Podcast appearances and mentions of moody press

     The Bible reveals that Satan is the enemy of God and he attacks His people. Peter warns us, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8). In his efforts, Satan has strategies he sets forth to accomplish his purposes. A strategy is a plan of action one creates and employs in order to achieve an objective. Satan's major objective is to make himself like God and rule in His place (Isa 14:12-14). But there is only one sovereign God (Isa 45:5-6), and He advances His own agenda, which cannot fail because He cannot fail. However, Satan's desire, like his reasoning, has been corrupted by his pride (Ezek 28:17). Satan has been advancing his agenda for millennia and has become very knowledgeable and skilled in what works. Ryrie states: "By his very longevity Satan has acquired a breadth and depth of experience which he matches against the limited knowledge of man. He has observed other believers in every conceivable situation, thus enabling him to predict with accuracy how we will respond to circumstances. Although Satan is not omniscient, his wide experience and observation of man throughout his entire history on earth give him knowledge which is far superior to anything any man could have."[1]      Satan attacks God's people in order to hinder spiritual growth and ministry. Christians who are advancing spiritually and engaging in effective ministry pose a threat to Satan's agenda. Naturally, he will oppose our efforts and try to hinder us. Because Satan cannot touch God Himself, he goes after His people, seeking to frustrate our efforts as best he can. Sometimes he's permitted to have his way. For example, Paul wrote, “But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us” (1 Th 2:17-18). We're not sure why Satan was permitted to hinder Paul and his companions. Though frustrated, Paul continued to seek the Lord and to minister where an open door presented itself (Acts 14:27; Rev 3:8). But an open door of ministry does not mean there will be no opposition. In fact, Christian ministry often means there will adversaries, as Paul wrote, “I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor 16:8-9). Constable states: "We know that Satan is behind all of our temptations having received permission to assail us from God (e.g., Job 1–2). He uses the world system and our flesh (sinful nature) as his tools. He also attacks us directly himself and through his angelic emissaries. God has given us specific instruction in Scripture about how to combat these attacks. We are to resist the devil (1 Pet 5:8–9), flee the temptations of the world system (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; 1 John 2:15–17), and deny the flesh (Rom 6:12–13; 7:18–24; 8:13)...Satan has consistently aimed his personal attacks at getting people to doubt, to deny, to disregard, and to disobey the revealed will of God (cf. Gen 3:1-7; Matt 4:1-11). The world system seeks to get people to believe that they do not need God but can get along very well without Him. The flesh tempts us to think that we can find satisfaction, joy, and fulfillment on the physical, material level of life alone."[2]      Spiritual advance means opposition, but nothing more or beyond what God permits. The Christian who learns God's Word and lives by faith will have the greatest impact for God in this world. Living by faith means we learn God's Word and consciously trust Him as we apply it to our lives (Rom 10:17; Heb 10:38; 11:6). God's Word is powerful (Isa 55:7-11; Jer 23:29; Heb 4:12), transformative (Psa 119:9-11; John 17:17), and moves the hearts of those who are positive to God (Luke 24:27, 32). Living by faith is the basis for renovating our thinking (Rom 12:1-2; 2 Cor 10:3-5), and advancing to spiritual maturity (Eph 4:11-15; 2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Charles C. Ryrie, Balancing the Christian life (Chicago Ill., Moody Press, 1994), 130. [2] Tom Constable, Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Eph 6:11.

Meditation is to the Christian life what digestion is to the body: without it, the processes which sustain life are greatly hampered - even rendered impossible. The Puritans held an extremely high view of the necessity of meditation. They saw it as one of the primary means by which we take the great truths of the faith and appropriate them, applying them to our hearts in order that we might love and treasure God more.   Featured Content: – 'Kindling the Fire of Meditation', Dillon Thornton, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 591, December 2012. – Excerpt from Charles Bridges, Psalm 119 (First pub. 1827; latest Banner of Truth rep. 2024), pages 249–251. Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/store/commentaries/psalm-119-5/ – Excerpts from The Golden Treasury of Puritan Quotations, compiled by I. D. E. Thomas (First pub. 1975 [Moody Press]; latest Banner of Truth edition: 2022). Quotes mainly sourced from entries on 'Meditation'. Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/store/devotionalsdaily-readings/the-golden-treasury-of-puritan-quotations/     Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

     For Christians, dedication to God is the starting point for the spiritual life and the advance to Christian maturity. Dedication is a synonym for commitment, devotion, loyalty, and positive volition. According to Charles Ryrie, “There is perhaps no more important matter in relation to the spiritual life than dedication.”[1] In another place he states, “Dedication concerns the subjection of my life to Jesus Christ as long as I live.”[2] For the Christian, dedication starts at a moment in time, and continues, ideally, for the rest of one's life, as the child of God walks in ongoing obedience to the Lord.[3] After being born again, some believers quickly dedicate themselves to the Lord and begin their journey of spiritual growth. For other Christians, this dedication may come later, perhaps even years later (as it did with me).      Dedication is not a requirement for salvation. That would add works to the gospel message (1 Cor 15:3-4), and that's wrong. Salvation is a free gift (Rom 6:23), given by God as an act of grace (Eph 2:8-9). Initial salvation is about justification, which is a one-and-done event that occurs at the moment of faith in Christ (Rom 3: 28; 4:4-5; 5:1; 8:33). Paul said we are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24). Justification is a single act that occurs at salvation and is not to be confused with our experiential sanctification, which occurs over time. According to Norman Geisler, “Justification is an instantaneous, past act of God by which one is saved from the guilt of sin—his record is cleared and he is guiltless before the Judge (Rom 8:1).”[4] As Christians, we are justified in God's sight because Christ  has born all our sin upon the cross and paid our sin debt in full (John 19:30; Col 2:14), and after we trust in Christ as our Savior, God freely gives His righteousness to us (Rom 5:17; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). After we are saved eternally, God calls us into a lifelong walk with Him. Dedication happens after we are saved, when we present ourselves to God for service (Rom 6:13; 12:1-2; Jam 4:7), and walk in obedience to His will (1 Pet 1:14-15). This relates to our sanctification, which is ongoing, as long as we live. In the sanctification process, the Christian is constantly recalibrating his/her thinking, values, words and actions to conform to the character and will of God. Dedication is a requirement for spiritual growth, as the believer with positive volition is yielded to God the Holy Spirit and is willing to learn and live God's Word. Spirituality is unhindered as long as there is positive volition to God.      God has provided everything we need to live the spiritual life. He has redeemed us by the blood of Christ (1 Pet 1:18-19; 1 Cor 6:20), forgiven our sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), caused us to be born again (John 1:12-13; 1 Pet 1:3, 23), given us eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28), adopted us as His children (Gal 4:5; Eph 1:5), made us saints in Christ (Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:2), given the Holy Spirit to indwell us (1 Cor 3:16), brought us into “the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), given us a new spiritual nature (Rom 7:22; Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:9-10), provided a spiritual gift (Rom 12:6; 1 Pet 4:10), blessed us “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3), and provided divine revelation in the Bible to educate us on how to live righteously (2 Tim 3:16-17; cf. Psa 1:1-3). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Charles C. Ryrie, Balancing the Christian life (Chicago Ill., Moody Press, 1994), 77. [2] Ibid., 80. [3] I say “ideally” because some believers, like Solomon, deviate in their walk with the Lord. Some will return to their walk of faith. Others will not. Whatever the final outcome of one's life, any spiritual advancement must begin with a moment of dedication. [4] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation, 235.

“Do you find your inner life compromised by repeated yielding to sexual temptation?” So asked Arnold Fleagle and Don Lichi in their book, Broken Windows of the Soul. They went on to say: “You are not alone. The moral fabric of our culture is being ripped apart as large numbers of men and women are indulging in infidelity, perverted sexuality and pornography. … It is becoming increasingly difficult to find any individuals who are healthy and whole in their lifestyle.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Lichi about the baleful impact of pornography and what Christians can do when they're affected by it. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Don Lichi, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in the State of Ohio and vice president emeritus of EMERGE Counseling Ministries, where he served for nearly 30 years. He is coauthor, with Arnold Fleagle, of Broken Windows of the Soul: A Pastor and a Christian Psychologist Discuss Sexual Sins and the Prescription to Heal Them, published by Moody Press. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Cultivating a Spirit-Empowered Kids Ministry. Cultivating a Spirit-Empowered Kids Ministry will equip you with practical tools to intentionally make room for the Holy Spirit in your kids ministry. It includes practical tips for leading kids to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, respond to the Holy Spirit, and receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about Cultivating a Spirit-Empowered Kids Ministry, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

     Total depravity is the biblical doctrine that sin permeates all aspects of our being—mind, will, and sensibilities, and renders us helpless to save ourselves. It does not mean we are as bad as we can be, for there are many moral unbelievers in the world. Being contaminated by sin means whatever morality we produce can never measure up to the perfect righteousness God expects. Is there any person who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?” (Prov 20:9). The answer is an emphatic No! The human heart is corrupt, for “the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick” (Jer 17:9). And “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (Eccl 7:20), and “There is none righteous; not even one. There is none who understands; there is none who seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become useless. There is none who does good, there is not even one” (Rom 3:10-12; cf. Rom 8:8). Some might argue that we can perform good works and help to save ourselves. This is wrong. Scripture states, “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isa 59:2), “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Isa 64:6). Salvation does not come by human works; rather, we are “justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:28), and salvation comes “to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly” (Rom 4:5), and we are “not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Gal 2:16), “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9), and God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim 1:9), and “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Tit 3:5). By human standards, even the worst person can do some good. But human estimation is lower than God's estimation and it is God's standards that define what is truly good. According to Charles Ryrie, “Total depravity must always be measured against God's holiness. Relative goodness exists in people. They can do good works, which are appreciated by others. But nothing that anyone can do will gain salvational merit or favor in the sight of a holy God.”[1] Calvinist View of Total Depravity      For Calvinists, total depravity means total inability. They regard people as totally unable to respond to the things of God; like a physical corpse. Notable scholars such as B. B. Warfield, R. C. Sproul, John Piper, Wayne Grudem, John Frame, John MacArthur, and J. I. Packer hold this view. B. B. Warfield wrote, “nothing is more fundamental in the doctrine of the Reformers than the complete inability of man and his absolute need of divine grace.”[2] John Frame states, “We can never come to God out of our own resources. We are helpless to do anything to save ourselves. This condition is sometimes called total inability” (italics his).[3] J. I. Packer states, “Total depravity entails total inability, that is, the state of not having it in oneself to respond to God and his Word in a sincere and wholehearted way (John 6:44; Rom 8:7–8).”[4] That is, lost sinners cannot respond to God at all, as they are spiritually unable (dead) to respond apart from God's granting life and the ability to believe. This leads Calvinists to conclude two things. First, God sovereignly acts by Himself to regenerate the spiritually dead and make them spiritually alive. Second, God gives the newly regenerate a special kind of faith whereby they can and will trust in Christ as Savior. According to Wayne Grudem, regeneration is “the act of God awakening spiritual life within us, bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life. On this definition, it is natural to understand that regeneration comes before saving faith. It is in fact this work of God that gives us the spiritual ability to respond to God in faith.”[5] According to John MacArthur, “Our response in salvation is faith, but even that is not of ourselves [but is] the gift of God. Faith is nothing that we do in our own power or by our own resources...Paul intends to emphasize that even faith is not from us apart from God's giving it.”[6] The result of these divine actions in God's elect means they will produce good works and will persevere in those works throughout their lives until they die. John MacArthur states, “The same power that created us in Christ Jesus empowers us to do the good works for which He has redeemed us. These are the verifiers of true salvation.”[7] Thus, good works from regeneration to the end of one's life are the proof of salvation. Failure to produce ongoing good works until the end of one's life is offered as proof he was never saved (Matt 7:21). The Biblical View of Total Depravity      The correct biblical view is that total depravity means total unworthiness, not total inability to respond in faith to God's offer of salvation. Despite the profound impact of sin on human nature, the Bible does not portray people as entirely incapacitated. Yes, all mankind is “dead” in their sins (Eph 2:1); but death does not mean total inability, but total separation from God, for even those who were dead still “walked according to the course of this world” (Eph 2:2). Mankind is totally depraved in the sense that sin corrupts every part of our being, intellect, will, and sensibility. However, it does not mean that fallen people are unable to respond in faith to the gospel of grace.      The first example of spiritual death in the Bible is found in the Garden of Eden. God had warned Adam and Eve, saying, “from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Gen 2:17). The warning was that if they disobeyed God, on that very day, they would die (and death means separation, not cessation). Adam and Eve experienced spiritual death at the moment they disobeyed God. Yet, immediately after the fall, in their state of spiritual death, they could sense God's presence in the Garden, as they “heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden” (Gen 3:8). Furthermore, Adam heard God's voice when He “called to the man” (Gen 3:9), and Adam responded to Him, saying, “I heard the sound of You in the garden” (Gen 3:10a). Though they could not undo their newly fallen sinful state, it did not render them totally unable to perceive God or to respond to Him when He called out to them. And they did respond positively to the Lord when He promised to provide a descendant, a Seed of the woman, who would crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15). They also responded positively by accepting God's provision of clothing after He killed an animal, took its skin, and covered their nakedness (Gen 3:21).      Furthermore, God made mankind in His image, as Scripture states, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen 1:27). Even after the historic fall of Adam and Eve, all people are said to be “in the image of God” (Gen 9:6), and “in the likeness of God” (Jam 3:9). Despite the fall of humanity into sin, the image of God in humanity remains intact, implying that humans still retain some moral capacity, which includes the ability to accept God's offer of salvation by faith. Though people are deeply affected by sin, they still possess some capacity for moral choice and responsibility, thus arguing against the notion of total depravity meaning total inability.      Regeneration is entirely the work of God in saving lost sinners who cannot save themselves (Rom 5:6-10). The sinner brings nothing of worth to salvation, but receives all that God has to offer by grace. John Walvoord states, “Regeneration is wholly of God. No possible human effort however noble can supply eternal life.”[8] Paul Enns states, “Succinctly stated, to regenerate means ‘to impart life.' Regeneration is the act whereby God imparts life to the one who believes.”[9] Regeneration occurs in the one who believes in Christ as Savior. According to Charles Ryrie, “Salvation is always through faith, not because of faith (Eph 2:8). Faith is the channel through which we receive God's gift of eternal life; it is not the cause. This is so man can never boast, even of his faith. But faith is the necessary and only channel (John 5:24; 17:3).”[10] The Bible teaches there is only one kind of faith, and that only those who place their faith in Christ will be saved. Faith does not save. Christ saves. The Strict-Calvinist believes there are two kinds of faith, one that is common to all, and another that is special and imparted only to God's elect. Believe to Receive Eternal Life      There are numerous passages in the Bible that place faith as the necessary prerequisite to regeneration. It is written, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and Jesus said, “This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life” (John 6:40), and “he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). Paul wrote to Timothy about “those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Tim 1:16). In these and other instances, “eternal life” is given after we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Furthermore, people are condemned, not because God has not made a way for them to be saved, but because of their unwillingness to come to Christ as Savior. The issue is individual choice, not inability. The apostle John said, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Jesus, speaking to unsaved persons, said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). Jesus said the Holy Spirit convicts everyone of sin (John 16:8), particularly the sin of unbelief, “because they do not believe in Me” (John 16:9). There is only one sin that keeps a person out of heaven, and that is the sin of unbelief; of rejecting Jesus as the only Savior. Apparently unbelievers may resist the Holy Spirit, as Stephen said in his sermon, “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51a).      Scripture reveals that “God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30). This means they must not trust in themselves or any system of good works to save, but must trust in Christ, and Christ alone to save. Faith does not save. Christ saves. Faith is the non-meritorious instrument by which we receive eternal life. The Strict-Calvinist believes Christ died only for the elect (Matt 1:21; John 10:15), and only the elect are savable. The Bible teaches that Christ died for everyone (John 3:16; Heb 2:9; 1 John 2:2); therefore, everyone is savable. Paul said, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Tit 2:11), and that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). Peter stated, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Anyone can be saved by believing the gospel message “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Jesus is Free from Sin      Concerning total depravity and the transmission of original sin, Jesus is the sole exception, for Mary's virgin conception (Isa 7:14; Luke 1:30-35) meant Jesus was not born with the taint of original sin. Being free from original sin, Jesus also had no sin nature. Furthermore, Jesus lived His entire life and committed no personal sin. Scripture reveals Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21), was “without sin” (Heb 4:15), “committed no sin” (1 Pet 2:22), and in whom “there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). His sinless life qualified Him to die a substitutionary death in our place, “the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18). Jesus died for everyone and paid the penalty for our sin (John 3:16; Heb 2:9; 1 John 2:2). Though His death is sufficient for all to be saved (unlimited atonement), the benefits of the cross are applied only to those who believe in Him, which includes forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17; Phil 3:9), and eternal life (John 10:28). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology, 253. [2] Benjamin B. Warfield, The Plan of Salvation: Five Lectures (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915), 44. [3] John M. Frame, Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2006), 112. [4] J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 84. [5] Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 702. [6] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Ephesians (Chicago, Ill. Moody Press, 1986), 98. [7] Ibid., 101. [8] John F. Walvoord, The Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan Publishing, 1977), 132. [9] Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989), 338. [10]

     Total depravity is the biblical doctrine that sin permeates all aspects of our being—mind, will, and sensibilities, and renders us helpless to save ourselves. It does not mean we are as bad as we can be, for there are many moral unbelievers in the world. Being contaminated by sin means whatever morality we produce can never measure up to the perfect righteousness God expects. Is there any person who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?” (Prov 20:9). The answer is an emphatic No! The human heart is corrupt, for “the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick” (Jer 17:9). And “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (Eccl 7:20), and “There is none righteous; not even one. There is none who understands; there is none who seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become useless. There is none who does good, there is not even one” (Rom 3:10-12; cf. Rom 8:8). Some might argue that we can perform good works and help to save ourselves. This is wrong. Scripture states, “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isa 59:2), “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away” (Isa 64:6). Salvation does not come by human works; rather, we are “justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom 3:28), and salvation comes “to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly” (Rom 4:5), and we are “not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Gal 2:16), “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9), and God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim 1:9), and “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Tit 3:5). By human standards, even the worst person can do some good. But human estimation is lower than God's estimation and it is God's standards that define what is truly good. According to Charles Ryrie, “Total depravity must always be measured against God's holiness. Relative goodness exists in people. They can do good works, which are appreciated by others. But nothing that anyone can do will gain salvational merit or favor in the sight of a holy God.”[1] Calvinist View of Total Depravity      For Calvinists, total depravity means total inability. They regard people as totally unable to respond to the things of God; like a physical corpse. Notable scholars such as B. B. Warfield, R. C. Sproul, John Piper, Wayne Grudem, John Frame, John MacArthur, and J. I. Packer hold this view. B. B. Warfield wrote, “nothing is more fundamental in the doctrine of the Reformers than the complete inability of man and his absolute need of divine grace.”[2] John Frame states, “We can never come to God out of our own resources. We are helpless to do anything to save ourselves. This condition is sometimes called total inability” (italics his).[3] J. I. Packer states, “Total depravity entails total inability, that is, the state of not having it in oneself to respond to God and his Word in a sincere and wholehearted way (John 6:44; Rom 8:7–8).”[4] That is, lost sinners cannot respond to God at all, as they are spiritually unable (dead) to respond apart from God's granting life and the ability to believe. This leads Calvinists to conclude two things. First, God sovereignly acts by Himself to regenerate the spiritually dead and make them spiritually alive. Second, God gives the newly regenerate a special kind of faith whereby they can and will trust in Christ as Savior. According to Wayne Grudem, regeneration is “the act of God awakening spiritual life within us, bringing us from spiritual death to spiritual life. On this definition, it is natural to understand that regeneration comes before saving faith. It is in fact this work of God that gives us the spiritual ability to respond to God in faith.”[5] According to John MacArthur, “Our response in salvation is faith, but even that is not of ourselves [but is] the gift of God. Faith is nothing that we do in our own power or by our own resources...Paul intends to emphasize that even faith is not from us apart from God's giving it.”[6] The result of these divine actions in God's elect means they will produce good works and will persevere in those works throughout their lives until they die. John MacArthur states, “The same power that created us in Christ Jesus empowers us to do the good works for which He has redeemed us. These are the verifiers of true salvation.”[7] Thus, good works from regeneration to the end of one's life are the proof of salvation. Failure to produce ongoing good works until the end of one's life is offered as proof he was never saved (Matt 7:21). The Biblical View of Total Depravity      The correct biblical view is that total depravity means total unworthiness, not total inability to respond in faith to God's offer of salvation. Despite the profound impact of sin on human nature, the Bible does not portray people as entirely incapacitated. Yes, all mankind is “dead” in their sins (Eph 2:1); but death does not mean total inability, but total separation from God, for even those who were dead still “walked according to the course of this world” (Eph 2:2). Mankind is totally depraved in the sense that sin corrupts every part of our being, intellect, will, and sensibility. However, it does not mean that fallen people are unable to respond in faith to the gospel of grace.      The first example of spiritual death in the Bible is found in the Garden of Eden. God had warned Adam and Eve, saying, “from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Gen 2:17). The warning was that if they disobeyed God, on that very day, they would die (and death means separation, not cessation). Adam and Eve experienced spiritual death at the moment they disobeyed God. Yet, immediately after the fall, in their state of spiritual death, they could sense God's presence in the Garden, as they “heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden” (Gen 3:8). Furthermore, Adam heard God's voice when He “called to the man” (Gen 3:9), and Adam responded to Him, saying, “I heard the sound of You in the garden” (Gen 3:10a). Though they could not undo their newly fallen sinful state, it did not render them totally unable to perceive God or to respond to Him when He called out to them. And they did respond positively to the Lord when He promised to provide a descendant, a Seed of the woman, who would crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15). They also responded positively by accepting God's provision of clothing after He killed an animal, took its skin, and covered their nakedness (Gen 3:21).      Furthermore, God made mankind in His image, as Scripture states, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen 1:27). Even after the historic fall of Adam and Eve, all people are said to be “in the image of God” (Gen 9:6), and “in the likeness of God” (Jam 3:9). Despite the fall of humanity into sin, the image of God in humanity remains intact, implying that humans still retain some moral capacity, which includes the ability to accept God's offer of salvation by faith. Though people are deeply affected by sin, they still possess some capacity for moral choice and responsibility, thus arguing against the notion of total depravity meaning total inability.      Regeneration is entirely the work of God in saving lost sinners who cannot save themselves (Rom 5:6-10). The sinner brings nothing of worth to salvation, but receives all that God has to offer by grace. John Walvoord states, “Regeneration is wholly of God. No possible human effort however noble can supply eternal life.”[8] Paul Enns states, “Succinctly stated, to regenerate means ‘to impart life.' Regeneration is the act whereby God imparts life to the one who believes.”[9] Regeneration occurs in the one who believes in Christ as Savior. According to Charles Ryrie, “Salvation is always through faith, not because of faith (Eph 2:8). Faith is the channel through which we receive God's gift of eternal life; it is not the cause. This is so man can never boast, even of his faith. But faith is the necessary and only channel (John 5:24; 17:3).”[10] The Bible teaches there is only one kind of faith, and that only those who place their faith in Christ will be saved. Faith does not save. Christ saves. The Strict-Calvinist believes there are two kinds of faith, one that is common to all, and another that is special and imparted only to God's elect. Believe to Receive Eternal Life      There are numerous passages in the Bible that place faith as the necessary prerequisite to regeneration. It is written, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and Jesus said, “This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life” (John 6:40), and “he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). Paul wrote to Timothy about “those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Tim 1:16). In these and other instances, “eternal life” is given after we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Furthermore, people are condemned, not because God has not made a way for them to be saved, but because of their unwillingness to come to Christ as Savior. The issue is individual choice, not inability. The apostle John said, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). Jesus, speaking to unsaved persons, said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:39-40). Jesus said the Holy Spirit convicts everyone of sin (John 16:8), particularly the sin of unbelief, “because they do not believe in Me” (John 16:9). There is only one sin that keeps a person out of heaven, and that is the sin of unbelief; of rejecting Jesus as the only Savior. Apparently unbelievers may resist the Holy Spirit, as Stephen said in his sermon, “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51a).      Scripture reveals that “God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30). This means they must not trust in themselves or any system of good works to save, but must trust in Christ, and Christ alone to save. Faith does not save. Christ saves. Faith is the non-meritorious instrument by which we receive eternal life. The Strict-Calvinist believes Christ died only for the elect (Matt 1:21; John 10:15), and only the elect are savable. The Bible teaches that Christ died for everyone (John 3:16; Heb 2:9; 1 John 2:2); therefore, everyone is savable. Paul said, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men” (Tit 2:11), and that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). Peter stated, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Anyone can be saved by believing the gospel message “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Jesus is Free from Sin      Concerning total depravity and the transmission of original sin, Jesus is the sole exception, for Mary's virgin conception (Isa 7:14; Luke 1:30-35) meant Jesus was not born with the taint of original sin. Being free from original sin, Jesus also had no sin nature. Furthermore, Jesus lived His entire life and committed no personal sin. Scripture reveals Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21), was “without sin” (Heb 4:15), “committed no sin” (1 Pet 2:22), and in whom “there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). His sinless life qualified Him to die a substitutionary death in our place, “the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18). Jesus died for everyone and paid the penalty for our sin (John 3:16; Heb 2:9; 1 John 2:2). Though His death is sufficient for all to be saved (unlimited atonement), the benefits of the cross are applied only to those who believe in Him, which includes forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), the gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17; Phil 3:9), and eternal life (John 10:28). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology, 253. [2] Benjamin B. Warfield, The Plan of Salvation: Five Lectures (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915), 44. [3] John M. Frame, Salvation Belongs to the Lord: An Introduction to Systematic Theology (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2006), 112. [4] J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 84. [5] Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 702. [6] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Ephesians (Chicago, Ill. Moody Press, 1986), 98. [7] Ibid., 101. [8] John F. Walvoord, The Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan Publishing, 1977), 132. [9] Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989), 338. [10] Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 377.

“Church size matters to us far more than it should. From the pride it brings when the numbers are up to the shame and frustration it causes when the numbers are static or down, none of this provides a healthy foundation on which to build a healthy church body,” writes Karl Vaters. He goes on to suggest a solution: “We need to de-size the church.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Vaters about why bigness is a problem, why de-sizing the church is a solution, and how to do it. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Karl Vaters has served in small-church ministry for over 40 years, so he speaks and writes from decades of hands-on pastoral experience. An ordained Assemblies of God minister, he is author most recently of De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next, published this month by Moody Press. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Momentum Training Series. Momentum Training Series will help you become more effective in your ministry, whether you are a new volunteer or a seasoned leader. The series covers topics such as including children with disabilities, teaching lessons that last, leaving a spiritual legacy, and cultivating a Spirit-empowered kids ministry. For more information about Momentum Training Series, visit MomentumTrainingSeries.com.

     At a point in time, the eternal Son of God added humanity to Himself, simultaneously becoming God and man, Creator and creature, the unique theanthropic person (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58; 10:33; 20:28; Col 2:9; Heb 1:8). Jesus is the God-man and exists in hypostatic union, as a single Person with a divine and human nature (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 4:2-3), both natures being distinct and preserved, not mixed or confused, fully God and fully man. The hypostatic union is forever, from conception onward. Jesus was supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary (parthenogenesis – Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23; Luke 1:26-38), who is the mother of Jesus' humanity (Christotokos – bearer of Christ). Some see Mary as the mother of God (Theotokos – bearer of God), and though Jesus is God, His divine nature is without origin and eternal. Being the mother of Jesus' humanity honors Mary without elevating her to a place beyond what the Scriptures teach. And Jesus was a Jew, born a son of Abraham, in the line David (Matt 1:1), the promised Messiah (Matt 1:17). Jesus grew in wisdom (Luke 2:40, 52), and lived a perfectly righteous life before God and man. The record of Scripture is that Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21), was “without sin” (Heb 4:15), “committed no sin” (1 Pet 3:22), and “in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). In His humanity, Jesus walked in perfect conformity to God the Father's holy character and divine revelation. Cults such as Mormonism and Jehovah's Witness deny the full humanity and deity of Jesus, and for this reason are not within the true Christian community. Thiessen states: "The Council of Chalcedon, in AD 451, established what has been the position of the Christian church. There is one Jesus Christ, but He has two natures, the human and the divine. He is truly God and truly man, composed of body and rational soul. He is consubstantial with the Father in His deity and consubstantial with man in His humanity, except for sin. In His deity He was begotten of the Father before time, and in His humanity born of the virgin Mary. The distinction between the natures is not diminished by their union, but the specific character of each nature is preserved and they are united in one person. Jesus is not split or divided into two persons; He is one person, the Son of God."[1] His Deity      The Bible presents Jesus as God. In the OT, the proper name of God is Yahweh (יהוה) and is generally translated LORD, using all capital letters. When the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew OT) was written around 250 B.C., the translators chose the Greek word kurios (κύριος) as a suitable substitute for the Hebrew name Yahweh (יהוה). Though kurios (κύριος) is sometimes used in the NT to mean sir (John 4:11; Acts 16:30), and master (Col 3:22), it is also used to refer to the deity of Jesus Christ (compare Isa 40:3 with John 1:23; and Deut 6:16 with Matt 4:7; cf. John 20:28; Rom 10:11-12; Phil 2:11). According to Thiessen, “Although the second person of the trinity often appears in the Old Testament, He is never referred to as Christ. Instead, we have the names Son, Jehovah, and the angel of Jehovah. In Psalm 2:7 Jehovah calls him His Son. More frequently He is called Jehovah.”[2]The NT writers clearly saw Yahweh-God from the OT as referring to Jesus.      Concerning the NT evidence, the apostle John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14). And “the Word” which became flesh also existed with the Father “before the world was” (John 17:5). The Jews of Jesus's day understood His claims to deity, that He “was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18). On another occasion they said to Jesus, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God” (John 10:33). The apostle Thomas, after seeing the resurrected Jesus, said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Paul wrote of Jesus, saying, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Col 2:9), and elsewhere said that He is “our great God and Savior” (Tit 2:13). And the writer to the Hebrews said of Jesus, “But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever'” (Heb 1:8).      As God, Jesus created the universe, for “He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (John 1:2-3). And Paul wrote, “For by Him [Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Col 1:16-17).      As God, Jesus accepted the worship of men and angels. The magi who came to see the newborn Jesus said, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him” (Matt 2:2), and “after coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him” (Matt 2:11a). On three separate occasions the disciples worshipped Jesus. Matthew wrote, “And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God's Son!'” (Matt 14:33), “And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him” (Matt 28:9), and “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him” (Matt 28:17a). And after Jesus healed a lame man, we are told “he worshiped Him” (John 9:38). And of the angels it is written, “Let all God's angels worship him” (Heb 1:6). It follows that Jesus is God, since only God can receive worship. Walvoord states, “In any orthodox statement of the doctrine of the Trinity, the second Person is described as possessing all the attributes of the Godhead, being distinguished as the second Person in contrast to the first or third Persons of the Trinity and as the eternal Son in contrast to the Father or the Holy Spirit.”[3] Hypostatic Union      The apostle John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14). At a point in time, God the Son added to Himself humanity, forever uniting His divine nature with a perfect sinless human nature, becoming the God-man (John 1:1, 14, 18). In the field of systematic theology, this is called the hypostatic union. Chafer states, “Though His deity is eternal, the humanity was gained in time. Therefore, the theanthropic Person—destined to be such forever—began with the incarnation.”[4] God the Son did not indwell a human, but forever added humanity to Himself. According to Paul Enns, “When Christ came, a Person came, not just a nature; He took on an additional nature, a human nature—He did not simply dwell in a human person. The result of the union of the two natures is the theanthropic Person (the God-man).”[5] Reading through the Gospels, there were times that Jesus operated from His divine nature (Mark 2:5-12; John 8:56-58; 10:30-33), and other times from His human nature (Matt 4:2; Luke 8:22-23; John 19:28). Concerning both natures, Paul Enns wrote: "The two natures of Christ are inseparably united without mixture or loss of separate identity. He remains forever the God-man, fully God and fully man, two distinct natures in one Person forever. Though Christ sometimes operated in the sphere of His humanity and in other cases in the sphere of His deity, in all cases what He did and what He was could be attributed to His one Person. Even though it is evident that there were two natures in Christ, He is never considered a dual personality. In summarizing the hypostatic union, three facts are noted: (1) Christ has two distinct natures: humanity and deity; (2) there is no mixture or intermingling of the two natures; (3) although He has two natures, Christ is one Person."[6]      Jesus is the God-Man. He is eternal God (Isa 9:6; John 8:56-58), yet He was born of a woman in time and space (Gal 4:4). As God, He is omniscient (Psa 139:1-6), but as a boy, He grew in knowledge (Luke 2:52). As God, He created the universe (Gen 1:1; John 1:3; Col 1:15-16), but as a man, He was subject to weakness (Matt 4:2; John 19:28). Walvoord notes, “When the second Person of the Godhead became incarnate there was immediately introduced the seemingly insuperable problem of uniting God with man and combining an infinite and eternal Person with one that is finite and temporal.”[7] Concerning the complexity of the union, Lewis Chafer states: "The reality in which undiminished Deity and unfallen humanity united in one Theanthropic Person has no parallel in the universe. It need not be a matter of surprise if from the contemplation of such a Being problems arise which human competency cannot solve; nor should it be a matter of wonder that, since the Bible presents no systematized Christology but rather offers a simple narrative with its attending issues, that the momentous challenge to human thought and investigation which the Christ is, has been the major issue in theological controversy from the beginning to the present time."[8]      As finite humans, we struggle to comprehend the union of God and Man; however, it is with certainty that the Bible portrays Him this way (John 1:1, 14; 20:28; Heb 1:8 cf. Luke 1:31-33; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15), and this truth is essential to Christianity.  As God, Jesus is worthy of all worship and praise (Luke 24:51-52; John 9:38; 20:28; Heb 1:6). As a perfect sinless Man, He went to the cross and died a substitutionary death in our place (Mark 10:45; Rom 5:6-10; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Pet 3:18), and bore the wrath of God that rightfully belongs to us (Isa 53:1-12), so that we might have the gifts of righteousness and eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Henry Clarence Thiessen and Vernon D. Doerksen, Lectures in Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979), 208. [2] Ibid., 209. [3] John F. Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord (Chicago, Ill; Moody Press, 1969), 106. [4] Lewis S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1993), 383. [5] Paul P. Enns, Moody Handbook of Theology, (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1989), 227. [6] Paul P. Enns, Moody Handbook of Theology, 225. [7] John F. Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord (Galaxie Software, 2008), 107. [8] Lewis S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, 387.

Intro  Tina Hollenbeck, The Homeschool Resource Roadmap's creator, is a veteran homeschooling mom (i.e., educational entrepreneur) who passionately advocates for the merits of home education. She launched the research project that birthed the Common Core Project database and later created The Homeschool Resource Roadmap to serve the homeschool community she loves. Through this initiative, she seeks to provide useful information and encouragement for those called to raise and educate their own children, so that they will feel confident that they are equipped for the task.    In addition to educating her own children and curating The Roadmap and its affiliated resources, Tina has also written for a number of homeschool- and parenting-related venues. In 2015, she co-authored a booklet, Celebrating Children's 12 Genius Qualities, and in 2021, her first solo book, 8 Great Smarts for Homeschoolers, was published by Moody Press.      Top three takeaways  Use "curriculum" and other learning tools as a TOOL, never your master. There are literally thousands of curricular options from which to choose and The Roadmap can show you what's available.   The key to successful homeschooling is truly knowing how God has wired each of your children and responding appropriately.  The Homeschool Resource Roadmap includes lists of those who offer support for kids with the whole gamut of "special needs."    Call to Action  The Homeschool Roadmap Official Website     What is Next!  Thank you for supporting this show by listening and sharing with friends! If you like this podcast please rate and write a review of how this show has impacted or helped you!   Great ratings will accelerate the show's visibility to the nation so others can learn more about homeschool and find quality curriculum and the potentially join the homeschool community thus change the face of education forever!!   Who would have thought that we could change the education world with a click and a share!  Also if you would like to hear more about any specific educational topic please email me at realedtalk@gmail.com I would love to support your families educational needs in all areas!!   Bex Buzzie  The Homeschool Advantage Podcast    

K - Jake - Moody - Press - Conference by NB9ers (49ers) Podcast

Hey BFF, are you struggling to peace in the midst of these trying times? It's completely understandable. It can be tough to keep your head above water when everything around you seems to be falling apart. But don't you worry, we're all in this together, and we'll get through it.   Today, we're sitting down with Joël Malm is the founder of Summit Leaders, where he uses outdoor adventure and leadership coaching to help people find their calling and pursue a vision for their lives. His expeditions to places like Mount Kilimanjaro, the Grand Canyon, and Machu Picchu have taken him to more than seventy countries on six continents. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in counseling. Fluent in three languages, Joël speaks at churches, conferences, and corporate events nationwide and is the author of Vision Map (Moody Press, 2014), Fully You, Love Slows Down (Salem Books, 2020), and Guided by Thunder. He lives with his wife and daughter in Texas.   Learn •Does God ever put us in uncomfortable situations on purpose? •How do we discern the voice of God? •How does telling our stories relate to becoming a living sacrifice?   Connect with Joël Malm: Website: JoelMalm.com Purchase Connecting the Dots  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joelmalm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/joelmalm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelrmalm   Connect with Heather Pettey: Heather@HeatherPettey.com Website: https://www.heatherpettey.com  

Crickett Keeth and Christy Bicknell from First Evangelical Church Women's Ministry discuss the make-up of a biblically based women's outreach and reflect on Crickett's tenure, as she passes the torch to Kristy to lead the way after 17 ½ years serving as the director. They talk about pitfalls to avoid, their primary goal, helping women stay scripturally intact through the seasons of life, and to live confidently in their identity with Christ. Crickett is also the author of Moody Press, Before the Throne- Finding Strength through Prayer in Difficult Times, an eight-week Bible Study. Additionally, she's written, One Bended Knee, Praying Like Prophets, and Warriors & Kings.

Many Christian universities are losing their salt, but Dr. Donald Sweeting is ensuring the "higher" stays in higher education. Dr. Sweeting is the president of Colorado Christian University, an unapologetically evangelical institution. In this conversation, he reminds Christian leaders why they must hold onto principles as the word changes and demolishes biblical truths. Bobby and Dr. Sweeting share a spirited call for standing up for Christian principles when it isn't popular. Tune in for an interview about why core values are critical in higher education and every part of leadership.  In this episode, you'll hear: Why leaders need to hire based on character and not just competence How CCU is equipping the next generation of bold Christian leaders  Why a shrunken vision creates a shrunken purpose  How Dr. Sweeting faced the biggest challenge in modern education   FREE Workplace Culture Assessment >> https://bit.ly/WorkplaceCultureAssessment    About the guest: After serving as the president of Colorado Christian University from 2016-2022, Dr. Donald Sweeting was appointed by the Board of Trustees as Chancellor of the University in August of 2022. As chancellor, Dr. Sweeting is responsible for amplifying the University's educational mission, convictions, and strategic priorities inside and outside CCU, promoting Christ-centered higher education and assisting the new president. He is the University's first chancellor, following in the footsteps of Dr. David Beckman, who was chancellor of CCU's heritage school, Colorado Christian College. Dr. Sweeting is a noted educator, minister, and author. Before his time at CCU, he served as the president and professor of Church History at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. Dr. Sweeting served as the pastor and church planter of Chain of Lakes Community Bible Church in northern Illinois for 11 years. He also served as the senior pastor of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Greenwood Village, a Denver suburb, for 12 years. He has served on the boards of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), John Stott Ministries, and the Langham Partnership International. He also served on the committees for the Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents (FESP) and the Theology Committee for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Dr. Sweeting studied Bible and Theology at Moody Bible Institute (MBI), earned his B.A. in History from Lawrence University, and then the B.A./M.A. degree from Oxford University in England. He went on to receive his doctorate in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Sweeting's dissertation was on the relationship between Catholics and Evangelicals in the United States from 1960 to 2000. Dr. Sweeting speaks and preaches around the country and has published numerous articles for well-known magazines and scholarly journals. He has co-authored several books, including How to Finish the Christian Life: Following Jesus in the Second Half of Life, (Moody Press). He writes a regular blog post at donsweeting.com and can be followed on Twitter @dsweeting. Dr. Sweeting and his wife, Christina, have three adult sons and a daughter. Two of his children are graduates from Colorado Christian University.   About the host: Following a successful career as CEO, Bobby sold his business to a publicly-traded company. In what he calls his "second half of life", Bobby seeks to pour Biblically-based principles into growth-minded business, church, and non-profit leaders. Through Values-Driven Leadership, Bobby serves as an Executive Coach and Training Consultant for organizations. He shares many of his principles and practices through a weekly blog, the True North Leader podcast, and through three books he has authored: Principled Profits: Outward Success Is an Inside Job,  True North Business: A Leader's Guide to Extraordinary Growth and Impact, and The Freedom Paradox: Is Unbridled Freedom Dividing America?   Learn more at valuesdrivenculture.com  

     Restore Broken Fellowship with God Through Confession of Personal Sin. All believers sin, and there are none who attain perfection in this life (Pro 20:9; Eccl 7:20; 1 John 1:8-10). For this reason, familial forgiveness is necessary for a healthy relationship with God. David understood the folly of trying to conceal his sins, which resulted in psychological disequilibrium and pain; however, when he confessed his sin, God forgave him (Psa 32:2-5). John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God forgives because it is His nature to do so, for He “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth” (Psa 86:15; cf. Psa 103:8-14). And He is able to forgive because Christ has atoned for our sins at the cross, satisfying the Father's righteous demands regarding our offenses. The apostle John wrote, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). The challenge for many believers is to trust God at His word and accept His forgiveness and not operate on guilty feelings. William MacDonald states: "The forgiveness John speaks about here [i.e., 1 John 1:9] is parental, not judicial. Judicial forgiveness means forgiveness from the penalty of sins, which the sinner receives when he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is called judicial because it is granted by God acting as Judge. But what about sins which a person commits after conversion? As far as the penalty is concerned, the price has already been paid by the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. But as far as fellowship in the family of God is concerned, the sinning saint needs parental forgiveness, that is, the forgiveness of His Father. He obtains it by confessing his sin. We need judicial forgiveness only once; that takes care of the penalty of all our sins—past, present, and future. But we need parental forgiveness throughout our Christian life."[1]      Be Filled with the Spirit. Paul wrote to Christians, “don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit” (Eph 5:18 CSB). If a believer consumes too much alcohol, it can lead to cognitive impairment and harmful behavior. But the believer who is filled with the Spirit will possess divine viewpoint and manifest the fruit of godliness, worship, and thankfulness to the Lord (Eph 5:19-20). Being filled with the Spirit means being guided by Him rather than our own desires or the desires of others. The Spirit's guidance is always according to Scripture. Being filled with the Spirit does not mean we have more of Him, but that He has more of us, as we submit to His leading. Warren Wiersbe comments: “Be filled with the Spirit” is God's command, and He expects us to obey. The command is plural, so it applies to all Christians and not just to a select few. The verb is in the present tense, “keep on being filled”, so it is an experience we should enjoy constantly and not just on special occasions. And the verb is passive. We do not fill ourselves but permit the Spirit to fill us. The verb “fill” has nothing to do with contents or quantity, as though we are empty vessels that need a required amount of spiritual fuel to keep going. In the Bible, filled means “controlled by.” “They... were filled with wrath” (Luke 4:28) means “they were controlled by wrath” and for that reason tried to kill Jesus. “The Jews were filled with envy” (Acts 13:45) means that the Jews were controlled by envy and opposed the ministry of Paul and Barnabas. To be “filled with the Spirit” means to be constantly controlled by the Spirit in our mind, emotions, and will…But how can a person tell whether or not he is filled with the Spirit? Paul stated that there are three evidences of the fullness of the Spirit in the life of the believer: he is joyful (Eph. 5:19), thankful (Eph. 5:20), and submissive (Eph. 5:21–33). Paul said nothing about miracles or tongues, or other special manifestations.[2] Lewis S. Chafer wrote: "To be filled with the Spirit is to have the Spirit fulfilling in us all that God intended Him to do when he placed Him there. To be filled is not the problem of getting more of the Spirit: it is rather the problem of the Spirit getting more of us. We shall never have more of the Spirit than the anointing which every true Christian has received. On the other hand, the Spirit may have all of the believer and thus be able to manifest in him the life and character of Christ. A spiritual person, then, is one who experiences the divine purpose and plan in his daily life through the power of the indwelling Spirit. The character of that life will be the out-lived Christ. The cause of that life will be the unhindered indwelling Spirit (Eph 3:16-21; 2 Cor 3:18)."[3] Charles Ryrie states: "To be filled with the Spirit means to be controlled by the Spirit. The clue to this definition is found in Ephesians 5:18 where there is contrast and comparison between drunkenness and Spirit-filling. It is the comparison which gives the clue, for just as a drunken person is controlled by the liquor which he consumes, so a Spirit-filled Christian is controlled by the Spirit. This will cause him to act in ways which are unnatural to him, not implying that such ways will be erratic or abnormal, but asserting that they will not be the ways of the old life. Control by the Spirit is a necessary part of spirituality."[4]      Walk in the Spirit. Paul wrote, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). In this passage walking is a metaphor for daily living, which can be influenced by God (Deut 5:33; 10:12), other righteous persons (Prov 13:20), sinners (Psa 1:1; Pro 1:10-16; 1 Cor 15:33), or one's own sin nature (Gal 5:17-21). To walk in the Spirit means we depend on His counsel to guide and power to sustain as we seek to do His will. The Spirit most often guides us directly by Scripture. Jesus, speaking of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, said, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit helps the Christian know the Word of God, and to recall Scripture when needed for guidance. The Holy Spirit also works through mature believers—whose thinking is saturated with God's Word—to help provide sound biblical advice for others. Warren Wiersbe states: "The New Testament calls the Christian life a “walk.” This walk begins with a step of faith when we trust Christ as our Savior. But salvation is not the end—it's only the beginning—of spiritual life. “Walking” involves progress, and Christians are supposed to advance in the spiritual life. Just as a child must learn to walk and must overcome many difficulties in doing so, a Christian must learn to “walk in the light.”[5] Charles Ryrie adds: "Constant dependence on the power of the indwelling Spirit of God is essential to spiritual growth and victory. By its very nature, walking is a succession of dependent acts. When one foot is lifted in order to place it front of the other one, it is done in faith—faith that the foot that remains on the ground will support the full weight of the body. You can only walk by the exercise of faith. You can live the Christian life only by dependence on the Holy Spirit. Such dependence will result in the Spirit's control over the deeds of the flesh (Gal 5:17-21) and the Spirit's production of the fruit of the Spirit (vv. 22-23). Dependence on the power of God and effort on the part of the believer are not mutually exclusive. Self-discipline and Spirit-dependence can and must be practiced at the same time in a balanced spiritual life. Dependence itself is an attitude, but that attitude does not come automatically; it usually requires cultivation. How many genuine Christians there are who live day after day without even sensing their need of dependence on Him. Experience, routine, pride, self-confidence all tend to drag all of us away from that conscious dependence on God which we must have in order to live and act righteously."[6]   [1] William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2310-11. [2] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament, Vol. 2 (Colorado Springs, Col., Victor Publishing, 2001), 48. [3] Lewis S. Chafer, He that is Spiritual (Grand Rapids, Mich. Zondervan Publishing, 1967), 43-44. [4] Charles C. Ryrie, “What is Spirituality?” Bibliotheca Sacra 126 (1969): 206. [5] Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament, Vol. 2, 479. [6] Charles Ryrie, Balancing the Christian Life (Chicago. Ill., Moody Press, 1994), 198.

Dr. David E. Clark Ph.D. is a licensed counselor who is an expert in dealing with marriages where one spouse is dealing with mental abuse and manipulative behavior from the other spouse. Bob speaks to him about his step-by-step plan for a spouse to leave an abusive relationship which God's help. His new book Enough is Enough is available through Moody Press. Support the show

As a child, Valerie Bell wanted to be a lawyer for children. At that time there wasn't such a thing, but our God of details worked in her life to minister as an advocate for children in her many different roles. Currently the CEO of AWANA, Valerie talks about raising the church of 2050 to be lifelong disciples who are able to withstand the darkening of this world. She speaks hope into this darkness by encouraging us to train children to KNOW & LOVE Jesus for the rest of their lives. Ready to hear how resilient children can change the trajectory of our future generations? Let's go! VALERIE BELL is the CEO Emerita of Awana Clubs International which ministers to 5 million children in 132 countries with over 64,000 church partners. She has recently co-authored “Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church”, which charts a path to raising the greatest generation of disciples who will both lead the church and influence the culture of 2050. Valerie is an author and speaker who shares her spiritual journey with refreshing honesty. As a frequent guest speaker and interviewee, she shares her faith with a warmth and sincerity that's contagious. Valerie challenges her audiences to live out their faith with courage in their everyday world. She has written eight books: -Nobody's Children (Word, 1989) which was updated, revised and re-released in 1994 under the title Reaching Out to Lonely Kids (Zondervan). -Getting Out of Your Kids' Faces and Into Their Hearts (Zondervan, 1995). -She Can Laugh at the Days to Come (Zondervan, 1996) which was re-titled—A Well-Tended Soul—and released by Zondervan in March, 2000. -Made to Be Loved: Enjoying Spiritual Intimacy with God and Your Spouse, a joint project with her husband (Moody Press, 1999) -Faith-Shaped Kids: Helping Your Child Grow Spiritually (Moody, 2001) co-authored with Steve. -Real Survivors: Finding Hope and Courage in Times of Crisis (Servant Publications, 2003) also co-authored with her husband, Steve. -An African Awakening: My Journey into AIDS Activism (2007 – World Vision) -Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church (2020) Whether she's sharing her heart concerning the enormous needs of today's children or speaking to and challenging the church to reach out to the world's children equipping them to love Jesus for the rest of their lives, audiences will find her to be an authentic, engaging and motivating communicator. Valerie (or as her 6 grandchildren call her…Lovie) and her husband Steve, (or Gahgo) live in Kildeer, Illinois and Boca Raton, Florida. Resources For You: Awana Website Awana on FB Valerie Bell Facebook 2 Corinthians 4:16-18   Next Steps: Share this podcast with a friend Subscribe to You CAN Tell the Children Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram Explore Bible2School!

================================================== ==SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1================================================== == DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA ADULTOS 2022“NUESTRO MARAVILLOSO DIOS”Narrado por: Roberto NavarroDesde: Chiapas, MéxicoUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church 06 DE OCTUBRE            UNA LUZ QUE NUNCA SE APAGARA«A ti estirando mis manos; mi alma te anhela como la tierra sedienta». Salmos 143: 6, LBLACUANDO EN 1531 THOMAS «El pequeño» Bilney dijo que debía «subir a Jerusalén», sus amigos entendieron muy bien lo que quería decir. En efecto, poco tiempo después sería arrestado en Norwich, juzgado y condenado a morir en la hoguera.Se cuenta que la noche anterior a su muerte, en compañía de su amigo Matthew Parker, Bilney leyó Isaías 43:2: «Cuando pases por el agua, yo estaré contigo». Colocando su mano sobre la llama de una vela, dio a entender que no temía morir consumido por las llamas. Al día siguiente, mientras era conducido al lugar de la ejecución, Bilney recitó el Salmo 143. Ya cerca de la estaca, repitió las palabras de nuestro texto de hoy: «A ti extiendo mis manos; mi alma te anhela como la tierra sedienta». Cuando las llamas comenzaron a consumir su cuerpo, Bilney clamo: «Creo en ti, Jesús. Creo en ti».¿Por qué había sido condenado? Por haber enseñado que, aparte de Jesucristo, ningún ser humano podía perdonar los pecados. Y por haber sido el líder de un grupo de eruditos que, en Cambridge y en toda Inglaterra, comenzaron a predicar abiertamente las verdades de la Reforma Protestante. * Uno de esos líderes: Hugh Latimer, «el hombre más honesto de Inglaterra». **Latimer nació en una cuna humilde, hijo de un labrador, pero por su arduo esfuerzo logró graduarse en Cambridge. Años más tarde, llegó a ser capellán del rey Enrique VIII y obispo de Worcester. Poderoso predicador y celoso defensor de la Iglesia Católica, Latimer inicialmente atacó las enseñanzas de Lutero, que para entonces estaban extendiéndose por todo el reino. Eso hizo hasta el día en que «El pequeño» Bilney le mostró las verdades del evangelio de Cristo. Entonces todo cambió. Latimer comenzó a predicar las grandes verdades de la Reforma: «La fe en Dios y en su Palabra era la que sostenía a estos santos varones cuando entregaban su vida en la hoguera» (El conflicto de los siglos, cap. 15, p. 255). El 16 de octubre de 1555, en Oxford, Hugh Latimer fue condenado a morir como hereje en la hoguera, junto a Nicholas Ridley. «Tenga buen ánimo, Señor Ridley -le dijo Latimer-. Este día encenderemos una luz tal en Inglaterra, que, confío en la gracia de Dios, jamás se apagará» (ibíd.).Esa luz nunca se ha apagado. Es la misma que durante siglos mantuvieron encendida los profetas, los apóstoles y los fieles campeones de la verdad, y que nos ha llegado gracias a la sangre de los mártires.¿Qué haremos con esa luz tú y yo? Amado Padre, gracias por la sangre de tus mártires. ¡Ayúdame a ser fiel a la preciosa verdad por la cual ellos entregaron sus vidas!*Harold Harker, KA Forgotten Father of the Reformation», en Signs of the Times, junio de 2008, p.31. **Peter F. Gunther, A Frouk Borcham Treasury, Moody Press, 1984, p. 10.

================================================== ==SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1================================================== == DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA ADULTOS 2022“NUESTRO MARAVILLOSO DIOS”Narrado por: Roberto NavarroDesde: Chiapas, MéxicoUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church 05 DE OCTUBRE«EL PEQUEÑO BILNEY»«Palabra fiel y digna de ser recibida por todos: que Cristo Jesús vino al mundo para salvar a los pecadores, de los cuales yo soy el primero». 1 Timoteo 1:15CUANDO ERASMO DE RÓTERDAM, uno de los grandes eruditos del Renacimiento, visitó Inglaterra a comienzos del siglo dieciséis, nunca imaginó la contribución que de manera indirecta haría a la causa de la Reforma protestante. Mucho menos imaginó a través de quién vendría esa contribución,Thomas Bilney, conocido entre sus allegados como «El pequeño Bilney», era profesor de Cambridge cuando Erasmo visitó esa casa de estudios. La impresión que Erasmo debió en él fue tan profunda, que Bilney se podría adquirir cualquier obra que saliera de la pluma del famoso erudito neerlandés. Una de esas obras fue la traducción del Nuevo Testamento que Erasmo realizó al latín.En las páginas de ese Nuevo Testamento Bilney encontraría la luz que hasta ese momento le había sido negada. Insatisfecho con su vida espiritual, había acudido a los sacerdotes en busca de ayuda, solo para escuchar que debía cumplir con ciertas penitencias para encontrar la paz que su alma anhelaba. Hasta que un día leyó un pasaje que para siempre cambiaría su vida: «Palabra fiel y digna de ser recibida por todos: que Cristo Jesús vino al mundo para salvar a los pecadores, de los cuales yo soy el primero» (1 Tim. 1 : 15).«Ese solo versículo [...] escribió Bilney— elevó de tal manera mi pobre y decaído espíritu, que mis huesos dentro de mí saltaron de gozo y alegría. Fue como si, después de una larga y oscura noche, hubiera irrumpido la luz de un nuevo día». *Justo en ese tiempo, «el pequeño Bilney» escuchó predicar a un fervoroso sacerdote católico: Hugh Latimer. De inmediato Bilney vio en él a un futuro campeón del evangelio, y se ejercerá «ganarlo» para Jesucristo. Entonces oró: «Oh, Dios -dijo—, apenas soy “el pequeño Bilney”, y nunca haré nada grande para ti, pero toca el corazón de este hombre, ¡y grandes grupos serán las maravillas que él hará en tu nombre!» .Un día, después de escucharlo predicar, Bilney le pidió a Latimer que por favor escuchara su confesión. Latimer reforzado. Entonces Bilney leyó del Nuevo Testamento 1 Timoteo 1: 15, y le contó a Latimer de su conversión. El efecto fue inmediato. Al igual que siglos antes había ocurrido con Saulo de Tarso, fue como si repentinamente los ojos de Latimer hubieran sido abiertos a la verdad del evangelio. Ese día nació uno de los grandes caudillos de la Reforma en Inglaterra.En 1531 «El pequeño Bilney» moriría en la hoguera, seguido por Latimer, años más tarde, pero la muerte de estos dos mártires encendería en Inglaterra una luz que nunca se apagaría.Señor, sé que no tengo muchos talentos, pero hoy quiero brillar para ti. Que tu luz ilumine el corazón de alguien que esté en oscuridad.*Citado por Peter Gunter en A Frank Boreham Treasury, Moody Press, 1984, pp. 12-13.

Joël Malm is the founder of Summit Leaders where he uses outdoor adventure and leadership coaching to help people find their calling and pursue a vision for their lives. His expeditions have taken him around the world to places like Mt. Kilimanjaro, Grand Canyon and Machu Picchu. He has traveled in over seventy countries on six continents and speaks three languages. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.S. in Counseling. He speaks at churches, conferences, and corporate events around the country and is the author of Vision Map (Moody Press, 2014), Fully You, and Love Slows Down (Salem/Regnery, 2020) and Guided by Thunder. He and his wife Emily and daughter Elise currently live in Texas. In this episode you'll learn: 1.  Necessary vs Unnecessary suffering and finding meaning in suffering. 2.  A concept called "Vision Mapping". 3.  How to change your perspective. 4.  What to do when you don't know what you want to do (as it relates to your profession). To connect with Joel: Instagram Facebook Podcast To connect with Kyle: Instagram LinkedIn Bucket-List Guys Trips Text "trip" to 763-294-8100 to learn more about Guys Trip!

================================================== ==SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1================================================== == DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA ADULTOS 2022“NUESTRO MARAVILLOSO DIOS”Narrado por: Roberto NavarroDesde: Chiapas, MéxicoUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church 08 DE JULIO¡SEÑOR, ABRE MIS OJOS!«Nosotros lo amamos a él porque él nos amó primero», 1 Juan 4:19«ESTA TARDE VAMOS A LEER NUESTRO PASAJE favorito de las Escrituras», dice el tutor a sus alumnos mientras en su rostro se dibuja una sonrisa. Los niños, Harry y Richard, no preguntan cuál es ese pasaje porque ya lo conocen: «Nosotros lo amamos a él porque él nos amó primero».-Durante un tiempo llegué a pensar que la salvación no era para mí —les dice, porque no sentí que amaba a Dios. Pero estas preciosas palabras me mostraron que Dios no nos ama porque nosotros lo amamos. No no. Lo amamos porque él nos amó primero. ¡Hay una gran diferencia!El tutor que así habló era William Tyndale, uno de los grandes líderes de la Reforma en Inglaterra, mejor conocido por su traducción del Nuevo Testamento al inglés.Según relata Frank Boreham, esa tarde, después de leer y comentar su pasaje favorito, Tyndale anuncia a sus dos alumnos que ya no seguirán enseñándoles. Cuando ellos preguntan el porqué, les explica que debe viajar a Londres, donde se propone cumplir una obra que Dios le ha encargado: la publicación de las Escrituras en el idioma del pueblo. «Es tiempo de que la gente común lea la Biblia en su propio idioma», les dice. Y añade: «Si Dios me permite, algún día hará que el muchacho que maneja el arado en Inglaterra, sepa más de la Escritura que los mismos prelados y sacerdotes».*Y a Londres viaja, pero lo único que encuentra es oposición. Entonces Tyndale se traslada a Alemania, donde, en 1526, se publica la primera edición del Nuevo Testamento en inglés. El sueño del reformador se cumple, aunque a un precio muy elevado. En 1527 sus obras son condenadas y Tyndale es excomulgado y perseguido. En mayo de 1535 es capturado y encarcelado. En octubre de 1536 Tyndale es atado a una estaca, estrangulada y, finalmente, quemada. Sus últimas palabras son: « ¡Señor, abre los ojos del rey de Inglaterra!».**Su voz había sido silenciada, pero para el momento de su muerte «hasta el muchacho que manejaba el arado en Inglaterra sabía más de la Escritura que los mismos prelados y sacerdotes».¿Cómo pudo un hombre que durante parte de su vida no sintió que amaba a Dios morir por amor a él? Porque un bendito día entendió que Dios no nos ama porque nosotros lo amamos, sino que «lo amamos porque él nos amó primero». ¡Hay una gran diferencia! ¡Señor, abre hoy mis ojos para que yo pueda entender que mucho antes de que te amara ya tú me amabas! Y ayúdame a compartir con otros tu amor incomparable.*Frank Borehain, Un Tesoro de Frank Boreham, Moody Press, 1984, p. 20. **John Foxe, Foxe's Book of Martyrs, edición abreviada, Barbour Publishing, 2001, p. 54.

================================================== ==SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1================================================== == DEVOCIÓN MATUTINA PARA ADULTOS 2022“NUESTRO MARAVILLOSO DIOS”Narrado por: Roberto NavarroDesde: Chiapas, MéxicoUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist Church 29 DE MAYO EL «SECRETO» DE JAMES HUDSON TAYLOR«Sean vuestras costumbres sin avaricia, contentos con lo que tenéis ahora, pues él dijo: "No te desampararé ni te dejaré"». Hebreos 13:5CUANDO JAMES HUDSON TAYLOR, fundador de la Misión al Interior de China, murió en 1905 dejó establecidos unas doscientas misiones, con más de ochocientos misioneros y millas de conversos. ¿Cómo pudo lograr tanto a pesar de todos los desafíos que tuvo que enfrentar?En 1867, Taylor perdió a su hija, Grace, por una enfermedad del cerebro. En 1870, su esposa María Dyer murió pocos días después de dar a luz un hijo varón, que también murió. En varias ocasiones, su vida y la de otros misioneros corrieron peligro durante las revueltas políticas que azotaban a la China en ese tiempo. Y como si todo eso fuera poco, con frecuencia fue objeto de calumnias, ¡algunas de ellas provenientes de otros misioneros! En un momento, fue tanta la presión, que incluso llegó a considerar «la horrible tentación de quitarse la vida».Entonces sucedió un hecho que cambió para siempre su vida. Taylor se encontró en una estación misionera en Chin-kiang, durante el otoño de 1869, cuando leyó una carta de otro misionero, John McCarthy. En su mensaje, McCarthy le reveló un «secreto»: «Dejar que mi amante Salvador cumpla en mí su voluntad. [...]. Permanecer en él, sin luchas ni afanes, puestos los ojos en Jesús, y confiando solo en él para que nos otorgue poder». *Luego Taylor escribiría del gozo que invadió su corazón: «Mientras leí la carta, me di cuenta de todo. “Si somos infieles, él permanece fiel” (2 Tim. 2: 13). Entonces fijé mis ojos en Jesús, y cuando por fe lo vi [...], recordé lo que él dijo: “No te desampararé ni te dejaré”. En vano luchó para permanecer en él, pero no luchó más. ¿No ha prometido él que estará conmigo, que nunca me desamparará ni me dejará?». **Los desafíos y dificultades no desaparecieron, pero James Hudson Taylor había encontrado una fuente de gozo que nadie le pudo arrebatar: la promesa de Uno que había dicho: «No te desampararé ni te dejaré».Y tú, ¿estás «luchando para permanecer en Cristo? No luches más. ¿Lucha el hombre enamorado para ganar el amor de la mujer que ya lo ama? Por supuesto que no. Asimismo, no luches por tener a tu lado a quien te ha prometido estar contigo «todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo». Solo mantente en comunión con el cada día, conecta tu alabanza, y recibe de su gracia. Y cuando los problemas se presenten, recuerda que Jesús nunca te dejará ni te desamparará.¿Cómo podría él dejarte después de todo cuanto sufrió para salvarte? Padre celestial, hoy quiero recordar que nunca me dejarás, y que nada en este mundo me podrá separar de tu amor. ¡Absolutamente nada!*Robert J. Morgan, Nelson Annual Preacher's Sourccbook, Thomas Nelson, 2005, p. 92. **John Woodbridge, editor. Embajadores de Cristo, Moody Press, 1994, pág. 161.

"Seven women are recognized by their ministry: Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Junia, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, and Persis. One woman, Phoebe, is identified as a deacon. Kevin Madigan and Carolyn Osiek write that Phoebe is “the only deacon of a first-century church whose name we know.” Another woman, Junia, is identified not simply as an apostle but as one who was prominent among the apostles. “Did you know, I asked my students, that more women than men are identified by their ministry in Romans 16?” Did you know, I asked my students, that more women than men are identified by their ministry in Romans 16? We sat there, looking at the names of those women. “Why?” a student suddenly interjected, so involved in the lecture she didn't even raise her hand. “Why have I not noticed this before?” Probably because the English Bible translation you use obscures women's activity, I told her, launching into another explanation. I listened to myself lecturing that day. I listened to myself laying out evidence for how English Bible translations obscure women's leadership in the early church. I listened to myself as I talked the class through different translations of Romans 16. Take, for example, The Ryrie Study Bible, published by Moody Press in 1986. My grandfather owned this Bible, and I have his copy on my shelf. Instead of recognizing Phoebe as a deacon, it translates her role as “servant.” Listen to the study note: “The word here translated ‘servant' is often translated ‘deacon,' which leads some to believe that Phoebe was a deaconess. However, the word is more likely used here in an unofficial sense of helper.” “If the phrase ‘a deacon of the church in Cenchreae' had followed a masculine name, I seriously doubt that the meaning of ‘deacon' ever would have been questioned.” “Did you catch that?” I asked my students. No evidence is given for why Phoebe's role should be translated as “servant” rather than as “deacon.” No evidence is given to explain why the word is more likely used in “an unofficial sense of helper.” We can guess the reason for the translation choice: it is because Phoebe was a woman, and so it is assumed that she could not have been a deacon. If the phrase “a deacon of the church in Cenchreae” had followed a masculine name, I seriously doubt that the meaning of “deacon” ever would have been questioned. As I taught, I thought about my own church. About how women rarely appeared on stage other than to sing or play an instrument. I thought about how women ran our children's ministry and men ran our adult ministry. I thought about the time I had been asked to teach an adult Sunday school class, and the pastor had come to look through my material. Since I was just teaching on church history, he let me do it. If I had been discussing the biblical text, though, it would have been a different story. I remember feeling like such a hypocrite, standing before my college classroom. Here I was, walking my students through compelling historical evidence that the problem with women in leadership wasn't Paul; the problem was with how we misunderstood and obscured Paul. Here I was, showing my students how women really did lead and teach in the early church, even as deacons and apostles." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/support

Other-Centered Leadership: How to Treat Ministry Colleagues by John R. StrubharMost books on leadership focus on what a leader is and what a leader can do to improve himself or herself as a leader. After 50 years of pastoral leadership in various capacities as a Lead Pastor, Executive Pastor, District Superintendent, Adjunct College and Seminary professor, Conference Speaker and Consultant I have come to the conclusion that the most important aspect of leadership is how theleader engages and serves his/her ministry colleagues and the larger church constituency. Transformative leaders have the uncanny ability to relate well to all levels of leadership in the church, the staff, governing board, ministry leaders and congregational members. Most pastors are good theologians; many, however, suffer from a lack of knowing how to engage with others in a relational capacity that reflects the clear teaching of God's word. They know and preach with their heads, but their hearts are unresponsive to the biblical and significantly practical truths that are essential for building a strong team of motivated colleagues.In working with governing boards, pastoral staffs, and churches in trouble, I've discovered that many church leaders and pastors do not know how to put the interests and passions of their ministry colleagues before their own interests and passions. A lack of valuing the passions and gifts of other staff/lay leaders keeps pastors and churches from reaching their full potential. Improving the way we interact with one another as a ministry team may address the current crisis in many evangelical movements where more than 20 churches close every day, 15 pastors leave the ministry every day and 80-90 % of many long-established churches are plateaued or declining. Unfortunately, Covid 19 has exacerbated this downward trend. Other-centered Leadership is my attempt to call church leaders back to the biblical basics of leadership that many well-intentioned leaders tend to forget or worse yet, refuse to practice in their relationships with fellow team members. Our relationship with God and the way we treat our ministry colleagues is a mirror into our heart's motivations and desires. My prayer is that these simple principles gleaned from God's word and interaction with hundreds of leaders will stimulate a new generation of pastoral leaders who will “treat others better than themselves” for the glory of God.Dr. Strubhar attended Westmont College and graduated from Fort Wayne Bible College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1969. He continued his theological education at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, receiving a Master of Divinity in 1973, a Master of Theology in Practical Theology in 1975 and a Doctor of Ministry in Administration and Church Revitalization in 1980. In his current role with Interim Pastor Ministries, he has facilitated the “turnaround” of a number of churches across denominational lines. His previous publications include Evangelistic Preaching: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pulpit Evangelism (co-author Lloyd Perry) published by Moody Press in 1979 and reprinted by Wipf & Stock in 2000; Life Worth Living: What the True Story of Jonah teaches us About God and Living on His Terms and In Pursuit of the Greatest Gift: What the Love Chapter Reveals About Godly Living, both published by Sermon to Book in 2018. Dr. Strubhar and his wife Sandy reside in Buckeye, AZ and have three grown adult children, eleven grandchildren and one great grandson.https://www.amazon.com/Other-centered-Leadership-Treat-Ministry-Colleagues/dp/1973684489http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/abt12921a.mp3   

 Charles - Part 1Charles Templeton was born October 7th, 1915 in Toronto Canada. With four other siblings in the midst of the depression, the family learned to adapt on meager wages. Everyone in the family had to do their part. Young Charles, picked up drawing and was quite talented at it. So, after failing to pass the 9th and 10th grade, he pursued his knack of drawing sketches, hoping that someone might find value in his work and purchase them. Charles was pleasantly found right - the 17 year old artist was hired onto the Toronto Globe as a sports cartoonist.Overnight, the teenager was making good money and was thoroughly enjoying his job. Charles found himself in the very midst of the sports news world, and everything else associated with it. Notoriety, late night drinking, and fawning women were all bonuses. He would later write about this time in his life, “To a boy in his late teens, it was the best of all possible worlds.”But after four years, the underbelly of his envied job and lifestyle began to show. Returning home one morning at 3:00 a.m. from a party, the young man feeling quite depressed looked into a mirror. He didn't like the reflection. As he walked to his room his mother heard him in the hallway and called out to him. She talked to him about her own faith in Christ.Charles would later write about this event: “As I went down the hall, I was forming a prayer in my head, but as I knelt by my bed in the darkness, my mind was strangely vacant; thoughts and words wouldn't come to focus. After a moment, it was as though a black blanket had been draped over me. A sense of enormous guilt descended and invaded every part of me. I was unclean. Involuntarily, I began to pray, my face upturned, tears streaming. The only words I could find were, "Lord, come down. Come do[wn]. Come down. . . .”______________________________________________________________________________Billy - Part 1At this same time, in the United States near Charolette North Carolina, Billy Graham had just graduated from high school. As he struggled through school being the son of a Dairy Farmer, his graduation was a feat that many questioned. And while the young man had grown up in a godly and Christian environment he had just made a personal commitment to Jesus during a revival two years earlier, under the preaching of Baptist evangelist Mordecai Ham. Like his future friend and preaching partner, Charles Templeton, Billy was also convicted by his sin and his need for forgiveness. That night at the diner table, Billy stopped to inform his family that he had been saved that day.While he first enrolled at Bob Jones College in Cleveland Tennessee, since it was closet to home and less expensive than Wheaton, he quickly felt the school too legalistic and rigid. So, after only one semester, and racking up nearly enough demerits to be kicked out, he transferred to Florida Bible Institute. And it was there in 1937, that Billy would begin to preach.Having become mentored by the academic Dean of the school, John Minder, Billy joined him to attend a Baptist conference in Palatka Florida. When Minder was asked to speak that night to a small church of Baptist preachers, he politely declined saying that Billy would be pleased to preach in his place. So, with no real choice in the matter, the 19 year old awkwardly preached for the first time - it was a mixture of four different sermons he had memorized from Moody Press. He would later remember that the sermon was very “Raw”.  The next few years in Billy's life would be transformational. He was baptized on December 4, 1938 in Silver Lake, Florida, ordained to the ministry in a Southern Baptist church a year later, and graduated from Florida Bible Institute in 1940. And so began his humble and long journey into becoming one of the most influential evangelist in America. But there was another great evangelist being formed in Canada - and the two were soon to meet and unite their passion and calling to preach the truths of the Bible to a world on the brink of another World War.  ______________________________________________________________________________Charles - Part 2By this time, Charles had left the Toronto Globe to enter the ministry and to give himself fully to the preaching of the gospel. He had evangelized all over - Michigan, New York, Indiana, Illinois, and even further south, probably very close to where Billy was himself beginning his career as a preacher. Charles had met his wife in Grand Rapids Michigan and the couple was married 6 weeks later. But soon after in 1941, in the midst of starting a new church with his new wife, Charles read a number of books written by famous secular authors. And for the first time in his short life as a follower of Jesus, his faith in the veracity and miraculous claims of the Bible was challenged. But Charles soon stuffed these troubling questions behind the success of becoming one of North America's top evangelist and so, he continued to do what he knew best.And before long, notable people began to take notice of Charles' ministry. In the Spring of 1945 he was invited by a local pastor named Torrey Johnston to speak at Chicago Stadium to a crowd full of young people. It was a Youth for Christ rally and attendance was steadily growing into the thousands. Backstage, among the noise of a boisterous crowd, Torrey introduced the young Canadian evangelist to the slightly younger Billy Graham and the two preachers become instantaneous friends. On the platform, just before Billy was about to speak, he leaned over to his new friend Charles and said, "Pray for me. I'm scared to death."  Soon after, a Youth for Christ team was selected to take the message of the gospel to a war torn Europe. Torrey Johnston would serve as the president while Billy and Charles would alternate as preachers. The tour went well and over the months Charles' and Billy's friendship grew as did their success and influence. But the questions, that had bothered Charles years before could no longer be ignored. So, at thirty three years of age, and without formal education for the last 15 years, Charles was accepted into the theologically liberal Princeton University to formally seek answers to those doubts “that were [secretly]  eroding his faith.” Charles remembers these three years at Princeton as some of the best in his life. Among his enjoyable courses, Charles would often see Albert Einstein, who lived only three houses away from the Campus Seminary. But although he throughly liked his new environment, Charles couldn't escape the fact that he was experiencing a real crisis of faith about the Bible and the person of Jesus. And his fears of possibly believing and preaching something not empirically, historically or spiritually true, was being shared by his friend Billy as well.______________________________________________________________________________Billy - Part 2It was August of 1949, and Billy was 30 years old in Forest Falls, California in a Christian Camp speaking to a crowd inside Hormel Hall. No one knew it, but having been recently challenged by his friend and fellow evangelist, Billy was now internally questioning the veracity of the Bible and whether he believed it to really be God's spoken word to humanity. It was a shocking blow to Billy's confidence that his friend, fellow pastor and Bible teacher now believed the Scriptures to be flawed, outdated and full of superstitions. The two had discussed their disagreements and had been civil about their opposite conclusions, but if Billy was really honest, he still had lingering doubts.The weight and the enormity of it all bore down on Billy's soul. So in the dark woods of the night at Forest Home Billy placed his bible on a random tree stump and cried out: “O God! There are many things in this book I do not understand. There are many problems with it for which I have no solution. There are many seeming contradictions. There are some areas in it that do not seem to correlate with modern science. I can't answer some of the philosophical and psychological questions Chuck and others are raising.” Falling to his knees, Billy then resolutely confessed “Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word—by faith! I'm going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be Your inspired Word!”Billy later recalled in this moment that the Holy Spirit was moving within him and he felt his presence and power in a new and fresh way - one that he hadn't experienced in months. For Billy “A major bridge had been crossed.” On the next day, 400 people made a commitment to Jesus and Henrietta Mears, the woman who invited Billy to speak at the camp noted that he “taught with [more] authority” than she had ever seen before.And while at first, Billy had reluctantly accepted Henrietta's invitation to speak at Forest Home, he now knew why God led him into the forest. Like Jesus being led into the Desert - a test was finished and a decision was made - a decision that would effect the  course of Billy's calling and in turn, the eternity of millions. While Billy was calling people to trust and follow Christ, Christ was calling Billy to trust and follow His word.Billy's heart and mind were now settled. And his friend Charles was settling his. While the two friends remained courteous, they grew apart from each other knowing their views of the Bible and the person of Jesus were diametrically opposed to each other.______________________________________________________________________________Charles - Part 3By the end of Charles' three years at Princeton in 1951, his doubts about the Bible had nearly solidified and his faith was no more. And yet, because of his success and influence, he was still offered positions on numerous platforms. Radio and Television ministries, as well as churches all sought him out. In 1953, Charles found himself living in Manhattan as the Director of Evangelism for the Presbyterian Church USA. But it wasn't long before the weight of leading others into a theological persuasion that he himself no longer thought true, came to a head.Charles would later write: “What right did I have to stand before … thousands of people [that] I had been preaching to nightly for years, using all my persuasive skills to win them to something I was no longer convinced of myself? It was a reprehensible thing to do and I must stop it.”And stop it he did. Charles left the ministry in 1957, publicly declaring that he was an agnostic. At this time, his mother who's faith was real and vibrant was dying from cancer - although Charles was with her when she past, she died assuming her boy was still a believing Christian and in the ministry. On top of this, Charles and his wife Connie were undergoing a divorce after 18 years of marriage. She too was still a Christian and was heavily involved in the church. Charles' conclusion about the Bible came with great cost:“It seemed that all of life was showing me its nether side. My faith was gone, my marriage was dead, my mother was dying. I was cutting myself off from the hundreds of friends I had made during nineteen years in the church. I was abandoning people who looked to me, including thirty-six men and women who were in the ministry or on mission fields because of my work. I felt like a betrayer….But there was no real choice. I could stay in the ministry, paper over my doubts and daily live a lie, or I could make the break.”______________________________________________________________________________ConclusionAs Charles made the physical break from the Church, he was merely following the decision that his heart and mind had made years before. Similarly, as Billy continued in evangelism, he too was naturally following the resolution that he had made in the dark forest years ago. And so, the two friends had chosen their two separate paths and were now far from each other. As the years past the two naturally grew apart. Charles became more involved in television and writing, and had even invented a child resistant medicine cap and a teddy bear that stayed warm throughout the night.Billy continued in evangelism, and as most people know, would become one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th Century. Although there are many reasons for Billy's success, none could have been as important than the decision he made at Forest Home. Billy knew this, as did those close to him. And In 1967, a massive rock in honor of how Billy overcame doubt that fateful night 18 years before, was dedicated at the Christian Conference Center, Forest Home. In addition to preaching, Billy would go on to publish many books on the Christian faith.And while not producing as much content as Billy, Charles authored some books as well. In 1996, just 5 years before his death, Charles chronicled his doubts about his faith in his most well known book entitled: Farewell To God - My reasons for rejecting the Christian Faith. “In straightforward language, Templeton deals with such subjects as the Creation fable, racial prejudice in the Bible, the identity of Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus' alienation from his family, the second-class status of women in the church, the mystery of evil, the illusion that prayer works, why there is suffering and death, and the loss of faith in God.”(4)Soon after the book was published, Charles was diagnosed with Alzheimers. But before his passing, Charles was interviewed by a curious journalist and once atheist named Lee Strobel. Upon Charles' resolve in denying Christianity's most foundational claims, he surprisingly confessed with tears in his eyes that he “missed Jesus”. Charles Templeton died soon after on June 7th, 2001 in Toronto Canada.Billy would live for 17 more years. With nine months short of living a century, Billy Graham died on February 21st, 2018. His last words were recorded: “By the time you read this, I will be in heaven, and as I write this I'm looking forward with great anticipation to the day when I will be in God's presence forever.” (3)Two similar men who for a season shared the one Christian faith.  But over time the two decisions they made about the Bible led to two very different faiths, and two different lives with extremely divergent endings. Now that we know what these men thought about the Bible, and the place it served or didn't serve in their lives, what do you believe? And perhaps a better question to ingest is how will that effect you when you step into eternity?_________________________________________________________________________________Video Clips:How to read the Bible? What to expect from reading? - Billy Graham, (Youtube)Charles Templeton interviewed by Pierre Berton at 72 (Beginning of clip - communication), (Youtube)Webster! Full Episode October 27, 1980 (36:00 -50:00), (Youtube)Christopher Hitchens talks about Billy Graham, (Youtube)Richard Dawkins exploding at bullshit in the Bible, (Youtube)Articles:Templeton, Charles,  An Anecdotal MemoirGraham, Billy, Just As I Am, Billy Graham, 1997https://www.fayobserver.com/news/20180221/billy-grahams-last-column-by-time-you-read-this-i-will-be-in-heavenhttps://www.thriftbooks.com/w/farewell-to-god-my-reasons-for-rejecting-the-christian-faith_charles-templeton/287805/item/1711095/?gclid=CjwKCAjw7--KBhAMEiwAxfpkWKxKCBq11cKOHfkUQDe3mo5ao_Xoc5rqmTuCPIceHA0hF5-M6j0OJhoC9sMQAvD_BwE#idiq=1711095&edition=4422278https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/charles-templeton-missing-jesus/______________________________________________________________________________ 

Ever seen a Bible professor wear virtual reality goggles? Dr. Darrell Bock is well known in the Biblical scholarship world—he is a past President of the Evangelical Theological Society, New Testament Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, and pastors know his commentaries on Luke & Acts. But today we interview him about a pretty different topic: the future of the church in a post-pandemic world where Zoom and livestreamed church has become the norm. Plus he talks about virtual reality goggles. Questions include: Can you do a virtual baptism? How does virtual reality help the global and persecuted church? Practical ideas on making online church more human and interactive And after the interview, Chris reacts with Adam, talking about Billy Graham and Jesus Avatars. Buy Virtual Reality Church by Darrell Bock (published by Moody Press). Links to Amazon are affiliate links and any proceeds go to help support Device & Virtue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey EVERYONE! What a blessing it was to be joined on this episode by Ray Rhodes. Ray is the Author of Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon from Moody Press and available now, Yours, Till Heaven and Then. We dig into the life and love of Charles Spurgeon on this episode as Ray talks about the time spent digging into the past. You don't want to miss this episode, nor do you want to miss out on this fantastic book!You can Find Ray on Facebook: Ray RhodesAuthor of Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon from Moody Press.Twitter:Charles and Susie Spurgeon@susiespurgeon1Instagram:@SpurgeonbookMake sure you give him a follow as has done a tremendous work bringing otherwise unexplored history into our finger tips.Become a Patreon and support this ministry https://www.patreon.com/undyinglightGet your Undying Light merchandise https://www.bonfire.com/undying-light160/Get your copy of Logos Bible Software www.logos.com/undyinglightMake sure you follow us on Instagram: @reformed_lifestyleEmail us questions or comments: undyinglightministries@gmail.comCheck us out on the web: www.undyinglight.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

     God gives law to humans living in every age. He gave commands to Adam and Eve living in the sinless environment of the Garden of Eden (Gen 1:26-30; 2:15-17). He gave commands to Noah (Gen 6-9). He gave commands to Abraham (Gen 12:1; 17:10-14). He gave commands to the Israelites—known as the Mosaic Law—after delivering them from their bondage in Egypt (Ex 20 - Deut 34). He has given commands to Christians (Romans 1 to Revelation 3). These biblical distinctions are important, for though all Scripture is written for the benefit of Christians, only some portions of it speak specifically to us and command our walk with the Lord. Just as Christians would not try to obey the commands God gave to Adam in Genesis 1-2, or the commands God gave to Noah in Genesis 6-9, so they should not try to obey the commands God gave to Israel in Exodus through Deuteronomy. Romans chapter 1 through Revelation chapter 3 roughly mark the body of Scripture that directs the Christian. Charles Ryrie states: "Adam lived under laws, the sum of which may be called the code of Adam or the code of Eden. Noah was expected to obey the laws of God, so there was a Noahic code. We know that God revealed many commands and laws to Abraham (Gen 26:5). They may be called the Abrahamic code. The Mosaic code contained all the laws of the Law. And today we live under the law of Christ (Gal 6:2) or the law of the Spirit of life in Christ (Rom 8:2). This code contains the hundreds of specific commandments recorded in the New Testament."[1]      The Mosaic Law refers to “the statutes and ordinances and laws which the LORD established between Himself and the sons of Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai” (Lev 26:46). The Mosaic Law revealed the holy character of God (Lev 11:45; cf. Rom 7:12), was given specifically to Israel circa 1445 BC (Lev 26:46), was regarded as a unit of laws (613 total), and had to be taken as a whole (Gal 3:10; 5:3; Jam 2:10), and existed for nearly 1500 years before being rendered inoperative (Heb 7:18; 8:13; cf. Rom 7:1-4).       The Mosaic Law is typically viewed in three parts: 1) The moral law consisting of the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:2-17; Deut 5:6-21), 2) The civil law which addressed slavery, marriage, property rights, economics, etc., (Ex 21:1–24:18), and 3) The ceremonial law which addressed the tabernacle, priests, worship and the sacrificial system as a whole (Ex 25:1–40:38). Paul Enns states, “It should be noted that these categories are intermingled in the text of Exodus–Deuteronomy; within a given context, all three aspects of the law may be described. Nor is it always a simple matter to distinguish between the three aspects of the law. In any case, the law was Israel’s constitution with the Lord, the King.”[2]      The Mosaic Law was never a means of justification before God, as that has always been by faith alone in God and His promises (Gal 2:16). Over time, the Mosaic Law became perverted into a system of works whereby men sought to earn their salvation before God (Luke 18:9-14). Regarding the fact that the Mosaic Law never justifies anyone, Merrill F. Unger comments: "By nature the Law is not grace (Rom 10:5; Gal 3:10; Heb 10:28). It is holy, righteous, good, and spiritual (Rom 7:12, 14). In its ministry it declares and proves all men guilty (Rom 3:19). Yet it justifies no one (Rom 3:20). It cannot impart righteousness or life (Gal 3:21). It causes offenses to abound (Rom 5:20; 7:7-13; 1 Cor 15:56). It served as an instructor until Christ appeared (Gal 3:24). In relationship to the believer, the Law emphatically does not save anyone (Gal 2:21). A believer does not live under the Law (Rom 6:14; 8:4), but he stands and grows in grace (Rom 5:2; 2 Pet 3:18). The nation, Israel, alone was the recipient of the Law (Ex 20:2)."[3]      The New Testament reveals the Mosaic Law was regarded as a “yoke” which Israel had not “been able to bear” because their sinful flesh was weak (Acts 15:1-11; cf. Rom 8:2-3). There is no fault with the Mosaic Law, for it “is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Rom 7:12). The Mosaic Law is holy because it comes from God who is holy. Because the Mosaic Law is holy, it exposes the faults of people and shows them to be sinful (Rom 3:20). More so, because people are inherently sinful and bent toward sin, when they come into contact with God’s holy Law, it actually stimulates their sinful nature and influences them to sin even more (Rom 5:20; 7:7-8).       Paul made clear that the Mosaic Law was not the rule of life for the Christian. He even referred to it as a ministry of “death” and “condemnation” (2 Cor 3:5-11). Paul stated that it was intended to be temporary (Gal 3:19), that it was never the basis for justification (Gal 2:16, 21; 3:21; cf. Rom 4:1-5), but was intended to lead people to Christ that they may be justified by faith (Gal 3:24). Now that Christ has come and fulfilled every aspect of the Law and died on the cross, the Mosaic Law, in its entirety, has been rendered inoperative as a rule of life (Matt 5:17-18; Rom 8:2-4; 10:4; 2 Cor 3:7, 11; Heb 8:13). “As a rule of life, the Law of Moses was temporary … [and] came to an end with the death of the Messiah.”[4]      God is the Author of both the Mosaic Law as well as the Law of Christ; therefore, it is not surprising that He chose to incorporate some of the laws He gave to Israel into the law-code which He has given to the Church. When trying to understand which laws have carried over and which have not, the general rule to follow is: what God has not restated, has been altogether abrogated.  Charles Ryrie states, “The Mosaic Law was done away in its entirety as a code. It has been replaced by the law of Christ. The law of Christ contains some new commands (1 Tim 4:4), some old ones (Rom 13:9), and some revised ones (Rom 13:4, with reference to capital punishment).”[5] The Church is no more under the Mosaic Law than a Canadian is under US law, as laws only have authority to its citizenry. Thomas Constable states: "The law of Christ is the code of commandments under which Christians live. Some of the commandments Christ and His apostles gave us are the same as those that Moses gave the Israelites. However, this does not mean that we are under the Mosaic Code. Residents of the United States live under a code of laws that is similar to, but different from, the code of laws that govern residents of England. Some of our laws are the same as theirs, and others are different. Because some laws are the same we should not conclude that the codes are the same. Christians no longer live under the Mosaic Law; we live under a new code, the law of Christ (cf. 5:1)."[6]      Though rendered inoperative as a rule of life, the Mosaic Law can be used to teach such things as God’s holiness, people’s sinfulness, the need for atonement, and the ultimate need for people to trust in Christ for salvation (Rom 3:10-25; 5:20; 10:1-4). All Scripture is for us, though not all Scripture is to us (1 Cor 10:11). And, being under the grace-system does not mean believers are without law and can therefore sin as they please (Rom 6:14-16; Tit 2:11-12). The New Testament speaks of “the perfect law of liberty” (Jam 1:25), “the royal law” (Jam 2:8), the “Law of Christ” (Gal 6:2), and “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:2). Henry Thiessen states: "The believer has been made free from the law, but liberty does not mean license. To offset this danger of antinomianism, the Scriptures teach that we have not only been delivered from the law, but also “joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God” (Rom 7:4). We are thus not “without the law of God but under the law of Christ” (1 Cor 9:21; cf. Gal 6:2). Freedom from law should not result in license, but love (Gal 5:13; cf. 1 Pet 2:16). The believer is, consequently, to keep his eyes on Christ as his example and teacher, and by the Holy Spirit to fulfill his law (Rom 8:4; Gal 5:18)."[7] Arnold Fruchtenbaum adds: "The Law of Moses has been disannulled and we are now under a new law. This new law is called the Law of Christ in Galatians 6:2 and the Law of the Spirit of Life in Romans 8:2. This is a brand new law, totally separate from the Law of Moses. The Law of Christ contains all the individual commandments from Christ and the Apostles applicable to a New Testament believer. A simple comparison of the details will show that it is not and cannot be the same as the Law of Moses. Four observations are worth noting. First, many commandments are the same as those of the Law of Moses. For example, nine of the Ten Commandments are also in the Law of Christ. But, second, many are different from the Law of Moses. For example, there is no Sabbath law now (Rom 14:5; Col 2:16) and no dietary code (Mark 7:19; Rom 14:20). Third, some commandments in the Law of Moses are intensified by the Law of Christ. The Law of Moses said: love thy neighbor as thyself (Lev 19:18). This made man the standard. The Law of Christ said: love one another, even as I have loved you (John 15:12). This makes the Messiah the standard and He loved us enough to die for us. Fourth, the Law of the Messiah provides a new motivation. The Law of Moses was based on the conditional Mosaic Covenant and so the motivation was: do, in order to be blessed. The Law of Christ is based on the unconditional New Covenant and so the motivation is: you have been and are blessed, therefore, do. The reason there is so much confusion over the relationship of the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ is that many commandments are similar to those found in the Mosaic Law, and many have concluded that certain sections of the law have, therefore, been retained."[8]      The Church is not Israel, and is not under the Mosaic Law as the rule for life. Just as OT saints had a clear body of Scripture which guided their walk with the Lord (Exodus 20 through Deuteronomy 34), so NT saints have a body of Scripture that guides us (Romans 1 through Revelation 3). “The rule of life for the saint today is found in the epistles of the New Testament. As with the Law of Moses, instructions and commandments of the New Testament are not the means of salvation but they are a ‘heavenly rule of life’ for those who are heavenly citizens through the power of God.”[9] Some of the distinctions between Israel and the Church are as follows:      Christians living under the Law of Christ have both positive and negative commands that direct their lives. Where the Scripture does not provide specific commands, it gives divine principles that guide the Christian’s walk (i.e., to walk in love, to glorify God in all things, etc.).   [1] Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 351. [2] Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, Ill.; Moody Press, 2008), 59. [3] Merrill F. Unger, Unger’s Commentary on the Old Testament (Chattanooga, TN., AMG Publishers, 2002), 125. [4] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology, Rev. ed. (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 1994), 373. [5] Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology, 351-52. [6] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Gal. 6:2. [7] Henry Clarence Thiessen and Vernon D. Doerksen, Lectures in Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979), 171. [8] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology, 650-51. [9] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology, 379.

Jesucristo ha cumplido más de 300 profecías mesiánicas descritas en el Antiguo Testamento, y la probabilidad estadística de que una sola persona las cumpla, es casi imposible, solo Dios podría cumplirlas al pie de la letra, como veremos a continuación.La probabilidad compuesta de más de 300 profecías va más allá de todos los átomos del universo. Es algo humanamente imposible de comprender, solo Dios puede llevar esto a cabo y lo hizo a través de Su Hijo, Jesús. Aquí le presentamos una pequeña muestra del análisis estadístico que hizo el catedrático Peter Stoner, autor del libro LA CIENCIA HABLA, Pruebas Científicas de la Exactitud de las Profecías y la Biblia (1957, Moody Press, Chicago), y su grupo de estudiantes.Puede leer el artículo de esta emisión en:¿Cómo puedo identificar a Jesucristo como el Mesías?¡Que Dios los bendiga!

Joël Malm is an entrepreneur, communicator, and leadership coach.  He is the founder of Summit Leaders, which uses outdoor adventure and coaching to help people find their calling and pursue a vision for their lives. His expeditions have taken him around the world to places like Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Grand Canyon and Machu Picchu. He has traveled in over 70 countries on six continents and speaks three languages.  He holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.S. in Counseling. He is the author of Vision Map (Moody Press, 2014),  Fully You, and Love Slows Down (Salem/Regnery, 2020). And he and his wife Emily and their daughter Elise live in Texas. To contact Joël, you can visit his website at https://www.joelmalmcom  --------------------- If you want to help us transform the lives of even MORE MEN for God’s glory, please take a minute to leave us a helpful REVIEW on iTunes: http://www.rmcpodcast.com and SHARE this podcast with any young man (or men) you’re mentoring or discipling. And make sure you don't miss an interview episode by signing up for our Man-to-Man eNewsletter at http://www.RealMenConnect.com, and grab your FREE copy of the Real Men Victory Tracker.  Are you stuck? Want to go to the next level in your marriage, career, business, or ministry?  Then maybe it’s time you got a coach. ALL CHAMPIONS have one. Let me coach you to help you strengthen your faith, improve your marriage, spiritually lead your family, achieve more, balance your time, grow your ministry, or even stop an addiction. Click here for details: http://www.RealMen300.com Also join us on: Join the Real Men 300: http://www.RealMen300.com Facebook Group: http://www.realmenuniversity.com/ YouTube: http://www.RealMenTraining.com Facebook: @realdrjoemartin Instagram: @realdrjoemartin Twitter: @professormartin

When you commit to taking your next right step it's going to involve some level of risk, and with it, fear. Unfortunately, fear keeps many people from doing the things that they're uniquely designed to do- it doesn't have to be that way though! On Today's episode, Alan has a ridiculously practical conversation about taking your next right step with entrepreneur, author, and leadership coach, Joël Malm. About Joël Joël Malm is an entrepreneur, communicator, and leadership coach. As founder of Summit Leaders he uses outdoor adventure and coaching to help people find their calling and pursue a vision for their lives. His expeditions have taken him around the world to places like Mt. Kilimanjaro, Grand Canyon and Machu Picchu. He has traveled in over seventy countries on six continents and speaks three languages. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and an M.S. in Counseling. He is the author of Vision Map (Moody Press, 2014),  Fully You, and Love Slows Down (Salem/Regnery, 2020). He and his wife Emily and daughter Elise currently live in Texas.   Connect with Joël Website Summit Leaders   Books   Take you next right step Pursue Coaching

Great football conversation with fellow retro football league owner Ted Kluck. Ted is an author, movie maker, football player and coach and he's even trained to be a pro wrestler. Ted's work has appeared in ESPN the Magazine, Sports Spectrum Magazine, and ESPN.com Page 2. His first book, Facing Tyson: 15 Fighters, 15 Stories, was published by the Lyons Press in October 2006, and published internationally by Mainstream Publishing in 2007. His next two books, Paper Tiger: One Athlete's Journey to the Underbelly of Pro Football and Game Time: Inside College Football released in September, 2007. Why We're Not Emergent (by Two Guys Who Should Be) was released by Moody Press in 2008 and won a Christianity Today award for Book of the Year in the church/pastoral leadership category. The follow up title, Why We Love the Church, won the same award in 2009. Ted's collection of sports essays, entitled The Reason for Sports, released in 2009 (Moody) and his book on international adoption, called Hello I Love You, drops in 2010 (Moody)

Every long trip requires a few rest stops along the way. So, pull over, get out and stretch your legs. Take a few deep breaths and soak in some of the local scenery. Enjoy the view wherever you are and join Brandy for a little time in Psalms 3 and 4. There...a little bit of refreshment and we can once again head on down that long road home.   Find Our Entire Catalog:  https://roadhometoyou.com/ or you can subscribe and download straight from Spotify! http://theroadhometoyou.libsyn.com/spotify    Connect with us: Facebook - https://facebook.com/groups/166024570692834/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theroadhometoyou/ Pinterest - https://pinterest.com/roadhometoyou/   Questions: Email us! roadhometoyou@gmail.com   ____________________________________________________ Scripture reading from Psalms 3 and 4 from the New American Standard Bible. 1995. Ryrie, Charles Caldwell, Th.D., Ph.D. Moody Press, Chicago. Used with permission from the Lockman Foundation.  Special thanks to the 126er's for the use of their song "Rainy Days" as our intro and outro. ____________________________________________________ This episode was recorded, edited and produced at 4G's Studios in Sandy, Or. 2019. All rights reserved.      

Dr. Charles Stone is Lead Pastor at West Park Church in London, Ontario, Canada. His passion is intersecting cognitive neuroscience with Scriptural insight to apply to life and leadership. He has an engineering degree from Georgia Tech, a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and an executive masters in the neuroscience of leadership from The Neuroleadership Institute. He is the author of five books including, “Brain-Savvy Leaders: The Science of Significant Ministry” (Abingdon, 2015), and Holy Noticing: The Bible, Your Brain, and the Mindful Space Between Moments (2019, Moody Press). He blogs at www.charlesstone.com. He and his wife Sherryl have a heart for pastors and pastors' wives, and have taught hundreds of pastors and their wives in the United States, Canada, Nicaragua, Colombia, Haiti, Cuba, and Mexico. He has three adult children, three grandchildren, and is an avid Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets fan.

Turning from sin impossible without God' grace and mercy. Our trouble is that we so easily forget all that has been secured for us in redemption  For the Christian to seek significance apart from Christ (is wrong.) Worse, it is an arrogant pursuit that distorts our testimony for Him.  What a powerful opportunity we have to demonstrate to a watching world that Christ has liberated us from this clamoring, driving obsession to gain  significance that can never be found.  Stowell, Joseph, M.  Perilous Pursuits, Moody Press, Chicago IL, (1994, P. 93)

If it were only hunger for significance, we might be able to at least hold this craving at bay by a good dose of discipline and a depth of resolve.  But to complicate matters, the significance addiction is aided and abetted by the phenomenally powerful trio surging inner energies  called pleasure, pride, and passion.  This trio moves within each of us, creating partnerships of power that can corrupt and devastate even the best of us.  If left in their pre-redemptive flow, these forces render us incapable of advancing the significance of Christ and His kingdom.  Stowell, Joseph M. Perilous Pursuits, Moody Press, Chicago, Il. (1994, P. 29.)

For a full list of prayers available through this podcast and our website, please follow this link: https://psalm71.podbean.com/e/full-list-of-available-prayers-1513057365/ NOTE: Due to length, this prayer has been recorded ONCE, for repeating. The pace is a bit faster than some of the other prayers, because there is a lot of ground to cover. The devastating influence and effects of Masonry are pervasive throughout the world. The oaths and curses brought into family lines may have — DO HAVE — incredibly destructive spiritual consequences, passing down through the generations as a terrible inheritance of bondage. Due especially to the LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF SECRET SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP, there are few bloodlines untouched by Masonry. Renunciation of Masonry and secret societies is strongly recommended for all believers. Deliverance minister Scott Hensler writes, “I have found if I am not successful in exorcising out a particular demon, or I am unable to break the curse, then there is Freemasonry in the bloodline of the individual I am trying to deliver and they did not even know it. Maybe it was through a father, grandfather or great-great grandfather. Most people who come in for deliverance have some Freemasonry in their families on one side or the other.” This prayer is one of a few longer variations, intended to cover every type and degree of Masonic lodge and rank. (Side note: The pronunciations of “secret passwords” in this prayer are meant only to be intelligible, not precise.) The publishers of this prayer make the following statements: “If you were once a member of a Masonic organization or are a descendant of someone who was, we recommend that you read through this, then pray this prayer from your heart, aloud, with a Christian witness present. You may repeat after the witness, if you prefer. “Christians should pray for Masons without judging them. Bring their sins to God in an attitude of love, petitioning the Father for His mercy, binding in the name of Jesus Christ the spirits of deception, antichrist, witchcraft, and death. Most men have no perception of the spiritual deception they have entered. “Please remember that ‘We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places’ (Ephesians 6:12). This is a spiritual battle, and should be treated accordingly.” If you have no one to pray with or for you, or if you wish to pray privately, we recommend that you first pray the prayer “Declaring Confidence in God’s Protection”: https://psalm71.podbean.com/e/declaring-confidence-in-god%E2%80%99s-protection/ Then listen carefully to, and repeat, the prayer here, followed by the prayer versions of Psalms 71 and 31. Psalm 71: https://psalm71.podbean.com/e/psalm-71-1514880044/Psalm 31: https://psalm71.podbean.com/e/psalm-31-a-powerful-biblical-prayer/ Given the seriousness of secret society curses, it is imperative that you continue to spend time daily in prayer and studying the Word of God. We also recommend seeking assistance from an experienced deliverance minister, especially if release does not seem to be forthcoming. Authors and sources:PRAYER OF RELEASE FOR MASONS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS — Long VersionCopying of this Prayer is both permitted and encouraged, provided reference is made to where the information came from. Most of this information was taken from "Un- masking Freemasonry - Removing the Hoodwink", by Dr. Selwyn Stevens, published by Jubilee Resource International, Inc.. - www.iubilee.org.nz. Some information was taken from "The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge", by John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Moody Press. Some information is from knowledge that the author, Linda Merrick, has gained through years of ministry. Text sources:https://delmin.org/ministry-tools/ (click on “Prayer of Release for Freemasons and Their Descendants”) http://scotthensler.org (click on “Deliverance from Freemasonry”) See also: HooDoo VooDoo First Edition -1.0 Spirit Realm Series -Volume IV By Scott E. Hensler Scott Hensler Network Ministries Copyright © 2014 Scott Hensler Network Ministries ISBN: 978-0-578-15132-8 All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, or transmitted by any means without written permission from Scott Hensler Network Ministries. For another version of this prayer, with some additional elements, please go to the following location: “Prayer Of Renunciation - Secret Organisations”, pages 3-31Additions and modifications by Amanda Buyshttp://www.kanaanministries.org/downloads/?category=10&sortby=title&dlpage=2

With blind arrogance and pride the Chaldeans are unmindful of the fact that they are but a rod of God's wrath for the chastisement of a sinful nation, and that on account of their own ruthlessness they too are doomed to destruction. -- So, what's our lesson for such a time as this?  -Hobart E. Freeman, An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets, Moody Press, Chicago, (196, P. 251)

Carlton ruck Breann Moody speaks to the media at Ikon Park after being named the Round 5 AFLW Rising Star nominee.

As a Baptist Pastor Mark Bubeck faced the reality of spiritual conflict. Dr. Bubeck is the author of several Moody Press books such as THE ADVERSARY, OVERCOMING THE ADVERSARY and PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY FROM SPIRITUAL ATTACK. Radio Broadcast with John Nieder.

As a Baptist Pastor Mark Bubeck faced the reality of spiritual conflict. Dr. Bubeck is the author of several Moody Press books such as THE ADVERSARY, OVERCOMING THE ADVERSARY and PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY FROM SPIRITUAL ATTACK. Radio Broadcast with John Nieder. Uploaded with permissions and all images belong to their owners.

What are the personality styles of key leaders from the Bible?  Ken is the original author of the Biblical Personal Profile which associates Biblical Characters with the DISC model of behavior. This product, first published in 1985 by Performax Systems International, remains in print through Inscape Publishing. Information found in the Biblical Personal Profile remains the cornerstone resource for other products in integrating DISC profiles with Biblical characters. Subsequent works by Ken Voges include the Understanding How Others Misunderstand You book (Moody Press) and workbook (In His Grace Publishing) which serves as a 13 week course in building Biblical relationships.  http://www.inhisgraceinc.com/  Christianity in Business is the show that helps Christian business leaders to integrate biblical values into business. | Entrepreneurship | Marketing | Nonprofit | Church | Author | Startups | Marketplace | Ministry | Business as Mission | Faith and Work | Faith | Success | Leadership | www.ChristianityInBusiness.com

Today I interview Dr. Donald Whitney about his new book Family Worship (Crossway, 2016). Listen as we talk about his life, ministry, and upcoming writing projects, the essential elements of family worship, and the benefits of family worship. In addition to these topics, Dr. Whitney offers helpful insight on how men can lead their families in family worship and the failure of men to lead in family worship. He also talks to me about how pastors, ministry leaders, and Bible study leaders can promote family worship in their ministries, the legacy of the Reformers and Puritans in regards to family worship, and ways busy families can carve out consistent time each week for family worship. About the Author: Don Whitney has been Professor of Biblical Spirituality and Associate Dean at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY since 2005.  Before that, he held a similar position (the first such position in the six Southern Baptist seminaries) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, for ten years.  He is the founder and president of The Center for Biblical Spirituality. Don grew up in Osceola, Arkansas where he came to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He was active in sports throughout high school and college, and worked in the radio station his dad managed. After graduating from Arkansas State University, Don planned to finish law school and pursue a career in sportscasting. While at the University of Arkansas School of Law, he sensed God’s call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He then enrolled at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1979. In 1987, Don completed a Doctor of Ministry degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, and later a Ph.D. in theology at the University of the Free State in South Africa. Prior to his ministry as a seminary professor, Don was pastor of Glenfield Baptist Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), for almost fifteen years.  Altogether, he has served local churches in pastoral ministry for twenty-four years. He is the author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (NavPress, 1991; 2014), which has a companion discussion guide. He has also written How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian? (NavPress, 1994), Spiritual Disciplines within the Church (Moody Press, 1996), Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health (NavPress, 2001), Simplify Your Spiritual Life (NavPress, 2003), Praying the Bible (Crossway 2015), and Family Worship (2006; and Crossway 2016).  His hobby is restoring and using old fountain pens. Don lives with his wife Caffy in their home near Louisville. She regularly teaches a class for seminary wives, works from their home as an artist, muralist, and illustrator and enjoys gardening and beekeeping. The Whitneys are parents of a daughter, Laurelen Christiana. You can find Dr. Donald Whitney on Facebook and Twitter.

Kendra Norman-Bellamy and her award winning titles have been featured in such magazines as Essence, Upscale, EKG Literary, and HOPE for Women. She has been a contributing writer for HOPE for Women, Precious Times, and Global Women magazines. Kendra is the author of One Prayer Away, Crossing Jhordan's River, and A Love So Strong. She was the winner of the 2008 Best Christian Fiction Award and the 2008 Best Anthology Award from the African American Literary Award Show in Harlem, New York. Hear her on the Chocolate Pages show as she discusses her new title: Fifteen Years! Visit her website: Kendra's Website # Paperback: 288 pages # Publisher: Lift Every Voice/Moody Publishers; (February 1, 2010)