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My intern for this past summer, Caden Bercik, shares a story about pulling off on the side of the road late at night because it was too dangerous for him to keep going. He needed to rest.

Spiritually, we must learn the need for rest - as modeled by the Lord, and how important it is for our walk with Christ.

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We started reading the kids the Chronicles of Narnia, starting off with book 2 - the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Reading is so important in our household, and a lost art in many families. We want our kids to learn and read the timeless classics.

However, while that is a good thing to do, it's not a necessity. What is necessary is opening up Scripture with our children. That is of eternal value, and we must ensure that all of us in our homes are practicing that holy habit of teaching our children to stories of old about the works of God!

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My son lost two teeth in two days, and received $5 for each tooth. He decided all on his own he didn't need both $5 bills, he wanted to give one of them to God. So he did, and yet right after doing so, was given another $5 from someone else.

God is a generous God, and he wants his people to be generous too. But here is the kicker - those who are will be the ones that God blesses. God loves a cheerful giver, and he will continue to bless those who will honor him with these blessings.

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Welcome back after an extended break from the podcast! It is crazy to think that in just a few short weeks our oldest two kids will be going to school for the first time. It's a big change. But bigger ones will come in the future, because it is our goal to prepare them to leave. While they will always be welcome in our home, we know that one day they will go off to make their own.

The exact opposite is the case with our walk with our eternal Father. Rather than the goal to be his children leaving, the goal is to bring his children home with him forever. It took a lot of preparation, but through Jesus, we now all have the opportunity to go home.

Well...that is exactly how the Lord feels when those who are lost return home to where they belong. Don't believe me? Tune in to consider 3 parables that teach us from God's perspective about how he feels when those who are lost are found.

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Tune in for the season finale of this year. We will be taking a short break from the podcast, but we hope to see you all back in February of 2023! Until then, know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above!

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Tune in for a special guest episode with my friend Jared Bollman, the host of the "Man Up" podcast.

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Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I certainly know that I have so much to be grateful for. It's our first Thanksgiving as a family of 5, and that is just the tip of the iceburg. We are blessed with our church family, our friends, our home, and so many other things. God has been good to us far beyond measure. It's easy to be thankful when things are good, but what about when they're not? Well...we need to learn that gratitude is not tied to God's blessings, but much rather to his unchanging nature. Regardless of our circumstances, God is still God, and he is worthy of our thanks and praise. Even if things are hard this year, not just tomorrow, but every day be sure that you show God your heartfelt thanks in both word and deed.

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I recently saw a video of a man standing on the street with a sign asking for help. It said that he was hurting and discouraged and could use someone to talk to. Nobody stopped. Then he turned the sign around, and it said "free money" with cash taped all to the poster. Within seconds, a mob had formed, and under a minute, the money was gone. Isn't that the way it goes: people are more interested in being given something than giving something. Well...can we possibly bring that same attitude towards the church? If I view the church as an institution rather than the people, I will likely view it as an organization to serve me. That's not the church. The church is the people, and we come together not to be served, but rather to be equipped to go out and serve.

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I had a panic attack this week (not really, but go with me here) when a report came out that Dan Lanning, the head coach of Oregon, was interested in leaving and taking the head coaching job at Auburn. Of course Dan was asked if this was true. He set the record straight, and taught us all a lesson too. In the interview, he said he was content where he was, grateful for where he was, and the grass is not always greener on the other side. Well...how often do we forget this as Christians? Rather than being grateful and content for where we are and what we have, we are constantly in the search for something "more" or "better". In doing this, we miss what is right in front of us. Don't ask God for more blessings...thank him for the ones he's already given.

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My daughter enjoys playing with my hair and pretending to be a hairstylist. She was working on my hair last night and asked if she was almost done. She said, "these take a long, long time...like 5-7 minutes! That's forever." I laughed. When you're a kid time moves so slow, but as you age, you realize you don't have that much left. Well...Scripture speaks to the nature of our short lives, how they are like a vapor. But rather than be discouraged by this fact, it shoudl equip us with wisdom to make the best use of our time. Don't waste your most precious commodity.

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I find that the older I get, the less I venture with things in life. I eat the same things, wear the same things, do the same things, and listen to the same things. We are creatures of habit, aren't we? While that's not necessarily bad, it's important to recognize that sometimes that can bleed over into other things like...well...our prayer life. When do you pray? How do you pray? What do you pray? Has prayer simply become a thoughtless ritual in our life? Or is it truly an outpouring of my spirit to God? Let's make a habit of prayer, but let's never make prayer simply a habit.

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Yesterday, my wife and I celebrated 8 years of marriage. As much as I loved and knew my wife the day we were married, it's nothing compared to how I love and know her now. Lord willing, I will be able to say the same years down the road. But that didn't just happen on its own. To grow in our love & knowledge, we needed to pursue each other. Well...the same goes for our relationship with Jesus. Our love for him and knowledge of him should only grow through the years, but that doesn't happen on its own. We must pursue Jesus and draw near to him. And know this - he is pursuing you too.

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I am a huge Mariners fan! We ended a 21 year playoff drought this year, and after sweeping the Blue Jays went on to face the Astros. Game 1 was tonight, and we had a commanding lead until the last inning when they allowed a walk off home run. Surely, the team is crushed. But the series isn't over yet. Yes the lost, but how will they respond to failure? Well...in our spiritual walk, we must ask the same question. We all are going to fail and sin, we are human. It doesn't excuse it, but it is what it is. The question we must ask ourselves is will we stay down? Or will we get back up again, trusting in God's grace? Who will define you: your sin, or Jesus?

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We read a news article this week from pediatricians suggesting students with lice should not be sent home, because 1) it's not really poor hygiene and 2) it can cause pyschological stress to a student because of the stigma. Um, what? So 1) Yes, parasites crawling in your hair is poor hygiene, and 2) so we just ignore the problem and let is spread because a student might get embarrassed? Wrong answer. Well...don't Christians often treat sin the same way? We try to lessen the danger of sin by classifying it as other things, calling that which is evil good or indifferent. Secondly, because we are afraid to offend, we say nothing or pretend the problem doesn't exist. Well, it does. And if we do nothing, it only gets worse.

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We are getting used to a family of 5 now with the addition of our third child, and of course it is chaos but in a beautiful way. One thing our oldest two are getting used to is how much a newborn cries. On the way home the other night, they each had very different reactions to her ongoing screams in the car. My daughter, in a motherly way, was trying to talk to her sweetly and calm her down. My son? Well, he was covering his ears and telling her to "shhhh". Well...their polar opposite reactions are often the same ones that are displayed by Christians to the needs of others. While Jesus calls for us to respond with action out of love when we see others in need, often we simply cover our ears and look the other way. But my friends, how can we do this, in view of what God has done to address our greatest need? May God give us hearts to respond to the needs of others, not simply ignore them or wish them away.

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We have one final guest episode before I resume my work from paternity leave. I am excited to share this one with you. Hal Hammons is no stranger to this program, he is a good friend and the host of the Citizens of Heaven podcast. Today, he teaches us how tortillas - and how you choose to pronounce it - has a great deal to teach us about fellowship. Are we trying to be more like Jesus, or just trying to make others more like me?

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Join us for a special guest episode with my good friend and mentor, Scott Beyer, as he shares some important lessons from an all time favorite book of his "Where the Red Fern Grows". Who knew that a racoon, a log, some nails, and a ball of tinfoil could teach us so much about ourselves in our walk of faith?

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Join us for a guest episode, as Jacob Hudgins talks about the spiritual lessons we can take away from those pesky, frustrating Crepe Myrtles.

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I will be on paternity leave starting with next weeks episode since our baby girl is coming by next week, but we will have guest speakers for the next several weeks! They bring a different perspective, which is exactly what I brought to lunch today. Bella, our friend Brianna's daughter, wouldn't eat her chicken. No matter what Brianna tried, Bella refused. Then I gave it a whirl, and wouldn't you know it, she at it. Same fork. Same chicken. But a different person offering it. Aren't kids funny? Well...I think there is a lesson here. We would do well to ensure that we are sitting at the feet of more than one teacher - there is great wisdom in listening to a variety of different perspectives! Even with our children, we should be sure they have several different mentors - because even though we're saying the same things, sometimes it doesn't quite sink in until we hear it from a different perspective.

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Fantasy football is starting back up, and I couldn't be happier! I love everything football. I can debate it all day long, talk the ins and outs of the game, and even enjoy studying the technical aspects of football from time to time from experts. But here is the catch...I've never played football. Ever. There is a huge difference between knowing about football, and actually playing it. Well...the same thing could be shared about sharing the gospel. We know a lot about evangelism, don't we? We study it, debate it, read about it, and promote it. But what are we actually doing? There is a big difference between knowing the importance of sharing the gospel and actually opening our mouth and sharing Jesus with others.

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We are about three weeks away from baby time, and we have been working hard to get things ready. Some things aren't as fun to get ready like all the laundry, cleaning, etc. But getting her room ready? That has been a joy. We've been working hard to get a place ready for her, and even though she won't understand what's waiting for her or appreciate what we've done, we do it because we love her and this will be her home. Well...isn't that the journey ahead for all of us Christians? Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. We cannot begin to imagine what heaven will be like, or appreciate all that Jesus is currently doing. But what I can know is that Jesus can't wait to bring us home, and I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get home either.

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I've got good news and bad news. The bad news is: my wife, who is 32 weeks pregnant, contracted covid & has been really miserable. The good news? God's people have overwhelmed us with love. I don't know how people make it in this life without the church, I know I sure couldn't. And it's not just us, our church family does this for so many time and time again. Well...that's the way it should be. God has designed his people to be those that have been changed from the inside out by the love of God. They should love, not to receive anything in return, but because they cannot help to share what they've received themselves from God - compassion, mercy, and grace. Thank God for God's people!

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A friend shared a video with me about a man and his newborn daughter, just a few minutes old. She was crying, afraid, and confused. But when her father spoke, suddenly she calmed. And when he told her he loved her, she then opened her eyes for the first time. Well...of all the voices clamoring for our attention in this world, there is only one voice that can bring us peace: the voice of the Father! While long ago he spoke to the prophets directly, now he speaks to us through his Son, Jesus. And his message? That he loves you, and wants you to be his child.

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We went to the Ark Encounter a few days ago, and I was shocked to find that something was distracting my daughter from the animals in the zoo. What was it? Gravel. She wanted to pick up rocks rather than see the animals she could only find at the zoo. When it was time to leave, she changed her mind, but by then it was too late. Well...how often we do chose the worthless things over this world over fixing our eyes on Jesus? Despite being given chance after chance, we continue pursing the worthless lusts of the flesh. If you wait until the end before you repent, by then it will be too late. Turn your eyes on Jesus, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory & grace.

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Have you ever come home smelling like work? When you are immersed in a distinct smell, like on a farm, or working fast food, you end up coming home smelling like what you were immersed in. This has happened to me many times, as I am sure it has happened to you. Well...a shepherd should smell like their sheep. Leaders of the Lord's church do not do so from a distance. They are immersed in the flock that is literally to be among them. They are serving, assisting, teaching, and building up the saints in and outside of the collective assembly. If churches want to cultivate growth and healthy sheep, it starts with this attitude among the shepherds.

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We are currently undergoing a lot of changes. We are prepping for the new baby, which will of course be the biggest change. The kids are starting to share a room. We sold our small car. We changed auto, home, and health insurance. There is a lot happening over here. New beginnings and endings can be scary, but they are inevitable. Well...Solomon teaches us that there is a time for everything. We must see the blessings both in the beginning and the end of a thing. If we constantly live in the past, we will miss the blessings of the future. This life will always bring change, but one day in a new heavens and earth, we will be unchanging as God himself is unchanging.

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Tonight is full of anticipation, and that's because my three day men's golf trip begins tomorrow. 12 of us are headed to Tennessee to hit 72 holes over 3 days. But it's not about the golf, as we always say, "It's about the food and fellowship." I'm excited about this trip because of how I will bond with these men, and be encouraged by them. I won't remember the golf details, but I will remember our time spent together. Well...the first century church models for us the importance of spending time together in food & fellowship. That we not just merely worship together, but that we also spend time bonding and growing with each other in our homes and throughout the week. If we want to grow in our relationships with each other, we must strive to spend time together.

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I am so done with Facebook marketplace and these other platforms. We are trying to sell our vehicle, but nearly every message is a dead end. They never answer, never show up, or low ball you. But the worst? The scammers. The one's that intentionally are out to deceive you and steal from the unsuspecting. Educating yourself about their tactics is essential. Well...the greatest con artist is Satan. We seeks to deceive and destroy us. However, we are not ignorant of his schemes. We must be alert and equipped, and in doing so, we can save our very souls from falling prey to his lies.

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We have two toddlers and one on the way. So, why not get a puppy, that sounds completely sane...right? We are crazy. How we got this dog was crazy. We drove 5 1/2 hours each way up into Northern Ohio to get him on a whim. We didn't get home until well after midnight, and why? Because parents will do some crazy things for the children they love. Well...how much more so does God love his children? Is there anything more crazy than becoming a part of his own creation and subjecting himself even to the point of death? God's love is unfathomable. And if he didn't even spare us his son, what else won't he give us according to his will? He truly is a good, good father.

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Well, just as soon as I’m back from vacation, I’m turning right around and going back out of town once again. I’ll be wheels up tomorrow in route to Colorado, where I will be heading up a youth lectureship with the Pratt Parkway Christians that meet in the in city of Erie. I am so looking forward to my time there, not only to catch up with some old friends, but to make many new ones as well. As I like to frequently say about the Lord’s church, “It’s a small world, and a big family.”

While originally, I was planning to drop a podcast with me at the helm once again today, because of the quick turnaround we are going to have one final guest episode for this week before I pick the microphone back up next episode. Today our guest is a man who has become a dear friend of mine over the past few years. He is a father, a gospel preacher, and a fellow podcaster, and his name is Adam Shanks. Adam labors as an evangelist for the Edwards Lake church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, and is the host of the “Preach Impediments” podcast. I would highly encourage you to not only follow his preaching, but also his work behind the microphone where Adam brings guests onto his show to discuss religious terms & biblical words that are often misunderstood or misapplied. Above all, Adam has a deep-rooted love for the Lord, and for serving others. That will become extraordinarily clear as you listen to him today. So, without any further delay, take it away Adam.

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We will be returning from our vacation tomorrow, but are still enjoying our time in the mountains! So, today, you have another special treat for the second week in a row. My good friend Hal Hammons of the Citizens of Heaven podcast is taking up the microphone today. Who knew a dog's special diet that excludes chicken could teach us so much about our spiritual diet and what we take in? You don't want to miss this episode! Thank you Hal - you have greatly encouraged me and all of our listeners!

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We are currently on vacation! But that's not stopping the podcast thanks to a few good friends. Today, Dr. Kenny Embry from the Balancing the Christian Life Podcast takes the microphone up. He shares with us a story about pulling up their carpet, taking everything out, and learning what needs to be put back in. Who knew that something as simple as replacing your carpet could teach us such profound lessons about Jesus and his Kingdom? You won't want to miss this!

Be sure to tune in next week as well for a second guest, Hal Hammons from the Citizens of Heaven Podcast.

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I keep breaking things. This time, it was my computer. I have tried and tried with Windows computers, but they all seem to give out after just a few years. So finally, after asking for some help from some computer experts, I made the switch to a Mac - something I had shrugged off for years. My friends, I am NEVER going back! I didn't realize how good it can be, my MacBook Pro is far superior. I just wish I had made the switch sooner. Well...this is not all that different than our journey to faith. We all had heard about Jesus, but we simply shrugged it off. We were content where we were. But when everything kept failing around us, and nothing seemed to work, we humbled ourselves to consider what we had always rejected. And once you taste and see that the Lord is good, and how far superior life in Christ is, you will NEVER go back.

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We left putting a fence in this week to the professionals, on account of how rocky and hard our ground is. However, I thought I could manage putting in some bushes. On my last one, I went to lift up and snap my shovel split into two pieces. I had gotten underneath an unyielding massive rock, and it was not going to budge. Well...Jesus warns that our hearts can be like this. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, our hard hearts are unyielding. We don't allow God's Word to cut us deep or mold us, but we resist his will. As a result, our faith is shallow, and we cannot bear fruit. What condition is our heart in?

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I am an old soul. I listen to old music, watch old movies & old shows. There is so much more wholesome content than what is frequently put out today in looking to times past. One of my favorite shows is the Andy Griffith show, and one particular episode made it's way around social media this week. It's where Opie is convinced by a traveling vagabond to skip school an steal. When Andy contronts the man, he thinks Opie should be able to decide for himself how to live. Andy informs him that's not how it works with children, they need taught better from someone who knows the dangers of the world and difference between right and wrong. Well...we are God's children, and often we act just like Opie. We think we know what's best, and we end up getting ourselves into all kinds of trouble. We need to learn to wait & trust in the Lord, because they things he instructs us in are truly in our best interest & for our good.

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What would you do for a Klondike bar? It's such a great slogan, isn't it? Some of the funniest or craziest things have been done all in the name of being given a free Klondike bar in return. "I would hug a cactus" or "I would walk around Times Square like a monkey", and things like this. They've even made a game out of it, which I'm dying to play. Well...I have a different question. What would I do for eternal life? Throughout Jesus' ministry, he continues to ask hard questions, calling for us to decide, "would I do this for Jesus?" Would we be persecuted? Love our enemy? Give up our things? Deny ourselves? These are questions that we have to answer - and so I ask you - what would you do for eternal life?

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This is a very special episode, but a difficult one. Last episode, I opened up about the state of depression I've found myself in, and the different things we were doing to try and get me back on track. After much counseling, among other things that need to change, I learned that I needed to do some pruning in my life to help me better manage my time. So going forward, we will have some changes to this podcast - tune in the for the special announcement. Oh, and tune in the for our very first guest as well, none other than Dr. Kenny Embry of the Balancing the Christian Life podcast! This is one you really don't want to miss.

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It's been a struggle recently for me. I've just not been myself for several weeks. I have all the symptoms of depresssion but not a ton of answers as to why, just a few. Thankfully, as much as I've tried to just deal with it on my own, others have not let me. My wife, for starters, has stepped in to get me back on track. Secondly, some of my closest brothers here that noticed something was off, and are helping to get me back on track. Well...iron sharpens iron. That implies that sometimes, we all grow dull. But to get back to our true form, we can't do it alone. We need the help of others, and that's how God designed it. Don't keep others are arm's length. Let people in close, especially a spouse or a friend that sticks closer than family.

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What is the most valuable thing you possess? I think there is a good argument to be made that it is your time. We all have the same amount of time, yet feel we can't get enough and that we need more. But maybe the problem isn't that we need more time, maybe it's how we are choosing to spend it. Well...God is very interested in how we choose to spend our time. We must learn how valuable it is, and use it wisely and not foolishly. We also must make sure that the things we spend our time doing align with the will of God, and not just our own.

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The value of real estate is so drastically different depending on where you are looking. Today a news article was shared with me about a man in his 80's who bought a home in Pasedena, CA 40 years ago for $155,000. It listed this week for $1.3 million. It sold for $2.5 million cash. How? Why would anyone pay this cost for a 3/1 1900 square foot home? Location. Well...what is it that makes our heavenly home so valuable? Is it actual streets of gold or pearly gates? I believe it has to do with one thing more than any other: location. What makes heaven worth any cost is our eternal proximity to Jesus - God will dwell with his people.

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Today is a special day, because it is Jackie Robinson Day. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball on April 15th, 1947. Depsite much oppression and hardship, through his example and willingness to press on, he paved the way for black atheletes to compete side by side with white men, as it always should have been. To honor him, today all players in the MLB wear his number 42. What was once divided is now brought together, as barriers were broken. Well...Jesus Christ has also broken down walls of hostility. Through his willingness to suffer, he brought Jews & Gentiles together and made them one in the kingdom of God. Where there once was hostility now is only unity and peace because of the cross of Christ.

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Dandelions: the bane of my existence. I just finished mowing the grass on Monday, and I have 3-6 inch stems already growing all over my yard as of today! It can be maddening - you cut something down, only to have it pop right back up again. It seems no matter what you do, there is no getting rid of it. Well...temptation is much the same way. It can be maddening, you overcome a temptation one day, only to have Satan right back up in your face the next. How do we overcome? We've got to cut it back down through the power of Jesus & the Word. Temptation will always be there, it's how we choose to respond to it that matters.

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We had our 16 week ultrasound appointment today where we find out the gender of the baby. We are so excited to announce we are having another little baby girl! In just 5 months from now, Finley Grace Sipe will be joining this world. While it's been a very challenging pregnancy, and the next 5 months will be hard as well, we both know it will be worth it the day that we get to hold her. Well...Jesus encouraged his disciples in the same way, even using labor & delivery as an illustration. Discipleship is hard, and the challenges we face in this world certainly are a great struggle. But we will forget all about them when one day we see Jesus face to face. No matter what we face in this life, it will one day all be worth it.

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Today we finally got our taxes started and will finish them up in the next day or so. Nothing like waiting till the last minute. Everyone has to do taxes, even though people hate it. Nothing is free, and everything comes at a cost. In fact, even Jesus has something to say about taxes - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Well...what is God's? I would suggest it's the same criteria for what belonged to Caesar - it is whatever bears his image. As we were made in the image of God, that means that what belongs to God is you & me. Not just some of us, or 10% of us, but all of us.

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Today as I was getting the dishes unloaded and loaded, I asked the kids to leave the kitchen. Dane left, but Ava lingered and told me "just a minute". I said now, and she proceeded to return with a "gift" for me - and that is why she couldn't leave yet. It was a great teaching moment to show her if she wants to make me happy, she needs to do what I ask the first time, not what she thinks I might want. Well...we need to learn the same lesson with the Lord. God is not interested in us doing what we think might please him, he is interested in us simply doing what he says. Even the best of intentions are no substitute, to obey is better than a gift of our own creation.

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Today was filled with anticipation. We are eager to have Kylie feeling better from the flu, and the kids kept asking about her. I am eager for baseball to start tomorrow, as it's opening day! In the world of golf, people were anxious to hear if after 14 months Tiger would feel well enough to compete in the Master's tournament again. In the music industry, highly awaited albums are getting ready to drop anyday. We anticipate the things we love - we think and talk about them frequently. Well...do I anticipate the Lord's return? Is the second comming of Christ and the resurrection something that I think about or talk about often? Regularly? My prayer is that it is, and that if it's not, that it's something that we put on into our minds every single day.

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Well, we're back to an abnormal schedule again (hence the late drop for the episode). My wife somehow contracted the flu, and prayers on her behalf are appreciated, especially while pregnant. Poor thing is miserable, so I'm back doing full time dad & work duty for this week. Today just wasn't going well, all the small things just weren't going right. That's when the kids came up to me with a toy that records their voices and told me to press the button. "I love you daddy" it played back. I was touched. In addition to some kind words from my wife, my whole day turned around on account of their kindness. Well...as Christians, kindness is an important quality for us to practice, especially with our words. With our words we have the power to tear down or to build up. You can change someones day, life, or even their eternity through your words. How will you choose to use them?

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April Fool's Day. A day that I both love and hate. A day that I love because I enjoy a great practical joke. A day that I hate because you never know what to take seriously. No matter what you read or hear, it takes extra work to do some digging to discover whether or not it's actually true. Nothing can be taken at face value. Well...maybe that's not such a bad thing, and maybe we need to be doing that more, especially spiritually. We tend to take the words of others that we respect as truth, especially pastors & evangelists, but that can be dangerous when it doesn't aline with God's Word. That is why we must be noble minded, test the spirits, and search the Scriptures daily to determine the validity of the things that we are told.

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Since our family is expanding, we've done a little bit of snooping into the market to see if we could get some more space for our growing family. When purchasing a house, it's important to look at the seller's disclosure, where the owner of a home is obligated to list current or potential problems with the property. If there are extensive fixes and needs, most buyers will back out. Only those who really love the property will purchase it "as is" and make the renovations themselves. Well...what would your seller's disclosure say for your spiritual life? I don't know about you, but I'm the definition of a fixer upper. And yet, despite all of this, Jesus loved me enough to purchase me with his blood and restore me himself. What about you?

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My son did not like the idea that it was naptime today. He kept getting out of bed and we kept having to put him back in. At one point, he ran to his sisters room and got on her bed. As I walked down the hall, Ava yells "Oh, quick, hide!" and they ducked under the covers, as though I wouldn't see them there. After putting him back in bed, this continued, but each time we were aware because we were watching on the monitor. Well...we might laugh at this, but we are just like this with the Lord. We think that we can get away with things, that as though because we've fooled others that we'll fool God. But here is no fooling God, he knows and understands who we truly are, no matter how good we are at trying to hide it.

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Welcome back after an extended absence! We are so glad to have the podcast up and rolling again. Today, our podcast is inspired by a show I have recently gotten into called, "The Crafstman" centered around a master woodworker named Eric. In an episode, Eric was challenged as to how he could cut a tree down and make something out of it. He responded, "Because we have to. For us to live, something has to die, and we need to make the best of it." Well...if that doens't apply to our spiritual nature, I don't know what else could. We are alive because Christ died. The question that remains is this: do we honor that sacrifice?

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As you all now know, we are expecting our third child! We also expected Kylie to be sick again as she has been with her past pregancies, but this one has been harder than we had hoped. As a result, I find myself stretched too thin trying to care for my kids, my wife, and all my other normal responsibilities as I juggle playing full time mom, dad, and evangelist. As a result, we're going to take a temporary break with this podcast to help free up some of my time. Hopefully in the next 2-4 weeks my wife will be through the worst of it and we will be able to resume! Until then, just hang tight and we'll be back before you know it. Thank you all so much for your understanding! I'll see you soon. Know that I love you, that God loves you, and may we all each and every day set our minds above.

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This weekend is an estate sale at the home of my ailing grandmother back in Salem, Oregon. What has generated so much interest is her incredible paintings, as my grandmother is an extraordinarily gifted artist. While at first it made me sad to think of them being dispersed, they are not inteded to be put into storage. They belong displayed in the homes of others, touching the hearts of many she'll never even know. Well...we are God's paintings. He did not transform us from darkness to light to be hidden, but to display Jesus to the world. And when we shine the light of Christ, you may never know the hearts and homes you will touch in the years to come.

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Well, if you heard the very special annoucement yesterday, you know by now that my wife and I are expecting our third little baby. We are over the moon excited to bring another child into our family Lord willing in September. Our other two children are excited too, especially our daughter who is hoping for a sister this time around. I feel like such a blessed man, and thank you all for your prayers. Well...our children are not our own, they belong to God. He formed and fashioned them, and they are entrusted to our care for a short period of time. The question is this: what will we do with that short time we are given?

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Tune in for a very special announcement detailing why the podcast has been a bit more sporadic as of late, as well as what to expect moving forward. The reason things have been so crazy is because...well, you'll just have to listen to find out!

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Over the weekend my father-in-law and I fixed the temperature & pressure relief valve on my hot water heater. Essentially, it's the most important system of a water heater, because it relieves pressure in the tank to keep it from exploding and ending life as you know it. From time to time, a properly functioning valve will open up and let pressure out. Well...emotions work the same way. We must learn not to bottle things up, or else we'll explode. But this is not just important in our relationships with others, but also in our relationship with God. True worship is not void of any and all emotion. While we must have control over our emotions, true worship will result in displays of sorrow, joy, gratitude, and wonder.

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My kids had a rough morning this morning, as they were not on their best behavior. There was correction and discipline, and they shed some tears. Not long after, I went to walk out the door for work, but they came running into my arms for hugs and kisses saying "Don't go!" You see, even though they made mistakes, they never doubted my love for them! Well...why is it that so many Christians can't understand that about God? They asssume when they sin that God hates them and suddenly they are kicked out of God's house until they come begging to be let back in. That's such a wrong view of our Father. He does not expect perfection, nor does he hate us, but he gives grace & loves us as we grow as children.

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I listened to a survey where a fellow walked around and asked people this question: "What would you do if you only had 24 hours to live?" I thought about my answer, about spending time with family and reflecting on things that are most important, but I was shocked by the answers given. Family, friends, and faith never came up - most just living by no rules. Well...we are not promised tomorrow. It's not a theoretical question, our last day very well could be today. Are we living it the way we should? Are we doing the right things in holiness, love, and wisdom? Don't wait until it's too late, maybe we would all benifit by living with the reality that each day very well could be our last.

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I had about an hour to kill between meetings and studies today, so I made some phone calls in a long drive through line at Starbucks. They have been through the ringer - short staffed, shipping issues, menu limitations, it's a mess. I asked how their day was going and tried to encourage some exhausted baristas. When I pulled up to the window, they gave me a drink on the house thanking me for being nice despite the wait & many issues. Apparently, others have not been so understanding. Well...isn't it amazing how we want others to be patient and merciful to us when things are tough, but we're not willing to do the same for others? It is the merciful who will receive mercy. Stop thinking about "what is your right" and start asking yourself "what is right" - then do it.

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The Winter Olympics started today in Bejiing. As I watched the opening ceremonies, it was fascinating to watch countries that would normally be at odds with one another cheer on their rivals and set aside their differences. However, it won't last, and in many ways is superficial. Once the games are over, it's back to the same fighting between nations. Well...you epect that of the nations of men, but what about the Lord's church? Jesus prayed for us to be one, as he and the Father are one, and yet that is not what I have seen in many churches. The unity that many have is superficial, because before long it's back to fighting and dividing over anything and everything. We must do better church.

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I had a great conversation with a new friend today Brady Cook, who opperates and runs Diakonos Marketing. They seek to help educate and equip churches to better reach the lost through their online efforts. After some discussion, I told him I wished I was much better with my videos, because they weren't to my standard. He responded, "Done is better than perfect." Well...that's right. Nothing always will yield nothing. This applies in so many ways: to why people never come to Christ, or even to why we never grow to do new things in our discipleship. Don't just do nothing, it's time for action. Will you be perfect? Nope. And that's okay.

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Today is national signing day in the world of college football. Athletes that have been saught after by different universities now make a full commitment to where they will choose to play ball. While many prior to today have made a verbal commitment, that often means nothing and can change come signing day. But today is official, and they are all in. Well...you are being recruited as well. Both Satan & God want you, but for different reasons. Satan wants to destroy you. God wants to save you. But God wants more than a verbal commitment, because talk is cheap. It's time to commit yourself fully to him.

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Today was a big day for our community, becase it was the grand re-opening of the Hub Coffee House downtown. Over the past month they have been gutting and completey renovating the interior. When I walked through the doors today, I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. It was hard to believe that it was still the same place. It was the same...and yet drastically differnet, and drastically better. Well...one day we will all undergo a similar transformation when these bodies will be raised from the dead. They will be the same...and yet they will be different. What is sown mortal is raised immortal. Our final heavenly form will be far superior in every way.

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I use YouTube all of the time for so many reasons. Well as I was using it today, I noticed something was missing: you could no longer see how many dislikes a video had. I've used that to gauge the credibility of a channel many times, especially tech reviews or how to videos. The reason YouTube gave for doing this? They did not want to contribute to "hostility" or "hate speech". So essentially what they just said is that if you don't like something or disagree, it's hateful. We'd rather just be told what we want to hear than be challenged or corrected. Well...it's not different when it comes to doctrine and the Word. So many don't want to be told the truth, but would rather beleive a lie. We can be guilty of finding somoene who will just repeat what I already beleive rather than challenging me to actually understand the truth. May we never shrink back from the truth, or interpret someone speaking the truth as being hateful or hostile.

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I'm playing it, and I'm sure many of you are playing it. It's the new word game called wordle, where you have six attempts to correctly guess the word of the day. The interesting thing is how quickly this has caught on, and how everyone shares their results on social media - usually right at the start of the day. Actually, 4 out of 5 people start their day by grabbing their phones. Why? Because we feel the need to be connected to others. Well...what is more important than connecting with God before anything else? Jesus gives us a pattern in his own ministry, that even though he was pulled in all kinds of differnet directions, that a habit he formed to start his day was to first connect with his Father. Those notifications & games can wait - before you do anything else, pray to God.

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I just recently started drinking a gallon of water a day, and I feel so much better! Generally people don't drink enough water, instead we drink what tastes good even though we know it's bad for us. It makes no sense, we know what we need, and yet we neglect it. We weren't desinged to fill ourselves with sugar & caffine primarily, we need water. Well...we weren't desinged to follow our sinful cravings, but to fill ourselves with the Lord. We need God, and yet most neglect him. We follow our temporary passions, even though we pay for it & it ultimately leads to death. But it's not until you give Christ your life that you will exprience the blessings and benefits found in him! Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!

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While Kylie was gone to Texas over the weekend, I caught up on a show I havn't watched in a while: Undercover Boss. The premise of the show is that a CEO, founder, or president of a company goes undercover as an employee of their own business. In doing so, they discover the needs of those far below them, and then after revealing who they are bless these individuals by going above and beyond rewarding them. Well...the best episode isn't a part of this show, it's recorded for us in Scripture. God literally became flesh and dwelt among us. He subjected himself to his own creation, even to be hung on a cross. Why? Because he knew our great needs, and now revealed as Lord & Christ he seeks to bless us.

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Yesterday was my wife's 27th birthday, and we spent the day celebrating her. But to be honest, we should celebrate her everyday. I cannot beleive how blessed I am to be married to Kylie. She is a godly, serving, faithful, hard working, loving woman. She is the greatest wife, mother, and friend. Well...I am sure that many of you feel the same way about your spouse, and you should! Scripture reminds us never to take our spouse for granted, but to value them and praise them! So many people value all the wrong things in a relationship, but when we value what God values, marriage can be the best thing.

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This morning was full of some wonderful teaching moments, and all of them came from children. The first was when my daughter brought the Bible to my wife, asking questions about Jesus and wanting her mommy to teach her. She concluded for Jesus to do what he did, he must be her best friend. The second was seeing a video of a friend's 5 year old son opening up the Bible and "preaching" to everyone, it was precious. Well...there is something special about the praise that comes from the mouth of babes. Even in the days of Jesus, those that should have praised him did not, but the children still shouted "Hosanna!" Jesus tells us to be more like children, and part of that is learning to praise.

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Tonight I have my yearly review with my elders, and I am so excited to sit down with them. Our relationship is not run like an employeer to an employee, because the church is not a business, it's a family. These men care for my soul, as well as those of the rest of the church, and have dedicated themselves to helping us grow as we should. Well...God's desire is for such men to lead in every church. As spiritual fathers, shepherds, overseers, and stewards - these men tirelessly and selflessly tend to every spiritual need of the children of God. As a result, we must learn as the flock to love, respect, honor, and submit to them in our lives.

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The world of college football has been insane recently, even after the national championship. Given new rules to the transfer portal & NIL (name, image, & likeness) - players are jumping ship right and left from one school to another. That's why I was impressed when our new head coach showed his first priority by going back and getting players that said they were leaving to return again for another season. It's not just about recruiting, but retaining. Well...as the church, we have not just been called to save the lost, but also to go back and get the one's that once were found. Often we forget all about those who have wandered, but they matter to God. It's time to go get them and bring them back home.

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Today we received one of the kindest gestures I have ever witnessed from a business. One of our local coffee shops caught wind that we were recovering from Covid, and delivered coffee, tea, soup & pastries to our door. We have become friends with the owners & baristas of The Hub Coffee Shop, and have come to appreciate their hearts and their faith. They serve many. Well...kindness is one of the best ways to put God on display. Kindness is a reflection of God's love as well as God's Spirit. You never know what a small act of kindness can do in showing the heart of God to those searching for him.

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After over five long years of waiting, my father in law finally received his hearing aids that he was so desperately needing. He was so happy to get them today, because up to this point being able to hear others as he should was a difficulty. Now everyone around him will be amplified. Well...all of us can use a hearing aid, and it's called humility. When we are proud, we are unwilling to listen to others, rather we demand they listen to us. But when we put on humility, suddenly it will amplify everyone else around us in our lives.

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Last night's National Championship game between Georgia & Alabama was great. What caught my attention was something that happened after the game though. Nic Saban, Alabama's head coach, did his best to encourage his star players when he spoke up for them and reminded the press saying, "These guys are not defined by one game." Well...we are not defined by one mistake. The good we have done and will do by God's grace is not negated because we make mistakes. We all are going to fall, what matters is that we get back up again.

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Our podcast will resume ASAP as I currently and down with Covid. Tune in next week as I should make a full recovery by then!

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I had a great conversation with the owner and roaster of our local coffee shop today. As a disciple, he said when he started his business he had a decision to make: did he want to market & brand his faith, or allow it to come naturally? He decided he wasn't a "Christian Coffee Roaster" but rather a "Coffee Roaster who is a Christian". Well...isn't this exactly what Jesus said about being his witnesses? He doesn't want us to market him via t-shirts, titles, or bumpers stickers. People should know we are his disciples when we live as light and love one another.

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The New Year started with a bang, but not the way we had noped. Tornado warnings were sounding off again as severe storms moved through the Midwest and South on New Year's Day. We ended up at some friends with a basement, glued to our TV as we watched a livestream of a meteorologist who was on the case. He sounded warnings as tornados were forming, helping give ample warning to those in it's destructive path to find safety. Well...just as he was a watchman for many, so we are called to be spiritual watchmen to those around us. We must sound the alarm and warn those of the judgement to come, and the safety that they can find in Christ Jesus our Lord. If we don't, who will?

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Can you believe that it's New Year's Eve already? To me it feels like we are still stuck in 2020, and I know many people feel that way. I know this past year has been hard for a countless number of people, and they look forward to a reset with the new year. Sadly, our problems don't magically disappear with a new calender year - they carry over in the next. Well...the newness we are seeking one day will happen, but not here. One day, God will make all things new, and there will be no more pain, sickness, dispair, or death. Just hold fast to your hope and to your faith, because the best is yet to come.

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Sometimes my podcast episodes are inspired by another podcast, and that is the case today. I was listening to Hal Hammons "Citizen of Heaven" podcast when he was sharing about a game called, "New York Slice". At the beginning of this game, one person "cuts" the slices, but must be careful, because they are the last to choose. The "I cut, you choose" method is effective, and teaches someone to not consider their desires, but others. Well...Jesus established this long ago when we gave us the golden rule. To serve others, even when you get nothing back from it, will change our relationships for the better. Actually, it winds up even being in your best interest to put your interest aside.

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Watching the kids play with all of their new toys is a ton of fun. Watching the kids fight over all their new toys is not so fun. It's typcial of a toddler, even if you get them exactly what they asked for, they still want what their brother or sister has. We are still teaching our children how to share, and be grateful for what they have. Well...I think we as adults also need this lesson. Jealousy, envy, and covetousness causes all kinds of problems with our lives. We need to learn to be grateful and content with what is ours instead of always demanding what belongs to somoene else.

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I am catching up on all of my work that I set aside to enjoy time with my family over the holiday, but now I have a lot to get busy doing. One of the things I was doing today was catching up on emails. Now, what my inbox says and what I actually need to check don't line up - because for the most part, I ignore so many emails because they're not important. Well...sometimes we do the same thing with God's Word. We just read and re-read the same things, because we don't see other parts as important. Nothing could be further from the truth. In this episode, I invite you all to join me in reading through the entire Bible in this next year & discussing our reading daily on a Facebook group with me.

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One of my biggest pet peves is when shops & establishments that are not required to stay open during the Holidays still do so. Instead of giving their employees the time to be with their families, they make them come into the work unnecessarily and sacrifice that time. I was so happy to hear that our local coffee shops here in Danville were closing all day tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday. One owner said, "If you want to better serve your community, you have to first care for those in house who are serving your community." Well...we see the same admonitions given to us in Scripture. The Church is to be busy in our communities as the light of the world, but are we first caring for our own? Individually, we are to look to the needs of others, but am I neglecting my own needs? You cannot pour more out from that which is empty.

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Our daughter had surgery yesterday morning to remove her tonsils and adenoids. They took her back, our brave little girl, and told us they would come get us in 45 minutes when it was all over. However, only 10 minutes into the procedure, someone came out looking for us to deliver some news. Our hearts sank: what went wrong? What could have happened? We were petrified, but the news they gave us was nothing like we were expecting. Well...the same thing happened to a group of people 2000 years ago on Pentecost. A group that hung Jesus to the cross, then realized what they had done, awaited a message of certain judgment from Peter. But what came out of his mouth was nothing that they were expecting: good news.

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What do you know about mistletoe? For most of my life, all I knew is that it was a Christmas decoration used for snagging some smooches. Well, it turns out that mistletoe is a parasite. It sucks the life and nutrients out of a tree. Once a seed sticks to a new host tree, it grows bigger and as it grows hurts everything around it. Well...sometimes those who join themselves to a church can be like this. Paul warns us to be on guard for parasites, those who would come in unsuspectingly and cause problems, killing the church from within. We must be aware, because not everyone is as holly & jolly as they may seem.

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There was a detial that went unnoticed at the coffee shop I mentioned in yesterday's podcast until my last day in town back home in Oregon. It was a saying that was printed up on the wall. It said, "You are the hero of your story." Now, we all love a good hero story, but is that actually true? Well...the Bible paints a different picture. We are no hero. In fact, we are the enemy and our own worst enemy. We cannot save ourselves, but there is one who can. The greatest hero story of all, and the only hero in our story, is Jesus.

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Last week as I was back in Oregon, I had an amazing thing happen. As I sat reading my Bible in a coffee shop, another young man struck up a conversation and we visited together. He introduced a friend, and I shared with them the serious nature of my visit. That's when Daniel stopped and said, "Let's just pray together about it right now." Wow. Well...disciples, this is what we are called to do. To be alert and looking for opportunities to love others & pray for them. You cannot imagine how encouraging it is to not just tell someone you are praying for them, but to simply do it right there with them on the spot. May God make us more like this!

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Over the weekend, catastrophe struck four different states - especially the towns of Bowling Green & Mayfield, Kentucky. The largest tornado on record, along with many others, touch down and wreaked havoc upon the lives of thousands. 18 billion dollars in damage & over 100 lives lost as a result, many are left trying to pick up the broken pieces of their life. How do we respond to such tragedy? Well...just as the Christians did in the first century when disaster struck. When disaster arises, disciples act. Each of us, as we have the ability, have the opportunity & responsibility to put Christ's love on display and send relief to those who are in great need. Let's roll up our sleeves and open up our wallets, and do all we can to serve those who are suffering!

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I woke up later than I had hoped this morning, and so I wasn't able to check in immediately at 6:50 AM for my flight tomorrow. I still got a decent boarding pass, but at the end of the day it really doesn't matter where I sit. The plane goes to the same place for the first person & last person on board. Well...our salvation works the same way. You do not get a "better position" in heaven for doing more good works or being a Christian longer. We all have the same hope in Jesus Christ, from the first to the last, just make sure you get on board.

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When we returned home last weekend, everything was as we left it...except one thing that was missing: the ladder we borred from Randy. Was it stolen? Did I misplace it? Were other things missing? Our minds went haywire. As it turns out, the truth was much simpler: a neighbor borrowed it, whom I had already asked if he needed it before we left. Usually the things we worry about never really are true, are they? Well...maybe that's why Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow, because our minds are concerned with fiction, not reality. We need to give Jesus control over our thoughts, and not let them run free.

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We came back from our extended holiday in the mountains to an unfortunate surprise. For several days we walked past our deep freeze in the garage assuming everything was fine, but when I oppened the lid to pull something out...everything was rotting. It had broken and stopped cooling while we were gone, and everything thawed and was destroyed. Well...sometimes we are like that deep freeze. Everything appears fine to others around us, but inside we are falling apart and rotting away. No matter what others think of you or who admires you, the only thing that matters is what God, who judges the heart, thinks of us.

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Tomorrow, millions around our country will gather at the table together with family and give thanks unto God. I'm thankful for my family, my friends, my church, my community, everything. I am beyond a blessed man, and God is the source of every good and perfect gift. Well...above all else, God is worthy of our praise each and every day, not just one. Let's do something different today - let's read Psalm 145 and simply pray together this Psalm of priase to our God! Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

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We are so glad to be up here in North Carolina with our family for the Thanksgiving week. We really wanted to see Shane, who just finished some difficult treatments for his cancer. When I went down to the basement to get a few things, I saw a banner that the neighbors had left for him which read, "You Are Loved." They can't take away his cancer, but they can love him through it. Well...that's what we are called to do as Christians in bearing each others burdens. We can't fix it, but we can love others through it. It is when we love that we truly fulfill the law of Christ.

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They are putting in new roads in our neighborhood, and as such they are compacting the ground. As such, there is a constant, loud, repetative thumping noise from sunup to sundown that cannot be drown out. It's like living in an apartment with someone banging on your wall over and over again all day. At this point, I'd do anything to make it stop. Well...that's the kind of way that God wants us to pray. He wants us to pray and never stop, to go to him over and over again. Don't beleive me? Jesus tells us a powerful parable we consider today to help us understand.

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I received a free copy of the Bible in the mail yesterday. Not just any copy, a goatskin leather bound large print new Christian Standard Bible particularly designed for pastors. It was incredible to be given something of such immense value, not just the material, but the very words of God. Well...I want each of you to give someone the Bible, and the Bible I want you to give them is you. God's word is not merely to be read in the pages of Scripture, but seen lived out in our lives as his truths are written on our hearts. There is a big difference between knowing about God, and really knowing him. Show others that you know him, that they might know him too.

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It's that time a year again that I start my Christmas shopping for others. The problem is, I'm really bad at picking at gifts for some people. I have gotten to the point that I have given up on surprising my wife, I just tell her to tell me plainly what she wants. That way I know she'll be happy with what I give her, because it's exactly what she asked for. Well...why do so many call Jesus Lord and yet not do what he asks of them? We presume that we know better than what God has already said, but God is not interested in what we think he wants, he's interested with us doing what he already told us to do. Want to please God? Obey him.

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I had the blessing of joining a discussion on another podcast last night with my friend Hal Hammons along with Terry & Peyton Francis. The topic was "jocks" and we used sports to springboard some very deep spiritual discussions. At one point Terry discussed Peyton's relationship with his teammates on his football team in high school. No player ever just showed up for the game, they practiced, work hard, and were always together. Well...what kind of players are we? Do we just show up for worship on Sundays, and then somehow expect for us to find success as a church? Or are we really the kind of family that God designed for the church to be?

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We got talking about puzzles this morning after our morning study and how long it took to put some of them together. Then comes my least favorite part, after all that hard work over a period of days, weeks, or months depending on the puzzle...you pull it all apart in seconds and stick it back in the box. Well....what takes years to build only takes seconds to destroy in our life. Our reputation, a marriage, a career, all of these things are grown and last when we honor God, but even after years of work can be destroyed in a day through our foolish actions.

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Today is Veterans Day here in the United States. We honor those who have served in our armed forces and have been honorably discharchged to come home. Their sacrifices are not forgotten, and we are forever grateful to them and their families. It is my hope that all Veterans are able to find peace & rest from their service now as civilians. Well...there are no veterans in the service of God. Even into our old age, we are called to bear much fruit. Until the day we die, we continue our spiritual fight as good soldiers. Let's answer that call, for God still has work for us to do!

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I want to grow an epic beard, but this cowlick on the right side of my face just makes me look silly. After some research, the only answer I could come up with is that you have to grow it out enough for gravity to take effect and counter act that strange growth. Until then, I'll have to deal with this awkward stage until enough time passes to have a full & mature beard. Well...we are all doing this. No, not growing a beard, but growing spiritually. It's a process. Not everyone is in the same place in thier faith, and we all grow differently. Sometimes we have to go through that awkward stage. Don't give up and don't judge each other, give it time and we will all grow in maturity to the image & fullness of Christ.

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My wife has now taken on the task of painting the interior of our house a new color. While it has so far been fairly easy, we've made it to the living room with 12 foot vaulted ceilings & other hard to reach places because of built in bookcases. We were not equipped to take this part on ourselves, which is why we borrowed a free standing ladder to help. All of our projects have gone something like this, where alone we couldn't do it, but with the help of others we could get the job done. Well...isn't reaching the lost just like this? Some people are hard for us to reach, but where we cannot, others can! Thank God for the diversity in his church, so that each of us being differently equipped can bring Jesus to others!

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This week, the football world was shocked when star wide receiver Henry Ruggs III drove intoxicated at incredible speeds and struck another driver. His choices ended the life of a 23 year old girl, as well as his career. He will spend the next 2-20 years in prison while his young girls family will spend the rest of their lives mourning her tragic loss. Well...do we take sin seriously? Sin is not worth the cost, which is our soul. Not only this, but our actions impact others - physcially and spiritually. This is bigger than you, and in the end, it's not worth it.

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Susan Sparks has become one of my favorite people recently - she is my great Uncle Keith's attorney. She is a disciple of Jesus, kind, patient, and honorable in all of her work. But something I discovered blew me away - the countless hours she has poured into our case for our family have all been pro bono, that is to say, free of charge. Why would she do this? Her answer: because that's why God put her here, to help others in need. Wow. Well...we likewise as Christians have been called to do good works, and here's the catch: it's also pro bono. We do them voluntarily from a heart of love and expect nothing in return. All of the glory goes to God as we serve others just as God has served us.

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After meeting with several attorneys yesterday in the battle for my grandmother, which praise God was finally resolved, I was taken back by a statement made by our attorney to me. When I was rejected by the opposing side as a guardian candidate because they took issue with me personally, he responded, "Sometimes you're defined by who your enemies are, and in this case that's not a bad thing." Well...how true are those words in our fight against Satan? While we strive for peace with all, in reality all who desire to do what is right will be opposed by theenemy & those who follow him. But at the end of the day, I'd rather be an enemy to the world than an enemy to God.

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I have been on a 10 year search for a particular copy of the Bible that has been long out of print, a World Publishing New American Standard New Testament. No matter where I looked, a copy was nowhere to be found. That is until a new friend learned of my search, and sent me my very own copy in the mail yesterday. I couldn't believe it. What an incredible act of kindness...Well, every single act of kindness is a fruit of hte Spirit, and ultimately a reflection of the gospel of Christ. Jesus saw our great need and from love was moved to action to do something for us who were astranged from him. There is no greater act of kindness than the cross of Christ.

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Our son had a severe reaction to penicillin that landed us in the ER late last night. Our poor son was all swollen and covered in a horrid rash from head to toe, compltely miserable. As I sat there holding him, I felt terrible as there was nothing I could do to fix it. I love my son, and if I could have even taken his place I would have. Well...isn't that exactly what Jesus did for us? He saw our sinful condition, and through the cross on account of his great love for us he took our place. Now we are healed because he was sacrificed. Priase be to God for his great love!

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Everytime I see a jet stream up in the sky I think of my daughter. She loves airplanes, and she is so excited to point one out everytime she sees one. Actually, she doesn't even have to see it. As long as she sees a jet stream, she knows a plane was there. If you told her it was just a cloud, she wouldn't beleive you, she's smart enough to know a jet stream is no accident. Well...even though we cannot actually see God, we see clear evidence of him and his design in everything that he's created. From the teleological argument to irreducible complexity, when we follow the evidence, we can only arrive at one conclusion: God created it all.

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We love talking about the things we love. Today I was talking about the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC with a Barista and others joined in and shared their experience. It is second nature for us to share our own experiences, we do not have to think about it, we just do it. Well...why don't we just talk about Jesus with others? Many times we are afraid, we do not know what to say, or unfortunatley some might even feel ashamed. But I think primarily we overcomplicate things. You do not have to have a plan. You do not have to be a scholar. Just talk about what Jesus has done for you, and share your experience with others.

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My wife keeps a beautiful home, and I'm grateful because I don't really have an eye for the kinds of things she does. My lone contribution is buying her seasonal flowers on a regular basis to display. While they are beautiful while they last, I'm looking at my last bouquet which is now wilting and dieing. That's the thing about flowers - they don't last for long. Well...so it is with all things in this life. Their beauty & memory are short lived, but are soon gone & forgotten. If our hope is in earthly things, it will die along with them. Our hope must be in the one and only thing that will last: the love of God.

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I saw some powerful data today that challenged me and I wanted to share here. Did you know that it would only take the average reader just over 72 hours to finish the entire Bible? When you break it down over a period of a year or months, it's embarasing how many Christians still have not read the entirety of the Bible. What's our excuse? We don't have time. Well...when it comes to equiping ourselves & our salvation, we had better make the time. We make lots of time for the thigns we want to do, but not for the things we should do spiritually. Just a few minutes a day is nothing, but is everything if we neglect to dig into the Word. It's time to shake the dust off of our Bibles, and get back into God's Word.

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I was helping to move a heavy grill over the weekend for a friend who was moving from their old house to their new one when there was a huge breakdown in communication. He told us to put it on the porch, which I assumed was the outdoor upstairs covered area off the kitchen. Half way up, we found out he meant downstairs - what I considered a patio. Same words, different meanings - and a lot of grill moving. Well...it's important that we define out terms or it can lead to serious problems spiritually. Words like love, truth, or faith can often be defined falsely by others instead of how the Bible speaks of them. We could be using the same words, but mean very different things. Let's allow God to define our terms and let us honor them.

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We're back at it again, and unfortunately so is some kind of virus or infection with our kids. Dane has been running a high fever for several days, and Ava just started tonight. We've ruled out almost everything after several visits to doctors, which is good but also frustrating. Rotating Tylenol & Motrin is fine, but it just treats the symptoms & not the root issue. Well...don't we deal with our sin the same way sometimes? We attack the symptoms, but not the real issue. We don't stop to ask ourselves, "Why am I behaving this way? Why do I do this?" If we want to make lasting change, we've got to figure out the origin of our actions.

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We will resume the Set Your Mind Above Podast next week on Tuesday, October 19th, 2021. Thank ya'll for your overwhelming love and support.

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Transparency moment: not a good day for me. I have so much going on all at the same time, and all of it kind of came to a head for me this morning emotionally. My wife, knowing me well, also knew how much I could use some encouragement and time to talk with her Dad, so she asked him to reach out to me. I didn't realize how much I needed his counsel, and I am so grateful for his love. Well...that's by God's design. We are dependent upon each other, even emotinally and spiritually, and God designed things so that the older would help equip the younger. We can all think of mentors and friends that have helped us in moments of need - don't take them for granted. Show them your gratitude for how they've loved you.

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The spiders are terrible this year, it seems like everytime I turn around outside or inside there is one there. Well today it turned out that the kids got a show put on for them. They got to watch a jumping spider pounce on a stink bug that was on the outside of the window. It never saw it coming, it was a sudden aggresive attack. Well...Satan works this same way often in our lives. Sometimes it's not a lie we believe, but a bold faced sudden attack where we least expect it. Are we on guard? Are we ready and able to withstand him always?

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Last night we were under a tornado warning, not a watch, a warning as the storm came closing in on us. As the sirens blared, I was thankful to be downstairs in the cement walled basement of our house of worship as we were attending midweek classes. As I stayed up late tracking the storm, I found myself thinking how we desperately need a storm shelter in the future as a part of our home. Well...where do we turn to in our lives for shelter? Often people turn to the wrong things, and end up making things worse. I think about David, who despite the chaos around him, always found peace and refuge in the Lord our God.

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I was given a suggested artist to listen to today, but as soon as he started singing I recognized his voice as the lead singer of another band. Apparently this was his solo work, completely separate from his work with the band he started with. Lot's of mucisians do this, becauase there is more freedom as a solo artist & those lines are not blured between individual efforts & the bands mission. Well...the same goes for the church as a collective local body and the individuals who are a part of them. There needs to be a separation of church and saint, not bluring the lines of the mission of the church and what we have the freedoms to do as individuals.

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Maybe it happened to you just like it did to me yesterday. You picked up your phone to open Facebook or Instagram...and nothing worked. In a rare, still unexplained event, these social media platforms went down globally! But you know what? For one whole day, no one was fighting with each other on Facebook. Well...whether it's up and running or not, Christians are called not to be quarrelsome. We are to distance ourselves from foolish, ingorant controversies. I think we all must strive to do better with how we engage on social media.

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I was so pleased to see the Hub Coffee Shop here in Danville partnering with a local organization to raise awareness for having good mental health. In addition to free coffee, as you walked in you were able to put a note up telling others what helped to bring you good mental health. To quote the Hub, "Your mental health is just as important as your physical." Well...so is your spiritual health, above all. Jesus grew in every way - in wisdom (intillectual), in stature (physical) and in favor with God (spiritual) and man (social). We must strive to not neglect any of these - because when we do, they all impact one another.

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Over the past week we have seen countless instances where other people here that are a part of our church family have shown tremendous love to our children. When others love our kids, it makes us feel so loved ourselves. And that's the way it should be - would anyone beleive you if you said you loved them but hurt their children? Well...don't you think God feels the same way? How can we claim to love God while we treat one another with hatred, malice, and contempt? The greatest commandments are these: love God and love people. You cannot do one without the other.

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I spent the day building cabinets again, which I found very rewarding. At the end of the day, we got to sit back and see all that we had accomplished over a few days. Instead of boxes stacked on boxes, there were dozens of cabinets we had constructed and worked hard to build. It's nice to work hard on something and see immediate results. Well...in our Kingdom work, it doesn't always go that way. Fruit is not born in a day, either in others or ourselves. Sometimes you work hard, but do not get to see the fruit of your labor immediately or even at all. Be patient, stick at it, and know God is working through you and on you through it all.

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Is there such thing as too much of a good thing? I found out today that certain is the case. We were putting together cabinets at the Leber's new home and I was supposed to lay down a thin layer of wood glue in the grooves before fastening the cabinets together. Well, I wen't a little overboard and made a huge mess. Less is more when it comes to glue. Well...self-control is not just about learning to stay away from bad things, but learning to limit the good things. Food is a good thing, but too much is a sin called gluttony. Alcohol has great medicinal benefits to the body, but too much is a sin called drunkenness. Rest is a good thing, but too much leads to slothfulness. Too much of a good thing really is not good at all.

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I had the pleasure today of sitting down with Earl & Lu Adams, long time members of our congregation. They were married at the age of 21 - and are now in their mid 90s. They have been married for 75 years, which is the second longest marriage I have ever known! How have they made it work? Well...marriage from the beginning was designed by God to be one man and one woman for life. God joins two together in a marriage in such a way that they are never to separate. Divorce is man's invention. Lifelong commitment to your covenant is God's design.

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Fall is here! The weather was well under 70 degrees, and I've broken out my flannel and sweatshirts. I love fall and winter, they are my favorite seasons. No matter what your favorite is, you can bank on the fact that seasons will always change. Can you imagine if things that don't change suddenly did though? Such as the force of gravity? Or the freezing point? It would result in chaos. Well...God does not change, and for that we should be grateful. If his promises changed, if our hope changed, all would be chaos. As it is, though he brings change to this world, he remains unchanged in his love, mercy, and grace forevermore.

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I love my hand brews when it comes to coffee, but there are many people who are not willing to go through the drawn out process for their coffee. They want it fast and they want it easy. Instant gratification is a huge thing for us today. Well...while that's not always a bad thing, it's a very bad thing when it spills over into our spiritual life. Instead of waiting on the Lord (who waits for us), we expect him to act now. We must learn to be like King David, who lived a life full of waiting, and grow in our patience while we serve our Savior.

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My wife visited a tree in South Carolina. That's right, a tree. But it's not just any tree, it's the Angel Oak Tree that covers 17,000 square feet with it's branches. It is absolutely enormous! How do the branches, that extend up to almost 190 feet long, keep from breaking? Well, it has incredibly deep roots for starters. But secondly, each branch has been tethered to another. It literally holds itself up. Well...what is holding you up? Scripture teaches us that it can only be one thing: when we are rooted and bound to one another in love.

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I love watching the big games when comes time, but I have never paid for the big sport packages. I usually watch it at a friend's house who does, or I sign up for one of those "free trial" offers to watch the game and then cancel before I am charged. I'm a cheapskate fan, I want all the benefits of watching the big games without any of the costs. Well...sometimes we can be like that in our faith. Jesus warned about this in the parable of the sower when he addressed the rocky ground. We are all on board with following Jesus or being a part of a church until things get hard. That's not real faith. Don't be a free trial Christian.

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My wife is off enjoying South Carolina, and they stopped in at a very special coffee shop that employees primarily those with disabilities. Having two children with down syndrome of their own, they are on a wonderful mission to change the way our society and others view people with disabilities, and I applaud them! Because well...God doesn't make junk. Every single person has been fearfully and wonderfully made, and your life has immense worth! Reject the way the world rejects others, and proudly declare the value of every person who is a masterpiece of God.

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My wife is off on a girls trip only, so I am hope playing Mr. Mom to my two wonderful children through next Monday. My wife is the sweetest - she was worried about going and leaving me with the kids all by myself, but mostly she felt like she didn't deserve this trip and this break. But nothing could be further from the truth. She works so hard, and I need to show her my gratitude. Well...the Bible teaches that a worthy woman is just that, worthy. Our wives are worthy of our praise, our support, our help, our love. They do more than we ever could, and we need to ensure that we show them our gratitude and their great value.

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My daughter has this tiny but functional digital camera she recently received that she loves to take pictures on. Last night I started to scroll through them, all 900 of them. What was most amazing was getting to see what kind of things were important to her, important enough to take pictures. It was like seeing the world through her eyes. Well...that's called empathy, and it's an important part of unity in the church. If we want to put the needs and interests of others first, that happens not by assuming what they need or want, but actually learning what they need and want. We need to learn to see things through the eyes of others in order to better serve and love them.

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People will believe the craziest things. We talked this morning at a Bible study about people who run catfish accounts, and how gullible people are fooled into sending money to people who are manipulating them. I remember a viral episode of Dr. Phil back in 2015 about a woman who was swindled out of 1.4 million dollars. Well...there are catfish preachers too. False teachers that twist truth to manipulate their listeners for dishonest gain. We must test the spirits, and not be spiritually gullible. Search the Scriptures, and learn for yourself.

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Steve from Blue's Clues is back! Yes, you read that right - for the 25th anniversary of the show, Steve came back to share a message with the world, and it's powerful! I embedded the audio into the podcast so you can listen to yourself, but ultimately he had a lot to say about how none of us would be where we are today without each other then. He's talking about investing in people. Well...that's also called discipleship. We invest our time, energy, and love into others to help them grow. You might not ever see the fruit of your labor, but it doesn't mean you've never made a lasting difference.

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I was listening to music this morning when it started playing a suggested track from a band I had never heard before called LANY. The sound was nice, but the words had a terrible message behind them. Essentially, the song was him telling his fiancé or wife, "I'll never say forever, I'll just love you until I don't." You've got to be kidding me. No wonder we have so many failed marriages today. Well...the greatest commandment is to love God & love others, we understand that love is a choice. You do not "fall out of love", at some point when that happens it's because you made the choice to no longer love and rather be selfish. We must choose love.

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I am a heavy sleeper, and really struggle to wake up. Sometimes Kylie literally has to shake me to wake up. So when I was supposed to link up with the guys to go golfing on Labor Day at 5:45, I made sure to set extra alarms. However, I woke up to the sound of someone pounding on my window at 8:30 to check on me. Yikes. Well...so many are walking around today while they are asleep spiritually. No matter how many times Jesus calls to try and wake us up, we continue in our stubborn ways. What will it take to wake you up?

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I was pumped up this year for my favorite team, the Oregon Ducks, to be traveling near us to play Ohio State. I really wanted to go to the game, so I looked into tickets and thought about going - that is until I saw the price. Goodness! That kind of money is not worth dropping on a game, I have a family to think of first. I would do anything for them, but not football. Well...how much do we value Jesus? Is cost not a factor when it comes to following him, or are we only willing to sacrifice and work when it's for something we want? May we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus no matter the cost.

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Earlier this week, a horrible rumor was going around town in Stanford, KY that one of our elders wives had passed away. After just a few minutes of digging and phone calls, I discovered that was most certainly not true. It's crazy how these kinds of rumors get started through gossip. Well...gossip is warned about repeatedly in Scripture. Just because something is true does not give us the right to share it, but especially when something isn't true. More often than not, we enable deceit to continue because we do no due diligence to find out the truth of a matter, we just share it and cause problems. Be careful what you say and share.

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This morning our daughter looked at Kylie and myself and said, "Maybe one day when I grow up I will die too." It was the first time Ava has asked about death, so I took the opportunity to talk about where death came from and what happens when we die. The fact of the matter is we're all gonna die. Well...some will even die again, something that Scripture refers to as the second death. The question you must ask is this: when you die, will you live again? If you know Jesus, the answer to that question is yes. If you don't know him, I beg you to please listen to this important warning.

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It looks like I am finally on the mend, and in no small part due to the effort of my loving wife who cared for me all weekend. As hard as being so sick this weekend was on me, I know it was hard on her because it tripled her responsibilities. But she did it without complaining, because it was a labor of love. Caretakers due the same for those who cannot care for themselves, they pour themselves out to serve others out of love. Well...God is our caretaker. We think about how difficult it is for us to deal with life on this earth, but how hard is God's job to "solve all the world's problems"? Next time you pray, don't just stop and ask God for more ways he can help you or serve you...thank him for his labor of love.

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Guess who has strep again? Goodness, this cycle of someone in our house not being sick just seems to be unending. Ever have that happen? Where no matter what you do, some past injury or some sickness just keeps coming up out of nowhere and you can't figure out why? Well...that happens to all of us spiritually too with sin. We all have that one thing you can't seem to kick, and keeps popping back up as you struggle to kill it. Why? Well, I think sometimes it's because we don't set ourselves up to succeed, but rather we set ourselves up to fail. You can't play with fire and not get burned.

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My daughter got this new coloring set for her birthday that is unique. The coloring surface (a large play mat) activates when it comes into contact with water, which is what the pens hold. One of hers ran out, so I tried to fill it up. However, the caps screw on the wrong way - it's not righty tighty, lefty loosey. It's all backwards. Well...the problem is that so many things are backwards in our world right now because of sin. We call that which is evil good and good evil, and God will bring judgment as a result. But what about our own lives as Christians? Do we do the same thing and not even realize it?

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There was a musty, terrible smell coming from our pantry. We at first thought it was an onion that had sprouted, but it turns out it was a rotten potato. It was hidden among the good potatoes, and we finally located the source when it started secreting liquid. When we went to remove it, it exploded and destroyed everything around it. Yeah, nasty and gross. Well...church discipline is even more messy if not handled appropriately. A rotten heart that is engaged in open sin, when tolerated, will destroy a church. We must remove that which is evil from among us, though with love, grace, and gentleness. And of course, always pray for restoration. But we cannot ignore sin in the camp, we must take action.

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In the past 12 hours I have become aware of over 30 different people and circumstances that were in need of prayer. I spent the majority of the day in prayer, and ended up in a long conversation with my friend Dr. Kenny Embry of the "Balancing the Christian Life" podcast about prayer also. He asked me a hard question: "Does prayer change us, or God?" Well...what do you think? I loved his answer, and I am convinced that what Scripture teaches us about prayer shows us that when God says no, it's not he that needs to change, it's us. We must pray according to his will, but that's just it, his will is what is truly best for us.

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One of my shepherds sent me a picture today with an incredible message plastered on the back of the tailgate of a dump truck. After some research, I discovered this very successful company started out as a mule train hauling goods overt he mountains of West Virginia, but has grown into a 7 company multimillion dollar corporation. What was the message? This company is owned and operated by the grace of God - give thanks to God. Well...what about us? Do we recognize that all glory must always go to God, who gives us the ability to succeed and accomplish the things we do? All of us are products of God's grace. None of us accomplish anything by our own abilities alone.

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A very happy birthday to beautiful daughter Ava, who turns three today! It's hard to believe how much she has changed even just over the past year. We are so proud of her and she brings us so much joy. While we would love to keep her little forever, she needs to grow up. Growth is a natural part of life, and when it doesn't happen we should be concerned. Well...are we growing spiritually as we are in other areas of our life? Do I have a healthy diet in God's word? Do I consider all of it? Am I stuck in the same place as I was 5 or 10 years ago? We cannot stay in the same place in Christ, it's time for all of us to grow up.

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Mowing wet grass is super difficult to do. Yes, it gets cut, but because it all sticks together it will clog up the mower and make your job super difficult. Dry grass is much simpler, because it doesn't have the moisture it separates and is scattered. Well...through this hard year, why have some churches been divided while others have stayed unified? The answer is simple, but hard to do. The answer is love. We might get cut down sometimes, but love keeps us together.

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Last night our son started running a high fever again over 102, so Kylie took him to the walk in clinic 30 minutes before they closed. Sadly, they refused to see them because they didn't want to take anymore patients. No matter how much she pleaded, they were turned away. Luckily we got him in this morning and received an apology from the doctor who said she absolutely would have seen him if she had been asked. Well...Jesus is the great physician, and he will turn no one away. It does not matter what you've done, you can come to him for healing. The question that remains is this: do we as the church have that same attitude towards others?

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Tonight, a lifelong dream of mine is about to come true - I am going to get to see James Taylor live and in person. I am stunned at the thought of maybe even getting to look him in the eyes and shake his hand - what will I say or do? What can you say to someone who helped shape your entire childhood with his music? Well...how much more anticipation do you think I have for the day I will see Jesus face to face? What can you say or do for the author of life, the very one who saved you by his grace? I can only imagine...

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It's amazing how fast the summer went by, kids had their first day of school yesterday as summer break has come to an end for them. It's funny how as young kids you can't wait for school, but the older you get the more you can't wait to graduate and be done with it all. However, I found myself in a journey that demands lifelong continued education, so I'm always learning. Well...that shouldn't be just for preachers, that should be for all disciples. We don't have to be formally educated, but none of us are ever done learning. No matter how old you are or what your experiences are, God is not finished with you yet. It's time to go back to school.

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The aquarium was a big hit with the kids yesterday! We saw a lot of amazing things, but my favorite was the cuttlefish. It has this unique ability to camouflage itself instantly to blend in with it's immediate surroundings. We were able to see this on display right in front of our faces, but it got me thinking about my actions because...Well, aren't we all guilty of trying to blend in with the world around us? Rather than be transformed, we shrink back and allow ourselves to be conformed to the world. It must not be this way, friends, let's stand out and seek the approval of God and not of man.

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By the time you listen to this, we will have spent the day at the aquarium in Newport, Kentucky with my folks who are here spoiling their grandkids. While I love marine life, there is one creature I fear above any other, and that is a shark. I'm okay looking at them in a tank because I'm still in control, but if I'm in the water I'm completely vulnerable. That is what makes me so afraid, losing control. Well...pride is just as dangerous in our lives. We refuse to give up our control to trust God or others because it opens us up and leaves us vulnerable, so we close ourselves off. Nothing can be more dangerous, not even a shark.

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My absolute favorite day while we were back on the West Coast was when Kylie surprised me with a date, just the two of us. We went hiking at our favorite spot in Silverton, Oregon at Silver Creek Falls. It was so good to spent that time connecting, talking, and growing together without any distractions. Sadly, many couples stop dating each other and so they grow apart over time. Well...have you stopped "dating" Jesus? Has your relationship grown stagnant or plateaued? Or are you spending that one on one time to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ?

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Airports try my patience, as they do with so many other travelers. As a result, I have the tendency to become stressed and snappy as a result. I was taught an important lesson by a little girl waiting patiently to board who turned and shared her toy with my daughter. The act of kindness convicted me, and reminded me to take better control of myself. Well...there is a marriage between patience and kindness - you cannot have one without the other. And just as love is a choice, and kindness is a choice, so patience is a choice in our lives.

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One of our favorite outings on our trip back west was to the Oregon Coast. We found ourselves in Lincoln City as my Dad showed my daughter how to make footprints in the sand. They were clear and defined until the water would come up and wash them away. I followed suit, and though mine were even bigger, the water stilled washed them away. Well...death will come to all, no matter who you are, it is the great equalizer. Our memory on earth will be forgotten & washed away no matter what you've done, but how will your creator remember you in judgment?

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We are finally back home! Traveling was a nightmare both there and back. On my flight to Boise, my 4-5 hour tripped turned into nearly a 24 hour trip. Instead of getting in at 11 am, because of mechanical failure I would not get in until well past midnight. Instead of one connection, I would make 3. The worst part, with how it all fell, I couldn't eat. By the end of the day I was starving, and I would have eaten anything. I needed food. Well...do we hunger and thirst for righteousness in the same way? Is Jesus something we need every day, or someone we go without on a regular basis?

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You read the title right - it's time for a break. Due to being out of town because of preaching engagements and vacation, we will be taking a break from the podcast for three weeks until August 3rd. I prayerfully made this decision, but it was the right decision to ensure I could restore some balance to my life. Well...we all struggle with balance sometimes. We know that there is a season & time for everything, but when is that? I believe the closer we draw to God & his wisdom, the better we will learn balance in our lives.

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Is there anything like seeing your little boy or girl yell your name as they run into your arms? That's exactly what my daughter did today when she came to visit me working at one of the coffeeshops in town. It was precious and needed. We had a rough day yesterday, and such a gesture reaffirmed our love. Well...some of you listening in might think that because of things you've done, God could not possibly want you back. But you're wrong. It doesn't matter what you've done, he wants you to come home. And when you do, he will run to embrace you.

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Ronnie and I were back at it on the racquetball court today, but this time was a little different. On our last game together, about 12 kids had their faces pressed against the glass watching us play and cheering us on. It was fun, and gave us renewed energy to play hard because they were behind us! Well...well all need to have someone in our corner, cheering us on in this life. Not only all those who are hero's of faith in the Scripture, but also in our local churches. Let's encourage one another and help each other in this journey of faith!

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After some more service work done to the new car (yes, it had to go back) - we finally have it up and running. Today I took it in to get some routine maintenance done, things like the oil change, replacing the air filter, etc. These are little things, but if they are neglected, they can result in big problems. Well...Jesus said in his ministry that being faithful even in the little things is of the upmost importance. It is when we neglect the little things in our marriages, relationships, work, or even spiritual growth that we end up having bigger problems. Be faithful in the little things, because they most certainly do matter.

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I had a study with a friend today who went through some old DVD's of his and realized many of them were one's he had purchased before he became a Christian. They did not have the kind of content that he knew a Christian should watch, so he asked what he should do with them? Easy - simply throw them away. Well...anything that keeps us from growing closer to Jesus needs to very simply be thrown away. In fact, we ought to think like Paul, and consider those things as good as garbage in comparison to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

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We had an appointment in Lexington for Dane and were going to pick up our new car afterwards. However, we were called and originally led to believe they put us off and never fixed the car, and that I took a day off of work for nothing. I was frustrated and upset, but once we got down to the bottom of things, there was simply a miscommunication. It was ready, and I felt stupid for how I acted. Well...the Proverbs have much to say about the fool and his anger. How we are quick tempered without learning the full story and say or do things we don't mean. I pray that God may help me to learn to be more like the wise man who controls his emotions and less like the fool.

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We purchased a new vehicle today, and while at the dealer I saw an entire wall dedicated in honor of our service men & women. Those who served in these roles were to write their names on the wall, so that they would not be forgotten. Well...do you realize that God has written your name on the palms of his hands? He has not forgotten you, in fact, if you serve him then your name is even written in the book of life in heaven. Where is your name written?

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At dinner last night, Dane was not paying much attention during the prayer before we ate. Ava immediately took action, proceeding to walk her younger brother through what he is supposed to do during prayer. It was a sweet and touching moment as our children were teaching each other about talking to God. Well...we are all still learning how to pray. Even the apostles asked Jesus how to pray in their lives. Think about people who have impacted you with their prayers, what lessons have they taught you about what it means to pray?

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My daughter finished a whole week of perfect potty training, so I took her out for a daddy daughter date. It went great...until she puked all over me and herself in the bathroom. Yeah, that happened. While I was concerned about the mess, Kylie was more concerned about the underlying issue of why it happened - so we check her blood sugar and it was low. Well...we are all spiritually sick, and sometimes we are guilty of just trying to clean up our mess without addressing the heart of the issue. Things don't just happen, they come from the heart.

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Last night, someone was so kind and left us some homemade bread on top of our car to take home after Bible class. They even told me they had something for me before class started. The problem is, I cannot for the life of me remember who it was! I just want to tell them thankful for their kind & thoughtful gift. Well...all of us have been given the gift of the bread of life, that is the gift of Jesus Christ. Are you grateful for such a gift? Or do we simply take him for granted? Of the ten lepers, only one returned to give Jesus praise...which one are you?

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Tune in for a special announcement! I need your help, and your feedback. Help to grow the podcast, and feedback on...daily journals! 3 things to take joy in, 3 things to pray for, 3 things to be thankful for (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

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My wife took the kids to the park yesterday. As they were swinging, enjoying the sunshine and watching the geese, my daughter looks up at Kylie and says, "Mommy, God must really love me." Out of the mouth of babes, with all the blessings around her, she couldn't help but feel God's love in it all. Well...have you ever wondered why God made the world that he did? Why things are beautiful? Why we can taste and smell what we can? It's because he loves us, and he made a world for us to enjoy.

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I was at my barbers when he swept the floor and asked how it looked. I told him it looked good, that was until he swept it again with a special broom meant for hair. All kinds of stuff came up off the floor I couldn't see at the surface level. I guess it wasn't so good after all. Well...neither are we. On the surface we might feel like we are a good person, but that's the entire point of the gospel: we are not. We desperately need to be made righteous by the only one who was good - our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

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I know normally we deal with ordinary events, but I had something extraordinary happen yesterday. I had the chance to have a phone call with one of my favorite musicians of all time, Mat Kearney. I was star struck and stunned, but it was so much fun to chat with him for a few minutes. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Well...we all have the chance not once, but everyday, to talk to someone far greater - the Creator of this world. Through prayer, even if you aren't sure what to say, you can boldly approach the throne of God. In fact, he wants you to...so what are you waiting for?

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Sometimes things can slip your mind that you are supposed to do, like renewing the registration for your car for example. At least, that's what slipped my mind this week. I realized it while we were out of town, and set my mind to fix it as soon as possible. I certainly wasn't going to ignore it now that I knew, that would be foolish. Well....there is a big difference between making a mistake & fixing it, or continuing to make the same mistakes with no resolve to change. The first is met with grace, the second is only met with judgement.

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I did lunch with a wonderful young man this afternoon who has been raised by godly parents to love God & love others. It's taken hard work and dedication to raise their children. But it's not easy. The waitress today visited with me about her daughter, and we shared our challenges we both are facing with our own children together. Well...raising children right is hard, but it's worth it. They are a blessing from God, and while it's a lot of responsibility, it's worth it. So don't give up - we're all going to make mistakes, but get up and get back to work.

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During our weekend getaway to North Carolina, we visited Grandfather Mountain. We started up to go across the swinging bridge when suddenly a storm came through. They closed the bridge which was tossed about in the storm outside, but we were safe in the lodge built on the firm foundation of the mountain. Well...what is your faith like? A faith that hears, but does not obey, is a faith without foundation. When the storms of life come suddenly, you will surely fall. But a faith that obeys is built upon the firm foundation of Christ the Rock, and we find safety and security in him.

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My son is all boy. Over the past few days, he has attempted over and over again to eat the dog food that is set out for the dog here in at my in-laws house. We keep stopping him and he's getting frustrated. To him, we're just being mean by not letting him eat what he wants and thinks is food. But what he doesn't realize is we are protecting him, it's for his good. Well...our Father has also established rules & boundaries for us his children. We might not always like them, even foolishly insist on what we think is right in our own eyes, but they are for our good & our protection. 1

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On our way to North Carolina today, a car went flying past us doing close to 100 mph! Suddenly, another car went in pursuit of him and flipped on his lights - an undercover police vehicle! My first thought was that sweet justice was served, until the police officer just slowed him down but didn't pull him over. What? How could he give him a break despite the fact he had clearly broken the law? Well...just like this instance, we all have been extended grace despite that fact that we stand condemned in our sin. Are we willing to extend that same grace to others too? Or do we demand justice except when it comes to us?

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We are prepping for another weekend get away, this time to North Carolina, and I needed to mow our yard before we leave. I had the opportunity to do it Monday, but put it off because I didn't feel like it assuming I would get another chance. But, the weather has prevented that, and now my negligence will cost me. Well...how many times do we know the right thing to do, but because we just don't feel like it we put off doing it? We must be careful, our negligence can come at a great cost. Don't wait until "next time" - it might never come.

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We went out to eat last night, and when the wait time was going to be much longer than we had anticipated, my daughter popped off and yelled, "Oh, come one!" I wonder where she learned that from. You guessed it, she's been watching me. Well...we can be in influence for good or evil on others. You might not think so, but someone is always watching. We must be so careful then what kind of an example we set for others in our lives.

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Our son Dane got his cast off of his leg yesterday morning, which is now fully healed! Or, mostly healed, you might say. While the bone is good as new, his leg being broken and casted has affected other areas of his body. His hips are off, his muscles are weak, and it's going to take time for him to be back to normal. Well...when we are broken in our lives, we must realize the same goes for us. We are affected in all ways: physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually we are weakened and tired. It will take a while for things to be "normal" again, so in the meantime...wait on the Lord who strengthens us!

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I received a phone call that brought me to my knees yesterday, as one of our young mothers who was giving birth had everything go sideways. Her life was in danger, the babies life was in danger. All we could do was beg the Lord our God for mercy & grace on these souls. Well...do we realize that is exactly what God wants us to do as his children? He cares for us more than we could possibly understand, and he wants us to come to him with our heavy hearts.

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I have been a Portland Trailblazer fan for most of my life, and last night I witnessed Damian Lillard set history with a performance no other player has ever achieved. Sadly, despite his unparalleled efforts, the Blazers lost because everyone else played so poorly. A team cannot succeed because of one player, it takes everyone working together. Well...in the same way, we cannot succeed when we go at this life alone. Be it marriage, parenting, work, or more than anything the church - we must work together and ensure everyone does their part for us to grow and become who God wants us to be.

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I was listening to another podcast yesterday where a friend of mine discussed a house he built years ago. He was getting sober, and this other brother in Christ invested in him when no one else would. He invited him to build something special because he believed in him. Well...Jesus has done the very same for you and me. In our struggle against sin, Jesus invested in us while we were yet sinners. Now he invites us to help build a spiritual home, his church.

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For the first time ever, my wife and I will be away from both of our children for a night. We are not nervous though, because our children are in the best of care with someone who will care for them like her own. We trust her, and our children must obey her until we return. Well...Christ has left elders to serve as stewards over his church until he comes again. They are to protect, feed, and care for the God's children as trustworthy men, and we are to submit to them just as we would to Jesus.

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A man in a pink suit walked into the coffee shop yesterday, ordered a $3 tea, and then tipped two hard working baristas $100. I didn't see him do it myself, but the baristas told me about the matter after he left. They were so grateful. Well...God loves a cheerful giver. When we give freely to others, God is glorified and we store up treasures in heaven!

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Last night during dinner, Dane was throwing his food onto the wall and all over the floor. I wagged my finger and told him no, which he then repeated back to me while continuing throw his food. I didn't need him to repeat me, I needed him to obey me. Well...I believe we can behave the same way as God's children sometimes. We merely repeat what he has said to do to others without actually doing it ourselves. God has no desire for us to just echo his words, he wants us to live them.

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I turned 31 years old today, and it has been a wonderful day celebrating my special day with my family so far. Our real celebration will be this weekend, and I'm anxiously looking forward to it. Birthdays are important, a celebration of life...and yet so many that have been born are still not alive. Well...we must be born again. True life is found in Christ, where we are transformed in this life and promised a life to come.

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My wife and I recently started watching the Angel original series called, "The Chosen" about the ministry of Jesus & his disciples and have loved it. We have loved how these biblical characters have been brought to life, how relatable they are and how "real" they are depicted. Well....they were real people! They had emotions, struggles, victories and failures just like you and me. These were not demi-gods, they were normal men & women. If God could do great things through such common people, could he not do great things through us?

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Yesterday I was nearly hit head on by a distracted driver. Being distracted while behind the wheel claims the lives of thousands of people every year. It is not just dangerous to yourself, but also to others. Well...every day we face dangerous distractions to our faith. Sin and the lusts of this world tempt us to take our eyes of Jesus. When we do so, we find our lives wrecked as we drift from the straight and narrow path. Put away dangerous distractions, and set your mind above!

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I was looking for some help with parenting from my dear friends who were in town, who happen to be parents also. They were hesitant at first, saying that there are not a lot of people who are willing to take advice from others about how to raise their children. In fact, not a lot of people are willing to listen to others about much of anything. Well...Scripture teaches us that those who are wise will accept advice and counsel. We were never created to go it alone, nor have you failed by asking for help. In fact, it's one of the most godly things you can do.

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We returned back to the Ark Encounter yesterday to walk through the experience again with our friends. As I stood before the door to the ark, I reflected on it's dual nature of salvation to those within, and judgment to those outside. Well...we all stand before a door as well, and that door is Jesus. If we enter in through him, we certainly will be saved. If we refuse him, we will be lost. What choice will you make?

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After a long, exhausting day taking our son to the hospital, we did the one thing that we needed to do the most: nothing. We took a day as a family to have a quiet & restful time of recovery. Well...rest is a Biblical principle that we must not neglect. It's hard to pour yourself out for others if you're empty & depleted. Even Jesus took the time to rest, and you need to also.

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My son broke & displaced his tibia going down a slide yesterday. They had to x-ray his leg, so we had to hold down our 1 year old son who was confused, in pain, and afraid while they did it. To him, it probably felt like we didn't care. To us, our hearts were breaking. Well...I believe we have all felt this way about God. We have felt alone, afraid, and left holding a broken heart wondering where is God? Doesn't he care? Let me assure you, he does.

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Have you ever had all the ice melt in your drink, leaving it watered down and lacking substance? It's the worst - the only thing it's good for is to be thrown away. Well...it's time to throw out watered down preaching. We need good Bible teaching with substance, not shying away from speaking the truth, but with confidence we need to declare the entirety of the will of God.

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Have you ever wondered why clothes that are essentially the exact same look & material can be priced so differently between brands? It has everything to do with the designer and the brand name - that is what makes something valuable. Well...that is exactly what gives you such great worth - your designer. You have been made in the image of God.

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Learn a little bit about your host, yours truly, as well as what we hope to achieve together with this podcast in the days ahead! As always, set your minds above!

Set Your Mind Above: Recent Episodes

BJ Sipe

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