, Rahab   Mark 4, 5 The natural, Spiritual, Physical

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Psalm 9:1-2: "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds” It says give thanks with your heart, NOT YOUR HEAD OR MIND.     MY DADS STORY… MY MOM SICK WITH RHEUMATIC FEVER…     YOU'LL NEVER KNOW… By this time tomorrow 2 kings 6 & 7 7 Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.” 2 The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn't happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won't be able to eat any of it!” Do you want  YOU NEVER KNOW  Or  YOU WILL NEVER KNOW       Arnold Palmer… and the King of Saudi Arabia. Invited to play at his own private golf course…   God's ways are higher: Romans 11:33 speaks to the immeasurable depth of God's wisdom: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!". This reinforces the idea that it is impossible for humans to fully comprehend God's plans and motivations.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Psalm 9:1-2: "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds” It says give thanks with your heart, NOT YOUR HEAD OR MIND. **This verse is in the context of Davids enemies coming to get him.   ??? What does he do he gives thanks and pulls the video of all the times God came through in the past! Recount/play the video   -  I should have died or been paralyzed when I broke my neck   -  I was unjustly fired from a job and it opened the door to a better job 3 minutes from college   -  I was asked to prophecy over 70 college students     How many people talk about having an out of body experience… thats easy - give thanks. Your body your mind does not want to give thanks - IT DOESN'T WANT TO BELIVE GOD WILL DO SOMETHING AMAZING. It has to come from your spirit… your heart.      When did the children of Israel make the golden calf? Waiting on Moses… they were unable to step out of the flesh and into the spirit… so they acted out on their own.  Abraham and Sarah - sleep with Hagar…= Ishmael  King Saul waiting for the Prophet Samuel… makes a sacrifice waiting and God rejects him.     UNLIKE IN JOHN 6 - there are over 10K people hungry. The disciples want to send them away… The disciples… learned to think…”you never know” The storm… The 2 fish and five loaves John 6:1-15 Jesus asks Phillip where we could get food. Because Phillip was from Bethesda the nearest town… he wanted to make a point of human wisdom, critical thinking and problem solving with simple trust in God and his power. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Key biblical concepts and verses  Proverbs 3:5-6:  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take   Good News Translation Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.   The message: Don't try to figure it out on your own.   The original Hebrew: Don't build your trust on what you know i.e. see, hear, understand….   **When you have everything you need to know in order to know - you still have no idea!      The Story of Reinhardt Bonnke inviting the World famous evangelist John Bosman. Bosman preaches the first night… meh… and tells Bonnke I am done, I must close the meeting. No healings, no miracles nothing. People are stunned.  Bonnke has to fill the week.  Second night….  Dolphin Monese (INTERPRETER), collapsed under the Holy Spirit's anointing. In that moment, Bonnke heard a divine whisper: *My Word in your mouth is as powerful as My Word in My mouth.* HEAL THE SICK!      Psalm 9:1-2: "I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds” It says give thanks with your heart, NOT YOUR HEAD OR MIND. **This verse is in the context of Davids enemies coming to get him.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    You have no idea!   Alfred W. Fielding an inventor and Marc A. Chavannes a chemical engineer  First sold as wallpaper, then Boat Bumpers to maternity dresses, then greenhouse insulation,  Chavennes flight with turbulence said to himself I need something to better protect my fragile goods… DING!! The light went on!  They hired a salesman Fred Bowers who cold called IBM. At that time IBM shipped their goods with crunched up newspaper and sawdust… not very protective and very messy. In 1963 IBM made a trial order By 1964 it was standard in everything they shipped It grew instantly due to the “POP”. People would take it home for their kids and it spread like wild fire. Next it was used in the food packing industry… It became global in 1971 and has exceeded over 5 Billion dollars and is a fortune 500 company.  It has been sold as “poppable wrapping paper, swimming pool liners, medical equipment wrap, and even art. It has been given its own "Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day" on January 27. And the inventors went into the the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2015. Fielding once said we just kept trying until we found our Happy Accident… YOU JUST NEVER KNOW   I love reading stories like these… because in my head I keep thinking “you never know”.    I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN THE INFORMATION AGE IS WE EXPECT TO KNOW EVERYTHING - AND WHEN WE DON'T WE GET IRRITATED.      I live by this phrase… YOU NEVER KNOW.    **I KNOW MY OPTIMISM CAN DRIVE MY WIFE CRAZY… I always try to see things in the positive. You never know… it might be the best thing in the world to have our car breakdown….   Isaiah 7:9:"Unless you believe, you will not understand". It suggests that belief must come before comprehension in matters of faith.      *** “You never know” - I don't say it in doubt, but in hope. FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR! 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Why the follow him.     How Did David attract and train these men?    -  The first men to join David were from his own family. ?? Does this shock you? He was the reject. He was not accepted as a true son of Jesse Now they rally around him?    In fact Eleazor son of Dodo… may have been son of David.     - **Spiritual Reorientation and Praise**: In Adullam, David shifted their mindset from grumbling and self-pity to collective worship. Psalm 34 (attributed to this period) records him teaching them to "bless the Lord at all times" (Psalm 34:1), exalting God together instead of complaining. This built resilience and unity, turning pessimists into praisers who saw God as their deliverer.   David's appeal lay in his visionary leadership and unshakeable faith in God's promises.  

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Keep me running Keep me moving Keep me always on the go   David is on the run… 1 Sam. 22 it is his throne but King Saul is after him.   Hiding in the cave of Adullum… Its been almost 7-15 years between being anointed king by Samuel and fighting Goliath.    He builds 400 mighty men.    - He attracts the unattractive    He had 3, 30, 400 and 600 distress, in debt, or simply discontented with life under Saul's increasingly paranoid rule. These were societal rejects—failures by worldly standards—from diverse backgrounds, including obscure rural towns like Bethlehem and Tekoa, various Israelite tribes, and even foreigners like Uriah the Hittite.   What drew them wasn't wealth, power, or promises of glory, but David's personal magnetism as a God-anointed leader (1 Samuel 16:13) who embodied hope amid rejection. David didn't recruit the strong; He attracted the poor, broken, betrayed etc… he embraced the weak, transforming societal discards into a cohesive band through shared exile and purpose.   Men were tired of King Sauls agenda of seeking the life of David over protecting the Kingdom.    As a warrior-poet, he painted a vision of victory over Saul's enemies, appealing to men's sense of adventure and redemption.     **But what attracted them would not keep them if David would not have been a man after Gods own heart!

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      What Separates Us From the Animals Do you know how biologists evaluate life? It is in terms of the capacity to experience pain, the more the pain, the higher the life form. A worm experiences little pain, but a dog can actually experience moods. Have you ever noticed that? Haven't you ever seen a dog pout. Dogs can actually grieve over people, and I understand that over at the tracts in West Memphis there are some people who grieve over dogs. I'm not sure. Scientist say that man is at the top of the biological scale because he has the keenest ability to experience pain. What separates us from the animals, I would suggest, is not only our ability to feel pain; rather, it is our ability to feel pain vicariously for others.   But not only that but feel the possibility of pain if we do not change our ways. Have you ever seen an obese parent sitting there at a restaurant and their child is pounding down cookies, soda and ice cream. And you feel sorry for them… The question is not “do you know then well enough to speak into their life… even if you felt tremendous pain for them… the question is would they be willing to listen to you?      Psalm 144:Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly. 4 Do not incline my heart to [consent to or tolerate] any evil thing, Or to practice deeds of wickedness With men who plan and do evil; And let me not eat of their delicacies (be tempted by their gain). 5 Let the righteous [thoughtfully] strike (correct) me—it is a kindness [done to encourage my spiritual maturity]. It is [the choicest anointing] oil on the head; Let my head not refuse [to accept and acknowledge and learn from] it;   Crazy that David would ask God to send people into his life that would be willing to speak into his life things that he may not want to hear. But don't miss the point… he sees this verse in comparison to the previous verses… i.e. God make sure there is someone who speak boldly and bluntly into my life so that I do not end up like the wicked.    Maybe the ultimate betrayal is someone who sees the trail of pain and regret you are starting out on and they say nothing, they do nothing they just let you walk off into emptiness… And if that could be true, why wouldn't you pray a prayer like David and ask for Godly voices in your life. It would be a great prayer… think about it. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      If I sit here and talk about all the people I have prayed for and have seen healed, people God has given me words of knowledge for, people I have led to Christ… it can make you think I am bragging…Hold that thought.   *if we were sitting in a group and I told you about all the weight I lost and showed off my abs…what would you think?    **what if I was sharing about all my exploits in war and all the men and women I saved and the battles I was in.       ****What if I told you how much I benched, squatted deadlifted… **-**-**What if I told you about all the times I tithed and didn't have money to tithe but I did, and how God has blessed me and how important it is to tithe….    ***what If told you about all the stories about my kids (Would these conversations irk you, bother you, fire you up, bore you?)   THE RESPONSE GIVEN BY INDIVIDUALS IN ANY OF THESE SITUATIONS DEPENDS ON THE CIRCLE I AM IN.   - If im at a weight watchers you would get excited and marvel  - If I was at a Vietnam vet reunion   -  If Im sitting at Westside Barbell you would all add your own stories and think cool… no but no biggy   -  If Im with other business people, groups of entrepreneurs who all have sacrificed and seen God bless them… fire us up   -  with other parents, we would laugh and share pictures and stories   Are there circles that make you uncomfortable?    WHO PUSHES YOU?   You have heard it said “show me your circle and I will show you your future”. It will also show you your money habits, your marriage, your spiritual depth or lack of, your kids attitudes, your health… etc…     Right CIRCLE: * Encourage your goals, not mock them. * Challenge you to grow, not settle. Celebrate your success, not envy it. PUSHES YOU SPIRITUALLY    Wrong CIRCLE: * Normalize mediocrity or bad behavior. * Drain your energy and blur your values. * Distract you from your purpose.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Do you remember Bob Hayes, the man who was named "World's Fastest Human"? He was a hero of 1964 Olympics, bringing home the Gold Medal in the 100 meter run, and being clocked at incredible 8.5 seconds in the final 110 yards of 400 meter relay run. After the Olympics, he became an all-pro wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. His college coach said that if there had ever been a kid he wished was his, it was Bob Hayes. Then, in April 1979 Bob was convicted of selling narcotics to an undercover agent. He received two 5-year prison sentences. He went from the pinnacle of success to prison. Then terrible health issues due to drug abuse and the wrong lifestyle. According to Hayes, and those who cared most about him, his downfall was caused by his inability to choose the right circle.     1 Corinthians 15:33: "'Bad company corrupts good character'”. Company - not just friend, but group of friends- your circle Mark 2 2 Jesus returned to Capernaum, and a few days later the news went out that He was at home. 2 So many people gathered together that there was no longer room [for them], not even near the door; and Jesus was discussing with them the word [of God]. 3 Then they came, bringing to Him a paralyzed man, who was being carried by four men. 4 When they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus; and when they had dug out an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith      **Thats the whole sermon right there!! Let me see your friends faith - That will tell me everything I need to know!        ITS NOT ABOUT THE CHOICES YOU MAKE… ITS ABOUT THE CIRCLE YOU MAKE!    You don't need the right friends you need the right circle. You can't choose your family - but you can choose your circle. You can't always choose your classmates, coworkers, neighbors or those who share your pew at church -  but you can always choose your *circle of influence*. AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WITHOUT KNOWING…     **I was training a young man in my gym. He came in one day all concerned. He said he thinks he has a skin disease… something is really wrong with his hands. - They were callouses. But it happened so slow he did not realize it. The work of our circle is slow at first… but in time it becomes who we are. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com      1 Corinthians 15:33: "'Bad company corrupts good character'”. Company - not just friend, but group of friends- your circle   Not a bad friend, but bad company.    Ever ask someone the question “so what kind of company do they hang with?”  Oh don't mess with them, they hang with some bad Mamma Jamma's.   That woman there keeps the wrong kind of company… she's broke dried up and used. That Dude… the kind of company he hangs with … they are all super successful or there all gear heads or they are all musicians…   *Corrupts = waste away, shrivel up… to square ones potential.    -  ** Character = life-style (moral habits, behavioral patterns   So it means the people you circle yourself with can shrivel up your potential because they instill in you poor life habits and patterns… Verse 34 which leads to sin!    THEN THE OPPOSITE IS ALSO TRUE: GOOD COMPANY CAUSES CHARACTER TO THRIVE!    A FRIEND WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY PLAYER… HIS BROTHER EVEN BETTER - WOULD OUT PERFORM THE OTHER STARS ON THE ICE… BUT HAD THE WRONG CIRCLE.   JUST THE OPPOSITE FOR HIMSELF: He was average at best, but loved Hockey. He knew he had to get into circles that pushed him beyond what he thought was capable of himself.   AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WITHOUT KNOWING…     **I was training a young man in my gym. He came in one day all concerned. He said he thinks he has a skin disease… something is really wrong with his hands. - They were callouses. But it happened so slow he did not realize it. The work of our circle is slow at first… but in time it becomes who we are. 

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Rog and surround sound… he had watched the movie a million times, but now with Surround sound he was going to really enjoy it… it was the bats in the background of the movie… He finally heard what was really going on.    " "Then Moses climbed the mountain to meet with God. God shouted to him at that.."(Exodus 19:3)    - He calls out to remind us of what he has said and what he has done… that we may not forget and that it may build our faith.   There are miracles that I have happen in my life that I routinely remember knowing God still does miracles today.    -God still calls out to people today. MAYBE YOU don't hear from God because you simply do not believe that he still wants to talk to you today. If you don't expect it you won't be listening for it and you won't hear it.     -He calls each one of us to come closer and to be with Him. -God is not finished with us yet – it is not over. -Respond with a willing heart and be ready to hear what He has to say.  

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Psalm 103 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 3 He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion, 5 who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.…   -God redeem our life from destruction . Gives us more than what was taken from us.    -God crown us with loving kindness… people see us coming. Crowns are noticeable, they are gaudy, they are beautiful, they are a sign that we are royalty!     -God tender us in mercies… he does not just give in… oh fine I forgive you, you can have a second piece of cake… NO NO NO he WANTS to show us mercy.     -who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.… Ever feel down in the dumps, discouraged, dissapointed… and a gift is dropped into your lap. Or a financial blessing? Or a great relationship… and it changes your state of mind, your head space… you feel better, more energy, you feel young again. This is what God does.    A youthful eagle… competitive intensity of their high-energy lifestyle. Overall, a young eagle's energy level is like a high-octane engine in overdrive—voracious, explosive, and transformative, turning a fragile hatchling into a majestic predator in just months. This is adapted from observations of bald and golden eagles, the most studied species.

Garth Heckman The David Alliance TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com    Psalm 139:7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?  8 If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol- the grave, You are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, 10 even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.…   No matter what gets thrown at us.  No matter where we end up in life. No matter the ups and the downs the ins and the outs. No matter how backwards things end up or how the ending greatly and vastly is different from the beginning… He is always there.   If we end up as far from home as we could possibly be, if we are hopelessly alone, separated from family, friends, loved ones… if our job ends up being the worst thing in our life, or our marriage or our health. If everything we dreamed of, expected and even put our time and energy into… if it all blows up in our face and actually goes completely backwards from what we had planned… God is there.  You know what happens sometimes in life is that life happens sometimes. It happens to all of us. We tend to think that if bad things happen it was God who let it happen and if he let it happen then he surely can't be there with us… right? He is punishing us so why would he stick around to comfort us - what a terrible lie to believe in.  God took the punishment of sin and shame on the cross and he took it so that not only do we not need to take the brunt of it, but he took it so that he could comfort us during those times. I love this Psalm - much like I love Romans 8:35-39. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. But Psalm 139 says it like this - surprise im here. You find yourself in your bosses office losing your job and God says - hey Im here. You hear the dread words You have cancer… God says Im here! God is already there -  more than you might realize. I remember (and I'll admit this probably a terrible example) but an old corny horror flick when I was in High School where this woman kept seeing the eyes of a demon everywhere she went. Her day job, her car, her kitchen, her kids soccer game… they were everywhere… I know stupid, but thats God. He is actually waiting on you in your bosses office when you lose your job. The worst thing going on in your life…he is waiting there for you… he knows when it will take place and he is there just waiting. So don't forget to reach out to him. He is there!